Only One Chance for First Impressions

[Orphen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl30WDn_P2o​

[Time: 13:43]
[Location: Azure]

Orphen had been travelling for a time, he was sick of the fighting that was going on, on Chazwa, and had just needed to get away from everything, having made his way to the lone planet of Azure, boasting a long forgotten republic base from the early clone wars, it was a planet which didn't mean much to anyone, having chosen this world because, well, he didn't know. Perhaps it was because it was abandoned like him, the small lunar dwarf could barely be considered a planet, yet, nature seemed to have grown with the purpose of taking over everything in sight. The old base had been completely over-grown, and something felt... peaceful about that.

Orphen wore his usual attire, as the Laeventein sat nearby, fueled and ready to fly at a moment's notice, Orphen walked into the center of the court-yard before falling backwards and landing on his back, looking up into the peaceful night's sky. He didn't know why everything was happening the way it was, it seemed now the only days he was at peace were the days when he was with her everything else was becoming more complicated by the day. With Genevieve's iron grip on a huge portion of the republic military, and her having gone mad, with the Republic now facing down more opponents than ever before. The Jedi, who had once felt so strong and accomplished, felt as powerless as he was before all of this...

As powerless as the day he was sold...

The only memories which Orphen could not remember, were those which had been lost before the experiments. Those of his mother and his father before they had given him away. But, he knew a couple of things about them... each of them were Mandalorians, and had owed money to the Hutts for one reason or another... Orphen could feel the anger welling up inside of him, if they hadn't sold him, perhaps he would have grown up to be a mandalorian warrior, he wouldn't have to live a life, which, as it stood literally revolved around deception. He would have people in his life, who knew him well enough to know when he was lying... he was sick and tired of being good at it. Tired of the numbers flashing past his eyes... and tired of the lies.

Sitting up and reaching out a hand for a long broken speeder-bike. The frame of the over-glorified debris warped uncontrollably... with breaking something came a sense of relief.

"Is it always going to be like this? Is this how it's always going to be... ... ... Did I choose the right path...? Am I good enough...? I'm not so sure anymore... ... ... Maybe Mantic will leave too... Maybe I'll never free Kitty from Ferus..."

Several beeps, radiated from the AI which Orphen wore on his arm in an attempt to console the Jedi, who still to date, had not been trained when it came to his emotions... the lack of discipline blooming into doubt and frustration like a spring orchid.

There was a disturbance in the force.


[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Feet moved lightly atop the mossy surface beneath her. Undergrowth and leaves cracked and splintered behind each step. Azure, a planet long since abandoned since the days of the Clone Wars. Little was known about the planet, save for the battles that were fought by the CIS and Republic, battles that unfortunately swung in favor of the CIS. In her time as a self-imposed exile of the Jedi Order she had spent many days and years wandering from star system to star system, collecting data and analyzing old records associated with the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. Perhaps through this recollection of history, the state of the present galaxy could be further understood.

The base, and everything around it was in near shambles. Having been untouched for centuries, it looked in a sad state. Following just behind her, a small BB-8 unit rolled its way about, collecting small samples of debris still scattered from the attacks that shook the base to its' foundation. A series of small beep-boop followed as the droid maneuvered about. The corridor she had been navigating was partially collapsed, forcing the Twi'lek to crouch low while the droid provided additional lighting. "How much further until the structure opens up BB-8?" The little droid rolled a bit ahead, then stopped. Responding in its' own binary language the Twi'lek nodded. Just a bit further.

As the two emerged from the cave-in, she noticed in the center of the large chamber without a roof a boy. Not just any boy though, a boy she recognized from some time ago. A Padawan of the Jedi Order. She raised an eye at the sight, wondering just what he could possibly be doing here, and the odd timing of the whole situation. The droid quickly rolled his way over, too quickly for Sera to halt him. She started to whisper his name, but it was too late. She walked a bit closer herself before assuring that it was him... "Orphen?"

[member="Orphen"]

 

[Orphen]

[Time: 13:50]
[Location: Azure]

Something metal and moving came into Orphen's sensory field, followed by the feeling of a light-saber, a familiar one no less. Surprised, and thrown off by the sudden appearance of another person, Orphen's hand shot immediately to his pistol rather than to a light-saber. As usual the boy was wearing his more rogue-like attire, though he was a padawan of the order, he never really took on the visage of a Jedi, namely as the best stealth tactic that he could possibly employ. The long red and black coat hanging off of him as he was loaded with his gauntlet, DCD, drones and pistols. Looking far more like a mercenary than one of the trained peace-keepers of the galaxy. But with the appearance of Seraphina, Orphen felt like he needed to compose himself quickly, wiping a budding tear from his eye and looking at the violet coloured Twi'lek, not quite sure how to begin talking with the master who had vanished into exile without so much as a word to him.

The shame was she wasn't the only one... Though the Padawan before her, didn't look ok.

The surprise faded into a not so subtle yet repressed anger as Orphen bit his tongue in an attempt to silence himself from an uproar. Slipping his gun back into its holster, not quite knowing what to say at this specific moment. His blood felt hot and his hands where white as his nails bit into his palms before relaxing some-what, as he would calm down. Focusing on the BB-8 and searching through its parts mentally as a therapudic exercise, mentally naming each of its interior parts one by one from its power core outwards in the order that they were simply to attempt to keep his mind occupied and distracted. It was a simple trick, but not one he had, had to use for a very long time... After, a good, twelve seconds from the time of her greeting, Orphen would finally be able to turn and address the Jedi master...

"Seraphina... ... ... what're you doing here?"

The boy would say, trying not to add any venom to his words, though failing in the slight sharpness of his tone. Though, a small amount of pride leaked through when he had managed to avoid making a snide remark off the end of his question. His self control had definitely improved, he couldn't deceive himself there. But he had hoped to begin with something a little more inclusive and less accusatory, now beginning to regret what he'd said... thoughts began to well up within his mind, remembering their first training session together, the details lingering vividly within his mind as he could picture the room that they were in, the discussion of Ataru, he could remember how nervous he was, especially as a younger boy being faced with the slender visage of the objectively attractive master...

"It's been a while... hasn't it?"

The words came from his lips as dead as the facility around them.

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

To the boy a few feet away before her, she would hardly look much different from when he had last seen her. Internally though she was a much different person than the Jedi Master who had begun his training back with the Order. Her position had shifted. She no longer believed in the Republic, just as it seemingly failed to believe in itself. The Order had been splintered so many times that upon her appointment as a Jedi Council member she had already begun to grow weary of the indecisiveness that hindered them. It was a sad realization, but one that ultimately drove her to leaving the Order and entering into exile, left to wander the galaxy as a lone sword against the darkness that slowly crept, seeking to envelope everything within its' path.

Two fingers raised to rub her eyes, making certain what she was seeing was true. "Orphen...It has been a very long time." She stood quietly, observing the young man for a minute. She could feel his resentment emanating from him like a thick fog. She could hardly blame him. She'd left without a word to anyone but the council. At the time she had believed it for the best, though it was unlikely that many, if any, would see it that way. "I'm sorry; For leaving the way I did."

There wasn't much she could say to that, what was done was done. She had her reasons, they were her own, and she wouldn't involve others by forcing her decisions upon them, impressionable Padawans above all.

[member="Orphen"]

 

[Orphen]

Something snapped...

deep within the Jedi at a simple apology weighing against the overwhelming feeling which Orphen had been struggling with, as a creature who couldn't forget, memories welled to the surface with her apology with renewed passion behind them. Orphen had wanted to hold it in with respect for Seraphina and her accomplishments that she had been a part of while she was with the order. Tears welled up in the boy's eyes again as his throat caught, like his body was trying to hold him back with every effort and tool that it had in its disposal, but the flood-gates like a broken dam came crashing down and splintering into a thousand pieces.

"Sorry? Do you... do you have any idea what I've been through? While you were gone, I was wandering the galaxy, lost without my master, looking for you for weeks! I was captured by bandits who beat me to an inch of my life, attacked by a Sith knight, rescued a sith girl, which put assassins on me by some Sith Lord named Ferus, who I'd never heard of before... and all just because you know that girl i mentioned? Yeah. She just happened to be his karking daughter! I've been attacked by Bounty Hunters, other Sith, large reptiles, a Coloi! And when I found out, weeks later that you were gone, i had to find myself another master... who also left me. I have been alone since you left the order without a word Seraphina... your own student! In the time you've been gone I've had to find my own training, I trained with mandalorians, arkanians, sith, republic commandos and generals, criminals and Silvers just to try and get by... every one of them temporary. Vanishing, after what little lessons they could give..."

Orphen began to feel feint... And though the words he said were intended to hurt at face value, it would be apparent to someone as trained as Seraphina that, it was more of a plea and a need to offload than hatred directed at her. All the while his tone turning from anger to sadness as the narrative continued.

"All the while needing to deal with my own problems... headaches, almost non-stop from a mind which sees the world as numbers, calculating everything furiously against my own will. Every blade of grass i don't see as green, but as a combination of its mathematical components, proteins and chemicals and the forces acting on it. The light and pigments of it to cause it to reflect that colour, to every blade of grass in sight. Heaven forbid if they're hit by a gust of wind. Some-days it hurts so much i want to smash my head into a wall to bore them out... I'm sick of it... and ... No-one has helped ... ... and I have nowhere else to go ... ... ... ... ... ... ..."

The boy felt trapped and abandoned by everyone, Sera simply caught him at the moment his emotions had already bubbled so close to the surface, this explosion was inevitable, it was simply a matter of when. Orphen could feel his left eye beginning to tingle at the raw emotion which was running through him, resonating ever so slightly with the corruption that had caused his eye to permanently discolor. Orphen would remove his visor and rub his eyes for a moment, both trying to remove the irritating sensation as well as wipe any remaining tears from his face. It was at this point that the boy simply felt foolish and immature. To date, he had not been taught to control his emotions, barely having been taught the Jedi path in any real detail.

And it showed.

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Seraphina's eyes widened at the sudden rush of words, the pain and emotion behind each one as they charged from Orphen's lips like a raging wildfire. She stood, quietly, letting the Padawan expel all of his pent up emotional energy upon her. The BB-8 droid coiled and rolled frantically away and behind its' master, slanting to the side to peak around the Twi'lek's long, pink legs at the boy throwing a fit.

Orphen's words, though truthful as they may have been, puzzled her. Why hadn't Corvus seen fit to find a suitable trainer? Or take you under her wing herself?

The woman took a few hesitant steps towards her former student. She was weary, unsure as to whether his heart had darkened by the touch of the darkness she felt within him, or if he had simply never learned to control his feelings in any tangible manner. "Orphen..." She said softly. "I'm sorry. When I left the Jedi Order, it was because I no longer believed in its' ability to protect the Republic from what it refused to fight for itself." Placing a hand on his shoulder she tried adjusting her head to look him in the eyes, noting the slightly discolored one. "Had I taken you with me, it would have labeled myself a traitor, and you a rogue. I couldn't bring myself to place you in danger simply because of what I believed. It wasn't my choice to make for you. I had no idea that things would turn out this way. Had I known..." She sighed, there was little she could have realistically done. "Maybe things could have been different."

[member="Orphen"]

 

[Orphen]

Orphen couldn't find where to look.

The worst part about this whole predicament were her answers, not that they were bad, they were quite the opposite... they were perfect. He couldn't fault the problems with the order and why Seraphina would have left the order, he felt like leaving them a couple of times himself, but, he had held on, driven by his will to prove them wrong. People could argue that the thought was selfish and even spiteful, but, it came from his indomitable will to do good. As he finished he could feel her move closer, Orphen didn't mind the closeness, she wasn't close enough to hug or grab, or the boy likely would have, rather he stood there conflicted and feeling all more the fool. She began to talk about what could have been, and why she had not taken him with her, Orphen had basically been living as a free agent within the republic for some time.

The possibilities of what could have been were endless.

"Maybe... But I could have understood... The Jedi Order has its faults, but as an agent of it I'm not a representative of the whole. I don't think change is something you can do at a distance... But... through everything, I've managed to live through it all... and I think it's made me stronger. I have friends in the Republic, the Jedi, the Silvers, Cartels, Corperations and even the One Sith now, which is kinda cool. That's a good thing right? "

Orphen was unsure, he wanted to know that he'd done well, albiet he was seeking praise in a way which a Jedi should not. A Jedi should not be performing an act looking for a reward, but, blindly acting in hope that he was doing good in the galaxy, not knowing whether or not he was helping or hindering his cause was something he needed a bearing on. Praise was one means of assuring him he was doing the right thing. Orphen looked up to Seraphina, she was close, the worried look in her eyes spoke volumes to the younger lad, who wiped his tears from his eyes hopeful for her approval.

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

"I don't doubt your ability to understand my decisions. I hadn't meant to imply that." Sera wasn't much of the type to give out hugs or anything, but for the moment she would make an exception. Orphen may have grown in ability and understanding of the Force, but he was still very much a Padawan in terms of behavior and composure. The Twi'lek leaned forward and placed her arms gently around the neck and back of the boy, drawing him close to her chest in a warm embrace. "I cannot fault you for decisions you've made, whether right or wrong." She rested her chin just behind his shoulder. "All I can hope is that in your travels and desire for knowledge you've not walked the path of darkness."

As she released him she stepped back, lifting his head with a single finger to offer him a smile. "Do you want to tell me why you're way out here though? This is not exactly a place I'd expect to find a lost Padawan."

[member="Orphen"]

 

[Orphen]

Orphen smiled.

As she drew close and embraced him, Orphen tilted his head to one side, though the words she spoke were not quite what he was looking for, her acceptance meant worlds to him, his arms wrapped around her and clutched at her clothing for a moment as he finally breathed a sigh of relief. All of his tension melted away like ice under the hot sun and he seemed to return to peace. This, was something that the Jedi didn't often teach, this level of compassion, understanding, kindness, was something that Jedi often feared due to getting attached, building feelings and ultimately, falling to the dark-side. Her worry was not unfounded however, as she pulled away from him Orphen would look up at her with an amount of admiration. He had to think about the dark path, there were a few things that were likely leading him away for that, he could not deny he had feelings for someone in particular, it was something he felt shame for, but it would not be something revealed this day.

"I came here to kinda compose myself mostly, tried to find somewhere I could be alone, do some training, some thinking, and i found this place along one of the old smuggler routes. It seems that it's used by criminals. This place seemed quiet and away from everything else, but, I guess the real reason i came here, was because you were here. The force must be looking out for me."

He said with a light chuckle, with what he knew about the force, this seemed like exactly one of the things that it would do, subtly guide the padawans' hand to coming here and confronting something that he really needed to confront and come past. Some of the damage that had been done to the boy had been healed, and he felt rather good about everything that was happening. But, moving back to her statement before hand. Orphen addressed.

"I've been trying not to follow that path, I want to prove that I have what it takes to make it as a Jedi, no matter what obstacles the order throws at me... I've definitely met darkness... Ferus ... Who even is he? I feel like there's just this shadow looming over me lately. While its not him, his influence seems to reach me everywhere."

Iziz hoped that Seraphina would have some answers, she was an accomplished master, he was certain that she would likely have some insight into the questions he was asking.

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

"The Force does have a way about it. That much is certain."

A look of concern washed over her face as he mentioned Ferus. She'd had plenty of experience with that Sith. Many years ago, when she was still a Jedi Knight. He'd nearly killed her.

"Darth Ferus. A Sith Lord I've encountered a number of times. Very dangerous. I recommend avoiding him at all cost. He is ruthless, sneaky, and bred of evil."

There was little else she could do to describe the man. She had fought him several times, had herself tested against the temptation of the Dark Side. She had passed that trial, though knew of others who were not as fortunate.

"Perhaps the Jedi Order and the Republic is not the proper path for you. My recommendation is to collect yourself, visit Voss. There are Jedi there, some of which you may have met. Connor Harrison, he is a friend of mine. I am sure he can allocate you a master that will continue your training. Wandering the galaxy alone like this as a Padawan is not safe in the slightest. The things the Sith do to Force sensitives that they capture are beyond words, Orphen. I cannot stress that point enough."

[member="Orphen"]

 

[Orphen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZIb6GwwLrM​

Orphen widened his eyes in surprise before narrowing them in frustration.

Leaving the Jedi? The thought had crossed his mind dozens of times, but something within him always called him back to the Jedi Order, there was something there, something that could not be denied, even if it was what the order stood for, what it had been, and could be again. But the words spoken aloud by another person almost seemed to trigger offense within the indecisive padawan, like the thought of another person trying to convert him sealed the thought of being a Jedi knight of the Republic into his mind firmer and tighter than the weld of any torch or hammer. He had not worked so hard to be cheated of his potential to stand for everything the Jedi order meant to him. Orphen found himself reaching behind him and drawing out the hilt of his unique light-saber, holding it horizontally before himself in an open grip he would look down on it, and look at Seraphina.

"Leave the Jedi? Just... Go to Voss...? "

Orphen questioned quietly, almost breathing it under his breath before looking up with an ignited passion in his eyes, righteousness and hope emanating from him like a torch.

"Was that the path you took!? To simply leave the Jedi without a thought and forsake everyone there who looked up to you with hope!? I could never leave them... no matter how hard the road I have to believe that the path to becoming a Jedi is the right one... right now is the time where we can't be seen to be fracturing and splitting at the seems. Corvus Raaf, Mantic Dawn, they need us! Now more than ever as the dark side looms all around us and even within. When you were first called my master your records portrayed you as one of the kindest, bravest and grandest Jedi and duelists I have ever seen. The second coming of Aayla Secura is what they called you. I don't see that woman now... you seem frightened and unsure, afraid of the Sith, of Ferus, whoever the man may be...

I won't walk your path. Fear leads to anger... "

Orphen extended the blade of his light-saber, the glowing gold of the weapon extended brightly as his hand moved to his technical visor, gripping around it and casting it aside, looking up at her with stern eyes and a firm resolve. He began to understand why he was bought here now, there were many things within himself he needed to confront, but also many more that he needed to test, he knew that he would never be able to best the former master Seraphina in a bout of combat, but he wanted to test himself to see how he had grown as a Jedi...

"Master Sera... I want to fight you... with everything I have... I need to know that I can stand on my own two feet and protect my own ideals, the people i care about, those who look up to me as a Jedi of the Republic. You may not believe in them anymore, but the galaxy still does. In their darkest moments they will turn to us as the brightest light of hope in the galaxy and we need to be there when that happens. And I don't want to disappoint them."

Orphen's mind expanded as something began to wrap around him with his new conviction, the feeling was warm, sure, confident, like a friend placing a hand on his shoulder in support as something invisible to the eye, but blue would begin to glimmer at the edge of his hands, visible only to Orphen, and those skilled enough in the art of precognition.

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The woman held out her hand, gesturing for him to slow down. Orphen was clearly unable to keep his emotions in check. "You have to understand, I didn't leave the Jedi Order without a thought. Months of inner soul searching went into my decision. My decision was in fact, based on the idea that the Republic refused to help itself, and was relying solely on the Jedi Order to protect it, when in fact, the Jedi Order predates the Republic by many eons. We are protectors of peace across the galaxy, not to only the Republic." She sighed, he was angry. She understood. But he was treading dangerous water here.

"Corvus and the council were informed of my decision before I left. I am still in contact with Corvus. She was a mentor of mine long before I became a Jedi Knight." The Twi'lek left both sabers passive at her hip. Should he attack her she had other means of defending herself from injuring the Padawan. "What you don't understand, young one, is that you at this very moment are filled with fear, anger, and uncertainty. You fear rejection. You're angry over your perceived abandonment. But you yourself just told me that you've been abandoned by every master you've sought training from within the Jedi Order."

She sighed, he was very confused about her intentions. "The Silver Order stands for everything that the Republic does, yet they hold no allegiance to one particular government. Instead, they seek to rid the galaxy of the dark side in all corners. I did not suggest to abandon the Jedi. I merely suggested an alternative route to continue your training in an effective manner." Her small BB-8 droid rolled away from the pair, off into the corner as he listened to the two argue over the meaning of a Jedi.

"Your desire to fight me does a disservice to the Jedi, Orphen. A Jedi does not seek conflict, war, or battle. What do you hope to gain from this? This road will take you down a path that I did not set you on, and would not have you walk."

[member="Orphen"]

 

[Orphen]

Orphen let out a sigh and relaxed his shoulders...

He realized he had come into this realization too strong, and he saw that now, he was almost frightening Seraphina, and that was not the goal of his realization, his mental transition had been too quick to allow himself to cool off from one situation and enter the other. Such revelations often came at a moment's notice, and he didn't think that his lack of control and fortitude could have made his piety seem like an aggressive moment, so, he stopped for a moment, not in thought, but composing himself and allowing the tone of his voice to change to a less threatening or emotional manner. He needed to show that he was level headed here more than ever, that he was serious and that it wasn't just his emotions doing the talking.

"The Silver Jedi are not defenders of peace, they're the fighters of Darkness. They hold close the ideals of the guardians and the shadows, and I am neither of those. They are the worst ideals of the Jedi pooled together into a single ideology which stoops them to the level of the Sith: "Cut off the head of the darkness and the body will wither and die" ... but... when there is no more war, that philosophy and hate of the dark-side, that fear, will turn to paranoia. Then, me, with my past, my history, I'll be the first to have a cross-hair painted on my back Sera. I've seen it. I've seen what the Silver Jedi will stoop to."

He looked a little disappointed to be shutting her down so harshly, but the prejudice he already experienced in the Jedi was enough, the projected increase of that prejudice he would experience in the Silver Jedi, would be astronomical in comparison. He felt bad about the things that he said about Seraphina, he had not thought about how her having to leave the order and how it would have effected her, like an alarm that had been ringing silently in the back of his head, he now recognized that... guilt now beginning to bubble anew.

"I'm... I'm sorry for blaming you for leaving... I didn't think about how hard that would have been for you... you must have dedicated much more time and made more sacrifices for the Jedi than I have... I didn't mean to be angry at you... I just... didn't think... but."

Orphen's eyes hardened again, not in anger or fear, but in conviction.

"I think you've helped me, I don't think I'm afraid anymore, I know my place now, and it's thanks to you. Before, I said fight... but what I meant was I'd like you to test me. I won't attack you in anger, nor will I fight should you not want to. But the path that I am set on is the path to protect everyone who i can spread my wings to encompass, and for that, I need to know that everything I have worked for has accomplished something. Not to test the skill of my saber or the sharpness of my wit, but to test my conviction against impossible odds, to know that I can stand up and defend not myself or strike and kill a sith, but to protect those it is my duty as a Jedi to protect.

To become a Jedi Knight... I have to pass a Trial of Courage, a Trial of Flesh, a Trial of Insight, a Trial of Spirit, and...

A Trial of skill... Will you test me? Master Seraphina?"

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The Silvers were known for being far more militaristic across the galaxy than the Republic. Where the Jedi Order was typically known for defending the Republic and never waging war against others, the Silvers had actively sought out the darkness to engage and defeat it. That was one of the differences between the Order and Sera could understand if that was not what her old student had wanted for himself, though not all carried that label they had received, just as not all Jedi from the Republic were peace keepers. There were some in the Order that sought to exterminate the Dark Side rather than protect the Republic.

She held her hand up, understanding what it was that Orphen was both saying and asking.

"It's not about counting sacrifices, nor who did more for the Order. It's about serving the people you protect. I did that as best I could. My issue was not with the Order, but the Republic as a whole. I believe it uses the Jedi as a crutch, rather than peace keepers and advisers, to fight their battles for them and place blame upon them when the battles do not go as planned. That was why I left. I did not believe the Republic had the best interests of or for the Jedi."

By his request she would offer him the test he sought to advance himself another step towards becoming a Jedi Knight. "I can do this, if that is your desire."

Her hand reached for her weapons, Astana & Maseru hanging from the belt along her left hip. Before the Twi'lek would activate the weapons, her fingers dialed back the power levels on the blades to ensure that any strikes would not potentially kill the student. Once done her stance fell to Ataru, her left hand crossing her purple saber horizontally across her body, her green blade held in a reverse direction behind her body. "By your move, young one."

[member="Orphen"]

 

[Orphen]

Orphen nodded in contemplation and agreement to the words that she spoke.

"I defer to your wisdom, Master Seraphina. Thank you. For this lesson i mean, I needed it... and I truly think you're the only person I could have really accepted it from..."

Orphen smiled, looking up to her as she took each of her light-sabers in her hand. Orphen took a moment to focus on the force running a pulse though his body and all of the equipment that was on it, he would tune all of the equipment down to the point that it would be little more than a sting as he exhaled deeply. Opening his eyes again he would focus, looking up to his former master and the equipment on her person.

Ready... His mind raced for what needed to come to pass.

Orphen would take up a less seen stance, holding one hand behind his back and extending the other out completely to point in the direction of his opponent. Sliding one foot forward and using his back foot to ground himself he would take up the position of a fencer. A style which had implications to Form II: Makashi, however, not how Orphen chose to apply it, Orphen was a user of Form V, and he had practiced this particular form in it a considerable sum...

Set... One more breath escaped his lips as he steeled his resolve.

The child looked to his former appointed master, the smile still plastered on his face for a moment before vanishing in lieu of intense focus as he would begin to think of possibilities, moments before realizing that, he was able to calculate all he wanted, but he was not going to be prepared for what was to come next. Seraphina was a Jedi master, and it would be a grand weakness to attempt to assign a numerical value to her skill and expertise, and what was next to come. So, as soon as they were both ready...

Go!

Orphen's first strike would be to instigate, he knew that he had the disadvantage of reach on Sera, one which a trained swords woman would be able to take ready advantage of, so, as he stepped in with a single lunge for the center of her mass much like a fencer's basic thrust, the intent was a feint that would not compromise him too greatly, should her light-saber sweep up to block his blade, a single flick of Orphen's wrist would coil his blade around her weapon and make another attempt at her lower abdomen.

And so it began...


[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The Twi'lek waited patiently. Ataru had unfortunately been attributed due to lack of properly trained practitioners to be an exhaustive form. Most of the time that was directly due to ill-prepared and unfit persons attempting to do something they were not built for. Sera on the other hand was slender, nimble, and graceful. Known for being both a dancer and a gymnast, she naturally took to Ataru and Jar'Kai as a youngling in the Order. While she was proficient with Makashi, she rarely utilized it since her days as a Jedi Master. The rest of the forms of combat simply never suited her, despite Corvus' love of Soresu.

Orphen's first strike came as no surprise to her, most saber fights tended to begin in similar ways. After all, if your opponent doesn't move, it's the quickest, most effective means of dispatching them with only a moment's energy spent. With his initial thrust towards her midsection Sera pivoted, her feet turning her body to the left - his right. Her forward facing saber rose upwards to clash violently against Orphen's, igniting a sinful hiss and spark of brilliant light as the two blades momentarily assaulted one another. His second strike as it spun off of her saber would instead lunge forwards into air, its' target having skirted the striking distance by leaping back a meter or so.

As her boots landed in the dirt her pair of weapons would be brought to either side, facing away from her and positioned toward the ground. Rather than attacking him she would wait once more to judge his follow up. She wasn't engaging Orphen in this fight to beat him, or to prove a point. There was little need for that. He asked to be tested; Patience, balance, and a clear mind were keys to passing that test.

[member="Orphen"]

 

[Orphen]

Patience...

Orphen after his initial lunge and feint had caused his opponent to retreat a step, but so too did himself, after lunging forward with a quick thrust the boy took a single step back and began to circle his opponent, his eyes looking over her, remembering her skills, the records that he had seen of her and her battles, her mastery of the Ataru form. Each of them prestigious in their own right and the boy before her would not hold a candle to her skill as a duelist. However, Orphen wasn't intending to win this battle with the deft skill of his hands as a swordsman, but with the learned skill of the strategist. Taking his biological skill and taking it to the extreme he was calculating even the most benign occurences in the environment around him until the arena around him could be envisioned in binary. Everything had its equation, everything except his opponent, grass to him now was little more than green numbers and codes linked together and layered to appear as grass in the boy's obscure digital world.

Seraphina waited for him yet again.

She was waiting for him to bring something to the table which would cause her to strike out and engage in combat, Orphen was ready, Ataru had one particular weakness to it that he could think of, and that was simply that, while it was an acrobatic form, that suited many dueling centric Jedi which used the full power of its ability to enhance and increase their own strength and speed with the force. This focus tended to drain focus away from more outward offensive or projectile force powers, or at least, contribute to their weakness. This meant that very rarely was a Jedi so mastered in the art that they had the telekinetic focus to change their direction while in the air during their own acrobatics... Orphen's plan was to lure her to jump or evade in an extravagant manner, allow physics to do its job, setting a predicatble course which could be measured with her speed and angles, and finish with a single precise interception.

It was the best way. But for it to work he would have to apply pressure.

The hand hidden behind Orphen tucked behind his back, gripping the hilt of his own second blade as Orphen would take another step in, raising his blade across his chest and over his shoulder before bringing it down in a diagonal chop for the master, assuming it was blocked or evaded down, as would be the most logical choice, the second blade would be revealed from behind him, extending as he would pull down on the trigger with a single directly horizontal chop for the core of his opponent, which, if the first blow was blocked would strike under the open guard of her first arm. His second blade would reveal itself to be little more than a shoto lightsaber at first. Orphen could not remember if Sera had ever seen his light-sabers, if not, this could be an interesting bout. He strong grip on his blades making his knuckles white at their tips as they cut through the air with a brisk humming.

Orphen's style was direct, lacking all finesse, it was objective and purposeful with none of the flair or flourish of the core Jedi Martial Arts.

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

There was a great deal that Sera never had the opportunity to teach her student before having departed the Order. For that, she was disappointed in herself for having failed him as well as herself. She was never comfortable with leaving tasks incomplete, let alone the training of a Jedi. It made her feel as though she had lost an opportunity to build further on Orphen's skill, to make him better than he was now had she not left. Still, simply because he had remained a Padawan did not give her cause to believe he was illprepared for a bout with her. She treated every spar with every Jedi, regardless of their rank as an equal. It was the only way to mentally and physically prepare one's self for all possibilities. She'd fought countless Sith, trained with Jedi Masters and Padawans of all sizes, species, and backgrounds. There was little she hadn't seen with regard to stance, style, and method, though every battle was inherintely different, and each combat a new unknown.

As Orphen let loose another attack against her the Twi'lek raised her left hand, the blade of Astana crashing against Orphen's primary weapon. In that very moment the Force beckoned to her, warned her of inevitable danger. A reflexive twitch of her hand released her physical hold of Astana while her right hand forced an adjustment of her body, turning her from the incoming horizontal strike, the back of her body facing the front of his, while her green saber caught his secondary strike mere inches from her body. As if in one fluid motion the Twi'lek then tumbled in a single handed side flip away, both sabers releasing their square off with the student's, returning to her pinkish hands.

She paused, her guard returning. "I've not had to resort to a telekinetic bond with my weapons against a student before." She nodded to him. "Impressive." A few aesthetic twirls of her sabers gave off a vibrant colored display before she stepped back towards him, this time putting him on a more defensive track to gauge his ability to block, parry, and evade. The twin sabers spun about rapidly in her hands before abruptly stopping, the left hand making a heavy downward swing towards his shoulder, while the right swept low just beneath the knees. Every motion, every twirl, and every step of her feet was elegant and graceful. Sera treated Form IV as a dance, rather than a means of combat. It was why she had always excelled in the form of Ataru.

[member="Orphen"]

 

[Orphen]

Her form and grace were immaculate.

Orphen could not see how Seraphina had ever been defeated in a clash of blades, each of her blocks were swift, graceful and precise, though Orphen had no illusions that he would be able to come out the victor, his two strikes on her would be blocked with ease as his opponent would step back some distance, yet, before coming in with two strikes of her own Sera spoke of how impressed she was. Orphen however, was still fully aware that she was operating within human limits, Seraphina was likely able to go far beyond them with her talent in the force, especially as an Ataru user, but to hear that she was capable of and not often pressured to use a telekinetic link, that information was something that he was sure he was able to use in this fight... Seraphina's magenta blades cleaved through the air with the hum of a thousand hornets buzzing ambiently as she flourished her blades in colourful and entrancing displays. Orphen noticed that Seraphina seemed to enjoy flourishing her weapons, as she seemed to do it a lot, probably due to a pattern or learned behaviour. Seraphina seemed to prefer to keep her light-sabers moving, flowing, dancing, even when she was standing still. The motions were in stark contrast to Orphen who once again took his stance, a form which was as rigid and stalwart like a ferrocrete wall.

Then her blows came in.

One after the other her blows would enclose on their target, the first from high to his right shoulder, Orphen would step back, raising the blade of his right handed saber to catch her weapon close to the guard of his own, crossing his arm over his chest, raising his arm slightly over his head with the blade diagonally aiming down to the ground to cover his shoulder she was striking. Simultaniously, the Jedi had been moving his stance slightly more side-on to his opponent as her second strike would close in for his left leg just under his knee, but his other blade, in his stance would already be there and waiting. Flicking his wrist out he would, much like the block with his other blade, catch her weapon close to his saber's hand guard. Seraphina was much stronger than he was, so the placements of his guard were essential, with weightless blades at work Orphen had to ensure than her strikes connected close to the hilt of his own blades, while connected closer to the tips of hers, as the pressure from the leverage would almost all be placed on her wrists and not his arms... But it was in this instant that Orphen began to automatically act, the blue glow which had been covering his bodyseeming to travel inches beyond him, numbers scrolling like falling code through its surface as he could almost see an image of himself leaping forward... He'd seen it...

Seraphina had made a devastating mistake.

Orphen lunged forward for his opponent, releasing the pressure on his two triggers and shortening his blades to the length of Tanto. Seraphina with her attack and his block had allowed the Padawan, even for a moment, to be inside her guard. his shorter blades would be of far more use in this scenario, he was smaller than her, shorter arms, this was his point of advantage. Grinding his blades along hers to protect his entrance he would bring each of them up and across one another in a strike matching that of a scissor, striking across in a 't' pattern for her chest. His follow up would be swift, knowing that proceeding this strike his own guard would be open for a moment, so he would drop his weight low, crouching and sweeping a hand with a small telekinetic wave for her legs, strong enough to topple several people but not quite strong enough to break or fracture anything...

The intention was to make her move back, then the spread of the wave would hopefully force her into an acrobatic maneuver, something which she would be very comfortable with normally performing. Once in the air... his trap would be set, his fingers tingled a the draw...

he was going to have to be fast...

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Spoiler

Very sorry for the delay!

Orphen was certainly unique in his take on saber to saber fighting. He had grown much since his brief time as her student. His movements were well placed and timed accordingly. It appeared as though he had opted to modify he lightsabers, like others she had both sparred with and fought in the past to turn from full length blades to those of drastically smaller sizes, often times no longer than fifty percent of their original size. It was no surprise to her that he had done so as well, though in the moment it was sudden shock, but one she had not been able to mentally prepare herself for the possibility of.

The female moved, much in the same manner that Orphen had predicted she would. After all, she was humanoid, though as her guard adjusted to catch his shortened pair of blades with both Astana and Maseru, a momentary knee-jerk by the Force warned her the imminent danger - his incoming intent to off balance her through the use of her mastered talent. It was in this instant that the student would understand that not everything was quite as predictable as one could hope for.

The second he dropped low to make himself more difficult for her to counter and displace the air with a surge of telekinetic current the female reacted rather peculiarly. Her left foot raised, a small hop forcing her body up just a small distance, enough to reach over him, but instead of moving back, she instead moved forward. Where she would land would be with her right foot pressing against the back of the student to push herself off and past him, landing just behind him, with an adjusted twist of her body, her left handed blade extending straight forward towards his face.

[member="Orphen"]