Prologue: Training Day

[Two-in-One]

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THE JEDI ACADEMY ​

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Spoiler

[youtube]https://youtu.be/ZWjYg8wYZko[/youtube]

Yavin was familiar territory for him, he'd grown up here and even attended the Academy when he was younger but...at some point he just stopped coming; he struggled with finding where he fit in. When he finally discovered the Galactic Alliance he thought it was an opportunity to find purpose, seemed like everyone else had something driving him.

He'd always felt stuck in limbo...wanting to do things and then procrastinating to the point where he'd just no longer care.

This time he thought it would be better than the last. Sooo...he picked up where he started. He joined the New Jedi Order, even joined the Explore Corps and figured the Praxeum on Yavin would be a fitting place to reboot his training.

He was trying to work on commitment...so he was going to try and follow through with this.

He sat in the center of the training room, completely shrouded in silence. Here he was learning and refining the basics...understanding and then applying. The lesson earlier had been on the technique known as Mediation of Emptiness, so his instructor had tasked him with meditating for a certain amount of time each day in order to refine the skill.

Inner peace...purge negative emotions...yeah yeah yeah

Well...he found it hard to focus during the session so he thought he'd brush up on it in his spare time. He sat there, his breathing slowed in order to relax and after minutes of nothing he became restless. His nostrils flared and he let out a deep sigh. His right ear shifted as in the far distance was the sound of water dripping and colliding with the stone surface.

This forced his foot to tap against the floor rapidly. He even started to bite down on his lip. He began to swallow his spit; he was growing anxious.

Well...it had been a minute since he had his last fix. A while back he'd tried death sticks in an effort to ease his emotional pain but...he'd slowly grown to use them regularly and each time his dependency grew.

His hands grew moist...and then he noticed his back was sweating as well. Biting down, his jaws flexed in his face and in his irritation he opened his eyes and fell back, spreading out on the floor. He laid there, staring at the ceiling of the temple. It seemed as though it was falling towards him, knowing that to be impossible he brought his hands up and rubbed his face.

Ugh

"Chit..."

(414)

 

[Two-in-One]

Water ran down the length of face, falling over his cheek bones and falling off just at the edge of his chin. Then he took a towel and dried himself.

Another day ehh...

Sigh.

He found himself walking through the spacious corridors, his boots were the only thing he heard clicking, and it sort of irritated him. The Temple was just too quiet...the port at least had a subtle buzz to it. Silence allowed him to think...and he didn't want to. He turned a corner, and in a few more feet he made it to one of the unoccupied training rooms. He sniffled as he stood just outside the door...because then he thought about the other day when he was here making an attempt at meditating.

Well...he'd been doing better, at least in the concentration department. He punched the button on the wall, when the door opened up he entered and acquainted himself with the center of the room. He sat down in a crossed leg position and tilted his head to both sides as a pop could be heard; he cracked his neck. Taking a slow deep breath and holding it, he shut his eyes and relaxed himself, then he released.

His heartbeat echoed in his ear...it was steady but that was the rate at which he was listening. Then without even realizing his mind had slipped away. He was taken to an urban sprawl, one glimpse after another in very rapid succession. It was familiar...Coruscant. Then his mind's eyes jumped to the vision of him in the back of some dilapidated cantina. His skin was a peach hue from the lights that surrounded him.

He felt the anxiety that accompanied the memory, and just as it played he was show his first time even trying the drugs. A lost boy...no sort of direction, wanting to just block it all for a second. That second turned to minutes...and then into hours as he laid their passed out. Sure...the poison made him feel good. Suddenly all that he was witnessing had turn against him.

For moments his mediation had allowed him hold back the floodgates, but his connection, which had began to become oppressed by his use of drugs and lack of faith, wouldn't allow him to purge the negativity. Suddenly his connection shut off and he was left with severe nausea as his body became flooded with old feelings.

He forced himself off the floor, and he scurried off with his hand over his mouth; the vomiting was inevitable.

(420)

 

[Two-in-One]

Things we progressing, as much as they could however. His withdrawal symptoms were growing in aggression, and every day he fought it. He just had nothing to cope with at the Temple...and he didn't want to make the trip to Shardock and risk putting himself in the situation to where he'd want to leave. His mediations were the only thing that helped him progress...but even then it was only temporary before he got anxious and couldn't concentrate.

Its been a few weeks, it was nearing the end of the month and he was starting on the basics of the lightsaber. His first few sessions were all about the philosophy behind the weapon and a few baseline maneuvers that would accompany the style they'd be immersed in later on. They would all be starting with Form I of course, Shii-Cho.

Honestly, by its brief description they were given...this one sounded ideal. He preferred more simple methods and a straight forward approach. Granted he hadn't learned about any of the other style yet.

The session he would be participating in today was going to focus on the principles of blaster-deflection. In the room were a manageable size of students, enough for each of them to receive their own training remote. Much like the others he left the center of the group and spaced himself out from the other students upon instruction from the teacher. From his corner he began to tighten and un-tighten his grip around the training hilt. It had a manageable weight to, he started to pump his arm up and down to test it again.

Hmm.

Whenever he decided to look back up he noticed one of the remotes flying towards him and the hovering in place. "Alright, please put on your blindfolds..."

A raspy voice had cut through the room, he pull his off hand up and examined the cream color strip of cloth given to him by the instructor. He let out a sigh before proceeding with wrapping it around his eyes and head, and securing it in the back. "This is a basic blast-deflection exercise. The point is to get you to use your instincts rather than your senses. Draw upon the Force and allow it to guide your movements, center yourselves..." the mans voice called out to them all. "Annnddd...begin."

He ignited the weapon which produced a azure color unbeknownst to him. In a two-handed grip he held it tight and in an upright position, parallel to his body. A sniffle...and then nothing. He stood up straight and lowered his defense assuming something was wrong, "Wai..." then he felt a stung against his back than slightly pushed him forward. His left foot jolted forward and planted itself so that he could catch himself completely.

His face had visible irritation on it as his nostrils flared. In retaliations he gripped the weapon and swung the blade around in a sweep gripped by aggression. Though just as his spin came to a halt, he felt another sting to his arm.

"You need to relax! Your suppose to be concentrating, this fit your having won't help you here or in the field. Calm yourself and start over, this time allow the Force to guide you..."

Sigh.

"Yeah...whatever. Fine" He repositioned himself. Thinking of the earlier training in meditation he took a deep breath and centered himself. He slowly brought the weapon up in a two-handed grip that paralleled his body. Something was drawing his attention, it was a very subtle pull that captured his attention. To his right, he twisted his waist and turn his upper body to the right. Bending his left knee a bit her brought his right and left arms up so that that were perpendicular to one another. His azure blade was held at a horizontal position that deflected the blast of energy that originated from the remote.

Then suddenly his attention was averted, pulling his right foot back he spun his body around so that the blade was held up vertically in front of his body to bock the next attack. Much like the other initiates he was getting accustomed to it, even though it took him just a tad bit longer.

He continued on allowing his movements to flow from one to the next, refining the technique as he went on.

(699)

 

[Two-in-One]

"Everyone choose a sparring partner."

He stood in the center of the group, he was looking directly at the instructor by not really seeing him. Today he wasn't feeling completely up to par; last night he failed to get much rest. He just couldn't get comfortable and when he did...he grew warmer than he needed to be. That probably wouldn't have mattered his the session wasn't going to be a physical one.

A couple of weeks ago they'd began learning Form I of lightsaber combat, they took a week to focus on blast-deflection and now they were focusing on the actual drills against one another. The world around him seemed slow as every dispersed from the center of the room. His jaws tensed up as he bit down, when he finally realized, he was standing in the center alone. Looking around at the parrings he scurried to find his own.

"Hey, Rebel would you be my partner?"

Without even looking, he messaged his forehead and returned with, "Yea..Yeah." and he turned to see that it was one of the other male initiates. Well...to be honest he didn't know his name. Whatever.

In their respective corner they stood a decent amount aways from one another. Each with their training saber in their hand. A sniffle, and a turn of his head...Rebel failed to make eye contact with the instructor instead listening.

"We're doing Velocities today. Everyone should know the basics attacks and parries of the form by now. These will just be drills to make the applications apart of your muscle memory. You all are aware of how these drills go...stick to the pattern, increase speed, when a person is hit or yields we say..."

"Dulon." as everyone simultaneously spoke. Rebel stood there watching.

"Begin."

Each student ignited their blades, Rebel' partner was the first to act charging him and unleashing a sequence of attacks with his emerald blade. His first was a horizontal sweep kept at moderate speed, it was followed by a rapid succession of attacks. The one to follow the initial strike was a vertical overhand attack, the next two were the same as both were diagonal shallow slashes aimed for Rebels right shoulder. The last two were both similar as well, his opponent brought his weapon around to attack Rebel' left shoulder, and then brought it back around to attack his right. One after the other. Each attack was followed by an increase in speed.

Immediately brining his azure blade up in a two-handed vertical grip, he tightened his grip so that when his weapon block his opponents, he was shielded from the recoil. Taking a step back he quickly twisted his hands so that his blade went from upright, to laying on its side just above his head. The overhand attack landed and for a brief moment they held each other there. Then, Rebel' vision focused on his hand and realized that it had been shaking on its own. His eyebrow rose, and just then their weapons released one another. Taking a few steps back he brought his blade up to parry his diagonal attacks. Each time his azure blade would come up, it was on a different side of his body but in the loop as to shield its wielder.

Now standing firm, he held his own for the rest attempting not to yield. He brought his weapon up and over with its tip facing the ground as he shield his left and right sides from the sweep attacks of his opponents. The left was a success, but by being a tad bit slow on the transition to the right he caught the blade at the last minute thus ramming both blades into his side.

Arrghh.

He felt the sting, and gripped his side. "Dulon!" Though all of a sudden the pain was more than it usually was. For some reason he was more sensitive to pain now.

He'd obviously grown more irritable by this fact and so he resumed his stance. When they were both ready he lunged forward in an attempt to attack. In an underhand vertical attack he swung his blade up to initiate his sequence of attacks. Then he followed through with a series of three overhanded attacks, pushing through with each step forward. His next attack was was a swift horizontal attack aiming for his opponents right shoulder, his last attack would seem him fall to one knee and land another horizontal attack across his opponent abdomen.

"Dulon"

When the went to their respective corners to start again, he noticed his hand was slightly shaking. Breathing hard after his performance he held his hand up and examined the trembles.

(779)

 

[Two-in-One]

Sigh.

He rolled his eyes, his hand hovered above a small pit of sand that was seemingly constructed for him individually. He maneuvered his fingers in an intricate yet unconcerned way. The sand beneath his hand hovered, and assumed many shapes as pressure was applied in different ways and area via his manipulation through the Force.

He turned his head and observed all of the other prospects in his age group, everyone seemed content with what they were doing but he was slightly bored and growing more bored by the minute. He just felt very bored with life today...while the task was to use sand levitation to refine and hone his telekinetic abilities, he had grasped the basic concept and grew tired of forming different objects.

He got it...he had to learn control. Yeah yeah yeah.

Well he wasn't interested. He positioned his hand to just be flat over the sand bed, and with that action the sand under his control fell back into the pit and he proceeded with rubbing his hands together to dust them off. He turned his body and leaned against the stone wall that made up the temple. He closed his eyes for a split second, and folded his arms. Taking a moment to himself he determined that he'd like to test his ability on something else.

He opened his eyes and saw a vase just off into the corner ahead. His eyebrow rose as an idea came to him. He thought maybe he'd test his mettle with sliding the object or levitating it...hell maybe even a combination of both. He approached it, and after checking to see if he was in the view of any of the others he allowed his right arm to raise.

His hand came up with his palm facing the vase, his fingers spread out and his face tensed up as he began to concentrate. The object began to tremble slightly as he drew upon the Force to manipulate it with his mind. His intentions were to levitate it, to at least raise it a foot off the ground. As it increased in speed, but failed to levitate he grew irritate and applied more pressure as his fingers began to stiffen and bend.

Before he knew the vase would rise on its left side, in his pressure, it rose and tipped over shattering upon impact.

Chit.

He scratched the back of his head and scurried back to the group.

(409)

 

[Two-in-One]

Suddenly his nose started running. He felt something wet just under his nostril, and when he hand came up to investigate he felt some moisture there. For some reason to day he just had the sniffles; weird. Just then he looked up as his opponent stepped into his line of vision. At least this session would be more entertaining than the last...hopefully. He tucked his small golden chain in his shirt and stepped forward so that they would be an even amount of space apart.

Then he got into his stance, his only goal was to get this guy off his feet before he could get him off his. In an instant they both reacted simultaneously when they threw up their hands in an attempt to launch a Force push at each other. Caught in a deadlock, eventually the recoil pushed them back. He attempted to aim a well timed force push at his opponents legs but failed to beat him to the punch.

Suddenly, as his arm came up, his foot was pull from under him and he hit the ground after the imbalance. A grunt could be heard as he collided with the stone floor.

In due part...his withdrawal symptoms from the death sticks were getting in the way of his training everyday...and each day was something new. His slowness was a product of this.

Sigh.

He got up and threw out his left with a Force push coming at his opponents right, seemingly expecting it to be block he also used his right to launch a much more direct blow. In his retaliation it hit and sent his opponent off his feet. They both got their one, and their second wouldn't come as easily. They both began to trade blows, but had become accustom to trading energy and using each others against one another.

(306)

 

[Two-in-One]

"You'll be transferring from here to the Academy on Nar Shaddaa, your request was accepted and since your training here is complete you'll start the next phase there."

Rebel stood there with his arms folded over one another, his eye were shut but his awareness was there. His training on Yavin had come to a close, as his grasp on the basics were there but since he'd been picked up by a Master it was time he'd continue on with the next phase. The instructor had it all laid out for him, constant communication from Sullust had provided the necessary information in time.

Hmmph, "Alright..." He said in a low voice before slowly opening his eyes.

"You'll be apprenticed to Jed Moonrunner, and will be staying with him over the course of your training. Once you get to Nar Shaddaa he'll lay it all out for you. But first, your presence has been requested Padawan. Before your transfer is complete you'll be working with Alliance operatives on an assignment to Aleen. Your mission is to help wrestle control back from the local warlord, and give it back to the people."

"Great...sending me to my death aye? Was I that bad as a student?" He said sarcastically.

"Padawan Sunka...this is a serious endeavor. If you want to succeed at this then you must take this serious. Nar Shaddaa and the real missions will not be so lackluster...you'll need to prepare yourself for what's ahead or you won't be getting very far."

Sigh.

"Ehh..fine." He said rolling his eyes.

Lets just see what happens from now on.

(265)


(Overall total: 3,292)