The Demon's Training (Zaren)

[Riuku Morvol]

Standing out on the grounds of the Jedi Academy, Riuku had his training lightsaber out and lit. I still need to build my own lightsaber... Riuku thought as he stood there, practicing swings and stabs. So far he hadn't gotten any training in the force, but he didn't mind that. While he would love to do force training, lightsaber training also intrigued him greatly.

He had spent some time in his room and the library reading about there being more designs for lightsabers than the regular ones usually associated with the Jedi. Lightsaber pikes, lightwhips, lightclubs... Riuku was confused as to why lightclubs had their name, because they were just really long lightsabers, but he didn't think much on it, and went back to practicing slices.

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

 

[Zion Krayt]

An armoured titan walked onto the scene with a slow gait. Zaren, or Bishop as members of the Jedi Order knew him by, walked on the grounds to see the winged beast that [member="Riuku Morvol"]. He had never seen such a creature before, never even thought about winged creatures being force sensitive or even wanting to be a Jedi.

...

This is weird. He thought to himself. It certainly looked like a creature out of some horror story, but he harboured no ill will to it. It was his Padawan, assigned to him by the Jedi Council. It didn't matter much to him, he was a Jedi Master, and having Padawans was something that just happened... It wouldn't be his first one either, although he did regret never finishing the training of Hataku Mutashi and Tugoro Taidarious.

"Riuku Morvol." He said, his voice amplified by the helmet. "I am your Master now. Bishop." Short and straight to the point. There was a war going on, there was no such thing as fun and games, not for a long time now.

 

[Riuku Morvol]

Riuku did not know how to react to the armored behemoth of a man approaching him. Riuku was almost intimidated, but realized soon that being scared would not earn him any points with this man.

"Riuku Morvol." Said the behemoth, his voice booming. "I am your Master now. Bishop."

Riuku distinguished his lightsaber, and bowed. "Yes, sir." He said in a respectful but serious tone. He didn't want to offend his new master, but also didn't want to appear a wuss.

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

 

[Zion Krayt]

[member="Riuku Morvol"]

"Do me a favour, Padawan Morvol." He said suddenly. He was silent for a moment, letting the moment build up, as if he were going to deliver some awesome message. "The sooner you act as yourself, the faster this training will go." Zarem knew all about wanting to respect his masters and to have their respect. But a long time ago, the Jedi Master had been a Padawan, and in those days he had been as disrespectful as ever.

He had played jokes and made fun of the physical limitations of his Instructors. It usually involved him running laps, oh and run he did. Not to mention cleaning. In front of the entire Jedi Order. In the future, punishments got real tough.

 

[Riuku Morvol]

Riuku sighed. "Well, at least I tried," he said, straightening again. He had been used to the whole "Yes sir, Yes ma'am," routine from his days of a slave. He picked up quickly that if you did what you were told, with decent results, and did the routine, you were flogged less.

He still had some scars from his less respectful days, but he was wearing his robes, so only the small ones on his wings were visible. His masters were smart enough rather than kind to avoid his wings most of the time, because they knew it would hinder Riuku's abilities to do his slave bounty hunter job if his wings were hurt.

Riuku straightened out his wings quickly, mostly because folding his wings was part of the routine and it was uncomfortable, then relaxed them comfortably. He then looked toward his new Master. "So, you're name is Bishop? You seem to already know me, so introducing myself is pointless." He had been told that a master was being chosen for him, but hadn't been told the name.

Riuku thought that it would take him awhile to trust his master.

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

 

[Zion Krayt]

"Tried what?"

He didn't understand as to what he was getting at. He knew from his past that he was a slave, and that had all that he had read from the Padawan's files. He knew that he was interested in the path of the Guardian, I mean, where else would he be with such a large form? Definitely not a Consular.

"You understand the training of the Jedi will be rigorous, correct? Within months, if you were to look back on yourself now, you shall not recognize yourself. You are strong now, but you will be stronger with Jedi training." This Padawan - Master stuff was something that he had to get used to again. "Now then. Tell me what you know of the Jedi, and what have you learned already."

Wold he truly have been given a Padawan that knew little, if that much? The basics were a small amount and even that amount would irritate him. Zaren had taught his Padawans from experience, hands on combat, not from the safety of a library. If he had to teach the winged beast how to fight, he wouldn't be able to do his duty.

He eyed him carefully, blank-faced helmet hardly moving as he regarded [member="Riuku Morvol"]. If he does become a Jedi Knight, I'll make sure he is ready. The most deserving of Knighthood. Zaren nodded to himself. He promised.

 

[Riuku Morvol]

"Tried being respectful, I mean. Made an effort to try and be a proper student." Riuku explained when he was asked. Then Riuku realized he didn't really know what a "proper student" was. He'd never been taught anything, not even how to shoot or use a knife. He had learned all of that on the field.

He nodded whenever [member="Zaren Bouqi"] told him his training would be rigorous. Whenever he was asked what he knew about the Jedi and what he learned already, Riuku said "The Jedi are a group of people who dissolve dangerous situations, either diplomatically or with force, but they try and only use force if it's a last resort. I've been told the best blades are kept in their sheathes. As for what I've learned, I've received some training in the basics of lightsaber combat. I have not gotten any training other than that, though." Riuku hoped that would satisfy Bishop.

 

[Zion Krayt]

"You tried being respectful? Did you have... Inconveniences recently?"

There was definitely a curiosity element to his question, he wondered as to how the other Jedi would've regarded this creature. He doubted many would've shunned them, but it was usually the negative interactions, those that numbered in the few that most beings took in stride and lingered on.

Long ago he had learned that, positivity would always be a great majority, but negativity would be the things that would stay with you for a long time.

Zaren nodded. His new found Padawan spoke just as he had when he was a Padawan so long ago. As someone who only stayed in classrooms. "Times have changed, Morvol. In times of war, keeping your weapon sheathed will get you killed. Through our future missions, you'll learn when to draw your lightsabre and when not to. I'll teach you to plan steps ahead, and to initiate a fight at the right time, and not before."

[member="Riuku Morvol"]

 

[Riuku Morvol]

"I haven't had any inconveniences, no, I just wanted to try and make a good impression on the man that is going to be my master." This was true. He had not wanted to get off on the wrong foot with someone who was going to be teaching him, though he wasn't sure how that was going now.

He listened to his master explain keeping his weapon sheathed would get him killed, which he already knew quite well, but was happy that he had someone who wasn't completely against using force for a master.

After [member="Zaren Bouqi"] had finished, Riuku spoke. "Right. I should probably mention that I know how to use a vibroblade and am not bad at hand to hand. I don't know how well those will transfer over to lightsaber training, though." Riuku was quite skilled with a vibroblade, but he wasn't accustomed to his training saber just yet.

 

[Zion Krayt]

Zaren nodded. Then he had only said it so that he could get a response from his Master.

Amusing.

But he took it in stride and continued.

"Your skill with a vibroblade can certainly transfer to lightsabre combat as soon as you get used to the different weights. When I was a Padawan I used vibroblades too, they were useful, but you'll learn lightsabres are a superior weapon." There was a pause as he thought of his other knowledge of combat. Hand to hand? If he wasn't in armour, he'd scratch the back of his head at that moment with an awkward smile and chuckle going on all at the same time. "It could be useful if you're able to adapt it, but I don't see how unless you were wanting to deliver a punch in the middle of a lightsabre duel."

He shrugged.

"It's a good way to lose an arm, and thus the fight." He remembered when he was a Padawan, he wasn't the best, but he wasn't the worst. An acolyte of the Sith had swung at him, and Zaren had showed him why he should've just surrendered. He lost his arm, and then his head for the attack, but he had already come to terms with his own violent tendencies in combat. The question was though... Had [member="Riuku Morvol"]?

 

[Riuku Morvol]

Riuku was happy to hear his skill in vibroblades could still be used. Riuku was wondering what [member="Zaren Bouqi"] was thinking when he went silent. Whenever he started talking about hand to hand, Riuku realized he was probably trying to think if there were any successful ways of using melee.

"Yeah, I can see that punching may not be smart... But I do have claws on my feet and hands, as well as my tail." As he said this, he moved his tail into the air, moving it, then putting it back on the ground. "In a saber lock, I could trip them or something... A bit dirty, but as you said, these are times of war... All is fair in love and war, after all."

 

[Zion Krayt]

The tail hadn't been something that Zaren had taken into account. It certainly was a good idea, he knew that in the past there had been multiple Barabels who were apart of the Jedi Order, creatures similar to whatever [member="Riuku Morvol"] was... But without the wings and if seen together, probably would be thought to be sworn enemies of each other. One a ground dweller, the other capable of flight. At least in the films...

He let the thought pass and continued with speaking.

"A good trick, I agree..." He was planning on continuing with a 'but' but unfortunately nothing else came to him. There were definitely negatives to having a tail in a lightsabre combat, for one, you could only use it so many times before it probably became a disadvantage for you to have. Instead of a hand or arm, it'd be a tail. Did tails grow back? Did they even make cybernetic tails? He refrained from shrugging but instead said, "but you should only use it so many times. As force users we adapt to combat situations quite quickly, if you're too use your tail in combat too many times, your opponent will either play that to their advantage in some way, or they'll stay further away from you." A pause. "Most likely forcing you to tire yourself out to get to them."

Yes... Riuku was going to be a Guardian. He was certain of it. His stamina and endurance would be beyond even Zaren's he was certain.

 

[Riuku Morvol]

"Yeah, tiring myself out definetly wouldn't be good." After saying this, Riuku wondered if [member="Zaren Bouqi"] knew about his races weakness. Just in case, he decided to tell him. "I should probably warn you... My race, while we seem to be filled with advantages, have a pretty big disadvantage. We have hollow bones."

Riuku hated the weakness. He thought about it every time he was landing after taking a fly around with his wings. He would always think that if he landed too hard his bones would shatter. It made him feel weak.

"I'll have to be careful if I am ever facing someone that's considerably larger than I am. Try and keep my distance if possible... I had wanted to try and focus on lightsaber combat, but I think for those situations force powers would help alot."

 

[Zion Krayt]

It was definitely interesting to learn. He had limited knowledge about Riuku's race, the fact that they had hollow bones could possibly prove as a problem in lightsabre combat if he wasn't careful. If he was careful, it could still be a problem if he tried to aply too much force, or if his own blocks were getting pushed too hard against him.

Multiple problems.

Multiple solutions as well. Well, not really, just the Force. "I'll teach you to use the Force to strengthen yourself, but it's not a permanent fix. Only in battles or in dire situations." He of course spoke of how you were able to slow yourself down with the Force if you fell from great heights, but he had wings, he wouldn't really need the Force for that now would he? Then again, everyone knew how cruel the Sith could be, a clip here, and pushed out a building.

Zaren grunted at the thought.

"You can also do it without the Force, but it'll be more straining for you physically. Your wings will come into play almost all the time." Only a handful of flaps from those wings should be able to lighten his descent or landing if necessary, but he wasn't entirely certain.

"Tell me what you wish to learn first. Your training begins now."

[member="Riuku Morvol"]

 

[Riuku Morvol]

This is where he started his official master/padawan training... What did he want to learn?

The answer wasn't as hard as Riuku thought it would be. He was definitely interested in the force, but he wanted to focus on lightweapons first.

"I think I want to learn how to properly use my lightsaber, and how to effectively fight with it... So, saber techniques and forms."

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

 

[Zion Krayt]

The pause was longer than he had originally thought it was going to be when he had asked him what he wanted to learn first. He assumed the same had been for him when he had first joined the Jedi Order, but then he remembered that that was false. He had known from the beginning that he wanted to be just like his uncle the great Jedi Master T'el Bouqi and be one of the greatest Jedi Guardians of his time.

Lightsabre combat was something that he craved from what seemed like he exited the womb.

"As you wish. Prepare your training lightsabre." He was certain he had seen him with one a few minutes ago, but if that were a mistake they were all over the place in the training area, it wouldn't be too hard to get one that was strewn about.

When he was ready, he said, "Form One: Shii-Cho. I assume you know nothing about this form. It focuses primarily on jabs and thrusts. Stabs and lunges too if you wanted to get more into it." It was the very first form, there wasn't too much to explain about the form, but he knew it was going to be annoying to teach all of this to a new initiate.

I guess it's always been like this.

He grunted in response, and waited for a confirmation from [member="Riuku Morvol"].

 

[Riuku Morvol]

Riuku lit his training lightsaber. After [member="Zaren Bouqi"] had finished explaining the basics of Shii-Cho, Riuku said "Actually, while I may not know anything about practicing the form, I've read up on all of the forms. I know that won't help me much on a battlefield, but it's better than starting with nothing, right?"

Riuku had been on Ossus for a few weeks now, and had tried to spend his time wisely as he waited for a master to accept him. Reading up on the forms, practicing the body target zones that master [member="Kian Karr"] had taught him and other padawans at their group basics training. Anything that he thought would help him.

"If you don't mind my asking, Master Bishop, do you have a preferred form?"

 

[Zion Krayt]

"There is a difference between knowing what to do and doing it correctly Riuku." Knowing what a form could do didn't particularly help you on the battlefield. Most if not all combatants had a main lightsabre form, but they adapted it to fit them thus giving the user a unique yet similar way of combat. If everyone fought with solely the maneuvers from books and teachers, fights would take a lot longer than they did already.

"I do have a preferred form, but I won't teach you it." Form Seven wasn't for Padawans as he'd learned throughout his life time. He was quite experienced with Djem So and Makashi. He had mastery over three forms, so he'd teach [member="Riuku Morvol"] those ones. "Makashi and Djem So will suit you perfectly. The latter moreso I think." He nodded his head as if in confirmation, yes, he was certain Djem So was the best form for his newfound Padawan.

 

[Riuku Morvol]

Riuku had already acknowledged the fact that it wouldn't help him on the battlefield, but said nothing whenever [member="Zaren Bouqi"] repeated it. From what Bishop said previously, Riuku was really getting the vibe that practice made perfect, and anything else did nothing to help. He could respect that, though.

"I have a preferred form, but I won't teach you it." Riuku was curious what form he meant, but didn't ask. If he didn't want to teach Riuku it, it meant that either Riuku wasn't ready, or it was a dangerous form. "Alright... So Makasi and Djem So." Makashi makes sense, but Djem So...? "Bishop, I'm not sure if you noticed, but I'm not exactly buff. Do you really think I'd be able to use Djem So effectively?" Riuku also realized that these forms left little to no defense against blasters.

 

[Zion Krayt]

"..."

If it were possible for the Padawan to see his face he'd see the irritating that was there after being questioned. It wasn't something that happened often and it wasn't something that he particularly enjoyed experiencing. But he was going to explain it anyway. Useless questions were just a waste of time and he didn't like that.

"Jedi training will make you 'buff.' Your wings make it difficult to figure out a form that'll suit you perfectly. Form III: Soresu is simply defeated by how large you are, wings included. You'll have a much larger mass to protect while your opponent will most likely have a smaller one. Djem So and Makashi are two forms that work well together if you're able to adapt both of their characteristics to your own fighting style." It's what he did when he fought, Makashi was clearly a basis to his style of combat. It's smoothness and his long use of it had allowed him to bend his wrist in ways that he never would've thought possible.

Now then. The time for talk was over.

Zaren walked over to a nearby table where he had picked up a remote and he activated it. A trio of droids that were strewn about the room activated and rose to their feet. For a moment they stood there as if they were disoriented before they picked up the training blades that were at their feet. "Show me what you know." He already knew there was little to show, but he wanted to know what his Padawan could do rather than verbal limits of his abilities.

[member="Riuku Morvol"]