The Way of the Hawk-Bat

[Lord Gaius]

The Jedi Knight stood in the open fields of Voss. Yellow, crisp grass swayed beside his leather boots. Pink flowers blossomed under the sunlight. The Nautolan felt at home here, but the lake nearby gave him shivers. Something about the water wasn't natural. It was dark and decrepit. He had personally searched the water several times and yet came up with no reason for it's haunting atmosphere. He had spent hours beneath the water, only capable of this due to his amphibious nature. In his hand he held a Lightsaber Pike he had constructed himself with two blue crystals. The hilt was made of a thick outer layer of Cortosis to prevent duelists from dismembering his blade. He awaited Master Gan for training in the ways of Form IV: Ataru.

@[member="Rasu Gan"]

 

[Rasu Gan]

The pure warmth that radiated from Voss' environment was truly a treasure, one that the Shi'ido was extremely grateful for having present in the home of the new era of Jedi. It held a form of true tranquility that Rasu had not even found while inhabiting on the deep core world of Tython, one that she had held in quite high-esteem and still did, despite being forbidden to ever set foot on it again. Voss was home and Rasu was more than grateful.

Walking barefoot among the tall, golden grass, Rasu took it all in; the air, the scenery, it all still held such a beauty that was able to leave the Jedi Master speechless each time. As the Shi'ido made her way through the field, a figure soon grew into view, one remaining motionless against the soft breeze that picked up his head tresses.

"Greetings Knight Hallu, and may I offer my congratulations to you on your promotion to Knight. It was much deserved." she said, placing a gentle hand upon the man's shoulder. She had heard much of him, and had worked with him on only few occasions, during their time while still in the folds of the Republic. Hasjo had proved himself a worthy candidate for Knight and was the first Jedi to have been promoted in the flourishing order of Jedi.

"Now I believe you have summoned me here for training, am I correct?" she asked, having been not quite clear on the full details of the invitation set by the young Nautolan.

[member="Hasjo Hallu"]

 

[Lord Gaius]

"Greetings Knight Hallu, and may I offer my congratulations to you on your promotion to Knight. It was much deserved." [member="Rasu Gan"] said, placing a gentle hand upon the Nautolans shoulder. "I am honoured by your words, Master Gan" he replied formally. He bowed his head in deep respect of her. It was how he treated all above his station, and those of Knight of lower were his equals. Or so he felt in his eyes. He had been a Padawan for so long, alongside Asaak Tey, that now he was a Knight and she was not. He felt he was still her equal regardless of his stature as a Knight. He was always a Padawan in the presence of that Togruta.

"Now I believe you have summoned me here for training, am I correct?" she asked.
Hasjo replied "That is so. I have come to ask of training in the Way of the Hawk-Bat. I seek to expand upon my knowledge of the six of seven Lightsaber Forms." Juyo and Vapaad were something he was unsure about. Sochi Ru knew him, in his younger years he had been hard pressed to control some emotions during training, and to study the seventh form may unleash those emotions for them to control him. To send him down a darker path he would never dare willingly tread. He knew from research in the archives that many succumbed to the Dark Side upon following the seventh form. Few ever stayed upon the Light side. It was a dangerous road.

 

[Rasu Gan]

"A admirable goal indeed Hasjo." she replied, a proud smile appearing upon her lips. She had heard much of him from her dear friend Sochi Ru, the Nautolan's master, and now having witnessed more of the Knights deeds first hand, she could understand why the Togruta spoke so highly of him. "And I would be honoured to help you progress further towards its completion."

Rasu had taught Ataru on a few occasions, however specialised in teaching Force abilities, leaving saber forms to Sochi, who like her student had also set out on a goal of mastering all the known forms, save for Juyo and Vaapad, which in Rasu's opinion relied too heavily on those more darker emotions. Ataru allowed her too truly become one with the Force, opening herself to various acrobatic techniques that could only be performed when linked with the Force. This is what she would have to reiterate to the Nautolan, that Ataru was a difficult form to master, if one did not have genetics suited to the acrobatics that it based itself off.

"Well Hasjo, Ataru is extremely demanding, physically. The different techniques that envelop the basis of the Form take a large toll on the body and require large amounts of energy from both your own reserve and the Force. It is why we as Form IV users are always on the offensive. Attacking requires less energy than it would to defend, thus we are able to perform much more strenuous and acrobatic maneuvers than say one of the Soresu users. Does this make sense so far? she asked, making sure her student understood the basis of her explanation before she continued deeper into the art of Form IV.

[member="Hasjo Hallu"]

 

[Lord Gaius]

"Does this make sense so far?" [member="Rasu Gan"] asked.
"Yes, Master Gan" Hasjo answered. While Ataru would be demanding physical, his years in the military and constant upkeep of his physical strength would prove his ultimate ally. Not to mention his naturally powerful thighs as a Nautolan, born to swim. But it would be acrobatic feats he would perform. He would use muscles that he rarely ever used, and it would take some time before they would become strong enough to use Ataru at the degree of an proficient Form IV user. "May I demonstrate?" Hasjo asked. He thought that perhaps if he demonstrated his agile ability, she could better discern how to properly train him. For every student was unique.

He stood back aways, bowing his head with the salute of his palms meeting together. He held his lightsaber, un-ignited. He began to perform a series of sweeping motions. It was absolute fluidity. One motion following into the next, without a wasted effort. The Nautolan increased his efforts. He was a living, martial hurricane, his body moving in two and three directions at once, joints flexing, unlimited by human vertebral restraints. Moving his torso with a boneless agility that seemed impossible for any vertebrae. He utilised his powerful legs well, as he came to a finish, he performed a series of barrel roll spins. His breathing maintained, his twin hearts beating out of sync in a rhythmic drum.

 

[Rasu Gan]

Rasu took a step back as the Nautolan began his demonstration. Bringing a finger to rest on her lower lip, the Shi'ido studied Hasjo's technique, watching as his body twisted and turned as he leaped and ducked. Rasu couldn't help but be impressed, a small smile appearing on her lips as she became entranced by the dance-like pattern that Hasjo was performing for her. This was what the true essence of lightsaber combat was about, pure elegance.

"That was well done indeed, Hasjo. I feel that Form IV will come easy to you now knowing that your body is well suited to the rigorous movements that it entails." she said, once the man had finished. She had to admit, she had been eager to see what the young man had learned, having been trained by one of those closest to her in the Order. Already she could make out, subtle hints of Sochi in the Nautolan's movements. An occasional flick of the wrist or the graceful, fluid movement of the backwards leap, all of which could be traced back to her dear friend. "Master Ru had taught you well."

Unclipping one of her sabers from her belt, she ignited it, casting a yellow glow over her robes and the golden field. "I can see you know the basics, but let's see how you fare with a saber," she said, indicating to the hilt on his waist. "Remember it is an extension of your arm, so performing as you have done so before should provide the wanted effect." she said, taking a step back in salute, allowing the Nautolan to make his move.

[member="Hasjo Hallu"]

 

[Lord Gaius]

He nodded in acknowledgement. Blessing her for her praise unto him. But when she saluted, he launched himself at her. He knew not whether she would be furious with him for such an attack, but it was the way he hunted Sith. He needed to train the way he would fight - and that was by never letting your guard down, and utilising the advantage of surprise. He came at her hard and fast, igniting the cerulean plasma of his Lightsaber Pike. He kicked off the ground, performing a rapid spin, his lightsaber coming down in a vicious sweep at her. He righted himself, but his Ataru stance was clearly poor - even for his acrobatic feats, he couldn't get the stance right. Not yet. He then spun his body, torso down, his left foot coming up in a high-aimed kick, before bringing his Lightsaber Pike around to follow the attack.

@[member="Rasu Gan"]