Private This is a Title

[Ameli Trahir]

Ameli was really making an effort these days. An effort to improve. Any effort in general was out of the ordinary, but at least this one directly benfitted her. Still, it had not been an easy process to begin. Being corrected and working on something she didn't feel especially good at wasn't particularly fun. Better than ending up dead though, that was for sure. And if it helped her reach a higher plateu power-wise than the one she was currently sat on, so be it.

The blonde sat in the back of the speeder, looking out its windows aimlessly. She didn't fly herself, and didn't have a personal driver, so a cab service had been the way to go. The drivers, whether droid or organic often got chatty, but she had killed that from the very start.

Finally the yellow speeder sat down, at the location specified as their meeting point by Enyo Typhos . Ameli stepped outside. She wore an all-black outfit, starting with a pair of tight, black pants that had the look of leather though the material was actually quite flexible. They had various horizontal cuts on the front of her thighs. She had a short top that cut off just at the lower end of her ribs, and over it she wore a black leather jacket.Ameli had let her hair grow longer recently, and the blonde locks were left to hang loosly ontop her shoulder and down her back. There wasn't much in the way of accessories, although she did wear two rings, one in wood and the other silver, and one on each hand.

Ameli's presence in the Force, if anyone aws looking, was dimmed, anonymous, and seeking to float under the radar. This was mainly thanks to the work of one of those rings, aimed at concealing her presence and alignment in the Force.

 

[Enyo Typhos]

Ameli Trahir

The speeder would eventually come to a halt in front of a nondescript warehouse. It was located in what one might consider the bad part of town. The kind where you occasionally came across a corpse hanging from a lamp post. The decrepit surroundings were a far cry from the villas and luxurious penthouses of the rich that, but it guaranteed anonymity. Upon exiting the vehicle, Ameli would be greeted by two guards that looked like bodybuilders. Both were professional, but neither was talkative. This was because they were actually HRDs. Interestingly, the warehouse would be difficult to scan with the Force.

Regardless, after a moment or two, she would be let into the warehouse. In contrast to the street, it was actually clean - obsessively so, in fact. "Ameli Trahir," a voice spoke. It was unmistakeably feminine, but devoid of any warmth. It was not unkind either, just bland and emotionless. "I'm Enyo Typhos. You are here for training," sge said in a clipped tone. It was a statement of fact, not a question.

Some people would have begun the conversation with polite platitudes. Perhaps enquired about how the mafia princess was doing, but this was not Enyo's way. When the Terminatrix stepped into view, Ameli would see a tall woman dressed in a vaguely paramilitary style uniform, with practical combat boots. It was black, which helped her blend in, and devoid of insignia, decorations or anything that would indicate affiliation. Her long brown mane framed her face. She carried a holster with a pistol on her thigh, and a lightsabre hung on her belt.

A duffel bag lay at her feet. Presumably it contained items pertinent to today's exercise. "You won't need those. Remove them," Enyo pointed at the rings. "If you are to succeed, you will do so without the aid of trinkets."

 

[Ameli Trahir]

Ameli was not unfamiliar with the darker and less well-maintained streets and corners of the galaxy, however entitled she behaved. She had made her beginnings in dimmed surroundings. Her rise had been quite remarkable. Yet the sudden transition from the outside to the almost sterile inside gave her pause. Before she could do much pondering, there was a voice.

"Sounds like you've got all the facts in order" she said nonchalantly, looking over to the ohter female. "Ah- these old things?" Ameli hesitated, feigning ignorance. She thought of arguing the request, pretending they were just any ordinary rings. Of course they were not, and equally as sure she was about that, she felt that such a request would not be successful. If she was to proceed, it would be without her 'trinkets'.

"Not a fan of fashion? Oh well..." Ameli sighed as she reluctantly took off the rings and pocketed them. She had after all sought the woman out seeking her instructions. To deny her this early likely would only lead to her being shown the door. "Soo... How do we go about this?"

Enyo Typhos

 

[Enyo Typhos]

Ameli Trahir

The girl had done as she'd been told despite clearly grumbling a bit about it. "No. And those aren't mundane accessoires," Enyo said blandly. It already annoyed her that some of her siblings had become fixated on frivolous things such as 'looking fashionable and trendy'. Her expression remained unchanging and stoic, betraying no emotion. A Terminatrix was good at that. Enyo's own presence in the Force was not shrouded. Her aura was undeniably dark, but also...off in some ways. Cold and mechanical.

"You will follow my instructions. You will learn and I will not coddle you. I won't tolerate argument or idleness. In the end, strength will be your reward if you succeed." Her tone was not unkind, just chilly, and stern. This was her usual mode. "To start with, have you ever used lightsabre? If yes, what type? If not, do you have experience with conventional blades?"

 

[Ameli Trahir]

Enyo Typhos

Ameli neither confirmed nor denied Enyo’s claims about her rings. The look between them probably said enough. She had been caught out, yet didn’t make a fuss about it. In a way, perhaps it was a compliment that her own creation were at the very least a touch above ‘mundane’.

“Well this is going to be fun” she said in a hushed, sarcastic tone. Of course, not so much so that the other woman could not discern her words. “It’s been a while since I’ve accepted that. I’ve grown used to… Well, it doesn’t matter. I can tell this is the only way it’s going to work. And I do want that strength you speak of” for that she could endure much, or so she thought. “Fine” she accepted the terms.

“I have” Ameli reached behind to pull out the hilt of a lightsaber. She held it out for the other to see. “This kind. I didn’t make it myself, but I made adjustments” she almost made it sound like she knew what she was doing. She’d inserted the appropriate crystal which made the blade orange, no more. “I do like daggers though. Simple metal. Old-fashioned, I know, but they have their appeal. As for this” she gave the hilt of her lightsaber a twirl. “Basic training, nothing too fancy.”

 

[Enyo Typhos]

Ameli Trahir

Enyo said nothing when Ameli went on about her difficulties taking orders from people. The Cyborg was good at remaining expressionless. It would probably make her good at poker...if she did not consider it frivolous. In any event, the young woman seemed to realise she needed to follow instructions, albeit grumpily.

"Good. Then you have a basis for it," Enyo remarked. It meant that Ameli would be able to skip the part where she had to go through various stances or hit a training dummy. "A single-bladed lightsabre is the main one you'll need. There are other designs, but many are stupid." Suffice to say Enyo had a very low opinion of 'copter sabres. She liked the lightsabre-pike and the long-handle lightsabre though. "You may consider adding crossguards. Actual hand protection...since a baseline lightsabre has none." Maybe this was why Anakin and Luke had both gotten their hand chopped off.

Without further ado, she pulled her lightsabre from her belt and ignited it. Springing to life with a snap-hiss, it produced a purple crossguard blade. Since she was not an emo school schooter, said crossguards were sensibly designed. There was no fancy flourish; she simply entered into a defensive stance. She pressed a button to extend the blade significantly beyond standard length. "Superior reach. If you like daggers, you may consider adding dual-phase functionality that allows you to switch between standard blade length and that of a dagger."

She made no mention of the fact that, if she overcharged it, her lightsabre was able to cut through alloys like Phrik. "A lightsabre requires a different methodology than a metal sword. It is a weapon of precision. Excluding very special designs, it is near-weightless. You can block blaster bolts, cut through most alloys and chop off limbs with a simple stroke. Greater strength can help a lightsabre duellist bring greater pressure on an enemy, for instance to knock their blade out of their grasp. But its lack of mass limits how much pressure you can bring to bear. Certain types of alloys are near-immune. And there are weapons such as sonic blasters and ion paddle beamers whose shots cannot be blocked by sabres."

 

[Ameli Trahir]

Ameli nodded, actually listening for once, as Enyo explained her view on lightsabers. She had never really considered adding a crossguard, nor seen them in action. However, the concept seemed sound. Perhaps it was something she ought to learn using? “That’s pretty” she remarked as she observed the purple blade. “Is it difficult to use? I’m sure it’s useful, but is it that useful? I mean, the design leaves the hilt looking less elegant…” A priority for Ameli, certainly, but one Enyo likely would scoff and shake her head at.

Ameli gestured vaguely with her hand towards Enyo and her defensive stance. “I received some basic training when I was with the Sith way back when. I remember there being a lot of chat about saber forms… Is there like, one superior one? So I can kinda focus on just that, and ignore the rest, you know?” She prayed to Vahl that there would be some kind of shortcut or quick-fix button to make this easier on her.

Enyo Typhos

 

[Enyo Typhos]

Ameli Trahir

Enyo looked at her blandly, but her disapproval was evident. Organics, in her view, were so shallow. "Would you rather be elegant and lose your hand and possibly your life, or a bit less elegant and win?" she asked rhetorically. "Battle's about who's alive and who'se dead at the end, nothing more."

"There is no ultimate sabre form. Each is suited for different tactics, combat situations or types of physicality. It's not worth the time to master every single one, but you should have a basic understanding of all five classical ones. Even if you don't use them, you must be prepared for them to be used against you." No love for Niman? Even Enyo apparently didn't take it seriously.

She tilted her head to the side as she appraised Ameli. If this had been someone else, it might have looked like she was checking Ameli out, but Enyo's expression was clinical. Like a scientist scrutinising a specimen in a lab. "You're thin and not built for exertion. You won't overpower a foe through brute force. You'd be poor at Djem So. Ataru may exhaust you too quickly. You may do well with Makashi and Soresu. Both rely on precision, redirection and cunning rather than raw strength. You will have to exercise more regardless, but these should suit you."

 

[Ameli Trahir]

"Isn't there a third option? Be elegant, and just that one bit better than anyone else?" Ameli smiled, and she would have broken out into a laugh if it wasn't for the look of Enyo's expression. Ameli's attempt of humour seemed to fall rather flat. "Surely there must be some compromised" she dragged on certain word, like a spoiled and entitled child being told to do something it did not want to do. "But if it's all black and white and I must choose, I suppose I'd rather be alive and unfashionable than an elegant corpse." though the process would pain her greatly.

"Five?" Ameli interrupted briefly, but quickly shut up and let Enyo Typhos finish. She had believed there were more, but then she had said 'classical'. Perhaps the later ones were more recent addition she found too gimmicky, or something like that.

A more vain person than Ameli, which in truth one would have to search long for, might have been offended at Enyo's appraisal of her. At least the Vahla had enough self-insight to admit the other woman was correct. Besides, she had called her 'thin', and Ameli could live long off of that compliment and endure the following.

"Soresu" she scoffed, clearly none too pleased about this suggestion. "Isn't that a Jedi form?" Clearly, there was little love for the Jedi in her tone. Little understanding of the true benefits of the saber forms either, but if one were feeling optimistic one could chalk that up as room to grow. "I suppose I could do with more exercise. I mean, I'll have to won't I?" she asked no one in particular. "What about Juyo? Someone once thought I'd have a knack for that."

 

[Enyo Typhos]

Ameli Trahir

"All of these forms are 'Jedi forms'. They created them," Enyo said flatly. "Would you reject a good weapon just because your enemy made it?Juyo requires not just fury, but significant strength and speed. You'll have to train a lot for it." And become less petulant, she thought to herself. "If you haven't mastered the basics, you won't have any chance of acquiring a modicrum of skill in Juyo."

Enyo herself had the strength to use Juyo and was very fast, though not agile. However, Juyo drew upon strong feelings of fury...and, in contrast to most darksiders, Enyo did not really get angry most of the time. At least not in the sense that she burnt white-hot. Her rage was cold, just as her judgement calls.

"You mustly rely on quickness, cunning and above all patience to defeat your foes. Soresu is strategic. You redirect your enemy's attacks, you yield space to buy time, you frustrate your opponent with an implacable defence. It goes well with incorporating the Force for attacks. When your enemy slips up, you strike precisely and ruthlessly. It is the best style for blaster deflection. Blade-on-blade, it does against brute force duellists like Djem So ones. It is weaker against Makashi." If Enyo had been more of a history buff, she might have mentioned the example of Darth Zannah. However, she didn't really read that far back.

While she spoke, Enyo had sent out a purely electronic transmission. This had the immediate effect of three battle droids converging upon Ameli. Each came from a different side and carried a blaster rifle. The bots were nothing special, but could actually aim properly and not get one-shot killed by a simple blast of lightning. Without chanting 'Roger, Roger', they opened fire. "Defend yourself," Enyo said unnecessarily.

 

[Ameli Trahir]

Enyo Typhos

Would you reject a good weapon just because your enemy made it? She had her there. There came no quick and witty reply, and Enyo was allowed to continue without interruption this time. Juyo it seemed she could put away for now as well. The girl did not lack in fury, but in regards to the significant strength and speed she was found wanting.

Enyo described Soresu differently than anyone else had. Or at the very least, Ameli heard it differently this time. She made it sound appealing. She made it sound like the way forward for her. Particularly the thought of using it as a way to stay alive, until she could incorporate an opening to call upon the Force was appealing to her.

"Well now" for a second time Ameli found herself at a loss for words. It didn't last long, of course. "That doesn't sound too bad. I think I can do that." Soresu, huh. Who would've thought that. She hardly was one for patience, but perhaps it was time to finally learn.

Ameli instinctively ducked. Before Enyo even told her to defend herself she found herself under fire. The first bolt went over her head. By the time the second came her orange-colured lightsaber snapped to life. The bolt deflected off the blade and ducked into the ground before her. "With just a lightsaber? Or no restrictions?" this was after all a lightsaber lesson, she didn't want to presume.

Her location was less than ideal, seeing as she was in the middle and surrounded on all sides. She sidestepped, then blocked one as another whissed by. She reached out with her off hand, forgetting she might be supposed to limit herself. She sought to yank the blaster out of one of the droid's grip. Without waiting to see if she succeeded, she flung herself upwards, kicking off with the Force and leaping towards the droid opposite to the one she had sought to distract. She held her blade in its general direction, hoping to block any incoming bolts while readying herself to skewer it upon her landing.

 

[Enyo Typhos]

Ameli Trahir

((You can dispose of the bots as you see fit.))

Of course, a simple droid could not keep a Forcewielder from telekinetically pulling their gun out of their grasp. However, when Ameli made the attempt, Enyo stretched out with her powers to negat ethe Force grip. "Lightsabres only," she informed the Dark Jedi.

That done, she watched Ameli's efforts. In spite of being overly skinny, the girl seemed agile enough and was using that to her advantage rather than being static. That was good. The key thing would be to see how she coped if she had to endure protracted combat and faced the risk of burning out. However, for the time being the Cyborg watched.