Post by Cain on Feb 12, 2010 23:01:35 GMT -5
Name: Kyo Sartori
Race: Human
Age: 23
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 145lbs
Appearance:
Kyo is a skinny kid with brown hair and blue eyes. He usually wears the traditional brown robes of the Jedi Order but has also been known to dress more casually away from the temple. His hair is usually messy and unkempt and his clothes seem almost as if he had just fallen into them. Kyo is not overly concerned with aesthetics. Kyo's physical appearance presents an air of youthful innocence and inexperience. He has a baby face and is often mistaken for being younger. Nothing gets under his skin more though than being treated like a kid.
Birth place: Dantooine
Faction: Jedi
Rank: Knight (Healer)
Bio:
Kyo was born on Dantooine the second of twin boys to Agatio and Karst Sartori. His parents were poor farmers who had spent the entirety of their lives working the land of the Khoonda plains. Agatio expected nothing less of Kyo and his brother Ryuu. He had begun acclimating the boys to the fields as soon as they could walk. Agatio noticed right away Kyo and Ryuu's unusual gifts manifesting themselves as faster than usual reflexes.
A Chance Encounter (Age 4)
Early in the mornings after a fresh rain had fallen young Kyo would accompany his father to the Crystal Cave that resided among the Khoonda plains to pick mushrooms. Kyo didn't much like the caves, they were damp, dark and just all around unnerving for such a young child. However, as long as he was with his father Kyo would feel safe. Rarely would he ever wander off on his own as with the caves many corridors one could easily get lost.
One particular morning Kyo was gathering mushrooms with his father when something interesting caught his eye. Something was glowing down one of the cave's many corridors. Kyo was a naturally curios child, as most boys that age are, but what's more than that something seemed to be compelling him forward. As if in a trance Kyo obeyed, wandering deeper into the cave until he found the source. It was a single rock embedded into the cavern wall that seemed to glow a pretty yellow color. Kyo dropped his basket of mushrooms and stepped up to the rock face only to find he was too little to reach the crystal. He tried to climb the wall but it was wet and too slick.
During one failed attempt to scale the wall Kyo slipped down and hit his knee on a rock. He immediately called out in pain and began crying loudly. It was only after several long minutes with no response that a terrifying truth began to dawn on Kyo. He was alone. Cold, wet and with an injured knee, there wasn't much else Kyo could do but sit in place and call out for his father.
After hours Kyo had just about gone hoarse and had lost the energy to continue. He laid his face down on a cold wet stone, a sudden inexorable urge to sleep washing over him. His eyelids grew heavy and sank downward. Just as they had come together the sound of boots crunching against gravel caused them to flash back open.
"Over here! I found another one!" came the voice of a girl from the pitch blackness before him. As the girl came into the light and stood over Kyo with the glow of the crystal behind her Kyo would recall thinking that he had died and that this was an angel, "Master Maha, someone's hurt! Come quick!" the girl called back into the darkness. A frail old Rattataki man in plain, unassuming robes answered the girl's call. He walked with a cane and carried a satchel over his shoulder that contained many colored crystals like the one Kyo had tried to retrieve from the wall.
"Very good Kaylin," the old man answered, "Oh my, how does such a small child find himself this deep in the caverns all by himself?" Kyo wanted to answer, but he was too weak. The words couldn't make it any farther than his throat before scattering like dust in the wind. Maha set down his satchel and placed his cane against the rocks before kneeling down beside Kyo and holding both his hands over the boy's knee. Kyo couldn't see what the old man was doing, he was too weak to even lift his head. As he lay there suddenly Kyo felt a surge of life rush back through him. The nagging pain in his knee dwindled and subsided. He took in a few quick gasps of air followed by a sudden coughing fit. Maha helped Kyo sit up and then gave him a pat on the back.
"Will he be ok?" Kaylin asked, a look of concern on her face.
"He'll be alright, but we should get him out of this cold dark cave," Maha said, giving Kaylin a warm reassuring smile that seemed to send waves of calm out all around him. Kaylin nodded and helped Kyo to his feet. As they began to carry him off the shiny stone he'd chased still called out to him. Kyo didn't want to leave it behind. He extended his hand towards it, the only thoughts running through his mind being how much he wanted to hold it. Suddenly the crystal broke free from its perch on the wall and fell to the cave floor with a clatter. Startled, Maha turned to see the crystal shining brightly on the ground behind him. Kyo reached towards it excitedly with both hands, opening and closing them as if to say "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" The two Jedi just looked at each other as Kaylin retrieved the crystal and handed it to Kyo. With a pleased squeal Kyo pressed the crystal to his chest and marveled at his hard earned prize.
Youngling Kyo (Age 4 - 12)
Agatio and Karst were relieved when the Jedi returned with their son, but the relief would be short lived. Arriving at the families tiny farm house, Maha found that Kyo had a twin brother who he felt was also strong in the Force. Master Maha then went on to explain to Kyo's parents everything that he had witnessed in the Crystal Cave. Maha believed that the boys had a natural talent for the Force and asked that they be allowed to come to Coruscant to be trained as a Jedi. Neither of the farmers had ever heard of the Force or Jedi and both were very skeptical of Maha's offer. They could not deny that their sons had a gift however, and this was their opportunity to learn to harness that gift. Ultimately their parents were torn. While heart broken, Karst believed it would be the best thing for both boys. Agatio was against it. He argued that he was getting too old to tend the fields by himself and that they would need the extra hands.
After much arguing, both parties agreed that they would leave the final decision to the boys. Kyo and his big brother Ryuu had been in the other room contently playing with the new crystal Kyo had found. Maha entered and approached them both with the offer. Though Kyo was young, the true weight of the decision placed before him probably would not have occurred to him even if he were twenty years older. He would miss his family, but the idea of adventure greatly appealed to Kyo, as it did to Ryuu. And also it would mean that Kyo would be able to stay with Kaylin, with whom he had become very close despite their short time together.
Once the decision was made Maha warned Kyo's parents not to be over emotional as they said their good byes. The Jedi Master and his Padawan then took the boys with them on their star ship back to Coruscant.
Coruscant was an overwhelming sight for simple farm boy like Kyo. The endless city, the dizzying pace of life, the lights, the sounds, it was everything Kyo's curious four year old mind could handle and more. The Jedi Temple was even more impressive. The grand hallways and massive bronzed colossal statues... by the time Kyo got to the room of a thousand fountains he was spinning.
Maha then took Kyo to Jedi Master Si Quan who was one of many Masters in charge of training the Younglings. Si Quan was a man in his early fifties with brown hair beginning to show signs of gray and a scruffy salt and pepper beard. He always seemed to have a smile on his face, even when surrounded by four year olds. It was said that Master Quan had the patience of an Ossus Monk. With Master Quan, Kyo and his brother Ryuu were first introduced to the lightsaber. Using their training sabers the boys were taught Shi-Cho, the most basic of lightsaber forms, along with several other younglings.
Unlike many of the others, Kyo was a slow learner. It took him longer than his peers to get the hang of using the weapon, but Master Quan was never one to give up. Si instilled a determination in Kyo that would come to define him as a Jedi. Kyo never gave up. If he had to work twice as hard as the others to keep up then that was what he would do.
Foremost in Kyo's sights was his brother Ryuu, a genius in near every regard when it came to the use of a lightsaber and very gifted with the Force. Ryuu's sights were set only on getting better and he had little time for his younger brother anymore. Though they were kin Kyo began to see Ryuu as an obstacle, the bar with which he could never quite measure up to. For this reason Kyo came to see his brother as a rival. Kyo would challenge Ryuu to sparring matches only to be beaten every time. Determined as ever though, Kyo trained himself to exhaustion in the hopes that someday he could regain Ryuu's respect.
Not too dissimilar to his training with a lightsaber, Kyo also had fallen behind with his Force training. Master Quan had tried to impress upon the boy the importance of patience and calm in a Jedi's life. Kyo was anything but. He would easily become frustrated with his inability to complete the lessons as quickly as his peers. Master Quan had feared that this frustration might cause young Kyo to lose heart and quit, but Kyo was nothing if he wasn't determined. He refused to quit and Si Quan could see this being a redeeming trait in the boy. He may just become a Jedi yet.
To help Kyo deal with his frustration, Master Quan reintroduced the boy to the importance of meditation. Si taught Kyo to simply center himself and quiet his overactive mind. By doing this everyday before his training Kyo found it easier and easier to hear and feel the Force. Manipulating objects through telekinesis came the most naturally to him. During his meditations Kyo would concentrate for hours on one simple object, such as his training saber, in order to make it float and hover around him. As the months passed the task became less and less strenuous.
Goodbye, my friend (Age 6)
Two years into his training Kyo received the first of two great losses in his life. On a mission to Nar Shaddaa both Master Maha Rishii and Kaylin were killed by assassins. Being so young at the time, Kyo wasn't able to appreciate what had truly happened.
After the memorial service Kyo stumbled across Si Quan seated alone in the Jedi Library. He was down one of the long corridors that most other Jedi rarely ventured down. Master Quan had gone there to be alone, as he often did. Kyo found him with tears welled up in his eyes, a state he'd never seen his master in. Kyo sat down next to Master Quan, his natural curiosity getting the better of him, "What's the matter, master? Are you hurt?" Kyo asked innocently, his big blue eyes staring intently up at his master.
Si Quan chuckled at the question, wiping a stray tear from his eye, "No... I'm not hurt. I just miss my friend," he answered. Kyo thought about it for a moment before responding.
"Me too... Master Quan, where is Kaylin?" Kyo asked shyly, his gaze falling off of Si Quan and down to the monitor in front of him. Si smiled lightly, taking in a deep breath of air. How to explain it?
"Well, Master Maha and Kaylin are one with the Force. They've transformed into the Force around us." Si explained. Kyo glanced back up a him, a puzzled look on his face, "But why?" he asked. Si let out another sigh, "I don't know, Kyo. Sometimes I wish I did. There are some questions even a Jedi cannot answer."
Kyo nodded, there was a long silence between the two before Kyo spoke up again, "Will I ever see Kaylin again?" he asked. Si smiled a bright and reassuring smile, "I'm certain of it." He answered.
Becoming a Padawan (Age 12)
It wasn't until Kyo suffered an injury in a duel with his brother that he realized his hidden talent. The boys were already almost twelve years old and already Ryuu was being considered to become a Padawan. Rumor had it that even Master Thos, a member of the Council, had expressed interest in taking on Ryuu as an apprentice. Jealous of the attention his brother was receiving, Kyo challenged him to a sparing match in the temple courtyard. Ryuu scoffed at the challenge. To him, his little brother wasn't worth his time, but if nothing else it might gain him more notoriety.
Armed with training sabers the two boys dueled each other in the courtyard. Kyo had come a long way with is Shii-Cho and was able to hold his own at last against Ryuu. Kyo pressed the attack, determined to prove himself worthy of Ryuu's and everyone else's notice. However, unbeknownst to Kyo, Ryuu had already begun training in more advanced lightsaber forms. When Ryuu quickly switched up his style to that of Djem So Kyo was caught completely unprepared. Ryuu ended the duel by hitting Kyo in the wrist with his training saber and knocking Kyo's weapon from his hand.
Kyo was embarrassed by the defeat. Too embarrassed to go to Master Quan even though Kyo's wrist was now injured with a pretty bad burn. He would probably get into trouble for the duel anyway if he did tell Si Quan about it. Frustrated and with the pain in his arm flaring as blood rushed to it with every beat of his heart, Kyo decided to center himself through meditation. He had been taught the basics of Force Healing, but up until now Kyo had never been very adept at its practice. He tried to clear his thoughts, but the pain in his arm was impossible to ignore. Focusing on it as he was, Kyo began to gather the Force around his wound. Soothing himself with thoughts of serenity and calm, the Force around Kyo followed suit and slowly the pain melted away. By the time Kyo had finished his meditation he found that his burn was gone. Kyo was amazed by this, assuming that perhaps his meditation had the ability to heal all along.
After a great deal of training and through sheer determination Kyo made himself ready to become a Padawan. Over the years Si Quan had watched Kyo pick himself up off the mat time and time again. The boy had gone from an impatient hyperactive kid and turned himself into a real potential Jedi. Though Master Quan was attentive to all his Younglings, he had developed a special fondness for Kyo. Something about him reminded Si of himself as a young Jedi. This was one of the reasons that Master Quan decided to take Kyo on as his own Padawan. The other was the growing need by the Republic for Jedi outside of the Temple. The Jedi Council had decreed that the talents of Masters such as Si Quan were better put to use out in the field then sitting around inside the Jedi Temple all day. As such, Si needed to choose an apprentice to take with him on missions from the Council, and Si could think of none better than Kyo Sartori.
This Weapon is your Life! (Age 12)
One of Kyo's first tasks as a Padawan learner was to construct his own lightsaber. Master Quan provided Kyo with most of the parts he would need, including a very special gift. It was the yellow crystal that Master Maha had brought back with him when he first brought Kyo and Ryuu to the Temple. Maha had told Si the story of how Kyo been attracted to the crystal and had given it to him to hold on to. The Force was strong in the crystal, holding it in his hand Kyo felt a warm familiar feeling as if in the presence of an old friend. The crystal felt like home... it reminded him of Kaylin and Master Maha, and also of his mother and father.
Si Quan taught everything he knew about the construction of a lightsaber, even taking apart his own to show Kyo the inner workings. However, Master Quan informed his Padawan that when the time came to construct his own he would be on his own. The process would be long and difficult. He would have to find a place strong with the Force to meditate on his crystal, spending perhaps weeks in isolation. As fate would have it, Illum became the location for this.
Still only 12 years old, Kyo prepared for the difficult journey taking with him only the pieces of lightsaber Master Quan had given him and the yellow crystal from Dantooine. After landing on Ilum and being left alone by Master Quan, Kyo began his hike through the driving snow towards the location of the crystal cave with only the Force to guide him. The lightsaber crystals that reside in the cave were rich with Force energy, making the caves shine like a beacon to those sensitive to it in an otherwise cold and dead world.
Exhausted and half frozen, Kyo made it to the caves. The dazzling array of crystals of all colors was more then Kyo had expected. The caves on Dantooine where he'd grown up were said to have such crystal deposits, but the settlers and thieves that lived on the planet had all but mined nearly every last one. Kyo couldn't help but wonder if the tiny cave near his old home had once looked like this.
Kyo set all the lightsaber pieces he'd brought with him out on the cave floor in front of him and sat down, entering a deep meditation to begin the process of constructing his lightsaber. Kyo would spend hours on each piece, probing it with the Force to find the one that would be just right. Over several days the hilt began to come together. It was made up of dark metal, a relatively large hilt as Kyo liked to hold his training sabers with two hands almost at all times. A longer hilt allowed both hands to grip the weapon comfortably. Kyo capped the hilt with an emitter shroud to guard his hands against the heat of the blade.
For the focusing crystal Kyo would use the yellow crystal from Dantooine. Applying the crystal was the most difficult task in constructing the lightsaber as the crystal had to be imbued with the Force and bonded with its wielder. Kyo already had felt a sharp connection between himself and his crystal and the crystal almost seemed to respond to him. Kyo spent nearly a week in the cave alone before his lightsaber was finally ready. At this point he had gone for all that time without food or water, using only the Force to sustain himself. Fatigued, Kyo collected his new lightsaber and ignited it for the first time. Its blade filled the cave with a bright and sunny yellow light accompanied by a high pitched hum.
Back to the Grindstone (Ages 12 - 16)
After completing his lightsaber Kyo was ready to go about the business of being a Jedi. He followed Master Quan to many exotic worlds, learning from his master's example what it meant to be a Jedi. Remembering his ill fated duel with Ryuu, Kyo took an interest right away in increasing his lightsaber repertoire. First and foremost being to learn the form that Ryuu had used to defeat him; Djem So.
Djem So/Shien was a lightsaber form developed by users of Form III: Soresu who compined the defensive properties of their form with a more offense minded philosophy. When Kyo came to Master Quan and asked to learn the Perseverance Form, Si realized that first Kyo would need to learn Soresu. Only then could he truly master the use of Form V.
Form III: Soresu was known as the Resilience Form and relied on a Jedi's ability to be patient in battle. An area that had long been one of Kyo's weaker points during his training in Shii-Cho. Master Quan recognized this and knew that learning Soresu would only be beneficial to the young Padawan. Si Quan himself was known to be a master of Soresu and demonstrated its use to Kyo using three remote droids. Si Quan was able to successfully defend against the blasts of all three remotes by making short, quick sweeps of his lightsaber, keeping the blade in close to his body and creating a consistent shield of deflective strokes. Si Quan explained that using this style could allow a Jedi to defend himself against many attackers at once, a fact that was clearly demonstrated.
Si Quan also explained the forms use in combat against other lightsaber wielding opponents. The key was patience. By maintaining a defensive barrier around yourself with small quick strokes a Jedi is able to redirect and deflect blows from enemies with minimal effort as the foe wastes precious energy trying to break through the defenses. With patience a Jedi could wait for his opponent to become fatigued and show an opening and then use that opening to disarm his opponent and end the duel.
It was a style and philosophy that didn't come easy to Kyo. Master Quan taught Kyo some defensive sequences he could use with Soresu. By committing these sequences of movements to his muscle memory Kyo would be able to use them in a real combat situation without having to think about it. Si would test his Padawan using training sabers, attacking Kyo while he only used Soresu to counter. At first the temptation to press the attack and go on the offensive was terrible. Kyo would quickly become frustrated with being pushed backward and lose his focus. To help remedy this Master Quan suggested the same thing he had when Kyo was a Youngling; meditation. For hours before their sessions Kyo would sit in silent meditation and then for hours afterwards he would do the same.
Finally the day came when Kyo's use of Soresu was enough that Si Quan's Shii-Cho couldn't penetrate it. As his master showed an opening Kyo quickly acted and knocked the training saber out of Si Quan's hand. Si was so proud he could cry, but he realized this was only the first step. Now that Kyo was proficient in Soresu he could move on to the more challenging Form V. Si Quan explained how the inventors of Djem So and Shien felt that Soresu would unnecessarily extend time spent in combat by forcing its users to wait for an opportunity to strike, rather than creating their own openings. With this form, rather then waiting for your foe to grant you a chance to strike you would create your own by mixing offense in with the defense of Soresu.
Si Quan was careful to remind Kyo that even while using Djem So/Shien to not forget the lessons of patience he'd learned from Soresu. Even though you are being more offensive, it should never be due to frustration. Kyo was taught about Shien first. This variant of Form V was designed specifically for multiple blaster wielding foes. Incorporating the short strokes of Soresu Kyo also learned how use the Force to guide his blade more precisely. By doing so Kyo could not only block the blaster bolts but send them back to their source.
To practice Kyo was made to do the exercise using three remote droids that Si Quan had demonstrated while teaching him Form III. Kyo would not pass the test until he destroyed all three remotes. While Kyo was adept at deflecting the blaster bolts, being able to redirect them in a direction he wanted proved very challenging. At first Kyo found himself getting hit by the powered down remote blaster bolts quite often as he tried to force the bolts in the direction he wanted them to go. Si Quan stopped Kyo, explain to him that he couldn't just will the blaster bolts, it wasn't the bolts that he was manipulating. It was his lightsaber blade. Master Quan told Kyo to instead focus on his lightsaber in its path through the air, "It's like a dance," he would explain, "You already know the steps. The Force will lead, you only need to match the rhythm."
Through months of practicing Kyo began to allow the Force to lead as Si Quan had instructed. He found then that sending the blasts back at the remotes was almost second nature. It wasn't long after that Kyo was able to preform the exercise while blindfolded.
Finally there was Djem So. This was the variant of Form V which focused on lightsaber combat. While this style maintained the blocks and parries of Soresu, Master Quan also showed Kyo sequences that involved fast and powerful counterattacks so one could quickly take advantage of redirecting or parrying a foes assault rather then simply waiting for them to strike again. This Form was one that finally came quickly to Kyo. He was all to eager to take advantage of his Soresu use to go on the offensive. Though wiser now then when he'd started, Kyo maintained his patience, waiting for the optimal time to launch such a counterattack instead of leaping at the first opening.
My Brother's Keeper (Age 16)
As Kyo was turning sixteen, Master Quan was assigned to facilitate negotiations between Republic Senators and the Felucians. Evidently several Republic officials had been sent to the planet in recent months but none of them had returned. The native Felucians informed the Senators that it was not they who were holding the missing officials, it was the jungle. The Felucians were a naturally Force sensitive species. They informed Master Quan and the Senators that something dark out in the jungle had been claiming the outsiders. They claimed that the species immigrating to Felucia had upset the planet's natural order. The darkness was the planet's way of preserving the balance. Master Quan asked if it were alright for him to investigate this "darkness" and the Felucians agreed to allow him to. However, they warned him that if he were to go out into the jungle he likely would not ever be coming back.
Ignoring the warning, Master Quan and Kyo pressed into the jungle. The planet's wildlife had evolved defenses against each other over many years, making all the creatures here dangerous to outsiders. It wasn't too long until Kyo and Master Quan came upon a wounded Republic official. He had been stung in the abdomen by a poisonous barb. The wound would be fatal if the officer was not brought to a bacta tank within the hour. Si used his comm to call for assistance, but unfortunately as deep into the thick as they were, it would be impossible to get him out in that amount of time. As Si tried to think of what they might do, Kyo suddenly had an idea. He remembered how he had used his meditation to heal his burns after his duel with Ryuu. It was a long shot, but worth a try.
Carefully Kyo sat down next to the wounded officer who was laid out before him and he closed his eyes. Kyo recalled how concentrating on the pain had caused the Force to gather to his wound. So Kyo placed his hands over the officers injury and reached out to him with the Force, attempting to feel the man's pain. Si Quan stopped what he was doing and watched Kyo with great interest as the young Padawan concentrated on the man in front of him. Kyo could sense the pain the man felt, it was all over his body. The venom was coursing through his blood creating a burning sensation all over. It was a bit much to wrap his mind around, but Kyo attempted to concentrate on the greatest source; the wound in the man's abdomen. As soothing waves of calm passed through Kyo the Force gathered to the wound beneath Kyo's hands.
After a little more than an hour the Soldiers Si Quan had called for arrived at their location. Miraculously the officer was still alive, the infected injury on his stomach having regressed a great deal from where it was when they'd found him. If Kyo had not healed him as he did, there would have been no way the man would have survived. After the soldiers carried the man off, Master Quan asked Kyo how he had been able to do that. Kyo explained that by meditating when he felt pain he was able to direct the Force to the pain's source. The Force would restore and heal the injuries. In this case he focused on the pain he could feel in the officer and did the same thing.
Si Quan was impressed that Kyo progressed this far on his own. He informed his Padawan that he may have some natural talent as a Jedi Healer. Si Quan himself was not all too familiar with how to use the Force to heal to such an extent, but when they would return from their mission he knew of a suitable teacher.
Kyo and Master Quan then pressed on in search of the other officers. As day began to become night Master Quan suggested it was time they set up camp. He told Kyo to stay put while went off to find fuel for a fire. As Kyo sat alone in the Felucian dusk he heard a rustling coming from the brush behind him. At first he thought it was Master Quan, but after calling out his name there was no answer only more rustling. Finally Kyo heard what he thought sounded like whimpering. Someone was crying. His curiosity getting the better of him, Kyo went off to investigate it.
Not long after leaving the camp Kyo took a bad step and the ground under his feet caved in. Kyo fell down into a deep dark cavern that had been buried under the jungle floor. After picking himself up and brushing himself off Kyo could hear the whimpering again coming from one of the dark corridors in the cavern. Cautiously he moved in to investigate. Inside the cave Kyo was surrounded by suffocating darkness. He quickly became lost in the cave's many winding corridors before finally encountering a young boy crying at the end of one of the tunnels. Using his lightsaber as the only source of light, Kyo noticed that the child looked remarkably like his brother, Ryuu... though not as Ryuu was now. He looked like Ryuu when he was only four years old. When they had first come to the Jedi Temple.
Kyo offered to help him find his way out and the two set out looking for an exit together. The boy instead led Kyo to the center of the cavern where the bodies of several people lay dead... they were the missing officers. Among them was also a child that looked just like Kyo at age four. The young Ryuu told Kyo that he had killed them all by accident, that he had only been trying to protect them. When Kyo asked from what, he answered "A Sith Lord". The boy then glanced up at Kyo and the padawan could no longer tell if this child's face was that of his brother... or his own.
Frightened, Kyo fled from the child into the caves many corridors, a dark feeling surrounding him as he ran. At last Kyo's panic was broken by the sound of a familiar voice. Master Quan was calling out his name and Kyo followed it back to its source where his master helped pull him up out of the cave. Kyo told Si Quan about the officers in the cave... but he never mentioned the boy that had led him to them. Si told Kyo that they would investigate in the morning. The next day the two Jedi returned to the cave. They were never able to find the chamber where Kyo had seen the bodies.
Jedi Healer Udin Thos (Ages 16 - 21)
After returning to the Jedi Temple from their mission on Felucia, Master Quan did as he had promised. He brought Kyo before a teacher he felt could better instruct him in the ways of Force Healing. This teacher was a Draethos and a member of the Jedi Council. Jedi Master Udin Thos. Like his ancestors, Master Thos served at the Temple as a Jedi Librarian. He was a keeper of and chronicler of a great deal of knowledge collected within the Jedi Library. One of his greatest talents however was in the use of the Force for healing.
Kyo's first impression of Master Thos that of a man living in slow motion. The Draethos' every action was done at a leisurely, careful pace. The Master would spend his days in the Jedi Library, pouring over the knowledge contained within. To Kyo, Udin Thos could not possibly be more boring. But fortunately for Kyo, his training with Master Quan had taught him a great deal about patience.
Master Thos insisted on beginning Kyo's training by giving the boy a crash course in Human and inter-species biology. Kyo cringed at the suggestion of it. Not so much due to the graphic nature of the subject matter, but more at the thought of spending his days coped up in a classroom with this coma inducing Jedi Librarian instead of out and about with Master Quan. Regardless, Kyo agreed. Pleasantly, to his surprise Kyo found what Master Thos had to teach him quite fascinating.
Kyo had explained to Master Thos how he had been able to use t he Force to heal. Master Thos impressed upon Kyo the importance of knowledge when it came to using the Force. He told the Padawan that he truly understood what was happening to the man in the jungle, he might have been able to heal him completely by himself. Through his study of biology Kyo came to understand how the Force was able to quicken the reproduction of cells in the body and it was by doing this that the Force was able to heal physical wounds such as cuts, burns or broken bones. Furthermore, Kyo studied a great deal about diseases and poisons. The light side of the Force could be used to subdue and even purify these things within the body.
Learning about it all was one thing, doing it was another. After giving young Kyo a crash course in biology Master Thos decided it was time to give the boy some practice. He took Kyo with him down to the Temple's infirmary where Jedi who were injured during training, missions or just plain sick went to be healed by the Jedi Healers in the Temple at the time. Under Master Thos' supervision Kyo was asked to diagnose patients injuries first and then attempt to heal them. At first it would take Kyo several hours to heal each patient, having to sit still in silent meditation in order to feel the Force and the patient well enough to heal them. As the weeks and eventually months passed, Kyo found he was able to call upon the Force more and more quickly until he became confident enough to where he thought he could attempt to heal without meditation. Without centering himself it was difficult. Kyo found he was only able to heal simple lesions and bruises without meditation. With practice the skill would improve, but for now he was far more effective when meditating.
Kyo became able to heal sick patients and even patients with internal injuries by using his Healing meditation. At this point Master Thos had been training the boy for over a year and he felt he was ready to rejoin his Master. Master Thos' last words of advice to Kyo were to not underestimate the importance of knowledge in the life of a Jedi. He encouraged the boy to stop by the Library when ever he had a chance to that they could study together.
Fallen Hero (Age 21)
During Kyo's training with Master Thos, his brother Ryuu's master had gone missing during one of his missions. It was an assignment that he had told Ryuu he could not accompany him on. Ryuu thought this to be ridiculous, it was too dangerous for a Jedi to go off on their own. What was he hiding? Ryuu did some snooping and discovered that his master had been sent to Dantooine.
Ryuu knew immediately then why he had been asked not to go. His parents were in danger. Try as he might, Ryuu could not shake the feeling that his parents and his master needed him. Against the wishes of the Jedi Council and his master, Ryuu decided to go to Dantooine to help them. As he was sneaking out of the Temple in the middle of the night Ryuu encountered Kyo in the halls of the Temple. Kyo had been working a late shift at the infirmary and was just now returning to his room.
At first Ryuu was elusive about what he was doing up and about that late at night. But Kyo could sense something was wrong. Eventually Ryuu caved and told Kyo about Dantooine. He asked Kyo to go with him. Kyo could feel a darkness coming from Ryuu. He was unsure of what it was... it was a cold and uneasy feeling. A feeling just like he'd had in that cave on Felucia. Kyo warned Ryuu not to go, he told him that he had a bad feeling about it. Ryuu simply answered that he had the same feeling, and that is why he had to go. He left for Dantooine that night... and never returned to the temple.
Kyo had long regretted what had happened that night. Had he made the right decision? Should he have gone with Ryuu? Was there no way he could have kept him from going? In any case, Ryuu had been missing for almost six months and was presumed dead. Kyo however wouldn't believe it. He knew his brother was still alive somewhere, he could just feel it. One restless night at the Temple seemed to confirm Kyo's beliefs. He had a dream and in this dream he saw a barren planet of wind swept valleys and canyons. He could feel his brother's presence here, Kyo was certain of it. Ryuu was in pain, terrible pain.
Upon awakening Kyo immediately went to the Jedi Library. When he described the planet he'd seen in his dreams to Master Thos, the Jedi went strangely silent. Master Thos told Kyo the planet he had seen was Korriban, a Sith world in the Outer Rim. Kyo told Master Thos that he felt Ryuu was there and asked that Jedi be sent to find him. Master Thos refused the request. Sending Jedi to Korriban at this time was far too dangerous. There was nothing they could do.
Kyo could not take no for an answer when Ryuu's life was at stake. He had always regretted not going with Ryuu to Dantooine, he vowed that he would not live to regret not going to Korriban. Kyo snuck out of the Temple at night much as his brother had and stole one of the Jedi's starfighters. Kyo wasn't much of a pilot, but luckily the astromech droid on board was able to do much of the flying for him. Kyo entered the coordinates for Korriban he'd taken from the library and headed off to find Ryuu.
Korriban was dangerous, especially for a Jedi. But Kyo couldn't let this chance slip away, he had to know if his brother was still alive. Kyo arrived on Korriban and landed his fighter in the Valley of the Dark Lords where he found a lone Dynamic class freighter... and Ryuu. His brother was dressed in black and accompanied by a small remote droid.
"What are you doing here, Ryuu?" Kyo asked, a small bit of anger in his voice, "We've been worried sick. We thought you were killed..."
"Hmph..." Ryuu chuckled lightly, "So the Jedi are still looking for me then? Well I'm sorry little brother, but you may have come all this way for nothing. You can go back to the Temple and tell your friends that I'm through playing Jedi games with children."
"What do you mean?" Kyo asked, any hint of a smile on his face quickly melting away, "If you stay out here alone who knows what might happen to you. Come with us, where it's safe."
"Hmph... foolish little brother," Ryuu chuckled, "You Jedi may run and hide... but I don't have to run away anymore. I have become more powerful than any Jedi, and soon enough I will be more powerful than even the greatest of the Sith entombed here. You would do well not to get in my way."
Kyo couldn't believe what he was hearing, he had thought that it was the darkness of Korriban that he was feeling in his visions... that he had felt that night on Coruscant. But he was wrong. Ryuu had changed. Kyo didn't know what to do. He summoned his lightsaber to his hand and ignited the yellow blade... but he couldn't really kill Ryuu, could he? "Whatever you've been told, it's a lie," Kyo shouted, "You're being used!"
"I don't care," Ryuu said plainly. Kyo's eyes widened, he was quite surprised by Ryuu's response, "As a Jedi I was too weak to make a difference. If some Dark Jedi wants to use me then so be it, I will use him as well and once I have the power I need I'll cast him aside."
"So this is your answer? Stop the dark side by joining it? I can't let you do that!" Kyo shouted.
"I thought you might say that..." Ryuu responded, staring daggers into Kyo. Kyo suddenly felt himself becoming ill, his vision blurred and his body ached. Ryuu was using the Force on Kyo to simulate the effects of a deadly toxin... this was the dark side technique "Plague". As Kyo began to waver Ryuu was suddenly right on him, swinging his lightsaber at Kyo. Kyo lifted his blade to block, but in his weakened state his saber was easily knocked aside and Kyo was kicked hard in the chest, knocking him on his back.
Ryuu's remote droid began to move foward, but Ryuu extended his arm in the droid's path, "Stay back," he said calmly, "He's mine."
Kyo could feel the Plague spreading through him as if fire were flowing through his veins. He knew he was in trouble, but he had to concentrate. The Force was being used against him, altering the cells in his body and slowing their regeneration process to a near halt. Kyo quieted his mind, feeling where Ryuu was manipulating him and attempting to reverse the process. Kyo had practiced this many times before and it was likely Ryuu did not expect Kyo to able to heal himself. Kyo's focus stopped the spread of the Plague and he began to reverse it, even speeding up his cell's regeneration beyond normal.
As Ryuu moved in with Force aided speed Kyo's lightsaber suddenly snapped back on and met Ryuu's, the two blades hissing as they clashed in bursts of blue and yellow, "Impressive," Ryuu goaded, spinning his saber to break the lock and taking a step back, "Si Quan has taught you well... but even if you are able to match my knowledge of the Force, you never could match my skill with a lightsaber." Ryuu moved his lightsaber into the Makashi opening stance.
Kyo moved his lightsaber up over his head into the opening stance for Djem So, "What happened to you on Dantooine? How did my brother... turn into this?"
Ryuu sneered at Kyo's question, "What do you care? All you ever wanted to do was sit back and hide behind the Jedi. You were too weak and frightened to even see that Mom and Dad's lives were in the balance. You had no interest in saving them. Now you come here and expect me to believe you want to 'save' me? Hmph! You don't know what happened to them... you didn't see it. You didn't want to see it! So don't come here and try to talk to me like you know what I've been through!"
Ryuu's words cut Kyo deeply. All the sadness and regret he had felt over not going with Ryuu to Dantooine had been heaped right back ontop of him, "Heh, I guess we really don't understand each other," Kyo said, a hint of a smile on his face, "I never was the greatest Jedi. Hell I couldn't even swing a lightsaber right when we first arrived on Coruscant. I was hopeless... I was about ready to give up. Then I saw you... you could do anything. You were like a super hero. I thought that meant you were my rival, but really, I just wanted to be like you."
Ryuu frowned hearing Kyo's words, his eyes settling downward at the canyon floor, "It's... too late, Kyo. I can't turn back now!"
Kyo's sadness then transformed into determination as he gripped his lightsaber with both hands... and let the blade go out, "I don't believe the dark side has taken you fully. My brother is still in there somewhere. I don't believe you're capable of killing me," Kyo said, letting his weapon drop to his side. Ryuu's face twisted, a tiny spark of anger deep inside him beginning to grow.
"Don't underestimate me!" He called out, raising his weapon and lurching forward. Kyo remained calm, calling the Force to him. To his surprise Ryuu's lightsaber crashed against a wall of energy just inches from Kyo's head. The Force has protected him from the blow. Kyo then used it to shove Ryuu back.
With rage consuming him, Ryuu leaped back to his feet and attacked again. Kyo ignited his blade and countered Ryuu's flurry of blows with his own Soruesu. Both of their lightsabers whirled through the air at dizzying speeds, each combatants advances being perfectly countered by the other. Finally Ryuu dodged one of Kyo's slashes to the side and used the force to pull him past. Ryuu then swung his blade across his body grazing Kyo across the back with his lightsaber.
"So naive..." Ryuu said, shaking his head as Kyo lay on the ground, "All you have are words. Nothing you say can actually make a difference. You'll never change, Kyo. Ours is a world of pain in which the only thing that matters is power. If you're still too afraid to act then all you can do is fall under those of us who seek to move forward."
"No... it doesn't have to be that way!" Kyo replied through labored breaths back at Ryuu.
"A fool's hope. The Force is a cruel puppet master... none can escape their destiny."
"I'll find a way," Kyo answered, "I'll find a way to save you, even if you can't."
Ryuu continued to stare down at Kyo, though his expression then became heavy with sadness, "Why... why would you go so far for me? Why make yourself suffer?"
"Why?" Kyo replied, almost in disbelif that Ryuu needed to ask. Kyo could only pity him in that moment, "I'll never abandon my brother or any of my friends to the darkness. Never,"
Ryuu closed his eyes, smiling softly. He turned off his lightsaber and spun quickly on his heel, turning to leave. He signaled his remote to follow with him. Focusing hard Kyo used the Force heal himself as quickly as he could. Though he still bore the scar on his back and his body still was in pain he shot up and started to chase after Ryuu. Ryuu paused, glancing over his shoulder at his brother, "Kyo..." he whispered, "thank you."
Before Kyo could react Ryuu extended his arm and violently drained the life from him to the point where Kyo's vision went black and he passed out. Ryuu stood staring at Kyo's unconcious body for a moment before turning and continuing back towards his ship.
Two not so lucky people. (Ages 21 - 22)
After Kyo had gone missing, Master Thos knew exactly where the boy had gone. Knowing the dangers, Master Quan went to Korriban anyway to find him. There he found Kyo left for dead in the Valley of the Dark Lords. He brought Kyo back to Coruscant where Kyo fell into a deep depression about what had happened to his brother. To try and comfort Kyo, Master Quan recanted a story from when he was younger.
"I was about your age when I was given my first mission without my Master. There were two Jedi to accompany me, we were to investigate the disappearance of a Jedi Knight on Dxun. I begged Maha to recommend me for the assignment and sure enough, he did. When we landed on Dxun we could feel the dark side was present and our squad's leader was adamant that we leave and wait for back up. I wouldn't have it. I convinced them to press forward. Eventually we came to a tomb where a Dark Jedi was lying in wait. It was a trap and I'd led us right into it. My comrades were both killed and I barely escaped alive.
Heh, I guess we're just two not so lucky people, Kyo. I always thought I could have done more. I was so wracked by guilt, I only wanted to end my suffering. I went to Master Maha asking the same questions you are today, and do you know what he said? He told me that having dealt with the death of his father and the destruction of his home that he had suffered too much himself to know the answer. But that if I could find a Jedi who had experienced no suffering, he would surly have an answer for me."
"So what did you do?" Kyo asked.
"I began searching... going to all the other masters and even the other Knights and Padawans trying to find one that had experienced no suffering. Each told a different story, each reached the same conclusion..."
"I don't understand, Master, did you ever find the answer?"
Si smiled, chuckling a bit to himself, "We all suffer, Kyo. That is the way of things. But we need not suffer alone. Do not try to bear the weight of what happened to Ryuu on your heart alone."
Master Quan's story struck a cord with Kyo. He understood what his Master was trying to tell him, but he couldn't help but feel he would be responsible for bringing Ryuu back to the light. During his initial training as a Youngling, Kyo and every other young Jedi was asked why they wanted to become a Jedi. Most didn't have an answer and the few who did often equated being a Jedi with becoming some sort of mythical super hero. Ryuu had answered "To test his limits." Kyo could not think of an answer at the time. Though now the answer seemed obvious.
Kyo went on, continuing his training with Master Quan. Most recently he has begun practicing using the Force as a form of protection. Gathering light side energy around himself and forming it into barriers as he had done on Korriban. Though he had disobeyed one of his masters, the council did not ignore the courage the young Padawan had displayed in his confrontation with his twin brother. Seeing what had transpired on Korriban as a sufficient trial Kyo was Knighted by the council. For better or worse, Kyo was more determined now than ever to become a true Jedi. Not simply for himself, but for his brother... and his friends.
Lightsaber: Single phase, single blade
Color: Yellow
Practiced Lightsaber forms:
Shii-Cho 5
Makashi
Soresu 2
Ataru
Shien / Djem So 2
>>Sub-form Backhanded
Niman
>>Sub-form Jar-kai, or Dual Wield
Juyo
Double Bladed Combat
Force-Sensitive Abilities or practices:
Telekinetic: 5
Telepathic: 3
Body: 2
Sense: 3
Protection: 6
Healing: 7
Destruction: 0
Specialized Skills:
Attributes:
Physical Strength: 5
Intelligence: 4
Speed: 6
Leadership: 2
Unarmed: 4
Melee Weapons: 4
Ranged Weapons: 1
Force Attunement:
+4
RP Sample: See the "Fallen Hero" section of the bio.
Race: Human
Age: 23
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 145lbs
Appearance:
Kyo is a skinny kid with brown hair and blue eyes. He usually wears the traditional brown robes of the Jedi Order but has also been known to dress more casually away from the temple. His hair is usually messy and unkempt and his clothes seem almost as if he had just fallen into them. Kyo is not overly concerned with aesthetics. Kyo's physical appearance presents an air of youthful innocence and inexperience. He has a baby face and is often mistaken for being younger. Nothing gets under his skin more though than being treated like a kid.
Birth place: Dantooine
Faction: Jedi
Rank: Knight (Healer)
Bio:
Kyo was born on Dantooine the second of twin boys to Agatio and Karst Sartori. His parents were poor farmers who had spent the entirety of their lives working the land of the Khoonda plains. Agatio expected nothing less of Kyo and his brother Ryuu. He had begun acclimating the boys to the fields as soon as they could walk. Agatio noticed right away Kyo and Ryuu's unusual gifts manifesting themselves as faster than usual reflexes.
A Chance Encounter (Age 4)
Early in the mornings after a fresh rain had fallen young Kyo would accompany his father to the Crystal Cave that resided among the Khoonda plains to pick mushrooms. Kyo didn't much like the caves, they were damp, dark and just all around unnerving for such a young child. However, as long as he was with his father Kyo would feel safe. Rarely would he ever wander off on his own as with the caves many corridors one could easily get lost.
One particular morning Kyo was gathering mushrooms with his father when something interesting caught his eye. Something was glowing down one of the cave's many corridors. Kyo was a naturally curios child, as most boys that age are, but what's more than that something seemed to be compelling him forward. As if in a trance Kyo obeyed, wandering deeper into the cave until he found the source. It was a single rock embedded into the cavern wall that seemed to glow a pretty yellow color. Kyo dropped his basket of mushrooms and stepped up to the rock face only to find he was too little to reach the crystal. He tried to climb the wall but it was wet and too slick.
During one failed attempt to scale the wall Kyo slipped down and hit his knee on a rock. He immediately called out in pain and began crying loudly. It was only after several long minutes with no response that a terrifying truth began to dawn on Kyo. He was alone. Cold, wet and with an injured knee, there wasn't much else Kyo could do but sit in place and call out for his father.
After hours Kyo had just about gone hoarse and had lost the energy to continue. He laid his face down on a cold wet stone, a sudden inexorable urge to sleep washing over him. His eyelids grew heavy and sank downward. Just as they had come together the sound of boots crunching against gravel caused them to flash back open.
"Over here! I found another one!" came the voice of a girl from the pitch blackness before him. As the girl came into the light and stood over Kyo with the glow of the crystal behind her Kyo would recall thinking that he had died and that this was an angel, "Master Maha, someone's hurt! Come quick!" the girl called back into the darkness. A frail old Rattataki man in plain, unassuming robes answered the girl's call. He walked with a cane and carried a satchel over his shoulder that contained many colored crystals like the one Kyo had tried to retrieve from the wall.
"Very good Kaylin," the old man answered, "Oh my, how does such a small child find himself this deep in the caverns all by himself?" Kyo wanted to answer, but he was too weak. The words couldn't make it any farther than his throat before scattering like dust in the wind. Maha set down his satchel and placed his cane against the rocks before kneeling down beside Kyo and holding both his hands over the boy's knee. Kyo couldn't see what the old man was doing, he was too weak to even lift his head. As he lay there suddenly Kyo felt a surge of life rush back through him. The nagging pain in his knee dwindled and subsided. He took in a few quick gasps of air followed by a sudden coughing fit. Maha helped Kyo sit up and then gave him a pat on the back.
"Will he be ok?" Kaylin asked, a look of concern on her face.
"He'll be alright, but we should get him out of this cold dark cave," Maha said, giving Kaylin a warm reassuring smile that seemed to send waves of calm out all around him. Kaylin nodded and helped Kyo to his feet. As they began to carry him off the shiny stone he'd chased still called out to him. Kyo didn't want to leave it behind. He extended his hand towards it, the only thoughts running through his mind being how much he wanted to hold it. Suddenly the crystal broke free from its perch on the wall and fell to the cave floor with a clatter. Startled, Maha turned to see the crystal shining brightly on the ground behind him. Kyo reached towards it excitedly with both hands, opening and closing them as if to say "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" The two Jedi just looked at each other as Kaylin retrieved the crystal and handed it to Kyo. With a pleased squeal Kyo pressed the crystal to his chest and marveled at his hard earned prize.
Youngling Kyo (Age 4 - 12)
Agatio and Karst were relieved when the Jedi returned with their son, but the relief would be short lived. Arriving at the families tiny farm house, Maha found that Kyo had a twin brother who he felt was also strong in the Force. Master Maha then went on to explain to Kyo's parents everything that he had witnessed in the Crystal Cave. Maha believed that the boys had a natural talent for the Force and asked that they be allowed to come to Coruscant to be trained as a Jedi. Neither of the farmers had ever heard of the Force or Jedi and both were very skeptical of Maha's offer. They could not deny that their sons had a gift however, and this was their opportunity to learn to harness that gift. Ultimately their parents were torn. While heart broken, Karst believed it would be the best thing for both boys. Agatio was against it. He argued that he was getting too old to tend the fields by himself and that they would need the extra hands.
After much arguing, both parties agreed that they would leave the final decision to the boys. Kyo and his big brother Ryuu had been in the other room contently playing with the new crystal Kyo had found. Maha entered and approached them both with the offer. Though Kyo was young, the true weight of the decision placed before him probably would not have occurred to him even if he were twenty years older. He would miss his family, but the idea of adventure greatly appealed to Kyo, as it did to Ryuu. And also it would mean that Kyo would be able to stay with Kaylin, with whom he had become very close despite their short time together.
Once the decision was made Maha warned Kyo's parents not to be over emotional as they said their good byes. The Jedi Master and his Padawan then took the boys with them on their star ship back to Coruscant.
Coruscant was an overwhelming sight for simple farm boy like Kyo. The endless city, the dizzying pace of life, the lights, the sounds, it was everything Kyo's curious four year old mind could handle and more. The Jedi Temple was even more impressive. The grand hallways and massive bronzed colossal statues... by the time Kyo got to the room of a thousand fountains he was spinning.
Maha then took Kyo to Jedi Master Si Quan who was one of many Masters in charge of training the Younglings. Si Quan was a man in his early fifties with brown hair beginning to show signs of gray and a scruffy salt and pepper beard. He always seemed to have a smile on his face, even when surrounded by four year olds. It was said that Master Quan had the patience of an Ossus Monk. With Master Quan, Kyo and his brother Ryuu were first introduced to the lightsaber. Using their training sabers the boys were taught Shi-Cho, the most basic of lightsaber forms, along with several other younglings.
Unlike many of the others, Kyo was a slow learner. It took him longer than his peers to get the hang of using the weapon, but Master Quan was never one to give up. Si instilled a determination in Kyo that would come to define him as a Jedi. Kyo never gave up. If he had to work twice as hard as the others to keep up then that was what he would do.
Foremost in Kyo's sights was his brother Ryuu, a genius in near every regard when it came to the use of a lightsaber and very gifted with the Force. Ryuu's sights were set only on getting better and he had little time for his younger brother anymore. Though they were kin Kyo began to see Ryuu as an obstacle, the bar with which he could never quite measure up to. For this reason Kyo came to see his brother as a rival. Kyo would challenge Ryuu to sparring matches only to be beaten every time. Determined as ever though, Kyo trained himself to exhaustion in the hopes that someday he could regain Ryuu's respect.
Not too dissimilar to his training with a lightsaber, Kyo also had fallen behind with his Force training. Master Quan had tried to impress upon the boy the importance of patience and calm in a Jedi's life. Kyo was anything but. He would easily become frustrated with his inability to complete the lessons as quickly as his peers. Master Quan had feared that this frustration might cause young Kyo to lose heart and quit, but Kyo was nothing if he wasn't determined. He refused to quit and Si Quan could see this being a redeeming trait in the boy. He may just become a Jedi yet.
To help Kyo deal with his frustration, Master Quan reintroduced the boy to the importance of meditation. Si taught Kyo to simply center himself and quiet his overactive mind. By doing this everyday before his training Kyo found it easier and easier to hear and feel the Force. Manipulating objects through telekinesis came the most naturally to him. During his meditations Kyo would concentrate for hours on one simple object, such as his training saber, in order to make it float and hover around him. As the months passed the task became less and less strenuous.
Goodbye, my friend (Age 6)
Two years into his training Kyo received the first of two great losses in his life. On a mission to Nar Shaddaa both Master Maha Rishii and Kaylin were killed by assassins. Being so young at the time, Kyo wasn't able to appreciate what had truly happened.
After the memorial service Kyo stumbled across Si Quan seated alone in the Jedi Library. He was down one of the long corridors that most other Jedi rarely ventured down. Master Quan had gone there to be alone, as he often did. Kyo found him with tears welled up in his eyes, a state he'd never seen his master in. Kyo sat down next to Master Quan, his natural curiosity getting the better of him, "What's the matter, master? Are you hurt?" Kyo asked innocently, his big blue eyes staring intently up at his master.
Si Quan chuckled at the question, wiping a stray tear from his eye, "No... I'm not hurt. I just miss my friend," he answered. Kyo thought about it for a moment before responding.
"Me too... Master Quan, where is Kaylin?" Kyo asked shyly, his gaze falling off of Si Quan and down to the monitor in front of him. Si smiled lightly, taking in a deep breath of air. How to explain it?
"Well, Master Maha and Kaylin are one with the Force. They've transformed into the Force around us." Si explained. Kyo glanced back up a him, a puzzled look on his face, "But why?" he asked. Si let out another sigh, "I don't know, Kyo. Sometimes I wish I did. There are some questions even a Jedi cannot answer."
Kyo nodded, there was a long silence between the two before Kyo spoke up again, "Will I ever see Kaylin again?" he asked. Si smiled a bright and reassuring smile, "I'm certain of it." He answered.
Becoming a Padawan (Age 12)
It wasn't until Kyo suffered an injury in a duel with his brother that he realized his hidden talent. The boys were already almost twelve years old and already Ryuu was being considered to become a Padawan. Rumor had it that even Master Thos, a member of the Council, had expressed interest in taking on Ryuu as an apprentice. Jealous of the attention his brother was receiving, Kyo challenged him to a sparing match in the temple courtyard. Ryuu scoffed at the challenge. To him, his little brother wasn't worth his time, but if nothing else it might gain him more notoriety.
Armed with training sabers the two boys dueled each other in the courtyard. Kyo had come a long way with is Shii-Cho and was able to hold his own at last against Ryuu. Kyo pressed the attack, determined to prove himself worthy of Ryuu's and everyone else's notice. However, unbeknownst to Kyo, Ryuu had already begun training in more advanced lightsaber forms. When Ryuu quickly switched up his style to that of Djem So Kyo was caught completely unprepared. Ryuu ended the duel by hitting Kyo in the wrist with his training saber and knocking Kyo's weapon from his hand.
Kyo was embarrassed by the defeat. Too embarrassed to go to Master Quan even though Kyo's wrist was now injured with a pretty bad burn. He would probably get into trouble for the duel anyway if he did tell Si Quan about it. Frustrated and with the pain in his arm flaring as blood rushed to it with every beat of his heart, Kyo decided to center himself through meditation. He had been taught the basics of Force Healing, but up until now Kyo had never been very adept at its practice. He tried to clear his thoughts, but the pain in his arm was impossible to ignore. Focusing on it as he was, Kyo began to gather the Force around his wound. Soothing himself with thoughts of serenity and calm, the Force around Kyo followed suit and slowly the pain melted away. By the time Kyo had finished his meditation he found that his burn was gone. Kyo was amazed by this, assuming that perhaps his meditation had the ability to heal all along.
After a great deal of training and through sheer determination Kyo made himself ready to become a Padawan. Over the years Si Quan had watched Kyo pick himself up off the mat time and time again. The boy had gone from an impatient hyperactive kid and turned himself into a real potential Jedi. Though Master Quan was attentive to all his Younglings, he had developed a special fondness for Kyo. Something about him reminded Si of himself as a young Jedi. This was one of the reasons that Master Quan decided to take Kyo on as his own Padawan. The other was the growing need by the Republic for Jedi outside of the Temple. The Jedi Council had decreed that the talents of Masters such as Si Quan were better put to use out in the field then sitting around inside the Jedi Temple all day. As such, Si needed to choose an apprentice to take with him on missions from the Council, and Si could think of none better than Kyo Sartori.
This Weapon is your Life! (Age 12)
One of Kyo's first tasks as a Padawan learner was to construct his own lightsaber. Master Quan provided Kyo with most of the parts he would need, including a very special gift. It was the yellow crystal that Master Maha had brought back with him when he first brought Kyo and Ryuu to the Temple. Maha had told Si the story of how Kyo been attracted to the crystal and had given it to him to hold on to. The Force was strong in the crystal, holding it in his hand Kyo felt a warm familiar feeling as if in the presence of an old friend. The crystal felt like home... it reminded him of Kaylin and Master Maha, and also of his mother and father.
Si Quan taught everything he knew about the construction of a lightsaber, even taking apart his own to show Kyo the inner workings. However, Master Quan informed his Padawan that when the time came to construct his own he would be on his own. The process would be long and difficult. He would have to find a place strong with the Force to meditate on his crystal, spending perhaps weeks in isolation. As fate would have it, Illum became the location for this.
Still only 12 years old, Kyo prepared for the difficult journey taking with him only the pieces of lightsaber Master Quan had given him and the yellow crystal from Dantooine. After landing on Ilum and being left alone by Master Quan, Kyo began his hike through the driving snow towards the location of the crystal cave with only the Force to guide him. The lightsaber crystals that reside in the cave were rich with Force energy, making the caves shine like a beacon to those sensitive to it in an otherwise cold and dead world.
Exhausted and half frozen, Kyo made it to the caves. The dazzling array of crystals of all colors was more then Kyo had expected. The caves on Dantooine where he'd grown up were said to have such crystal deposits, but the settlers and thieves that lived on the planet had all but mined nearly every last one. Kyo couldn't help but wonder if the tiny cave near his old home had once looked like this.
Kyo set all the lightsaber pieces he'd brought with him out on the cave floor in front of him and sat down, entering a deep meditation to begin the process of constructing his lightsaber. Kyo would spend hours on each piece, probing it with the Force to find the one that would be just right. Over several days the hilt began to come together. It was made up of dark metal, a relatively large hilt as Kyo liked to hold his training sabers with two hands almost at all times. A longer hilt allowed both hands to grip the weapon comfortably. Kyo capped the hilt with an emitter shroud to guard his hands against the heat of the blade.
For the focusing crystal Kyo would use the yellow crystal from Dantooine. Applying the crystal was the most difficult task in constructing the lightsaber as the crystal had to be imbued with the Force and bonded with its wielder. Kyo already had felt a sharp connection between himself and his crystal and the crystal almost seemed to respond to him. Kyo spent nearly a week in the cave alone before his lightsaber was finally ready. At this point he had gone for all that time without food or water, using only the Force to sustain himself. Fatigued, Kyo collected his new lightsaber and ignited it for the first time. Its blade filled the cave with a bright and sunny yellow light accompanied by a high pitched hum.
Back to the Grindstone (Ages 12 - 16)
After completing his lightsaber Kyo was ready to go about the business of being a Jedi. He followed Master Quan to many exotic worlds, learning from his master's example what it meant to be a Jedi. Remembering his ill fated duel with Ryuu, Kyo took an interest right away in increasing his lightsaber repertoire. First and foremost being to learn the form that Ryuu had used to defeat him; Djem So.
Djem So/Shien was a lightsaber form developed by users of Form III: Soresu who compined the defensive properties of their form with a more offense minded philosophy. When Kyo came to Master Quan and asked to learn the Perseverance Form, Si realized that first Kyo would need to learn Soresu. Only then could he truly master the use of Form V.
Form III: Soresu was known as the Resilience Form and relied on a Jedi's ability to be patient in battle. An area that had long been one of Kyo's weaker points during his training in Shii-Cho. Master Quan recognized this and knew that learning Soresu would only be beneficial to the young Padawan. Si Quan himself was known to be a master of Soresu and demonstrated its use to Kyo using three remote droids. Si Quan was able to successfully defend against the blasts of all three remotes by making short, quick sweeps of his lightsaber, keeping the blade in close to his body and creating a consistent shield of deflective strokes. Si Quan explained that using this style could allow a Jedi to defend himself against many attackers at once, a fact that was clearly demonstrated.
Si Quan also explained the forms use in combat against other lightsaber wielding opponents. The key was patience. By maintaining a defensive barrier around yourself with small quick strokes a Jedi is able to redirect and deflect blows from enemies with minimal effort as the foe wastes precious energy trying to break through the defenses. With patience a Jedi could wait for his opponent to become fatigued and show an opening and then use that opening to disarm his opponent and end the duel.
It was a style and philosophy that didn't come easy to Kyo. Master Quan taught Kyo some defensive sequences he could use with Soresu. By committing these sequences of movements to his muscle memory Kyo would be able to use them in a real combat situation without having to think about it. Si would test his Padawan using training sabers, attacking Kyo while he only used Soresu to counter. At first the temptation to press the attack and go on the offensive was terrible. Kyo would quickly become frustrated with being pushed backward and lose his focus. To help remedy this Master Quan suggested the same thing he had when Kyo was a Youngling; meditation. For hours before their sessions Kyo would sit in silent meditation and then for hours afterwards he would do the same.
Finally the day came when Kyo's use of Soresu was enough that Si Quan's Shii-Cho couldn't penetrate it. As his master showed an opening Kyo quickly acted and knocked the training saber out of Si Quan's hand. Si was so proud he could cry, but he realized this was only the first step. Now that Kyo was proficient in Soresu he could move on to the more challenging Form V. Si Quan explained how the inventors of Djem So and Shien felt that Soresu would unnecessarily extend time spent in combat by forcing its users to wait for an opportunity to strike, rather than creating their own openings. With this form, rather then waiting for your foe to grant you a chance to strike you would create your own by mixing offense in with the defense of Soresu.
Si Quan was careful to remind Kyo that even while using Djem So/Shien to not forget the lessons of patience he'd learned from Soresu. Even though you are being more offensive, it should never be due to frustration. Kyo was taught about Shien first. This variant of Form V was designed specifically for multiple blaster wielding foes. Incorporating the short strokes of Soresu Kyo also learned how use the Force to guide his blade more precisely. By doing so Kyo could not only block the blaster bolts but send them back to their source.
To practice Kyo was made to do the exercise using three remote droids that Si Quan had demonstrated while teaching him Form III. Kyo would not pass the test until he destroyed all three remotes. While Kyo was adept at deflecting the blaster bolts, being able to redirect them in a direction he wanted proved very challenging. At first Kyo found himself getting hit by the powered down remote blaster bolts quite often as he tried to force the bolts in the direction he wanted them to go. Si Quan stopped Kyo, explain to him that he couldn't just will the blaster bolts, it wasn't the bolts that he was manipulating. It was his lightsaber blade. Master Quan told Kyo to instead focus on his lightsaber in its path through the air, "It's like a dance," he would explain, "You already know the steps. The Force will lead, you only need to match the rhythm."
Through months of practicing Kyo began to allow the Force to lead as Si Quan had instructed. He found then that sending the blasts back at the remotes was almost second nature. It wasn't long after that Kyo was able to preform the exercise while blindfolded.
Finally there was Djem So. This was the variant of Form V which focused on lightsaber combat. While this style maintained the blocks and parries of Soresu, Master Quan also showed Kyo sequences that involved fast and powerful counterattacks so one could quickly take advantage of redirecting or parrying a foes assault rather then simply waiting for them to strike again. This Form was one that finally came quickly to Kyo. He was all to eager to take advantage of his Soresu use to go on the offensive. Though wiser now then when he'd started, Kyo maintained his patience, waiting for the optimal time to launch such a counterattack instead of leaping at the first opening.
My Brother's Keeper (Age 16)
As Kyo was turning sixteen, Master Quan was assigned to facilitate negotiations between Republic Senators and the Felucians. Evidently several Republic officials had been sent to the planet in recent months but none of them had returned. The native Felucians informed the Senators that it was not they who were holding the missing officials, it was the jungle. The Felucians were a naturally Force sensitive species. They informed Master Quan and the Senators that something dark out in the jungle had been claiming the outsiders. They claimed that the species immigrating to Felucia had upset the planet's natural order. The darkness was the planet's way of preserving the balance. Master Quan asked if it were alright for him to investigate this "darkness" and the Felucians agreed to allow him to. However, they warned him that if he were to go out into the jungle he likely would not ever be coming back.
Ignoring the warning, Master Quan and Kyo pressed into the jungle. The planet's wildlife had evolved defenses against each other over many years, making all the creatures here dangerous to outsiders. It wasn't too long until Kyo and Master Quan came upon a wounded Republic official. He had been stung in the abdomen by a poisonous barb. The wound would be fatal if the officer was not brought to a bacta tank within the hour. Si used his comm to call for assistance, but unfortunately as deep into the thick as they were, it would be impossible to get him out in that amount of time. As Si tried to think of what they might do, Kyo suddenly had an idea. He remembered how he had used his meditation to heal his burns after his duel with Ryuu. It was a long shot, but worth a try.
Carefully Kyo sat down next to the wounded officer who was laid out before him and he closed his eyes. Kyo recalled how concentrating on the pain had caused the Force to gather to his wound. So Kyo placed his hands over the officers injury and reached out to him with the Force, attempting to feel the man's pain. Si Quan stopped what he was doing and watched Kyo with great interest as the young Padawan concentrated on the man in front of him. Kyo could sense the pain the man felt, it was all over his body. The venom was coursing through his blood creating a burning sensation all over. It was a bit much to wrap his mind around, but Kyo attempted to concentrate on the greatest source; the wound in the man's abdomen. As soothing waves of calm passed through Kyo the Force gathered to the wound beneath Kyo's hands.
After a little more than an hour the Soldiers Si Quan had called for arrived at their location. Miraculously the officer was still alive, the infected injury on his stomach having regressed a great deal from where it was when they'd found him. If Kyo had not healed him as he did, there would have been no way the man would have survived. After the soldiers carried the man off, Master Quan asked Kyo how he had been able to do that. Kyo explained that by meditating when he felt pain he was able to direct the Force to the pain's source. The Force would restore and heal the injuries. In this case he focused on the pain he could feel in the officer and did the same thing.
Si Quan was impressed that Kyo progressed this far on his own. He informed his Padawan that he may have some natural talent as a Jedi Healer. Si Quan himself was not all too familiar with how to use the Force to heal to such an extent, but when they would return from their mission he knew of a suitable teacher.
Kyo and Master Quan then pressed on in search of the other officers. As day began to become night Master Quan suggested it was time they set up camp. He told Kyo to stay put while went off to find fuel for a fire. As Kyo sat alone in the Felucian dusk he heard a rustling coming from the brush behind him. At first he thought it was Master Quan, but after calling out his name there was no answer only more rustling. Finally Kyo heard what he thought sounded like whimpering. Someone was crying. His curiosity getting the better of him, Kyo went off to investigate it.
Not long after leaving the camp Kyo took a bad step and the ground under his feet caved in. Kyo fell down into a deep dark cavern that had been buried under the jungle floor. After picking himself up and brushing himself off Kyo could hear the whimpering again coming from one of the dark corridors in the cavern. Cautiously he moved in to investigate. Inside the cave Kyo was surrounded by suffocating darkness. He quickly became lost in the cave's many winding corridors before finally encountering a young boy crying at the end of one of the tunnels. Using his lightsaber as the only source of light, Kyo noticed that the child looked remarkably like his brother, Ryuu... though not as Ryuu was now. He looked like Ryuu when he was only four years old. When they had first come to the Jedi Temple.
Kyo offered to help him find his way out and the two set out looking for an exit together. The boy instead led Kyo to the center of the cavern where the bodies of several people lay dead... they were the missing officers. Among them was also a child that looked just like Kyo at age four. The young Ryuu told Kyo that he had killed them all by accident, that he had only been trying to protect them. When Kyo asked from what, he answered "A Sith Lord". The boy then glanced up at Kyo and the padawan could no longer tell if this child's face was that of his brother... or his own.
Frightened, Kyo fled from the child into the caves many corridors, a dark feeling surrounding him as he ran. At last Kyo's panic was broken by the sound of a familiar voice. Master Quan was calling out his name and Kyo followed it back to its source where his master helped pull him up out of the cave. Kyo told Si Quan about the officers in the cave... but he never mentioned the boy that had led him to them. Si told Kyo that they would investigate in the morning. The next day the two Jedi returned to the cave. They were never able to find the chamber where Kyo had seen the bodies.
Jedi Healer Udin Thos (Ages 16 - 21)
After returning to the Jedi Temple from their mission on Felucia, Master Quan did as he had promised. He brought Kyo before a teacher he felt could better instruct him in the ways of Force Healing. This teacher was a Draethos and a member of the Jedi Council. Jedi Master Udin Thos. Like his ancestors, Master Thos served at the Temple as a Jedi Librarian. He was a keeper of and chronicler of a great deal of knowledge collected within the Jedi Library. One of his greatest talents however was in the use of the Force for healing.
Kyo's first impression of Master Thos that of a man living in slow motion. The Draethos' every action was done at a leisurely, careful pace. The Master would spend his days in the Jedi Library, pouring over the knowledge contained within. To Kyo, Udin Thos could not possibly be more boring. But fortunately for Kyo, his training with Master Quan had taught him a great deal about patience.
Master Thos insisted on beginning Kyo's training by giving the boy a crash course in Human and inter-species biology. Kyo cringed at the suggestion of it. Not so much due to the graphic nature of the subject matter, but more at the thought of spending his days coped up in a classroom with this coma inducing Jedi Librarian instead of out and about with Master Quan. Regardless, Kyo agreed. Pleasantly, to his surprise Kyo found what Master Thos had to teach him quite fascinating.
Kyo had explained to Master Thos how he had been able to use t he Force to heal. Master Thos impressed upon Kyo the importance of knowledge when it came to using the Force. He told the Padawan that he truly understood what was happening to the man in the jungle, he might have been able to heal him completely by himself. Through his study of biology Kyo came to understand how the Force was able to quicken the reproduction of cells in the body and it was by doing this that the Force was able to heal physical wounds such as cuts, burns or broken bones. Furthermore, Kyo studied a great deal about diseases and poisons. The light side of the Force could be used to subdue and even purify these things within the body.
Learning about it all was one thing, doing it was another. After giving young Kyo a crash course in biology Master Thos decided it was time to give the boy some practice. He took Kyo with him down to the Temple's infirmary where Jedi who were injured during training, missions or just plain sick went to be healed by the Jedi Healers in the Temple at the time. Under Master Thos' supervision Kyo was asked to diagnose patients injuries first and then attempt to heal them. At first it would take Kyo several hours to heal each patient, having to sit still in silent meditation in order to feel the Force and the patient well enough to heal them. As the weeks and eventually months passed, Kyo found he was able to call upon the Force more and more quickly until he became confident enough to where he thought he could attempt to heal without meditation. Without centering himself it was difficult. Kyo found he was only able to heal simple lesions and bruises without meditation. With practice the skill would improve, but for now he was far more effective when meditating.
Kyo became able to heal sick patients and even patients with internal injuries by using his Healing meditation. At this point Master Thos had been training the boy for over a year and he felt he was ready to rejoin his Master. Master Thos' last words of advice to Kyo were to not underestimate the importance of knowledge in the life of a Jedi. He encouraged the boy to stop by the Library when ever he had a chance to that they could study together.
Fallen Hero (Age 21)
During Kyo's training with Master Thos, his brother Ryuu's master had gone missing during one of his missions. It was an assignment that he had told Ryuu he could not accompany him on. Ryuu thought this to be ridiculous, it was too dangerous for a Jedi to go off on their own. What was he hiding? Ryuu did some snooping and discovered that his master had been sent to Dantooine.
Ryuu knew immediately then why he had been asked not to go. His parents were in danger. Try as he might, Ryuu could not shake the feeling that his parents and his master needed him. Against the wishes of the Jedi Council and his master, Ryuu decided to go to Dantooine to help them. As he was sneaking out of the Temple in the middle of the night Ryuu encountered Kyo in the halls of the Temple. Kyo had been working a late shift at the infirmary and was just now returning to his room.
At first Ryuu was elusive about what he was doing up and about that late at night. But Kyo could sense something was wrong. Eventually Ryuu caved and told Kyo about Dantooine. He asked Kyo to go with him. Kyo could feel a darkness coming from Ryuu. He was unsure of what it was... it was a cold and uneasy feeling. A feeling just like he'd had in that cave on Felucia. Kyo warned Ryuu not to go, he told him that he had a bad feeling about it. Ryuu simply answered that he had the same feeling, and that is why he had to go. He left for Dantooine that night... and never returned to the temple.
Kyo had long regretted what had happened that night. Had he made the right decision? Should he have gone with Ryuu? Was there no way he could have kept him from going? In any case, Ryuu had been missing for almost six months and was presumed dead. Kyo however wouldn't believe it. He knew his brother was still alive somewhere, he could just feel it. One restless night at the Temple seemed to confirm Kyo's beliefs. He had a dream and in this dream he saw a barren planet of wind swept valleys and canyons. He could feel his brother's presence here, Kyo was certain of it. Ryuu was in pain, terrible pain.
Upon awakening Kyo immediately went to the Jedi Library. When he described the planet he'd seen in his dreams to Master Thos, the Jedi went strangely silent. Master Thos told Kyo the planet he had seen was Korriban, a Sith world in the Outer Rim. Kyo told Master Thos that he felt Ryuu was there and asked that Jedi be sent to find him. Master Thos refused the request. Sending Jedi to Korriban at this time was far too dangerous. There was nothing they could do.
Kyo could not take no for an answer when Ryuu's life was at stake. He had always regretted not going with Ryuu to Dantooine, he vowed that he would not live to regret not going to Korriban. Kyo snuck out of the Temple at night much as his brother had and stole one of the Jedi's starfighters. Kyo wasn't much of a pilot, but luckily the astromech droid on board was able to do much of the flying for him. Kyo entered the coordinates for Korriban he'd taken from the library and headed off to find Ryuu.
Korriban was dangerous, especially for a Jedi. But Kyo couldn't let this chance slip away, he had to know if his brother was still alive. Kyo arrived on Korriban and landed his fighter in the Valley of the Dark Lords where he found a lone Dynamic class freighter... and Ryuu. His brother was dressed in black and accompanied by a small remote droid.
"What are you doing here, Ryuu?" Kyo asked, a small bit of anger in his voice, "We've been worried sick. We thought you were killed..."
"Hmph..." Ryuu chuckled lightly, "So the Jedi are still looking for me then? Well I'm sorry little brother, but you may have come all this way for nothing. You can go back to the Temple and tell your friends that I'm through playing Jedi games with children."
"What do you mean?" Kyo asked, any hint of a smile on his face quickly melting away, "If you stay out here alone who knows what might happen to you. Come with us, where it's safe."
"Hmph... foolish little brother," Ryuu chuckled, "You Jedi may run and hide... but I don't have to run away anymore. I have become more powerful than any Jedi, and soon enough I will be more powerful than even the greatest of the Sith entombed here. You would do well not to get in my way."
Kyo couldn't believe what he was hearing, he had thought that it was the darkness of Korriban that he was feeling in his visions... that he had felt that night on Coruscant. But he was wrong. Ryuu had changed. Kyo didn't know what to do. He summoned his lightsaber to his hand and ignited the yellow blade... but he couldn't really kill Ryuu, could he? "Whatever you've been told, it's a lie," Kyo shouted, "You're being used!"
"I don't care," Ryuu said plainly. Kyo's eyes widened, he was quite surprised by Ryuu's response, "As a Jedi I was too weak to make a difference. If some Dark Jedi wants to use me then so be it, I will use him as well and once I have the power I need I'll cast him aside."
"So this is your answer? Stop the dark side by joining it? I can't let you do that!" Kyo shouted.
"I thought you might say that..." Ryuu responded, staring daggers into Kyo. Kyo suddenly felt himself becoming ill, his vision blurred and his body ached. Ryuu was using the Force on Kyo to simulate the effects of a deadly toxin... this was the dark side technique "Plague". As Kyo began to waver Ryuu was suddenly right on him, swinging his lightsaber at Kyo. Kyo lifted his blade to block, but in his weakened state his saber was easily knocked aside and Kyo was kicked hard in the chest, knocking him on his back.
Ryuu's remote droid began to move foward, but Ryuu extended his arm in the droid's path, "Stay back," he said calmly, "He's mine."
Kyo could feel the Plague spreading through him as if fire were flowing through his veins. He knew he was in trouble, but he had to concentrate. The Force was being used against him, altering the cells in his body and slowing their regeneration process to a near halt. Kyo quieted his mind, feeling where Ryuu was manipulating him and attempting to reverse the process. Kyo had practiced this many times before and it was likely Ryuu did not expect Kyo to able to heal himself. Kyo's focus stopped the spread of the Plague and he began to reverse it, even speeding up his cell's regeneration beyond normal.
As Ryuu moved in with Force aided speed Kyo's lightsaber suddenly snapped back on and met Ryuu's, the two blades hissing as they clashed in bursts of blue and yellow, "Impressive," Ryuu goaded, spinning his saber to break the lock and taking a step back, "Si Quan has taught you well... but even if you are able to match my knowledge of the Force, you never could match my skill with a lightsaber." Ryuu moved his lightsaber into the Makashi opening stance.
Kyo moved his lightsaber up over his head into the opening stance for Djem So, "What happened to you on Dantooine? How did my brother... turn into this?"
Ryuu sneered at Kyo's question, "What do you care? All you ever wanted to do was sit back and hide behind the Jedi. You were too weak and frightened to even see that Mom and Dad's lives were in the balance. You had no interest in saving them. Now you come here and expect me to believe you want to 'save' me? Hmph! You don't know what happened to them... you didn't see it. You didn't want to see it! So don't come here and try to talk to me like you know what I've been through!"
Ryuu's words cut Kyo deeply. All the sadness and regret he had felt over not going with Ryuu to Dantooine had been heaped right back ontop of him, "Heh, I guess we really don't understand each other," Kyo said, a hint of a smile on his face, "I never was the greatest Jedi. Hell I couldn't even swing a lightsaber right when we first arrived on Coruscant. I was hopeless... I was about ready to give up. Then I saw you... you could do anything. You were like a super hero. I thought that meant you were my rival, but really, I just wanted to be like you."
Ryuu frowned hearing Kyo's words, his eyes settling downward at the canyon floor, "It's... too late, Kyo. I can't turn back now!"
Kyo's sadness then transformed into determination as he gripped his lightsaber with both hands... and let the blade go out, "I don't believe the dark side has taken you fully. My brother is still in there somewhere. I don't believe you're capable of killing me," Kyo said, letting his weapon drop to his side. Ryuu's face twisted, a tiny spark of anger deep inside him beginning to grow.
"Don't underestimate me!" He called out, raising his weapon and lurching forward. Kyo remained calm, calling the Force to him. To his surprise Ryuu's lightsaber crashed against a wall of energy just inches from Kyo's head. The Force has protected him from the blow. Kyo then used it to shove Ryuu back.
With rage consuming him, Ryuu leaped back to his feet and attacked again. Kyo ignited his blade and countered Ryuu's flurry of blows with his own Soruesu. Both of their lightsabers whirled through the air at dizzying speeds, each combatants advances being perfectly countered by the other. Finally Ryuu dodged one of Kyo's slashes to the side and used the force to pull him past. Ryuu then swung his blade across his body grazing Kyo across the back with his lightsaber.
"So naive..." Ryuu said, shaking his head as Kyo lay on the ground, "All you have are words. Nothing you say can actually make a difference. You'll never change, Kyo. Ours is a world of pain in which the only thing that matters is power. If you're still too afraid to act then all you can do is fall under those of us who seek to move forward."
"No... it doesn't have to be that way!" Kyo replied through labored breaths back at Ryuu.
"A fool's hope. The Force is a cruel puppet master... none can escape their destiny."
"I'll find a way," Kyo answered, "I'll find a way to save you, even if you can't."
Ryuu continued to stare down at Kyo, though his expression then became heavy with sadness, "Why... why would you go so far for me? Why make yourself suffer?"
"Why?" Kyo replied, almost in disbelif that Ryuu needed to ask. Kyo could only pity him in that moment, "I'll never abandon my brother or any of my friends to the darkness. Never,"
Ryuu closed his eyes, smiling softly. He turned off his lightsaber and spun quickly on his heel, turning to leave. He signaled his remote to follow with him. Focusing hard Kyo used the Force heal himself as quickly as he could. Though he still bore the scar on his back and his body still was in pain he shot up and started to chase after Ryuu. Ryuu paused, glancing over his shoulder at his brother, "Kyo..." he whispered, "thank you."
Before Kyo could react Ryuu extended his arm and violently drained the life from him to the point where Kyo's vision went black and he passed out. Ryuu stood staring at Kyo's unconcious body for a moment before turning and continuing back towards his ship.
Two not so lucky people. (Ages 21 - 22)
After Kyo had gone missing, Master Thos knew exactly where the boy had gone. Knowing the dangers, Master Quan went to Korriban anyway to find him. There he found Kyo left for dead in the Valley of the Dark Lords. He brought Kyo back to Coruscant where Kyo fell into a deep depression about what had happened to his brother. To try and comfort Kyo, Master Quan recanted a story from when he was younger.
"I was about your age when I was given my first mission without my Master. There were two Jedi to accompany me, we were to investigate the disappearance of a Jedi Knight on Dxun. I begged Maha to recommend me for the assignment and sure enough, he did. When we landed on Dxun we could feel the dark side was present and our squad's leader was adamant that we leave and wait for back up. I wouldn't have it. I convinced them to press forward. Eventually we came to a tomb where a Dark Jedi was lying in wait. It was a trap and I'd led us right into it. My comrades were both killed and I barely escaped alive.
Heh, I guess we're just two not so lucky people, Kyo. I always thought I could have done more. I was so wracked by guilt, I only wanted to end my suffering. I went to Master Maha asking the same questions you are today, and do you know what he said? He told me that having dealt with the death of his father and the destruction of his home that he had suffered too much himself to know the answer. But that if I could find a Jedi who had experienced no suffering, he would surly have an answer for me."
"So what did you do?" Kyo asked.
"I began searching... going to all the other masters and even the other Knights and Padawans trying to find one that had experienced no suffering. Each told a different story, each reached the same conclusion..."
"I don't understand, Master, did you ever find the answer?"
Si smiled, chuckling a bit to himself, "We all suffer, Kyo. That is the way of things. But we need not suffer alone. Do not try to bear the weight of what happened to Ryuu on your heart alone."
Master Quan's story struck a cord with Kyo. He understood what his Master was trying to tell him, but he couldn't help but feel he would be responsible for bringing Ryuu back to the light. During his initial training as a Youngling, Kyo and every other young Jedi was asked why they wanted to become a Jedi. Most didn't have an answer and the few who did often equated being a Jedi with becoming some sort of mythical super hero. Ryuu had answered "To test his limits." Kyo could not think of an answer at the time. Though now the answer seemed obvious.
Kyo went on, continuing his training with Master Quan. Most recently he has begun practicing using the Force as a form of protection. Gathering light side energy around himself and forming it into barriers as he had done on Korriban. Though he had disobeyed one of his masters, the council did not ignore the courage the young Padawan had displayed in his confrontation with his twin brother. Seeing what had transpired on Korriban as a sufficient trial Kyo was Knighted by the council. For better or worse, Kyo was more determined now than ever to become a true Jedi. Not simply for himself, but for his brother... and his friends.
Lightsaber: Single phase, single blade
Color: Yellow
Practiced Lightsaber forms:
Shii-Cho 5
Makashi
Soresu 2
Ataru
Shien / Djem So 2
>>Sub-form Backhanded
Niman
>>Sub-form Jar-kai, or Dual Wield
Juyo
Double Bladed Combat
Force-Sensitive Abilities or practices:
Telekinetic: 5
Telepathic: 3
Body: 2
Sense: 3
Protection: 6
Healing: 7
Destruction: 0
Specialized Skills:
Attributes:
Physical Strength: 5
Intelligence: 4
Speed: 6
Leadership: 2
Unarmed: 4
Melee Weapons: 4
Ranged Weapons: 1
Force Attunement:
+4
RP Sample: See the "Fallen Hero" section of the bio.
