The Calm Before the Storm (Ziggy)

[Catatafish]

Slowly, yet assertively, Balek stepped out of the alcove where master Beleren had just completed his lesson. Nevertheless, he did not leave alone. A small human child, with short red wavy hair followed him outside the room. Even if Balek could not feel the young one's nervousness through the force, he could surely smell it emanating from his clothes. The boy was restless, in quiet, but stalwart anticipation.

"Still your mind, young one. I am confident you understand why I required your presence out here in the hallway." Balek continued walking down the long hallway in front of him, his arms tucked neatly, each inside its opposite's sleeve. He felt enlightened after listening to Master Beleren's lecture and council, regarding his own personal doubts towards taking a padawan. But, before the knight could utter those words, to the youngling behind him, he needed to know the boy's story.

"However, before we can commence with the formalities, I would like to know more about you, and your training. Please, if you would start by relating your life story..." While expressing this sentiment, Balek stopped walking, turned his head around and smiled at the young initiate, signaling for him to keep up, and walk a little faster...

[Charlie Sharper]

Tem followed the Caamasi consular down the hall, he tried in vain to hide his excitement from the Jedi, but Balek noticed "Still your mind, young one. I am confident you understand why I required your presence out here in the hallway." "Yes master Ak'qli" Tem took a second to let the feelings flow out of his mind, then reopening his eyes he jogged up to Balek and listened intently to his words. "However, before we can commence with the formalities, I would like to know more about you, and your training. Please, if you would start by relating your life story..."

Tem stared at Balek for a moment, his goggles reflecting the last rays of the setting sun. Tem thought about his response and then took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I am half Mialuka, my eyes are supersensitive to light, which is why I wear these goggles, and I was born of the planet Nadiem, my father was a former Jedi and my mother was a seer. When I was very young a Dark Jedi came and killed my father, he was cut down in front of me... Tem took another deep breath as he let the memory of it wash away from him Then he attacked me, but my mother stopped him and then brought me to the temple to be trained as a Jedi." Tem wasn't exactly sure if this was what Master Ak'qli wanted, but he felt this might be important.

"Is that what you wanted to know Master?"

[Catatafish]

As Balek walked, possibly a little too quickly for the youngling's legs to keep up, he listened closely to the small, goggled human's story. It was obvious the boy still felt the pain of his father's death; it was that particular pain why Balek chose him to be his future padawan. Tem reminded him of his own father, and his own pain. Nevertheless, that pain was a distant memory, one supressed under years of training, and they simply did not have time to dwell in the past.

"Yes, child. That is what I needed to know, at least before we reach our destination. Now, tell me. What do you remember about your father? As the Caamasi knight walked down a narrow hallway, and then down a couple of flights of stairs, entering deeply into the bowels of the jedi temple, his question lingered in the air.

[Charlie Sharper]

Tem kept up with the Jedi rather well, he was rather tall for a youngling. He thought about his response before speaking, taking yet another deep breath. "He was a Jedi...A great Jedi I've been told. He died protecting me..." Tem muttered, the memory brought with it emotions he couldn't afford to feel, he had to keep it under control, he let the feeling pass, then spoke up

"I don't know why he left the Order, my mother knew, I suspect that Master Took does as well, but they never shared it with me" He said, trying to keep up with the Caamasi. He alway knew that there was more to his father's leaving the order then he was told, more to his death as well, he could sense it, feel it through the force, but with his little knowledge of the force he couldn't divine it's meaning. "But I have tried hard to let go of that life, so maybe not knowing is better for me" Tem said smiling a little.

[Catatafish]

As the young human described memories of his father and mother, Balek continued walking down the halls, listening carefully to Tem's story. A young boy, riddled with grief from such a young age, could harbor feelings of resentment, guilt, and fear. Such sentiments could lead Tem to the dark side, and Balek, if he was to become the youngling's guide in the force, would have to know of the boy's self-restraint.

"It is wise of you, youngling, to contain your curiosity on this matter, and your feelings about your father. Knowledge of the jedi code will aid you in steering yourself from thoughts that may lead to the dark side. Keep it close." As the knight recited the words that had been of little immediate comfort as a young boy, but came to be the cornerstone of his life amongst the Jedi, to the youngling behind him, he continued his saunter within the temple. Ultimately Balek arrived at his destination: a large room with very high ceilings, matted floors, and a large chest.

He stood outside the room, and signalled Tem to walk inside. "We are here, young one. Here is where I will test your skills and communication with the force, before your training can start. After all, I cannot teach you if I am not aware of your present limitations, do you not agree?" With a playful smile gracing his already amusing face, he waited for Tem to walk inside the training room.

[Charlie Sharper]

Tem listened attentively to what Balek said about not focusing on the past, he understood that he would have to eventually completely cut his ties with the past and remove the emotions tied to that memory, but he had been working at just that, he was glad to hear the Consular tell him just that, it re-affirmed his dedication to becoming a Jedi knight. "Yes, Master Ak'qli." Tem said reverently

Then Balek stopped suddenly, and turning to Tem he spoke "We are here, young one. Here is where I will test your skills and communication with the force, before your training can start. After all, I cannot teach you if I am not aware of your present limitations, do you not agree?" Tem looked in to the room and then looked at Balek again "Yes, Master Ak'qli." Tem said before quickly and quietly entering the room. He stood in the center of the room and awaited instruction from the senior Jedi, not knowing what to expect next.

[Catatafish]

Tem walked hastily into the room, followed closely by the Caamasi jedi, allowing the door to close behind him. A training hall, evidently, prepared in advance to assist masters in the instruction of their padawans. A small drinking fountain at the northwestern corner of the room, some plasteel containers at the northeastern corner, and a small chest against the south wall, was all the room contained. The western wall, a massive window allowing the dimming, yet multicolor lights that emblazon sunsets on Coruscant, to bathe the two figures inside, casting elongated, dark shadows on the matted floor.

While the boy waited patiently near the center of the room, Balek slowly walked towards the chest against the south wall of the room. His walk exuded the confidence of decades under the teachings of the jedi order, yet surprisingly approachable, always sporting a big smile. Often, he would turn and face Tem, while walking, and just smile at him for no apparent reason. He opened the chest, and removed it's contents: two training lightsabers, some bandages and burn ointments. Making use of the force, Balek swiftly made one of the lightsaber hilts, fly all the way to the center of the room, and hover just in range of Tem's right hand.

"I assume the saber you now possess, was your father's, Correct? Well, we will not be using our blades during this trial, youngling. These training weapons will fulfill our present needs, without the inherent danger of the genuine ones."said Balek, walking back to his initial position when he tread inside the room, directly facing the young human. The shadows on the floor had grown a trifle longer, which meant they now had less time before night was upon their side of the planet-city. Balek, still sporting a devilish smile across his hirsute face, clutched the unadorned training lightsaber hilt with both hands, and slowly shifted into Shii-Cho stance.

"When you are ready, young one, charge!"said the jedi knight, before activating the lesser lightsaber in his hands.

[Charlie Sharper]

Tem took a hold of the saber with his right hand and then drew back, closing his eyes again and letting the force flow through him, he knew that he had no chance in the fight, but he would let the force guide him, trusting that it wouldn’t lead him wrong.

He assumed a basic Shii-Cho stance and activated the saber, the dull hum putting him at ease, and then the Caamasi spoke up “When your ready, young one, charge!” Tem just stood there, letting the force flow freely through him, he could feel the strong, cold breeze outside the window, the empty rooms around them, the last lights from the sun upon his face, but what he focused on was the Jedi across the room, the force emanated off the stronger force user. Something came into Tem’s mind, the Jedi was just testing him, so that meant he would be the defensive, Tem knew that the Caamasi was a better saber wielder, but only just, though the Knight was a better force user, more so then Tem could even begin to understand.

Tem took a deep breath and then charged at the older Jedi, his arm right arm went straight out with the saber tightly grasped in his hand, his left arm bent at the elbow and was held in front of the boy’s chest, and he then cut left and brought his saber to bear.

[Catatafish]

The jedi knight could feel the force flow through his young adversary, as he charged towards him, lightsaber blazing. Balek calmly stood still in wait of the youngling's frist attack, which came swiftly from the left side. The experienced jedi did not parry, or attempt to strike back, so the young human would not be harmed; instead, Balek merely evaded Tem's cut. However, although the knight had apparently avoided the attack unscathed, a small, almost imperceptible cut, instantly cauterized by the intense heat of the blade appeared on his left hand.

"Very, very good, youngling. I underestimated the extent of your training. However, I believe it is my turn to strike." Balek grinned at the young student, and slowly shifted his stance again, to the basic Shii-Cho. Then, with little warning, Balek gripped the saber tightly, and swung from right to left, gathering power from the leverage exercised by his left hand, pulling on the bottom of the hilt, yet holding back some. After all, he did not intend to harm the boy.

[Charlie Sharper]

Tem felt the Kight's surprise at the skill in the younglings attack, which gave Tem a slight boost in confidence, a smile nearly played across his features. Tem's leg spun on its axis and he turned to face Balek. The older Jedi spoke up "Very, very good, youngling. I underestimated the extent of your training. However, I believe it is my turn to strike."

Tem could not stop himself from smiling this time "Alright Master, I am ready" he said, his smile gone now as he refocused on the task at hand, the Jedi was about to attack and could use abilities that Tem couldn't even comprehend, he must be ready for anything.

Tem let the force guide him again as he straightened his legs and then pushed the right leg back, and his left leg forward, then held the saber in front of him with both arms extended in a standard defensive stance.

[Catatafish]

(((OOC: Lol, I think you misread my last post. No problem though. ^^)))

Balek, being the more seasoned of the 2 force users, swung his saber from right to left, expecting the boy to parry the first attack. The lightsabers crashed together; minuscule thermal explosions a testament to the enormous heat produced by even the practice weapons, were produced where the blades met, and disappeared as swiftly as they appeared.

The caamasi then employed his superior speed and knowledge of the force, to lunge forward, then pivot on his right foot, arriving in a perfect position to strike the adversary on his left side. Balek, however, was not about to harm the boy, so, just before the blade struck, he halted, but kept the humming blade close to the young human's ear. "Your control of the blade is commendable, young one. However, I did notice you smiling some, after your first attack. Keep in mind, Tem Farelle, that pride in your skills, could lead you to the dark side, or the demise under a darker blade."

Balek disengaged the weapon, and slowly started stepping towards the water fountain in the room, his breath still somewhat agitated from the physical exercise before. "Youngling, your control over the blade in single combat is impressive. Admirable, for someone your age, a fact that will no doubt serve you in the future." After getting to the water fountain, Balek, poured tall drinks of water into a pair of cups, took a small sip of one, and walked back towards the boy, with a large, inviting smile on his face.

[Charlie Sharper]

The young Miraluka blocked the knight’s first attack, their sabers crackling with life, but he had no defense for the Caamasi Jedi second strike. Tem stared at the blade pointed at his head, and for the second time that day, Tem turned his saber off, conceding defeat, but he wasn't angry or disappointed, but instead eager to see what Balek had in store for him next.

The dual over, Balek began to speak to Tem. "Your control of the blade is commendable, young one. However, I did notice you smiling some, after your first attack. Keep in mind, Tem Farelle, that pride in your skills, could lead you to the dark side, or the demise under a darker blade." Tem realized the truth in Balek's words "I'm sorry, I was wrong, it won't happen again." He said genuinely, he should have known better then to feel so prideful. Tem's eyes followed the Caamasi over to the drinking fountains listening intently as he was commended for his saber technique "Thank you master." Tem said as he was given his cup.

Then Tem looked at Balek in the eyes, thought the older Jedi couldn't tell, as his curiosity got the best of him "Master Ak'qli, what did you want to talk to me about?" Tem asked, realizing he might have been a bit too blunt to considered respectful but instead of appoligizing he continued "Is it because you are considering me as a padawan?"

[Catatafish]

The jedi giggled slightly after the human's point-blank quesion. After completing the trial posed on him by the caamasi, it was evident there was no more procrastination necessary; the boy was ready.

"However candid your question, you are also correct, young one. I would very much like to train you in the ways of the force..." While speaking to the small human, the knight slowly bowed down before the youngling, with his hand across his chest, signaling respect. "...That is, if you would choose to become my padawan learner...", continued Balek, still inclined towards the boy, yet facing, and gently smiling at him.

[Charlie Sharper]

(Sorry for the wait, my comp is kind of messed up so I'm typing when I can)

Tem smiled wide at the bowing Jedi "Yes Master Ak'qli, I would be honored to be your padawan" Tem bowed as well, a deep low bow before looking back up at the Caamasi. Smiling again he looked out the window at the twilight sky, the joy welling up inside of him, so much that he could not contain it, he was to be a Padawan...He would be a Jedi one day, he would make his new master proud, that much he knew.

Looking back at Balek he bowed again "I thank you for giving me this oppertunity and I will not fail you, Master." The young Miraluka said confidently to the Jedi who was sporting a smile of his own.