A New Padawan...

[Duros]

Duros sat crossed legged in one of the many training chambers within the Jedi Temple. His eyes where closed and he let the force flow through him. He felt the warmth of its life fill him as his breathing slowly became shallower until it was almost non-exsistant. He could feel the younglings just a few rooms down running through there saber drills. Each one of them a beacon of the force pulsing throughout its giant stream. More over he could feel all the Jedi within the temple going about there training or daily business.

Slowly however Duros let his mind focus to the objects in the room. The training room floor was littered with random bits of furniture and surprisingly rocks. As Jedi they didn't have attachments or personal possessions so therefore there was very little spare furniture hanging around the temple, so Duros had brought back some rocks from one of his Missions. An amusing sight indeed Duros with a ship full of rocks...

Duros could feel the force flowing to each of the objects and slowly he bent it to his own will. Without moving his body he first picked up the closest chair with his mind, before he let his influence stretch outward consuming the force until all of the objects that where placed in the room where hovering two to three feet above the ground. Duros felt the small strain on his mind but he preferred to meditate like this, it meant that he could improve the finer control of the force while thinking upon deep issues and letting the force talk to him.

Duros was expecting his Padawan to enter soon, but he didn't show any sign of it as he sat motionless in the center of the circular room.

[Elando]

Fredrick pounded down the corridor, passing various padawans and masters alike. He was so out of touch with having scheduled training sessions what he'd completely forgot about his first session with his newly appointed master. He skidded round a corner and down another corridor, into the doorway of the training room his master had set aside for them. He stood in the doorway, panting slightly. Duros didn't make a sound, but one of his eyelids fluttered slightly at the sound of his new padawan awaiting to enter.

"Master Dyas, I'm sorry I'm late." Fredrick said, trying to catch his breath. He hoped his new master wouldn't mind but he thought it was only right to apologies just incase. He stood in the doorway, not wanting to disturb his master's meditation anymore than he already had. He waited for Duros' response. There was a slight aura of anticipation and excitement that surrounded Fredrick. This would be the new beginning on his way to knighthood.

[Duros]

Duros felt his Padawan rushing through the halls long before he reached the door to the training room. He was different to some of the other Jedi of his age who where around the temple doing there daily duties, more rough and un-refined power of the force. Duros sighed heavily as he thought about training him, there was a reason why the council had an age limit on training and why younglings that weren't selected at a certain age went into the service... But still the force was telling him that he should train Fredrick and he was first of all a servant of the Force.

Duros felt his Padawan enter the doorway, he was late but Duros wasn't too bothered, things got in the way and time is something a Jedi never has too much of. He opened his eyes and looked across at the Padawan. He could sense the young-ones excitement. Duros smiled his lips partially hidden by the brown beard which covered the bottom half of his face. "Your late... but thats to be expected I guess..." Duros' voice sounded tired and as he stood up for a split second he looked alot older than his years, but quickly that disappeared as he stood up straight his long brown robe resting on his wide shoulders.

Duros waved his left hand across at the room for a second and the objects that where hovering in mid-air dropped to the ground and with a second wave where pushed to the outer edges of the training room. "Hmmm... you've been taught how to use a lightsaber I assume?... i've seen you duel before.... your not too speedy with your movements which makes Soresu hard for you... Makashi is a form which is hard to master and I don't belive the arrogance in which the form brings would be healthy for you... Form Five's Djem So, I belive would be best suited to you, it relies on brute strength which i've seen you have... also i'm to assume you have some ability in it when I saw you spar last..." Duros raised his right hand up to his beard to stroke it, he often did this while thinking, his blue eyes never left the seventeen year old."ofcourse non of this matters if your Shii-cho isn't perfect when it comes to the Jedi Trails...."

Duros smiled as he stayed in the center of the room, his hands dropping back down to his sides. "Also you are strong with the force, which is one of the reasons the council agreeded to let me train you, as I am aswell... so under my tutelage you shall become a powerful user of the force... Now... what would YOU, like to learn today?" His final question might have thrown Fredrick as normal lessons as a youngling where very structed.

[Elando]

Fredrick was a little taken aback by this last question. "You...you want me to decide?" He said. "Well, umm, I have been wanting to work on my force training, although, if we could do a bit of lightsaber and force training, that would be beneficial I think. It's been a while since I've had any structured training so anything would be beneficial at this point."

Fredrick stepped into the room. He had been preparing for this moment for months but it was still hard to contain his nervousness and excitement at finally having a new master. He fumbled with his robe sleeve, looking around at the interior of the training room. It was littered with the objects Master Dyas had been meditating with as well as various useful objects.

"Shall we use training drones or just spar, Master?" Fredrick said, stopping a meter away from Duros.

[Duros]

Duros could sense how nervous and excited he was, these things where normal when one was taking his first steps on a journey that would change the entirety of there lives. However both these where emotions that would affect both battle and his Training. It would have been wise to start with meditation for a few hours in order to let him clear his mind of these thoughts. Instead however Duros decided upon a different approach.

He lifted his left hand up, and for a second he looked slightly silly which is left hand raised ninety degree's to his side but after a second a training saber crafted in the mirror image of his own came flying from behind some of the objects and rocks from his meditation. The second the saber reached his hand it ignited and he swung it with one hand in a basic Shii-cho attack towards his Padawans shoulder. The attack was a Shiim, which was just nudging the side of the blade against the opponent, however since it was a training saber instead of extreme pain it would cause a mild burn if it was not blocked.

"One must always use to the force to see ahead, It is how we Jedi block saber on saber and the bolts of Blasters... and you must find the determination and inner-strength to calm your mind even during the heat of battle... the force is a powerful ally, emotions are a powerful catalyst of the force.... but always remember emotions in battle such as fear or excitement... lead to anger, and anger as we know leads down a much darker path... Now prepare yourself..." Duros spoke as the saber was drawn to him from across the room and the "prepare yourself" as said just as the blade was in full swing.

[Elando]

Fredrick, caught a little off guard by this only just dodged the swing, stepping to the side and turning with his arms outstretched so the swing barely missed his chest. He jumped backwards and threw out his hand towards the far wall. Instantly a training saber of his own flew across the room, turning end over end, and into his hand.

Immediately he engaged it and brought the blade round into the opening stance of Shii-cho, holding the hilt two handed, up infront of him, ready to block or attack at any moment. He circled Duros and suddenly chose his moment to strike, bring the saber round in a horizontal sweep from the right hoping to catch his master off guard.

[Duros]

Duros allowed himself to smile slightly as Fredrick managed to avoid the sudden swipe. He allowed the saber to fall back down to his side as he watched his Padawan call upon the force to grab a saber from the wall. As soon as it enganged Duros' saber was again back up. This time he stood in the Soresu stance. It was slightly wider than normal in order to compensate for Form V attacks.

When Fredrick attacked Duros was more than ready, he was a master of Soresu a most powerfull defence, also he knew Shii-Cho perfectly, the style was slow and predictable. His training saber was green in order to avoid confusion and he swung it dangerously close to his own body in a fast sweep, catching his Padawans blade upon his own with apparent ease.

"Good, your reactions are good and I can feel the force within you... but relax, allow your feelings to float away and leave your emotions behind... only then will you truly be able to master a lightsaber..."

With this Duros stepped forward, releasing the blade from blade and aiming to step to the left side of Fredrick, his blade swung gracefully as he did, the short sweep so close to his body providing a perfect position to counter a blow made in his transit. Duros then flicked his wrist slightly aiming the blade to catch the back shoulder of his Padawan as he advanced to his side. During this he spoke in a calm clear voice asif he was strolling in a park.

"Shii-cho is too slow... too predictable, however It is simple, and its simplicity is its strength... not too suited for dueling and is lacking in techniques to block blasters... however it is simple and can be applied to many diffrent situations... And is best against multiple opponents... Always remember though, that every style is derived from this and every Jedi's combat reflects it in some way...."

[Elando]

Distracted by his Master's words of wisdom Fredrick only just blocked the swing that was directed towards him, but the speed and strength of the swing was so powerful it broke through and slightly burned his robed shoulder. "Ahh." He said, backing away and feeling the fresh hole that had just been burnt into his robe. He was foolish to have let his guard down, but it was hard to concentrate on fighting while listening to his master as well.

He breathed in and tried to clear his mind but held onto what his master had just told him. "It is daunting to think of a real duel. Theres so much to think about, so much to remember. The strengths and weaknesses of each stance. Trying to interpret your opponents motives and next move, and in the heat of battle, there is too much to distract you from remembering these things." He said. He wanted to be open about his inability to focus. It was only to help him further grown in his training, but he feared his master might think wrong of him for saying these things.

He switched his stance as he heeded his master's words about the strengths and weaknesses of the various stances trying to recall what would defeat Soresu. He knew Soresu was mearly a defensive stance, used to tire your opponent into making a mistake and exploiting that. He held the hilt in his right hand and spun it into a downwards facing position, the opening stance of Makashi so that he could rely on small, almost effortless strikes for maximum effect. Fred had little practice with the form but hoped it'd show his knowledge of the forms strengths and weaknesses.

Without warning he lunged forward, aiming the blade for Duros' torso.

[Duros]

Duros smiled again as he took a step back while his Padawan was speaking. He had much to learn but he could sense he would become a powerful Jedi. He considered what Fredrick said, however powerful he may become in the future at the present he was too distracted his mind filled with so much that no-wonder he wasn't flowing between moves. "There is nothing to remember but the force, it guides your movements and through your movments your lightsaber... but you must take a deep breath and feel the force wash over you... relax and allow the force to guide you... with training Fredrick this will become like second nature."

Duros was almost impressed when Fredrick adopted the Form II stance, Makashi, a powerful style indeed. Duros had his saber up when Fredrick went for a lung towards his chest. However it was almost immediate his lack of practice and training in the style. His footwork was off also he lacked the intense focus the style required, also he knew that Fredrick wasn't as fast as he was strong, therefore it was easy to parry the blow. Knocking his saber to the side as he made another seemingly lighting fast sweep close to his body.

"Makashi is a powerful duelling style, however you lack the training to pull it off correctly and you are stronger than you are fast, this style requires little strength as all the power comes from the force..."

Almost at once Duros hand shot up from his lightsaber. He pointed it palm first at Fredrick releasing a stored blast of the force straight into his face. It wasn't as strong as Duros could push it but he didn't want to hurt him, instead just throw him back across the room.

[Elando]

Fredricks eyes grew wide with shock as the invisible telekinetic blast wave hit him head on as it extended from Duros' hand. He flew backwards and landed on his back, skidding slightly along the floor. He shook his head as he lent on his elbows, reeling from the blow. It hadn't been particularly powerful, it was more the shock than anything else. Then, very suddenly, he grew angry. He felt ashamed that his master had caught him off guard like that, and angry that he'd used the force on to do so but the feeling quickly faded. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, reminding himself of the principles that he had been taught.

'Anger leads to Hate, and Hate leads down the path of the Darkside.' He thought. He breathed out, letting the power of the force draw close to him and fill his body and mind. 'Trust you instincts, let go of the material views of the world around you and let the force guide you.' He heard, as if from a long way off and from a voice which was not his own and that he did not entirely recognise. He opened his eyes again and got up off the floor.

He tried to relax his mind as he raised the blade into the opening stance of Djem so, finally taking heed of his masters advice. He would stick with what he was good at rather than trying to impress his master. With the blade raised high above his head he attacked Duros again, this time with a overhead diagonal strike.

[Duros]

Duros dropped his saber to his side as he felt Fredrick get anger, he had gather the force in the for-front of his mind and down by his hands ready to release a powerful strike very quickly. However he felt the young-one calm himself so he relaxed. He knew how powerful Fredrick could be with the force after he had read his files in the archive and wasn't taking any chances.

Duros smiled as he watched as his Padawan rose back to his feet and took the Djem opening stance. "Good, listen to it... allow the force to take control, let it calm your emotions and allow you to do battle the way the Jedi should...".

Duros swung his green training saber very close to his body as he caught Fredrick’s saber upon his own. Soresu made and almost impenetrable defence but even Duros felt the power of the blow, he breathed out as his legs slid across into the Form V stance. His Lightsaber combat was normally Soresu combined with Form V, normally he wouldn't use Form V until his opponent tired but this was sparring and Fredrick needed practice.

With obvious effort he pushed Fredricks blade of his own. Fredrick was physically stronger than Duros, however Duro's had the force on his side. With this he swung his saber in rapid powerful strikes at Fredrick, Aiming the flurry at shoulder height.

"Good!, Now Djem So is a powerful form, created by Soresu masters in order to adress the lack of attacks with Soresu. It is based on pure strength and you seek to dominate the duel, however remember that it has a relatively low mobility..."

[Elando]

With sheer strength and determination, Fredrick parried every blow his master delt against him. It was almost as if he knew where he was going to strike next. He held his ground, letting the force guide his movements but attributeing his strength into the equasion to help overcome the speed of Duros' strikes.

As another of Duros' slashes came his way, Fredrick moved in with one of his own, aiming to catch his master's blade in mid swing and hopefuly counter it.