Returning Home [open]

[Corstar]

Cold

Space?

No. He wouldn't be breathing. Or was he even breathing. It didn't feel like it.

A burst of panic went through his body as his eyes sought out a peace in the darkness. Then it was revealed to him. As if the shade was drawn away from his eyes, the brilliance stabbed at his eyes.

Knees in the dirt, the grit was in his teeth.

Battle.

A blaster bolt flew by and a pair of troopers rushed past him yelling a war cry.

The sounds of war carried well into the atmosphere, past the Jedi and Mandalorian Interceptors, screaming in their dogfights.

The screams of the wounded.

They were overpowering.

Brushing away at his forehead with his grime coated tunic, the Jedi Battlemaster tried to stand and felt himself fall again. Blackness overtook him again.

He felt as if he had been thrown into the air by an invisible fist.

His heart quickened as the veil was drawn away. Aidel ran into his arms, already outstretched and kissed him, muffling his complaints.

She looked directly into his eyes.

Her lips forming soundless words.

Forever

-----

Coruscant, The Jedi Temple
Shortly after the events of the Crisis on Manaan

Kieran Eitan stepped off of the freighter. The Red Dawn was the freighter of Regnier Vakkor.

Was.

The pang of sorrow flew unbound through Kieran's heart before he grimaced and mentally disciplined himself.

"Master!"

Kieran gritted his teeth and slammed his fist into the landing strut of the freighter. The audible clang and resounding crack of flesh and bone meeting metal resounded throughout the mostly silent Jedi hanger. A pair of mechanics turned to look to see the Master Jedi cradling his hand.

"...Master?"

"I'm fine."

"No, respectfully you ar..."

"I'm fine."

The hidden menace in his words was so strong even the mechanics, not force sensitive felt it, and returned to studing the energy coupling on a speeder.

"I'm suggesting to the council that you be considered for your third tier of trials Hathorn. You don't need me as your master any longer."

"But Master..."

"We've gone through everything the depths of this galaxy can throw at us, you can handle a few Jedi Masters trying to make your life miserable for a few days."

"Yes Master."

"The freighter checks out. Take it down to storage. When you're done, inform the dock officer."

Without a word, he brushed past his former apprentice.

---

Battlemaster Kieran Eitan entered his quarters, looking around the apartment.

It was by no means extravagant. He wasn't home enough to need expensive furnishings.

With a quiet sigh, the door closed behind him and clicked into place. Something wasn't right.

It was then that he realized that he was not alone.

His hand fell to his side, reaching for his lightsaber.

A figure dodged out of the kitchen, across the living room and into Kieran in almost one leap.

It wasn't a difficult leap.

Kieran complained as his head and back hit the door. The two embraced before Kieran was finally allowed to breath.

"....ow."

"Oh quit your whining." Aidel smiled as she helped Kieran disengage from the wall.

"I broke my hand this morning. I'm allowed to complain."

"Yes but that was your fault. Therefore that right is nulled."

"How?"

"Gossip travels fast. Something about you punching a wookiee who said your engine manifold was incorrectly placed..."

"Yeah. Not even close."

"Is it about Vakkor?"

"Yeah. Some other things..."

"Well we have a bit."

"Actually I need to talk to a few people. Need to find the Knight that found me on Manaan and talk to him about training."

"Busy busy busy. Talk while you walk."

Aidel reached past his shoulder and opened the door. Kieran grumbled as his exited the apartment, followed by his wife. He rubbed his damaged hand, really wishing he had better judgment at some points in life.

[Axelpro]

You're cleared for landing Master Jedi.

Thank you

The Jedi Scout Fighter sliced through the air without decreasing speed until the Jedi Temple was all the pilot could see. Only then did Adrian, the pilot, decrease and extend the landing gear. The hangar doors were always wide open and Adrian slid the fighter through the opening with ease. The Jedi Knight touched down and breathed deeply.

He was back on Coruscant and he had every intention of meeting with Master Eitan to continue his personal training. Adrian stepped out of the Fighter that he had used to travel to Manaan.

He looked to the corner of the room and sure enough there was the same Padawan on terminal duty as before. It was a job that he had to do once when he was a Padawan himself. A sad job that was because all you did was see people more important than you come and go, but you couldn't just watch them, you had to greet people who had come for the first time, say farewell to those who left, and say welcome back to those who returning.

It was besides the point and that particular Padawan would do well to learn on his own, for right now Adrian set his sights on finding Master Eitan. The only thing was he didn't know where to start.

Young one, have you seen a Master Eitan come in?

No master, I have not.

Great...

He didn't do it on purpose, but as soon as he was alone without anyone to hear him other than the lone Padawan his form slipped. For that point in time Adrian's prim and proper Jedi Knight attitude was gone and he was just a normal person. Still a second was a second and Adrian left the Hangar in search for the man he hoped would become his master.

[Corstar]

Kieran leaned back in the seat of the booth. The Cafeteria was still mostly empty. Most of the students were still in classes of various sorts.

"Food still tastes like ban..." Kieran started to say.

"Don't finish that sentence. I'd like to eat my meal without thinking about that particular adventure." Aidel rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on. It was a delicacy!"

"One you didn't even have to taste!"

"The faces were cute."

Kieran grumbled as he wiped off the salad from his tunic and shrugged with a 'what can you do' look at a janitor who was shaking his head.

"What's Hawthorne going to do?" Aidel mumbled over the mouthful of her salad.

"I don't know. It's time he started pushing off on his own though. He handled himself wonderfully on Manaan..." Kieran gritted his teeth as the pain in his hand came back in throbbing waves. Opening his wrist using a small push of the force, he manipulated the mechanic hand and turned off the 'pain receptors'. The small electronic devices simulating pain got annoying after awhile.

"Tell me about this other Knight?"

"Don't know much about him. I don't even know how he knows me. Just found me in an underwater installation while I was trying to fix another Republic screwup."

"Hm. I'll have a few friends take a look into his background."

"Couldn't ever hurt."

[Axelpro]

(sorry the long about away)

Well I know you from my master, while he didn't know you personally, he knew your name and marked your progress talking to the council about you on many occasions, granted the things he said about you was when I was but a toddler and I think he might have had expectations. It's not all clear to me.

Adrian had found a seat near the Keiran and had a slight smile on his face. The Jedi was enjoying the peace that was apparent in the air of Coruscant. It wasn't too often that battle reached the skies of this place, and therefore it would usually have a sense of calm about it.

As to how I found you this time? I just asked around.

Adrian wasn't troubled enough that he needed food to settle him. The Knight was more fixated on the Battlemaster before him. He hadn't really aspired to being a Battlemaster, but his late Master had always told him...

I see you becoming a powerful Battlemaster in your future. My advice to you is that you should always wield your lightsaber in more ways than one.

Or something to that extent, followed by a laugh of course. It was only after Adrian became a Knight that he realized that his master had been looking into Adrian's future for a long time.

I see you have company, I should have apologized earlier for my intrusion.

[Corstar]

Kieran raised an eyebrow and looked back at Aidel. She was blushing and looking towards the floor.

"It's not a problem, really." Kieran said looking back at the Knight. "We were just having lunch and discussing old times."

"You were discussing old times. I was having lunch." Aidel said with a playful smile.

"I was attempting to eat my lunch until I was barraged with someone's salad!" Kieran pointed at his cloak, which still bore the scars of the salad dressing.

"Ya-huh."

"Anyway, you a Guardian?" Kieran dabbed at his cloak with one last attempt before turning to look at Adrian. "As a Knight, technically you don't need a Master, but you can apprentice under me if you want to continue your lightsaber training. As the Order's Battlemaster, I'm the best choice for that, but if you're looking for wisdom or training in the Force...well I'm Corellian. That says it all. Come have a seat."

Kieran beckoned the Knight to the table.

[Axelpro]

Adrian checked himself jokingly.

I'm sorry, but I already took the liberties.

Adrian sighed a sigh of relief as he looked around at the peace about him. He then focused his attention on the Battlemaster's words hearing him out completely. All the while he checked to see if his seat carried some of the salad debris. Assured that there was no edible leaves under him looked at the master once more.

Yes I am a Guardian, a Knight as well, and just as you have said I wish to continue my lightsaber training. I am glad to hear that you are confident enough to take me in for training. As for the Force training I do not need someone to look after my development in that aspect as I already know my progress will not increase much farther than I have already come.

His eyes took a quick account of the woman sitting next to Master Eitan before relaxing into the atmosphere. There was an undeniable, but faint, smile forged on Adrian's lips.

[Corstar]

"Oh ye of little faith. With that sort of attitude you won't be able to lift pebbles." Aidel's voice held warmth but still a slight sting was directed at Adrian. He had stolen Kieran's attention and even to a Jedi Master, pride was not easy to overcome.

"Oh come off it." Kieran rolled his eyes. "I don't have an assignment as of now, but I just received leave from the Jedi Council. I may not receive anything for awhile so I'm free on Coruscant for the moment. What forms do you specialize in, if at all? You a single saber or one of the visionaries?"

Kieran was considered a visionary for taking the time to learn the art of dual wielding lightsabers. Seeing a Master of Soresu in action with two sabres was the equivalent to watching a razor flower bloom. If you survived the masterpiece unfolding before you, it was simply a marvelous sight to behold.

[Axelpro]

Adrian held a hand over his heart as he looked down a reeled back a bit.

Oh, your words wound me.

He looked up and smiled before looking over at Master Eitan again. He thought of how to make his answer. Finding the words he would use he proceeded.

Well I am able to use any one of the seven main forms, but I like to think I fight with Ataru using two lightsabers, but to tell the whole truth my master has instilled the very risky nature of Tràkata into my combat style as well. I have managed to adapt it to two lightsabers in combat.

[Corstar]

Kieran surveyed Adrian again, looking him over.

"Ataru and Tràkata, combined with two lightsabers..." Kieran looked down and took another spearful of food.

"One of the only times I advocate Ataru is when it's connected to another strong style. Alone, unless you suffer from calcium deficiency, it's one of the worst styles for a human male." Kieran pointed his fork across the table at his wife. "Aidel is proficient in it, as she doesn't have the strength to use a stronger style to it's full potential, so I suggested that she mix Soresu and Ataru. When combined together, it makes a good practitioner almost impossible to hit."

"For a male like you, who's in the prime of his youth, I'd suggest something a little bit less risky. Trakata and Ataru together is just asking for trouble, physically. If you had been with me earlier on, on Manaan, the close quarters gunfighting could've gotten you killed."

Aidel rolled her eyes and looked into the Jedi Knight's eyes. "He believes Soresu fixes everything."

"It does most of the time, when combined with another style, such as Juyo or Ataru, it's quite effective against all situations." Kieran's voice took on the tone of a man defending his pride. "You'll find that all of my work has at least a base in Soresu, the defense tiers are the best I've come across so far which makes a great base for training a Jedi."

[Axelpro]

Ah, see this is why I decided to try and find you Master Eitan. In my earlier days using Ataru and Trakata without two lightsabers proved futile to my master and myself when defending against a Dark Jedi. Of course this Dark Jedi, using Makashi, ended the life of my master. I was able to barely fend off the Dark Jedi with both lightsabers and a means of constant attack which he found himself unprepared for, but I have no doubts that if that battle lasted I would have been in trouble.

Adrian's voice was calm and still friendly as he explained his faults. He looked past the Battlemaster for a moment to see the sky which was blue. There was a faint smile as he remembered his master's face.

Well in all honesty I seem to have an ability that I wish to control as well. Now I am not so sure that you can held me with that part, but I surmised that this particular problem would have to be dealt with on my own. As for battle I am open to any and all suggestions to reform and better my combat style, after all you are the "Battle" master, right?

[Corstar]

"The title of Battle Master means that I have the abilities not only to use the Force and Lightsaber styles effectively, I can use my head. Strategy and tactics are also tools that flow together with my lightsaber." Kieran took a final bite of his food and pushed it away. "To underestimate me as a lightsaber hacking fiend is a mistake that some students tend to make. While I'm not as proficient in some skills, such as the Force, or Piloting, I know enough about all of the above to make me truly one of the more skilled individuals in the Order. That's what grants me my title."

"Showoff." Aidel pushed away from the table, standing up. "I need to go check in on my group. I need to leave on a mission in a few hours. Catch you two later."

"Have fun storming the castle." Kieran watched her go for a moment, while talking. "Trakata is fine, if you plan on fighting men who weild lightsabers. Against a blaster, turning your lightsaber off only makes you a fine target. That's just my opinion however."

[Axelpro]

Yes, I wish you well on your mission.

Adrian turned his attention back to Master Eitan now that Aidel had voiced her farewells.

Well a good student learns what his master knows then molds his own personal ingenuity into the foundation that the master has built in order to make his own unique style. That was my intention when I sought you out. I am not sure where to start to begin a new foundation, which is what I feel that I need in order to better myself. I mean I assume you would want to start with Soresu, and I am already able to use that form, but not too much better than an average Knight.

[Corstar]

"Good assumption. In my opinion, it's the best starting style, if you feel like getting fancy you can start modifying it, or just leave it, either way it works for all Jedi."

Kieran dabbed at his mouth with a napkin before pushing away from the table.

"Well, let's see what you can do I suppose." Kieran stood up and nodded towards the door. "Prefer trying against me or drones?"

Kieran had seen students lose limbs due to their masters being too prideful to use a training saber, which was designed for the purpose of mock battles. It was supposed to prevent accidents. When one didn't know the strength of the opponent, it was always best to use a training saber. Just in case.

[Axelpro]

I wish to train against a master, but with training sabers of course. This way we will not have to hold back in fear of injury so as to optimize our training. I am not sure of a good place to do a session of training, if that was what you were looking for. That I think would be best left up to you, and do you want me to use what I can of Soresu or show you my abilities with my current style?

While speaking Adrian stood up slowly as if ready to leave the scene. There was a simple smile on Adrian's face as he looked at Master Eitan for a response.