Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
4 hours to planetfall:
Durro stirs from meditation feeling both invigorated and frustrated. He glances at the pair of holocrons on his table, his gaze shifting to the three-book stack that they sit on.
"I can kill three ruaani with one shot."
Grabbing the bottom book, he heads to the galley to make a pot of tea. On the way, he keeps an eye open for Hadaza.
((If he does not see her by the time the tea is finished he will take it and check her quarters.))
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Refreshed from both the emotional and physical workout she had been put through today, Hadaza wanders into the galley to get herself something to nourish her depleted self and finds Durro there.
"Good evening, Far," she says as she walks up to him to give him a peck on the cheek and sniff at the tea he is brewing. "Enough to share? I think the Professor left some cupcakes in the back. I can grab one for you."
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
"Yes, actually. Perfect timing, you're just who I was looking for."
He gestures to the book on the counter; Dathomiri 101: A Guide to the Language of Mystery and Magic.
"I've been studying it; it's made reading that romance novel more entertaining, but I need practice. Practical instruction and conversation."
"I also haven't seen you since we got back. I was beginning to think I'd done something wrong."
He smiles slyly as he pours them both some tea.
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Haj remembers the book in question and flushes. "I'm sure", she murmurs, chuckling lightly. "If you expect me to explain some of the more exotic concepts in that novel, I'm sorry to tell you that you are sorely mistaken."
Reaching for the steaming cup, she says, "No, Far, you haven't done anything. In truth, I've not been good company of late. I dislike being confined, despite the size or gilding of the cage." She holds back the rest of the reason for her poor disposition. No sense in returning to old patterns, though there is some contrition around her eyes that she can't quite hide. She puts a hand on the back of his shoulder and stands a little closer, warm affection flowing from her. "I missed you."
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
Something flickers across his face in a blink. Sadness? Guilt? Something else entirely? He pulls her into a loose hug.
"I missed you, too." He says softly. "All of you. I came back, as promised."
They separate and Durro smiles.
"I see you've taken to heart the familial nature of this crew."
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Hadaza returns his smile. "To my detriment, I'm afraid." Og ikke alle familiære, she thinks to herself as she walks to the kitchen to grab a plate of sugary comfort.
"It seems, she says, as she returns and offers him the plate, "we have much to teach each other, Master Thel-Tanis. So I propose a trade. I'll give you lessons in conversational Dathomiri and I would ask that you return the favor with lessons in graceful detachment."
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
"I'll do my best." He says with a wry smile. "Though detachment doesn't mean you don't have strong relationships. Only that you careen let them go if called to for the greater good."
"So where shall we start? Dathomiri or Detachment?"
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
She thinks about what he says. She doesn't want to let go of these relationships, or the emotions that come with them. The fire in her veins won't let her. But she can't continue to be burned by them .. or burn others. She has to learn control so she stops, how did Tesara put it, ah yes, rocking this ship with her emotions and worrying all of them. She frowns at the memory of not only the scolding but also her behaviour over the days they were gone. The though, Han burde ha kalt meg Firebrand, flits through her mind and sighs.
"Let's start with Dathomiri", she says, making a deft attempt to stave off the inevitable challenging task that she has set herself. Hvordan er teen din?, Far?" she says as she pointing to his cup.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
"Varmt." He says slowly, unsure of his pronunciation. "Varmt... but... dejligt?"
He puts his tea down and grabs the book. As he thumbs through it he asks;
"So what do need detachment from? I can't imagine you walking the Jedi path."
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
"Not bad for someone who's never heard it spoken", she says with a smile. "But like this ..." and she says it again with the correct inflection.
She reaches for a cupcake and starts to slowly peel the paper down. She's trying to find the right words for what she wants, buying time by licking errant frosting from her fingertips. "No, I don't want to become a Jedi. That's too much detachment for my taste. But I feel ... too much ... all the time. And even that's not the problem. Therein lies the "graceful" part of my request. Its not that I don't want the strong passions. But I need to not let them rule me. Does that make sense?"
She's takes a moment to swim in the visceral memories she has as she waits for Durro's reply, idly picking at the decadent concoction in her hand and nibbling the small pieces.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
"Tak." He says with a smile.
"It makes perfect sense. The Jedi stand at one extreme, and the Sith on the other. The key is balance between the two extremes."
"It's a constant struggle, one you never truly win. Its rewarding though, to live a full life without being ruled by your passions. What has Tesara taught you about meditation so far?"
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Hadaza looks a little confused. "Did you mean to say 'roof'? If so, I think I'm missing some context", she snickers
"What Tesara has taught me about meditation is that I'm not cut out for sedentary navel gazing. Even the breathing exercises are a challenge, but at least they are active. She talks about emotions like water, that I should be in the flow of them rather than being buffeted by them. To me they are fire. It takes control to have heat, but not scorch." She puts the half-picked cupcake down and starts to pace the room like a caged cat. "Tending the flames is an action, vs merely riding the waves, which is, to my mind, passive."
Catching herself, she stops mid-step, takes a breath, and returns to the table. "And that, Far, is the perfect example of what I am trying to prevent. Thoughtless reaction based solely in emotion." She turns to look him fiercely in the eye. "I don't want to be so caught in the present that I don't see the future, so mesmerized by the blaze that I can't see where the sparks land."
When she stops talking, he can see the barely restrained kinetic energy she possesses emanating from her skin, feel it's heat. She curls up, almost perching, on the chair before him, as though trying to contain herself.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
"Sitting in a still pose and meditating has its place and its something all Jedi are taught to competency. Certain techniques of touching the Force work best when you are still and listening. Though the meditation I'm referring to is simply removing your thinking self from your emotional self; viewing your surroundings and situation from an outside perspective and without emotion, and being honest with yourself about what you find. That kind of meditation is rarely accomplished by sitting in the open flower position and breathing deeply for hours; that's not how most beings find inner peace."
He puts the book down and sips his tea.
"My best friend as a Youngling couldn't achieve peace unless he was elbow-deep in repairing a droid or some other bit of tech. When Tesara was a young girl she used to have to run as well; couldn't focus on her lessons unless she was moving in some way. I myself get the best results when engaged in the fluid dance of lightsaber combat. It sounds like you need a focus; something that speaks to you and allows you to find inner peace."
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Haj looks deeply amused by the idea of Tesara both as a small child and, better still, as a precocious small child. She uncurls at the encouragement of the old Jedi, something in her releasing in the validation of movement as tool that could help calm her. "Tesara said something similar - "doing something with your body when your emotions are too much to bear often dissipates the emotion", I believe were her exact words. Her thoughts about "flow" inspired a suggestion that I build a moving meditation combining tumbling and combat moves."
She's about to tread into precarious territory here, so she speaks her next words gently. "We were actually in the training bay earlier today with Astra in an impromptu sparring session." She lets the statement hang there, her eyes softly encouraging Durro, letting him know that he is safe with her.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
"Oh? How did that go?"
He sips his tea again, eyeing the level in the cup.
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
"Best I can say is that there were no serious physical injuries, though I can't say the same about egos. I sannhet I'm glad of the opportunity to train with them. They have an excellent master and put me through my paces with grace and humor. Perhaps, in the future, when I have more experience under my belt, you would do me the honor?"
She picks up her own cup, mirroring his actions, though instead of looking into her cup, she is still watching Durro over the lip. She is making sure that her actions could not be construed as intrusive. She respects him too much to pry deeply and she knows what it is like when people press you for answers you aren't ready to give. But she tries again to let him know that he can trust her, if and when he is moved to do so.
From over her cup, she says the next in her native tongue, showing vulnerability and authenticity, "Jeg vil ikke spørre deg om hva vi så der. Det er din historie å fortelle, hvis du velger det. Bare vit at det ikke er noe du kan si som kan endre hvordan vi føler for deg."
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
Durro finishes his tea and tea and pours himself another cup, stirring in a little bit of honey as well.
"This is when I wish I had paid more attention to Tesara's Yilsaani lessons." He mutters. To Hadaza he says;
"I didn't catch most of that, only enough to make me confused. If there's something you want to ask, then ask."
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Haj has the presence to look chagrined at Durro's directness Burde ha visst at han ville foretrekke den direkte tilnærmingen, she thinks.
She puts her cup down. "No question you are Tesara's master. You share an unwavering forthrightness and little patience for divagation. What I said was that I won't ask you about what we found there. It's your story to tell, should you choose. Just know that there is nothing you can say that will change how we feel about you."
She leans toward him, reaching out to touch his hand. "Far, you spoke of the familial nature of this crew. Family takes care of each other. You have taken care of me when I needed it. I'm sure you will again. As I will you, even in your silence."
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
Durro gives a short laugh; as if expecting worse and being pleasantly surprised.
"Oh, that. It was just a sparring exercise that got a little... animated. I found some new toys to try out and may have overestimated my skills to a degree. I had to work very hard to ensure I came out on top."
His eyes sparkle and his mouth twitches in a mischievous smile.
"I would love to teach you a little bit of combat; though Tesara might be better suited. Most of my skill is very Jedi-specific; if you don't wish to walk that path, then a non-Jedi Force wielder, like Tesara, is the best bet to teach you."
He takes another long drink of his tea.
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Having spoken her truth and sensing that she would get nothing further from him, she reaches over, grabs the half-eaten cupcake that she had abandoned earlier, and starts to pick at it again. The frosting, in saccharine harmony with her comments to Durro, is cloying. But she doesn't put it down. In a way she doesn't understand this moment with Durro has left her feeling exposed. The confection gives her something to hide behind.
"Between the lot of you, and I include the Professor in that lot, there are warriors enough that I can train in different disciplines and find, or create, one that works best for me. Much of what we are about to face is unknown, regardless of what Handyman's research may expose, and we need to all be ready. Which reminds me, Tesara said something about new information coming from the despicable droid's lab last night, but she didn't get a chance to elaborate. Would you please?"
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
Durro swirls his cup and looks thoughtful for a long moment. Finally, he says
"I'm not sure how much you would understand. Basically we found that the tubes, despite looking and feeling like metal, are some kind of organic compound. They even have midichlorians, though unlike any midichlorians I've ever seen. I tried to commune with them, as Jedi do with normal ones, but all I got is that they hunger; an ancient insatiable hunger. They fed on my energy and the tube actually grew in size; I believe the one is 9 percent bigger than when I started and it has continued to very slowly consume energy from the ship. That one tube is 'alive' and growing again, while the other tube I did not interact with is still inert."
He sips his tea.
"I tried to connect again and command it to reshape itself; I tried to impose the image of a sword instead of the hollow tube it is. It bent noticeably, but nothing more. I broke connection when I realized it was probing me similarly to how I was probing it. It was a... disconcerting experience."
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Her eyes brighten as he speaks, becoming shrewd. She knows the hunger he's talking about, intimately. She's felt it take hold of her. Durro's announcement that there is some part of that here make her blood run cold. Softly, she asks, "What does the Professor plan to do with this information? He is, after all, our resident Swarm expert."
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
"I'm not sure. I think he's still gathering information. I wanted a weapon the Swarm would be vulnerable to, inspired by the Priloc swords. I wonder if it would be 'good enough' to use the tube as a spear or quarterstaff; instead of forging a sword."
He finishes this second cup of tea and looks at Hadaza.
"What do you think; we gather Tesara and Astra and have a four-way training session in the cargo bay? Assess our combat skills and learn to work together."
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
She's still reeling from the info she has just received. Not quite recovered enough to change the topic, a small terror flits behind her eyes as she looks at Durro. "You blithely say that the experience was 'disconcerting'. Now I will ask - are you alright?"
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
"Of course I'm all right. I'm a Jedi." He says with a cocky smile. His face changes as he looks into her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I forget who I'm talking to. I'm not sure, to be honest. I don't know if its the weapons or the Dark Planet, but something is nagging at me; has been since we got back."
"I've tried to meditate on it, but the jury is still out." He gives a reassuring smile.
"So about that sparring; we can find the others in a bit. I want to see something." He stands, and heads to put away the teapot and cup.
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
When Durro stands, something in her shakes back into place. She rises with him, grabbing the mostly untouched plate of cupcakes and her own cup, and follows him to help clean up. Her innate curiosity is piqued by his comment. "See something? I'm intrigued. Lead on, Learned One."
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
After cleaning up, Durro takes them to the cargo bay where he retrieves a pair of metal rods a little over a meter long.
"I want to see what your combat skills are like ahead of having a big session with everyone. It'll let you unleash some of your pent up energy; which is pent up enough I can sense it from here." He smiles playfully. "Though I wonder if Handyman can set up a tread-belt for you. Hook it up to a generator and we could power the ship for a while, save on fuel."
He hands one rod to Hadaza and takes the other himself.
"So, what do you know already about melee combat?"
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
"Ha. Ha. Ha", she says blandly as she takes the rod from Durro. "As for my actual combat skills, that's the big question, isn't it?" She looks down at her frame. "I'm not exactly built for a full frontal assault. Truth be told, my earlier sparring match with Tesara and Astra was a lot of avoiding detection whenever possible and finding ways to get inside their defenses if I could. Were I to have take either of them head on, I'm sure I would have limped away with more than just a bruised ego."
She swings the rod in an arc and stands left shoulder facing him, left arm down by her side. The rod is in her right hand, which is away from him, also hanging loosely by her side. "Show me", she says.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
"First, the basics." He says, engaging instructor mode. "Posture is the most important part of dueling. Everyone thinks you need to learn proper swings, thrusts, or even fancy forms and schools of discipline. Really you only need two things to win a fencing match; perfect distance at the right time. The first part of that comes from footwork."
Durro stands with his feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, heels in-line and toes pointed to make an "L" shape, his dominate foot leading. He holds the staff like a lightsaber, in two hands in front of him with the 'blade' held at a 45 degree angle, tip pointed up.
"This is the basic start position. From here, all of your blocks and parries will come. Match my pose."
Image
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
She mirrors his posture, but warily. "This feels like an extraordinarily large target for an opponent to take aim at. Wouldn't presenting a smaller one be more advantageous? I mean, forgive me, but if the goal is to survive, why give them so much real estate on which to land a blow?"
She give him the side-eye as she quips impishly, "The word for this in Dathomiri, in case you were wondering, is tullete. If I am getting a lesson, then so are you", she ends with a grin.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
"Perhaps, it depends on the enemy you're facing. The second form of lightsaber combat is geared exclusively for one-on-one duels. That opening stance is more like the one you adopted. The pose we are in now is for Form I, the basics, the foundation on which all the others are built. While I'm not training you to wield a lightsaber, the basic principles still apply to swords, staves, batons, and other medium melee weapons."
"Tullete... what exactly does that translate to?" He asks.
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
"It feels like I am giving whoever stands opposite me the broad side of a bantha to hit", she grumbles. "But you're the Master."
She takes the pose in earnest, feeling for all the worlds like a tree in the middle of a open field. She keeps looking over and him, trying her best to mimic his stance. "Please move your robe. I can't see your feet. And it means 'foolish', which is exactly how I feel right now. Though maybe I should have chosen the word for awkward, which is more accurate. I did ask you to show me, however, so I defer to your expertise in this area and accept what you are willing to teach me with grace"
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
Durro smiles and sheds his robe, draping it over a nearby crate before returning to the ready position.
"Very good. Now, proper strikes and blocks. The Jedi Arts teach six target zones: Zone 1 is the head and neck, so a decapitating blow to an overhead slash will be a Zone 1 attack. Zone 2 is the right side of the body from the waist up; most attacks to this side will be for the arm, though obviously blows to the right side of the torso are Zone 2 attacks as well. Zone 3 is the left side of the body from the waist up; same as Zone 2 but mirrored. Zone 4 is the front and back of the Torso, usually the only way to strike Zone 4 is with a thrust or a lunge. Zone 5 is the right leg, from just below the waist down. Zone 6 is the left leg; mirror of Zone 5."
He demonstrates the Zone 1 attack, an overhead slash that would bisect the head if it lands. He also demonstrates the proper block; the sword held in two hands horizontally above the head. He guides her through blocking a few of his blows as well as attacking him while he blocks. He makes sure to demonstrate the proper step forward into the attack, as well as the correct way to swing for maximum power with minimal effort.
Zones 2 and 3 proper attack is a wide slash for the arm or belly. The proper block is to hold the blade perpendicular to the body, handle at waist-level and blade up, moved to the side under attack (right for Zone 2, left for Zone 3). Durro demonstrates and has Hadaza practice both attacks and blocks.
Zone 4's proper attack is a lunge/thrust. Durro demonstrates the proper footwork and execution, as well as the proper parry; same sword position as the opening stance, but moved from ready to close the line under attack. Once again, Durro demonstrates and demands practice of blocks and attacks.
Zones 5 and 6 proper attack is a low slash for the leg(s). The block in the inverse of the Zone 2 and 3 block; handle at chest height and tip pointed down to catch the swing. This block is the trickiest to time right and takes the longest for Hadaza to execute properly, frustrating her. Durro gets frustrated as she then jumps over the blows rather than block them, until finally he feints and sweeps her legs out from under her and lands her on her back.
"Now, are you ready to take this seriously?" He asks with a self-satisfied smile, arm extended to help her up.
(((These videos are not perfect; Zone 4 in particular is... who came up with this? Their footwork is also atrocious, but the videos do an adequate job of showing the strikes and parries of this form.)))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JBcUeZq...QCTr2NVnUQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCJvicku...QCTr2NVnUQ
YouTube
Osu Films
Phase 1 to Shii Cho: Force Storm Academy
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YouTube
Osu Films
Phase 2 to Shii Cho: Force Storm Academy
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@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Hadaza takes his hand and, with his help, hauls herself to her feet with an abashed smile. "Tullete, indeed, although this time I feel foolish for a different reason."
She's finished being the flippant student. This is a gift that she cannot throw away. She takes the foundation stance - focus, depth and concentration furrowing her brow. "Show me", she says again with a grounding breath.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
Durro is an exacting and demanding instructor. Not overly harsh and never insulting, but demanding and accepting nothing less than perfection. This is his passion, a fact that is on full display as they train.
After at least an hour, maybe two, he finally holds up his hand.
"Enough. Let's see what you've learned." He heads to a nearby weapons locker and pulls out two batons; metal rods only slightly shorter than the weapons they were just using. He powers one on, which crackles with electricity, channels in the business end glowing blue.
"This is a stun-baton. A glancing blow can make you lose feeling in a limb for several seconds. A good, solid hit can render an opponent unconscious for several minutes. First person to get a touch wins. Use what I taught you, but also feel free to use your mobility."
He hands her the second baton and adopts the ready stance.
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Hadaza takes the baton, arcing it in the air to get the feeling and weight of it in her body. She's exhausted, but wouldn't miss this for the world. Silently rolling her shoulders and her neck, she mirror's Durro's pose ... and nods.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
Durro comes in quickly, using only the moves he showed her but he is fast, faster than Hadaza expected after their race. Three moves, three swings, and with the third one comes a loud zapping POP and she drops her baton on the ground, her right arm completely numb.
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
"Sønn av en tispe! That hurts! Store Guder av Sydende Mørke, man!!"
She massaging her arm helplessly trying to get feeling back into it while trying to walk it off.
Durro can hear her muttering to herself, "Didn't even get a chance to swing the guder velsignet thing and whammo! Note to self, don't snark the Jedi. Fok, that stings."
She finally gets feeling back to her extremity and re-engages Durro. "Again."
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
Durro nods, and steps forward, slower this time but no less precise. Hadaza catches most of the moves as she was taught, the few she could not she spun away from, or jumped over.
"Very good!" He says. "But can you do more than defense?"
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
She moves in for an attack. Durro is faster, more experienced, and more rested, despite what the evidence on the scarred walls surrounding them may say. Still, she can't not try.
And try was all she did. Durro's years served him well as he easily dodges her swing. "For faen!" she growls and realizes that she has left herself open by overextending her reach. Discretion being the better part of valor, she opts to leave the field of battle to regroup. Leaping straight up into a backflip, she twists easily out of range, though it means turning a temporarily blind eye to the Jedi Master's baton. Fortunately for her, the swish she heard didn't connect and she lands facing him once more, though now he will have to work a little harder to hit her.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
Durro closes the distance and attacks again, Hadaza leaping over the blow and forcing him to spin away from a counter attack that did not come. He attacked again, and again, simple blows; nothing he did not drill tonight, and Hadaza manages to block all three strikes.
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Resolved not be neither cocksure nor flippant, she uses the moves that Durro has spent the evening showing her. With no trepidation about her own movements, nor the illusion that he is engaging her with the fullness of his own training, she strikes. And is not at all surprised when he moves easily, and with flourish, out of the way of her baton.
'You know, Far, I could almost be angry with you for going easy on me. But I am simply going to be grateful." she tells him as she stands her ground for his next attack.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
"You don't learn by being overrun." He says with a smile.
He engages again, and again Hadaza blocks his blows... at first. One slip is all it takes; she attempts a parry instead of a spin and is a hair too slow; there is a sizzling POP on her left side, just below the ribcage, and her entire left side goes numb. She collapses to the deck in a clumsy roll.
"Ouch. I don't envy you tonight." Durro grins at her, extending an arm to help her up once the feeling returns to her limbs.
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
She hits the deck with a loud groan of pain and frustration. She lays back, eyes closed, as the buzz of the baton runs its course. "Ouch indeed", she says weakly, but she's smiling up at him as she says it.
It takes her a hot second to regain her composure and open her eyes. "At least there aren't 2 of you", she quips. "Gods below, that hurts." She takes his hand and allows herself to be helped to her feet.
Flexing her hand to ensure that she's regained full functionality, she bends over to pick up the baton where it landed. "Again ... this time you'll have to catch me."
Using the Force, she leaps into the air and lands behind the crates that she used for cover during her fight with Astra and Tesara. Det fungerte tidligere, she thinks. Her håper det fungerer igjen
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
Durro grins, "Now this should be fun!"
He advances towards the crates, senses alert. He can see where she disappeared, but is not foolish enough to believe she stayed there. Just in case, he nudges the topmost crate with the Force, sending it toppling to the deck.
A soft swear and the scuff of boots on the deck; she had stayed there! He focuses on the sound listens...
...there! He hears her boots on the deck. "She can be very quiet. Noted." He gathers the Force and leaps over the crates!
It was a bad jump, if not for the Force he would not have made it. Landing clumsily, his initial assault finds empty air. Hadaza spins away from him, laughing; blocking his next round of attacks. His cheeks redden slightly; dexterity is not his strength, that is for sure.
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Den gamle mannen begynner å bli sliten she thinks to herself. Durro can see the momentarily inflated bravado in Hadaza's eyes ... right before he sees her disengage from the fight.
"Foolish I may be, Venerable Master", she says as she steps back, "but not so foolish to believe that you couldn't have made that jump easily were you not trying to lure me in to a trap."
She springs to the top of the nearest crate and with a tumbling dive, rolls out of reach of that fordømte baton and the dyktig who wields it.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
Durro sighs wearily, but grins nonetheless. Gathering himself, he leaps atop the pile, scanning the area below for his opponent. Spotting her, he leaps towards her to finish the engagement; combat-rolling to his feet in a perfect ready position, a cocky grin on his face. Much better.
"Surprise!"
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
Hadaza rears back with all the skill and strength she can muster. She knows without any question that her blow will land, for how could it not, and he will finally feel the sting of the baton himself.
She can smell the singed cloth. The cocky expression has not changed as she realizes that the baton has only grazed his robes. Somehow he moved out of the way and she never even saw it. She crumples to the floor, exhausted.
"I concede, Far. I have nothing left. You have finally worn out the energy cell that is my core", she says as she smiles a bit dopily up at him, red-faced and drenched in sweat. "I can't even lift my arms. I think I'll just crawl back to my quarters from down here."
She flops back on the deck, laughing at the absurdity of it all. It's the most relaxed she's been in days, maybe weeks.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
Durro chuckles as well, taking her baton from her and powering his down. He sits heavily on the deck himself and grins at her.
"That last attack was good; took nearly all my speed to avoid the blow. I may have held back my assaults but I held nothing back from my defense. You did really well, considering only a couple hours' training."
He levitates the batons back into the weapons locker.
"I'm glad we're all training each other; violence should always be the last resort, but against the swarm especially we are going to need to fight. We all need to be ready."
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
She hauls her weary body into a sitting position beside him. Sobering, she says, "How can we ever be ready for something like that, Durro? We could train for lifetimes and still not begin to understand how to beat them, let alone actually do it."
She drops her head against his shoulder. "I have only come into this life and, with no time to truly enjoy it, I face losing it ... and all of you. How do you hold onto hope, to laughter, to love, to light with so dark a destiny at hand?"
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/16/2022
"Faith." Durro says after a moment's thought. "All is as the Force wills it. Following the Will of the Force is what led Tesara, Astra, and I out here; can't speak for Kenobi, but I believe it was the Will of the Force that we ran into him. Or rather, that he ran into us." He grins.
"Same with you; nothing happens by accident. The Swarm must be stopped, and so a most unlikely but perfect group of mad individuals was brought together to accomplish the impossible. I firmly believe that and that's how I keep going; we'll win because we have to. A Jedi puts his Faith in the power of the Force; if you lose that faith, if you don't believe you can, you fail."
He looks down into her tired eyes and adds;
"I hold onto hope, laughter, love, and light by holding onto those things. They're what makes life worth living, and what I live to protect. And should my faith be misplaced and we all perish; I'd rather perish having lived a full life than die alone having been afraid to live."
@Haj
Haj — 02/16/2022
He can feel his words settle on her unguarded soul, a small genesis of stillness in the tumult of her existence. "You truly believe this?", she asks sotto voce. She looks around, eyes lingering on the scorched beams and charred crates. "After all you have seen and done in your life. After where you have been for the last week? You still have faith that the Force has willed us to be in this place and time, that we are who and where we are supposed to be, and that we can prevail?"
The unspoken request for the beautiful lie is in her whispers, the prayer for rain and the watering of that seed now within her.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/17/2022
"I do believe it, truly and from the bottom on my heart." He answers softly, but with conviction. "I can't prove that of course, you must choose to believe it for yourself; which is where faith comes in."
"Despite everything I've seen and experienced, I truly believe that it's all lead here. Even my trials and hardships have made me who I am today; readied me for this moment and this moment is readying me for whatever moment is next to come. Life is a journey, Hadaza; not a destination. The moment you realize that is the moment you can truly appreciate the journey; smell the flowers, eat the food, use the wrong verbs and get charged double, then end up kissing a complete stranger."
He gives her a playful smile.
"...or is that just me?"
@Haj
Haj — 02/17/2022
She smiles warmly at him. "You are truly a remarkable man, Durro. Ripped from all you knew, adapting without bitterness or fear, and still holding deeply to faith and the joy of the simple beauties of life."
She drinks him in and her warm smile brightens, clouds parting to reveal sun. "You have this amazing ability bring peace to my heart when no one else can, you know that? So, yes, it's just you."
Her face disappears into the cowl of his robe as she hugs him. "Thank you for coming back to us", she sighs softly. As she disengages, her tone becomes less intimate, "And thank you for the instruction, Master Thel-Tanis. It has been," she rises and rubs her arms, "a shocking revelation of my shortcomings." She finishes with a laugh and holds out her hand to help him from the floor.
"You still want that rematch? If we race right now, you might stand a chance." Her tone is cheeky and she knows it. She looks, and feels, like she could use a meal, a long soak, and a good night's sleep.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/17/2022
Taking the offered hand, he rises to his feet and checks his chrono.
"Save your energy." He says with a smile. "We arrive in just under two hours; we can rematch on actual ground, wind rushing through our hair and your cheeky laughter echoing back to me."
"No, what I find is best after a good sparring session is a large snack. Or a small meal, however you want to look at it."
"What say we head to the galley and find something hearty to eat? Something more substantive than cupcakes." He winks at her.
@Haj
Haj — 02/17/2022
Her stomach growls a resounding 'yes' that echoes in the cavernous metal room; both laugh heartily at the sound.
"Two hours?" She puts her hands to her forehead and runs them over her braids. "It can't come soon enough. I will be glad to get something other than recycled air on my skin. Though I can't promise that run. I feel like I haven't slept in a week."
The wear of multiple assailants combined with the lack of nutrition - en del av en cupcake er virkelig ikke nok - has her depleted and woozy. "I think some food is in order before any rest, however, lest I be too weak to rise from the blankets and whip your baksiden once we land." She grins, despite herself.
"So, yes. Let's hope that there is still something to find that is even remotely nourishing in there. If not, I may eat my arm. I mean, it's already tenderized and not good for much else right now", she says, sticking out her tongue as if to drive her point home.
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 02/17/2022
"We'll be arriving at a time that, for us, is late. I doubt we'll all rush outside right away. You should have time to rest and recover."
He nudges her playfully and they head towards the galley.
"I'll see if I can make this meal I used to be pretty good at on Lanus. A meat stew of my own creation; an entire meal in one bowl."
"Alright, Tesara's mother may have offered some tweaks, but the concept is mine!"
@Haj
Haj — 02/17/2022
"Sounds fabulous", she says as she takes his arm.
/end
