Time for Training

Part 2

Cloud is patiently meditating in one of the many dorm rooms in the Jedi temple; he was meditating because he was so nervous. Cloud was going to meet his first master, Cloud sat with his back towards the door, as he meditated in his long navy blue padwan robes, underneath the robes he wore the Jedi vest and pants but his vest was the color of black outlined with silver and his pants black. It has been eighteen long years, since he first arrive, eight teen years since he met his best friend Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Shaak Ti. Six years since Obi-wan and Shaak Ti got there masters, and became padwans. And two years since Zack left him behind to train with his new master Mace Windu of all masters.

Don't get him wrong, Cloud was happy for his friends, but he couldn't help but feel jealous, and betrayed. Zack and Cloud has been here longer than any Youngling has ever been. 'I mean, Obi-Wan became a padwan at the age of 15 along with Shaak Ti who was 16. When did Zack leave, oh at the age of 26? I know that since were Gaian we are slower at ageing physically so looking about eight or seven years old as a padwan would look bad but, was it necessary to hold us back 18 years till we looked at the least 13. Excuse me but I think I have the right to get mad, code be damned.' Cloud thought while meditating, if you walked in you can tell by his face that he was irritated.

Cloud failed to realize the door opened, to reveal his master. His master raised an eyebrow, watching as his new padwan learner, meditate. The Master could feel his padwans emotion, and if that wasn't enough the holo pads floating around the room at an accelerated pace, gives away how irritated the young man was. 'This one is strong in the force, if he really wants to be a Jedi he has to control himself better.'

The master waited watching patiently as his Student soon calmed down, not only was the atmosphere in the room a lot less tense, the holo pads are now hovering peacefully in one spot. The master smirked as he watched the holo pads hover slowly back to the tables, or ground. 'At least the boy can control his emotions.' Cloud opened his eyes and let out a long dragged breath as he slowly stood up.

"Not bad boy." Cloud jumped startled, as he turned to face the voice. When he looked at the only entrance of the room, he saw a man who probably was in his late forties if you go by the whiteness in his hair, but by his physical structure looked no older than Mace Windu. Cloud was surprised cause he didn't feel when the Jedi Master walked into to the room, and Normally with the extra amount of trading he had he could sense all the padwans and younglings, even now he could sense his best Friend Obi-Wan make his way to see his master Qui-Gon. Usually the people he couldn't sense were the really powerful Jedi, like Yoda, and Mace Windu, but sometimes he can't even sense his brother Zack until Zack was at most within a ten yard radius. So when Cloud looked at the older Master in front of him, he can tell that he was a strong Jedi. The man was wearing the robes of the Jedi, but with a more leathery material, the man could pass as a noble with the dignity and pride, that you can see of his stance, standing there with complete authority.

"You are Cloud Fair, if I'm not mistaken." The man's tone had a noble tone in it, authority and demanding of obedience. Cloud merely nodded, as he realized who his Master will be, "I am Count Dooku, I will be your master. Yes am aware of the handicaps you hold, being a Gaian, and I'm also aware of the advantages you gained. I expect a lot from you, not because your age, but because you are now a padwan, one of the many who will become a Jedi, defenders of order. Cloud didn't know rather to feel irritated by saying he had handicaps, or to feel honored because his master saw him as a future Jedi, and nothing else. "Now if you follow me, we will be off to make your Light saber, remember your Light saber is not just a weapon, it's an extension of the force, and of you."

That being Said Cloud followed his new Master, around. Waving hello to the younglings he friended while waiting all those years. It was a unique sight to see, kids around his age still being taught the basics while he was in truth twice their age. When Cloud and his new master neared the hanger, he sensed Shaak Ti doing her best to sneak behind him, "Um Master, can you go on ahead, I need to do something, before we go." Count Dooku, gave a passive look at cloud and after what felt like hours, but in truth was maybe a second or two, Dooku let a small smile pass through his mask and nodded to Cloud.

'Who knew my master would be so intimidating,' Just then Shaak Ti was about to make herself know when the younger looking blonde turned to her, "Hey Padwan Shaak Ti." Shaak Ti looked a little disappointed that Cloud sensed her, she really wanted to surprise him when she congratulated hi m. "I can never get past your senses can I?" She faked disappointment as she then showed a small smile, looking down at the seemingly younger man, when in truth she is just a year older. There was a height difference of about six to seven inches, for their eye's to meet, Cloud being short for a Gaian his age.

"So I heard you finally got a master, who is it."

"Oh I got Count Dooku, and I'm not going to lie he is pretty intimidating."

"Awe is the little boy scared, does he want his big sister to make him feel better," Shaak Ti teased, pinching Cloud's cheeks which got Cloud to get flustered. "Stop treating me like a child, I'm only one year younger than you." Cloud said as he jumped back only a little, as he crossed his arms and faced away. Shaak Ti was a very weird person to Cloud, most of the time she would be serious about her Jedi duty, and every one that didn't know her personally always thought she followed the code as strictly as master Windu. But to people like Zack and Cloud, she let out a more childish, which wasn't Jedi like behavior, which happens a lot to people who interact with Zack Fair, Matter of fact some people believe he was Mace Windu's apprentice to try and get the old man to be less of a stick in the mud.

The two friends continued their small talk till, Shaak Ti was taken by her master, "Let me know when you finish your light saber, we can catch up later." Was the last thing she said before running to not keep her master waiting. Cloud and Shaak Ti weren't always so friendly, but an incident involving a promise to keep a dirty little secret hidden from the Jedi and Shaak Ti and Cloud were like brother and sister.

"What's this," Cloud seventeen years ago said, as he picked up a piece of paper with writing. Cloud was in the library on the second floor researching ancient Jedi history, the times of the old republic. 'A document, I thought documents are done with those holo pads.' Cloud started reading the thing when he sensed Shaak Ti's fear, 'what is she looking for,' Shaak Ti was still a distance away, when he finished reading, his eye's widened. He then felt a embarrassed Togruta appear behind him as she snatched the paper away tears welling up in her eyes, "How far did you go," She asked a little scared. "I read it all," The Look on Shaak Ti's face was one of defeat, and before Cloud could react she was begging him to keep it a secret, "Please don't let anyone know. Jedi aren't supposed to have crushes, I can't let them kick me out." That's right Cloud found out that Shaak Ti his brother's best friend is in love with Zack. "Hey don't worry you secret is safe with me, but next time don't write stuff down that is not supposed to be read." Shaak Ti out of angered embarrassment punched Cloud in the face, and that's how the two ended up becoming closer as friends.

Thinking back then cloud thought the two would have been good for each other, but now yeah their the same age but, Shaak Ti looks like an adult and Zack still looks like a teenage school kid. Cloud hurried up to his master, where he got into a ship and explain what he learned through his special course in the academy, to Dooku. If you don't know Jedi make there light sabers from crystals that are connected through the force, and the Jedi have a planet that they go to select their crystal to use, The planet Illum, which was a snow planet very much like Hoth.

By the time they arrived, Dooku learned that other than complete mastery of the basics, Cloud learned to fight with two Light sabers a fighting style not as common in the order. Dooku also learned the Kid had a good grasp on the force, being able to move Asteroids that got in their way to the planet. On the long trip, Dooku and Cloud sparred, with vibroswords, Of Course Dooku was able to parry block and deflect all of his Padwans attempts, but what he knew was that the kid was probably one of the best padwans in aggressive sword play, a traits he likes to have for a padwan. Other than sparring and going over what Cloud learned, cloud was surprised he didn't hear any warnings about the dark side or Philosophies about the force, something he heard a lot in the academy. Of Course he's not complaining but still does that mean that he has to watch out for his path as a Jedi, to fend of the temptation of the dark side himself, without guidance. Cloud wanted to ask but he didn't want to bother his master's mediation. Instead he chose to go into the cockpit and treat his small cuts from the earlier spar with the first aid kit.

Shortly after all the minor cuts had a few bandages on, Cloud heard the auto pilot asks everyone to prepare for landing. Cloud strapped himself down to the copilot seat, as He watched the planet grow bigger. The ship flew past a couple of mountains, and the vast never ending dessert of snow. When the ship landed they were ten mile away from the crystal cave. Cloud looked up at his master "Why did we land so far from the cave?" Dooku looked at his new padwan, "Simple, you are going to navigate yourself to the cave, select your crystal, and create it and find your way back to the ship, it will probably take a week."

"What about food and water?" Cloud looked surprised, "you can easily hydrate yourself if necessary, and as for food, normal people can survive without it for a week, but some Jedi can go months."

"But what if I die," Dooku just raised a brow, "yes, what if you do die? How would you force yourself to survive in these harsh conditions?" And with that he opened the ships entrance and motioned for Cloud to get out, after he gave him a holo pad and a com link, "The comlink is set to only work once, so use it when you are done making your saber, the holo pad can be used however you like, and here, this bag has the rest of the components you need to forge you light saber. And with that the entrance to the ship closed up and Cloud was out in the bitter cold.

Looking down at his equipment, Cloud grinned bit at the Holo pad, he noticed could be used to record what he has explored, so it can make a map, and record anything he wants to record. He then placed the holo pad in the confines of his robes. Shivering he placed the comlink in his ear, and carried the small sack full of Light saber parts, and made his hike towards the cave. The trip itself wasn't that bad, for example a ten mile hike up a snowy mountain wasn't so hard or punishing for a Gaian, the gravity on Illum was bigger than Coruscant but not Gaia, and so he had more than enough stamina. Illum was cold but when it's winter Gaia can be just as cold, especially at night. So for once he was Glad he was a Gaian, being immune to the cold even if he is still shivering, he won't get frost bite.

By the time Cloud found the entrance of the cave he noticed that it was a lot more humid in the cave, it was room temp but it was also humid. "Now what crystal should I use," Cloud thought aloud. He remembered reading about the processes of getting your crystal, like the best crystal is the one that calls your attention the most. But there were so many crystals inside that were calling to him, that it was like he was searching for a friends voice in a very loud crowed. Cloud tried his best to try and listen to try to feel his way through the force, he sat down on the moist ground of the cave and began to meditate, to reach out with the force, and that's when he heard it.

It was like waking up in a dream, not sure if you should trust it or not but, it stood out amongst all the static in the force caused by the crystals. Cloud got up and tried to find the source, practically playing Marko polo, every time he lost track of it he had to meditate again to find it. He traveled deep into the cave, till he reached a open space that had many narrow passages. Cloud could feel the whisper in his head to follow, and so he did. Moving down into the passage he failed to realize, that not only was he passing by many crystals, he was passing by many bones from un recognizable Jedi hopefuls, some that have their brand new Light saber's by their skeletal remains.

Cloud was shocked when he found himself in a large cavern with stone benches and an entrance to what looked to be a tomb. Our blonde hero tried to see if he can recognize the design of the entrance or benches and many other piles of rubble but he only could make out two humanoid forms holding what was the roof of the cavern. "I have a bad feeling about this." Cloud said out loud, as he followed the sensations that lead him here deeper into the tomb.

Cloud was starting to think on heading back because of all the dead remains he found, he even notice the smell of decaying flesh come up ahead from the narrow hall way he was now in, but none the less he continued, following the force, for it was now like the sound of a beating heart in complete silence. He noticed that there was no crystals in the hall way, so with out there glowing light, he was navigating by pure instinct and the force. Not being able to tell where he was he noticed a very dim Light, And as he made his way towards the light the force was pulling him to it, it was now more like a person screaming in his ear to hurry.

And the closer he got the more painful it was for Cloud, so painful that he couldn't even tell if he was moving anymore, he lost all sensation his entire world turned into pain., but then, like a spirit, it was gone. Cloud opened his eyes to find himself starring into a black glossy pyramid shaped Holocron, that was suspended by some supernatural phenomenon, as it looked to hover between two rare crystals that shouldn't even be on the planet. On the right of the Holocron was a giant pillar made of some type of marble material, with a Durindfire Crystal at its base, and on the opposite side was the same thing but with a Qixoni Crystal at its base. Cloud didn't understand what were all this doing deep in a cave and deeper in a tomb.

Cloud noticed that when he turned around, there was no exit just a walls covering all around him. Cloud looked up and noticed he fell from the roof of this small room. Cloud also noticed he wasn't alone, there was an Icetromper that took up the majority of the other side of the room, and Cloud could just make out a way to get out of this room just behind it. Part of his body wanted, to take the crystals and the Holocron, but his logic sense told him to get the fuck out before the Icetromper wakes up and become aggressive. For a moment Cloud didn't know what to do when he had a brilliant idea, Why not both?

So in preparation, Cloud Stood on the other side, just a few feet from the Icetromper, ad he used the force to pull the crystals and Holocron to him, and for a moment he was confident he would get out of this fine, but as soon as he got the three object in his arms the worst thing ever that could have happened, happened. That's right Cloud Farted, not just your average fart but the loud biological warfare farts; he also farted a few feet away from the Icetromper's face. With a cough Cloud felt the Icetromper move up and snort, as it tried to get a clear breath. Cloud taking the chance force pushed a rock at the end of the room, making the Icetromper turn towards the sound as he made a mad dash to the exit. For a moment Cloud thought he got away, but the he felt the whole exit, which was a narrow pass way, just the right size for the Icetromper to inflect revenge on the small blonde. That is if it could catch the blonde.

Cloud ran as fast as his feet could have taken him, witch a freaking 3 toned beast chasing you, you would be running full tilt as well, Cloud had an easy time maneuvering through the passage way, but soon started to panic because it was getting narrower and narrower. Why is that a problem well maybe because with an Icetromper chasing you and slamming into the walls, you pray that the roof doesn't collapse, and by the time Cloud saw a light showing the exit the roof was doing just that, collapsing?

Cloud keep running as The Icetromper literally plowed its way through rock walls, Cloud had to make side steps to not get crushed by the falling debris. But the hall way eventually got so narrow, that the Icetromper was wedged, cloud took that moment to turn around and watch the Icetromper, struggle then eventually give up. Cloud felt bad that the aggressive herbivore was now stuck their till it dies, but he didn't have long to pity the beast, as a giant slab from the roof collapsed and almost crushed Cloud. Cloud continued to run but at a slower pace, until he found his way back to the dark room, but instead of just trusting the force, Cloud chose to use the small glow that radiated from the crystals, What the last time he trusted the force he fell into the hole that lead him into the whole run for my life or get tromped.

Cloud began his meditation, to construct his Light sabers taking caution and time to make his twin blades. Cloud didn't realize how long he was in the trance for making his weapons, to him it felt like he was dreaming the whole thing, the blades forging together to form there final transformation. When the blades were finished Cloud marveled at his handy work, the saber in his right hand had a thin feminine look to it, looking like it was meant to only be gazed upon instead of defending his life. The blade on his left was a much more sinister, being a handle that was a fierce combination of obsidian and crimson metal, with a studded rim where the blade shoots out. Cloud activated both of them and gazed at the beauty of the color. The Sword in his left radiated a beautiful silver glow as if it were a fountain gleaming with quicksilver, but the blade in his left hand was just as elegant, it was red, but a shade so rich it was close to the color of fresh oxygen enriched blood.

Cloud deactivated his new weapons as he stared at the Holocron, the small pyramid shaped item was no bigger than his hand, and since it was in a tomb, it must have been pretty ancient. Cloud was curious to see what secrets it holds, but somehow he knew it wasn't time to indulge in its knowledge, instead he just jammed it into his pocket and made his way for the exit, the only thing on his mind was what was he going to eat when his master reclaims him.

Back on the ship, during the flight back to Coruscant, Master Dooku, was thinking over his students sabers, and the change in attitude. You couldn't tell just by talking and looking at him, but through the force the Count could feel a change within his student, like something darker than normal, but Dooku didn't confront his student, who was he to judge, for even he himself had tasted the dark side. The Count couldn't also believe that there were two rare crystals found on the planet of Illum, a strange thought sense there natural forming locations were systems away, and Illum never produced such crystals. The Count was proud of his student, even if he didn't show it, the construction of the blades were far superior than his previous padwans, still room for improvement, but the young Jedi can master his weapon at a later date.

Cloud was now meditating in the main hold, his now empty dinner plate and silverware floating calmly as he focused on his master's words. 'The way you should fight with your sword is the way one should try to communicate with his opponent.' The count has said, turning on his Light saber, as he made some stances and stabs with the blade, in a elegant matter. 'The way one portrays himself in battle, shows in his fighting style. If one is Quick and accurate with his blade,' The count said giving a quick demonstration, 'then that person is confident in their ability, If one is calm and strikes after his opponent, the man is patient and calm.' Once again changing the tempo of his strikes. 'But when the opponent strikes recklessly and there are hesitation, the opponent doubts their ability and becomes afraid.' Dooku turned his saber off, as he faced Cloud, 'No matter how your opponent may acts, if you can read his movements, you can understand their thoughts, and if you can understand your opponent, you can defeat them, no matter how strong. Of course you also have to be fully aware of yourself and your surroundings or you will make a mistake that the opponent will capitalize on.'

Cloud activated his silver blade, getting into a stance, that he was comfortable with, the third form Soresu, A form created to be focused more on defense. Cloud practiced the form a lot during his advanced classes, to the point that even Obi-Wan the padwan prodigy of the sword style, was almost equal, of course Obi-wan can easily beat down Cloud if they fought in that style only. Cloud started to change forms, albeit sloppy and he switched to the second form Makashi, a form made for saber on saber combat, Cloud was close enough to rival Shaak Ti in this form, but his brother Zack clearly could dominate both him and Shaak Ti together. After a few more swings Cloud transitioned into the next form almost perfectly, slipping out his second blade, and in rapid quick succession, performed the Jar'Kai the sixth form, anybody who saw Cloud do this form, admits that the child has more than enough potential to be the greatest Jar'Kai users of his life time, but even if many say that, Cloud could barely, rival his brother who was the best padwan in Makashi, and Soresu.

Dooku watched over his apprentices, fighting style, 'I think it's time to see how he does with those new blades,' Dooku activated his Saber, the radiant royal blue glowing, as Cloud turned around and, saw his master get into the basic Soresu form. Cloud held his twin blades ready, he was going to use Jar'Kai the entire fight, just so he can prove to at leaste to his master, he was a force to be reckoned.