Chapter 2

Two Sword Fighters

The cargo bay door opened. A few rodent type creature scurried away from the light. Ahsoka looked to the short red skinned boy standing next to her. She guessed he must be around 13 years old.

"Can you turn on the light from here?"

Kurtle reached forward, closed his eyes, opened his three fingered hand and the cargo bay overhead lights came on.

"Good job."

Kurtle smiled up at her.

This particular bay was mostly empty with only a few crates and three large steamer trunks with the ship's captain's personal cargo. It was dusty and a little cold, but would suit their purposes for an in flight dojo. Ahsoka and Kurtle stood in the center of the large room facing each other.

"First let's use just one sword so I can see how far you are in your training."

Kurtle nodded in compliance. He stuffed Ahsoka's short sword into the waistband of his pants and lit up the Ajunta dagger in his left hand. Its glow was soft white and once again quickly faded to dark purple. Ahsoka engage her green saber and exchanged a few parries with her little red travel companion.

He was attentive, skilled in the fencing forms of lightsaber battle. His master was clearly a Jedi Guardian. She picked up the pace and engaged in an more aggressive combat style. Kurtle kept up with her. Though he was smaller than her, he fought with strength and pressure. The more she pushed the more skilled it seemed he became. He was feeding off her aggression.

This ability to let go in battle reminded her of the Jedi Masters she herself had studied with. It was a very high level technique, not embraced by all as it skirted near the Dark Side. Her former master fought this way. He had taught her much in the years they spent together in combat. She pushed the youngling with a force push, through her blade. It turned his dagger white and sent him sailing across the room.

Kurtle stood up lowered his weapon and bowed to Ahsoka.

"You have much I can learn from, Master."

Ahsoka smiled at him. "Call me Ahsoka."

"Yes, Ahsoka. Will you teach me?"

She nodded. She had always enjoyed imparting knowledge on the younglings. And it had been some time since she had met one with such ability. Kurtle Pall would make an excellent Padawan.

Adult Togrutas had a passive skill of echolocation. They had a great ability to sense movement around them. She knew they were coming, but she did her best to give no indication. She did lower her saber, however. She wanted to see if Kurtle would notice. His eyes moved first, then his head and his full attention. The cargo bay door opened a second later.

"What are you two doing in here?"

It was the ship's Captain and his First Mate. The Captain was a human named Slyde and his First Mate was a Wookiee called Fang. He did have one tooth that seemed to jet out of his mouth, giving him a ferocious look. He was an intimidating Wookiee.

Fang was the one who had allowed Ahsoka on board the ship. She met him in the streets outside the Onderon space port. He had taken a liking to her right away. He was a friend, he could be counted on. Ahsoka's bond with the Light Side of the Force combined with her natural beauty and her charismatic yet compassionate attitude made her an instantly likable person.

Ahsoka answered for them both. "We're just doing a little fencing practice. I promise that nothing in the room will be disturbed."

The Captain seemed to have his eye on one dark black trunk in particular. Fang let out a growl. The Captain rubbed his chin.

"Well, ok, a friend of Fang's is a friend of mine. Just stay out of my stuff."

They turned around to go. Fang growled a few more things to Ahsoka. Basically saying that she need not worry about the Captain, but do be mindful of his crates. Clearly he was smuggling something of extreme value. She assured him they would respect his property. Fang followed the Captain back to the front of the ship. The cargo bay doors closed behind them.

Ahsoka looked a Kurtle who was staring at her.

"You speak Wookiee?"

He was very impressed with her skills and her ability to handle people.

"Well, I've met Wookiees before and it is more a manor of focusing your attention on what they are trying to communicate rather than understanding the specifics of their language."

Kurtle considered this idea carefully.

"Will you teach me some of your two handed forms now?"

Ahsoka approved of his eagerness, but suggested patience anyway. She charged her green saber, flipped it facing down in her left hand. Then reaching with her right she engaged the red Sith saber. Since it was the longer blade, she used it as her primary weapon. Its balance and size appealed to her. She had not fought with two full size weapons in many, many years.

"Red isn't usually my color, but since meeting you I'm rethinking that."

Kurtle smiled, his white pointed teeth bright against his crimson skin. He mirrored her actions, placing the Ajunta dagger in his right hand and holding Ahsoka's short sword in his left. He nodded that he was ready.

"This is called the Shien grip and is part of the Jar'Kai style of two bladed combat."

Kurtle took this in and looked at the inverted dagger in his right hand. He made a few jabs and passes with it through the air.

"The chances of cutting oneself using this form are increased. My former Master was not a big fan. Now watch this."

Ahsoka jumped in the air, flying over Kurtle exchanged sever perries and then landed behind him. Then she kicked him, not too hard, but still making a point, right in the center of his back. Kurtle rolled forward, splaying out his blades, then jumped to his feet and turned around.

"I see, yes, I see. Had your foot been your sword, I would be dead right now. Very impressive Master. I mean, Ahsoka. Very, very impressive."

The two continued their lightsaber training. Ahsoka found Kurtle to be an sublime student and in a matter of hours had gone through all of the basic two handed forms. She then spent some time testing him to see if he was able to improvise and use the various forms interchangeably. Which to her great delight, he was. The little red boy gave her a great workout and in the end left her feeling as if her skills had been sharpened because of it. They finished their sparring and Kurtle gave her a long low bow. In return, Ahsoka gave him a hug.

His skin was very warm. The boy didn't know exactly what to do with that. He just stood with his arms at his side. This made Ahsoka giggle a little and remember the odd feelings of youth. They went back to their cabin and slept for several hours.

When Ahsoka woke, Kurtle was sitting on the couch across from her. In his hands was an elegant shiny silver blaster pistol. Clearly a valuable piece of crafted weaponry. She looked at him quizzically. He dug into his pack and pulled out a matching gun.

"I got one for you too. I figured we could sell them on Mandalore and purchase passage further out into the Rim."

Ahsoka was suspicious. "Did you get them from the Captain's trunk in the cargo hold?"

Kurtle flushed a brighter red and his tendrils curled up and down.

"You did. Kurtle, that is not right. I want you to return them and don't let anyone see you."

He tried to get out a "but" and was shut down by a stern look from Ahsoka. He got up to leave with his head hanging low. "Ok," he said defeatedly. He wasn't gone long and came back empty handed.

A minute later there was a loud thud on the compartment door. Kurtle got up and opened it. Fang stood outside. He growled to Ahsoka.

She told him, "Ok, thanks. I'd be happy to meet up with you and your friend later. I doubt I can stay long unnoticed on Mandalore."

The Wookiee growled some more then ran his big furry hand over Ahsoka's head.

"You be careful too big guy. I'll see you tonight."

Fang looked and Kurtle and growled a little more menacingly, then left. After the door was closed and the Wookiee had walked a ways down the hall, Kurtle spoke.

"He told me I was wise to put the guns back, didn't he?"

Ahsoka smiled. "He did indeed."

The ship came out of hyperspace over Mandalore and began its descent down to the planet.