Chapter Five
Like Taking Candy From a Rancor
3956BBY
The Sunlight beamed through the un-tinted glass of the High Council chamber on Coruscant. Each chair before her held a high back though some of those sitting were much smaller than the chairs. The central pillar in the room was the only actual decoration to be seen and if standing right concealed one of the High Council members at a time.
Sylvestra's Inner eye looked at each Master in turn. She had been summoned here for a reason even if it was one the High Council should be involved in. She was a peace, though deep under the surface it was a struggle. "It is not the time yet Sylvestra, surely you can see that." The voice of a master to her right and echoes of ascent grew around her.
"The boy has performed masterfully and completed all trials placed against him. He recently competed in the Apprentice tournament and was bested by none. He is ready for this." Her rebuttal was a strong one… she hoped.
"Yet we also cautioned against allowing him to enter the tournament. The boy's progress and abilities are unsettling." It was another master this time on her left. He meant the boys predominant one. He had quite a few oddities, but that one had garnered him a great amount of attention.
"Yet you allowed him to compete. For what reason other than to see how far he has progressed. His ability is unmatched by his peers as well as some elders. The boy was also instrumental in the capture of a dark jedi a year ago." Her gaze fell about the room. She knew the question was coming soon.
"On a foolhardy quest seeking a lightsaber crystal," Vrook this time her focus fell on him. Her most hard pressed foe in this decision.
"One which you have not allowed him access to." She was swift in this reply. They had stripped the crystal from the boy the day of their arrival. She had immediately gone before the council to try to reverse their decision. He would not be allowed its use until he was made a padawan. Something they seemed intent on keeping him from.
"The crystal is a swirl of Force energy. The boy is not ready for its use," Dorak this time. The color was beyond odd for more reasons than she dared dream of. To have found such a thing in the cave she took him to. She still wondered what part of the force had lead her there with the boy.
"Why is it you seek to hold back the boy? There have been recent examples of students such as he." One case in particular involved many masters in the room. The line had been far from subtle. Many Masters present had taught the young girl Revan at one point in time or other.
"Do not think we have forgotten of his arrival at this Academy Sylvestra." Vrook again. Ahh yes here it was. "The swirls of light and dark force energy when the boy appeared is still being investigated even now."
"I have looked into this 'investigation' Master Vrook. No headway has been made in the four years since the boy's arrival. Do you plan to hold him here as an apprentice until you discover something then?" She asked. A few masters turned to face Vrook obviously the council was split on this point.
The Council Member looked at her she could see it. "Your attachment to the boy has been noted over the years Sylvestra." Vandar stated. She had thought he was with her decision on this.
"My attachment is merely to a promising student." She stated her gaze falling on the diminutive green Councilor.
"Should you deprive the boy for too long he will try to seek knowledge from less desirable areas. He is quickly going through anything he can lay his hands on here." She stated some nodded in agreement. She HAD to get her point across and she felt this struggle was just beginning. She WOULD have the boy as her Padawan.
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Fayt walked down the corridor filled with people. His destination was an audience chamber. He had been summoned by Master Valsign, yet had not been told the reason. Faynia and Drell his 'tagalongs' had stayed behind. After his return from the crystal cave he had gained a few apprentice 'followers' apparently awed by what he had done.
It was a pure and simple fluke he was sure. The man had just been caught off guard. He had been lucky though a master had commented that there was no real luck. The force had been with him. Master Vandar had been the one to mention this.
He recognized the master slightly from his memories. Some of which had returned after his mastery of 'control'. An ability that apparently had many effects including prolonging his life by a few decades. It was one of those abilities he had to master or would not progress.
Among those memories was his real name Logan Summers. He had long since resigned himself to the name Fayt Ariolus. He had also resigned himself to the long haul in what he had originally thought was a dream. He had come to a few new conclusions since then.
One – He was in a coma and this was some form of twisted reality his semiconscious mind had thought up. Two, and the more creepy of them – He was actually in this universe. The second seemed unlikely, but ehh he had read plently of Sci-Fi novels. Most of which he could only vaguely remember.
He passed a room with a small gathering of students… or Padawans. Their ages weren't as much of a giveaway as they had been in the school system on Earth. A quick stop showed that they were gathered around a male and female student. The female was speaking. She was… cute in a way; though he didn't know how to take that. He was technically over thirty now… not that his body reflected such.
A slight laugh erupted through the room and drew him out of his thoughts. The girl and boy (though they were his elders) were excusing themselves. He had places to be as well. Master Valsign didn't exactly like it when he got distracted regardless of the reason.
He'd made it nearly halfway down the hall when, "Fayt! Wait up!" A female voice, and one he had just heard. He stopped and turned. It was the girl chasing after him the boy in tow. He examined her for the first time.
She wore black messy hair with slight curls that fell past her shoulders. Does she wash it or just get it dirty that fast?. He decided she would look good in a pony tail. Her eyes were a deep violet color and lips had a slight reddish tint to them. One of the oddities of this universe seemed to be strange eye colors. It wasn't that he hadn't seen violet before on earth, but he had seen a woman with natural pink here. She was relatively tall standing at probably 5'7 age… maybe 18 or 19.
The boy or… giant of a boy stood behind her. His buzzed blonde hair and clean shaven face set in a frown. He had apparently wished to be elsewhere. He had to be between 6'5 and 6'7. A giant and his Muscled (though not extremely so) figure seemed to radiate an essence of power.
Everyone in the academy knew who the two were; even if they moved between the Dantooine Enclave and this one on Coruscant. The girl was named Revan and the boy Alek. He had remembered them from back on Earth though the exact details still eluded him. He had also remembered brief amounts of what was to come. He couldn't help but swallow.
"So you're Fayt then," the girl said with a slight laugh. "We've heard a lot about you from the Masters." She claimed the 'we' in there, and with the way Alek followed her around he was sure she was correct.
"Yes… we have," Alek chimed in beside her. He Stepped forward as if to size Fayt up in his eyes. Not much to size up at his current height he was sure. A smirk crossed the boy's face and his enormous hand reached out. Fayt wasn't sure if he should run or cower. The hand came to rest on the top of his head and Alek ruffled his hair. Ugh Fayt HATED it when people messed with his hair. Didn't they know how hard it was to keep it organized? "He looks a bit girly."
"Alek! That's insulting to a boy." Revan exclaimed as if outraged by the declaration. Fayt hadn't been so lucky thus far. A few visitors to the temple had called him a good girl. He could only hope that as he continued to grow that the aging would make him seem more masculine.
Alek merely shrugged and stepped back to allow Revan control of the conversation. "Is it true you defeated a Dark Jedi on Despayre?" Revan asked inquisitively.
"It was a…" he began to say fluke then thought better of it. "The force was with me… I was told." He said and looked down a bit. He didn't like to think like that, but it was simply the truth he supposed.
"Hmm Humility, you could learn a bit of that Alek." She jeered. The giant boy shot needle eyes at her and she continued. "I have heard you have a few… strange force abilities." Revan said staring at him. His gaze moved to Alek.
"Rev you don't need to do this the boy isn't even a Padawan yet." The Giant seemed concerned. Rather like it was a warning… that Fayt should be on his way.
"Come now Alek don't you want to see what he is capable of?" She said giddily. The girl was far too… excited. He didn't like where this was going.
"I don't –" he began, but was cut off by an approaching voice from behind him.
"I seem to have discovered your reason for being late Fayt." His head snapped up. Was he already that late? He hadn't stopped, but… twice. Err three times including this one with Revan and Alek.
The first two had been perfectly reasonable though he doubted the Miralukan would agree. "My Apologies Master Valsign, I was to be there any minute." She… didn't seem to believe him.
"Revan. Were you proposing a duel with Fayt?" She asked though surely she had known. He was going to turn it down personally. There was no way he stood a chance against the future hero turned Sith Lord. The wars were to start soon form what he could recall. The Mandalorian's had been raiding and conquering non republic planets for nearly ten years now.
Another woman walked up behind Master Valsign. Older perhaps in her late thirties, "Revan, dueling the boy sounds like a fantastic idea." (fantastic is a very un-Kreia word…)
"Kreia." Her master said turning to face the new arrival. "Are you sure you wish your Padawan to do this?" the girl Revan had had many Masters one being this woman.
Fayt hit upon the name immediately certain parts of the still present fog rolling back. The old woman… that can mind delve. I still need a way to block that. She glanced at him and his breath caught. Had she already been doing it? No… he hadn't felt anything. Besides why would the woman wish to delve into the mind of a boy who wasn't even a Padawan… yet.
A slight tension seemed to fill their small section of the hallway as the two masters faced each other. His glance moved back to Revan who was merely smiling. She was decidedly far too happy about the direction of this conversation.
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So they stood in the rather large training room. They had drawn a small crowd of Masters and Knights some Fayt recognized others he did not. The room seemed to glow faintly. He had been in such a room before recently in fact during his Initiate duels. His win had been almost too easy even without his ability.
The girl had tied her hair back into the ponytail that he supposed kept it from her face. He had done the same though his hair wasn't nearly so long. A small knot was all he had, but the hair was annoying at times such as this. "Are you ready Fayt?" the girl chimed in.
He checked his stance quickly his grip on the training saber and then his opponent once more. He supposed... he was as ready as he would get. He turned to look up at the gathered masters once more, and felt like he was on display. The Initiate tournament had been much the same. Though that was the purpose, to be recognized and taken as a padawan by one of the masters.
Some of the Masters had brought their Padawans with them. He did not see any initiates in the 'audience'. A brief swallow and he turned back to Revan. "Yes… I am." His reply was shaky at best and the girl smiled.
"Don't be too nervous. It's just a duel same as all the others you've been in." She said giving her training saber a slight twirl. The things left light burns on contact. The Jedi must keep a small army of people just to repair and make new clothes for them.
Same my foot, I'm fighting the future hero of the Mandalorian wars. he thought; but his mind WAS calmer after her encouragement and he nodded. A small breath and a voice from above launched the match.
She was upon him in an instant her form to start was Ataru. He immediately fell into Soresu, but was being pushed back by her horrendous barrage. Left strike, right, right, right, above, a flourish. He wasn't keeping up. She would be through his guard before he could do anything else. Then there it was. He stood there panting a burning sensation present in his side. She had scored the first point, two more and she would have won.
Revan barely seemed phased though quizzical. He could hear in her thoughts already 'Why is he so weak?' That was because as he had wished to say all the hype about him was blown far out of proportion. Sure he had… some abilities, but… he couldn't. Not here… with all these people.
Thankfully she gave him time to catch his breath. The voice above again and she was on the attack. This time she moved in with Shii-cho. The form was decidedly less difficult to defend against, but there was more power behind the strokes. The girl knew what she was doing… of course she knows! he thought sarcastically to himself though the distraction was unneeded. He had to stay focused.
His Soresu was failing him again, and this time more due to his weakening limbs. Each blow sent him staggering a bit more. The girl was far more powerful than her form let on, and then there it was again. Her second point and a burning sensation became apparent on his left arm. There was also the beginning of a slight bruise from the contact. The girl scratched her head as she moved back to her point. Confused? Or merely scratching her head… the scratch your head thing may be an earth only habit.
Her next thought must have been, "was I wrong?" of course she was wrong maybe now some people will calm down a bit. He centered his breathing. He needed control. He didn't want to go down without at least one point. He knew it was impossible, but he could at least try.
"FAYT!" a voice echoed throughout the room demanding in its tone as his attention turned. He recognized the voice of Master Valsign all too well. "Now is not the time to hold back. Show them…" He stared at her for a few more moments. Should he really do it? He hadn't done so during the Initiates tournament, but the need wasn't there. Of course he hadn't wanted to gain too much attention anyways. He had heard some of the words that flitted through Master's and Knight's mouths about him.
Well… not personally heard them. They were far too closed mouth around him and had been for a long time now. You could hear the strangest things from Padawans though if you listened. They weren't as… tight lipped as their masters would like.
His gaze moved back to Revan her eyebrow cocked. A weak smile spread across his lips. He centered his breathing and his eyes closed slowly. Focus… focus… focus… focus… His eyes flashed open and he saw Revan's narrow at the glow he knew was there. Everything had become clearer. Every slight movement, her breathing, the slight twitches in her hand his mind took it all in processing it at rate he knew to be abnormal.
The words came nearly three second later like a drawl that was due to this 'ability' of his. This time he launched the attack. Revan had been unprepared for that and was caught by surprise. Her swift judgments however, put her into the Makashi form and his blow was deflected. He had seen it coming and was already moving into the next attack as his training saber slid off of hers.
He spun low and fast as he brought his saber around. He wanted her to believe that he was taking it for a low strike. During the spin his ears caught the slight sound of her leaving the ground. His training saber started into the spin as he intended, but instead his hand planted on the floor and is body twisted bringing his foot up and slamming into her side.
A grunt met his ears and out of the corner of his eyes he saw her fly a small distance through the air with the force of the kick. The move wasn't finished and the spin planted his foot back on the ground then turned into a leap. The girl was on her back the wince still on her face as his saber came down on her shoulder leaving the distinct smell of burnt cloth and skin.
She looked up at him rather incredulously. And then everything seemed to… go back to normal and he realized he was panting slightly. Revan's eyes narrowed once more. "So that's what it is hmm." That smirk came back to her face as she looked up at him. "How very interesting."
Had she figured it out already; after barely seeing it once? If she had then Revan was truly as terrifying as he had heard with her deductive reasoning.
A voice above them proclaimed a point for him and the chamber erupted in muffled voices as the onlookers spoke amongst themselves. Revan helped herself up and stood beside him. "You won't catch me off guard this time Fayt." She said that smirk on her face again… he didn't like that.
"Revan quit playing with the boy and end this." Came a male voice from above… so she hadn't been trying too hard? That did not bode well.
They were back in position once again… he calmed himself readying and once again focused. He heard the voice and his eyes flashed open ready. The girl was already on him like a whirlwind. And even with his focusing ability it was hard to keep up. His mind screamed that it was force speed and he moved to do the same. His was a completely novice attempt, but it would help him cope with her onslaught.
Their sabers met again and again as he fended her off. He knew his focus coupled with the horrible attempt at speed was the only thing keeping her at bay. A swift strike and he lost the grip on his saber. A spin brought him just barely out of range of what was almost the final blow. He was, however, without a training saber while she still had hers. Strike that using her force pull his own saber became hers as well.
She launched another assault this time in what he could tell was a duelsaber form though he knew not the one. This left him at more of a disadvantage. He was quickly trying to pick up on it as he twirled, ducked, and leapt about trying to avoid the blades. He wasn't having much success when he managed to trip himself up and land on his back.
Revan had seen the opening and took the bait. She leapt into the air to bring both down at once and end it. His hands both flew up and force pushed the girl back higher into the air. As she did her grip weakened on his training saber and he pulled it back to himself with a swift motion. A quick spin while on his back placed him in a forward crouch with one hand on the ground. The other held his saber outstretched behind him.
A quick and low Force leap and he was upon her. She had been ready for him though and their blades met again. He was using both hands trying to get more power behind his swing, but the sharp slant to her deflection sent his saber cascading down the side of hers. He landed on the floor twirling himself and his saber immediately going for a side strike.
She was ready for it and used her hand to hold it back with a force push while her own saber bit into his side once more. It was… over. He had lost. They both stood there panting as whoever was announcing the victor above did so. A few small claps and more whispered words met his ears. There were no cheers; this hadn't been a spectacle where such a thing was the norm.
"That was great fun." She said between breaths. He was still wincing at the new burn in his side when he noticed the mischievous grin. He couldn't' help but smile as well.
"Yes I enjoyed it very much." A slight laugh broke his lips. She laughed as well… only harder.
It hadn't taken long for the room to clear above them and he and Revan had left the room from separate doors. His first meeting with the future Sith Lord had been… far to interesting for his liking. She seemed a fun enough girl; just maybe a bit too… spunky.
He stopped in the small room on the other side and let out a slight sigh looking down. His 'slight' burns hurt more than he wanted. A small chair gained his attention and he sat down. His eyes cast down as he ran through the duel again in his head.
He would have been floored if not for his use of the ability which had yet to be named. He merely called it focus, but there was a force ability out there with the same name. "You had better not be moping about your loss." A familiar voice.
He looked up to see Sylves in the exit door looking at him. He hadn't seen her come in. "I'm… not." He replied though a pain radiated through him when she mentioned his loss. He fought back the sudden urge to cry. He was too old for such a thing… well actually; just not by his appearance.
"Good I would hate to turn around and go back the way I came after I brought good news." She said a glow on her face. Good news… what could be good news? A small satchel in her hand drew his attention. It felt… warm… familiar.
She must have known he spotted it as she quickly tossed it to him. Snatching it out of the air had been easy as if he knew exactly where it would be. It did feel familiar… almost like a happy feeling entered his body. "You get to have that back."
He quickly opened it hoping beyond hope. Inside sat two small color crystals for a lightsaber and the parts he would need to construct one. He looked up almost confused. "But Master Valsign. You said I could only have these back when I was accepted as a Padawan." A glimmer of hope…
"Yes… I did… my Padawan." A warm smile spread across her lips. He… didn't know what came over him. He leapt from his sitting position and was hugging her waist before he realized. Her arms enveloped him from above. "Yes yes… you are very happy." She said though she obviously was as well if her voice was a judge.
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(Yay Revan… short Revan.)
The small group of three walked briskly down the hallway. Revan looked around her at the few passerby going about their business. The soft clang of their boots was the only real sound to be heard. "You have questions Revan." The woman said without looking back.
"Fayt was… harder to deal with than expected." She said though it was obviously meant as a question.
A reply came from behind her. "You were going to easy on him Rev." Ahh Alek, he was a great duelist, but he let things cloud his judgment far too often outside of a fight. One thing she knew of in particular.
"You picked up on that nicely girl." The woman began. "He has special abilities, as you surely learned."
"But what was it exactly? It was almost as if-" She was cut off.
"As if he saw what was coming." Kreia finished for her. She nodded in ascent and the woman continued.
"It isn't force speed or a force ability that you can learn. From what we have gathered the boy doesn't know how he does it. When he focuses enough it merely comes on 'like a switch'. He claims the world… slows around him." She paused her mind in obviously in thought. She tended to do that.
"His mind takes all the information he sees, hears, and smells then process's it at an unimaginative speed. The best way to describe it is that he knows what you are going to do next. Such an assumption wouldn't be far off."
"Impossible," Alek chimed in. HE hadn't fought Fayt like she just had. He didn't know the feeling of wondering if your next move would also play in his favor. He didn't know how… frustrating it had been. How utterly FUN it had been. It had been a long while since she had such fun in a duel. Alek was the only other one she enjoyed dueling before this.
"Quiet and listen boy then you may learn something." Kreia said before continuing. "He picks up on the slightest twitches in your hand, the smallest shuffle of a foot. From there his mind tells him what you are going to do next as well as what the best course of action is." She paused as they passed a small group of Knights conversing amongst themselves.
"The more the boy fights and the more battle experience he gains the more the ability will grow. He has enormous potential and that is what scares the High council the most. If such a person should turn to the darkside… it could be potentially devastating to the order." She didn't hash her words in front of the two. It was one of the things Revan liked so much about Kreia. If the woman saw something one way she wouldn't hide it from her.
As they continued their path down the hallway toward the ship that would be taking them with Kreia to whatever her destination was she had to wonder. When will I meet him again? It had been fun, almost too much fun.
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AN: Anyways that's this weeks chapter. Confrontations and revelations abound. Maybe next time we see Alek someone will call him by his nickname! Well.. should you be so lucky.
On a bright note this is the longest chapter yet with 4600 words. Even without all the linehere's and AN/Disclaimers. Again all reveiws are welcome and none are screened... just leave out the profanity if you can...
If you don't, the High council will come to your house sit around you in a circle and sing kumbaya. (I was gonna say Alek will come to your house and ruffle your hair, but there may be some fan girls out there that woudl want that...)
To anyone who started to read... last week I think. I apologize for the chapter one over write... not sure how Chapter two replaced chapter one, but it's probably my fault. It was fixed after I noticed it... *tears in eyes* come back please...
Disclaimer: ... why have you not grasped that I don't own starwars yet?