Chapter 2 Patience you must have my young padawan
I've been on Jedha for about a week now and let me tell you everyday has been one adventure after another. I've taken three more bounty missions for Blurrgs and studied religiously on the mechanic books Rigor gave me. Tomorrow will be the day when he'll test me on my knowledge and find out if I'll be accepted as his apprentice or not. However, the real kicker is that I discovered that there are other ways besides leveling up to increase my stats. I came to this conclusion when I was running from a Bunta herd, I ran and ran as fast as I could to reach back to my truck, when I almost made it I got a notification 'through physical exercise Agility has gone up by one'.
Knowing this I've created a training regime solely focused around boosting my endurance, agility and strength, that way I can use most of the points acquired through quests to be used on upping my force power. I'm sure that once I actually start work mechanics and learning that will in turn increase my Intelligence stat, that's my hope at least. With my thought process complete I try for the first time meditation, I drop to a crouching position and begin to clear my mind of all thoughts. Eventually I try to spread the force in my body outward and inwards again and again, until I finally reach a state of it's not nothing I can feel something, a small light moving under me, more lights moving around further away. I can only assure these are other people I'm sensing. When I came to that realization my concentration breaks and I'm back in my room again.
{NEW SKILL UNLOCKED}
MEDITATION LVL 1/10,000- Allows the user to completely embrace the force and be one with their surroundings. Current proficiency offers 30% FP recharge increase while in use and a sensing range of 1 Mile.
'10,000 Levels!' That's ridiculous I think to myself, but when I really think about it, masters of the force can feel what happens on planets incredibly far apart. With my current range at only 1 mile to start it kind of makes sense that there is such a gap. However the FP recharge boost is a goldmine. Currently I only gain back 1 FP every 2 minutes, but eventually I'll be able to meditate mid battle to gain a good chunk back at a later level.
In the mid afternoon I end my meditation session to go to the Kraken guild and see if there are any new bounties worth going after.
"Hey Roy, back for more I see" Carlos tells me energetically.
"Yeah man, I've been getting kind of bored lately, do you have something for me?" I ask him curiously.
"Actually I might just have just the thing that came in this morning, apparently a Krayt Dragon has been terrorizing a village in sector B. It's killed fifteen people so far, and destroyed an untold number of crops. The guild is currently offering 6,000 credits for it to be killed and 10,000 credits for it to be captured." He's tell's me seriously.
"Dude, isn't 10,000 a little much for a monster hunt?" I ask him, taken aback by the price on the monster's head.
"Usually I'd agree with you kid, but not with this. Kyrat Dragons are not any regular hunt's most people don't even mess with them. Usually they are known to attack only in their territories but this one like's to venture out and attack people at random. Plus the Hutts like to collect live ones for their games. This is more like a relief project the guild is doing on behalf of the holy city." He goes on to tell me.
"I can't really pass up 10,000, I'll take it" I decide, what can I say, I'm a sucker for good money.
He gives me the coordinates to its last known spotting and sends me on my way, before I go though I need to make a pitstop at my favorite seller.
"Jerimiah, how's business going?" I ask the first friend I made on this planet.
"Hey kid, It's been going alright. People always break things and need to buy 'new' ones" he tells me with a grin.
"I was actually wondering if you had or knew where I could buy a battle droid?" I ask him, getting down to business.
"I actually just bought a couple from the trade federation a few days ago, people love to buy them for protection. I'll sell you one for 800 credits, or a squad of 5 for 3000." He asked me. As long as I use them for hunting and have them shoot from a distance while I have the targets distracted they could last me awhile and make it possible for me to go after harder hunts.
"I'll take the squad" I tell him as I hand over the credits. Once I'm good enough at mechanics I can probably upgrade them to the point where they're not complete fodder like they were shown to be in the clone wars.
"Ok Roy I'll even throw in a communicator that you can use to issue orders from a distance." He tells me using his salesman's voice.
With that he goes back to his truck and brings out the Iconic b1 droids. They all came with a blaster rifle. I get set to name each one, nothing crazy of course but these will be my teammates and it'll be easier to make strategies and call out attacks, so with that I named them A1 through A5.
With everything set up from my mission I take off for sector 1-5 where it was last spotted.
{QUEST ACCEPTED}
DRAGON SLAYER
KILL OR CAPTURE A KRAYT DRAGON
REWARDS: 1500XP, 1X ARMOR GACHA
'A gacha system, that's so awesome I was honestly getting worried there wasn't one' I say to myself, incredibly excited for this mission.
We just arrived in the sector when I realized how hard it's going to be to track this thing down, I sigh getting ready for a long day. That was when an ingenious idea came to me.
"A-1 come here and man the controls, I want you to make a circle around this sector until I give further instructions" I tell one of the droids standing ready behind me.
"Roger, roger" A1 says as he takes my place.
As the droid begin's to make rounds around the sector I sit down and begin to meditate searching for any signs of life in a one mile radius. After about a half hour of flying I finally get a flicker of something moving to the west.
"45 degree turn west go full speed" I tell the droid still in the trance zeroing in on the life form. It only takes us about 5 minutes to reach its position.
"Land 100 yards behind that bolder and position the squad to circle the beast" I tell A-1 the just made leader of the suicide squad.
We land quickly and everyone gets into position, I'm only about fifty feet away when I can observe the monster. 'Krayt Dragon LVL 20 1,000/1,000 HP', 'jeez thank god I brought the droids there was no way I could've done this by myself. Without any further hesitation I throw 4 flash grenades at the dragon.
"Suicide squad, fire" I say into the communicator as the droid begin to rain blaster fire on the beast from all directions. After about five minutes into the bombardment I throw an impact grenade directly under it, it explodes taking out a massive chunk of its leg. Critical 300 Damage.
I quickly observe it before going in to finish the job, 'Krayt Dragon LVL 20 320/1000 HP'. I yell into the com to tell the droids to hold their position as I rush in while the beast is still dazed from the explosion.
I activate force enhancement and propel myself with a timed push, drawing my blade and taking a slash at the beast skull. I managed to take out one of his eyes in the exchange.-50 damage, I'm sure that it will collapse after a couple more strikes, so with that in mind I rush back in with my pistol and sword at the ready. It's recovered its senses now and it's ready to strike back, with a swing of its claws I barely get my sword up in time to parry. I get knocked back several feet and barely get the warning from the force before I can get my sword up, he landed true. A large slash on my face that got through my hasty block, anger surges through me as I raise my hands and call the force with everything I have. The dragon gets flipped over on its side falling into a roll, fury still coursing through me. I grab my blade with the force and charge, stabbing its hind leg to the ground as I pull out my blaster and fire directly into its torso. It takes only a few seconds longer before it stops struggling accepting its fate. Immediately I tell the droids to bring the titanium cable and to bring the ship as I watch over the Kriffing beast
I would never notice the yellow tint that my eyes took that day…
It was an hour later that I arrived back at the guild with dried blood and fresh scar going along my temple to my chin.
"Force Roy, why aren't you at the medical bay to get that healed?" Carlos asks me with worry.
"It's a reminder to never let my guard down again." I tell him as my droids drag in the beast hogtied.
"You did it, not many people can take out something that strong. You're not secretly a jedi that lost his lightsaber are you?" He asked with a critical eye.
"No I could never be a jedi, women are too beautiful to even consider the trade off." I tell him with a smile, tension completely leaving me with the light hearted conversation.
"You're too much kid" He tells me while chuckling. "But seriously man, taking out a Krayt is no joke even with a squad of droids. Good job" he said as he handed me 10,000 credits.
{QUEST COMPLETE}
DRAGON SLAYER
CAPTURE OR KILL A KRAYT DRAGON
REWARDS: 1500XP, 1X ARMOR GACHA
2X LVL UP.. 13 stat points added, ARMOR GACHA SPINNING….. REVAN'S CLOAK ADDED TO INVENTORY.
'No, there's no possible way' I say to myself as I bolt straight out of the guild into my ship. I immediately took the cloak out of my inventory. 'Observe' I intone as quickly as I possibly can, " DARTH REVAN'S CLOAK, RANK: LEGENDARY, EFFECT: DOUBLES FP, ANY AND ALL FORCE ABILITIES LEVEL UP 10% FASTER, ?.
I dawn the cloak without a second thought, now with the cloak I actually look like a legit mercenary, but the mystery effect does worry me slightly. I dumb all 21 points I've earned though leveling up this week and immediately called up my status screen.
Title:Bounty Hunter- gives the user a 20% stat boost when pursuing a bounty related quest
Name: Roy Walker
Lvl:8
Age:15
HP:120/120- 20xEND
FP: 400/800-10xWISx2
STR:8
END:6
WIS:40
AGL:8
INT:7
Points:0
EXP: 140/2000
REVAN'S CLOAK-DOUBLE FP
Thank the Force, my points have finally gotten to a level where I can actually get somewhere in my training, but of all things to get Darth Raven's cloak was not anywhere near what I was expecting, my luck strikes back again. At Least I really thought it did, until my walk home was interrupted.
"Sith, why has your kind returned?" I hear a ragged voice ask me before drawing his green lightsaber.
Of course on my walk home after a great day something has got to happen, balance in the force and all that bullshit.
Now I knew my luck would run out eventually, but what the hell is this old jedi talking about. I just learned how to meditate this morning. There's no way I could be a Sith, this old man has had to have gone senile.
"Hey man, I'm literally only fifteen please don't kill me, my life just started to get awesome." I tell him casually. I barely get a few seconds to observe him 'MASTER JEDI KAIZEN LVL 75'
He looks at me really and looks taken aback by my appearance, black hair cut into a fade, stubble on my chin and barely any muscle on my body.
"Don't try to fool me boy, I've been a jedi for forty years. I know the dark side when I feel it." He tells me seriously repositioning his saber to cut me down at any second.
"I'm going to be completely honest with you man, I literally just figured out how to meditate this morning. I'm not a fallen Jedi or Sith, I'm just a rookie bounty hunter who one day could pick up things with my mind." I tell him completely honestly, I really don't want this fight.
He regards me for a long while, before turning around and walking, "Boy, you will follow me immediately". As long as he's not putting me in cuffs I'm completely cool going anywhere with him now that he put away his lightsaber.
I follow him down alley after alley, dune after dune, Until we finally arrive at a natural cave, he stops at the opening waiting for something.
"Soooo, um, my name's Roy Walker, what can I do for you creepy old guy?" I ask only half jokingly.
"My name is Kaizen Cero and if you call me a creepy old guy again I can only assume you're a Sith lord that needs to be dealt with immediately." He informs me seriously before a small smile arrives on his face that is wiped away just as fast as it came. "Now Roy, you will explain to me what occurred today in full detail." He orders me.
I begin to recount my story of the last 24 hours, I explain my battle with the Krayt before he raises a hand with a scowl on his face.
"Emotions lead to the dark side young one, you must learn to banish all emotions to embrace the Jedi way." He tells me like I'm a child no older than an infant.
"I disagree" I simply say.
"Explain" He orders firmly.
"I believe that balance is the true way of the force, light and dark must coexist. Darkness can't exist without light, as well as a balance can't be met when one ignores the other." I tell him my personal opinion.
"For a boy barely able to lift his own body weight off the ground, to claim such profound understanding is ludicrous" He scoffs at my philosophy.
"So if I was strong enough to beat you with my eyes closed then suddenly my opinion has a ground to stand on. That doesn't sound like the Jedi way either." I tell him with a scoff of my own.
The old bastard actually starts busting out laughing at my reply. "Jeez kid, you're pretty funny, master Yoda would have a field day with you. Definitely too foolish to be a Sith lord" He continues laughing to my dismay.
"Why must I embrace the Jedi way to begin with, the Force chose me, It doesn't control me and neither do the Jedi." I tell him flatly beginning to get fed up with this conversation.
He stops laughing immediately, looking very saddened by my statement.
"Lift the boulder" he orders me simply. But it's huge there's no way I could even attempt it.
"I said .Boulder" He orders me more firmly.
Both hands raised I try my absolute hardest just to budge it, as I watch my force points about to hit zero the bolder nudges to left just slightly. The old man raised one hand and pushed the boulder straight out of the cave without any signs of struggle.
"Wow a guy can do something I can't with fifty years more experience, it's not like I've only been doing this for a week or anything" I say, trying my best not to sound disappointed in myself.
"You will address me as Master Kaizen boy, you will do everything I tell you. I say move the boulder, you move the boulder. If I say meditate for a week, you will meditate for a week. Do you understand me?"
What the hell is wrong with this guy, first he thinks I'm a sith, then a brat and now he wants me as a student. 'Do I really have a choice', I need to get stronger and somehow I'm lucky enough to find somebody actually willing to teach me.
For the first in my new life I give up my pride and kneel, "yes, Master". All I receive is a small nod of understanding.
"Meditate" He simply says and I obey without question.
{SECRET QUEST COMPLETE}
WAX ON WAX OFF
ACQUIRE A JEDI MASTER
REWARD: TITLE- JEDI APPRENTICE
Immediately I switch titles without a second of hesitation,' Jedi Apprentice- Under the tutelage of a master all force abilities level up 50% faster, passively boosts FP by 50%'. Ok maybe one of the better decisions I made, this old guy may be weird but at least he's helpful.
"Focus apprentice, meditation requires a clear mind void of thoughts. Distractions are nothing but your mind running rampant without a clear focus set." He tells me sagely.
As soon as I enter what I like to call force mode, I realize how huge Kaizen's force presence is compared to mine. My presence at least to myself feels like a small flame strong and unrelenting, but kaizens seem like a bonfire but calm and collected. I see a tendril of his presence break off and come half way towards me, an olive branch of trust. I try my best to copy him and I actually manage to stretch a string to connect. Immediately I feel a connection link through the force.
"Young Roy, this is the light side it offers protection and safety. Connection to all life with the right training one could interact with those not even force sensitive" I hear Master Kaizen through the force seal.
"I understand master, the basis of the light side is to be the guardian of life itself. She offers cooperation to those willing to protect life." I said back to him.
"Very mindful my young apprentice, now I want you to touch the dark. Remember the fury you felt, the pain, the anguish." He tells me cautiously.
I do as my master says and immediately feel my head cloud and the connection break, but the power is given freely. Strength without training, ability without effort. But pain and anguish every step of the way.
I release my hold just as fast as I initiated and reconnected with kaizen.
"Now my apprentice, what is the dark side?"
"It is possessive, it doesn't want to let go but in return it offers immediate power to the user. Power for pain is what I believe the dark side is, Master." I tell him honestly.
"Very good young Roy, Now I want you to extend your presence as far as you can and tell what this world feels like."
I do as he says, I've never thought that moons or planets could have a presence themselves, but as I do I come to a startling conclusion.
"Jedha is a beacon, the force swirls around this moon like a mother would a child. I believe that this moon is loved greatly by the force." I describe the feeling to Kaizen.
"It is believed that the first generation of jedi lived here. The force is indeed powerful here, you were very lucky to end up here. It might have been the reason you realized your true potential."
After that it was silent through the bond, I proceeded to use the time to drift in the force trying to extend my range to try to find a lifeform or something more. After what felt like hours I felt a gentle nudge bring me back.
"Meditation has gone up 10 levels"
Force this master student apprentice thing is crazy good for training, no wonder the Jedi give promising young initiates a personal knight or master to train them. The results prove themselves.
"Catch" I hear Kaizen say as he throws me a rock. " Hold it for as long as you possibly can" He tells me and I follow along.
After about an hour I'm sweating bullets trying my best to keep it up, but as my FP hits zero I know it's too late, I'm at my absolute limit. The rock falls to the ground as Kaizen breaks his meditation.
'Telekinesis has gone up 7 levels'
"70 minutes very good Roy, that will be all for today. I will contact you on your Data pad for our next meeting." He dismisses me.
"Thank you master" I say with a bow as I get ready to begin the long trek home.
Sometime Later….
" Apprentice Nice to hear from you, it is' ' Master Yoda says in holographic form.
"It's been too long, master . I hope you're doing well," Kaizen replies.
"Call on the emergency line you did, but no turmoil I sense in you" Yoda states curiously.
"I believe I've found the chosen one master." He tells Yoda, all friendliness gone.
"Bold statement you make, proof I hope you have." Yoda says in the same tone.
"I felt his breakthrough, I've never felt something so pure. I was happy to just leave it alone, but then I felt this young man channel the dark side out of fear for his life. His progress in just few hours is insane as well as his understanding of the force seems to be," He tells him seriously.
"Fallen you say this boy has" Yoda asked him in sorrow.
"No master, he's completely pure. No thoughts cloud his judgment, his emotions do not rule him." He tells Yoda seriously as the master looks taken aback by his statement.
"Impossible, that is." Yoda states neutrally.
"I would completely agree with you master, however I've personally ordered him to channel it and watched him come back all on his own without delay. He was the same annoying kid after." Kaizen states neutrally.
"You ordered a child to harness the darkside, great transgression that is." Yoda says while Kaizen adopts a frown.
"As true as that may be, master, it doesn't matter anymore. The Force has willed me to guide this boy, I relinquish my title as master and formally leave the Jedi order. Thank you my master, for everything you taught me. But I must follow the will of the Force."
"Greatly saddened I am, but bring this to the council, I must" Yoda states sadly.
"I understand, master, I'm sadly nearing the end of my life. If the last thing I do is protect him, then I have to say it was completely worth it in my eyes. But tell the council this master, Roy Walker is coming and he will bring balance to the Force." He tells Yoda with a newfound conviction.
Yoda seemed troubled but with a nod the connection was canceled.
The next day I'm with my other apparent master, at least this one I can understand.
"No boy, were you raised on a swamp planet? That's the ignition coil, why would the engine require a spark if it has a reactor" Rigor asks me in disbelief.
"Boss, in the book you gave me, it said that some speeder class vehicles require a spark sent into the engines during ignition." I tell him curiously.
"Forget those books, they're crap. The only real experience you'll ever get is hands-on in this profession." He tells me sagely.
"Then why the Kriff did you even give me them." I say irritated.
"If you wont follow stupid orders how will I know you'll follow the right ones."
I can only sigh at his logic, but with that said I really feel like I'm getting into a grove. With the ignition coil in place I go to start the bike. It sputters only monetarily before it turns over with a roar.
'Intelligence has gone up 1'
'Nice, I knew there was a way to level it up without stat points' I say to myself in relief.
"Hmm, rebuilt a speeder in under 6 hours on your first try." Rigor seems to be contemplating something before he replies "You will be required to be here 4 days, and take your own orders on those days." He informs me.
"Boss I've only been doing this for a day" I ask him in disbelief.
"You'll be alright kid, I believe in you. Plus the cantina offers half priced drinks on those days." He tells me laughing.
That marks the end of my first day as the apprentice at Rigors mechanics. I have to say with juggling my two jobs and the training master Kaizen is going to put me through, I'm going to be burnt out before I even know what hit me. But looking at my status and skill screen I can't help but smile at my progress
Title:Jedi Apprentice- 50% boost to FP
Name: Roy Walker
Lvl:9
Age:15
HP:140/140- 20xEND
FP: 900/900-10xWISx2 (1350/1350) with Jedi apprentice boost.
STR:9
END:7
WIS:45
AGL:8
INT:8
Points:0
EXP: 550/2500
REVAN'S CLOAK-DOUBLE FP
SKILLS
NOVICE TELEKINESIS LVL 8/50 - The user's proficiency in using the force to push, pull, or grab anything. Currently uses 15 FP per usage on anything lower than the user's body weight in a 12 meter radius. Costs vary when dealing with things heavier than the user.
MEDITATION LVL 12/10,000- Allows the user to completely embrace the force and be one with their surroundings. Current proficiency offers 40% FP recharge increase while in use and a sensing range of 20 Miles.
NOVICE MECHANICS LVL 10/50- Proficiency working on engineering, repair and creation of mechanics. Currently boost work speed by 10%.
MASTERED FORM IV ATARU- Fourth form of lightsaber combat, offers the user an AGL and STR boost when using this form. Current boost 100%
NOVICE FORCE ENHANCEMENT LVL 8/50- Allowing the force to course through one's body to boost their physical stats and performance, cost 8 FP per second while active and offers a 18% boost to all physical stats.
One week here and I'm already kinda dangerous, hopefully people don't start throwing out the term prodigy. 'That could get very annoying' I think to myself sadly. 'So with another productive day done I head back to the hotel to go to sleep, maybe flirt with the hostess before'. I narrate myself with a chuckle.
Oh, I have two question's for readers,
Who was cooler Darth maul or Savage Opress?
YT-1300, S-161 'Mantis' XL, or XL stock light freighter.
Thank you all for reading- Cyan.