Hurry up hurry up hurry up…
The traffic light to cars ahead of me obstinately stays red, allowing traffic to flow in front of us.
I don't like being late.
There was an accident on the way to Hera and Kanan's. Which wouldn't be that big of a deal, except that I was supposed to watch Jacen and Mira at home today.
They asked me to come over at three o' clock today. Kanan even asked off for me as a favor.
Strumming my fingers on my steering wheel impatiently, the light finally turns yellow.
About damn time.
Two to three more cars cross the intersection before the light turning red deters any more drivers, and the light goes green for my lane.
Allowing the cars in front of me to go, I take the turn into Hera and Kanan's subdivision, then navigate the back way to their house and pull into their driveway.
Quickly, I leap out of my car, pulling my phone out of the cupholder and into my hand before closing the door and locking it with a wave of my hand.
Is that…Yoda's Force Signature?
Probing again, I pull on the front door and sliding inside before I hear an ecstatic giggle.
"Missed you, someone has." Master Yoda indeed says, standing by the couch with the back door unlocked.
Who—
"Hey!" I light up when I spot Mira, being levitated by Master Yoda three to four feet away from me. Mira lights up at the sound of my voice and quickly starts moving to grab for me.
Taking a step forward, Yoda does the rest before Mira grabs onto me tightly and giggles again. "How are you? You were floating!" Mira adjusts her position in my arms, pushing up with her feet before gazing up at me with a gooey smile on her face.
I return the smile before kissing the top of her head and starting towards Master Yoda. "Master." I bow my head.
"Young Bridger, good to see you."
"Apologies for being late. There was an accident of the highway, I couldn't exit to make a detour."
"No problem at all, young one. A snack, we were about to get." Yoda replies before leaning on his custom wooden cane.
"A snack?" I repeat, then turn to Mira who smiles again. "Are you hungry?"
Mira answers by laughing again, then babbling and turning in the direction of the kitchen. "C'mon." I say cheerfully before glancing through the open back door, leading to the backyard.
"Master Dooku is here?" I ask Master Yoda before opening up the pantry door.
"Yes. Giving young Jacen a lesson, he is."
A lesson?
"What sort of lesson, Master?" I ask while grabbing the box of Cheerios for Mira.
Let's not ruin dinner yet.
"Oh, a little of that, a little of this." He says cryptically. "Join us, you will."
"On our way." I nod, then turn in time to see Master Yoda smile before he moves towards the open door.
Grabbing a cup, I fill it up about halfway with Mira's snack before setting it back in the pantry and walking out to the backyard.
Ahh, it's blaster deflection.
Master Dooku is standing ten to twelve feet away from Jacen, who is tracking a grey probe droid which is firing bolts for him to deflect at irregular intervals. Closer to the porch, where Master Yoda is looking on, sits a playpen.
Where it looks like Mira has been hanging out.
"Now remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him. Allow your instincts to guide you where the next bolt will come." Master Dooku tells Jacen as he is focused on the droid.
The droid fires off a bolt, and Jacen deflects it using the training saber he's been given. Master Yoda watches for a moment, then turns back to Mira and I as we sit on the couch.
"Here ya go." I extend a Cheerio to Mira, who grabs it out of my palm and feeds herself.
"Ah!" Jacen yelps as he misses a bolt and it hits him in the thigh. In response, Mira turns in his direction and stares before I gently redirect her with my fingers in her back.
"C'mon, it's snack time." I remind her, holding out another Cheerio.
"Relax. Use the Force."
Jacen doesn't reply, his face remaining fiercely concentrated on the task at hand before he blocks the next bolt. Ghost meanwhile, spots Mira and I on the couch and hops up from his position near Mira's playpen. "Hey." I say warmly, getting Mira's eyes to look towards me. "It's Ghost."
Mira babbles incoherently before reaching out with one hand and petting Ghost while Jacen blocks another bolt.
Not bad for a beginner. I don't think he's had much, if any training with a blade in his hand. And I've seen kids older than him do worse.
Master Dooku turns away from Jacen, spotting Mira, Yoda and I and starts making his way over to us. "Ahh, there you are."
"Sorry I'm late." I tell his as he approaches. "Accident on the way backed up traffic."
Master Dooku waves my apology away. "Nothing you could have done. Although somebody seems quite happy you have arrived."
I turn away from him to see Mira has found the cup of Cheerios and is in the process of digging into the cup. "Hey hey. I got it." I tell her before grabbing another one for her. "Here ya go."
"How were your classes today?" Master Dooku asks as Mira chomps on her snack.
"Good. We're preparing for our midterm exams." I inform him.
"Attended Composition and Chemistry today, did you not?" Master Yoda asks while observing Jacen.
I nod while giving Mira more of her snack. "Yes."
"And?" Master Dooku prompts me.
"Chemistry was a rush. It was primarily a slideshow that he outlined, but mostly elaborated specific details not on the slides themselves."
"Leaving little time to take notes." Dooku observes.
"Yes." I confirm. "My professor has placed the slides for each lecture online ahead of time. I've found it useful to print them out beforehand and take notes that way."
Master Dooku nods in understanding before clicking a small remote, causing the drone to move for Jacen. "And what about Freshman Composition?"
"Just an overview of what we have studied so far, as well as what is expected of us when we return on Tuesday for the test."
Mira grasps for more of her snack before Master Dooku asks "Are all of your exams in the next week?"
"Monday thru Wednesday." I reply. "Thursday and Friday are for signing up for next semester's classes. I've scheduled mine for Friday, and will come down to the Temple on Thursday to go over everything with Kanan."
Dooku smiles thinly before Master Yoda says "Very good. Very good."
The drone Jacen is practicing on makes an audible noise, then begins to pilot itself back to Master Dooku. Which garners Jacen's attention, causing him to spot me.
"Ezra!"
Mira laughs as Jacen runs up to us and tackles me into a hug, pulling Mira in as well. "Hey bud. How are you?"
"I'm good! Were you watching me?"
"I was!" I smile before Mira makes a move to escape my grasp. "It looked like you were doing really well."
Dooku silently takes Mira as well as her snack, allowing me to focus on Jacen. "He did quite well, for someone of his experience."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jacen questions him, looking upset.
"That you did well for somebody your age." I smile at him.
Jacen doesn't appear to be mollified at all, before I feel Dooku give me a gentle push using the Force.
Oh. Okay.
My lightsaber is in my car.
Focusing my mind on the location of my lightsaber, I return my sights to Jacen. "Have you ever used a training saber before?"
"No." Jacen shakes his head. "Mommy always says I'm not old enough."
"You're not. You're still a few years away from using one regularly."
Jacen's face falls. "But I wanna use one now."
"You just did." I tease him.
"I know, but all the time. Daddy sometimes practices out here in the morning or at night. And sometimes he lets me watch before I go to bed."
I can see that. Use the trees they planted along the fence line for cover and letting Jacen watch to show him that it's cool.
"Do you usually practice?"
I shrug as I feel my lightsaber start to make its way across the front lawn. "I haven't since I started school. But yeah, normally I practice regularly."
"Now would be a good time to restart old habits." Master Dooku calls out, causing Jacen to glance back at him.
Mira meanwhile, is reaching out for a Cheerio that Yoda is levitating for her, a smile on his face. "Yeah!" Jacen says enthusiastically before turning to beam at me.
Roof.
"You think so?" I ask him.
I need just a few more seconds…
"Yeah! And I can watch and learn from what you do!"
I smile, before feeling my lightsaber start to slide down the backside of the roof of the house. "What's the magic word?"
"Please!" Jacen says, just before I give my lightsaber one final yank, and it falls into my hand. "Oh!"
"Sure. I guess. C'mon." I wave him out into the backyard. Jacen loyally follows in my footsteps before I hear the drone start to make its way over to us.
"You'll want to keep a safe distance away Jacen." Master Dooku says, making his way to us.
"Okay." Jacen nods.
"Go over by Mira's playpen." I volunteer before Jacen, Mira and Ghost all converge on her playpen.
Master Dooku sets Mira down, and Jacen plops next to her, close enough so that she can see all of us. "Clear your mind." Master Yoda begins. "Trust in your feelings."
"And relax." Master Dooku says, just before I feel him step behind me.
I close my eyes just before I feel Dooku start to slip the cloth over my head to cover my eyes. "Uhm. Master Dooku sir?"
"Yes Jacen?" Dooku replies.
"How will Ezra be able to see enough to block the bolts?"
He's testing me.
I smile before hearing Dooku laugh beside me. "He won't. He'll have to use the Force."
"Rely on his instincts, he must." Master Yoda adds before I feel Dooku tighten my blindfold.
Jacen's uncertainty flows to me through the Force as I attempt to let go of all my stresses that I've accumulated over the course of the day.
"I'll be fine Jacen." I reassure him, before Dooku grasps my shoulder for an instant, then lets go and I feel him begin to retreat to Jacen, Mira and Ghost.
Alright…
Now.
I activate my lightsaber and give it a twirl to acclimate myself to it inside my hand, then feel the drone sweep in front of me.
Left.
Dropping my blade, I block the bolt before sliding a step forward and anticipating the next shot to my right.
Blocking that one, I release my nervous breath and let the gentle warnings of the Force take over.
Turn.
Spinning on my heel, I meet the next shot before meeting a volley with a series of parries to match before I hear Jacen's voice call out.
Oh. So it's not just blaster deflection.
Feeling the other blade on my own, I turn my wrist over to signal my acknowledgement, then lay back on my heels.
My assailant begins with a slice to the left, which I steer away before it turns into a slash. Blocking the slash, I then attempt to riposte and take advantage of my positioning.
Back!
Quickly, I drop my lightsaber behind me, blocking the bolt from the drone before returning my attentions to Dooku, who takes advantage of my temporary distraction to jab at me.
I bat the jab away and counter with one of my own, which finds air. Leading to a downward blow towards my knees. Countering that, I feel our blades clash before The Force gives me another warning.
Without a further thought, I leap up into the air, block the attempt to bisect me, then step to my left so that I can utilize the tree behind me as a sort of second defender.
Using your terrain to your advantage is key to winning duels with a lightsaber. Doesn't matter how skilled you are. If you misplay your hand tactically, you probably aren't winning.
Dooku doesn't relent, taking my retreat as an opportunity, I feel him rush out towards me and cut out at me. I block it, then duck under both of our sabers and give him a gentle push with the Force. Feeling him block it, the air bats me in the face before Dooku jabs at me again, trying to pin me in the corner.
"Nice try." I smile before pivoting on my toes to avoid being boxed it, then quickly slice out at him to force Dooku to give me the space I need to escape.
"Well done." Is all the comment he gives me before he resumes his offensive. Starting with a slice, I riposte and prepare for the next blow which comes in the form of a jab. Turning it away, I probe his defenses before I'm hit in the face with another push which knocks me to the ground.
Jacen makes some sort of noise before—
MOVE!
I turn my backwards momentum into a back spring, landing on my feet and giving Dooku a playful twirl of my lightsaber.
I can't see his Force powers coming.
Now that's not very fair.
"Maintained your flexibility I see." He comments before dropping a flurry of slices upon me. Blocking the undeviating blows, I then retreat further then reach out with the Force.
I don't want to stumble into the playpen.
I'm alright though. I've made my way about halfway to the other side of the backyard.
And if push comes to shove, Dooku will let me extricate myself from a tight spot.
The moment my thought concludes, I feel the next Push coming my way, and I dig my heels in to hold my ground. Skidding backwards maybe a foot, I beat him to the punch and slice down at him but before he can have a chance to capitalize I spin him around and try to work him towards the fence.
Not so fun now is it?
Dooku blocks my initial slice, then turns my cut into a riposte of his own. I turn myself perpendicular to his blade, then duck under a swipe towards me and come up over the top with a sudden chop. Unexpectedly, Dooku digs his heels in and turns the exchange into a blade lock.
Got him.
I take a firm step forward and immediately Dooku is forced to give ground by the force before I break the blade lock. Anticipating his next slice, I jab at where he will be before I find completely empty air.
Uh oh.
I quickly pull my lightsaber from my right hand into my left and meet his downward blow more than halfway to his intended target, then push him back.
Up. Down. Up. Down. We go as another lightning volley greets my offhand, followed by a jab. Sidestepping again, I feel Dooku over pursue which allows me to grab his wrist and send him past me, his feet protesting as I know his mind is racing to catch up to my next move.
Dropping a quick volley of my own, it's interrupted by a perfectly placed riposte by Dooku before I sense another blade coming from my left.
HEADS UP!
I quickly barrel roll away from the newfound danger, then shift my stance from Makashi, my preferred stance to Soresu.
Master Kenobi's preferred style.
Master Dooku makes an noncommittal noise, which I take as his being impressed before my new foe moves to sweep across from me. Dropping my wrists, I meet the move then spin away to anticipate Dooku's next cut which I find right on time, aimed for my hip.
Blocking the jab, I dodge the next blow form my unknown opponent but causes me to take a step towards the fence.
Fine.
I utilize the time my retreat buys me to spin and let go a strong slice which finds a blade around shoulder height before it is broken off and I am forced to concede my advantage by simply batting away Dooku's accurate jab intended for the upper part of my body.
By the time I get my blade back up, my other opponent is chopping downward at me, leaving me no other choice to block and spin—
Tree branches collide with me on either side before my back flattens against the fence and two blades come to rest near my head.
I'm beaten.
The blades linger for the customary three beats, then both move at the same time before deactivating. "Well done."
I move to pull my blindfold off and see Dooku before Kanan smirks at me, then gives me a bow. "Oh, you're back already."
"I come home to see that you're already getting put through the paces. It's my right to jump in and judge your fitness." He teases me before moving to shake my hand.
Implying a job well done.
"I'm out of shape." I confess as I move the blindfold to hang around my neck before wiping away the sweat off my forehead.
Dooku shakes his head while moving back towards the house. "On the contrary, your abilities are as sharp as ever. I'm impressed."
"Looks as good as ever to me." Kanan adds before I spot Jacen and Mira, both eying us as we make our way back to them.
Mira's standing up in her playpen.
"What did you think?" Dooku asks as we approach them. Meanwhile, Master Yoda is approaching from the porch, bottle of water in his hand.
Mira babbles ecstatically then hops on her toes before starting to lose her balance then grabbing onto the wall of her playpen for support. "Good, that is." Master Yoda says, his smile evident before he extends the water to me.
"Thanks." I tell him, and he nods.
"That. Was. Awesome!" Jacen exclaims. "When can I try to do that?"
"A long time from now. There's a lot of work and practice before you get to where Ezra and Master Dooku are." Kanan reminds Jacen.
"Patience, young Jacen. You will get there in time." Master Dooku tells him, causing Jacen to beam with excitement.