CH. III - Not by Force, But by Guile
(Note: I know this title isnt as good as the others, but if your by chance british, or know the british military, it may make more sense...motto of the british SBS, equivalent of the U.S. SEALS)
I stood watching the apprentices train, stumble and fail, all the while wondering who in their right mind or otherwise thought I had the patience for this.
After countless hours of demonstrations and reprimands most still hadn't gotten it, and myself and the other instructors where losing hope for them and for us, simply making it through without killing them all out of frustration and sheer boredom.
From the back of the training room one of the few apprentices who was getting the feel for his saber made his biggest mistake by issuing a challenge to one of the knights training him.
As is custom the knight didn't back down and in a few quick strokes had finished the apprentice.
"Master, the apprentices are having delusions of adequacy again" I called over my shoulder to Master Fenox, who was supposed to be in charge of all this.
"Has yet another fallen?" he asked, "Yes" I replied "a foolish challenge to our good knight Arkus here.
A thoughtful yet decidedly unsettling look appeared on Master Fenox's face, and he announced it was time for another demonstration.
A collective sigh was issued from students and instructors alike, I had been training them for 3 days now and I had already had enough, others like Arkus I though, had been here for weeks.
"Alright my students" said Fenox in a menacing tone that was tinged with a sense of anticipation "After all the demonstrations and lectures less than a quarter of you have proven yourselves worthy, this will not do.
But such a large number of you...could it be my fault as a teacher, or the fault of the knights under me?
I don't know...but another demonstration is at hand, Rane, Arkus, to the ring.
Arkus and I went to the wall to take practice swords but were halted by Fenox's voice, "I told you to proceed to the ring, not to the wall"
"But master..." Arkus was interrupted by Fenox
"You will do as I say, you and Rane shall fight, no practice weapons, my apprentice against Master Velion's apprentice.
These recruits need to see just how much one slip in a fight can cost you, and I myself am in the mood for some sport.
I looked at Arkus, he looked to me, we had very little choice, one died or we both died.
We stepped into the ring and Arkus's saber flared to life at both ends, as did the single blade of mine, and we prepared to fight.
Arkus was a guardian, I was sentinel, but I was advanced, the difference in our robes showed it.
Arkus wore the customary grey and black while mine were all black, other than that our robes were the same.
Same mask to hide the bottom half of our faces, same medallion.
Arkus was first to make a move a slash downward, followed with a slash upward with the other side of his double blade and forced the blade of my saber over my head.
I kicked his chest and brought my saber back to striking position and went for a slash to his head. He blocked and brought his saber's blade upwards.
I moved back quickly and saw an open spot on Arkus's chest.
I knew I must take it and thrust my saber forward into the center of his chest.
His eyes widened for a second as my blade pierced him.
I turned my saber off and he fell to the ground, dead before he hit.
"Well done Rane" said Fenox from said form behind me "Master Velion will be so disappointed".
He places Arkus's saber in my hand and walked away, leaving myself and the two remaining teachers to instruct.
I ordered two of the students to take Arkus's body away and listened to the endless flood of questions on how to "strike like you did" or "be as good as you are".
I simply told them to practice, with the truth being I didn't know...saber fighting came naturally to me, same as pistols did, I was inherently good with them.
I watched them go about practicing their techniques, for hours until Fenox came to get me, taking me to the main room of out academy.
"I have a new assignment for you Rane" he said with an intent look.
"You must infiltrate, deceive and kill".
"Nothing new for me Master, but what is it I will be infiltrating this time?"
I thought you'd never ask" he said "A Republic research facility, mostly scientist, Republic soldiers on guard, nothing special.
But there is something you must accomplish and two people you must kill, the lead scientist and a rather sensitive young Jedi.
As for what you must accomplish, set beacons for a gunship strike on the facility.
"I see Master" I said, reading the expression on his face there was something he wasn't telling me, something important.
"Now master, what is it you're not telling me?"
"Sharp as ever Rane, good to see you haven't lost your instinct, now about that young Jedi, as I said he is rather sensitive, he will be able to detect any force power used inside the base, he will raise and alarm and you will likely be caught"
I started with a slight resentment".
" No use of the force whatsoever?"
"Whatsoever" he said.
"You may not use it to get your way inside the base, kill anyone inside the base, you can't even use your saber, energy damper grids to contain energy released from the plant would render it just about as useful and a shock stick.
But to remedy this I have a gift for you, a type of sword, given to members of the Bladeborn, which I believe you would be a good candidate for someday."
With that he wished my luck and placed the tremor sword in my hand.
It was perfectly balanced and I stopped to admire its beauty, the onyx glint from the hilt and guard were amazing, truly a masterpiece for any normal sword smith.
I attached it to my belt and headed for the docking bay, as with every assignment this one must be executed quickly and quietly.
But unlike all the others I must do this without the help of my greatest ally.
Thoughts of Morgana, that feeling, everything else filled my head as I stepped aboard and I hoped that when I saw her this morning wasn't the last time I would ever see her.
But for now I must focus on accomplishing this, without my saber, without the force, on my own.
Not by Force, but by guile...
(Note: I know this title isnt as good as the others, but if your by chance british, or know the british military, it may make more sense...motto of the british SBS, equivalent of the U.S. SEALS)
I stood watching the apprentices train, stumble and fail, all the while wondering who in their right mind or otherwise thought I had the patience for this.
After countless hours of demonstrations and reprimands most still hadn't gotten it, and myself and the other instructors where losing hope for them and for us, simply making it through without killing them all out of frustration and sheer boredom.
From the back of the training room one of the few apprentices who was getting the feel for his saber made his biggest mistake by issuing a challenge to one of the knights training him.
As is custom the knight didn't back down and in a few quick strokes had finished the apprentice.
"Master, the apprentices are having delusions of adequacy again" I called over my shoulder to Master Fenox, who was supposed to be in charge of all this.
"Has yet another fallen?" he asked, "Yes" I replied "a foolish challenge to our good knight Arkus here.
A thoughtful yet decidedly unsettling look appeared on Master Fenox's face, and he announced it was time for another demonstration.
A collective sigh was issued from students and instructors alike, I had been training them for 3 days now and I had already had enough, others like Arkus I though, had been here for weeks.
"Alright my students" said Fenox in a menacing tone that was tinged with a sense of anticipation "After all the demonstrations and lectures less than a quarter of you have proven yourselves worthy, this will not do.
But such a large number of you...could it be my fault as a teacher, or the fault of the knights under me?
I don't know...but another demonstration is at hand, Rane, Arkus, to the ring.
Arkus and I went to the wall to take practice swords but were halted by Fenox's voice, "I told you to proceed to the ring, not to the wall"
"But master..." Arkus was interrupted by Fenox
"You will do as I say, you and Rane shall fight, no practice weapons, my apprentice against Master Velion's apprentice.
These recruits need to see just how much one slip in a fight can cost you, and I myself am in the mood for some sport.
I looked at Arkus, he looked to me, we had very little choice, one died or we both died.
We stepped into the ring and Arkus's saber flared to life at both ends, as did the single blade of mine, and we prepared to fight.
Arkus was a guardian, I was sentinel, but I was advanced, the difference in our robes showed it.
Arkus wore the customary grey and black while mine were all black, other than that our robes were the same.
Same mask to hide the bottom half of our faces, same medallion.
Arkus was first to make a move a slash downward, followed with a slash upward with the other side of his double blade and forced the blade of my saber over my head.
I kicked his chest and brought my saber back to striking position and went for a slash to his head. He blocked and brought his saber's blade upwards.
I moved back quickly and saw an open spot on Arkus's chest.
I knew I must take it and thrust my saber forward into the center of his chest.
His eyes widened for a second as my blade pierced him.
I turned my saber off and he fell to the ground, dead before he hit.
"Well done Rane" said Fenox from said form behind me "Master Velion will be so disappointed".
He places Arkus's saber in my hand and walked away, leaving myself and the two remaining teachers to instruct.
I ordered two of the students to take Arkus's body away and listened to the endless flood of questions on how to "strike like you did" or "be as good as you are".
I simply told them to practice, with the truth being I didn't know...saber fighting came naturally to me, same as pistols did, I was inherently good with them.
I watched them go about practicing their techniques, for hours until Fenox came to get me, taking me to the main room of out academy.
"I have a new assignment for you Rane" he said with an intent look.
"You must infiltrate, deceive and kill".
"Nothing new for me Master, but what is it I will be infiltrating this time?"
I thought you'd never ask" he said "A Republic research facility, mostly scientist, Republic soldiers on guard, nothing special.
But there is something you must accomplish and two people you must kill, the lead scientist and a rather sensitive young Jedi.
As for what you must accomplish, set beacons for a gunship strike on the facility.
"I see Master" I said, reading the expression on his face there was something he wasn't telling me, something important.
"Now master, what is it you're not telling me?"
"Sharp as ever Rane, good to see you haven't lost your instinct, now about that young Jedi, as I said he is rather sensitive, he will be able to detect any force power used inside the base, he will raise and alarm and you will likely be caught"
I started with a slight resentment".
" No use of the force whatsoever?"
"Whatsoever" he said.
"You may not use it to get your way inside the base, kill anyone inside the base, you can't even use your saber, energy damper grids to contain energy released from the plant would render it just about as useful and a shock stick.
But to remedy this I have a gift for you, a type of sword, given to members of the Bladeborn, which I believe you would be a good candidate for someday."
With that he wished my luck and placed the tremor sword in my hand.
It was perfectly balanced and I stopped to admire its beauty, the onyx glint from the hilt and guard were amazing, truly a masterpiece for any normal sword smith.
I attached it to my belt and headed for the docking bay, as with every assignment this one must be executed quickly and quietly.
But unlike all the others I must do this without the help of my greatest ally.
Thoughts of Morgana, that feeling, everything else filled my head as I stepped aboard and I hoped that when I saw her this morning wasn't the last time I would ever see her.
But for now I must focus on accomplishing this, without my saber, without the force, on my own.
Not by Force, but by guile...