Chapter 7: Ignorance

Caelum dodged every hit with as little movement as possible. Finn was becoming irate, but he persisted for longer than Caelum had expected. After a moment, the trooper asked, "Why doesn't the droid teach me if he is so good with the force."

Poe smirked, "His angry glare finally getting to you?"

Caelum ignored the pilot, "I believe training with one who has the same body as you would be easier. All you need to know is how to use the weapon. I am not teaching you how to wield the force. T7 would be better equipped for that."

To Caelum's dismay, T7 entered right on queue. He let out a series of beeps before projecting out a woman. She was as tall as the droid and had to look up to greet the men around her, "Greetings. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Meetra Surik, Jedi." She turned to Caelum, "It is nice to see you well, my son."

He grumbled and sat down on one of the benches, "Please refrain from turning this entire party into a Jedi. I know how much you enjoy doing that."

She sighed, "You have grown hateful in my absence."

"It keeps me strong."

"And blind."

"Even with the force, you cannot see what is never there."

She sighed again, "I know you despise me, but please let me help you."

He strode out of the room, "You can help them tomorrow. Today I am already in the mindset to work." She opened her mouth to speak, but decided better. She gave a nod to T7 and she was gone again. Caelum yelled through his ship, "Everyone except the droid follow me to the cargo bay."

Each of the team hesitated, but made their way to where he stood, waiting with an aggravated expression. Poe was the first to arrive, but he stayed by the doorway. As he leaned on the frame, he asked, "Why the cargo bay?"

Caelum finally responded to the pilot, "This is the largest space with little obstacles. It is where we do a great deal of physical training. Notice the blast marks on the wall behind me were not done for aesthetics."

Finn stood the closest to him, "Well, we are here so now what?"

Caelum managed to brood further, "Is it not obvious, foolish trooper? We are training. You are all to attack me at once." The wookie made some remarks and the pilot nodded in agreement. Caelum was already regretting taking them all along with him. He responded, "Yes, all of you at the same time. I am very capable at staying alive. I have meditated longer than any of you have fucking been alive!"

Poe smirked, "Language." Caelum would have forced choked him right then, if the pilot had not aimed his pistol and fired.

Caelum dodged that one as he had the attacks by the trooper earlier. Following suit, they each began to attack him. The pilot and the wookie shot from afar as the trooper attempted to hit him with the staff. Caelum dodged them all nearly effortlessly.

Finn remarked, "Aren't you supposed to be using a lightsaber if you are a Jedi?"

Caelum complied, letting his black with silver core lightsaber deflect the range and melee attacks.

Now the pilot remarked, "We see the lightsaber, but no force work?"

Caelum released the lightsaber and it began to block each blow and blast on its own in the air. He began to pace, feeling awfully like a dog doing tricks. The pilot turned his blast towards Caelum, but he stopped it in mid-air. Everyone froze as they felt the power thicken in the room. He lifted his hand and drew the power of the blast straight into him. His eyes glowed lightly, but enough to put fear in each of their minds. He stretched out his hand again and, with a flick of his wrist, flung them into the air, hitting the ceiling and wall before falling back to the ground.

He took his lightsaber and walked to their crumpled forms, "You need to learn to exploit your enemy's weakness. Even someone like me, more powerful than any Jedi or Sith, has many weaknesses. I just displayed one of mine." He spoke matter-of-factly, but he actually felt a pang of worry. He was upset with having to break the code and meddle in the affairs of the people, but now he began to wonder if he was not the one in their realm, but they were the ones entering his realm.