Chapter 14: A New Teacher?
Disclaimer: Disney owns Star Wars, I only own my Ocs.
Last Paragons
The Forgotten Star crew are resting on a rocky planet of a multiple star system in the Outer Rim. After visiting Emmara plus destroying another Imperial base on Nar Shaddaa, Leliana decided they should head for safety among the star systems not under Empire control. Luck was on their side as this system was neutral.
Leliana, Leon, Yuna and Kenta watch Alec spar with Alexandra.
Alec, who is currently using a single blade, throws aggressive power attacks on Alexandra's Form III defense. The young Sith apprentice deflects the attacks from the older Sith's battle master's Niman. Alec switches to the Shien reverse grip and appears in front of her surprising the black-haired girl and causing her to involuntarily step back. She raises her lightsaber to block a vicious uppercut that staggers her. Alec throws a Force push at his student, Alexandra raises her hand to block. He next amps up his aggression. They rush at each other with a silent battle cry and their blades clash, angry crackling sparks fly. Alec pushes Alexandra back swinging his yellow lightsaber in wide arcs meant to confuse his opponent. Alexandra parries attacks then Alec cartwheels putting all of his armor's weight behind the strike. The force of it brings the younger Sith to one knee. Alexandra refuses to accept defeat and uses one hand to grip a nearby tree with the Force and pulls its roots out of the ground making the tree lay on its side this makes Alec break the lock to dodge.
Alec draws his second blade and executes the Cross Strike Alexandra ducks. The Sith Warrior is upon her in an instant swinging his dual blades that rips Alexandra's out of her hands. Unarmed the girl sees the yellows blades coming at her, thinking quickly she uses Tutaminis to catch them. She trips Alec without him knowing and her lightsaber flies into her hand via the Force. Alec brings his up to thwart a downward slash. With one blade still holding Alexandra's at bay the Sith Warrior gets up and an intense look appears on his masked face. Pushing his opponent away Alec unleashes a Jar Kei version of the Saber Swarm. Alexandra deflects and twirls on her heel looking to strike Alec's blind spot when he spins on the balls of his feet to her direction and stops her attack. Without warning he retaliates with higher aggression overwhelming Alexandra and uses the Cross Strike to strip the apprentice's lightsaber out of her grasp followed by kicking her to the ground and placing his blades in an X pattern.
Alexandra knows she was done, any hope of countering will be thwarted by Alec severing her head.
Seeing the accept of defeat in his apprentice's eyes, Alec deactivates his lightsabers and steps back allowing Alexandra to stand.
He said, "Your defense needs work, apprentice. Relying on the "wait them out" strategy won't work every time. Some will use your tactic against you waiting for you to give to fatigue or frustration. They will capitalize on any mistake you make and when they see an opening they'll exploit. Do you understand, Alexandra?"
Alexandra nodded, "Yes, Master." She walks past him toward a stream and sits on a flat rock.
She hears footsteps approaching her location, sensing it was Leon.
He commented, "Your form is sloppy, if you're going to use Juyo or Vaapad effectively, you're going to need more work. Also your defensive motions sucks."
With her back to him Alexandra, "I don't have time for your antics, Leon. I'm still new to the seven forms of lightsaber combat, I also know Form VII is the most dangerous. Especially Vaapad. From Mace Windu's recording of Vaapad in the Great Holocron I learned the user must enjoy the thrill of battle and relish in the feeling of victory, turning them into one half of a superconducting loop with the other half being his or her opponent. The user would feed off the fury of the opponent, fueling themselves with it. It's only limited to how long the opponent held out. The downside to using Vaapad is it pushes the wielder through the penumbra of the dark side. This requires great mental strength to keep the dark side from corrupting the user. You don't become a skilled duelist overnight. It takes practice and battles to hone your skills. I'm in that same boat."
Leon said firmly, "You're frustrated. You want to progress faster than at let's say less than desirable rate you are currently. I know that feeling, Alex. I was in the same boat as you when I was a padawan." He placed a hand on Alexandra's shoulder, "With my knowledge of lightsaber combat I can help you get there." He feels the young Sith grab his wrist and turns her head to see a look of intense skepticism in her blue eyes, a look that unnerved Leon a little bit.
Alexandra replied, "Why should I trust you? It's obvious you don't trust me or my masters because we're Sith. The galaxy sees the Sith as evil, deceptive beings that wish to rule by any means. My masters and I want to change that. We want to prove strength can be improve one's self and civilization as a whole and that passivity only leads to stagnation. The Jedi Order is proof of that. I'm beginning to doubt what Ahsoka told me about the Jedi being guardians of peace and justice. If they were, why didn't they seek out the dark side destroying it before it returned? They felt the Sith were truly extinct. Never seeing the change the Sith underwent. This proved the Jedi Order grew complacent. What did that lead to? The Jedi Order rendered pretty much extinct." She removes the hand from her shoulder and walks over to the Forgotten Star.
Leon watches the 19-year old. He genuinely wants to help Alexandra reach her full potential. He knows the fourth line of the Sith Code "Through victory, my chains are broken" meant the individuals freed themselves of restrictions and he had a feeling what held the young Sith back.
Leliana joined him, "What are you planning, Leon?" The ex-Jedi doesn't answer, instead he follows Alexandra into the Forgotten Star.
In her room, Alexandra sits on her bed holding her head. Lifting it, tears run down her cheeks.
She sobbed, "What have I done to deserve this? Why did my parents have to be gunned down? Simply because they saw through the Empire's deception? Mom, Dad, I need your advice. What should I do? I want to be strong enough to make sure no one else shared your fate."
Leon walked over to Alexandra's room he could use the Force to open it but instead leaned against the wall and with the Force linked his thoughts to hers, "You're upset." He didn't wait for her to respond, "I can understand that. You feel weak, frustrated, useless and most of all angry. You want to lash out at anything, anyone just to give you a few seconds away from the pain. I know what it's like. But getting stronger isn't going to make that pain stop. I can help you. I've faced Mace Windu's Vaapad and defeated it if you want to get stronger, learning to use it won't be enough. I can teach you through my own experience. I can help you."
Alexandra replied, "Forgive me if I find that sounds too good to be true."
The young man reached out with the Force to place his hand on her shoulder again, "I know better than anyone else here what it's like and I can definitely know what it's like to want the pain to stop. I can show you the true ways of battle if you'll let me."
Alexandra told him, "Why? So I can be a carbon copy of you, Mr. Ladies Man? Who is so hellbent on revenge he ignores the help of the friends he has left? You despise us Sith, Leon. You think the Sith Order can't change! I wasn't taken to the Jedi Temple at a young age, I wasn't trained by some of the greatest lightsaber masters of the era like you were. You weren't born to a crystal tycoon like I was. You know nothing of me!"
Leon grinned to himself, "That's where you're wrong. True, I don't know you as well as Leliana or your...I hesitate to say Masters but I do know what you're going through and what it's doing to you. If you don't want my help, that's fine. Continue struggling to reach that next level only to obtain a shaky hold on it. I'll admit everything you said about me is true. I'm a flirt, I was trained by some of the best and I am and will get my revenge one day and yes I even ignore the you all give me but I do it for the reasons I feel are the right ones. You don't have to believe me, I would even understand if you don't like me. Heh, after all I'm not the easiest to get along with but just because I ignore the help you offer me doesn't mean I don't want it or need it. It's because I've been on the edge. I've seen what awaits at the end of this path I'm on once already, the path we were both forced to take when our lives all but ended. I've seen that abyss and it took everything I had to turn away from it. I don't want to see that happen to you."
Alexandra wondered, "You? Seen the abyss and turned away from it?"
Leon fell silent for a moment remembering he and Ahsoka crash landing on Korriban and everything that happened to him afterward, "Like I said I don't know you as well as the others but I want a chance to and I also want the chance to help you, You have a potential in you that I lack, Alex and I can help you reach a level I never could." He hears footsteps approaching the bedroom door, he cuts the mental link as the door slides open showing a calmer Alexandra.
She said, "Should I accept your offer there is one condition I have."
Leon queried, "What is it?"
Alexandra told him, "Please get along with my Masters. They and myself are Sith, yes but we chose to follow a different code from the one everybody's familiar with. As I stated earlier, we want to change the way the galaxy perceives us."
Leon said, "I don't know..."
The Sith apprentice's eyes bore holes into him, "Leon."
He held up his hands, "Alright, let's assume they aren't plotting anything."
Alexandra cut him off, "They're not!"
Leon continued, "Again, assume they're not plotting to attempt to kill me or join the Emperor or take over after I've killed him or any other kind of scheme a Sith would come up with...If that's the case, then I'll try."
Alexandra shook her head, "No try. If you don't accept the condition, there's no deal." She notices the ex-Jedi make an expression like he swallowed something sour, the thought of being friendly to a Sith leaving an abhorrent taste in his mouth.
He relaxed it a moment later, "I'm still going to use every available opportunity to mock them." A plotting grin formed on his face afterward, "Then I have a condition of my own."
Alexandra expected it, "And that would be?"
Leon said, "That I teach you how to cook or dance."
The Sith rolled her eyes, "Fine."
Leon extended his hand, "Then we have a deal." Alexandra shakes it, solidifying the deal unaware what kind of ordeal she's about to endure.
He continued, "Meet me in the cargo bay when you are ready." Alexandra stares at his retreating form, wondering if she made the right choice.
Leon returns to the cargo bay which serves as his room, among his personal artifacts are the lightsabers he collected from his fallen allies including Luminara's, Kit Fisto's, Mace Windu's and even Thalia's which contains the Solari crystal that he can no longer activate. It requires the user to have a strong connection to the light side of the Force and peaceful intentions. If it detected malicious intent the hilt of the lightsaber in which the crystal resides would burn the user's hand causing him or her to drop the weapon.
Along with the lightsabers is a holo device, a recording of his first training session under Luminara Unduli. He watches the recording allowing memories of his past to flood his mind for better or worse.
A few minutes pass when Leon senses Alexandra coming and stands up.
'You've come at last.' He thought as he turned around.
Alexandra narrowed her eyes, "If you're doing this to embarrass me I'm ending the deal. Got it?"
Leon stared at her, "You'll embarrass yourself. At first anyway. I should warn you though, I will not pull any punches I will not hold back. If you're going to learn from me you'd better be able to deal with endless exhaustion, physical pain unlike anything you've faced before and there will be no breaks. If you collapse I will keep attacking. Let's take this outside." Alexandra follows him, Leliana and the other three Sith do the same.
Leon stands a few feet away from Alexandra.
He said, "Tell me something, Alexandra. Are you willing to do whatever it takes to make the pain you're feeling stop? The only way to do that is to make yourself stop caring, of course I already know your answer to it. You're more like me than you want to admit or believe. You'll never be able to let go of their memory how much they meant to you and that drives you and the pain eating at you. Use that as motivation just as I did, let it enhance. Do not worry about the dark side instead be aware of it. Do not fear it."
Alexandra told him, "Don't bring my parents into this, Leon."
The ex-Jedi looked at the sky, "I told you I've come close enough to the dark side to stare into its eyes." He noticed her still skeptical look and nodded, "Literally. I have stared the physical embodiment of the dark side in his face. Anyway most would consider the point of no return and yet I was able to turn back. Do you know why? It's because I had an anchor." He turned his back moving several paces from her, "Through everything that's happened to me, after the many times I've come close to never turning back, one thing kept me free. Ahsoka, the one person I have left. Because of her I will fall and I will never lose." He looked back to her, "Because of her I cannot be stopped." Alexandra's instincts tell her to defend herself as Leon reaches out with the Force, breaking the grip.
On the sideline, Leliana notices Kenta, Yuna or Alec struggling not to intervene.
Leon continued, "It is that desire to protect what I have left that has kept me going this far, not just revenge. Because of everything I have lost I fought much harder to protect what I have left. I refuse to be defeated." He closed his eyes taking a breath then his eyes snapped open drawing his lightsabers, "Now ask yourself this, Alexandra. What is it that drives you? Not what but who are you fighting for? The one person you cannot live without, surround yourself in pain and use that strike at me all the while keeping the picture of your most important person in mind, tie yourself to that person and you will always have a way. There is no going back now, not from me. I hope you're ready, Alexandra because from this point forward I will not allow you to rest for the next twelve hours."
Alexandra drew her silver lightsaber, "I'm not like you nor will I ever be. What drives me or who I fight for is none of your business. You tell me to stop caring? Why? I'd have the personality of a droid." For the next 12 hours, the young Sith finds herself in torture, mentally and physically.
Leon was ruthless in his attacks, forcing her to rely on the combat training she received beforehand just to defend herself.
At one point they enter a saber lock. That's when Leon notices something. Alexandra was having an internal conflict like she was becoming something she doesn't want to. Leon breaks the lock with a Force imbued kick that rockets Alexandra across the ground. For a moment the ex-Jedi believes he kicked a little too hard but that's put to rest when he sees her get back up.
Alexandra commented, "Your fighting style is...unorthodox.
Leon lectured, "You are holding yourself back. Come on, if this was Vader standing before you he wouldn't allow you a breather. He would press the assault hammering you into submission." Alexandra walks forward until she was withing range.
She countered, "Don't lecture me about what I do!" She launches a 45 degree angle strike that Leon blocks with his primary but Alexandra follows that up with the Vornskr's Ferocity, Leon was taken back slightly from the aggression. He quickly recovers and dodges a strike meant for his head back flipping onto the branch of a nearby tree. Alexandra stays where she is, knowing Leon wants her to chase him. From his position can see the panting Sith staring at him though he can't tell if it was out of amazement or frustration. He can also tell she was drawing on her final reserves.
He asked her, "What's wrong? Are you doubting yourself?"
Alexandra answered, "No, I'm not."
Leon told her, "If you doubt yourself you will never progress."
The young Sith replied, "I told you I'm not having self-doubt. Stay out of my mind!" She throws her blade at the tree cutting it at mid-point, of course Leon jumps in time as Alexandra calls her lightsaber back. Leon stands and readies his dual blades for the next assault but Alexandra shuts off her blade and turns around having enough of this torture for one day.
Sensing danger she spins activating her lightsaber once more to block a leaping strike from Leon, the force of impact quickly dropping her to one knee.
Straining under his strength she yelled, "What the hell are you doing?"
Leon answered, "I didn't say we were done." The young Sith tried to hold her guard, tried to fight back, but the former Jedi was too strong and she was too tired.
Feeling her guard break under his pressure Alexandra yelled, "Enough!" A disappointed sigh escapes Leon as he relents switching off his lightsabers before turning away and muttering to himself.
Walking over to the stream, the Sith pulls off her gloves, splashing water onto her face. She next buries her face in one hand as a breeze gently blows her black hair to one side.
Leon checked his watch muttering to himself, "Almost thirteen hours...hmm."
Leliana walked up to him, "You were too hard on her."
Leon admitted, "It's possible. But at a time like this, that's what she needs. She'll deny it to me but she's riddled with self-doubt and fear. Which is understandable I can relate, hell I wrote the book on it." He checked his watch again, "Honestly I wasn't expecting her to make it past five hours. She's got more stamina than I expected, a bit stronger than I had predicted."
Leliana told him, "Alex is going through a hard time, Leon."
He patted Leliana on the shoulder, "I'm gonna head into town and get some food to make dinner. I'll see you both later on." He took one final glance at Alexandra, "She did really good she just needs to stop being afraid. I think she might even be stronger than me. Heh, if such a thing exists."
Leliana answered, "Keep your words short and sweet, you might eat them. I don't have the Force but I can tell Alex has immense potential in her. Kenta, Yuna and Alec see it as well. They believe she has what it takes to become one of the most powerful Force wielders in the galaxy, if not the most. I know you are doing this for the right reasons but sometimes it's too much for her. She had a traumatizing incident when she was a kid. We all have our ways of coping with bad things, Leon. What she experienced still haunts her. I'm the only person Alex told."
Leon turned to her, "And if sympathy and kind words fixed such things I wouldn't be using my valuable time training her. We all have our traumas, Liliana you know that as much as I do but if she really wants the future she claims to want she's going to have stop letting fear get in her way. I know it's not easy to do but it's what's necessary." That night, the crew on the Forgotten Star enjoy another fabulous meal Leon cooked for them but Alexandra was quiet through the small chatter.
Her Sith Masters can feel it.
Alexandra stood up, "The meal was great, Leon. I'm going to my room for a while."
Leon waited until she's gone before standing up as well, "I'm heading back out, don't wait for me. If I'm not back by curfew just assume I happened upon some Imperials or found a beautiful woman to escort back to her place, either way go ahead and lock up." He leaves the ship and heads back into the town the sun long since replaced by the twin moons. Leon weighs his options on how to deal with Alexandra, she has potential, she stronger than him thanks to her superior affinity with the Force but he wants to help her reach that potential. Knowing that if he fails someone will able to finish what he started.
He chuckled to himself, "If I fail. As if such a thing was possible." The next day finds Alexandra engaging in more brutal training. She remains stationary, locating Leon with her senses.
She suddenly draws her lightsaber to block a strike from Leon's main lightsaber then jumps back to avoid the red shoto before retaliating with a charged Force push that sends Leon crashing through trees as Alexandra comes at him fighting with the Tempered Aggression, allowing her greater control of Vaapad. However, instead of using the Form VII variant she was adding it to her Djem So attacks.
Leon recovers from the assault but then dodges a tree rapidly approaching him and another, this one moving faster than the one before it. With this distraction Alexandra closes the distance locking blades with Leon. He can tell she has a better state of mind this time around, obviously learning from her previous mistakes. Alexandra rips the red shoto out of his off-hand using the Disarming Slash.
He commented, "You're learning." Alexandra didn't respond as he added, "Your Djem So is solid, expertly timed and executed. You also got the footwork and momentum of Vaapad almost down to a T. You're good, you really are." He stops to think at how fast she was learning, picking up on her mistakes without his advice learning on her own through their duels, she really was like him a born fighter.
He holds out his hand recalling his red shoto saber and deactivating his main one.
Holding the shoto reversed he crouched, "Now let's see how you handle this!" He yells charging toward her slashing upward with the reversed blade.
Alexandra blocks at the last second but the strength of the attack crashes through her guard and continues upward as Alexandra stumbles back Leon's swing reaches its peak and he flips the lightsaber around in his hand now holding it upright and brings it back down this time at an angle. Alexandra still in mid stumble raises her blade and blocks again but the attack once again breaks her guard and forces her back even more. As the downward strike reaches its end Leon charges with a shoulder jab knocking Alexandra back yet again before angling his shoto saber straight ahead and thrusting with it.
Yuna clenches her fist and takes a step to intervene when Alec places a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head in no. He's silently telling her not to interfere. Heeding the fellow Sith's advice, Yuna stays put.
Noticing the attack was aimed at her chest Alexandra hold her saber parallel with her body and stops the stabbing attack before pushing the blade outward. She finally sees a chance to counter and swings her saber in a horizontal slash but in that instant Leon recalls his silver saber to his hand igniting it and blocking her attack all at once.
He had the strength advantage over her but Alexandra knows she had flexibility.
She spins around dropping to one knee while sweeping out with her figuring Leon would jump it or step back to avoid it, while sweeping she holds out her lightsaber at an upward angle ready to slash at him the moment he jumps. The second he steps back Alexandra releases her lightsaber using the Force to send it flying into her other hand as she springs up and grabs Leon with the Force to pull him toward her and she attacks with a thrust which Leon blocks at the last second. He can feel the heat from the saber at that instant, it came close to his shoulder probably an inch away from grazing him. She was getting better and closer.
He told switching off his lightsabers, "That will be enough for today. You go rest." Alexandra shuts off her own taking Leon's praise to heart.
Of course she's getting closer to being a better duelist but she knows full well she's ways off from rivaling master swordsmen such as Darth Vader. Their first encounter proved the Dark Lord had more experience under his belt even with the suit.
Leon watches her leave, his hand instinctively going to the shoulder that came close to being grazed. The last time that happened was during his earlier days with the Jedi Order.
He said more to himself, "Heh, never thought she'd improve this quick. May not be long before she puts up a challenge."
Leliana joined him, "Like I said. Keep your words short and sweet. Don't underestimate Alex, Leon. She has a drive I have never seen." They suddenly hear lightsabers clashing and run to the source.
Arriving at the place they witness Alexandra dueling with another Emperor's Hand. Alexandra cuts both of the enemy's hands off and suspends the Hand in the air with the Force.
The Hand's hood falls back to reveal a young female red-skinned Twi'lek.
Alexandra asked, "How did you find us?"
The Twi'lek said, "I'd never tell you." She next gets blasted with Force lightning, pain courses through the Twi'lek's body.
Alexandra asked again, "How did you find us, Hand? Unless you want to be hit with Force lightning again I suggest you tell me. Or I can just rip the answer out of your skull."
The enemy stated, "The Emperor's spy network is vast, child. He has eyes and ears everywhere. No star system is safe from the Emperor. There is a large bounty on your heads."
Alexandra warned, "Last chance. Who tipped you off?" She got no reply so the young Sith apprentice nodded, "Very well." Using the Force Alexandra probes the Twi'lek's mind for information, hearing Leon's voice in her own head, guiding her.
He told her, "Do you feel her struggling against you? Don't try to force your way through, not yet. Analyze her mindset first, determine what she's feeling, is it anger or fear? There is a way to break through anyone's mind even if it is shielded. She isn't afraid of you, instead she's angry, don't provoke her, instead subtly through the Force show that you're superior. Brutal and relentless but not without precision. Now, pierce through her barrier." The Emperor's Hand struggles to push her out but Alexandra's stronger connection to the Force stops that. Once she has what she's looking for Alexandra pulls out of the Hand's mind.
She said, "So you were tasked with bringing me to Darth Vader. For what reason?"
The Emperor's Hand grinned evilly, "What don't you ask him yourself should you cross paths with him again." Alexandra's eyes narrow then throws her lightsaber at the Twi'lek cutting the alien into pieces. Calling her lightsaber back, Alexandra lets the pieces of the dead Twi'lek fall to the ground.
Leon whined, "Aww, should have asked for her name. You also should have kept her alive so I can take out to dinner."
Alexandra said, "Not having a repeat of Nar Shaddaa. Yuna told me what you did, Leon."
The ex-Jedi told her, "The base was about to blow. It was best we left unless Yuna was interested in getting us barbecued."
Alexandra crossed her arms looking at the ground in thought, "So Darth Vader has taken an interest in me. What could he want?"
Kenta said like it the most simple thing in the galaxy, "He wants to convert you to the dark side, Alexandra. Turn you into his personal assassin or a Jedi killer. Vader seems obsessed with eliminating the Jedi who survived."
Leon clapped his hands to get their attention, "What a fun day. Alright let's go into town. Need to restock the kitchen, we go through the food like crazy." He saw the group giving him a blank look, "What?"
Yuna said, "Leon, shut up."
Leon tilted his head, "Are you still upset over what I did on Nar Shaddaa?"
The red-haired Sith Warrior told him, "You are so infuriating sometimes."
Leon shrugged, "So?"
Yuna clenched her fists when Alec placed on a hand on her shoulder to calm the redhead, "Let it go, Yuna. Arguing with Leon won't do you any favors." Yuna spins on the heel of her boot and walks up the ramp of the Forgotten Star.
Leon asked, "What about the body? Shouldn't we get rid of it?"
Alec said, "The local wildlife will eat it."
Leon hummed, "Actually on second thought I don't really care." The others board the ship and Leliana steers it off the planet setting course for one of the other planets.
A/N: Chapter 14 done after a nice 5 day vacation in Orlando, Florida. Haven't been there since the year 2000. I quite enjoyed it.
Anyway, Leon offered Alexandra help with improving her dueling skills which she accepted although she wasn't prepared for the relentless assaults Leon threw at her.
She also had a moment of questioning why her life took such a drastic turn.
Lastly after probing the mind of an Emperor's Hand that somehow followed them without the group noticing, Alexandra discovered Darth Vader has taken an interest in her. She executed the Hand shortly after much to Leon's disappointment.
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Stay tuned for chapter 15.
Vader 23A