In Space- Conclusions

[Taruna]

"Slow is exactly the opposite way you need to learn this. Lightsaber duels are not about pure strength, at least not always but mostly about quickness and reflexes. You need to learn to let the Force take control of your body to act before you think about what you are going to do. The traditional fighting stances are not just a fancy thing to show off, but a way to build muscle memory to draw upon to counter, deflect or evade enemy attacks."

Igniting her own Lightsaber, Taruna then took the starting Suresu stance "Do not try to make your defense nice, just concentrate in not being hit, okay?"

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Slow is exactly the opposite way you need to learn this. Lightsaber duels are not about pure strength, at least not always but mostly about quickness and reflexes. You need to learn to let the Force take control of your body to act before you think about what you are going to do. The traditional fighting stances are not just a fancy thing to show off, but a way to build muscle memory to draw upon to counter, deflect or evade enemy attacks...Do not try to make your defense nice, just concentrate in not being hit, okay?"

Aeryun let out a worried sigh and turned her right shoulder to her opponent. She really didn't know what Taruna was talking about, 'letting the Force control your movements.' In actuality, Aeryun did this all the time without realizing it. She used the Force to guide her actions when walking, she used it back when she was reunited with Anothoni back in the cafe, and she used it when building her saber. She used it to talk to people and feel their moods. Aeryun was well versed in using the Force, she just didn't realize she was doing it.

"Let's just get this over with," she said not so courageously.

 

[Taruna]

Taruna nodded. It was important that Aeryun knew what to work towards. Hiding it from her would make her only discouraged even more.

So she begun with a easy swing from the right, a swing from the top and then followed a swing from the left. All of them not really fast, but with the intention to hit her. This should trigger her sense of danger and help her react. Then, she raised the speed. At first a little, so Aeryun could sense the easy pattern and then started to rev up the speed by pouring the Force through her muscles, making her own blade blur. She stopped when she counted twelve hits, which were all not really hard or dangerous, but feelable.

 

[EmilyHuene]

As Taruna moved, Aeryun would sense her react. She couldn't tell where she was aiming, so Aeryun's technique was sloppy. She brought the saber up over her head and blocked it parallel to her front, like the Sorusu stance Taruna showed her. The blades collided for a moment and they hissed at one another. Aeryun jumped a little from the sound and impact. To her, it felt like luck that she had blocked it, but it was indeed more. The second attack would then come at her from above. She titled her frame and brought the saber horizontally to block the saber. Again, it was sluggish and not all backed up by power, but it did the trick. She then felt the saber coming from her other side and would turn the rest of the way to block it on Taruna's left.

They then sped up a little and Aeryun jumped as Taruna came at her from her right side once more. Aeryun spun to her left and blocked the saber by holding it behind her head like her first pose, only now it was reversed. She would continue to spin in a clockwise motion as she needed to block the attacks. Somehow, Aeryun was at least moving in the right directions as the sabers came at her. But as Taruna started to really pick up the pace, Aeryun forgot to let herself go and tried to predict where the saber would go. On the 10th hit, Taruna would hit Aeryun in the arm and she'd give a quick shriek. She accidentally dropped her saber and threw her arms up. The saber landed harmlessly on the ground, thankfully not breaking from the impact.

"Ow!" she cried out.

 

[Taruna]

"That was impressive," Taruna told her, in all honesty and moved in to check Aeryun's hand. More than a slight burn should not be there, but Taruna could not tell if Noorians were different in that matter "You did really well, and with some more training you really get better. But the style you used it unknown to me, and had I altered it just a tad, you would have had more than just ten hits on you" she smiled, not seeing any injuries that would need medical attention "Let me teach you the traditional suresu form first, we can add in some of your own style, so you can train on a base I actually can teach you. And I will not again do that, I just wanted you to see that a Lightsaber is as well a offense as a defense instrument."

 

[EmilyHuene]

"That was impressive,"

Aeryun would stick her tongue out at her friend and she held her hand softly. She wanted to rub it and make the pain go away, but the skin was sore from the heat and she groaned when Taruna tried to look at it.

"Don't touch it!" she would whine. But she let her friend check it like a mother would do for her kids. She stood there impatiently. Then she remembered she lost her saber and used the Force to bring it slowly up to her hand. She scolded herself for dropping it...again.

As she checked Aeryun's hand, Taruna would say, "You did really well, and with some more training you really get better. But the style you used it unknown to me, and had I altered it just a tad, you would have had more than just ten hits on you"

Aeryun would again stick her tongue out and pull her hand back once Taruna was done with it. It still ached and it irritated her.

"Let me teach you the traditional suresu form first, we can add in some of your own style, so you can train on a base I actually can teach you. And I will not again do that, I just wanted you to see that a Lightsaber is as well a offense as a defense instrument."

"Alright," Aeryun would yield. She ignited her beam and stood the way she was first taught. It didn't feel right to her, but she'd push through it. Taruna knew what she was doing and she should listen to her if she wanted to learn.

 

[Taruna]

Taruna was slightly pleased that Aeryun decided to keep up the training.

"Okay. You actually handled your defense really impressive, now show me your offense" she ignited her saber "Come at me and keep in mind how far your lightsaber reaches."

Taruna would remain close out of Aeryun's range, blocking or deflecting her hits if applicable, evade when Aeryun was too far away and poking Aeryun with her own blue saber when she was too close.

"Keep in mind this is only the basics we're covering. You do not need to impress me. You'll impress me if you learn to judge your own range better then when we started. Such things need years of training, but you got a advantage. Your Force sense. Rely on them."

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Okay. You actually handled your defense really impressive, now show me your offense...Come at me and keep in mind how far your lightsaber reaches."

"Alright," she would offer. "Just don't get mad at me if I hit you a few times." She tried to tease and seem tough, but it would just come off as adorably cute.

She would then charge at Taruna and began to swing it back and forth much like Taruna and done it with her. It felt so strange, holding this hilt with no blade, yet at the same time with a blade, and trying to hit someone she couldn't really see. Defending was easier, it gave her a reason to move and dodge. But now she found it much more difficult to let the Force fuel her actions. She felt like she was just waving a stick about in the air.

"Keep in mind this is only the basics we're covering. You do not need to impress me. You'll impress me if you learn to judge your own range better then when we started. Such things need years of training, but you got a advantage. Your Force sense. Rely on them."

She would stop for a minute and catch her breath. Focus. Use the Force. She still didn't really know what that meant, but she would try. She went right back into the fire and continued to try and get at least one hit on her friend.

 

[Taruna]

Taruna continued to stay defensive, but decided to make it a little bit easier for Aeryun, speaking up "The force is nothing you can enforce to guide you. It already does, and you need to find a way to listen. Some imagine it as a slight whisper in their heads, some as a predetermined flow of all things they just follow like a river, and some imagine a trusted friend or loved one's friends Ghost guiding them. Find your focus, it's the same thing that prevents you from walking into walls and helped you in blocking my attacks.

 

[EmilyHuene]

"The force is nothing you can enforce to guide you. It already does, and you need to find a way to listen. Some imagine it as a slight whisper in their heads, some as a predetermined flow of all things they just follow like a river, and some imagine a trusted friend or loved one's friends Ghost guiding them. Find your focus, it's the same thing that prevents you from walking into walls and helped you in blocking my attacks.

As Taruna began to talk Aeryun would slow her offensive and back off for a minute to catch her breath. She listened to her words and what they meant. She imagined running around, seeing the things she hand't normally seen. How did they happen? It was the Force, obviously, but how and why they occurred still alluded her. She then pictured a animated ghost controlling her like a puppet and the thought gave shivers down her back. Shaking off the dreadful imagination she brought her mind back to the task at hand.

"Alright. Use the Force. Let it guide me. Let it control me."

She would assume the position of the ready stance and then once more went after Taruna. She wasn't sure where she was swinging or what she was doing, but her movements seemed less sporadic. Aeryun began to tilt and spin as she struck at Taruna, dancing across the floor. It was less of a forward approach and move of a circular one. She kept trying to get Taruna to stumble as they moved in a counter-clockwise rotation.

 

[Taruna]

This was better, but slightly. Taruna stopped to talk and decided to spice Aeryuns efforts with some attacks. This would give her a few spikes to go for a minute, then Aeryun surprised her with a quick counter to a fainted attack, hitting Taruna at the shoulder. Satisfied, she disengaged her Lightsaber "That's enough for now," she spoke and took a great step back, just in case Aeryun would hit at her again "There's just one thing I need to correct before I end this first lesson"

She smiled "You did well. But never attempt to let the force control you. It's guiding you so far, helping you and nudging you into the correct direction. But if you ever think your own will is not needed, you will find yourself derailing, like a rocket without guidance system. You already relied on the guidance to navigate yourself, all you need to do is to extend this to your fighting and Lightsaber. I think next thing I teach you is to correctly judge the length of your lightsaber"

She nodded to herself "You will start with some initial successes. But do not think that stays that way. It may need weeks until you feel you improved, but by then you will also see that you improved a lot more than you expected"

 

[EmilyHuene]

"That's enough for now...There's just one thing I need to correct before I end this first lesson"

Aeryun smiled and put her saber down, letting the beam sizzle away. She put her hands on her knees and tried to catch her breath. She was happy that she had hit Taruna, but felt bad because she knew what that pain felt like. Her hand still tingled.

"Are you ok?" she would ask before standing up and moving over to join her.

"You did well. But never attempt to let the force control you. It's guiding you so far, helping you and nudging you into the correct direction. But if you ever think your own will is not needed, you will find yourself derailing, like a rocket without guidance system. You already relied on the guidance to navigate yourself, all you need to do is to extend this to your fighting and Lightsaber. I think next thing I teach you is to correctly judge the length of your lightsaber"

Aeryun thought about what Taruna was saying. How could the Force control her? Wasn't she in charge of her own body and will? It was one thing to ask for guidance, but to let it take over completely...that just seemed unlikely.

"You will start with some initial successes. But do not think that stays that way. It may need weeks until you feel you improved, but by then you will also see that you improved a lot more than you expected"

"Weeks?!" She would exclaim. "We don't have weeks."

Aeryun would grumble hearing she couldn't learn something quickly as she had before. Every time the two have worked on something Aeryun always got the hang of it eventually. Now she was telling her that it would take a month or so to learn this?

 

[Taruna]

Taruna had to laugh on this notion and hugged Aeryun lightly "Aww, come on. You are young, and you're doing pretty well" her eyes wandered into the past and her face went a little sad "I spent months before I had my first hit on Jusan.. my former Master. But she was Echani, and thus faster and stronger than me"

Then, to change the topic she let got of Aeryun and asked "What was the second verse of the Jedi code again?"

Being able to fight was one thing neccessary to protect peace and balance, but without the right mindset, Jedi would be only brute mercenaries.

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Aww, come on. You are young, and you're doing pretty well...I spent months before I had my first hit on Jusan.. my former Master. But she was Echani, and thus faster and stronger than me"

Aeryun would be happy that she managed to get one hit at least, so she was happy for the day. "I wished I could have met her," she would say. But she could tell it was a sore subject because Taruna then changed the subject on her.

"What was the second verse of the Jedi code again?"

Aeryun had to think about the answer for a second in her head, "Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy
Jedi use the Force only for the pursuit of knowledge, to defend, and to protect." She counted on her fingers as she went through the first two lines. Then out loud she said, "Jedi use the Force only for the pursuit of knowledge, to defend, and to protect."

 

[Taruna]

"Very good" Taruna praised, moving to one of the pillows at the far left corner "And now, after we trained your body, there's training for the mind. How good is your meditation?"

Taruna took two of the pillows who appeared comfy enough to handle a longer time of sitting "Jedi use meditation for training. It helps concentrate, find inner rest, let the force guide them to solutions to bigger problems and most important.. rest." she placed the pillows and led Aeryun to one of them "Sit down how you are most comfortable, I will show you a technique that allows you to have the refreshing effect of eight hours of deep sleep in just three.. if you master it, of course"

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Very good...And now, after we trained your body, there's training for the mind. How good is your meditation?"

Aeryun stood back up and cracked her back several times now that they were relaxing. "Oh I can sleep anywhere," she would say, not understanding the question.

"Jedi use meditation for training. It helps concentrate, find inner rest, let the force guide them to solutions to bigger problems and most important.. rest."

As Taruna said this she stopped stretching and would blurt out, "You mean I have to train in my sleep?!" Taruna would then guide her to the pillow and she whined a little.

"Sit down how you are most comfortable, I will show you a technique that allows you to have the refreshing effect of eight hours of deep sleep in just three.. if you master it, of course"

Aeryun would sit down at first on her knees, but shifted then to a cross-legged position. She gently set her saber down next to her. She then continued to adjust herself by squirming in her spot. "So this is going to be like a trance or something?"

 

[Taruna]

"Yes," Taruna agreed "A trance is the closest thing to it. You remain partially conscious gently nudge your thoughts towards the right direction to process the input of the day in a faster manner then you would do during sleep. You will see that the rest for body and mind will need far less time than usual."

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Yes...A trance is the closest thing to it. You remain partially conscious gently nudge your thoughts towards the right direction to process the input of the day in a faster manner then you would do during sleep. You will see that the rest for body and mind will need far less time than usual."

"I don't really understand," Aeryun would say as she tried to calm her mind. She closed her eyes and relaxed her body, but her mind was far too active right now to try and sleep. Plus, she was kind of tired and just wanted to lie down on the pillow and crash. She was done with training and didn't want to think anymore.

 

[Taruna]

"Do not worry.. it's quite simple. Do you have a place you always loved? Where you felt strangely at peace? Or can you imagine one?"

Teaching to meditate was difficult, since Taruna herself almost every time lost her focus when she was near or at her point of harmony, resulting in her sleeping, not meditating. That was annoying as well as the fact that everyone had to find his own path to the said inner point of harmony. The task here was to find out what one was hers.

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Do not worry.. it's quite simple. Do you have a place you always loved? Where you felt strangely at peace? Or can you imagine one?"

Aeryun thought about it for a moment. She then smiled and began to describe the perfect place to Taruna. "Back when I was young, I was so little. There was this place back home, on Noori. I used to go with my mother when she was free from work. She'd take me into the woods along one of the creeks. We'd sit on the riverbed for hours just listening to the water. Sometimes we'd catch bugs. It was always so peaceful there...."