Jameth Gyrus' Bogan Training

[D.C.]

Ando Prime, the coldest and maybe the darkest world in the universe. Home to the Dark Jedi and home to the Crusader - who was on his way to masterhood - Koran Mak. He was a big Kiffar, almost 2 metres in height and he was very strong. His looks could be intimidating to some and it was remarkable how good Koran was at stealth, despite his size, but then again, aided by the Force anything was possible.

He was clad in an all black cloak and his face was hidden under his black hood. He stood in the shadows in the corner of the main hall and he searched for a young human, Jameth Gyrus. Koran was eager to find out if Jameth would be able to survive the dark teachings of the Bogan, for things would get dangerous indeed. This wasn't the Jedi Order, where they cared about their fellow Force Users, but this was the Bogan's Order. If one would survive, they had proven themselves and they were worthy. If they weren't worthy, they would die.

 

[Garuga]

Jameth tentatively entered the halls of the Bogan temple. He had been instructed to wait for 3 days outside while being forbidden to return to his ship. He was cold and hungry, but he had experienced worse. He was wearing his light, black sheened armour, but he had left his helmet on his ship. He wore a black cloak over it, but left his head uncovered.

Looking around, Jameth found the halls to be starkingly empty. He stood around, waiting for someone to show himself. He wasn't nervous yet, having expected the Bogan to be darker than everyone else in the galaxy. He does not bother looking around, understanding that 'they', whoever they were, will show themselves to him at their own pace.

Jameth was of average height and a slim build, his face cold but not unpleasant. He was the type who you would see and forget immediately.

 

[D.C.]

"Acolyte!" A strong voice suddenly echoed throughout the empty hall. It was as if the voice came from everywhere and it would be hard to spot Koran in his dark corner. "You have entered the Darkness! We'll see if you're worthy!"

Suddenly a hiss could be heard and in the corner a red energy blade ignited. A moment later a rather big fellow, almost two meter in height, leapt out of the shadows. His robe fluttered as he was in mid-air and he held his saber over his head, ready to strike. This was probably unexpected and Jameth Gyrus had to be quick to dodge or block.

Koran would land with an overhand powerblow, intending to cut the acolyte down violently.

"Defend yourself!" His voice echoed seconds before he landed his strike. If Jameth would have been unable to dodge or block, he would die. The acolyte would have to prove himself to the Kiffar to show he was worthy. This duel Koran had just started would also give Koran an impression of the skills Jameth had so Koran would know what they would have to work on during the sparring matches to come.

It might have been a rude introduction to the Bogan, but this was what Jameth was getting himself into. This was the Dark Side.

 

[Garuga]

Jameths' crimson eyes widened as the voice called out to him. A moment later, the huge figure had leapt from the shadows brandishing a red lightsaber, his intentions perfectly clear. Most likely if it had been any other, they would have been cut down there and then. Jameth whipped out his curved lightsaber, igniting it not a moment too late.

The blue blade had barely fully emerged before being thrust against the red blade. Jameth tried to push back, but the assailant's superior strength along with gravity and the element of surprise forced Jameth back immediately. Barely maintaining his grip on the lightsaber, Jameth stumbled on the spot. As Jameth fell, he tried to use a common street fighting tactic, he shot his right leg forward, hoping to knock the dominating figure's legs out.

Jameth decided against pulling out his knife, knowing that maintaining control over his lightsaber would help save his life better.

 

[D.C.]

With a sidestep to the left Koran managed to avoid the leg. He even took advantage of the situation to raise his saber and slash down to the leg. If he would not have deactivated his saber right before it would touch the leg, the leg would have been cut off.

Koran clipped the saber to his belt and then turned to face the young acolyte. "On you feet, soldier!" he called as he towered over Jameth. "We've got a lot to work on. Follow me." He turned around and walked towards the exit of the main hall and he would lead the acolyte through many corridors, hallways and up some stairs to their training room. Every door they passed was opened by Koran through the Force, not because he wanted to boast his skills but simply because it was a habit.

Inside the training room was a table with some chairs and a weaponsrack containing several training sabers and steel swords. The room was empty and big, so there was plenty of room to practice duels or train in Force Powers.

As they would enter the room Koran would say: "Jameth Gyrus, eh? Why have you come here?" He turned to face the acolyte and it would probably occur to the young man that Koran did not sound friendly at all. He sounded stern and his face was stern too - although that could not be seen since it was hidden under his hood.

 

[Garuga]

Jameth raised his eyebrows at the question. He thought the Bogan didn't care much for past history checks. Nevertheless, his supposed master had asked a question, and he knew he had to answer. Jameth croaked slightly, he hadn't used his voice for more than 3 days.

]"Why have I come here?" Jameth half said to himself. "I came here because I had no future anywhere else." Jameth paused, and wondered if the man would want more. Deciding that it was probably best to say more, Jameth continued on, his face cold and hard.

"I was an orphan in Taris" Jameth began, his voice never changing in pitch. "Life was harsh and my friends and I scavenged on the streets every day to survive. They were eventually all killed or captured by slavers, but someone saved my life. He was an exile Jedi, and he took me in under his care. He told me that I was sensitive in the force, though I didn't know what in the blazes it was back then."

Jameth stopped, staring at the formidable man in front of him. Jameth's eye stared inquiringly, silently asking whether to continue his story or to stop.

 

[D.C.]

"And do you know what the Force is, now?" Koran's voice sounded. It was a dark, hollow voice and it echoed throughout the training room. The haunting sound added to the already eerie atmosphere and since he was almost two meters tall he could have been intimidating to many.

With his red eyes he glanced at Jameth from under his black hood. He wondered how long the boy would last until he woukd break. Koran already thought about lessons of which failure meant death. Jameth was about to enter a deadly, maybe even terrifying time in the Dark Jedi Temple.

But that was the Dark Side of the Force. That was Koran Mak.

 

[Garuga]

"I understand what I can achieve with it, having seen what my former caretaker could do but what it truly represents is still a mystery to me" Jameth coldly replied, noting his master's haunting voice. "Besides, the Jedi turned me down, so they did not exactly tell me many things about the force. I wish to learn as much as you are willing to teach."

Jameth was telling the truth, he had seen with his own eyes what masters of the force could do, and he lusted for that power. Jameth's mind returned to the day he had arrived on the planet, a fellow hopeful had been electrocuted to death in brief moments through a crusader's demonstration of force lightning. He seeked power to achieve, and he was willing to become as diligent a student to any teacher. Jameth's crimson eyes blinked and his lips quavered, knowing that there was no going back now. He was to hurtle through the seductive realms of the dark side...

 

[D.C.]

"You understand what you can achieve with it? No, acolyte, you don't!" Koran's voice echoed. "And the Force does not represent anything, the Force IS EVERYTHING!"

He pulled down the hood that had been covering his face. His long, black dreadlocks appeared as well as the horizontal yellow tattoo across his face: the tattoo meant he belonged to Clan Mak. Or at least, he used to be a member of that Clan before he abandoned them. The most frightening aspect about him were his eyes, dark side red eyes. Koran took off his robe and tossed it onto a chair nearby the table. His mighty lightsaber, clipped to his belt, could now clearly be seen. It was larger than most hilts and meant to be hold with two hands, though Koran could use it with one hand. It was an impressive hilt. Underneath the robe he appeared to wear a sleeveless grey shirt, black pants and black boots. His muscular, bare arms were scarred.

"An exiled Jedi, you said? Hah! What does an exile know? What do Jedi know? I was with the Jedi Order and I know how ignorant they are. Afraid to see the Force for what it truly is. Afraid to embrace the more powerful aspects of such a gift!

"Now," he went on, "did you really come here because you had no where else to go? Are you really that desperate, lad? I don't accept those words as an answer. I will ask you again, why did you come here?"

 

[Garuga]

Jameth stood in silence, and watched the man in front of him reveal his true self. He had to admit, it was awfully impressive. Jameth bowed his head while he apologized, having realised that hiding the truth from his master any longer would not be a wise decision.

"I apologize, I truly do not understand the force in any aspect then." Jameth said, his tone remaining the same. "As for my true reason for coming here..." He paused for a moment, and began. "I want power. I want power so that I can find everyone who had mistreated me. I want power so that I can hunt down the scum that ruined my life. I want power so that I can cut down those Jedi who refused to train me."

Jameth was showing emotion now for the first time, his crimson eyes blazed and his tone became harsher. Nearly shouting now, he says. "I want power so that I can wipe off the rubbish that I see around the galaxy." Jameth stares at his master with a vicious grin. "I'll find that Exile and I'll show him what I have become, and he will regret not training me when he had the chance"

 

[D.C.]

"Yes," the Kiffar said, "that's better."

Koran sensed a growing anger in the acolyte. A growing darkness. Would this young one prove himself worthy of enslaving that darkness, or would he succumb and finally become a slave? Would he fall into the neverending spiral of doom and die?

"What techniques in the Force have you learned and what do you know about lightsaber combat?" Koran asked.

 

[Garuga]

Jameth nodded at his master.

"Most regretablly, nothing." Jameth replies coldly, his anger dissapated. "I know that I can nudge or move objects with the force slightly, but otherwise nothing."

Jameth held out his lightsaber. It was well crafted, and possessed a curved hilt. "I inherited this from the... exile filth, and I would very much like to learn how to use this." He answered.

Although he would be fine with this lightsaber, he also asked. "And if given the chance, I would also like to craft my own lightsaber."

Jameth felt weak, knowing that most of the acolytes here probably already had a good knowledge of the force before their formal training. Having just arrived, he was useless. Using that knowledge, Jameth used it as a mental motivation, he was willing to work harder than anyone else.

 

[D.C.]

"Nothing?" Koran asked, but there was not much emotion in his voice. "Then you are blind, deaf and alone. Sit down, acolyte, it is time for you to awaken. To truly awaken."

Koran sat, cross-legged and he motioned for his acolyte to do the same. Then he would speak - although his words were merely whispers they did sound strong: "Close your eyes. Let my whispers guide you on an incredible journey and once we return to this place, you will understand what I'm talking about. Hear me, Jameth. Only me.

"Think of this room, the stone cold walls surrounding us and the faint torchlight that lits this room with an eerie glow. Think of the Dark Jedi Temple in all its glory here on Ando Prime. But now, strip away its walls and its torches. Remove this building of darkness from your thoughts until you find yourself sitting in the endless snowfields of Ando Prime. Remove the snow, remove the soil from which a few lone trees grow and finally remove this planet from the universe. But there is no universe, for you have removed the universe too. What remains is an empty dark void and you are all alone...

"At this point you can't see anymore because there is no light in the void, you can't feel because your limbs go numb and you cannot hear. No, you do not hear me speaking, what you think is my voice is merely a whisper through the Force that enters your mind. All your senses are dead and you drift in the void, all alone...

"But if you were to focus only for the slightest bit, you would feel something. A warmth that gently touches your skin but it is so faint that you can barely feel it. So faint that you did not notice it at first. Focus upon this warmth and embrace it. Feel it. Move your limbs now, for you can feel and move again. But you are still blind and you can't hear. You are all alone in the void...

"Sssh, be silent now. Otherwise you won't be able to hear it. It is as if it comes from the other side of the galaxy, a beautiful singing so soft and so serene it must be an angel. But this is no angel, this is something much more. Listen to it, Jameth, and let the sound fill your ears. Focus upon it and finally... Finally you can hear. But still you're blind and all alone inside the void...

"Or are you really blind? Can you not see that faint glow in the distance? How is this possible, you might ask yourself. Well, it's not possible at all. Light can't exist within a black empty void, but still it is there. So faintly glowing you might have overlooked it. You can move, can you not? Move towards it, slowly but steadily and finally, after what seems like a lifetime, you have reached it. Hold onto this small, faint light and embrace it like a treasure. Then open your eyes to it and let the light blind you. But wait, it doesn't blind you at all while it should be blinding you for it suddenly starts to glow so bright. So bright it lights the entire void and as a shock goes through your body, you can finally see.

"You can see the world as you suddenly find yourself on a huge mountaintop. You can see the deserts, oceans, plains and forests surrounding you. And, you are not alone anymore. Turn around Jameth, and see your new slave standing beside you on the mountain. Watch it as it reaches its hands out to you and let it embrace you. Return that embrace and hold onto it. Now, become one with it and finally...

"Finally you have truly awakened. Finally you see things are you are meant to see them, finally you hear things as you are meant to hear them and finally you can feel the Force. Open your eyes now Jameth, and tell me how it feels."

 

[Garuga]

Jameth opened his eyes, light catching his pupils causing an image of fire dancing in them. Unblinking, Jameth felt cold flames enter his heart, chilling and burning. It was neither a comfortable nor uncomfortable feeling. Undescribably, he felt his emotions roused by the flames, catching alight. But those same emtoions were being cooled down at the same time, allowing for a meeting of fire and ice.

Jameth smiled briefly.

"Power." He stated simply. "This fire that burns me, filling me with anger. The ice that controls it, allowing me to use them when required, and not to let those emotions enslave me."

Jameth inhaled and exhaled briefly. The cold air of Ando Prime entered his lungs, and left warmed. "So this must be the force." Jameth spoke, slightly more energetic than usual. Jameth turned his attention towards a torch, it's dim flames barely capable of lighting the room. He raised an armoured hand slowly towards the torch, his fingers slightly outstretched.

He curled his fingers into a tight fist, his mind screaming and exuberant at it's new power. The torch was crushed into pieces, it's fire and life dissapearing.

 

[D.C.]

Koran rose to his feet after the torch was destroyed and he smiled an evil smile. Well, not just evil, but really wicked. The fire in his eyes seemed to light up and he beckoned for his apprentice to stand up as well.

"That is what I want to see in you," he said, "anger. Because you dared to show this anger this early on - many wouldn't dare - I reward you with giving you the choice of what we shall begin with. Is there a specific technique you want to start with? A lightsaber form? Anything, acolyte."

He crossed his arms again and his gaze was fixed upon the young Dark Sider in front of him. Jameth was off to a good start as Koran could simply feel the Dark Side swirling around this one. Koran liked that.

 

[Garuga]

Jameth nodded, mentally preparing himself. His mind flashed back to his 3 day wait. A fellow hopeful had been killed by a bored crusader through a spectacle of lightning. The crusader's joyous face had burned itself deep within Jameth's memory. Another thing that nudged him was his memory of watching the exile Jedi slaughter the members of a swoop gang, looking elegant like in a dance.

Jameth made his mind and replied evenly. "If possible, I would like to learn the technique I saw outside. I do not know it's name, but it was lightning, beautiful blue lightning bursting from her fingertips."

Jameth took out his lightsaber, looking at it's curved hilt. "After that, I would like to be taught how to use this properly. I do not know the names of the lightsaber form, but when my previous caretaker had used it, he looked graceful beyond measure."

 

[D.C.]

The big Kiffar clapped into his hands once and a few moments later the doors to the training room slid open with a sharp hiss. A skinny figure walked in, flanked by two Crusaders. The figure was brought to the center of the room and the two Crusaders left again, leaving Koran and Jameth with this pathetic slave. Koran had summoned this slave to the training room by using Force Telepathy.

Koran reached out his open hand and clenched it to a fist, forcing the slave onto his knees and snapping the slave's throat with the Force. When the slave was on the floor, he let go of his mystical iron grip and walked towards Jameth.

"This one here," Koran said, "represents the Exile. He might not look like the Exile, but imagine this slave to be him. Call upon the hatred you feel for the Exile and close your eyes. Remember the mountaintop in the void and look up to the sky. Lightning's cracking in the clouds and a storm is coming. Now pull the lightning out of the sky and keep it in your hands. Let it flow through your body and once you open your eyes, unleash it upon the Exile here. Destroy him, Jameth. Utterly destroy him!"

Fear was in the slave's eyes and he wondered what Koran was talking about. What exile? Who? He looked from Koran to Jameth and back to Koran. Then he fixed his eyes upon Jameth and he began to beg for mercy. Koran completely ignored the slave's cries and instead he took a step back. He would watch Jameth unleashing Force Lightning.

 

[Garuga]

Jameth watched the slave's pathetic attempts to beg for mercy. Mindless killing was stupidity, but this kill would be serving a great purpose. Jameths' eyes were two black stones, emotionless but calculating. He pictured in his mind the exile's face, the kind face that helped him. ALL LIES Jameth's mind screamed. He took himself to the top of the mountain, lightning building turmoil in the sky.

Jameth closed his eyes, letting the force build up within him. His mind struggled for the briefest of moments but quickly embraced the darkness around him. He pictured the lightning and the force around him. He raised his two hands, using them to mentally blend the lightning and the force he called upon. Jameth felt that he needed one last motivation. Ah yes, him leaving without a word... His lips curled to a small smile, the embodiment of vengeance.

He opened his eyes, his two hands shooting forward, wrenching the lightning from the storm above with the force. His fingers were outstretched, tensing. Then, the sweet song filled his mind. The lightning burst from his fingers, the same tone as the lightsaber blade. The lightning twisted and arced, forming blue patterns more beautiful than he could perceive. The blue bolts struck the slave, who writhed in agony, flailing uselessly on the cold floor.

Destroy him? Jameth said in his mind. Gladly.

Having gained a taste of it's power, Jameth only further intensified it, his eyes unblinking as he watched the slave's suffering, indulging in every second of it. Finally, the torrents of lightning ceased, and the slave's smoldering corpse was still.

 

[D.C.]

Koran stepped forward after the slave was completely destroyed. The Kiffar looked at it for a few moments and then turned back to Jameth. He didn't even have to reach out in the Force to feel the anger and darkness of his acolyte.

"Force Lightning," Koran said, "a terrible way of slaying your enemies. Burn them to death and let them suffer through every second. You just used one of the more powerful Force techniques of the Dark Side, acolyte Jameth. But keep in mind that this one takes a lot more energy, so don't use it too much. Use it wisely."

The Kiffar Crusader - going on Master - bowed before his apprentice and when he rose to his full height again he said: "You have shown you are not afraid of embracing the Dark Side of the Force. I respect that."

Then the door to his training room slid open once again and two other slaves walked in. Koran simply gestured at the smoking corpse and the slaves began to clean up the mess and remove the corpse. They worked quickly and once they were done, Koran turned to Jameth again and said: "You might have questions about Lightning? If so, now is the time to ask. Otherwise we'll just move on to the next thing you want to learn."

 

[Garuga]

Jameth felt slightly fatigued after this ordeal, and he heeded his Masters' words. However, just as much as he was delighted at this ability, he also became worried at the dangers it might cause him. Although he would have liked to continue learning offensive techniques such as a lightsaber form, he wanted to address this problem first. Slightly concerned, he turned towards his master.

"I felt it's beauty and power, but, is there a way to protect myself if someone else uses this technique on me?" He asked his master earnestly. "Or more generally, how can I protect myself from force techniques of all kind?"

Jameth knew that if he was to become a skilled assassin he would require more than just the killing capabilities. After all, what was a kill if you didn't survive the encounter. Though he felt that he would serve the role of a swift killer well, it was important to also prepare himself more for a prolong assault.