9.112 A Refurbished Jedi Returns to a New Jedi Order.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei, for the first time in a long time, felt completely at peace.

"It's a good day, R4" he said to the little droid who had been his companion for so long. "And there it is. The place Master Fisto told us. Did you ever see so many ships?"

The astromech's dome swiveled, orienting the little droid's photoreceptor. Hailing the Whaladon. Asking permission to board.

"Do you think they'll let us on? We're kind of an odd thing out here."

Perhaps. Perhaps not. But an antique ship and astromech should at least be interesting. Especially since I still contain all the data stored in my memory since the Clone Wars when I served Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"Do you miss him?"

Sometimes I used to think about the work we did during the Clone Wars and wondered if I would ever be so useful again. But now that I am in your service, I don't worry about that anymore. R4 punctuated the text with a happy chirrup.

"I'm glad you feel that way, R4. Let's go meet our fellow Jedi!"

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

"Captain, we've got a realspace contact at two-seven-nine mark zero-three-zero."

Captain Raurrssatta sat up at that bit of information from Mallin, and leaned forward in his seat.

"Come about."

Novgorod began a tight radius maneuver, swinging around to approach the unidentified vessel that had come out of light speed at their location. Cirr had been briefed on heightened security concerns by the council, and he wasn't taking things for granted in light of recent attacks on the Wheel. This wasn't an Alliance mandate, it was his own personal interpretation of his mandates.

"Gunnerry, lock trractorr beams on that shjip and arrm torrpedo bays. Malljin, gjive demands forr surrrenderr and boarrdjing."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei could see the Novgorod turn and come towards his little fighter tucked away in its hyperspace ring.

"Well, look at that. I wonder where it's going?" Wei asked.

R4's text was accompanied by a low-pitched tooting sound. They're coming for us. They want us to surrender to them.

Wei scratched his chin, then let the motion carry up the side of his face and to the back of his head as he thought it over. "Well, I say surrender!"

?

"Well, yeah! We want to get access to the fleet to meet the other Jedi, right? Let's surrender! If they want to put us in binders and restraining bolts, then they can for now. Sooner or later as prisoners or guests, they'll want to talk to us."

Wei felt the little ship shudder as it fell under the control of the tractor. "Look, they're bringing us in! How kind! We won't have to do the flying ourselves!"

You are much too excited about this. What if they kill us?

"Kill us before they find out why we're here in the first place? I think curiosity will be on our side. Let's just wait and see. We can't do anything by now, so we just let them tell us what they want. No big deal."

Wei leaned forward in the cockpit and tried to get a good look at what was inside the Novgorod's landing bay.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Well, that was easy. Engines cut, no shields raised, no weapons armed.

"Stand down, Gunnerry."

"Standing down, Aye."

Cirr looked at the design of the ship, knowing it was a bit of an heirloom model of Jedi starfighter. So far, this intruder was at least doing the right things. He tapped his comm.

"Captajin Tallen. Rready a squad of marrjines and meet me at the bay."

Cirr rose to his feet, looking toward the E-WAR terminal.

"You too."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei felt gravity engage when his ship clanged onto the durasteel floor of the hangar bay.

"Well, we want to cooperate. Whoever they send will want to make sure we're not dangerous."

What are you suggesting?

Wei pulled the lightsabers out of his sleeves. "Well, I need to put these where they can see them, but don't think I'm likely to use them."

Wei looked around in the cockpit for a a few seconds, shrugged, and laid them on top of the displays near the front of the canopy.

"They can see them from there, don't you think? I can't reach them without leaning forward to get them."

I still think this is crazy. Your processor is malfunctioning.

"It is not. If I want them to accept me as a good person, then I need to show them that I'm a good person. If I step out of the cockpit holding a weapon in my hands, they'll think I'm going to attack them."

Wei put his hands behind his head. "Oh, look! There they are up on the landing. Just relax, R4. This will be just fine."

[Mara Tallen]

"Yes, sir."

Mara arched a brow and got to her feet as she flicked the comlink off, and gave it a moment's thought. The Alphas were just going off-duty, which meant the Betas were up and about.

"Tallen to Barker."

"Yes ma'am.."

"I need eight of you armed and ready at the bay per the request of Captain Raurrssatta. I'll meet you there. Tallen out."

She clipped the comm to her belt and tucked the earpiece in place, boots making solid sounds against the decking as she walked out of her quarters. It didn't take long to make her way down to the bay, arriving just as the squad did, the lot of them offering Cirr a quick salute.

Mara took point and stepped through the door first, her KX-80 (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/KX-80_repeating_blaster_rifle) raised, while the others fanned out in formation around her. Up on the landing, she made a quick hand hand motion to have four remain there, while she and the rest flanked Cirr as they made their way down to where the antiquated fighter had been brought in to land.

[Morgan Evanar]

While some of the Marines were physically impressive, it was the two figures of Cirr and Morgan that loomed most. The fellinoid Captain and Jedi were simply larger than everyone else. Cirr had his hands behind his back in a very traditional officer position, and Morgan had his arms crossed over his chest, which made grabbing any of the various weapons underneath his jacket a trivial task.

"Looks like an old Jedi starfighter. This should be interesting." Morgan remarked. They weren't common even during the Civil War, at least not in any scale compared to Y-Wings or Droid Fighters.

The astromech onboard warbled low, and the Marines' finger's crept a little further off the trigger guards.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Already with his hands on his head? This was bizarre. He glanced to Morgan to see if his Jedi companion had any inkling on this. His face was inscrutable, so he turned to his second option.

"Captajin Tallen, get hjim down frrom therre."

Weapons remained trained on the strange pilot, and Cirr almost wished the guy was resisting at least a little. This all seemed so polite.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei watched the troopers of Novgorod surround his starship.

"Those two people are really tall," Wei mentioned, jerking his head at Cirrsseeto and Morgan. "Oh, wait, they're getting stuff set up to come get me. I expect they'll be getting you out of that--that--where it is you plug in."

Wei didn't get a chance to see the screen, but R4's low warble got the point across We're dead.

"Hi there!" Wei said jovially. "I put my weapons on the control panel there. Those are my lightsabers."

The soldier took the pair of weapons while another two situated Wei between them. Wei was escorted to where Cirrsseeto stood waiting. "Hello," Wei said.

The Jedi looked up into the Cizerack's face with an expression that showed little more than detached amusement at what was going on around him. He was comfortable so far. He wasn't dead, tortured or maimed. It was good to know not all military vessels played by Empire rules.

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan knew that sort of calm. Jedi, or a great Sabaac player. He had clear visibility of the pilot, and so did all of the Marines.

He moved up for a closer view. Lightsabers, sure enough. Mara grabbed the two cylinders without missing a beat. The big KX never left it's target.

"Astromech, you too." The droid let out a slow, mournful warble. A series of metallic clicks and it was free of the socket. The last thing they needed was the little droid getting out of sorts and going weapons free in the Novgorod's small hangar.

"I'm Morgan." He said, friendly but cautious. After the mess from a week ago, no one dared take a chance with unexpected traffic. He gave the Marines a wave, and the blasters slowly lowered.

"I'm going to go on a limb and guess from the lightsabers and starfighter that you're a Jedi." Morgan was playing stupid. He knew full well Wei was a Jedi.

"You'll have to excuse us, we've had a recent incident. Everyone is a little on edge."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Okay then, so they were cool? Well, Jedi do make the best peacemakers after all. Cirr kept his slightly aloof posture, but he allowed a smile when Mara brought back the lightsabers.

"jI'll go jinforrm the Councjil, then?"

Why was he asking? That's what he was doing. Argh, Jedi! He paused before leaving, giving a shrug to Mara.

"Prrobably won't kjill us, but keep yourr eyes open jI guess?"

[Mara Tallen]

A smile tried tugging up the corners of her lips, but she managed to keep it tamped down. She nodded to Cirr in lieu of a salute as her hands were occupied, then cast a glance up at the landing.

"Serek, Logiss, escort the Captain back to the bridge and then report back to Barker. Rollens, hallway, Lockhart, where you are." Mara said crisply, pleased that the Marines obeyed with alacrity. Not that she expected otherwise with this small, handpicked crew, but it was still nice to see.

Her attention returned to Morgan and their new guest, the barrel of her KX lowered, but her tight grip unaltered. The four remaining Marines remained nearby, weapons also lowered, watching and waiting.

[Wei Wu Wei]

He waited patiently for Cirrsseeto, Morgan, and Mara to finish their small discussion.

"The caution is understandable. I am given to believe that the Jedi Order uses these ships because it has to move around to stay out of reach of the Empire."

Wei's eyes turned to the lightsabers and the ship, but otherwise did not move. "It's true," he said. "I am a Jedi Knight. My name is Wei Wu Wei. Nice to meet you, Morgan. Most people don't figure out I'm a Jedi until later. I have a sort of condition, you see so my presence can only be felt when certain conditions are met. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm sure you all more interested in how I got here or possibly how I came to own this ship."

Even now, Wei kept his hands behind his head. "May I take my hands down?"

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan paused. The sight of Wei with his hands in the air was a bit comical.

"Sure." he said and watched Wei lower his hands slowly.

"Relax. I've got some good news. I'm a Jedi Knight too." He added with a half-smile.

"I'm sure your story is about as strange as everyone else's here, which is to say, very."

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Back on the bridge, Cirr still felt about as awkward as ever. I mean, who does that? There was friendly, and then there was I'm probably on mood enhancers friendly. Either way, not his problem. As long as Morgan vouched for the guy and he didn't try to blow up the ship, he'd happily pass the buck to the Jedi.

"Malljin, get me Whaladon."

"Comms patched, aye."

"Whaladon, thjis jis Novgorrod. We've pjicked up the unjidentjifjied crraft. Pjilot mjight be a Jedji. Please advjise."

Cirr killed the comm, waiting for someone from the Jedi ship to respond.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"That is good news," Wei said. "I'm interested in meeting all the Jedi of the new Order. I am especially interested in meeting the Council to offer my services as a teacher. With their permission, I would also like to take steps to bring an end to the Imperial Inquisitoriate."

Wei took a big breath. "I have spent so much time in that fighter cockpit, I was worried I'd end up living in there for the rest of my life!" Wei stretched, but slowly. Without his lightsabers he couldn't risk someone getting jittery and pulling the trigger on him.

Wei looked at Mara. "Am I correct in thinking that the Jedi have sought refuge with the Rebel Alliance?"

It was probably a poor way to phrase the question, since the phrase 'rebel alliance' was more Imperial jargon than anything else. Still, he couldn't think of anything better to call the forces fighting to overthrow the tyrannical Imperial regime.

"If so, it sure is kind of them to take us under their wing."

[Zem Vymes]

The message went direct to one of the Council members, and Zem clicked the line open again.

"I read you, Novgorod. If our guest is under control, we're ready to meet him. Please send a shuttle at once. Vymes out."

The elder Jedi looked out the viewport at the Marauder Corvette. The force worked in strange ways, and the arrival of new Jedi was always a bit of a damned peculiar thing. Still, you didn't look cross at the will of the force. He was interested in meeting this wayfarer.

[Morgan Evanar]

He motioned the guard to stand down. Blaster rifles dropped from ready to standby, but it was clear the Marines would be ready a moment's notice.

Morgan raised an eyebrow at Wei's first comment about the Inquisoriate. He had a personal interest in getting rid of them, and was curious to know how. They were deeply entrenched in the Imperial machine. They were well funded, well trained, and were in a "any means" kind of mindset. It was a dangerous combination. Morgan could wait to find out. Cirr and the Rebellion genuinely needed a good E-war expert right now, and Morgan was among the best.

"The Rebellion has been as generous as it can be, given it's limited resources. We were hiding on Vortex, but the Imperials decided to make a surprise visit before the winds could build up enough to make it a temporary safe haven." Morgan said with a shrug.

"Being this mobile has a numerous advantages. We've grown a lot since Endor." He smiled. In his estimation, the Jedi were doing exceptionally well given their dire circumstances.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Alrighty then.

Cirr tapped the voxcomm, patching into the flight deck.

"Chjief, prrep the Jammerr forr a rrun to Whaladon. jI'll be escorrtjing ourr...frrjiend."

He killed the line, gave Glayde a look as the marine was (once again) given the conn, which always seemed to elicit an expression of pain from the human. Cirr shrugged, and took the lift back down from where he came. When the doors opened, he headed towards the ugly box-shaped dropship on the left, already being attended to by his chief and the pilot.

"Councjil wants to meet wjith ourr vjisjitorr, no surrprrjise therre."

He gave the strange person who was possibly a Jedi a nod, and gestured for him to follow.

"Morrgan, Marra."

The added muscle in case things got weird probably wasn't needed, but never hurt.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"Considering the last time I heard of the Jedi, they were wiped from the face of the galaxy, I would say the fact that the Jedi exist at all is miraculous. Perhaps these hardships will allow the new Jedi Order to build a stronger foundation, so we won't get caught off guard like we were in the Clone Wars."

Wei and his escort joined Cirr across the bay at the drop ship. "So, I suppose it is time to meet the Council, then? Is there anything I should know?"

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan and Mara were on either side of Wei, and the trio followed Cirr toward the Jammer.

Morgan shrugged and gave an apologetic glance.

"I might be the last person to know. I'm a bit out of the loop." He admitted.

Cirr approached the Jammer and a flight technician stood to attention.

"The Jammer is ready for departure, sir."

Cirr, Wei, Mara and Morgan boarded the shuttle, which was already hot for launch. The pilot greeted Cirr with a simple "sir". She keyed the launch sequence, did a handshake with The Wheel's and Novgorod's flight control and wasted no time in getting spaceborn. It was a very short flight, just an intrafleet jaunt. With the recent unwelcome visitor, though, even something this simple had an added layer of tension. There was strength in numbers, to be sure, but it became a question of centralization and being a single large target or many more vulnerable smaller ones. It was also a question of exposure, and putting everyone in the same place made coordination and information easier to control.

It was complicated, Morgan decided, and he was glad that he didn't have to answer these questions of balance. He stole a glance at Mara, who was all business, but when their eyes met, well. He shifted his focus back to Wei.

"You mentioned ending the Inquisitoriate." Morgan stated.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei offered a sort of lop-sided grin. "Yes. It's going to take some time, though. I need a lot of information I don't have. I know who the big people are in the organization, but not how the organization works or how their leadership thinks. It's one of the things I need to speak to the Council about. I will need resources and skill sets I don't have. For research alone I would need a code-slicer and perhaps a spy, though I would hate to risk our precious few Jedi for such a task." Wei shrugged. "It will keep. For the present, I want to introduce myself and get familiarized with the new Order and our Alliance partners."

Wei watched their destination grow larger. A few moments later the dropship landed in a bay somewhat similar to the one they left scant few minutes ago.

"Please, lead the way."

[Mara Tallen]

One corner of her mouth quirked up ever so slightly as Morgan shifted his gaze away. Her expression otherwise remained the same, and her amber eyes fell to the lightsaber hilts in her hands as Morgan and Wei conversed. They fascinated her as weapons, and she made a mental note to bother Kala about that demonstration the girl had promised.

She rose the moment the shuttle touched down, and exited first, simply for the sake of expediency as she was closest to the door. Her KX was hanging from its strap over her left shoulder, which protested at the pressure and was summarily ignored. The lightsaber hilts were in her right hand, held carefully with the emitters pointed down.

As Mara wasn't entirely certain where the Council chamber was, she flanked Wei and waited for someone else to lead the way.

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr noted the bit of hesitance among the group, and decided to set the pace, leading everyone to the section of the ship reserved for the council. He made a little small talk along the way.

"Sounds ljike you've got plenty of plans alrready, and you haven't even been herre an hourr."

He shared a glance with Morgan, an unsaid Did I mention you Jedi were nutters carried with a look as they paused in front of the appropriate door.

"Alrrjight, herre we arre."

[Zem Vymes]

The council doors parted before the knock came. Zem stood at the threshold, looking at the two tall figures flanking the SpecForce trooper, and the eccentric looking man before him. He took a moment to get his bearings, and his feelings clearly spelled out what was before him.

"Captain Raurs..er...Captain. Thank you. I think we'll be fine from here."

He looked to Mara, and the conspicuous devices she held.

"May I?"

[Mara Tallen]

"Of course, sir." Mara replied automatically, absently wondering if she should have used another honorific.

Amber eyes were bright as she stepped forward, then gingerly handed over the two hilts she was carrying. She dipped her head in a nod as she stepped back beside Cirr, eyes flicking between the three Jedi briefly.

They were an interesting study in contrasts, and she made a mental note to ask Morgan more about his fellow Jedi at some point.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei's smile grew to Kit Fisto sized proportions as the chamber doors open to reveal a man Wei presumed to be very down to earth and austere. He could tell, even without the Force, that this man carried responsibility and authority well.

Wei bowed as he introduced himself. "Master Jedi, my name is Wei Wu Wei. I was a Jedi Knight during the Clone Wars, and managed to survive Order 66. I would like to offer my services to this new Jedi Order as a teacher of lightsaber combat, and am willing to offer myself as a warrior and guardian for the Jedi and its allies as is necessary. I wanted to present myself to the Council to report for duty. It is also my hope to find guidance on how my skills might be used to their greatest potential."

[Zem Vymes]

Zem examined the talkative Jedi's sabers, turning each over in his hand. He looked up at the strange man, and opened his mouth a few times to speak, but not quite finding an opening. At last, he found a moment when Wei had to come up for air.

"Mr. Wei, one thing at a time, my friend."

He could at least empathize. Being alone out there, the moment you found out you weren't, you wanted to connect with everyone immediately.

"First, welcome. I'm sure you know by now in your travels that there aren't many of our order remaining. Still, we've turned the tide since the end of the Clone Wars. I too was a veteran."

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan gave Cirr a shrug. This sort of thing seemed to come with the territory.

"Master Vymes, do you need anything further?" he asked. Although their interactions had been sparse, he was sure the Jedi Master could take care of himself, and Wei was either one of the best actors in the galaxy, or he was every bit the Clone Wars era Jedi he appeared to be.

Morgan raised an eyebrow. Part of him was intensely curious, and the other part wanted a little downtime. Right now, he'd do what needed to be done.

[Zem Vymes]

"Evanar, come sit a spell with us."

Zem jerked a thumb towards the door.

"With you being out there on meet & greet mode, so to speak, might do you some good to get a feel for it."

He looked back at the felinoids remaining, and offered a polite smile.

"Don't worry, just borrowing him, really. Won't be too long."

[Wei Wu Wei]

"So far everyone has been more than polite, given the circumstances."

The smile finally receded, but Wei's spirits were as high as ever. Now was the time for more serious talk. There would be more smiling later.

Wei looked at the two lightsabers in Master Vymes' hands for just a moment. He would get them back soon. He just had to wait a little longer. Once the interview was over, he would have purpose, as well as being whole.

"Please feel free to ask me any questions. I plan to cooperate to the fullest."

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan followed Wei's gaze. Some of the elder Jedi had much more of an attachment to their lightsabers than say, he did. He was just comfortable enough now with his own to feel like it was a viable option.

"How'd you find us?" Morgan hoped he had been guided by the Force. If not, they needed a serious review of security protocol.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei's face pinked and he grinned rather sheepishly. "The ghost of Kit Fisto told me in a dream how to find you all. Apparently I mumbled a set of coordinates in my sleep. My astromech calculated a course. Luckily I remember my dreams, or I would have been very surprised to find myself suddenly among so many ships!"

He laughed as though it would have been amusing rather than potentially dangerous.

"I know it must sound odd, but that's what happened."

[Zem Vymes]

Vymes considered Wei's explanation of his arrival as the group all sat in the council chambers. Still turning over the stranger's lightsabers in his hand as he examined them, Zem spoke up.

"That's not the first time I've heard of that. Well, not that exactly, but of an...intervention by voices from the past. One of our other knights, Hicchoru, he arrived under similar circumstances. There are others too."

At last satisfied with the examination, he returned both blades to their owner.

"If you're particularly beholden to the idea of the Force having its own will, I guess that's the closest thing to an affirmation that you'll get. No Sith Lords have had such a moment of clairvoyance, which is fortunate."

[Morgan Evanar]

"That's actually comforting." Morgan said with a lopsided smile.

"Otherwise we would need a serious review of security protocol." He added.

[Wei Wu Wei]

"That's good," Wei chuckled as he took back the lightsabers. "I wasn't sure how well my story would be received, even though it's true. I wouldn't want to cause a stir."

Wei put the lightsabers back in his sleeves. "Good to have these back, even if I was only missing them for a few moments. I'm afraid I'm not any use without them. Thank you for allowing me to have them back so soon."

[Zem Vymes]

Zem exchanged a knowing look with Morgan. Security protocols. They were already bad enough as it stood. They didn't need any more surprises, did they?

When Wei spoke again, the elder Jedi turned back to look. That was a curious thing to say, and Zem frowned slightly.

"Well, it's important to have your lightsaber, but I'd hardly say a Jedi is useless without one. After all, it's a means of last resort."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei frowned slightly. "Not for me. Step back please, sir."

Wei waited until he had clearance. "Pay close attention. Jedi can detect each other through the Force. Have neither of you noticed?"

The Force Cripple pressed the small button on the hilt of his lightsaber. The signature snap-hiss heralded the emergence of the blade from the hilt, and Wei's mind from the confines of his body. His consciousness reached to the very ends of the Whaladon, and brushed against every mind within the enormous ship.

"As a Youngling, the other children would mock me for it. They called me 'Force Cripple' because I can't do so much as lift a feather with the Force without being in the presence of a lightsaber's hum or some other clear pure tone."

Wei idly traced circles in the air with the tip of the sea green blade. "But I made a name for myself with my master and my regiment when I turned my condition into a trump card that gained us many victories and pathways into Dooku's inner circle." Wei paused. "My master was Quinlan Vos," he amended.

Wei turned the blade off, and he was no longer one with the universe. Wei shrugged. "I've learned to live with it."

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan shrugged.

"I'm about as deaf as you can get to the Living Force and still be a Jedi. I think I can relate. I'm only really good at one thing. Some of end up specialized. I bet you'd be a great lightsaber instructor."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei couldn't help but laugh. "Funny you should say that," he said. "I've studied nothing but lightsaber combat my entire Jedi career. Even before I came here, I managed to learn all seven classic lightsaber combat styles."

The Jedi scratched the wild hair on his head. "I've never taught anyone before. It was my bad luck that I was knighted the day before Order 66. I've never even been assigned a Padawan. But, if the Council decides that I should teach, I'll give it my best shot. Otherwise, in my career I've been a diversion, a decoy, and a wolf in sheep's clothing. I commanded Master Vos' clone troopers whenever he went undercover."

Wei looked at Master Vymes. "Whatever you need, I will do my best to help."

[Zem Vymes]

"Your timing is fortunate, Wei. We've got a lot of young padawans in our midst that are in need of training. Until that happens, we're not yet ready to be a light for the rest of the galaxy to look to, as it were. Training, along with finding new refugees, is probably our highest mandate at the moment."

He thought about Wei's claim. All seven styles? Fluent in all seven was one thing. Mastering them was something some Jedi spent their entire lives pursuing, and usually came up short. What Wei said was nothing short of profound.

"I think we can arrange something of a demonstration, then. I imagine you'll make Abarai Loki's day if what you say is true."

[Wei Wu Wei]

"I would be happy to demonstrate any combat techniques, Master Vymes."

Wei wasn't sure what would happen next or who Abarai Loki was, though from context Loki must have been a lightsaber instructor. Until the demonstration could be arranged, Wei felt no need expound anymore about his own abilities. But at the same time, he felt that standing in silence until the demonstration could be arranged would be a poor way to spend the wait.


Wei turned to Morgan. "You mentioned you're only good at one thing, Morgan," he said. "What's your one thing?

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan teleported from his seat to the next one.

"I can teleport." He clarified. He threw one of his ever-present ration bars across the table and it appeared back in his hand.

"It's a thing." Morgan said.

[Zem Vymes]

Zem suppressed a laugh. Morgan's casual showboating was his style, and the Nar Shaddaan was a refreshing sign of how the new order of Jedi were adjusting to their place in the galaxy.

"We can arrange a demonstration shortly, then."

Zem tapped a comm on the table.

"Abarai Loki, this is Vymes. We have a visitor to evaluate. Please meet us in the training area."

He looked at his colleagues as he rose to his feet.

"Best not to make him wait. He's...touchy."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei laughed. "Then we need no delay!"

Wei started to follow Master Vymes and fell into step somewhere behind Vymes but a little ahead of Morgan. "That's an impressive gift, Morgan. I don't remember hearing of anyone with a power like that ever living during the history of the Jedi. We should spar sometime. I would like to see how well I could handle someone who can disappear and reappear instantly."

[Morgan Evanar]

Morgan shrugged with a half-smile.

"I barely know which way to point the things. I mostly work off speed and instinct."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei shrugged. "Then use a weapon you know how to wield. When you practice, you should give it everything you have. If you train yourself to pull punches, when you need to hit someone, you will inevitably stop just short of their nose on instinct. If you want to learn how to use a lightsaber with greater ease, then that's different. But if you're practicing to stay combat ready, then you should practice with the best you have."

"So what about this Loki? Besides the fact that he's a bit touchy."

[Zem Vymes]

Zem listened to Wei's words, and they were tempered by the thoughtfulness of the warrior poets of his era. He seemed to recall his times dueling with Obi Wan, and what Kenobi had to say about the nature of a duel.

More practical matters rose to the surface, however.

"Loki is..."

His eyes met Morgan's, and he caught the funny look the Nar Shaddaan gave him.

"...something of a prodigy. Young, but I'd recommend not letting his age deceive you. He's poured himself into the art."

[Morgan Evanar]

"Loki's very good at what he does." Morgan stated, and took a deep breath.

"He's disciplined, and... rigid." He added.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei rolled his head around, almost as though the physical motion of the slow circles helped his brain work over the information he had been given.

"Young prodigies are nothing new. I was a Youngling when I first laid eyes on Anakin Skywalker. He was as gifted as a prodigy could get." So Loki was young, and clearly devoted to lightsaber combat. "Actually, he reminds me of myself when I was younger. Well, the pouring myself into lightsaber combat and the discipline. Not the rigidness part. Better to stay flexible in all things. That way even though you're rooted, you bend rather than break."

Wei finished stretching his neck. "Well, then, I think it's high time we met this Abarai Loki in person. Is the training area far?"

[Abarai Loki]

"No. It's here."

Loki was standing beside a pair of interlocking doors. They parted with the push of a button, spilling into the corrdor the myriad sounds of training padawans and the faint musk of sweat. Within, a large spartan room stretched out in front of them, around its periphery were weapon racks and, in the furthest corner, younglings were wrestling on padded mats.

"Zem Vymes. Morgan Evanar," he greeted the men with a nod, then turned his attention on the unfamiliar face, "You know my name, stranger. Now grant me yours."

[Zem Vymes]

Vymes afforded the saber instructor a formal nod, giving Morgan a knowing look as he rose. Abarai Loki could be counted on to uphold his tenets strictly, that was for sure.

He held his tongue as the introduction was apparently for Wei to give. If the stranger was as good as he claimed, this would be something interesting to witness.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Touchy indeed. Apparently the new Order did not stand on formalities, as Loki was not chastised for neglecting to call the council member "Master." Or perhaps it merely mean Loki was not polite.

Wei mirrored Master Vymes, nodding his head before offering an introduction. "My name is Wei Wu Wei. I was a Jedi Knight during the Clone Wars. I would like to help rebuild the Jedi Order. I have offered my services as a warrior and combat instructor. I understand you will be helping Master Vymes assess my proficiency in the seven classic lightsaber forms."

Wei spoke to Loki like he was an equal. Wei knew about prodigies. They needed their skills to be recognized. Anakin Skywalker always chaffed when the older, more experienced Masters would act as though he knew less than they did or was less capable than they were. A lack of life experience was not a lack of skill: only a lack in how to use that skill.

Then again, Wei also knew sometimes life forced people to grow up quickly. Wei wondered what it was in Loki's case. "How should we begin?" He asked the boy prodigy.

[Morgan Evanar]

Loki was always difficult to read for Morgan. Things that would please others disappointed him, and things others would find frustrating would please him.

There were formalities that he chafed under, and others that he heartily embraced. Still, Loki was in his element now, and Morgan was going to pay attention. If Wei was a tenth of what was implied, he was an incredible swordsman. Saberman. Something.

It would be educational.

[Abarai Loki]

Frosty eyes gave him a sweeping once-over from top to bottom, then narrowed in suspicion. Wei made a positive first impression, despite being sorely in need of a haircut, and had introduced himself with the kind of eloquence and formality with which Loki approved. However, there was one large glaring problem.

"Wei Wu Wei, is it too much for me to assume you are in possession of a lightsaber? A working lightsaber."

[Zem Vymes]

"Two sabers, at that."

Zem waited for Wei to demonstrate, and gave the two duelists some respectful distance as they prepared to size each other up.

"I'm interested to see to what extent his skills lie, and I'm sure you're interested in the challenge, if he's correct."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei watched with wide open, laughing eyes as Loki appraised him so critically. Abarai Loki tickled him. The teen seemed so serious. Wei of course, took the time to size the younger man as well. He was shorter than Wei, and in good shape. It was apparent that Loki fastidiously looked after his own health and wellness. Loki's narrowed eyes made it clear that he regarded Wei with some sort of suspicion or even disdain: Loki looked like the model soldier cadet with clean cut face and close cropped hair. Wei was well aware that he looked rather like a crazy hobo standing next to the new Order's lightsaber instructor.

Wei pulled the lightsabers out of his sleeves when Master Vymes mentioned them. "The one in my left I've had since I was a Jedi Knight in the Clone Wars. This one I got on the planet of Ossus. I haven't used it yet because it's so old. I need to see if it's still functional. I just think it'd be fun to see how lightsabers have changed between then and now."

Wei returned the Ossus saber to his sleeve and thumbed on his own lightsaber. Wei could feel himself stretching into the room and the rest of the Whaladon once again.

"During the Clone Wars I focused on Form I just to keep rooted in the basics, Form VI for its versatility beyond Form I. Then I kept to Form III as the war progressed, if only because more often than not I found myself facing down legions of blaster-wielding droids. In recent months, I have brushed up on my skills in these three forms and have gained proficiency in the other forms."

Wei stepped further into the room, allowing the lightsaber's hum to carry him into its corners and better get a feel for the space. His eyes never left the younger Jedi. "So, how would you like to proceed? We can drill velocities. Safer than sparring, but I think the difference between knowing a subject and mastering a subject lies in the application. Don't you think so?"

[Abarai Loki]

"Indeed," said Loki, eyeing Wei with a curious sideways glance, "As such, drilling velocities will be about as beneficial to your assessment as Candrilan line-dancing. In combat, our partner's steps are unknown. We will duel."

His haori was shrugged off and folded neatly to one side of the room, granting him a moment to reflect on the upcoming contest. This new one was a curiosity, he expressed a fascination in lightsabers with which Loki identified, and his words hinted at a depth of understanding in the art of lightsaber combat itself. And while the old lightsaber he had acquired was indeed an article of interest, at least for those with a predisposition towards such things, it was but merely a subject to study, whereas Wei's own Jedi weapon betrayed to Loki information infinately more valuable. It told the story of his life.

"In order to fully test your proficiency with a lightsaber, a simple spar will not suffice. Land upon me seven blows, one for each of the forms, and your trial will be done. I shall, in turn, attempt seven successful strikes. No mortal wounds or dismemberments. It will not do to further thin our ranks."

If there was any truth in the bandied words of his peers, he faced a great challenge. A thrill of excitement as he reached for his Jedi weapon and ignited its icy blue blade.

"Are you ready, Wei Wu Wei?"

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei pointed at Loki with his lightsaber and smiled. "I think it's a fair thing. But, let's tweak it. Seven attacks, seven forms. I'll go in for that. But let's do this instead: I see there's several strips of cloth there in the corner. No doubt you are familiar with the target zones of a person's body."

Wei picked up a bit of cloth and tied it around his head. "One for each limb, one about the middle, one about the head, and then a spare one wherever you like. Cut the knots, and score one point each. It will make a better, clearer way to keep track of the challenge."

Wei noted the strips were different colors. "I'll take the blue strips. You pick another color, and it becomes clearer still."

Wei was no stranger to lightsaber injuries, but there was no need to risk being hurt. Besides, cutting the knots tying the cloth strips would require more precision and show greater skill. Wei didn't know Loki well, but even Wei was tempted by the challenge.

[Abarai Loki]

Once Wei started to tie cloth strips to his arms and legs, Loki couldn't hide his disappointment. Regardless of the silent objections taking shape on his face, he had to concede that it was a logical compromise; cutting the knots, and only the knots, would be an excercise in precision fencing. His blade was extinguished with a hiss. He joined his opponent-to-be and started rummaging through the cloth. His first instinct was to go with black as it was the least ridiculous colour, but his tunic was black and that increased the risk of his opponent accidently damaging his clothes, so, in the end, he went with white. He watched Wei, and followed suit, tightening the knots on his arms with a free hand and his teeth. A strip of cloth was tied to his thigh and on the other leg, his calf, another around his abdomen, the sixth around his right hand, and finally, with some resentment, he wrapped the final length of white cloth around his head.

There was something quite nostalgic about Wei's proposition, with its props and rules, to even have spectators, it felt quite like a game. It reminded Loki of his life on Maridun. The sinking disappointment vanished, and in its place was kindled the electric anticipation of the contest. Now, all that remained was to see if Wei was able to deliver on his promise. Again, his lightsaber sprung to life, its searing tip pointed at his opponent.

"Wei Wu Wei, make your move."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei tied his strips to his left and right upper arms, his left thigh, his right calf, one around his stomach, another around his head, and then the seventh one to his left forearm.

Wei heard Loki offer him the opportunity to go first. "Move? Hmm."

Wei had time to think, but didn't want to give Loki too much time to settle into a good defensive posture. The older Jedi also knew his younger opponent would have much more energy than he would. Wei calculated all of these things in the twinkling of an eye and decided to just start with the basics.

"Form I!"

Wei would never usually announce his fighting style before a fight, but he wanted it to be clear what was going to happen. Wei's stance kept the hilt of his saber at his navel with the blade pointed at Loki's nose. Wei kept his weight distributed 60/40 on his back leg and front leg respectively.

Then with a quiet exhalation of breath through the nostrils, Wei closed the distance between himself and his opponent with three sliding crescent shaped steps. His feet swept in underneath him and out again.

When Wei could touch the tip of Loki's blade with his own, he sidestepped and chopped downward towards the younger Jedi's right arm.

[Abarai Loki]

That was interesting. Loki swatted the attack aside, blades cracked, and lifted the tip of his weapon to sever the strip of cloth from his opponent's waist. Wei was quick to react and the blue knot went untouched. The duelists were still once again. Lightsabers hummed patiently.

In his opening attack, the older Jedi left himself shamefully open by attacking from the outside, but fortunately, for him, his reflexes were sound. It was foolish, it was unpredictable; it was Shii-Cho. It had been three years since Loki had crossed blades with a swordsman skillful enough to make the simplistic first form a viable combat option. There was strength and certainty in Wei's blade, that much he knew from the first move. Now, to measure skill.

They circled each other, slowly. Styles mirrored. Then, the moment he was within striking distance, Loki swung his weapon in a clockwise arc and brought his saber to bear against his opponents blade, edging it outside. There was the opening. His blade, already perfectly positioned, stabbed at the target on Wei's thigh.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Loki parried Wei's attack, as Wei figured Loki would. A quick shift in his stance dodged the attack to his midsection, then Loki opened Wei's guard and stabbed at the older Jedi's thigh.

Wei brought his leg in to prevent the opposing blade from finding its mark, and decided to close up his defense. One did not simply give up a hit to an enemy, and Abarai Loki was as serious and practical as Anakin Skywalker had been boistrous and flashy. It was a good lesson: Wei wasn't going to have to deal with a crybaby.

Wei swung a wide horizontal slash from left to right. Normally an attack of this nature would be used to hit several opponents. It was a textbook Shii-Cho attack that fit the style's philosophy well. But Wei was in single combat, so he had decided to use the attack to go after three target zones at once--the attack started at Loki's right arm and ended at his left, attempting to take out three knots simultaneously.

[Abarai Loki]

Loki twisted and ducked under the sweeping blow. His own weapon raised horizontally above his shoulder to protect himself, should his opponent seek to capitalise upon his vulnerable position, but there was too much momentum behind the attack. The lightsaber passed overhead with a hornet's buzz. It had been the right decision to dodge, an attempt to block such a broad powerful swing would've surely knocked him off balance. The ambitious attack paid off. Wei was quick to discover his weakness, but at a cost, his center was again open.

Rising from his crouch, Loki turned and brought his weapon down in a violent sai tok designed to split an opponent from stem to stern. In this case, however, the young Jedi would settle for a successful strike to the target on Wei's head or waist.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei dodged to the outside, pushed Loki's lightsaber off its course, and neatly clipped a knot off of Loki's arm.

The older Jedi hopped backwards, and offered the Makashi Salute. Wei felt good. Perhaps he was not as rusted out as he thought.

[Abarai Loki]

Retreating a step, Loki immediately inspected his arm, his face twisted with disbelief. His tunic was unscathed. It was a perfect hit. Then, remembering himself, the surprise subsisded and the old stoic expression returned. He closed his eyes, recalling the last moments of the engagement.

"I see now. It was your intention to create that opening, right from the start, and I kept taking the bait until you were ready to strike," he shook his head, and met his opponent with cold blue eyes, "The simplicity of such a tactic is truly befitting the rudimentary trappings of Shii-Cho. You read your opponent quickly, Wei Wu Wei."

But already had he revealed a flaw in his swordsmanship. The Makashi salute. Perhaps it was too early to tell, but Wei didn't strike him as the flashy provocative sort, so it wasn't a braggart's flourish. No, he saw it with his own eyes. The salute appeared to be instinctual, and it was an absolutely text book opening for the second form. His Shii-Cho had been rooted in tradition, too, from the stance, to the application of deliberate tactics, and even the use of the Sarlacc Sweep. The salute was telling, and if Loki wanted to win this contest, then he'd have to exploit that weakness, and graduate from the first form as soon as possible.

"I will tell you this, there are very few who can claim to have landed a successful blow upon me in the opening exchanges of a duel. Let us hope, for your sake, it wasn't luck."

[Wei Wu Wei]

"There's no such thing as luck: there is merely the Force."

Wei couldn't help but be amused. Either Loki was the best lightsaber master the new order boasted, or he was the only one that really studied lightsaber combat at all. Either way, it was apparent that Loki was very used to sparring matches going one way: his way.

The older Jedi decided it might be fun to try to rattle the youthful prodigy's cage a little more. After all, a person learned the most about himself and others when presented with a great challenge.

Wei presented Loki with a lightning fast lunging stab at the knot fastening the white stripe about his middle.

[Abarai Loki]

In the instant Wei moved, at the slightest shifting of weight and the first tell-tale dip of the shoulders, victory flickered in Loki's eyes. The opening lunge, in the Makashi repertoire it was as orthodox a maneuver as the salute itself. His opponent had revealed his hand early and no amount of speed was going to stop Loki from exploiting his advantage to maximum effect. He stood, square and still, chained to the rigid demands of the first form. Deflected with a modest sideways sweep, the incoming blade ran dangerously parallel with its rival, which then ticked upwards with a deep hmph.

Even as the severed blue strip peeled itself away from Wei's forearm, Loki advanced. In his hands, the lightsaber spun like a buzzsaw, turning twice inside and out, aiming for Wei's waist and arm respectively. The change of pace was sudden and dramatic. Loki was hungry, and, free of his Shii-Cho shackles, he unleashed upon his fellow Jedi a violent flurry of attacks.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei didn't have time to even wrinkle his forehead in incomprehension. Everything about his form came straight out of muscle memory: he let his body do the fighting while his brain caught up.

His blade zinged through the air. He played a dangerously fancy game. Wei kept the tip of Loki's blade locked at the tip of his own. When his thought process finally managed to catch up, the data came up with only one conclusion: Loki knows Makashi like a Hutt knows crime. Wei had the basics down very very well, but that was about it.

Things were about to get very very difficult for the Force Cripple.

Wei finally managed to find the tiniest opening and went for it. One slight tapping motion aimed at Loki's wrist to feint before going on towards the stripe on the prodigy's upper arm.

[Abarai Loki]

The feint telegraphed the follow-up. In response, Loki stepped neatly out of the blade's path, allowing it to pass by with an impotent hum. Makashi was a dance to which he knew all the steps, and what fleet-footed steps at that; under the buzz of swatting sabers drummed the timely staccato beat of nimble feet as the duelists wove their elegant swordplay. How disappointed Loki had been to not land a successful strike with his opening barrage. That alone, he considered, was a worthy indication of Wei's skill.

Lightsabers cried objections when brought to bear upon one another, weaving, knotting, carving mountains and valleys in the smouldering air. It was a familiar landscape, and the young Jedi navigated each slope with confidence and effortless grace. He led each attack to its natural conclusion, on the outside of his blade, and threw in an occassional cutting stroke to keep his opponent on his toes. It was a decidedly a defensive game he played, while he watched, curious to see whether or not his dancing partner had two left feet.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei did his best to keep up with Loki, but the younger Jedi was lighter, faster, and better practiced. Without any clear openings, and no sign of Loki's precision fading, Wei felt the only other option was to offer the young prodigy some bait. Wei kept his blade in his left hand and during the next several attacks kept his right side more and more vulnerable. With luck, Wei could close the window before Loki could slip through. But it'd take a lot of luck.

Wei committed to the attack and watched for Loki's strike.

[Abarai Loki]

The duelists circled with mirrored steps. Sabers poised like serpents, which in turn punctured the silence with lightning strikes. In the momentary bursts of violence, flashes of celestial blue splashed shadows on the walls, while the Jedi sprung their advances upon each other. Ground was neither lost nor gained, it was a deliberate stalemate of Loki's design, and while he watched, exchanging surgical strikes and blows like whip-cracks, he spotted the flaw in his opponent's defense. And it was not his unguarded right side.

This was the second time Wei had employed the tactic of baiting his adversary with an irresistable opening, and, in their briefest of moments together, Loki had divined one irrefutable fact - Wei Wu Wei was far too good a swordsman to make such a schoolboy error. His error was to think he would fall for it twice. Loki was insulted by such a brazen assumption, and, in his consequent attack, it showed. His swordplay was aggressive and deft enough to put Wei on the backfoot, but his true intentions were revealed when he sprung his opponent's trap with a crescent strike to his unprotected right arm which as quickly arched upwards towards the knot on his incoming left arm. And as the counter-trap closed, there was no denying the fierce spark of joy in his eyes, for now they were truly playing the game.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei was slipping, but it felt good somehow. Whenever Wei started to lose ground, he yielded, repositioned, and sprang back up into a better position. The older Jedi offered his young counterpart fierce attacks, but never insisted so much on one line of attack that he tried to force a tactic that would not work.

There'd be no more baiting Abarai Loki. Wei was going to have to win with a good clean fight. Loki's saber continued to test Wei's defense. He yielded to the prodigy's attack as a wave recedes into the ocean, but on the return Wei noticed a strip of his own cloth fall to the floor.

No matter: there were still plenty of opportunities. The fight was not over yet.

[Abarai Loki]

Blades kissed, spitting venom in parting, their last cries shrank into distant corners. Loki retreated, the renewed space snatched the momentum from his opponent's newborn counter-attack. His weapon fell to his hip, a quiescent column of blue; the signature ready stance of Soresu, the lightsaber's third form.

"By now, you must realise your predicament. It is quite simple: Makashi, against me, is as the rain upon the mountain."

It was a bold claim to anyone with ears to listen, but in his cool measured tone, Loki betrayed no hint of arrogance. It had been a statement of pure fact, as certain as the crest and fall of the sun. Such was his confidence in utilising the remaining five forms against his preferred style. Soresu was inherently passive, its strength reliant on pure defense. It stood to reason then that his following tactic could be nothing other than an excercise in unrelenting tedium. They both knew it. Wei's only option was to attack, attack, and attack. And then, once his arsenal was exhausted, he would, in his frustration, provide his opponent with the most exquisite opening. All that was required of Loki was to keep his guard up, and wait for the inevitable.

"In Dejarik, I believe the expression is: You are forked."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei grinned at the expression, choosing to let the younger man's attitude pass him by as he so often chose to do when Anakin was in one of his fits.

"That may be. But the rain becomes a river, and even though it yields to the mountain, still makes a path to reach the ocean."

Wei resumed the Makashi opening stance. "Don't count me out yet."

The Force Cripple stabbed low.

[Abarai Loki]

His weapon was inverted, diving to intercept the attack with an urgent buzz. There was a sharp crack, and an angry sizzle of plasma, as the blades connected and orbitted their owners in a tight arc. Loki, who was a picture of calm resolve, restrained his blade to a sequence of steady and constant parries, daring Wei to press his offense. Makashi and Soresu were, by their nature, modest in their execution, relying instead on a deftness of hand and energy-efficiency. There were no wide swings, no heavy blows; what unfolded was a ballet of blades dancing dangerously within the kill zone. There was no room for error on Loki's part, and in his mind's eye he was enclosed within a protective sphere impenetrable to his opponent's attacks. It was on the walls of this imaginary bubble their Jedi weapons clashed.

Back and back he was pushed, until the assembled padawans were forced to disperse and retreat to the edges of the room. It was an uncommon tactic for him, he was not a passive fighter, and it took a considerable effort on his part to resist the urge to lash out. Patience, he reminded himself. His breathing calmed under the flash and glare of the onslaught, until at last he sensed a momentary lapse in pace, and he rounded his deflection into a neat counter-attack. The retreat came to an end with a single forward step, and a slice climbing towards Wei's abdomen, changing the direction of the engagement. And yet there was no real intent behind the maneuver, at least not to bring to an end their current stalement, that would be premature. Instead, his intention was to outright deny Wei the chance to gather himself at all, and strong-arm an offense out of him.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei was no fool. Soresu--Form III--was the first "advanced" form he ever learned as a Jedi, back when he was still a Padawan Learner under Quinlan Vos. It was purely defensive, and for someone who had mastered the mentality and the technique, the only issue was time.

The Force Cripple could only poke and prod at the young prodigy's defenses and hope for the best--that age, inexperience, and the arrogance of being naturally gifted would cause Loki to make a mistake.

Loki reached out with an upward cut--Wei caught it neatly and pried at his opponent's saber. The older Jedi tried to keep the blades together and slide his weapon's blade along his foe's like a violin bow being drawn across strings.

[Abarai Loki]

Under the sudden strain, Loki winced, a telling flicker of furrowed flesh, before giving way to his opponent's offense. Folding, weaving, rolling away from every attack, his lightsaber was tempered into a malleable tool, its course plotted by every blazing stroke of the enemy blade. Indeed, it was Wei who once again dictated the direction of the battle, and, broken by his superior strength, Loki had little option but to bounce and recoil from his every blow. It would not do to lock horns like that with an opponent who was so clearly the more physically dominant. But, rather than run the risk of being cornered or pinned against a wall, Loki was shrewd enough even in retreat to lead the duel back towards the centre of the room.

"Become the eye of the storm," those were the words of Barabas Tosca, when Loki first wrestled with the rudiments of the third form. He recalled his late-master's instruction, and little by little, adapted his technique to suit. He relaxed, and soon it seemed less like he was simply reacting to his opponent and more like he was complimenting him, lightsabers united in lyrical motion, with every parry providing a finishing flourish to each violent exchange. All the while, Loki harbored one tantalising thought: it was too easy.

Certainly, his intimate knowledge of Makashi gave him the upper hand in anticipating each incoming barrage, but Loki had fought opponent's like this before and had a strong suspicion of what was going on: Wei was still figuring him out. This Jedi was a patient one. And that, Loki conceded, could be a problem. Another counter-attack, faster this time, blocked, then countered, followed by another, faster again. If Wei was to dictate the course of this engagement then he would determine its speed. They were playing the long game, it was a war of attrition, and it was time to see just how much staying power the old man had.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei felt content to experiment with Loki's capability. Starting slow, he sped up, then alternated the tempo in a sort of tee-dum, tee-dum rhythm.

He tried to make the variations in his speed unpredictable.

After the prodigy's excellent demonstration of Makashi, Wei figured Loki was too aggressive to be able to handle the passive nature of Form III.

Wei continued to stab at Loki's midsection and legs, convinced he could make Loki's defensive shell crack.

[Abarai Loki]

The onslaught was weathered with a textbook defense, all the while Loki remained wary of Wei and his superior reach. His attacks followed no particular pattern, unleashed with irregular syncopated rhythms which, Loki surmised, was a ploy to disrupt the cadence of his own swordplay. He would not succeed. It seemed like every attack Wei sent his way was being parcelled up and returned back to him with but a couple of saber stokes. Back and forth the duel swayed. Cautious was Loki's footwork, ever mindful of the threat posed by Wei's unpredictability. And yet, his confidence was growing.

Left, right, left, he advanced. Right, left, right, he retreated. Left, right, left, advanced. Right, left, right, advanced. Left, right, right- he hopped, and tumbled away from his opponent's zinging blade. That had been too close, he thought. Not only had Wei found a gap in the barricade but he was also sucessfully keeping Loki out. Rising again, he noticed a patch of exposed flesh through a small smoking hole in his trousers, located just above the unscathed white knot. Much too close. Defense! Defense! Defense!

"So," he said, suddenly, burying his inner turmoil, "You are a Soresu man. While I must confess myself unsurprised, you did hide it well... until now."

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei smiled. "I wasn't planning on keeping it a secret."

The Force Cripple pried at Loki's defensive shell. Keeping the young prodigy at arm's length wasn't helping--it seemed it only gave the young Jedi more time to prepare his defenses.

The older Jedi closed in, fighting mainly from the wrist to account for the lack of space. Loki was holding up well so far, but it was only a matter of time. If Wei could just get his blade to 'stick' to Loki's Wei could open up his defense at will. Of course, The same advantage would also be granted to Loki. It was a dangerous gamble. Inwardly, he sighed. He was making too many of those in this fight.

[Abarai Loki]

The gap was closed and in the space between them lightsabers hissed and barked. Wei had the height advantage, he had the leverage and strength, and his Makashi strikes were disciplined and sharp. Loki, on the other hand, was struggling to keep up let alone fight back. And every time their blades met he lost ground. It was a solid tactic. He was trapped in a loop of constant reaction, denied the initiative at every turn, caged by his opponent's proximity and superior firepower. One blow yanked at his grip, and he winced, staggering to one side. It was a flawless deception.

And out of the corner of his eye he watched Wei raise his weapon, and with victory in his heart, he dared him to take the strike.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei struck out with the tip of his saber--and whiffed his target by a hair's breadth. The Force Cripple hid his disappointment well. At any rate, he was inside Loki's defense. He needed to press his advantage.

Then he saw it: one small circular motion. Wei was missing a knot, and Loki got to go on to Form IV.

How had he survived that long before he got to the Wheel?

[Abarai Loki]

In the end, it was nothing more than a slight shifting of the shoulders and a single circular cut that won him the round, an elementary move timed to perfection. His patience was vindicated. Now Wei's thigh was missing a strip of cloth, and before it fluttered to the floor, Loki visited upon his opponent the full fury of the fourth form.

It was as if a rope had snaked around his body whilst he wrestled with the restrictive Way of the Mynock, coiling tight with every defensive stroke, and then, suddenly, aching for aggression, he unravelled with a snap. The young Jedi was unleashed like a spinning top, whirling violently towards his adversary and buzzing like an angry swarm. The room strobed blue and flashed white with the cracking of lightsaber blades. Where once his size was a disadvantage it was now his greatest strength, and like the hawk-bat, Loki took to the air to rain down a torrent of attacks from above.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei dropped his stance. First rule of fighting people coming at you from above: DUCK!

What was that technique Dooku said he used? Wei flicked the tip of the his lightsaber towards the fabric around Loki's middle in the way someone might try to brush his fingertips along a low ceiling. It went something like that. If the old ghost hadn't been as antagonizing as he had been instructive, perhaps the Force Cripple might have learned better. But excuses wouldn't gain him ground. He'd have to make up for what he couldn't remember.

[Abarai Loki]

Caught in the maelstrom of violence, Wei's lightsaber was swatted aside not once, but twice, before Loki's feet had even touched the floor. And when they did, he spun, wheeling upon his opponent with a decapitating blow. Naturally, the lethality of his attack was subdued, and it was instead designed to merely catch the headband target. But Wei was too fast and the offense came to nought.

Now Loki had a choice, he could either maintain his assault and risk opening himself up to a dangerous Makashi strike, or he had the option of backing off to reconsider his strategy, which would, of course, provide his opponent with a momentary reprieve. Abarai Loki was never so kind. He attacked, his lightsaber whirled, engulfing him in twin rings of cerulean light.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Wei kept a calm expression fixed on his face and silently thanked the Force the cloth strip around his head was soaking up the sweat threatening to bead on his brow.

Loki was fast--too fast--but Wei was determined to find a way past the brutal onslaught. If only he could swat the prodigy out of the air! But at least he was learning something.

The older Jedi rooted his stance, sinking into an anchored position that allowed him to turn and move without (hopefully) giving ground. The Force Cripple pivoted in place to jab at the center of the circles Loki's spinning form traced in the air.