The training of Vishan

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin stands outside in the cold morning air, watching the fading starlight in the sky as she waits for Vishan ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

His eyes were opened in half slits as Vishan wandered through the hallway. Sleep was trying to win out again, but with a roll of his shoulder, a few pops and cracks helped to work the kinks out and helped to keep him somewhat awake. The time difference didn't help either. Going from the center of the galaxy to the outer rim was not a simple adjustment. Would take a few weeks before everything began to fall in place like a perfect routine.

That was not today.

The crisp morning air hit his face like a brick and his eyes snapped opened, suddenly awake. He skipped down the Temple's stairs to meet up with Soolin. "Hey." He yawned, "Mornin'."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: She was stretching as he approached and she looked up at him::

"Yes it is."

:: There was a twinkle in her eye, brief as she began a run that would lead them far from the grounds into the wilderness beyond ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

He smiled, outstretching his arms to continue working the kinks out when Soolin took off. At first Vishan stood there dumbfounded, but the figure of his Master was getting smaller. "Gah!" Some dirt was kicked up from his boots as he took off after her.

[imported_Grimya]

:: Grimya joins the morning run, appearing ghost-like as she keeps pace beside Soolin ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

The distance between them had shortened a little, but he was still pretty far behind. Vishan half-smiled when Grimya joined and pushed himself to go faster to try and catch up.

[Sun Zao]

As Vishan moved through the forest, a blur of white seemed to follow in his shadow, darting through the canopy of the virgin wood without sound.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin stops in a small clearing just beyond the jungle and waits for Vishan to catch up ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

Vishan stopped and looked around, swearing up and down that he saw something. Yavin was new territory and he still wasn't sure how this placed worked yet. He waited a little longer to make sure there was nothing there and looked back towards Soolin.

"Damnit." He lost sight of her but Vishan knew which way she was headed took off once again. It took him another five to ten minutes to catch up since he got distracted. The trees and dense foliage opened up and he saw Soolin and Grimya waiting for him.

He slowed down his strides until he came to a stop before Soolin and leaned forward, clutching at his knees while breathing heavily. He pushed himself hard, running as fast as he could so she wouldn't have had to wait longer then she already did. "Sorry." He said inbetween breaths. "Ah'd thought Ah'd saw somethin'. Didin't mean ta keep ya waitin'."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: she looks up as a crane like bird flies overhead and points ::

"Like that?"

[Vishan Korogoth]

He squinted up at the sky and shook his head, "Nah. Wasn't that. At least, ah don't think it was that."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"Are you ready to run again?"

[Vishan Korogoth]

He grinned, "Oh. Yes. Great." Vishan wasn't as exasperated as before when he spoke and pointed off towards the general direction that Soolin was heading. "That way?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin nods and continues the run. This became the routine for the next two weeks. The morning run, followed by meditation, then breakfast. It the late afternoon, katas and tai-chi like exercises. Then another meditation in the late evening ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

It was during the latest evening meditation that Vishan training began to falter. More often then not, memories of his imprisonment would come forth during those exercises. They always involved the torture inflicted upon him by the Sith Order, something he came to terms with long ago but they insisted on coming back. Today was different. For whatever reason, he began to remember the good times with his wife and daughter. He didn't realize he was smiling, watching little Taena run up to him after coming home from a mission. She was his only child and was the perfect blend between her parents. From Vishan's mussled hair and baby blue's, to her mother's profile and smile.

He didn't see Amanda anywhere and started to ask where mommy was when the vision changed. The bright loving face of his daugther started to crack and peel away. He gasped in horror as her skin disintegrated. Vishan was frozen in shock, wanting to let go of her and trying to save her, as every layer from her, inside and out, was stripped away till nothing remain by bone...

Vishan awoke with a stratled gasp and shot up to his feet. His breathing was erratic and there was a wild look to his eyes as if the Padawan didn't know where he was. He swore he was back in his cell on Corellia but slowly the smell of the jungle and the humidty began to bring Vishan around to the present.

His eyes took focus and noticed that Grimya was staring at him. He felt like dren and didn't say anything as he rubbed his face, trying to make himself lucid again.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin rose up with him, a look of concern etched on her face ::

"What did you see?"

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Ah," he sighed and stared at the ground. "Ah'd rather not talk about it."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"That is your right."

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Are we done for th' day?" What he really wanted was to go to sleep, but he was afraid that more of the same visions would come as nightmares.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"Yes. Tomorrow, we try something different."

[Vishan Korogoth]

He nodded more at the ground then Soolin, "T'anks." Solemnly Vishan made his way towards the Temple, grateful that she was willing to take it easy on him tonight.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: The next morning, Soolin waits at the plateau ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

As predicted, his sleep was restless, but still he managed to meet Soolin at their usual morning spot on time. Vishan looked like he had about two hours sleep, more then likely broken.

It was an usually humid morning and already his skin was covered in a thin layer of perspiration. He was glad he decided on loose fitting clothing today. "Morning, Soolin."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin nods and hands Vishan a bo staff. She picks up her own and walks in a semi-circle before taking a defensive stance ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

He took the staff and looked at it oddly. Vishan had seen weapons of this sort throughout his travels but he never wielded one personally. He looked up at Soolin and winced.

This was going to hurt.

Vishan tried to mimic the way Soolin was holding the bo staff since he had no clue where to start. The weapon felt clumsy in his hands and he had a hard time trying to figure out where his feet should go.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin locks eyes with Vishan, and waits for him to move ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

She wants me ta go first. Joy... He really had no idea what he was doing. Gripping the staff tighter, he spread his feet apart since it seemed like a good idea. The bo rested out in front of him, almost straight.

He was so going to get his butt kicked.

Taking a deep breath, he charged at Soolin and swung at a random part with the left side of the staff. Just to try and make something out of this soon to be embarrassing situation, he began to count the seconds before he ended up on the ground.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin was a blur as Vishan rushed forward. His legs were swept from beneath him, and Soolin's bo was planted on his sternum as she looked down at him ::

"The bo is not a club. Do not wield it like a club."

:: She steps back and allows him to stand ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

He got to his feet, dusting off his pants, "Kinda hard ta wield it right when Ah dun know 'ow ta wield it in th' first place."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin teaches him the four basic holds, and the different stances - Zenkutsu-Dachi (Forward Stance), Gyaku-Zenkutsu-Dachi (Rear Defense Stance), Nekoashi-Dachi (Cat Stance), Kokutsu-Dachi (Back Stance), and Shirisagiachi-Dachi (Crane Stance).

Over the next week, she teaches him Uchi-Kata (Striking), Tsuki-Kata (Thrusting), and Uke-Kata (Blocking) ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

It was four in the morning and Soolin wasn't up yet. Well, Vishan was pretty certain she wasn't up yet. He was at their usual spot, practicing the holds and moves that Soolin had taught him, trying to mold them into different fluid motions.

More often then not, he ended up banging the bo staff on some appendage but it didn't deter him. Stung like hell but you had to start somewhere.

[Sun Zao]

From the plateau's treeline, what seemed like a ghost emerged from the foliage. Its clothing and hair were both brilliantly white.

"Are you lost?"

[Vishan Korogoth]

At first Vishan wasn't sure if he was seeing things right but there really was a man heading his way. Vishan noticed he was an aged man, but when he got a good look at his face, there was wisdom that came with that age.

"Lost?" He lowered the bo staff and shook his head. "Nope. Ah needed practice so 'ere Ah am. This is mine an' Soolin's spot for trainin'."

[Sun Zao]

"Ah, so you must be stupid!"

Zao made an incredulous face.

"STUUUUPID!!!"

As he scolded Vishan, the old man stroked his beard in contempt.

"You come brazenly into the kingdom of Sun Zao the Immortal with your round-eye friends. You come practice? For what you practice?"

Zao jabbed a pointy finger at Vishan's bo stick.

"Ahh so....you must play stick ball."

The old man smiled.

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Um........." Vishan stared at the man with a gaping mouth. He was completely at a lost for words to what he was seeing and hearing. For a moment, he wondered if he was still in bed. "What th' frell are ya talkin' about?"

[Sun Zao]

"I used to play stick ball when I was your age. Was a good thrower. Throw ball very fast, very hard."

Pacing around, the old man stoops for a moment, and palms a small, round rock.

"You, swing stick good? I throw."

For emphasis, Sun Zao tossed the rock in the palm of his hand a few times.

[Vishan Korogoth]

In no way did Vishan ready himself for the rock to be thrown at him with the bo staff, "Look, no offense, but this ain't my staff. Ah'm not gonna ruin it if'n Ah happen ta be lucky an' even hit tha' stone."

[imported_Grimya]

:: Grimya approaches, regarding the old man with a mixture of curiosity and caution ::

[Sun Zao]

WHOOSH!!!

A blur is all Vishan sees, as Sun Zao's arm snaps back, rifling a rock at him with blistering speed. The projectile sails a few inches to the left of Vishan, whether by accident or purpose, but what is obvious is that the old man's throw has a motor on it. If its closer to Vishan, its definitely not going to feel good.

"Aha! One strike! Too slow!"

Sun arches a whispy eyebrow, as he palms another stone.

[Vishan Korogoth]

"HEY!" He flailed backwards in shock, "What th' hell's wrong wit ya man?! Ya almost took my head off!"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Through their mindlink, Soolin sees the events through Grimya's eyes as she makes her way to the plateau ::