Weapon of Choice

Posted on Sat Jan 19th, 2013 @ 6:43pm by Thane & Sev Rezer

2,313 words; about a 12 minute read

Chapter: Chapter III: Relics
Location: Red Raptor
Timeline: Day Ten

Thane continued to flex his fingers as he sat cross-legged in the training room, the only door sealed so that no one could interrupt him as he meditated and trained. Perspiration was dripping down his forehead from his most recent session; the former Jedi Knight had once more been calling upon his emotions to further enhance his abilities.

It was a refreshing relief and change from the norm for the Caanan human. Where he had always had this emotions and feelings, often so clear and unrefined and pushing against his psyche, the Jedi, including his own Master Sotah, had always discouraged calling upon them, arguing his should be controlling them through restriction, by not hearing their call.

Thane had never found that easy, and had even found it restricting, in fact. One of his developing and preferred lightsaber forms, a variant of the seventh - Vaapad - necessitated the use of darker urges and emotions to drive you forward, to make the blade become an extension of your own body. Instead of a single, clearly-defined being, you became a fluid blur, shifting quickly and with vigour.

That was one of the few times he was able to channel such abilities, but he had always been at least slightly distracted, and it was that distraction that cost him the duel with Axion. It was that distraction - of thinking he had to restrain such feelings and always be mindful of them - that led to holes in his ability, that prevented him from fulfilling his potential and truly succeeding.

Whilst he remained wary of much of Darth Bane's holocron's teachings, the avatar had nevertheless given him more focus than the Jedi had in just a few short days. Indeed, it was even helping him to train a self-taught ability of his own, personally named 'Force Channel'; it was a technique that would draw on an opponent's own chaos and inability to harness their raw power, much like Vaapad. Although he was far from mastering it, Thane could already feel more.

Indeed, as he meditated, he could feel the universe about him even more clearly than before. In his mind, where the surroundings had once been a misty blur with slightly vague images, he was beginning to see clearly-defined constructs; he was able to feel the presence of each of those on board and beyond with more clarity than before, and even the gaping hole that was Morgo seemed more certain. Still a hole, indeed, but one he'd find easier to avoid.

It was remarkable progress for just a few days' worth of training, and it amazed even Thane. What remained tiring to him, however, was the fledgling capacity for Force lightning he was discovering. At first, it had been a few sparks between his finger tips, which soon developed into small zaps he could vaguely direct before him. Even that, however, required such massive focus on his part, wary of letting his emotions run entirely rampant.

If he did that, after all, he would be no better than a common Dark Jedi - greedy and pathetic. No, his anger had to be a fuel for a well-oiled engine, and whilst he was not there yet, his prowess was certain to grow, he was sure.

He felt the great presence of Berry moving about the Raptor, a shining beacon embedded deeply within the light side of the Force, but wholly chaotic - unrefined. Bomoor, however - whilst a certainly clear presence - was less of a beacon, and more of a calm collection, solid and sure... yet still powerful. His own signature was different from how it had been, however, and was still changing. It was difficult for him to read, and so he pushed onwards, finding Kip Hoddai - an anomaly in himself - and a grey area (in every sense of the term) - far off in the vessel's engine compartment.

Finally, he settled upon Sev, working away in his workshop, and the Red Raptor's effective armoury. The man was cold, like a well-tempered steel blade. Sharp and deadly, Sev had naturally perfected ways to help shield his mind from Force users. Whilst no shield was perfect, Sev's was good, and Thane could not help but respect what the Mandalorian had done to himself over the years, despite no affinity to the Force.

Thane opened his eyes and let all of the objects that had been floating about him drop carefully to the floor. The physical world came rushing back to his conscious mind, but he could still feel his tendrils about the vessel, sensing all that was going on. With the Force, he unlocked the door as he rose, making his way towards Sev, hoping to speak to the bounty hunter.

"Do you trust the data Kip put into the navicomputer?" He opened the dialogue, stepping into the workshop. The smell of oil, lubricants, metal and a variety of other pieces of equipment filled Thane's nostrils, as did the smell of Sev himself, which was less than pleasant.

Sev didn't stop from his activities to answer Thane. As always, the Mandalorian thought Thane to be at the edge of a cliff. Always on the brink of anger. That didn't annoy him much, but if Thane started raving like a Dark Jedi, Sev would kill him like a sick bantha. Still, Thane was a warrior and a good one to have as ally.

"Of course not. I look it over twice and it checks out. Get it in your head, Thane. I don't trust anyone - and I trust him less. I'm just looking for a reason to shoot him. Obviously you don't trust him either." Sparks arose from whatever Sev was welding. After a moment he stopped, and turned around to look at Thane, raising the protective goggles he was wearing. "If you don't trust that Flamewalker, why is he still aboard?"

"I don't trust someone I don't know," Thane said, "and Mister Hoddai has told us nothing about himself. In fact, all I do know is what you've told me, and even that doesn't tell me anything because there's next to nothing available on these damned 'Flamewalkers'." The Human's voice had become sharper when complaining about the unknown order, yet he retained his composure.

Thane then let out a long and slightly annoyed sigh. "But, then again, he seems to be after the same thing as us, and is willing to throw his lot in with us when we head to Tython. He does seem to have appointed himself as a moral compass, though - very pretentious and obnoxious; it kind of puts me off trying to speak to him. Everything's half-truths and red herrings when you try and get anything out of him, as though it's some kind of elaborate dance."

"It's what he does. He lies and nausates you with that demeanor of his. Flamewalkers aren't know to be honest and speak straight." Sev huffed, observing Thane.

The former Jedi stepped further into the armoury, examining the various pieces Sev had prepared. A few, he noticed, had marks that were indicative of lightsaber scorches, which brought a grim smile to his face, having a respect for a man who could face down so many of that kind of adversary. "Unlike us, saying what we mean," he decided to go on, "but I didn't come here to just bother you about you about the Devaronian."

After looking over a particularly impressive - and antiquated - vibroblade, he turned his head slightly back to Sev. "I want you to help train me in killing Jedi - dark and otherwise. Bería, too."

Sev crossed his arms, expression turning sour. "You don't need my help. You're a Jedi. Thrust, parry and cut with your bright sword. It works. As for the girl, I tried to teach her basic close combat techniques and she almost cried. No, Thane. I don't see a reason teach you or she."

"Do you not?" Thane more stated than questioned, turning his whole body as he faced the bounty hunter. "Because it seems to me that I'm not the only one that has failed in trying to kill Axion, but I also admit that you've killed more Jedi in your time than me. Many more, and whilst you may have had the odd hiccup," he gestured towards the scars on Sev's face and the prosthetic eye, "you've also got a lot I could learn to augment my own skill set. It can only improve what I can do, and can therefore only make ending Axion that much more likely. As for Bería..."

He had to admit to himself that the young woman had a lot of growing up to do, as well as a lot of accepting to do, both in terms of responsibility and what the galaxy was truly about. "...she needs to toughen up, whether she wants to or not. There's only so much a training remote can teach her about fending off blasters, and there's only so much Bomoor and I can show her about the Force; you'd be able to challenge her in ways we couldn't. Mandalorian ways."

Sev Rezer uncrossed his arms, his muscles tensing. "I had my own reasons to become a Jetii Hunter. Don't talk like you understand what that cost me. It cost me more than my arm and eye, Thane. It cost my honor and much more. It's true I want revenge. But I see you and your 'righteous' anger; I'm starting to wonder if that cube in your quarters is doing you any good. Oh, yes, I know about that. This ship isn't that big."

"I've never tried to hide it," Thane said simply back, becoming slightly annoyed at Sev's over-sensitive reaction, "I've even had Bomoor and Morgo inspect it. With Bomoor, I even activated it - I don't have any secrets. But don't think I was trying to find a common ground with you and your 'hard warrior heart', no. To be frank, I don't really care too much for your reasons or what it cost you, only that you are - or at least, were - a good Jedi killer, and we're in need of such a skill-set."

The human Jedi searched Sev's features, wondering why he had to turn a simple request into something more, believing that Thane was trying to empathise with him. Far from it. "We're allies and we mutually benefit each other - it doesn't make us bestest buddies, so don't think that's what I'm trying."

Sev Rezer's face didn't relax, but his voice softened. "We are allies and I see the reason in your request, Thane. I don't like to talk about this, but I think you deserve to understand the reason for my resistance."

The Mandalorian crossed the armoury and started to fiddle with a heavy rifle, without looking at Thane. "When I became a Jedi Killer, I was a dar'manda. It means I wasn't a Mandalorian any more. Not in spirit. After I lost my arm and eye I was able to return to my people's way. And, now, I must follow my people's traditions. If you don't go through the rituals and understand my people's way I cannot teach you. There are a few things I can teach you without the ritual. Not much." He turned around to face Thane, crossing his arms. "For those that are not Mandalorian all this must sound foolish, but it's how our culture has endured all these millennia. Warfare after warfare. It is important."

Thane nodded. "I agree," he said after a quick few thoughts; it was much like as Bane had explained and instructed about the Sith. It was also something he had seen worth in. "Conflict - or warfare - is a true test of one's abilities. It challenges both individuals and civilisations, forcing growth and evolution... ensuring efficiency." His thought-ridden eyes having drifted as he spoke, he brought them back onto Sev. "That way, bad ideas, philosophies - the weak - are swept away, and then only the best remains." He gave a shrug and one of his grimace-smiles. "Or so they say."

He let his hand drop and rest upon the pommel of his lightsaber hilt, still hanging from his belt. The philosophy he had just espoused was something he had considered meritorious for quite a while, but had always tried to overlook based on the views of his peers, and namely the Jedi. Now, though... Now he was beginning to find more worth and truth in such beliefs.

"I would like to learn what you can teach," Thane said with sincerity, "including Mandalorian traditions. Whilst I can't promise to adopt all of such ways, I can promise that I will at least listen - and learn. Besides, there's quite the chance we may find ourselves running into some Mandalorians at some point." Whether they would be of Manda'toma or one of the Exiles, however, he did not deign to guess.

Sev nodded. "That would work. You'll listen and when I feel you've listened enough, I'll teach you our way to fight. Then, and just then, you'll find out what it means to be a Mandalorian", he said. "Then, I'll teach how to kill your own kind, if it's that what you really want. The girl is your problem. I already made sure she'll be protected if we fall facing Axion. That's as far I go with her."

At those words, Thane wondered for a moment if he could really be classed as being one of those 'kind', given all that had been happening. "That's fair enough," he said as he grasped the Mandalorian's oily hand for a shake. "I think we have an arrangement, Sev."

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