Younglings

"The fleet sent word. We're needed back." Commander Cody relays. He had the foresight to bring his datapad along on the trip.

Obi-wan didn't know if it's because someone told him that the surface wasn't interesting or if it was just his commander automatically keeping his work with him but it was nice that one of them remembered to bring something to occupy themselves.

"We'll give them a half hour to do what they need to. Have the men prepare to be underway. Did the report mention what type of assistance we would be giving?"

"Evacuation sir. And before you ask I have medical prepping for a influx of civilians, the LAAT's are going through pre-flight inspections and all hands are getting mandatory downtime before we're off." The last part was something he insisted on if there was time.

Because of their adjusted genetics, the clones were easily able to stay awake for multiple days at a time. However they were still human and humans were never meant to endure that much time without rest.

The clones insisted they didn't need the added rest as much as they were scheduled but the Jedi knew it was for the better mental and physical health of the troops so they they made it mandatory.

"Sounds like we're going somewhere. Good let's get off this ice cube."

Desmond was suddenly behind them. He was the one that spoke.

Both Obi-wan and Cody start in surprise.

The door didn't open.

There was no cold breeze from anything opening.

There was snow on padawan Desmond's parka indicating he was recently out in the snow.... which meant he bypassed the senses of both himself and Cody.... a Master Jedi and a Clone Commander. Both of which were known for spotting things others could not.

The boy gives them a bored look and makes his way passed them to a passenger seat.

It takes a moment for Obi-wan to realize his mouth was slightly ajar, which he promptly closes.

Cody however seemed to have recovered before him. Perhaps it was because his experience with dealing with Jedi related surprises? The man however had a contemplative look on his face, one that he knew quite well.

"Commander?"

"Waxer and Boil." he says simply waving a hand at Desmond.

He knew immediately what the man was thinking. Waxer and Boil were their best scouts. They were already quite good at stealth but not as good as what Desmond just showed. Desmond was going to need men assigned to him for his command eventually and they would probably be a good fit.

"It's an idea but I think we should wait for the assessment."

"You know, I'm right here." Desmond cuts in irritably.

"We are aware." Obi-wan states drily, "Is your more destructive counterpart on her way?"

The Padawan shrugs, "Huyang insisted on treating Heather's burns... she had some welding to do. It's not bad she should be on her way soon."

"Welding?" he's never heard of someone having to weld more then a spot or two while building a lightsaber, even though he knew it was one of the ways to adjust one. He shouldn't be surprised though, both of his new padawans were strange, when it comes to the order and for younglings.

It doesn't take long before a puffy pink cheeked youngling was at the door to the transport.

"You could have waited." Heather huffs at Desmond, shaking unseen snow out of her long white hair.

Desmond shrugs, "I'm not going to freeze my balls off longer because you can't wait a few minutes to treat a couple blisters."

"I assume that's a normal turn of phrase in your culture?" Desmond said it very casually so perhaps he wasn't deliberately trying to be crude. It could be normal for them.

Either way he'll have to warn him against such once he starts training them for the diplomatic route of their education, he couldn't have them saying phrases referencing one's genitals in front of committees during negotiations.

But maybe it was because they were in a casual setting. He had to remember the two children were not in fact young in mind. There probably wasn't a need to use a heavy hand with them.

His padawan huffs and throws an expectant look at Heather, pointedly looking at the seat she used on the trip down to the surface. He pointedly ignores him.

"Negotiator this is Transport 23848. We're coming back." Cody says over the communicator.

"Acknowledged Transport 23848, your parking space is still free Commander." the radio operator says casually.

--------------------------------

The main fleet was unexpectedly on the move again so it was going to take longer to reunite. With the extra time he had enough to run them through the required tests to certify them for field work.

Their written tests were interesting. On tactics and diplomatic relations they were beyond that of most senior Padawans but on mechanics, science and math they were a bit behind for even initiates.

Desmond rivaled Clone Commanders when it came to tactics, only scoring lower due to not understanding the full capabilities of some of the equipment.

Heather on the other hand rivaled Anikan in flight simulations. His old former student didn't score as high as Heather's flight runs because the simulations didn't rely on sensing things in the force. Heather however seemed to just instinctively know how to maneuver in the air, with the force or not, no matter what vehicle it was.

"I am a natural with flying but did previously play a game that required flight, many of the maneuvers are similar to the game strategies." the girl explains.

She wasn't perfect (she didn't know what all the miscellaneous switches were for and she didn't know how to get the computer to calculate the hyperspace jumps) but she was only a little studying away from being an ace pilot.

There was no telling which one was going to turn out better.

The sparing gym was full today. Most of the men were off from duty resting or at least taking it easy before the ships catch up to the fleet. As such they were either in the recreation rooms or here in the sparring gym having friendly bouts to let off steam. (He had a standing order that someone from command staff would be on duty ready to break up anything that was going to far.)

He nods to his commander who was casually leaning against a wall watching the current wrestling match, while his men surround the pair cheering or booing in turn.

Some of the men break away and gather around to watch from a respectful distance. They knew better then to interfere.

"Alright, ladies first. I want you to show your Shii-Cho Katas and we'll move on to anything else you may know."

Heather takes out her lightsaber as instructed and lights it for the first time in front of him. The emerald green color didn't surprise him, blades would sometimes mimic their creators in a way much like Aayla Secura having a blue one for her skin, but the shape and the movement of the thousands of hair like blades... that was shocking. He's known very few blades that altered from a straight blade... he could only recall a handful from history being different close to this degree.

The girl takes on the beginning stance of Shii-Cho and slowly flows from one Kata to the next. He didn't see much wrong with her form but it felt like someone mimicking what they were seeing and not something she's practiced for years at this point.

There was a woodenness to her movements.

She goes through the last kata, he rubs his chin thoughtfully, "Do you know anything beyond Shii-Cho?" Perhaps it wasn't her preferred form? Many Initiates did self study into the other forms in anticipation for switching once the battle master deemed them ready.

The girl grimaces and shakes her head. "..I would be at the bottom of my class if it wasn't for Desmond. I'm not very talented with the sword."

Obi-wan looks over at his other Padawan in question.

Desmond gives him a pained smile, "If we trained with real lightsabers she wouldn't be alive right now. I'm pretty sure she would have beheaded herself or at least been impaled by now. I'm not exaggerating."

That was not something he wanted to hear but he had to say something positive. She was his student now even if this was an uphill battle.

"Well, skills that are hard to gain sometimes become our best skills. We'll work on it." he assures her. He's happy to note that she didn't seem discouraged but that could be because of her older age.

At this rate he wasn't going to be able to certify her for the field, maybe piloting troops to the ground or in a firefight in space but not during ground combat. No matter what other skills she has, she needed to at least have enough to defend herself against enemy troops.

He turns to Desmond, "Alright same drill, go through Shii-Cho's katas."

Desmond moves into the opening position and lights his lightsaber. Kenobi feels his heart stop beating for a moment even as Desmond expertly goes through the katas but not because of the form itself...

He had a black lightsaber... like the darksaber, only this specific blade had an outline of red....

His student is half way through the Katas before he really draws himself back to actually analyzing them.

The boy was flowing between them like a master... not a single flaw was visible.

Desmond reaches the end of the set, "Good, go through each form you know."

His Padawan doesn't protest but moves straight to form II, Makashi... then Soresu... and Ataru... and onwards. The only form without all the katas was Vaapad and it was still shocking that the boy knew some of the katas that was paired with the form.

"Good.. very good... I assume this was because of your previous life?" It was like he turned on a switch, some of the men around them start murmuring to each other.

From what he understood Cody mentioned something to the men but didn't get specific.

"Yeah, the animus wasn't good for keeping sane but you can live through decades of your ancestor's lives in just a few months. I was forced to live through the times of three of my ancestors trained and fought in." Desmond reveals. "They lived during times before slug-throwers could shoot more then one shot at a time so swords were the weapon of choice for the population."

What memories Desmond showed to the council wasn't a though as what Heather showed.

"I assume you have your own fighting form?" It wouldn't be the same as a lightsaber form. Shii-Cho would probably be closest to it considering it was the form that came from regular sword combat.

The Padawan looks at him wearily, clearly considering what to say, but after a moment he sighs and nods, "It doesn't have a name, it incorporates multiple techniques from dozens of cultures. I'll need my wrist bracers if you want to see it in it's entirety."

His padawan took to wearing a beak hooded and sleeveless white tunic with a red sash around his waist. On his forearms he had two leather bracers that he wore with the unique outfit. When another master asked about it he mentioned it was cultural and left it at that. Obi-wan never questioned the significance of the fashion choice. Perhaps he should have...

"Yes, let's see."

The katas of the unnamed style was quick and low to the ground, it flowed with minimal movement and extreme balance. It was clearly meant for multiple opponents. His blade did not stay in his dominate hand either, it was often expertly switched in the middle of strikes, a movement clearly meant to take others off guard. Desmond also did something odd during the katas... he stretched out his weaponless arm in upward strikes into the general areas that would be lethal zones if he was fighting someone. Perhaps it was meant to be paired with a knife?

There was no doubt however that the style was for killing as quickly and efficiently as possible, and not to incapacitate like most lightsaber forms.

He had a feeling that the reborn young man was a master at this form.

"I've seen enough."

It was not a form for a Jedi, but perhaps it still had it's place. They were at war and the force was involved in both his padawans being reborn here and now. There had to be a reason.

But there was a serious problem with him training the boy... Desmond was good... perhaps too good. Obi-wan had to win against him, not just for the boy but himself. If he could not defeat the reincarnation then he had no business even presuming to train someone of his skill level.

His entire apprenticeship would be a farce..

Obi-wan draws his own lightsaber, a resolve in his movements. Desmond gives him a bemused smile. It was clear he understood.

"Everyone back to the walls, stay out of range, be ready to dodge. Do NOT interfere." Cody barks to the men who were watching the proceedings.

As they both move into a ready position the men (and Heather)scramble to the sides of the room, giving them both as wide a berth as possible.

"Before we begin, might I know the purpose of those bracers?" He knew there was something about them... something beyond simple protection or a cultural significance.

Desmond gives him smile full of teeth, which was unnerving on such a young face, "Sure..."

He flips a latch on the side of the bracer, then holds it up. He flexes his hand in an odd direction, one which was not natural in a fight.

A couple gasps sound out in the room from the troopers as a nearly foot long metal blade projects outwards beyond the young man's fist.

Those katas now made sense, but it also elevated his worry, "I see." He thinks about what that could mean, "It occurs to me that you haven't mentioned your ancestors much even though they taught you second hand. That type of weapon isn't for open combat. I can't help but wonder what type of people relied on it."

The boy retracts the metal blade and triggers a switch on the side of the bracer, a safety latch he suspects...
"... They lived in the shadows to serve the light." he says quietly after a moment of thought, giving him a look daring him to ask for a further explanation.

It was a secretive group then.... spies, scouts or assassins... anyone of them could go by such a code. It even sounded like something a Jedi Shadow would say. One thing was clear though... he wasn't going to reveal their true nature.

From all sides there was a sense of anticipation. Many of the men were leaning forward watching them slowly move towards each other.

"Very well..." he lifts his saber, "... let's begin."

Desmond doesn't hesitate. Pure instinct has Obi-wan ducking under the first lunge, and the force warns him about the palm coming towards his gut. He twists out of the way and skids across the room but his new student gives him no quarter. The boy leaps towards him his lightsaber going towards his face, the move clearly meant to take him off balance.
Obi-wan easily deflects the blade and moves his saber to block the hand reaching for femoral vein in his leg, clearly trying to mime stabbing it with his hidden weapon. His hand however doesn't get close enough for the hidden weapon to pierce the skin (if it was active).

It keeps going like this, lunges and swipes and barely dodged saber strikes or hidden blade stabs. The boy even put flips and kicks in the mix.... always moving always attacking and dodging strike after strike.. each one more creative and more difficult to counter.

It was a strong form much like Vaapad but it didn't involve emotion. It almost felt like a labor worker met with another task, a task that they've done a hundreds of times before.

In the force it almost felt like the young man was bored instead of in a simulation of a life and death situation...
Neither of them used the force except for the warnings they felt from a incoming strike. Obi-wan could barely feel the warning because of Desmond's almost indifference to the spar...

It takes a half hour to wear the boy down. He felt a bit guilty about it but he doubts the reborn swordsmaster was ignorant of what a master in Soresu did during a fight.

A master of Soresu defended themselves until their Opponent wore themselves out and then struck.

"That particular style of fighting depends on endurance much like Soresu." it wasn't a question but a statement. That style was meant to be employed on a battle field with dozens of enemies from all directions... it was meant to take down an endless wave of enemies...

One would have to have a massive amount of endurance to survive such a situation.

The boy was breathing hard, sweat dripping from him. He was barely holding his blade up at the ready. "Yeah, I know. Haven't had a chance to build up this body to that level... doesn't exactly help that I'm physically a child." He lowers his sword, deactivates it and bows slightly, conceding the fight.

A trooper makes a "awww" noise from the side clearly disappointed that the spar was over. Looking over he could tell the loud trooper wasn't alone, quite a few looked disappointed that it ended.

Cody quickly waves his men over towards their sparing area away from the two.

"That style isn't adjusted to a lightsaber." Obi-wan says unnecessarily. It was clear his padawan knew this. "Nor is it adjusted to fight against the seven forms."

Desmond snorts slightly, "You're not being subtle at all. Yeah, I could use some help. It's a bit hard to adjust a sword style when your hiding that sword style... it also helps when the person I'm fighting actually has some skill..." he looks pointedly at Heather who did a strange thing with her hand, she holds it up and points her middle finger up towards the ceiling... she waves it at Desmond, who chuckles.

"Well the seven forms have a name so you'll have to figure that out once it's adjusted. It's definitely unique enough to be it's own. If I wasn't a master of Soresu, I'm fairly certain you would have beaten me." he confesses.

Desmond nods with a crooked smile but there's no pride in it. "If I was a bit older or had a bit more practice with this body I would have."

"I was also not using the force in our fight." Obi-wan points out. One's ability to use the force would have put him right back on top even if Desmond was fully grown and acclimated to his style.

That comment does sours the boy's mood. He had enough self awareness to not deny the assessment.

Obi-wan didn't know what about the force he disliked but it was something they were going to have to confront. The force would quite literally save his life one day and he had to learn to use, listen and trust it instinctively.

"I'm fairly certain Heather has the entire order beat in how to channel the force." he says sourly.

"Without a doubt." Obi-wan agrees. He saw some of her abilities during the memory sharing. Most of it was unlike he's ever seen before. How those abilities could be used on a battlefield he didn't know... he'll have to make a plan on how to assess such a thing.

"Speaking of adjusting the brotherhood's sword style... I don't want it taught to anyone who I don't approve." the boy states bluntly, a hard edge to him, "It's my heritage and this specific fighting style is designed to kill en mass. It can't be put in the hands of anyone but the most stable of people... even among those inside the order."

The request causes Obi-wan to respect the boy more then even his formidable skill did.