Star Wars: Rising of the Union/The Academy

The Academy

“Now, trust your instincts. Do not swing at the droid aggressively. The droid will not attack, it will only defend.” Said Kendo through Abeo’s earpiece in his helmet. Abeo raised his Lightsaber in front of his face and ignited the long blue beam. Abeo could feel the energy being emitted from it. He felt like a true Jedi, even if he was only a Padawan.

Abeo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could feel the force flowing through him, flowing through his saber. When he finally opened his eyes the world looked different. The black visor that had previously covered his eyes had vanished and the world had turned red. He could make out the image of the droid in front of him, the table to his right and Kendo sitting in the examination booth high above him. Abeo then swung his Lightsaber at the droid only to have his attack parried. He did this twice more, and twice more his attacks were parried. “Do not think, feel!” Kendo ordered through the communicator. Abeo swung his Lightsaber at the droid several more times only to be parried each time. He was getting extremely frustrated. I wish it would just shut its saber down! Abeo thought. He swung his Lightsaber once more, but this time he hit the droid and cut of its arm. The droids arm fell to the ground, its Lightsaber inactive. Abeo spun around and, using the force ripped the droid apart. Kendo shot to his feet, throwing his chair across the room. “Abeo! Calm down!” Kendo ordered through the earpiece. Abeo ignored him completely. Abeo removed his visor and through it at the wall, breaking it into many shards. He then, using the Force pulled the two sliding doors and through them across the room. Kendo ran out of the examination booth and headed for the training room. By the time he arrived Abeo had gone. Kendo could see Abeo charging down the passage way towards the far end of the Academy. Kendo ran after him. “Captain!” He shouted into his communicator “Get a lockdown on Corridor R2. Hurry!” Abeo could see several small lights charging on the wall. He sprinted so fast that he just missed having his foot separated from his foot by the force-field. The shield forced Kendo to stop in his tracks. Abeo bolted down the stairs. Narrowly missing several other Jedi trainees. When he finally reached the 1st floor he charged down the passage way and into a dark room. The Armoury had many different types of weapons including Lightsabers and blasters. Abeo had now slowed to a walk and stopped in front of a rack of Double-Ended Lightsabers. He took several sabers and placed them in a case. He then left for his room making sure to avoid Kendo, his Master.

“Master.” Abeo said when he appeared behind his back. “Abeo. What came over you?” Kendo shouted “Why did you… why did you do all that?” Kendo asked calmly. “Don’t know. Lets got on with my training.” Abeo added hastily. “Fine.” Kendo replied “Come with me.” They walked down to a duelling room and locked the doors. Kendo walked to one end of the room and sent Abeo to the other. Both removed their cloaks and Kendo pulled out his Lightsaber. Kendo swung his long purple beamed Lightsaber in front of his face and readied himself. Abeo placed his hand behind his back and gripped his saber. He pulled it out and ignited its beam. It shone bright green.

Beings on the floor above begun to crowd around the glass roof to watch the duel. It was widely known that Abeo was one of the Academy’s most highly skilled duellists. Very few could defeat him in open combat, with the exception of Kendo Shan. Abeo stuck out his Lightsaber and held it horizontally. He then emitted a second green beam from the butt of his weapon. He then shuffled his right hand along the grip and placed his left on it. Abeo pulled his saber to his side and readied himself.

The two began to pace in a circle, keeping each other directly in front of themselves. Kendo than jumped high into the air, narrowly missing hitting his head on the glass roof and holding his saber high above his head. As he landed he swung his Lightsaber onto Abeo’s head. “Missed!” Kendo shouted adding a laugh. Abeo swung his blades at Kendo playfully. He then spun around Kendo and cut off some of his hair. “Almost!” Abeo shouted as he jumped back. Kendo jumped high into the air once more, but was thrown back by Abeo using the Force. Abeo pulled Kendo’s Lightsaber from his grip and through it across the room. Kendo rose to his feet and gestured for his saber. The Lightsaber flew across the room and into his hand. Abeo grinned slightly and spun his Lightsaber in a circular fashion above his head. Kendo ignited his saber once more and held it high above his head. They stayed silent and still for several seconds. Then, a great stream of thunder shot out from Abeo’s fingers hitting Kendo in the centre of his chest. Kendo was thrown backwards by this attack. The entire crowd above looked at this with shock. Kendo rose to his feet, smoke rise from his body. Abeo deactivated his Lightsaber and jumped across the room and into Kendo knocking him onto his back. Using the Force Abeo lifted Kendo high into the air and through him against the wall. Abeo then released him, letting him drop to the ground. Abeo put his right hand upon Kendo’s forehead and closed his eyes. Several seconds later Kendo became conscious again. Abeo leant on his knees and began talking to Kendo. “Feeling alright?” Abeo asked. “I’m fine my Apprentice. You skill is, has become extraordinary.” He added. “Yes Master.” Abeo added irritably. “Let’s go.” He stood up and opened the doors, holstering his Lightsaber at the same time. Abeo gave Kendo his hand and pulled him up. Kendo closed the blinds and holstered his weapon. They both put on their cloaks and walked out of the room talking. By the time they reached the Academy armoury they had exhausted the conversation. Kendo walked in first and put the training saber in its rack; he then removed his personal Lightsaber from the rack and holstered it. Abeo pulled his Lightsaber from its holster and began flicking switches. Curiously Kendo asked him “What you doing?” to which Abeo replied. “I’m changing the power output level. It will make it more powerful.” “You’re keeping that as your Lightsaber? I thought you preferred the single bladed ones?” “No, I quite like these ones. Don’t know why.” “I do.” Kendo replied quietly. “Come on, I want to show you something.” “What?” Abeo asked. “Something.” Replied kendo with a grin. He holstered his saber and left the room with Abeo following him. They marched back down the passageway, past the Duelling room and down another corridor. This one was dimly light and rarely used. The corridor eventually turned into a flight of stairs which went several stories down. The Corridor began to get thinner until they reached an arched door. Kendo opened the door and let Abeo in. This room was, unlike the corridor brightly lit with torches. In the centre of the room was a black seat in an egged shaped device. “What can you feel?” Kendo asked. “Power, hate. The Darkside. What is this?” Abeo added. “You have heard of Lord Vader?” “Yeah. Who hasn’t?” “Quite a few as a matter of fact. This was one of his regeneration chambers. He stayed here on Dantooine for several weeks a year back when the Empire ruled supreme. He used this place because of its strong Lightside aura. This place was originally an Academy for the Jedi back in the Old Republic days. It was destroyed by a Sith Lord though. Then, after the Jedi Purge came Vader travelled to Dantooine to look for any that had escaped. He found none but decided to build a palace here. Here he could live off the Lightside energy without worry of being detected by the Rebellion. When the Galactic Civil War ended the Imperials evacuated the planet. Vader’s chamber was just left here. Now, we Jedi have come and have begun to rebuild the Lightside aura. “But even Master Skywalker hasn’t been able to eliminate the Darkside energy. It seems that Vader wasn’t the only Sith to occupy Dantooine. Another came here, someone you’ve heard of. “Sam Sinays?” Abeo replied unsurprisingly. “Yes. Sam Sinays. It seems that he came to this planet during his war with the Old Republic. He discovered the ruined Academy and began training his apprentices here. He taught them here because it was harder to reject the Lightside in the middle of an old Academy.” “Why have you brought me down here exactly?” Asked Abeo. “At the end of a Jedi’s training he or she must undergo their trials. The trials are different for each academy. On Yavin they investigate some old Sith tombs. Here we use the Academy ruins for the trials. The Darkside aura in the ruins is particularly strong because of Sinays.” “Are you saying that I’m about to undergo the trials. The Jedi trials?” “Yes. Yes you are. In the Old republic the trials were a series of quest over a period of time. But since there are still too few of us we have decided that there shall be three trials that pressure the trainee in as many different ways as possible. The first two trials you have already completed.” “I’ve done them? When?” “The first was to construct your own Lightsaber. You received extra marks for you power output level device. The second was our duel. You again passed with flying colours. The third I am to tell you of now. “This is your third trial. In it you shall face situations which can actually kill you. All weapons used against you, if any, will use live ammunition and you will be constantly pounded by the Darkside. If you do not wish to commence with the trial you must tell me now.” Kendo waited for Abeo to answer. “Good. Lets go.”

Next: Ambush