Vai's Ascension

The Corsair. Straight chambers and chiselled angles of metal surrounded the expanded "throne room". Hunter Vai Azexel stood facing the Quaestor and Aedile of Cestus as they sat on their thrones, high above him.

He gave them a short bow and stood erect for their orders. Solemnly, Knight Ronovi Tavisaen spoke up: "Hunter Azexel, you have proved to be a faithful servant of Cestus and the Dark Side. Two trials remain between you and the cloak of Knighthood: the Summit's task and the master's final trial." Vai inhaled sharply, as pride overtook protocol for a moment.
"However, your immense dedication has made us turn two into one. In a moment, Battlemaster Sato will join us; your final trial will also be our test of your skill!"

Tavisaen's echoing voice was drowned in the sonorous sliding of the door as Sato Khan's lithe figure stepped into the room. A quick smile to the Quaestor, and a short bow to the Summit was all Khan did to introduce himself. Vai noticed Sato's red lightsaber igniting with a snap-hiss.

"Your 'saber, apprentice." Sato said, as Ronovi said "Begin!"

Vai stepped back slowly from the Tarentae as he removed his heavy robe revealing the lightsaber he had recently finished constructing. Placing his right hand on this hip, the hunter released his lightsaber from his belt and into his hand. With a hiss, the lightsaber sprung to life as the Quaestor & Aedile looked on in earnest seeing their Rollmaster had been able to construct one with no guidance. The Firrerreon, for a moment, remembered the events that has occurred for him to build his lightsaber.

It started with another restless night over a month ago, dreaming of battles he had or will have with his mortal enemy; the Vong. Like always, the hunter was in battle with a large Vong warrior dodging blows that would decapitate a lesser trained Jedi. The battle moved to a dark cavern with razor sharp rocks all around. This time the battle was different, as Vai felt stronger than he ever had against the relentless attacker. In the hunter’s hand was weapon of a Dark Jedi; A crimson lightsaber lighting up the dark cavern as the Firrerreon struck the Vong in the back of its neck cutting through the warrior’s flesh killing it. After the battle, Vai woke from his dream empowered and ready to face his fears.

Over the next month, the hunter began to acquire the resources to build his lightsaber. He traveled to a place that Sato had taken him long ago and found the primary crystal that had called to him when he was a Protector; as he was now ready to harness its power. He secretly acquired focus crystals to achieve the blade color he desired; as well certain alloys for the hilt and a power cell. When he had all the components, Vai went to an isolated part of the Corsair to construct his lightasber; far away from prying eyes, as well for the safety of all incase he messed up. Vai felt a confidence in building his lightsaber, as if his past had unlocked and his skills as a one-time Jedi Knight had started to return. With the confidence and skill of a trained Jedi, Vai completed the constructing without any issues.

The Hunter snapped back into the present as Sato approached him with saber ignited; Vai knew that this was his chance to show his master that he was indeed ready and fear would no longer control his path. The battle commenced with the Tarentae’s saber impacting with the Hunter’s sending sparks flying, putting a grin on the faces of the Quaestor & Aedile.

From her throne, Ronovi watched the battle unfold as master and apprentice broke away from each other, having locked saber against saber and spent a moment glaring at each other through the fiendish red glow of their blades. She sensed that Sato was taking this all casually, as the two began to circle one another, waiting for the other to strike. She had an idea of who would attempt the first move.

Vai lashed out suddenly with his lightsaber, a strike that Sato smoothly parried, then again, only to have Sato deflect it and then react in a counterstrike, a downward lunge to the usually exposed abdomen. Vai brought down his blade to ward off the blow, and stumbling a bit, he shuffled back as his master began to approach him as if he were in a suppressed rage, the light of his saber spinning as he swung and slashed at his target. Vai was able to block each one, but it was clear that the beginning of the battle had started off with him clearly on the defensive rather than the offensive. Sato did not look like he was going to take it easy on the Hunter.

Resting her chin on her palm, Ronovi cast a sly look at Kazarelth, whose eyes did not move away from the duel. Below them, Vai deflected another swing from Sato and attempted to stab at his master's shoulder to hinder his arm movements. Sato was quick, however, and pushed his saber against Vai's, only allowing the tip of the latter's weapon to singe the Battlemaster's tunic. Vai looked at the ugly black mark before he swiped at Sato again, and their weapons clashed again in a flurry of crimson. It seemed that even with every blow, the two men grew stronger in their anger and determination rather than more fatigued.

This was going to be more interesting than she thought.

As the battle between master and apprentice continued, the tension between the two grew. A fire had been light in the souls of the two sith as one was pushing himself further than ever before as the urge to break the chains came through with every strike. Vai knew to win this battle he needed to go beyond structure and evolve.

"You have to do better than this young one" said Sato attempting to test his students resolve. The Sith Battlemaster did feel his apprentice was ready, however the need to push the Firrerreon hunter from his comfort zone and into a fight for his very life.

The crimson glow of the lightsabers illuminated the faces of the two combatants as Sato backed Vai into the shadows. Vai was struggling but able to block Sato's strikes. The hunter then took a chance by dodging under Sato's high swing and rolling to the side bringing his lightsaber low as if to take the Battlemaster's legs out from underneath him. Years of experience came through as Sato anticipated the unorthodox attack and used the force to leap out of range bring his saber down on Vai's nearly knocking it from his hands.

The impressive moves by Vai had put a smile on the face of Kazarelth, just for a moment, as he watched intently from his throne.

Vai got back on his feet quickly, however could not dodge a force strike the elder sith had sent; knocking the Firrerreon back off his feet.

Kazarelth & Ronovi looked on nervously as Sato ran back into range, bringing his lightsaber down to bear on the hunters abdomen. Again luck was on Vai's side as he quickly used the force to stun his master for the few seconds to avoid the blade sending it impacting with the metal floor of the chamber.

Leaping back to his feet, Vai back away from a noticeably angry Sato Tarantae. Vai went back to his defensive posture waiting for this next attack.

It seemed as if despite Vai being overshadowed by his master's might, neither seemed to falter. Their eyes remain focused on their opponents, their stances rigid and profound, the hum of their lightsabers the only sound in the chamber beside the squeaking of their boots. It was only a matter of time before Sato acted on what he thought was a weak spot on his apprentice, and sure enough, he threw himself into a Force Jump, his lightsaber spinning in his hands, before his weapon met a furious clashing sound against Vai's blade.

Vai, if anything, was a fierce defender, and Sato, though a brilliant fighter, could see how determined the Hunter was as he either parried or dodged each time Sato lashed out with his saber. Even as Sato began to back Vai back into the shadows once again, Vai did not let up, the sweat beading on his brow as he fought back with an almost unnatural intensity.

It was all the Firrerreon could do to use a Force push to get Sato to at least shuffle back, so he could re-achieve his footing. The blades were moving faster now, with every effort exerted in both men's tense muscles, their sharp, precise cuts and slashes. As Vai beat away Sato's lightsaber, he got the feeling that he could get a good aim on the lower part of Sato's torso - after all, it was normally an opponent's less defended point.

In a sudden movement, Vai brought his lightsaber under Sato's in a fierce uppercut before moving it down in a quick slash across his master's abdomen. Sato stepped back just in time to watch his apprentice's strike leave a black, ugly mark against his robes. They stood in neutral stances for only a moment, their harsh breaths rattling in their throats.

"You're proving to be more of an exercise than I thought, my apprentice," Sato whispered, as Vai felt the admiring looks of his Aedile and Quaestor as they looked down at him and waited for the next move in the battle.

Vai always knew his master was an exceptional warrior, but it amazed himself that he was doing as well of a job deflecting Sato’s blows and sometimes getting the upper hand against the human Battlemaster. However there was no real time to think of this as Sato approached again, his crimson saber coming down to strike that of the Firrerreon Hunter; again flew in the shadows as saber collided with saber. The journeyman stepped back again, unable to move forward against the skill the human brought into battle. Sato swung low and Vai blocked the saber, but he could not block the Battlemaster’s next move as Sato spun around and hit Vai in the back of head with his elbow.

There was a sudden sharp pain in Vai’s right leg as Sato’s blade had cut through the clothing and into the Hunter’s skin, causing the Hunter to fall backwards from the pain.

Kazarelth and Ronovi stood as they watched their Rollmaster attempt to regain his footing, Sato stepped back away from the battle for a moment; allowing his apprentice to recover. The look on Vai’s face was not one of pain, but of anger; dangerous anger that when focused could become a lethal weapon.

Calling upon the force, Vai flipped back on his feet, ignoring the pain in his leg. With a burst of speed, the Firrerreon charged his master, spinning his saber before bringing it down heavily on the man. Sato was surprised at the sudden strength his apprentice had as he adjusted his grip to compensate for the impacts. Vai was fighting harder than he ever had before with a fierceness that exuded hate.

Vai was using a form, yet one never instructed to by Sato; a variant of Makashi that gave the Firrerreon added ability. Blocking the Hunter’s quick strikes, Sato knew his apprentice was ready to ascend. He had conquered his fears and doubts, more so capitalized on them in making them tools.