@UnluckyFellow Nex chuckled, "yeah, might be a bit of a stretch to assume that she's never seen a Kushiban before. Doesn't matter really, just wanted throw that idea out there and see if you wanted to have some fun." Nex knew for a fact that Onii was finished yet. If anything, he'd come at them harder then before. But he'll be ready when that time came. Or at the very least, as ready as he could possibly be given the time he had too prepare. His whole life and everything in it was held in the balance of this conflict. He couldn't fail them. He won't fail them. For all their sakes, he was going to stop Onii for good, or die trying. He smiled toward Cyrus, the Jedi who a week or so ago Nexnip was calling crazy because he thought he had force powers. And now, in such a short amount of time, he became a mentor and a friend too him. "So Cyrus," he said, trying to get the Jedi's attention, "just out of curiosity, am I what you had in mind for a pupil? Certainly you didn't expect a Kushiban as an apprentice, right? Did you have any idea as too what sort of student you were going to teach, or has it never crossed your mind?"
@GobMaw_HellSmasha Cyrus let out a hum and then shrugged. "Don't know really, I was half expecting that in a couple of years I'd go and give my brothers a check for Force sensitivity. But no, I certainly was not expecting a Kushiban of all things. To tell the truth I would have preferred to wait three or four years at least only because I know that both my saber skills and Force abilities are lacking in terms of ability to shield others as well as myself. " He paused for a moment, giving Nex a preemptive pat in case he took that comment the wrong way. "It isn't that I'm not grateful not, that's just how I'd had it planned before I was assigned to this team, really."
@UnluckyFellow "Ah, so you would have liked to see if your brothers had the force." he stated, scratching beneath his chin trying to think of something, "well...wouldn't you have known by now if they were force sensitive? I mean...I don't know when was the last time you visited your family back home but, wouldn't you have been able to sense it? That was how you found out about my force sensitivity right? Do you remember if they gave you the same feeling? I don't really know if there's any other way to check myself, I'm guessing there has to be." He smiled back to Cyrus, to let him know that he wasn't insulted in the slightest. "I might not be what you expected, but I'm going to be best apprentice I can be. As long as you're willing to teach me, I'm willing too learn what I can."
@GobMaw_HellSmasha "Well our situation was a bit different. I'm still convinced Onii's presence facilitated the Force bond but that's simply conjecture. Didn't think about it the last time I was home, you usually have to be actively trying to sense that sort of thing. Plus I'm not really the sensory type, definitely not as much as a few others I know." They finally made it to the guest barracks and walked through the set of blast doors leading to it. "And good, because don't think I'm going to go easy on your training just because you're fluffy." Spoiler @Uriel1339 Think we'll probably leave it at that. The others may still have more to post but I'm ready for the timeskip whenever.
~~ Time Skip! ~~ @Avenging-Angel (Na'tala training with Bothan Spies) Na'tala already was good at infiltration and remaining hidden, but her natural talent still could be expanded upon. So she was assigned to a group of elite Spies from Bothan. The very same species that retrieved information about the 2nd Death Star after suffering huge casualties in their deployment. Eventually they became an essential part of the spy network the Rebel Alliance, and now Resistance had constructed to sniff out Imperial Remnants. Mission #1 - Simulation - Escape the Deathstar! (Regular Failure) It was the same situation that Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Chewbacca found themselves in with their helpful droids. However, Na'tala in the role of Han Solo failed in a certain situation to buy enough time by persuading the enemy to not send reinforcements, resulting in capture and thus failure of the operation. Mission #2 - Simulation - Steal the Deathstar Plans! (Regular Success) However in another simulation, several months later and many more training missions, she managed to successfully steal the Deathstar plans in a secret imperial facility. She has learned well how to utilize stealth and the own security system against itself and that sometimes false alarms were rather helpful, to make the enemy believe their security system is flawed and thus not react to some alarms anymore. Mission #3 - Real - Gather Intel of Imperial Deployments (Regular Failure) Once the Twi'lek was tasked to gather intel of a list of Imperial Deployments, she got as far as downloading the data from the main computer, but set off an alarm on the way out. The downloaded data was lost as she had to make a jump into a lake in order to escape, but at least some numbers she had remembered, so it was not a complete loss. And that was her first and only deployment as the year was over and she was to be re-united with the rest of her special group. @Vulpas (Kai training with Wedge Antilles) Kai is a pilot, period. However if he was to make sure the entirety of the team was to survive, he had to become much much much more talented. Flying fighters, bombers, transporters even small frigates. There was no better man than Wedge Antilles. Clone War Veteran in the Galactic Republic, and now Resistance War Hero. Kai trained along with a young man named Poe Dameron, barely a pilot yet. Mission #1 - Simulation - Deathstar I, Runway Approach (Significant Failure) Antilles pushed the young Kai and his partner, Poe Dameron to the limit with taking two seats in the Rogue Squadron during the runway approach of the Deathstar. Within thirty seconds they were both shot down by Vader. Disappointed the Elite hero would have to start teaching the trainees how to improve their skills, what to pay attention to, how the X-Wings behave, and so on. Mission #2 - Simulation - Battle of Hoth (Regular Success) Poe and Kai, several months later and plenty of training units having passed, they were tasked with shooting down AT-AT's with the cables of the snowspeeders. Together they managed to take down all in a timely manner, but Wedge remained unimpressed. Mission #3 - Real - Anti-Pirate Deployment (Regular Failure) Near the year's end of training the training was put to a test in a real life situation. Kai however was better apparently in planetary deployments than space fights. His X-Wing was damaged quite badly and barely held together after the attack on the Pirates and several escaped, due to Poe Dameron having needed to cover Kai, instead of pursuing the Pirates. At least there were no casualties among the Resistance. @Kalle & @Casavay (Zuri & Rondo training with Rebel Commandos) Zuri and Rondo ended up with various elite soldiers of the Resistance. They would enhance their skills in demolition and shooting. And some general tactics and survival techniques. Ending up becoming the go-to persons when surviving a crash-landing, deploying behind enemy lines, blowing stuff up. Mission #1 - Simulation - Battle of Endor (Neither Success nor Failure) Rondo and Zuri were tasked right off the bat to attack the Endor bunker, the shield generator that powered the 2nd Deathstar. While the explosives went off after fighting a way through, pretty much everyone of the deployed force died... The mission was a success in technical terms, but practically? Debatable. Mission #2 - Simulation - Battle/Escape of Bespin (Neither Success nor Failure) Their next deployment was not much different. This time shooting their way through the Sky City of Bespin, once again the pair managed to succeed in the mission parameter of escaping the city, but all their allies pretty much died or were caught. Once again, the grade of success was debatable. Mission #3 - Real - Sabotage an Imperial Craft (Good Success) Once it came to a real life deployment at the year's end, the couple would be far more impressive. Their target was an Imperial vessel loaded with many many many weapons for to-be stormtroopers. It was an easy in-and-out mission. Following their instincts and skills, they snuck inside the ship before it took off, put all explosives on-board with a reasonable timer and got out before anyone noticed they had even been there. Just short after it reached space the explosives went off and destroyed the whole freighter. Success on all degrees and the Imperials even believed it was a reactor issue, not sabotage. @UnluckyFellow & @GobMaw_HellSmasha (Cyrus & NexNip training with Kyle Katarn & Skywalker) Obviously the two Jedi needed more training to further their bond and master their skills. Especially since NexNip was a mere youngling. However, they were also often split so that Cyrus could train with other proper Jedi Knights such as Kyle and Jaden, while NexNip would use his time to train with other padawans, including a young Ben, who was the son of legendary heroes Leia Organa and Han Solo. Mission #1 - Training - Obstacle Course (Neither Success nor Failure) The two force sensitive members of Skywalker's special group received exquisite training under the Grandmaster and Kyle Katarn themselves. The first training they did together was to overcome an Obstacle course on Yavin especially created for force users and this combination, a very tiny and a regular sized individual. While they made it to the end, they still failed to succeed in a reasonable time. Thus it was graded as neither success nor failure. Mission #2 - Training - 2on2 vs. Kyle Katarn & Ben (Neither Success nor Failure) In a 2on2 duel with Kyle Katarn and Ben under the oversight of Luke Skywalker it had come easily that everyone fought on their own. Ben versus NexNip and Kyle versus Cyrus. The fight lasted a few minutes, until Skywalker ruled a draw between both teams as they were of equal power. Mostly because Cyrus benefited strongly from the bond with NexNip and vice versa, being capable of keeping up with the more natural talented Ben and the far stronger Kyle Katarn. It was a success in itself as both, NexNip and Cyrus knew now that together by using the bond they could hold up to even individuals which are stronger than themselves. The bond really made them stronger. From what bit Skywalker knows of such bonds was that as long as the minds and beliefs and emotions are aligned the power would grow further, but if there would be disharmony it could weaken both as well. Even worse, there were recorded cases of immense, shared pain. Such as for example if one would lose his arm, the other would feel it in the same intensity. Mission #3 - 'Real' - Padawan Tournament (Good Success) | Jedi Knight Tournament (Regular Success) To celebrate the anniversary of the temple, a tournament was held with three classes. Padawan, Jedi Knight and Masters. NexNip participated in the Padawan Tournament and Cyrus in the Jedi Knight Tournament. Even though they were separated, each of the two bond-users were strong independently, having come a long way. NexNip made it until the finals, his form quite helpful as the Padawans did not know how or where to hit the little fellah who even knew a bit of Jedi Form IV. In the end it was him versus Ben in the finals. After a long, multiple-gasping-causing-battle it was NexNip who won by using the patience and wisdom taught by Cyrus, Skywalker and even his father. Ben was still much of a kid mentally, where NexNip through all the bad and other events in his life was far more mature than one would think. Thus he claimed the victory of the Padawan Tournament. Cyrus had similar success until the finals. He faced now somewhat-legendary Jaden Korr in the finals, the one Jedi Knight who trained under Kyle Katarn and brought an end to the Ragnos Cult. It was a long and epic fight, Cyrus pulling all tricks he had up his sleeve, but the battle-hardened knight always recovered and blocked an every strike. Only once Cyrus did fail to move perfectly and that opportunity was seized by his opponent, thus losing in the finale. Still, the Corellian managed to win 2nd place in the annual tournament! ~~ Now ~~ It was late evening, going into the night as the Zuri, Rondo, Cyrus, NexNip, Na'tala and Kai gathered together a last time before they would receive new orders & instructions tomorrow, finally they would leave Yavin IV and learn what Luke Skywalker had in mind for them. OOC: Feel free to talk all you want, will continue with the next day once everyone is ready!
Nexnip, now 26 years of age, remained relatively the same looking from one year ago. The main visual difference being a Jedi robe fitted toward his small size and a green colored lightsaber. It was going to make camouflage with his mood fur all but impossible, and now he stood out like a soar thumb now compared to his five years as a bounty hunter. He still kept his snarkiness, and overall friendly general attitude. But ever since their arrival to Yavin, emotional outbursts of anger have ceased. He has grown to be a lot more patient, and has gotten a better hand over his powers, and himself. Cyrus's teachings, as well as instruction from Kyle and Master Skywalker has helped him get better attuned with the force. He's grown to be a much better individual then he was a year ago. More confident in himself, but not arrogant. His successes came from the support of others afterall, and he was grateful and humbled by their continued assistance. He and Cyrus have already completed their training regiment for the day and now sat with the rest of the group, many of which he only got to see sporadically from time to time due to the rest of the crew going away on their training and missions. The only constant from their original group he had was Cyrus, who stayed with him to train him, and further develop their force bond, and his father, Minlan, who was probably asleep at their bunk already. He was glad his father was their to support him, despite how obviously opposed to it all intially. It meant a lot to have him their, be a connection to the home he's been away for now fifteen years. He looked toward the group from his master's shoulder he laid upon. Some old habits died hard. A grin upon his face seeing everyone alive and well back together again. @Casavay @Kalle "So Zuri, Kass." he said turning toward the couple. Nexnip still referred to Rondo as Kass, despite no longer considering himself a hunter, or he a bounty. It wasn't because he was trying to be impersonal with the man, it was mainly because Nex became so used to referring to the offshoot as Kass. It was something he mentioned to him a year ago, after their departure from Ithor. "How did your last mission go. I can see the two of you are alive, so I'm guessing it couldn't have gone too south, am I right?" @Avenging-Angel Nex looked over toward Nat, the only member of their crew his father took a liking too intially. Last he remembered was hearing that she was going to do some spy work and train with Bothans. The only thing he's heard about Bothans was that they were the only spy's worth hiring. That they dealt with critical information with utmost professionalism. "So Nat, how are you and Scrapper doing? The Bothans are treating you well I hope." he said with a smile toward the Twi'lek, "all that spy work must really be something else huh? I don't know much about Bothans, but from what I've heard about them they're the best spy's in the Galaxy. But I'm sure you could run laps around the whole lot of them by now." @Vulpas He looked over to Kai, the Wroonian whose face Nex still has yet too see himself. He was hoping at some point over the year he would have at least caught a glimpse of a face. And as crazy as it sounded, Nex wouldn't have been surprised if that helmet was his face. It's become more recognizable as Kai then any face could be at this time. "Hey Kai, how's the training with Wedge going. I heard that you were training with a...Poe. Poe something or other. How's that coming along? Don't think I've seen this Poe guy before. How is it working with him? Is he a good guy?"
The past year had done quite a lot of good for Cyrus. Not much had changed aside that he looked a bit more like a proper Jedi now. His hair was still slightly messy but his tunic were now of proper fit so they no longer looked like it was wearing him instead. He'd also taken a bit of imitation from his master and the knights of the old order during the Clone Wars, sometimes incorporating a few scrap bits of armor into his tunic and bodyglove. His lightsaber had also changed, Zuri could probably recognize it as a saberstaff if she thought back far enough, the hilt had gotten a fair bit longer and the Durasteel's coating showed signed of heavy wear. Being a teacher while also being a student had been one of the most challenging things Cyrus had ever had to do. Thankfully there were more than enough people around to step when even he didn't understand something. It was only now that Cyrus felt like he could call himself a proper Jedi Knight that would have made the old order proud. Thanks to Master Katarn and his switch to a saberstaff, his Form III work had become much better, able to fight on even footing with Jaden Korr. Cyrus was truly honored to have lost that fight. Even though Korr was quite a bit younger, he had fought in many saber duels where they opponent truly meant to kill whereas Cyrus had only been in two or three. The loss kept him humble and reminded him there is always a bigger fish. Thanks to all the training from Master Skywalker, his control with various Force abilities was much more precise. The power behind them remained pretty much the same but it was still good to know that he was a bit more capable not just because Nex was around. The biggest change was in the newfound endurance he had while making use of the Force to increase his speed, something that was necessary for for extended use of Form III and just about any use of Form IV. Towards the end of the year after many weeks of specific practice, Cyrus had finally been able to produce a rather nasty shock that was the beginning of emerald lightning albeit only with a physical grasp. Having Nex around proved to a be a constant source of entertainment and encouragement. Whether by bond or coincidence the two of them got on quite well and to say that Cyrus was proud of the progress his fluffy apprentice had made would be an understatement. Cyrus did his best to keep an eye on how everyone else was doing as well though frequently their missions overlapped with training time. He guessed that the one he saw most was probably Rondo considering they'd get meals in the temple cantina whenever they both had the time. The Jedi just let his apprentice do the talking as they arrived to meet with the others. Cyrus couldn't seem to stop smiling that day when he'd finally heard that they'd all at least made it back to the temple alive and well rather than blasted into space dust or something equally horrible. "Heh, so we're all still here and breathing. How are you all feeling about tomorrow?"
Rondo seemed like himself. And then not. He'd cut his hair shorter, so that it wouldn't get in the way of whatever headgear his missions demanded he wore, and he'd taken to wearing his Alliance uniform - sans infiltration and guerilla combat gear - in his off-duty hours, as well. The reckless spacer image seemed to have been left behind, though he retained his jokester mannerisms. He'd established himself as a serious-minded operative, often placed in a leadership position in the field, and earned the respect of his fellow commandos with his lateral thinking. Even so, and in spite of his recent success with the Imperial vessel, the past year had been a sobering experience for him and he had lost much of his carefree attitude to things. Thankfully, Zuri had been there throughout to keep him grounded. A good-luck charm and trusted companion in the field of combat, and a reliable partner. The two of them seemed to have reached a kind of stability in their relationship and, more often than not, their off-duty hours were spent in one another's company. Even though their near-failures had been only simulations, they seemed to have left a quite harrowing impression on the offshoot, but the Chiss seemed to be able to put those thoughts out of his mind. When it came to the rest of the team, Rondo had tried to keep in touch. Nat was undergoing training in the same flavor - though a little more hush-hush and a little less boom-boom - and it wasn't uncommon for Kass to strike up conversation with her to compare notes now and then - when she wasn't off on some secret mission. As an experienced spacer, Rondo was more than equipped to discuss space-capable crafts with Kai, on the occasions the two of them bumped into each other. Jedi training was well outside his area of expertise, though, and as such, most of his conversations with Cyrus in the temple cantina ended up being about the small things, and a nice break from all the big pictures. Through the knight, he got most of his news about Nex's progress, though he'd preferred to let Zuri and Nex catch up whenever they met. After all, the two of them were much closer than he was with the kushiban. @GobMaw_HellSmasha Now, though, he was standing beside Zuri, one arm hooked around her waist and looking quite elated. "There was a lot of anticipation around the mission, but we got in and out without giving the Empire a clue anything was amiss," he declared with a grin, beaming around at his old teammates. Seeing the team together again had that effect on him.
Change had not spared Zuri, either, and from the looks of it, mostly for the better. She'd taken to smiling almost daily nowadays, though she was still a quite serious person, and seemed to truly enjoy getting to wear a uniform once more. She'd cut her hair shorter, as well, and found some sort of great spiritual confirmation from her pyrrhic (by Chiss mission parameters, non-questionable and complete) sucesses and the actual above-and-beyond victory. Getting closer to Kass hadn't hurt, either, the businessman having helped her stay in touch with the nicer parts of life beyond a soldier's pleasure in doing their duty, and provided a steady counterbalance whenever she failed to keep herself in check. Keeping in touch with her allies was something Zuri tried as well, chatting with them whenever she met her former group and especially trying to meet up with the little lapine as much as she could - watching NexNip grow into a Jedi in the process, and herself gain a better appreciation of the Force while surrounded with people who actually witnessed it firsthand. The Chiss refused to say 'May the Force be with you', however. Personal effort and skill were always better than intangible forces. @GobMaw_HellSmasha "It was a complete success that went above and beyond our expectations", Zuri parrotted in Zuri-speak, letting Kass touch her and showing off her personal growth in the process. "They are blind to our involvement." She too just could not hide the pleasant pangs of nostalgia affecting her, overtly pleased to see all these people back together in one place.
@Casavay @Kalle "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Zuri" he said with a genuine grin and a mock bow,"I'm glad the two of you made it out unscathed, that's what mattered the most too me. Seeing you all alive and well was all I could wish for." He hadn't realized till now how being separated from Zuri for extended periods of time hasn't bothered him as much as he intially expected too. Sure, he missed Zuri a lot when she wasn't there, but he didn't feel any worry about not being there with her. And that was because he knew Zuri was going to have Kass with her to help her, through combat, or just emotional issues. It was funny, how his father unwittingly paired both huntress and her bounty together a year ago on Ithor. He was glad to see Zuri being a lot more open then he's seen her in years. Kass must have been someone truly special to her for her to be so upbeat in appearance as frequently as she was. It was nice to see the happy couple getting along. @UnluckyFellow It has been quite awhile since the whole crew has been in the same room together, let alone working together on a mission. Upon hearing Cyrus's question about tomorrow and the inevitable mission that followed Nex's ears rose up briefly as he turned toward his Jedi Master. He smiled toward him, and spoke with utmost confidence. "I think it's nothing too worry about. Master Skywalker wouldn't be sending us on a mission if he didn't think we were capable of doing it." he nudged against the side of Cyrus's head, "besides, we have the whole crew together again, I'm sure we could handle whatever is thrown at us. Looking back on things, we did pretty good with all the chaos that happened too us. Kriff, it was an adventure in itself just trying to get here for us. And now, we're even more prepared then we were a year ago. So I say, whatever it is. I know we can do it." He looked away, as his face went blank and his eyes closed in contemplation. He turned back too Cyrus as a thought he hadn't figured before just came too mind. "We'll have to leave my father here at the temple. Alone...as much as I want to be near my dad we can't bring him to this mission. Whatever it is, it'll be far too dangerous to have him there. But...but I don't want to leave him by himself either..."
