20 Training Precognition

I wake up, and my body feels way better, and I think I've made a full recovery. Yesterday was a great day of training. A full 9 hours of training saber forms and Precognition is great. Too bad Satele had to leave early yesterday. Speaking of Master, I look over to the other bed in the room, and she isn't here. I look at the on-station clock, and I rested a full 8 hours. I get up from the bed and head into the training room. I can get even more training today.

I walk over to the console and input the same commands as yesterday, except I up the difficulty. The droid pops out of the vent and unfolds. It gets its training saber out and into position. I get into a new stance today and enter Niman guard instead of Jedi ready. "Begin!" I close my eyes, and the heavy and quick assault begins. I block and parry strike after strike. It uses Djem So and Makashi so far. I'm reflecting attacks much better and faster now.

The assault stops, and I enhance my senses to hear where it is. It's silently trying to get around me. I spin around and get into an open Niman stance, and force push it against the wall. It decides that silence isn't the way and begins attacking again. This time it's incorporating Ataru on top of Djem So and Makashi. While I would like to train with Satele so she can point out my mistakes, training with a droid is still good for progress. It eventually lands two strikes, and I backflip using Ataru movements.

It doesn't give me any time to recover, and it begins laying on fast, strong, and precise strikes. I block and parry strike after strike, and precognition is making it easier. I hang on for another 6 minutes before I get hit with another strike. The program stops, and I release a sigh. "I can see why precognition is so amazing. I wonder why they didn't dive into this more with younglings..." I feel a familiar presence, and the training room door slides open.

Satele walks in and sees the droid. "Would you prefer to keep training with the droid, or would you like me to instruct you?" I smile at her and walk over to the console. I input the commands for the droid, and it leaves into the vent. "I can tell that you have been training precognition with difficult situations. You are walking and holding your lightsaber hilt differently. I'll go a little harder than yesterday." I nod my head and give her a bow. I get into position across from her and get into Niman guard.

I close my eyes and get ready to defend and try to do better than yesterday. I activate my blade, and so does Master. She lunges at me, and I block several strikes until she lands three strikes in a row. I leap back, and she keeps pushing me. I'm doing all this with my eyes closed, and I feel that her strikes are getting harder and faster. I'm overwhelmed not soon after, and I find myself on the ground yet again. "You have made tremendous progress in the last day..." She sounds more worried than anything.

I sit up and let the stinging sensations fade. "Precognition is super useful. It makes fighting better opponents a possibility. I trained with the droid for 4 more hours after you left yesterday." She just shakes her head in disapproval.

She gives me a stern look and paces back and forth while looking at me. "Nathan... You are gifted with the force. When it comes to learning force powers, you will exceed because of your connection. I want you to exercise caution. If you develop too fast and rapidly, you will gain an inflated sense of self and incredible pride. Many great Jedi have fallen for potholes of similar situations." What she says is true. I have to remain humble and critical of myself. If I gain a bad ego from this, it could cause me to fall or die.

When she explains this to me, I can see some sadness in her eyes, and I sense she has echoes of pain in her heart. "Master... I sense you are in pain... Did this happen before?" When I ask that question, she closes her eyes and takes a breath.

She gives me a look that I should listen well. "I have a son..." I don't really know how to react, but I'm not upset or mad. I just have questions. "I grew really close with a trooper named Jace Malcom. During that time in my life, I was gaining strength and power every day. It went to my head, and I ignored my teachings. I had a relationship with Jace, and my only son Theron was the result." I can see why she is telling me this now.

I look at her in concern, and she just gives a neutral expression. I can feel her pain, though. She cares deeply for Theron. "When he was born, I took him to the order for training... After long, we found out he wasn't force-sensitive... He was forced out of the order, and I haven't seen him since..." This situation... The pain she feels now is the result of gaining a big ego and massive pride. Now she has lost her son through her actions.

I could never imagine letting go of a child. Thinking about it makes my parent's departure even worse. "I'm sorry, Master... I don't think less of you or condemn your actions... In meditation class, we learned that things like this happen, and it isn't evil." She knows this, but that doesn't make it any less painful. There isn't anything I can say that would make it any better. Despite what the Jedi preach, we still feel things.

She looks at me with a bitter smile. "We should continue your training. Get ready. I'm going to come harder than before." I nod my head and listen to her orders. I'll let her sort her feelings out on her own. I can't help with something I don't understand. I get into the same Niman guard, and I ignite my lightsaber. She also ignites her lightsaber. "This time, use precognition with your eyes open, Nate. Now that you can use it without struggling, it's time to progress." I nod my head and keep my eyes open.

She lunges at me, and I struggle at first since I'm used to having my eyes closed. After a few more strikes, I get a handle on it, and it's the same as when my eyes are closed. She is attacking fast and hard, but I'm keeping up. "I want you to try and attack me instead of defending. Use whatever you think will help you improve." I listen to her orders, and I begin retaliating with my own attacks. I use Djem So at first, but her Soresu skills are impenetrable. I switch to Ataru since that was designed to fight heavy defenders.

I don't land any strikes, but I do make her move faster than last time we trained. "You are doing great, Nate. Now I'm only going to be defending. Try your best." I do just that, and I attack with the best I have. I have limited knowledge and training with my chosen forms, but I'm doing a great job. I still can't land a hit, however. She eventually starts attacking again, and I'm on the ropes. Precognition is really helping in this situation, but she is so much better than me.

I falter to her increase in speed and power. I break away and deactivate my lightsaber. I take a knee and try to catch my breath. Even with force augmentation, I'm still having a hard time keeping up with her. "I think it's time to instruct you on Niman, Ataru, and Shien forms. Once I feel you are far enough with Shien, we'll move onto training with Djem So too." I stand up, and she stands at my side. "I want you to copy the moves I'm going to demonstrate to you." I ignite my lightsaber and get ready.

She ignites only one blade and begins to show me moves for Niman and Ataru as well as Shien. I copy them and keep up with her movements. "There are hundreds of specific moves and variations to learn, but we'll start with the ones that are easiest to learn so you can build upon them." I shadow her moves and techniques for the next 3 hours. When we finish a set of moves, we start again from the beginning. Getting used to doing the moves.

We spend another 4 hours looking at weaknesses in my form and posture while practicing these moves. I didn't know how little I knew and how inexperienced I really was. I'm glad Satele is training me and pointing out my faults. It's really keeping me critical of myself so that I can improve with the right mindset. After another hour, we finally stop. "That's 8 hours of training, Nate. I'd love to stay and help you more, but I still have things to do, and I've put them off to help you. The training droid is all yours." I nod my head and watch her walk off and out of the room. As I watch her leave, I notice that other padawans are talking in the other room.

I almost go and join them, but then I remember that I just got a fresh lesson from Satele. I'm going to continue training what she taught me today. There will be time for visiting later. I walk over to the console and input the same commands as last time. The droid pops out, and I get ready. "Begin!" I yell, and the droid charges towards me. I spend another 4 hours training precognition with my eyes open and what Master Satele showed me about Niman and Ataru, and Shien today. I've trained for 12 hours, and I'm beat.

I leave the training area and head to my room. I dress down to my underwear and toss my clothes into the sonic wash/dryer this time. They reek, and I hop into the sonic shower since I reek. I come out clean and check on my clothes. They are clean too, and I put them back on. I walk over to my bed and flop down on it. I use revitalize before I close my eyes and fall asleep fast.