Two towering, tinted, transparisteel doors slide open to grant you access to the central chamber of the Combat Training Halls. The main room is wide and open and as large as as a holoball field. Tall walls stretch towards a domed ceiling that is made up of rows of ambient lights that spread out and fill the room with soft even lighting that eliminates any shades or shadows. Those same walls are lined around the perimeter with racks and stacks of varied weaponry: everything from swords and polearms to rifles and flamethrowers.

There are two signs that hover over each weapon rack to create an alternating motif in the Combat Training Hall: “No Explosions” and “Accorded Neutral Territory”. While the first is fairly obvious, the second speaks to the single law of the Training Halls: all members of the Brotherhood are welcome, and no member is to be killed or maimed without incurring the wrath of the Grand Master and the Inquisitorius.

A trio of training dummies are statically set up and spread out in a line, each made out of a blend of alloys and padding that can withstand blows from any standard weaponry with the exception of lightsaber blades. To the side of the dummies, a large sparring mat has been stretched out to create a larger footprint than the typical shockboxing ring. The padding is good for helping teach new combat students how to take a fall without injury and offers firm footing, but the hard rubber mat is hardly forgiving.

Behind the sparring area is a door that leads to a small archives that combat students can use to view holorecordings of fights and duels from the past as well as relevant information on combat tactics, techniques, and forms. On the opposite side of the archives at the far end of central room is the locker room that members can safely store their equipment.

The final and probably most important element of the Combat Training Hall is the onsite Med Ward. The maglock door is sealed off and can only be opened by an attending Medic. The Medical facilities feature state of the art bacta tanks for recovery and aftercare. A combination of observation and waiting room rests adjacent to the recovery center and features two large monitors that display a live feed of the central room.

The Combat Halls are staffed around the clock, allowing combat students and mentors alike to come and go as they please at odd or regular hours. It also reserved for members looking to prove their worth to compete in the Antei Combat Center.

[Venue Note: Weapons incorporated into your match are allowed to be used, even if not listed on your Weapon Load Out for the match itself. Skill usage and all other ACC rules and guidelines still applies.]

“How far are we from Arx?” asked Kylex Sanguris, looming over the pilot seat of the Star Courier.

“We’ll be there shortly, Mr Impatient,” replied the young Chiss pilot with a hint of sass. “Why are you so nervous? It’s just training.”

Kylex placed his right hand on the woman’s shoulder, letting out a sigh.

“I know that Sarix… but I’m just afraid I’ll mess up,” he said. With a quick glance past the pilot seat, Kylex watched as the stars materialized as they left hyperspace. The Human moved for the ship’s exit, but was quickly stopped by a blue hand coiling around his neck.

“Try not to hurt him badly,” said Sarix, releasing her bind. She stood straight, giving a mocking salute to the Juggernaut. “I’ll drop you at the training centre, message me when you are done.”

Kylex nodded with a grin, double checking his things before vanishing down to the ship’s second level.

Kylex sat in the middle of the training centre, legs folded, eating a sandwich while he waited. He looked around, surprised at the cleanliness of the building. One would have thought with rigorous training exercises being held almost every day, there would be a few more scorch marks.

“It’s just like when I first faced Rosh…” he spoke aloud. The Mandalorian’s mind drifted to a different time, when he had faced his master in a battle. Now he was the master. He let out a chuckle, before crushing the wrapping paper of his meal and tossing it to one side.

They have janitors for a reason.

Kylex peered up from where he sat, looking directly at the entrance of the combat centre. The great doors heaved, opening up wide to reveal a figure. The person advanced, removing his outer cloak, and dropping it into a pile beside the entrance. Kylex looked him up and down, noting the Jedi armour he wore, emblazoned with the Scholae Palatinae crest.

“You’re late, apprentice,” boomed the Juggernaut, standing up. He gestured to the sparring mats beside him, and unhooked his lightsaber. The deep crimson blade sprung from the hilt, its lower than normal hum catching his apprentice off guard.

“I’m sorry Master Kylex, I missed my stop.” said the young Zabrak, igniting his own lightsaber with a snap-hiss

“First impressions always count, Kadrol,” replied the Mandalorian. He raised his lightsaber, pointing it towards his apprentice’s chest. “Now, don’t disappoint me again.”

Without a moment's hesitation, the young Zabrak shot forward. He held the lightsaber close to his chest, running as fast as he could towards his awaiting master. The moment Kylex was in range, Kadrol’s lightsaber shot forward like a spring loaded blade, straight for the Savant’s chest.

“Take this!” yelled the Proselyte.

Kylex laughed, quickly raising his lightsaber. The two blades collided, showering the two in red sparks. The Juggernaut looked down through the blades at his apprentice, a menacing smile forming on his face.

“Good. Now show me what you can really do!”

The two pushed hard on their blades.

“Yes, young one, draw upon your emotions. Fuel your hatred!” His master boomed.

Thoughts of Kadrol’s most painful memories filled his mind: his conviction of betraying the Brotherhood; letting down his former master, Brimstone, in this very room, and his narrow escape on the frozen tundra after a frost bitten battle against Captain Blair Dearg. Kadrol found himself filled with immense anger and determination.

Kadrol moved his offhand to draw his dagger from his belt. As a result, Kadrol was forced into a backwards roll by Kylex’s push against the Zabrak’s lightsaber, landing on one knee with his lightsaber in his right hand, and his dagger concealed within the long sleeves of his garments. Kadrol charged once more. He knew he wouldn’t be able to beat his master with brute force.

As their blades locked once more, Kadrol manipulated his dagger into his palm using sleight of hand. He reached up toward Kylex’s arm, leaving a streak of blood along the most of the length of his arm. Kadrol disengaged with a spin, and looked around desperately for cover. The sparring mat he was on currently didn’t offer any cover.

Kadrol’s hesitation gave Kylex the opportunity to strike. The Mandalorian unleashed a wave of crackling blue lightning from his fingertips, catching his apprentice completely off guard. Kadrol screamed in agony as the tendrils of raw force energy embraced him.

The young Zabrak managed to reach the edge of the sparring mat before falling to his knees. He made his way behind the cover of a sparring dummy as quickly as he could, deactivating his lightsaber as he caught his breath.

“You show skill, my apprentice.” shouted Kylex. He looked at the gash in his left arm, inspecting the damage. The cut was deep, crimson blood dripping down onto the mat. Then he felt it. The cocktail of painkillers from his implant had finally kicked in, suppressing the pain while the Force began to mend the wound. “I’ve got to admit, you caught me off guard. Just know that won’t happen again.”

“I doubt I’m doing to live long enough for a second chance,” replied Kadrol from behind the training dummy.

“Perhaps so.” Kylex said coldly. He had no intention of actually killing the young Zabrak, but Kadrol didn’t know that.

This’ll scare him.

Without a moment of warning, the Savant hurled his lightsaber towards the dummy his apprentice hid behind. The blade cleaved through the dummy, sending the top half towards the floor. The lightsaber then stopped before hitting the next dummy, and flew back to its master. Kylex advanced towards the dummies, each of his steps surprisingly quiet for such a heavy man. He stopped a few meters short of the dummy, and while he couldn’t see Kadrol, he could sense him.

“You have two options now apprentice. You can either run, or you can fi-“ the sentence was cut short by a sudden ignition of a lightsaber. Kadrol leapt from his cover toward Kylex. The Savant quickly thrust his lightsaber into the ground, blocking a low sweep at his legs.

“I’m not going to embarrass myself again!” yelled the Proselyte. “Not again, not here!”

The Zabrak’s eyes were ablaze with determination, he knew he couldn’t let his new master down like he had Brimstone. With all his might, the young Zabrak charged towards Kylex, lightsaber raised.

“That’s the fire I want to see!” yelled the Mandalorian in a mix of pride and excitement. “Don’t hold back!”

As the young Zabrak continued his barrage of strikes, Kylex couldn’t help but remember when he was in the same situation as his apprentice. It was right here, in the same spot that he now stood, facing the same fire he once had blazing within him. He chuckled to himself. Back when things weren’t so confusing… Kylex’s attention quickly snapped back to his apprentice. He could see that the young man was tired, evidenced by his lack of experience fighting for so long. He looked his apprentice in the eye, and spoke.

“You can stop now. You’ve shown me all I need to know.”

Kadrol froze, puzzled by his masters decision to cease the fight. “Are you serious?

Kylex smiled, deactivating his lightsaber and turning.

“You’ve pushed yourself hard today. Lie down and rest before the exhaustion hits you like a runaway speeder.” The Savant turned to leave, probing the fresh wound in his arm.

“Wait! Where are you going?” asked Kadrol, who was now lying down on the sparring mat. Kylex turned back to his apprentice and grinned.

“I’m going off to celebrate your victory.”

Turning his head to peek around the dummy, Kadrol saw Kylex standing, smiling sadistically. The young Zabrak knew he was outmatched. After his initial burst of adrenaline wore off and the truth of the matter began to set in, Kadrol couldn’t rival his master any longer. ‘I could try to get some range,’ The Zabrak thought, ‘Kylex’s lack of ranged weapons could be to my benefit.

The Zabrak pulled out his sniper rifle and did a roll that a young Zabrak would call a “summersault” to get farther from his crazed master. Now behind the second dummy, the apprentice took the safety off and aimed down the sight at the Human. Only now, did the Savant realize that his apprentice wasn’t just trying to recover. His new apprentice was trying to kill him! Kylex reactivated his lightsaber and started charging his apprentice. It was now a kill or be killed situation. Kadrol, however, didn’t want to kill his master, but at the same time, he didn’t want to get killed himself. He noticed his master coming at him, and pulled the trigger, hitting Kylex just above the location of the appendix. Had the Savant not enhanced his robes to make them more resistant to blaster bolt impacts, he would have been knocked over by the force of the energy beam. Though his robes did lessen the impact, the fairly close range from the sniper rifle did injure the human.

Closing the distance between the two, Kylex raised his saber to strike down the Zabrak. Perceiving another shot coming, the Dark Jedi leapt, calling upon the Force to lift him higher than he otherwise could. Kadrol dropped his gun and pulled out his saber with an unworldly speed, rolling over to block the strike with absolutely no time to spare. Kadrol spun to his feet, as his martial arts teacher had taught him, tripping Kylex. This allowed time for Kadrol to get some space from his master as the Savant got back to his feet.

Kylex was done chasing after his cowardly apprentice. He raised his arm and released a single missile at Kadrol. The missile went wide, even though Kadrol had his back turned to his opponent. The explosive hit the wall, leaving a jagged black scorch mark around the spot it had hit.

“What the absolute fuck was that?” Kadrol asked angrily. “You of all people should know that explosives aren’t allowed here!” The Zabrak pointed his saber at the sign above the nearest rack of weapons, which read NO EXPLOSIONS!

“Yeah, so what?” Kylex said. The human clearly had no regards for the rules. Immediately following the reply, Kadrol realized he was only a few steps away from the exit. He stepped back and hit the button, opening the doors. With that he ran out.

A few hours later Kylex called up his apprentice to reach a mutual understanding of the “training” that had occurred not too long ago. Kadrol picked up the holocall, and the two talked for an hour, where they finally agreed to keep their master-apprentice relationship intact.