M/VSD II Paladin

It was the first day of classes for the newest arrivals. Inyri’s blue eyes darted among her peers, most of them a fair bit younger than she was. Anticipation and excitement filled the air as Inyri made her way to the first class of the day, which would introduce her to the basics of the Brotherhood. After that, Inyri’s day was full of combat courses and an introduction to starfighter piloting, which suited her just fine. She hoped that she could get past the class work and get to something far more practical.

Still, for the moment, Inyri knew the drill. Just like at Corellian Security Forces Academy, the best approach was to keep her head down until she had to demonstrate her abilities, follow orders, and not attract unwanted attention. At least in her mind it was, there was no telling yet what the Shadow Academy’s instructors were going to do, and there had been whispers of some kind of purge not long after her arrival. It kept Inyri on edge, but for now, she’d observe and then react.

Inyri stepped into the classroom with the rest of her class, and found a seat towards the front, on the aisle side. She swung her satchel onto the desk and sat down, rummaging for her datapad and stylus when she realized there was someone standing over her. Inyri stopped and looked up, it was a Kaleesh male leering at her. Judging from his attire, he was also a student.

“Can I help you?” Inyri asked.

“You’re in my seat, Human,” The Kaleesh sneered.

“They’re not assigned. Find another,” Inyri replied and went back to her pack. She wasn’t about to indulge the student’s posturing. The Kaleesh leaned in, slamming a hand down on the desk.

“I said that you were in my seat, Human. So YOU find another,” The Kaleesh said with a harsh edge on his tone. Inyri let out an annoyed sigh.

“Or what?” Inyri asked.

“Do not test me, because you will not like the consequences, Human. Find another seat, this one is mine,” The Kaleesh continued to speak in a threatening tone. Inyri finally turned to face the Kaleesh again, her eyes narrowing.

“No.” Inyri’s gaze locked on the Kaleesh’s yellow eyes, as she spoke with conviction.

The Kaleesh responded by moving the hand he slammed on the desk to grabbing Inyri by the throat, clamping down to try and choke her. Inyri gasped for air, but as she did, her training kicked in. Her left hand went for his wrist, while her right leg wrapped around his left ankle and her right hand reached for his head. In one swift motion, she pulled his leg out from under him and slammed his head into the desk, using her grip on his wrist to break his grip on her neck and then twisted it to apply some pressure on him in return.

“Enough!” A voice barked from the head of the room. Inyri’s gaze turned to the speaker, the instructor for the course. As ordered, she let go of the Kaleesh’s wrist. Her attacker stood up, and drew back to punch her when his fist stopped dead in the air. She could then hear him gasping for air, clutching at his throat.

“I said enough! Defy me again, and you will be severely punished! Now find a seat so we can begin,” The instructor said. He wore ornate red and black robes that seemed quite voluminous, though Inyri wasn’t sure if it was for show or not, since many here favored robes it seemed. In fact, Inyri had forgone that attire for more straightforward clothing, a white shirt and black jacket, green pants and brown boots, since she saw no use in wearing robes.

The Kaleesh collapsed to the deck and then stood up slowly, slinking towards the back of the room.

“Initiate Ginovef, why did you see fit to use violence in my classroom?” The instructor asked. Inyri inwardly groaned but stood up, standing at attention like she had learned at CorSec Academy.

“Sir. I saw fit to use force to respond to force used against me, but I did not start the fight,” Inyri replied stiffly.

“Why did you not just strike Initiate Jorg when he first threatened you?”

“Sir. The situation had not escalated to requiring force until he escalated it. And I did not wish to indulge some first day posturing, sir,” Inyri replied.

“But you would have seen it through to its conclusion had I not intervened?” The instructor asked with an arched eyebrow.

“Sir. Yes, I would have applied all necessary force to resolve the situation. As soon as Initiate Jorg backed off, so would I, but otherwise, yes, I would have seen fit to use all available force to resolve the situation, sir.”

“And that, class, is the distinction to make between the Jedi, the Sith, and the Grey. You may feel that Initiate Ginovef should have tried harder to defuse the situation or just outright tried to kill Initiate Jorg for crossing her, she chose an option between both. All three sides must exist for there to be the Force, it is a balance, and all three have their places in the Brotherhood. It is not the path you walk that makes you intrinsically superior, but rather what you do with that path,” The instructor nodded, “Be seated, Initiate.”

Inyri nodded and took her seat, realizing that flying under the sensors was out of the question. She had just painted a target on her back, and now she would have to prove that she was not going to fall prey to anyone or anything here. Excellence was now going to be her only way to survive around here.