Remember my apprentices the force surrounds us, penetrates us, and is present all around us. Think of it as if you are a power coupling. With out the electricity that flows through it the coupling is nothing but an unused machine part. But together you can generate enough energy to power a light saber,"said the male human Brotherhood instructor, Mordred Darklighter, to the group of 8 Clan Tarentum apprentices who all stood around with their training lightsabers at the ready.
This was the day they would challenge their teacher to see if they were worthy of receiving their first real lightsaber.
If they failed they would start their training all over."Now which one of you would like to be the first?" Asked Darklighter with an horrid smile on his face.
Tristan raised his hand. "Yes apprentice Rivers?"

"Can we use an form we want?"

The young Instructor chuckled a bit to himself. "By all means, but since most of you are familiar with form I Shii-Cho, I recommend you stay with that form."

going to opposite sides of the training arena Tristan and Darklighter squared off against each other. Tristan could feel the huge dark power of his instructor.
"Could someone this strong have really just graduated from the Shadow Academy only two months ago?"

“I sense your fear apprentice good use it to your advantage."
Darklighter told Tristan.
Tristan turned his attention towards his teacher.
"So apprentice are you going to attack sometime this century?!" Joe said positioning his red lightsaber around until he was standing in a defensive position of form 6.
Both of them were 18 years old and had the same amount of training as each other, but despite this Joe was extremely more powerful than any apprentice at the Shadow Academy even some Masters.This is how he was able to graduate and be assigned as an instructor I in Clan Tarentum so quickly.
Raising his training saber slightly above his head, Tristan readied himself into an offensive position of Shii-Cho.

"Begin!" Yelled Darklighter.

Sticking his hand out Darklighter force pushed Tristan back several feet knocking him out of his offensive position. Using the force he managed to reach Tristan with in two strides. Jumping over his head Darklighter attempted to strike him but Tristan managed to barely block Darklighter’s blow aimed for his head.

Landing, Darklighter started attacking him with a series of spins and quick attacks. His Ataru form was having the desired result he wanted, for Tristan could barely keep up with his numerous flips and rolls that were quickly followed with a saber attack.

Dodging a force pull that Tristan aimed at him, Darklighter landed on his feet with his back to Tristan. Swinging around Darklighter tried to slash him across his chest but instead of blocking the attack, Tristan turned his body away from Darklighter’s crimson blade missing his skin by mere inches.

Stabbing forward, he forced Darklighter to jump to his right. Spinning around Tristan swung low attacking where his legs would be once he landed. However Darklighter brought his blade down easily deflecting Tristan’s attack and force pushing him into a nearby Pillar and onto the floor. Flipping himself up Tristan was now forced on the defensive blocking Darklighter’s strong but precise attacks.
Recognizing his teacher’s use of Makashi, Tristan stopped back pedaling and stood his ground responding to Darklighter’s precision with the strong defense of Soresu. Tristan swung his blade down at him from an angle trying to get Darklighter to move away but instead he brought his red blade up meeting Tristan’s training saber about half way through his swing.

Swinging to the left and right quickly, apprentice Tristan barely managed to deflect each of these blows when Darklighter responded by kicking him straight in the chest knocking him to the ground several feet in front of him. Tristan thinking Darklighter would press the advantage rolled to his right swinging his blade in a high arch. Back to his feet, he was surprised to not see Darklighter in front of him but still standing in his same position he was earlier.

"Ahhh!" Darklighter yelled having both of his hands back before reaching out and striking Tristan with a torrent of black force lightning, sending Tristan’s body flying backwards until he hit the wall with a loud thud.

Looking down at his stunned apprentice, Darklighter spotted his training saber laying several feet in front of him. Using the force he attempted to brought the weapon to him ending their duel. In the middle of flying towards him the weapon stopped in mid air with Tristan’s hand reaching out with the force as well.

"This is not over!,"he yelled struggling to over come Darklighter’s telekinesis, which was causing the training saber to flip violently in both directions.

“Yes it is," Darklighter added overwhelming his opponent, realizing Tristan was growing weaker and weaker by the second.

In a surprise twist Tristan let go of the training saber which caused the weapon to violently whip back at Darklighter who with the aid of the force easily caught the weapon. Not waiting around Tristan sprinted forward meeting Darklighter with a crash of yellow and crimson blades.

"You're beginning to look tired,"Darklighter said raising their blades slightly up at an angle.

"Unlike you,"Tristan added breathing hard and realizing Darklighter was holding back the entire fight. He wasn’t even using a quarter of his strength.
Switching off his training saber, Tristan suddenly moved forward not being able to stop his own momentum as Darklighter side stepped his saber coming down. Swinging his lightsaber handle around Darklighter brought it to the back of Tristan’s head, ending the duel.

"Well fought apprentice, now stand down,"said Darklighter with his arms crossed.

Breathing hard, Tristan put away his weapon. "You held back?” Tristan asked his teacher.
“Only because you wouldn’t have lasted 2 seconds if I was really trying to kill you.” Darklighter said, angering Tristan at his own weakness. “Don’t worry you have proven yourself worthy of receiving your first lightsaber apprentice.” Darklighter reassured him. “Thank you master.” With that Tristan bowed and to his seat next to the other apprentices. “So who’s next?” Asked Darklighter.

The Nancora expedition had been … Interesting. Hyle had used his lightsabre in action for the first time since finding the brotherhood. Things were falling apart in this part of space as usual, but for Hyle himself, things seemed to be slowly coming together. The incident on Nar Shadda and the expedition to Nancora had helped him understand the cause of the Odan-Urr and his own role within that cause. He had promised himself however, that none of this would change who he was, which was why he had made various contacts. All the pieces were in place.

“Hyle, good to see you.”
“Good to see you too Nickle, it’s been a long time.”
“Too long,next time at the Crossroads eh?” The Crossroads was a station which stood more or less at the junction between two major trade routes on the Outer Rim, where Nickle Holker practised as a doctor. He was also married to Hyle’s sister and Hyle had last seen his brother in law at the wedding itself some three months before his mission had led him to the Odan-Urr. They had talked occasionally over holo net, but it wasn’t the same.
“Where’s Helaine?”
“She’s getting us a table at the Havoc’s Tether, she wants us all to hear the news?”
“News?”
“That would be telling.”
They made their way to the Cantina, where a droid ushered them to their table. Sitting there were two more welcome faces from the past.
“Zyra? Commander Docker?”
“Please, Hyle, Jyles will do. OF course, it’s good to see you again, all of you.”
Zyra smiled and they embraced.
“I’ve missed you.” She whispered.
“How?”
They sat.

“So, Hyle, it seems you have found your calling then?” Jyles. Jyles and Zyra had served alongside Hyle in the Sector Militia, occasionally doing tasks for Vice-Admiral Holdo. Jyles Docker was a devotee of the Church of the Force, and was the first to suggests that the feverish visions Hyle had been experiencing for years were just that. His hunch had proved correct when medical testing had proved that Hyle was Force sensitive.
“So it seems, and thank you, both of you.” Hyle said warmly, taking Zyra’s hand from across the table.
“Good evening.” Came a familiar voice.

“Helaine, I thought you were waiting for us.” Hyle greeted his sister with a smile and outstretched hands.
“Careful.” She said light heartedly. Hyle wasn’t quite sure what had given it away but he asked anyway.
“When?”
“Early next year. But you’re supposed to wait until the announcement.”
Drinks were served, and Nickle stood, making his way to the head of the table.

“I’m glad we’re all here, and I’m glad to meet some of Hyle’s closest friends, perhaps one day I might have that honour.”
“You’re family now, what more do you want?” Hyle asked, genially.
“Well, that’s why I’m here, family. Helaine is expecting her first child.”
“Father, Mother and Child.” Hyle raised his glass.
“Family.” Jyles and Zyra raised theirs in response.
Hyle didn’t remember much of the evening itself but they were all happy to see each other. Jyles and Nickle spent several hours exchanging anecdotes about the medical hazards of living and working in space, some were more amusing than others. Zyra had confided in Hyle that things were getting much worse with the First Order.
“We had to pull a lot of strings to get here, this will probably be the last leave I get for a while.”
“It’s really that bad?” Hyle asked. She nodded.
“We knew this would happen sooner or later.”
“We also thought we’d face it side by side.”
“The First Order is evil, but there are other evils in this galaxy, nd we face the ones we have to face. Even if we don’t fight together, we’ll still be together.”
…
It was late the next morning before Hyle awoke.
“They’re going to exploring some old landmarks they read about here. I told Helaine we’d be ready in a couple of hours. I’ve sent for something to eat before we go.” Zyra said with a smile.