Ahsoka eagerly deflected the shots from the training droids, but as the intensity of the fire and the number of droids gradually increased, she realized she was still far from perfect.
Controlling two blades at once was extremely difficult. Managing both hilts required far greater concentration, and the gyroscopic effect caused them to pull in different directions—an unpleasant sensation, especially compared to fencing with a single blade. However, Ahsoka was surprised to find that it was a little easier for her to concentrate on this. Continuing her training, she conducted a simple self-analysis and realized that the meditations she had once disliked so intensely had helped her in this—the very ones her Master had forced her to practice.
Still, she needed a great deal more training to truly master Jar'Kai. At first, she had planned to learn at least the basics of Niman, the initial step toward studying Jar'Kai—but in the end, she abandoned that idea. Why learn a style that was so obviously flawed? And Ahsoka's doubts were firmly supported by facts.
Of the 187 Jedi who died in the Petranaki Arena, the majority had been practitioners of Niman, the so-called "diplomat's form." The statistics were anything but encouraging.
"Training? You didn't even come to the briefing…"
"Master, I want to master my shoto properly."
"Commendable enthusiasm. Jar'Kai is a suitable style for you, but… don't neglect the others. You know, many forget that fencing is not the only weapon of a Jedi," the man said, stepping closer.
"Master?.." Ahsoka asked uncertainly, not quite understanding what he meant.
"The Force, Ahsoka. The Force. Telekinesis, Force Push… Don't rely solely on your fencing skills and weapons while leaving other abilities underdeveloped. You know, Asajj Ventress, for example, uses two sabers and has achieved great success with them—but when she's left with only one lightsaber, it puts her at a disadvantage. Another weakness of this style is that each of your hands holds a lightsaber, making two-handed strikes impossible. You also can't use your full body weight—which, forgive me, isn't particularly great—to block effectively, weakening your defense. An opponent with a single blade can simply break through with brute force or wear you down with exhausting attacks."
"So… my hands are occupied… hmm." The girl deactivated the blades and stared thoughtfully at her Master. "Is it even possible to use telekinesis while holding something in your hands? I've never heard of that."
"You know, Padawan… you're asking the right questions. Everyone knows that the hands are the best conduits for the Force, and if a gifted person loses them, they often lose the ability to use telekinesis. But…" He paused meaningfully. "There are creatures with no hands at all—and that doesn't stop them from using the Force. Try. Experiment. It's all in your hands."
The Jedi smiled. "All right, I won't get in your way."
He moved to the opposite corner of the hall and picked up his large blade. Ahsoka watched him pensively.
He's always like this, she thought. He puzzles you, then leaves you to figure it out yourself…
She shuddered slightly. Brr. I'd better keep fencing.
***
Let her think—it's useful. In general, if people never questioned well-known facts, we'd still be living in caves. Take Vader, for example—they cut off all his limbs: first Dooku chopped off one arm, then Obi-Wan took the other and both legs. Yet that didn't stop our Chosen One from strangling negligent officers, did it?
Leaving Ahsoka to ponder my words, I decided to practice as well. I needed to master my blades. Taking a saber with a long hilt in my hands, I activated it—and then the protective field around it.
Slowly sweeping the blade through the air, I genuinely enjoyed the sensation. Hm. Now I understood why Ahsoka was so absorbed in this. With the old blade, I hadn't felt that… that… whatever it was, exactly. The blade felt like an extension of my arm, my will—my… Force, if I may put it that way.
True, with the new hilt, most techniques would have to be reworked. At the same time, some strikes from Shii-Cho and Soresu took on new dimensions. They became more… powerful, more sharp. And overall control of the blade felt more predictable and easier—the increased length of the hilt created greater leverage, which, combined with a comfortable grip, allowed movements that were practically impossible with a standard handle.
Despite its length, the hilt was barely heavier than a regular one—I couldn't feel the difference at all. Still, it weighed about six hundred grams. Although the blade itself was weightless, but the gyroscopic effect didn't disappear, which made mastering a lightsaber extremely difficult for the ungifted. And those who tven tried usually preferred light staffs, poles, or light pikes. The latter were the easiest to handle—the risk of injuring yourself was negligible.
I summoned a couple of training droids and activated them. First, I needed to master the long hilt; then the double-bladed technique; and only after that, the use of two joining blades. Although the latter will be closer not to ordinary swords, but rather to staffs—the handle was just over a meter long. But… the advantages were numerous, especially in open terrain against droids. The radius of destruction became extraordinary. I estimated that if I jumped into the middle of a B-1 battle droid formation, there was a chance I could scrap forty to sixty clankers in less than a second…
After three hours of training, I decided it was time to move on to the next level. I transferred the blade to my prosthetic hand, used telekinesis to pull a second saber from my belt, and activated both.
Hutt, this is a hell of a lot harder than fencing with one. No—no, Jar'Kai definitely wasn't my style. It was one thing to suddenly draw a blade and stab an opponent; it was quite another to fight continuously with two sabers.
All right. Time to try something new.
Deactivating the blades, I joined the hilts together and spun the resulting staff. It was just over a meter long—almost the same length as a standard Jedi lightsaber blade. I couldn't help but laugh.
Yes, you could fight with this thing even without the blades. Just crack them over the head with the club and be done with it. Einstein was right—oh, so right…
Activating the blades again, I made a few test swings.
Oh yes. This is it. Unusual, no doubt about it—but this is my weapon, and I absolutely must master it. It wasn't for nothing that I had a vision of connected blades. Still, I doubt I'll master it quickly… Training, training, and more training.
Then I remembered that I needed to prepare for the operation—there were only a couple of hours left before our arrival. I should put on my armor. I've got a bad feeling about this… It's definitely not going to end without a fight.