A/N: Hey readers!
Sorry it took me so long but I'm finally back.
On that note the winner of the last contest was Undead_Slayer_3173
[Insert an image of Count Dooku Here]
***
Waiting with the rest of his Thranta Clan members, Aelius stood to the side. Patiently waiting his turn as Marcellus finished up his run in the flight simulator.
Being the first of the Thranta Clan members to get inside the proverbial cockpit today.
A situation Aelius and his clan members had been facing everyday for the past month, ever since flight training and starship maintenance was integrated into the rest of their studies at the beginning of the year.
One year having passed since Aelius was rescued from those Outer Rim raiders by Plo-Koon and brought to Coruscant and inducted into the Jedi Order.
Where he doing quite well.
Thanks to his self-study he had now caught up with all the other Jedi initiates his age. Not only in classroom study and normal subjects such as reading, math, and history, but also in Force-related studies. Namely due to his powerful connection to the Force giving him an added edge. Along with his adult mind.
In fact Aelius was actually beginning to surpass several of his fellow Jedi initiates and younglings in Force-related subjects. Such as telekinesis and even Force empowerment.
Accomplishments that earned him the ire of many of his fellow initiates, though Aelius truly didn't care what any of them thought. He only really cared what his fellow clan members and friends thought.
All of whom didn't have a problem with Aelius's progress, and in fact began pushing themselves harder in their own studies to keep up with his sudden growth.
A fact Aelius enjoyed.
Hearing a peeping sound, everyone watched as the canopy on the flight simulator opened. Indicating Marcellus time in it was over, since he had gotten as far as he possibly could in the simulation.
For the flight simulator never had an end, it only had levels.
And the higher the level you passed the better indicator of what your pilot skill level was that.
Basically it was like one giant videogame.
"Thank you initiate Marcellus. You may step down now." The Thranta clan flight instructor for the day spoke to him.
Whose name is Clee Rhara.
A Jedi master and ace pilot within the order.
"Yes, master." Marcellus replied.
He then exited the flight simulator and rejoined Aelius and the others.
"So then, who would like to go next?" Master Rhara asked.
"I will." Aelius replied, stepping forward.
"Alright then initiate Sunrider." Rhara replied.
So with that Aelius went over to the flight simulator and hopped inside. He then began making preparations with the controls, until he lowered the flight canopy and once he did the first level of the simulator began.
Which was just flying a normal course through space.
A task Aelius easily completed.
He then easily completed the next few levels of the simulator, until he reached level eight. The highest he had ever gotten. Never being able to complete the course the simulator generated.
But today he hoped to beat his personal record.
"This is where the fun begins." Aelius muttered. His hands on the flight controls. After which he pushed down on them and accelerated forward. Doing his best to stay the course, bobbing and weaving through the debris field of the simulator level.
Though just as he was half-way through he ended up crashing into a stray piece of starship debris, and thus his time in the simulator came to an end.
"So close." He muttered.
As he climbed out of the simulator and rejoined his fellow clan members.
Until everyone else took their turn.
After which master Rhara reviewed their time in the simulator with them before class was dismissed.
Once it was Aelius and his clanmates went their separate ways.
Save for him and Aayla.
Who both headed to one of the training rooms in the temple, where a Jedi training droid was waiting for them.
Since they were both about to practice their lightsaber combat skills.
For a weeks earlier Aayla had discovered Aelius was doing the practice by himself one day and asked to join him so she could improve her own skills. To which he agreed.
"So, still stuck at level eight in the flight simulator I see." Aayla mused.
"Yeah, and I have no idea why." Aelius replied.
As both of them retrieved training sabers from the Jedi training droid in the room.
"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll get there eventually Aelius. Besides, there's no need to rush. It's not like we're about to go to war or anything." Aayla spoke.
Having no idea how wrong, and close to the truth, she actually was.
"Yeah, right." Aelius replied. Laughing it off.
Even though he knew what awaited them in the future. One he had been thinking about even more deeply ever since he got that message from his ancestor Nomi's lightsaber last year, and those visions.
Which is another of the reasons he's pushing himself so hard at the moment. For he knew he needed to be ready.
It is why he was now self-teaching himself the basics of the other six forms of lightsaber combat. Since Aelius wanted to master all seven forms. But especially form II: Makashi, Form V: Shien/Djem So, and finally Form VII: Juuyo/Vapaad. Since he found those to be the coolest lightsaber forms in his book.
Their preparations complete Aayal and Aelius got down to business.
While she began practicing against the training droid, since they had only been allowed access to one, Aelius stood off in another corner of the room and began practicing the basic movements of Makashi.
The two becoming engrossed in their traning.
Until the door to the room opened and they heard a voice speak to them.
"I had heard there was a youngling who was training himself in the brilliant art of Makashi. So I came to see so for myself. But to think you would be butchering it so badly, fore shame on you young Aelius Sunrider. Fore shame." A graceful male voice spoke.
One that Aelius recognized.
And when he and Aayla turned their gazes to the direction of the voice his suspicions were confirmed.
The man who had just entered the room was none other than one of the greatest Jedi of the current era, and the future potential Sith Lord Darth Tyranus, Count Dooku.
[Insert Image of Count Dooku Here]
***
Title: Dooku