SW System 2: Training Begins (Patreon)

Iggios was quite happy with himself, unaware that his future was being decided even before he started his proper lightsaber training.

As luck would have it, younglings are typically taught by the designated Jedi Battlemaster. At this time, that should be Master Cin Drallig, if Iggios remembered correctly. He recalled little about this specific Jedi Master, but he knew that Master Drallig was proficient in all seven lightsaber forms. If Iggios' memories were to be believed, Master Drallig would be the ideal teacher for him, considering he wished to hybridize multiple forms.

Iggios had diligently read about the lightsaber forms in the archives to ensure his knowledge was accurate. His grin widened when he learned that his memories were spot-on in this regard.

His first lightsaber lesson arrived quickly, barely a week after the excursion to Ilum. Iggios and the other younglings lined up just as they used to with the training sabers.

Master Drallig was a human man with long dark-blond hair and an icy glare that could freeze any troublemaking youngling in place. He ensured that all the younglings could easily perform the basic motions of the first form before asking which forms they would like to specialize in.

Most chose the acrobatic Form Four, or even the notoriously inefficient Form Six. Iggios couldn't really blame the others, though. they did not know what was coming, and Form Four looked incredibly impressive, especially in Yoda's hands.

"And you, young man?" Master Drallig asked when he finally got to Iggios, making him furrow his brows; it was time to draw attention to himself.

"A hybrid form, most likely, Master Drallig," he replied, keeping his voice steady. "I wish to create a proper dueling style that incorporates aspects of Forms Two, Three, and Five, while still allowing for effective defense against blasters." He said with a thoughtful look.

Form Two, Makashi, was a duelist's form focused strictly on lightsaber combat but lacked reliable defense against blasters. Form Three, Soresu, was a specialized defensive form, not the best for sword-to-sword combat, but perfect for deflecting blaster shots. Form Five, Djem So, was aggressive and powerful, focusing on devastating counterattacks.

By blending the three forms together and including elements from other forms, Iggios aimed to create a very challenging opponent for almost anyone.

He noticed Master Drallig pause for a moment, staring into space before nodding.

"That is quite a goal. We will see if you have the aptitude for such a thing," he said, uncertain if this youngling was serious or overreaching.

But Iggios was confident. He chose those lightsaber combat forms not out of a desire for uniqueness, but because no single form was balanced enough to meet his needs.

In his mind, he would create what Form Six was supposed to be. That form had a potential to be terrifying, yet it was primarily used by Jedi who did not wish to pursue mastery of lightsaber combat, resulting in the form to use watered down aspects of other forms instead of creating a perfect hybrid form. It was a shame that almost half of the Order chose that form in these peaceful times.

"If people could master all lightsaber forms, then creating a hybrid form is the least I can do. Maybe the System will awaken if I succeed..." Iggios momentarily lost himself in thought but quickly refocused, determined to prove to Master Drallig that he had more than just aptitude.

He remembered his past experiences with sabers, mostly for fun and sport, but some of that knowledge could certainly apply to real combat, especially since his old world lacked the luxury of the Force.

Fencers in that world relied solely on their senses, and their fighting style reflected that: no fancy spins, no telegraphed movements, and no standing still. Iggios' lightsaber style would be based on footwork and fast strikes.

Makashi emphasized most of those points but was specifically tailored for one-on-one dueling. However, one-on-one combat would not always be an option, and with the assistance of the Force, the more exotic moves employed by other forms made sense in various situations.

Moreover, if his memory served him correctly, even a purist like Dooku modified Makashi to perform better against blaster fire.

The training droids were brought in; similar in appearance to Professor Hyuang, holding tatami mat-like projectors to assess the precision of the cuts made with the chosen forms. Master Drallig and several other Masters walked around, offering advice to the eager younglings.

Iggios assumed a stance he was familiar with from his past life, igniting his lightsaber with a hiss. The silver blade sprang to life as he delivered his first strike, flicking his wrist and bringing his arm down to attack the projectors.

He quickly chained the initial attack into what, with a conventional sword, would be classified as a false-edge cut. However, with a lightsaber, he didn't need to twist his wrist as he would have needed to with metal sabers; lightsabers could cut from any angle, regardless of edge alignment.

He did notice that his lightsaber performed better when using the edge. While the flat of the blade cut like any typical lightsaber, the edges of his blade were more concentrated, allowing it to slice through material more effectively than other lightsabers; except for the Darksaber, perhapse. He was curious to see how his lightsaber would compare to that legendary weapon.

—

Cin Drallig kept a close watch on the unusual youngling, observing him as he practiced cuts and stances he had never witnessed in lightsaber combat. They resembled, or perhaps were even based on Makashi, but had a stronger emphasis on efficiency.

A flick of the wrist, a quick shift to the side, and another rapid attack. All with minimal movement, yet the lightsaber cut just as effectively.

Now, he understood why Master Yoda had compared this young man to Dooku. It was fascinating and unsettling to see the boy gradually discover the best way to execute his cuts. Fighting in this manner could easily confound many Knights and perhaps even some Masters.

A chill ran down Drallig's spine as he sensed the Force swirling around the boy. He did not use the Force as a Jedi typically would; rather, he allowed the Force to guide his actions, which was normal. However, he made corrections along the way, not blindly following the path laid out before him.

It appeared that these adjustments were instinctual; the boy likely had no idea what he was doing. That worried Drallig considerably. The sheer instinct this youngling possessed was remarkable.

The supposed Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker, had a similar intuition, but young Skywalker’s instinct was connected to the Force, allowing his strikes to flow effortlessly just as the Force guided them. In contrast, this boy demonstrated pure combat instinct; a need for minimal movement and efficiency.

Drallig continued to observe Iggios for a while longer, deciding to assist the young boy. He knew Iggios would be assigned to one of the more tempered Jedi masters, but that raw instinct needed to be honed before it could be tempered.

“This youngling... perhaps we will have a new Battlemaster in a few decades,” Drallig thought with amusement. There might be a chance for him to retire to focus on his role as the Head of Security if he could convince this youngling to master all the lightsaber forms and take over as the Battlemaster.

—

Iggios left the training session feeling pleased with himself. He had tried some cuts that he remembered performing with metal swords in his past life, and to his pleasant surprise, they integrated quite well into Makashi.

He was unsure how he could incorporate Djem So into such a utilitarian style of fighting, but since the Jedi were basically space wizards, there would likely be a way to do so. Perhaps sacrificing some of the raw utilitarianism for a bit of flashiness wouldn’t be the worst thing. The Force offered warnings and guided actions. Sometimes, spinning around like an idiot was objectively the right move in this universe.

Moreover, the Force sometimes provided warnings in advance, making it slightly more acceptable to telegraph an attack. While this approach could be wasteful, it allowed for more power in the strike, potentially overpowering an opponent.

Iggios shook his head. He would need to visit the Jedi Archives to learn more. He was fairly certain he had seen some individuals who shouldn't exist in the Canon timeline, so figuring out the amalgamation he was dealing with would be extremely helpful.

Sneaking away a few ancient Holocrons to study would also be nice, especially if he was operating in Legends territory. Some of the things those ancient Jedi did were too broken not to explore.

However, that would have to wait until he became a Padawan. Younglings had very limited access to the Archives, and only in the presence of a Master Jedi. As a Padawan, his access would still be quite restricted, but he would be able to go there alone or request access to certain restricted sections from his future Master.

Just as Iggios was losing himself in thought, he was rudely interrupted by his young, energetic friend.

"Iggy~ You're ignoring me again..." a little whine came from Ahsoka, the young Togruta girl, who, much to Iggios's confusion, was staring directly at him while invading his personal space.

"Ah, Ahsoka. I didn’t see you there," he said, scanning her face for that familiar little pout of hers.

She was younger than him by a little over a year, her orange skin contrasting with the white markings across her face. The small montrals on her head were barely protruding into the iconic horns, were mostly white with a growing pattern of blue rings. Her lekku framed her face, still short enough that they didn't reach her shoulders yet.

It was hard to imagine that she would grow up to be one of the most important people in the galaxy in just a few short years.

"So, what is it now?" he asked, bringing her back from her pouting state.

"You promised..." she murmured quietly, looking down momentarily.

"I guess I did," Iggios sighed dramatically, a smile creeping onto his face. Teasing kids was always fun. "But a promise is a promise, so here you go." He relented and showed her the lightsaber he had built.

Just like any other youngling, she was eager to finally get her own.

"Hmmm, why is it different?" she asked, fumbling with it as she tried to find the activation button. "This is weird..." she mumbled, slightly flustered by her inability to find it.

"It's my patented Anti-Snips mechanism," Iggios grinned, taking back the saber and activating it with ease.

"You're mean..." she pouted again, but her eyes sparkled as she looked at the real lightsaber in her friend's hand. "Why does it look weird, though?" she pointed out, noticing its unique design.

"Because I built it to be a weapon, not just a cylinder with a flashy tube sticking out," Iggios shrugged. "Just make what feels right when the time comes… I did the same" He flicked her forehead playfully and jogged off, prompting the younger girl to chase after him with indignation apparent on her face.

"Hey! Just you wait, Iggy! I'll kick your butt once I make my lightsaber!" she yelled after him as she chased him through the Jedi Temple, a usual occurrence for the two of them.

—

While Ahsoka's attempts to defeat him were certainly entertaining, she displayed immense potential. Iggios theorized that if she completed her training under Anakin, she could have become one of the premier duelists in the galaxy.

"If only she had a few more years with Anakin... Maybe this time she will," Iggios pondered quietly, emphasizing the importance of speed and footwork to her.

He tried to teach her a more subdued form of combat, but she gravitated towards Shien and Ataru far too much. Patience and poise for Makashi, or any similar form for that matter, would never be in her nature.

However, that didn't mean she wasn't improving, quite the opposite, in fact.

It had been a year since Iggios’ trip to Ilum, and he had made significant progress, largely thanks to Master Drallig, who took it upon himself to help Iggios create his unique combat style.

Ahsoka had just returned from her Gathering ceremony, bringing back a lightsaber that looked exactly like the one Iggios remembered from the Clone Wars show.

The first thing she did upon her return was challenge her rival to a duel, only to lose badly.

Now, she was on the ground, looking offended at the mere idea of losing while Iggios stood back, watching. She quickly got back up, refusing to give up. But Iggios was more than ready for her.

Her lightsaber was held in the iconic reverse grip, which made Iggios wince. If there was one thing he considered completely useless, even with all the Force powers the Jedi had, it was the reverse grip.

He decided to show her exactly why he believed so, taking his stance again.

"Ready to lose again, Snips?" he teased, a smile tugging at his lips. "Hmpf, you caught me by surprise... Iggy," she shot back, taunting him as she tried to prepare herself better this time. She knew he hated that nickname.

This time, she attempted to close in, but Iggios simply extended his arm and presented the point, pointing his lightsaber directly at her chest. Naturally, she halted her approach, unable to reach him, too far away for her reverse grip to even threaten him.

Iggios kept his distance, staying just far enough to remain safely out of reach while poking at her with his weapon. He didn't need a strong hit; even the slightest touch could be fatal if they were using their lightsabers on the standard setting.

After a few minutes of being unable to close the distance while being poked, Ahsoka finally relented, sulking as though she had just lost her livelihood.

"So what did we learn?" Iggios asked, glancing at Master Drallig, who was watching their impromptu training session.

"That you fight like a girl," Ahsoka retorted, sticking out her tongue, feeling she hadn’t learned much.

"I was looking for 'Reverse Grip is useless,' but if you think so..." He sighed, seeking support from Master Drallig.

"For a duel, I would say young Iggios is correct. That grip limits your reach, creating a critical weakness in lightsaber combat," Drallig agreed, at least partially.

"Even blaster reflection is easier with a standard grip. Not to mention, we move while deflecting, and deflecting while moving is more difficult when you hold the pokey stick backwards." He elaborated "I understand that sometimes you can't move because you need to protect someone behind you... But why not just use the Force in that situation?" he suggested, walking over to one of the training droids and lifting his hand casually.

The small spherical droid rose into the air and shot a few training blasts toward him. Iggios simply flexed his hand, feeling the Force run through him to push back against the bolts. They halted mid-air, completely stationary in front of him, allowing Iggios to walk calmly out of the way before releasing them.

The bolts resumed their trajectory, striking a wall with a whooshing spark. The training droid slowly descended, ending Iggios's demonstration.

"Because not all Jedi possess the ability to do so," Master Drallig explained calmly, prompting Iggios to raise an eyebrow.

He was fairly sure of his average Force sensitivity among the Jedi Order; shouldn't learning Force Stasis be attainable for the majority of them? Or did they simply not bother learning it in the first place?

"We are peacekeepers, young man, not soldiers," Master Drallig reminded, and Ahsoka nodded in agreement.

Iggios, however, knew that such a state of the Jedi Order wouldn't last; in just four short years, they would be commanders and generals, expected to lead armies and fight in a war.

"I never claimed we weren't peacekeepers, Master," Iggios sighed. "But why not learn something so obviously useful?"

Drallig struggled to respond. The logic was straightforward, yet it would have sounded almost heretical to the more traditional-minded Jedi.

"We cannot force others to learn if they do not wish to," he concluded after a brief pause, hoping the boy would drop the subject.

Iggios sighed but didn't press further. He could only hope that the Jedi Order would wake up when the war inevitably broke out; he would hate to have incompetent generals on his side.