---Clak'dor V: Shadow Facilities, Shadow Library---
        "Thank you Master," Vyktor said quietly as the instructor's ancient image dissapeared from above the holovron. With yet another marathon study session at an end, Marius looked at all the information that lay before him. Scattered all around the holocron, nearly three dozen books and reams of flimsy lay where he had placed them. For the last three days he'd worked with the teachers in this particular holocron, piecing together a number of procedures Vyktor could use in his training abandoning sleep and eating only what the droid servants brought him. Smiling softly, he organizes all of his notes, most of which are simply a back up to his excellent memory. His notes organized and the books put away, the last thing Vyktor does before leaving the Shadow Library is lock away the holocron.
---Several hours later, Physical Training Center---
        The Shadow Apprentice entered an empty training room pushing a hovercart with a large crate and two smaller boxes. Nearing the center of the room, where an ornate design was etched into the floor. While it appeared to be just for show, the design was actually very utilitarian. The shapes within symbolized and indicated different exercises and steps in each exercise. Vyktor took two items from the cart, one a wax cylinder, the other a minature repulsorlift. He attached the repulsor to the cylinder, which neatly floated at a predetermined height. Purposefully Marius placed the cylinder at the twelve-o'clock position of a circle in the center of the etching. Next he took a tiny ball bearing from the only untouched box and set it on a raised area of the cylinder.
        Taking his place in the center of the circle, Vyktor took a calming breath and flung his cloak away. Concentrating on the ball, he ignited his blue lightsaber, hesitated, and then struck...
        Sighing, Marius surveyed his work. While most people would have been proud of such accuracy, it was much less than what he needed now. Before him, the cylinder remained, but the ball-bearing and a small portion of the cylender had been vaporized in his strike. The goal had been to destroy the ball, but completely spare the cylinder. This was obviously going to take some work. Somewhat discouraged, Vyktor steeled his resolve and set up again. This time he took longer, trying to clear his mind of all distractions. Finally he struck again.
        This time it was better, the cylinder was only scorched, but still not good enough. It had to be perfectly preserved. Thus the process repeated. Again and again Marius tried to perfect his strike. Finally he did, but a repeat tries showed that it had not been skill but luck that had guided his hand. He had to find some way to control his hand to the degree neccesary. Vyktor stopped and thought over the things he'd learned in his studies. As he did he closed his eyes and envisioned it, working himself through the process that would be required.
        Unconciously his body began following the motions in his mind, using the visualizations he'd made. Sensing the movement, Vyktor opened his eyes, confused. The ball-bearing was nowhere to be found, the cylinder untouched. Finally, he'd done it. Marius had no time for celebration however, he was already desperately behind schedule, so he could see from the chrono on his wrist. Taking a drink of water, he dove back into his training, ignoring the sweat that covered his features. In his head he pictured the cylinder and the ball, then expanded it, taking in his hand and his lightsaber. He moved with the image, looking closer in his mind as the blade neared the metal ball. Finally he vaporized it, sweeping cleanly through it and continuing on.
        He repeated the process until he was determined he had it down. Then Marius added a second cylinder to the first, and began again. When happy with that one, he added another one. Again and again, until he had cylinders at the five-degree mark the entire circumfrence of the circle. The process took hours, and left him on his knees, panting in exaustion. Sweat poured off of his body, which was now bare from the waist up. His skin glistened and showed a number of faint scars all over his body, some large others small.
        Vyktor sat there for another hour or so, exausted. Finally he rose again, and began moving the cylinders again. He had no time to waste, the next step in his training was beginning...
        "Thank you Master," Vyktor said quietly as the instructor's ancient image dissapeared from above the holovron. With yet another marathon study session at an end, Marius looked at all the information that lay before him. Scattered all around the holocron, nearly three dozen books and reams of flimsy lay where he had placed them. For the last three days he'd worked with the teachers in this particular holocron, piecing together a number of procedures Vyktor could use in his training abandoning sleep and eating only what the droid servants brought him. Smiling softly, he organizes all of his notes, most of which are simply a back up to his excellent memory. His notes organized and the books put away, the last thing Vyktor does before leaving the Shadow Library is lock away the holocron.
---Several hours later, Physical Training Center---
        The Shadow Apprentice entered an empty training room pushing a hovercart with a large crate and two smaller boxes. Nearing the center of the room, where an ornate design was etched into the floor. While it appeared to be just for show, the design was actually very utilitarian. The shapes within symbolized and indicated different exercises and steps in each exercise. Vyktor took two items from the cart, one a wax cylinder, the other a minature repulsorlift. He attached the repulsor to the cylinder, which neatly floated at a predetermined height. Purposefully Marius placed the cylinder at the twelve-o'clock position of a circle in the center of the etching. Next he took a tiny ball bearing from the only untouched box and set it on a raised area of the cylinder.
        Taking his place in the center of the circle, Vyktor took a calming breath and flung his cloak away. Concentrating on the ball, he ignited his blue lightsaber, hesitated, and then struck...
        Sighing, Marius surveyed his work. While most people would have been proud of such accuracy, it was much less than what he needed now. Before him, the cylinder remained, but the ball-bearing and a small portion of the cylender had been vaporized in his strike. The goal had been to destroy the ball, but completely spare the cylinder. This was obviously going to take some work. Somewhat discouraged, Vyktor steeled his resolve and set up again. This time he took longer, trying to clear his mind of all distractions. Finally he struck again.
        This time it was better, the cylinder was only scorched, but still not good enough. It had to be perfectly preserved. Thus the process repeated. Again and again Marius tried to perfect his strike. Finally he did, but a repeat tries showed that it had not been skill but luck that had guided his hand. He had to find some way to control his hand to the degree neccesary. Vyktor stopped and thought over the things he'd learned in his studies. As he did he closed his eyes and envisioned it, working himself through the process that would be required.
        Unconciously his body began following the motions in his mind, using the visualizations he'd made. Sensing the movement, Vyktor opened his eyes, confused. The ball-bearing was nowhere to be found, the cylinder untouched. Finally, he'd done it. Marius had no time for celebration however, he was already desperately behind schedule, so he could see from the chrono on his wrist. Taking a drink of water, he dove back into his training, ignoring the sweat that covered his features. In his head he pictured the cylinder and the ball, then expanded it, taking in his hand and his lightsaber. He moved with the image, looking closer in his mind as the blade neared the metal ball. Finally he vaporized it, sweeping cleanly through it and continuing on.
        He repeated the process until he was determined he had it down. Then Marius added a second cylinder to the first, and began again. When happy with that one, he added another one. Again and again, until he had cylinders at the five-degree mark the entire circumfrence of the circle. The process took hours, and left him on his knees, panting in exaustion. Sweat poured off of his body, which was now bare from the waist up. His skin glistened and showed a number of faint scars all over his body, some large others small.
        Vyktor sat there for another hour or so, exausted. Finally he rose again, and began moving the cylinders again. He had no time to waste, the next step in his training was beginning...