[240103.22 Almost evening on ancient ch`Rihan.....]
Rylan, having come out of the ship through the hull breech again, begins to look for Vyynd to confer with him as planned, when he spots Tahn. Having another idea come to him, Ry motions the boy over, "Hey! Au! I have an assignment for au!"
"Ie, rekkhai?" the boy looks up at the slightly older boy, falling into step next to him.
"We're about to go into battle...." Ry pauses then adds with a frown, "Well, after we catch whoever it is we're going to catch. I'll need an inventory of weapons and equipment checks. I know au haven't had much practice with the striker units, but since we're na flying anywhere, I figure now's a good time, right?" he throws a serious look to the boy.
"Sure." Gehan agrees, perhaps a little too readily, "Why na?"
Raising a brow, Rylan asks "Au ever been in battle, Tahn? Au know what to expect? Ninte na going to be a pilot in this...but an infantry man. There *is* a difference, au know."
"Ie," the boy nods irritated, "I have been in battles before. On the ground, na the air...I know."
"Do au?" Rylan smiles faintly. Figuring that the only battles the boy's seen has been simulated ones, he slyly asks in an 'I dare you...' kind of tone, "Au fight much with swords then Tahn?"
"Just a little with swords." Tahn admits quietly, adding with an almost proud air, "I mostly fought hand combat."
Ry nods at this, "Ie then...come with me!" and before the boy could respond, Rylan spun around and headed back towards the ship, the younger boy following quietly behind.
[after a short time]
The boys find themselves in one of the holosuites, the green lines eerily illuminating the black room, but they left the chamber in it's natural state. Ry carries his Kaleh (sword), his dagger that had been returned to him in his belt, and stands in the middle of the room waiting for Tahn to approach.
Tahn walks up slowly with his weapons held in his hand, watching the other boy wearily as Rylan begins to lazily spin the sword he held. "Now..." Ry says quietly, "These are *real* weapons, so be careful how au go...we're na here to kill each other, we're only here for practice. Understood?" he asked, circling the other boy slowly. Seeing the grin appear on Gehan's face, Rylan suddenly launched himself at the boy, the sword coming down towards Tahn's head.
Tahn jumps back and suddenly brings the dagger in his other hand in an upward stroke towards Rylan's stomach. Ry's sword lowers itself as he dodges out of the way, the Kaleh's blade clashing loudly with the smaller weapon in a loud, resounding *KLANG!!*, sending the dagger to sail out of Tahn's hand to land on the far side of the room.
Rylan once more paces a slow, wide circle around the boy as the sword lazily spins in his hand. "Good...but a dagger's na much against a kaleh, Tahn." he nods to the sword in the younger boy's hand, "Use that now...."
Gehan grins back at him, "If au say so...." he shrugs, then suddenly lunges at Ry. tr`Tuhmek side-steps and deflects the blow, kicking Tahn's feet out from under him and sending the smaller boy to the ground.
Rylan brought his sword up, aiming its point at the back of Tahn's neck to deliver a mock-ending blow. He had no sooner opened his mouth to say 'au`rh dead' when Tahn kicks out, sweeping Ry's legs and sending him to the ground in return.
Landing on his rear, Rylan looks up as the other boy sprung to his feet and took a few steps back. "Good show..." Rylan laughed, springing to his own feet. Pointing the tip of his sword at Tahn he said, "But au still would've been dead!"
As Rylan's sword lowered itself once more, Tahn quickly lashed out towards the taller boy's chest. Rylan jumps back to dodge the blow, but the tip of Tahn's blade slices him a little just the same. Wincing, Ry looks down at himself then back, "Ie, good....I was too fvadt slow...." he smirks, then suddenly launches himself forward, clashing his sword with Tahn's own and pushing both blades towards Gehan's face. Rylan suddenly slams his head forward, knocking his forehead into the boy's nose; not enough to break the bone, but enough to sting and make the other's eyes squeeze shut for a moment.
Gehan takes a few stumbling steps back, but manages to keep his balance. Glaring at the smirking face before him, he lunges once again. Rylan side steps and lets Tahn fly past him, laughing that the old trick worked. Gehan whirls around as he goes past, and makes another wild slash at the laughing older boy. Since he hadn't really been paying attention, Rylan gets his arm grazed at. He reacts to it by whirling his sword around and clanking it against Tahn's own, pushing the boy back from him again.
Looking down to the small trickle of blood from his forearm, Rylan frowns to himself and shakes his head, "Fvadt! Zigged when I should've zagged again...." And once more he charges towards the younger boy.
As the pair spared, a flicker goes unnoticed in the far corner of the room, a safe distance from the fighting boys, and a moment later the Khensia makes an appearance. She stands silently a moment, watching the proceedings. Shaking her head at Rylan's bravado, she waits for the opportunity to interrupt.
But the boys still didn't notice her, so wrapped up they were in trying to out-do the other, that after another ten minutes of the mock-duel passed Morrigan softly clears her throat and speaks, "I hate to interrupt au gentlemen....but I need to speak to au, Rylan."
Hearing his name being said, Rylan looks over towards the owner of the voice and ends up getting pushed back by Tahn as he was distracted. Tossing a glare to the Erien a moment, Ry then raises a brow at the Khensia, "Ie, ie...hang on then...." he reseaths his kaleh, ending the match. "Good Tahn! Now...go do ninte assignment. Grab someone from the Dehno department as they'll have access and au won't. I want a report on the weapons status and inventory of the striker unit equipment though."
"Ie, rekkhai...." Tahn nods, reseathing his own kaleh. As he headed for the doors, the younger boy tossed over his shoulder, "Good fight...." then left, quietly mumbling to himself.
Crossing his arms in an unconscious display of defiance, Rylan passes a cool eye over the Khensia, "So, what is it au want, eh?"
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