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Post by tinem on Jan 26, 2009 14:13:28 GMT -8
Visser Two stood in the training room he'd ordered set up so he could become accustomed to his new Host. He was now working on morphing. He concentrated and in seconds he was morphed into an Andalite bird. He lift up into the air and started flying around, then dove at the targets he had set up to practice on, helping him decide which morphs were most useful for battle. He landed and demorphed, then turned as he heard someone enter. He turned and narrowed his eyes when he saw Guraff coming in. <What do you want?>
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Post by guraff on Jan 26, 2009 14:18:26 GMT -8
Guraff ignored Visser Two's tone. When you worked for Esplin for as long as Guraff had, very little even registers. Visser Two's host was odd, even by Guraff's standards, but it was nowhere near as ridiculous as some of the things his old friend used to morph. "They told me you wanted to train your new body. There is no better way to become accustomed to a form than to fight in it. And you will find no one better to fight than I." Guraff raised his bladed arms, feeling like he had done this a thousand times. Ten thousand. Perhaps he had. "We can begin whenever you are ready, Visser." His tone was only slightly patronizing to the considerably younger Yeerk.
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Post by tinem on Jan 26, 2009 14:40:14 GMT -8
He narrowed his eyes as he raised his tail blade. He didn't like the patronizing tone Guraff took. Visser Two had been working for his rank his entire lifetime and felt he deserved it. He moved slowly around the Hork Bajir in a fighting stance, looking for an opening of any kind. When he saw one, he rushed forward a few steps and struck out with his blade, not caring if he killed Guraff or not. There were plenty more hosts.
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Post by guraff on Jan 26, 2009 14:52:57 GMT -8
Guraff easily parried Visser Two's tailblade. He was far too experienced to accidentally leave such an obvious opening. He had intended to draw Visser Two in so he could judge the power of his body. "The host is strong, Visser Two. Commendably so. But your form needs work. An obvious opening from an experienced enemy is always a trap. You must learn to strike where it is not expected."
The old Yeerk took a step back and resumed his stance, waiting for Visser Two to try again. "The unexpected, Visser Two, is the greatest weapon of all. It is how we held the Andalites at bay for so long, and how we were defeated on Earth. The most powerful ships, the brightest tacticians, and the greatest warriors are no match for a simple surprise."
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Post by tinem on Jan 26, 2009 15:15:39 GMT -8
He narrowed his eyes angrily as he was parried and took his stance again, watching carefully again. Guraff was expecting him to go for an opening or such. He watched, looking for anything that wouldn't be an opening normally. He rushed, attacking in a completely different way this time. As he lashed out with his tail, he also lashed out with a hoof at an un bladed part of Guraff's leg.
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Post by guraff on Jan 26, 2009 15:24:37 GMT -8
Again, Guraff parried the tailblade. The hoof caught him off guard, though. The muscle went a bit numb. Guarff didn't just stand there, though. He followed up bu slashing his free arm at Visser Two. Guraff was at a bit of a disadvantage. If he killed Visser Two by accident, things would not end well for him. Visser Two had no such restrictions.
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Post by tinem on Jan 26, 2009 15:38:08 GMT -8
He leaped back, slapping the arm aside with his tail blade and slicing directly at Guraff's chest. He knew that Guraff wouldn't go for a kill just to keep out of trouble, but Visser Two didn't care. He could do whatever he wanted.
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Post by guraff on Jan 26, 2009 16:29:03 GMT -8
Guraff, true to his lesson, did something that Visser Two could never have expected. Instead of knocking Visser Two's tail aside, he turned and instead took the blow in his shoulder. He felt the blade hit bone. With that arm, he grabbed Visser Two's tail, rendering him harmless. He could break loose, but not quickly. Guraff's wristblade sang through the air. He stopped an inch from Visser Two's throat. "There is one thing your enemies will never, ever expect from a Yeerk: the willingness to injure himself for the ultimate victory. Learn this lesson well, Visser Two."
Guraff took his wristblade away, pulled Visser Two's tailblade out of his arm, and stepped back. Then he resumed his stance. His shoulder was bleeding badly, but he still had most of the movement in it. He had been injured far more in the past. "Again." Perhaps he was getting old. Perhaps the God General's time was nearing its end. If so, then he would be sure to leave another warrior behind, one to carry on his mission. He did not know who it would be, but he saw potential in Visser Two.
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Post by tinem on Jan 26, 2009 16:55:12 GMT -8
He grunted and tried to pull away as Guraff demonstrated a killing blow. He panted a little and glared at the Hork Bajir. He dug a hoof into the ground in annoyance, but took the lesson anyway. One more time, he watched carefully for an opening, though this time he would do something completely different. He rushed forward in a feint, then dodged around behind Guraff and reared up on his hind legs, striking at the Hork Bajir's back with his hooves as his tail whipped around to slice at his stomach.
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Post by guraff on Jan 26, 2009 17:02:30 GMT -8
At first, Guraff had no idea what Visser Two was up to. But when he turned his head and saw the Visser on his hind legs, he realized what was happening. And he knew what to do. He shoved his full weight against Visser Two. An Andalite on its hind legs is not stable; Guraff easily tipped him over. But, of course, he himself was not unharmed. The Visser's hooves had left some bruises on his back, and the tail gave him a nasty cut.
"A good move, Visser Two. But an Andalite named Beast Elfangor did it to me once, many years ago. He left one of my hosts dead that way. Experience is the greatest advantage a warrior can have. Now, repeat it to me: what is a warrior's greatest weapons and what is his greatest advantage?"
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Post by tinem on Jan 26, 2009 17:24:48 GMT -8
His hooves slipped as he was shoved and he fell to the floor with a thud. He shook his head and looked up at Guraff as he spoke. He pushed himself up and got to his feet. <Experience.> There was venom in his voice and if the Yeerks weren't immune to Tinem's 'fright' voice, it would have been even worse on the older Yeerk.
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Post by guraff on Jan 26, 2009 17:33:45 GMT -8
"I can hear the anger in your voice, Visser Two. Anger can be a great ally. But like any ally, you must always be aware that it can betray you. You must be in control of your anger. Use it; do not allow it to use you. If you allow your anger to control you, you become subservient to it and thus a servant to any man with a sharp tongue. But if you make your anger conform to your will, you are the master. Those who seek to provoke you will only make you stronger. This was the great strength of Esplin Nine-Four-Six-Six."
"Anger is fire, Visser Two. It both illuminates and blinds. It warms and burns. Using your anger is like utilizing fire. The most primitive creatures have mastered fire; so, too, must a warrior master anger or it will master him." Guraff resumed his stance yet gain. "So come. Show me who is the master here."
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Post by tinem on Jan 26, 2009 17:49:29 GMT -8
He glared at Guraff and shifted, starting to move slowly around him and watch again, using his anger as he was told. He focused on his strength, channeling his anger through his body as he felt his hearts increase in beating. He ran at Guraff, though instead of attacking with his tail, he attacked with his hands, grabbing the Hork Bajir's beak and holding his head as he slashed with his tail again at his arm.
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Post by guraff on Jan 26, 2009 18:01:49 GMT -8
Guraff tried to block Visser Two's blow with his wristblade, but he was slower than he remembered. He succeeded in catching the tailblade with his elbowblade, though. He slashed Visser Two across the chest with his other arm. Guraff's wrist bladeand elbowblade each left a long cash across Visser Two's chest.
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Post by tinem on Jan 26, 2009 18:06:17 GMT -8
He screamed and stumbled back, holding his chest. He panted and glared at Guraff as he morphed his human form to heal himself. "Tell me what I need to do, damnit!" He glared, angered at Guraff. He knew he could punish the lower ranked Yeerk for harming him, but that would be childish and he couldn't do that.
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