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The days had turned into weeks and so almost a month had passed since Argents first encounter with the enigma that was their supreme ruler that followed the rescue mission.
Aren had made a steady recovery thanks to his iron will and stamina, and his little project had worked out nicely. He had finished and attached the bio mechanic leg a few days prior and now, after the connection between his natural and the artificial nerves was fully established, he was longing to test out the theory, the painful process already forgotten.

The leg worked surprisingly well. He just had to get used to the added weight. But that was hardly a reason to worry and would come naturally with a bit of patience.
Dressed in a new black and crimson bodysuit, raven hair tied back and sword strapped to his belt he gave himself a last once-öover in the full body mirror of his room.
Aren was not a vain type, but he didn't appreciate the impression of weakness his body had given those past weeks. Now only a few additional scars remained that he didn't mind at all. With the new bodysuit there wasn't even a trace left of the fact that he had lost his leg, the bio android technology was hidden well under the layer of fabric.

Ghost had met him at the training rooms, longing for a true match of strenght on his level that he had been deprived of for so many years.
Even talented as they may be, none of the children could match his skills in combat yet. Training with Aren was a welcome diversion. Sure Aren was much stringer and advanced in skill, but with the current circumstances that had their leader physically weakened, they should be a quite close match.

That was how any passer-by would find them.
The sound of beamsabers clashing with a rain of colorful sparks, amused taunts and the occassional ring of laughter as the two men circled each other like a pair of rivaling wildcats.
Graceful soundless movements that seemed a lot like the pattern of a well-studied dance, not one step too much or too less as the blades clashed again and again in fluid motion.

The true image of what they used to be:
Weapons, raised and molded to mirror strengt. Infallible, immortal, perfect.

Argents presence was of course noticed by both men, but since the child was no thread, neither of them chose to react on the intrusion, concentrating on their match instead. And while Ghost had first started holding back on speed and the force of his blows, considering that Aren was still recovering and adjusting to the artificial leg he'd constructed - although he was quite skillfully hiding that fact - he quickly found himself on the defensive nonetheless.

Aren was ... a force of nature. Ghost of course had always been aware of that. And rightfully so, as the other was not just their leader by name. He was the oldest, strongest and smartest of them, and if the stories were true he was the first of their kind to ever be created. The prototype of the perfect soldier they were made to resemble. And noone, as far as he knew, had ever even been close to besting Aren in combat but Zeal.

Their almost dance-like sparring match picked up, and while they had been fast before, to the untrained eye of a child their moves now were almost impossible to follow. If Argent had thought before that Ghost was a good fighter - which he was, undoubtedly - Aren was another thing entirely. And it was quite clear which one of the two was holding back by then, with the operator being pushed further and further into the defensive, until he was finally disarmed with practiced ease.

Aren laughed as he pulled Ghost to his feet, handing the discharged beamsaber back to him. It was not a sound of mocking, but pleasant, almost childlike joy. "You've gotten stronger, kid. Maybe a bit out of practice, but no surprise there. Hard to stay in top shape with noone around to match your skill."
Patting the younger on the shoulder with a cheerful grin, he turned towards the door, sharp crimson eyes studying the watching child who probably only now became aware that his presence had been noted from the moment he arrived. "But at least some of the kids are eager to grow into that space it seems. Good."

Ghost nodded, now also looking over to Argent as Aren walked towards him, stopping only a few steps away to adress him directly this time. even friendly, the previous transgression not forgotten but seemingly ignored for now. "So." He spoke, looking down at Argent, an interested, maybe almost curious flicker in his predatory gaze. "You want to be a fighter?"

"Good." Aren replied, actually smiling this time. This kid actually reminded him a little of Ghost when he was that age, born just after the first war, in a time of peace, confused about his place in the world.
And over the millennia he'd lived, he knew how to read people. Children were especially easy in that regard, they hadn't yet mastered the act of lying or twisting the truth in their favor, and neither had they mastered hiding their feelings.

"Argent, was it?" he contemplated for a moment, remembering how infuriated he'd been with that particular child only a few weeks prior. Something he regretted, letting a kid get the better of him wasn't usually a thing happening to him. But all things considered, he wasn't the most patient of men, and that time and place had been ... unfortunate. "I don't doubt you will. If you are dedicated to your training."

That wasn't all though. He could still sense the anger of the kid, and even the slight but well hidden wibe of unease that Ghost gave off from behind, undoubtedly worried that another exchange like the last one would take place. Well, not if Aren could help it, and this time he wasn't at a disatvantage, not half-mad with agony and bound by a broken body, exhausted from fighting for his life.
"Look. I get it, you don't know me, you probably don't know much at all yet. Not that I blame you. How old are you even, half a year or some such? From what I understand, neither of you children has been taught our history or anything else beyond survival, and I don't blame Ghost for that either. Priorities, right?" His smile only wavered for a moment there. "You were born and raised to this point without any command structure beyond the operator being in charge, and neither me being here nor you - as in all of you - being here was planned. But we'll have to make do with what we have."

He studied the boys reaction while he spoke, all the while thinking about how to best get his point across for the child to understand. "You are problaby confused why you are so different from the other colony born children, right? Mother made them to build a peaceful society in a peaceful world, such as was planned when we left to find a home for our people. But not you. She made you to be a fighter, but there is no war any more, right? Ghost here was the same, you know. He was born in a time of peace as well, after the first war. And just like you he was confused about his purpose, until we had to fight for our very survival."

Ghost remained silent, remembering that time just as well as Aren did, but he had pushed that into the back of his mind, as it was not a pleasant memory. Part of him felt responsible for not realizing that Argent was probably feeling just as he had, and that it should have been his responsibility, not Arens, to see that and act on it.

"So, do you understand, Argent?" the older continued, sternly, but still friendly, "If Mother made you a fighter, it wasn't on a whim, or to leave you confused and without a purpose in this strange new world. It means that there is danger here, a danger that neither Ghost nor I could face alone, that this is not the picture perfect haven we hoped for. Which doesn't surprise me, since this wasn't our intended planet to settle on in the first place. It also means that there will most likely be more children like you. And that you and those like you will be responsible to aid us in protecting our people from that danger, whatever it might be."

Ghost made a small noise that sounded suspiciously like surpressed laughter, but Aren had no such issues, laughing heartly at the boys reply. "That's exactly what he said too." The elder replied after his laughter had died down to a soft chuckle, pointing back at Ghost. "And I get it, I truly do. It's who you are, and that's a good thing if acted on the right way."

Arens stance shifted a little, a subtle move to favor his right leg as the other finally started to protest, painfully reminding him that despite what he wanted, he wasn't fully healed yet, and his body screamed for him to rest. He ignored it for now.
"Look. I get you don't like me much, and I guess that's my fault." rubbing the scar on the bridge of his nose his lips curved into a wry smile. "I could go and excuse my actions towards you by saying I wasn't quite myself, which would be true, but nonetheless you are a very young child and I am ... well ... suffice to say I handled that situation poorly, and, despite your rudeness I should be the one to apologize. Which I do."

He turned a little to shoot a short glance at Ghost, who was still respectfully quiet, as always, but had visibly relaxed. Good. His eyes returned to Argent once more.
"I've been planning on heading out to the crash site tomorrow, and Ghost here insists I don't go alone. I was planning on taking one of the adults, but I'll take you, on one condition." His sharp eyes bore into the boy in front of him once more, humor gone for now, but still not unfriendly so. "If I take you with me, you will follow my orders at any time, no discussions. I will not tolerate any impertinence or disrespect out in the field, from you or anyone."

"I'm not asking for you to like me, but you will have to trust me if I take you along, kid. Just as I will have to trust you." Which was true to a point. While Aren was pretty fine going by himself and didn't need anyone to watch his back, it was always an asset, even if it was a kid, and he DID have to trust that said other didn't stab him in the back - not that Argent would ever get the chance to even if he'd tried.

But he understood the concept of respect and thrust needing to be earned, so he let that slide this time, for the most part. As Ghost had reprimanded the kid last time at how their leader didn't need to prove himself to them, which he indeed didn't, he understood where the boy was coming from.
And at least he had some sense to mutter an apology of his own. There. Clean slate.

At the boys own demands though he blinked first, clearly caught off guard for at least a heartbeat, before he burst out laughing again. "You're sharp. I like that." And he did, not many would have noticed that subtle chance in posture earlier. Soldier in the making indeed. "But don't worry, it'll be fine in the morning. I know my limits, and this isn't one. Just needs some more time adjusting."

Yes, maybe he was a bit proud and a few more days of rest wouldn't hurt, not many, not even the physically superior genomes, recovered from wounds like his in just a month, but to be honest with himself he was getting restless, and the cabin fever was worse than the pain.

Which was when Ghost behind them made a show of clearing his throat and stepping up to his side, from the expression on his face obviously pleased with Argent this time. Though there was the unspoken warning in his gaze not to go too far again. "All right now. Suffice to say I won't be happy if EITHER of you got hurt. And you know I don't let you get out there again lightly, Argent. So you too better head to your quarters and rest if you want to go tomorrow."

"Good." Aren replied, once again studying the child in front of him. That boy definetely had promise. "If you use that sharp eyes of yours outside, we'll have nothing to worry about." Mostly, at least. But he felt like encouraging the kid, and praise should be given where it was due.

Ghost nodded. "Of course. While I don't hope it'll be necessary, it was still a bit ... lenient to let you go outside the barrier without sufficient weapons - not that I doubt that Slven was at least carrying some - and I won't take that risk again." Indeed their departure had been so hurried and confused because the only thought on their - his - mind had been looking for survivors, that he hadn't checked if they were carrying proper supplies and weapons. An oversight that could have cost them dearly and that he would not make again.

"You favor the staff, right? I'm sure we have at least one extendable beamsaber of that kind. But I don't have to tell you that you will absolutely not use it for training purposes yet, especially not with the other kids." He hoped Argent wouldn't start a discussion about how THEY trained with beamsabers ... "Yeah." Aren added, tapping his leg with a smirk. "Those are not toys for sure. You cut yourself, that's not fun at all."