29.

                                    

                                          
It was still dark when Saedii woke, early the next day. Across from her, Omega slept hard, breaths slow and even. She didn't stir as Saedii stood and dressed in the dark, nor as she crept down the stairs. 
Saedii was quiet as she walked past the bunks. Past the sleeping forms of the Batch all in their beds. Even Tech, who was supposed to be on guard duty up in the cockpit, had his eyes closed and mouth open in one of the pilot chairs. 
There was a slight chill in the air when Saedii walked down the ramp. Just a thin chill – one that wouldn't last once the sun crept up. As she began to stretch, she couldn't help but think she was grateful for the cold, if only for now. It would make what she was about to do far easier. 
Now that she was eating more regularly, it was time to get back to her Jedi training. Especially if they'd be running jobs for Cid in the future. As proven on Bora Vio, the unique skills of a Jedi were invaluable, especially for this line of work.
It had been too long that she had neglected her body. She could feel just how weak her muscles had grown. Could feel the soreness there just from the few brief bit's of action they'd seen in the past week. She would need to build her strength back up. Stamina, too.
She started slow, moving through regenerative stretching. Feeling the way her body moved. The memory of movement was still there, ingrained in her muscles, but she'd have to work her way back up to be at the level of comfort she'd been when the Clone Wars ended. 
Once she'd stretched all of her body, she began with basic movements. 
Jedi forms had been something she'd practiced all her life. Growing up in the temple, they'd been taught first the basic practice forms before graduating to the more advanced stances. She started at the beginning, with the slow, simple movements of Jedi younglings. Allowing her body to remember the ebb and flow of the Force as she opened herself up to it. 
From there, she shifted into the more sophisticated forms of the Padawan learner. The forms she'd had to master in order to be promoted from a youngling. These were more controlled. Meant to demonstrate the learner's restraint. Their power. 
She went slowly, balancing on one leg, then the other. Dropping down into a low crouch. Holding her arms out wide, feeling the way the Force cut around her, like a stone in the river. 
Once she was sure she was properly ready, she began the forms of the Jedi Knight. 
These were much more advanced than the Padawan stances. They involved movement – connecting from one into the other. Where one form ended, another began in a constant, never-ending cycle. 
Her breathing picked up as she moved. As her arms went from the peaceful first position (leg raised, arms at chest center, pulled in close to protect the body) into the more powerful and sturdy stance of the third (down into a low crouch, arms extended, one hand flat and the other clenched). Sweat slickened her skin as she moved slowly, focusing on perfection. On making sure her core was engaged. 
One hand dipped down onto the ground, supporting her weight as she walked her legs overhead. Feet landing in a wide stance, she dipped low, moving under the arm of an invisible opponent, flowing up into a hold that would have seen her enemy's arm trapped behind them. 
These movements were graceful. Beautiful to watch. She remembered how in awe she'd been as Master Plo had demonstrated them to her the first time. 
"It is not about speed," he explained as he went painfully slow through the first rotation. "Good form is the foundation of strength. Allow your core to hold you. Trust in the strength of your body."
Saedii, still young and too eager to please, had rushed through her first set. Too impatient to do them right. 
Master Plo had been gentle. "You are eager, little one, which is good. But still your mind and your body will follow."