Beating of your heart

Chapter Seven

"Did you hear? The General has a full set of armour."
"It's from his younger years, I heard."
"They're saying it's Mandalorian."
The whispers dropped off as they walked into the training room.

Obi-Wan took off his robe to reveal a form-fitting black and grey kute. He then walked over to a pile of white durasteel armour.

He started with the legs, each one splashed with blue as if jumped into a puddle of blue paint. Then slowly working up, he began to assemble his arms' armour. Finally, he completed the rest of the kit. Running down the back of the helmet to the low of his back was different shades of a mottled green. On his shoulder, he had the symbol of the Jedi Order in red on a gold background.

To the shock of the watching men, the General picked up the grey and orange belt and fastened it around his waist.

Obi-Wan walked out until he was more central in the room, slowly turning around so that everyone could see all the armour. "Well then, Commander, is this up to your standards?"

Cody seemed to snap out of his shock, "hmm, yes, does seem to, sir. However, if it has been so long, do you know how to fight with it still?"

Obi-Wan shifted into a defensive ready position, "shall we find out then?" Slowly one fist rotated, and the hand opened up only enough to send a teasing come-hither. It was clear the helmet would be covering a smirk.

Cody's eyes narrowed before he placed on his helmet and moved into the space cleared by the men. "Only to test capabilities, General?"

"You asking to raise the states, Commander?" Obi-Wan asked, moving his helmet in the clones' subtle movement to express a dare.

"What would the bet be then?" Cody asked, mimicking the movement.

"Whoever wins gets to call on the other twice, no questions. For example, I could call on you to deal with Anakin for two missions. We both are a higher rank than him after all," Obi-Wan offered, tipping his helmet sidewards.

"I do believe there is a rule against that," Cody pointed out.

"I won't tell if you won't," Obi-Wan smirked, his helmet tipped back to a dare.

Instead of answering, Cody dived forwards. Fist driving forwards, he quickly changed from the punch to a kick as he saw the shift in Obi-Wan's body language.

Obi-Wan smirked behind his helmet, scanning Cody for any evident forms of weakness. He grabbed the punch that followed the landed kick, pushing Cody backwards to create further distance.

Cody stabled himself before, squaring his shoulders; he ran forwards towards the General again. He watched the man position himself to face sidewards, and he smirked behind his bucket. Seconds before reaching the Jedi, Cody dropped down and swung his leg out, using his momentum to take the man's legs out from beneath him.

Obi-Wan grunted as he landed on his back. He waited until Cody was sure he was pinned down before striking and kicking outwards. It didn't work like it usually did, the armour meaning he only had enough movement to throw Cody off him instead of away. Scrambling to his feet, Obi-Wan led the offensive. Boosting his speed with The Force, Obi-Wan dived towards Cody, going with lots of fast movements to try and overwhelm Cody instead of attempting to out-muscle.

Cody knew what Obi-Wan was doing, but against the reflexes of a Force-sensitive, he found himself bending over double as a hit landed solidly in his stomach. He felt an elbow between the shoulder blades before he went flying onto his front. Swinging his leg out, he heard the General hit the floor next to him.

Obi-Wan had only just processed the fact he'd managed to knock Cody to the floor before he was pinned down on his front. He tried to free himself, but it seemed Cody's grip was just too stiff.