Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
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Post by Lord Nexus on Jun 11, 2013 10:06:21 GMT -8
The biting ebb of exhaustion began to gnaw at the Dark Lord- his lungs were tight and his body was heavy, yet the throbbing pain from his burn allowed for adrenaline and the dark side to give him vigor. His breathing was heavy, yet not labored, as he watched the jedi roll away from his strike. The blade crackled as the sand around it was superheated, yet there was a momentary satisfaction as he smelled the odor of burning flesh. His hit had at least grazed him.
Nexus rose from his knee as the jedi came into his crouch- he felt him wrap a protective envelope of the force around him. It was a shield, one that the Dark Lord was determined to batter into oblivion. Turning his body side face so that his left side faced Rutil, he held his saber up, ready to defend against a sudden attack of jedi lightning, though he did not prepare himself for an attack of telekinetic power. At least not an immediate one. The force focused around Nexus as well, creating an invisible aura about him. His mind was hot from battle, though far from clouded. His nostrils flared beneath his mempo as he stepped forward, bringing himself closer to Rutil.
His step was quick and the swipe of his saber was even quicker, as he brought the weapon in a low arcing swing, aiming to hit Rutil's left leg just above the knee cap. There was no more hostile charges- it was time to chip away at the jedi's reserves. He wanted to plant doubt in his heart and despair in his mind, that way he would leech upon the emotions of his opponent. The only way to do that was to slowly tire him out, though he would not let the jedi regain his composure. He pressed the attack- just with less unbridled aggression.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
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Post by Lord Nexus on Jun 11, 2013 9:54:21 GMT -8
The two Dark Lords walked the corridor in a tense silence. The Lord of Chaos with sword in hand, and the man that had humbled him all those years ago. Before he left, Nexus could taste the disgust of his apprentice and her spawn- it lingered on the back of this throat as a potent bile, but he ignored it. Mercedes believed she knew her master, yet she only knew a fraction of the being he was- she knew nothing of Tattooine nor Korriban, both of which were before her time as his apprentice. The Dark Lord rarely spoke of his past, though Jud knew of it, at least a more recent part of it.
Behind them, he could feel the child's pulse, hot and unbridled. Without saying a word to Jud, he turned his head towards Lux, then jerked it in the direction in which the two ancient figures strode. A gesture to come up with him. Nexus was not a fan of working in the shadows, unlike most sith, and even if that was Lux's preference, she didn't need to hide in her own castle. After all, it would be her own, once he left for his final journey.
Nexus returned his attention forward, sliding the colossal weapon in a sheath that was hidden, slung across his back under his robes. He noted a pair of Hssiss guardians standing in front of what appeared to be an average door. The door was 2.5 meters tall, and consisted of a pane of obsidian colored metal- like every other door in this sector, yet the presence of the guards gave the doors importance away. They stiffened as the trio approached, ready to abide by their masters orders- unbeknownst to the fact that he stood before them in new skin. But they would know soon enough.
"Honored guests, we regret to inform you that this is a restricted area of the fortress, closed to all but Lord Nexus."
Nexus could sense a knowing smirk on Jud'dayus' face, but the Dark Lord never broke his stride, coming closer to the pair. The soldier to the left reached for his blaster, but never drew it as Nexus suddenly spoke.
"All is Darkness until the light interrupts. It is my duty to snuff that light and return the galaxy to its natural state."
Few knew the words, though now Jud'dayus and Lux knew them. Not that it mattered- all that mattered was the guard's perception of it. The code of the Hssiss, and the Praetorians, the elite of the Dark Legions army. A code that Nexus spoke to them when he enlisted the men. A code that was only known to the soldiers and the dark lord. The Hssiss paused before slowly removing his hand from the blaster. Nexus spoke again, this time in a serpentile, alien tongue.
"V'larr'ska Du Vs'ol" - Let me pass, in some tongue unknown to the ears of those around him. That was the final piece. Both Hssiss dropped to one knee and bowed their heads. Some soldiers would have spoken in joy, but the Hssiss knew their master. To presume his death was to lack faith in their code- no Hssiss lacked faith. They did their duty and allowed the lord and his followers to pass.
The door slid open as Nexus came near, revealing a narrow passage way that led to a flight of stairs. Nexus didn't slow his stride, and walked down the steps- the light seemed to dim with each passing step and the air grew thick and heavy. At the bottom of the steps, the narrow corridor turned into a massive hall with an arching ceiling. The walls were lit by fires on braziers, fires that would never extinguish due to the sith sorcery which forged them. The dark side was strong in this place- they were in the belly of Byss, where a dark force Nexus thrived. It was upon this nexus that the temple of the Lord of Chaos sat, and within that temple, the archives. Nexus stopped and looked to his followers behind him. He was silent, watching them with cold eyes. After a few moments he spoke once more- his voice was loud, reflecting off the arched ceiling, creating resonating echoes.
"Should any man woman or child try to open this door, they will find that it will not budge. Try for yourself if you doubt me."
The door itself was beautifully crafted, wrought of a mysterious black metal which glimmered with the same malice as the Dark Lord's gauntlets. On the metal were carved depictions of war, death and monstrosities that could not be identified. It was a dark art piece though its true value was in the sorcery which was bound to it, as locks were imbedded with crystals attuned to the Dark Lord, meaning they would not open for any other being. The door looked strong yet it was stronger still, as no application of the force would budge it- it was truly a vault.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
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Post by Lord Nexus on Jun 6, 2013 9:22:07 GMT -8
Silence hung in the air after Jud'dayus' words- the tension was palpable and all eyes fell upon the newest incarnation of the lord of chaos. One second went by, then two. Then Nexus did what no one expected. He smiled.
"You would do well to remember Korriban Jud'dayus..."
His voice was soft and smooth like honey, yet there was an acidic bite behind them. Silence followed the veiled words that only Nexus and Jud'dayus understood. When Jud'dayus knew the Dark Lord on Tattooine, he had been more Malakaii than Nexus; he was rash, emotional and quick to anger. Such things had led to his downfall on the dunes, yet he had changed since then- that much Jud had seen on Korriban. There was something chilling behind the man's pale blue eyes, which looked upon Jud'dayus, before looking at the artifacts.
The blade and gauntlets were dumped without the slightest hint of grace, to most, that would be a sleight against the Dark Lord, for these treasures were priceless, and yet Nexus didn't react in any way apart from gesturing at the gauntlets with his right hand. Lifted by the invisible will of the force, the gauntlets levitated away from the droids and settled on Mercedes' desk. Next came the blade- a colossal weapon wrought from mysterious, masterful hands.
The weapon itself was as tall as a man, and as wide as a hand, yet as the weapon rested itself in the waiting palm of its master, he held it as though it weighed no more than a feather. Nexus did not put aside the sword however, but instead kept it in his hand where he studied it with a pensive expression. He murmured to the weapon.
"It has been a long time my old friend- I am sure you are hungry for blood. Don't worry, it will come."
The Dark Lord lifted his eyes from the blade of his weapon and locked them on Jud'dayus once more. He watched the man for a moment, then looked at his two droids. A sly smile played across his lips but for a seconds, before his face returned to it's apathetic expression. He said no more words, but instead walked past Jud'dayus' droids and out of Mercedes' solar, taking with him his blade though not his gauntlets. He looked back, wondering if Jud'dayus was going to follow him to the archives, or if he cared more for wine that might have very well been poisoned by Mercedes after his comments.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
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Post by Lord Nexus on Jun 2, 2013 16:16:21 GMT -8
Once again, the Sith Lord had underestimated his opponent's prowess in combat. The jedi followed neither expected courses of action, but instead took a third decision. The man was old, but he was nimble, leaping toward his opponent rather than away from him- most opponents would be disappointed at the turn of events, but Nexus was thrilled. Not that he had time to process the thrill; after all, this had all happened in a matter of microseconds.
Fortunately for the Dark Lord, his diverse plan of attack had given him the advantage of not meeting a sudden end with a beam of blue plasma in his back. As Rutil had not leaped to the side, Nexus turned, following his alternative plan to flank the jedi. As he twisted his body in mid-jump, his lightsaber cleaved through thin air, sizzling harmlessly as it failed to meet the leather-like flesh of his opponent. Nexus maintained his swing as the Iridonian had placed himself at the Dark Lord's back.
Just as the snap hiss of his opponent's blade echoed in the air, the Dark Lord completed his spin, turning to face Rutil. To his surprise the blue lightsaber was not in it's master's hand, but rather in the air, aimed towards his midsection. Fortunately Nexus' own strike had been aimed for the same part of Rutil's body, which put his arms and blade in the path of the weapon. The beam clashes against the upper forearm section of Sith's gauntlet, showering the battlefield in a bath of sparks before Nexus shifted his arm upwards, bringing his own bloodied beam against the bottom of Rutil's in a sloppy half parry, swatting the flying weapon upwards. The parry, however, was not as precise as it could have been, and caused the weapon to scorch the skin on the Dark Lord's left upper arm, leaving an inflamed area as it shot past him. A painful flesh wound but nothing that would cause permanent damage.
The Dark Lord let a sharp grunt to pass his lips, but allowed the pain to flow through him, rather than blocking it out. A Sith thrived on pain- raw emotions gave sith strength and cleared their minds, where as it sullied the minds of lesser beings. The Dark Lord's head was clear, as was his next course of action.
The Dark Lord never stopped moving- being a sith, he was always on the attack. He saw his opponent's position and assessed the situation. The Dark Lord payed for his errors and now it was time for Rutil to pay for his. The jedi's saber was out of his hands, and Dark Lord's saber was still in his.
Half a heart beat passed before the lithe Dark Lord suddenly dived towards Rutil who was lying on his back. The dive itself was actually a long step- pushing forward with his right leg, the Dark Lord's left leg landed with a bent knee, bringing him into a stretched crouch. His entire body leaned forward, weight supported by the left leg, while balance was supported by the right. His blade lanced forward, targeting the center of the floored Iridonian's gut. He was exposed for a moment, but the strike was quick and well aimed, like that of a serpent.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 30, 2013 22:26:47 GMT -8
The Dark Lord was silent- a shadow without a voice. He slipped into the room with the girl at his side. Everything changed once all were in the room. Sensations went wild. He felt curiosity, annoyance, hatred and acceptance. The Dark Lord displayed no such emotion- his face remained unmoved by emotion.
He noted the child's tension raising as she entered the room- perhaps now would be a time to speak, but still he remained silent, instead resting his right hand on Lux's shoulder. It was heavy, yet not deliberately so- the passive nature of the hand made it act as a pillar versus a battering ram as most knew it. He looked to the child knowingly, and while he didn't speak, his expression said it all.
Be calm.
At least on the surface. When the Dark Lord referred to calm it was always in an ironic sense. For now he simply sought for Lux to be neutral. He felt the spark on her finger tips and the heat in her heart yet now was not the time, nor the place for such things. At least until Jud'dayus spoke.
Nexus maintained his silence, giving the sith nothing more than a nod in acknowledgment. Malakaii, he called him; yet Malakaii he was no more. names went with bodies, and bodies came and left- but none of that mattered. Jud'dayus knew his identity- that pushed aside the facade of formality. Without it, things were quite blunt.
"You have some things that belong to me..."
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 27, 2013 6:48:49 GMT -8
Their blades kissed again- the red one with fury. The indigo blade and it's wielder fell to one knee. Nexus could have held him there- but the Dark Lord pressed his advantage, not waiting long enough to give Cassel time to react, instead, allowing the force to fill him, he shifted at supernatural speeds.
With the force aiding his speed, Nexus stepped to the right, pulling himself out of range of the shorter blade that Cassel wielded. As he stepped, he pivoted on his right heel, spinning a full 360 degrees counter-clockwise. As he wheeled around, he held his blade outwards; to the crowd, all that could be seen was a blur of red. Completing the spin, the dark lord's saber moved from Cassel's face, away from him, before coming back around behind him, aiming to slice through Cassel's left side.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 27, 2013 6:39:25 GMT -8
Nexus watched as the jedi braced himself for another attack. He would give it to him. The dark lord gripped the elongated hilt of his weapon with both hands and bolted at the jedi with formidable speed. As he came closer, he lifted his blade high, feinting an obvious strike from above, though that wasn't what he had in mind. He noticed Rutil's preference for the acrobatic form of Ataru, and intended to break the jedi's habit of hopping everywhere.
As he closed the gap, he watched Rutil, wondering which direction the jedi would leap. He decided to take that matter into his own hands. When he was a meter away, Nexus pushed off lightly with his right leg, in a feinting step to the left, though it was a deceptive move. Just as his body began to shift to his (Nexus') left, he planted his left leg down, bending his right and kicked off with much more power, leaping towards his (Nexus') right instead, hoping to intercept a potential dodging attempt by the jedi, while bringing his blade back down to waist level.
Depending on the jedi's course of action, this move would end differently. If Rutil fell for the feint and jumped right, Nexus would be in front of the jedi, lashing out with a vicious horizontal chop from right to left, aiming to connect with the jedi's ribs from the side. If he stood his ground, however, Nexus would use his juke as a way to flank his opponent, and turn mid jump to bring the saber in a horizontal chop which would connect with the jedi's ribs from behind.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 27, 2013 6:00:09 GMT -8
"His heart was still beating when I went looking for it." She replied calmly, studying her kill. "While I separated him from his fleshy costume he screamed...until he did not. I think that is what ended him. He looked to be in immense pain." She looked back to the Dark Lord towering over her. "He did not smell different than any other. Perhaps many fear me?" The dark side was strong in this one. Mercedes was right about her daughter's potential- Nexus could feel it, nearly palpable in the air around him."Do you like to know that you are feared? They fear you now, perhaps, but you are a mere shadow of what you will become in the coming years- that will be something that incites true fear..." Nexus fell silent, allowing the dripping of blood and guts to be the dominant sound of the room. Without taking his eyes off of the child, his mind reached out to the world around him; he noted a familiar presence nearby. Jud'dayus- after all of these years. Nexus lowered his hand to his side once more, causing the body to fall with a less than graceful flop, letting out a sickeningly wet noise as it hit the ground. He looked over at Lux."I hear Lord Ramiel has been training you as of late? What skills have you learned?" Even though his eyes were on the girl, his mind was on Jud'dayus and the beacon that the man had in his possession.Me. Nexus thought to himself- He has parts of me, bound to the gauntlets and blade. It was long past time he regain more of his strength."Follow me child- there is something I want you to see." With that, the Dark Lord turned on his heel and made his way to the door without glancing back to see if Mercedes' daughter was in tow. He wove through the halls, following the miniature force nexus that was caused by the accumulation of auras- cold, calm, calculating; fluctuating, unpredictable, ancient; hot, raw and chaotic. The dark lord eventually found himself outside of the door to Mercedes' solar once more- he had allowed his presence to fade, blending with Byss itself. Pressing the key panel, the door slid open, admitting the Dark Lord, and hopefully Lux. To Jud's eyes, Nexus would appear to be no more than a stranger- his aura was drowned out by the aura trapped within the artifacts within Jud's possession. No man knew who would stand in their midst until it was too late.
Darth Nexus looked upon Jud'dayus with knowing eyes, though he did not speak- he watched the man, curious of how he would react to a stranger interrupting his meeting.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 22, 2013 10:37:07 GMT -8
Nexus was silent for a moment, noting the girl's sadist nature, and her mother's subtle discomfort with it. She feared for her- that much Nexus could tell. He knew Mercedes well, better than most; this woman did not fear for many things, yet for her daughter, he saw a side of her that was most uncommon- love. He looked to Mercedes, then spoke in a solid, ordering tone.
"Leave us."
He did not look back to see if his apprentice obeyed, he had faith in her obedience, and their torture session showed her what happened when someone brought about his wrath. He walked towards the girl, closing the gap between them- he towered over her, yet he saw no fear in her eyes. Such was the way of children, to be without fear. It was something he would use to his advantage. He did not look down at the body- he knew the man was like any other, a sack of meat and bone. It was the mind that truly mattered.
"What made this man different was something that you cannot see- this is why you must learn about your prey before eliminating him. He feared you, and fear is a great tool of persuasion. Knowledge is the line that divides brief satisfaction from prolonged benefit..."
The dark lord shifted his hand subtly, allowing the force to mold according to his will. The body lifted from the ground with grace, and hung suspended in midair. Entrails leaked out of his wounds and blood dripped upon the floor but Nexus did not mind. He wanted to see the girl's power before he decided which way was best to train her.
"Tell me, how did you kill him? Was it the flaying? Or the hole in his chest?"
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 21, 2013 9:21:24 GMT -8
He took another step forward. His eyes shifted from hers, to the amulet, to her hand, then back her wells of amethyst. There was a moment of silence in the room when all that could be heard was Tanith's subtle breaths, though Nexus gave her the impression that he could hear her very heart beat.
"Hearts are a weakness I cannot afford to have..."
He closed the gap between them, stopping a mere meter in front of her. He towered over her; while he was not as tall as the Nexus she knew, he was still formidable height wise. With him so close, she could see the details in his new face. Younger, with more agile features- a stark difference to the brutish appearance he had before. He looked down at her with those haunting eyes of his, which seemed to pierce her robes.
"You have something that belongs to me..."
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 21, 2013 8:50:51 GMT -8
"They say that the fire heart was captured from a sun not unlike your own..."
A voice spoke out, loud, clear, deep with a subtle Mandalorian accent. His voice. The voice that she could remember taunting her, questioning her, torturing her, then holding her, whispering to her, seducing her. His voice- the voice of the man whose actions led to the construction of the new towers; the voice of the man who brought Contruum to its knees; the voice of the man who had captured and imprisoned Tanith. It was the voice of the Dark Lord, Nexus. She didn't hear the door open, nor did she hear the footsteps- he managed to enter a secured facility without raising alarm, and enter her very quarters without her notice. How long had he been there? There was no way of knowing.
The Dark Lord stood in the south western corner of the room, clad in black robes from head to toe. After he spoke, he stepped forward, reaching up to pull his hood down to his shoulders. When it fell she saw that it was not the man who she knew as Nexus. The man before was a brute in physique, standing at 6'7 and weighing in close to 300 lbs, with stark silver hair and chilling blue eyes- this man was different, tall and lean, though not as large as the other, his hair was raven black and fell down to his shoulders. Every feature was different, save for his eyes which had that same pale blue hue.
Tanith could have cried out, she could have called her guards and had him arrested, after all this was the man who sacked her planet and brought her empire to the brink, yet there would be questions in Tanith's mind surely. Nexus, a man who had an affinity for chaos and violence, not known for stealth, some how slipped into the Towers without carving a path of bodies- he was no here for death, otherwise things would be much different. That begged the question- if not here for violence, what was it that he wanted.The answer rested upon her neck- an amulet wrought of gold and a mysterious gem known as the Fire Heart. Tanith had no idea what treasure he had left in her possession.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 21, 2013 6:15:34 GMT -8
The Dark Lord followed his apprentice as she led him to her daughter- he wondered if she feared the day that Lux would replace her and take his mantle. They walked the hall in some silence until Mercedes told Nexus of her daughter's potential; there was a subtle anticipation in her voice, as though she wanted the Dark Lord's judgement of the daughter. Lux was a gift that she had granted him; a gift which she had carried for nine months and trained for thirteen years, and now it had come time to judge the gift for what it was.
Nexus never spoke, he only listened while he mentally scanned Lux's aura, growing accustomed to the maelstrom that she was. There were times when he wondered if it was his punishing Mercedes that led the child to be the way she was. While Nexus had not been present for most of Lux's childhood, he had heard tales of the girls sadistic nature and her raw power- these were good things if left to evolve, but they were great things if honed into perfection. As the doors parted, Nexus took in the scene.
The child stood still, as graceful as a statuette in the gardens- she was tall and lithe, still having the figure of youth, with a few features of adulthood. At her feet lay the skinned man, a testament to the truth of the tales around this girl. Nexus didn't share Mercedes' discomfort as they looked at the body; he was a man of war and had long since grown accustomed to such atrocities. Then the girl spoke, without the slightest hint of fear. Nexus appreciated that. He watched her with his chilling eyes for a moment before speaking.
"Tell me his story."
His eyes shifted to the flayed man. It was easy to hunt and kill, but to understand your prey was a gift saved only for the best of hunters- knowing the prey gives a hunter dominance, and a sith thrives when granted dominance. If Lux did not already know this lesson it would be one of the first things he would teach her.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 18, 2013 8:50:52 GMT -8
Failure- the internal voices cried in discontent as his blade came so close, yet never made it's mark. Nexus landed on the ground, four meters from his opponent, kicking up a small cloud of dust as his feet met the harsh Geonosian sand. He turned to face the jedi, who had reignited is lightsaber and waited for an attack.
The crowd let out a unified cheer as the young adventurer that was Cassel landed, virtually unscathed. Nexus stood across from him. The voices in the Dark Lord's mind cheered and roared, filled with blood lust, as the jedi came to his knees. "Kill him", they said; "Crush him", they said; "Destroy him", they said. "Wait", said one voice, that beckoned the other voices into silence- the voice of a master of lightsaber combat, Darth Sanctus, speaking in his element with the authority that could silence the maelstrom of other voices and entities. "Never rush in", the voice said, "Never do what they expect- deceive them and attack them where they least expect it".
It was time to attack once more, but Nexus decided against charging his opponent- while he could seize the moment, his opponent would be far from surprised by that course of action. Instead he heeded the words of Darth Sanctus. He flourished his saber in a quick spin, before holding it in a Makashi-like stance.
Turning side-face once more, Nexus' left shoulder was aimed towards Cassel, with his lightsaber held at waist level, angled towards the sand. While the stance matched that of a form II user, Nexus did not intend to attack with the saber form; it was a form of trickery, using the stance to misguide Cassel into a sense of specific expectations.
Taking steady steps, Nexus approached the man-child, bracing himself for an attack with the force or the saber. Closer and closer he stepped, walking straight to Cassel, believing the boy would not budge, though he was not so ignorant as to be unprepared for an attack. Three meters, two meters, one meter and a half, all the while his blade poised and ready to ward off an enemy attack. As he came nearer he placed both hands on the elongated hilt of his weapon. Then he was within striking range of the boy. Unless Cassel had made the first move, Nexus would have.
(If met without resistance) Once Nexus was within striking range, he would move with fluid grace. Rather than going for a typical arcing swipe or stab, as was commonly associated with Makashi, Nexus abandoned the stance and drew back his right arm, bringing his blade from his waist angled downwards, to his right shoulder, angled straight and outward, poised to strike. This switch changed potential targets for Nexus' strike, a switch that required compensation in the opponent's defense.
Ferocity filled the dark lord, as he suddenly thrust the blade outward and slightly to the his left (Cassel's right)in a feinting stab aiming for Cassel's right shoulder. The blade moved no more than three inches before Nexus suddenly altered its trajectory, bringing it to Cassel's left side in short arc which would bring the blade from Cassel's right shoulder, over his head, and down onto his left shoulder in a violent diagonal cleave. The weapon moved in a red blur, striking with well practiced speed. If the blade met it's target it had the potential to rend Cassel in half, cleaving from his left shoulder to right hip.
The Dark Lord would not tire- nor would he relent. He would end the story of Cassel Lockpick, and the final words would be written in blood, supported by the roar of the crowd.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 18, 2013 8:07:03 GMT -8
A twitch- subtle to most but not to Nexus. She had grown comfortable in her position of authority- she hated being challenged. Had things been different Nexus might have asserted dominance, however physical power was beneath him- he cared only to retrieve his artifacts and pass his lessons onto a student. When Mercedes finished talking, Nexus stood from his chair.
"Show me to your daughter- I wish to see her progress..."
While both of the children held great potential, it was Lux that intrigued Nexus the most- she was all that a sith should be and more. Cold, calculating, cunning- even as a child she knew how to have her way, and with her mother's genes, Nexus was certain that as an adult getting what she wanted would be that much easier. She intrigued the Dark Lord and that was hard to do.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 16, 2013 15:45:20 GMT -8
The jedi surged forward. The jedi attacked?! Yes, that was so- the Iridonian made at Nexus like a pissed off Reek with wings. It caught him off guard slightly. He expected a counter attack, but not one of such an aggressive nature. It would have been the downfall for most enemies, yet Nexus was not most enemies, which made it a gambit of sorts.
While he was not most enemies, he was not perfect. The Dark Lord was fast, and he was agile, yet even so, he had little to no time to react. All it took was a simple side step, and yet in the current situation all Nexus managed to do was a sloppy, lucky evasion.
As the iridonian lunged, Nexus shifted his right foot. Sliding it backwards and to the side, he attempted to pivot on his heel. He was too slow, however, and instead of making the graceful pivot he had intended, he began to stumble backwards; fortunately luck was on his side.
By an act of chance and over compensation the Dark Lord was pulling his saber upwards in an attempt to strike his enemy from behind if his pivot was successful (which it wasn't), this action, while not serving it's intended purpose, did save Nexus' life. He had pulled up his left arm, with saber in hand, just in time to grant him some protection from his enemy's attack. The red blade slid past the blue blade, though they never kissed. Instead, Rutil's blade met the dark lord's bracer and brushed across it, leaving a light scorch mark in the metal. Had it been any other metal, his arm would have been gone, yet the bracers were wrought of phrik, which saved the Dark Lord his arm, while also granting him some outside momentum to push him further away from the jedi's flight path, while his blade passed over the Iridonian's head harmlessly.
Nexus was falling as Rutil blasted past him- his pivot had been far from graceful and he lost his balance. The ground never rushed up to meet him, however,- instead it rose up in a slow crawl as time appeared slowed down around the Dark Lord. Nexus was no stranger to combat, and his years had given him a killer's instict- he was able to act and react without so much as a second thought. While now things seemed to move slowly, after wards it would have felt like no more than a fraction of a second.
As he fell, Nexus twisted his left shoulder, leveling his torso out so that he would land flat on his back. This re-positioning was not for a safe fall, however, but instead for an attack. As he reached the end of his failed pivot, he was facing Rutil's back (or would be, had he not been following) As momentum brought Nexus to the ground the Dark Lord allowed the force to flow through him and act for him. Instinct.
Instinct beckoned him to loosen his grip on the hilt of his lightsaber- he obeyed, and the weapons shot out from his hand, propelled by an invisible force. The weapon, still ignited, moved as an arrow flying straight and fast, targeting Rutil's lower back as he was descending from his lunge. The saber had ill intent, seeking to cripple, if not kill Rutil. It was out of Nexus' hands, both literally and metaphorically.
Nexus turned his attention to his trajectory with the ground. He shifted as he fell, pushing his weight towards his shoulders, allowing him to roll back onto his feet to face his opponent (back, corpse or face, depending on how fortunate this jedi really was). Nexus didn't mind his lack of grace as he reached for the second hilt on his belt- some times grace had to be sacrificed for survival. He ignited the crimson blade of his second lightsaber, prepared to fight if Rutil had managed to evade his attack.
Disclaimer to Judges/Whills: I made Rutil aware that my gauntlets were Phrik, as I did not explicitly say so here, though I did hint at it. Just so you fellas know.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 16, 2013 14:48:35 GMT -8
The Dark Lord fell silent as Hank entered the room. He watched the man as he shuffled awkwardly and forced himself to remain in his seat. The man's behavior disgusted him; it was as though he was a pet, shuffling too and fro while his betters went about with their business. Nexus managed to remain silent until the man left; the moment the door closed behind Hank, Nexus let out a sneer.
"This behavior disgusts me. You know that it is better to be feared than loved yet you refuse to heed my words. When the enemy is at your doorstep we will see what their motherly love for you earns..."
He fell silent for a moment, looking away in irritation as Mercedes made her plea. He fought the urge to snarl at this behavior. He disappeared for a few years and suddenly everyone was all for peace and love- but they would learn the err of their ways soon enough. He waved a dismissive hand in the air as Mercedes finished.
"You can have Byss- I don't care, so long as my soldiers have shelter and food I don't care what you do with the planet..."
He wanted to tell her how her actions disappointed him; he wanted to lecture and scream and rant and rave, but he suppressed the emotions, feeding on them instead in silence. He looked to the window, watching the outside world that had grown so peaceful. He visualized how it would look if it was on fire, which brought him some degree of comfort. Without looking away from the window, he spoke to Mercedes.
"Where are your children?"
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 15, 2013 21:19:19 GMT -8
"A noble gesture..."
The Dark Lord looked at the contents of his glass before draining it and refilling it. Then he looked back at Mercedes.
"But you forgot one of the first lessons I taught you...Know your enemy. The fact that you would allow the man to enter the citadel without knowing the first thing about him is foolish. Fortunately I know him and will tell you how to deal with him."
He reaches for the decanter, filling his cup, as well as a second one, which he slid to Mercedes.
"Jud'dayus is an old man, and a wise man. He is a hermit and does not value relationships. What he does value is power, which there is no lack of in my library. He is a hermit but also a powerful sith- I doubt there is anything you can offer to dissuade him. He lacks mortal desires such as wealth and flesh, all he wants is knowledge..."
He watched Mercedes with those chilling eyes, then spoke out in a tone that thawed the ice that his eyes had laid before his voice.
"You will grant him access to the archives- I shall allow him to enter it for a brief period. He may prove valuable in the future...Do you know when he is due?"
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 15, 2013 20:39:47 GMT -8
Cunning, the trait of a sith. Nexus took a step back, granting her a reprieve from his overbearing authority. Some men would believe they over stepped their power, but not Nexus. He took her apology in silence, and walked around her desk. He rested both hands on the table and leaned against it, the wood creaked lightly against his weight- it would cry against the weight of the Dark Lords soul, however upon the weight of it's vessel it merely whispered.
"You should know by now that I am not held by mortal boundaries Mercedes..."
He lowered himself into one of the chairs in which a guest would sit; should a guard enter the room nothing would appear out of the ordinary- to the naked eye Mercedes held the dominance in the high chair behind her great table, but the dominance of a sith did not need visual aids- there was one person that controlled the room, and he was seated in the guest chair.
"Know this, my apprentice; I am far older than people know, and I shall grow older still. As to how, I will not tell you. The less you know the better."
Reaching across the table, he gripped a decanter of rum, a traditional decoration in Byss offices, along with a small crystal glass. Pulling both in front of him he began to pour- there was a shake in his hand as he poured; it was subtle but trained eyes could see it. Mercedes could probably figure the nature of Nexus' existence, but he would never let her know the toll of his immortality and what it took upon vessels. Palpatine learned that toll far too late and the Lord of Chaos refused to share his fate.
"Jud'dayus will not take well to the betrayal. He is not one to be trifled with. What do you intend to do to curb his wroth?"
As he finished pouring, he set the decanter aside and took a sip from the cup. The amber fluid brought some color to his pale cheeks, causing him to close his eyes and exhale in relaxation.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 15, 2013 19:19:57 GMT -8
The Dark Lord's nostrils flared in irritation- he had grown unaccustomed to being spoken back to. The long military sequence of military campaigns had him grow accustomed to orders being followed without hindrance, but Mercedes Asari was not a soldier in his army, she was a sith, and sith were not sheep. There was also truth to her words, yet the Dark Lord did not take well to being lectured- even so, he remained silent; his words would not be wasted on such topics. Her second topic, however, piqued his interest, causing him to look up from the wooden desk and at his apprentice. Jud'dayus- a name he had not heard in many years. It was a name that reminded him of a different time, as a different man. The one who thought back to these days was not Nexus, but instead one of his greatest vessels, Malakaii- the body that Mercedes knew. Malakaii and Jud'dayus had interactions during the man's exile on Tattooine- interactions that had not ended in the best of notes.
Intriguing- why would Jud'dayus come to Byss? Nexus had heard tell of the man having some association with Tanith and the Empire of Edeja- what could Mercedes have done to ensure their return."If you would care to tell me how a ghost has returned to his dutiful apprentice, I'd love to share what I've promised in exchange for their safe return." The Dark Lord's eyes flashed dangerously in a moment of rage. He rose to his feet, towering over his apprentice. While this vessel was not as impressive in size as its predecessor, it was still a formidable being, and with the Dark Lord's eyes, it seemed that much more unsettling. Nexus spoke out in words, not laced with the heat anger, but an eerie chill of severity."You will tell me because I am your lord and if you have forgotten that I will not hesitate to remind you." There was a moment where Mercedes could taste the vile presence of Chaos, the force that made brought her master to a dark chapter in his life- a chapter in which she suffered dearly at his hands. It was for but a moment, but a moment was all it took to drag old skeletons from the closet.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 15, 2013 18:09:51 GMT -8
Her composure impressed him. Most would question the nature of the current, but Mercedes had not; few were able to do what she did, and even fewer could do it without a single sign of unbalance. Perhaps he had made it too much of a habit to delve in the unnatural- especially the fields of unnatural that could unsettle most force users.
The Dark Lord did not miss a beat. He stepped forward, making his way towards the desk where his apprentice had situated her self. He brushed the polished wood with his fingers- he was often found brushing objects these days, to remind him what was real and what was a side effect of his weakened state.
Yes, weakened state, for he was weak. A spirit, broken into fragments and scattered to the wind- the man in front of Mercedes was but a shade of the master she knew, and but an insect in the shadow of what Nexus could be at full strength. He scanned the room with his eyes, before returning them to Mercedes. His were cold, calculating and knowing, while hers were filled with emotion- compassion- something that he tried to drive out of her soul. She had come to close to Nexus in her years, so close that she held little promise to surpass him as a sith.
That was what made his return so necessary. A legacy needed to be born. Fortunately there was hope- the child who Mercedes bore. Lux. She would be the one to take the mantle from him. But Mercedes would remain, while she was not the greatest of sith, she did have useful traits- she managed to hold Byss in a state of peace during his absence, and she would continue to do so.
He spoke from behind his mask, yet his voice could not have been more clear.
"Politics and Diplomacy play no role in the greater picture. There is no politics, nor war; there is only the force."
He paused for a moment, bringing his eyes down to the desk which his hands touched. At that brief moment she could see his weakness; she could feel his weariness. But then it was gone, and the Dark Lord seemed as strong as ever.
"Where is my sword- where is Reaver?"
Reaver, it was another piece to the puzzle that was Nexus. A bit of the Dark Lord's essence was within the ancient sith sword- it was said that the most fierce part of him lay trapped within the metallic confines, giving any and all who wielded the weapon the ferocity of the Lord of Chaos. It was a piece of the puzzle that could not be forgotten.
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