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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2020 14:18:24 GMT -8
No sooner could she begin her work would Blaze manage to catch it despite the heat of the explosion no doubt burning her flesh from above. With Blaze’s sudden thrust forward, Vesperia was forced backward, her back hitting snow as to avoid the thrust of the blade towards her chest. Now, even her grip on Blaze’s shield was forced to be given up to avoid the blade’s path. How troublesome this one was getting. Still, Vesperia didn’t allow just this one, single attack to disrupt her own concentration, and in the matter of a breath longer, her whip’s tails were set free to float ominously above her, setting her pale skin alight with a crimson light.
Thrusting her hand forward, she forced Blaze back with a wave of the Force. The moment she was in the free and clear, Vesperia cracked her whip behind her again to clear her way back to her feet with a swift kick into the air. With a dramatic sigh, Vesperia brushed the icy snow from her clothes, so casually as though she wasn’t in the midst of a life or death battle.
“You know, you were the only one who ever managed to get me beneath you,” Vesperia teased with a dark laugh, her voice heightened to carry the distance she forced between them. “I can’t fathom why you of all people decided your path was in treachery, attempting to overthrow the council and everything we desired. You and I could have risen up and accomplished so much more than our fathers, Nania…”
For once, the Sith woman revealed a stark contrast to her wild and wicked play -- a precise sorrow in her remembrance of times’ past. It was there and gone in the flicker of a second as Vesperia prepared herself for the next round of their battle, using it as fuel to her conviction in keeping up the assault despite the exhaustion of chasing her through the city and now finally their battle. Blaze was still with her shield, her sword, and every damned weapon she brought with her here today. Although Vesperia had no qualms with prying them off of her dead body, they were becoming more trouble than they were worth. Still, with a lunge forward, Vesperia cracked her whip over her shoulder, sending a barrage of plasma strands from the sky to pelt down over their victim once more. However, now, Vesperia wouldn't stop there, now following through with her strikes so that the tendrils would fully wrap around their mark. If Blaze so wanted to continue using that shield for protection, Vesperia would ensure that it would only halt part of her future assaults, with the remaining strands wrapping around her body, constricting her movements, and shredding away skin and clothes with ease.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2020 14:34:17 GMT -8
Free of Vesperia's grip as the sword sliced over her, Blaze was able to move away and gain a little distance, distance that was aided by the Force Push. Turning to face the woman as she slid across the snow, she drove her blade into the ground to stop herself. She gave off a heavy breath then as Vesperia returned to her feet. Expecting an immediate attack, she used the time to focus herself and diminish the flames as she felt the rising heat of the shield. Instead, the woman spoke.
It brought back the memories of times past, the years training to be the best among the Sith they followed. Vesperia was set to take her father's place on the council while she was their right hand. They would have done well together if not for the actions the council took against her. "You can blame your father and the rest of the council for that. If they hadn't attempted to kill me, then use me for their own plans out of fear of my power, then we could have been. But that time has come and gone." Standing tall, she stood out with her left foot and brought her shield up, her blade crossing in front of it.
It was then Vesperia made her attack, rushing forward. Bringing her sword behind her, her shield came up then was thrust to the side as she pushed the strands away, using the opening to step forward in a lunge to close the distance as her sword came down in a downward slash once more. But the barrage didn't end there. With the press of a switch, the lace looking pieces emerged from the sides of her shield, sharp blades that turned her defensive weapon into an offensive one.
Just after the downward slash, the blade swung out again with the aid of the Force to push back Vesperia's next attack as her shield came around to slice at Vesperia's neck. The next attack came in the form of a spin to her left as she used both weapons to created a bladed barrier as she spun towards her opponent in a relentless assault that let her spin three times before finally stopping
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2020 14:57:03 GMT -8
Blaze could string together whatever song and tune she had wanted. The moment her treachery was discovered, means were taken to subdue her, keeping her a tool that the council could use on a whim. There was no doubt in Vesperia’s mind that Blaze was a powerful weapon, which was why the council had decided from the start to use her instead of exterminating her. However, in their chosen method, Blaze’s mind was toyed with and emptied. Over the years, only the Force knew how many lies Blaze had convinced herself. Innocence for her crimes wasn’t a far cry from what Vesperia was expecting, so with a satisfied smirk, the time had indeed come and gone.
Vesperia’s attack had artfully followed through, no longer allowing the tails to limply bounce off of her shield. Blaze may have tried to push them away, but the ends continued their momentum, several finding their way in wrapping around the shield and perhaps even nicking Blaze’s pretty little face if she wasn’t prepared for Vesperia to stop playing around with her. Nonetheless, the blade came down, to which Vesperia kicked her left foot back, minimizing the striking zone for Blaze to connect with. Despite the dissonant crackling that resonated from her shield as the loose grip of the tails remained, Blaze continued her assault by turning that defensive measure into an offensive one.
With Blaze’s motion showing a horizontal attack, Vesperia pushed off with her forward foot, using the Force for an artful leap over Blaze and her shield. With the little bit of a grip she still had on it, though, she pulled back, using both the momentum of falling with the added tug with her grasp, to bring the shield back to slam against into its own master’s face. Then again, the grasp of her whip’s tendrils weren’t so latched onto the shield that Blaze’s couldn’t fight against them to keep it from happening.
The trickier part, however, was how Vesperia had managed to use her shield and her own body as two fixed points, with Blaze directly in the middle, and as Vesperia came down, so would her whip… poised like strings to sever down her shoulder. What more, the moment Vesperia landed on her feet, she would rip the tails back, letting them shred away whatever piece of Blaze they could find.
Vesperia wasn’t playing games anymore. She was here to finish this mission once and for all. In that single motion, she reminded Blaze that she truly was here to kill.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2020 15:18:11 GMT -8
Those blasted tendrils and Vesperia's mastery over them. They were slowly growing to become more and more of a pain.No matter her skill, Blaze wasn't able to fully adapt to them and their erratic behavior. She, herself, had never picked up a shield until after all had been discovered and she started on her journey to kill the masters, but despite being unfamiliar to Vesperia, they were much easier to predict and adapt to.
The pushing of her tendrils didn't fully work as she had hoped, the extension of the whips being further back and not ending at her shield. Thus the pushing back against them only aided in them wrapping around her shield. She had worked to evade them as they passed by her face, though a couple managed to knick her. Hoping that the bladed extensions and attack would work to break free the grip of the tendrils, it proved not to be as she made her spin. Growing closer, the whips began to wrap around her and with Vesperia's masterful approach, navigated them in an attempt to decapitate her. Ducking down was her only safeguard, forcing her to break her attack.
It was then that Vesperia lept over Blaze, using the grip she had on the shield and the sudden alteration in her enemy's movements to her advantage. Though the attempt to pull the shield back and slam into her face failed as Blaze attempted to pull on the tendrils themselves to force her to the ground, neither was successful in taking control of the other. But as she landed and pulled down on her whip, the string of plasma reached down into Blaze's shoulder. Being knelt down already saved them from being able to cut into her, but they had hit their mark and burned her. Lifting her shield, she got them off of her as she turned, channeling the Force through her blade as electricity began to surge. With a spin, she slashed the air and released a stream of lightning at Vesperia.
In the end, it was clear she wouldn't be able to hold out against her old friend. She needed a way out and needed it now.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2020 14:47:15 GMT -8
Blaze was always a clever one, always able to predict her movements and move with such fluid dexterity. Despite Vesperia’s best efforts, she hadn’t wounded her prey near enough to prove it to be a lethal blunder. Although the Sith woman knew this would be a rigorous battle walking into it, she thought that surely the years had granted her something of an edge over her once best friend and friendly rival. Still, the rose-haired woman managed to elude and deflect her attacks with this exotic weapon and advance the fight.
Vesperia was too close to comfort as Blaze slashed her blade towards Vesperia. After ripping her whip’s tails back, the woman was forced to retreat if she didn’t want to face the pointed-end of Blaze’s blade. Leaping back, Vesperia kept her eyes upon her foe, and with the sudden crackle of energy from the metal, her eyes widened in a brief, momentary shock -- if just for theatrics -- before that wicked grin became alight on her lips again. As her feet hit the ground, she reached out with her free hand, seemingly catching the wave of lightning in the palm of her hand in a display of Tutaminis. As the crackling of the lightning dissipated, it was only replaced by a burst of malicious laughter.
“Getting desperate now, are we, Nania?” Vesperia mocked. “Once a Sith, always a Sith…”
With the issuance of lightning, Vesperia couldn’t help but wonder… She lowered her hand, and with a gentle twist of her wrist, she began to work the world around the two. The Force created ripples in reality around them, and soon enough, ghosts of the past seemed to appear out of thin air -- the two of them as young ones, no older than thirteen. Saber clashes echoed in the air, ringing with eerie dissonance of childish laughter among their spar. Vesperia was morbidly curious if, somewhere deep down, this was where Blaze’s weakness lied.
“You’ve managed to kill all of those who you claimed wronged you… who fled like the weak little bugs they were. Our past can still become our future, dearest Nania… if you wish it…”
She spoke with smoothened tones and a rhythmic pattern, as though melding her use of Force Illusion with hypnotic promises and charm. If either seemed to speak truth to the rose-haired woman, the imagery of the two of them would grow stronger, the memories of those times hopefully crashing over her like a tidal wave, replaying the past throughout the blank slate of the snow-laden tundra. No matter the case, though, Vesperia kept her eyes sharpened upon her prey should she managed to break free from this mental barrage. Blaze was still her prey until her death rattle of a final breath.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2020 15:21:28 GMT -8
Blaze growled in frustration as Vesperia was able to not only retreat from the sudden attack, but absorb it. Just another trick that had been learned in their time apart. Still, despite the surprise and irritation that it brought, it shouldn't have been unexpected. Taking a step back on her right leg, she lifted her shield up in front of her as she slashed back with her sword, ready for the next attack from Vesperia.
Yet one never came. At least, not in the way she expected. Suddenly, reality began to shift as old memories began to play around them, interlaced with her friend's words. It was a time when she was happy and held pride in her origins and task. How nice would it be to return to that, to turn back time and live that way once again? Even though they were exchanging blows now, they could bring it to an end. The Sith that had truly betrayed her were dead. All others were simply told the lies spun by the Council and Vesperia was no different. Together, they could return to the ways they once lived and continue the Sith their way.
For only a moment did the illusions grow stronger from her feelings. As she began to ponder the possibility, she remembered the simple fact of the Sith: they couldn't be trusted. When their power was threatened, they were quick to strike down those around them to keep that power. A new Sith would only restart that cycle, one she had no desire to be apart of any longer. They had tried to kill her, then took her life and memories from her, and used her for their own gains like a toy. No longer would she be anyone's pawn nor be apart of a group that would subject others to such a fate.
Her grip tightened on her weapons as the image began to fade slightly, existing only because of Vesperia's influence. Looking up to her old friend, her eyes sharpened. "The Sith are only ever about themselves. Full of lies and deceit. They play others for pawns. I will not play that role again, nor will I continue it. Especially when you are still subject to their lies..."
A truth Blaze had known for some time now, a truth that had been hidden away from Vesperia. She doubted the woman before she would believe what would be said, but if it could stir her, if only for a moment, then it was worth trying. "All this time, the council has lied to you about your mother..."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2020 16:02:15 GMT -8
For the briefest second, Vesperia thought that she had managed to grab hold of Blaze’s mind and submerge her deep into those memories from long ago. How with every duel, Vesperia grew stronger, but never strong enough to win. All those years ago, it was never about life or death but growing stronger. No matter the outcome, there was a sense of pride and joy in each spar. It was a time when ignorance was bliss, where treachery was too far over the horizon to see.
However, Blaze was able to fight back against Vesperia’s attempt at prying open old scars. Her words echoed with a pathetic conviction, at least. The Sith are only about themselves… Vesperia rolled her eyes and sighed at the sudden burst of strength and huffed a disappointed sigh. Pawns. Roles. Lies. Vesperia cracked her whip as she prepared herself for round two of this fight. Blaze’s sword and shield would make excellent trophies to adorn her bedroom wall.
But then came Blaze’s words about her mother. Vesperia made a thoughtful clicking noise with her tongue on the roof of her mouth as she briefly let Blaze’s words to rattle about in her head. However, the end result was nothing short of a dark, wicked smile, her eyes glimmering with a sense of amusement. The Sith were full of lies, apparently, which meant Blaze was still among them as far as Vesperia was concerned. No doubt, this was just an attempt to use those same abilities against her, but for now, she would play along and see just how much Blaze was truly capable of.
“Oh did they…?” Vesperia pouted, however with an eyebrow quirking skeptically. “So… she didn’t actually die to the Jedi…?” Vesperia shifted her weight and placed her free hand on her hip before she continued with a cynical laugh. “See, I knew there was something fishy about that story. The Jedi are weak little bugs…”
Another display of dramatics, Vesperia at least outwardly appeared to get overly flustered and frustrated with the ‘news’. It was easy enough to see that Vesperia was mocking Blaze and this apparent truth that she suddenly wanted to impart to her. During her display, however, she readjusted her grip on her whip’s hilt, readying herself for her next move...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2020 16:18:22 GMT -8
Blaze's head dropped as Vesperia gave her response. It wasn't completely unexpected that the woman wouldn't believe her, taking it as a pathetic attempt to stall or catch her off guard. But as the words came, the mockery in them hung heavy. But it wouldn't stop her from laying it out for her. Still, a shake of her head was all she gave to establish she knew Vesperia's game. She wouldn't act like she believed her old friend's ploy and let down her guard.
With a sudden summoning of the Force, Blaze closed the distance in blinding speed, her shield up to defend herself as her blade came around to slash in a horizontal arch at her chest. "No, the Jedi didn't kill her." Her words resonated loudly over the attacks as her wrist twisted and allowed her to turn the blade into an upward slash "She left the order and joined them!" As she truth of her mother and master's fate would pierce into Vesperia, so too did she pull her sword back before driving it forward towards her chest.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2020 17:25:47 GMT -8
And just like that, Blaze’s true colors revealed themselves, and not without consequence.
Blaze’s burst of speed carried her with a sudden fury, leaving a wide-eyed Vesperia unable to react nearly as quickly as she needed. The horizontal slash poured a deep red liquid from the Sith’s chest before another flurry of her attacks struck true. And just like that, Blaze seemingly pierced through the decades of lies just as she pierced her blade through her old friend's chest. Now standing eye-to-eye with Vesperia, there was a sudden emptiness in the now steel-gray gaze of her old friend. She seemed to exhale a rattling breath as blood dripped down from her parted lips, staining her porcelain complexion with crimson.
Was the battle finally over? What emotions could have possibly run through Blaze at that very moment? Vesperia wondered, was she so far overcome by emotion that she wouldn’t even realize how easily her blade cut through her body, as though it wasn’t flesh she tore through…
...but snow.
The illusion of Vesperia shattered as Vesperia ushered the snow pillar to burst apart in all directions. All this time, Vesperia still weaved her illusion, still manipulated Blaze’s perception all around. If Blaze believed that Vesperia was only capable of battling blade to whip, she was dead wrong -- quite literally speaking. There were still a few more tricks up her sleeve, and now with Blaze’s blasphemous words, Vesperia would be pulling all the stops to finally silence this traitor once and for all.
“You truly expect me to believe that, silly girl?!”
The true woman now revealed from behind her false form, Vesperia was already mid-arc with her whip’s fury. However, this time, Vesperia had it poised and ready to strike down at Blaze’s ankles, to wrap around her calf. She would maim and wound her prey while taking delight with every possible moment she would in silencing her, but for her heresy, she would pay dearly... with a slow and torturous death.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2020 12:25:40 GMT -8
As the blade pierced through Vesperia like a hot knife through butter, it went unregistered for the moment the attacks took place, the words, and rush to try and take the advantage over her friend that it was too easy. But it sunk in after the blade ran through Vesperia's chest and when Blaze looked into the illusion's eyes that it was but another trick. She stepped closer, letting her blade move closer to her body as she waited for the sign she needed for the Sith's next attack.
It came all at once, barely allowing any time for a response. The snow blew apart before her to reveal Vesperia already mid-attack. She jumped into the air to gain a bit of distance, clearing her of the swipe at her ankles. She had to get in close to Vesperia to both make the most of her style and render Vesperia's useless. It was the disadvantage to a whip. Focusing the Force down her blade, the moment her feet touched the ground she let out another slash. It would seem stupid because of the distance between them, but with its swing came a Force Wave that was meant to throw Vesperia off balance.
The moment the swing was made, her left arm moved forward, her shield launching from her arm by way of the Force to further put her friend on the defensive. An endless barrage as she then followed behind her shield and brought her sword down on top of Vesperia, hoping the assault would be enough to get her close enough again. "Of course, you wouldn't. It shows how well you've been manipulated by your own father, made a tool for his own gain!" Her eyes began to burn bright as she spoke, a further revelation about to be revealed. "Your mind was tampered with, making you forget your mother's betrayal and made you think they Jedi killed her in order to further fuel your emotions and hatred for the Jedi so you wouldn;t ever fail against them. A ritual in which you were the experiment of, the final product that was used on me!"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2020 9:02:08 GMT -8
Jumpy. Dodgy. Downright infuriating. Fire. Illusions. Whip. Nothing seemed to be able to get past her. Blaze had always been the better duelist of the two, but even with Vesperia melding old and new tricks together, Blaze was able to evade them all. The Sith growled a snarling scream as she whipped back her weapon while jumping to her left to allow the tendrils room to dance. Keep a constant movement and enough space to leave her opponent dead in the water. Or snow in the case.
Still, the tail end of the wave managed to catch Vesperia, disrupting her balance just enough that when the shield came flying her way, she was forced back to avoid it. The soft crunch of snow against her back cushioned her fall. She was about to kick herself swiftly back to her feet when she was forced to release her weapon and roll, avoiding the sword that came down on her with a sudden fury. The hiss of the melting snow under her whip’s plasma ceased, as the golden hue disappeared into the white.
Meeting Blaze's barrage with her own, Vesperia leaped to her feet, igniting the other source of fire she brought for this match. A more conventional weapon, and one that melded too well with the monotone black of Vesperia’s outfit, but one a bit more recognizable to both of them. A sleek hilt igniting an angry red blade. Kyrrek’s blade.
Without giving Blaze much time to comprehend, Vesperia would make her regret wanting to close the gap. With her saber arced above her with both hands, the Sith woman pushed through an opening with a powerful avalanche attack down of her saber, the ringing of her blade blending with her snarled burst of anger which fueled her strength. The downward slash blended into a near-crazed horizontal slash, followed by another downwards arc of her saber. Despite the woman’s near-mad expression, though, there was a precision within each attack, where the dead space was still filled with her saber poised on the defensive should Blade be reckless enough to open herself up to this fury of attacks.
“I was his successor! His legacy! Of course, I was his tool! We’re all tools somehow, Nania!”
Her words were laced with malicious laughter as she nearly screamed back her response amidst her attacks. Just because Vesperia was trained with a whip didn’t mean she wasn’t just as deadly with a conventional weapon nowadays, another difference that might shock and startle her rambling prey. All the better, too, that her father’s weapon would be used in the quest of vengeance, to make right for his fate brought about by this traitor.
“Your Dun Moch needs some serious work if you're going to try to pass those lies as truth!" she snarled with the faintest of amused smiles, there and gone, within the heat of battle. "The stupidity of the 'rule of two' era is dead and gone, yet you... You could never get past the idea of belonging to something greater than you... to a valuable asset to someone stronger than you... You always had to be the strongest… That’s why you did it… That’s why you ruined everything… ISN’T IT?!”
Her flurry of attacks with her father’s saber ceased as she released a hand from her saber, only to reach out for Blaze’s face. The palm of her hand momentarily sparked and crackled with beginnings of Pyrokinesis before a wave of fire burst to life, seeking to sear her face with a permanent scar.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2020 12:08:18 GMT -8
Luck seemed to favor Blaze as her assault granted her a greater gift than she could have hoped for the fight: the removal of that blasted lightwhip. It might not have been a common sight to have seen her friend with a typical lightsaber, but it wasn't something that never happened. And even if it had, there was little the woman could do with it that Blaze hadn't seen or fought against. As it was, they were on equal ground now if not Blaze gaining an advantage.
As Vesperia rolled away, Blaze pulled up hard on her sword, ripping it from the snow in an attempt to slash her friend. However, Vesperia's speed was more than enough to get her out of the way. It was then she saw that familiar sight, the lightsaber once wielded by her father. She had faced it once before, and now, fate would have her face it again, though it didn't disturb her. Only slightly did those moments of their battle flash in her mind. Anger flowing through her old friend could be felt, though what it was truly directed towards besides her was an unknown, making it uncertain if it was a boon or a hindrance to Blaze's plan. However, it's influence made her faster, given the rose-haired woman little time to respond.
Bringing her sword up was the most she could do, getting it to her chest as she leaned back a bit to avoid being hit with the plasma blade. Vesperia's strength was growing from the dark-side, though Blaze wasn't about to let this stop her. They were in her realm of expertise and she refused to let Vesperia have the upper hand. Pushing back helped give Vesperia the momentum for the next attacks, though Blaze continued her defensive stance with greater ease as she regained her bearings.
Strangely, as Vesperia went on with her words, a calm fell over Blaze, now seeing trying to make her friend see any kind of truth was fruitless. As their blades met a final time, she set her gaze upon the woman, her eyes softer and caring a sense of pity about them. "And because you believe that, you will forever remain a tool, bond to his shadow. But I took pride in my place among the SIth, never cared about wanting to rise above anyone. After all, it was what we were made for, the two of us working side by side, you on the Council and me your right hand. But through the Council's fear and subsequent actions, the showed me that I was always just a pawn in their game, never meant to be anything but a piece in their game, never meant to grow beyond them when their time had come and gone. Everything ended, because of them."
With her conviction, Blaze used her strength to force Vesperia's blade down. While it worked, it seemed that it became a choice instead of being forced back because as one hand fell, the other came up, Vesperia's hand grasping her face. In a moment, she felt the rising heat and knew what was to come. But her clarity and focus were all she needed to find her way out. Using her own free hand, Blaze unleashed a Force Burst into her that sent her flying back, her hand freeing itself from Blaze's face just in time to avoid injury through some bits of the flame caught her hair in which she quickly put out.
With each passing moment, Vesperia was becoming more erratic in her actions. Clearly, her game was backfiring on her. She would not be the winner of this battle, at least not without serious consequence. She needed her way out and needed it now.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2020 15:03:19 GMT -8
How Blaze believed she could somehow take the moral high ground after everything she had done was a mystery. It was a good thing that Vesperia came today for blood and not to solve some senseless and pitiful excuse of an explanation. ‘Forever remain a tool?’ Vesperia huffed out a burst of a laugh, the breath fueling the strength behind her next attack. With each of hers, though, Blaze kept herself steadied, bracing herself as artfully as ever for each barrage Vesperia could throw at her. It was aggravating that she wouldn’t lie down now and die like the treacherous dog that she was.
What more, before Vesperia's wave of fire could sear through her victim, Blaze sent a blast that separated the two with a sudden fury. She could still feel the touch of her skin across her palm, her hair brushing through her fingers. She was so... close... and now, all of a sudden, Blaze wanted space. While it was a woman’s prerogative to change her mind all the blessed time, this was getting excessive. Vesperia could give Blaze every moon in the orbit of every known planet, and she would still want something else by the end of it all. An absolute shame.
Vesperia’s braced herself for impact as her feet hit the ground, the snow crunching beneath her boots. She took little time to regather herself before persisting the fight. Raising her free hand, a violent hiss set the snow alight with an eerie crimson glow from below. However, that’s where it would remain resting… for now.
“You’re such an impulsive child, Nania!” Vesperia shrilled, taking the offensive again. “Did you truly lack foresight?! We were set to ascend to greatness! To take over the council one day anyway! All you had to do was be a good little pawn before we rose to royalty!"
With only one hand firm upon her father’s blade’s hilt, Vesperia took a wild arc above her, slashing down and across from Blaze’s left shoulder to her right hip. Seamlessly linking another barrage of attacks from every angle, Vesperia put her work in backing up those claims with attack after attack after attack. All the while, those golden-red eyes, alight with her anger and frustration, manifested upon the woman’s expression as sheer, sick delight.
"You traded all of that for this pathetic life and took everything from me in the process, you selfish little child! Now it's time I put you down and save you from your misery…!”
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 9:22:01 GMT -8
A low sigh escaped Blaze's lips, the steam from her mouth the only evidence of such an act. While it had been worth a try, she had expected that her words would fall on deaf ears. Everyone within her old order had been thoroughly convinced of her betrayal all to ensure that none would question anything said to them down the line. And here was the proof. There was no more point in talking, no more reason to keep speaking. Lifting her sword at the ready, she spoke in quiet tones as Vesperia's words. "For all of that, there is only your father and the council to blame. This was the path they created."
Not another moment went by before Vesperia returned to her relentless assault. However, Blaze didn't try to fight back. Her senses extended out further and sharpened as her defenses remained strong under the barrage. Her sword constantly moved to properly stop her friend's attack. She didn't want to have to do this, to fight or even hurt Vesperia. Despite the years, she was still a friend, merely a misguided one. She had been crafted into a pawn for moments like these, to never be able to truly open her mind and see the truth, only what lies had been planted there. This battle was not her fault.
She could bring the fight to an end, let Vesperia take her life. After all, she had achieved her goal of vengeance. She could let go. But, then again, she couldn't. Giving up on life would give the Sith a final win and the last laugh. It would invalidate all her work over the past few years. The entire point was to return the payment unto the old council then move on with her life, something she couldn't let end now, not without a fight. But she didn't want to hurt her old friend anymore.
~Blast, where is that damn droid?~
No sooner than the thought rang through her mind, her ears caught the sound of something. Engines. A ship was heading towards them and fast. A smirk came across Blaze's lips as it quickly approached. "As much as I would love to stay here debating this with you, I'm afraid I have other plans." Summoning her strength, she unleashed a powerful Force Push just as Vesperia came in for her next attack, leaving the woman no time to respond.
As it made contact, Blaze turned and ran back to her shield. As she ran, she pulled out her commlink. ::Fire on my position, now!:: Reaching out her hand, she summoned shield to her with the Force, turning instantly towards the ship as it came and unleashed a barrage of laser fire across the ground. Behind her shield, she raised a Force BArrier to help block the shots.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 13:09:05 GMT -8
She was such a poor little thing, clinging so tightly that victim mentality. Blaming Vesperia’s father, the council as a whole, to which she massacred as retribution for their sins. Unable to take hold of the consequences that she paved the way for, the vengeance which she struck alight within her ‘old friend’s’ heart. At least the fight appeared to be growing to a close. With Blaze no longer keeping up an offensive, Vesperia believed for a sliver a second that this soon would finally be over.
However, she could see something in Blaze’s eyes with each of her defensive maneuvers. Was that...pity? A violent snarl ripped from deep within Vesperia’s throat, but before her attacks could release with a matching ferocity, Blaze sent a disorienting Force Push to create more distance. Like a dissonant note seeking its resolution, the roaring ship engines howled in the distance and growing significantly louder by the second.
“Oh, no you don’t…!”
Vesperia made a reckless yet conscious decision to leave herself disoriented by the attack, her back scraping against the tundra’s glassy ice and snow as she took a tumble. However, with her hand outstretched, she summoned those slithering tendrils to rise from their grave with the Force and sent them spiraling towards their intended victim. Some wildly craved to wrap around Blaze from the left, other tendrils from the right, some from above, some from below. However, they clashed against something, like a bubble in the Force, and were unable to truly take hold of their prey.
“NO!”
Vesperia kicked herself to her feet as the ship’s fire started raining down upon them. With her free hand, she summoned the hilt of her whip back to her offhand, and with her father’s saber still in her main hand, she dashed directly off to the side to get out of the line of fire before it reached her.
This is Vesperia to the Amaranth. I'm in need of some backup, boys.
On it. Arrival in T-Minus thirty seconds.
Just barely escaping the laser blast under her feet, Vesperia tumbled before commanding sharply, Make it twenty, or I’m leaving the lot of you here to freeze to death.
As the ship flew in closer, Vesperia kept her physical eyes on the ship but her mental eyes on her prey. What exactly was Blaze trying to pull? Not like it mattered with this kind of distance Vesperia allowed her to put between them. Now, though, Vesperia had bigger fish to fry. Rushing towards the Lancer-class pursuit craft, the Sith woman waited until she was close enough before hurling her saber towards the ship, in hopes that the spinning plasma blade would cut through something important and down the craft.
Resorting to dirty tricks now, girl? Remind me to not be so kind as before when I finally get my hands on you…
Vesperia issued the deadly warning like a knife through Blaze’s brain before she herself redirected her own course to recklessly enter the craft’s laser turret range again. With her whip back in hand, though, she would take her chances to grab the elusive rose-maned traitor, to cut her off before she could board and escape.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 13:32:25 GMT -8
The twin light laser cannon focused on the cockpit already started its barrage before Blaze reached her shield, its assault raining down just in front of her, giving her the time needed to get the shield up as the bolts pelted the barrier she created. As the droid piloted the Lancer-craft Pursuit Craft towards its master, it kept its focus on Vesperia as she dived out of the way. It began to slow its approach in order for Blaze to enter.
However, out of nowhere, Vesperia appeared again, the saber now flying towards it. It impacted the ship, but little damage in the scheme of things, the size and speed of the ship overpowering the tiny weapon, sending it flying back down to the ground. The last few remaining shots came as it passed over Vesperia before reaching Blaze a slipping past her slightly before coming to a stop and turning, the boarding ramp lowering as it hovered low.
Blaze watched the events transpire but knew at this distance, there was nothing that could be done to aid her ship. Luckily, it seemed as if any aid was pointless as it continues to fly over her. Ripping her shield from where she planted it in the ground for her defense, she ran, jumping into the air as the ship turned to her, the Force allowing her to make the leap. The ship hovered for a moment before ascending and pulling away slowly with Blaze still standing on the ramp looking at her old friend as she attempted to rush the ship, its distance now out of range for any kind of jump. <<In the next time we meet, I pray you finally learn the truth.>>
With those final words, she began her ascent up the boarding ramp, closing it behind her.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2020 11:14:42 GMT -8
Vesperia’s Force control over her saber faltered at such a distance, and the damage done wasn’t nearly as much as she had hoped for. At that, the plasma blade shorted out, the blackened hilt crashing down into the snow in the distance. The craft fired its last few shots, Vesperia artfully deflecting them as they came careening towards her. No matter how much it forced her back to brace herself for them, though, this fight was far from over. Even Blaze’s figure growing smaller as she leaped onto the boarding ramp, the ship rising higher into the sky to prevent her pursuit, the Sith still had a few more tricks up her sleeve.
Blaze’s words echoed about in her head, and with it, Vesperia smirked. Maybe ‘next time’ was right around the corner…
This is far from over, silly girl.
Vesperia reached out her free hand as Blaze’s figure disappeared with the closing boarding ramp. Summoning every last ounce of power she had left, she manipulated the Force around Lancer-class pursuit craft, not only attempting to hold it in place but to force it to come crashing towards the ground. She could feel the power of the engines fighting against her as the ship tried to break free from her grasp.
Just a few seconds longer… Her crew would soon be here to blow that damned craft from the sky.
The thought elicited laughter, born from her struggle, which then would crescendo into determined screams as she tugged back on the ship with everything ounce of energy she had left. In one way or another, Blaze would pay for the damage she had done. Vesperia allowed those memories to flicker through her mind, from the day Blaze was revealed as the traitor she was to the moment she saw her father’s eyes, empty and void of life, and channeled that anger to further her strength until the deed was done.
This act, born from her hatred for the rose-haired woman, took a twist as she suddenly lost control over her Force Pull for something much more violent. Sparks crackled at Vesperia’s fingertips, and before she could reign back on the power she exuded, lightning took flight, arcing towards the ship. The web took on a physical appearance as a menacing purple light shimmered and crackled over the pursuit craft. Vesperia, however, didn’t halt this sudden surge in power, but rather embraced it with a wicked grin and a power-mad glimmer in those golden eyes.
Come back to play with me, little Nania… she sang like an eerie lullaby.
She huffed out another laugh… Just a moment longer.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2020 12:10:13 GMT -8
Upon hearing the words in her mind, Blaze elected to ignore them as she progressed up the ramp. It was over and the chances of them crossing paths would be a long shot at best. It was still unknown as to how the woman found her in the first place. Needless to say, she'd be much more careful in the future as to remain hidden.
But it all changed went she felt the ship shake violently. Stumbling over into the wall, she let her weapons fall to the ground as she quickly worked her way towards the cockpit. Reaching it, she looked over the droid's shoulder. "What's going on?"
The droid was punching a few buttons as it tried to keep the ship in the air. ::Unknown. It seems we are trapped in some sort of tractor beam though I can't pick up a source.::
Slamming her hand against the side of the ship, Blaze growled. "Damn it, Illyia. Give it all we have. And pull the ship up so the turret can focus on the woman." Turning, she ran from the cockpit to the turret ladder. Before making it, however, sparks began to fly from some of the systems. Feeling the increasing dark energy, it didn't take a genius to figure out what was happening. Vesperia was attempting to fry the ship with Force Lightning. Pulling up her commlink as she climbed the ladder, she gave the droid further orders. "Keep pushing as hard as you can. Reroute what you can to the weapons. I just need one good shot to get us out of it."
No response came except for some jumbled static. She could only hope that the message went through. Taking her seat, she brought the turret online and took aim at Vesperia. She would get away and it meant blowing the woman to pieces with the lasers, then so be it. Taking a single deep breath, she began firing the tri laser cannon upon the woman until she finally felt them come free and blast off the way from the area in a hurry.
She gave a sigh as she descended down the ladder and made her way to the cockpit. Sparks shot out at her from different locations from Vesperia's barrage. Any longer and everything would have overloaded and possibly exploded. Luck was on her side. Reaching the cockpit, she saw more damage had happened here. Namely, the droid was sitting lifeless in the piloit seat. It was a good thing they were facing up and the droid already having the steering lock forward.
Prying the arms free, she moved the droid out of the way as she took over running a check over all the systems. Some had faltered, including the hyperdrive. Blaze growled as she continued to do her checks, only letting out a sigh when she saw the backup hyperdrive still working. It was then she noticed another ship heading towards them. Ensuring the hammer was down on the throttle, she pushed up into orbit, hoping to outrun them. As she went, she redirected power the best she could to ensure she could make it somewhere.
Reaching orbit and clear of the gravity well, Blaze made a quick jump to hyperspace in order to lose her pursuer.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2020 13:42:38 GMT -8
It was a wonder that it took as long as it did before Blaze managed to fire the cannon at her. For a brief moment, Vesperia had wondered if her barrage of lightning managed to cause everything to go offline, rendering every piece of the ship useless. However, her power was already exhausted from her earlier battle coupled with that luck seemed to be on Blaze’s side this battle. The next time, she wouldn’t be so lucky.
Without another option posed before her -- unless she wanted to unceremoniously fall to the cannon lasers -- Vesperia leaped to the side, tumbling out of the way of the laser that would have blown her to dust across the tundra. However with it, the lightning ceased, and so did her hold on the ship. Exhausted and out of breath, Vesperia let out a violent scream of obscenities as the Lancer-class craft disappeared into atmo.
My lady, do we pursue?
After a huff of a sigh, Vesperia inhaled the shockingly frigid air into her lungs. At this point, she had done more than she had originally sought to do. The tide of the Darkside that raged within her slowly subsided, her eyes turning back to the cold and steely hue they normally were.
No.
Her answer rang out with that single word, the unspoken command to land the X-70B Phantom-Class Prototype lingering in the back of their minds. By this point, they learned not to question her judgment, lest they be on the receiving end of her whip. They had already lost one crew member to voicing an argument against her.
As Vesperia gathered up her father’s saber and reaffixed her weapons to the appropriate place on her body, her crew worked on landing her ship nearby and preparing for her arrival. By the time she reached the lounge, her first-mate was already seated and waiting. Without even a greeting spoken between the two, he issued the command to the cockpit as Vesperia settled herself into a seat.
Mosethe, get this bird into the sky. Set coordinates for Iridonia. Dravleo, once we reach hyperspace, you’re to meet with the lady in the medbay. Do you copy?
Copy that, sir.
“Come now, Kurpax, that isn’t necessary,” she murmured over their response over the comlink, looking over at the gruff looking man with a slight pout of her lips but a deadly look in her eye.
"I have to disagree. Evidence of frostbite at the very least, let alone the possibilities of hyperthermia. With all due respect, you’re not a skilled practitioner of Tapas, a point I made to you before you began this mission.”
Vesperia inhaled deeply as she tilted her head back and exhaled before pouting, “Fine... I'll concede to your judgment, but only since you’re all so worried about me.”
Kurpax nodded, a smirk forming on his face. There was no one else in this crew who would have made it out alive speaking to her like that. With the worst of it done and over, he stood to his feet to head over to the bar to pour her a glass of blossom wine. Before he could make it back to his seat, however, Vesperia had already lowered her head and cocked her head to the side.
“Aren’t you going to ask me why?” she asked, feigning an innocent look. “Why I let that little bug slip through my fingers, now to roam the galaxy with her one and only mission in life finished? Why I want her to suffer for the ages now without a purpose in life and knowing that I’ll always, always be looking for her, to finish what we started here? Why I want her to suffer from dread and anxiety for a moment longer in her short, pathetic life? I know you all are ever so curious. You could cut the tension in this craft like a vibroknife through skin.”
Kurpax huffed a laugh as he presented the glass to Vesperia.
“My lady, I believe you’ve already answered that question and then some. I’ll be sure to ease any questions from the rest of the crew, but I assure you that we trust your judgment. Be sure to head to medbay once we’ve hit hyperspace. Dravleo will be waiting for you.”
Vesperia hummed an animated ‘thank you’ as she took her first sip of wine. Kurpax nodded his head in the faintest bow before departing from the lounge to take Dravleo’s spot in the cockpit. Now alone, though, Vesperia lowered the glass from her lips and allowed one final tide of anger to wash over her. The Force resonated with a painful ringing within the glass before it shattered within her hands. One final wave exuded before Vesperia composed herself with a sigh of finality, until such a time where she could depart to the medbay.
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Post by Nicademus Delvardus IV on Nov 13, 2020 21:03:47 GMT -8
Snowtroopers stationed on Arkania didn't enjoy it. Granted, it to be done. Everyone had to serve their part for the Empire, but it was cold, frigid, and mostly tundra. The harsh climate was different from that of Mygeeto. Mygeeto had snows, mountains, and such. Arkania was just... well, ice. Frigid ice that went on for miles upon miles. However, the planet was still precious to the First Order. Its minerals and clothing facilities were utilized by the military and thus the various cloner clinics had their work cut out for them. Despite the cities being where all the citizens were, there were some mining facilities here and there with respective garrison locations within valleys and upon the ice. Speeders and Imperial Troop Transports were the preferred mode of patrolling. Snowtroopers didn't really want to get out and go on foot. It was a... slippery slope.
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