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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2016 20:52:08 GMT -8
Dandleion stared at the woman, as she ignited the second blade and adjusted it to its training setting. His hunch had been correct. No doubt she would use a modified Niman, replete with force attacks intermixed with saber strikes. He would have to be wary. He did not have long to wait, for the woman leapt into action all too soon, with a speed that was both surprising and admirable.
Instinct guided his actions, honed by many duels and by the hand of the force. As the woman spun, her blade lashed out - but, by Dandleion's estimation, it would fall just a hair short of striking him. A feint? As she spun, Dandleion took the opportunity to slide from right to left, rotating his wrist clockwise while he moved - in a classic Makashi parry, in preparation for the inevitable second strike, rather than attempt to strike at the split second opening presented at her back. Personally, Dandleion would have used the single blade, then ignited the second in combat as a nasty surprise, perhaps, though, this woman was more honorable than him. As she finished the rotation, the second blade coming in to attack, Dandleion had finished the rotation of his saber, using the momentum gained to parry it out to his right.
Now, it was his turn. Dandleion had opted to parry (to divert his enemies motion) rather than to do a hard block for several reasons. One, Makashi was weak in a sustained strength battle, and two, the woman, having used the force to accelerate herself, had indeed gained quite a bit of momentum - momentum that he would use. Exerting the force, a mere flick of his mind to affect the physical world sufficed to generate a mid level force pull. If successful, the force pull would work the woman's momentum against her, pulling her past Dandleion, and allowing him to slip his own blade horizontally against her own (by simply continuing the clockwise rotation) in order to score her across her chest.
He was ultimately wary, though. Niman users, and particularly double blade wielders, were adept at controlling their momentum, as well as leaned heavily towards spins and power moves, as the woman had just demonstrated. Depending on her level of mastery, she would convert her newly gained momentum into a new series of attacks - which, if he was unfortunate, could potentially overwhelm his Makashi use, and force him to switch over to Shii-cho. Only time would tell.
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Kadea Vroxi
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Post by Kadea Vroxi on Oct 17, 2016 21:43:19 GMT -8
Her feint had been anticipated, as she had expected and just as she was prepared to make her next move when their sabers connected she felt her body pulled into an increased momentum. Loosening the grip of her right foot against the ground, allowing herself to slide forward she leaned her upper body back, rotated the staff in her hand to bring her own blade along the underside of his as she moved forward. The distance closing she dug her foot against the ground once more, palmed the other side of her staff with her free hand and pushed out against Dandy's weapon in an attempt to divert his score out and wide. If it were successful and the strike was out of dangerous proximity she would rotate the wrist of the palming hand in order to rotate the staff, her other hand adjusting to the motion, around and free from the lock. The blade effectively sliding along the underside of Dandy's blade and out away from it into a rapid rotation between them.
To the untrained eye the speed employed into the spin would make the action look as though it was a single rotation, but rather in the flurry of purple light it made two rotations before she caught the staff in her free hand, her right hand at the top of the staff and her left at the bottom until it was leveled with the right blade close to Dandy's chest. A chosen motion to gauge the distance between she and her opponent for mere seconds before making her next move. A move that once again took advantage of the speed she had granted herself. Bringing her left foot behind her slightly, keeping her right foot firm, she brought the right blade of her saber out towards Dandy's weapon, a singular attempt to keep his blade at bay, then began to spin it with compensation for his own retaliation so that the blade would retreat from his weapon and rotate around to bring the once left blade towards his chest from her upper right; left hand atop the staff, the right beneath it in a firm but tentative grip. It was with the reinforcement of her right hand's grip that she employed a much stronger momentum to the attack, this time seeking to land a strike than gauge her opponent's reflexes.
Her breathing all the while remained even, her expression relaxed despite a few flexes in her brow. This man was indeed talented, a practitioner of the precision form of Makashi, a form designed to combat lightsaber duelists. However, she knew the weaknesses of the form just as she knew it's strengths. What could be felt as she began to coordinate her continued front was a slow but reserved flow of conflicted emotions. Emotions she had previously been grappling during her meditative practice in the garden. Though minimally practiced, perhaps now was her chance to put her studies to use.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2016 22:22:33 GMT -8
Yup. She was pretty good - just as he feared, she leaned back, bringing her saber to slide under his own blade, then set the blade into a violent rotation, knocking how blade back out wide. Dandleion compensated by sliding backward by several steps, and assuming a squared and open stance (no side facing forward, both feet shoulder length apart) - especially as the woman leveled one of her blades at his chest, in what he assumed was either the preparation for another attack, or to gauge some distance. The woman slid her left foot behind her slightly, her right foot firm, and she brought her right blade out in an attempt to keep his own blade at bay. It was in that instant that he shifted not just tactics, but forms - for the woman had made a dangerous assumption. She began to spin her blade in compensation for a retaliation that she expected, and, in that exact moment - Dand focused on his saber, and simply dropped the weapon - the blade shutting off in the absence of his hand. Her left blade coming towards his chest from her upper right (and thus his left side), his left hand struck out - his forearm parrying the blade, the gauntlet underneath his robes protecting him against damage (something that she would likely notice, as instead of the sizzle of training blade on flesh through cloth, a strange and solid force would bounce her blade back slightly - readily identifiable as armor). There was great momentum behind the attack, and as the blade struck, Dandleion had to dig his heels into the ground to withstand it. But, it would be worth it if his counterattack was successful - with his free right hand, he made a gesture, and the saber that had fallen to the ground ignited while simultaneously rising into the air.
If successful, the blade would rise behind the guard of the woman, landing a hit on a leg or her abdomen while Dandleion's gauntleted arm kept her weapon at bay.
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Post by Amlu Eerkerk on Oct 18, 2016 10:08:58 GMT -8
Amlu watched on, slowly growing bored but paying enough attention, she had seen Kadea fight enough times against the Mandolorians, and the forces of Darth Verator on Dantooine. Amlu watched as the began their initial attacks or defending and her jaw nearly fell to the ground as Master Wyte dropped his saber and blocked the saber with his hand, but it didn't make a normal noise, even for a training saber. "Bionic arm!" She said a little boisterously, almost bobbing on the spot before regaining her composure. "That's impressive." She muttered as the saber came back into play, what an impressive ploy, this guy may come off as offensive and even pompous and be trying to get them on dates, but he wasn't a slouch in a fight, an idea suddenly struck Amlu, she would invite him back to Dantooine with them, regardless of the outcome of this fight, an asset like him couldn't be ignored, and maybe once you got to know him better he wasn't such a pompous ass. She debated calling a hit on the gauntlet but decided to let it pass. She was especially suited to judging duels, she never blinked, she didn't blink unless she forced her self, so she didn't miss a step, though her stomach was rumbling and that was a bit distracting, swimming always made her hungry. Maybe if Dandy won, she could convince him to do best two out of three and fight her in the water, though that might be seen as unfair as she was a Nautolan. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2016 20:08:17 GMT -8
A trembling in the force, and Dandleion froze - even as his opponents blade came to zap him in the stomach and chest, his breath coming out in a pained grunt - he none the less stayed frozen, his head slowly turning to the east, regarding something far off into the distance. He heard the others begin to say something, and he silenced them. "Hush!" His hand came up, bidding any further words to be stayed. His other hand came up to his head, several fingers pressing hard against his temple. His senses strained, his eyes unseeing. Ah, but there it was again, a slight trembling in the force. "There...is a disturbance in the force. I must go." Gone was the grandiose words and grand gestures. Gone was the flamboyant demeanor and flirtatiousness. Recalling his saber back to his hand, and setting it back to a lethal setting, his brow furrowed in concentration, Dandleion hooked the blade back at his belt, and, throwing his cape over his shoulder, pulled the hood of his robes over his head with finality. Looking more like a Jedi knight now, his hands steepled together, his head low, the man slowly walked off into the distance. Following some compulsion, some wandering rumination in the depths of the force. Eventually, the man would settle upon a rock, entering into a deep meditation - a meditation so deep, that none would be able to rouse him. Here he would stay, until this disturbance had been identified.
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Kadea Vroxi
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Post by Kadea Vroxi on Oct 19, 2016 14:58:31 GMT -8
It came as a mild surprise as his posture changed. She took a swift back step as he blocked her blade with his arm, then in a singular motion she rotated the saber downwards away from his arm, just over the ground bringing the front blade into the saber that was now rising to cut her leg. In that same motion she swung the rear blade up and around, leaning back slightly to compensate the motion as she brought the blade around with clever hand work until it came up swiftly and into a solid zapping strike against the man's chest. But his reaction had been entirely unexpected. As swiftly as she'd struck him he paused, went silent and then quickly dismissed himself with an brash motive. Taking another step back and spinning her staff to bring the front and rear blades back into position, she disengaged the saber and turned to look at her friend who she imagined was just as dumbfounded as she; regardless if her expression revealed it or not.
Giving a curt glance towards where the man had gone, Kedea let out a somber hum of disapproval before she began to make her way towards the entrance back into the temple complex. The sooner she forgot about this encounter, the sooner she could begin to look forward towards their return home. While her short duel had been a learning experience there were more important thing to be seen and learned from within the temple itself. Whatever had called him away was clearly too important to be shared with anyone else. Better he dismiss himself now, than when they needed him most.
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Post by Amlu Eerkerk on Oct 19, 2016 22:11:34 GMT -8
Amlu had been watching the duel doing her best to ignore her grumbling stomach. Then as fast as he had arrived the strange Jedi had faded away as though he had never been, her small mouth formed an O shape as Kadea glanced at her and stalked off. "HEY!" She said running after her friend, catching up."That was weird don't you think, but I felt a tug, but he must have felt more. Weird right?" She asked again looking back at the garden. "Anyway, lets find some food, I'm famished, and I could really go for some fish." Amlu said licking her lips, it was times like this she missed the fresh seafood of her home world, but alas it would be along time until she returned to Glee Anselm. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2016 2:15:01 GMT -8
It was an old code, ancient, that eventually found its way across Yavin IV's comm relays. Processed by the central computer, it was identified as the personal code of one Dante Deveaux, a Jedi who had long ago secluded himself in self imposed exile in the vast deserts of Vandelhelm. Why he had come out of seclusion now, after nearly a decade of silence, was beyond anyone's guess. But call he did, a simple low level ping - typically used as a call for assistance, but marked as "Non-urgent". Yavin IV's central computer categorized it accordingly, filing the message away, and handing it along two the two most available Jedi; the two young women currently in the gardens.
Sent to them would be galactic coordinates, a simple mission statement to make content with the exile - and a geographic approximation of the exile's last known location; which, if they looked closely, was a meandering circular track that cut through a large desert, showing the exile was more or less always on the move. One name, "Dante Deveaux" accompanied the mission statement, with no further explanation given.
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Post by Amlu Eerkerk on Oct 22, 2016 2:26:06 GMT -8
Before Kadea could respond Amlu's commlink went off. "Oh..Hey, Yavin finally gave us a mission, its been ages!" She said looking at the screen, her thin lips pursed in concentration.."Kadea...I don't know about you, but I think we should take everyone with us, maybe this will be home..." She said seriously. "I mean, I miss Dantooine but, this planet is secluded. "Dante, Deveaux" She said aloud. "Wonder who he is." She clicked on the mission statement, they where to contact him. Maybe he could help them found a new Enclave! Then she could send for Master Gene, and they could rebuild! A freer Jedi Order, a safe haven from the rules and control of the council, a new council! Away from prying eyes. "Vendandelhelm, that planet is dry..Won't be good for my skin, but its protected by an Asteroid field! We'd be safer than then Dantooine anyway!" She squealed at Kadea shaking her friends shoulder a little roughly. |
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Kadea Vroxi
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Post by Kadea Vroxi on Oct 22, 2016 2:58:23 GMT -8
Just as it had been easy to dissolve her feelings about Dantooine, it was easy for her to move forward after the man had dismissed himself. But it wasn't far into her walk that she felt her shoulder grasped and tugged fairly roughly. Turning her head and meeting Amlu's gaze, she furrowed her brow and contemplated the circumstances as she was explained the context of the message. While she was smart, she knew Amlu could get over excited. At the very least she had to give her a benefit of the doubt if the message had made it this far. While it wasn't what one would call an orthodox message she knew it was their duty to respond none the less. After all it beat sitting around in the ruins of the Yavin Praxeum for the rest of their days.
"Vandelhelm? It will be a long trip." She mused as she turned and began to make her way towards where where they had docked the ship. It would be necessary to call the rest of their students but once they had done so, it would be a one way ticket. While Vandelhelm was defensible, it would more than likely only the last place they would migrate unless duty called them off world to deal with a threat. She wanted nothing more than to be free to act as she chose in regards to the problems in the galaxy. It was time they moved on.
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Post by Leomax Dustrig on Oct 22, 2016 23:33:11 GMT -8
Kadea.. Kadea.. Where did she go? He jogged through the gardens, searching for his Master. It wasn't long until he picked up her signature, his abilities as a Miraluka transcending normal sight. He held his datapad in one hand and his saber hung on his belt as he quickly adjusted his path towards Kadea.
He caught up to her and Amlu Eerkerk speaking of Vandelhelm, and it being apparently protected by an asteroid field. "I'm sorry for being late Kadea..." his breathing was just the least bit labored as his heart had to slow down. "What is this talk about Vandelhelm and how protected it is? Are we unsafe here?"
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Post by Amlu Eerkerk on Oct 22, 2016 23:39:47 GMT -8
Almu, sighed as Kadea's Padawan ran up to them."Hey, you know I'm here to you blind little jerk!" She said agitated if it's one thing Amlu couldn't stand it was being ignored. "We want to be away from the Jedi here, and the order as a whole..On Dantooine we were free, here we are not." Amlu said seriously, "You would do well to remember that Leo, their way is not our way, we are heading to the ship soon to leave soon..Why don't you get the others and meet us there?" She said, he had known Amlu long enough to know she was joking about his blindness it wasn't a condition he was born that way, she also knew he could see, sometimes more than they could. "Kadea?" She asked. |
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Kadea Vroxi
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Post by Kadea Vroxi on Oct 23, 2016 18:28:41 GMT -8
It almost didn't occur to her immediately that her apprentice had joined them. Pressed with the notion of collecting food and being through with what little the Praxeum had to offer were the thoughts that clouded her mind in that moment. She heard her name, but it was Amlu's shouting that came across to her and caused her to spin around and look between the two. "Relax, Amy. You mustn't be angry with him." She said before turning to Leo and giving him a stern look. One she knew he would not see, but one that he would feel the sprinkle of disappointment behind. "I am your master before your friend, Leomax." That said she took a few steps, glanced to the audio based data pad in his hand and made her way towards where she new the docking pylon to be.
If they were going to find this planet and this missing Jedi Master, it was now that they would have to act. The longer they waited the greater the danger. "Padawan, do as Amlu asks and meet us at the pylon, I will instruct the crew until you arrive. You have less than an hour." While she knew it was a bit much to expet from someone so young, the crew was more amiable to her than to anyone else. If they were going to get to Vandelhelm she would need to be in their presence for the majority of the trip.
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Post by Vidalu Na'an on Dec 22, 2016 19:38:55 GMT -8
The sky of Yavin IV was full dark by the time Na'an made it to the Temple Gardens. She skidded out of the corridor and stopped against a tree next to the path, breathing hard from the sprint there. The rapidly-cooling air chased away the sick, metallic smell that had clung to the air inside the Temple. Out here, the Force was still relatively untainted, cool and clean like the air filling her lungs.
The Gardens had been slightly overgrown in the time since it had been abandoned; the grass of the maintained areas had grown long and tangled, while the jungle portions had begun to invade even the paths through them. Some kind of mossy ivy had begun to climb the walls, leaving the stones green and slippery where they hadn't begun to fall. The cultists that Rutil had brought into the Temple had clearly not prioritized the place and in its neglect she could finally start to see the age of the place.
Glancing around, Na'an rapidly started to start calculating her next move. She had minutes, maybe, before Rutil found her again. She could already sense him searching for her, trying to pin down where she had went. It was in those few minutes, then, that she had to make a survival plan. An attack plan, to be more precise, but Na'an had barely been able to process her own rebellion against her Master, let alone started to accept it. Survival was all she could manage at the moment, and so she planned how to survive Rutil Iorek.
Rutil had the Temple--the entire Temple, with all its weaponry and technology and knowledge. He had years of experience and inches of height and tens of pounds of weight. He had an army of sorts, any of whom could be coming into the Garden. He had all the knowledge of her that being her teacher could give. And he had--she finally had to admit--the rage that had seemingly, suddenly, tilted him headfirst into the Dark Side.
What did Na'an have? She had her shoto. She had her rifle, strapped to her back. She had Leigh and Adelle somewhere in the Temple, although she could not count on them. She had the time away from him, teaching her tricks he did not know she had. She had the terrain--varied, lots of cover. She had her trump card, if she needed it.
And she had the Force.
It was not much, not against someone like Rutil. But she had won fights for her life with fewer weapons. Na'an took a deep breath, filling her lungs again with the sweet jungle air, then swung her rifle down to rest against her hip. "Help me," she said, almost as a prayer, then reached for a nearby branch and began to climb. She had a move in mind.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Dec 25, 2016 14:14:42 GMT -8
Na'an had been in the tree for some time when the broken-horned Zabrak reached the formerly pristine garden. In its time, even the gargoyle-faced Jedi Guardian had to admit that it was beautiful. But the Mandalorian siege had burned it. His occupation had neglected it. And the filthy stench of his darkness-stained apprentice now tainted it. That, the shepherd decided, he could not abide.
He stepped into the courtyard slowly, the blue blade of his lightsaber casting a contrasting glow against the massive red planet in the sky. Each step was measured, taken less as a mode of movement and more as a tactical decision. The shepherd had underestimated his former student's tenacity before, and the peculiar soreness in his body stood as testament to that. It wasn't a training soreness. It was a soreness brought on by carelessness. Weakness. Foolishness. The shepherd had not been careless or let his guard down against an opponent since he was a Padawan, and it was not a mistake he intended to repeat. Especially not when so much was on the line. He should have known better.
The shepherd stretched out with his feelings, his mind peering into every nook and cranny of the ancient courtyard. But the girl's talent for deception extended even into her skills with the Force. So far as his most versatile weapon could tell, the Human girl wasn't here. She had been, just moments ago. And he couldn't feel her presence anywhere else. Almost a century of hunting instincts, honed and sharpened by experience, told the Jedi that his wayward student was still here. Somewhere. The shepherd had half a mind to do much the same. Hiding himself in the Force was a recent skill of his, and he had no doubt that he would surpass her in a game of cat and kath hound. But while he evidently didn't know all her tricks, he did know her. Na'an was drawn to battle, just as he was. Na'an would seek an enemy out, just as he would. It was only a matter of time. Time, and perhaps some bait...
You're stalling, the Zabrak silently called, not like you to run and hide like a scared pup.
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Post by Vidalu Na'an on Dec 27, 2016 16:06:43 GMT -8
Na'an was desperately trying not to breathe too hard as she watched the Zabrak enter the garden. He had the slow, confident pace she remembered, from all their years in the practice combat; now that their fight was no longer practice, it was easier to see it as the lope of a predator who had never been beaten. Meanwhile, she had adapted the tactics of a prey animal once again--hide and misdirect and make an opening. What, then, did that say about her?
Well, that might be it, if pups could climb trees. She was sitting half-crouched, masked in the needles of one of the thick firs overhanging the path. One fist, shoto in hand, was clutched against her heart, as if willing it not to beat too loudly and give away her positio. The other was stretched out, reaching out carefully for the rifle carefully propped in the tree opposite her. If she closed her eyes, she could feel the trigger as surely as if the weapon were still in her hands. Her eyes fluttered closed, then open again often--there was only so much she could manage when suppressing herself in the Force like this, and she had to make sure she kept an eye on Rutil.
I'm not stalling, she said. I just want to live.
He was getting closer now, still in that measured step that meant he was looking for her rather than directly on the attack. Only five meters more and he would be within range of the blaster...three meters....her hand on her chest slid up, clamping against her mouth until she was almost biting down on her shoto. She couldn't breathe, couldn't breathe, couldn't breathe until he was just a little bit closer. One meter...half a meter...only steps now...
There!
He was almost exactly between the two trees. Na'an squeezed with the Force, and the rifle exploded into a stream of laserfire.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Dec 28, 2016 12:56:41 GMT -8
Live? You call this liv-
The shepherd's sermon was interrupted by the sudden, icy shiver that raced down his spine as the Force warned him of the impending danger. His royal blue weapon arced across the air, sending a blaster bolt into the stone floor. Another swing of the lightsaber sent a bolt racing into the sky. Two bolts missed altogether. A fifth shot was batted away by the Zabrak, taking a small chunk out of the far wall. From her hiding place, Na'an wouldn't have been able to see any of the poise expected of a Jedi Master, even one as far gone as the shepherd. She'd see none of the discipline he relentlessly called for. None of the form he mercilessly drilled into his students. Were it not for the success the Zabrak had in defending himself from the assault, one would have wondered if the lightsaber's wielder could be called a Jedi at all. The shepherd appeared to notice this as well; in the space of two shots, the old zealot regained his form and his discipline, the iron snarl on his face reverting to its usual stoic grotesque shape as a sharp, controlled swing sent a bolt right into the blaster rifle's receiver, rendering it useless.
Undaunted, the shepherd continued to preach to his lost little bantha.
How then, the Zabrak chided across the Force, shall you live? Nice little shack on Dantooine with that wretch in your toy's arm? Tranquility with that girlfriend of yours? Don't delude yourself, Snot-Nose. You know as well as I do that you'd never be satisfied with that life. You know you'll never be satisfied with them, either. They'll disappoint you. Turn on you. Just as the rest have.
The Force radiated out from the Zabrak, continuing to probe for Na'an.
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Post by Vidalu Na'an on Dec 28, 2016 18:35:39 GMT -8
Her teacher was playing dirty. Na'an had to all but stuff her fist in her mouth to keep from making a sound; her face felt too hot, as if she were about to cry. Here he was, hunting her down, looking to hurt her like Aherk had, like the Shans had, like all of them had, and he had the gall to taunt her with it. According to him, it was only a matter of time before she was in this exact same position again: pursued by someone she'd dared to trust.
Would it be Leigh next time? Adelle? Who, then? For a moment, Na'an could feel her heart accelerate, already imagining the droid or the woman with their faces twisted with hate, weapons raised, aiming for her head or her heart...
No. No, she couldn't think of that now. Na'an shook her head, trying to clear it and return to the moment. Rutil was the issue now. She had to make sure she survived Rutil before anything else. That meant not responding to his goading--he knew her too well for her to engage on that level, and he'd proven willing to be cruel--and focusing on what was in front of her. The path, the trees, the disabled rifle still sizzling in the opposite tree, and the man reaching out for her through the Force. In moments he would find her, and take the advantage, and she couldn't let him if she hoped to leave the Garden alive.
Before his tendrils of thought could reach her again, she released her focus and yanked hard with the Force. The rifle rustled the needles around it at it came rocketing out of the tree, aiming at Rutil's head. At the same moment, Na'an launched herself from her perch, igniting her shoto to slice branches out of her path and thrust at Rutil from the other side.
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Post by The Shepherd on Dec 29, 2016 21:26:16 GMT -8
There.
Na'an's concentration had faltered, broadcasting her vision of a hateful Bastiel and a vengeful droid across the Force; her thoughts had betrayed her. As the blaster rifle flew towards his horned head, the shepherd merely shot to the side, letting the weapon continue its path into his wayward apprentice, whose red blade would carve only through the air of the jungle moon. She was free of her hiding place at last. Exposed, and not just in body. Even when her mind should have focused on survival, all she could think about was her toy and her friend betraying her. It was not concern for their safety, but doubt. It was worry. Fear.
And there was no place for fear in those that wielded a lightsaber.
His conviction renewed, the shepherd pressed the attack, using the Force to close the distance and using his blue lightsaber to cut swathes across the air, aiming to slice the Human failure to ribbons.
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Post by Vidalu Na'an on Jan 4, 2017 19:30:27 GMT -8
Na'an was already moving by the time he closed the gap, and his blade met hers in a shower of sparks. In the following flurry of blows, her feet only rarely touched the ground. Instead, she danced in and out of his range at multiple angles, often only missing injury by millimeters. She sidled past his blade, feeling rather than seeing the crackle of ozone as it whipped past her face; a fierce lower strike forced her into a leap, bounding off nearby trunks to change directions; she thrust at his side, only to be deflected and thrust downwards into the dirt. Na'an had only a breath to return to her feet before Rutil was on her again, throwing his entire weight into a stroke she only just managed to block. Their blades locked, and with them her knees, keeping her upright while her entire focus lasered in on keeping them from inching towards her throat.
"You don't..." she said, breathing hard into the lock. "You don't get to preach to me!" The words were bravado--Na'an knew that as well as Rutil did. Her mastery of Ataru was in large part because of him, and while she had the advantage in territory, his knowledge of her was far deeper and more intimate. He was playing with her head, making her sloppy and unsure and uncreative, and he never seemed to tire. She was dodging him by the skin of her teeth like this, and if she didn't make some kind of break from what he'd expect she'd only get more predictable.
What would Leigh do? She'd get some distance, start using different types of shot to corner him. What would Adelle do? There was no way of knowing--Na'an had never seen her fight--but she'd be able to play his mental games better than Na'an could, at least. Both of them would be better suited to fighting her teacher, but they weren't here to save her. She had to save herself again.
At least in that, she had some practice.
She couldn't force the lock to break her way this time; instead, Na'an let her arms loosen as she ducked, his blade passing overhead as she scuttled backwards towards the trees. Once separated, she had the space to change her stance. Her sword hand shifted on the grip into a classic Makashi hold, while her left gripped the pommel of the shoto briefly, feeling the warm pulse of her saber crystal seep into her flesh. It felt like, she realized in an odd moment of clarity, the pounding of her own heart. It was in one of those pulses that a sudden flash of inspiration came, and Na'an spun, slicing deep not into her opponent, but into the trunk of a nearby tree.
The rifle fire was a good idea, but too small. This would be far bigger.
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