Star Wars: Return of the Sith

[Dark Warrior]

Daelon

"Different? I don't really know. If he has, I haven't noticed it. But then, he's always so hard to read. So calm, so cool all the time... it's like, nothing in the universe bothers him." Daelon said. "I wonder if that's what its like. To be a jedi knight, I mean. You feel invincible, untouched by everything around you." Daelon skipped another stone across the pond.
"But you're right... if something is bothering Raine, that's bad news. I've never seen her like that. Nor Kelson. All part of that Jedi personality, I guess. But if you are right... what would be forbidding enough to make a Jedi Knight worry?" He asked, looking up into the sky now.

 

[Kelson]

Kelson flashed a smile, born of the old days when they had just met...still apprentices. Those had been the days, he under Master Elithrandir and her under Jedi Knight Marlik. Their teachers had, it seemed, sensed the bond the two would form in the future years and slightly encouraged it...despite the dangers Kelson knew full-well lurked in the close-knit relationship he had been developing over the years with Raine. His mind wanders back to those days...

"Now Kelson!"

His master moved with inhuman speed, the blur of his lightsaber leaving his side and the blade appearing forcing Kelson's hasty retreat right onto his behind as his foot caught an unseen rock.

Those had been the days...his master, nearly a god to the impressionable Kelson in his first years, still remained an idol. Always there with perfection...always faster...always stronger... and always wiser. Still, Kelson dreamt of that man, from so long ago who had reached down to aid the promising teen. So...so long ago.

So much time had passed since then. His final test, from his master himself...seperate and, to Kelson, far more important then whatever tests the Jedi Collective might have formed...was a no-holds barred battle.

The blue blade hummed with an inner energy, much as Elithrandir's eyes did right then. There was determination in those eyes...a choice to truly test Kelson had been made and Elithrandir would not back down from giving Kelson his best. The two fighter's past-shoulder black and brown hair, respectively, swayed according to the whim of the planet. Death was not required, nor defeat truly...though Elithrandir had made a rather large deal out of the fact that defeat did not just imply in combat. A gust of air gently toyed with the bottom-most edges of Elithrandir's robe. All Kelson had to do was get his master to make a mistake. Both lips grew taunt as the unspoken words signalled the beginning.

Kelson was forward in an instant, his lightsaber having detached itself while he moved and flying next to him to find his hand.

Too slow, Elithrandir had ducked to the left and Kelson felt the hard sole of a boot striking the back of his head...Kelson sensed it before the lightsaber had moved a full inch and launched himself away from the ground, into which Elithrandir's lightsaber was to pass.

Kelson skillfully landed on a top-most branch, a smile threatening to break free from his lips.

<CRACK>

Suddenly the branch was no more and Kelson was falling... falling...hitting...bouncing. Groaning slowly, Kelson looked over at his master, who looked on impassively. No use giving up now...he had been warned that this test would be difficult.

Shaking his head suddenly, Kelson returns to the present and smiles again at Raine.

"Let's call it an invitation."

OOC) Hope you don't mind my naming your master...wanted some background and didn't feel particularly like leaving a blank.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Raine

An invitation...well stated.
I stepped forward, taking my lightsaber from my hip and stepping to oppose him.
I thought back to our training together, trying to remember what tricks had helped me in the past. I was once very much like my own student, and had shown plenty of weakness in terms of my arrogance, which made some sense, given that I was one of few girls being trained, one of few altogether to have been trained, and that I often won sparring contests against some of the male apprentices. Not so often Kelson, but many hadn't moved so quickly in thier training as we did.
I'd learned humility in a hard way...
I shook the idea from my head. It was affecting my focus.
I let my hand hang loosely at my side.
"Just say when..." I egged.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Marius

I just looked at him, clueless as to what to say. What would make a Jedi worry?
I shook my head, "I dunno."
I looked down at the water for a second, watching it ripple where Daelon had skipped the stone. The sight was calming, the rings moving slowly outward, growing larger as they went.
"So, when do you think they'll test us? Any time soon?" I asked.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Mogo

"It can wait,"I replied,"But you're not going to like these numbers any more later than you do now...we'll need 6400 creds by my count, and that's using the probable prices...they might come cheaper, but probably not where we're headed..."
I look to the mech. "Any luck yet?"

 

[Kelson]

Kelson stood slowly, glancing over Raine and her stance studiously, recalling all he could from eighteen years of Jedi technique training starting when he was a mere fifteen...earlier then most.

Lets see how well she recalls her loss more then a decade ago now, quite long..., following our test. No weapons on my part...arrogance gained from wielding the lightsaber...she should have learned by now to not make those mistakes

Bowing low, Kelson tightened his belt. Standing erect once again, he nodded and spoke, "when"

 

[Khadgar]

[No message]

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Raine

Upon hearing the word, I ignited the saber in my hand and stepped toward him, wasting no time at my first strike. I swung backhand to my right, his blade ingniting to meet it in plenty of time, as I guessed it would.
As soon as they touched, I disengaged our blades and shifted balance from one leg to the other, keeping my left leg forward and drew the saber up in front of me, holding it in the ready position. He did the same, and we made eye contact for a second.
I lunged again, this time swinging forehand, being blocked head on, then spinning and swinging backhand only to be blocked again.
We might go on like this for hours, I knew, but in the end we would both possibly learn something as well.

 

[Kelson]

Kelson drops near the ground, the wafting smell of ozone alerting him to how near Raine's last strike had been. With a mental twitch, he is away however and a 'safe' 10m away.

Landing gingerly, Kelson turns off his lightsaber even as Raine moves in to strike again. Hoping his prey will be caught off guard by his removing the lightsaber from his own hands, Kelson attempts to use her own momentum against her; hurling her through the air towards a large tree with a thought.

 

[Arc da Rat]

Kerra Shiran

Mogo's voice comes over the intercom. "It can wait ... But you're not going to like these numbers any more later than you do now ... We'll need 6400 creds by my count, & that's using the probable prices ... They might come cheaper, but probably not where we're headed ..." Kerra sighs. "Mogo, Hutt's Space is the closest port with parts. We got other systems closer but none with space port. You got any suggestions of other ports to goto?" She rotates her recovering shoulder & shaking out her arm.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Daelon

Daelon was about to answer Marius when he heard the sound of lightsabers being ignited, and then the sound of those same blades clashing together.
"Hear that?" Daelon said to Marius, who was looking straight towards the source of the sound. No answer was needed, and both apprentices leapt to their feet and practically flew back towards where their mentors had been before.

 

[SpectralDragoon]

Orin had continued tinkering as Mogo and Kerra conversed through the communicator. Now he turned to him.

"Well... luck isn't going to have much to do with it. I can only do so much without the parts. Do you have any idea how long it's going to take to get to a port? We could be flying through the middle of nowhere for a long time."

"Damn," he thought. "Being stuck without a hyperdrive, having to rely on sub-light engines sucks. Life's a bitch. From Tatooine to this hunk of junk with a pissy crew."

 

[poohlive]

Bailen & Ganor

He could already feel the hum of machines around him. The force could easily help you detect when humans are present, but with machiens it's harder. Almost like a void of the force. Something unnatural. That's what machines were basically, but still that's why machines were harder to manipulate.
That's why Bailen used them so often.
When battling a human, especially one not as tough in the force, it's easier to win. You can manipulate them and beat them without even raising a saber.
Machines can't do that. All they can do is what they are programmed to do. He would have to defeat them all. By the sound of it, there were a lot.
Bailen finally took the blindfold off, but it didn't help much. The room he was in had absolutely no light. He felt something at his back, sticking into him. His mind staid focused through, piercing the room, identifying everything. The robots, nearly covering the floor. The room, one of the bay's, large ceilings, plenty of room.
Bailen behind him, moving back.
"They are going to start shooting soon Ganor. Do not move until I say."
He pierced through the room some more. Meneal robots, equipped with lazers. With the clothing he had on, it would only take a couple of shots before he would start feeling it. His skin would come out in a heap of rashes. It would burn him, harshly.
He took in a deep breath, preparing his body and mind.
They started.
He winced, but did nothing to stop the blows. Shot after shot came for him. His arm was on fire, his legs screaming pain. The room filling up with the sound of shots, and the smoke emitting from the weapons. It was becoming harder to breath.
"Now."
He leaped into the air. Ten feet, hurling over himself. The saber came on, a fiery red attachment of himself. Landing, he let it swim around him. An entire circle of robots dropped, nothing more than smoking parts. Shots still hit him, even as he moved through the crowd. Ganor was running as fast as he could, despite the parts down on the ground.
Robot after robot met their untimely demise. His saber cut, pierced, slashed, and stabbed into each and every foul beast.
Soon, he found himself straining, for the last few. Some of them already fallen, but still shooting aimlessly.
When it was over, he stood in a huge pile of metal pieces. Blood oozing from various partso of his body. Sweat glistening from his forehead, which he tried to wipe away.
"Not bad," Bailen stepped out of the room.
Ganor was out of breath, but he followed as quickly as he could. His saber back at his side, and his clothes still burnt and torn. He wrapped them tightly around him.
He never knew pain could feel so good.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Tholin Mod, Sith Warrior

She asks me a good question, why am I teaching her? " If I used the methods I was taught by, you would learn the ways of the force, but you would also learn hatred, pain, and fear. I have no real desire to break your spirit child." She stands & I look closely at her. I sense the lonliness, & the pride in her. "As for teaching you to be a Sith, It would take years of pain & torture before you were ready to begin the serious training, so I will teach you my way, not the way I learned. Now, enough talk, Focus & come at me."
Before she can begin the comm sparks up & she moves over & answeres it. She talks for a few moments, then stops, staring off into space, thinking.

"What is it now little one?"

 

[Arc da Rat]

Kerra Shiran

Kerra switches off the comm after talking to Mogo, pondering. "What is it now little one?" She sighs again. "From Mogo's calculations its going to take minimum of 6400 credits to get all the parts for the Owl. I can cover it, with the credits you gave to me & what I have saved. If it becomes more than double that amount ... " Her voice trains off. "You still have not answered the third question Master Tholin."

Her arm is not quite funtional but she ignites her saber then comes at him at full speed. Using the force to guide her hand she strikes out repeatedly, ignoring the pin-picks in her recovering arm. They go into a dance.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Tholin Mod, Sith Warrior

She comes at me, saber swinging incredibly slow to me. I stand my ground & block her blows, being careful not to reflect the blade back at her.
" I have never had a apprentice, I have always traveled alone. Right now I am not sure if I desire to have one. I am showing you a few things so you are not a easy target for the next Jedi with a grudge you meet up with. & I have more credits. What I gave you was what I thought was a fair price for passage & a private cabin, tho if I had thought I was going to be giving fencing lessons I would have paid less. Now, slow down & stop trying to impress me & feel the force around your hand & blade, & stop using your aggression. The dark Side has many paths to it, but very few that take you away."

 

[Arc da Rat]

Kerra Shiran

She stops & stares at the Sith. "I still own you a favor Dark-one. If I do meet another force-user that would be like, Jabba not putting a price on Solo's head for dumping a shipment of spice." Kerra laughs clearly amused. "You need not give me any lessons, if you don't wish it. I don't think I would be walking around with a saber on my belt anouncing that I am a force-user."

Closing her eyes, Kerra then takes a deep breathe. Pushing everything out of her mind & reaches out to the force. Then advancing on Tholin, she attacks again. But this time with more grace & fluidity. She tests his defense, teasing him to dance.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Tholin Mod, Sith Warrior

I sense a calmness about her now as she strikes at me. Its still easy to deflect the blows, but I don't have to concentrate on not hurting her now. We duel for a while longer, the only sound the clashing of lightsabers. Finally, I step back. "That is good. You are learning to focus. Now, lets see how well you do that." I deactivate my blade & clip it back on my belt. Rummaging through my bag, I pull out a strip of black cloth & a training remote. " Now, put this on where you cannot see, then block the blasts from the remote. I have it set where it stings, but will do no real damage."
I toss her the blindfold & wait.

 

[Arc da Rat]

Kerra Shiran

"Now, put this on where you cannot see, then block the blasts from the remote. I have it set where it stings, but will do no real damage." Kerra turns off her saber & catches the cloth. Placing the saber under her arm, she ties the blindfold at the back of her head in a secure knot. She double checks the front to see that its properly placed over her eyes.

Taking the hilt back into her hands, she recenters & takes a defensive stance. Fighting blind was nothing new to her, she has done it in the pass. Kerra turns the saber on & feels thru the force, the remote activates. She feels the bolts coming at her. Dodging & defecting, she makes her way thru this next excerise.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Tholin Mod, Sith Warrior

She goes into the exercise very well, deflecting the bolts with ease. She can sense the force very well, its probably what she learned to do first. "Enough" I deactivate the remote with a thought." You have a very good grasp of the force, very good. That is enough for now." I gather the remote & place it back in the bag.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Marius

As we neared where the two were, I ignited my lightsaber, unsure of what to expect. When I saw the two, both with sabers ignited, and no one else around, I realized my misconception. I turned off the weapon, embarassed, especially at the idea that she might need my help. I was only an apprentice afterall.
The two were dueling, and currently, Raine was heading into a tree, no doubt at the will of Kelson. Just as she was about to strike the trunk, her body twisted, her own manipulation of the force, and he feet found the trunk, leaving her poised as though she was standing against the trunk like it were the ground, then she vaulted herself through the air, somersaulting toward Kelson and halving the distance between the two as she lands.
She faces him, waiting, apparently deciding to give Kelson the right of way of the next attack.
I looked to Daelon, amazed at thier movements as they dueled, thinking, and I thought I was ready...I can barely keep my eyes on them as they move...

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Mogo

I can only do so much without the parts...
He'd said that.
I looked at him, eyebrows scrunched together, wondering if hiring him had been a mistake.
"What type of mechanic are you? You can only do so much without the parts?" I chuckled at him, then shook my head.
I was going to have to show him, otherwise, the boss would be up my ass again.
"First of all, get the hell out from under there. I have to show you a few things."
I fly under the drive, where he'd been laying, and wave him to look under.
"Right here...this hose...you don't need a hyperdrive part to fix this, at least not for temporary purposes. What we need is to apply a viable substitute. Now, there are three of these that need replacing, all elbow shaped, right?"
I came from under the drive and led him into the short hall, gripping the grate and pulling it up to expose one of our smuggling compartments under the floor. I reached down, shifting through the junk stored there with little grace, tossing a few things out into the hall and grumbling loudly to myself. Finally, I pulled out three pieces of metal piping, roughly the length of the hoses we needed. They were old, and partially rusted, but they would suffice, for a short while anyway.
"Now," I began to explain, as we went back to the hyperdrive, "The important thing here is that while the hyperdrive already needs work, and we need it to function, we have to be certain that we don't damage it further."
I grabbed a wrench and a few other items, then flew beneath the hyperdrive, disconnecting each piece of hose and tossing the out into the room, one almost hitting Orin as I did. I attached the piping, applying it tightly, then tested it to ensure it would hold. Once I was sure it was well placed, I flew out and said, "Now, all we need is to replace the energy cable, and I have a piece of that stored away...well, somewhere, that we can splice into place, then we'll be ready to kick it inot high gear. She'll hold up until we reach Hutt Space, but then, we'll have to get the needed parts and toss the jimmied parts, eh?"
He pointed to the item in my hand, his face questioning.
I laughed and shook my head. This kid was cracking me up.
"Don't they teach you mechanics anything?" I asked. "The oldest methods are often the most effective...duct tape, new and improved of course, but duct tape is still duct tape!"

 

[Kelson]

Kelson smiles, brandishing his lightsaber once again and gesturing slightly towards the apprentices with a shrug.

"I remember you messed that up last time..."

Enjoying the flow of the force through his body, rarely enough used in this capacity, Kelson fuses his mind with it to guide his lightsaber past normal human capacities.

Instantly, Kelson is gone from his position and nearly on top of Raine, his lightsaber clashing with hers in a bright flickering of bright light and burnt ozone.

To the apprentices to their side, the pair seem to almost be dancing, such is the guidance of the force. Blow after blow clashes into lightsaber until the heavily ionized air from the clashing blades remains in the air. Inhuman speed guides the blades back again and again, going from top right to bottom left faster then an eye can blink.

Concentrating harder, Kelson enhances his speed even more until, to the still untrained apprentices, his lightsaber's single blade of light seems to be a shield covering his entire body all at once.

This continues on for several minutes, then, without warning, Kelson leaps high into the air and back, landing cat-like on one of the lower branches on an ancient tree of this region. Hardly a bead of sweat has formed on the pair, nor do they even now breath hard. To the apprentices it almost seems as if they hadn't just now engaged in a combat that they couldn't even follow.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Marius

I looked at Daelon, amazed.
"Can you believe this?" I whispered. "How could either of them win?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Raine

I looked up at him for a moment, eyeing his foothold on the branch, wondering if it could be manipulated.
Then, moving quickly, I rushed toward the tree and leapt into the air, slashing at him with the my saber. He blocked each of the seven or eight slashes I threw at him, then waited as my feet found the ground again and I stepped forward, passing under the branch to try the same type attack from the other side, hoping that making him turn would compromise his balance.
No such luck however, and I landed after seven or so more attacks without breaking his guard. I stepped back to the other side of the tree branch again and leapt up a third time, this time landing on the branch next to him and attacking as though we were both on the ground. We exchanged attacks and defenses for almost a minute before I gave up on this approach as well and leapt down again, jumping back up immediately, this time somersaulting over his head and severing the branch near the treetrunk on the way down. The branch gaveway, and as I landed I turned to face where I thought he would be standing. Instead, I saw the branch laying on the ground and no kelson. My first instinct was to look behind me, but he was nowhere to be seen.
I felt him there though, and when I glanced up, he was hanging above me, his arm gripping a tree branch higher up.
Clever, I thought, but also stupid.
I threw my saber upward, spinning in midair, and it severed the branch he held onto, finally bringing him to the ground, which he stopped just inches above, seeming to float for a moment.
The second branch landed behind him, and my saber, having deactivated itself, struck the ground behind it.
He looked at me, his feet lowering slowly to the ground, then took a step forward.
I drew the saber toward me, having it slide across the ground, but stopped it midway, leaving it turn on the ground for a second. As he took another step, eyes watching the weapon as though he saw my intent, I used the force to raise it into the air and ignite it before him, making the weapon attack him, while I stood safely away, controlling its movements without any physical effort.
My attacks were fast, but his hands kept up without trial. In blurs, the weapns trike, the sounds of them coming in contact barely having pauses between them.