An Interesting Sparring Partner

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Alwine Lechner"]​

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• CNS Midnight Exigent
  In orbit of Geonosis

An immense, arrowhead-shaped shadow hung above Geonosis, large enough to be seen from the ground far below, even in broad daylight. Its hull bristled with weapons like spikes on a hedgehog, row upon row of turbolasers, hypervelocity cannons and missile launchers, all spreading out from the Perdition cannon that served as the ship's main weapon, an immense axial composite beam laser capable of unleashing complete devastation upon a target.

The Midnight Exigent was one of the Confederacy's most powerful warships and the flagship of the dreaded Sword Armada, largest and post powerful fleet division within the nation's military. Its master-and-commander was one of the most enigmatic Sith Lords in the galaxy, a devious military mastermind who had designed many of the Star Dreadnought's systems, himself.

Although few knew it, a war was coming. That was the primary reason for Tacitus' visit today, planning out a military campaign half a galaxy away took time, the logistics alone being a monumental task. The conclusion of the meeting left Nelvaan's Eternal Emperor with some free time while his ship refueled and resupplied for the journey back to his icy homeworld, time which he would use to attend another matter which he had meant to resolve for some time.

The Obsidian compound was only a short shuttle ride away from the fleet command headquarters, so it did not take him long to reach his destination. A pair of black, triangular stealth fighters of Nelvaanian design flanked the silvery shuttle on either side, not out of necessity, but for the purpose of conveying his high-ranking status to onlookers.

Having a Knight Obsidian or two stationed on Nelvaan would certainly not hurt the fortressworld's defenses and Tacitus himself needed someone to watch his back while he commanded the indomitable fleets of the Confederacy to victory, in case enemy Force wielders boarded his flagship and managed to fight their way through the various guards onboard. To that end, he had reviewed the files of several candidates and finally forwarded the request. It was time to go meet with his new bodyguard.

 

[Alwine Daye]

Sweat was pouring down Alwine's face and back. She had returned last night from several weeks on Stewjon. Several weeks of putting her mind hard at work, doing things that no one on the planet from which she'd hailed had ever assumed a woman could do. The mere fact that she had done it at all had surprised even herself. Life on Stewjon had taught her that for people like her there was but one choice and for people like her brother there were two. She had grown up wanting her brothers' choices, and once freed from the oppressive planet, she'd made it. She'd become a Knight Obsidian.

Yet it had not been too long after that, when Alwine got to taste and experience more of what the galaxy had to offer, that she began to doubt her choice. There were more things she could do than being a lowly servant or a warrior. Alwine discovered that she understood people deeply, knew how to make them tick, knew how to read them and pull conclusions. More than once she had been accused of making assumptions. More than once she had proven that she rarely did so.

Back to present times. Her stay on Stewjon had been the first time since joining the Confederacy that Alwine had not needed to be physically active in weeks. She had missed her brothers dearly while on that trip, but her muscles had missed being used even more. The previous night had been spent catching up with Gerwald and Varick. Today though… Today was training day. The training hll she most often used had been free nd she was in there early, working wit the droids.

She did not want to work on her Force abilities. She did not want to work on her ending or writing. All she wanted was to kick, punch, and let the strain of the past few weeks out. And that was exactly what the woman of a mere five feet was now doing.

[member="Darth Tacitus"]

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Alwine Lechner"]​

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• Knights Obsidian Compound
  Geonosis, Confederacy of Independent Systems

Knowledge is power. There were few maxims in the galaxy that were as true as this one. Careful observation and analysis were often the key to successfully weighing a situation and finding the right levers to apply pressure on. Then came the matter of exactly how much pressure to apply and how subtly, in order to obtain the desired result.

Silently leaning against the wall of the training hall, a cloaked figure carefully watched the girl's movement for the telltale signs which he knew how to read. Especially during combat, one displayed such subtle signs that allowed those who knew how to read them, an insight into the fighter's personality and motivations, one which could be invaluable in any number of situations.

In this case, the girl displayed the unmistakable signs of a seething anger which bubbled just beneath the surface. Every move she made painted a tapestry of a headstrong, opinionated woman who rushed headlong into things and who held firmly onto her beliefs. The warlord filed this information away in the deep, dark recesses of his mind, a plain, unreadable expression on his face, although his slitted, cat-like eyes could not fully hide the cold, calculating nature of the intellect that hid behind them, providing a brief window into what was a confusing, almost alien mind who's workings had very little in common with the mortals of the galaxy.

Little was known of Darth Tacitus, Eternal Emperor of Nelvaan, Reaper of Lorrd and White Wolf of Ession, amongst a dozen or so other titles. He was the eldest amongst the Malvern siblings, yet for most of his life he had stood apart from them. A few years back, he appeared out of nowhere, seizing the moment and taking control of the remaining forces of the defunct Dominion, which he would built and transform into what had become one of the Confederacy's most powerful and feared member states.

Once, he had been a brilliant, mysterious man. Then, during the fall of the Ancient Eye, something had happened and he had left much of his humanity behind, exchanging it for something else, something less natural and far deadlier. Long, gleaming black talons extended from his fingers, as sharp and hard as durasteel and capable of rending flesh with as much ease as a vibroblade. A mane of silver hair surrounded his face, shining with a metallic sheen which only served to sow further confusion regarding his true age, giving him a timeless quality that could throw off those who tried to get a read on him. There was something predatory in his posture, despite his apparently relaxed demeanor. Like a primeval killer which could explode into violence at a moment's notice.

A leather cloak hung from his back, lazily dancing in an unnatural, unseen wind and a wolf's pelt was draped around his shoulders, adding a touch of primordial ferocity to the immaculate military uniform he wore beneath. Four lightsaber hilts could be seen on his right hip from time to time, as the cloak parted enough to reveal them, while a dull gray longsword hung on his left side in a plain leather scabbard, radiating the ominous cold of the Darkside. Like its wielder, there was far more to it than met the eye.

By his side stood a massive creature, easily the size of a horse, sitting down on its haunches in a restful, yet alert posture, the Loth Wolf ready to spring forward at a mental command from his master. There was something off about the creature's presence in the Force, something unnatural and disturbing, as if it had been altered in some way which had irreversibly tainted its natural form with the touch of darkness.

"Impressive," the warlord's voice shattered the silence. "Good endurance, speed, form, although your fine muscle control and effort dosage could use with some improvement," he said, offering his opinion about the girl's skills. He stepped forward, left hand withdrawing from the folds of his cloak to reveal a datapad that was marked with the unmistakable seal of the Knights Obsidian. He handed that to the girl.

"I am Tacitus, Eternal Emperor of Nelvaan and commander of Sword Armada," he introduced himself. "I have forwarded a request for a bodyguard to your superiors and out of several candidates, I recommended you for the job," he said. "I am not going to force you into this position, however I would greatly appreciate it if you accept my invitation."

 

[Alwine Daye]

She had been at it for at least two hours without pause. Alwine's stamina knew no bounds when she was repeating something that was almost as natural as breathing now. While she could not claim to be the best or the greatest, she knew she was good, and that with every passing week, she advanced and improved more. Well, except the last few, but she had been on Stewjon in that frame of time, and her hours had been spent entirely differently then.

So focused she was that she had not even realized she was being watched. As the first words were spoken, Alwine turned around, coming to a complete halt. A predator's pause, as chocolate brown eyes took in the man and the giant wolf by his side. Alwine knew wolves. Alwine was a wolf, in a very literal sense. She could feel that something was different about this one though, and she disliked being unable to tell what it exactly was.

Returning her gaze to the tall man, she said nothing at first, taking the datapad silently. Her fingers flicked over the screen, her reading, sadly, still very slow. But at least she no longer had to follow with her finger or mouth the words that she read.

"You are a Lord," she noted, her voice void of any emotion as she looked at him again, taking in his unnatural appearance. The Lord caste on Stewjon had been horrible. The only thing worse than them had been her parents. In the last few weeks…

"Who do you expect to be needing guarding from?" she asked then, eyes narrowing. She would not treat him like her superior. He outranked her, yes. She would offer respect in that regard, no doubt. But she would not permit him to tout around as a better person simply for having the luck of being born into a higher and better considered caste. Those days were long over. "I recently co-signed execution warrants for people of your rank," she added. If he would be uncomfortable with that, it would be best to know so in advance. "Abusers, thieves, molestors... Their rank did not protect them, in the end."

Glancing at the Loth Wolf again, Alwine sighed. She wanted to touch the creature, to caress its ears. Even in her human ship there was kinship between her and other types of wolves, even if she would appear to be its cub if she decided to shift now. "Is what is wrong with him the result of your doing?" she added a last question, only now a touch of warmth entering her voice. If he had seen her file, he would know what she was; a Lupine, a shapeshifter. Among the last of her kind.

And since he was giving her the choice of whether to accept or deny a job at guarding him, she would ask all the questions she could prior to deciding.

[member="Darth Tacitus"]

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Alwine Lechner"]​

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• Knights Obsidian Compound
  Geonosis, Confederacy of Independent Systems

The girl spoke of lords and executions, going on to explain how she signed their death warrants herself. At that, the Sith Lord raised an eyebrow, perhaps the only change in his otherwise unreadable posture and expression. Whatever his nature, the man had a finely honed degree of self-control and discipline that even most Jedi Masters would find impressive. If the purpose of her words was to intimidate him, however, she was about to have a surprise.

"There are a few absolutes on Nelvaan, which are unchangeable and unmovable. Ours is a harsh planet, where society can only exist if everyone does his part and puts the needs of the community above his own," he said to her, his tone as hard to read as everything else about him. "We do not tolerate the hedonistic and selfish pursuit of excess."

"We have a slogan," the Sith Lord explained, pausing for effect. "One which permeates every aspect of society and which conveys the core principles of our civilization. Unity through strength and justice without mercy. We have... exemplary methods for dealing with criminals and the law applies to all, prince or pauper, regardless of rank or station."

"As for any potential threats that I may need guarding against... I am the Eternal Emperor. There are very few things in this galaxy which can truly threaten me," he said, hinting at the unnatural changes he had undergone, which gave him his unnatural eyes and his talons, but also his rumored immortality.

"However I have responsibilities and duties, both on Nelvaan and in the Confederacy as a whole. There are situations where I may face complications, which could harm me enough to make the successful completion of these duties... challenging. I intend to successfully carry out these duties to the best of my ability and to that end, I will do everything within my power to put in place safeguards against things which may lead to failure. This is where you come in," the Sith Lord explained to the Lupine girl, slipping into the formal tone of a professional soldier.

The massive Loth Wolf's ears flicked forward as the Lupine's gaze fell upon him again and his glowing golden eyes met hers with a sort of detached intensity, as if the creature was measuring her in some way, displaying an almost human level of intelligence, which was uncanny amongst most beasts, yet typical of his species.

The Lupine girl picked up on the unnatural alterations made to the Loth Wolf through the Force and possibly the link the creature shared with his master, which piqued the Sith Lord's interest in earnest. "In a way and in part," he answered her, hinting at the dark practices of Sith sorcery and alchemy which had altered the creature and also saved its life. "Though his own rage and hatred contribute to that as well. When I found him... he wasn't in good hands."

Whatever had happened to the Sithspawn, it was clear that it was not compelled against his will to follow his master, although the Sith Lord clearly had that option as well. Rather, the creature seemed to follow out of a sense of loyalty.

 

[Alwine Daye]

"I have heard such statements before," Alwine said, managing to only let a minor touch if disapproval through her tone. Everyone does his part and puts the needs of the community above his own. She noted it all. The excuses, the clinging to the male part of everyone. Those were things that had been said on Stewjon as well. If there were no farmers, how would people eat? If there were no servants, how would the Lords live? If there were no warriors, how would Lords fight against each other without dirtying their own hands in mud and blood? Those in power always found the way to excuse their deeds. That was a pattern that was to repeat itself more than only on Stewjon, she supposed.

So she was supposed to be a safeguard against those who would keep him from completing his duties. Alwine looked at the tall man gain, searching his face for… something. It was more than clear to her that she was standing in front of someone who was superior to her in both physical training and the Force. What did he expect to not be able to face that would require anything she could provide?

And why was she so suspicious all of the sudden, anyway? This was hardly the first time she was in the presence of someone who on Stewjon would have been considered of the Lord caste. Her own trainer, Caid Centurion, would have been considered one as such as well. So would [member="Aiden"] had he not elected to turn things around on that dreadful planet.

Nodding to Tacitus' answer, she handed him his datapad back, and returned her attention to the wolf. She knew the gaze. "I have met Loth wolves before," she admitted. It was undeniable though; when she spoke to the wolf or even as much as looked at him, something within the diminutive yet hard woman softened. "It appears many of those who belong to the wolves in one manner or another begin in bad hands."

Returning her attention to Tacitus, Alwine nodded once more. The man had said nothing to instill willingness in her to go on bodyguard duty. But if Alwine was truthful to herself, had had said nothing that ought to have caused her not to want it either. Her sole carefulness was on his identification of Lord, but they were not on Stejwon. She had met others who would have been Lords but were not, not like the ones at the place that pretended to be home. And this was official duty. Alwine was above her emotions, and she would prove it, mostly to herself.

"I accept the mission," she nodded a final time, "when are you scheduled to leave Genosis?"

[member="Darth Tacitus"]

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Alwine Lechner"]​

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• Knights Obsidian Compound
  Geonosis, Confederacy of Independent Systems

"You judge us and our ways," he said, disapproval in his tone. Or was it disappointment? "But you know nothing of the path that led us Nelvaanians to where we are today. Of the hardships we have faced and the tragedies we have suffered," he said to her. "There are so very few of us left, of those who departed from Ession and Lorrd all those years ago," the Emperor spoke, his mind racing back to those fateful days during the fall of the Dominion.

The truth was that the Eternal Empire simply did not have the luxury to worry about individualism, or the pursuit of pleasure and hedonistic comfort. Its people had, for the entirety of their existence, been hounded by ruthless enemies at every corner. They had faced the harsh realities of the galaxy and Tacitus was determined not to let them grow soft and weak, to be made easy prey by those who would destroy them. Theirs was now the path of eternal war and struggle. And their purpose was something greater than any other cause in the galaxy.

"I do not expect of you to commit yourself to blind faith," the Sith Lord said, his voice hard, unyielding. "I expect you to carry out your duties to the best of your ability. If that requires you to fight, I expect you to fight. If that requires you to speak your mind, I expect you to speak your mind. And I ask no more of you, or anyone else, than I ask of myself, every single day."

She had mentioned something about wolves beginning their stories in bad hands and Tacitus almost let out a bitter laugh. She had no idea how true that statement was, how the Sith Lord who stood before her had lived those very same words and had paid for them with old, deep scars.

He saw in her eyes how her resolve strengthened. How she pushed her own doubts and fears aside as duty asserted itself and he gave her a single, simple approving nod. Of all the qualities one could possess, it was not strength, or cunning, which he respected most. It was loyalty to a cause and one's duty.

It pleased him that she had accepted his request. And it seemed to him that they had more in common than it had first appeared. Perhaps she would eventually be someone who could be relied upon with the greater secrets of his nation, ones shared with but a few.

"The Exigent is in drydock above the planet. It is scheduled to finish refueling and resupplying within the hour," Tacitus said to her. "Welcome to the Eternal Empire, Alwine Lechner of the Knights Obsidian. May your path be long and honorable."

 

[Alwine Daye]

"I do not pretend to not judge, although it appears that such pretenses are common outside of Stewjon as well," Alwine remarked, obviously unmoved by Tacitus' claims regarding his planet. She had no knowledge of what Ession or Lorrd were, what the history of the Nelvaanians was. But to put it bluntly, she did not truly care yet. Planets were distant things and every single one of them thus corrupted in one way or another. Unless it bore directly down and affected either her life or the lives of those she cared about, Alwine did not have much care to spare for the moment. Things were complicated and messy enough as it was.

To the rest of what Tacitus had to say was met with a nod. Those were duties that Alwine could perform. Those were duties that Alwine was more than accustomed to performing, and not just in the line of her duties to the Confederacy.

"Thank you," Alwine said with a nod as Tacitus welcomed her into the Eternal Empire, "I will do all I can to ensure my duties are performed to your satisfaction."

An hour later, she was ready. Having had the time to take a proper shower and pack her things, Alwine arrived with her duffel bag, containing some weapons, clothes, and paperwork. Her body was clad in the Obsidian Strike armor, as her job demanded. Some wear and tear was beginning to appear on it, but it was easy see that she took great care in cleaning it and keeping it in as good of a shape as she was capable of.

Thankfully, the shuttles that took into orbit were in the same dockyard as the ship upon which the Lechners lived, leaving Alwine with just enough time to prepare comfortably as well as leave a note to her brothers, informing them that she would be gone for a while again.

As Alwine arrived by the doors, she felt forward for Tacitus' presence, giving the smallest of nudges, just to let him know that she had arrived on time. From here, their schedule would depend entirely upon him.

[member="Darth Tacitus"]

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Alwine Lechner"]​

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• CNS Midnight Exigent
  Geonosis, Confederacy of Independent Systems

Tacitus was reviewing several reports concerning the massive dreadnought's logistical operations, pouring over endless lists of supplies, spare parts and equipment which had been replaced while the flagship rested in its berth. Even now, he could not help but feel impressed at the efficiency with which the Geonosians had gone about the titanic task of keeping the gargantuan warship supplied and ready for battle. They even exceeded his own people's performance at such tasks and that was indeed saying something about the skills of the insect-like species which inhabited the Confederacy's capital. When it came to engineering and logistics, these Geonosians truly had no equal in the galaxy.

It was then that he felt the Lupine's presence on the ship, questing forward through the Force, perhaps her way of announcing her presence to him. Punctual, which he appreciated. He decided he would greet her in one of the several training rooms that had been set up aboard Sword Armada's flagship, where he often found himself spending his free time. Even in a friendly sparring match, the Eternal Emperor found that the clash of steel and lightsaber often spoke more than words ever could.

Of course, he was well aware of the difference in skill and power between him and the Lupine girl, but that was not the point of this exercise. The point was to gauge her potential. So, he would hold back against her, putting just enough pressure to keep her on edge, to push her to exceed her current limits. So he sent his attendant droids for her as he prepared for the mock battle.

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Alwine's first contact with the crew of the enormous warship would be with one of the numerous maintenance teams, which poured over her shuttle as soon as it settled within the dreadnought's cavernous hangar, going about the myriad tasks that formed the routine which kept the Confederacy's fleet in top shape. Tacitus liked to keep things efficient and this reflected in the attitudes and performance of his crew, who drilled for their tasks almost non-stop.

It was not long before the protocol droids came for the Lupine knight. Despite the ship's immense size, its interior layout had been designed with efficiency in mind and turbolifts criss-corssed the dreadnought, providing ease of transportation to the ship's crew and guests alike. The droids would insure that the girl was settled in, then they would lead her to her master's location.

The Reaper of Lorrd awaited her arrival standing in the center of the room, feet slightly apart, in a calm, meditative silence that was so unlike the typical demeanor of most Sith and more like what someone would expect of a Jedi. Despite that, the ruler of Nelvaan had taken this trait and somehow made it his own and this was reflected within the cold echoes of the Darkside which lingered around him. Cold and focused, disciplined. Not wild and raging like the barely contained firestorm that characterized the vast majority of Sith.

He had exchanged his military uniform for a set of plain, unassuming clothes who's cut was practical and gave no considerations to style. Simple military-style pants just a shade lighter than the pair of black, well-worn military boots, accompanied by a simple, sleeveless gray shirt. Those who did not know who he was, might have mistaken him for a common soldier, a role with which he was more comfortable than most people would realize.

Pale skin stretched over hard, well-toned muscles, honed by long hours of hard work and the harsh realities of war. Deep scars crisscrossed his arms, continuing beneath the fabric of his clothes, where other scars lay hidden, forming the tapestry of a life forged in hardship and tempered with struggle, hammered upon the anvil of loss.

As weapons, he carried only his sword, unsheathed and held point down against the floor, taloned hands resting upon the pommel. The dreaded touch of the Darkside radiated from the fearsome blade, bathing the room in an electric tension that was as unnatural as the hands which held it. "Welcome aboard the Midnight Exigent," the Sith Lord greeted his guest. "I was impressed by your performance down in the compound. How about we pick up from there?"

 

[Alwine Daye]

Droids. So many droids in this Confederacy. Alwine made use of them as well, but it was still somewhat unnerving to have them take the place of organics around her. While she did not have enough knowledge to appreciate the design of the ship and its halls, she did not every nook and corner the droids led her through, an escape plan ready in her mind in case of need. In the case of anything wrong happening, she would never be trapped again.

Eventually, the droids took her… To a training room?

Blinking, Alwine put her bags down by the door, looking at Kainan. She did not know much about the difference between Sith and Jedi either, and could not judge his stand for what it was.

As he greeted her, she offered a nod in return, still insure whether more was needed. Her brown eyes ran along the sight of him though, taking in the sword, and… The claws?

Alwine looked at the Emperor again, unsure of whether or not she could even ask about it. This was not Aiden or Caid – she'd always known exactly where she stranded with them both, their relationship more relaxed in terms of openness and willingness to hear her endless questions about everything. But this was new territory. They were not there on strictly friendly terms; this was a job.

"Very well," she answered plainly, and reached into her bag to pull her Knight Obsidian Sword out. There were more in there, but she'd trained double handed only once and was nowhere near as proficient with it as she was with single handed. The new version of the sword also came with a shield; that too was something Alwine was learning how to use.

Alwine walked up until she was only a few feet away from [member="Darth Tacitus"] and took a defensive stand.

She was ready to begin.

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Alwine Lechner"]​

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• CNS Midnight Exigent
  Geonosis, Confederacy of Independent Systems

Someone else might not have noticed the uncertainty in the young woman's posture, or the telltale signs present in her gestures. But there was very little that slipped by Tacitus' notice. For someone like him, who took in every detail, measured it a hundred times and filed the information away within the recesses of his mind, it was plainly obvious that the Lupine was unsure of how to react around him, especially when her eyes fell upon his claws.

If they were going to work together, he would have to rid her of that and teach her to be more comfortable around him. Ostensibly, he looked down at the black, knife-like talons, before his eyes locked onto hers again. "We all have a price to pay in service to our duties," the Emperor spoke to her, explaining the deadly appendages. "This was mine. Or, rather, part of it," he said. He was not done paying, yet.

He listened to her speak and nodded in satisfaction as she assumed her stance. He wanted her to come out of her shell and there was no easier way to do it than to get her angry. "On Nelvaan, we have a saying," Tacitus said, his gaze locked onto hers. "He who hesitates, is lost."

With no further warning than that, he launched himself into motion, his relaxed stillness exploding into a ferocious charge as his longsword swept up in an arc, the unnatural blade's deadly point digging a furrow into the floor and sending a shower of sparks in Alwine's direction.

Longswords were an elegant and expertly designed weapon. Their balance allowed for a certain economy of movement as their blades flowed from one cut into another in the hands of a swordmaster. Tacitus aimed such a flurry at the Lupine's sword and shield, seeking to throw her off balance, to batter aside her weapon and bash it out of her hands. He could have moved even faster, but he wanted to give her just enough time to react, while putting her on the back foot.

 

[Alwine Daye]

A price in service to their duties? Alwine blinked. She did not understand what he meant by that. Did having claws while in human shape was something that duty upon this planet demanded? If so, she would have to make her leave sooner rather than later. But, that was also jumping to conclusions. She wished to ask, but there was no time. A moment later Tacitus said that those who hesitate lost, and made the attack.

Alwine had thus trained with a handful of good trainers; her brothers had given her the basics while they were all living and hiding on Stewjon. Caid Centurion had been her first true mentor after joining the Confederacy. Jaron Lessan had taught her fire. And through it all, she had trained on her own as well, making use of droids.

And still, it had only been a few months. Alwine's abilities to use her size and speed to move away were still greater than her abilities to cause damage without relying on the Force.

Which was exactly what was happening; her shield was still turned off, and Alwine used her sword to block the incoming attacks as she kept moving backwards, doing what she could to stay out of the larger man's longer reach. But she already knew she would not be able to keep it up; Tacitus was not a stupid man, which meant that he was likely not even giving her half of what he could do. All he needed to take her over was add a touch more speed, a bit more strength, and she would be down.

There were no plants around that she could use as she so often did; this was a training room, not a forest outside, and she would not have the time needed to gather her fire.

So Alwine did the only thing she could think of, and Force Jumped. If her plan would succeed, she would land directly behind Tacitus and send a kick behind his knee.


[member="Darth Tacitus"]

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Alwine Lechner"]​

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• CNS Midnight Exigent
  Geonosis, Confederacy of Independent Systems

The Lupine girl was fast on her feet and able to keep a cool head on her shoulders in the heat of battle. Her motions had the ordered pattern of calculation, rather than the telltale signs of erratic behavior born from desperation. Tacitus gave her a mental nod, satisfied with what he saw.

Then she jumped, calling on the Force to lift her off the floor, landing behind him and aiming a kick to the back of his knee. Oh, no you don't, the Sith Lord thought. Not yet.

He spun around, launching himself backwards with a telekinetic blast aimed at where he stood, claws on his left hand digging furrows into the floor as he slowed himself from sliding further back than he intended. He could have given her a moment's respite, but he wanted to push her to the limit and see what she was truly capable of. Real battles aren't fair, he thought.

So as he slid across the floor, he threw a second, weaker telekinetic blast at her, one that he believed would be enough to break her attack if it connected, while he launched himself forward, the dull gray metal of his blade flashing in the sterile white light of the room as he spun the sword through a series of quick, efficient slashes aimed at her blade, ending with him reversing the grip on his sword, left hand grasping it by the halfway point of the blade as he thrust the pommel out in a jab aimed at her ribs.

 

[Alwine Daye]

There was something in sparring with Kainan that felt different from sparring with Caid. Caid had matched Alwine's fire, knew how to call the anger out of her and shape it into efficiency that she had not known she possessed. Now, she did not know whether Kainan was a stranger or because he was simply a different man, but there was something that felt much colder about his moves. That did not mean that he wasn't any good; far from that. She knew from the first few moments that she was sparring with someone who was superior to her with a blade.

Her foot met with empty hair, his claws already slowing him down. She landed gracefully, but before she had the time to respond, the telekinetic blast came at her. Alwine's head shot down and she closed her eyes, the barrier coming over her. She was still flung a few feet backwards, but her balance was unharmed, and there was no pain.

Releasing the barrier, the petite blonde straightened up and came towards him again. Their blades met and clashed, and she cursed herself for taking so long to notice that it was the blade he was aiming for and not her. The realization did not help her though, as he then connected the pommel with her ribs.

This time, Alwine lost her footing and fell backwards to the ground, but the point of her blade was still aimed at him.

The wolf could fall, but the wolf could not yield.

[member="Darth Tacitus"]