From Hunter to Hunted...

[Kian Karr]

Up and over the Sith went, reacting faster to Kian's strike than Kian had anticipated. Realizing his precarious position, Kian brought his blade up in a smooth transition from attack to defense. His silver blade coming up and slashing across the top of him as he spun to face where he assumed his opponent would be landing. The clash of his blade to the strike of his opponent told Kian that he had made the right call.

Kian had faced off against Ataru opponents in the past who had often employed maneuvers such as the one used by the Sith before him. As soon as the Sith touched down, Kian was in motion, jabbing his blade at a stab at the man's right thigh, but using the attack as a feint. Kian instead spun his blade in an arch and cut for the left shoulder of his opponent instead. Driving the blade down forcefully. Kian wasn't a large man compared to many of the opponents he face, but when he struck he struck hard, using his muscular build and the force to enhance him.

The Sith did not confirm nor deny his identify and Kian was left wondering if he had in fact guessed correctly. Assuming he survived to make it to his extraction, Kian would have to sit down with Seraphina and share notes on the appearance and fighting style of their two opponents to confirm whether or not they were in fact that same Sith.

[member="Darth Ferus"]​

 

[Darth Ferus]

With his golden blade within his right hand, the Zabrak spun his blade down to deflect what he thought would be a slash at his thigh. Ferus had assumed [member="Kian Karr"] was using the Djem So form. Not many feints, a lot of heavy handed attacks. It didn't occur to him that even though he was right, the Kel Dor adapted the form into something much more lethal. The feint came around and caused the golden eyes of the black skinned man to widen. His form jerked back away from the blade, but it's silver edge burned right through the front of his leather jerkin. If not for the now burned through songsteel layering below, that would of probably have ended the man.

The Sith Lord pushed himself away from his opponent with a blast of the Force, intent on creating some distance as he himself would remove the now useless armor top from his form. His black skin was now bare, showing a multitude of scars from countless battles the Red Assassin had been in. The smile that had been there from before was faded, leaving behind a grimace and focused eyes. Even though deep down he was enjoying the battle, now was not the time to play.

He would keep to the defensive now, his blade held in both hands as he watched the Jedi Master, ever wary of a pressing attack. Such was the way of Djem So after all.

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian's blade met its target and burnt through a layer of armor before being deflected by the material. This was the most dangerous part of a duel, when both combatants were testing the skills of the other, and neither was fully aware of the capabilities of their opponent. Kian had been partly surprised when he landed his blow and from what he sensed in the Sith before him, a surprise attack like that would likely not work again. You rarely fooled a skilled opponent more than once.

The blast of force energy sent Kian skidding back, his boots squealing on the floor as the attempted to grab hold but couldn't on the slippery surface. Kian wanted to rush back forward, rush in with powerful strikes pushing the advantage he felt he'd gained. It was something he'd taught his students at the academy, don't let up on building momentum. But Kian was also cautious of rushing in headlong. History books were filled with Jedi who made that mistake against the wrong opponent.

When Kian came forward it was with a measured gait, circling around the Sith's left as he went, his saber dropping down into a low guard. When Kian came at the Sith it was with a series of small cuts and thrusts, not the typical attacks of his style, but they were meant to put the Sith further on the defensive. Following his last thrust Kian brought his blade up and down in Falling Avalanche, the hallmark of Djem So. The powerful, two-handed overhead attack came down at an angle, aiming once more for the same shoulder he'd landed the last blow against.

[member="Darth Ferus"]​

 

[Darth Ferus]

With the Kel-Dor slipping to his own left side Ferus brought his golden saber to his right hand. He turned his body to keep the man on his right, just kept the blade aloft in a single grip, somewhat pointed to the ground. With his body between the Jedi Master and his left hand, he slowly began to fill the metal bracer on his wrist with lightning. Quick as the light attacks came the Zabrak brought his own, catching the hits along the tip of his blade and pushing them to the side. Quick parries and small subtle dodges were his goal, a signature of none other than Makashi.

The sudden change in his fighting style was sure to be noticed, but rather than push to attack the Zabrak seemed content with his defense. That was, until [member="Kian Karr"] brought his saber overhead. Ferus knew exactly which move it was, one he himself enjoyed to use when the time was appropriate. As the Jedi's blade went up, his was flipped in it's grip, and he himself suddenly sprung right into the mans guard. His goal, to use his right arm still gripping his blade to catch the overhead slash. While he knew the single grip wouldn't hold out against the slash itself, he wasn't betting on that. His saber would be off by the time the mans blade would reach it, leaving the durasteel coated mechanical limb to catch the blade. The metal there would do nothing but melt, surely a bad sign for the Sith Lord.

But it was the Cortosis ore below the Zabrak wanted exposed. If the pure energy blade were to touch the weak ore, it would surely blow out, leaving Master Karr with a saber that didn't work for only a couple moments. A couple moments Ferus would exploit. As his right arm went up stage two of this small plan would come into effect. His left hand, strapped with the Sith Hidden Blade would come around with the lethal dagger blade extended. The Sith Sword like blade would be launched for Kian's chest, aiming to plunge into the heart of the Kel-Dor. Even if it didn't however, there was still the threat of the lightning within. Even a scratch would cause the lightning to explode outwards violently, to stun or even kill his foe.

This was a one time trick however, for if it failed Ferus knew for a fact he would not get the chance to try this again, on anyone.

 

[Kian Karr]

For a split second Kian was very, very confused by his opponent's sudden maneuver. A single handed block designed to stop the overhead attack from Kian was....unexpected. Perhaps the Sith was merely overconfident and judged Kian by the fact that he wasn't a particularly large man, but he was certainly strong enough to break through the defense.

Then the Sith's blade deactivated....and Kian realized that he'd blundered.

His blade bit into the flesh of the arm and seared through with little difficulty, only to hit the cortosis limb and short out. Kian leap back as he watched his blade die, fearful of what the Sith had planned. Time seemed to slow as he augmented his speed with the force and Kian saw the Sith's other arm come forward and something metallic coming his way. Kian had little time to react, and his blade wouldn't come up in time.

Thrusting his hands forward, Kian threw up a force barrier to stop the blade from hitting him. But Kian had no idea that this was no ordinary blade. When it hit the force shield, the pent up electrical energy released and the blast of it sent Kian flying backwards. Kian's world spun and he lost track of whether or not he was face up or upside down.

Then he hit the window.

The shattering of glass and the sharp pain in his side drew him out of his momentary lapse in concentration and he used the force to slow himself down, cushioning himself as best he could. When Kian hit the ground the wind gushed from his antiox mask with a cough and a spray of static. Kian could taste blood and glancing down, he saw the jagged piece of glass that had pierced through his side. It wasn't in a position to pierce anything vital, but it was bleeding quite a bit and painful. Rising shakily to his feet he pulled the shard from his side and howled in pain.

Kian was sure the blast had bought him a few moments, but the Sith wasn't alone and would be closing with him soon. So Kian darted down the alleyway. He couldn't stay out in the open like this.....and he still had an extraction to make.

[member="Darth Ferus"]​

 

[Darth Ferus]

The eyes of the Zabrak Sith opened minutes after [member="Kian Karr"] had begun his walk away. With a groan, the red man forced himself to sit. Why was his body so sore? What had happened? And why the kark was his head pulsing so much? Slowly the memories of the recent explosion of the Force leaked back into his conscious mind. Master Karr had put up a barrier to stop his hidden blade, one that caused a violent explosion that blew him back. And blew Ferus back as well.

Except, Ferus didn't have a barrier to hide behind. The sheer force of the explosion sent the Lord flying back towards one of the support beams of the structure, causing him to slam his head against it. Had it not been for his alchemised body, he may have very well ended up with his brains on the wall. Golden eyes slowly turned blue as he looked up towards the impact zone, and with a groan he could see the crack in the durasteel beam.

Well, it could of been worse. The Jedi could of gotten awa-. Blue eyes snapped back down as he looked towards the window. With an admittedly painful burst of speed, he would rush over to it to look outside. Nothing. With a frown on his lips the Lord would continue to scan the ground, only to still find nothing. So the Master had gotten away. At least he wasn't the mission. With a sigh the Zabrak would pull up the com link, calling out to one of the Assassins that happened to be carrying the briefcase this Jedi Master wanted so bad.

"Package secure?"

"Yes Lord Ferus."

As the voice cracked back immediately, another sigh escaped his lips.

Mission accomplished, if a bit bumpy.

"Bring it back to the Cove. I want to see what's inside."