Hot Pods

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Vulpter​

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What an odd situation this was.

Mulokhai sat behind the controls of a podracer, his breath mask and racing helmet obscuring most of his features. Indeed, he would need a mask for the air on this planet; even the Hutts didn't allow their worlds to become so incredibly filthy and polluted. It was more of a testament to this planetary government's incompetence and lack of self-discipline than anything else, but this place reeked of the Dark Side. Not just from the people and their vices, either.

The Acolyte glanced left, past the other racers as he stared towards a small podim, topped by a transparisteel case that held the prize inside. The Holocron that he had been looking for. Used by the Sith Lord Ergast so many milennia ago. It was wasted on him, wasted on whoever had used it before. It would most certainly be wasted on any of these racers. He would not let something so useful go to waste.

As a rather comely Twi'lek pulled down on the lever signalling for the race to begin, suddenly everything was rushing past like it hadn't existed in the first place. The podracers zoomed around the vaguely legal track, zipping past buildings and small habitats alike. Up ahead, one of the other racers was thrown off by a bump to his side, his left engine torn off as he struck a building.

What was left of the racer bounced back down the track, the seat bouncing over Mulokhai's head as he accelerated. If he'd known that was the game these racers had planned on playing, he would've entered something like this much earlier. A small smirk came across his face beneath the mask. This was his place. He felt alive.

 

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Vulpter​

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A small bug splattered against Mulokhai's helmet as the speeds only got higher, people and buildings only passing blurs in his vision as he was focused entirely on the track, the race. The competition. There was a nasty-looking Epicanthix who was near the head of the pack, and the Acolyte felt a distinct need to watch him crash and burn to death on this track. He would not be beaten. Not by any of them.

Suddenly he felt a shunt, as a Dug smashed into the side of his podracer. Still going at such high speeds, he was sent flying off the track and upwards; straight towards a taller building. The Sith adjusted the controls, forcing them to the side as his podracer actually tilted completely sideways in the air, just skirting the building. As he came down, he adjusted the trajectory and landed hard - but land he did, and on the track.

There was no slowing down, and Mulokhai only felt more of a rush from the whole ordeal. He turned to his right, staring at the Dug who now stared at him in shock, using his momentum to shunt the alien off the track. Of course, he waited until they were over a drop; he heard the racer yell and scream, but no crash or explosion. Not yet.

His eyes focused primarily on the man at the front of the pack now. He was closing in. His grip tightened around the controls, his back resting almost comfortably in the driver's seat. Opportunity was getting closer.

 

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Vulpter​

Interacting with: [member="Jacen Vadith"]​

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Mulokhai's grin got wider and wider beneath his breath mask, the predatory yellow eyes widening in elation through the goggles as he stared almost hungrily at the back of the lead racer's neck. He was swiftly accelerating past the others. Small fry, not worth his time. As he came up alongside the Epicanthix, he turned his head to stare, partially as just a showing of force, to send a message.

Clearly, the other racer was not a fan. He began trying to shunt the Acolyte off the track, attempting to use the force of his bigger Podracer against his opponent. Much to his annoyance, Mulokhai seemed unfazed. As they continued, The Sith eyed the bend up ahead. As they continued, he seemed to be giving way to the physical pressure; much to the Epicanthix's pleasure. As his opponent went for a final shunt, he made his move.

Mulokhai waited for the other Podracer to rear up before he suddenly put on the breaks - in his opponent's view, it was like the Sith had suddenly shot backwards, giving nothing to stop him. The Acolyte smirked as he saw the Podracer fly off the side of the track, crashing into a small building and exploding in a fiery blaze. The rest was a cakewalk. The other racers, with good sense, stayed back. For their own safety, he wagered.

A short while after the race was over, he stared down at the triangular, glowing holocron that rested in his hand. It was his. Finally his. His hand was almost trembling with the sense of pride and power he felt running through him. As he began making his way towards the spaceport, he shoved Ergast's Holocron into a pouch on his belt, sealing it closed. He would have to keep this as subtle as possible.

 

[Jacen Vadith]

Jacen Vadith​

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Location: Vulpter​

Interacting With: [member="Mulokhai Zarandur"]​

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Anyone who sought power did so through the use of a Holocron. A wealth of knowledge contained within such a small yet priceless objective, created by those that have wielded the force to such an extent that their teachings must be passed down through such an item. It was what brought Vadith here. Intent on participating in the Pod Race, and winning. It was then the item could be his, his to extract the precious power and grow beyond anyone's wildest dreams. That was his dream, after all. Though some delays in his arrival had cost him, and now the Holocron was in the possession of another. Unfortunately, Vadith had no other choice than to take it from him.

The surge of power rushing from the Holocron and into Mulokhai hadn't gone unnoticed. Jacen could feel it wash over him, a feeling of dread as he feared he was too late. The man, neither Jedi or Sith, honed in on it's presence until he spotted Zarandur. Certain he was the man who held such an item in his possession.

"You'll go no further. Hand the Holocron to me and I'll spare your life." His voice bellowed outwards. With any luck there would be no contest or challenge. Instead a simple exchange.

 

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Vulpter​

Interacting with: [member="Jacen Vadith"]​

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Mulokhai stopped dead in his tracks as he stared forward, the bellowing voice almost ringing in his ears. His mouth made a small tch noise as he had to now consider his options. Of course it would never be that easy, and to make matters worse....he could sense real, palpable power from within the man standing across him. Perhaps he could talk his way around this; there was no way he could lie, the holocron would've been easily sensed by one such as this.

"Surely there's no need for this. Who are you? One of the Jedi's Inquisitors? Dark Jedi, all the way from the Outer Rim?...Or are you a Sith?" Mulokhai's questioning gaze pierced the mask that stared back towards him. Surely an opening question would be fine. That, and he also wished to test his opponent's patience. He knew in terms of raw power, he couldn't stand up to him. In a lightsaber duel?...Possible, but unlikely. He had to find another solution.

As he searced his feelings, and listened to those coming from his opponent, for just a might second he sensed...conflict. It wasn't from him, and he was pretty sure there was nobody nearby. That was interesting.

 

[Jacen Vadith]

Jacen Vadith​

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Location: Vulpter​

Interacting With: [member="Mulokhai Zarandur"]​

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"Neither." He replied initially, "I am but a wielder of the force itself."​ That much he believed. Vadith was no Jedi nor a Sith, both those parts of his life were over. The conflict sensed was all too real, however. A lasting effect of trying to blend two opposing ways of life into one, and so far to no avail. It was a treacherous path he led, indeed. At times not even Jacen knew what he truly was, and so a 'wielder of the force' suited him just fine, it seemed.

"This is your last chance."​ Vadith continued, utilising the force to bring his lightsaber from his waist into his right hand's palm. The mask he wore slightly distorting his voice into an electronic garble, yet understandable all the same. If there was one thing that the Acolyte could sense above all else was a desire for power.

 

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Vulpter​

Interacting with: [member="Jacen Vadith"]​

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Mulokhai's eyes flashed a predatory look as he considered what was just said. As the masked figure spoke, he focused more on that conflict he had felt. Yes, that was it. It was truly there, not for just a fleeting moment. The balance was very precarious, and if it was offset...he would be off-kilter. Perhaps that was what could save him here, but he would have to be careful. He let out an exasperated sigh.

"Oh, very well." The Acolyte moved his hand forward, a lightsaber hilt shooting out from inside his jacket and landing in his grip. The lightsaber ignited with a crimson blade as his other hand simply zipped up the jacket, deciding he didn't want to drop and lose the damned thing. It was thin enough that it wouldn't restrict, anyway.

"Come on, then. Wield away." He kept the saber in one hand, held at a downward angle and far out. He was using a Makashi stance, with that form being more to his liking. Niman had worked unusually well along with it, and he felt his creativity may get him out of this one with his head intact.

Head intact was the ideal outcome.

 

[Jacen Vadith]

Jacen Vadith​

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Location: Vultper​

Interacting With: Mulokhai Zarandur​

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The lightsaber in his grip began to extend with a purple light upon the button simply being pushed down upon. It was a more uncommon color, but according to what he had heard and learned it was an appropriate color for one such as himself. The Niman stance was adopted, as it is where his mastery lies. Adaptability has always been favorable in his opinion. Slow steps forwards were made in an attempt to close the distance. Quick and clean.

He stood before the Acolyte and lunged forwards in a stabbing motion, it wasn't exerting all that much force but instead a simple jab. Poking, prodding and testing was always the initial stages for Vadith. It proved fruitful, allowing him to understand his opponent. This would be treated much like the rest.

 

[Mulokhai Zarandur]

Mulokhai Zarandur​

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Location: Vulpter​

Interacting with: [member="Jacen Vadith"]​

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Mulokhai watched carefully as the masked figure advanced. A purple lightsaber, eh? Blue and red in combination, how fitting, albeit pretentious. The Acolyte watched carefully as Vadith advanced, waiting as he jabbed. The Sith, in response, simply seemed to side step it. He made it look easy, the swaggering confidence still exhuding over him. In reality, that had been very close, but he couldn't give that away.

He quickly ducked around one of the pillars, seeming like he was going to use it for cover before he took a low, graceful slash towards Vadith's leg and then quickly skirted back, further into the maze of pillars around them. He didn't expect it to really hit; he could already tell that he was not in this opponent's league when it came to pure skill. No, diversion would have to be his way out.

"I suppose 'wielder of the force' doesn't guarantee skill with a lightsaber, does it?" And scathing words, of course.

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