I'd Squeeze the Lemons in Your Eyes, If I Could

[Ibaris Varanin]

Time: Evening Twilight
Location: Iziz, Onderon

Five minutes ago she'd left the Peregrine behind in the care of her pilot and dare she say, friend, Liam, with the realization that she considered him a friend coming when she felt she'd damaged that friendship, the words from his mouth that, hey, he'd wanted to kiss her for a long time, and... she still couldn't talk to him. Her thoughts were a mussed, roiling tangle and she hadn't been able to find which way was up during the two days since everything happened. The two days in which she had corresponded with Beastia Blackthorne on a matter they had 'discussed' years prior, being told at the time the oft-repeated words from elders to children: 'When you're old enough.'

She was old enough and now was as good a time as any to start. She wanted this and had every reason to choose now to begin. She needed this; she wouldn't be able to sort her thoughts and look on her life with clarity until she could get away from him. Suffice to say, he'd gone and made things a lot less simple, so she left him behind with very certain words: he was to leave her here, take care of the Peregrine, and help the Pack. She felt certain he'd listened to her this time and she gave the barkspawn at her side a faint smile, stopping in her traverse of the starport to just... look around at this unfamiliar place. She shifted her pack, untwisting one of the straps that she'd not noticed in her haste to put some distance between herself and everything.

"We'll have to keep ourselves out of trouble, Adas. The Beastia's busy tonight. She said she'd see me in the morning. Why don't we go look around the city, eh boy? Find a place to stay."

The teen patted her longtime canine companion on the top of his head and beckoned him to follow her without another word as she moved deeper into the city.

[member="Liam Quez"] | [member="Maleah Talith"] | @WhoeverChevBrings​

 

[Ronan Dyre]

Location: Iziz, Onderon
Evening

​

...information passed freely is information freely passed between the right hands and the wrong. You never know who could be watching...

------------------------------------------------------

...he'd been at a higher vantage point in the starport when the Peregrine had landed watching and waiting. Binocs in his right hand he'd have held them up to his eyes and made a lengthy sweep of the starport proper. Interestingly enough Ronan didn't know the ship he was looking for but he knew the girl he was looking for which is why he was careful to zero in on arrivals rather than departures. New traffic was the only traffic he was interested in. Humanoid. Near Human. He had a profile of what to look for assembled in his head which made picking through the masses easier. Nonetheless there were simpler tasks...

...standing, relatively, out in the open made Ronan feel exposed. Not wearing a disguise, not hiding himself more than was necessary, made him feel naked. Rubbing the Taozin Amulet imbedded over his right pectoral he'd have felt like he was scratching an itch that'd been bothering him for awhile now. Inhaling slowly he took the binocs down from his eyes momentarily, blinked them a few times and then replaced them so that he could continue looking. Nothing. No, wait...there...

...she was young, a teenager, a dog at her side and carrying a pack. That was the one. The Binocs focused in on her from a distance so that Ronan could confirm. He did. Observing her at a distance Ronan waited, he watched, tracking her as she moved to depart the starport and venture further into the city then he lowered the binocs and moved to pursue at a distance. Looked like she was traveling alone, that would make it easier...

...adjusting the Terentatek Duster that he was wearing Ronan moved back out of sight, fading into his surroundings as he descended from his vantage point. Armorweave lined his clothing beneath the duster. An assortment of -party favors- on his person. Moving fluidly he'd navigate his way in the background so that he could follow Ibaris until the time was right...​

​

[member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"] [member="Liam Quez"] [member="Maleah Talith"]

 

[Liam Quez]

Uh, its night time and I'm on Iziz, Onderon

She told me to stay and this time I was going to listen. I sat in the chair and watched her leave, of course like a weirdo I used the cameras that were attached to the outside of the ship to watch her continue to leave. It only took me 5 minutes to realize that I didn’t like the feeling I was getting. Something told me that I shouldn’t listen to her and just stay. Getting up, I gathered a pack and slung it over my shoulder. I headed down the ramp of the ship and locked it up trying to think of an excuse on why I didn’t listen.

“The ship needed rations! Yes, exactly.” I deepened my voice trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. “Ibaris the ship needed rations so I decided to use the port to stock up and then I’m leaving” I spoke aloud to the invisible and mental version of Ibaris – who unlike the original would praise my intelligence and attention to detail. I jogged until I was a few feet from her, for some reason I wanted sight on her. Shaking my head I knew the reason and I decided to not say it to myself aloud or anything.

From the corner of my eye I watched making sure she was still safe, she was supposed to meet someone here who would take her to this beast training – I wanted to go, but with everything that had happened Ibaris decided that I needed to stay with the ship and off the planet. It frustrated me, though it drove me to train harder than ever. The punching bag had a permanent dent in it from me beating it up so much. It was the only way I could get everything out. I really screwed up this time. Thinking about it makes me just want to smack myself. Which I did, pretty hard on the forehead. I felt better for a moment and I decided to just keep an eye on her until she meets her friend Mostly so I can sleep at night – to hell with leaving the planet pffft.


[member="Ronan Dyre"] [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"]

 

[Ibaris Varanin]

She tried in earnest to find the city fascinating and she should have considering how little time she had spent in cities, but knowing what lay outside the city walls was a considerable distraction from that potential enjoyment. After walking the streets for a while, she started to want to see the outside, but this was tempered by having been instructed to not venture out into the wilds by herself. So she stayed in the city, obeying the words of the woman under whom she'd wished to learn since Adas was a pup. Still, she felt pulled.

"It couldn't hurt to just see the gate...“

Adas never disagreed. He was made to protect and didn't have the intelligence to advise, so protect he did no matter where she went. His eyes were marked with wariness of Iziz and its unfamiliar people, but he still gave his charge his best approximation of a smile. She couldn't see the value of her pilot's commonality with Adas, in this respect, and had the canine been blessed with more intellect, he would be thinking her blind... but it was just as well. Couldn't have someone else doing his job!

And so the pair went, a girl and her barkspawn, winding through the streets to find the gate to what lay beyond the walls.

 

[Ronan Dyre]

Iziz, streets
Onderon

​

...trailing Ibaris at a distance wasn't difficult, the girl didn't seem to know she was being followed, she hadn't attempted any evasive maneuvers which made it a matter of pursue and observe for time being. Inconveniently as Rona hung back he noticed that she may have also been followed by someone else, a young boy it looked like, but that may have been purely coincidence. Moving behind Ibaris, at a lengthy distance ensuring he'd remain inconspicuous, he'd continued following her as she moved through the streets of Iziz until he could make an educated deduction as to where she was headed. The Gates...everything was beginning to align perfectly...

...suddenly Ronan wasn't following Ibaris anymore. If her spidey sense had started to tingle thanks to him and she looked he wouldn't be there. There may have been others that she saw but he'd stepped back, mingling with the crowds that lined the streets, then taken a detour which lead far out of the way. Waiting for Ibaris to arrive Ronan had time to acquaint himself with Iziz, especially the side streets and short cuts laden throughout the city, which afforded him the opportunity to move ahead of Ibaris and place himself in her path as she ventured towards her destination. Ronan chose the place and waited...

...a street on Ibaris trek towards the Gates. Not many people here but a few ensuring that he didn't stand out like a sore thumb. Imposing himself down the street he'd pretend he'd been coming from the opposite direction making it appear as though he and Ibaris would cross paths by mere chance rather than design. As he moved towards her, down that stretch of the street, Ronan looked beyond the girl making a mental note of the canine traveling with her and the further back to see if he saw any familiar faces trailing behind her. The Assassin slid his hands into the pockets of the duster that he wore, kept his head down and made himself look irrelevant as he proceeded ahead nearing his time to strike...​

​

[member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"] [member="Liam Quez"]

 

[Liam Quez]

The hell does she think she’s going now? I looked over at her and it was as if I was reading her mind, the girl was tempted by danger more than anything in this galaxy. We had talked about this planet when she originally had brought it up, mostly it was her talking to Adas because I’m no longer or well I was never a confidant. I’m just a pilot, that’s all I was ever hired on to be. Sighing, I reached out for one of the fruits on the vendor’s counter and slipped him a few credits. I continued to remain far enough, but close enough to help her with anything. As long as she was safe I would be able to sleep at night. Biting into the fruit, I ripped the tender flesh away from the stone pit. Chewing it I continued to move behind her.

Following her reminded me of hunting with Dad, quiet and still, I had to remain this way to stalk the game we were going after. I missed home and I wished I could go back just for a moment to catch up with my dad and my sisters. Biting the fruit again I was quickly reminded of Mama’s pies. I was happy to be reminded of them, but in the end it hurt. I hadn’t visited her, it had been awhile. I promised myself after this adventure with Ibaris, I’ll try and convince her to go to Dantooine. I can visit my family and we could go to the ruins where they found some sort of Ratakan stuff a long time ago. I think she’d like that, though the danger rating isn’t that high…eh I’ll think of something else.

I continued to follow her remaining focused on her and the dog, something in my stomach didn’t like the feel of this moment. Frowning I finished off the fruit and threw the pit into the nearby trash. Maybe I’m being paranoid and a creep or maybe something bad was going to happen…

[member="Ronan Dyre"] [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"]

 

[Ibaris Varanin]

Her ‘spidey sense’ did tingle, but the mental state she was in wrote it off as an unwanted pang that drew her thoughts back to the Peregrine and Liam when she stopped and shot a glance behind her to find nothing but the locals and other arrivals coming from the spaceport. When she looked at Adas again before continuing on, the barkspawn seemed to have a look on his face that was damnably inquisitive.

“No, I’m not having second thoughts,” she said to her canine companion, and she looked to the street ahead, stepping off once again, “come on. Another few blocks and we’ll be there.”

So the pair went. It wasn’t until a block away from the gate that the feeling from only a few minutes before came on stronger, and felt closer. She went to look around, but she came to her ‘senses’ too little, too late…

[member="Ronan Dyre"] | [member="Liam Quez"]​

 

[Ronan Dyre]

...Ibaris came closer and Ronan continued moving towards her. Interjecting himself into her path while she went to look around the girl may have noticed to late that her spider sense was tingling for a reason. Infront of her, clad in the Terentatek Duster, the Assassin stood with a relatively indifferent expression having settled over his face however his face, the cold look hidden in the depths of his eyes and the way his shadow cast itself over shouldn't have been what caught the attention of Ibaris the most. By the time she'd started looking around, searching out that disturbance Ronan had pulled his left hand out of the pocket of his duster with a peculiar little item in its palm...

...a modified version of the PRP-502 hold-out dart shooter. The Dart Shooter was small, compact and barely visible in a persons hand. Think an old school Derringer. Gripped in the palm of Ronan's left hand it came out, the Assassin squeezed the trigger and a small -pop- was heard as he fired a dart right at Ibaris's center mass. The Dart itself was relatively harmless if it hit however Ronan had went ahead and coated it in a powerful tranquilizer intending to incapacitate Ibaris in as little time as possible. One shot towards her then the Dart Shooter was turned towards the Dog (Barkspawn) just as quickly before Ronan squeezed off another two shots. The Tranquilizers would be just as effective against an animal in theory however Ronan had never actually seen anything quite like Ibaris pet so who knows...

..."Nice Dog."...so he does speak, just not loud or very often, social stigma was a quirk of his but in the mans line of work it was practically expected. Once the darts were fired Ronan made haste, swiftness and silence were keen in his mind, as he moved closer to Ibaris and let his right arm sweep out hoping to scoop her up in it. Of course in times like these there was usually someone that wanted to get involved...​

​

[member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"] [member="Liam Quez"]​

 

[Liam Quez]

I crept closer, something in the air didn’t smell right. I continued to move closer and closer to Ibaris keeping an eye on her. It happened to quickly and I watched helplessly as some man (I think) stepped in front of her. That couldn’t be the person she was meeting, though she never told me really who she was meeting so it was a possibility. Then the way he held his arm out, it wasn’t how you would shake hands. Instincts took over and my feet moved on their own. Any fear that I was feeling was gone and I focused whole heartedly on the man before Ibaris.

I really didn’t know what came over me. I had to interfere, was it because my job was in jeopardy or something more? Don’t know and at this moment don’t care. Keeping my pace as I drew closer, I reached back and grabbed the metal staff. Snapping my wrist down it elongated, I kept running till I was close enough. If he hadn’t noticed me yet, I would do my best to swing the lackluster metal staff at his head in an overhead hammer. I was a big boy, roughly 6 footish on a good day. Hopefully with that height I’d be able to get something done.

“What the heck do you think you’re doing?! Leave her alone!” Ooo such scary words, surprised I haven’t pissed myself yet.

[member="Ronan Dyre"] [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"]

 

[Ibaris Varanin]

She wasn't usually so distracted. Ninety-nine percent of the time, she was aware, alert, and unlikely to smack right into people - which she almost did - and as soon as she laid eyes on the man, her gaze tracking up to his face, she breathed in sharply and her eyes went wide. She stuttered backwards a step, and it was then that the dart hit her. She crumpled inwards in reaction to the prickling sensation it caused in her skin, and her head and body twisted to find Adas sporting a unquestionably fierce growl that morphed into a bark before the source of that wrong feeling put two in the Barkspawn too.

Her vision began to swim, her knees began to buckle. A lot of things happened at once - Adas leaping at the assassin in the same moment that darts intersected the path of his rise, the voice of Liam breaking through the pounding in her ears and the sight of him being the only clear thing with vision blurring to an extreme, as panic and adrenaline tried and failed to fight the tranquilizer's effects. Her knees hit the ground, and she screamed as best as her increasingly addled consciousness could manage:

"LIAM! NO!"

And she crumpled, right onto the waiting arm of the assassin. Her world went as black as black could get.

[member="Ronan Dyre"] | [member="Liam Quez"]​

 

[Ronan Dyre]

...recoiling his left arm almost instinctively as he moved closer to scoop up Ibaris into his waiting right Ronan would lift it in defense of himself as the Barkspawn leapt in defense of its friend and owner. The Armorweave did a good job of absorbing the power from the Barkspawns bite as he came at Rona, his jaws sinking down over his forearm momentarily, then the Assassin swept his arm back out in a powerful motion seeking to dislodge the Barkspawn and hurl it against the nearest wall where the tranquilizers would hopefully take effect on it. The Barkspawn would rip shreds of the armorweave and duster off of Ronan's arm as it was flung away and the Assassin would stumble to one side a bit as he attempted to juggle defending himself against the canine and catching Ibaris in his right hand. Of course he could have always let her fall flat too...

...then in the blink of an eye another attack. The Boy that Ronan had seen following Ibaris earlier. As he stumbled, catching sight of Liam from the corner of his eye as his staff shot downwards, Ronan did his best to put himself out of the way of the attack coming his way only to be partially successful. The Staff came down over the Assassin's outstretched left arm that had just been used to fling the Barkspawn away while he was busy stumbling, attempting to regain his footing and with a wince..."Eeergghhh."...and a barely audibly grimace as the staff struck home he took stock in his new opponent. The Dart Shooter had come free of his hand when the staff struck clattering somewhere down onto the street where it remain until found later on by who knows...

...Ronan went back, putting just a bit of room between himself and the boy. with Ibaris in the hold of his right arm. As he moved the Assassin shift Ibaris into his left arm, it ached and a purple bruise would likely rise to the surface but underneath the skin the wound had already started to heal, freeing up his right hand which sunk into the confines of his duster..."You little bastard."...then returned with a Dauntless Combat Blade in its hold which the Assassin pointed perilously at Liam, level with his collar bone....

..."You want to play hero eh?"...he sneered a bit, actually rather disgusted at the idea, his voicing out as he aimed the sword at Liam..."Well come on then Liam."...he assumed that was his name because Ibaris had yelled it before passing out..."Come and take her from me."...careful now he's not above using Ibaris as a shield against that staff...​

​

[member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"] [member="Liam Quez"]

 

[Liam Quez]

I stumbled backwards a few steps, the man was pretty solid and my staff wasn’t the best thing in the world to be smacking people with. There was a shock to my shoulders as I did my best to not drop the weapon from the vibration I felt, it kind of stung when I really thought about it. He moved and pulled out a sword, which probably did a lot more damage than my staff - if it decided to hit me. My attention quickly moved to Ibaris, she was unconscious and still in the kidnapper’s grasp.

What did this dude want with her? She’s a random kid looking for something here, she’s no one really important right? Made me think on how much I really didn’t know about her, her life was vague to me except the moments that I was able to hear or catch something that she let slip. Thinking too much, focus up boy.

“I’m not playing hero. I am the hero. Let her go!” I stepped forward spinning the staff so that it rested against my side as I shift my body weight lower and balanced. A hand stuck out defensively, as the staff tilted slightly downward. I couldn’t attack, he didn’t seem like the type to care too much about his captive. The last thing I needed to be doing was putting Ibaris into more danger. “You’re a coward. She’s a just a girl - what do you want with her?” As I spoke I shifted my feet forward, doing my best to remain ready and on the defensive in case he did decide to attack. Though I needed to move closer, to strike before he could use Ibaris against me.

I had to get her out of here before she got hurt.

[member="Ronan Dyre"] [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"]

 

[Ronan Dyre]

..."Alright Hero."....the remark was exasperated from him as he said it but it seemed that Liam wouldn't take the hint, he was loyal to his friend which was commendable in its own way but Ronan hadn't come here to leave without Ibaris. Looking across the short berth separating the both of them Ronan let his left arm tighten around the waist of Ibaris ensuring that she continued to rest against him in her incapacitated state. The Dauntless Combat Blade lowered slightly, its tip still aiming towards Liam while the Assassin observed him before..."OK Liam, you can have her. Catch!"...

...then without a moments hesitation Ronan would let his left arm uncoil like a spring while at the same time shift it forward. Ibaris would quite literally be thrown towards Liam who could either catch her or probably watch as she collapsed onto the ground and cracked her head somewhere at his feet. What kind of hero could live with himself for letting that happen to his damsel in distress? No, Ronan was betting that Liam would take his bait and go for Ibaris before she had a chance to fall to far which in its own way was unfortunate...

...assuming that Liam had his staff in his right hand Ronan saw no need for concern. Using his right foot, which was held behind his left after he'd shift that side forward while throwing Ibaris, Ronan would press forward and lunge towards Liam so that the distance between them was covered. At the same time the Assassin drew his right arm backwards, let his elbow cock back behind his hip as his sword lower and then thrust it back out towards the youth as he came at him....

...the Dauntless Combat Blade would thrust out towards Liam's stomach on his left side, Ronan would roll his right wrist outwards as he complete the stroke ensuring the sword would bite deeper if it connected as he twist the blade. It was said stomach wounds were some of the most painful...​

​

[member="Liam Quez"] [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"]

 

[Liam Quez]

Why would he do that? It seemed a lot easier than I had originally expected, but I was going to be able to rescue Ibaris from this guy. He threw her, which
seemed really dangerous, I was right on his lack of care for his captives. Still, I decided to keep the corner of my eye on him and attempt to catch Ibaris at the same time. She came towards me and I hoped by some miracle that she was awake. She fell though lifeless so it seemed and I figured, no she was out.

The gleam of his sword caught my eye as I reached out for her, I couldn’t defend myself from his attack and in so many words I was utterly screwed. I was decently long though, but there was no way I could fully avoid the stab. Giving up trying to safely catch Ibaris, I decided just to attempt to grab her shirt and guide her down into me the best I could. While I grabbed her shirt to stop her momentum from causing her to slam her head somewhere. I stepped to the side slightly. Hoping to whatever cosmic forces were at work here that I would and could avoid the stabbing.

Today you’re not that lucky Liam Quez. The blade’s tip punctured my youthful flesh and dug through whatever it could. I winced and thank god I had guided Ibby close enough to the ground where she couldn’t too banged up from the toss. I let go of her and reached out towards the man’s wrist that was driving his blade into me. If I could I would grasp it and pull him closer to me swinging my now empty right hand (totally dropped the staff as I tried to catch Ibaris), into a punch to his face.

I really wanted to cry right about now, probably whine for my mother or something like that. Needed to focus and fight off the pain - had to save Ibby, I’m a hero right?

[member="Ronan Dyre"] [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"]

 

[Ronan Dyre]

...there was a small amount of satisfaction felt when Ronan knew that his blade had tasted flesh but that was equally short lived as Liam took him by the wrist. Wrist control was smart, it ensured that Ronan couldn't swing his blade and essentially tied up his arm for however long Liam held onto it. Liam followed with a pull that drew Ronan closer to him but the Assassin was ready and the youth might startle just a bit at how easily Ronan was drawn closer. Almost like he wanted to be closer to Liam which likely didn't bode especially well for him at this point...

...the left arm of Ronan came up, empty after throwing Ibaris at Liam, as he was drawn closer to the young man. Brought up and out to his left Ronan would use his forearm to block Liam's punch as it came around swinging for the side of his face, he'd feel the impact and it rattled his arm but Ronan was ready for the ache that came with being hit. As he executed the block Ronan would plant his right foot, use it as a pivot point and then swing his left side ahead to coincide with the raise of his arm as he defended himself against Liam's punch...

...the forward swing of Ronan's left side would correspond with his knee which he'd raise to deliver a heavy blow into the right side of Liam's ribs while the two remained close. Then he'd have dropped his foot naturally coming out of the blow in an attempt to stomp it down hard on the instep of Liam's right foot. A quick combination that Ronan hoped would herald some results..."A lot of heroes die, Liam."...Ronan chided the youth as his foot came down but that wasn't completely it yet. Combinations could come in three's...

...after making the block with his left arm Ronan would snap it ahead, snake it out towards Liam and try to hook it behind his head so that he could grab a handful of hair. Maybe this was why immediately after he'd said those words to Liam the Assassin would snap his head forward too hoping to crush the crown of his forehead against the bridge of Liam's nose and send him sprawling backwards and away from the close quarters they'd kept...

...Ronan didn't want to give Liam much of a chance here, that much was obvious...​

​

[member="Liam Quez"] [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"]

 

[Liam Quez]

I had a good plan with grabbing the wrist and pulling him in towards me, but the only thing with that – my brain was so focused on one step at a time and well I had a sword in my stomach and it kind of hurt. (It hurt a lot who am I kidding). He blocked my punch and I didn’t have a backup plan to this so I waited to see what happened next. He moved quickly which I was completely thankful for at least now I could focus on other parts of my body hurting than just my stomach.

First my hand hurt from him blocking my punch, then the knee came up into my ribs. The blow hurt and as I tightened up from the blow to my ribs, I was quickly reminded of the stab wound in my stomach. So again I was thinking about my bleeding wound. My eyes were shut and his comment made me groan knowing that I probably will die, but it really didn’t matter as long as Ibaris got out of this alive. I opened my eyes just in time to see his head making contact with my nose and I stumbled backwards from the blow. As I moved backwards, I could feel the sword move backwards out of the hole it created in my body. With that new surge of pain I couldn’t catch myself and I fell backwards tripping over my metal staff. I laid there for just a moment, trying to make the world stop spinning. Ibaris was still near me and I was reminded that I needed to keep fighting.

My fingers wrapped around the cold metal of my staff and I used it to stand back up. I could feel my shirt clinging to my body from the blood loss. I once again spun the staff against my body and took a step forward.

“I don’t care. As long as she’s okay and safe from you – then it was worth it” I spoke strained and I could taste a mixture of bile and blood in the back of my throat. Walking kind of hurt and my vision was a bit blurry from the blow to the head. Making sure where I stood was between him and Ibaris, I took in a deep breath and did my best to refocus. Once that happened I charged forward and swung the staff forward to smack him in the face. Then continue with the momentum of the staff to spin and strike him in the gut.

[member="Ronan Dyre"] [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"]

 

[Ronan Dyre]

...even Ronan could show a bit of admiration for Liam as he took his staff and struggled back to his feet. The Assassin looked at him, sure the kid was beat until he started struggling back to his feet and then he took that telltale step forward. Ronan actually sighed. Usually the Assassin didn't fight people as stubborn as Liam had proven to be however as Liam took a deep breath and charged forward all Ronan could do was meet his advance. The Dauntless Combat Blade in his right hand came up, the blade lifting vertically instead of aiming towards Liam like it had been initially and then...

...Liam swung for Ronan's face. It didn't matter from where. The Dauntless Combat Blade would come across from Ronan's right to parry the inside of the staff while the Assassin let his left foot slide backwards putting him into a right side lead. Smirking he was soon shown that Liam wasn't quite done when the staff came around to connect with his gut..."Oooommmppppffffff."...the impact from the blow caused Ronan to skid backwards briefly before he regained his footing. Laying his left hand across the place where the staff had landed its blow Ronan winced, that would throb for a few minutes until he started to heal..."Alright Liam."...he seemed to accept that the youth still had some fight in him and as he said that he'd leap back towards him....

...rolling his shoulder backwards as he leapt forward Ronan would cock his right elbow back behind his hip again making it look like he planned to thrust his sword at Liam a second time only this time as his right arm outstretched the sword would snap upwards. Trying to catch the underside of Liam's staff with his sword Ronan meant to force it higher while rolling his wrist outwards again and continuing the momentum of his blow. The Combat Blade would turn its edge into the staff and continue up its left side in a sweeping blow that scratched across its surface as it went towards Liam's hand hoping to either have him release the staff or sever his fingers above the middle knuckle....

...regardless Ronan would let the momentum of the action carry his sword up over his right shoulder where he could whip it around behind his head and drop it diagonally in a diagonal slash aimed to clip Liam above the right shoulder and continue down over the same pectoral...​

​

[member="Liam Quez"] [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"]

 

[Liam Quez]

The sword moved towards my hands just under the staff forcing me to release the staff to protect my fingers from getting chopped off. I kept my eye on his blade, which allowed me to follow it downward towards my chest. I had to stop it the best I could at this distance. My arms cross in front of my chest, though I knew if I stayed where I was I would lose my hands so as I raised my arms up I stepped back as far as I could. The blade sliced through the first couple of layers of skin.

I whimpered as I took another step back. I started to lose feeling in my fingers, I knew that he had cut through some nerves, I kept bleeding from my forearms and from my stomach. This wasn’t the best situation, it was probably the worst that could possibly happen. I still had Ibaris near me though so it wasn’t too bad. Remembering where the girl was I took another step back and retreated towards her. I managed to form my hands into a fist and I stayed close to her incapacitated body. Glancing down as I crouched in front of her protecting her from him.

She seemed to be alright, I could tell she was still breathing which again was good. I needed her to wake up or something. I looked back over to the assassin and felt my breathing begin to become labored. My body was starting to strain to keep moving and to remain awake. One of my hands moved to cover the bloodied mess on my stomach. It was so much blood and I really wondered if I was going to survive this. “You never answered me, what the hell do you want with her?” As I spoke my other hand patted around my boot pulling the small survival knife from the hidden sheath. I pointed the knife towards him as I shifted it in my hand so that the blade rested against my gouged forearm. I was going to protect her till he killed me – hopefully I would survive long enough for her wake up and let me be a distraction for her escape.

“I at least deserve an answer dude for surviving this long.” I flashed him a slight grin that was forced through the pain my body felt.

[member="Ronan Dyre"] [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"]

 

[Ronan Dyre]

...the worst, no Liam we haven't quite gotten to that yet. The Assassin watched as Liam retreated back to the prone body of Ibaris, crouched down beside her and reached for the knife he'd had concealed in his boot the entire time. Ronan might have followed, maintained the pressure of the attack but what was the point even he could see the boy was clearly beaten. Nonetheless Liam brandished his knife like it was a sword and safeguarded Ibaris like he was her Knight and Ronan couldn't help but regard him that moment with an amount of respect he hadn't quite realized until now. Liam would grow into a loyal man if he didn't die right here on the streets in a pool of his own blood...

..."Nothing."...probably wasn't the answer that Liam wanted to hear but it was the one he received followed by..."Now her parents on the other hand."...Ronan had started as the Dauntless Combat Blade came down and aimed towards Liam again however he never finished his thought. Liam didn't need to much revealed to him. Instead Ronan took a few quick steps forward, snapped his sword to one side so that he could knock Liam's knife away and then backhanded it. When the sword came back around Ronan turned it so that he was swinging the flat of his blade back towards the side of Liam's head intending to crack the side of his skull hard with the alchemized steel and beat him down as it were. Liam's reward for his bravery would be his life as long as he showed the fortitude to crawl for help but not to worry a gut wound could take days to kill a man....

...Ronan watched, satisfied that the youth wouldn't turn his bravado back on him again but he waited just incase. Thus far Liam had proved quite resilient for someone his age which made Ronan wonder what he might be like as an adult. If nothing else Liam could thank him for a good scar or two following this encounter...

..."Don't worry Liam, I'm sure you'll have another chance."...Ronan quipped hoping that his words would haunt the boy awhile...​

​

[member="Liam Quez"] [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"]

 

[Liam Quez]

The man answered me and then mentioned Ibby’s parents. From my understanding they weren’t anyone special – minus that they gave her a ship and she was surrounded by adults and admirals in her youth. Okay, maybe I played it off too much, Ibaris was important and so were her parents. I kept my knife out trying to remain guarded over Ibaris, but with the weakness in my body especially my arm the blade was knocked quite easily away from me. I watched the knife skid far from my reach.

I didn’t have enough time to react or to protect my head as the sword cracked against my skull. I fell to the side and my vision blurred even more. I laid there against the ground looking at Ibaris. I tried to move my arms, get them tucked under my body so I can lift myself back up. There was no quitting here, if I did then what kind of hero would I be? My arms moved to my sides, but with the wounds on my forearms the muscles gave out and I collapsed again onto my face. I spit out whatever was in my mouth, blood or something. I laid there defeated.

Everything around me was spinning and I wanted to throw up – I held it in though mostly because I can hear her voice screaming at me in the back of my head for throwing up so close to her face. I couldn’t help but smile just imagining the way her nose would wrinkle in disgust. The only thing I could do, even if I couldn’t save her from this man. Reaching out the best I could I hold her hand. I heard the last of his statement and then with the last moment of consciousness, I turned my head to look at him from the corner of my eye.

“I. Will. Kill. You.” After I spoke, my vision went black.


[member="Ronan Dyre"] [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"]