Nothing personal

[Vulpesen]

This time, Vulpesen started a steady retreat, ducking and weaving through the attacks while his lightsaber deflected those that too close. He wanted to end this fight, but he also wanted to know who was trying to kill him. "If you take me alive, that's 500,000 credits." He was well aware of hsi bounty, and he was also aware of how hard such a price would be to beat. He had no intention of losing, but if he did, a cell was better that whatever this employer wanted. As he finished talking Vulpesen swatted away the dagger arms and brought his hand up to his opponents chest, hoping to stand too close for the effective use of body spikes. "But sometimes, people should just back off." Another force push, this one was sent upwards and far stronger due to close proximity. There's a reason Jedi were used in the military. They hate to fight, but they are naturally bred to be good at it. @[member="Jacob Remmington"]

 

[Jacob Remmington]

Being hurtled back a second time, once more hitting the wall, Jake was pissed now. Getting back up, he charged at the man, holding his razor-sharp arms in front of him. If He chose to block with his lightsaber, the spikes would just lock with it, and thus give him more leverage. If not, he would be nearly mauled by the deep sharpness of the armor. "I'm not backing off though, am I? AM I?" Regardless of whether the Jedi blocked or not, he would begin thrashing and punching as hard as he could with his enhanced strength and speed. He didn't notice it, but they were nearing very close to an explosive barrel, which was just barely visible in the golden light of the lightsaber.

@[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen quickly leaped up, shooting over the aggressors head before landing behind him with his sabers still lit. "And that's a problem." Vulpesen always had tricks, one of them was collection of daggers he kept in his robes. Reaching into the fabric, Vulpesen pulled out one of said daggers and held it out, using a focused force push to shoot the object towards a kink in the crabshell armor, aiming for the place where arm met shoulder in an attempt to disable the targeted arm. He was aware of the spikes and the last thing he needed was to be shredded by his opponents armor, and thus he tried his best to keep something of a distance.

@[member="Jacob Remmington"]

 

[Jacob Remmington]

One punch later, and the Jedi sailed over Jake's head. Looking up, he realized just too late that his fist dove right into the barrel, leaking flammable liquid, then turned to see small daggers flying toward him. Raising up one arm of spikes to defend, he pulled one of his twin pistols from his shoulder and began firing. One, two, three shots. One managed to strike down one of the daggers, while a few others embedded themselves in the armor. When he figured the Jedi was finished, he pulled out his other pistol and began firing both in succession.

@[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen growled as his daggers failed then tried a new tactic, swirling the double blades to form a protective shield to bat away the blaster fire. He was no master of Soresu and this manifested itself in the shots that got through, singing his arms and legs as he tried to best to do damage control. Of course, the sound of a dripping liquid was also quite noticeable as his mind was always searching the surroundings for a new advantage. t was too dark to tell what the liquid was, but there was really no harm in him doing a simple experiment. His lightsaber's pattern changed for a moment as he directed one the blocked bolts back into the liquid which was starting to creep towards @[member="Jacob Remmington"]'s feet.

 

[Jacob Remmington]

Jake smiled, he had the upper hand. Perhaps he would get the other half of his payment by killing the whelp after all. Taking a step forward, he heard a small splash at his feet. Looking at the flammable liquid, then at the Jedi, back to the liquid, his eyes widened. He had managed to deflect one shot, directly at his foot. "Karking-" Everything went white. Looking around him, his vision came back rather quickly, but there was also a ringing in his ears. Pieces of his helmet had imploded and fallen off, and most of the right side of his face was visible under a sweaty mop of black hair. Other than that, the crab armor seemed to be mostly fine. Looking back up at the Jedi, his eyes burned with hatred. Forget the money. He needed to die. "You're going down. End of story." Walking over to him slowly, as his right leg had taken damage from the explosion, he picked up his daggers where he had dropped them earlier, their blades calling out for murder.

@[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen leaped back as the light flashed from the explosion, landing lightly on his feet. The ringing noise and his own temporary blindness confirmed his suspicious about the liquid. "Note to self. Take cover when blowing things up." Shaking away his minor disorientation Vulpesen looked up to see a very pissed assassin walking towards him. As much as he hated death, he also hated the thought of assassins, and this one didn't know when to give up. "Please don't make me cut you apart." Vulpesen took a battle ready stance, staring down his opponent. @[member="Jacob Remmington"]

 

[Jacob Remmington]

"I should say the same of you." Doing his best not to stumble as his leg began to give way, Jake raised his daggers in preperation to gut the man. As he walked, the armor on his lower left leg began to crumble, leaving a torn boot and a badly bruised and cut leg. The pain didn't matter however, he needed to kill this man. Once he was in range, he plucked a few daggers from his arm from earlier and slammed them down, not caring whether they his flesh or wall. When he ran out, he returned to his own blades and began slashing.

@[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen once again began his whirling dance to avoid the weaponry. His opponent was filled with rage and pain, two things that hacked away at focus. His movements were becoming sloppy, aiming to overwhelm Vulpesen's defenses as he advanced. There was one good way to avoid this and that was to avoid getting in range. The alley was small but it had just enough room for Vulpesen to avoid @[member="Jacob Remmington"]'s attacks. He waited, preparing for that single moment tat would give him an opening. As Jack Brought about another slash, Vulpesen surged forward, twisting his saber to disconnect in the middle. One blade moved up to catch the wielding arm while the other moved down to slash at the unarmored leg. It might not be fully functional, but it did help with balance.

 

[Jacob Remmington]

The battle was coming to an end. Both Jacob and his opponent knew that. As he had continued slashing, the Jedi hoped to outsmart him once again by splitting his lightsaber into two. The first came at his hand, and an idea sprung in his head. Dropping his knife, he grabbed the lightsaber with his still armored hand and held it there. The second blade slashed downward, and though it cut straight through his leg, he never loosened his grip. Pain and agony screamed through his body as the lower leg was cut off, but he ignored it, instead balancing on his still functioning one. Still holding the saber in his hand, he wrenched it free from the other's grip and wielded it himself. Now the playing field was equal in some way.

@[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen stepped back and glared at @[member="Jacob Remmington"]. Memories of when Faust had stolen his blade moved through his head. There were few ways to thoroughly piss him off. This was one of them. "Drop it." His voice was cold and his piercing gaze seemed to cut right through Jacob's soul. The daggers around them started to rise and point at Jacob. "Drop the lightsaber, or I will turn you into a pincushion." The force moved through his voice, exerting a pressure of Jack's mind. Vulpesen walked forward keeping his lightsaber held out towards his opponent. Why this man thought the reward was worth it, Vulpesen would never know. The shadow was singed but he could walk and run. He doubted this man could do either.

 

[Jacob Remmington]

Many people would've dropped the lightsaber and ran. Many would've also called Jacob crazy for not doing so. But here's the way he saw it: He was crippled. He was in pain, and he had just gotten the Jedi angry. Now he didn't know much about the force, but he knew enough that an angry force user tended to lash out with no focus when they were angry. The many sharp objects floating around him scared him, sure. But he was nuts. A smile, visible now due to the damage on his helmet, crept over his face. "Ya know what? I think i'll hold on to this. We gonna duel or what? Maybe you're scared? I'm just gettin' warmed up."

@[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Ourage. Outrage was weakness, and Vulpesen was one of the lucky people who didn't feel it. No, his anger was precise and calculating. Adrenaline focused his mind on one central point. @[member="Jacob Remmington"] was that point. "You will surrender." His voice was still cold and emotionless. His family's crystal lay within that blade and he would have it back. Holding out his hand, Vulpesen focused the daggers on his enemy, shooting each of them at the weak points in his armor. One at each shoulder. One for the remaining leg. One for the kink in the torso. And one straight for the neck.

 

[Jacob Remmington]

(OOC: It's Jacob lol, not Jack)

"Come on, what is this? One of your stupid mind tricks? That is just the stupidest-" It was only a split second later when Jake felt stinging sensations all over his body. His words caught in his throat. Every blade pierced his body with stunning precision, leaving deep cuts all over. The worst was in his neck. It was the least precise of them all, but had severed a few veins that controlled his leg movement. He was paralyzed from the waist down. Falling to the ground, he gripped the Jedi's shoulder for support. The lightsaber was still clutched in his hand, but now it was more out of muscle spasms than personal decision.

@[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's eyes remained cold as ice. @[member="Jacob Remmington"] had been told that Vulpesen was a shining beacon. However, his soul was much like his lightsaber blade. He looked pure on the outside, and yet he had the capabilities to seem colder than a sith on the battlefield. "Rule one. Never piss off a jedi." He flicked his blade, severing Jacob's hand at the wrist to retrieve his own blade which he then reconnected to its counterpart. "Rule two, thank whatever god you have that he's a jedi." Pulling his daggers from each wound, he cauterized the cuts, leaving only the neck to keep the dagger. "The cauterization will keep you alive." He took out his med kit and then the dagger from the neck, using a patch of synthskin to cover the cut. "That should make breathing possible." Turning around, he brought up his com, calling the authorities. After a quick talk about what had happened and where he was, Vulpesen left. Jacob would likely be found and arrested and Vulpesen would now have something to report to the council.

 

[Jacob Remmington]

Watching the Jedi leave, Jake cracked yet another smile. "And Vulpesen... That's your name right? The Yuuzhan Vong send their regards." He wasn't sure if the words were caught or not, but he didn't care. He'd sent his message, done what he'd been paid to do. Reaching to his back, he pulled out a beacon and activated it. Now it was time to rest. Blackness took him, and he fell asleep. Sleep was good.
-----------------------
Deep space; 9:45 a.m.

Jake woke up with a massive concussion. What did he last remember? Oh, right, he had been nearly slain by that karking Jedi. Where was he now? Looking around him, he noticed nothing but bright lights in a white room. His clothes hung in the corner, next to the fractured crab armor. From the looks of it, it was long dead. Sitting up, he tried to get a better look of the place. He was in the medical bay of his ship. Good. "See-Seven! Get over here!" A droid appeared shortly at his side. "Can I help you, sir?" He stared at its emotionless face for a few seconds. "What happened?" He listened intently as the droid explained picking up his beacon, finding him unconscious in an alley, and bringing him to the ship for medical care. He had several scars where the crab armor had held on, not wanting to let go. Looking down, he saw a short stump where the lower portion of his leg used to be. Grimacing, he shook his head. He had let the money get to him, and it had nearly cost him his life. He realized with a surprise that he could move his other leg, followed by a brief explanation that the droid had managed to repair the severed nerves. "Where are we headed?" "Belgaroth, sir." He nodded a little and laid his head back. "Wake me up when we get there."

@[member="Vulpesen"] @[member="High Prophet Dredge"]

 

[Dredge]

Standing near the platform where the assassins ship had taken off Dredge and his war master @[member="Kalordo Lah"] would have a small chat before the assassin would arrive to recieve the rest of his pay. Looking up at his war master the man was over a foot taller than dredge and by far was more skilled on combat. He would have no one else to lead most military operations for the horde. Being a leader required more tact however, and Kalorodo's skill sets belonged on the battlefield. "When our friend arrives. Kill him." he said to the war master before walking off into the factory that was his base of operations. @[member="Kalordo Lah"] @[member="Jacob Remmington"]

 

[Not Ordo]

Kalordo stood tall and straight as he watched the ship arrive. He reached his left long fingered hand up and scratched his neck just below the chin and he thought about how best to kill the failed herd animal that was @[member="Jacob Remmington"]. The Warmaster only used the names for the sake of differentiating on tool from another. Their names held no meaning but at times one had to endure the needs of lesser beings to properly use them. His right hand was wrapped around the shaft of a bone spear that had been his for many years. His ampistaff was snug around his waist. If Shimmra Rapuung would have been tasked with giving the assassin his due, the ship would be smouldering on the ground by now, but then they would know nothing of what happened to Remmington. Kalordo wanted to look in the welp's eyes as he got the report about the mission. Even in these sub standard species the eyes held more information than the mouth.

Kalordo ran his long thick tongue over his white teeth. As the ship set down Kalordo dismissed the troops who had gathered and walked forward to depress the ship's palm switch to inform the pilot that someone was waiting.
@[member="High Prophet Dredge"]

 

[Jacob Remmington]

(OOC: There's no way they would know this far ahead of time that he failed to kill the Jedi. It would have to be said by himself lol)

Belgaroth; 12:25 a.m.

"We have arrived, sir."

The metallic sound of the droid's voice woke Jacob from his slumber. Sitting up gently, he realized with relief that his headache was gone. Still in medical garbs, he got off the bed and walked to his quarters to change, grabbing a set of crutches that had been laid next to the bed. Ten minutes later, he was in a new set of clothes, and he began donning his armor once more. Finally, he opened a closet, one shelf lined with spare helmets, each one staring up at him. Picking one, he slipped it on and walked toward the exit of the ship. "Tee-Seven, bring the destroyed Vong armor. I want these idiots to know just how effective it was." A beep of confirmation sounded off, and he was followed by the droid, the blackened shell in its arms. The hatch opening, he stepped out into the main courtyard. "I call for an audience with your king! Let him know I have completed his task!", he called out.

@[member="High Prophet Dredge"] @[member="Kalordo Lah"]

 

[Not Ordo]

@[member="Jacob Remmington"] (whatever makes you happy homes)

Kalordo had been waiting for the ship as it approached. He stood still near the edge of the landing area with his four specially trained gaurds.

<<Leave us.>> he said in Yuuzhan Vong.

The guards walked away into the main "headquarters" building. Kalordo tightened his grip on his bone spear. The thick bone shaft was a trophy from a hunt during his exile and had once been the femur of a huge Lizard. He looked at the Assassin and raised his chin and scratched his neck.

"You have proof of your task being complete?" he said in near perfect basic, but with a voice more primal.

Kalordo had his orders, he was to pay the man his due and so he would. Kalordo saw every non-Vong and @[member="Shimmra Rapuung"] as tools. This assassin was no different, but he would listen for now.