Reunited and It Hurts So Much!

[Bolt]

Sweat dripped from a regal brow, falling unhindered to the ground below as a large body flipped into the air. Golden Claw - the saber gifted to him during an ancient right of trade by one he respected above all else - in hand, Zaiden Greyson landed on solid footing behind his opponents. Drawing his weapon to the open stance of Ataru, he immediately launched into a flurry of blows; dual blades clashed repeatedly, sparks sizzling through the air as the thrum became near deafening.

There was he, and his opponent. Nothing more, nothing less.

Watching as a blow came forward from the side, held in a two hand grip, Zaiden bent himself backwards while simultaneously sliding forward. The heat of plasma reddened his face as it came perilously close, but it was not to be worried over - instead his opponent, the unnamed assassin, need be concerned as Zaiden held Claw outwards as he moved under the blow. In a single moment he severed top for bottom, killing the man almost instantly.

Righting himself as he came to a halt, he wiped the perspiration from his face, and paused to gather his breath. It had been a surprise, waking from a deep sleep to find a man with lightsaber poised and ready to strike. The resulting battle had taken over an hour, and decimated much of his Palace, but ended in the rain outside. Finally realizing what he wore, no more than his silken Pajama bottoms, he made a slow pace back towards his home.

With a casual summons, the fallen warriors weapon hurtled towards Zaiden's open hand.

Entering through the side of his palace, the God of Shadows sighed down at his body - once his power had been startling, he was never wounded, save by those of equal renown... Now here was, soaked, haggardly breathing, and sliced in several places. Instead of righting the wounds, Zaiden made way to his medbay, which housed several units for healing, including bacta tanks and Med droids.

"Sir, how may I be of assistance." X-249, one of the very same droids asked in its metallic tinged voice.

"Its fine 249. I am going to take a break in a tank. Turn on the oxygen masks." Taking one then slipping it over his mouth and nose, Zaiden submerged himself into the viscous liquid until he was suspended in what felt like midair.

Closing his eyes, he began to think.... then dream...

Spasming, thrashing, and jerking motions cracked against the interior of the tank as he fought an unseen force in his nightmare. What it was, he wouldn't remember when he woke, nor would it matter much. The point in the dream was obvious, he needed someone he could trust and confide in.

The number of such candidates was shorter than he would ever care to admit....

After a few hours, and a sedative gas pumped in with his oxygen to quell his fighting spirit, Zaiden opened his eyes. To any that looked on, it would be a noticeable change. It was as if the man he had become, was replaced with the one he was so long ago. Before the genocides, the betrayals, all the way back to when he first associated with the Empire - when he first came to her...

With a fierceness that had long ago died, Zaiden moved to ready himself for a journey. In a bag he placed clothing, both lightsabers, then a bacta injector in case things went awry. Dressing himself as he had once done many, many, many years prior, in the bare basics robes of a Shadow Assassin, he finished the look with his Cloak of Nuun. Wrapping himself in the vong cloth he himself crafted those many years ago, he vanished.

No one would know he was approaching until he arrived at his destination. His best techniques were in place, including submersion into the Current - the best he, a darksider, could reach anyway - Art of the Small, and his Nuun. He wanted what he would do next to come as a surprise; he was to reveal himself himself to one whom had been like Mother, Sister and best friend: Ashin Varanin.

[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Razor Shot"]

In the end, Ashin wasn't all that hard to find. She ran Ke'dem, after all -- a private military contractor crossed with a Dark Jedi army, all dead-set on raiding the feth out of the One Sith. And though most of Ke'dem's locations were secret to one extent or another, the planet Daalang would attract Zaiden's notice.

The facility on Daalang was new enough to be little more than a prefabricated base in a forest clearing. A number of Dark Jedi trained there, and coordinated raids and so forth. The loot of Sith temples old and new flowed through here for eventual sale -- a portion of it, anyway. The defenses were solid, but a Cloak of Nuun bodysuit could beat sensors, Art of the Small could beat Force senses, and the White Current helped with both.

Or would have, if Ashin hadn't had long experience seeing through the White Current. She couldn't use it for stealth with any kind of success, nor for illusions, but she'd put an awful lot of time and effort into making herself immune to people like Circe Savan, Isis Fontana, and Jared Ovmar -- not to mention her own grandfather. And when you made an active check with the Current, other's Current-use proved a liability rather than a strength. It wasn't the kind of thing one might know unless one had gone up against a whole lot of Current-users. That was probably the Fallanassi tradition's biggest liability: overpowered against anything else, but vulnerable to others who knew it.

So she sensed the disturbance in the Current. With no Force signature attached, and no warning from perimeter controls, she had no way of knowing which of her once-friends or enemies this might be. There was, however, a pretty decent chance that the infiltrator was coming for her personally. So she went to an empty prefab training building, ordered Ke'dem not to interfere, and sent out a little pulse in the White Current.

Over here.

 

[Bolt]

At the controls of his ship, Zaiden cocked an eye towards the distant darkness. Something whispered him towards that direction. An aura that he would never forget. So she still uses all those nifty abilities, Zaiden thought to himself with a grin. Like he, Ashin had studied little bits from everything, thus explaining why she sensed him through the Current.

With that he punched in the coordinates being shown to him. Thus set, he rose then walked towards the rear of his ship so as to find his center. Sitting with legs crossed, he closed his eyes to focus on merging with the Force. He had no goals in doing so other than bringing him closer to the living energy, so he needn't focus on not being found also...

Then again, she knew he was coming....

With a quirky grin that broke the reverie, he released his hold on the White Current. She had gotten the warning he was coming, if she wished to know who he was, she would need to look far; which as is was a beacon to her. Brushing his Cloak back next, he smiled as he knew this to allowed a chance she would see him before he fell to the planet, but that still relied on her looking. Which was not entirely her style, as he had never seen her looking through distances to see opponents that may come.

Returning to the moment of drawing himself to the Force, he once again closed his eyes...



Hours Later
BEEP BEEP BEEP!!

Opening his eyes, Zaiden found himself feeling more the youth he had once been with each light year closer to Ashin he got. As if he was reuniting with his self as well as her. However, currently he needed to rise and perform the landing sequences. Surprisingly Daalang was a planet he had yet stepped foot on, which was a sign of his not being as grand as he believed either. Once he had bragged that all planets had witnessed the assassin's person arriving and leaving...

Finished with his landing requirements, Zaiden rose then grabbed his bag, which he slung over his shoulder. Taking a long slow breath to ready himself, he then exited the ship. Guided through the Force, Zaiden began his approach to the woman who he saw to be in a training building. Wrapping himself once more in the Cloak, he vanished from sight as he also made sure to clamp even harder on his Art of the Small skills; the closer he got, the more sure he was that she would sense him, so he was cautious.

It took a few minutes longer, but soon enough, he stood opposite the woman whom had helped guide a greater portion of his life...

Slowly showing himself, he dropped the hold on the Small so she could know it was he. "You look different Ashin... New body?" He asked, his voice hardly showing what his eyes revealed: he was feeling a barrage of emotions, including awe that he had the chance to be before her again.

[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Razor Shot"]

"Surgical rejuvenation."

It was a struggle to keep her voice even. She rose slowly, feeling her age, and touched a light switch. The training room came to life, revealing trophies around the tops of the walls: the banners and weapons and robes and mummified bodies that commemorated successful raids on Sith temples and academies.

"You weren't the last I killed, brother," she said, by way of explanation. If he'd come solely to kill her, he likely could have managed it without alerting her. Awareness of White Current use wasn't a constant effect; she checked now and again, an old habit, but no more than a couple of times a day. As for the rest of his stealth skills, she had no real way to counter them with perception alone.

"If you're here to return the favour, I appreciate the forewarning."

 

[Bolt]

Zaiden stared at her a moment, then smiled as he nodded his head. Next he gazed at the winnings of her raids, which he moved closer to examine. Walking slowly from each to the next, he touched them with a feather soft grasp every so often. As he moved he finally called, "I believe at one time, had I the urge to do so, I could have, even with the forewarning." Pausing before a banner he touched it and froze: the force showed her to him, as she pounded through the Sith she had one time led.

Removing his hand slowly he turned and brought his eyes level once again with her own, "Alas, things have changed... I believe I have the same skill level I once peaked at... Yet my body does not always respond like it did. I believe part of me needs verification that I am still me." He said, slowly circling her, at a safe distance so she knew there was no threat.

"Besides, I am not here to kill you. I am here for that very same reassurance." He said with a shrug, "I believe you know of the Merrills? One of them, Rave, fought me, well my body as I was possessed of a demonic evil at the time. She not only conquered me, in fair battle, but also managed to best my wit, in trapping my soul in one of her creations.

"I managed to be freed, how I know not, nor will I pretend it was of my hand. Afterward I wandered the netherworld, before returning to claim this clone form." Zaiden said then smiled again, "I doubt you care for my story, just wish to explain my being here."

Stopping, once again in front of her he turned his body wholly towards her, "I wished two things in coming: first, to show the one I call sister that I live again, second, to test myself against one I have always revered.

"If you will have me that is." He said then grinned, "Of course I will not battle one not wishing it." This was another confirmation that he was becoming more like his old self, as he had long ago given up caring whether another person wished to fight.

"Will you fight with me Ashin?" He asked, his face returning to a more serious expression, "No death or dismemberment if it is avoidable. Strictly put, I seek a test of my strength against your own once more."

[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Razor Shot"]

The story fit what she'd heard from other sources, second- or third-hand. She'd believed him trapped forever. But entropy and back doors...

Not her field of expertise. Apparently, though, it was possible. She weighed her deactivated lightsabre in her palm and eyed Zaiden. "So that's what you want, is it," she said slowly. "I find myself believing you, as much as I believe anyone these days. You have an agreement. But I have a price."

Above, she knew, Ke'dem Dark Jedi were gathering in the observation galleries. She could stretch herself for their benefit -- to instruct them, and to keep them in line.

"An apology for what you did to the Fringe. The undead, the rancor, the attack droids, everything. The treason."

 

[Bolt]

Zaiden sighed, "From the core of my being, I do apologize for those actions. Not just to you, but to life, the Force, and those I slayed. At the time, none could know how much the darkside had tainted me - not even myself. It wasn't until Tenebrae took control fully that I realized it was he, guiding my hand, crafting me, to prepare my form for his will." He said, the utter depression that he felt for his actions bearing evidently on his face.

"I hope I may eventually work to redeem myself." He said, and briefly felt a twang of utter anguish as he thought of his now deceased sister, "Feena would want me to..." The words came brief as a whisper.

Standing still for a moment, he sighed then looked back up and rolled his shoulders, "Warning though, I am a bit faster than I once was. This new body," His eyes glanced down at his chest, "is crafted with the genetics of my original, but spliced with Tera Vampir as well. The upside is the speed. Luckily I have not their unquenchable thirst."

At the end of his words, he chucked his bag from his shoulder to the side of the room. As it flew though, both lightsabers lurched forward with soft taps to awaiting hands. Activating both blades he held up the one which bore golden plasma, "I still have this. Found it in my nieces things after everything was left to her. Do you still have Darkestnite?" This was a curious point he had wanted answered for a long while now, but never had the chance to ask.

Slowly he began closing the distance between them, his senses noticing those in the observation rooms, "An audience huh? Let's give em a show!" With that he sped up until he was within close distance, where he feigned a double side strike with both blades, but at last possible second diverged them towards the ground. Letting the momentum carry him, he twisted as well, bringing a swift round house kick towards the Tank of the Fringe's head.

[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Razor Shot"]

"Apology accepted," said Ashin, eyeing the lightsabres he held. "I do have your sabre, yes. I've kept it safe as a memory of better days. It's not here." She activated her lightsabre and fell into a Makashi stance, heels together, right toe forward, left toe pointed to the side. She backstepped, rear foot then forward, her blade flicking out to make sure those feints stayed feints -- cursory contact, no more. As he moved in for the roundhouse kick, she shifted her rear foot to the side and transitioned into an evenly balanced, rooted stance. She pulsed her Force protection, and an aura of distortion fuzzed into existence around her. The roundhouse kick struck her full-force: his foot against the rooted Force shield. The Force protection spread the impact across her body and into the ground, as if he'd kicked duracrete.

She raised an eyebrow and chopped her sabre at his junk, point blank. High roundhouse kicks, man.

 

[Bolt]

Kicking duracrete. The feeling he was allowed upon contact, was memorable, as he had done so in times past, to train against the pain it would bring. This did not hurt anymore than those other times, and could be ignored. Using his placement of the leg toward her, he kicked off, back the way he came.

Finishing his three sixty, he watched as the blade that had sought his testicular allies, came now towards his upper core region. Sweeping his lightsaber, in a counter clockwise motion, he batted it away, then brought the other in for an out-to-inside slash at her midsection. Knowing this to would meet with his friends durability, he opted to also bring the other blade back inward, traveling along the inside of her arm towards her neck.

Redirection and using opponents offense against them, it was something he given up some time ago for blunt offense. Now he was returning to those ways.

[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Razor Shot"] OOC/ Gotta give me more detail on what's left and right next time. I'm not sure what hand's doing what.

IC/ Two cuts, one toward her neck, one toward her midsection, simultaneous. Her feet were set evenly, facing him straight on; if he'd just shoved her, he could have knocked her over. Instead he'd come in from the sides, more or less. This stance lent itself well to settling, which she did, dropping her centre of mass. The blade meant for her neck clipped off a lock of hair, and her sabre met the strike that had been meant for her waist.

At which point, she just kept moving down and forward, tucking herself into a roll at extremely close range. She pulsed her Force protection in case a stray sabre got lucky, but the objective was to bring her heel down into his gut and groin with punishing force. A risky play but not hugely so. He'd committed both blades to the attack rather than keeping one in reserve; both were extended; she had a moment for this. If it worked, she might have just broken his pelvis or ruptured his bowels. If he sidestepped, that scything heel would likely come down on a thigh, which worked too. And if he scampered back, she'd be facing again in an instant as the roll completed. She'd be sitting on the floor, but could be worse.

 

[Bolt]

Throwing his arms forward, Zaiden conjured a Force Barrier n the manner of stopping the legs that would hit his own as he sidestepped. The blow still landed, and even hurt, but was nowhere near as devastating had tthe momentum continued to be utilized.Dropping to a knee within reach, he groaned as he did so, then immediately rolled backwards away from Ashin to provide distance. Having dropped his lightsabers before commecing the roll, he called to them and plucked them from the air.

Dropping low, into a makeshift Ataru stance utilizing dual sabers, before lunging forward once more. Swinging his left arm, which held the cyan blade, he sought to slice through her abdomen - but of course he knew this would not work. So, while she utilized her specialty, he did so as well, drawing his most prominent Force Cloak around his right arm. With it hidden beneath bent light, he thrusted the arm forward to stab at her left leg. With so little movement of the chest as possible, he hoped the attack could not be seen as it came forth.

(Apologies.)

[member="Ashin Varanin"]