Secrets in the Dirt

[Kian Karr]

Aboard the Dorin Run
Enroute to the Brentaal System - Brentaal IV

Kian transitioned smoothly from a slash at the hip and brought his lightsaber up above his head, striking down with the powerful two-handed attack known as Falling Avalanche. It was early morning but Kian often slept lightly when on a mission, relying on meditation to keep himself fresh and energized. Kian and [member="Elizie Adasca"] were on board the Dorin Run, Kian's freighter, enroute to Brentaal IV. It wasn't a planet that Kian had stepped foot on before, but a small archaelogical dig there had uncovered what they believed to be the ancestral home of Jedi Master Satele Shan. Kian wasn't as well read on Jedi history as Corvus Raaf or Phylis Alince, but he certainly knew of Grandmaster Shan.....especially since the Kel Dor Jedi Gnost Dural served with her.

As Kian brought his blade around in a sweep, he activated three training droids with the force and fell into a defensive stance. Almost immediately, the three floating remotes began firing at Kian in alternating, randomized patterns. Kian began to batter the bolts away, and sent several back towards the remotes. Kian found that his duties limited his time for getting training such as this and it was good to use this time wisely. Perhaps when Elizie woke up and came down Kian and she would spar. He looked forward to testing the girls abilities further. This would be their first mission together as master and apprentice. It wasn't likely to be an exciting one, but in addition to destroying darkside relics, the Shadows also took an interest in preserving what they could of the Jedi....especially with the One Sith's recent actions targeting Jedi artifacts and locations.

"Please continue CG." Kian said. The protocol droid stood off to the side, looking quite bored, if it were possible for a droid to be bored.

"The structure they are reported to have found appears to be the home of deceased Jedi Grandmaster Satele Shan. So far Jedi Pra'ct hasn't reported much on what was found. He did ask that the message about the find be directed directly to you, sir." CG-50 said.

Kian considered that as he continued to train with the remotes. He'd worked with Jedi Pra'ct in the past, and he knew that the Jedi wouldn't have called for him if it wasn't important. But what Kian couldn't wrap his mind around was what exactly they would have found at a millenniums old building that had only a minor affiliation with a long dead Jedi Master.

 

[Bubák]

Unlike her Kel Dor Master who trained his body and general skill with a lightsaber by practicing the physically demanding Form V, his Arkanian student chose to spend the a bit of the free time granted to them by meditating, eyes shut and mind lost, completely oblivious to the world around her. Time appeared to run by much faster when her consciousness became one with the Force, almost as if she had entered a whole new world, a mysterious place non-Force sensitives would never see or comprehend. Meditations like this also sometimes bestowed visions upon Jedi, though these cases were quite rare if one made no attempt to witness the future or the past in the first place. Still, the Light Side listened to its servants and when their minds got close enough to it, the Force granted their bodies energy, which turned meditation into an effective way of recovering after a significant loss of stamina. Of course, then there were many other practical reasons for Jedi to meditate, not even counting the spiritual purification when the Light Side washed over them. After the terrible experience with the Force going crazy and the Light Side remaining silent for so long, Elizie was glad to finally be able to feel it again.

The cold emptiness of space only made it easier to feel the signature of her teacher. Talking to him before they landed was probably for the best, therefore Elizie snapped out of her trance, milky white eyes looking around in confusion as her mind swiftly returned to this time and space. Getting up from her cross-legged position on the bed she’s been sitting on, the Arkanian stretched out her body before getting dressed in Jedi Shadow robes, something that seemed fairly appropriate for the mission that promised little more than exploration. Sturdier than the young Padawan’s usual attire worn in the Academy, not as limiting as the Shadow armour. As she got the clothes on and clipped her curved badge of office on the belt, the white-haired teenager took the last piece of equipment into her hands; the mask of Jedi Shadows. This one would also be unneeded, so it found its way into the robe as the girl set off to find her Master.

As she walked through the ship, walking towards the training area when her teacher’s signature radiated from, she thought of the mission. The reports claimed that Grandmaster Satele Shan’s home has been discovered. If this information proved to be true, then it certainly held much value. While the powerful Jedi was long-since dead, her immortal spirit residing within the Force now, the wisdom left behind by the woman could prove very useful in the ongoing conflict. Not only that, any information concerning the woman would be a welcome addition just for the historical sake, something that could tell the Jedi Order more about their predecessors. Elizie sincerely hoped the information to be true, looking forward to seeing if it’s been confirmed while she meditated. With these thoughts in mind, the Arkanian entered the training chamber, possibly the most reinforced room within the entire ship due to obvious reasons.

“Master Karr,” the Padawan said as she entered the room, taking two steps in and standing still, her hands clasped behind the back as she cast a brief glance towards the disabled remotes and the droid before her attention shifted towards the Kel Dor Councillor, “I hope you’ve had a good sleep, Master. May I ask if we have any additional information on the mission?” The discovery had to have some significance to have a Jedi Councillor go to the planet, mainly due to formal reasons of having a trustworthy and honoured member of the Jedi Order retrieve whatever’s been found. That, and it could have just as well been a precaution due to the recent attacks of the One Sith. If those even could be called like that… the increasing brutality of their strikes certainly scared Elizie.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian was just finishing up when [member="Elizie Adasca"] entered the training room. He turned toward her and deactivated his lightsaber, clipping the weapon back on his belt and bowing lightly to the girl.

"I slept well enough, thank you." Kian said grabbing a towel from his bag and dabbing his forehead. Turning toward Elizie, Kian knelt down on the training mat and signaled for her to join him.

"We haven't, no." Kian admitted and was a bit perplexed by the fact. "It seems Jedi Pra'ct is being rather secretive about what they found." It wasn't like the Verpine Jedi to be so quiet about things. In fact, it was usually quite the opposite. He was an academic who loved to educate and discuss things.

"We can assume that the request for our presence points to something of importance being found. Something that Jedi Pra'ct fears could be a target of the One Sth's crusade to destroy all knowledge of the Jedi."

"However, at the moment your guess is as good as mine." Kian said smiling warmly. "Is this your first trip off of Ossus?" Kian asked.

 

[Bubák]

After being addressed by the Kel Dor Jedi Master, the Arkanian Padawan bowed deeply to the man before walking towards him and taking her place on the mat, crossing her legs, her interest piqued to learn anything new about this fairly mysterious task. Her blind-like eyes silently focused on the man as he explained more, giving more info about the nature of the mission, his mask moving slightly when he spoke. That is, revealing they did not know much, but most likely something fairly important. Elizie herself did not know the Verpine Jedi Master Karr spoke of, but given the Sith attacks on Jedi-related structures, it was very reasonable to assume this could eventually be the case as well if the Sith learned of the discovery. It made sense; telling little over the comms except for requesting an experienced Jedi Shadow who took his Padawan, a Jedi Shadow in training, to help him with this delicate task that required secrecy. The less attention, the better. Whatever’s been discovered on Brentaal IV had to be very important, too important to risk the One Sith learning about the discovery so they could send their fleet to level the place.

The girl blinked, torn away from her thoughts when the Jedi Master spoke to her. She had embarked on numerous journeys in the past, so the answer was a no, though she could see how one could easily believe her to be one of the Jedi who focused exclusively on their studies, paying little mind to the world around. In a way, that was exactly her case, but her Jedi duties had forced her to leave the safe confines many times. Most times voluntarily, such as the doomed defence of Kashyyk, others… not so much. The memory of being transported into that terrible place with pools of blood slowly started to fade, but Elizie knew that would be one thing to be remembered for the rest of her life, no matter how much she tried to pay it no mind.

“It is not, Master Karr,” the white-haired Padawan admitted, “Though it is one of the few rare journeys that holds promise of no fighting. I have learned to appreciate those.” Sith, pirates, thugs, soldiers; she had encountered all, talked some of them out of their way of life, fought a few as well. It wasn’t a good time to be a Jedi with the seemingly unstoppable One Sith advancing further and further, yet the galaxy needed Jedi more than ever before, offering hope and help wherever they could. Hopefully this would turn out to be a calm assignment, one that is not remembered for the lack of dramatic moments, but all the more appreciated. Deep inside, the Arkanian had a bad feeling about this though. Things rarely worked out the way people wanted them to.

“Missions certainly provide a welcome break from time to time, and I actually get to do my duty as a Jedi, but studies within the Jedi Temple are just as important. It is always better to go prepared and armed with knowledge than to learn by doing. One wouldn’t want to be caught in the Sith purges without some form of theoretical knowledge, correct?” she added, referring to the Crusades where the Sith burned and destroyed everything in their way, “We have lost so much. And for what?”

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian realized after he had asked the question that he should have known better. Elizie had been on Kashyyyk, though having fought on separate battlefields, neither had crossed paths during that invasion. She was certainly correct in her assessment of the importance of her Jedi studies. They never ended. Kian found himself learning something new all the time, both at the academies, in conversation with his apprentices, or away on missions.

"You are correct." Kian said to Elizie. "It is important to learn at the academy, as it is important to get away on missions such as this. It allows for a more well rounded education in the duties of a Jedi." Kian could feel the frustration or perhaps sorrow in her final words. He understood that notion as well. The Jedi had lost so much, but so had the galaxy on a whole. So much death, so much destruction. The One Sith were like a swarm of locust, spreading out across the galaxy and destroying everything good as they went.

"Why do you think we've done it?" Kian asked, putting the question back on Elizie. "Why do you think the Jedi have lasted so long and sacrificed so much? And do you think it has been worth it?"

[member="Elizie Adasca"]​

 

[Bubák]

The Padawan was entirely unprepared for this sort of question, her own question. She expected Master Karr to offer his wisdom to her first, but without it, she found the foundations to build an answer upon to be lacking. The Arkanian simply did not know, despite her studies of the rich history that’s been left by the Jedi Order and all its variations. Furrowing her brows in a thought as she attempted to come up with an honest answer for the Jedi Master, the teenager searched for the solution within her mind. The terrible sacrifices, the wars,… for what, really? To stop the Sith? To help the galaxy? In her opinion, everything would go on even without Jedi; when there’s injustice, there are always people to oppose it, Jedi or someone different. What was the point of Jedi, then? While most Padawans would have answered with something regarding saving the galaxy, Elizie had a more realistic view. They were a group of people following the Jedi Code and studying the Force, trying to use their powers for good just like doctors used their knowledge to heal. Once attacked, the Jedi defended themselves. No higher purpose than that. Only humility.

“I am afraid I cannot answer that question, Master Karr,” the Arkanian finally answered, her voice serene just as her expression, “It is impossible for me to properly judge on this matter. The history of our Order is marked by certain choices of certain individuals who have essentially shaped the entire Order. As I sit here, safe and calm, it is easy for me to see some controversy in many choices made by Jedi in the past. If I placed myself in their shoes, would I do something different? I don’t know. I can’t know. Many sacrifices have undoubtedly helped the Jedi as a whole to stay alive, even in the darkest of times, but there were many instances where sacrifices were far from necessary. Of course, that is from my view; a Jedi who doesn’t know what it was to live in each specific era.”

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian listened to Elizie's words and smiled under his mask. She was wise for her age, he had to give her that and he was glad to hear a padawan willing to admit they didn't have the answer. Which was good, because there wasn't really an answer. What the sacrifices the Jedi had made over the millennium was open to interpretation. The meaning was in the eye of the beholder.

"There are a plethora of reasons why Jedi have sacrificed themselves." Kian said emphasizing his point with his hands as he spoke. "There have been eras of reform and change that has shaped the Order into what it is today. And throughout our history there have been great sacrifices made." Kian said placing his hands down on his lap again.

"There are many Jedi names whispered on the wind by memory moths." Kian said referencing the Jedi Memorial he'd visited recently. "They sacrificed their lives in wars and battles, on missions, and while just being in the wrong place at the right time." Kian said, letting the silence sit for a moment before letting out a breath and turning his attention fully to Elizie. "What connects them all is that they died trying to do the right thing. They died while trying to save lives. The missions they were on, the battles they were in might not have meant anything or they might have meant a great deal, it doesn't matter. What matters is that they sacrificed their lives to defend others.....if I had to define what made a Jedi in the most rudimentary of ways, it would be that. Those attuned to the lightside of the force who are willing to sacrifice their lives in the defense of the weak."

"And if we were able to commune with all those who sacrificed their lives.....I believe they would say it was worth it." As Kian said this, the alarm chirped on his datapad indicating that they would be leaving hyperspace soon.

[member="Elizie Adasca"]​

 

[Bubák]

Then came the answer she’s been waiting for, shedding some light on the matter by offering an opinion of an experienced Jedi Councillor that, unlike the Padawan, had years of experience and wisdom to share with the younger generation. As a good student, Elizie listened to the Jedi Master’s every word, but she did not absorb it all blindly; the Arkanian was not one to take in new things as facts immediately, preferring to think about it and form her own opinions. In a way, the young Padawan believed every Jedi should respect the opinions of their elders, but take those as they were; opinions of people based on their experience. Learning from the Master’s wisdom was vastly better than blindly accepting it. This resulted in the Padawan slightly disagreeing with her Master’s opinion on what made a Jedi.

“And the Code, Master Karr,” she carefully pointed out, “Many Light Side users have sacrificed themselves for others, but that doesn’t make them Jedi. It is the Code that makes a Jedi or a Sith.” The non-Force sensitive population found it nearly impossible to distinguish the many Orders, therefore the terms such as “Dark Jedi” and “Rogue Jedi” were born and eventually accepted by the Jedi themselves, generally used to describe Force users that either did not follow any Code or used the Dark Side. Of course, the different groups used the terms differently as well. Some Dark and Rogue Jedi refused to be called like that and rather chose to be “Grey”, whereas other Dark Side users claimed to be Sith despite having nothing in common with the followers of the Sith Code.

The sharp sound coming from her Master’s datapad cut the talks short as it informed the two of the inevitable; leaving the lines of hyperspace. One could even feel as the blue tunnel of shimmering light collapsed and was no more, leaving the ship on its course towards their destination, mere minutes away from the two getting out and finding this Jedi Archaeologist and his discovery. Swiftly rising to her feet, Elizie bowed to the Kel Dor again.

“Master Karr, I will await your presence in the cargo bay.”

Spinning around, the Arkanian teen left the Jedi Master to attend to guiding the ship and landing it in the desired location while she made her way through the metal intestines of the Dorin Run towards the entrance. Soon, she wouldn’t be surrounded by the ship’s systems and walls that separated her from the cold embrace of space, but rather a fairly nice climate of Brentaal IV. For now, after she entered the cargo bay that also served as the exit and entrance into the ship, the Padawan leaned against two secured crates that contained spare supplies that made long-term survival on spaceships possible. The cold metal could be barely felt against her back due to the thick Jedi Shadow robe. Brushing away a lock of white hair from her face, the Arkanian awaited the soft thump that usually accompanied the landing. That’d give let her know to open the hatch and extend the ramp leading out of the ship… and, of course, wait for her teacher to go first, following in his wake.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian watched as Elizie exited the training room. Rising to his feet, Kian clipped the lightsaber to his belt and retrieved the dark grey, hooded cloak he had laid out over a nearby chair. Throwing it on, he pulled the hood up over his head, concealing much of his appearance and wrapped himself in the cloak. He didn't need anything heavy on this planet, as it was an arid, temperate climate. Making his way toward the hangar, Kian felt the telltale thump as the ship settled down in a clearing not far from the archaelogical dig. They were just outside the capital city, in a rural area of Brentaal IV.

When Kian arrived in the hangar he saw Elizie ready to go. Walking toward her, he indicated that she could drop the ramp and made his way toward her. Pushing the button on his bracer to activate his comm, Kian signaled Jedi Pra'ct.

"Jedi Pra'ct, this is Master Karr, we are enroute to the dig site." Kian said and waited for a response. After a few moments, Kian tried again. "Jedi Pra'ct, come in Jedi Pra'ct." Kian repeated but was met with nothing but static. Turning a concerned glance to Elizie, Kian made his way down the ramp and toward the dig site.

"It could be nothing." Kian said to Elizie as they left the ship. "But I haven't heard from Pra'ct since his last communication and that isn't like him." Kian said considering the occasions in which he'd gotten to know the Jedi Archaelogist. Kian couldn't say the Verpine Jedi and he were close, but he had gotten to know the man well enough to know that he wouldn't break contact like this.

"The safe play is to assume the loss of communication means a compromised mission." Kian said leaving the path and heading into the woods. They had landed far enough from the site that they should be able to approach the dig site under cover and, hopefully, unnoticed.

"Your thoughts?" Kian asked as he made his way into the woods and circled around to approach the dig site from a different trajectory.

[member="Elizie Adasca"]​

 

[Bubák]

The suspicious silence on the other side of the comm was worrisome to say the least, forming a frown on the white-haired girl’s face features. The silence could mean many things, but given the air of secrecy surrounding the whole mission hinted towards a fairly dark possibility that built its nest within the Arkanian’s mind, unwilling to go away. Descending the ramp, solid boots tapping on the metal contracting with the silence of her cloak that soundlessly waved behind the teenager from her back, Elizie finally touched solid ground and set her gaze into the distance, falling silent for a moment. Milky white eyes observed the city towering on the horizon, a place that bustled with life and activity, the exact opposite of the place they have landed in. Cormond, the planet’s capital, close to the massive mountain range that dotted the landscape when the girl shifted her gaze from the city and saw the Gravaal Mountains with their peaks speckled in white semolina. A calming sight, one that healed the soul if one got lost in it; unfortunately, there was no time for this.

Pacing after her Master, the young Padawan could not shake the bad feeling off. Something was not right. Not just the lack of response; the Force itself felt… overly peaceful. The calm before the storm. Master Karr’s words only fuelled the dark seed of worry that started to grow within the Arkanian’s mind. Reinforced by her faith in the Light Side, Elizie’s focus did not falter though, quite the opposite. The Padawan became more wary of her surroundings as she followed the older Jedi, scanning the area through the Force and dismissing the animal and plant life as something worthy of note. The clearing became a forest, shrouding the two Jedi Shadows in its claw-like branches, revealing more lifeforms in the Force, all non-sentient as far as the inexperienced Padawan could tell. The air changed as well, carrying the fresh scent of forest. No well-travelled path guided the two either, meaning many bushes and vegetation that has overgrown got in the way at time, prompting the Jedi to tread carefully and softly. An occasional crack of twigs came from beneath the Padawan’s foot, but nothing too loud to reveal the two. Training the arts of stealth started to pay off as now Elizie knew how to distribute her weight properly, how to talk almost soundlessly. As a shadow.

The girl raised the hood over her head to mask the white cascade of hair as she followed the Jedi Councillor, feeling the tension in that hung in the air increasing each passing second.

“I am unsure,” the Padawan replied, her voice a whisper, nothing more than a breeze flowing through the forest, “We have to remain vigilant. Perhaps hide our signatures?” She completely forgot about the training she had received from the Kel Dor such a long time ago. She remembered one Knight’s question of saying where she’d found herself in a situation that would have benefited from knowing Force stealth. Well, this was certainly the case! Elizie no longer focused on the world around, but herself, the Padawan’s signature slowly losing its intensity, becoming less obvious in the Force. Pushing aside a tiny branch that threatened to remove her hood, the girl stopped and observed the dig site, crouching. Having made a made their way around the area, the two Jedi appeared on a natural elevation made of rocks and ground, perfectly hidden from any eyes by the thick vegetation and bushes that made it an excellent place to observe what lied in front of them.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

The journey through the forest was a quick one. Kian was impressed and glad to see that the Shadow training as paying off. [member="Elizie Adasca"]'s movements were quiet, at least as quiet as could be expected of an individual moving through the forest. As they approached, she made the suggestion of hiding their force signatures and Kian smiled beneath his mask.

"Good call. Pull your signature in.....make it small like we've worked on before." Kian said, withdrawing his own signature. He did so effortlessly now, having done it on more occasions than he could count. He was around Elizie age when he first did so, hiding his presence on Empress Teta in order to hide and recover from his injuries.

As they came to the edge of the elevation, Kian leaned forward, pulling back the tangle of vines and branches cautiously. Below he could see the camp, and what had befallen the camp. Pulling out a pair of binoculars Kian began to scan the camp. In the center, five workers lay dead, their bodies in a line. Kian could tell by the way they were lying that they had been forced to kneel and then executed. Kian felt a wave of revulsion at the realization. Scanning the camp, Kian looked for any sign of those that had done it. He saw no one in the camp, but stationed outside the entrance-way to the dig site were two soldiers clad in black. Focusing in on them, Kian saw the insignia of the One Sith and that sense of revulsion grew ever stronger.

"The Sith." Kian said shaking his head and handing the binoculars to Elizie. There was no way of knowing how many had come, seeing as they were underground in the dig site.

"We are going to need to take out those two guards without alerting the others." Kian said and he couldn't help but wonder if Jedi Pra'ct was still alive.

 

[Bubák]

Casting a worried look towards her Master when the Kel Dor placed the binoculars into her hands, the Arkanian Padawan could easily see something was wrong just by seeing the Jedi Councillor’s expression, even before his words confirmed the worst of plausible scenarios. The air around them suddenly felt a lot colder than before, maybe it was just the girl’s imagination, the Force whispering soft warnings into the teen’s ears as she cast one last glance towards the camp as if preparing for the sight to come before looking through the binoculars and observing the sinister scene revealed itself to her eyes. The encampment appeared to have been abandoned, though the bodies on the ground gave a clue the workers have departed not to their homes, but to the Force in a violent fashion, each brutally executed by several shots into head. Sadness washed over Elizie, once again encountering such senseless death despite the mission’s initial promise. But she felt no anger, nor hatred; the young Jedi remained calm despite the situation, keeping emotions away from clouding her judgement. Moving the sight of the binoculars more to the right, going over tools lying on the ground just as limply as their owners, the Padawan spied the two Sith soldiers, their armour and insignia leaving no room for mistaking them for anyone else. Lowering the binoculars in her hands and watching the camp with nothing but her own eyes, the Padawan sighed softly before returning the tool to the Kel Dor Jedi.

“I agree,” she whispered and one nod later to acknowledge the Jedi Master’s words, the Arkanian’s head turned to look at the man. “It is imperative that we access the situation correctly, Master Karr. Some workers could be still alive, perhaps wounded. We have to act and rescue any potential hostages. On the other hand, we have to be prepared for whatever lies down there, as getting ourselves killed won’t help anyone. Maybe we should request reinforcements first.” Her blind-like eyes returned to the excavation site, locked on the two figures that were enemy soldiers, scanning for their patrol routine. Both seemed to be fairly stationary, talking with the other, which only increased the element of surprise on the Jedi side further. Taking out two relaxed soldiers unaware of their presence would be easy, but they had to consider more possibilities of danger that lurked around.

“It is likely they have a ship nearby. Finding it and disabling it first would cut them off of their escape route.” She proposed her idea, the Padawan’s hand reaching into her dark brown robe, revealing the white durasteel mask of Jedi Shadows in the four digits of her hand. Putting it over the mask she already wore, the one that was her face showing no emotions, the young Jedi checked the internal systems inside the gold trimmed mask to ensure the HUD worked properly, as the two Shadows could not afford any mistakes. And finally, the Arkanian removed the curved hilt hanging on her belt, unclipping the silver weapon with one swift move.

“I am ready, Master Karr. I will follow your plan.” Of course she let the more experienced Jedi decide after presenting her possibilities; in a situation like this when lives were possibly at stake, she did not dare to be the one to make the call. The lack of experience and skill in combat situations made her unfit to take command.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian considered what [member="Elizie Adasca"] had to say. Reinforcements weren't a bad idea, but by the time they arrived it could be too late to help anyone who might still be alive within the compound. They also couldn't alert the Sith as that could spell death for those inside as well. They would have to move cautiously. Kian bowed his head for a moment and closed his eyes. While he didn't want to waist valuable time, Kian wasn't one to leap in without considering the risks and the potential harm they could do. Finally opening his eyes he glanced down at the bodies on the ground and his resolve was set. They couldn't allow the Sith to kill anymore here today.

"We don't have time for reinforcements." Kian said turning to Elizie. "Besides, they may be monitoring transmissions." Kian said scanning the vantage point they had. Pointing to an area to their right where the ground began to gradually slope down, Kian spoke again. "You'll move that way, down the slope and circling around the camp toward the far side." Kian said and then turned and pointed back towards the cliff above the opening to the dig site.

"I'll move to the top ridge there." Kian said pointing to a small, concealed area above the guards. "You'll lure them away from the entrance and I'll drop down and enter the dig site."

"I'd rather we not split up, but as you say, we'll need to neutralize the ship." Kian said turning back to Elizie. "Draw the guards away, but don't reveal yourself, I'm sure the others are checking in."

"Then you'll need to find the ship and neutralize it....." Kian said and a smile spread across his face. "If the ship were to explode I'm sure that would then lure the guards away for you to meet up with me. I'll hopefully have made some progress within by then."

 

[Bubák]

Hearing out the Kel Dor’s idea required nothing but hard effort of the Padawan to remain calm, as she fully realized the stakes were sky high and the possibility of dying almost the same. She may have been on Kashyyk, but as brutal as the invasion was, Elizie never felt alone, never had to take so much responsibility on herself. Taking a deep breath and biting her lip, the Arkanian nodded after Master Karr presented his plan. She did not like it – being separated from her superior meant not only lack of guidance, but also splitting their strength in half that greatly increased the chance of the two Jedi failing without watching each other’s back. The necessity of it was well understood by the Padawan though; the ship of the Sith had to be destroyed and whether this task would be successful or not depended entirely on the teenage Padawan. Naturally, as a Jedi, she’d do her best to carry out the Master’s instructions in hopes of saving as many innocent workers in the excavation as possible, the Jedi Code always on her mind, the peace of the Light Side in her heart.

“May the Force be with you, Master Karr,” Elizie said and departed, moving through the thick vegetation to avoid being discovered by the two guards as she slid down the small slope and became one with the forest that surrounded the excavation site. Her posture remained crouched, creeping around the ridges that separated the trees and grass from the dusty, trembled down earth of the camp, not close enough to be noticed by the guards as she remained safely hidden in the sea of green and brown. It was while circling around the camp to get to the guards that she noticed a path in the forest; one created by a large group moving heavy equipment. The white-haired teen would have dismissed it as a path created by the workers if not for the fact it looked so fresh. Broken straws of grass still having their typical lush green colour instead of being dead, dry. For now, the girl noted the path and continued on her original course, throwing a glance towards the Kel Dor as she finally stopped, thinking of a way to get the guards’ attention.

Her left hand opened up in a palm, a gentle telekinetic breeze washing over the branches of trees and making the noise of rustling leaves. This successfully prompted the two to look in her direction, their faceless masks failing to see the Padawan, though noticing something in the forest, maybe an animal, maybe an escaped worker getting away.

“Movement!” one of the soldiers barked, pointing in the direction, “Let’s check it out.” Both aimed their rifles towards the impenetrable wall of nature and swiftly paced towards the source of the disturbance while Elizie retraced a few steps and started making her way on the mysterious path. The two soldiers remained completely oblivious to the Padawan’s presence, searching for the panicked sprint of an escaped civilian, not a sneaky Jedi that treaded the forest ground carefully. And they definitely did not expect anyone to slip into the underground excavation behind their backs; they have already eliminated all opposition and there was supposed to be nobody else to disrupt the mission.

The end of the path revealed another clearing, not unlike the one the two Jedi had landed on. Sharp edged and elegant, such was their ship that nonchalantly parked on the grass, its boarding ramp open. The Sith clearly did not expect anyone to get close to the ship – not any who did not wear the uniform, at least, meaning only one man was stationed outside to guard it. Taking a peek from behind a fallen tree that provided an excellent cover, Elizie scanned the ship and its surroundings with her mask before doing the same through the Force. Several lifeforms could be felt within the metal beast, its size indicating it had carried a large enough party and equipment to easily take over a village, let alone an excavation site. Again, the Arkanian circled around the ship to get into its side – to avoid being seen from the cockpit and by the man standing near the boarding ramp. This part was crucial and it took longer than she had hoped for to get behind the soldier and slam the hilt of her lightsaber into the man’s temple, knocking him out.

Only then the Arkanian dared to ascend into the craft, its cargo bay being her first stop. Pressing herself against one of the many crates, the girl paused and listened, hearing nothing but wind on the outside and clicking of boots on the metal floor coming from deeper parts of the ship. Carefully, Elizie made a few more steps into the cargo bay, her boots gently tapping on the floor as well, hopefully not loudly enough to alert anyone. Looking at the massive crates, her eyes widely opened as she spotted the warning signs on every crate. Those were not supplies. Those were explosives. Elizie mentally cursed her foolishness of forgetting the One Sith wanted to literally wipe out and destroy every trace of the Jedi. Of course they’ve packed explosives to do the job.

Most crates appeared to be open, and truly, when the Arkanian removed the grid, her eyes found nothing but empty space. So this was the cargo the soldiers must have carried with them through the forest! The girl spun around, desperately trying to find at least one unopened box, going around and removing the loosely attached grids, always finding nothing but disappointment until one particularly strong crate that did not wish to have its secrets revealed was opened, detonators and explosives within. Maybe not enough to destroy the ship, but definitely enough to stop it from every flying again. If there were more unopened crates as well…

Reaching in and taking a device reminiscent of thermal detonators, though more sophisticated, the Arkanian gently tapped something on the controls of the explosive, setting the timer for a minute before placing the detonator back in, among its equals. Then came the rush out of the ship as she hurried back into the forest, ignoring the branches taking off her hood and bashing her into the mask. She did not know how powerful the explosion was going to be, but just as she finished the thought, she was knocked off her feet and ruthlessly tossed to the ground. The ship became a massive ball of infernal fire and destruction, splintering the trees and scorching the grass and leaves. A wave of hot air rushed over and past Elizie, the thundering sound still ringing in her ears. This would definitely create a distraction.

Getting up and glancing at the mess she had done, seeing flames, broken trees and skeletal remains of a ship in the clearing, the Padawan turned around to get back to the excavation site, staying off the path that had the two guards from earlier running over it to see what happened, completely missing the Padawan.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian watched as his apprentice faded into the forest. The Kel Dor felt a twinge of concern as he watched her go. The relationship between master and apprentice was a difficult one. On one hand there was the necessity for keeping them safe and teaching them the ways of the Jedi, yet on the other hand Kian had to trust in his apprentice to handle things on her own. He had to trust her to be able to get into sticky situations and get back out of them on her own. Still, sending Elizie after the ship troubled Kian.

Pushing the thought aside, he made his way toward the ridge above the entrance. He trusted her to get the job done and when she did he would need to be in place. Kian wasn't sure what would be inside, but he couldn't image there would be more than a single ship of Sith. These sorts of task-forces relied on going unnoticed....they operated just like the Shadows did.

Just as Kian settled in above the guards, Kian saw the rustling in the woods that Elizie set off and the guards went to investigate. Smiling beneath his mask, Kian dropped down, using the force to both brace his legs and cushion the drop so that virtually no sound was made when his feet touched down. Pulling his hood up, Kian slipped into the dig site opening. The path dropped down as he went and Kian moved slowly, silencing his footsteps. The report from Jedi Pra'ct indicated that the area had been covered over in a landslide almost a thousand years before and it was under that newer layer of ground that much of the artifacts had been found.

As Kian reached a larger, open area Kian felt and heard the muffled explosion from the ship. Kian quickly ducked to the corner of the room into the darkness and crouched down waiting. He waited for several moments to determine if any guards would come rushing by due to the explosion, but none were forthcoming. Kian wondered if the two guards outside and those at the ship were the only guards around.....meaning there would only be Sith inside. He couldn't trust in that however and would be sure to progress cautiously. After several minutes he moved forward once more. Kian was on a raised section and it wasn't until he came to the edge that he realized he was above the dig sites scaffolding. Glancing down over the edge, he saw Jedi Pra'ct kneeling in the dirt and two black robed, hooded figures standing in front of him. It was clear Jedi Pra'ct had been tortured and his hands were bound behind his back.

"I think our friend here has finally outlived his usefulness, don't you think?" A females voice said and Kian identified it with the smaller of the two robed individuals.

"Yes, I agree." A deep, males voice said and the taller robed figures arm raised, igniting a scarlet blade. Kian leapt over the edge, landing behind the two and his lightsaber sprang to life, the yellow blade held out before him defensively. A cackle of laughter rang out as the two Sith turned around to face Kian and he heard the sudden footsteps of several troopers behind him.

"Welcome to the party, Jedi." The male said with a sneer and in the light Kian could see he was a heavily scarred human.

[member="Elizie Adasca"]​

 

[Bubák]

It didn’t take long to get back to the camp. With no need to worry about the guards in the foreseeable future, the Padawan took her time to look around, scouring the camp for anyone who might have hid and survived the Sith attack. Unfortunately, the ransacked tents pointed towards the typical Sith thoroughness, especially if it came to the purges they were infamous for. Nobody ever escaped their murderous rampages. Except for some Jedi, of course, but that meant little, as these survivors essentially worked as carriers of the Sith message to the Jedi. It was tragic and sad, making Elizie feel somewhat responsible for the thousands of innocents killed by the Sith in the name of completely purging the Jedi out of history and minds alike. Logically, the Arkanian knew she couldn’t have done anything to prevent it from happening, the Sith would have found another reason to kill innocents, but that helped little in calming the young woman’s mind. The Padawan had to fight against the sudden surge of sadness that washed over her as the milky-white eyes gazed over the abandoned clothes and tools. Nothing but junk now, its owners dead. With them, several families have lost their loved ones. All because of some fight against the Jedi, an attempt to wipe them out. Why did the innocents always pay the price?

Quick strides carried the woman over to the lined up bodies of workers. The devastating injuries their heads had suffered left no hope; nobody could have survived this… execution. Sadness got torn apart by an unexpected flick of anger that suddenly emerged. It was short, instantaneous, yet long enough for her to notice. Were she a Dark Jedi, this sight would have inspired her with enough anger to crush her enemies with the power of the Dark Side. Elizie was a Jedi though, therefore the emotion got pushed back as swiftly as it appeared, the young woman knew very well she could not afford to let passion cloud her judgement. Such failure spelled the same fate as the workers outside have suffered for everyone within the dig site. Swiftly, the Arkanian returned to the tents, taking a few white sheets before going back to the corpses and covering them under thin white. Sparing one last glance at the murdered, whatever expression she had on her face hidden beneath the Shadow mask, the Arkanian Padawan moved towards the darkened entrance to the excavation, little more than a hole in the dirt with makeshift stairs leading in, ominous yellow light all the way down illuminating the bottom.

Descending down, lightsaber at ready, the girl’s boots soon touched the ground again, her form crouched, eyes scanning the surroundings. She did not dare to reach out through the Force to find the presence of her Master; the risk of revealing herself by doing that was too great. Elizie had to rely on her eyes for now, but that was alright given the proper illumination of the site. Glancing at the lamp, her eyes followed the cable that crawled on the ceiling like a long snake, one end leading to the lamp, the other somewhere deeper into the tunnel reinforced by metal bars on the walls and ceiling. Moving on, the Padawan crept further until she reached a place where the tunnel parted into two, cables leading both ways. Taking a glance both ways, the teenager eventually decided to move to the left. On her way through the opening, she could see shovels and pickaxes, as well as small heaps of rocks that marked the workers have made their way through here in their search for something of value. Lifting her gaze, the Padawan noticed something else on the walls, something horrifying; the same explosives as she had witnessed in the ship. Whatever the Jedi might have found down under tons of earth, the Sith wanted to bury it forever.

The path became wider until it opened into a spacious room with a large drilling machine in the corner. As the tunnels before, the light revealed several bricks of explosives attached to the walls and to the drill as well. What demanded Elizie’s attention more than anything else were four kneeling figures on the ground, one person standing firm, another tending to the detonators set in the room. The armour of the two left no room for mistake; Sith. At least the four hostages on the ground were still alive! Elizie knew she had to act fast if she wanted to save the civilians; whether the Sith wanted to blow them up or execute them like the others mattered little. The one with his rifle trained at the innocents, just like the one arming the bombs on the wall posed a great threat. A wave of unease washed over her once again, knowing the great responsibility at hands, her duty dictating to save the four at all costs.

Activating nightvision in her mask, the Arkanian reached out with left hand and telekinetically pushed over the lonely lamp that illuminated the room. With a shower of sparks and cracking of glass, the whole area submerged into impenetrable darkness. In that moment, the teenage Padawan sprang into action. While the confused troopers turned to find the source of the sound, suddenly blinded by pitch black night, the Arkanian slipped into the room, moving close to the wall towards the man who’s been planting the explosives, his back now turned to her. A flick of emerald light accompanied by a snap-hiss suddenly filled the room and severed the first soldier’s spine before finding the chest of another in swift, sure motions. The green light stayed on, illuminating the room even as two limp thuds followed, searing orange lines carved in their bodies.

The four hostages were safe now, their faces showing both surprise and worry. Three understood what the emerald blade meant; the other, a young Zabrak woman, visibly shaking as if on a verge of panic. Maybe it was because of the Padawan’s emotionless mask that covered her face, now illuminated in otherworldly green light.

“Please, it’s alright! I am a Padawan Adasca,” Elizie said, gently placing her free hand on the woman’s shoulder. She felt one strong, almost violent tug of the woman’s body before she calmed down. “I am a Jedi. You’re safe now. Nobody’s going to hurt you.” The Padawan proceeded to cut off the bindings on their hands, receiving silent, but grateful thanks from the workers.

“Are you injured? Do you require medical assistance?” she asked as the four, now free, got on their feet. All looked dirty, battered with many bruises, but nothing too serious. Three shook their heads, still in shock, only one spoke.

“No,” said the largest of the four, a man with dirty blonde hair, “Please, Jedi, you have to help the others as well! The attackers, they have captured the Jedi overseeing the excavations and other workers! They might be outside or the main excavation chamber, I don’t know… They want to destroy this whole place, they,…” No more words left his mouth, his large eyes locking his gaze with Elizie’s mask and finishing the sentence for him.

“I will save them,” the Padawan said, unsure whether the statement was a promise more to herself or the man, “You have to get out through. There might still be some guards outside, so as soon as you leave the excavations, run to the forest, opposite of the smoke.” Their expressions signalized they did not understand what she meant, but soon they would. The smoke rising from the ship was hard to miss.

“Go,” the Padawan prompted again, waiting for each to vanish in the tunnel, moving towards the light before she followed. Unlike the four, the Padawan chose to sneak through the way she had ignored before, the way her Master must have gone through. Hopefully she wasn’t late.

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian's blade slashed across, catching the scarlet blade as it shot toward his heart and pushing it off its target. He had the Sith at a sudden advantage and yet he couldn't press the assault. He had to immediately leap aside and turn his bade to the side, catching the sudden hail of blaster bolts that were coming at him. The soldiers fired a few volleys and then stopped as Kian began to send the bolts back at them. Kian couldn't be pleased with the successful defense from the barrage, however, as it was all just a sick game to them.

Kian felt the attack coming and had to quickly spin around once more, his lightsaber barely catching the red blade once more. The female Sith continued to press the attack while the male stood back by a beaten and injured Jedi Pra'ct laughing periodically and hurling taunts. Kian had bitten off a bit more than he could chew, he had to admit it. The only thing keeping him alive was the fact that the Sith seemed to be enjoying themselves.

"Everyone speaks so highly of the skills of the Jedi.....but I don't see it!" hurled the male Sith cackling once more. "Certainly not in this one." He said slapping Jedi Pra'ct across the face hard and then laughed even louder. "And certainly not you."

Kian said nothing, he was too busy back peddling, his lightsaber cutting left and right to intercept the red blade of the woman. He wouldn't likely have responded even if he could. Sith thrived off of that sort of thing and he had learned long ago not to engage them.
Kian saw an opening and pressed forward, two powerful slashes drove the woman back and Kian spun, leaping toward the group of men. They panicked and opened up firing randomly. Kian's blade flashed and he cut down two soldiers before the Sith woman closed with him and drove him back.

Kian heard a growl of anger and the purple blade of the Sith behind him and the man closed with Kian. He was pinned between them both now. While the Sith flanking him and the one before him meant the soldiers wouldn't risk taking any shots at him, he would be hard pressed to face them both.

Elizie....I need help...Kian sent to his apprentice telepathically. He didn't know where she was, nor could he feel her in the force as she was still likely hiding her presence.....or worse dead. Kian shook the thought away as the two Sith moved as one to attack. They'd obviously done this before. Kian stole a glance at Jedi Pra'ct and set his jaw firm as he brought his blade around to defend from the wild and aggressive attacks of the two Sith.

[member="Elizie Adasca"]​

 

[Bubák]

There was more in the telepathic message than just words that formed in her mind; it also contained some of the Kel Dor’s desperation and worry, which further urged Elizie to hurry her way through the tunnels, stealthy and silent approach not an option anymore. No longer crouched, the careful and thoughtful pace turned into hurried steps as worry and desperation to help the Jedi Councillor drove her forward, her mind realizing every second was crucial and could very well mean the difference between life and death of not only her teacher, but possible hostages as well. This left no room for more doubt or hesitation within the girl’s mind as her ears picked up the unmistakable sound of clashing lightsabers. She was close. She still had time to save her Master. Beads of sweat formed on her brow and she heard her own breath becoming faster under the mask covering her face. She paid little mind to it, or to the dark room she ran through before she reached the large area of the excavation, the sound of fighting growing ever stronger, coming from down below. Lights of many colours danced on the walls and as the Padawan peeked over the edge, she finally spotted her Master battling two Sith and several soldiers. Only one hostage from the looks of it.

The Arkanian teen stopped for a second, frantically trying to assess the situation, but there was simply no time. Bringing her emerald blade to life with a stroke of the ignition button, Elizie launched herself down, her Force enhanced jump carrying her in the desired direction. The new colour of a lightsaber appearing all of the sudden warned the Sith soldiers of her presence. Since they cannot shoot at the Kel Dor anyway, they trained their rifles at the falling figure headed their way. This was good; they no longer posed a threat to the Jedi Master, leaving him to worry only about the two Sith. Strong gush of air ripped the Arkanian’s hood from her head, revealing her long white hair flailing around as the teenage Padawan used her free hand to send a wave of telekinetic energy towards the soldiers. It lacked the strength to knock them down, but it certainly impaired their aim long enough for her to escape their chaotic barrage of blaster bolts that missed her form wildly. Soaring through the air, the young Jedi kicked a Sith trooper in her way into face and landed right in front of another one with a thud, almost crashing into him. Before the soldier recuperated, Elizie sank her green blade into his chest, eliciting a pained shriek from the man, the sound mostly muffled under the helmet.

Cutting and stabbing through the rest until they too fell, either dead or incapacitated, the teenager’s heavy panting coming from beneath the mask indicating first signs of exhaustion claiming her body, several burnt marks on her robe showing she was not lucky enough to deflect all shots; particularly when switching between Makashi and Soresu, the Arkanian found it impossible to block the incoming blaster bolts efficiently enough, focusing only on those that aimed for vital areas of her body. The grazes hurt, but she managed to ignore the painful sensation for now, her attention shifting towards the two Sith that danced around Master Karr, exchanging glances between each other, possibly communicating through telekinesis to discuss the best strategy now that another player’s been thrown into the fray.

“Surrender,” the Jedi Shadow said, her voice serene, yet demanding. The emerald beam of plasma pointed at the ground to signify they were being given a choice of a peaceful solution. Behind the mask, the girl’s eyes also took notice of the Jedi. He appeared to be badly beaten, most likely tortured as well and in dire need of medical attention. “Your transport’s been taken down and Republic reinforcements are on the way. Lay down your weapons and come peacefully.”

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

((AHHHH sorry for the lack of a post, I simply lost track of the thread!))

When Kian heard the lightsaber ignite behind him, a smile crept across his face, though it was short lived as he was forced to roll to the side to avoid a powerful two-handed blow from the male Sith. Kian normally didn't avade attacks such as that, but his footing was poor and his roll was as much a stumble as it was a means of evading. The female Sith could have pressed the attack and scored a hit, but the sudden arrival of [member="Elizie Adasca"] drew her attention.

"Deal with her!" The male Sith hissed and he advanced on Kian. Kian rose to his feet as he came at him and, rather than readying himself for the defense, drove forward with a series of powerful, simple cuts of his own. The Sith hadn't expected this and while his defenses held, his advance was halted. This was how Kian preferred to fight, he preferred to hit hard and aggressively and keep his opponents on their back footing.

Kian slashed his blade to the side catching a blade thrust from the male Sith and spun, putting his body between Jedi Pra'ct and the Sith. Kian would be damned if he'd let the Verpine get injured in the fight. It also had the added benefit of putting the two Sith back to back between Kian and Elizie. The tide had turned in the fight. No longer outnumbered and ganged up on, Kian took a calming breath and allowed the force to flow into him more fully, providing him with the energy to sustain the fight.

"As my padawan said, this is your only opportunity to stand down!" Kian reiterated, glad though not surprised that his apprentice had given them a peaceful way out. The Sith said nothing, but spit at his feet and with a snarl, flew at Kian once more.

 

[Bubák]

It immediately became apparent the scarred Sith was in charge, ordering his female companion to deal with the Arkanian Jedi. Whether the two Sith realized it or not, it was actually a good thing. Taking some heat off Master Karr meant giving the Kel Dor an advantage and Elizie had no doubt the experienced Jedi Master would eventually defeat his opponent. As for her fight at hand… she was not so sure. Some energy’s been wasted on the previous fighting, but so has been the Sith’s. Knowing next to nothing about her opponent’s fighting style, the Padawan decided to take this slowly and remain defensive, naturally, unless the opportunity presented itself. Two swings through nothing but air as Elizie greeted her opponent with a Makashi salute and the fight was on, the Sith woman caring little for simple gestures of respect as she charged, bringing down her violet blade that hummed through nothing, almost singing as its owner sent a brutal hack from left to right towards the white-haired girl’s midsection.

Elizie removed herself from the attack’s range in the nick of time; a moment more and she would have been cut in two. Breathing faster as another wave of adrenaline started pumping through her veins, the young noble barely had enough time to use the greatest advantage of Makashi; one free hand opened in a palm and swiftly sent a wave of air towards the Sith who had charged at the Padawan again. The telekinetic push hit the unprepared Sith, slowing her down and also removing her hood that slid from the woman’s head, revealing a frown full of intense hatred and anger, yellow eye menacingly staring directly into the slits of Elizie’s mask that served as her visor. Although it was impossible, it felt as if the woman could see right through the mask of Jedi Shadows. And her face… ghostly white skin that appeared to be cracked, veins of black blood further displaying the Sith’s utter corruption, raven black hair being the utter opposite of the skin. She was sick with the Dark Side. A terrifying sight, that was for sure. And this very individual went for another charge.

Luckily, Elizie had taken a few steps back, silently praying for her boots to not slide on the dirt, as she wasn’t used to fighting on uneven terrain. The steps gave the girl some extra distance provided her with more options, such as raising her blade and parrying the incoming slash from the right. The impact produced a flash of white colour as the weapons met and sparked together, the direction of the Sith attack and momentum behind it ruined. In this brief moment, their eyes met again, and a cruel smirk spread over the black-clothed female’s lips. Sidestepping to the right in two swift strides, the Padawan retracted her hand and withdrew her blade from the saberlock, immediately followed by a stab towards the Sith’s lightsaber hilt. This forced the Sith to dodge, their positions now reversed. And as the female Jedi Shadow retracted her emerald blade again, her Sith counterpart’s violet came crashing down like searing hatred of Chaos itself, the intensity and power of the attack crushing even the wildest dreams of ever blocking or parrying it. Another jog backwards was needed, another saved the tan Padawan from becoming two again, this time vertically.

This constant space between them visibly frustrated the Sith. The black haired servant of the Dark Side obviously wanted to get as close as possible, but she just couldn’t without risking too much. The eagerness to slay the Jedi as soon as possible threatened to get the better of her, yet the woman managed to keep her emotions in check. Passion fuelled her anyway, strengthening the Sith’s connection to the Dark Side. It was time for the Force to play its part. Another attack came the Jedi’s way, a vicious stab followed by flurry of slashes and hacks, all unnaturally fast. Force speed! Just as the realization came, the Arkanian was busy parrying and dodging the attacks, continuously backing away, mind focused solely on the act of moving the lightsaber in her right hand accordingly to prevent the Sith from killing her right then and there. While successful, it came with a cost; the teenage Padawan lost her awareness of their surroundings, blindly backing away until her feet hit something and she lost the most important thing. Her footwork. The soldiers she had killed earlier took their revenge as she stumbled over their corpses and fell backwards, landing in the pile of dead men with a thud.

Grinning victoriously and letting out a short snicker, the Sith slashed downwards one last time just as Elizie’s lightsaber rose up in defence. The crimson stopped, then started to slowly descend down, the tip of the Sith’s blade moving towards the Padawan’s face. Gripping the curved hilt with both hands only slowed it down, delaying the seemingly inevitable. There was nothing the young Jedi Shadow could do but watch as her opponent slowly moved closer and closer to victory. The red light became too much for the sensitive eyes of the Arkanian to handle and she closed them, feeling as the superheated plasma licked her mask. It burned her cheek.

The girl’s right leg kicked out, hitting the Sith’s knee. A nasty crack could be heard over the hissing of blades for a second, followed by a scream filled with both pain and pure rage. The crimson light disappeared and Elizie was free to instinctively tear off her damaged mask before it burned her face. What followed was a stream of sparkling energy taking full advantage of the Arkanian being distracted with pain, hitting the girl in the chest and sending waves of agony through her entire body. The battle raged on.

[member="Kian Karr"]