Duel THE IRON TOURNAMENT | FIGHT 2 | AYA CLARKE VS ROCHO

[Scherezade deWinter]

In the corner of nowhere, somewhere within the Unknown Regions…

Crowds had gathered in the arena in lieu of the fight that was about to commence. Somehow, millions had known how to find this place, this unmarked space station that seemed to be moving swiftly across the galaxy skies. Today, it had come to a stop in this little random part of the Unknown Regions, not near anything important, and yet always inviting, inviting to come and wager on who. Will. Win.

A gigantic hexagon lay in the center of the arena, split into six triangles. For the longest time, it appeared as though nothing would happen. There was no announcer, no one screaming over any mic, just the smell of very cheap junk food fried in questionable oil that seemed to take the place over.

And then the lights went out.

In the darkness, shuffling could be heard, and when the lights went up again half a minute later, the hexagon in the center of the arena had changed - its southern triangles now filled with floating rocks, some of them close enough to the ground to jump on while others higher u and needing to be climbed onto. Those who would step onto those triangles would find that gravity was not a thing, unless one was upon the rocks.

The northern triangles had changed as well, their metallic flooring making way for a different type of terrain - one that was mostly filled with water, and decorated with a few islands of lush warm sand. Those who were keen eyed might have caught a shape moving beneath the waves…

In the middle of both of these halves stoof Scherezade deWinter, a huge smile on her face, a microphone in her hands.

"People of the Galaxy!" she announced, "Welcome to the Iron Tournament! Today, we have two fighters here - Aya Clarke and Rocho . Two will enter. One leaves. FIGHT!"

And with that, she disappeared from the stage. The doors connecting the dressing rooms to the arena opened. Who would show up first? Who would take first blood? Who might die?

 

[Aya Clarke]

• Wearing: Saintly Armor, Cyber Eye Contacts
• Wielding: Lightsaber (sheathed), Yei Karkan
• Judge: Scherezade deWinter

Tue bo Voe, Tue bo Kkelesa. Pure of Heart, Pure of Mind.

It was not much of a prayer, but the sentiment ringing in the air of her dressing room served its purpose well. Steeling her mind and soul for combat was an important step of her beliefs, and something no saint should neglect... nor something she ever would. Especially considering the words she had been told coming into this, that there would be only one leaving. Believing in those words or not, in the event that she did perish, and meet her Goddess, her soul should be ready for the journey, at peace with the coming end.

Eventually, the doors opened, and the Saint stood from a kneeling position, taking up the war banner resting so delicately against the door frame. The lightsaber attached to the false sheath would look quite knightly to onlookers no doubt, given its shape, and she no doubt would garner at least a chuckle from one watching this woman step out to potentially die wielding a flag. This however was not her concern, for soon enough she would prove them misguided to find her so humourous.

She'd show everyone how misguided they were, in time.

When she reached the rough center of the stage, she calmly unfurled the banner, a crimson eagle on white, and stood calmly for her opponent to arrive. She would wait, patiently as she must, for them to join her, before calling out to them the moment they would get within earshot of her. "I am Lady Clarke of Kalis, and today I shall be your opponent. I look forward to seeing you in action, to the victor the glory." She was only ever so slightly tensed, prepared to leap back should the opponent, this Rocho , not be one for any formalities.

 

[Rocho]

Judge: Scherezade deWinter
Opponent: Aya Clarke

The Trandoshan had checked over his arsenal and armor several times over. And then, he meditated. Focusing his mind and body together, a technique he'd learned while hunting. Heightening his abilities further. Every breath, every muscle, every eye twitch was felt. And of course, it let him push himself further in connection and control of the force. The Technique was a basic one, quite simple really, but effective. He was never one for those hyper complex methods. Something like Battle Meditation was something that was far beyond his state of mind he imagined. But this, it was easy. It could be done even if he wasn't force sensitive, it just wouldn't be as effective.

He felt the moment come and his eyes opened. The trandoshan grabbed his anti-materiel rifle and began to walk. He was covered in ammo and weapons. It might seem clunky, but he had been doing this for years in war and in the hunt. He looked out, to see the woman carrying a flag. Though she was not force sensitive, he sensed her presence. It was a habit of his. Not good for tracking new targets, but it helped him recognize people. He supposed it came from either hunting specific targets he'd met before, or maybe to remember who was an ally when you were in the midst of battle.

She introduced herself, formally. He smiled and nodded his head, giving his response in a formal voice of his own, "I am Challenger Rocho Krul, hunter and mercenary. May there be glory and points to the victor." He once would have introduced himself as an Imperial Knight in these settings. However with the Fel Empire's descent, he left it, and so no longer wanted such a title. He adjusted the rifle in his hands, still pointed down presently. But ready to move once the fight began, whether she did it, or it was officially announced.

He'd been in dangerous fights before, and intended to be in more after this. But Rocho wasn't going to take her lightly. No matter the skill, if you act a fool, even a child can kill you. And if someone was going to enter this kind of competition, they'd have to trust in their abilities. So he would as well.

Equipment:
heklerkok-tdl-1-tempest (strapped to his back, extra ammunition on straps.)
PS-1 Particle Shotgun (Extra ammunition on belt and legs.)
g-11-shield-gauntlet (right arm)
Hekler'Kok LA-2 Light Armor (Isn't wearing shoes, helmet, or gloves.)
The Beast: (strapped to his side.)
chalacta-ii-anti-matériel-rifle (in hands)

 

[Aya Clarke]

• Wearing: Saintly Armor, Cyber Eye Contacts
• Wielding: Lightsaber (sheathed), Yei Karkan
• Judge: Scherezade deWinter
• Opponent: Rocho

It felt odd to be treated with respect in the Galaxy these days, but a formal greeting between rivals like this brought to her some hope and faith in the Galaxy. She bowed her head respectfully when he returned the gesture of formalities, and smiled at him through the transparent 'helmet'. "May She watch us both with pride, Monsieur Krul." With that, as her head raised up from the gentle bow, she took a step back, giving him just a bit of space, before moving to take up her stance.

The flag, which was essentially a phrik spear, had its tip lowered until it was pointed at Krul's neck, the unfurled banner hanging down below. The shaft rested comfortably in her palms and she drew in a slow, deep breath. Her vision slowly felt as though it was focusing, enhancing her perception on Rocho Krul's form, the way he stood, the way his hips moved with the rest of his body. She was not force sensitive, but precognition did not entirely require the force, if one knew what best to look for. She would simply need time to understand his figure, before she could really guess as to his next move. Time that, admittedly, she may not have.

After all, he did have guns.

It seemed to take an eternity from her perspective, standing, watching, taking in Rocho, before she realized none had called the match yet, at least formally. Not wanting to drag things out indefinitely, the woman took matters into her own hands, with a loud enough voice to carry across a battlefield. "En garde!"

With that, she took the initiative, moving quickly to get within her spear's range and intending to make a quick thrust at Rocho's leading shoulder. She quite simply had to remove his firearms from the equation, or she would find this fight to be over far too swiftly for her own liking, as such his arms would be her first target to attempt to force him into melee for defensive purposes. She kept the micro-repulsors in her suit prepped to activate, should she be unable to close the distance and strike, but with luck she could end her first major disadvantage now, before the remainder came into play.

 

[Rocho]

Judge: Scherezade deWinter
Opponent: Aya Clarke

He gave a nod of his head and a smile to her response, though his eyes did not leave her. She backed up, and he clenched the rifle in his hands. It was a pretty hefty weapon for a fight like this, but that was the point. Though it would take longer to properly aim, and wasn't effective at the range they were at, even now, without a moment. It would be devastating if he actually was given a chance. Truth was though, he wasn't expecting to get to use it much. In a battlefield like this it was a risk. But it did take the attention away from his other weaponry.

She was the first to charge, he took in a breath and leapt backwards. A powerful shove from his legs and the force sending him several meters, and while in the air, he braced, firing the chalacta-ii as he did so. It wasn't aimed much at her, he only had the time to brace his shoulder with it. But the power with which it hit the ground should act as a distraction causing considerable amounts of loose ground to simply fly, though relatively harmless due to the circumstances. He grunted slightly from the recoil himself that it gave to his shoulder, this was not made for mobility. The instant he landed he dropped the weapon, she probably was going to keep pushing the offensive.

The PS-1 Particle Shotgun took its place with practiced speed, which immediately released a scatershot at her, followed by a single shot. The upside was it had loads of stopping power, and with the scattershot it would be more difficult to evade. The single shot would help if she managed to take the scatter, but kept going. The issue was that, especially since he leapt back, a good bit of it might simply miss. Which would make its overall effectiveness decrease.

Respect was due to any warrior in battle who fought like one. And just as much as the response introduction he'd given her was respect, so too he had to give her a fitting fight.

Equipment:
heklerkok-tdl-1-tempest (strapped to his back, extra ammunition on straps.)
PS-1 Particle Shotgun (Extra ammunition on belt and legs.)
g-11-shield-gauntlet (right arm)
Hekler'Kok LA-2 Light Armor (Isn't wearing shoes, helmet, or gloves.)
The Beast: (strapped to his side.)
chalacta-ii-anti-matériel-rifle (in hands)

 

[Aya Clarke]

• Wearing: Saintly Armor, Cyber Eye Contacts
• Wielding: Lightsaber (sheathed), Yei Karkan
• Judge: Scherezade deWinter
• Opponent: Rocho

The first strike may have been hers, but Aya held no doubt as he moved that he held the advantage. Reaction like that was not impossible, in fact for a seasoned veteran of melee combat, she herself could have acted just as, if not more so, quickly. The tipping point to give Rocho an advantage, however, was that leap, beyond what she felt even such a powerful species as his should be able to.. surely he was blessed with the Force. Which made this fight even more important for her to finish quickly, as she would inevitably lose if this were to drag on for too long. The first weapon's shot was of little concern, as it cascaded into the ground, a non-deterrent from her continuing to rush forward at the man.

It was the second weapon that would be a problem. The spread shot was too far spread to be an issue, her armor more than capable of managing even the particle projectiles, despite being something it hadn't been built with in mind. The single shot however slammed into her chest, and stopped her advance as the wind was taken from her, forcing her to take a moment to catch her wind, giving him a brief few moments as she took a pained and labored breath. It hadn't pierced her, but her lungs had slammed into her chest, rattled in her armor. She could certainly keep going, but the cough shaking her voice up made it clear to both of them no doubt that she had been hurt.

Once she had managed to fill her lungs, Aya again made a charge. This time however, her eyes with the contacts focusing in just ever so slightly, so she could pay attention to that trigger finger of his. He would have to fire the weapon again, and she was waiting for it. The moment she thought he was going to fire the weapon, she suddenly would lift her leading hand off the flag spear, and activate the micro-repulsors. The technology mimicked the effect of a padawan's force push, something she doubted would throw the man back or send him to his knees, but that wasn't the point. The point was she radiated no force sensitivity, so he wouldn't be ready for her to do anything like this.

Perhaps this would make him lose his grip on his weapon, or throw off his aim, and allow her an opening. The blast was swift, and she was able to quickly grab hold of the flag spear again, and aim a thrust at Rocho's chest, feinting it into a proper thrust at his shoulder again. She refused to let this fight devolve further into her chasing a man unwilling to meet her blade to blade, even if she understood the wisdom in him using everything to his advantage. If this didn't work, she herself would have to make a retreat, a fate she would rather avoid.