The Righteous Side of Hell [Republic Re-Invasion of Alderaan vs. One Sith {Masters & NFUs only}]

[J3C0]

[member="Phylis Alince"]
(90% sure I didn't miss any attacks this time)

Mierin reeled.

Her arm may have been cybernetic, but like all prosthetics in this day and age it had been attached to her nerve endings. The destruction of the limb felt like loosing her arm all over again, and as searing pain surged through her, so did the darkside of the force.

Lightning surged from her almost effortlessly, again and again jumping out in great sparks and huge waves. Until her head snapped to the side. From the direction of Phylis came a chunk of rock. Mierin turned to it, trying to stop it, but it was too late. The duracrete hunk struck her in the chest, crushing against her and delivering a solid blow. The Vonduun Skerr Kyrric cracked and bent slightly, but it did not break. The kinetic force of the rock carried through to Mierin however, and the snapping of bone could be heard.

The Sith shrieked in pain against and grasped for her lightsaber. She found the blade on the floor next to her.

A snap and a hiss, the blade activated and she sliced the rock in two followed by a strong push of the force. The hunk of rock removed itself, and Mierin took a deep breath. Pain surged through her, hurt as she had never felt before. The Pureblood coughed, blood spewing from her mouth. Slowly she crawled to her feet, vision slowly fading into a bright white.

Her eyes opened fully, peering around the strewn rubble, trying to find Phylis even though they couldn't see.

The force stretched out from her, searching.

 

[Kiskla Grayson-Matteo]

Out if conditioned reaction, Kiskla's muscles flexed. [member="Darth Junra"] was a trained warrior, and though she was docile now, that didn't mean she couldn't turn hostile in a flicker.

Kiskla was surprised the Sith gave her room for opinion, from what she'd gathered so far, Junra knew what she was going to say from the get-go. If that was the instance, then Kiskla wouldn't prevent her tongue any further.

There was an assumption that Daella already knew what she'd say when asked. When war ended. War stemmed from those with opposing views-- Kiskla was aware of this. She also knew of The One Sith's boast for domination by unification. But the mind and spirit was independent, and always would be.

"Do you?"

 

[Simone]

Location: Ruins
Allies: [member="Marcello Matteo"]
Enemies: [member="Darth Veles"] [member="Darth Banshee"]
Objective: Survive

Pain seared across the backs of Simone’s legs and she screamed as they gave out beneath her. Her perosnla computer skittered away and she rolled onto her back scrambling backwards (or so she hoped) from her invisible attacker. Eyes were wide with panic as she looked around frantically for them.
She most definitely should not have agreed to be and overwatch if she was going to get killed like this.

 

[Djorn Bline]

Location: Aldera Ruins
Allies: [member="Noah Corek"] @Volke James Tiber
Enemies: @Smeg @Lucianus Adair [member="The Hydra Queen"]
Objective: Not to die - I'm sorry bae!

The volley of blaster bolts didn't do any damage against the creature and only did damage to the amphistaffs that were protecting the creature from any harm. Then the snakes that were at his feet finally attacked him by wrapping themselves around his feet preventing him to move his legs or feet. More and more amphistaffs began rushing towards him, leaping on top of him, and just like his legs they began wrapping themselves around his arms to prevent him to move his arms. Now, he was stuck and could't do anything until help arrived.

He couldn't see the vong through the fog as she blent in with her surroundings but he finally saw her as she leaped herself towards Canal to tackle him. The captain couldn't do absolutely nothing to prevent being tackled. All he could do was say, "Oh, great," with no humor or enthusiastic, just a blank sentence. As the female Vong collided with him he began falling backwards with the Hydra Queen and then was finally on the ground with the Vong creature on top of him.

"Well, ain't this lovely," he commented to his attacker as he was being sandwiched by both the Vong and the ground.

Hopefully, she doesn't do any weird things with me.

 

[The Hydra Queen]

Location: Amphistaff colony
Allies: [member="Smeg"] [member="Lucianus Adair"]
Enemies: [member="Canal Tal'Verda"] [member="Noah Corek"] @Volke James Tiber
Objective: Claim Canal


Her glowing citrine eyes would pierce down upon Canal, her body straddling the Dreadguard, fingers reaching forward to anticipate the removal of his helm.

Her claws would reach out and snap off the seal, and in one fluid moment, with him prone and tangled up by the amphistaffs, would take his helmet off. Serpentine figures would start to hold fast to that blaster rifle into a tangled amphistaff ball.

It was then she heard the cry, her head swiveling just in time to see the startling image of tanks being thrown into the air. Specifically, at [member="Noah Corek"], who in his ignorance, had stumbled across a massive amphistaff colony. Those serpentine figures would slip out of their polyps and attack, snapping up to tangle against his limbs and attempt to hold him as the dark shadow of a tank would come straight at him.

"SMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEG!" came the Hydra Queen's shrill cry, echoing throughout the foggy landscape. Her head would dip low, coming to mere inches from Canal's own.

"Chi̧ļd ơf ͠Yun-͏Aḿo̕n̸.... Y͢ou͡ a̴re̢ m̵y̸ ̨own. Y̛e̸t ̢y̵o̷u͘ ͏se͞e̢k͘ ̴to d̴estroy̕ ̶tha̡t͜ w҉h͟ich ̡you ͢bel͘òn̛g to." she would shake her head, like a mother to that of her wayward child.

A strange look would sweep across her face, as if his action had truly struck a cord within her. Words would dance. Images would bleed together. Emotions...

"I̡'ve̕ ͏d̡one̶ ̛no̕thi͘n̷g͏ ͘b̧ut͢ ͝all ́I͟ ҉c͢aǹ ̶t͝o p̶r̸ơtect ́y͢ou̡.͘" she would whisper, a lone claw carefully caressing the side of his face. A somber expression would tinge the melancholy in her voice.

The hiss of the Hydrastaff would slowly come to slither down her arm, as five bright green eyes would stare at the dreadguard with hissing forked tongues.

 

[Talon Vosra]

[member="Darth Tsolan"]

Talon pulled his hand back quickly meeting the sith's blade. He then pulled his saber back and quickly struck at the sith's lightsaber hilt.

 

[Darth Veles]

Location: Ruins
Allies: [member="Darth Banshee"]
Enemies: [member="Marcello Matteo"], [member="Simone"]

Both blades burned through flesh and caused the woman to fall down, finally ending the chase. A Zeltron by the look of her skin, the pink pigmentation immediately reminding the Sith of a fallen Jedi named Maya Whitelight. She was not what interested Veles right now though, not anymore, as one of his large amber orbs followed the computer that fell out of her hands. Extinguishing one of the blades and placing the hilt on the belt on his hip, Veles moved around the pink skinned woman until he stopped, standing above the device that Veles guessed to have been used to control the drones as well. Briefly glancing towards his downed opponent, noting her state on the verge of panic from the look in her eyes, the Mon Calamari telekinetically summoned the computer into his free hand and finally decloaked himself. Was the sight more terrifying than the fear of the invisible assassin? Veles did not know, he could not speak for the woman.

The tip of the blade held in his left hand stood mere centimetres from her head, pointing between her eyes. She could probably feel the heat radiating from the crimson blade. "Please surrender," the Sith Master asked politely and moved the blade a bit closer to her skin, indicating he could end her life with a mere flick of his wrist and would not hesitate to do so if provoked, "I do not wish to hurt you any further. If you cooperate, you have my word as a Sith Master that you will receive a medical treatment as soon as possible," promised the amphibious Sith kindly, offering her a chance to have it good way.

By the looks of it, Veles guessed her to be an intelligence agent. Light on her feet, using drones to scout the surrounding area, not heavily armed, possessing a computer in the middle of war zone... People knowing plenty about the Republic were valuable, and he definitely wanted to capture one for an interrogation.

 

[Darth Banshee]

Location: Ruins
Allies: [member="Darth Veles"]
Enemies: [member="Simone"], [member="Marcello Matteo"]

Darth Banshee was still fighting her way through, what was left of the republic troops. It was not much longer, before she started to reach the edge ruins. She sent message to Darth Veles, Are you okay, and the republic troops are being beaten back. Also got them away from the ruins, my troops will take defensive point. She looked around, and began ordering them to find cover. Whilst above they got assistants from the fury, raining fire on the republic positions if tried to advance.

Then happened she felt another present near by in the force, who ever they where they where strong in the force. Though she felt like she sensed this person before, though it felt different some how.

 

[Marek S'hadar]

Location: Ruins
Allies: Marcello Matteo [member="Simone"]
Enemies: Darth Veleshttp://starwarsrp.net/user/3259-darth-veles/ Darth Bansheehttp://starwarsrp.net/user/3930-darth-banshee/
Objective: Kill, quite simply

Always late to the party S'hadar, always late. The master had been out cold for a solid few hours, crash landings had that affect from time to time. But he was here now. Magnus armor hugged his skin as he made a beeline for Vesles and Simone, losing a part of Republic intelligence wasn't in the cards for the day.

Sprinting as fast as the force allowed him the redeemed Jedi Master had his sight on the Sith Lord, and more importantly on answers. He'd be finding Cale today, he wanted to know where his brother was. Vaulting over rubble and leaping over boulders, Marek landed with a crash behind the Zeltron slicer. "Step away from the girl." He ordered, his voice cold and metallic behind the Sith Stalker helmet that adorned his head.

Without waiting for a response, he ignited his sky blue saber in a reverse grip, the blade springing to life with a snap-hiss. He'd waited a long time to see some action, he wouldn't pass up the opportunity again.

 

[Noah Corek]

Location: Aldera Ruins
Allies: [member="Canal Tal'Verda"] @Volke James Tiber
Enemies: [member="Smeg"] [member="Lucianus Adair"] [member="The Hydra Queen"]
Objective: Tanks, really guys!? We've resorted to throwing tanks?
Noah heard the grinding of metal in the air long before he saw the tank actually in the air. Hearing the sound, Noah activated his jetpack, making soar into the air, avoiding both the flying tank and the Amphistaffs on the ground. Still in the air and capable of at least five minutes of flight, Noah observed the surroundings. Seeing the fog, Noah activated the thermal of his MFTAS system, seeing three heat signatures, two grappling on the ground and one standing nearby, Noah couldn't shoot at the woman on Canal without running the risk of hurting him, so he had to let Canal fight his own fight, but the giant creature inside the cloud was fair game, and Noah emphasized this point by opening fire on the creature with bursts of automatic blaster fire.

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Darth Mierin"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="HK-36"]

Reeling was going on Phylis’ side of the equation too. She had managed to bind the wound, but she knew history well enough to understand what had just happened. The Vong creature had bitten her, and she could already feel her left arm becoming numb. She had little time, less than an hour certainly, before the venom was irreversibly fatal.

Still, she did not cower or pause. She called on the Force to slow the spread of the toxin at least a little, and to aid her in maintaining focus. She had a job to do first.

The Sith blurred slightly in her eyes, but she blinked it away and pushed forward. With a trembling left hand she summoned yet another rock, these were ruins after all, to crash down onto the Sith Lord.

They were both one armed now. Sith and Jedi, this would be a desperate battle. Lightsabre and failing Force against each other. If either delayed too long they would die, so a quick victory and quicker escape was needed.

She closed, her blade forming a one handed guard, her left arm now barely able to move.

It’s time to end this….

 

[HK-36]

Location: Aldera Ruins, Allied Frontlines
Objective: Provide Support for Phylis, Get Her To Safety
Allies: The Last Alliance, [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Phylis Alince"], [member="Coryth Elaris"],
Enemies: The One Sith, [member="Darth Mierin"],
Musical Selection: Nah Neh Nah by Vaya Con Dios


"Iron Knight" The First Baron of Abregado-Rae


Indeed, getting the fight over with quickly and making an exit would be beneficial, especially since we all had stuff going on in other places. And so, Phylis did not had to fight alone.


Anyhoo, as the droid flew just above the ground he knew he still had a hunt to finish, he has hit Mierin with a shot from his Mass Driver, that he knew, it was time to see the attack through. He would be guided by the memory of her previous position, which did not seemed to change that much, and the readings from his sensors, infrared and otherwise, to find his target. And so he did, along with Phylis, who seemed in an equally bad shape like the rest of the beings taking part in this fight.

As the droid begun to close in he reached to his back, pulling one of the Twin Sith Alchemy swords he received as trophy after killing the Bando Gora Machine God with Sio, his jetpack and rocket boots systems cut off, letting him continue the rest of the distance on foot as he initiated what was left of his sound-dampening systems, closing in on Mierin's position in silent steps while he could.


His fist would clench, gathering up all the hatred, rage, and sense of justice he felt, misguided or not, abominable or not, letting it be his fuel as blue arcs begun to dance around his free hand, electro-shocking systems of his Electro-Cestus activating, he noticed Phylis' telekinetic attack at Mierin, he kept track of it to make sure he would not be hit by it as well, or that Mierin would direct it back at him.

And then when the Dark Lady of the Sith was just before him, he propelled his clenched fist in attack, his metal hand covered in metal gauntlet for that extra weight in punch, imbued with electrical damage for bonus stun, as he aimed the blunt attack at the back of Mierin's head. It was in his intent to simply and brutally punch the consciousness out of her body so they could all move on with their things, his sword held tightly in his other hand as he moved through the dust and debris in the air, keeping track of things in case he had to defend himself.


Mierin seemed to be blinded, at least in the conventional spectrum, and focused on fighting Phyllis, it was unknown how much she suspected an attack from behind. While she could probably hear the jet propulsion systems of the droid, there was a chance she could overlook them in chaos of things and the background noise of the battle still going on, especially as dropships and gunships would begun to near as the droid commanded. His movement on foot should be still masked under the sound dampening systems, active for brief period he was still able to run them, and whether she could sense him through the Force could be doubtful as well. Mierin at the time seemed to be sensing Phyllis, meaning she was looking for a live being instead of synthetic body of a droid, who could just as well feel like debris or ground in the Force, just background object. However, there was something she could have sensed, the fain trace of the Dark Side emanating from the droid's blade as he armed himself in it. Whether she would think it was reinforcements from some other Dark Sider or an actual attack on her, that would be left to her to decide.

 

[Djorn Bline]

Location: Aldera Ruins
Allies: [member="Noah Corek"] and Pubs
Enemies: [member="The Hydra Queen"]
Objective: You wanna talk about it, bae?

The clone saw the fingers of the Vong reaching down where his head was and he knew those fingers were on his helmet for it was the one barrier that protected his head. He could hear the seal being snapped off from his helmet and then the fingers of the creature took off his helmet and would reveal the face of Jango Fett that Canal and the rest of his brethren shared with. The two figures were face to face with each other. From the Vong he heard the name "Smeg" being yelled from her mouths. She then focused her attention back to Canal and then she lowered down her head to be close the clone's face.

Oh, gosh! She's gonna try and kiss me! No, no, no, no, no...

Luckily, that didn't happen. A huge relief for the clone. She then called him that name she was calling him as if he was property of this "Yun Amon". And to add that he called her his own? Has she noticed that they were two different complete species? The expression of her face then changed to a sorrowful expression. A claw then began caressing his face and Canal didn't dare to move his face for it could give him a scar and blood would come out from that area. Her whisper at the last sentence had a hint of sadness in it which both the sentence and her voice began to confuse him.

"What do you mean of protecting me? We've just met. Please, elaborate yourself."

 

[Long Gone]

Location: Aldera Ruins
Objective: End it.
Enemies: Coric Adromak
Allies: The Force

There would be no time for fanciness…

Games were out the window…

Aaralyn stepped up to meet her attacker, her body would move left slightly, footing adjusting just enough to make her move. Her left hand coming up with Tyrena to block the incoming assault that attempted to cleave her in half at the waist and as she would block this attempt successfully, she would attempt to use everything he sought to destroy her with and deliver a mighty blow against him.

Atleast she hoped it would be…

Her right hand would come up with Kor-Vella, wrist twisting the hilt swiftly, aided by the powers of the Force. The Force would guide her movements, aid her speed and momentum as she would drive the blade him towards her intended target. Her feet adjusted again, just slightly as she stepped forward into his momentum. Something that was clearly unavoidable by his own doing. As she stepped into him, she brought Kor-Vella up and inwards. It was a direct shot at his abdomen. There was a price should she penetrate through his armor, flesh and bone; she would take on the brute force impact of his forward momentum, but it was a small price compared to taking him out of this fight.

Everything came with a price, small or large…

 

[Marcello Matteo]

Location: Ruins
Allies: [member="Simone"], [member="Marek S'hadar"]
Enemies: [member="Darth Veles"], [member="Darth Banshee"]

Marcello didn't need his senses to tell him that there was a Sith looming over the Zeltron he was racing to keep alive. The instant that Simone's body went crashing to the ground, the Jedi Master gritted his teeth and intensified his efforts. Her pain surged through the Force and washed over his body like waves, but it only served to spur him onwards...to do what he could to relieve the pain being felt by someone that was merely trying to do a job. An individual that, apparently, still believed in the Republic enough to risk her life for it and what it stood for. Or...perhaps she was risking her life for the people of Alderaan. Marcello respected both, and he would do what he could to ensure the galaxy continued to benefit from her efforts after this...invasion?

The seconds that followed only served to...confuse Marcello. He expected the sudden appearance of a Sith Lord that had apparently been cloaked. Glacier-blue eyes fell upon the datapad in the Mon Calamari's grasp...but only briefly. His eyes were pulled once more as a...non-Sith of some sort blurred into view. Exhaling heavily, Marcello came to an abrupt stop. He wasn't more than a couple hundred meters from Darth Veles and Simone. Dropping to a knee, Marcello reached out with the Force, evaluating the woman's injuries albeit very briefly. Unlike Marek, Marcello didn't have time to talk or deliver threats and ultimatums. He'd already had a lengthy conversation with Darth Shara on Empress Teta. He knew all he needed to know.

The aura of the Force swirled intensely around Marcello as he channeled his principal desire and concern of keeping Simone alive into a forthright effort to rapidly slow the bodily functions of Darth Veles. The technique of Morichro had been one that Marcello's late master had been...hesitant to teach him. Years of practice was the only way the Jedi Master obtained any level of proficiency. Marek's distraction would do a decent job of giving Marcello the opening he needed. Further more, Morichro was not a technique that directly effected the brain...it merely literally shut down a target's bodily functions...swiftly.

 

[Sophia Walsh]

Sophia wasn't much of a fighter. She had been a pilot, a captain of a ship and than Viceroy sitting in her manor helping people she thought had wanted her help. The young woman was broken however she didn't want the Sith to know as she would just use that against her. She had to be strong when she was the furthest from that point. She really had come here for peace, not this. She had never wanted this.

"Fun? I don't want to play games so if that is what your aiming at here I suggest you find a new target. You won't like me when I'm mad. She warned spinning around grabbing the saber off her hilt. If they were to fight so be it. She would get over it.

She stepped back avoiding the venom or spit. Really, it didn't matter what it was. She didn't want it on her. If she could stop a fight, she would.

[member="Darth Praelior"]

 

[Balaya Praelior Zambrano]

[member="Sophia Walsh"]

Balaya moved and stood there as she looked upon the jedi. A smile remaining on her lips as she continued the spell but was focused on her. She wanted to see this anger, push it, nurture it and the fastest way to do that was as she moved. "Sutta Chwituskak" Her hand rose holding the saber as she sent it a black bolt of emotion raw and designed to incite Sophia if she caught it. The caries water seeped into the ground for the mud was all around them, the darkside nexuses from the creatures, out of the corner of her eye behind the woman she saw Elara standing and the apprentice, her skilled one threw a breaker grenade at Sophia, the metallic black glistening in the light before it exploded and the darkside corruption spread.

It wasn't like a forcebreaker that cut it off it was made for one to lose their control and Balaya was inhaling deeply, she was letting the energy fill her lungs while flaring her empathy at Sophia. Searching for that feeling and moving to close the distance between them with the hydrastaff. while she lashed out with her whip. Her mind was racing over those service thoughts. "Come now Sophia Walsh... Where is that gusto the jedi have? aren't you going to try and make me repent? Aren't you going to tell me I don't have to follow the darkside and can follow you?" She was grinning and pushing it now, the spells she had learned from the nightsisters and within the sith books. Green mist seeped out of the ground while force energy met water and the incantation to renew spirit ichor.

Balaya was pushing her energy, pushing her influence and rage onto Sophia. She wanted the jedi to give in and get talking, wanted her to be enjoying this moment. "Talk to me jedi, there is so much you can do and so many things I want to teach you about being mad." Now time to move and strike, the venom of the hydrastaff would need to come back while Balaya worked with her force energies towering over the jedi even sunk somewhat into the mud. She was focusing her mental influence to torment and taught, make those surface thoughts and emotions become something else. You came for the wrong reasons, you are not here for peace, you are here because you like war. You hunger for it, you jedi lust for battle more then any sith.

Then she pressed, pushed the force and the darkside at her using the weight of the planet, all the sithspawn that she could feed from, all the atrocities and death, all the rage and anger, the madness and hatred ones felt for the jedi, for the sith and for their own fears. It was glorious and she turned it all into a focus for her spells and powers. You have been running from the truth ever since you realized it in the CIS, or was it in the Republic when Tyrin took you? Did you feel it then that surge of hatred, that warm embrace that was fear and horror? There is a comfort in it Sophia, there is pureness and it is raw, you can do so much more if you just used your anger. You could be a stronger jedi then any of them, able to protect and forge peace. You just have to want it.

 

[Darth Kentarch]

Location: Aldera Ruins
Objective: Defeat the Sword of the Jedi
Enemies: [member="Aaralyn Rekali"]
Allies: The Sith

He was surprised she could blunt a two handed attack, with single lightsaber in an inverted grip like she did. But instead of delivering the death blow at the same moment using a parry riposte combo she stepped forward. And Coric took advantage of the tell, and loosened his grip on his lightsaber with his left hand as she took that step. When she brought Kor-Vella up his left hand palmed her right. knocking the blade wide. The two collided, it was not clean collision, Coric had expected her to yield ground. His balance was off and knocked her clean over and he himself crudely flipped, tumbling to the ground. He rolled several times before coming stop.

"You karking filth." He spat, pushing himself up. There was pain in his stomach, he looked down. His armor and cloak had been burned. His hand shaking he reached to touch his flesh. His skin was sheered, and a stabbing pain shot through him each time he exhaled. Her blade had landed a glancing blowing on his stomach on the left hand side. He stood and wave a pain shot through him. He screamed, and raised his hands. Indigo bolts of lightning shot forth and arched at the jedi. He poured his pain and anguish into the attack fueling it to give the Sith Lightning strength.

 

[Long Gone]

Location: Aldera Ruins

Objective: Continue until it's done.

Enemies: [member="Coric Adromak"]

Allies: The Republic

Lightning...such a common attack for the dark ones.

She felt the hairs on her neck stand as she spun on her heels, and with no time to spare either. As she spun, her arms came up to shield her face and the bracers did the remaining work. They would absorb the energy from the lightning and disperse the crackling hatred to the sides as the heat would begin to build at her wrists and emanate down her forearms. She would grit her teeth behind her arms, slowly lowering her sabers in an effort to deflect the lancing bolts of lightning away from her body in general.

She could feel herself being pushed back slowly, and in turn she was gathering strength from each striking blow against her bracers. Each burning sensation that lashed up her wrist and down her forearm caused her to focus more on the pain, to center it into her being. She would harness the negative and press it into the positive, to her defense. She needed to break the grip of the lightning that was being casted about her form. Her left foot would come back as she kept her face down, gritting behind armor and glinting light from the energy of the lightning.

Blue swirling energy would begin to circle her form, slowly at first but gradually pick up speed and then in the blink of an eye...Aaralyn thrusted her arms outwards in a manner as if she were shoving someone away from her, hard. An explosive force of blue rippling Force energy would tear the ground asunder from her and impact the incoming lightning bolts, the telekinetic wave of energy would be directed at [member="Coric Adromak"] with the intention of throwing him off balance and knocking him back a few feet or so...

Perhaps this time she'd be able to get him out of the game and carry on with aiding [member="Kiskla Grayson"]

 

[Darth Kentarch]

Location: Aldera Ruins
Objective: Defeat the Sword of the Jedi
Enemies: [member="Aaralyn Rekali"]
Allies: The Sith


He took a step forward. He could feel the pain partially subside in his gut. While a wave pain would shoot through him now and then, each time it was less severe. As she squirmed back and regained her footing, he could see the girl summon her defenses and push back with a tide a blue energy. Coric countered by summoning a telekinetic barrier, the blue ripples and ground splashed and tore up around him, dissipating around him after a few seconds. He paused for a moment searching for something. He reached out simply twisted his wrist, nearby Aaralyn the super heated half of the power lance jumped from the ground and rocketed towards her backside. While she had cut the weapon in two earlier the head was still more than hot enough to burn through flesh and armor.