Private Twice Bitten

[Alina Tremiru]

Anemia was rarely ever a plague, but Epica had been suffering from what seemed to be an overabundance of Anemia cases. Lethargy, dizziness, lightheadedness. Near half the people suffered it in the small village within the mountains, and it wasn't something that had always been around. It was new. Conventional medicine didn't seem to help, so why not reach out to the Jedi? They weren't in Alliance space, but surely the Jedi would come help people in need, right?

At least that's what the woman hiding amongst the trees figured. The people here were worth treating as cattle. Harvesting just enough of their blood to store for later use. A village of men and women particularly attuned to the Force. Their blood was always the sweetest. Alina sat atop one of the higher branches, her golden eyes just watching the cattle go about their normal days. Hoping and waiting for an answer for all the tiredness they'd been subject to. It didn't seem like something that bad.

But now there were some unable to even leave their bed without fainting. Overdrawn, all to lure her out. Head Healer of the New Jedi Order. Surely it'd be Amani Serys that'd come by.

Thelma Goth

 

[Thelma Goth]

Amani did not come to Epica, as the Chief Healer was needed elsewhere. Instead, a small group of lower-ranking Jedi Healers and volunteers were shipped off to resolve the problems of the ailing village.

Thelma was among the volunteers, and soon found herself in the role of errand girl, running around distributing supplies throughout the town. She dragged a hovercart behind her as she made her way down the street, headed to the next house. The cart was full of medical supplies, among them large sealed containers of refrigerated blood.

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

She didn't come. In hindsight, Alina wasn't too surprised. Chief Healer had more important things to do herself than take care of a small village those she did send could do. Didn't stop her from feeling annoyed as she watched them scurry about in her perch close to the town. A wave of anemia. It just wasn't enough. She let out a sigh as she dropped down. Made her way into town with a disinterested look towards the people around her. Asides from the obvious dress in black and pale skin, she didn't stand out too much.

Except she did. Absolutely did.

"That's a lot of supplies for such a small town. Did something happen?"

Thelma Goth

 

[Thelma Goth]

Alina was lucky that Thelma didn’t even bother to look up at her, instead keeping her gaze fixed on the ground before her.

“There have been many cases of anemia,” she replied. “We don’t know what the cause of it is, but so far the treatments have been working. Excuse me, I’ve got to deliver these…”

With that, she took a right turn, heading down a dark, narrow alleyway between two townhouses. She figured the mysterious woman wouldn't bother to follow her.

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

"Riight." Jedi weren't all this unobservant, were they? Alina shrugged, followed along regardless with a hum on her lips. Followed into the dark alleyway with a brow raised. No, no. Small town, this made sense. Had to make sense. Didn't matter. This was going to make the next part that much easier, wasn't it?

"You're a Jedi, right?"

Thelma Goth

 

[Thelma Goth]

Thelma’s surprise that the woman was still following her was enough to make her glance back at Alina. She noticed for the first time how strange she looked, with her deathly pale skin and all black clothing. But she could simply be an eccentric villager, or perhaps a foreign visitor who had become stranded here by the quarantine.

“Yes,” Thelma answered her question without pausing in her journey toward the other end of the alley. “We have the situation well in hand. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

"I'm sure you do. It makes sense to send someone like you here to help, no?"

She didn't seem suspicious. Trusting? Or just keeping it close to her chest. Hard to tell, really. But- Well. "Amani isn't coming by, is she?"

Thelma Goth

 

[Thelma Goth]

“I don’t know what you mean,” Thelma said. “The healers are good at what they do, if that’s what you’re asking.”

So this mysterious woman knew Amani, or at least, she knew the Chief Healer’s name. Thelma shook her head. “She’s busy elsewhere. Why do you ask?”

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

"Right, right. How many of you need to get hurt to get her attention, do you think?"

She didn't wait for an answer. Instead, she moved. Closed the distance to bring her fist around for the side of Thelma's head. She didn't even bother to hold back. No, there was something there to this Padawan that made her think she could take a good punch or two.

Thelma Goth

 

[Thelma Goth]

If the woman’s choice of words hadn’t triggered alarm bells, the Force warning her of the fist headed for her head certainly did. Thelma dodged the blow, moving out of the way in the nick of time.

The Psy-Pire’s metallic fangs descended and her pupils narrowed to pinpoints of violet light. With a snarl she lunged toward her attacker, aiming two mercilessly hard, superhumanly fast punches at her torso, followed by a kick to her diaphragm. She wasn’t tall enough to reach Alina’s face, or else she might’ve tried to knock the other vampiress’ teeth down her throat—

The other vampiress…?!

How had she not seen the sharpness of the woman’s teeth earlier? How had she failed to notice the stench of otherness that permeated her, or the darkness that clouded her aura? No wonder why her instincts had taken over so rapidly once Alina threw the first punch. Some part of her had recognized that she was facing another predator.

But this one was no Psy-Pire. This was some other strain of parasite—one evidently in far less control of her appetites.

“Who are you?” Thelma demanded. “What have you done?”

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

There they were. The instincts of a Jedi. Or a Vampiress. Hard to tell which specifically was fueling the younger woman, but it was enough to get her out of the punch. Her fist met brick and stone of the nearby building. Shattering it with startling ease. A grin spread wide as Alina flashed her fangs. Thelma could hide her own? Interesting. Cheating, but interesting none the less. She caught the punches with her arms, snickering at the bruising force behind them.

She was right to assume the Padawan was a hardy sort. The kick came as she slid back with it, all too eager in appearance despite the damage that'd been done. The people here, their Anima, she'd been stockpiling to fight Amani. The wounds were already healing. The bruises on her arms fading, the deeper bruise to her gut, disappearing.

"An old friend of Amani's. When you go back to her, do let her know I said hi." Then she raised a hand, and the Force screamed. Pressure around Thelma's throat, a tugging sensation as she aimed to grab the Padawan and tug her over. And swing her opposite fist once more.

Thelma Goth

 

[Thelma Goth]

Thelma’s blows seemed to have little effect on the woman, whose wounds healed rapidly. Alina’s responses to her questions were cryptic, but it wasn’t too hard to piece things together.

The Force clenched around Thelma’s neck. Her heels skidded across the ground as she was painfully dragged forward by the throat.

Out of desperation, the Psy-Pire grabbed hold of her lightsaber, igniting the pink blade just as Alina’s fist rounded toward her head again. She slashed upward at the swinging limb, blindly striking at her assailant as dark spots danced before her eyes.

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

The lightsaber swung, and a frown formed on Alina's lips. She stopped her swing completely, instead reaching for the blade itself. Catching it on her wrist. Actually catching it. The Force continued it's scream as she stopped the blade from cutting through her flesh. But rather than keep pressing back she retreated away, letting her go from the invisible hold. She stared at the pink saber, her once amused expression now just annoyed.

Red joined the pink glow as she snapped on her own lightsaber. The crackling blade rippled in the air as she poised herself. Lifted her blade in both hands. Crouched, ready to strike. Just watching the Padawan.

"Now what, little vampire?"

Thelma Goth

 

[Thelma Goth]

"Now what, little vampire?"

Thelma knew when she was outmatched. Continuing to fight would be suicidal when her opponent clearly had the advantage of being able to heal almost instantly from wounds.

She could make a run for it. Once they were out in public, the other vampiress would have a harder time assaulting her—especially with all the other Jedi around to witness it and put a stop to the attack.

On the other hand, her fangs were out. If the other Jedi saw her like this, her cover would be blown. Besides, what if she didn’t make it before Alina caught up with her? Or what if she wound up leading her straight into a crowd of civilians?

"What do you want with Amani?" she asked. "What is she to you?" Probably an old rival with a grudge, if Thelma had to guess, but she wanted to understand what was going on.

For someone who had been so aggressive up until now, Alina’s sudden caution drew Thelma’s attention. Surely she wasn’t afraid of the lightsaber, not after she had caught it with her bare hand…

Thelma stabbed toward Alina’s left thigh. It was a tentative blow, probing, trying to figure out why her opponent was suddenly guarded and defensive. She followed it up with a slash, expecting resistance.

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

"Entertainment."

The thrust of the blade came, and Alina spun with it. Parry, deflect. She kept a passive defense, not trying to knock the Padawan back. A lightsaber always meant caution. She could heal from all sorts of things. Burns like a lightsaber wound were the kind that took time. And time wasn't something she imagined the group of Jedi here would give her if they found them.

Padawans, Knights, Masters, whatever they were, she didn't care to fight them all at the same time. She sighed, then narrowed her eyes. Then lashed out herself. She brought her blade around, letting the Force, her Anima, all of it to increase her speed, her strength. Just to batter the girl's saber aside as she instead launched a foot right for her chest.

"Unlike you."

Thelma Goth

 

[Thelma Goth]

The foot hit its mark, connecting with Thelma’s chest and sending the Padawan sailing backwards. She crashed into the hovercart, sending medical supplies sprawling across the ground.

Thelma struggled to get up, her breathing labored. She had probably cracked a rib or two. Reaching out with the Force, she flung a heavy container of refrigerated blood at Alina, trying to stall her.

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

"What even are you. You're not my kind. You're weak." Alina stalked forward, bringing her blade up and through the container. Splitting it apart to send the halves scattering around her. Even as the blood within coated her dress, her skin, she didn't seem to care.

"You're not even asking for help. Don't want anyone to know you've got fangs? Embarrassed? No, frightened." Her blade flicked up, pointing right towards the Padawan. "You're so strong, but you're afraid of it. So sad."

Thelma Goth

 

[Thelma Goth]

"What even are you? You're not my kind."

Thank the Force for that. Struggling as she might have been to balance her vampiric appetites with being a Jedi, Thelma was grateful she wasn’t some demented monster like the creature standing before her, lashing out against an entire village of people in a vain attempt to gain the attention of a woman who was still light years out of reach.

Alina’s words were no less venomous despite this irony. Thelma knew (or at least assumed) she didn’t intend to kill her—she needed her alive as a messenger—but she was clearly toying with what she perceived as a lesser being.

Thelma was running out of options. She could still salvage this, right?

Drawing upon the Force for strength, she stood up… and waited.

Alina Tremiru​

 

[Alina Tremiru]

"Oh come on. The less you at least respond to my quips the more pieces I'm going to send you back in to Amani. You realize this, don't you?" Not that Alina didn't respect the gusto to stand her ground. Still, she was as ever just looking for entertainment to fill the otherwise boring parts of her life. Like waiting to strike down the green skinned Jedi.

"You've a name, little Vampire? Or should I stick with that?" She didn't wait for an answer. No sooner was the question asked she stepped forward, once more bringing down her saber with her excessive might. She wasn't even trying to cut Thelma with it, just batter away the Psy-pire's own blade so she could again launch another kick. More a stomp, at that, fully intending to just pin the girl to the ground under her heel.

Thelma Goth

 

[Thelma Goth]

Given the pain in her ribs, Thelma could barely speak, let alone waste her breath cracking jokes and spouting witty one-liners. But she was still standing her ground. Still fighting.

“My name is Thelma,” she managed to reply, somehow mustering up enough grace and finesse to avoid the battering Alina intended. Instead she ducked beneath the blow, stabbing her lightsaber toward Alina’s stomach.

Alina Tremiru​