When blades clash and sparks fly (PM to join unless tagged)

[Andorreth Vikar]

I'd been mulling over the blade I'd been given by The Firedancer....Serenity, I wondered if that was what the blade invoked in the person who used it. In any case last night I'd gotten a planet and coordinates with where to meet her. Now I was headed to Eshan to meet her, Jae had been there when we'd met before everything had gone to hell on Nar Shadaa. Even though she was my pilot it'd been too long since I'd taken the helm and while everyone had been sleeping I'd gone to the cockpit and plotted a course to Eshan. Having engaged the jump I'd gone to my quarters and grabbed all of the swords I owned.

Now down in the armory I grabbed a whetstone and honing oil before going into the training ring in the next room. If Jae woke up all she'd have to do was look for my beacon aboard the ship to find me. After spending several minutes honing the edge to my brother's short sword and the honor blade I carried I activated a training module for duels. In reality I knew I wasn't the best with a blade and had quick reflexes but I'd downloaded the known programming for all known assassins in the galaxy. Of which there were only a few. Now engaging the holo-program I stripped out of my shirt and knelt as the program rendered.

When it had finished I saw a female standing in front of me. Rising I drew my brother's short sword from my right thigh and Serenity from my left hip. The program registered this assassin's code name as Oracle. Interesting name, inverting my brother's blade I waited for the attack...

[member="Celiana"] - @Jae Jordan

 

[Celiana]

It'd been about a week since I'd given Andorreth Serenity. Things had happened quickly since then, I'd heard from some contacts that Zephyr had been seen and that had given me no end of problems sleeping. It seemed ages since I was just starting out at the temple on Voss. Even longer since I'd left him....looking back I wish I hadn't and now I may have the chance to rekindle things. I could hope at least, in any case I'd arrived home days ago. The first day had been spent with my mother and my old combat instructor. That had been an interesting interaction not to mention a passionate one. I could never forget how she'd seemed to move so effortlessly even without sight it was amazing what she actually saw...

After speaking with her she'd allowed me use of her dojo for the week including staying there. I'd reluctantly accepted and now I sat on the mats in loose-fitting Echani combat trousers and a simple sports bra. My tattoos very visible and the piercing on my belly button adorned with a mint green rose belly button ring. I kept thinking of what my former Master had said last night that she'd be happy to join me in my travels. I wondered about it and now I couldn't help but smile, after last night....I couldn't say no to her offer. For now though I simply sat and meditated. The last time I'd been here for this long I'd been being trained by Akira in very offensive fighting styles. After completing her training I'd worked with Arja under the name Oracle. I wondered what experience Andorreth had in blades and then cleared my mind once again as I meditated...

[member="Andorreth Vikar"]

 

[Andorreth Vikar]

As the simulation began the woman I noticed had whips attached to her hips. She began to gyrate her hips before pulling a blade from an inverted sheathe on her bodice. She then ran and slid along her shins inverting the blade in a slash towards my calf as she ejected a blade along her forearm gauntlet. Slashing at my calf she used the gauntlet blade to stab at my leg and coming back to her feet behind me a stab towards my ribs. Jerking away from the slash I saw the blade and deflected with the flat of my brother's short sword. Then I jerked my elbow back towards her head as she slid under me. I switched my hold on the short sword and then began a quickfire sequence of the short sword towards her left temple as I flicked Serenity inverted in a slash towards the right side of her ribs. The combat program registered an injury on her. Seeing a superficial cut along the bony part of the ribs I smiled.

Suddenly there was a shift as she sheathed her blade and went into a roll back towards me pulling a baton as she did. I had a split second to register the baton before I was knocked flat by the segments of the baton extending into a staff with bladed tips at either end. The wind knocked from me briefly I saw the tip of the bladed staff coming to rest at my throat. Grabbing the shaft as it came to rest I hooked my leg around her calf and jerked bringing her towards the ground. As she fell she also twitched the staff to send the other bladed end towards me and darting back I brought the short blade in an inverted swing in front of my body deflecting it as I darted to the side and gave a quick thrust with Serenity. Whoever the Oracle was she was truly skilled...even in hologram form she had the advantage of better training. Mostly Echani methods too I noted though there was a distinctive and seductive brutality to her style as well.

I wondered who it was that'd killed my brother and now I was more determined than ever to learn for The Firedancer. Exhaling slowly I waited for The Oracle to make her next move...

[member="Jae Jordan "]- [member="Celiana"]

 

[Jae Jordan]

Jae had been tossing and turning all night long, falling asleep for a short and brief but decent amount of time before waking up again. She wasn't tired, though it did annoy her. After waking up again she sighed and swung her legs over her bed, sitting upright. She looked around her cabin and smiled before yawning and stretching. She ran a hand through her hair and stopped mid action as she thought she'd heard noise aboard the ship. Noticing the time, she had no idea who would be up at this hour. She stood up as the oversized t-shirt she'd thrown on prior, fell down, coming to about mid-thigh.

Leaving her room she headed up to the cock-pit taking a random guess at where the noise had come from. She reached the cock-pit and looked through the window noticing the ship had been put into hyperdrive, they were making a jump to somewhere. She furrowed her brows in confusion as she took a step forward and sat down in the pilots seat. "Eshan..?" She leaned back trying to recall if either Andorreth or Crosswire had said anything abut heading to Eshan, nothing came to her mind. Whilst Andorreth was on her mind she decided to see where he was on the ship and whether or not he made the noise from earlier. She got up and walked over to the panels along the walls of the cock-pit, pinging for his beacon she located him in the armoury, "That explains the noise." She said whilst smiling.

She left the cock-pit and made her way to the armoury, and nevertheless she found him in the centre of the room training with his blades, choosing not to announce her arrival, she leaned on the frame of the doorway that lead to the armoury, enjoying simply watching and admiring him as he fought against the simulator.

[member="Andorreth Vikar"] | @Celiana

 

[Andorreth Vikar]

The simulator registered a puncture wound to the Oracle and the program adjusted itself. The Oracle switched hands holding the spear and rectracted the blade on her end. Bracing against her hip I adjusted the blades I held to an inverted hold with the short blade and waited for her attack. Suddenly she planted the tip of the spear into the mat and launched herself towards me. Bringing my blades up in a block she knocked one free of my hand before landing. As she did she swept my legs from under me and spun the staff bringing the blade against my throat. DEAD rang out from the speakers, sighing I rose to my feet and sheathing the blades I held I bowed to the module bringing my right fist closed horizontally against my left open palm which was vertical. Inclining their head the hardlight hologram winked out of existence.

Turning after the conclusion of the duel I saw Jae leaning against the door frame. Smiling I looked myself over and realized I was drenched in sweat. Shrugging I grabbed my shirt from the floor along with my last blade then walked over towards Jae. Looking at her I said "Wasn't expecting anyone else to be up, though of everyone that could be I'm glad you are." Moving in close against Jae I gently kissed her lips before pulling back away. "I thought you'd be asleep, not that I'm complaining of course..." Kissing her again gently I waited for her response as I broke the kiss once again.

@Jae Jordan

 

[Jae Jordan]

She watched him battle against the hologram and even though it was a simulated battle she couldn't help but get slightly anxious every now and then. She watched him move around the space every move with a purpose, she smiled when a puncture wound was detected and relaxed assuming Andorreth had in under control, though everything happened so quickly after that, and soon enough the speakers spoke. She arched her eyebrows as she saw him sigh and stand up, disappointment across his face.

She smiled once again when he saw her and took a couple steps forward before Andorreth closed the rest of the distance. She tilted her head up slightly to kiss him as he came closer, before he pulled back. "Couldn't sleep properly, then I heard a noise and found out it was you. You did well by the way." She said, complimenting him on his simulated fight, despite his loss he had held his own very well from what she had seen, there was no doubt about that. As the simulated battle was on her mind a question popped into her head, "Was that someone specific? Or a randomly generated opponent?" She asked in regards to the hologram. "Oh, and were you the one who set the course to Eshan?" She added as she almost forgot about that.

[member="Andorreth Vikar"]

 

[Andorreth Vikar]

Smiling at the compliment I raked my fingers through my shaggy black hair and said "Thanks I make it a point to fight opponents more skilled than me. Advice I got from my brother , only way to improve quickly he said. As for being someone in particular....yes that program was based off an assassin known as The Oracle. The combat module here has the combat specs of most known assassins in the galaxy, along with that the module will randomize the combat techniques the assassin uses, that way the learning curve never stops. Whole point of this is to train against all possible techniques. More than that is the training against the man or woman who killed my brother."

Sighing I said "that opponent wasn't the one who was responsible but knowledge is power after all. In any case yeah, I set the course for Eshan. We're heading to meet the Firedancer, and have me get more training with blades. I have the feeling she knows something about who killed my brother and the only hope I have of doing so is to learn from her. For now though I'm fine spending some time with you. At least until we make landfall that is, even then I have the feeling you'll enjoy Eshan..." With that I kissed Jae on the lips and began heading back upstairs to my cabin to at minimum a shower before landing on Eshan.

@Jae Jordan

 

[Celiana]

I'd been busy meditating on how to train Andorreth when I sensed his presence coming towards Eshan...He'd gotten my coordinates then....Impressive amount of initiative from him. I wondered what I'd do in terms of telling him about Tamerlein and how it was the blade his brother had been killed with... Akira had cautioned that I tell him upon his having earned the blade. Which if he'd sparred against any kind of training program that was adaptible he had a high chance of achieving. I'd decided another thing in my time meditating that not only would he earn Tamerlein but a copy of my library as well. That was honestly the more valuable tool for him, especially since he was Force Sensistive.

The collection of techniques and knowledge I'd attained was incredibly valuable. In the hands of someone who understood the techniques and philosophies behind them it was a weapon without equal other than more learning. I'd brought several things with me in order to train him and only time would tell if he was worthy of Tamerlein and my library. I had a good feeling about him though and that said a lot about his chances...

[member="Andorreth Vikar"] - @Jae Jordan

 

[Jae Jordan]

She understood his reasoning for battling opponents who had a higher skill level compared to him, as an expedient method of improving. As soon as she realised he was fighting simulations of most known assassins in the galaxy she was careful as to what she may say net knowing that it had to do with his brother. She didn't wish to pry into it any further than she had to, so for now she left it be. She stopped and thought for a minute, wondering how he could draw the conclusion that the assassin he'd just fought, wasn't the one who had murdered his brother. She would ask about it later, give him time to gather himself after the extensive training session.

"Oh! That was fairly quick, more training with blades I assume. In no time you'll be beating all the simulations." She commented encouragingly. She shared one last kiss with him before he departed to his cabin, she decided to do the same, changing out of her shirt and into her regular clothes she headed back up to the cock-pit and sat down in the pilots seat. Once Andorreth returned she looked up and smiled, "I've never been to Eshan. Do you know what it's like?" She asked curiously. She looked down before deciding to ask, treading carefully with her question, "How can you assume the assassin you previously fought wasn't responsible for your brother?"

[member="Andorreth Vikar"]

 

[Andorreth Vikar]

After getting showered and heading back to the cockpit I ran back into Jae her questions about Eshan I said "Never been there but heard a lot about it. Supposedly some of the best hand to hand fighters and bladed weapons specialists outside of The Mandalorians who have in the past used war as their economy to them it's an art that's brutally efficient. As for how I know...the assassin who killed my brother never used whips, or staffs for that matter. They were on the ten most wanted on Corellia but all his kills were done either legally via an honor duel or in a typical assassin style no holds barred. Most assassins don't allow footage of them to be taken, and The Oracle was the name of the assassin program I fought."

"The one who killed my brother was known as Five and he had a very specific motive, threatening the loved ones of the target and giving them an option. Duel to the death and if killed they remained safe or if he killed them on his honor they'd be left alone. My brother had refused and Five came inside our family estate and killed him anyways. Except the final stroke was dealt with my blade hence my being framed."

"As for Eshan it's known for several things. The shipyards, combat training, and secrets Echani are artists at concealing their true intentions and capabilities. The Firedancer is at least part Echani though I saw a blade reserved specifically for the Echani when we met on Nar Shadaa. That and her name Firedancer means she has the highest training any Echani can get plus she sent the coordinates we're to land at which is by a dojo near a secluded area of a lake so you'll be taking us in Jae."

[member="Jae Jordan "]- [member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

He was just outside the system of Eshan now....Geez, seems Andorreth was far more motivated than anyone I'd ever trained with. Even if he was only here for Tamerlein...I was still impressed. Grabbing Tamerlein I tied it to my waistband and grabbed my whip and staff segments. Slipping them into place on my thigh holsters I made sure that I'd be able to move around easily. Moving out towards The Morrigan I picked a stump to sit on and await Andorreth's arrival...

[member="Jae Jordan "]- [member="Andorreth Vikar"]

 

[Jae Jordan]

She listened intently when Andorreth spoke about the assassins who'd taken his brother away from him. Ten most wanted. Judging from that, that meant this assassin was good, to have gotten his or her name on the ten most wanted. She looked up when he said the name of the assassin he'd just battled against, Oracle. Interesting. She looked at Andorreth as he spoke about the assassin who'd murdered his brother. She shivered slightly at the code of conduct the assassin followed that Andorreth was telling her about. Threatening the loved ones of their target. She didn't enjoy killing on a day to day basis, though would not hesitate to do so if they rightfully deserved it or if a loved one was threatened by them. So for someone to kill needlessly and feel no remorse made her shiver.

She stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck, "I'm sorry for what you've gone through, I really am. But you're gonna find him." She planted a short but sweet kiss to his lips before pulling away, "I promise." She smiled at the end as she looked up at him. She brought her head back down and looked to the control panel to the side of the duo, as a light began to blink, accompanied by a quick short beep. She untangled her arms from his neck and sat down in the pilots seats. "We're coming out of hyper drive." She commented as she wrapped her hands around the control, prepared to direct the ship safely. Looking out the window the scenery returned to a black filled with stars and not far away a planet, Eshan.

Entering the atmosphere of Eshan she followed the coordinates to the secluded area of a lake as Andorreth had informed her of. Flicking a few switches she watched the monitors as the landing gear started to unfold outwards and prepare to touch the ground. she lowered the amount of power to the engines as the ship neared the ground and soon enough there was a soft and gentle thump against the ground, she cut the power to the ship.

Standing up she stretched briefly before looking over at Andorreth, "Ready to meet up with the Firedancer once again?"

[member="Andorreth Vikar"] | [member="Celiana"]

 

[Andorreth Vikar]

Smiling at her encouragement of me and the situation I smiled and felt her lips against mine in a sweet kiss before we dropped back out of FTL and began landing on Eshan. Jae asked about meeting the Firedancer after stretching and I simply nodded. I had to admit that she looked straight up adorable with that stretch. Shaking my head I focused back on the task at hand and quickly went to my cabin and grabbed my sword belt. Sliding Serenity into place on the left side of my sword belt I slid my brother's blade into a sheathe that sat along my back. The last blade I simply slid into an inverted back sheathe before grabbing ensuring my left wrist gauntlet held the hard-light shield module equipped. Having ensured all of those things were in place I made sure my family ring sat on my right ring finger and with all that taken care of I joined Jae down in the hangar where I triggered the landing ramp and we headed out to meet The Firedancer...

@Jae Jordan

 

[Jae Jordan]

Jae made sure to head to her cabin whilst Andorreth had left to retrieve his own equipment. She quickly entered her cabin and grabbed the blaster Andorreth had given her during the brawl and slipped it into her holster that laid on her right side. She dusted herself over and waited for Andorreth down in the hangar. She played with the ends of her hair before she was reunited with Andorreth. He triggered the landing ramp and streams of light broke into the ship lighting up the hangar, her eyes squinted slightly before adjusting to the brightness. She walked down the ramp and looked around, the planet was quite beautiful she had to admit, at least from where she was right now. She stood in front of the lake and looked down at her reflection before looking back up and all around her. "This place is amazing!" She started walking along the river bank as curiosity filled her. Heading back down towards Andorreth she said, "So where exactly are we meeting her? I mean these are the coordinates but did she want to meet somewhere around these coordinates?"

[member="Andorreth Vikar"] | [member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

I'd watched as Andorreth's ship touched down and my helmets' HUD had seent he ID tag for the ship. "Rogue's Salvation" Interesting name I had to admit. I personally needed to finish work on my ship The Valkyrie.... for now though I simply sat on a stump in the tree line and watched as the hangar bay ramp dropped and Andorreth and the girl appeared. Jae...that was her name, remembering Nar Shadaa I realized something. She was staying rather close to Andorreth....possibly involved with him romantically. Good for them both, as it was I was having a slight crisis at the moment. Akira wished to join me in exploration but I still needed to follow up on the leads I'd heard about Zephyr...

As Andorreth and Jae approached I begna moving through the tree line swiftly and silently. Looping back around them as they made their way along the river bank. Sneaking along behind them I pulled Tamerlein and tapping the flat of the blade to Andorreth's neck I called "dead" Jae had begun turning whilst drawing a blaster and I brought the flat of the blade against wrist stopping her from drawing it before tapping her mid-riff "Dead." Spinning Tamerlein out to the side of my body before flourishing the blade and inverting it to re-sheathe it along my left right hip. As they turned to look at me I pulled my helmet off and shook out my chestnut hair. The beads I'd put into my hair clinking against each other.

"Welcome to Eshan Andorreth." Glancing towards Jae I inclined my head respectfully. I knew that it'd be best to treat her as if she was involved with Andorreth. The last thing I needed was to be fighting against someone who cared for the person I was to instruct. Further than that though I wasn't interested in him, not that he wasn't attractive but I had my own issues with romance to figure out and I didn't care to complicate things or cause problems for anyone..

[member="Jae Jordan "]- [member="Andorreth Vikar"]

 

[Andorreth Vikar]

Sighing as I felt the cold metal blade against my neck and heard the call of dead I said "You were in the tree line weren't you? Clever, you also seem to be a native here as well due to knowledge of the land." As I turned and saw what weapons she had I tensed up. "Don't suppose you ever did wetwork did you Firedancer? If so then I'd venture a guess that you went by the handle of Oracle...." The fact that I'd just sparred against a program that used every weapon she had on her at the moment had given me all I needed to make the assumption. That being said if she was The Oracle then I may have just pissed her off which wouldn't be good for either Jae or me...

[member="Celiana"] - @Jae Jordan

 

[Celiana]

Well then...he'd either tracked me or noticed the tree line and terrain. As he spoke he showed a knowledge he shouldn't have of me... the insinuation of my brief career as an assassin and then he named my old handle. My blue-green eyes flashed with flecks of crimson as I said "Well I'm not sure how you ascertained those possibilities but you're not wrong either. I was known as The Oracle, albeit briefly that lifestyle did no favors to my mental and emotional state of mind. My question is how you guessed about my past, that information is highly guarded."

Looking at him I said "By the way Firedancer is another code name. I raced swoops too, loved the speed of it. But from now on since you've already guessed my prior handle for wetwork jobs I'll trust you with my actual name. Celiana Drayven, I wouldn't be surprised if you'd heard some things associated with my last name either. So if you have questions or concerns about that then speak to them and I'll address those issues."

[member="Andorreth Vikar"] - @Jae Jordan

 

[Jae Jordan]

Jae reacted to the movement within the trees though evidently not fast enough as she felt the cold surface of the blade on her wrist, and a voice speaking shortly afterwards, sounding slightly familiar though she couldn't put her finger on it exactly. Once the blade left her she turned around completely and assumed it was the Firedancer, and was correct as soon as she took her helmet off. She smiled and nodded in return to her polite welcome.

She looked to Andorreth and listened at he spoke to the Firedancer, her eyes widening when he assumed her of being the Oracle. The simulated assassin he'd fought earlier on the ship. She honestly had no idea what was going on, confused as to whether or not the Firedancer had secrets that the duo should be wary of or not. "You're an assassin?!"

She tried to process things and understood the situation a lot more clearer when she explained that it was a past life that she no longer lives by anymore. She also made a note to remember her name, Celiana Drayven. She had thought the name rung a bell though she wasn't able to say anything about it, mostly things she heard here and there though she didn't know a lot about her.

[member="Andorreth Vikar"] | [member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Cutting my eyes towards the young woman as she exclaimed about my being an assassin I simply chuckled. "I was an assassin for a time yes. Was as in past tense, it didn't agree with me nor did the idea of taking out targets that were never aware I was a threat until they embraced the blackness. I prefer not to kill if I can avoid it now, call it part of being a Jedi or a matter of honor if you will but there it is."
Pausing I waited for a moment and then glancing back at Andorreth I said "You are here to train though yes? I suggest we began as soon as possible, if you'll follow me to the dojo we'll start there and you can discuss with me why you haven't sought out training with other Masters yet..."

[member="Jae Jordan "]- [member="Andorreth Vikar"]

 

[Andorreth Vikar]

Smiling at Jae's outburst I looked back towards Celiana and began following her. "So Celiana you said your last name was Drayven right? Well if I'm recalling the gossip correctly from my time on Triple Zero then your father was in charge of quite a bit on Coruscant. Tomias Drayven, had his hands in all sorts of things from what I recall. Then one day he suddenly stopped being so involved, don't suppose you had anything to do with that by chance?"

"In any case when I was still on Coruscant I did my own research about Tomias Drayven, he had two daughters Celiana and Selena. More than that though your family comes from power and you're of the nobility class. I must say that I'm curious about that fact turning your back on being nobility... I couldn't do it personally even if my reasons are part revenge and part justice. As I'm exiled nobility from Corellia there's every motivatioon possible for me to finish what happened to me there. Exiles don't have anything, being involved with anyone romantically isn't recognized, you can't marry, own property, buying and selling cargo won't get you what it's worth. Basically you're more tolerated than actually treated like a human."

As I followed her I was also calculating the odds of her knowing anything about Five. Odds were she knew especially due to having worked as The Oracle for a time. We were approaching the dojo and I wondered how I'd end up besting Celiana in training to earn Tamerlein. Odds were I'd have to think outside the box and do something completely nuts to beat her, with Jae watching that meant I'd either end up facing Celiana in a traditional Echani duel. That could end up being awkward, though odds were that'd be the final step to earning Tamerlein and whatever else Celiana would grant us...

[member="Jae Jordan "]- [member="Celiana"]