Purgatory, Round Two - The Sandcrawler

[Mr. Teatime]

Arcturus smiled under his helmet. He deignited his silver lightsaber and placed it back on his belt. That was for their benefit. He rolled his shoulders and flexed his his hands, the clawed gauntlets glinting menacingly in the meager light. He then entered a middle Teras Kasi ready stance, patience and calm in every movement. The roar was a facade, meant only for their enemies to hear. And maybe he just liked breaking expensive view-screens he wouldn't have to pay for. Well, come on then. Surrender to my tender claws. He was clearly joking by his tone. His stance was moderately wide, his hands not fists, but open with bent fingers so as to take advantage of the armor's claws. Left foot and hand forward, palm facing his enemy. Right foot back, right hand at his waist for low blocks, palm down. He wondered if his opponent even knew any hand to hand styles.. Ah well. They'd see soon enough.

OOC: Sorry for the delay. I've been working on making a chainmail shirt for a couple days.

 

[Vindictive]

Slypher spun quickly, blocking the blade and side stepping so that she was behind him as he unleashed his force flames. While he was busy with that, before he had time to react, she struck at his waist and neck. Her movements were quick, but she made sure she kept a safe enough distance to react to any counters that he could make. If the blade aimed at his waste struck, she would only slice far enough to cripple him and incapacitate him. If the blade at his neck hit, she would wound him enough to take out half of his energy, but not killing him just yet.

 

[Apollyon]

Feeryn smiled, Slypher was quick he would give her that but not nearly quick enough. Feeryn grasped his lightsaber hilt with both hands and brought the hilt upwards so the blade would be facing towards the geound, catching both beams of her lightsabers on his own his next action would be fluid. He brought the hilt of his lightsaber down towards his body, thus lifting both of Slypher's own sabers high into the air, then following the path the sabers came from struck at her torso , the slash would open up her breast and make it's way down to her hip. It would be a mortal blow, and.without medical attention she would die a slow death.

However, Feeryn wasn't foolish enough to believe she wouldn't see this move coming, with her sabers still held high in the air he increased his own speed for a brief moment with the force as he stepped under her blades and pivoted his body to face hers. As the slash was brought theough he released his hilt with his left hand and sent a push directly behind her. If she leapt backwards she would collide with the kinetic energy from the push, if she leapt away from the slash to the open side she would still receive a deep gash on her flank, but if she stayed where she was she would die.

Feeryn was all but certain he has forced his opponents hand, he respected the woman in a way. She had shown the spirit a true Sith should, she was brave enough to fight when the deck was stacked against her, she was a true Sith, Feeryn wouldn't forget her name, perhaps one day she would become his greatest rival.

 

[Kazuya]

Melhi held back his laugh. It wouldn’t be good to ruin the mood that they had just set with laughter. So, he merely aimed a cruel grin at his opponent. It would have been a softer one, but the anger burning within him did not allow for such things.

The Elomin recognized the stance that Arcturus took, though not immediately. He truthfully was not one who enjoyed hand-to-hand combat because of his smaller stature, but he could hold his own while fighting. He did have a more crude style of doing so though while mixing it with fast movements. Melhi moved his left foot back and settled into his stance, both hands fists, though they probably would not stay that way as he fought. “Shall we?” He asked, staring at his opponent, waiting for the first attack.

 

[Vindictive]

Slypher saw the move happening before it was too late, and realized that a crippling wound on her end would be inevitable. Either she could stay where she was and die, or she could move and get her injuries treated. Either or, she knew her physical limits, and knew after this next wound, she wouldn't be able to continue in this tournament. Remembering the words of Jace, she jumped to the side as fast as she could, letting out a slight grunt as the lightsaber blade struck at her side, digging deep into her flesh but not fatally.

She fell to the ground and rolled a bit until she hit the wall. Her lightsaber hilts remained tight in her grip, but the blades weren't ignited. "It seems you've bested me," she said in an exhausted voice. "Here." She threw one of her lightsabers towards him. "Take care of it, and I want it back when you win," Slypher said with a sly grin. She tightly gripped the wound on her side as she waited for medical evac to pick her up. She could obviously walk, but now she would enjoy a moment of sitting down and relaxation before going to the masters to hear of their disappointment.

 

[Mr. Teatime]

He had been about to engage Melhi in a hand to hand contest, see how good he was. But he paused, head tilting slightly. He stood up straight again, lowering his stance back to neutral. "It seems that won't be necessary." Naturally, he has been watching the others fight with his Sight. The girl had potential, but she seemed to rely on the force overmuch for her offensive. She wore herself out too quickly, from what he had Seen. And then she had been struck. "I believe the girl has fallen. The door should soon open, unless she hasn't given up." He backed away from Melhi and removed a his saber-staff from his belt, leaving it unignited. Arcturus was now just waiting for the door to open so Melhi and himself would be free of the confining chamber. According to his plan, they could then remove what was left of their competition and move on to find two datapads. Hopefully, all would go well. Arcturus certainly wasn't planning on betraying Melhi, but nor did he trust him. He didn't trust anyone, really. He was just like that.

 

[Zach]

Immediately, a light rumble shook through the broken Sandcrawler and a light click echoed from the walls of each room. The pair of doors released a shrill shriek of rust grinding against itself as they creaked open, a small amount of light shining through. The doors led to a third room between them, linked to the rest of the abandoned mining machine. From within the minds of each remaining acolyte, a voice called out, reaching them through telepathy. 'You have proven that you are capable of surviving and proceeding amongst your brethren. Some, equal matched, while others triumph over the weak. Others make deals and promises, yet there is no honor among the Sith. It is common knowledge that betrayal is an inevitability, when it comes down to the grand scheme of victory. Even so, alliances can be strong, and powerful partnerships often provide the greatest fruits,' the mysterious voice ushered them. It was a brief recap of their performance, and slight guidance to their upcoming challenges.

'Your next challenge lies at the base of the Auxiliary Forward Hatch,' he told them, directing his Force presence to a design on the wall of the third room. It was a detailed map of the Sandcrawler, and showed their destination in the very rear of the vessel. It was there that the acolytes would discover the locked and secured speederbikes. The bikes were held in a lightsaber proof container, sealed by the electronic decryption pad. There were three data pads throughout the Sandcrawler; in equal parts of the vessel. The three victors started just beside the Sleeping Quarters. Slypher, the defeated girl, had immediately been taken by a pair of medical drones, appearing from the darkness of the corridor to extract the acolyte. She would be taken to the Sith observation deck overhead, watching over the tournament's progress.

Posting Order:
A'den
Kazuya
Arcturus​

 

[Apollyon]

Feeryn caught Slypher's.lightsaber in his free hand, he now had the capability to defend himself from anything.thrown at him, including two.scheming Sith. After pausing the read the map for a brief moment he decided the most logical place to hide a datapad would in the deepest reaches of this Sandcrawler, where the deposed were once kept. The "carcasses" of fallen droids would be an excellent place to hide a datapad and unless an Acolyte knew what he or she was looking for they would never find it.

Feeryn sprinted down deeper into the belly of the beast, he had already decided he would allow the two other Sith to make it to the Prize first, let whatever they had between them crumble as victory starred them both in the face, and then clean up.after their fight. He would.in essence eliminate both competitors with one fell move, he would be the only passing this round, all others would fall before him!

After a few short minutes Feeryn navigated his way into the beast's belly, the droid holding bay. He searched almost calmly for the datapad, removing droid.parts, dismantling droids to peer into their long.deactivated shells, and searching shelves for any datapads at all. Feeryn all the while kept his guard up, his senses aware of his surroundings as he searched throughout the room, leaving no stone unturned.

 

[Kazuya]

The Elomin backed off of his stance when he felt what Arcturus did; that the girl, Slypher, had fallen, ending this part of the second round. A wry smirk appeared Melhi’s face, scars twisting cruelly. “It seems so.” Melhi nodded, hands dropping to his side, his right resting on his red lightsaber.

He listened calmly to the voice again, amused slightly that he and Arcturus had not had to touch each other or expend very much energy. A bonus for knowing each other he supposed. While there opponent would be a little worn out from his fight, he and Arc were in somewhat prime form, save for the wounds that had not entirely healed from the previous round. Though they were allies now, Melhi could not help but wonder if this was going to end with the two of them fighting, but for now, he would leave it. There was no use thinking about things just yet, but he would be wary.

“Auxiliary Forward Hatch.“ he parroted and quickly made his way over to the map. He had a basic knowledge of the designs of ships from the days that he had spent as a petty assassin for his old master, but he was extremely rusty. Loki gazed at the map a few moments then turned and looked at Arcturus. “I think I’ve got the layout down. Let’s go get him, shall we?” he asked advancing out of the door, feeling for the force signature of Feeryn, tracking him, then, mentally. ‘I could hide our presence from our prey. Yes, or no, Arcturus?’

 

[Mr. Teatime]

Arcturus was quiet, reading the map over Melhi's shoulder. An easy task, as he was a full foot taller than him even without the armor. He read and re-read every little detail on the schematic, memorizing it. A skill he'd picked up as an acolyte, when he'd had to memorize maps for assaults and plans for battle. That, and he had always been a reader. He Saw Feeryn leave his room, sprinting deeper into the bowels of the ship.

He turned his unseen gaze towards Melhi as he offered to hide the two of them. "Unnecessary. Save your strength for battle. He cannot hide from my Sight. His tone was confident and sure as he responded, tinged with pride, but no arrogance. He knew his strengths and weaknesses fairly well. Oonoo's teachings made sure of that. But now was not a time of reflection. Instead, he headed to the door. "We must follow." He stated, iciness creeping into his voice. Making sure Melhi was behind him, he went after Feeryn perhaps ten seconds after he had left. He ran with long, graceful strides, using little effort. He could have followed at full speed, sprinting like his quarry, but that would serve only to wear him out before a battle. If his prey wanted to be so foolish, let him. Arcturus would stalk him with all the patience of a hunting cat.

A little over a minute after Feeryn had gone into the droid holding bay, Arcturus' Sight brought him to stand in the single doorway, no doubt with Melhi shortly behind him. Melhi was shorter and thus, had shorter legs, but he was a soldier. Soldiers were trained to march at a jog for days. A few minutes? Nothing.

In the doorway he stood menacingly, Charric pistol in his left hand and double-bladed lightsaber in his right. He stepped into the room so as to allow Melhi to follow him in. Nothing was said, the soft thump of his armor's boots blending in well with the noise of someone going through droid parts, though his force presence was unhidden. As he stepped in, without hesitation, his pistol came up and fired a quick triad of blue bolts at Feeryn's center of mass, mid-chest, towards the diaphragm and left lung. It didn't need saying that should even one of these hit their intended target, Feeryn would be struggling to breath, let alone fight. Arcturus doubted it would be that easy, but he trusted his instincts. He sent Melhi a mental warning, telling him to be ready to counter an attack. These two soldiers were ready to fight at last.

 

[Apollyon]

Feeryn felt the presence of the pair long before the shots were fired, his lightsabers snapped into activation, he deflected the bolts, deactivating his left saber he opened his hand a.torrent of fire burst from it. His enemies had made a mistake of coming through a single man doorway, at the speed the fire was gaining the pair would have little time to react, little time to move, and more hen likely only one would escape the twisted flames of hatred.

After a moment Feeryn closed his hand, the drain from the power had effected him mildly, however he wouldn't back.down. instead he sent a small force push into the door controls. If his enemy's.ally had survived it would be through leaping backwards as the door.would only allow one to pass through it. The heavy metallic door slammed shut, he would have separated his enemies. Feeryn was no fool, he knew full well his enemies together would best him, but if he had successfully separated the pair, he would eliminate at the very least one of them before engaging the other.

Feeryn then unclipped the second lightsaber from his belt yet again and took a defensive stance, should his enemy attack he would be ready for a defense or counter. Defeat here was not an option, he had only.begun to test his abilities, he had only begun to push his limits, but inside him he knew this would be among his greatest of challanges.

Attacking an enemy when they are busy, that's very cowardly. Feeryn taunted in a monotone voice, his yellow eyes peering across room. Come let's get this over with, I have more pressing matters to attend to.

 

[Kazuya]

Melhi nodded in reply to Arcturus. It was true, hiding from an enemy like this was pointless, but he still liked having that advantage usually. He was less head-on typically than Arcturus was but he nodded and didn’t waist his energy to hid the two of them. He let out small sigh and followed Arcturus to Feeryn, remaining less than a foot behind him at any one time. He may be shorter than Arcturus, but he had speed on his side.

The Elomin recognized the pistol that Arcturus drew out almost immediately. He had previously studied a droid that had been equipped with such a weapon. From what he had read it was very difficult for a lightsaber to deflect bolts from it, lest the lightsaber be wrenched from the hand of the one trying to deflect it. The less experienced acolyte would have very few actions with the quick shots that Arcturus sent out at him. Usually, the first blast that hit the saber would wrench the blade out of the wielder’s hand.

His lips twitched in amusement as he watched the actions of Feeryn, then scowled at the fire from his position behind Arcturus. The heat of flames didn’t bother him, but the thought of being burned did. He had been burned several times, outside of being sliced with a lightsaber’s heat, and he never enjoyed the feeling. Back-flipping quickly, he avoided the flames, ducking into an alcove. He was pretty sure Arc would be alright, but the flames would most certainly harm him if they touched him, and he didn’t want to have to deal with burns this early in the game. Then he heard he clang of the door and stepped out from his position with a sigh, crossing his arms, and patting a flame that had managed to find its way onto his robes out. Doors, they could deal with... it was just petty that they had to.

 

[Mr. Teatime]

The blaster shots were deflected into nearby walls, scorching the old metal construction and sending a droid head tumbling, in small pieces, to the floor.

A blast of flame roared towards them. His Sight identified it as a Force based attack. Which meant there would be little to no residual heat, especially if it was only an Acolyte using it. But, just to be safe, he acted. His idle right hand, still by his side, re-hooked the lightsaber and was brought up in one smooth motion, palm facing Feeryn and the flames. As the flames began to lick at the front of his armor, the round disc on his palm lit up and fired one of his suit's repulsor blasts.. At close range it was capable of blasting holes through people, but here it just parted the flames all the way down to Feeryn. If he was still there by the time the very quickly moving wave of kinetic energy, spread out to about two feet by two feet wide by the time it reached him, it still had enough to force to knock him flat on his back. Or into a wall, pile or junk, or whatever was behind or beneath him. It wasn't a force attack, using solely the power of Arcturus' Immortal armour, and used none of Arcturus' own energy as a result. What flame did his Arcturus ignited his cloak, but other than that it did not more than cause his sleek, black armour to reflect menacingly. It was enclosed, and no heat reached him through it. The cloak soon went out, scorch marks streaking along in random patterns, reminiscent of chaotic tiger stripes, several inches of the bottom and his right sleeve burned away. But the resilient fabric was could withstand the heat of the previous battleground and was hard to burn.

Directly after firing the repulsor blast, Arcturus unhooked his lightsaber again, placing the charric back on his back, and disconnected the lighsaber's twin halves. He ignited both, entering a wide, menacing Jar'Kai stance. Arms spread high and wide, the tips pointing towards Feeryn across the room. It was reminiscent of a predatory cat, ready to pounce at the slightest opportunity. It was a counter offensive stance, meant for those with reach and height, as Arcturus had. His feet were evenly spaced, neither of them in front or behind. The door closed behind him as he entered his stance, and he sighed audibly. His left hand darted out and tapped the same button Feeryn had just pushed telekinetically with the bottom of his ignited lightsaber. A clever move from Feeryn, but not so much when Arcturus was right next to the door controls. The timing was such that, the moment the door closed shut, it would open back up again, wasting a second or two of everyone's time and no more.

Arcturus was quiet besides the sigh, feeling no need to taunt his opponent. He relied on action, not words, to finish his opponents. Even in his last bout, where it had seemed to him as if his opponent had to comment on every other attack, he had remained silent. Talking wasn't a free action in real fights.

 

[Apollyon]

Feeryn was in a position that he couldn't dodge the repulsion blast if he had seen it coming. The blast slammed into his gut, it flung him across the room and into a small pile of barely active droids. He felt their mechanical arms reaching out, their hands attempting feeble and weak grasps on various places around his body. Feeryn stood up, removing himself from the droids grasp his eyes tracked Arcturus to his.current position, Feeryn calmly watched as his enemy reopened the door, anger not fear rushed through him.

For all the power you possess, for all the talent you have, you are still nothing more then a coward. Barely worth being called Sith, you return to your ally like a babe returns to its mothers breast. I gave you an opportunity, the opportunity to fight like a man. Instead, you choose to free your lesser, kindness will be the death of you! Feeryn said calmly as he extended both hands and pulled the lightsabers into his palms, reigniting them after they touched home.

Come then coward, fight me! Feeryn taunted as he took a ready stance. He knew this battle would be a short one, and the odds were not in his favor, but that mattered little to him. Feeryn hadn't come to win, simply to test himself, gauge his power, after all you are the harshest critic you can have. Feeryn decided that if it took two Sith to best him, especially if they were skilled, he would be sufficed before returning to his masterless training, his path to greatness.

 

[Mr. Teatime]

Arcturus' expression, unseen beneath the helmet, changed into a small frown. Apparently his ally had been scorched by the flame enough to be rendered unconscious via shock and fluid loss. He frowned further when his opponent spoke, betraying his ignorance in the ways of soldiers. No, this one could never become a General. "Maximizing advantage and minimizing risk is naught but the workings of a skilled battlefield commander." He responded, his tone correctionary and etched with cool command. The Code demanded that weakness be expunged. Rogue elements that looked out only for themselves were not often weak. Instead, they spread it by weakening the group through their actions, crawling over the corpses of their fellows in their mad race to the top. This weakened the Empire as a whole, wasting money, equipment, soldiers, and potential in equal measure. To one trained almost exclusively by military Sith and Chiss Immortals, this was absolutely unacceptable.

So, Arcturus prepared for battle. He flicked the door closed again, and then adjusted his stance. Right foot forward and left foot back, right hand guard beginning high natural waist, left hand guard beginning at the hip, tips facing the enemy. Legs were spread a shoulder's width apart, knees slightly bent. This Jar'Kai stance was, for those trained in Niman, meant for deflections and counterattacks utilizing the enemy's momentum. Balanced well with the pommels facing slightly outwards and blade tips slightly inwards, ready to thrust into the enemy at the slightest opening. But before Arcturus would attack, he would analyze.

Arcturus began to step forward, long legs propelling him forward with grim purpose, his Sight taking in Feeryn's features and weaponry as he walked. Once within eight feet, whether under his own power or the enemy's, he only walked right foot first, keeping his stance balanced and strong. Arcturus' usual height and reach advantage were negated since Feeryn was the same height as him, but that could be worked around. Arcturus deigned to strike first. He stepped forward, clearing another foot with a half step, left foot never passing his right. As he stepped forward, a single grappling cable would fire from his left arm with extreme swiftness, aimed downwards at Feeryn's legs with intent to grapple one or both of them. While not indestructible, it would take more than a careless deflection, as with a blaster bolt, to cut through it, if Feeryn was fast enough to execute a low block.

 

[Apollyon]

Feeryn watched his enemy's approach, he never faltered nor moved, anger in its purest form flooded from his body. His hands gripped around his dual sabers, his mind screamed two separate directions, one yelled to attack, to butcher to mercilessly slaughter. The other told him to be wary, wise, to evaluate his enemy's movements and to find a flaw in him, to find something to exploit.

Feeryn was brought back into reality as his opponent rose an arm, in his Makashi stance Feeryn was able to place his left sabers beam in the path of the oncoming cable. The stance was designed.for.maximum.efficiency with minimal movement, it was the original dueling stance, and in that respect had one of the most honed styles of any other stances.

Feeryn's next move was swift, he targeted his enemy's.ankles with the Force and using a pull attempted to rip his feet out from underneath him. From there Feeryn would dash forward and bring his right lightsaber crashing downwards in a deadly arch, his left saber however remain in a defensive position should his enemy block and counter his attack.

Should his attack miss, or fail Feeryn would dash forward while his enemy prepared to counter attack, in hopes of knocking them off guard and unleash.a devastating series of blows. The first would be a strike with his left saber, vertically across the middle of his enemy's torso, where his vital organs lay. His second would he a slash towards his opponents left shoulder with his right saber, in am attempt to cleave him shoulder to hip. From there with any luck Feeryn would lock sabers with this man, he would come face to face with his enemy.

 

[Mr. Teatime]

Arcturus had expected his opponent to deflect the grappling cable, which went off at an angle and hit the ground and then slid back into Arcturus' armor, sporting some rather impressive melty bits. He did not expect Feeryn to use any sort of subtlety, though he was prepared for it nontheless. Upon falling he immediately rolled into a crouch, blocking the downstroke while also aiming a quick swipe at Feeryn's legs. His low attack only burned through a single prosthetic leg before Feeryn's spare lightsaber stopped it, but the damage was done. Surging up and forward from his crouched position, legs acting like powerful springs, he pushed Feeryn back.

And there began the duel. Feeryn's torso strike was deflected by a small leftwards sidestep and parry, right saber facing down and stopping the blow, keeping Feeryn's left saber useless outside the line of attack. Then the shoulder strike was blocked high, reinforced by the sidestep, and bringing that saber out of the line as well and opening up Feeryn for a lethal counterattack. Simplicity itself, it was. The very moment after the high block was made, Arcturus twisted his wrist and sent his saber downwards at an angle. This would result, in Feeryn's intention was a saber lock, in a sliding of blades. Feeryn's saber would strike Arcturus' shoulder true, but with less force, and would not pierce the titanium-cortosis alloy armor. On the other hand, Feeryn was not armored. Arcturus' counter stroke fell and cut him open from the right side of the collar bone, across the chest, and ended at the lower left, along the lowest ribs. Several inches thick, it would strike both lungs and the heart, resulting in a sudden drop in blood pressure, resulting itself in a state of shock which would end in death. Even brief cauterization couldn't stop bleeding in the heart. Arcturus backed away by four feet directly afterwards, making sure Feeryn wasn't planning anything else after getting nearly cut in half. From there he would wait until Feeryn reached a state of unconsciousness. Arcturus was very cautious, and was going to watch him with his Sight until absolutely sure he wasn't in any fit state to attack again.

OOC: A'den gave me permission to eliminate Feeryn via VM, for any admins reading.