The Waking Dream

[Taalong Vorr]

KESSEL
-Voltros Downs
- 4th Week of Battle of Kessel
- DUSK

Artillery fire continued to rage into the canyon, as a shattering explosion broke the dusk drumming of a blue energy shield as its generator exploded into a thousand pieces, taking with it seven troopers, and wounding at least five more. A cry for a medic rang out, but it went unanswered as their medical supplies, and supply of medics were equally depleted. The troopers screamed in vain as the thunderous artillery continued to rattle the area, obliterating shanties and collapsing tiny bunkers.

A troop carrier cascaded down from the sky, and Mandalore warriors repelled from it, striking the ground with their their durasteel boots and opening fire into the battered Sith defenses. A Sith warrior met them in battle at the front, but was miserably overwhelmed while a handful of troopers stood at his side. A speeder flew over head, hailing blaster bolts down onto them, which threw the defenders every which way, and left the Sith Warrior a splattered mass upon the sand.

And then a stroke of luck. A pair of Imperial fighters roared overhead, destroying the troop transport, and landing the flaming hulk of metal down upon the Mandalorians which had departed from it. The cheers of the Imperials were not heard long, as more Mandalorians came, reinforcing their fallen, and continuing their assault.

What had once been a great crusade to seize the world of Kessel had turned into a bitter fight for survival. Taalong Vorr was all that remained of his initial contingent, his troopers dead all over the spice world. The Imperial effort was lost, but their troopers remained as mighty cannons had forced their fleet away and reinforcing Mandalorian ships held the defense.

Vorr could still remember the words calling over the comms on all stations.

"Imperial Space Forces, fall back back to sector 3-Alpha."

But when the requests from the troopers on the ground were raised up as to their evacuation plan... no answer came. No further instruction. No final order. Nothing

Silence had fallen on the return line. Only empty cries for help as the disorganized remnants of the failed invasion clung to life as they could.

Vorr had moved with a force to Voltros Downs, a slave and smuggler town where they had received some assistance from outlaws that looked to improve their condition by separating from Mandalore. They had not realized the battle was already lost as they threw in their lot, and had therefore thrown their lives away for nothing.

Taalong Vorr ran, his chest still injured from his duel a month earlier with a Mandalore Warrior. His lightsaber was not extended, but he gave no direction. Mandalorians bombarded the area, and came from all sides of the large shanty like town.

It was a massacre... and as he watched more Sith gunned down, he realized that this too may be the place of his death.

And what was it for?

He was abandoned by the great tribe. Left to die. A Sith Crusader without order but to fight for nothing but his own honor that would be witnessed by none.

A Mandalorian came near, and he cut him down with his blade. More came and he pushed them away. Vorr ran through the town... hopeless.... no where to run... no where to go... his honorable warring ways leading him to a fight he could not win.

He felt fear... sadness... rage... and above all else... helpless for the first time in his life.

@NotSarcastic

 

[Quolon Dox]

While Quolong had been successful in his mission he was now greeted with an entirely new issue. The conflict which had rapidly ensued on the planet was making his escape impossible. The Mandalorian forces were decimating the Imperials, who tried to seize the planet. Which meant Quolon was all alone and found himself in a very awkward position.

Explosions boomed overhead, and flames filled the sky. He was glad he could free the slaves in time and get them safely off the planet before all this had happened. The best he could do was get away from the conflict and find a way off world where he wouldn't be shot down. The building not too far from him down the street erupts in clouds of rubble as a fighter crashes into it. He shield himself with the Force as he rushes past. There is screaming from behind. That was sure to have killed or mortally injured everyone inside and his heart wrenched as he rushes past. There was nothing he could do for them, he was not a medic or healer and there wouldn't be any nearby.

A Mandalorian emerges from between buildings in front of him, he spotted the jedi and raised his blaster. With a swift movement, his saber cuts it in two, the other hand pushed him backward in to the wall behind with bone-breaking force. The soldier slumps in a cloud of dust. As he continued he saw a shape move through the streets. A dark shape. A shiver ran down his spine. Could it be that sith he faced on Nar Shaddaa? The sense was uncanny. He felt exactly the same way he did back then.

Fighting would help neither of their situations. But he'd do what he must. He, like Quolon was most likely fleeing the battle, knowing the battle was lost.

@Morse​

 

[Taalong Vorr]

The blade in Vorr's hand was heavy, heavier then it had ever been. The hilt weighing him down. He wheezed a breath and coughed through smoke as he trudged along. Before him a squad of Imperial Troopers darted forward in an attempt to reinforce the position behind him. Though he bore the robes of a warrior and a crusader, in the midst of the chaos he was very hard to recognize... if not impossible... among the smugglers and slaves that huddled around. Weapons were manned and brought to bear. Blaster fire continued to rage and cries were heard, but there was none that could help them.

The Mandalorian and Sith were battlers to the end. But the Mandalorians fought with their sense of hardened honor. They would not be taking surrender here, as they viewed a warriors death as the most honorable. The Imperial Troopers would be massacred. They were guided themselves by fear and duty, but they adhered to a more traditional form of warfare, that would be entirely out of place in this warriors crusade for galactic dominance.

Vorr's breathing was heavy, something was in the area. Something strange, out of place, yet familiar.

A bomb went off a hundred yards away, and the shock wave sent shrapnel flying in his direction and forced Vorr to hunch over. Smoke and sand blew past and he opened his eyes to look forward.

There he was, the Jedi from Nar Shadda. The image of his opposite. Young, well groomed, and un weathered by years of toil and struggle. Vorr's lightsaber was still extended. He had a duty burned into his veins. A task he knew he'd need to carry out.

Why was he here? Was he leading the attack? Was this a subterfuge that had cost them the battle? Was he there to assassinate Imperial Command structure? Was he sewing discontent among the locals? Was he trapped himself?

The possibilities rang out in his mind, and as much as training and tradition dictated he would meet this foe in battle here and now in the apocalyptic duel that would end both of their lives... in his current state he could not be sure he'd win... not with the wound at his chest and his exhausted state.

But rather then move on him, Taalong Vorr hesitated. He held his ground, eyes fixed on the Jedi that clearly was focused on him... not at all sure what his next move would be.

@NotSarcastic

 

[Quolon Dox]

The battle continued to rage. There was no foreseeable end until one side either surrendered or was obliterated. That was not likely with the two sides was warmongering as they are. His heart feels heavy, this conflict had to stop at some point, the collateral damage would be immense. Yet he, a padawan couldn't tip the balance on his own. In fact he needed to escape as quickly as possible. As a jedi he had a huge target on his back on both sides. Stray blaster bolts lanced toward Quolon, he threw himself to the ground out of harm's way and stared around for the source. As the dust cleared, sure enough he spotted the Kaleesh. The on he'd fought, and mission disrupted on Nar Shaddaa.

He could positively feel the dark aura around his form. But there was something off, he knew the battle was lost. A bitter pill to swallow for a Kaleesh. But he, like Quolon needed to get out. He feels one emotion at the centre. The Sith was scared. To his surprise he did not immediately attack. HIs aggression was great on Nar Shaddaa and movements swift. He seemed sluggish now. Injured. Conflict did not feel right to Quolon. It wouldn't be fair and all he needed right now was to get off-world. To kill this Sith would put his lfie in danger too. But if he didn't what further atrocities would he commit?

He would battle the Sith, but only in service of preventing further deaths. The conflict would end on his terms, even if it meant running to save himself. He was confident, his opponent was weak emotionally and physically. He burst forward with Force Speed, his blade ignited and arced in and upward motion, looking to cleave the Sith from hip to shoulder in a diagonal line.

@Morse

 

[Taalong Vorr]

Perhaps it was his hesitation that prompted the treacherous Jedi to strike. Perhaps that was what he was there for the whole time. It may have been that the Jedi and the Mandaloreans had forged an Alliance in secret to destroy the Empire and leave it burning ash. Though the Sith had attacked Kessel, it may have been a trap all along, to lure Crusaders such as Vorr out in the to the open to be destroyed when they were crippled by the great trap. It was impossible to know but all of the possibilities ran through his mind.

Taalong Vorr was weak, and in a way he was alone. Though still surrounded by many Imperial Troopers, none truly even saw the two as the Jedi extended his blade and vaulted across the sand, through the dust, to destroy his enemy. He could still feel the burning singe in his chest, though bacta had been applied near month earlier, it still seared and scarred him in such a way that he could feel it with every breath.

There was the pain, and in a way it distracted him, but all the same fueled the same pain and rage that Sith thrived on. The same emotional attachment that gave them power and freed them to exert their will upon to the greater galaxy. That was the Jedi's fatal mistake. Treating a Sith in his state as weaker then he had been. This was no so, and the Jedi twisted, Vorr's finger activated his blade and it collapsed down on the upward strike.

Vorr was still larger and stronger then the young Jedi, the same veteran of a dozen wars the Jedi could never hope to see, regardless of the wound hidden beneath his robe.

"My promise will be kept, Jedi" Vorr hissed at the Jedi before him. "You will die."

He then thrust forward his boot to the Jedi's exposed shin while simultaneously expertly swiping right with his blade to force the Jedi back to the defensive.

@NotSarcastic

 

[Quolon Dox]

He had no idea if this was the right idea. But the Sith was weak, and alone. His darkness too great to go on and do create more suffering. He was guided, compelled to snuff it out. He felt a hotness as he neared the Sith, as though the very rage itself had emanated from his form. He may be injured but the multitude of emotions which coursed through his veins would fuel every strike. Quolon would be foolish to think this fight would be easy. He ignored the Sith's hisses. Battle was not a time for chat.

He feels a shockwave through is arms from the Sith's defensive maneuver. Stepping back with the shin he'd aimed a kick et, he then inverted his grip on the blade, and raised it upward. Their sabers clashed, they're close enough to look each other in the eye. The slitted pupils burned with hatred, while Quolon's pale blue eyes remained calm and measured. He pushed to the right, channeling the force into his arm, and caused Vorr's blade to go wide. He then twisted his wrist, moving the point of his blade from pointing at the floor, in a vertical motion aimed at Vorr's saber arm, aiming to sever it at the shoulder.

The blaster fire raged in the distance as the Sith fought. He could only hope that no one would spot them. After all, the Sith had allies here, and Quolon did not. He began to question whether engaging the Sith was a good idea, but he could not falter. The Force had willed his decision and it was one he would stick with. The winds blew the sand around them, and Quolon, took a breath and, through the Force, protected his eyes from the distracting grains, keeping his vision clear and true. He made a mental note of the saldn as something he could use during their fight.

@Morse​

 

[Taalong Vorr]

But they were noticed. Not right away as their spar broke out, but as the off colored blade had emerged, Imperial Troopers recognized it in a clash with one of their own. Though none of them would recognize the man as a Jedi, they recognized only one of their own by his Crimson blade and the Armor of a Sith Warrior. They themselves had been fleeing from the Mandalorian advance and saw forward that there was struggle and enemies even ahead. A Sith Warrior may be one of their only saving pillars, and they levied blasters forward.

Taalong Vorr had felt the force working against him, and had seen the motion of the Jedi in an attempt to catch him off balance. This move was well placed as it would leave Vorr in the worst position should he follow through with another strike. Instead he let his body go limp and even forced some of his own body weight back with the blast of force against him. This pushed him off balance of course, but it also threw him backwards towards the ground, where the strike swung before him, in the direction where he would have been had he been able to continue his swing.

Vorr, now upon the ground, brought his blade up to guard. But in a moment of grand luck the Imperial Troopers began to fire on the Jedi. They fired only three bolts his way, while Vorr now on one knee held his blade to guard from any strike the Jedi may make. The Mandalorians pressed their attack on them, killing a Trooper that aimed at the Jedi, and forced another to turn around to cover their advance. But still some Troopers persisted towards the Jedi and the moment became more obviously dire for them both.

@NotSarcastic

 

[Quolon Dox]

As if his own fears had sparked the following events. He sensed a presence not too far away. it was clear the Mandalorians had won, meaning the Imperials here would flee. This meant Quolon was truly on his own and isolated. The Sith falls away from his strike. their eyes meet again as he puts his blade in a defensive position. Curious, the Jedi thought. He had fought almost exclusively aggressively in their previous fight. His focus is forced away form the Sith as blaster fire surged toward him. He reflected two of the bolts back at the troopers, where they then fall. The third bolt went wide. The final trooper is killed by the Mandalorian. He brought his elbows in tight to block more incoming fire. This was not good. He had to get out of here now. If the fight with the Sith continued, he would surely die. The Sith too was forced to use his blade to deflect incoming fire. Some of the Mandalorians were distracted by the troopers, but were making pretty short work of them. It wouldn't be long before the blaster fire became overwhelming.

Already some blaster bolts whizzed worryingly close. The smell of burning hair invades his senses. "Sith" He says, another blaster bolt clashed with his saber. "If we stay here we die. If we fight, we die. There's more chance of us surviving if we work together. Either way I'm out of here" With that, he burst toward the left flank, into the ruins of a town with Force Speed. If he wasn't wildly wrong, his Stardancer shouldn't be too far away. If it was still intact that is , if it wasn't then his situation just got a whole lot worse. While what was left of the town provided some cover, the Mandalorians were advancing. To remain conspicuous, Quolon extinguished his blade, hid it out of site and used to Force to manipulate the sand around him, allowing it to settle on his robes. It didn't hide him too much but from a distance, he looked like a civilian and wouldn't be a target, not to mention slightly camouflage. He takes a deep breath and looked to his side at the Sith. He wouldn't wait much longer. If he remained out there he would most certainly die. Cut time was of the essence for Quolon too, and it wouldn;t weigh on his conscience too much if the Sith fell to Mandalorian blasters here and now. But something compelled him to tarry a little longer. He had no idea what, the Sith was his enemy and it was likely their blades would clash again in the future. It was even likely for one of them to fall to the other. But it just didn't feel right to leave him to the mercy of the Mandalorians.

Why didn't he just leave him? Vorr would surely leave Quolon to die, and would probably enjoy watching it happen. So why the doubt now?

@Morse​