Welcome to the Jungle

[Anthoni]

Rodian Jungle
Almost Dusk

~*~
​

The brush seemingly never ended as tidal waves of green flooded back into Anthoni's vision. He kept one hand before him as he crept and knelt through the jungle leaves and bush. His dark robes occasionally snagging themselves on a twig branch. He looked above him to where the sky would be but found only overlapping leaves of many branches, hiding the sky from him. The sun would soon be falling by the different hues of green among the tops of the trees. They were darker than normal, or at least, darker than usual. Anthoni trekked onwards, his robes now soaked in sweat by the humidity.

He continued to walk for some time until he finally heard the sound of crashing water. His pace quickened as he swatted an insect out of his face. Holding back the thick branches finally Anthoni forced his way into a clearing. A few more feet and Anthoni would be falling off the Cliffside he was now before. A waterfall was a stones throw away from him, hence the sound of water he heard earlier. He'd have to be close now, or at least that's what the report said.

He reached for his wrist band and brought forth the simple projection it created. The crash was less than two miles away now, the ship had been carrying weapons, munitions and basic medical supplies for the Empire. Anthoni received reports of the missing vessel and it's cargo, but no word from any of the five troops charged with its safety. Rodia was a relatively peaceful world, he doubted the ship was shot down. However he found it just as unlikely that it crashed undisturbed. He decided to figure out for himself then bring word back to Empire command.

Looking up from his wrist band Anthoni gazed down the lazy river below him. Smoke billowed off in the distance which made him cup his hands over his eyes. He nodded to himself in affirmation, then looked down the cliff and back to the waterfall. A narrow walkway was carved into the stone alongside the waterfall. Anthoni started off again, seeing the path down and knowing the smoke signified his goal.

"This was easier than expected." He said to himself, a lonely smirk across his face as he kicked a stone off the cliff and into the river below.

Death, capture and maiming are disabled in this thread.

@Pyrenees

 

[Vardon Galland]

Rodia. It was the first time Vardon visited the planet and upon touchdown, he couldn't help but to marvel over the wondrous jungles, marshes and oceans which seemed to meld into a rather green or turquoise landscape. In an effort to bolster the Gallactic Alliance, he and his crew had been monitoring shipments of all kinds for quite some time when they finally spotted the cargo vessel go down deep in the denser part of the jungle above Rodia. The Solange was, naturally too large to get anywhere close enough to provide for a safe landing near the crash site, instead, the padawan descended by the smaller and more nimble Leger. Still, there was a long walk ahead and many obstacles to get by before he could make it to the crashed ship where he'd be able to assess the situation and work on getting the goods into the Alliance's possession.

The planet was much warmer than the Thyferran would've liked and the humidity didn't help much either. To make matters worse, he wore his armour on
top of some light white clothing which didn't relive him from the heat at all. But then, he was more protected from any potential threats ranging from whatever it was that could fall from the trees, wildlife and bad falls. Both of his vibroknives where clearly visible as they were attached to his belt, but the lightsaber remained concealed, hanging by the back of his belt underneath some clothing.

Hours had gone by since he had started the long trek. He had been following a steep fall for quite some time now as he had earlier spotted a waterfall and what seemed to be a path down towards the crashed ship. There was just about 30 meters left to the waterfall and the small path down on the other side of the stream to the waterfall that he saw a figure who was also making his way towards the walkway. Galland kept approaching the rock-littered stream until he reached the very edge of it and shouted out "Greetings!" to the man on the other side. He was a little suspicious, something didn't feel right and the dark robes of the other all pointed him towards the same conclusion - but the padawan was not one to make too many harsh assumptions and managed to keep a rather friendly tone in his greeting.

@TheWolfMan

 

[Anthoni]

He was continuing his decent down the waterfall when his head jerked around. The sound of the greeting was more felt by Anthoni rather than heard. The waterfall making his ears ring yet feeling a friendly presence of something foreign. Scanning the top of the cliff on the other bank a figure stood tall. The alcolyte pressed his back to the wall and gauged him better. The first thing he noticed were the blades, layed open for all to see across his hips. Anthoni could also tell he was young, like him, but projected a friendly atmosphere. To friendly.

He reached inside his robes and brandished a Sith insignia. Holding it proudly and authoritatively towards the new arrival. "This is Empire business stranger," he yelled over the waterfall "turn around and don't return." Anthoni took a step forward out closer to the edge of the cliff. It was a short way down now, he'd be greeted by the bank of the waterfall at the end of the path. He looked away for a second towards the smoke off in the distance. The crash site didn't seem that far away. He looked back up to the stranger, holstering his Sith medallion, hand creeping towards his saber. Instinctively rubbing his thumb along the hilt under his robes.

"You should leave," Anthoni said to him once again. Thinking nothing of the encounter and starting to continue his trek down the cliff side. Believing that the sheer weight of dropping the Empires authority would make most flee.

@Pyrenees

 

[Vardon Galland]

The visor of the padawan's helmet currently allowed for his face to be seen, allowing him to have more personal interactions with people rather than being hidden behind a blank mask. His face remained unmoved as the other brandished his Sith insignia, only to turn into a mischievous smile when he heard the other tell him to turn around. That was not going to happen. Instead, the Thyferran hopped onto a rock, whilst keeping a discrete eye on the Sith, caring not to be fully unprepared en the event of an attack.

With a few light hops on the rocks littering the river, the Thyferran soon found himself on the other side of it. "The Sith wear badges nowadays?" he asked. There was a sense of genuine curiosity in the question, but at the same time, the idea of the Sith using badges did seem rather amusing to the young man.

Standing at the top of the cliff looking down, Vardon observed a few particularly thick patches of brushes and other vegetation down below which seemed rather natural considering their access to water from the pond at the end of the waterfall. "We're far removed from the Empire now, Sith. The jungle is filled with things who don't care too much about whether you carry that badge or not. They'll want you dead regardless." he noted, maintaining a rather casual tone. After having allowed the vaguely threatening words to sink in, Galland amended the sentence to give it a less imposing meaning. "Beasts, what can you do, eh?"

Unless the Sith did anything rash, the Thyferran would begin walking down the same path the Sith took, seeing as the other seemed to have made it down to the bottom at record speed, the risk at doing so seemed minimal. With both hands free and an eye on the robed figure, the padawan was prepared to defend himself against potential attacks if the man suddenly became violent

@TheWolfMan

 

[Anthoni]

After finally reaching the bottom of the waterfall Anthoni sunk down to one knee and cupped his hands in the river bed. He began to wash his face with the cold, clear Rodian water. Instantly feeling refreshed as the sweat pooled off of his head. His hood now hung low across his back shoulder blades, thick wet black hair he brushed it all to one side with his hand. Rising to his feet he stood tall, his back towards the man, he didn't sense any danger around the stranger, at least not yet.

"Not every Sith carries one," he said to the man as he reached for the chain around his neck. Turning around he showed the man his medallion. It was a gift from his first master, the last thing the man ever gave to him. "But it means much to me." A Sith insignia, red and black held together by a silver chain. He tucked it away under his robes before continuing. "The Empire rules everywhere stranger, a fact you'd be best knowing from now on." Anthoni didn't know why he continued the conversation with him. Maybe it was the lonlieness of the Rodian jungle, to long stuck in his own head he enjoyed the company.

Perhaps it was the company itself, the man was either brave or a fool. It's been Anthoni's experience that when most learned he was a Sith, they kept their distance. This man seemed arrogant, and confidently so, as he just walked up closer to Anthoni. His eyes scanned his blades again, noticing only now that they were vibro blades, a material strong enough to withstand a lightsaber. Strange. He focused his mind and with his thoughts he poked at the man, soaked up his presence as best an acolyte could. Anthoni took a step forward, his hands by his sides the whole time.

"Who are you? What is your business here? I won't ask again, I've played into this game to long."

@Pyrenees

 

[Vardon Galland]

By the time the Sith had made his comment about the empire ruling everywhere, Vardon had reached the bottrom of the waterfall. He looked around and noted how the trees were growing less densely closer to the cliff wall and how brushes and other smaller vegetation dominated the sides of the pond and the connecting creek. Between them sprawled an area with a radius of about five meters which had relatively little vegetation that would have minimal impact on movement. Looking up at the light which reached past the thick forestry, the padawan wondered if the force wanted him to come here, to spread the light and extinguish the dark presence in front of him.

Clasping his hands behind his back, lightly resting them on top of his lightsaber, the Thyferran thought for a moment. "I am Vardon Galland" he said with a slight sense of pride in his voice before looking to the man as if expecting to receive his name in return. "I am heading towards the site of a crashed shuttle. To search for any potential survivors and goods, which would otherwise be lost to the forces of nature." he continued speaking clearly without any signs of hesitation.

Eyeing the man with the medallion, Galland took a few measured steps towards the middle of the circle, leaving about seven meters between them. "And no." The sentence was said resolutely as Vardon paused to see what reactions. After having stayed silent for a few moments, he continued "The Empire does not rule everywhere. It has lost much influence and control over many a world, especially after the two halves united. And they don't rule Rodia. Not yet, anyways." Once again, he tried to study the other's reaction before bringing his left hand out from behind his back to point at the Sith with the palm of his hand "So, why do you serve the Empire?" he asked with a remarkably casual voice. Not knowing what exactly the light tried to guide him to do, the padawan decided to try converting the man instead of resorting to violence.

@TheWolfMan

 

[Anthoni]

"Anthoni Cole," the acolyte responded quietly with his name in return. His head tilting up when Vardon told him why he was here, the Imperial shuttle. It seemed the Empire wasn't the only one interested in trying to recover the cargo. When Vardon walked to the center of the circle Anthoni's stature grew as he planted his feet. Galland gave his thoughts on Imperial rule and Anthoni wolfishly smiled. Spinning on his feet he began to slowly walk around the circle. The waterfall was behind him but he began to walk his way around to the path in the jungle. The trail would take him to the shuttle, so would the rapids but Anthoni didn't want to chance them.

The hilt of his lightsaber floated from his belt to his left hand, the hand opposite of Vardon. It was intentional in a defensive way, communicating he had a weapon and was more than capable of using it. Still walking towards the mouth of the trail Anthoni's gaze never left Vardon. His pace slowed and he stopped suddenly at Vardon's last question. He saw the palm of his hand leave from behind his back and reach for Anthoni. The Sith noticed a single beam of sunlight hit Gallands palm and heard his casual tone only after.

"The Empire never wronged me, it's given me much" he stated as he thumbed his medallion. Silence, the life of the jungle heard briefly. "I've merely tasted it," he said to Vardon with a sense of shame in his voice "the Dark side I mean." His back was now towards the jungle trail, the thick brush and branches casted dark shadows with greenish hues. "If you ever felt it, the pull, the power; Vardon you'd serve nothing else either." He began to walk backwards, casting his saber arm in front of him. Focusing his mind on the mission Anthoni summoned a pool of energy and felt it like a landslide rush from his chest to the end of his fingertips. His hand pointing at Vardon he focused the energy to hit him square in the chest.

He meant to surprise him, trick him into thinking he was walking away. The strike would be more controlled, meant to push him into the river. Anthoni didn't want to chance the rapids so he'd try and make Galland do it for him. Anthoni would see if the strike hit before he turned around and began to sprint down the trail towards the shuttle crash. If it didn't Anthoni's bled lightsaber crystal would spring alive, extending his crimson blade to Vardon Galland.

@Pyrenees

 

[Vardon Galland]

Power? It was a reasonable enough cause for wanting something and the Sith hadn't seemed to act in any particularly evil fashion so far. What worried Vardon was that the man had been so quick to draw his weapon - despite trying to remain calm, there was only so much one could do to hide the worry which a drawn lightsaber caused, regardless of whether it was ignited or not. With this, it seemed like the diplomatic route might be an impossibility. He kept his left hand pointed at the Sith along with his gaze as the other walked around.

"Is there no-" the padawan was interrupted mid-sentence as he felt a push shoving him backwards. He did, however, have his left hand raised already and was able to mitigate the effects of the push with a force barrier and his already heavy weight along with the armour made him a harder target to push around too. Still, the attack came as a surprise and the padawan found himself stumbling backwards several steps before regaining his footing. Not caring about whether the Sith drew his weapon or not, Galland's right hand would appear from behind his back with a firm grip around his lightsaber.

With a violent hum, the blue blade ignited at the Thyferran's side as he stared at his opponent from a distance. "There are higher causes than power, Anthoni" he said loudly. Slowly, he walked towards the Sith and would stop four meters away from him if he didn't react. Vardon's left hand was ready to counter whatever force powers were thrown at him while the right one held his blade at the ready.

The padawan remained light on his feet to be able to react better to attacks made by the Sith. "The light shall see me through" he said with a voice solemn yet zealous voice as battle neared.

@TheWolfMan

 

[Anthoni]

He could sense the worry bleeding off of Vardon when Anthoni revealed his saber. The wave of energy he sent towards him was blocked with an invisible barrier outstretched from Galland's palm. Anthoni's eyes grew wide as he witnessed the maneuver. He took a step backwards as Vardon began to walk towards him. His crimson saber outstretched diagonally in front of his person.

"What do you know of power, Jedi." Anthoni spat at him. Never before had the acolyte seen a Jedi before, he had heard them to be extinct, believed that to be true. However he couldn't have been more wrong as he stared into Vardon's eyes, his blue saber echoing in the Sith's ears. "You should have left when given the chance." With that Anthoni kicked up some rocks and pebbles which littered the ground, sending the material flying towards Galland's eyes. Anthoni's lightsaber would swing low as he leaped towards the Jedi. Invading Galland's space Anthoni cut a low arc towards Vardon's knees, aiming to decapitate the man. The were within two feet of each other now, Anthoni already closing the space.

The river was behind Vardon, the trail behind Anthoni. Tall jungle trees over stretching into the sky, shielding the duelist from the hot Rodian sun. The shuttle wasn't far away, but Anthoni couldn't continue on with the mission unless the Jedi threat was dealt with. He imagined the reward he'd get after apprehending or killing a Jedi. The blue lightsaber alone was worth a large sum of credits but Anthoni wanted something more. Recognition, respect from the higher ups of Imperial command.

@Pyrenees

 

[Vardon Galland]

The humming blue weapon lit up its immediate vicinity, sharing its colour with the world. Vardon held the saber rather plainly in his right hand with a slight downwards tilt to match that of his opponent. "What do I know of power?" he asked rhetorically before leaning his head to the side, exposing the left side of his neck "Reach out. Reach out and feel that I know more of power than many others" he continued, still with a humble voice - yet deep down, there was a challenge hidden in the his words.

The Sith then spat and told Galland that he should've embraced the earlier offer of mercy - this was most obviously telegraphing an attack. Just as he thought, Anthoni was quick to commence his offence after the comment. With his left hand free, the Thyferran used the force to create push against the incoming debris and the Sith charging up behind them. While the rocks and pebbles would just halt mid-air and fall to the ground, Anthoni would just be slowed down by the ability. Seeing as his opponent would either have lost momentum by being slowed by the push or by having to suddenly dash to the side, Vardon took one step forward with his right foot and extended his right arm to stab at the opponent's left thigh. If the Sith's lightsaber was still sweeping down, the two blades would clash in the middle.

After having directed the poke at his opponent, Vardon used his right leg to push himself back to his original position and quickly followed by a step back with the left leg. The padawan was effectively facing his opponent with the side and held out his lightsaber towards the man with a loosely extended right arm. The left arm was floating by his chest, ready to let the force guide it if need be and he made sure to keep light on his feet. "I think you should join us" the Thyferran said rather suddenly. Now, he weren't quite sure what to expect, a response, or another attack - regardless, he was prepared for both.

@TheWolfMan

 

[Anthoni]

Anthoni didn't expect the push to slow him, or halt the debris he sent flying towards Vardon but it happened all the same. As the rocks hit the ground after halting in mid air Anthoni felt the weight of what could only be described as a wet coat. It burdened his movements, slowing his pacing and making it difficult to swing his saber. The blue and red blades would clash together with a loud hum, Anthoni spinning away and sending another saber strike at Vardons chest reactively but the other man stepped away with fast feet before it could connect. The distance between the two was now open once again, Anthoni held his saber pointed down towards the ground. Vardon holding his out before him in a defensive stance. Anthoni shook his head as he spoke, looking at Vardon all the while. The Sith wasn't holding his weapon as if to fight, but he was ready for any move Vardon would make.

"Join you? The Jedi? Why would I do that, enlist in some rag tag band of rebels. Don't you know by now that they're simply using you Jedi? Ask yourself why you're in this jungle in the first place. Is your life worth only a few crates of Imperial medical supplies and ammunition?" He stoped shaking his head and looked at Vardon piercingly with hollow eyes. "You're simply a fool Vardon, a pawn in a game you can't win, held together by the illusion of moral superiority." Anthoni may have never seen a Jedi before but he'd heard of them plenty. The Imperial libraries had vast amounts of knowledge on the Jedi dating back all the way to the hundred years darkness. Most of it was the same, and Anthoni formed his own conclusions. Jedi rarely saw their flaws, never admitted their failures but then again rarely in history do evil people think of themselves as evil. Anthoni could tell this was true in Vardon.

"Drop your saber and I can promise you a fair trail under Imperial code. Join us Vardon and I promise you'll not die for some futile cause such as Rebellion." Anthoni took a step forward towards the Jedi, his saber now pointing at him. "Or you will die here, today, in a jungle far from your home for a people whom will never remember your name."

@Pyrenees

 

[Vardon Galland]

Giving Anthoni a confident nod, Vardon confirmed that he did indeed mean for the Sith to join him. His eyes told the same tale whilst his sword arm relaxed slightly as the two started exchanging more than just a couple words. Still, the defensive stance was still in place in case the other decided to attack again. Although Anthoni was wanted as an ally rather than an enemy, trust was low between the two. Galland found the rant to come rather amusing as the words that came out of the Sith's mouth about the Jedi matched the padawan's thoughs about the Sith to a very high degree.

While weighing back and forth between his foot to the front and the one to the back, the Thyferran considered what to say next while still staying alert to any sudden attacks. He narrowed his eyes and furrowed his forehead questioningly "A pawn? Do you think that they are using me?" he asked while taking a small conservative step forwards towards his opponent. "No, I go wherever the light guides me. You'd be surprised by how few times I've gone on specific missions for the Jedi." his voice was confident and laid back as he spoke. The padawan didn't wait long until he continued "Don't you want peace, prosperity and freedom for the people of the galaxy? A world, not ruled by tyranny and fear, but by its people. That will never happen under the Empire" his tone was marked by a certain sense of hope and optimism as he was certain that his words were true.

Vardon's eyes traveled to his saber as Anthoni told him to drop it and surrender. An empathetic, yet almost challenging smile grew on his lips "You want me to surrender?" he asked with a rather surprised voice "Those Imperial Codes of yours haven't done much good to those who have been murdered by a vindictive and petty Sith or killed in an Imperial orbital bombardment. Tell you what, I'll lay down my blade once you've surrendered to me, and more importantly, the light side" It seemed as if the fight would surely recommence, but Galland didn't want to be the one to initiate the hostilities and simply remained in his defensive stance and was prepared to either defend himself or spar with a few more words.

@TheWolfMan