A Pleasant Meeting (Seraphina Shel'tah)

[Darth Ferus]

Frozen in place a rather dark scowl would form on the face of the Sith Lord. Being frozen like this was almost an insult. An insult that wouldn't go unpunished. His body would strain against the binds around him, the Force flowing through all of it. But still he was stuck, and with every passing second his anger grew. Who was [member="Seraphina Shel'tah"] to pause him in such a way? Who did she think she was to to freeze his form? With more anger came a change on the mans skin. Once red, it would slowly get darker as he struggled against his binds. The color was just that, something the Zabrak did to himself with the same skill that shrunk his signature to nothing. The more of the Dark he brought into himself, the darker his skin would get.

And his skin was practically black. While the color had no real effect, it was meant to be intimidating, to break the females concentration enough to break free. Not that he needed to at this point. Having built the Force up enough, he would let it erupt outwards in a repulse. If freed, he would return to a neutral stance, his still blue eyes gazing to the twi'liek from his now black form.

"That, was a mistake." Glancing over his shoulder, he would tear free one of the pillars he had changed earlier, intent on using the force to throw it. His body was fueled by the force, and his actions showed it as the small, and explosive, part of the pillar soared for her form.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Success. She had finally been able to impede his assault. A wide, snarky grin grew along the outside of her face, cheeks puffing with satisfaction. His anger now apparent, his disdain eminating from his figure as he was forced into the confines of the barrier surrounding him. She knew she would be unable to hold him for terribly long, but it would give her the chance to accomplish a few things before he broke free of her hold.

"What's wrong? Are we frustrated oh mighty Sith lord?" The mockery in her voice was excessive, even for her, while watching his skin tone creep ever darker towards blackness.

Sera would look on as the surge of energy forced itsway out, breaking the spherical barrier that had impounded [member="Darth Ferus"]. She wasn't disappointed, she had accomplished what was necessary. Forcing distance between the two, allowing herself a breather, and exploiting a small window of opportunity in his defenses to allow the two former events to occur. "Oh, but I disagree."

She watched gleefully as Krest wrenched free one of the pillars, hurling it towards her in a violent rage. Here was something she could hopefully put up a challenge against. Outstretching both arms as the durasteel beam soared through the air she would reach out with telekinetic hands, invisible tendrils that would grasp the beam as its course was halted. Her mind focused on it, slowing it to an eventual stop mid-way between the two combatants before shifting it to the side of the pier and releasing her hold on it.

The Twi'lek knight reached back down to her belt, grasping her purple saber once more in her hand. Please, please ignite. I need you right now, more than ever. Her thumb tapped on the activator switch, and the glittering purple hue sprang forth out of the hilt with the most relieving snap-hiss Sera could have hoped for. She returned again to her signature stance, no longer waiting for the Sith to make his advance she charged at him with a burst of Force Speed, arching her twin blades in a cross-slash formation, while following it up with a Force Push to hopefully knock him a few steps back. If so, she would make another volley of slashes aimed towards his shoulders, so that she could place him on the defensive side for once.

 

[Darth Ferus]

With the pillar going to the side, the Zabrak let out a slight gasp of surprise. But, it wasn't a real one. A roar escaped his lips, one full of anger, but again, it was fake. A lure, and one that worked rather well. The pillar, which had gone off to the side, would return rather quickly as [member="Seraphina Shel'tah"] ran for him. Mock worry filled his eyes as he held his hands out in front of him, no longer holding the pillar as it flung for the twiliek, him instead forming a barrier much like she had done.

But it was for a different reason. The pillar, with its center modified before this fight began, wouldn't reach her. Instead, a fire started through the force would erupt on the heat sensitive core, and similar to a grenade, it would explode behind her right as she brought about her sabers. The sabers themselves would catch on his own shimmering barrier, but it was the rapid explosion he was more focused on catching. She, however, would be between his barrier and the explosion, and the mock fear on his face would turn into the sinister grin hs had sported prior.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

As she lunged herself toward the Sith, his face made the imprint of fear. Odd. As her sabers came crashing down against the barrier that the Sith had called upon himself, she smiled for but a brief moment, as if she had bested him and he had now been put on defense. A moment of confidence and victory would be washed away in an instant however as the look on his face turned from the feigned fear to a sinister smile. Her head cocked to the side and her eyes lowered in confusion. Why is he smiling? What has he got to be-

BOOM.​

The thunderous explosion shook the ground before her, a tremor that would send ripples of soundwaves echoing for miles. A blanket of heat and shrapnel engulfed the area directly behind her, sending bits of sharpened durasteel and loose stones hurtling towards her with a badly damaged chunk of pillar following promptly behind it as if in a race to see what would reach her first. As her body turned mid-way between the two she held out her right hand. The stone and shrapnel danced their way across her body, tearing small gashes along her face, hand,arms, waist, and leg. The limited protection from her arm guards and leg guards were nothing short of unimpressive, and the heat wave that followed only served to irritate her body further. The Twi'lek was able to reform her own barrier immediately before the final surge of pressure reached her, which likely could have killed her. Instead, the pillar and majority of the explosion slammed against the invisible wall. Though sadly this time her concentration was diverted in several directions, between her now many small wounds, the Sith to her side, and the explosive pillar.

The barrier collapsed. The pillar followed through as it tumbled towards its destination. An audible crack could be heard prompty an ear piercing yelp from the Knight. Her right arm went limp, dropping her saber to the ground as it deactivated, rolling off in some irrelevant direction a few feet away from where the two stood. With a burst of energy she lept back with superb speed quite a distance away to estimate the extent of her injury. Not good. Her arm was useless for the remainder of this fight, and she was no healer. There would be no mending of bones for her today. Instead, her body began to shake with the pain. She spit once more, blood dabbling the ground before her as she watched the [member="Darth Ferus"] bathe in his achievement.

 

[Darth Ferus]

The barrier of the red man held as he wanted, the same grin on his face. His skin slowly turned back to its red color as the explosion died down, and he would lower his arm to let the shield fall. He would not gloat however, rather, he would begin to talk towards her, sheathing the golden saber hilt on his waist. There was no hurry in his steps, for the explosions of fireworks soon began to fill the sky. A perfect cover. Step by step he would move to her, now choosing to speak.

"I once heard of a Twi'liek who lost one of their Lekku. They say it causes brain damage, but she was fine. Had a replacement made of robotics. How do you feel about testing thus theory?" The Jedi showed her anger, even hate. Now was time for [member="Seraphina Shel'tah"] to show her fear. As he stepped closer he used the holographic belt to warp his own face into something more.. Monsterious. The grin remained, but it was soon widened and filled with rows of sharp teeth. Fake as it was, it was a striking image.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The Jedi Knight remained still, watching as [member="Darth Ferus"] approached at a slow pace, his saber returned to its rested position. What is his motive? She looked over her shoulder as the fireworks had started. She heard no screams of panic or cries for help, so it would appear that he had not planned anything sinister on that end. At least not yet. Could he have known she was here somehow? A premonition or some kind of meditation? Was he some type of Jedi hunter? What brought him here? And why was he walking so kriffing slowly?!

Sera's blade remained at the ready, even as his golden hilt rested on his belt. Her right arm seared with pain, yet her focus remained on the figure as it drew nearer. The pain was more a reminder of her now handicap than of anything else. "You're attempting to frighten me with stories of brain dead Twi'leks? A Zabrak? Is trying to scare me with conditions and ailments of my own people? Tell me, does it hurt if I carve off your thorny bits atop that crimson scalp? Perhaps we should test that theory?"

The visage that appeared to mask his face did nothing but fuel her agitation with her position. With his saber down, she took the one opportunity she had and burst forward with the aide of the Force, her speed enhancing her sprint as she thrust her blade towards the red man's legs. Before launching herself into a magnificent leap up and over him she released her grip on the saber as telekinetic tendrils hurled the blade at a high velocity towards him, while she landed just aside the violet saber that had just recently rolled out of her grasp. Lifting the blade and re-igniting it she charged back toward Krest just as the green saber arched back and returned to her.

 

[Darth Ferus]

There was a single flaw to this method of [member="Seraphina Shel'tah"] . As she ran at him, his pace wouldn't waver. As she struck at his legs, he would do something rather simple. Slide the flesh leg back, and let the saber connect with his robotic limb. Just like his arm, the limb had an undercoating of Cortosis ore, the same thing that had deactivated her saber before. Upon the saber deactivatng, if it did, touch his limb, his real hand would fly out to catch her by the throat at blinding speeds. He too used Force Speed, aiming to counteract her own in a split second.

If the grip was caught, he would lift her up with the arm, grinning wide. "Such spunk. Tell me, what does happen if your Lekku are removed?" Without waiting, he would call over her own still working saber, lighting up the blade. His holographic head would fade away, turning back to the Sith Lords own.

This was, of course, depending on earlier actions. If the saber wasn't deactivated, or if he didn't catch her by the throat, something else would happen.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Not again. The saber collided with the Cortosis shielded leg of [member="Darth Ferus"]. Is everything on this demon covered in this material!?

The saber dug its way into the limb, followed by a single moment of resistance. Without so much as a good-bye, her lightsaber retracted into the housing, leaving her with nothing more than a durasteel hilt in her hand and a defeated scowl on her face. Luck it seemed was not on her side today. That, or Krest was simply stronger or faster than her in nearly every aspect. His hand would reach out as she made the attempt to leap over him, locking his grip around her throat, halting her attempt. She looked into his eyes, a moment of dread followed a look of contempt. To be bested by the filth of the galaxy was unacceptable.

Standing nearly a foot taller than her to begin with, lifting her small frame would surely be a simple task. Her busted arm would relax, her legs unmoving as he raised her. The look on her face would remain unchanged. She simply waited. He mocked her, or threatened her, she wasn't entirely sure if what he was saying was something he would plan to torture her with, or was simply planning to do before killing her. Either way, she'd have none of it. Not today. Not right now, and not here.

She watched him as he summoned her saber that had laid a short distance away. It was now or never. As the hilt glided through the air towards his hand Sera called out what little energy she had remaining in a concentrated burst and released a Force Push from point blank against Krest's head, which would hopefully be enough to release his grip on her. If so, she would take the opportunity with the momentary distraction to summon the blade instead to herself, igniting it and dropping into a Makashi stance again.

 

[Darth Ferus]

The blast would not only result in [member="Seraphina Shel'tah"] getting free, but the red man stumbling back, clearly off balance. And yet, he would catch himself, planting his right foot behind himself to do so. With a frown his gaze would turn to the girl, watching her take up her stance. This time, he would pull out both of his sabers, the blue and gold springing to life as he held them neutrally down by his side. She was resilient, a good quality. And, she used her emotions.

"Why is it you hate the Sith? You are practically one."

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

A...Blue lightsaber? Oh the irony in that is astounding.

With the release of her neck from the grasp of [member="Darth Ferus"], the Twi'lek curled and cracked her neck, adjusting her jaw from the strain of his hold. Her body was sore now. Tired. Broken. She had little left to give. And as the second saber ignited her hope of escaping this was fleeting. What felt like an eternity would pass as only an instant as her mind raced toward her home. Cambria. Her parents. Her still missing brother. The Jedi on Ossus. Her old masters. The council. For only a moment there was a serene clarity in her mind before her consciousness was restored to the present at the sound of Krest's voice.

For the first time his words truly racked her. "No. I am nothing like you. You are tainted by evil. Your theocracy and ideals bring nothing but death and pain to the world around you. You enslave entire populations and force oppression on those you rule. That is the legacy of the Sith. I will never become what you are."

She wanted so badly to rush him, to defeat him. To make him surrender and face the Republic's justice. To rid the galaxy of one more vile Sith. She just didn't have it in her anymore. She was too tired. Her body ached. There was little more she could offer. He was simply stronger and the revelation of that was the most painful sting to admit.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Violence? Harming innocents? Tell me, have I put any innocent people in harm? No, but you. You knew I had something planned, I didn't tell you what, but it was a threat. A threat you, as a Jedi, should of taken to protect the people. And what did you do? You came here to sit and wait. What had happened if I went off somewhere else and butchered a family?" Anger once more returned to the visage of the red man. Slowly his arms would turn black, a growl emanating from his throat.

"There are Sith with honor, just as there are Jedi like you who pit yourself first. You disgust me." The venom in his words was clear, and he was not the forgiving sort. He did not attack, but the way his body tensed said he was about to.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The Knight scoffed at the words he spoke. "The greatest protection this galaxy can have is the defeat of your kind. I cannot alter what poison you've already spread in the past. Surely you don't expect me to believe what drivel you speak about honor, when among your vile kind you hold the rule of two? Save me your self-righteous lies you tell yourself in hopes that I will believe. You are no more honorable than the rest. You believe killing is warranted to achieve your goals. To invade peaceful sovereign worlds as acceptable in your pursuit of tainted knowledge. You wield the Force to conquer and oppress. No. It is you that disgusts me."

She waved her hand, raising her saber in an outstretched arm towards [member="Darth Ferus"]. "Coruscant. Manaan. Kashyyyk. Millions of lives lost for what? Your insatiable hunger for power and domination. Honor? Sith? The bile that spews from your lips is disgraceful."

Sera withdrew her second saber once more, her finger caressing the switch in hopes that if needed, it would return to life once again. Her eyes closed, breathing deeply to allow herself to be a conduit for the Force. The light would radiate from her form, her body slowly levitating off of the ground beneath her. Her eyes snapped open, left hand extending as if to grab hold of the Sith from a distance. Krest would feel a sudden burst of pressure around his body, as if a snake was constricting around him. Her eyes would display a fiery determination as she used the Force to telekinetically grip and attempt to hold her target.

Like the barrier she had forced upon him earlier, she likely couldn't hold him for long if the Force Grip succeeded, but would hopefully be enough that he would perhaps take her more seriously than some toy to mock and threaten. Or perhaps not. She was a gifted kinetic, but he was a Sith lord. She could only do what she could.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Did I say all Sith had honor? No, I did not. My point was you are no better than Sith. You preach against evil and injustice, yet you are guilty for it. You spit on this peace you try to protect with every action of anger. With every display of emotion -you- put yourself under a Sith." Once more his skin would turn to the blackest of pitch, his eyes practically flaring. The grip, while new to the Zabrak, wouldn't hold him for long as he broke the bonds through the sheer strength he possessed. Augmented with the Force, he literally tore the bindings with his arms, lifting them to break the hold. Yet he did not move to attack her. Instead, he continued his talking. Even angry, he knew that a Jedi such as [member="Seraphina Shel'tah"] would make drastic mistakes when her emotions took over.

"I could very well kill you. Break your body even and leave you a cripple. But I will not. No, your fate will be worse than that. Every day you light up that lightsaber, you will remember that it was -you- who got people killed. I may be the one pulling the trigger, but you had the ability to stop it." Turning, the man would walk away from the Twi'liek and back to the small building he had augmented. When she followed, as he was so sure she would, she would find explosive traps and pitfalls that seemed to be the very layout of the building. There was no tell tale sign that something had changed until she was close enough to feel the ground give out, or see the pale glow in the center of the piers. "Let this haunt your dreams Twi'liek."

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The final bit of control she could retain over [member="Darth Ferus"] was broken. The Sith wrestled free of her Force Grip with relative ease. There was nothing further she could do. She was well aware he had beaten her. Physically, she was in far worse shape than she had been in quite some time. Her body ached for rest and aide. The Jedi's mind was simply exhausted. Exhausted from the energy required to combat the darkness. Exhausted from the relentless exchange of words and ideals. Exhausted from the emotional battering.

In a soft tone, no more argumentative, she simply replied to the red man as she allowed her saber to die, placing the two back onto her belt. "I am better than you."

She didn't care if he listened, He had turned his back, digging the invisible knife further into her heart once more. She knew he could kill her if he desired. Perhaps that was why he no longer found her suitable for death. Walking towards the inside of one of the buildings she began to follow, lazily behind, curious as to what he was up to. The words he had spoken about being the trigger. Had he actually planned something to harm innocents? There was nobody around though. Was it at the parade?

Sera halted before following him in. Her eyes closed. She reached out with her mind, attempting to silently force her way into Krest's subconscious. To skim along recent memories, perhaps he had plotted something that she could identify, some alternate motive that would land her in a far worse situation than she was in now. If detected, she would attempt to force her will upon him, to subdue his own psyche into permitting her access to those most recent memories.

 

[Darth Ferus]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"] would find it rather easy to get into the head of the Zabrak. Too easy. But when she did, she saw the world through his eyes. It was as if she had been invited in. All of his movements, who he saw. She could see it. In front of him was the parade, crowds. Ferus seemed to just be watching the group. Initially, he had intended to reach out for her mind, and it was a feeling rather apparent.

But then the world shifted. What was once a happy gathering of people suddenly became filled with screams of terror. The floats exploded, having been turned into explosives. All around the Darth there was pain, and more and more of the floats began to explode outwards, shrapnel tearing through the crowds. Death was everywhere. Children screaming for their parents, parents hovering over the bodies of their children.

Is this what you wanted?

The image of destruction suddenly disappeared, as if what ever it was was fake. And it was fake. The Darth created a false image in his head, letting her see the destruction he thought she expected of him. His mind would suddenly close off, and he went right for hers, his conscious probing and going deep into her mind. But he wasn't looking for something. Rather, he was planting something within her psyche. Something that, when she went asleep, would haunt her dream.

And if successful, he would take his leave of this planet. Melding once more into the crowd he would leave the Jedi world with another seed of darkness. One he hoped to cultivate in the future. A small grin formed on his face as he walked back to his ship. This had been rather fruitful.