Duel A Reunion of Sorts

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Vulpesen

Returning to Veradune was a nostalgic sort of thing these days. She hadn't been back since learning how to use lightning, but that was something she had since mastered. She'd mastered a lot since then. Learned so much.

Vulpes had invited her to a dinner. She had every intention of challenging him to another spar. She wanted to keep him as her measuring stick. This time, she intended to win.

 

[Vulpesen]

Knowing to expect Jonyna's visit, Vulpesen had gladly arranged for her transport to his home, a speeder having awaited her arrival at the space port before whisking her off to the estate. Once there, she would see the Valde leaning against the threshold of his home, tail wagging and a small smile upon his lips. "Welcome back, Master Si." Their previous meetings, in truth, hadn't always ended amicably. It was a matter of differences in opinions, or as he figured, different levels of experience.

Of course, that only lead Vulpesen to keep an eye on the master, listening to reports offered by his men who observed her on and off the field of battle. The Valde preferred to keep records of al his notable allies, but the now Jedi Master was something of a personal project. In her, he recognized himself when he had been a young jedi. A champion of the light, growing into power and seeing the injustice of the galaxy, wanting nothing more than the power to correct it. She ha the spirit, she simply needed it to be tempered. It was time to see if that tempering had happened since their last meeting. "Congratulations on your promotion. Apologies that I couldn't be there, but the jedi temple has been rather restrictive as of late."

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Vulpesen

"Can you blame us? The sith have been making big moves. You missed Woostri, we could've used you." Jonyna scoffed as she stepped off the speeder, looking rather smug. "Since then, I've fought every big name Sith under the sun, except the Emperor himself. He did tell me to kill myself though, so that's a plus." She chuckled, looking to him. "So what's for dinner? I'm starving."

 

[Vulpesen]

A brow rose at her boasting, and her claim that the jedi could have used his assistance brought a wry smile to his lips. "I'm afraid Veradune and its Wilders required my attention at the time and I go where the force calls me to go. Though, if the Jedi truly wished for our assistance, you'd think they'd be a bit more welcoming rather than banning us from their halls. I'm afraid that as a response, most of the other Archons have closed their groves to outsiders." His smile had vanished as Vulpesen spoke of the consequences of jedi isolationism. When he had first reached out to the alliance and its order, he had been welcomed with open arms. Now, the temple was closed to all outsiders, including the representative for the Wilders. Such an action had caused repercussions amongst his fellow leaders in Veradune's religious sphere, repercussions that had decimated the progress Vulpesen had made in expanding their teachings and knowledge t the outside galaxy. "But I don't believe you came to talk politics. Come in, my chefs made fried elmury."

Brightening his features, the Valde waved his hand, using the force to swing open his doors before walking in with the expectation that the jedi would follow. "Its not our fanciest dish, but I figured that a business woman and a jedi like yourself would want something with a sort of home cooked feel." Vulpesen was a fan of the good things in life. Whiskey, steak, and fine dining were all wonderful perks of his position. Still, there was something nice about occasionally sitting back and enjoying a simple meal to remind himself of his roots.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Vulpesen

"It's out of my hands at this point." Jonyna said, her smirk fading at the thought. She didn't like that they were alienating their allies, but like he said, she wasn't here to talk politics. "Oh thank the Force!" A pause, then a squint. "This isn't gonna kill me, is it? I've been to your planet enough times to know basically everything here is designed to kill you in one way or another."

She also didn't want to get distracted. She knew what came next. She wanted a spar, not a meal.

Though being well fed before this would probably be a good idea.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen smirked as he walked back towards the dining area, his tail swishing behind him as he strode past the various men and women who worked to keep his estate in order. "They've got some venom to them, but we make sure that's removed before we start cooking." He glanced over his shoulder, fixing Jonyna with his fanged smile. "But if you start twitching, let me know. Hard to tell under the fur if you're turning blue."

Unlike their last meeting, the table was empty this time, with the exception of plates of food. Jonyna was a master in her own right now, and a member of the council. Whatever their differences, Vulpesen could respect that she had earned her place. There would be no lectures, no harsh truths except what she saw fit to bring up. Perhaps there was more he could teach her, but it would be done as a peer, not a superior.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Vulpesen

Jonyna raised an eyebrow, sitting down and looking across the table. "I'll be sure to tell you." She smirked as she got to work. Jonyna had always been a messy eater. Table manners weren't exactly a high priority when you're a rebel on the run, and coming from Cathar, Jonyna wasn't one to keep her teeth out of anything she could dig into.

And yet, she never took her eyes off Vulpes. He always had a leg up on her, and yet, today she intended to do what she couldn't before.

She wanted to beat him.

"So..." She ripped a piece of meat off the bone, as she looked to Vulpes. "How's the planet been going?"

 

[Vulpesen]

Digging into his own food, Vulpesen held some sense of decorum, though only just barely. He'd learned to act in a courtly manner over the decades, and yet there was still a part of him that rejected that posh and noble lifestyle, something that longed to return to being a simple man travelling the galaxy with the desire to help others. "Veradune is doing well. My people flourish and as much as I hate to admit it, the galaxy's state of war is rather profitable for us." He wolfed down one of the cutlets of fried fowl before continuing. 'We did have a bit of trouble among the wilders. Some blight sects decided to rear up and cause issues. Took me and the other archons a bit of time to root them out, but we managed. As I mentioned earlier, that little issue did keep me a bit too busy to lend my usual aid to the alliance."

Life for him, was a constant battle. Sith, imperials, mandalorians, and now even blights on his own doorstep. Vulpesen was constantly finding the need to draw his saber. It was perhaps one of the main things that he and Jonyna had in common. They were defined by conflict. It was that same conflict that kept his skills honed. He knew her true purpose and he welcomed it. Jonyna was a crafty opponent and one, who even with her relative inexperience had given him a run for his money at their last meeting. He knew better than to disregard or underestimate her. "How's life as a council member?"

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Vulpesen

"Exhausting." In a word, she summed it up. "I've been building up a fleet, and ferrying it to every corner of the Alliance cloud. Iridonia, Onderon, Keshi, Jedha," She paused, taking another bite. "You missed out on that one. The ice witch that froze me came back and turned the moon into a snowball." Another ravenous bite. "Hapes. That was a chitshow. Velusia. Cathar. Lost that fight. Mandos always swoop in whenever the old regime falls, set up a new one overnight. Got the core back, those had to all be rebuilt. It's been a long few months. Glad the Imps are gone though, for now. Word on the street is that they're regrouping back where the Empire of the Lost used to be."

Another bite, and this time the leg of something that had to have been a predator of some kind. She pointed the leg bone at Vulpes as she spoke. "You should see it sometime. We turned Sularen's old flagship into a bulwark and makeshift hospital ship."

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen couldn't help the laugh that came out of him, though he did contain it somewhat as he listened to Jonyna's plight at her appointment. "Always some crisis or another when you're the one piloting the ship. Maybe its a good thing I didn't stick around long enough to make the council, though the old order would have likely burned down before I had a chance, even if I had stayed."

Trouble on Hapes. Another thing they had in common. The elder master had lost a lightsaber there late into his apprenticeship. He had also made something of a nemesis, a man who was long since redeemed... and dead. "Never expected the alliance to start weaponizing irony. Can't say I disapprove though. Lucas and my agents in the Tenevi have been keeping me informed while I was away. Go to the woods, clean up the blight. Then stop by home to read the mountains of paperwork and dossiers so I can keep in touch." He washed down another fried cutlet with a sip of amber liquid. "Its good to hear you've been thriving though. I was worried that headstrong knight I had first met would get herself killed before she could prove herself. And don't worry, I'll be on the battlefields soon enough to give you a hand in pushing back the tide of tyranny."

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Vulpesen

Jonyna paused, making a face of confliction.

"Well...that was partly why I came. The war with the Sith isn't going well. Echnos, Woostri, and soon, Endor. We need all hands on deck for the next attack, and the counter attack."

She took a moment to put down her latest addition to her meal, and look across the table with intent. "And I need proof I'm ready. I've faced down the best the sith has to offer, and kept my life. But I was never able to beat you."

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen paused his eating and stared at Jonyna, his brow raised in appraisal. There was a humility in that, even as she boasted of beating away the sith. A plea for help that he had not expected. He found himself cursing the blights, and was suddenly glad he had given their fate to the other archons, sects who's names were not as synonymous with life as his own. "You forget. I hold a commission in the Defense Forces. I'll not have it said that I, or any other son of Veradune has stood idly by while the galaxy burns. Cyclone will be there. As will I. And my men in trident. The sith wont know what hit them." He glanced up from his company to see his men standing guard at the threshold. Despite their bearing, he could spy a couple of sly grins. No zorren would ever refuse the call to battle, particularly when they saw a just cause.

"So, you've fought the best that the sith had, and now you're seeking the best that they lost." His own smile mirrored that of his men. "Jedi too for that matter." He started to rise from the table, his plate completely empty. Zorrens had voracious appetites, and when one lived on the battlefield, one lived to eat fast. "Take your time. my men will escort you t the field when you're ready. I need to get prepared." Their last fight had been spur of the moment with Vulpesen only bringing the bare minimum to their battle. He would make no such mistake this time.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Vulpesen

"Don't let your head weigh you down Vulpesen." Jonyna said idly as she took another bite.

It took a few moments, but she ate about as much as she could. She'd need the energy, after all.

Then finally, she stood. Swords at her side, ready to fight.

"Show me to the battlefield. I wish to prove my worth."