Asteroids Do Not Concern Me (TSA Tournament: Moria vs Lark)

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| [member="Moria"] | [member="Lark"] |​

​

Roche Asteroid Field, Roche System​

Though a handful of the floating rocks were inhabited by the insectoid Verpine, much of the asteroid field was much as it appeared from the viewport of any passing ship: simply a large collection of rough boulders floating lazily against the dark background of space. Pitted with caverns and impact craters from micro-meteorites, none were devoid of flaw or imperfection, and many would fragment on impact with another, a never-ending battle between mass and momentum, as the gravity well spun them around and around.

Some of the more enterprising beings of the galaxy had elected to travel to Roche and establish mining colonies on the surface of the larger rocks, digging deep beneath the outer crust in hope of finding precious metals and other materials deep inside the cores. Many such lay abandoned now: the product of depleted funds or exhausted asteroids, deprived of the minerals that had been removed with meticulous care. Few such remained now, but the remnants of their efforts were everywhere: deep caverns excavated within the rock, metal scaffolding that prevented the tunnels from collapsing in on themselves, even the odd scrap of hull plating where a mining ship had met an unfortunate end.

Dropped into this silent vacuum were two Sith, each equipped with expensive and comfortable environmental suits that would enable them to breathe even in the absence of air, though each had only enough air within the small cylinders upon their backs to last them a day. Any longer than that and they would find what it was to suffocate in the absence of that most overlooked but precious resource: oxygen. They had been permitted to take any other weapons or items that appealed to them, warned only that the slow movements of their magnetic boots would inhibit them on the surface.

The arena chosen for their battle was a vast asteroid, once the headquarters of a particularly tenacious mining operation. Dropped on the surface of the rock, they might engage each other there, or perhaps find their way inside to the heart of the asteroid - if they could locate one of the airlocks that had been used to seal it off. Inside they would find a cold, airless rock, one that would require the heating and life support systems to be reactivated, were they to proceed in any form of comfort. Doing so brought dangers of its own, of course: the asteroid facility was not lacking for automated defenses, left against the possibility of intruders.

Each had been separated, but to progress to the next part of the tournament, they would need to find and neutralise their opponent: whether death or submission, their battle would end only when one remained to claim victory.

 

[Lark]

Lark felt lightheaded, little specks of multi-colored light dotted around his closed eyelids. He could hear himself breathing, his short breaths came out raspy through what he could only assume was an oxygen mask. He could feel a cylindrical object digging into his back, likely the oxygen tank. He lay face up on the craggy surface, laid out like a child making a snow angel. He stretched his limbs, popping his bones and releasing some of the pressure and stress that had been building upon them. And then, he opened his eyes.

For a moment he didn't even realize they were open. The little dots of light he had seen were still there, brighter yet farther away. He thought he might be trapped in a dream, a phantasmagorical sensation which he had not experienced since his childhood. But the landscape around him was not illusory, the rough ground beneath him felt all to solid. And he realized where he was.

He reached a hand out towards the heavens, in momentary awe of the radiant stars that shined brighter than the most spectacular auroras, more magnificent than the purest crystal. An infinite void of unknown darkness shrouded the stars, like a vast incomprehensible beast enveloping them, with the intent to devour them whole. He sat up carefully, reluctant to take his gaze off the celestial beauty. Lark could not have picked a more paradisaical, divine background for the arena he fought in.

A massive crater surrounded him, he had been placed in the dead center. He made the trek to climb the ridge, careful not to take to many deep breaths. Managing his oxygen would be vital, each gasp of air taken must be calculated and necessary. If he handled this well, he could probably extend the days worth of oxygen he had, each molecule mattered.

He reached the upper lip of the crater after a few minutes of climbing, and was rewarded with a scopious view of the landscape around him. Would that there had been anything in it. Lark observed all three hundred and sixty degrees around him, and all he could see was an endless desert of grey rock. He had once been lost in the forests of Myrkr when he was younger, and the unseen eyes of beasts hiding in the brush shadows made him feel like an outsider. Lark did not feel like an outside here. No, this was something colossally different, a place man was not supposed to go, where life was not meant to exist. Within this tremendous asteroid, and looked down on by an immeasurable darkness, Lark had never felt more forlorn.

Smiling softly, he set out to find his opponent. This would truly test his unbreakable will.

[member="Moria"] [member="Tirdarius"]

 

[Ever Dawnracer]

Space was as bitter a place as the waters of my home. Cold. Full of disinterest. Life swam through it in metal vessels, traveling from one world to the next. Other life transcended this need and was able to survive in the emptiness of the void. It amused me to think of that as I stood on the surface of the asteroid, magnetic boots holding me down. My eyes were turned towards the stars and I did not yet move. This was meant to be a battle, a test of wills between two opponents, though she didn't truly understand the purpose of such. Each of them was to face another, and the victor would face another victor until ultimately only one of them remained as the champion.

But to what end?

Though it made little sense to me, I had been chosen to take part in the event, and so I turned my gaze from the stars, back to the present of the asteroid. Out there was another. Not another like me, as there weren't any like me. But another Sith, all the same. Who were they? What did they want in life? Did they seek to exist to dream or were they just another with the same goal? I giggled at that. In my time among the Sith so far I'd only met so many of the same there. Narrow minded. Slaves. They succumbed to the will of their history, which is just as bad as if I had gone through with the change back on my world.

I plodded along, feeling the Force ebb and flow through me. I didn't bring a weapon. I had none. What was the weapon for me? I did not know. All I knew was the power inside of me, the hunger that drove me forward. I could feel it out there.

My next meal was coming for me.

[member="Lark"] [member="Tirdarius"]

 

[Lark]

Lark had never fully appreciated how cold space was. There was no snow, no ice, nothing to warn you of the ceaseless chill that awaited one in the empty void. Lark had never minded the cold, his hair never straightened sharp as thorns when a frosty breeze blew, goosebumps never emerged from his skin after prolonged exposure. But he was beholden to the suit and the luxuries it provided. Whenever he found his opponent, whoever that may be, his goal was to rupture the suit. Damage the oxygen tank, crack the mask, it need not be a kill shot. The briefest exposure to the elements of space would spell certain doom. He was counting on the suit remaining efficient, lest he suffer the deadliest wardrobe malfunction of all time.

On him he carried a traditional pair of twin daggers, which were virtually useless considering how dreadfully slow he'd be able to swing them. The magnetic boots that linked him to the asteroid prevented him from drifting off into the unknown, but he suffered dismal speed because of it. His saving grace might his small laser rifle, but even it was limited by it's short range.

No, combat in the open vacuum would likely be extremely disadvantageous to Lark. He was unsure what kind of weaponry and powers his opponent possessed, and fighting in zero gravity seemed like a dangerous gambit, one that might not be worth the risk. He had passed dilapidated mine shafts that had suffered debris from other asteroids raining down upon it, another the only apparent casualty of a mining accident. If he could find an undamaged shaft, perhaps one that led deeper into the asteroid, he could find the ruins of mining operations abandoned long ago. Perhaps the laws of physics that Lark was accustomed to could be found there.

He continued to walk slowly, breathing extremely infrequently. His heart beat sporadically, and the normally rhythmic pump was amplified tenfold in the silence of the cosmos. Calm as glass, Lark looked for an entrance into the unknown depths below.

[member="Moria"] [member="Tirdarius"]

 

[Ever Dawnracer]

Living beneath the ground had made me accustomed to the cold. More than that, my species lives deep beneath the waters of the world. Walking in the suit felt so very similar to swimming in one of the deep lakes. A bit frustrating, though, because I couldn't move my legs as fast as I wanted to. But I could feel my opponent drawing closer and closer. Soon enough I could see him moving across the surface of the rock. It wasn't a planet, but a rock, I realized. I'd never been on a rock in space before. Pausing, I gave it a good hard thump on the ground, listening to the metallic twang before I shrugged and continued on.

Ahead, between us, was a strange protrusion in the surface. Perhaps an entrance? I didn't know. Nearest I could tell it was something different from the normal surface so it was worth exploring, at least. But, I had to face my opponent first.

Lifting my hand, I offered a wave in his direction. I thought it was a him at the time based on the movements, but it was difficult to say at the time. Onward I went, waiting until I drew near to him to feel out and engage him in a test of mental wills. Our first dose of battle would come on the mental plane, not the physical one. I reached through the Force with a small tendril and pushed and poked at his mind, trying to find a way to wiggle in. After all, if I could get into his mind, I could get him to do whatever I wanted. If I could do that, I would get him to do what I wanted, I could drain him willingly and go about my way.

He'd make a tasty treat.

[member="Lark"] [member="Tirdarius"]

 

[Lark]

Lark felt his opponent before he saw her. A small but powerful wisp of power sought to infiltrate his mind, seeking out the small holes in his mind, hunting for a way to gain control. But he was not docile prey. He felt the small tingle of pain the invasive tendril induced and fought against it, slowly attempting to push it out. You shall not rule over me so freely, he thought gently, a soft smile forming on his spectral face. Using the Force he sought out the intruder, and eventually spotted a solitary figure slowly walking towards him, small enough to be little more than a speck in his vision, but close enough to possibly be a threat. Lark continued to move towards her casually, hands held behind his back. He was calmly studying the other, regarding her, and judging the best plan of action to take. It was a psychological game between them now, the combat would come in good time, no need to rush things.

He reached a fissure in the ground about the size of the crater he had awoken in, so deep he couldn't see bottom. A rickety mine shaft that had managed to hold itself together, metal beams prevented it from collapsing. A ruined automated turret lay in pieces on the outskirts, hinting that there may be some defenses left intact farther down. But the potential for warmth and life support beckoned him closer, until he stood right on the edge of the mine. He eyed his opponent once more, would she follow him down? He spread his hands out in a comforting, welcoming gesture, like a deity soothing a worshiper after death.

Taking one final look at the heavens, Lark made his descent into hell.

[member="Moria"] [member="Tirdarius"]

 

[Ever Dawnracer]

I bounced inside my suit, giggling as he managed to repulse my attempt to break into his mind. I hadn't really expected it to work anyway. It had been more for fun than for an attempt to actually knock him out of the fight anyway. A shot in the dark.

But I was too late. I gave love a bad name.

A sigh puffed out of my lips, but I moved to the hole that he disappeared in, hands held out in front of me as I drew near to it. The oxygen level in my suit was still pretty good, all things considered. No doubt he was waiting just inside for me to make my entrance so he could try to jump me. It's what I would have done. I moved my mouth in such a manner that it wiggled my nose as I thought about what I should do. Probably the smart thing was to wait for him to move deeper, but then what if he never did? Besides, the smart thing wasn't always the best thing to do, was it? No no. It wasn't. And I was so very hungry. Waiting would just be miserable.

I brought my hands around in front of me and leaned over the opening, the advantage of space, and pushed with the Force down into the chamber, sending a wave of energy within that I then proceeded to follow. The next thing I did? Close the hatch.

[member="Lark"] [member="Tirdarius"]

 

[Lark]

Lark continued to plunge down into the mine shaft, he felt like he was being swallowed, sinking deeper into the stomach of some great monstrous beast. He dropped ten feet to the platform below, silently rolling when he landed. A shadow came over his shoulder, and when he looked up above he saw the faint starlight dim, eclipsed by the closing of the entrance. He could feel the other one enter, she must have sealed off the only known exit, trapping them both in this chasm of industry. The luminescence provided by the stars was gone, only the occasional light from an old mining contraption gave off any sort of glow. He knelt close to one machine that looked like an intact turret from the surface, but it wasn't activated. It'd probably turn on as soon as Lark found out how to trigger the life support.

Lark considered rushing down to the bottom, if he could find the main control room perhaps he could activate the defenses and catch his opponent in an ambush. He could sense her in here, he'd have to move cautiously and avoid being seen, but also travel quick enough so he'd be able to activate the turrets before she reached the end of the tunnel. He could feel it slowly staring to widen, he must be drawing close to the main location of the mining operation. Inaudibly, Lark fell to the next platform, seeking out the control room. He'd trap her in this narrow gorge, and the turrets would slaughter her. If they failed, he'd finish the job.

[member="Moria"] [member="Tirdarius"]

 

[Ever Dawnracer]

He had the advantage of being further in, but I had the advantage of patience. I could hear him clanking around as he moved. Whether he was looking for the life support systems or something else I didn't know, but I could see that the tunnel was lined with turrets. That was dangerous. I moved to the nearest one and used the Force to break it free of its moring. With the lack of gravity in the chamber, it wasn't actually that heavy. Only my boots kept me in place. I did the same to the next one, and the next one, and each one I came to because it just wouldn't be much fun to get shot in the back while I delved deeper.

Or shot in the front, for that matter.

"Run. Run. Run. But you can't hide. Hide. Hide."

My voice would drift out through the chamber, emanating from my helmet for him to hear. I was coming for him, and he could run, but he could never hide from the hunger. It growled. It roared inside of me. To feast upon his Force aura would be so incredibly divine that I couldn't help myself. I had to have it. Deeper and deeper I went, following him, and destroying each turret that I could find. If he would only be a nice boy and turn on the life support it would be so pleasant. I could play with him a bit before I devoured him.

[member="Lark"] [member="Tirdarius"]

 

[Lark]

Lark smiled chillingly as her words echoed around the chamber. She was right, he couldn't hide. But he wouldn't need to for much longer. The child that still lived inside him considered taunting her in return, but the rational side of him found the silence to be more suiting. He'd let his actions do the speaking.

He finally crept into the mining hole. The large tunnel down ended in a small flight of stairs that led to the actual project that would serve as their arena. Abandoned mining equipment chained to the floor lay forgotten around the stadium sized scheme, mineral extractors still half-full of ore lay around, left behind by their owners for reasons long forgotten by the world. More turrets covered the walls, and small spider-like droids were disposed of in a small heap near where Lark entered. He knelt beside them, and pried off a pair of mining lasers that could double as an extra weapon if his others didn't prove enough. He took a small number of other droids and gently pushed them into the mine shaft, clogging the way forward for his opponent. He'd only have a few minutes to find the life support system and turn it on, as well as making any last second preparations before engagement.

Explosives, heavy duty drills, and more were sprinkled around. He spotted what would most likely be the control room, a small station on the other side of the site, and an insidious plan formed in his vicious mind. He took a satchel of explosives meant for blowing up chunks of rock and placed a number of them in various mining vehicles. He hid them in spots not visible to the eyes of one who simply walked by, or to one hellbent on hunting him down. But he knew they were there. And with enough heat given off by something such as a mining laser, or a well placed shot from his blaster, he could booby trap half the arena.

There weren't many defenses besides a few more droids and turrets. Enough to be a small thorn in the side, but nothing that couldn't be handled with a little plucking. He ran across the craggy grey battleground, dashing into the control room. His opponent wasn't here yet, but he could feel her drawing closer with each passing moment, soon she'd exit the mouth of the tunnel. He put his a few more explosives around the room, he'd blast the place as a last resort.

And then, like a god, he granted life to this barren place.

[member="Moria"] [member="Tirdarius"]

 

[Ever Dawnracer]

When I finally made it to the end of the tunnel, I found the entrance blocked with all manner of junk. A huff of air escaped my lips as I regarded this latest roadblock to my quarry. He was within the next chamber, moving all about. I could see him through cracks in his blockade, but I could also feel him in the Force. Though I wasn't entirely sure what it was he was doing, I had the feeling that it wasn't something good for my health. Of course if I didn't feed, and soon, what would happen would be even worse for my health than whatever he was up to. But caution sometimes wins the day, as I learned back on my world. The smell of a trap was always the same.

While I waited to see what he would do next I soon found that there was oxygen in the room around me. He'd switched on the life support and subsequently neither of us had any need for the stifling helmets any longer. I removed mine and shook my long, red hair about my head to get it free and clear.

"Much better."

I clipped the helmet to my belt, just in case it became needed later on, and decided that if he was going to hide within, I was going to make him regret it. Lifting a hand, I touched the debris in front of me and sent it exploding into the room on random trajectories, but all of them heading in his general direction, which was opposite from me. Even if they didn't hurt him, they'd make a colossal racket, and that was just as much fun. I smiled and looked behind me at my army of broken lasers. More missiles that I could weaponize if need be. But enter the chamber? No, he'd had far too much time between blockading the entry and turning on the life support.

"I smell a rat in a trap, but I don't think it's me!"

[member="Lark"] [member="Tirdarius"]

 

[Lark]

The droids Lark sent to blockade his hunter came shooting out of the tunnel, scattering in random, haphazard places. One came worryingly close, hitting the wall directly under the window in the control room. The droids broke into several pieces, and Lark could finally confirm his opponent as a user of the Force. He had suspected as much, but each new action she took helped him create a mental profile for his opponent. She was stronger with the Force than he was, he'd have to be clever and find some other way to beat her. Right now they were at a stalemate, she was wary of a trap and wouldn't enter the arena, and he couldn't leave the control room without giving up his vantage point and exposing himself to the defenses of the mind. Neither opponent had even gotten a close glimpse of the other, and yet an invisible, cerebral war was raging between the two.

"I smell a rat in a trap..."

Lark's mind went into full gear, thoughts and plans raced through his mind on how to come away from this duel intact. ​My opponent is cautious, she suspects I've set up a trap but isn't exactly sure what. She's more proficient with the Force than I am, but exactly how powerful she is remains unknown. He studied his surroundings, gauging what he had to work with. About half the mining vehicles had explosives placed inside them, Lark knew which ones were and weren't primed to blow. He had created a minefield, one wrong step made by his opponent and Lark would blast the place. The stability of the mine wasn't a concern, it was built to withstand controlled explosions. Only all the bombs going off at once could possibly compromise the structure. All of the other functional mining droids were doing what they were programmed to do, mine. They'd only use their mining lasers against him if they felt threatened, but the turrets were a different story. He'd have to avoid their direct line of sight.

There wasn't much he could do from in the control room when his opponent wouldn't step inside his ploy. And waiting was no fun. He had spotted a large armored drill while examining his options, an intimidating vehicle that could withstand a few explosions. Lark hadn't laden it with explosives, so instead of a trap he saw a weapon. Perhaps he could tarry until she walked in, but then she'd have time to form her own plan of action. Using the control panels, he locked the door at the very peak of the tunnel, where they originally entered, and released the chains that held the drill down.

"... but I don't think it's me!"

Lark darted out of the control room, avoiding the gaze of the turrets, staying low to the ground but moving as fast as a blur. He hauled himself into the drill, and turned it on with the press of a few buttons. The drill began spinning slowly, quietly, but as Lark began driving it quickly picked up speed. He aimed it directly towards the tunnel, and shot towards it straight as an arrow. The ground began rumbling, the drill spinning swiftly enough to break through the most durable stone. Lark sat in his heavily clad fortress, gaining speed as he drove closer to the tunnel, he wasn't far away at all now.

What will your next move be, my shifty little friend?

[member="Moria"] [member="Tirdarius"]