Bird Watching - A Violent & Calming Experience

[Lord Eclipsion]

Lord Eclipsion was not enjoying her time in the thick jungles of Yavin. A young Acolyte had recommended to her to go watch and study the animals here as a way to relieve stress and as a entertaining vacation. So far, the she had been rained on multiple times, had various encounters with ferocious and carnivorous wildlife, and had just now noticed a Light force prescence nearby her location.

"This little retreat is off to a FANTASTIC start..." Eclipsion whispered to herself. While she was here trying to relax, she couldn't resist the opportunity to eliminate a Light-Sider. She turned on her lightsaber with the flick of a switch, and slowly approached the mysterious being.

[member="Montana"]

 

[Montana]

The rain had finally let up, making for some nice breaks of sunshine. Perfect timing too, as Montana was in need of some Vitamin D. He took off his t-shirt and let the sun kiss his skin. There was no better feeling for a plant than the sun showering the body after a cold dewy night and drizzly morning.

“Much better.” Montana let out a sigh of relief before making his way to the miniature greenhouse he had constructed. “Interesting,” He hummed, and conversed with himself. “It seems I was right. Not only is this native species pulling in the spores of the alien, but it’s becoming more like them. Whether that’s good or bad remains to be seen.” He reached into a durasteel locker behind his back and typed his examination into a datapad. “I should get some wild samples to check their rate of mutation.” Montana said as the clouds moved in front of the sunlight once again. "But first, breakfast."

If he couldn’t get his nutrients from the sun that meant he had to have a more traditional sentient breakfast. He left the miniature greenhouse and walked into the makeshift hut next to it. In the kitchenette he grabbed an assortment of different vegetables, cut them up and dropped them in a salad bowl. He then brought the salad bowl outside and pulled up the wooden chair and table by the door.

As he started chewing he could hear a very familiar sound nearing his position. It was the hum of a lightsaber, Montana’s favorite sound, but for some reason the force was telling him he wouldn’t like who or whatever was on the end of it. He looked through the trees and then the clearing to see if he could pinpoint the sound’s location. He could not lose his position in this jungle, and most certainly not his research. He pulled his lightsaber to his hand and stood ready to ignite it’s bronze blade at the first sign of danger.

Montana was a pacifist but he would not hesitate to defend himself.

[member="Lord Eclipsion"]

 

[Lord Eclipsion]

Lord Eclipsion trudged through the thick brush that lay underneath the towering, green canopy. However, she heard the crackle of a lightsaber sparking to life, causing the Sith to take an offensive stance. She slowly approached the source of the light-side presence, only to see a woman with stark white hair clutching a bronze blade. Scratch that. A man with dazzling white hair clutching bronze blade. "I suggest you stand down Jedi, before I slice open your neck!" Eclipsion commanded menacingly.

The Chiss stared down the being across from her, as she began channeling the force. She manipulated the mystical aura to make her seem more dangerous, more threatening. Hopefully, this would strike fear in the man and allow the probable fight to be easier for Eclipsion to prevail.

[member="Montana"]

 

[Montana]

Montana’s vision narrowed as his eyes focused on the figure making their way through the brush. He could hear the hum of her saber and see it full of action and life in her hand. It was the first thing about the woman that caught his eye, but certainly not the last. Montana’s eye ran up her arm to her face. She was a Chiss and appeared youthful but mature. Montana could tell she had a couple of years on him but he couldn't be sure of how much. From her face his eyes traveled down her body gauging factors such as height, weight, and muscle areas which was easier said than done especially through clothes and armor.

As the Sith approached him she threatened and ordered him to stand down. One of those things being a classic signature of the Sith. Montana however didn’t respond to threats or orders from Sith but that didn’t mean he was just going to swing his saber. What he decided was to instead explore his options. His lightsaber still sheathed was a clear indication of his pacifist beliefs. Most other Jedi would have ignited their saber by now but Montana liked to think he wasn’t most Jedi, so he simply asked “What happens if I choose to stand down, Sith?”

[member="Lord Eclipsion"]

 

[Lord Eclipsion]

Lord Eclipsion wryly smirked as she saw her "opponent" study her form. She knew the look from years of fighting, dueling and training. However, she took this opportunity to weigh her fellow combatant up. While she wouldn't deny that the fellow was rather pleasing to look at, but he appeared rather weak to her. While he kept his saber easily within teach, she believed that if one did not react to a threat, that they would most likely be attacked by said threat.

A grim chuckle escaped her lips as she heard his inquiry. "What happens if you stand down? You live."

[member="Montana"]

 

[Montana]

If I stand down I live? Montana questioned as to whether he could trust the Chiss woman in front of him. As much as he’d like to and go about his business, he could not. He could not in right mind trust a Sith.

“What’s the catch?” Montana asked unbelieving that the Sith woman would just leave him here to his research without a fight or at the least a scratch. His instincts, the force, and his upbringing told him he was right to be unbelieving. What had this Sith come out to Yavin IV anyway? There were many temples dedicated to certain members of the Sith and Jedi, but most were in ruins and their holocrons and the like were usually long gone in the hands of others.

There was something wrong with this picture, and with Montana’s limited amount of information any idea would simply be speculation. So he kept calm and listened to the Sith speak.

[member="Lord Eclipsion"]

 

[Lord Eclipsion]

Eclipsion's smirk turned to a grimace as she heard his response. "The catch is, that if you keep running your mouth I will gouge out your eyes and then give your carcass to the dogs!" She angrily told Montana. Eclipsion didn't want to be dealing with this man in the first place, because his presence interrupted her vacation. The Chiss slowly approached the white-haired Jedi, with her saber in the air, ready to slice down at his skull at any second. She carefully eyed the saber he closely held within his hand, as Eclipsion finally reached her opponent.

"Now, put down your saber, and so will I." She cooly told him.

[member="Montana"]

 

[Montana]

Montana jumped up, backwards, and onto his hut as the Sith woman came closer, she was moving slow and speaking angrily. This woman was much too volatile for his liking. And she persisted with her threats and her orders. They didn’t really make Montana angry or annoyed but he didn’t like hearing them. He was much more a man of action.

She told him to put down his saber and that when he did she would follow. Montana clipped his lightsaber to his belt but he would not let his guard down. He stood tall, strong, and having moved to the top of the hut would not move an inch more. He had allowed her too much ground already, but at least he had the high ground atop the hut. The high ground, always an advantageous position whether it be ranged or melee combat.

Montana watched the woman carefully. He would not let her enter his hut, or greenhouse without his permission. If she did, he’d have no choice but to fight and protect his position. As Montana watched her he, as she said, stopped “running his mouth” as to not be awarded gouged out eyes and a carcass that’d be fed to the dogs. A laughable thought as dogs would not care for the plant body of Zelosian.

Montana waited intently for her to speak. He was curious at what she had to say or what she wanted. What was her reason for being a nuisance.

[member="Lord Eclipsion"]

 

[Lord Eclipsion]

Eclipsion let out a small sigh of relief as Montana put away his lightsaber. She followed through with her promise, and slowly put away her own violet blade, doing so with a wary eye, in case he tried to attack her while she was off her guard. "There. Was that so hard? Now, please tell me what are you doing here. Depending on your answer, I might try to kill you or not!" Eclipsion told him in a unsually chipper tone. Even for the Sith who was notorious for using disguises and playing mind games, the tone of her voice was rather strange when compared to her usual behaivor.

She gazed around as various birds flew out from the trees, apparently caused by the commotion the Chiss was causing with Montana. "Beautiful, aren't they? These birds are always a big reason for visitors to come to Yavin." She casually spoke.

[member="Montana"]

 

[Montana]

“I’m studying several mutations in some plant species here.” His hand motioned towards the greenhouse besides his hut as he talked through the avian squawks. As they flew overhead. Their multicolored plumage contrasted the uniform tan of Montana’s hut. The avian species of Yavin were a sight to be seen yet master’s of stealth. They flew between the trees and tracked their prey. It seemed to Montana that they were getting ready to do just that. Although they weren’t his main focus he had noticed their patterns after some time on Yavin, and mostly because of their link to the mutated grass he had been studying. The avian species was a frequent consumer of this grass which may or may not lead to some problems for them if the mutation turned out to be damaging.

“The birds are a sight.” He agreed with the Chiss. “Are they why you’ve come to Yavin?” Montana asked with a genuine sense of interest. There were many reasons to come to Yavin after all, especially for those strong in the force.

[member="Lord Eclipsion"]

 

[Lord Eclipsion]

Eclipsion nodded rapidly as she heard Montana's inquiry. "Yes, I am here to study the avians of this world. Many of them have been dying out due to a mutation in roughly forty percent of the population. I'm trying to figure out if any outside influence caused the mutation, and how to quickly eliminate the issue. Also, I came here to relax." She calmly stated. "Do you think any of the plant mutations might have caused the disorder in the avian population?" Eclipsion asked. She said all of this with more vigor and interest than the rest of the pairs conversation, as she was truly intrigued with the birds of Yavin. They truly were extraordinary,as they managed to be skilled and stealthful hunters, despite their brightly colored plumage. Also, many birds across the system developed their colors later in life, but the avians of this world had them since birth.

The Chiss was sincerely happy that instead of coming to blows with the Jedi, she was able to find someone to discuss the life that existed on this beautiful world.

[member="Montana"]