Junction Blood and Religion │ SO/HSC Junction of Besberra/Saqqar

[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Flashing Lights
Location: Besberra Megaplex Arena
Equipment: Vibrosword
Tags: Hachi X-0
--------------------------------------------

The roar of the crowd, the pounding excitement as every hit met a target, the anticipation as he paced around the inside of his temporary room and awaited his turn in the arena, all such familiar feelings. Alisteri was no stranger to fighting and putting on a show for a crowd, he had been tossed into plenty of arenas over the course of his time as a Sith. This time though he had to leave his lightsaber behind in favor of a weapon that the arena's armory provided.

When he had first been told that he couldn't use his weapon he had nearly choked the life out of the unfortunate worker that had been attending to him, but unfortunately he had to restrain himself from doing so. It wouldn't do to start a fight outside of the arena. The whole point of this little 'Sith in the arena' spectacle was to grab attention after all.

The monitor was his least favorite part of this whole ordeal, having taken several minutes to get properly calibrated and with all too much touching and prodding involved in said calibration. Still, it was done now and only two out of the four workers that he had met thus far were threatened, so he considered it a necessary evil. Surprisingly finding some temporary armor for him to don was far less intrusive than the monitor had been, although he would have rather worn his usual garments.

Finally it was time for the main event of the arena that he had been assigned to, featuring himself of course. The Sith Knight stepped out onto the arena floor as the crowd's cheering and jeering rose to a new height, their lust for combat and spectacle having not been sated yet. He paid them little mind, far more focused on watching the other end of the arena for his opponent as he rested his vibroblade on his shoulder.

 

[Anthysius Soraysom-Calimondra]

Objective Three: Flashing Lights

"Think maybe I'll pick my teeth with that pretty sword of yours once I knock you on your ass."

"Pick them you will. Off the floor of the arena."
The trash talk was quite entertaining, low as it was.

Instead he brought his ax back around, sweeping it low to gain momentum knowing it made it more difficult for a sword to parry

"Maloch" kicked off the ground, letting the axe pass under him, letting up with his attacks. The almost synchronised low strike and dodge both drew calls from the crowd.

arcing it up on 'Maloch's' dominant side to catch the sword in a backswing meant to deflect the sword back across his body.

"Maloch" parried low, close to the base of the axe haft, letting the strike pivot around the point of contact before pushing forward, slashing and lunging forward, blade tip on a downward and forward thrust.

Saturating himself he would Enhance his Attributes as it were, making himself stronger, faster and more resilient even if only for a moment or two. Springing forward in the breath he'd have raised his left arm, turned it inwards and lead with a massive forearm blow meant to take his opponent up and off his feet in grand pugilistic fashion.

Ah, now he could feel it. Anthysius was certain now that the warrior opposite him was trained in the Force too. He was very curious to see how this would enhance the fight. No doubt their movements and strikes would be amplified now, even more entertaining for the gawking masses.

 

[Ordan Vosk]

Besberra Megaplex
Objective Three: Flashing Lights
Equipment: Vibro-Ax, Vibroknuckler, Manica
Opponent: Anthysius Soraysom-Calimondra ​

---

This was where the gladiators began to distinguish themselves. Ordan wasn't much for theatrics which was why some of what happened confused him. For instance as Ordan was attempting to pressure his opponent instead of allowing him to take advantage of his flurry 'Maloch' had jumped, kicking off the ground to let the Ax pass beneath him. Why though? It may have looked eye catching to the crowd but it served no purpose, Ordan had never targeted his opponents legs jumping up as it were left a momentary opening for Ordan to continue his forwards momentum.

Too as 'Maloch' went to parry the Vibro-Ax on the backswing it was a simple thing for Ordan to tuck his right elbow close to his side before jerking the weapon down. Using the contact of 'Maloch's' blade on its base Ordan would have hooked with the lower cleft of the Ax blade as he jerked the Ax to trap the Sith's steel with his.

It all went much the same though, 'Maloch' had been lunging in as he tried to strike and Ordan had always intended to spring forward with his left fore arm in the lead to deliver a massive blow to his opponent. There would almost be no stopping some kind of contact between the two men then seeing as how both of them seemed to be on course to collide with one another.

Of course it helped that Ordan already had his left forearm up. If he connected and sent 'Maloch' reeling all the better but regardless of that he'd continue to slam his forearm forward towards the mans head...

"You're going to need to do much better than this if you think I'm going to be picking up my teeth."

...he'd drive forearm after forearm forward, so close to one another the weapons of either man would be altogether useless but the 'manica that Ordan was wearing would only enhance every one of his blows. Every forearm shot he drove towards 'Maloch' was sent with the intent of rocking his head backwards, every blow meant to successively rattle teeth and bloody his opponent. If he could he would drive the man onto his back and into the ground.

And the crowd? The crowd would have loved it. Ordan was not a particularly flashy fighter but he understood how the human body could used to particularly brutal effect, more so than many men.

 

[Hachi X-0]

Flashing Lights
Besberra Megaplex Arena
Equipment: Vibrokatana
Darth Strosius | Daxa Zuul
​

---

Hachi fingered the strange restraining bolt that had been fitted to its chest, cursing its circumstances. The accursed bolt cut it off from its weapons systems, robbing the assassin droid of a great deal of its combat efficiency and lethality. It was a necessity for its participation in the gladiatorial arena, given the nature of the spectacle here today, but the droid couldn’t possibly care less for flesh bags and their love of spectacle.

Hachi, however, was not cut off from the Force, and what it sensed was a far more worrying than the prospect of facing a Sith in mock combat.

Little Daxa was here. No matter how much time passed, the droid would never forget the girl that slew its creator; once upon a time, her presence in the Force had taken the shape of a slavering beast wrought of claws and fangs and blood and hate. Her presence was much the same now, save that the beast had grown larger and more refined, the difference between wanton slaughter and artful destruction.

Daxa would come for it. Hachi could feel it in its circuits. The only question was when.

“You’re up, droid,” said the flesh bag leader of the flesh bag workers that had seen him restrained and armed. “Put on a show for the bosses!”

The crowd was already roaring when Hachi stalked its way out to the arena, katana sheathed at its hip. It observed the enemy flesh bag with its singular red photoprocessor, modulating the color output to showcase the particular hue it had designated for disgust and disdain.

The droid settled into a low, languid stance, offering no words for the crowd or its opponent. It hadn’t programmed itself for theatrics, only murder and sarcasm.

 

[Anthysius Soraysom-Calimondra]

Objective Three: Flashing Lights

Using the contact of 'Maloch's' blade on its base Ordan would have hooked with the lower cleft of the Ax blade as he jerked the Ax to trap the Sith's steel with his

Pushing ahead, the momentum sent the blades of both weapons downward, missing Ordan, just in time for him to

spring forward with his left fore arm in the lead to deliver a massive blow to his opponent. There would almost be no stopping some kind of contact between the two men then seeing as how both of them seemed to be on course to collide with one another.

The forearm made contact, smacking into Anthysius' head. He steeled himself, drawing strength from the pain to push the tangled weapons to the side, then slide his sword back across the frontage of Ordan's unarmoured bare chest.

he'd drive forearm after forearm forward, so close to one another the weapons of either man would be altogether useless but the 'manica that Ordan was wearing would only enhance every one of his blows.

"You're going to need to do much better than this if you think I'm going to be picking up my teeth."

Even as the sword cut across, the blows continued, and 'Maloch' grinned through the pain, strengthening his drawing on the Force to fuel his strength. In an opening between the forearm strikes his head snapped forward with inhuman speed and strength, a strategically-positioned set of spikes on his costum'e crown crashing ahead towards Ordan's nose.

 

[Ordan Vosk]

Besberra Megaplex
Objective Three: Flashing Lights
Equipment: Vibro-Ax, Vibroknuckler, Manica
Opponent: Anthysius Soraysom-Calimondra ​

---

At such an intimate range Ordan had little fear of a sword blow, even sliding a weapon back between them would have been difficult. After all were it not for a few sparse inches between them they would have been chest to chest. Even sliding a weapon back between them would be difficult, for one it would involve maneuvering the arm holding the weapon between them as well which would be no quick process.

Regardless when Ordan felt the sword of 'Maloch' begin to maneuver itself free he would respond by rotating his wrist outwards. Twisting the cleft of the Ax in the process so that it clamped down on the blade of the sword to maintain the trap.

Apparently Ordan enjoyed fighting in close quarters like this.

He may have become to overzealous though. In a moment between forearm blows 'Maloch' snapped his head forward with such sublime speed that Ordan could never avoid it, all he could do was begin to turn his head. Instead of crushing his nose the spiked headbutt would make contact over Ordan's cheek and the side of his mouth. Blood would spurt from the wounds, a gash was opened up on the side of his face that bled freely and Ordan reeled backwards.

As he went, his torso twisting with his backwards momentum he'd have thrown another blow, a parting shot to keep 'Maloch' back...

"You little sheb eater!"

...this time it was a hook that came across in a tight semicircular blow for underside of 'Maloch's' jaw. Instead of using his forearm the Vibroknuckler activated, leading the way in a powerful blow as the small blades attached threated to rip up the side of his opponents face. As he went the Vibro-Ax also swept backwards so that it'd come back, past the outside of his hip in a hard jerk meant to utilize the trap Ordan was maintaining and wrench the blade free of 'Maloch's' hand and send it flinging off, out of reach into the arena somewhere in the background.

Ordan would regain his footing fully and completely in a short amount of time, after only a few steps and his gaze would set on his opponent again while the heat of his own blood leaking from the gash that had been opened up on him throbbed.

Of course the crowd loved it. They all came here for blood and that's what they were being given. Some in the stands went wild for it, working themselves into a frenzy.

"Come on!"

 

[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Flashing Lights
Location: Besberra Megaplex Arena
Equipment: Vibrosword
Tags: Hachi X-0
--------------------------------------------

The Sith perked up as his opponent stepped into the arena, idly noting how the crowd's cheering increased now that they could see their entertainment about to unfold. At the end of the day all that any roaring crowd really wanted was a show worth their credits, and that was easily given. He couldn't recall dueling against a droid of any sort before but the challenge didn't bring any hesitation. Quite the contrary, he was interested to see how his reaction speeds and swiftness would fare against a machine.

Now it was time to perform.

Alisteri lifted his weapon off of his shoulder and gave it a test swing as the audience's cries for combat hit a new height. And he thought that Sith were bloodthirsty. He readied himself and shot forward in a sprint, gripping his sword with both hands as he charged at the droid. Being the first to attack meant that he was on the back foot right at the start but he had little choice.

If his opponent was going to let him make the first strike then he wouldn't argue. There was always the chance of ending this quickly after all, even if it wasn't the most entertaining of battles that way. The Knight kept up his charge as he neared his opponent and went in for a swing, aimed to cleave the droid right in half if it landed.

 

[Anthysius Soraysom-Calimondra]

Objective Three: Flashing Lights

this time it was a hook that came across in a tight semicircular blow for underside of 'Maloch's' jaw. Instead of using his forearm the Vibroknuckler activated, leading the way in a powerful blow as the small blades attached threated to rip up the side of his opponents face.

The blow connected, hard. 'Maloch' rode the blow, the impact and sharp blades cutting across his jaw and the side of his face as he fell back. Blood fell from his face, his temporary face graft dangling off his cheek, having absorbed the worst of the blade cut. Gruesome, and all too perfect for the crowd, who went wild at the sight of both combatants bleeding. Some began chanting, though Anthysius could not make out what. Wouldn't put it past some arena blood cult.

As he went the Vibro-Ax also swept backwards so that it'd come back, past the outside of his hip in a hard jerk meant to utilize the trap Ordan was maintaining and wrench the blade free of 'Maloch's' hand and send it flinging off, out of reach into the arena somewhere in the background.

The distance between the two had widened as both retreated, allowing Anthysius to try to pull his blade back, out of the Ax's grip. The twist still imbalanced him, and the blade flew up into the sky, out of his grip- and was then tugged by the Force out of the sky, plucked like a string and flew back into his grip.

"Come on!"

The blood was up. 'Maloch' grinned maniacally, ripping away the gruesome flaps of the parts of the false graft that was dangling from his real face. The solvent and blood beneath splattered across the arena floor.

"As you wish." 'Maloch' moved in, maintaining a balanced distance. He changed his focus: more energy and speed into each strike, but the number of strikes no longer came in a storm, instead each a carefully aimed cutting blow, his Force-enhanced senses looking to feint and then move past the other warrior's guard while maintaining an optimal distance.

 

[Ordan Vosk]

Besberra Megaplex
Objective Three: Flashing Lights
Equipment: Vibro-Ax, Vibroknuckler, Manica
Opponent: Anthysius Soraysom-Calimondra ​

---

The Blood flowed, the crowd chanted. Whom did they chant for? Did it even matter? No one watching this arena would say that the price of admission was not worth it.

Given a moment before 'Maloch' came at him Ordan would raise his left hand and touch the side of his face where the blood flowed freely. Flesh was torn, he didn't doubt he would have another scar over his cheek where the spikes on his opponents crown had bitten into him. No matter though. As the sword was drawn back to 'Maloch's' grip he had to admire that particular trick, he'd seen a weapon called back to the hand of its owner before and had even done it himself but not with quite so much flare as to snatch it mid air.

It wasn't long before his opponent accepted his invitation to come at him.

The tempo of combat changed. As 'Maloch' came at Ordan it was no longer in a flurry of blows but in a carefully coordinated attack. Ask Ordan how his reflexes were so tightly honed or how his eyes drank in the most minute details and he would have said it was years of experience coming into play, maybe by the Force had an innate was of helping Ordan. He controlled it more instinctively than men who had formal training and had been doing so for countless years.

Ordan managed to deflect one blow with his Vibro-Ax, another he leapt backwards to avoid. Every swing he made 'Maloch' miss would have some effect, even the strongest man couldn't swing his sword forever but Ordan knew his opponent wouldn't miss forever, he would land a blow eventually. When he saw a place and time he would act.

Stepping into one such cutting blow Ordan would have used his manica to deflect it, letting the sword skim across the hardened leather. At the same time he would wind up his Vibro-Ax, lifting it and whirling it back behind his head he'd have let it pass over his left shoulder before dropping in a diagonal blow that sought to bite deep into the outside of 'Maloch's' right bicep just beneath the shoulder. It was intended to be a particularly heavy blow.

"Who are you under there?"

...Ordan said between the swing of his Ax, up closer he could see that some of his opponents face had come off. Lord 'Maloch' wasn't who claimed to be at all but that didn't altogether surprise the Enforcer, he'd seen men use flesh grafts before though in this case he might admit he had never seen it begin to turn so gruesome.

 

[Anthysius Soraysom-Calimondra]

Objective Three: Flashing Lights

Stepping into one such cutting blow Ordan would have used his manica to deflect it, letting the sword skim across the hardened leather. At the same time he would wind up his Vibro-Ax, lifting it and whirling it back behind his head he'd have let it pass over his left shoulder before dropping in a diagonal blow that sought to bite deep into the outside of 'Maloch's' right bicep just beneath the shoulder. It was intended to be a particularly heavy blow.

"Who are you under there?"

"You will need to earn that knowledge."

The ax came crashing down, but 'Maloch' was not there to be hit. Letting his blade slide across the leather, he kicked forward, tucking his body inward and rolling across the slick arena floor, the ax missing him completely. Stopping behind Ordan, he was too close to use his blade quickly, so instead he swung with his other fist, aiming at the small of Ordan's back, before getting to his feet and stepping back to strike with his sword.

 

[Daxa Zuul]

The Culling
​

"Adorable?" The enforcer chuckled, as he winked. "Same to you, doll."

When the - presumably - Sith beckoned to begin, the skull masked sentient motioned toward the door as he opened it.

"Ladies first."

Daxa laughed mellifluously, her voice like warm honey. “And polite too. Someone trained you well.”

She swept past Butcher into the ground level of the complex, smothering the urge to feed him his own intestines for calling her doll. That’d make her a hypocrite, and she wasn’t sure he had intestines anyway.

The foyer opened into a long corridor lined with apartments. Music thumped through the walls, loud and pulsing. Sentients milled in the hallway and congregated in the alcoves. Many carried blasters, but she didn’t notice anything exotic or out of the ordinary. This floor looked like it was for the small-timers, the fodder of the syndicate. Street-level soldiers.

It made sense. Perhaps, as they went higher in the building, they would encounter capos and daimyos and more well armed enforcers. She hoped so. Slaughtering sheep was only fun for so long.

With a laugh, Butcher walked to the first door in the hallway, reared back and kicked it in. Those inside were startled, or those that were conscious enough to be anyway, to which the enforcer greeted them with a raised pistol.

"Don't mind me," Butcher said with a grin. "Just party-crashin'!"

Butcher was swift to start killing. Daxa stalked further down the hall, to a group of six that stood gathered in an alcove, spice being passed freely between them. She held up her hand and tilted her head in thought. How many necks could she snap at once? She reached out into the Force for power and -

Little Daxa was here. No matter how much time passed, the droid would never forget the girl that slew its creator; once upon a time, her presence in the Force had taken the shape of a slavering beast wrought of claws and fangs and blood and hate. Her presence was much the same now, save that the beast had grown larger and more refined, the difference between wanton slaughter and artful destruction.

Daxa would come for it. Hachi could feel it in its circuits. The only question was when.

Spoiler: Flashback

She was six and still half feral, a shifty-eyed child of violence and hunger. She'd just killed an acolyte over twice her age; he'd reached for her rations. His blood was hot and sticky on her fingers. Her Master congratulated her then took her to the pit, a subterranean arena where acolytes and slaves and monsters fought to the death, and tossed her in. In the dark shadows of the pit, she could only see a brilliant red saber and a single, glowing scarlet eye. The monster, she would come to learn, was called 8X-0. Later, she named it Hachi X-0 . She hated the creature with every fiber of her being, down to the very marrow of her bones.

She lowered her hand. She felt her teeth grinding- at her side, her nails were digging into her fist. Everyone in the halls was dead, their bodies splattered across the walls like fancy modern art. It looked like they'd been put through a grinder.

Daxa released a slow breath, ignited her saber, and stepped past the the corpses. Everyone in the apartments was already dead. They simply didn't know it yet. And when they were dead-

Hachi, she sent out into the Force. I'm going to kill you.

​

 

[Hachi X-0]

Flashing Lights
Besberra Megaplex Arena
Equipment: Vibrokatana
Darth Strosius | Daxa Zuul​

---

The match began with little preamble. The enemy fleshbag swung his sword a few times, and that was that. Hachi watched the meatbag sprint straight at it, photoreceptor narrowed just so. A head on attack? Pat, pat, pat, pat. The fleshbag's booted feet struck the earth faster and faster, accelerating with each step.

From it's low stance, Hachi reached across its body to grip the hilt of the katana in its iron fist, servos whirring gently. Pat, pat, pat, pat. The crowd seemed to grow louder as the fleshbag drew nearer.

The Knight kept up his charge as he neared his opponent and went in for a swing, aimed to cleave the droid right in half if it landed.

The flesh-sack swung his sword as if a cleaver to cut poor Hachi in half. Sai-Tok, as known by the Jedi marks of contact. Hachi pulled its own weapon free to meet the slash with an upward rising cut of its own. The vibro-blades clashed with a mighty noise, like a crash and a hum all at once.

Hachi, she sent out into the Force. I'm going to kill you.

This one will be waiting, it replied.

Hachi darted forward with a quick jab step after their blades met, launching a swift backhand slap to the meatbag's face, just to loosen him up a bit. If the blow struck, the droid would follow with an elbow from the same arm, driving the sharp, knobbly appendage forward into the meatsack's jaw.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Kalzok

"Are you sure we can trust them?"

The quarren asked barely above a whisper. The dark lady answered with the barest glance, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. It was neither a confirmation nor a denial, but he appeared to understand. Their allies and their enemies shared one thing: They could be trusted to act in their own self interest.

"Understood."

His tentacles curled ominously.

Those who stood to greet them did not approach. The smartly dressed woman that had thus far greeted the incoming visitors instinctively took half a step back, bumping into one of the gladiators behind her. She then seemed to gather her resolve and approach. Her mouth opened to speak, but the quarren was quicker.

"Tell your masters, the Dark Lady has arrived. We will expect them immediately."

Neither of the Sith seemed to wait for her response. A zabraki gladiator who had stood behind the smartly dressed attendant reacted swiftly, seeking to interpose himself between the Sith and the door, his hand reaching out to stop the quarren from passing. His mouth opened to speak, face knotting up aggressively as he sought to collect the Sith's weapons. However, the outstretched hand never reached its target. A blur of black lashed out and passed through the arm like a shadow passing over a speeder. The limb sloughed off from the zabrak's stump with a gush of crimson. He howled in pain and clutched the bleeding stump. Darth Ophidia flicked the blood from her hand and wiped the remainder on the gladiator's shoulder as she passed him.

"Darth Raust, be kind and remain here." Hold the door.

The quarren halted and bowed in understanding. An attendant raised their hand to make a point, but found that the Dark Lady spoke first. She did not speak loudly, but her voice carried strange potency.

"A Sith does not surrender their weapon." Not to their lessers. "But I am unarmed"

Now alone, the Tsis'kaar herself entered the designated halls of meeting.

 

[Neesa]

R I C O​

The smoke was cut again as a quarren stepped up behind her. His immense form was encased in gunmetal armour, detailed with black as if painted with shadows that shaped themselves into visages of screaming faces among vertical lines. At his hip hung a sabre and a metal whip. He fulfilled more of the immediate fantasy of a Dark Lord

Neesa was not large. She was not imposing. She was also not here to look like a threat.

The pale skinned, diminutive woman remained in the wake of Darth Ophidia. A shadow, she was not meant to be visible or threatening.

Neesa was here to watch very carefully. And, if the need arose, to enact retribution far more swiftly than any hulking armoured quarren.

The Tsis'kaar, however, was going in alone and her word was absolute. Neesa took a step back and watched their surroundings carefully.

 

[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Flashing Lights
Location: Besberra Megaplex Arena
Equipment: Vibrosword
Tags: Hachi X-0
--------------------------------------------

Of course it was hardly ever as simple as ending the fight in a single strike. He hadn't expected the strike to land, at least not where he had intended it to anyway, so the clashing of his vibrosword against that of the droid wasn't all that surprising or unexpected. The subsequent strike was a surprise however. A curse slipped free from him as the surprise backhanded strike caught him off guard, one that was followed up by an elbow hitting him in the jaw as well. They would certainly leave a bruise, and hurt like chit now, but he powered through the pain.

He wasn't about to be shown up by some droid of all things.

Alisteri yanked his weapon back from the block and thrusted it forward as fast as he could in one swift motion, hoping to catch his opponent by surprise and land a stab right in its side. Just in case though, he didn't put everything he had into this strike like he had with his first one. Instead one of his hands balled into a fist as he plunged the blade forward, rearing back to throw a heavy punch right at the taunting red optic.

Any damage at this point was valuable, angling to gain an advantage over the droid.

 

[Butcher]

OBJECTIVE II: CULLING

Besberra Five Apartments.​

Butcher roared, as he smashed through a portion of wall, two opponents wrapped up in either arm as he forcefully carried them through. The enforcer tucked, brought all three to the ground, then leaned back on his knees, as he began to punch each syndicate member with a fist - alternating between them - left, right, left, right.

The next room had had some brawlers in it, and they had charged Butcher, to grapple him.

"Where's that damned pistol?" Butcher peered around, as he looked for his shatter gun. It was several feet away. "There ya are."

The skull masked enforcer reached over and took up the weapon in his left hand, as the two thugs nursed broken faces and lulled from the mighty punches, before he leaned upright again and fired into the face of the left-most thug. He went to aim for the right thug, but that sentient had gathered some sense, and began punching and fighting back again--

"Sonofa!"

--to which Butcher blocked the fists with his right arm, even as some got through and hit him around the chest and stomach. But, the thug tried to get up, which gave the enforcer an opening, and with a fast headbutt Butcher smashed his metal mask against the rising thug's head. It knocked the sentient back down, stunned, to which Butcher aimed the pistol in his left hand and shot several times.

With a grunt, Butcher stood up.

"...where's my damned knife?"

Butcher spent several moments looking for the plasma-knife, as he kicked aside wall debris with an expensive leather shoe, muttering to himself...

Daxa Zuul​

 

[Hachi X-0]

Flashing Lights
Besberra Megaplex Arena
Equipment: Vibrokatana
Darth Strosius ​

---

The fleshbag winced from the blows but powered through the pain, lashing out with a quick stab. Hachi curved its katana into a parry along the length of the thrusting sword, to slide it off course-

!
​

The fleshbag punched Hachi solidly in its photoreceptor, snapping it’s head back, the “pain” registering as blaring error messages across its interface. It lashed out with a low snap kick from its back foot aimed at the meatsack’s forward knee to keep him from driving forward- a glancing blow at best, as the assassin droid quickly shuffled backward with tight, short steps, raising its blade into a defensive position.

If Hachi had a mouth, it would’ve smiled. “You punch like a girl,” it said in its distinctive soft, synthetic voice, thinking of Daxa.

It meant the statement as a compliment.

As a modified TD-54 without access to its varied weapons systems, Hachi’s only true advantage against the Sith knight was that it was tireless. Playing defense would negate that advantage.

So it attacked. A katana was meant to be a weapon of grace and precision- Hachi used the blade like a club instead, trading finesse for power and speed. It stepped close and loosed a barrage of quick, angled strikes to break the meatbag’s defense!

 

[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Flashing Lights
Location: Besberra Megaplex Arena
Equipment: Vibrosword
Tags: Hachi X-0
--------------------------------------------

His stab had been too easy to counter, but he did relish the sight of the droid reeling from the punch even if it was only for a moment. Before he could seize upon the opportunity to bring his sword back for another attack, the kick to his knee had him stumbling back and forcing him to regain his balance. It was just enough to allow his opponent time to step back and ready a defensive stance to meet him.

It was a clever one for sure. It even had the gall, or programing he supposed, to taunt him. Alisteri sighed and readied his own weapon for an attack after rolling his shoulders, debating on whether to go high or low.

This arena was going to be more exciting than he thought.

Before he could make his move though, his opponent went on the offensive and his stance quickly shifted to meet its attacks. Each hit was quick yet powerful, striking from different angles to try and find a gap in his defenses and exploit it. He knew the technique well, Sith had a habit of doing something similar.

As he blocked and deflected strike after strike, having to use both hands to keep his blade moving fast and steady enough to do so, he began to back away from the droid. Distance meant that it would either have to extend itself or keep pushing forward to land a strike. That was what he was counting on.

 

[Ordan Vosk]

Besberra Megaplex
Objective Three: Flashing Lights
Equipment: Vibro-Ax, Vibroknuckler, Manica
Opponent: Anthysius Soraysom-Calimondra ​

---

The Vibro-Ax swung and missed, the backswing carrying it back past the outside of Ordan's right hip. Swinging around Ordan would have maneuver to maintain a squared posture with his opponent but as 'Maloch' came up from his blow he still struck him, landing a blow to his stomach instead of the small of his back. It stung against the tense muscles of his abdomen but thankfully it was a quick blow, hard to get a lot of momentum or leverage from a lower position.

Nonetheless Ordan felt it, perhaps the crowd took it as having some significance because he could hear them cheering or maybe it was because this fight showed no signs of slowing.

As 'Maloch' got went to get back to his feet so that he could withdraw and open the distance once again Ordan swept his Vibro-Ax in though. Bringing it back from where the backswing had taken it he'd have used the cleft to hook back behind his opponents left leg, just below the knee bbefore jerking hard in an attempt to take 'Maloch's' leg out from underneath him and throw the man down onto his back. Raising his left arm while he did this he'd use the manica to deflect any swift strikes that were made again aware the blows often made on the backfoot as it were didn't carry the same kind of power unless done exactly 'so' as it were.

Nonetheless Ordan yanked on the Vibro-Ax hoping that the crescent of the blade would bite deeply into the fleshy part of his opponents leg...

"You know 'Maloch..."

...he began...

"...you really are a drogan."

...it was the arrogance that Ordan didn't care for, it made him want to hurt the man more though he wasn't close to losing control of his emotions, his temper, etc. He just wanted to beat the man bloody and the crowd loved it, the crowd wanted to see one or both of them split open.

Give the people what they want, that's what he was thinking.

 

[Anthysius Soraysom-Calimondra]

Objective Three: Flashing Lights

landing a blow to his stomach instead of the small of his back. It stung against the tense muscles of his abdomen but thankfully it was a quick blow, hard to get a lot of momentum or leverage from a lower position.

Nonetheless Ordan felt it, perhaps the crowd took it as having some significance because he could hear them cheering or maybe it was because this fight showed no signs of slowing.

Well, at least the masses liked it. 'Maloch' shuffled to the side of Ordan where his manica did not protect him, but this brought him into the path of the Ax, and he was too slow to react optimally.

Bringing it back from where the backswing had taken it he'd have used the cleft to hook back behind his opponents left leg, just below the knee bbefore jerking hard in an attempt to take 'Maloch's' leg out from underneath him and throw the man down onto his back. Raising his left arm while he did this he'd use the manica to deflect any swift strikes that were made again aware the blows often made on the backfoot as it were didn't carry the same kind of power unless done exactly 'so' as it were.

The Ax reached uncomfortable close. Though 'Maloch' manage to avoid his knee getting strung along the Ax cleft, he was still unbalanced. He let out a weak, almost symbolic swipe at Ordan's extended blade arm even as he felt himself fall with his back to the bare floor. He pushed with his palms and feet against the floor, using the Force to aid him in flipping backwards in the direction of Ordan's left, almost as if defying gravity. The overall effort in such a short span of time was taxing, even for him.

"You know 'Maloch..."

...he began...

"...you really are a drogan."

"You... will need to use... intelligible words, if you wish so sorely to communicate in the manner of a sentient," he taunted between breaths.

He could feel the rage starting to boil inside the warrior. Dangerous, but also useful for him. 'Maloch' imperiously motioned with one hand for the other gladiator to come towards him in a manner befitting a master to a slave. That ought to get his attention.