Private Bravery of Fools

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre was at the edge of her patrol route when a strange ping sounded on her radar. There was apparently an unidentified vessel just floating in space. As she got closer, she started running a diagnostic on its condition and potential history.

It looked like it might even be from her era—Clone Wars or just after when her Grand Republic had become an empire. Either way, it seemed like it would be a walk down memory lane for the former Jedi. Making sure its hold was air-tight and the atmosphere was still breathable, she brought her ship in for a landing.

Shutting it down, she kept the diagnostic running and put on her helmet. The atmosphere was breathable, which surprised Iandre slightly, but she was thankful for it. That meant she would be able to safely explore it without having to wear her spacesuit.

Once she landed, she grabbed her blaster and lightsaber. Securing each of them on her hip, she started her exploration of the abandoned and derelict ship.

Darth Kharnaz

 

[Darth Kharnaz]

When Kharnaz had seen this ship he knew he had to board it. Ome ancient transport vessal, it was bound to have secrets of a different time. And anything he found could surely be used to gain even more power. He piloted his ship, making a rough landing in its derelict hangar. It looked empty, its crew must have abandoned it.

It was then that Kharnaz felt it. A light side presence, one with great force potential. He snarled. A jedi no doubt. Arrogantly assuming this ship was theirs. He would teach them otherwise.

Kharnaz checked his lightsabers, making sure they were in good enough condition. He had faced training apparitions and constructs before, but this would be the real thing. He prepared himself, drawing on the force to increase his already formidable strength. And he waited.

He heard her ship land, a clunk that reverberated through the hull. Kharnaz decided to go to the cargo hold. That is probably where this jedi would go to first. He looked forward to surprising them.

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Just as she exited her ship, she sent a message to Laphisto and her men about what she was going to do and her current location. That way, if she somehow missed checking back in, they would be able to find her. Climbing out, she closed the hatch on her ship and started her exploration.

The light from her helmet illuminated the interior of the derelict vessel in front of her. The dust of ages covered every exposed surface. What happened here? Hoping that the mystery would be solved, she continued deeper into the ship.

There was no power to open or close the doors, but it seemed as if they were left open. Maybe one or two were sealed, but she didn't mess with them. Poking her head through one, she found it would have belonged to the flight crew and pilots that were stationed here.

Running her gloved hand along the Grand Republic symbol, tears were threatening to spill over. If she took anything from this ship, this blanket would be it. That such a simple item could mean so much to the former Jedi surprised her. Drawing in a ragged breath, she turned away from it for now and would return on her way out to pick it up.

Sniffling one last time, she left the barracks and moved into what was most likely a cargo hold. She wasn't reaching out with the Force to try and sense for life on a dead ship, so his planned surprise attack was undoubtedly going to be that.

Darth Kharnaz

 

[Darth Kharnaz]

The doors opened, loud on hinges that had not been cared for in nearly a centaury. And in stepped a figure. A young human. Kharnaz could smell her tears. Good. An emotionally unbalanced enemy would be an easy one to face.

Kharnaz was not one for subltety. His style was aggression, catching your opponent off guard. But Kharnaz did not want to fight immediately. That would not be honorable. No Kharnaz wanted a fair fight, all the better to prove his skills.

Kharnaz leapt from a column of crates where he was hiding, landing a few meters in front of her. He rose up to his ful height, and bared his teeth menacingly. He refrained from grabbing his lightsabers, flexing his claws menacingly instead.

"Welcome," he growled, "I have been waiting for you. Are you lost, Jedi?"

He smiled, showing off his formidable canines. This was going to be fun.

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

There was an unexpected sound of something jumping off some crates next to her. She shone the light of her helmet on the figure now standing on the deck of the ship in front of her. Iandre pulled back slightly in surprise and immediately raised her barrier. Nothing good was going to come from this being, and she felt danger coming from him. He hadn't attacked yet, and instead, he struck up a conversation.

"No. Are you?"

Who and what was this person? Keeping these questions to herself, her hand rested quite near to her lightsaber hilt. He smiled, and she knew he was itching for a fight. She would give it to him, and only one of them would be coming out of this confrontation in one piece.

His height and weight didn't scare her. Her master was a little shorter than this man, and she had sparred with him more than once. If this Shistavanen expected her to flinch away, he would be sadly mistaken.

Darth Kharnaz

 

[Darth Kharnaz]

"No. Are you?"

Kharnaz scowled. She had jokes, it seems. She was a brave one too. Many would have shown their fear at the sight of him. Good. He liked a challenge.

"You will wish I was, youngling. I have been waiting for a challenge. I will have to settle for you instead."

He howled, the sound echoing through the empty ship. Then he ignited his blades, their crimson hue reflecting off his fur and armor. He leapt from his vantage point at her, coming in fast. As their blades crashed he spoke again.

"Tell me your name. I like to know the names of my prey."

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

"You just think I'm a youngling."

Her helmet dampened the loud noise of his howl, and the light followed him as he dashed forward to clash with her. Bringing her emerald colored lightsaber out in a flash, it hummed, and the familiar kish sounded as they connected.

Iandre was a duelist and used only one hand on the hilt of her lightsaber. With her free hand, she sent a Force push against him in the hope it would separate them. His height gave him a significant advantage in terms of reach, and she needed to keep him from getting too close to her. Luckily, her barrier remained in place, and if he tried to strike her, it would protect her.

"Iandre. Who are you?"

If her push didn't work, then she would jump back to keep the distance between them.

Darth Kharnaz

 

[Darth Kharnaz]

Kharnaz was caught off guard, and was sent back. He slammed into a crate, denting it severely. She had just made this personal.

"Iandre. Who are you?"

The Sith warrior licked his teeth.

"I am Kharnaz. You deserve that much."

Kharnaz leapt out again, not too close to her this time. Instead he unleashed a powerful burst of lightning at her.

If she blocks it he would then reignite his second saber and move to an aggressive blocking stance.

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Hearing the thump of him hitting one of the crates, Iandre did not jump away from him. Each of them shared their names, but it was a pointless effort if she tried to shake hands with them. In the heat of battle, that was the farthest thing from her mind.

A second after he provided his name, he leaped in her direction again but did not get as close as he had before. Instead, he struck out with Force Lightening. Angling her lightsaber, she caught the electricity and deflected it away from her. While she didn't try to hit him with his ability, there was a chance some of the deflected strikes might have been returned to him.

When he ignited the second lightsaber, he didn't lash out with it; instead, he used it defensively. The move impressed her, and if she could have nodded in approval, she would have. He clearly anticipated her throwing his attack back at him.

Reaching into the Force, she pulled out one of her strongest attacks. Sever Force. If it worked, it would temporarily sever his connection to the Force.

Darth Kharnaz Sever Force

 

[Darth Kharnaz]

A few stray sparks did indeed catch Kharnaz, causing parts of his fur to be singed. He growled, angry at her successful block. He felt the force being drawn to Iandre, like she was preparing for something big. He drew on the force himself to shield him.

It was very lucky that he did because the attack he felt batter against his defences was immense. It felt like he was standing in a wind tunnel, the force trying to pull his very force connection out of him. He held on, determined not to be caught in another force attack and just barely managed to withstand her attack.

How dare she try to take his power. She had no idea how hard he had worked for it. With a howl he lunged forward, attacking quickly with his lightsaber in one paw and his claws in another. These were wild angry attacks, Kharnaz had lost his patience. They were not elagent but they were powerful, and in between his strikes he slashes at Iandre's arm with his claws.

Iandre Athlea

 

[Iandre Athlea]

The smell of the singed hair reached her nose before her helmet could entirely filter it. Coughing slightly, it was enough of a distraction for her to stop her Force attack and get pushed back his physical one. Attempting to disarm him, she tugged on his lightsaber with telekinesis.

She was able to block his lightsaber attack, but his claws smashed through her armor, and they quickly found some of the flesh that had been protected.

Shoving him away once again with the Force, she also backed away from his vicious assault. Pointing her lightsaber in his direction, she attempted to keep him at bay as she tried to assess the damage he had done to her arm.

Darth Kharnaz