Can You Take The Heat?

[Isla Ashen]

Ashen Ren’s black boots traveled easily through the sand of Tatooine, but she worried that the worn out soles would disintegrate or perhaps even burst into flames. The heat of the twin suns was like nothing she had ever felt. She had ditched her heavy black robes in favor of a dark colored tunic, and a pair of cargo pants that tied at the waist. Isla had tied back her flame-colored hair, in hopes that it would help cool her down, but it had just been wishful thinking. The back of her hand reached up to wipe the beads of sweat from her forehead, and she kept walking. For the moment, she was near an outdoor market, her green eyes watching the various shady characters going about their equally shady business.

She was not here on official business for the Knights of Ren, but rather on a personal quest for exploration. Even though she had already crafted her own saber, the prospect of finding a few adegan crystals while she was here was reason enough to brave the heat. Isla’s gaze grew wide for a moment; a ripple through the force had caught her attention. It was a presence that was as light as she was dark, and it was almost sickening. Her tall form turned slightly, watching for a sign of the source, but they failed to find it. If Isla had felt the presence of the light, she was sure that being would have felt her presence too. While she was still quite new to the ways of the dark side, she was eager to put her new knowledge to the test.

She was not so skilled to know how to diminish her force signature yet, so she would travel as stealthily as she could. Isla’s footsteps began to take her in the direction of the light-sided signature, and a wicked grin spread across her face. She was the predator, and she was honing in on her prey – it was moving into the desert, away from the bustle of the market.

Isla’s fingers twitched at her sides, ready for action.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

The desert world had many things to appeal to it, working with many of the things and with some of the companies people within the order. She had traveled here with the jedi herself but went off exploring on her own. she had been training for a long time and working on many more fo the things when she was pushing attention towards the bigger things like the massive sandworms in the deeper dune seas that the sand people barely interacted with. It let her travel around while she had the thumper with a nod of her head and her gaffi stick to hold her in place. She felt something in the distance with a look over her face giving the few attention to the bigger things when she moved the worm to start heading over to make better time then if she was just walking. More time passed by while she searched out and coming to the location she jumped off the worm as it headed back towards the deeper deserts. Orihime stood tall wearing the robes as she had her saber on her hip and equipment. A small look over the bigger things when she was roaming in the desert sun.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla felt the light-sided presence moving away, and it was suddenly moving very fast. She gritted her teeth and bowed her head slightly as she took off running. But even with more speed from the force, she would not be able to keep up. Before reaching the edge of town, she spotted a speeder bike. She looked down, pleased to see that its owner had mistakenly left the key in the ignition... perfect. Isla started it up and set off into the desert. Soon, she spotted a small dot in the distance - perhaps the sight of a desert sandworm. It had come to a halt, and she watched as a rider jumped down. Well, this was interesting.

She ditched the speeder behind a large rock formation, for the moment her dark form hidden from view. Isla made her way quickly, but quietly along, gaining on the lone figure in the desert sun. As she got closer, she could see the robes emblematic of the Jedi. The young woman had long, dark hair and pretty features. There was something very pure about this woman, and Isla did not like it, the presence was almost blinding.

Her darkness was growing, her power still very raw and untrained. But her body remained pressed up against a large rock, she only needed to jump out... that is, if her prey did not find her first.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

There was a presence on the edge of her senses when she was looking around. Hair whipping in the desert winds as the worm was departing and Orihime started walking. Someone wasn't trying to hide their presence in the force when she was looking around and could feel it in a general direction. A form of detection field was important but she wasn't using it. As a padawan she didn't have the refinement of her mother but she did have some of the more obtuse and different skills when she crouched down a little lower and focused. Her hand going to the sand so she could work on the grains of it. Much like Sorel she had been trained in sand levitation a technique to shift and control the desert sands but it wasn't really skilled for fighting with it but surprising someone you could sense with a sudden thing of sand crashing on them as you run to get to a more advantages position. She could do that seeing the high ground and squinting before she focused channeling the force energies out of her hands and into the sand to send a ripple outwards. Small shifting sand before pulling it back like a wave to try and crash over the rock she sensed the person at. She couldn't see her just needed to buy the time while trying to distract her and move up with her saber as she felt her heartbeat slow down, perception slow. The rapid thump thump coming when she slid the blade of the rose her saber itno her hand and felt the force connection with the crystals.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla unclipped her saber; she was excited, and perhaps a bit overzealous. She had been told in her lessons to be patient, let discipline be her guide... but it was proving to be difficult for the Acolyte. She was in the moment, merely feeling the thrill that moved through her. Just when she was about to move out from behind the rock, she felt something... the lightest ripple through the force. It made her feet stay put behind the rock, and she crouched down slightly. There was almost a rushing sound, something that somehow reminded her of the ocean... when she was very far from such a place.

In the next instant, there came a torrent of stand pouring over the top of the rock. It fell about her hair and got into her eyes before she could squeeze them shut. The gritty feeling of the sand on her face made her angry, and she gathered energy from the dark side, using this feeling to give her power. She pulled the force around herself, and stepped out from behind the rock. Her green eyes narrowed dangerously, she spotted the figure of the Jedi woman. Not too far, but not within striking distance.

“No more tricks, Jedi.” She said in a low voice.

She could see that the other woman had a saber too, and her force power felt far more refined than her own. It should have been some cause for caution, but it was too late for that, for Isla was already set on attacking. Isla leapt swiftly, taking to the air to close the gap between her and the Jedi, using the force to add speed and distance.

Her saber ignited when she neared the Jedi, and she struck out for the woman’s wrist. It was a simple attack, one she expected to be blocked or otherwise dodged. But she wanted to see the Jedi’s speed and power for herself.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

Orihime could feel her and hear her as her body tensed, coiled muscles under the meshed robes that radiated the lightside of the force while she was listening and feeling her in the force. Her blad ein her hand extending the holt as it shimmered with the force hardening that made it able to resist saber blades. Her rose blade was made to be several lengths so she could have attacks from nearly any range with a look. The force was speeding up her mind and movements as everything seemed to move slowly with her opponent coming at her wrist as she twisted it to bring the staff around and block the attack. Slowly and methodically before she pushed more force energy to repel the blade back with a flowing water style slice as she moved to guide the staff along the length of the blade and push it up so she could extend the other side into a full pike to try and smash her foot while the other side tried to raise the blade over her head. The padawan offered a small look on her face of interest but dind't need to speak while she was letting the force flow through her body and guide her motions.

 

[Isla Ashen]

As Isla’s blade was met by the Jedi’s, there was a loud crack – the power of the dragite crystals caused her saber to resonate when struck. The sonic damage inflicted was minor, but it was enough to throw the unsuspecting of their guard for a moment or two. Even at a quick glance, it was clear that her opponent’s lightsaber was unique. With her attack successfully blocked, she felt the woman swinging her blade, and pushing against her with the force. Isla allowed herself to be knocked back, her feet skidding along the sandy ground for a moment. Her knee lowered to the ground as she steadied herself, and she rolled to the side quickly as the Jedi’s foot came towards hers. And it seemed that the Jedi’s saber had more surprises in store, for now it had been extended into a pike.

This light-sider was resourceful and had some level of experience higher than Isla, but she would not give up so easily. The reach of the Jedi’s lightsaber would make it difficult to get close; she would have to try to break past her defenses, or perhaps to catch her by surprise.

Isla’s foot slid forward, but she did not move to stand just yet. She gathered the force to her, using the dark side to craft a crude force barrier around herself. It wasn’t much, but it would do her next action. She leapt over top of the woman, flipping as her feet hit the ground. After a split second of recovery, she aimed a kick at the middle of the Jedi’s back. Followed by smooth strike, her saber at the shoulder level.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

The force was guiding her movements while she watched her, the staff still not activating the blade while it vibrated with the force allowing the padawan to prepare for the real fun of the duel. Yes the fun, she didn't deny the whole jedi thing of emotionless dueling but there was a thrill in your brain when you were dueling with the force energies going throughout it. She remained calm and emotionless when she felt it. That grasp at her foot and went with it allowing her leg to be moved forward as the meshed robe went into the boots wiht the inner leggings. Her leg flipping up while she went with it following through with her body corkscrewing to bring her attention over to observe for a moment when the woman slashed with a saber tucking in to reduce her own target space when she kicked out and down. to impact the sand before she slashed with the blade allowing the lightside aura of her blade vibrate out while she tried to tap her shoulders and arms instead of slashed at her with the force increasing her speed.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla was quickly learning that this Jedi was clever – for she had taken the chance to use Isla’s attempts to catch her off guard, to her own advantage. The Jedi had allowed her leg to be pulled forward, and fluidly went along with the movements. And Isla’s kick had only brushed past the fabric of the woman’s robes, as the Jedi tucked in to make herself a smaller target. Isla’s crimson saber struck angrily against the force-hardened staff, as the Jedi blocked her blow. Her saber resonated loudly, crackling as it contacted the staff.

As the Jedi attempted to tap Isla’s shoulder and arms with the staff, Isla did her best to angle herself away. But there were moments when the staff did make contact with her, and she could feel the light-side of the force living inside. If this strange staff was also a saber, she wondered for a moment why the Jedi did not activate it. Green eyes narrowed, she was merely being toyed with.

Isla growled, her teeth gritted, and she thrust her saber forward, to attempt putting some distance between her and the Jedi.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

She could feel her int he force and she seemed to be getting focused and possibly frustrated.. maybe as they were moving with her staff rotating to defens when she felt herself being pushed back closing her eyes whens he moved forward letting the force guide her forward with a small look on her face of amusement and she was ready moving her staff to attack quickly before she collapsed it allowing the baton sized to meet her saber when she stabbed with it to make space between them while she brought it and used the resistance and push to move off to the side so she could try to clear that space to the side bringing her foot up while she twisted to try and connect with a kick against the side of the darkksiders head while her other hand with the baton pushed to get her saber off to the other side. "You know you have some talent, if you weren't using the darkside you'd be a lot stronger."

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla’s eyes shifted as the Jedi pushed slightly off to the side, and before she knew it, there was a foot contacting the side of her head. In the same moment, the Jedi had used her baton to push Isla’s saber off center. The flame-haired woman stumbled to the side, stars flying past her eyes for a moment as she stood to regain her composure. This breather gave Isla a chance to recover, and it gave the Jedi a chance to condescend.

She spat on the sand, obvious disregard for the Jedi’s words.

Isla’s training had only begun recently; she had tasted the power, but had not even tapped into the true strength in the Dark Side. This Jedi’s words were false. Anger was welling up inside her, and the dark aura around Isla grew stronger – billowing out towards the Jedi.

“You do not know strength, until you have touched the darkness.” Isla said, her voice low.

She knew that there was a heavy possibility of being defeated here on the sandy ground of Tatooine, but it would not matter. Isla was not scared. She pushed off the ground again, her hand reached for her hunting knife, and she hurled it at the Jedi, using the force to add speed behind the flying object.

And then she trust with her crimson saber again, aiming for the woman’s wrists – hoping that she would lose her grip on that pesky baton.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

She could see her and listened remaining neutral in her expression when the force energies were there. The greater detail of what was happening before she moved to the side more watching her opponent. Her words coming out and bringing some thoughts to her mind but she remained there before speaking and shifting her hands so she could move and watching with the force the knife as it was thrown towards her. She was letting the force speed up her perception so it was close to seeing it spin while she was moving with her attention on the other ones who was slashing at her. She moved with it bringing her baton up to extend a little and twirl it in her hand to hold against it with her wrist protected while she kicked off one foot to corkscrew and let the blade come close to her. Sliding along the dream silk as it met the mesh of the robes for their armor and the glassy desh-terethium weave to protect herself before she let it pass by her. Looking up and winking for a moment while she kept her arm to try and lock her baton in place with the blade while she spoke. "All look at the abyss, the strong ones don't let themselves become servants of the dark. They show the willpower and strength to be stronger then it." She said it looking at her with her attention on some of the things as there was a moment. To keep her baton locked with the saber as the snap hiss came from the duel sided staff. The differing shades of blue looking like an ocean while she tried to drive it and tap with a contact burn against her shoulder.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla felt her blade moving through the air, continuing on a path towards the Jedi’s wrist. But that baton was there again, blocking her attack – and that crafty dark-haired woman gracefully spun to avoid saber. There was a swirl of fabric, and her blade crackled against the armored cloth. In the seconds that followed, Isla continued past the Jedi, but had her green eyes spotted the other woman... winking at her? Isla brought her blade around again, but found that it was now locked in place by the baton.

Again, the Jedi spoke about those that overcame the darkness. She shook her head, as though she was refusing to let these words into her mind. Her gaze grew wide as the Jedi finally ignited her staff, both ends shimmering blue – like pristine waters. In her moment of distraction, she felt the sting of the saber contacting her shoulder.

Isla cried out, but clenched her jaw against the pain. Her saber was still in contact with the Jedi’s, and she used this feeling to power her next move. There was a burst of force power, and she used her blade to push the Jedi away – but not far. Just enough to get some breathing room. Her blade slashing down this time from shoulder to hip.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

She could see her and feel her while the blade was in her hand and she held the baton as a saber staff getting that distance between them before she watched her. Force energies coming over her when she could feel the emotions from the other apprentice when she was prepared for it. Allowing her senses to expand outwards, allowing the force to whisper and feel for her while within the mesh she was wearing her own energies rebounded off of the interior before she was letting the perceptions she had for the duel to climb up. THen she saw the blade coming at her while she deactivated the bottom saber beam with a small whir before she extended the baton into a pole arm. She was choked up on it a little when the saber was coming. She brought her blade up to meet and hold her in place for a moment. She wanted to lock blades while standing there and feeling herself in the sand as it shifted and the padawan had an entire polearm that pulsed with the lightside of the force while her blades color shifted. It wasn't just a solid blue it changed and swirled like the depths of the ocean or the clearest blues when she pushed up to try and break it before swinging and rotating the saber in her hand to bat at the apprentice. She wanted to make the distance and popped backwards holding the blade at the end while she started stabbing with the long handled saber pike to bat away and keep her from getting in close while she flipped the small switch to extend the blades length with the duel phase taking it from the one and a half meter to nearly four meters to give all of the length to the padawan.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla watched as the Jedi’s bottom saber deactivated – an interesting move. But then the Jedi’s intentions became evident, the baton extended into a pole arm. With her attack blocked, she felt their sabers lock for a brief moment. Both of their feet were digging down into the sand now, holding their ground. She felt her blade moving up and away from the Jedi, being pushed harshly back by her opponent’s saber.

She was forced to move quickly side to side, narrowly avoiding being hit by the saber pike. Isla turned out of the way as the blade suddenly extended. Well, this was going to be interesting. It was going to be difficult to get close now. But a larger weapon often meant that moves were slower, easily to see and anticipate. However, she knew that this Jedi was clever, and her weapon was ever changing.

Her boots now brought her in a half circle, her green eyes locked with her opponent’s dark gaze. Isla was running out of ideas now. But she was determined to keep at it. She could attempt to leap again, but it was quite a span of distance to cross now. It was then that she saw a small boulder in the sand behind the Jedi. It was an opportunity to distract her – she hoped.

Isla reached out with the force, taking hold of the rock. It lifted from the sand, and her hand shot out as she sent the rock hurling towards the Jedi’s back.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

She was watching her now as they moved, with the larger distance it was easy to track her and go after her with the blade as it was longer and movement made her attacks a little slower. it was complicated when you were using the force to augment your movement where even slow by their standards could still be worlds faster then many others could pull off. The padawanw as watching her as the girl seemed to stop for a moment and Orihime was prepared for what she might try to trip her up. Ideas coming to her before she was ready to stab at her again when she felt it. A tremor in the force for a moment before she felt the impact against her hip and back and then she was contouring to the rock as it flew with her saber deactivating and returning to a normal shoto length while she rolled over the rock and laid in the sand for a few moment looking at the sun as she squinted and thought to herself... That was really dumb. Her hand went out though while she was moving and feeling her saber pulling it back towards her hand.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla watched with satisfaction as the Jedi fell prey to her attack. The saber staff had even fallen from her grasp, now retracted to a shorter length, and lifeless as it lay deactivated on the ground. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at the dark-haired woman as she looked up towards the sky, her back still on the sandy ground. It was a moment that seemed to stretch before Isla, but it was not meant to last. Before she knew it, the Jedi’s saber was called back to her hand.

Strike now, or lose the chance – the thought ran through her mind. Isla pushed off the ground again, using the speed of the force to cross the distance. Her crimson saber cut through the air as she went, and she aimed for the woman’s neck. At the moment her target was still close to the ground, but she knew that could change in an instant.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

She laid there and she could feel it as the saber came back to her hand, the surge of force energies coming to her while she felt the other coming at her. rolling onto her stomach in the sand when she looked up and over seeing her charging at her. A slash incoming as Orihime moved her hands to the side focusing the force energies to herself to send it outwards so she could launch herself away from the fight while she rolled over with a small look on her face. Kicking up with the blast the sands to go towards the face of the other fighter and her saber while she pulled at the sands under her blast to trip and bury at least a little the girl as she surged the force into her body to sooth the pain in her back.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla was forced to stop just short of her target, the sand swirled up from the ground and into her face. She threw her free arm up, trying to shield her eyes. And then it was almost as though the sand began to move beneath her feet, shifting and pulling... until it blasted against her ankles, sending her down onto her stomach. As if that wasn’t enough, she felt the sand creeping up and falling onto her legs. Her eyes were watery, and she squinted up to see that the Jedi was slipping away again. Isla exhaled quickly, blowing the sand away from her mouth.

She moved her legs and pushed up onto all fours, letting the sand finally fall away. A shake of her head sent her wild, flame-red hair about her face, sand falling from her long tresses. She stood tall again, watching the Jedi to see what her next move would be. Would she turn tail and run away? Would she move to strike? Only time would tell.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

SHe could see her and sense her in the force, energies vibrating off of her as the padawan crouched low holding her saber in one hand and watching closely. The sand swirling as the silence in the desert came to her more and more, ideas racing through her mind of what she could do to really push all of this forward until she mulled it over in her mind rushing forward with a sense of serenity. She knew how to duel and staying there as she looked out at her the jedi padawan pushed forward wth the force energies coming out into her muscles. Strengthening them while she moved through the sands letting it swirl up and around her so the two of them could duel in the small storm.

And in the center of it Orihime had focused allowing it to come out with her robes when she was wearing them, her feet for a moment stopping and planting to flank. The quick technique was designed to let a jedi or duelist as it was quickly move around and get behind another. She moved and twisted to get that increased speed from her footwork while trying to push with the force at the small of the woman's back. As it rebounded through her robes using the mesh to come out from her hand while staying there to trip the girl up when she was close looking to have it be near point blank she couldn't miss the push blast seeing the mess of red hair and she kept her saber deactivated and ready to defend.