Destroy the Betrayers, or Accept Them...

[Ashin Varanin]

@Penumbra @Morna Imura OOC/ Guys, this is one of my favorite duels ever. And I've fought basically everyone.

IC/ Ashin grunted, and her own specialty -- the thing she knew as well as Zaiden knew stealth -- came into play. Force Weapon was the abysmal name for the power that enabled some to protect, say, a walking stick or a thrown weapon from a lightsabre. Ashin had long since perfected it to be able to defend her body. Morna's ball of flame snapped past Zaiden and splashed against Ashin's chest. She turned, maintained her focus, and Zaiden's sabre-fuelled blast smashed against her without effect. The shielding faded -- she preferred not to maintain it too long, fearing to split her focus -- as he whirled to throw a blast at Morna. Ashin took that moment to still her heart and strengthen her focus on the Light Side in case she drifted.

When he came around for a swing, his blade met hers and found it unyielding. His return blow, full-force, didn't break the block but drove her down to one knee. She shoved back his sword, rising from the buckled floor of what had recently been a functional conference room, then kept rising to slam back-first against the ceiling-

And that huge, wide conference room table, up on its side, whipped past underneath her, ignoring air resistance like it was going out of style. The goal was to use the immense desh-terenthium table as a wall or a net, and drive Zaiden into Morna's bar of fire. In the wake of the table's turbulence, Ashin fell to her feet, with the table between herself and Zaiden. It reached nearly to the ceiling, wide as it was.

 

[Matreya]

Just as he was knocked back towards the flame, Zaiden utilized the utmost of his telekinetic abilities to create a Force Bubble around himself. He did protect against the very worst of the heat, but that did not mean his flesh wasn't charred.

Marked with dark black chunks of sizzling flesh along his body, Penumbra allowed himself the utter barest of moments reprieve. Then he was in motion again, moving swiftly he launched his saber at Morna with the intent of the Shockwave disorienting his opponent. Next he spun, and as he moved to face his true opponent again he reached down and gripped Lotus Fang.

As he drew the Tsaisi forward to bite the woman, he pointed the blade of Storm directly at her face and unleashed a torrent of lightning. The master of stealth was ready for most things, and even upon beginning this battle he believed it. Then it actually commenced. Now he was feeling his body tiring...but that had never been a weakness before. He would fight until his very life essence was gone!

Ceasing the lightning, Zaiden called upon his knowledge of Sith Magic. Waves of Darkness began to further the inability to see, and soon enough even Morna burning did nothing to light more than a few inches.

"Annaj...capital of the Fringe...head of the Confederation...what will happen when I fall, and the undead I just unleashed begin to run free? At the beginning of my racing heart, also known as the start of the battle, the cage was set to open." Penumbra whispered from the darkness, his voice being carried by the force from all angles. Ashin was so concerned about her people. This may be his chance....

Launching in for a second venom filled bite, as well as a few slashes from Storm, he hoped to catch the Master off guard.

@[member="Morna Imura"] @[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Arage Bao]

"What the flaming kark is happening here?" It did not take genius to understand what had happened, Morna and Ashin were bought fighting... against whom? Only one person was mysteriously absent and knowing his speciality... well it did not take more than an educated guess.

"Imura, Varanin. Stand. Down. Now. On the authority of the High Council. Penumbra, for the love of the Force, reappear and we will have a talk. I swear to the Living Force, leave you guys alone for five minutes and you burn the mother down.

@[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Morna Imura"] @[member="Penumbra"]


OOC/ Sorry to break up your awesome fight, Jon. THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T WAIT FOR ME.

 

[Matreya]

The Darkness did not dissipate, rather seeming to intensify. But Zaiden ceased both attacks as they started. Ovmar was an ally. Why? He didn't know. But he did consider him a friend and so he would hear his words as well..

His voice could be heard drifting from all directions, "No. I will maintain my position. But I will listen. For now. Speak Jared." He said, then in a murmur he said some words that could be heard from his location, "Frak...three masters...got real..."

@[member="Jared Ovmar"] @[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Morna Imura"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Jared Ovmar"] @[member="Penumbra"] @[member="Morna Imura"]

Penumbra's blade rang against hers, lightning skittered over her guard, she caught a tsaisi-strike and a slash-

"You forget the cloaking field, Zaiden. All such transmissions were blocked, and are still blocked. Your heart rate monitor hasn't spiked yet, not so far as any sensor can tell."

And then came Jared.

The old Ashin would have told him this wasn't the time to throw his weight around, and reminded him that she answered to the High Council as a whole, not to one man, and she seriously doubted he represented a majority vote right now. The old Ashin would have gotten very, very cold about the kind of leader that jumped in authority-first without understanding the situation. The new Ashin's eyes narrowed, and she saved that essential conversation for later, even if it gave Jared the erroneous idea that she was obeying him. He was keeping Zaiden talking. That was something.

"Because the heart rate monitor is blocked, Zaiden, it's not too late. You haven't crossed the Rubicon."

 

[Arage Bao]

It did not take a genius to see Ashin was not happy with his intrusion, probably had something to do with invoking some form of authority which.. in reality he did not have. They both knew it and he would pay dearly for it after this was all done. Still, there was always a reason, even if Ashin did not see it clearly now. His hands were crossed behind his back as he casually stood in the amidst of them. Vulnerable position, but it could not be helped for now.

"Hmm.. you know Zaiden, I expected better of you. Consider this fact. You attacked a High Councilor's brother, maybe the attack was justified; maybe it was not. That is not the point of this matter. The point is this, you have a sister. What would -you- do when somebody attacked her? No matter if the attack had been justified, how would -you- have reacted? "


While he was talking a thought was sent out to Ashin. "Forgive me for the theatrics, my Empress. Be ready."

 

[Matreya]

(Damn Jared, with your slow posts lol. Now Zaiden's alternate personality is up front and in control, THEN you show up with stuff to say lol. Anyway, I think ima let Tenebrae keep battling for a bit. Then well have him gain control again yada yada.)

"He would obliterate them." Penumbra's voice drifted forward from the impenetrable darkness once more, "If this is your logic, then should not Rave have killed him? No one quite sees his point. The Council gave him up. It has nothing to do with my living or dieing, nor the opponents he placed in my path. It has to do with the way the people, that lead a kingdom he helped build, handle things. If you were in his situation, caught doing something wrong, he would never give you up Jared. It is the responsibility of those in power to protect those not.

"Why can't any of you see this? You abused the one person whom was doing good for the cause." Penumbra finished, and paused for a long moment from his point of defense. They wouldn't understand the changes they caused unless he explained, "And now, he isn't here to make the right choices. When you damage a person's mind in the fashion that he has sustained for so long, then break it further, the results are far worse then you can imagine.

"When the average person would lose their mind, Zaiden simply gave up. Now I'm in control." As the words continued to fall from hid lips, the darkness permeated within him. Drawing on the darkness like an alcoholic that sees a bottle for the first time in months, he began to shine like a beacon for those Force Sensitive on the planet.

"I'm Tenebrae. So, your excuses will mean little to me either way."
@[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Jared Ovmar"] @[member="Morna Imura"]

 

[Garza]

The flames still laced at him as I had began to see a widening at the end of the beam of fire. His saber came for me, knowing that it would do something out of the ordinary, I stopped my fire assault ans sent a force push to send the blade back at Zaiden, and that was when Jared showed up demanding that we both stop attacking. I shook my head, knowing that even if he had the authority Ashin and I would have not stopped ourselves form attacking him as well, despite the fact that Zaiden was in the mix. I let my flames brighten but changed to the simple orange conserving my energy should the fight resume.

They all spoke of what was happening, and when Zaiden informed us that he was of the complete darkside, I only shook my head. "Zaiden or whatever you call yourself now, If our excuses meant nothing then why are you not fighting us? Because I don't think we came here to hear a bedtime story." I was going to be frank with him. No way around this, but if he wanted to destroy the fringe, he had already been taken from a leadership spot. he was to unpredictable. and that was not good when we were stuck in the middle of a cold war.

Sending a message to Jared and Jared alone, I spoke to his mind with the help of the force, "I hope you know what you are doing, because right now I'mm about to cut his head off if he doesn't change."

@[member="Penumbra"], @[member="Jared Ovmar"], @[member="Ashin Varanin"]
(OOC: I agree Awesome fight so far, that was until Jared had to come lol.)

 

[Matreya]

Slowly his mind reached out, and caught the saber as it returned, then slowly Tenebrae brought his gaze towards where Morna spoke from as he sheathed Storm. How Morna managed to see it early enough to block was a point he wanted to figure out. Even for the Miraluka, seeing the human candle was difficult. The Waves of Darkness, combined with Ashins cloak covered him immensely.

They were in his domain, and continue to taunt him? Let them all perish then. Ashins ship had successfully stopped his ping to his ship, but there was still one way to unleash his horde. Reaching out with his mind as swift as he could, he touched the mind of his Pilot, Open them. Now.He said.

His laughter began once again, booming and sadistic, "Let it begin then Morna. Just know, the fall of your capital is your doing." Without moving, his laughter continued, growing more hysterical. The end had begun, and he knew Ashin would quickly sense the change through the Force.

Launching forward once more, Tenebraeused the distance between him and his opponent to begin a swift spin that ended with the saber being brought down towards her shoulder. The intent behind the action was to of course, allow the Shockwave it's extra damage, using the momentum. Then, as she would go in for the block, as the Galaxies strongest Tank was known for, or even a parry, the now Force Cloaked Tsaisi would lunge forward and under her defense, with the command to inject it's lethal poisons upon contact. The best thing about the surrounding area being utterly lightless? Barely any energy was necessary to hide the object.

At that precise moment, Tenebrae began to as well apply Force energies to a secondary Sith Magic. One he knew lesser, but would aid well in such a situation. Aura of Uneasiness would cause fear, angst, sickness, and worse during exposure. Any of those symptoms could be the difference between life and death.

@[member="Jared Ovmar"] @[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Morna Imura"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Penumbra"] @[member="Morna Imura"] @[member="Jared Ovmar"]

Nobody, but nobody, could send a telepathic message, however brief, in the same breath as maintaining a Master-level Sith spell -- the waves of darkness -- while launching a lightsabre attack, while cloaking a secondary weapon, while generating an Aura of Uneasiness. It simply couldn't be done -- it shouldn't even have been attempted.

Hubris.

Ashin, by contrast, being well familiarized with hubris in her own life and those of others, did precisely one thing at a time. She pulsed her Force Weapon, engaging her personal specialty, and reached up to smash his blade aside with her left forearm. The cloaked tsaisi rattled off her gut harmlessly. As the Force Weapon shielding fell, Ashin realized that, when he'd sensed her moment of inattention and sent his message, he'd not only sealed his fate but removed all impediments to doing what she now did.

Reaching out to the spot of blood that she'd placed on his scalp when he became her Hand. And then investing every ounce of her power, experience, determination, and calm focus into putting him through the plate transparisteel window behind him.

Ideally, she'd send him falling ten stories, out of the cloaking field and straight into the permacrete parking lot. Not a lethal hit, for a Master with a secondary specialty in telekinesis, but dangerous enough if he'd just been put through transparisteel an inch thick.

She would follow.

 

[Garza]

Why does Zaiden blame this on me? I thought I was his friend. and really I thought you were supposed to give it to your friends straight. Apparently it was better to lie then. I was to far away to simply attack him. I would have to run fast. And with the slight help from a force dash. I charged after the two, only to see that Ashin had blocked the attack, and was then starting to give her own. and well with how we were positioned, Zaiden was straight in front of me, with Zaidens back to me. And Ashin was barely seen with her in front of him.

With the type of blast that she sent, I pulled my sword from my back as I heard a blast go off.

@[member="Ashin Varanin"], @[member="Penumbra"], @[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Matreya]

The only defense Tenebrae had, was a bare second advance warning from the Force. Ceasing all connections to the magics and his attacks, he placed all of his concentration on the point her blow sought - creating a small telekinetic shield. But with his strength as low as it was getting, that was barely enough to stop the blow from fracturing his skull.

But it still launched him backwards, and swift to. Mid flight, the behemoth slowly turned to see where he was flying - directly at Morna. Whom had placed himself directly in the path (lol?) of Tenebrae unscheduled flight. When they both began hurling towards the Transparisteel, Tenebrae believed the other would use his power to save them both.

Whether he did or did not, the Stealther began to draw as much energy back inside of himself as he could from the Darkside. He would need it.

@[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Morna Imura"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Morna Imura"] @[member="Penumbra"] @[member="Jared Ovmar"]

Morna, apparently caught flat-footed by Penumbra rocketing toward him, might not have the time to counter it. As the darkness shredded and the aura of uneasiness failed -- nobody alive could maintain that kind of effect after taking a hit like this -- Ashin gestured and the transparisteel ripped. She continued putting the majority of her power and attention into shoving Penumbra through the gap.

 

[Matreya]

Fighting to the surface for the barest of seconds, Zaiden made his body roll over then behind Morna. But Tenebrae was back instantly to try and reach out to grip the man once more. Even with the utter darkness that Tenebrae was, Zaiden didn't want unnecessary harm to come to his allies.

An internal battle could be felt through the force as Zaiden again got control, looking sorrowfully at Ashin...then he was gone. Through the window and falling through the skies. At least he had saved Morna...then the Darkness took complete control and all light faded from the falling signature.

Now outside of Ashins control, Tenebrae growled as he sent a mental ping to his ships controls. His pilot would finally receive the message, and it was to release the other two ships horde as well as alert Pex - Zaiden's second in command - that the plan was a-go, then he would rescue him. Using the utter last of his bodied reserves, Tenebrae was able to stop the fall from killing himself. But he would need major medical attention, as well as further aid.

The last thought from the demonic entity that now possessed the Fringes - and probably the Galaxies - greatest stealth master was, Let it begin. I will eviscerate them all... Then he gave way to unconsciousness, just as he began to hear the countless screams as his plague began to spread. His pilot was there in moments, lifting him and returning to the ship to flee.

Soon the Fringe would see the power they unleashed with their wrong doings. They would regret breaking Zaiden so.

@[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Morna Imura"] @[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Penumbra"]

"Oh, no, son, I'm just getting started."

Ashin leaped out straight through the cloaking field, flying blind as it were. Just as Zaiden's pilot grabbed him and started dragging him into the ship, Ashin landed on the spine of the landed vessel with enough force to dent armor plating. Her lightsabre sheared into the hull, as deep as the blade emitter. She began sawing her way inside.

As rapid-response forces across Fringe space -- including some excellent recently purchased battle droids of several kinds from Mandal Hypernautics -- scrambled to contain the small outbreaks and the infected monsters, a rapid-response sector fleet of two battleships, several ion-cannon-focused heavy cruisers, and assorted support ships opened fire on Greyson Manor from Val'hala orbit. It was the same sector fleet that had so quickly saved Val'hala not too long ago. Ion cannons slammed down to earth, disabling all electronics for miles and miles around. Ssi-ruuvi paralysis canisters put everyone within that same immense area into a temporary coma.

 

[Matreya]

For Val'hallans, the attack was devastating but not as apocalyptic as thought. Since the last, they had hardened. They knew when to move, where to go for shelter and how to survive and escape, as the leader of their planet did. As well, for every 100 Soldiers in his armies, there was 5 REX droids, as well as X/A/StealthX Wings armaments now piloted by men willing to die for their families. Yes the planet was glassed, but during the times when Zaiden was in control, he had tought them to survive and to kill. As well, upon his utter fall to Darkness, such as this, Pexim was told to transfer every position of power held over the people of Val'halla to one @[member="Feena Mason"] until he could be justified as sane once again.

His people would revolt if ordered otherwise by anyone. Feenarah for all intents and purposes was now controlling High Lord of the planet. A few other contingencies began the moment Pex got word as well, but those wouldn't show until a later time. Zaiden had even gone far enough as to have the memories of such erased.

But at the current time, Tenebrae forced the nearly exhausted body upwards. His Force Energies were utterly depleted, and he was now pushing his Hosts body to the extremes. As he slowly staggered into position, Tenebrae turned and called softly, "Don't worry Pilot. When you die...

"Your family will be sold to slavers. They will be raped, beaten, and eventually killed..."

Using the darkside driven energies, such as fear and anguish, accompanied by the soon followed cruel death of the man - wrought by a snap of the neck - Tenebrae fueled the cells of his being. There would be no Force powers, but Ashin would still have an Ataru Master Czar to face when she broke through.

@[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Penumbra"] - The base of the building, exterior.

Ashin had no intention of boarding the ship. Once her sabre made its way through the top armor, she activated her dual-phase sabre. The blade doubled in length, shearing through crucial systems as Ashin twisted the weapon.

The sabre became a conduit for lightning, not a Dark Side emission but simple electric current -- Electric Judgment. Used not as a weapon against Zaiden, but against the systems of the vessel.

The ship died. Deactivating her lightsabre, Ashin sat back on her heels. The hatch, just out of sight, closed with a wave of her hand. "It's over, Zaiden," she said quietly, knowing that he would hear her through the Force. "It's over. Your base has been paralyzed, its technology crippled, its people unhurt. Val'hala is well within our territory, under our control. It is a Fringe world with Fringe forces on the ground and in orbit. Safe. I would never do to them what you have done to mine. I've defeated you, and by your own laws, that makes me a god, fit to defend and protect your world as you have not done. It's over. You're sealed in a durasteel coffin.

"Surrender to me. Come back."

 

[Matreya]

Laughter once again was the response, "Zaiden isn't here right now. Please leave a message after the beep.

"Ashin, you will just never understand. Zaiden isn't coming back. You'll have to wrench me out of this vessel. His mind and body are mine now. A result of your teachings. Had you never been here would the Council have followed your own actions? Had you never been here, would Morna have had the balls to call Zaiden out like that? Probably not. If you weren't here, Zaiden wouldn't have been broken.

"Your his weak link." Tenebrae murmured back, hoping shed hear. His Force abilities spent as such, with his prey now dead and no longer offering power, he could barely hope to fight. He had to conserve his energy. As well, she spoke proud but she didn't know he could remember that which his host did.

His people nay lay in their borders, but they would have to be broken worse then Zaiden for them to listen. And such cruelty would cause dissrest among other planets. A chain of events would unravel beyond what was already in motion by Pexim. Could she control multiple fronts like that? Especially no longer in a position of power? The council had already shown poor judgment, thus she would have to force her hand against them as well to ensure safety. Even further angles to defend against.

"Little did you care to know Ashin, utilizing Zaiden's implants, I got my message out. Zaiden's second in command was just alerted to let loose everything at my disposal. Hundreds of undead, dozens of dropships, droids, the works. Everything will be forced into the battle that will ensue." he continued, "Your going to let me go, as a matter of fact your going to aid me to my other ship. And then your going to back down."

Yes he knew whom he was talking to, and that was the point. She would understand everything like he did. There were to many fronts to attempt control on, and as a singular being how could she handle that much? He knew she had done great things before, now he simply hoped she would be tired like himself.
@[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Penumbra"]

"No...Tenebrae. No, that's not how it's going to happen. I'm going to rip you out of his head. I'm going to fix his brain. And I'm going to get my friend back so he can end this. There is still good in you. I know it."

She closed her eyes where she stood there on the dead ship. Full, true Force Light was not a skill she'd ever learned, though she'd been on the receiving end twice. But she was what she chose to be, and through that choice she'd gained...insight, of a sort. She gripped his mind tight, dragged it into contact with hers, drove hers toward his with her full strength. A risk, yes. All or nothing.

She flooded his mind with light, attempting to erode Tenebrae's anger and his connection to the Dark Side, to fix what was broken, to find her friend wherever he slept.

 

[Matreya]

Utter darkness against peace, as that was what Ashin had always stood for - even at her darkest. A battle for the ages raged. At first Ashin was winning, then the Darkness began to battle back and took control. Then again it was an even battle. Zaiden had experience against Force Light, and through him Tenebrae himself - and that was his savings grace.

Drawing on the last of his reserves, Tenebrae fought back. On the mental plane, the two warriors danced the most elegant battle in history. One fighting for his existence, the other for more then one of the people they cared for. Again Ashin took control, then Tenebrae, then again Ashin.

The battle raged for minutes solid. Ashin from her spot uptop, and Tenebrae within the cage of his own making. But the fight was a simple grasp for life, Tenebrae had faced multiple opponents at once. If the battle had been at the start, he just might have claimed Ashins mind.

But he didn't. In the end the purity Ashin represented won the battle. Zaiden finally saw the light and began fighting from within as well. Against two fronts, the demon had no choice. Falling to the light, it retreated. Drawing in on himself, the monster hid in the deepest darkest portions of Zaiden's mind.

With the utter end of his energy, and probably a portion of his life energies, a communicator flew threw the hole created by Ashin, "Call...Zero Alpha Jawa, 71213." If Ashin didn't understand the message, the Fringe could possibly fall. It was a simple one though. The communicator was only a two way, as well he provided the code to cancel the message sent to Pex.

Falling wasn't quit the word. Going unconscious, blacking out, none could really describe the way Zaiden crumbled. His body spewed blood from near all orifices, his breathing was dangerously shallow, and his eyes twitched with the pupils no where in sight. You can't battle so severe, take the amount of physical damage as well as mental trauma, and use that much energy - forcing everything the body had - while hoping to walk away.

@[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Jared Ovmar"] @[member="Morna Imura"]