Private Do It Again

[Caulder Dune]

Adekos looked the faintest bit surprised when Evelynn caught his blade with her arm. The lightsaber bounced off, and the Umbaran took a step back to collect himself. Not exactly what he’d meant, but it was a start.

“What an unfortunate legacy you’ve been folded into,” he replied. “There are ways to shed such things, you know. Then again, maybe no one would care to advise you otherwise.”

Such a tricky business to be a Zambrano. All the usual fear and revulsion that came with being a Sith, then magnified by being associated with the galaxy’s current top psychotic war criminal.

Evelynn had his pity, but the course of the duel made it hard to tell. He made a couple half-hearted jabs, apparently testing her guard again. And then he abruptly transitioned to a Force Push – one that would send Evelynn careening off the mat if she weren’t careful.

“Let me edify you,” he droned, in his usual condescending manner. “If you lose a limb during a duel, it’s already over. The spares won’t save you.”

He flicked his lightsaber, as if attempting to rid of it something that clung to the blade. Darth Adekos scoffed haughtily. And here people had been calling him the defeatist one.

“So instead of preparing to deal with a lost arm, perhaps start taking steps to ensure you don’t lose one in the first place.”

---

Beatrice Govan​

 

[Beatrice Govan]

Unfortunate legacy, perhaps the understatement of the year.

Where would she have been were it not for that legacy? Living out a wonderful and unaware middle age in a cosy homestead; surrounded by a loving family, and a troupe of strange and wonderful animals. A quaint little paradise that she had been conditioned to feel disgust for but even through that, there was still the barest modicum of regret for what would never be.

The galaxy might have mocked such ideas of mediocrity but they hadn't encountered the pleasure of living between a Zambrano and a Talith.

More blows came to be parried, their intent feeling almost lackadaisical in nature to those that came before, which was swiftly explained by the change of tactic, a Force push coming to greet her instead. This was far more in the women's realm and instinctively the moment that she felt that prickle of gathered energies her golden prosthetic was raised, summoning a swift barrier to bear the brunt of the push, the remainder only causing her to take a small stumble backwards.

An eyebrow was raised as Darth Adekos continued his lesson, a very fair and reasonable point raised in terms of such grievous bodily harm.

Her acceptance in limb-losing was not only based in defeatist ideas but also in her deep-rooted connection with pain. Common sense dictated that one did not stand for long after having an arm lopped off, but Evelynn knew that she could. It was her one boasting point; being able to withstand horrors that would otherwise incapacitate others. If anything, it made her stronger.

Pain is power.

Although she knew well enough to just accept the point and move on from it. The blonde no longer held active desire to suffer, she didn't want to come out of an unpleasant encounter with fewer limbs than she had started with, but, well, Dorns had a special way of seeking misfortune.

A curt nod acknowledged his point before Evelynn shifted back to prior words, and back into a defensive stance until told to do otherwise.

And what would you care to advise?

Caulder Dune

 

[Caulder Dune]

Evelynn skidded away. Not quite thrown off balance, but hardly the picture of grace either. Apparently she had some wits still about her, even if they didn’t strictly pertain to bladework.

At least he could rule out an accidental death by misadventure. Adekos raised his blade again and took a couple leisurely steps forward.

“Get better at dueling with a lightsaber, obviously,” He replied, making his advance again. “What other advice could there possibly be? It is the first and most reliable defense you will ever have.”

The Umbaran abruptly broke from his casual advance and into a quick lunge – this time aimed straight for her gut.

---

Beatrice Govan​