Private Don't Get Mad, Get Even

[Calyx Sundrift]

Previously: Stuck in the middle with you. | Where we align​

Time moved strangely on Pelagon. There were no windows to mark the rising and setting of the sun. The only giveaway of night's hours were the red lights that bathed the corridors in their eerie glow, replacing the usual cold white that marked day hours.

Calyx had waited for that cycle, pressed against the thick steel walls lined with pipes and valves. Above, an air vent hissed, recycling the stale air of the underwater facility. There, masked by sound and hidden in the dimly lit contours of the pipelines, he would only be seen if he wanted to be. The Amulet of Many, cold against his chest, hid the last traces of his presence.

Two figures he expected to show. Hoped would show.

Isobel Serraris whom he had left a message and Acier Moonbound , whom he'd told in person.

Neither knew he'd invited the other. It was better that way. He didn't think Acier would show if he'd known beforehand that he had involved Isobel. And Isobel... well, he'd lost all grip he'd had on her after she'd healed his eye. Whether she'd come at all hinged on a trust he didn't expect her to still have.

Besides, it was a complete enigma to him what she thought of Acier. Giving her the full picture could have helped as easily as it could have ruined everything.

So he waited. Patience thin, anxious for whoever would show.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Pelagon - West Wing Barracks

Equipment:
Knight Attire | Lightsaber | Shoto | Cybernetic Arm | The Wayward

Ace's footsteps echoed softly against the grated flooring before gradually fading as he approached the designated meeting place. The harsh white lighting that usually illuminated the underwater facility had given way to a muted crimson glow, bathing the steel passageways in uneasy shadows. Most acolytes had already retired to their quarters, while those still awake had little interest in wandering this section of the complex.

Two days. He'd almost forgotten. Not that it wasn't important, but there was just always something else demanding his attention. Missions. Training. Arris. Bonadan. Coruscant. Every day the list grew longer. Still... He'd given Calyx his word. That alone was enough.

Ace rounded the final corner without ceremony. His eyes swept the corridor once, instinctively checking the entrances, sightlines, and the shadows between the pipes before settling on the only presence he expected to find.

"Sundrift." The greeting was as flat as ever.

His gaze lingered on the concealed position for a moment before drifting briefly down the corridor behind him, confirming they were still alone.

"I assume you've got a plan."

There wasn't much enthusiasm behind the question. Only expectation. Because if Calyx had spent two days thinking, Ace intended to find out whether any of it had been worth the wait.

Calyx Sundrift | Isobel Serraris​

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Acier Moonbound | Isobel Serraris
​

Calyx drifted from his hiding spot, like a shadow peeling itself from the wall.

"Moonbound." Came the equally curt acknowledgement.

He half-turned to study the bronze blast door that gave way to the Lord's quarters. "Less of a plan, more a loose set of ideas." He wouldn't admit openly that gathering his tools had eaten up most of his preparatory time. The vaults had been far better guarded than he'd anticipated, and had required considerably more care to breach than dealing with the Sith Lord herself would.

"She doesn't believe I'd dare come for her. Nor does she expect to be challenged here, on Pelagon, by her rivals." He'd spent hours unraveling her social standing, charting her schemes, cataloguing her allies and her enemies one by one. Nowhere in all of it had he found reason to believe her security ran any deeper than the usual paranoia expected of a Sith. "Any security measures she has, we should be able to handle." A dry scoff escaped him. "It isn't like we're taking down the Empress."

The joke died in the air between them, and silence crept back into the corridor, thick and expectant. "I'll admit, I didn't believe that you would show." His eye settled on Acier, lingering there. "I'm glad. Truly." He turned away before the moment could stretch further. "But as precaution, I've invited one more."

How would he react to Isobel? Would Ace send her away the moment he saw her?

Calyx kept his expression unreadable.

"Let's wait a little while longer for them to show."

 

[Isobel Serraris]

DON'T GET MAD, GET EVEN​

LOCATION — Pelagon, Sith Academy
TAGS — Calyx Sundrift Acier Moonbound
PARAPHERNALIA — Vesper et Aurora, Armour of the Lost

Reluctance drifted through her entire being, from every limb, through every vein; there was no purpose to be found in confronting one's mishap. To stand face to face Calyx was to invite the nightmares back into her dreamscape, and it was already crowded enough with the turmoil of a thousand rotations. And yet. . . part of Isobel longed to believe this may not result in tragedy.

The rhythmic beat of her boots against the metal plating announced her presence before the Nabooan came into sight, and when she noticed the two figures, only a sigh would escape her. Ace, the one she had told to leave the Covenant, for it was his destiny. . . and Calyx--at least he donned an eyepatch now to veil the disastrous encounter with that Nagai. . . hag.

A deep breath sought to calm the uneasiness resting within the heart, as she neared the pair, eyes flitting from one to the other. She could not help but wonder why the pair seemed so 'interlinked', as though a fragment within their presence was tied to one another, but that was a distraction, one they could ill afford now. "Adder's tongue," A nod to Calyx, a reminder of his little 'betrayal', before the eyes moved to Moonbound. "Rogue, I thought your path might," She tilted her head, trying to make something clear without laying it out for Sundrift to hear.

"Whatever it is we are to be doing here, I am not a fan." The disappointment, the. . . light pessimism within the accented voice was as clear as day; why must they meet here? What was the reason for that vague message? No answer found her here yet.

The girl intertwined her gloved hands and rested them over her abdomen as she waited for this 'brilliant plan' to come to light.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Pelagon - West Wing Barracks

Equipment:
Knight Attire | Lightsaber | Shoto | Cybernetic Arm | The Wayward

A loose set of ideas. Yeah, figures. It was hardly reassuring, but it was better than walking in blind. His eyes settled on the bronze blast door leading toward the Sith Lord's quarters.

"Well, then that's on her." His voice remained level. "Sith Lord worth a damn should expect challengers. Always. Doesn't matter where."

If the Nagai had convinced herself Pelagon made her untouchable, then overconfidence was simply another weakness waiting to be exploited. He saw no reason to pity her for it.

Silence returned. Ace continued studying the blast door, mentally tracing the approach, possible exits, and whatever resistance they might encounter beyond it. He offered no response when Calyx admitted he was glad he'd come.

Instead, one eyebrow lifted ever so slightly. One more? Before he could ask, the answer found him first. A familiar presence brushed against his senses. Different from the strange intimacy that always accompanied Calyx. It was gentler. Immediately recognizable.

Ace's brow furrowed and he let out a quiet breath through his nose. Of course. His gaze shifted down the corridor just as Isobel emerged into view. He said nothing. Instead, he simply watched her approach.

He had no doubts about Isobel's ability. She was capable. Disciplined. But capability only carried someone so far. The last time he'd seen her, she'd still been a Padawan. Now she was an acolyte, which wasn't much different. And Calyx intended to have her face a Sith Lord.

His eyes met hers as she addressed him, catching the slight tilt of her head. He understood exactly what she was getting at. Her final admission followed. She wasn't a fan of this and neither was he.

Ace slowly turned his attention back toward Calyx. His expression remained unreadable.

"You can't be serious."

Calyx Sundrift | Isobel Serraris ​

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Isobel Serraris | Acier Moonbound​

Soft footfalls carried through the corridor. The Force granted him insight. His conscious found a beautiful presence, one that immediately stung him with thorns.

He lazily glanced over his shoulder, head tilted slightly, and met the expected gaze of Isobel Serraris. She acknowledged him with a nod and a moniker that cut deep.

Adder's Tongue

His expression faltered, but he recovered with a practiced smile.

"Thankfully you're not a fan of this. This should be appalling. The day it no longer is, you may want to reconsider your life's choices." His eye darted to Acier and back. Then he lowered his voice to a deliberate whisper. "We're going to murder Darth Anaiya." Calyx didn't bother with a reason. It was obvious that revenge drove him.

Less obvious was that his cause was the Lord forcing Isobel's hand. The ruination of his face was of secondary relevance. That, he kept for himself.

Acier rounded on him, expression betraying nothing, though his emotions shimmered through the Dyad. Calyx tried brushing them aside.

"What?" He cocked his head. "Afraid the flower snaps her stem?" He shook his head and turned toward the bronze door. "You can take care of yourself, can't you Isobel?" He didn't wait for her response. "She's stronger in the Force than I am, y'know? And if it somehow turns out she can't keep up?" He threw up his hands. "Be glad you came."

He glided toward the door, crouching to unfasten a sleek dagger from his boot. Calyx tossed it from hand to hand as he studied the reinforced bronze.

"Let's see…"

He stepped to the side and jammed the dagger into the power port beneath the wall panel. It buzzed, then clicked.

.--HACKING: 14 - SUCCESS --.

With a groan, the bronze door opened. The room beyond the arch was spacious, polished obsidian floors and dark paneling shot through with red that crept up the high ceiling. It was nothing like the cramped corridor, nor the acolyte quarters he'd visited. He hadn't imagined rooms like this existed on Pelagon at all, save perhaps the lecture halls in the old temple segment.

Calyx pulled the dagger free and slid it into his cloak, then motioned for them to follow. "Her rooms lay beyond. Be wary of-"

.--OPPOSITION: 3 --.

Three shapes stirred in the dark. He made out a tall, furred silhouette. The Wook, from their shared lecture, was easily twice his width. The other two he knew only by their files. A lanky Twi'lek who rose without a sound. Beside him, a Gand's breathing mask hissed a slow plume of steam, the only warning before it moved.

"-her apprentices..."

.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Pelagon - West Wing Barracks

Equipment:
Knight Attire | Lightsaber | Shoto | Cybernetic Arm | The Wayward

Ace's jaw tightened as he looked at Calyx. Once again, the man had completely missed the point. It wasn't about whether Isobel was stronger in the Force or capable of defending herself. Strength alone had never been enough. Experience mattered. Knowing where confidence ended and overconfidence began mattered more.

As Calyx knelt before the control panel and began working the mechanism with his dagger, Ace watched him for only a moment before speaking.

"Remember that phantom pain from your left arm you had last year?" His eyes remained on the sealed bronze door. "That was 'cause I tried fighting someone I wasn't ready for yet."

He offered nothing further. There was no need to explain who or where. The absence of his own left forearm had long since become explanation enough.

A low groan rolled through the corridor as the locking mechanism disengaged and the heavy bronze door began to slide open. Before stepping across the threshold, Ace turned toward Isobel.

"Stay here." The instruction was calm, leaving little room for discussion. He wasn't interested in debating it.

Ace stepped inside alongside Calyx, his attention already shifting to the room beyond. His eyes moved instinctively over the polished obsidian floor, the towering walls, the furniture, the angles of approach and retreat, absorbing the unfamiliar space as Calyx began to speak.

Three figures stirred within the darkness before the warning was finished and Ace reacted immediately. His blue lightsaber ignited with its familiar crack and flooded the chamber with azure light as he drove forward without hesitation. The towering Wookiee was the obvious priority. Larger than the others and capable of overwhelming Calyx if allowed to dictate the engagement, the apprentice had to be occupied first.

Attack: 15 - Success​

Rather than waiting for the Wookiee to establish footing, Ace closed the distance aggressively, bringing his blade around in a powerful opening strike intended to seize the initiative before the apprentice could properly organize a defense.

Ace's strike crashed into the apprentice's hastily raised guard with enough force to drive the larger Sith back a full step. The apprentice's balance broke for an instant beneath the unexpected aggression, his guard forced wide by the sheer weight of the blow. Ace had what he wanted. The initiative belonged to him now, and the Wookiee would be spending the next few precious moments recovering instead of threatening his allies.

Calyx Sundrift​

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Isobel Serraris | Acier Moonbound​

He gave Isobel an apologetic look. "Please, keep watch. We'll be back before you know it." He parted with a wave, entering the large hall behind Acier.

It was reminiscent of a living room. His warning had barely left him before the three apprentices stirred.
Acier didn't let up, flowing straight into an overpowering offensive that threw the Wookiee back. The other two reacted slowly, and Calyx leapt into the gap to guard his flank.

FORCE: 6
RANGED: 12
MELEE: 4

He thrust out a hand, driving a kinetic blast outward, which the apprentices countered with their own mastery of the dark side. The Twi'lek met his push with one of his own in retaliation. The Gand took it head-on, seemingly relying on the Force to swell his natural vigor.

Calyx wouldn't grant them the initiative. His vibroknife was already glinting in his other hand, and he hurled it up in one fluid motion toward the chandelier's chain.

The vibrating blade cut clean through the metal links, and the whole frame came crashing down. By the time they brandished their blades, all three had to leap clear. Calyx dove into a shoulder roll and came up near the Twi'lek, his own saber flaring to life, blooming crimson.

It licked outward in a red streak, but was deftly parried by the Twi'lek. Each of his slashes and thrusts were turned aside, and he found himself pressured onto the defensive. The Gand rejoined the fight, turning it into two-against-one in a storm of blades and a whirl of footwork.

He tried summoning his knife back under the cover of a kick, but the window was too narrow to do more than tug at the sleek metal.

"This wasn't-" He sidestepped another assault. "the plan!"

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Pelagon - West Wing Barracks

Equipment:
Knight Attire | Lightsaber | Shoto | Cybernetic Arm | The Wayward

Evasion: 6
Counter: 1
Attack: 2

The Wookiee came back at him hard. Ace saw the attack coming and shifted to evade, but not quickly enough. The apprentice's blade caught him before he could clear its path, forcing Ace awkwardly off-line. He stumbled through the movement rather than flowing with it, boots scraping against the floor as he fought to keep his balance.

He tried to turn the mistake into an opening anyway. Ace planted his foot and snapped immediately into a counterattack, blue light carving back toward the Wookiee. Only for the strike to go completely wrong.

His footing hadn't settled. The angle was shit. Whatever opening he'd thought he'd seen disappeared almost as quickly as he'd committed to it, leaving Ace forced to wrench his blade back before his own momentum carried him somewhere even worse.

He gave ground instead. One step, then another, and brought his lightsaber back into guard, shoulders settling as he reset his stance. The opening exchange had gotten away from him, there was no point pretending otherwise. Better to reset than compound one bad decision with three more.

Behind him came the furious clash of blades, followed by Calyx's complaint.

Ace spared the briefest glance toward the fight unfolding at his flank. Two apprentices had Calyx occupied now, crimson blades keeping him firmly on the defensive.

"Didn't seem like there was much of a plan anyway."

His attention snapped back to the Wookiee. He closed the distance quickly, trying to reclaim the initiative before the apprentice could settle, lightsaber sweeping into another attack and once again, absolutely nothing cooperated.

The Wookiee read him almost immediately and Ace's strike was intercepted before it could develop into anything meaningful. His blade knocked aside and his advance stalled almost as soon as it began. He recoiled a step, lightsaber snapping back between them.

Apparently this was going to be one of those fights.

Calyx Sundrift​

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Isobel Serraris | Acier Moonbound​

MELEE: 15

They were a storm of blades. Three figures in a ferocious dance, where the long table and its chair became temporary obstacles and advantages.

Calyx continued his retreat, circling back from the Gand's hammering blows and the Twi'leks limber slashes. Their speed, skill, and execution were unmatched by any acolyte in his cohort, save perhaps the Wook, who had joined their side.

But Calyx had been a Jedi Knight. And had elevated his bladework to another level entirely.

His defences held, and with fluid grace he made his way onto the table. The Twi'lek tried to cut him off, but Calyx sailed over the saber that scraped the table's surface. The blocky Gand rose to meet him on the platform, but was left wide-open without the Twi'leks constant pressure.

Calyx's saber licked out, sending quick flicks of his red blade toward the Gand's breathing mask. The Twi'lek tried to mount a counteroffensive by harrying his flank, but Calyx's blade, flickering too quick for the eye to see - had overwhelmed the Gand's defences.

Pressure escaped as the breathing mask faltered, and the insectoid sagged back in rasping breaths. The Twi'lek barely had time to register it. His decision to keep to the floor had already decided their duel's outcome.

Calyx his blade came down. The Twi'lek raised his guard, but the red blade changed directions so quickly midstroke, that it seemed to bend and curve.

The whirling sweep took the dark apprentice's head clean off.

Calyx lowered his blade. Eye flicking to where Acier dueled the Wook. He could sense how the Dyad roused them. It was marveling, how much quicker and stronger fighting alongside Acier made him feel.

"Fine- I'll admit it. I took your advice. I made no proper plan." He hopped from the table. Then cocked his head. "The way you're fighting makes me regret that, though." His expression said it all.

Aren't you better than this?

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Pelagon - West Wing Barracks

Equipment:
Knight Attire | Lightsaber | Shoto | Cybernetic Arm | The Wayward

Defense: 7
Counter: 10
Killing Blow: 9

"Fuck you." Ace's delivery was calm, almost conversational, but the annoyance threaded through it was unmistakable.

The worst part was that Calyx had a point. Recent events had made him arrogant. Lax, even. Ace had defeated a Jedi Knight and killed one of the Empire's Dark Side Elite in close succession, both opponents who should have been considerably more dangerous than some apprentice thrown into his path.

So when the Wookiee had stepped forward, Ace had expected light work. He'd been swiftly reminded of one of the first lessons he'd ever learned fighting on the streets of Bonadan. Respect every opponent.

The Wookiee came at him again. This time Ace didn't try anything clever. He brought his lightsaber across his body as the apprentice's weapon descended, catching the strike against his blade. The impact still drove him backward a step, boots scraping against the floor as his guard buckled slightly beneath the Wookiee's strength. Better, but not good.

Ace twisted his blade free and immediately answered. His lightsaber snapped toward the Wookiee's exposed side, forcing the apprentice to turn and meet him. Their blades crashed together again. Ace pushed into the bind for only a moment before changing direction, attempting to slip around the Wookiee's defense.

Ace pressed forward. One strike became another. He didn't attempt to overwhelm the Wookiee through sheer aggression this time. He watched the apprentice's movements instead, testing his guard and searching for the opening he'd arrogantly assumed would simply be there from the beginning.

Then he saw it. Ace stepped inside and his lightsaber swept toward the Wookiee's torso in a decisive killing stroke, but met resistance. The apprentice caught it at the last possible moment. Blue and red locked between them, the killing blow stopped just short of its mark.

Ace stared across the crossed blades at the Wookiee. One side of his lip curled.

Calyx Sundrift​