Duel Galactic Kaggath Round 1: CT-312 vs Kudau

[Razmir Tezhyn]

x

CT-312 vs Kudau​

The arena floor rumbled and shook, the entire surface sliding open like a missile silo to reveal… an enormous Wroshyr tree rising up from the lower levels. It towered so high that its upper branches crested the arena and stood nearly eye level with the skybox. It sat upon a grassy, fern littered field. Amid the ferns, shapes prowled. Dangerous predators. Vornskrs. Force hunting beasts.

The boughs of the Wroshyr tree criss-crossed, forming limbs as wide as Coruscanti skywalks that the combatants could duel upon.

Droids hovered in the air around the tree, some with cameras, but many projecting interlinking rayshields so that the duelists could not interfere with the duels of the others. Of course… ray shields could always fail.

If any of the combatants fell to the ground far below, they risked being set upon by the vornskrs.

The announcers’ disembodied voice cut through as the combatants took their places on the boughs of the tree. “Honoring those who fell in the Battle of Kashyyyk between the One Sith and Republic, so many years ago, I give you the FIRST ROUND of the GALACTIC Kaggath!”

“Ahem, I have been asked to read the following for this introduction: ‘If you’re not first you’re last, Bespin gas!’...isn’t that product placement? Is that legal? Oh well, too late now! Debuting in the galaxy’s greatest tournament, it’s CT-312!

“Fighting for his honour and his family, he’s the Hound of Uvena Prime, a wandering hunter who could barely afford his entry fee, it’s KUUUUUUDAUUUUU!

“CHALLENGERS! BEGIN!”

 

[CT-312]

//: Kudau //:
//: Arena, Ruusan //:
//: Attire //:
//: WEARING: Halcyon Armour | Contact Lenses | Wrist Mounted APG | Ancile Shield //:
//: EQUIPMENT: VW 864 Maser Rifle | LK-Sweeper Shotgun | Sunshot Pistol | Shiva Knife | //:
//: ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT: 3x Ravenous Grenades | 2x Kushute Grenades //:
//: 1x Ion Grenade | 1x Flash Grenade | 1x Incendiary Grenade | 1 x Smoke Grenade //:
​

CT-312’s boots settled solidly on the bark of the middle bough. Knees bent ever so slightly, weight balanced. The light filtered from the Wroshyr’s canopy, casting across the surface of the Halcyon's armor camouflage plating. Beige, olive, and faded brown. Blending perfectly into the blotched shadows of the giant tree’s limbs and leaves. For once the Scout’s armor wasn’t sticking out like a sore thumb. The galaxy’s chaotic sense of humor had handed her a battlefield where she belonged.

‘Finally.’ Underneath the helmet, a wicked smirk appeared. Invisible to any onlooker. The camouflaged colors she always don, finally earning its keep. ‘Oh.’ With the new gear, weapons, and equipment— courtesy of Locke & Key Mechanics. ‘This is going to be fun.’ It was solid craftsmanship. The kind of gear that made even nightmares like this feel… winnable. That and a few other goodies Jacen Breska and herself happened to stumble upon. A blast from the past. Dare say, CT-312 started to feel somewhat excited about this whole tournament.

The Halcyon's repulsor pack hummed barely faintly low, standing by. A subtle reassurance at her back, ready for movement or any unexpected fall. Her attention snapped to the other side of the Wroshyr tree. CT-312 could feel it. Seconds later her visor flickered as the HUD’s radar detected a signature. It was towards the same direction where she was facing.

Her opponent, Kudau. A Shistavanen. Predator instincts and all. ‘An overgrown rug.’ CT-312 thought with dry humor. Keeping her focus razor-sharp. She clicked her tongue, a faint Tsk that only the helmet caught. Her gloved hand grip tightened on her weapon, VW 864 Maser Rifle. Trigger finger ready.

The Scout didn’t raise it… yet.

No. This time CT-312 would try a different approach from what she normally did. She would let the beast come to her. Wanting to know what Kudau would do. Would he present himself or go straight for the attack? ‘Come on.’ CT-312 looked as if she was unprepared, but in truth. She was sharp and ready to move at any second.

‘Let’s see how much of a hunter you really are.’

 

[Kudau]

"A hunt..." Kudau chuckled with genuine excitement, and a little bit of gloating, as he talked himself up, "Well, this will either be the most humbling experience to date... or a nice warm up."

As his paws settled on the branches of the trees, he looked down at the forest floor below him. As much as he wanted to have a fight on the solid ground, the vornskrs had made him and his opponent remain in the trees for the time being. As the announcer signaled to begin, he immediately started thinking of strategies to go against his opponent. "CT-312". A clone trooper. Kudau had to suppress the temptation to sniff them out and fight them head on. A clone trooper seemed hardly worth the time or effort for a proper hunt...

But this was not Uvena, and likely, she was not just any clone trooper. His father had told him to never waste an opportunity to be at your fullest. Kudau knew exactly how he would approach this hunt: like any other. He disappeared from the bough he had started on, force-jumping deeper into the forest. He searched for any lead, sniffing the air and listening for heartbeats, until...

(There you are...)

A soft hum, unlike anything natural, came from directly in front of him, causing his ear to twitch. He could faintly smell the fuel from her repulsor pack. Kudau again had to stop himself from cutting the hunt short. He was close enough to dive, claws first, straight at her, but he refused. If she had a repulsor pack, who knows what other goodies she brought to the fight. In terms of gear, she could, and likely was, armed to the teeth.

He calmed himself down. Between her tech and his experience, this fight was getting fairer and fairer. He had to do something to catch her off guard, and that meant using more energy and more of the terrain. With a stronger, faster force jump, he leapt to a bough further away, unknowingly getting off of her HUD...

 

[CT-312]

//: Kudau //:
//: Arena, Ruusan //:
//: Attire //:
//: WEARING: Halcyon Armour | Contact Lenses | Wrist Mounted APG | Ancile Shield //:
//: EQUIPMENT: VW 864 Maser Rifle | LK-Sweeper Shotgun | Sunshot Pistol | Shiva Knife | //:
//: ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT: 3x Ravenous Grenades | 2x Kushute Grenades //:
//: 1x Ion Grenade | 1x Flash Grenade | 1x Incendiary Grenade | 1 x Smoke Grenade //:
​

The roar of the crowd and chatter of the announcers filled the stadium. Noises meant for the audience. Not her. Not CT-312. Training and discipline kept her focus sharp on the task at hand. The Scout waited…

Nothing happened.

CT-312 raised a brow as her HUD flickered. The signature of Kudau vanished. Curious. Why back off? ‘Ah.’ A thought clicked into place. ‘A mutt. Right.’ His senses. A dog’s nose. ‘So that’s his range.’

A shame really. CT-312 wasn’t about to waste the opportunity though. In a smooth, practiced motion, her hands swapped out the sights and attached silencers to her Maser Rifle. She chuckled to herself, ‘I should say hello.’ But there was no rush. The Camo Scout knew that in this arena, even this towering Wroshyr tree could only stretch so far before one reached the end. Weapon primed, CT-312 began to move. Casual, but deliberate towards where the last signature had flickered out.

Her eyes behind the visor noticed subtle details. Leaves out of place. Broken twigs. A few stray hairs clinging to the bark. CT-312 was tracking, signs of Kudau. Her HUD pinged. It was smaller signatures… below.

Peering down, CT-312 spotted two Vornskrs circling in the grassy fern field just beneath the Wroshyr tree. Unable to spot their prey. ‘Speaking of dog…’ Without hesitation, she holstered her weapon and nonchalantly stepped off the branch. Falling.

Deployable gauntlet blades snapped free— deadly and silent as CT-312 descended. Repulsor pack gave out a slight whisper as it softened her landing. The right blade severed the head of the first Vornskr the instant she touched down. Before the second could react, the repulsor surged. Driving CT-312 forwards. Left blade sank deep in the body, the right finishing the job cleanly.

Both beasts fell, motionless.

Crouching beside one of the carcasses, CT-312 wiped her blades clean on the matted fur. A hiss was heard as the blades retracted back. Without a word, she scooped soft grass and soil into her hands. Smearing it across her armor’s plates and joints. ‘Let’s see what happens when the dog has a hard time using its nose.’ The rich scent of the forest clung to her gear.

Repulsor pack ignited again. CT-312 rose through the branches, returning to the middle bough. Weapon out, moving with the same quiet and casual precision. A few moments later, a familiar blip returned to the HUD. The Camo Scout slowed. Rifle raised. Stance low and tight. Each step melted into the shadows of the leaves and branches. She was within average distance of the signature.

CT-312 blinked hard— cyber-eye lenses zoomed in. ‘There you are.’ Spotting Kuadu amongst the branches and leaves around him. Another hard blink— zoom off. ‘Let’s see how you react.' The Scout knelt. Rifle raised, eyes down the sights. Steading her breath. CT-312 squeezed the trigger.

‘Hi.’

A muffled single maser bolt snapped through the air. Controlled and purposely striking the thick trunk near Kudau’s head. Bark and splinters exploded from the impact.

CT-312 watched. Ready.

 

[Mauve]

"Wow look at this, that droid is swooping in pretty low there," muttered the announcer.

The droid did indeed swoop low, something detaching from its underside to fall right in front of CT-312.

"Some sort of... bracelet," the announcer mused, "Huh. You'd have thought he could have just entered the fight wi- I MEAN UH. WOW. LOOK AT THAT! SOMEONE'S BENEFACTOR SHOWING SUPPORT!"

Kudau | CT-312

 

[Kudau]

The shot rang in his ears as it hit the tree next to him as Kudau dodged the shrapnel from the blast. It was then he realized he was completely outmatched in the regards of technology. 312 had benefactors from seemingly across the galaxy, and was armed to the teeth with weapons Kudau could only imagine. The strong stench of blood hung in the air as Kudau snuck in the shadows for his next play.

Then, he realized something: the blood couldn't have been hers, or the fight would be over already. It had to have been the Vornskrs... which means that the previously tumultuous ground was clear for battle. Then, he smelled the sources of the blood stench. He could no longer smell her repulsor, nor the sweat that a move like that would've produced. She must have tried to get him off her trail by rubbing it on her. A novice mistake: now instead of trying to smell her sweat, I just had to find the moving scent of blood... gauging from the distance her blaster fired, and the fact that he hadn't heard her repulsors again, meant that she likely didn't move.

As the drone floated in, Kudau used the distraction to quickly get to the other side of the tree from her. Just as the crate made a loud clank as the drone dropped it, he dropped from the tree, using the noise to muffle his fall. He looked at the back of her helmet, and took a deep breath.

(That tech is nothing to be sneezed at, but if I get in close, I should be able to disable her technology bit by bit. Then... she'll be finished...)

 

[CT-312]

//: Kudau //:
//: Arena, Ruusan //:
//: Attire //:
//: WEARING: Halcyon Armour | Contact Lenses | Wrist Mounted APG | Ancile Shield| Aredian Armlet //:
//: EQUIPMENT: VW 864 Maser Rifle | LK-Sweeper Shotgun | Sunshot Pistol | Shiva Knife | //:
//: ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT: 3x Ravenous Grenades | 2x Kushute Grenades //:
//: 1x Ion Grenade | 1x Flash Grenade | 1x Incendiary Grenade | 1 x Smoke Grenade //:
​

She watched Kudau’s reaction. 'Hmm... off guard.' as he dodged the splinters of bark that exploded from the impact of her shot. He was on the move again. Eyes following. Slipping through the branches like a shadow. Another signal flicked onto her HUD— closing fast. Catching her attention. Instincts took over before a thought could form. CT-312 snapped her rifle toward the incoming contact. Finger right on the trigger.

A droid.

CT-312 swore under her breath. “Are you karking kidding me?” she growled. Annoyed. She swung her scope back toward where Kudau had been. Gone. His signature on her HUD— gone. Again. Slowly becoming more irritated as it boiled in her gut.

Click.

Something detached from the droid and dropped toward her. Reflexively, CT-312 caught it. Inspecting. “Seriously?” Her teeth clenched in frustration. ‘A bracelet.’ They’re advertising jewelry now? What is this? Her position was blown. All for this damned bracelet. A hovering camera lingered. CT-312 waved her hand at it, trying to shoo it away. It didn’t budge.

Her irritation started to simmer into something sharper. Slowly, she turned her helmet—sponsor stickers showing—towards the direction Kudau had last been. CT-312 brought her hand up and gave it the middle finger salute.

Immediately the feed cuts to another competitor.

Slapping the bracelet onto her wrist. The moment it clicked into place, CT-312 froze for a second. It got quiet. Inside. Too quiet. The background hum of chaos from the audience still there, but the strange tension static she felt at times— muted. It was… calming. Weird.

The Camo Scout brushed the feeling aside with a low grumble, focusing back to the task. She moved swiftly from her compromised position, making her way toward where she’d fired. Her fingers traced the small cratered scorched impact on the Wroshyr’s bark. Her eyes spotted more broken twigs, leaves disturbed. “...” The trail led back the way she’d came. A quiet sigh escaped her lips.

‘Not very hunter-like.’ The cat and mouse game was wearing thin. CT-312 holstered her Maser Rifle, swapping it for the LK-Sweeper shotgun. Patience? The Scout could have it. But could didn’t mean would.

This tournament. Annoying.
That damned droid blowing her position. Annoying.
Running in circles. Annoying.

Suddenly, a smirk appeared beneath the helmet. A little encouragement was needed. “Let’s speed things up shall we?” CT-312 took out an incendiary grenade. Make the ring smaller. Primed and tossed it off the branch away from Kudau’s direction. ‘See how you do under pressure.’ As it landed on the grassy fern field below, volatile gel spread in bursts. Igniting the field below.

BOOM. Flames roared to life as it began to consume the field. Crackling and climbing as smoke began to rise. The ray shields sealed it in. CT-312 glanced up briefly. Satisfied. Unconcerned with the smoke with her helmet’s rebreather. As the smoke will thicken over time, filling the arena. A low chuckle rumbled from her throat. ‘Let’s see what breaks first. Your lungs or your nerve.’ Fire would drive the Vornskrs, funneling towards Kudau’s direction.

CT-312 advanced steadily, waiting for the little dog to say hello. ‘Let’s make some noise.’ She raised the shotgun, not even bothering with a clear aim. With each step, she fired a round. Echoing in the distance as it can be heard getting closer. Purposefully missing. The blasts tore through leaves and bark. Kicking up debris and shaking the branches. CT-312’s HUD picked up Kudau’s signature once more as she neared.

Soon the trail stopped at the edge of the bough. There was nothing out of place. “Unless…” CT-312 eyes scanned upward. No trail. ‘Below then.’ Seeing how Kudau still hadn’t bothered to greet her. She took this time to swap out the drum of the shotgun.

 

[Kudau]

As the incindiary bomb exploded, something came alight in the darkness of the forest.

. . .

Suddenly, Kudau's spinning lightsaber came flying full speed at CT-312, with only seconds of it's pulses being heard as a warning.

 

[CT-312]

//: Kudau //:
//: Arena, Ruusan //:
//: Attire //:
//: WEARING: Halcyon Armour | Contact Lenses | Wrist Mounted APG | Ancile Shield| Aredian Armlet //:
//: EQUIPMENT: VW 864 Maser Rifle | LK-Sweeper Shotgun | Sunshot Pistol | Shiva Knife | //:
//: ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT: 3x Ravenous Grenades | 2x Kushute Grenades //:
//: 1x Ion Grenade | 1x Flash Grenade | 1x Incendiary Grenade | 1 x Smoke Grenade //:
​

In the middle of reloading her shotgun, CT-312 swapping out the drum barrel. Her Halcyon armour pinged an alert. The radar picked up an incoming object. Fast. A red flicker in her peripherals. Moving faster than anticipated. Then she saw it.

A red glowing spinning disc.

It was already almost on CT-312. Instincts took over. Training and muscle memory since she was created kicked in. The repulsor pack flared to life, jolting her sideways. The spinning blade screamed past. Too close.

Cleaving through the LK-Sweeper Shotgun effortlessly. As if it was paper. Molten sparks erupted as the weapon was sliced clean in half. CT-312 felt it next. A sharp jolt at her side. Like a punch. Not pain. Just impact.

A harsh metallic shriek rang out as the spinning saber grazed her right lumbar side. Then as quickly as it came at her, it was gone. Spinning off behind her. CT-312’s eyes widened. Her right hand snapped to the impact side. As she looked down, she peeled her hand away. Faint scorch marks. No breach. No blood. Just blackened paint. The Halcyon’s amour held.

CT-312’s gaze shifted to the broken remains of the shotgun in her other hand. Her eyes trailed to where the other remaining half was on the wooden floor. Sliced in two. ‘That should’ve been me.’ She should’ve been dead. If not for Locke & Key Mechanics and their cutting-edge equipment. That would have been her. CT-312 would be lying in pieces next to that weapon.

See a glowstick, make ‘em hurt

Her jaw locked. Jacen Breska words echoed in her head from before the tournament began. Anger didn’t quite cover how the Scout was feeling. This was seething. Tightly restrained rage. CT-312’s face stayed blank. Stoic. Controlled. She’d reprimand herself later. For the miscalculation. The hesitation. Error in judgment.

All because Kudau hadn’t done anything. Until now.

She wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Remember what she created for. Missions. Battlefields. Duty. Her focus didn’t waver. With a deliberate motion, CT-312 brushed the scorch marks off her armor with her right hand. ‘At least he finally said hello.’ Dropping the ruined shotgun on the ground from her left hand. She reached back, unholstering her Maser Rifle.

CT-312 brought it up. Stance steady, eyes locked in. Primed.
No more warnings. This time CT-312 was going for the kill.

 

[Kudau]

As she regained her bearings, Kudau was already repositioning, looking for another opening. His ranged strike was moderately successful, but he needed more than just a downed shotgun to move on in the tournament.

As he repositioned, he called his saber to reposition as well, preparing to hit her again. This time however, as it's scream would echo through the forest as it made its way back, he would be charging at her from a different angle. He chuckles to himself about the conundrum he's created for her...

(Now, you'll have to choose which to pay attention to: the object hurling itself at you with the full intention of reaming through all that armor and gadgetry... or my saber?)

Just then, he notice her demeanor shift, the force around her growing strong with emotion...

(Ooh... someone's getting into it. Let's see how this plays out...)

Just as he chooses another angle to come at her from, he pulls his saber back with just as much intensity as its departure, and lunges right for her.

 

[CT-312]

//: Kudau //:
//: Arena, Ruusan //:
//: Attire //:
//: WEARING: Halcyon Armour | Contact Lenses | Wrist Mounted APG | Ancile Shield| Aredian Armlet //:
//: EQUIPMENT: VW 864 Maser Rifle | LK-Sweeper Shotgun | Sunshot Pistol | Shiva Knife | //:
//: ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT: 3x Ravenous Grenades | 2x Kushute Grenades //:
//: 1x Ion Grenade | 1x Flash Grenade | 1x Incendiary Grenade | 1 x Smoke Grenade //:
​

Flames caused by the other contestants across the Wroshyr tree crackled through the canopy. Long shadows casted over the bark as the bough beneath her trembled from the fighting around them in the separate arenas.

CT-312’s HUD flared with two incoming signatures. Fast and distinct. She didn’t need time to interpret. Already recognizing it belonged to Kudau and the red spinning saber. The Camo Scout shifted herself. Buckling into a ready stance. Knees bent, boots grounding deeper into the bark. The subtle hum of the repulsor pack responded as it calibrated for sudden movement.

The spinning red saber screamed through the air like a banshee. Then Kudau emerged. Lunging into view at the same time. A blur of fur and fangs coming at her. CT-312’s repulsor pack ignited. Launching her backwards in a controlled maneuver away from Kudau. Moving directly into the spinning saber’s path. Closing the gap. Her eyes never left him.

As she slid back across the bough. Like clockwork, CT-312 brought her Maser Rifle up. Sighted in. A split-second calculation. In a controlled breath. Her finger squeezed the trigger. A tight controlled three-round burst rang out.

The first maser bolt aimed dead center at Kudau’s chest. The second snapped higher as the recoil carried the barrel up, toward the base of his neck. The third—calculated and final—aimed dead centered perfectly between his eyes.

Her boots hit the bark hard. CT-312 dropped low, adjusting her weight, eyes still locked on Kudau. One foot back, the other forward. She moved her support hand off from the rifle. Lowering her weapon, elbow tight to her body. CT-312, hip-fired another controlled burst at Kudau’s body. She angled her head just enough to have both Kudau and the spinning saber in her sights.

Then…impact.

The spinning saber slammed into her left side with a metallic shriek. Sparks bursted outward. CT-312 didn’t flinch. Instead, her knees bent deeper absorbing the hit. The Halcyon’s plating groaned. Its built-in impact gel absorbed the brunt of the blow. She felt the force of it, but not pain. No breach. No blood. Just like before when it first made contact. Only a kinetic pressing into her ribs. Armor unfazed. Only smoke and blackened paint.

As the saber slowed mid-spin, her left hand shot out. Grabbing it by the hilt. From the corner of her eye, she could see it clearly. Another saber. Two. ‘Glowsticks.’ a low growl escaped her. Unintentional and primal. The Scout didn’t understand it completely. Not fully. But she didn’t need to. She’d trust TK-710’s judgement. They’ve been through hell and back together, ever since the DeathDrop picked them up. He had her back. She had his. Despite both of them being in this messed up tournament. She’d trust her battle buddy.

See a glowstick, make ‘em hurt

Jaw clenched. Her grip tightened on both the rifle and the saber’s hilt. CT-312's thumb found the activation stud. Pressing it. Click. Both sabers deactivated with a dying hum. Vanishing in an instant.

CRACK. A loud tumultuous snap could be heard throughout stadium as it vibrated through the whole Wroshry tree. Above, the upper canopy broke loose. Flaming branches crashed down around her and Kudau. Some tumbled to the lower limbs. Others struck the burning field below. Igniting a new wave of fire roaring across the arena’s fern field floor. The whole arena began to fill with heat and smoke.

CT-312’s focus was absolute. ‘Make them hurt.’ echoed in her mind. Her gaze stayed fixed on Kudau. Holstering the Maser Rifle, she then tossed Kudau’s saber to the ground between them. It clattered across the bark, spinning like a credit chip before hobbling to a stop. CT-312’s expression was unreadable beneath the helmet, but something shifted more. Disciplined rage. Cold and composed. Her hands clenched into fists. Body shifted into a low combat stance as her heels dug into the bark. CT-312’s voice came out low and sharp through her helmet’s vocoder.

“Pick.” Left fist snapped out, arm flexed. The deployable gauntlet blade shot free.
“It.” Right arm followed, mirroring the same motion as the second blade extended out.
“Up.” her voice growled beneath the helmet.

The Camo Scout crouched low. Both tips of the blades lightly dug into the wooden floor beneath her. The repulsor pack thrummed. Ready to launch. Her eyes never left Kudau. CT-312 was done waiting.

Now it was his move.

 

[Kudau]

(Going in for the kill, huh? You really are a hunter...)

As she pulled the trigger, Kudau shoved his body out of the way, careening to the side. He had to get on all fours and dig his claws into the ground just to stop his momentum. As he stopped, he looked up to see if his saber had found its mark. It had, but not in the way he expected...

Her armor held, and she had caught the saber in hand. Kudau was getting both impressed and anxious.

"Pick. It. Up."

He could tell she was getting tired of the chasing. Perhaps it was time for a duel...

As the tree branches and flaming splinters of bark rained down from above, he watched as his saber spun like a coin, treated as nothing more than another device like hers.

He got up from all fours with no rush. He looked down at his circular saber, watching as it perfectly reversed its spinning before flying back into his hand, catching it with a slight recoil before looking up to meet her gaze. On his face was not the look of rage, which would match her tone of voice, but of someone beginning to get frustrated with a puzzle.

"No more hunting? Fine..."

Kudau took the saber in his hand, pressing another button. The ring around it separated, followed by a click as he separated the two hilts. He held one in each hand, holding them out to the side. He held them vertically as they ignited, gradually letting them float out of his hands.

With his right hand, he dragged his right saber through the air to collect the left saber. He maintained eye contact as he fiercely swung both sabers over his head, like two extensions for his claws. The flaming falling branch above him split, missing him.

"Let's see how many hits that armor can take..."

He got into a battle-ready stance, waiting to see how she would respond...

 

[CT-312]

//: Kudau //:
//: Arena, Ruusan //:
//: Attire //:
//: WEARING: Halcyon Armour | Contact Lenses | Wrist Mounted APG | Ancile Shield| Aredian Armlet //:
//: EQUIPMENT: VW 864 Maser Rifle | LK-Sweeper Shotgun | Sunshot Pistol | Shiva Knife | //:
//: ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT: 3x Ravenous Grenades | 2x Kushute Grenades //:
//: 1x Ion Grenade | 1x Flash Grenade | 1x Incendiary Grenade | 1 x Smoke Grenade //:
​

Flames cracked across and around the Wroshyr’s tree. Orange glow reflecting off the armor plates and scattered leaves. The smoke curled low and heavy around the branches and boughs. Slight trembles could be felt from the distant impacts from the other contestants. Sporadic low groans of splitting wood could be heard across the arena.

CT-312 observed Kudau dodge the burst shots she’d fire. Scrambling on all fours skidding along the bark. Claws digging grooves as he fought to kill his own momentum. For a creature who proudly styled himself as a hunter, he looked more like a mutt obeying a command. The Scout caught his expression when he looked up. Not rage. ‘Some hunter.' Frustration.

‘Pathetic.’

She expected him to retrieve the weapon like any proper fighter. Walk over. Pick it up. Commit. Not… whatever this was. The saber reversed its wobbling direction and flew straight back into his hand. ‘What the hell…’ CT-312 didn’t move nor flinch. She watched as Kudau split the ring into two separate sabers. Red light bloomed in an instant. Instead of gripping them, he let them hover. Float. An extension of his body.

CT-312’s breath hissed through her rebreather. ‘Force User.’ She recalled the word from the haloscreens around the stadium. TK-710 and her memorized each competitor's profile shown before the tournament started. Stats and abilities. One detail stood out besides Kudau’s name. Force user.

Freaks. TK-710 had called them.

Space magic? Some kind of trick? Another thing she didn’t understand. But it was clear that it was powers that didn’t follow rules. CT-312 repeated TK-710’s words in her mind. ‘Freaks.’ No wonder the both of them had to be armed to the teeth for this tournament.

Her stance remained tight. Compact. Not a duelist’s stance. A scout’s. CT-312 crouch lowered further. Blades angled outward—balanced and ready. Her eyes never left Kudau as he raised his arms, sabers mimicked the motion.

Above him, a burning branch gave away. The sabers flashed, cutting the flaming branch clean in half above him. Crashing down in a spray of cinders. Adding to the fire that danced across and around the arena. Feeding on the wind and bark. Smoke thickened, turning the air to ash.

She didn’t blink. ‘Fine.’ CT-312 would approach like a controlled predator. No wasted movements. No flourishing. Only precision, efficiency and brutality. She recalculated with the new sudden variable: Force User. CT-312 would advance low and fast. As if she was breaching a bunker. Not fighting a duelist. Study his movements, how his weight shifted on his heels. The angle of his reach. Sabers gave rhythm. And rhythm could be broken. The Scout would close the gap. Force the fight even tighter.

Kudau’s size didn’t concern CT-312. Nor his strength or speed. The armor she wore already proved its battle readiness. Enhanced speed, durability, and soon put its reinforced strength through its paces.

Staying low, the repulsor pack gave a sharp hum as CT-312 activated a short burst from her back as she jolted forward. Too fast. Too direct. A feint, mimicking a full charge. Silently daring him to swing. Then, with practice precision, she pivoted hard. Another controlled burst from the repulsor pack to the side. Kicking up bark and ember in her wake. CT-312 shot closer along his flank. Closing the gap within his sabers even tighter. Never rising, posture tight and deadly.

From the low crouch stance, her boots dug into the bark. CT-312 launched upward with the added momentum of the repulsor pack with an explosive force. Tightening the gap to his body, driving her right vambrace blade forward with the full weight of her armor and momentum behind it. Aimed straight for Kudau’s ribs.

Not to wound. But to break him.

 

[Kudau]

Kudau went for the feint, not realizing that he could no longer sense her intentions. As CT-312 let him take the bait, he realized his mistake, and as she shot off, he did so as well in the other direction,

(Wait a minute...)

She was already on top of him again, aiming a blade right for his flank.

(Why didn't I notice this before...)

He willed a charred piece of wood to knock her blade away, but as it came into range of her bracelet, Kudau lost his control on it...

"When did you..."

He started a question, but realized he would get nowhere. She was not in a talking mood.

(She's become force-dead... but how??)

His lightsaber clicked back together, quickly returning to their circular design and settling into his right hand just as he took a swing at her.

 

[CT-312]

//: Kudau //:
//: Arena, Ruusan //:
//: Attire //:
//: WEARING: Halcyon Armour | Contact Lenses | Wrist Mounted APG | Ancile Shield| Aredian Armlet //:
//: EQUIPMENT: VW 864 Maser Rifle | LK-Sweeper Shotgun | Sunshot Pistol | Shiva Knife | //:
//: ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT: 3x Ravenous Grenades | 2x Kushute Grenades //:
//: 1x Ion Grenade | 1x Flash Grenade | 1x Incendiary Grenade | 1 x Smoke Grenade //:
​

As she moved, CT-312 observed. Tracking every shift. Kudau went for the feint. When she pivoted low to his flank, aiming for his ribs with the blade. Something flickered in her periphery. A charred piece of wood. Flying through the smoke-choked air. Her gaze didn’t shift, but her HUD registered it. The wood’s trajectory curved unnaturally right toward her strike. Just as it was about to reach the blade, its momentum cut out. Dropping uselessly. Missed.

CT-312’s brow twitched. Just slightly. ‘This. Mother—’ It was the same trick again. That damned saber yanked back into his hands. But this time… something was different. She caught the subtle look of shock or realization in Kudau’s eyes. He had noticed the shift as well.

She didn’t care.

Her focus didn’t waver as Kudau spoke. He had plenty of time for words before as they were running and hiding. That time was over. Her armored boots slammed hard into the bark as another controlled burst from the repulsor pack sent CT-312 surging forward. Keeping on Kudau. Not giving him any chance to create any breathing room.

She saw his next move. Kudau combined his saber back to its circle form. Locking it into place as it landed in his right hand. He swung at her. Red light. Heat. The howl of plasma cutting through the air. CT-312 didn’t stop. Didn’t hesitate. She moved through it.

The saber screamed towards her. Fast. It felt like desperation. CT-312 dropped her weight. Ducking low as the saber’s edge skimmed across her right pauldron. Spitting out sparks. Leaving only light scorch marks. Armor unfazed. Her body was inside it, slipping beneath his swing.

Knees bent, boots digging into the wood. Another burst let out. One step. Tight and precise. No wasted motion. Her left vambrace blade drove up. CT-312 wasn’t going for the kill. Not yet. She was going for leverage.

She aimed to ram it up under Kudau’s saber arm. Locking the joint between his bicep and ribcage. CT-312 would force her body inside his guard. Crushing the distance between them. Until there was no more room to swing, no more space to breathe.

A harsh hiss escaped her rebreather as CT-312 twisted her hips. Driving her elbow towards his chest as her right blade carved up from below. A disabling blow. Shallow enough not to kill, but precise. Brutal. It would score across his flank, just above the hip joint.

Enough to bleed. Enough to stagger.

 

[Kudau]

(Chit... isn't this great...)

He had been so focused on the fact that she had concealed herself from the force that he hadn't realized that, to her, this was a fight to the death. Sure, there were timers, and ours was almost up, but she was going for the kill. She had a mission, and this was her endgame. He couldn't tell if her next blow would be the end of the fight, or the beginning of the end, but he had over committed. She was going to get the hit...

But not for free...

As the blade began to shallowly score his flank, his free hand went to her neck. If she continued with her attack up to his armpit, her neck would land right in his claws. Her armor might be able to deflect his saber on her arms and waist, but how would it protect a joint with so much required mobility? Sure, he would be without his force powers, but he was already stronger than her based on physique alone. He would certainly crush something...

Then, Kudau remembered an observation he made earlier...

(Only a few steps ahead...)

As her blade cut more of his flank, he moved his saber to reach over her shoulder, preparing to cut across her repulsor pack if she moved backwards...

She was pinned. If she continued the cut, she'd land right in his claws, risking her life, or at the very least, free strikes on her or her tech. If she disengaged, not only would her crippling strike have failed, but she'd destroy her repulsor pack, and no longer have the advantage of mobility.

This was the goal for Kudau. Get in close and go for technology. She's nothing without it...

 

[CT-312]

//: Kudau //:
//: Arena, Ruusan //:
//: Attire //:
//: WEARING: Halcyon Armour | Contact Lenses | Wrist Mounted APG | Ancile Shield| Aredian Armlet //:
//: EQUIPMENT: VW 864 Maser Rifle | LK-Sweeper Shotgun | Sunshot Pistol | Shiva Knife | //:
//: ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT: 3x Ravenous Grenades | 2x Kushute Grenades //:
//: 1x Ion Grenade | 1x Flash Grenade | 1x Incendiary Grenade | 1 x Smoke Grenade //:
​

The blade sank in. Not deep, but enough to cut. CT-312 felt the resistance of the flesh give under her blade as it dragged across Kudau’s flank. A shadow in her periphery caught her attention. Movement. His free hand. Claws out, reaching for her neck. CT-312 wasn’t surprised. 'Perfect.' In fact, it was satisfaction.

Let him try.

Her helmet shifted slightly, tracking the arc of his arm as it came toward her. The kind of strike meant to make someone hesitate. She didn’t. If Kudau thought claws alone would be enough to crack open her defense. Clearly he hasn’t been paying attention this whole time. His saber couldn’t score the armor, what made him think his claws could?

CT-312 wanted him to try. She had trained for this. She was created for this. Bled and upgraded for this.

It wasn’t just the Halcyon Armour that protected her. It enhanced her mobility as well as strength just as the combat glove underneath did the same. The Myomer Actuation System added additional strength, mobility, and protection to the joints. Designed for exactly these kinds of attacks. CT-312 didn’t pull punches. She punished assumptions.

She felt the claws hit. Not a scratch. Not even pressure. Just a dull tap against the collar of her combat glove. A weak training chop to the neck was all CT-312 felt. The artificial muscles woven beneath the armored weave of the undersuit and collar padding flexed in tandem. Dispersing the force instantly.

Repulsor pack roared to life with a concussive burst as the claws made impact. The sudden explosion of force broke the tempo. Whatever Kudau thought he was about to do, CT-312 was already moving. Finishing the cut across his flank. Her right blade snapped back into its housing. Her left hand was still buried in the crook of his arm, clenched. ‘Perfect.’ She used it as an anchor point.

With one powerful twist of her core and shoulders, CT-312 launched herself upward and over his back. Pivoting cleanly on that locked grip, swinging her body effortlessly, rotating. Her right vambrace blade snapped out again. Her left hand released. Descending now—facing his back. CT-312 drove the blade aiming straight between Kudau’s shoulder blades. Gaze locked. Driving it down. A surgical strike.

A kill line. And if it didn’t end him, it would leave him bleeding. A deep cut scored down his back, armor or not.

Her boots slammed into the bark with a sharp crack. Knees bent, absorbing the impact as she landed. CT-312 reestablished a low stance. Her balance reset instantly, weight forward. Breathe controlled.

Guard up. Eyes fixed. CT-312 was already calculating the next blow.

 

[Kudau]

(Chit...)

Kudau felt the blade score up his flank, wincing and growling, just as his claws made contact with CT-312's neck. As he tried to move her off of him, she rocketed up and around him. She let go, and he realized exactly what she was doing. She was going for the kill. She would always go for the kill.

Adrenaline hit him in an instant, the pain from the gash subsided. She hadn't staggered him. He'd bled before.

Kudau kept his wits about him, and he lunged forward and low to avoid a blade to the back. She would go for his back, not his legs. She had tunnel vision on his mortality, not noticing the little things that added up to the fight. Now, he knew that she had recently gone force-dead. She wasn't at the start of the fight, so it had to be that bracelet from the droid.

As he turned with his waist to get a low sweep from his saber, he split the saber again. With his left hand, he aimed not for her neck, but for her arm. She had already proven that he couldn't get through the armor, but the bracelet wasn't under the armor, it was exposed.

Kudau learned from his mistake, thinking of more possible escape routes. Just because he couldn't use the force on her doesn't mean he couldn't use the force at all. As he swung, he moved a flaming bough behind her, blocking any exit away from him. He kept his right hand hidden, and prepared for anything. Jumping around him again, retaliating with her other arm, pulling out a blaster, anything.

He was done with this fight. He wanted it to end, but he wanted to get one last hit in. She had shown him how the galaxy had centuries of technology, each equipped to take down people like him. He had enjoyed the lesson in strength, but was disappointed in the fact that he didn't have enough of it himself. He then promised himself to get stronger. Not to kill her, but to make sure no one could do what she did to him today...

 

[CT-312]

//: Kudau //:
//: Arena, Ruusan //:
//: Attire //:
//: WEARING: Halcyon Armour | Contact Lenses | Wrist Mounted APG | Ancile Shield| Aredian Armlet //:
//: EQUIPMENT: VW 864 Maser Rifle | LK-Sweeper Shotgun | Sunshot Pistol | Shiva Knife | //:
//: ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT: 3x Ravenous Grenades | 2x Kushute Grenades //:
//: 1x Ion Grenade | 1x Flash Grenade | 1x Incendiary Grenade | 1 x Smoke Grenade //:
​

The blade drove down hard—like a knife into a cutting board. Sinking deep into Wroshyr’s wooden floor with a sharp splitting crack. Bark splintered around the impact. CT-312’s stance barely shifted as Kudau lunge low beneath her strike. Slipping just under the kill line.

With a forceful jerk, CT-312 ripped the blade free. Shards of wood snapping upward as she pulled back. Her gaze never left Kudau. Watching him shift. Turning and repositioning. His saber swept low at her legs as CT-312 jumped. Knees tucked and a short burst from the repulsor pack lifting her clean over the arc of the glowing red plasma.

As she came down with a heavy thud, she saw it. Kudau had split the glowsticks again. Two sabers. Two lines of attack. Swinging his left saber right at her. CT-312’s HUD pinged a new warning. Movement from behind. Large and incoming fast. She didn’t have enough time to fully turn or assess what was behind.

Instincts and muscle memory took over. Her right forearm shot up as Kudau’s left saber came screaming toward her side. Bracing for impact. Sparks flared violently as the red saber struck the metal bracelet. Its cortosis based armor flickered because of its lightsaber resistance. The strike had landed, but the bracelet remained unfazed. CT-312 felt it. A sharp jolt up her arm. She clenched her teeth. It didn't break anything, but it would bruise.

CT-312’s head angled, her eyes narrowing through the visor. Her helmet display confirmed it. The unknown signature from behind was a large burning branch now behind her. Cutting off her retreat. Kudau was trying. Harder now.

A tactical trap.

‘Finally’ A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, unseen beneath the helmet. ‘Someone’s thinking.’ CT-312 respected the move. Block the escape, apply pressure, and corner the target. Shame that he’d cornered the wrong one. With a renewed sense of interest, she retracted her right blade.

Her right hand snapped inward. Fast. Rotating at the shoulder bringing her arm inside of the arc of Kudau’s swing. She twisted her wrist aiming to lock his forearm with hers and push up diagonally with fingers tightening around the wrist. With her own strength enhanced by the armor and combat glove, she would force his saber hand upward. Just enough. A tight sharp redirection. An open-hand disarm. Control the limb, control the weapon.

Her left blade arm ready to strike with the force of the repulsor pack.