Gods of the Stadium

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Well, since Jessica has bulked up quite a bit since she took part in the construction of actual prototypes, rather than simply being a back-end developer as she used to, she initially contemplated participating in the Galactic Games as a grenade thrower, but after the release of the final schedule, it made her angry. Because she had a good memory, uncommon even, it would take a lot to make her forget about this but she decided that, unlike what happened at Kuat Drive Yards, she would instead challenge that particular person who was rumored to participate in the same sport as her, despite knowing that it won't end well: agility-based events not being her thing at all. She might be able to amount to something out on the throws but that was only 3 events out of 10 the decathlon included. She decided otherwise not to hold a grudge against the Zenithians or the First Order despite being dark-sided factions to her eyes, the FO more so than the Zenithians. Plus the Zenithians recruited her initially because she was a NFU and they hated FU athletes.

"I have a score to settle with Rendili StarDrive, especially since the Egroeg drove their market share in the mobile drydock market to almost nil"

Before the actual Games began, however, she made a stop on Corulag, which was still neutral territory, hoping to carry out her vengeance on the organizing committee without otherwise wanting to cause diplomatic indicents or to carry out acts of war. She might have been vengeful, but Jessica just couldn't exact vengeance on the organizers without a reason. She purposefully lied to Charzon and to Marcia but she hoped that they won't find out, as she took off for Corulag in search for that other athlete that was set to compete in that sport.

[member="Txon Taronyu"]

 

[Txon Taronyu]

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"]
Txon was indeed on Corulag, using the neutral sports facilities there to practice for the upcoming games. He was still surprised that he had been selected for competition. Sure, he had applied, and was, because of his upbringing, a stellar athlete, but still. He wasn't much more than an apprentice of the One Sith. His command over the Force was weak to say the least, the raw power strong but control woefully lacking. In fact, that was one of the reasons he had applied. He wanted some competition where his command over the Force didn't matter, only his skill and physical prowess.

At this very moment Txon was running what he called a "suicide decathlon", where he ran every one of the events in order as fast as possible as a way to increase his endurance and speed. At a later time he would practice each event individually. First, he started with the hundred meter dash. As soon as he ran the distance he immediately threw himself into the long jump. Picking himself up he took off again, hurling the shot put ball almost without missing a beat. Immediately after was the high jump, which his predatory abilities allowed him to clear easily. He got off the pad and shot forward into the four hundred meter.

As soon as he crossed the finish line Txon was into the hurtles, which he cleared with flying jumps. After that he picked up a discus and hurled it then without missing a beat picked up a long pole and raced for the bar. He cleared the bar like an acrobat, getting up and snatching a javelin that he hurled with remarkable precision. The fifteen hundred meter hurdle was next, childs play. Txon crossed the final line, chest heaving. He grabbed a water bottle and drained it, then looked back over the field. He had done above average in all events, with the hundred meter dash, javelin throw, and long jump being his specialties.

Txon grinned as he refilled his bottle and prepared for another run. This would be a great day of competition.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Jessica was aware of the final schedule of the Galactic Games: it included just one event. Three-man huttball, for which she purchased a whole crate of grenades safely stashed inside the cargo hold of her Neimoidian Yacht. Sure, if he made the One Sith team in three-man huttball, Jessica would assuredly see him again on opening ceremony day, but if he did not make the team, oh well. The coach of the SSC three-man huttball team, rumored to be one [member="Orihime Ike"], or some other person like [member="Sabetha Tag"], just hailed Jessica over comms just before the landing sequence began in Corulag's atmosphere. There was but one role for her as a player on a huttball team: she was the one delivering the heavy firepower, a grenadier. She was the one wearing almost 40 kg of stuff on herself: a particle beam rifle weighing more than her entire suit of armor, a WESTAR Skirmisher armor, and a grenade belt capable of holding three grenades. Her body could take it during the fast pace of a huttball game, but not for prolonged periods.

"Congratulations, Jessica, you're now part of the starting three-man huttball team alongside [member="Valae Kitra"] and, tentatively, [member="Tyyni Oluja"]. The last two spots have not yet been decided"

"What's important is not winning but taking part"

The opening ceremony was five or six days from now, but Jessica feels obliged to tell the truth about her participation in the Games. That was the reason why she kept the vengeance limited in scope. She was a slow runner, and usually, in huttball, slow runners are the ones who play more of a defensive role (if melee combatants) or deliver the damage from range. If Tyyni ends up actually playing, Jessica could be the more mobile of the two defensive players, with Valae being more of an offensive tool. But as Jessica was warming up for their athletic duel on Corulag, which she intended to use as a way to let off steam before the Games began.

"All right, Charzon, I'll spill the beans. Once this Rendili StarDrive business ends, on Corulag mind you, I will head straight for Dosuun; I'm a starter on the Sanctum's three-man huttball team. Regardless of what happens next, Charzon, rest assured that I will do my best"

"Rest assured that I will have the main auditorium inside the facility back on Ringo Vinda set to broadcast all the SSC huttball games live" Marcia said.

[member="Txon Taronyu"]

 

[Txon Taronyu]

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"]

Txon continued to run his events, focusing on the ones he struggled with. This was not many, but the movements involved in shot put and discus were unfamiliar and did require some work. Javelin, running, and jumping were natural movements, honed since birth. He had an advantage over the majority of athletes, even without the Force.

Right now, Txon was alone. He didn't mind this. It was nice to have peace and quiet.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Once Jessica returned to her old fitness stomping ground as a graduate student, on the old track of the Corulag University of Economics, she chanced to meet with the athlete, and a rather athletic guy at that. She found that business graduate school was a little light intellectually but she readily understood that not everyone at the Corulag University of Economics was having the intellectual ability to keep up with her. Even though she knew just how would a decathlon would end badly for her, she still goes ahead and challenge the One Sith athlete but not without informing him beforehand as to why the challenge is issued in the first place. If she thinks she could make a better coach for the Sanctum's three-man team than this pre-teen Padawan called [member="Sabetha Tag"], then she will coach the team herself; player-coaches are common in the huttball circuit. She just wore some athletic, light clothing (but covering more skin than a bikini does)...

"By now the final schedule of the Games has been released. I am but forced to say that there will be only one event: three-man huttball. Now if the One Sith also fields a huttball team, we could meet again if you also make the huttball team. Because of the schedule changes I challenge thee to a decathlon. This here R9 droid will clock both of us"

[member="Txon Taronyu"]

 

[Txon Taronyu]

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"]
Txon sensed the approach of the woman long before she spoke. It was strange, how his Blessing told him of the approach of a person. IT was a strange feeling, like a tingle at the back of his neck. It was like his predatory instincts, yet stronger, and more directional, and each individual person seemed to have their own signature. He turned as the woman approached and listened to her speak. When she challenged him, his pulse started to race. Yes, they would compete, and he would get an opportunity to show just how strong he was, if not in open competition.

"I accept your challenge," he said, "Proceed."

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Her lack of agility was going to cost her dearly in jumps, especially the pole vault and the high jump, but thank the Force she knew about mind over matter. She wasn't by any means a Force-user but she temporarily re-framed herself on a much cleaner slate (which was not completely clean because all that remained on it was related to the throws, where she knew that all she had to do is to impart a spin on a shot or a discus before she threw either item, as she would a grenade) where she ignored her knowledge of her lack of agility, amounting to the effects of a short-term Force-roadblock. Speed was not the same as agility and she knew it. She was a titan of a lady, and the reason why Mandalorians were willing to have her become a model at some point. On the starting block, she had [member="Txon Taronyu"] in lane 4 and herself in lane 5. The track was somewhat run-down but she had no right to blame it on the track. And off she went, after the R9 droid signaled the start of the 100m dash.