Hot Start (Training: Varian)

[Mauda]

The Rupture​

Skism​

​

Less than a mile from where he stood was a fracture in the ground stretching along almost half the planets surface. At the bottom of which lay churning Tectonic Plates and masses of molten minerals. The Upper Mantle of Skism itself. The environmental stress was a fitting introduction to the Inferiex Process, Orex though as he waited. He had come here only moments ago having been dropped off by The Myrkur. For now, he was alone. Surrounded by thick heat, ash, volcanic rock and fields of lava.

Slowly, he kneeled down atop the ash covered hill he found himself on. Heat from deep under the surface punched through his knee-cap armour and gripped the flesh underneath, but Orex ignored it. Looking out over the geological Chaos before him, he inhaled. His vocoded breath emitting a distorted rasp while the heavy, hot air poured down his throat. With the subsequent exhale, Orex closed his eyes and contained himself.

The co-ordinates he had given Varian gave him the location of Skism. A planet not hidden, simply un-visited. He now called out to his new apprentice, across the void of stars, and awaited him on this hellish landscape. How long he took did not matter. Boredom was beyond Orex as he fell deeper within his head, entering a chaotic peace, gazing into the violent void.

[member="Varian"]

 

[Varian]

Luke had considered the situation considerably. His decision to go was not done lightly, but it was done. He arrived on his own, though it was known where he was going, and who he was going to, he was not to be disturbed. The meeting was set, and so he was on his way. Somewhat eager, but quite cautious. He arrived on the planet in full armor, and stepped off his ship, to where he was called.

Unlike before, Luke felt free to allow his senses in the force to flow. No longer on mandalor, there was no rule about his use of it here. So he could feel Orex's presence much more strongly, much more directly, and was willing to search the very area around him as he walked to the man who had offered him the opportunity for even further growth.

"Well then, I've made my decision. The risk I believe, currently, is worth the possible outcome. So I have come to learn." He said simply. There was no need to draw it out in some philosophical greeting, Varian was fine for flair, just didn't feel like doing that right now.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

https://soundcloud.com/paraplun/lorn-drawn-out-like-an-ache

Muffled footsteps on the ash behind him pulled Orex from his almost comatose state. His exposed eye opened and he took a deep breath. He stood to his feet and turned to face Varian.

"You will learn. The only risk lying in your ability to overcome."

Orex walked over to Varian, pushing through the intense heat and kicking up small clouds of ash around his boots. His dark cloak and armour was motted in dashes of ash, blanketing the faint stains of blood from his endeavours. He stopped short of Varian and stared directly into his eyes, allowing that within his Mask to behave freely and tug on the roots of his life. He looked him up and down, admiring the Mandalorian craftsmanship that clad his body, similar to what clad his own face.

"You are well accustomed to Strength. Strength is what wins your wars, settles disputes, keeps you going. The strong survive, the weak die out. Strength defines what Man you are, gives you confidence, presents you as greater to the eye of the beholder."

Orex began to disengage some of his armour, piece by piece.

"The opponent hits us, we retaliate with greater strength and prove ourselves superior. We hit back harder. We hit hardest."

Orex popped a shoulder pad off and dropped it to his feet, then another, then moved on to his Chestplate.

"Strength is a primitive thing. It's true value reserved for semi-sentient beasts and backwards tribes. But aren't we all? And so it still persists in a Galaxy filled with the most advanced science and civilisations. It is unavoidable."

Orex dropped his chestplate to the ground and tore the upper half of his cloak to shreds. His bare torso revealing a maze of scars. Lashes, blades, scratches, permanent bruises from heavy impacts and hundreds of pockmarks from blaster bolts stopped by nothing but his raw anger. Ash began to settle on his pale flesh, adding black to his body like the paint on his face. He kept his lightsabre hitched, alongside his secondary and stepped closer to Varian. He placed his palm on Varian's chest and felt the Force weave in and out of his bones. But that was not the idea. Orex pulled it more to the surface and blanketed Varian's armour, infecting every intricacy. Every bolt, plate, soft-point and weave. It was what he specialised in, and its usefulness never escaped Orex. Orex then flexed his arm and pulled back, wrenching the top half of Varian's armour with it. Plates and Pads flew past Orex and landed with myriad muffled thuds against the ash around them.

"Are you Strong? Or are you just Mandalorian?"

With that, Orex booted Varian in the chest with angered power. He then posed a combat stance and stood waiting.

[member="Varian"]

 

[Varian]

Varian's own armor had already gotten a bit of the ash covered onto it. He watched as the man began to speak, removing his armor piece by piece. Luke immediately began to prepare himself for a fight, his body's muscles twitching to get moving, not out of anticipation, but out of preparation. Varian considered removing his armor, but he was not told to, not yet at least. So it remained. He stood calmly, thinking on the following moves.

The man was covered in injuries and marks, as might be expected of someone who was dedicated to growth, though not proof of it, When Orex placed his palm on Varian's chest plate he knew something was up, the man before him was a force wielder, numerous possibilities flooded his mind so he kept himself aware, and his hands already near enough his blaster that he could draw them at a moments notice, at this range, it was almost impossible to miss the eyes if necessary. In a moment his armor was torn from him and Varian instantly entered a readied stance, his face not changing from a neutral one.

As the question was posed and the kick came, Luke held up his arms, but turned with the kick, in order to let it slide off his arms and miss his chest. As he was turning he would go to grab the leg with both hands as it passed, put his torso above it and wrench in the direction of Orex. The intention was to pull Orex's feet out from under him, land on his chest, while holding the kicking leg in a pulled position across Luke so that he could pull or jerk it any direction necessary.

He didn't like speaking while fighting, not in active combat, so his words would come out more from a grunt then a clear response, "Any Mandalorian who is truly weak, is not a Mandalorian at all." He knew he stood a poor chance here, he could feel the strength that the kick would have had behind it, and he had already seen shows of the mans power. Which meant he'd have to go through this with all the more effort, even with the freedom to use his mind.

While this would occur, he would attempt to passively perceive the thoughts of Orex. Not aggressively, not forcefully, only to get pieces of what his intentions were. The one skill beyond mere awareness he had managed to come across was this, telepathy, an ability to perceive the thoughts of others without their knowledge. And in particular, their intentions. It may or may not work, while Luke had practiced it it was done off world and quietly, and he did not know the power of Orex so was not going to rely on it in the slightest to try and win the fight. But it sure would help.


[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

Varian stepped and grabbed Orex's leg as it passed. Before he could react, Varian had pulled and offset Orex's balance. So much so, Orex dropped to the sweltering Ash, the heat piercing his flesh, burning it given enough time. Orex avoided using the Force for the time being. The fight would be pitifully unfair and so he kept it balanced, only using what he had developed naturally. Orex had his leg trapped but with Varian on his chest, he reached up with his charcoal hand and gripped Varian by the throat. He twisted over, put the force of his body behind his arm and slammed Varian into the ground. On top and with a free hand, Orex sent a backhand across Luke's face.

"Then show me Strength. Show me that primitive drive that holds you Mandalorians together"

Orex gripped Varian's throat tighter and clenched his free hand into a fist, moments away from delivering a series of punches.

[member="Varian"]

 

[Varian]

Orex clearly had skill as well, managing to twist them around to the ground and send a backhand across his face while going to choke him. he knew just how long he could last without breathing, that was plenty enough time to make a move. With one of Orex's hands already being used he could reach out his other to catch Orex's hand sending punches and push it to the side to bring it to the ground and Orex closer where his other hand could swiftly launch forwards towards the mans throat in a swift jab before he twisted his legs around to grip Orex by the neck with his right leg and attempt to shove his face into the ground nearby, which would put his arm in an excellent position for a joint lock so he could push up against it. Putting as much force into each action as he could, which was quite a bit.

He would respond to the challenge of showing strength, if there weren't a hand on his throat, and if he wasn't as actively invested in this fight as he was. He couldn't risk speaking in this fight. Not this close together.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

With a fist prepared, Orex gazed down at his opponent. In a blink, his hand had been pushed aside and he found himself in a leg-lock, face first in the burning ash. Having been jabbed in the throat, Orex had to decide between regaining breath, or getting his face off the Ash. He chose both. He twisted his disadvantaged arm around, splayed his fingers and a released a meager push to throw Varian away and put distance between them.

With Varian off him, Orex pushed himself to his feet. Ash clung to his bare face, now red and burning. He faced Varian, again in a combat stance.

"This is not Mandalore. Let that tool they worship flow through you. Feel it, excite it. Anger it and use it to defeat an opponent in the face of great odds. Destroy me with what powers you."

Orex felt it necessary to move on from primitive dueling. He wanted Varian to learn of what lives within him in an adequate environment. Facing an opponent who could kill him, surrounded by heat and stress.

[member="Varian"]

 

[Varian]

Luke quickly re-stabilized himself after the force push taking a readied stance almost immediately with a low center of gravity, watching as Orex spoke to him. He flicked his arms against his shirt just enough to keep the stance but get off the still hot ground that was rather unpleasant, but which he otherwise refused to acknowledge. Orex Prompted him to use his gifts, the power he had. So Varian went for what he knew, the mind.

He reached out towards Orex's own mind attempting to force his way in, attempting to fill it with fear and pain, while Varian himself began to move forwards letting his body grow more active, letting his heart race and emotion reach his head but not control it. He didn't know many skills. Just some very basic ones. This being one of them. Whether it worked or not, hopefully it would distract Orex enough, that Luke could reach out with the force with a free hand and attempt to jerk the man towards him to preform a swift practiced kick towards Orex. It was weaker by far then what Orex would be able to do, but Luke had not had as many chances or training to practice it.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

Stood before Varian, Orex waited. He was slowly allowing anger to seep into his veins. Slowly accelerating that powerful wrath. His bare flesh flexed as rage poured over him, spots of ash slowly melting away tiny patches of skin.

"Orex"

His eyes glazed. His focus on Varian disappeared, and Orex looked nowhere. The whisper of a man long forgotten passed his ear. Orex's stance began to relax as Anger was replaced by a penetrating sadness. His clenched fists began to open.

"I tried... I tried."

Orex clenched his jaws as the heat of the world around him dissipated, washing over him instead with a cold.

"Where are you, Son"

Orex began to mutter, but was swiftly pulled off his feet. He returned his focus as an armoured Boot collided with his chest and stopped him short, cutting off his breath and briefly suffocating him. Orex dropped to his bare back, landing with a muffled thud and kicking up a cloud of Ash. Wrenching himself from the recesses of his mind, Orex was immediately flooded with rage. Numbed suffering left him and was quickly replaced with double the anger. Orex leapt to his feet and dragged Varian into his grip. Throat in hand, his charcoal hand clenched around his student's trachea. A brief moment passed, Orex stared not at, but Into Varian. His only exposed eye bloodshot and focused.

Orex sent his Masked head cracking into Varian, followed by a punch powered with rage. He lifted Varian and threw him down upon the ash. Throat still in grip, Orex's body was shivering. He stared into Varian for a moment longer, broke the gaze with a final punch to the nose and released him. His vocoded breath was fragmented and panting. He stood straight and took himself a few steps. Having come to a halt he turned around to face his student.

"Good. Infect the mind. Seed fear, pain, anger. Manipulate your opponent. But did it work? No. I would have killed you for what you did."

Orex returned himself to Varian, stopping himself just a step in front.

"What powers the Dark Side is precisely what you fed me. You penetrated my mind and infected it with Pain, Fear and Sadness. The very emotions that those like the Sith pride themselves on controlling. What you did was feed the fire, and you felt the consequences. When in combat, you must know your opponent better. Darksiders. Sith, myself, many others. They are a fire, a raging inferno. And their oxygen comes from within. When against a Fire, you must cut off what they feed on. Wrench their anger and their pain from them and leave them a helpless husk with a lightsaber. And then destroy them. If you cannot do this, fight Fire with Fire. Return their tenacity tenfold. When they strike with anger, retaliate with Wrath and prove yourself superior. Soon you will exhaust them. You have chipped away at the solid exterior to expose the weak interior. Then, destroy it."

"Those of the light are different. Instead of a chaotic fire, they are a powerful river. A Waterfall. They are a Tree Trunk, stood firm against the Darkness with Peace and Harmony as their fuel. Boil the water and the tree will fall. Seed their minds with what they stand against. Infect them with fear, sadness, pain. Force them to confront themselves and cut down what ensues. Take away the Peace, replace it with Chaos, and the light fails."

[member="Varian"]

 

[Varian]

Luke's attack had worked, at least in some sense, unfortunately. It had also had an unfortunate side effect of making Orex ever so much more angered. And with it. The headbutt he could withstand, it was shocking, but he'd had worse. He did his best to bring up his arms to block the punches, though they had a lot more power behind them and his arms weren't armored. Painful but it didn't cause any serious damage.

Eventually Orex threw him to the ground where Luke would take a breath in blinking rapidly realizing he'd had held his breath. He shoved himself of the ash while Orex was speaking, listening. Luke was thinking too much from the perspective of someone looking at the force as any other weapon, forgetting it had a more emotional side to it then just its effects. That emotions were what Orex took advantage of.

From how it sounded, his choice was a terrible idea against a dark sider unless he could kill them right then and there. But a good choice against a Jedi. He nodded solemnly in thought, rubbing his chin, "I see, I'll have to take the different methods of the force into account." he said, "Out of curiosity, you use the Dark Side, but do you do this because it's the strongest, or because you're strongest with it?" he asked.

He wasn't so sure that the Dark side was any stronger then the light, or that there was really much difference at all. It was all the force right? The difference was how they used it wasn't it? At least, that's what he thought. He didn't want to have to try and feel anger each time he used the force, he'd rather be able to use his anger when necessary, but be able to be his normal self under most circumstances.

Still, he'd seen Orex's power, and while he was no greedy person, it was certainly something he wanted.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

[member="Varian"]

Orex inhaled and for a moment, heard those whispers again.

"Either spectrum can be considered as powerful as each other, though they both employ different things. As to why the Darkside is my tool..."

Orex looked down at the ash at his feet while he reached out towards the lava fields nearby. Slowly, he pulled an oscillating orb of the molten rock towards them.

"Lava is a dangerous substance, and remains as such in an environment that keeps it hot. But remove it from such an environment.."

Orex opened his fist and dropped the orb to the ground near them. The ball sank, spreading slowly. Gradually it lost its colour and its movement slowed.

"..And it will turn to stone. Useless"

Orex looked back to Varian as the Lava hardened and stopped.

"Life has taken me down a different path. One that The Dark Side benefits. For me to exploit the light would be like dropping an inferno into a river. This plays the most significant part, but our environment has a hand. This Galaxy is brutal. In a constant state of Chaos we see warring parties as a part of daily life. But especially as my student and, soon enough, a Man with a role on the Galactic Stage, the Dark Side will be the superior tool. Those of the light use it for harmony and peace. They enter battle with quiet mind with their real objective not to destroy their opponent, but to maintain peace. This extends beyond themselves as we have seen with the Jedi. As a Jedi you are taught to avoid conflict, push for diplomacy. Use the Force for self-improvement and your Lightsaber as a last resort. In today's Galaxy, these ideas hold no ground. The Dark Side is raw power. It is the embodiment of strength and tenacity, and that, will serve you best."

Without breaking eye contact, Orex flicked his wrist and snapped Varian's Tibia. He turned away and looked towards a massive glow in the distance. One that stretched seemingly forever.

"We stand near what is known as The Rupture. A gash in this planet that exposes so far as the upper Mantle. The Heat it produces is immense."

He turned back to face Luke with his final words.

"You will die here, and nothing the Light offers could save you. Feel it. Your pain. The knowledge that your death is at hand. Feel it and let it anger you. Dig down and access your recesses. This is what will keep you alive, enable you to walk. Enable you to Survive."

Orex dropped a datapad to the floor near Varian and began to walk away.

"There is a defunct Geothermal Plant fifteen miles from here. I will be waiting."

Soon, he descended the hill they were on and disappeared into the fog of ash.

 

[Varian]

Luke was pretty sure he'd heard different things about the different sides but he wasn't going to argue about it, he felt no particular reason to do so, Orex clearly had power and knowledge, both of which Luke was searching for. He was willing to follow his methods so long as they did not corrupt or control him. Luke watched the lava as it fell to the ground and grew to stone again, then glanced at the lava river as Orex continued to explain and speak, coming back to face him halfway through.

Only after he did, Luke's leg gave out, and as it did so did he let out a shout of pure pain as his tibia broke and he dropped to the ground. Gripping his leg in pain, the dirt and rocks slid away from him in his pain, but he did little else. Gritting his teeth and focusing, breathing deeply, keeping himself calm by nature. That was what you were supposed to do with most injuries and dangerous situations, even if you felt emotion, you controlled yourself.

He looked up at Orex with a furrowed brow and gritted teeth as he continued, watching as the man walked away. He narrowed his eyes, reaching out, pulling his armor to him. He would not be leaving that here, and just as important as the rest, his jetpack. It might not get him all the way there, but better something then nothing. His breathing was still heavy, and he was till on the ground, his arm starting to burn and breath hot against the ash.

Breathing quickened and there was a bit of a shudder as he sat up, holding his leg in place. Under normal circumstances, he'd head back to his ship, the simple way. His Jetpack could probably get him there. But that was not why he came here, he didn't come here just to prove he knew of other ways to success. He came to practice the force, even if the means of training did leave him with other options.

So he did as he was told, he reached into his heart, into his soul, felt the pain, focused on it. Determination filling every bit of his being, he was going to make sure that Orex understood that even if he had other options, he'd still make it. He breathed in, standing up, he gripped his left hand. Focusing on his leg, focusing on the bone itself, holding it to itself. Every step was agony, but he refused to give up. Every minute felt like an hour of its own, but his will would last an eternity.

Even so, every few minutes, Luke would use the Jetpack, boosting him into the air and taking him a bit of an extra distance, resting his body and focus he had been exerting to keep his leg in place. Each time he did it it was filled with moments of extreme pain when he would take off and land. But better moments of pain then constant.

Finally he could see the Goethermal plant, his jetpack was almost out, it only could get him so far which was barely even a fraction of the distance he'd just had to cover. He decided not to use it. He was so determined to show his will, he kept his helmet off, a face of mere determination. Refusing to show the fact his leg was split, the only sign of it a clenched left fist that he was using to help him focus on the force using his pain, keeping the leg in place as he walked. Not even willing to let himself limp or show a single sign of injury.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

It had been hours. Orex stood on a catwalk within the plant, watching the horizon out of the clouded windows. These buildings had been abandoned when himself and his fledling Empire arrived. They introduced high-energy reactors to the S'kiss of this planet which saw them quickly switch their dependancy. Some still ran, operated by droids for auxiliary purposes.

Varian came into view. His face stressed but steel. He was walking straight. Very straight. For a man with a severed shin-bone, he was performing well. But Orex would soon test such limits. He remained on the catwalk as Varian approached, watching as he entered the plant. Orex called down from his place on the Catwalk.

"Impressive. Against significant odds you have fought to live. But The Emergence has a demanding future. As a Mandalorian and an Emperor, you will be faced with insurmountable stresses."

Two P1 Droids came from the darkness of the dead plant, armed with only their fists. Even without a balde or gun, they were formidable opponents with the muscle fibres to back it up. Orex threw a Vibroblade down to Varian as the P1's took their places in front of him.

"This Galaxy is ruled by our opponent. What we do is frowned upon and so you will never run out of enemies. The Dark Side overrides the hindrance of disease, crippling or near-death. Destroy these droids, or have them destroy you. Use of yourself what you must."

Orex watched as the Droids entered a combat stance, preparing to launch their assault.

[member="Varian"]

 

[Varian]

Luke looked up, breathing carefully as Orex spoke from above. He let out a groan as the droids came out, they weren't armed. And normally, that would make this and incredibly easy fight. However, his shin had been snapped, and his jetpack was almost out of fuel. He caught the Vibroblade that was thrown down to him as the P1's prepared and Orex spoke again. speaking of how the dark side would beat the destruction of the body.

He breathed in, letting his hand unclench but remaining focused on the pain, keeping his leg in one piece internally by refusal through pain. His eyes opened and he let out a snarl as he embraced the darkness for once, but did not give into it, that he would not do. In spite of his leg, he was the first to move, dashing towards one the blade would reach out coming up at a 45º angle from the right side intent on splitting the droid from bottom left torso through upper right shoulder in one swift and strong slice, and then using his jetpack to just barely burst him back and out of the way to prepare for the next assault, his blade held carefully stretched out, in such a way that the droid could not reach him if it came closer, as it would doubtlessly hit the blade first.

His mind was focused on two things, his pain, and the battle.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

Clasping his hands behind his back, he watched as the Blade came down, overcoming the first droid's block and carving through its shoulder. Orex felt the energy that maintained his leg. It stood out like a sore thumb when compared to Varian's adept Force Sensitivity. What he was doing would certainly help him, but these Droids weren't simple. The brain they were equipped with learnt fast and so Orex would be disappointed if they didn't manage to identify and begin countering what tactics he was using soon.

The First remained where it was due to its physical disadvantage while the second paced forward. With a dash, it closed the distance between itself and the blade. Once close enough it span and kicked the vibroblade with intent to push it out of the way. Without the blade directly between itself and its enemy, it would charge forward and attempt to tackle Varian.

[member="Varian"]

 

[Varian]

Luke was not going to let his mind lose attention to the battle, and so when the droid attempted to slap away the blade, a tactic he was not unused to due to the typically very durable gloves the Mandalorians used, he simply spun while dashing backwards to keep in line with it, bringing the blade back around and then moving upwards to attempt to slice it from lower torso and directly upwards through its chest and into its head if he could. He was not going to lose so easily, even with his split leg which was causing immense pain, he refused to fall in such a simple manner.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

The Droid's leg spun but the blade moved along a similar line, out of the way. Only to be brought back immediately after and sent carving up the middle of the Droid's torso. Damaged, it fell back to its partner. Having identified the high-risk nature of attacking individually, they returned to Varian together. One navigated to Varian's left while the other came to his right. In relative sync, the left attacked his legs with a kick and the right sent a powerful punch towards his face. Orex continued to watch the fight unfold with an eager eye, ever impressed by Varian's ability to maintain himself still. It was no minor feat for a man without practice and suppressed by his planet.

[member="Varian"]

 

[Varian]

Varian looked up at Orex in thought for a moment as the droids began to move forwards together this time. He breathed in, he wasn't looking at either one directly, rather using his peripheral vision to see them both, he moved back and to the left, approaching the one on that side, as they tried to approach and surround him, against someone who was inexperienced it might have been a sound tactic to try and surround him, but it doesn't work so well if they know how to counter it with their own offensive measure. This meant when it came for his legs he was prepared, using his jetpack again to lift him into the air swinging the blade not towards the droid infront of him, but bringing him backwards spinning the blade and stabbing it directly towards the head of the one attempting to punch his face. Had it been in the position it might have intended, it would have been too difficult to avoid both easily. But by closing in on the one on his left, the one attempting the punch took more time to actually make it's move.

Fail or succeed as he would land, the jetpack bring him another few feet away and having to grit his teeth again as he landed and stepped backwards he would reach out with the force in his right hand, focusing on the necks of both, and attempting to lift them with a clench of the hand, trying to wrench their heads off of them while going to lift them into the air. It only was potentially so powerful because Varian was progressively more accustomed to the use of his pain and frustration to empower his abilities, and this was a simple enough move. So long as he wasn't interrupted in his attempt. But as they didn't have ranged weapons, it was unlikely he felt unless another came into the battle.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

Orex caught Varian's eye briefly. He suggested no emotion to his student as the Droids approached him. Such facial features weren't a far cry from how he felt. If the droids overpowered the disadvantaged man, he would die. And Orex would be done with him. But he was fighting, and he was fighting well.

Varian out-maneuvered the pair's simple tactics. They had likely identified his broken bone and simply attempted to overpower him in a brute form. In a spinning motion, the droid intent on a punch took a blade to the head, suffering critical damage to its brain. The other however, was as yet untouched. Yet he did not reach Varian before he landed a few feet away. With the distance between them, Orex was curious as to what Varian would now employ. A curiosity soon satisfied as Varian reached out.

Here was where Orex took interest. He felt the pain and frustration pouring from his hand. The Force, tainted by his pain but strengthened by his frustration. This, was what Orex was gearing towards. The only fully functional droid now left slowed. Orex felt Varian's grip around its head and watched carefully as the droid fought it. Lumbering forwards, fighting against the hindrance Varian was imposing on it. Grinding toward him it tried desperately to close the gap in time. But to no avail. The nanotubes sheared and the electronics within its neck sparked and tore. Soon, both droid heads were wrenched from their sockets and left hovering.

Orex did not smile or offer any sense of appreciation, he simply stood, and watched.

[member="Varian"]

 

[Varian]

His strategy had been a success, thank goodness, he allowed the sword to stop its activation for now, breathing in and out carefully. His leg felt like it was going to kill him on its own. He looked at the droids, shoving them to the side with the blade, the heads away from the torsos. Why exactly he did it that way he didn't really care. Just instinct perhaps.

He leaned on his uninjured leg, looking up at Orex. He showed no signs of emotion but that of someone who was absolutely determined and pushing through. He did not acknowledge the injury to his leg as either good or bad to the overall goal. It was after all incredibly painful. In truth, he simply didn't know what he should do about it. How he should feel, aside from the pain.

So he waited, watching Orex to see what it was he would do next, the sword still prepared to activate if necessary. His leg still held together only by the force and pain involved. A refusal to let it slip away, not only because that would be more painful, but because that would feel like weakness. Like he had simply given up. And that was not something Varian was willing to go with.

[member="Orex Mauda"]