Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos

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To Kill A Raven

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Nal Hutta
Glorious Jewel.

This thought passed through the Zabraks head in a mocking tone as Ferus stepped through the swampy wastes. He had heard tales on what the planet looked like before, with the Evocii ruling the planet instead of the disgusting Hutts. And yet, none of that mattered now. They, exiled from their homeworld, lived far, far away, and the planet ruled by the Hutts was just a swamp mess.

But no matter how much the man hated this planet, he had one goal. [member="Keira Ticon"] . One of the Red Raven elites and foremost mark his own Assassins had, he figured it would be a good start. There was the Pres and the VP, but he wanted to start small. Test the waters before blindly jumping into another attempt on Chiasa herself. Speaking of waters however. Ferus found himself tripping on an underwater root, causing him to stumble and almost fall completely into the swamp.

"Karking swamp. I swear, I'm gonna kill one of these hutts before I leave." He was dressed in his usual armor, but it wasn't meant for the thick aired marsh he was in. Sweat covered his red flesh, offering no rest from his anger. Red skin stained black as he continued his walk. There was an informant he was going to chat with, and hopefully use to find his target. His signature, as normal, was shrunk down beyond normal measure, as Art of the Small worked, leaving him invisible to most who weren't actively searching for him, and hopefully if the contact ended up being true, off Keira's radar.
 
Being one unaccustomed to most wild places, it was strange that Keira wasn't entirely out of her element when it came to the planet of Nal Hutta. Once before she had been on the world formerly ruled by a number of Hutt clans, on behalf of the Red Ravens no less. That had been an interesting experience, and, like many others that transpired when the Ravens were attempting to take control of a planet, she had nearly lost her life. Just like those others, she had come out alive and on top, stronger than before. And now she was back on that same planet, for reasons largely unknown to her. It could all once again be simplified down to her becoming bored or otherwise disinterested in the recent inactivity that had befallen the criminal syndicate, which was largely part of the reason she had wandered here again.

Currently she found herself seated in one of few trees that managed to grow through the swampy soil, leaning back against the trunk and looking out over what open land she could see thanks to her newfound vantage point. Unsurprisingly there wasn't much of anything to see, unless one was particularly interested in the dirty and polluted waters or muddy footing that was available when the water seceded enough to at least give one a chance of seeing where they were walking. That didn't make the terrain any more favorable, and she certainly wasn't about to go for a leisurely stroll just because she was able. This was her time to, in a way, not have to worry about attempts being made on her life every second. That didn't mean her guard was necessarily let down, but she didn't have to concern herself with every passerby quite so much. Namely because hardly anyone passed through.

Absently her lightsaber levitated above her palm, spinning slowly there, and a quiet sigh escaped her lips. Maybe having time off wasn't quite such a great idea, but she'd much rather be here, out in the open, rather than in her office back on Antecedent. Muttering a quiet string of curses under her breath in Old Corellian she brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, straightening her in her position on the tree branch. It wasn't largely uncomfortable, really. A wry smile turned up the corners of her mouth at that idle thought. Funny, she was concerned about something as mundane as that when typically she was either patrolling Antecedent or busy in her office, scanning over the most recent piece of information on Raven enemies or keeping an eye on those new recruits the syndicate had found. It was quite the change of pace, to say the very least.

Reaching out through the Force she swung her legs over the edge of the branch, quietly pondering what options lay before her on a planet that most had forgotten still existed on the larger galactic map. With another sigh she pushed off of the tree and landed lightly on her feet, managing to avoid the deepest of the water, still making a quiet splash. Her weapon found its way to her waist, and she paused for a moment before beginning to walk. There was no particular destination in mind, and she didn't have any business to attend to, something that was rare, given her position in the Ravens. Might as well take advantage of this. Whatever taking advantage of it meant, at this point. But still, she continued on. It was better than sitting in that tree and waiting for something to happen, at any rate.

[member="Darth Ferus"]
 
It was not much longer until the Zabrak found his way to his informants home. Smack dab in the center of the swamp rested none other than the hut of an Evocii. An exile and renown tracker, this man had chosen to live in hiding on the homeworld of his people. It had taken time, but Ferus had found him. Or, at least, his home. Vanto, the Evocii, was waiting for the Sith, shotgun in hand.

"You, red man, are not welcome. Turn back and leave me to solitude." The gun, simple in design, was little more than a comfort blanket for the Evocii. He himself knew it, but he had other ways to deal with Sith if it came to it. The red man however, didn't seem phased. Walking right up to the native he would incline his head, getting right down to the business at hand.

"I've come here for a reason, and I do not intend to leave without fulfilling it. Listen to the proposal, assist, and I shall leave. Agreed?" While not the most respectful tone, it was right to the point. The Evocii stood silent for a moment, but not wanting to fight he would nod once. "Fine, but after this you leave, never return. I do not like working with you red man."

"Don't worry old friend. We shouldn't have to work together long." And with a smile Ferus would walk in after Vanto, preparing himself for a new sort of hunt. He did need to find [member="Keira Ticon"] before she left this planet. Once inside, he would pull out a datapad, tossing it to the table that made up the dining 'room' if you could call it that. "This woman is Keira. She is on this planet. I need you to find her."

Something rather unique could be seen by the man with blue eyes. Vanto, an expert tracker, was not just a physical one. As a computer hacker, rare for his species, he could follow the holonet to try and find targets. Or major defense systems on Nal Hutta. It wasn't hard for the Evocii to find Keira enter one of the major cities, and even which direction she left before she dropped off the grid.

"From what I can tell, she is close, possibly in this swamp. I do not know for sure, but given a little more time I could find a better location." Ferus only nodded to the native before moving towards one of the smaller windows. Blue eyes focused on nothing, but a shadow of a smile began to form.

I found you.
 
There were certain sixth senses beyond even the Force that were developed only after years spent living in an environment as dangerous and volatile as one that encompassed the entirety of the criminal underworld. One of them was the peculiar feeling of being watched. Not by any particular entity, but simply the feeling of another observing without express notice. And as with anyone else, it put her on a bit of an edge. There was no determining who the individual was, no remedy via the ethereal to leave her at ease. Things never worked quite so easily, contrary to popular belief. This would take a careful hand, and she would have to determine things on her own time, hopefully before whomever was pursuing her chanced to reveal themselves. At the very least she wanted to know exactly what she was up against. The rest was merely semantics.

Even those not well-versed when it came to methods of tracking another were wise enough to know which surroundings made them more of a challenge to detect, and Keira was no exception. It was specifically why she had chosen the swamps over what other more hospitable venues awaited in the cities which all but covered the planet. With the number of people that had good reason to want the Red Ravens wiped off the face of the galaxy, including the Sith themselves, none of this should have come as much of a surprise. But she was counting on her probable adversary being a bit more intelligent than that. It was difficult to survive for any amount of time among criminals if one wasn't always anticipating an attack in even the most unlikely scenarios. Sometimes a bit of paranoia was a good thing.

That, however, didn't mean she would allow her routine to be deviated, however much of a routine it really wasn't. So she continued walking, left hand remaining close to her saber hilt, fully prepared to ignite the weapon at a moment's notice. The Force itself was something she trusted in to provide any necessary warning, but even the most failsafe methods had their tendencies to fail. Her primary senses remained in just as high an alert, but she didn't go out of her way to pay any careful attention to any particular detail. It wouldn't do well to jump at every shadow or stray creak of a branch. If someone was to attack her, they may as well get on with it. Either a fight would come eventually or it wouldn't, but she didn't have much of a patience for simply waiting around in that moment of limbo.

Had a bounty been posted on her head that she was of yet unaware of? That was entirely a possibility. But she had a feeling this individual transcended far beyond the capabilities of your average, run of the mill bounty hunter. No, something more than that was required to truly stir any Force sensitive. In her life before she had encountered a Mandalorian on the battlefield, one who had finely honed his craft to the point where he was able to stand on equal footing with the Masters she had happened upon during other times. But there was something different, subtly so, about this one. It was in the very atoms of the air itself, a slight twinge that withheld something new. It was that which had her uncertain of her surroundings. It was also that which had her ready for another fight, another challenge.

This new opponent, however unknown they were, required a healthy respect of their abilities. And still she was confident in her own, perhaps overly so, as was her tendency most times. Come on. Don't keep me waiting.

[member="Darth Ferus"]
 
"I uh.. I think I have a location on where she might be." Vanto suddenly broke the silence that the Zabrak was contemplating in. Blue eyes turned towards the Evocii, with a brow raised in an unspoken question. There was a gulp from the tech tracker as he looked from Ferus back to the screen. "Not far, perhaps ten, fifteen minutes running at your speed. But I don't think she'll be there long, if she's even there at all. You may run into her on your way there, or she may be else where. If you let me get my gear, I can accurately track her in the woo-"

The mans voice was cut short as he suddenly felt pressure on his throat. The red man slowly lifted the native from his chair through the force, holding up a single hand. Ferus had what he needed, and now Vanto was nothing more then a liability, knowing he was here and who he was here for. With a quick close of his fist and a loud snap, he would drop the now lifeless body onto the floor of the small hut.

Without looking back the red assassin would step from the once ally's home, setting it ablaze with his own purple flame. There would be nothing left as he walked away, going right for where [member="Keira Ticon"] was last seen. He found his prey's trail, and found her scent. Now, he just needed to find her. And when he did, he hoped she would be ready.

Otherwise, the catching wouldn't be as fun as the chase.
 
That sixth sense nudged at her subconscious with a firmer prod, Watch your back. Habitually Keira let her left hand drop to her lightsaber, slowing her pace and letting the Force search for any adversaries where she might have through other methods. Someone was close, that much was obvious, and their intent was far from anything friendly. This would bring another fight, that much was certain, one of a deadly sort, not that the ones she found herself in were anything different. Either one or neither of them would walk away from this, and she would at the very least give things a fighting chance. Never did she make an easy mark, least of all when her enemy was another sensitive, and likely Sith at that. After all, if they had been a Jedi, this confrontation wouldn't have come so close in the first place.

Through the Force a sudden wave of malice emanated, this one due to the death of another sentient. That was an unmistakable hint that her pursuer, whomever they were, was nearby, and closing. Pinpointing the exact location of such was something she didn't bother to do. Knowing the individual was nearby was enough, and she halted in her progress across the swamp, turning to face the predicted direction this particular enemy would be coming from. Still her lightsaber hilt remained in her hand, unignited thus far, there to help her maintain her calm, if nothing else. It was a weapon she was capable of wielding with deadly efficiency, despite what her outward appearance may have hinted at. It was only a matter of time before this fight came to a decidedly confrontational beginning.

Soon enough the man came into sight, and she remained nonchalant, watching him with a glint of something akin to curiosity in her amber gaze. From his skin pigmentation, even with the absence of any visible tattoos or horns, she guessed Zabrak. His aura through the Force was still untraceable, the bright, piercing blue of his eyes giving no indication as to his alignment, though she would guess him to be a darksider at first glance, and second or third as well. Once he was within earshot and well within attack range as well she thumbed the ignition button for her blade, its vibrant orange snap-hissing into existence. It was an unspoken yet blatant threat, one almost daring him to make a move. "This isn't any way to make introductions, Sith." That little moniker was wholly intentional on her part.

[member="Darth Ferus"]
 
As if all of his hopes had been answered Ferus found [member="Keira Ticon"] before him. Waiting for him. Blue eyes lit up with joy as he slowed down, stopping a good ten feet from her. The swampy land below him began to solidify, allowing him to stand easier as he watched the girl. She could probably feel it from the distance they were at, he simply heating up the ground to dry and solidify it. Slowly that very same heat would transfer to his body in the form of a purple flame, licking over his form as if he was made of the fire itself.

At the familiar snap-hiss of a lightsaber however, those very same blue eyes shifted downwards, looking over the orange tint. He smile only grew wider as he looked over it's burning edge, ever happy at this sort of confrontation. At first, he did not respond, simply grinning like a fool as he looked at the saber. But if she noticed, his eyes were focused, too much, but not actually on her blade. A tree past her, one he was slowly changing from a tree to something explosive, to use later on if he needed it. It would take some time, so if she chose to attack him now, he wouldn't be able to finish it.

But instead, he chose to finally speak, to stall for time till he could finish his little trap. Never once did his eyes flicker from what he was doing, yet his voice was clear as day, as if he wasn't distracted.

"I had to find you some how. It's not easy you know, you're good at hiding."

Hurrah for multitasking.
 
This was someone like her. However much Keira would deny it, he took the same joy from combat that she did, enjoying the feeling of imminent death that such an environment brought on. Never did one feel more alive when the possibility of their life ending hung over their head reminiscent of a guillotine seconds away from dropping its blade on those unsuspecting. It was something an individual like her quickly adapted to, becoming used to that feeling of being beyond death, or anything in the tangible realm, once the fight progressed so far. The glint in his ice blue eyes foretold of the same longing for a similar match, one that would test both of their limits until they were beyond even the thought of giving in. It was a line she herself had crossed many times. Doing so once more was nothing.

Steadily she watched him, amber gaze unwavering, carefully noting how he seemed focused on something just beyond her. That foretold an attack brewing, and she was smart enough to know that a makeshift distraction was one of the only ways to go about preventing an ambush. With that knowledge came being perfectly aware of what he was capable of. Despite what she might otherwise think, he was a capable fighter, and one not to be underestimated. That meant her typical strategy wouldn't be quite so effective, or work in the least. But she hadn't survived so long and through similar confrontations for no reason, just as she was sure the same went for him. The only thing such a thing meant was that things would drag out far longer and with a less favorable outcome.

At the purple flame that flickered across his skin she raised an eyebrow but otherwise didn't comment. Pyrokinesis was an ability she had experience with only through her mentor, but it had been enough to know that she didn't want to experience such a thing again. Already there was evidence of such on the side of her jaw, a minor burn scar that webbed across the flesh there, only visible in a certain light. But that one time had been more than sufficient. His use of fire meant that he would be left with an unquestionable advantage when it came to ranged attacks, something she didn't excel at to begin with. There wouldn't be any way to avoid that facet of things, and she didn't intend to back down because of it. It would just have to be compensated for, as with anything else of that nature.

Until that moment she had neglected to respond to his comment, silently assessing her newest opponent. Thus far he hadn't shifted a step, something that gave her every cause to be wary. "It doesn't seem like you had any trouble. You're a big boy, you figured it out all on your own." Droning through the air her blade spun once, the movement absent, intended more so as a distraction than any real offensive. She would have to figure something out, and soon, before he finished his little side-project. Throwing caution to the wind she let her lightsaber fly, the arcing plasma blade coming inches from his throat before she pulled it back into her hand, the entire movement taking less than a minute. "If you're going to try and kill me, hurry on with it. It's rude to keep a lady waiting, you know."

[member="Darth Ferus"]
 
The flame continued to lick over his form, harmless and more of a show. His skill with the flame wasn't as good as many thought, and using it at this range would be useless for him. No, his fire was a close combat ability, used to quickly overwhelm what he could. But that wasn't the issue at hand. Despite his focus on the tree behind [member="Keira Ticon"] , he had opened his mouth to respond to her just as she sent her saber at him. This focus was broken instantly, and he bent over backwards in an effort to let the blade pass harmlessly over his form.

Except it didn't make it that far. As he stared upwards waiting for the orange blade to go over it quickly became apparent that her goal wasn't to kill, but simply distract. An annoyed frown took over his features as he slowly got back up into a standing position. He loved combat, he loved the deadly dance that it was. But he knew and accepted it wasn't a game. When you go at someone, you go with killing intent or you die.

And she was toying with him. Rather than responding he burst forward, the Force he had used for both his flame and his side project now channeling into both his body and blade. He sprinted carelessly for her form, but before he even got there he brought up his blade. Swiping it through the air the force built up in it would release, sending forth a wave of the Force splitting the air before it. It was a quick blast, perhaps with the cutting power of a vibroblade, but with Ferus's sprint before hand it moved at a much faster pace than he, rapidly closing the distance. It was a initial attack, being used to test his opponent before he himself would get there.
 
It seemed that Keira had somehow touched a nerve with that attack that didn't quite connect, though she couldn't exactly make herself care. Yes, combat was something to be taken seriously, but things got boring if you couldn't relax at least a bit around them as well. Besides, the throwing of the plasma blade was meant as a distraction rather than anything even remotely successful in its intent, and it had served its purpose. Contrary to what he might think she was capable of being a focused and perhaps even deadly opponent. It would have been impossible for her to survive so long given the life she led if she didn't have some sort of combat prowess. And practice was always easier to find when one of the major galactic superpowers decided they wanted you and yours out of the picture permanently.

Telekinesis was something she had experience with, and next to lightsaber combat it was the ability she took the most time to perfect. As such she noticed his strike almost as soon as it was initiated, a cutting blade of Force energy released towards her at a speed that was nearly too fast to comprehend. It was best to counter, or so she'd learned through experience, with something of a similar manner. Drawing on the Force she leapt over the attack, sending out a wave of energy to hopefully dissipate the final shockwaves, twisting in the air to land behind him. Acrobatics were something she favored, an indication of her favoring the form of Ataru. Offense had always been her best defense, for better or worse. With the adversary she was facing this time, things chanced to deviate.

Spinning on her heel as she landed she turned quickly to face him, not bothering with any flashy displays or formal stances. That wasn't her style. Instead of immediately attacking as she typically would have she waited, content to allow him to exhaust himself before she made one offensive move. It was something that would have surprised those who knew her better, but she had grown in the time since she'd been an apprentice. Unpredictability was her closest ally at this point, and she wouldn't allow herself to fall into any sort of rhythm. It was best to keep him on his toes, given the power he was capable of wielding. Not giving him a chance to truly exploit it was her best option at the moment, and one she would abide by. If only the Ravens could see her now.

"Alright, come on. For real this time."

[member="Darth Ferus"]
 
Never once did the Zabrak stop his charge for [member="Keira Ticon"] , even as she chose to leap over him. A small smirk formed over his face as she pushed off the ground. Not because of some trap, or some hidden agenda, but simply because it was a sign. A good sign of the duel to come. It was clear to him right off the bat which form she was using, as it was the only form built around such leaps and movements, and without pause he would act.

As she went over him the air around him suddenly surged in heat. Without warning, the female would find herself leaping into a blazing inferno of purple flames. Unlike the female, who seemed content with going on the defensive, he was more than willing to press the attack, or at least he would if he wasn't surging forward. Force Speed kept him going right under her, most likely as she intended, but he too would leap up. Doing a simple flip, he would once more send another wave of the energy from before her way with a vertical slash midair. This one would be much slower as it didn't have his own speed backing it, but he would twist himself to land on the ground below, his heels digging into the dirt to stop his own momentum.

Ataru wasn't just her form in this situation. Long, long ago when the Templars still ruled CIS space he was the fifth sword of the Seven, a group dedicated to mastering each form. A duel between two using this same form would be very, very interesting to the Zabrak. Once more his grin grew wide as red skin turned black.
 
It was plain that he was giving her a choice, though it wasn't much of one. Her choices were limited to jumping into a literal inferno or finding some way to divert the path of his telekinetic blast. Like anyone else Keira opted for the far more sensible of the two, calling on the Force to create her own rift in the flames, separating the fire with a concentrated burst of energy. While it wouldn't allow her to avoid the fire completely, it made for far less devastating injuries, superficial burns rather than anything immediately life-threatening. The second strike was something she had to compensate for, letting it carry her, slowing her descent with another well-placed telekinetic surge, flipping backwards to land on her feet, sliding to a stop and slowly straightening.

A beat passed, her lightsaber flying into her palm, snapping into existence once more. Okay, so maybe remaining passive this time around wouldn't work quite as well as she'd imagined it to. This wasn't a Jedi she was fighting, but someone who was just as intent on emerging the victor as she was. It would have been a refreshing thing, had her life not currently been on the line. And it seemed he favored at least some aspects of Ataru, his flips and twists sufficient example. That was a new one. Typically her opponents had either chosen a far more defensive style, or one marginally more aggressive, such as Juyo. To be evenly matched in at least one small facet, though there was no telling of his exact skill, was something she hadn't imagined.

The change in his skin tone didn't go unnoticed, but when nothing immediately transpired she wrote it off as nothing worth noting, at least for the moment. Her biggest concern was what her next move would be, and it was that strategic thinking which took up the majority of her thought processes. Releasing a wave of the Force intended for his lower body, knocking him off his feet should it connect. If he was going to use long-range tactics she would do the same, at least until he chose to actually fight her blade-to-blade, though she wasn't sure how much she would prefer that over how things were currently unfolding. She hadn't come too close to death thus far, so she couldn't complain about anything at the moment. But she had a feeling things would soon become far more up close and personal.

[member="Darth Ferus"]
 
Within the beat, the Zabrak had thrown himself forward to [member="Keira Ticon"] . She was inventive in ways he hadn't expected, namely riding the wave instead of blocking or evading. A shiver ran down his spine as he gripped his blade. She was an oddity, and oddities tended to test him more than any other. His form sped off, much faster than he had before. Black skin was a tell tale sign that the Dark Side was flowing free within his body, fueling his actions.

Her blast came forth, aiming for his legs and threatening to send him face first into the dirt. With his charge, he couldn't simply jump less he ended up where he didn't want, so he went with it. The blast took him out by the legs, causing a grunt to escape him as he fell to the floor. But he turned with it, his saber off and he rolling on the ground. His legs smarted, but it wasn't enough to impede him at this point. Without even getting back to his feet the red man ripped across the ground, using his feet after the roll to spring forward in a force leap towards Keira.

A snap hiss filled the air as he suddenly twisted, spiraling for her chest with his blade turning with him. He had essentially become a spiral of golden furry carving through the air for her chest. Now was the time to get up close.
 
A connection had been made with her last attack, but it seemed to have done little in the way of making things difficult for him. Just as she had done he didn't resist the energy, allowing it to take him where it would and simply redirecting his strategy. That tactic, however, only seemed to assist his next move in being all the more difficult to redirect or otherwise avoid. Maybe the Sith aren't all talk. There wasn't much time to devote thought to that aspect of things as he came flying towards her, and she managed to duck beneath, flashing her blade up to strike out at his hopefully exposed abdomen. Even with his weapon shifting as his body did, she was counting on it not being able to absorb the entirety of the strike. At the very least she had managed to get out of the way.

It was her own counter that needed work, and she surmised that something more complex, or at least harder to turn to an advantage, was necessary. The same strategies wouldn't work twice, and she knew better than to attempt to throw her saber once he regained his feet. The blade was nothing short of her life, and giving it up would only hasten her defeat and likely death. Her only viable move would be bringing things far more up close, which could just as easily bring the fight to an instant end. There wasn't any other way for her to bring completely to bear her abilities in lightsaber combat, with the two forms she utilized. With the talent he'd proven she knew the chances of things working out in her favor were slim, but it wasn't worth anything if she didn't try.

Just as he had done she drew on the Force to augment her speed, darting towards him seemingly recklessly, blade held in a loose grip. Mere seconds before contact would have been made she shifting to the side a minuscule amount, just missing making full contact, striking out in a flash of orange towards his back. It was a movement she had utilized in the past, preferring the far more underhanded maneuvers and disregarding those deemed more refined. Proper swordsmanship did little in the way of winning fights, and even less when it came to preserving life. He could think what he would about how she chose to exploit her talents. Already she was regarded in a less than favorable light by most, and this wouldn't change much of anything.

Turning on her heel she quickly found her balance, one side of her mouth turned up in something resembling a crooked smile. He fought using the same unorthodox matters as she. This was only going to get more interesting.

[member="Darth Ferus"]
 
His spiral of an attack did little for defense. The Zabrak, turning with his golden blade, may as well be a drill as he spun through the air, but it was he could not viably stop her strike. The Sith's saber would clash against her own as he spun, slowing the blade just enough that it only burnt though the back of his own light armor, and a layer of skin. The smell of burnt skin would be apparent, and as he once more landed to face [member="Keira Ticon"] , he could feel it. This burn wasn't enough to take him out, but it smarted enough to cause a light twitch on his face.

The twitch of a smile.

With his songsteel armor now ruined from the attack, he would shrug off the jerkin without hesitation. It was just a vest after all, and it left his torso bare for the world to see. More specifically, the Raven to see. His body was marked up and down with scars from battles long past, each an example of his prowess in a fight. He was a hunter, bred and trained to kill, and now he found himself a new target.

Ataru was the stance he had first used, but now it seemed he switched it. His form burst forward with a speed similar before, but his footwork was deliberate. Calculated. As he closed in, his golden blade raised up in a single hand for a quick thrust for the female's chest. This wouldn't be the end of it however, as he brought the blade back to go again, and again, unleashing a flurry of quick thrusts aimed at different parts of her body. Her head, arms, legs, and even her chest once more were targets of his thirsty blade.

All the while his free hand was kept behind his back unseen, with the force building up within it.

Joy was no longer apparent in his form. His mind seemed to be blank, save for the one thought of death or spilling blood. He would kill her, and he would take her saber as a trophy, and her body to create a monster. Such was what she earned.
 
The scars that snaked about his abdomen did little to deter her, as she had plenty of her own to match. They only reinforced the knowledge that this was a formidable foe she was facing, one that had seen just as many battles, if not more, and lived to tell the tale. That he chose to fight bare-chested spoke of high skill, and perhaps a certain sort of arrogance to accompany it. It was that Keira could match him in as well, with the latter often eclipsing the former in situations such as this. Outmatched she was, but common sense and stubbornness both wouldn't allow her to surrender her life so easily. He would have to work for that much, just as she had to do the same in order to inflict what was, at the end of the day, a rather superficial wound. Whatever upper hand it gave her was slim to none, but it instilled in her a confidence that was premature.

Hardly any time was allotted to savor that minute victory before she was forced into the defensive, his strikes coming at such high a speed that they were nearly impossible to block. Gold met orange in a shower of sparks that disappeared with the next breath, the dance of plasma always one misstep away from a fatality for either opponent. Stepping back to avoid one of the jabs at her chest, the edge of the blade slid across shoulder and collarbone, burning the skin there much as it had his, eliciting nothing more than the barest flicker of a grimace. Just as quickly as the pain blossomed adrenaline and the Force both rose to quell it, urging her that there were far more important tasks to concern herself with than a wound that would only distract her with its quiet fire that sluiced through the nerve endings there. More important things were at stake than her physical appearance.

Another swing at her head came, and she ducked, lashing out towards his legs with a sweep kick, wasting no time in finding her feet and cutting towards his side in the next second. With no preparation she pulled the Force into her hand, sending out a telekinetic pulse meant for his chest. His own drawing on the energy field had gone unnoticed, her attention elsewhere, not central or focused enough to note such a minuscule discrepancy in the tangled web of the ether. "Why attack me, out of all the Ravens? I'm the one best suited for fights like this. A rather inconvenient target, if you ask me." Then again, he'd already shown himself to be more than skilled enough to take someone like her on. The relative difficulty seemed to mean less than nothing to him. And the challenge was something she enjoyed.

[member="Darth Ferus"]
 

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