Private Unseen Omens

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

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She had underestimated his speed, that was her mistake. Her reaction time had been cut short, it was not as easy to move on the floor and he had the upper hand now. As if this alone hadn't been enough, Gerwald's attack was not something she would have foreseen. A punch, a kick...the variables she had contemplated did not include being stomped on - but that was exactly what was going to happen if she did not find an out. Palm had a feeling there could be enough strength behind that move to shatter her shoulder.

Out of reflex, her hands shot forward, and for a second it seemed as though she was about to use the Force to push his foot away. Palm had felt the tug at the back of her mind that told her to do it, coupled with the instinct to avoid damage. Before it could happen, however, she caught the foot with her hands - the muscles in her arms, chest and core engaging the task of keeping it from reaching her. Her expression creased into a frown as she struggled against him. Palm too possessed a deceptive strength because of her species, otherwise doing what she did would have meant injured hands on top of an injured shoulder.

Her strength began to increase as her focus on the Force changed from her initial intention, drawing on it to enhance her own attributes. Her golden gaze met Gerwald's, easy to do from the position she was currently in, determination shining behind them. So far, they had only talked about what she could not do - it was now time to show that that did not mean she didn't have aces up her sleeves. Palm had wanted to avoid using the Force during this sparring match, but he was pushing her - and she was unaware that he would probably continue to do so.

Once her grip on his foot was strong enough, Palm attempted to sharply turn it inwards hoping to guide his body out of balance. If it succeeded perhaps she'd finally be able to make him fall - but at least it would hopefully give her enough time to get back on her feet and ready to attack again. The familiar surge of the Force flowed through her body now, senses made clearer because of her tapping into the very thing that connected all, fatigue lessened and strength and speed increased. Palm still didn't believe she really had a chance at winning this - but she was diligent and steadfast, even if she now knew he would not shy away from harming her.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

He could feel her struggle, and the moment she reached out to the force. A smirk formed on Gerwald's face as he thought he may have won. Certainly she would not continue to resist when he threatened her so. Gerwald Lechner could not have been more wrong. He had prepared himself to be knocked back by the force, but instead his ankle was caught in Palm's arms. She pushed against them, exerted her strength, and used the force to make herself stronger in order to defend herself.​

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The smile faded as he realized what was about to happen.​

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Her movement was swift. As she turned and pivoted, Gerwald was forced to as well. She moved in such a way that Gerwald would not be able to land on his feet or maintain much of a balance. He would have to let himself fall. It was the strategic thing to do if he wanted to avoid getting hurt. Such a maneuver could have been used to break his leg had the woman he was fighting wanted to do such a thing.​

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As she released, Gerwald fell. His reached out with his arm, as if he was going to use it to brace the fall. Rather, as he neared the padded surface a small wave of force energy was released, launching Gerwald back to an upright position. He would be met with Palm face to face now. She had wanted to buy time to get back onto her feet, and she had accomplished exactly that.​

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Gerwald faced her with his arms upright, and bent at the elbows. He assumed a fighting stance once more, though he did not move. He sized her up once more, hoping he could find a way to force her to use the force for more than a defensive thing.​

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"I almost had you there," he said allowing his intention to be known. "You may call me cruel if you like, but I intend to push you past your doubt. It is time for you to accept the one thing you already know to be true in the deeper parts of who you are."​

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Using the force to enhance his speed, Gerwald ran toward the woman. Leaping into the air, a large booted foot would be seen coming right for the woman's face. There would be little time to react.​

 

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

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Cruel?

Palm's gaze remained firmly locked on him as the single word resonated in her mind. She would be lying if she didn't acknowledge that a part of her flared up in defiance at learning of his intentions to push her into a position that would leave her no choice but to use the Force - it was basically a request for her to forsake that which she still believed in despite the doubts. It made her angry, but for some reason, that anger was not precisely directed at him, nor would she call this cruelty. There was another part of her that did not allow her to call it that, because perhaps in some way it was in agreeance with the lupine.

Her hands were also up, fighting stance engaged and ready to face off against whatever he decided to throw her way. Yet she couldn't find the temperance that she usually held. Normally, Palm would have allowed his words to slip away and focus on what she did best - fight with the tools that she had and could use and do it well. Like few could. But she knew that would not make the cut this time. She was reassured of it as soon as she saw a kick aimed at her head at a speed that was by no means normal - lupine or not.

She could feel the air get stuck in her throat as she zoned in on the attack, Gerwald was not holding back and going for attacks that could very well cause serious damage, perhaps even kill her if she lacked the skill to at least take the brunt off of them. And she knew he would continue to do so. That anger she couldn't understand completely transformed into intent, into a different, opposite kind of determination than the one she had held previously. She was angry mostly at herself, at her own indecisiveness, something that had never plagued her before. Now a conclusion had been reached.

He wanted her to use the Force against him. Her Order sometimes allowed certain uses of the Force on others so long as there was consent - limited only to telepathic communication or to protect. This couldn't be much more different, right? She knew that was just a comfortable lie rather than a truth, yet now the awareness of the irony in that almost managed to feel more freeing than guilty.

Pushing herself to her limit, her forearm came up to collide against his shin - but it never did. Deflection through the Force, as she had explained before, was allowed and something she was remarkably good at. What was forbidden to her, however, was what followed the blocking. Palm stepped forward, out of the way of the blocked kick, and her eyes seemed to shine brighter for a moment as her free hand moved, bidding the Force to crush and push against his other leg in a third attempt to break his balance. Now closer to him and regardless of whether her push had been strong enough or not, the hand that had been locking his kicking leg into place released its grip on the Force before turning into a fist and shooting forward - aiming at the Lord Marshal's jaw.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

Perhaps she did not want to blame him for his cruelty, but Gerwald had intentionally made the decision to push her to break her vow and loyalty to the order which she belonged to. The lupine had not wanted to see her hold herself back. Her order had refused the most basic of tools when it came to fulfilling their mission. Palm was now part of the Knights Obsidian. Gerwald had already made up his mind before the fight had begun. Now he was simply seeing if she had what it took to see this decision through.​

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Gerwald felt the force shift right before his foot collided with an unseen wall. He had no choice but to land, and as he did, the force could be felt wrapping around the leg which kept him solid on the floor.​

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//CRACK//​

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He screamed as a loud snap echoed in the room.​

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In the next instant Palm's fist connected with Gerwald's jaw which sent the lupine down flat on his back.​

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Looking up to the woman, Gerwald started to laugh. It had been a long time since someone had managed to knock the massive lupine on his back with such relative ease. Had Gerwald not been pushing her to do it, it likely would not have happened, but where Palm might expect him to be upset or angry, the wolf was pleased.​

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"Feels good doesn't it..."​

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The question was leveled between Gerwald laughing and reaching for his leg as the pain surged though his whole body. Pleading eyes looked up to the woman.​

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"There is a kit over there... on the wall. Grab the bacta shot will you... umm after you help reset my leg."​

 

[Palm-Imer]

Location: Knights Obsidian HQ, Naboo.
Weapons: The Wraith Blades.
Tagging: Gerwald Lechner

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A sickening crack - and a piercing scream.

Palm's ears ringed, her eyes widened and time seemed to slow down as confusion set in. By the time her fist connected against his jaw it felt as though she was not even controlling the movement of her own body. But then the beast of a man came lumbering down, and as soon as her gaze focused on him once more - realization dawned in on her. What the hell had she done?!

The next time she moved, immediately after Gerwald's back hit the floor, she did so even faster than she had ever moved during their actual fight. She knelt at his side, eyeing the broken leg with knitted brows and an expression that was currently contorted in a mixture of regret, guilt and...surprise - before her golden eyes glided up to his face. One of her hands carefully reached for his jaw, needing to make sure that the bone there had not broken too and feeling an inkling of relief at finding out it was still solid. "Feth. I'm sorry, Ger."

Then he spoke and...laughed. Confusion seemed to flood her all over again, sending him a shocked look. Her thoughts running a mile a second, she stood up and quickly got the first aid kit from the wall, bringing it over before returning to her previous position. "I just broke you leg and you are happy you proved a point? Are you crazy?" There was no hiding the apprehension and absolute worry in her tone even if it she had tried to sound firm. This had not been her intention at all, she had gotten caught up in the spur of the moment - and she felt terrible about it.

After inspecting his leg once more, she got ready to set it back. "I'm really sorry, this will hurt." She didn't need to say it, he knew that, but it was the nerves talking for her. She had not wanted to hurt him, certainly not like this at least. Palm only gave him enough time to breathe in, knowing that this things were better to get over and done with in one swift, hard motion that brought the bone back into its proper place as far as she could tell. She was no medic, but all Ambassadors knew enough about field first aid to get by. After all, they were more often than not on their own. Right after that she applied the bacta shot.

She also grabbed a bacta patch and reached forth to place it on his jaw, it would keep it from swelling up. Now that that sudden adrenaline spike began to descend, Palm took another once over of him as if still fearing he had injured him more. However, now that she was not almost panicking, his laughter was sort of contagious, and a shy and still very much guilt-ridden smile stretched her lips. It did feel good, in a way - even if she now felt absolutely awful about the result.

"Please tell me your kind heal easy, I feel terrible."

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Palm-Imer

"Do not apologize. I pushed you to it."​

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Gerwald grinned. In her panic she had not used his full name, and the Lupine was not about to explain the irony of that. Only those close to him had ever used that form of his name. It was the first a relative stranger had. Were they strangers though? One did not spar as they had and walk away strangers. No, they were allies, maybe even friends.​

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"Of course I am happy. I did what I set out to do. You said that your order did not permit you to use the force against others, but that if your life were in danger you would do what was necessary. I tested that theory, and you did what you needed to do. Now tell me... it wasn't hard to do was it?"​

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At least the lupine could admit he had done what he had intentionally. He was not going to hide his intentions from the woman. She was too smart for him to do that, and he respected her too much. She had tasted a little bit of independence and freedom.​

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She would get her chance with pay back when she reset his leg. Palm warned it would hurt, and it did. Like a good warrior she set to the task right away. There was little time for Gerwald to ready himself for the swift pull which would bring his bone back to its right place. He smiled once more as he laughed through the pain.​

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Palm applied the bacta, which Gerwald could feel working right away. He would give it a few minutes to work before shifting. He would heal better as a wolf. What would take a couple days with bacta would only take one night as a wolf.​

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"Yes, but not like this. You should turn away."​

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It was the only warning she would have before Gerwald would begin peeling the shirt from his torso, and kicking off his boots. Provided that Palm complied that would be all she would see before the sound of bones cracking filled the room. In a few seconds a wolf lay where Gerwald once had, with a small bark, got onto its feet and began to hobble out of the room toward his quarters.​