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Panna
Oct 12, 2005 10:44:50 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Oct 12, 2005 10:44:50 GMT -5
She continued her momentum off the parry, moving behind Lenna. Staying on the offensive, she delivered a series of withering blows. The battle ranged all over, each seeking an opening in the other's defenses. Parry, thrust, swipe, dodge, step step, feint, turn, cut, drop, spin, step. The whirl and clash of the lightsabers entranced the duelists until their entire conciousness was consumed in each movement. Tanda's movements were reinforced each moment by some unseen energy. Her eyes grew nearly as pale as her blade, which was night unto transparent. Suddenly, she found an opening. Making use of her advantage, she spun her blade in a left feint...Lenna bit. While the streak of white flashed left, Tanda's blade was already headed for the right-side calf. Touch. A short, clean burn. First blood.
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Panna
Oct 12, 2005 11:54:33 GMT -5
Post by Alameth of the Iron Fist on Oct 12, 2005 11:54:33 GMT -5
Blast. Lenna shoved down the pain. She was regretting beginning this duel left-handed. Time to be unconventional.
Code Orange. She grabbed Tess's lightsaber with the Force and ignited one end as it shot toward her outstretched right hand. Tanda attempted to intercept it, but Lenna spun the orange blade toward Tanda and backflipped, catching the hilt midway through.
Concentrate. She'd seen old holo-vids of Anakin Skywalker, before he became Darth Vader, dueling with two lightsabers. She knew how he must have felt; she had two blades to use, but that required double concentration. She closed her eyes, let herself see with the Force.
Left. Right. Up. Drop! The impulses came almost faster than she could act on them. The orange and white blades spun faster, faster, until they were merely a blur of near-blinding light. The crackling clash of one blade on another grew louder. Lenna paid no attention to the sights or the sounds. Eyes still closed, her entire concentration was on sensing Tanda's every move, anticipating, blocking, looking for any pause in the action. That pause finally came, and Lenna took the offensive.
Her eyes were open now.
Open and flaming.
She ignited the other end of Tess's lightsaber and disengaged her own, tossing it vaguely toward Alek. Her blows came fast and furious now, spinning the lightsaber this way and that; but Tanda matched them.
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Panna
Oct 12, 2005 15:48:06 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Oct 12, 2005 15:48:06 GMT -5
Tanda held her ground now. Standing, defending against the shattering attack that was now set upon her. The tide had turned with the addition of another blade. Still, it increased her chances by some. Lenna was unsure, under her fierce exterior. That, and she had resorted to an unusual and somewhat dishonorable trick. She chuckled, the sound lost amid the clashes. Her opponent was gambling with a double-edged sword. Thrum, whoosh, crsshh... The blows came in a sort of rhythm, a pattern. She began to recognize the pattern, to take advantage of it. With a double blade, you could only attack so many ways. The blade came up, the other edge spinning across. Hardly had it gotten across when it flipped and the other end came down. Sidestepping the downswipe, she stepped level and then beyond Lenna. As she moved, she swept her blade away and behind in the direction of her opponent. She felt her arm slammed aside by a parry. Just in time, she dropped to the floor to dodge a counter. She came up in a spiral, her leg shooting out to perhaps catch a knee or two while her blade stuck out level, to mayhap catch Lenna on the dodge.
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Panna
Oct 13, 2005 7:26:28 GMT -5
Post by Alameth of the Iron Fist on Oct 13, 2005 7:26:28 GMT -5
Lenna jumped back, disengaging one of her orange blades as she went. C'mon, Len, fight fair. Despite the exertion, she wasn't breathing hard. Yes, sweat was positively pouring off her, but her breathing was quite normal.
Now she was on the defensive again. Nevermind pain, nevermind sweat. Defense was her element. She centered her focus on Tanda's face. The expressions revealed there disclosed thoughts...she saw impending triumph, exhiliration at the fight.
Lenna ducked under Tanda's thrust, spun so she was behind her opponent, brought her blade toward Tanda's neck.
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Panna
Oct 13, 2005 17:29:24 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Oct 13, 2005 17:29:24 GMT -5
Tanda felt it, rather than saw it, and hit the deck again, just in time. She rolled to her back, parrying a downward blow. She waved a counterstrike as she launched herself back to her feet. She still had the offensive momentum, and her attack gained speed. The blade was very difficult to pick out now, appearing as more of a forcefield between Lenna and herself. She had finally clicked in to her element. Her jaw was set, her eyes blazing. She was driving Lenna back, step by step. Lenna was beginning to give quarter... But no, don't recognize it. If she had been thinking coherently, she would have been telling herself to focus. As it was, she just forced her body to comply. Body, mind, soul, and sword combined to form this perilous being.
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Panna
Oct 25, 2005 11:46:16 GMT -5
Post by Alameth of the Iron Fist on Oct 25, 2005 11:46:16 GMT -5
Lenna let Tanda take the advantage for a while; she needed the time to focus the adrenaline. They say the eyes are the window to the soul, and what Lenna saw in Tanda's eyes was desperation. Lenna concentrated her energies on parrying Tanda's blows, with an occasional counter-strike thrown in just to keep Tanda off-balance.
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Panna
Oct 26, 2005 20:46:02 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Oct 26, 2005 20:46:02 GMT -5
Tanda saw the casual air of Lenna's movements. Something was amiss. She's toying with me...wrahh! We'll see who toys with whom! Tanda launched an attack in earnest, driving Lenna to the edge. Every swipe, every move was a feint that was intended to bring Lenna's blade in a particular parry. A true attack effort was only made every 7 advances of the blade or so. Everything else was manipulation. Any semblance of desperation was driven from her eyes as she let hot-blooded anger take a grip. She channeled it and forged it to her will, making her a renewed and unwavering source of energy and agression. The perfect scale of fight and flight had been tipped. She was the huntress for now.
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Panna
Oct 29, 2005 19:07:48 GMT -5
Post by preachpeanut on Oct 29, 2005 19:07:48 GMT -5
Unnoticed by the crowd watching, Derek Octuri, his stealth generator activated, stood in the shadows cast by the parked X-wings, watching the sparring match with interest. His ship, which was hidden somewhere within a five mile radius of the base, had escaped notice since the two Raider scoutships had demanded the personnel's more immediate attention.
Right now, as he watched Lenna and Tanda fight, Derek attempted to puzzle out some certain critical items on his mind. For instance: What was he doing here? Why wasn't he on Coruscant? The last he knew, he had been practicing lightsaber techniques in a training room. (not that he was very proficient with a lightsaber for a Jedi) and now he was on a planet he had never been to in his life.
The second, in some respects slightly more pressing question, what was he doing in black robes? He always wore blue, as far as he knew, black was for dark side Jedi.
He shrugged mentally and turned his attention back to the duel. As long as no one saw him, he would be all right.
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Panna
Oct 31, 2005 10:38:26 GMT -5
Post by Alameth of the Iron Fist on Oct 31, 2005 10:38:26 GMT -5
Lightsaber still carving patterns in the air, Lenna saw the figure in the shadows. She wondered what he was doing there, where he hadn't been a moment before. She turned a bit more of her attention to him than she should have, and Tanda took advantage.
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Panna
Oct 31, 2005 12:47:12 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Oct 31, 2005 12:47:12 GMT -5
She pounced, seeing Lenna's attention focused on a figure she sensed in the shadows. Using a burst of force energy, she imprinted a hurried thank you on his mind. Flashing her saber back and forth on the plane of Lenna's peripheral vision, she drew a heavy parry. As soon as the motion was committed, she flashed downward with her blade. She struck Lenna on the thigh with enough force to make her stagger. It only required a small burst of air pressure to tip her over the rest of the way. Tanda stood above her counterpart, bladetip on Lenna's sternum. "Surrender."
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Panna
Oct 31, 2005 13:43:55 GMT -5
Post by Alameth of the Iron Fist on Oct 31, 2005 13:43:55 GMT -5
"Death first!" Lenna was able to keep a serious face for a matter of seconds. The mirthless facade broke, and Lenna rolled about the floor in fits of laughter. Finally, she stood up. "That was fun!" She bowed to Tanda. "My thanks."
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Panna
Oct 31, 2005 20:37:44 GMT -5
Post by preachpeanut on Oct 31, 2005 20:37:44 GMT -5
Derek sighed quietly and took off his stealth field generator. "And what was I just telling myself?" he muttered. Oh well. The belt was kind of old anyway.
Suddenly, he felt, rather than saw, someone coming toward him. He spun to his left, just in time to see Tess reclaim her lightsaber and spring at him. Reflexively, he took out his own saber, powered up the ice blue blade, and parried her attack. "Tess! What's gotten into you? It's me, Derek."
Tess just growled incoherently and sped up her attacks. Derek, a mere novice with a lightsaber, was just barely managing to parry them, much less make any offensive move. Wonderful. My baby sister is trying to kill me, and I don't know the slightest reason why. he thought.
Using the Force, he backed quickly away from his apparently deranged sibling and put up a forcefield around himself. Then he switched off his lightsaber and waited.
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Panna
Oct 31, 2005 21:49:18 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Oct 31, 2005 21:49:18 GMT -5
Tanda bowed in return, not quite comprehending the laughter. Adrenaline rushes did that...she got deathly serious. Literally. By 'Surrender', she had really meant 'Surrender or die', and only her friendship had saved Lenna's life. "Well met, my friend."
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Panna
Nov 2, 2005 17:52:12 GMT -5
Post by Alameth of the Iron Fist on Nov 2, 2005 17:52:12 GMT -5
Lenna saw the flash of confusion on Tanda's face, and chose to ignore it. She swiftly strode to confront Tess. "What are you doing?!"
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Panna
Nov 3, 2005 13:25:28 GMT -5
Post by preachpeanut on Nov 3, 2005 13:25:28 GMT -5
Tess had given up trying to break her brother's shield, at least for the moment. She glared at Derek as she answered Lenna. "The last time I saw him, he had turned to the dark side." She addressed her brother. "You betrayed all of us! You told them where the weak points were in the defense system on Manaan! You"--and suddenly she clenched her hands into fists. Her anger had become so great that she was blind to everything, including the confused, surprised, and hurt look on Derek's face.
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Panna
Nov 4, 2005 12:42:06 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Nov 4, 2005 12:42:06 GMT -5
Tanda looked on in relative confusion. It was best for her to stay where she was and not interfere. There was too much adrenaline coursing through her veins for her to think wisely.
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Panna
Nov 7, 2005 13:00:25 GMT -5
Post by preachpeanut on Nov 7, 2005 13:00:25 GMT -5
Derek stared in disbelief at his sister as she turned her back on him. He had went to the dark side? He searched his memories, beginning with taking his leave from the mobile medical unit on Tatooine to arriving at the academy and practicing with his lightsaber--and there it seemed he hit a wall. He blinked in confusion. Since when was part of his memory blocked? He looked at the woman next to Tess. "I can't remember going to the dark side. All I know is that I was on Coruscant and now--I'm here, wherever here is."
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Panna
Nov 7, 2005 13:20:54 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Nov 7, 2005 13:20:54 GMT -5
Tanda stepped forward, realizing how she could help. "Sir, if I may offer assistance..." She paused, realizing that she had touched this man's mind uninvited; a grave offense in most circles. She bowed deeply, flourishing her still-lit lightsaber. "My apologies for touching your mind there a moment ago. But I was wondering if you wished for me to remove the memory block. I warn you that it will likely not be pleasant, for most blocked things are blocked for a reason. But I can help you, if you would desire it."
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Panna
Nov 8, 2005 8:20:30 GMT -5
Post by preachpeanut on Nov 8, 2005 8:20:30 GMT -5
"No offense taken." Derek thought for a moment. Then he went back to the mental block and pushed on it gingerly. It was strange, foreign.
In other words, he didn't put it there.
With a start, he came back to reality and spoke to Tanda. "I'd like it if you'd remove it. It wasn't erected there by me, but someone else, and I want to know what they're trying to hide."
(oops, wrong person)
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Panna
Nov 8, 2005 12:05:50 GMT -5
Post by Thenin on Nov 8, 2005 12:05:50 GMT -5
Thenin, who until now had been sitting quietly unnoticed, came forward. "Do you consider that a wise course of action? IF he speaks the truth, it might do more harm then good to remove a mental block placed by someone else." Thenin's fierce gaze took in the company. "Even so, I think that this base is now to open for us to stay here. If it is as Tess says, that her brother turned to the dark side, he could have been sent."
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Panna
Nov 8, 2005 12:08:09 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Nov 8, 2005 12:08:09 GMT -5
Tanda smiled. "I can do that. You'd better settle down a bit first, though. Let's all head back to the officer's suite. I've got clearance for it, and it's probably deserted this time of day. It's a touch more comfortable there...and more private." She shot a coy smile back at Kerik and began to lead the way. He hurried up even with her and took her hand. "I'm going to need some extra strength, Kerik. Can you help out?" "Sure. Just tell me what to do...you're the Jedi warrioress." "Uhm...actually, I noticed something while I was offworld. I could touch your mind. I couldn't do that unless part of your mind was reaching back....I think you have either a Jedi lineage or instinctual Jedi powers." "Oh," Kerik was silent for a while after that. Tanda could understand; it was a hard thing to take. As neat as Jedi-ness was, it was also a very big responsibility.
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Panna
Nov 9, 2005 8:22:40 GMT -5
Post by preachpeanut on Nov 9, 2005 8:22:40 GMT -5
Derek and Tess fell in behind everyone else as they headed out of the hanger bay. Tess, who had recovered control of her temper, sensed the turmoil in her brother's mind. She tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. "Hey, you."
Derek turned his head slightly so Tess entered his vision. "What?"
Biting her lower lip, Tess felt her face redden. This was going to be an awkward apology. "When I first saw you--I--I'm sorry."
Her sibling shrugged. "I forgive you. I really can't blame you though, in a way. It kind of does look like I came from the wrong Jedi academy, doesn't it."
With those words, Tess knew for sure that Derek didn't know what had happened. It was a relief in one way to know he hadn't come there on purpose to betray the base, but on the other hand, she suddenly felt dread. How is he going to react? Maybe Thenin was right. That mental block would be best left alone.
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Panna
Nov 14, 2005 19:08:27 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Nov 14, 2005 19:08:27 GMT -5
OOC|| I'm just a-waiting for Alameth to do something, seeing as how she's not contributed much of late.
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Panna
Nov 15, 2005 7:13:44 GMT -5
Post by Alameth of the Iron Fist on Nov 15, 2005 7:13:44 GMT -5
Lenna followed, waiting to see what would happen.
OOC|| There, how was that?
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Panna
Nov 15, 2005 12:03:05 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Nov 15, 2005 12:03:05 GMT -5
OOC|| Cheater.
Tanda followed the maze of corridors, trying several doors. Surprisingly, many of the Officer's common rooms were occupied. At length, she found an open room. She sat down on a couch and waited for the others to file in and get comfortable.
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Panna
Nov 15, 2005 15:13:42 GMT -5
Post by preachpeanut on Nov 15, 2005 15:13:42 GMT -5
Tess and Derek filed in and sat, both ignoring the various chairs and couches and instead chose a spot on the floor out of the way of everyone else coming in.
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Panna
Dec 12, 2005 12:55:35 GMT -5
Post by preachpeanut on Dec 12, 2005 12:55:35 GMT -5
{OOC: Is someone waiting for me?}
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Panna
Dec 14, 2005 6:05:23 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Dec 14, 2005 6:05:23 GMT -5
OOC|| I'm waiting for...something.
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Panna
Dec 17, 2005 21:57:16 GMT -5
Post by preachpeanut on Dec 17, 2005 21:57:16 GMT -5
(OOC: Everyone must be in that room by now...)
As both Jedi and non-Jedi settled into various seats and couches around the room, Derek felt the compulsion to find a quiet corner that no one would notice him in. He knew that this would focus a lot of attention on him and the other Jedi, and if there was anything he hated, it was being noticed.
To distract himself, he spoke to Tanda. "I don't think I caught your name. I'm Derek, Tess' older brother."
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Panna
Dec 29, 2005 17:34:56 GMT -5
Post by steel_lily on Dec 29, 2005 17:34:56 GMT -5
She smiled and nodded, replying, "Hello Derek, I'm Tanda. I've not really had a chance to get to know Tess very well. She arrived just a touch before you did. I am, however, a very long veteran in both Jedi and Human military services. I am glad to be able to serve." She extended her hand as her eyes wandered to survey the room. Everyone was in and comfortable, beginning to get a little bit impatient. As soon as Derek shook her hand, they could begin. She felt Kerik's presence, his hand on her shoulder as well as his strength in her mind. It was time.
OOC|| I'm baaack!
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