The Stranger

[Kyi Wavestrider]

DEMIR, THE IRON PLANET​

THE UNKNOWN REGIONS​

Kyi was on the hunt again, the Padawan had some down time between assignments for the Jedi Order and decided this would be the perfect time for him to go out and explore, hoping to find Force-sensitive artefacts that may help him and the Jedi Order. After hearing whispers, rumours and conducting a bit of his own research, Kyi learned that there may be some kind of Force relic located in some ancient temple on the iron planet Demir, that was used to research the Force by the planet's indigenous species; the Demirians. He'd hoped to not encounter any after hearing they were a territorial species.

Kyi held out his datapad and intensely stared at its screen, hoping for a way to figure out how to travel to the coordinates that he had pinpointed where the temple may be, Kyi wasn't great at reading coordinates, usually he'd rely on others to read coordinates and he'd follow them but he was alone this time. After many minutes of trying to figure it out, the young Padawan finally began making his way to the temple's coordinates.

Demir was a completely jarring planet, he wasn't used to this kind of planet - it seemed like a wasteland, Kyi never thought he'd actually rather be on Nar Shaadaa. What an uncomfortable thought. Nonetheless, Kyi couldn't help but feel he wasn't alone...it wasn't the Demirians, no, it was someone else, Force-sensitive like him but were they friend or foe?

@Tsunami

 

[David Mori]

A ship burst through the clouds with intrepid vigour as The Exile maintained his balance contently stowed away on the ship of his latest target. This young Padawan was eager to learn and shared the passion for knowledge that Dav'id was once cast out of the order for. Although he couldn't be sure exactly what planet they were heading to and equally unsure of the prize at the end of the rainbow Dav'id fixated himself upon his goal.

Acquisition of knowledge, by any means necessary. If he had to carve it from the flesh of this young Padawan, he would have no problem doing so.

As soon as they landed, he remained silent, any footsteps he would take were precise and feline like in nature. You could of heard a pin drop as he moved through the upper shafts of the ship waiting for his prey to disembark from the ships ramp. "What a stench" he thought, as the ramp opened up to allow both the Padawan and his uninvited guests exit. The smell from the stagnant arena they were about to enter filled the exiles nostrils and for but a moment dampened the Miraluka's senses.

As the Padawan began his journey into the unknown, Dav'id could feel that his target was cautious. Was this young Jedi able to sense his presence? Maybe it was a 6th sense that kept the boy looking around, as if he was crossing a swoop track. Never the less Dav'id would follow in due time, allowing the target to be at the limit of sight and sound before he slipped through the gap in the slowly closing ramp and planting his feet on the dank wasteland that was, this planet.

@AfroBandit20

 

[Kyi Wavestrider]

Kyi continued to make his way through the iron wasteland, periodically looking at his datapad to make sure he was going the correct way. Kyi couldn't shake the feeling of danger, he wasn't sure if it was paranoia of the Force trying to tell him something, sometimes he couldn't differentiate between his own anxieties or the Force. Nonetheless, Kyi remained on high alert, he was on his own out here and no one was going to be holding his hand like in his previous assignments. Kyi scoped his surrounding area in hopes of finding any redeeming factors of Demir - nope, the sky was orange and the planet's surface was covered with various rock formations, not to mention it smelled pretty bad too.

Kyi suddenly felt a high concentration of the Force's energy getting closer to him, he looked to his datapad and noticed he was close to the coordinates. This had to be it, the ancient temple was just up ahead, the Padawan was eager to explore this temple. Kyi appeared at the entrance of the temple, it was colossal in height and the rectangular structure was made from iron - it made sense, this planet is filled with iron. The Force very focused in this area, its flow was almost invigorating, this temple was no doubt a Force nexus and it was beginning to seem more likely that this Force artefact was in this temple somewhere. The freckle faced Padawan made his way upstairs, getting a look at the temple's entrance up-close he noticed ancient patterns and hieroglyphs he didn't recognise, this was probably the Demirians language, Kyi continued to enter the temple but halted his steps before he made it inside. The presence he felt earlier was still around, he'd been feeling it ever since he landed on Demir and it's only become more intense since being in proximity with this Force nexus.

Kyi feigned ignorance as to not alert his stalker that he knew they were there. If this was an enemy, Kyi would have to be alert but if he could avoid an engagement, even better. Kyi inhaled and proceeded to enter the temple.

@Tsunami

 

[David Mori]

The exile had been watching the Young Padawan from afar, making sure than he remained at the golden distance known as the limit of sight and sound. That however, didn't help to mask the presence within the force that only a being, sensitive to it's ways would give off and although Dav'id didn't know it he had underestimated just how sensitive his target was.

As the Jedi ascended the stairs of the massive structure he paused. "What are you waiting for?" he thought as he continued to spy, his body hidden behind a large orange jagged rock to avoid being seen. The power within this place was phenomenal. Dav'id hadn't even stepped foot past it's iron entrance and he could feel the energy pulse through him, its strength being a boon to his own strength. "This place..." he muttered, his voice as quiet as his augments would allow.

He would now ascend the great steps and pass on through the iron gates, he had no idea what he would find once past them, but as soon as he saw the Padawan dip inside the temple, he leant upon he staff and paced with purpose towards his destination. "Now we shall see the secrets that you harbour. You shall not hide them from me." His voice and tone matching the eagerness of his gate, the words rolling off his tongue as drool falls from that of a starving dog awaiting its first meal.

The question is however; did the exile seek the secrets of the temple, or the secrets he wished to extract from his prey? In that moment, not even Dav'id himself could be totally sure.

@AfroBandit20 @Kyi Wavestrider

 

[Kyi Wavestrider]

Kyi delved deeper into the temple, it was dark and had no form of natural light – thus he had to use his lightsaber to light his path ahead of him. Along the way he noticed more hieroglyphs scattered across the walls of the temple, the Padawan made sure to note these down in his datapad and see if the scholars or the translation droids back on Jedha couldn’t translate them. From what he could see with the light of his lightsaber, he found the temple very interesting and was eager to discover the secrets further down.

He made his way down a narrowly outstretched iron hall, his echoes of his footsteps bounced across the hall and he could still feel that lingering presence of his stalker, Kyi didn't allow his curiosity to outweigh his alertness. After he reached the end of the hall, an entrance to a large iron chapel, Kyi entered the chapel and was surprised to see that it had light; leading him to turn his view upward - Kyi noticed that the chapel's ceiling was roofless and allowed the sun's natural rays to light up the room. He scouted the chapel more to find iron pillars on each side of it and looked further down to notice a pedestal at the end of the chapel, Kyi made his way to see what it was.

Upon reaching the pedestal, a tablet with ancient-looking markings were scratched all over it - it wasn't done by an outside source, these scratches seemed...natural? Kyi noticed that the Force flowed heavily through the tablet, he had no doubt that this was the artefact that he had read and heard rumours about. The Padawan was ecstatic at the thought of successfully locating a Force artefact and being able to bring it back to the Jedi Temple for further study.

Before he could celebrate however, he remembered he had a stalker on his tail and could sense that he was inside this very room with him. "I know you're there." he called out, "What do you want?" the Padawan demanded with confidence in his voice.

@Tsunami

 

[David Mori]

He had remained following the Padawan, every now and then stopping to take in the ancient walls, the imagery upon them and the ancient texts that lined their stone. What a magnificent place this was... but it's quiet walls would soon not be so, as Dav'id had not been as cautious as he thought, or maybe his target had been underestimated. Either way, the Padawan knew of his presence.

"What do I want?" Dav'id replied to the young mans question, his body stepping from the shadows and into the light that the Jedi had so kindly provided to aluminate their path. "All I seek, is knowledge. You shall give it to me." his voice serious and emotionless as it always was. With every right step he took, his staff also landed with an echoing thud. The sound of a metallic object banging against a cold stone floor, blaring across the area the pair now stood.

His mask making his face as emotionless as his voice, he stood before the Jedi, around forty meters away. Silent now, he waited the young mans response.

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[Kyi Wavestrider]

The stranger's response sounded cold and threatening, Kyi knew now that this person wasn't here to help. Remembering the wisdom that Knight Sinvala bestowed upon him on Nar Shaddaa - using his lightsaber would be an absolutely last resort. He stayed his left hand away from the hilt of his lightsaber and opted to negotiate with this stranger.

Kyi took a good look at the stranger standing forty metres in front of him. The Force was strong with him and he carried a staff - did it contain a lightsaber? His mask somewhat intimidated the Padawan but he dare not let his feelings betray him, if the stranger could sense Kyi's fear he would use it against him. Kyi scoped the chapel, looking for any exits or advantages he could use if this did end in a fight. "Knowledge?" he asked, looking back to the stone tablet. "I'm sorry but I can't do that. This artefact could prove useful for the Jedi." he responded authoritatively.

Kyi kept his left hand close to his lightsaber, ready for an attack if this exchange didn't end well. "I know that's not what you want to hear but we can avoid a fight. I'm sure there are other places where you can find knowledge." the Padawan proposed, hoping to defuse the situation.

@Tsunami

 

[David Mori]

It was clear to The Exile that despite his attempts to mask it, the Padawan felt the slight quiver of fear running up his spine and despite their similar power level, it was the deathly visage of Dav'id Mori that often helped him gain an initial foot hold over his opponents.

Never the less, Dav'id remained composed. That was, until the Padawan mentioned the word "Jedi" he felt a wave of emotion flow over him, a mix of anger, betrayal, sadness and guilt. They had cast him out, as if a stray dog and still people could not see them for what they truly are.

"I'm sure there are JEDI. Did you know that I once stood where you stood? That I too sought the deeper knowledge of the force and was outcast. Made an Exile, a nomad, this wandering being who no longer was worth the Jedi's precious time." His words were ferocious, and poisonous. Like the temple echoed so did his word, but they reverberated with the kind of pain only seen in those like him.

In Exiles.

"What gives you more of a right to knowledge than I? The one who will unify the force. No more Sith. No more Jedi. Something more. Something greater." As if a viper, his venomous tongue spoke. He had berated the young Jedi long enough for the moment, and took a moment to pause and centre himself... One thing was for sure though, the Jedi would need to be cautious in his replies from now on.

@AfroBandit20

 

[Kyi Wavestrider]

A nerve seemed to have been struck, after mentioning the Jedi. The mysterious man standing in front of him fell into a rant about them, Kyi felt the flurry of negative emotions coming from the stranger, he mentioned that he was once like Kyi, once a Jedi that was cast out and made an Exile for seeking more knowledge of the Force. Kyi didn't believe it was as cut and dry as that, the Jedi were merciful and were firm believers in second chances, this...Exile, must have done something to warrant his banishment but that didn't matter right now. As the Exile continued, he talked about "unifying the Force" and there being "no more Sith. No more Jedi" - This is nuts he thought. The Exile was clearly hurt on an emotional level, maybe even broken, what if Kyi could help him?

"I'm sorry that this happened to you." he said, "I understand that you must be in pain...but to eradicate the Jedi and Sith? That's not possible, I can feel the hate inside you. If you do this out of anger, you will fall to the Dark Side, there's still time to help you." he pleaded, hoping the Exile would come to his senses and abandon the notion of destroying the Jedi and Sith. "The Dark Side is a corruption of the Force, all the Jedi want to do is keep the balance by restoring the Force to its natural state!" Kyi never thought he'd have to apply his years of being tutored about the Force like this, to literally try and convince someone not to destroy the Jedi.

@Tsunami

 

[David Mori]

He listened to the boy rambling on and has he finished talking, there was a noticeable pause. Suddenly a chuckle sprung from the exile... He could tell that the boy did not understand balance. He could also tell that the boy was not in a position that he could see clearly, the depths of the deception of the Jedi.

He would play the young Jedi's game for a moment longer however.

"Anger. No." Dav'id began speaking, his gaze moving from the boy towards a near by wall that he had now begun walking towards. "You speak of balance... that the dark side is a corruption of the force." He had continued talking as he walked, placing his staff against the wall before returning to his previous position. Looking at the floor around the Jedi, he pointed to a rock. "Pick that up." He said abruptly before pointing to another. "That one too." Again, he spoke abruptly before going to the point. "Now place them in each hand, and hold your arms out, as if to mimic a scale. The rocks are the same size yes?" The question was rhetorical of course, the rocks were both a similar size and weight and the boy would have no problems keeping the two in line.

Using the force, he waved his palm. Using it he lifted a slightly larger rock, this one was bigger and heavier than the other two. He slowly replaced one of the smaller rocks for this new one. "You see now, how the balance is disrupted? That if there is two much of one, there is a price." He hoped that his lesson had got the boys attention and although it only lasted a few minutes, it was a powerful message that he was trying to get across.

"You see, the Jedi teach you that there should be no use of the Dark Side, that it corrupts and taints all that it touches. Without one however, you can not have the other. Your leaders seek to eradicate the Dark. The Dark seeks to eradicate the Light. Only I seek to eradicate both... Only then, can there truly be balance." His voice began to taper off at the end, as if the purpose for which he believed himself in this galaxy to carry out was a terrible burden on his soul.

"I won't fall to the Dark Side. I have not already... I believe in the good of the light and the power of the dark. I am careful that I walk this fine line between the two..." He waited now for the reply of the boy, his gaze returning to the wall in which he propped his staff as he walked over to collect it.

He would then proceed to walk back to the location he was previously at. Alert and listening to whatever was said to him.

@AfroBandit20

 

[Kyi Wavestrider]

The inexperienced Padawan pondered on the Exile's words, he guessed that what he said had some truth to it but he wouldn't admit that; there must have been some other way to bring true balance to the Force right? Besides, destroying both the Light and Dark side of the Force seemed crazy...unless he meant it metaphorically but there was no time to figure out technicalities right now. Either way, this Exile was dangerous and had to be stopped before he could harm anyone.

Kyi backed up closer to where the pedestal holding the tablet was, it wasn't about using it for information anymore - he couldn't let the Exile get his hands on it, if he grows more powerful from it or learns anything new regarding the Force, he'd be one step closer to achieving his goal. He listened to the Exile talk but he didn't trust he walked the path of both the Light and Dark so easily, he had heard at how quick, easy and seductive the Dark Side was - he even had his own experience with it tempting him to let it into his heart. "I can't let you take this tablet." he said matter-of-factly.

Kyi really hoped this wouldn't escalate into a duel with lightsabers - although he hadn't spotted the Exile having a lightsaber on him, either way his skills were sub par at best and he had never faced another individual in serious combat before. Nonetheless, Kyi was a Jedi and this came with the job, he placed his left hand firmly on his lightsaber hilt and his right hand guarded the tablet just in-case the two did end up coming to blows.

@Tsunami

 

[David Mori]

"I can see you didn't listen to a thing that I said. Very well." He said calmly, it was almost as if a hint of sadness could be heard through his robotic tone. This was a man merely doing what he must to achieve his goal. As he looked at the Jedi, he saw his left hand move over the hilt of his lightsaber. It was clear to The Exile that the Jedi's intent was clear, and as far as he could see, this was going to come to blows, despite the explinations that Dav'id had attempted to give.

"You reach for your lightsaber. The peaceful Jedi, always so ready for a fight and hiding ironically behind their choice not to start it." As he said these words, he quickly tapped the base of his staff and from the top of it the yellow blade ignited. "Then I guess I shall start it for you. Come at me Jedi, we shall learn from each other the knowledge we seek through combat." His stance quickly changed, spinning the staff round his body with the staff held the staff centrally with his right hand, the bottom half came to rest. It ran beneath his bicep, under his armpit and tucked tightly against his shoulder blade. The left hand, remained free and ready to use the force if needs be.

He awaited the Jedi's move. Either way he was not getting past without a fight.

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[Kyi Wavestrider]

The Padawan kicked himself for what had transpired, he tried so hard to avoid a fight but his hastiness ended up starting one. The Exile had ignited a yellow lightsaber staff and had swung it into a stance ready for combat, Kyi's fear had been realised - this was about to be a lightsaber duel and the Exile was deadset on not allowing Kyi to leave with the tablet. The Padawan begrudgingly unclipped his lightsaber and entered into an Ataru stance. "Please, I don't want to fight you." he pleaded, not because he was fearful of his own life but he didn't want to have to take the Exile's life out of self-defence.

He noticed the Exile remained still, un-moving, completely planted in his stance showing that he would not back down. The Padawan let out a sorrowful sigh and called on the Force to augment his body to be ready for the intense physicality of Ataru and lightsaber combat overall. He held his lightsaber in front of him with two hands gripping its hilt and approached him slowly, after coming into close proximity to him - he raised his lightsaber to his left, dominant side and swung it right in an attempt to break the Exile's staff and end the conflict as quickly and less lethal as possible.

@Tsunami

 

[David Mori]

The Jedi had decided to meet the challenges laid before him. "How ironic that you would state you do not want to fight me, yet you have ignited your blade and now press me." His words became increasingly fast as the padawan closed the gap between them.

He could feel the use of the force by but it was being channeled internally. Knowing that both he, and the Jedi were on similar footings would help him here. Standing stock still, he allowed the Jedi in, making sure he did not anticipate the movement he was about to make.

The first mistake, was that the Jedi would raise his blade to the left. This was the side that Dav'id had held his blade, and he had the significance of a reach advantage. As his enemies lightsaber began to raise, the exile began to take a step backwards out of the blades range. He would similtaniously bring his staff across the front of his body making sure to keep it low enough to avoid the downward swing of the blade, but high enough that his opponent would not be able to jump it. Unless stopped the blade would connect with his opponents left thigh.

Using the momentum of the staff he would leap backwards and the step backwards to jump securely out of his opponents range.

The Jedis second mistake was that in gripping the lightsaber with two hands, he would drop the tablet that every was trying so desperately to protect, something that would no doubt take his focus for even the briefest of moments, allowing Dav'id a split seconds grace in performing his sweeping dodge movement.

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[Kyi Wavestrider]

The Exile managed to avoid the Padawan's attempt at destroying his staff, however, Kyi noticed the Exile's staff making its way toward his thigh to which he quickly used the momentum of his original attack to move his lightsaber downward and parry the Exile's counter attack, however it was at the cost of the tablet. Kyi dropped the tablet defending his thigh from being cauterised.

Before the Exile could reach the tablet and retreat, Kyi used telekinesis to launch the tablet away from both of them where neither of them could find it for now. Kyi twirled his lightsaber in a fancy motion, "No, I don't want to fight you" the Padawan said responding to the Exile's earlier statement, Kyi proceeded to enter an offensive stance "But I can't let you take that tablet either." Kyi cautiously analysed his opponent before going in for his next attack.

Kyi rushed toward the Exile, closing the gap between the two and utilised a Saber Swarm technique, unleashing a flurry of short strikes in an attempt to overwhelm the Exile, Kyi's final strike aimed to destroy the hilt of the Exile's staff once more, quickly raising his lightsaber from his right hip in the direction of his left shoulder to slice it in half - although the attack didn't have much weight behind it and was susceptible to counter.

@Tsunami

 

[Kyi Wavestrider]

Kyi was surprised and relieved to see he had actually landed the hit on the Exile's lightsaber staff, sparks flew as the Padawan's blue lightsaber ripped straight through the Exile's hilt. He watched the Exile's surprised stance - as he couldn't see his expression behind the mask, the Padawan hoped that this was the end of the fight and the Exile would come to his senses and flee this fight or at least will have no choice but to let him past, although the Exile's hilt had been cut in half this didn't mean the staff was no longer functional.

Kyi stayed his attack and jumped back a little to create a little distance between the two before holding his lightsaber out in front of him, preparing to engage once again in case the Exile would try and attack him again. "It doesn't have to be like this." he pleaded, "I don't want to kill you." he continued on with sorrow in his voice. Now he waited for the Force assassin's response - to see if he would attack once more or leave.

@Tsunami

Spoiler

Auto-hit due to timeout

 

[David Mori]

As the blade passed the hilt, slicing it in half the exile saw his opportunity to strike. The moment the lightsaber had begun cutting he had also begun pulling what would now be the jagged staff upwards towards the abdomen of the Jedi. To the Jedi it would look like nothing more than a failed strike to parry his lightsaber, but this was calculated.

The swing of the lightsaber would of continued, even if but for a moment after coming out the other side of the hilt, allowing a period of time where the Jedi's torso was open to attack. Thrusting the molten hot metal of the now broken saber staff into the Jedi's abdomen he would make sure that he would pass through the gap in the arms, made by the fact he was gripping the lightsaber with Both hands. This would stop him from parrying the attack with his weapon.

He knew that the Jedi could however just grip the saber with 1 hand after the thrust had landed true, and that would mean that although severly wounded he was still a massive threat to him. For this reason, as he thrust, he thrust from the rear of the staff, allowing to keep force on it during its attack, but also allowing him to step backwards and be out of range of the enemy lightsabers swing.

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[Kyi Wavestrider]

Kyi felt a slight pain in his abdomen, he let out an exhale of pain. He realised he had been winded from the rear end of the Exile's staff - which confused him as the Exile could have used Kyi's opening as a way to severely injure him. The Padawan held his stomach and had one lightsaber aimed at the Exile, still ready to continue the fight if necessary.

He kept a necessary distance, the Exile did the same and the two began slowly circling around each other, cautious of the other. Kyi would use this to try and get through to the Exile once more, "You don't have to do this. The Jedi can help you, I can help you. If you let me." Kyi genuinely wanted to help and return the Exile to the right path as he said this, although Kyi was also thinking of a way to get the Exile to surrender without killing him just in case he wouldn't agree to his help - the Padawan considered using Cho mai on him, however, he was not sure if he had the skill nor the precision to use this.

"We could even take the tablet back to the Jedi together." he proposed, it probably sounded like he was afraid and pleading for his life but in actuality, he just believed the Exile should be getting the help he needed instead of searching for ways to destroy the Jedi and Sith. Kyi's compassion and empathy was starting to get the better of him.

@Tsunami