Ask Finally a Nice World

[Vanya]

Vanya focused her energy on the Essence and dove into its currents, riding them like the worlds most intense water slide until she appeared in a green flash behind the gun that was being set up and her lightsaber went to work immediately.

There were three of them who were preparing the weapon, and while Zorin may have been devoted to nonlethal means, Vanya was not. Death was a natural part of life, and while killing for selfishness, personal gain, and cruelty were of the Shadow, the taking of life in defense or out of necessity was no more corrupt than a bantha that crushed a sand jackal under toe while attacked.

Her lightsaber came down first on the man who was preparing to fire the weapon, cleaving him in two before a flick of her wrist brought the saber around to the second man and finally a step and slash brought down the third.

Several quick slashes and the heavy repeater was carved up so that no one else could use it. Her eyes glanced down to look at the fighting outside, seeing Zorin had burst the door open, she nodded to herself happily before plunging her lightsaber into the ground, carving a quick circle and dropping down.

As Zorin started to step into the front room, he would see Vanya drop through the hole and directly amidst the criminals and launching herself into the fray.

Between the two Jedi coming from opposite directions and the police who were now opening fire, they weren't sure who to shoot at and most of them ended up opting for staying in cover while the two Jedi - with the mobile cover of their lightsabers - were able to close in on them.

Secure the room! she shouted to the officers who were already starting to spread out and secure the corners for good crossfire. They were professional, she had to give them that.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

In the heat of battle, Zorin's sharp eyes quickly identified an enemy seeking refuge behind a table. The assailant, a bald human, opened fire on Zorin, but his attack was short-lived. With a concentrated clench of his fist, Zorin manipulated the building's floor, transforming it into a compact ball. As he lifted his left arm, the earthen sphere rose in tandem. Then, with a swift opening of his fist, he propelled the ball at the table with tremendous force. The impact sent the table crashing into the human, pinning him violently against the wall.

The dim glow of Zorin's blue lightsaber cast eerie shadows amid the dust clouds stirred by the collision. Drops of sweat trickled down his nose, splattering onto the floor in the brief moments of stillness that followed.

As the officers ceased their blaster fire, Zorin sensed the tide of battle turning. The immediate threat seemed to have subsided, but an unsettling feeling crept over him – a cold, dark presence that did not align with the Jedi way. It was an aura that was unmistakably foreboding.

Turning to his ally, he asked, "Can you feel that too?" His grip on his lightsaber tightened, his senses heightened and ready for whatever new challenge this ominous presence might bring. The battle might have ended, but it seemed that another confrontation, perhaps more sinister, was about to unfold.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

The police forces and Jedi quickly subdued most of the rest of the building as a darkness seemed to build within the building. She didn't know what exactly it was, but the discord it brought to the song of the Essence was unmistakable: whatever it was was steeped deep in the darkness.

Yeah, I feel it, she said. And I'm going to kill it, she thought to herself but didn't verbalize. The Nightsister was at her core direct, and didn't dance around the issue of fighting and eliminating her targets.

Her saber fell down to her side, pointed toward the ground as she turned to face the oncoming being.

Masked and garbed in red that almost matched Vanya's own, the man radiated the Dark Side with a weapon in his hand that was both blaster and spiked with all manner of blades.

You invade my home and my business, which means there will be consquences, the man said, his voice scrambled behind his mask.

The blaster in his hands came up and fired first at Zorin in a flash. The movement was so quick that Vanya's eyes almost couldn't follow it.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

The figure in red suddenly opened fire on Zorin, catching him off guard. With a desperate attempt, Zorin twisted his shoulder to the side, narrowly avoiding a direct hit. However, the blaster shot still managed to graze his left upper arm. Fortunately, the damage was limited thanks to the armor he wore. He grunted in pain but maintained his composure, keeping his focus on the mysterious enemy.

Despite the pain, Zorin moved as quickly as his small legs allowed, expertly deflecting the incoming blaster fire from the enigmatic assailant. Some of the bolts missed their mark, and with a well-timed deflection, Zorin managed to return the favor, grazing the left upper arm of the enemy.

As Zorin attempted to strike with his lightsaber, the mysterious figure displayed remarkable agility, gracefully leaping backward to avoid the attack. Without wasting a moment, the assailant resumed firing at the dwarsin. Zorin realized that it was best for him to stick to his specialty, defense, and provide Vanya with the opportunity to strike.

"I think... AAH this requires your specialty," Zorin grunted, his focus still on carefully deflecting the incoming laser bolts aimed at him.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya was actually quite impressed. This guy was good. She had seen Force-users fight before with lightsabers, but seldom had she ever seen them fighting with blasters with quickdraw precision like this man was demonstrating.

She'd have stopped to admire if it weren't so dangerous and likely to kill her partner.

On it! she shouted, saber whipping around with finesse as she battered bolts out of the sky, throwing herself between the assailant and Zorin.

She closed with the man and he seemed to just... slide away. Like water, he was impossible to pin down, and even as she tried to pursue him, she was assailed by blaster bolts. Sure, she could keep them at bay, but for how long? Eventually she was bound to mess up because that was just the nature of things.

And so this dance between the two of them continued, and while she wasn't losing, she also wasn't winning either.

Perhaps Zorin would manage to tip the scales in her favor yet.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

Spoiler: Music

Zorin seized the opportunity Vanya had given him, opting for a different approach to end the confrontation. With a deliberate and precise motion, he disengaged his lightsaber and holstered it. Extending his arms and splaying his fingers with his palms facing upwards, Zorin focused on the ground beneath him. His head dipped towards the ground as he harnessed the Force.

With a noticeable rumble, he initiated his move. Starting by bringing his fingers together, the earth responded, swirling around the mysterious figure in the hoodie. As he clenched his fists, the ground solidified, imprisoning the enigmatic individual from his feet up to his head. It became an inescapable prison for the would-be escape artist.

"VANYA, NOW!" Zorin urgently called out, hoping that Vanya could finally bring an end to this chaotic encounter. The effort to maintain the trap took its toll on Zorin, evident in the trembling of his body. Time seemed to slow down for him in that moment, as sweat dripped from his nose, descending at a noticeably gradual pace. The scene was illuminated by the brilliant glow of Vanya's Lightswords and the dazzling blaster bolts.

The debris that surrounded Zorin began to float, a swirling halo of transparisteel, durasteel, dirt, and rocks. In that moment, Zorin's mind was devoid of emotion, focused solely on the present moment, yearning for the swift resolution of this protracted battle.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya didn't know what Zorin was doing, but he was doing something, and that was probably good enough? The ground itself began to close around her assailant, and even as he tried to take a step backwards to move out of the way, there was about a half-second where he was stuck. Absolutely without an escape, and his evasive maneuvers that had served him so well for his entire life suddenly escaped him.

Checkmate, Vanya thought as she saw her opening, a slight feeling of satisfaction at the opening she was now provided.

She didn't hesitate, and she also didn't go for the nonlethal option. A surrendering enemy was one thing, but this guy would have cut her down with even the slightest chance... going for a nonlethal option against someone who wasn't doing the same was a great way to end up dead.

She ducked and surged to the left, a final bolt whizzing past her on the right as she swung her saber across, cleaving directly through at midsternal height and cutting the man cleanly in half.

Her boots skidded momentarily along the ground before she spun, turning as if to engage the man that was now very much not a threat.

Her breath was coming rapidly and heavily and her saber was clutched tightly in her hands, held directly in front of her in guard before she realized that it was over.

Several more ragged breaths later, and her saber fell down to her side once again, flashing out as her mind quickly raced through the area to evaluate for any further threats.

They had won this fight.

Are we... is that it? she asked reaching up and running her hand against the top of her forehead and scalp in surprise.

I guess we should... look through their records and... stuff? she said. It wasn't really her forte, but she was sure there were things the governments of both Berchest and Mindor could use in order to clean up the remains of the pirating group.

Nice work! she said, slapping Zorin on the shoulder. And quickly thinking there to pin him in place, she said.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

As the upper half of the body thudded to the floor, spilling blood and signaling the departure of life from this enigmatic figure, Zorin sank to his knees. Exhausted, he breathed heavily, taking precious moments to regain his composure. Sweat streamed down the dwarf's face, dripping steadily onto the ground beneath him. "I suppose... *deep breath* we are," he replied to Vanya's inquiry about their task being completed.

Upon Vanya's suggestion to review the records and other materials, he simply nodded in agreement and slowly rose from the ground.

"Yeah... you weren't half bad yourself... *deep breath* haha," he chuckled as Vanya gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder. "I figured if we couldn't catch him, we'd have to pin him... but honestly, good work back there," he commended.

"So, uh... what now? And who exactly is this guy anyway?" he asked, still uncertain about the identity and nature of their adversary.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya looked over at her partner, her attention now turning to trying to make sure he was okay. Other than some heavy breathing, he seemed to be fine, which is good.

I guess we let the security officers chase the rest of them down, she said. They had taken out the man that Vanya would have classified as by far the greatest threat, though she was left with more questions than answers.

Honestly, not totally sure. Haven't seen anyone like him before, she said with a shake of her head. The red robes almost reminded her of her own people, but his powers were very foreign.

I guess we can see if the archives have anything about someone like him, she said.

For now, though, I think I could use a rest, she said.

@JoeWing