Solstice In Death

[Black Noise]

Exilis strode down the beach of Lehon, a holocron in his hand and a determined look on his face. The holocron, although he hadn't opened it yet, supposedly contained the secret to eternal life. Exilis had beforehand notified the Chiss of his intention to retrieve the holocron, and retrieve it he did. However, something was off, something was terribly wrong. His precognitive abilities were clouded, a situation he had never experienced before. He felt through the fog, it was not evil as to be expected around Darth Exodeus. No, this was something else, something stronger.

He felt him now, he was approaching. His intent, it almost mirrored Exilis's own. But he knew that, soon, both of their intents would change.

Dropping the holocron, Exilis ignited his electrum saber and flung off his dark slate gray cloak.

 

[Prancing Yawn]

His eyes tracked the ancient device as the man carelessly dropped it into the dirt, then trailed back up to his combatant. He grunted; the mere Force presence of the man had coated the atmosphere with a new sensation. The plants even seemed to droop. The sky had darkened by the most miniscule but noticeable fraction, and the clouds had greyenned themselves to an unhealthy hue.

And then he walked through the fog, with an obvious, heavy footfall, a similar ancient weapon strapped to his waist like that of his competitor. His gaze was noble, discerning, determined to accomplish what he had come for. He wreaked of the Light, if one could wreak of such a thing, - a direct and complete contrast to the other. His stance was calm, un-tense, yet his senses were completely honed onto this man, and they tingled painfully as the blade of light was ignited, and the changing of his footing into a combatant's stance, and the blur of dark color that was his mantle being cast aside.

Slowly, his large, strong hand passed from resting on his hip to skimming the heavy saber hilt. The weight was reassuring, and he grasped it and drew it to his front in one swift motion, pausing for a moment before igniting the viridian-hued blade. He held the weapon in his right hand, and pointed it towards the ground. He outstretched his left arm out of his robesleeves, palm facing towards Exilis, and bored deep into the Sith's eyes. He would not let him get away with the artifact. It was not a matter of life or death - it was simply a matter of death, and not his own. But only if necesarry. His gaze narrowed, again.

From his outstretched palm erupted a Force wave of incredible magnitude, carefully and calculatingly focused towards Exilis as to not harm the holocron. Any trees around them shook, shedding dozens of leaves at a time, swaying in the powerful energies like they had become part of the Force around them.

 

[Black Noise]

Exilis looked the Jedi up and down with his eyes, not moving his head. Yes, this man would be the first challenge he had in a very, very long time. There were few people in the galaxy that could stand toe to toe with this Darth, but this was one of them. As the Jedi ignited his beautiful, viridian blade, Exilis began gathering the Force to himself.

Exilis watched as the wave came at him, strong, bending the trees around, ripping through the sands and dirt. He held up his own hand, causing the wave to rip apart as it collided with his hand. The Force behind it veered away from Exilis, slamming into the trees around and ripping quite a few to shreds at the base. The holocron went flying, only to land on the sand a few meters away, unharmed and away from the fight.

As he turned his hand down, he let out a stream of violent, blue, blurred lightning. It arced towards the Jedi, a few smaller arcs branching off and smashing into the ground. Such unhindered power was clearly too much to even stay in a single stream towards the target. Even as the lightning flew, Exilis reflected on the strength of the Force Wave that he had just blocked. The power behind it was more than he had ever faced before, it had taken every inch of his will to not show the difficultly he had in dispersing it.

This man before him, he who reaked of Ashla, would be the first opponent since Exilis's acolyte days that he wondered upon whether or not he could be. The Darth, he who reaked of the blackest side of the Force, felt a tinge of doubt for the first time in many years.

 

[Zach]

Down from the stars, descending from the orbit of the planet, was a small Corvette starship of the Chiss Ascendancy. Aboard was a man, dedicated to the prosperous future of two nations, finding himself at the ancient Rakatan ruins of Lehon. Above the planet, the Chiss had just finished a meeting with an important operative. Chiss teams had been deployed along the system in a protective defense since the Grand Imperator's expansion, but Hazac had his focus on other matters. He'd just finished meeting with the lead executive on the Ascendancy's salvage team for the raw materials and resources the planet had to offer. These metals helped fund the Ascendancy's Expansionary Defense Fleet, and house their wares of supplies and repair goods. Essentially, these projects ensured the continued flow of funding to Kodo'ran'nurodo's military efforts, after having implemented forces at every planetary system in Chiss Space.

Now as Hazac descended upon the planet, he intended to conduct a last inspection of the nearly completed harvesting process, observing the Medusa-Class Mining Droids as they wrapped up their tasks. The operations was almost finished, and the lead operative made arrangements to make their final delivery to the fire pits and smelting forges of Ool, the Ascendancy's designated planet for galactic waste-removal and recycling programs. Hazac acted right now as a High Admiral of the Chiss, and held the rank of an Immortal Elite of the Ascendancy's Force sensitive order. They acted as the most elite and hardened Shock Troops of the military, professionally trained as soldiers and warriors to the growing empire. Since he was a young boy however, Hazac had been raised and trained as a Sith. He was a master of the Force, and a specialized Sith Sorcerer in his ascension to a Sith Crusader. As a Master of the Order, his skills were only sharpened all the more finely.

His senses said the same, as a sudden presence filled the Chiss's awareness. There was but a flash of the sensation before it vanished, disappearing as quickly as it had come. Hazac's mind raced, reaching out with the Force and scanning the planet as he simultaneously masked his own signature. There were others that did not belong on this planet... he had felt, darkness, and despair, but at the same time, a radiating beacon of... the Light? It was very confusing, but it was apparent that it called for the Sith Master's attention. If anything was true, it was that the Chiss Ascendancy had unauthorized guests within its borders. At that, Hazac closed his eyes and trekked into the jungle off the path. The Force would guide him, and show him the way. His objective was true, and his sight was not so blinded that he could not blow as a leaf in the wind. Where ever he landed was where the Force guided his steps.

For better or worse, the blue-skinned man wandered through the jungle for what seemed like hours, but in actuality had been only minutes. It seemed as though he'd crossed a matter of miles in that short time, his speed and motions amplified subconsciously by the Force in his cautious state. As he came to a clearing, the Chiss saw only the vague presences of two beings just ahead, distant and vague, while vividly clear at the same time. It was as though their signatures in the Force were suppressed, kept hidden so as not to completely unleash their power against one another. Hazac pushed forward with his thoughts, now opening his eyes and forcefully intruding his mind to the events before his face. No matter the effort put forth in keeping the meeting sealed, the Chiss would reveal the truth - and see this mystery for what it truly was.

A short, horned figure was the first Hazac could recognize. It was Darth Exilis, a Sith Lord of the Dark Council, and a prime general beneath their most supreme Dark Lord. The midget Iktotchi was little more than a stand-still block of stone in the clearing haze, staring out defiantly with an emotionless void that seemed to draw in the very life around him. Sogar Derisma was his name - a man well known for his talent in draining the life energy and Force from a living being, absorbing and utilizing the power it offered. It was a technique strong in the Dark Side of the Force, and one that would infinitely power those who knew how to use it. To Exilis, the task was but mere child's play, but Hazac knew his own tricks. The art of absorption could be done with all types of energy, even with the basic principles of amateur telekinesis.

As the scene began to take shape, Hazac felt his mind begin to fill with that similar presence, standing out as a hopeful light of purity, while raging and twisting with the conflicting darkness from the opposing Sith Lord. Hazac recognized him almost immediately, knowing all too well that only one being could possess such a confidence and ease in his motions around one so dangerous as Derisma. It was Garth Dovhann, the Grand Master and savior of the New Jedi Order. What could he have possibly been doing on Rakata Prime? Was he too duel the Iktotchi on this ancient ruin of a planet, or were they meeting for another purpose? It mattered not - Hazac needed only know that Exilis was present with Dovhann without the knowledge of the Chiss or Dark Council. Under normal circumstances, the Sith Master would remain by his superior's side and stand firm against the powerful enemy. However, he felt a sense of understanding and truth from Exilis's demeanor. Did... he intend to perish on this day? No... Hazac could not accept that. Exilis would sooner be branded a traitor, than a martyr for standing against the Grand Master alone.

As the pair exerted their final exchange of Force maneuvers, Hazac glanced to the Sith Lord and met his gaze, locking eyes for a brief fraction of a second. That moment seemed to drag on almost as though it were slowed by the Force, meant to impact each of them with a significant meaning between each other. All Hazac felt was the sudden realization of each others' presence - and that he was not meant to have witnessed such a meeting. For the time being, the Chiss would act as a mouse to the feline - and run. Hazac bolted backwards back into the jungle, swiveling on his footsteps as though he were gliding on the soles of his boots. As his body came evenly with the trees, the Chiss extended both hands backward and released a strong buildup of pressure, propelling himself forward at a rapid dash. If Exilis hoped to keep up and catch him, he would need to follow the trail and play the little game. The Chiss would see to it that he discovered the truth of this matter - no matter the cost.

 

[Black Noise]

Exilis turned, slowly, to where the Chiss now stood. He knew this Chiss, a Sith master, his name was Hazac. He was here, he could not be here. The holocron that Exilis had was too important for anyone to know about. He sent a quick, strong Force Push at the Grand Master and bolted after the Sith. He could leave the holocron for now, even if the Jedi found and took it, Exilis could easily go after him and kill him for it, but this man could not know he had it.

He dashed after the Sith, running as fast as he could, pushing the Force through his aged limbs just as he did twenty-five years before when chasing Jenna Wolf. The Chiss had easily escaped the aging Darth, but that would not keep him hidden. He reached out through the Force, grabbed through his senses and Telekinesis. Exilis was a master of few powers, because true mastery came from the ability to use a power without even trying at times. It took nearly no expense of energy for Exilis to do what he planned.

He ripped through the Force, finding where the Chiss was dashing. Smiling, Exilis caused a tree to immediately uproot itself and 'hop' in front of the dashing Sith. Exilis pulled it out far too quickly for it too be expected, but because he had to pull it out so quickly, it wasn't a very large tree. However, a small tree or not, it was almost unavoidable.

 

[Zach]

Hazac darted forward through the trees, sensing as Exilis sprinted his way through the Chiss's head start. He furrowed his brow, surprised at the speed that the Warmaster had caught up so quickly, but it was of little consequence. He'd only wished to draw out the Iktotchi away from the Jedi, facing him in the jungle of Lehon. No sooner than Exilis had established footing nearby, Hazac turned his gaze back to witness what only few could even recognize. A large tree uprooted itself from the ground, seeming to glide across the tropical surface as though carried by the wind. The trunk took place in front of the Sith Master's path with only a fraction of a second to react.

The Chiss whipped his arm past his hip as he continued to dart forward, bring up his hand as the blood red aura of his lightsaber bathed the woods in light. The blade sliced through the wood with ease as the Chiss pivoted in mid air, shoving his body forward with a light telekinetic barrier as he spun to face the Sith Lord, clenching his fists as he came around. The Chiss grasped hold of the light Force Barrier and threw it and his momentum forward as a collective energy, swinging one fist into the flying trunk left in his wake. The lightsaber burned brightly in the dimness of the setting sun, coursing just below the Sith Master's eye-line as he met Exilis's gaze. As his right arm threw the built up moment into the first trunk, he continued to spin again and thrust out his left leg, exerting a powerful kinetic blow into the flat end of the second tree log. The first was fired at a higher angle, to more accurately slam into the approaching Iktotchi, but the second was directed where he would be. It wouldn't be difficult to cut through the trees, but it was all needed.

As the massive projectiles flew forward, Hazac reached out with both arms, closing his fingers with the Force. He snarled his blue nose with an allowance of aggression, giving in to the natural adrenaline of the beginning duel. His lips peeled back and his closed hands clenched into iron fists upon the sides of the ravines. Hazac ripped the cliff opposing cliff sides from their hold, shattering the rock and slamming them down to the surface. The rock slide left a number of boulders flying towards Exilis, but the primary objective in collapsing the landscape was to form an arena, of sorts. The pair were now boxed in, and the Chiss's opponent under fire from all around. Through the immediate smoke and dust from the collapse, Hazac wouldn't be able to make out Exilis's reaction, save for his defense against the Chiss's counter attack. As a final fluid motion, Hazac flourished the lightsaber he'd held throughout the maneuver, spinning it in over his hand to wield it in a reverse grip. He leaned forward with his right side in a defensive stance, preparing for the Warmaster's assault.

'It seems we all have our secrets, don't we Exilis?' Hazac asked his superior through a telepathic message. He asked with a hint of amusement and humor in what he'd just witnessed, but with a sense of understanding. In a way, Hazac understood that it was something he could never truly grasp, but only knew that Exilis must have had his own reasons. The Chiss didn't very well agree with them, but he could still understand the point of view.

 

[Black Noise]

Exilis saw the trees before they were even sent at him. His precognition clearer than ever before, clearly something was wrong. He flipped up his saber, smashing through the tree trunks with it. Then, as the boulders came down, he knew why his precognition was so clear. He tried. Throwing up a barrier, he met the Chiss's gaze. Rubble tumbled harmlessly past and around him as he replied.
"Indeed. Though my secrets are more traitorous than most other's"

Once the rubble stopped moving, Exilis dropped the barrier and leapt into the air. He landed atop the rubbled and began smiling, a cruel, dark smile. The Force suddenly swirled to him like a whirlwind as a dark, pulsating light seemed to flow from him. His power, speed, and Force ability was suddenly increased tenfold. He dashed to Hazac, reaching him in less than a second. Swinging out his lightsaber, he intended to bash it into Hazac's chest like a club.

 

[Zach]

Exilis halted in his pursuit after the quick-footed Chiss, summoning a kinetic barrier to protect him from the imposing tree trunks. Bark exploded from the ends of each log, splintering in every direction as it coursed past the midget Iktotchi. The horned Sith Lord only stared at the Chiss as he replied. "Indeed. Though my secrets are more traitorous than most other's," he called, leaping into the air as the rubble around him settled down. Exilis flew through the air and landed atop the pile of destroyed mass, staring straight at Hazac with a devious grin. It was a chilling gaze that he met, their eyes locking in a brief moment of isolated awareness. Through the intensity, Hazac took the appearance of Sogar Derisma's vicious smile and burned the image into his mind, never to forget. Should the Immortal Manipulator, and Sith Master, survive this duel, he would always remember that face through his days.

Exilis darted forward, his lightsaber slashing out from the side as though to slam into Hazac's torso. The Iktotchi's speed was surprising, even for a Sith Lord, but it seemed even more so due to his size. The Chiss was no amateur with the Force, however, and that was where a true Sith's power was measured. Hazac brought up his will as soon as he felt Exilis's power rise, slamming his raised palms against the very blade of the Iktotchi's lightsaber. The Chiss held off the plasmic energy with an enhanced technique of Tutaminis, bracing his resistance against the condensed power with the Force. The kinetic barrier shaped between his hands and fingers, lining over the edge of the red blade as the radiating heat was slowly dispersed. Hazac held the lightsaber for only moments, snarling his face into a vicious grin in turn to Sogar, matching his eyes as his hands began to steam and smoke.

Slowly, drops of rain began to pour down from the skies, sizzling and evaporating as they landed on the held-off blade. The rain fell onto Hazac's face and shoulders, plastering his hair against his face when the water mixed with sweat. His blue skin glistened with a reflection from the Sith Lord's lightsaber, both his hands beginning to burn as he continued to absorb its energy. It was a taxing ability, especially to respond with so quickly, but it was the simplest for this occasion. 'I wouldn't be surprised by some of the darkest secrets you hold, Warmaster. As for the more traitorous... that depends on your definition. Truth be told, Kodo'ran'nurodo will hold the throne of Grand Imperator for only so long. That is Dorann's fate... Are you prepared to face your own, Exilis?' the Sith Master uttered telepathically, sneering with utter ecstasy in the moment.

Hazac pushed off from the interlocked blade with the strength of his arms alone, aiming his outstretched palms towards his opponent. Two brilliant pillars of lightning protruded from his hands while smaller streaks branched from his fingertips and the sides of his power. The Force was a storm before him, taken from the energy absorbed by the lightsaber, and converted into the raw power with which Hazac created the lightning. A powerful Force Storm formed between them, more directly forcing the two apart rather than causing serious injury, but the Sith Lord would still have a time in avoiding the converted attack.

 

[Black Noise]

F


As Exilis locked his blade into Hazac's hands, he couldn't help but smile even more. The Iktotchi had a sort of smile that emitted deviousness, a cocky attitude, and utter insanity all at once. As Hazac sent more telepathic messages to him, he began gathering the Force again. He knew that Hazac was absorbing the energy from his saber, and would most likely use it against him. He replied to Hazac aloud.
"Indeed, in truth, everything depends upon personal definition in the mind of a Sith. Good, Evil, strength, everyone sees it differently. You see, I've never kept it a secret that the Sith are only a stepping stone for me. I'm a parasite, and currently, the Sith and I are in a mutually beneficial, parasitical relationship. And am I prepared to meet my fate? That again, depends, are you ready to see your future Hazac?"

Exilis pushed off with Hazac, then immediately brought about Force Immunity. He knew Hazac would try something, and he did. A storm of lightning swirled from Hazac's fingertips and flooded to Exilis. However, the immunity caused it to simply curl around Exilis and hiss away into oblivion. Force Immunity, an extremely exhausting power to utilize, but Exilis could use it with ease. However, to ward off the effects of exhaustion and keep himself fresh, Exikis could not use any other powers while using Immunity. Using another power would likely drain him in seconds. He then surged forward, Saber swinging in an identical attack to before. It was clear that Hazac didn't want to face Exilis in saber combat, where Exilis had the upper hand.

However, in Force Combat, Exilis still had tricks up his sleeves. Perhaps both areas of attack were unfavorable to engage Exilis in. Then again, he hadn't been made Warmaster for no reason.

 

[Zach]

Hazac met the Sith Lord's eyes as the sabers locked, listening as the Iktotchi spoke to him. "Indeed, in truth, everything depends upon personal definition in the mind of a Sith. Good, Evil, strength, everyone sees it differently. You see, I've never kept it a secret that the Sith are only a stepping stone for me. I'm a parasite, and currently, the Sith and I are in a mutually beneficial, parasitical relationship. And am I prepared to meet my fate? That again, depends, are you ready to see your future Hazac?"

Exilis pushed off from their brace at the same time, calling the Force to him with a sudden intensity that took the Chiss off guard. He hadn't expected such a powerful surge of energy, so pure in concentration as it funneled to a single ability: Force Immunity. Hazac was not one to find the Force unrecognizable, through appearance or his sharpened senses. The sparks of lightning seems to glide across the Warmaster's flesh, dancing around him like water flowing from the rocks of a creek. Light burns marks began to appear on the cloth portions of Exilis's attire, but no harm came to him as he evaded the Force. A tight, devious grin appeared over the Chiss's face however...

The Iktotchi may be immune to his offensive techniques, but the Force could be used in many ways. His control over telekinesis could effect the very environment around them, whether it was to hurl objects or alter the wind. Hazac's power could be used with his surroundings, forming the growth of the plant-life of Lehon's jungles to the superheated geysers far beneath the ground. Not a thing or being was outside of Hazac's control... The galaxy was his to manipulate. It was then that the Chiss called upon the Dark Side, fueling him through the greed and lust for what he sought - for what was rightfully his - power.

'The only future that concerns me is the seat of the Grand Imperator. But yours... your future ends on Lehon - tonight. It's time you join your fool of a brother, who inexplicably attained his position, only to be rightfully cut down,' Hazac hissed telepathically, instantly as Exilis approached. He intended to coax the Iktotchi with Dun Moch, but he truly meant it with all sincerity. It was truly a mockery how the Maverick Umbra had been able to rise that high before being put in his place. It was time Exilis shared that fate.

The Iktotchi launched forward, lightsaber swirling in a blaze of chaotic strikes as he closed in. Just as he neared, Hazac formed his grasp over the very air around him, swirling it in a circular motion with a great force, causing a great shift of wind and kinetic energy together. It was the combined effects of a Force Barrier, a kinetic wall but in motion, alongside the tugging of air molecules in a wave of spread energy. This was the technique that most Force oriented warriors in the Sith specialized in. It was a powerful melee combat practice in hand-to-hand, as telekinetic strike can often be the most effective, and the lest draining. Other Sith Sorcerers were fond of Force Lightning, but Hazac had always witnessed the telekinetic users to be most successful. Lightning could be useful, but is particularly draining for a show of stunning light tricks. With the kinetic blows, Hazac formed the wave into a powerful whirlwind, hurling the Chiss upwards into the air with a swift spin.

Hazac arced his body much like his Ataru stance and implemented a quick series of strike from above, most likely clashing with Exilis's at the tips, but some might have struck either of his shoulders. The Chiss's body flipped lightly above, the wind still rushing beneath his body to barely slow the rate of his gravity, but lengthen the distance he traveled. He neared the ground only a few feet from Exilis, spinning his body upwards into a half-crouching position. Just as he touched the rain soaked ground, Hazac reached his left palm to the earth and threw every pound of kinetic energy he'd bundled up through the ground, sending it in a single, solid wave. The energy instantly exploded upon the ground Exilis stood as the rain poured down, instantly sloshing into the dirt into mud. In a moment, Hazac would be able to use that to his advantage as well.

Just as this happened, Hazac flourished his lightsaber in his right hand, crouched in a pouncing position with his hand to the ground. The blade sizzled as drops of water fell against it, glaring off the Chiss's red eyes as he prepared to continue.