The Duellist's Repose

[Elijah Brockway]

Though he had dealt with worse in the past, Sihkar had never enjoyed the smell that wafted up from Nar Shaddaa's lower levels to mingle with the other odd scents of the upper levels. The Hutts may have enjoyed the stench, but Sihkar could hardly stand it; as such, he would be eternally thankful that the dwellings of the wealthy were more than able to compensate. Breathing easily for the first time since he had stepped foot on the planet he looked around the room he was in.

It was a large apartment, situated at the pinnacle of one of the Smuggler's Moon's many large spires and skyscrapers. The space was dominated by a large living room, though at the moment it was quite bare, aside from some furnishings at the small kitchenette and mini-bar. The building had only recently been bought and transitioned to its useage as a large living complex - for the wealthy, of course. Sihkar had to pull a few favours to get access to it. Slipping the key card to the place in his pocket, he walked over to the kitchenette, pulling out a well-sized bottle of Nabooinian wine, as well as a couple wine glasses to go with it.

He walked over to a small, but ornate table - the only other furnishing currently in the otherwise large and empty room - and set the wine glasses and the bottle down on it, before taking a seat next to it. The man he had invited along would be there shortly, he was sure, and once he arrived Sihkar could begin to serve the wine and discuss.

@Phœnix

 

[Phoenix]

Venator had grown far more paranoid in recent days than he had been years ago. At one point he'd been anonymous, unknown to most but knowledgeable about everyone. Now times had certainly changed. Everyone knew him and he knew less about others than he'd like.

Why he had chosen to meet the General here, was a question for the ages. Perhaps the men had developed good will in their previous two fights, and even in correspondence since then. They had chosen a neutral world for their little rendezvous. Even so, Venator hadn't come alone with a mercenary, SBZ, and... another Sith all on world with him, signal jammers ready to prevent explosive traps, though it was only Corvo who made his way up the turbolift to the pent in question. He couldn't help but marvel at how paranoid he had become with time. These were precautions he never would have taken when he was younger. Or was it just that he was wiser? He didn't want the others to be involved and he hadn't actually told them who he was meeting, but he wasn't above precautions.

He arrived at the door in question that he'd been told to meet in and tapped lightly on the door, half expecting a trap, hood drawn up since there was no reason to announce exactly who he was to the rest of the world right now. He wasn't sure how he felt about this whole interaction, but what the heck, he'd come this far hadn't he?

@Elijah Brockway

 

[Elijah Brockway]

Sihkar heard the tapping across the large space and reached out a hand, willing the door to open. As it did, he easily recognized just who was standing there from their posture, their build...and from what he could sense in the Force. "Lord Venator," Sihkar said, gesturing to the other chair across from him. "Please, sit. Do you drink wine?" He thought for a moment, then spoke again: "Oh, did you like the brandy I sent you? That was rather hard to find, you know. First made nearly a century ago and aging ever since."

 

[Phoenix]

There he was. After all this time and the way the two men's lives had diverged they were mirror images of each other. Nearly the same age, each in an equal position of power to the other, and both at the top of their field at their skills.

General, he nodded his head as he entered the room and drew his hood back, closing the door behind him. It was much appreciated and an unanticipated kindness, thank you.

He wandered over and took a seat at the table, a nice large bottle of wine in the center. What a lovely place that you have here. How did you ever manage to come across this place?

 

[Elijah Brockway]

"I have many friends," Sihkar replied, pouring the both of them a glass of the wine. The dark purple fluid flowed almost sluggishly out of the glass bottle, although that was more due to Sihkar's careful pouring as it was to any undue viscosity of the fluid. He leaned back in his chair, before sniffing - and promptly sipping - his wine. He wanted to keep his wits about himself while he spoke with his darker counterpart, though he couldn't deny either his love of fine drink or the fact that the small amount of alcohol would help him relax more.

"I had to pull a few favours with them to gain access here. Once it's done and fully furnished it'll be quite the luxurious abode; right now it's mainly just large and empty. The kitchenette and such will be gone, replaced with more fitting accomodations. I just requested they be added in for today." He sighed quietly, setting his glass down on the table after another sip.

"So, Venator, it seems that you and yours have been bouncing back quite well after what happened on Korriban. I can't say we've had the same luck...That Warlord of yours had quite the force of personality behind her, didn't she?"

 

[Phoenix]

He took a glass of the wine for himself. Putting the cup to his lips and taking a small sip as he listened to the General. The penthouse was certainly not something to be mocked. It was quite nice. In fact the kind of place he wouldn't mind getting for himself. Although perhaps he would have chosen Serenno, although that would have made no sense for the Jedi to go there.

I wouldn't have pegged you for the "Nar Shaddaa penthouse" type. As he brought his glass down his mouth curled into a slight smirk. Although perhaps I should have, since you do seem to appreciate the finer things in life. He held the glass up indicating the expensive wine that they both sat sipping.

Indeed, the galaxy knows she was a powerful warrior. It is... regrettable... how that turned out. Though I've no doubt that without her, we would not be where we are today. He paused a moment as his mind flashed to the events surrounding the Warlord's recent "retirement." No, regrettable didn't even begin to cover it. A moment later he snapped back to the present, continuing on a less melancholy note.

I ran into someone you might know on Onderon: Lael. She mentioned you, I really would recommend paying closer attention to where your padawan goes. Tell me, what made you pick her as your apprentice over any others? Luckily, at this point, the General knew nothing of the connection between Corvo and Lael and his years of emotional barricades ensured he wouldn't pick up on it now. @Elijah Brockway

 

[Elijah Brockway]

Sihkar's attention perked up immediately, his heart rate starting to accelerate at the mention of Lael. "While she isn't fully grown, she's more than able to take care of herself, and can learn without my being there to hold her hand. I trust her." He took another sip of his wine, in an attempt to calm himself slightly. Should anything have happened to her... He didn't like to entertain the thought.

"As for why I took her as a learner, she needed a master, and I had no apprentice. I have yet to train one to completion, though I suppose my mark and legacy have been left in other ways." He willed himself to relax further, putting the thought of Lael's possible death from his mind. "Do you have any specific information as to what has happened to her? I regret to say that I haven't seen her since she left to aid the effort on Onderon, so that I could ask her about such things myself."

 

[Phoenix]

He raised his hand in a calming manner. He could feel the General's tension even from where he sat. Calm down General, she didn't come to any harm by my hand. Nor will she, though she was nearly killed by a member of the Brotherhood. I'm glad to say that she was alive and... unconscious, but fine when last I saw her.

He redirected the conversation. Imagine my surprise at meeting your apprentice. Of all the people in the galaxy for me to bump into... And of all the people to train my daughter, how was it you? What were the odds?

How did she come to be in the Jedi?

 

[Elijah Brockway]

"Some Jedi found her on Kiffu with her family and broughter her back with him, with the parents' blessing," Sihkar replied. "That's what I have been given to know. I've noticed that most of my order really only focus on their lives after they joined it, unless they joined as adults." Almost unconsciously he gave a sidelong look to the Dark Lord, his curiosity taking hold more than his trepdation. He couldn't sense any lie from the man, and he figured the respect between them high enough to preclude lies from being thrown about. Instead, he would focus on the Dark Lord's own curiosity involving an otherwise random Padawan.

"Why is it that you ask, Venator? She's certainly advanced in her abilities and understanding of the Force, but I don't think her so much of an outlier as to be of all that much interest...that, and I doubt the connection to myself is important enough to be so curious, unless you chose to take her prisoner and you intend for me to try and ransom her back. Doesn't seem fitting from what I've gathered of you, though."

 

[Phoenix]

He considered whether or not he should be honest with the General but as it appeared the secret was already out, and the man would likely discover the truth regardless. He leaned back in his chair, gut churning in a combination of frustration and anticipation. He wasn't even sure the man would believe him if he shared the information. After all, the odds were all too slim but nevertheless, it had managed to be true. THE FORCE WILLS IT.

I'm not sure you'll believe me if I told you. He let out a sigh and leaned forward, speaking quietly as if the walls themselves were listening in on their conversation. Her family wasn't quite so willing to give her up. I would know because I am her father.

He leaned back once more, watching the General's face to see his reaction whether believing or not. So perhaps I should give you thanks for training her, or perhaps criticize you if it's not up to par, a small smile played across his lips with the last part of the sentence.

 

[Elijah Brockway]

Sihkar's eyebrows raised in surprise at the revelation he was given - though at the same time, he also felt much less apprehensive about anything involving Lael and the Dark Lord. It would certainly give the man reason not to hurt Lael. Few in the galaxy ever enjoyed the thought of harming their own progeny. He nodded along with what Venator said, smiling as well.

"After the fight you and I had, if you have suspicions that she might not be up to par then I am quite frankly insulted at your poor memory." He finished off his glass, setting it on the table. He had no misconceptions about how this meeting would likely end - no matter what, Sihkar would be too valuable for Venator to simply let him walk away, regardless of any accord between the two of them. And Venator was too much of a threat for Sihkar to allow the man to walk away unimpeded, as well. Though he'd try to push the thoughts of battle aside for as long as possible, focusing instead on other discussions.

"So, have you seen that the Republic is helping us rebuild on Tython?" he asked after a moment. "I'm sure you have. I imagine you have eyes everywhere, somehow. Have similar efforts been made on Korriban?" Without really giving Venator time to answer, he jumped to another question. "Oh, speaking of Lael, have you taken on a learner of your own, an apprentice of some sort? I'm sure you'd be a great teacher, philosophical differences aside. How did you come to learn Lael was yours, anyways?" It would quickly become obvious that Sihkar was rambling somewhat.

 

[Phoenix]

Slow down there General, so many questions at once, a slight smile on his face. He could sense the sudden leap in tension in the other man and did his best to keep himself calm. That kind of tension tended to be contagious after all.

I had an apprentice once for a very short time and long before either of us met, but he went missing during a battle against some of your Jedi. I never was able to ascertain what happened to him. Besides that, I never took on an Acolyte. I probably should have during my time as Dark Lord, but alas, it never happened.

The memory of Terra's death came back as Corvo thought of how he had learned of his daughter's faked death. Her mother had a vision. After that, it was a matter of hunting down the people responsible for taking her abduction. With every revelation to the other man, it became increasingly assured that one of the two men would not walk out of the room alive, which was a thought that saddened Corvo, but was an inevitability and one that he figured the General knew as well.

You know, it's interesting how far we have both come. When last we met, nether of us had made it to the highest position, and yet here we are sitting across from each other in totally different positions from what we were then, but still mirror opposites of each other. Light and Dark balancing each other out. It is strange how the Force works.

 

[Elijah Brockway]

"Indeed," Sihkar replied as Corvo finished speaking, dreading the events which were soon to follow - not the possibility of his own death, but the fact that he'd have to fight a man who was like his own twin, given the similarities between them. Should either of them die then it would be a sad day for the other, and though it would be a powerful demonstration of skill, the duel wouldn't be a happy exercise.

Telos was practice. This time they'd each have to play for keeps. "You know, I wish we could've met on happier, more peaceful terms, Force and war be damned." He sighed. He himself was too valuable a target for capture or death to let him walk away, and Corvo was too much a threat for Sihkar to simply allow him to walk off. The Jedi Lord stood, his attention focused entirely on the man before him in preparation for the duel to come, closing out the outside world.

"But I suppose that can't happen. Before we begin, might I learn your proper name now?"

 

[Phoenix]

The tension had reached the point of boiling over. There was no way that the two men would walk out of this room and while Corvo didn't want to kill the General, he also didn't have a death wish.

He let out a sigh, knowing what came next. He rose from his seat and triggered a button on his wrist, signaling Shae (@Sreeya) to enter or at least be ready. I suppose so, after all it will be irrelevant in a few minutes. My name is Corvo, I've been a Sith since... well birth. Came up in the order and now here I stand, all climaxing at this point.

He paused a moment, wondering if he should say more. You've been a worthy opponent and I'm sorry it has come to this, but we both knew there was no other way that this could end. He gave a nod to the other man that encompassed respect and remorse all at once. Kill one, terrify a thousand. This was larger than either of them.

 

[Elijah Brockway]

"Corvo," Sihkar said, placing the name in his memory, for however long it might be able to remain there. He noticed the Sith Lord press a button on his wrist gauntlet, but chose to pay it no heed. The coming battle consumed the majority of his thoughts. His amber-bladed lightsaber jumped to his hand, the plasma hissing forth when he placed his thumb on its activation stud. The phrik guard encompassing his hand - unadorned except for scratches from battles previous - flashed brightly as Sihkar gave his opponent a salute.

"Fight well, Corvo. Don't disappoint me now." He waited a moment longer, taking a breath, before quickly stepping towards the Sith Lord facing him. As he did he brought his blade into an overhead slash, coming almost perfectly vertically down towards Corvo's forehead.

 

[Phoenix]

Corvo's two sabers were in his hands in an instant, snapping to life with the final words. Everything fell into rhythm for him as he drew his saber, and from here on out it was just a combination of training and the Force to guide his movements.

His left saber shot upward to catch the strike, hitting his opponent's blade while his own was at a 45 degree angle to the ground he immediately pushed outward with his left hand to his left side, deflecting and forcing the blades away from either of their bodies as he stepped to his own right and off-line from his opponent's attack. He took advantage of having two sabers to his opponent's one and kept his left saber between his own body and his opponent's blade while his right saber came low, slicing diagonally from his own right to left diagonally upward aiming to catch the other man's left hip and cut through the pelvis.

As he did so, he thumbed the dual phase switch on the right saber to prevent his opponent from leaping back, hopefully trapping him where he stood. It wasn't a fancy move, but the dual phase would be unexpected and with his opponent's saber preoccupied, Corvo hoped he would leave himself exposed to the attack.

 

[Sreeya]

Shae’s heartbeats quickened as the signal beeped. She hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but it meant that Corvo was potentially in danger. Cursing inwardly, she quickly made her way towards the building. As always, twin saber hilts were prepared for combat, though they still didn’t have the feel of her original sabers. These ones she had obtained pre-existing, while the older ones she had crafted as a child. She made a mental note to get them back one day.

Despite carrying weapons, she blended in with civilians as best as she could. Flecks of gold in her eyes were unique features that would make her stand out in a crowd. However, for the most part she went unnoticed in her approach. The thought of Corvo being in danger drove her, fear admixed with anger. He wouldn’t have alerted her unless he knew for sure there was a fight at play.

She still did not fully understand the type of relationship they had. It was an attachment she couldn’t quite explain with words. She knew she felt an overwhelming urge to protect him, though he seldom needed it. They had a relationship that ranged from fighting side by side to a much more private one she was still trying to understand.

It would only be a matter of moments before she quickly entered and ascended to the upper levels of the complex. She knew Corvo would be more than capable of handling himself. Shae only needed to arrive to help finish the job.

 

[Elijah Brockway]

As his own blade was parried, Sihkar saw the other blade coming in towards his lower left line; however, he would make no action to either parry it or to attempt to leap backwards away from it. His swordplay was defined as much by bladework as by footwork, an example of which Corvo would quickly receive a lesson in. As soon as his blade was parried and Corvo's other came in for the attack, Sihkar instead stepped forward and to his right, pivoting on the ball of his front foot as he did so, so that he continued facing Corvo.

This simple action would change the line of attack entirely, with Sihkar now more-or-less in-line with Corvo's left side, his hand supine; at this point, he only had some minor threat from a small portion of Corvo's right hand weapon. With a twist of his arm he set his wrist from supine to pronate, blade passing through the space above his own left shoulder, and catching the leading third of Corvo's attacking blade; while this left him momentarily open to a return attack from Corvo's left-hand weapon, Sihkar wouldn't give him any time to do so, as he continued his movement, his blade broke contact with Corvo's, and instead came forwards in a rising cut, aiming to bite into Corvo's left leg, before proceeding through the groin and on into the abdomen. It left him open to a strike from Corvo, but it would be death to the both of them if Corvo were to take it, a fact that Sihkar was counting upon to help recover some space between the pair.

 

[Phoenix]

Corvo pivoted toward the General. As his feet were moving, his arms didn't stop. He saw the opportunity to catch the other man with his left blade but opted to defend himself rather than press the assault. After all, that was what Form X was all about: live to fight another day.

Instead his left blade came down from it's previous position and intercepted the opponent's upward strike, parrying with a block parallel to the ground. He leapt back and to his right hoping his opponent would pivot to face him once more and put his back to the door. He slashed once more with his right blade, a simple diagonal strike the same as before from his own right to left. They were more or less outside of striking range of each other now with the jump back, but the dual-phase gave him reach for his blade to potentially connect. It wasn't really aimed at actually striking or maiming so much as distracting the General and giving an opportunity for Shae to enter from behind and strike the final blow.

 

[Sreeya]

She was there now, hearing the distinct hissing of sabers as they spun and clashed against one another. Despite her confidence in Corvo, she was not one to idly stand by while he faced peril. Leaps took her easily up the steps, shoving aside anyone that got in her way unceremoniously. Her heart pounded against her chest as she had come upon the door that would lead to Corvo, her own saber hissing to life as she pondered what to do.

It was then that she silently began to place where Corvo was in conjunction to his enemy. Both Force signatures were palpable, and she could tell they were both exceedingly powerful Force users. In a way, she found it difficult to discern one from the other. She decided that there was no more time to waste, a blast of the Force setting the door ajar.

Shae acted entirely on impulse, met with the site of a man’s back abruptly skidding into view. She only caught a mere glimpse across the man, catching Corvo’s eyes. It was all the information that she needed: anyone that was not Corvo needed to be eliminated. Without a single word, the former Jedi shot forth, driving her saber straight and true. The blade would cut through the man’s torso like a hot knife through butter, entering from his back and out the front of his body. There was rage in her actions, the ending of her move putting her close to the doomed man, her face now grazing his shoulder.

It was only then that her rage began to subside, as she turned to gaze sideways at her victim. Her heart stopped at once, jaw dropping in pure horror. Her voice was hoarse and pained.

“..No….”

@Elijah Brockway