Thirst for Knowledge

[Aliyah Phoenix]

She stepped forward, her senses still spread out, but her focus and concentration stayed on the battle at hand. This droid could be considered a saber training droid, but she doubted it would be fighting nicely. She wanted to try and talk this thing down, but she knew that it probably wouldn't listen to her. As their lightsabers activated, the droid glared directly at Sina as she darted out from her cover then back again. Immediately, it's saber went in for a slash to Aliyah's side. Her eyes widened in shock. It was trying to kill her. Her saber swooped down to stop the blow, curving it out of the way and throwing out her hand. Grabbing the lightsaber hilt with both hands, she forced the droid's lightsaber to the ground and swung hard at his chest. But it did nothing, the droid's mechanical arm moved and caught the hilt at the base, pushing it back towards her.

"Knight Phoenix. I am a Guardian-Protector of one of the most sensitive areas of this temple, programmed to defend against any and all threats to it's security. Of course, that includes techniques related to Jedi saber attacks. Or perhaps... Sith? You will not enter, leave now or be eliminated."

"Stop. Talking!" It thought she was Sith? Well, that was insulting! She couldn't do very much right now beyond disengage, pushing the droid back with a kick and kneeling to one knee. That was not something she wanted to be caught in again. The droid lurched forward and moved past Aliyah, knocking her aside. At first, it looked like it was going for Jexz, an observation that was confirmed as the yellow blade flew downwards towards his left shoulder. Aliyah, unable to do anything to prevent it, readied herself to lunge and destroy the thing, hoping the boy would know how to block that thing. She wasn't even one hundred percent certain there was anything important in there, but she did know that the droid wouldn't stop fighting unless they left. And depending on how this went, it could be their only option. "Jexz! Watch out!" She noticed that he had swung at the wall, rolling her eyes. The droid was defaulting him now, great. She was too engaged in the battle to worry about the slight dark aura just barely nearby.

@Jexz @Yuan

 

[Sina]

Sina watched as the Droid attacked the Jedi with an excited smile on her face. This was excellent! She hadn't expected to see a Jedi die today. Maybe she could even collect the Jedi's lightsabers and get a reward from the empress. That would be wonderful. Sina could finally start building on the plans she had for the future. But all of that was premature. Sina watched clicking her tongue in annoyance as the Jedi deflected the incoming attack, then launched one of her own, which surprisingly was caught and defle Ted in much the same way. This Droid was pretty good! That was slightly worrying.

As the Jedi faced off with the Droid, Sina slowly moved around the edge of the room, keeping to the shadows and behind rubble so as to stay out of the line of sight of the combatants. She moved around until she was behind the Droid. She watched as the Jedi disengaged the Droid and dropped to a knee. Perhaps she thought it was some sort of test. If she showed that she was not a hostile, then maybe the Droid would drop it's attack. It would actually be quite fitting for the Jedi to include such a design in their trap.

As the Jedi tried to make herself look less intimidating, though, the boy took action. He swung out and sliced through a pillar with his own lightsaber, immediately drawing the ire of the enraged Droid. That certainly spiced things up again. Sina slightly hoped that the boy would survive. He wasn't a Jedi after all. He could be turned to the dark side with ease. But she didn't have time to think about that. Sina pulled both of her curved saber hilts off the back of her waist. Giving herself a light burst of force speed, she dashed forward and kicked off a pile of rubble, flipping through the air. Sina ignited both of her lightsabers in midair and swung them both down in a viscious chop towards Aliyah's back. As she landed on one knee, Sina leaned back slightly, preparing to leap back if needed. There was definitely a chance her attack would not work. She was not incredibly experienced in live combat. But the Jedi was distracted. And, she wanted to keep the Jedi from helping the boy. If the two of them joined forces, they might be able to defeat the Droid (or worse, talk it down). With Sina's intervention, she could continue the chaos and play it to her advantage... That was her theory, at least.

@Jexz @Autumn's Firefly

 

[Jexz Kira]

Jexz had not expected the droid to move so suddenly over towards him, his plan to draw its attention had worked. But not quite as expected.

Block!

Something inside of him almost shouted those words, it was more of a feeling than an actual voice. It was coupled with that of the words of Aliyah saying to watch out. He didn't have time to look, he didn't have time to do anything other than react. But for a moment everything seemed to slow down, even himself. It was much like the situation when a person's life flashes before their eyes. His thoughts turned back to Jedha

"You're too stiff. Move your whole body with the swing, like this."
"If it makes it easier you can also start with one foot back like this,"
"This makes my right side my leading side so to speak. And also makes me a smaller target head-on."

He was remembering the time at the courtyard with Kane when he had shown him how to use a Vibro blade. Almost as those words came to mind in his head the saber came upwards in a diagonal upwards motion from the center-right side, and his body rotating slightly throwing his left arm sidewards to build his momentum "Move your whole body". His left foot slides backward "start with one foot back", his right one remained forwards "Smaller target head on".

He let the saber do the rest, as he felt the clash of the blade, his muscles protested at the impact, it was a jarring experience for his bones as well to suddenly be moving and to only stop just as abruptly.

The droid, however, was not going to wait for him to recover from the block, he knew that and he wasn't going to wait for it either as he pulled back, in a half jump skip. He couldn't fight toe to toe with a droid that was programmed in techniques. He heard the ignition of something else. Another droid?

His eyes left the droid for a moment to see a figure in midair going for Aliyah

"Aliyah !...."

He managed to shout out before the next attack from the droid came, he had been too distracted as the droid took another swing at him, the saber he was holding came up to meet the sidewards swipe to his left side, he instinctively raised his left arm to block.

He felt the connection of the blades again, but also this time a burning pain in his arm. The saber had made contact with his arm before the saber he was using had met it to block it from cutting through the arm, it was only a light wound but regardless his left arm was throbbing in pain.

The pain flared his connection to the force, he was angry at what had happened. More so angry at himself for being stupid and letting his attention get drawn off the current threat, he knew better than that. Those kinds of mistake was a sure fire way to end up dead on the streets. But the droid threat was still there and now was not the time to start having a fight with himself.

His left hand pushed forwards towards the droid for a moment, imagining a fist in the air rushing forwards towards the metal body of the droid. He had no idea if it would work or if it wouldn't. But it allowed him to vent his anger and frustration forwards with a coupling of his force connection. As he did this he spoke

"Guardian-Protector! the temple is under attack, a recognized Jedi of your order is currently being attacked. Cease your attack on me, I......I Yield!"

Jexz was unsure if it would work or not, so he brought the saber back to the center point of his own body to prepare for any other attack.​

 

[Risha Sharro]

The enclosed speeder swept into position on the outskirts of the library grounds. Its persistent hum of momentum slowly dwindled as the vehicle locked into position above the ground. As the driver's door swung upward, the lone occupant reached into the passenger foot-well to collect her belongings.

Loose direct ground underfoot as the pureblood Sith stepped from her transport. Her left hand swung the sword and its holster into position against her back. After it was secured diagonally across her front with the hilt sticking above her left shoulder, the Sith Knight scanned the area with a golden gaze. It was pleasant to be on a planet where her helmet was unnecessary. Hiding who she was grated on her nerves. A Sith was proud of their lineage. People were lucky to be graced by a creature so in tune with the dark reality of the world.

As she moved toward the library the door sealed in her wake. A 'luxurious' vehicle considering most everything else the Knight owned was weathered, beaten, or simply well-used. Pristine was not a quality she held in high-esteem, however. Appearances hardly mattered so long as the tool functioned. Still, others like shiny things and so her speeder was often saved for more civilized worlds.

"Knight Sharro," a guard announced with more familiarity than she liked, "we weren't expecting you today."

As though she needed to explain herself to these people. "Plans changed," she replied with as even a temperament she could manage. Which did little to overcome what most soft-bellied people considered a 'severe' facial expression. Risha was not perpetually pissed off; it was the bone structure of her people, and not one she'd try overcoming by grinning like a fool.

Not put off by the woman's short reply not being their first interaction, he remarked, "Ah, well, hopefully for the better. Though you might have competition today."

Competition? Now the shadows cast by her bone spurred brow deepened. Not mere scavengers if these guards were doing their duty properly. Who else was here in search of the library's secrets? "Others have come?"

The small smile of the man... was it playfulness, or something more sinister? These offworlders and their 'charm' and constant smiling. She was still trying to understand when one was genuine. "Only one. A, ah, Knight Sina?" The man glanced to another guard that nodded in agreement. "Right, Knight Sina. Neglected to mention the reason."

Knight Sina? Risha couldn't recall hearing of her before, but then there were many seekers of knowledge -- or wealth -- in the galaxy she had yet to meet. "Very well. I," the next words like dragging a dull knife across the nape of the neck, "appreciate the information." And they should appreciate not being demanded to kneel. Offworlder formalities.

"Of course," the guard called out as the Sith had already continued by with little reason to tarry further. "We'll be here if either of you need us."

Yes, Risha made note mentally. It was good to remember where you left your blood and bone fodder.

Practicing social interaction with the lesser species was important, and the only reason Risha hadn't stalked straight into the library. Having spent years on a planet without company only to return and discover the 'Sith Empire' had laid claim to her home learning to integrate into this galactic civilization would be important. She would need to take care she didn't take it too far, however.

The first stop was one of the more intact portions of the central chamber. Risha's black lips curved downward a bit at finding it empty. Perhaps this Sina had moved on to the towers? She could only hope. Those were a waste of time and could keep someone distracted and out of Risha's way for a great deal of time. Worst case was this other Knight was investigating the lower reaches... an area of personal interest.

With a sharp tch, the Sith strode deeper into the library toward one of the more promising descents into the library. After three days of mapping the recent ruins, Risha had several areas warranting further interest. There had to be something left behind by the Jedi here. Anything would make the time spent worthwhile. Knowledge, especially; but something that would bring credits from passing on to discerning collectors would suffice -- funding further expeditions elsewhere, and earning more recognition for herself in the process.

After a trek down the corridors Risha paused and turned her head slightly. The red lids of her eyes closed as she sought to acquire the source of what might be a fight. Such a confrontation inside the library was worthy of investigation. None of the guards she'd seen barely aware of their own surroundings seem to be aware of anything amiss; that only meant whoever or whatever was involved had kept a low profile.

As she moved to descend the staircase, Risha's left hand reached over her shoulder to take hold of her blade. Toggling the latch with a lone finger it popped free of the housing. Best to have it ready before entering any confining spaces. The Sith descended into the darkness one step at a time until the battle slid into view. With the two bladed strike from the shadows Risha only assumed that was the other Knight. As for the other two and the droid... One competitor? Ancestor spit, she had three. Perhaps it was time to cull their number.

"Then throw down your blade," Sharro instructed Jexz as she stepped into view with the long, silver sword drawn. "You place your fate in your opponent's hands, or you fight." The man seemed poised to defend himself despite declaring to yield. There was no blame there as Risha didn't expect his gambit to work -- but if it did it would leave Sina heavily outnumbered, and with it bar the chance to more fully explore the library.

@Jexz @Autumn's Firefly @Yuan

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

The movement from behind her was enough to cause her lekku to move subconsciously. Aliyah was turning to glance when she heard the activation of lightsabers. Rolling across the ground to avoid the slashes, Aliyah turned on her heels and rose to her feet again. She would've been back to back with Jexz, but he seemed to be having some trouble with the guardian droid right about now. This Sith girl was definitely the one she'd felt earlier, still her stance and pose was calm.

She wasn't worried, but she wouldn't drop her guard or underestimate this one. Raising the blue blade as the droid heard the boy's yells, halting in midstrike. Instead of joining the battle, it simply stepped back and bowed, leaving the active Knight to deal with the Sith threat. The thing still thought this was a normal Jedi Temple. "You've lost the element of surprise. What do yo-" if she could've gasped in shock Aliyah would have. Another Sith just strolled into the room, right into the middle of a battle, somehow avoiding Aliyah's senses completely up to this point. I'm getting rusty. Still, they'd need a lot more than two of them to stand a chance here. Nudging the boy slightly to get up, Aliyah kept her saber raised, if they even flinched in her direction she'd stop talking and attack.

"Look. I didn't come here to fight, and I think we can all be civil about this. Your teachers have taught you well... but your skills are far from complete. We can wrap this up right now, put our sabers away, everything will be dandy!

Or we can waste each other's time and fight. Who knows. You might actually win." Aliyah concentrated the force around herself to protect against anything they might throw at her, keeping her blade at a medium height. She'd let Jexz keep the other one for now, he might need it, and she could handle herself with just one. She genuinely hoped they'd just put down their weapons, and it would be obvious through the Force. But that icy feeling of determination would be obvious too, that if she had to fight she wouldn't be playing nice. That room was a lost cause as far as she was concerned, Sith where here, and they swarmed like ants. The last thing she needed was to be fighting four of them at a time.

@Jexz @Yuan @Nyxova

 

[Sina]

Sina grimaced as the Jedi avoided her attack. It was probably to be expected. But still, some small part of Sina had hoped that the attack would hit it's mark. But the jedi was better-trained than Sina was, as she had anticipated. That was a rather poor situation to find herself in, but not one that she didn't have the power to handle if she played it right. However, it seemed that the situation was only going to get worse. As the Jedi turned her attention to Sina, the droid, which Sina had hoped would continue it's attack on the untrained boy, suddenly decided to shut down. Now that was not what Sina had been expecting. She could not find any logical reason for it. Even if her appearance had thrown an unexpected variable into the fight, surely the droid would only fight more fervently to protect it's charge?

But no. For some reason the droid decided the proper course of action was to shut down. It would have even been better if the machine had turned on Sina. At least then it would get in the way and she could use it as a sort of shield against the jedi. Playing them against one another as it were. How incredibly frustrating. The jedi woman turned and squared off with Sina. How predictable. But then, as she accused Sina of giving up her element of surprise, the unexpected happened. Another sith appeared. Sina was not expecting company, and although the distraction might have saved her some real trouble, it perturbed her. The woman was a pureblood sith, and though she was a bit older than Sina, the few imperial markings on her clothing marked her as a knight the same as Sina. Well, that was a comfort. At least she wouldn't have to take orders from a late-to-the-party ranking officer.

The jedi seemed thrown off by the new sith's appearance as well. That was good. Had she been prepared for this eventuality, they might have had some trouble. Sina suspected that this woman might be a jedi master. The two knights could certainly pose a real threat to the woman, but the boy was a wild card, an unknown variable, and with the droid out of the fight, he was free to interfere. As the jedi turned slightly to square off with both Sina and the newcomer, she issued a plea to cease the fight before things got serious. Sina scoffed at the woman.

"Sina is disgusted by the thought of making deals with a jedi. But, if she can get what she came here for, Sina is willing to cut her losses. You are powerful, master jedi. But your companion is no trained warrior. He will be a hinderance should we drop the pleasantries and fight for real. Not to mention, you are deep within a facility surrounded by imperial forces, on a planet occupied by the imperial army. A planet crawling with imperials and sith. All we need do is send out a short-range signal on an emergency channel and the entire planet will know you're here and come crashing down on you. Do you know what happens to Jedi in the Empire? Lord Kravos, the Dark Lord of the Sith handles all captured Jedi himself. He can be very persuasive." Sina was practically snarling at the Jedi, but she held her ground and did not advance. She was bold, but not stupid. "You might be able to kill Sina and her ally in a fight, but it would not be easy, and it's not the Jedi way in the first place is it? But to kill us both before we send off a simple signal from one of our comms devices? The odds are against you Jedi. Sina suggests the Jedi run as fast as she can." Sina glanced over at the boy. He was a curiosity, but the data she came here for was more valuable in the end. "Sina will allow this one to go with you if that is his desire." Sina kept her lightsabers on and raised, one in front of her and one over her head, both pointing forward. She wasn't about to lower her guard with the present company.

@Jexz @Autumn's Firefly @Nyxova

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

Spoiler: OOC

Death disabled, don't worry!

-Music-​

Aliyah listened to the little girl's words with a growing sense of impatience. She was offering them a chance not to die in this Temple, forgotten and alone. She could internalize all of this, but the hero in her decided she needed to spit it right back. "You misunderstand. I am deep in a Jedi Temple that I know better than any of you, like the back of my hand. I got on this planet once, slipped through your defenses like butter and I'll do it again. Jexz here may not have as much experience, but unlike you..." Aliyah's eyes narrowed. "...he listens. I know what happens to the Jedi who get captured in the Empire. They're strapped to a table and electrocuted to death. I endured that pain through a Force Bond. And that man you're talking about? Your boss, Kal Vox? He killed my father, my brother, your kind twisted my sister to the Darkness. Make no mistake, walk away now, or I fight to kill. If you don't think I can take both of you on - think again! I have trained my entire life to face Darth Kravos in combat. I've stood toe to toe with the best duelists your Empire has to offer. You are two lowly Sith, outmatched by a child. You stand no chance against me."

@Jexz @Yuan @Nyxova

 

[Jexz Kira]

Jexz had just about relaxed as the droid seemed to bow and step away. Simple programming was always overcome with a level of logic that was for sure. The pain in his arm throbbed however from the injury. It was then he heard a voice turning around on the balls of his feet to face the new arrival.

The boy looked at the being in front of him. His eyes held a level of awe for a moment as he had never seen a being or race of this kind before. But it was soon passed again as he held firm with his stance. It would be obvious from the way he was holding the blade that his training was limited. He chose instead to try and draw the force towards him like a wall as Aliyah had mentioned before. He could feel something again, something he had felt on Korriban not so long ago. It spiked a moment of fear and uncertainty mixed with curiosity and temptation.

Taking in slow deep breaths as he exhaled, calming himself as best he could. But he could not help thinking still on something that had been told to him

If you use your anger as a weapon when manipulating the force its like a dam with a small hole. The pressure is increased, but eventually, the dam will break and you will drown

If this fight continued he might have to use it for the increase of pressure, maybe he could do it before the said dam broke. But he then remembered to something earlier Aliyah had said about the Dark side. There was still so much he didn't understand and now was not the time to argue with himself or think twice. Taking in another deep breath and exhaling he held strong, letting his injured arm hang limply by his side next to his leg.

"If I fight I place my fate in my own and my opponent's hand. Either way, I learn something from this be it to be faster or smarter. But I won't leave you to outnumber my friend here. Some logic to strength in numbers, how about we do as she said though and lower our weapons and talk"

Even as he spoke he continued to think of a wall around him, pulling at the force somewhat wildly the best he could, he was trying to place the force between himself and the person with the blade. Maybe it would work or maybe it wouldn't he had no real way of telling. But there was something about the blade she was using, something caused his eyes to keep falling to it for a few moments.

Backing up a bit more towards Aliyah he muttered falling back into his very broken Rhy from having grown up on Ryloth

"Short blade....better you two?....better one?"

He was already thinking things through, If Aliyah had a stronger advantage with two weapons he would pass her the weapon and handle things differently. His tone held a level of not being concerned at handing the weapon over, as his injured arm still hung by his side allowed his fingers to touch the strapping there that seemed to hold a hilt of some sorts, though it was short. The collapsible Vibro-blade was there all the same.

To be fair he didn't even consider the proposal that Sina had made, he wasn't going to take the deal and leave Aliyah. There was no chance of that happening anytime soon. Taking in a deep breath he exhaled. Seemed like he was going to have to battle. He began to focus on the person before him, blocking out what was behind, blocking out Sina, blocking out Alliyah, all he focused on was Risha that stood before him. The red skinned woman. He wasn't going to restrict his movements to the moves he had learned, this was going to be a street fight. Honor had no place in a combat of this nature if he hoped to win. Win by any means necessary. But the question was if the woman before him would strike to kill or to disarm him​

 

[Risha Sharro]

Risha held her position as the ladies bantered. They offered one another the same deal, and each rejected the thought out of hand. That really didn't interest the Sith, however. Talk of torture, death, and being 'twisted' did. Only slightly, but it had the substance of holding value while the rest had been a waste of breath. Unlike the Jedi's claim that battle was a 'waste' of time. Ironic considering how hard the Jedi strove to match Sith in combat so they could protect those that refused to protect themselves.

The young man present spoke up for himself soon enough. Risha calmly blinked as he chose to insert himself into the dialogue. Inexperienced as he may be, the Jedi hadn't clouded his mind with dreams of sunny fields and honeyed words. Everything she knew of the man so far questioned whether the Jedi had brought him here -- a pit of vipers. Curious. Naturally the Jedi seemed protective, but overlooked the obvious in her haste.

"Your fate is your own," Risha corrected Jexz after his initial response. "And your Jedi companion is not interested in talking."

The Sith's amber gaze shifted slightly toward Aliyah. "Jedi, tell this one you will defend him from your enemies. Tell him your desire for vengeance is not stronger than the desire to keep him from harm. And tell me what knowledge you have here that would make it worth sparing his life." Aliyah did feel strong in the Force, and held herself confidently with the saber. It was possible the woman was a danger to Sina and -- grudgingly -- Risha, herself. But, if you can't beat your opponent head-on, find a weakness and squeeze until your opponent exposed themselves for attack.

An invisible darkness slid over the Sith Sword in complete silence unlike a vibroblade. Its heft weighed heavily in Risha's hand, but after several years of wielding it, the weight no longer registered consciously. Risha's bright eyes focused on Jexz once more as she felt him prepare for battle. Being of his species she thought less of him, but as someone not afraid to defend himself he became an equal -- a warrior on the field of battle where rank and skin tone mattered not.

"There is no mercy for enemies of the Empire. Decide carefully." There was still a chance for everyone to walk away in one piece until the battle was engaged.

@Jexz @Autumn's Firefly @Yuan

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

-Believe-
​

Finally, she had come to her snapping point. All that pain, all that anger... All those things she thought she had under control started to overwhelm her. Her Empathy couldn't hold those feelings back anymore, and she felt. A twisting and agonizing pain. All of it, the weight of all the losses and tragedies she'd suffered smashed into her like a brick wall. Aghhhhhhh!

She'd lost herself the instant she lost the one who had faith in her.

She'd been trying to deny it, trying to push it away and pretend that it didn't exist. But it did. To the others? She'd look as calm and collected as ever. Through the Force, however, they too would be able to sense this incredible and totally unprecedented onset of emotion. She wasn't just a Jedi. She was a Phoenix, and that meant something more now, just like it had all those years ago. Still, even in this sudden panic attack, she managed to grip her Empathy again, forming a thin layer of force energy nanometers from her and Jexz' skin. "That's... that's a dual phase lightsaber...

Keep it.

I can always make another. These two won't be an issue. Stay behind me, mimic my movements, and follow my lead." She didn't have time to deal with this right now, and she couldn't afford to do something stupid and cost any more of her to be lost. Centering herself in the light and bathing once more, she inhaled. I'm fine. This is fine. We are fine. She was sure. She was sure she could handle this until she got back to the Temple. She didn't have much time left. She could feel it. And she was going to do as much as she could until that moment came. Even if she had to go through these two, the entire Imperial military stationed on Ossus, or Darth Kravos himself. She'd been raised and trained by a man who specialized in nothing but battle, it was his life, and he'd passed everything that he'd learned on to her. They didn't understand the gravity of their situation.

Not that it mattered to Aliyah. It couldn't matter. Not anymore.

"I tried to spare your lives, but you wouldn't listen. I'm sorry." She meant it. But how she felt couldn't affect this choice. She'd given them a chance, more than their kind gave the Jedi. Sure, they'd offered to spare them if she handed over Jedi knowledge. But that wasn't hers to give, and it most certainly wasn't falling into the hands of the servants of evil. Her eyes would flare with a blast of blinding light, emanating from the blue glow that started to overcome her eyes again. They began to crackle and hiss with the fire within, and nothing but her azure flames vented from them. Her lightsaber would be centered in her right (dominant) hand, with her left hand gently resting above the activation switch for balance. She could flick her wrist and send the blade in any she wanted.

Lowering her stance and centering herself, she swept the blade upwards and across, from her left hip to her right shoulder. It rested in a center guard, preparing for a physical attack. They would be hard pressed to fight off one of her blasts.

@Nyxova @Sina @Jexz

 

[Sina]

Sina could sense what was going on with Aliyah through the force. She may not have fully understood it, but her instincts were becoming more and more alarming. The jedi was channeling huge amounts of force energy, at least by Sina's standards. This woman was clearly not as simple a target as Sina had first assumed. A rogue jedi on a sith-occupied world could have easily just been an overzealous young knight or lower-ranking master on a mission to claim some sort of honor or prestige for the order. Such warriors were quickly dispatched when they dared to drift into imperial space. But this woman seemed to be something else. As Sina tried to read her, she got the impression more and more that this woman was no stranger to battle and bloodshed, despite her words of peace. Sina sensed a dark and looming purpose behind the woman. Something that drove her, that guided her, that pushed her to go beyond the limits of caution and reason. It sent a chill up Sina's spine. Not because of it's nature, but because she could imagine how this encounter would end if the jedi woman was pushed to take action.

As Sina was sensing this, she suddenly felt something else. Something around or within the jedi was pushing, clawing, trying to get out. Was this jedi fighting against the dark side? Was something in this woman's peculiar sense of purpose driving her towards the darkness? This alarmed Sina even more. Force sensitives first falling to the dark side could be dangerous and unpredictable. It wasn't as though she was suddenly going to become their ally just cause she had fallen. They were still facing each other down with sabers drawn, and by turning to the dark side, the woman's training as a keeper of peace would fall away along with her inhibitions. This jedi was volatile. Sina wasn't usually one to run from a fight, but she wasn't one to dive head first into a fight she knew she couldn't win either. The jedi's power was really on another level from her own and this other sith, and her disposition made her unstable. Sina needed to get out of here.

Sina lowered her sabers, switching the glowing red blades off, but keeping them in her hands. "The power of Sense is something Sina prides herself in, Jedi." Sina smiled at Aliyah with a certain darkness in her eyes. She slowly began walking over to Risha. "Sina underestimated your power, but she has felt it truly now. Sina knows a lost cause when she sees one. But... then... Sina senses something else too. Something that hangs over you like a dark cloud. Perhaps you see it. Perhaps you don't. Perhaps you mistake it for motivation and try to turn it into purpose. Try to use it to fuel your power in the light side of the force. But Sina sees it for what it is. A scar. A scourge. A pestilence. Perhaps you're not beyond saving. But if you continue to cling to that sense of... vengeance, perhaps? It will slowly but surely eat away at you until it drives you to the dark side. Until it drives you to become just like us. Sina hopes she gets to see that. She would love to study your transition. But Sina feels that if she stays here any longer, she won't get to see that, nor anything else for that matter. So, Sina will heed your warning and leave you be for today. But, Sina hopes to see you again soon. Should... or rather when you turn, come seek out Sina. She would love to study your transition."

Sina turned her back on the jedi and stepped up next to Risha. Sina gingerly placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sina recommends you come with her. This is not a fight we ever had a chance of winning." As she walked past Risha, Sina glanced back at the boy, Jexz. She winked at him, and reached out with the force, speaking directly into his head. "See you soon." He would recognize the force energy as the same that had tried to reach into his head earlier in the day. With that, Sina walked back out the door through which she had come.

@Jexz @Autumn's Firefly @Nyxova

 

[Jexz Kira]

Jexz kept his eyes on the woman in front of him. Taking in a slow deep breath as his eyes looked at the weapon again before looking back at Risha once again. He continued to hold the lightsaber in his hand towards the center point of his body. But he wasn't going to strike, he might not have the skill in combat like the other three. But he could at least block and try to counter. He had gone for the decision to keep on the defensive if he did it might buy Aliyah time to best the other threat first before going for him. But then an idea came to his mind. It was sneaky, to say the least, but it just might work.

"It takes two to fight, the victor decides the outcome be it you or your opponent in the end, that's why I said it the way I did. I have no enemies. You are not my enemy you are a challenge and something to learn from. I came to this planet to learn something, guess I am learning how to fight"

He heard what Aliyah then said, dual phase, mimic my movements and follow my lead. Being back to back like this would prove interested to try and follow her lead. His skin felt almost to buzz with something, it was as though the hairs on every part of his skin stood on end. Taking in a slow deep breath as he lowered his stance for a moment

"I trust you, Aliyah, I won't let you down"

He then looked at Risha

"I am your opponent not her, focus on me"

For a moment it felt as though time was stopping for him, though his heart raced with the fight and flight. The way that his breathing became slightly faster. Everything for that moment after his words seemed like they slowed. He had just committed himself battle. To what could mean life and death. But he couldn't hide forever not with everything that had been going on. Not now, even if he was scared it was time to become stronger.

It was then that he heard the words the one behind him was saying, the sound of a saber deactivating. Regardless of that, he remained steadfast with the blade in his hand, taking in slow deep breaths. Hearing the mention of a dark cloud, it caused him to frown for a moment and turn his head slightly to look towards Aliyah. Was she really fueled by vengeance, not that he could blame her in the end? With all that had gone in the end, losing the person close to her. Chewing on his tongue for a few moments, with that he took a slight step back to push his back a bit more against Aliyah

"He wouldn't want you to make that transition"

He said in a half whisper, his eyes watched as Sina moved next to Risha and place a hand on her shoulder at the comment of not fighting. Waiting to see what she would do.

It was then he heard the voice in his head, the feeling was the same as before. She was the one that had been in his head as his eyes opened wider looking towards Sina, gripping the saber slightly tighter​

 

[Risha Sharro]

Needling the Jedi would ordinarily not upset Risha, but then the circumstances were not ordinary. Sina had opted to stand down and leave the Jedi to their business. Worse yet, the Knight touched her and counseled the Risha join her in retreat.

The Force held by the Jedi woman had not escaped noticed. It was a threat. Facing the woman alone -- assuming the young man stood back and watched with glee -- would be... reckless. However, Risha could not just turn around and walk away. Not when a Jedi stood on Imperial ground about to plunder what now belonged to the Empire.

As Aliyah glowed with the Light, Risha thrust her metaphysical hand into the Dark Forge. Her clenched teeth parted long enough to hiss in Sith, "Galez tave hadzuska qitrazebasyutr tu'iea vele ir mezdi zo jviete jana." It lost something in the translation, but it was nothing kind toward her fellow Knight.

"Asilas." (Curse.) Really, what more needed to be said? Risha was standing off against two opponents in an underground chamber. Now she was the one out numbered and at a strategic disadvantage.

Her fingers tightened about the firm grip of the sword in hand. Carefully Risha reached behind and into a pack on her back to retrieve a slender rod. Brought forward, the amber eyes of the Pureblood never wavered from the two intruders. "You have three minutes to escape," she intoned as her thumb pressed down on the tip of the rod. "Or you will become permanent residents of the Empire." Risha shifted to one side of the entrance to the stairwell so the two could pass when they were ready.

If subjugating her opponent in battle was not possible, then Risha would make the most of the situation Sithly possible. Hopefully the Jedi would hurry to collect something of value and leave something less important behind.

@Jexz @Autumn's Firefly @Yuan

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

-Believe-
​

In the way of her father's people, a new name formed in her mind. Similar to Sith tradition, but yet, something else entirely. Not evil, not even good, just an eternal flame that burned in her heart and threatened to consume her whole. Alius knew the boy was walking out of here in one piece, in the same way she knew that any Imperial that attempted to stop her would be carved to pieces by her blades, and shattered beneath the righteous fury of the Jedi. A shrill laugh escaped her lips as her hand went up, as Alius cocked her head to the blade that started to form in the Sith's palm.​

"Fools. I AM ALREADY DEAD! I know what I have to do, and the two of you are just in my way. Move." Her left hand outstretched in an attempt to throw the Sith Pureblood from her location into the hardest object on the wall nearby; a statuette of a Twi'lek Jedi Knight's head. It would be a painful attack, and it would knock her senseless, if not unconscious. The boy's conversation would continue in mere moments, but this was a situation she would handle personally. They where right, and they where wrong in so many ways. She was angry. No, she was FURIOUS. She knew it too, but she didn't care. Aliyah, as she was, died that day and every day since Venatus had passed.

And she was on the other side of the room in mere seconds, bringing the right azure blade in a crescent fury toward's Sina's chest, a smile playing across her face as fire danced above her eyes. Jexz would be safe.

All would be well.

@Nyxova @Sina @Jexz