[u]=Behind a Turret on the Edge of the Battlefield=[/u] [i]A collaboration between Nariata and Exodus[/i] The situation was worsening. With the Dark Jedi only just starting to split up, Varrik would have to wait before he moved, otherwise they'd be easily outnumbered. Luckily, none of them had engaged him before he was greeted by a friendly face. "It's odd that we find ourselves back to back." [color=gold]"Master Kiana! A most fortunate surprise indeed. Though, not any more odd than any other two Masters meeting eachother."[/color] "The two of us that have seen the Dark side of the force and both have rejected it. Let us hope that that choice served to extend our lives rather than shorten them." He nodded once, suddenly understanding. [color=gold]"... Indeed..."[/color] Varrik made no secret of his use of both sides of the Force. The Force, light or dark, was a tool to be used. Using the dark side of the Force made one prone to corruption, yes, but so long as it could be kept under control, it could be used safely. He'd rather break the Jedi code and complete the mission rather than fail and die. That being said, his opinion on the matter was obviously that of the minority, and his behavior was tolerated, so he felt no need to fight the Order on it. He was just about to suggest a plan of action to Kiana when another familiar Jedi appeared before them. [color=00aeef]“Master Varrik, Master Kiana. I am here to support you."[/color] [color=gold]"That was a well-timed appearance, Master Vishara. You're just in time to help us break back through to the temple. It would take more Dark Jedi than they've got in any one place to overwhelm the three of us together."[/color] He scratched his beard as he formulated a plan. [color=gold]“But we still don't want them to come running... So here's what I'm thinking... If we cut straight through, they'll notice, and [i]then[/i] we'll get swarmed. Instead, we're going to skim along the edge, keeping a low profile. They're further in towards the temple than we are right now, which gives us just enough surprise to use to our advantage. Keep your lightsabers unignited, and they might not notice which side you’re on. The clones will cover us from behind, except for 3354, who I want here on recon. Keep us updated on new shuttles.”[/color] [color=lightgray]“Yessir.” [/color] [color=gold]“Alright. Let’s move.”[/color] Before he started moving, he noticed a single Dark Jedi, a woman, sitting down on the field. She was meditating, and he could feel her strength with the Force. She was different than her peers on the field; more powerful. He wasn't going to sit and wait for her to make a move. Instead, he beckoned the other two Jedi with him, and started moving away. He hadn't noticed that she'd since lifted off the ground, nor had he realized he just put his own man in danger. ----- [i][b] [/b][/i] Anora sensed that the Jedi were moving away as a group. She reached out through the force, though her connection with the Jedi dimmed with every passing second. A thousand ideas on how to procede filled her head, before she settled on a show of force to start. [i][b]"Ardur."[/b][/i] She spoke [i][b]"Do you have a shot on the clone trooper standing seven feet to the right of the turret?"[/b][/i] Her eyes remained closed yet she could sense the clone soldiers determenation to hold his ground, standing out like a bright light on a dark winters night. [i][b]"I do."[/b][/i] He replied. Hesitating for a second, she responded with [i][b]"Take your shot."[/b][/i] It took just a few seconds for the Mandalorian marksman to firet. In his possesion was a modified Corellian laser sniper rifle, sporting a much longer barrel, higher zoom scope as well as a more powerful energy cell. The beam from the laser would impact in an instant on the clone CT-3354. Without a sound being made, save for the gargled noises coming from the throat of the clone, the laser punched a hole straight through his armor. The beam was so powerful, in fact, that it burned a dark black scorch mark on the ground oppositie side of where it went through the clone. [i][b]"Have the Neo-Crusaders attack on my signal."[/b][/i] She responded as he continuted floating. There was no sound. Only a ripple in the Force, as a life was ripped away. Varrik stopped moving and confirmed his suspicions. CT-3354 was dead, and Varrik knew it was his fault... He started moving towards the temple again. The guilt would have to wait. Anora reached out in the force once more, this time sensing the Jedi trying to run. [i][b]"Cute."[/b][/i] She spoke. She could feel the guilt in the Jedi's heart over an action he could not have predicited. [i][b]"If you won't come willingly."[/b][/i] She spoke as her eyes flew open. [i][b]"Then I'll force you."[/b][/i] Her right hand quickly clenched into a fist, using the force to grab ahold of the Jedi. As her grip grew stronger around him, she felt his pace come to a stop and slowly did she pull him off the ground. A smile spread across her face as she forced her arm back, pulling the Jedi along with it. Her eyes carefully watched the Jedi as he flew backwards, before releasing her grip on him as he neared the ground. He was caught off-guard when he was lifted and jerked backwards, hitting the ground with a roll and springing up in the same motion. Standing face-to-face with his attacker, he realized who it was: the Dark Jedi woman. Luckily, his lightsaber hadn't been knocked from his hand. He spun it in his hand into position, not breaking eye-mask contact, as he ignited the single yellow blade. Anora still remained floating several inches above the ground as the Jedi rolled off the impact and ignited his blade. Levitating her body up high enough for her legs to reach full length, she slowly lowered her body down until her feet were once again on the ground. Her eyes never left the Jedi, however, and she was careful not to lose her guard so soon. [i][b]"Good afternoon, Jedi."[/b][/i] She spoke in a emotionless tone. She extended her arms out to her sides, and open her palms up. Grabbing hold of her lightsabers with the force, she quickly pulled her blades into her hands. [i][b]"You are unlike the other Jedi."[/b][/i] She said plainly. She ignited her lightsabers, one at a time, before giving them a twirl in her hands. Her eyes caught sight of a male Twi-Lek Jedi rushing over from the tower. In one quick motion, she deactivated her right hands lightsaber and used the force to levitate it in the air. Pulling back her right hand, she focused and reached out with the force towards the Jedi. Her right hand shot with blinding speed, sending the Twi-Lek Jedi flying backwards towards the defense tower, impacting with a solid and audible thud. As her lightsaber slowly decended back into her hand, she was annoyed by the attempted interuption. [i][b]"Send in the Crusade."[/b][/i] She spoke over her headset to her soldiers nearby. In an instant, the Neo-Crusaders sprung from their hiding places. These soldiers were adorned with the armor of the Neo-Crusanders of old, think sloping armor being the common theme among them. Each carried with them a Blaster Rifle and a vibroblade, yet they were cannon fodder as far as Anora was concerned. Mandalorians too new to war to fight in the armor of the Mandalores Fist, yet driven by their desire to prove themselves in battle. A crude force, yes, but a easily motivated one. [i][b]"Since we won't be disturbed by your friends, may we have a chat?"[/b][/i] She said as she pushed off the ground with the force, jumping closer to the Jedi while slashing out with her blades. He kicked off the ground with his heel, using the force to slide backwards. His feet only moved about an inch off the ground, and his legs barely moved at all. Before he landed, he had a second lightsaber, this one with a purple blade, drawn and ignited. Her blades were shorter than normal; his saberstaff wasn't suitable. [color=gold]"Sounds harmless enough,"[/color] he retorted. [color=gold]"About?"[/color] He waited for her to make a move. She had his full attention, now. He was ready. [i][b]"About the only thing that matters to us."[/b][/i] She said as she twirled her lightsabers once more, spinning them at a blindly fast rate. [i][b]"Balance."[/b][/i] She said as she first threw out her left hand saber, before throwing the right hand one. He stepped forward, making two quick motions. his left saber to the left, and right saber to the right, knocked both of his attackers' on the ground. Using the force, Anora pulled on her lightsabers, forcing the twin blades back towards the Jedi. Fully expecting the reaction, he pushed out with the Force on both sides, just enough to guide the two sabers around his body. He used the motion to wind up into two swings just as they returned to her hands. Anora quickly caught her blades and in an instant met the Jedi strike with crossed blades above her head. The impact forced Anora down on one knee for a second. Using the force to assist her, Anora forced the blades of the Jedi off her own with a thrust upwards and force jumped backwards, geting some distance once more between the two. She twirled her sabers in her hands once more as she cautiously eyed the Jedi before her. [i][b]"You're very fast."[/b][/i] She commented. She moved slowly to her left before charging the Jedi once more. At the last second her arms flung out to the sides, before being pulled back in towards the midsection of the Jedi. [color=gold]"Wouldn't be the first time I've heard that,"[/color] Varrick said suggestively, with a grin. He moved his arms in sync, slashing upwards with his sabers to knock the attack upwards and out of the way. Anora twirled the blades in her hand, using the force of the deflection to flip the bade in her hands before lunging out with her right hand in a stab. He slid to his right to avoid the stab, and came down with his own right saber at her arm. Anora spun her body, both slashing once more with a backhand strike from her right hand saber while catching the strike with her left hand saber. Varrik leaned back out of the way of her right hand saber, before using the same kickback slide technique to put a couple feet between them. [color=gold]"Who are you, and what do you want?"[/color] Anora slowly brought back her arms close to her hips as she hesitated to speak for a second. [i][b]"My name is Anora."[/b][/i] She said as she deactivated her lightsabers, knowing full well she could activate them in an instant. She took a second to continue, prefering to let the sounds of the neaby battle drift over to their ears. [i][b]"And I'm here to end your oppresive order."[/b][/i] Varrik kept his lightsabers lowered, but didn't retract their blades. He was [i]waiting[/i] for the blaster bolt out of nowhere, or a surprise attack from behind. He started circling her as he spoke. [color=gold]"The Jedi serve the people, not the other way around."[/color] He twirled the yellow blade around once. [color=gold]"... You singled me out. Why?"[/color] [i][b]"Because you think different, the Jedi who were with you felt like the others. Cold, distant, and confined."[/b][/i] She twirled her deactivated lightsabers in her hand. [i][b]"Tell me Master Jedi, are you like them? Do you believe in restricting the force like the rest of them? Or do you yearn to be freed from your shackles?"[/b][/i] [color=gold]"I'm guessing you already know the answer to those questions. But now, [i]you[/i] tell [i]me.[/i] Do you see shackles?"[/color] [i][b]"Indeed i do."[/b][/i] She answered plainly as he raised her lightsaber hilt and pointed it at the Jedi. [i][b]"I see the chains of an order that promises peace, but only brings ruin to those it's sworn to protect."[/b][/i] Pausing as she ignited the blade. [i][b]"Tell me, Master Jedi, would the monster Palpatine have existed if you Jedi denied the force in it's entirety?"[/b][/i] Pausing as she deacivated it once more. [i][b]"Ignorance breeds fear, fear breeds hate and hate breeds violence."[/b][/i] Pausing as she brought her sabers close to her chest, crosing them a few feet in front of them before igniting them once and for good. [i][b]"The Jedi Order is no better than the Sith."[/b][/i] He raised an eyebrow. [i]'the monster Palpatine?'[/i] She obviously had no Sith aspirations. Good. [color=gold]"Palpatine wasn't born out of ignorance... No."[/color] He flourished the purple lightsaber as he spoke. [color=gold]"Power corrupts. It's as simple as that, and it takes extreme self-restraint to not seek more once you've got a taste. Some people can't help themselves. Although... I'd agree with you on the part about ignorance."[/color] He let the comment about the Jedi being no better than the Sith slide. He wasn't going to argue even deeper philosophy in a warzone. [i][b]"Master Jedi, we shall continue this talk another time."[/b][/i] She said as an explosion echoed from the turret. Her Neo-Crusaders, while badly beaten, had managed to get an explosive device inside the gun turret causing it to explode in a ball of fire. [i][b]"There is no light side, nor is there a dark."[/b][/i] Her body shifted backwards, bracing for another force jump. [i][b]"There is only the force."[/b][/i] She spoke as she force jumped bacwards a few paces. [i][b]"Until we meet again, Master Jedi."[/b][/i] She started to run away from the scene as fast as she could. Nearby the sounds of a jetpack flying through the air could be heard as one of the Mandalorian mercanaries came flying in. Anora force jumped into the air, right hand stretched towards the sky. The Mandalorian grabbed hold of her arm, and began to carry her towards their next destination. As she flew away she kept her eyes locked on the Jedi. Varrik watched her as she was carried away by the Mandalorian, and retracted the purple blade. [color=gold]"... Anora..."[/color]