[IC] A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"A solid form, fits fighters of a smaller stature well." Drawing both my sabers from their place on the belt, I spin the cylinders in my palms before catching them and igniting the silver and orange blades. "If you're confident, go ahead."

[Lord Greshh]

Jude Sucal

Raising my blade to chin level, I take a step forward and leap at Jerus, slashing diagonally.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

The silver lightsaber lanced forwards as if to block the attack before it suddenly deactivated as I spun around the boy, planting a relatively gentle kick to his rump to stumble him further forwards. "Ataru is a fast form, but it requires that your opponent engage you in a place that plays to it's acrobatic moves. Even with the Force and a lightsaber, you're still far too vulnerable in the air and if your real opponent figures that out before you force them to block, well," I reactive the silver blade, "their reminder will be far less gentle."

[Lord Greshh]

Korré

The sudden flash of movement draws may attention towards Jude and Jerus. Normally, I didn't care for violence, but lightsaber combat always felt more like an art.

Jude Sucal

I narrow my eyes. "A real opponent would not have the luxury of seeing my attack before it came! I purposely made my movements obvious to give you ample time to block!" I return to a ready stance. "In a real fight, I'd have struck from stealth, and finished my opponent off quickly and lethally."

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"More often than not, you won't have the chance to gain stealth." I spin one saber into a reverse hand grip, the orange blade, and slide into a ready stance. "But if you feel so confident you can win so easily, feel free to give it your best."

[Lord Greshh]

Jude Sucal

I quickly glance around the sunny courtyard. "Well, I can't do it NOW! There is no stealth for me to take! How am I supposed to-" Suddenly, while still feigning distress, I spin and lung at Jerus, ducking under his blade and slashing at his legs.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

I leap up and over the cheap shot, landing on the other side of Jude and beginning to strike in an odd pattern due to the reverse grip of the orange saber. Thrusts quickly transferred into slashes and slashes into blocks and thrusts. However, I seem to create a pair of openings for Jude to exploit, hoping to pull him in to a trick that carried a powerful lesson.

[Lord Greshh]

Jude Sucal

I see an opening in Jerus' defense. I'd been waiting for something like this. From the way he spun his lightsabers, I could tell this bounty hunter was all flash and no fury. With a slight smirk, I stab at the weak spot, hoping to score a decisive hit.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

Without any indication, I spin away from the thrust, Jude likely realizing too late that he'd been baited into make a mistake as the silver blade deactivated that I might knock his weapon free of his hand and then I drop into a low kick that knocks his feet out from under him and plants him firmly on his back. The silver blade hisses back to life and with practiced ease, I combine the hilts at their bottoms and put the orange blade to his throat, the heat more than a little unbearable. "You're overconfident, you're cocky and you rely on what you see and not enough on your instincts."

I step back and then step back a few more steps. "In a real duel, that feint would have been the end of your fighting career, if not your life. Stop thinking and trust your instincts."

[Lord Greshh]

Jude Sucal

I grit my teeth. I wanted to scream; to release my anger against Jerus. Instead of building up to fuel my power, though, I feel my rage burning away, like water turning to steam. Maybe because I knew he was right, or maybe I just didn't have the drive to keep fighting. With a sigh of annoyance, I sit up. "I will... remember what you have said... and incorporate it into my training regiment."

Korré

Gives a polite golf clap. "Well done! Both of you!" I glance at Xan hoping to see at least some reaction. unfortunately, she is as stone faced as ever, staring down at the courtyard vacantly.

Iwan Starsnow

I look over to where Jude and Jerus have been sparring. Part of me is happy to finally see Jude put in his place... but I'm not the type of person to rub it in his face. Maybe next time he and I train together, he'll remember this lesson in humility. I will likewise remember what Zar'kun has taught me.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"Good. Now then, one more bout, no tricks, no gimmicks. We'll see where your training in Ataru has left you and build on Shien some. Your father is likely to send blaster wielding soldiers as well as members of the Former Revolution."

[Lord Greshh]

Jude Sucal

I climb to my feet, reactivating my lightsaber. With a determined look in my eye, and a slight smile on my lips, I assume the Ataru ready stance and prepare for a real match.

END OF SCENE

[Lord Greshh]

Cosen Greshh

I sit in a cell aboard the Kandosii-type Dreadnought serving as Mandalore's flagship. I have been separated from my brother, Gavin, and as more time passes, my worry for him grows. Though we were both severely weakened do to the ritual we preformed at Freedon Nadd's tomb, he had clearly suffered greater than I. The Mandalorians had supplied us with kolto and a place to recover, but that was the extent of their hospitality. For days, he'd been locked up at their camp like animals, but at least we were together. Now, having been hauled aboard this ship and split apart, and given no information of where we were going or why we were being dragged alone, I was started to run out of patience.

I look out of the cell at the Mandalorian standing guard. "Hey! What's the point of all this, huh? Why all the secrecy?"

[Zarkun]

Temari Ordo

Despite everything the two Gressh twins had been rumored to have done, plus what Manda'lor had confirmed besides all that, the two were spared and allowed to continue living. My adoptive son, Jerus, wouldn't have hesitated had he found them, a part of Mando'ade culture I'd imparted to him during his training. However, the demands of the female Twi'lek finally pushed me past my limits. "Because you are still prisoners of Manda'lor, and are in no need to know the details unless she herself chooses to tell you." I shake my head.

"I only hope that the decision to spare your lives doesn't hamper our objective in all this."

[Lord Greshh]

Cosen Greshh

"So, you are planning something big! Another strike against the Republic?" I get up close to the force field of my cell. "I can help you. If Mand'alor would just listen to what I have to say, she'd understand we are on the same side!"

[Zarkun]

Temari Ordo

I turn to the Twi'lek girl and snarl, slamming my fist into the force cage near her head. "Listen well, girl. You are not worth trusting, having tried to kill both Manda'lor and her chosen mate. And as an ally of convenience, you would be no more trustworthy than a viper on a leash. So do yourself a favor and be silent unless your opinion is wanted."

[Lord Greshh]

Cosen Greshh

I jump back from the force field, then crawl to the far corner of the cell. I glare back at Temari. "Crazy old schutta! You want to get yourselves killed with another pointless crusade, be my guest!"

Hunter Twilight / Kamari Ordo

I walk into the cell block. "That's funny coming from a you. A Revolution member and a Sith, betrayed both her own people. You want us to trust you? You can't even trust your own kind!" I look at Temari. She is one of the most revered veterans of Clan Ordo. The fact that she chose to step aside to allow my father to lead the clan, and instead chose to serve as our combat instructor, spoke highly of her character. I give her a respectful bow of my head as I approach her. "Ignore this besom dar'jetii, combat master. She is not worth the effort."

[Zarkun]

Temari Ordo

"Manda'lor has deemed her worth something, young Kam, and I trust none other to keep an eye on her." I turn away from Kosen to face Kam directly. "I take it, since you are here, Manda'lor would like a word with this rawl?" None had been in to speak with the Gressh twin other than herself and occasionally young Kam, the son of Clan Ordo's chieftain. Though, as was this case, it was usually only because she was making an outburst as he came in. "I fear she knows nothing of what she expects her to."

[Lord Greshh]

Hunter Twilight / Kamari Ordo

"The twins know our destination well enough, and have had ties to both the Revolution and Republic SIS. Mand'alor hopes to use that to her advantage." I walk to the cell. "If you really want to 'help', you'll tell us everything you know."

Cosen Greshh

"Let me out of this cell, and let me see my brother, and I'll think about it."

Hunter Twilight / Kamari Ordo

I squint through the orange tinted energy field. "You don't make the calls, jai'galaar. Mand'alor does, and if she decides it wise to allow you to see your brother, or walk free, than so be it. But, seeing as how you are locked up, and your brother is not here..." I move back to Temari, speaking quietly. "Has the other given you much trouble? I have heard he suffers greatly, yet the medics can not find any wound upon him."

[Zarkun]

Temari Ordo

"No, he has not. One medic theorizes that his ailment may be related to the Force, and if that's true, it is far beyond our power to handle."