Heat

What Are You Listening To?

Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath

~| The Jedi Temple on Coruscant |~
~| Day 1, 11th hour |~

Denso vs Nisk, Heart of the Temple Room

“Of course Only fools play fair and expect to overcome the odds,” Nisk retorted. His body twisted and legs came to land heavily on the floor, his blade ready for another strike. His eyes caught the low sweeping leg of Denso causing Nisk to Jerk his feet up then back, flipping from the attack. It had been close when thanks to the Zabrak’s heighten hearing, he managed to catch the scrapping of the knight’s heel over the marble.

Nisk’s free hand reached out, the moment he landed on his feet, then ripped it back. A chunk that had fallen during the temple’s raid shot forward at the right side of Denso’s back with the intention of distracting him.

Denso watched as the Zabrak Sith caught sight of the approaching leg sweep, and in response flipped upwards and narrowly avoid the attack. The Jedi cursed to himself as he kept his eyes focused on the tricky apprentice. He watched as Nisk’s free hand jerked outwards, the sign of a Force power being used. He was not certain which one until he sensed something approaching him. He shot his eyes backwards and noted the large chunk of debris hurdling towards him.

The Jedi Knight propelled himself backwards with the Force, letting out a grunt as his body launched itself into the air, doing a flip. Denso landed cleanly, his weapons still lit as the chunk of debris rolled to the side with a loud rumble. He took a defensive stance, one blade forward the other slightly lowered, his entire body tilted sideways as he stared down Nisk. Then he swung out one his left hand, two of the fingers raised as he grasped the same chunk of debris that had been thrown at him, and launched it in Nisk’s direction.

Nisk’s teeth snarled in frustration. His breath slightly winded and heavy, his energy wading from the continual flipping and getting nowhere. He couldn’t keep this up for much longer. A pull at his attention as his sixth sense warned him, his head turned to spot the chunk of debris come back. His legs bunched, pushing off the floor moments before it reached him. He didn’t let it land on the ground. Instead, his right foot caught the edge then kicked over toward Denso.

As the Jedi dealt with the chunk, Nisk’s feet came to rest upon the ground and his hand shot out in a vicious gesture. Force Lightning rippled from his open palm then thrusts it at the Jedi.

Denso could see the frustration boiling on the Sith’s face, the Jedi watched as Nisk avoided the debris and flung them back at his direction. The Kiffar slide to the side, avoiding the chunk as it rolled past him. He planted his feet on the ground, then watched as the Sith’s hand rose up once more, and a fearsome bolt of lightning burst from his palm. The war hardened Knight had been on the end of Force lightning before, it was an overly brutal and flashy power, keeping the calmness through his frame, he rose both of his lightsabers up as the arc of lightning shot towards him. Then nearly held them against each other as they absorbed the lightning.

With another groan, he started moving his feet forward, his lightsabers raised in the same position as he parried the assault. As Denso began to close the distance he lunged forward with a yell, twirling both lightsabers as he bounded towards Nisk, aiming to strike the Sith with two consecutive powerful blows.

Nisk was beginning to slow down from the attacks, the acrobatics not the best for his race and drained large reserves of energy. His hand came to horizontally block the first strike coming at his right, catching it on the broad side of the blade. He shoved it away as the other comes from the direction. His foot steps back, bring distance, just as the blade grazes his thigh and his blade whipped out with a counter strike at the Kiffar’s arm, an attempt to slice it off and disarm him.

Denso watched as the Zabrak managed to block his first attack, the second swing grazes into the Sith’s thigh. The Jedi was put right back on the defensive as a counter attack came from Nisk. Denso brought up his lightsaber, catching the attack and blocking it from landing. He could hear the Sith’s lightsaber shimmer from how close the attack came to landing. Then with his other lightsaber Denso swung from the side, attempting to cleave it into Nisk’s unguarded hip and hopefully bringing this fight one step closer to an end.

With his energy running on low, Nisk cursed under his breath when the lightsaber blades locked. His muscles bulged and his hands pushed at the advancing blade, but he couldn’t get it to disengage. Denso’s arms pressed dangerously closer with each force as the blade pressed to his thigh causing the flesh to burn and sizzle on touch. Nisk let out a scream before he gave one last shove and pushed Denso away, leaving the surface of his leg burnt from the blade’s touch. He couldn’t risk jumping since he could barely stand on it.

His chest heaved up then down, trying to determine his options. All of them were slim and quickly drying up as the fight continued. His blade pulled up into a defensive position then darted his head to the nearest corridor, clearly considering an avenue for escape.

Denso watched as the frustration boiled over in Nisk’s expression. A scream escaped his opponent’s lips as the blade made contact with the Sith’s body. He could practically smell the lightsaber burning the Zabrak’s flesh, a scent the battle tested Jedi knew all too well. For a brief second it pulled him away from the battle at hand, memories flashing through his mind before he was brought back to the present by Nisk’s hard shove.

The Jedi stared at his enemy, noticing the man’s eyes dart towards a hallway. Some would call it a cowardly tactic, but it could be taken as a retreat. Still, Denso would not allow the Sith to get away. He shot his hand upwards, lifting his index and middle fingers off the handle. He reached out with the Force and then raised his fingers up rapidly, aiming to use the Force to push the weakened Sith hard into the ceiling.

Nisk had been distracted for a brief moment when his sixth sense flickered, gaining his attention. His head snapped back as Denso tried to move him and send him into the ceiling. The Zabrak’s own force countered it causing his feet to lift slightly from the ground and immediately fall back downward, landing hard. His leg crumbled a bit bring him down to one knee for a brief moment. A window of opportunity for Denso to strike.

Realising this, Nisk tried to push himself back up and quickly before the Knight could bring his blade down upon him.

The Jedi Knight saw the opportunity for a decisive strike and took it. He lunged forward, as he drew closer he brought both of his lightsaber blades down as he stabbed at Nisk. He wanted this battle to end, it was likely that he would have to fight more Sith while they were invading the Temple and he would need to prepare for that.

A sith apprentice on their death was like a cornered animal. Nisk was no different as his head lifted and spotted the Knight rush toward him, his eyes widened in panic. On instinct his free hand raise then released a stream of force lightning at Denso. His other hand lifted to block the attack heading to stab into his chest.

Denso watched as Nisk’s eyes shot open and he shot a stream of Force lightning at the charging Jedi Knight, a last ditch effort to save his skin. As the first sparks drew nearer, he rose one of his lightsabers up and blocked the lightning. Then with a grunt he thrust his other lightsaber straight down, aiming right at the Sith’s chest.

Nisk stiffened in his semi-kneeling posture, the scent of burning flesh and a stinging sensation rippled from his chest. His head tilted down to see the hilt of Denso’s blade protruding from it. Acknowledgement over the death about to wash over him seep into his expression while he slow lock eyes with Denso. His lips speak the last words he will ever utter again.

“Well done… Jedi,” his figure then slouches down and over, the lightsaber continued to cut the dead sith in half.

Denso drew the lightsaber back from the Sith’s body, then flicked it off, as well as his other one. He gave Nisk one final look, blinking at the last words which emitted from the now deceased Sith. He then cleared his mind of the apprentice, he had cut down many Sith before. Part of him was always saddened that they had ended up going down that path instead of becoming a Jedi, but he could not change that now. They had picked their side. He then turned back to the others, ready to defend the Temple more.

What Are You Listening To?

No Turning Back - Into the Abyss

Inside the android's rebooting mind images and data swirled, trillions of numbers and signals pulsed throughout his entire frame. It was more comparable to a computer turning on than a man awakening from unconsciousness. Outwardly, Michael took in a deep breath and his whole body shook as his eyes shot wide open. His ocean blue irises stared at his surroundings as the hominoid machine sat up, wires underneath his synthetic skin sending signals for him to resume movement. In his right hand he still clenched the alien orb, scattered around him on the floor were several of the dead insects that had been caught in his electromagnetic pulse.

As he rose to his feet and took in his surroundings, he noticed a large cluster of the same hostile lifeforms approaching him, an absolutely massive horde which covered the ground as they slinked towards him, cutting off the original path he had taken. Michael blinked, his memory banks detailing another route back to the Beast. If he got inside of there then there was no chance the creatures could get to him. He had to get the orb back to the Ark, it fascinated him deeply and was utterly certain the other scientists would have the highest amount of interest in it as well.

As they drew nearer Michael started to run, moving faster than any human could. The horde of insects moved faster, scurrying over branches, grass and rocks as Michael full on sprinted now, faster than even the top Olympic sprinters that ran for gold back when Earth was still humanity's home. He was a distance away from the Beast, though his high tech sensors allowed him to paint an ideal route right back to the vessel. If he were an actual human he would be hopelessly lost, but then again if he were a human he would also be dead from the strange insects.

He leaped over a downed tree, soaring through the air with his legs raised. As soon as he landed he resumed the sprint, he dashed through the alien wilderness, taking a sharp turn. Michael did not bother looking back to see if the insects were closing in on him, he had no time to stop. As he ran, his breathing showed no signs of stress from the heavy exercising. He only took calm and composed inhales and exhales as he moved, as he went through a clearing another horde of insects came from his left side. Cutting off his path, he immediately shifted his body diagonally, his mainframe establishing an alternate route, through a thicker forest.

The android continued his sprint, inwardly he could tell he was drawing closer to the Beast. He weaved between trees, juking and sliding around them as he kept the rapid, almost inhuman movements. Another short clearing appeared and Michael sprinted down it, pumping his arms as he kicked his legs out in his forward movement. Showing machine fluidity with each step.

Suddenly another line of insects appeared, galloping from one side of the underbrush and blocking his path. Michael did a rapid calculation, then launched himself into the air, propelling himself in a forward leap over the horde of hostile lifeforms. As he shot over them, the creatures began to climb upwards attempting to latch onto the android. But he landed cleanly on the other side of them, and continued his dash. As he shot out of the forest he saw a figure in front of him, Agent Gurrera with a surprised expression on his face.

"There you are, Smith. What the hell happened? I thought you were dead!" The man said, then began to speak into his communicator.

"No time to explain, let's go." Michael replied as he grabbed onto the Agent's arm with his free hand, then yanked the man with him in his running. The Agent catching sight of a gigantic group of hostile insects following behind Michael and the orb.

"Woah, slow down Smith!" Gurrera stammered, surprised at the young man's speed and strength as he pulled the agent along in his stride.

Michael did not release the man's arm in fear of leaving him behind, he did not need a death on his conscious. He was not sure how that would affect him. Definitely not positively. As the android ran back towards the Beast, pulling the human along with him, he took several twists and turns. More and more insects appearing out of the brush and from trees as he had to constantly adjust his path. So much movement at such a speed made Gurrera feel like vomiting, if he wasn't moving his legs as fast as he could to keep up with the android.

Then the Beast came into sight, and the perimeter that had been set up around it. Michael released Gurrera, then slowed down into a jog. He stopped his run as he reached the inside of the perimeter, many around the Beast staring at the newest arrival who many assumed was dead. Gurrera came in a few moments later, gasping for breath as he did. The android copied the labored breathing, giving off the false idea that he was exhausted from such a run back to safety.

Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath

~| The Jedi Temple on Coruscant |~
~| Day 1, 11th hour |~

Denso vs Nisk, Heart of the Temple Room

Denso shot one of his lightsaber blades upwards, the deep blue clashing with the fierce red of the Sith's weapon. He made another defensive movement, as Nisk lashed out his side with another attack. The well trained Jedi Knight blocked the blow, then swung with his other lightsaber, trying to lock the Zabrak's weapon between the blades. He could see the droids near them. He had to tread carefully around the fearsome machines, if he was not careful then they could fire on him with his back turned.

"You're a slippery one, Sith." Denso said with a smirk, then swung his right leg out in a sweeping motion as he tried to trip Nisk and take the aggressive apprentice off his feet.

THE WILD - Interest Check

You had me at western.

What Are You Listening To?

Music Appreciation Thread

@SleepingSilence 4/10, I'm not really a k-pop guy. Not really a pop guy in general, but the song's a bit catchy. The video's pretty cool, if a bit odd.

What Are You Listening To?

72 days until I see them live in concert!

Music Appreciation Thread

@SleepingSilence 6/10, it's okay. Kind of generic, but catchy. Also really sad, I feel like if I got drunk and listened to it I'd be bawling my eyes out.

Now for something totally different.