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Closure: The Duel on Nar Shaddaa
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| Jace_Varitek | Date: Tuesday, 22 Sep 2009, 6:00 PM | Message # 1 |
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The bounty hunter was simultaneously more and less safe than he knew. He had, in many respects, the element of surprise; to return to Nar Shaddaa so soon after Darwin's appearance on the planet (and so soon after he'd killed many of his fellow hunters and, thus, earned the ire of many more), was so unlikely that few would expect it. This, it occurred to Varitek, was either a genius at work, or a tremendous ego. But if Rev's ruse worked on his colleagues, it would not work on a Jedi. Varitek had been pursuing Darwin for months now, and grown accustomed to his old friend's familiar, if twisted, presence; as soon as he'd set foot on the Smuggler's Moon, he sensed not only that Darwin had been there, but that he would be there again. It was the distinct feeling that, for once, he was drawing nearer rather than eluding him again. And so, he waited. He went to the cantinas and casinos and listened; Darwin's appearance on (and departure from) Nar Shaddaa was spoken of everywhere, and so was the trail of dead bounty hunters that had been left behind him. Ambrose Revik was commonly identified as having followed the Sith and, according to some, captured him on nearby Aduba 3. One thing was certain from the news accounts: that Darwin's YT-1300 freighter had been discovered, sabotaged, on Aduba 3. From that piece of information, Varitek used his power of persuasion to peruse a list of privately owned Skipray Blastboats scheduled to arrive on Nar Shaddaa in the coming hours. From there, he simply checked the payment records for reserved landing spaces and found one charged, rather sloppily, to a bank account associated with Am Rev (though, to his credit, he had reserved the pad for his ship under a false name: the Imperious). So it was that Varitek was waiting for the Blastboat when it arrived. The landing platform was suspended over the highrises and the plummeting, black chasms of the city below. Night had fallen, but the platform was still well lit by its floodlights and the columns of speeders, freighters and other vessels passing by on all sides, and above and below. The platform itself was mostly abandoned; there were other ships present (including Varitek's X-Wing, tucked away in a corner), but their pilots had left them for drinks, or a game of cards, or a trip to the brothel. Cargo crates were strewn about, with an occasional binary loadlifter mindlessly arranging them for shipping, oblivious to the goings on around them. The Jedi made no effort to hide his presence—Darwin would have sensed it by now anyway. He simply stood before the Skipray Blastboat as it landed, clad in his usual, modest attire; without his robes, he appeared just as any other denizen of Nar Shaddaa might except, of course, for the lightsaber hilt dangling from his belt (the blaster pistol at his hip, though also conspicuous, was not uncommon to Nar Shaddaa). His hands rested on his belt, determined, waiting.
Jace Varitek
Manager/Administrator from January 2003 to Present
My recent posts here, pre-2009 archives here
"When my information changes, I change my opinion. What do you do, sir?"
—John Maynard Keynes
Furthermore, a dancing Wookiee:
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| Ambrose_Revik | Date: Tuesday, 22 Sep 2009, 9:41 PM | Message # 2 |
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| "Hell," Rev said, looking out the viewport of the Bloodshot at the Jedi (or another Sith?) standing outside on the platform with lightsaber in plain sight; a challenge. His shoulders sagged, exasperated. No rest for the weary, he thought to himself. Or was it "wicked"? He didn't remember, but didn't particularly care as he unstrapped himself from the pilot's seat, stood, and slung his M300 hunting rifle under his arm. He'd been through enough trouble already for this bounty, his patience was wearing thin, and he wasn't about to let anyone stop him. Not now. Not this close to retirement; to that little piece of nowhere he'd talked about before. But he'd have to do this one himself; if he fired off the Bloodshot's guns it would attract too much attention (attention he didn't need), and deal too much collateral damage. He holstered his Luxan and, as he did, noticed his bounty seemingly lost in thought. Rev's eyes narrowed as he regarded him, feeling a sudden anger at just how troublesome this job had become all because of one kid with the gift of the Force, who used that gift to kill women and children. It wasn't the killing of women and children that bothered him so much (although, in truth, it bothered him more than he was willing to admit); rather, it was the absurdity of the situation, of hunters and mercenaries and Jedi and Sith walking over each other and killing each other all for this one kid, sitting pensively in his Blastboat. He shook his head. "I'm demanding another half million, when this is over," he said, and popped open the hatch. "Wait here, hey? Shouldn't take me long." Before Acheron could pose much of an argument, Rev had stepped free of the ship and onto the platform. The annoyance was obvious in his face and his demeanor as he glared down the latest man to stand in his way. "Alright, this is how it is," he called out to him, standing his ground in front of the Bloodshot, "You have no idea the day I've had, and how many of you I've killed since this mornin'. I've been shot at, cursed at, I've done some shootin' and cursin', and I've been cramped in that little gunboat longer than I'd care for. Fair to say, I'm a little angry. Now, I figure if a lesser man had a day like mine he'd have shot you right here and now, but since I'm a nice guy I'm goin' to let you walk away right now so you can tell your little'ns that you met the man who captured Darwin Sky, stared down his barrel and lived to tell about it. Let's call that option 'A.'" "Then there's option 'B,'" he shrugged, smiled, his finger on the trigger of his rifle as it dangled from his shoulder and rested at his hip, its aim on Varitek. "You might have some Force foolery, but I got me an M300 hunting rifle, full bore, thorough gauge, seven shots per second. You think you can block all those with that lightsaber of yours, you go right on ahead and reach for your metal. But remember, I only gotta hit you once. I'm not a gamblin' man, friend, but those odds aren't in your favor." "What's it going to be?"
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| Jace_Varitek | Date: Tuesday, 22 Sep 2009, 11:54 PM | Message # 3 |
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Generalissimo
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| So much for the "genius at work," Varitek thought to himself with rare amusement at the expense of a serious moment. The bounty hunter's blustering no doubt served him well in the seedy cantinas he was accustomed to—where people primarily went to hide and, thus, were already susceptible to intimidation—but in this case his braggadocio was his undoing; while he threatened Varitek at length (evidently enjoying the sound of his own voice), the Jedi Knight was able to muster his concentration and his command of the Force, and ready himself to use it. As a matter of fact, as he went about ignoring Rev's words, the constancy of the bounty hunter's voice had an oddly calming effect much like the proverbial "babbling brook." He cleared his mind of distractions, and in that instant there was only him, the bounty hunter, and the bounty hunter's rifle; the three of them bound together by the Force. He became peripherally aware of Rev's feelings; anger, exasperation, and some sort of profound pain within him that seethed, unrecognized. Somewhere beyond him, a brooding darkness lingered about everything. Darwin. All of this, Varitek ignored. He surrendered himself to the Force, allowed it to move for him; to move the rifle ever so gently, even gracefully, out of the man's grip and away from his finger. That is, it appeared graceful to Varitek, when in reality it was a sudden, violent motion of the Force that pried Rev's rifle out of his hands, cast it aside, and simultaneously threw him back against the durasteel of his ship. The push was a savage one, especially for a Jedi. It was far stronger than was necessary to "knock the wind" from the bounty hunter, and almost certain to induce a concussion—if not immediate unconsciousness—from the impact of the back of his head upon the durasteel (made worse by the contours of his flight suit, which would have the effect of whiplash). Meanwhile, the M300 rifle clattered onto the platform and slid a good distance away; almost, but not quite, over the edge. "Option 'C,'" Varitek answered him, wryly. He hadn't moved a step. It occurred to him that he might have used excessive force, but he quickly dismissed the notion; his patience, too, was wearing thin. The Jedi turned his sad, but determined glare upon the Bloodshot, with Darwin inside. "This has gone on long enough, Darwin," he called out to him, "Come out and let's end this."
Jace Varitek
Manager/Administrator from January 2003 to Present
My recent posts here, pre-2009 archives here
"When my information changes, I change my opinion. What do you do, sir?"
—John Maynard Keynes
Furthermore, a dancing Wookiee:
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| Ambrose_Revik | Date: Wednesday, 23 Sep 2009, 0:17 AM | Message # 4 |
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| Rev had once been a cage fighter, which meant he was used to taking a pounding and quite literally "keeping his head" in the process (of course, he had also been an alcoholic during that period in his life, which made for a new definition of the term "punch drunk"). Many years had passed since then, but though his recollection might be failing him, he could not recall an occasion in his life on which he'd been pummelled quite as hard as he just was. He had, in fact, only felt this way once that he could remember, when he'd forgotten the inertial dampeners on the Bloodshot were disabled and he'd gunned the engines in excess of 12 G's before he'd realized his mistake. The first thing he knew, he was on the ground (having slumped into a sitting position, leaning back against his ship). He wasn't entirely sure that he was on the ground, however, since the platform and the city and the speeders, all of them blurry, continued spinning for some time. Next he became unpleasantly aware that he was struggling to breathe, and began coughing violently—exacerbating a splitting headache that was fast materializing. He slumped even further, now lying on his side, sick to his stomach. But he wasn't unconscious, as the Jedi had suspected; no, it took more than that to knock out ol' Am the Battering Ram, who was never K.O.'d in thirty eight professional fights. He did have a concussion, however. This much he was trained to realize, and rather experienced in. But unfortunately there wasn't much he could do about it now except to wait it out; to vomit, most likely, and then hope that his vision (and balance) would improve enough to take another shot at the son of a bitch that had just decked him. Damn Jedi and their Force foolery. For the time being, however, he could do little else but remain on the ground, gasping for air, incapacitated and angry.
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| Darwin_Sky | Date: Wednesday, 23 Sep 2009, 10:22 AM | Message # 5 |
 Lieutenant colonel
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| The Sith had been kind out of it. Ever since they stopped talking and put in some napping, he had been thinking up of a way to get out of the current state he's in. Technicallly, one could say Am Rev captured Darth Acheron but a good investigative source would find that to be false. Yes, Am Rev had went to Aduba III to capture the Sith but they had to bind a temporary alliance to get themselves off planet. They had to work together to get away from the pirate lord. But all that is moot by now. Darth Acheron had been having a bad feeling about both of them going to Nar Shaddaa the whole trip. He knew it could get nasty, ranging from the crime lords to bounty hunters to Jedi would come look for him. Things are going to get worse now that Am Rev and Darth Acheron had become well-known. Darth Acheron for his typical Sith acts. Am Rev for killing several other bounty hunters gunning for the Sith. Once they had arrived Nar Shaddaa, the bad feeling he have had got worse. It was both based on his instincts and the familiar signature he had picked up through the force. Once he sensed the presence in the force was really strong, it was pretty obvious that this presence is close by. Just about the same time he had picked it up, the bounty hunter was looking out the window and had spotted a Jedi. Darth Acheron knew right away it was his former friend Jace Varitek. "This is going to get really bad." He thought to himself. The lightsaber had already been clipped to his belt the whole time, originally he was going to use it against the bounty hunter should he plan to escape. But now, he knew he had to use it against his true foe. The Sith sighed, he wasn't entirely sure if Am Rev is capable of taking on Jace. That was when Am Rev decided to deal with Jace himself. "No-" Darth Acheron tried to tell Rev but he took off before the Sith could say anything. That was the moment he realized it's better off being captured by Am Rev rather than being captured by Jace. A few moments had passed, the Sith immediately got up off the chair he was sitting on. He rushed to try and prevent the bounty hunter from getting killed. It's a strange thing to do, but the more time he spent inside the Bloodshot, the more he knew he had to work with the guy for a while in order to survive. In the process of getting to the landing ramp, he took off the robes. The Sith prefer to fight without the robes, it has more to do with comfortability. Once he reached the landing ramp, he had witnessed Jace taking the rifle away from the bounty hunter and inflicting what could possibly be a concussion. The poor guy never had a chance. The Sith would look down at Am Rev for a moment, "Half mil you'll have somehow." He whispered to the bounty hunter, before turning his attention toward his former ally. He could hear the violent coughs and difficult breaths coming from Am Rev, but he had no choice but to ignore him for the moment. The anger began to rose rapidly within the Sith. It wasn't because the Jedi knocked out the bounty hunter. Of course, both himself and Jace would know better that it wasn't the reason. It was the fact that Jace had come to confront and possibly end his life right there. The anger and hatred toward the Jedi would give him much more strength than he would have when he's in a calm state. "I see you have retrieved your lightsaber I left for you." He spoke in an obvious tone of anger. While keeping his hand on the lightsaber that was attached to his belt, he spoke out once again. "Darwin Sky is no more. He is dead. I am Darth Acheron." Darth Acheron, not Darwin Sky, would be awaiting either a response from the Jedi or an attack coming.
Message edited by Darth_Acheron - Wednesday, 23 Sep 2009, 10:24 AM |
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| Jace_Varitek | Date: Wednesday, 23 Sep 2009, 8:58 PM | Message # 6 |
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Generalissimo
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| Jace had already decided he'd refuse to refer to Darwin by his preferred title. To the extent that "Darwin Sky" was an identity that the Sith had forsaken, his resulting anger at Jace for mentioning his past would serve the Jedi's purpose. It was a strategy not without risk—reminding Darwin of the trauma of his past, that is—but it was the only way he knew how to remind his old friend that there was still something within him that was, for want of a better word, human. Of course, his opponent might draw more strength from his anger (so the common wisdom held), but Jace disagreed; an enemy blinded with hate is, above all else, an enemy blinded. Jace's own fashion was a methodical and dispassionate one, and he believed that whatever momentary strength that Darwin might find in his anger, it would ultimately cause him to act unwisely, as it had on Tatooine. Still, to say that Varitek himself was entirely dispassionate would be wrong. His pursuit of Darwin had been a long and frustrating one for him, throughout which he'd been more emotionally invested with each latest murder the Sith had committed. His frustration was compounded when the Jedi Academy, always short on capable Knights, had also assigned him to retrieve another colleague, Havoc, who had similarly ventured into the Dark Side. In the back of his mind throughout all of this was the Council's decision to allow Kyp Durron—yet another so called "lapsed" Jedi, who claimed himself possessed by an ancient Sith Lord and proceeded to destroy an entire world—to go free without punishment. Havoc, too, was sentenced mildly. Varitek had to wonder, would Darwin ever see justice for the civilians that he'd killed? He tried not to think of it. He had, afterall, a task before him that required all of his attention. "Is this where you expected to be?" he called out to Darwin, his hands still resting on his belt, "All those months ago on Tatooine did you think after murdering some innocent men, women and children, that you'd be back where you started, facing me? What have you accomplished in these months, Darwin? Tell me." His voice was stern, and decidedly confrontational. There was no sympathy in it; he was done humoring the Sith, and sensed that there was even less of his old friend left than there had been when last they met. But still something worth saving? Perhaps. Time would tell.
Jace Varitek
Manager/Administrator from January 2003 to Present
My recent posts here, pre-2009 archives here
"When my information changes, I change my opinion. What do you do, sir?"
—John Maynard Keynes
Furthermore, a dancing Wookiee:
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| Darwin_Sky | Date: Wednesday, 23 Sep 2009, 9:31 PM | Message # 7 |
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Lieutenant colonel
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| Unlike what Kyp Durron had claimed, he ventured into the dark side on his own. Darth Acheron had decided to join the dark side simply because his perspective on the galaxy was very similar to those of ancient Sith. He had been to Korriban, and Lehon, among several other planets. He was travelling into the ancient borders that does not exist during this time around, which is known as Sith Space. During his travels, he had studied a lot about the ancient Sith Lords. He had admired them, especially Darth Revan, for what they have been shaping the galaxy into. From his perspective, each Sith Lord used the dark side to save the galaxy. How? By strengthening the strong and kill off the weak. Especially Darth Revan, he turned to the dark side for the sake of the galaxy. That's what Darth Acheron wanted to do...in time. The Sith scoffed, staring hard at the Jedi that seems to block his path. "If you must know, I never expected to be on Nar Shaddaa. Like the Jedi, the force also lead the Sith for a reason. But am I surprised that you're standing here, facing me? Of course not. You were always a persistent one. Even for a Jedi, old friend. What have I accomplished the past months? I had acomplished the first step." The Sith would reveal a hint to the Jedi that it was going to get worse, but of course he isn't going to tell his old friend. "If you're thinking about turning me back to the light side of the force, don't bother. The dark side had taught me to take the first step toward a complete and wise leader. The dogmatic Jedi views of the force won't do it, Jedi." The Sith had his left hand taking the lightsaber off the belt. Then he proceed to activate it. The glow of life came out of the lightsaber, and this time it was red. Last time, he was still wearing the Jedi colors on his lightsaber. "My powers have become stronger since the last time we met." He would lower his knees and held his lightsaber above his head as a defensive stance, waiting for his old friend to make a move.
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| Jace_Varitek | Date: Thursday, 24 Sep 2009, 0:27 AM | Message # 8 |
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Generalissimo
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| "The first step?" Jace answered him, incredulously. "So it's all part of your plan, is it? Having more children out there without mothers or fathers—just like you—because of you? Have you forgotten your parents already, Darwin? Have you forgotten the pain that you felt, that now you're spreading to more innocent people?" The Jedi didn't need his sensitivity to the Force (and thus, to Darwin's feelings) to know that his references to his slain parents would enrage him to no end. It was an unpleasant truth, but an important one on which Jace was determined to confront him; "Or have you forgotten them, because you know that they would never have condoned this sort of brutality? The same brutality that claimed them, and claimed you." "Have you forgotten who buried them, Darwin? Who spoke over their graves after you fled? I did. I promised them that the cruelty that was visited on them would not be visited on others in their name. I offered to help you, Darwin—to find the person who was actually responsible, or have you forgotten this too? The man who killed your parents is still out there, but he killed only your parents; how many parents have you killed?" Gone was Varitek's dispassionate facade, for in finally speaking to Darwin the words he'd been thinking for so long he realized, now, just how strongly he really felt on this matter. "You're not making the galaxy a better place," he shook his head, and unclipped the lightsaber from his belt, "You're making it a sadder place." He let a tense silence fill the space between them (that is, silent but for the sound of traffic, the loadlifters, the wind whistling around them, and Am Rev's pitiful coughing; all of them distractions that Varitek had tuned out). "I know who he is," he added, contentiously, after a pause, "the bounty hunter who killed them. I made the effort to find out who, and why. Did you? Or is Darwin Sky—his parents' son—truly gone?" Jace, who was usually so inhibited in many respects, felt an odd sense of release at his rare display of emotion (a tirade, in point of fact). It was fair to say that his words had become more abusive than he'd intended; he recognized this and some remote part of him admonished himself for it, but this he ignored. This wasn't a time for deliberation. He sensed a distinct rage now emanating from Darwin and, oddly, found some satisfaction in it. It was, somehow, invigorating. No, the Jedi assured himself, It's only the adrenaline of the moment. Stay focused.
Jace Varitek
Manager/Administrator from January 2003 to Present
My recent posts here, pre-2009 archives here
"When my information changes, I change my opinion. What do you do, sir?"
—John Maynard Keynes
Furthermore, a dancing Wookiee:
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| Darwin_Sky | Date: Thursday, 24 Sep 2009, 9:50 AM | Message # 9 |
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Lieutenant colonel
Group: Users
Messages: 135
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| The Jedi was right, the hatred within him would build up. "You don't know the truth of the dark side. You don't know the power of the dark side. Do not speak of Darwin Sky again. You forget they are not innocent. They are the enemy of the Sith. They are Republic citizens, and it was the Republic's fault to ally themselves to the petty Order such as the Jedi." Darth Acheron would let out a heavy sigh, trying to keep his hatred and anger under control as the Jedi were speaking under false pretenses. "Do not speak of his parents again. I do not need you to use the pity on his parents in order to turn me down the false path of the Force." "Jedi," He spoke with incredible hatred not only toward Varitek but the Jedi generally, "I have embraced the dark side as the true path of the Force. It gives me strength I need to get rid of the weak. The galaxy needs strong people, like the Imperial Remnant. We do not need the preachings of your kind. During my time as a Sith lord," Yes, Darth Acheron has boldly claimed his title as there aren't many Sith in the galaxy, his overconfidence may be his undoing but only time will tell. "I have learned that the teachings of the Jedi are false. The Council is keeping every Jedi from reaching their potential. The Sith do not. We remain true to the Force!" That was the moment where his eyes would reveal the yellowness that always occured when a lot of Sith gets really angry. The Sith would remain silent for a moment, fueling his hatred but remain in control of it. He watched Varitek that seems to try and keep on convincing him. "You lie. You did not find the bounty hunter. You did not bury Darwin's parents. All you ever wanted to do is to hunt me down and supress me for my beliefs. That is why the Jedi should not exist. They spread their beliefs but put down anyone else's beliefs! Who's true to the Force now? Jedi or Sith?" The Sith would remain in his defensive stance, letting his lightsaber proudly show off their color. Darth Acheron would not attack, not yet. He had a feeling that they still have some talking to do before they battle for their fate. He would sense Am Rev's presence nearby, but he had to ignore him for the moment. Darth Acheron knew he had to deal with his old friend before taking in the bounty hunter. In truth, he knew Varitek already made a mistake of turning the bounty hunter against him. The Sith very well is aware that this duel may well determine the fate of the galaxy.
Message edited by Darth_Acheron - Thursday, 24 Sep 2009, 9:56 AM |
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| Jace_Varitek | Date: Thursday, 24 Sep 2009, 3:03 PM | Message # 10 |
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Generalissimo
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| "Enough!" Varitek shouted back to him, "I told you on Tatooine I'm not here to defend or debate the Jedi or Sith. This isn't about some cosmic struggle; it's about you and me, and the people you've killed. I defy you," he challenged him, "to find where in my words I've mentioned Jedi teachings, or 'dogma.' I've said nothing of the sort, and nothing but the facts. Let no man deny them, no matter how deluded he is." Though deluded Darwin was. The fact that he referred to himself—that is, to Darwin Sky—as a third person suggested to Varitek just how far his mental state, indeed his very identity, had deteriorated into something else; something blind to reason and to passion. Something darker, uglier. The Jedi still believed that his old friend was somewhere inside of "Acheron," but he had been so thoroughly subjugated that, it occurred to Jace, he most likely would never be seen again. Certainly not as he was. And if there was anything left of Darwin, he would know and approve of what Jace had to do. He ignited his lightsaber with a characteristic snap-hiss. "I've not come here as a Jedi," he said, "And I've not come as your friend, as I did on Tatooine. I've come here as a citizen, who lives under the rule of law, not above it. If your leaving here tonight means more people will die, then you will not leave here tonight. It ends now, Darwin."
Jace Varitek
Manager/Administrator from January 2003 to Present
My recent posts here, pre-2009 archives here
"When my information changes, I change my opinion. What do you do, sir?"
—John Maynard Keynes
Furthermore, a dancing Wookiee:
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| Darwin_Sky | Date: Thursday, 24 Sep 2009, 7:55 PM | Message # 11 |
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Lieutenant colonel
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| The Sith would scoff once again, he knew it was time to release all the anger and hatred he have had toward the Jedi. "I am definitely not deluded. It is you that are deluded. After all, you are a puppet of the Jedi Council." He would watch as Varitek decide to end their debate by revealing that he did not come as a Jedi or as a friend. That was when the Sith lowered his lightsaber from above the head to just above the waistline, using his left hand to wield it. A chance of the Jedi trying to convince him was long gone. Varitek lost the chance back on Tatooine when they first encountered each other. "You will try, Jace Varitek." He spoke out the Jedi's full name in anger but also a challenging tone. That was the last words he knew he might say before the fateful duel would begin. He saw the green glow came to life from within Varitek's lightsaber. "Yah!" He would shout out a little bit, as he used the Force to help him spin in the air once. Darth Acheron knew the Jedi would put himself in a defensive stance right away. Once he landed, the Sith immediately swung the lightsaber, with both hands wielding it, toward Varitek's head. Darth Acheron had no doubts that the Jedi would be able to block his attack, but it was only the beginning...
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