A New Body (Closed, Sparrow)

[Sir Aaron]

Vince left his ship in Theed, he was now outside the city and wondering around. He thought of going to visit his home, that would have been a good idea. Crumb sat on his shoulder, looking around, like a pirate in the crows nest searching for land. The wide, open, expanse of plains and rolling hills covered in bright, green, luscious grass was a beautiful sight to take in for sure.

"So, Vince, where are we heading?" Crumb said, cutting his eyes over at a young couple who were having a picnic right outside of the walls of Theed.

Vince continued on a bit farther passed the couple, silent. Crumb pondered in silence as well, whether or not Vince heard the question or failed to even aknowledge it, so he just silently sat on the Jedi's shoulder. Though, without warning, Vince suddenly halted in place, causing Crumb to lose balance and use Vince's robe to hold himself.

"Just going to relax a bit and meditate is all, Coruscant is a great place, trust me, and I love the Jedi Temple, just too many people there for me, if you know what I mean. I do occasionally like to get to relax a bit and just meditate and enjoy life" Vince's voice soft and quite.

Finally pointing off into the distance of a lone tree near a lake, Vince took off running, bounding through the grass. He finally reached the lake and removed his robe, light saber, and other belongings so he was only wearing his tunic he wore under his clothes, and his pants. He lay his back against the tree, closing his eyes, Crumb silently cimbed from Vince's shoulder to the top of the tree.

Vince could feel the Force around him, it was peaceful and relieving. The sounds of the lake as it washed up and down the shore, as if reaching out trying to pull Vince into it. The sound of the wind as it ocassionally picked up and would let the tree's leafs and branches hit together. How peaceful it truly was.

[sparrow]

Zarene Yin was only a few days recovered from the injuries she had sustained from the mission to Bakura, and she was eager to finally get outside again. There would be a Sith meeting on Korriban in a few days, but until then, all she had to do was lay low and avoid the notice of the Jedi Order, who would be in a bit of a frenzy after learning of the Bakura attack.

Aeron had advised her against coming out here, but she was feeling very restless, and needed to be outside. It was really quite a beautiful planet, and the idyllic setting, she had argued, wasn't a place where most would be on the lookout for a young Sith acolyte.

The sun was approaching its noonday position and Zarene was feeling a bit overdressed in the heat. A long-sleeved cloak covered most of her body and kept her mechanical right arm out of sight, and a veil covered the bottom half of her face. It was quite the uncomfortable choice of clothing given the current temperature, but necessary to avoid attracting too much unwanted attention.

There was a small cantina by the side of a lake just outside the city, a busy establishment, with patrons at nearly every table, drinks in hand, laughing and chatting away. Feeling the midday heat getting to her, Zarene decided to step inside to cool off for a while.

There was a noticeable decrease in noise as soon as Zarene's entrance was noticed. A number of patrons gave furtive glances, not wanting to appear rude by staring. Suddenly the bartender, a balding middle-aged man standing behind the counter, spoke. "We don't want your kind here."

For a few moments, the entire building was silent.

From across the room, Zarene stared the bartender in the eye. "My kind?"

"No droids. No cyborgs. Organics only," the bartender hissed back at her, pointing at the metal hand that her sleeve only managed to halfway cover up.

She could feel the anger rising up inside her. Just when I was starting to forget why I prefer being alone.... Even on such a beautiful planet, the people are scum. Just like everywhere else. One day we will tear it all down, and remake the galaxy anew. That is why I joined the Sith.

"Didn't you hear me? Get out now! You half-human, half-machine types creep out the customers. Abominations against nature!"

Untying her cloak and ripping off the veil, Zarene let the garments flutter to the floor. A collective gasp arose from the surrounding crowd as she revealed her half-scarred face. "What was that last thing you said?" she whispered.

"Abomination!" the man spat. Two large bouncers started walking towards her from opposite sides, but with a simple wave of Zarene's hand, both found themselves pinned against the wall, held by invisible bonds. The face of the bartender had turned chalk white. The other patrons cleared out of her way as Zarene strode towards the bartender, who was now trembling, paralyzed with fear.

Zarene grabbed the man's neck and lifted him into the air. Cold metal fingers squeezed down, causing his eyes to bulge from their sockets. "Say that again," she growled. "Say it one more time. I dare you."

[Sir Aaron]

Just as Vince began to relax, and he could feel the Force flooding into him and washing away all emotions, it became pure peace and tranquility. No outside distractions to bother him and distrub him. But with a violent tremor, there was sudden surge in the Force. His eyes jolted open, and suddenly, Vince was back on Naboo, sitting under a tree, near the lake, alone, except for the quite snores of Crumb, his friend and travelling companion above him.

Vince jumped up and closed his eyes, feeling out with his mind and the Force. Someone or something was out there that could use the Force, a Force User. After a minute of searching and probing around, he could feel the energy coming from the east. But that wasn't the half of it. On top of that, there seemed to be hatred, malice, and anger swirling around inside the user. So they were definitely not a Jedi, which he hoped it was a Jedi that just lost his temper, because things could be a lot worse.

Vince whisteled quickly, and a moment later, Crumb dropped to the ground, landing on all four of feet and climbing onto his hind two feet. He looked around a moment, dazed and disoriented, before he looked up and he could tell in Vince's face that something was wrong, terribly wrong. But before he could speek, Vince held up a finger in front of his mouth as a gesture not to say anything. Vince closed his eyes again, for a moment before the shot back open.

"Crumb" Vince's voice barely a whisper, "I feel something terrible has happened, is happening, or going to happen. I was suddenly distracted from my meditation by the sound of a ruckus and I can barely sense a Force User somewhere nearby. It's very faint and weak, they must be a good ways off, but on top of that, I fear it may be a Dark Jedi, from what I was able to interpret. No Jedi lets emotion control them THAT much!" Vince voice was quick and urgent.

And with that, Vine began to quickly slid on each and every article of clothing he removed later. Sarting with his outer wear and sliding on his robe. He threwh is belt around his waist, snapped it in place, grabbed his boots in one hand, and dashed to the east. On the way, he bent down long enough to quickly scoop up Crumb and toss him into the air. As if instinctively, Crumb grabbed on to the back of Vince's robes and held on tight, like a baby creature to its mother.

The feeling of the soft, cool grass was still barely wet from the morning dew that hung on to the blades of grass here and there was amazing under his feet. But unfortunately he had no time to stop and admire the sounds, the feels, the smells, the sights of all the wondrous things around him. He pushed himself harder and faster, his feet making quite noises as they hit the ground at a rapid speed.

Not too far in the distance Vince could make out a small building, what ever, or who ever, that disturbed him, was in there. Vince's main guess came from the loud crashes from the inside. Now hopping on one foot and Crumb holding on for dear life, Vince slid one boot on. He then began to hop on his now booted foot to get his boot on the foot.

Finally after getting both of his Jedi boots on his feet and latched, he ran off even faster. They helped get a little more friction on the wet grass. It wasn't a major difference but just enough that could. Slowly, the building grew larger and larger. Now about thirty yards away, Vince was able to make that the building appeared to be a tavern or a cantina of some sort. It struck Vince odd at first that he was coming on a cantina out in the middle of where.

Reaching down to his belt, Vince withdrew the higlt of his lightsaber to have it ready. He refused to release the blade of his weapon just in case it could prevent a fight. And if there already was a fight, he didn't want to go in, guns-a-blazing and swords-a-waving around like a madman. That would just could risk the life of some of the other patrons who just went to get a drink to cool theirselves off and to hide away from the heats of Naboo, which could reach blistering levels.

Vince slowly approached the cantina, quite, making sure that his boots weren't too squeek on the floor from the cool, wet dew on the bottom of the boots. He slid one door open and let Crumb climb ont op of his head and into the rafters of the cantina. Vince knew that Crumb would try to help him later had he found the chance and had he needed it. But Vince figured it would be a simple little mission where a Jedi or Force User gotten a little drunk and let the best get ahole of him, or a Dark Jedi was roughing up some patrons.

But as soon as Vince fully entereted the cantina, he could see exactly what was happening. There was a young woman holding up the bartender by his neck and lifting him off the ground, clearly trying to choke him. Several patrons were hiding in the other end of the cantina, as soon as Vince entered he took note ofthe nervous patrons.

"I want you all to get out of the restaurant and go to Theed and not come back here agai" Vince said, not taking his off of the girls, he felt a tinge of fear in him, but he wasn't sure why, something about her scared him.

Vince took a small step forward, "I ask that you please lower the bar tender and calm down so we can talk about what's going on here? Is that okay?" Vince asked calmly, keeping his lightsaber unsheated knowing he would probably need it the second his soon-to-be oponnent so much as lifted a finger.

[sparrow]

The Galloping Kaadu had been several years ago by bartender Micba Nere about five years ago. Coming from the urban world of Nar Shaddaa, Nere had seized the opportunity to live out in the peaceful countryside. The cantina he established, just under a mile away for the Theed city walls, became a popular spot for the citizens of Naboo who wanted a quick drink and some company while touring and picnicking in the countryside.

Micba Nere's less-than-pleasant life on Nar Shaddaa had infused with prejudice against aliens, cyborgs, and misfits and freaks in general, and so enjoyed living near Theed and it's predominantly human population. Today had been a good day, with plenty of customers. The small speeder lot outside the establishment was quite full, as well as the tables that were inside. A good day, until now.

Now, he saw his life flashing before his eyes as the metal fingers of that strange cyborg girl clamped down on his neck, cutting off his air supply. Suddenly he felt himself flying through the air, hitting the wall of the building hard.

"Get out. You're not worth my time," Zarene muttered in disgust as the bartender shakily got to this feet, still gasping for air. He did not hesitate long before complying. As he stumbled out the door, she turned to face the newcomer, an ordinary looking man in this thirties. What wasn't ordinary was the lightsaber in his hand.

Jedi.

Zarene didn't want to talk. She just wanted something to take her anger out on, and this Jedi made for a far more appealing target than that spineless wretch of a bartender. The Force flowed through her body, calling upon the Dark Side, and one by one, the many tables in the room slowly began to levitate in the air.

[Sir Aaron]

Vince watched, unsure what to do at first, as he watched the very life being drained from the bar tender. The man's face turning a multiple of shades of colors. His lungs were shrivelling now, trying to find some source of oxygen... Nothing... And within the blink of an eye, the man was flying through the bar to another end. By now, the patrons who had thought it would be some fun fight to watch, now realized it was getting serious and had exited the building. Now it was the four of them, the barkeeper, Vince, Crumb, and this stranger.

The next moment, she had turned around facing Vince, and slowly a table rose from the ground. Mimicking its predecessors in suit, rising up into the air. Things weren't going to end well at all. She was definitely a Force User, but on top of that, she was a using the darker sides of the Force, which were known, yes, to develop stronger powers quicker, but they often would lose control to their emotions and what was once their aid has become their master...

"Please don't do this, I was having a very peaceful, relaxed day before you decided to have this little fight with the bartender" Vince said seriously, "We can talk about this."

Vince stood there still for a moment. Above him, the rafters creaked slightly as Crumb jumped from one to the other, and was now hanging above the bartender to make sure he was okay. As a last ditch effort before anything started, Vince reached out with his mind to the young lady, trying to call her emotions and make his words more persuasive.

[sparrow]

Zarene had originally been hoping for pleasant, relaxing day as well. But not now though, not anymore. Even in her padawan days, she had been considered to have a bit of a temper, something the masters cautioned her about more than once. Since leaving the Order however, there were no more masters to keep her under control, no more restraint. Add that to the fact that there were many more things in her life now be to angry about...

His words fell on deaf ears. She was in no mood to listen. She stared him in the eye, the burn on the right half of her face making her scowl appear especially sinister. "If you didn't want trouble," her words were soft, but with a definite edge. "Then you shouldn't have come here looking for it." Jedi,... always advocating peace and compromise. What was it good for? Nothing...

As she flicked her wrist disdainfully in his direction, one of the levitating tables suddenly burst into motion, flying at high speed towards the Jedi.

[Sir Aaron]

Vince jumped into the air, the table barely missed hitting his feet, which would leave him wide open. He watched as the table crashed against the wall and splintered into several tiny pieces. Vince nodded his head no in disappointment. It was truly sad she chose this way. And Vince didn't want to hurt her. So he swiftly moved towards her, his boots hitting the ground quite loudly.

"I once rejected the Jedi, foolishly, and left them for many years, on my own, studying and become great with a lightsaber. I hated the Force... But my master changed my opinion. My master also, was secretly, my uncle. He no longer teaches me, but, you shouldn't do this. You, letting your emotions consume you, is like giving your life up as a slave to your emotions. They control you" Vince was only a few feet from the girl.

He cut his eyes quickly at Crumb who was holding up a bottle, threateningly, as if he was going to throw it. Vince nodded his head in a gesture most commonly taken as 'no'. Crumb, angrily, lowered the bottle and just stood there and watched. Vince knew his words wouldn't sink in, and that a fight was probably going to pursue. But he was ready.

(Sorry for short post, storming where I live and may lose internet in a moments notice!)

[sparrow]

(( haha. why are you sorry about short posts when they're longer than mine? ))

"Just like you're trying to control me?" Zarene had had enough of Jedi preaching to last a lifetime. The Jedi loved to talk, but they were never there when it really counted. In her life there was only one Jedi whom she truly respected: her old master, the only one who had seen the potential in her, rescuing her at the last minute from a fate in the Agricorps. And where was he now? Dead, body rotting in an unmarked grave.

The Jedi Order hadn't been there for him when he died. They hadn't been there for her when she lost her arm and half her face. They weren't there for all the rejected younglings that had been banished to the AgriCorps, which was how she, Aeron, and Gabriella were able to convert so many so easily. What made this man think that he could just reach out to her now?

She held on to the Force, the Dark Side being fueled by her negative emotions, as the other tables continued to levitate. The power.... One of her blaster pistols flew out of its holster into her waiting hand, and she leveled the weapon at his forehead. "Sorry, but I like being mad. It makes me happy."

[Sir Aaron]

Vince sighed, and nodded his head no slowly. It saddened him. It was necessary he defended himself, he didn't want to fight. But he had to. So he waited a few moments, it was now or never, and he wanted to use the element of surprise, but he had to respect his oponent. He held his lightsaber properly in the stance he preferred most, letting her know he was ready to fight. As if in return, she withdrew the blaster from its holstered and aimed it at his head. Now!

"I'm sorry" Vince said, charging forward, lightsaber ready, he dove into the air and at the girl.

As he soared through the air, with all the grace of a bird, one never would have thought he was in a brutal fight, which he feared would be to the death. But as he grew nearer, he could tell immediately, this wasn't going to end out too well. For him... He knew the dark side of the force was greater in power, but he would fight defending the Jedi code and way. He neared her and as he did took a swipe at her blaster rather than her hand.

[sparrow]

(( Yes, I know Vince is aiming for the blaster and not the hand, but she doesn't ))

If there was one rule to fighting Jedi without a lightsaber, it was don't get too close. So as soon as the Jedi activated his weapon Zarene instinctively flipped backwards. A moment later the Jedi's blade passed through the area where her hand had been.

The many levitating tables clattered to the floor as she re-focused her power at the apex of her jump, lashing out with powerful Force push, hoping to knock her opponent off balance, or last put some more distance between them.

Landing behind the bar counter top, Zarene pulled her second blaster to her hand, and, aiming both weapons at the Jedi, let loose with a quick barrage of bolts.

[Sir Aaron]

Within a moment, his foe had catapulted herself off of the ground, backwards. This was going to be bad, he just knew it, as she flew over the bar and onto the ground below. She now had a vantaga point, a place to hide. And, as if to make matters worse, she had pushed him away, using the Force causing him to land on top of the bar and slide down. He looked down and out came two blaster pistols, he was in trouble. Immediately the blaster shots lit up before his eyes and Vince blocked the barrage with his lightsaber.

But still to no avail, he missed a few of the bullets. He held back to the urge to scream out in pain as the bullet seared into his skin, pain shot through his left arm. He felt lucky now, he was proficient in one-handed lightsaber fighting and was ambidextrousm he still had his right. Closing his eyes momentarily, he tried to use the Force to regenerate the hit area, but before he could, he fell to the ground behind the bar.

Finally looking up, Vince saw his opponent laying there and jumped up and began to walk to her slowly. He had prayed that right after she sent off the mass of bullets, that she had been knocked unconcious when hitting the ground. Vince held his lightsaber defensively, ready for an attack, he still couldn't see her too well. Did he just see a twitch of her finger? He was now two yards away and held out his lightsaber. One more step...

[sparrow]

Zarene smiled as she saw that one her shots had nicked her opponent in the arm. With each shot that slipped through his defense the weaker he would become, and the easier it would be for her to strike a killing blow.

Abruptly she found herself knocked to the ground behind the bartop counter. Had the Jedi managed to counterattack with the Force? She didn't know. It didn't matter. Zarene Yin was a fighter. Over the years she had proved this many times over. She could take whatever this Jedi had to dish out and give it back.

She could hear the Jedi's footsteps he approached. Too close for guns, it was time to switch to sabers. Zarene had only been a saberist of moderate ability when she was still a padawan learner. Since she left the Order her skills with that weapon had deteriorated somewhat, but against a one-armed opponent, perhaps it would be enough. After all, she did have surprise on her side. That, and brute strength.

As she leaped back to her feet she grabbed her saber with her mechanical right hand, and the blue blade ignited with a distinctive snap-hiss. Swinging hard, she hoped to use the strength of her machine arm to knock his blade to the side, to make an opening for blaster in her other hand.

[Sir Aaron]

Vince was immediately caught off guard as his foe sprung to life and began slinging her lightsaber at him. Instictively, he gracefully blocked each blow she sent at him, sending sparks around them. The sounds the lightsabers made cutting through the air was symphonic to Vince. He loved the sound. Even though it was a last resort weapon, it was so graceful and peaceful, so fluid. The way the blade moved, the sounds it made, the colors, all so appeasing to the senses of sight and sound.

But brought back to reality, it hit him that his sense didn't matter right now. His life did. As he watched the girl's movements, he could tell she was okay with a lightsaber, nothing to fanciful. But her surprise attack, though he tried to not show it, was succesful. He was caught completely off guard. And on top of that, he was getting tired and worn out.

With ever thrust and chop from her blade, he reacted that much slower. Beads of sweat had already began to appear on his brow, but now they drenched his forehead. He was getting to his limit. He closed his eyes and continued to fight, focusing, he found a chair and lifted it into the air and brought it towards his oponent, slowly opening his eyes to watch as the chair flew towards her, he continue to parry her blows.

Crumb sat in the raftors, nervous of what to do, he had no way of attacking her. Accept throwing things at her, and not just insults. So he quickly jumped thorugh the rafters and scurried out the door and up into Theed. He found his and Vince's ship, and climbed into the cockpit where he began hitting at keys quickly, searching for someone, anyone, friendly, who could help. Particularly a Jedi.

Instantly, a familiar voice came on as a small head appeared in the cockpit from the hologram on the dash. Crumb relayed the message quickly, the small head nodding quickly. A moment later, the hologram disappeared, as the owner of the head that appeared prepared to arrive on Naboo. And fast.

[sparrow]

Her saber strikes, though powerful, lacked precision and finesse. Her surprise attack was just that, a quick and dirty offensive with the intention of catching her opponent unprepared. But it was clear that in a prolonged saber fight, her inexperience would show, and the Jedi would be able to gain the upper hand.

Her first slash did catch him off-guard, and as she pushed his saber to the side with hers she fired her blaster at his body. Yet somehow he was just fast enough to bring his saber back in time to block the shot, deflecting the shot upwards. The bolt hit the wooden beams of the ceiling with a loud crack and a shower of splinters.

Zarene instinctively brought her metal hand up to block her face as the chair came hurtling towards her, the impact causing her to stumble back a few steps. Whatever advantage surprise had gain her earlier had been lost, and she quickly skipped backwards a few more steps, and holding her saber in a more defensive position.

Unbeknownst to the two combats, during all the slashing sabers and flying blaster bolts, no doubt caused by a stray deflected shot hitting the right place at the wrong angle, a small fire had started in a corner of the building.

[Sir Aaron]

Vince watched as she jumped backwards after he sent the chair flying at her, panting, he flipped the switch on the hilt of his lightsaber cutting it off. He bent over a moment, gasping for breath. What was wrong with him? Why was he so out of breath? He had never gotten this tired in a battle before. And then it hit him, perhaps it was that blaster shot that hit him? Grant it, he had never been hit before by a blaster, but there was no way it could be causing this much damage. So Vince attempted to life his left arm, but failed... Then it occured to him. The shot must have hit in the right location, severed something in his arm.

That would explain the sudden feeling of tiredness, lethargy, weakness. He just stared at her, he knew he couldn't show weakness. He tried using the Force to repair what ever had happened to his arm, but nothing, he couldn't do it. Something was definitely wrong. He hoped she would give up, so Vince, after a moment of heavily breathing, scrounged up the strength to speak.

"So, do you want to talk this over now?"

[sparrow]

Holding her blaster steady, Zarene could see the Jedi breathing heavily. That first blaster shot must've done more damage than was apparent to the eye. Good. All she had to do was keep up the pressure and he would fall.

"Why talk when there's nothing to say?" she said softly, and fired several more times, which were unfortunately all blocked. But she could see the effort on his face as he exerted himself to avoid each shot.

She clicked her teeth in frustration as a vibration in the handle of her blaster pistol alerted her to the fact that energy pack was now drained, and tossed the now useless weapon aside. She had not expected a fight today and so had neglected to wear her bandolier carrying additional ammunition. But although without additional blaster packs, Zarene Yin was a Dark Jedi. She was never unarmed.

The fire had grown larger, spreading to the tables and chairs that lay strewn about the room. Quickly snatching up one of the flaming chairs with the Force, she hurled it at the Jedi. Not waiting to see if she hit her target, she began levitating objects all around the room. Splinters and wood pieces, cups and silverware, anything she could get ahold of she hurled at her opponent. She was not injured and not losing energy as quickly as him, but she was tiring as well, and wanted to overwhelm up quickly with an all-out assault.

[Sir Aaron]

Vince, not really noticing yet the fire beginning to build up behind him took a step backwards, he bumped into a table. Now, he was cornered, with no where to go, but forward. And straight ahead was a foe, set to kill. Holding his lightsaber in front of him, Vince closed his eyes for a moment, relaxing, preparing, he had a feeling he wouldn't make it out alive. Vince brought his eyes open, and he stared at his foe, and just as he began to strike the worth happened.

In the rush to get out of the building, some of the patron's beverages seemed to have spilled onto the tables aned floor. Suddeny, one small spark caused the table that Vince was pressed against, to go up like a roman candle. Immediately Vince's robe ignited, which he, with difficulty in his sudden stress, dispose of the robes.

All concentration was broke now, he turned finally realizing how large the fire had begin to grow. He thought it wasn't that big, but this came as a shocker. All defense down, Vince spun around to face the fire for a moment and spun to face Zarena. He let out a silent sigh, knowing that it was near... He held up his lightsaber in front of him defensively.

"It's time for the final moves."

[sparrow]

The flames were spreading, and spreading fast. The beams in the ceiling creaked the fire consumed the wooden columns supporting them. Drops of sweat rolled down Zarene's forehead as the temperature of the room increased rapidly.

"Why don't you just die already?!" Zarene growled as she threw her lightsaber as hard as she could. The blue blade spun in the air as the weapon flew towards its target.

Outside, the sound of sirens could be heard as the Theed police mobilized to investigate the disturbance that had occurred out in the countryside.

[Sir Aaron]

Caught off guard by the fire, Vince spun around just in time to hear his foe scream something, incoherent to him, his ears and mind filling with others things, his own worries and fears. But then a sharp pain entered his right arm, Vince screamed in pain and dropped his lightsaber. Vince fell to his knees, the flames approaching him quicker. They began to consume to roof of the building now. Alarms outside temporarily held Vince's attention from his pain and horror, but that didn't last long.

He looked at his foe. Sorrow and grief filled his eyes, regretting that he had failed. Vince one last time reached out with his mind as if probing around inside the bar, looking for Crumb. But his friend's presence was no where to be found. Vince's heart missed a beat. Had Crumb really...? Trying to bring himself to his feet, Vince fell, miserably, before his foe, in defeat. Turning his head, Vince lay there, staring at his lightsaber, his tool of defence, that had no more use for him. The last thing he saw was the orange crackle of flames consuming his vision, and probably his body...

(Thank you Sparrow! This was fun! Now though I must start out a long winded post with Pytt, for the first time. Lol. This will be interesting.)