The Togruta Dark Jedi's boots crunched on the snow; inhaling and exhaling as he took in his surroundings. "Four Republic soldiers." The Dark Side wielder says, counting the members of Tango Squad mentally, before turning his attention to Deina to the north-east of him. "And one, lone Padawan."
"Murderer!" The female Zabrak shouts, with Noar looking at her curiously. "You murdered him without a second thought!"
"Your presence feels familiar…" The Dark Jedi said as he continued to watch Deina with his sinister eyes; then a thought clicked in his mind and he realized why it was a feeling he felt before he swore his loyalty to Empire. "So, Dinjo Telsk's youngling has grown up."
"Don't you dare say his name!" Deina shouts as she holds her lightsaber up, entering her Form VII: Juyo dueling stance; a ferocious combat form labeled as forbidden by the Jedi unless it's completely necessary, as those who use it intend to kill the enemy in front of them. "I am Deina Kortah! In the name of the New Republic and Jedi Order, you will pay for crimes against the galaxy; now pick up your weapon and face your death!"
"Well, that's not very Jedi-like," Noar says with disinterest, unintimidated by her threat. "My quarrel is not with you, child or your subordinates." He said looking at Tango Squad. "It is with the Mirialan, Buhwesk Veerh." The Dark Side wielder finally added with malice in his tone.
"Commander, I have a clear shot at him," Agatha says over the padawan's comms.
"Don't take it, he is mine." Deina orders.
"But Commander…" Agatha begins, fearing her superior is making a mistake.
"That is an order Captain." The Zabrak firmly says.
"I know Veerh is with you; bring him to me or summon him here, and I will make your ends merciful." The Togruta's robotically emotionless voice said.
"You will face me, and me alone!" Deina leaps toward the Dark Jedi with an overhead slash; descending towards him at great speed. "Now die!"
[VWOOMSCHK!]
"What!" The young Zabrak shouted as she was pushed back by an electrostaff wielded by a cloaked humanoid wearing a scarred skull mask, with Sith Empire symbol carved in the center. The exposed skin of the warrior was scaled texture with reddish-brown coloring, four-clawed hands, and five-clawed, hand-like feet. His eyes were yellow and serpent-like, and filled with murderous desire. He was, without doubt, a Kaleesh, one of the fiercest warrior races in the known galaxy.
"Your timing is impeccable, Shyn." Saaben complimented his ally.
The Kaleesh warrior, Shyn, gratefully nodded at the Dark Jedi before turning his attention back to Deina. "You shall not harm my Master." The fighter said in a reptilian tone; sounding both intellectual and savage simultaneously. "I, Goargh Shyn, will be your opponent Padawan." Goargh spun his electrostaff in his right hand to intimidate the young Jedi; the purple electricity flickering from the weapon before clutching it with both hands. His combative stance mimicked that of a predator about to catch its prey.
Deina reentered her Form VII stance, taking a more defensive than offensive position this time. The Kaleesh thrusts himself forward with his powerful legs and unleashes a flurry of attacks, barely giving the Jedi any time to block.
[VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!]
Their weapons clashed repeatedly, sparks flying from both weapons; Shyn was not the average mercenary Deina expected him to be, but a well-trained lethal hunter who saw this duel as nothing more than sport. Deina steps back to give herself some room, but it didn't make a difference as the Kaleesh continued his relentless assault.
[VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!]
"Take out the Kaleesh and Dark Jedi!" Hartley ordered his squad as he and Mascelen raised their blasters to the Togruta. Before they could pull their triggers, however, the Commando Droids broke out of their frozen, statuesque state and began firing on the soldiers.
[PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!]
The two soldiers were forced to pull back as they tried avoiding the rapid fire from their mechanical foes.
"Ah!" Mascelen screamed as he was struck in back by a laser bolt. The Junior Lieutenant turned around to face the commando's raising his repeater cannon. "Eat this you clankers!"
[PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!][PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!]
Each bolt tore right through the remaining five droid's armor due to the Junior Lieutenant's current range. The large weapon glowed a hot red, as the cannon began to cool off; however, one droid, the last remaining one, was still functional despite its heavy amounts of damage and aims its weapon at him.
"No!" Confiyed shouted as he pushed Mascelen out of the way.
[PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!]
"Hartley!" Is all Mascelen could emotionally shout as he saw his squad leader repeatedly shot until dead.
[PSHEW!]
The blast from Captain Kajinn's "Longbarrel" echoes through the air as the last droids head is blown clean off from its shoulders.
[VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!]
Kortah's and Shyn's weapons continued to clash as the Kaleesh remained on the offensive. The Zabrak Padawan went for a left, downward slash, then a right upward slash, then a strike down the middle; only for her weapon to be held in place by the electrostaff. "You are far from being ready, child. If you cannot defeat me, how do you expect to defeat my Master?" The mercenary taunts. He grabs the Padawan's leg with his clawed feet and tosses her aside.
"Ugh!" Deina grunts as she hits the snow hard and drops her lightsaber. The monstrous combatant leaps into the air as he's about to stab the Zabrak; but through sheer willpower, she thrusts her hand forward and pushes him far away with the Force. This gave the young Jedi enough time to retrieve and reignite her lightsaber; now going on the offensive.
Shyn lands on all fours and growls at the Padawan as he charges at her like a savage beast determined to kill its prey. Deina charges at the Kaleesh and swings her blade at the warrior, who blocks it with his own weapon.
[VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!]
"If you will not bring me to Veerh, I'll bring him to me," Noar said, as grabbed the lightsaber from his belt and ignited it. The amethyst colored blade once used to preserve peace in the galaxy, now a tool used for selfish gain.
Mascelen raised his repeater cannon at the unintimidated Dark Jedi. "AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
[PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!] [PSHEW!]
The Togruta remained unmoved from his spot as he deflected the scarlet blaster fire with ease using both his lightsaber and the Force; a hint of smugness could be seen in his eyes as he remained unfazed by Junior Lieutenants attempts to kill him. "You are a brave fool, but a brave fool is still a fool nonetheless." The Dark Jedi complementarily taunts as he Force pushes the soldier into the snow.
[PSHEW!]
[VWOOSHHH!]
Noar turns in the direction of the laser bolt after blocking it; spotting the sniper out in the distance.
[PSHEW!]
Saaben thrusts his hand forward, causing the laser bolt to stop in place. Without saying a word, the Dark Jedi pushes the blast back at the sniper; creating a small explosion upon the bolt hitting the hover-crate.
"Agatha!" A downed Mascelen shouts over his comms to make sure his squad mate was alright. "Agatha. Looltum. One of you come in!"
Instead of hearing his Captain, he heard the chirps of the BB unit
"7KG, where's Agatha and Looltum?" The Lieutenant Commander asked.
The small droid chirped ecstatically, confirming the two squadmates survived the blast but were knocked unconscious.
"Oh, thank goodness." Stonbore breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he didn't lose two more people.
[VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!]
The two warriors continued with Deina on the offensive this time, but this newfound Zabrak ferocity did not dishearten the warrior as he continued to stand his ground.
[VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!]
Though she remained strong, as the fight continued to drag out, the Padawan grew more and more exhausted against one of the galaxies greatest breed of killer instinct.
[VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!] [VWOOMSCHK!]
Once again, their weapons interlocked with each other in a power struggle; Deina pushed back as hard as she could against her enemy, but it was of no use. Her exhaustion got the better of her, and Shyn took advantage of it and kicked arm up.
[SSHUUWIIIIP]
Her lightsaber deactivated upon leaving her hand; the mercenary grabbed the Padawan by the throat with his foot claw and slammed her on the cold snow.
"Commander!" Mascelen screamed as he raised his weapon from the ground on the Kaleesh. But before he could pull the trigger, he feels a massive weight forcing his whole body down
"You had your chance to live. You all had your chance to live." The Dark Jedi says to Hartley, keeping him pinned down with the Force.
A weakened Deina struggled underneath Shyn's foot; gasping for air as he constricted her throat tighter and tighter. "You are a respectable foe child, yet a far cry from a real warrior," Goargh said to her, staring into her eyes with his own.
Deina did not respond as she continued to try and break herself free from the chokehold.
"I will hold your lightsaber in a place of honor." The Kahleesh said, aligning his electrostaff over the young Zabrak's eye. "You can continue your struggling if you wish, but it will not change the fact this is where your life ends Deina Kortah." Upon finishing his dialog, the warrior raised his weapon up as Deina continued to struggle.
Before he could deliver the final blow, 7KG chirps wildly over both hers and Hartley's comms.
Out in the distance, the rumbling sound of two transport engines could be heard; drawing the attention of the Kahleesh and Dark Jedi. The sound it grew louder as the vehicle drew closer. Deina's and Hartley's eyes widened upon recognizing the ships: New Republic Multi-Altitude Assault Transports. Finding a new resolve to keep on going, the Padawan Force pushed the Kahleesh off her and leaped back while Force pulling her lightsaber to her. As one of the transports flew closer, it aimed its main weapons at both Saaben and Shyn.
[GCHIIINN!] [GCHIIINN!] [GCHIIINN!] [GCHIIINN!] [GCHIIINN!] [GCHIIINN!] [GCHIIINN!] [GCHIIINN!] [GCHIIINN!] [GCHIIINN!] [GCHIIINN!] [GCHIIINN!]
Shyn and Saaben jumped back from their current positions to avoid the larger laser bolts. Now free from the pressure, Hartley quickly stood himself up as he made a mad dash to Deina.
The lead transport turns horizontally to the left, opening its side door to the two of them; revealing Buhwesk Veerh and a small platoon of New Republic soldiers.
"General Veerh!" "Master!" Mascelen and Deina shouted respectfully.
"Admiral Hilmar and his fleet picked up the Wyvern's signal." Veerh loudly stated. "Where is Lieutenant Commander Hartley, and the rest of your squad?"
"Hartley is K.I.A sir!" Mascelen sadly responds, clenching his fists. "Captain Kajinn and Lieutenant Banfed are unconscious and with 7KG, right up there!" He finishes his answer, pointing in the appropriate direction.
"Shuttle two, follow BB-7KG's signal, we have two wounded over there!" Buhwesk shouted over his comms.
"Roger General, we are on our way." The voice over the communications device replied.
"Hop in you two, we're leaving." Veerh orders, waving them towards him.
"We can't leave yet, we have Saaben right where we want him!" Deina argues with her teacher. "You have to let him go Padawan; scanners picked up a large Imperial fleet heading this way." The Jedi explains. "We need to deliver our information about the World Killer to the New Republic leadership on Coruscant if we are to make a successful counter assault."
"But Master…" The young Jedi started.
"If you fight him here, we won't make it out, and the galaxy will be at the Sith Empire's mercy; you know this Deina." The Mirialan logically explains.
"General, we have the rest of Tango Squad and ready to move out." The voice on the comms stated aloud.
Deina turns around to see both Saaben and Shyn in the distance; mocking her with the fact her revenge will be denied. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The Zabrak screamed in frustration as she and the Junior Lieutenant hopped onboard the transport.
"Admiral Hilmar, this is General Veerh; we're ready to go," Buhwesk said over his communications device.
"Affirmative General, we're ready to bring you all home." A sophisticatedly commanding voice responded as the side doors closed. Deina scowled out the ship's window, watching the Kahleesh and Dark Jedi grow smaller and smaller out in the distance as they left Hoth's atmosphere.
"Our work here is done, Shyn," Noar said to his bodyguard. "Let's return to the Executioner."
The Kahleesh bowed to his master as they turned back to their shuttle to leave.
[COUGH.] [COUGH.]
The two warriors stopped upon hearing the sound; realizing it came from Hartley. "So, he's still alive," Noar states, somewhat impressed.
"Shall I end his life?" Shyn asks his master.
"No, I believe he may be of use to us." The Dark Jedi said as he walked closer to the downed Lieutenant Commander.