Jedi Insurgency 162

(Moments before Corvus tossed over the vibroknife) 

Corvus looked on in amusement as the future number one Bounty Hunter angstily confronted him. Furthermore, Aurra Sing had been a phenomenal actress. When he had held up his hand to stop her, he did not choke her, or use the Force in anyway! 

Glancing at the nearly bald, long-fingered alien, he could only cluck his tongue. Sing truly was a generational talent. Goading Boba into this challenge, and then shouting ‘no!’ at the most opportune moment! That was proof that someone didn't need to be the strongest in a room to affect their environment. He'd have to keep an eye out for her. 

Sensing that Fett was unreconciled, he decided to do the little Mandalorian a favor. The boy was likely mad that he was ambushed the last time they fought. In his teen brain, he probably thought that such an encounter didn't count. With revenge seeking brats like this, it was best to let them fight it out, to show who was stronger. Corvus himself had almost come to blows with his own father growing up several times, and the old lion would always say: ‘you're not bigger than me yet, boy.’ 

It was the responsibility of the old to teach the younger lesson the harsh truths of reality! (And that 100% wasn't an excuse to beat the snot out of a future legend!) 

“I can see you aren't convinced…well neither am I!” Corvus said, and as he jumped down the dais, he tossed a vibroknife to the teen. 

Since he possessed the Kotor 2 System, there were a few things that leveled automatically alongside him, and didn't require any points. One of those skills was [Unarmed]. In the game, the protagonist can use this skill to beat up a bunch of monk-like women, and enhance their skill to learn [Echani Martial Arts]. Long story short, just like how [Dual Weapon Mastery] meant he could wield any two weapons like a pro, his [Unarmed IV]-which scaled off his level-meant he could box with the best of them! 

Armed with System attributed confidence, he assumed a standard-come at me bro-pose, and then motioned at Fett like he was a karate master. 

Boba Fett answered with a silent whoosh. 

The vibroknife ignited with a hungry hum, and the boy came at him without hesitation. He abandoned hesitation, and honed his fear into a sharp edge. There was no doubt, shaking, or panic, simply the raw, reckless intent to kill.

Corvus smirked at the oncoming lunge, knowing that if he put that kind of energy into running this drug empire, then the Pyke, Hutts or Shadow Collective would stand no chance. 

The first slash was fast, and was the most direct, basic stab towards his ribs. Corvus-naturally used Pause buffering-not a Force power, and very easily dodged. Shifting so that Fett missed by less than an inch, the blade carved empty air. He felt the air pressure of the attack pass close enough to ripple his robe. His reply was instant. A powerful elbow hammered down towards the gap between Boba's chestplate, and his helmet. In other words, he went right for the jugular! 

The boy twisted, and his elbow struck his faceplate instead. A dull pain worked up his arm, but thankfully his Constitution, and more importantly [Master Toughness] buffed his HP by a significant degree. He doubted that the vibroknife-when in the hands of a teen-could even break his flesh! 

Boba took that strike to the faceplate, and slid back, slightly disoriented. The act was the correct one, as Corvus had followed up with a shoulder check, intending to knock him down, and grapple. 

“Good instincts.” Corvus praised. 

Boba didn’t pause in his stride nor did he reply with any words. His sole focus was dedicated to absolutely murdering his foe! Fett surged forward again, knife flickering in a brutal rhythm as he constantly threatened Corvus's throat, gut, and leg. Corvus retreated, blocking with his forearms, letting the blade scrape against his Cortosis-Weave robe, dissipating the energy held within the weapon. 

Wielding the vibroknife like a seasoned fishmonger gutting a fish, Boba slipped underneath Corvus's guard, and moved to fillet his forearm. Feeling the cool metal just about to meet his flesh, Corvus rolled his arm, and caught the knife in between his robe, and forearm. Intense vibrations emanated from the weapon, as Boba pressed a button, turning it up to maximum output. 

“How come. You aren't. Dead!” Boba snarled breathlessly, as he used both hands to shove the knife forward with as much force as he could muster. The Mandalorian power armor he wore went into hyperdrive, as gears began to whine, and intense amounts of pressure came down onto the handle of the blade. 

“Cortosis-Weave robes. I never leave home without them.” Corvus replied conversationally, as if he wasn't at risk of losing an arm. 

Boba tried to retreat, and reposition himself, but Corvus wouldn't let him go without paying a price. As soon as the blade pulled back, Corvus worked with the teen's momentum, and leg swept him, tripping him up. He then rolled forward, caught him by the shoulder with his hands, and tossed the Mandalorian at the wall with a somersault slam! 

Dust rained down from the rafters, as the impact of his beskar armored back collided with the wall. Several piles of loose masonry spilled into the air, and he fell out of the wall a second later, like a waffle falling out of a pan being tossed onto a plate. 

“Arggg.” Boba moaned, and came to his knees. 

Coated in white plaster, Fett looked like he had taken a dip in flour, yet despite this humiliation, there was no embarrassment. Only a clear, cold, focused rage! 

“Good, good! Now pick it up. Strike me down, Fett!” Corvus eagerly praised, and kicked the vibroknife-which had fallen during his tumble-within reach. 

Boba picked his tired body up from the ground, and gripped the hilt so tightly, Corvus thought it might break. For a moment, he lamented that this driven teen wasn't Force Sensitive. 

‘Perhaps if I ever get my hands on the Staff of Ragnos, I could transform him into a disciple?’ Corvus mused, before shaking his head. 

Creating Force Sensitives was a dangerous idea, even if it was technically possible. Besides, what would ‘Revan’ do if he didn't have a loyal Manda’lor? 

Without missing a beat, Fett rolled forward, and as he sprang up, tossed the knife directly at Corvus's neck! If Corvus knew a Mandalorian's weak point, why couldn't Boba exploit the same area! With one clean motion, Fett had abandoned the dagger, forcing Corvus to reorient himself in a disadvantageous position! 

Turning his head to the side, a light metallic scar left a mark on his mask. Fett was upon him like a dog pouncing on food! Smoothly withdrawing his own vibroknife, he thrust it up at Corvus's chin! 

‘Clever, clever! Boba also isn't cheating! The limitations of our duel only limited my use of Jedi powers/weapons, and Boba's use of weapons other than a vibroknife! This way, he can still be deceptive in this fight, whilst still upholding his honor!’ 

“You are a real Mandalorian!” Corvus praised. 

He then did a spinning roundhouse kick, snapping Boba's hand back, and pushing him away. 

“However, you are no Jango!” He taunted. 

Boba growled, and his attacks came faster, angrier, and with ever mounting ferocity. He span into a feint, then stopped his upward stab into a falling crash. Since he couldn't slash the throat, the teen aimed for his clothes. 

Corvus caught his wrist with one hand, and then his fist with another. 

The strength in the boy surprised him, it wasn't enough to break free, but enough to make him work for the control. Corvus twisted his arm, feeling tendons strain. He could sense that Boba desperately wanted to unleash his vambrace mounted flamethrower, dart gun, or any other number of weapons that would win him this fight whilst they were locked together like two dueling bulls. However, he didn't. 

Corvus sensed a knee coming up, and met it with his thigh. Boba responded with a headbutt into his chin. 

“Hahahaha!” Corvus laughed as their close quarters combat took on a seemingly all out offensive, where defense was almost disregarded. 

The knife scraped the cloth at his chest, taking away a section of thread. Corvus didn’t retreat this time. He stepped in and kicked hard. There was no flourish, no wasted motion, or fancy movements. It was a simple, heavy kick dead center to Boba's chest. The impact sent the boy to the ground, and grasping at his ribs. 

“Stay down.” Corvus demanded. It was clear who had won, and who had lost. 

Despite the pain, the boy pushed off a nearby pillar and came back with a ragged breath. 

“You should’ve walked away.” Corvus chided. “The mark of a true warrior is knowing when to bend, but not break, when to fold, yet not tear. You have much to learn.” 

Boba screamed and charged.

Corvus accepted the cut to his shoulder to close the distance. His knee then drove into the boy’s stomach, folding him. Corvus seized his armor and threw him down hard enough to rattle the throne room.

Boba rolled and slashed from the ground. The blade passed so close Corvus felt its heat on his toes. 

Corvus raised his leg-dodging the attack-and stomped down with incredible force, pinning the teen down. 

This time, he was going to end it. 

Twisting his heel, and stomping once more, he kicked the vibroknife making it clatter down a gap in the rancor pit. Corvus brought his boot down on Boba’s chest, pinning him to the cool stone floor. The boy fought on, hammering his fists uselessly against Corvus's leg, like a toddler that didn't want to go to bed. 

Rage, humiliation, defiance, all this and more burned underneath the Bounty Hunter's mask as he finally let his arms drop, and his shoulders slump. 

Corvus crouched, meeting his glare.

“You fight well for your age.” Corvus frankly, and honestly stated. 

“Finish it.” Boba snarled.

Corvus shook his head.

“And ruin my entertainment? I think you're tough, kid. You've got the makings of a great Bounty Hunter. One day, perhaps you will even be Mandalore. Killing you now? Ack, where's the fun in that?!” Corvus laughed, stood up, and held a hand down. 

Killing him would teach nothing. Besides, how else would he balance the power of Prince Xizor, and the growing prowess of Hondo? 

“Tch.” Boba reached his hand out, then made a spitting noise, knocked Corvus's hand aside, and stood up. “Keep your kindness. I work for you, but I am not your pawn.” 

“Fine by me, lad.” Corvus waved his hand, and healed him anyway, much to the teen’s chagrin. “But when have I ever listened to the opinions of brats?” 

“Damned old man.” Boba swore under his breath. 

Corvus tossed a dataslate over his back, into Aurra Sing's hands. 

“Don't do anything stupid.” He warned without looking at her, and then vanished from the scene. 

“You got it, boss.” Sing lackadaisically saluted, but Corvus knew she was spooked. 

Good. 

The message had been delivered.

Boba Fett would remember this fight as a fair, and honorable defeat. There would be no refutation! 

That if the up and coming Mandalorian ever tried to stand above Corvus…he would have to grow far beyond the boy who was now. 

Alas, the future was in sight, and every day, Corvus grew stronger. 

‘Sorry, not sorry, Fett, but your fate is to be my Manda’lor!’