Jedi Insurgency 266

(Slightly Earlier) 

The moment Darth Malgus emerged from the smoke-choked entrance of the Jedi Temple, Keira exploded into motion like light cast from the sun. Her emerald blade ignited with a sharp hiss, and Form IV Ataru carried her into the air.

She vaulted over shattered columns and burning debris, twisting through the sky in a blur of tight form fitting robes. Speed, skill, and technique were her forte. Raised in an era that taught little else, she had honed herself into a martial warrior. 

Whilst other Jedi were batted aside, or slain within seconds of meeting that blackclad monster, she was determined to prove herself. Months of dedicated training-scaling the harshest mountain tops, finding inner zen meditating upon the most violent volcanoes, and fighting her way through a gauntlet of trials-had all led to this. Today she would prove herself not only for the Order Master, or even herself. But would prove to Linyin, and future students of her lineage that they were taking the correct path. That the Path of the Jedi she ascribed to would be vindicated through her actions. 

Keira blitzed forward, and pulling upon the agile principles of Ataru, attempted to end the fight as soon as possible. Each one of her movements was the exact opposite of Form III. Where Soresu conserved energy, looking to tire out an opponent in search of that perfect strike, Ataru was all about overwhelming the foe with countless strikes all at once. It was an extremely dangerous technique, one that could kill an enemy in seconds, or rapidly drain the practitioner of their energy. 

As a martial warrior, she had spent long hours pushing herself beyond her limits, and then again. Stamina was a weakness she did not suffer from! 

Malgus's crimson blade swept upward in a heavy Form V clash, forcing her to react. 

The impact shook the air, and a shockwave burst outward as green and red collided. He took deep, powerful steps forward. Although he appeared slow in his actions, each strike of his was measured. Djem So the ‘power form’ transformed defense into offense, striving to counter Keira's rapidfire strikes by forcing her into his own pacing. 

She struck high, going for a diagonal slice transitioning into a reverse grip attempting to sever the Sith Lord's wrist. Grinning at her from beneath the mask, Malgus swiftly reversed his own blade, and pressed down on her. Leveraging his strength, he roared as the Force erupted around him. A red hazy aura coated his form as he pressed her back, threatening to shove her into the ground, ending the fight then and there. 

Rebuffed, and losing ground, she changed tactics, immediately transitioning into Form VI. Her blade spun in a defensive circle as she redirected a torrent of debris Malgus hurled at her with the Force. 

“A master of many is a master of none.” Malgus growled, continuing to press her back with a vicious overhead, transitioning into a brutal gut punch. 

Keira blocked the strike, then swiped her finger. The ‘Diplomacy’ form mixed the prior Forms together, and preached a heavy use of Force powers. And her power she most excelled at was speed! The finger she had swiped in the air reached down, and poked the top of Malgus's gauntlet, initiating a micro [Force Push]. Thrown off balance by the tap, it was Malgus's turn to go on the defensive as he leaned out of the way from the green saber taking his neck.

“You have spirit, girl, but it isn't enough.” He mocked, his voice sounding particularly guttural through his respirator. 

With a thrust of her free hand, she sent a pile of rubble at him, intent on charging at him simultaneously. 

Malgus simply walked through the attack. Chunks of stone shattered against his armor, or were ground to dust as they came into contact with the red-rage surrounding his form. The Sith Lord did not slow down, and in fact, approached at a leisurely gait, as if to show the girl how pointless her efforts were. 

Charging at him, she resumed her use of Ataru, hopping from one place to the next so fast, it appeared that there were a trio of green alien clones closing the distance. 

Malgus stopped in place, and roared like some kind of monster in a holofilm. The sound echoed throughout the entire Temple entrance, sending mental damage throughout the venue. Nearby Sith & Jedi alike who were caught off guard by this felt disoriented, with the unluckiest collapsing, bleeding out of their orifices. 

Keira suddenly felt woozey, and it was only thanks to the shields Corvus had applied to everyone beforehand that she was on her feet at all. 

Following this [Force Scream] with a violent sweep of his arm, a telekinetic shockwave erupted outward. The floor exploded, and entire sections of stone were ripped free and hurled in every direction.

Keira crossed her blade before her body and entered Form III. The defensive stance absorbed part of the impact, though she was still thrown backward across the courtyard.

Malgus charged forth, trailing red light like some sort of apparition, rage coursed through this Sith Juggernaut's veins as he sought the Mirialan Jedi's lifeblood. 

Ramming forth like a living siege engine, his immense frame crashed through broken pillars and the burning wreckage of the Sith transport as though they were made of paper mâché. 

Keira bravely met him head-on. Green and red collided again in a flurry of blows. 

Malgus hammered downward with Form V's brutal power. Each strike felt like being hit by a speeder.

Keira blocked one strike.

Then another.

Then a third.

The fourth drove her to one knee.

Stone beneath her boots shattered, and craters were constantly formed due to the impact. The fifth strike, her lightsaber was nearly ripped from her hands. 

Despite this nearly catastrophic loss, there was a fierce grin on her face. The taste of battle had ignited her spirit. A steadfast warrior, she had stuck closer to the Jedi Code than Mace Windu. However, the insidious presence of the [Force Bond], of Revan had been like a disease. Those feelings of taking joy in competition, in winning, in passion were no longer suppressed. 

For perhaps the first time in years, she had found an opponent capable of pushing her to her limits. One who wouldn't cheekily win through trickery, but a warrior who would meet her head on. 

Malgus seemed to gain an appreciation for her too, respecting her warrior's spirit by picking up the tempo. 

The Sith Lord's typically dead-inside yellow eyes had a glimpse of excitement in them. His attacks became faster and faster, until that slow methodical approach rapidly vanished behind a blisteringly blinding murderous pace. His lightsaber became a crimson whirlwind of death and destruction, repeatedly seeking Keira's death. 

As for the green alien, she answered with Ataru. Matching speed with speed, transforming into an acrobatic trickster god, narrowly dodged blade after blade, and attacked from odd angles time after time. 

Flipping.

Spinning.

Leaping from broken wall to broken wall.

Her blade struck Malgus's shoulders, arms, chest, and back in rapid succession. Sparks flew from the Sith's armor, and he began to craftily act like a frustrated lunatic lost to his rage. Deliberately lowering his defense in several spots, yet not taking any fatal damage was an incredibly risky prospect. However, by presenting weakness, he was in reality, preparing to spring his trap. 

Malgus had the alien's measure. Less than ten minutes had passed, and he had already slain her companion, Master Zellow. This fight had ignited his warrior's spirit, but now was the time to end this. 

Like a mountain collapsing in an avalanche, his subsequent strikes were heavy, fast, and lethal. 

Keira raised high, only to have an elbow come for her neck. She went to tap him for another micro [Force Push], but the elbow had expected this maneuver, and brutally pushed forward with the Force too. She grimaced in pain as the bones in her hand began to crackle and strain to contain the massive power lurking beneath the hooded Sith's garb. 

Keira was still optimistically thinking about how to push herself further, when Malgus's free hand snapped outward.

A colossal telekinetic grip seized her in midair.

The Mirialan froze. Stone blocks, pieces of statues, and entire chunks of flooring rose around her. Malgus then clenched his fist.

Everything accelerated toward her at once, intent on crushing her whole. Keira clucked her tongue, disappointed that her participation in this trial would end early. 

Before the deadly barrage could strike, Revan appeared. Shadow and lightning exploded together at his entrance. A brightly lit [Force Repulse] erupted from next to Kiera-where Revan had emerged-and swept the deadly debris aside. Malgus snorted, stepping into the disintegrating wave of energy like a man stepping into the shallows of some pool or lake, barely fazed. 

Revan did not delay for long, his Form VII assault crashed into Malgus. Striking at odd angles, and hunting for a hit-like a Vornskr on the hunt-he disrupted the Juggernaut's flow. 

Blue [Force Lightning] surged along his blade as he attacked with controlled fury.

Malgus released his telekinetic hold on Keira and turned to meet this new threat. Releasing a wave of his own lightning, Malgus growled, unwilling to be outdone. Revan silently pressed forth, entering a stunning power lock. 

A white explosion briefly blinded Keira, and when her vision cleared, she saw Revan's aggressive mastery of Form VII meet Malgus's overwhelming power.

Red and blue sparks erupted everywhere as their weapons clashed again and again. Keira joined in the fight shortly thereafter, their blades moved so quickly that they became continuous streams of light.

Malgus struck.

Revan parried.

Keira stabbed into Revan's retreat. 

Malgus spun, reorienting himself, dodging Keira's timely assist, then aimed at Revan's neck. 

Revan ducked beneath the strike and unleashed a burst of lightning into the Sith Lord's ribs. Malgus answered by driving a Force-enhanced punch into Revan's chest.

The impact launched Revan nearly thirty feet away collapsing a section of the Temple's walls. Skeleton still somewhat visible due to an aftershock, a grinning skeleton met Keira's eyes. 

Taking a deep breath, she centered herself. It was clear that even together, they were no match for this ancient menace. Revan was still recuperating his lost abilities, whilst she required more time to train. Although a loss here today seemed inevitable, that didn't mean this was a bad learning opportunity. 

Keira reentered the fight instantly. Her green blade flashed toward Malgus's throat. Only for him to block everything she tossed at him. She transitioned into a fluid sequence of Form I strikes that flowed unpredictably into Form IV acrobatics and then back into a neutral Form VI combining Force powers. 

The pure expression of technique pressed her to perform to the best of her capabilities, putting everything on the line in the name of victory. Malgus grunted as he was once more forced back. 

The relentless nature of Ataru transformed her into an avatar of speed. Sometimes she even took near-suicidal approaches to combat, coming dangerously close to losing a limb, or bisection all to land yet another hit upon him. 

Her attacks came from every angle. Every opening was exploited, every chance to extend her momentum taken. The Sith Lord blocked one strike and discovered another already incoming. Blocked that one and found a third. Green light surrounded him, yet a grin spread across his face. 

As Revan was rushing out of the pile of rubble, the green skinned alien had revealed a flaw in her form, and he moved to impale her. Just as Keira was about to be rammed through the chest, an orange lightsaber, and a staff blocked his strike. 

Sari Nui, Kiran Modi, and the host of Jedi had arrived, surrounding Malgus.

Keira was stunned, and turned to Revan in shock. Even the Sith-always so confident in his own power-paused in his step. 

Revan let out a low, mocking laugh. 

“We have returned? Sith limbs dirty my Temple steps, and sully this sacred hall. For 300 years, you plotted revenge, only to amount to this?” 

Keira took in a sharp breath as the rage and red aura around Malgus became a thick crimson. The Sith didn't say a word, but the Darkside around him oozed like an open wound. Her heart beat in excitement, the upcoming fight would be one she could reflect upon for hours. Glancing at Revan, her heart rate unknowingly increased once again, she really wanted him…to fight her even more now. 

The final battle against Malgus was about to begin! 

~~~~~~~~~~

AN: Corvus probably: ‘why does this crazy silent tomboy always want to fight? I was just chilling with Windu & Obi-Wan at the outdoor hot springs, and her idea of a date is fighting long dead super Sith?!’ 

Keira: ‘Date? What is that? Can it fight?’