A single stream of blood trickled from Amadeo's head as he groaned. The circumstances of a crash weren't new to him however, wrecking his starfighter upside down in a giant tree was a new experience. Tightening his eyes shut, he eased his mind, calling on the Force to undo the mechanisms in his seat buckle. Once the contraption clicked, the straps snapped free and the short fall onto the ground forced the air from his lungs. Desperately, he inhaled to reenergize his organs, providing oxygen despite his ignorance of the planet's atmosphere. Staring at a piece of glass, he studied his bronze skin, the slight laceration on his forehead and the dirt decorating his entire face. Instinctively, his hand traveled toward his hip. His lightsaber was still there! Thank the Force!
Releasing an extended sigh of relief, Amadeo stood and stretched his limbs, rolling his shoulders, loosening any rigidness in his muscles and finishing with a couple hops. Expanding his Force perception, Amadeo detected the pilot whom he exchanged in a dogfight with and was responsible for his crash. Serenity occupied his conscious. Yes... she was near. Removing his comlink, he tapped the device a couple of times.
"Gold One, you copy?"
Nothing.
"Gold One, do you copy?" Some desperation entered Amadeo's voice. His confidence in survival wasn't a concern. After all, he was a Jedi Knight, one of the most respected and reliable of Knights in the Jedi Order disregarding his recalcitrant relationship with the Order's doctrine, specifically the various Jedi Councils, including the High Council. Nevertheless, unless he found proper nourishment on this planet, he'd only be able to fill his stomach for a standard week at most. Calling on the Force could sustain him, but he hadn't advanced satisfactorily in his training and meditation to perform such a feat. Unfortunately, the guarantee that he'd be rescued in a week was unrealistic.
Guess I should start by finding some basic shelter. Doubt I'll be able to discover any spare parts for comm tech. What a damn nuisance. Although Amadeo needed healing, he couldn't delve into any trance considering the circumstances. No matter how strong any creature or Sith was, making it easy wasn't in his nature. Amadeo stretched out his perceptions and allowed the Force to guide him somewhat combined with his intuition. Ducking under trees, leaping over branches, he kept his eyes peeled for signs of danger. In a moment, he stumbled forward nearly planting face first before regaining his balance. Let's stay firm in reality, Amadeo lampooned.
~
Kana leaped out of her starship, scanning the dense forest. Her dirty golden eyes taking note of every piece of bark, every blade of grass, mentally noting every sound that echoed. Body still trembling with excitement, a devious smirk formed. Hands tightened into fists. First time flying and engaging in a dogfight, and she won. Kana glanced at her starship. The hull had received some scratches and because of the intensity of the whole battle, Kana doubted it's ability to remain operational for long. Nevertheless, killing a Jedi was worth it. The best part, this would be her first Jedi kill! If I managed to shoot him down, no doubt the Force favors me. Kana chuckled darkly as she began her hunt, disappearing into the forest.
~
Exhaling, Amadeo leaned against a giant tree and stared at it's stupendous branches that seemed to reach for miles. Though he couldn't read the time, Amadeo assumed he'd been in this forest for at least a couple of hours now. His stomach grumbled and fatigue knocked on his door. Disappointedly, Amadeo hadn't come upon any compound or bunker, no natives, and the beasts minded their business for the most part. Perhaps I could befriend one of them to aid me in my search. Taming beasts Amadeo held a hidden talent for. Years ago, he calmed a violent womp rat. When on a secret mission exploring Korriban, he managed to direct a shyracks to attack Sith troopers hunting him. Now, he felt confident enough to recruit a large Boma. Before he took his first step to recommence his search, a shiver travelled down his spine and his senses spiked. His core felt small chills like winter breezes. The feeling was familiar.
Swiftly, Amadeo ducked as he witnessed a crimson blade lodge itself into the tree trunk. Exerting a roll, Amadeo sprung up and activated a yellow blade as he stared in the direction of where the crimson saber returned. Its hilt planted itself firmly into Kana's grip as she approached.
"I hoped that crash didn't kill you." Kana whirled her lightsaber effortlessly.
"I'm a tough bastard to kill," Amadeo responded as he assumed the Shien stance. He raised an eyebrow, studying his opponent; a habit that he developed since the Jedi Order adopted him.
"But I'm glad to not disappoint," Amadeo continued.
"An arrogant Knight."
"You're mistaking arrogant for assurance."
From his observation, Amadeo deduced Kana's mindset. Indeed, Sith often carried the same attitudes and desires in battle but compared to his past duels with apprentices and full blown Sith Lords, Kana appeared to be merely an acolyte. Remaining in his Shien stance, Amadeo only flicked his wrist and displayed a reverse grip. Practically, the reverse grip wasn't effective unless there were blaster wielders. However, from experience, the mere motion lowered the enemy's guard slightly. In a duel, slightly mattered.
Launching off one foot, Kana closed the distance quickly and made a red arc toward Amadeo's temple. Flicking his wrist, Amadeo held the lightsaber normally and parried her strike. Instinctively, Kana branded her blade as a shield and retreated in two big leaps. Her face reverberated shock. Gritting her teeth and shaking with violent rage, Kana rushed back to inflict chaos. The lightsaber clash mixed with Kana's roars and grunts. Calmly, Amadeo breathed through each of his parries and dodges. The strength behind her attacks weren't to be underestimated but compared to the Sith he fought before, this acolyte was nothing. Thank the Force my lightsaber skills are better than my piloting. Frustration seeped into Kana; each swing, every attempt to disarm or insert a physical strike merely met with a push of Amadeo's hand or the yellow arc of his movements. Once an opening presented itself, Amadeo thrusted at the area. He missed? Simply by inches, the lightsaber hovered near Kana's abdomen under her armpit for a couple seconds. Her own lightsaber she held over her head as the two locked eyes.
"Damn you!" Kana shouted as her arms descended. Amadeo batted the overhead strike to the side. Panting, Kana charged at Amadeo with a vigorous desire to slice open his stomach and pull out his entrails with her bare hands! Unpredictable patterns in Kana's style would've been trouble for Amadeo had he been a padawan. But he hadn't been a padawan in five years. The first time he encountered a style like this, he nearly died. Juyo was what they called it. Jedi who practiced the form were rare and he didn't dare delve into a style that demanded raw passion. Though an acolyte indeed could overcome a skill gap with Juyo, Amadeo found it easier to exploit. He blocked and parried Kana's wide swings, sidestepping a couple times to force her blade to cut the air. Stumbling, Amadeo smirked and with a Shii Cho technique, he disarmed Kana cleanly. Efficiently.
The red blade retracted quickly before the hilt bounced off a stone and landed in the mud. Before Kana managed to counter with a Force blast, Amadeo's blade rested inches from her throat. Tilting his head, he lifted an eyebrow.
"Don't," Amadeo commanded. Kana scoffed.
"Or what, you'll kill me? I could slaughter an entire village but if I dropped my weapon and held up my hands, you wouldn't harm me."
"I've had multiple people like you make the same assumption." Amadeo inched the blade closer, causing Kana to shudder. Slipping on her mask to hide the natural fear of death, Kana smirked, keep her hands at shoulder level.
"Are you really a Jedi?"
"A Knight, yes. Though, I'm classified as a sentinel." Kana's mask slipped for a moment. A sentinel? When Kana trained in the Sith Academy on Korriban, she recalled a Sith Lord who encountered a Jedi wielding a yellow lightsaber before. The Jedi's strength in the Force was slightly above average, still weaker than the Sith's. Yet, the Sith Lord merely escaped because of luck.
"Aren't you going to kill me? Because when I get a chance, I'll kill you for certain," Kana declared.
"While that's true, I'd still rather not kill you."
"What? Gonna try to convert me to the light side of the Force?"
Amadeo eased his lightsaber away from Kana's throat, eyes narrowed. Indeed, Kana was a danger. Even an acolyte with the right power and rage could give a Jedi Master trouble in a fight. Killing Kana hear meant the Sith likely would forget her, no family to remember her, billions in the galaxy wouldn't have to concern themselves with a potential threat to their peaceful lives. Yet, killing her felt... undeserved.
"No," Amadeo concluded. "I doubt anything I say or trading philosophies with you would convince you that you're travelling down a destructive path." Is it too late? Amadeo motioned for Kana to stand and outstretched his hand, summoning her lightsaber into his possession.
"What you will do is help me do is get off this planet. Start moving."
Reluctantly, Kana walked in the direction of her starfighter. Amadeo followed two meters behind, his eyes never leaving her body. He relied on the Force to alert him of his surroundings. Guess I won't have to tame any beasts.
Meanwhile, creatures growled low, stalking the pair from afar. Their paws with claws several inches long and thick easily penetrated the soil underneath.