Karran gently pulled the rake through the sand that covered the ground inside the ring of stones. The total diameter was around ten meters. The sand was smooth and fine, almost soft. It was perfect for this process. The rake carved delicate lines as the Zabrak drew out the design of the battle circle. He worked shirtless, as he usually did, but his leather armored robes hung from a nearby tree branch. His guest would be arriving soon.
When he finished preparing the sand, he sat on one of two boulders situated perfectly opposite each other in the ring. He set out his lightsabers to inspect them. He removed their matching crystals, each carved from the same pearl that had been removed from the same Krayt Dragon he’d sworn vengeance against years ago. They received a quick polish and were gently replaced into their focusing chambers.
Now there was little to do but wait. He breathed deep and slow. He allowed the Force to flow around him. He let it fill his body and clear his mind. Their last sparring session had been interrupted, but now they would have a fair rematch.
Zuza had less preparation to do. The Human had come ready for this, without ritual or a moments quiet but with a few stretches and positive self talk before entering Karran’s meditation.. garden thing.
She wasn’t really sure what it was but as she walked in, it did make sense that he’d want to fight here.
The Mercenary drew a training sword, a semi-replica of the sapphire blade she’d been gifted for service. It was a drop from the saber Zuza usually liked to wield but she didn’t want to actually hurt the Zabrak. Not permanently.
Zuza crossed a third of the garden, pulling into a defensive stance with a smile on her face.
“Ya ready?”
The Sith let his head roll back and around, stretching the muscles as a series of pops sounded.
“I try to maintain a constant state of preparedness.”
He dismounted from the boulder he had been meditating on and moved to put on his armor.
“Would you prefer that I not use Force Powers? In the interest of fairness, that is. Skill against skill alone. Sportsmanlike, you know?”
He stepped into the ring and stood across from the (much smaller) human. His right hand rested on the single-bladed saber at that rested in its leather holster on his hip, while his left was tucked behind his back to rest on the double-bladed saber that was clipped horizontally at the small of his back.
“I have adjusted the power levels of my sabers down to a more…friendly level. They should not put out anything more than a stern shock.”
The Zabrak rolled his shoulders back and straightened up to his full height as he felt the various pops and stretches releas throughout his body.
“But otherwise, I am ready when you are.”
“I’d appreciate that. I can handle your big ass, but big ass boosted by wibbly wobbly stuff is a bit much.”
She smiled, shuffling her feet into a slightly wider stance. Balance was going to be key, after all. Zuza craned her neck slightly to meet his eye.
“Well ready, heady. Horny? Herdy? Kirdy?” Her gaze drifted off, tilting side to side for a moment as she considered the nicknames, “Any of those sticking?”
A smile cracked the corner of Karran’s mouth. He did not know Zuza well, but he had heard that she was spirited. Although, one had to be, when the majority of species in the galaxy tended to stand a head taller than you.
“I have been called much worse by bigger people. You may call me what you wish. I will refer to you by your name, though, instead of…”
He thought for a moment.
“Shortstack?”
“Only thing I’m stacking is kneecaps. They’re very easy to grab from here yanno? Not the worst I’ve heard though.”
She waved the training sword in the direction of Karran’s legs.
And then, Zuza moved in at a run, feet kicking up the sand. A grin was in place across her face, even as the Human hoped that being small would give her some advantage speed wise in this particular case.
The small human was quick, but in a melee engagement, reach had many advantages.
The Zabrak, in contrast, kept his feet firmly on the ground. The majority of his weight rested just on the balls of his feet. The muscles in his legs flexed and tightened, ready to move Karran’s left hand emerged from behind his back as twin blades emitted from either end of the saber he’d held in wait. He flourished then struck. Not at the human, but at her weapon. The weakened plasma blade struck Zuza’s weapon, just at the tip, as she began to swing.
As the blades met, the mercenary’s attack was disrupted for long enough to allow the Sith to step to the side and pivot on his rear foot before he dragged the toes of his right through the sand in an arc, kicking up a wave of the fine, grainy soil.
Now, he assumed a readied stance, this time his left foot was forward with his saber angled diagonally across his body, ascending from left to right.
The down blade protected his leading side, while the higher blade guarded higher on his right
“You have…fought against a lightsaber wielder before, haven’t you?”
Karran extended his right hand out, palm up, and gave the ‘come here’ motion with his fingers
“Usually with my own lightsaber. I.. don’t have a safety button on mine.”
Zuza kept herself facing the Zabrak, a sheepish laugh escaping the Human as she admitted the blot in her knowledge. The moment was gone as unwarranted confidence poured through, “Can kick your ass either way though,”
Maybe it was the fact she essentially warned Karran that she was attacking once more, but either way Zuza overswung, missing the Zabrak by a (non-existent in his case) hair and leaving herself bent with unaccounted momentum.
The Sith danced around Zuza’s over-extension to counter with his own attack. He feinted a strike with the saber, a diagonal strike with the back end of the double-blade, only to tuck in and ram his shoulder into her ribs.
Once he’d made contact, he looped his arm around hers and heaved the human from her feet to no-so-gently toss her to her back.
“Are you alright? I am beginning to think you are unfocused. It hurts my feelings when the people I fight are not focused on me.”
A subtle half-smile broke the right side of his face. He knew she could do better, at least by reputation. Perhaps starting with tea would have been the better option.
“oeuf-”
Zuza was very suddenly on her back.
She propped herself up on her elbows, leaving her with enough of an angle to actually look up at Karran, choosing not to speak and instead to throw the training sword.
In the time it took Zuza to get to her feet during the “distraction”, it struck… a horn. And bounced off across the room.
“I’m focusse- oh that didn’t work. Kriff.”
The blade struck the horn just right of the central one. The Zabrak turned his head with the impact and winced.
Slowly, he reached up and felt the horn. Slightly cracked. Nothing permanent. It would grow out and resolve itself with a little help and sanding.
His good eye twitched. It hurt. Not terribly, but enough that it would be a thing for a day or two. Much like cracking a fingernail.
She threw a sword at me.
He extended his right arm and spread his fingers as he reached.
She threw a sword at me. It was only a training blade, but she threw a sword at me.
He focused on the weapon she had thrown at him and willed it to his hand. His double saber rested in his left hand. The back blade crossing at a diagonal from his left hip to right shoulder. The forward blade just skittered across the sand as he walked across the ring to the human, leaving scorch marks and little spontaneous beads of glass wherever it tapped.
When he finally stood over Zuza, the right side of his face had curled up revealing a flash of white teeth. Until-
He took a deep breath and flipped the training sword in his hand to offer it hilt-first.
“You are sure that you are not distracted? If you need a moment, you can take it. Or we can break for tea and resume after.”
He deactivated the lightsaber, returned it to its home behind his back, and offered a hand to Zuza.
She had been… worried there for a second. Zuza was confident of many things. Her abilities in combat were kriffin’ good, but facing off against a force user way more experienced than herself in her own combat never mind the additional benefits from the Force?
Yeah nah.
So as Karran took a breath, the Human released one of relief before taking the training sword back. Throwing it had felt a good idea in the moment, but seeing the small crack in the horn it had struck swung a twinge of guilt through her. Dirty moves were her thing, but she never liked hurting friends.
“I didn’t think I was but maybe I am with that karkshow.” She took the Zabrak’s hand, in a moment later back on her feet, “Maybe a break would be good. Reset.”
Karran smiled and clapped a heavy hand on the woman’s shoulder.
“I have found that sharing a pot of tea with an opponent before, of after, a fight is one of life’s greatest pleasures. It provides an insight that you could never know through simple conversation.”
He began walking toward the garden. It was chaotic, but manicured. As if the plants had been given free reign to grow, but simply offered guidance and framework to allow them to display their full potential.
A table sat in the middle of the garden. No chairs, but a variety of cushions were available. In the center of the table was a metal bowl that held glowing embers, above the embers was a clay teapot that had been shaped to display the form of a Krayt Dragon with its mouth forming the spout.
The Zabrak gestured for Zuza to sit as he poured from the pot, serving hers first.
Zuza followed him through, looking around the place with interest and a smile. It was a nice home.
She took a cushion, taking the cup once it was offered and nestling it in her hands, blowing on the surface for a moment before taking a cautious sip. Set ups like these were usually quite delicious, but also rather hot.
“I.. can’t say I’ve ever really done tea with a fight before. It’s interesting, like seeing both sides of a disk at the same time is how it feels. I see why you like doing it.”
“I prefer to know my opponent as entirely as I can. It allows me to have a deeper respect for them.”
Karran added honey and a splash of milk to his tea. Then offered the same, with the addition of sugar, to his companion.
“I do believe I must apologize to you. Despite your extended time with the Clan, I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of real conversation. Mostly due to my recent…hermetic behavior.”
Zuza waved a hand, smiling still.
“No apology needed. It’s good to properly meet ya now, and that’s what matters. While we did meet in passing on Tatooine… Well. You know that day as well as I do.”
Her ribs twinged it felt like, as if reminding her to not do that again. Wasn’t in the plans.
She accepted the additional honey and sugar, sipping it again and finding it more to her taste. It was good before, but this popped.
“What kind of tea is this? The brew itself.”
“It is a home blend. I grow the tea myself, but I also add a variety of floral elements with a bit of lavender to balance them. It helps the muscles relax and has some mild anti-inflammatory properties.”
It warmed the Zabrak’s hearts to see someone enjoying one of the things he had worked so hard to create.
“If you like, when you leave, I will send you with a box to have at home. When you run out, simply come back and ask for more.”
Karran sipped his own tea and breathed in the steam that danced on top of the liquid.
“I have been out of touch with day-to-day activities of the clan. What have you been doing with your time?”
“I’d love that. Both the tea and an excuse to return. Though I’m sure with Diy staying here, we’d have encountered each other at some point.” Amusement danced across her expression, sipping her drink. Now she knew it was there, the floral flickers of lavender infused with the blend were easier to pick out as the odd taste backing the flavours. Unusual, but lovely. Zig would probably love it too.
“I’ve been heading the Selen Training Corps. It was an idea me and Qyeria had, a team just for new recruits. So my days are usually helping anyone joining settle in, doing training exercises but also getting them familiar with the system and the houses. That and we’re still on high alert so there’s been a lot of refreshers being run for.. everyone really. It’s busy days.”
“Interesting. If you ever need a hand putting the new recruits through the paces, do not hesitate to call. If I can do my part to ensure they do not end up looking like me, I am happy to help.”
He smiled just before sipping his tea.
“And I am sure my old mentor would not mind taking a few shots at me for old time’s sake. Ancestors know I did plenty to make her want to.”
“I wouldn’t mind more experienced folks leading some of the exercises for sure. I know my way around a blade, but martial arts isn’t really my deal. Prefer pocket sand if folk are getting that close when I’m unarmed.” The Human chuckled, recalling one such occasion. She wasn’t wholly sure if it was the sand itself or the fact she actually threw sand at them that gave her the chance to put space there, but that mercenary did not win that fight.
“Who was your old mentor?”
“Qyreia, she helped bring me into Arcona. She looked after me. Even saved my life once or twice. Her method of training was having me stand in a field while she sniped at me with stun rounds. But eventually I graduated from what she could teach me.”
Karran chuckled as he reminisced over the countless times he woke up with his back in the grass and the sun in his eyes with the Zeltron standing over him.
“How is she? Well, I hope.”
“She is. She’s worried too, everythin’ goin’ off with the clan and beyond, but she’s happy with Keira. I wasn’t there but rumour has it she took a turn singing during the Voidbreaker’s last karaoke romp.” Zuza filled in, noting the relationship between him and Qy. There was.. many relations going on it was definitely hard to keep up.
“Good. I’ll have to drop by to visit sometime. Perhaps bring them some tea and spices. She always appreciated good seasoning as I recall.”
Karran sipped his tea again, then cocked his head.
“Are you hungry? I personally detest fighting on an empty stomach.”
“She does always seem to go for the more flavourful options at dinners and bars and stuff.” Zuza nodded. She didn’t necessarily look out for these things, but over time it wasn’t too difficult to notice habits such as that.
She considered the question before shaking her head, “No not particularly, though if you are I’m happy to wait on that.”
She wasn’t… full. But the Human was a little tense and idea of eating wasn’t particularly appetising.
“I am fine. I would just hate for you to find yourself lagging because I was a poor host.”
The Sith sipped his tea.
“Is there anything else on your mind? Feel free to unbidden yourself here. If necessary, whatever is said here remains here.”
“You’ve not been a poor host at all.” Zuza laughed lightly, shaking her head. She considered the question. She had a lot on her mind, the discovery of her mother’s identity. Her role as a Battleteam leader. As a lover and partner to Zig. She had never considered settling down but Arcona had in such little time encapsulated her within.
Alas, it seemed a little silly to unload that. All of it at least.
“I guess I’m a bit.. overwhelmed. Lots going on, a lot of stuff that not so long ago I thought would never happen or hadn’t even considered the idea of. Hard to keep up, though I’m sure I’m far from alone on that one.”
Karran studied the woman with his good eye for awhile. People had never been his strongsuit. Knowing the inner workings of their hearts and minds eluded him more often than not. He was much better at reading physicality. The way someone’s feet shifted as they were about to draw a blaster. The subtle twitch of a shoulder before they swung a blade or feinted a thrust. Those were easy. But Zuza clearly had the weight of the galaxy on her shoulders. She was carrying it well, but even the strongest only have so much strength.
He paused for a long while.
“I cannot remember all of the events of Tatooine. It was all quite the mess. I do not remember if you were there. But, one of the people rescued, besides myself, was my father. Did you know that I though he was dead for over ten years? My mother and i believed he was taken by the Dune Sea in our escape from our home. But he was simply separated from us. The gangsters that had taken me prisoner had been keeping him out of the city to keep my mother and I under their thumb. And then suddenly he is back in my life.”
He took a long, slow, quiet sip of his tea.
“I suppose my point is that life is messy. But we never have to face it alone. That was my mistake when I returned to Tatooine. I went alone. You have friends here. Allies. Zig. You will never be alone. I do not ask that you unburden yourself here and now to me. But lean on the people that are there for you. You will find your load much lighter.”
The Sith finished his uncharacteristically long-winded speech with a punctuated gesture with his cup and finishing his drink.
“I.. was there.” Zuza filled in, speaking softly as he spoke of the event. It had been a good day in total. She hadn’t known the full story before though, and looked on with a serious but relieved expression for Karran’s sake. That the mission had gone successfully that day.
As he continued into the point, she knew he was right. That she should talk to Zig. To Atty, the Mirakula was akin to a surrogate mother in the way she’d taken Zuza in. To her father.. Her foot tapped against the ground a few times. Even as the Human mulled it over, she wanted to protest it. Atty was busy as anything with Kirra and another child on the way. Zig may not have as many responsibilities but she was still integral to the running the Voidbreaker. And Gwaine… He worried so much for her already.
“I… will try.” Her voice quavered with a wither of doubt. Not necessarily a lie, but a decision already partially made. Zuza straightened up a moment after, sipping her own drink before adding on, “Is your dad well now?”
“He is. The Tusken tribe that took him in was wiped out. He has been living in their old camp. He is acting as a steward for it while we use it as a Lotus checkpoint for escaped and freed slaves.”
The Sith set his cup down. He was happy to have given his father a task. The man could never do nothing.
“I have thought about bringing him out to cycle someone else in to take over for awhile. He deserves the break. I have considered trying to get him to go back to Iridonia, but his name is still shamed there, and frankly, Selen is not necessarily the safest place in the galaxy either.”
“No. It’s not. But I don’t think anywhere really is. It’s a shame he can’t go home. ‘speically if he’s been doing all that. At least he’s busy though.” Zuza tried to think of something that could help, but she far from knew the situation well enough to offer anything that Karran couldn’t think of himself.
She hummed before finishing her drink.