I feel like I can take on the whole Empire myself!

[taggingwomprats]

 Date: Various; post-zombie
Location: Various
Characters: Luke Skywalker, open.
Summary: Being a fairly friendly guy and preparing for the mini-rebellion. 
Warnings: NAIVE IDEALISM

A. Corridors between the Ag-Wing and Housing

[The first thing he'd done after the zombie attack was catch up on sleep. The second was to get back out on the job. The weapons fire hadn't exactly been kind to the hallways or to some of the systems, so someone had to jury-rig them back into something resembling order. The cleaning was the easy part - making sure the knocked out lights and holes in the wall were patched up was more difficult. After all, it wasn't like they had a giant surplus of spare parts lying around. 

Good thing he's used to working less. 

He can be found trying to weld a ragged patch over some bullet holes. He might also have a bit too much wiring and spare odds and ends in his toolbox than is strictly necessary for the job's he's doing.] 

B. The Observatory


[Even Luke needs a break sometimes. He finds a spot in the observatory where he can watch the stars and settles in to relax for a bit. After a few moments, he pulls a small, model-sized X-Wing out of his pocket and uses his hand to take it through a few random maneuvers before he gives a little snort, a shake of his head and stuffs it back in his pocket. He has a lot to think about. Especially considering what he's about to do. Mostly to himself, but half to anyone in the room, he speaks up.]

None of those stars look familiar. It's strange....

Comments

[horncrown]

[ Well, they're at good odds then. Considering Maul's disliking toward the Jedi and the Republic that they slavishly serve. Ridiculous ideals, hypocritical methods, ignorance. Incapable of pursuing that which must be done in order to create the order they claim to uphold.

But you feel, which is close enough to sharing. He muses to himself, possibly letting the thought flow outward to any interested and in tune minds (or simply just yours, Luke). ]

Attachments aren't very Jedi-like. Especially not the anger I feel from you with this Vader, and [ a beat, a hum ] yes, fear.

[taggingwomprats]

[Luke's anger flares. With it is shame, fear, resentment, bravado - a whole swirl of emotions that he hasn't learned how to control yet, despite Yoda's admonishment. He speaks through gritted teeth.]

I'm not afraid.

[horncrown]

[ He snorts a short laugh ] Your feelings betray you. Always so in denial about yourselves. It is your insistence on ignoring the depth of your emotions that make you weak.

[taggingwomprats]

[Luke grinds his teeth together and bites back a retort. He can't let the newcomer get to him so easily.]

Who are you, anyway?

[horncrown]

Ah, resistance. [ So much potential. Oh, Luke. You're going to have some trouble ahead of you. He doesn't know about this Darth Vader but he himself? Not one to give up easily. Not in his nature never mind his philosophy. ]

I am Darth Maul.

[taggingwomprats]

[Luke's pretty confident he can deal with whatever trouble comes his way. But he's optimistic like that.]

Never heard of you.

[Which doesn't mean much.]

I don't know why the Initiative thought bringing you along was a good idea.

[horncrown]

[ Oh, Maul is primarily the more active sort and while he is nowhere near the mastermind manipulator that his Master is he knows a good opportunity when he sees one. ]

True to the rest of the Order, I'm afraid. [ its spoken with a modicrum of humor and a whisper of superiority. Precisely the point, Maul would say. Darksiders are everywhere; Jedi with opposing allegiance infiltrated every crevice of their precious temple. ]

Oh? You find war and resistance more of a Jedi's expertise? [ Please, do enlighten him. ]

[taggingwomprats]

[Luke narrows his eyes, but doesn't comment on the Order. Especially since there hasn't been an order in a couple decades and he has no idea how the old one actually worked.]

I'm not so bad at the whole fighting thing myself.

[Of course, there were Yoda's words about that sort of thing, but he's not thinking about that at the moment. He flexes the fingers on his right hand.]

What do you care about the Initiative's fight anyway?

[horncrown]

[ Wouldn't that be an interesting surprise for the young Sith to discover. He begins to move but it is careful and precise- a slow circle around the young boy. Teasing, almost. Like prey. ]

No, I don't suppose that you are. I feel a great deal of strength in you which leads me to wonder what kind of lies they speak to keep you in their allegiance.

[ a beat ] I'm not sure that I do yet.

[taggingwomprats]

Ben and Yoda told me enough.

[Luke shifts to try and follow Maul's movements. He's not going to let him get behind him, after all.]

I don't need any enlightenment from you, thanks.

[horncrown]

[ The temptation to lash out- test (or tease)- was almost unbearable but he could hear his Master's words. The Darkside will try to test us with our passions. To understand its power we must ride above it and not let it so fully obtain us. ]

Aah. The great Master Yoda.

You learned of the Darkside from those sworn against it- were you expecting anything short of a single-sided point of view?

[taggingwomprats]

The Dark Side doesn't offer me anything.

[he sounds sure of that, anyway. At least Yoda drilled that into him. "Once you start down the path", etc.]

I've seen what the Dark Side leads to!

[horncrown]

[ The certainty makes him smile a bit. What can he say, he likes a good challenge. ]

Mm, not everyone is well suited to it. [ He keeps his disgust for those individuals at minimum. A gloved hand waves as if he's even willing to listen. ]

[taggingwomprats]

Yeah, well, I'm not suited to it, so you can find someone else to talk to.

[Although he's got loads of anger and fear, so maybe not.]

[horncrown]

It seems to think otherwise. [ He knows that you feel it; somewhere back there with all that emotion. But he feels... it effected someone close to you. He thinks... You've confronted it before but the details are not something he can pick up quite so easily. ]

[taggingwomprats]

I'm not interested in what it thinks.

[Luke sets his jaw.]

Why don't you just buzz off?

[horncrown]

[ Gloved fingers fine their way to his lightsaber, snapping it loose to fall into his grip. There's a mocking sort of look that crosses his colorful features. ]

You should be. The more you resist the more it will wrap itself around you.

[taggingwomprats]

[Luke's expression sets into a determined grimace and he pulls his own lightsaber free of his belt.]

Thanks for the advice, but I don't think I need it.

[horncrown]

((ooc: aweshiet))

[ Good. He thinks. That warm and vibrant hum almost echoes in the otherwise quiet room- a scarlet red, of course. ] What you think is no matter.

[taggingwomprats]

[The urge to fight is strong. There's adrenaline pumping through his veins and he feels like he's on pins and needles - it's a familiar feeling, one that comes every time he's in a firefight or flying his X-Wing into the middle of an Imperial attack. This isn't the right place for this.

But he can't just back down, either. He breathes out and his bright white-blue blade ignites with a snap-hiss, the hum rising in counter to Darth Maul's lightsaber.]

We don't have to do this.

[Especially with his own plans for later in the month.]

[horncrown]

[ The Iridonian continues to circle him. He hasn't taken a stance yet, but he makes easy movements with a roll of his wrist as if to toy with the young Jedi. ]

But you want to. [ Lips part enough to display serrated teeth in a tight grin. ]

[taggingwomprats]

[Luke doesn't respond to that with words. Instead, he follows Maul as he circles, blade raised in a 'guard' position. He's watching him, following his movements, waiting for the attack he's sure is coming.]

[horncrown]

[ Ah, acceptance. He doesn't want to kill Luke nor give away his full potential just yet. He'll take the stance of Niman, then. Rather than his favored Juyo. He'll make the first strike and keep his bladework loose with more intent on taunting the young Jedi to channel his own aggression and use the force if anything gets too close for comfort. But if the stakes rise, he has no quarrel with switching to a more aggressive form. ]

[taggingwomprats]

[Luke doesn't really have a defined style of lightsaber combat, considering he's partially self-taught. He eases back a step, giving ground.

This isn't the time or place for a fight, but he still struggles with the idea of just walking away. He starts to circle again, watching Maul warily.]

OMG SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG

[horncrown]

[ He would be interested to learn just how different things became with the Empire. There's a fairly high chance that he might even disagree with some of the implemented rules starting with the strict disapproval of Alien members, but that might be for another time. ]

You struggle [ he points out, brings it to life, and advances again making his strikes easy and loose. Still weighing the talent and attempting to draw more out from the man. ] But I feel your want.