Master Kamjin "Maverick" Lap'lamiz vs. Boss Itzo Maelemi

The ocean world of Ahch-To looks to be nothing but blue seas from the distance of space. Dotting the oceans, however, are chains of rocky island that jut upwards to form shallow, sloping mountain ranges with small, flattened plateaus. Rich green trees and other small flora grow along the sedimentary stone, untouched by anything more than small avian creatures looking for a place to nest. Carved into the stones of the various islands are sets of winding, ascending and man-made pathways.

The crisp, clean air that wisps off the ocean helps maintain a fairly mild temperature during the day, with a healthy chill at sunset. Storms have been reported to flare up from time to time, leaving only the highest points of the islands safe from a rising tide. Porgs litter the islands, the oceans teem with a wide variety of fish, and large, docile Thala-sirens loiter on the rocky shores.

Although better known as the legendary home of the Jedi Order, a species of small-statured amphibious natives live simple lives as caretakers of the Jedi ruins. The ruins themselves are primarily small collections of stone huts, although numerous hidden caves dot the islands. Some contain evidence of previous habitation; many more house strong Force auras with mysterious effects on sentient beings, particularly Force-sensitives.

Itzo strolled along the ruins of Achh-To. His ever present companion, 'Ken' the decades old B2 Super Battle Droid, easily kept pace with the Zabrak. "Why are we here again? I thought we had given up the life of crime." Itzo stared up at Ken and chuckled.

"This isn't crime. It's...more like archaeology."

"Archaeology without a permit is stealing. We could be better than this."

"We could...and...we could get paid and help people with the credits."

"I'm fairly certain that's not how you plan on utilizing the funds you receive from this transaction."

Ken stopped. The whirling of his gears as his arm revealed his blaster cannons drew Itzo's attention. Before them, a man was cloaked in black. His face hidden by a neck gaiter and hood. Itzo put a reassuring hand on Ken's arm. "Greetings! We were sight seeing on this island. Perhaps you know where we could get a better view?"

"I don't think he's going to buy that story." Ken's vocal modular softly intoned to Itzo.

Itzo keep a smile on his face and whispered back. "Your blasters are going to ruin it more than my story."

The figure ignited a blood red lightsaber. It crackled as the sea spray crested the peeks of the island.

"Oh, that is not good." Itzo patted Ken on the blaster arm and broke into a run up the cliff of the island. If Ken had the ability to experience pure joy he would have as he began blasting at the hooded figure. The figure barely moved as his blade deflected the blaster bolts harmlessly into the damp soil.

Ken, who had studied his predecessors failures against Force users, sent a missile flying with his other arm as he began sprinting towards the most likely location the figure would move towards. As the missile exploded the Force user leapt in the air, his blade wooshed as its master spiraled through the air. Ken was there was the figure's feet landed and he slammed his fists into the being's chest.

Up the side of the hill Itzo heard the clang of metal on metal as he continued his ascent. Ken cocked his upper body in puzzlement. The figure's cloak moved as he skidded backwards revealing a suit of armor beneath the cloak. Ken lunged forward, grabbing the man and slammed him into one of the rough stone huts that littered the island. The being's hood flew back as the hut crumbled. Ken went to slam him against it again and the being kicked him hard in the torso.

Ken staggered under the force of the kick and released the man. Impressively the man had held onto his lightsaber. His eyes raged yellow-red now that his hood had been removed. The mess of graying brown hair already matted to his head. Ken took several steps back as he began firing rapidly at the man. It was impressive, even to the battle droid, that the man was able to deflect the blasts even at such close range. Somewhere in his memory banks he knew that not all Force users could accomplish such a feat.

Ken felt the pressure before he saw the man's hand shoot out. He planted his metallic feet but miscalculated how sturdy the muddy ground was. He skidded and flew back into another hut. "Master, you better be running." Ken's jointed ground as he tried to extract himself as he watched the figure walk off towards his master.

Itzo paused his ascent up the cliffside, now more climbing over rocks than walking upright, as he heard the crash of metal and stone. He turned to look over his shoulder and saw the legs of his companion droid sticking up in the air, its torso completely covered in heavy round stones, a trail of inky black smoke rising from the debris. Walking away from the destroyed hut, and in the Zabrak’s direction, was his mysterious opponent. His hood now removed, even at this distance he could see the glowing rage in his eyes. Instinctively he reached down and felt for his lightsaber hilt on his belt beneath his armor, but resisted retrieving it just yet.

“You seem like an awfully angry man. I can just go, no need to follow me!” Itzo called out toward the man and then turned back to face the top of the cliff. He slowed his breathing and channeled the Force into his legs, feeling the pressure build like a coiled spring. Suddenly he released the energy and sprang forward up the remainder of the cliff. He rolled in the dirt and hopped to his feet, immediately looking to see if his pursuer was still on his trail. The man continued forward at a steady pace with his glowing red blade at his side. Itzo quickly pulled at his own hilt and ignited it with its signature howl. He swung his orange blade a few times at the edge of the cliff in the direction of the man.

“I got one too, and I know how to use it! Just...don’t come any closer...okay?”

Upon reaching the base of the cliff, his opponent looked up and locked eyes with him, yellow meeting yellow-red. Then, with a few well placed leaps, he began to quickly ascend the cliff face, significantly quicker than the Zabrak had managed. Itzo backed away from the edge and raised his blade in front of himself defensively. In less than a minute, the human man appeared at the top of the cliff and landed softly in the dirt; Itzo wasted no time. With his hand raised he immediately unleashed a torrent of lightning, the white-blue energy streaking through the air in jagged lines. His opponent quickly brought up his own lightsaber to deflect them before returning his own volley of lightning, larger and more spread out. Itzo raised his blade to block the attack but was surprised to see the streaks suddenly split into three and move in different directions. Unable to block all of them, one streak collided with his left leg and took his weight out from under him, causing the Zabrak to drop into the dirt. He rolled over and quickly leapt to his feet, but his opponent seized the opportunity and closed the distance. Itzo brought his blade back up just in time to catch the blood red lightsaber and send a shower of sparks raining down around them.

“Okay, first you killed my droid, that was one thing,” Itzo half-growled, half-groaned, holding the weight of the two blades while the man stared into his eyes. Now up close he could just barely see a scar on the left side of his head. “But then you shocked me. That really pissed me off!” The Zabrak channeled the Force into his off-hand and slammed it into the Human man’s chest, separating them and sending him skidding backwards in the dirt. He slid to a stop just short of the cliff edge.

Itzo stared at the man. Somehow his boots had found enough perch to stop himself flying off the edge of the cliff. The man raised his hand, outstretched before him. Itzo tilted his head in puzzled amusement. As realization set in, Itzo spun around narrowing dodging the boulder that had been sent flying at the back of his skull.

Turning back towards the mysterious stranger he barely blocked the overhead attack from the man's blood red blade. As their blades met one thought continued to creep in his mind - this is nothing like when I pretended to duel Dark Jedi. "I don't know what I did but we can work out a deal." The man responded by leaping his knee into Itzo's chin. He spat the pooling blood in his mouth as he stumbled back from the man. His head swam as the man's blade twirled absentmindedly before him.

So be it.... Itzo lunged at the man, his blade pointed straight at the man. As the stranger batted aside Itzo's blade as if it were wielded by a child, Itzo dropped his hilt and grabbled the man's neck. Itzo saw the surprise in the man's eyes as he held onto his hilt despite Itzo tackling him to the ground. The man, wisely, extinguished his own blade. Itzo pivoted his body to grasp onto the man's limbs. The stranger bucked and rolled. Itzo howled as the sharpened cliff rocks slashed into his clothes. Next time, something stronger....

The strange elbowed Itzo in the ribs. Itzo felt the bone break before he heard the snap. The Zabrak howled as the stranger reversed the hold. Itzo felt the man pulling on his arm. Any moment his shoulder was going to dislocate. Bzzt! The pressure was gone as the damp ground sizzled near where he was.

"Please wait, Master. I am calibrating."

Itzo exhaled in relief. Ken was still functioning though his head and upper torso now sported a deep dent. The focusing crystal in the droids right eye was shattered and fluids squirted out of his limbs.

"Ken, no talking. Just kill that man!"

"Yes, that is the plan." Ken's forearm fired with an off-cycle kick. Clearly a component was damaged and causing the droid's arm to kick at regular intervals. The stranger rolled himself upright and started sprinting for cover. The ground steamed as the blaster fire chased after him. When it looked like Ken was about to connect, the man slid behind a rock formation. As Ken began to narrow in the figure stood, blasts of Sith electricity arced across the land, picking the droid up off the ground and send him flying off the cliff.

Itzo could barely hear the final words of the droid. "The Jedi don't fight like that..." and then he was gone. Itza remembered screaming. Rage building in him as he turned and then the fist was in his face. He fell onto the ground with a thud. The world spun as the man began stomping on his stomach. "Why?" Itza coughed up blood as he tried to double over and protect himself. "Why are you doing this?"

The man paused. "Because I could." Itzo saw the boot and then nothing.

The two combatants' eyes met once again, burning fury now present in both. Itzo was panting heavily from the exertion, still holding his fist out in front of him. The lightsaber in his off hand lightly touched the ground with every exhale, sending a small stream of smoke rising into the air each time. His mysterious opponent appeared much less winded, though the Zabrak could see a few beads of sweat trickling down his head. Itzo was suddenly aware of his own sweat-soaked armor as a cool breeze whipped by. During the course of their encounter dark clouds had moved overhead, and he could feel the temperature dropping as the pressure changed. Just as the thought was reaching his brain, a few drops of water landed on his outstretched hand.

Another strong gust blew from behind the mysterious Human, who lunged forward at that exact moment. He kicked off with such force that the edge of the cliff crumbled under the strain and fell down to the rocks below. Itzo was watching and waiting and was still almost caught off-guard, raising his lightsaber at the last moment once again. Where before the two men were locked together, now the two blades danced off of each other from all angles, showering sparks down in the two men that stood out vibrantly in the ever darkening conditions. The rain began to pick up as the two fighters parried blow after blow. Itzo could feel himself being pushed back toward the opposite cliff edge. He tried to dig his boots into the dirt but it was quickly transitioning into a muddy mess and traction was at a premium. It took nearly his full focus to keep his opponents' attacks from striking true.

“Can…we…just…talk…about…this?” Itzo asked through gritted teeth. The rain was heavy now and both men were already soaked, the dark hair of his opponent clinging to his head. The two blades locked between them once again.

“Die.” Were the first and only words the mysterious Human spoke, inches away from Itzo’s face. He was a confident man, but he was starting to feel like he might not make it out of this one alive. His opponent must have sensed that moment of doubt; maybe he saw it in his eyes. Itzo didn’t know for sure, but one moment his feet were in the mud and the next he was in the air. The ground did not rise up to meet his back. Instead he watched the ground rise clear past him as he sailed over the edge of the cliff. Residual sparks still crackled off his chest from the sudden burst of lightning.

He released the grip on his hilt and shifted his weight mid-air, turning his body over so he could see exactly where he was falling. Below him were jagged rocks of shale beside a narrow dark sand beach. He thrust his hands out before him and pushed the Force with all his might, slowing his descent enough to angle for the sand instead of the stones. Itzo crashed into the beach hard, skidding in the wet sand and coming to rest on his back. Looking up into the dark clouds and heavy rain, he gasped for air. Without warning a blood red blade appeared above him and sliced down quickly.

A single trail of footprints led away from the beach.