Voicemail ~ Mask or Menace

[faithfulson]

Skywalker here. Leave a message, and I'll get back to you.

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[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

[Luke would find Nox a far more different opponent than Vader ever was- and not just due to the difference in their weapons. A saberstaff was an unfamiliar sight and more difficult for most Jedi even in Nox's own time to comfortably confront, but a far more significant difference was in play. Like most Force-users of his day, Nox's combat style was not strictly limited to saber technique- he used the Force and hand-to-hand techniques in equal measure, and quite often fused several together into a single attack.

Beneath his helmet, he was already keeping careful watch of Luke's form and footwork, trying to suss out any bad habits or poor form, but it wouldn't be the focus of his first surprise for the Jedi. Instead, he would allow Luke to continue dodging his strikes, and even blocking and parrying a few once he had his weapon in hand. He'd even allow their blades to momentarily lock on a few occasions before resuming the attack. All so that after one such blade lock, he could resort to a little trickery.

Luke would block his strike easily enough, Nox was deliberately starting fairly slow, but this time there would be a surge of Sith lightning channeled through Nox's weapon and into Luke's. Not a problem from most Jedi of his era- they could at least block lightning with their lightsabers- but Nox had his doubts Luke had sufficient training to do so. Which was also the only reason the blast was meant to be quite painful, but ultimately non-lethal. Just in case his suspicions proved accurate, and Skywalker was unable to avoid taking the full force of the shock.]

[faithfulson]

[ If Luke had anything to his credit, it was his adaptability and his bullheaded stubbornness to survive. He did falter at the unusual weapon at first, his mind having trouble wrapping around how it was supposed to work and how he could best counteract it, but after a few blows he was adjusting his stance, shifting himself to match Nox blow for blow. ]

[ But Luke's lack of formal training was glaringly obvious. It was clear he had some training in Form V and also knew the very basics, but everything else seemed to be a hodpodge of reflexive self taught survival and bits and pieces of other forms he may have picked up elsewhere. It was a style that worked for him, but it wasn't anything that would have been taught in a Jedi Temple. ]

[ He also didn't seem to anticipate someone fighting on Nox's level of dirty. It was clear he sensed that something was coming, but he didn't know how to counteract it, and instead the lightning jolted through Luke's lightsaber, into his prosthetic hand. He let out an awkward noise, something between a yelp and a strangled noise as he tried to just let the pain pass through him, but... ]

[ And now, young Skywalker. You will die. ]

[ Luke suddenly, violently pulled himself away from Nox, his knees wobbling unsteadily as a hand went to his mouth in a vain attempt to fight against the rising bile in the back of his throat. He fumbled for a bush instead, ejecting the contents of last night's dinner into it. ]

[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

[He wasn't incompetent, Nox would grant Skywalker that much. But that did not mean he did not have criticisms. For one thing, until he had considerably more training than he had now, and learned to properly harness his aggression, whatever it was he was utilizing was but a pale imitation of Form V. By Sith standards, it was considerably worse, though Nox was well aware of his own Order's differing priorities- and it was unlikely Skywalker would fare well attempting to master the more powerful emotions needed to properly employ the Sith approach.]

[Fortunately the helmet he wore prevented Skywalker from noticing the clearly puzzled- and interested- expression on Nox's face as the Jedi abruptly broke away. The fear was palpable, but clearly stemming from something unrelated to their current duel and certainly only tangentially related to Nox at best. It was a topic he'd clearly need to address going forward, but for now there was a lesson of much graver importance to be taught.]

[Luke would not be getting a moment's respite to deal with whatever it was that was affecting him. Instead, Nox was already upon him- though to his credit, he was not risking a lightsaber strike with Luke being...pre-occupied, as it were. Instead his left hand was holding his saberstaff in the event Skywalker pulled himself together and offered a counterattack, but his right was already pulled back and preparing to properly channel a focused force blast.]

Do not presume your opponent will allow you time to collect yourself, Skywalker!

[It was all the warning he'd be getting before Nox thrust his hand forward in an open-palmed strike at his side. And while Nox was no better than the average Jedi in terms of physical strength, he was every bit as adept at channeling the Force through his movements. Depending on just how quickly Skywalker could collect himself, he might get away from the strike without any fractured ribs as the Force blast followed Nox's hand to for a more broadly dispersed yet considerably more powerful impact, though that was still the worst Nox was willing to risk. Of course, should Luke take the full brunt of it, whatever injuries he might receive when he landed would be entirely out of Nox's hands.]

[faithfulson]

[ Even through the trauma haze that threatened to take over his mind, Luke could sense the danger coming his way. He knew he couldn't avoid it, couldn't think of a plan to counteract with, so he just reacted. ]

[ He shifted, his hand coming up to meet Nox's, the Force gathering around it before he pushed it out the moment their hands stuck one another. Given his condition at the moment, he hadn't been able to gather as much strength as he wanted to, however. He heard something snap in his hand and was pushed back a good foot along the grass, but most of the force of the push was shoved outward. Part of a fence fell over, as well as the grill that was nestled against the side of the house, spilling charcoal and ash everywhere. The bushes didn't fair much better, with part of one very nearly uprooting before the power dissipated. ]