Dancing between rusted husks of buildings, Corvus was running in a circle around Kina as if she were some big boss in a videogame. All the while, he was planting cloaked, poison mines, and tossing cryo grenades at anything that drew near.
Having realized that standing still would lead to his encirclement, and doom, he had turned this fight into a mobile battle of attrition.
At the moment, he was testing his stock of limited items against Kina's stamina.
While people in this universe didn't have anything visible like an energy bar, it was almost impossible for any Force Adept to constantly use a high tier ability for extended periods of time. Plant manipulation was an incredible technique, and the way the kaminoan was wielding it, seemed extremely mentally taxing. It was one thing to use [Force Speed] upon oneself, as that was focused in a small area originating from the user. While the Force certainly was all about 'mind over matter' and 'do or do not, there is no try.' Distance did play a role in how quickly stamina was drained.
In fact, one of the reasons that Jedi were so focused upon the lightsaber, was that it was the most efficient use of their energy. For most people who would never achieve the rank of master, this was the most economical, and practical direction a Force Adept could go in.
By analyzing this information, Corvus hoped to exhaust Kina, and then swoop in for victory. This strategy was also in his favor, as his FP bar was theoretically limitless. Sure, he had to wait for it to regenerate, but unlike other Sith or Jedi, he had a cheat code system.
As such, he had been kiting around Kina's miniature skyscraper for the last half hour, and had been unleashing every ice-based, and toxic-attuned weapon he had in his arsenal.
Large patches of frozen vines stuck to rusted metal, and thousands of threads lay wilted, inert and lifeless. Of course Corvus didn't trust that these vines were no longer a threat to him. He could simply ignore them as he did circuit after circuit around Kina, but he refused. There wasn't much that he knew of the kaminoan Jedi, but there was one detail that he recalled about her. She cheated at pazaak.
Anyone who cheated at card games had sneaky tendencies, and Corvus could very easily see those 'dead poisoned vines' suddenly become green with life, and strike him from behind or below when he least expects it!
As such, in addition to poisoning the thousands of murderous vines, Corvus would toss a thermal detonator upon the 'dead' plants for good measure.
From what he could tell, he was making some progress, but truly, he was caught in a frustrating stalemate. Unless he was willing to unleash [Force Lightning], there was no easy solution to this duel.
Several times he had tried to speak to her during this fight, but she had given him the runaround each time, and ignored anything he had to say. Even promises of wearing the Crown of Verity had gone seemingly unnoticed.
Corvus was beginning to run out of ideas as his supply of specialty weapons was just about to run out.
Narrowing his eyes, Corvus decided to do something that he didn't want to do, but Kina had left him no choice.
It was [Beast Trick]!
During this journey around Kina's skyscraper, the clouds were still parted, and the wild life that had peacefully assembled were still in the periphery. Among the fish, there was one lurking in the depths almost out of sight. Its hunger, and predatory inclinations were so strong, that among thousands of lifeforms, it stood out to Corvus as almost monstrous.
A creature from Naboo that received kaminoan genetic experiments, and escaped the lab like some dinosaur from Jurassic Park, this creature was over 100 meters in length, and was a bonafide kaiju. It was the:
Saberjowl!
'Attack this creature. It is tasty prey.' Corvus sent through the Force.
Casting [Beast Trick] on this monster of the deep, Corvus found that he couldn't sway it to his cause or place it under his thumb!
Not many things could resist this ability, but perhaps it was due to [Beast Trick] being so low level. He could, of course, place two more points into it, but he only had a handful, and would rather save them for something else if he could. Instead of relying wholly on the system, Corvus figured he could try tapping into his recent enlightenment. Having come to some level of harmony with the wild and untamed planet of Kamino, Corvus decided to give it a shot.
Breathing deeply, he began to once again meditate by entering invisibility upon inhalation, and then return to visibility with every exhale. Focusing upon that feeling of predation that was so strong within the saberjowl, Corvus magnified it as best he could, and once more directed it at Kina.
Foamy waves churned, and a small whirlpool formed as the magnificent green scaled eel rose from the oceans depths, and roared to the heavens.
Jaws wide enough to swallow a Jedi starfighter opened wide, revealing rows of sharpened teeth.
Lunging down at Kina, it was met by thousands of vines. An epic battle ensued as the Altisian Jedi did her best to contain the wriggling mass of muscle.
Corvus somewhat worried about Yon's safety, but in an odd way, he trusted Kina that she would protect him, and wouldn't be so easily defeated by this monstrous beast.
Shaking his head, he realized that now was the time to take action. Shooting rockets at Kina had been somewhat distracting to her, and took away a few of her vines for defense. Now, however? Now she was entirely occupied! If he was going to close the distance, now was the time!
Feeling giddy at the prospect of finally ending this drawn out battle, Corvus made a beeline for the kaminoan Jedi.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
(During the 30 min kiting session, Kina's POV)
Kina Ha could have overwhelmed the man from the beginning, but she was curious to see where this fight went, to gain some measure of this man's character. When words failed, actions defined the measure of a man.
As someone who had spent the majority of her life outside of galactic affairs, that didn't mean she was uncaring. She had exiled herself to Kamino with the express purpose of preventing the rise of the Sith.
In her youth, she had received a vision that an army of evil would be born by her people. Yet Lama Su had crafted army after army for many clients over the millenia, and no such army had manifested. Kina was beginning to think her vision would never come to fruition. That relieving thought had disappeared when the light of thousands of Jedi suddenly disappeared from the galaxy.
Taught in the mystic arts by a Jedi in self imposed exile, she was indirectly tied to the temple on Coruscant, and held some of their ideals. That said, she held no ill will towards them, and experienced a feeling of deep loss at their sudden passing. Furthermore, her self imposed mission had become moot at that moment. If she were a lesser being, she would have felt anger, grief or any other host of emotions. Instead, she was disappointed in herself for being unable to prevent this tragedy.
Of course, her long life afforded her an interesting lense regarding this conflict. To her, the current events were not necessarily surprising, and indeed, she conjectured might be cyclical in nature.
That theory, however, was tested by the appearance of this masked man.
The similarities were unmistakable.
If he were not a clone, or some time warped version of Revan, she would be deeply surprised. Kina had witnessed the Mandalorian Wars, and had at one point followed under Revans banner to right the injustices being perpetuated. As a youth, she had been eager to explore the galaxy, and the inaction of the Jedi Temple had gone against her sense of morality.
And so she was testing him. To see if he was the man she had followed, or if he was the man he had become. Was he Jedi or Sith? Or perhaps something else? The melding of Light & Dark was something she had seen in Revan, and was mimicked during the meditation session from earlier.
He knew her by name, was this a coincidence? Was this her Revan?
Kina was curious to find out.
As she directed the vines to harry and harass the man, she regarded Yon, the apprentice. Wielding a red tinted green lightsaber, the child was somewhat of a conundrum. In all her years, she had never seen a blade like that. From her understanding, a Sith bled their kyber crystal red through hateful emotions, transforming a beautiful pure being into one of evil, or synthetically crafted their crystal, pouring all of their malice & vitriol into reality. Yet her senses were telling her that Yon and his crystal were in harmony, in a type of bond that was rarely, if ever seen in the galaxy. She had to admit, such a close relationship held its own magnificence.
Willing the vine that covered his mouth removed, Kina asked him a question.
"Tell me about this master of yours, child, what makes him so special?"
"I have a name, it's Yon! And Master Corvus is my hero...he saved me during the Jedi Temple massacre, and unlike old hermits like you or Yoda, he is a Jedi of action!"
Kina withheld a smile, he was surprisingly easy to converse with. And such petulance! Unknowingly, his words had struck close to her failures, and she wondered at his capabilities. Was he spouting nonsense, or did he understand more than he let on?
"Oh my, for a boy brimming with darkside energies, you sure seem loyal? Hmm, I do seem to recall a young genius going by the name of Yoda the last time I was active in the galaxy, how is the little fellow doing these days?"
"In hiding." The boy bitterly spat. "While Master Corvus engages the enemy, our Grandmaster has abandoned us."
Kina sensed a great deal of hurt, and saw the look of betrayal cross the child's face.
"You hold your master in high esteem. Are you so certain he is not the Sith you so fear? Certainly, you have felt the darkside lurking in him?" Kina questioned, interested in the boy's response.
"Master is the greatest Jedi alive. Anything light or dark washes off him, and returns to neutral…I want to be like him one day…but I…"
"Ah, the feeling of inadequacy. Worry not, child. We all join the Force in due time. There, all beings are equal under the Living Force." Kina comforted. "In time, I shall instruct you in the ways of the Force. Would you like that, child?"
Yon sulkily looked away from her, and gazed down at his Master. "Master is Master…he will take us to Tython, rebirth the old Je'daii Order, and I am proud to be his student." Yon hotly declared.
"Hmm. He is incredible, isn't he? To take so many items from the ether is quite the special ability." Kina hummed. Her words were deliberately calculative, and served to agitate the child. She wanted to see how far-if at all-he had fallen. To see if he could be shaken from his loyalty to his master.
Yon remained silent, and Kina was happy to let him stew. This conflict had gone on long enough. Deciding to end the fight, and restrain Revan for further questioning, Kina was caught off guard when a saberjowl lunged at her from the ocean's depths.
A small smile came to the edge of her lips as she knew what would come next.
Directing the vines to restrain the beast, she noticed Revan scaling the rusted skyscraper, and running at her with twin lightsabers drawn.
Igniting her own lightsaber, verdant purple contrasted off her pale skin.
Standing still, she invited his attack.
Yet he stopped just as he crested the building, and stared her in the eye. He then tossed his lightsabers at her feet, causing her to raise an eyebrow.
"Enough of this. I will not fight my fellow Jedi. Release Yon."
Kina felt her breath hitch as she recalled the strength, magnaminty, and kindness of the man from her youth.
Tilting her long neck to the side, she saw that there was no recognition in his eyes. He did not remember her whatsoever. Yet what she sensed was a different matter…
"Oh Revan, so clever, yet so naive and trusting." Kina said in a sad tone.
"I understand I might look like him, but my name is Corvus." The man stated with certainty.
"Of course it is, dear." Kina nodded along, humoring him.
She then waved her hand, and the vines containing Yon dropped.
"The child, Yon, was an interesting conversationalist. Treat him well." Kina simply stated, and then turned her back to them to look out over the sea.
"What, that's it?!" Yon loudly asked. "No, wait, this is the peace you spoke of! Haha, that's right, Master is Master!"
"Thank you, Master Kina Ha. Should you wish to discuss sophistry, come to Ilum. The hyperlane route to Tython has been recovered." The man bowed to her back, and then left with Yon without saying another word.
Kina smiled into the sunshine that hadn't parted these clouds ever since she was born thousands of years ago.
Perhaps she would rejoin galactic affairs someday soon.
Life had become awfully interesting as of late, hadn't it?