Two hits on you for 14 damage from the troopers, but the robed man misses.
Kay cuts down one of Hargan's men before actively dodging one of his shots. He misses, but only just.
Another man downed by your blade. Something doesn't feel right, but you don't have time to think about it. You're under attack, after all.
---
ALPHA STATION BATTLE
Control Room- Far Side
???: ?/7/16
Control Room- Center
Commander Hargan: 0/15
Garel Troopers x11: 0/15
Tanic: 12/30/16
Kay: 14/7/14
---
Kay snaps an attack on one of the soldiers, running him through. She pulls her lightsaber clear and deflects a fumbled shot from Hargan and his men with Defend.
The troopers targeting you fail to inflict any harm before you break away from them. You rapidly approach the robed man, who rolls a 10. You bat the shot aside and close on him.
---
ALPHA STATION BATTLE
Control Room- Far Side
???: ?/7/19
Control Room- Center
Commander Hargan: 0/18
Garel Troopers x10: 0/18
Tanic: 11/30/19
Kay: 13/7/17
---
Kay whisks her lightsaber across the chest of another trooper with a fast blow, then Defends again. With balanced movements, she angles her lightsaber to deflect the incoming shots away, not bothering with those that don't come near.
The troopers regain their burstfire bonus, two of them landing another 14 damage on you.
You and the robed man exchange attacks. Your lightsaber sizzles through the air just above him, but he bends back unnaturally with a Dodge, carrying his defense to 17. His own shot back, however, is penalized by such close range, and he fails to hit.
---
ALPHA STATION BATTLE
Control Room- Far Side
???: ?/7/23
Control Room- Center
Commander Hargan: 0/21
Garel Troopers x9: 0/21
Tanic: 11/44/23
Kay: 12/7/20
---
The Robed One, employing another Force Dodge, leaps nimbly over your blade as you strike. His responding shot is terrible, a 2! You're not impressed by his marksmanship...
I have forgotten that Kay possesses a level in Carnival of Carnage, so we will peel off one of the troopers as she slays him without looking, her blade connecting on the backswing. She then super-snaps an attack, putting her at a -5 penalty, but with her prowess she cuts down another trooper, then another with yet another super-snap.
The troopers take her more seriously now; only one of the six targets you, and he fails spectacularly. The other five, spraying frantically, do not land any of their shots, the graceful Kay deflecting all incoming fire. Not even Hargan manages anything.
---
ALPHA STATION BATTLE
Control Room- Far Side
???: ?/7/27
Control Room- Center
Commander Hargan: 0/24
Garel Troopers x6: 0/24
Tanic: 12/44/26
Kay: 13/7/22
---
I apologize for the slow update; I'm unwell and had a busy weekend.
Your turn to act, Tanic. Kay seems to handling those troopers well enough...
Illusion is a very useful power, but a battalion of troopers is... difficult. Too difficult. You would have to stimulate various sensations on multiple targets for it to be convincing, and that is simply too difficult even for the most powerful of Jedi.
Plus, you somehow doubt that this fellow here would be fooled.
You thrust your lightsaber forwards with great speed, but not much accuracy, it seems. He blurs to the side with Force Dodge, evading your attack. He laughs under his breath...
Kay takes out two troopers with 6s on super-snaps, a pair of fast slashes that brings them low. But her third attack is fluffed by a 1. Her Defend, as ever, keeps her clear of enemy fire.
---
ALPHA STATION BATTLE
Control Room- Far Side
???: ?/7/28
Control Room- Center
Commander Hargan: 0/27
Garel Troopers x4: 0/27
Tanic: 12/44/28
Kay: 12/7/26
---
Due to the Robed One's dodge and the quickness of your attack, initiative is yours again.
Remember your powers, Tanic. A snapped attack has a penalty of -2, whereas Strike shortens your attack with the aid of the Force.
Your opponent certainly is relying on the Force, as he flips backwards in a Defensive Leap, jumping over your blade and away from you a single frame. As he backflips to a safer distance, he returns fire, a single bolt from his blaster bursting too close to your foot.
Kay's vicious, super-fast cuts down another two mooks easy. Hargan, once again, fails to harm your old mentor.
---
ALPHA STATION BATTLE
Control Room- Far Side
???: ?/7/31
Control Room- Center
Commander Hargan: 0/30
Garel Troopers x2: 0/30
Tanic: 12/50/31
Kay: 12/7/28
---
Seems the action is yours, but your opponent is now a frame distant.
"Not bad, Jedi," he says, "but it seems I am too quick for you."
You advance, giving him a chance to take his shot. 14 is a dead-on hit, giving you five damage as you just barely smack the bolt upwards into the ceiling, showering you with sparks.
You Strike, thrusting your blade forwards as he, once again, bends backwards with a Force Dodge, staying just beneath your blade. But a 16 means that you swipe your blade downwards across his side as you pull back, dealing 17 damage on a glancing blow. He goes back into a hand-stand and lands on his feet, grunting.
"Perhaps," he finally snarls in response.
Behind, Kay dashes between the two remaining troopers and cuts them down with a wide horizontal slash. She closes on Hargan just before he is able to pull off a shot, attacking him with a Strike. The tip of her sapphire blade burns across his shoulder as he tries to pull himself clear of her attack, giving him 17 damage.
She blurs to one side as he squeezes off shots, her Dodge keeping her clear and putting her in position to strike again.
---
ALPHA STATION BATTLE
Control Room- Far Side
???: ?/24/35
Control Room- Center
Commander Hargan: 17/34
Tanic: 10/55/35
Kay: 10/7/33
---
Once again, the initiative is yours. You have struck your opponent once; you doubt even the Force can help him stay clear of your blade forever.
"You think it is over already? Foolish. How blind of you to presume your success in battle before the battle is won!"
This time you shear away a part of his robes as the end of your lightsaber burns across his chest, leaving a vivid glow of burnt fabric and flesh behind. But the 15 damage dealt him is negated as you feel a wave of hatred and pain emanate from him.
Extending a hand, the Robed One clenches his fist tightly as he locks you in the binds of a Grip. Suddenly, your airway is pinched off by unseen forces when the Robed One rolls a 17. You are incapable of attack as you levitate off the ground, and you take five damage, giving you a damage penalty.
But this display of power does not go unnoticed. Kay, frantic to save you, launches a chain of super-snap attacks on Hargan, each of which he dodges to save his life. Out of four unbelievable thrusts, two skim him for 15 damage and 17 damage each.
---
ALPHA STATION BATTLE
Control Room- Far Side
???: ? (11)/24/39
Control Room- Center
Commander Hargan: 49/38
Tanic: 12/60/38
Kay: 14/7/37
---
"Pitiful," the Robed One laughs.
Your foe does not dodge for three reasons. One, any action he takes would break the Grip. Two, Hatred is active; he is not allowed to dodge. Three, Combat Push does no damage to Named Characters, though it is possible to break the Grip with it.
But your roll falls short. Slowly he crushes the life from you, your throat constricted by his telekinetic attack. You reach 70 damage and the Death Check, which you pass easily.
This time, Kay decides that Hargan is not quite worth the attention she has been giving him. She super-snaps on him again to keep him occupied, then attempts to use Disrupt against the Robed One. She rolls poorly and it is ineffective...
Hargan fires, but Force Dodge keeps Kay clear.
---
ALPHA STATION BATTLE
Control Room- Far Side
???: ? (7)/24/41
Control Room- Center
Commander Hargan: 49/42
Tanic: 9/70/41
Kay: 10/7/42
---
The Robed One cackles. "None can contest the will of the Puppet Master. Mine is strongest."
Unfortunately, the Puppet Master simply tightens his Grip when you try it. Instinctually, you grab for your throat, dropping your lightsaber.
Beset by Hargan's assault rifle, Kay decides to finish the Commander before turning her attention to your attacker. A super-snap cuts through his leg, causing him to fall to one knee as he takes 14 damage. Then she runs him through, her lightsaber piercing through his chest and emerging through his spine. He collapses, having failed his Death Check at 88 damage.
She strides over, lightsaber poised to cut down your attacker. Presented with this new threat, he gives one final squeeze to your windpipe as Kay makes her way over. Taken to 75 damage, you roll another Death Check... but it's a fail by two.
Lacking air, you start to lose consciousness just as he releases you. You thud heavily onto the floor, gasping for breath.
You are able to hold on to consciousness, but your throat has hardly been done any favors. It is painful to breath, though your lungs welcome air greedily.
Kay holds her lightsaber angled towards the Puppet Master, approaching cautiously. He stands his ground, concealing his pistol beneath his robes.
"Who are you?" she asks.
"I am the Puppet Master," he replies, simply.
"I can sense great hatred within you," Kay says, positioning herself between you and him. "Such mindless rage is fuel for the Dark Side."
"You don't say."
Kay opens her mouth to say something when the Tap. Tap. Tap. begins again. It is louder, but farther away, echoing from the maintenance shafts that the troopers used to access the room.
Your head throbs with each Tap.
"What's wrong, Master Jedi?" the Puppet Master asks. "Sense something out of the ordinary?"
Tanic, something isn't right about all of this.