Star Wars Galaxy At War RP Thread

Started by Obsidian Fury187 pages

"Make sure your men bring technology on their way back. This ship deserves some . . . modifications" Rhonin added as they entered the lift, hoping that devices and technology obtained on the planet would suffice to modify the internal systems of the ship. Ancient as Rhonin may have been, all the way back in his days of glory did he use some devices in particular that not even this era had developed. Either that, or did not bother using. Had he not been thousands of years old, he'd almost call the ship primitive. Except for the very impressive weapon system, which almost stunned the dark lord completely with its efficiency.

He then focused on the last part that had been spoken by the captain, and as the two exited the lift and entered the hangar "Noted, captain. A fate fit for those defiant" he responded then, awaiting the captain to take them to their shuttle. Rhonin intended on placing fear in the heart of this Hutt, before anything else. While time was of importance, Rhonin wanted his fun. And his exercise, having been in stasis for a very long time.

* * *

"Trust me, I don't want either one of us smashed tonight. An evening to remember it will be" She said, one hand traveling his chin and up his cheek "But I will need at least one drink. It helps me clear my head, and focus on the present. Pleeaasee" She said, smiling widely and wrapping her arm around his, her head she stroked against his shoulder, her eyes locked on his.

* * *

(Blue as a color may be an empty word, but sadness is often related to the word blue. Blue Riot kinda represent a massive vessle of rioting sorrow 😛)

She glanced down at the snowy fields of Hoth as they approached what was a very well snow clad hangar. Barely a minute later, the shuttle finished its descent and the masked lady grinned as they touched ground. She rose, and not until she had started walking did the rest rise. The doors opened and with determined steps, the robed female walked out, the other robed figures in the shuttle not slow to follow. She raised her head, smirked beneath her mask and lifted her right hand in a greeting manner, straight in the direction of Daran. Not she, nor any of the others from the shuttle spoke a word, letting Daran be the first.

Originally posted by Obsidian Fury
(Blue as a color may be an empty word, but sadness is often related to the word blue. Blue Riot kinda represent a massive vessle of rioting sorrow 😛)

She glanced down at the snowy fields of Hoth as they approached what was a very well snow clad hangar. Barely a minute later, the shuttle finished its descent and the masked lady grinned as they touched ground. She rose, and not until she had started walking did the rest rise. The doors opened and with determined steps, the robed female walked out, the other robed figures in the shuttle not slow to follow. She raised her head, smirked beneath her mask and lifted her right hand in a greeting manner, straight in the direction of Daran. Not she, nor any of the others from the shuttle spoke a word, letting Daran be the first.

Daran rose and extended his hand. "Welcome lady Banis."

"Apprentice" Banis said, smirking as she did so. She took hold of his hand and placed her hand over his shoulder as a friendly gesture. Years had passed since they last met, so she could not help but wonder what news there was to expect from her dear Darth Sears. Right now, however, nothing pleased her more than the absence of that blind wretch. "I hope you have trained" as she spoke, she gestured for her robed followers to come with her. She put her arm around Daran's neck and lead him along with her as she began walking, wanting to leave this hangar and reach the core of the base.

Daran smirked. "Of course I was training, but during the war I got more prctice with a blaster rifle that a lightsaber." The Sith Apprentis looked over the hanger, then the door ahead. "You may be surprised by the changes that have been made to the base."

Sear slipped out of Banis' grip to punch in the code to open the door. He could have simply activated it with the Force. However he knew that simply using the Force for everything was lazy.

Warm air immediatly flowed over them. "You can stop that Force shield from the cold now." Sear said, before raising his head and gesturing for Banis to procede. "Lady Banis."

***

(My Wedge Antillies)

Julius nodded consent, placing his left hand on her dark hair. "Lets go... shall we?" The Commander turned her towards the music, and the half empty tables within.

Selecting a booth near the back of the joint, Hetar placed a few chips into the bowel at the centre. Almost immediatly a droid came other. "What can I get you?"

Julius glanced at Tyri, then stared at the droid. "We'll have..., honey, what do you want to eat?"

The atmosphere in the cantina grew warmer, the longer they stayed.

***

The captain nodded. "Of course lord Rhonin." He apeased the keypad and they were rushed to the captains hanger, where stood two Lambda shuttles and two modified TIE Advanced x5s. Derin approached the neasest shuttle activating the shuttle ramp with his com. "I can pilot."

"The Imperial Alliance has done well, I've both seen and heard" With a smile, Banis had the protective field fade as they entered the corridor. She expected changes to have been done to this base, given they had been away for over two years now. She eyed her apprentice with the same glance that a sister would give her long lost brother, although Banis feelings for her apprentice was nothing of the sort. To her, he was, while a prodigy, just like everything, a mean to an end. This apprentice would be her legacy to the galaxy, if only he could stay alive so long. Talented as he was, he still appeared to be the same, dear Darth Sear. As she was going to speak, she decided to ignore the fact that he had much rather used a rifle than the saber and instead slowed down, allowing him to catch up, and placed her arm over his shoulder as he did "I can't sense that wretched Miraluka. You riddened yourself of her?" She asked, pleased that the witch who had attempted to foil Banis plans in the past and even worse, attempted to take her apprentice away from her, was nowhere to be sensed.

Banis pulled down the hood from over her head, revealing her black hair and mask clearly, finding no reason not to give out her 'identity' on this base. She opened the next door they came across with the force, and then turned to Daran "Any other pleasant news to share with me, Darth Sear?"

* * *

"Oh, a simple steak and bewerage with a faint alcoholic touch would be nice. I'm happy with anything in my stomach" She said, having a seat and smiled at Julius. After her order, she pulled Julius closer to her, and tenderly ran her hand through his hair, resting her head against his shoulder while waiting for his order.

* * *

"Excellent. Course for the base of this . . . Hutt" he spoke, entering the shuttle. He stood then still near the cockpit of the shuttle, his arms crossed and his weapon leaned against the wall, eyeing Nerx. After a period of heavy breathing, Rhonin spoke again "This exercise will do me well"

Originally posted by Obsidian Fury
"The Imperial Alliance has done well, I've both seen and heard" With a smile, Banis had the protective field fade as they entered the corridor. She expected changes to have been done to this base, given they had been away for over two years now. She eyed her apprentice with the same glance that a sister would give her long lost brother, although Banis feelings for her apprentice was nothing of the sort. To her, he was, while a prodigy, just like everything, a mean to an end. This apprentice would be her legacy to the galaxy, if only he could stay alive so long. Talented as he was, he still appeared to be the same, dear Darth Sear. As she was going to speak, she decided to ignore the fact that he had much rather used a rifle than the saber and instead slowed down, allowing him to catch up, and placed her arm over his shoulder as he did "I can't sense that wretched Miraluka. You riddened yourself of her?" She asked, pleased that the witch who had attempted to foil Banis plans in the past and even worse, attempted to take her apprentice away from her, was nowhere to be sensed.

Banis pulled down the hood from over her head, revealing her black hair and mask clearly, finding no reason not to give out her 'identity' on this base. She opened the next door they came across with the force, and then turned to Daran "Any other pleasant news to share with me, Darth Sear?"

"Wretch... you mean Q'Anila?" Darth Sear looked at Banis momentarily, then proceded into the room and ignored her. "Q'Anila disappeared when she felt a disturbance in the Force, she stole a hyperspace capable starfighter from Sluis Van and has been missing since. And you," he said quietly, paused, "you abandoned me." Daran placed his lightsaber on the table at the center of the room then turned and kneeled. "This is my lightsaber." As he was kneeled with his head bowed. The silvery black handle floated into the air a few centimeters and then from it, hissed a ruby blade almost one and a half meters long. The blade shimmered from its hilt and floated towards Banis. No more words were needed.

* * *


"Oh, a simple steak and beverage with a faint alcoholic touch would be nice. I'm happy with anything in my stomach" She said, having a seat and smiled at Julius. After her order, she pulled Julius closer to her, and tenderly ran her hand through his hair, resting her head against his shoulder while waiting for his order.

"Two Nerf steaks then, and something fruity with a little alcohol."

The droids' photo-receptors gleamed for a second then made an apt bow. "I will return with your order, my lady, my lord."

Hetar smiled. "Sure Fourbie." He watched the droid shuffle off, then kissed Tyri's hair. "So this place sure is different to how we remember it hmm?" He chuckled, warmed by their closeness the flight suits provided them. (it has been so long since I did couples in an RP... 6 months I think, I am so rusty)

* * *

"Excellent. Course for the base of this . . . Hutt" he spoke, entering the shuttle. He stood then still near the cockpit of the shuttle, his arms crossed and his weapon leaned against the wall, eyeing Nerx. After a period of heavy breathing, Rhonin spoke again "This exercise will do me well"
Nerx silently brought the engines on-line, and activated the repulsors. Soon they were trailing the assualt force down into the hayward atmosphere. Soon the shuttle, and two Troop Transports were gathered on the roof pads of the Hutts palace. Nerx was first out, breath mask on his face, Stormtrooper helmet com in-hand. "Secure and retrieve the Hutt, and his cohorts, kill any who resist." The captain spoke into the headset. "The Hutt is our priority." He heard Rhonins footsteps behind him.

"Blind and coward, I hear. You seemed to be doing more than well with the Miraluka and that Zeltron girl back then. Surprised that my absence was even noticed" She said with a grin, pulling his sabre into her hand as she studied it. She then deactivated it and threw it in his direction. "A fine saber you've gotten yourself. I remember you unwilling to part from your previous" She then gestured him to rise from his knees and she looked around in the room.

* * *

Tyri smiled and looked at him, placing her hand on his chin and turned him to face her. She leaned forward and had their lips meet for a moment "I like changes" she added to his sentence, looking him deep into the eyes. She ran one hand over his cheek, soothing it gently.

* * *

"Let's go" Rhonin said as he exited the shuttle and wandered towards the palace. Unimpressed by the fortress, he walked where their troops had ran not long ago and he studied the surroundings as he did so. There was small battle scenarios all across the place where resistance was met, but even had the battle taken place just a few yards away, Rhonin would not have cared. He was focused on entering the palace and deal with this Hutt creature. When he reached the gates, he took a step back with one foot and clenched his fists. Moments later, the massive gate was ripped open by the force. "I need the Hutt alive!" he stated as the troops charged the palace.

Q'Anilia opened her eyes as if awaking from slumber "He's here" she uttered to herself before rising. She had waited on Prassado for quite some time now, having hid in the depths for almost half her time abscent from the Imperial Alliance, seen the ruins that would come to be this day. Within moments, she stood by the exit of what she had come to call home the past year or so, which was really nothing more than a cave.

"I'll do what I must" She said and made sure that the lightsaber was at her side. She mounted a stolen speeder, turned in the right direction for the Hutt palace and without a second thought she raced away. She had sensed the power and darkness within this entity, and while the probability that she would survive a clash was very low, she had to try.

Originally posted by Obsidian Fury
"Blind and coward, I hear. You seemed to be doing more than well with the Miraluka and that Zeltron girl back then. I'm surprised that my absence was even noticed" She said with a grin, pulling his sabre into her hand as she studied it. She then deactivated it and threw it in his direction. "A fine saber you've gotten yourself. I remember you unwilling to part from your previous" She then gestured him to rise from his knees and she looked around in the room.

Daran rose. "I don't know either of them anymore," he stated, streatching out to grasp the saber and return it to his uniform underneath his cloak. "Like you, they all abandoned me. Unlike you, they never returned to me, mistress." Darth Sear betrayed his feelings by keeping his emotions from his face. "I beg your forgiveness, m'lady. For the Miraluka, I let her twist my mind." (granted two years ago, maybe three, he would think the opposite, and still may)

* * *

Tyri smiled and looked at him, placing her hand on his chin and turned him to face her. She leaned forward and had their lips meet for a moment "I like changes" she added to his sentence, looking him deep into the eyes. She ran one hand over his cheek, soothing it gently.

Thr droid returned with their drinks and the Nerf steaks, with an unidentifiable salad with a mixture of shoots, leaves and a strange green dressing.

"Uh.. this looks interesting, thank-you Fourbie."

The droid bowed and retreated.

Julius looked at the salad dubiously. "What do you think, poisonious?" He smiled and picked up his fork.

* * *

[quote][b]"Let's go" Rhonin said as he exited the shuttle and wandered towards the palace. Unimpressed by the fortress, he walked where their troops had ran not long ago and he studied the surroundings as he did so. There was small battle scenarios all across the place where resistance was met, but even had the battle taken place just a few yards away, Rhonin would not have cared. He was focused on entering the palace and deal with this Hutt creature. When he reached the gates, he took a step back with one foot and clenched his fists. Moments later, the massive gate was ripped open by the force. "I need the Hutt alive!" he stated as the troops charged the palace.

(This is your show baby, Derin is only a secondary character....)

"Drag that slimy bastard out here so I can shoot him a few times." A Stormtrooper shouted.

Derin pulled the weapon from the troopers grip and hit him with said weapon in one smooth motion, sending the older soldier down. "May I present, Furgga the Hutt, m'lord."

The Hutt was dragged by shackles into the wide space. "mesoonda Nasrefada (Huttese jibberish roughly trasnlated as) What is the meaning of this!"

"I warned you about the Miraluka, but you repeatingly ignored my warnings. An attractive specimen she was" Banis smirked, gripping Daran by the shoulder and walked further into the base with him by her side "The disturbance, however, was very real. There is a new power roaming the galaxy. A power unlike anything I've ever felt. Fearing for your well-being, I returned. Something is coming, and it's collosal" with that, she stopped speaking, drifting away in thoughts of her own. She could only hope that the wretch Q'Anilia would go and try take it out. That way, there'd be one less worry for Banis to have in mind.

* * *

"I am not impressed, Hutt. You and those yours proved to be of little resistance, so I'll make this process short" Rhonin spoke as he towered the Hutt that was before him now. Small battles took place all around them, and when Rhonin in the center was noted by the guards of the Hutt, immediately they opened fire. Fire that met futility upon impact, literally bouncing of the armor that covered Rhonin, and the shooters soon brought down by Rhonins troops. Rhonin gripped the throat of the Hutt with his hand and was capable of lifting parts of the Hutt from the ground with pure physical force. He stared into the eyes of the creature, as he would all to-be victims "What a disgusting creature, Captain. It nausiate me" he stated before the tentacles from behind his mask revealed themselves and went for the face of the Hutt. At this point, Rhonin only wanted to get it over with. His first intent was to actually discuss with the Hutt, but the mere sight disgusted him to the point where he just wanted it dead. So any attempts to persuade or beg from the Hutt was unheard by Rhonin who ran his tentacles in through the nose of the creature. The Hutt scream was like music to his ears.

"Meanwhile, captain, get your troops ready. I sense vermin incoming in the form of Jedi scum, in great speed. Only one, so delay it best you can. It's fairly powerful. I need to finish this" he frowned, having sensed Q'Anilia the moment she awoke.

The droid returned with their drinks and the Nerf steaks, including an unidentifiable salad with a mixture of shoots, leaves and a strange green dressing.

"Uh.. this looks interesting, thank-you Fourbie."

The droid bowed and retreated.

Julius looked at the salad dubiously. "What do you think, poisonious?" He smiled and picked up his fork.

* * *

A Jedi? Impossible. The Emperor had Vader kill ALL of them during the great purge, Nerx thought, however he complied. "Commander prepare a small interception for our Jedi party crasher, of which you are to eleminate this Jedi with all due haste, take as many men as you require."

The commander nodded and turned to face Rhonin. "Is there, uh-" he waited untill all the memories were sucked before continuing "-is there a problem, m'lord, do you forsee any danger with this character?"

* * *

Darth Sear nodded, "I apologise. I was merely curious, I had never encountered an anomaly in the Force such as her. But... I sense... Fear, and gret darkness; there is a more powerful presence than even... even you m'lady." Sears eyes had widened. "Q'Anila, she is afraid." He smiled.

"She is a prodigy. Powerful for a vermin, but not adequate to be a lasting threat" Rhonin spoke as he dropped the now fairly literally mindless Hutt to the ground. He circled with his hand in the air as he turned and started walking "Bring the living cohorts of this Hutt to the shuttles. I'll feast tonight. Put up a line of defense, and welcome this Jedi" Rhonin said, exiting the room with his weapon gripped tightly "I want to see just how strong this era is, for this is not the only Jedi I've sensed. If proved formidable, I'll deal with this pest myself"

(I'll answer the rest later. Need to go out for a while 🙂 )

Tyri tasted the meal that she had been providen and winched slightly as she swallowed the first bite "I almost hope so. Certainly a memorable dish" She said, eating it cautiously and made sure to drown the taste with the brewerage she had been handed after every bite. She looked over at Julius with a smile, placing her available hand over his. "I've tasted better" she then frowned, trying to eat the food with haste to get it over with.

* * *

"I can't blame you. Perhaps if circumstances differed from what they did, I too would've been intrigued by the Miraluka" She shrugged then "Yes, this new factor brings up unease. The blind one did right in fearing it, but I personally don't have time for fear. Caution and respect will have to do. But the Miraluka, the likes of her does not handle fear as well as many others. She most probably consider the most noble of things to do to engage this new power in combat and save the galaxy. She will attack it, and perish in the process"

She paused for a while, before looking at Daran once more, a neutral face beneath the mask "What do you think of that?"

Ahead, Q'Anilia could sense the mobilizing troops and while still being a mighty distance away she stood up on the speeder, draw to herself the force and jumped. Her jump allowed her to maintain speeder speed and it was long enough to allow her to descend on the troops from up above. The empty speeder raced past them and with a mighty smash did Q'Anilia impact in the middle of the trooper squad. Only a moment later, before the troops had a chance to react to her impact, the soil surrounding them quivered and exploded. Sharp, visible kinetic ripples spread, expanding outward rapidly and threw nearby rocks, troopers and loose objects away at high velocity. An expanding dome of pure force, which sufficed to take out the fair dozen men in a single move.

Those troopers out of the reach, while some stunned in fear or amaze of the move, opened fire at her. As a response, she did not return it with her now ignited lightsaber, but rather summoned a defensive sphere around her body, appearing as a shimmering blue globe of energy. It deflected the blasts and then faded after a few seconds when the trooper had realised the futility. She rose her hand and shot out several bolts of lightning, striking down the troops that now laid on the ground shaking.

Applying speed through the force, she with great haste accelerated to a running speed that to the human eye appeared as a blur. A few deep breaths while she ran later, and the palace was now within range of another jump. And jumped she did, flying straight at the palace with knowledge that the dark force was still in there.

"Force! Be with me!"

A few stray bolts flew in Q'Anila's direction, and Derin watched silently from one of the palace balconys. He had slipped out of watch of Rhonin, and he took the time to compose his thoughts. Watching as the blur he knew to be this... Jedi, jumped right up sailing through the air towards his balcony. "'Why am I so unlucky." He stepped back and continued to watch. Hand away from his blaster, he could already tell that Rhonin had found him, and thus his target. "Do not kill her my lord, she seems to be unique. However her powers will not be a match for you." His whisper he knew would be heard.

* * *

Julius forked some of the leaves, and sauce and gingerly penned it into his mouth. He tasted it and found it palatable, in fact, it wasn't too bad, he actually would eat it again, the sauce was tangy with a hit of spice and possibly a little too sweet, but apt all the same. He finished the salad. "Not bad." He moved onto the Nerf steak, which was covered in the same green liquid. "May the Force be with us." He said mostly to himself, and began to use his knife. "You don't like it..." he shoved a piece in his mouth "...huumph?"

* * *

"I think we sould tell Admiral Vassisk?" Sear said. "If we can capture this beast we may learn a great deal." He walked around the table. "Besides, I have a feeling that things are going to get a lot worse if we don't. My lady."

Q'Anilia began a descent and while in the air raised her hand and with the force redirected lasers shot at her, having any shot at her split somewhat in its line of fire and passed her on the side and disappeared behind her, into the distance. She landed just on one of the balconies and with a somersault she ceased her speed with one knee in the ground and was quickly up on her feet. She raised her head and beheld the man before her (Nerx), very much so taking note in the fact that he did not hold a weapon. With that knowledge, she had no intent in harming him.

She clenched then her fist, and froze him in place, having the force surround him adequately in order for him to be incapable of moving as she walked past him. As she had passed him, she opened her fist and her grip of him faded. The Miraluka walked with caution, sensing the dark one nearby. By sensing the dark one, more proper words was sensing the storm, the maelstrom of raw power that probably blackened the entire planet in terms of power in the force. While she feared this man, she saw no alternative other than attempting to take him out.

"Leave your men out of this, soldier" She said then, having noted his rank as she walked past him "I only want him. I don't want more death than that" she continued, speaking to Derin as she snuk further in the palace, hoping he would understand that she had killed none of his men, making every step as if it would be her last, and checked every shadow as if the man could hide in them. He was so powerful that she could barely pinpoint him, she who trusted in the force rather than eyevision.

Derin watched as Q'Anila passed. He was suddenly able to move once more. "Captain, escourt all the captives to the Obsidian Fury's main cargo hold, and keep them there, if they attempt an escape shoot them." He sighed, deactivating the comlink. He turned on the doorway, and as quietly as possible followed the Miraluka.

* * *

P.A: General Sraf to communications center. Urgent.

* * *

General Ayana Sraf stepped into the ward room, with Vassisk at its head. She took her place beside her commanders, and preceded to make her report.

"About an hour ago, the Prassado system was attacked by an Imperial vessel, our spies in the system reported that the ship was of the proto-type scout dreadnaught class, an early design phase of the Super Star Destroyer as we know them now, they were pushed from production for having inferior Zolnax 3 V class hyperdrives. All records however on the specific design of Star Destroyer were lost sometime during the end of the Clone Wars." Ayana said with firm fidality. "Zolnax Engine Fabrications were part of the Confederacy of Independant Systems and it was believed they could take control of the Destroyer. However at the end of the the Clone Wars there were two left in service of three, the Dreadnaught, and the Obsidian Fury. The Dreadnaught was stripped down for use as medals for Clone troopers that served during the battle of Coruscant.The Obsidian Fury underwent an upgrade, and was put in use by the Empire as a scout ship. That is the last know record. It was believed, and referenced in a log entry by captain Palleaon; that during the Thrawn offensive seven years ago the ship was ordered by Grand Admiral Thrawn to explore into the unknown regions of space. Now, seven years later, they have returned." She cleared her throat as a hologram of the Pressado system, "The Pressado system contains six planetoids, and one inhabited planet, the third planetoid is orbited by five moons, one of which is habital similar to Yavin IV. The system is on the border between the Hutt sector and the Perlemain Trade Route, the Hutt has provided us with several shipments of weapons, in exchange fror running his spice through out protected space. However that changed four years ago as you know Admiral, when yo cut the deal with the Hutts." Continuing, the holo projector displayed the planet. "We already have a small recon force of two Mon Cal cruisers, four Corvettes, and two Star Destroyer's en-route, they will arrive at the third planet of the system in approximately fifteen minutes."

Rhonin stood silently inside the palace, listening to the force and the approach of this puny Jedi. He could hear Derin clearly as he whispered, but did not respond with words. Instead he stood still, waiting. When the time seemed to be right, he turned and started running at full speed towards the stone wall that seperated the chamber he was in from the hallway that the Jedi walked in, and which Derin was in. "YOU'll REGRET THIS DAY, JEDI!" He roared with such might that it was more hearable than the mighty sound of Rhonin crashing through the stone wall, towering the Miraluke with his staff held high and his other hand reaching for the Jedi.

Derin wished to keep her living. Something that he would only allow if she proved worth it, and as the entire wall started falling down, he charged her with all his physical might.

* * *

"Not the best dish I've had, no. Food is food though" She responded with a smirk, finishing her plate as well as drink. She stroke him across his hair and embraced him lovingly as Julius was eating what was left of his. She gave out a sigh in relief, admitting that food was nice, even though she did not fancy the taste much. "You seem to be enjoying it quite a lot though" She said kindly with a smile.

* * *

"We can't let it wander freely, that's for sure. If this thing is even half of what its aura claims, it should not be taken lightly, not even by the Imperial Alliance" She turned then towards Daran "Indeed, share with the admiral.

More surprised than healthy, Q'Anilia jumped out of what was now a razing wall and rolled along the floor to narrowly dodge the charge by the beast that now revealed itself. At such a short range, it was a lot easier for her to pinpoint his position and movement. However, his presence not only made her sense him better, but brought grave fear to her heart. This giant tore through the stone wall with mighty ease. Q'Anilia jumped to her feet, and held her lightsaber tightly as she raised her other hand in his direction. Out of her fingers came bolts of lightning, striking the man straight on, only to be shocked again when the lightning faded as if it had never hit.

Q'Anilia jumped backwards, again holding her hand forth, this time to push him through the force. This giant was too big, too strong for her to battle with saber, although he himself had none. She gave an attempt to push him through the force, but his massive weight reduced the effect of that handily as well. It took some slight effect however, and as it did, Q'Anilia jumped forth and swung her saber at him.