lynchpin_castle

The Master of the forces of Unmaking was similar to the Master of Unmaking--a robed figure of indeterminate age and gender, humanoid. But their robe seemed as if it was made entirely of an...absence. As unlike the robes of Existence as possible as this seemed to exist only in the negative spaces.

It stood by its champions, a dome of pale-white-energy shielding them all. The first was a taller humanoid male with green skin and hair. A blue device was over one eye, and he stood relaxed and imperious--bored, if anything. The second champion was of an equal height with the first, but couldn't be more different in appearance. It was difficult to tell his expression other than one of vague disgust and impatience. A blaster rifle was slung over one shoulder, and behind them both and the Master of Unmaking, was a large crate with a lock. In the Trandoshan's hands was a remote to open the crate, and life-signals came from it.

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On the opposite end of the field, the Master of Making stood with their chosen champions. The being's robed figure glowed with shades of light and ever changing patterns. That same dome of pale-white-energy shielded them as the two sides studied each other.

Both Masters spoke, their voices oddly discordant and yet as if they were meant to work together. "The challenge is set. All terms have been agreed to." Pausing to let both sides confirm with nods.

"Then the challenge may begin."

Both masters disappeared, as did the dome of energy keeping the two sides separated and shielded.

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Ahsoka was alive with energy. When they were brought here she wasn't sure what to expect. It was a nice location, at least. Pretty. But she didn't know what was going to happen. As they were brought to their place and waited, watchful, Ahsoka's eyes narrowed. "A Trandoshan..." she said as if surprised, a bit uneasy feeling at first, looking from him to the other one. Two 'aliens' as Trunks would call them. She looked at the Trandoshan again and her heart sank a moment.

She took a small step over closer to Trunks, whispering. "I know the race of the green one, which makes me think you might know the other?" Or she was guessing. Because... taking something from both their worlds seemed un-creative and a potential thought here.

Edited Date: 2017-03-01 04:17 am (UTC)

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Trunks was glad now he'd gone into this masking his ki>. Turning his head slightly, pitching his voice lower so that she could hear but hopefully they couldn't. "No clue, but I recognize his armor. That blue thing over his eye is also a scouter--they read power levels."

Blue-eyes narrowed as he paused for a moment, then continued. "If he's part of the forces I am thinking of, then stay out of his way. Let me handle him." Serious and focused.

Not that they had much more chance to talk before the other two champions shared a look at each other, and then Zarbon was tossing his head arrogantly while Corrsk stepped forward. "Togruta! We had hoped for a fight, but perhaps you will see sense. Work with us." A 'smile' or what passed for it anyways came to the saurian face.

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So he did recognize something of the other. Even if just a bit. She stroked a hand over her chin, hip cocked head tilted and studying the other as she spoke to Trunks behind her hand. "So, we might not know who they are but one thing is for sure they took something from where each of us have lived."

"Trandoshan. Big game hunters, bounty hunters, slaver trash. I watched them hunt younglings once." She said with a glowering glare, and though she was keeping her presence low (like she was feeling Trunks do) there was a flare of anger that drifted off her at the comment.

She was about to open her mouth again to say something when the other called her out. She stepped forward one step, hands on her hips and head lifted. "Work with you? That's not very Trandoshan like. And what is it you'd expect me to do?" Like she would. Ever.

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That smile stayed in place. "Maybe, but we have been known to unite against a common enemy and I have found them here as well. Humans." Spitting the term out as if it were a curse. "They've ruined the universe with their New Order of the Empire, and the New Republic is a sham where they still reign under theater of 'equality.'"

Stepping forward. "I am Coorsk, of the Diversity Alliance. We seek stronger unity and a clear front against the humano-centric policies that have waged for too long." A gesture, and it seemed like it was barely polite, to the other alien. "I have been fortunate to make the acquaintance of Zarbon, and he assures me that there is no worth to them where he is from either. Join us, and we shall deal with your....companion, and victory shall be ours."

Trunks kept his blue-eyes focused, though he glanced at Ahsoka. Trying to silently will her to not share that he wasn't fully-human. It could be a good trump.

Zarbon finally deigned to turn his head, reaching up and pressing a button on the side of the device at his eye. Then a haughty half-smirk on his face at whatever he was reading. "They are hardly worth bothering with, although she has more worth than him."

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Is that what this was going to be about? Her brow lifted as he mentioned the New Order of the Empire? And the New... Republic? She tried to hold the confusion off her face at that. What was the Empire? The Republic was old. Was he from before her time? Her head tilted, as if she were considering what he was saying. A blank look on her face.

"Good to meet you, Coorsk, but how can you take the word of someone who looks just as human as my human here?" She said it flatly, arms crossing. "For someone who is anti-basic human, you sure do put on graces with someone who looks exactly like one. And since when did we need a Diversity Alliance?"

She didn't look at Trunks, but 'human' was a term she was going to throw around with him anyhow. "I am Ahsoka Tano, Jedi." She said Jedi as if it mattered, as if she were one. Her head lifted more. If he's from before the Republic started, he'd understand the threat of a Jedi, really. "What are you going to offer me to betray the human behind me, especially when you side with one beside you?"

Let's see how riled up the lizard man gets.

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As soon as she said "Jedi" there was a shift, the 'smile' leaving. A low noise of contempt. A moment of anger, before he reigned in some control. "Zarbon here has assured me his is not human at all."

A side-glance. "For some reason, he prefers that form as he views it as more handsome."

"I'm also not likely to show it to some little girl, who isn't worth what I would scrape off of my boot." Zarbon replied, crossing his arms and still bored. "Consider that your warning--join us, or die like your companion."

Inwardly Trunks was applauding Ahsoka, and an idea had just started to form. Especially since he was reading life-forms in that crate... They'd brought back up of some kind.

Now he stepped forward, and moved to place an arm against Ahsoka's shoulder. "I have a bargain, if you agree with me." Please agree with him, Ahsoka, trust him on this.

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Good. That loss of a toothy smile felt better. She shouldn't have a bitterness to his kind, but she did. Slavers and hunters and they killed so many children. So many younglings. Younglings that had been there so long they were her age or older.

This was no time to let that bitterness ride. Bitterness was a path to the dark side and she wouldn't deal with that. "For all you know he's Coruscanti. Green hair was a trend there for a while." She jibbed, just before Trunks barred her with an arm at her shoulder.

She glanced over at him as he said he had a bargain. She gave just a silent nod back. He must have a plan, and she would do her best to follow it if she can figure it out.

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It was a simple plan, as he squeezed her shoulder and stepped up. "How about this, since I'm clearly not wanted here..." A tilt of his own head, and a hint of calculated smirk. "And your friend there looks bored."

Another step forward, then another. "Let her decide for herself, but solve the issue of the human first." Seemed like he had their attention--good. "Consider me the warm-up, and if Zarbon wins, you can renegotiate."

That prompted a laugh from the handsome green alien. "If? IF? There is no contest here boy. I will leave you a smear on the ground and only a memory."

Trunks remained calm, smirking a bit. "Maybe...but let's just say what if--what if I win. You surrender." Blue-eyes going to Corssk. "Both of you." Then back to Zarbon.

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That was his plan? Ahsoka drew back from him a bit giving him a 'are you serious' look, though he might have caught the faintest smirk from the inner corner of her lips at that. Aka: She thought this might be kind of smart. "No way. They clearly out class you." She said flatly.

Then looking to the big guys across the way, hands at her hips and frowning sternly. Head lifted. "I suppose if they did win, I'd be smart in joying them. But I have doubts in their skills."

She was looking at the Trandoshan when she said that though.

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The growl was more pronounced now, Corssk's clawed hands flexing in anger. It was Zarbon this time who barred him, one arm out imperiously as he gauged the two before him once more. And smirked.

"When I have had my fun, my dear associate" Clearly not that 'dear' at all. "Then you can deal with her as you like." The minute she'd mentioned Jedi--whatever that was--Corssk was out for blood. This might just get interesting...once this annoyance was over with.

Trunks waited a heartbeat, then let his voice pitch out. "We have a deal then?" A glance back, hoping Ahsoka'd agree.

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She was sure she saw what he was doing, and had nodded in agreement to it. If anything it would separate them a bit. And she knew she could handle this Coorsk of the Diversity Alliance. She lifted her chin again to the two, looking to the one.

"Seems like an interesting idea. What say you, Diversity Coorsk? We can sweeten the deal. If your side loses you surrender, if YOU win, Coorsk gets to keep the Jedi." Even if, for some weird reason, Trunks failed, she wouldn't hold him to that. A Jedi kept their word, but she was removed from the order. Besides, if that snarl was anything, she'd be willing to bet he'd gladly agree.

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Corrsk was at least no fool, even if he was riled up. Pausing, considering and looking between his 'partner' and the other two. Leveling a glare at Zarbon finally and "Don't you dare lose, while playing."

Agreement reached, as the trandoshan stepped back towards the crate and got ready to watch. Zarbon rolled his head side-to-side, and stepped forward until he was towering over Trunks and barely a foot away. "I hope you savor being beaten by the likes of Freiza's elite."

That just made Trunks smirk, cocky as he retorted. "Sure am." Then they both moved. Zarbon attempting some kind of aerial backflip that aimed a kick at Trunk's head. Except Trunks' head wasn't there. Pivoting to the side, and twisting to strike out with a round-house---sending Zarbon flying much like Trunks had from the tank-hits.

And like with the tanks Zarbon emerged, but now his eyes were narrowed, then he smirked. "This may be fun after all."

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Ahsoka didn't like what might be so protected or needed in that crate, but she kept an eye on the other about it. She backed off a bit as the green haired one came closer. She gave him the eye, pointed at his eyes then hers, then backed away, watching as the one guy towered over Trunk. Oh man, please be able to handle this, Trunks. She's pretty sure she'd be screwed if she were fighting that alone.

She moved off to the side though, more middle ground then their own side, which meant closer to Corrsk's side. Her hands on her hips, watching his actions, but trying to watch the fight too. If there was ever a moment that she could simply slip in and force push him away, she might take it. So long as they were one on one here, and not having to battle the green haired one? They should be fine.

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Corrsk looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but near her. Out of contempt mostly, positioning himself so he could watch both her and the other two. There was clear surprise on his face, as he hadn't expected that. Was Zarbon all talk--not from what the Trandoshan had seen during their own 'practice'.

Zarbon wasn't given too much time to gloat though, as Trunks was coming at him again. The taller man took to the air, and narrowly dodged backwards as Trunks followed, slicing up with his sword. The scouter cracked and fell, as the two separated. Zarbon wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. "Well, it seems you're not one of the usual breed of humans."

Putting his hand out as he moved to get some space and let fly several small blasts of ki.

"Funny you should mention that," Trunks responded, parrying and deflecting the blasts before re-sheathing his sword. "I'm not. I'm a half-breed." Dashing in, striking out with another-high kick, blocked and then the two engaged with punches, blocks, deflections, at high speed.

It wasn't until Zarbon's eyes-widened, as Trunks had stopped masking his ki that the opening appeared. Narrowly bringing his hand up and firing a prolonged blast of energy which forced Trunks back briefly until he corrected. "I see..."

Now the smile was cruel. "Too bad, I hate using this form--but since you're proving irritating--I have no one here to impress."

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Ahsoka made sure she was out of the way, for now. Watching the fight, yes, and picking up some of the comments. She heard 'half breed' and lifted a brow. From what he had said of his parents, she supposed it made sense. Still, it was interesting.

And then she glanced Corrsk's way, tilting her head, one fist on her hip. "Still feel your chances are good? You could just surrender now and make this easier on both of you, really." She wouldn't attack first, but she did sneak a bit closer to the snarling Trandoshan, slowly.

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"Stay where you are, Jedi." It was snarled, Corrsk glaring at her. "Your mind tricks won't work on me." In truth, the trandoshan was actually having trouble following what was going on. Stupid arrogant prissy wannabe-human!

It seemed Zarbon was indeed done 'playing', as he started powering up and a transformation was taking place. "Feel very honored boy--for you see the beast, before you die!"

Then he was charging at Trunks. Who retaliated in turn--and was likewise done playing. Curling in on himself slightly, a battle cry released and golden energy radiating out, sending the other flying. In the center of the corona, once more Trunks had activated his super-saiyan form, blonde hair and green eyes and everything about him sharper.

Diving after the now lizard-formed Zarbon, pummeling him as the pair went to the ground and only at the last minute did the other manage to dodge away. Down one knee, tail balancing himself, and looking puzzled and horrified. "Whoo..what are you?"

"I'm the one who killed Frieza." Came the cold reply, no more mocking or smirk. "It's over." Last chance to surrender.

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"I'm not going anywhere. Just going to stand right here. Watch the fight. It's a good fight. Can you follow it? For the most part, I think your partner is losing. Or about to." She tilted her head, eyes trying to keep track of it all. "Honestly, you should just surrender now and spare your friend up there the trouble."

A Pause as he changed and she frowned. "Hey, is he related to you? This should make you feel better. No longer human shaped." She glanced over at him and gave him a smile. "You could put a stop to all this, Corrsk. No one has to get hurt."

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Did the Togruta never shut up? Arrogant Jedi--Corrsk snarled and turned in time to watch Zarbon go flying and the other...human? followed and the blows were too fast. Then he saw his partner on the ground, and that was it

Holding up the remote trigger-for-the-lock on the crate, and getting ready to press it.

Zarbon just looked more scared. "Liar! No one can kill Lord Freiza!" Lunging at Trunks in a rage. Blocked, and twisted into a throw and slammed on the ground as if Trunks were bored, at the retaliation attempt.

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Naw. Why shut up when it was so clear it was getting to him? "You haven't got it yet, have you? A bit slow for your kind, huh?" She said easy like, glancing up at the fight. They were damned fast. "My partner. He's not what he looks like, is he? Honestly, if you were going to appeal to anyone you should have asked him to join you first." She shrugged, looking to see his clawed hand about to hit the trigger.

Her eyes narrowed and hand flew up, using the force to try and stop his hand from moving, trying to still the hand and the remote. "Ah, ah, ah... there was a deal, Corrsk. You wouldn't be backing out of that deal, would you?"

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Corrsk snarled something out and the only intelligible word was "jedi" with extreme contempt as he fought the hold.

Too bad neither of them was paying too much attention to the other fight. An out-cold giant lizard-formed Zarbon suddenly collided with Corrsk. The pair knocked away from the crate in a tangle, and the remote device going flying for someone to grab.

Trunks still looked bored, still powered up, as he approached Ahsoka, and the now pinned Trandoshan and out cold 'elite'. "Count yourself lucky she doesn't want needless deaths." Green eyes were narrowed, warning delivered now to the still conscious Trandoshan.

Corrsk snarled something out, and gave some kind of cry. A voice-activated trigger, the crate's main door opening with a soft hiss. Inside a chatter of insectoid hisses was heard, along with the clattering of multiple limbs and chitinous armor.

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Maybe she should have been paying more attention. She didn't realize Trunk's just KOed his target already, and here she was holding the others hand so he couldn't hit the remote. As soon as she saw the lizard man crash into the lizard man her eyes went wide, and both hands went out, trying to call the device to her. It flew to her hand and she grasped it, the trigger un flipped.

When Trunks said that, about needless deaths, she looked to him with an almost warm smile. Really? That was his plan? Oh gosh...

Then the crying out sound and she ducked her head a bit, hand and wrist coming up to touch at her montrals, as if to try and cover them. "Oh what now?" Only she saw what now, and as the lid open and something clatter to get out, she dropped the remote completely, and threw both hands up, twisting one. The entire crate, as large as it was, shifted back a half a foot, and what ever tried to step out it would be hit with a force wall. One she was trying to hold, but it was a technique she wasn't great at. She grit her teeth and frowned.

"I don't think we want to d-deal... with what... ever is.. in there."

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No, they probably didn't--and they'd tried to do this 'nicely' too. "Hold it steady!" Trusting her, as Trunks braced himself. Hands moving to his sides and bluish-white ki energy gathered in his hands. Focusing, green-eyes watching the crate---and then he brought both hands with their spheres of energy up and out in front of his chest. A continuous beam of energy lanced out from the attack, impacting the crate as he moved to hold it as well. That continuous beam of energy had to be doing some major damage to whatever was inside the crate; outside the crate was starting to show signs of wear and degradation as well.

The out-cold Zarbon, and Corrsk pinned underneath him, were forgotten for now.

Edited Date: 2017-03-01 09:29 pm (UTC)

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She stepped forward a bit, both hands splayed, and straining a bit as she held the barrier, invisible for the most part. She was holding it pretty well but she could feel her arms shake a bit as he built up his energy to blast it. Another step forward, holding it and then...

As he let his blasts go, cutting through the crate like he had no issues with it, she let out a sigh, arms dropping and shaking her head. A force push was nothing, holding it on the other hand was a lot.

"Good shot." She said, flexing her hands and staring, seeing something moving still though. "What the heck are they?" She asked, noticing more movement a moment later. her nose wrinkled and the back of her neck itched. A warning. she lifted her hand to force push the crate again but instead whipped around as a blaster shot came from the knocked out duo over there. Ccorrsk having list a blaster and taken some shots.

Ahsoka took one shot to the shoulder, spinning back with that shoulder and pulling her lightsaber, turning it on and deflecting three more shots as she dropped to a knee. The world going in slow motion. Corrsk active but half under cover, and bugs regenerating to life again.

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"No clu--" Trunks had started to respond, trying to get an idea of what was stored in the crates other than big and nasty.

Corrsk had managed to get his blaster rifle out, and in the moment they'd presented good targets, had gone for Ahsoka.

He had no way of knowing this, but it was quite possibly one of the stupidest things he could've done with a demi-saiyan around.

Things moved in slow-motion, Trunks turning as Ahsoka went down to one knee. One hand shot out to the side, that blue-sphere of energy gathered once more and then fired at the downed duo. Even if that didn't do it, the sword thrown with good aim to spear the Saurian's shoulder and chest to the ground likely helped.

Trunks was already moving though, thoughts of the other gone from his mind as he shifted closer to her. Pulling her arm around his shoulder and holding her wrist, the other around her waist and then they were rising. Getting distance and out of the immediate battle.

Insects of some kind--nasty looking ones, and considering he could see now that they were healing rapidly from where they were exiting the crate, Trunks was really hoping they couldn't fly. They had to end this, fast.

"Ahsoka." Trying to get her to focus more on him. "I need you to hold on to me, I need my hands." At least one of them, but two would be better.

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That slow motion felt so strange in her head. She could feel herself falling back but not the burn of the bolt yet. Though she knew it would be soon. Her skill kept any other bolts from hitting the two of them, but she didn't hear Trunks for the moment. Just had her eyes set on Corrsk, trying to shoot one bolt back at him. She was pretty sure one hit him back, but unsure at the same time to what Trunks had done.

All she realized a moment later was his trying to pull her up, Trying to get her arm over his shoulder. She deactivated the lightsaber and held it tightly, so not to hit him on mistake, and realized a moment later he started to move, lifting off the ground.

Things started to fall in line again, the slow motion moving faster again, the volume control pushed up once more. She heard the bugs regenerating and moving, and heard the woosh of air as he moved them out of the way.

"I'm okay." She said suddenly, as if to promise her partner she was fine. "I'm okay, Trunks. Don't worry about me." She informed him, and shifted, trying to get a grip on his shoulder, tucking under his arm, and moving to be behind him, a firm grip at his shoulder with one hand, the other not so much, but she held on, trying to look down. "What are they?"

Dead, she figured. In a moment.

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"Don't know." Helping her shift, slightly up higher almost in a piggy-back as one arm moved to help keep her steady. Her was encouraged around his collarbone and shoulder and she was able to see over his own shoulder easily. "Don't care."

Free hand now held back and up, calling energy to gather in it. That same blueish-white forming a sphere and growing larger and larger. As close as she was, Ahsoka might pick up on exactly what he was doing. All that energy he contained, focused, produced--ki--and he was channeling it, shaping it into a concentrated form.

Trunks himself was concentrating on keeping that sphere in a certain shape, a certain concentration as he fed more energy into it. Until he wasn't sure he could contain it anymore, and green-eyes narrowed.
Hand and arm moving in an arc, almost as if he were throwing it like a normal ball, into the center of the group of insectoid aliens.

The impact when it hit the earth and ground was a large domed-cloud explosion of light and energy, almost too bright. As it dissipated, a small crater was left, and some pieces of the crate and parts of chitinous plate. 'Dead' was indeed a good description.

At that moment, the same-whitish-energy domes that had kept the two sides separate before the challenge reappeared around the pair in the sky. Another sprang up around the pair on the ground--whether unconscious or dead. Challenge over it would seem, as the sky rippled in an aurora borealis effect to signal that Making had won.

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She had no trouble shifting to settle at his back, trying her best to not be a weight on him, and holding on well enough. If she thought she was going to have an issue she'd use a force grip. For the most part, it's just her shoulder that was tagged and slightly bloody. She could still move her arm. The bolt would have been worse if she hadn't of moved when she did.

She clung on and watched, shielding her eyes by hiding her face in the back of his neck for a moment, eyes closed shut as the explosion went off, clearing the game field. When she opened them again, there was a bubble around them, and she peeked over to see the bubble around the other group.

"You are so very impressive to me..." She mumbled near his ear, in complete awe. Seeing the lights in the sky she pat his shoulder once (it's like lava rock or harder). "Think you either over did it and they had to stop, or we won...."

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Later, her comment would hit him. Along with her warm breath and soft voice against his ear, how she'd almost nuzzled against his neck while hiding her eyes. On how soft her montrals and lekku were as they curved around her head.

Later--right then he was still focused a bit as he watched the sky shimmer and the bubble reappear. "I think we won." Trunks murmured, letting the super saiyan state go, as the golden aura faded and he breathed. Relaxing a bit, and shifting his grip more properly to piggy back Ahsoka more comfortably.

"You alright?" Turning his head slightly, trying to get a glance at her out of the corner of his eyes, which once more were blue as his hair was light lavender again.

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As he shifted back to the lavender haired boy she knew better she relaxed behind him, feeling arms reach back to her legs to hold her there. He might feel her body relax even more into him a moment as she rested her head on his shoulder, sighed and closed her eyes a moment.

"Mmmhmm." She hummed, then smiled, lifting her head again. "I'm fine. It's just a shoulder wound. I'e had much worse." She assured him, trying to give him a firm smile. "You didn't have to get so worked up back there." She said, patting his shoulder again and giving him a softer smile. "But yeah, I think you might have just won this round."

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Her relaxing into (and onto) him made him smile, and his heart sped up slightly. Perfectly comfortable (mostly) for where he was, nodding with her words.

"I'm used to going solo okay? For the first time in years I have someone who I trust fighting with me and you think I won't get worked up when they get hurt?" It's teasing, trying for some humor himself--as he did more than just trust her. "You didn't pay attention to anything I said about saiyans, did you?"

Below them, the Masters of both sides had appeared. Surveying the scene, before the Unmaking Master nodded to their counterpart. Within a heartbeat or two, the bubble surrounding their champions, and all 3 of the beings, faded. Seeming to be sucked in upon themselves as if into a void or black hole.

Trunks started to let himself controlled-drop back to the ground, where the Master of Making was waiting for them.

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She curled on arm, her good one, around his arm and chest a bit, hand flat and holding on, but also a small hug. "You aren't in this solo anymore. Though the only thing I didn't pay good enough attention to was Corrsk while I was holding those bugs back. I'll have to practice that technique a bit more."

Yes, she did catch some of what he said about the Saiyans, but she didn't mention it much yet. Letting him descend. "And I didn't hear anything to be upset about, if that's your worry." She peeked past him again and smiled at the Master, pushing to sit up more in the piggy back instead of relaxing completely into the others hold.

"Greetings, Master. Did we do okay?"

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The Master of Making seemed unsurprised to find one of their champions carrying another. An inclination of their figure, cowl lowering as well in a bow. "We believe 'okay' would be an understatement, if we understand the conversational nuances correctly." Back upright, and the being definitely seemed relaxed.

"Congratulations upon your first victory. Knowing something of your foes, and of you both, and how the challenge could have gone in myriad ways, we must congratulate you upon your cleverness as well as strength."

Gesturing out with their sleeves, and Trunks' forgotten sword shimmered in to rest upon them, held out but secure. "You both have more than earned your rest, and we shall all retire now unless you have other business here?"

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Ahsoka leaned there on the other, grinning down at the Master. "As long as you are happy with the results. Did you know that they would bring out people we might have heard of or recognized races before?"

When the sword came to be there too, and when she was sure that Trunk's feet were on the ground, she gave him a hug one more and said, softly. "You can set me down again. I hurt my shoulder, not my legs." She said it with a grin, and she didn't at ALL mind being carted around by him. It was a new experience for her that she rather liked.

But then she looked to the Master and back to Trunks before saying. "No, I think this was all the business I had. You?" She asked her partner, fully ready to go, thanks.

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Trunks hesitated to let her go, but....she was right. He hadn't minded though, and was more than happy to continue carrying her if she'd wanted. Still, careful as he let her get her feet under him and then he's bowing, moving to take his sword once more with both hands, almost ceremonial. Respectful, to the Master, before it was replaced in its sheath over his shoulder. To Ahsoka's question, he simply shook his head.

And tried to not think about how he missed having her snuggled against his back.

The Master's robes rippled as if with amusement at Ahsoka's statements however. "We did not, although it was a more likely result than not, given our Opponent. They do not see things we do in minutae, but in broader strokes? They may guess and suspect, and thus attempt to gain an advantage."

Trunks raised an eyebrow. "Meaning...they probably had no clue who we were, but it's likely they could've guessed what place you'd chosen your champions from, and they followed suit." Then he was shaking his head in amusement at the confirming nod of the Master's own.

"As you have said before, this is almost like a game of chess, or Go, or Dejarik." Still with that grave tone. "But we do not believe nor intend to use you as amusements--that is not your purpose. Nor are we truly in control of the 'pieces' if you will, due to our own restraints, upon both sides."

But clearly there were opportunities for strategy, and to influence things.

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She missed how warm he felt, but she figured that was just her body deciding she'd pushed it too hard again and thus was cold. She hooked her lightsaber back on her belt, both hands resting on top of them on either hip. A blaster bolt in the shoulder could have been bad, especially if she hadn't moved like she had. It was a graze, but it still hurt.

Still, Jedi and all, she didn't comment on it. She would tend to it as needed, and train more. Because that is what she is learning from all this. "It has helped, this fight, give me a clearer idea of what we will be facing. What the other master can manage doing." She let out a soft sigh, and though she was steady and fine on both feet, she did leave on hand on Trunk's shoulder, as if taking a bit of his stability for now.

"But this also told me, I have a lot of things I need to work on, just in case we face something else like this again." She gave the Master a smile, calm though. "I might like to try and find some books on training in the Force, if there is that possibility?" She asked, pleased with how this came out but suddenly feeling inadequate. Like fighting with Anakin and Obi-wan in those first days.

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