RJO - The Valen Saga

Project Beta: Iron Death

Ren, Weiss, and Cyrus stood before Project Beta. The being's mechanical form towered over them, its shadow encompassing their view. All at once, the Jedi ignited their lightsabers, eliminating the hulking shadow with their blue and white light. Project Beta did not seem to react, it was simply unfazed by their show of resolve. The mechanical figure knew what it wanted, and it wouldn't stop now.

Ren: Are you ready, Weiss?

Weiss: Yes... Cyrus?

Cyrus nodded.

Ren: We have you-

Project Beta: Outnumbered? Was that what you were about to say?

Ren: It's three to one.

Project Beta: It's a good thing that I don't care, then.

Project Beta charged forward at high speeds. It thrusted its arm forward, attempting to impale Ren with its lightsaber gauntlet. However, while this enemy may be fast, so was Lie Ren. He is arguably one of the fastest in the Jedi Order. Using this speed, he was able to dodge the attack. Project Beta then turned to face him in his new position. Its attention was diverted. Weiss used this advantage to strike at its back. However, her strike was blocked by the cyborg's other gauntlet.

Project Beta: It won't be that easy, Schnee.

Cyrus, seeing an opportunity of his own, attempted a strike of his own, but was met with a kick from one of Project Beta's mechanical legs. He flew back a couple meters before landing with a hard thud. Ren was able to avoid another strike from the cyborg before he jumped backwards to gain some distance. Project Beta then took a swing at Weiss, a swing that the Jedi was able to block.

Ren: Young Valen, are you okay.

Cyrus staggered to his feet.

Cyrus: Maybe...

Cyrus was sent into a fit of coughing for a few seconds.

Ren: You might want to speed up our process, Cyrus.

Cyrus nodded and stood up straight once more, closing his eyes.

Cyrus: Eyes of Famine... Activate!

Cyrus was surrounded by a blue aura as his eyes bore the unmatured symbol of famine.

Project Beta: This is an unexpected turn of events. No matter, this will change nothing.

Meanwhile

Jaune swung down on Crishius again and again. The Sith was able to block his heavy swings time and time again, slowly backing up to keep a regular distance between her and her opponent. After a few more blocked hits, Crishius used the force to fling Jaune backward several meters. Jaune landed on his feet, stabbing his sword into the ground to prevent himself from skidding. Crishius could feel him glaring at her through his helmet. Jaune smacked the side of his sword, causing the edge of the blade to give off a faint hum and glow a dim orange. He looked as if he was going to go on another offensive, before he stopped suddenly. He stopped his advance as his gaze shifted to a faint light in the distance.

Jaune: There you are.

Jaune used his powers to leap on top of a nearby building.

Crishius: Don't run from me, coward! We aren't finished yet!

Jaune turned back and looked down at the Sith.

Jaune: You're right. We'll have to continue this... later.

Jaune turned back towards what he was sensing and ran towards it, leaping from rooftop to rooftop. Darth Crishius snarled in frustration. After a moment of anger, she too made her way towards the same place. She still had a job to do after all.

Meanwhile

Cyrus stared down Project Beta, his glowing eyes steadfast and his blue aura radiant.

He charged forward, ready to swing his lightsaber at the cyborg. The mechanical gauntlets of the cyborg were only just able to block Cyrus' swift strike. The two were in a lock, with Cyrus trying to increase his power to break the lock, and Project Beta anchoring itself into the ground.

Weiss: Perfect, Cyrus! Perfect!

Weiss leapt forward and swung her lightsaber down on Project Beta. When it made contact, it did not immediately cut through. The metal resisted the lightsaber's heat, and did not give way. Weiss' surprise was enough of a signal for Project Beta as any. It unanchored itself and grabbed Cyrus by the wrist. He gasped before he was flung over the cyborg's shoulder and impacted the floor hard. Just before the same could happen to Weiss, a gray blur impacted Project Beta with incredible force. The force was hard enough to knock the cyborg off the building completely. It hit the street just as a certain armored figure had earlier, with a crater being made in the asphalt. Cyrus looked up to see that the source of this attack was the armored figure in question, Jaune. Before Cyrus could say anything, Jaune jumped down from the roof as well, hitting the sidewalk with a loud crash. The armored man then slowly walked towards Project Beta, the tip of his sword scraping against the ground.

Jaune: Of all of the people in this war torn city that you could have gone after, you elected to go after the one man I was slated here to protect.

The mechanical limbs of Project Beta whirred as the cyborg stood up once more.

Project Beta: And who are you to hinder my directive?

Jaune raised his massive sword, pointing it at the hulking mass of metal.

Jaune: Who I am is 'about to kick your ass' rust bucket!

Cyrus, still on the ground, could feel his pain subsiding. This perplexed him, but before he could even think about it, he got his answer.

A in Cyrus' head: I'm temporarily increasing your healing factor. This should only take a few more seconds.

Cyrus laid there for several more seconds until he could finally feel no more pain. Then, he stood up again and leapt down to the street after the two of them.

Weiss: What do we do?

Ren: If they are in too much trouble, we'll intervene. But for now, we stay here.

They then heard a voice behind them.

Crishius: That's right, Jedi. Stay here.

Weiss: The sith...

Ren: So you're the apprentice.

Crishius: Save your questions for later. I have a job to do.

Crishius, just as Cyrus and Jaune did, leapt down onto the street.

Crishius: I certainly hope you didn't forget about me, boy.

Cyrus: Crishius?

Jaune: You really are stubborn, aren't you.

Project Beta: My final target. You really saved me the effort of finding you.

Crishius: You wouldn't need to anyway. I would have hunted you first.

She ignited her blood red blade and assumed her fighting stance. Jaune powered up his vibroblade and readied himself as well.

Jaune: Eyes of Stagnation. Enhance!

A violet aura surrounded Jaune as his sword began to hum once again. Cyrus ignited his blue lightsaber once again, allowing his Demon Mage powers to surge around him as the three of them got ready to take on this mechanical menace.