This is a fun little encounter.

It’s nice seeing Zedika Dark in action.

 
Zed trailed the Third Faction party setting off to rescue Becky, Cattaras, and all who had been imprisoned by the slavers, while dealing out a brutal retribution upon the slavers themselves. However, he had not asked to join the avengers for two reasons: firstly, after Sir Fumblies's revelation of Kwadlin's intricate schemes, Zed was extremely anxious about anyone hypothesizing incorrectly about Zed's dealings with Kwadlin - Aleena's reaction had been evidence enough that authoritative repercussions could be drastic and uncompromising. As well and much to Zed's dismay, he also had strong reservations about his presence when the emotionally-strung out inmates were freed from their captivity. Mixing one part of the lone 'Polished charms', and one part 'females who could have been horribly mistreated and sexually abused', would be tremendous folly that resulted in .… Zed shook his head clear of dark and vehement musings, and followed the departing entourage for a few paces longer; abruptly he paused, as a familiar silhouette was spotted nearby - someone who had no business skulking around the outpost.

Unimpressed by Zed's fierce stare, Zedika Dark, resident terror of the other universe, stepped into view. He smiled, though it was a cold smile without humor. His glare could intimidate veteran soldiers. "I see Sir Fumblies is much more clever than we gave him credit for. Sending an assassin to pick me off before I can finish his miserable life. Well played, pawn of Kingslayer."

"Assassins plan to kill; I'm just aiming to knock you out." Zed replied, refraining from commenting on the label given to one of the Degrassi outpost's leaders. (Though inwardly he noted that Dark had knowledge of an event he shouldn't have been present at; very curious, but not pertinent to the moment.)

"And you clearly lured me into attempting to attack you from behind." Zedika Dark pulled a ninja style sword to the ready position, circling around Zed. "Obviously planning to somehow get the drop on me when I did. I'm too smart for your games, pawn!"

Cracking a grin seemed inappropriate for the moment, but Zed could hardly help himself. He'd just met the man and vice versa, yet the swordsman had made several confused connections to interpret why he was facing off against him. It was a tad early, but Zed was guessing Konall or Sir Fumblies would be greatly tickled when he related the details of the encounter with the misguided, would-be assassin. Zed took out his polearm of the day - a sovnya, foreign-styled sword-staff - and relaxed into a slightly side-turned frontal stance, permitting the swordsman to attempt the first strike. Dark moved much, much faster than Zed anticipated: dodging past the polearm and catching Zed from behind with a kick to the ribs which sent Zed staggering forward. Zed turned around to see Dark rushing at him, and quickly brought his weapon to point. Dark pulled back to avoid having to deal with the polearm.

He could be testing Zed's defenses or just toying with him. Dark's confident smile made him wonder which it was. "Cocky, aren't you? Care to try that again?" jeered Zed brazenly, as he let his sovnya fall to the side, and brought up his hands up to his hairline, leaving his hands partially open. It was a gamble to take on someone that fast bare-handed, but Zed preferred to have more options available when Dark closed in. Taking another risk, Zed charged forward at the man. Dark seemed taken aback by the rash move, allowing Zed to grab his sword. As soon as Zed did, however, Dark twisted it to the side, cutting deeply into one of Zed's vambraces. Zed nimbly pulled back and ducked under a wild swing from Dark. Zed retreated in haste, forced to contort his body severely to avoid repeated swipes and strikes from Dark's sword.

"Okay, your looks really belie your skill level - a pity as much for your opponents as yourself. But have you noticed how far away Sir Fumblies's team has gotten away from you?" Zed commented, his breath racing slightly from the exchange.

Dark sniffed the air, trying to circle around behind Zed. "What smells like stale milk?"

Zed gave him a slow, goading smile, and replied: "I'm very sorry, sir - come closer, and I'll squeeze some fresh milk for you..." He spread his arms wide in a display of contempt and imprudence. Zedika responded by trying to take his arm off with the swipe of a sword.

"Variety is the spice of life, good sir. For example..." Anticipating the movement, Zed demonstrated why it was a bad habit to repeat attack patterns, landing a powerful kick to Dark's chest after the sword swipe. Dark barely took a step back and grabbed Zed's leg midair. Dark then drove his elbow into Zed's leg, inflicting bone-rattling pain. He did it twice more, but on the fourth attempt Zed's acrobatic skill allowed him to twist his free leg off the ground and violently jolt Dark's head. Hopping back, Zed flipped up his polearm and struck a defensive pose, allowing his leg a moment to recover.

"So at what point are you going to admit you're too much of a fool to succeed? You're not entirely inept, but you're too repetitive to best me. What will you gain from this bout, other than time wasted and a failed main objective?" Zed continued to ridicule his opponent, as prolonging the fight would cost him nothing as compared with rushing to a conclusion.

Dark's ego got the better of him. "My dear boy. Who said I was the only assassin on the case?"

"I'm speechless - really, I am." The news was truthfully alarming, but the competency of his foe pressured Zed to focus on the battle, rather than events he couldn't assist in yet. Zed wasn't sure if he was failing to get to Dark, or if he simply had a first-rate deadpan expression. Abruptly Zed fell to one knee, as his injured leg buckled from overexertion. Dark walked over, easily avoiding Zed's attempts to trip or injure Dark's legs. "Pathetic," Dark called out, holding his sword over Zed's neck.

Years of brawling in the sun yielded Zed a beautifully synchronized opening - timing when the sun's rays behind him would momentarily stream down through the clouds and be reflected off Dark's blade into his cold eyes. As Dark drew back, instinctively averting his gaze, Zed smoothly maneuvered behind the blinded swordsman, disarming him then squeezing Dark's trachea in a brutal choke-grip.

Before Zed could finish his alleged 'mission', he was pressed to quickly fling Dark aside and take off at full tilt. Almost instantly after Zed dove around a corner, a fireball streaked through the air, its impact sending a cloud of brickwork airborne. Zed muttered a quiet word of appreciation to his fertility goddess for the gift of remarkable hearing that had permitted a narrow yet flawless escape. The adventurer known as Shadowrun practically melded into obscurity as he darted away, concealing his cloak and spear-blade on the run.

"I thought you were supposed to go after that Fumblies dude.." Runic the mage said, her bunny tail bouncing as she and Dark turned to leave.

"Oh shut up!" Dark yelled at her, giving her butt a quick kick and encouraging her to dart off into the distance ahead of him.

-------
Emphatically reporting his encounter with the twisted lookalike of Sebastian Dash and the information the deadly 'assassin' had let slip, Zed left the Committee for Drastic And Unnecessarily Violent Solutions member to the task of relaying the pending danger to either Konall or Sir Fumblies. Wrung out from the accelerated healing of his wounds again, Zed slumped off for the final task of the day: acquiring a present that would go over well with his pungent friend. Small favors from the fates, the outpost had one miniature garden that was sufficiently secluded and accessible for a fervent commune with the Grand Kahuna of the Earth goddesses, Gaia ...

Zedika Dark’s personality was somewhat shaped by Leslie’s using him way back in The Burning from Season one.

He's a bit dense but a highly dangerous for and not one to be taken lightly. It made for an entertaining battle!