Paige Vs Sage

JaK blocked her sword stroke, forcefully pushing it away as the tip of his own blade cut his hand a bit and then retaliated with his own; spinning as he countered and struck back with his blade. Loud clanging noises could be heard from the metal colliding as they went back and forwardth in a high speed fencing match almost. Then JaK saw an opportunity to gain advantage and cut a vine that had been caught underneath a rock from the stampede, and as he did so, grabbed on as it yanked him up into the air over Paige, where he performed a triple sommersalt after letting go of it before landing behind Paige. This was followed by him whirling around at her for a succession of 3 vertical sword slashes.

And what a move it was; JaK pointed his sword at her like a spear and then darted with nearly inhuman speed at the girl, but before he reached her, JaK dropped to his knees and slid towards Paige with his blade extended towards her lower waist. It had been a quick drop switch between levels and then whether he he hit or not he would keep sliding on his knees until he got to the base of a tree. Keeping his momentum, however, from the dash he would run up the tree like a ninja and then wait for Paige at the top of it. Maybe taking this to a more risky venue or platform would make things more interesting. One misstep up here and you plummet to the jungle floor below.

"Paige, you're injured, stop this before you get yourself killed. You put up a good fight and I'll even give it to you, had you actually had your powers or I didn't heal you MIGHT have won, but this is madness. I don't want to have to kill you."

As JaK said this he twirled his blade around in between his fingers like a rotating helicopter fan blade. Just to show he was still fresh. He was actually in pain, but Sage's willpower never showed weakness if he could avoid it.

"And I told you, I can't die, not until I kill MY BROTHER!"

As Paige lunged her blade at JaK he continued to spin his own blade like a copter, deflecting it and then as she tried again, he he jumped and side flipped over it. However, when she whip-lashed it back it grazed his arm and caused JaK to drop his sword.

The wound was deep, DANG! These things were sharp...Point proven by when she went for the third attack and JaK leaned left to avoid it and instead it sliced into the tree trunk behind him, causing the top of the canopy to collapse towards them. All was needed was the sound of someone yelling timber as the large top half of the jungle tree came hurtling towards them both and JaK lunged to get out of the way.

JaK had been pinned down by the tree after all and his vertebrae was cracked and crooked...As he tried to get up he found himself unable, but after putting on some tree bark armor he shoved the large tree trunk off of himself and then cracked his spine back into place with an annoyed grunt. Paige seemed to fair no better, but she got up as well and still wanted to fight! Amazing...Sage then dearmored himself and wobbily walked towards her.

"Tell me something Paige...How many lives have you put at risk? How many people have you tried to kill, not in the name of justice, but out of revenge...Or just because you could for your own personal gain or pleasure. Tell me now, so when I finally strike you down I won't feel so bad about it."

JaK honestly was gaining more respect for her by the second, she reminded him too much of himself. She fought hard and with verocity, never giving in.

As she punched JaK in the face, a swooshing background accompanied them as a loud crack was heard. Sage almost fell over, but no, he would stand and take the brunt of the hit. His back foot catching him as he buckled and dug into the ground, which broke underneath his heel from the pressure it took to support him. Immediately after he caught her hand as his cheek and eye socket started to puff up from her hit, but he didn't care, what she had just told him hit him hard and he had a decision to make as he held her hand firmly.

Paige could barely stand, JaK was having problems to, but he would fix himself later. She would die if she continued...He could've ended it right there possibly or continued the fight and just let her tire herself out to physical exhaustion and beyond. However, what he chose to do was even more surprising to himself then he realized...

He pulled her close and hugged her...Rather than fight, rather than kill, JaK embraced Paige and held her tight and spoke while doing so...

"Believe it or not...I get all of that, every last bit of it and I'm sorry it had to happen to you. I know you didn't chose any of this and I know you had hard choices...and it's for that reason...I'm giving up."

As JaK finished his words he pushed Paige away a bit and looked into her eyes with his good yellow pupiled one and the half closed other. He wouldn't fight Paige anymore, why? Because Paige and him were the same in many ways. Hell, she was him had he made one or two slightly different choices in his life, but luckily fate decided to send him on a different path. The power of will, the sorrow, the pain, the determination, the anguish, the history, the loss they had it all in common. So JaK more than maybe anyone else understood and emphasized with exactly what was going on in her life and because of that reason he couldn't end her, not here and not now.

"I'm not gonna preach to you not to kill, because like I said I'm going to do so myself, but I know your good person Paige now. If you ever have to make that decision again, make sure it's for the right reasons, kay."

JaK let the shock of what he had done wash over her and then slowly let go of her, his rage absent his gaze now as his calm demeanor showed. The battle was over....as far as he was concerned her last hit had been the finishing blow. Unless she decided to change her mind right now...

As Paige spoke...JaK just smiled back and then quickly leaned forward and kissed the top of her forehead before speaking as he ran off. Not moving nearly as fast due to injury though.

"You read my mind... Guess we really are alike."