Val had replied to the Sith on the same frequency, ordering him to land and surrender immediately, although both Jedi knew that nothing of the sort was going to happen. Still, both Jedi fell in behind the Sith fighter, following at a safe distance to where ever he decided to land.
After a moment, Nal clicked on the private channel. "Val, don't land. Stay airborne and watch our back. I'll take da Sith."
Silence was the only thing that followed for a few minutes. She could feel that Val was apprehensive. At last he replied. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Not only do I want to, I need to do dis. I recognized his voice. It's Raezyr... da one who took my leg," she told him. "I have to face him, Val." Nal Talla closed her eyes and drew in a deep calming breath and realized in that instance, she was never more sure of anything in her entire life.
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Raezyr started the landing cycle. The ground he had chosen was on the top of a windswept cliff. It was wide and flat, allowing for easy landing, and the wind howled constantly, keeping the rocky shelf mostly clear of snow. Before the ship had settled to the ground, he popped the canopy and blew it open with a wave of Force energy that sent the transparisteel dome sailing into the air and over the edge of the cliff despite the fact he had chosen the landing site farthest from the edge.
He launched himself out of the cockpit and landed in a crouch on giant rock ledge. Immediately he realized exactly why the canopy had sailed so far. The howling wind of the blizzard had caught it and thrown it farther than it ever would have gone on it's own. The driving snow made him glad for his helmet, keeping it out of his eyes, but the rest of him was instantly cold.
He wrapped himself in a layer of the Force, hoping it would keep some of his body heat in. He drew his lightsaber hilts and watched the Aurek Tactical Strikefighter with the Jedi markings land. He noticed the other ship failed to land.
He swore under his breath. Not optimal. He had wanted both ships to land. Clearly they weren't as stupid as he had hoped. No matter, he decided. He'd make them pay for thinking it would only take one Jedi to take him down, and when that one died, he'd either steal the Jedi fighter and have access to all the information and data stored in it's computer, or the other Jedi would land. Either way, both Jedi would die on this frozen ball of ice called Hoth.
The canopy of the figher popped open, and Raezyr flicked on his blades and rushed. No way was he going to give the Jedi time to get ready.
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