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Author	Topic: The Eyes Of The Storm (500 Years Post KoTOR) - Drama/Action/Adventure/Mystery - Ch. 2 & 3 Added 24/6
Alpha-02 Registered: Nov '06	Date Posted: 6/22/07 5:23pm Subject: The Eyes Of The Storm (500 Years Post KoTOR) - Drama/Action/Adventure/Mystery - Ch. 2 & 3 Added 24/6 - Date Edited: 6/26/07 3:19pm (5 edits total) Edited By: Alpha-02
	Title: The Eyes Of The Storm Author: Alpha-02 Characters: OCs Genre: Something of everything, mainly drama, mystery and action Timeframe: A few hundred years post-KoTOR Notes: My first proper attempt at a fanfic, set some time after KoTOR, maybe 500 years or so. Long enough for the characters from that era to be dead and gone, but not long enough for them or the events to be forgotten. Maybe a little slow to get going as I build things up, but hopefully it'll be worth sticking around Dramatis Personae (To be built up along with the story) Anicet Pashclar - Jedi Master (Caamasi Male) Asclen - Jedi Knight (Bothan Female) Axas Kreln - Jedi Youngling (Human Male) Azdalema Tam - Arch-Provost of Rendili (Human Female) Cax Ordo - Bounty Hunter (Mandalorian Male) Charan Sandseeker - Bounty Hunter (Human Male) Jantus - Pilot (Zabrak Female) Luxa Siriun - Jedi Youngling (Human Female) Saqres Ohad - Jedi Master (Human Male) Shaka Wrekla (Shak'awrekla) - Jedi Knight (Twi'lek Male) Urbane Ityra - Jedi Knight (Human Male) ___________________________________________________________________ Prologue Rhen Var, Tobali System, Tion Cluster, Outer Rim A lone figure stood upon the threshold of the temple, silhouetted against the frozen storms battering the planet beyond. The figure paused for a moment to brush the ice from his robes and then continued into the temple. His route took him through empty corridors until he arrived at the meditation chamber he sought. A chill permeated the room, an ancient cold that seemed born into the temple. Nevertheless, the figure removed his robes and began to relax into meditation. Slowly, he located the warmth at the centre of his being and connected all his energies into it. His mind fell fully into the force and he followed its currents across planets and stars, through the very fabric of time. He drifted with no visible pattern, simply the knowledge that the force had a purpose and was leading him. Hours passed uncounted as he floated across space, methodically tracing the steps of the epic dance the force led him on. Finally, the vision slammed into him and shook him out of his trance. A sense of despair threatened to overpower anything else that he could sense, but at the edges of his consciousness he found the causes - darkness, pain, suffering and death. Further into the blackness he pushed and images swirled across his vision. Some he recognised, but countless others were lost in the tumult of colour and grief that bound them together. Then he reached the nexus of the pain, a single hooded figure. Agonisingly slowly he was dragged ever closer to the shape through the eddies of the current of death. Until for just a second, he could see into the eyes of the darkness. And he knew them. * * * Awakening from the nightmare he sensed a familiar presence surrounding him. “Master, I am glad you have come.” He spoke into the darkness, recognising the aura. “I sensed your return,” a voice replied from the ether. “It is well that you have returned, I sense events are being set in place that we cannot turn back. Our only chance is to intervene and alter the outcome.” “Then you have seen it as well, the darkness and pain that threatens to consume us all?” He had no idea how long he had sat in meditation or how long he had slept since the terrible vision. Yet his senses told him precious time had been lost already. “I have seen something of it, though perhaps not the same things that you have seen. Yet I have experienced enough darkness myself to know what I have felt. You must go before the council and persuade them of the truth of your vision; the darkness is almost upon us. Unity is our only hope.” With that his Master departed the room and left him to ponder the council. Undeniably wise and powerful, yet more often of late they were stagnant and hesitant, preferring to wait instead of acting. He knew they would see the truth in his vision, but he was concerned that they would choose to meditate upon it further, instead of investigating it fully. If that was the case he decided, he would investigate it himself. ___________________________________________________________________ Chapter One: Yovshin Swordsman Lightsaber Training Room, Jedi Temple Coruscant, Coruscant Sector, Coruscant System, Core Luxa Siriun wiped the sweat from her forehead and stepped forward once more. Her opponent came on incredibly quickly, the blade in his right hand cutting low towards her left knee. She had barely recovered from the jarring caused when she caught the blow on her left hand blade, when the blade in his left hand came up in a sweeping arc towards her chest. Again she caught the attack, this time on her second blade, but her opponent gave her no time to recapture her balance as he continued his assault. He pirouetted instantly as she caught his second swing, holding her right hand blade locked still whilst he brought his to bear on her now unprotected flank. Letting the force guide her she somehow slashed her left blade down in time to deflect his attack, but she sensed that he was somehow setting her up. If only she could figure out what he was planning. Continuing his spin into a full circle he swung hard with his leading blade, nearly causing Luxa to drop hers as she blocked another shuddering attack. The tip of his right blade sizzled past her chest as she flipped out of the way to buy some space. However, her adversary had anticipated this and both his blades arced towards her neck as she landed. Once more the force pulled her defences up in time to repel his thrust, but he was relentless. Strike after strike fell upon her blades with remarkable speed, gradually driving her back to the edge of the duelling mat. He smiled and threw his right hand blade into the air. It only distracted her for only the briefest of moments, but it was enough. A subtle nudge of the force through her broken concentration and she tumbled backwards onto the floor. Smiling, he caught the lightsaber had he thrown and walked over to Luxa. “Very good,” he smiled. “You are getting better with every duel, but whilst you are still fighting with your body and your eyes you will never defeat me.” Luxa pondered his comment as she dusted herself down and grabbed a drink. “So what should I be fighting you with Master Ityra?” She eventually asked. “That is something for you to meditate on.” His easy smile and cheerful demeanour defeated the part of Luxa that wanted to be annoyed with his apparent need to be cryptic. “In time you will learn to see things as I do, then you will truly be a match for me. Perhaps even one day I will be overmatched. Same time tomorrow.” With another grin and a swirl of robes he was gone from the room. Luxa stood and considered the man she hoped would select her as his Padawan. Many others had warned her against him for various reasons, including his complex, self-styled Jar’Kai lightsaber technique, his apparent love of battle, even his relatively young age. Yet somehow she understood he was the only one who could turn her potential into something real. She didn’t understand why she felt this way, but she was certain, maybe it was the will of the force. * * * Luxa sat on the edge of the practice mats thinking about Master Ityra’s riddle as she waited for him to arrive for their daily training session. If she could just focus and think about it more clearly, surely there was a simple answer. Her train of thought was broken as the heavy wooden door opened, usually only her and Master Ityra ever came to this practice room this early in the morning, but this time she sensed someone else altogether. “Hey Luxa, still trying to learn Jar’Kai?” She turned to see her fellow student Axas Kreln, or Mr. Perfect in her head. “Think you can learn anything from that loose cannon Ityra? Master Saqres says he shouldn’t even be a Knight himself yet.” “The council made him a Knight, regardless of what Master Saqres says.” She always had to try hard to keep her temper in check when Axas was around. He seemed to delight in getting her to react to his taunts. “Even so, you have to admit he doesn’t do things the normal way.” “That makes him different, not bad, or dangerous, or anything else that you seem to want to label him. Since I’ve been training with him my skill has improved greatly, my connection to the force grows every day.” Axas strolled over to the edge of the practice mats and began some basic exercises. He moved through the standard stretching routine and unclipped his training lightsaber. Casually, he looked around the training room knowing that it was empty save for the two of them. Eventually his focus settled on Luxa. “Come on then Luxa, there’s nobody else here for me to defeat. Let’s see if Ityra has been teaching you anything.” Suddenly, there was a voice behind Axas. “That is Master Ityra to you, youngling. Perhaps you would like to see if I could teach you anything?” He locked Axas in a stern gaze for a few seconds, then burst into laughter. Luxa smiled to see the charismatic Jedi Knight come to her rescue, but she was surprised to hear his next line. “Go ahead Luxa,” he said, motioning to the practice mats. “If you can hold your own against me, then Axas shouldn’t worry you.” Luxa didn’t know what to think, she was happy that he had confidence in her, but she would rather not duel Axas in front of him. He always seemed to be able to get to her and break her concentration. She didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of Master Ityra. “Remember, centre yourself, find your focus and then let go of everything around you.” Slowly, she unclipped her lightsabers and strode to where Axas waited on the practice mats. She took a moment to centre herself exactly as Ityra had taught her, then ignited her blades. She cast her mind back to the riddle he had posed her, if she could solve that then she would surely defeat Axas. He came at her before she had a chance to think any further, his single blade arcing down in a slash towards her left shoulder. She easily caught the blow and retaliated with her right hand blade swinging towards his left hip. He moved to catch the obvious attack, but Luxa quickly reversed her move bringing her left blade towards his right shoulder. Axas barely caught the attack in time and Luxa’s second blade was already driving through her pirouette towards his right knee. Sensing that he couldn’t get his blade down to block in time, Axas launched himself into a back-flip and landed several metres away. However, Luxa had learnt from her mistakes and before she even realised it her blades swung in a decapitating arc towards his chin as he landed. Axas never even saw it coming, he landed softly and was preparing to collect himself when both of Luxa’s blades crashed into his chin and sent him sprawling. Luxa promptly deactivated her lightsabers and went to make sure Axas was ok. He was still dazed and groaning as she knelt over him. Unsure how to feel she looked to Master Ityra for guidance. The Jedi Knight was already walking over and she felt the calm of his presence as he arrived beside Axas. He reached out a hand towards Axas and probed him with the force. “He’ll be fine, a nasty little burn and a good bruise for a few days, but nothing more than that.” He laughed softly to himself, “I suspect the wounds you’ve dealt to his pride will be far worse.” “I’m very impressed, your skills have progressed a remarkably in the short time we have been training together. I’m very sorry to say that I cannot train you as a youngling any further, the council has assigned me away on a mission.” Luxa’s heart sank, the other Jedi who taught her just weren’t the same. They couldn’t get to her in the way that Ityra did, too many of them told her she was dangerous and spent all their time cautioning her against the lures of the dark side. She seemed to spend far more time listening to their warnings than she did learning honing her skills. They seemed to lack the charisma and genuine smiles that came to Ityra so easily. Of course, she understood the need for wisdom, but she was already well past her twelfth birthday and beginning to believe that she would never be selected as a Padawan. Then she had met Ityra, who had recently completed his trials and been promoted to the rank of Jedi Knight. Coming to the little used practice room, she had thought to go through her drills alone as she did every morning. She was shocked to find Ityra already there deep in meditation. * * * “Luxa Siriun, I had been hoping you would show up.” Luxa was shocked that he even knew her name, let alone that he had been waiting for her to arrive. She looked around for an explanation, a trick of some sort, but she found nothing. All she could manage in reply was, “You have?” The young knight ran a hand through his brown hair as he rose and smiled. “Indeed, I have. I saw you getting a nice long lecture about the dangers of the dark side from Master Saqres yesterday. I could use a workout and I thought perhaps you might like to spend some of your time actually doing something.” Without waiting for an answer Ityra moved to the wall rack and removed three training lightsabers, he walked over to Luxa and handed her one of them despite the look of confusion on her face. “Master, I already have my own training lightsaber.” Once more Ityra simply smiled. “I know, but I am a Jar’Kai practitioner so you will learn far more if you duel me with two blades.” “But Master, I have no idea how to fight with two blades, I don’t even know which form to use.” “Try not to think about things too much, most Jedi never study Jar’Kai, but those that examine the basics usually use Niman. However, you can use it with any form you feel comfortable with. I won’t give you all of my secrets, but I mainly use Juyo in my Jar’Kai style. To begin with you should simply think one blade for attack and one for defence, let the form flow naturally from there. “But enough talk, theory is important, but you will learn far more if we duel before you ask the questions I sense in you.” He walked over to the centre of the practice mat and ignited his blades. Unsure what to think or do, Luxa simply followed suit. He came at her instantly with unbelievable speed. * * * Every day for the past few months they had met in the same practice room and duelled. She couldn’t imagine going back to the endless lectures about the dark side and the simplified one blade lightsaber classes. Ityra had awakened something within her, she could only see herself as a Jedi like him. Charismatic, energetic, relaxed, yet at the same time powerful, incredible in battle and relentless in pursuit of his goals. “If you leave me now Master, then I will never become a Jedi. I am only a few months from my thirteenth birthday and you know that none of the Jedi here will choose me as their Padawan learner. They think of me as too dangerous, unbalanced; they say that I spend too much time acting and not enough time thinking.” Ityra laughed, a cleansing sound from deep within his chest. “You are right of course Luxa and I understand how you feel. That is exactly how they viewed me as a youngling, in fact many of the Masters still treat me like that now.” He paused, sighed quietly to himself and looked her in the eyes. “I agree that none of the Jedi here will take you as a Padawan. Actually, none of them can.” Luxa’s face fell and she felt a tear welling in her eye, her life was over. But Ityra’s serious facade gave way to his trademark smile, “They can’t select you as their Padawan, because I already have.” ___________________________________________________________________ Chapter Two: Hammers of Dread Rendili StarDrive Headquarters Rendili, Rendili System, Core “Master, something isn’t right here.” Jedi Knight Shaka Wrekla paced around the waiting room where they’d been for the past few hours. “They call for urgent help, the senate responds by sending us here and they proceed to ignore us.” “Patience, Shaka, if they truly need our help then they will come to us. Give them time.” Jedi Master Anicet Pashclar replied with his customary patience. “We have no other pressing matters. If they believe themselves to be compromised then they will be very cautious before they deal with us.” “I understand that Master, but we have been here for six days already. There are problems all over the galaxy that we could be attending to; instead we are sat here waiting for bureaucrats.” “I sense your frustration Shaka, but we have little choice other than to wait. All we know is that they fear someone has gained unauthorised access to their top-level computer systems. That is not enough information for us to begin any form of investigation. Until they put together the relevant information we cannot help them.” “You’re right Master.” You’re always right. Shaka’s lekku twitched with impatience as he continued to stalk around the table. He knew that the Caamasi Master was far more experienced than he, but he felt wasted trailing around Rendili StarDrive. People somewhere were dying because the council lacked the Jedi to respond to every request for aid and here he was doing nothing. He was about to take yet another walk around the limited areas of the complex they had been granted access to, when the comm unit on the table came to life. A woman’s voice emerged. “Master Pashclar, Knight Wrekla, if you are ready the Arch-Provost will see you now.” “We are ready,” Anicet replied, before Shaka could say something less polite. “Where do we need to go?” “If you would make your way to the main turbolift station, a guide will be on hand to show you the way.” “Very well, thank you.” * * * Shaka would have run, had the Caamasi Master not been seemingly content to amble along. They passed along several corridors, containing a multitude of small offices, until they finally emerged at the grand entrance hall of Rendili StarDrive. It was an exercise in wealth and power. Waterfalls and crystal fountains cascaded over each other in perfect serenity. Exotic plants and trees lined the walkways as the sun glittered through the crystalline transparisteel walls and ceilings. A team of receptionists were assembled behind an obscenely large and expensive Alderaanian Kriin-wood desk. A squat man motioned towards them as the neared the turbolift entrances. Shaka didn’t sense any intent in the man, but something seemed out of place. He looked towards Anicet and knew the Caamasi had similar misgivings. “Master Pashclar, Knight Wrekla, this way please.” The man said, leading them to the turbolift at the far right-hand end of the bank. He inserted a key, swiped a card and the doors opened. The two Jedi stepped into the lift beside the man and watched carefully as he pushed a series of buttons before exiting the lift. Immediately, Shaka began to follow him out, but Anicet placed a hand on his arm to stop him. He could sense his Master’s feelings through the strong bond between them, patience. The man bid them good day and the doors slid shut. “Master, something is very wrong here, I sense our safety is in question.” “I sense something too, but it is not in this turbolift. So, relax and enjoy the view for now.” Shaka allowed himself a moment to take in their surroundings. The transparisteel walls of the lift allowed for a stunning view of the planetary shipyards. Workers, load-lifters, shuttles and more merged into a sprawling complex, which stretched out as far as the eye could see. It was here that the components of Rendili StarDrive’s plethora of ships were manufactured. Some of the smaller shuttles and transports were completed in the planetary docks, whereas the larger ships - such as the Hammerhead-Class capital ships – were completed in the orbital facilities. The shipyards teemed with life, full of concentration and determination, but Shaka sensed no signs of malice or ill-will. Yet, he couldn’t shake the inescapable feeling that something was going to go very badly here. He was shook from his musing as the turbolift slid smoothly to a halt and the doors opened. They emerged into another opulent hallway, adorned with classical statues and a whole host of artworks. Again, Kriin-wood was in evidence, this time lining the wall panels and framing a huge door at the end of the corridor. From behind them four Mark-VI assault droids marched up alongside, weapons trained. Once more a steadying Caamasi hand prevented Shaka from a rash move. Anicet directed the Twi’lek’s attention towards a figure coming out from the vast doorway. The slender woman gracefully approached them and offered her hand in greeting. Anicet accepted her hand. “I am Jedi Master Anicet Pashclar,” he gestured towards Shaka, who in turn shook the woman’s hand, “And this is Jedi Knight Shaka Wrekla.” “My name is Azdalema Tam, Arch-Provost of Rendili. I have some very important things to discuss with you, if you would join me in my office.” Shaka was taken aback at the Arch-Provost’s appearance, slender, elegant and undeniably attractive. Not exactly what he expected from the leader of such a powerful corporation. Then again, he should know better than to come into missions with such pre-conceived notions. Azdalema turned and strode confidently back down the corridor, the two Jedi followed her with the assault droids right behind them. As they entered the office she spoke a word into her comlink and the droids halted, remaining on guard outside the doorway. Closing the doors behind her, she led the Jedi to a scattering of seats around a table. “Please excuse the mess, but we have spent a lot of time here of late. It has the only standalone computer system with all the relevant information and this room is also the most inaccessible in the entire complex. “It has taken us some time, but we have finally been able to refine our tracking systems and have a list of all the files that the slicer pulled from the system. The problem is that we cannot see any correlation between them. This is everything that we have come up with; I hope you can make some sense of it all.” She handed datapads to the Jedi, who immediately began tracing through the files, probing with force for some unseen connection. Time ceased to exist as they drifted across the information, minds caught in the currents of the force, waiting for the tide to put them ashore with the answers. Eventually Shaka broke from his meditation, jolting Anicet’s concentration out of focus along with his own. “Shaka, have you found something?” The Caamasi queried. “I didn’t sense anything from the force.” “Just the opposite Master, I have found nothing. That in itself tells me something.” Both Anicet and Azdalema looked confused at the Twi’lek’s bizarre reasoning, so they waited for him to continue. “There is a simple reason why we cannot find a pattern - there isn’t one. Whoever this slicer was, they are very good, they probably only actually needed a small number of files. He simply pulled all this other top secret information to throw off a quick chase. “They knew it would take us a long time to sift through everything here and discern their purpose. Arch-Provost Tam, do you know where the slicer accessed the system from?” Anicet sensed where Shaka was heading and nodded in agreement. “Yes, if we could visit the point of intrusion, we may be able to sense the aftermath of the slicer’s intentions in the force. Judging by the slicer’s methods they don’t intend to remain hidden for too long. They believe that this download trail will delay us for long enough to execute their plans, whatever they may be.” “Very well, the terminals that the slicer used were on an orbital facility. We can take my personal shuttle up there immediately.” * * * Orbital Shipyard B-61 In Orbit Over Rendili, Rendili System, Core The shuttle touched down softly in the private hangar reserved for Rendili StarDrive’s inspection officials. The Jedi sprinted down the boarding ramp followed closely by Azdalema. A wave of warning in the force passed through both Jedi as they hit the hangar floor. “Have your pilot keep the shuttle prepared for immediate takeoff, something is very wrong here.” Anicet cautioned. “We must move swiftly, I sense something dangerous is already in motion.” Azdalema led them speedily across the hangar bay and through a security door. They moved a little way down the corridor and halted at the turbolift station. Azdalema pushed the call button and waited. Nothing happened, so she hit the button again. Nothing. She jabbed the button several more times without response until Anicet put a hand on her shoulder. “There must be another way Arch-Provost? We cannot afford to delay.” “The stairs should be a few hundred meters down the corridor.” The Jedi set off at a dead run, with Azdalema behind, struggling to match their force-assisted quickness. The darkness they felt closing in around them only served to heighten their surge. By the time they reached the stairwell there was a palpable sense of darkness in the air. “Up or down Arch-Provost?” Shaka asked. “Up three flights, the terminal should be right outside the stairwell. Go ahead without me, I’m only slowing you down.” Shaka looked at his Master for a second and felt his urge through their bond, go! He hesitated for a split-second, then charged into the stairwell. Anicet allowed Azdalema a brief rest, then led her after the speeding Twi’lek. Shaka exited the stairwell three floors up and located a small computer terminal a few meters to his left. He settled into the force and began to search for any traces the slicer may have left behind. He floated for what seemed like an eternity, until a vision battered him to his knees. Shadows surrounded him, sucking him down into an infinite pit of blackness with them. Raw emotions ripped at his very being, pain, agony, torture, suffering, but above all death. He slipped deeper into the pit and the nameless suffering began to take shape, coalescing into vague forms. He saw species, planets, stars, all being sucked mercilessly into the abyss. Blazing lights drowned into nothingness as the darkness consumed them, the brightest stars winked out like candles in a storm. Ever further he sank into the void, drawn by some unseen power at the centre. He couldn’t perceive the evil behind such malice, could not even imagine that anything could command so terrible a power. Then it revealed part of itself to him, two terrible eyes drove him beyond his limit and the night took him. Anicet burst out of the stairwell knowing something was wrong, Shaka had completely disappeared from the force. Even across the bond the two shared there was only emptiness. The Jedi Knight lay sprawled on the floor by a small computer terminal. He wasn’t moving. Anicet took a step towards his former Padawan, but was beaten back some unseen will. It invoked incredibly strong feelings of nausea inside him, driving him back the way he had come. He turned away to see the Arch-Provost laying prone on the durasteel with her hands clamped to her ears. Somehow he had to reach Shaka, somehow draw him away from the terminal. That seemed to be the focal point of the forces propelling him backwards. Whoever had accessed this terminal had left far more than a passing ripple in the force. They had constructed some form of force defence around the station. However, the incident had occurred more than ten days ago, why was it only showing its effects now. Could it have been triggered by the proximity of a force user? He hoped that was the case, the other option was too terrible to consider. Yet he couldn’t deny the sensation that he was being watched. Once more he started towards Shaka, only to be hammered back into the stairwell again. He had to come up with another plan, the compulsion driving him backwards was simply too strong. He delved into the place in his mind where his bond with Shaka was located. Settling himself, he reached deeply into the force and poured himself across the bond. Energy drained from his body, streaming through the force into Shaka’s limp form. Slowly, he felt Shaka’s presence begin to rematerialize across the force bridge he’d created. It was a dangerous technique, often resulting in severe injury and always producing an unnaturally strong force bond between those who shared the bridge. This was the second time he’d had to use the bridge on Shaka, he hoped he would never have to do it again. The Twi’lek looked groggy and barely managed to reach his knees before the darkness blasted him across the floor. He came to a crunching halt as he impacted upon the durasteel wall and slumped to the deck. Anicet swiftly dragged him back into the stairwell alongside Azdalema and pondered his options. He knew he had to move down a level to get his companions out of the compulsion and let them recover. Yet he sensed that the answers to this mystery lay beyond that wall of darkness. Carefully, he drew on the force and carried the two down a flight of steps. Azdalema instantly recovered and looked around in shock, Shaka simply opened his eyes and emitted a dull groan. “Master Pashclar, what happened?” “I don’t know Arch-Provost, some form of force compulsion driving us away from the terminal and the rest of that level. I’ve seen similar techniques before, but never with such incredible strength. How is not the issue at present though, right now we need to know why. What is on that level?” “The central orbital launch control command centre.” “What is the purpose of that centre?” Anicet asked tentatively, already fearing that he knew the answer. “It clears completed ships for launch, provided the pilots have the necessary codes.” “Can we reach them through the comm system?” “No, they are comm locked except for the connections to the ships and a direct line to my office. The only way to reach them without returning to the planet is across level…oh.” Azdalema paused for a second as the revelation hit her. “You don’t think…” “Yes I do, it all makes more sense now. The slicer gets into your systems, finds out which ships are completed along with all your access codes. Then he passes the codes on to his team, who presumably have already infiltrated the various orbital docks.” Azdalema understood clearly now. “Then when they move they lock down our only means of communicating with the launch command centre and my ships disappear into space. There’s nothing we can do unless we can get to the command centre.” “There is one other option,” they both turned, surprised to see Shaka sitting up behind them. “Surely we can get to a ship and contact the command centre from there." He paused in contemplation, "What do you have completed in-dock that would justify such a complex and dangerous operation.” “Oh no,” Azdalema froze as the depth of the problem hit her. “A hundred Hammerhead-class cruisers and frigates.” Shaka looked at his Master, “I knew something was wrong here. Looks like we’ve found it, now to get onto one of those ships before a fleet of brand new warships disappears into the galaxy.” “One of the Hammerheads is docked here, level twenty-six.” She paused, almost embarrassed to complete her sentence, “The Azdalema’s Pride.” The three surged up the stairs with new found energy. ___________________________________________________________________ Chapter Three: Sides Industrial Intelligence Research Labs Contruum, Contruum System, Expansion Region The Iridonia touched down gently in a forest clearing a mile or so outside of the research district of Contruum City. The thick trees provided enough cover for the sleek ship to remain unnoticed, at least for as long as Jantus and Charan Sandseeker would require. Jantus turned from the pilot’s station to observe Charan checking the charges on his power packs and slotting them into his bandolier. They were joined by a variety of grenades, knives and security bypassing equipment. He topped it all off with a blaster on each hip and a vicious looking pair of vibroswords slung on his back. A loose black robe, pulled across his chest would be enough to fool any casual observers. “You never were one for subtlety were you?” Jantus joked. “I don’t like taking chances, especially if we run into that blasted Mandalorian. He seems to beat us to the punch every time, it can’t simply be pure chance.” “I know that, but this is supposed to be a simple sneak in, sneak out job. We’re not supposed to be attracting attention to ourselves remember. You’re tooled up like you’re gonna bring the whole building down around us.” “I’m not.” His face hardened. “Unless it becomes necessary.” * * * Cax Ordo lay prone on the rooftop of the Industrial Intelligence Research Labs, with his attention focused on the guard station. Usually, he wouldn’t be concerned with killing them, but this time he needed a little more finesse. Getting past them without being seen was the only way this mission could be a success. He scanned the surrounding rooftop, looking for another way into the complex. Analysing the plans on his helmet HUD, he located several maintenance shafts some two hundred meters to his right. They should bring him down near the correct sector, it all looked easy enough, so why did he get the feeling that this was going to prove more difficult than usual. * * * “There,” Jantus whispered. “That side entrance is only used for deliveries, should be easy to slice.” She began to move carefully through the gardens, ducking between statues and trees to avoid the notice of the sentry patrolling the grounds. Charan trailed her movements, always within a few meters of the Zabrak. She held a hand out to signal him to stop and began to speak softly into her comm link. “We have to wait, the sentry is too close to the door.” Without replying Charan hefted a rock and tossed it into the foliage behind them. The crashing impact roused the guard from his mundane patrol and he came sprinting towards the area in question. As he disappeared into the undergrowth Jantus and Charan broke from their cover and hurtled towards the unwatched door. Charan placed his back against the doorframe and kept watch for the guard, whilst Jantus began to slice the keypad. Her equipment was far too advanced for such a simple locking mechanism and the door opened momentarily. They stepped into the recycled air of the research labs and closed the door behind. * * * Cax slid through the maintenance hatch and pulled it shut over his head. His helmet adjusted to the darkened tunnel and he moved down the ladder until he reached the ground floor. His scanners picked up no life forms in the hallway beyond, but his armour was far too conspicuous. Reluctantly, he removed his helmet and stowed it in a nearby locker. Pulling his cloak tight around himself he slipped into corridor. Still empty. He began moving towards the experimentation chambers where he hoped to find the information he required. He flinched involuntarily when two female scientists passed him, before he reminded himself that he wasn’t wearing his helmet. Hiding in plain sight his father called it, Cax much preferred hiding out of sight. The flow of people began to increase as he neared his target and his unease increased accordingly. Eventually he arrived at the entrance to Lab D-72 and walked unchallenged through doorway. Maybe there was something to be said for hiding in view after all. * * * Jantus’ fingers flew over the keys as she carefully sliced through the research database. Each level of security was getting tougher, but she thought she was almost through. Charan meanwhile, paced around the room like a caged rancor. “Will you just stay still for a few minutes, you’re not helping my concentration.” “I don’t like this, it’s all too easy. We just bluff our way past a few scientists and walk straight up to the terminal we need. Easy makes me nervous, contracts that pay this well are never easy.” “Just be quiet, listen for anyone heading this way and let me finish.” Jantus turned back to the screen and broke through another encryption level. A file list flashed up on the screen and she hit the search key. She quickly located the file they were after and plugged her datapad into the download port. “Almost there Charan, downloading now.” * * * Cax couldn’t believe his luck as he stepped back into the maintenance hatch. He uplinked the downloaded files into his helmet’s storage systems and destroyed his data disk with its small inbuilt charge. Espionage wasn’t as difficult as his comrades in the field made it out to be. He carefully ascended the ladder back to roof hatch. He crept back out onto the roof and scanned his surroundings. The guards hadn’t moved from their station and nobody appeared to be moving along his escape route. Staying low he dashed across the permacrete and slid back down the ascension wire he’d used to access the roof. Landing quietly in the bushes below, he re-equipped his jet pack and wrist weapons. Moving silently he disappeared over the electrified fence where he’d disabled it. Once on the outside he removed the small electrodes he’d used to short-circuit the fence and merged into the forest. * * * Jantus laughed as she jogged up the boarding ramp of the Iridonia and into her cockpit. Charan was a little behind her, still convinced that they were about to be ambushed by some unseen army. Warily he edged backwards up the boarding ramp and joined her in the cockpit. “Charan, can you believe that?” “No I can’t and I don’t like it either. Let’s just get out of here and deliver this information before something goes wrong.” “Why are you so convinced that something is going to go wrong.” He fixed her with a strange gaze, “It always does for us.” * * * The Bralir rose into the atmosphere of Contruum and streaked towards the planetary gravity well. Cax had just settled back and begun punching data into his navicom when his scanners signalled a pre-programmed alert. “Blast those two hut’uun, why do they have to follow me everywhere, this time they’ve gotten too close.” He swung the Bralir around and headed to intercept the Iridonia. “This time you won’t be trailing me halfway across the galaxy.” * * * “He’s spotted us and he’s moving onto an intercept course.” “Can we reach hyperspace in time?” “Unlikely, he’s closing on us too quickly.” “Ok, you fly the ship and I’ll get to the turret.” Charan ran out of the cockpit and dropped down into the underside gun turret. He could see the Bralir now, a distant speck shadowed by the light of the planet beyond. He understood immediately that Jantus was correct, the ship was hurtling at them incredibly quickly. He powered up the duo-gun and activated the targeting display, Jantus frantically watched the navicom churning through the necessary calculations with one eye, whilst she viewed the distinct arrowhead of the Bralir growing larger through her viewport. This was going to be close, too close. * * * Cax activated his missile system and began to search for a firing solution. He cursed the targeting computer as it incessantly beeped at him, warning that he was beyond recommended firing range. Eventually the beeps subsided into an elongated drone which translated to a target lock. Two concussion missiles streaked across space towards the Iridonia. Cax was silently congratulating himself when two green laser blasts rocked his shields. He pulled his vessel up off the intercept course and rolled to his left. He followed this with a short downward dive and a spiralling roll to his right. As he had hoped the Iridonia was too pre-occupied with the missiles to properly track the Bralir and his nauseating dive brought him up right behind it. He fired a series of quick blasts before his opponents could react and the Iridonia began to lose speed and list to its left. * * * “We’re hit bad, port engines offline, starboard engine one is gone and our stabilizers are fried. Charan get up here, we’ve got fires breaking out.” Jantus flew around the cockpit dousing fires as her ship faltered. Charan appeared in the doorway and began adding his efforts to the fire-fighting. Unexpectedly, the comm system began to crackle. “Nothing personal, but this isn’t business for aruetiise. Stay away from Tangre’s contracts in future, this time I’ll accept that you didn’t know what you were getting into. Next time, you both die.” Charan scrambled to the comm mic with a mouthful of insults lined up, but he could only curse in vain as the Bralir flashed past and disappeared into hyperspace. -----signature----- "As always, fat one, you have miscalculated. And while I find this small droid annoying to the extreme, I find my urge to shoot you takes a higher priority." The Eyes Of The Storm http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/26974904
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UnderCoverJedi Registered: Jul '06	Date Posted: 6/30/07 8:13pm Subject: RE: The Eyes Of The Storm (500 Years Post KoTOR) - Drama/Action/Adventure/Mystery - Ch. 2 & 3 Added
	Wow! A lot to take in. Great job. -----signature----- Not e-married, e-engaged, or e-attached. I prefer to do those things in person. In His Master's Wake http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28185973/p1/?0 Never http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/25789579
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