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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

Star Wars CLOSED 10 ABY: Fringe Elements and the Perseverance of the First Order

Discussion in 'Role Playing Forum' started by The Jedi in the Pumas, Dec 12, 2019.

  1. greyjedi125

    greyjedi125 Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Apr 29, 2002
    K’ir Tor
    Leaving Artemis Cradle

    Thankfully, he was feeling much better- enough to walk without support, though leaning on Myra had been nice. K’ir Tor’s breathing also felt ‘easier’ and his mind ‘clearer’. It was such a contrast to the overwhelming single-mindedness and labored breathing of before. He’d felt as if he would explode from the incalculable charge of darkside energy he had been holding within himself. Even he understood how fortunate he was to have Myra's real touch trigger its release.

    K’ir Tor’s unspoken internal bitterness had not subsided entirely, which was something he would need to address afterwards. For now, he tentatively stretched out with the Force, testing for clarity of mind.

    He followed the Muun in silence, not sensing any elevated levels of danger - for there would always be danger.

    Now that he was more himself, K’ir Tor gestured for Myra to board the speeder before he did, then followed in after her. He was glad that this episode was nearly at its end - for it could not come to a close fast enough.

    Almost absently, he did observe the Muun, but did not trust himself to engage him in conversation after all that had occurred. The Muun was part of the Syndicate Supreme after all.

    It was curious then, that the Muun did make it a point to engage him in conversation. K’ir was not able to discern if the Muun’s apology was sincere- because the ‘apology’ certainly did not originate from Abaddon. He could bet a ‘winning hand’ of pazaak on that. K’ir Tor’s view on the Syndicate Supreme would indeed remain unchanged. They were the ‘Blight of the Unknown Regions’ and desperately needed to be eradicated. A thin smile would blossom as evidence of that singular thought.

    As for the Muun’s comment: I would advise not crossing paths with my superior again.

    K’ir Tor had a very pointed retort loaded and ready to fire, but decided against it. Instead of answering with his biased opinion, he chose to answer him with the honest truth.

    “That is not up to me to decide.” He informed simply.

    Nothing else needed to be said as silence returned to the speeder’s interior- a silence filled by the subtle hum of the vehicle as it travelled. The speeder slowed and what K’ir Tor picked up with his senses caused him to smile on the inside. He kept this expression off his face as he did not wish to spoil Myra’s surprise. The vehicle doors slid open and Mai’hun was revealed- still in one piece. K’ir Tor flashed her a happy smile, but could clearly feel fear behind her eyes, despite her brave front.

    They were all finally back together, finally on their way to board the Tenasas. K’ir Tor gave both Myra and Mai’hun a quick hug, bottling his shame for the moment at having been the one to place them both in such grave danger - all due to his foolish and blind trust. K’ir activity compartmentalized that emotion and kept it from souring the moment.

    “I’m glad you’re both here.” He confessed with evident relief. Ironically, their reunion would not have been possible if it were not for the Warqueen herself. That was one singular fact he could not deny, change or ignore.

    Across from the trio, the Muun took a call on his datapad and K’ir Tor felt a flicker in the force, which caused him to glance over. The Muun passed him the datapad and a man’s voice spoke directly to him.

    "I understand that you are in a rush to leave, Mr. Tor. Would you mind if I met with you at your ship before you depart?"

    K’ir Tor paused and did not answer immediately as he took a moment to understand what he was feeling. Again, no elevated levels of danger- just varying possibilities. Though he was disinclined to follow any more ‘compulsions’ from the force at the moment, he also wished to understand ‘more’ of what was going on Artemis Cradle, despite his earlier intention to utterly destroy it.

    If this man could provide some answers, then he would not prevent it.

    “Thank you for asking.” K’ir Tor said, speaking calmly once again.

    “No, I wouldn’t mind at all.” was his answer.


    Tag: @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2020
  2. Kurisan

    Kurisan Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Apr 26, 2016
    Tiona
    Southern Forest, Isle of Nobu Genesi

    Tiona smiled as Thallass caught up again. Looks like we’re travelling together, then, at least for a while. Tiona was fine with that situation, and welcomed the tough Duros’ implied aid if she encountered trouble. With potential enemies all around, four eyes were better than two.

    They penetrated deeper into the jungle, exchanging little conversation, senses alert for the inevitable dangers to which Prince Luce had alluded. It was not a time for banter.

    They came to a clearing, and seven beings with skin like midnight, sitting, meditating in a circle. Tiona was reminded of Sakiyans, and tensed at the similarity to the predatory species. But the Force whispered to her and she observed more carefully.

    The childlike being accosted them and pointed a blaster.

    "You should not have come here, outsiders," he said.

    Beside her, Tiona also felt Thallass tensing and reaching for his weapons. He seemed to have noticed something in the jungle around them that she could not see. She did not doubt his senses – the Duros’ spacefaring red eyes were perhaps better in the lowlight and fog – but, something was not entirely as it seemed here. Eyes can be fooled.

    Wait,” she whispered to Thallass. “Do not disturb them. There is a way, ahead. I can feel it.”

    She turned to the childlike one in the tree, feeling perhaps he was actually a leader, or an ancient, or a shaman. She kept her voice low and reverent, “Please forgive our blundering intrusion. We intend no harm to you or the forest. We wish only to pass in peace.”

    TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas @galactic-vagabond422
     
  3. Ktala

    Ktala Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 7, 2002
    Borek Tek
    Onboard the 'Rupert's Run', near the Remains of the Bordamazian


    Tek was ready for battle.

    Tek was ready for blood. Tek though he was ready for anything...

    He was NOT ready however, for a knock within his own ship! His eyes opened wide, ad then he scowled darkly. 'What in the nine va'decks!' Tek thought to himself. And he was definitely not ready to see a lavishly clothed being walking on the bottom of the destroyed ship...without helmet or spaceship out his window! Just casually strolling the underside of the other ship, as if it was a warm sunny day.

    Tek backed away from the window. An attack that somehow pulled or ripped a spaceship from hyperspace he could understand. But this....? Was this some sort of bizarre attack. Tek thought he might be boarded, but then...

    *BEEP!*

    Tek shrugged back into the wall, as he heard Zeek suddenly activate. There was some movement, and when Tek was fishing around inside his pouch to remove him, he heard a voice. And it was definitely NOT Zeeks!

    A deep baritone voice issued from Zeek that had Tek staring at the small droid as if it had suddenly sprouted tendrils.

    "Why don't you come on down here and join me, pal?" The voice intoned through Zeek's audiobox. Tek's head swiveled down towards the other areas of his ship. Down HERE? On MY ship? How did anything get aboard his vessel? The Force was strangely silent. A droid perhaps from the Cradle? But he had checked his systems when he got in. The security was intact. His frowned deepened. What could take over his security system, knock out the power, AND take out Zeek all in one shot?

    As Tek put his axes back and removed his helmet, the voice spoke again.

    "You're looking for a woman named Deya, right? Deep in the heart of Ascendancy space?"


    Well now, ff the voice didnt have Tek's undivided attention before, it did NOW. Tek drew a blaster, and then looked at the weapon. He considered it for a moment, and then slowly put the weapon back into its holster. Even when the Force was silent, it spoke volumes. The being had just mentioned something that only he himself had found out seconds ago. That denoted intelligence and ability. Tek thought about Deya. Tek didn't need to make another enemy. Not now. And if this being was willing to impart some information that would help him in his search, then he was willing to at least listen.

    Besides, poor Rupert didn't need any interior re-decoration. At least, none of the air venting types.

    With slow steps, Tek turned and walked down away from the console, down to the lower level and galley of his ship. If it helped him to get his Deya back, then so be it. No matter what the cost.




    TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2020
  4. greyjedi125

    greyjedi125 Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Apr 29, 2002
    IC: K'ir Tor
    Leaving Artemis Cradle

    Wordlessly, he returned the datapad to the Muun, yet his eyes never left the slender being. For the moment, K'ir Tor did not focus on the person he was about to meet, as he sensed no imminent danger regarding that encounter. However, his mind seemed to focus on a certain mystery. There was a fundamental reason why he had worn a mask when he was Stark. There were consequences to having the face he wore.

    Everything was interconnected, were actions and reactions rippled into infinity. There was no escaping this interplay, that much he already knew. Now that he was K'ir Tor, he was still accountable to the things he had done as 'Stark' and was by inheritance beholden to his template's actions.

    He could sense it quite clearly. The present moment offered a unique opportunity, one he realized he could not afford to let pass, given earlier tells.

    "Tell me about Abaddon and Starkiller."

    K'ir Tor asked simply and directly. His eyes never left the Muun, nor did his force sense.


    Tag: @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
  5. galactic-vagabond422

    galactic-vagabond422 Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 11, 2009
    IC: Thallass Falkirk
    Isle of Nobu Genesi

    Thallass waved his hand batting away a few flies that buzzed around the still rotting corpses on the beach. As he crossed into the jungle he gave a look over his shoulder to Croviche she was gathering her forces, what remained of them. The young explorer locked eyes with her, she wasn't the kind to kill you right away, though she was the kind to let others do the work for her. Why do the heavy lifting when you could get others to do it. It was underhanded but Thallass wasn't going to just sit there and do nothing. It wasn't in him to stay still, and much to Terrez's chagrin.

    Following Tiona into the lush green, almost impenetrable jungle he kept his eyes out for anything that could be a danger. One could almost smell the heat and humidity of the place. Thallass was already sweating, the cool sea breeze long behind them now, blocked by the thick vegetation.

    Coming to a clearing Thallass came to a stop seeing 7 darker skinned beings sitting in a circle meditating or something like it, he could hardly tell if they were breathing. A voice got his attention, a warning. Looking back out into the forest he saw red lights in the fog and darkness. His eyes were sharp, trained by the best in the business, and he had a lot of experience finding what didn't fit. The eyes that stared back at him were those of a beast, possibly a predator, a pack hunter if he had to guess by the numbers. There were more than just some beings sitting in a circle here.

    It shouldn't be that surprising after the warm welcome the sea had given them, that the jungles would play host to yet more dangerous beings. His hand was already resting on his blaster ready to draw down on the creatures should they decide to rush them. That was when Tiona whispered to him.

    “Wait,” she whispered to Thallass. “Do not disturb them. There is a way, ahead. I can feel it.”

    He arched his brow, Feeling a way out was a very Jedi thing, he hadn't interacted with many force sensitives in his time, but he knew about their 'Feelings'. The adventurer wasn't about to discount it. Though it did rasie the question of if his temporary ally was somehow connected to the energy of the universe.

    He let her talk to the boy that wasn't a boy, he kept his eyes out prepared for anything, though he did give a deep respectful nod of his head. There was an energy, a buzzing in the back of his mind, something was going on here and he knew better than to interrupt.

    "Lead the way." He whispered back to her before looking out into the darkness. "Keep your eyes out, we're being hunted."

    TAG: @Kurisan @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
  6. The Jedi in the Pumas

    The Jedi in the Pumas Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 23, 2018
    The Artemis Cradle, En Route to the 40th Floor Hangar

    Nuun Wan exited a program on his datapad as the speeder slowed, waiting its turn in traffic to ride the turbolift that would be sending them to the 40th floor. Understandably, there was a mass exodus occurring due to the Syndicate's newfound sovereignty.

    He looked at Myra and Mai'hun before he responded to K'ir Tor's request.

    "Abaddon is from the planet Geonosis. He was abandoned there as a child. Most would have died, even as adults, but he persevered. The original Galen Marek was sent to the planet on a scouting mission by Darth Vader. As one of his clones, you should have a great understanding of the power that Galen Marek wielded. How raw and unbridled, almost uncontrollable it was. He killed a very close friend of mine: Jedi Master Shaak Ti. A very powerful and resilient woman."

    There was a silent pause as Nuun Wan remembered her. He swallowed hard and shifted in his seat. His eyes did not move from K'ir Tor's face; a purposeful action meant to remind himself of how he was not there for Shaak Ti when she needed him.

    "Fortunately, despite Abaddon having left the planet by then, it was a chance encounter that he had gone back at the same time that Galen Marek was sent there and they met in ferocious combat. It is the closest to death that my superior has ever come and he has never told the story of how it ended. But...the battle brought two very different, yet very similar men together. Seeing you and knowing that you are not the same man bothered Abaddon, I assume. Before submerging himself into a life of crime, murder, and galactic games, Abaddon was simply a fighter looking for fights. A fighter born to survive. Galen Marek remains a memory of how I presume Abaddon would have preferred his life to be: Nasty, brutish, and short. Your presence was an opportunity for him to feel the close embrace of death. But...The First Prince's orders will be followed because he believes in her goals more than he acknowledges his own. Hence, why we are returning you to your ship."

    "It is interesting that you have garnered the attention of the Deva Group. They are the Protectors of the Artemis Cradle floors. I must say...We were fortunate that Deva Xcale wasn’t summoned to confront us when we launched our offensive."

    Tag: @greyjedi125
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2020
  7. greyjedi125

    greyjedi125 Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Apr 29, 2002
    IC: K'ir Tor
    Artemis Cradle, 40th Floor Hangar

    K'ir Tor listened intently to the Muun as he shared what knowledge he was willing to give regarding Abaddon and Starkiller. At least that was a start to understanding the mystery.

    "Thank you." Ki'r Tor offered simply, following with a nod. Within himself, he made a decision to go deep in meditation once the opportunity presented itself, and seek out answers from Galen Marek's memories, that is, if any such echoes still existed in his subconscious. He was uncertain if they did or did not, but he would find out.

    "I am not familiar with this...Deva Group, or whoever Deva Xcale might be." K'ir did not sense deception from the Muun, at least not so far.

    "What else can you tell me about them?"

    He'd held the gaze of the muun, but then glanced at Mai'hun who had studied details on the Cradle before their fateful journey. K'ir surmised that, having her interact with others would open her up, and help him determine if she was merely shaken, or if something more traumatic had occurred while they were separated.

    He certainly hoped for the former.

    Tag: @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
  8. Jedi_Ascension

    Jedi_Ascension Jedi Padawan star 1

    Registered:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Unknown

    He stood, having only recently risen, and watched the city awaken with an almost groggy sense of being. Unknown heard and saw the old zabrak woman come out and begin sweeping her porch, but paid her no mind as he just watched quietly. It felt like the whole place was still struggling to figure out what time period it was in. It was very interesting to see. Trande seemed a place that was akin to a mirror for himself. Many things and yet undecided on its collective whole.

    All these people, former slaves and such it would appear, all appeared happy. To have purpose and meaning, a sense of self. It must be such a grandiose thing! There was a slight tugging at the back of his mind, a sense of…loss perhaps? No, not in his current condition but something long ago. A part of that memory he lost, there had been another time of loss. Of what? Purpose? Material? He wasn’t sure. Had he been much like these people once were?

    Unknown remained just that about his own self. Unknown. He needed to know, absolutely and without question, needed to. He could do jobs, find what agreed to him now, but it would nag at him forever. Something he could not allow. If he could just establish if—

    Ow!

    He turned his helmeted head to face the woman who had suddenly begun beating on him for some reason. The man just stared at her for the time being, while thinking through his options. There weren’t many and they were the only things to ‘get on’ to. She attempted to strike him again. Honestly, he was going to let it land. With his armor, it wouldn’t really hurt. She was more annoyance than anything, but a kind man stopped it and inquired about his well being.

    “I am fine for now, but I will remember your offer, sir. Thank you.”

    He turned to look at the zabrak woman again. “Ma’am.”

    Moving to explore the settlement once more, he came to find himself standing before a poster that cried out for help from bandits. He looked down at himself. Armor and weapons. He had both. He had no idea who he was, but if he had to guess, he knew how to fight. Sometimes the body remembered things that the mind did not. Unknown wasn’t sure where he heard that, but perhaps a little memory that managed to leak through.

    “Bandits then,” he whispered. He immediately had an idea who he had to speak with. Looks like he was beginning to learn all ready.

    Tag: GM @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2020
  9. Master Vo

    Master Vo Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 19, 2017
    IG-66
    Approaching the Machine World of Crisis, in pursuit of Mirth Leech

    IG was unsure. For the first time in the history of his existence, he was completely unsure. Typically, he was able to calculate and get work done faster than any other organic being, thanks to his advanced hardware and lack of emotion.

    Now? He had both a weakness and a blessing. And he was unsure.

    A series of letter kept playing in his, well, mind. What was it? A name? Erase? He was unsure.

    He was so caught up in his thoughts that Mandrelo's interruption shocked him. An unnaturally long pause followed Mandrelo's question.

    "We will communicate with the fleet. There is something... wrong." IG replied, glancing down at his iron hands, before beginning to send a message to the fleet, requesting some sort of identification while giving his at the same time.

    @The Jedi in the Pumas @Sinrebirth
     
  10. The Jedi in the Pumas

    The Jedi in the Pumas Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 23, 2018
    The Artemis Cradle, The 40th Floor Hangar

    Nuun Wan followed K'ir Tor's gaze to Mai'hun. The woman had been reasonably well-cared for during her brief imprisonment. The fact that the grunts had left her with an alcoholic beverage indicated to Nuun Wan that there had been no hard feelings on her capture. He was smarter than that though and sensed, as K'ir would, that the woman was deeply bothered and angry at the ordeal and her drinking was an easy way for her to take her mind off of what had occurred; for the moment.

    "The Deva Group." Nuun began. "Are the protectors and governors of the Artemis Cradle. Some are former bounty hunters, Force wielders, exiled financiers, and powerful crime lords that have allied themselves with the Artemis Cradle and are granted permission to operate onboard the station in return for their loyalty. This loyalty is assured by implants placed in either their bodies or the body of a loved one that will turn them into...essentially controlled drones should they betray the Cradle."

    Myra shook her head. "So, their enslaved enforcers."

    "No...I would not call them that, Ms. Ukwai." Nuun corrected. "All of them willingly accepted the trade as the Unknown Regions is a treacherous part of the galaxy. We operate by different, sometimes more savage rules here. All of them weighed their options and chose their positions."

    Mai'hun watched, tucked in the corner of the seat in the speeder, and voiced her approval. "This is not unlike how some deals are made with the Royal Families of the Ascendancy. Lower class Chiss weigh their chances of survival against having limited freedoms or being in service to the Royals. It actually has helped many survive in our society."

    "Precisely, Mai'hun. Among the Deva Group, Deva Xcale is their de facto leader, though he never admits to this publicly. Most of the Cradle views the Devas as autonomous, equal leaders. Our intelligence network has determined, however, that not only do most of the Deva Group take commands from Xcale but that he is immensely influential and knowledgeable of galactic affairs. More than any one man should be. We have not yet discovered the source of his knowledge base. I impart on you, K'ir Tor, that Deva Xcale is an enigma and a very influential figure. He is not someone to be taken lightly."

    The speeder came to a stop and opened. The Tenasas sat 20 feet away and a man both hands on the head of his cane, the Deva Xcale, stood between them with a welcoming smile on his face. He was joined by a large, serpent creature. Mai'hun, Nuun Wan, Myra, nor K'ir Tor had ever seen this species before.

    [​IMG]
    This would have likely been the most noteworthy part had it not been for Nuun Wan immediately closing the speeder once K'ir Tor's group would exit the speeder. The speeder rose and left, in a mild, measured hurry. Xcale's mechanical eye turned wildly in its socket as he waited patiently at the foot of the ramp of the Tenasas. He was neutral. That's the best way to describe his presence. The aura of Xcale was one that felt as if the world bent to his will. He was a master of masters and not just of the Force. Even without the Force, Mai'hun and Myra could see it in how the man just...stood there. He was...suffocating to be around, with no actual intention of being so. The Deva Xcale was not here to harm them, K'ir would just...know. He was here because the Syndicate was going to be punished for their transgressions on his station and it was time to extend an olive branch to new friends.

    Tag: @greyjedi125
     
  11. darthbernael

    darthbernael EU Community Mod, Fuego, Pyrofuego! star 5 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Apr 15, 2019
    OOC: More Fun with Sloane and Sabel, with @The Jedi in the Pumas

    IC Lord Sabel and Grand Admiral Sloane
    En Route to the Fleet

    The screen flared to life and a palpably pleased Sloane appeared.

    "Is your cover with the Ascendancy intact?"

    One flare of red at her question was the first sign of a response, if she chose to read that as annoyance at her expression or tone so be it but truly it was that that feeling of an itch when he considered the pilot flying him back to the fleet was able to listen in to the conversation. His eyes flared again and the Force pulsed, forming a sphere around him and the holo console from which sound did not escape.

    A neutral expression returned to his face, as though he felt no remorse at the recent actions, which he truly had none of, greeted hers. ”That is a pertinent question, Sloane, and one that I am sure they will ask of me and your Remnant. But it is not the question I currently have for you, or the one that sent me.”

    He used his free hand to lift the damaged arm in its sling, into her view, ”Given the exacting timing of the attack by the Syndicate, and their knowledge of my dispersion of forces, tells me that either someone in your Remnant or the Ascendancy is a mole or that either you or Chord sold me out.”

    “The first test of where that betrayal has come from is when I speak to Chord and have him keep the Ascendancy’s written promise that any damage or destruction to my forces would be replaced.”
    a tiny, almost malicious grin crossed his face at that. He’d known that potential damage would happen with this deployment but the amount was due not only to the First Prince’s ability but the fact that he’d been betrayed.

    Sloane was distracted, her eyes looked down, out of view to something she may have found more immediate and compelling than the wounded Sabel’s musings. What was pulling her attention was actually good news. Excellent news even. But her stone face and lack of any clear emotion did not betray this fact. Her eyes drifted slowly back to Sabel and settled as she calmly exhaled.

    “If I understand you correctly, you believe that it was either the Empire or the Ascendancy that betrayed you. Ship positions, numbers, formations... You believe that I have the capability of knowing such things. But not only that, you believe that I would carelessly mishandle such pivotal information in the fight for the survival of the Empire.”

    Her expressionless face did not soften but there was a subtle change in her voice; possibly the disappearance of the stern overseer tone she had with all who were subordinate to the Empire.

    “I only seek the survival and the return of the Empire to Galactic Prominence. Your losses do not forward that goal. But this Chord... What would he have to gain from your downfall? Is he not at war with the Syndicate? Did he not launch an attack on them that heightened aggressions?”

    As Sloane was distracted, Sabel composed an encrypted message and sent it to Rear Admiral Weston, to have the man begin the process of recouping their losses from Chord. By the time she refocused upon him the message was drafted and sent.

    He nodded at her response. ”To be fair there were steps I could have taken differently but the overall goal was the destruction of the Syndicate forces. However much of a tactical genius the First Prince is, some of those losses would not have been possible without some information having been passed to them.”

    He considered whether or not to mention the message he had just sent but her small change meant that he too had to give a bit. ”The process of that repayment of forces has been set in motion so we shall see how Chord reacts. I recognize your point that a weakening to the Imperial position would be a detriment to us all, but given our various interactions the one reason I could see why, from your end was the removal of a piece that would demand equality of position, not subordination.”

    A wry smile crossed his face, ”As to the Chiss, a war is already begun and a larger conflict is coming; their borders are threatened. What is more useful than a subordinate that is also somewhat separate from the Ascendancy, who you can sacrifice to turn the attention of the Syndicate from the Chiss borders, at least for a time, by focusing them on that subordinate.”

    “Sabel, you are not my enemy nor are you someone I believe wants to rule the Empire. We are allies, albeit allies with different motivations and goals, but we are united in our loyalty to the Empire. This is why I negotiated and arranged your release from the Artemis Cradle. The Third Prince would not have stopped until he found you and destroyed you.”

    Sloane’s eyes did not blink. They focused with intensity, almost like a piercing scowl.

    “Chord sounds like he is as much a threat as this First Prince. None of my scouts into the Grysk Hegemony have returned. At first, I reasoned that this was due to the Grysk, but now I am realizing that the Syndicate Supreme and this First Prince likely hold dominion around the border of Grysk space.”

    “Do you think that Chord can be swayed to our side? And if not, can he be removed from the board? If he is the one that betrayed your forces, he will be watching how you respond and waiting for his chance to strike.”

    Sabel sat back against the seat cushions, eyes moving away from the pickup momentarily to gaze at the pilot, senses still on edge because of the man. Returning his gaze to Sloane he sighed, ”I am certain that there is soon to be an incursion from Grysk space, whether led by the Syndicate forces or supported by them. I gave the same warning to hord but he gave a lesser import to my words.”

    He thought about the data he had secured related to Thrawn, about all the research his fellow Chiss had done before his disappearance, and while he couldn’t give direct evidence his instincts told him the war was coming. ”I can broach the subject with Chord, but the sense I get from him, when reading him, is that he is fiercely loyal to the Ascendancy. As to the second option, hmmm, possible but could open a three front war if one could call the Syndicate and the Grysk as separate, given their differences in true ideals.”

    He chuckled darkly, ”Of course he’ll be watching my reaction whether it was he directly or not that betrayed me. But he will have little choice but to accede to my demands as I ensured that such would be done before I agreed and he cannot back out of such without losing face before the High Command, something that would sink his career.”

    Sloane looked again out of the frame. It was an infinitesimal twitch on her right cheekbone that vanished before normal eyes would notice. Sabel would notice. It was a twitch of concern on her otherwise unreadable face. She had not suspected that there would be more like Thrawn. Specifically, another Chiss that would be like Thrawn; highly tactical, capable, and held such power as to possibly have an Admiral of his own fleet attacked. These were mere assumptions for right now, but judging from the state of Sabel's fleet, there were well-founded assumptions. It was time to unveil more of her thinking to Sabel in hopes that this move towards transparency could save the Imperial Remnant itself.

    "I do not think we can survive a war on two fronts with both the Syndicate and the Ascendancy. In fact, I am certain of it. The progress we have made has been of the "one step forward, two steps back" variety. The Empire is without allies here and while the Ascendancy is a threat, it is one that, with your help, we may be better equipped to work with than the Syndicate's criminal elements. Perhaps...it is time we brokered an arrangement between the Empire and the Ascendancy. I have come into possession of a vital New Republic Asset. This Chord sounds like he is one who seeks to expand his intelligence network wherever he can. Once we have extracted as much information from the asset, I offer that we turn him over to the Ascendancy as well as possibly even allying some of our fleets with the Ascendancy to combat Syndicate aggression."

    Her mind was calculating. Weighing the costs and benefits of allying themselves, albeit temporarily with the Ascendancy. The Empire was on its last footing and it was her and Sabel's responsibility to stabilize.

    "What do you think? Does it make sense to extend this hand to the Ascendancy? They have only monitored us so far. No direct confrontations with us besides limiting our areas of exploration. Do you think Chord would accept?"

    Sabel caught the look on Sloane’s face but managed to keep any expression off of his, that he’d seen, as she turned back to the holo pickup. He listened carefully as she laid out some of her beliefs. He had to agree with many of them. The time truly had come for separate Remnants to at least ally with one another and possibly other polities. The offer of the New Republic asset would tempt Chord he knew that

    He let the silence drag out for a moment as he pondered the pros and cons of discussing that with Chord. His mind raced, following every thread of the logic train and whether any of the threads would lead to survival and the reemergence of the Empire. He finally gave a minute nod and looked back to Sloane.

    ”Chord is loyal to a fault to the Ascendancy. I will keep that information and what it could mean for such alliances to myself until I am certain that he is not the one that was responsible for the betrayal I suffered.” He recalled the last conversation he’d had with Chord before he headed to the Cradle.

    ”Should it prove he was not responsible, I will bring up what you just offered and I do believe, given his loyalty, he would discuss it with those at the highest levels which would lead to a possible alliance.”

    Sloane remained silent, not breaking Sabel’s gaze again for a long moment. She would have to leave it up to him. She had no place of firm standing in negotiating with the Chiss at this moment. The Imperial Remnant would have to hope that the Emperor’s secret Admiral and secret fleet could turn the tide for them.

    “Very well then, Sabel. What will you do-“

    The pilot was speaking to Lord Sabel even though he could not hear what he and Sloane were discussing.

    “Sir, I have received a high alert from Chief Sten. You are being recalled to Csilla. Under orders from the High Council.”

    Surely enough, Sabel would see on the panel in the back of the small transport that The pilot was correct. He had never been called back in this manner before, but the CDF emergency alert channel had been used. Something big was happening. Sten was placed on hold as she awaited orders on what she and the fleet should do. The pilot was waiting for orders.

    Sloane crossed her arms across her chest. “Keep me alerted to what is happening. If you need my help, you know how to contact my personal com channel. Good luck, Sabel.”

    The transmission buzzed out as more pressing concerns shifted to the forefront of Lord Sabel’s mind.

    Sabel’s mind was already turning over what the recall could mean but he nodded to Sloane, ”Skill alone doesn’t win battles so I will take that luck, Sloane. I will contact you when i know more. Sabel, Out.”

    Even before the holo display began to fade he turned to the pilot, ”Csilla it is, highest speed possible, pilot. Oh and you are staying with the ship when we arrive. If you step foot off of it I will have Csilla Defense Forces shoot you on sight.”

    TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
  12. The Jedi in the Pumas

    The Jedi in the Pumas Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 23, 2018
    And What Became of Mirth Leech: The Broker of the Syndicate Supreme?

    This was the moment of his conception.

    What was time? That he was able to witness this moment.

    It was nothing more than a tool.

    Had he still been able to touch the Force. To feel its embrace. He could have reached out to the template. Instead...

    He was here on the sand. On a distant island far from the Machine World of Crisis.

    And Mirth Leech was seated, upon the ancient railcar. In the same dark tunnel that Wapoe had come to an agreement with Uberemonde.

    Mirth Leech would not fare as well as Wapoe; merely losing just an arm. Nor did he intend to. The vision from the being...the being known as Minute had led him here. He could finally be at peace. But only in death. For there was no escape from the Syndicate. There was no escape from the First Prince. As long as he was alive, they would hunt him down and force them to do their bidding. To be their information broker.

    So he had arranged for Carl Bolith and his crew to take him deep into Grysk space. Following the vision he had received. To a planet he had never heard of. The planet Crisis. He passed the Huzon Fleet. He passed the being Wapoe. He had arrived on the surface and murdered Carl Bolith's crew. There was never going to be a trail that he had come here.

    Styx slowed the railcar to a halt. The curious android pointed in the direction of Uberemonde.

    [​IMG]

    The triangular outline carved into the tunnel wall. An arm extended and took the bag of information from Mirth. He knelt into a meditative position before the far advanced, alien artificial intelligence. "I have been led here. Hoping to give the compendium of my intelligence network. So that the life of misdeeds I have done can be forgiven and made right."

    It would cost his life. But the information he offered would serve to build the foundation for the future. The future that Wapoe sought to learn. The future of the Jedi Order. The future of what would become the First Order. And the outcome of the coming Ascendancy-Grysk war. The bag of datafiles vanished and Mirth Leech's life was absorbed and formatted. Processed and placed with the same information he brought in the bag.

    Yet, it would not be stored in Uberemonde. Not really.

    The mechanical armed pulled the bag into the alternating triangular portal. And...

    The treasure on Nobu Genesi would grow...

    -----
     
    Sinrebirth and darthbernael like this.
  13. Ktala

    Ktala Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 7, 2002
    Combine with our GM!! @};-

    Borek Tek
    Onboard the 'Rupert's Run'


    As Tek entered the galley, he would see an identical figure to the one he had seen walking on the underbelly of the destroyed Bordamazian. The Trickster Machine Sera kept knocking on the table he was seated at. Now that Tek was close he could see that Sera was clearly a droid of some kind. He was different because he was also clearly Force-sensitive and made no attempts to hide it. Zeek floated out of Tek's possession and towards Sera where he stopped and hung in suspended stasis.

    "You call him Zeek... I like him. He could use a few upgrades though."

    Tek slowly walked in, giving the man ..no being a nod. He had never heard of a Force-sensitive droid before. A fascinating thought. But what was more of interest in what and why he was here? Tek moved to the other side of the table. "Yeah. Me an Zeek have been together quite a while."

    Zek leaned against the wall. "I like my little buddy." Tek gave the strange droid a smile. "I'd like it more if you wouldn't mind telling me what are you doing here?

    Tek leaned against the wall.

    "And about Deya?"

    He added. This entire mystery seemed to get stranger and stranger. At this point, Tek was willing to listen to anything.

    Zeek began to make a low humming sound; his internal core was running high. It was processing... something. Sera looked at Tek and grinned.

    “My name is Sera. I am a member of a group called the Dark Tower. I am here because I’d like to tag along on your ship to the world of Csilla. I have a friend there that would be more than glad to help Deya out of her current predicament.”

    Sera’s eyes examined Tek and then looked around the galley. He nodded, satisfied, and a bit surprised.

    Tek began to worry a bit about Zeek when he heard the strange hum coming from him. He tried not to let on to the fact that the droid seemed to be messing with his companion. Instead, he kept his eyes on the droid.

    The Dark Tower? Another name that meant nothing to him, but Tek felt like it was important. Just like the fact that he was talking to a highly sentient droid. With the Force even. Tek walked over, and pulled out a bottle of Hassen...a strong drink, and took a seat. Sera. Sera wanted to go with him to Csillia. Tek's mind was wheeling almost in the same way that Zeek's was.

    Tek slowly poured himself a drink. "You wanna ride to Csilla? And willing to help with Deya?" Tek sniffed at the cup, as he sat back. "Well Sera, I don't want to be rude, but Im the kind that likes to get to the point of things," Tek stated. He then gave the droid a dark grin as Sera seemed to look him and the Rubert over.

    "So, is this bit gonna costs me? And if so, how much?" he asked, his hand lingering on the rim of his cup. This was almost too good to be sure. For this...this Sera to show up out of the blue, bearing gifts was almost too good to believe. "In my line of work, rarely have I ran into someone doing this,, just out of the goodness of their heart, so to speak." Tek tipped his head towards Sera.

    Sera chuckled. His face eerily... humanoid in its expression and mannerisms. Thousands of years of travel throughout the universe... Sera had learned from many organics what expressions meant even before he was able to truly find meaning in the emotions behind such expressions.

    Thousands of years but the machine has reinvented itself so many times that Tek would not outright sense the depth of this archaic presence. Not outright, but not exactly hidden either.

    Sera blinked and summoned a glass from the same cabinet that Tek had retrieved the Hassen. He poured himself a drink as Zeek beeped to life, seemingly back to normal. Zeek chirped angrily at Sera and flew back to Tek as the lights returned to the inside of the ship. The now upgraded Zeek was apparently connected to the functions of the ship and his processing power was higher than before.

    Zeek began rambling to Tek about Sera.

    He was... a powerful machine. Not a droid.

    This was all Zeek could get across before Sera chuckled aloud and said “Relax little buddy. Take it easy.”

    “Let’s talk turkey then, Tek. I’m not doing this out of goodness or charity. I am just curious as to what is going to happen when I meet my friend. I am also curious as to what will happen when you meet my friend. You don’t strike me as someone who is interested in all the dark alleys and secret wars of the galaxy. So... my true purpose on Csilla will not interest you.”

    He sipped the Hassen and smiled at Tek.
    -
    "Woah, partner...I know...I know..." Tek spoke gently to Zeek as he beeped at an accelerated rate, agitated. The lights suddenly popped on as well. At least that was something. Tek gently patted his pal, and pointed for him to settle down, while he spoke to Sera. Watching a machine drink was strange as well, but for some reason, not really unexpected. Tek downed the first glass and poured another after Sera poured himself a drink. He figured he was gonna need it.

    The Sera got down to business. It...no, HE. He was curious about what would happen when he met his friend? To Tek, that rang that he was not that much of a friend. And how he might react to Tek even more so. Tek raised an eyebrow, as Sera spoke of secret wars and dark alleys. And Sera was right. Tek was not interested. At least, not unless they effected him directly. Tek nodded his head slowly.

    "So, you just wantin' to hitch a ride to Csilla?" Tek looked over towards Zeek. "Well, you don't look like you done any harm to my buddy." Tek wasn't stupid. And he new an opportunity when he saw one. Besides, saying no could lead to more ugliness than necessary. The droid already knew about Deya, and where she was. If he was going to have company, he rather have them as a friend than an enemy. And a chance to learn something about a rather unique being..well, that didn't hurt none either. Either way, Tek knew that this was not going to be a smooth ride, once they got there.

    Tek picked up his glass and tipped it towards Sera. "Well then. I guess I got myself a riding partner to Csilla. Welcome aboard the Rupert's Run, Sera."

    Sera raised his glass in return and tipped his chin towards Tek.

    Zeek did quiet down, but quietly his chirping continued. He told Tek that he calculated that his internal processing speed had increased over 300%. Sera had done something-

    "Your little buddy there... I like him. And I normally don't like droids. As you can probably tell, I'm not from around here... Let me ask you something, Tek..."

    "You humans get lonely. It's pretty normal for organics. So... what's it like? Out here...Traveling the galaxy. Shooting and hunting people down...Why do it?"

    As Tek sipped on his drink, he listened to Zeek. He didn't display anything, but instead, he gestured for him to float over. Tek gently grasped Zeek and probed him slightly with the Force. At Sera's comment about Zeek, Tek gave a wry smile. He politely waited until Sera finished asking his question, and was surprised by it. But then he looked over at Zeek. Zeek had a personality. Zeek had moods and was curious. Why not a more advanced machine? Especially one that could access the Force. Tek looked back at Sera.

    "Well, to be truthful, traveling around the galaxy. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I must keep moving. Exploring. Growing. Honing my skills and abilities." Tek grinned. "You can access the Force. The energy. It gives me focus." Tek grew serious. "You know of Deya. I am never alone. She moves with me, even when she is not by my side." Tek took another sip. "She is the light to my darkness." Zeek gave a small sad bleep.

    "And why I hunt? Make no mistake. I do hunt. And Im good at it. But I hunt those who truly need to be caught. Those who caused much pain and death. Even more so to those who would slaughter innocents and weak." Tek laughed. "I might work in the dark, but that does not mean I must live there. I hunt because a very long time ago, another who hunted showed me the way. When the law failed to do its job, he succeeded. I can do more as I am, than as I was. So I hunt."

    Tek finished sipping his drink, and slowly put the cup down.

    "And what of you, Sera. I have never met such a unique individual such as you before. Even my buddy there seems impressed. I reckon you been around and seen a few things yerself."

    "Been around...

    Sera thought back to the previous versions of himself. The thousands of enemy versions of himself and the abandoned ones. Zeek reminded him of many of his earlier stages.

    “I have been around this quadrant of the universe dozens of times. Finding new civilizations and species every stop... here or there. Yours is the first to have this though.”

    His glass levitated in the air and Tek would feel Sera expand his presence in the Force and retract it back in the span of a few seconds. The presence was... cold, lifeless. Something Tek had never felt before. The Force was a living entity or force field to some, a religion, a seductive power, or an enlightened path. The common trait of all views of the Force was that it was lifelike. It was something that could be felt and reacted to. Sera’s presence was not that. It was... calculated. Like a mathematician has figured out...

    It was as it appeared to be if Tek thought about it. It was what one would expect to feel from a machine that had learned to navigate and utilize the Force. Cold and lifeless, yes; scientific and meticulous, pinpoint on the level of mastery.

    “It took a few centuries to get the hang of it, so I’ve stuck around. Plus... I met someone.” Sera flashed to the romantic comedies he viewed on the holonet. “Not in that way.” He joked. “No. I came across a being that was uniquely organic. Something I’ve never met before. My curiosity has kept me here. I work with him and try to help him, or her, achieve their goals. He or she would tell you that it is to preserve the Jedi’s legacy...But...”

    The machine took another sip of the liquor.

    “You probably know that we sometimes lose sight of our goals the longer it takes to achieve them.”

    Tek mulled over all the things that Sera told him. The fact that he actually learned to manipulate the energies around him to make a Force signature was rather fascinating. And terrifying. For someone who has always touched the Force, that what Tek felt from Sera was not the same. It was energy, but without the lifeforce that most force user used and manipulated. It was cold. Impersonal. It was like the droid had transcribed it into something he could understand and use. A few centuries! Tek could see that if you had that much time on your hands, you could pretty much master anything. Tek rolled the glass in his hands.

    But there was a curious tilt of the head when Sera talked about the uniquely organic being he had met. He worked with him, and try to help him, or HER, achieve their goals?

    "Him, or her?" Tek asked. Tek looked up. He then sighed deeply. "Is Deya anywhere near your friend?" he asked Sera. Tek then looked over towards Zeek. "You feelin' better now, bud?" he asked Zeek. "Better check on our coordinates," he asked him, before turning back towards Sera.

    "Oh, no doubt. And if Deya is not near them, they will be able to find them quite easily."

    Sera raised one metal finger.

    "Shall we leave those scavengers to their work and make our way to Csilla?"

    Tek looked at Sera, and then broke out into a grin. "Sure. We can do that." Tek would have liked to have known what had happened to the ship. But he wasn't sure that he was ready for that answer. So instead, he focused once more on the only one that he did care about. Deya.

    Tek pushed away from the table. "Zeek buddy!, Best course to Csillia. We'll once we get some distance from that ship, but soon as we get near their space, them cloaks go back up, ya hear!"

    With that, as Zeek moved forward, Tek moved towards the pilot's seat. His body complained a bit. He would need to meditate. But now, they were on a true path. A truly strange path. But as long as that path got him to Deya, he didn't care. He just hoped the Rupert's Run would be up for this journey. Too much was riding on it.

    "Settle yerself someplace Sera. Enjoy the ride." Tek growled as he sat in his seat, ready to leave this part of space far behind.




    Tag: @The Jedi in the Pumas
    OOC: Thanks for the ride...
     
  14. Jedi_padawan_leigh

    Jedi_padawan_leigh Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Feb 13, 2003
    IC: Dathisi Niroon
    Trande Medical Clinic

    Her sleep had been dreamless for the most part as Dathisi's body unconsciously focused on her healing, but soon, images started to appear in her mind. The dark silhouette of a person, face and other defining details shrouded in black. Then colours...bright colours in shades of red...then a feeling..a dark feeling caressing her mind through the force...but also a feeling of warmth? comfort? Peace? The power was dark, but strangely did not feel like it was inherently sinister or wielded with ill intent.

    What...what were these feelings? This power?

    She gasped and yellow-orange eyes sprung open, her gaze falling onto the giant of a man who stood above her at her bedside. She felt the force coming off him in waves, but the unmistakable taint of the dark side could be felt from the stranger. Her breath caught silently in her throat and she tensed up, her mind racing, momentarily taken aback by the mans appearance. His tall frame was clad all in red, his eyes were closed, and he had his arm outstretched, and her gaze darted to his hand. His hand was held above her injured torso, and she noticed the faint glow that surrounded his hand and extended outward to her bandages.

    It was then that she noticed the pain of her injuries were fading rapidly, and the bruising was clearing up at a rapid rate. She found she less was laboured in her breathing as the swelling and bruising to her neck started to subside, and she started to feel a lot more clear headed as the effects of the concussion started to fade away also.

    He was healing her? How? And Why? He was a wielder of the dark side, why was he here? Had A'sharad sent him? No... If that was the case, then why was he helping her?

    The mounting questions snapped her out of her confused waking stupor and she suddenly shifted and grabbed the mans arm with her hand, her body language defensive and her demeanor understandably wary as she eyed the red clad man.

    "Stop. Wait! Who...Who are you? What..what are you doing?"

    TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
  15. greyjedi125

    greyjedi125 Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Apr 29, 2002
    K’ir Tor
    Artemis Cradle, 40th Floor Hangar

    He slowly nodded in understanding. Much was being revealed in this leg of their journey as pieces slowly began to click together.

    The conversation between the Muun, Myra and Mai’hun helped to shed a bit of light on both the Deva Group and Deva Xcale. By now K’ir Tor came to understand that the Muun did not issue unsubstantiated ‘warnings’ when it came to Force Users, just as K’ir Tor himself was beginning to learn that Force Users in the Unknown Regions were diametrically stronger than those encountered in more ‘civilized’ parts of the galaxy, simply by natural necessity. Primarch and the Syndicate Princes were clear examples of that.

    The irony of it all did not escape his awareness. Indeed, The Force operated in very mysterious ways.

    K’ir hardly got a chance to thank the Muun as he departed the scene with undue rapidity after K’ir and Crew exited the speeder. Perhaps another time then, Force willing.

    Before proceeding further, K’ir Tor took note that both Mai’hun and Myra were more or less feeling 'balanced', despite their recent ordeal. In all honesty, he also had to wonder if he himself was ‘balanced’ after his close call with the Dark Abyss.

    Thankfully, K'ir sensed no malice from Deva Xcale nor the strange serpentine alien standing next to the enigmatic visitor. K’ir was having no luck pinning down their Force leanings, except to know that they too where exceedingly capable in the Force, but at least they posed no threat at the moment.

    K’ir took a centering breath and allowed himself to be formless, emptying himself of pre-conceptions or expectations. Deva Xcale was a Master of Artemis Cradle and was suffused in his element. He was the last hurdle the team had to contend with in order to reach the Tenasas: The Last Gate to Freedom.

    Deva Xcale….” K’ir would say in an honest and amiable manner, nodding respectfully.

    “I am K’ir Tor, and this is my crew; Myra and Mai’hun. I understand you wished to speak with us?”



    Tag: @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
  16. Kalio_Dynkos

    Kalio_Dynkos Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    May 17, 2004
    Fouche
    Shipping Container, 75th Floor, Artemis Cradle


    “Well, I kriffing didn’t see that coming,” Fouche grumbled to himself.

    There wasn’t anyone else around to hear him unless mob bosses tended to stuff multiple bodies in shipping containers mid-interrogation during an imminent attack on a massive space station. Still, Fouche arched his neck in the darkness to see if anyone responded. No growls. No rumbling stomachs or chains brushing across the ground. That was at least something. Who needed another Cato Nemoidia incident? That was just awful.

    Fouche peered into the darkness, hoping his eyesight would adjust. Nothing but black. Even his cortical implant wasn’t engaging. He blinked hard trying to restart it, but the pain that shot from the entirety of what Fouche used to call his face let him know that wasn’t a good idea. In fact, his “face” felt like one solid lump of flesh. He was sure he felt his right cheek presently holding a nostril closed. And as much as he would have liked to call that a “blink”, he realized he was seeing black because both of his eyes were swollen shut.

    It was then he felt the pulsing of his own heartbeat through the lump he used to call a face, a throbbing rhythm with a hint of reverb that simultaneously was both numb and aching.

    He tasted the salt of blood in his mouth. If he thought his cheeks could take it, he’d spit it out. Instead, he just parted his lips and let it fall into his lap.

    What had happened anyway? The last thing he remembered with clarity was the Zoltron woman’s “uncle” Panda placing a gun to his head from behind.

    “Tell me why I shouldn’t ruin my new shoes with your brain matter,” he’d said cooly.

    The smart thing in a situation where a dear ol’ Uncle caught you with his beautiful young “niece” - her covered in blood and you wearing the rest of it - was to be cordial, even apologetic. But that wasn’t Fouche’s way - not when a day had been as pfazzting bad as this one.

    “Something as ugly as those, it’d been an improvement,” he said, turning to try looking behind him. “I mean seriously, a whole beautiful station out here and you don’t have a decent cobbler?”

    And, well that was the wrong thing to say to a dear old Uncle Mobster. Fouche remembered that now as he tried to slowly rest his head against the wall of the shipping container he’d been tossed into. He felt a string of blood mixed with spit remain, connecting his bottom lip to the small puddle on the floor, but whatever.

    What happened after that moment of pure clarity was anyone’s guess. Presumably, Panda’s goons took turns showing him how wrong he was about the boss’ shoes. And then, more hells broke loose - which made Fouche wonder if those stories of multiple hells were true. Certainly had been today. Escaping a ship to arrive on the Artemis Cradle, then the Battle Royale that the Opera House descended into, followed by the body count in the fray outside the Opera House, that Bounty Hunter with the cool hat, and then this. He recalled someone saying something about the attack, was tossed in here, and that was the last thing he remembered.

    Really should have seen this coming…, he thought.

    Fouche had always had a problem with vision. A skilled ISB agent, grifter, con-man…sure. But he’d lacked the ability to go beyond reading a room; to see the end-game. In truth, he preferred it that way. Better to live life by the seat of your pants than following someone else’s idea of success. But, sometimes, you just need to have the ability to see what was coming.

    Which was ironic, because Fouche wasn’t sure that even if he got out of here, what ability at sight he might have left.

    “What happens next,” he asked nobody.

    Hanging his head between his knees, he resigned himself to the throbbing.

    “Guess, we’ll just have to see,” he said.



    TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2020
  17. The Jedi in the Pumas

    The Jedi in the Pumas Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 23, 2018
    Episode 6 Conclusion: Part II

    Nobu Genesi, Chuuvanti

    The treasure hunt had begun! Led by the Prince of one of the most prestigious Royal Family, Luce Olio, Whisper, Tiona, and Thallass now found themselves on the Island of Nobu Genesi. The Eastern side of the island, with its rolling grass flatlands, was the spot where a curious scene unfolded before Whisper's eyes. He, Pols, and Luce rode into a small encampment. It looked like a very small military outpost. Barricades had to be opened for them to enter. There as a watchtower in the center of the camp with a sniper perched there and a few vehicles and tents around. No uniforms, so these people were not obviously part of the Ascendancy. But the expedition here was more of what Whisper would have expected from a well funded treasure hunt. The technology was advanced and organized. Luce led Whisper into the main tent and explained to him a few surprising truths of Nobu Genesi.

    -The Starmap was at the center of the island, but it was only half of the map. Luce already was in possession of the other half.
    -The Natives and the Flora of the Island were guarding the treasure.
    -There was an advanced forcefield surrounding the volcano.


    The other half of the starmap was hidden somewhere only Luce could find it. He trusted no other soul with it's security. For now, they would wait as the many beeps on the large display on moved around a topographic map of the island. The beeps were the other participants. Across the map, some of them began to disappear. It would appear that the island was laying out the welcome mat for the others.

    Outside the small encampment, a black skinned native poked its head up from the ground. Chirp...chirp...chirp. A pure white skinned native poked its head up from the ground. More chirps...More...And more...Soon, hidden just out of sight in the grass, dozens of natives quietly chirped to each other as they observed the encampment. And nobody in the encampment was any the wiser to their presence.

    ------
    "You...Sing with Mother's Song." The child perched in the tree said. "She will not harm you. But they" he gestured with the blaster towards the rustling behind the treeline; the beings that Thallass could see but Tiona couldn't. "They will not care. Mother's Song should protect you. Even though you will try to steal from her."

    He lowered the blaster, seemingly allowing them to pass as long as they did not disturb the circle. A gust of wind would rush out from the treeline. Thallass would see that a grin from one of the monsters in the treeline...

    [​IMG]

    and one of the black skinned humanoids would fall over; white blood leaking from fresh claw marks raked across his back. A vine from the trees swung and batted the smiling creature away. But Thallass could see more in the tree line and Tiona would feel, from the vine that moved, a sense of purpose. The vine had not moved on its own. Compassion flowed from it towards the black skinned humanoids. A sense of conscious movement from the jungle? It wanted to protect them. It was the only thing that could protect them from the creatures in the line. The path forward...it was safe, but that safety was tenuous. Uncertain. Unreliable. Yet it was the only way for them to go.
    ------

    Trande Settlement, Vas Nihollia

    Muul welcomed the small assembled group of citizens, and outsiders in the case of the Unnamed Man and Mara Jade, outside the constabulary. He was happy that some of the flyers on the outskirts had brought some of the rougher refugees. They would need them.

    "Alright, listen here all of ya. My name is Constable Muul, ya might hear some of the citizens here call me Councilman Muul, but that don't mean nothin." He put his hands on his hips. "As you probably read on the flyers, we got bandits. Now Trande has always had bandits, but since we started expandin they've gotten pissed off. More aggressive. Started kidnappin some of the farmers and their children, destroying outhouses, burning down crops. We can't have that. So..."

    As Muul continued on, the assistant(a term she despised) to Dice the Heartbreaker, bumped into Unknown. She was small. Maybe just reaching his shoulder on her tiptoes. Her tattoos, or her midsection. The hood that his her face hid her roaming, searching eyes until they landed on Mara Jade. She stood beside Unknown, using his body as a thin piece of cover. She knew that Mara Jade was a Force user and did not hide her presence in the Force. It gave the small assailant a bit of edge and pleasure to know that her target knew that she was there. Unknown would feel her hand press against his front chestplate and he would be assaulted by...a strong suggestion.

    Follow the red head. Kill the red head.

    Would Unknown be able to resist the seductive temptation to follow the thought burrowing into his skull?

    Muul continued.

    "Now I don't want you all to go out there guns a blazin and hitting civilians. But when you find the bandits, they ain't gonna be aimin to play fair or make sure you get back to your families. They will be aimin to kill. We done tracked the bandit to three camps to the north and one to the west. This is where we believe they are operating out of. I recommend you all stock up on supplies and maybe pay a visit to the Clinic to make sure you're in working, ready order. This hunting party wont be coming back for a few days. See you all back here when we're ready to ride out."

    Mara Jade's arm throbbed. It was still not healed. Maybe a trip to the clinic wouldn't be such a bad idea. Neither would stopping at some of the weapons supply stores as well for food and water. The Force would alert her of the assailant's presence. Another Force user? With horrible intentions? Yet...there was no outright attack. How would Mara Jade handle this new situation? And where had this assailant, so fixated on her, come from?

    ------
    Dathisi's body trembled. The room spun. She felt intense nausea.

    It was not Dice's doing.

    It was not Dathisi's doing.

    No, it was the Force itself giving her insight into the creation of the individual before her. It was darkness, death, and destruction. Hundreds dead by his hands. From the Core Worlds to the Outer Rim. Wild Space to the Unknown Regions. Men, women, children; No one was spared. He was a being of no fear from the bowels of the Galaxy. His mere existence was corruption of everything pure and his survival of everything was as certain as the death of a star.

    DICE.

    Yet, on his face, behind the glasses and warm smile, there was nothing but warmth. Not one strand connecting the man in front of her to the fiend that lied within.

    "Allow me to heal you, my dear. I will do anything for you." Dice did not seem to notice the trip that the Force had sent Dathisi on. He did not heed her insistence that he stop healing her. In fact, before she knew it, she was completely healed. She would note that his healing ability was on the same level of her former master and the top Jedi Medics of the Clone Wars.

    "Will you (SERVE entered her mind)...come (with me forever)...to the market?" He asked. His presence enveloped her. Tempting her. It would try her will. Her dedication.

    Who was Andren Kett? Who was Mirri? She wanted to be with Dice...Yes...She would go to the market...She wanted to...be his forever...

    He placed his hand over Dathisi's hand that grasped his arm.

    Soon she would be.

    ------
    Grysk Space...Ship

    Wapoe. Could sense Vega. She was back to work for the Dark Tower. She was near the border of Grysk Space. Investigating a battle that had taken place. More like a massacre. He could see her walking along the abandoned frame of a destroyed craft. Would he be called to her? Would she know where Sera was?

    His vision was blurry. Not in the present, but the future. He knew the script before but now things were changing. The First Order...He knew that it would come. But something had changed after his deal to release the Huzon Fleet. The future had been shifted and now the uncertainty that he had felt on Crisis was exacerbated. How curious. The continuity was changing and his presence in it was now inextricably connected to Sera and Vega. These were things the Force had given him. The rest he would have to earn.

    "He's on his way to Csilla, the Chiss homeworld." Vega said through their connection. The woman was young, but she was no fool. Wapoe sensing her and reaching out....she had noticed and decided to do the same. "He is not afraid of you finding him. He welcomes it. He knows of what you seek and is sure that you are not capable of attaining it. Much less, retrieving it from him...Good luck, Wapoe. I hope you'll join us after you find what you seek."

    ----
    Wapoe. That was his name. The progenitor of the Outrider.

    Well...one of them.

    Could he call him father? Grandfather?

    What was time?

    A tool.

    So...it mattered little what he called him in the end. He watched the couple fall in love. Knowing the destiny of the offspring.

    He got up from the table on the Artemis Cradle. It was time for him to find Wapoe. It was time for him to die.

    ------

    Artemis Cradle, 40th Floor Hangar

    The Deva Xcale tapped his cane on the floor and returned K'ir Tor's greeting with a nod.

    "Yes, yes...K'ir Tor. Mai'hun. Myra Ukwai. It is nice to meet all of you. I want to apologize on behalf of the Artemis Cradle for the misfortune to have befallen your stay here. I...Will not waste anymore of your time. Mr. Tor... I believe we have a common enemy: The Syndicate Supreme. They have violated sacred trust of the Artemis Cradle and I have agreed to not retaliate against them within the confines of the station. This will change, in time, I am sure. And I will deal with that pesky Third Prince Abaddon myself when the time comes. The First Prince is now in possession of a world destroyer weapon and I believe she aims to use it to start quite the conflict with the Chiss Ascendancy. I believe your friend, Chord, would appreciate you bringing this knowledge to him. What's more...I know where her First Mate, Underboss Dice, is. I would like for you to kill him."

    So nonchalant. It was as if they were discussing the weather. Was it all just business? Like Prince Abaddon indicated earlier? Was K'ir Tor in the business of killing people now? A hired killer? Or was this what it meant to want to bring down the Syndicate? The Princes that remained were now more committed than ever to destroying all in their path. Chiss, Empire, Women, children, innocents. All of the above have been killed and laid out in front of K'ir Tor's eyes in the last 24 hours. The bodies that spewed out of the First Prince's capital ship...The floors of dead people that Abaddon had led his insurgency on. Maybe Deva Xcale was more accustomed to dealing with monsters of the Unknown Regions. Maybe that's why it was as simple as discussing the weather with a stranger.

    There were the monsters of the Unknown Regions and Chord was leading the charge against them to maintain order. Would K'ir Tor keep his promise?

    ------

    Artemis Cradle, 75th Floor

    "Geez, you look like butt and ugly got together and had a baby."

    Fouche would hear the sound of Desi's voice as the container opened. She came and knelt beside him. Without warning she sprayed him in the face with bacta spray and placed a sandwich in his lap. He could not see well, as outside the container was still very dark (and smelled quite horrible). There were men breathing heavily at the door.

    "I heard you insulted Uncle Panda's shoes. I'm surprised he didn't lose one of them in your ass. Let's go, Rik." She pulled him to his feet and led him outside the container. The bodyguards watched carefully, ready to crush Fouche's skull should he do something suspicious. She led him through the slums which contained the shipping container and many more like it. How many of those shipping containers were filled by Desi's crime family's enemies?

    The answer was a lot. Fouche should consider himself lucky that he had saved the one person in the family that was not interested in chopping his body up into little pieces.

    Desi led him to a speeder and after a short ride, they arrived at a small shack beside a gross, polluted body of black liquid. Inside was a bath, a bed, new clothes, and a desk. Desi led Fouche to the door and leaned in close to him. "This is the best I could do on short notice. Uncle Panda wants to talk to you after you clean yourself up. Then, if he doesn't kill you, we should go get some food and figure out our next job. You owe me one, Rik." She turned and left him to his lonesome. Kind of. There enforcers remained outside after she left. He would have a few hours to himself before Panda Volar Lars would call for him. This was not the first time he had gotten his face bashed in. Nor was it the first time he found himself in such a disadvantageous position. Fouche would be alright...Well maybe.

    ------

    Csilla

    Borek Tek probably couldn't have expected that a landing pad would be waiting for them. He could not have expected for their to be a small welcoming committee and a handsome Chiss male waiting for them inside a small dining room. Nor the nonchalant attitude with which he greeted the Trickster Machine Sera. They greeted each other because they knew each other.

    Sarc'hor'diven's face was not amused at Sera's latest joke and maintained complete composure. His attention turned to Borek Tek's injuries. "You should rest and take a moment to yourself. Sera has informed me that you are searching for a female companion named Deya. I will see what information I can gather and we will resume this discussion later. I must excuse myself. I am expecting another visitor."

    The way Chord said Deya's name. The way he said he would gather information. Borek would not be able to tell the Chiss was lying for sure, but he would know that Chord knew more about the situation than he was letting on. But he was seemingly willing to help. Unlike with Sera, though, Borek Tek could guess that it would come at some sort of price. What was Sera getting from all of this? Speaking of the machine, he was in a different form.

    [​IMG]

    "I think you should go now." Gentleman Sera said in a far different voice, much more polite, and no Force presence at all. It was completely gone. Chord did not seem to notice the change and Borek would wonder when Sera had transformed. Borek was led out of the room to a room containing a bed and a bacta tank.

    And a few minutes later, a transport would land on a different landing pad across the compound. Admiral Sabel would step off. The journey had only been a a few hours. Half of that was getting clearance to go to this part of Csilla he could not pinpoint and would never be able to locate. The transport's systems had been scrambled and something was disorienting the Admiral's sense of direction. The fight and head trauma from the Third Prince? He could not be sure. As the transport was towed to the compound and he disembarked, the pilot stayed put...remembering the threat of death from the Admiral. Chord and his Gentleman Droid awaited the Admiral in a different room than the one that Borek Tek saw. The droid...something was different about it; It was of a much different design than Sabel had ever seen.

    That was not the object of note though.

    Chord sat across from the door that Sabel entered. Three members of Sabel's fleet were tied up in front of him. On their knees, blindfolded. It was a credit to his discipline and training that none of them seemed broken or nervous. It did not change their current situation.

    "One of these soldiers informed me of your fleets' locations during the skirmish above the Artemis Cradle. What do you think should be done here, Admiral Tuasolr?"
    ------
    @greyjedi125 @Jedi_padawan_leigh @Ktala @darthbernael @Kurisan @galactic-vagabond422 @Reynar_Tedros @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha,@Sinrebirth, @Jedi_Ascension @Kalio_Dynkos
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 1, 2020
  18. Sinrebirth

    Sinrebirth Mod-Emperor of the EUC, Lit, RPF and SWC star 10 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Nov 15, 2004
    IC: Wapoe
    On his way

    As Ship guided him, and he received his update from Vega, the man currently named Wapoe sighed a little.

    He didn't have as strong an understanding of what he was pursuing him, but he wasn't happy about being played. Or, well, his arm. It hadn't paid off as he'd expected, but he was free. Free to hunt down Sera and see what he intended to do as redress. Because Wapoe was vexed, and he'd erased whole communities for less personal reasons.

    For a long moment, he drew breath, remembering all he had watched, and all he had seen.

    He remembered dying, for sure, and then as his descendant stood up to the Ultimate Evil, and died for it, he concluded that it was not fair. There had been a Twilight War when he was younger, that had cost him everything.

    So.

    He decided that he had no inclination towards death.

    But, he knew that he couldn't change things without the 'gods' of the Force knowing, not even if he accessed the World Between Worlds; the Light, as he so dryly and sarcastically called it. So, first things first, they had to die. Then, the rival Gods - the Old Ones - could just kill everything and everyone.

    Revenge complete.

    To do that, he needed to see what was going to happen, and make sure it did.

    The problem with ones eye, was that it rarely saw everything.

    Your perspective was always limited, be it by the angle of sight, by the corner off to the side, or by the necessity of something or other.

    But, you couldn't understand what you heard, only what you could see, right?

    It was all fine and dandy separating part of yourself and watching what happened from afar. Indeed, if you put that part of you, say, in an object, one which periodically passed from one person to another, and bonded with their ability to see, you could conceivably see quite a fair bit. if you handed it to someone you had painstakingly chosen to push the narrative envelope and cause the said death of the Celestials, you'd get a perfect vision of the key moments, sure.

    Say, you placed your ethereal eye in a lightsaber, for example, that ended up in the hands of Darth Sidious.

    Brilliant.

    You'd get to see all of his cunning plans, and schemes, and it'd be great.

    Right until the point that body took a great fall down a Death Star reactor, and exploded. Sure, the lightsaber might have survived, but you've severed your bond with the guy and need to find a new host. That was the trickier part, because by then, you've likely spent some of your trustworthiness points and its a bit harder to hand out destinies slyly.

    So off his eye was, watching on a faraway world - one which would, over time, if it hadn't already, become capital of the New Republic, right until a weapon from the Unknown Regions incinerated it in, oh, twenty-odd years.

    Which is why Wapoe was in the Unknown Regions, avoiding sight of those who knew of him, by the name 'Wapoe', or perhaps, the Master of Masters, or even the Jester, or the Foreteller, or all manner of other names and silliness.

    But now he'd been diverted off course, and it was time for someone to pay.

    For only the second or third time in his long, long, life, in his sin, reborn and rebirth, he was mad.

    TAG: No-one, @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
  19. Jedi_padawan_leigh

    Jedi_padawan_leigh Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Feb 13, 2003
    IC: Dathisi Niroon
    Trande Medical Clinic

    Dathisi's body trembled

    The room Spun

    A feeling of nausea swept through her so suddenly it was a miracle she didn't lose her stomach right then and there.

    The force.

    As her hand made contact with the strangers arm, The force gave her insight into the creation of the individual before her. It was darkness, death, and destruction. Hundreds dead by his hands. From the Core Worlds to the Outer Rim. Wild Space to the Unknown Regions. Men, women, children; No one was spared. He was a being of no fear from the bowels of the Galaxy. His mere existence was corruption of everything pure and his survival of everything was as certain as the death of a star.

    DICE

    Yet nothing about him outwardly betrayed the monster that was hidden within. Behind the glasses and gentle smile, there was nothing but warmth.

    "Allow me to heal you, my dear. I will do anything for you." He purred, ignoring her insistence that he stop. Before Dathisi knew, she was completely healed, any semblance of pain or swelling or bruising left by her confrontation with A'sharad faded away into nothing. Dathisi didn't understand...How could someone so consumed with evil even perform the act of force healing, never mind appearing to be as skilled as some of the top Jedi Medics of the Clone Wars. The lives he had taken and destroyed, the scale of his carnage. It was horrifying!

    "No, your a monster y--"

    In that moment of unguarded shock, it gave Dice the perfect opportunity to enact his will. His presence enveloped her completely, her mind caressed and filled with Dices strange power. Dark power, but why did it feel so comforting...so warm and...safe..

    No...No...this wasn't right...it...

    He spoke to her, but not just with his voice. She heard him deep in her mind, dragging her deeper under his control..

    "Will you

    (SERVE) echoed in her mind

    ...come

    (with me forever) he commanded

    ...to the market?"

    "No I..." she trailed off, a look of confusion forming on her face. She tried in vain to resist the increasing powerful pull on her mind. Images and names flickered in her head, but faded almost immediately.

    And..ren... M..Mirri... Those names...she knew those names didn't, the she?

    Who...who were they?...

    DICE

    The power of Dice continued to flow through her, the Cathar feeling the warmth that hid his darkness throughout her whole body, overwhelming her will to fight his control

    ...So warm...

    ...So safe...

    (You are mine)

    No... there was no-one else. There was...Dice

    ....Only Dice...

    Yes...She would go to the market...She wanted to...be his forever...

    (SERVE ME!!)

    A final mental command boomed in her mind and Dathisi gasped as dark spots and faint swirls filled her vision, before they quickly dissipated. In the silence of the clinic room, She let out a shaky breath, before slowly looking up at Dice. Her yellow-orange feline eyes would seem slightly "duller" now to an observer, as if there were less light within them. She looked at his face, her confused expression gave way to a look of relieved recognition as he laid his hand over her own.

    "I...want to come with you"

    TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
  20. WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

    WarmNyota_SweetAyesha Chosen One star 8

    Registered:
    Aug 31, 2004
    Mara left the briefing and headed to stock up on supplies: food that would not only be energizing but tasteful hopefully; spare blaster charge packs; you could never have too many of those; and portable medkit full of general purpose items to treat accidental injuries that might befall one in the almost moddle of nowhere. She felt a prodding nebulous sense of danger, which conversely seemed to be focused on her personally. There was nothing familiar about it, per se, but Mara became vigilant, as she headed toward the clinic. It wouldn't hurt to have a checkup. Her arm still bothered her, although it didn't hinder her actions.
     
  21. Kurisan

    Kurisan Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Apr 26, 2016
    Tiona
    The jungle of Nobu Genesi

    Tiona bowed with reverence to the childman, hiding her discomfort at the comment she was here to steal from the Mother. That was not her intention… and now she wondered at what she may truly find at the end of this quest. What was Prince Luce Olio really after?

    She processed the words of warning, and the hints coming to her through the ripples in the Force, and the deadly threats also.

    She looked to Thallass. It was the moment of truth. Until now, they had been just acquaintances with an informal understanding not to attack one another. She had only flirted with him, and the idea they could work as partners.

    She regarded his trademark leather jacket, the tough visage, determined red eyes. Yes, he is a mercenary, but we all have to earn a living. She just happened to be fortunate in her lineage, and should not be judgmental. At one time, she was a slave – considered the lowest of society. Would he have helped her then, when she was desperate? She decided he would. She decided she could trust him.

    She took his hand in hers and looked him in those deep red eyes. This was no time for her usual demure insouciance.

    “Thallass, I do not know if you believe in the Force, but these people are telling us something that I feel to be true. The Mother is the forest – it is sentient! Will you follow me, through the path ahead? I fear whatever is beyond the circle will harm both of us, otherwise. Will you trust me now?”

    If Thallass agrees, she would lead him by the hand towards the path shown to her by the Force, pacing carefully not to disturb the sitting beings, her other hand hovering above her sheathed energy blade.

    If he decides otherwise, she would wait and hear his explanation.

    TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas @galactic-vagabond422
     
  22. galactic-vagabond422

    galactic-vagabond422 Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 11, 2009
    IC: Thallass Falkirk
    Isle of Nobu Genesi

    As the Child yet not, spoke Thallass never let his gaze waver from the tree line, never losing sight of the eyes staring at him and his ally. He was still listening, being able to multitask was a must in this line of work. He'd been to a lot of strange places, seen a lot of strange things, though he was still piecing together the words said to them. Singing the Mother's song, stealing from the Mother. Clearly there was something more going on here. This island was more than just a rock out in the ocean. The adventurer watched almost in calm fascination as an ethereal smile glowed to him out of the darkness. In a flash one of the meditating beings fell to the ground, white blood running down their back. Thallass's hand was on this blaster but a vine seemed to bat the creature away.

    There was something more going on here.

    Feeling a hand wrap around his he turned to his current traveling companion. Her eyes looked deeply into his. This wasn't a game anymore, not to her, there was no more coy insinuations. While Thallass wasn't the best with other beings he could see she was being forthright and honest with him.

    One good turn deserves another.

    "I may not fully understand what is going on, but I think we can help each other." He gripped her hand gently comfortingly. "The forest, the Mother, likes you, now that could be because of the Force, or something else. And for some reason, not sure yet, I can see the monsters hunting us." He smiled at her, a slight smirk that pulled at the corner of his mouth. "I can see which way the wind is blowing. You haven't tried to kill me yet, even though I'm sure you've had some opportunities to. While the past is not always prolog, I'm willing to trust you, if you're willing to trust me to watch our backs."

    He never let go of her hand. Fate had pushed them together, while normally he wouldn't be putting so much trust into someone he just met, it wasn't as if he had much choice. Her feeling a path would be better than him blindly blundering his way, and him seeing the monsters would be better than her never knowing where her death came from.

    The question still remained, what would they do once they found what they were looking for? What has her goal, and could it align with his? Those were questions for a later time. Right now they were better together than apart.

    "Lead the way."

    TAG: @Kurisan @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
  23. Ktala

    Ktala Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 7, 2002
    Borek Tek
    Somewhere on Csillia

    Tek took Zeek and quickly tucked him inside of his pouch when they landed in a place Sera had told him to land. Nothing of this felt right to Tek. The fact that they were not even challenged, when the ship had entered their space worried Tek some. Even more, when he found out that there was a landing pad waiting for them. Tek looked over towards his 'guest', but Sera was not giving away any clues at the moment.

    Tek had his guns on him and was almost not surprised to see that there was some sort of welcoming committee. After securing his ship, Tek followed along, and they were led to a room. A Chiss male waiting for them inside a small dining room. Nor the nonchalant attitude with which he greeted the Trickster Machine Sera. They greeted each other because they knew each other. The look on the man's face looked like he was a bit more than annoyed.

    Sarc'hor'diven's face was not amused at Sera's latest joke and maintained complete composure. His attention turned to Borek Tek's injuries. "You should rest and take a moment to yourself. Sera has informed me that you are searching for a female companion named Deya. I will see what information I can gather and we will resume this discussion later. I must excuse myself. I am expecting another visitor."

    When had THAT discussion taken place?, thought Tek. The way the man had mentioned Deya, and that they would talk later, made Tek think that things were not all as they seemed. A set-up perhaps? Was it going to cost him? Most likely. No. Make that definitely.

    Tek turned to ask Sera a question when he noted that the machine had totally changed his shape. When had he managed to do that? Tek refrained from scowling, but stayed silent, looking back towards the Chiss.

    "I think you should go now." Gentleman Sera said in a far different voice, much more polite, and no Force presence at all. It was completely gone. Borek was led out of the room to a room containing a bed and a bacta tank. Tek looked around the room. "Oh yea', dis aint gonna be a walk in the park." A muffled beep confirmed his statement. Normally, he would complain at being dismissed, but right now, he was not going to complain. Especially when a bacta tank was offered.

    Tek gently placed Zeek on the bed. "Keep watch uh things. An keep it..low key, ok?" Tek looked at the tank. "Scan dat thing. If it's clear, guess Im gonna go for a dip. Tek started removing some articles of clothing, keeping his weapons close. How long was he supposed to wait, if they provided a bed? Tek had a feeling, that he was in for the long haul.


    Tag: @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
  24. Kalio_Dynkos

    Kalio_Dynkos Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    May 17, 2004
    Fouche
    Shipping Container, Artemis Cradle

    A female voice cut through the black.

    “Geez, you look like butt and ugly got together and had a baby,” it said.

    Desi. The Zeltran woman. Fouche loved a good con, but pheromones were just cheating. Still, it was probably a good thing for him that she’d survived, and that’d been there to save him - if that was the turn of events you were inclined to believe. Not that she had asked for help, he’d refused, and then the next time he’d seen her she was on the ground seeping blood from her pink-ish skin.

    He lifted his face up to the sound of her voice and was rewarded by a sharp cold of bacta spray.

    “Ah, Dethi. My mouth wath open,” he chided, turning away.

    "I heard you insulted Uncle Panda's shoes,” she said.

    Her voice was closer. Probably crouching in front of him.

    “I'm surprised he didn't lose one of them in your ass. Let's go, Rik,” she said, using the fake name he'd dropped when they met.

    Desi pulled him to his feet and led him outside the container. The bodyguards watched carefully, ready to crush Fouche's skull should he do something suspicious. She led him through the slums which contained the shipping container and many more like it.

    ***

    As their journey continued, Fouche’s eye-sight slowly returned - mostly from the swelling allowing his eyelids to open. The headache was a real ringer, however, and that was likely to stay for a bit. Desi led him into a small shack.

    "This is the best I could do on short notice,” she said. “Uncle Panda wants to talk to you after you clean yourself up. Then, if he doesn't kill you, we should go get some food and figure out our next job. You owe me one, Rik.”

    Fouche rubbed at his chin, a fresh cut was still open and stung.

    “Darlin’, I think it was I who saved your hide back at the Opera House,” he smirked. “Still, if your Uncle Panda is the forgiving type, I suppose I can be too.”

    Desi led Fouche to the door and leaned in close to him. Fouche breathed deeply. Yes, pheromones were just cheating. And then she was gone and he was alone.

    “Zeltrons,” he said out loud to no one. “Don’t get me wrong, she nice, but it just messes with your head, right? Is she really nice, or am I just getting played?”

    He decided on getting played…again, but at the same time he was alive and that said more for his chances that it was a few hours ago. In the end, that was a game worth playing.

    Fouche slapped his thighs, clapped his hands, and searched for what this shack had that might resemble a fresher.

    If he was going to get into trouble, he might at least be clean and not on an empty stomach.

    "You boys want anything," he yelled to the mouth-breathing goons outside. "I'm a mean man in the kitchen."

    TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas
     
    The Jedi in the Pumas likes this.
  25. Jedi_Ascension

    Jedi_Ascension Jedi Padawan star 1

    Registered:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Unknown

    Standing outside the constabulary, he looked about himself and noted all the citizens around him. It seemed like the town really had gotten fed up with the bandits. That shouldn’t really be a surprise though. The only people who stood out to him were Muul naturally and a woman not far from him who was a stunning knockout in the looks department. The fiery red hair, intense green eyes, and fit physique put together with her stance that hinted she knew how to defend herself made her almost irresistible.

    But he wasn’t here for that. There were bandits to take care of and plus, who would be interested in a man with no name? Now according to Muul, the bandits in the area had gotten worse recently and even delved into kidnappings, destruction of property, and even ruining the town’s crops. The fact that children were being taken was revolting. Good thing he came here after all. No way he could ignore that now that he had heard. He was bumped into around that time and he glanced down quickly to see a short woman standing next to him, a hood up. Suspicious.

    Still, he decided to ignore her for the moment and continue listening to the constable, till he felt her hand rest on his chest plate. What was she doing? Before he could look at her and ask, a strong suggestion appeared.

    Follow the red head. Kill the redhead.

    Why? Why would he do that? But the idea, so out of nowhere, was also very strong. He resisted. But it seemed to keep burrowing, trying to get into his head. What was this? His ears still heard the news even while trying to shake off the suggestion. Three camps to the north and one to the west. Get ready and meet at this spot.

    Also. Kill that redhead.

    No, he wouldn’t do that. There was no reason to, plus he had just thought of her as overpoweringly attractive just a minute ago! Still, she seemed to be moving to the clinic now that the meeting was over. Yes, he better follow her. Something strange was happening, he had to make sure she was safe. That was all. Really. Plus maybe that healer Muul mentioned before was in, so he had a good reason. That settled it. He followed a good distance behind the redhead, heading for the clinic himself. For his own checkup and to make sure the woman was safe.

    Still. Why was his hand on his blaster. He removed his hand from the weapon on his belt. Not sure when that happened.

    He kept following.

    Tag: GM @The Jedi in the Pumas @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha