Star Wars CLOSED Star Wars: Episode X: DUEL OF THE FATES ~ 2021 Best RPG ~

IC: Tirran Huxley
Coruscant, Level 1313, a little shop

Noise, always something. Hagglers, unpleasant shoppers, over-exuberant fans. Oh for the fans! Only Tirran was not a famous singer, he was just a singer. After all one could expect such things even at this level, but if you developed them they were the kind you made sure tripped down the chute sooner rather than later. A two-man patrol’s attention was what he actually garnered, at first he hoped they might be customers, but -well these were the two he got. Two that came in with purpose and then got countermanding orders. Poor saps, didn't even know what they were trying to do so Huxley played the concerned and contrite, but with the grin that said it all. That both sides knew it was all a production for the sake of the other dwellers of this level.

And then they moved on. Only his store front, with the doorway leading to the hall of doors to tiny theme rooms for karaoke fun were divided, did not stay empty. A small child, possibly that small child from the playback just a little bit ago trudged in. Leaning forward he looked at the child, curious. An old term rag-a-muffin came to mind. The Neimoidians had meant they wanted to eat you, you looked soft.

Two Stormtroopers were evident through the front window…still. Hmm. "Come on in boy, your friends are worried about you in back. Took you long enough on that sweets run. Quickly now, the room is about to expire. You don't want to miss the last song, I'll guide you back." Huxley calmly stated as he pressed a few keys calling up a droid to watch the store front as he moved his exosuit to open the door. Making way to lead the child to a private room where they could talk, and he could properly scan the child. It was up to the kid whether he came or not.

TAG: @Sinrebirth , @The Jedi in the Pumas

 

IC Rhoen Aquilla
Chandrila

Rhoen was also a light sleeper, years of sudden drills, and more sudden attacks during the failed fight of the resistance had left him sensitive to the slightest noise. Hearing the clang from out in the barn had him snap awake next to his wife. As she tied her dressing gown he lept up grabbing a shirt from the closet and pulling down his blaster. He didn't want to leave it somewhere Val could get at it.

His heart was racing, they had been here for near a decade, it wasn't easy but, they hadn't been found. He didn't want to make this choice, he didn't want to throw himself back into the fight. He had a family, a child, he didn't want to lose it, not now.

Strapping his pistol to his hip he moved to Syal giving her a quick kiss as he past her. They had planned for this, had expected this. The day they were found out, the time when the government learned of them, of their former allegiances. His go bag was packed right alongside Syal's. They had an escape plan, Syal would take the small freighter they had and take Val, Rhoen would fly cover with his old X-Wing.

His X-Wing, it was in the barn. Hidden under a tarp and behind some easily moved farming equipment. Bounding down the steps he slipped into his boots that he kept by the door. They were tight enough for him to run unencumbered. On his gun belt he drew a small glowrod along with his heavy pistol. He didn't want to accidentally shoot some punks just looking for a quick buck. He also didn't want to be unprepared if it was more than just punks.

Coming up to the barn he pressed himself against wall finding the front already open. Moving carefully he looked around the edge peering inside for any movement. Taking a breath he shined his light into the space, his pistol ready to fire at anything that seemed remotely threatening.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC as Kacynna Juwee

Core Worlds ; Chandrila ; onboard the Hardknock

"GWWWOOORRHHFFF GRROOOWWWFFFF!" Rusk barked and started off at a rapid pace throughout the ship, his thick paws thudding against the metal floor. This much wasn't unusual for the cannok, and there were very few times where he did so quietly. Kacynna called this phenomenon the "zoomies", where the pup would get himself worked up and make several laps inside the ship; oftentimes crashing into doorways from his size and clumsiness.

The Dug idly stroked her face tendrils, reclining in a comfortable salvaged chair brought from home while. The sounds of Rusk were but white-noise with Cynna focusing solely on the teachings being offered to her.

"You've mentioned this before." She pipped, rolling her fingers along her mustache-like protrusions. She had heard little of this Journal, but this particular hologram was quite adamant about bringing it up and what it contained. "And I've told you: Kacy... Cynna... even Kay; you don't have to call me Padawan Juwee.

Anyway, this tomb... what might be insi---"

"GGWWWWAAAARHWOOOOOOOF! WHOOOOF WHOOOORRRFF!" Rusk barreled into the room, taking a rough tumble (though not the first) to collide with a now-reinforced table to knock over a few metal cups and containers. He scrambled to his feet, barking and carrying on as the voice over the ship's comms screeched through the broken speakers.

"Unidentified Starlight-class freighter, identify yourself."

Kacynna looked up thoughtfully and turned her gaze to Rusk before leaping up from her chair to grab the handholds installed in the ceiling of her ship by her father. Like a primate, she swung herself out of the doorway, keeping to the vault of the hallway while the cannok kept to the deck beneath her.

She plopped down in the captain's chair, flicking several switches with both her rear and front hands. "Resurgent-class, this is the Captain of the Hardknock. Just here on holiday. Requesting landing permissions."

She flicked a glance back to her canine companion and raised her brows. "They've no reason to search us..." Cynna sighed. "... what do they want, boy?"

The cannok draped his legs over the arm of the chair, panting and drooling while she scratched between his eye-stalks. Hopefully, this would go over well.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Lin
Myrra Spaceport, Akiva, Outer Rim
(GM approved)



Lin recovered from Rizo’s shove and cursed as she watched the Ranat disappear into the sleek starship nearby. Alarms were blaring and people were running everywhere. Someone screamed that it was TIE fighters.

Even the storm troopers were in a panic. That was most worrying of all. If the First Order had finally come to stamp their claim on Akiva, that probably meant the spaceport was about to be flattened.

Lin’s eyes darted about. She was used to thinking on her feet in a deadly crisis and figuring out how to survive. The ramp to that nearest starship was still open.

Lin dashed after Rizo and found him inside in the cockpit desperately trying different switches.

“You dirty rodent!” she shouted at him, raising her fists. “I should break your nose!”

Rizo spun in the chair, twitching with panic, and smiled nervously, showing pointed teeth.

“Lin! It’s not like that, honest. I was waiting for you… I even left the ramp down… for you…”

She hesitated, unconvinced. But she did not really have time to fight him. She huffed and took the seat next to him. “Well, close it now, we’ve got to get out of here.”

“I can’t find the damn switch!” he snarled, searching the console again.

Lin gave him a sour look then pulled the relevant lever. The ramp raised and the ship sealed with a clunk.

“Great!” Rizo looked at her expectantly. “Can you fly this thing then?”

“Well, no…” she stared back at him. “Can you?”

“WHAT?” cried Rizo. “Oh, now what are we going to do?”

Lin felt the urge to punch him again. “So what was the big fracking idea coming in here? Oh, never mind.”

Chaos reigned outside. Beings stampeded. Starships lifted.

She began studying the console herself. “Alright… how hard can it be? Hmmm… fuel, systems power, life support. And… that’s the flight controls… switch those to active will you?”

Rizo complied then stared at her. She also started to flick switches and the engines coughed into life.

“So, when I worked for Handy, he had me flying a T-47 airspeeder for his pick-ups..." She toggled some more buttons to change to green status, then shrugged. “That was before I kicked him in the head…”

She shuddered, remembering her fight with the Besalisk gangster.

Rizo chortled. “Lin, why is it you end up pissing everyone off?”

“Must be my sparkling personality,” she sighed ruefully. “But he deserved it! He got too handy with me, you know? Anyway, I’m guessing the principle is the same… until we get into space of course, haha.”

She frowned and searched the console.

“What are you looking for?” said Rizo, also studying frantically.

“A big red button that says ‘TAKE OFF’…” she muttered.

“Lin, this is serious! Look at those people scrambling around out there!”

“So am I… aha,” she grinned at him when she found the lever. “Automated launch sequence. Get ready…”

She shoved the lever forward. If they had done things right, it would travel up the slot and set in the sequence. These modern ships had many automated cycles so that even a halfwit like Rizo could fly them… but if they had done anything wrong… one relevant light still on red instead of green… they were about to get a rude error bleep…

*​

The engines roared and the ship lifted off. Lin and Rizo cheered in jubilation. It hovered for several moments until Lin took hold of the steering vane and shoved it forward. The ship zoomed out of the port hangar, nearly colliding with two other freighters. All manner of ships were fleeing the scene now.

“Whoa! This thing really moves!” said Lin. Rizo clutched onto his chair arms.

Lin weaved between the stampede until clear, then pointed the ship skyward and increased the thrust. And the controls obeyed!

“Alright,” she said, grinning at Rizo. “As easy as a bala-bala.”

She felt a thrill in her heart. She had finally lifted off from Akiva. Not in the manner she had planned, but, well, plans were overrated. She glanced at the credit chip she kept mounted and locked on her wristband. One thousand, two hundred and thirty two credits. All she had to her name. She hoped it would be enough to set up, wherever she was going…

Rizo frowned back at her. “Yeah, but we gotta work the navcom…”

As if on cue, an angry red light flashed at them from the nav section.

“What’s that flashing?” said Rizo.

“Uhhh maybe now we got thrust we should cut the repulsorlifts?” said Lin over the roar of the engines. The ship shuddered as it fought to break from the gravity of Akiva.

She tried switching off the repulsors. The ship immediately began to nosedive back towards the ground.

“NOPE!” she said, grimly. Rizo screamed

“Switch them back on!” said Lin, wrestling with the controls.

The Ranat complied and the angular craft lifted again towards the heavens. Rizo glared at Lin, remembering a rumour. “Hey, did you crash Handy’s T-47?”

She grimaced. “Only once!”

Rizo clapped a hand to his furry forehead. “We’re gonna die, we’re gonna die…”

An alarm began screeching in time to the flashing light.

“Ugh, what now?” said Lin, trying to read what seemed like a hundred controls at once.

“Dunno…” said Rizo, diving beneath the console. The Ranat fidgeted around her legs.

“Hey! What’re you doing down there?” she said over the screeching alarm.

“I found the owner’s manual…” said Rizo. “Oh no, it says we gotta take it to an authorized dealer, immediately!”

Lin scowled. “It always says that… Look, maybe if we just keep going it will go away? Get back up here. I need you to watch the levels.”

Rizo reappeared, swiping frantically through information on the datapad. The alarm kept on screeching.

“It’s doing my head in!” Rizo clutched his round rodent ears.

Lin produced her vibrodagger from its sheath at her waist. The energy weapon hummed into life as it was drawn. She rammed it into the red light. This, and the alarm, died with an electronic sizzle.

“There. See? Fixed!” she said.

When the alarm ceased Lin noticed the roar of the ascent had also fallen away. The ship was calming. They passed through the upper strata of the atmosphere and into the inky black of space.

“We did it!” said Lin. “We made orbit!”

“Uhhh… I think I know what that alarm was…” said Rizo, peering out of the cockpit. “Collision course warning.”

“But there’s nothing near us!” said Lin, glancing either side.

The Ranat pointed ahead. “No, but we’re heading directly for something really big!”

Lin saw it too, now. So dark it was almost invisible against the backdrop of the void, the gargantuan wedge of a First Order dreadnought glowered at them.

Lin’s draw dropped. “I have a bad feeling about this…”

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

Approved by Sinre

The Stranger
The Hangar

The Stranger flicked his eyes around the chaos, and quickly merged into the panicking crowd. He sensed the darkness aboard the Night Buzzard. It had a sickly allure to it... One that the Stranger felt he had to resist.

Time to exit. The Wandering One thought to himself, and locked his eyes on a YT-1930. He watched a humanoid run into the ship, and slipped in before the ramp went up. He watched, hungrily, as the owner slipped into the cockpit unaware of The Stranger's presence.

A large, manic smile slipped onto the Stranger's face. He followed, silently, and stood directly behind the struggling pilot as they flicked a few switches and prepared for take off.

A vibroblade slipped into the Stranger's hand. The humming noise alerted the pilot, but it was too late.

The vibroblade, in a quick sudden motion, slid delicately across the back of the pilot's neck. The vibrating, red-hot blade, ripped the pilot's neck into shreds, while instantly cauterizing it.

The Stranger nudged the body to the side, and sat in the pilot's seat. He inhaled deeply from his nostrils, and began to pilot the ship.

His instinct, or power, whatever they called it, gave him a brief knowledge on what to do, so figuring out the controls was no problem.

One thing that did attract his attention was his previous ship, the Fury, flying out of the hangar. The Stranger grinned, and decided to tail them for a short time. He knew, perhaps they had some useful information for him... But The Stranger had nothing else to do. The other people, the ones with the power, were of no use to him, as they didn't help him. For now, the pilot of the Fury had earned the attention of the Stranger, and so they were destined to meet.

@Sinrebirth @TheSilentInfluence @Kurisan

 

Combo with @Sinrebirth

IC: Vicrul Ren

Vicrul finished sharping his weapons, standing up to make his way just outside the cockpit. He was well aware of Hattaska's irrational hatred for him. It did not bother him, in the same way, one was not bothered with an insect annoyances to the human race. It was of no consequence, something to be kept in mind but not acted on.

“Is it her?”

Vicrul tilted his head in thought, feeling the signatures on the planet below. Light and Dark, there were at least two Force-users, nay three...but none of them were Rey. Regardless they were required to die, it was their fate.

"No" he stated simply. Turning back to sit down, waiting for Hattaska to either blow up the planet or move them to confront the enemy.

There was a hiss amongst them. It wasn't what they wanted to hear. They wanted someone to hint that their pursuit of the Last Jedi was over. Hattaska glanced to Jaedec, who shrugged.

"We wait to see who escapes, and then we hunt them down," their leader declared.

The twins glanced at each other, and then back at Vicrul, as if he might disagree. As they held, the Knife 9 moved forward, a dozen TIE Whisper starfighters were deployed. Two pilots, hyperdrive equipped shields; advanced fighters. More than enough for a world like Akiva.



The Night Buzzard was more dangerous than any of them, but the Knife 9 could erase Myrra City in an instant.

Hattaska was frustrated. He wanted to kill something. His rage was reaching breaking point.

"We need one more Knight to be complete."

It was a statement. It could be interpreted either way.

Jaedec glanced at Vicrul, seeking a translation. They weren't a democracy, but the Knights had to be carried by agreement in the absence of Kylo Ren... though he was always absent, Jaedec reflected angrily.

Vicrul felt a small tinge of annoyance with Hattaska. Vicrul was often oddly calm, his emotions rarely bubbled up to the surface, save when they were in battle. He suppressed his annoyance and replied calmly to what their temporary leader had to say.

"Escape?" The move was a stupid one, Hattaska was letting his desire to kill cloud his judgment, it was the main reason Vicrul did not like him.

"Just blow everything up" he stated simply, his tone sounding almost bored. He could go on and on about why Hattaska's idea was careless, about how because it wasn't Rey it did not matter how they died, only that they did, but he didn't he left it unsaid because there was no need for them to squabble only that their newfound targets die. He tilted his head at Hattaska's last statement at the need for another knight. Again Vicrul intoned a simple response.

"Why?"

Hattaska wheeled on Vicrul, standing taller than he as he loomed. "Seven. That was the number of Knights before. They were flawed; we shall surpass them. Loyal to the Master of Ren, not to the failed Emperor." His voice raised. "They betrayed our name!" It dropped again. "They deserved to die."

Interrupting, Jaedec pointed. "Some ships breaking for orbit." He scanned the lead ship. "First Order shuttle; abandoning their post." The TIE Whispers sailed by the ship, of course, heading towards the non-FO ships.

The Twins huffed, and in unison duplicated Vicrul's tone. "Just blow everything up."

Jaedec didn't answer to them, he simply waited on Hattaska, who simply stared into Vicrul's mask.

Vicrul remained silent, essentially ignoring Hattaska, his attempt to intimidate the man falling flat. He reminded Vicrul more of a petulant teenager than the commander of the greatest warriors in the galaxy. He stared back into Hattaska's mask the two mask men locked in an unblinking staring contest.

Eventually, Vicrul tilted his head, mouthing quietly to Hattaska, his voice as calm as ever.

"There is one that leans to the Dark. They could be our seventh."

Hattaska turned, sensing the dark, among a Corellian freighter breaking orbit. Jaedec and the twins, they nodded. "Our seventh," their leader said, almost reverent.

"Let us see," Hattaska pointed to the comms, directly Vicrul. "Speak to them, taste their Shadow, and decide."

The Knife 9 slid into position, it's main weapon primed and ready.

"Give the order; if they survive... it will be their first test"

Vicrul nodded, turning away, his eyes closing as he focused. He let himself drift through the Force, feeling himself wander till he found the Dark, the one who was simply known as The Stranger, although of course, Vicrul did not know this. He would hear the quiet, calm voice of Vicrul, a stillness in the void.

I sense the dark within you, the gift you have. Who are you?

TAG: @Sinrebirth @Master Vo'Un'Var

 

IC: Eleanor Magnus
Landing Bay

Eleanor felt Asteria's panic in the force before she heard it; the way the stormtroopers started to head toward them. She knew she had to act, and she quickly picked up Asteria in her arms, ignoring the stranger and acting on both her feelings and Whistler's sense of alarm, headed back into her ship.

She gently placed Asteria down in the co-pilots chair, "Asteria breath. I won't let anyone hurt you. I need you to focus on me okay? Remember that game we played before about learning to sense each other's force signatures. I want you to start okay little one?"

Eleanor turned to the controls and started to press a few buttons. "Whistler plot a course out of here. I don't care where we go but we need to get away from the danger were in now okay?" Eleanor said as she started the engines. She reached out with the force, and started to pilot them away from the landing bay and back up into the atmosphere, trying to keep away from the TIE fighters where she could. Eleanor switched on the shields before she turned to Asteria as they started to get into the upper reaches and gently reminded her, "Asteria. The game, remember?"

Tag: @Sinrebirth @Kurisan @Master Vo'Un'Var

 

IC: Johnson "The Agent"
Location: Headquarters, Coruscant

Johnson listened as Commander Sellik laid out briefly what he and his new partner would do.

Said partner being the younger looking Agent Brown. Johnson was no stranger to working with a partner or even as a trio. He had successfully worked with Agent’s Jackson and Thompson on a mission. Hopefully Brown would be a good partner to investigate the Don, as number six of the Agents he was the newest.

As soon as Sellik was done, Johnson walked over towards the screen, bringing up firstly the information on the Uscru District “I will be taking primacy on this mission” he said simply, Agents never did pleasantries. “Our main mission as you well know is to investigate this Don. The Uscru District is the key to bringing Coruscant’s underworld back under control of the First Order, this Don according to our information can help us do that….if he is not selling information to the Resistance”.

“The Entertainment District here could be a haven for rebels to meet up and share information. Perhaps the Don knows something about this and could perhaps crush any underground networks that are there”.

He looked at the other Agent through his sunglasses, Agent’s were known never to remove them “He believes the Galaxies Opera House is his domain, we must make sure that the rebels are not using him as an information broker and we need to remind him that he serves us, no other master. If we spot any resistance member with him, eliminate them, then arrest the Don for treason. If he tries to escape or if his contact does, pursue and arrest them. And we will find out any information we need….”

Betraying the First Order or any sort of treason meant instant death of course….

“The Galaxies Opera House is of course home to Coruscant's rich and famous. Our presence will be visible, a routine patrol if you will. Especially with the execution today tension will be high and no doubt the rebels may launch an attack or some other form of retaliation. The upper levels of the Opera House house the boxes and no doubt the Don will be in one of them. Stay on that level and make sure you are tuned to your earpiece at all times. If you do end up in pursuit, call for security backup.”

Johnson gave a nod “We will approach the Don from opposite sides. However do not enter where he is, observe only. Only move in if it is clear he is selling anything to the rebels”

“If there are no questions then we shall proceed”.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

Approved by GM.

Character Sheet



Name: Kas'caika'lacii (His Basic name is Kaz)
Age: 35
Species: Chiss
Homeworld: Csilla
Affiliation: Unaligned, though he used to work for the First Order.
Force Sensitivity: No.
Personal Effects: He has a few uniforms, a home on Naboo and Csilla. Nothing too extravagant though.
Personal Starship (if any): He has a Nissis-Class Clawcraft.

Personal Weapon: A blaster attached to his side.
Bio: Kaz lived on Csilla for most of his life. When he turned eighteen, he sought greater opportunities beyond his homeworld and joined the First Order as an officer. Though he does not regret what he learned about leadership, strategy and loyalty from the First Order, ultimately he decided to leave and was honourably discharged a few years ago.

He can often come across as cold at first, especially towards humans. It is not that he doesn't respect such a resilient species., but he has only had encounters with humans in the First Order, and they are not what he was expecting when Kaz first heard about the diversity of humans. Kaz also often does his best to appear like he has the situation under control, but often worries about the long term outcome of certain situations. He is currently serving as a diplomat in the Inner Rim. A job he picked up reluctantly but has come to love.

 

IC: Rey
Kuat Moon, and beyond


There was uncertainty in the Force, churning around her as she looked to her friends – Finn, Poe, and Rose.

Finn seemed properly relieved at her sudden appearance.

Rose, pensive yet anxious. Her trademark.

And Poe. Well, he seemed outright annoyed.

Rey cast him a particular look of frustration that was generally reserved for him only, thrusting her outstretched hand into his face for emphasis. ‘You shouldn’t have come,’ she managed to catch offhandedly, as the Force shifted and flowed with great unease. She was much more skilled now and could remain focused as these energies became chaotic, but they could be moderately intrusive nonetheless.

A major source of this turmoil was coming from the pair of men still on the ground before her, whispering in disagreement while eyeing her in a hesitant manner. “What?” Rey finally spat, the lilt to her voice making it more a pleasant inquiry than anything demanding. However, her senses spun in yet another direction, her eyes raising to the villagers slowly gathering around them and chanting ‘Jedi! Jedi!’ over and over, their gratitude seeping into her opened emotions. A lop-sided smile spread over her mouth as she nodded several times, clearly awkward at such praise.

Those same exposed feelings gave Rey a fair amount of warning – a minute or so – to the responding troopers that soon began to swarm the briefly peaceful space. They were met with greater resistance this time, in the form of those that looked at her in awe, now with renewed hope that they might defend their own.

It was noble, but it was also futile.

Rey knew it. She could sense that her friends knew it, too.

She felt a hand grip her arm. "Rey, we gotta go!" Her eyes found Poe next to her, the urgency in his gaze speaking unsaid things that she couldn’t decipher. “We have to help them!” she hears Finn call from close by. Noble Finn, always wanting to solve a problem no matter the cost. Suddenly, strangely, the girl from Jakku felt divided.

But, she stayed silent, unnerved at how easily Finn gave in to Poe’s assertion that ‘now was not the time’. The time for what? And still she stayed silent as they all moved towards the fuel shaft, abandoning the villagers who sought to protect them. Rey’s instincts told her to follow, no matter how much she wanted to save the innocent. There was that greater purpose here… and it was now pulling her away from the moon’s surface with her friends.

The entire trip “up” and onward, the Last Jedi followed dutifully, watching and sensing all that was building in front of her while keeping to herself. She longed to ask them all questions – how where they? Where had they been? What had they seen? She knew just as Poe had said to Finn, now was not the time. The Force assured her more deeply with each passing second that she was right where she should be and not just for to reunite with those she cared for.

Her mind was calm against the agitation surrounding it as she followed the gang onto the bridge of the Eclipse. The escalating fear of the crew there was palpable but her senses slowed all around her as if she was wading peacefully through a body of water. Though, that water was bone-chilling cold and black, the face of a man with dark hair and dark eyes to match staring up at her from its depths.

Could this path be a connection. To him? Her visions...

“Captain,” Rey abruptly interjected while stepping forward from otherwise unnoticeable shadows. She lowered her hood and reached out non-threateningly just as the officer’s sidearm sailed directly into her awaiting hand. As Finn had picked up on where the crew was headed, so did she. “There is no need for violence, if you share what it is about the Nirauan system that draws this vessel there?”

She offered a rush of serenity to those in her immediate vicinity, while flashing a placating smile.

“Please.”

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

OOC: A combo with @Sinrebirth

IC: Agent Johnson, Madam
Location: Uscru District, Coruscant

Brown had headed off in the other direction as instructed, a received tap from the younger Agent on Johnson's earpiece informed him as much.

Heading through the brightly lit street citizens moved to either side to let him pass. Some gave him looks of disgust, an Agent in this domain! Others though gave him a look of pure fear.

They were right to fear him, but inside there was that little nagging voice again. It was telling him that he helped cause this, that he was working for a tyrant, no matter how Hux dressed it up. The voice was squashed again.

A woman then blocked his way, one of the Don's lieutenants if the information provided to him was correct. He tapped his earpiece and spoke to Brown "My way has been blocked, proceed as instructed but use caution.".

As she leaned forward whilst speaking Johnson resisted the urge to throw her out of the way. But that would no doubt hack the Don off.

"Ma'am" he said neutrally "This is a routine patrol. As you were no doubt aware an execution took.place this afternoon of a known rebel terrorist. We are making sure that the area is safe for the performance tonight at the Opera House."

The Madam looked intrigued. "As yes, the insufferable slicer known as DJ. Long overdue, I would say."

Agent Brown returned back. "Have been similarly blocked, will proceed when able."

"So you're an Agent..." she said, lifting a pair of fingers to her lip in pert curiosity. "I hear you're all tattooed with a number, as if you came off a production line." Her fan reopened in-front of her face, her eyes peering over. "I wonder if that is true?"

Johnson stared at the woman as if she was someone who was getting in the way and that would need to be moved sooner or later. Brown was similarly stuck which was not good.

Of course the Agents knew they were numbered, Smith of course being number one, himself two and Brown six. But this woman was trying no doubt to get information out of him. And she would find that difficult.

"Where we come from is irrelevant" he said simply "We serve the First Order now until the end" he moved to try and at least move her out of the way "And you are blocking my patrol. No doubt one of the other lieutenants of the Don is doing the same to my colleague".

Madam paused. "Oh, you misconstrue me, Agent Johnson. I merely wanted to join you on your escort. After all, the Don is about to host some key First Order allies from the Tarkinate and Corporate Sector! We wouldn't want them to be harmed..."

A few on-lookers turned, and she grinned, playing the devil's advocate, leaning forward with her fan. "Unless you intend to use them as bait for the Resistance, of course? I heard a Kubaz managed to save a twelve year old human boy from you... very embarrassing..."

So the child did have help. Of course the investigation had only just got started. But the woman had decided to dangle a bit of information to him….the helper was a Kubaz.

And the Don it seemed was entertaining guests that were important to the First Order. Of course he would still have to investigate just in case anybody tried to sell anything to the Resistance, allies or not.

Of course no doubt something would be needed in return for this information, such was the way of the underworld.

He touched his earpiece to talk to command "A Kubaz was with the child at the execution, scan the plaza at that time and focus on finding them".

He stared at the woman "Your information has been noted, thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Myself and my colleague will make sure that anybody allied with the First Order will be protected. Anyone who has any sympathy with the Resistance will be eliminated."

Madam went to let him go, and shrugged. "Well, I only thought it would be more useful for you to see the Don unofficially, perhaps, say, without his knowledge?" She smirked somewhat. "Especially as there are secret ways into the Galaxy Opera House... and he has a second set of guests later... which I imagine First Order High Command kept from you, no?"

There was a flash of memory.

I am sorry to have kept so much from you.

It was a woman's voice.

A different one to Madam's. However, she was about to saunter away…

What was that?

The woman sounded familiar but a present Johnson could not place where he knew the woman from. It sounded like someone he had been rather close to. But it was another memory flash that needed to be squashed.

The more important thing were these other guests. High Command, if they knew about it they must have some reason why they did keep it from the Agents….

But what if they were Resistance? What if the Don was engaging in treason? This needed to be investigated, High Command or not.

"Agent Brown hold" he said, tapping his earpiece.

"Ma'am" he said before she could move away "If what you say is true then this will need investigating for potential seditious activity. And a secret way in will hopefully at least mask our presence".

He nodded "Take me to this secret entrance, my colleague can meet us there with no doubt his escort…."

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Eleanor Magnus, Asteria, Whistler
Escaping

It had been close, it usually was. But Eleanor was greatful that Whistler had gotten them out of there so quickly. While they were in hyperspace, Eleanor turned to Asteria who had "found" her with the force. She smiled back at her, sensing her worry and smiled gently at her Padawan.

"You got me! I think your getting better at this game." Eleanor praised Asteria. She paused for a moment and added, "Whistler got us out of there pretty quick, so I don't think they know about us, if anything; at all. For now, we should be thankful." But I still think I should shield us. Eleanor took a deep breath and reached into the force, putting a blanket over her force signature to the outside world.

When Whistler announced that they had arrived, Eleanor turned and her heart dropped when she saw the First Order cruiser. She turned to Whistler and then back to the comm. as a man identified himself as being part of the Diplomatic Corps. She put a finger to her lips as she looked at Asteria and then pressed the button to answer.

"My name is Eleanor. My daughter Asteria and I have just come from the outer rim where we narrowly escaped an engagement with criminals-" It wasn't a lie. The First Order are Criminals. "-and we are seeking safe passage as well as a place to re-supply. Do you know where the nearest port is?"

The Chiss paused. "The Outer Rim?" He glanced at someone off-screen. "Milagro is here, of course, a safe port. We are merely here to negotiate the admission of the world into the First Order."

He seemed to search Eleanor's face with his red eyes. "Might I ask where you originated from?"

Whistler tootled that they weren't likely going to be able to hide where if they checked...

Asteria looked perplexed by the man speaking to them, as she had never seen a Chiss before. They were rare in the known galaxy, after all.

Eleanor paused and regarded him with curiosity. She had seen a few Chiss before, but had never interacted with one before. She thought for a moment and then spoke again, "I was born on Mandalore." She admitted. "But I grew up everywhere but." Eleanor hesitated as if she didn't want to elaborate further and waited for his response.

The Chiss sounded a little stunned. "Um, I am from Csilla, of course. But of course, that is in the Unknown Regions... we simply accepted that the coming of the First Order was unavoidable and joined as allies."

There was a cough behind him, and he stood a bit straighter. "But I meant where had you jumped from, Ma'am."

If a Chiss could blush, he would have done so.

"Oh I've never been there." Eleanor said, interested. She frowned a little at the mention of the First Order and glanced at Asteria. "We jumped from the Outer Rim. From Akiva." Eleanor felt it was better not to lie. If he really was a diplomat, he would understand neutrality surely.

Especially if she played off the civilian angle.

"Ah," Kaz said. "There was a... terrorist attack there quite recently, I am led to believe." He sounded neutral, suddenly. "I hope you weren't caught up in the violence."

Another cough. "I would enjoy the opportunity to debrief you on what you saw."

Asteria looked intrigued, glancing back and forth between her 'mother' and the blue man. Whistler tootled a cautious sound.

The Chiss could hardly insist, after all; this wasn't their territory.

Eleanor gave him a cautious look. "We...managed to escape any physical violence." She frowned again, but it felt like he meant no harm through the force. "I could tell you what happened; but I want a guarantee we can leave for the port of Milagro afterwards."

"Of course," he said, smoothly. He had the authority to do that, and the captain of the cruiser would accept it. They needed to win friends in the region, with the First Order limited to the inner systems at present. They remained the greatest power in the galaxy, but their reach was not infinite.

The woman intrigued him, anyway.

"You have my word." The Force rang with a degree of sincerity.

Asteria narrowed her eyes, and spoke up, in-character. "Mommy, he sounds like he's a truth-er."

Whistler tootled to himself. Oh brother, was the gist of the noise.

Eleanor smiled back at him, genuine and easy. "Thank you." He does seem honest. I wonder if he will carry that same manner in person. "I can dock with your ship if that's easier. I would prefer to speak in person if that's agreeable with you."

She looked over at Asteria, happy she was playing along but also a little startled that she was playing along with the civilian idea so well.

"I shall greet you myself in the hangar." With that, he signed off.

Whistler tootled his unhappiness about this with a raspberry.

Asteria stuck out her tongue at him and blew one back. "It'll be fine. Mom knows best."

Eleanor nodded and watched him sign off. She disconnected as well and then turned to Whistler and Asteria. "Asteria's right. I have a good feeling about this. First Order or not. We need the help." She turned back to the controls and began to pilot them to the ship.

Tag: @Sinrebirth

 

IC Rhoen Aquilla
Chandrila

A long, long sigh left Rhoen's chest watching the three kids fall over themselves in a panic. In reality this was the best outcome, just a couple of kids trying to confirm a local legend. The young man and woman standing in his light mentioned all the battles he'd fought in, ending with Exogol.

In that moment he fell back to a time nearly a decade past, his daughter hadn't been born yet, he and Syal were still wingmates fighting side by side. Before him was an armada of planet killing Star Destroyers. The sky was filled with fighters and he was dancing on a knife edge.

His breath echoed in his head, that was before his R2 unit Ace began wailing and his cockpit turned red. A missile lock, he gunned the throttle turning hard to watch the deadly projectile sail past him.

"That was close," Syal said through their private comm as Rhoen settled in on her wing.

"Not the closest." Rhoen replied with a smile on his face, and a chuckle rumbling up from his chest. He swung around tearing into a fighter watching it tumble and detonate. It was just a drop in an ocean but they had more than just themselves. A young pilot Nath formed up next to them, well they were all young, hopeful that this would be the final fight, the one that would cement the end of the First Order and bring peace to the galaxy. They cut through clouds of fire and smoke dodging around the falling hulks of destroyers Syal in the lead, him close behind. Rhoen, the son of a woman killed at Hosnian Prime, and a damn fine pilot reveled in it. The danger, the combat, it was almost fun elevated by flying with the woman he loved.

Falling in behind another squad of fighters he let off another stream of fire destroying one fighter, Syal and Nath taking out the others. They were working like a well oiled machine, cutting through the sky of Exogol like a pack of howlrunners.

But the fun couldn't last, another cloud of fighters descended upon the trio. Rhoen's heart rate increased as he battled his way through. Looking ahead he saw Syal, but he couldn't see Nath.

"Dancer 3," Rhoen called out over the comm, "Nath…"

"I've got one on my tail."

"On it…" Syal replied her voice stern, in command. They snapped around a sense of urgency in all their movements.

"There's too many."

"Keep it together Nath, we're almost…"

"Can't hold…" Rhoen watched with wide eyes and falling heart as the TIEs tore into Nath's X-Wing. There was a small flame, that then turned into a fireball as Nath was consumed, his cries echoing in Rhoen's mind.

In the present the former ace put his weapon away, sliding it back into the holster shaking his head.

"You got the wrong guy, I moved back in with my dad when I got married to help out on the farm. Before that I was just a simple bush pilot. The most flying I did was dusting crops on Corellia. I was good by most accounts." He said with a slight grin on his face, "But I'm no ace." There was enough truth to make it believable, but enough lie to keep the kids off his back. The few people that knew about his, and his wives skills, the fewer people that could be used against them.

"Now run on home, you shouldn't be out this late." He walked over extending his hand to help lift up the boy that had fallen on his face in fear. "Come on let's get you up."

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

OOC: A combo with @Sinrebirth

IC: Barriss Offee

Aurilia, Bonadon

Barriss returned to her hut, thinking both about what Xundel had told her and what Nomi had told her. She still believed that Xundel was wrong. He didn't know the dark side of the Force. Not like she did. Barriss had encountered arrogant and foolish beings like him before. She wondered if his fate would be the same as theirs. Perhaps in time he would learn the same lesson that she did so long ago. He was not the first to attempt what he proposed. And he would not be the first to fail. No, Barriss thought to herself. He is certainly no Master Yoda.

As for Nomi suggested, that had potential. It had been years since she last heard of the Bendu monks, but she still remembered them from her lessons with Master Luminara Unduli. They were also known as the Order of Dai Bendu. They were a religious group, the precursors of the Jedi. The first holocrons were attributed to them. They had constructed a monastery on the planet Kijimi, where Zorii Bliss and her spice runners were from, over a thousand years ago. The monastery was now gone, destroyed nine years ago by the Final Order, but before that destruction Barriss had actually gone to Kijimi with her master. That had been in the days prior to the Clone Wars, now a lifetime ago.

The Bendu monks were largely forgotten now, with a lot of details about them lost to time. Barriss was honestly surprised that one of the monks was still alive, which made her wonder if he was perhaps one of the last. Like her.

"Agora Six," Barriss whispered to herself. She now held her master's old lightsaber, turning the hilt in her hands. She found that it helped her to think. Sometimes she even talked to the lightsaber, as if expecting to hear her old master's voice coming from it.

Then she felt it. A tweak in the Force; a surge in the Light and a surge in the Dark. Barriss did not know what it meant and perhaps it had nothing to do with her. But Aurilia didn't need its healer at the moment and she had stayed here long enough. She felt that it was once again time for her to get on her ship and go where she was needed. Though it was different this time. If this Bendu monk wanted her assistance, then she would pay him a visit and see what he wanted. He at least deserved an audience. After that, she would decide what her role would be.

It didn't take long for Barriss to pack up, slipping items such as the lightsaber and the Jedi holocron into a bag. And before she left the village, she wanted to pay Nomi one last visit. She would inform her of her decision and bid the closest person she had to a friend farewell. Barriss actually liked Nomi quite a bit. Nomi's grandmother had been a survivor of the Purge like Barriss and somebody that had succumbed to the dark side as well after the death of her daughter. Very few knew this, but Barriss had been entrusted with Nomi's secrets just like how Nomi had been entrusted with her secrets. The two women had a mutual understanding between them and Barriss appreciated everything that Nomi had done for her. Barriss also suspected that Xundel would speak to Nomi soon, but she knew that Nomi could take care of herself.

When Offee returned, Nomi smiled. "Zorii is having caf with Xundel. A bit of a radical, that one."

"That looks like a yes," Nomi said, with a soft smile, as she regarded Offee's attire. She stood slowly, with a slight sigh at her joints, and began padding through the various relics and debris and junk that littered her hut.

"You know the tale of my family," she said. "How my namesake was the Jedi that ended the Great Sith War... and my grandmother had a daughter... that my father was a brutal Senex Lord... and the dark side dogs my lineage as much as the light."

"There will never be a Sunrider again," Nomi said, sadly. "Now it's all about Skywalkers..." she looked a little wry. "It's gone about as well, I'd say." She was rambling, as she was want to do; it was her right, after so many years.

Barriss nodded in agreement. She wondered what family would come after the Skywalkers and who would continue the cycle that has been playing out for millennia.

"I am going to Agora Six," she confirmed. "I will see what this Bendu monk wants from me. So this is goodbye... though perhaps only for now." She knew that the future was uncertain, especially hers. Once she had believed that the Jedi Order was her future. But now? She could not say. Maybe she would return here one day. Maybe not. Maybe both her story and Nomi's would soon come to an end. Or maybe there was still more to it.

"But in case this is the last time we speak... thank you. For everything."

Nomi smiled. "You are very welcome, Barriss Offee..." A glimmer in the future, and she turned to it slightly. "I imagine we will see each other again." She found what she had been looking for.

It was a lightsaber, slightly curved. It had a red blade; she would remember as much. "I believe this used to belong to Asajj Ventress..." Nomi paused. "But you would know better than I."

It was part of her legacy, and Barriss had to either incorporate it, or reject it.

In many ways, this was a microcosm for the entire time period.

For the Star Wars themselves.

For the very battle between the Light and Dark.

Barriss froze when she saw the curved hilt of the lightsaber in Nomi's hand. It was indeed one of the lightsabers that had once belonged to Asajj Ventress. It had also once been her weapon as well...

It took Barriss a few seconds to find her words. "W-where did you get?" she asked Nomi, her voice betraying a hint of fear. "And why do you have that?"

And though she didn't say it, Barriss was also wondering why Nomi thought it was a good idea to give her a weapon responsible for so much death and misery...

"Why is a question always deeper than it’s answer," Nomi replied, slowly. "It made its way into my possession a long time ago. I kept it, because when you left this place you would find yourself faced with evil; some justified, some not."

She took a breath, releasing it at a huff. "A weapon isn’t either good or evil. It's about the user, especially a lightsaber." Nomi regarded Barriss. "It's for you to take, or reject. Nothing more, or less. The galaxy will not change; but you might."

The younger woman was teaching, but she wasn’t pressing anything upon the former Jedi. She couldn't; she wouldn't.

Barriss considered Nomi's words, staring in silence at the lightsaber in her hand. It brought back memories, bad ones. She remembered the look of betrayal on Ahsoka's face in the court room, the last time that she had ever seen Barriss. Ahsoka never knew how sorry Barriss was or how much she regretted hurting her. Barriss never got the chance to apologize. But that was the past and nothing Barriss could do would change that.

The curved lightsaber called out to her, almost like an old friend. She could still feel it, the pull of the Dark. However, it didn't stop her from taking the lightsaber from Nomi's hand. It could at least serve as a reminder of the sins that she had devoted the rest of her life atoning for. Though perhaps she could find other uses for it as well...

"Thank you once again," Barriss told Nomi. "Will you be okay here after I'm gone, since I'm leaving you with... him around?" She indicated Xundel.

Nomi was happy that Barriss took it. It was a good sign for the galaxy at large, though she doubted Barriss recognized as much. She nodded. "Xundel? Oh, I can handle him. He wants direction, and I’ve a task for him too."

She regarded her hands for a moment. "My grandmother told me about his coming too. Fates entwine at last, and while some will girdle us... others will embrace. I am nurturing the latter, and diverting the former. If Xundel is a darkness, his time will come."

"But you need not worry, Barriss," she looked up again and smiled, stepping over to draw her into a hug. "Thank you for being my companion for these long years."

She drew back to look into the woman's eyes. "May the Force be with you."

Barriss wasn't expecting Nomi to draw her into a hug. Nor was she expecting the tears in her eyes as she hugged back, despite her wariness toward attachments.

"May the Force be with you as well... my friend," Barriss said to Nomi with a soft smile, wiping the tears away from her eyes. "And being your companion was a true honor."

After saying goodbye, Barriss found her way to her Ghtroc 690 light freighter at the spaceport. Soon she was leaving the planet's atmosphere and plotting the course to her next destination: Agora Six. She took a deep breath before the jump to hyperspace, leaving both Bonadan and Nomi's village behind her...

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

Dol Khan
-Level 1313

Many targets.

The Kubaz has ideas. For all of them. The question was how deep would he go?

The Resistance was viewed sympatheti-

Dol did not care. Dol Khan's primary objective is a free Coruscant. Measures and actions so far have not worked to destroy the First Order.

So, the person on the other end wanted orders...

Dol Khan says: "Observe the spaceports. Any VIP arrivals on the planet. Continue to compile a list."

"And then what?"

"Continue to compile a list."

He cuts the connections and steps on the comlink. Right now, the Don is his target, with the Vice Chancellor's daughter a backup target. Any perceived attack on either of them would heighten security for First Order VIPs and high-ranking officials. Good, Dol Khan thinks as he approaches the fuel transport speeder truck. He sneaks and knocks on the window of the driver. The driver turns and is met with the butt of Dol's blaster pistol. The Kubaz looks around. No witnesses or cameras. The best part of Level 1313.

He undresses the driver and slips into his oversized clothes. Ties the driver up and stashes him in a nearby utility closet.

Dol Khan settles into the driver's seat of the speeder truck. He opens up his datapad and, after a few seconds of digging in Coruscant public utilities network, accesses a schematic of the Opera House. Many shops, many fuel depots, and many roads that led to the Opera House. So many to choose from. He pauses. The view is not through the dark blue tinted goggles of the Kubaz as he stares out of the front window in thought.

The agents.

What to do with them? They would interfere and they were specialized, Dol Khan knew. Formidable combatants and First Order enforcers... He'd kill them if they interfered. He would need to plan a two...No a three tier operation. Chaos was his ally. Freedom by any means.

He starts the fuel transport and begins to make his way towards a fuel stop near the Opera House.

Tag: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Tirran Huxley & Dade - A Combo with Sinrebirth
Shop, Level 1313

Hearing bits of odd noise he knew his service droid was handling the counter, but for how long was always a question. Guiding the child back to a room off the closed hallway, he stopped infront of a doorway that the symbol for water on it. Pushing the keypad to open the traditional door he waved for the kid to enter as he chattered away spilling information.

The doorway had a passive scanner as well as glow lights, if anything was detected he could tell by color and location what might be on the kid. "Due to the recent loss any help in recognizing others would be a great help. I have admired the Lost Boys for a while, I probably could have some paying business for your cell later."

The room was starkly empty with a lit screen area and several large tanks around the room. A comfortable way to karoke if one was of an aquatic species. There were other secrets to this room as well, such as the hidden closet with the lost and found or kept in stock clothes. "I might have some cloths as well, you'll need to change your appearance. Keep talking while I check for something."

The sensor reported nothing of note, the lights remaining the same colour, as Dade continued to speak. "Clothes would be swell, sir. I've had these for a while, and it's not easy to wash up on the street, y'know?"

"I can't believe I nearly got picked up by an Agent! I hear those guys are stamped like they're off a manufacturin' line, did you know that? Tattooed with a number of some kind. I knew some peeps who killed one, guy by the name of Smith, and they nothing special about him whatsoever apart from that number tattoo," he indicated his upper left arm. "Right here."

"No idea why the left, I heard that all Sith are lefties, but that sounds pretty far'fetched, y'know?"

"Oh yes. Many facts of life are far fetched, best to keep aware but wait for proof. Personally I haven't met them to make an opinion on hands." The whole wealth of child like babble was precious and useful. The more you knew the more you could bargain and barter, as well as from a better position.

Opening a hidden closet he cycled through the clothes sizes, finding one that was roughly the child's size, maybe a size or half larger according to his exosuits measurements. Granted the child clothes would not be gracing the rack, they would be incinerated. A fair trade for the information the child was providing. "Here, these should fit, there's a sonic in the corner. Is there a way I can contact the Lost Boys for help or check on you later?"

"Of course, mister!" He stripped without much thought, grabbed the clothes and strode into the sonic. "We're hooked in all over. You say the phrase Spark of the Resistance at the high-end old Imperial frequencies, and we'll pick up... eventually."

"My parents set it up," Dade continued. "They were here when dat Emperor died, the first time." He emphasised the F, almost lisping it. "The Imp Lovers had to get crafty to hold on; fought for a year against change."

"I remember those days. Tough times." Taking the discarded clothes he opened the rubbish shoot from the wall and after a cursory scan by his exosuit to confirm that no contents were left in the clothes pockets or anything dumped them down it. Tapping a panel made sure the chute would actually dump out into the pit.

"So, anything else I should know? There is a back way out of here I'll have you use. No good going out the front with those White Shells out there." Huxely calmly mentioned. Waiting and hoping this little bubbling brook of information continued to flow.

"Thank you, mister," Dade said, genuinely smiling at him. His hair was still wet, but he had clean clothes at last. "Is there a way I can get in touch with you, or can I come back ever?" He looked a little abashed. "There's a lot of kids out there who could do with this kind of help."

Pausing at the doorway to lead the little ruffian out of his establishment out a back door he turned and regarded the child. Twisting a little left and then a little right inside his tank he studied the child. "That is the problem, there always is. I once was less than you are now as a child, stuck on an alien world with barely a tank to live in and try to earn some way of living. I have fought - scraped - bargained - and bled; for everything I have. Always dreaming of an easier life and a better way to live instead of forever trapped in interchangeable tiny tanks with occasional looks at worlds through distorted windows, worlds that I die in without these tanks." Scrunching his face he blew the liquid around in his tank, trying to let go of the tension that this little urchin had stirred within him.

"If you and your fellows can do a few services for me down the line I could see repaying you in kind with what you ask." His exo-suit had a chest panel open and he removed a small comm device which he fiddled with as he talked. "Information useful for the resistance or about ways to contact other cells is always useful as well as anything locally about the beings on this world. Some things have hidden value." Extending his suits arm he handed the little comm device to the child. "This is preprogrammed with encryption to reach a relay that will give me any messages and I can respond in kind to you. Never use my name, call me. . .Aqua-man or whatever you kids like. Hopefully if I get a couple deals I could set up a cleaning station that can scan boys and then get them proper clothes as time goes on, install it wherever you like for you when we can do it. But times are hard, and credits scarce. And with white shells harassing my business this place is likely not to be safe for your lot until after we get enough of you properly clothed to seem normal coming in a place like this."

Dade took the comlink, eyes wide with happiness. "Thank you, mister. You're right, I get it. Aqua-man works, sir."

The youth went to go, and then threw a hug over the nonhuman and vanished into the Coruscanti night.

Looking at the smooshed body of clothing and skin against his tank was rather disturbing as well as the noise it caused a thudding echo within his environment. With eyes bulging he waited it out and let the little creature leave in silence. Once the back door was closed he set about activating a cleaning droid for the hall and the tank room. Best to leave no trace of the urchin. "Ugly creature." he simply stated as he stepped over the cleaning droid. "Bad judge of character. But possibly useful." Time would tell whether he would use the location data from the commlink and information he garnered to sell out the whole lot of Lost Boys, or used them as a courier service for own elicit ends. Either way they would prove useful - another mark on his turnstile of useful things.

With that settled he made his way forward once more to take over manning the front counter. Waiting for customers, either traditional or special.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

Lin and Rizo (combo with @Sinrebirth )
Fleeing Akiva, onboard unknown super-ship



Their mysterious dark steed galloped into space...

Lin was still staring, gaping, at the massive dreadnought before them. It loomed from the darkness like a sando aqua. Rizo was squealing beside her, as usual. She looked at what he had noticed.

Engaging cloaking device

Lin's eyebrows rose. She was starting to get the feeling this was more than just a normal ship they had... borrowed. The first clue was how nimbly it had leapt up and sped past all those other fleeing ships. A cloak was another top of the range modification - which made her worry about from whom they had stolen it.

Then the First Order ship fired. The heavens blazed. Like a god's vengeful bolt, the massive energy stream ripped through the atmosphere and annihilated Myrra. If Lin wanted to feel any sort of emotion at the sudden and complete destruction of the place she had called home her entire life, she did not have time. The ship bucked in the shockwave and a barrage of angry warning lights lit up the console.

The cloak died.

Oh well. No time to dwell on that either. We need to get out of here, and I have no idea how to program a hyperdrive...

Rizo pounced on the computer's prompt for this, to a yell of protest from Lin. But then, a moment later, the navcom accepted the input and began to engage.

Lin stared at him, a grin forming. The starfield blurred into lines as the ship leapt into hyperspace, leaving Myrra, the First Order behemoth, and all her worries behind.

Lin howled with joy. "Yahaa! You did it!" she beamed at the Ranat. "You just put the coordinates in it and the computer did the rest!"

She nearly... very nearly... reached across and gave him a hug. But she stopped in time.

"Okay, so maybe I won't break your nose." she said instead. "You're now official navigator of this voyage."

Rizo grinned. "Everyone knows 0-0-0! Seemed like the best place to go, in a pinch. We can vanish there, I bet. Lots of ships, lots of people."

Lin fiddled with her wrist-mounted credit chip, realising how pitifully small her resources were. She had spent so long wishing for this moment to come true, she had never really planned what to do next, beyond this point.

She looked at Rizo. "So, you know anyone on Coruscant who... you know... might help us?"

The Ranat sagged at her question. "I don't know anyone, but I bet we can find someone! This ship is pretty cool, bet we could sell it for credits if we need to..."

Lin nodded at Rizo's suggestion to sell the ship. That had been her first thought, too. It was surely worth a lot with all the modifications. On the other hand, she was kind of getting used to the freedom it represented. They could even use it for some kind of work... but they would need to learn how to actually fly it a lot better for that idea to work.

And... something Lin could not quite put her finger on... a feeling.

Rizo peered out of the cockpit. It was a black ship on the inside and out. "We should explore, I reckon."

The Ranat wasn't doing it on his own, that was for sure. His nose twitched. He could smell... something. It wasn't good, that much he could tell. He hadn't noticed it until now, and he was basically all nose. "Can you, um, smell that?"

Lin knew what he meant. She had not nearly the same level of smell as the rodent, but she had learned to trust her instincts... and something felt wrong about this ship.

Lin checked the console one last time. It seemed the hyperdrive was happy and they were locked on course for Coruscant. No angry alerts to worry about.

She turned to Rizo. "Come on then, let's have a look around..."

There was a central lounge, which fed off to rooms to the port and starboard, and engines to the rear. The three rooms were all closed, but one of them was the source of the smell.

Rizo twitched his nose. “Smells like death... defrosted?” He pushed open the door beside that one. It was full of trinkets; baubles and artefacts catalogued on the shelves. “Oh wow.”

“Paydirt,” he said. They had stolen a collectors ship, they must have done. It was all unidentifiable to him, languages and sigils on the items he didn’t know. Pyramids and cubes and little status of demagogues. “I think we’re rich, Lin.”

Lin's mouth dropped open, taking in the collection. She breathed in and out.

We. Are. Rich.

The first surge of elation soon subsided though, as she considered these bizarre relics. The thought came to her that this might be a cursed treasure.

She turned to the Ranat, frowning. "We've got to be careful, Rizo. This gives us two problems. First, we can't just go and offload these on some Duros at the first spacers' cantina we find... they might be important, or restricted, like Jedi artefacts or something. We have to find the right market to realise their value."

Rizo nodded. "Okay, and what's the second problem?"

Lin looked him in the eye. "Whoever collected all these things is going to really want them back..."

Rizo pulled a face at that. “Good point,” he said as they headed into the second room. It was all so spacious, it was terrifyingly impressive.

And there was a dead person.

He screeched, hiding behind Lin. He peeked around her, could see that the creature had a squashed nose and a set of tube-feeders coming from the side of its nose -

“Vampire!”

Well.

Two parts of one.

He’d been split in two, almost neatly, somehow. There was very little blood, thankfully. Rizo would have had a breakdown if not. He could not stand blood. “Imma gonna guess that we stole the ship from whoever did that!”

Had he not been panicking, he might have worked through how unlikely it was that the owner of the ship would have left a body there on the floor and then walked out of his ship, but Rizo was too busy backing away.

He fell into the third room, the one that smelled, and he was suddenly looking at a room from horror stories. A group of preserved - bodies? Rizo knew what an Anzati was, but he had no way to compute it all and he slammed the door shut and screamed again.

"Oh... not good..." Lin reeled from the new discoveries. She was suddenly much more inclined to unload everything to the first spacer they met on landing after all.

Uhhhh, landing. Would they be boarded? What would happen if First Order grunts found all this stuff on board?

Something told her they could not dump the bodies in deep space while in hyperspace. Maybe out the airlock once they hit realspace in-system again?

Okay, I got time to think about that. she decided. Don't panic until we get to Coruscant.

Any lingering doubts that whoever previously owned this ship also represented a danger had vanished. But there was just nothing she could do about it now.

As the least distressing of the three rooms, she returned to the first chamber of artefacts to take a closer look at the items - see if she could find any markings or clues as to what they were...

Rizo followed her, a bit mute, when the cockpit voice called out.

Repair of cloaking device has been completed by automated systems. Will be activated on arrival due to threat analysis.

The Ranat sighed a little. "Well that's handy."

He picked up the nearest spear, gave it a glance. "Isn't that, um, whatdoyacall it, a Sith hex?"

He was pointing at the flaming symbol upon the spear blade. As he mentioned the word Sith, a bunch of the items in the room began to glow red.

Rizo carefully put back the spear. "I really, really don't like this ship."

Lin cuffed the Ranat around the ear. "Don't touch!"

She gazed at the various items, cogs turning in her mind. "Who could we find that would want to buy all this stuff? It would have to be some super-rich eccentric collector. That's what we'll do - find the clubs where they hang out."

She turned and grinned at him. "And with my legendary stunning charisma, I'll sweet-talk my way in!"

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

Combo with Sinre

IC: Poe, Finn, Rose, & Rey
Aboard the Eclipse

Rey let them go.

Tucking the sidearm she had pulled from the Captain on her belt, she stayed still as everyone shuffled around her and followed Finn's mental command. She couldn't help an impressed smile in her friend's direction - she hadn't stopped to think about what he might have learned in her time away. She had not trained him, or rather had chosen not to, so whatever skills he may have gained were because he had become disciplined enough to teach himself. Rey was proud of him, but also a twinge guilty at not being around more to lend support.

She knew firsthand what it was like to be alone with such gifts, and to have no one to help her decipher what it all meant.

Her head swiveled in Poe's direction at the mention of overheating the laser cannon drive, a few steps ahead knowing the disastrous consequences of the resulting exhaust overspill into the propulsion systems. "Would be a shame if we all burned to death before we even get going," Rey chimed in, stepping beside Poe and searching for something specific at the controls. "There," she pointed, reaching across him in a comfortable manner to flip a rather large switch. The bridge shuddered beneath their feet as the hyperdrive began to rev up.

"Have to deactivate the compressor on the ignition line." Rey looked at her fellow pilot, habitually giving him a teasingly smug look before the pain of the past wiped it away. She could hear Han's voice as if they were still in the cockpit of the Falcon, both equally frustrated with the modifications made by a junk dealer. "You'll overstress the hyperdrive if you don't."

Finn looked up from the man he was tying up, hoping the rest of the crew weren't paying attention. "Let's get somewhere fast!"

Poe grinned at her, not knowing the history of the comment - he didn't manage to meet Han before he was lost, though he would have loved to do so. He reached under her in response and pressed down a button with his most flirtatious grin. "Don't you see, you and I? How we -"

A steering rig emerges from the console as if to interrupt them. Poe glares at it. "Who uses an inverted control yoke?"

He glances at Rey. "Who goes first?"

"Not the time!" Rose shouts.

"After you," Rey relented, resuming a more even demeanor as she forced her thoughts away from old memories. She stepped back slightly to give Poe room. "Punch it." And she gave him a wink, looking toward Rose next.

She nodded once.

Poe grabbed the controls and the Eclipse roughly disengage and scrape its way out. Fuel conduits unhinge and spit blue energy, slicing through the docks infrastructure.

The ship’s exterior lights blink on and off in patch grids.

Heavy cannons fire on the Eclipse’s shields -

Poe leans back, and the whole ship dips down, towards the planet!

“The black empty part is where we should be pointed!” Rose snapped.

“I’m trying, everything’s backwards!”

Finn looks at the window at the planet rising into view as they tilt further down. His voice is mocking. “I can fly anything.”

"What are you doing," Rey squealed as she gripped the back of Poe's chair to keep from suddenly flying off her feet. The Eclipse took a dive and she planted herself, gripping the back of one of Poe's arms to pull herself closer. "I definitely should've went first!"

Poe gains control of the craft’s trajectory but not it’s axis. The planet rolls from the bottom of the massive front window to the top. To distract from his issues, he snaps through gritted teeth. “Do we have the droid?”

—

BB-8’s maintenance craft is hit, burning, engineless, fifty metres from the bridge docking port. He’ll never make it -

Unless -

He ejects himself from the droid socket, floats into the cold empty space, but he’s still too far away -

“Rey!” Rose shouts, pointing at the droid as the ship continues to rotate -

The Jedi was already halfway to the forward viewport, eyes on the little orange and white ball that had jettisoned from it's failing craft. Rey reached out with a hand and thrust towards him with an invisible lasso, the Force flinging out into the void of space to ensnare BB-8. She felt her aim land true, her concentration tightening on the droid. "I've got him!" she called out, her stance rocking as the ship went askew once more.

The ship rocked with more fire, but the moment Rey spoke the magic words, Rose’s console flashed at her. “Good for lightspeed!” She flipped the hyperdrive lever.

Bars of light stretch out before them -

There was a crash of hyperspace as the immense ship burrowed forward, and all at once Finn, Poe and Rose released an immense sigh - and so did everyone else on the bridge!

They’d made it.

BB-8 rushed in as defected crew makes reports and checks the new warships system. It wasn’t designed to be ran by such a small amount of people for long.

When the astromech sees Rey, the whoop for joy is almost screeching, and the droid rushes to her and Poe. Poe is down on his knees first, nuzzling with BB-8 and letting him get to Rey. He’s already bobbing his head to make sure she can see he still has his antenna.

Taking a knee, Rey gave BB a loving scratch and her customary check of his antennae - still straight. "I'm glad you made it, my friend," she whispered affectionately, eyeing the droid fondly before standing again. She grew moderately more serious, speaking to any one of her friends nearby.

"What is all this about?" Her hands gestured at the busy bridge around her, but meaning more so the haphazard attempt at stealing it.

Poe shrugged. “Well we were trying to blow the fleet. Set explosives up in the fuel line, channel the detonation into the Dreadnoughts... looks like the First Order expected that.” He looked a bit wry. “Admiral Vonn and I tangled over ten years ago, just before Exegol. It didn’t go well, for any of us.”

He went into a more introspective place, and Rose took over, as Finn was looking fairly serious himself. She chimed in. “What about you? It’s been a while since we last saw you. Pretty elaborate setup for a last minute save.”

There was only the tiniest amount of censure in her voice. Most of it was curiosity. Rose was more likely to say it how she saw it than not; something that had historically endeared her to Rey back on Ajan Kloss all those years ago.

"I..." Rey paused before continuing, her mind speeding over her most recent journeys and all that had - and had not - taken place. Regardless, what mattered most was that the Force had brought her to this moon at the exact time as her friends, to save them and to follow them here. She was just unsure as to why.

She smiled softly at Rose, suddenly feeling the weight of the past decade push down on her shoulders and she tried to shrug it off. "The Force guided me back to you all." It was a simple statement and the truth of it didn't need embellishment. "Just in the nick of time, it seems."

“Handy, that,” Poe said. “Guiding you back to General Poe, just in time.”

Rose pulled an exasperated face, and was about to comment further, when she caught sight of Finn’s face. He looked forlorn, deep in thought.

“What’s wrong?” Poe said, catching on.

“It doesn’t matter,” Finn turned aside. “We’re about to arrive.”

Rey would be able to see, though, what the other Force sensitive was dwelling upon. He was thinking about all those refugees that left behind on Kuat’s moon.

Rey didn't give Poe one of those 'are you serious' glances, their playful back-and-forth so natural now that it happened without much thought or effort.

Her senses directed her to Finn, his particular brand of introspection calling out to her like a light in the sudden darkness. "Finn," she said loudly, stepping towards her friend. Swallowing once, something apprehensive forming in the pit of her stomach.

"What is it?"

She rested a hand upon one of his, and the rush of veiled concern, worry, guilt, shame, and more washed over her like a cold bath. His thoughts dwelled on those they couldn't help, those that they could not save and Rey's heart twisted, the feelings of many moments such as this igniting its own match against her chest. "There was nothing to be done."

It was all she could say to him, squeezing his hand tightly, too tight, dark eyes meeting a similar pair in her fellow Force-wielder. "Nothing."

She searched his face, their interaction very personal and intimate. It went beyond the basic nature of looks and touch - she leaned in with the Force to show her longtime confidante the true meaning behind the responsibilities of those like them.

Sacrifice for a greater cause.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

OOC: A crossroads of fate combo with @Sinrebirth and @Master Vo'Un'Var

The Stranger and Vicrul
Leaving

The Stranger heard the question sent across using the power. A puzzled expression came across his face, and he attempted to return the question.

I am just a simple man, trying to make my way in the universe. He replied, before continuing his trajectory, hoping that no trouble would stop his path.

Vicrul noted the blunt and straightforward reply, one at least akin to himself or so it seemed.

Do you not wonder who I am, the strange voice in your head? Your feelings betray you, you are confused, lost, unsure of your place in the galaxy.

Vicrul ignored Hattaska's impatience, he would take his time, and if the Stranger died in the process then so be it. His attention did then turn at the mention that they had found the last Jedi. Perhaps it would be worth it to hurry things along.

Hattaska leaned closer to Vicrul. He was looming. Jaedec, Ott and Lorl tensed as a group. Vicrul was only doing what Hattaska asked; finding a sixth Knight.

But the Last Jedi.

Their first sighting in years.

Jaedec cleared his throat, and reached out for the Stranger too; not to nudge, but to obtain a sense of the man. He, too, could judge and decide.

They needed to go.

It may even come to weighing up whether a sixth was worth losing the Last Jedi... and that was not even a difficult equation.

The Knights wouldn’t stay for any sixth.

It was a narrow window; as long as it took the hyperdrive to calculate the jump to Kuat.

You are nothing more than another stranger. My feelings cannot betray me, because they are something I do not know.

The Stranger sensed the dark ones on their ship, and wondered if it would actually be worth seeing what they had to offer. Power? Quite likely. But The Stranger didn't need power. He needed answers.

What I want to know is why this voice in my head decided to visit me. Surely there are others that are of more interest to you?

Perhaps, but who can say? We offer a chance, there are no secrets to the Knights of Ren, but it seems there is little time, you lay at the crossroads of fate, you can travel alone forever wondering lost, or come with us. But you must decide now.

Vicrul then turned Jaedac and Hattaska giving a solemn nod if this stranger chose to join them then he would be worthy but if he did not they would not be at any great loss. The prospect of the last Jedi, even for Vicrul, was far too tantalizing to pass up.

The Stranger frowned once more, and made up his mind.

Very well. Let me board you ship.

Perhaps, just perhaps, these people knew of ways that The Stranger could find his lost self... Fate would reveal that to him very soon.

Vicrul turned to Hattaska, doubtless, he would hear it too, the timing would be tight but if everything lined up just right they may be able to nab this stranger and make their way.

Good. Come on board.

Vicrul's thoughts then drifted to the future prospect that laid before them, his resolve becoming hardened. He could sense the light fading away, escaping into the nothingness of space. So be it, in time they too would die, their priority was her, The Last Jedi. A deep, resting rage began to build with Vicrul, more infused in his core, hidden beneath a veneer of supposed boredom. But this was it, this would be their moment, to final kill Rey Skywalker.

Hattaska was about ready to draw the Darksaber and slice open Vicrul, when the Stranger yielded. He nodded at Jaedec, and the Night Buzzard shifted to take in a sixth darkness.

“We shall see if he is worthy of the Ren,” Hattaska said with a nod. “Secure him, remove his ship, we jump in ten seconds.”

His mask turned aside, brooking no argument.

Vicrul felt the anger pulsate from Hattaska, his desire to kill him flooding through his entire body, Vicrul remained unmoved, his unusual patience taking centerstage. He turned to the hanger bay door, awaiting the arrival of this Stanger. Once he was inside, Vicrul lent a hand to him, gesturing vaguely to a seat, he saw no reason to bind the man, he had no chance at defeating the Knights of Ren, and he would know this, the interior filled with the stench of the Dark Side. His ship was then jettisoned, Vicrul not making a single word to the man, sitting back down as he mouthed a single word to Jaedec.

"Go"

TAG: @Sinrebirth @Master Vo'Un'Var Mention for @QueenSabe7