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

A fun combo with Sinre – thank you so much!

IC: Vice-Chancellor Aryan Graul & Lyz Graul
Private Office, the Capitol, Coruscant

Aryan relished the intimate nature of his wife’s embrace, leaning into the palm of her hand and closing his eyes as she consoled him. After the traumatic events of the past twenty-four hours, he did not want this moment to end, but he also recognized the inherent truth of Lyz’s statements. No matter the situation, she had a habit of presenting the facts in a way that made them feel more tangible. It provided him with both clarity and understanding.

She was also right about everything, of course. He could not deny the realities that plagued him as the presumptive leader of the First Order. If he left Coruscant under these circumstances, the entire planet would quickly fall into anarchy. That would leave an opening for Hux to reassert his control, and he could not afford to commit such a critical mistake.

Then again, if he did not make a move soon, would he ever escape from the shadow of Hux’s influence?

It was a difficult dilemma that had no obvious solution. Despite his efforts to excel, he felt trapped in a vicious cycle of perpetual servitude and indecision. Jalynn’s devastating death only exacerbated these sentiments further.

Even now, it loomed over them like a tremendous weight, prompting an awkward shift in Aryan’s demeanor as he attempted to carry on the conversation.

"If it’s possible for you to delay until Hux returns, I would appreciate that," he murmured quietly, his head still angled down to nestle against Lyz's hand. While he wouldn’t openly admit it to her, it was also a convenient way to avoid direct eye contact. He still didn’t trust himself to not lose his composure.

And she needed him to remain strong.

"You know that we have ample investment options scattered all throughout the Expansion Regions. A lot of hard work and dedication went into acquiring what we have so far." He parted his lips and inhaled deeply, the sound ragged with emotion. "Not only would this trip allow us to...honor Jal—Jalynn’s memory, but it’s an opportunity to oversee the progress we’ve made."

Clenching his jaw, Aryan leaned precariously on his cane as if it was the only thing preventing him from collapsing at her feet. "This is what I’ve spent the last decade building. This is my legacy. I want to make this journey."

Lyz understood all of what he was saying. She held him close, tears in her eyes, and spoke softly. "It would make Jalynn proud, to see us continuing on our path to get rid of the madmen who think that the Empire is a good idea."

She squeezed his hand. "Maybe we should make a tour of it? Visit various worlds that are key to the First Order we want to woo, or worlds wavering. Turn you into the real face of the government - a wise bureaucrat that knows what is best, but in that soft way which you trust and love." Lyz kissed him. "Like I know you."

She heard what she’d said and laughed a little. "Well, not exactly like I know you."

A soft chuckle escaped from his throat at her levity, however, it lacked a true sense of mirth. It sounded forced, a testament to the grief he was still struggling to accept and overcome. In many ways, he was continuing to withhold his feelings from her—or perhaps he was trying to conceal them from himself.

Nevertheless, Aryan finally lifted his gaze to seek her face once he pulled away from her kiss, the faint sheen of tears evident in his blue-gray eyes. "I think...you have the right idea. It’ll benefit us both to get away from Coruscant," he said hoarsely, nodding his head to express his approval. "There’s too much here...to, uh—serve as a reminder. Too many memories…"

He trailed off with a shaky breath, the silence that followed affording him time to regain his bearings. When he spoke again, the firmness had returned to his voice, though his physical demeanor remained unstable...vulnerable. "I agree that we need to take this step to establish ourselves as a separate entity from the radical elements. The people need to see us…hear us if we are to make a difference."

Aryan canted his head marginally and issued a long sigh. "It’s perfect, Lyz. It’ll allow us to write our own narrative."

There was another pause as his voice caught in his throat, his bottom lip now visibly quivering. "Jalynn...would be p-proud," he uttered in a harsh whisper.

Lyz squeezed him close. "She will be proud of us, of you. We will build an Empire that the people who serve it can be proud of."

Her mind was already ablaze with ideas. "We should start at Wavett, on the Hydian Way. It has shipyards, and it's already a First Order member in the Expansion Region, but it's leaning away because of Hux's draconian policies for our yards. Secrecy, forced immigration... it's like Kuat but on a world at the edge."

"After that Taris, because that's always a difficult sell but it's pretty humanocentric so we may as well lean on them... perhaps we can visit the Dooku's on Serenno, too, before we get to the Corporate Sector..." Lyz smiled. "It could really improve our profile to these Rim worlds, maybe even bleed some support from Warlord Gherlid, which is something we will have to do at some point."

High on her shopping list was to see his totalitarian regime crushed. Some old Moffs had thrown in with him, but now it had to go, especially as the other Galactic Warlords followed his lead.

Aryan relaxed into her arms, grateful that the conversation had diverted back to administrative affairs and other work-related matters. He’d rather pontificate about bureaucratic politics than face the potentially debilitating impact of his daughter’s death.

This shift was yet another deferral, another distraction. In some ways, he was completely oblivious to the wider ramifications of his behavior. The only thing he cared about was embracing this moment with Lyz.

"Any actions we take against Gherlid to limit his profile on the galactic stage will work in our favor," Aryan surmised evenly, his brow creasing in thought. "Perhaps we can even use this trip as leverage to mitigate some of his demands. If he sees that he’s losing his influence over the other systems, he’ll be more willing to negotiate with us over the terms. The man has a real fear of exclusion. We should exploit that to the fullest extent."

A wistful expression crossed his countenance as he recalled his efforts to banish Gherlid from the bargaining table in their previous meeting. He would’ve been successful, if not for the Supreme Leader’s untimely intervention. That still raised his ire, but fortunately, he now had a second chance to see his plan through to fruition.

"But really, I can’t think of any reasons to argue with your itinerary," Aryan continued after a brief respite, a hint of his impish grin returning to his features. "There are far too many possibilities. For example, I also view Taris as an opportunity to promote a rehabilitation campaign. Their cities literally exist among the ruins of their past. The devastation stretches across the entire surface, and in some cases, the pollution has rendered it uninhabitable.

"We can do something about that. If we gain the support of some of the more powerful polities, such as the Dooku’s, it’ll provide us with the necessary clout to enact those changes in full. It’ll turn the tide."

He bowed his head and closed his eyes, nuzzling against her cheek. "How long have you been considering this?" he spoke quietly into her ear. "I have a hard time believing that you formulated this whole plan on a whim."

With an entirely inappropriate smile, she responded. "Well, I do hate Hux... I had wondered about how best to get you away from him, to be honest. I just... didn’t want to cause friction."

She squeezed into him. "This place, it’s like poison. I met Natasi Daala once, and she despaired about how Coruscant was so competitive and cutthroat. Because it was a world that couldn’t exist in a sane galaxy; it isn’t remotely sustainable..." Lyz paused. "I understand why the New Republic moved the capital as much as it did... to escape that black hole."

Pressing his lips into a thin line, Aryan acknowledged her words with a nod. They resonated with him on a more intimate level, conjuring images and memories from a specific point in his troubled past. His blue-gray eyes turned distant as he remembered his time as an idealistic youth in the Galactic Senate.

"I once thought I had the audacity to compete in that environment," he replied with a quiet snort, finding humor in his own apparent naivety. "I was young, foolish, and I had this…insatiable ambition. I was under the impression that I possessed the kind of ruthless spirit required to succeed. And I did for a time, but then...reality set in. Palpatine dissolved the Senate, and it revealed the rampant corruption that had permeated the entire system. It was toxic. I never thought I’d be back here again, wallowing in the same filth."

A rueful smile touched his lips. "So, yes...I suppose I understand."

Of course, he realized that she was already familiar with the tale he had just recounted; she had been there, after all. Even so, he felt that it was crucial to reiterate its importance—to emphasize their need to escape and to start anew.

"I only wish you would’ve tried to pull me away sooner," Aryan admonished in a lighthearted tone, canting his head to study her face. "I would’ve gladly accepted—wait a second…" He faltered, his brow lifting in an almost comical manner. "Did you say that you met Natasi Daala? When?"

He was both shocked and amazed at the sudden revelation. Admiral Daala was the equivalent of a celebrity in his mind; he had quietly admired her from afar for years.

"And why are you only telling me this now?"

She chuckled. "You and redheads," Lyz shook her head in mock amusement. "It was years ago now. On Coruscant, as you can imagine. I’d been called into the Unification Summit to advise on Nubia’s economy after that six-month scuffle in the Core - before the Hosnian Cataclysm."

A shrug. "It was quite endearing actually; she asked about you and spoke at length about her desire to create a world where we wouldn’t need Jedi or Sith to right the wrongs of the galaxy; where our institutions were strong enough to wield power in a just and orderly fashion." Lyz’s eyes turned vague as she remembered, clearly paraphrasing - or even quoting - the woman. "She apparently met you in passing when she was a part of Tarkin’s staff, but it was decades ago. Apparently, she looked you up first and found me."

Lyz smiled a little sadly. "I didn’t want to tell you when you came back to the family because you might have been upset that you were on Chandrila and missed the opportunity." She stroked his face. "Which is why I was so happy that you rose to the Vice-Chancellor position. You were making up for lost time." Her smile broadened, even became a bit mischievous.

"Now, shall we get on with our tour? I’d love to see Hux’s face when he realises we’re gone." She grinned mock-maliciously.



The account of his wife’s brief encounter with Natasi Daala stirred a myriad of emotions inside of him; it was both surreal and bittersweet. Aryan was thrilled that she had received the opportunity to brush elbows with a figure he regarded in such high esteem. It was also refreshing to hear the Admiral’s theories for a better galaxy and to realize that her beliefs mirrored his own. It offered him some hope.

But despite that spark of optimism, it also served as yet another poignant reminder of all he had lost during his infirmity. It was enough to bring a scowl to his features, and he reflexively looked away.

Lyz had been right in her assessment about his reaction. It did upset him. It felt as if the Celestials—or whatever supernatural being existed within the context of the wider galaxy—had unfairly targeted him to suffer through these trials. He knew that it was probably ridiculous to consider such a notion, but he had spent the last ten years harboring a lot of guilt and resentment. After a while, it had developed into a heavy burden; a constant companion that would not be easily shaken.

Even Lyz’s attempts to lighten the mood by mentioning his promotion to Vice-Chancellor had carried negative connotations. It reminded him of a better time, a simpler time—one that the Refrain had so recently fabricated in his mind.

It spurred his anger, made him restless...

And then his wife’s playful needling shook him from his ruminations, providing him with some much-needed clarity.

Aryan released the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding and managed a wry smirk. "Let me guess," he drawled in a husky voice, expelling any lingering insecurities from his thoughts. "You’ve also been packed for weeks, and you’re ready to rush out the door?"

A small scoff issued from his lips as he disengaged from her embrace, his eyes never wavering from her face. There was admiration reflecting there, an intense and passionate infatuation that was a testament to his love for her.

"I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait for this old man to catch up."

He angled a devilish grin in her direction as he pressed his cane against the floor for balance and pivoted on his heel to retreat toward their private chambers.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Jaedec Ren
Nirauan system, aboard the Night Buzzard, Korilev Graveyard

The trio of First Order Star Destroyers, content that they had lost track of the Resistance, turned out-system and vanished into hyperspace; Hux had made a statement, and he would use the footage to spread the lie that the enemy had been destroyed, perhaps he'd even allow a galactic-broadcast to ensure everyone knew. Assuming his Vice Chancellor hadn't lost the capital in his absence...

For his part, Jaedec Ren barely noticed the flicker of the departure of the Finalizer and it's escorts, he sorted through the complicated emotions of his brothers.

Ott and Lorl were all chittering madness, their twin connection having made them even more isolated than they otherwise would. They were a entity unto themselves, and Jaedec often privately thought that paired they made up a single Knight - but they were brilliant shots, and one could not argue with that.

Hattaska was utterly devoted to the Dark, having an almost slavish desire to serve the Supreme Leader. The awesome and incredible power of Kylo Ren was worshipped by him, idolized in so very many ways. He was the fundamental fanatic, determined to see the reality of Order that the Master foresaw become reality.

Jaedec for his part was more measured in his dedication, seeing thrusts and pitfalls and calculations, with one foot in the world of the Force, and one in the world of the living. He saw how they slotted into the Grand Design as simple heavies, but he prided himself in the fact that they were the latest incarnation of an older lineage, one which reflected the brutal age they lived in.

That left Vicrul, who was the most emotionally unstable of them. Say what you would for Hattaska, but he was at very least consistently on the edge of a slaughter. Vicrul waved between the pendulums of Hattaska and Jaedec, but in his failure at Korilev - which was not even a true disaster, merely another moment of evolution between life and death, their success a matter of fact, their failure a matter of inevitability.

Surely Kylo Ren understood that? The man who had lost to the Last Jedi on more than one occasion? Who had usurped his rule from another, and nearly been usurped by the Reborn Palpatine?

These moments and thoughts flowed through their meld, all as one, their potential pooled, and then amplified, by the meditation sphere at the heart of their ship.

Jaedec looked back to Vicrul, to their pilot as a single word emerged; as a thrust of a dark dagger through the Force to the world in-question.

"Bonadon."

They knew where Rey was.

They prepared for battle, and Hattaska released himself from the sphere, naked save for his helmet and undergarments, the former which was his barrier between existence and nonexistence. "Vicrul," the man looked at him with a gait of respect as liquid dripped from his scarred skin. "Take us in."

"Shall we summon the Knife 9?" Their personal Super Star Destroyer had headed to Concord Dawn to pick up some Mandalorians for the Brutetroopers Corps.

There was a flicker of disruption across the remnant of their Force bond, which was not yet entirely severed -

Kylo Ren had just become even stronger.

For a moment, Vicrul and the others would share in the thoughts

---
Remnicore, Night

A three-tusked gronk boar squeals, struggling to run in place. The animal's eyes roll back as the Living Force is drained into Kylo's hand, reducing it to a husk.

Kylo opens his eyes. His face has more life, his eyes brighter, scars receding.

Empowered.

Grateful.

Tor Valum smiles like a parent who just taught his child to ride a bicycle.

"More," is all Kylo can say as he turns to suck dry even the local fauna.



"There is no more. You have consumed all that remains," Tor intones, even as a wind cuts across their conversation, from an ice cave below. A faint glow lies within.

Kylo looks upon it with many eyes, both physical and incorporeal. "What is down there?"

"A vergence," Tor says, simply.

"I can feel it."

Tor flexes his fingers. "There is more within. Go."

Kylo puts on his mask and enters.

The light from Kylo's red saber refracts in the vast walls. The cave is empty, but it is not silent.

There is a sound from the darkness.

Breathing.

From the shadow comes the hulking presence of Darth Vader.

Kylo stands his ground, lightsaber up, unsure what is happening. Vader ignites his own weapon, swings -



He blocks -

Vader strikes again, forcing the descendant of Skywalker to defend himself.

It's a brutal clash, their blades reverberating in light, in sound, in violence; two iconic villains meeting face-to-face.

But Kylo is no match. Vader strikes him down. He screams in pain, falls to the ground.

Kylo struggles to remove his mask; breathless. He looks down at his chest wound - it no longer exists.

He is alone.

With a snarl, he heaves himself up, and out of the cave.

He is angry; disoriented. He has played the apprentice again, and now he will no longer - he seethes at his Master. "Where is Mortis?"

"The well of the Living Force. The source of the galaxy's birth."

"I want to be stronger than those who came before." His eyes are alive; hungry.

"Where."

"Is."

"It."

A huff; perhaps a snort of derision. "You are not worthy of its power." A sneer. "Not yet."

Kylo reaches out his arm and seizes Tor Valum in the Force, driving deep inside his mind -

"Where is Mortis!"

Tor Valum's smile goes away - he grits his teeth, pained as Kylo probes and extracts, much as he did to Rey a decade ago, and Poe before her.

"Release me," Tor commands, as if that would compel a man who has betrayed, murdered and butchered every other teacher, master or even role model in his life to date.

"I see it," Kylo says, grinning sadistically.

"Betrayer... I gave you knowledge..."

"A mountain in winter," Kylo says, wondrously. "No; fall."

"I gave you everything..."

"I know," Kylo said, softly. "You've given me so much." He turns his hand; the light of the Living Force drains from Tor Valum into his open hadnd.

"Thank you," he says, as he drops the ancient being. Tor Valum falls dead, reduced to a withered shell.

The Knights of Ren's connection to Vicrul fades, and the intensity of their Master's awesome growth in power fades, leaving them to their mission.

To their Truth.

To the Last Jedi.

TAG: @Shadowsun
---
IC: Nomi
Navigators Den, Bonadan, Corporate Sector

She hadn't especially wanted to meet with the Last Jedi with a small crowd gathered outside, but there were many lightly Force sensitive individuals within the village, and Nomi couldn't precisely order them to leave. Notwithstanding Trace heading off, the Hoojib, Geb, he was already present, even as the Bith electroharpist played soft tunes.

It was a bit much, but there was nothing wrong with adding mystery to the moment.

Poe would lead through the throng of worshippers, mentally wishing that Zorii had told him about this as he brushed aside hanging beads.

The den was a circular room draped in colourful silks, the kind that impressed newcomers but would have been beyond the notice of seasoned visitors like Barriss, and almost unnoticeable to someone as well-travelled as Xundel. Some devotees had gathered inside, forming little gaps in their numbers around the relics she had scattered around room. They were smoking all manner of pipes and vaporizer devices as the ethereal music surrounded them.

The first impression of Nomi to the others would be of her sitting on a pillow at the centre of a floor made of marbles.

He whispered to Rey. "Easy on the details, she doesn't have to know who or why. Just what."

At that, Nomi smiled, sensing Rey with the Force and speaking to her. "A Jedi. The last."

All eyes turned to Poe and Rey.

Muttering to himself, Poe sighed. "Or this. We can do it this way."

"Go," Nomi said to those gathered, and they dutifully bowed, and backed out of the den. She looked at Rey. "Come. Sit. The Jedi and the man."

Poe pulled a face at his classification, but Nomi cut him off from making another sarcastic comment. He knew his type; Xundel would have loved him. "You seek a place; a planet." She didn't ask for confirmation; Nomi had known her entire life. "Mortis is the place."

She lifted a hand to forestall an interruption; this was part of the process, and she could ill-afford for the momentum she was building to be broken - it was like a ritual, cresting like a wave within the Force, one which had to be nurtured and encouraged into a flow that could be guided where they needed it to. "The mouth of the Jedi stops and the mind makes the picture. The Force fills the Jedi and reveals the destination."

Poe could only nod encouragingly at Rey.

There would be an intuitive connection between her and the hundreds of beads scattered around the den.

Nomi gestured, bridging a connection between Rey and the marbles, which rose into the air, taking the three-dimensional shape of a galaxy around them.

"The destination is very old," Nomi continued. "The first to know the Force. The first to know where the good was done." She paused, lamenting. "And the evil too." They floating marbles held around them all, almost pregnant with anticipation; pensive.

"The destination lies within."

Poe couldn't help himself. "Look, we're in a hurry -"

"The man will not speak," Nomi cut him off.

The marbles swirl above Rey, a galaxy around her.

"The eyes close. Only a true Jedi knows the path..."

Nomi's voice grows distant as Rey is drawn deep into meditation.



She would see herself before a mountain, with a Temple atop.

There the two will meet. Drawn together by the Force.

Nomi's voice.



Two thrones in the rock. A well of light, pulsing deep within the mountain below.

The dark side and the light.

A cloaked figure.

Standing before Rey; his mask unmistakable.



There she will make the scarifice.

The flash of a red lightsaber.

Jarring, violent, as Kylo Ren strikes Rey down -

- snapping her out of her vision!

"Wait, what!" Poe exclaimed.

A flat black oval stone at the center of the marble array falls from orbit into Nomi's palm.

"What do you mean, sacrifice?"

She hands it to Geb, seated at a tiny easel. He paints a starmap of the chosen location. Nomi ignores Poe again and speaks to Rey. "The Jedi must go alone." It's one punch after another, here - Nomi cannot afford for the moment to be broken, not with time against her. Not with the Knights of Ren on their way.

"No, hold on a second," Poe said, growing irate.

Geb the Astroscrivener tears the drawn map off his easel, limps to Rey and hands it over.

"We're not leaving. What did she see?" Poe pressed, looking at Rey. "What did you see?"

"The Jedi will make the journey. The journey will answer the question," Nomi said, finishing, sagging in her pillow chair; she has used much of the Force today, and it has cost her.

"What question?" Poe is almost shouting now, and hears himself. "Can we just take a deep breath and talk about this."

Nomi simply stares at Rey with wide, unreadable eyes.

Then it hit Rey.

Kylo Ren had just grown stronger.

Again.

TAG: @QueenSabe7 (single TAG this week)
---
Village edge



The lily-pad landing



Wave-skimmers, in the water behind the lily-pad landers

The Force rumbled.

It was at odds with itself.

A massive, impossible exertion had occurred within it.

The three of them would feel it, and even Chewbacca would feel something rustling his fur.

There was a rumble in orbit; the Night Buzzard had arrived.

The dark side was here.

The three former Jedi would feel it - all of it.

And the Knights of Ren, they would recognise the prey before them.

Jaedec, he would sense the counterpart of his kyber crystal; he would sense Barriss.

Vicrul, he would sense the echo of the Force user who had escaped him on Akiva; Madelyn after all felt just like Eleanor, she would after all, as her mother.

Of course, Xundel was unknown to them, but he was Forceful, and he would know that he had limited time to track down the Last Jedi before everything went awry.

But what caught them out was the three Mechtroopers that had been prowling the vicinity; they recognised Barriss Ofee from her escapades on Coruscant. Indeed, had she not crossed paths with the First Order there, perhaps they wouldn't have been detected. But, then there was the unmistakable fact that the Millennium Falcon was here, and the other Resistance ship which had escaped Korilev.

With communications kept to just the First Order, they could know anything - and everything - in an instant.

To describe the Mechtroopers was to imagine death.

The machines were essentially humans within a mech-suit which was form-fitting, vacuum tight and containing enough self-contained power to take a turbolaser bolt. They had physical and energy weapons, including repulsors on the feet and hands. They were not to be trifled with, and not with five powerful darksiders heading down...

... and a Last Jedi who was in-danger.

Chewbacca leapt up, mounting the lily-pad limb as if scrabbling up a wroshyr tree back on Kashyyyk, heading for the Falcon.

The Mechtroopers knew Barriss was a Force user, and they unleashed their first anti-Jedi weapons -

Three sonic blasters blared at them!

TAG: @darthbernael, @TheSilentInfluence, @CosmoHender (combo), @Shadowsun (second TAG)
---
Above

Intervening between the arrival of the personal ship of Madelyn, with Xundel aboard, was that of Dol Khan, under his alias.

He would likely have been noticed by the local First Order assets had he not already blackmailed the Captain, but he would have enjoyed his newfound data-power telling him that the Millennium Falcon was upon one of the lower lily-pad landing platforms, and that the Mechtroopers were intercepting a Mirial Force user that had been present at the Galaxies Opera House attack -

He also had the update that Tirran had landed at a Dai Bendu retreat on Agora Six, at the base of a mountain that was believed to have no tactical or strategic (or even mineral) value. All-in-all, there was almost zero reason why the sentient would have headed there, and the TIE Whisper was holding in orbit waiting for instructions - via Dol's pet Captain, of course.

News that the Resistance base on Korilev had been destroyed - along with the planet - filtered to him, ditto that Coruscant was now in pursuit of Rose Tico. He knew that the Coruscanti defences were now supplemented by the returning fleet, the Xyston-class and two Resurgent Star Destroyers that had left orbit and given him the window to escape.

It was very neat and tidy for him, lording over them all.

He wouldn't expect, when he landed, an alarm to go off to state that an airlock had been opened - and resealed.

"Don't worry," came a voice, snide, young, and as razor-sharp as any Nagai tone.

He stood in the ships galley.

"You asked for me, after all."



It was Nihl.

Before Dol could disengage, though, he'd get one final update.

That the Night Buzzard was in-orbit.

TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas
---
IC: Finn and Rose
Jedi Temple Spire, Coruscant

Dade looked up at the soaring zip-line, and grew excited. "That's definitely Finn and Rose." He reached for Lin, helping her up.

"Come on!" He lead her through a network of tunnels and gratings, making their way towards the Jedi Temple. It was a shadow of it's former glory, yes, but it had been attacked, besieged and rebuilt half a dozen times in the last sixty years, marched upon by the Empire, zealous aliens and even Galactic Marines. But it had itself been built atop ancient Sith place of worship, and then that upon a fulcrum in the Force.

Coruscant was all strata at this point in history, time upon time upon time.

For their part, Finn and Rose crashed through the shattered window of the Jedi Temple spire; the chamber is barely recognizable, long forgotten. Into his comm, Finn speaks up. "R2, do you have that message ready?"

Elsewhere, R2-D2 beeps, leading C-3PO through the decrepit Temple courtyard. A sad reminder of a better time.

"This doesn't look like the Jedi Temple to me." C-3PO lamented.

They move past oil drum fires and covetous looks from the city's Dwellers, the poorest of the poor.

"What do you mean I stand out," the protocol droid grumbled. "Gold is not ostentatious. Leave the vocabulary to me you glorified mechanic."

A vagabond alien steps in front of Threepio. Several others appear from behind, rubbing their hands across his wares.

"Excuse me! Oh my!"

His exclamation is heard by Dade and Lin, and they are able to pinpoint where they need to be -

A blaze of light encircles the droids - a Stormtrooper voice sounds out!

"Get away from those droids!"

TAG: @Kurisan (combo)
---
Capitol, Coruscant low orbit

As ever, Lyz was organised and prepared for them to depart at any point. Not just because she had been planning this 'Star Tour' for about a year, but also in-case anything happened involving the Resistance. She'd been caught flat-footed enough during the Clone Wars and First Galactic Civil War that she was always ready for the Second. Nubia hadn't been directly attacked by the Separatist Droid Army, but it had been imperilled enough times, and during the Galactic Civil War their home planet changed hands more than once. Now they were based on Coruscant? This planet had suffered more than Nubia ever had, and she had no desire to be caught flat-footed.

With this in mind, she had a suitcase packed for Aryan and for herself, and indeed a modicum of supplies tucked away in a smuggling compartment aboard their otherwise standard-design Upsilon-class shuttle. In that case was enough supply of refrain to keep up his prescription, as well. It was technically illegal, but the medics had (off the record), recommended and even enabled the Vice-Chancellor to use it to manage the after effects of his psychosis - PTSD from a substantial period of time being tortured by various Imperial remnants.


What she didn't know was that he had overdosed on it after Jalynn's death...

When she would, well, one could not say.

But she was fully prepared, and indeed she even had Arek on-board with the Tour; he intended to wrap it up within his diplomatic efforts in the Expansion Region as proof that the First Order did care, especially the First Order that was championed by Vice Chancellor Graul. He wasn't going to come, instead keeping an eye on the Core and to defeat the impression that the family had abandoned Coruscant, and besides he could do a lot of good within the inner systems. He was however at the quiet dock within the Capitol, the one secluded and belonging to just the higher ups.

For her part, Sellik provided a key update to them; Agent Johnson, the sole survivor of the Armand Isard terror attack (and the same Agent who failed to save Jalynn), had discovered that the personal ship of the Resistance leader Rose Tico was on-world, and she had a good lead for investigation of where she had landed. Sellik was convinced that Tico would not have came to the capital alone, and expected that she would the woman and her compatriots in custody soon - which would more than offset the loss of the Agency during the Battle of Korilev.

Arek was reading the same update as Lyz escorted Aryan - aboard a speeder of course, because the halls of the mighty Megador-class were more than large enough to host whole repulsorsled convoys - to the shuttle. He grinned at his father. "This will be good for you," he said as he hugged Aryan. "I felt better the moment I left this place. The Expansion Region, that's where our future is, and now the Eclipse Fleet has been put back, Hux will have to put up with our diplomacy for even longer."

Lyz admonished him. "If you speak his name he'll appear!"

They laughed -

But then Aryan's comlink chimed.

It was a notification that three Star Destroyers had just arrived in-system.

The Finalizer, and it's two escorts, returned from the front -

The Chancellor was back.

TAG: @HanSolo29
---
Elsewhere aboard the Capitol

A hangar away, the ship of Johnson was settled, and the two of them were heading to the lab where they could flush out the personality of the Agent, and Ilsa would have back her lover... or at very least, closure on everything which had happened. As they walked, she explained that in the last year or so she'd managed to get into the lower levels of the Agency, after her enquiries from her former station in society saw the Chancellor's Office send Brutetroopers to her apartment. She'd managed to fashion a new identity, and made it in, though she had needed to avoid Dr Gast on the daily, even if the old woman would likely have not even recognised her.

Worse, Minister Vana Dorja of Intelligence periodically attended the building, and she liked to call up all the personal secrets of whomever she was chatting to and throw them out in conversation. Out of the three Ministers that served as the First Orders civilian bureaucracy, she was the worst of Arek Graul of Diplomacy and Feena D'Asta of Commerce to encounter, but the other two were rarely on-world. whereas Dorja leaned hard on Coruscant, considering it the most important and indeed most dangerous world in the galaxy.

But Ilsa was also covering her anxiety as they progressed deeper and deeper into the Capitol ship.

Especially as when she keyed in the codes for the lab door -



The chair was basically the kind one used for interrogation... or torture.

There was no way to mask its resemblance.

Ilsa held tight onto Johnson's hand, to try and keep him from running -

@Jerjerrod-Lennox (combo)
---
IC: Syal Aquilla
Ollaforn, motel room

While Rhoen had been out, Vale had gorged herself on a fast-food delivery, the typical treat one has while on vacation, and she had dutifully crashed out. Hopefully her routine wouldn't be impacted - at her age it was key to keeping a child sane, and this disruption was all too much to handle. How she would have been had Syal not been there at bedtime, well, one would not want to know.

For now, the youngster filed the events of the day under holiday, and she would likely spend some of her time asleep rearranging everything into a digestible format. Syal tucked her into the standalone bed at the edge of the room, and eyed the double bed. In typical cheap holiday fashion, it was actually two single beds attached to each other, and she debating separating them before or after Rhoen got back.

That aside kept her busy enough to not wonder too much about Connix, but when the door clicked she jumped from her reverie.

Looking back at her husband, she could see that he'd been crying, and knew it was bad.

"Rhoen, what happened?" Syal rushed over, but held off from touching him, in-case she invaded his personal space.

She knew well enough that she'd betrayed him by leaving, and she might not be welcome.

It was one thing the three of them holding each other, and another as just Syal and Rhoen...

A lump caught in her throat, but she wanted to know what had wounded him so.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 (combo)
---
IC: Bendu
Agora Six, Core Worlds

It didn't take long for Tirran Huxley to make his way across the galaxy, up the Hydian Way, passing Coruscant, to Agora Six. Relatively close to the capital world, but on the Corellian Run around the Core, it was nearer to Ixtlar than not, but it's relative unimportant had prevented it from being caught up in the various wars that had seen the region pass between the New Republic, Imperial remnants and other separatist and alien factions over the years.

It wasn't easy to definitively name an era which wasn't yet over. A whole tranche of historians essentially wrote off a four millennia bloc of the past as the Jedi-Sith War, even though there were clearly delineated parts where the two factions weren't fighting for galactic supremacy. However, those academics argued that the Sith may not have been at war with the Jedi or Republic, but they were conquering territory in Wild Space or the Unknown Regions, and it was hard to dispute that the darksiders were always expanding whatever empire they managed to hold onto, be it their Stygian kingdom, reconstituted regime, Paecian or Ruinite iterations.

But this war?

It wasn't so clear-cut.

The Skywalker Saga was one consideration, as the fate of the galaxy seemed to revolve eternally around the Skywalker clan, especially now the Palpatine family tree led into the Skywalker one (not that many knew that precise fact), but often people just settled on the Star Wars. Of course, this was a moot consideration to the rogue, but not necessarily to who he was visiting, who was an academic, notwithstanding that he was also a monk of one of the oldest religions in the cosmos, nor that he himself had the Force.

The Bendu monk was a Talid, a species with roots to the pre-Republic era of chaos, as most who followed the belief system - formally known as the Order of Dai Bendu - were. Originally from Thape, and then emigrated to Tython, and then as far-reaching as the Jedi Order they helped found, the Bendu had maintained a quieter and quieter profile as the Jedi became radicalised as light side hierophants, and then schismed, and generally moved further and further away from the concepts of Balance that they preferred. They burrowed themselves into the galactic background when Emperor Palpatine appropriated their imagery for the Empire's symbol, completely defiling their legacy. They were hunted, and hit on Ando Prime until the recent warlordism forced them to Agora Six - what few of them remained, anyway, defending one of the few ancient sites in the galaxy dedicated to peace...

A place with a secret importance and function.



He would have been fairly intrigued with speaking to Xundel had they met, and probably have helped settle Barriss in herself, but instead he was going to be greeted by Tirran Huxley. His cheeks drooped, regarding the creature and his armour. "You couldn't be less in tune with the Living Force if you tried," the monk said in greeting.

He gestured to the top of the mountain behind the landing pad, which was in-fact nothing more than a gap in the forestry besides a small lodge, before a leading and winding path. "It's up there."

With a sigh, the monk turned to lead them. "I presume you have some technical expertise, then?"

He could have been communing with Bendu, but instead he was speaking to this... mercenary.

Of course, in the distance, a small ship alit from hyperspace, a single modified TIE Whisper, upgraded to enable the Mechtrooper to synchronise his entire armour with the ship, much like, in a different time, the biotech connection that a warrior and a living coral ship might have done. The 'trooper had been sent by the blackmailed Captain, and sent an update via the First Order Network...

Which of course was sent on to Dol Khan.

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto (combo), @The Jedi in the Pumas (mention)
---
IC: Savara Raine
Concord Dawn

The woman allowed her amusement to filter through her body language. "You can call me Savara Raine," the red-armoured Mandalorian said. "I'm just passing through, I don't come here much." She pointed with her thumb over her shoulder at Mirta. "We go way back. Worked together in the Chiloon Rift, and I learned the Resol'nare. Very catchy - better than a Code."

With a confident stride, she stepped by Eleanor, even as Asteria glared at her.

As she passed them, there hung a lightsaber from her belt.

"Is that yours?" Kaz said, frowning.

"Trophy," Mirta answered, and followed, walking right through the Shysa clan. Amaria stood in-front of Savara, giving her a look. "Why don't you take off that buyce and show your face? Or am I going to have to rip it off you?"

Kaz looked confused. "Helmet," supplied one of the clan members.

There was a deepening shadow as the TIE Marauder dropped down from orbit, covering them all. A pair of TIE Whispers joined it, and Mirta looked up as it came down. "We can argue the finer points of the creed until Mandalore freezes over, but we've already taken the contract, Eleanor. So either you're going to stop us - and invite the First Order to attack with a Super Star Destroyer in orbit - or we're going to go. I hear we'll be added to the Brutetroopers - on Coruscant."

"So if you want to swing by, maybe even join up," Savara said sardonically. "You'll know where we are."

As she turned back to face Eleanor, something filtered out between the two of them.

Something dark.

For one had to wonder; with all these former Jedi and their descendants swanning around...

... what about the other side?

TAG: @TheSilentInfluence (offer of combo)
---
IC: Connix
Near Gria

Connix returned to the Eclipse.

She was out of hope.

TAG: Nobody
---
IC: Who Knows
Unknown

"At last."

TAG: Nobody

 

OOC: Fun fun fun with @CosmoHender, @TheSilentInfluence, and our GM

IC: Barriss Offee
Bonadon

Barriss' survival instincts took over the moment that she sensed the danger. She shouted a warning to Madelyn and Xundel before calling upon the Force, knocking them out of the sonic blasters' path. Once they were clear, Barriss leapt over the sonic blasts and flew toward the Mechtroopers. All happened much faster than one might expect from her.

Yes, she was old. But she was not out of the game just yet.

By the time that she landed, Barriss already had her lightsaber drawn out and ignited. In one swift move, she sliced through the sonic blasters before calling upon the Force to slam the Mechtroopers into each other.

Though the Mechtroopers were not to be trifled with, the same applied to a former Jedi. However, she knew that the Mechtroopers would not stay down for long.

And there was something else. She felt it. They had arrived.

"We have to move!" she told Madelyn and Xundel. "The Knights of Ren are here!"

Many things happened at once. The pressure on his mind ceased, several spikes in the Force happened, warnings blared of incoming craft, and then the Mechtroopers appeared, firing sonic blasters at the three of them. Finding out why Barriss disliked him so much would have to wait.

She moved first, shoving he and Madelyn with the Force as she leaped at the troopers. He jumped slightly as she pushed and the reduction of resistance made his small body fly further than what the same effort did to Madelyn. He rotated in the air and saw that he was about to impact one of the lilypad landing pads. Rolling in the air, his three toed feet hit the side of the platform, falling into a crouch, before he Pushed as he leaped, dropping his cane for the moment and reaching inside his robe.

His hand came out of his robe as he flew toward the Mechtroopers, landing and rolling. He came out of the roll, at a run, and as he hit the bunched trio of troopers what he had in his hand lit up, his lightsaber. A silver light filled the space at the ignition of the blade. He spun, cloak flaring, slicing through knee joints and lower limbs of the tangle of Mechtroopers. His free hand latched onto one of the trio and he climbed up it’s body, at a speed that belied his age.

Rearing back, he stabbed into the chestplate with his saber while his free hand dipped into the join between neck and head, purple lightnings flaring from his fingers, sending the energy into the troopers head and mind directly. Yanking the saber free he Pushed off with his legs, flipping over backward, onto the soil near the landing pads, the energy also pushing the Mechtrooper backward.

”No, really?!? What gave it away, the sudden spike of Dark energy?” he snarked toward Barriss as he landed.

Barriss had no patience for Xundel's snark, so she ignored his comment. She didn't have the time to deal with him right now. Especially when there were more important things going on right now.

She went over to help Madelyn up after she had been thrown clear of the sonic blasts and onto the ground. "You okay?" she asked. "Sorry about that, I had very little time to react and I had to make sure that the Mechtroopers didn't hurt out."

Barriss knew that she was the reason that they had attacked, but she didn't say so. The last thing she needed was more guilt.

Xundel’s actions did take out a trooper - but at a cost; a pneumatic powered fist hammered into him. He went flying into and through two and then three market booths. At very best he’d have a chance to shield himself with the Force, but he’d be bruised, battered and bloodied - and rolling and rolling for a while, as a fourth stall collapsed atop him; he’d lost his lightsaber in all of his tumbling but he would be able to keep track of it, once he disentangled himself from the tarp and wood and jewellery -

Of the one that was not busy punching Xundel, he held out his arms and fired projectile weapons - not a string of laser blasts, but a high powered stream, aiming one each at Barriss and Madelyn -

The second one looked from them two back at Xundel, but the way between them was caught up with innocents panicking, livestock causing chaos, and the general violence. The second Mechtrooper rearranged some mechanism on his back, and a missile was carried forward to his shoulder -

Barriss grabbed onto some nearby objects with the Force, using them to shield both herself and Madelyn from the steams being aimed at them. She knew that it wouldn't block them for long and that she couldn't risk letting this fight continue like this, so she threw her lightsaber in an arc... aimed right at the Mechtrooper's head. When it returned to her hand, one more Mechtrooper was taken out.

By the time they had been attacked, and Barriss and Xundel had started to fight back, Madelyn quickly found herself on the ground, pushed out of the way of the sonic blast.

Madelyn winched a little, knowing she was going to have a few bruises. But at least nothing was broken. She allowed herself to be helped up by Barriss. "That's okay. I appreciate it. Perhaps my reflexes aren't what they should be."

She startled as she felt danger in the force and was shielded by Barriss again, who quickly took out the two mechtroopers. "Barriss!" Madelyn said, worried. She tried to break free of her grip. "You have to let me fight-"

Barriss looked at Madelyn. She knew that she had just killed a Mechtrooper, something she would have normally sought to avoid. But this was different. Because Madelyn was here and Barriss' desire to protect her was what mattered most in this moment. After all, Barriss had just found out that Madelyn was still alive. She was not about to lose her.

"Can you fight?" Barriss asked Madelyn, concerned.

Madelyn could sense Barriss concern in the force and tried to smile at her. "I'm a little bruised, but able." Madelyn replied. "I can't say I'm able to do all the things I used to." She admitted. "But I'll help how I can."

"Just be careful," Barriss told her. She then noticed that the last Mechtrooper was preparing to fire a missile at Xundel, which would undoubtedly get innocents killed in the process.

"No!" Barriss shouted, yanking the Mechtrooper off his feet with the Force. This caused the missile to fire harmlessly into the air where it exploded overhead.

"Yeah, I will. I don't want a lecture from you." Madelyn replied, amusement in her voice. She watched as Barriss redirected the missile and came up next to her, grabbing the mech trooper with the force and lifting him. She threw him back against a wall, hoping to knock him out for a few hours.

The Mechtrooper went through the wall, and was already standing back up - as was the one who had seemingly lost half a head. That half of its helmet had been sheared off, but the face inside was mostly intact, less his ear. His visible eye was enraged, pained, and he pointed the palm of its hands at Madelyn to use the repulsors there as blasters -

It was kinetic energy to drive them back, rather than a shot that could be deflected -

The one which stood turned his head back to Xundel, and then back to Barriss, releasing a gout of flame at her -

Xundel shook his head as he began to sort himself from the remnants of the stall. ”Ugh, that hurt and didn’t go as planned.” he muttered. Pulling pieces of stall and jewelry off of him he looked around, trying to take in where he was.

The crowds, running from the chaos that had erupted, blocked his view but he did see a missile get fired and disappear and heard the violence ahead. Sitting up, he groaned, reaching out and waiting as more sounds of collapse came as his saber flew back to his hand. Standing, he leaped up to the edge of the building closest, hanging on so that he could see the fight in the near distance.

There were still two troopers standing and, as he watched, one turned his flame thrower on Barriss. Reaching out with his mind he split the gout of flame so that it would pass harmlessly to either side of her, then leaped forward, bouncing from stalltop to stalltop as he raced toward the battle.

At the last, he Pushed as he jumped, heading toward the back of the one firing at Barriss. He aimed to pass by the troopers side and as he did he spun, his saber in his outstretched hand spinning as well, in an arc that would slice through the trooper’s neck and lift his head from his shoulders. He pushed off the shoulder pauldron and began a quick pace, limping slightly from the recent battering, as he headed toward the second trooper.

Barriss reached the second trooper first. She could have defended herself from the trooper with the Mechtrooper without Xundel, but she appreciated the help. She guessed that made them even, since she stopped the missile from being fired at him.

She spun her blade, slicing off the Mechtrooper's hands before the palms could fire its repulsor beams at Madelyn. Then she thrusted the lightsaber into the chest of the Mechtrooper, before pulling it out so that the body fell backward with a hole where the heart would be.

The trooper that Xundel went for the neck of fired his repulsors to push himself up and back, meaning the blade skittered along his throat armour and the older, battered ex Jedi would suffer as the Mechtrooper almost belatedly activated his antipersonnel field, electrifying his metal form -

Righting him as he hovered, the last Mechtrooper went for Madelyn, hurtling himself forward in repulsor boots -

Madelyn pushed her hand forward at the mechtrooper that came for her, and pushed him back with the force again. She advanced on him as well as she could, sore and unsteady. Trying to keep her senses open so she would not be caught off guard. "Stay back!" She ordered, half shouting.

The Mechtrooper was refusing to give in - and Madelyn was clearly trying not to kill anyway - but the trooper was pushing against her pressure, and more mechanisms were being cycled through, weapons trying to emerge and target her -

The viciousness of the man was apparent, murderous intent pouring into the Force. “All former Jedi have to die by order of the Supreme Leader - or join the Knights of Ren.”

Barriss had enough, especially after feeling his viciousness and murderous intent. This needed to end.

She reached out with the Force, grabbing the Mechtrooper, and turned his mech-suit from a strength to a weakness. She began crushing the Mechtrooper within his own suit, slowly and painfully.

"Here's what I think of your Supreme Leader," she told him.

Madelyn jumped back as the mechtrooper was crushed, and turned to look at Barriss. She frowned a little, not liking the level of violence but understanding that Barriss had saved her life again.

"Barriss?" Madelyn questioned, not sure if she should approach her or not.

Barriss crushed the Mechtrooper until she sensed nothing from him. No viciousness, no murderous intent, not even fear. Just nothing. She released her hold on the mech-suit and the now crushed body held inside, allowing it to fall onto the ground.

Barriss wasn't horrified by what she had done. Madelyn was safe, that was all that mattered. She did what was necessary so that Madelyn wouldn't have to.

"I'm fine," she told Madelyn. "I just couldn't risk prolonging this fight. There is too much at stake."

Madelyn nodded and walked over to her. "I can sense how much you want to keep me safe Barriss, but don't lose yourself in the process." She explained gently. She looked at the mechtrooper and turned away from the sight. "We should keep moving." Madelyn added, "But I think we should talk more once things have calmed down."

"They attacked us because of me," Barriss told her. "Because they recognized me. My presence puts you and Xundel in danger. Maybe for now we should go our separate ways and I can direct anymore unneeded attention away from you. It's not fair if you can caught in the crossfire as a result of something I did. Being near me is just too dangerous at the moment."

Madelyn turned to Barriss sharply. "What? No. Why would you think that?" She countered. Madelyn was upset with Barriss for even suggesting that. "We're all in danger. It's better if we stick together okay? I know you want to try to put the blame on yourself but the truth is we're all Jedi here."

Madelyn sighed, "Please don't blame yourself. And don't think you have to leave to keep us, to keep me safe. We stay together."

"I'm not a Jedi, Madelyn," Barriss retorted. "I haven't been one in decades. That's the truth. And I was also alone for all those decades. Sticking together draws more attention. That's what happened in the early days of the Empire on planets like Kashyyyk and Kessel. I'm just worried that I'll be a liability and that your chances are better without me. I mean, you said yourself just how well you did without me since we last saw each other. You have a family that can't afford to lose you. I can't be the reason for them losing you."

"Well then stick around for my sake." Madelyn argued back. "I thought that being alone was the solution after the Empire lost. That I didn't deserve to keep anyone close to me. That I thought I had to be alone to keep safe." Madelyn's voice caught, and she swallowed hard before continuing. "But I was wrong. The only reason I survived was because I gained a family again. Because I had people who believed in me."

She paused. "You are not a liability. You're a good fighter Barriss. A good person. Please. Please stick with us." She asked quietly, "I could help you Barriss. You could join my family, if you wanted." She would make a good Mandalorian. And it would be nice to have a friend by my side.

Barriss sighed. "The last time that we saw each other, you said that you didn't trust me. So why would you trust me now?"

Madelyn looked stricken. "Because I thought I was going to be arrested for what I did. I was brainwashed into believing that the Rebellion was bad Barriss. I was wrong. But I know better now Barriss. I trust you." She emphasized. "You just saved my life repeatedly."

Xundel groaned, robes smoking from the electrical discharge he’d received from the last trooper, as he woke. ”Can you kids keep it down, I’m trying to sleep here.” he mock grumbled.

Sitting up, he shook his head, his ears waving back and forth as he did. Surveying the battlefield the landing field had become, ”Well, if the Knights didn’t want us dead before, when they get here, this will certainly color their opinion.” he said wryly as he reached out one hand.

A frown crossed his face before the sounds of shifting debris reached his ears. A few moments later his cane flew through the air, his three fingered hand closing around it and he used it to stand up. ”Ohhh, I’m out of practice…” he muttered as he pottered over to the two women, rubbing sore spots.

Closing his eyes he reached out, lifting all the debris of the troopers, compressed it into the smallest shape possible, and flew it out of sight to the area that the town used for garbage. He opened them again, looking up at the women, ”It saddens me that you distrust my intentions, Barriss, but we do need to work together. I need to see the Last Jedi but we also must find a way to get the Knights away from all these innocents when they arrive.”

Barriss crossed her arms as she looked down at Xundel, shaking her head. "It's not a matter of when anymore," she tells him. "They're here and thanks to that earlier missile, they're going to know exactly where we are. Though I think you should definitely try to avoid a fight with them."

She couldn't help but smirk slightly. "Especially after those Mechtroopers treated you like a ragdoll. The Knights of Ren may be a bit advanced for you to handle."

”Weigh a tenth what you do, do I. Get tossed around easier, I do.” he shot back, in unconscious imitation of an old friend. He shook himself, power rising around him and the wounds, sore spots, cuts, and wounds closed and healed, his eyes glowing. He sighed in a form of pure bliss as he felt rejuvenated.

”Yes they are here, in-system, but I meant once they land. We have a very short time to resolve all we need doing before then, and I appreciate the sentiment but,” he sighed, in sadness, ”I must face them with you, if there’s any chance to save the one who may be salvageable.”

"Oh, they already landed by now," she tells Xundel. "But how exactly do you expect to 'salvage' one of the Knights? As a reminder, you weren't able to convince me of your 'mission' so what makes you think that you can convince a Knight that your 'mission' isn't nonsense? And why should I even let you? As another reminder, I don't trust you or your agenda. Especially what you might do if you are able to get a Knight to your side..."

The conflict with the Mechtroopers had made an utter mess, and Chewbacca worried about how this was going to pan out. He was tracking the Night Buzzard, recognising the ship from his time in captivity nine years ago aboard the Steadfast.

But it would come down to whether the three of them were going to try and track down Rey, Nomi, or the Knights of Ren. They could do all three, but they’d have to separate.

As Chewbacca scanned, he couldn’t help but watch the blood leaking out the cubed Mechtrooper...

Xundel looked up at her, ”So you wish to proclaim yourself the protector of the ‘only way’ the galaxy should exist? You wish to keep it in the state it is now? I'm sorry but that is a sad way to believe. Especially from one who stated to me her beliefs that the Jedi way is her path but feels free to use any power that she has at her disposal to rectify a situation. That is hypocritical to a degree I cannot measure.” he retorted.

”There are very few beings in the galaxy that cannot be saved and to state they cannot without even trying belies an arrogance that is on par with that hypocrisy.” he reached out again, his lightsaber returning to his grip and then being sheathed again. Letting his senses range out he reached to where the Knights were, not touching them but getting their general location.

He sighed, ”You state my goals are wrong but you act just as I would believe someone who sided with me would act, doing what must be done to keep the galaxy safe. I’d laugh if you weren’t dead set on opposing me for no other reason than it doesn’t match what the Jedi taught.” He bowed his head, seemingly showing his age but suddenly power rose in him, beyond anything he’d shown yet and when he raised his gaze his eyes shown, not the pure light a Jedi would or the corrupted yellow of a Sith but a swirling grey, his power too was a swirl of every spectrum of the Force, ”It is time for change, for a rebirth and true peace, child.” his voice intoned, in deeper and more balanced harmonics.

Barriss shook her head in disgust. "No, no, no," she said to Xundel. "I know what you're trying to do and it's not going to work. The mind games, the manipulation, the gaslighting, the lies. Don't feed me your poodoo, because I'm not swallowing it. I've heard it all before and I'm not letting it get to me this time. I also never said that the Jedi way was my path. One of the first things that I said to you was that I'm not a Jedi anymore, because I don't see myself as one. And I never said that I want to keep the galaxy in the state it is in now. What I said was that what you were proposing wasn't a solution, it was dangerous and foolish. And I stand by that. You consider yourself enlightened, but you're just arrogant like so many before you."

Her mechanical hand clenched into a fist as she glared at Xundel. "You know what, Madelyn? I will be staying. Because I don't want to leave you with this untrustworthy, lying troll. Like I've said before, he's no Master Yoda.

Xundel bowed his head down as one hand reached up, slowly, wearily wiping its fingers down his face. He looked back up at Barriss, ”Fine, you know better than I in everything. If I cannot convince the least of the Force users in this galaxy, the broken ones that would have the most desire to assist in changing then what is the point?”

He turned his gaze on Madelyn, a sad expression on his face, ”Tell little Asteria I am sorry.” Turning back toward Barriss, his expression hardening, ”Solve this problem on your own, I’ll let you figure out how to create peace from this madness yourself. I have the time to disappear again and wait for those willing to listen, do you?” the anguish at the deep distrust evident in his voice.

He turned, nodded sadly once more to Madelyn then began walking toward the landing pads. As he approached them he called out to Chewbacca, ”Can you release the clamps holding my ship to Madelyn’s, I’m leaving.”

Barriss actually laughed in response.

"What happened to needing to see the Last Jedi?" she asked Xundel. "What happened to facing the Knights to save the one who might be salvageable? I guess you don't care as much as you claimed then. I guess you realized that with me around, it would harder for you to pull anything. So now what? You play the victim and act all sad?"

She rolled her eyes and looked at Madelyn. "You're not really buying this, are you? It's just another manipulation tactic."

"You're both giving me a headache." Madelyn replied with a sigh. "I do think it's important to work together, but there's no reason why Xundel can't go after Nomi and Barriss and I go after Rey." She paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. "The Knights of Ren will go after Rey right? Because of Kylo Ren?" She asked quickly. "May as well hit two loth rats with one stone. And I'm sure Chewbacca would be able to help."

She paused. "I know you two don't like each other, and I won't force you to work together. But for my same stop arguing."

"No promises," Barriss said, still cross at Xundel.

Xundel stopped, sighed, turned around to face Madelyn, "For your sake, for Asteria's sake, I'll do my best to assist. But I will defend myself whether from physical, mental, or verbal attacks." he told her without once looking at Barriss. "But in your division of labor there is a small issue, I need to find the Last Jedi more than I need to touch base with Nomi once more. Especially after Kylo Ren decided to stick his head in and try to force answers from me."

"They're probably together," Barriss reminded. "Nomi told me that the Last Jedi is going to meet with her. That's why the Last Jedi came to this planet and why the Knights of Ren are here as well. I said this before. We find Nomi, we find the Last Jedi. We find the Last Jedi, we find the Knights of Ren. And it might be best for us to stick together, especially so I keep my eye on you." She said the last part very blatantly, annoyed at how he kept trying to generate sympathy from Madelyn.

Barriss didn't believe for one second that he was going to assist for "Asteria's sake" and for Madelyn's. He only sought to benefit himself, like so many before him, that Barriss had the misfortune of knowing, and manipulate others into following him.

Madelyn looked between them and sighed. "Yes, well we had better get a move on." She threw her hands up and walked away from them before turning around, clearly exasperated. "Please try to behave until we find them." She explained. "I don't want to create an even bigger mess before we have a chance to help."

Xundel considered all that had happened and was happening and a worried expression crossed his face. ”You both know I desire to talk to the Last Jedi but neither has asked why. It does have bearing on Kylo Ren though and why he wanted answers from me” Barriss was right to a degree, she trusted that he needed that talk but didn’t understand why. It had nothing to do with manipulation and much more to do with preservation of the galaxy. But he couldn’t convince her of that.

Barriss looked at him. "I assumed that it had to do with your mission. That you were going to try convincing her to join you like you tried to convince me. After all, the Last Jedi would be a powerful force to have on your side. But what's your real reason?"

He looked up at her, ”Do you know how many things that have been lost are just waiting to be found out in the Outer Rim and Unknown Regions? Well, one I found, of extreme importance, is the thing that Kylo Ren tried to force out of me. Tell me, does the word Mortis mean anything to you?” he asked, a trace of wariness in his tone.

Barriss froze when she heard this. The words certainly meant something to her. "What does Mortis have to do with this?" she demanded to know.

He could sense that the name had meaning to her, the question was what meaning it was. He stepped in front of her. And then power rose in him. She would be able to sense it wasn’t directed at her as he rose into the air until his eyes were level with hers. As he rose his feet drew up until he was in a lotus position.

His eyes changed, they were now a swirl of grey colors. In a tone, deeper, missing the sarcasm that often colored his speech, ”Found it. Found the luscious garden of the Daughter, the withered land of the Son, and the grey land in between, of the Father. Found the Well of Power and the Pool of Knowledge. Drawn there, drawn to the temples of the Son and Daughter, drawn to the monolith of the Father. Seen were the empty Thrones of the Ones. That is the knowledge that is carried, the burden that creates the unlikeable creature that knows it.” The voice intoned, releasing only a portion of what was known.

And then Xundel settled back to his feet as they uncrossed and touched the ground. His eyes shifted again, back to their normal color as he looked up at Barriss, a frown on his face. He had not meant to tell her all of that, he had fully intended to only discuss it with those that needed to know. But it was too late, she knew now and he prepared himself for however she may react.

Barriss' face had a look of horror upon it. "You shouldn't have," she told Xundel. "And now you've put us all in danger."

Madelyn couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. "That's ominous." She remarked. "It's like a prophecy then? Or am I not understanding correctly?"

Xundel sighed, he really disliked when it did that. Shaking his head again, he glanced at Madelyn, ”It’s not a prophecy, not exactly. What was said is true, I went, I saw, I know. Which is why Kylo Ren wanted the information so badly. Somehow it is tied to him and if it’s tied to him I suspect it is tied to her.” he was hoping they didn’t delve deeper into why he’d gone all ‘prophetic’ as Madelyn had thought.

Barriss stayed silent for a moment, then shook her head. "We've wasted too much time," she told them, before hurrying away.

TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @CosmoHender, @TheSilentInfluence, @Mitth_Fisto, @Shadowsun

 

IC: Vice-Chancellor Aryan Graul
Private Dock, the Capitol, Coruscant

They arrived at the private docks in short order, partly due to Lyz’s keen intuition. Years of war and endless hardship had trained her perceptive mind to prepare for any contingency. That was why she had taken the initiative to keep a packed travel bag in reserve for each of them. It ensured that they could make a quick exit in the event of an invasion or other compromising situation.

And in this instance, it had worked perfectly. His wife’s quick thinking had helped to facilitate their departure.

Even as the speeder eased to a stop and Arek trotted over to see them off, Aryan found that he could relax knowing that everything was secure. That allotted him a free moment to peruse the latest report from Commander Sellik. The prose of her text was urgent, and while it was still his duty to review such matters and render a response if necessary, he perceived it as yet another distraction. His mind was already adrift, looking ahead toward the trip and relishing the time he would get to spend with his wife.

But perhaps more importantly, he considered it a journey toward closure and acceptance; Jalynn would be proud that they had decided to honor her in this way.

A hint of a smile pulled at Aryan’s mouth at the reminder, the words beginning to blur on the datapad’s screen as his vision clouded over with tears. He blinked a few times to clear his eyes, furrowing his brow to focus solely on the report.

It contained a detailed briefing about the inept agent who had failed to save Jalynn’s life at the Opera House. He had apparently survived the massacre—as the lone survivor—and now the man was attempting to win back their favor by notifying them of yet another security breach. Rose Tico, the infamous Resistance leader, had slipped through their defenses to gain access to the planet.

Aryan should’ve expressed more concern over these latest developments, especially since Tico likely hadn’t infiltrated the capital alone, but he couldn’t dismiss his suspicion. Their ability to counter this threat depended on the veracity of the agent’s original statement, and at this juncture, the Vice-Chancellor didn’t trust him. The man was one of Hux’s pet creations, plus he had already faltered in his assignment to retrieve his daughter. What if this was another blunder? Another example of his incompetence?

Nevertheless, he couldn’t leave that entirely to chance. That’s why he sent off a quick acknowledgment to Sellik, granting her permission to carry on with the operation unimpeded. But before Aryan placed the datapad back into his duffel, he also included a note about the wayward agent; he wanted him tracked. Much like the Kubaz infiltrator, he would prefer to personally confront the man about his inability to keep his daughter safe.

Once he had addressed the last item on his list, Aryan finally rose from the speeder and hobbled over to Arek to exchange farewells. "This will be good for you," his son beamed with a radiant grin. "I felt better the moment I left this place. The Expansion Region, that's where our future is, and now the Eclipse Fleet has been put back, Hux will have to put up with our diplomacy for even longer."

Aryan took pride in the younger man’s ability to evoke confidence, and he couldn’t help but smile as he pulled his son into a tight embrace. He wished that he could prolong this moment, to cherish Arek’s words and reflect on everything that they had achieved so far together. This was the path to a better future.

But before he could express those sentiments, his comlink chimed from his pocket.

Three short beeps.

A notification that three Star Destroyers had returned to the system.

Stepping away from his son, Aryan pressed his lips into a thin line, clearly perturbed. The alert was very distinctive, and he instantly recognized its significance—the Chancellor was back.

"We’re out of time," he announced poignantly, driving his cane into the permacrete to emphasize his words. "The Finalizer just decanted from hyperspace. The directive I approved to loosen the restrictions around the planet should allow us to blend in with the pedestrian traffic and pass through the gauntlet undetected, but we have to leave now."

He ushered Lyz toward the shuttle’s ramp with a curt nod before turning back to Arek a final time, his blue-gray eyes unwavering. "You’re in charge while we’re gone," he said with a wan smile. "Protect all that we’ve built here. And if you can, stall Hux for as long as possible. He can’t discover the true nature of our mission. If you provide a credible cover story, he should lose interest fairly quickly. He never had the patience for diplomacy, so I recommend something along those lines. Maybe even try stretching the truth; reveal that we returned home to mourn. I trust your judgment." Aryan placed a firm hand on the younger man’s shoulder. "We’ll be in touch."

His gaze lingered, but then he abruptly turned away and began his awkward shuffle toward the shuttle. Despite his impaired mobility, he moved with surprising speed—he had received some assistance from the Force—and was able to reach the landing ramp without issue.

A short time later, the Upsilon-class shuttle lifted from the tarmac and soared toward space.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

GM Note: Please ensure you read the entire update, as all parts of the plot will be impacted by this moment and event.

May the Force be with you, my friends.

GM TAG 1 of 2​

IC: Lin and Artoo and Threepio and Finn and Rose - a combo with @Kurisan
The Old Jedi Temple Courtyard, currently known as Down-and-Out Plaza...

Lin found herself dragged by the hand again as Dade dashed through tunnels and alleys until they came to what looked like an old warzone. Rubble scattered across old stone tiles, campfires flickered beneath half-toppled pillars, and figures huddled in the shadows.

Lin's eyes narrowed. Akiva or Coruscant, no matter where you were in the galaxy, these parts of cities were dangerous places.

And yet... she sensed this place had once been of some import. The cracked faces on the fallen statues looked noble and wise. The sweeping space might once have been a great piazza leading to a sacred tower. Something stirred deep inside... just like when she had found that overgrown Jedi temple deep in the Akivan jungle.

Dade was pointing and seemed excited to recognise something. Lin looked. Two droids - one an expensive-looking protocol model - wandered bold as you like right through the plaza. They inevitably attracted attention from the entrepreneurial denizens.

"They are with the Resistance," hissed Dade.

Lin sighed. She had done a good day's work for the Resistance. Was it not time for hot bath and then food? She feared no-one, and could fight like a wild nexu when she needed to, but scrapping with vagabonds was something she had hoped to leave behind, not her idea of the life of a Resistance Heroine.

Then the flashlight beams tore through the darkness and the harsh orders shattered the night.

"Get away from those droids!"

Lin had now become accustomed to the sound of First Order storm troopers. Her ire rose, and her pulse quickened. She glanced at Dade and nodded.

"Okay, let's do this."

She crept closer, keeping to the shadows, hand resting on her sheathed blade. She gestured for Dade to take another flank. He had the blaster carbine. Once he opened up and confusion scattered the white-armoured soldiers, she would make a dash for the droids.

As Dade leapt forward, the strobe shut off, revealing that the audio recording came from Artoo - just to scatter the dwellers!

“Thank goodness. Don’t ever leave me again,” Threepio scolded.

It was then the golden droid looked up at Dade and lifted his arms. “Don’t shoot!”

The astromech twirled a head and spat a stream of smoke at him from a fire extinguisher! He then screamed at Dade, rushing forward with an electric welder!

Lin shook her head as it became clear what had transpired.

"What a clever droid!" she laughed.

Then the astromech spat out white smoke and rolled after Dade with its welder sparking. Lin jumped from the shadows.

"Whoa there, feisty!" she called to the droid. "Dade, don't shoot!"

She may have forgotten she was carrying her blade as she loped straight for the golden one...

Artoo screeched and diverted it's path, and Threepio raised his golden hands. "Artoo, wait! I recognise these from the Coruscanti warrants." He pointed a finger. "Dade Kya, and Lin - um, just Lin. Both Resistance loyalists, I gather."

The little astromech paused, and tweeted an apology. "This is my counterpart, R2-D2, and I am C-3P0, human-cyborg relations, and I am fluent in over six million languages -"

But not Sith, Artoo blatted, ribbing the droid over how they'd had to bypass his entire memory to get to data in that language nine years ago.

Even as Threepio expressed his offense,

Dade was still in awe of them, notwithstanding the miscommunication. In his typical manner, the astromech turned to go, tweetling at them to hurry, and Threepio grumbled at his rudeness. "I am so sorry." Without even seeing if Lin and Dade followed, he waddled after the astromech.​

He lead them through a crumbled wall inside the temple, revealing the Grand Entrance Hall - gothic arched ceilings over a massive Kyber Crystal mounted like a holy sculpture. Dade looked at Lin, completely baffled. "What are we doing here?"

Artoo blatted.

You'll see.

In the Temple Spire, Rose and Finn run their fingers along the smooth walls. Rose find's a pyramid-shaped socket. "Found one," Finn said. He reaches into his jacket - Poe's jacket, his first gift to the man - and unwraps a pair of crystals. He threw one to her -

"NO!" Rose shouted - but she caught it, releasing a breath. "Five thousand year old Kyber crystal, very rare," she said, seething. "You hand it to me."

Abashed, Finn winced. "Sorry."

They insert their crystals into the sockets, and Finn, nervous, narrates. "Ready? Three, two -"

Click.

The spire rumbles; the floor opens. A huge aurodium-copper machine rises up, Old Republic tech around a central conducting chamber. Power flows through it, humming; a grand display.

Then it shorts out, sparks falling. The machine goes dark.

"Can't it be easy?" Rose grumbled. "Just one time."



(NB: Please note R2 and Threepio are not present, they are at the Spire base with Lin and Dade).

Sparks fly as Rose wields the broken conductor in place.

"Will this old thing work with modern droids?" Finn has to ask. It's a really belated question.

"You're asking me about the mechanics of a Force-powered antenna," Rose said drily.

Finn nodded. "Out of your realm of expertise?"

"Out of anyone's realm of expertise."

She closes the plane, flips a rusted lever. Silence.

"So," Finn hedges. "Is there an "on" button, or -"

THMMMM. A light ignites within the machine.

"Listen, if this goes sideways - I just want to say -"

Finn's mind flutters back nine years, to when he wanted to say something to Rey as they drowned in the sands of Pasaana. "Say what?"

A column of light shoots down the hollow spire!

At the spire base, Threepio lurches as the ground vibrates, Dade grabbing on Lin. The column of light from the spire above connects with the Kyber crystal! It glows, absorbing the energy.

Artoo wheels next to the column of light and projects a hologram message directly into the datastream.

Leia Organa Solo's Legacy.

The light beam shoots up into the sky, visible for miles.

The poor and downtrodden look up at the beacon across Coruscant, faces warmed by its lights. Among them, Dade smiles, hopeful.

TAG: @Kurisan
—-
Aboard the Capitol

The light soars up into the sky, and Ilsa is looking at it instead of Johnson as he comes to. She had a blaster trained on him, in-case the Agent emerged in control of her ex-boyfriend, which would be the first thing he saw.

The second he saw would be the doors to the room - which had been locked, and shot shut - whisking to open, and a malicious grin evident. It's Smith. "Well hello there, Johnson." Besides him stand two Mechtroopers, more than enough to eliminate them both. The Agent's expression knots into concern as he sees what Ilsa is looking at -

And then the Mechtroopers begin to convulse -

The beam goes by the transparisteel window, illuminating a shuttle coming down from the sky carrying Chancellor Hux. He is on the comms to Commander Sellik. "Where is Graul? What is happening?"

Sellik can't answer, and the channels are overridden all of a sudden -

From the Mechtroopers vocoders emerges a voice -

Leia's voice.

TAG: @Jerjerrod-Lennox (combo, please see below for rest of TAG)

The Light leaves Coruscant and connects to a nearby planet.​

IC: Lyz Graul
Wavett Shipyards, Expansion Region

They made it off Coruscant without even an interrogative from the orbital defenses; in typical Hux fashion, he wanted to get down to the Capitol in record time, disrupting the flow of the world's traffic, and with the lightening of the restrictions at the order of the Vice Chancellor, there was more than enough disruption caused by the arrival of three Star Destroyers to allow for their shuttle and paired TIE Whisper escort to escape notice -

Merging with the Perlemian Trade Route, it was merely half an hour before they reached Wavett, and the Expansion Region. There was an honour guard notified, and Lyz got her notes in order even as they reached orbit. There wasn't really all that much time, but she knew Aryan was a quick study.

It was her intention to keep him busy in the short term - and also herself - and they would later discuss Jalynn. It seemed best for them to stay focused on what she had wanted to build, and when they reached the Corporate Sector they could rebuild the severed tie there.

She let him know about Foreman Chrys, who was the lead politician/businessman of the system, and would be meeting them as they arrived. The First Order had a minimal presence - a simple garrison, with no orbiting warships. They simply kept the peace when requested, which wasn't often but had been slowly but surely increasing. With the call to arms and war re-starting, the tighter restrictions and focus that Hux was demanding across their territory would only enflame the situation.

Lyz made an addendum that she suspected that Warlord Gherlid was responsible for at least some of the negativity towards the First Order. But he was only the distance of the Mid Rim away, so there were no surprises there; it wasn't all that far, and he was as expansionist as ever. "All in all, I reckon Gherlid will end up the greatest threat to any attempt to breakaway from Coruscant."

As they were escorted down by a pair of elderly K-wings, it became apparently Chrys intended to meet them in the yards themselves, which spoke of a hands-on leader or that he intended to show off. It was the former, it appeared - the human was grime covered and looked vexed he had to humour this, but Lyz knew (and had mentioned to Aryan) that the man was frustrated he even needed a 'hearts and minds' visit from a Core bigwig.

He was still cleaning his hands as their ramp dropped, using solvent to try and remove the last of the oil on his fingers, a similarly mucky protocol droid waddling up beside him. "Foreman Chrys," he said abruptly. Hands still not resolved, he nodded. "Vice-Chancellor." He looked to Lyz, a bit more uncomfortable as he wasn't sure of the term of address. "Miss." He gestured to the droid. "This is H-ORT3, my walking memory box."

He was about to say something else when there was a flash of light from behind them all - outside, in space, seemingly delivered across the stars -

The droid stood upright, and began to speak -

Leia's voice.

TAG: @HanSolo29
---
IC: Bendu
Agora Six, Core Worlds

The trip down the mountain was not an eventful one, the droids wandered back to his ship, and the monk wondered. “So, what did you learn from the Kyber? Lots and lots of memories have gone into that, more than just mine.”

He tapped along with his stick. “Kyber crystals can live for many centuries and millennia after all...” Bendu shrugged. “I’ve had a few former Jedi visit me over the years, would you believe. Since the Purge. One of them said he had left with the Kyber the ‘seed of the future’.”

The monk looked bemused as they reached the bottom of the hills, settling down on a wooden chair outside his shack. “Destiny had ordained I pass it to the young lady that Nomi had hoped to send my way... but instead you are here. Duelling fates, always so very conflicted, between who we are, who we could be, and who we would be -“

The ground shook, nay, the entire mountain shook - or perhaps all of Agora Six, and as Bendu looked back there was a colossal beam of energy - of Light - pouring down from the heavens, and Bendu looked back to the Beacon, which both absorbed the arrival and reflected it on -

Tirran’s droids were overridden by an incoming signal -

Bendu looked back, knowing full well that the ancient technology would do the same to every droid in the galaxy -

Leia's voice.

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto (combo)
—-
IC: 7P-7
Room Service, Ollaforn, Outer Rim

Before Rhoen could reply to Syal, there was a knock at the door. “Room service!”

Syal hesitated, and called out. “Not now!”

“But I must deliver the order. Master C insisted that an apology be made for his rude behaviour,” came the tinny noise of a droid, and she rolled her eyes.

“Hold that thought,” Syal grit her teeth, knowing the droid would just keep knocking. Indeed, before she even made it from the bed to the door there was another rap.

Keying the door, she muttered. “Alright, alright, what is it -“ She stopped, surprised.

The droid had a large carnation of beautiful off-world flowers to hand, and all she could think was that ‘Master C’ had to be the most debonair and sophisticated gentleman (and conman) she had ever met - which meant it was Lando Calrissian -

But that wasn’t what made her pause.

The droid was twitching, as if being hacked from afar. Syal reached for her sidearm, realised she’d left her blaster tucked in a drawer -

And then it began to speak.

It was Leia's voice.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 (updated TAG; single)
---
Concord Dawn, and then -

The Pulsar Skate was fuelled and ready, and the rest of the clan soared into orbit as the Mandator-class dreadnought departed. There were Pursuer-class assault ships, Fang fighters, and Aggressors, the whole spectrum of vessels, and they would be more than enough for any First Order deployment shy of - well, a Super Star Destroyer like the Knife 9.

They reached the Nirauan system quickly, making up for lost time.

But they found that there was a missing planet; Korilev had been completely destroyed - a whole world; inhabited sparsely, yes, but still tens of thousands of dead. All that was left was a debris field - a reminder of the Graveyard of Alderaan, or perhaps other worlds blown apart in the most recent wars - be it Aeten II, Da Soocha, Byss, Sernpidal, Kalarba, or Kijimi.

Amaria, aboard the Skate with Kaz and Whistler, winced. “I’m sure that they weren’t here when this happened,” she said.

Of course, they hadn’t received any messages via comms, with the First Order jamming, but Asteria could answer for Eleanor. “I can feel Madelyn in the Force; they’re not gone.”

Kaz nodded, releasing a breath. “I didn’t think so, but that’s good to know.” He looked at them. “But where are they, then?”

“The First Order was here, clearly,” Amaria reasoned. “But the enemy will have returned to the Inner Rim after this - or Coruscant. We don’t have a way to track them -“

“Look!” Asteria pointed out the cockpit window.

There was a beam of light in the background, soaring through the stars, and it headed towards Nirauan, and then, rebounded, heading back into the galaxy towards, according to the Skate, Bonadon -

But before anyone could comment further, Whistler was impacted by whatever was happening, and began projecting a message -

It was Leia's voice.

TAG: @TheSilentInfluence (combo, subject to below TAG)
---
Bonadon, Corporate Sector

Aboard Dol Khan's ship, the Nagai sniffed. "The Knights of Ren are not my enemy, but I keep to my word." He jabbed a thumb at his chest. "I am Nihl, first-born son to a great warlord. I shall succeed him, and surpass him, and become more..." He sneered, and his eyes seemed to glint yellow for a moment.

"I already have lay of the land; come, I shall lead you to the Knights' target. There is a Jedi village here, made up of exiles from the Purge of the Old Order. They are an argumentative mess, and took out three Mechtroopers a moment ago, at great injury to themselves and the nightmarkets."

He twirled his staff. "Come, Paymaster."

The three former Jedi would feel the Force rolling, as if something great was about to erupt from it. There was such a terrible tension, a clash of possibilities and futures and pasts... it was going to get worse...

The Knights were in.

Kylo Ren was growing stronger.

The Resistance was on the run.

The Last Jedi was imperilled.

What could Xundel, Barriss and Madelyn do about it?

Could Rey face it down? Would Poe and Chewbacca be able to keep up?

Nomi felt the strain upon her.

Upon the Force.

If there was a blow to it - a tragedy, a betrayal, or a massacre - it would wound.

She had done all she could.

It was time for her lineage to end.

The Sunrider's had not been Chosen One's for many years...

There was a rumbling, and a light that seemed to consume the sky -

TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas, @CosmoHender, @Mitth_Fisto, @darthbernael, @QueenSabe7, @Shadowsun, (opening TAG, subject to the below)

 

IC: Bendu
Agora Six

Hills rise above a dense layer of palm jungle. Atop one, a mountain, a thousand-year-old receiver from the Old Republic, as we all know; we just saw Tirran Huxley repair it. So too, did a Mechtrooper... who, at the orders of someone of other, has grounded his TIE Marauder and is watching -

The light hits the receiver, disappearing within.

The old copper machine consumes the light. The gears spin and whirl. Monitors come to life with arabesh code.

Bendu rises to his feet, looks to the sky; he's been waiting for this a long time.

Lights blink and flash as the machine decodes the datastream back into an image.

Leia, elegant in her white robe, recording a message before her death that was never used.

Until now.

In the nearby settlement, peasants in a bread line look up at the light hutting the receiver in the distance.

Suddenly a nearby R4 unit droid beeps wildly and projects the hologram of Leia.

"This is General Leia Organa of the Resistance..."

The receiver send another beam of light from its core, angled on a different trajectory into the sky.

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto
---
Wavett

Workers looks up as the light hits a receiver perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Shipyards hover above the surface, to ensure that raw materials from beneath the sea are easily conveyed to them.

Suddenly every droid in the yard - on the planet - simultaneously projects the hologram message from Leia.

"The time has come to forge a path to freedom."

TAG: @HanSolo29
---
Mon Cala

Mon Calamari pause to listen to the hologram emanating from several droid servers inside the floating eatery.

"The forces of oppression have ruled our galaxy for too long."

---
Gria

A village of floating straw huts on water. The light its a man-made stone tower on the horizon.

"We must join together and fight. Send your fasted ships..."

---
Drev'starn City, Bothawui

Muscular, canine Bothans look up, Traest Kre'frey chief among them.

"All your warriors."

---
Trandosha palace

Bossk, sitting like a sultan in his den of pleasures, turns angrily towards the hologram projecting from his servant droid.

"Our voices will not be silenced."

He looks out his window at the light connecting to a red rock spire in the distance. He clenches his fist.

---
Tatooine, moisture farm

Setting suns against a boy and his sister at the base of a vaporator tower watching their R6 unit play the hologram.

"We can no longer live in the shadow of the First Order."

---
Bonadon market, sunset

Poe and Rey step through a dense, captivated crowd of droids as droids project the end of the message; it is impossible for this to have been unseen; droids all over the village, serving in the cafe, working the local mines, through the marketplace, helping with the ships at the lily-pad bays -

Barriss, Dol, Chewbcca, Madelyn and Xundel will have seen it -

The Knights of Ren, as they descend, will too.

"We must step into the light."

TAG: @CosmoHender, @The Jedi in the Pumas, @TheSilentInfluence, @darthbernael, @QueenSabe7
---
Aboard the Eclipse, the bridge

Connix stands on the bridge, watching the light connecting planets. A familiar group of Resistance fighters join her, eyes wide and hopeful. Wedge, Myri, Beaumont and others among them.

---
Remnicore, tundra, night

As he approaches his ship, Kylo Ren feels the light in the sky. It's visible in the stars above.

He moves to a rocky overlook; closes his eyes, and concentrates - he holds out his hand.

The rocks around him vibrate, a deep rumble that seems to shake the dead planet.

The light in the sky stops.

Stopped by an immovable force.

It is held in place like a suspended laser blast, thrumming as the pressure builds.

---
Jedi Temple spire

The beam grows in intensity; the receiver quakes.

"Something's wrong," Rose says.

"Go, GO!" Finn shouts.

They dive away as the ancient device explodes.

The light goes dark. The fire of revolution is extinguished.

Connix is overcome.

---
Coruscant, Agora Six, Wavett, Mon Cala, Gria, Bothawui, Trandosha, Concord Dawn, Ollaforn, Bonadon

The holograms disappear.

Syal looks at Rhoen, eyes wide.

It has began.

Or has it ended?

Her mouth works; she doesn't know what to do, or say.

The silence of the galaxy resumes.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 (second part of updated TAG)
---
IC: Rose and Finn
Temple Spire, Coruscant

Rose and Finn climbed from the rubble, coughing on dust. Rose calls out to him. “You okay?”

Before he can reply, they are suddenly surrounded by a trio of TIE Whispers, laser cannons aimed through the open arched windows -

“Come on!”

Finn clips onto the zip wire. Rose grabs in. They zip away as the Temple Spire explodes behind them -

In the courtyard below, Threepio, Artoo, Dade and Lin would be rained upon by debris and the Temple’s collapse -

The droids hurry forward -

Finn and Rose escape the fireball, but the TIEs turn and pursue them, blasting away. Rose draws her weapon and fires in midair, shattering the front windshield of one, hitting the pilot in a skilful shot. It spins out and crashes, far too close to the four below!

But Rose is grazed by laser blast -

She screams in pain.

The zipline snaps as the Temple spire crumbles, and Rose falls into the darkness.

“Rose!” Finn shouted. He manages to swing into the open floor of the unfinished skyscraper, struggling to unhook himself. The TIE Whispers hover around the skeletal structure and fire into it - Finn runs for his life, sliding into the stairwell under heavy fire.

He collapsed, pained by the loss of Rose, worried for Threepio, for Artoo -

Rey, he cried out.

TAG: @Kurisan (final part of TAG)
---
Aboard the Capitol

Hux's eyes were open wide, utterly shocked.

He had been greeting by Arek Graul rather than his Vice Chancellor, and he was furious enough as it was, but then the Jedi Temple, left in a ruinous state to show to the galaxy just how pathetic the old ways were, had revealed hitherto unknown technology and overridden the galactic jamming!

This was a devastating blow, but thankfully for Hux, Commander Sellik had been tracking the Resistance spies with the data from Agent Johnson and the TIEs had managed to intervene in swift order... but it was still too much. He had no doubt that worlds across the galaxy would now be invigorated to rise up. Unless the Resistance was given a very public defeat, the First Order would be fighting an uphill battle, and without the Eclipse Fleet -

Arek pursed his lips.

This was bad.

... or was it? Was the undoing of Hux and his First Order the same as the destruction of his father and his plans?

He kept those thoughts to himself, as Sellik provided Hux with a path to victory.

If only Johnson hadn't shown them the way...

The droids were recovering, which of course meant there was a limited window for Johnson himself in the reconditioning chair. Ilsa took the chance and shot the clasps on his hands, and Smith refocused at the sound, as Ilsa turned to shoot at him -

He shot her, in his rush only catching her shoulder and spinning her around -

It was on!

TAG: @Jerjerrod-Lennox (combo; second part of TAG)
—
IC: Poe
Bonadan nightmarket

One couldn’t say how much Rey would feel of Finn’s pain and anguish. His sense of failure; his crushing feeling of loss growing heavier.

But Poe is looking at something behind her; someone’s threading through the chaos of the disrupted marketplace.

Hattaska Ren, through the separating crowd.

Ott and Lorl Ren flank him, menacing amidst the carnival lights and box lanterns.

“Okay I’m with you. We gotta get to the ship -“ Poe looked at her, eyes the lightsaber on her waist. “Not here.”

With Vicrul was Jaedec, the latter leading them in from another direction. From another, was Barriss, Madelyn and Xundel, of course. Nihl had led Dol through the back-alleys, and they ended up atop the caf. To the left were the lily-pad docks; to the right was the tent that Nomi used.

Poe looked at the five Knights, and then at the three motley Force users. There was a crowd here, and they began to realise that something was foot. There was a roar in the direction of the lily-pad’s, and Chewbacca took a shot from atop the Millennium Falcon at Vicrul -

Jaedec palmed a blaster and fired at Poe, grazing him, he shouted out -

The crowd scattered, screaming, as many children as men and women ran. The other Knights of Ren ignited their lightsabers, and Hattaska drew the Darksaber and lunged for Rey -

Even as the Force quaked with a passing.

Nomi.

Nomi had just became one with the Force.

TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas, @darthbernael, @QueenSabe7, @TheSilentInfluence, @CosmoHender, @Shadowsun - please post singles for this round, but be prepared for sudden combos to be suggested )

 

OOC: cracks knuckles, Let us get this party started

IC Xundel
Bonadan nightmarket

Events had come to a halt as a white beam of light had appeared in the sky. It had filled the sky, turning night to day while it shone. Then every droid in the marketplace, everywhere Xundel could see and sense, paused in what they were doing, their speakers crackling. Each of their displays lit and a face was shown, an older woman, regal in bearing, seemingly weary but resolute. Her voice spoke out, powerful, commanding, perfectly matching the visage. People, good, bad, and indifferent stopped what they were doing and watched, enraptured.

"This is General Leia Organa of the Resistance...
"The time has come to forge a path to freedom.
"The forces of oppression have ruled our galaxy for too long.
"We must join together and fight. Send your fastest ships...
"All your warriors.
"Our voices will not be silenced.
"We can no longer live in the shadow of the First Order.
"We must step into the light."

It cut off, seemingly before the message was done. As it did the market erupted in noise, activity, people streaming back and forth. The Force was roiling here, so many Force users were present, including one of the strongest alive. But then Xundel stumbled as he felt a presence, one of the few he knew in this time, fade, pass into the Force. ”Nomi…farewell, lady.” he whispered.

The market began to clear of people which only served to open up what was beginning to appear more and more like a battlefield soon. He saw a woman, dressed as a scavenger and a man, standing and facing a trio of dark presences. The woman’s presence blazed brightly in the Force and he knew she was who he’d come to speak to. But would there be time or either of them survive the next period of time?

He, Barriss, and Madelyn were placed to assist but then two more of what had to be the Knights of Ren came into view. Even through the pain of the loss of Nomi, he recognised them both. One was the one he’d connected to, mind to mind. The other was the one that Nomi had suggested he try to speak to when she’d also suggested Eleanor.

He reached up one hand, tugging on first Barriss and then Madelyn’s garment, pointing surreptitiously with his cane at Vicrul, ”That one…” he whispered, loud enough for the two of them to hear, ”He’s the one I was told to try to speak to, by…” he paused sighing at the loss, ”Nomi. These are mine, protect the Last Jedi.”

His eyes began to blaze, one a pure clear light, the other dark and dripping blackness, as he stepped forward. His saber was still on his belt and his cane tapped the ground as he placed himself between Jaedec, Vicrul, and everyone else.

Looking up at the two of them, he pointed his cane at Jaedec, ”You have a filthy mind, so disorganized, tsk tsk.” The cane swung, ”You however, seem to have come to the attention of the great and good as one that could be of use. Prove it.” he stated as he set himself, the Force swirling around him in the sense of white, black, and every shade of grey between.

TAG: @Sinrebirth, @The Jedi in the Pumas, @QueenSabe7, @TheSilentInfluence, @CosmoHender

 

IC: Hattaska Ren
Variables, Bonadan




He didn't care for the civilians.

He didn't care that a group of Force users had swelled up at their moment of victory.

He just cared about killing the Last Jedi.

Hattaska swung his Darksaber with murderous precision at Rey.

These were not the half-trained Force users that Palpatine had raised a test for Ben Solo to take mastership over.

These Knights of Ren were Dark Jedi, if not on the philosophical cusp of being Sith.

Knights of Ruin.

As with these kind of fights, the entire brawl collapsed into five individual fights.

Jaedec saw the little green attacker bound up at Vicrul, but rather than support his brother he leapt under Xundel and headed towards Hattaska, spinning as he did and split in half an innocent -

TAG: @Shadowsun, @darthbernael (combo)

He skidded to a stop as he saw a Force user on her knees, a woman from Mirial, and whatever it was that tugged him towards her - he would only belatedly realize it was his Kyber crystal - he moved forward, sweeping his blade upwards with the intention to remove her head -

Chewbacca roared at Barriss to get up as his bowcaster spat a bolt at Jaedec, who caught the shot and gestured a hand up, dislodging the Wookiee from his lily-pad perch with a Force exertion -

Jaedec swung back at the kneeling, pained Barriss, but the Wookiee had given her a moment -

TAG: @CosmoHender (combo)

Other battles spun out, the market place collapsing from the onrush of the crowd, from deflected blaster bolts, from deflected lightsabers, separating them from each other.

Dust rose up into the air, eclipsing everyone from all but who was closest to them -

In one moment, Lorl Ren saw the older woman throw aside her cane and seek to intervene, and he spun out a blaster and took a shot at the spot between her eyes even as his lightsaber sprang into life. He held it before him as he rushed forward, casting aside the blaster - the bolt had been a distraction, the lightsaber simply active to catch any ricochet, and his true attack was a Force push from his now free hand, with the intent to put Madelyn off-balance as he reached her -

He was layering his

TAG: @TheSilentInfluence (combo)

For his part, Ott saw the Kubaz and Nagai positioned as they were, the former shouting instructions out. Ott drew two blasters and opened fire at them, a rain of bolts for each. The Nagai twirled a staff and ignited a crimson blade of his own, forcing Ott to flip and dodge over reflected attacks as he closed the distance. Nihl swung at Ott's feet as they came to land, while the First Order Captain spluttered confirmation that the Star Destroyer would be in orbit in ten minutes -

Ott didn't plant his feet, he simply stood on an invisible shelf, conjured with a twist of his finger, and rebounded off and over Nihl's swing, firing a pair of bolts into his back before he landed, twirled, and went to fire upon Dol Khan -

TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas (combo)

As Poe struggled with his wound, Hattaska tuned out the actions of the Knights of Ren, killing a Rodian as he charged Rey with a twist of his fingers and snap of their neck, and he slid through the dusty ground, pushing himself along with the Force, putting all of his strength into a two handed swing of his Darksaber at Rey's midriff -

It was at it's most confusing, right now.

There were ten Force users in a battle for their life - and a Wookiee, a Kubaz and an incredibly lucky human.

Dameron grimaced as he sagged to the floor, pointed his blaster into a lightsaber brawl, and waited for the right moment to shoot Hattaska Ren.

TAG: @QueenSabe7 (combo)