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

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

Discussion in 'Role Playing Forum' started by Sinrebirth , Dec 25, 2020.

  1. The Jedi in the Pumas

    The Jedi in the Pumas Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 23, 2018
    Sinre Approved!

    [​IMG]

    Name: Abaddon
    Age: 68
    Species: Human
    Homeworld: Geonosis
    Affiliation: Unaligned
    Force Sensitivity: N (For Not Really)
    Personal Effects: None
    Personal Starship: None
    Personal Weapon: Two cortosis hunting blades and cortosis knuckles
    Bio: The prevailing and dominant thought in the galaxy is that when the Force manifests itself in individuals, those individuals are deemed Force Sensitive: beings capable of manipulating and communicating with the fabric of the Force itself to accomplish great feats. This is the rule, but as with every rule, there are exceptions. Abaddon is the exception.

    Abaddon was born on Geonosis, the child of one of the few humans the Geonosians had accepted into their advanced weapons development program. His mother started to notice oddities in her baby boy even before the age of 5. Abaddon was unusually durable. She witnessed him falling out of their apartment window, which was five stories high, at the age of 3 and was completely unharmed. Normal childhood accidents which would leave cuts and bruises, left nothing on Abaddon. The child was also exceptionally strong. At the age of 5 he was able to lift heavy droid parts, weighing up to a 100 pounds, and shift the weight of stationary speeders. His mother grew to fear Abaddon and when the Clone Wars ended, she fled the planet without Abaddon, leaving the boy to fend for himself.

    The initial years during the rise of the Empire were rough for an abandoned child. Abaddon survived off the barren land of Geonosis until 10 BBY, on his 14th birthday, when he forced his way onto a scavenger's ship headed to the desert planet Tatooine. It was there that Abaddon began participating in street fights for food and credits. At first, as it was out of survival, Abaddon took no pleasure in the bouts. However, as he learned that his physical gifts allowed him to defeat opponent after opponent, his true brutal nature took shape. Abaddon eventually left the street fights to participate and win multiple gladiatorial contests, including the infamous Outer Rim Carve Up event and the bloody Gladiator Night on the planet Lothal. By the time the Empire fell, Abaddon's name was known all along the Outer Rim for being a genetic freak and unbeatable champion.

    He moved on from the Outer Rim into the Unknown Regions and fought in some of the Region's worse competition against Jedi, Dark Jedi, Sith, Wookiees, Trandoshans...It did not matter. None were able to defeat him. He spent years as part of the galaxy's premier crime syndicate and experienced the rise and fall, the highs and the tremendous personal lows that a life of crime brought with it. In the end, his great strength, nigh-invulnerability, and combat prowess was all that remained from decades of domination. He was completely and utterly alone. A decade ago, Abaddon returned home to Geonosis. He has lived the life of a hermit, speaking to no one, going nowhere, and utterly uninterested in the happenings of the galaxy. For what could the galaxy offer its Greatest Champion?
     
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2021
  2. Mitth_Fisto

    Mitth_Fisto Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 29, 2005
    IC: Tirran Huxley & Bendu Monk - A Combo with Sinre
    Cause and Effect, Who Knew?

    Smiling back at the monk he merely shrugged, "Thanks for the tip, but seeds are valuable things. I never expected to be payed twice, oddly balanced." he stated with a twinkle in his eyes. He was just about to bid final farewell and board his ship when his droids started to act up. Luckily his suit could be classified as a highly capable loadlifter, but with his tank docked all droid higher functions were shutdown. Still was disconcerting to see his others doing their bit as he tried to issue commands that they weren't following.

    "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."


    Huxley was pretty sure she was dead, so someone was either pulling an Identical holoscam, this was a recording, or somebody faked her death and finally couldn't live with herself anymore. Something Tirran thought likely, there never was a body after all. Once it was finished he looked at monk, control finally returning. "Well, if that isn't the next meal rotting."

    As moved as he was by Leia's Epitaph, Bendu was surprised by his comment, as articulate as it was.

    "You disapprove of warfare for its own sake? You should stay here with me, my friend. Nobody cares about Agora Six, we're overshadowed by all the Coruscants, Kuats, and Corellias."

    He chuckled drily. "Princess Leia Organa is a Chosen One, so we have to listen when they speak, unfortunately." He sighed a little. "All the Sunriders and Revans and Outlanders and Shan's and Dessel's and Palpatine's and Skywalkers." He huffed. "The Force seeking Balance and overcorrecting each and every time."

    "But as I say, nobody bothers with -"

    Suddenly, the beacon exploded, blowing apart not just it but the mountaintop, sending rock tumbling into the sky and upon them and the surrounding village -

    Looking up he reached out and grabbed the monk, hauling him into the ship with him and his droids as the shields were raised. The ship launching and backing away as cautiously in haste as only a droid can do. "I disapprove of war as it normally is bad for anybody with storefront business. Politicking peace is normally more a steady profit - and a lot less risky." Although war did have its moonshot profits every now and then, but also those life ending missteps as well. He needed to get to the controls of his ship and released his suits hold on the monk as he rushed to the controls.

    One of those life ending missteps seemed to be upon them.

    A large chunk of debris slammed into the top of the ship, and there was a panicked alarm as a gout of lava emerged from the mountain -

    Bendu was in shock. "That volcano has been dormant for centuries!"

    But when one shoved a missile into one, it was very much not dormant...

    Setting the ship for a flip turn to drop the unwanted passenger of rock, Huxley gunned the acceleration away from the exploding mountain. Because, well exploding mountain! "Funny how that can change with the proper weapon." twisting in his tank he glanced over at the monk, "Hate to be the barer of bad news, but if we survive this thing I think you are looking for a new gig."

    Bendu lamented. "I am supposed to be in the middle, not attacked... but then again defending a Jedi beacon I may very well have abandoned my traditional neutrality..." There was a splatter of laser fire upon them the rocks that sailed around them.

    It was the TIE Marauder - given direct orders by Coruscant to destroy the beacon network, it had done so with a missile, and then turned upon Tirran Huxley notwithstanding it's instructions via Dol Khan's pet captain. The TIE Marauder was an assault ship - armed, shielded, powerful, and, with the Mechtrooper grafted to it as if it was one entity, extremely responsive, even in atmosphere like it was now.

    The lava spewed more debris into the sky behind them, but now they were clear - and a missile shot out.

    Slamming the stick down he quickly initiated a spinning barrel roll twist to reverse their heading and instead aim for the exploding volcano. This was a mission where luck, skill, and the tunes were their only chance at survival. Missiles were bad like that, and activating his transmitter with the captains medallion he tried to cause the missile to either deactivate and signal the attacking craft to back off. He was going to aim for a rather large bubble umbrella and try to shoot under and out the other side for cover as he juiced the ship to run hot!

    Of course he wasn't relying solely on that as he had his droids activate the weapons pod to try and shoot out the missile, and one to load a seismic charge in the rear shoot. If the enemy followed, when he turned up at the other end of the umbrella he would drop it behind him on a short fuse. "Well, I don't care about neutrality and neither does he. So unless you have a really good handle on weapons, take it over from the droid. Or can summon a mumbo jumbo saving grace, I really don't have time for much else at the moment!"

    The missile was overridden by the captains medallion, but lasers splattered the shields as the TIE Marauder soared around behind the ship -

    Bendu hissed as he was jostled. "A prayer isn't going to do anything for the civilians that are getting caught up in this -" The First Order had never cared about Agora Six and he doubted they were secretly present; it wasn't much of their style, to be subtle. It was all discussions from a position of overwhelming power.

    The seismic charge went off, and the shock wave buffeted them and the TIE Marauder, and slammed into the mountain base -

    The entire thing exploded, lava rocketing out and up into the air, a pyroclastic detonation that consumed the Marauder in a flash -

    Putting everything into the engines that they could handle and the rest into shields he clawed for space as the lava chased after them. After it was all said and done, if he lived, he would see about a flyby of the village. So long as the sensors were correct and the ship was dead he could see if what he had done had had any effect on the villagers. If they were dead they were dead, if they were alive he could calculate how long they had and charge accordingly for a few rich folk to get a ride out of here.

    The lava stream was en route for the village, indeed, and his sensors told him as much. There were a few ornate buildings further away than not, if only because the rich didn't want their sunlight blocked by a big old mountain. The hills meant many civilians had plenty of notice of their impending doom, but they didn't have much chance of escaping.

    The shields were handling the onslaught just about, and then from the lava emerged the molten mass that had been the TIE Marauder.

    "For the First Order!" The comms line burst with, before cutting as the flaming wreck attempted to catch them and ram -

    As soon as the target was acquired whatever charge was left in the gun fired. Droids were nice and simple that way. Target reacquired and - fire. Leaving the settings as they were he started spinning, planning to break away at the last moment so the other ship would shoot past. Once the lava and debri were less an issue he would transfer more than spare power to recharge the weapons system. "So, you can't be useful or choosing not to? If we don't die we can see who wants to pay for passage out of town." added conversationally. It wasn't like stress tapping the controls to go faster were actually going to do anything useful.

    Bendu snorted, even as the TIE-lava-Marauder broke apart under the laser fire and dropped from orbit.

    Finally.

    He reflected that wasn't the most peaceful way to approach that, but the TIE had been trying to kill them.

    "I mean, I've never fought anyone, all I can do is point out that building -" He leaned over to indicate an elderly one. "Is the school."

    His hand drifted. "But that's the rich offworlders who are more likely to pay than not." A slight shrug. "I'm in the middle; that doesn't mean I care about profit, but you may."

    Chuckling in his tank he relaxed as his shuttle came down toward the village. "Yes, I care about money. I also care about connections - and the wealthy owing me always can be more useful than money. Orphans? The galaxy is overflowing with them and I have little use for urchins creating an undertow. So unless you know some kids are worth something signal the wealthy we are coming in and those with nothing to offer will be shot if they force themselves. Granted if a valuable kid is there make sure they are ready for aerial evac. Keeping from landing makes it easy to have a firm cutoff in these situations." he stated with firm certainty while flying down with an angle between the two buildings. It was up to Bendu Monk whether they saved kids or rich people, this was also Huxley's way of feeling out the Monk. After all he was giving the man a ride and saving his life, he needed to know how the man was going to repay that - or if he was.

    The Bendu monk went silent, and made a noise of disgust. "Pick one of the gaudy buildings, I'm sure that'll work."

    At that, he left Tirran to pick which building he wanted to blackmail into freedom. He wouldn't have anything to do with it.

    Smirking Tirran pulled up and headed for the wealthier tower. He sent a message to the children's school tower and to the wealthy tower though. Any with methods of payment would be rescued, children would be free boarders if they made it in time to the roof of the other building. It was a shuttle though, a luxury one but still a shuttle. So if any tried to force their way onboard they would be shot, future favors with a position off planet could serve as a method of payment.

    Relaxing in his tank he waited as his droids armed themselves with visible weapons. Of course if none of the rich towers needed rescue and had their own ships, well children were always a fall back to save. Nothing to do but wait and see how things went.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
  3. Sinrebirth

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

    Registered:
    Nov 15, 2004
    IC: Kylo Ren
    Remnicore

    He leaves Remnicore’s orbit, mask off.

    A holocom transmission of Hux appears on his dash.

    “Supreme Leader,” Hux starts, tone angry. “The Resistance attempted to override the communications blockade.”

    “Do you really not know who stopped them?” Kylo starts, monotone sarcasm.

    Hux’s face betrays him; he didn’t know. He splutters, attempting to recover. “Such treachery cannot stand. We must respond swiftly.”

    “Our Empire is strong,” Kylo Ren soothed, condescending in tone but not to same the extent if he’d the mask on. “Show them.”

    “Your absence emboldens them,” Hux snapped. “It you’ve acquired the power you seek, show it.”

    Kylo Ren is unperturbed. “Snoke was right about you, Hux. Without faith, you serve only yourself.”

    He shuts the holocomm off, sets new coordinates manually, and blasts into hyperspace.

    TAG: No One
    —-
    IC: Syal Aquilla

    Ollaforn, four hours later

    While Rhoen slept, Syal poked around the First Order network, absently wishing her mother or sister were here to slice into the system. For now she limited herself to unpalatably legal enquiries, going through local news on Ollaforn.

    Most of it was just recycling what Chancellor Hux had said; that the First Order had destroyed the Resistance base on Korilev, and didn’t even shy away from the fact that they’d used one of Palpatine’s old Xyston-class Star Destroyers to do so. Syal reasoned that Hux was desperate to dampen down any response to the broadcast. Leia had always had a way with words - encouraging the New Republic to continue fighting on many occasions, even famously recording a speech to the defenders of Coruscant.

    She tapped through screens, but there wasn’t anything about the damage she’d seen at Kuat, nor the clampdown as the war was back on. Syal was more like her father; a pilot - direct and almost simple. The complicatedness of loyalties and sides wasn’t something she ordinarily concerned herself with. But here she was.

    Stifling a yawn, she checked her chrono; it was time to wake Rhoen. As much as she’d have loved to give him more time to sleep - she was exhausted. It had been a disastrous few days and she knew she couldn’t keep this up.

    As she gently placed a hand on Rhoen’s shoulder to wake him, there was a knock at the door, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. Syal slipped over to peer out of the room through the eye-hole - she didn’t actually know what it was called - she had a sharp intake of air as she realised who it was a moment before his voice came across.

    “It’s Lando. I can’t stay long and I need to speak to you both.”

    TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 (combo)
    —-
    IC: Finn

    Coruscant, depths

    Finn sneaked out of the skyscraper, bleeding, disoriented. Voices echo, flashlights searching for him, for Dade, for Lin, for Artoo-Detoo and Threepio. They've all ended up separated from each other in the chaos; their bearings lost.

    Down the alleys, Stormtroopers on AT-LTs - single-rider walkers - scan the dark.

    A small light up ahead; Finn ducks into shaodw.

    A Stormtrooper we know, RK-514, approaches, scanning the tunnel with his blaster-mounted torch. It's the soldier that met Barriss in the Jedi Temple a day ago. Finn appears behind him, shoves a handheld device in the back of his neck and stuns him - it's Rose's old stunner, the one she used on Finn aboard the Raddus nine years ago - a keepsake of their meeting.

    The Stormtrooper collapses - Finn confiscates his weapon and holds him at blaster-point. He's pained, exhausted, and snaps. "Look at me." The Stormtrooper moans, half-conscious. The charge in the stunner is low; he can still move, and Finn issues another order. "Take off your helmet."

    The Trooper follows the order - his eyes are scared, disillusioned. Vulnerable.

    "What to you remember? How far back?" Finn demands. To the confusion of the man, he prods with his blaster. "Do you remember when you were taken? Remember you parents?"

    RK is more confused than ever - what does that matter? "I, I don't know."

    "Yeah you do," Finn says. "You remember everything - conditioning camp. Blind fires."

    "It was training," RK tries to say -

    "That's what they tell you." The light finds Finns face, and RK recognises him.

    "You're him. The traitor."

    "That's right." Finn toes the Stormtrooper helmet out of reach. "We're brothers. All of us." He looks back at RK. "Give me our comlink."

    RK-514 hands it over, unsure why he did, but doing so anyway, as Finn continues. "It's not what they said it would be, is it? The things we're ordered to do. It's not right."

    The trooper takes that in; torn; breaking. You can see it on his face.

    "You had a name once," Finn continues, lips firmed. "Do you remember it?" RK shakes his head. Finn nods. "Get a name. That's the first step." Finn shoulders RK-514s blaster and kicks open a sewer grate.

    "Then what?" RK says, his voice hopeful.

    Finn looked back. "Find something worth fighting for." Finn drops into the dark sewer - leaving RK-514 changed.

    In short order, after an encounter with slime covers womp rats, and a gryock, a white eyeless lava the width of the tunnel - which had been busy sucking sewerage into its gaping mouth, Finn is traumatized for life, when Dade reaches down from another tunnel.

    "Give me your hand!"

    "That was. So many disgusting things. All at once."

    Dade looked over his shoulder at Lin, grinning. "I've seen worse. Dade." He points with his thumb at her. "Lin."

    "Just one name?" Finn says, glancing to them both.

    "What's wrong with that, Finn?" Dade grins.

    "You know me."

    Dade gestures Lin forward. "I do, sure, but I've been Resistance for a while. But Lin doesn't."

    Finn is conscious that he looks like he's been dragged through sewerage. Backwards. "Hi." He manages a sheepish grin.

    TAG: @Kurisan (combo)
    ---
    IC: Kaz and Amaria and Asteria

    Nirauan

    The clan disperses - to Hapes, to Bothawui, even a scout to Coruscant. They need to know how extensive this rebellion is, if it is at all. Clan members with ties to other Mandalorians head to the home sector, spreading the narrative that a call to arms by Mand'alor has been made, leaving Eleanor and her ship above Nirauan.

    They had moved there to see what was left of an old Chiss base known as the Hand of Thrawn, but it had been ransacked by pirates many years ago, and the Imperial remnant it represented long ago smashed by the First Order out in the Unknowns. There wasn't much to scrounge, but there was shelter while they decided what to do.

    The clan essentially set up a courier network, though how effective it would be was another question.

    In short order a handful of messages carried by escape pods hovering in deep space with their holocoms enabled, fighter craft taking up positions within range of the comms of a freighter and more besides created a chain network.

    Eleanor knew that Coruscant was stirring angrily; that the Bothans had been riled; that even the Trandoshans were active in the Mid Rim, preparing to do something, but the energy was unfocused, and ill-directed.

    But then -

    A pang of incredible, searing pain crossed the Force.

    Madelyn was wounded.

    There was a surge and Eleanor would know that she was on Bonadan, in the Corporate Sector, at the end of the Hydian Way -

    But she would also know that they were the only clans member not dedicated at the moment, that they were spread thin until the other factions and Mandalorians responded, even if the latter just told them to kark off. But perhaps they wouldn't, perhaps they would heed her call.

    Asteria was tearful, and Kaz looked down at her, even as Amaria put down her datapad and stepped over to Eleanor. "What's wrong?"

    TAG: @TheSilentInfluence
    ---

    Coruscant, the Capitol

    Chancellor Hux stands over a prisoner strapped to a vertical torture rack.

    Rose.

    "Are you comfortable?" He says, snide, arms tucked behind his back.

    "Yeah," Rose says drily. "I have one of these at home."

    "You changed the stolen Destroyer's signature codes so we couldn't trace it." His voice was taut. "Give me the codes."

    Her tone was more drawl than anything. "You know, they told me to pick something easy to remember, like Life Day but..."

    "You think this is funny," Hux said, snide. "Very well." He holds out his hand, shutting his eyes, concentrating deep.

    Rose looks perplexed. "Are you? Are you really trying to use the Force on me?"

    A snap. "Be quiet."

    "Oh no," her tone is sympathetic. And mocking. "See... you're not special. I mean," she blinks. "At all."

    "SHUT UP!"

    Rose pauses, waits, almost politely, thinking to herself that Hux has been humiliated enough by her for one day. He lowers his hand, huffing, squeezing it into a fist.

    "We have other ways to extract information." Hux opens the blast door to reveal an electric torture device none too dissimilar to that which Johnson had been reconditioned in twice. But this one is new tech; designed to work quickly.

    Efficiently.

    Brutally.

    Rose braces for a more painful kind of defiance.

    TAG: @no-one
    ---
    IC: Haydnat Treen

    Agora Six, Core Systems

    In time, Tirran Huxley would find someone, eventually.

    The lava streamed and burned the hills and the civilians; the poor ones, of course.

    The school hadn't been consumed yet.

    Bendu had tuned out, gone to his room to meditate on events.

    There was eventually a comm crackle as he drifted towards the ornate building at the edge of the hill-village. Hill-age? Hillage?

    "Finally," an sharp, aristocratic voice came across. "Someone who is not from this backwater world. I was told it was a Core World - property prices are ridiculously high for what it is." She snorted. "Come and get me, and I'll make you rich."

    A hesitation.

    "How much money will you need to take a former political pariah?"

    The comm line became a hologram.

    It was Haydnat Treen, the former Senator of Kuat.

    [​IMG]

    TAG: @Mitth_Fisto
     
  4. QueenSabe7

    QueenSabe7 Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Mar 23, 2001
    Combo with, and approved by, Lord Sinre

    IC: Poe, Hattaska, Rey

    Bonadon Nightmarket

    Rey clutched her stomach suddenly, a hollowed feeling carving out her insides; like the sensation your entire body gets when it hasn't had nourishment in many days. The Force was strong in Nomi's little enclave, indeed it was enough to heighten the energies moving about each living being that was connected to it, but this held no comparison.

    Her eyes searched Poe's still, the truth that she must continue this journey alone still hanging in the air. A pause, then she turned and made her way back outside into the night air, crowds already gathering with every face - organic and mechanical - pointed skyward.

    "Leia," Rey whispered, Poe appearing at her side as she studied the sight of her former Master in holo-form, regal as ever in white. As the enormous projection began to speak, obviously it had been recorded prior to her passing but the words held a similar weight on this very day.

    We must step into the light.

    A call to war? A reminder of hope? Something meant just for her one-time apprentice?

    Then suddenly, the light spectacle vanishes and Rey is overcome with a familiar darkness. One that had once burned so strongly in light, however fleetingly it had been. She sensed him; Ben.

    And then she sensed him; Finn. 'Rey' came his voice in the Force, anguished and afraid, an emotional pain chilling her to the bone. Without realizing she was doing so, she reached out and clutched Poe's arm, the depth of it all seizing her muscles momentarily until it became more immediately clear as to the exact cause of her emotional sickness. She glanced over her shoulder just as Poe followed her gaze.

    Three Knights of Ren, moving towards them. And then she turned in another direction, two more Knights funneling in to join. Beings began to scatter, their emotions a meshing of panic and fear. Rey had no time to note the other trio that seemed to be caught in the crosshairs of Kylo Ren's cult, instead igniting one half of her saberstaff to bat away a blaster bolt too late, leaving it enough space to graze her friend's shoulder. Poe cried out and collapsed down, but the largest of the Knights was already on her before she could offer him aid. A saber of the blackest crystal slashed down with intent to kill and she brought her orange blade up to parry, stepping between her attacker and the injured Poe.

    With the Force, she shoved out and forward, her free hand punching Hattaska square in the chest with a blast of unseen energy.

    Hattaska took the blow and powered through it, using a strong Force exertion to prevent himself from being hurled away. He slammed to the ground on his feet, carved a defensive swirl as he regarded the double-bladed lightsaber with his stony masked gazed.

    “The Last Jedi.”

    He lashed out low but was already inverting around his centre to cut at her neck from high, flicking out a booted foot to kick at her stomach as he turned -

    Hattaska Ren was quick, aggressive, and strong in the dark side of the Force.

    This generation of Knights was far more than the last.

    Rey growled, forced to take the kick at her midsection in order to save her feet with a small jump and her head with steep arch backwards. The power of which sent her careening off to one side, though she had the training and wherewithal to right herself and land in a low crouch, on her feet. Sweeping out with her free hand, she sent Poe skidding away from the Knight's range, disregarding any protests or cries of agony from his wound.

    Stilling, now she flicked on the second blade of her staff as she stood back to full height, holding it horizontally before her.

    She did not move, but waited. Staring at the Knight with a stoic face and reading him in the Force. Lured in by his strength in darkness, her stomach screamed with what were sure to be immediate bruises forming beneath her skin.

    Her eyes narrowed perceptively, pushing away all that was happening around her. The others seemed to be giving her a wide berth either to avoid or... she did not know. She couldn't waste the time figuring it all out and her emotions reinforced that where her attentions were was right where they should be at this moment. On Hattaska.

    Poe cursed as she did that, and Hattaska regarded the second blade and the woman.

    He took half a moment to adjust his approach, and then lunged a brutal swing upward and his Darksaber sparked through the ground and up at her -

    In that moment, there is a memory that hammers into her.

    Standing in the rain; her vision from when she held Luke's lightsaber that very first time, a decade ago on Takodana in Maz Kanata's castle. Lightning flashes, revealing Hattaska Ren. There are screams; sounds she recognizes from another vision, from when she held Oochi of Bestoon's dagger nine years ago; the cries of her mother and father.

    Hattaska had been there too.

    Rey fanned her staff in a blur of burnt orange, blocking Hattaska from severing her weapon in two. She was in motion, twirling around with the momentum of her deflection, aiming to come around with a swift and targeted swing at the Knight's knees when she lost her sight.

    An abrupt wiping of her current situation and she was transported elsewhere, though not a place that was foreign to her. She stumbled, her footing off and she looked down. The terrain was soggy with mud and upturned earth, the pounding rain from above soaking her in no time at all. Rey panted, searching the dark when the sky lit up white from a spidering lightning strike that fanned far above and revealed her foe. Hattaska, not Kylo as it had been the last time she had this vision.

    Screams filled her ears and she recognized them immediately - her parents, their pain and fear.

    Breathing heavily, water dripping steadily down her face, she looked to Hattaska and her jaw clenched. As did her entire body, empty hand balling into a fist. Against those ghostly cries from a mother and father she didn't even remember, she in turn cried out and charged with a flurry of powerful strikes intending to knock the Knight off balance.

    Water also dripping from her helmeted visage, Hattaska was on the defensive, but her attacks were wild, and he could see the Palpatine in Rey rather than the Skywalker. The darksider felt as if Rey was the circuit that completed him, and their fight was flow and destruction and the promise of death and release. His glee poured into the Force, even as Rey had a flash of the rest of the vision - not just Hattaska, no, but, others, standing and watching Oochi of Bestoon as the rain fell -

    The moment passed, but Hattaska traded a burn across his upper arm for a scalding cut upon her hip -

    He grimaced, but sought more of Rey Palpatine, a flash across his vision of her blade in crimson, and then blue, and then back yellow-orange -

    The cut would remind Rey of when a Red Guard wounded her aboard the Supremacy all those years ago -

    The anger she felt would remind her of the struggle with Ben in the desert of Pasaana, where she had released a bolt of lightning -

    The pressure that she had felt then was building upon her, pushing, pressing, compressing her into a diamond -

    Her memories swam unbidden, parts of her past that she hadn't considered much in some time. The searing gash that Hattaska had opened on her hip tore with every subsequent lunge or leap that she made. The pain was distracting, but not so much that her focus faltered to a point of fatal danger. Rey pressed on, her muscles guided by the Force and her purpose; she lost sight of Poe and hoped he was alright.

    Her eyes locked on Hattaska just then, considering her injured friend - her dead parents, her abandonment on Jakku, her discovery and immediate loss of Ben... the Emperor.

    Rey ground her teeth as her wound opened further and the discomfort bled out and up into her already tender abdomen. This time the throbbing became immense enough to cause her to cry out, but she controlled herself, channeling the intense upswing in the Force it had created to aid her. Peripherally aware of further blaster shots sounding off around her, she reached out and redirected a few towards Hattaska while summersaulting back and away from him. He would have to deal with her attacks first and siezed on what she intended to be a distraction, shoving a hand for him again even before she had fully landed, this time bright blue lightning shooting forth from her fingertips to ensnare the Knight.

    It had never ceased to disturb her, how easily she had honed this corrupt skill.

    Hattaska made his blade a whirling shield, catching the bolts as they were hurtled, and he turned to follow the Last Jedi and intending to remove her legs and then bring his blade back to guard and through her hands as he did. He could deliver Rey to the master in pieces; alive, sure, but not intact.

    He didn't see Kylo Ren being overly concerned by the details, Hattaska grinned maliciously.

    But then Rey launched that attack, and he was caught so completely by surprise that the bolt ensnared his helmet, fully face on, and with no defences, and with her power -

    His skull flashed within his helmet as the electricity destroys him.

    Hattaska Ren drops to the floor, his body a smoking, burning corpse.

    Poe watches, hand on his wounded arm, disturbed by what she's done.

    His memories of Pasaana rise within him, unbidden.

    Rey froze, eyes wide and mouth falling open. As the thin veil of darkness fell from her eyes, she stared at the smoking husk that had been Hattaska, then to her own hand as a mental fog lifted from her emotions. The death and sadness that permeated the vision she had just had and what she suspected her foe had subjected her to, was gone, only a lingering sense of internal shock remaining.

    She had done it. Again, without thinking.

    She searched for Poe then, finding him and taking in his expression. Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, she shrugged off a chill and rushed to his side. "Are you alright?" she asked eagerly, slightly embarrassed and looking to avoid addressing her act as much as possible.

    His arm had a blaster burn on it which was pretty bad, it was already blackened with blood, wounded even.

    He looked at her, and Poe swallowed. "It's okay - Jedi do that, right?"

    There were other deaths - more darksiders - but that wouldn't be particularly relevant to her here and now. The strangers, whoever they were, had helped, but Rey still had her mission. Chewbacca joined them, looking at the smouldering corpse of Hattaska Ren and rumbling his shock.

    She had to do that, right?

    Rey winced as she examined his arm and fought to ignore the pain of her own injuries that had come rushing back full force. She did not meet Poe's eyes. Nor Chewie's when he joined them.

    "Yes, I did," she replied strongly to her furry friend as she removed a small portion of one of her arm wraps and began to wind it carefully around Poe's wound. The hand she had used to finish Hattaska tingled intensely, the electric currents from the Force still coursing over her skin. "It... the Knight wasn't going to stop. So, I stopped him."

    Finishing, she looked around, having already sensed the death of the Navigator - Nomi. "We need to get out of here."

    Jaedec had died just after Hattaska, but there was still fighting on-going; between Dol and Lorl; between Xundel and Vicrul; between Madelyn and Ott.

    Chewbacca turned towards the Millennium Falcon, ready to head up the lily-pads and get out of here before the other Knights of Ren triumphed their fights and took them on - or more First Order forces arrived. Poe went with him, but the Force told Rey what she needed to know; he intended to come with her to Mortis.

    It also revealed to her that the Night Buzzard was concealed to her right, behind a dusty building - abandoned in the Knights' rush to engage her. "Rey, let's go." The big Wookiee growled slightly, as BB-8 peered from the edge of the lily-pad platform and tweeted a panicked hoot. There was a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer in orbit.

    "Come on!" Poe said beginning to run now.

    "I'll meet you up there!" Rey shouted, a lie, watching Poe follow Chewie towards the Falcon. A twinge of sadness sank in the pit of her stomach, but she couldn't hesitate any longer. Abruptly she turned to hobble off in another direction, an idea blooming as she made for the as-of-now empty Night Buzzard.

    The rear ramp of the rectangular vessel sat open and she continued on up and inside, feeling out for the most direct path to the cockpit. She sensed the other Knights remaining engaged in their own duels and she wasn't about to give them an escape route. That and... she could not allow Poe to follow her on such a dangerous path, and this was the only way she knew she would be able to stop him.

    She would not put her friends at such a risk, not after she had already done so more times than she cared to think about. Mortis signified a place of finality. Of the end. And it couldn't be theirs.

    Rey had to be able to focus only on keeping herself alive, and bringing Ben back from darkness once more.

    Orienting herself quickly, she leaned forward and began to fire up the ship's engines.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
  5. CosmoHender

    CosmoHender Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Dec 2, 2016
    OOC: Combo with @Sinrebirth

    IC: Barriss Offee


    Bonadon

    Before Jaedec's blade could meet its intended target, one of Barriss' hands rose and she used the Force to stop what would have been a death blow from striking. Ironically, it was a move that Master Yoda had done to the previous wielder of Barriss and Jaedec's lightsabers during the Clone Wars. As Barriss held her attempted assassin in place, her previously shut eyes shot open. She had buried her pain and her grief, since she knew that there would be time to properly mourn the death of her old friend later. But for now, she had replaced all those negative emotions... with determination.

    Her hold on Jaedec wouldn't last long, so she telekinetically pushed the Knight of Ren back to create some distance between them. Then Barriss rose from her knees, standing to face her opponent. Her lightsaber floated from her robes and into her hands, where its pure white blade lit up. She looked Jaedec over... and wasn't impressed. Dark siders try way too hard, she thought to herself.

    "You have something that belongs to me," Barriss said calmly to Jaedec. She gestured toward the lightsaber in his hands. "I would ask you to hand it over, but knowing your kind I'll have to take it from you myself."

    The battle continued elsewhere, but Jaedec hissed as she pushed him back, vexed but not angry.

    A white blade.

    "You are not a Jedi..." He examined his blade. "... and yet you claim a Sith weapon."

    His stoicism continued to serve him, kept his head clear. "Ah. Barriss Offee. The Jedi who fell to stop the Old Republic from becoming the Empire... and was right." He tilted his chin up, as if appraising her. "I have a great deal of respect for you. You saw the truth of the galaxy."

    Again, his emotions remained firmly in-check. "Violence is the only answer."

    "Do you claim this blade and accept that heritage?" With a snap-hiss, he deactivated the blade and held it out to her. "You appear to have a great need for it, whereas I only followed my Masters dictates in finding a bled crystal as my own."

    He was not an ordinary darksider.

    He was the calm when Hattaska was the storm; the sanity when Ott and Lorl chittered like mad twins; the resolve when Vicrul was a flood of emotions.

    In the middle of the chaotic whirlwind of death and conflict that was eclipsed by the rising tide of dust.

    Jaedec Ren was soft, supple, and soothing...

    Barriss raised her other hand and pulled the lightsaber from Jaedec's hand as he held it out. She looked at the curved hilt, then back up at Jaedec.

    "Let me give you a history lesson. Originally they were used by Komira Vosa, a Jedi Padawan who was driven both mad and into the dark side after being tortured by a cult. Embracing her rage, she killed her tormentors and led the cult in their place until her death. Her blades were later given as a gift by her former master to his new apprentice... Asajj Ventress, an assassin who used the lightsabers even after she was betrayed and abandoned. Then I came into the story, stealing the blades from Ventress and wielding them myself for a brief time. Of course, they were taken from me when I was defeated and arrested. I didn't see them again, not until a few days ago when one of them was given to me as a gift and a lesson by an old friend."

    She smiled gently to herself. "You are wrong, by the way. About this being a Sith weapon. Oh, it certainly has a dark history. As do I. But do you know what my old friend said to me? A weapon isn't good or evil. It's about the user, especially a lightsaber. I accept its heritage and I accept my past. You say you admire me, though I was wrong in my methods then." She thought of the Mechtrooper she killed earlier. "My methods aren't always in the right now either. I am not a Jedi, but that does not mean I can't change." Once again, she remembered Nomi's words. It's for you to take, or reject. Nothing more, or less. The galaxy will not change; but you might. "Nor does it mean that this lightsaber can't change. I don't just have a need for it. It has a need for me. To reject it would be to reject my flaws, my shortcomings. I'm not perfect, but I'm working on it."

    Jaedec's lightsaber drifted from her hands, floating in front of her. The lightsaber's components were taken apart, leaving the corrupted kyber crystal without the metal that had encased it. Barriss could hear the crystal calling out to her and she knew that it was meant to be hers. "And you are wrong about another thing," she told Jaedec. "Violence is not the answer. Love is." And she shared that love with the crystal, thinking of Madelyn and Nomi as she did so. Nomi had trusted one of the lightsabers with her, despite knowing the history Barriss had with it. Madelyn chose to trust Barriss, despite knowing the crimes that Barriss had once committed. Nomi was gone, but only in body. Her love remained, just like how Luminara's love remained despite Barriss losing her master's former lightsaber. Both Nomi and Luminara were still with her in a sense.

    Before Jaedec could react, Barriss had already reconstructed the lightsaber. After having already purified its twin not too long ago, she had no trouble this time. She held onto the second hilt and ignited its newly white blade. And as she gazed upon its glowing light, she smiled fondly. "Thank you for returning this to me," she said politely to Jaedec. "And I just realized that I never got your name, which is something I would like to know before we continue any further."

    Jaedec regarded the woman, allowing her plenty of time to purify the crystal, to allow it to be made white. He knew all of this, of course, and he had no intention of interrupting with her catharsis. It was warming, enlightening, beautiful, even.

    "The lineage of Darth Tyranus, as you say. Komari Vosa, Asajj Ventress and, finally, you. After a fashion, you were his greatest Sith apprentice, and although he never even tutored you..." He looked down.

    "... and yet he created you, made you what you were. Made you fall, for a time, but in-fact, and that is why you chose shadows since the Jedi Temple fell, rather than the light of the Rebellion, of the Skywalkers, of the New Republic." Jaedec sounded somber behind his mask. "You let the galaxy burn, and only now do you step up to save it." His voice grew sad. "Such hypocrisy."

    "Love is the answer, Barriss Ofee. But your love hasn't saved anyone." He squeezed his fist, and released it. "We're all cursed."

    Jaedec looked back up at her. "My love will save you, by ending your pain."

    "My name is Jaedec Ren, and I serve Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, so he might end this chaotic, horrific, battle between the Light and the Dark once and for all." He squared his shoulders. "Will you cut down an unarmed man, and complete your hypocrisy?"

    The white blades vibrated in her hands, eager, anticipatory, leaning upon her to be, to become, to begin...

    The crystals had been hurt by Jaedec Ren, by Asajj Ventress, by Komari Vosa.

    Barriss just laughed. "You think I don't know what you're trying to do? I'll tell you what I told the troll, I heard it all before. It's not going to work. The mind games, the manipulation, the gaslighting. Don't feed me your poodoo, because I'm not letting it get to me. Of course I'm a hypocrite. I've killed innocent people. But Darth Tyranus, or Dooku as I knew him, did not create me. Nobody made me fall. I chose it. And please, we both know that someone who can wield the Force is never truly unarmed. Though honestly, you are nothing. I know the dark side. I know the Sith. I knew your Master's inspiration, Darth Vader himself. I have him to thank for this." She gestured to her mechanical arm. "Compared to him, you're pathetic. And really, that outfit?" She smirked. "Are the shoulder spikes really necessary? I mean, come on. It's all so played out..."

    Pathetic.

    Jaedec Ren shrugged. "Believe what you will."

    "I am not my Master, I do not intend to become Darth Vader. But then again, nor does Kylo Ren, not any longer."

    The crystals were getting impatient, they wanted to taste justice, and the back and forth, the dun moch, and the death and carnage that was consuming the village was filling them up like a pressure building and building. Their desires began to fill Barriss.

    He continued to speak. "I'm not interested in whatever philosophical nonsense the Jedi or Sith are spouting, I am afraid. I'm just a weapon. I don't get a choice, not anymore. That's my strength, and that's my curse."

    He removed his shoulder pads, bracers, his cape, and began to reach for his chest-plate. "I presume you don't mind?"

    There was a ripple of danger, but it was subtle.

    It was almost familiar, in-fact.

    Oddly so.

    Barriss smirked. "Oh, I don't mind. Though once again, you're wrong. You always have a choice, to say you don't is a sign of weakness. But that doesn't matter. After all, I was just keeping you busy. Here's a tip: it's not wise to push a Wookiee. Because Wookiees tend to push back."

    Barriss reached out with the Force, holding Jaedec in place. She could hold him there just long enough to give Chewbacca, who Jaedec had earlier dislodged, an opening.

    Jaedec felt her grip become crushing, and perhaps Barriss didn’t even realise how aggressive she was being; how callous with death she was becoming. She’d have a flash of memory - from her fight with Anakin, when he plucked her out of the air and slammed her against the tree at the centre of the Jedi Temple.

    At his barely contained rage; at the mirror of what she was doing here.

    There was a shudder through her heart; another flash - of First Order TIE fighters ripping the Temple apart with blaster fire -

    Jaedec, teeth grit, dropped to one knee and reached for inside his chest-plate. “You need to be stopped.”

    “As Kylo Ren said.”

    He ignited Luminara’s blade, his grip certain.

    Barriss' eyes widened when she saw Jaedec holding her former master's lightsaber. But she knew that it was meant to evoke a reaction, meant to throw her off. She wasn't having it. She just assumed a fighting stance with her lightsabers.

    "As you say, I have no intetest in the philosophical nonsense that you're spouting."

    She glanced at Chewbacca and gestured at him to keep his distance until she gave him an opening.

    "If you want to stop me, go ahead and try," Barriss taunted Jaedec. "You'll learn very quickly that I don't care what your master says. His time will come, don't worry."

    Jaedec sighed. He stood, fighting off her Force grip.

    Chewbacca had recovered from his fall, but didn't intervene - not yet.

    The Sith squeezed the lightsaber in his hands, and he poured his malice into it. A wave of energy would buffet Barriss, sending up another surge of dust and sand that eclipsed them from view. Luminara's lightsaber screamed out, a cry that echoed in the Jedi Master's voice in the ears of Barriss - and would within Madelyn, too, when she was able to recognise it through her own struggles.

    Jaedec released the lock upon his heart, his self-control, his banked anger, and shot forward, two hands upon the lightsaber as he crossed the distance between them at incredible speed - angling a blow down at her left clavicle -

    The blade bled red.

    Once again, Barriss knew that Jaedec was trying to evoke a reaction. He knew her connection to that lightsaber and that seeing it corrupted would hurt her. However, Barriss wouldn't give him the satisfaction. This was what dark siders like him did.

    Refusing to allow herself to be distracted or conflicted, Barriss raised her blades to block Jaedec's attack.

    "That was a mistake," she told the Knight of Ren, though her voice lacked any anger. It was neutral.

    She used her lightsabers to push Jaedec back. When he swung at her again, she deactivated her lightsabers and stepped to the side. Barriss dodged a few more of his attacks like this, stepping or leaping clear each time. Then she ignited one of her lightsabers and slashed it at Jaedec's shoulder, grazing him.

    "Maybe you should have kept those stupid spiky shoulder pads on," Barriss taunted.

    Jaedec took the pain and turned aside, slashing with Luminara's borrowed blade and in-exchange for the graze gave her a burn across her cheek with the very tip of the blade. He pivoted aside, shifting his feet. "I profess to not understanding you, former Jedi. You're taunting me; not very light-like."

    Indeed, the colour of her blades wasn't precisely remaining red. It was shadowed ever so-slightly.

    "You want me dead, is that it?" He held the blade low, passive, pacing again. He bent his knees and with the aid of the Force leapt atop the lily-pad platform by the Millennium Falcon, sending Chewbacca diving for a hiding spot beneath the ramp that was fooling nobody. Jaedec looked down at the chaos, at the dozen dead civilians.

    Ott was brawling with a Kubaz and a Nagai he didn't recognize; Vicrul with Xundel; Lorl with Madelyn...

    ... and Hattaska was all over the Last Jedi, his black blade a whirling dervish. Jaedec ached to support his brother, but his foe was Barriss, the failed Jedi. He focused on her.

    Barriss Force leapt as well, landing next to Jaedec on the lily-pad platform. She wasn't surprised that he didn't understand her, nor was she surprised that she thought taunting was "not very light-like." Barriss almost rolled her eyes. It's not like the Jedi never taunted their enemies. Of course, it was obvious that Jaedec's experience with the Jedi was non-existent. That he had never met anyone like her, while she had met plenty of individuals like him.

    She continued using one of her lightsabers to duel Jaedec. "You and your brothers are in over your head," Barriss told him as they locked blades. "Your Master abandoned you, sent you to die. And you shouldn't have given me that second lightsaber."

    In one swift move she ignited her second lightsaber and swung it at Jaedec's hands, lopping both of them off. Then with a kick she knocked Jaedec onto the ground, where he was at her mercy.

    Jaedec didn't need to exchange blows with her. He was making a marionette of his body while his mind roved, checking where the Wookiee was, and searching for the distraction he needed. He found it in the attention of another, worrying at Barriss from the ground.

    He allowed his actions to be on autopilot of sorts, his peripheral vision controlling his defence as he plucked the woman from the ground and held her up, suspended. His concentration was thus that when she glibly cut off his hands and kicked him to the ground, Jaedec felt the pain remotely, as if he'd not even experienced it.

    Jaedec moved his mouth, and his tongue, speaking through the flesh he was merely tethered too.

    "Behind you."

    There was pain in his voice, yes, but he was able to keep it from impacting his control.

    He had existed within a meld with his brothers many, many times, dancing between their perceptions and making his body merely the font and not his all. Jaedec Ren wasn't immortal, no, but he had layered his existence between the Living and Unifying Force.

    He was at her mercy, but as Trace struggled to breath, holding her throat, the woman was also at his.

    "Do you care about her, or...?"

    His mental self, a shadow in the corner of the eye, wasn't visible to her save for as a blur, and his projection held a hand up as he squeezed.

    There was a hammer of pain in the Force; it came from Madelyn, but Barriss was too far away and her battle with Lorl Ren obscured by dust, fallen market stands, and the simple widening chaos being caused in the centre of the area below by the whirling dervish duel of Rey and Hattaska, let alone what seemed to be a droid swarm harassing Ott Ren -

    Barriss moved so fast that she became a blur. Without hesitation one of her lightsabers stabbed Jaedec in the heart and the other chopped off his head. Jaedec's mental self vanished and Barriss rushed forward to catch Trace before she fell. She held Trace as she coughed a few times, thankfully alive.

    "You should have stayed out of this," she told the other woman. "I didn't want you to risk getting hurt."

    A burning sensation ripped into the meld between Jaedec and the Knights of Ren -

    Hattaska had just been killed.

    The blade took him in the heart and head, and Trace dropped, into Barriss's arms, but they were off the lily-pad, Barriss's knees feeling the landing.

    Jaedec's astral projection hovered for a moment, a red-limned spirit coming into view. It hovered over to its corpse, which stood like some kind of reanimated monster. Hands and limbs seemed to come back together if by will alone, and Chewbacca had decided enough was enough.

    With a roar, he bounded forward, loading an explosive quarrel, reached him and hurls Jaedec off the lily-pad.

    He lifts his bowcaster and fires, hitting Jaedec in mid-air like a clay pigeon.

    The detonation blew what was left of him apart.

    "Are you okay?" Barriss asked Trace, checking her throat to make sure that there wasn't any permanent damage. Thankfully, there was none.

    She glanced back at Luminara's corrupted lightsaber and used the Force to pull the lightsaber to her. She would purify it later, but for now she slipped it into her robe while tending to Trace. She was thankful of Chewbacca as well. She had warned Jaedec, after all. If you push a Wookiee, they push back.

    Barriss shook her head. "You're such an idiot," she told Trace. But there was relief in her voice as she said it.

    Trace looked at Barriss, and the lightsaber. It was burned, but seemed its contents seemed okay. "Barriss," she said, small voiced. "You're crying -"

    Chewbacca, for his part, leapt down, rumbling a good luck to them.

    Barriss touched her face and felt the tears running down it. She was crying and she didn't even know it until now. "I've... had a difficult day," she told Trace.

    She looked over at Chewbacca. "Thank you, by the way," she said with a grateful nod.

    Trace sat up in the grime of broken droids and slaughtered civilians.

    She drew Barriss into a hug and just held her.

    Barriss was surprised by this and left speechless. She didn't know what to say, so she just hugged back.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth @The Jedi in the Pumas @QueenSabe7 @TheSilentInfluence @darthbernael
     
  6. Mitth_Fisto

    Mitth_Fisto Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 29, 2005
    IC: Haydnat Treen
    Agora Six, Core Systems

    In time, Tirran Huxley did find someone that answered their comms and seemed to fit the criteria. Of course time was the one thing that very limited for the villagers as the lava streamed and burned the hills and the civilians; the poor ones first, of course. Terrible village planning, they brought it upon themselves in a way. So sad, but as they burned he kept scanning, some university types would buy the recording or some disaster fanatic.

    The school hadn't been consumed yet, so that was something. Bendu had tuned out, gone to his room to meditate on events. Which was ironic on the shuttle as his quarters were locked and there was merely one guest room, everything else was storage and functional. Actually that wasn't true, his room doubled as storage for all his unique needs including food.

    This was all a distraction as a droid that was managing the comms as he micro-managed the piloting showed a response to his messages. It was crackling and likely from either poor equipment or someone in a bit of a panic, panic was good. It meant the customers were past counting cost!

    "Finally," an sharp, aristocratic voice came across. "Someone who is not from this backwater world. I was told it was a Core World - property prices are ridiculously high for what it is." She snorted. "Come and get me, and I'll make you rich."

    Panic, this was a heavenly turn indeed! Except. . .A hesitation.

    "How much money will you need to take a former political pariah?"

    The comm line resolved to became a hologram. It was Haydnat Treen, the former Senator of Kuat - or so his memory aided by his databanks quickly informed him. Ah, that explained a few things.

    "I charge just what you stated and what my message already called for, a fortune. Money, trade goods, or favors. Disgraced means you likely don't have favors, being alive means no state secrets I cannot already access, so the former please. Have it with you whichever way you can on your roof asap. Leave your doors unlocked, the school children may be bussing over to join you in your escape." Bobbing in his tank he nodded to a side droid that sent the coordinates to the school and other rich buildings, if they had any hover-bus or anything they should be bringing the children over as he landed and his droids would gather the madams things and personage.

    Whatever room was left over would be given to what children or other rich folk that could make it before time ran out. Tirran was not about to risk himself any more than necessary. After all he had a time sensitive business deal to complete, which meant everyone was going where he was going unless someone wanted to pay more for an earlier stop along his way.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
  7. The Jedi in the Pumas

    The Jedi in the Pumas Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 23, 2018
    Dol Khan, Nihl, and Ott
    -Bonadan, Markets

    He felt himself momentarily pulled before released. He rolls backwards as his feet touch the ground and looks up from a kneeling position as one Knight of Ren leaps over Nihl. The Knight fires while airborne at Nihl before landing and turning to-


    Dol does not wait. He lunges to the Knight, grabbing the targeting the arm. He controls the arm and pulls the Knight into a hip toss while maintaining control of the gun wielding wrist with his left arm. With his right, he fired downward into the armpit of the Knight.



    The Knight landed, surprised but cushioning himself with the Force, lifting a hand, and took the bolt on his palm, dissipating the shot.

    With a malicious grin, Ott let go of his gun and grabbed Dol's arm, headbutting him -

    Nihl, his back-armour smoking where the two shots had been carved, is nonetheless winded and slowly stands –



    Dol feels the pain but does not budge from the headbutt. He kicks forward, knocking Ott’s arm away and to the ground, he fires at the armpit again. Then he mounts the Knight, not registering whether or not his shots hit. Force users demanded more.

    He fires, in rapid succession, two to Ott’s head, one to his shoulder, two to his stomach. This was not a strength competition or him wanting to prove he was the better fighter. He was not interested in toying around or being toyed with. He meant what he said: Anything that got in his way was something that needed to be destroyed.



    Ott hadn’t expected a frenzied attack like this. He caught the second shot at his armpit, but the Kubaz was already moving, fired twice at his head, and Ott’s eyes’ yellow as he exerted himself with the energy he’d stored, eyes closing -

    All of the shots pounded into him, but the blaster sounded out that it was out of charge - and it should have had another three dozen shots. Steam raised off Ott, but none of the burn marks within him were what you’d expect from a kill shot - a stun one, yes.

    Nihl staggered, staff-blade ignited.

    “Move!”

    A Force exertion hurled Dol up into the air and Ott held up a hand to squeeze him -

    The Nagai took a swing and Ott threw the Kubaz at him, stumbling slightly at the exertion. Nihl tumbled, his staff clattering to the floor before Dol as Ott winced, clearly winded by his efforts.

    There was a snap-hiss as Ott drew a lightsaber of his own.



    The Night Buzzard was running some code from the Unknown Regions that was about thirty years out of date, merged with dark side technology and a wad of bio-circuits. It thus spoke it's very own language, one that could only be described as impossible to crack unless one had the Force. For the moment, it defied location, but Dol's systems would be able discover it's presence in other manners, soon enough.



    Had he been on Coruscant, he could have hacked into any security cam and found it, but not on this dusty world.



    Dol stands, rubbing his shoulder and examines his blaster. It was the Force magic, he surmised. He was vastly ill-equipped to deal with the Knights of Ren right now. His armament lacked shotguns or repeaters. He only had himself, his datapads, his comlink, and Nihl. And...

    He reaches down and picks up Ott’s discarded blaster after he holsters his own.

    “I’m going to need you to bide me some a moment, Nihl. It time to prove that you are as capable as you say.” Dol starts to retreat behind Nihl, while using his comlink to access all of the droids in the area. Typically this would have been hard and time consuming, but given the late Organa’s message that United all technology in the area, there was a shared recent data stream still present if one knew where to look. Dol knows where to look and starts work on gaining control over every single droid from his comlink.

    Tapping a button on his wrist, he readies the Prime Chow, positioning its cannons pointed towards the market. Either Skywalker got out of here alive or none of them would. He inquired again about the Star Destroyer.



    Nihl snatched up his lightsaber and danced forward, matching blades with Ott. The Knight of Ren grinned, prancing into and out of range.

    While Dol connected with many of the droids, the First Order captain confirmed that the Dauntless was en route and would be here momentarily. The Prime Chow reported readiness, and Ott and Nihl seemed fairly well matched for the moment.

    Nihl swung down and Ott parried low, pinning the blade in the ground before drawing a second blaster and firing at Dol.



    Dol Khan rolls to the side, the blaster bolt flying over his head. All the droids were now under his control. 3 of them went off in different directions, while the majority of them surrounded Nihl and Ott’s battle. Dol sends 1 droid every few seconds into the fight from the droid perimeter. Most of them were feints, just to make Ott pay attention to them, maybe even attack or destroy them, hopefully creating openings for Nihl. One or two of them would try to grab Ott. Dol didn’t need for them to succeed.

    He figured that The Knight would be able to handle all of it. Battling the droids, battling Nihl, probably even firing a few blaster bolts at Dol. Maybe Ott would even use his Force magic to grab up Dol or push everything back.

    But Dol considered all of this when Ott first engaged Nihl.

    The mechtroopers, their data was completely downloaded from his information dive into the Captain’s access files from earlier. The droids he had sent off, far out of view from Ott, were going off to interface with the salvageable mech suits, dead pilots or not. Dol did not need them to be working, he just needed their blaster fire. As he waited for confirmation from the droids about the mech trooper suits, the Prime Chow’s targeting computer confirmed that from its high perch, at one of the taller lily pads, Ott and Nihl were red.

    Dol kept moving on the outskirts of the battle, right outside the small droid perimeter, monitoring Ott’s movements, taking note and waiting to fire his own blaster shots. He remembered from holovids of the clone wars how Force users could deflect bolts with lightsabers. This one could even absorb the energy. Well Dol would put all of that to the test soon enough. He sent another droid in, another feint, but this time Dol entered as well, sliding out from behind the droid and firing only 2 meters from Ott.



    Ott was pressed, becoming a dervish with his lightsaber even as Nihl dove in and blocked his blade, his bolts, and also the occasional redirected droid. Ott knew he was in-trouble though, releasing a blast of electricity into Nihl which sent the Nagai tumbling back. He smoked, eyes yellow, as he examined his skin from outside the droid swarm.

    He hissed, looking at Dol as he slid in. Nihl had been kicked out even as the Kubaz fired, Ott being too busy to do much more than turn his head and take the blow across his cheek. He looked back, rage in his eyes, but his ear was missing -

    A grip caught Dol by the throat invisibly, Ott's gaze locked upon the Kubaz as his hands wove a sphere of crimson death around him with his blade. Nihl reached out and squeezed Ott back, who sagged as his throat too constricted, but his eyes stayed on Dol Khan, determined to kill him before he died too -

    There was a beep; his mechtrooper-techno-zombies were ready.

    The Prime Chow remained ready, but warned that Dol was too close to guarantee his safety.

    Ott was tough, but he was losing, clear as day.



    Ott’s gaze was determined and deadly. He likely had years of studying the Force and serving Kylo Ren and the First Order. The Knights of Ren had killed across the galaxy and faced countless danger. But as Dol looked back at him, he noticed the Knight was no longer smiling as he had at the beginning. His confidence was shaken. Death was becoming a real possibility and his showed that he was not yet ready to feel it’s cold embrace.

    But Dol’s eyes were focused as he was losing oxygen. Calculating. As they always were. Death was something that the Kubaz had seen over and over again. The young, the old, women, men, the guilty, the innocent, he had seen death many times during both Coruscant Civil Wars. He was ready to meet death, whenever it would come, as his fallen brethren had before him.

    Anything for Freedom.

    Two of the droids grabbed Dol Khan’s body and attempted to pull him back as the Prime Chow’s cannons fired its lasers directly at Ott.



    Ott Ren dug deep and hard, and drew upon the Force meld of his brothers.

    It was then he felt the burning fire that was the death of Hattaska.

    The Knight of Ren released Dol in surprise as the Prime Chow opened fire - ripping into the droids and was about to Dol -

    Nihl reached out to yank him even more swiftly out of range, into his arms -

    The Prime Chow ripped apart Ott.

    Nihl glowered at him. "You rely on droids too much."



    “I make do with what I can.”

    Dol pulled out his datapad. He put the Prime Chow on a spiral approach pattern to avoid detection as he summoned it. The mechtrooper remnants were given commands to clear all non friendly targets, identified as the Knights of Ren by Dol, and prepare to self-destruct their cores. They were damaged and the information he’d collected on them was more valuable.

    “The Jedi. Get her. We’re leaving.”



    Nihl pointed as the Night Buzzard began to take off. “I think she’s already leaving - with a new ship at that.”


    Tag: @Sinrebirth @darthbernael @QueenSabe7 @CosmoHender @Shadowsun
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2021
  8. Shadowsun

    Shadowsun Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 26, 2017
    OOC: An awesome combo with @darthbernael and @Sinrebirth

    IC Xundel and Vicrul
    Bonadon


    The nightmarket descended into chaos, as Xundel had known it would. He felt the annoyance in Barriss behind him, that he’d placed himself between these two and the Last Jedi. Specifically that he was standing between her and Jaedec. And then the Knights of Ren began to move.

    The little Yoda-esque creature sighed, of course, they would do as they did. They were Dark Jedi after all. He stepped forward and suddenly his movements were no longer those of an ancient being. As his front foot planted, he jumped, clearing Jaedec, running nimbly down his back as Vicrul lunged forward.

    He jumped again and, as lightning crackled between his feet, he raced down one of the extended, lunging beskads, his cane held along its shaft now. The electricity arced through the metal, down toward the Knights hand, as he danced down the back of the blade. His eyes shifted again as he ran and suddenly Vicrul would be staring into two swirling grey galaxies of eyes before Xundel leaped over the top of his head, flipping as he did.

    His cane swung as he arced over the young warriors head, the gnarled hip ball aiming to connect soundly with the back of Vicrul’s armored head. He landed on a three-point stance and skidded backward a few feet, a smile upon his face. ”If that is your best, young warrior, I do not see why you are on the list of those needed.”

    Vicrul blinked in disbelief, what was this creature, this little grey demon? He did note the use of lightning crackling underneath its feet, was this thing a Sith? Or at the very least a practitioner of the dark side then why was it helping the Last Jedi?

    The Knight of Ren felt the sharp wap on the back of his head. The creature landing behind him, he turned to face it listening for a moment for what it had to say. Something about a list, inconsequential things that were no concern of his. It had to die, in fact based on its abilities it was a threat up there with the Last Jedi, it had no choice but to die.

    Gripping the handles of his beskads he rushed forth to the small warrior, remembering the way it had leaped before. He commanded the Force to flow through him, embuing his movements to superhuman speed. He made a fake slashing movement at where the creature stood, and then a real attack above where it would likely spring from.

    A seemingly slow, lazy smile crossed Xundel’s face, at least to Vicrul’s perspective. As the slash came in, Xundel flashed a shield of energy between his body and the blade, letting it hit the barrier and the inertia push him off to the side, avoiding the secondary attack above his head. When the second attack came in, his hand slipped to the end of the cane, gripping it tightly.

    He suddenly was moving as fast as Vicrul was, the handle of the cane hooking over the higher blade. He leaped forward, the handle acting as a fulcrum. He flipped in the air, the cane coming free of the blade. Spinning in the air, he landed, a three toed foot on each of the Knight’s shoulders. Again, twice this time, the knob at the end of the cane came down on Vicrul’s head.

    Xundel laughed as he hit, then as he sensed the man moving again his feet slipped backward, the handle catching on the man’s shoulder and swinging again, this time to the man’s side, several feet away. ”If I hit your head long enough maybe your brain will start working.” he quipped. Internally he knew he’d need to rest after this fight, two back to back battles did that, but he wasn’t going to show this young whippersnapper that.

    The Knight of Ren continued to be bewildered by the circumstances and the attitude of the grey creature. He stood tall contemplating for a moment, observing it as it stood, giving a quip that Vicrul mostly ignored. Was it holding back? Vicrul panned his head to where Hattaska was, most likely engaged with the Last Jedi. It would seem he had overestimated the threat this creature was, it was fast, and perhaps had capabilities beyond what it was showing but he doubted it would be able to stop him.

    "You are not worth my time,"

    With that, he turned and bolted in the direction of the Last Jedi, keeping himself aware of his surroundings in case the grey imp decided to pursue him in turn.

    Xundel shook his head for a moment as he took off after Vicrul. ’Children… he let flit through his mind as he ran. The cane was again gripped about halfway down it’s shaft as he looked up, gazing from side to side at the market stalls as he ran.

    A smile, possibly could be considered an unpleasant one, crossed his face when he saw what he was looking for, at a stall between the Knight and the Last Jedi. One of the vendors had used particularly thick beams to hold up the awning of his stall. As he ran he reached out, concentrating, his brow furrowing. Slowly the post began to move as it was pulled from the soil and the fabric of the awning.

    And then it ripped free, tumbling through the air back toward the running man. Letting the Force imbue his pace, Xundel sped up more and then pushed hard, leaping toward the flying three-meter post. He flew past Vicrul, ”Time is worth taking, child.” he chortled as he flew. Rotating in the air he planted his feet on the beam and flew with it toward the man.

    A couple of moments before the beam and Xundel reached Vicrul’s range he pushed off the beam, hitting the dirt of the path. Rolling along with it, at high speed, he threw out his feet, sliding up to the man, jumping to his feet, and suddenly his saber was in his hand, the curved hilt nestling into place as the maroon beam shot to light. He twisted, slashing across the man’s belly armor with the hand containing the saber as the one with the cane brought the knob down on his right knee.

    There was a hammer of pain in the Force; it came from Madelyn, but Xundel was too far away and her battle with Lorl Ren obscured by dust, fallen market stands, and the simple widening chaos being caused in the centre of the area by the whirling dervish duel of Rey and Hattaska, let alone what seemed to be a droid swarm harassing Ott Ren

    Xundel would find that his slash with his saber merely singed across Vicrul's beskar armor, the knob slamming into his right knee causing him to buckle slightly as in the next moment the post slammed into him catching him off balance as he stumbled. But perhaps the unexpected deflection of the lightsaber across Vicrul's armor was all he needed.

    Regardless Xundel had achieved one thing, Vicrul's attention was placed firmly on the grey creature. The rage boiled with Vicrul, rising up like, an unfettered mass of wrath that only wanted to consume, and right now it felt like eating Xundel. In a sudden movement, he came round to slash at Xundel, his second beskad taking a swipe to slice through Xundel's cane.

    Xundel smiled once more, ”Finally you are paying attention.” he let out as his saber hand spun and the squeal of the saber against the blade of the beskad filled the air. In the same moment he grunted, feeling the wave of pain wash across them both. The source was familiar but there was nothing he could do for her right now.

    A chuckle sounded as the second beskad hit as he shifted the cane. His hand let go of the shaft and it fell free as the beskad hit the hidden catch, the handle dropping into his palm. ”Darkness is yours, child, but there is so much more.” he rasped as the golden shoto blade erupted from the hilt of the cane, stabbing down toward the man’s right foot.

    He felt the first beskad shifting toward him and he ducked, spinning, the first saber slashing across the man’s left knee, a deeper strike than the one that had been designed to get his attention, the one across his belly.

    Vicrul felt the pain from whoever Lorl was dueling, the feeling excited him as he became more confident in his movements. The words from Xundel once again fell on deaf ears. Although Vicrul did hear them, he did not believe the grey creature, why would he? And even if what he said was true Vicrul would have no motivation to discover more than his own insular arena.

    The deep strike from Xundel sung through the air once more, although the increased intensity garnered Vicrul's attention, this fight needed to come to an end.

    Vicrul shifted his footwork, narrowly missing the strike from Xundel's golden shoto. The Knight of Ren swung round in a whirlwind of darkness, his multiple slashes raining down upon Xundel attempting to beat down the grey creature through raw power.

    Xundel dodged and weaved, the short saber and longer both causing squeals as they moved just enough to deflect strikes and slashes. He’d fought those taller, more physically strong for centuries. His minimal movements conserved his energy even as his foe ground through his reserves quickly, as he tried to make a powerful strike against the short being.

    As the darkness rose in his foe the swirling grey in his eyes picked up speed, the sense of darkness, light, and the power between rising up around him. The chances would be low that Vicrul would be able to ignore that the swirling clouds of dust that were being kicked up by the other battles were beginning to swirl around them, no peaceful eye to this ‘storm’ of dust and debris but pressing against them too.

    Lightning, purple, black, white as well, began to crackle in the storm. The strikes that came near Xundel seemed to find the glowing blades of his sabers rather than his body but the others were beginning to close on the armored form of the Knight.

    Vicrul's frustration only continued to give way to further wrath as the dust storm kicked up around them, his mask helm doing little to help him see. He began to rely more on instinct and impulse as he often did, feeling the ebb and flow of Xundel's strikes and counterattacks. He hemmed in on Vicrul his mind becoming absently aware of the lightning that was crackling around them both.

    The Knight of Ren's focus was singular and unifying, his heart dipped deep into vacuous black ink of the Dark Side, it stained forever, and this thing, whatever it was, needed to go, it was the only thing standing in between Vicrul and his destiny. He would prove himself, he would please his master. He would capture the Last Jedi.

    Xundel smiled as the dust swept up around them, obscuring almost everything. He dodged, riposted, blocked, wove around the strikes of the younger man until he saw his opening. With a heave he disengaged from his foe and both sabers extinguished. His grey robes and coloration made him fade into the storm as he stepped back.

    He began circling Vicrul, the lightning that had been impacting his saber’s blades now striking his palms, both Light and Dark strikes, then rebounding, seeking the joins of the armor even as he directed the minute granules of sand toward similar spots across the body of his foe.

    His voice, attenuated by the sand, carried deep echoes of the Force as he spoke, letting himself be seen for a moment here and there as he moved around the man. ”Listen, for once, Vicrul. Most here would kill you where you stand simply for being what you are. You’re of no use to me dead. Which is why I made sure you fought me and not the others.”

    He leaped, bounding off of the dome of Vicrul’s armor, a palm placed against it’s surface, the lightning coursing through it, before he leaped again, back into the obscuring dust. "For once in your life use the muscle in your head and not in your arms and wonder why I did so. For if I hadn’t the Last Jedi herself would have cut you down."

    Vicrul felt the lightning course through his body, the beskar armor only helping to conduct the electricity throughout the man's body. He collapsed to his knees, panting and squirming in pain. His beskads clattered to the ground as he listened to the words Xundel spoke.

    Who was he to speak to him like that? As if he were an impatient child? As if he understood Vicrul's motivations and desires, or how he thought? Why should he care what use he was to this thing?

    Vicrul reached up to his mask as if to take it off, he stopped, deciding against it as the man of few words replied to Xundel. The dejection in his voice clear.

    "I am nothing,"

    He collapsed to the ground, the swirl of dark, depressing emotions swirling around in his heart as he was sucked in only further into the darkness, his body and mind constrained by the vacuous whirlpool. All of it triggered once again by the reminder he was not strong enough to defeat the Last Jedi. The voice of Xundel echoing in his ear, he was weak, he was a failure, he was nobody. If he stood no chance against this grey imp, and even more so against the Last Jedi, why should he even live?

    The storm began to die down around them, Xundel slowly becoming visible. The paired beskads rose from the ground, floating behind the little being, before burying halfway to their quillons in the ground. The shaft of Xundel’s cane rose, socketing back into place on the handle. He leaned over it, looking almost eye to eye at Vicrul. A sigh escaped his lips as he sensed the deep despair and feeling of worthlessness that issued forth from the man.

    The tip of the cane tapped on the ground as he stepped slightly closer. ”From nothing we come and to nothing we return, when we die. What we do between is what defines us.” he spoke softly, only Vicrul and himself could hear.

    The cane rose, the tip pressing under Vicrul’s chin, lifting his head so the man could see. What was standing before him was Xundel, yes, grey swirling eyes and all, but behind Xundel, the swirling dust still obscuring what he saw from the others, was what appeared to be a swirling galaxy of every shade of grey, the power inherent in its form.

    Xundel’s voice came out, deeper, flat of tone, ”Child, your worth is not determined by others. But your value is seen, hence this battle. You have purpose and should you accept it you will find that what exists is not what is or should be and much can be changed. Simply reach out and take the hand offered and all will be explained.”

    The cane dropped, tip pressed to the dirt, and then a grey, three-fingered hand reached out, held before him.

    How hard the first death would hit Vicrul one could not estimate.

    Hattaska Ren; a searing, burning pain -

    Then there was Jaedec, a slashing, carving, and then, an explosion rocked the lily-pads as he was blown away -

    Then laser fire from an otherwise dormant ship stitched into the fray, and Ott was gone -

    Lorl was left alive, yes, but that was all.

    The Knight of Ren, still on his knees, looked up at Xundel, the cane underneath his chin. He could see the power that Xundel displayed before him, the swirling mass of grey. But Vicrul was not interested in power for power's sake, perhaps a paradoxical sentiment for one of the dark.

    One thing was for certain, a few 'kind' words were not about to undo the last six or so years of devotion to darkness, nor would it even remotely shake his steadfast loyalty to the Supreme Leader. He wanted approval, no he craved it, but not from this grey thing he had just met.

    But a purpose... maybe...

    It was at that moment felt the pain of Hattaska, the death of Jaedec. It roiled over him, his attention fixated squarely on Xundel. This was his fault. If he had not gotten in his way he would've been able to help his brother. There was no question about it this thing had to die, he could never forgive it for allowing his brothers to die.

    The fury exploded in him, the negative emotion from before, coupled with the animalistic wrath fueled into a frenzy beyond anything he had ever achieved before. The adrenalin rushing through his system as he sought to choke the creature, and snuff the life out of it.

    Xundel felt his airway tighten and lightning suddenly issued forth from his outstretched hand. As it did, Vicrul would suddenly find himself listening in to a mental conversation, almost see that a tendril from the swirling mass was touching him.

    ’Are you sure it is this one, this thickheaded idiot?’ came Xundel’s ‘voice’.

    ’Yes, Child, even this one is part of the great purpose, as is his Master that you already spoke with.’

    ’If you say so, right now he’d be better as a cooked porg, or that’s where he’s headed.’

    ’How you convince him is up to you, Child, but he must see the Purpose.’

    And then the choking began to diminish, a second tendril rose up between Vicrul’s power and Xundel’s throat. He stepped forward, planting his hand on the Knight’s chest. ”Hate if you must, but I did not kill your brothers. Do not make me kill you before your value to the Plan is fulfilled.”

    The lightning continued to flow from his palm toward the armor, and would until Vicrul made his choice.

    The Knight of Ren felt the mental connection between himself and Xundel, who were these two people speaking? The lightning continued to course throughout his body, it felt likes his muscles were on fire. His hands fell to his sides in only further dejection. He had no remorse for what he had done, for the people he had killed, for the actions he had taken.

    But a small thought entered his mind. A small seed that could one day grow into something more.

    Why am I doing this?

    His helmet then gave way, collapsing to the ground beside Xundel, his messy hair and face laid bare to the world, an expression of dejected anger still plastered firmly on it.

    [​IMG]
    "Do it. Kill me,"

    As the helmet fell away and the man collapsed to the ground, Xundel’s palm fell away from his chest. The lightning slowed and then stopped as Xundel looked into his eyes. He could sense the pain, the despair, the depression, all that was running through Vicrul. But...he could also sense the tiny seed of something, rebirth perhaps, one day.

    His hand reached up, the three fingers running over the man’s stubble. His swirling grey eyes met the despondent ones of the man. A sigh escaped his lips. ”Young one, such pain for one so young. Death is not your path.”

    He shuffled forward a half step, the cane tapping on the ground. ”Tell him now, child.” whispered from his mouth. Xundel smiled slightly, ”Yes, Master.” he whispered.

    He sat on the ground, cross-legged before the man, the cane laid across his lap. ”The Force itself has measured your worth, Vicrul. It doesn’t care if you are Light or Dark. It cares about your potential, about what you can give to the galaxy.”

    He reached out, patting one pauldron, ”You do not see it now, do not feel it, but it is there, and there is time to let that grow. I will not make you turn from Darkness but I will guide you to use it wisely, even as your Master grows darker. That too is a part of the plan.”

    His head swiveled, taking in the battlefield around them both, the death, the pain, the exultation of victory from those who still stood. ”For now allow me to take the lead and I will work out how to get you where you need to go. Or the others may not accept what I see in you.” he said to the man as he returned to face him.

    As Xundel spoke Vicrul Ren listened, his mind still reeling, only just able to process what he was saying. How desperately he wanted to cry at this moment, but no matter how much he willed himself to do so, nothing flowed, his tear ducts just as barren as his soul.

    He was not thinking rationally at this moment, but in his time of sheer and utter despair, talk of his growth and potential struck a chord in the Knight of Ren. He could never forgive this thing for what it had prevented him from doing, for the glorious death or victory that could've been achieved, but he knew on a fundamental level he needed to get stronger. For his Master, for his mission. And without his Master here to train him, how else was he supposed to become more powerful?

    He breathed in and out deeply, picking up his helmet, his eyes looking down into it.

    Master I do this for you.

    He looked toward Xundel.

    "Very well, I will come with you,"

    TAG: @darthbernael @Sinrebirth
     
  9. galactic-vagabond422

    galactic-vagabond422 Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 11, 2009
    (A combo post between myself and @Sinrebirth )

    IC Rhoen Aquilla

    Rhoen kept his distance from Syal his heart hurt to be around her. It wasn't hate, he was just conflicted. She'd caused so much pain to him but, she was also his love. He still loved her, there was still a soft spot for her but, it was at war with his pain. He wanted nothing more than to just forgive and hold her close but, the rift in his chest was just too great. After his shower she curled up tight in the blanket closing his eyes tight and drifting off to sleep quickly.

    He didn't dream, it was just darkness and then he felt a hand on his shoulder.

    His eyes snapped open, his body wake to alertness sitting bolt upright. He looked to her taking a few breaths and rubbing his eyes. Before he could say anything the door chimed drawing her attention.

    Rhoen just stayed in bed waking himself up, though it didn't seem he would have much time for that as he heard Lando's voice on the other side. Rubbing his eyes and brushing his hair back with his hand he made his way over to the door. With a final weary breath he opened it finding the General turned entrepreneur on the other side.

    He checked the hallway to make sure no one was watching before inviting Lando in.

    "What is it?" He asked keeping his voice quiet not wanting to wake Val.

    Lando stepped in, noticed the lowness of his tone, and hesitated. He couldn't really produce his charm at a quiet volume. But never be it said the silver-haired fox didn't have some thoughts on how to achieve it. Taking a deep breath, he grinned his broadest grin. "I'm putting together a group of rogues and rebels and thought I'd tap up you two. I've somewhere safe where Val can go if you want to help out. I've already sent out couriers to Karrde, Terrik, Zorii and Jannah, so we'll have a decent amount of support if all works out. This time we won't have a resurrected Palpatine to deflect our punch."

    Syal listened, and realised with some dread what he was proposing.

    That Lando's mind had been changed by that speech.

    By Leia.

    Lando looked as if he'd over-bet his hand at Sabacc. He smoothly switched gears. "How couldn't Leia's words convince me? The amount of times she was able to sweet-talk me into helping out. At Mindor, at Wayland, at Nam Chorios, at Yavin, how couldn't I follow her last request?"

    He gestured broadly outward. "She trusted us all to do the right thing."

    Syal didn't say a word, swallowing anything that wanted to emerge from her lips.

    But Lando drew himself up straight, hand up. "But it's alright, I get where you're coming from. I mean, I had a child kidnapped by the First Order, and I lost my best friends fighting this war." He briefly looked sad, remembering Han, Leia and Luke. "But I kinda think I've been selfish for the better part of a decade now, and it's time repaid the debt I owe them." He shrugged. "I mean, we'd all be dead or completely enslaved by now if not for them."

    He turned to go. "At least thanks to them we have a bit of freedom. Not much, I'll grant you that, and we've bled a lot for it, but at least we have something." He reached for the door to open it and leave.

    For her part, Syal simply turned away to lay down.

    It was her turn to sleep, and Rhoen's job to keep watch now.

    A long breath left him loyalty, freedom, hope. These were words his Chandrilian heart wanted to believe, wanted to rally behind. The anchor of his experiences of his own loss, of Tiom, and so many young pilots it weighted him down. They were heavy on his heart, and all he could see when he thought of war was their faces, knowing that their deaths meant nothing and would continue to mean nothing. But, he owed them right? They'd given their lives for an ideal what wasn't realized, shouldn't he try, shouldn't he take up the fight again for them? They gave every thing they had and it didn't bring the peace they died for.

    Lando flashed one last smile at Rhoen, and then left.

    Syal began to quietly cry to herself, but she fell asleep soon enough. This had been their last chance to join in. From now on, she wouldn't be mentioning it again. They'd find somewhere new to settle down, and that would be that.

    The blackness of sleep consumed her.

    Shouldn't he continue their fights, to carry their torch. It hurt, to think about it, in the shadows over his shoulder he could see Toim behind him a smile on his face.

    Was he being selfish too, just erasing their sacrifice, making their loss mean nothing to him...

    He didn't have an answer night right then, not in that moment...he just kept silent...

    Before Lando could fully leave, as he was in between the room and hallway, Rhoen grabbed his arm...

    "Do you have a way I can reach you?" He asked his heart in his throat and stomach in knots, his voice so quiet no one else could hear...

    Lando looked back, and quirked an eyebrow, whispering. "I mean, we still don't have galactic comms... but I can tell you where I'm going." He looks around, furtively, and fishes a pocket jammer from his sleeve and checks it; there are no listening devices to hand.

    "Coruscant."

    He grinned.

    It was long odds.

    But he had always been a gambler, and always would be.

    He'd just have to bring a few skifters along for the game...

    Lando Calrissian sketched an informal, two-finger salute at Rhoen. "I'll be there in one days time. I'm betting Connix and the others will head there - it's our only chance, after all."

    The pilot let the smuggler walk away, letting the door close leaving him in darkness.

    It was a dark night. Rhoen sat his back against the headboard of the hotel bed, his feet pressed into the bed and his arms resting on his knees. His gaze fell on the curled form of Syal. He'd hurt her, hurt her bad. He hated himself for what he had done. Sure, they had fought over this issue a lot but, he'd never seen her this defeated, this low. He'd won, he'd finally ended the interminable argument that plagued their marriage from nearly the very beginning. But, he didn't feel good, he just felt like a jerk, that he'd brow beat her into submission. His stomach was sick thinking about it.

    And then there was the thought of everyone else that he had left behind, the friends that died in the fight he gave up on. He owed it to them didn't he, but how could he put his family at risk. In the darkness he could see their faces, the faces of the young men and women he served alongside. They came one by one until he stood before him, the one man he called a brother. He was of a slight frame, with curly brown hair, soft features and a kind smile.

    "Hey Rhoen," The voice of a dead man rang out, "That was some stunt you pulled."

    "Rhoen, I don't know how we made it out of that one…" The same voice was ringing in his ears.

    "You love her...don't you Rhoen…" He looked to Syal curled up next to him. "Well, we have that in common...I...I have an idea…"

    "You keep her safe Rhoen…"

    "Look after our girl Rhoen…"

    "Take care of Syal Rhoen…"

    "Rhoen…"

    "Rhoen…"

    "Rhoen…"

    He threw off the covers sweat rolling down his forehead, breathing heavy. Stepping into the refresher he ran some cold water splashing it on his face. The icy water made him suck in a breath and brought his mind back to reality...or at least he thought.

    As he looked up he saw more than just his reflection in the mirror. Over his shoulder he saw him, the dead man. He saw Tiom.

    "Rhoen…" He said.

    "No," The pilot shook his head not daring to look over his shoulder.

    "Rhoen, what are you doing? Hiding away, running from the fight." Tiom's eyes met Rhoen's in the mirror.

    "Things aren't the same, there's no hope." Rhoen's palms pressed into the cold metal of the sink.

    "Was there hope on Exogol? Was there hope at Crait?" The ghost counted off on his fingers. "And we survived those. What makes this any different."

    "I have a wife, a kid, I can risk that." Rhoen's long hair fell into his eyes with how he shook his head, but he could still see Tiom. He couldn't escape the gaze of his fallen friend. "I don't want Val to grow up without a mother like I did."

    "So you want her to grow up under the boot of oppression?"

    "At least we'd be there for her."

    "You want her to live always looking over her shoulder? Always worried she'll be beaten or worse?"

    "I'd keep her safe."

    "How, you've already run away from this fight, how many more will you run away from?"

    "I would…"

    "And what about Syal? Can't you see you're hurting her?"

    "She wants to get herself killed fighting a war we won't win."

    "Does she want to die or does she want to live? Live without fear?"

    "At least she's alive."

    "Do you hear yourself?" Tiom tapped his ear driving the point home. "This isn't living, running from place to place, hoping that you can live to see another day."

    "It's something, it's the only thing we're going to get."

    "It could be so much better and you know it."

    "Or we could die, or we could lose everything we fought for like that." Rhoen snapped his fingers. Remembering the sheer immediacy of the fall of the Republic that died in the crib.

    "But, you could win, you could beat back the darkness and make a galaxy safe for Val, for Syal."

    "And in Val's lifetime she'll have to fight again, the fight will never end."

    "The fight never ends yes but, maybe not everyone will have to feel the pain of this oppression, this cycle of light and darkness. What was it you always said...Evil only wins if good beings do nothing…"

    "Don't you dare."

    "I'm seeing a good man doing nothing."

    "Stop."

    "You're hurting Syal, killing her can't you see it."

    "I don't want to lose her."

    "You already are," Tiom hung his head looking back up with a disappointed look in his eyes, a look that cut right through Rhoen. "what happened to your promise...you promised me…"

    "Stop."

    "You promised me you'd take care of her...that you wouldn't hurt her."

    "I had to," Rhoen shouted, his voice echoing in the small room. "I had to keep her away from the war, a war that claimed your life. I don't want her sacrifice to be in vian…" He paused, taking a breath, feeling his voice quake. "like yours…" He staggered back from the mirror, his back meeting the cold wall he slid down until he was sitting on the floor. He was going mad, seeing ghosts. A memory came back to him, hearing his mother shouting in the refresher, yelling about being sorry, saying sorry to someone called Tal. Only thing was, he didn't hear another voice, when he opened the door, it was only his mother, no one else.

    Was this what it felt like for her, yelling at the ghosts, shouting at the regrets of the past...Did he want this scar on his heart, did he want to carry this pain? Did he want to look into the face of a man he trusted, respected hell, loved some days, and say his death was in vain…

    No, he couldn't do it…

    They would take a breath, take a break, then they would set course for Coruscant...

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 25, 2021
  10. TheSilentInfluence

    TheSilentInfluence Retired Manager star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Jul 15, 2014
    IC: Madelyn Linnett
    Fighting


    Madelyn ducked as Orl shot between her eyes. When she rose up again she took a lightsaber from her inside her robes and activated it, stumbling a little as he pushed her with the force.

    So that's how he wants to fight does he?

    Madelyn looked at him and smirked. "Do you not understand what you're facing?" She taunted and pushed back with the force as she approached him, lightsaber at the ready. "Tell me, have you ever actually thought for yourself?"

    Orl chuckled, taking pot-shots that were staccato style, one-two, one-two, one-two-three, a technique that he had learned studying how Jango Fett had killed Jedi. It was this kind of staggered fire which prevented a lightsaber-weilder from completing the necessary angle to send the bolt back at him, and Orl was more than a decent practitioner of it.

    "Have you? First a Jedi, and then, what? Mandalorian? All those rules - first the Jedi Code, then the Resol'nare." He chuckled, disappointing.

    The Force rumbled with something familiar; Jaedec Ren was duelling Barriss Ofee, but he had just drew Master Luminara's lightsaber; and bled it. A gout of dust rose up between them two, obscuring Madelyn's view of her, but that scream, echoing from her master's Kyber crystal, that would cut deep.

    Somehow, Barriss was completely unperturbed by the death of their master's crystal.

    But Orl was all over Madelyn; she would only have time to be wounded, and wound back, if she managed it.

    "You never wondered what I was between being a Jedi and Mandalorian? How I became so profound at fighting?" Madelyn asked, watching him. "I used to be an Emperors Hand. It's how I survived. I know better now, I know my place."

    She staggered as a shot took her in the side of her hip, but remained standing. "Its a shame you don't know you're place." Madelyn felt her heart clench as Master Luminara's crystal was destroyed, and hoped Barriss was okay. She turned sharply to Orl and grabbed him with the force, pulling him forward and swinging her lightsaber down-

    Orl had used her hesitation to dispense with blasters - he was a Knight of Ren, not just a sharpshooter. He allowed her to pull him forward and indeed added to her tug with his own Force usage so he arrived even more quickly than she expected, lifting one hand to catch her wrist, and pointed his lightsaber hilt at her stomach, eyes grinning into hers -

    He activated it -

    Madelyn jumped back as he activated his lightsaber, using the momentum to get out of the way and go behind him-

    The blade nonetheless cut her as she went, leaving not a hole in her but a gash in her side, catching her kidney -

    The pain would be excruciating.

    Lorl turned after her, raising his blade to guard, which would be across his chest -

    He kicked out at her as he went -

    Madelyn yelled as the blade sliced her side and kidney, the pain nearly unbearable. She watched as he went to guard and kicked his leg out. Madelyn out if sheer desperation and more then a little angry brought her lightsaber down on his leg, hard and fast; intending to remove it.

    Orl allowed the kick to send him back, surprised but recovering, his blade swinging to catch the blow as he had more distance to respond. The Knight of Ren rolled his blade over hers and had it bound, drawing back his weapon to try and flip hers away from her -

    As he did that, her kidney pain spiked, and it became apparent that he'd caught her liver too -

    Madelyn fought back hard, despite the pain. She felt Lorl try to get an advantage over her, to disarm her. Madelyn pushed back hard before the pain spiked again and she yelled out in pain.

    I won't be able to fight much longer.

    Lorl completed his move and her lightsaber went tumbling away. He raised his own blade to perform the coup de grace, but before he could, a hammer blow hit him -

    Hattaska was dead.

    Lorl flicked his hand, using a Force push to shove Madelyn back, hitting her in her wound as he stumbled -

    Jaedec died, and Lorl fell, rolling away, scrabbling to get away from his pain, fumbling his lightsaber and drawing a blaster after he dropped his hilt -

    And then Ott died, and Lorl just ran -

    He had to get away, because he’d lost his twin, and he needed to recover -

    He’d come back for Vicrul -

    He’d get his revenge on the Last Jedi and every single one of these Force users -

    Every single last one of them.

    He sent a pulse to his surviving brother.

    Survive, Vicrul. Survive.

    He left Madelyn with a puncture in her kidney and her liver.

    Madelyn had believed this was the end. Until Lorl had been hammered by pain in the the force. She watched as he retreated, and then fell heavily on the ground herself, the pain from her wounds too much to bear. She lay on the ground, waiting for help.

    She hoped it would come in time.

    Tag: @Sinrebirth
     
  11. AgentViper007

    AgentViper007 Force Ghost star 7

    Registered:
    Mar 9, 2005
    OOC: A combo with @Sinrebirth :_|

    IC: Agent Bernhardt Johnson, Ilsa Ferguson, Agent Smith
    Location: The Capitol, Coruscant


    Johnson awoke finally relieved of the Agent presence inside him.

    To find Ilsa training a blaster on him. And his heart sank. She was looking at something else but Johnson still felt sadness creep through him.

    So she still doesn't trust you. I don't know why she said she loved me or even kissed me if she doesn't trust me. Why would she even save me if she felt nothing?

    The more pressing matter was right in front of him. The doors opened and there was Smith with two troopers.

    Johnson inwardly snorted this one can even survive a building explosion. No wonder he was made number one.

    As he was about to try maybe breaking himself out of the chair and warn Ilsa the troopers convulsed. A voice came out, saying a speech of some sort but his mind was still foggy; he couldn't pick bits out. It sounded like a call of some sort.

    After it had ended the troopers began recovering, Ilsa it seemed had now decided to move and shot the straps on Johnson's arms, then tried to shoot Smith who then shot her…

    That's my girlfriend you bastard…

    Agents didn't do niceties. They were cool, calm and collected even in a fight.

    Johnson broke out of the restraints and charged forwards pulling his blaster out and firing at the troopers. Smith he would have to deal with physically.

    The Mechtroopers had not fully reinitialised and the bolts found the spaces in their armour. That saw the two of them go down, even as Smith kicked out and sent Johnson’s weapon clattering into the wall with force .

    He went to bring his blaster back in line to shoot, as Ilsa shuffled beneath the table that Johnson had just been laying upon, holding her wound and wincing -

    The troopers had been dealt with, now it just left him and Smith.

    Mano e mano

    One on one.

    Ilsa hopefully had found either a place to hide or would stay in the corner somewhere out of the way. Johnson had no time to look back and check.

    As Smith's kick sent Johnson's blaster flying Johnson quickly spun and tried to deliver a high kick to Smith's face. Of course he still had his blaster but hopefully his focus would hopefully stay with Johnson himself.

    Smith twisted his gun-arm to block, and then battered away the foot at the ankle, before following up with a fist to Johnson's gut -

    Johnson had never of course trained with Smith nor was ever partnered with him, that was usually Jones and Brown so he didn't know how he fought.

    But what he did know was that Smith was faster than he was.

    The blow connected and Johnson felt the air rush out of him. He swung one his arms up to push the gut punching arm away, aiming his other fist at Smith's face again.

    The fist slammed into his face, and there were two snaps - one, in Smith's cheekbone, and two, in Johnson's hand. He spun away and rebounded off the doorframe, tumbling to the ground for a moment and rolling back and away with his palm to his cheek, outside the room now -

    Ilsa leaned around the chair and aimed, but wasn't sure where to aim now the door controls were ineffective -

    Johnson felt the bones break in his hand and tried not to make a noise.

    Smith had been wounded sure, but that would make him more dangerous.

    Johnson had to try and keep him on the ropes. Smith was the most powerful Agent of them all. He was not going to go down easy.

    Johnson began aiming a series of kicks at him. High, middle, low. Left, right, central. Using everything in his kicking arsenal to try and batter the other Agent.

    The kicks connected with Smith as he backed away, through the doorway, but his focus was on making sure the bows didn't do anything critical; he took the high blow on the side of his face, the opposite side to his broken cheek-bone; he took the low blow on the edge of his thigh, and he accepted the middle kick on his chest, rather than stomach -

    The rest of his attention was on making sure he didn't trip over the Mechtrooper corpses at his feet, and the moment he had cleared them, he was able to bring all of his power against Johnson, and brought up two hands to catch his next kick and immediately twist the foot with the intention of breaking the ankle -

    His kicks were not doing a lot, Smith was still taking the blows effortlessly.

    Johnson knew that he would probably run out of energy before Smith did. Even though he was number 2, he had not been enhanced mechanically, only chemically. And even his strength and stamina would not last as much.

    And if Smith broke his ankle...he would be down and out. Ilsa would not survive.

    Last chance…

    He went with the twist, bringing his other leg off the ground to swing it straight at Smith's head.

    The kick took Smith in the side of the head and he went down.

    He didn't move.

    For his part, Johnson would fall to the floor and into the Mechtrooper pile of trash, slamming into the chest-plate of one, and blacking out for the briefest of moments. When he came to, his ears were ringing and Ilsa was standing over him. She was wounded, yes, but alive.

    "Are you okay?"

    Johnson tried picking himself up from the mechtrooper bits and pieces with one hand and looked up at Ilsa.

    "Ow".

    He stood up with a slight wobble. He had landed with quite a thump after successfully knocking out Smith. But he would not be down for long.

    Johnson cradled his broken hand "I've broken my hand punching Smith in the face, usually I would shrug it off but this really hurts." He shook his head and did something that he had not done in years…

    Johnson smiled.

    "Are you alright? You took a bit of a hit from Smith's blaster. We need to get out of here. When Smith wakes up he'll report me as a rogue Agent and we'll need to be off Coruscant by then".

    "The good news? I have managed to purge the Agent within. He's gone".

    Ilsa looked at him, and managed a tearful smile back. "I'll be fine."

    She knelt down and drew him - carefully - into a hug, among the wreckage of the dead Mechtroopers.

    The unshed tears became shed, and she cried into his chest.

    Johnson caradled Ilsa with his good arm keeping his other arm down by his side.

    He kissed the top of her head. It had been a rough ride for them both and no doubt there would still be a few bumps left to traverse. But he would treasure the moments like this.

    Because there would be no telling when they would get such moments again.

    "I love you Ilsa" he said simply as he waited for her cries to subside "I've missed you so much".

    Johnson still had to atone for what he had done but he would cross that bridge when it came to it. He quickly looked around "We need to go. We'll patch each other up on the Silencer, alright? Once we get off Coruscant...we can properly catch up" he smiled down at her.

    Ilsa hesitated. They were in danger laying in the hallway like this, but she needed to ask. "Are we going to join the Resistance? The war must be in full-swing again now with that transmission -" She swallowed. "It may even come to Coruscant." Ilsa knew that it had to come to Coruscant, eventually. In a year, or three, an invasion would follow, and it would be cataclysmic.

    And here it came again.

    And this he knew is where he could lose her. The love of his life whom he had fought to survive to see again. Maybe the Agent did have a point, he would always have pain.

    "I know what you want me to do Ilsa" he said sadly "You want me to stop fighting, hide somewhere, stay out of the war. But we'll be doing what we did before, hiding, always looking over our shoulders for when the First Order comes to get us".

    "But I can't rejoin the Resistance, as I said after what i've done, what i've become...they won't let me back. But I cannot sit here and do nothing especially with what I know, what they did to me. I still can do something".

    His voice cracked "I want us to be together, I want us to rebuild. But I know you are tired with war, we all are. And I know you have lost everything to get me back. I'm sorry about that. But I know that me going back….I could lose you."

    He shook his head, he didn't know what to do right now.

    Ilsa nodded. She wanted to say something that could solve all their problems right here and now, but she couldn't. Before she could say another word, the alarms sounded out. Full mobilization of the Capitol. All troops are to report to their stations for orders. All commanding officers are to tune into the Command line for orders. The Chancellor will address the First Order shortly. Repeat -

    She knew that meant all manner of trooper were about to head to the hangars. "I have an override on an escape pod - we can take that, or we can risk heading back to the Silencer." Ilsa looked down at Smith. "We should make sure he's dead, too."

    It seemed Hux had pressed the panic button and was calling everyone to attention.

    The message whatever it was had caused a stir and important enough for the Chancellor to make an address.

    "We need to get back to the Silencer" he said "I'd rather have weapons than none at all. We can rearm, heal and plan our next steps and we can get off Coruscant which is the main thing. Because this planet it seems is about to blow."

    He stood up fully "Plus we can hear what Hux says. It could be useful as we would know what the First Order will plan to do next, I still have access to the First Order net for now that is".

    He nodded at her blaster "Would you like to do the honours of shooting him or shall I?"

    Ilsa hesitated again, standing and regarding Smith.

    "If he's unconscious and not dead? I'd rather not have that on my conscience, thanks," her answer was a bit tart. She limped a little, and looked up and down the corridor, ignoring whatever Johnson had planned. They'd been exceedingly lucky not to have been caught out so far - but with the Agency decimated, no surprises there.

    Johnson took her blaster and shook his head at her "Guess since i'm already a monster another person dead won't matter will it?" His response was said sarcastically as he shot Smith in the head "After all, I was an Agent and killing didn't matter did it?"

    "You don't think that everybody I killed won't haunt me for the rest of my life? I killed innocent people, my comrades, people who didn't deserve it. And i'm not sure what you have had to do over the years but it was probably the same as I did in the Resistance. Kill or be killed".

    Johnson shook his head and started to head back up the corridor back the way they had come tucking Ilsa's blaster back into his jacket.

    Smith died, of course.

    Ilsa watched Johnson go, stepping after him but not passing him - and pressed the wall controls.

    "Good bye, my love."

    The bulkhead slammed down between them, and a new set of alarms echoed out.

    Infiltrators in the control chamber! All available troops, get there now.

    Johnson had a limited window to escape, and now, Ilsa had made her decision.

    NO!

    Johnson's heart smashed to pieces as he saw the door come down between them. It was done, it was over. And Ilsa had decided it was not worth being with him anymore.

    That he was truly a monster.

    That he had come back for nothing. That Ilsa had lost everything for nothing.

    That she would sacrifice herself for him.

    I've got nothing left now. It's what I deserve…

    He could try and yell at her not to do this but she would just push him away.

    "Goodbye Ilsa" he said his voice cracking more "I would have loved you to the end of the galaxy and back. But I guess it wasn't good enough".

    He turned and ran back towards where the Silencer was parked. The First Order would pay for this…

    With interest.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
    Sinrebirth and darthbernael like this.
  12. HanSolo29

    HanSolo29 RPF/SWC/Fan Art Manager & Bill Pullman Connoisseur star 7 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Apr 13, 2001
    The following is a combo with @Sinrebirth – thank you so much! [:D]

    IC: Vice-Chancellor Aryan Graul, Lyz Graul, and Foreman Chrys

    Wavett, the Expansion Region

    The first stop on their ‘good faith’ tour through the Expansion Region brought them to the industrial world of Wavett. While they had arrived in record time—thanks to a smooth transition from the Core—their initial reception and the subsequent introductions hadn’t gone entirely to plan.

    It wasn’t that Foreman Chrys lacked the acumen to welcome them in a cordial way. He had extended them the usual hospitality, which others with a less refined understanding may have perceived as gruff, but Aryan quickly recognized that Chrys was a practical man. He would rather be down in the trenches with his men than deal with officious bureaucrats. The Vice-Chancellor could respect those sentiments, and he would abide by the man’s parameters. He demonstrated this by simply nodding his head in greeting, sending a clear message that he would not use his visit here as leverage to make a scene.

    In that sense, Aryan had to thank Lyz for the intelligence she had gathered prior to their arrival. It underlined the current state of affairs on Wavett, including the populace’s pragmatic traditions and Warlord Gherlid’s efforts to exploit those beliefs by spreading negative ideologies against the First Order. It helped him to formulate a plan of action.

    Unfortunately, that’s when their itinerary took a drastic turn.

    Before Aryan could seize the opportunity to address the pertinent issues he had reviewed, a bright light cascaded across the gray sky. It served as a precursor to a galaxy-wide message—a call to arms from the late Leia Organa herself—that transmitted from every droid vocoder and speaker in the immediate vicinity.

    In the silence that followed, Aryan shifted uncomfortably on the tarmac, his heavy overcoat pulled tight around his torso as he turned to regard his wife. His breath condensed to form white puffs of smoke in the frigid air, though he did not utter a word. There was no need to; he already knew what Lyz was thinking.

    This could be bad.

    It was the proverbial spark that could set the galaxy ablaze. He could already envision the flames of war crackling on the horizon of the galactic plane, and the tension was palpable.

    And yet, he wasn’t entirely convinced that it would have such a detrimental effect on his own plans. Hadn’t he been searching for an opportunity to take down Hux and his regime? If he could effectively distance himself from the Chancellor and his tyrannical government, this could work out to his advantage.

    It was enough to strengthen his resolve as Aryan planted his cane against the frozen ground and stepped forward to speak with the Foreman. "It appears as if the galaxy grows weary of Hux’s arbitrary rule," he stated mildly, a warm smile cutting through the cold to instill confidence. "I had a notion that things would eventually reach an apex. The Chancellor’s radical policies are not sustainable, nor does he have the patience to efficiently govern. He has failed so many, including the hardworking people employed under your jurisdiction. Instead of order, he sows chaos through oppression."

    A frown crossed his countenance, a visual cue to emphasize his own anger over the way Hux had abused the peoples of the galaxy. "That is why I’m here," he continued in a subdued tone, deciding to take the plunge. "My family and I have been working on a contingency to restore the ideals that we all hold dear. We are here to help...to listen, to address any issues you may have. This is not on Hux’s order; this is my time. I am here simply as Aryan, not as the Vice-Chancellor of the First Order. Consider this my personal contribution to the cause."

    Lyz’s eyes widened as Aryan slid unsubtly from quietly undermining Hux to directly doing so. But then her political acumen caught up with his, and her eyes grew more neutral. He was right; this was the perfect time to be honest and upfront.

    Chrys for his part narrowed his expression and wasn’t necessarily impressed. "So what? You gonna be Chancellor of the New Order?" He snorted in an unflattering manner. "Unless you can command the troops here, we don’t have much to talk about. Wavett makes ships, it doesn’t have any."

    His gaze grew speculative. "Unless you’ve some stashed away?"

    Refusing to acknowledge the man’s implied insult regarding his abilities, Aryan canted his head and exchanged a subtle glance with his wife, a hint of a smirk playing over his lips. He did not openly elaborate—at least, not at this juncture. However, his expression was very telling.

    "Let’s just say that we are prepared," he stressed in a firm voice. "We have taken the necessary measures to manage this eventuality, an effort which has spanned over the course of the last decade."

    He motioned toward Chrys with his free hand, an amicable gesture intended to convey his goodwill. "As I said, we are here to address your concerns. I would not have offered our assistance if we weren't capable of following through on our promises. My goal is not to forcefully elevate myself to a position of power and declare myself Chancellor—not at my age." He scoffed slightly and shifted his weight, clearly uncomfortable about the merits of his own mortality, especially in the wake of Jalynn’s death.

    "I only wish to provide aid, to restore our cherished ideals, and propagate peace; to ensure that I leave behind a better galaxy for posterity’s sake. That’s my mission here."

    Chrys' eyes brightened at the idea of something stashed away. That implied forethought, not opportunism. One, he approved of, the other, it was just another knee-jerk reaction and he'd learned not to jump with the tide during the last Galactic Rebellion.

    "Well, consider Wavett a signatory to your Mission then," his eyes said with some sparkle, and then some realism. "But as I say; Stormtroopers are here, loyal to your Chancellor and Supreme Leader. What's the plan with them?"

    Lyz had to admit, it was a point. Unless they could command the loyalty of the military, it would be a difficult, uphill slog, and they might not be much better off than a Galactic Warlord at the end of it. They had to move swiftly, with certainty, to capture power without fuss, or the Resistance - or Gherlid - would chew them apart.

    Could they be turned? Lyz wasn't sure, but this was their best chance.

    Their only chance, if Hux messed up so badly the First Order was ripped down in an expression of outrage and chaos. Not if, she amended mentally.

    When.

    There was a beep in Aryan’s pocket. In the past he’d set up various data traces for old Remnant families; mainly those that had remained behind in Known Space. Hux had accepted his explanation that the Vice-Chancellor wanted to pay attention to ex-Imperial malcontents, especially as Hux had historically purged old Imperials as they weren’t philosophically members of the First Order but seeking a New Empire.

    An excuse to consolidate his power basically.

    So, on Aryan’s watch list were many of the families that had stayed behind and fought (and lost) to the New Republic. The Dorja’s, the Yage’s, the Fel’s, and the Pellaeon’s, the Getelles’s, the Daala’s - for example. The Dorja’s had thrown their lot in with the First Order - one of the last Grand Admirals had been a member of that family and died subjugating Chandrila after the Battle of Crait, while his daughter was now the Minister of Intelligence.

    But the Yage’s were more interested in no-nonsense military service, while the Fel’s had remained in exile on Bastion in the distant Outer Rim. But the Fel’s had built their world into a fortress, complete with their own small but unique spin on Star Destroyers. And an update had just passed his data feed; that Airen Yage had just assisted suspected Resistance members to escape from Ralltiir, fomenting a mutiny against the First Order. The local defence net had seized her Star Destroyer and had her and her compatriots in the brig and had requested orders from Coruscant.

    The Fel’s remained isolated but powerful in the Outer Rim, dominating the eight sectors they retained there, but hadn’t commented on recent events. Tol Getelles remained ruler of the Antemeridian sector on the Perlemian Trade Route, but he’d been a political pariah and then later playing kingmaker in the struggle to rule the Imperial remnants; former Head of State Vitor Reige owed his brief tenure of power due to a wave of backstabs between the Reige’s, the Daala’s and a particularly fiendish Moff named Drikl Lecersen. Brief because it was entirely irrelevant when the First Order was clearly the primary successor to the Old Empire, or rather, in Hux’s eyes - its perfected form.

    But with Yage where she was, the captain of the Widowmaker was a potential ally and respected military asset. Well, until now, perhaps.

    Lyz raised an eyebrow in a silent question.

    The report had pinged his datapad at the most opportune moment. Aryan couldn’t have planned it any better himself, and it swiftly dissolved any lingering doubts. A quick review of the data revealed a myriad of options he could utilize to address Chrys’ concerns about military control. It was a delicate topic, and he knew that his answer would be key to securing their alliance.

    Fortunately, his continual surveillance of several prominent families within the Imperial Remnant was about to pay off; he was confident that it had just provided him with the perfect solution.

    Raising his brow, Aryan met his wife’s gaze with a mischievous glint to his eye; a cocksure expression that spoke of his certainty. He often adopted it when he could foresee victory. And so, he did not hesitate as he keyed in a command to send the report to Lyz’s personal datapad for her to peruse. She would easily recognize the relevant information:

    Airen Yage had recently risked her career—and her life—to defy the First Order, instigating a mutiny in the process. The local authorities had managed to quell the riot, imprison the crew, and impound her Star Destroyer; all before requesting further assistance from the capital on how to proceed.

    A sly smile crossed Aryan’s countenance as he verified the order. It was truly the perfect opportunity; Yage was about to become the apparent figurehead for their new movement. She would fill the role nicely.

    Before Coruscant could respond to the inquiry, the Vice-Chancellor acted promptly to claim the case and clear it from the queue. He sent a message to the ranking officer—along with the appropriate credentials—to inform him that he intended to handle Yage…personally. He would be arriving to take the Captain off his hands in short order.

    In the meantime, Aryan turned back to the Foreman to appease his anxieties. "Allow me to express my appreciation for your support," he began evenly, shifting his weight on his cane so that he could shake the man’s hand. "I want to assure you that the troopers who are stationed here will not be a persistent problem. I trust their commitment, and when the hammer falls, I know that they will endorse freedom over oppression. That is pivotal."

    He glanced briefly down at the datapad and exhaled softly. "I am in the process of consulting with a…dear friend of mine who will earn their loyalty; a decorated officer who will serve as my eyes and ears for the armed forces. She will treat the troops humanely and with respect, a basic concept that has apparently slipped the Chancellor’s mind. He may breed soldiers, but it was a mistake to remove the human element."

    The Foreman cocked an eyebrow. "If you can command the troops, and can guarantee we won’t have any heavy-handed enforcement of the rule - or the world ransacked chasing a handful of Resistance fighters - then I’ll talk to the others - make sure that broadcast doesn’t see us taken by Gherlid because some idiot couldn’t think."

    Aryan’s datapad pinged.

    Ralltiir Command accepted his instructions and were so eager to get Yage off their hands that they confirmed that a Dungeon Ship would be en route to Wavett within the hour not just with her - but also her entire command crew. Many of these men and women had transferred over with her from her original ship - a frigate traversing the Unknown Regions also named the Widowmaker.

    So Aryan now had her and staff, in theory.

    Lyz was suitably impressed.

    Chrys had a sudden thought. "Oh, and we’d like the right to sell 25% of the shipyards’ production to buyers of our choice - as long as they’re not on your ‘no list’ - so we can turn a profit. No more of this 100% First Order deal. You agree to that, and I’ll guarantee the behaviour of the yards."

    He held out a hand.

    It was a good deal, all-in-all.

    Again, Aryan angled his chin and exchanged a knowing glance with Lyz. The Rallitiir authorities had replied swiftly to his probe, which essentially guaranteed them a favorable outcome to their negotiations. In fact, he was so surprised by Rallitiir’s willingness to offload Yage and her team that he had to temper his response to Foreman Chrys. It wouldn’t be proper for him to appear overzealous at this juncture.

    "That will be agreeable," the Vice-Chancellor emphasized with a cordial smile. "And quite practical on both counts. We will do everything in our power to ensure a peaceful co-existence. The days of chaos and oppression are over. You have my word."

    With his hand already outstretched, Aryan sealed the deal by applying a firm shake. His eyes never wavered from the man’s face during the exchange, a testament to his integrity and sincerity.

    "I will begin devising a framework for our accord, including the aforementioned restrictions." He stepped back and adopted a more casual stance as he leaned on his cane. "I don’t anticipate the list being too extensive, so it should be a relatively easy transition; it will not disrupt your productivity. I am also happy to inform you that Captain Yage will be joining us imminently. Until then, perhaps you wouldn’t mind showing my wife and me around the shipyards? We would appreciate a tour."

    Aryan reached for Lyz’s arm, squeezing it affectionately as he nodded for Chrys to lead the way.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
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  13. TheSilentInfluence

    TheSilentInfluence Retired Manager star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Jul 15, 2014
    IC: Eleanor Magnus
    Nirauan

    Eleanor appreciated the quiet, she had to think about what to do next to where to go. She leaned against the wall in the Pulsar Skate, and tried to think about what this meant. There was no guarantee that other Mandalorians would follow her. And what would her mother think of all this? She bit her lip and looked worried, before she felt a wave of pain in the force. Mother? Eleanor shook her head and stumbled, reaching out to the wall for support.

    "Mother's been wounded." She said quickly, looking up sharply. "I know where she is. She needs help-" Eleanor let out a slow breath. "I think we need to go there. She's the Matriarch of the family you know. She would want to have a say in all of this." Eleanor explained, thinking of her family out in the galaxy. "We can send a message to Luminara, tell her we need to go and get mother, to help her. Hopefully by then we can have some answers from the other clans, although I'll probably have to speak to them myself." She turned and stumbled again, the pain fresh as she moved towards the pilots chair and looked back, "Unless there's another way?"

    Tag: @Sinrebirth
     
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  14. Sinrebirth

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

    Registered:
    Nov 15, 2004
    IC: Kaz
    Korilev, Wild Space, and then -

    The Chiss shook his head. “We’ll sort out everything else later, Eleanor. Right now, we need to head to wherever your mother is.”

    As soon as they booted the galactic map, Asteria pointed at it. “She’s here.” The Padawan was indicating Bonadan. “Right here.”

    The Force would allow Eleanor to confirm, and Amaria, her face grim with flashbacks of the Dauntless burning down Ryloth, had the Pulsar Skate in hyperspace within a handful of moments after Madelyn’s pain had entered the Force.

    —-
    Bonadan, Corporate Sector

    They arrived as the ship of the Knights of Ren vanished into hyperspace; which only redoubled Asteria’s anxiety and Amaria’s determination; Kaz squeezed Eleanor’s hand, even as Asteria clung to her They swept down to the village that the Night Buzzard had lifted from, landing upon a lily-landing-pad.

    They would be greeted by a massacre.

    Dozens of bodies, three of which were black clad, and all manner of chaos. On the other pads was the ship that belonged to Madelyn, the infamous Millennium Falcon, the Prime Chow, and Trace’s Corellian ship.

    Two twin customs officers threaded their way through the carnage to greet them, as if nothing had happened.

    Of course, all they’d see was the survivors.

    The dust from the conflict had settled. Suddenly they could all see each other - there was Madelyn, wounded and sagged on the floor; Trace and Barriss, bruised and battered and holding each other; Nihl carnivorously regarding the group besides a Kubaz; Xundel stood besides the unmasked and bloodied Vicrul; a wounded Poe Dameron arguing with the Wookiee Chewbacca.

    “We need to go after her!” Poe was shouting.

    Chewbacca roared back, that they didn’t have the map to Mortis, and even if they did, Rey had chosen to leave without them; that it was her vision, and her quest, and not his.

    “But I love her!”

    The Wookiee picked him up and shook him; she loved Kylo Ren and he couldn’t come between it; Finn had accepted it, why couldn’t he?

    “So what - I’m just supposed to go back to the Resistance and fight? Is that it?”

    He pointed out that they had the beginnings of a galactic uprising here, and they needed to get to Coruscant and help Rose and Finn move forward, or even just to make sure that they’d extracted safely -

    They were having a very personal and very confidential conversation in front of them of course. Nihl gave Dol the side eye, and BB-8 tooted a reminder that a First Order Star Destroyer was rounding the planet -

    But even in the middle of it all, there were competing elements calling to them each separately. Luminara’s lightsaber and Kyber; Hattaska’s Darksaber, discarded and left, and of course Lorl’s secret words to Vicrul.

    TAG: @CosmoHender, @The Jedi in the Pumas, @TheSilentInfluence, @darthbernael, @Shadowsun (super-combo between all of us and the GM)
    —-
    IC: Lando Calrissian

    Geonosis, Outer Rim

    The sands of Geonosis had seen much.

    Long before the planet quietly recovered from the genocide wrought upon it by the Empire, even long before Clone Wars and the two Battles fought on its surface, it was a Mandalorian world, and for centuries the coliseum became the heart of the Great Hunt, a unifying event which eventually brought the clans back together under a Manda’lor.

    The Lesser had been a Sith puppet; the Vindicated a honourable man who rebuilt his people; the Avenger a brutal warrior who fought off eternal empires and civil war with equal ferocity.

    For a time the gravity of the Mandalorians drifted back to the world they were named for, and their ties to Geonosis, and even distant Dxun, were almost forgotten. But as much as Concord Dawn, the coliseum here was again the centre of its own moment, especially since Mandalore had been relatively recently hit with a nano-weapon. Mercenaries, smugglers, bounty hunters - they setup business here, even a new Guild.

    As such, there was actually decent civilisation for Abaddon to draw upon if his resources grew low, and a large populace that was looking for work. The First Order periodically recruited from Geonosis for its Brutetrooper program, but preferred Mandalorians due to their proficiency. It would however leave a decidedly large amount of skilled individuals that could be recruited by Dol Khan if he saw fit, or even Tirran Huxley if he wanted to spend his fortune on a small army instead.

    It was of course a perfect spot for Lando to head from Ollaforn and connect with the criminal underworld - to appeal to them. He was due to meet Talon Karrde and Booster Terrik here too, though he hoped the latter would avoid turning up in his crimson Star Destroyer. The Wild Karrde however would look no more out of place than the dozens of armed freighters, personal freighters and grounded gunships.

    He might still need a cane, but Lando had his wits about him, and he could handle anyone here - or his personal droid could, the hulking YVH-1-1.

    TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas

    IC: Captain Yage

    Wavett Shipyards, Expansion Region

    When she and her comrades had been arrested and imprisoned, Airen Yage had been expecting that she would need to get a message to the Fel’s, who would likely be unhappy that she’d gotten herself into this mess. But she’d done it for Rhoen and Syal Aquilla, who she knew were related by marriage to the distant Imperial noble family.

    She’d put in the call and the transfer had happened swiftly enough, but Yage hadn’t expected to be dropped off on Wavett, in the Expansion Region. Aryan and Lyz had been shown their tour, and they’d had confirmation - out of earshot of the hundreds of Stormtroopers on-world - that the workmen were on-board.

    As Yage stepped down the ramp of the shuttle, she straightened her dress uniform. She eyed the escort. “What am I doing here?”

    The rest of her crew was being deposited elsewhere, but the guard replied. “The Vice Chancellor himself wanted to handle your punishment.”

    “Oh did he,” Yage said drily, wondering what Aryan Graul wanted with her. A speeder was arriving with what she presumed to be the man himself in, and she steeled herself for a evil speech or self aggrandising update.

    She missed Pellaeon, but the Moffs had gotten him years ago now, and it hadn’t been the same since.

    TAG: @HanSolo29 (combo)
    —-
    IC: Haydnat Treen

    Agora Six, Core Systems

    The Kuati paid Tirran precisely what he asked for; a second fortune, enough to buy another planet. He had a few updates as to worlds which were available for him to purchase, actually, when he got down to deciding.

    Treen availed her of the nearest quiet room, and Bendu kept under control the children until they could drop them off somewhere safe not by a lava flow. The monk had minimal desire to travel the cosmos; he’d fulfilled his role but he did want to accompany Tirran if he’d have him; he appeared intrigued in-spite of himself.

    Conversely, all Treen wanted was dropping off on Coruscant, which was where Tirran was going to have to go to rejoin the Hydian Way and head back to Bonadan. To quote, “she had a few projects simmering away which required her personal touch.”

    Tirran would also be able find out precisely what the disgraced Senator did. Coming from a long line of treacherous Kuati politicians, she had worked with various military officers, Senators and a Moff to try and recreate the Galactic Empire within the Senate - one of several such schemes to do so. But when the so-called Lecersen Conspiracy absorbed the newly elected Senator Kameron Suldar of B’Nish, the co-conspirators grew greedy and began killing each other, and Treen herself was suspected of poisoning the representative of Coruscant, Fost Bramsin.

    But this was from over a decade ago, before the First Order rewrote the political dynamic; there wasn’t even a bounty on Treen, Force, there wasn’t even a Senate anymore!

    It was however a moment rife with opportunity.

    Of course, it goes without saying, nobody had purchased Bonadan, nor that moon of Roxuli, not even the old resort world that had been devalued by Warlord Gherlid abandoning it - Ord Cantrell.

    Nor had anyone bought the seemingly unimportant Arkinnea, in the Expansion Region.

    @Mitth_Fisto
    —-
    IC: Syal Aquilla

    Ollaforn, Outer Rim

    She had heard, incidentally.

    Rhoen, talking to Tiom.

    In his own way, Rhoen had loved Syal's first fiance.

    The worst thing that Tiom could have done, well, was what happened.

    It was beautiful, but also tragic, because Rhoen had internalised what had happened to him.

    Val had woken up hungry, hugged them all to bits, and encouraged them of find somewhere to eat in the resort for breakfast.

    The server - a Twi'lek - commented that the droids had gone on the fritz, but also there had been a minor exodus - the First Order troops had been recalled, and the service industry had headed after them. Several Ollaforn club owners had shut up shop and headed to worlds which had actual visitors, including, sadly for the old nonhuman, Lando Calrissian, who she would ordinarily have recommended they go and see, with how infamous the man was.

    But he was gone, and half the hotel guests too.

    Syal paid half attention, thanked her for the caf, and then regarded the essentially empty restaurant. There was a single humanoid keeping a grey-hoodie up and her head buried in her datapad, but that was it.

    She didn't want to speak up until he did, but she also was a little overwrought. Taking turns sleeping had always been exhausting, even when Val was little. "Credit for your thoughts, Rhoen?"

    Val had put her headphones in and was focused on a tablet for the moment, which was an all-too-often occasion but it was useful for adult conversations, something she was now more capable of following.

    TAG: @galactic-vagabond422
    ---
    IC: Threepio and Artoo

    Coruscant, Imperial Boulevard, Dawn

    Empty. Silent.

    Artoo and Threepio emerge from an abandoned building. Two small figures swallowed by the desolate urban landscape. Artoo beeps.

    "I agree, Artoo," Threepio laments. "We may not survive this time."

    A shadow falls over them; a battalion of First Order transports descend through the morning mist, launched from a recently arrived Knife 9.

    They touch down, releasing an army of Mandalorian Brutetroopers.

    Thick, muscular mercenary enforcers, chrome armour and masks, remnisicent of Phasma. Their individuality erased by their contract - one would not have been able to pick out Mirta Gev or Savara Raine in the middle of it all, save for that the latter had a lightsaber hilt on her belt. All in all, these guys make the Stormtroopers look like the local neighbourhood watch.

    The Brutetroopers have been sent to find the Resistance fighters that activated the beacon in the Jedi Temple.

    A tenement block falls to their attention - flashing lights and weapons as families are forced from their homes. A horrified, waist-high Chadra-Fan begs for mercy; a Brutetrooper shoves his rifle into the aliens stomach, doubling him over. A trio of infants wail from their perch on the ceiling.

    A few Stormtroopers look at each other, disturbed by the violence; it's next-level vicious.

    The Brutetroopers push frightened citizens into prison craft - children are separated from their parents, herded into transports en route for conditioning camps; the next phase of the Agency program - mass indoctrination. They scream, reaching through the steel bars as the craft rise.

    Artoo and Threepio watch in horro as it plays out around them.

    "I can't watch," Threepio says, turning aside. Artoo beeps, melancholy. "We'll never find Master Finn now."

    ---
    Underground Tunnels

    Dade has been separated from Lin, but he has found Finn, and he can't afford to be crippled by his pain. He leads Finn down the tunnels, splashing in the shallow water - towards a light.

    "The First Order purged a ten mile radius around the Capitol after the galaxy went dark. Took most able bodied to the conditioning camps."

    "Did anyone escape?" Finn said. This was invaluable intelligence; how exactly the First Order had captured the planet after the Battle of Exegol.

    Dade huffed. "Just us." He pushed open a rusty door to reveal the underground prison - long abandoned.

    Hundreds of compartment-like dwelling units connected by catwalks to a central control tower. Living here, in the shadows, the Lost Boys ultimate secret, hidden even from the likes of Dol Khan and Tirran Huxley. Escaped citizens - all aged between twelve and sixty. Finn is stunned.

    "How many of them are you?"

    "Ten thousand?" Dade said, shrugging.

    "You have weapons?" Finn says, breathless. Because if not, the Resistance does, and we don't have an army for it.

    "If did, we'd rise up. A million of us do that, and the First Order is finished."

    Finn lets that idea burrow deep. "You're right. This revolution - it starts here, right now."

    Dade shook his head. "Sure. All we need is ships, weapons, and an army."

    Finn eyes the prison command tower. "We have one." He takes the catwalks, and Dade follows, getting caught up in the excitement. Finn kicks open a door to the comms room, the old system that the guards would have used to announce transfers or even a riot. He switches it on. "My name is Finn. I bring a message from the Resistance."

    ---
    The Capitol

    In the chaos of the mobilisation, it is a simple matter for Johnson to slip from the massive warship.

    The Silencer absently traces the path of the escape pod that Ilsa took, but the Agent is alone with his thoughts.

    His feeds tell him that a Mandator-class Super Star Destroyer has joined the orbital defences, launching Mandalorian Brutetroopers to pursue the last of the Resistance. They suspect that FN-2187 - Finn - is on-world, as Rose Tico has been captured. His doing.

    There is a commendation in Johnson's file for his tip-off, which allowed Commander Sellik to deploy TIEs proximate to the beacon while following the vector that he had supplied.

    There are reports on the network of dozens of worlds that received the message from the Jedi Temple, broadcasting Leia's final words. The Silencer replays it for his benefit absently, one of a score of feeds.

    The Resistance is here, somewhere, and it's preparing for something.

    Coruscant has layered defences - the Capitol itself is a massive dreadnought, connected to Coruscant by an immense spire which enables the First Order to tie the warship to the worlds power supply - and impose the galactic jamming. The planet has shields, yes, but also Sentinel Defence Platforms, the flagship, the Finalizer, and two more Resurgent-class Star Destroyers. With the addition of the Knife 9, it's a formidable network. Indeed, with TIE Choppers sweeping (the updated TIE Striker), and TIE Whispers patrolling, and TIE Marauder assault ships storming undefended city blocks...

    ... and now with the newly arrived delivery of Mandalorian Brutetroopers, the citizenry are powerless to stop Chancellor Hux.

    The precise point that Johnson can assist is not clear - there are vulnerabilities, yes, but no shatterpoints.

    Yet.

    Save for the one within him, of course, caused by Ilsa, shooting his soul full of cracks.

    TAG: @Jerjerrod-Lennox
    ---
    IC: Luke Skywalker

    Between Places

    He's in pain.
    Luke.

    I feel it too. Leia.

    He'll soon be more powerful than our father.

    So will she.

    She feels too much Love. Anger.

    Don't we all?

    This is why the Jedi live in isolation. The pain of loss only leads to the dark side.

    I lost everything, and everyone. But I'd still have chosen love.
    Leia said, regarding her brother. Trust her instructs. She may not follow the path of the Jedi, but she's our only hope.

    ---
    Deep Space, distant Outer Rim

    Rey drops out of hyperspace to find herself in swirling clouds, half red, half blue - an ominous violet and indeed violent atmosphere surrounding the black. The Galactic Void, a gap in the great hyperspace barrier that had once encircled the galaxy, and still divided the Known from the Unknowns, with little eddies and whirls that had once been cartographical prisons made out of stars and stellar anomalies around ancient threats.

    Suddenly the navigational equipment of the Night Buzzard blinks out. The ship rattles; alarms sound.

    The hyperdrive triggers, and she launches into the void.

    The stars streak into infinite starlight, then twist and bend as she passes through the black hole.

    Rey's face becomes an Echo of itself, in fifteen places at once, exactly like the mirrorcave on Ach-To. Some of the faces distort, revealing others, one with no name, one with a name that had been taken on her ascension, one with a face of determination, another with unbridled rage... not her faces, but at the same time, too dissimilar to discount.

    Memories hammer at her -

    Finn taking her hand on Jakku -

    Han handing her a blaster on Takodona -

    Kylo reaching into her mind on Starkiller Base -

    Leia smiling fondly on her return to D'Qar -

    Luke taking the lightsaber on Ach-To -

    Snoke snarling at her in the moments before his death -

    Vergere smirking at her on Exodeen -

    Lando looking roguish on Pasaana -

    Palpatine sneering at her from his Ommin Harness -

    Ben touching her face and kissing her -

    Poe yelling at her on Bonadan -

    Hattaska Ren's Force-electrified face -

    Then it stops.

    There's a massive monolith before her; a dipyramid.

    [​IMG]

    Mortis

    It opens for her.

    All of a sudden, she's hovering above a world - no stars are visible around it, only deep black.

    Heavy clouds swirl over one third. Another third is a rich green. Another orange and red.

    Suddenly the power cuts out - lights on the dashboard go dark, and the ship goes into free fall.

    Into the west she goes, above the woods, into daylight, a riverbed approaches -

    In the distance, a mountain; a Temple visible at its summit. The valley below is alive with autumnal oranges, yellows, and reds, as the summer turns to fall at an accelrated pace -

    Before she hits, she'll even be able to see the fish leap out of the water and run away -

    ---
    Eastern Plateau, the opposite side of the mountain

    Kylo's TIE Silencer lands in a clearing of dead trees. No leaves on the branches, covered in snow.

    He looks at the mountain ahead; visibility is low.

    A natural stone bridge over a deep precipiece. Tall granite on either side, vagyely shaped into primitive faces.

    It feels like a gate.

    A whisper on the wind swirls around him, fluttering his cape in the air; the Force is strong here.

    TAG: @QueenSabe7
     
  15. The Jedi in the Pumas

    The Jedi in the Pumas Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 23, 2018
    Abaddon
    -Geonosis

    Seventeen days of hunting across the sands of Geonosis.

    Quite the load Abaddon returned with.

    He saw the buzzing quaint spaceport. Criminals. Bounter hunters. Scavengers. Pirates.

    All at various points in their careers.

    Abaddon grunted as he dragged the carcass of a giant lizard monster he'd slain. He would skin it and make it into clothes. Then sell it.

    That was how the Champion of the Outer Rim made his living now. No more brawls, space wars. No gladiatorial arenas. He had nothing to prove anymore. He was just a man on a planet.

    That wanted nothing to do with the galaxy.

    He settled down at his small, undisturbed shop front. The very few who knew who he was warned others to stay away from his belongings or else incur his violence.

    Abaddon would skin, quietly before settling in for the day. His callused and bloody hands drew a silent smile from the old man.

    Not all memories were bad. They were just memories after all.

    News. Every so often. From the holonet, when he offered a listen. From strangers, when they passed by. The Empire...No, they were called the First Order or the Final Order.

    The Galaxy was at War again.

    What did it matter?

    Tag: @Sinrebirth
     
  16. Mitth_Fisto

    Mitth_Fisto Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 29, 2005
    IC: Tirran Huxley -Haydnat Treen
    Agora Six, Core Systems

    Taking his time in his tank, he wasn't going to de-tank for love nor money with grubby kids onboard and his odd guests. Not even though the rich woman had paid enough to fund his purchase of a new world, or combined a better situated one. Checking his messages he had a few updates as to worlds which were available for him to purchase, and now thanks to a dead crystal he actually had an idea.

    Treen availed herself of the nearest quiet room, and Bendu kept under control the children until they could drop them off somewhere safe not by a lava flow. The monk had minimal desire to travel the cosmos; he’d fulfilled his role but he did want to accompany Tirran if he’d have him; he appeared intrigued in-spite of himself.

    Conversely, all Treen wanted was dropping off on Coruscant, which was where Tirran was going to have to go to rejoin the Hydian Way and head back to Bonadan. To quote, “she had a few projects simmering away which required her personal touch.” Considering what she had paid, and his accounts had been verified he was happy to delay his arrival for a short pit stop. The children would be given the choice to leave the ship there and join the Lost Ones or he could take them on Bonadon.

    Speaking of his files Tirran found a few nuggets of note on the passenger. She was a peculiar sort, and this info only reaffirmed his choice not to leave his tank. She likely would be a pariah to the world, and soon be another powerful figure now that she had no price on her head.

    Of course, it goes without saying, nobody had purchased Bonadan despite the lovely landing facilities, nor that moon of Roxuli, not even the old resort world that had been devalued by Warlord Gherlid abandoning it - Ord Cantrell. Of course he sent a cursory inquiry for more information on Roxuli moon, as far as a cursory search had shown it to be a world and an asteroid mining operation that supplied the sector. Of course if the asteroids were played out it would be pointless to invest.

    Nor had anyone bought the seemingly unimportant Arkinnea, in the Expansion Region. Based off the crystal he sent a serious inquiry there, if the world was going for a good rate and he could get a good deal he might just go ahead and purchase it, he had enough money to do such a thing, but he wanted more than old memory to go by.

    He left a message for Treen that if she needed any help from a local information brokerage, he was sure his own efforts were still viable. Second, once they arrived he sent a couple messages, the last of which was for the Lost Offspring society through his shop that he had a ordered a half dozen self sufficient disaster portable refreshers and one down on it's luck cargo container full of utility clothing. It wasn't much, but if they indicated the desired deliver or installation locations his droids would see to things.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
  17. AgentViper007

    AgentViper007 Force Ghost star 7

    Registered:
    Mar 9, 2005
    OOC: A combo with @Sinrebirth

    IC: Agent Bernhardt Johnson, Brutetrooper
    Location: Silencer, the Capitol, Coruscant


    Johnson had thankfully managed to get back to his Firespray in one piece and had settled back in the pilot's seat. He had managed to get changed into a new suit and had strapped his broken hand.

    But one thing kept resonating through his mind tearing his heart to shreds….Ilsa's gone

    He had fought so hard, kept his memories and his love for her alive, even resisted Lucretia's advances. But it had all been for nothing. She had shut him out. Now he was on his own when they should have been fighting together.

    He watched the track that his ship was providing him regarding Ilsa's escape pod but he knew going after her was futile. She had broken his heart, and he probably had deserved it.

    Information was flooding through to the ship, ship movements, positions, other bits and pieces. And it seemed Leia herself was on that message, a rallying cry to the oppressed and downtrodden.

    So he had options, which one should he choose?

    He felt bad about Finn and Rose being pursued and it seemed Rose had been captured. Even adjusting the coordinates hadn't been enough. And he'd even got a commendation from Sellik too, it seemed he was back in her good books again.

    Saving either one of them could curry some favour with the Resistance…..

    Of course trying to find Finn might be more difficult as he may have moved on somewhere. That left Rose who was...where?

    As he was an Agent still he could probably come and go as he pleased. And with Smith gone his chances of being discovered as a rogue Agent were slightly slimmer.

    Time to do some good for once.

    Perhaps he could do some digging on board, maybe even infer that he wanted to handle the interrogation personally.

    He rose from his seat and headed back outside to find a terminal he could use.

    There was a lot of activity, even though the Agency had been decimated. As he stepped out, a transport brought aboard some fifty civilians, screaming, fighting, and generally causing consternation until a Mandalorian Brutetrooper shot one of the women in the head. The crowd silenced, and Stormtroopers began escorting them towards the conditioning rooms, putting them into a relatively orderly line.

    The terminal was unlocked, thankfully, but the Brutetrooper, she turned to look at him, as if curious.

    Johnson slipped on his sunglasses and went instantly into Agent mode.

    And for the first time in a long while he felt nervousness. It seemed the human side of him had returned.

    The commotion did catch attention but he stared at the civilians with no expression at all on his face. Inside though he was seething. It seemed after the Agency had failed the civilians of Coruscant were now next in line.

    He made his way to the terminal in front of him, his eyes staring straight ahead as if he wasn't interested.

    A Brutetropper however had taken notice and he gave her a stare. It was as if she was intruding on something that could be considered top secret.

    He began to search for the prisoner lists.

    The woman stepped away from the queue, her chrome armour sparkling in the hangar lights. The prisoner list was up, but the Brutetrooper strode up. “Agent, you seem perturbed. Might I assist? I am on First Order retainer after all.”

    She had a sharp voice, and held herself as if she was not just anticipating violence but hoping for it.

    Johnson looked at the trooper as if she was getting in his way.

    Although how was she picking up on his mannerisms? He was sure that outwardly he was still projecting the aura of an Agent.

    "That will not be necessary" he said his voice neutral "you are intruding on my work. I advise you cease and desist immediately unless you wish to no longer be on retainer…"

    "Or perhaps if you wish to be reconditioned yourself".

    She snorted. “Are you threatening me with a good time, Agent?” The woman wasn’t remotely concerned. “But if you’re offering, I wouldn’t mind a private tour of the conditioning table.” Her gloved finger traced his inner arm lazily.

    Was she flirting with him?

    Johnson mentally shook his head. An Agent never fraternized. They were supposed to show no emotion, no physical connections whatsoever. Ilsa's face shot into his mind, the way they used to be together…

    Forget it Bernhardt, she's gone.

    "That would be most unwise" Johnson replied his voice still neutral, he then nodded at the queue of civilians "Perhaps your talents would be better used with those civilians, and you would get to see first hand what the conditioning table is like".

    "Now if you are done fraternizing I have work to do. Or would you like Commander Sellik to come here and see that you are wasting my time?"

    The Brutetrooper shrugged, lifting both arms to do so - and revealing a lightsaber hanging on her belt. Her arms lowered, and she leaned forward. “Would Commander Sellik like to know that you’re not under First Order control anymore?” Her words were inside his ears without being whispered -

    Johnson tried not to let his surprise show. A Force user.

    "And what prey tell makes you think that? I was aboard here and successfully reconditioned. Commander Sellik knows of my loyalty as I was instrumental in helping capture Rose Tico, a known Rebel terrorist. My loyalty to the First Order is absolute".

    He nodded at her lightsaber "If you think I am a traitor then use your weapon. However killing an Agent will mean you incur a heavy penalty. Death perhaps? Then you would not be able to satisfy your...desires"

    “True, true,” said Savara Raine. “But as I say, I’d love to get a look at your conditioning chair one day. It could prove useful.” She gestured vaguely to the other Brutetroopers. “Mandalorians can only be led by the nose so far. I’d rather have absolute loyalty; you understand.”

    “Let’s just say neither of us can afford much scrutiny... but good luck freeing Tico.” Johnson hadn’t said a word but Savara had intuited that he’d mentioned the Resistance woman for a reason; a guess, but a perfect one. “I half expected you’d try and kill Hux yourself. He is aboard, isn’t he?”

    She went to turn and go with a grin that Johnson couldn’t see.

    What was this woman doing? Offering a potential alliance (with strings attached of course like not ratting him out) or was she goading him to attack her?

    And there was no way he was announcing his plans out loud. He knew the game of shadows, he was still an Agent and had to work undercover.

    And if this woman decided to make things difficult? Well he could always hit back and reveal she was a Force user. Maybe though perhaps she was trying to be undercover like him.

    "I would not know" he responded "The Chancellors whereabouts are unknown even to me. And what you are insinuating is incorrect. Perhaps I wish to interrogate the Rebel terrorist personally".

    He nodded at the civilians "Enjoy your new toys. Perhaps you can play around with the conditioning chairs, see how it feels yourself".

    Savara simply waved as she walked off. But Johnson had the location of Rose Tico, at very least. There were two security checkpoints he’d have to clear, so it would be down to him as to what he did on his way to the first. There was no way to avoid them, as the ways into the inner sanctums of the Capitol were heavily guarded and narrowly managed.

    Conversation over it seemed but he could tell this woman was trouble. He would have to prepare himself.

    Although a non Force user against a Force user fight would end badly. Even with his Agent skills.

    Rose it seemed was on board, and maybe Hux too. That would be a big problem. But first it was time to try and clear the checkpoints.

    Johnson started on his way. Of course he was not scheduled to come aboard the Capitol but being an Agent he did have some small freedom to make unscheduled trips. He was of course tied into the First Order Net after all.

    And he had done interrogations as an Agent, nobody as high in the Resistance as this though.

    He approached the first checkpoint, game face on. He looked at the guard through his sunglasses as if he was in the way.

    "Agent Johnson" he said neutrally "I am here to interrogate a prisoner. A certain Miss Tico".

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
    Sinrebirth and darthbernael like this.
  18. darthbernael

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

    Registered:
    Apr 15, 2019
    OOC: Massive combo with @TheSilentInfluence, @CosmoHender, @Shadowsun, @The Jedi in the Pumas, and @Sinrebirth

    IC: Eleanor Magnus, Asteria, Kaz, Amaria and Whistler
    Bonadan, Corporate Sector

    Eleanor wasn't sure what to make of everything. She appreciated the comfort, and could feel Amaria's fear in the force as they came out of hyperspace. It was a strange sight, and feeling as she felt her mother's pain. The destruction they saw. She turned to Asteria, and hesitated. "You stick close to me, Kaz and Amaria. Do not leave our sight and hold onto one of our hands." She gently squeezed Asteria's hand and gently pulled her down the ramp, nodding at Kaz and Amaria to follow her towards the customs officials. "We need to get mother to a doctor and see about the other survivors." She was aware that Kaz was probably still holding her hand, and glanced at Amaria. "Quickly, before more trouble comes."

    She turned to the customs officials with a hard expression. "Listen, I understand I'm breaking protocol but if you don't get out of my way right now you're going to be sitting on the ground in five seconds without me even laying a hand on you." Eleanor told them firmly, and then pushed past them. "Whistler guard the ship!" She called and then spotted her mother.

    "Mother!" Eleanor called out, and she knelt next to her once she reached her. She was wounded, obviously. It was bad. But it could still be repaired.

    "Eleanor..." Madelyn smiled weakly. "You've come to rescue us." She glanced at Asteria, Kaz and Amaria. "You've brought the family too."

    "Shush mother. We need to get you help." Eleanor answered gently.

    "Barriss...she's a doctor." Madelyn answered. She turned her head towards Barriss. "She could help...me."

    As the Prime Chow appeared from a hidden trajectory in the sky and began to lower, Dol Khan continued to monitor the approach of the Star Destroyer. The Last Jedi was safe and this market had been reduced to ashes. He turned to Nihl and said “I believe this concludes our business. The credits have been transferred to your account. I suggest you leave this planet as sneakily as you arrived.”

    When the Star Destroyer arrived, he would order the Captain to have the city razed from cannon fire from above under the truthful guise that there were Rebel leaders present, one identified as Poe Dameron himself. It would serve well to record the destruction of the mostly empty marketplace from the computer of the Prime Chow and distribute it across the holonet; propaganda against the Empire that the Resistance could further use.

    The Prime Chow touched down in the war torn market and Dol Khan began to make his way towards his ship. He would need more firepower if he was going to return to Coruscant; and he had all plans to return to Coruscant, eventually. When the time was right. He sought out, visually, Poe Dameron and Chewbacca, and spoke in a decisive manner.

    “A Star Destroyer will arrive here shortly with orders to destroy this village due to your presence. I suggest you leave as soon as possible. The Resistance cannot afford to have a death as hard as two of its commanders.”

    Barriss looked over Trace's shoulder at the bodies that were now surrounding them. She blinked away her hot, angry tears. Bonadon did mean something to her. It had been the closest thing she had to a home, to a sanctuary. But now it was a sanctuary no longer. She recognized some of the bodies, all belonging to people who had no business being caught in the crossfires of a battle between former Jedi and Knights of Ren. Death had come to Bonadon and Barriss realized that she could never return after this.

    Then she felt it through the Force and her eyes widened in realization. It was Madelyn. She was in pain. She was hurt.

    "No, no, no, no," Barriss said as she stood up. She wiped away any tears and spotted where Madelyn laid wounded. She was at least alive, much to the relief of Barriss.

    She gave an apologetic look to Trace before leaving her, rushing over to Madelyn while barely even noticing the people around her. Barriss got on her knees and checked Madelyn's wound, identifying that she had been stabbed in the kidney. That could have been a problem. But thankfully, Barriss wasn't known as Healer for nothing.

    Closing her eyes and putting her hand over the wound, Barriss began to perform Force healing. It wasn't that different from healing a wounded kyber crystal, though it did take a bit more strain on Barriss' part. But she focused, breathing only in controlled breathes as she poured her own energy into Madelyn. When she was done, Barriss opened her eyes and looked at the now healed wound. She would need time to recover herself and get back to full strength, but right now that wasn't her biggest concern.

    "You're going to be okay," Barriss promised Madelyn. "How does it feel?"

    Madelyn blinked slightly in response, and gave Barriss a startled look like she just realised she was there. "Hello Barriss. Did you heal my liver too?" She asked gently. Madelyn reached over and gently took Barriss's hand that was over her wound. She glanced at Eleanor for a moment and then back at Barriss. "Don't over exert yourself. Eleanor will be unhappy if the person who saved my life falls over from exhaustion."

    "Mother..." Eleanor felt like she was being scolded and sighed, glancing at Barriss cautiously. "Thank you Master Jedi." She nodded her head at Barriss. "I am Eleanor Magnus." She explained, and looked down at Asteria. "This is my daughter Asteria, and..." She gave a glance at Kaz and Amaria, "My partners. I appreciate your help. Forgive me, but you look like you need medical attention as well."

    Barriss looked over at Eleanor and was at a loss of words. She quickly realized that this was one of Madelyn's daughters and she wondered how much she knew about Barriss, how much Madelyn had told her. And when she saw the Mirialan Asteria, she was almost reminded of herself when she was younger.

    "I..." Barriss said with uncertainty. "I am no Master, nor am I a Jedi. I am just Barriss. And don't worry about me, I'm fine."

    She turned her attention to Madelyn's liver, healing it as well. She wasn't worried about overexerting herself, she had healed much worse before. This was her speciality, even back when she lived in the Temple. She was a healer then, not a fighter. Not a warrior. But that was a long time ago, when Barriss could still call herself a Jedi.

    Madelyn sighed in relief as Barriss healed her and looked at Eleanor. "Barriss was Master Luminara's Padawan before me. I think I told you that."

    "Yes. I remember. You named Luminara after her." Eleanor replied, and looked at Barriss. "You're very kind. Jedi or not." She told her.

    "Barriss is a very good healer. Wouldn't want any other doctor." Madelyn added, resting. She thought for a moment. "I'm sorry you had to meet my family like this."

    "It's fine," Barriss told Madelyn. "Just be glad that you're alive to introduce me to them."

    She then remembered something and reached into her robe, pulling out the lightsaber handle of their former master. "Luminara's lightsaber," she said. "Kylo Ren gave it to one of his Knights and he... corrupted it." Barriss winced, feeling the pain that she hadn't let affect her during the fight with Jaedec.

    Xundel slowly stood, leaning on his cane. The last period of time he’d had to exert himself a great deal. And he couldn’t truly give Vicrul the impression he was tired or worn out from that time so he stood straighter and began to walk toward the others. Then paused, as his foot kicked a weapon on the ground.

    He knelt and picked up the handle, looking the item over. Turning back to Vicrul, he lit it, the black blade stretching out. One eyebrow rose, from his study in the Archives he knew it. ”Why would someone drop this?” he muttered to Vicrul as he doused the blade once more.

    As he turned back, he saw that Barriss was kneeling over Madelyn and the ache in his chest eased as he felt Madelyn’s pain begin to fade. A sigh came to him but there were so many of them there at the moment and he was unsure how they would react to him, especially with Vicrul in tow. He heard the argument between the man that had been with the Last Jedi and the Wookie, as well as the statement the man who had used droids to fight.

    He hung the saber hilt under his robes and stumped over to the trio, gesturing for Vicrul to follow. When he got close, ”Did she just go where I think she went, on her own?” he asked the man the wookie was holding. ”If she did then there could be real issues, especially if Kylo Ren is not there too.”

    He looked over at his fighter still docked to Madelyn’s ship then at Vicrul. ”My new ward and I could use a lift, my fighter can dock with this freighter and I would be much appreciative. But I need to get there, if only to fly the remainder just myself and my ward.”

    Vicrul was still too awash with emotion to notice if Xundel was weak or not. He gave a blank, thoughtless stare his mind detached from his body as if viewing it from third person. He watched himself slowly pick up his twin beskads, his mind senseless going through the motions he always went through after every battle. He reached into his side pocket, pulling out a dirtied, blood-stained rag, his hand going over the edge beskad, the other strapped to his side.

    This was all he was able to focus on as he trailed after the grey imp, his mind replaying what Lorl had spoken to him through the Force. He barely heard the words that Xundel spoke, in fact he just realized that neither of them knew the other's name.

    "...Kylo Ren..."

    Master…


    Vicrul looked up slowly, his disheveled and unmasked face looking toward the man and the wookie, his eyes glinted for a moment. These were traitors, rebels who sought to stand up to the First Order. He agreed to come with the grey imp, but that did not mean he was about to let these scum survive.

    His skin boiled with anger, the same intense feeling as he remembered the death of his brothers, their memory racing through his mind. He unsheathed his beskad, swinging round to strike at the man and the wookie.

    Little Asteria saw Xundel approach, shifting from the drama between Eleanor and Barriss and Madelyn as only a child did. She pointed at the item hanging from his waist, her angle perfect to see it, due to her height. "Is that what I think it is?"

    Kaz looked up. "What?"

    "Grumpy has the Darksaber."

    Vicrul of course would know it had belonged to Hattaska, before Rey had electrocuted him to death.

    Trace, for her part, stepped up to Barriss to steady her; the Force healing, after such a protracted fight, would have drained Barriss hard thereafter. If Xundel had done the same, his wounds from the Mechtrooper fight would have certainly have troubled him too.

    Poe and Chewbacca, for their part, looked over the group, noticing Mandalorians and Force-users, but focusing on what the Kubaz said. The pilot shouted at Dol. "You can't just tell us there is a Star Destroyer on the way and walk off! You helped us fight the Knights of Ren, don't you want to, y'know, come along?"

    Chewbacca whined, pointing at the dumpy-twins, who were following behind Eleanor and holding out a datapad. They were annoyingly persistent in their need to fulfil Customs.

    Nihl for his part sniffed, his saberstaff remaining in his hands. "I've been paid, but I would appreciate an introduction." He indicated the others. "Force users are required for the fight, no?" It was then that Vicrul drew his beskad and Chewbacca roared a warning.

    You have failed me, and in failure, have learned.

    The voice of Kylo Ren reached out to Vicrul mentally.

    I am pleased. Every time we bleed, we heal stronger. You shall be sharpened; you will lead my Knights.

    Poe held up his hands and stumbled to the floor as the Knight of Ren seemingly went mad.

    Come to me; you must survive.

    Xundel sensed the surge of emotion in Vicrul. A sigh escaped his lips even as his free hand dipped into his robes, grabbing his saber’s hilt, known from decades of use. It shot straight up, blocking the beskad. He let the Force strengthen his limb against the man’s greater strength and held the blade short of Poe’s body.

    Even as he did he kicked his cane up with one leg, stabbing the tip into the join between Vicrul’s knee and greave. ”Ooii, you said you’d follow and listen.” he said, loudly, as he stabbed into the join again and again, not hard enough to injure but attempting to get through the rage in the man. ”We need their ship. Do you want to be ripped apart by a wookie?” he yelled as he changed tactics and swarmed up the man’s body, cane ready to thump him.

    ”Or do I need to knock sense into you again?” he threatened as he considered the sense of dark thought that he’d sensed touch the man.

    Vicrul felt himself soften and go cold, he slowly lowered his beskad as he sheathed it. His swirling emotions now simmering down greatly now that his master had contacted him. He recollected himself, his face becoming quiet and calm.

    "Get off me,"

    He spoke calmly, no anger in his voice, perhaps a tinge of boredom and annoyance. Xundel would likely be able to tell that it meant he would continue to comply with his requests. Vicrul then wandered over to where he had left his mask, donning it on. He had his orders, he needed to get off-world and this creature was the best way to do it. Not only that but even if he did manage to kill the man and the Wookie, there were others here that would be able to dispatch him, he could not take them all on.

    Xundel nodded, then flipped off of the Knight, landing on his feet. He resheathed his saber, set the tip of his cane on the ground, then moved back closer to the man and wookie. ”Now, where were we? Oh yes...you were about to offer me and the angry man here a ride.”

    Eleanor watched as Xundel approached, and noticed he did indeed have the darksaber when Asteria pointed it out. She stood, handing Asteria off to Amaria, and stood up.

    She carefully approached. "You shouldn't have that. It's no longer a Jedi weapon." Eleanor interrupted carefully. "It belongs to Mand'alor." She sighed and spoke loudly so everyone could hear. "You aren't a Mandalorian, but I still have to earn that. I have been put forth as a candidate for Mand'alor."

    It would only be a moment more before Vicrul was by Xundel's side again. His mind at rest as he came to view the Dark Saber, he knew little of the blade's history only that it was wielded by Hattaska. From his perspective it belonged to the Knights of Ren, he eyed the knew woman, a small flare of anger rising up inside him as he viewed her, only for it to be beaten back down by the echo of his master's voice.

    Survive

    He peered down at grey imp, Vicrul initially ignoring the newcomer as he spoke to the grey creature.

    "Your name, what is it?"

    He then looked up at the woman, his face hidden behind his mask. He peered in curiosity, waiting for his newfound companion to respond before he made any action.

    Xundel glanced at Vicrul, pleased by the restraint the Knight was showing, suspecting that whatever message he’d received was part of it. Something to discuss with him later. ”My name is Xundel, Vicrul.” His eyes narrowed for a moment, ”Your Master has met me, although I did let him underestimate me, a lot.” he finished with a chuckle.

    Xundel then turned, looking up at Eleanor. ”Good thing I’m not truly a Jedi anymore Eleanor, as Barriss has reminded me.” he quipped at first, adrenaline still in his system from stopping Vicrul.

    Another sigh escaped his lips, he seemed to be doing that quite often these days. ”Actually I am well aware of the lore of this weapon and you are stretching the truth slightly.” he admitted.

    ”You, as a Mandalorian should know how this weapon is passed on. I cannot just hand it to you. It does not belong to you nor does it belong to me. The person who it belongs to, unless you count this entire affair as one battle where it could be won, has fled. Therefore I must return it to her for her to decide.” His eyes glinted, aware he was walking a fine edge.

    ”You know it must be passed that way. Please don’t make this harder than it must be, allow her to decide.” he asked, calmly.

    Barriss stood up as she saw Xundel and Vircul approach. She slipped Luminara's lightsaber back into her robes and placed her hands on the handles of her own lightsabers, wary of the troll and the Knight of Ren. She glared suspiciously at Xundel, standing protectively in front of Madelyn in case she needed to defend her.

    Poe pulled a face at the short-green thing. "Look, if there is something which belongs to Rey here," he held out a hand. "Give me."

    Chewbacca was eying up Vicrul warily, but he wasn't too happy about that Nihl guy even.

    Asteria took a step forward and Kaz placed a hand on her shoulder, lightly shaking his head. Amaria just glared at Xundel.

    BB-8 sighed a little and rolled back into the Falcon to get it up and running for the next inevitable mad rush to Force knew where.

    Vicrul felt himself freeze as Xundel mentioned that he met his master, what was this thing? And perhaps more importantly why had his master not warned him that such a creature existed?

    He felt the wrath boil within him as he viewed Barriss, not that he knew that was her name, draw near, and even more so when the Last Jedi's name was mentioned. He could kill him, the man by Wookie, it would only take a moment.

    Survive.

    Vicrul felt his fist tighten, waiting as he listened to Xundel and the other woman speak. The Darksaber... With Hattaska gone, he should seize ahold of it, not that he felt worthy of wielding a lightsaber, he never had.

    He knew making claim on it now would be madness, so the next best option was to ensure Xundel held on to it, for now. He moved silently behind him, a quiet show of his support, as odd as it felt to do so.

    Dol Khan eyed Poe and the others. He had no interest in remaining here or following such an unorganized bunch. He motioned to Nihl as he boarded the Prime Chow.

    “You are welcomed to stay here and mingle with the Resistance. As I stated before, this area will be swiftly destroyed once the Star Destroyer arrives. I trust you will find a way to survive. You have a way to contact me should you be interested in further, more permanent employment. I have other plans which could use your expertise.”

    It was not lost on Dol Khan that there was a Knight of Ren among them, apparently having converted to their side. There were too many moving parts here and too much exposure. He radioed his pet Captain that a Knight of Ren was suspected as having betrayed the First Order. He should fire upon the village as soon as the Star Destroyer was in range.

    “Knight of Ren, betray the resistance or serve the resistance, I will let the Commanders make that decision. Get in my way again, I will kill you as I did your comrade.”

    The Kubaz obviously meant what he was saying and it was indeed a threat. He had no interest in Force magic or Mandalorian; only the toppling of a government. He boarded his ship and prepared to take off, waiting to see if Nihl would join him.

    Nihl hesitated, and watched Dol begin to head off. He was interested in the Knight of Ren; he seemed to use the Force as a tool, much like him. But the chance of being killed by the sheer disorganisation of these Force users... he simply shrugged and padded after Dol, wondering where he would go next.

    The Knight of Ren turned to face the voice that called out for him. The man felt familiar, where had he sensed him before... ah yes, the terrorist from Coruscant. In time he too would need to be dealt with, but he was not nearly at the top of Vicrul's priority list.

    "I would not waste my time with trash,"

    He intoned, his wasted focus turning back to Xundel, Vircul's mind beginning to come to terms with everything that just happened. The others had died because they were weak, as was he, it was only luck that had allowed him to survive. He would need to dramatically increase in strength if he wanted to achieve his master's goals.

    Eleanor sighed, "Yes, that's how it used to be. I have to earn it in combat otherwise it doesn't count. My father taught me that before..." She shook her head and righted herself. "...and how do I even find the person who had it before if I'm to challenge them?" Eleanor asked, cautious. "They could be halfway across the galaxy by now. I need the darksaber to legitimise my claim. It won't matter that my Papa made me his heir alone."

    Madelyn looked at Eleanor with a sad expression. "Eleanor you don't have to follow in your father's footsteps. Fenn was proud of you long before. He just wanted you to have a stable life."

    "I have to do this, mother." Eleanor said, "I wouldn't want Mandalore and it's systems to be ruled by anyone else. I don't want to take that chance. I know I'm supposed to be a Jedi. But how can I let Papa's legacy fade away if I have a chance to do the same good he did?"

    Madelyn pursed her lips. "Did your sister Luminara put you up to this?"

    "No, but she supported me." Eleanor replied. She turned to Xundel. "Look, this whole situation just got a whole lot more complicated. You have your goals and now I have mine. But I don't want to be enemies. I told you before that your idea was a good one, and my mother supports it. But I need to earn my place too. This is important to me, and it's important to my family."

    Xundel shook his head, ”None of you get it do you, except the one who is bound and determined to hate me,” he gestured in the direction of Barriss, guarding Madelyn from him. ”And she hates because she knows what I know and have to accomplish and would rather deny it to the core of her being than accept it as truth. You want to earn it, fine, then follow me where I must go.”

    Poe held out his hand a bit more firmly. “I’m going to end up with Rey. She’s part of the Resistance and currently on a mission. You’re not in my trust circle right now and you don’t get to be just because you’re holding something which you’ve admitted is rightfully hers.”

    Xundel growled and the grey began to tinge his eyes, his skin becoming a deeper grey, ”It is hers only by right of combat, whether you trust me or not, I’m the only idiot here who knows how to get to where she is.”

    Trace watched with Barriss for a bit and regarded the Mandalorians arguing with the grey-green gremlin, and the former(?) Knight of Ren backing him up. She couldn’t say as to the latter.

    Chewbacca growled a warning at Xundel, and Trace shook her head. “Arms are going to get yanked off at this rate.” She looked at Barriss. “Any chance we can head home before the Star Destroyer gets here?”

    Xundel looked up and up and up at the wookie, ”Attack me, kill me, and no one may get to Rey before Kylo goes overboard and possibly kills her.” He tapped his head, ”Know where to go, how to go, I have, you don’t.”

    Asteria was about ready to explode too. “With all the Mandalorians now on the First Order payroll, I don’t think we have time for magic quests, Xundel. If it matters, I’ll join your Council-thingy if you hand over the Darksaber. But only because I don’t like him,” she pointed at Vicrul, “and I think you’re gonna get killed trying to, um, domesticate him.”

    Amaria and Kaz looked alarmed at that. In typical fashion, Asteria pouted. “Xundel isn’t all bad. He’s just old and cranky, and he’s had nobody to talk to for like eighty years. So he only trusts himself because he’s just that lonely. If we don’t trust him he won’t trust us and that’s definitely a Star Destroyer -“

    She pointed into the sky behind the two of them.

    The black and unmistakable wedge was approaching around the cloud cover -

    Xundel smiled sadly at Asteria, truly from the mouths of children. And then he saw the shadow falling over the land.

    Eleanor looked at Asteria. "Asteria, I know how much you like being a Jedi. But you're my daughter now and I will always do what's right by you. I do not want you going off with anyone else right now. Even if that means I don't get the darksaber."

    Barriss' eyes widened when she saw the Star Destroyer.

    "Karabast..." she whispered.

    She realized that even more innocent people were about to die and that there was nothing she could do about it.

    "I'm so sorry Nomi," she said to herself, feeling like she had failed her old friend and the people of Bonadon. Then Barriss looked over at Trace, her expression and tone dead serious. "Get to your ship and get it ready. I'll be with you short. We have to get out of here now."

    She turned toward Asteria. "You can't trust Xundel," Barriss warned. "None of us can."

    Xundel looked over at her, his eyes suddenly swirling grey, he almost seemed to swell in stature, ”Child, you wield your hypocrisy as a weapon. You refuse to trust my vessel because of what he knows even as you freely act as a Dark Jedi. Yes I brought him there because he needed to know and now his knowledge may keep those two, your ‘saint’ of Rey and your ‘demon’ of Kylo Renn from tearing the galaxy apart. Even I do not have patience for hypocrisy on the scale you wield it and I am eternal.” echoed hollowly from Xundel’s lips.

    Dol Khan surged the Prime Chow forward, a gust of wind blowing behind him in the market. The Star Destroyer had arrived and he had forwarded the coordinates to the Captain as the Prime Chow lifted into the sky. He had no intentions of killing any of the innocents or Poe Dameron, a Resistance Commander. But he was also not keen on leaving a job unfinished. Dol Khan had given them a fair warning and the group had decided to remain.

    They were no longer his concern.

    He acknowledged Nihl’s presence in the cramped storage/sleeping quarters of the Prime Chow’s belly from the cockpit, via the intercom.

    “I am venturing into Hutt space, Nar Shaddaa. I will need more weaponry and specialized equipment. As well as somewhere to lay low. I would like to hire you as a partner; pay depending on the efficacy of execution. There are many First Order Imperial Warlords left and I plan to cripple their hold and dominance. Does this sound like something you are capable of?”

    He sent an alert to the stormtrooper that had been tasked with following Huxley for an update. The Prime Chow rose through the atmosphere, creaking and groaning. It’s life was coming to an end and he would need a new ship, possibly even a few to accomplish the next stage in his plan.

    All of it was to bring an end to the First Order.

    All of it was for freedom.

    Barriss glanced regretfully at Madelyn. "I have to go," she said. "I can't stay here any longer. I'm sorry."

    "No you can't." Madelyn said quickly. "You're my friend Barriss. I don't have many of those left." She looked upset. "At least let me keep in contact with you."

    Barriss knelt down and grabbed Madelyn's hand with his non-mechanical hand, squeezing it gently. "You should stay with your family," she told her. "I don't want to leave my friend Trace. But if I can help it, you will see me again. I promise."

    Madelyn sighed and drew Barriss in for a hug. "You're right. But I'll miss you." She told her.

    Barriss hugged back. "I'll miss you too. But I'm so glad that you're alive. Keep safe. And be careful. Until we see each other again."

    She gave a sad smile before standing back up and giving Xundel one last glare. "If you hurt Madelyn or anyone she cares about, I will find out," she promised. "And then I will find you. I give you my word."

    Barriss didn't wait for a response. Instead she sprinted after Trace toward her ship. She didn't look back either. It would only make it more painful for her to leave.

    A thought followed Barriss, ’You hate me for supposedly thinking I am the arbiter of all things and yet the only one who acts in that capacity is you. Try to enforce your will on me and I will give you the same choice I gave Vicrul.’

    Xundel looked back at Poe, ”We have differences but the time is not now to argue them. Allow me and my companion onboard, my fighter will follow automatically. We must leave now if we have hope to get to your friend on time. I will explain enroute.” he told the man. Pointing to Chewbacca, ”Ask him, depressed and enraged as he is, he knows the veracity of my words.”

    Vicrul for his part remained silent, his thoughts kept to himself as his emotions continued to cool. He made sure to itemize and remember everyone's faces, he would ensure they would all be killed. As Xundel continued to negotiate, Vicrul wondered if it would be prudent to a least make a gesture of trust, after all, he could not have the Star Destroyer blow him up at this time.

    He spoke softly but loud enough that those close could still hear him. He activated his commlink to the Star Destroyer, speaking with the normal calm authority he had when he was not reeling with emotion.

    "Captain, you will have the Star Destroyer stand down, the Knights of Ren have unfinished business here unless of course, you wish to suffer the wrath of the Supreme Leader,"

    The Star Destroyer ceased movement, and responded swiftly, panicked, even. “We shall hold, my Lord.” He said so loud enough for the others to hear.

    That gave them a moment more to figure out who was going with who and where.

    The Prime Chow was already on it’s way, but - a Star Destroyer was about to kill them all.

    But Poe was still unhappy.

    He didn’t like Xundel; he was talking down to everyone, and he had only seized the Darksaber so he would have some moral authority over everyone else unless they resorted to violence. He didn’t really want a Knight of Ren aboard his ship either, and he didn’t have a way to keep him secure save for Xundel. He also didn’t like Barriss, who was so angry that she reminded him of Kylo Ren. The Mandalorians? He found the data that warriors were heading to Coruscant worrisome; the Resistance didn’t need supercommando’s in the mix; if the Darksaber could control them... but he could tell that the clans weren’t unified on the point. So they were alright.

    Chewbacca grumbled; Rey clearly didn’t want them to follow her to Mortis.

    He hesitated. Poe remembered when she had taken off after Kef Bir. He also remembered that she had reappeared with a wayfinder and a route to Exegol. With a wince, he let go of his need to hold on to her with as much resistance as if someone had used a mind trick on him.

    Poe jabbed a finger at Xundel. “Leave Rey alone. You can go on your quest thing without us.” He looked at Vicrul. “Thanks, I appreciate the chance.”

    Chewbacca exhaled in relief. With a leap, he grabbed Poe and they reached the higher lily-pad the Falcon was on. They’d beaten the Knights of Ren, but they’d also proved the issue with a disunited galaxy that couldn’t talk it out.

    Some of the people here were all destiny, utter radicals; others were resisting their own, lashing out; others had been so hurt, they couldn’t see what was happening to them.

    A Duel of the Fates was something that happened as a fact of sentience, Poe thought, resenting how pithy the thought felt. He looked at them each; the Mandalorians, the Chiss, the Twi’lek, Barriss and Trace and sketched a salute. “Thanks for the assist, everyone. We’re heading back to the front. The galaxy is going to be lit up by that message from Leia, and while we have light, we have a chance for change. May the Force be with you,” he finished, even including Xundel and Vicrul. If as Rey said, Kylo Ren had been redeemed once, Poe had to believe they were included in that chance.

    Asteria turned her head back to the others. If Poe Dameron didn’t like Xundel, then she had to think on this more. “Deals off, Xundy.” She waved. “Can we go yet? Anywhere but not here?”

    Eleanor sighed, she was a little defeated but understood. She saluted Poe back and nodded, understanding that they had to leave now and glad Xundel wasn't going with them. She looked at Kaz. "Can you help mother to the Pulsar Skate please."

    Madelyn glanced at Kaz. "I'm not that old." She laughed. "Come Asteria, let's get on board before Eleanor grounds us." She joked, and gently reached down to hold her granddaughter's hand.

    Eleanor looked a little amused, and turned to Xundel. "Well, I still need the darksaber. But we won't be getting to Rey anytime soon. Until then, we should keep the darksaber in a secure place. I have a strongbox on the Pulsar Skate. When we find Rey we can remove it and I can challenge her." She held out her hand. "But you have my word I will not wield it until we do."

    Eleanor glanced at Vicrul and nodded at his stance to get the Star Destroyer to stand down. "Thank you. Do you think you could help us bypass it? Jedi and Knights of Ren don't normally get along, but things are changing. Apparently."

    Xundel hadn’t expected the man or the Wookie to take them, after all neither of them knew Xundel and hated Knights of Ren, but their options were running out to leave the planet before fire rained down from the SD. The statement from Asteria made him suddenly feel all of his four and a half centuries of age. He shook his head, trying to clear it as he worked through the options that they had remaining.

    A half smile crossed his face at the comm call from Vicrul, ”Handy…” Before he could comment further on it, Eleanor spoke up. He listened, bent over his cane, tired, hurting, and now more than ever seeing that the galaxy didn’t want what he was trying to do. When she finished he held up one hand to her, turning back to Vicrul. ”Use your authority to get us passage on that Star Destroyer, we have things to do, and I am somewhat disappointed that those that see themselves as the good guys are the least flexible at understanding what I wish to do.”

    He turned back to Eleanor, ”I am going to do something and if I find out that what I have done has been overridden by anyone I will not be pleased.” Before she could retort, he brushed past her, his cane driving divots into the turf in his annoyance.

    He walked up to Madelyn and Asteria. Looking the girl in the eyes, ”I’d hoped to help, to aid you but events have ripped that chance away.” A wash of sadness crossed his features, ”Someday, someone will see what I’ve done, what I’m doing and realize it was needed, even as the galaxy continued to self-destruct. So, that being said, here.” He took the Darksaber from where it was hanging on his belt, ”You are the guardian of the Darksaber. You know the rules for it to be earned, to be wielded, and if it is passed out in an unworthy fashion I will know. Be the guardian I know you can be.” He pressed it into the girl’s hands.

    He knew, could feel that Madelyn didn’t approve of his action but with how everyone that had even remotely acted favorably before now seeing him as untrustworthy or not worth their effort he just did not care anymore. He still nodded at her before turning back, stumping his way over to where Eleanor and Vicrul were standing.

    Looking up at her, ”You heard that. I expect it to be done, Mandalorian honor demands no less.” Turning away from her he turned back to Vicrul, ”Let’s get going, there is nothing left here to be accomplished, that’s been seen to.”

    Vicrul remained silent, now his characteristic self, the brooding murder weapon of the First Order. He turned to view the one named Eleanor, asking for safe passage. Xundel then looked to Vicrul, now his last option to get out of this wretched place. He witnessed as the grey imp press the dark sabers into Madelyn's arms. Annoyance panged within Vicrul, but he knew he was not worthy to handle the blade, it was not worth the hassle of claiming it now. After hearing what they all had to say, the silence hung in the air for several moments as he opened his mouth to speak, his attention turned to Eleanor.

    "You of the light are all the same, claiming to be good and just but sow nothing but death and chaos. You should be thankful that I did not call for this place to be bombarded into nothingness. You are all responsible for the death of my brothers. So much for your compassion. For your mercy. Now I have confirmed what I always have known, the Light and the Last Jedi and nothing more than agents of evil.

    Strength is the only thing that can be used to protect those that matter, that is all there is,"

    Vicrul stood there, his fist tightened in rage as he looked to Xundel. A new resolve swirling around the Knight of Ren.

    "Let us go, I have had enough hypocrisy for today,"

    Barriss had paused mid-run when she heard Xundel's words in her head. Her hands became fists and she was almost tempted to attack Xundel, use the Force to fling him into a building. How dare he? How dare he invade her thoughts with his own, just so that he could insult and threaten her without looking bad in front of the others? But she took a deep breath and managed her anger since she knew it would be unwise to act on it.

    She did hear Vicrul call off the Star Destroyer and she felt relief. It bought everyone, including the people of Bonadon that she felt helpless to save, more time. She almost felt grateful for a Knight of Ren, but still remembered that he was a Knight of Ren. She doubted that Xundel would actually be able to control him and suspected that this was just a gesture of trust, that his true loyalties still lied with his master Kylo Ren. Vicrul was a weapon, but Xundel was not the wielder.

    Then she heard Vicrul's words to Eleanor, calling her a hypocrite just like Xundel had called Barriss one. Now she understood why he was going along with Xundel. They used the same words to deflect criticism.

    Barriss turned around and walked over to Madelyn's group, wanting to give them a few more words before she departed with Trace.

    "Do not listen to him," she advised Eleanor. "The Knight of Ren is the same breed as Xundel, using the same words to deflect any criticism toward them. I've heard it all before from people just like them and it's meaningless. If he really believed what he was saying, he and his brothers would not have needlessly slaughtered so many innocent people. Those murderers got themselves killed, especially the Knight of Ren that I fought. When I had him at my mercy, I did not strike him down until he attempted to hurt my friend. He is dead because he threatened someone that I cared about and I do regret killing him. It was necessary and an act of compassion itself, since I was taking the life of a murderer to save an innocent. And the Knights of Ren would have killed us if we had allowed them."

    She looked at Asteria. "You remind me of myself when I was younger," she admitted. "And that makes this a dangerous time for you. I meant what I said about not trusting Xundel. When I tried to leave, he followed me with a thought. It was an insult and a threat, sent by thought so that he could not be overheard by anyone else. He knows that at this age you are much more impressionable, which makes you easier to manipulate as he maintains the image of someone that can be admired in front of you. But he isn't. Since I met him, he has done nothing but attempt to gaslight and lie. Any show of kindness is an act to further his cause and hide his arrogance. He talks down to everyone, sees himself as the savior of the galaxy. At best, he's delusional. But what he proposes will only lead to more Exar Kuns, more Malaks, more Dookus, more Vaders, and more Kylo Rens."

    Barriss sighed. "Perhaps we are all doomed." She glanced sadly at Madelyn, then turned around and began making her way toward Trace's ship. She put up her hood as she went, thinking about Xundel had been right about one thing. There was nothing left to be accomplished here and nothing left to compel Barriss to stay. Not after Nomi's passing and all the death that she was at least partially responsible for. And if Vircul was right about one thing, it was that there had been enough hypocrisy for today. His lack of self-awareness had been astounding, treating the killing of his brothers in self-defense as more evil than the mass murder of innocents that had been carried out by the Knights of Ren. It frustrated her to no end.

    It seemed that Xundel and Vircul were almost the perfect pair in that regard.

    But most of all, Barriss sincerely hoped that Asteria would make better choices than she had. Thankfully, she at least better off than Barriss in one area: she wasn't alone.

    Barriss had also considered giving Luminara's lightsaber to Madelyn before deciding against it. Not only did it mean more to Barriss, who unlike Madelyn had never moved on from the Clone Wars. But Madelyn didn't need the burden, especially now that her family was in possession of the darksaber. No, healing the corrupted kyber crystal was a duty that once again fell to Barriss. After all, the lightsaber had been with her for many years before it had been taken by Kylo Ren. It felt good to have it again, even in its corrupted state. Barriss did wonder how differently things would have played out if she had just gone straight to Agora Six like Nomi had wanted. Now it was too late for Barriss to do what Nomi wanted. And in a way, Barrriss didn't mind that too much.

    Because as she looked ahead, the only path that Barriss wanted to be on was the one she chose herself instead of the one that others chose for her. She had no loyalty to the Jedi, the Sith, the Knights of Ren, the Mandalorians, the Resistance, or the First Order. Only herself. And recent adventures had only affirmed that. She belonged to no culture, order, or faction. She was and always would be... just Barriss.

    TAGS: @CosmoHender, @The Jedi in the Pumas, @TheSilentInfluence, @Sinrebirth, @Shadowsun[/color]
     
  19. QueenSabe7

    QueenSabe7 Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Mar 23, 2001
    IC: Rey
    Mortis

    The last thing she recalled was screaming; the vibrant colors of the ground rushing up to meet her and then… nothingness. For how long, she wouldn’t know.

    Rey coughed, her lungs burning as she sucked in a gulp of air heavy with smoke. Continuing to sputter with each new breath, she started, her situation rushing back into her awareness like a slap to the face. Bonadon, Poe, the Knights, hyperspace, the black hole, and now…

    Mortis.

    Her mind replayed the events with vivid precision as she cautiously began to move, undoing the straps that had kept her in place during the crash which surprisingly, didn’t seem to have been as horrible as she had assumed it would be. The Night Buzzard appeared to still be mostly intact, though its front end was severely crumpled and partially buried into the earth. It would need extensive repairs to fly again, that which she doubted she would be able to find here.

    With that, she climbed her way into the hold and saw a break in the ship’s hull that would get her outside. Her body ached dully and after a quick assessment, no grievous wounds were detected. The gash given by Hattaska remained quite fresh upon her shoulder, but by now it was nothing more than a passing annoyance.

    Reaching the opening, Rey stepped out and her feet sunk an inch into the muddy ground, damp from the nearby river that ran peacefully and undisturbed. Silent.

    There was no sound.

    None of the usual noises of nature - not the chirp of avian creatures or the footfalls of grazing beasts. Her dark eyes peered once more at the river. The water did not move.

    The hairs on Rey’s arms were standing on end. While this curious place was quiet, the Force made up for that in its strong currents that felt so alive, it was almost as if they were breathing. Her gaze swept wide, taking in her wider surroundings and falling upon the mountain in the distance. The one Nomi had shown her…

    There, upon its peak, was the temple. The scene of her confrontation with Ben. Where she would bring him back from darkness and save him from himself.

    Rey saw no other outcome.

    With a steadying inhale, she released and began to walk in the mountain’s direction, randomly thinking of Poe as she faced down her destiny.

    “Please don’t be mad at me,” she muttered, knowing her friend most certainly was.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2021
  20. galactic-vagabond422

    galactic-vagabond422 Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 11, 2009
    Rhoen Aquilla
    Ollaforn

    For the first time in a long time Rhoen was determined. There was that hard glint in his eyes that he only had when he was about to take on a mission, that deadly quiet that could settle in around him. Though he could smirk and laugh you could always see that steel in his eyes. The eyes of a man that had set his sights on something and wasn't going to let anything stop him.

    Down in the restaurant he watched just how empty it was, how dead it felt. There was still that voice in the back of his head.

    "We could stay here...find a place and just hide away. No one would find us here." But he forced that voice back down. He'd made his choice, he'd made the last choice he'd possibly ever make. He took the caff holding it in his hands as he looked over the meger breakfast, taking a moment to cut Val's toast into triangles.

    'Triangles taste better' she would tell him.

    "Credit for your thoughts, Rhoen?"

    "Huh?" He looked up from his meal, his gaze meeting hers. He could see the bags under her eyes, they likely matched his, it wasn't a restful watch for him either, and his conversation with Tiom had drained him. "Um…" he looked to the being in the corner then to Val before hanging his head. The nerves began to spread from his chest out to his hands but, they kept steady. That old ice water that used to flow through him in combat began to take effect.

    "We're going to Coruscant…" he said simply, no preamble, no lead up just right into it. "Our old friend has an opportunity for us." He hoped she could read between the lines, know what he was suggesting. "They'll even look after Val." His gaze shifted to their daughter. "You win…" he said finally meeting her gaze.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
  21. Sinrebirth

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

    Registered:
    Nov 15, 2004
    IC: Syal Aquilla
    Ollaforn, restaurant

    "We're going to Coruscant…"

    "Our old friend has an opportunity for us."

    "They'll even look after Val."

    "You win…"
    he said finally meeting her gaze.

    They were words which Syal had wanted to hear from Rhoen for, well, years, now, but not like this.

    He was fighting her, even in his agreement. Lando must be the old friend, as there was no other way for them to reach out to the Resistance. But Coruscant? The First Order capital? Was he mad?

    Syal put down her caf a bit harder than she mean to; Val jumped, juggling a piece of toast before catching it and wolfing it down.

    "I'm not going," she said firmly, meeting his gaze resolutely. "This is just like that time on the Mawrunner; it's too good to be true. We don't even have any proof that it was really Leia. How do we know it isn't a trap, just like it was then? And you want to go to Coruscant? Rhoen, I haven't been to Coruscant since before Tiom died."

    She was absolutely firm on it; her knee started banging under the table with anxiety. Val peered down, even her knowing that wasn't good, even if the particulars of the conversation were beyond her. She knew if she'd been a boy, she would have been called Tiom, and she knew Mummy and Daddy had both loved Tiom (she thought), but otherwise he had died a long time before she was even made in Mom's Oven so...

    TAG: @galactic-vagabond422
    ---
    IC: Savara Raine

    Capitol, Coruscant

    The chrome-armoured Mandalorian Brutetrooper looked amused as Johnson walked off.

    Mirta stepped up besides the younger woman, and growled. "What was that about?"

    "He's going to do something very disruptive, which will be useful for when we break away from the rest of the group."

    She didn't even ask how Savara knew that; she just did. "So what? We're going to let him do his thing, and then we'll steal the brainwashing and the molecule data?"

    The trooper with the lightsaber on her belt turned, nodded. "Precisely."

    Down the hallway there was a scream; it travelled down the corridor, each the second cordon that Johnson was now at. It was a woman; presumably Rose Tico. The four Stormtroopers on this position stand upright, straighter, intimidated by the ersatz Agent. "Sir."

    "Your pass, Agent?" One manages to hold out his hand, hesitantly.

    Down the end of the way, a pair of higher ranking officers step across, beyond a further security stop that is commanded by a pair of Mechtroopers. Even from this distance, Johnson can see who it is; Chancellor Hux himself, and Commander Sellik. The former looked angry - perpetually, as ever - and the latter looked worried. Worse, a quartet of red-robed Sovereign Protectors step after them and then hold position outside the door, a meter behind the two Mechtroopers.

    [​IMG]

    TAG: @Jerjerrod-Lennox
    ---

    Coruscant, in orbit

    A variety of ships arrived, some before others, some from further distances, some taking hyperlanes, some mere junctions within the Core.

    First was Tirran Huxley of course, aboard his private ship and hosting Senator Treen, the Bendu monk, and the children. They all wanted off at Coruscant, and as he came down - that medallion giving him complete landing rights, of course - the Bendu simply nodded as he took the children onwards. "I'll follow my nose, if you don't mind," the nonhuman said, smiling slightly.

    Treen, for her part, regarded the concourse and stared up at the immense Capitol. "Ah yes, Megador-class. The prototype had a quite chequered career, and the second ship of the line, the Supremacy, went down in flames due to a hyperspace accident. The Capitol was designed to be the fulcrum of enough power to jam the entire galaxy... and thus ceased to be a mobile shipyard and capital as intended."

    She snorted. "Kuat Drive Yards tech at it's finest, mind you."

    The Kuati eyed a chrome-trooper approaching. "Ah, a Mandalorian Brutetrooper. You've come to collect me for the Supreme Leader, have you? Or the Chancellor?" The woman with a command cape looked to Treen, and then to Tirran, her eyes taking him in. "Yes, I have."

    "Good, good," Treen said, clapping her aged hands lightly. "Might I enquire as to why?"

    "The position of Grand Moff of the Corusca Sector remains open, Senator."

    Treen froze, and fished out a credchip worth 10,000. She flipped it to Tirran. "For your discretion, my friend. Thank you for saving me from the lava on Agora Six."

    The Brutetrooper looked at the credchip and sniffed. Clamping a hand on Treen's shoulder, she began to steer him away as Dade reached out to Tirran. His face appeared relatively shortly after; there was a voice behind him, in the distance.

    It was Finn's.

    The First Order rules by fear. They build ships to intimidate us. Wear masks to frighten us. But they're the ones who are scared.

    Dade flicked a switch and the noise cut out.

    "What do you want?" Dade said, his eyes boring into Tirran's,

    TAG: @Mitth_Fisto (combo)
    ---
    Coruscant, high orbit

    The ship of Trace and Barriss arrived last; it was old, and slow, at that.

    Much like the Jedi aboard it.

    Trace gave Barriss space on the way back from Bonadan. She had felt awful, watching all the terrible things happen to her, and how angry she had been. Indeed, were Barriss to ignite her previously white blades, they would be almost pink now, caught between the hue they had, and the crimson they once were.

    She'd wounded them.

    The fight with Jaedec Ren, the words of Xundel, the patronising tone of it all, clearly it had gotten under her skin.

    It would take quite the meditation to heal the crystals, including the Kyber within Master Luminara's blade.

    To do all three at once would prevent Barriss from resting whatsoever; she'd be completely exhausted, and in the trip down the Hydian Way would visibly wilt. Her exertions against Tirran Huxley, sneaking around the Jedi Temple, fighting the Knights of Ren, they had been utterly draining, especially after so long almost inert in the shadows of the Jedi Village with Nomi.

    Nomi.

    She was long gone now, and all Barriss could feel of her would be a soft, almost apologetic, caress.

    When Trace arrived she stiffened at the presence of the Knife 9, a Super Star Destroyer added to the defences of the planet - indeed, the Finalizer and two more Resurgent's had returned too, and she knew any one of those ships could smash a world. With the Sentinel battle platforms, the world was terrifyingly enclosed within the First Order.

    She couldn't see how even Leia's words would make a difference to that.

    Trace didn't bother Barriss; she didn't intend to until they bypassed the traffic of the system.

    In the Force of course, Coruscant was more complicated - something was stirring beneath it's depths.

    TAG: @CosmoHender
    ---
    IC: Nihl

    Nar Shaddaa, Hutt Space

    The Nagai sniffed and examined his role in the confrontation against the Knights of Ren.

    Yes, the Knight they had faced together was dead, but Tirran and his electronics had done most of that, with the Prime Chow hitting the final blows.

    Nihl quietly seethed to himself; he should have killed the man.

    But instead his training slaughtering Tofs had not even remotely prepared him for a true lightsaber fight.

    He stared at his saberstaff, and regarded Tirran as they arrived.

    The Kubaz would have data galore. The underworld was stirring, and the Don's network tapped into most of it; word of his death hadn't reached the Outer Rim, especially without a HoloNet to communicate. Apparently several former smuggling kingpins, including Talon Kardde, Crev Bombassa, Mazzic, Salla Zend, Dash Rendar and even Lando Calrissian had launched into action, rallying the undesirables of the galaxy to get their hands dirty not just arming the galaxy against the First Order but fighting it.

    On-world, claiming to be apart of this 'Smuggler's Alliance' was Salla Zend, and she was operating from a workshop on the Smuggler's Moon. Nal Hutta hung in the distance, defended by the Kadijic Fleet - massive Chelandion cruisers and smaller Batil gunships. It was a decent force, but nothing in comparison to the First Order or the largest warlords like Gherlid.

    [​IMG]

    Dol Khan even had data on where each of them had gone; Lando was off to Geonosis to the arena; Crev Bombassa was off to Tholatin; Talon Karrde had headed to Corellia to stir up the old smugglers nest there, and Mazzic was plotting to corral the shadowport at Reecee. Booster Terrik had his own mobile casino ship, the Errant Venture, but nobody knew where that was.

    He also had the minor bad news that his Mechtrooper had been ordered to kill Tirran Huxley and had died doing so. His Captain's Medallion however could be tracked, and he apparently had checked into Coruscant just fine... but the Dauntless had been commandeered by Lord Vicrul Ren...

    Nihl was stewing for so long he ended up getting irritable.

    "So what's the plan?" He snapped. "My time isn't cheap."

    TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas
    ---
    IC: Lando

    Geonosis

    It wasn't possible to miss the guy in a crowd, and Lando didn't.

    He was huge, and the seasoned gambler had a good idea who he was. "I don't like this," said Jannah.

    Lando held up a hand. "It's alright, don't you worry about it," he said to her. The former Stormtrooper hesitated, and lowered her impromptu spear. The streets around the Colliseum were a warren of pirates, smugglers and down-on-their luck. The Crimson Corsairs, the Guavian Death Gang, the Kanjiklub, the Sun Guard - they were all here, eking out an existence at the edge of nowhere.

    But that was the legendary madman and murderer.

    The stories weren't particularly clear, but Lando wanted a man on his side who could break Stormtrooper helmets between his thighs.

    Adopting a swagger, Lando stepped through the crowd and headed to the shop-front. "Mr Abaddon, aren't you looking positively terrifying today?" He flashed one of his patented grins, and Jannah put a hand to her face in embarassment.

    "I'm here to talk to you today about an Initiative, my friend."

    TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas (combo), @CosmoHender (side TAG for latter because why not mention the Crimson Corsairs, amirite?)
    ---

    Above Bonadan; the Dauntless, hangar

    The captain that had been relentlessly blackmailed by Dol Khan, the man with the nonhuman predilections, was one Captain Pyke, though he went through other psuedonyms in his quest for forbidden - read: illegal - fruit. He was a craven man, only concerned with his next touch of flesh, and not getting shot by the First Order.

    So of course he accepted the command of Vicrul Ren, and of course he was surprised to see a ship detach from the surface and deposit not just a single Knight of Ren, but also a green-grey impish... thing.

    He managed to keep the disdain out of his voice, clipped as it was. "Lord Vicrul," he said firmly. "Might I enquire as to where the other Knights are? We did detect the Night Buzzard leave the system, but we couldn't confirm its route. Somewhere out beyond Vector Prime, perhaps."

    "Should I commence bombardment, now you are aboard?"

    Pyke eyed Xundel. "Oh, and what is this... thing?"

    TAG: @Shadowsun, @darthbernael (combo), @The Jedi in the Pumas (mention)
    ---
    IC: Amaria

    Hyperspace, Pulsar Skate

    It had clicked only after they had left.

    It was that ship.

    The Dauntless; it was the one which had killed her family on Ryloth.

    Filling herself with her rage, Amaria fled to her room and screamed into a pillow.

    Asteria, for her part, was engrossed by the Darksaber, turning it over in her hands.

    "Eleanor, how are we going to explain that we have this to the clans but we didn't kill the guy who had it?"

    Kaz pursed his lips, having helped Madelyn aboard. Notwithstanding Barriss's healing efforts, he wanted modern medicine to have a look. Whistler guided him to the medbay aboard the yacht, but it was a fair question.

    For the moment it was just Eleanor and Asteria in the cockpit, though Kaz kept over the doorway so he could overhear - he and Madelyn, that is.

    The clan network provided a bunch of updates when they arrived at the Expansion Region, the next 'safe' spot between warlord and First Order space proper. Because the entire family had spread out, they were able to communicate across the parts of the galaxy they were in-range - essentially a dot-to-dot from Hapes to Mandalore.

    Eleanor's other Force sensitive siblings wanted to know what had happened to Mother; most of them had been hyperspace and unable to rush over. But all reported the same thing from Mandalorian Space; the Knife 9 and Mirta Gev and Savara Raine had turned up and took with them - by bribery, threat, or clan alliance - Mandalorians. Roughly a million had headed to Coruscant to reinforce the First Order's hold there, joining the Brutetrooper Corps.

    It was bad.

    In short order her siblings were on the line -

    TAG: @TheSilentInfluence (combo)
    ---
    IC: Kylo Ren

    Mortis - Eastern Forest - Day

    The Leader of the Knights of Ren could feel much via his connection to the Lorl, which, now Ott was dead, had strengthened. Without a twin to reinforce his sense of self, Kylo Ren could speak to Lorl as if he was tied to him Vicrul. Did that make Vicrul less special? No. He had already been refined by his tragedy, and now he had accumulated more pain, Kylo Ren could hear his very thoughts, sound the words around Vicrul, if he saw fit.

    The fate of the Dauntless and the Green Imp was of no concern to him.

    But his great gaze reached for Coruscant, and he could see a tie there...

    ... and he followed the Prime Chow to Nar Shaddaa, following the echoes of the death of Ott...

    ... as much as he followed the echoes of the death of Jaedec Ren to the Mirialan...

    ... and the echoes of Hattaska to the scavenger.

    He pursed his lips behind his mask.

    Suddenly, the wind dies; there's something ahead.

    A house in the woods; smoke from the chimney.

    His younger self, Ben Solo, approaches the house. He wears all black robes. A hood.

    This is clearly some kind of Force-induced vision, a sign of the strength of this place.

    Kylo watched from the shadows as Ben nears the house as if it was happening to another person; in truth, it was.

    He had never been Ben Solo.

    When he puts his hand on the iron door handle, it opens.

    Han Solo stands in the doorway. He looks at his son with sadness and fear.

    Kylo Ren knows this trick.

    "What are you doing, Ben?"

    "That's not my name anymore," a young, petulant voice.

    "You're mother can't see you here - not like that."

    Ben pulls his hood down. He's maybe seventeen. "I'm not coming back. There's a greater destiny for me."

    "They're lies, son. Empty promises. You have everything you need right here."

    "What?" Ben's scorn doesn't even cause Kylo Ren to flinch. "My Master says I have unequalled power. Neither of you understand."

    "Your mother understands more than anyone," Han says softly, sadly.

    "She sent me away."

    Pain in Han's eyes. "To learn. To grow."

    "I have grown." Han steps closer at Ben's proclamation, strikingly similar to their confrontation on the catwalk of Starkiller Base ten years ago.

    "Your mother loves you," the older man says firmly.

    Ben flinches. "She's afraid of me."

    Han eyes the lightsaber in Kylo's hand. "Give me that, son,"

    "You know I can't." They are just as suddenly on the Starkiller Base catwalk.

    Kylo is back in the moments just before he killed his father.

    He watches as he plunges the blade through Han Solo, his father;s eyes full of love even as the life drains from him.

    In a swirl, he is back in the forsest, alone again in the snow.

    Not at all disturbed, not at all shaken, a determined Kylo Ren takes his first steps up the mountain.

    ---
    Western Cliffs

    Poe didn't respond; he couldn't, the man did not possess the innate spark of the Force.

    But Finn did, and though she had not trained him, he had the same power with words that Leia had.

    Rey would hear him speak on the wind.

    The First Order rules by fear. They build ships to intimidate us. Wear masks to frighten us. But they're the ones who are scared.

    He was compeling, encouraging a crowd in the depths of Coruscant.

    Rose wasn't with him, nor Threepio and Artoo, though of course she knew that the had succeeded in activating the Beacon within the Jedi Temple, at least for a time, anyway. She had seen Leia's projectionback on Bonadan.

    The wind is joined by sleet and blasts into her, shaking the trees and revealing a plateau of four robed ancients; not Jedi.

    Golden statues.

    For a moment she had a glimpse of them in a room with a red colour scheme -

    And then them alone on a broken world -

    A Black Coat stood between them -

    Suddenly the sky included other di-pyramid ships, smaller than Mortis but large enough to be considered capital ships by any definition; Tho Yor monoliths, she suddenly knew their name, as they fired massive bolts of energy at ships of shadow -

    The moment passed -

    But there were words left in the air, a female voice speaking them -

    The words were similar to the Jedi Code but more ...

    There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
    There is no fear, there is power.
    I am the heart of the Force.
    I am the revealing fire of light.
    I am the mystery of darkness.
    In balance with chaos and harmony,
    Immortal in the Force.

    ... balanced.

    Like her, one could suppose.

    A storm of snowdust obscures her vision -

    TAG: @QueenSabe7 (combo)
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2021
  22. galactic-vagabond422

    galactic-vagabond422 Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 11, 2009
    IC Rhoen Aquilla
    Ollaforn, restaurant

    It took every bit of not insubstantial self-control the former pilot had not to slam his fist down on the table. This was everything she'd ever wanted, she wanted him back in the fight and now, now that it was right here she was turning it down. The rage and anger that flew through him would have lit up a cruiser. Instead his fist tightened, shaking with tension. The fact she brought up Tiom, and his death just twisted the knife. It was his guilt over breaking his promise to the other man that made the comment sting. He took a deep breath trying to quell the fire in his chest, but it was still there…

    "Then what do you suggest, my dear." The cold edge to his voice would send a shiver up anyone's spine. She knew the voice he had when he was trying to keep everything under control. The wild passion he had that lead to animated discussions turned cold as he tried to control it, suppress it. "The window for this opportunity is very short, and this is the best chance we have of meeting…" he looked around again. "With our old friends…" There wasn't any time for another debate but he wasn't going to hurt Syal again. The want to get this over with, and the need to make sure Syal was ok burned within him. "Tell me what you want and I will do it..." He wanted her to end his pain, to end this fighting, to put him out of his nine year misery.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
  23. The Jedi in the Pumas

    The Jedi in the Pumas Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 23, 2018
    [​IMG]

    Dol Khan

    -Nar Shaddaa, Hutta Town

    Dol Khan raises a hand to Nihl as he thinks.

    There are many moving pieces in the galaxy and thanks to his connections and information network, they all made more sense to Dol Khan than they did to anyone with only a puzzle piece. What needed to be determined was what role would Dol Khan play in this. He had chosen Nar Shaddaa because it was a place where he could lay low, purchase a new ship, and weapons for his fight against the First Order. Due to the previous blockade, the Resistance on Coruscant was starving for a modern armory, rations, and vehicles. For years the Resistance of Coruscant had to rely on scavenging older speeders and salvaging weaponry from raids against the First Order. The thought crossed his mind to approach Tirran Huxley anonymously for assistance, in hopes of leading the merchant into a trap. However, Huxley had lasted this long through his intelligence and his backstabbing ways. He would risk the vulnerable Resistance, that Huxley had already betrayed, for a possibility of capturing him. No, that was not the smart move. No, he would continue his exploits into the dealings of Huxley. The man had countless accounts, all with varying levels of security. But the drainage, masked as First Order subsidiary companies and former associates of the Don, was already underway. Soon he would have enough information to begin a cyberattack on the empire that the merchant had amassed. Or, in Dol's true intention, be able to threaten one.

    That piece would remain unmoved for now.

    The movements of the older famed smugglers of the galaxy was troubling news. Ordinarily, Dol Khan would look positively on people organizing against the First Order, but these smugglers would likely pull from the same resources that Dol Khan needed to make use of. Though he could systemically target the ones that directly impacted his plans. If he was going to launch an assault against the First Order above Coruscant, he would need to first amass a fleet. Not a massive one, for he was not planning some prolonged space battle. He needed a small fleet, 200-300 starfighters and freighters at most for what he had planned. Secondly, he would need to control or eliminate the dominance of the First Order over the holonet. The Prime Chow's computer was connected to his datapad, searching for the hub world or station that the First Order would be asserting this dominance from. Once he found it, he would need to scout out its defenses and plan an infiltration mission.

    The Prime Chow, with Nal Hutta's lack of docking regulations, landed on a random skyscraper rooftop as Dol Khan's comlink beeped: The location of Salla Zend's workshop on the moon.

    "As I stated back on Bonadan, if you wish to leave, then leave. If you wish for a larger payday, accompany me to meet with Salla Zend and tell me of any dealings you have had with her. Only so much is reported of Underworld dealings by the First Order and my information network's intelligence on her is slim on the details. I will ask her to procure me a new, larger smuggling ship and for an introduction to her best arms dealers. I have drawn up plans for a suit that will aide me in dealing with Force users. In return, I will pay her handsomely. Then, if she truly is against the First Order as much as I believe, we will ally ourselves with her smuggling organization and we will kill off the Imperial Warlords of the First Order. How does one million a head sound to you?"

    He stepped down from the Prime Chow onto the surface of the rooftop and hailed a cab speeder. They had a meeting to get to.

    Tag: @Sinrebirth
     
  24. HanSolo29

    HanSolo29 RPF/SWC/Fan Art Manager & Bill Pullman Connoisseur star 7 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Apr 13, 2001
    The following is a combo with Sinre – thank you so much! [:D]

    IC: Vice-Chancellor Aryan Graul, Airen Yage, and Lyz Graul
    Wavett, the Expansion Region

    As requested, the Foreman had provided them with a guided tour of the local facilities, and while Wavett’s shipyards were quite impressive—even for such a desolate world—Aryan found that he wasn’t fully engaged in the process. His thoughts were elsewhere.

    However, it was with good reason.

    The latest reports to come out of Rallitiir regarding Airen Yage’s ‘mutinous’ behavior had left him hopeful, perhaps to the point of restless agitation—at least, he was certain that was how his wife perceived it from her perspective. He couldn’t stop fidgeting with the clasps of his overcoat or from idly tapping his cane against the interior panels of the speeder. At this point, he tried to actively avoid Lyz’s gaze, otherwise, he knew she would’ve likely scolded him to cease his squirming.

    But in this instance, he simply couldn’t help himself. It wasn’t every day that the pieces fell together so neatly. They were on the cusp of achieving great things, and Captain Yage could very well be the singular key to set their plans into full motion. If he wanted to express his enthusiasm over that notion, what was the harm?

    Nevertheless, as the speeder approached the staging area where Yage awaited their arrival, Aryan inhaled deeply and recomposed himself. His expression returned to its usual impassive mask as his lips pressed into a thin line, reticent and firm. He would not divulge any clues at this juncture, not until he was confident that Yage was on board.

    As the pilot brought them to a halt, the Vice-Chancellor adjusted his coat against the cold and slowly stepped out, the brisk wind tugging lightly at his hair. He hesitated a moment, studying the woman under a crucial stare, though he did not reprimand her.

    Instead, Aryan shuffled forward and offered a small nod. "Captain Yage," he said in an amiable tone, a hint of a smile evident on his features. "I hope your trip down wasn’t too uncomfortable, but with the present state of the galaxy—one that is quite averse to compassion, innovation, and change—you must understand that certain precautions were necessary."

    The Captain stiffened; she had expected to be called up for her actions, but instead, it was something much more dangerous. Much more. His age reminded her of Pellaeon, but she didn't want to be fooled by appearances. Nobody was Gilad Pellaeon.

    "I must confess that I am aware of some of your backstory, Vice-Chancellor Graul," she inclined her head and bowed slightly. "My children serve on Coruscant - they mentioned to me that you and Hux are quite at odds, but I have not yet concluded whether it is due to your views on how an Empire should truly be run, or because you succor power."

    Her words were blunt, yes, but she wanted no misunderstandings at this early stage. "I am looking for someone of the former mindset, not the latter. Apologies if this concerns you, but I am an honorable sort, and that means I need to be honest."

    Aryan allowed a short chuckle, mostly at his own expense due to his past aspirations. While he still adhered to some of those same desires and goals, his life experiences have largely tempered his expectations. He still strove for success, but it was more balanced; he had become more selfless in his twilight years. That probably explained why this tour was so important to him.

    "No, no need to apologize, Captain," he stated with a small wave of his hand to dismiss her concerns. "I appreciate the candor. All too often we sidestep around a problem to either avoid confrontation or to ensure that we do not offend our superiors. That is hardly conducive to a fruitful collaboration. I require officers who will stand firm in the face of adversity, who are truthful and forthcoming; they will contribute to the cause based on their own merits, not on someone else’s misplaced ideologies."

    He planted his cane and leaned forward slowly, his smile spreading to reach his eyes. "Your honesty speaks for itself, Airen. It tells me that you are not afraid to stick your neck out for what you believe in. You have already demonstrated your worth at Rallitiir when you allowed those freedom fighters to escape. You recognize the rot that has permeated the First Order, and you understand what is ultimately at stake. If I only sought power, I would not be standing before you today, risking my career—my very life—to appeal to you on this matter.

    "Ever since I served in the Senate nearly 50 years ago, I only ever had one goal in mind—to enact change and to reform the Empire into something beyond a widespread personality cult for Emperor Palpatine. But despite my efforts, I was never presented with an opportunity to see it through to fruition...until now."

    Angling his chin down, he met her gaze with conviction. "That is my mission. Will you assist me on this journey, Airen?"

    She hesitated. The old Imperial remnants had turned away from Palpatine slowly, but especially those with greater Fleet influence. By the time of the Bastion Accords - an addendum to the Galactic Concordance that the then-Grand Vizier had signed - the majority of High Command had lamented that nobody had attempted to overthrow the Emperor. But of course, there had been several coups - the Gentis Coup, for one, the Anti-Sith Conspiracy, too, let alone the efforts by Grand Admiral Zaarin to unseat the Emperor; once, a cabal of Imperials poisoned Palpatine's clones and had been thought to have succeeded in their efforts.

    Nobody had foreseen the Final Order.

    Airen Yage stiffened.

    "The Galactic Empire, reformed? Isn't that the line that Treen, Lecersen, and that lot spun when they made their power grab? Wasn't she going to be Grand Moff of the Corusca Sector? Him the new Emperor?" Yage sniffed; she was no child - Aryan would have to try harder, offer something tangible to her, to entice her into his camp.

    For a moment she recalled the drama before the Battle of Exegol; Hux escaping execution and heading to Kuat with his personal supporters and taking command of the Capitol, advancing on Coruscant just as the Galactic Rebellion began. Had Palpatine and Pryde not been killed, a full-blown First Order Civil War would have entailed, with Kylo Ren undoubtedly taking Hux's side against Palpatine.

    She shuddered.

    As far as Yage was concerned, with a Third Galactic Rebellion afoot, Aryan was doing exactly the same thing; pulling a Hux and committing treason first.

    The Vice-Chancellor straightened and glanced surreptitiously at his wife, recognizing the predicament he now faced. The Captain had placed him at a distinct disadvantage, particularly when he did not possess sufficient knowledge about the alleged incident between Treen and Lecersen. It was difficult to reference something that he could not fully remember; he had been incapacitated on Chandrila at the time, after all.

    Nevertheless, he could still appreciate her position. Yage had conveyed a valid point, and he could not so easily dismiss that. She deserved an honest answer, not only to alleviate her concerns, but it was also crucial to gain her confidence.

    Incidentally, Aryan also understood the underlying motive behind her words—what she truly craved in this instance. Something more material, perceptible. To an extent, it was what they all desired. That thought brought a thin smirk to his features.

    "It was truly an ambitious undertaking, wouldn’t you agree?" he remarked with a small shake of his head, his eyes once again shifting to Lyz to ensure that he had all the details correct. It would be humiliating if he made a fool of himself at his juncture. "Unfortunately, it was that same ambition that proved detrimental to their efforts to succeed. They had no long-term plan to transition from a small cabal of insurgents into a viable government, only to attain power and usurp the current regime. It’s the perfect example of opportunism over forethought."

    Aryan paused to allow her to process his statement. "I do not intend to overthrow the Chancellor nor to control from within," he continued when the silence stretched on. "Hux will inevitably fail; he is already losing influence from many key sectors. The situation will soon snowball to exceed his capabilities.

    "No, Captain, my aim is to expand beyond the capacities of the First Order, to distance ourselves from their authority, and to evolve into something that more closely resembles the Empire we both hold dear. It’ll be a fresh start, and I can ensure you that I have taken the necessary measures to prepare for this eventuality. A decade worth of work is about to come to a culmination."

    Leaning close to Yage, the Vice-Chancellor lowered his voice a few octaves, his anticipation palpable. "I would like you to oversee the military forces—or if you would prefer to limit yourself to the Navy, I am certain that you have someone else in mind who you can appoint to the position. Our territory consists of several systems inside the Expansion Region, with Wavett becoming our newest member world, so naturally, we intend to utilize the shipyards to bolster our fleet."

    He trailed off, gauging her reaction as he revealed the truth—they had a contingent of ships ready to deploy.

    "I can offer you full command, plus a flagship to serve your individual needs." He shrugged, raising his brow curiously. "A Star Destroyer, perhaps? Or maybe one of the smaller support cruisers? The choice is ultimately yours, Airen."

    Airen Yage hesitated. A fleet? A decade of work? Not mere opportunism but actual planning? Every government since the end of the Galactic Civil War seemed to be purely reactionary at present...

    ... but a plan?

    And a fleet?

    She didn’t want to come across easily turned from loyalty - she wanted a steer of events. "Grand Admiral of the military," she said dully. "And a Moff. The head of the military should be a member of the executive, not a tool of it."

    "And then I’ll be sure to speak loudly and often on the behalf of this new Empire of yours."

    The Vice-Chancellor nodded slowly, taking a moment to carefully consider her proposal. He suspected that she would try to exploit this opportunity for all it was worth, but Grand Admiral went above and beyond anything he was expecting. It would grant her a lot of power and responsibility…

    And yet, he wasn’t entirely opposed to the notion. She was enthusiastic and aggressive, two attributes that could prove beneficial to their cause. He would require more officers like her if he wanted to succeed. But perhaps more importantly, he valued her input.

    "It’s a lofty goal," Aryan stated cautiously, his eyes narrowing as he studied her countenance. "However, I think it can be arranged. Foreman Chrys has just informed me of the ongoing struggle between the citizens and the stormtroopers who are stationed here. They are still loyal to the Chancellor and the Supreme Leader, and he is rightfully concerned about retaliation. As you can imagine, it’s a rather precarious situation."

    He stepped forth to stand within a few feet of her personal space. "Your first assignment will be to restore order here on Wavett. If you can accomplish that task, then I welcome you aboard, Grand Admiral Yage." He smiled and shifted his weight on his cane so that he could extend his hand. "The pleasure is all mine."

    "Consider it done," Yage said with a wolfish grin. She wanted to build something, and she took that energy and did more. In short order she was standing atop a railing above the yards, addressing workers and Stormtroopers alike, she spoke.

    "I am Grand Admiral Yage, so named by our Vice-Chancellor Aryan Graul." The work stopped, and everyone looked up to see her standing with Graul and the Foreman Chrys just folding his arms in perpetual amusement. "The First Order has failed; it was never intended to succeed, to be anything more than the tip of Palpatine's spear. There is no governance, only dominance. We should have realised it when Hux assumed the trappings of the Old Republic - to become Chancellor, rather than a true Imperial Head of State."

    She squeezed her hands. "I speak of the First Order as the Remnant; the Empire, carried away into the Unknowns to emphasise what it was named by Grand Admiral Sloane. First; Order. We became the Chaos, when we lost Starkiller, when we lost Snoke, when we lost our Supremacy. We have been clawing for air ever since. That is not Order; but we can become Order."

    There was a roar of support from the Stormtroopers.

    "Together with our member worlds, sharing the profits of their labour, elevating those who serve through incentive not brainwashing, building and not taking."

    The workers cheered.

    Yage smiled warmly. "Let us build."

    The noise went on for some time, and Lyz looked with a hooded expression at her and wondered if Aryan knew what he was getting himself into.

    For his part, he merely inclined his chin and watched the proceedings from the upper terrace, his lips pressed into a firm line. He would not betray his true emotions. However, a keen eye would be able to interpret his demeanor; he could not hide from his wife. After 60 years of marriage, she would almost certainly recognize his admiration for the woman pontificating from the platform.

    Yage had easily impressed with her swift message to the people. It was smart and effective—a morale booster that pushed any lingering doubts from Aryan’s mind. She was perfect for the role, and that was enough to inspire him for the future. They had the means to truly create something great together.

    Slipping Lyz’s arm through his own, Aryan allowed a confident grin to overtake his features as he began to lead her away from the railing. "I would deem that a successful start to our tour," he murmured in a hushed tone, leaning close so that only his wife could hear his words above the steady din of the crowd. "We are well on our way."

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
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  25. AgentViper007

    AgentViper007 Force Ghost star 7

    Registered:
    Mar 9, 2005
    IC: Agent Bernhardt Johnson
    Location: The Capitol, Coruscant


    The first checkpoint was cleared without trouble.

    Approaching the second checkpoint he could hear a scream coming down the corridor. It was a woman, could it be Rose? Perhaps and hopefully he was heading on the right track. Of course he could use the same lines as he did at the first checkpoint but he didn't know if the same thing would work again.

    As he approached he saw four troopers there who seemed intimidated by him. Good. That would work in his favour. Agents had a reputation for being dangerous, intimidating and unflappable. It took a lot to anger an Agent and if you had been mechanically augmented then these Agents would be even more dangerous.

    Johnson handed over his ID and as he did he scanned the area. Two more mechtroopers ahead which of course would be more of a problem. After his fight with Smith he knew these would not be so easily persuaded as these were basically machines. And coming out from the room where Rose was potentially was….was the Chancellor himself and Sellik his boss.

    Ah, this is definitely not good….

    Of course he was back in Sellik’s good books which was a bonus. He could probably convince her that maybe, just maybe they needed his help interrogating Rose. Hux he had seen about but had never met him personally but judging by the look on his face he could be quite volatile. Johnson would have to tread carefully. One false move and Hux would be able to sniff him out.

    And of course he had his bodyguards with him the red clad Sovereign Protectors. Rumour was these used to belong to Palpatine on Exegol and now it seemed Hux had these as his personal protection squad.

    Well might as well take the plunge….

    “It seems the Chancellor and Commander Sellik have been having trouble with a prisoner and have beaten me to it. Would this prisoner be Miss Tico, the rebel prisoner? I have come to interrogate her and by the look on the Chancellor’s face it seems he and Commander Sellik could benefit from perhaps my expertise”.

    Of course what he was thinking about was not interrogating her at all but breaking her out but he kept his mind blank. Who knew if those Sovereign Protectors could sense anything and of course he still had to think and act like an Agent.

    Please let this all go my way….

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
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