Star Wars OPEN Star Wars: Episode XI: THE HIDDEN TEMPLE - follow up to the 2021 RPF Award winning game!

OOC: Combo with @Sinrebirth

IC: Bernhardt Johnson
Location: Coruscant

What the hell was Rey doing here?

And why was she looking so friendly with Snoke and Ren?

Johnson had to try and keep his thoughts to himself because with the way Snoke handled Phasma, Snoke could yank thoughts out of Johnson's head.

He did not supplicate nor salute. Agents never did.

Seemed Snoke wanted him with him so Johnson had to follow. Don't think about Rose or Juno or Lucretia, just be blank.

No doubt Lucretia was going bonkers in her crystal prison.

In-fact she was being silent because of Snoke being so close.

And Kylo Ren.

And Rey Palpatine.

Snoke preceded them, Phasma and Johnson walking behind.

"Young Palpatine will be subjected to a rescue attempt soon enough," he sneered. "The Resistance do-gooders - Dameron, Finn, the Wookiee Chewbacca, whatever 'New Jedi' comes with them. They will be unable to resist." He chuckled. "I will light their way here, but thereafter I expect them to die. My attention shall be focused on preventing her sabotage."

"Sabotage?" Phasma opined.

"Oh yes," Snoke said gravely. "She'll have to make all the messy, bloody orders, but also she'll squirm out of them. Kylo Ren was much the same, once upon a time." His eyes cut to the Agent and Phasma. "I expect you to deal with the Resistance team."

Johnson simply nodded and tried not to let the worm of worry inside him get anywhere near his mind.

Rey had betrayed them, no doubts there. Once the others found out they would be devastated.

If he was on his own though against the Resistance team then maybe he could reveal himself secretly.

"They'll be on Anaxes," the Emperor said, musing. "Sneaking into the supply chain."

"Can I rely upon you, Agent Johnson?" His eyes seemed to peer straight through him.

It was a bluff, surely? Could the Emperor be so easily lied to?

Johnson simply nodded again, simply giving Snoke the usual blank Agent stare.

Of course if he did go it was a mission failure for him. But Poe and the others would get away he knew they would. If he could stay aboard all good. If not, a bit of extra firepower to get back on his mission would be a bonus.

Snoke traipsed the halls, tilted his nose. "Captain Phasma, the Wraiths appear to be aboard. Go. Lead my personal guard to strike at them." The Sovereign Protectors trooped up to her. Phasma bowed, and headed off with the guards.

The Emperor turned back to the Agent. "There will be a convoy of freight arriving at the flagship. You shall meet and escort the heroes to myself and Rey. Yes?"

"Understood" he simply said back.

Hopefully the Wraiths would beat back Phasma. As for him, he had to play things close to the chest. And hope he didn't get too badly shot up to reveal himself.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Voort Sa’Binring, Thaymes Fodrick, Kael Swiftflight, Briana Odan, Myri Antilles
Secondary Bridge

Piggy looked at his datapad, it was a message from Adam, You may keep it, at least until the end of the mission and Mon Calamari is saved. He smiled and looked over to Thaymes, “Comm boy, how long until control is diverted here?"

"The program is about finished, five, four…"
–---
Outside the main bridge

"Three, two, one, Gamble girl seal the door in thirty seconds after the initial breach," Kael rushed in with Briana, they both fired an air cannon with a spear-like device designed to pierce transparasteel, with just a little bit of explosive to guarantee a breach, saw both hit the front viewport.

"Time to go," both said at the same time before going out where they came in and the door closed and sealed.

Through the cameras in the secondary bridge, Piggy, Thaymes, along with some Adumari commandos could see a small detonation at the front viewport and could see it give way. Piggy sighed, "Comms, let the Adumari know that the…Springhawk…is now under our control and are now leaving the system." He looked around various displays, "By the way, what are you doing?"

"Dumping equipment that we don't want." came the relatively innocent reply from a young female Adumari commando.
–---
Space battle at Coruscant

By this time the K-wings had returned and questions were asked whether to relaunch or attempt an escape now. It was risky, but damage control crews had managed to affect repairs to the engines. They were somewhat confident that they could jump to hyperspace, though there was risk as always. Communications were up with the mobile drydocks and they would meet them somewhere. They would give it a minute after Springhawk jumped before jumping themselves. The entirety of Group Two formed up around the new ship, some in better shape than others. They were a little disappointed that a little over 32,000 proton torpedoes between two targets did no visible damage.

Fairly quickly the Springhawk jumped towards the rendezvous point to bring in crew, take off the remaining prisoners, and do some light repairs.

Group Two started jumping out a minute later and it lasted for a few minutes, the undamaged capital ships and their escorts made it all the way to the rendezvous point, the ones who had made the most of the repair work made it most of the way there where they would be met by some of the drydocks and the rest of their escorts. The final group had managed to make enough repairs to jump, but like at Eriadu, it was a high risk proposition and they made it roughly halfway. Those would get more mobile drydocks so they could get back to Adumar. Anyone wanting to take advantage would have to deal with the escorts for the drydocks, mostly Venators, Liberators, Pursuit Light Cruisers, and DP-20s, lots of DP-20s. Not to mention even more starfighters.

TAG: @Sinrebirth, anyone at Coruscant
OOC: Been meaning to get this out earlier but I've been working a lot this week so far.

 

IC: Axtine Yore
Bastion

Axtine tilted his head at the mention of Imperial Knights, of course he should be happy they avoided a needless and bloody conflict, but Fel had another thing coming if he thought the Jedi would put the needs of an Autocracy before the will of the Force. The Knife 9 and its fighters remained uncomfortably close for the Jedi’s taste; he could almost sense the itchy trigger finger of the pilot that had taken a pot shot at him earlier. “I don’t like this at all.” He mumbled to himself but continued on course. Fel could offer shelter for now, but it was in their long term interest to look for a more discreet place to hide out. Maybe find some other survivors, bring the order back together and make a plan. Axtine made a mental note that after they touched down the gathered Jedi would need to talk about all that had happened, and where they would go from there.

Tags: @Sinrebirth, @Sarge, @clone commander bossk, @Ihsan997, @TheAdmiral, @HanSolo29, @Lady Belligerent

 

OOC: A fun combo w/ @Sinrebirth

IC: Ap'lek Ren and Vestara
Eclipse Hangar

Ap'lek's world was aflame. Burning wreckage fully encircled him, yet he remained standing unfazed. His focus remained locked on the hangar doors where his prey had escaped through unimpeded. He glared into the unwelcoming void of space, as if a stubborn refusal to acknowledge his failure to kill the intruders would make an appreciable difference. It didn't. So there he stood, even as the flames surrounding him began to lick at the shredded remains of his armor, the heat only adding to the aches and pain wracking his body.

Perhaps then, it would be good for him to die here. To perish as a nobody amongst the other charred corpses. He had failed his Lord and Master. Perhaps he would show mercy, and bring another Ap'lek into the world, one stronger than he.

Ap'lek frowned, turning to look at the flames. Such self-destructive ideations felt.. wrong. Improper almost. So why were they so intoxicating?

Vestara's loud exclamation brought a respite from the intrusive thoughts, and he turned to face her, tilting his head to the side in curiosity. Before he could even begin to think of a response, Vestara had ignited her blade and slashed at his helmet. Snoke's voice boomed within his skull, over and over and over again.

Vestara Khai is not to be trusted. She betrayed the Sith that raised her; abandoned the Sith who took her in; she used the Mandalorians as if they were mere pawns. She is a True Sith Lord, and seeks to be the Master and Apprentice, when there can only be Two. I am beyond Sith; the Knights of Ren serve the Ren, and the Master and the Apprentice serve me. If you need to, you may kill her. I have a replacement in-mind already.

Ap'lek fell backwards half a step, utterly silent as his mask clattered to the floor in two equal pieces. Piercing, golden irises blazed from within a maze of bloodied textile wrappings. There was hate burning within those eyes, the only indication there was a living being at all existing underneath the armor.



"The traitor reveals herself." Ap'lek's voice was smooth, punctuated with an alien lilt that was difficult to place accurately. But strangest of all, there was no modulation, no screeching of metal on metal like before. He moved eye-wateringly quick, rushing Vestara's position with vibro-daggers sliding into his open palms.

As his Master commanded, the traitor had to die.

Vestara looked surprised.

“What? You idiot -“

She was forced to draw a shikkiar to defend against a dagger, because a lightsaber was no good in a knife fight. Vestara dropped it, and drew a second. Glass agains durasteel.

This was going to well.

“I’m not a traitor”, she bit at him.

A frown.

Was that a Falleen?

Ap'lek responded only with a grunt as he slashed at her shikkars. Something within, a ghost of a lost memory perhaps, identified them as particularly dangerous threats, above the fact that they appeared to be daggers. So he attacked, again and again, a seemingly endless tirade of slashed and jabs, all designed to keep Vestara from using her lightsaber.

Why isn't she using her lightsaber? The thought confused Ap'lek, enough to slow his hand a sliver. She could have cut him down with a single sword stroke.. But yet, here they were. Odd.

Vestara was thinking the same thing. She should have put some distance between them and used her lightsaber. Not sought close combat, which apparently Ap'lek was apparently really quite skilled at. Between their feet, the lightsaber clattered from boot-to-boot, not yet looking at the offending limb. But when it did, one of them could easily ignite it and sever a foot.

This wasn't pleasant.

She kept the Force marshalled, and focused on deflecting rather than blocking, feeling for the tell-tale moment when a crack shattered the dagger. Her attention was such that she hadn't even tried to talk down the Falleen again -

"Why do you persist?!" Ap'lek roared as he suddenly dived forward in an attempt to tackle Vestara to the ground. Simultaneously, the axe on his back slid out from it's sheathe, directed by his mind to circle the two of them in an oblong orbit, it's blade facing downward. As soon as he found a weakness, a blindspot, the weapon would strike from behind. That is if he were unable to gut her like an fish in the next few moments.

Snoke's command had long since drowned out his own thoughts. He was but a conduit for his Lord's will, even if Ap'lek's body had begun to falter from all the recent abuse. Such concerns were unable to shake his consciousness free from Snoke's command, not when he was this exhausted. Vestara though would begin to sense the cracks beginning to form.

There was something going on here.

Something... driving him.

A command...

... a mental imprint?

Another hammer blow; Ap'lek would sense the double-impact of his death.

His next clone had just been destroyed aboard the Resurrection Ship.

Vestara didn't want to kill him; she wanted to use him to take power over the Empire.

But if she had to - a third shikkiar sprung from her belt and drove up, slashing his face as it surged up to crash into the axe she could see over his shoulder. Her dagger shattered, and she sought to wriggle free from beneath him.

There was a flash of memory, as Ap'lek's psyche became so much like the glass -

A woman, pale, with a top-knot -

Ap'lek wasn't entirely sure what happened next. He should have been reveling in his victory over the traitorous Sith. He should have already begun the process of consuming her essence. There were many things he had expected to have started by now. Yet.. She remained alive underneath him, if her wriggling was anything to go by. Blood trickled from a sustained wound from under his facial bandages. When had that happened?

It hurt.

He appeared to move in slow motion for a moment, seemingly unable to process what had happened all at once. He looked down at the woman beneath him, the rage formerly blazing in his eyes since vanished, replaced by a moment of odd, genuine confusion.

Why? Why did his heart hurt so?

A violent tremor ripped through Ap'lek's body, echoed by a strangled wail unconsciously coming from his throat. He toppled over to the side, awkwardly crawling into a vaguely fetal position besides Vestara. Bandaged fingers clawed desperately at his scalp, a vain attempt to halt the incoming images screaming just behind his eyes.

There was no control, no greater plan. Something within had been torn asunder. A piece of what made Ap'lek, Ap'lek, crucial yet so easily forgotten, had been stolen. He writhed on the ground in silent agony, wild eyed and terrified.

Was this death?

Had it finally come for him?

No! She was to die! I promised you! Take her! Not me! His lips moved to form the desperate pleas, but no sound would escape from them.

Nothing made sense now. Ap'lek's surroundings shattered like glass, in tune with his own inner psyche. Vestara had vanished. Replaced by another being. Or had she always been so pale? A fresh dagger of pain ripped through his heart as he stared, unblinking at the new person.

Why. Why did it hurt so to not recognize such a beautiful face?

Fresh tears mixed with the rivulets of blood flowing down Ap'lek's cheeks. Was Death's embrace always this cruel?

Vestara took a deep breath.

Ap'lek was spinning, hard. She could feel it.

"Calm down, calm," she said, firmly. Vestara didn't need a breakdown.

But all he heard was the woman speaking to him, using her words, in his voice.

His mind had seized upon her, and now Vestara was the pale woman with the top-knot who he did not know.

Ap'lek's thrashing slowly ceased, leaving him crumpled in a heap next to Vestara. His wild eyes never left Vestara's, as if continuing to ogle her foreign features would provide a satisfying answer. Yet, he couldn't tear his gaze away, even as the sight of her only expounded on the screaming within his skull.

Why? Why could he see hands, his hands, reaching out to caress those cheeks? Why did those eyes fill his heart with warmth? When was that? Why did he do that? Spirits, Why can't I remember..?!

AP'LEK. A voice boomed within his mind, drowning out the noise for a beautifully serene moment of peace. It was enough to focus on to regain his composure.

So then, he sat up. That brief window of clarity, if one could even call it that, had vanished as quickly as it came. Ap'lek sat still for a moment, before beginning the laborious process of checking his body for wounds. He would need a treatment of Bacta, undoubtedly. But he could still fight. Good enough. It was a stark contrast to the terrified Falleen present not a moment before.

Finally, Ap'lek rose to his feet, noticeably wincing in silent pain as he stood at his full height. He looked down at Vestara, the so-called traitorous Sith, and cocked his head to the side. She looked vaguely familiar, but he didn't dwell on it. The after-effects of the cloning process was the justification he came up with.

"Our orders remain." He murmured, recalling his weapons once more to their various slings and holsters. "Thrawn, and by extension Snoke, still have use for us."

Vestara watched him with some concern. Why do Sith incline to madness? Especially the men?

Thinking of a different man, one who had not done that, but of course had been a Jedi, well, that hurt.

Pushing aside her memories, the Sith woman nodded. "Yes, they will. We should locate Thrawn. He's the genius. Vicrul is gone, and we'll need to report that in." The hangar had, while they were... trysting... been reoccupied by droids working to repair the damage, and flesh-and-blood techs joined them too.

An officer stepped over. "My Lords?"

Ap'lek raised an eyebrow at the news of Vicrul's departure. Was his fellow Knight another traitor to the cause, or had he simply been given another task by their Lord and Master? Such questions were tricky to answer, and speculating on the matter would only drive further suspicion into their ranks. It was also far easier for Ap'lek to stomach the notion of a fellow Knight leaving on a secret mission rather than to willfully betray the trust of Snoke.

"Speak." Ap'lek said, turning his exposed face to the Officer.

"The Grand Admiral would appreciate you joining him in the auxiliary bridge." The man said stiffly.

Vestara looked laconic. "What does the Emperor have to say about it?"

"Coruscant is under attack," the man said, swallowing. "The Citadel atop Mortis has been destroyed."

Stiffening, she spoke up. "And the Tho Yor?"

"They've hesitated, for the moment." The aide smacked his lips, panicked.

"Coruscant?" Ap'lek repeated, cocking his head to the side. The Imperial capital under attack? Such a slight couldn't be ignored.

He winced, raising a hand to massage his temples. Was Coruscant the capital? A half dozen names flashed before his eyes, all bearing the same weight of importance within his mind. Coruscant, Exegol, Korriban, Drommund Kaas, Mortis.. Morriband? He tried to focus on each place, but the memories weren't fully formed. Slippery, like eels. When Ap'lek tried to recall one name, it would fade away only to be replaced by another.

Ap'lek frowned, growing increasingly exasperated as what should have been a simple task continued to fail him. "To the Bridge then.." He finally murmured. From the many piles of corpses, friend and foe alike, Ap'lek recalled one of the Shadow Troopers helmets to his hands before they left. His face has been exposed for too long, the amount of beings who had witnessed his nakedness only increasing by the minute. It was utterly perverse. The helmet would be fixed later, but it would do for the moment...


Tags: @Sinrebirth , @greyjedi125 , @darthbernael , @Shadowsun (mentioned briefly)

 

IC: Kael Swiftflight
Springhawk in hyperspace

Kael sat in the secondary bridge when the response came, and he sat there looking at the message incredulously, But they pretty much disappeared, I think the only one that dealt with any of those three was Adam…

Confused somewhat Kael began typing, He’s been missing fifteen years? There were ways to communicate with us then, but we’ve never been able to track any of you even if we wanted to. We would have helped I can promise that. I have a couple of options in mind, our mutual friend has settled on Adumar, though he isn’t there right now, though I’m sure you probably know of his wife, and I’m sure she’d be glad to fix the Fury. If you want to try to find your father, you need to go to Mon Calamari and talk to the man who had the Fury fixed fifteen years ago.

He sent the message, a little surprised that someone like her could become emotionally compromised like that, that was until the ‘You idiot!’ part of his brain reminded him that it was family-related and how the Wraiths were after Chashima and the loss of Runt and Piggy, then Voort left the Wraiths. Never mind…can’t judge this at all…

TAG: @Sinrebirth, @darthbernael
—
IC: Trec ke Mattino, Shawnkyr Nuruodo, various members of Group Three
Alliance, Battle of Mon Calamari

Trec was keeping an eye on the battles while Adam was talking to Lando, apparently, there was a lot to catch up on.

Shawnkyr came over and softly elbowed him, “The commandos have taken the Springhawk. Currently the Supreme Commander’s friend…Piggy,” which was when she remembered him from Borleias, “Oh they’re in good hands.” she saw Trec’s smirk, “Do you think this will affect the arrangement?”

Trec pondered for a second, “...No, you know that he has a temper, and I don’t think he trusts himself with a weapon like that. That and if it’s converted into a carrier it could do a lot of good in the Unknown Regions, even if it’s under a combined Chiss and Adumari crew. We should probably get used to each other in the near future.”

They were about to continue the conversation when confused noises came from the Intel section, they’d been listening on Allied signals and heard a distinctly young voice over comms.

Trec walked over to where the two Intel women were discussing the situation and cleared his throat, “What’s going on?” less inquisitively and more of a statement.

“Sir, we think one of the members of Black Squadron might be…a child.”

Trec immediately became concerned, “Send a message, maybe text only, to all members of that squadron saying, ‘Friends of Tehanis will be safe here.’ and we can flash the lights to our ship briefly. That or attach the name of our ship to the message.”

The Intel agents sent the message to the members of the squadron while Trec hoped they would listen, Come on, I’m trying to help… I have kids of my own…

TAG: @Sinrebirth, @Adalia-Durron, @darthbernael, other members of Black Squadron

 

IC: Tirran Huxley
Royal Palace of Theed

Tirran was patiently waiting for an answer when another ran into the room. Declaring the sky was dying, or rather the Empire was here. Still the Queen had remained passive and unruffled by the events. Finally she deigned to answer.

"This Empire, Mr Huxley." Her words were smooth, and she indicated the herald, a Bibble, of course. He nodded, and held out a holoprojector.

"We received this earlier today," he explained. He keyed to. An immense visage appeared. To which Tirran barely stirred within his tank, but his attention would not waver now, that visage had his rapt attention only thing that otherwise held his focus was the Queen.

"Queen Amidala III, of the Sovereign System of Naboo. I speak as Emperor Snoke, inheritor of House Palpatine, and all it's estates. I shall be securing his lands upon this worlds, and claiming... certain items. We shall discuss Naboo's membership in the New Empire - formerly the New Order you knew, once the First Order. My return to power has been long ordained, and any resistance will result in my Celestial Monoliths..." He sounded grave. "Burning Naboo to the ground."

The message cut.

"Our research tells us that these Celestials represent an older civilisation than even the Sith," her voice was clipped, only the slightest tremor to her voice. "We thus wish to establish... a relationship with the Empire..." Queen Amidala III regarded Tirran. "Can we rely upon you?"

Blowing water in his tank he gave a long and hard watery sigh at the whole situation. That was when his bodyguard spoke up in a most unusual manner. “Celestial Monoliths?” he said. “The Celestials died out long ago, before the Jedi or the Sith, but they did leave relics behind. How long have the Empire had these?”

Tirran turned slightly after giving an apologetic look to the Queen. "That is not relevant kid. There's no changing the terms of the deal when the blaster rests on your temple." Squirming in his tank he looked at the Queen. "Your Highness. I came to make a deal with you if your world wished to import grain from my sources. As for this, I do not think I can rightly do anything dramatic for you. This Snoke wishes to deal with you, I do not know what role I could possibly play in such a meeting as my contacts and prior knowledge of the leadership structure prior to him are to the best of my knowledge no longer living."

Giving a sad shake and a sigh Tirran had his exosuit execute a shrug. "My advice, which I freely give, is to secure and make sure the proper lands indicated are vacated and have an honor guard awaiting his representatives in a show of respect and difference. I do not know much or anything I can do for you beyond that advice as his request is clearly for you." Tirran looked apologetically at the young Queen, wondering what her response would be and whether or not he had any real chance of escaping this world at the moment.

TAG: @Sinrebirth , @Mistress_Renata

 

Rhoen Aquilla
Mon Calamari

"I'm still here Wedge." Rhoen replied to the panicked call of his father-in-law. "Doing a sweep now for..." He saw them two fighters still in the air coming around.

"We're alive too." Syal replied.

"Val, you ok?" Rhoen called out coming along side his daughter. "Valerie." There was no reply. "Ace check her comms." The droid replied that they were operating but Val wasn't responding. "Val is something going on?"

Again silence Rhoen began to worry.

"What's the Sitrep Wedge, is there anything more we can do?" Three of the superweapons had been destroyed but there was still more to be done. But did they have the resources to do it. The Dancers were shattered, only he and his family had made it out, there wasn't much they could do, unless they got some help. "I think Val needs to RTB. Val," He tried again. "Can you follow me back to the ship?"

"Yeah..." The only word she said, her voice quiet and somber. Part of him knew that distance, that despondence. They'd lost a lot of good people. That's the kind of thing you don't get over easily.

"I'm sending Val and Syal back. If there's anything more I can do I will do it." He said with all the conviction of a man wanting to make some difference in a no win situation.

"Back to the Venture, all of you," Wedge said firmly. "Three Tor Yor escaped, but the smaller ones you took down. The rest of them are holding formation together, and moving forward." A pause. "We are starting to think we'll only be able to hit them in transit, between worlds, which doesn't do anything for the Mon Calamari."

"You need to refuel and rearm, and we need to regroup before we can try to take them down again. Admiral Ackbar is here with the Scythe, and Admiral Feral has the Pride of Selonia - Selenia, even. Admiral Babo and the Sabaton made it, but the Emancipator is gone." He sounded deadpan as to their losses. "We've picked up some allies, from Adumar, and the Empire of the Hand, and some pirate elements gone Rebel, so we have more than what we started with."

"Oh and the Eclipse has retreated, basically on fire. We're keeping an eye on it for now."

"Understood." Rhoen replied guiding his fighter up towards the former imperial ship. Looking over his shoulder he saw his daughter following him, that was good. Though his heart still burned at the thought of leaving these superweapons to run amuck, to consume what was left of this planet. It ate at him the loss of an entire planet and one so central to the war effort in times past.

It wasn't all bad news at least, their enemies had taken some losses, the Eclipse had been heavily damaged, forced to withdraw, that was a good sign. Sad they couldn't take one of those planet killing monsters off the board. But they'd take their little victories. Getting allies is important, though he was a little surprised that Adumar would join up, they'd been rather isolated as of late.

"Syal if you could please land first, Val can you follow your mother in?" again more silence.

"Val, are you..." Syal followed up.

"I got it..." Val snapped falling in behind her mother. "Get off my back."

Seems Val was skipping right to the anger phase of grief. Though Rhoen been through this ride many times before, there isn't a predicable pattern, but, there are some similarities. Syal and Rhoen let the outburst pass, at least she was communicating. Syal landed, followed by Val, while his daughter was still new she landed like a pro. Dancer Lead came in last going through the motions like he had many times before. As he landed he swiped the holo off the instrument panel putting it in his pocket. The canopy opened and he descended the ladder, looking out over the cavernous hangar finding his family nearby. At least they were still together. Once his feet touched the deck he started making his way over, though he kept an eye out for Wedge, if he'd made his way down to the hangar.

He had, complete with cane.

Wedge was getting old, and he'd sported a terrible war injury inflicted personally by Rae Sloane, before she was a Grand Admiral. It caught up in now, and he had lost a wife and adopted son to the war. But as much as he would be visible in the crowd, so too would be a woman, rushing up to Syal.

"Sis!"

It was Myri.



Wedge and Rhoen shared a look across the space, both their eyes carry the weight of loss. Both old warriors that have seen their share death and destruction. He gave Wedge a smile and a little nod, his family had returned, there wouldn't be more loss today, well personal loss. A sight smile as Myri rushed over to Syal, the intelligence operative and younger sister to Syal. They hadn't interacted much, Myri was busy with spying, and intelligence work. Sad that it takes a war for them to meet again. Rhoen let the sisters have their moment for now. He moved close to Val's X-Wing, his daughter climbed down her head hung low.

"Hey, Val." He started, no anger or resentment in his voice. He'd been through this many times with many young pilots. It was different when the young pilot was your own daughter. "I know Val..." He started, she just pushed past him. "Val, Val please talk to me."

"I'm fine." She muttered a waver in her voice.

"Your not fine." Rhoen put a hand on her shoulder. "You've gone through a loss."

"It's not like I knew them." She turned to him slightly her eyes glassy.

"It's not about that. They were still people...you heard their screams. Their last moments." He shook his head. "That's not an easy thing to forget."

"Tch...ah..." she tried to speak but her words couldn't come out. "I'm...I'm just so mad." Her chest heaved with deep breaths. "They all just died, in a flash. And then I think is that was happened to Granddad? Just gone...And I just want to kill all of them, but, I just feel empty. I'm angry and I want to rip the galaxy apart, but I'm scared..."

"It's ok." He pulled her closer wrapping his arms around her. "It's ok, this is scary, this is war."

"But you're not scared...I shouldn't be scared."

"You think I'm not terrified. You think I have no fear. No, I'm afraid every time I go up. But, you have to accept that fear, and keep going. And you already do. I saw you out there."

"But, when it was all over...I just couldn't think, I was on autopilot. I was frozen, and the fear, the pain. I...I can't." Rhoen holds her tighter, feeling her cry, to feel those emotions.

"It's ok, you're ok. It's going to be alright. It will be ok." He held her, held her for a longer time than he was expecting, until she broke away.

"I'm going to go lay down..." Val replied turning to walk away. She was still raw, still hurt, but there was progress.

Rhoen walked up to Wedge. "So we regroup, where?" He gave a longing gaze towards Val's retreating back. "It's going to be a long campaign isn't it."

He gave them all a moment, his eyes mainly on little Val, and then he spoke up.

"The Tho Yor don't seem to be bothered with us unless we get in the way," Wedge said, unhappily. "But we need to get in the way. The Eclipse is being tracked but has headed away from us. I think Colonel Lyons has some plan there, but I couldn't say what. We took out those three smaller ones quite quickly, but three 'adults' left for a bunch of worlds."

"So it looks as if we can regroup right here, right now, and get everyone back in the air as quickly as we can."

Wedge explained that the Scythe and Pride had arrived so that gave them a MC140 and Lancer-class frigate. They had ample supplies, donated by freighter captains willing to risk the fray, and even replacement X-wings - hell, aboard the Venture, Sabaton and Scythe was basically every variation of Rebel, New Republic, Alliance and Resistance fighter put into production over the last five decades.

"So yes," he said, wearily. "It's going to be a long campaign."

Rhoen nodded his head the fact they were resupplied so quickly did mean it was going to be long. Both sides were going to throw everything they had into this war, just like they did every time. He'd thought they were done with these long drawn out conflicts. But, it seemed the way of things. Then again this wasn't like those other ones.

"Did you feel powerless too...When Syal started flying?" He asked looking to the space Val used to occupy. "I know I'm a good pilot but, there's only so much I can do to keep her safe up there."

Wedge looked into the distance. "Syal wanted to fly. Always had, always did. She didn't head into the fray as young as Val, but maybe if the Vong War had dragged on she might've. I was lucky we had the best part of a decade of peace; when she starting flying as Lysa, there wasn't a big conflict on the horizon. In her first live-fire battle..." A grin. "Well, she shot at me, so, I knew she was alright."

Rhoen could see the similarities, Val had wanted to fly since she was 9, ever since Booster let her have a go in the sims. Seemed both Syal and Val couldn't be denied their place in the cockpit. Though there was a difference, Syal was learning in a time of peace, Val was being thrown into a full scale conflict.

"Well, she survived this." Rhoen replied with a sigh. "...A minor miracle. But, it still doesn't feel good having her out there. The sims are one thing live fire another."

"I agree," Wedge said. "But unless you're going to physically lock her somewhere, she's her own agency." He smoothed his lips. "Snap died doing what had to be done. I couldn't be more proud of him, even if Norra never forgave me." Wedge had lost his adopted son, after all, at the Battle of Exegol.

Luke had lost his wife and best friend before he died; Han and Leia had lost two sons; Chewbacca, cousins; Lando, a daughter.

"I don't know what to tell you, Rhoen, that will make things better. It's a war where the enemy is so ruthless that they'll target our children."

The pilot and father hung his head letting out a long sigh. There was nothing to be done, she would face the fires of war and he would have to stand next to her and hope. Seems no matter the era, hope was all the Rebellion had.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

OOC: Meant to place this with a previous post...but still playing with the Eclipse.
IC: Shawnkyr Nuruodo, various members of Group Three
Venator-class Star Destroyer, Alliance

Shawnkyr let Trec handle the situation with the mystery Black Squadron pilot while she focused on the battle itself.

A portion of the force was harassing the Eclipse, while two of the CC-7700 frigates, Charybdis and Scylla, were taking measures to make sure that the Eclipse couldn’t leave. Meanwhile, the K-wings decided that the Eclipse was neglecting its fire duties and they went after it again. First, they went after the engines again. Next, they went after shield command, then the shield generators, then the turbolasers, and then any power generator facilities.

TAG: @Sinrebirth, anyone who can see the Adumari playing with the Eclipse

 

OOC: This has been brought to you by the combined voices of @Sinrebirth and myself. Also:

IC: Nadia ke Mattino, Rachel Nezuma-Lyons
Adumar

Nadia was looking through various displays and pauses on the Mon Calamari tactical display, "Are there fewer Tho Yor? Have some of them been destroyed?"

Rachel wasn't paying attention, she was watching the bridge view, "Wow, it doesn't look like he's aged all that much since Borleias…" she looked over to see Nadia staring at her, "If anyone will figure it out it's Adam."
–----
IC: Adam Lyons, Trec ke Mattino, Lando Calrissian, Shawnkyr Nuruodo
Venator - class Star Destroyer, Alliance

Adam looked at Lando, "Wait, did they say that the Tho Yor went down because it lost a signal?" Quickly plans started to emerge in his head.

Trec meanwhile started looking at the data.

Lando, stepping into the bridge, pulled his lips back into a grin as he tapped along with his cane.

“Well hello to you too, Adam.” He sketched a slight salute. “I gather that the smaller ones have less transmitters for that big old Celestial signal. We can’t decrypt it, duplicate it, or jam it, but we can stop those monoliths from getting the message.”

Adam was a little frustrated by that information, but had another thought, “Would those transmitters be external, and would you know exactly what they look like?”

Trec chuckled, “K-wings like targets.”

Lando looked for an aide, a small Sullustan who had managed to make it across with him. A datapad was already in her hand, and she muttered in her native tongue about the specs.

“We suspect the monoliths have regenerative abilities, exchanging mass for repairs. Which means the ones that have launched into hyperspace were vulnerable in orbit,” Lando explained. “But the half a dozen plus by the surface can just keep consuming Mon Calamari while we target them.” He sounded grim.

“I’m worried we may need to lose Mon Calamari but hit them with everything we have when they try to leave the planet.”

Adam nodded, "We had figured that the Tho Yor could absorb attacks for repairs or even generate new vehicles, which explains the new TIE Daggers. What I don't know is whether there’s a ceiling for the absorption powers or if the TIEs are droid piloted or organically piloted." He motioned Lando over to a display of a battle over Coruscant, "This is my plan for one. Not sure about the other."

“That’s Mortis. The biggest, probably prime Tho Yor,” Lando said, looking at the display. He watched Mortis cut at Adam’s forces, and winced. “You’ve been busy, I see.” He cocked a manicured eyebrow. “Where have you been for the last five years? I reckon you were at Exegol, but there were like fifteen thousand ships there, so you’ll forgive me if I didn’t notice.”

The force at Exegol hadn’t been replicated since; Lando wasn’t even sure if the galaxy was even able to do so now. The few hundred ships holding the line at Mon Calamari? They were nothing.

“Oh, and what’s this I heard about you getting a Grand Moffship?”

Adam chuckled, “Summarily rejected, I believe he wasn’t telling the truth that he’d stop here at Mon Calamari.” he looked at the display, noted the name, “Mortis, not that it’s the objective…” Adam then glanced at Trec before looking back at Lando, “I could explain, but there is too much so I’ll have to sum up. While Trec and I would rather be doing many other things on Adumar, we have to remind the galaxy for the third time that Adumari starfighters should be feared.” To punctuate the statement, four dozen starfighters managed to find locks on TIE Daggers and fire a proton torpedo each at one.

“I mean you stopped a Yuuzhan Vong advance on Bilbringi without much help.”

Torpedoes sung out, and began to dance and weave between the various accumulated debris of four flotillas duking it out. Resistance, Imperial, Adumari, Rebel.

“So you spoke to Snoke?”

Lando hesitated, watching the display, watching the Tho Yor on the displays regroup in low orbit and press on.

Adam shrugged, “He spoke, some people listened, I didn’t. We also did a lot more especially with only teams of two or three. Did a lot of damage to the Peace Brigade that way as well. Technically created a Goddess with three people.” he grinned, “Though I was mostly a wingman for that.”

Shuttles leaving and entering the battlefield to pick up and drop off EV pilots, escape pods, among other things including some disabled TIE Daggers.

“I’d take Jaina and Yun-Harla right now,” Lando said tightly. “But we don’t know what Snoke wants - we all thought he was Palpatine’s puppet, and here he is, with his own plan and play.” He grimaced. “It’s like we were playing against half the deck and someone has palmed the other half. We keep trying to get Pure Sabacc, and they’re setting up an Idiot’s Array.”

“So for the moment we’re intact, but the Mon Calamari are dying.” His moustache twitched. “What’s the plan?”

Adam stared out into space, “It may involve Palpatine, but it may be that Snoke wants to one-up Palpatine. Create an Empire that lasts for more than 23 years…” before looking back to Lando, “One-upping each other, seems like a Sith thing to do.”

Looking back to the view of the battle around Coruscant, “That Eclipse is the key to my plan, with it, we might be able to end this devouring of planets. Without it, I don’t know if the galaxy is safe from Snoke.” he snickered a bit, and looked at Lando, “Going head to head against the most powerful man in the galaxy while not being a top of the line Jedi, who’s really going for the Idiot’s Array?”

Meanwhile, Shawnkyr looked at her communications officer, “Tell the interdictors that I don’t want that Eclipse to leave.”


Lando eyed him. “The one here, or the one at Coruscant? Or are you just trying both for good measure?” He was being facetious, but one was potentially an easier target than the other.

Adam smiled, “Both, if who I’m guessing is on that Eclipse, then what I have planned for the one on Coruscant could make it interesting for this particular Eclipse.”

“May as well speculate to accumulate, eh?” Lando chuckled. “Never thought you were a gambling man, Adam.” He indicated the limping Eclipse. “So, who is aboard that one then? That Skirrin fellow attempted a boarding attempt and it went pretty poorly. Knights of Ren, at least a couple.”

The torpedoes wove through the debris field which abruptly exploded; the TIE Daggers had fired their own torpedoes at the wreckage and detonated it as an impromptu shrapnel shield. A strategy that Zsinj had performed once, blowing up the asteroids the enemy had used to approach him.

Some missiles by sheer numbers cut through, impacting the TIE Daggers, but there were still plenty, and they all accelerated to ram the Pride of Selenia. Black Squadron was weaving to intercept,six X-wings flown by aces or Jedi. Lando grimaced. He didn’t want to watch old friends die but it seemed likely.

“Thrawn.” he let that sink in for a second, “We’ve heard rumors and whispers of a Chiss male wearing an Imperial Grand Admiral’s uniform. It is our intention to find out whether it’s really him, a clone, or something else. The Eclipses aren’t much of a gamble, at the beginning of the day there were three, one was destroyed by Adumari forces at Halmad, so it should be clear that we have the capability to destroy one quickly. We’re boarding,” he looked at Trec and the Coruscant display of the commandos and Wraiths on the Eclipse, “and so far increasing our area of control of that ship at a satisfactory rate. The Eclipse here? It’s pretty beat up, so there isn’t much gambling going on here in terms of that. The gamble is dealing with the Tho Yor and whether an Eclipse’s super laser can destroy one.”

Trec meanwhile was looking at the display of the battle of Mon Calamari and was concerned about the nearby Pride of Selenia, he keyed a couple of orders for the starfighter coordinator and sent a request over to Admiral Nuruodo and received a confirmation. In space, it unfolded, first half of the DP-20s around started mass laser fire at the suicidal Daggers. Secondly, there were 40 squadrons of Defenders and Scouts that started mass combined laser cannon and ion cannon fire on the Daggers. The Defenders also tried with their tractor beams to stop the Daggers assuming they could catch them. Finally, another 20 squadrons of E-wings fired two proton torpedoes at the remaining TIE Daggers each.

Adam looked at the display and then back at Lando, “Maybe, just maybe that Eclipse will surrender.”

Trec motioned at the display of Coruscant, the K-wings had fired their proton torpedoes, first 76 squadrons had targeted whatever weapons had damaged the capital ships, 16,416 hunting that weapon. 75 squadrons had targeted the Citadel, and now 16,200 torpedoes were headed towards that particular part of Mortis. All proton torpedoes expended, the K-wings quickly headed back towards their ships.

The Citadel erupted into flame, and the Dagger storm at Mon Calamari subsided, finishing off.

There was no noticeable impact on Mortis, but the Monoliths at Mon Calamari did appear to pause…

“I saw that,” Lando said. “But we’ve bigger concerns. Snoke’ll be at Coruscant. If he crosses paths with the Wraiths, they’ll be dead Wraiths.”

Adam nodded, glancing at the display, "They're in the secondary bridge now and very close to the primary bridge, so they can either take over control there or seize the primary. Whatever is faster."

… the Monoliths started up again, clearly pausing, rather than anything else.

The Celestial signal, detectable, but not hackable, had resumed…

Lando watched. “There’s definitely something we can get to that can stop these things.”

He looked over. “Are we going to head back down now, or after you’ve captured an Eclipse?”

The man pointed at Thrawn’s Eclipse. “I reckon we should focus on that. Take it. The Coruscant one is not going to be an easy catch.”

Adam looked at the display and noticed the name change on the Eclipse at Coruscant, Springhawk. He grinned, "Well now they have to get out of there. Do you think he'd notice the new name?"

He looked at Lando, "That would be the plan, yes once they get here, however from what I've learned from them over many years, there can still be some necessary repairs after you take a ship, whether it's an Eclipse, or a Bulwark, or any design that we capture, rebuild and then reuse. I don't think I know a group that is more experienced at this kind of thing than the Adumari."

TAG: @Sinrebirth, people at Coruscant and Mon Calamari

 

OOC: Combo with Mr. GM

IC: Azathoth
Flying

The man gave a nod as he punched in the coordinates for Coruscant. He leaned back and settled into his seat as he gave a little yawn as they began to move.

“I didn’t mention who this belongs to, did I? Why, the Dark Lord of the Sith, of course.”

Azathoth's face had a look of disinterest as he looked at his lightsaber hilt, beginning to fiddle with it.

"Oh, and who would that be after all these decades?"

Arb smirked. "Darth Krayt is his name, from that irrelevant dustball known as Tatooine, the one that the Force seems to hold in some kind of sick fascination. He was here, on-world, pursuing his own plans, plots and schemes." A shrug. "But you've stolen his ship, either way."

He eyed the coordinates.

0-0-0.

"Coruscant, eh? The old stomping ground. What is of interest there?"

"Mortis is there correct?" mused Azathoth.

Mortis seemed to often have a connection with the Master. He wondered if he was there now. Most likely... or at least was.

"Oh yes," Arb said, drily. "Mortis is."

"And so are all the Protectors," he groused. "And likely four Darknesses."

"And of course Snoke."

He looked to the man. "Surely that's the most dangerous place to go?"

"Which also means it is the most fun," spoke Azathoth with a light chuckle. His eyes monitored the controls carefully. He did note that Snoke would be there... interesting. And four of the six. Interesting...

"Let alone the Dyad..."

Arb didn't expect Azathoth to know much about that.

"Dyad... dyad... dyad... where have I heard that term before?" spoke Azathoth as he puzzled the word in his head over and over.

"A force dyad you mean? One exists within this time?" he spoke with great curiosity.

"Oh yes," he said, nodding. "There's one at Coruscant."

"Fascinating..." he spoke, no doubt Snoke did too. And had been experimenting, testing, altering it to meet his goals.

"It destroyed Palpatine, once and for all, and it briefly undid Snoke, who wisely stepped aside so that the full brunt of it was thrown at Palpatine instead." Arb sounded amused. "And the Dyad broke, one part killed. But even then..."

He drawled. "What can you tell me about inclinations?"

The distant Azathoth watched Arb carefully. "Inclinations?" he repeated. "All of us are somewhat bound by our nature if that is what you mean," he spoke, the way that Arb was speaking it almost sounded like he was talking about a Force Ability. If there was one called that Azathoth did not know about it.

Arb smirked. "See, I do know somethings you don't."

He adopted a know-it-all tone. "If a Force user internalizes a sufficiently violent confrontation of alignment, it is quite possible for the Force to manage the contradiction by separating the two. For example, one's dark inclination animates your armour, and carries forth; or your light inclination steps forward as a spirit."

"If both are destroyed, well, they become whole anew. Nifty, no?"

"I never said you didn't" spoke Azathoth with a smirk. He leaned back listening to what the Arb had to say about these inclinations.

"I see, and so what is that what the dyad is? Inclinations that were separated?"

"There's a theory that they're inclinations that are perfected. You can't create true power with halved individuals, merely increase their... um, range." A chuckle. "But a Dyad? It's two balanced individuals that completely compliment each other, in Light and Dark. Imagine... a lightsaber duel that crosses multiple points in reality, or instantaneous transmission of items across ones bond? Transmuted experience and skills and technique, so what one knows, both do, on some level? Incredibly powerful." Arb almost licked his lips.

There was a certain knowing smirk on Azathoth's face.

"Sounds rather like what Father can do if you ask me," he spoke tilting his head. "But then again viewing this from the frame of just 'simple' mortal beings, that is, as you say, incredibly powerful," He chewed slightly on the edge of his thumb as he was contemplating something.

"You said Palpatine was gone truly and forever... even if this dyad is as powerful as you say, the Palpatine that I knew..." he shook his head. "I am doubtful that such a demon could ever truly be wiped away,"

"He wouldn't be the first Sith spirit obliterated," Arb cautioned. "I wouldn't want to assume he's gone, but the Force was a lot lighter for a couple... months." He laughed, hard. "But Snoke is about, so no surprises there."

The hyperspace warning chimed. "Looks like we're about to arrive at Coruscant. Ready?"

"I've been ready for decades," responded Azathoth simply.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

OOC: A combo with @Sinrebirth

IC: Vydra Delomeux, Qwi Xux, Beaumont Kin, Pascale Rouser x2
Location: The middle of nowhere

If this was hell he probably deserved it. Was he dead? Spiritually detached again?

Dunkeel sounded like he had wanted to cull him then and there and Vydra would not be surprised if he did.

But he was in the middle of some place with a cathedral and a blue skinned woman in front of him, talking through him even.

Qwi, Pascale's former lover. Or was it? Or was it this timelines? If she was in this timeline.

Looks like another trial was beginning….

Meanwhile Qwi was thankful to be away from those spirits which kept torturing or ripping her to pieces.

However a difficult conversation was ahead as she was about to meet Beaumont again. After screaming for him for so long it was good the spirits were letting her see him.

They would all be together, once more Between and Betwixt.

Qwi's spirit had escaped the Twilight Timeline before it was balanced, and, thus, secured.

No more could people meander from here to there, the lines were closed.

All lines.

There was only this One Timeline now.

Vydra, Pascale, Qwi... they'd all know that.

Beaumont, her one, had he made it out?

A spirit swam into view.

It was him.

Her him.

Vydra had floated behind Qwi so as to observe. He had remembered what Twilight Pascale had said about what had happened. He would not interfere unless needed.

Qwi meanwhile sucked in a breath. Should she go to him? Could she touch him? Was he dead too now?

"Beaumont?" she said tentatively.

He reached for her. "Qwi?" He released a breath. "I made it. I made it out. To Mortis."

He smiled, and sought to hold her -

Vydra frowned.

No sorry I left you to die alone.

Qwi didn't know whether to slap him or hold him. She settled for the latter, wrapping her arms around him.

She looked up at him, the tears falling from her face like a waterfall, her voice anguished.

"Why did you leave me alone to die? What did I do to deserve that? Why did you not come for me when I screamed for you whilst my spirit was being tortured and ravaged?"

She gulped "Are you dead too? What do you mean you made it to Mortis?"

Qwi hoped she would get answers to all her questions.

"Yes, I died," he said, but shrugged in her arms. "I didn't leave. You died, it was too much for you." His voice was gentle. "I spoke at your eulogy. You helped show us the way forward. Vader was killed - Ben - and the other leaders sued for peace. The Vong, the Tribe, the Empire - everyone decided enough was enough."

Vydra was still frowning. Still not a good enough answer in his book.

Qwi meanwhile knew also the answer he gave seemed wrong. But she was not going to push it. He didn't want to answer, it seemed.

"Did you live your life before you died? Did you…" she swallowed "find someone else? To do what we could and didn't do? Like get married and have kids?"

"And…how did you die?"

"No," Beaumont shook his head. "Nobody else."

"It's not possible to go to Mortis if you have... regrets. Instead you go to the Lake of Apparitions, the place where Chaos reigns..." He looked unhappy. "You might stay there for years."

"So I lived out my life alone, I did a little research, wrote some papers, taught - helped integrate the Keshiri with the wider galaxy." He shrugged. "A little good, I guess."

Qwi nodded, she wouldn't have begrudged him moving on. He deserved better than a weak Omwati.

"It was more than a little good" she replied "Sorry you had to live your life alone though. You deserved happiness, a bright future. Not one where you would have to watch me wither and die in front of you".

"You deserved better than a war criminal".

She raised an eyebrow "So what do we do now? Help people from the spirit world? Try and repair what we lost? Infinite love making?" The last was said with a smirk.

Beaumont smiled. "I think happily ever after in the void of Mortis works for me."

But he looked over to Pascale - to Vydra.

"But is there more to be done? Can we be put to rest?"

Vydra then got the feeling he had spotted and Beaumont was also looking at someone. No not someone…someones.

Both the Pascales were here too. Mostly observing he guessed like him.

"Well therein lies the problem" Vydra said stepping forward "I'm not sure what happened with the Twilight timeline, but in this timeline there is still a chance it can be saved".

"The Master has a plan to end timelines for the greater good he says. But it ends up with the galaxy ending. And I want to ensure it doesn't happen. To protect my family, to protect the galaxy. Sadly my former Protector comrades believe too much in him, I cannot work with them".

"I wish to do good under my name, not the name of Yanjon. That name is synonymous with the word traitor. To possibly find someone worthy to take up the name. But most of all to do things that ensure my sister's bloodline remains safe".

"Whether I have a bloodline myself remains to be seen. Knowing my luck probably not".

"But to have spirits with me, to help, to do some good before they are finally laid to rest, to perhaps help save the galaxy as it were. Then I'm all for it. But I do not blame you if you wish to pass fully into the spirit world".

"I'm in" Pascale One said "To protect my wife, my daughter and her partner".

"And me" Pascale Twilight said "To redeem my spirit after being tainted by the dark. To help create a brighter future".

Vydra looked to Qwi and Beaumont "I consider you both family even though you are not direct blood. But you did carry a bond created by Pascale, created by your love. And I think having you both would be most helpful".

Qwi tiptoed up and kissed Beaumont deeply "What do you think my dear? Save the galaxy one more time before we can entwine ourselves forever?"

"At least we won't have to worry about dying……"

Beaumont kissed her back, and looked over to Vydra. "We're in. I was studying something called Force Walking, once, and I reckon that's what you've been doing, without knowing it." He regarded the Pascales. "So you can bind us to you, draw from us, and we can leave Mortis with you."

He nodded. "When you do, you'll understand everything that happened in the Twilight Timeline... after Qwi." He hesitated. "But since new Ones were found, it's been, well, peaceful, to be honest. For years."

The two Pascales looked at each other and nodded.

"I think that would be good" Pascale One responded "Vydra would have a spiritual force to protect him against anything nasty".

"And we can work together to make sure this timeline does not become like the others. Maybe it can be as peaceful as my timeline became" Pascale Twilight added.

"And maybe perhaps when it's all done we can finally rest and be at peace" she looked up at Beaumont and smiled "Together as we should have been. And maybe finally a happily ever after for us all".

Vydra nodded "Then bind yourselves together, join your spirits with me. And together we shall protect those we love. And finally perhaps have some light and peace for all".

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

OOC: Combo with @Sinrebirth.

IC: Talon

Mortis

After everything she had just been through (most of which Talon still couldn't put her head around), she was more than ready to leave. Sharing a small starfighter would be a small price to pay.

"Yeah, I think we'll fit," she told Tahiri. "Though there's a chance that I may have to sit on your lap or you may have sit on mine."

Tahiri rolled her eyes. "Of course."

As it was, she could squeeze in behind the pilot seat. Tahiri gave the pilot chair over, mainly because she was still dislocated because of whatever had happened on Mortis. As she clambered in, she murmured to herself. "Darknesses. Six in total, but four here. Connected to Abeloth, a seventh, probably."

She looked over. "Did you know the Yuuzhan Vong had one creator-God, and then six primary Gods?"

Talon slid into the pilot seat and began to make the preparations for take-off.

"Uh, that's interesting," she said in response to Tahiri. But there was something on her mind. "So... what happened to you after we were separated? I saw a bunch of alternate versions of myself... or maybe some were my descendants, I'm not sure. Then I saw a bunch of versions of you. But what did you see? Who did you see?"

"I've been a lot of different people in my life," Tahiri said solemnly. "I was born a Tusken, raised a Jedi, shaped into a Yuuzhan Vong, joined into a Killik nest, and then made a Sith." She sighed. "Mortis just... showed me it all. All of it - to you."

"Before you arrived, before I broke into pieces," Tahiri said, wryly. "Well, I saw my futures. In red armour, an Imperial Knight. The mother of Darth Caedus's child. The wife of Anakin Solo. As a Yuuzhan Vong Jedi-killer. It split me, and well, you saw what you saw. I'm guessing your... futures, didn't do that to you."

Talon just shrugged. "The visions I saw... they offered me power. The power to end slavery, to destroy the Sith. Something called Uber. But I know better than to mess with it trust something I don't understand. Especially something so dangerous. The visions tried to steer me away from my current course, my current mission. But they could not break my determination. In the futures and possibilities they showed, I or someone like me was still Sith. Still a slave..."

"Probably one of those Darknesses..." Tahiri mused.

"Master Yoda used to say that starting down the dark path meant that it would forever dominate your future." The woman shrugged. "Master Luke served the Emperor briefly, but he still brought more light to this galaxy than not - same with other Dark Jedi that he redeemed, like Master Solusar." All dead, Tahiri grimaced.

"But who is your master now? Aren't you free? No longer a slave?"

"I am free," Talon said with a huff. "I just fooled the Sith into believing that they were my masters. And I already killed the woman who trained me."

"So the Sith won't come after you?" Tahiri mused. "And what next, then, for a free former slave?"

"Oh, the Sith probably will come after me once they've realized that I betrayed them," Talon admitted. "Which is why my next move is to take them down. We find the other Jedi mentioned and I tell them everything that I know."

"The other Jedi," Tahiri said carefully. "But where are the Sith? Can you tell us that?"

She did say us, because she knew precisely where the Hidden Jedi Temple was.

Tahiri was on the Jedi Council, after all.

"Yes, I can tell you where they've gone," Talon confirmed. "Though it is important that we act quickly before they move again."

Tahiri hesitated. "If I bring you to the Jedi Order, what then?" She bit her lip openly.

"I'll give you everything that I know in return for protection and we'll figure out what to do next," Talon answered simply. "We need each other, whether you like it or not. You need the information I have on the Sith and I need protection from the Sith for when they come after me."

"Tell me where they are, and I'll take you there," Tahiri said, not softly, but not firmly, either.

Talon sighed. "They're in a region in the Outer Rim called the Cloak of the Sith. I have more information about it, but that's all I'm saying right now."

"The Cloak of the Sith. Simple enough," Tahiri said dryly. "Alright, I'll take you back." She leaned over, looking at Talon, their faces proximate in the cockpit. "Look away." Her fingers were on the coordinate-input.

Talon remembered something. "Wait," she said before getting out of the ship. She did a quick check for any tracking devices and once she confirmed that they were clean, she returned to her seat and looked away. "Alright, proceed."

Tahiri punched in the numbers, and obscured the screen. "Take us out, then, Talon."

Talon nodded and got their ship off the ground. Finally they were leaving Mortis and all its confusing weirdness behind.

Mortis allowed them to leave, or perhaps, it was too distracted to prevent them. Events were underway, after all.

Or perhaps, something made sure they could leave.

And so, the TIE Silencer shot off into the sky, and they burst into hyperspace.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

 

OOC: Combo with @JediMasterAnne and @Sinrebirth

IC: Tiberius Covax, Julee and Feyna Rouser
Location: Fortuna, Naboo, Triffis, Commenor

They had managed to get past the guards which was good.

Now to get aboard Fortuna and get out.

"I'm not getting good vibes off that pyramid thingy" Tiberius said "How do we get past that? And get to Commenor without them chasing us? Or wherever we are going to meet your Uncles"

Julee frowned as she punched in the code to lower the Fortuna's ramp, looking to her mother. "Didn't you and Dad use an alternate transponder ID code for the Fortuna, during the Vong war?"

"Firenze," Feyna confirmed, though she'd had to think back a bit to remember. "I don't know if we could still use it now or not..."

"Worth a try," Julee said, heading for the cockpit. "We'll figure out meeting places later, just now I want to just get out of the system before we try calling Marcus and Rene; I don't want to give the Empire anything they could trace back to us."

"Aye Captain" Tiberius responded following Jules and sitting down in the copilot's seat.

"I don't know what that pyramid ship carries, but I'm guessing it's not good".

"Lasers and torpedoes?" Tiberius asked Jules.

"Don't shoot unless they shoot first," Julee cautioned, happy to let him man the weapons, while she fired up the ship.

"And yeah, I don't think I want to find out what's on that thing."

Feyna meanwhile, leaned over to tap in a code to switch over the transponder ID, before taking the seat behind Julee.

"Roger that" Tiberius responded, arming both.

He reached over and squeezed Jules's shoulder. You got this gorgeous he sent through the link.

Out loud he said "Farewell Naboo, I hope we will be back someday .. "

Julee started the lift-off, though she paused as Tib bid goodbye to their home. Hopefully they could come back someday.

Feyna was looking wistfully out the viewport; so many memories, and to have to leave it behind in such a rush, at such a bad time...I'm so sorry, Pascale.

Julee's expression hardened, and she started to take the ship out from Theed.

"What do we say if they hail us?"

Feyna came back out of her reverie, then started pulling up some information on her datapad. "I may still have some of our fake IDs from the NRI days..." Perhaps she could do a quick alter on a couple of them for Julee and Tiberius, and 'update' one for herself.

"We'll still need a reason why we're leaving now, so conveniently, just as the Empire shows up," Julee pointed out.

"Maybe a family emergency?" Tiberius suggested "Maybe related to your Uncles or cousins?"

"The only other thing I can think of is maybe a humanitarian mission. Not joining the Resistance but helping out maybe".

'Family emergency' wouldn't exactly be a lie," Julee allowed. Except we're the emergency.

"Now we just need to figure out where we go from here." She pulled up a map, looking for the nearest non-Imperial territory.

Tiberius leaned over to have a look "Maybe somewhere that's halfway between Commenor and here? Land, do our drop off and then take off again?"

"As much as we want to see you Uncles and chat loads, the longer we stay the chance increases that we get caught. Because by the sounds of it this New Order is getting everywhere…"

Julee traced her finger along a hyperspace route. "Triffis is kind of nowhere special, that I can find out, but we could jump there, call Rene and Marcus, see if they could meet us at"--her finger followed the Corellian Run up from Triffis, to--"Tynna?" Hard to tell where the Expansion world sat in current events, but did have some history of siding against the Empire.

Tiberius nodded "Sounds good, if we get any closer to the Core I reckon we could be straying into New Order territory since they are near Coruscant…."

"If they have history of siding against tyrants then it works in our favour. Let's just hope they haven't taken too much of that section where Commenor is so Rene and Marcus can get off".

"And I suppose where do we go from there next but I wonder if we should decide after we get to Tynna".

"Yeah, priority right now is just getting out," Julee agreed. "We'll plan more once we get to Tynna."

Tiberius nodded silently back and turned back to weapons control.

"Better punch it Captain, and let's hope that pyramid thing doesn't notice us…."

Julee nodded and accelerated, heading out into space. Here's hoping this goes smoothly.

It did.

The pyramid let them go, as it did several ships that slewed into orbit, undoubtedly as panicked as them.

Julee raised her brows at the lack of interest from the monolith, but she certainly wasn't going to question it as she entered the coordinates for Triffis into the nav-computer, then pulled the lever for the jump into hyperspace.

Tiberius shook his head. All too easy.

He disabled the cannon and torpedo launcher "Well not that i'm complaining but that was suspiciously easy."

He stood up and placed a hand on Jules's shoulder with a smile "Nice flying. Any chance you can check for trackers just in case?"

Julee gave him a half-amused, half-annoyed look, as if to say you couldn't have suggested that five minutes ago?

But she just reached over to turn on a scanner. "I don't know if the scan will work in hyperspace; if not, we'll check again at Triffis."

As they exited hyperspace at Triffis, Julee ran the scanners again, still checking for any trackers. I should have checked that before we left, she scolded herself.

While Julee was doing that, Feyna got out her comlink and dialled Rene and Marcus; she'd already commed them about Pascale's death, and had already been considering going to stay with them for a while; the Empire had simply accelerated her plans.

She wondered if there was anything about Naboo on the HoloNet; Rene and Marcus might have already heard something

Tiberius was still in the copilot's seat awaiting instructions or something to shoot at.

So far nothing thankfully to shoot at.



Triffis lay in the Hevrol Sector, which had once suffered its own fair share of battles, but not for some years now. Not quite upon the Corellian Run, the locals had managed to avoid direct warfare since the Yuuzhan Vong destroyed Kalarba. Triffis was nominally within the former Andoan warlord territory, but since the collapse of that regime it was only nominally a part of Imperial Space.

In that respect... Triffis was quiet.

Marcus and Rene replied, huddled around their comlink. "We're kinda on the run at the moment. What's going on?" Marcus whispered. "We've been out of contact."

Tiberius looked to Jules. He was sure Feyna had contacted them about Pascale's death. And they were on the run too?

"We've had to escape Naboo" he said "Things have gone downhill there. The New Order wants Naboo and the Queen has given it to them".

"We pretty much had to drop everything and go," Julee added in. Feyna looked concerned as well. "What do you mean you're on the run?" She exchanged a look with Tib. So much for our plan. Feyna couldn't go with Rene and Marcus if they were on the lam, too.

"I think everyone's just calling it the Empire again," Rene sighed.

"Yeah, Commenor declared the Confederation should regroup and commit to the Empire. Rodan called for the Corellians, Hutts and Bothans to honour the old accords, ditto the Corporate Sector, Adumar and others. There was an uprising, and well, we kinda got the hell out of the way," Marcus said, whispering as the sound of clattering boots echoed behind them.

"Any chance you could rescue us?"

Given the investigation against her uncles just a few years ago, Julee was surprised that Commenor had declared for the Empire.

"Tib and I have a warrant against us from the Empire, because we were at Coruscant." But family was family. "Are you still at Commenor?"

We'll figure it out. She'd lost her home and her father today, she wasn't losing her uncles, too.

Tiberius simply nodded in agreement with Jules' plan may have gone out the door but when does it ever go right for us? he thought at her. Let's grab your uncles and find a safe spot. A family all together at least.

"Yup, still here," Marcus turned over their shoulder. "We couldn't get off-world before Rodan declared the Imperial Confederation."

"The Centrist Confederation," Rene corrected.

"Yeah, that," an eye-roll. "We're near the old hometown."

"The new-old hometown," corrected Rene again. They had rebuilt Pascale's place of birth after the Vong War burned it down. "We'll have to -"

There was a sudden surge of static.

Jamming?

"That's not good" Tiberius said shaking his head "Looks like your Uncles are stuck on Commenor. And now it's joined this New Order, it's not going to be a breeze to get through".

"I remember your dad telling stories about his old birthplace, before he left. Why would your Uncles head there?" Wasn't that where his and Rene's parents died?"

Julee nodded. "I don't know why they'd go there." She started to plot their course to Commenor.

Feyna appeared to be thinking. "When the Vong attacked Commenor, Pascale's father wanted to go take cover in a shelter?" Her tone was uncertain. "Maybe there's a bunker there where they could be hiding, but I honestly don't know."

Julee gave a shrug. "I guess we'll find out when we get there," she said, jumping the Fortuna back into hyperspace.

They arrived to a world governed by a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer.

Just the one, looking relatively battered, parts of its hull replaced with crimson replacements.

It was looming over a stream of ships, herding them with Commenori TIE Fighters - the old design, bereft of shields - and a few K-wings, of all things. Most attention seemed to be on ships running away, not towards…

Julee sped up toward the surface, trying to hurry but also not draw attention to them.

Feyna pulled up the coordinates for where the Rouser estate had once been--it was a starting point, at least.

"Here's hoping they keep focusing on the other ships," Julee muttered. Obviously that would make their escape more complicated, but they could worry about that after they found Rene and Marcus. To Tib she added, "Same deal as before, don't shoot unless they shoot first."

"Roger that" Tiberius responded, keeping the weapons powered down.

He tried not to look at Jules lest it break her concentration.

They were let through without issue, after all, who would be crazy enough to head into a newly Imperial world.

Scans of the estate would indeed reveal the bunker; but the sensors could not pierce it, for it was resistant to such things.

They'd have to land and check.

Julee frowned, hoping they weren't playing into a trap, but set the ship down in the landing area next to the estate. "We probably ought to take blasters, just in case," she said as she shut down the engines.

Tiberius rose from his seat "Let's hope we don't have to use them, but I bet we are gonna have to. There were sounds over the comm so my guess is someone is looking for them".

He gestured with a smile "Ladies first".

The door was sealed; from the inside, of course.

Which was a good sign in and of itself, no?

Julee warily approached the bunker door, blaster raised just in case. Feyna was behind Tiberius, watching their backs for any followers.

Julee tapped on the bunker door. "Uncle Rene? Uncle Marcus?"

Tiberius kept his blaster inside his jacket. He was useless at shooting if he was honest with himself.

"Hey guys! Only me, Julee and Feyna. Come on out of the hole, if you want to get out, best come now before Fortuna gets spotted".

"Plus I'm sure you'll want to catch up with other bits and pieces".

TAG: @Sinrebirth , @JediMasterAnne

 

IC: Bellorum, Dunkeel, & Joren - THE COMBO HOPES AGAIN!
Pointed words upon revelations

Bellorum looked at Dunkeel as knowledge flowed into her mind, now she understood why he was familiar.

After a moment of simply trying to digest it all, she suddenly flinched, “Ike,” Bell murmured now staring at Dunkeel. Anor had brutally killed Ike, twice. This was something she would demand answers for… another time.

“Joren?” She turned quickly to face him, “I don’t understand how… but I know so much… more. I feel like I owe it to you, and to Aryan, to stop Ananke. Her actions have caused so much pain for you.”

Suddenly she joined them.

Bell’s eyes narrowed, she knew her well because of the hell she’d put them through. This wretched woman was Qi’ra, and Bellorum knew it all, Including how she’d murdered Arek, Aryan’s son.

"Must we continue this bothersome facade?"

“Are you here to answer for your actions?” Bellorum asked.

Dunkeel breathed deep through flared nostrils, ready for confrontation! Only what came to him was understanding. Knowledge and unfettered, unfiltered knowledge from all his shadows except for Condemned. It was so much.


*WARNING - Depraved Rock Music Video containing Dathomiri-esp smoke shifting!

If ever there was a weakness between realities, they had to be in one. Huffing with the pain and the depth of it all he reached out mentally to the one he knew might make use of it in a way that his others might not if his faith was wrong and his destiny a misplacement of trust. This moment of calm had to be used as the words echoed between them as a woman made herself known to them. One, two, three, four - four had no clue of her, but one did. One knew that face.

"Qi'ra." he spoke as muddled sigh as he stood. Straight and tall. Eyes shifting as he sucked in the sickly taste of human flesh. "You are not a whole, are you the half? Or one of the missing?" The uncertainty edging his voice as he looked to the others. They all had such different point of views. They had all experienced so many different things from different places throughout so much of history in several realities. What did they know that he did not? What did he know that they did not?

As the flood of knowledge inundated his mind, Joren realized that he had been here before; in another place, another time. He had undergone a similar transformation as Aryan Graul when the Force had unlocked and gifted him with several nascent and diverging memories within himself. At the time, it had pushed him beyond the purview of basic human insight, allowing him to become transcendent and free. He had gained a fundamental understanding of himself and his heritage through that experience.

But this occurrence exceeded that by a wide margin. It was unlike anything he had ever witnessed before, and it nearly overwhelmed him with its potency. Joren savored the euphoric rush as he tried to process it all… but he knew that was an impossibility at this juncture. His knowledge was simply too great; he knew everything!

About himself and his different iterations scattered across the various realities.

About Tera, Bellorum, Dunkeel, and his other companions.

About the Master… and the multiverse itself.

Somewhere at the back of his mind, he heard Bell express awe over their awakening, and he couldn’t help but smile. They had come so far together, prompting him to instinctively squeeze Tera’s shoulder. They were one and the same, after all.

However, before Joren could convey his thoughts to her, Ananke materialized in her physical form and approached them as Qi’ra. Her smug countenance rekindled the old fire within his soul; the one that demanded restitution for her heinous crimes. She had savagely killed his son without provocation and manipulated him as her personal pawn. There was no forgiveness for such a heartless monster, and he did not hesitate to share those sentiments with the others through the Force.

The suffering he had endured was real, but instead of channeling his negative emotions—and potentially allowing Skelm to escape—he buckled down on his resolve and stood firm. He held his azure blade across his chest and beckoned to the Darkness.

"I see we caught your attention," Joren taunted with a thin smile, referring to their efforts to contain Ananke in her prison. While he couldn’t determine her strength by her physical attributes alone, he suspected that they had done their part in weakening her. As he stepped forward to join the others, he felt a thrill of satisfaction over that notion.

'Aim to distract while Braata attempts to finish the task; we need to lock her away.'

His words carried across the meld they had forged as Protectors, even as he moved to engage.

"Shall we?"

"I heard that," Qi'ra said lightly, to Joren. "I am apart of Braata, after all."

She rolled her lightsaber around her wrist. "I'm as much a Darkness as any you've faced," the words were wry. "Was not Ananke my Sith name? Or Syren?" The woman regarded Dunkeel with amusement.

"But come on, Bell," she licked her lips. "This body is mere memory, but here, I am much stronger than I would be elsewhere."

She burst forward, appearing behind Joren with her unnatural pace, in this unnatural place -

Bellorum stared at Qi’ra a moment before she spoke to Joren, “I believe my being here is putting you and Tera at risk, take her and go, please?” She squeezed his arm for emphasis, “she’ll only try and use us against each other, and you must protect your wife.”

She stepped between Joren and Qi’ra and addressed this woman who was apparently now her nemesis, “leave them out of this. Isn’t it between us?” Bell slowly stepped closer as she asked her questions.

“Must you feed your ego by causing pain to innocents?” She shook her head slowly and continued to try and get the woman to focus on her, “that’s so unlike the Syren I knew, she wasn’t a coward.”

Joren let Dunkeel know, let them all know, that this one was beyond redemption. Bellorum now stepped forward and the confrontation was begun. Dunkeel backed away slightly moving towards Joren in an effort for them to somehow come up with a plan without letting the Darkness know what they were planning. It was a long stretch, but with his new memories he could think of a few ways to do this. Unfortunately he was not sure if Joren knew any of the methods he did as Soliloquy and Joren's alternate universe vessel didn't exactly spend any time together in any capacity whatsoever since the man had gotten access to the Force. Thinking of a likely method Dunkeel made sure to turn his snout so only Joren should be able to see the one eye before blinking out in Mon Calamari blink code - Plan?

As Joren canted his head toward the Chistori, his mind conformed to the strange method of communication. It was unlike anything he had encountered before on his travels, and he was astonished to discover that he could comprehend it as if it had always been a part of him. He attributed that to the knowledge the Force had bestowed upon them, solidifying their bond and bringing them closer in mind and spirit. It opened so many pathways, and it left him… wondering...

Even as Ananke boasted of her powers and Bellorum urged him to flee with Tera, Joren remained reticent as he pondered the information available to him; the options were endless. And yet, only one stood out from the rest. The Darkness had mentioned how this realm served as a conduit to augment her power and maintain her astral form. If they could separate her from Mortis, they may stand a chance of defeating her.

In addition, it may also provide a way out for all of them.

As if on cue, he saw glimpses of memory within his mind’s eye, depicting himself alongside a gaggle of Sith on this self-same plane; a great battle against a vengeful God and a Key that opened a portal to a different existence… a means of escape from the End of Time. There was also another man, his son, who had crossed over into a different realm by wielding the same Key. He remembered it all too well; the boy had sabotaged the Eternal Tech on Coruscant to slip from his grasp. Joren now understood how he had achieved such a feat.

If he could replicate that ritual…

Follow my lead, Joren conveyed through the blink code Dunkeel had introduced to him. He then pushed forward, seeming to react to Bellorum’s instruction as he held Tera close at his side. In truth, he hoped that Bell’s taunting would provide an adequate distraction from what he was about to do.

Inhaling sharply, he staggered to the Well of the Dark Side and stood at the precipice. It was a monument of sorts, the same feature he had observed in his memories as Aryan Graul. He had been here before, and he had reason to believe that this nexus would serve as a gateway… similar to the one on Mustafar, Coruscant… Korriban, Tython…

The list carried on, but there was no time to consider the other locations. Joren shrugged the Scepter of Sistros from his back and held it with the statuette angled toward the roiling sky above; the sharp end pointed down.

With a nod to both Dunkeel and Bellorum, he raised his defenses to protect himself from the Dark before plunging the Scepter downwards.

The scepter drove into the floor, poised to open the way, but which way, and the Darkness writhed above, watching -

Whether Bellorum and Dunkeel contributed would decide much -

Anger boiled over in Bellorum. She knew the entire truth from all of their combined memories, and she wanted blood. She wanted to make this thing pay for what it had done.

Pitiful Qi’ra had put Aryan through hell when she used him like a piece on her personal dejarik board. She manipulated the truth in her evil game so that Aryan was blamed for the destruction of Alderaan, and the deaths of countless innocents. She murdered Arek, and for what? She has nothing but her own wretched existence.

Bellorum had certainly killed and used others for her own gains. Did that make Bell any better than Qi’ra or Syren? The fact she had manipulated and taken what she wanted, all as she shamelessly cut down anyone in her path? It did not, but she had not haunted anyone through their bloodline like a tainted leech.

This grotesque amalgamation of evil women must be stopped, and Bellorum would do anything it takes to protect her family… anything.

“You’re pathetic,” Bell scoffed and turned her back on Qi’ra, “I stand with my family… that’s something you will never have.”

She walked over to Joren and Dunkeel, and she placed her hand over Joren’s on the solid metal of the scepter.

Dunkeel tilted his head slightly askance as he kept his guard up towards this darkness, even as he backed away with the other two Protectors. Reaching back with a glance he grabbed onto the staff and let his own balance seep into the power behind whatever ritual Joren was attempting. "She has the family. Family of one." He stated with a demeaning gaze at this haughty human appearing darkness that had no real flesh to sate his hunger.

Hissing with a guttural clicking noise he waited. Waited to see what the plan was that could not be shared or else it would be shared. Soon he would see, soon the fates would be altered in the balance of this meeting and their assigned fates.

TAG: @Lady Belligerent , @HanSolo29 , @Sinrebirth

 

OOC: Combo 1

IC: William Aima

The old man gasped for breath as he was pulled from the force vision... no, no, no... why did it have to keep going on like this. Sheer, painful anguish rose up within the man. The kind that was almost too much to bear, a kind of pain that was indescribable to any that had not experienced it. He had mourned the loss of his son for years, only for him to be resurrected over and over his death played out over decades. It was evil, true, utter evil.

With a breath he did the best he could to follow after Poe and Finn, he was not going to allow himself to slow them down. He had to see this through.

They dropped the ramp, but a voice that sounded as above them.

"So whose the new guy?"

Poe looked up, smiled his broadest (and most flirtatious) grin. "Zorii!"

She was sitting atop their ship, leg folded. "Yeah, yeah, keep it toned down, fly-boy." He words were blunt, but the tone good-natured.

"This is William Aima, one of the New Jedi," Finn answered, cautiously. Poe and Zorii had history, from back when they had been together on Kijimi - a world destroyed almost fifteen years ago now. "We're looking for Rey."

"You're always looking for Rey," Zorii said, drily. "Or something Sith."

She tilted her helmeted chin. "You alright there, oldtimer?"

"Yeah... y-yeah I'm fine," he said not so convincingly as he looked toward Finn. His comrades did not need to know what William had felt, not yet. Their focus was Rey, as it should be... dividing their attention for his sake would be unhelpful, for them and for himself.

"I take it we are not going to have to battle our way through this ship then?" he spoke with half a smile. Glad that they knew who these people were.

"I'd rather you didn't," she said drily, hopping down. A hand was held out. "Zorii Bliss, late of the Spicerunners of Kijimi. Sorry that you're being dragged around by this crowd."

"Hey!" Poe said.

Chewbacca chuckled.

William gave a chuckle too, the lightness of the mood giving him a brief reprieve from his harrowing reality.

"They are not all bad. Reckless? Irresponsible? Jumping from one point to the next with a constant state of randomness to it? Well, that just makes them endearing,"

He spoke with another laugh, the way William carried himself he gave off the sense that he was absolutely no better than them when he was their age.

"So we've an in on the supply chain to Coruscant. Ultimate destination unknown, but because the planets not entirely... secure, they're wanting us to rendezvous aboard the flagship, and they'll divert us to shipyards and what not." Zorii shrugged. "I do have legitimate cargo, so I'm going to be following everything to the end - whatever new fleet they're building - but you guys should be able to dress up as port workers, right?"

Her tone was amused.

Undoubtedly because one of her crew held up uniforms.

William gave a nod as he went over the basic plan in his head again.

"Yes doesn't sound like a problem," no one thought twice that much of an old man. Disguises were easier now, he was not sure how he felt about that.

TAG: @Sinrebirth

---

OOC: Combo 2

IC: Vicrul

The darkness around Vicrul shimmered as he slowly stepped onto the exit ramp of his ship. His boots echoed as they struck the metal. His masked, ghost-like form. His form looked to the twelve children there. His mind was focused, unified in this moment as the Dark Saber hummed into life, a beskad held in his opposite hand.

He stood before them, his blades gripped tightly, the idle second of peace lay there hanging and then....

Within an instant, his blades swiveled round ready to cleave each of the children in two.

A Force push slammed into his side with enough strength to send him tumbling if not anticipated, and Temiri leapt around Vicrul's ship, pursuing the man, a blue lightsaber blade igniting.

Vicrul's heightened presence brought about a Force wave to engulf the initial attack. His head turned, his swift, superhuman movements darting as he brought the Dark Saber and his beskad in a dual powerful strike to overwhelm his foe.

The Jedi was relatively young, his late twenties, and his eyes beetled. The beskad was a heavier weapon than the Darksaber (in theory), so he opted to pivot, pushing the beskad into the Darksaber rather than take it head-on -

The towering hulking frame that was Vicrul was caught off guard that this Jedi who was essentially a child was able to counteract his sheer, murderous strength. The rage bellowed within him as he twisted the beskad to try and hook it on the opposite side of the saber and pull himself closer, or if this child was truly pathetic rip it out of his hands. At the same time, the Dark Saber would move in a plunge towards the man's stomach.

The lightsaber went flying, but the moment he felt his grip loosen, Temiri was already leaping back. Not quick enough - the tip of the blade drove into his blade but the Jedi was already removing himself from it. He landed, pained, but the damage was debilitating, not fatal. His hand gestured out to return his blade to him, but it wasn't quick enough -

The children cried out, and a half a dozen clawing mental hands tried to seize at Vicrul Ren -

Vicrul could feel the clawing... but the children would just feel the infinite well of madness, confusion, and incongruences that formed Vicrul's being. It would take far more than that to even momentarily phase the man. And so Vicrul pushed further, to pierce the heart of his foe.

Temiri's brief success in fighting back had been evident; he'd used all his power upfront, and it didn't compare.

His mental handling, though more precise, was weakened, exhausted; the blade pierced his chest in the center, the sum total of his success being to still be stabbed.

He dropped to the floor.

The children cried out -

Vicrul stepped over the collapsed man, his great metallic boot coming up as he slammed it down on the man's face. Over and over again, the horrendous crunch resonated in the air. The ghostly white eyes of his mask then moved to the children.

Death.

That was their reward.

TAG: @Sinrebirth