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

Star Wars STAR WARS: The Road to the Final Episode

Discussion in 'Role Playing Forum' started by Sinrebirth , Apr 27, 2022.

  1. darthbernael

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

    Registered:
    Apr 15, 2019
    IC Lord Sabel, fun combo with Sinrebirth
    Admiral’s Cabin, Megarea, O’Reen

    The blur of hyper resolved into the O’reen system. He’d come in at a distance, in a deeper part of the system, as a task force suddenly arriving tended to worry most planets. On the bridge, Sabel turned from the viewscreen to peer into the holo display of the system.

    As he turned red lights and claxons sounded, the display suddenly filling even more. Enhancing it, he saw that a mine field surrounded the planet and it had suddenly been activated. Peering closer he shook his head, zhe had jumped in by the planet and had found zherself in trouble. Glancing at the Megarea’s captain, ”Battle stations, deploy the fighters in a defensive screen. Take us in. And,” he gestured at the two missiles, ”shoot those down.”

    Walking over to the comm section he sent a tight beam message to Eleodie’s ship, ”Enroute, Eleodie, two minutes.”

    The comms were a welcome update, and Eleodie spoke up. "Thanks for the save, uncle. But I assumed you had a deal with your choice of rendezvous." Muttering zhe wondered. "Would have been better off with the Vong."

    Reorienting her ship, zhe saw the Megarea deploy fighter craft, but she didn't have a high-spec sensor suite to identify the particulars. Probably Imperial designs, after all, maybe some clawcraft. Turbolaser fire took out mines, and then there was a scream from zher sensors.

    Glancing down, zhe barely had time to dodge before a mammoth bolt of energy shot out, slamming into the Megarea. An officer shouted out as the prow of the Destroyer took the blow, and lights flickered as far away as the bridge itself. "Ion cannon! We've lost contact with the forward sections!"

    Scans revealed its location, and also that the planet had shut the planetary shield back up. Distantly, a Golan IV battle station was coming around the planet, a hulking defensive platform that could give a Star Destroyer a run for its money.

    Another ion cannon bolt was in-coming.

    ”Evasive maneuvers, power to the shields and weapons.” Sabel stated in a calm, commanding tone. He glanced at the display with a sudden tight smile, Vergence target the Golan, ensure your shot does not impact the planet, we may want it later.” he instructed the modified Onager.

    Turning his attention to the oncoming bolt his red eyes suddenly glowed brightly as he touched the Force. His power leapt to his bidding, even as he began to feel a little weary with what he was using, pushing the Megarea away from the oncoming shot from the ion cannon.

    The Vergence oriented towards the Golan as it turned, which began firing long-range turbolasers; top-of-the-line weapons that really had no business being in the possession of an isolated world in the Unknowns. The Vergence began to take it even as it brought up its main gun.

    The Megarea moved about as evasively and swiftly as Star Destroyer would be expected to, but the Force nudge assisted, and the next ion cannon shot didn't reach them -

    A comms officer announced that it had impacted their fighter screen, and seven ships had just gone offline.

    There was a grumble in the Force; the crew were displeased that comrades had died for... what? The information was mostly need-to-know, after all.

    The mood was barely pierced when an officer spoke up. "The target has reached our hangar, sir." He had a hand on his headphones. "Zhe is swearing up a storm on the comms, though."

    The Vergence fired, and the planetary weapon transformed the Golan into trash.

    Sky trash.

    But all of a sudden several hundred mine rockets activated and began surging forward at high speed.

    Someone swore on the bridge.

    Sabel shook his head, turning to face the bridge. ”Calmly people, calmly. We’ve trained for this for decades. Losses are unfortunate but,” He nodded to the officer who had mentioned the ship was aboard. ”Have the remaining fighter screen launch on the rockets. Then back on board. Prepare to jump.”

    He turned back to the viewscreen, a slight frown on his face. ”Things are turning dark indeed, that a little world like this that can mount such weapons.” he muttered.

    Turning back, ”Sevetus,” one of the silent and statuesque Red Guard stepped forward, ”bring our guest to my office.”

    An armored hand pressed to the Guard’s chest before she set off to the hangar.

    Sabel chuckled, wondering how this Eleodie would react to his Guard. He stepped forward, ”Turbolaser batteries on full, sweep the skies of those rockets the fighters do not destroy. We need two minutes to get them back aboard and then we jump.”

    The fighters began to take hits from the mines even as they took them out, and the turbolaser crews carefully picked off those that made it past the screen - though the fighters were decimated, and it took half a minute to get everyone aboard -

    As Eleodie arrived at Sabel's office, glowering at the Guard. Zhe didn't like masked men.

    As soon as the remaining fighters cleared the hangar and it was secure enough to jump, Sabel ordered the task force to jump out of the system. His head turned like a swivel as he heard what sounded like one of the fighter command officers retching by the station. His red eyes flared, ”Get yourself under control or get off the bridge.” he stated flatly as he strode off the bridge.

    It took only a minute to reach his office, the door shutting behind him before he let out a chuckle at seeing Eleodie’s expression. His expression returned to the neutral state that it normally held as he walked over behind his desk. Gesturing at the seats on the other side of his desk, he waited for zher to sit before he did. Standing, one hand on his chair he could see zhe certainly had a mix of Eleodie Sr’s and Chiss ancestry in zher, ”I saw the sour look you directed at Sevetus, tell me, is it because you assume they are male or just because they have a helmet on?”

    He reached up to stroke his chin in thought, ”If it is the first I must admit a slight surprise as I am almost certain of your full parentage and if that is the case you should be able to sense the being beneath the armor.” With a wave of his hand, ”Nevermind, trivialities. I am, however, disturbed that that system managed to become so heavily armed, under both our noses.”

    "Helmet, uncle. I dislike not being able to see their eyes." Eleodie knit zher brow. "And our senses are not for public discourse..."

    Ah. So zhe was aware?

    Eleodie shrugged. "We've been busy with other things. The Galactic War rages in earnest, the First Order reunified as a Galactic Empire beneath an Emperor and his Council of Grand Admiral's and Grand Moff's." Zhe was still in the know, but it wasn't as if a little backwater would come to their attention. "So do we tell our people to avoid the system, or do we crack that nut before it becomes a problem to our rear?"

    Sabel chuckled at the helmet comment but then his expression grew serious at her question. He glanced at Sevetus, ”My Red Guards are completely loyal. Especially as your predecessor has been used to almost destroy me before, or something wearing zher form and speech patterns.”

    He gestured again at the seats, as he sat in his own, glancing up at her. ”This is but a task force of my forces. There are others available and such a heavily armored minor system cannot be left unattended or our foes will have a larger beachhead in our area.”

    Touching a stud on his desk he brought up a holomap of the area. ”What do you have available to assist, daugh…Eliodie?” he asked almost absently, as he brought up a list of a portion of his available assets beside the map.

    Eleodie smiled, ignoring the faux pas. “Nothing.”

    “Nothing whatsoever.”

    A widening of her grin. “Just our irresistible charm.”

    Snorting, Sabel shook his head. ”At least now I know what is available.” he said in a wry tone.

    Pulling up the current fleet dispositions, he frowned slightly. ”It appears it is time to put those revamped assets I seized when the Empire of the Hand collapsed to use. The Vergeance is the only Onager close enough by. Besides…” he chuckled lightly, ”I’d rather have the planet intact when we are finished.”

    Tapping out a quick order, he had a flimsy printed out. Glancing up at Sevetus, ”Take this to the comms officer to Order Task Groups 3, 4, and 9 to join us at the rendezvous.” She nodded, taking the flimsy, departing the office.

    Sitting back, steepling his fingers before him, Sabel observed Eleodie, ”You may need that charm, your parent had it in spades. But the flank must be secure before we take on other objectives. So, what exactly is left of your Pirate Nation?”

    “You mean our progenitor’s pirate Empire,” zhe corrected. “The Misrule has been absent for some time, but we did capture three Imperial II Star Destroyers after Jakku…” zhe was referencing damaged ships from decades ago. “We’re sure the Grysk didn’t get them all.” A charming smile. “But perhaps we should focus upon what you have for the moment.”

    “No Imperial High Lords around to come to your aid, perhaps?” So zhe knew all about his old alliance with Sith.

    One long fingered hand reached up to pinch the bridge of Sabel’s nose. A slight sigh escaped him, of course zhe’d come to him for aid with that little in the way of resources at zher disposal. His eyes flared slightly at zher question, hands moving again until his palms were on his desk.

    Snorting slightly, ”You have excellent intelligence sources to know that. But not so excellent that you do not know the deal I struck.”

    Sitting back again in his chair he let it rock slightly, humor touching his red eyes for a moment, ”Even without them controlling a large portion of the galaxy, which they do not seem to have anymore, they will take poorly to me violating the deal when I, or we, make incursions into Known Space. So,” the chair creaked as he sat upright, ”We may very well end up fighting a two front war if they will not recognize us as assisting.”

    “Eh,” zhe said with a shrug. “Caedus, Vol, Palpatine, Snoke. It’s all the same to us. Whichever ones you made a deal with,” a gesture to zherself. “Eleodie didn’t.”

    “But three destroyers would be a decent distraction, no? Your Onagers are distinctive… should we trick them with an Imperial envoy? We have no doubt they’ll know the Empire is back…” zhe smirked. “We might capture more than we destroy that way.”

    ”Three? I do have the uniforms of an Imperial envoy, she didn’t need them when I was done stripping her mind of any valuable information. So, Congratulations, Envoy Eleodie, you’re going to be putting that charm to good use.” a touch of humor colored his tone as he spoke.

    Glancing at the plot on his desk, ”Three…no, an Envoy deserves an escort, and I believe…” the blur of hyper resolved into a starscape, no planet closeby, the other’s of the Task Group appearing outside the viewport. At the same time ship after ship appeared as they decanted from hyper in front of their ship, an even dozen of former Hand SDs and their escorts, crewed by his people, ”...an entire Fleet feels right to back my Envoy.” he said with a flat smile, no humor in the red of his eyes.

    “Because that’s not going to be suspicious,” zhe said, drily. “To be honest…” Zher eyes twinkled mischievously. “But we heard that a certain Chiss Grand Admiral is back. Why don’t we both turn up?”

    A smirk. “I’m sure you can be a decent Thrawn.”

    Sabel snorted even as his eyes flared slightly. ”That should prove interesting when reports of that get back to him.”] he mused.

    Standing, he walked over to the viewport for a moment, one long fingered hand brushing the clear case that held a pair of lightsaber hilts. ”I am certain I have a uniform available to pull it off, after all I once was an Imperial Admiral as well…”

    Turning back to face zher, ”Let us prepare for this charade and if they do not buy it there will be a smoking, expanding sphere of rubble where the planet once was.”

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
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  2. darthbernael

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

    Registered:
    Apr 15, 2019
    OOC: Double post approved, Intrigue with Sinrebirth and greyjedi125

    IC: Xundel
    Jakku

    Energy reached out, wrapping around Xundel enveloping him. He did not even have a chance to think before his back arched, his eyes filling with swirls of grey, and the Balance rose fully to the surface, touching the power itself, its own recognizing a touch of itself in the chaotic energy of the place. Xundel’s head shook, a low tone in his voice, ”The end is approaching and all must pay the price demanded, demons, mortals, and gods alike.”

    His eyes looked around, ”Little accuser, one who ignored my own warnings and did what I told you would cause all that chaos, are you accompanying me below?” he asked.

    Ravijari didn't answer, he merely steered the ship down, towards the obvious anomaly that was within Xundel's mind's eye. They were at an impasse, clearly.

    Xundel’s body snorted softly, Ravijari assumed too many things but that was what the spirit felt. As the ship descended, he could feel the beings below, from the general feeling of the various beings just being there until he could sense individuals. One in particular stood out to the being who had simply stepped into Xundel’s place in the shared body. It could feel the confusion, the way the being had gotten there was not natural, that whatever was down there had brought that one here.

    Reaching out, in a voice he hadn’t heard or seen in eons, he attempted to touch that being’s mind. ’I do not know if you recall he whose voice this is, zabrak, but an…old…friend is approaching.’

    All that he knew became both chaos and order, darkness and light, the past and the future. Never before had he experienced such an event, one that tore both at his body and his conscious mind. A myriad lifetimes he would experience in the blink of an eye, the countless possibilities that were, and would never be. the Zabrak Sith Lord called Manticore had become simply an identity, a point of focus he needed to hold onto, or forever be lost. Pain and pleasure beyond measure, knowledge and barbarism beyond remembering. Truth, deceptions, loyalty, betrayals. What was the meaning of sanity, or what use was such a fragile thing, in the face of that which was nigh infinite.

    There seemed to be no end to madness, or so it did seem, when the roar of encroaching insanity was inexplicably silenced.

    Manticore felt himself ripping through something he could not describe, or was it ripping through him? he could no longer tell. His body, or whatever passed for his corporeal form, reacted to the feel of gravity all on its own- for his senses were still entirely out of sorts. The zabrak felt himself hit the floor, not sure whether he stood, crouched or lay in a heap. At the moment, he didn’t much care. He felt his whole being tremble, his mind fray to its very limits- vulnerable beyond any moment in his recollection.

    The zabrak was drenched in sweat as he crouched on the floor, snarling to himself, shaking his head constantly, as he attempted to force himself to focus.

    Kardis stood near the portal, impassively witnessing these events. She’d spare a glance towards the only other being in the chamber, besides the recently arrived zabrak: Maz Kanata. Her senses did tingle, with the feeling that others yet to be revealed, might also be watching.

    As for Manticore, an anchoring line had been cast his way, that by a voice which resounded clearly through the deafening noise within his mind.

    An old friend was approaching, and the truth of it was salvation from internal oblivion.

    A sigh escaped Xundel’s lips as contact was made. He could feel the zabrak below now, that that being had recognized what had been said and was awaiting him. The corners of his mouth turned up in a slight smile, knowing that what the zabrak would see probably was not what he expected but their encounters across the eons had shown Manticore that there were many beings that ‘he’d’ been a part of.

    The Tho Yor descended toward the surface and, as it did, the ‘skin’ of the Celestial craft pulled away from Xundel’s ship. It was still connected, or rather it felt as though a piece of the Tho Yor was remaining with his ship. A soft snort escaped Xundel’s lips at that, as much as Ravijari was of two minds about him he still knew he was that being’s best chance to free himself from the yoke he was under.

    Reaching out his mind once more, ’I am headed to the surface now. You ‘feel’ not on the surface so I will approach as close as possible.’ he sent, then chuckled as he slowly pulled back his aura and power so that what remained was more of a tight beam between himself and Manticore, unsure how any others would react to what he was.

    The flight down he relayed how close he was and what the surface looked like, once the viewscreen was clear. Finally, when the Tho Yor came to a hover he felt a sensation of release and his now hybrid craft, the essence of the Tho Yor still clinging to it, began the last descent to the surface.

    Picking up his cane, Xundel stumped toward the hatch of the craft, swirling grey eyes seemingly filled with amusement. It had been too long since he’d been so actively taking part in events but, the tip of the cane made a hard sound as he came to a halt before the hatch, ’This time…holding back isn’t an option, the First Darkness has emerged.’ he thought.

    Reaching out to Ravijari, ’I believe the one below, perhaps the others too, can assist me in what is needed to free you, just know the First Darkness is loose, it is he who had control of the device that has you in virtual chains. But I will do my all to free you.’

    The hatch opened and he stumped down it, making his way across the littered dunes, until he found himself before a bunker, the doors seemingly sealed tightly. ’It seems you are in some sort of bunker, old friend. I do not see a mechanism to open it so you may need to come to me.’ sending the thought to Manticore below.

    Inside the bunker, Manticore was still in a crouched position, his sweat drenched him and pooled around the floor below him, his jaws were tight, teeth bared and clenched. The voice, his only anchor thus far.

    He had sensed the two figures near him, just barely. They meant him no harm, at least for the moment. The zabrak rasped at them as was his wont. "Where?" He hissed without looking at them. "When?" He added.

    Kardis looked to Maz to answer, as she herself had just arrived no so long ago, and did wonder the same things- though less earnestly as she had planned to depart. Now she was not so certain if she would or not. Her curiosity had been peaked.

    Manticore then pointed to the side and behind him, his arm jutting out tremulously.

    "There. Open...." he said, pointing towards where he felt a 'familiar' presence just beyond the perimeter.

    Maz gestured behind them; the way they had come. “Someone is definitely coming. This is Jakku, at the edge of an Imperial-era bunker… we’re, what, fifteen years since Palpatine died on Exegol.”

    “Forty five years since he died on Onderon.” Maz began thinking aloud.

    “Nearly sixty since he died at Endor?”

    The Gate had swallowed the rest… and the way wasn’t all that far back to the surface. But there was a definite resonance forming beneath them… deeper into the planet.

    She gestured a hand, and the way between them and Xundel unveiled, Imperial era mechanisms activating from the inside.

    Maz adjusted her lens to regard the newcomer… a green-grey thing, like Yoda, Kralkus, Grogu and Yaddle

    A grinding sound came from the door of the bunker, as Xundel leaned on the handle of his cane. The swirling grey of his eyes seemed amused as he watched the door open slowly, revealing a dark area beyond, the shapes of beings dotting it. Beyond them he could sense something building, a power, which made him sigh, ”It’s never easy, is it…?” he said to himself in a voice that hadn’t been heard aloud in millennia.

    His shorter form straightened, cane beginning to tap as he walked into the bunker, stopping along the track of the open door. Using the Force to make his voice carry, ”On your feet Akuma-Oni, or should I say Manticore. Get up, there’s work to be done.”

    Raising his cane he pointed it in the general direction of the others there, ”Oh, and who are your friends? I came here for you and…other reasons, but if they can help then they can come along.” his tone didn’t sound convinced but there were very few beings that who Xundel was at the moment actually trusted.

    Somewhere behind him, the bunker doors opened, letting in a waft of recognizable reality. Dry arid air and dust were elements he recognized, elements that further helped to anchor him in the present. Then, there was the voice, beckoning him- calling him out in the moment- saying: there is ‘no room for weakness’.

    Manticore responded immediately, groaning as he rose to his full height, drawing as ever, from the inextinguishable furnace that burned deep inside of him. The Zabrak Sith Lord seemed to unfurl from his crouching position, spurred by an inner fury. A short burst of flames issued from his nostrils as he did so.

    Kardis raised an eyebrow, intrigued. She eyed the spot where the gate had been. Pity. Then after a moment, turned to face the newcomers.

    By now, Manticore had also turned. His mind, ‘calming’, his fiery gaze ‘returning’.

    The diminutive form he did not recognize, but the voice and the accompanying presence, those he could never forget.

    “Brother…..” was the only word he managed to rasp.

    Maz folded her arms. “Step siblings, surely?” She adjusted her optics again. “You seem to be of the same extended family as madam Abeloth. You just missed her shadow.”

    A gesture to the circular scorch marks left down the corridor. “A few loose ends went through a gate. Kaminoan’s, a group of universe hopping archaeologists, a blonde with an inflated opinion of himself…”

    “So what cosmic unlikeliness bought you here? And what does it have to do with the darkness in the depths…”

    Nothing, answered Ravijari in Xundel’s head. The Coordinate is calling for the rest of itself; the key to the Celestial Covenant.

    Xundel snorted as he stood there. ”Abeloth? That child?” he peered more closely at Maz, ”Your eyes are keen but not perfect.”

    At Ravijari’s response he shook his head, long ears waving as he did. ’Then we must make haste, or your freedom will be lost.’

    Glancing at the group and nodding at Manticore, ”I have a ship so you can leave this place but I’d recommend hurrying, the window of time to do what I must here is narrowing and I will depart whether it is successful or not.”

    Further, to Manticore, ”And we will speak, privately, soon, Brother. It has been too long.”

    “Extended family,” Maz repeated. “I’m not running, and Mr Zabrak, I assume you want to know who has been messing with all of our lives?”

    She turned to head down in the darkest depths of Jakku.

    Manticore rolled his shoulders as he growled in a low tone.

    "A hunt." He stated bluntly, sounding very much like himself.

    "Then let's not tarry here."

    Whatever this place was, or had been, it no longer serviced the zabrak, who but with a few strides, placed himself next to the diminutive figure of Xundel. His actions declared his choice. To Maz he did answer. "I do." But he would not be staying for her to regale him with her tale.

    "I have some time to spare." Kardis interjected, her words and meaning aimed at Maz. Her silvery eyes studied the males who were now poised to depart, before she too turned and strode after the Pirate Queen.

    TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @greyjedi125
     
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  3. HanSolo29

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

    Registered:
    Apr 13, 2001
    IC: Han Solo
    The End of Time – Redux

    [​IMG]

    The desolate landscape was the first thing Han became aware of when he awoke from his unconscious state. It was the same as before… except for minor differences to indicate the passage of time. For example, the sky appeared more ashen with a red hue lining the horizon, seemingly on the edge of twilight. It might’ve been appealing…

    … if not for the corpse sprawled on the ground beside him.

    With an audible curse, Han scrambled to his knees and shuffled away from the offending carcass. While he didn’t recognize the face of the young man, that didn’t exactly provide any comfort either. He had still lapsed, allowing events to transpire beyond his understanding.

    Han hated that; he hated being unaware.

    What happened to Jacen? Had their plan worked?

    He remembered firing the single shot to end his son’s misery, but then everything had gone black before receiving any results…

    Was he still supposed to fly out to the Hapes Cluster to protect his granddaughter?

    What was her name…?

    Al or Anna—

    Allana.

    That revelation gave him some relief; his mind wasn’t completely fried. Unfortunately, that didn’t help him identify the others who surrounded him. He only noticed them now, a human male, a Chiss woman, and some reptilian creature that reminded him of a… Chistori?

    An incredulous smirk turned up one corner of his mouth. Maybe he was dreaming. None of this seemed to make sense to him. Had he eaten something bad to cause these vivid hallucinations? The quality of the processed food provided in the automated dispenser units could never be trusted. And considering the lack of maintenance on the Falcon, they had probably expired long ago. He also felt a hollow feeling in his chest and stomach; it wasn't quite nausea, but he suspected it was also linked to his poor diet.

    However, before Han could recall what it was he had consumed the night before, another presence emerged from the shadows and began to spout nonsense. With a patch concealing one eye, he sat upon a makeshift throne with an air of superiority. He obviously believed he held more sway in this game than his physical appearance implied. That wasn’t surprising, though. Han was accustomed to dealing with these pompous twerps who could never resist their narcissistic tendencies. It was tiring… and sad.

    And in this case, he wasn’t in the mood to indulge the man.

    Rising to his feet, Han adopted a casual stance as he shifted his weight toward his right leg and reached slowly for the blaster at his thigh. "Not now, pal," he drawled in a lazy tone, a hint of a scowl evident on his features. "I about had enough of the melodramatic villain act. Give it a rest."

    True to form, he raised the blaster in one fluid motion and discharged the trigger, aiming for the man’s head.

    It was always best to shoot first and ask questions later.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth; @Lady_Belligerent; @Mitth_Fisto
     
  4. Sinrebirth

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

    Registered:
    Nov 15, 2004
    IC: Arb, or, the New First
    Shot

    The bolt took him in the head, and Arb smiled at Han. “Now, now. Your job was to free Caedus, let’s not get ahead yourself.”

    The hole in his forehead knit itself, and he regarded the other three on the floor, wounded - Bellorum, Joren, Dunkeel - a flutter of his fingers, and Han would feel several of his bones break and him collapse.

    “I am the First Darkness now, come now. I shall rule in complete malevolence.” A smirk, and regarded the world that they stood upon. “Let’s play, shall we? This world you know - or knew - millennia in the future, at the End.” A snap of a finger. The miasma surrounding them parted to reveal the sands of Jakku.

    Ancient detritus of a dozen battles were evident - Imperial Star Destroyers, a colossal Super Star Destroyer, a First Order Resurgent, a Sith Dragon, a Pellaeon-class… Mon Calamari cruiser designs that covered a century and more.

    “The Legacy of Darkness. My Darkness.”

    He turned to indicate, jutting out of the sand, some four statues. They were golden, but not designed akin to the ones they were accustomed to. Not Sistros, Braata, Yanjon and Faya.

    No, these statues were entirely different.

    [​IMG]

    “Your vessels became known as Sith Statues, because Emperor Palpatine wished to have you. He collected you - Vydra too, though that one is now lost to the Between of the World Between Worlds. Fallen, lost to time.” A chuckle. “Can you imagine it? Darth Sidious himself sat in meditation with you. Possibly he touched your golden skin.”

    A shudder. “All I ask is that you each serve me. As my Sages. We shall advise the galaxies’ broken civilisations on the true philosophy of the galaxy. We shall restart and rule… together.”

    “The alternative…” Arb lazily indicated Han Solo. Not dead, but pained.

    “Didn’t you, Joren, have aspirations to become? I know your descendant, Aryan, was promised rule of the galaxy, once, by someone unable to deliver.” Arb sneered. “I can.”

    “Bellorum, don’t you want to build a family? A new one? Once lost, twice, third times… but there was always a Family of Ones beneath the Maker and the Father of Shadows… I can give you the power that no-one, save for me, of course, can take that from you.”

    He turned his head to Dunkeel. “And what of you? You are the font of so many selves and species. You defend the little man; the nonhuman… why not embrace the power to do just that?”

    TAG: @Lady_Belligerent, @HanSolo29, @Mitth_Fisto (singles)
    —-
    Years before, Jakku

    The Gate was long gone, whatever it was. The Force crackled with anticipation, but what it was, none of them could say. Manticore, Maz, Xundel - each would have their thoughts, no doubt. But soon enough they had entered a chamber of a chamber.

    And it glistened.

    Unearthed depths were evident - deeper than even the Empire had dug. And revealed was a great and immense Kyber Crystal - a mountain, perhaps. It was dormant, silent, even…

    But then it screamed, and voices, disembodied, explained.

    [​IMG]

    It bled red.

    Someone had bled an entire mountain of Kyber.

    To describe the stabbing pain as a white agony was an understatement.

    A chuckle.

    Dark, cruel.

    An image of shadow.

    Shadow with golden robes.

    And then black.

    Snoke.

    “Did you think I would leave my secret undefended? That a simple Gate would be all I left? Even if a Gate to realms untold?”

    He glowered at them.

    The stabbing.

    It went into their very souls.

    Snoke prattled on.

    [​IMG]

    It was he who had bled this Kyber mountain, and bound it to him…

    I’m sorry, said Ravijari...

    TAG: @darthbernael, @greyjedi125 (combo)
    —-
    IC: Ike

    The World Between Worlds

    It didn’t take all that long to find portals.

    It took longer to find the one they wanted.

    Ike was silent for the moment, and he didn’t respond to any query from Cocytus… and Alecto was silent anyway, nursing wounds, physical and to her pride. With a sigh, Ike recognised where they needed to go.

    It was a simple Portal, circular and round like the rest, above it a complex set of symbols. But it was clearly an image of a kind of ship. It started out like a TIE fighter, but had an elongated nose. When Ike peered through, he saw the mirrors of a pair of speakers - a Bith and a Muun.

    [​IMG]

    They reeked with the dark side.

    Ike pursed his lips.

    “I recognise them.”

    TAG: @Darth Cocytus (combo)
    —-
    IC: Lord Valton

    Unknowns

    The fortress world was ablaze with activity. They’d repelled an alien invasion using an unfamiliar Imperial-esque design. Now they had a full fleet here; Imperial Star Destroyers, so soon after the last attack.

    While Eleodie Junior watched with a smirk, Sabel was swiftly transformed into Grand Admiral Thrawn. Zhe was amused, because to her eye Sabel looked nothing like Thrawn, but to a Xenophobic pro-human state, he would look exactly like the infamous Chiss warrior. Some bright spark in Sabel’s group had even arranged for the underside of one Destroyer to appear to have a Chimaera upon it.

    [​IMG]

    Thus zhe stood with Sabel aboard the ersatz Chimaera, eyeing her three Star Destroyer contribution and wondering how much Sabel would commit to this ruse. The comms officer called into the private ready room. “Sir, we have a Lord Valton looking to speak to you.”

    And so they were committed.

    TAG: @darthbernael (combo)
    —-
    IC: Zel

    A briefing

    [​IMG]

    The Eriaduan General took little time assembling them and others. A few surprise appearances, with the Mugaari and Givin committing to the cause, and they had scouts with Kuati Intel.

    “Kuat Drive Yards,” Zel started the meeting, “as we all know, has been the backbone of Republic and Imperial ship construction for millennia. It’s the largest shipyard in the galaxy. Since it’s recent exchange of hands between the Alliance and Empire, the Kuati are now restoring their yards and working on a new Eclipse-class Super Star Destroyer, though we have no suggestion that sufficient Kyber has been located, and indeed a galactic shortage seems afoot.”

    “Kuat has shield generators - planetary scale, and we don’t have the strength to besiege the planet and hold off the Empire’s response; a single Tho Yor would smash our fleet.” Zel paused to allow that to sink in. “But most of the defences are fighter based. The sole Resurgent-class in-system is one of the last left in the New Imperial Navy, and with its own two wings has five planet-based fighter wings.” A wider image of the sector. “Previously we could expect to have to had to fight our way past four outer blockades, but now its just Kuat we need to crack.”

    Zel eyed Jori, Tarkin and Marana. “I suspect we’ll need a mixture of diplomatic subterfuge, Jensaarai infiltrators and fleet action to capture Kuat, but it will be a lance into the Core and the founding declaration of our Confederation.” He sounded smug. “I look forward to your thoughts.”

    TAG: @TheAdmiral, @darthbernael (singles)
     
  5. darthbernael

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

    Registered:
    Apr 15, 2019
    IC: Tarkin and Marana
    Briefing, Eriadu

    Sitting, his cane held before him, Tarkin let a thin lipped smile cross his face. ”Something tells me having the Kuat of Kuat with us will improve our odds, both diplomatically and otherwise, even if it causes some confusion in the ranks.” He glanced at Jori, ”As well, I doubt the codes to the planetary shields have changed that much and that confusion could allow her easier access to them, either way.”

    As he was speaking Marana walked over from where she had been conversing with the senior Je’daii still present. Sitting, relatively quietly in her armor, she snorted. ”Give the Jensaarai even a moment of such hesitation and we will exploit it ruthlessly.” He eyes narrowed as she glanced at Zel, ”Your intelligence had better not be faulty old man or,” she turned her head to favor their newest allies, ”I’m sure my new friends and I will want to have some ‘strong words’ with you afterwards, otherwise.”

    With a snort Tarkin reached over to pat the pauldron of Marana’s armor, ”Marana dear, don’t you know it’s in poor form to insult our host, at least before he screws up.” A slight edge came to his tone at the last. His head tracked back to Zel, ”I am quite sure my old friend doesn’t have any more tricks up his sleeve to attempt to test us. That would be…a poor choice of his, if so.”

    Marana relaxed slightly at the touch, ”You know, old warhorse, you can stop pretending to be the semi senile old politician. Before we arrived here I know you had your finger on the pulse of everything that was happening where we were. And knew how to turn a situation as needed.” she mused.

    Shaking his head with a low chuckle, Tarkin glanced at their allies, the Sluissi and Sullustans, as well as their newest allies, the Mugaari and Givin. ”I am pleased we have gained more allies. With their support, I suggest that we use the Eriaduan forces as a screen against the sensors of the Imperials, to screen our allies' craft until the last possible moment. And then unleash them against any fighter wings that appear to defend those Imperial forces. But,” he tapped his cane as he thought, ”I do suggest that we begin with the attempts at diplomacy and confusion caused by the return of the Kuat of Kuat.”

    Marana smiled slightly, glancing at Jori, ”You just want to see your granddaughter at work, in her element, as her political persona.”

    TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @TheAdmiral
     
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  6. Lady_Belligerent

    Lady_Belligerent Queen of the RPF, SWC, C&P, and Pancakes & Waffles star 10 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Jan 29, 2008
    IC: Bellorum Graul
    Jakku

    Bellorum listened to Arb while still clutching Aryan’s hand. No, she could see he looked like Joren… but Aryan was there too. He’d given her comfort and assurance that he wasn’t dead. He gave her the grounding she needed to survive this, and she poured herself back into him, sharing the healing they both desperately needed. Dunkeel was always welcome to join them, but their bond was different, he was in essence their brother. Aryan and Bell had a far more intimate bond.

    She rolled to her side to see what was around them, ‘those aren’t our statues.’ Her voice was hoarse and whispered soft as it wafted through Dunkeel, and Joren’s minds. ’Don’t get near them.’ Bell cautioned.

    Arb then mentioned her name, the bastard! He was playing on the pain and loneliness that had plagued her before she found love with Aryan.

    Her hand trembled in Joren’s, ’we have no choice, fighting is a pointless exercise.’ She looked into Joren’s eyes, hoping he understood what she was saying… what she truly meant.

    Tag: @HanSolo29 @Sinrebirth @Mitth_Fisto
     
  7. HanSolo29

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

    Registered:
    Apr 13, 2001
    IC: Joren Graal [Sistros]
    Jakku, The End of Time; Redux

    [​IMG]

    Like the legendary hero he was destined to become in the original timeline—the one unmarred by ChangeHan Solo forfeited himself when he selflessly raised his blaster to shoot Arb at point-blank range. Joren thought it was a valiant effort, especially against a being derived from the Celestials, but unfortunately, it proved futile. He inwardly winced when he overheard the sickening crunch of the Corellian’s bones, followed by the man’s anguished screams as Arb deposited him to the dust.

    Panting breathlessly, Joren struggled to raise his chin and turn away from the carnage. He felt sick to his stomach, and Arb’s blustering bravado only amplified its effects. The man orated like a professional politician, which he found ironic under the circumstances… and yet, he could not tune him out completely.

    There was something stirring deep inside of him, applying pressure to his chest and tightening it like a vice.

    Temptation.

    Always temptation.

    He could hear the words echoing in his head, the pitch and inflection resembling his own voice.

    'You have aspirations to become… you were promised rule of the galaxy…'

    And then he saw Arb’s face rising up from the shadows, an indulgent smile assuring him of the future. He can deliver; this was his moment.

    A groan escaped Joren’s chapped lips, his vision blurring as he dared to glance up toward this deity who promised to save them. But the man wasn’t alone; not anymore. Four statues, not too dissimilar from the ones which had previously carried them across time, accompanied him, their golden capsules shining brilliantly in the harsh sunshine.

    The sun.

    It hadn't been there before… nor had the sand. That's when he realized the locale had changed, but when had they traveled to this new destination?

    Perhaps he was too delirious to recall the exact moment.

    Nevertheless, the sand felt surprisingly soft beneath him, providing a cushion for his battered body. He felt himself relaxing downward, hoping that he could disappear below the sea of granules. That’s when he reached an outstretched hand toward one of the statues, almost to admit defeat… or to accept what awaited them beyond…

    'Those aren’t our statues,' a weak voice cautioned him, pressing into his mind to convey her message. 'Don’t get near them.'

    Tera.

    Bellorum.

    He recognized her voice instantly as it resounded across their bond. It had a stimulating effect on both his mind and spirit, almost like a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. She became his anchor, and it allowed him to pull himself away from the precipice; to find clarity. It broke the hypnotic spell.

    'Thank you,' Joren relayed to her with another firm squeeze of his hand. He also reached out to Dunkeel to express his gratitude to him as well—for sticking beside him through all of their tribulations. It hadn’t been an easy journey for any of them.

    'We have no choice,' Bell continued after a moment. 'Fighting is a pointless exercise.'

    The sound of wheezing emanated from Joren's chest as he shifted to stare into her face. Their eyes met instantly, and he could feel her trembling within the palm of his hand. He tried to reassure her with a gentle caress, but it was difficult to overlook the severity of the situation.

    A silent understanding passed between them, and he knew exactly what they had to do. It would be a formidable challenge for all of them, but Bell was right in her assessment—what other choice did they have?

    With a final glance at Bell and then Dunkeel, Joren inclined his chin and nodded toward Arb in acceptance.

    TAG: @Lady_Belligerent; @Mitth_Fisto; @Sinrebirth
     
  8. Mitth_Fisto

    Mitth_Fisto Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 29, 2005
    IC: Dunkeel
    Jakku, Sands of Eternity

    With Fang's heart held firmly he watched and listened to Joren, Bell, and Zas'tel. . .and Han Solo. He snorted softly at that one. The incredulity of the situation spurring his mind to clear and simplify upon the situation at hand. Han shot first. Han paid for that despite his successes as those methods amounted to nothing. This was not that type of realm.

    Or so he believed as he slowly sat up. For the mists cleared and the warm desert sands surrounded them with the corpses of ships strewn about. Jakku. Hmm, he had not remembered the name, but he was thankful to have that much supplied to him again. Bell and Joren were tired. Han was broken. Dunkeel was hungry, still. And Zas'tel was showing off from his new perch as the First Darkness. Revealing statues of gold that triggered old memories and Dunkeel's eyes to look on in sadness. He was sad for Zas'tel, but more than that - he was misunderstood.

    Raising a hand he lifted a clawed finger to tell him to wait a minute as he walked towards the corpse of the First Light. "I was your advocate, in the beginning. From Joren's paranoia, and the Librarians moldy censure." he snorted and growled at once in the thought, it was complex. Too complex. "This requires thought, thought requires food." he simply growled into the air. The man had waited this long, he could wait a little while longer for Dunkeel to have something to eat. He would start with her entrails and work his way to her heart, and then smash her head open to eat her brains as desert. The eyes would be good palate cleansers for when the meal was done. Yes. That was a plan.

    The others were pressing with thoughts and ideas. Reality and potentialities would have to wait. Malevolent rules and golden statues were not going anywhere. If they couldn't then the discussion was pointless to begin with.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth , @Lady_Belligerent , @HanSolo29
     
  9. TheAdmiral

    TheAdmiral Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 28, 2004
    IC: Jori II Atreus
    Eriadu


    Jori felt a wave of pleasure wash over her when her grandfather praised her. A good word from the right person surely went a long way. She gave him a simple nod and a smile as a thanks.

    Kuat of Kuat observed the exchange silently. She did not want to get in that pile of poodoo and hoped that her grandfather was controlling the situation there. She did not need any more distractions or any more fires to extinguish.

    After all, she had been given the gargantuan task of forming the new Confederacy of Independent Systems and having it ready to fight the Empire. Not a small feat. They will need funding, resources, people, ships, vehicles. Not as easy as those representatives wanted to present it.

    “I would like a report about everything that we have available.” she said at last “I need to see where we stand so that I can consider our next moves.”

    TAG: @darthbernael @Sinrebirth
     
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  10. darthbernael

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

    Registered:
    Apr 15, 2019
    IC: Lord Sabel
    Megarea, O’Reen

    The preparations had gone quickly, including a touch that had caused a thin smile to cross Sabel’s face as he donned the uniform of a Grand Admiral, the chimaera that now spread itself across the underside of the Megarea. Now seated in the command chair, an imposing expression on his face, the tall back and deep arms of it causing a shadow to slightly obscure his face, aiding in the deception.

    Glancing beside him, to where Eleodie stood, he’d heard the comms officer, his red eyes lighting with a small fire as the corner of his mouth turned up. ”Let us begin this dance.” he said with a touch of humor to his tone.

    Turning, he nodded to the comms officer, ”Accept the call of this Lord Valton. Let us see what he has to say.”

    He was a Lord in name only, clearly, a rotund and short man with more medals on his chest than any one being could really earn in his lifetime. It was ridiculous, and he stammered as he spoke. "Grand Admiral Thrawn, to what do I owe the p-pleasure?"

    Eleodie struggled to keep zherself from laughing.

    Sabel folded his arms behind his back, a move he’d seen his old compatriot do on many occasions. ”Did you think the expenditure of weapons here would go unnoticed. I…my people keep an eye on all systems, especially those at the frontier. Do you have an explanation for why you did so, revealing your capabilities?” he asked, in a cold tone.

    “An assault!” Spluttered Valton. “By those who usurped your Empire of the Hand! They have your Imperial Star Destroyers!”

    He sounded panicked more, “and they had shield-breakers! Destroyers we’ve seen knock down shields across the Unknowns!”

    Eleodie cleared zher throat. “Do you think that the Grand Admiral is unaware? The full deployment of your assets means that the enemy knows everything you have.”

    “Oh?” The Lord said curtly, as if piqued. “Everything? We’ve kept a surprise yet, I assure you.”

    One eyebrow arched as Sabel’s red eyes glowed, the corner of his mouth twitching. ”At least you were aware enough to hold something back.” His eyes locked on those of the man’s image, ”Attempting to insult those who have aided you recently is perhaps faulty logic.”

    Turning to Eleodie, the smile curled the corner of his lips more, ”Perhaps we should let those who were here recently finish the job, with how things currently stand.” he suggested to zher. Without turning his head further, ”Navigation…”

    Eleodie went to give the instruction, and Valton paled. "No, no! We need Imperial support! We are loyal! Just... isolated, and who knows who rules the Empire now?"

    "Emperor Snoke," zhe said, firmly, "supported by the Grand Admirals and Grand Moffs."

    "Yes, yes, but a few weeks ago it was Chancellor Aryan Graul, and a few years before that Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, and before that Snoke, or Jagged Fel, or Natasi Daala -"

    "And yet Grand Admiral Thrawn is still here," zhe said smoothly.

    "We heard about clones and other ways to avoid death but death has -"

    "Enough!" Zhe snapped. "Grand Admiral, permission to depart!"

    "No! I could show you the - the weapon?"

    Sabel hid his pride as he watched Eleodie Jr play zher part. Zhe had said she had zher namesake’s charisma and it was on full display. Zhe sold the act very well as Valon began to splutter. His red eyes turned back to the man, ”Yes, those at the top often change, such things happen with those at that rarified level. But, as has been said, I am still here.”

    Holding up his hand, one side of his mouth turning up, the edges of his teeth showing for a moment, ”This weapon…either it impresses or I will leave the system in ruins myself for attempting to bribe me in this fashion.’ Truth be told he disliked ‘superweapons’ as much as the real Thrawn did but this man was giving away all he had, or was seeming to do so.

    His head turned, glancing at Eleodie as one hand twitched, out of sight of the holo pickup. The swift gestures told his Red Guard to send out tightbeam messages to the fleet, to prepare for any treachery from this man. ‘Hope for the best, prepare for the worst’ had always been one of his mantra and having the fleet ready to slam up shields or return fire would cover part of that.

    ”So, belay the departure order, for the moment. He has one opportunity.” he told zher, then met the man’s eyes in the holo again, ”Proceed.” came out in the same cold tone.

    The Lord blanched. "I would... need to take you to the surface."

    Eleodie didn't know what to make of that. But it would get them assets on the ground...

    Sabel let a snort escape him, ”It will not be myself and the Envoy alone, we are not naive. Prepare and guide the ship that will land to the correct location.”

    His red eyes suddenly shone brightly, ”Pray it is the correct location and you are not attempting anything inappropriate. It would trouble me little to have this world scorched in that case.”

    "You are welcome to bring any guards you like," Valon said, firmly. "I was told by the Emperor to keep it here until absolutely needed, but I am sure the Grand Admiral is entitled to see."

    Sabel kept himself from snorting at the response. It could not be any more transparent a ploy or attempt to mollify him and Eleodie in her guise as Envoy. Instead, he nodded, ”Send the landing coordinates and we will arrive shortly.” The hand signals continued, informing the Red Guard that he would take Decimus, Elevtus, Twalvtus, and Dertientus as backup while the others coordinated the task force for an immediate strike should it become necessary. His ruby orbs met Eleodie’s, ”Envoy, shall we see what our Emperor left to the protection of this planet?”

    Zhe nodded. "Lets."

    TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @HanSolo29 (Mentioned), @Lady_Belligerent (Mentioned), @greyjedi125 (Mentioned)
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2022
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  11. darthbernael

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

    Registered:
    Apr 15, 2019
    OOC: GM double post approved

    IC: Xundel, Manticore, Maz
    Jakku, deep below

    The trip deeper underground had been taken mostly in silence. Xundel had remained silent, at least, as his plan to assist Ravijari had come to naught, for now, so he and Manticore had accompanied the others. When they entered a vast space he could feel it at first, the sense of vastness, before his eyes adapted and he saw what was there. Even as the mountain of Kyber was revealed to them, his ‘guest’, who was currently suffusing his being fully, was already calling back in his power.

    Something felt off, as the Kyber was revealed, and Xundel’s eyes narrowed before the mountain bled red and his mental defenses slammed into place. He was milliseconds too slow, causing him to hunch over his cane as the pain of the ‘voice’ screamed out. A groan escaped him before he straightened slightly. Which was when he heard the voice, saw the being step out to reveal himself. It was and was not Snoke. He wasn’t sure who else could feel what that one truly was, as his eyes flicked from Manticore to Maz.

    He felt the incredible pressure of the First Darkness and had to not let on how deeply he knew it or how it truly affected him, for now. The endgame had begun, it felt, and Snoke had just revealed one of his trump cards, to one who could or would be capable of standing against him. Slowly, as he let the darkness that Snoke was trying to smother them with wash over and through him, he straightened his back again, ears drooping.

    Ravijari’s mental message touched him, ’You are not free, how could you not obey, with that.’ he sent back, with a sense of him under pressure.

    His eyes lifted and looked at the being standing there, ”So…is this to tell us your plans before destroying us, turning us to your cause, or just to talk, like any supervillain?” he asked, filling his voice with what he hoped sounded like pain at the pressure Snoke was exerting.

    Oh, how truly, and deeply he hated Snoke.

    Manticore felt overwhelming pain, greater than anything he’d been subjected to before, the kind that would erase one’s identity from one’s mind. It was not his anger, but his hate which defined this Sith Lord. He, who still retained the mantle he had earned, that of the Lord of Hate. Just like the pain he now experienced, his hate was transcendent - and likely the only reason why he was still conscious, still aware of what he was, who he was, and where he was.

    Truly. The mountain of Kyber had been impressive. Beyond anything he had ever seen. That someone could bleed it was beyond impressive! But this First Darkness could have taken any form it wished, or so he supposed. But why Snoke?

    The answer was irrelevant at the moment.

    What was critical was the fact that the zabrak Sith Lord was present and conscious and that he could plan- that - and assist in any plan. ( But if he could get a few shards of that crystal…even if just one… )

    The short alien, the one who spoke with a familiar voice, he seemed to be managing through the pain well enough.

    Manticore could not hear his own roaring voice for the pain roiling within him, but he would master even this pain, and transform it into unbridled power. Just like before. Just like with, Anguish, Mnggal- Mnggal,Mortis, Typhojem….Snoke. He had translated those encounters into power.

    This would be no different.

    For now, he would focus on absorption, before deciding on a course of action.

    "Not at all," Snoke glowered at them. "I have a... need for darksiders to exert my will. The Knights of Ren have served me well, but I have worn out the ones I command. I would take others, make others. Those who understand their place in the Change, against my True Darkness."

    A flutter of his shadow's hand, and the pain drove deeper into Maz and Xundel and Manticore. He flexed his hand open and closed, and Maz was flung from the room, left unconscious.

    "Accept your place, become a Ren, and you will live at my hand. I will protect you; create you. My shadow-self crushes you here and now, all the while my flesh and blood walks with the Chosen One's on his leash." A chuckle. "You had no chance against me."

    A pulse through Xundel enraged the self-within, connected to Bernael, to others, and inevitably it would create a ripple that telegraphed where he was to many others that had been touched by the essence of Balance, touching the penumbra of Darknesses along the way.

    "Hate me more, Manticore, know that you destroyed only my seed, and it was in my rebirth that I became my true self." A laugh, deep guttural, and immense.

    The grey that had filled Xundel’s eyes began to swirl faster as the pressure increased on his being, trying to bite deeply into his being. He bent further over the cane as he felt that presence and pressure pressing on him, drawing a grunt. His mind and self roiled as Xundel himself and his ‘guest’ began to mesh even more, his guest lending more to keep his agent in play.

    More and more energy began to pour into the deep cavern, sounds almost unheard and more felt as ripples ran through the Force. Darkness filled that space, yes, but lesser darkness was also part of what his guest was and it hid, as much as possible, what those ripples meant as more energy flowed into the grey-green imp.

    Little crackling noises, his joints crackling, came from him as he slowly fought the pressure coming from the shadow Snoke, lifting his upper torso upward, his head rising. A tremulous sigh escaped his small form as he felt the ‘call’ beginning to draw others to Jakku. ”You…you believe we should bend the knee to you, to become your Knights…” he ground out.

    ”I…I…can feel what is left…of your…Knights…They each…have deserted you…save…one…” a thin lipped smile crossed his face, ”You…simply…show your…desperation…to try to…recruit…us…” The tip of the cane tapped as he moved closer to Manticore, one three fingered hand rising, touching the zabrak’s shoulder, ”You…create…your own…foes…First Darkness…ones who…will always…work…to exile you…from…reality.”

    [​IMG]

    The Hate. The Heat. The Roar. The Sound and The Fire. Not just from himself, but all of his 'selves'. Past.Present. Future.

    They would never...ever....submit.

    Not on Mortis. Not to Typhojem and certainly not to Snoke.

    The First Darkness pushed him beyond his boundaries, past even his deepest limits, yet he would not surrender his 'self'. His identity.

    Even if he drowned in a veritable sea of pain.

    A Ren was a servant. A Ren was a Slave. A dog, yoked by his Masters leash. Manticore was a Lord of the Sith, beholden solely to himself and none other.

    He would not be broken. Not here. Not now.

    Still, it was Xundel, or rather, the being within, who provided the much needed anchor, the tether which kept him in the moment. Prevented him from being lost in an oblivion of madness.

    Yes. A foe. To be one, to have one. To exist as one. To rule as one.

    That was his choice.

    Manticore needed no crown.

    He already had his own.

    That was more than enough.

    Snoke chuckled and his Shadow drifted down, amused. As it detached from the Kyber mountain, it became more corporeal, or, perhaps, the entire room became Beyond Shadows. Indeed, their bodies slumped to the ground, and their essences rose up, translucent but shaped well.

    "There is no point having power without worshippers, no?"

    They were within the same spiritual location, this time, beyond the mortal coil.

    Snoke had brought them into his world, in his arrogance. Or, rather, the world of his Shadow.

    Snoke’s shadow drifted down, gaining in coherence as he forced the physical forms of those gathered to the ground with his power. He had chosen to bring them to a place that he believed he knew well, one that he felt was…his. And, in that place their essences had no choice but to rise from their bodies, to a degree anchored to them but free to act and speak.

    What rose from Xundel’s smaller form, however, was not that of a spirit similar to that of the grey green imp or, rather, not entirely. A deep chuckle emerged from what rose from his body, as the essence writhed, shifted, seemingly unconcerned about what form it held.

    Swirling patterns formed roughly where eyes would be on whatever form his essence held at the moment. The various faces that formed in it held amusement as the power of that essence began to take on more power. The ripple that Snoke had caused in the Force with the assault on them both had, indeed, begun to draw those that were connected to the one who was Xundel’s guest, strengthening his own power with each parsec they drew nearer.

    The eyes met those of the First Darkness, before the head perused the space, returning to it’s old foe. ”You brought us, brought me….here?” The head seemed to shift again and again as it shook, it’s tone becoming wry, ”I should expect no lesser arrogance from you, but…”

    Black, white, and greys of every shade filled the wavering form of the essence, ”I thank you, cousin, or perhaps brother, little does it matter.” Chuckling softly, it glanced at Manticore’s essence, ”And…to bring a brother who has fought by my side throughout the eons, truly you think you have won when you only have…nevermind, spoilers…” The essence swelled, equal to that of Snoke, in size, even as it’s power remained more diminished, by choice.

    The End of Time was indeed coming but it was not going to let it’s foe know that they had all been preparing for this moment and were roughly equal, not yet. Instead, an arm reached out, to it’s eternal battle brother, ”I will not ask or demand you join me, my brother, but I will fight by your side, as we always have.”

    [​IMG]

    Manticore's essence rose as bid, but this was not the form of the zabrak, for that was only the flesh-born shell where his essence resided.

    Upward did the 'living furnace rise', drawn by the First Darkness.

    "You are a falsehood...." Manticore accused, his voice sounding like a conflagration.

    "You wish for worshippers?" He scoffed. "Delusions of grandeur."

    "You inspire nothing and no one. You dominate and subvert choice and free will for that reason...because you fear rejection."

    A glare of disdain.

    "My destiny is to oppose that which is false, even beings like you, however mighty they may be."

    A nod of concordance is given to 'Xundel'.

    "I shall fight, for this is truly a worthy opponent."

    Manticore's essence flared defiantly. There was absolutely no multiverse, in which he did not completely hate Snoke.

    It seemed as if the shadows were smoked from lava and granite and darkness. Their power was giving shape to everything.

    The Dark, the Shadow, the Balance.

    Snoke’s true form was evident, laughing, the sound becoming words as he loomed above them as if on a balcony, overlooking their deaths.

    “No.”

    [​IMG]

    “You will die.”

    [​IMG]

    Xundel’s head shook at the declaration from what was only remotely still Snoke. Even here, even now, that one was so wrapped in his arrogant belief that he was the one controlling events that he’d not thought about what it meant to bring him and Manticore here.

    His swirling eyes looked up as the First Darkness leapt toward them, intent on their destruction, now that they both had denied it. The essences of the three continued to be infused with the energy and power of Beyond Shadows. Time seemed to slow as the Dark one descended toward them.

    A tendril of his essence lashed out, offering a portion of itself to his battle brother, the one who had stood by his side again and again, over the eons. It would be up to Manticore to choose to accept or not but, even as he did so another boost of energy filled him as one who had served him for eons drew nearer.

    ”Die…I think not…” The tendril stayed close to Manticore even as Xundel suddenly leapt, bounding around the massive cavern, emerald lightning crackling at his fingertips. In this fight he would have to provide the light in the fight against the First Darkness.

    The battle was joined.

    Alas, it was…inevitable.

    Darkness was falling upon them.

    ‘Hunger’ reached out to ‘Hate’, galvanizing him like never before, as they connected once again. Manticore instantly understood that here, with such energy, in this space, he was completely free to become his full expression.

    [​IMG]

    There was no body to suffer fatigue: all was unadulterated Will unleashed.

    A saber staff of pitiless darkness formed in his clawed hands, red lighting coruscated the entire weapon like a wrathful nimbus.

    The horned figure that was Manticore moved to the other side of darkness, flanking him, reacting in seamless synchrony with ‘Xundel’.

    The time to speak their words was long past.

    Now it was time to speak with their actions.

    It was time for very strong words.

    The First Darkness was blindingly fast, and he seemed capable of passing between the fangs of electricity hurled at him -

    He crossed the distance between them in an instant, as if his merest intention had made it so, and an elbow crunched into Xundel's face, essence against essence -

    A whip around and a pair of blade-hands swung at Manticore's waist -

    Xundel’s essence reacted as the First Darkness moved. Essence against essence injuries could and would occur but with the formless forms of theirs there was more flexibility to combat than there would be if they were holding physical form. Of course injuries here would eventually reflect on their physical shells, the longer they fought here.

    His face deformed from the impact and he used the momentum of that elbow to the face to somersault hm backwards, flipping in the air as his face resumed its normal shape. His feet touched the walls of the cavern, a seemingly solid surface even in this place, his legs flexed, and he shot back at their foe in an almost similar speed to the First Darkness.

    A blade of his own essence formed as he whipped toward the Darkness, spinning and slashing across that one’s ankles as he swung at Manticore, having to time the slash to use his passing momentum to increase the strength of it.

    This was living Dejarik. They were powerful monsters in their own right, engaged in a monstrous struggle. They kind that should not be fought in the natural world.

    Even in this form, his most powerful expression to date, Manticore could appreciate the sheer power and speed of the First Darkness, who inside a blink of an eye, could strike Xundel with sufficient force to knock him away, and have time to commit to a double slash to his core, not as a reflex, but as an actually attack.

    Manticore was able to block the First Darkness' assault to his waist ( just barely ), as he held the dark saber-staff in both hands. The force of that impact had him skidding backwards, even taking a single step, on which he turned, pivoting in that split second. He'd felt Xundel's rebound off the 'wall', spied it, and so he would compliment it.

    As he turned, Manticore swung his weapon around and slashed at the First Darkness with blinding speed, just above the shoulders. Lightning streaks trailed from the crackling weapon. If he and Xundel worked in tandem, they could very well prove themselves to be the two beings to 'trap' the First Darkness in this space, until the End of Time.

    The First Darkness seemed to leer, as if grinning without a face, pressing upon his feet to push off them backwards, taking the tip of Xundel's blade across the front of his ankles, and Manticore's blade tip across his waist, landing lightly and lunging at them evenly, a blade driving at a point for their chests with speed sufficient that returning their blades to guard would be difficult at best -

    Was it slowed by their wounds?

    No, seemingly not, as essence leaked away from the gaping wounds, not cauterized as they were spiritual not physical -

    As Manticore said; dejarik.

    Xundel’s form grinned in response to that of the First Darkness, almost leaning in toward the attack. Darkness and Light writhed across his form, an almost pure white light glowing at the point of impact as he took the attack. The swirls of his eyes sped up, a growl coming from deep inside, as darkness seemed to leach into the point where their two forms impacted.

    But…aside from splashes of light and darkness erupting from the seeming wound, he simply lurched backward, feet hammering forward toward the First Darkness’s knees as he seemed to fall back, the pure light at his chest an angry swirl of grey as he fell back.

    Manticore took the attack to his chest, exploiting the First Darkness’ desire to wound them by means of offering it’s limbs to perform the deed. Manticore struck at the First Darkness’ offending arm, seeking to sever it at the elbow with his own mighty weapon, even as his enemy inflicted damage upon his person, pain exploding upon impact, the kind which he’d learned to take into himself, to turn into fuel for battle.

    The blade of the zabrak Sith Lord would flare with power at the point of contact against his enemy, enhancing any damage, aggravating what it could. In this arena, could one truly fight fire with fire, or more specifically, darkness with darkness? To what end, to what result?

    Domination. Objection. Rejection. Aggression. Retribution. Here, in this space, such principles played a much greater role in their encounter - as did many other principles, which were present and equally enhanced- just as effectively, if plied wisely.

    Within the flashing strobes of Light from Xundel’s side of their conflict, ensconced in their brightness, there, he glimpsed in part, an answer.

    Xundel’s foot essence crushed through the knee joint and First Darkness sagged to the right, leaving behind his tumbling wrist, which rebounded off the spectral ground.

    Snarling, his hands reformed and shot out, elongating to ensnare their throats -

    ”You and I both have been preparing for the End…All three of us have…or are you that blind?” Xundel muttered as he fell back, sighing as the angry swirl of his chest slowed, the grey fading into other areas of his body, the Light returning to his core.

    He bounded around the cavern, staying to the side opposite the First Darkness from Manticore, to keep their foe from being able to get them in one position. He ducked and weaved as the tentacle like arm raced after him, striking at it with the edges of one hand, a hand that had taken on that distinctively brightness of Light.

    The two had not spoken a word, at least not audibly, yet still, they worked as one : Manticore and Xundel.

    Unlike his counterpart, Manticore held his position and rooted himself in place as he shifted his stance. He allowed The First Darkness to grasp at his throat- allowed him to make contact, to form a connection. Immediately, the zabrak held on to the elongated arm of his enemy. In here, he was not breathing air, for he had no physical body. Manticore felt the First Darkness' current connect to his in its aggression, even as he utilized a 'mind shard' to enhance that connection, striking at the offending arm.

    Manticore knew that he would have only moments once a 'link' was established, but that would be all he'd need. For now, he needed to make sure the First Darkness stayed in place. Xundel's hand had glowed white with Light. That was the signal he'd been waiting for.

    'Brother! Light and Dark cannot occupy the same 'space'. Bring forth the First Light to this place. Let there be a 'RESET', a different kind of 'Change'. In here, we can affect a new end and a new beginning!'

    Manticore knew his was a high stakes gamble, but once again, the present struggle was for the highest stakes of all. It would take everything they had to achieve it, if not more!

    The First Darkness diverted his attention to Manticore and re-shaped his essence into a spear, instead of grabbing at, he was grabbing through his throat!

    He split his second limb into a shower of elongated stabbing and clawing attacks, a veritable web of strikes that fell just behind Xundel -

    He is no Light. He is merely the quiet Balance. Not of this place, not of this time, merely undone and redone. There is no Light. The White Coat was killed by the Protectors, as the Black Coat ordained.

    A chuckle, and suddenly his essence ensnared Xundel, a hand grabbing and yanking free a luminescent, dripping, chunk of his essence -

    Someone cleared their throat behind the First Darkness, and he tilted his head slightly, distracted not by the 'light' in Xundel's hand but by the languid voice -

    "You say that, but..."

    Dying.

    He was dying.

    Dying was a fate worse than death, for at least 'death' was final, but dying was a continuing process- that is, until the fated final release. Here, in this place, there would be no such thing as a ‘release’.

    Manticore felt a detonation of pain that caused him to reel in ways he had forgotten! There would be no sweet oblivion of unconsciousness to receive his mind as it shut-down. No, there was only full awareness, and an amplified experienced that defied description- a total shattering of a ceiling he had not been aware was there. Manticore's vaunted pain threshold had been inconceivably obliterated.

    For a moment that seemed like an eternity, the zabrak was lost to incredible mind bending pain- raw and unassailable. No recourse or succor seemed within reach. Therefore, he did that which he’d trained himself to do, that which he had mastered. Turn pain into fuel, then funnel that fuel into unbridled hate.

    Manticore navigated this new augmented torment without resistance, as it carried him to 'heights' never before experienced -and somewhere in his mind, he lamented not known of it prior, just so he could visit such a lasting experience upon his hated mentor; the maker of monstrous Anguish. This was a dark creature he had mercilessly destroyed long ago - or was it just yesterday?

    Even though the zabrak had no throat to howl with, yet still, a terrible 'guttural' sound rumbled from deep within him.

    The pain was like a star gone nova, yet even such stars reached a maximum range before coming to rest. Manticore saw himself at the edge, and knew with clear certainty, that had he been within a body made of flesh, he would have certainly perished. But here, he teetered on the edge of madness - and thought he would laugh.

    Behind him, he imagined seeing a great multitude of beings whose lives he himself had ended in terrible ways, yet he only sneered at them, as he felt himself plunging back into himself. With a new ceiling shattered, he’d grown stronger, as a new and higher ceiling was formed. Was he not a vessel of the very darkness that sought to unmake him? Would the darkness then unmake itself?

    Despite this, he was still dying….

    Though now, the pain did not overwhelm him quite as much as it had the moment he’d experienced it- discomfiting as it was!

    Suddenly and without warning, the zabrak threw himself backwards, dislodging himself from the spike-like appendage that now left him nearly headless. Dark essence flowed freely and copiously from where his throat had once been. He was no master of the healing arts and found himself unable to focus on defense or attack, for so severe was his wound, that his base instinct of self preservation fought his indomitable training.

    The zabrak, though dying, was impressed by the efficiency of the wound. The First Darkness had passed on a lesson in that moment. Several in fact. Pity he had not the focus or the momentary strength to try them out, at least not in his current condition.

    Nearby, someone was speaking, but he did not see who, for his focus was on the illuminated chunk of Xundel’s glowing essence. If he could summon enough strength and focus to call it to himself, maybe, just maybe, it could work as a ‘salve’ to stop his extensively hemorrhaging neck.

    The snort that had begun at the thought that the First Light was dead died on Xundel’s lips as the First Darkness changed tactics once again. He did all he could to evade but, as the tentacles swarmed around him, the options for him to move narrowed very rapidly.

    So rapidly, in fact, his back arched as the tentacles ensnared him. The look of a silent scream came over his face as the Darkness grasped his essence. Around where the tentacle had latched on his form began to darken.

    His eyes suddenly blazed with Light as he shook and writhed within the grasp, trying to reach down to pull away the offending tentacle. He didn’t even get the chance as the Darkness ripped away a chunk of his essence, it glowing between the fronds of the tentacle.

    Hearing the voice, his mouth shut, the bowing of his form ceased and he began to swell. Groaning as the part of him that was darkness tried to join the First Darkness, with the pain of the bonds holding him tightly, he finally broke free.

    Glancing at the dripping ichor of his essence in Darkness’s grasp, he suddenly chuckled.

    ”Took you long enough…” he wheezed out, without turning toward the newly arrived being. ”I and Manticore have been…stalling him.” he said with a nod toward his brother.

    Reaching a hand to the gaping wound, he brushed over it several times, the swirling greys of his form almost obscuring his arm as it moved. When it moved back to his side gain the wound was gone. His shining eyes met those of the First Darkness, ”Why do you think I never fought the epithet of Quiet Darkness? If you do not know, cousin, then I will not educate you.” he said in a slightly strained, quiet tone.

    TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @greyjedi125
     
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  12. Darth Cocytus

    Darth Cocytus Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    May 8, 2016
    Darth Cocytus, Darth Alecto and Ike
    Faces from the past

    Darth Cocytus smiled thinly at Ike's eventual cooperation and, with a polite, yet obviously patronizing, "thank you", followed his guide. He stood before the portal and peered through to look, his eyes glowing upon the faces. He recognized them as well from Sith History.

    "Darth Tenebrous and Darth Plagueis." Cocytus whispered, naming the faces respectfully. "If we are close to the end of their apprenticeship, we should be exactly at the right time."

    The Kaminoan pondered.

    "We should let them pass before going through. Let the events that transpire between them happen." He proposed. "It's Darth Plagueis I want, not his master, whom he is to surely kill soon..."

    Cocytus stroked his chin and watched with glowing eyes at what was going to happen…

    Ike glowered at Cocytus as he appeared to be in awe of the two before them. Baneite's. Always so egotistical. Insipid had been his very worst when he flirted with the Rule of Two for a time.

    The two Sith Lord's rounded the balcony, some kind of apartment on Coruscant.

    They were discussing something.

    "We shall investigate this cortosis vein in person. If we can disperse it across our allies, we will have a lightsaber-resistant force."

    Tenebrous.

    "Droids? Yinchorri? Mandalorians? Who shall we pass this too?"

    Plagueis.

    They were out of sight.

    "Shall we?" Ike said.

    Alecto regarded her master. She didn't know this history. Not well enough.

    Darth Cocytus continued to stare at the two Sith Lords of Old, with absolute awe indeed. They were almost like heroes, especially Darth Plagueis, who played part in bringing the Sith to their peak of power. However, he then remembered the treachery of Darth Bane and Darth Sidious, how they interfered and ruined his plans.

    The Kaminoan closed his eyes and his face grimaced in rage and hate at the humiliation. His eyes then opened and glowed with great untold revenge in his heart. Cocytus told himself that he would take great pleasure in destroying the Banenite Sith Order and supplanting them with his own lineage.

    That was the plan of his Galactic Conquest - No - Omniversal conquest- after all…

    Once Plagueis and Tenebrous were gone, Cocytus breathed and pushed down his darkness to better hide himself. He glanced at Ike and nodded as he walked through the portal completely.

    "So… Coruscant. The heart of the Jedi's Galactic Republic." The Kaminoan noted as he glanced around. "67 bby. We ought to tread carefully. Don't want to risk changes too soon. Especially here and now."

    He pondered.

    "We should head to Kamino." He suggested looking at Alecto. "Let what happens between Plagueis and his master occur historically while we reintegrate ourselves in our society..."

    Cocytus looked at Ike again.

    "And what do you seek in joining us?" He asked, almost interrogatively, "I am not an idiot. I know that you oppose my plans which makes you a liability. What do you plan to do coming with us?"

    Ike smiled slightly. “I don’t,” he stepped back to the portal. “I’ve my own people to save and places to go. I just wanted to make sure you were dropped off and away from the World Between Worlds.”

    Meanwhile, Alecto glared at him. “No issues with us killing your comrades?”

    “Omniversal alternatives. You saved me the trouble,” Ike said tartly. “The Rule of Two is gonna deal with you, mind you.” Another smirk.

    "Lord Cocytus will ascend to mastery,” Alecto snapped.

    “By waiting for Plagueis and Tenebrous to do what they do,” Ike jibed. “And you’re not even Cocytus’s first apprentice.”

    He sketched a salute at Cocytus. “And I doubt you’ll be his last.”

    Cocytus smirked at Ike. "The Banenite Sith doesn't even know we're here yet and we will work very hard to keep it that way, hiding just as they do." The Kaminoan retorted, "For now we shall allow history to take place in the Galaxy as usual while we wait in the shadows of Kamino, reshaping our world into my image. From there we shall secretly make the Clone Army my own and the day of Order 66 shall see the extinction of both the Jedi and the Banenite Sith."

    His eyes glowed.

    "Fascinating how fast the loyalties of an army can change with but two words and a number, don't you think so?"

    However there was a sudden twinge of fury in Cocytus's expression when Ike brought up Darth Styx.

    "That was my fault, I admit." The Kaminoan spoke with cold venomous anger, a significant portion of that anger directed at himself for his own failures, "A mistake I will not make again."

    His eyes glanced at his current Apprentice.

    "I assure you, Ike, just as Alecto said, I shall arise in majesty." He asserted, "But in accordance with the Rule of Two, Alecto shall rise too, higher than any Sith Apprentice in our own history. I will make sure of that..."

    Plenty of time to focus on Alecto's training, as he ought to have had with Styx prior, while infiltrating the Clone Wars project...

    "Good luck, Ike with your... endeavors."

    Ike smiled slightly. “Well then, may the Force be with you.” He gestured, and the portal closed. “You won’t Change a thing - only how you die.”

    At that the doorway shut and Alecto felt a chill in her bones.

    Cocytus glared at Ike as he left but he could not help but feel a chill of fear as well. He glanced at Alecto in thought.

    "We should leave for Kamino." He noted, "Act with extreme caution, especially while commandeer ourselves a ship off this world."

    It wouldn't take long before they came across the nearest starport, and it included a variety of nondescript freighters and a sole crimson diplomatic shuttle. The Force was charged, but tangentially, as if it surrounded them but it was coming from them. Alecto regarded the spaceport.

    A Corellian design, a Kuati, an exotic looking ship that the Kaminoan did not know of...

    "So do we stowaway, or steal?"

    They arrived at the spaceport and their gaze fell upon the crimson shuttle. Meanwhile, Cocytus noticed and regarded the odd feeling of the Force thoughtfully. It made him question what the exact nature of the Force could be in this universe, if it could be different from another M-Cluster Universe that is.

    His thoughts returned to the situation at hand by Alecto's question. He took a moment to think.

    "We shall stowaway first and then commandeer when in mid-space. Much less trouble and less attention to ourselves here."

    That was Cocytus' decision at the moment.

    Alecto could sense her master's thoughts were elsewhere. "Which one?"

    Darth Cocytus acknowledged Alecto's question and looked around. The exotic looking crimson diplomatic shuttle stood out to him and he smiled thinly.

    "That one. Could it have storage we could hide in for now?" He would ask quietly. "Catch them by surprise when they least expect it."

    Alecto nodded. "Diplomatic shuttles are mainly space and opulence to show off."

    As she spoke, a pair of individuals began to sweep across the concourse. One, in purple finery, and the other, nondescript brown robes with his hood up. They were heading towards the ship in-question, the ramp lowering.

    Darth Cocytus rolled his eyes at the short sighted sentiment and greed for material wealth. It was a weakness that infected even some of the Sith, especially back in the old days. Power in the Force and dominance over life and death was all that mattered.

    His eyes shifted towards the individuals approaching the shuttle.

    "We must be swift while we're still unnoticed. Hurry." He whispered before calling upon the Force to sprint into the shuttle.

    @Sinrebirth





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    Last edited: Nov 22, 2022
  13. Sinrebirth

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

    Registered:
    Nov 15, 2004
    HYPERSPACE

    IC: Alecto

    En route

    The diplomatic shuttle was, it seemed, occupied by a Republic Senator.

    They were, from the snippets that Alecto listened to, going to visit Humbarine and negotiate a trade dispute between the Trade Federation and Techno Union, looking to manage routes between Neimodia and Kuat. Boring mundanity, but Alecto did hear a debate about the rights to routes Coreward of Empress Teta - in the Deep Core itself. That piqued her curiosity, and as she slid back to the part of the ship they had secured she overheard one final comment -

    “But I’m sure the negotiations will be short, Master Jedi -“

    She started, and panicked.

    A Jedi? Here?

    Had they just -

    She had to tell her Master.

    And now.

    She moved more swiftly through the vent than planned - a clumsy endeavour at best with her long neck - and made a loud clang as she banged her knee.

    ****.

    She swore mentally, and moved to warn her master.

    TAG: @Darth Cocytus
     
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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
    KUAT

    Or, rather

    BATTLE PLAN KUAT

    IC: Zel


    The wish of Jori was his command.

    Notwithstanding Tarkin’s commentary.

    The figures and amounts were provided to her so she knew what to work with. Three Eriaduan Nebula-class Star Destroyers and six Dreadnaught cruisers; four Sluissi Centax heavy frigates; eight Sullustan cruiser-carriers, a Dauntless-class star cruiser and a Bulwark III battlecruiser, the Arrow of Sullust; a dozen and a half Mugaari battle wagons, which were basically anti-starfighter frigates.

    Enough to take on three Resurgent-class Star Destroyers.

    Kuat, by the latest scout runs, probe droids, and spy accounts, had just one, the Gorgon, with a second in the shipyards, the Manticore.

    They did however have just as many TIE swarms as the Confederation of Independent Systems, a planetary shield, and a shipyard ring with enough turbolasers to put off a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer.

    But for an occupation army, Zel had a million men, many who had fought in many, many wars; veterans. Kuat’s population was in the billions.

    “So now what?”

    He shrugged.

    “I am sure Kuat has noticed all our interest. You want to confuse them with a successor, invade…” his faze took in the Jensaarai leader. “Infiltrate…” And then a smile. “Or all three?”

    TAG: @TheAdmiral, @darthbernael
     
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  15. Sinrebirth

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

    Registered:
    Nov 15, 2004
    O’REEN

    IC: Eloedie

    The Fortress

    They were allowed to bring whatever they wanted or needed, to ensure they were heavily protected. Valon was confident that when they saw, they’d understand just how important it was.

    How important he was.

    Eleodie didn’t pay any attention to the guards and soldiers, just the trip. A shuttle, chosen by them; a window in the shields, decided by them; their handpicked men and women, only as many as could fit in a twenty person shuttle.

    Zhe did however keep track of everything as they went down. The mines that surrounded the atmosphere; there were two varieties, including one which simulated gravity and included a pocket tractor beam projector. Golan battlestations, the most modern mark V able to stand up to Imperial Star Destroyers. Atop reinforced residential blocks were turbolaser and anti-starfighter quadbatteries. Closer to the ground were immense planetary ion cannons, able to reach orbit and beyond in range, as well as several planetary shield generators, so as to disperse the network. Indeed, some provided a sphere around the entire world, and others created concentrated bubbles around cities of complexes. And then zhe saw cavernous hangars that seemed to dig into the depths, undoubtedly full of fighter swarms.

    It was, in essence, a fortress world.

    The governors complex was much the same; a reinforced bunker, which Valon explained with pride was plated with Mandalorian iron; it was the most heavily fortified place on-world.

    Eleodie leaned over to zher uncle. “Someone is compensating.”

    But she honestly wasn’t sure what for

    TAG: @darthbernael
     
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  16. Sinrebirth

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

    Registered:
    Nov 15, 2004
    JAKKU

    IC: The First Darkness


    At this point in time, Snoke had been separated from the First Darkness.

    Much as Manticore and Xundel’s bodies were lifeless on the floor, so too would be Snoke’s… but whereas Snoke was himself, and could animate his body at will, Manticore and Xundel were themselves, and their spirits had lifted out into the shadow realm.

    It was there that they wrestled and fought and battled and bled their spiritual essence across the Kyber landscape.

    But it was not about the First Darkness now.

    It was about the First, about Snoke, about the Second, created by Arb, and an entire dynamic of Light and Dark.

    The two of them would know that as they clashed with the First Darkness.

    And know that losing here meant losing everywhere. Losing there, meant they lost everywhere. Losing there too meant they lost everywhere.

    But these two had to defeat this First Darkness.

    “Quiet Light,” repeated the intruder. A Black Coat stepped forward. “It’s not time, my friend, but there is no more time.”

    He had a very familiar voice.

    A tangle of green Force lightning buried into the First Darkness. Electric Judgement, a light side technique. “I can’t Protect anymore.”

    “I can only step in, and give you a chance,” Aden spoke up, pulling back a black cloak hood to reveal his blue hair.

    A massive red scythe emerged from his shoulder, and he bounded forward, slashing at a tentacle that threw itself opportunistically at Manticore -

    They needed Manticore, Anguish, the Ashen one, the Demon Sith, Hate -

    They needed Xundel, Balance, Hunger, the Sephi -

    It was time.

    TAG: @darthbernael, @greyjedi125 (combo)
     
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  17. Sinrebirth

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

    Registered:
    Nov 15, 2004
    IC: THE NEW DARKNESS

    The New World

    The Second Darkness, formerly Arb, formerly Zas’tel, glowered at them.

    They hadn’t give up, but they knew they’d lost. For now, as ever. But they were three, not four, and the Second, he was all. All six Darknesses were his, and he was Power.

    The font of Darkness.

    “I don’t require the benefit of the doubt. The Light Coat and the Black Coat are no longer relevant to us; we are our own rule.”

    He swirled a hand.

    They fell unconscious, and, finally, awoke.

    —-
    The Brood

    Deep in the Unknowns, there was a hive.

    Legs.

    Arms.

    Eyes.

    They were Croke.

    And so, in the Force, with their illusions, they were also Chistori, Twi’lek, Gallusian, Yuuzhan Vong, reptilian water species, and more besides. Indeed, one would struggle to identify one from the other, and eventually, the real from not. Much like the Killiks, non-Croke had been subsumed into the nest.

    They were many, many.

    They were not just a collective though.

    They were alive.

    For a moment Dunkeel was mere illusion, but solid vision, an extension of himself, wielded like a lightsaber would be by a Jedi or Sith.

    He was King.

    No, not King, not something as mundane as that.

    He was their heart.

    The soul of the Crokes.

    His soul had transcended flesh and memory and death.

    He was old, older than not.

    He was all he could possibly be.

    TAG: @Mitth_Fisto (combo)
    —-
    The Globe Theatre

    Coruscant was ablaze with excitement.

    He was here.

    The greatest actor in the galaxy.

    Universally loved, known initially by his stage name of Praxon, and later when his popularity grew as Aryan ‘Praxon’ Graul, a deeply famous man that raked in trillions of credits with his performances and had a red-head perpetually on each arm.

    He was at the very top of his game.

    Indeed, he was so popular, it was even rumoured that he could run for office and become Chancellor. He had so much influence and was such a household name across the length and breadth of Known Space that he could accrue votes with a simple smile.

    Echoes of missing names, of tragedies like Lyz Graul, or monsters like Norin Graul, they didn’t exist. They had never been. Aryan was a war hero, never injured, never broken upon by the Sith. His sister lived, his children lived, his world thrived.

    Everything was perfect.

    TAG: @HanSolo29
    —-
    Csilla

    The winds were icy, but they were home - warm. A feeling unlike any buoyed Bell from within.

    Love.

    Support.

    Home.

    A hand upon her shoulder; her mother, Sybelle, and behind her, watching them, her grandmother Sev’rance. The three women were together, and their horrible future had been prevented by Thrawn reforming society. No more would family decide the fate of everyone, nor would Force users be seized and their families erased from memory.

    “Are you ready for your trial?”

    The man that stood before her was Nuru, one of the rare male Chiss that was a Force user and competently trained. An exchange program with the Jedi meant he was able to spread the tradition of lightsaber teachings to the SkyWalkers.

    Was she ready to fight to become that?

    The silent pride of her family supported her, gave her life and fire.

    TAG: @Lady_Belligerent
    —-
    Yanjon

    He found it.

    Where he had needed.

    The place.

    Outside.

    TAG: No-One
    —-
    Han Solo

    It was a dining table.

    They were all here.

    Not just Han, but Leia and Luke, Chewbacca…

    And the others, Mara, Ben - both Solo and Skywalker - Jacen, Jaina, even Anakin…

    And more than them.

    Tenel Ka, Allana, and Ben’s wife… whose name he could not remember… too, but also their sons, Kol and Nat…

    Even Rey, too, besides his youngest son.

    He was older.

    Old.

    Happy.

    TAG: @HanSolo29
     
  18. darthbernael

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

    Registered:
    Apr 15, 2019
    OOC: Some destructive fun in a combo with Sinrebirth

    IC: Sabel and Eleodie
    The Fortress

    As the shuttle carrying Sabel, Eleodie, Decimus, Elevtus, Twalvtus, Dertientus, two pilots, and twelve troops in standard armor but red like the Red Guards descended, Sabel glanced out of one of the viewscreens. He watched as the task force spread out, at angles to cover one another. The Onager that had been with them previously, as well as the hybrid SDs that carried the armament of an Onager took up station that…he double checked the sensors…that covered the planet completely. He nodded absently, pleased with how the task force was settling out.

    When they were within the atmosphere, sensors collating the data that they were processing, he snorted. ”It appears this may be the world our foes decided to use as the staging area for expanding into our territory, with how it is armed.” came from him in a low mutter. The excessive defenses and armaments of the planet only amused him with how overly layered they were, most likely a good third would interfere with the targeting of the other two thirds.

    At Eleodie’s comment he snorted again, nodding at the same time. ”One small world such as this could never afford this to begin with. Which means that,” he glanced ahead at the fortress that was the governor’s complex, ”I am willing to bet we find that someone, not of this world, is down there, with Valon on just long enough of a leash to hang himself with.”

    Eleodie agreed, but zhe kept her opinion to zherself for now, switching to a mode where zhe could absorb rather than comment. They'd need their expertise and impressions, not to crowd-source.

    Valon beamed as he led them to the bunker entrance, a pair of hulking Mechtroopers - living soldiers in beskar suits - flanking the doors. First Order elites, the entire corps had been thought wiped out at the Battle of Coruscant five years earlier. That spoke hard for the involvement of the Imperial higher ups.

    "Grand Admiral," the man said, smiling as he placed his palm on the security scanner. "Allow me to show you the experimental Kyber weapons we're using."

    Eleodie twitched; zhe couldn't help zherself.

    Sabel kept his observations to himself as Valon guided them to the bunker. His practiced eyes took in the Mechtroopers, the type of armor they wore. And the fact that their presence fairly screamed that the First Order had truly taken over here.

    He nodded a silent assent as Valon fawned and offered to show them the weapons. Internally his concern grew at the fact they used Kyber, reminding him of other weapons, not including lightsabers, that had used the crystals as well, in the past.

    His red eyes flared slightly, ”That is why we are here, is it not?” he asked, his tone cold.

    “Of course, Grand Admiral,” he said, drily, as the entrance gave way. A chill wind emerged and Eleodie resisted the urge to shiver, focusing zher attention.

    What had appeared to be a complex was actually a warehouse, a singular room with a centrepiece; a white Crystal. The edges of the room were all draped boxes, and a half dozen environ-suited men and women looked up from their work at the base of the crystal. The Governor stepped in, speaking matter of factly as the Force was drowned out by the proximity to the crystal - it was definitely Kyber.

    “The Celestial principle was manipulation of gravity, but using the Force to power their more traditional ships and weapons.” He led them in and the door slid shut behind them. “The Sith and Empire used Kyber crystals to amplify energy matrixes, until you get to the Death Star and Starkiller concepts.”

    Eleodie swallowed, eyes flirting to the recesses of the room. The crystal illuminated every corner, so it was just a matter of whatever was in the boxes if they were relevant. “But Emperor Snoke reasoned that he could use the crystals as an amplifier for his Force powers, and through that dominate technological concepts - the Sith had meditation spheres that were semi-sentient droids, after a fashion, and the Emperor used that concept to seize control of the Tho Yor, rather than directly apply the Force in person. That is, by definition, risky.”

    A shudder. “But if we rely upon Kyber supplies, you’ve a resource that is limited. With the exhaustion of supplies at Jedha and Ilum, let alone the Kyber of Exegol - three major locations to the Force using community - there are very limited locales.” He indicated the Crystal here. “So we have mastered techniques to grow Kyber Crystal in record time. And as long as we use the same source - Kyber I believe that forms part of a fourth planetary core - then we can attune an entire network of ships to the Kyber.”

    He grinned. “Indeed, this selfsame Kyber is of the same frequency as that which commands the Tho Yor, so it truly is a brilliant idea. Secure here, the Emperor can propagate Kyber weapons and powered ships, having shaven off a sizeable portion from the original crystals heart.” A slight nod. “Indeed, I believe that to a sufficiently strong Force user, one can use parts of this crystal to locate the very Controller of the Kyber technology.” He paused, amused. “Thus it being hidden here,” Valon said coolly.

    As the governor guided the group into the complex Sabel, as well as the true Red Guards, stirred slightly. The distant feeling of kyber gently tickled their senses. Sabel, in particular, had to keep his own expression and senses calm as he was sure the governor would notice if the supposed Grand Admiral was Force sensitive, which Thrawn was not known for.

    Once the door opened and he realized that it was more of a warehouse the sense of power, of energy, flooded through the Chiss Sith, making his efforts to hide his own attunement to the Force even more difficult. However, he succeeded, barely.

    The biggest problem seemed to be that he could not tear his eyes from the large Kyber that dominated the center of the room. When he finally managed to do so he was relieved as the others were as focused on it as he was. He tuned in to hear the governor’s words and what he heard only made his focus on the massive crystal that more intense.

    The words sunk into him as he walked closer to the Kyber. His Red Guard spread out, covering the angles, covering as much of the massive warehouse as they could while also attempting to not be entranced by the crystal. ”This, you say, is a key to finding the Controller of the Kyber?” he asked, his tone still cold and distant, at though bemused by the thought.

    His hand hovered just over the surface of the crystal, not yet touching it, as he turned to face the governor, ”There are needs to keep such things secret, I agree. However, it concerns me that the Emperor would secure it on a remote world, without more safeguards than the fact the world had been turned into a fortress.”

    He desired to touch it, to take the power of that crystal and make it his own but years of training and leading told him it wouldn’t be as simple as that, that someone like Snoke would have at least one major safeguard to keep a powerful Force user from taking the power themselves.

    "A mere fortress would not be trap enough for a Force user," Valon agreed, and then he suddenly exploded forward, not an old man, but a biot of some kind. A living droid, with that turnaround, Eleodie reasoned, half a second before he shoved her flying -

    Simultaneous to that, the boxes at the edges of the rooms erupted, revealing -

    "Destroyer Droids!"

    A guard shouted out as eight of the things emerged from ten of the boxes, already standing, their shields up, and a barrage spitting forward -

    The acolytes were cut down in an instant, fodder for blaster bolts -

    Sabel was already moving as the words came from what had been the governor. He turned, seeing Eliodie being thrown back by the biot, his back pressing against the Kyber, only the cloth separating the crystal and his skin. A two toned whistle escaped his lips, the Red Guard turning on the exploding boxes.

    One of the other of his troop spun toward him as lightsabers in various shades of red lit the area, the Red Guard heading into battle with the Destroyer Droids. The trooper ripped off a section of his armor, throwing it toward Sabel who reached out and Pulled it to him. His red eyes blazed as he turned his attention to the biot. ”You chose poorly.” he said as his hands filled with a pair of red bladed lightsabers.

    ”And the natural jamming of this place, bringing me here, was another poor choice.” He’d given a countdown timer order to the task group that if he went out of comm reception for that they would begin the destruction of the minefields and the planet. His smile was grim, ”Hitting my child was yet another mistake…” he muttered, the tip of one saber pointing at the biot before lightning arced out of it, at the creature.

    The lightning rebounded around its skin, as if the flesh was an insulator for the droid beneath. The biot was fast, and it’s fist slammed into the armour, pressing Sabel against the Kyber behind him.

    The attacker was gambling that Sabel would be winded and not strike back -

    Eleodie sat up and felt a blaster placed into zher hand, took a potshot at a droideka but they were busy firing upon the red guard -

    Annoyed, zhe turned to the wider area, watching occasional bolts stray into the crystal, illuminating it briefly. A frown, but not at that. There were two more boxes… zher eyes went to one as zhe saw a shadow emerge, one which promptly resolved itself into a skittering set of scarab droids -

    “Bugs!”

    Eloedie began shooting, even as a guard was caught at the boot and drawn into the swarm screaming -

    The hit only mildly rattled Sabel as it pushed him against the Kyber. What truly caused him to pause though was when he came into direct contact with the crystal. Time seemed to slow, the biot’s movements almost as though it was moving through water or a dense liquid. His eyes began to blaze as the crystal communed with him, power and energy pouring into him, beyond any he’d felt before.

    The Red Guard worked in pairs, fighting the droidekas, one keeping the droid’s attention focused on them as the other worked around it, looking for the weak spot to take down the shield. The troopers were mounting the best defense they could but the scarab droids were a major obstacle. From time to time they’d try to get orders from Sabel but he was ‘lost’ in the communion with the Kyber.

    The Kyber laughed at him, in Snoke’s voice. It cut deep, it cut hard, into his soul, and heart.

    The biot punched Sable in the nose, breaking it, and jerking his head back into the crystal -

    The droidekas were busy hosing the red guards’ armour with blaster fire, periodically diverted from one target to the other. Eleodie was firing as fast as the blaster allowed at scarab droids as they left a guard dead - poisoned by their toxins - and she backed towards Sabel, desperate to protect him, even as the biot increased the pressure on Sabel’s chest armour -

    Jakku.

    The Kyber had a mind, beneath the domination of Snoke, connecting Sabel to where the heart of the crystal was. It told a tale of being uprooted, ripped, and seeded in the dark depths of Jakku -

    One of four, one of four -

    Power existed, nascent, there for Sabel to take, with Snoke’s voice between him and it -

    The biot reared back, making a spear of its hand, ready to stab his throat -

    The Red Guard were giving the droidekas as good as they got, lightsabers flashing back and forth, deflecting the blaster bolts that were fired in mass volleys at them. They attempted to aid the other troopers when they could, deflecting the bolts at the scarabs but, more often than not, reflecting them back at the large droids, to attack their shields.

    Sabel’s eyes shot open, not seeing the battle, as his soul screamed at the assault from Snoke’s essence. The broken nose barely registered, save for the blood dripping and spurting down his face. His mouth opened in a silent screaming rictus of pain before it snapped shut, his red eyes light two red beacons as they narrowed.

    A warbling alarm came from his armor as the chestpiece creaked under the pressure. His mind and soul continued to be only remotely aware of the physical battle as his will strove against that which came from the Kyber, a film of the twisted Emperor between him and the true essence of it.

    The two red lightsabers suddenly were in motion, the armor’s defense systems snapping into action. The arms moved, one slashing out at the bladelike arm ready to spear at Sabel’s throat, the other sweeping across the chestpiece, drawing sparks as it slashed at the part of the biot that was trying to crush the chest of the armor.

    At the same time Sabel’s will had gathered, the essence of Snoke hadn’t reckoned that it was dealing with a Force user who had spent decades maximizing his mental abilities. Anger, pain, pure will drew into a pure, shining, and drawing from the energy that had already hit him from the Kyber a powerful Mind Shard, aiming it at what felt as though a weak point of the essence, in its barrier between him and the pure kyber.

    Eleodie’s blaster rung with an alarm; depletion would come soon. Zhe swore, and began to kick at the scarabs, and threw zher blaster at one -

    Zher eyes roved as zhe called out. “Need a gun!” Then zher mind caught up. One of the boxes hadn’t dropped a surprise on them. “We have a box left!”

    “Someone check it out!”

    One of the guards that Eleodie assumed was not one of the elites replied, rushing the box and firing. When he was there, he peered in. “Clear!” He sounded confused, but sure.

    Eleodie frowned, stomping a scarab. “Clear as in empty?”

    “Empty, ma’am!”

    “Well get here and help the Admiral!”

    But biot was suddenly in pieces, and the energy from the Kyber reacted to the intermingling - a wave of power fried all the electronics in the area, dropping the droids in all, and there was a cry out as the mind shard embedded itself in Snoke’s minds-eye -

    Literally, the visual was of a blade in his beaded pupil, and he lashed out through the bond -

    The Kyber Crystal shattered, hammering them in a thousand shards, Eleodie the most exposed with no real armour to her -

    All of a sudden the door to the warehouse exploded inward, but the two Mechtroopers toppled inward, reinforcements surging in. Through the opening, Eleodie could see their ships had besieged and broken through the shields and defences, efficiently cutting through come to the aid of their Admiral as soon as time passed.

    “Wow,” zhe said, conscious of a hundred cuts that were leaking from zher, before zhe zherself toppled. Zher eyed lidded, but zhe remained conscious, worried for Sabel -

    The Kyber shards echoed in Sabel’s mind. Jakku, Jakku, Jakku. Come. Bring help. Bring all your help.

    Sabel’s mouth opened again, a crowing sound of triumph as he ‘saw’ the image that had reached him, of the blade of will in Snoke’s pupil. And then reality exploded, the Kyber shattering, throwing his armored form across the warehouse. The back of his armor was almost a solid wall of shards of the Kyber, embedded in the matrix of it.

    His mind, freed of the assault by the Emperor’s essence, had one bemused thought as the warehouse door burst open, that now he didn’t need to seek small shards of Kyber to power this or his other sets of armor, once they were cleansed of any remaining taint of Snoke.

    The Red Guard swiftly recovered from their shock, from the intensity of the battle against the droidekas. The four of them bounded from where they had fought, to slam to a halt around Sabel. Elevtus and Dertientus faced outward from their master, posture stating very clearly that any approach would be met with force. Twalvtus dropped to her knees, scanning Sabel, checking his condition.

    Sabel’s mind echoed again and again with the message that was being sent and, as he dropped into the blessings of unconsciousness, he whispered the word ”Jakku…” Decimus looked from him to Twalvtus who nodded. His attention turned to Eleodie. A harsh but almost asexual tone came from the armor, ”Lord Sabel is injured but only unconscious. What he called you has been noted but he is alive so we shall return to the Task Force and await his awakening before we proceed, regardless of his final words before he passed out.”

    Decimus’s attention then turned from her to the other three. No words were spoken but Elevtus and Dertientus spun, all the lightsabers were sheathed, those two and Twalvtus lifted Sabel. Turning to face Eleodie, ”Time to return to the Megarea.” the asexual voice spoke again, then repeated the order to the troops that had entered the warehouse.

    As they stepped out, the shriek and scream of fighters split the air, reducing the surrounding area into rubble. The shuttle that had brought them darted down, spinning so the ramp hit the ground before them as the shuttle itself landed hard, the landing struts compressing at the combat landing. Decimus turned back to Eleodie, ”I suppose you will wish to remain by your sire’s side until he wakes.”

    Eleodie, herself subject to a dozen bacta patches on zher small cuts, after a medic had taken the time to draw out any crystals, glowered. The gurney swept up Sabel, taking him aboard and zhe softened. “Yes, Decimus, we would like that, please.”

    They’d gone through a lot today.

    “Gather our ships and leave an occupation force,” zhe said, softly. “We imagine uncle will be going to Jakku.” Zher tone narrowed, and shoulders squared. “And we’re going to be backing him up.”

    Decimus nodded, as what remained of the group, as well as the biohazard bagged corpse of the trooper that had been killed, boarded the shuttle. When it lifted, other shuttles dropped in to pick up the other troops that had assaulted the warehouse, others descending from the sky, disgorging walkers and troops, to begin the occupation.

    Settling Sabel gently on a reclined seat, Decimus left the other three to watch their master, turning to face Eleodie. One hand reached up, removing the helmet, ”Our Master said you preferred not to speak to helmets.” came from the tall, pale sephi, in the same asexual tone. ”The Fleet has been called for, when our Master awakens we will follow him through the gates of Hell, as it feels as though that is the battle to come.” the hermaphroditic sephi told zher.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth
     
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  19. TheAdmiral

    TheAdmiral Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 28, 2004
    IC: Jori II Atreus
    Attending the briefing


    Jori nodded in thanks for the information provided. She was not a military planner so they did not tell her that much. She had a general idea of the ships’ strengths and weaknesses. She needed more data on their allies, finances, possible connections and so on. But this was a start of sorts.

    She considered her answer “We should avoid military action if possible.” she started “I will be able to take control of the planet. If the ruling families are the same as I know them, I have the necessary leverage to sway them.” Jori gave a knowing smile.

    “It will take some time, but I am sure that I can manage it.” she added “I must not be seen as a conqueror who brings a foreign power. Besides, it is well known that my grandmother managed to forge strong relations with Eriadu.” she smirked slightly.

    “I will require up to date information of the situation on Kuat.” Jori commanded, she was becoming Kuat of Kuat again. “And will need something to help sweeten the deal. After all, I will be making Kuat a potential target for military reprisal. Our enemies will want to make my homeworld an example of what will happen to anyone who wants to secede. We have to be sure that we will be able to hold on to the planet.”

    “And forgive my frankness, but right now we are just an upstart. We need to prove that we can perform.” she said in a grave tone.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth @darthbernael
     
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  20. Darth Cocytus

    Darth Cocytus Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    May 8, 2016
    Darth Cocytus
    Complications

    Already concerned by the presence of a jedi, Cocytus bit his lip as he also sensed his apprentice's movements. He hissed quietly when she arrived and with a glare placed a finger on his lips in a silent hush. To be honest Cocytus was disappointed in her at this point. To think that Alecto would know better by now than to doubt that her master would have already sensed the Jedi.

    She was also lucky that Cocytus was working hard to conceal their presence in the Force in his partial meditation.

    "I have known since the moment we took off." Cocytus would explain in such a quiet whisper that Alecto's ear would have to be really close to hear him, "It certainly troubles the situation and makes taking the ship at the moment much harder now."

    His eyes narrowed in thought. The last thing he wanted was to attract the ire of Jedi by revealing themselves too soon.

    "We should let the ship reach its destination." Cocytus concluded at what he saw as the safest way, "Take the ship when they're gone. Stay here with me for now. No further noise."


    @Sinrebirth



    Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk
     
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  21. darthbernael

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

    Registered:
    Apr 15, 2019
    IC: Marana and Tarkin
    Battle Plan Kuat

    Tarkin sat at the briefing, acting as an observer, to begin, as well as the new leader of Eriadu. His cane sat between his legs, hands folded over the hilt of it, as he listened intently. When Zel finished speaking, the man’s attention directed at Marana, Tarkin simply smiled beatifically, letting others take the lead.

    Before Marana could speak, even as he could sense her desire to verbally spar with Zel, his granddaughter spoke up. Marana herself closed her mouth, whatever she’d intended to say, not even forming syllables before she closed it.

    Both of them turned to listen as Jori spoke. At her smirk, Tarkin shook his head with a small smile as Marana snorted. ”Strong relations is speaking right now…” she said, under her breath, as a slightly wider smile than Tarkin’s crossed her face.

    ”Hear hear, I fully agree with the points the Kuat of Kuat just ma….” Tarkin began before his eyes widened, his spine straightening as he sat up suddenly.

    Marana moved swiftly from her seat, crouching by the older man, concerned at the sudden movement. He raised a hand, letting it fall on her shoulder, ”A…call…has gone…out.” he whispered to her.

    Her eyes narrowed at the whisper, knowing some of the older man’s past. She glanced over at Jori, wondering if the girl’s grandmother had ever told her of the time when she’d been in the Program. Shaking her head, she remained at Tarkin’s side, still concerned.

    She was bowled over onto her backside when Tarkin suddenly stood, his eyes wide, unseeing. His mouth opened and he croaked out Uzuriel....Jakku” before his eyes rolled back, he stiffened and, as she moved to catch him, he toppled forward.

    She set him gently on the floor, reaching out to feel for him. His chest rose and fell but…

    Looking up, her head turned, eyes meeting Jori’s eyes once more, burning with emotion,, ”He yet lives. At least his body does. His essence, his spirit is…not here.”

    TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @TheAdmiral
     
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  22. darthbernael

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

    Registered:
    Apr 15, 2019
    OOC: Double post approved by GM

    IC: Bernael, Adalia, and Kyp combo with Adalia-Durron and Sinrebirth
    Akrian…and hyper

    The world below was beautiful, Bernael had to admit, something he recalled almost every time that he’d come here. Not that there were many of the beings below that ever knew he came here and even fewer that liked or tolerated his presence there that knew he’d come. Even from here, he could sense the annoyance of one of the two he’d reached out to. It had been years and he was sure that both of them, as active as they were in their older age, hadn’t expected him to arrive.

    However, for once, he’d not come with a matter of great urgency or dire need. Instead it was almost a social call, that he’d not seen them, seen her, in years and he wanted to visit. ’Perhaps I’m getting maudlin as I get older.’ he thought, musing. When he felt Adalia’s reply, and the almost mentally yelled ’NO!’ from Kyp his eyes glittered as he smiled.

    Letting them both feel the next thought, he sent it ’Will be good to see you Adalia, been so long since we've been alone together…' He knew that was one thing that would get under Kyp’s skin and, while how he felt about Adalia hadn’t changed over the years, he not let it show and instead used it as a way to tease and get Kyp to agree to things that the man otherwise might not.

    "Why?" Kyp asked cooly, "I'm way past going on his little jaunts into trouble, we both are."

    "Speak for yourself." Adalia muttered as she brushed her hair out, the grey streak in the front becoming more prominent leaving her to consider colourations once again.

    Entering the room and walking up behind her, he slid his arms around her waist. "Isn't there enough excitement here for you anymore?" He asked leaning into her neck, his own greying locks falling forward over her shoulder.

    She smiled warmly as she put the brush down and reached up to cup his cheek, "plenty here, but its been a while since either of us venture off world, that's enticing."

    "But.....with him?" Kyp sighed, he knew he was fighting a losing battle, but he had to keep fighting it, he'd felt like he'd been fighting this battle for half his life. "You know how I feel about him."

    Adalia openly laughed, "I know, he knows and anyone who knows you both.......knows. You're not particularly good at keeping that secret."

    "I lost the moment he contacted us, didn't I?" Releasing her, he stepped back, "you're going aren't you."

    She gave a tormenting smile, "do you really want me alone with him? Knowing what we know?"

    "Argh!" Turning he left her in front of the reflector, stalking back into their bedroom, "manipulated again!"

    Adalia smiled, sending a mental message to Bernael, 'we're coming'.

    In orbit, Bernael relaxed in the command chair of the Fury, knowing, without being able to hear, the argument that he was sure was taking place down on the surface. Kyp had never really accepted that he was close to Adalia, not in the over three decades that Bernael had known her.

    The orbital area was very sparsely populated, Akrian not being a major trade world. In fact, the only other craft nearby caused him to chuckle. ”It doesn’t look any less purple than the last time I saw it.” he said wryly, as he looked through the viewscreen at Adalia’s yacht.

    Only a few minutes had passed since the last mental communication he’d sent to the pair before he felt the edges of awareness tingling with a returned thought. Opening himself to receive it, he nodded. ’I’ll be here.’

    Standing, he walked back into the main lounge, to wait for their arrival. As he waited, one of the astromechs approached, whistling and tweeting. The corner of his mouth turned up at the comment, ”At least Kyp will not be able to complain of the cabin not being dusted recently. They are enroute, have drinks ready and perhaps a small meal.”

    The children weren't children anymore, they were young adults and mostly self-sufficient now so leaving them home wasn't a huge issue. Adalia was mostly concerned with them not being able to get on as they were very different personalities, ironically similar to their parents, but stronger. It hadn't taken long to get the Crystal Dawn up and humming in the hangar, having been constantly maintained over the years by droids and still looked in pristine condition. Sitting in the pilot's seat, she scanned the control dials with her trained eyes, knowing exactly what was right and wrong, this was her ship after all, and she knew it like one of her children, more so even.

    "Ok, got what you asked for."

    Her husbands almost bitter tone made her smile. "Thank you love, I'm sure this is not a long trip, so not much needed. I think he just wants to see us."

    "You.....he wants to see you, I'm just the annoyance you travel with, and what you got me to pack says otherwise." Kyp slid into the seat beside her, leaning for to touch the hangar controls. Looking upward out the top of the cockpit, he watched the roof open, "I'm sure he'd rather I didn't come along at all."

    Leaning forward, she took the controls and gently brought the engines up before lifting the craft off the ground. "Not true, he loves to torment you. I liken it to fishing, and you take the bait nearly every time." She smirked as the 'Dawn' cleared the hanger.

    He touched the button to close the hangar again, "its the bait he uses, he knows my weakness."

    Turning the ship skyward, she smiled, "awe......I'm your weakness."

    Kyp sat back doing up his crash harness. "Shut up."

    Adalia giggled.

    A chime caught Bernael’s attention. Taking only a couple steps, he touched a stud on the holo table. A visual of the space around the Fury sprang into focus, the Crystal Dawn slowly approaching.

    ”Cleared to dock.’ he broadcast to Adalia, pressing the comm stud. ”And welcome, both of you.” His tone was slightly teasing, as he knew that Kyp only came because he didn’t want the two of them left alone.

    That done, he made his way through the lounge, around and through the short corridor to the main lock. Glancing out of the viewport, he could see the yacht approaching. He shook his head, ”How can the whole galaxy not know when she’s out traveling?” he muttered.

    Easing the craft in and listening as the docking clamps did their job, Adalia realised how much she missed flying. She was a pilot first and foremost, everything else came behind and she wasn't even sure of the order of it, but she was in her element.

    "Not seen that smile in a while, flying or him?" Kyp asked, his arms folded and one foot on the console.

    Adalia rolled her eyes, "flying you dork, I miss it." Shutting the ship down into a drift she stood, "no idea why you're so insecure love," she leaned over and kissed the top of his greying hair, "always been you and you alone, he knows that too." Turning she headed toward the docking bay.

    Unfolding his arms he allowed an almost cocky smile, "nice to hear from time to time."

    When he heard the docking clamps engage, the green light of a secure lock coming on, Bernael opened the Fury’s hatch, stepping into the short corridor between the two craft. Through the hatch, he could hear the two of them conversing. Shaking his head, knowing that they could go on, he wrapped on the hatch, raising his voice to carry through the durasteel of the hatch to the Crystal Dawn. ”If you two are done flirting, I’m just outside the hatch…” he called out.

    Adalia smirked, "you done eaves dropping? Voyeur!!!"

    Kyp did love his wife's ability to put people in their place. "Nice." He muttered.

    Snorting, ”Like I couldn’t feel the emotions from the other side of my ship.” he teased in return. ”Are we going to banter on either side of the hatch all day or are you two coming across?”

    "Yeah, yeah, but why we going there?" Her memory was long, and every time she were on his ship, they ended up somewhere they never planned to be. "The Dawn's got all you got."

    "And I'm comfortable on it." Kyp added.

    Shaking his head again, ”Well,” he said as he turned, head turned toward their hatch, ”I’ll be over here if you choose to join me. Not sure the galaxy will continue to believe in the Ghost if I’m back on that purple monstrosity.” he joked, before heading back into the Fury

    Adalia rolled her eyes, "thought this was just a visit? And insult my ship again and we're out of here."

    ”Hmmm…can’t hear you, walking back to my ship…” he called out louder. ”It is a visit but you know how things go with me and better if I’m on my ship if I’m needed somewhere. Faster that way.”

    She leaned forward, "what if we don't want to go!!! We never want to go!!" It was the truth, generally when he ripped them from their home, they were more than reluctant.

    ”As though your yacht won’t be just an airlock away.” he said, almost halfway down the corridor from the main hatch at that point.

    "He's manipulating you.....us, again...." Kyp sighed leaning against the bulkhead, "and you know it."

    "Yeah I do, give me an alternative." Amber grumbled.

    "Got nothing, he's winning this round."

    Bernael had stopped mid corridor, turning and leaning against the bulkhead, much as Kyp was, not knowing they were doing the same thing. He didn’t have anything more to say to encourage them, the ball was all in their court, whether they would join him or not.

    Adalia grumbled something, but no one would have understood it, and that was her intention. "Come on, better let the kids know."

    "Already did, told them a couple weeks." Kyp said, pushing off the bulkhead, "come on."

    "I hate you."

    "No, you hate him and it's not very Jedi of you."

    "Ain't no Jedi, remember?" Her tone was harsh as she followed him.

    When the hatch opened and they stepped through, Bernael pushed off the bulkhead. ”Not bad, only got to sixty in my head.” he teased. Holding up his hands, feeling the slight tension, ”I spent all that time on your ship, I did think it was fair that you and Kyp were able to accept my hospitality, in return.” Turning, he gestured into the ship, ”You both know the way to the main lounge and I did make sure to have your cabin prepared, should you both desire privacy.”

    "Cabin?" Kyp questioned, "thought this was a social visit?" His tone cool.

    "What he said." Adalia stopped just inside the docking hatch. "And people say I have attitude!?" She gave her head a shake, "you got to 60, good for you, you learned to count. From memory, you were on the Dawn cause we saved your life, or did that bit slip your mind?" She rolled her eyes, "can we cut through the bantha poodoo and get to the point please? Why are you here? What do you need? What do you want from us?"

    Kyp smiled and looked down, his Jedi training often stopped him in public getting to the point, not so much in private or among friends, but none of that mattered to Adalia. She had a point, she got to it and it didn't matter who she was speaking too. "What she said."

    Bernael chuckled, one hand lifting before running it back through his hair. ”I must be getting old as this is a social call. I came to spend some time with the couple people, maybe Kyp excluded,” he said with a grin, ”who aren’t on the fence or foes. And the cabin is because you wouldn’t have to shuttle up and down from Akrian. Especially if,” his silver eyes glittered, ”you both would like to travel, for relaxation not business. After all, I do know all the best worlds for that.”

    "We're going nowhere." Kyp stated, "social visit? Right." He snorted.

    Amber sighed, "no one is shuttling up or down anywhere, social visits are usually not over days or weeks. Most people 'pop' in for a visit, they don't plan to stay for any length of time. So, why are you here? Why is 'our quarters'," and she used her fingers in an inverted comma display, "ready? Ready for what?"

    ”Do you two honestly think all I do is work?” Bernael asked in a slightly teasing tone.

    He turned to head up through the small corridor to the main lounge. Lifting a hand, there were suddenly a pair of vouchers in it. ”Guess I’ll need to get these all expenses paid vouchers for the resort on Zeltros returned in that case.”

    Amber narrowed her green eyes, "how long have you known me? You really think I'm that kriffin' cheap?" She was not impressed at all. "You either tell us what you need or why you are here, or we leave. If its social, then lets just sit down with a drink and chat for a bit, if not, come clean, cause you know better than anyone..." she stopped, "no you know as well as he does, I don't tolerate games."

    Once again Kyp smirked, "what she said."

    Bernael snorted, continuing to walk up the corridor, ”There won’t be any drinks or chats if you two refuse to move from just inside the main hatch. And I truly did get you tickets for the resort on Zeltros, a vacation is not a bad thing. But, if you want to know how things are you’d still need to come into the lounge to chat.”

    He shrugged, ”Your choice, of course.”

    "Ok, lounge and a chat, works for me." Kyp said looking to his wife.

    "Me too, don't need a holiday, have you seen our home? Kids are gone most the time now." She began to walk, "so it's just me and the old Jedi Master back there."

    Kyp following snorted, "you're only a year younger so not so much of the old please?"

    Glancing over his shoulder with a snort and a raised eyebrow, ”Toddlers…the lot of you…toddlers.” he said with a chuckle.

    When they reached the lounge, one of the droids was there, waiting. Noticing it, ”Just tell D3 there what you want and he’ll get it from the galley.” A couple more steps and he sat down on one of the long lounges, by the holo table.

    Adalia wasn't particularly thirsty, nor hungry, but sensed they'd annoyed Bernael just enough. "Fruit juice?" She asked, looking to Kyp.

    "Hey, making the most of this, your best Corellian Rum please?" He folded his arms with a dark eyebrow raised.

    Adalia simply smiled.

    With a whistle, the droid trundled off towards the galley, intent on finishing the mission it had been given.

    Bernael gestured at the other lounge, ”Have a seat, we’re not on a tight timeline so relaxing is a definite.”

    "Unlike you, we do get tired." Adalia said sitting down, "you called us toddlers, but that's your time scale, not ours." She put her hand on the seat beside her, patting her fingers to indicate for her husband to sit with her. After all these years she still needed him to be close to her when in this being's presence.

    Sitting where indicated by Adalia, Kyp watched the droid go, "she's right, we're getting on these days." It was a bit of a lie, but it worked, they were both very active and vital for their ages.

    Shaking his head again, Bernael’s lips turned up in a smile. ”Why would either of you think I would believe that?” he asked, leaning back, arms spread on the lounge.

    It was only a few moments before the droid returned with a tray. On it was a glass of fruit juice and another filled with Corellian Rum. It set the tray on the table between the tao lounges before taking a position against one bulkhead, in case it was called on again.

    Nodding at the drinks, ”Drink up, I’m good so enjoy.” Bernael said calmly. ”Honestly, this is a social call. The….boss...has been active elsewhere, working with another agent, so I’ve been enjoying some time off.”

    "So why aren't you on Zeltros?" Adalia asked as she sat forward and picked up both glasses, handing Kyp his.

    "Cause he'd eat the guests." Kyp answered with a pair of raised eyebrows as he lifted his glass in salute to Bernael.

    ”Well….I was but, after I liberated them from the crime boss that was running the planet, making it clear such wouldn’t be tolerated, to the other gangs, the citizens were overjoyed.” He glanced over at the holo table, ”So I and any guests I bring are welcome there, always.”

    Closing his eyes for a moment, ”It’s almost relaxing, simply liberating worlds from crime bosses rather than trying to keep the universe from ending. But…you wanted to know about the current state of the galaxy.”

    "It's balanced?" Adalia asked after a sip, "finally?"

    Sipping his rum, Kyp blinked at how smooth it was, it almost burned on the way down. He really didn't expect anything less, and when he thought on it, there was a good chance a bottle over a thousand years old was just cracked.
    ------

    Bernael sighed at the question. The silver of his eyes dulled for a moment, ”It isn't balanced. Not by a long shot, unfortunately.” he said quietly.

    Standing, he walked over to the holo table, turning it on and pulling up a galactic map. The virulent colors of it showed just how bad things had become.

    ”The First Order and Empire have rebounded at the hands of Emperor Snoke and his Celestial weapons, the same kind of technology that Centerpoint Station had used to blow up stars, create system-wide gravity interdiction, and heavy jamming, the same devices that had been able to imprison Abeloth for thirty thousand years.” He knew they both knew of Centerpoint, having been involved there years ago.

    Gesturing at the map, it focused on several systems before zooming in on one in particular. ”At present the Resistance force in the galaxy have recently won the Battles of Mon Calamari, Roon, Arkinnea and Lexrul, but fallen hard for a trap at Jakku. The Controller for the Celestial weapons, it was there by all accounts, and the Resistance, the Jedi - including Jedi Masters Zekk, Lowbacca, and others - had been caught up with the Megador and other Imperial allies. It was going about as well as could be expected, for this galaxy - for this war.” he said, weariness in his tone.

    One last flourish of his hand before he dimmed the display, all but throwing himself back into his seat, ”It’s been named The Second Galactic Civil War; near on two decades of continuous warfare against Sith and Empire.” he muttered, as a finale to updating them both on the current state of affairs.

    Adalia sat back, "whoa."

    "And here we are, the reason, knew there was one." Kyp sat forward, his forearms on his thighs, "so what do you want us..." he turned and looked at his wife, "her, to do?"

    Bernael smiled softly, ”I honestly did come for a social visit alone. I’ve been told that I’ve been benched, so to speak, to have me ready for…”

    A wave of energy, unseen but felt, passed through the Fury, a message buried in the energy reaching out, to Bernael primarily. A look crossed his face as the intercom buzzed, a mechanical voice sounding, Coordinates received.

    Bernael stood, swaying, looking over at Kyp and Adalia. His expression seemed puzzled, something neither had ever seen on the ancient being’s face. Taking a step toward them his expression went slack just as the sound of the Fury’s airlock detaching from Adalia’s yacht reached their ears.

    In a silent movement, his open eyes unseeing, Bernael collapsed to the deck, unmoving. The mechanical voice spoke again, Undocked, hyper course set and locked. it stated flatly just before the ship lurched in that movement that spoke of it jumping to hyper.

    A quiet voice whispered in Adalia’s mind, ’Jakku, the end comes.’

    Adalia gasped as she stood up, it was all happening at once and she'd felt the call, felt his essence leave and then heard the voice as she grabbed a protruding bulkhead.

    Kyp stood, he'd felt something, not sure what it was but his focus was on the 'Crystal Dawn' detaching and the automated voice announcing their jump. "KRIFF IT!!"

    Akrian wasn't all that far from Jakku, in galactic terms.

    They both inhabited the western edge of the southern quadrant; the line between Known and Unknown, relatively speaking. But Jakku was in the Inner Rim, and they were in the Outer. So it was two jumps, and their ship was fast; if they wanted to attempt an override, they'd have to be quick.

    To demonstrate as much, their ship arrived at the first point, and began an automatic reorient -

    Adalia was still feeling the after effects of what had just happened, and she had no idea what had happened. Dazed, she looked over to the inert form of Bernael, lying motionless on the deck, his presence in the Force gone.

    "I knew this was a bad idea!!" Kyp was stumbling toward the cockpit, he had to find a way to stop this ship, stop it from taking them wherever it was taking them.

    Disorientated she knew this was very wrong as she made her way over to Bernael and got to her knees beside him. "B?" She put her hands on his shoulder and gently shook him, but there was nothing, she couldn't 'feel' him anymore. It was like a hole in her being, part of her was just gone. Slumping to one side on her hip she sat there staring, more confused than ever. "What's going on?" She almost whimpered.

    The controls were familiar, he could fly this ship, if it would let him. "Let me in you piece of...." Kyp was frustrated as the entire ship had locked him out and he had no idea where to even start to attempt to get control again. "Go visit a friend, it'll be fine she said, I told her I didn't trust him!" He growled.

    The controls didn’t budge, the navigation console was calculating the next jump, as Kyp tried to gain control of the ship. The bridge was quiet, except for his growling and cursing as he tried. The hyperdrive began to spool up once again, buttons failed to cause any changes. It was as though the ship had its own mind and it had chosen to follow the path it had been ordered upon.

    In the main lounge, the holo table flickered, alighting, before a hologram of Bernael appeared above, looking out as though at someone standing before him. The tone of voice was more of that Bernael who had first asked her to be an agent of the Balance with him. ”Adalia Durron, yes I know you married recently and I knew that your husband would not want my presence at the ceremony so I did not attend. But that is not why I have appeared.”

    The eyes of the hologram darkened, his arms folded behind his back, ”The one and only reason this program would be activated is because…”

    One hand moved, reaching up, and pinching the bridge of his nose, ”...you are either alone or with your husband on the Fury and I am…how to put this delicately…not here. And the Fury must be currently racing toward a specific destination, on its own.”

    The form began to pace back and forth before the pickup that had been used. ”If so, I am truly sorry to have gotten you involved at this stage. I had hoped to keep this moment from occurring in your lifetime, to save you from it. But,” the head turned, looking around the space, as though unsure now that she was standing before it. ”if this program has activated then the End of Time is upon us and you, your husband maybe, and not sure who else, are being taken to where they can do the most good to either keep the End from happening or ensure it does not end in darkness.”

    The pacing stopped, facing forward once more, ”I’m sure you are angry, upset, and probably have questions. I have limited knowledge of what may be occurring but I left answers to whatever questions I considered you might ask, as part of this program…” With that, the hologram ceased moving, waiting for her to speak, if she would.

    Rolling to the other hip, then to her bottom, hands out behind her, disbelief on her face as she watched. "How old is this? End of time? What the kriff?" She sat forward, "End of time, what is that?" Closing her eyes, she mentally called to her husband.

    Thumping the console Kyp sat back, "fine, you won, this time. If I thought plunging my saber into you would help, I'd do it, you know that?" He rolled his eyes, he was talking to the ship. Then he felt the pull, Adalia needed him. "You'll keep, trust me, first chance I get, you're done." Getting up he headed back to the lounge.

    Hearing a question being asked, the hologram shifted, pacing once again. ”The End of Time. It seems simple but in this case I refer to the final battles, the end of all, the moment…” a snort came from the it, ”If you can call a titanic struggle that will occur a moment, that is. But what I mean is when the First Darkness, the First Light, and Uzuriel fight the battle that they’ve been destined to fight since time began, to determine how the galaxy perishes. Each has built their power, grown in strength since the Dawn of Time. Uzuriel fights to keep the galaxy alive, possibly the only one of the three. But, if he fails, either the galaxy will end in pure light or pure darkness.” the soliloquizing ceased and the hologram returned to stillness, waiting for the next question.

    Kyp entered the lounge to hear the majority of that and he turned to look at his wife. "That sounds serious, and almost impossible."

    Adalia was nodding slowly. "What can we do to help? I mean, do we?"

    With another question asked the hologram paused, ”That is a slightly more difficult question to answer as I am not fully aware when, where, or how this battle will be joined or who the other participants may be. However, just as Uzuriel has agents and vessels, so too do the First Darkness and First Light. Which means others besides you, me wherever I may be, and Uzuriel’s other agents that will have been called, there will be those there who are fighting for the other two beings. I would surmise we have been called to allow Uzuriel to focus on the true battle while we keep him from being harmed by the agents of the other two.”

    The hologram sighed, seemingly weary, ”I am sorry but I don’t have specifics I can give that will tell you exactly what you ought to do but I do trust you, Adalia, fully and there are, yes including your stubborn husband who hates me, less than a handful of beings I’d want to have fighting at my side if this is truly the End.”

    Kyp shrugged as he crossed his arm, "don't hate you....dislike maybe? Don't trust you with my wife?"

    Adalia sighed, choosing to ignore him. "What do you want us to do?" If they were going to be in the thick of a battle, she needed as much ammunition as she could get.

    As the warning chime of the hyperdrive spooling up sounded the hologram flickered for a moment, before the head turned toward her directly, his silver eyes almost boring into her green ones. ”Prepare yourselves, Addie.” the voice said in a sad tone.

    ”Prepare yourselves in every way that you can. There are various types of armor, extra weapons, and the like, in the cargo hold, which has been unlocked for you. Prepare your minds as well as this will, most likely, be a battle that involves several levels of reality.”

    The head turned toward Kyp, the intense eyes meeting his as well. ”I knew, from day one, that your wife loves you with all she is. Which does not change how I feel for her. But, Master Durron, because of how I feel is why I will place myself in defense of her, in any situation, so that she survives and returns to you.”

    "Where ever you are.........and no one here knows that." Kyp turned to lean his back against the door way bulkhead. "This is how I wanted to spend my retirement."

    "Will you quit it Jedi Boy, I'm thinking." Slowly Adalia looked to the inert form on the floor and back to the Holo, "do we need to put your.....shell somewhere so you can come back to it?" She asked as she got to her feet.

    The holo’s attention turned back to her. ”Has it reached that point already?” it asked.

    The intercom speaker near them crackled as a wispy image of Bernael seemed to walk through the space, almost a ghost, an afterimage of him sometime in the past. ’Mistress Adalia, while I am under orders to not allow anyone access to the navigation systems I am authorized to answer such questions. You may say I am the Fury itself. Please place the Master in his cabin, for now. His body will be secured to the bed, in a specialized cocoon, in case the atmosphere is breached.’

    The holo nodded at the ship’s response, ”I am sure I still live, in some form. And will be upright soon, possibly once you arrive at your destination.”

    "Mistress? Geez I hate that." She turned to Kyp, "come on, give me a hand here."

    He groaned but pushed off the frame moving to grab one leg.

    "What are you doing?" Adalia asked.

    "Dragging him backward, by one leg." He drawled, a smirk on his face, "stang woman, if we are about to risk our lives for what ever the kriff this is, can't I have fun doing it?" A glare, that's all it took, and he knew he'd pushed too much. "Ok, ok!" Bending he grabbed the other leg, "You get that end."

    "Oh, the kissing end?" Adalia said as she bent.

    Kyp dropped the legs, "lets swap."

    Adalia laughed, "all too easy, now you got the heavy end."

    It only took minutes to get him in his bed and they both stood back while the ship did it's thing. "Well that was...........something." Kyp muttered.

    "Yeah, weird but still. Come on, we need to look at that weapons locker, see how heavily armed we can get."

    One of the astromechs that seemed to be the only other moving things on the ship trundled up to them as they exited Bernael’s cabin. It tweetled at them, then guided them down another corridor and to the cargo hold. It paused by the open door as they stepped inside, finding how full the room truly was.

    Along all four walls stood cabinets, wardrobes, weapons racks. The racks held lightsabers, swords, blaster rifles and pistols, electrostaffs, lightwhips, and slug throwing weapons as well. The wardrobes were labeled for robes, outfits, light armor, medium armor, and heavy armor. There were a couple cabinets just for grenade type devices. There were cabinets full of other equipment, like comms, night vision, and more esoteric items. And then there were cabinets that radiated in the Force, both Light and Dark sided, items that seemed only a slight edge from sentience themselves, to be used in battle against those who were strong in the Force. The intercom by the hatch crackled, ’I am instructed to allow you access to anything you wish to equip yourselves with. There are satchels available as well should you wish to take more than just what you have on your persons.’

    Adalia was gobsmacked and slumped against the doorway. "Are we doing this alone? Just the two of us? How can we even choose let alone carry this ........all?" Her emerald green eyes wide as she scanned the room.

    Letting his breath out slowly, Kyp shook his head slowly, "you know what, I don't even have a smart answer for this one. I don't even know where to start."

    An apparition of Bernael passed through them as they stood in the doorway. It walked down the rows of lockers, picking out several items before stopping at the lockers that contained the Force weapons. It opened ghostly doors, pulling out a pair of wicked looking kukri, securing them in sheathes behind its back before closing the shimmering doors. It looked around, as though deciding whether it should take anything else before it swept through them once more, disappearing as it passed through Adalia.

    The ghostly image passed through Adalia, causing her to gasp as shivers ran over her body. She watched it move with eyes wide, taking in every movement, everything touched and taken. "He's giving us guidance." She muttered.

    "And he managed to not be here and still get that close to you."

    She turned to him, "that's what you're getting?" The figure then left, passing through her again, causing a visible shiver to her body. "Ok, I got it, I get you."

    A soft snort escaped Kyp, "come on, let's take this all in and make some decisions."

    She followed him, this whole thing being almost too much to cope with, but neither of them had been given a choice.

    The lockers opened as they passed, giving them the opportunity to see what was inside of each. The array was truly more than they could have expected, but it also was the fruit of over two millennia of collection and travels that Bernael had undertaken. They had been given the keys to anything that the collection had, not realizing that they were the only beings besides his ‘children’ that had ever been allowed that.

    As they made their choices the ship shuddered once again, the hyperdrive engaging, and the Fury continuing on its headlong journey toward what had called them.

    TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @Adalia-Durron
     
    Adalia-Durron and greyjedi125 like this.
  23. Shadowsun

    Shadowsun Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 26, 2017
    OOC: A combo with the one and only @Sinrebirth

    IC: Azathoth & Insipid


    His eyes fluttered in a crawling span, somehow both instantaneous and stretched over an eon. A fingertip fluttered as he mouthed quietly aloud.

    "Uncertainty alright," the breath escaping out of him like that of a ghost, not sure if he had the strength truly behind him to resurrect himself. "The unknown, it's always been the unknown that terrifies me," his eyes fluttered as he caught a glimpse of beyond.

    “The One Sith, an order led by Darth Krayt, has followed us to this timeline, somehow...”

    "Well obviously I was not going to side with Krayt you old fool, just make the best possible outcome of a dire circumstance, use him to find... oh no m-" responded the half-dazed, half-awake Azathoth his heading dipping, completely obliviously to the fact that his father was paying him no mind, not speaking to him but the other Sith.

    “Welcome back, my friends. Whatever connections you have - with local assassins, noble houses, biots and more, call them all!” He knew they had connections, some nurtured by him, some by their own greed or desire for power. Children, tools, creations, ward, loyalists. The Sith were a plague upon the galaxy, and he could not be more prouder."

    "Oh joy," responded the young man to himself, or themselves, depending on how one regarded the connection between mind and body in the formulation of... and there his mind went again off to some random thought, it was so hard to focus in these last few hours. Like taking sleep and not quite remembering what had been the dream or the day before.

    A flood of a thought, not his own, screeched across his mind like a fighter.

    Azathoth had lost his way.

    Insipid could see that now.


    A confluence of emotions erupted out, wanting to lash out in all directions and fear... fear of how he would be perceived for how he felt.

    "So callous father? Not even a goodbye?"

    A pause.

    Clear, certain, as if the space that Azathoth now inhabited was held in the hand of an attentive entity.

    An image of his father, his progenitor, his creator, appeared, glowing slightly, as if the minds projection and eye were one and the same. Darth Insipid. The Sith Emperor and Dark Lord of the Sith.

    “You survived,” he said, drily.

    A half quiver of a smile, a dash of uncertainty, narrowing into fear.

    "My bones survived, my heart did not," he spoke, a breath of a laugh and a cry echoed into one pounding out of him as an uncontrolled cacophony.

    "Callous are the Sith... even you... yes... that was my mistake... decadence I have seen, I have felt..." A single eye opened, crazed and unholy, a matching grin rising from the depths of sadism spreading large across the mass.

    [​IMG]
    "Did I get too comfortable?" he spoke, the smile increasing. "Did my love unnerve you? Or was I just convenient, a loyal dog that needed to be put down for having too much fun?"

    Another crying laugh, the very laugh itself injecting further fear into Azathoth as he was unable to control himself.

    Insipid was unmoved.

    For now.

    A quaver upon his face passed without much.

    "Survival is a matter of the Sith; love, it does not survive." He squeezed a hand. Azathoth's hand. "I am the Sith Emperor. None have proven worthy to be my successor. I rule, I live because I have no choice. Loyalty to the Order comes above love of me."

    He snarled. "If I would betray my lover, sunder my husband, what would my son be to me but mere necessity?"

    The smile increased by a margin, opening to speak without hesitation, not caring or seeking as he had so often done to find or give the answer that he thought Insipid wanted.

    "He would be your son," the unblinking hand starring back up at Insipid, at Azathoth's young face though one could be forgiven for looking at a young Insipid. The meaning of his response... was ambiguous, laid open to pour one's own feelings into. Azathoth's voice betrayed one such sense. A sense of kinship broken but not forgotten, of fear welling up in every fibre of his being, churning round and outward as his little shadowy hand, like that of an infant's gripped back at Insipid's.

    "I would be your son," echoed the being, his tone softening, the fear dissipating before viewing the eternal reminder of his own face staring back at him. And again the fear welled, and again he laughed that crying laugh as he squeezed now in fear.

    "I know no other life, but a life for this Order..." he spoke.

    Insipid hesitated, as skin met skin; his hand had met the boy’s without thought. What a stupid and sentimental thing to do.

    “You existed for the Order, how could you exist without it?”

    His tone was soft, almost sad.

    The smile reduced to a thin line, Azathoth's eye focused in thought.

    "I could not, I cannot," he responded, his eye still fixed downward.

    "So what now? What is it you- the Order requires of me?"

    "Your incarnations, across all and none and when, they fought the good fight, for the Sith, against the Chaos and the Dark..." He narrowed his eyes. "The First Darkness, and the Six, you recognised they were foes." A swirl of memories would bubble up within Azathoth, that were his, and were not his.

    "Would you accept an invitation to resume that battle in another arena? Would you fight besides the Black Coat one more time?"

    Insipid licked his lips; his throat was dry from his words.

    From his fear.

    He was... allowing himself to feel.

    To trust.

    To attempt at a repenting he had never felt the need to do before now.

    His son, a genesis that he had never partaken in. How was this different from a rogue clone? From betraying his loves time and time again? Turning against his fellow Dark Lords and apprentices?

    Had subterfuge become truth?

    Proffered feelings became real?

    Love ersatz acquired life of its own?

    A murmur formed out of Azathoth's hesitation, his attention darting up back towards Insipid. His words were considered carefully.

    "I shall do as you ask,"

    The confluence of emotions now simmered with Azathoth. Memories of parallel lives, the feelings of his father, and the white eyes. Those piercing, void, white eyes. His hand trembled again as he awaited his new direction.

    TAG: @Sinrebirth

    For Reading Purposes: @greyjedi125
     
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2023
  24. darthbernael

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

    Registered:
    Apr 15, 2019
    OOC: Fun combo with greyjedi125 and Sinrebirth. Also explains why a couple people have fallen unconscious recently...

    IC: Xundel, Manticore, Snoke…
    Jakku

    The slight pause in the battle, as the new presences made themselves be known didn’t alter the way the three original combatants were feeling or acting, at least that was how it felt to the being that had arrived with Xundel.

    The newer arrivals had their say as the Balance surveyed the area, including the slightly misty looking forms of the physical beings they had all but split from, in Between Shadows. He listened, nodding slightly, as ripped away pieces of his essence flowed back to him almost like liquid metal over a surface.

    When the Electric Judgement fell, flared into being, lancing at the First Darkness, the Balance felt what had been unsaid as well as said. More, something more was needed. And he had an idea what that could be. All that was needed was to have just enough time to put his idea into practice. To which he lanced out multiple tentacles of his own, to intercept those of the First Darkness, even as one of the newcomers attacked one of their foe’s tentacles.

    The tentacles recoiled, and the blue-haired Aden leapt forward, lightsaber blazing white, as he lashed at the Darkness's waist. It formed it's blades and blocked, and then a protrusion from it's stomach slammed into Aden and sent him tumbling, before its arms elongated, tipped with lightsabers -

    Both shot towards Manticore -

    He watched the newcomers wearily, as he knew them not, nor did he know their intentions; his gaze remained alight with fiery intent. Manticore moved decisively, fully intent on the glowing essence before him, only to witness it retreat back to its source.

    Damnation!

    For a fraction of a moment, his hope had been dashed. Disappointment immediately festered into frustration, which blossomed into instant, yet inspired anger. He would not be denied.

    Suddenly, the tableau exploded into a sumptuous clash, as the newcomers engaged the First Darkness. Green Force Lightning flared. A massive Red Scythe slashed in a chorus of violence. Tentacles burst forth seeking to skewer. Manticore ached.

    Manticore felt, Hunger. Felt, Ravenous, even as he seethed within himself.

    Instead of being attacked by tentacles however, he welcomed the arms that elongated towards him, even as he grabbed them in his own. In his current state, he only managed to keep them from damaging critical areas, but that was a secondary focus.

    In that instant, the zabrak seemed to grow fangs as he bit into one arm and proceeded to consume it with feverish intensity. Manticore once again, lit himself aflame, in his gambit to consume, not only to restore himself, but also to receive a boost- even if a temporary one.

    It was a gambit, a risk he was willing to take, for a certain desired result.

    The myriad layers of opportunity for all combatants were constantly shifting, swiftly. He had to make the most of what he could, while he still had a chance.

    The First Darkness howled as Manticore latched on, and Aden drew his Black Coat close to him to shield himself from the power of that scream, stretching out his hands to encase both Manticore and Bernael in energy to protect them too.

    The creature was power, it's essence mutating, transforming, as if the wounds they inflicted merely distorted its shape, the container of itself, and even where Snoke's monstrous face had sat atop its form an eye was engorged, its mouth jagged and open, salivating, tongue roiling as if birthing its own malice -

    "Hit him now," Aden said, firmly.

    The Balance, Uzuriel, had smiled softly when Aden had shielded him. He would have taken a small degree of damage when the attack from the First Darkness hit, more in the form of some of his Light fading but it was appreciated that that being had done so, moreso that he had protected a being he, through his agents, had called a brother for eons.

    At the statement from the man the swirling grey of Uzuriel’s eyes turned into almost maddening spirals. ”Ahhh…finally… he murmured as grey shadows seemed to flow into Beyond Shadows, flowing up to his shifting form, and then into him.

    The eyes flared with light and dark and then…the tentacles he’d sent out writhed, almost flailing, as they too shifted form. In their place stood a variety of beings; a Defel, a Taung, a Sephi, a Human, Xundel, a Neti, and an Anzati. Several were familiar to Manticore, quite familiar, as they would be to Aden. And then all seven of them, the ‘shards’ of Balance, as many as there had been of Darkness, attacked. Jagged lightning, purple, green, and black flared and arced at the First Darkness. What seemed to be sabers lit in yellow, red, and gold as they slashed and sliced at the First Darkness. The forms moved and bounced around the space, not giving a static target to their foe, dashing in to attack and then dart away again.

    And, throughout it, Uzuriel smiled at his ‘sibling’, ”You never thought to ask why there was usually a different agent of mine your shards faced, each time. A shame.” his voice calm as he advanced, bolt after bolt of energy lancing toward the First Darkness, doing his all to keep its attention focused on him and his ‘shards’ and not on his battle brother.

    The blue haired one had provided an opening, what with his magnificent Scythe and all. Manticore wasted not a second on his risky gambit, even as he bit down and consumed the essence of the First Darkness. It was a wonder that the zabrak’s head had not exploded as a consequence.

    In that instant, Manticore felt as if he’d been hit by a vessel entering light speed! For a moment, his eyes rolled to the back of his head as indescribable power flowed into him, overcharging his body and nearly unravelling his mind. But the zabrak Sith Lord was a willful warrior! As he wrestled with himself to control the overcharge of power and focus his mind, he also became aware that he’d taken the First Darkness by surprise- just as the power had surprised him. Manticore was momentarily ‘helpless’ as he brought himself under control- but it was by design that he was not facing the First Darkness alone.

    The First Darkness screamed with a power that would have certainly obliterated them, if it were not for the blue haired man’s protection. Manticore did not have time to marvel at these astonishing things. The power that coursed through him was far too great for him to contain, much less make it his own, but due to the profundity of his inexhaustible Hate, he could shape it, re-direct it- enhance his greatest weapon.

    The Lord of Hate transformed himself into black and red plasma, even as a plethora of ‘battle brothers’ appeared and moved into battle. They could all smell 'blood in the water’ and were moving in for the kill.

    But where to aim? The heart or the head?

    The answer was simple: The heart was foolish. Always destroy the head.

    It took a simple breath as the Sith Warrior drew back and coiled, his form bristling with incalculable power, then suddenly exploding, releasing a ‘Perfect Gigasaber’.

    This ultimate technique was capable of cleaving a Resurgent Star Destroyer in two, and now that power was enhanced many-fold by the First Darkness’ own power. True, the circumstances under which this could be performed were very specific, but here and now- they were simply ideal. Manticore would use it, direct the beam of destruction with unerring accuracy and commit every last erg of his being to the task at hand.

    By design.

    Manticore knew now that the First Darkness only borrowed Snoke’s visage, for this was the face of someone he truly hated. The monster that had once given him the ‘face of a dog’. To say that was more than enough incentive to see this creature destroyed would be a complete understatement- not to mention all its other travesties. Manticore would return the favor- have his revenge. He would obliterated the First Darkness' head.

    Manticore was not presumptuous to think that he could defeat the First Darkness alone, nor that his would be the final blow. But with all the warriors present and unified in stopping the End of All things, he felt quite confident that the First Darkness would meet its last.

    TAGS: @Sinrebirth, @greyjedi125
     
  25. Mitth_Fisto

    Mitth_Fisto Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 29, 2005
    IC: I Think Therefore I Am. - A Combo with Sinre
    The Brood

    Things came to him in pieces, in parts.

    Deep in the Unknowns, there was a hive.

    Legs.

    Arms.

    Eyes.

    They were Croke.

    And so, in the Force, with their illusions, they were also Chistori, Twi’lek, Gallusian, Yuuzhan Vong, reptilian water species, and more besides. Indeed, one would struggle to identify one from the other, and eventually, the real from not. Even non-Croke had been subsumed into the nest.

    They were many, many.

    They were not just a collective though.

    Not a whole of a one.

    They were alive.

    For a moment Dunkeel was mere illusion, but solid vision, an extension of himself, wielded like a lightsaber would be by a Jedi or Sith.

    He was King.

    No, not King, not something as mundane as that.

    He was their heart.

    The soul of the Crokes.

    His soul had transcended flesh and memory and death.

    He was old, older than not.

    He was all he could possibly be.

    The galaxies were there for him to consume, bloated corpses that waited for his touch.

    No, not corpses.

    Clocks.

    They were Clocks.

    He could see them, feel them, know the heart and soul of them as he spread himself through all that were a part of the Soul of the Croke.

    Each keeping time to the worlds and nations and Force tribes that turned their gears.

    He would know them, know the gears, and in knowing everything. . .

    Know where to file to keep them running smoothly.

    Worlds kept to sate the hungry needs of the special things.

    Leaders groomed where none were apparent.

    Ideologies tuned to better work their needs.

    There were other hives, and they all sought unity.

    The Killiks, the Verpine, the Yagai, the Vratix, the Yam'rii.

    They and others had acknowledged his Nest of Nests, and they sought to Join, to bring the Hive into the Whole.

    Representatives from all five of them were here.

    Tenupe, Roche, Yaga Minor, Thyferra, Huk.

    They all sought to become enlightened and saved.

    Croke did not save merely to save.

    So to their heart did not accept merely because something was offered, let alone give because it was asked.

    The five were known, the five were asked. What did they bring? In part or whole, what could they keep?

    For the five were not as special, not as worthy as they assumed.

    Killiks were builders with memories long, but they came with a price. Croke would not be absorbed as merely another nest, they would not Join. Could they accept becoming a part of something without it becoming a part of them?

    The Verpine were builders, with warriors hidden and histories dark kept from the galaxies light. But just because they had marvels did they think the Croke did not? Or could not merely take what they wanted. What could they offer if their technology was not enough to earn a place?

    The Yagai, oh the Yagai. Proud and accomplished in the way of the technology of the stars! Where the Verpine rebuilt something better, the Yagai designed it from the start. But a domineering race that had submitted to the Empire zealously to avoid the heel of the Empires boot. Would they truly be happy accepting a place in this nest? To give up some or any of the autonomy they had?

    The Vratix with their vats, all things had a season and even Bacta someday would be replaced with something else just as Kelto was before it. What were they if they had not this to offer?

    The Yam’rii came last, warriors strong and hungry. They feasted well, enslaved and bartered to power. And when they lost, they bribed and conjoled a way back to stability in power. Wars and might were blunt tools, no matter how sweet the meat to be savored from it. What were they to offer if their might was not enticing? And their power seen as weak?

    The Killiks mentally writhed; they were unaccustomed to being resisted; they did not understand such things. Unconsciously, their pheromones soaked the throne world, as natural as their breathing. It was not an assault, it was merely their way. How would the Croke heart reply?

    The Verpine were unsure, a network of insectile species that had settled on over a dozen worlds in an asteroid belt, from Nickle One to Carbos Thirteen - named for the elements they found on each. They offered beskar, purchased from the Mandalorians when Fett had ruled them, parleying what they had for a place close to the hearts bosom.

    The Yagai threw themselves to the floor, prostrate, eager to create for the glory of the whole, not just themselves, eager to be protected and contribute, more afraid that being insular would make them weak than strong, broken upon by decades of Imperial domination; they had lost their pride, accepted being second class citizens for too long.

    The Vratix were offended; their bacta was hallowed, holy, and ordained by the Great Ones. A miracle that they had built their entire society around, and the Heart cast asperions against them, as if their four millennia dominance of the medical field was nowt but folly? They sought to leave, to divide the whole, to appeal to other species to join them. They dared suggest the Heart should accept them as the Brain of the hive.

    The Yam'rii did not grin and bear the question; they beat their chests, they spoke of their valour, of their strength, of their wars with the Kaleesh and Guiteca, of how even the Jedi and Old Republic had respected their power. They would bring an end to all threats to the Heart, would speak of the bio-weapons that had been created by the Chiss to strike the Killiks in the past, of the nanotech that had struck down the warriors of Roche, of the plagues that had been unleashed by the Sith in ancient times.

    The Killiks were contained. Bubbles were deployed to contain them and filters used to protect themselves. The heart would loose none to such as these. They were thanked for their desire and their wisdom, but warned they were not ready to join the Heart - perhaps the Heart might use them, call them secret allies. Friends to the Nest of Nests. They were then allowed to go or stay contained, they were not given freedom until they could show better control. To pass a labyrinth was to parlay for riches esoteric or real, to live in one was to court madness.

    The Verpine were welcomed, guarded and sure. They were traders then? Beskar was like shiny rock, as useful as not. Still that they were they willing to freely give something they felt so precious was enough to let them try and be of service to the Heart and to the Nest of nests. Ore by ore and meat by nest would they be courted, measured and used. Accepted perhaps as time proves true.

    The Yagai were pitied, but accepted. Urged to breed minds as well as drones. To find a balance more useful to the Nest of nests, but welcomed in. The lost had found a home.

    The Vratix would find silence their only boon as their voices were cut short. One was selected, they would get to go home. The one with the least conviction. For the Croke survived the Great Ones and their countless wars, thrived through them. Had seen medicines great reduced to ash, and humble things rise to overturn all held sacred or true. Seen them, held them, and knew them all. Rubbing the arms of them he shook his head, before rending them all but the one into squished pulp suitable for the grubs. Perhaps in time, another generation would show better wisdom, but this one did not, nor did they show understanding.

    The Yam’rii were smiled upon and the Heart beat their chests in turn. Blind pride, they would never lead. But they were what they were as they said. They were welcome to be the outer ring of the hives protection, the outward mandibles poised should true threats arise.

    Was this enough?

    What would they feel? Accept? Deny?

    They merged and accepted their roles, save for the Vratix.

    The survivor told the Thyferran insects of the great threat the Heart was, and urged them to weaponise their Bacta.

    This the reports confirmed was happening, the transformation of a healing fluid into a biological weapon.

    The non-insects of the galaxy blamed the Heart; threatened the Vratix.

    Terrors approached the Heart's borders with traditional weapons of war; the Grysk, the Vagaari, the Leech Legions, the Nikardun.

    A coalition of fear, but the puppet masters were those on further worlds; Csilla, Nirauan, Coruscant, Bastion.

    Offers of weapons and graft came from the Hutts, from the Corporate masters in the Rim, from the Senex Lords and their slaver ways, from the Tionese pirate lords.

    An offer to split the galaxy between them and all.

    The Heart was a rising power; how would it act?

    The Heart saw, and the Heart yet knew. One cannot fault the Heart for wanting, for the Heart wants what the Heart wants. Reason and mystery are the illusions of the confused.

    Twenty three Croke were to Thyferra. Some would infiltrate the old Croke fashion way, others would try something new. They would peel the minds of their targets and then instead of fully supplanting them they would make a cavern where their minds had been, leaving just enough stump for the vital organs to function. The Croke would make their their home and seamlessly subsume the life while still being to give body samples as needed.

    These would step into important positions throughout the hierarchy of the world of Thyferra. Key scientists, analysts, rulers would edit and approve the changes. The biogeny of the Thyferran that they saw as an unholy terror against the Heart of the Croke would leak, an accident in a lab and instead of the chosen targets it was themselves that would be crippled.

    A single question from the Heart would pulse on every information system on the world. Do you still think yourselves better?

    A message as well as infiltrators was sent to the worlds that arrayed at their borders. And to those that sent them. Do or Do Not, but if you Try I will consume you - subsume you - choose wisely. I was before your kinds breathed another worlds air, I was before the first were enslaved and was there when the shackles were broken. I care not for conflict, but I will defend the Nest of Nests just as you would your Homeworlds. The Rakata felt this, the Ones respected this - what will you do?

    To those that offered aid and trade, the new ones to the nest were allowed to accept and establish trade as they saw fit. Though debt would not be allowed. All would complete deals and fair trades. The offer to split the galaxy was paused. The Heart would not be the first aggressor, if the others moved to attack then this would change.

    Thyferra burned down; biologically, anyway, and the galactic powers condemned the Verpine and pulled back from the edge of endless war. The Unknown Terrors, abandoned, fled, abandoning their conflict.

    The Heart began to grow, yes, but it grew with a flurry of many minds. Other species sought refuge within the Nest; non-insectoids, indeed the Neimodians wanted special status as insectoid-adjacent. The Yuuzhan Vong raged at themselves over what best to do; it was believed their debates, publicized to the galaxy, would lead them to crusade against the Nest. Speculation was rife if the Terrors would return, and where, and when.

    Such was the follies of the galaxy. For the terrors never left. Once you have perfectly infiltrated a society why would you step back? To be within it, to observe and use them.

    The Neimodians were accepted as they pleased, their bleating over species nomenclature was benign. The Heart didn’t care what they called themselves, the truth transcends labels, and they had use for the supplies they could gather and ferry for the Heart.

    The Vong never would know when they argued with the Heart or themselves and a unifying choice was easy to postpone or if galvanized easy to know with plenty of time to prepare. They had nothing to do but wait. Weapons of every kind, biological and technological were studied and known throughout the universe-as was the Heart so it took in choice in preparation as records were adjusted. Locations drifted and stars dimmed on charts. An inhabitable system with livable worlds became a dangerous quasar, an inhabitable nebula system became a super nova remnant. So the Heart grew in secret as well as observably.

    The galaxy resisted change; it resisted peace even more.

    The various species within the Nest were not cohesive, were not whole.

    They did things; they took for the Nest even though the Heart did not say.

    The Yagai considers it expedient to refuse entry to their system.

    The Verpine survivors committed the entire Rimma Trade Route to the Nest, though they did not own many of those worlds.

    The Neimodian's began purchasing freighters, rebuilding their federation of trade.

    The Yuuzhan Vong grew angrier; the human worlds in the Core and northern Rim grew more pointed in their plans; the Terrors regrouped.

    Speculation on the HoloNews was that the three factors would form a Grand Alliance against the Nest... the Chiss were arguing for it even now, their hatred of the Killiks blinding them.

    The Heart rumbled, an off tempo beating at all that these that had been allowed in had done. Still, it was foreseen, it was why such were rarely used or accepted in the past. Transitions were hard, and understanding took time.

    The Yagai were allowed to do as they did. Although cautioning was given that they did not become so insular that they sealed their own tomb apart from the Nest of Nests and it's many limbs.

    The Verpine were charged to either get those un-owned worlds to peacefully join them, and so in turn them, or else to cease their petty claims that hurt the Nest by drawing ire for claiming what was not theirs to claim.

    The Neimodian's were allowed to do as they did. Cautioned to trade with all since they were building the fleets for it, and this in turn could be used to obfuscate any of the Nests own orders under layers of secrecy. Not that they would ever handle anything truly delicate nor deliver to anywhere delicate - knowledge they were not given privy. In turn they would see what others ordered and shipped.

    To the Chiss, to their council of Families one would emerge. Entering into the secret meeting of these leaders as if lost and wandering into a common cafe and not a most hidden and fortified location. It would state it had a message to deliver and it would as follows. If killed they would find it upon the corpse, if captured they would find it merely to be a human corpse painted to be Chiss - an actor, they would hear or find this.

    Peace and Prosperity to you and your Families. Your fears are justified, but unfounded. search this body, scan it, test it. You will find it is not a Joiner, none of the Nest of Nests is. Freedom is a core tenant of this Family. We know this will not be enough, but we invite you and prepare the way, you may either test us or send those you choose to liaise with us. We would meet with you, and if you are found honest and trustworthy I, even I would be open to meeting you. I must confess your exposures make me nearly wish I had never tried to know any of you openly, but what has been chosen must be seen through.

    Cordially,
    A message from The Heart of the 'Nest of Nests'


    So it was given.

    A dry chuckle.

    Not so easy to rule, is it, my friend?

    Arb's voice.

    Another life suddenly flashed through the Heart's mind; his previous, original time, on Nouane.

    But this is yours, if you want to keep it...

    Dance upon a needle, slip and a trip and you will loose an eye.

    Sing upon a needle, and the bellows become altos as the warbling contraltos slide deeper still.

    Spin upon a needle. . . .


    The memories danced their horrible dance and left him unphased in the renditions of the past and present. Then was now and now was then, all superseded upon each other, all one. Unfazed was a desire, but still it stole their breath for a moment.

    Arb. One of seven. Zas'tel.

    You mistake me. I do not rule, I guide. I. . .prune.

    With that a tremor would shake the Force, would shake the very fabrics of reality.

    For with that revelation, with that slip of mental hold, a contingency enacted which he was not inclined to stop. Bio-terrors were unleashed in the ruling capitals of a third of the galaxy. Nuclear explosions of various kinds and chain reactions were unleased in another third, and to the last third ship hyperdrives malfunctioned making thousands of new worlds that looked like Concord Dawn or others in their shattered trails.

    And I see you. The voice that was not a voice hissed into the expanses of the Force.

    TAG: You’re it!
     
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