345. Hoth: King's Lair - Raezyr

Raezyr watched intently as Anya's red blade flowed through the sequences. She'd clearly been practicing, but she was still a long way from the level the others were at. Sweat dripped off her nose and strands of her blond hair stuck to her skin as she continued to move. They'd been at it all morning, Raezyr observing as she practiced, occasionally stopping her to change her stance, or her grip, or the angle of her blade.

Raezyr walked over to a small box that he had brought with him early that morning. Reaching inside he removed the two practice lightsabers that he and Trychon had built while on their smuggling mission. He tossed one to Anya and turned on the other one.

He could sense her disappointment and fatigue. It was something she needed to guard herself against. She seemed to let down her defenses when she wasn't actively using them, and it would get her into trouble eventually.

They circled each other for a moment, testing each others stances. Raezyr waited for her to make the first move. She came at him, and he parried her attacks with relative ease, making no offensive moves himself.

It went on like that for some minutes. Anya would attack and Raezyr would parry or sidestep, then wait for her to reset herself.

"Why won't you attack? I need work on defense as well."

Raezyr responded with action. With several quick slashes he disarmed her and struck a blow to her sword arm. She winced and grabbed her arm above her elbow where Raezyr's practice blade had made contact.

He shut down his blade and placed it in back in the box, then reached out his hand and called the other blade to him. It flew across the room into his hand and he placed it in the box as well.

Walking over to Anya, he moved her hand and looked at her arm. "I don't know why you insist on wearing these sleeveless outfits during lightsaber practice." The burn on her arm looked bad enough that he grabbed a pain killing stim. After injecting it he wrapped a bandage around it.

"I don't get you, Raez. One minute you act like a jerk, the next you're all nice. You don't do that to Trych and Tyr. Why me?"

"Because I like you, Anya. You're like a sister, but you're weak."

Raezyr could see her face begin to turn crimson and feel the anger starting to well up. He expected her to try and slap him, but it never came. Surprisingly, when she spoke her voice was calm, despite the fact that she was clearly mad. "I would think by now that I've proven that I can handle myself."

"You have, to a certain extent, but your powers are weak. You need to learn to keep your defenses up, even when you're not concentrating. When actively using your powers, you need to stop thinking so hard and just do it. When you fight, you're thinking about each movement. They need to become instinct, and you have to become an extension of the Force.

"You've done the same studying that everyone else has. You know that we aren't supposed to tolerate weakness. The weak are to be used to serve the strong, and if they can't be used, then they should be destroyed.

"But as I said before, you've become like a sister. The four of us are like a family. We need you, and we need to be able to rely on you. That's why I'm so hard on you. I'm trying to help you become stronger."

"But that's what I'm talking about, Raez," Anya replied, her anger gone. "I know there are things I need to work on, but just because I'm not good with a lightsaber or picking things up, doesn't mean that I'm not strong in other areas. Let me show you what I've been working on since you've been gone."

Walking over to the box with the practice sabers, she opened it up and reached inside. She removed her hand and held her palm out for Raezyr to see. It was empty.

"What's that supposed show me?" Raezyr said. The Force was telling him something was about to happen, but he couldn't pin point what it was.

Suddenly a beam of light appeared in her hand and flashed toward his skull. He dove backward and rolled to his feet. Looking at Anya, he saw that she held one of the ignited practice sabers in her hand.

-------------------------------

Nar Shaddaa: Sith Hunt, Part 1 - Jedi Nal Talla - Raezyr

Nal and Caecillius spent a few weeks checking around Nar Shaddaa. They frequented cantinas and attended swoop bike races all over the Smuggler's Moon.

At first they tried dropping subtle requests about the raider known as Sand Iago, but had no success. Eventually they began asking outright for the man, trying to find out if anyone had heard of him or seen him. That was no more fruitful than being subtle had been. They began to discuss returning to Coruscant, but neither really wanted to leave without having anything to show for it.

They'd checked with the contact on Korriban several times, but he had noted no activity at the Sith Academy that might indicate anyone had been their since the Sith had fled weeks ago.

They were at a swoop bike race, discussing in low tones what their next move should be when a Rodian approached them. [Are you the ones looking for Sand Iago?] the Rodian said in his native tongue.

Nal glanced at her Miralukan partner before answering. "Yes, dat's us. Do you know where we can find him?"

[Just be at this address tonight at 2300.] The Rodian handed Nal a piece of flimsiplast. Turning, he disappeared into the crowd of race fans.

Nal looked at the flimisplast and noted the address on it, then turned to Caecillius. "What do you tink?"

"I think it's a trap," he responded.

"Me too. Let's spring it and see what happens."

---------------

Jedi Caecillius Kostek - Mirk

The pair arrived in the general area about thirty minutes early.
"I would guess that they have at least six thugs here to deal with us" Caecillius said "Although I have no doubt of our ability to handle it, I think that it wouldn't hurt to go in with a bit more knowledge."

"What are you tinking?" Nal asked

"Well, I am sure one of them would be willing to spare a com system so we can eavesdrop." Caecillius said with a smile.

"Dey should be in place already." Nal replied.

"Well then, I'll be right back" Caecillius said as he started walking around to the side of the warehouse.

"Wait why do you get to go?" Nal asked, somewhat irritated.

"Because it was my idea, and one person is quieter than two" Caecillius replied, his voice carrying what seemed like an odd combination of force and humor.

"Fine... but next time I go" Nal said stubbornly

Caecillius laughed again and continued, eventually finding a small dark alley behind the warehouse. Reaching out with the force he searched for anyone who might be watching this path. He was surprised to find one who was hiding in a nook in the wall opposite the building, a perfect place to catch someone trying to sneak in.
Using the force Caecillius knocked over a pile of junk stacked up against the warehouse on the far side of the alley, then quickly took cover in the shadows.

"I got something" he heard the guard say over his com before stepping out from his hiding place and briefly checking in Caecillius' direction before moving in the direction of the noise. Using the force to keep his moment silent Caecillius ran to the nook and waited for the guard to return. A few moments later Caecillius was rewarded when the guard activated his com again "Freaked me out there, but it was nothing... yeah I'll keep my eye out.... Look you shut up and do your job and I'll do mine ok?" The guard was heading back now. "Yeah I'm sure he will be very upset... but can we deal with this later... yeah fuck you too"
The guard turned the corner back to his nook and saw Caecillius. "Shit" was all he could say as the Miraluka's fist met his face knocking down. Reacting quickly Caecillius put his weight on the guards neck cutting off the blood flow, and after a few moments knocking him out.
Well... that was fun Caecillius said to Nal through the force as he took the guards weapons and the com, which he then put in his own ear. Just gonna tie this guy up and then we will be good to go using the guards own binders he secured him to the nearest large bin and then walked off, tossing the weapons in another bin on the way back to Nal.

When Caecillius returned he took a deep breath and stretched a little bit.
"Alright, I got what I wanted, I'll keep you updated with what I hear... Ladies first" Caecillius sweeping his arm forward allowing Nal to to walk ahead of him.

----------------------------------

Jedi Nal Talla - Raezyr

"What a gentleman," Nal said, giving Caecillius the big grin for which the Nautolan were famous.

They stepped inside and looked around. Mountains of plasteel crates and bins were stacked inside the enormous warehouse in rows and aisles that turned the place into a giant maze with one main walkway through the middle. Nal wondered how anyone was supposed to find anything with the seemingly random twists and turns that branched off to each side as they walked carefully down the main row.

"Hello? Sand Iago?" Nal called, completely aware that the man wouldn't be there.

"Is anyone here?" Caecillius called, joining in the ruse.

I feel da general location of each gangstah, but where are dey exactly and do you see any weapons? Nal thought to Caecillius.

I see one in the rafters above us with a blaster rifle, there is also one on crates on each side of the main corridor, also with rifles. Two more are hiding just out of eyesight in the bends of the mazes on either side with vibro blades and blaster pistols, and there is the one standing in the shadows at the other end. He's the rodian that told us to come here, I believe, and as before, he just has the one blaster, Caecillius replied in like fashion.

According to the comm traffic, they are all in position, just waiting for the signal... the Rodian will scratch his head with his non-weapon hand, Caecillius added.

"Mistah Rodian! Is anyone here?" Nal called.

Finally the Rodian stepped out where Nal could see him. He stood silently as the Jedi approached, stopping a few meters away.

[Why are you looking for Sand Iago?] the green-skinned alien said in his native language.

"We are looking to hire him for..." Nal started before the Rodian cut her off.

[Bantha Fodder! You have run into dozens of pilots which are his equal or better. Who are you and who are you working for?] the Rodian said forcefully, crossing his arms. Nal and Caecillius noted that his left hand was now just that much nearer to his head.

"You want da truth? We're Jedi. We are on a mission to hunt down da Sith dat were on Coruscant. Sand Iago is our only link to dem at dis time," Nal said, hoping to avoid any blood shed.

[I don't think so. If you don't come up with some good answers soon, you are going to regret it.] The Rodian said, then began to lift his left hand to his head.

"Wait!" Caecillius spoke into the comm he had taken off the guard outside. "If he scratches his head, this is going to get really messy."

The Rodian paused for a moment, as if unsure what to do.

"Who is this? Who are you?" came a whispered voice over the comm.

"I'm the Miralukan Jedi you're about to ambush."

Another voice sounded over the channel. "A Miralukan?"

"Jedi?" responded another voice.

Then the Rodian scratched.