Raezyr just shook his head and ducked into his cabin. He closed the door and laughed as quietly as he could. Trychon was usually a jokester, but he had really hammed it up that time. Still, it was good to have him around. It kept Raezyr from being so damn serious all the time. He also suspected that he kept Trychon from getting too carried away at times, although he was plenty serious when seriousness was called for.
After getting things squared away in the cabin, he changed into a set of tan work fatigues, one of the outfits that Anya had talked him into purchasing, and headed back to the cargo area. There were two small swoops parked in there along with a speeder. Both of which had come with the ship.
He wasn't worried about Dianna seeing his face. She had been present when one of his practice duels with Trychon had turned into a wrestling match and his helmet had come off, so she had already seen the mark of his cowardice. She hadn't said anything and he wasn't going to offer anything.
Raezyr spent a while going over the craft, making sure they were fueled and ready to go in case they needed them. Everything seemed to be in order. It was apparent that they'd been gone over recently as a few of the filters and some of the wires had been cleaned or replaced. He was betting that Delki had gone the extra mile and checked these as well.
The trip from Hoth to Shogun was nearly three quarters away across the galaxy and would take approximately ten days, according to the navicomputer, and Trychon kept up the pirate jokes nearly the entire time, to the chagrin of Dianna. He would have gotten tired of them himself, but Dianna's exasperation made it worth the while. Raezyr had even found the opportunity throw in a few 'yars' of his own. Toward the end of the trip, though, even Dianna had gotten past it and begun to see the humor.
The rest of the time, Raezyr and Trychon continued their meditation and weapons practice. Dianna even took part a bit with her vibrosword, and proved to be a decent swordswomen despite not having the advantage of using the Force.
Before long the Rancor's indicator notified them that they were approaching Shogun space and they took their up their positions in the cockpit.
Shogun was uninhabitable for the most part, and the only presence on the planet was a Mandalorian crystal processing plant. Apparently their arrival was expected as they were given immediate clearance to land at the plant's docking bays.
February 21, 2009
289. Pirates....... YAR! - Trychon
Raezyr, Trychon and Dianna Kingsdoom watched as the dancing lights of hyperspace flicked by. Idle conversation was their company and pastime.
"I've been in and out of this system countless times." Dianna leaned back and yawned. "Just like this time, I'm usually on a job when I do. Ninety five percent of the time, you can come and go here and not have any problems. It's just that five that I'm worried about. I'm sure things will go smoothly. Always have with this customer. I'm not sure what went wrong with their original plans that made them call on me so urgently... but that matters very little. In the end, I'll simply have to remind them that they should've used me from the get-go. I guess long story short is that I don't mind heading out here when the price is right."
Trychon leaned forward to be a bit closer to both Dianna and Raezyr. "And thar be our treasure..."
Raezyr turned away a little bit to hide his snickering a little better.
Dianna turned and looked at him. She was caught off guard slightly, and maybe even a bit amused. She'd never admit that to him though. "I can't believe you just said that."
Trychon gave her his best innocent look.
She crossed her arms. "You know... when all is said and done... I've pretty much been a pirate all my life. I don't mind the label, I've come to terms with it... it's not demeaning... it's fine. However. I have never in my life met anyone who actually talked like that. Ever. I've even met a few pirates with head injuries. I have no idea where that stupid stereotype even comes from. I never thought I'd be saying this to a Sith... but you've watched way too many holos."
Trychon leaned back in his seat and folded his hands behind his head. "Don't knock it... there's not much other entertainment to be found when you grow up on your own in a jungle forest. Even if you go into town once a month, you're lucky if they've got any new ones... and even if they do, you have plenty of time to watch the ones you already have seen way too often."
Raezyr turned back towards the others. "You know, that actually explains a lot."
Dianna looked surprised. "Wow. I honestly say I had no idea. I always figured you grew up in some sort of academy, with very little outside influence until later in life. Books and combat training and the sort."
Trychon mocked her surprise and shook his head. "That's a dirty stereotype."
Raezyr chimed in. "He's got you there..."
Dianna smiled. "Fair enough. So how long were you on that planet? How long have you been away?"
Trychon looked at Raezyr pensively. "Uh... I guess we've been running around together for what... 2 standard months now? So up until then."
Now Dianna was really shocked. "Are you serious?"
Raezyr and Trychon responded at the same time.
"No, he isn't."
"Always!"
Dianna turned back to the front of the ship. "You're too much." Raezyr swung his chair so he was facing Dianna a bit, but also pointed mainly forward. He knew that Trychon would take it as a small jab, and that was part of the point. "You know... going back to your earlier point, I've had a similar experience. I've been into Mandalorian territory a bit here and there, when circumstances dictated it... but never really went that direction otherwise. I think Master preferred to stay close to the core whenever possible. While I don't really share that preference either way... I still haven't found much reason to venture out this way as much."
Dianna nodded. "I know exactly what you mean."
Trychon leaned in a bit again. "Hey... I have a story about Mando space too..."
Dianna raised her eyebrow. "Really?"
"Oh yeah. So there's this Mandalorian planet... with lots of Mandalorians and then of course you also have your other assortment of populace too. Now there's this one particular Mandalorian who ran a cantina. Naturally, most of his clientele was also Mandalorian. That wasn't the rule though of course. He had a wide base of customers overall, I'd guess. Anyway... one day this guy walks in... he's not a Mandalorian... and he walks right up to the bar near where the owner was cleaning some glasses. The owner turns and looks at this guy, and he's dressed like a pirate."
Raezyr turned away a little again, wary of what might be coming.
"So the owner looks at this guy and he sees that there's a steering yoke coming straight out of this guys pants! So he says to the guy 'Why is there a steering yoke coming out of your pants?' And the pirate looking guy looks him dead in the eye and he says... 'Yar... it be driving me nuts.'" Trychon finished with a huge grin.
"Unbelievable." Dianna sighed as rested her head on her hand. She turned back to the controls and readouts before unfastening herself and standing up. "Everything looks to be in order. We don't really have to stay cooped up front here like this forever. This trips just long enough that it's worth unpacking just a bit."
Raezyr and Trychon followed her lead.
Trychon stretched his arms up over his head and sighed as he did so... "Yar..."
Dianna actually laughed. "Oh my God. You seriously are going to keep doing that, aren't you?"
Trychon looked her in the eyes. "Yar?..."
Dianna started to walk away, but then turned back to him again. "Is there anything I can do to make you stop?"
He turned to look at Raezyr and then looked to Dianna again and paused. Finally, he responded. "Nar?..."
"I've been in and out of this system countless times." Dianna leaned back and yawned. "Just like this time, I'm usually on a job when I do. Ninety five percent of the time, you can come and go here and not have any problems. It's just that five that I'm worried about. I'm sure things will go smoothly. Always have with this customer. I'm not sure what went wrong with their original plans that made them call on me so urgently... but that matters very little. In the end, I'll simply have to remind them that they should've used me from the get-go. I guess long story short is that I don't mind heading out here when the price is right."
Trychon leaned forward to be a bit closer to both Dianna and Raezyr. "And thar be our treasure..."
Raezyr turned away a little bit to hide his snickering a little better.
Dianna turned and looked at him. She was caught off guard slightly, and maybe even a bit amused. She'd never admit that to him though. "I can't believe you just said that."
Trychon gave her his best innocent look.
She crossed her arms. "You know... when all is said and done... I've pretty much been a pirate all my life. I don't mind the label, I've come to terms with it... it's not demeaning... it's fine. However. I have never in my life met anyone who actually talked like that. Ever. I've even met a few pirates with head injuries. I have no idea where that stupid stereotype even comes from. I never thought I'd be saying this to a Sith... but you've watched way too many holos."
Trychon leaned back in his seat and folded his hands behind his head. "Don't knock it... there's not much other entertainment to be found when you grow up on your own in a jungle forest. Even if you go into town once a month, you're lucky if they've got any new ones... and even if they do, you have plenty of time to watch the ones you already have seen way too often."
Raezyr turned back towards the others. "You know, that actually explains a lot."
Dianna looked surprised. "Wow. I honestly say I had no idea. I always figured you grew up in some sort of academy, with very little outside influence until later in life. Books and combat training and the sort."
Trychon mocked her surprise and shook his head. "That's a dirty stereotype."
Raezyr chimed in. "He's got you there..."
Dianna smiled. "Fair enough. So how long were you on that planet? How long have you been away?"
Trychon looked at Raezyr pensively. "Uh... I guess we've been running around together for what... 2 standard months now? So up until then."
Now Dianna was really shocked. "Are you serious?"
Raezyr and Trychon responded at the same time.
"No, he isn't."
"Always!"
Dianna turned back to the front of the ship. "You're too much." Raezyr swung his chair so he was facing Dianna a bit, but also pointed mainly forward. He knew that Trychon would take it as a small jab, and that was part of the point. "You know... going back to your earlier point, I've had a similar experience. I've been into Mandalorian territory a bit here and there, when circumstances dictated it... but never really went that direction otherwise. I think Master preferred to stay close to the core whenever possible. While I don't really share that preference either way... I still haven't found much reason to venture out this way as much."
Dianna nodded. "I know exactly what you mean."
Trychon leaned in a bit again. "Hey... I have a story about Mando space too..."
Dianna raised her eyebrow. "Really?"
"Oh yeah. So there's this Mandalorian planet... with lots of Mandalorians and then of course you also have your other assortment of populace too. Now there's this one particular Mandalorian who ran a cantina. Naturally, most of his clientele was also Mandalorian. That wasn't the rule though of course. He had a wide base of customers overall, I'd guess. Anyway... one day this guy walks in... he's not a Mandalorian... and he walks right up to the bar near where the owner was cleaning some glasses. The owner turns and looks at this guy, and he's dressed like a pirate."
Raezyr turned away a little again, wary of what might be coming.
"So the owner looks at this guy and he sees that there's a steering yoke coming straight out of this guys pants! So he says to the guy 'Why is there a steering yoke coming out of your pants?' And the pirate looking guy looks him dead in the eye and he says... 'Yar... it be driving me nuts.'" Trychon finished with a huge grin.
"Unbelievable." Dianna sighed as rested her head on her hand. She turned back to the controls and readouts before unfastening herself and standing up. "Everything looks to be in order. We don't really have to stay cooped up front here like this forever. This trips just long enough that it's worth unpacking just a bit."
Raezyr and Trychon followed her lead.
Trychon stretched his arms up over his head and sighed as he did so... "Yar..."
Dianna actually laughed. "Oh my God. You seriously are going to keep doing that, aren't you?"
Trychon looked her in the eyes. "Yar?..."
Dianna started to walk away, but then turned back to him again. "Is there anything I can do to make you stop?"
He turned to look at Raezyr and then looked to Dianna again and paused. Finally, he responded. "Nar?..."
288. Hoth: King's Lair - Raezyr
"Yar...."
Raezyr just shook his head. He was having a really hard time not laughing, and he was pretty sure Trychon knew it.
Entering the hangar Trychon spoke up. "I'll be glad to get off this rock for awhile. I don't think I've been really warm since we got here."
"No kidding. And how come they call it 'Hoth?' They should call it 'Coldth,'" Raezyr said jokingly.
Trychon just stopped dead in his tracks, and Raezyr turned back to see what was wrong. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Holy Shit. Did you just tell a joke?" Trychon said in mock amazment. "Your powers are growing, Raez."
"Go to hell, Trych," Raezyr said, turning around and continuing toward the ship.
Trychon trotted to catch up and fell into step alongside the armored Sith. "No, no, it was a good first try. I mean, the joke wasn't worth bantha poodoo, but everyone's gotta start somewhere. Next thing you know, you'll have your own stand-up holo special on GHBO."
Raezyr just shook his head as they walked across the floor of the bay. He noted that Delki had started some rather large project on the Twilight Stalker. The cargo bay doors were wide open and there was a pile of junk on the hangar bay floor where he was throwing stuff out. Bleetz was, of course, digging through the stuff on the floor and picking out what she felt was salvagable.
They paused before climbing aboard. "What kind of renovations do you have him doing?" Raezyr asked.
Trychon just grinned and slid past Raezyr into the ship.
Once aboard, they headed for the crew quarters. Raezyr stopped at the Captain's berth. He looked around the small room for a moment, then turned and dumped his gear unceremoniously into one of the old Chiefs rooms.
Trychon looked out from the other old Chiefs room. "What's the matter?"
"Who goes aboard someone else's ship and takes over the Captain's quarters," Raezyr said and stormed forward toward the cockpit.
Trychon stopped what he was doing and followed. There was no way on Hoth that he was going to miss this.
-----------
Dianna was sitting in the pilot's seat when Raezyr burst through the door. Trychon leaned against the jamb and grinned. He wished he had some popcorn for this.
"I don't fucking think so," Raezyr said coldy.
"Excuse me?" Dianna said incredulously. She wasn't used to anyone speaking to her in such a manner.
Raezyr spoke each and every word with cold clear deliberation and barely masked hostility. "Are you deaf? Do I need to use sign language? The berth you chose alone is enough of an insult, although we probably would have offered it to you anyway. It is the fact that you just assumed that it belonged to you. But I can forgive that. What is inexcusable is the fact that you think you are going to pilot this crate."
Dianna stood up. She was nearly as tall as Raezyr and looked him right in the eyes, "Understand this. This is MY mission. I'm the one in charge. That gives me the authority to do what I've done. You got that, Sith Boy?"
"You may be in charge of the mission, but this is not... your... ship...," Raezyr said.
They stood there for a moment, neither willing to back down. Trychon broke the silence, "So are you two gonna kiss, or fight? Either way is fine with me."
Dianna laughed and stepped aside, "You're right, Raezyr. It's not my ship. I'm used to being in complete control around here and didn't really give it any thought. You can pilot this heap, but don't forget that this is my mission and I'm in charge."
Somewhat placated, Raezyr sat down in the pilot's seat and began the pre-flight checks, "You may take the co-pilot's seat if it's alright with Trychon."
"By all means, please take it. I suspect you're a better pilot than I am," Trychon said sitting down and strapping into one of the other seats.
"Alright then," Dianna said. "Raezyr, get us off this off this rock."
Raezyr just shook his head. He was having a really hard time not laughing, and he was pretty sure Trychon knew it.
Entering the hangar Trychon spoke up. "I'll be glad to get off this rock for awhile. I don't think I've been really warm since we got here."
"No kidding. And how come they call it 'Hoth?' They should call it 'Coldth,'" Raezyr said jokingly.
Trychon just stopped dead in his tracks, and Raezyr turned back to see what was wrong. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Holy Shit. Did you just tell a joke?" Trychon said in mock amazment. "Your powers are growing, Raez."
"Go to hell, Trych," Raezyr said, turning around and continuing toward the ship.
Trychon trotted to catch up and fell into step alongside the armored Sith. "No, no, it was a good first try. I mean, the joke wasn't worth bantha poodoo, but everyone's gotta start somewhere. Next thing you know, you'll have your own stand-up holo special on GHBO."
Raezyr just shook his head as they walked across the floor of the bay. He noted that Delki had started some rather large project on the Twilight Stalker. The cargo bay doors were wide open and there was a pile of junk on the hangar bay floor where he was throwing stuff out. Bleetz was, of course, digging through the stuff on the floor and picking out what she felt was salvagable.
They paused before climbing aboard. "What kind of renovations do you have him doing?" Raezyr asked.
Trychon just grinned and slid past Raezyr into the ship.
Once aboard, they headed for the crew quarters. Raezyr stopped at the Captain's berth. He looked around the small room for a moment, then turned and dumped his gear unceremoniously into one of the old Chiefs rooms.
Trychon looked out from the other old Chiefs room. "What's the matter?"
"Who goes aboard someone else's ship and takes over the Captain's quarters," Raezyr said and stormed forward toward the cockpit.
Trychon stopped what he was doing and followed. There was no way on Hoth that he was going to miss this.
-----------
Dianna was sitting in the pilot's seat when Raezyr burst through the door. Trychon leaned against the jamb and grinned. He wished he had some popcorn for this.
"I don't fucking think so," Raezyr said coldy.
"Excuse me?" Dianna said incredulously. She wasn't used to anyone speaking to her in such a manner.
Raezyr spoke each and every word with cold clear deliberation and barely masked hostility. "Are you deaf? Do I need to use sign language? The berth you chose alone is enough of an insult, although we probably would have offered it to you anyway. It is the fact that you just assumed that it belonged to you. But I can forgive that. What is inexcusable is the fact that you think you are going to pilot this crate."
Dianna stood up. She was nearly as tall as Raezyr and looked him right in the eyes, "Understand this. This is MY mission. I'm the one in charge. That gives me the authority to do what I've done. You got that, Sith Boy?"
"You may be in charge of the mission, but this is not... your... ship...," Raezyr said.
They stood there for a moment, neither willing to back down. Trychon broke the silence, "So are you two gonna kiss, or fight? Either way is fine with me."
Dianna laughed and stepped aside, "You're right, Raezyr. It's not my ship. I'm used to being in complete control around here and didn't really give it any thought. You can pilot this heap, but don't forget that this is my mission and I'm in charge."
Somewhat placated, Raezyr sat down in the pilot's seat and began the pre-flight checks, "You may take the co-pilot's seat if it's alright with Trychon."
"By all means, please take it. I suspect you're a better pilot than I am," Trychon said sitting down and strapping into one of the other seats.
"Alright then," Dianna said. "Raezyr, get us off this off this rock."
287. Hoth: King's Lair - Trychon
Dianna got on her comlink. "Delki, what's the status on the Rancor?"
There was a slight pause.
"Good. We're taking off in 20." She turned to Raezyr. "I was serious about needing this yesterday. Get whatever you need. Be quick."
Dianna jogged off to her quarters.
Trychon and Raezyr headed off to gather their things.
Throwing together a small bag of the basics, Trychon found the small pouch he used to keep some of his favorite findings on his home planet. Sitting on top of them all was the gem they'd found when looking for Darth Vikon. He stared at it for a moment before putting into his pocket. He decided to go with the new black set of loose fit clothing they'd picked up for him on Tatooine. He'd already gotten used to not wearing the camouflage set.
Raezyr was already outside his room when he headed out. "Lets go be pirates..." He said as he joined him marching down the hall. Raezyr heard him whispering 'Yar...' a few times before they arrived at the ramp to the Rancor.
There was a slight pause.
"Good. We're taking off in 20." She turned to Raezyr. "I was serious about needing this yesterday. Get whatever you need. Be quick."
Dianna jogged off to her quarters.
Trychon and Raezyr headed off to gather their things.
Throwing together a small bag of the basics, Trychon found the small pouch he used to keep some of his favorite findings on his home planet. Sitting on top of them all was the gem they'd found when looking for Darth Vikon. He stared at it for a moment before putting into his pocket. He decided to go with the new black set of loose fit clothing they'd picked up for him on Tatooine. He'd already gotten used to not wearing the camouflage set.
Raezyr was already outside his room when he headed out. "Lets go be pirates..." He said as he joined him marching down the hall. Raezyr heard him whispering 'Yar...' a few times before they arrived at the ramp to the Rancor.
286. Hoth: King's Lair - Raezyr
Raezyr spoke, "What do you mean, 'borrow our ship?'"
"Yeah, we just traded you one, plus you've still got several fighters around here," Tyrrazapon said.
"You'll have to exlpain it a little," Trychon said.
"No problem. You can borrow one. Which one do you need?" Anya volunteered.
Trychon, Tyrrazapon, and Raezyr all turned their heads slowly and looked at Anya incredulously. She just ignored their looks. She was about to say something else when Raezyr interrupted.
"You'll have to excuse Miss Eager, here. It seems she's over stepped her bounds," Raezyr said non-chalantly although his perturbed attitude was audible in the undertones. "You see, she only has a quarter-share in one of the ships, and is therefore not really in a position to volunteer their services."
With the look Anya gave Raezyr, everyone was surpised she didn't try to kill him right then and there. She might have tried, but her attempt back on the Rancor and the outcome of their sparring sessions were all that prevented it right then.
Raezyr saw the look, and remembering the lesson on poisons they had studied the day before made a mental note to be careful what he ate for a while.
"It's not that we'd be adverse to letting you borrow a ship, Dianna. We would just kind of like to know what it's going to be used for. You understand," Raezyr explained to her.
"I don't usually give the details of our missions to outsiders, but since there are extenuating circumstances here, I'm going to make an exception.
"I just recieved a job offer which calls for a pickup of a small cargo on Shogun in the Mandalore Sector and then to deliver it on Commenor. It's a fairly small job, with little danger except in the pickup, seeing as it's in Mando territory," Dianna explained.
"Why not wait until your crew gets back?" asked Tyrrazapon.
"That's the catch. It's a rush job. They want the payload on Commenor yesterday, and before you ask, they're offering to pay four times the going rate. They must really be desperate," she said.
"What's the cargo?" Trychon asked.
"They didn't specify other than saying it was six plasteel crates, and we're not to open them. It's not unusual in this line of work," Dianna explained.
The four Sith looked at each other for a moment before Raezyr spoke, "I guess you can borrow the Rancor, unless anyone objects. I just have one condition."
"What's that?" Dianna asked skeptically."That two of us accompany you."
She thought about it briefly and decided that it might be have a good idea to bring along some back up just in case something goes wrong."Alright. You can come. Who wants to go?"
"I'll go," Raezyr volunteered.
Anya had opened her mouth to speak, but quickly closed it. She wasn't going anywhere with that pompous ass.
"I will too," said Trychon.
"Good," said Tyrrazapon. "It'll give me more time to catch up on my blade work. When you get back, I'm taking you down, Raez."
They all chuckled at that.
"Yeah, we just traded you one, plus you've still got several fighters around here," Tyrrazapon said.
"You'll have to exlpain it a little," Trychon said.
"No problem. You can borrow one. Which one do you need?" Anya volunteered.
Trychon, Tyrrazapon, and Raezyr all turned their heads slowly and looked at Anya incredulously. She just ignored their looks. She was about to say something else when Raezyr interrupted.
"You'll have to excuse Miss Eager, here. It seems she's over stepped her bounds," Raezyr said non-chalantly although his perturbed attitude was audible in the undertones. "You see, she only has a quarter-share in one of the ships, and is therefore not really in a position to volunteer their services."
With the look Anya gave Raezyr, everyone was surpised she didn't try to kill him right then and there. She might have tried, but her attempt back on the Rancor and the outcome of their sparring sessions were all that prevented it right then.
Raezyr saw the look, and remembering the lesson on poisons they had studied the day before made a mental note to be careful what he ate for a while.
"It's not that we'd be adverse to letting you borrow a ship, Dianna. We would just kind of like to know what it's going to be used for. You understand," Raezyr explained to her.
"I don't usually give the details of our missions to outsiders, but since there are extenuating circumstances here, I'm going to make an exception.
"I just recieved a job offer which calls for a pickup of a small cargo on Shogun in the Mandalore Sector and then to deliver it on Commenor. It's a fairly small job, with little danger except in the pickup, seeing as it's in Mando territory," Dianna explained.
"Why not wait until your crew gets back?" asked Tyrrazapon.
"That's the catch. It's a rush job. They want the payload on Commenor yesterday, and before you ask, they're offering to pay four times the going rate. They must really be desperate," she said.
"What's the cargo?" Trychon asked.
"They didn't specify other than saying it was six plasteel crates, and we're not to open them. It's not unusual in this line of work," Dianna explained.
The four Sith looked at each other for a moment before Raezyr spoke, "I guess you can borrow the Rancor, unless anyone objects. I just have one condition."
"What's that?" Dianna asked skeptically."That two of us accompany you."
She thought about it briefly and decided that it might be have a good idea to bring along some back up just in case something goes wrong."Alright. You can come. Who wants to go?"
"I'll go," Raezyr volunteered.
Anya had opened her mouth to speak, but quickly closed it. She wasn't going anywhere with that pompous ass.
"I will too," said Trychon.
"Good," said Tyrrazapon. "It'll give me more time to catch up on my blade work. When you get back, I'm taking you down, Raez."
They all chuckled at that.
285. Hoth: King's Lair - Trychon
Things seemed to ease up a bit after their talk. Anya was still spending a bit of time with Dianna, but she was also hanging out with the other Sith again. She seemed more relaxed and less frustrated with their exercises, despite her continued struggles.
The pirates spent a fair amount of time in small meetings preparing for their upcoming grab. When they weren't in these meetings, they were keeping to themselves but staying respectful to their guests. Occasionally there would be an odd look sent their way, but it disappeared quickly enough.
Eventually, the time came when Dianna sent her crew off. After that, the base was nearly empty. She spent more time with the Sith, and even talked a bit about her business dealings while still keeping most of the real details a secret. In general, she seemed to have become pretty comfortable with the four of them and their presence there. The initial questions from their arrival weren't brought up again.
Dianna was sipping some caf and reading some of her own notes while watching Raezyr hold off Trychon and Anya yet again, when her comm beeped. She talked into it quietly and then left the room in a hurry.
Raezyr turned and watched her leave, confused. Trychon took a swing at his neck, but Raezyr's blade was already there.
"Come on. Let's settle down for a second and see what's up." Anya said, shutting her saber down. Tyrrazapon was the first to follow her out the door.
They waited several minutes outside her office. Eventually, she stepped out with a bit of a pained look on her face.
She grimaced and looked at them collectively. "I uh... need to borrow your ship."
The pirates spent a fair amount of time in small meetings preparing for their upcoming grab. When they weren't in these meetings, they were keeping to themselves but staying respectful to their guests. Occasionally there would be an odd look sent their way, but it disappeared quickly enough.
Eventually, the time came when Dianna sent her crew off. After that, the base was nearly empty. She spent more time with the Sith, and even talked a bit about her business dealings while still keeping most of the real details a secret. In general, she seemed to have become pretty comfortable with the four of them and their presence there. The initial questions from their arrival weren't brought up again.
Dianna was sipping some caf and reading some of her own notes while watching Raezyr hold off Trychon and Anya yet again, when her comm beeped. She talked into it quietly and then left the room in a hurry.
Raezyr turned and watched her leave, confused. Trychon took a swing at his neck, but Raezyr's blade was already there.
"Come on. Let's settle down for a second and see what's up." Anya said, shutting her saber down. Tyrrazapon was the first to follow her out the door.
They waited several minutes outside her office. Eventually, she stepped out with a bit of a pained look on her face.
She grimaced and looked at them collectively. "I uh... need to borrow your ship."
February 20, 2009
284. Hoth: King's Lair - Raezyr
Raezyr had spent most of his free time in focusing on his lightsaber combat. He had gotten quite alot out of their joint studies and meditation sessions, and they had all seemed to gain quite a bit out of it.
All except Anya, that is. He had brought it up to Trychon, and he had noticed it too. She was becoming proficient with her lightsaber, and had gotten better in other areas, but still seemed far behind.
The one area which she seemed to have some talent in was in illusions. She was able to make small items become invisible, while the other three still had yet to manage that feat. Only by concentrating on the items with the Force was anyone able see the objects, although they became visible again, once she stopped focusing on them.
She had told Raezyr that he should be able to use a similar technique to conceal the scar on his face, but he wasn't sure if he would ever be able to pick that up.
All that aside, Raezyr had found that it had become a point of pride that he was better with his blades than the others, but they were getting better. He spent his time alone going over more forms and sequences, attempting to stay ahead of his companions.
He could still best each of them one on one, but in group fights, they'd gang up on him. In two on one battles, he could win, as long as Anya was one of his opponents, but when he was fighting Trychon and Tyrrazapon, he lost more times than he won, and usually that was due to a mistake on their part.
Master Eiron had said it was a fool's quest to attempt to master all the forms, so he had decided he wouldn't try, but if he mastered one form, he'd endeavor to master another.
He had only taken time off for meals, but during those times he had spoken with Dianna's slicer, a 16 standard year old kid named Dek. Dek had a fair amount of talent with computers. He wasn't as good as Trychon, but he was still young and it was all he ever did. In fact, he ate most of his meals sitting in front of a computer console.
Dek had been able to dowload the full databanks from Trychon's shuttle and stored it on a data card for them, although they hadn't taken the time to go over any of it yet. They'd been too busy catching up on their Sith training.
During one of the breaks in those sessions, the Sith had discussed how they wanted to pay for the diagonstics and repairs to their ships. Trychon volunteered the trade of his shuttle for the repairs, since he had his new ship.
Dianna more than welcomed the trade. It wasn't the best ship, but she had noted that in her line of business, you could never have too many space-faring vessels.
One night, just after Raezyr was getting out of the refresher and was planning on crawling into bed when Aychkay entered the quarters.
"Sorry to disturb you, Master."
"What is it, Huck? I assume it's important," Raezyr said.
"Master, I just downloaded this recorded holo-message from the Jet Razor," he said. He held out his hand, revealing a portable holo-emitter.
When Lord Eiron's cloaked form had disappeared, Raezyr took the emitter from Aychkay, thanked him and went to the other's to show them.
Later, after reviewing the message from their Master, they decided that there was nothing they could do about it now. Anya had been all for rushing off immediately, but they other three assured her they would get too it as soon as they could.
The air about the base was tense right now, as the pirates finalized their plans for their upcoming mission.
All except Anya, that is. He had brought it up to Trychon, and he had noticed it too. She was becoming proficient with her lightsaber, and had gotten better in other areas, but still seemed far behind.
The one area which she seemed to have some talent in was in illusions. She was able to make small items become invisible, while the other three still had yet to manage that feat. Only by concentrating on the items with the Force was anyone able see the objects, although they became visible again, once she stopped focusing on them.
She had told Raezyr that he should be able to use a similar technique to conceal the scar on his face, but he wasn't sure if he would ever be able to pick that up.
All that aside, Raezyr had found that it had become a point of pride that he was better with his blades than the others, but they were getting better. He spent his time alone going over more forms and sequences, attempting to stay ahead of his companions.
He could still best each of them one on one, but in group fights, they'd gang up on him. In two on one battles, he could win, as long as Anya was one of his opponents, but when he was fighting Trychon and Tyrrazapon, he lost more times than he won, and usually that was due to a mistake on their part.
Master Eiron had said it was a fool's quest to attempt to master all the forms, so he had decided he wouldn't try, but if he mastered one form, he'd endeavor to master another.
He had only taken time off for meals, but during those times he had spoken with Dianna's slicer, a 16 standard year old kid named Dek. Dek had a fair amount of talent with computers. He wasn't as good as Trychon, but he was still young and it was all he ever did. In fact, he ate most of his meals sitting in front of a computer console.
Dek had been able to dowload the full databanks from Trychon's shuttle and stored it on a data card for them, although they hadn't taken the time to go over any of it yet. They'd been too busy catching up on their Sith training.
During one of the breaks in those sessions, the Sith had discussed how they wanted to pay for the diagonstics and repairs to their ships. Trychon volunteered the trade of his shuttle for the repairs, since he had his new ship.
Dianna more than welcomed the trade. It wasn't the best ship, but she had noted that in her line of business, you could never have too many space-faring vessels.
One night, just after Raezyr was getting out of the refresher and was planning on crawling into bed when Aychkay entered the quarters.
"Sorry to disturb you, Master."
"What is it, Huck? I assume it's important," Raezyr said.
"Master, I just downloaded this recorded holo-message from the Jet Razor," he said. He held out his hand, revealing a portable holo-emitter.
When Lord Eiron's cloaked form had disappeared, Raezyr took the emitter from Aychkay, thanked him and went to the other's to show them.
Later, after reviewing the message from their Master, they decided that there was nothing they could do about it now. Anya had been all for rushing off immediately, but they other three assured her they would get too it as soon as they could.
The air about the base was tense right now, as the pirates finalized their plans for their upcoming mission.
283. Hoth: King's Lair - Trychon
Trychon stepped out of the refresher and dried off. He liked to clean off right after a good workout, rather than sitting down and meditating. He preferred to do that before exercise... it prepared him well and then he reflected on the experience while cleaning up. It worked for him.
They'd had a pretty relaxing few days. They'd gone over some of the basic teachings that they had access to as a group, and they exercised as a group and individually. Trychon had noticed that he was becoming a bit more confident in his abilities and even his lightsaber moves. There was subtle improvement there, although it was hardly noticeable. Everything was happening for him milliseconds quicker. Force telekinesis and lightsaber attacks. They were coming with a bit less concentration as well, which allowed him to pay better attention to his situation and how he'd follow up the attacks.
More than anything, he was feeling better about his abilities, and he felt it was reflected in the final product. Raezyr seemed to think so too. He could sense a smile under the mask at times when they sparred. He could always tell what was going on behind the mask, but he hadn't said so. Raezyr definitely had an edge on him one on one still though.
Anya had been sparring more with Tyrrazapon. They seemed to be having a good time as well. Deep down, Trychon felt a bit of frustration from Anya when they were discussing Force exercises. She didn't really seem to be gaining anything from the time, even though she thoroughly understood what they discussed. She practically had it all memorized from her time at the Academy alone.
Aside from that though, she seemed withdrawn. She wouldn't make eye contact with Trychon outside their group discussions and she seemed to be avoiding him again. She'd spent a fair amount of time with Dianna, and she'd been laughing with her several times when Trychon walked by, only to get quiet very quickly.
Trychon didn't make much of it... but when it all added up, it didn't really shock him to find her sitting in his waiting room as he walked out of the refresher with a towel around his waist. Well, not too shocked, that is.
"Hey, Trych."
"Uh... Hey, Anya..."
"I need to talk to you." She finally made eye contact with him, clearly a little uncomfortable about it though.
"No shit."
"Don't do that. I need to be serious for a second. I know that I said what happened was no big deal... and it wasn't. I wasn't planning on even bringing it up again so soon... but I couldn't stop thinking about what to do now that we have a bit more time to ourselves."
"Sure..."
"Anyway... I've been spending some time with Dianna the past few days..."
"Not that there's anything wrong with that..."
She gave him a nasty look. "Seriously, stop for a minute, k?"
Trychon said nothing, so she went on. "Dianna's really great, Trych. I just love the fact that she's in charge here... and she's really in charge. You can see it in the eyes of all her crew... and the men especially. She is very respected and admired by everyone here, and myself too now."
"She knows what she's doing."
Anya nodded. "It's more than that though. I've been picking her brain a lot, and I think that part of the reason she's so in control is that she's always been a complete professional when it came to her group. That's what I need, I think. I need to be taken seriously."
"We take you seriously, Anya. Of course we do."
"I know that. It's what I need though. I need to take myself seriously. I need things to be on a more peer to peer level. I need to be able to stop thinking about what we did or what we might do... and just concentrate on being the Sith I can be."
"Ok...."
"Alright... I'm talking in circles. I'll come out with it. Don't take this the wrong way, please.... but could you just kinda forget that we were ever together?"
"Uh...."
"Thanks, Trych. I mean it."
Then she left.
Weird. He thought to himself.
They'd had a pretty relaxing few days. They'd gone over some of the basic teachings that they had access to as a group, and they exercised as a group and individually. Trychon had noticed that he was becoming a bit more confident in his abilities and even his lightsaber moves. There was subtle improvement there, although it was hardly noticeable. Everything was happening for him milliseconds quicker. Force telekinesis and lightsaber attacks. They were coming with a bit less concentration as well, which allowed him to pay better attention to his situation and how he'd follow up the attacks.
More than anything, he was feeling better about his abilities, and he felt it was reflected in the final product. Raezyr seemed to think so too. He could sense a smile under the mask at times when they sparred. He could always tell what was going on behind the mask, but he hadn't said so. Raezyr definitely had an edge on him one on one still though.
Anya had been sparring more with Tyrrazapon. They seemed to be having a good time as well. Deep down, Trychon felt a bit of frustration from Anya when they were discussing Force exercises. She didn't really seem to be gaining anything from the time, even though she thoroughly understood what they discussed. She practically had it all memorized from her time at the Academy alone.
Aside from that though, she seemed withdrawn. She wouldn't make eye contact with Trychon outside their group discussions and she seemed to be avoiding him again. She'd spent a fair amount of time with Dianna, and she'd been laughing with her several times when Trychon walked by, only to get quiet very quickly.
Trychon didn't make much of it... but when it all added up, it didn't really shock him to find her sitting in his waiting room as he walked out of the refresher with a towel around his waist. Well, not too shocked, that is.
"Hey, Trych."
"Uh... Hey, Anya..."
"I need to talk to you." She finally made eye contact with him, clearly a little uncomfortable about it though.
"No shit."
"Don't do that. I need to be serious for a second. I know that I said what happened was no big deal... and it wasn't. I wasn't planning on even bringing it up again so soon... but I couldn't stop thinking about what to do now that we have a bit more time to ourselves."
"Sure..."
"Anyway... I've been spending some time with Dianna the past few days..."
"Not that there's anything wrong with that..."
She gave him a nasty look. "Seriously, stop for a minute, k?"
Trychon said nothing, so she went on. "Dianna's really great, Trych. I just love the fact that she's in charge here... and she's really in charge. You can see it in the eyes of all her crew... and the men especially. She is very respected and admired by everyone here, and myself too now."
"She knows what she's doing."
Anya nodded. "It's more than that though. I've been picking her brain a lot, and I think that part of the reason she's so in control is that she's always been a complete professional when it came to her group. That's what I need, I think. I need to be taken seriously."
"We take you seriously, Anya. Of course we do."
"I know that. It's what I need though. I need to take myself seriously. I need things to be on a more peer to peer level. I need to be able to stop thinking about what we did or what we might do... and just concentrate on being the Sith I can be."
"Ok...."
"Alright... I'm talking in circles. I'll come out with it. Don't take this the wrong way, please.... but could you just kinda forget that we were ever together?"
"Uh...."
"Thanks, Trych. I mean it."
Then she left.
Weird. He thought to himself.
282. Hoth: King's Lair - Raezyr
"Who? Me?" said the short silvery-blue furred alien. She was wearing an orange colored tunic, white trousers tucked into black knee-high boots, with a utility bet around her waist.
"Well I was mainly refering to your shadow, there. But since you answered..." Dianna said teasingly.
"Well, I don't see how anyone could refer to someone as resourceful as me as a devil, but I'll remember that next time you need something, Cap'n," she said with a grin. "Who're your friends?"
Before Dianna could answer the Chadra Fan had stepped forward and began shaking hands with all the Sith students.
"Hi! I'm Delki. So very pleased to meet all of you. Any friend of the Cap'n's is a friend of mine," he said enthusiastically in a high pitched sqeaky voice. "I'm the mechanic around here, so if you need anything, anything at all, you just let me know."
"Delki, Bleetz, this is Tyrrazapon, Trychon, Raezyr and Anya. They'll be staying here for awhile. They've got some Repo heat on them and need to lay low for awhile. Treat them like you would any of the rest of our crew, alright?" Dianna informed them.
They both spoke in unison.
"Sure. No problem."
"You got it."
"Now that we've finished with the pleasantries, Delki, I need you to go over the ships, make sure all systems are go for the job coming up. Don't go adding any of your little 'upgrades' without discussing them with me first, alright?
"And Bleetz, make sure that the ships are stocked with the supplies we may need and get with Dengar to make sure his team has whatever weapons or armor he may require," she said and Bleetz nodded. "Also, have you been able to procure any of those new power sourcing units that we talked about the other day?
"Sure, I made a few shrewd trades with some of my sources and we should be able to pick them up in a couple of weeks," Bleetz replied.
Dianna knew that any 'shrewd trade' that Bleetz had brokered meant that her supply officer had come out ahead on the deal. It was one of the Squib's more endearing abilities. Bleetz could sell ocean front property on Tatooine to a Toydarian, if she put her mind to it.
"Oh, and Delki, go over our guest's ships too, make any repairs necessary, but take care of ours first as we'll need them sooner," Dianna continued. She had little doubt that the ships would be ready to go, and he'd probably be working on the newcomer's ships long before her own crew was ready to take off. The Chadra Fan worked fast, slept little, and his work was always complete. He just had an annoying habit of getting sidetracked on his own little projects sometimes, especially if he wasn't reminded from time to time of the tasks at hand.
"Gotcha, Boss," replied the small brown-furred bat-like alien.
"Delki," Trychon said as the two small rodent-like aliens were about to leave.
"Yeah?"
"I'd like to talk to you about some modifications that I'd like to make to the Twilight Stalker, when you have some time," Trychon informed him.
"Okey, dokey! I'll find you as soon as I'm done with the systems checks and repairs," said Delki cheerfully.
"Thanks," Trychon said as the two made their way down the hall.
Tyrrazapon turned to Dianna. "Thanks for the help with our ships. We appreciate it."
"Oh don't go thanking me yet. You better believe you'll be billed for the repairs. Supplies don't come easily out here, you know," she said.
Thinking of their dwindling funds, Raezyr spoke up as they continued on their way down the hall, "Dianna. You mentioned a job coming up. Is it something that you could use our expertise on?"
"Not this time. I'm sending the crew out to pickup four starfighters that are being transported from Bilbringi to the Hosk Station. It's on a moon around Kalarba. They're being towed as they don't have any hyperdrive units. I was going to go myself, but I've got some, uh, work to do around here, so I'll be keeping you guys company while the crew is gone," she explained.
Raezyr could sense that she wasn't being entirely truthful about having work to do here at King's Lair, but he understood. If he were in her position, he wouldn't be leaving a bunch of strangers unattended in his home, either.
"Well I was mainly refering to your shadow, there. But since you answered..." Dianna said teasingly.
"Well, I don't see how anyone could refer to someone as resourceful as me as a devil, but I'll remember that next time you need something, Cap'n," she said with a grin. "Who're your friends?"
Before Dianna could answer the Chadra Fan had stepped forward and began shaking hands with all the Sith students.
"Hi! I'm Delki. So very pleased to meet all of you. Any friend of the Cap'n's is a friend of mine," he said enthusiastically in a high pitched sqeaky voice. "I'm the mechanic around here, so if you need anything, anything at all, you just let me know."
"Delki, Bleetz, this is Tyrrazapon, Trychon, Raezyr and Anya. They'll be staying here for awhile. They've got some Repo heat on them and need to lay low for awhile. Treat them like you would any of the rest of our crew, alright?" Dianna informed them.
They both spoke in unison.
"Sure. No problem."
"You got it."
"Now that we've finished with the pleasantries, Delki, I need you to go over the ships, make sure all systems are go for the job coming up. Don't go adding any of your little 'upgrades' without discussing them with me first, alright?
"And Bleetz, make sure that the ships are stocked with the supplies we may need and get with Dengar to make sure his team has whatever weapons or armor he may require," she said and Bleetz nodded. "Also, have you been able to procure any of those new power sourcing units that we talked about the other day?
"Sure, I made a few shrewd trades with some of my sources and we should be able to pick them up in a couple of weeks," Bleetz replied.
Dianna knew that any 'shrewd trade' that Bleetz had brokered meant that her supply officer had come out ahead on the deal. It was one of the Squib's more endearing abilities. Bleetz could sell ocean front property on Tatooine to a Toydarian, if she put her mind to it.
"Oh, and Delki, go over our guest's ships too, make any repairs necessary, but take care of ours first as we'll need them sooner," Dianna continued. She had little doubt that the ships would be ready to go, and he'd probably be working on the newcomer's ships long before her own crew was ready to take off. The Chadra Fan worked fast, slept little, and his work was always complete. He just had an annoying habit of getting sidetracked on his own little projects sometimes, especially if he wasn't reminded from time to time of the tasks at hand.
"Gotcha, Boss," replied the small brown-furred bat-like alien.
"Delki," Trychon said as the two small rodent-like aliens were about to leave.
"Yeah?"
"I'd like to talk to you about some modifications that I'd like to make to the Twilight Stalker, when you have some time," Trychon informed him.
"Okey, dokey! I'll find you as soon as I'm done with the systems checks and repairs," said Delki cheerfully.
"Thanks," Trychon said as the two made their way down the hall.
Tyrrazapon turned to Dianna. "Thanks for the help with our ships. We appreciate it."
"Oh don't go thanking me yet. You better believe you'll be billed for the repairs. Supplies don't come easily out here, you know," she said.
Thinking of their dwindling funds, Raezyr spoke up as they continued on their way down the hall, "Dianna. You mentioned a job coming up. Is it something that you could use our expertise on?"
"Not this time. I'm sending the crew out to pickup four starfighters that are being transported from Bilbringi to the Hosk Station. It's on a moon around Kalarba. They're being towed as they don't have any hyperdrive units. I was going to go myself, but I've got some, uh, work to do around here, so I'll be keeping you guys company while the crew is gone," she explained.
Raezyr could sense that she wasn't being entirely truthful about having work to do here at King's Lair, but he understood. If he were in her position, he wouldn't be leaving a bunch of strangers unattended in his home, either.
February 15, 2009
281. Hoth: King's Lair - Raezyr
Zanz stood up as if to accompany them in finding the Chadra Fan and the Squib, but Dianna had other plans. "Zanz, please inform the rest of the crew that our guests will be staying for awhile, and that they should be treated as part of the crew unless otherwise specified by me."
Zanz raised an eybrow in surprise before blurting out the appropriate, "Aye, Cap'n." He quickly turned and left.
"Normally guests are restricted to quarters and mess hall, for reasons you can well imagine. I'm going to allow you full access here for several reasons, not least of which is the suspicion that you would go anywhere you wanted, anyway. Now, follow me and I'll introduce you to a few of the crew," she said as they entered the lounge area.
There were three people in the lounge as they entered. Two humans were standing next to a pool table holding cues, while a gorgeous blue female Twi'lek was sitting on a couch, feet curled under her, watching a holo-flick.
"These two are Taggart and Dengar," she said, indicating the two men.
"Taggart here is our ace pilot. Space or atmosphere doesn't matter. If it can fly, Taggart can operate it. He was one of the top pilots in the Republic, before he was kicked out," she explained of the unshaven man wearing the green flightsuit. He smelled slightly of booze.
Taggart smiled wide and stuck his hand out which Tyrrazapon shook. "Nice to meetcha," he said, shaking hands with each Sith before turning back to the pool table.
"And this is Dengar," Dianna said, turning to the other man. "As you can tell by his garb, he's Mandalorian. He's in charge of our boarding party. Oh, excuse me, the Special Lead Aquisition Members, or the SLAM unit, as he likes to call it," she corrected mockingly after a look from Dengar.
He nodded an acknowledgment to them, but didn't offer any greetings.
Dianna then turned to the Twi'lek sitting on the couch.
"And this is Teera. Her skills lend themselves to.... stealth and elimination, if you get what I mean," Dianna informed them.
Teera didn't bother to turn around, but she did give Anya a sidelong glance, which no one but Anya noticed.
Dianna led them out of the lounge and pointed down a hall, "Down there are your quarters. Just pick an empty room, there should be several."
Raezyr turned to Anya, "Better radio Aychkay and have him bring our gear."
Dianna turned around quickly, "You guys have a droid?"
Trychon thought she seemed overly concered about a droid, "Yeeeeah, we have an HK-51. Is that a problem?"
"No. But just make sure he stays as far from Delki as possible," she said."Why's that?" Raezyr questioned.
"He has a nasty habit of dismantling droids and turning them into something else. Not because he doesn't like droids, he actually loves them. He just gets curious. He's a Chadra Fan. You know how they can be," she said. "Well speak of the devil."
Just then a small brown bat-like Chadra Fanand a silvery blue Squib female came around the corner.
Zanz raised an eybrow in surprise before blurting out the appropriate, "Aye, Cap'n." He quickly turned and left.
"Normally guests are restricted to quarters and mess hall, for reasons you can well imagine. I'm going to allow you full access here for several reasons, not least of which is the suspicion that you would go anywhere you wanted, anyway. Now, follow me and I'll introduce you to a few of the crew," she said as they entered the lounge area.
There were three people in the lounge as they entered. Two humans were standing next to a pool table holding cues, while a gorgeous blue female Twi'lek was sitting on a couch, feet curled under her, watching a holo-flick.
"These two are Taggart and Dengar," she said, indicating the two men.
"Taggart here is our ace pilot. Space or atmosphere doesn't matter. If it can fly, Taggart can operate it. He was one of the top pilots in the Republic, before he was kicked out," she explained of the unshaven man wearing the green flightsuit. He smelled slightly of booze.
Taggart smiled wide and stuck his hand out which Tyrrazapon shook. "Nice to meetcha," he said, shaking hands with each Sith before turning back to the pool table.
"And this is Dengar," Dianna said, turning to the other man. "As you can tell by his garb, he's Mandalorian. He's in charge of our boarding party. Oh, excuse me, the Special Lead Aquisition Members, or the SLAM unit, as he likes to call it," she corrected mockingly after a look from Dengar.
He nodded an acknowledgment to them, but didn't offer any greetings.
Dianna then turned to the Twi'lek sitting on the couch.
"And this is Teera. Her skills lend themselves to.... stealth and elimination, if you get what I mean," Dianna informed them.
Teera didn't bother to turn around, but she did give Anya a sidelong glance, which no one but Anya noticed.
Dianna led them out of the lounge and pointed down a hall, "Down there are your quarters. Just pick an empty room, there should be several."
Raezyr turned to Anya, "Better radio Aychkay and have him bring our gear."
Dianna turned around quickly, "You guys have a droid?"
Trychon thought she seemed overly concered about a droid, "Yeeeeah, we have an HK-51. Is that a problem?"
"No. But just make sure he stays as far from Delki as possible," she said."Why's that?" Raezyr questioned.
"He has a nasty habit of dismantling droids and turning them into something else. Not because he doesn't like droids, he actually loves them. He just gets curious. He's a Chadra Fan. You know how they can be," she said. "Well speak of the devil."
Just then a small brown bat-like Chadra Fanand a silvery blue Squib female came around the corner.
280. Hoth: King's Lair - Trychon
Tyrrazapon looked satisfied with his meal. "Just a while. Not too long, of course... and I trust you'd tell us before we crossed that line. We wouldn't want to be an inconvenience... you know... for too long. I guess."
"Naturally." Dianna smiled a little.
Trychon also finished up his meal and spoke out next. "We don't really know who may be looking for us at the moment. We do know we weren't followed. Don't get me wrong... we certainly don't mind all sorts of interesting, either. We just prefer that our interesting come in smaller, more manageable amounts."
Raezyr nodded.
"Plus, Trych here was hurt." Anya said, and was turning to look at him right before a napkin flew up from the center of the table and made an intercept course for her face. She ducked it aptly and jumped up from her seat, about to yell at him when she heard the room erupt in laughter.
She looked down as the crumpled cloth hit the floor, and her face began to turn red; embarrassed at how she'd almost reacted. Then she began to laugh with them.
After they'd sat there for a while and had made some small talk and even a few jokes, the whole room, including Zanz, seemed to lighten up.
"Seriously though, I can't imagine that we'd be more than a few weeks. It'll be nice to try and go through some training exercises again, get some much needed maintenance for the ships, and a few other things taken care of before we try to get our bearings and move forward." Trychon pointed to Raezyr and Tyrrazapon. "Of course, these two are the pilots."
"I've also been wondering about the possibility of getting more than just a little bit of work done." Raezyr folded his arms. "My escape was a bit more hairy than these guys'... so any help you could give us there, or if you could even point us in the right direction on our way out..."
Trychon got up and stretched. "Of course... we don't ask for anything free... we can pay a bit... or maybe trade. Naturally, while we're in your hair, we wouldn't necessarily be adverse to helping with the 'chores' for a fair 'allowance' either."
Dianna followed Trychon's example and got up from the table. "We'll discuss the work around here in a bit. As for the ships... I think we can help you at least to get started. Let us see if we can chase down Delki and Bleetz..."
"Naturally." Dianna smiled a little.
Trychon also finished up his meal and spoke out next. "We don't really know who may be looking for us at the moment. We do know we weren't followed. Don't get me wrong... we certainly don't mind all sorts of interesting, either. We just prefer that our interesting come in smaller, more manageable amounts."
Raezyr nodded.
"Plus, Trych here was hurt." Anya said, and was turning to look at him right before a napkin flew up from the center of the table and made an intercept course for her face. She ducked it aptly and jumped up from her seat, about to yell at him when she heard the room erupt in laughter.
She looked down as the crumpled cloth hit the floor, and her face began to turn red; embarrassed at how she'd almost reacted. Then she began to laugh with them.
After they'd sat there for a while and had made some small talk and even a few jokes, the whole room, including Zanz, seemed to lighten up.
"Seriously though, I can't imagine that we'd be more than a few weeks. It'll be nice to try and go through some training exercises again, get some much needed maintenance for the ships, and a few other things taken care of before we try to get our bearings and move forward." Trychon pointed to Raezyr and Tyrrazapon. "Of course, these two are the pilots."
"I've also been wondering about the possibility of getting more than just a little bit of work done." Raezyr folded his arms. "My escape was a bit more hairy than these guys'... so any help you could give us there, or if you could even point us in the right direction on our way out..."
Trychon got up and stretched. "Of course... we don't ask for anything free... we can pay a bit... or maybe trade. Naturally, while we're in your hair, we wouldn't necessarily be adverse to helping with the 'chores' for a fair 'allowance' either."
Dianna followed Trychon's example and got up from the table. "We'll discuss the work around here in a bit. As for the ships... I think we can help you at least to get started. Let us see if we can chase down Delki and Bleetz..."
279. Hoth: King's Lair - Raezyr
Before Tyrrazapon could answer Dianna, Raezyr spoke up.
"How would you like it if I started asking detailed questions about your last mission?" he asked rhetorically.
"MY last mission and motives aren't the ones in question, kid. You come into my home, with the Republic and the Jedi on your ass, and try to give me some bullshit 'it's not my fault' story, and don't think we're gonna ask questions? Well, you've got another think comin'!" Zanz said, raising his voice.
"Look old man, you're way out of your league here," Raezyr said standing up. His actions were mirrored by Zanz. They walked around the table until they were standing eye-to-eye, chests nearly touching.
"I'm outta my league? Listen you snot-nosed brat! I was neck deep in Mando bodies when you were still shitting in your hands and wiping it on your face!" Zanz screamed.
"And for all of that, I could kill you right now without blinking," Raezyr said with deadly calm. He continued before Zanz could reply, "But since this is your house, and out of respect for your Captain, I'll tell you what we were doing.
"We had a business deal with the Revenants. You know who they are?" Raezyr asked.
Zanz seemed to calm a bit, "Who hasn't? They only control all the organized crime in the Core."
"We were in the middle of conducting that business in one of their warehouses, when a Jedi broke in and decided she was going to arrest us. We tried to escape the Jedi, not because we were afraid her, but because we knew the inevitable outcome that the confrontation would bring.
"SHE pursued US, until she had us cornered. She herded us straight into more Jedi. The fight was forced on us by the Jedi. They brought judicials and soldiers to the fight. We were severely outnumbered, and did what we had to do to survive.
"Now, if you'd like to continue with your sad, pathetic attempt to intimidate those who are more powerful than you, we can step into the hanger and settle this. With your Captain's permission, of course. It is HER house, after all," Raezyr said calmly.
The implication that Zanz had overstepped his bounds was not lost on him, and his face flushed even redder than it already was.
Every instinct in his body said that he needed to take this kid down a notch, but his memory of his time under the Sith was telling him that he just might be in over his head. He hadn't lived this long by acting rashly, and in the end, logic won out over the sting of his wounded pride.
Turning, he walked back to his seat, sat down, and continued eating.
Raezyr eyed him for a moment before returning to his own chair.
"How long were you looking to stay, Tyr?" Dianna asked, as if nothing had happened.
"How would you like it if I started asking detailed questions about your last mission?" he asked rhetorically.
"MY last mission and motives aren't the ones in question, kid. You come into my home, with the Republic and the Jedi on your ass, and try to give me some bullshit 'it's not my fault' story, and don't think we're gonna ask questions? Well, you've got another think comin'!" Zanz said, raising his voice.
"Look old man, you're way out of your league here," Raezyr said standing up. His actions were mirrored by Zanz. They walked around the table until they were standing eye-to-eye, chests nearly touching.
"I'm outta my league? Listen you snot-nosed brat! I was neck deep in Mando bodies when you were still shitting in your hands and wiping it on your face!" Zanz screamed.
"And for all of that, I could kill you right now without blinking," Raezyr said with deadly calm. He continued before Zanz could reply, "But since this is your house, and out of respect for your Captain, I'll tell you what we were doing.
"We had a business deal with the Revenants. You know who they are?" Raezyr asked.
Zanz seemed to calm a bit, "Who hasn't? They only control all the organized crime in the Core."
"We were in the middle of conducting that business in one of their warehouses, when a Jedi broke in and decided she was going to arrest us. We tried to escape the Jedi, not because we were afraid her, but because we knew the inevitable outcome that the confrontation would bring.
"SHE pursued US, until she had us cornered. She herded us straight into more Jedi. The fight was forced on us by the Jedi. They brought judicials and soldiers to the fight. We were severely outnumbered, and did what we had to do to survive.
"Now, if you'd like to continue with your sad, pathetic attempt to intimidate those who are more powerful than you, we can step into the hanger and settle this. With your Captain's permission, of course. It is HER house, after all," Raezyr said calmly.
The implication that Zanz had overstepped his bounds was not lost on him, and his face flushed even redder than it already was.
Every instinct in his body said that he needed to take this kid down a notch, but his memory of his time under the Sith was telling him that he just might be in over his head. He hadn't lived this long by acting rashly, and in the end, logic won out over the sting of his wounded pride.
Turning, he walked back to his seat, sat down, and continued eating.
Raezyr eyed him for a moment before returning to his own chair.
"How long were you looking to stay, Tyr?" Dianna asked, as if nothing had happened.
278. Hoth: King's Lair - Trychon
After they'd all gotten their food and had been gorging themselves for a bit, Dianna tried to open up the conversation again. "So you guys really are wanted in all the core systems now, huh?"
Raezyr looked at her. "We don't really know. We haven't really checked the holonet." Trychon didn't look up. Raezyr continued "It's possible. We know there's a bounty out there for us... so it's possible. It probably even went up after we took out a few more squads that were laying waste to our home and academy... but we couldn't take on their number in the air... so we had to flee."
Zanz snorted. "So you didn't get off free afterall, then did you?"
Anya glared at him. "Is that supposed to be funny somehow?"
Zanz was about to lash back when he caught the look on Dianna's face. He coughed instead. "So what were you all after on Coruscant anyway?"
Tyrrazapon looked at Raezyr, who had put down his utensils. "Things. Nothing of interest to most."
Zanz put his utensils down and looked at Dianna. "So you're completely innocent in all of this, but you can't tell us what you were doing getting chased down by the Jedi?"
"So how long were you looking to stay?" Dianna interrupted.
Raezyr looked at her. "We don't really know. We haven't really checked the holonet." Trychon didn't look up. Raezyr continued "It's possible. We know there's a bounty out there for us... so it's possible. It probably even went up after we took out a few more squads that were laying waste to our home and academy... but we couldn't take on their number in the air... so we had to flee."
Zanz snorted. "So you didn't get off free afterall, then did you?"
Anya glared at him. "Is that supposed to be funny somehow?"
Zanz was about to lash back when he caught the look on Dianna's face. He coughed instead. "So what were you all after on Coruscant anyway?"
Tyrrazapon looked at Raezyr, who had put down his utensils. "Things. Nothing of interest to most."
Zanz put his utensils down and looked at Dianna. "So you're completely innocent in all of this, but you can't tell us what you were doing getting chased down by the Jedi?"
"So how long were you looking to stay?" Dianna interrupted.
277. Hoth: King's Lair - Trychon
Dianna led the four sith to her private dining room, along with Zanz, her first mate. He looked gruff and still wore pieces of his old commando armor from his days when he served in the Sith army nearly 20 years ago.
They were all seated at the table when Dianna looked at Trychon and said. "You look familiar... do I know you?"
Trychon smiled at her. "I'm wanted in all the core systems..."
She scoffed. "I've heard that one before. Usually with an offer for a drink."
Trychon just chuckled and said nothing.
Zanz didn't believe in beating around the bush. He spoke as they all sat down, "I know what you are. I spent my youth serving in the Sith army under Revan, and then Malak. I fought side-by-side with many Sith. More importantly, I know WHO you are." He glared at them for a moment.
"Captain, these are the murdering bastards from the holo from Coruscant. They'll only bring us trouble. The Republic and the Jedi will be all over them. They'll be all over us, too if you don't send them packing right fucking now!"
Dianna's face darkened as she turned to her guests. "Is that true? Was that you, Tyr?" she asked.
He looked up, and put on as innocent face as he could. "I'm telling you that it's not what it looked like. I won't lie. That was us, but it wasn't what it looked like."
"It looked like you were gunning down random people in the street," she said.
"Okay, so maybe it was what it looked like, but there was more to it than what you saw," Tyr said reassuringly.
"How could you have murdered all those people? What kind of monsters are you?" she asked as she stood up, backing away and sliding a hand up her left sleeve.
Zanz jumped up as well, dropping his hand for his blaster.
Raezyr, Trychon and Anya reacted instantly, jumping from their seats. Their lightsabers were ignited even as Zanz was gripping his blaster.
"WAIT!" Tyrrazapon yelled, jumping onto the table between everyone.
"The gods know I've killed my share of people. Some were even unarmed. But they were never bystanders, Tyr. They each posed a threat to me and my crew," Dianna said forcefully, gun pointed at Trychon.
"Dianna, listen to me. We were there for other reasons, not wanton killing. We were on a mission when we were attacked by the Jedi.
"I know you may not understand this, but it was the only way we could defeat them. The deaths of those people caused terror, which disrupted the power that the Jedi draw on," Tyr said pleadingly.
"I don't believe in any of that Force nonsense," she said. Her tone was still serious, but it was easy to see that her conviction was wavering.
"The Jedi forced us to kill those people, Di. It wasn't our fault. If they had left us alone, no one would have ever known we were on Coruscant.
"The Jedi meddle in everything. They stick their noses where it doesn't belong. You know this as well as I do. We only did what we had to do to get out of there with our lives."
Tense moments ticked away as she pondered what Tyrrazapon had said.
"Your right. The Jedi have screwed me over on numerous occaisions, even when the Republic wasn't involved. I'll believe you.... for now," Dianna said and tucked her hold-out back into it's sleeve holster.
It was apparent that Zanz didn't like it, but he followed his Captain's lead.
Trychon put his blade away as he picked up his chair and sat down.
"Can we eat now? 'Cause I'm starving."
They were all seated at the table when Dianna looked at Trychon and said. "You look familiar... do I know you?"
Trychon smiled at her. "I'm wanted in all the core systems..."
She scoffed. "I've heard that one before. Usually with an offer for a drink."
Trychon just chuckled and said nothing.
Zanz didn't believe in beating around the bush. He spoke as they all sat down, "I know what you are. I spent my youth serving in the Sith army under Revan, and then Malak. I fought side-by-side with many Sith. More importantly, I know WHO you are." He glared at them for a moment.
"Captain, these are the murdering bastards from the holo from Coruscant. They'll only bring us trouble. The Republic and the Jedi will be all over them. They'll be all over us, too if you don't send them packing right fucking now!"
Dianna's face darkened as she turned to her guests. "Is that true? Was that you, Tyr?" she asked.
He looked up, and put on as innocent face as he could. "I'm telling you that it's not what it looked like. I won't lie. That was us, but it wasn't what it looked like."
"It looked like you were gunning down random people in the street," she said.
"Okay, so maybe it was what it looked like, but there was more to it than what you saw," Tyr said reassuringly.
"How could you have murdered all those people? What kind of monsters are you?" she asked as she stood up, backing away and sliding a hand up her left sleeve.
Zanz jumped up as well, dropping his hand for his blaster.
Raezyr, Trychon and Anya reacted instantly, jumping from their seats. Their lightsabers were ignited even as Zanz was gripping his blaster.
"WAIT!" Tyrrazapon yelled, jumping onto the table between everyone.
"The gods know I've killed my share of people. Some were even unarmed. But they were never bystanders, Tyr. They each posed a threat to me and my crew," Dianna said forcefully, gun pointed at Trychon.
"Dianna, listen to me. We were there for other reasons, not wanton killing. We were on a mission when we were attacked by the Jedi.
"I know you may not understand this, but it was the only way we could defeat them. The deaths of those people caused terror, which disrupted the power that the Jedi draw on," Tyr said pleadingly.
"I don't believe in any of that Force nonsense," she said. Her tone was still serious, but it was easy to see that her conviction was wavering.
"The Jedi forced us to kill those people, Di. It wasn't our fault. If they had left us alone, no one would have ever known we were on Coruscant.
"The Jedi meddle in everything. They stick their noses where it doesn't belong. You know this as well as I do. We only did what we had to do to get out of there with our lives."
Tense moments ticked away as she pondered what Tyrrazapon had said.
"Your right. The Jedi have screwed me over on numerous occaisions, even when the Republic wasn't involved. I'll believe you.... for now," Dianna said and tucked her hold-out back into it's sleeve holster.
It was apparent that Zanz didn't like it, but he followed his Captain's lead.
Trychon put his blade away as he picked up his chair and sat down.
"Can we eat now? 'Cause I'm starving."
276. Hoth: King's Lair - Raezyr
Tyrrazapon hadn't exactly expected that, and the shocked look on his face showed it. "I... uh..." he stammered, his usually glib tongue frozen.
The angry look on the woman's face turned into a grin as she burst into laughter, as did her crew. She half turned and spoke to them, "Is that look priceless, or what?" She turned back to Tyrrazapon.
"I really had you going, didn't I?" she said to the speechless Sith. "You didn't really think I expected you to call, did you?"
"Well, I don't... I didn't think... I thought everything was cool when I left," he said, chuckling a bit as his voice returned. "But when we decided to come here, I began second guessing," he said, shooting a smug glance at Anya who rolled her eyes.
"So who are these people?" Dianna asked, looking over the others. "They don't look like smugglers. And I don't recognize any of these ships."
Tyrrazapon turned and introduced his companions, "The guy in the armor is Raezyr, this is Trychon, and the blond is Anya Tachi."
"Guys, this is Dianna Kingsdoom, First Mate here," he said to the others.
"Not anymore, Tyr. I'm the Captain now. My father was caught and executed by the Republic," she corrected, anger flaring as she recalled the death of her father.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Di," Tyrrazapon said.
"Forget it," she returned. Softening up she said, "Let's quit standing around here and get out of the cold. We can catch up over supper." Her crew had already begun to head out of the hangar area and she turned and followed them.
Once she was out of earshot, Tyrrazapon turned to the others, "So far so good."
Raezyr looked at Trychon who only shrugged as the four Sith followed their pirate hosts toward the mess hall.
The angry look on the woman's face turned into a grin as she burst into laughter, as did her crew. She half turned and spoke to them, "Is that look priceless, or what?" She turned back to Tyrrazapon.
"I really had you going, didn't I?" she said to the speechless Sith. "You didn't really think I expected you to call, did you?"
"Well, I don't... I didn't think... I thought everything was cool when I left," he said, chuckling a bit as his voice returned. "But when we decided to come here, I began second guessing," he said, shooting a smug glance at Anya who rolled her eyes.
"So who are these people?" Dianna asked, looking over the others. "They don't look like smugglers. And I don't recognize any of these ships."
Tyrrazapon turned and introduced his companions, "The guy in the armor is Raezyr, this is Trychon, and the blond is Anya Tachi."
"Guys, this is Dianna Kingsdoom, First Mate here," he said to the others.
"Not anymore, Tyr. I'm the Captain now. My father was caught and executed by the Republic," she corrected, anger flaring as she recalled the death of her father.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Di," Tyrrazapon said.
"Forget it," she returned. Softening up she said, "Let's quit standing around here and get out of the cold. We can catch up over supper." Her crew had already begun to head out of the hangar area and she turned and followed them.
Once she was out of earshot, Tyrrazapon turned to the others, "So far so good."
Raezyr looked at Trychon who only shrugged as the four Sith followed their pirate hosts toward the mess hall.
275. Hoth: King's Lair - Raezyr
After another fifteen minutes had gone by, the radio op came back on, "Uh, Wraith, the First Mate didn't know who you were, but the Captain sure did. Cussed a blue streak when I said your name. How many of your ships were you planning on landing, and what's the total number aboard?"
"First Mate doesn't remember me? I'm surprised the Captain does. Oh well, we'd like to land all five ships and our numbers total 4 plus a droid," Tyrrazapon responded.
"Copy that, Wraith. Please standby," the operator said. After a few moments he returned. "You have permission to land at the following encrypted coordinants. Welcome to the King's Lair, Nefarion Wraith."
"What do you think, guys?" Tyrrazapon asked the others.
"I don't like it," Anya chimed in.
"Neither do I. How come that Dianna doesn't remember you?" Trychon asked.
"And why did the Captain react like that? Is there something else you're not telling us, Tyr?" Raezyr added.
"I swear I've told you guys everything. I'm just as perplexed as you guys, but there's only one way to find out," Tyrrazapon said and began his decent.
They piloted their respective ships into the atmosphere. As they neared the base coordinants, the saw a large set of hanger doors open in the side of a mountain. They hadn't seen them until they began opening as they were camouflaged.
Once inside the hanger, they disembarked and looked about. There were at least 30 other ships there, ranging size and style from small one man fighters to light freighters and even a large transport that was bigger than the Stalker.
The thing that really caught their eye was the contingent of armed men and women approaching them. All were armed to the teeth. They were being led by a tall human female with shoulder length red hair.
She marched right up to Tyrrazapon and slapped him across the face. "Where the fuck have you been?"
"First Mate doesn't remember me? I'm surprised the Captain does. Oh well, we'd like to land all five ships and our numbers total 4 plus a droid," Tyrrazapon responded.
"Copy that, Wraith. Please standby," the operator said. After a few moments he returned. "You have permission to land at the following encrypted coordinants. Welcome to the King's Lair, Nefarion Wraith."
"What do you think, guys?" Tyrrazapon asked the others.
"I don't like it," Anya chimed in.
"Neither do I. How come that Dianna doesn't remember you?" Trychon asked.
"And why did the Captain react like that? Is there something else you're not telling us, Tyr?" Raezyr added.
"I swear I've told you guys everything. I'm just as perplexed as you guys, but there's only one way to find out," Tyrrazapon said and began his decent.
They piloted their respective ships into the atmosphere. As they neared the base coordinants, the saw a large set of hanger doors open in the side of a mountain. They hadn't seen them until they began opening as they were camouflaged.
Once inside the hanger, they disembarked and looked about. There were at least 30 other ships there, ranging size and style from small one man fighters to light freighters and even a large transport that was bigger than the Stalker.
The thing that really caught their eye was the contingent of armed men and women approaching them. All were armed to the teeth. They were being led by a tall human female with shoulder length red hair.
She marched right up to Tyrrazapon and slapped him across the face. "Where the fuck have you been?"
February 12, 2009
274. Hoth: King's Lair - Raezyr
The five ships dropped out of hyperspace on the edges of the Hoth system. They navigated around the asteroid belt and took up parallel orbits around the white pearl that was the ice planet.
Raezyr was the first to break the radio silence. "I'm not picking anything up down there other than a few scattered life form readings. Nothing to indicate a base. Are you sure they're still here?"
"There's always a chance they've moved on, and if so, then maybe the base might still be usable, but the last time I was here, we didn't pick up anything. I think the cave they're in has some natural sheilding. Let me get on the comm and see if I can raise them," Tyrrazapon said. "I don't know about you guys, but I don't want to come in unannounced."
He fiddled with the comm console for a moment before locating the private channel. "Nefarion Wraith to King's Lair, come in please." He waited for several moments and retransmitted.
He was about to try a third time when his comm crackled to life and a mans voice came across his speakers, "This is a private channel. Please clear the airwaves."
Recognizing the code, Tyrrazapon responded, "King's Lair, this is the Nefarion Wraith. I apologize, but I just hit a true pazaak, and had to share it with someone."
"Wraith, this is King's Lair. Who ARE you?" the man asked, clearly puzzled.
"Tell Captian Kingsdoom that this is Tyr. I don't know if he'll remember me, but if you let the first mate know, she'll recognize me," Tyrrazapon said.
"Standby," came the reply.
"What the hell?" Trychon asked, after nearly 20 minutes had gone by.
"I don't like this," Anya said, throwing in her two creds.
"Calm down guys, they haven't launched any fighters, so that's a good sign," Tyrrazapon said, trying to reassure them.
Raezyr was the first to break the radio silence. "I'm not picking anything up down there other than a few scattered life form readings. Nothing to indicate a base. Are you sure they're still here?"
"There's always a chance they've moved on, and if so, then maybe the base might still be usable, but the last time I was here, we didn't pick up anything. I think the cave they're in has some natural sheilding. Let me get on the comm and see if I can raise them," Tyrrazapon said. "I don't know about you guys, but I don't want to come in unannounced."
He fiddled with the comm console for a moment before locating the private channel. "Nefarion Wraith to King's Lair, come in please." He waited for several moments and retransmitted.
He was about to try a third time when his comm crackled to life and a mans voice came across his speakers, "This is a private channel. Please clear the airwaves."
Recognizing the code, Tyrrazapon responded, "King's Lair, this is the Nefarion Wraith. I apologize, but I just hit a true pazaak, and had to share it with someone."
"Wraith, this is King's Lair. Who ARE you?" the man asked, clearly puzzled.
"Tell Captian Kingsdoom that this is Tyr. I don't know if he'll remember me, but if you let the first mate know, she'll recognize me," Tyrrazapon said.
"Standby," came the reply.
"What the hell?" Trychon asked, after nearly 20 minutes had gone by.
"I don't like this," Anya said, throwing in her two creds.
"Calm down guys, they haven't launched any fighters, so that's a good sign," Tyrrazapon said, trying to reassure them.
February 10, 2009
273. Anchorhead - Raezyr
They boarded their ships after HK-51 had finished loading their supplies and lifted off. Within moments, they exited the atmosphere and piloted to the destination at which the Twilight Stalker should be dropping out of hyperspace.
An hour and a half went by and the students made small talk over the comm while they waited a short distance outside the Tatoo System.
"So what was that girls name, Tyr," Anya asked.
"Her name was Dianna Kingsdoom. She's beautiful. A human girl with shoulder length red hair. She'd be about 22 by now....." Tyrrazapon said, trailing off a bit at the end as if thought.
"And what is her father's name," Raezyr interjected, hoping to bring Tyrrazapon out of his reverie.
"What? Oh, uh... his name was Karle," Tyrrazapon answered, coming back to the present. "He calls his base the 'King's Lair.' Cheesy, I know, but that's what it is."
Suddenly a ship dropped out of hyperspace right in front of them. It was the Stalker.
"Galaxy Flyer to unidentified ships.... um.... identify yourselves," came a voice over the comm.
No one responded, and Trychon went to work. They watched, and within moments every hatch on his new ship opened, sucking all sorts of cargo and other flotsam out into the vacuum of space.
As the hatches closed, Raezyr closed the distance and docked. He put on an enviro suit and as planned, made a quick tour of the Stalker. He found one crewman still barely alive in on board. The man had managed to get an air tank on. He probably wouldn't make it, but Raezyr made sure anyway then returned to his own ship.
"All clear. Let's go pick up the rest of our supplies, then off to the King's Lair," he said into the comm once he was seated back in the cockpit of the Jet Razor.
An hour and a half went by and the students made small talk over the comm while they waited a short distance outside the Tatoo System.
"So what was that girls name, Tyr," Anya asked.
"Her name was Dianna Kingsdoom. She's beautiful. A human girl with shoulder length red hair. She'd be about 22 by now....." Tyrrazapon said, trailing off a bit at the end as if thought.
"And what is her father's name," Raezyr interjected, hoping to bring Tyrrazapon out of his reverie.
"What? Oh, uh... his name was Karle," Tyrrazapon answered, coming back to the present. "He calls his base the 'King's Lair.' Cheesy, I know, but that's what it is."
Suddenly a ship dropped out of hyperspace right in front of them. It was the Stalker.
"Galaxy Flyer to unidentified ships.... um.... identify yourselves," came a voice over the comm.
No one responded, and Trychon went to work. They watched, and within moments every hatch on his new ship opened, sucking all sorts of cargo and other flotsam out into the vacuum of space.
As the hatches closed, Raezyr closed the distance and docked. He put on an enviro suit and as planned, made a quick tour of the Stalker. He found one crewman still barely alive in on board. The man had managed to get an air tank on. He probably wouldn't make it, but Raezyr made sure anyway then returned to his own ship.
"All clear. Let's go pick up the rest of our supplies, then off to the King's Lair," he said into the comm once he was seated back in the cockpit of the Jet Razor.
272. Anchorhead - Raezyr
Three and a half hours later, Raezyr sat in the Anchorhead clothier on a bench near the dressing rooms. He was leaned back, clanking his helm against the adobe wall behind him.
"Holy Lords of the Sith on a cracker! Just make a fucking decision!" he said under his breath.
Anya poked her blond head over the dressing room door, "Did you say something?"
"Yeah, I said you should pick the black cloak, because no one is going to be intimidated by the 'Pink Lady of the Sith,'" Raezyr said.
"Fine, I'll go with the black, then," she said, disappearing back into the changing booth.
After another hour or so, they finally made it back to the ships with their supplies. Basic foodstuffs and mechanical equipment made up most of their purchases, although Anya had bought several new outfits, and even talked Raezyr into getting some "off-duty" clothes.
At first he had argued that he wouldn't wear them, but Anya promised to show him a trick she'd learned that might help him hide the scar on his face. He doubted she had anything useful to teach him, but then again, she DID make that grenade disappear.
Anya had also picked out outfits for Tyrrazapon and Trychon. She seemed confidant they would like them.
"Holy Lords of the Sith on a cracker! Just make a fucking decision!" he said under his breath.
Anya poked her blond head over the dressing room door, "Did you say something?"
"Yeah, I said you should pick the black cloak, because no one is going to be intimidated by the 'Pink Lady of the Sith,'" Raezyr said.
"Fine, I'll go with the black, then," she said, disappearing back into the changing booth.
After another hour or so, they finally made it back to the ships with their supplies. Basic foodstuffs and mechanical equipment made up most of their purchases, although Anya had bought several new outfits, and even talked Raezyr into getting some "off-duty" clothes.
At first he had argued that he wouldn't wear them, but Anya promised to show him a trick she'd learned that might help him hide the scar on his face. He doubted she had anything useful to teach him, but then again, she DID make that grenade disappear.
Anya had also picked out outfits for Tyrrazapon and Trychon. She seemed confidant they would like them.
February 08, 2009
271. Anchorhead - Trychon
They found a small restaurant and had a quick breakfast. They spent most of their time listening to Tyrrazapon tell them more of what to expect from their icy destination.
"I'm really not going to like this place." Trychon said.
"You're telling me... At least you don't have to worry about your face freezing to your mask." Raezyr mused.
"Hey... at least we get to pick out new... uh... gear." Anya offered. In response to the looks she was getting she continued. "Hey... I don't like wearing heavy clothing any more than the rest of you... I just think we should stay optimistic. This sounds like the perfect place to lay low for a few weeks."
"Well, I've been meaning to switch to black clothes and put away my camo for a while now, I guess." Trychon sighed.
"That's more like it!" Anya smiled at him. "Now... who's going to come with me to do the basic supply shopping? There's not really much else we need to do before tonight, is there?"
"Actually... there's not." Trychon shrugged. "At least not that I can think of. There is however a small issue I'd like to work with Tyr on. I think he may be able to help me find something that will help us out long term. We'll have our comms on if you need anything."
Trychon and Tyrrazapon walked off... not headed to anywhere in particular... but clearly discussing something.
Anya turned to Raezyr and smiled. "I guess it's up to us to go shopping then! It'll be fun!"
"I'm really not going to like this place." Trychon said.
"You're telling me... At least you don't have to worry about your face freezing to your mask." Raezyr mused.
"Hey... at least we get to pick out new... uh... gear." Anya offered. In response to the looks she was getting she continued. "Hey... I don't like wearing heavy clothing any more than the rest of you... I just think we should stay optimistic. This sounds like the perfect place to lay low for a few weeks."
"Well, I've been meaning to switch to black clothes and put away my camo for a while now, I guess." Trychon sighed.
"That's more like it!" Anya smiled at him. "Now... who's going to come with me to do the basic supply shopping? There's not really much else we need to do before tonight, is there?"
"Actually... there's not." Trychon shrugged. "At least not that I can think of. There is however a small issue I'd like to work with Tyr on. I think he may be able to help me find something that will help us out long term. We'll have our comms on if you need anything."
Trychon and Tyrrazapon walked off... not headed to anywhere in particular... but clearly discussing something.
Anya turned to Raezyr and smiled. "I guess it's up to us to go shopping then! It'll be fun!"
270. Anchorhead - Trychon
The four met up the next morning right where they'd parted ways the night before.
Trychon spoke up before anyone else could as Tyrrazapon and Anya walked towards them. "Listen... about last night... we can't let these sorts of things get in the way of our group. Can we just move on past it and all be friends?"
Anya looked at him as though he'd just suggested that a Rancor would make an excellent pet. "Don't be stupid, Trych. Of course nothing's changed between us... no matter how ridiculously ignorant you may come across at times."
Trychon smiled. "Ok, good. My ship landed last night, and I sliced into the port authority and got their clearance records. They're scheduled to lift off again tonight. Real quick stopover. I really think that Raezyr's plan is for the best, so here's how we're going to do this. We have today to pick up what supplies we can from here... and then we'll be taking off well before the Stalker does. We're going to jump a short way out of the system on the route that the current crew has been taking... and I'll schedule a stop for the Stalker near the same spot. When they come out of Hyperspace, I'll cut the life support and open their airlocks, etc. We'll be able to be right there to ensure that it all goes smoothly. Sound good to everyone?"
He looked at the other three, and got nothing but smiles and nods in return.
"Alright, great. I'm hungry."
Trychon spoke up before anyone else could as Tyrrazapon and Anya walked towards them. "Listen... about last night... we can't let these sorts of things get in the way of our group. Can we just move on past it and all be friends?"
Anya looked at him as though he'd just suggested that a Rancor would make an excellent pet. "Don't be stupid, Trych. Of course nothing's changed between us... no matter how ridiculously ignorant you may come across at times."
Trychon smiled. "Ok, good. My ship landed last night, and I sliced into the port authority and got their clearance records. They're scheduled to lift off again tonight. Real quick stopover. I really think that Raezyr's plan is for the best, so here's how we're going to do this. We have today to pick up what supplies we can from here... and then we'll be taking off well before the Stalker does. We're going to jump a short way out of the system on the route that the current crew has been taking... and I'll schedule a stop for the Stalker near the same spot. When they come out of Hyperspace, I'll cut the life support and open their airlocks, etc. We'll be able to be right there to ensure that it all goes smoothly. Sound good to everyone?"
He looked at the other three, and got nothing but smiles and nods in return.
"Alright, great. I'm hungry."
269. Anchorhead - Trychon
They followed Anya back in the direction of their ships, but they stayed back about 20 yards or so. Trychon and Raezyr were still snickering. Tyrrazapon almost did a few times, but he also felt sheepish about Anya being upset at him over the way things ended on Hoth.
Yeah, maybe I should've sent her a holo apologizing for leaving without saying goodbye... but it wasn't my call. She shouldn't be upset about what I couldn't have controlled.... right?
They weren't really paying much attention when they realized they were face to face with Anya already. She threw an envelope at Raezyr. "You two insensitive pigs can room together. I'll be sleeping with Tyr tonight. You can assume whatever you'd like about that." She grabbed Tyrrazapon and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. It's in the past and there's nothing we can do now other than deal with whatever comes from it. Come on.... let's go." She turned back to Trychon. "I'll try not to assume anything about you two for sleeping together as well."
Tyrrazapon shrugged at the other two and followed off to their room.
Trychon looked at Raezyr. "I'm sleeping on the floor..."
Yeah, maybe I should've sent her a holo apologizing for leaving without saying goodbye... but it wasn't my call. She shouldn't be upset about what I couldn't have controlled.... right?
They weren't really paying much attention when they realized they were face to face with Anya already. She threw an envelope at Raezyr. "You two insensitive pigs can room together. I'll be sleeping with Tyr tonight. You can assume whatever you'd like about that." She grabbed Tyrrazapon and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. It's in the past and there's nothing we can do now other than deal with whatever comes from it. Come on.... let's go." She turned back to Trychon. "I'll try not to assume anything about you two for sleeping together as well."
Tyrrazapon shrugged at the other two and followed off to their room.
Trychon looked at Raezyr. "I'm sleeping on the floor..."
268. Anchorhead - Trychon
Tyrrazapon looked puzzled... "Nothing wrong with..." His eyes then gleamed with recognition. "COME ON! Seriously you guys... the first mate was the leader's daughter!"
Trychon and Raezyr started laughing loudly. Anya didn't seem amused. She elbowed Trychon in the ribs again, and kicked Raezyr's shin. "You guys are such pigs! I knew what he meant all along, and how dare you assume that just because someone is in a position of command, they must be a man? That's horrible and wrong!"
They were both laughing a little.
Tyrrazapon's mouth turned towards a grin after a minute. "It was kinda funny, I guess. In any case... best not underestimate her. She's a tough cookie."
Anya was still a bit red in the face from her outburst at Trychon and Raezyr. "Tyr... did everything go ok between the two of you? You WERE awfully reluctant to tell us about this."
"Everything went better than fine! We both had a great time, and you can ask her and she'd tell you everything was better than ok."
Anya rolled her eyes at him. "I don't think you took me how I meant it. Did things end well? Have you been in touch? Did you upset her before leaving at all?"
"Oh that." He said. "No... she wasn't mad at me the last I spoke with her... but I don't know if her Father found out about us or how he'd react... and then we did end up leaving in quite a hurry."
Anya's face turned red again. "Wait... 'The last you spoke with her?' 'Left in a hurry?' She didn't know you were leaving the last time you spoke with her, and you haven't talked to her since?"
Tyrrazapon just stared into his glass.
"You boys are impossible sometimes!" She got up from the table and walked away and out of the cantina.
"That went well..." Tyrrazapon looked at Trychon and Raezyr.
"Man, if Anya's upset with you about how you left this girl... I can imagine your friend must have been thrilled about it." Raezyr got up from his seat. "Might as well go and secure some quarters for the night... come on guys."
Trychon and Raezyr started laughing loudly. Anya didn't seem amused. She elbowed Trychon in the ribs again, and kicked Raezyr's shin. "You guys are such pigs! I knew what he meant all along, and how dare you assume that just because someone is in a position of command, they must be a man? That's horrible and wrong!"
They were both laughing a little.
Tyrrazapon's mouth turned towards a grin after a minute. "It was kinda funny, I guess. In any case... best not underestimate her. She's a tough cookie."
Anya was still a bit red in the face from her outburst at Trychon and Raezyr. "Tyr... did everything go ok between the two of you? You WERE awfully reluctant to tell us about this."
"Everything went better than fine! We both had a great time, and you can ask her and she'd tell you everything was better than ok."
Anya rolled her eyes at him. "I don't think you took me how I meant it. Did things end well? Have you been in touch? Did you upset her before leaving at all?"
"Oh that." He said. "No... she wasn't mad at me the last I spoke with her... but I don't know if her Father found out about us or how he'd react... and then we did end up leaving in quite a hurry."
Anya's face turned red again. "Wait... 'The last you spoke with her?' 'Left in a hurry?' She didn't know you were leaving the last time you spoke with her, and you haven't talked to her since?"
Tyrrazapon just stared into his glass.
"You boys are impossible sometimes!" She got up from the table and walked away and out of the cantina.
"That went well..." Tyrrazapon looked at Trychon and Raezyr.
"Man, if Anya's upset with you about how you left this girl... I can imagine your friend must have been thrilled about it." Raezyr got up from his seat. "Might as well go and secure some quarters for the night... come on guys."
267. Anchorhead - Trychon
Tyrrazapon looked at the others, and took a moment to finish collecting himself.
"It's pretty simple, really. The smugglers I was with was taking a shipment of supplies to them. We were just the courier. I don't even really know what was in the crates we dropped off. Unfortunately, a windstorm picked up right after we landed and we got stranded for a week. That can happen there. Anyway... they let us stay in their base as long as we needed, and then we moved on our way. Perfect hiding spot though. Nobody goes to Hoth if they don't have to."
"I'm really not looking forward to this Hoth place." Trychon held his ale close as though it would help keep him warm when they got there.
Anya put down her glass. "I call Bantha Poodoo. You're hiding something. Not very well, I might add."
Raezyr put his down as well. "No... she's right. If it were so simple, you would have been more upfront sooner. We need to know what sort of place we're walking into... you can't keep any of this from us."
"It's nothing major, really." Tyrrazapon started to hide behind his drink.
"Cough it up, we need to know..." Anya said.
"Well, I did have one run in with the first mate right before we left, is all." He seemed to be getting more uncomfortable.
Trychon started to take a drink. "Run in?"
"Romantically." Tyrrazapon muttered quietly.
Trychon spit his drink across the table. "You what?" Anya elbowed him in the side. "I just didn't realize you..." He started to go on, before Raezyr interrupted. "Not that there's anything wrong with that..." Trychon nodded. "Right... not that there's anything wrong with that..."
"It's pretty simple, really. The smugglers I was with was taking a shipment of supplies to them. We were just the courier. I don't even really know what was in the crates we dropped off. Unfortunately, a windstorm picked up right after we landed and we got stranded for a week. That can happen there. Anyway... they let us stay in their base as long as we needed, and then we moved on our way. Perfect hiding spot though. Nobody goes to Hoth if they don't have to."
"I'm really not looking forward to this Hoth place." Trychon held his ale close as though it would help keep him warm when they got there.
Anya put down her glass. "I call Bantha Poodoo. You're hiding something. Not very well, I might add."
Raezyr put his down as well. "No... she's right. If it were so simple, you would have been more upfront sooner. We need to know what sort of place we're walking into... you can't keep any of this from us."
"It's nothing major, really." Tyrrazapon started to hide behind his drink.
"Cough it up, we need to know..." Anya said.
"Well, I did have one run in with the first mate right before we left, is all." He seemed to be getting more uncomfortable.
Trychon started to take a drink. "Run in?"
"Romantically." Tyrrazapon muttered quietly.
Trychon spit his drink across the table. "You what?" Anya elbowed him in the side. "I just didn't realize you..." He started to go on, before Raezyr interrupted. "Not that there's anything wrong with that..." Trychon nodded. "Right... not that there's anything wrong with that..."
266. Anchorhead - Raezyr
"How did Aychkay work out for you, Anya?" Raezyr asked. He was glad he didn't have to make the first space flight with the thing actvated.
"He followed orders to the letter. He also made some useful suggestions during our trip out of there, plus helped me with rebandaging my shoulder. Did a good job too," she said. "Where did you say you got him?" Anya inquired.
Raezyr and Trychon looked at each other for a moment before Trychon spoke, "We picked him up on Geonosis. Ah, here's our drinks."
The droid set the mugs of ale down on the table, and picked up the empties. They waited unit he was out of listening range before continuing their conversation.
It seemed Anya was about to speak, and fearing she was going to ask more about the mysterious droid Raezyr spoke up, "So back to Hoth. Tyr you seemed that you were hesitant about your relationship with your contacts. What are you leaving out?"
Anya and Trychon turned to look at Tyrrazapon, who quickly picked up his mug and took a long swig.
"He followed orders to the letter. He also made some useful suggestions during our trip out of there, plus helped me with rebandaging my shoulder. Did a good job too," she said. "Where did you say you got him?" Anya inquired.
Raezyr and Trychon looked at each other for a moment before Trychon spoke, "We picked him up on Geonosis. Ah, here's our drinks."
The droid set the mugs of ale down on the table, and picked up the empties. They waited unit he was out of listening range before continuing their conversation.
It seemed Anya was about to speak, and fearing she was going to ask more about the mysterious droid Raezyr spoke up, "So back to Hoth. Tyr you seemed that you were hesitant about your relationship with your contacts. What are you leaving out?"
Anya and Trychon turned to look at Tyrrazapon, who quickly picked up his mug and took a long swig.
265. Anchorhead - Raezyr
The droid brought Raezyr's next ale and he took a long pull from the tankard before setting it down on the table and cupping it with both of his hands.
"The less attention we bring to ourselves right now the better. And I've got an idea that might keep any occupants from screwing with the ship: Just shut down the life support systems once the ship reaches space. Then open the airlocks. Anyone who survives that combination will be thinking about things other than where the ship is going," Raezyr said and took another long pull from his mug. It was already half empty.
He looked down into the glass for a moment. "Man, the more of these I have, the easier they go down," he commented and ordered another round for the table before continuing. "In the end, it's your ship, Trych. We'll follow your lead."
Tyrrazapon and Anya both nodded in agreement.
"Well, I'll think about it some more and decide later. We've got time before it returns," Trychon mused. He peered down into his still empty tankard, "Where is that damn robot with our drinks? It's not THAT busy in here."
"The less attention we bring to ourselves right now the better. And I've got an idea that might keep any occupants from screwing with the ship: Just shut down the life support systems once the ship reaches space. Then open the airlocks. Anyone who survives that combination will be thinking about things other than where the ship is going," Raezyr said and took another long pull from his mug. It was already half empty.
He looked down into the glass for a moment. "Man, the more of these I have, the easier they go down," he commented and ordered another round for the table before continuing. "In the end, it's your ship, Trych. We'll follow your lead."
Tyrrazapon and Anya both nodded in agreement.
"Well, I'll think about it some more and decide later. We've got time before it returns," Trychon mused. He peered down into his still empty tankard, "Where is that damn robot with our drinks? It's not THAT busy in here."
264. Anchorhead - Trychon
Raezyr put down his drink, as he finally finished, and to his astonishment he found himself ordering another. "Well you were right about needing more supplies. We need a lot of the basics. Unfortunately, we'll also need a lot of the less than basic. I checked into this 'Hoth' that we're headed to, and for once Tyr wasn't joking. I don't see us finding much of the supplies we'll need here though. So plan A is to get basic supplies that we'll need regardless."
"I'd like to know a bit more about Tyr's contacts there too." Trychon said, cradling his empty ale.
"Naturally." Tyr said. "I'll get to that though. What's our gameplan for getting the ship back?"
They all looked at Trychon.
"Gameplan? I guess I hadn't really planned anything yet." He said sheepishly, looking at them. "But uh... we do have options." They all just continued to wait for him. "Basically, I don't need to actually do anything with the ship. I can shut out their controls completely by remote, just like we'll be able to control it. If we clear out whoever's onboard beforehand, we don't have to worry about them managing to change anything... or breaking something in the attempt. However, if we just take it without stepping anywhere near it... nobody will ever be able to trace it to us at all. Outside those connected with the ship, nobody would even know anything happened, really. What do you guys think?"
"I'd like to know a bit more about Tyr's contacts there too." Trychon said, cradling his empty ale.
"Naturally." Tyr said. "I'll get to that though. What's our gameplan for getting the ship back?"
They all looked at Trychon.
"Gameplan? I guess I hadn't really planned anything yet." He said sheepishly, looking at them. "But uh... we do have options." They all just continued to wait for him. "Basically, I don't need to actually do anything with the ship. I can shut out their controls completely by remote, just like we'll be able to control it. If we clear out whoever's onboard beforehand, we don't have to worry about them managing to change anything... or breaking something in the attempt. However, if we just take it without stepping anywhere near it... nobody will ever be able to trace it to us at all. Outside those connected with the ship, nobody would even know anything happened, really. What do you guys think?"
263. Anchorhead - Trychon
Raezyr was sipping his ale a bit more slowly than the other two. A lot slower, really. Tyrrazapon ordered three more ales. Raezyr didn't figure he'd really be in the running for the extra one then, either.
He turned to Anya, who seemed to be taking Tyrrazapon's and Trychon's comments into consideration well. "In the end, we're probably going to spend a fair amount of time in establishments like this. It's a good way to get information, as well as leads towards getting credits and other things we may need. We're on our own by and large now."
Anya sighed. "I know all that really... I just... I have some ugly memories this crowd brings out a bit more than I'd like. Looking around, I know I can't trust any of these... fuckers."
Trychon finished his ale just ahead of Tyrrazapon again and grabbed the extra drink. Tyrrazapon gave him a mock sulking look. Trychon took a quick sip and smiled. "Really, Anya... nobody here can trust us. We did more damage in the past week than I'd wager this entire Cantina has done in their lifetimes combined. They may not realize it fully... but they should be worried about you. Not the other way around."
Anya smiled at that, and grabbed the ale from Trychon. She took a drink and made a sour face in the process, but in the end she smiled. "I know you guys are right... I need to get used to feeling more in control than I did for the earlier parts of my life. Back to the original question, I guess.... what now?"
He turned to Anya, who seemed to be taking Tyrrazapon's and Trychon's comments into consideration well. "In the end, we're probably going to spend a fair amount of time in establishments like this. It's a good way to get information, as well as leads towards getting credits and other things we may need. We're on our own by and large now."
Anya sighed. "I know all that really... I just... I have some ugly memories this crowd brings out a bit more than I'd like. Looking around, I know I can't trust any of these... fuckers."
Trychon finished his ale just ahead of Tyrrazapon again and grabbed the extra drink. Tyrrazapon gave him a mock sulking look. Trychon took a quick sip and smiled. "Really, Anya... nobody here can trust us. We did more damage in the past week than I'd wager this entire Cantina has done in their lifetimes combined. They may not realize it fully... but they should be worried about you. Not the other way around."
Anya smiled at that, and grabbed the ale from Trychon. She took a drink and made a sour face in the process, but in the end she smiled. "I know you guys are right... I need to get used to feeling more in control than I did for the earlier parts of my life. Back to the original question, I guess.... what now?"
262. Anchorhead - Trychon
The four of them settled into a booth, one of many... the trademark of a good cantina.
They had gotten a few looks as they sat down, but nobody said anything. Trychon was actually thinking about heading up to the main bar to seek out some service when a droid came by and took their order. Tyrrazapon found a somewhat local concoction and Trychon ordered four of them.
"Ugh." Anya said, with a disgusted look on her face as she looked around. "I hate places like this. First off, I'm not drinking that, Trych... " Trychon mumbled something about wanting two any way... and didn't appear that upset. Anya continued. "Second... did you guys see how nearly everyone in the bar watched us as we came in?"
Tyrrazapon downed half of his ale in a few quick drinks. He seemed determined to beat Trychon to the extra glass sitting between them. "I think you're letting your disgust of this sort of establishment cloud your thoughts. Feeling the crowd through the force aside... watch more carefully. Everyone in this bar is keeping an eye on everything they can. It's nothing to do with us. Everyone's watching out for their own back, and avoiding getting in the way of anyone else. Nobody here cares about us... unless they're bounty hunters, naturally."
Trychon finished his drink and snatched up the extra one while Tyrrazapon talked to Anya and the group. Ale safely in hand, he spoke up. "We already know there's a bounty on us. I'd even bet it's safe to say it's gone up as much as double in the past 48 hours. If there's Bounty Hunters around though, we're no less safe in here than we are in the street... or anywhere. I personally wouldn't mind a fair shot at one or five right now. Bastards."
They had gotten a few looks as they sat down, but nobody said anything. Trychon was actually thinking about heading up to the main bar to seek out some service when a droid came by and took their order. Tyrrazapon found a somewhat local concoction and Trychon ordered four of them.
"Ugh." Anya said, with a disgusted look on her face as she looked around. "I hate places like this. First off, I'm not drinking that, Trych... " Trychon mumbled something about wanting two any way... and didn't appear that upset. Anya continued. "Second... did you guys see how nearly everyone in the bar watched us as we came in?"
Tyrrazapon downed half of his ale in a few quick drinks. He seemed determined to beat Trychon to the extra glass sitting between them. "I think you're letting your disgust of this sort of establishment cloud your thoughts. Feeling the crowd through the force aside... watch more carefully. Everyone in this bar is keeping an eye on everything they can. It's nothing to do with us. Everyone's watching out for their own back, and avoiding getting in the way of anyone else. Nobody here cares about us... unless they're bounty hunters, naturally."
Trychon finished his drink and snatched up the extra one while Tyrrazapon talked to Anya and the group. Ale safely in hand, he spoke up. "We already know there's a bounty on us. I'd even bet it's safe to say it's gone up as much as double in the past 48 hours. If there's Bounty Hunters around though, we're no less safe in here than we are in the street... or anywhere. I personally wouldn't mind a fair shot at one or five right now. Bastards."
261. Anchorhead - Trychon
The four of them met up outside Trychon's shuttle, as it was the last to arrive. They all seemed to be in good spirits, albeit tired with maybe the exception of Raezyr, who looked as though he'd gotten in some good meditation time. Trychon was still favoring his side quite a bit... but he'd done everything he could for it. A medic could've done a better job, but at this point all one would be able to do is maybe cut several days off of the pain recovery. He was functional enough.
"How are you feeling?" Anya asked Trychon as he came down the ramp.
"I'm fine." He answered with impatience.
"Doubtful. Let me see your bandages." She responded just as shortly, and walked forward to pull up his shirt. Trychon was about to stop her when Raezyr caught his eye and Trychon remembered the last time Anya inquired about injuries. She checked under the bandages wrapped around Trychon's torso, and while she fretted, she seemed placated as well.
"Why here, Trych?" Tyrrazapon asked while Anya wrapped Trychon back up. "Why not head out to Hoth, so we can get settled?"
"I want my ship back." Trychon smiled. "If I'm gonna be the only one flying a dump, can't fight for anything, bantha walking ship... I want some hidden muscle. I pulled up my trace on the Twilight Stalker. She's here. Time to free her and set her on her ways."
"She's here? You know which bay?" Raezyr stepped closer.
"She's actually out on a run, it would seem... but the trace showed movement to and from here quite a bit, and should be due back in a day or so. I have the program keeping a tally. Not really necessary... but knowledge can be power too... so why not, I figured." He responded.
Anya got up and dusted herself off. "So what now then? Go get supplies? We're running low on Kolto patches among other things, not surprisingly."
Trychon gave a half grin half wince. "That's not really our first priority at the moment."
"It's not?" She responded.
"Ale time." Tyrrazapon said, turning around and walking for the Cantina he'd spotted early on.
"Seriously?" Anya looked at Raezyr, and then Trychon.
Trychon looked at her and exaggerated the grimace. Raezyr patted him on the back. Trychon winced a bit and Raezyr turned to Anya. "Can't you see the man's in pain?"
Trychon started to follow Tyrrazapon's path. "Medicine..."
"How are you feeling?" Anya asked Trychon as he came down the ramp.
"I'm fine." He answered with impatience.
"Doubtful. Let me see your bandages." She responded just as shortly, and walked forward to pull up his shirt. Trychon was about to stop her when Raezyr caught his eye and Trychon remembered the last time Anya inquired about injuries. She checked under the bandages wrapped around Trychon's torso, and while she fretted, she seemed placated as well.
"Why here, Trych?" Tyrrazapon asked while Anya wrapped Trychon back up. "Why not head out to Hoth, so we can get settled?"
"I want my ship back." Trychon smiled. "If I'm gonna be the only one flying a dump, can't fight for anything, bantha walking ship... I want some hidden muscle. I pulled up my trace on the Twilight Stalker. She's here. Time to free her and set her on her ways."
"She's here? You know which bay?" Raezyr stepped closer.
"She's actually out on a run, it would seem... but the trace showed movement to and from here quite a bit, and should be due back in a day or so. I have the program keeping a tally. Not really necessary... but knowledge can be power too... so why not, I figured." He responded.
Anya got up and dusted herself off. "So what now then? Go get supplies? We're running low on Kolto patches among other things, not surprisingly."
Trychon gave a half grin half wince. "That's not really our first priority at the moment."
"It's not?" She responded.
"Ale time." Tyrrazapon said, turning around and walking for the Cantina he'd spotted early on.
"Seriously?" Anya looked at Raezyr, and then Trychon.
Trychon looked at her and exaggerated the grimace. Raezyr patted him on the back. Trychon winced a bit and Raezyr turned to Anya. "Can't you see the man's in pain?"
Trychon started to follow Tyrrazapon's path. "Medicine..."
260. Sith Academy - Eiron
Eiron spun his lightsaber before him, countering strikes from Barbagar and Centar on every side. He was better than Barbagar, slightly better, but he had no idea how he measured up to Centar. With the third Jedi in the mix as well, Eiron had no chance of surviving longer than maybe thirty seconds.
So he didn't. He bolted.
After drawing on the Force and pushing both Jedi Masters back a few steps, Eiron jumped straight up, out, through the ceiling. Now, with the high ground, he could hold them off.
But the Jedi were not following. The roof began to shake; they were bringing it down from under him.
"Start the ship!" Eiron roared into his comm as he sprinted up the ramp. Lysandra already had the engines warmed up: it took three seconds for the Phobia to lift off. Sloan sat in the copilot seat, almost white with fear.
"This is bad," he said, over and over again. "We are doomed!"
Eiron concussed him with the Force and then eyed the starships. His apprentices had had the advantage; the warships had not yet been in position. Eiron did not have that advantage. "Can you hack the Hammerhead's computers and sabotage their targeting systems?"
Lysanda shook her digital head. "I am an AI, not a supercomputer."
Eiron grumbled and took control of the ship on his own. "All right. We're taking her close to the starboard one!"
"Close?!" Something like panic bled into Lys's voice as well.
"They won't fire on us if they're going to hit their ally, and we'll fly around the guns on the other ship! Throttle up and shift laser recharge power to shields and engines!!"
Eiron pushed Phobia to its limits and nearly grazed the side of the Hammerhead as he made his frantic run for hyperspace. He had to be careful. As close as he was, it would be easy for him to accidentally fly over a turbolaser battery and get incinerated.
When Eiron reached the end of the cruiser, the second ship began firing on him again.
"Shields down to 18%!"
Eiron set his mouth in a line. "Hyperspace!"
"Where?"
"Anywhere!"
As if in response, Lys took the ship into lightspeed.
So he didn't. He bolted.
After drawing on the Force and pushing both Jedi Masters back a few steps, Eiron jumped straight up, out, through the ceiling. Now, with the high ground, he could hold them off.
But the Jedi were not following. The roof began to shake; they were bringing it down from under him.
"Start the ship!" Eiron roared into his comm as he sprinted up the ramp. Lysandra already had the engines warmed up: it took three seconds for the Phobia to lift off. Sloan sat in the copilot seat, almost white with fear.
"This is bad," he said, over and over again. "We are doomed!"
Eiron concussed him with the Force and then eyed the starships. His apprentices had had the advantage; the warships had not yet been in position. Eiron did not have that advantage. "Can you hack the Hammerhead's computers and sabotage their targeting systems?"
Lysanda shook her digital head. "I am an AI, not a supercomputer."
Eiron grumbled and took control of the ship on his own. "All right. We're taking her close to the starboard one!"
"Close?!" Something like panic bled into Lys's voice as well.
"They won't fire on us if they're going to hit their ally, and we'll fly around the guns on the other ship! Throttle up and shift laser recharge power to shields and engines!!"
Eiron pushed Phobia to its limits and nearly grazed the side of the Hammerhead as he made his frantic run for hyperspace. He had to be careful. As close as he was, it would be easy for him to accidentally fly over a turbolaser battery and get incinerated.
When Eiron reached the end of the cruiser, the second ship began firing on him again.
"Shields down to 18%!"
Eiron set his mouth in a line. "Hyperspace!"
"Where?"
"Anywhere!"
As if in response, Lys took the ship into lightspeed.
259. Sith Academy - Raezyr
The turbo lasers of the Wasted Rancor opened up, firing in rapid succession on the Republic Commandos. A few turned and returned fire on the converted freighter, but their blasters had no effect on the armored hull. Within seconds the entire platoon had been blown to pieces with only a few scraps of armor, some appendages and scorch marks on the ground to mark where they had stood.
The Triad stood for a second, wondering what was going on, and who might be on the Rancor when the answer suddenly dawned on Tyrrazapon.
"Alright Aychkay!" he yelled. The other three then spotted the droid sitting in the cockpit of the Raider's ship.
Trychon issued some quick orders, "Anya, take the Rancor. Tell Huck that Raez and I said he's to help you."
Anya started to protest that she didn't need any help, but Trychon cut her off, "With that bad arm, you'll need it, especially with those Republic capital ships bearing down on us. I'll take my shuttle. Tyr, you take your ship, and Raez, you're always boasting how fast and maneuverable the Razor is. Now's the time to prove it. Draw them off, and cause a distraction. Anya and I are going to be counting on you. We'll meet up again on, say... Tatooine.... Anchorhead, I think the colony is called."
"And May the Force serve us well," Raezyr added as they broke up, trotting to their respective star ships.
-----------
The four ships lifted off the ground one after the other, with the Jet Razor being the last. Raezyr watch his scopes as his friends zipped across the Korriban landscape at low altitude, hoping to escape detection for as long as possible.
He waited only a few moments longer before gaining altitude and making lazy circles around the academy. He spotted a ship docked on top of the academy and assumed that must be Eiron's as it was near a large hole where he had made is entrance.
But the Republic troop shuttles and various other craft parked in the Valley were another matter. He opened fire on them, making multiple strafing runs until nothing was left of them but charred and smoking hulks.
He then turned his attention on several squads of Commandos stationed between Dreshdae and the Academy and opened fire. Their blasters were harmless against his deflector sheilds and he quickly tore them to shreds.
He banked around and made a pass over Dreshdae. He recognized the Republic ships parked there, but decided against attacking the Czerka outpost. They would need the cooperation of the galactic trading company if they ever made it back here.
Pulling back on the stick he headed for space when his radar began to blare a warning of approaching craft. He looked down at the readout to see a squad of Republic fighters entering the atmosphere.
Raezyr let his anger and hate well up inside and felt the Dark Side surge through his being, then turned to meet them as he switched his deflectors to full front.
"Let's play a game of chicken, shall we," he said and took them head on. He laid into his turbo lasers returning fire as the fighters swarmed past him. He took a few indirect hits, but when the pass was over, there were two less fighters.
He banked hard left and came around. The aerodynamics of his craft were far superior to the enemy ships and allowed him much more maneuverabilty in the atmosphere. He got behind them and took three more attack craft out before they could split up into different directions.
He followed a pair of fighters as they tried to bank to the right. They dipped and rolled in an attempt to shake him, but with the Force guiding his actions, he was able to anticipate every one of their moves. He could also sense that the other fighters had circled around behind him, but they weren't in position yet and he depressed the trigger switch, turning the fighters in front of him into giant fireballs.
The Razor's scopes were indicating more inbound fighters, so he throttled up and sped across the Korriban skies in the opposite direction of the other students.
All the craft attempted pursuit, but because of the superior design of his ship, Raezyr quickly outdistanced them and headed once again for space.
-----------
Luckily for the other three ships, Raezyr's attacks on the ground had dominated the attention of the incoming Hammerhead class warships. It took the other Sith a bit but they exited Korriban's atmosphere at the same time the first wave of fighters were beginning their attack run on the Jet Razor.
Giving their ships full throttle, they headed for open space. Once they were out of the gravity well of the planet, they could make their escape into hyperspace.
Suddenly a Republic attack cruiser broke off from the task force, heading toward them on an intercept course.
"Throttle to the max, boys!" Tyrrazapon yelled into the comm.
"I'm right with you Tyr," Anya said.
"I'm already AT maximum speed," Trychon replied. "You guys get out of here."
With out a reply, both the Nefarion Wraith and the Wasted Rancor left the shuttle craft behind.
The cruiser suddenly altered it's course to chase the two. Seeing this, Trychon switched course as well. It wasn't the direct route, but if Tyrrazapon and Anya got away, he'd be just that much farther from the cruiser.
Just as he'd hoped, he watched the blips on his screen indicating the Rancor and the Wraith dissappear before the cruiser was able to close to tractor beam range. The cruiser changed course again, back toward the shuttle craft, but it was too late. Trychon breathed a sigh of relief as he pulled back on the hyperdrive levers and watched the stars outside the cockpit elongate and then dissapear into the mottled blue of hyperspace.
--------------
Raezyr burst out of the atmosphere and into space. He pushed the sub-light engines as hard as they would go. He made a few adjustments on his control panel and eeked out a little bit more power, pushing his craft far beyond safe limits.
The Republic ships had spread out, attempting to blockade the planet. He pointed the Razor between the two Hammerheads, which were spread out considerably. The downfall was that there was a frigate right there. He didn't like his chances against the frigate, but he liked them even less against the Hammerheads.
Suddenly there were fighters everywhere. And they seemed to becoming from all sides. As much danger as he was in, he realized that this was his ticket past the big ships.
Raezyr dipped, rolled and spun, all the while heading for empty space. He let the Force guide his actions and never let up on the turbo lasers. At the same time, he made sure he never shot free of the swarm of fighters. He was taking alot of hits, and his sheilds were holding, although they were dropping rapidly.
The frigate held it's fire as he passed it. Just as he'd hoped, they didn't fire, for fear of hitting their own fighters.
Too late, the fighters broke off to allow the frigate to fire, but Raezyr used to momentary gap to shoot out of Korriban's gravity well. And none too soon, as the Razor's sheilds were down to zero.
Once in hyperspace, Raezyr let go of the Force and his hands began to shake uncontrollably from the adrenaline.
----------------
He set down in the spaceport in Anchorhead. The other ships weren't there yet, but that didn't surprise him. The Jet Razor had a 0.5 hyperdrive, making it one of the fastest ships in the galaxy, and he had run the drive at maximum the entire way.
He stayed on board the ship, sinking into a meditation trance. He attuned himself to awaken when he could feel the presence of Trychon, as he felt him stronger than the other two.
The Triad stood for a second, wondering what was going on, and who might be on the Rancor when the answer suddenly dawned on Tyrrazapon.
"Alright Aychkay!" he yelled. The other three then spotted the droid sitting in the cockpit of the Raider's ship.
Trychon issued some quick orders, "Anya, take the Rancor. Tell Huck that Raez and I said he's to help you."
Anya started to protest that she didn't need any help, but Trychon cut her off, "With that bad arm, you'll need it, especially with those Republic capital ships bearing down on us. I'll take my shuttle. Tyr, you take your ship, and Raez, you're always boasting how fast and maneuverable the Razor is. Now's the time to prove it. Draw them off, and cause a distraction. Anya and I are going to be counting on you. We'll meet up again on, say... Tatooine.... Anchorhead, I think the colony is called."
"And May the Force serve us well," Raezyr added as they broke up, trotting to their respective star ships.
-----------
The four ships lifted off the ground one after the other, with the Jet Razor being the last. Raezyr watch his scopes as his friends zipped across the Korriban landscape at low altitude, hoping to escape detection for as long as possible.
He waited only a few moments longer before gaining altitude and making lazy circles around the academy. He spotted a ship docked on top of the academy and assumed that must be Eiron's as it was near a large hole where he had made is entrance.
But the Republic troop shuttles and various other craft parked in the Valley were another matter. He opened fire on them, making multiple strafing runs until nothing was left of them but charred and smoking hulks.
He then turned his attention on several squads of Commandos stationed between Dreshdae and the Academy and opened fire. Their blasters were harmless against his deflector sheilds and he quickly tore them to shreds.
He banked around and made a pass over Dreshdae. He recognized the Republic ships parked there, but decided against attacking the Czerka outpost. They would need the cooperation of the galactic trading company if they ever made it back here.
Pulling back on the stick he headed for space when his radar began to blare a warning of approaching craft. He looked down at the readout to see a squad of Republic fighters entering the atmosphere.
Raezyr let his anger and hate well up inside and felt the Dark Side surge through his being, then turned to meet them as he switched his deflectors to full front.
"Let's play a game of chicken, shall we," he said and took them head on. He laid into his turbo lasers returning fire as the fighters swarmed past him. He took a few indirect hits, but when the pass was over, there were two less fighters.
He banked hard left and came around. The aerodynamics of his craft were far superior to the enemy ships and allowed him much more maneuverabilty in the atmosphere. He got behind them and took three more attack craft out before they could split up into different directions.
He followed a pair of fighters as they tried to bank to the right. They dipped and rolled in an attempt to shake him, but with the Force guiding his actions, he was able to anticipate every one of their moves. He could also sense that the other fighters had circled around behind him, but they weren't in position yet and he depressed the trigger switch, turning the fighters in front of him into giant fireballs.
The Razor's scopes were indicating more inbound fighters, so he throttled up and sped across the Korriban skies in the opposite direction of the other students.
All the craft attempted pursuit, but because of the superior design of his ship, Raezyr quickly outdistanced them and headed once again for space.
-----------
Luckily for the other three ships, Raezyr's attacks on the ground had dominated the attention of the incoming Hammerhead class warships. It took the other Sith a bit but they exited Korriban's atmosphere at the same time the first wave of fighters were beginning their attack run on the Jet Razor.
Giving their ships full throttle, they headed for open space. Once they were out of the gravity well of the planet, they could make their escape into hyperspace.
Suddenly a Republic attack cruiser broke off from the task force, heading toward them on an intercept course.
"Throttle to the max, boys!" Tyrrazapon yelled into the comm.
"I'm right with you Tyr," Anya said.
"I'm already AT maximum speed," Trychon replied. "You guys get out of here."
With out a reply, both the Nefarion Wraith and the Wasted Rancor left the shuttle craft behind.
The cruiser suddenly altered it's course to chase the two. Seeing this, Trychon switched course as well. It wasn't the direct route, but if Tyrrazapon and Anya got away, he'd be just that much farther from the cruiser.
Just as he'd hoped, he watched the blips on his screen indicating the Rancor and the Wraith dissappear before the cruiser was able to close to tractor beam range. The cruiser changed course again, back toward the shuttle craft, but it was too late. Trychon breathed a sigh of relief as he pulled back on the hyperdrive levers and watched the stars outside the cockpit elongate and then dissapear into the mottled blue of hyperspace.
--------------
Raezyr burst out of the atmosphere and into space. He pushed the sub-light engines as hard as they would go. He made a few adjustments on his control panel and eeked out a little bit more power, pushing his craft far beyond safe limits.
The Republic ships had spread out, attempting to blockade the planet. He pointed the Razor between the two Hammerheads, which were spread out considerably. The downfall was that there was a frigate right there. He didn't like his chances against the frigate, but he liked them even less against the Hammerheads.
Suddenly there were fighters everywhere. And they seemed to becoming from all sides. As much danger as he was in, he realized that this was his ticket past the big ships.
Raezyr dipped, rolled and spun, all the while heading for empty space. He let the Force guide his actions and never let up on the turbo lasers. At the same time, he made sure he never shot free of the swarm of fighters. He was taking alot of hits, and his sheilds were holding, although they were dropping rapidly.
The frigate held it's fire as he passed it. Just as he'd hoped, they didn't fire, for fear of hitting their own fighters.
Too late, the fighters broke off to allow the frigate to fire, but Raezyr used to momentary gap to shoot out of Korriban's gravity well. And none too soon, as the Razor's sheilds were down to zero.
Once in hyperspace, Raezyr let go of the Force and his hands began to shake uncontrollably from the adrenaline.
----------------
He set down in the spaceport in Anchorhead. The other ships weren't there yet, but that didn't surprise him. The Jet Razor had a 0.5 hyperdrive, making it one of the fastest ships in the galaxy, and he had run the drive at maximum the entire way.
He stayed on board the ship, sinking into a meditation trance. He attuned himself to awaken when he could feel the presence of Trychon, as he felt him stronger than the other two.
258. Sith Academy - Trychon
The four apprentices grabbed their lightsabers simultaneously and paused before they all seemed to realize at the same time that Eiron knew what he was doing. They were severely outmatched here... even in the former home of some of the greatest Sith the galaxy had seen. Pulling extra strength from them would not make them masters of the craft.
They bolted out of the room away from the third master, and down the hall. Trychon was slightly in front of the others and had started to pull away and around the corner when a blast shattered the wall next to him. He was thrown helplessly into the corner of the hallway, a few fragments of rock piercing into his torso.
Tyrrazapon was the first to him. Trychon lay on the ground for a moment unconscious before his eyes fluttered slowly open. Tyrrazapon was already lifting him up. Raezyr turned the corner to find himself facing a ragtag group of what seemed to be mercenaries or bounty hunters.
"The Triad IS here afterall..." The man in front exclaimed. "500 creds each will more than pay for our trip out here. To think some thought us foolish for taking on this job... afterall, how could a few men with guns take out the targets that the lightsabers of the council are trained on?"
"News for yous guys. Your magic tricks don't stop explosions." The man to his right said, arming another grenade and tossing it at them.
"Just the devices that cause them." Raezyr said, with his arm extended toward the grenade hovering feet in front of the man who threw it. They stared at it with fear coming across their faces as they watched it blink twice and then tear them apart.
Anya came around the corner to see Raezyr shrugging off the heat from the blast. Tyrrazapon brought Trychon around last. They pressed on, meeting no further resistance in the building.
Outside was a different matter though, as two groups of Republic soldiers were camped out... one directly in front of their ships, and another halfway there.
"HALT!" The commander of the closer group shouted, as the soldiers raised their weapons and trained them on the Sith.
"I suppose it's too late to try and trick them into not seeing us?" Trychon mumbled. "I can stand, dammit." He said a bit more forcefully as he took his weight off of Tyrrazapon.
"Like hell..." Anya started, before catching a look of ice from Trychon.
"It's too late to convince them to look away, I'd wager..." Tyrazzapon changed the subject back.
"Maybe," Trychon said. "But what about that? He pointed to the grenade Anya had picked up off of one of the mercenaries and hooked to her belt.
Trychon stepped forward gingerly and pulled his lightsaber back out, igniting it. Raezyr and Tyrrazapon did the same, shielding Anya from view as much as possible, following his lead.
The soldiers seemed to figure that they weren't going to halt at that point, and opened fire. The distance between them made the threatening shots easier to pick off, and they didn't have any problem holding them off while Anya reared back and chucked the grenade over them, staring at it, and projecting an image of nothing.
Tyrrazapon stepped behind Raezyr and concentrated on the airborne weapon and helped it bounce and roll before settling into the dead center of the enemy formation.
Their efforts seemed to work, with one soldier in the back starting to yell "GRENA..." before the concussion sent them flying.
The four began closing the gap and cut down the soldiers who had so nearly survived the encounter, while the next group began firing on them and marching forward.
They were starting to speed up toward the Sith when a large blast caught them from behind.
They bolted out of the room away from the third master, and down the hall. Trychon was slightly in front of the others and had started to pull away and around the corner when a blast shattered the wall next to him. He was thrown helplessly into the corner of the hallway, a few fragments of rock piercing into his torso.
Tyrrazapon was the first to him. Trychon lay on the ground for a moment unconscious before his eyes fluttered slowly open. Tyrrazapon was already lifting him up. Raezyr turned the corner to find himself facing a ragtag group of what seemed to be mercenaries or bounty hunters.
"The Triad IS here afterall..." The man in front exclaimed. "500 creds each will more than pay for our trip out here. To think some thought us foolish for taking on this job... afterall, how could a few men with guns take out the targets that the lightsabers of the council are trained on?"
"News for yous guys. Your magic tricks don't stop explosions." The man to his right said, arming another grenade and tossing it at them.
"Just the devices that cause them." Raezyr said, with his arm extended toward the grenade hovering feet in front of the man who threw it. They stared at it with fear coming across their faces as they watched it blink twice and then tear them apart.
Anya came around the corner to see Raezyr shrugging off the heat from the blast. Tyrrazapon brought Trychon around last. They pressed on, meeting no further resistance in the building.
Outside was a different matter though, as two groups of Republic soldiers were camped out... one directly in front of their ships, and another halfway there.
"HALT!" The commander of the closer group shouted, as the soldiers raised their weapons and trained them on the Sith.
"I suppose it's too late to try and trick them into not seeing us?" Trychon mumbled. "I can stand, dammit." He said a bit more forcefully as he took his weight off of Tyrrazapon.
"Like hell..." Anya started, before catching a look of ice from Trychon.
"It's too late to convince them to look away, I'd wager..." Tyrazzapon changed the subject back.
"Maybe," Trychon said. "But what about that? He pointed to the grenade Anya had picked up off of one of the mercenaries and hooked to her belt.
Trychon stepped forward gingerly and pulled his lightsaber back out, igniting it. Raezyr and Tyrrazapon did the same, shielding Anya from view as much as possible, following his lead.
The soldiers seemed to figure that they weren't going to halt at that point, and opened fire. The distance between them made the threatening shots easier to pick off, and they didn't have any problem holding them off while Anya reared back and chucked the grenade over them, staring at it, and projecting an image of nothing.
Tyrrazapon stepped behind Raezyr and concentrated on the airborne weapon and helped it bounce and roll before settling into the dead center of the enemy formation.
Their efforts seemed to work, with one soldier in the back starting to yell "GRENA..." before the concussion sent them flying.
The four began closing the gap and cut down the soldiers who had so nearly survived the encounter, while the next group began firing on them and marching forward.
They were starting to speed up toward the Sith when a large blast caught them from behind.
257. Sith Academy - Eiron
Eiron gave a true smile, one of pride, not of condescension. "You have done very well," he said. "Keep that. It's a little trophy, I suppose."
"That blade," a voice said from the side of the Academy. "Is the property of the Galactic Republic."
A green lightsaber ignited on the far side of the room, a man with a dark goatee wielding it. Another lightsaber, this one green as well, sprang to life on the other side of the room. This man was tall as well, age lines deepening his face, his hair graying, but still, he looked a man not to be trifled with.
"I despise this," the other man said, pointing the tip of his weapon at Eiron and the apprentices. "But it must be done."
Eiron's smile faded as he surveyed the two of them. "Welcome back, my friend. I do not think I caught your name before."
"Barbagar," the first master replied. "My colleague, Master Jun Centar."
The other Master, Centar, nodded his head. "Pleasure."
Eiron's smile returned as he triggered his own weapon. "Let us dance then, yes?"
At that moment, Lysandra spoke to Eiron over the comm. "Two Hammerhead cruisers coming in from hyperspace, plus a compliment of other craft."
"Then we'll kill them and run, shall we?"
Another lightsaber, this one silver, ignited near the hallway. The newcomer was grinning. "Hello, hello," he said, spinning the blade around his wrist. "Not late for the party, am I?"
"Hammerhead cruisers bearing down on the planet!" Lysandra repeated.
Eiron looked from the three Jedi, to his apprentices and then back again. "I made a grave miscalculation." He unleashed a pulse of Force energy at the silver-bladed one, who took a few steps back under the attack. "Run! Escape while you can!"
Centar and Barbagar both jumped forward to engage. Eiron's blade whirled to defend himself as he hoped his students were following his commands.
"That blade," a voice said from the side of the Academy. "Is the property of the Galactic Republic."
A green lightsaber ignited on the far side of the room, a man with a dark goatee wielding it. Another lightsaber, this one green as well, sprang to life on the other side of the room. This man was tall as well, age lines deepening his face, his hair graying, but still, he looked a man not to be trifled with.
"I despise this," the other man said, pointing the tip of his weapon at Eiron and the apprentices. "But it must be done."
Eiron's smile faded as he surveyed the two of them. "Welcome back, my friend. I do not think I caught your name before."
"Barbagar," the first master replied. "My colleague, Master Jun Centar."
The other Master, Centar, nodded his head. "Pleasure."
Eiron's smile returned as he triggered his own weapon. "Let us dance then, yes?"
At that moment, Lysandra spoke to Eiron over the comm. "Two Hammerhead cruisers coming in from hyperspace, plus a compliment of other craft."
"Then we'll kill them and run, shall we?"
Another lightsaber, this one silver, ignited near the hallway. The newcomer was grinning. "Hello, hello," he said, spinning the blade around his wrist. "Not late for the party, am I?"
"Hammerhead cruisers bearing down on the planet!" Lysandra repeated.
Eiron looked from the three Jedi, to his apprentices and then back again. "I made a grave miscalculation." He unleashed a pulse of Force energy at the silver-bladed one, who took a few steps back under the attack. "Run! Escape while you can!"
Centar and Barbagar both jumped forward to engage. Eiron's blade whirled to defend himself as he hoped his students were following his commands.
256. Sith Academy - Raezyr
"We also learned to fight to our strengths, and turn our opponents weaknesses against them," Raezyr added.
Trychon chimed in again, "We showed that we can be resourceful, and use deception to our advantage."
Anya finally spoke up, "Master, I learned that I do not have to rely on those around me to be victorious. I thought I would be scared, but I wasn't. At first I wasn't sure I was going to make it, but by drawing on the Dark Side, I found the strength to defeat Daan."
When she finished, she pulled Daan's light saber from beneath her cloak. Her shoulder was still hurting her so her movement was tenative. She showed the silver tube to her Master, then gazed into Lord Eiron's cowled hood, eager for his approval.
Trychon chimed in again, "We showed that we can be resourceful, and use deception to our advantage."
Anya finally spoke up, "Master, I learned that I do not have to rely on those around me to be victorious. I thought I would be scared, but I wasn't. At first I wasn't sure I was going to make it, but by drawing on the Dark Side, I found the strength to defeat Daan."
When she finished, she pulled Daan's light saber from beneath her cloak. Her shoulder was still hurting her so her movement was tenative. She showed the silver tube to her Master, then gazed into Lord Eiron's cowled hood, eager for his approval.
255. Sith Academy - Trychon
Tyrrazapon looked at the others, in a sort of mental shrug. "Fun, I guess? I hate the Jedi, and it felt... good... to take some of that out on them. I haven't felt that kind of freedom since I killed my father."
Raezyr spoke up next. "We showed that we have a long way to go. We struggled against lowly Jedi. We were successful, but we had numbers on our side... the four of us that is. If Master hadn't taken on the stronger Jedi, and helped us out in the Senate... we may not have fared well at all."
"I wish I didn't have to give up that saber..." Tyrrazapon added as an afterthought.
Raezyr continued. "At the same time, I think we showed that we've come a long way in a rather short time. Compared to some of those we bested... we have very little experience and training."
Trychon jumped in "Don't forget a lifetime of training for some soldiers as well. I'm sure there are better in the galaxy... but surely they weren't the worst either. We learned to thrive in Chaos... and we used it to our advantage."
Raezyr spoke up next. "We showed that we have a long way to go. We struggled against lowly Jedi. We were successful, but we had numbers on our side... the four of us that is. If Master hadn't taken on the stronger Jedi, and helped us out in the Senate... we may not have fared well at all."
"I wish I didn't have to give up that saber..." Tyrrazapon added as an afterthought.
Raezyr continued. "At the same time, I think we showed that we've come a long way in a rather short time. Compared to some of those we bested... we have very little experience and training."
Trychon jumped in "Don't forget a lifetime of training for some soldiers as well. I'm sure there are better in the galaxy... but surely they weren't the worst either. We learned to thrive in Chaos... and we used it to our advantage."
254. Sith Academy - Eiron
Phobia broke atmosphere above Korriban and hurtled towards the planet, the sensors picking up on sublight trails and ion emissions from other craft, probably those of his students. Eiron himself had encountered trouble near Phindar but outran the Republic patrol rather quickly and had lost them completely in hyperspace.
Eiron landed on the roof again and dropped through the ceiling, into the main hall. As he'd not cloaked Phobia, he assumed his students had heard him coming.
"So," he said, approaching the four of them. "What were your thoughts about our little...exercise?"
Eiron landed on the roof again and dropped through the ceiling, into the main hall. As he'd not cloaked Phobia, he assumed his students had heard him coming.
"So," he said, approaching the four of them. "What were your thoughts about our little...exercise?"
February 04, 2009
253. Sith Academy- Raezyr
Raezyr briefly touched the Rancor down in Dreshdae. Just long enough to drop off Anya with instructions to pay the Czerka corporation for repairs to Trychon's shuttlecraft, then to meet them in the Valley of the Dark Lords below the Temple.
It didn't take long before she arrived and landed the craft, albeit a bit roughly, next to the other three space craft in the valley.
"Okay, unless the Master has other instructions for us, we gather our things and get out of here. Trych, if you have time, maybe you could try and get into the Czerka computers and erase any info on our ships," Raezyr said, looking at the other three.
The holo-net had been broadcasting the footage of their fight outside the Night Ranger club on Coruscant non stop. The news anchor had mistakenly dubbed them "the Sith Triad," and he could see why. They had gotten a pretty clear shot of Trychon, and somewhat blurry looks at both Raezyr in his armor and Tyrrazapon as well, but for some reason, Anya had never appeared in the frame. It was almost as if the cameraman hadn't been looking through the viewfinder, but tried to aim the holo-camera from hiding. The moniker had been eating at Anya ever since they caught the transmission in Chandrila.
"Way ahead of you. As soon as we got close, I used my link to the Academy computers to access Dreshdae. I did better than erase the data. I modified it with false data," Trychon said smugly.
"Excellent," Raezyr said.
"Okay, Triad.... and Anya. Let's get to the temple," Tyrrazapon said as Raezyr and he headed for the path out of the Valley.
"I can't believe they think only three were there! How in the galaxy did they not get me on camera? They should be calling us the... quad-ad.... or something," she fumed.
"They don't really even know how many there were. Other news agencies were reporting that there were as many as 25 Dark Jedi," Trychon commented.
"Come on, you two. Let's go!" Raezyr called over his shoulder. Anya and Trychon quickened their pace to catch up.
The entered the Sith Academy when they finally reached temple.
"Is it just me, or does the Dark Side feel stronger here, now?" Anya asked as they walked down the corridor.
"I feel it as well, but I think the difference is us. WE are stronger now, and are more attuned to it, I think," Raezyr said.
HK-51 was in the main hall, standing exactly where they had left him.
"Aychkay," Raezyr called across the room.
He turned and walked over to them. "What is it you require, master?"
"Go gather all of our things, then take them down to the Valley below and load them into the ships you'll find there. When you are finished, get yourself aboard one of them. Touch nothing on board the ship. Do you understand?" Raezyr ordered.
"Affirmitive, master," HK-51 replied. He turned and headed for the living quarters.
"I don't know what we're going to do with that thing, but we can't leave it here," Trychon mused.
It didn't take long before she arrived and landed the craft, albeit a bit roughly, next to the other three space craft in the valley.
"Okay, unless the Master has other instructions for us, we gather our things and get out of here. Trych, if you have time, maybe you could try and get into the Czerka computers and erase any info on our ships," Raezyr said, looking at the other three.
The holo-net had been broadcasting the footage of their fight outside the Night Ranger club on Coruscant non stop. The news anchor had mistakenly dubbed them "the Sith Triad," and he could see why. They had gotten a pretty clear shot of Trychon, and somewhat blurry looks at both Raezyr in his armor and Tyrrazapon as well, but for some reason, Anya had never appeared in the frame. It was almost as if the cameraman hadn't been looking through the viewfinder, but tried to aim the holo-camera from hiding. The moniker had been eating at Anya ever since they caught the transmission in Chandrila.
"Way ahead of you. As soon as we got close, I used my link to the Academy computers to access Dreshdae. I did better than erase the data. I modified it with false data," Trychon said smugly.
"Excellent," Raezyr said.
"Okay, Triad.... and Anya. Let's get to the temple," Tyrrazapon said as Raezyr and he headed for the path out of the Valley.
"I can't believe they think only three were there! How in the galaxy did they not get me on camera? They should be calling us the... quad-ad.... or something," she fumed.
"They don't really even know how many there were. Other news agencies were reporting that there were as many as 25 Dark Jedi," Trychon commented.
"Come on, you two. Let's go!" Raezyr called over his shoulder. Anya and Trychon quickened their pace to catch up.
The entered the Sith Academy when they finally reached temple.
"Is it just me, or does the Dark Side feel stronger here, now?" Anya asked as they walked down the corridor.
"I feel it as well, but I think the difference is us. WE are stronger now, and are more attuned to it, I think," Raezyr said.
HK-51 was in the main hall, standing exactly where they had left him.
"Aychkay," Raezyr called across the room.
He turned and walked over to them. "What is it you require, master?"
"Go gather all of our things, then take them down to the Valley below and load them into the ships you'll find there. When you are finished, get yourself aboard one of them. Touch nothing on board the ship. Do you understand?" Raezyr ordered.
"Affirmitive, master," HK-51 replied. He turned and headed for the living quarters.
"I don't know what we're going to do with that thing, but we can't leave it here," Trychon mused.
252. Sith Saga: Proving Grounds - Raezyr
The students had little problem getting out of the Senate Building, despite it being in lockdown. Their disguises were enough to gain them the element of surprise on any guards they came across.
Once outside they easily obtained civillian clothing and split up, heading for their ships. Tyrrazapon took the Nefarion Wraith, Trychon made for the Jet Razor, and Anya and Raezyr headed for the Wasted Rancor, which had been given to them after Sand Iago failed to return from the Revenants hijack mission.
They had each been pursued seperately by Republic ships after failing to give their crew and passenger manifests, but they had lost them by the time they reached Chandrila.
Raezyr and Anya had gotten there first and waited around the outskirts of the system for the other two. They didn't have to wait long, though.
"Rancor to Wraith, good to see you made it," Raezyr said into the comm.
"Glad you did too. Those corsairs were way to slow for my ship. Where's Trych? He get here yet?" Tyrrazapon responded. "Never mind, here he is. Wraith to Razor, what took you so long?"
"Took me a minute to slice Raez's lockout codes. Next time, do me a favor and just give them to me, okay?" Trychon said, his voice crackling over their private encrypted channel.
"I was about to when those Judicials took an interest in us. I knew you'd get past them anyway," Raezyr responded.
The three craft cruised casually side by side through the outskirts of the the Chandrila system, just beyond range of detection of the nearest planet.
"So what now?" Tyrrazapon asked. "We didn't really get time to discuss this part."
"We need to get back to Korriban and meet Lord Eiron as he instructed, but if I were the Jedi, that's the first place I'd look. Here's what I propose: We get back there and meet with Eiron, get our things and get the hell off Korriban until things cool off a bit. From there, I don't know where we go."
"We could come back here, try to hide under their noses," Trychon suggested.
"If we had some contacts here, then that might work," Tyrrazapon interjected, "But we don't. I do, however, happen to know of a pirate hideout on Hoth that may work for us. Last time I dealt with them, we were on good terms."
"Hoth?" Raezyr questioned. "I've never heard of that. Where is it?"
"It's in the Anoat Sector... let me transmit the coordinants to you guys now."
"I guess that sounds as good as anything unless anyone has anything better," Trychon said.
"Well, just be sure to bring a warm coat," Tyrrazapon said with a chuckle.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Raezyr asked. "Oh, you'll see when we get there," Tyrrazapon returned.
"I don't think I like the sound of that," Trychon said."Well, looks like it's time to go. A couple of patrol ships just detected us and are beginning to turn in our direction," Raezyr said, then turned to Anya who was sitting beside him.
"Get the coordinants fromt the navi-computer like I showed you," he said to his co-pilot, and she did as she was instructed.
"Let's haul jets! I'll see you guys on Korriban," Tyrrazapon said and in an instant he was gone.
With in moments, the Rancor and Razor also made the jump to light speed.
Once outside they easily obtained civillian clothing and split up, heading for their ships. Tyrrazapon took the Nefarion Wraith, Trychon made for the Jet Razor, and Anya and Raezyr headed for the Wasted Rancor, which had been given to them after Sand Iago failed to return from the Revenants hijack mission.
They had each been pursued seperately by Republic ships after failing to give their crew and passenger manifests, but they had lost them by the time they reached Chandrila.
Raezyr and Anya had gotten there first and waited around the outskirts of the system for the other two. They didn't have to wait long, though.
"Rancor to Wraith, good to see you made it," Raezyr said into the comm.
"Glad you did too. Those corsairs were way to slow for my ship. Where's Trych? He get here yet?" Tyrrazapon responded. "Never mind, here he is. Wraith to Razor, what took you so long?"
"Took me a minute to slice Raez's lockout codes. Next time, do me a favor and just give them to me, okay?" Trychon said, his voice crackling over their private encrypted channel.
"I was about to when those Judicials took an interest in us. I knew you'd get past them anyway," Raezyr responded.
The three craft cruised casually side by side through the outskirts of the the Chandrila system, just beyond range of detection of the nearest planet.
"So what now?" Tyrrazapon asked. "We didn't really get time to discuss this part."
"We need to get back to Korriban and meet Lord Eiron as he instructed, but if I were the Jedi, that's the first place I'd look. Here's what I propose: We get back there and meet with Eiron, get our things and get the hell off Korriban until things cool off a bit. From there, I don't know where we go."
"We could come back here, try to hide under their noses," Trychon suggested.
"If we had some contacts here, then that might work," Tyrrazapon interjected, "But we don't. I do, however, happen to know of a pirate hideout on Hoth that may work for us. Last time I dealt with them, we were on good terms."
"Hoth?" Raezyr questioned. "I've never heard of that. Where is it?"
"It's in the Anoat Sector... let me transmit the coordinants to you guys now."
"I guess that sounds as good as anything unless anyone has anything better," Trychon said.
"Well, just be sure to bring a warm coat," Tyrrazapon said with a chuckle.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Raezyr asked. "Oh, you'll see when we get there," Tyrrazapon returned.
"I don't think I like the sound of that," Trychon said."Well, looks like it's time to go. A couple of patrol ships just detected us and are beginning to turn in our direction," Raezyr said, then turned to Anya who was sitting beside him.
"Get the coordinants fromt the navi-computer like I showed you," he said to his co-pilot, and she did as she was instructed.
"Let's haul jets! I'll see you guys on Korriban," Tyrrazapon said and in an instant he was gone.
With in moments, the Rancor and Razor also made the jump to light speed.
251. Sith Saga: Proving Grounds - Eiron
Eiron moved through the Senate building, pressing a button on his comlink. Phobia was waiting for him, hovering near one of the highest levels. Lysandra had the ramp lowered and Eiron boarded. Sloan was inside, maintaining the illusion that he was piloting, but Lys was in control.
"Take us out of the system," Eiron said. "Take us straight out to Phindar and then hit Korriban."
"We're on our way," Lys promised. Sloan leaned back in the chair and glanced at Eiron.
"What about me?"
"You'll be sticking with the ship, Sloan, until I get Behemoth back. After that, you can start counting credits again."
"Take us out of the system," Eiron said. "Take us straight out to Phindar and then hit Korriban."
"We're on our way," Lys promised. Sloan leaned back in the chair and glanced at Eiron.
"What about me?"
"You'll be sticking with the ship, Sloan, until I get Behemoth back. After that, you can start counting credits again."
250. Sith Saga: Proving Grounds - Eiron
Eiron removed the head of a Republic soldier who'd been groveling for mercy a second before. Please, I have a wife and children, said the soldier. You give me incentive, then, Eiron had replied.
He heard the call of his apprentices and sought them out, back where he'd left his mark on the door for them. He'd rejoined them in no time.
"Well done," he said. "The Republic will weep tomorrow morning. Now, we must fly. Time is still of the essence." He beckoned them on. "Escape to Korriban by way of alternate routes. You will be followed; lose them through hyperspace. I will meet you at the Academy. May the Force serve you, my apprentices."
He heard the call of his apprentices and sought them out, back where he'd left his mark on the door for them. He'd rejoined them in no time.
"Well done," he said. "The Republic will weep tomorrow morning. Now, we must fly. Time is still of the essence." He beckoned them on. "Escape to Korriban by way of alternate routes. You will be followed; lose them through hyperspace. I will meet you at the Academy. May the Force serve you, my apprentices."
February 03, 2009
249. Sith Saga: Proving Grounds - Raezyr
They got a safe distance away and ducked into a lavatory, before Raezyr made the call.
"Command, this... *cough* this is.... 53..." he said, doing his best to sound like he was injured and possibly dying.
"Post 53, go ahead. What's the status down there? Have you breached yet?" came the reply. He ignored the questions.
"Admiral.... Admiral is down... team is down... ambushed.. 2 men dressed in *cough* dressed in black... send medics... they... they said they were going to the Senator's wing...." Raezyr said and cut off the comm.
Tyrrazapon looked up from working on Anya's shoulder. He had put kolto patches on her shoulder and leg, and given her more stims. She was coming around, but her arm would still be useless until they could get her to a real medic.
"Good, that should get help to the Admiral. It would suck for him to bleed out when Lord Eiron wanted him alive, plus that should divert a decent amount of forces to where we aren't, but they'll think we still are," Tyrrazapon said as he finished up with Anya.
"Anya, you did an awesome job back there," Trychon said as she came to. "Do you think you can move on your own?"
"Yeah, I think so," she said, shaking the cobwebs out of her head. "What happened to me?"
"You passed out, I think. We picked this up for you," Trychon said and handed her Daan's lightsaber.
"Thanks," she said and gave Trychon a smile. She put the saber in one of her pockets. She started to get up, struggling a bit.
Trychon started to reach out a hand, but considering her rant back at the Admiral's office, he thought better of it.
"If we're ready, we need to keep moving. Someone's bound to come by here," Raezyr said from his lookout position near the door. "It also seems that they're concentrating most of their efforts to taking down our Master. We need to get to that door and take out whomever is behind it quickly, so we can draw off some of the heat. He's wise and powerful, but even he may get over-run by numbers."
He poked his head out of the door once he saw that everyone was ready.
"It's clear. Let's go," Raezyr said and stepped out, moving quickly toward the door that had been imprinted in their minds.
--------------------
They moved quickly down the corridors. They soon came across the carnage left by their master, bodies strewn about and blaster score marks all around. They rounded a corner into an empty corridor with a dozen dead guards lying in front of a heavily sheilded door.
They used the security card at the door controls to see who was assigned to the office. The terminal told them it was Kern Atar, the Senator from Coruscant and the Speaker of the Senate.
"Give me a minute or two," Trychon said as he worked at the controls. The security cards made access easier, but this office had a higher security clearance. After a minute or two he stepped back and ignited his black blade.
The others followed suit, their blades humming in the quiet hall.
Suddenly the doors slid open and a maelstrom of blaster fire erupted from inside.
They redirected the fire back into the room as a dozen Republic soldiers continued their salvo. Two soldiers fell and soon they drew their vibro swords, closing to melee range.
Raezyr launched himself into the midst of the sword-weilding soldiers with a whirlwind of thrusts and slashes. He blocked a strike with his off-hand and swung low, removing the legs of two commandos as he rolled forward. Springing to his feet he spun with his blades out stretched, taking a head from one and an arm from another. With a quick back stroke, he be-headed that one as well.
Trychon flanked to the right, keeping his back to the wall. With his left hand he Force pushed one soldier backward, then side-stepped as another rushed in. He lowered his blade a bit and took a back-hand swing, slicing the man in half. Another soldier stepped in and Trychon kicked him in the chest, knocking him off balance. He lunged forward and ran the soldier through.
Anya had followed Trychon to the right and using her lightsaber in her good hand she sliced open the chest of the soldier he had Force pushed. She stepped back to her left and silenced the groans of the two that Raezyr had "de-legged."
Tyrrazapon had entered the room and slid to the left. Two soldiers closed on him and flipped forward over them, striking down one of them in the process. As he landed, he reversed his blade and drove it behind him through the back of the other.
The remaining commando stood with his sword drawn, placing himself between the Sith students and Senator Kern Atar. "I've called for re-enforcements. You may kill me, but you won't escape. Leave now and you might be able to get away before they arrive."
The four apprentices stood side by side in front of him, their blades still ignited and the multi-colored lights filled the room with an ominous glow.
"No you haven't," Raezyr said. "I've been monitoring your channel. Besides, there wasn't time."
The soldier's face went ashen as he realized his bluff had just been called. He stepped forward and brought his blade down on Raezyr, who caught the vibro-sword in his crossed blades. Red, orange and black blades pierced his torso as Anya, Tyrrazapon and Trychon lunged forward simulateously.
Atar stood in front of his desk with his hands folded in front of him, facing them with all the dignity befitting a man of his position. "What can I do for you, Dark Jedi? I am quite a powerful person in the Republic. I can get you anything you want," Senator Atar stated calmly as if he were addressing diplomats at a committee meeting.
Tyrrazapon spoke. "We have no doubt that you CAN. But that is not the issue. There is only one thing that we want, and I believe you know what that is."
"Then at least permit me to do it on my terms, instead of being slaughtered like these commoners," Atar asked.
"Very well, but make it quick," Raezyr ordered.
Senator Kern Atar removed the small blaster he had been concealing in the sleeve of his robes and walked regally around behind his desk and sat down in his high backed chair. He gingerly placed the barrel of the blaster to his forehead, closed his eyes, then squeezed the trigger.
"Why did you let him do that?" Anya asked.
Raezyr powered down his blades and tucked them away before answering. "The Sith do not let anything stand in the way of what is necessary or our path to power, but we are not without honor."
They turned together and headed toward the door.
In unison, they called to their master, It is done.
"Command, this... *cough* this is.... 53..." he said, doing his best to sound like he was injured and possibly dying.
"Post 53, go ahead. What's the status down there? Have you breached yet?" came the reply. He ignored the questions.
"Admiral.... Admiral is down... team is down... ambushed.. 2 men dressed in *cough* dressed in black... send medics... they... they said they were going to the Senator's wing...." Raezyr said and cut off the comm.
Tyrrazapon looked up from working on Anya's shoulder. He had put kolto patches on her shoulder and leg, and given her more stims. She was coming around, but her arm would still be useless until they could get her to a real medic.
"Good, that should get help to the Admiral. It would suck for him to bleed out when Lord Eiron wanted him alive, plus that should divert a decent amount of forces to where we aren't, but they'll think we still are," Tyrrazapon said as he finished up with Anya.
"Anya, you did an awesome job back there," Trychon said as she came to. "Do you think you can move on your own?"
"Yeah, I think so," she said, shaking the cobwebs out of her head. "What happened to me?"
"You passed out, I think. We picked this up for you," Trychon said and handed her Daan's lightsaber.
"Thanks," she said and gave Trychon a smile. She put the saber in one of her pockets. She started to get up, struggling a bit.
Trychon started to reach out a hand, but considering her rant back at the Admiral's office, he thought better of it.
"If we're ready, we need to keep moving. Someone's bound to come by here," Raezyr said from his lookout position near the door. "It also seems that they're concentrating most of their efforts to taking down our Master. We need to get to that door and take out whomever is behind it quickly, so we can draw off some of the heat. He's wise and powerful, but even he may get over-run by numbers."
He poked his head out of the door once he saw that everyone was ready.
"It's clear. Let's go," Raezyr said and stepped out, moving quickly toward the door that had been imprinted in their minds.
--------------------
They moved quickly down the corridors. They soon came across the carnage left by their master, bodies strewn about and blaster score marks all around. They rounded a corner into an empty corridor with a dozen dead guards lying in front of a heavily sheilded door.
They used the security card at the door controls to see who was assigned to the office. The terminal told them it was Kern Atar, the Senator from Coruscant and the Speaker of the Senate.
"Give me a minute or two," Trychon said as he worked at the controls. The security cards made access easier, but this office had a higher security clearance. After a minute or two he stepped back and ignited his black blade.
The others followed suit, their blades humming in the quiet hall.
Suddenly the doors slid open and a maelstrom of blaster fire erupted from inside.
They redirected the fire back into the room as a dozen Republic soldiers continued their salvo. Two soldiers fell and soon they drew their vibro swords, closing to melee range.
Raezyr launched himself into the midst of the sword-weilding soldiers with a whirlwind of thrusts and slashes. He blocked a strike with his off-hand and swung low, removing the legs of two commandos as he rolled forward. Springing to his feet he spun with his blades out stretched, taking a head from one and an arm from another. With a quick back stroke, he be-headed that one as well.
Trychon flanked to the right, keeping his back to the wall. With his left hand he Force pushed one soldier backward, then side-stepped as another rushed in. He lowered his blade a bit and took a back-hand swing, slicing the man in half. Another soldier stepped in and Trychon kicked him in the chest, knocking him off balance. He lunged forward and ran the soldier through.
Anya had followed Trychon to the right and using her lightsaber in her good hand she sliced open the chest of the soldier he had Force pushed. She stepped back to her left and silenced the groans of the two that Raezyr had "de-legged."
Tyrrazapon had entered the room and slid to the left. Two soldiers closed on him and flipped forward over them, striking down one of them in the process. As he landed, he reversed his blade and drove it behind him through the back of the other.
The remaining commando stood with his sword drawn, placing himself between the Sith students and Senator Kern Atar. "I've called for re-enforcements. You may kill me, but you won't escape. Leave now and you might be able to get away before they arrive."
The four apprentices stood side by side in front of him, their blades still ignited and the multi-colored lights filled the room with an ominous glow.
"No you haven't," Raezyr said. "I've been monitoring your channel. Besides, there wasn't time."
The soldier's face went ashen as he realized his bluff had just been called. He stepped forward and brought his blade down on Raezyr, who caught the vibro-sword in his crossed blades. Red, orange and black blades pierced his torso as Anya, Tyrrazapon and Trychon lunged forward simulateously.
Atar stood in front of his desk with his hands folded in front of him, facing them with all the dignity befitting a man of his position. "What can I do for you, Dark Jedi? I am quite a powerful person in the Republic. I can get you anything you want," Senator Atar stated calmly as if he were addressing diplomats at a committee meeting.
Tyrrazapon spoke. "We have no doubt that you CAN. But that is not the issue. There is only one thing that we want, and I believe you know what that is."
"Then at least permit me to do it on my terms, instead of being slaughtered like these commoners," Atar asked.
"Very well, but make it quick," Raezyr ordered.
Senator Kern Atar removed the small blaster he had been concealing in the sleeve of his robes and walked regally around behind his desk and sat down in his high backed chair. He gingerly placed the barrel of the blaster to his forehead, closed his eyes, then squeezed the trigger.
"Why did you let him do that?" Anya asked.
Raezyr powered down his blades and tucked them away before answering. "The Sith do not let anything stand in the way of what is necessary or our path to power, but we are not without honor."
They turned together and headed toward the door.
In unison, they called to their master, It is done.
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