"Hold on!" Raezyr yelled into the comm as he took the swoop into a series of violent jerks to make targeting them more difficult. The hail of blaster bolts continued to skim near them, but his juking was keeping them safe for the moment.
Falka ignored the impulse to lean over Raezyr's shoulder and look at the instruments for a bit better bearing, instead holding on tightly and trying to lean into Raezyr's quick and unpredictable maneuvers. "How far to the ridge?" He asked as calmly as he could manage.
Raezyr grimaced as he glanced at the display. "Too far. We're going to have to try something else."
Their pursuit was gaining on them continually. He maintained his evasive maneuvers but leaned off the throttle slightly, allowing the gap to close even more. He didn't need to keep an eye on the controls to feel the attack bearing down on them.
"What are you doing?!" Falka yelled over the comm, even though Raezyr could hear him fine without the added volume. "They're going to catch us!"
Raezyr nodded his head, and veered off his course hard to the left, his hand prepared to pull the brake when the timing was perfect...
--------------
Trychon glanced back over his shoulder at his pursuit. All he could see past Haley's hair waving in the wind was a cloud of dust, though he could feel the Raiders in the Force.
"You don't do this very often, do you?" Haley asked him with a look of either disdain or concern on her face, Trychon couldn't tell which. "My sensors are picking them up perfectly, I'm sure yours are as well. Yet this is the third time you've tried to look past me to see for yourself."
Trychon felt a bit ridiculous as he thought about it. "Actually, Raezyr and I were goading a swoop gang into a death race back on Yaga Minor the other day, but I crashed into a tree and the resulting head injury caused me to forget all I'd learned. Sorry."
Haley sighed calmly. "That's not altogether encouraging, but at least you won't have to worry about the trees this time."
"Right." Trychon agreed with a straight tone of voice. "Thank the Tatooine heat for that."
"Precisely."
Trychon grinned. "Well, we'd better not leave this up to my driving anyway. Be ready." He let go of the throttle and beared down on the brake as hard as he could, nearly flinging them into a nearby rock outcropping. Using the Force, he held them in their seats and flung the swoop to face the growing cloud of sand and dust. He reached down and unhooked his lightsaber from his belt, trying to anticipate what to do next.
October 30, 2009
October 28, 2009
540. Black Phoenix - Raezyr
Trychon and Raezyr twisted the throttle, boosting more speed from their swoops as the Desert Raiders closed quickly. Haley and Falka opened fire on their pursuers, leveling their blasters over and around Trychon and Raezyr who concentrated on avoiding the incoming fire.
In the blink of an eye, the game of chicken was over as the four escapees screamed through the midst of the Raiders unscathed, yet leaving two smoking wrecks in their wake.
The Sith coaxed as much speed as they could manage from their vehicles, but the Raiders, who had quickly turned about to pursue, were closing the gap, slowly but surely. Each of the Raider speeders were military surplus, clearly built for speed, and only carried one rider while their quarry were on civilian models, and each carrying two passengers. Raezyr knew they had a decent head start, but it would just be a matter of time before their attackers closed to accurate firing range. Even now they were taking pot shots with their vehicle mounted weaponry, gauging the distance.
"If we stay close together, we'll only make better targets for them," Raezyr called out over the comm. He sensed Trychon's apprehension to the unspoken suggestion, and he echoed the feeling.
"We should probably stick together, watch each others backs," Trychon suggested.
"No, Raezyr is right," Falka said, adding his two creds. "If we split up, one of us will have a better chance of making it back, and then we can come back with reinforcements," he suggested.
"Why not call for back-up, now?" Trychon suggested.
"No good," Haley stated flatly. "I tried that already. They have some sort of long range transmission jamming going on. Our communications are unaffected because we are so close, but by my estimation, it will only last up to a distance of 262 meters, give or take 3 meters."
"Nice 'estimate,'" Trychon said, grinning over his shoulder.
"Cut the chatter, Trych," Raezyr scolded, as a blaster bolt ricocheted off Trychon's swoop. A gout of black smoke erupted from the back end, then trailed off. "You alright over there?" Raezyr called.
"Yeah... yeah, we're okay... nothing serious... secondary stabilizer broke loose... nothing major," Trychon said, flipping a few control switches on the panel in front of him before continuing. "We'll split up, then?"
"You and Haley take... Mos Castoff Canyon across the Jundland Wastes," Raezyr said, looking at a small readout on his contols. "Falka and I will take Tracker Canyon and go over Deathshead Ridge," he informed them.
"See you on the other side, little brother," Trychon said, shooting the bigger man a grin, "and may the Force serve you well."
Together they dropped into a gully between two large sand dunes, and immediately Trychon swerved North, angling toward Castoff Canyon. Raezyr watched his sensors as their pursuers dropped down into the same gully. It took them a few seconds to realize their prey had split up, but as soon as they did, two of the remaining four speeders turned in pursuit after them. The maneuver hadn't worked quite as well as Raezyr hoped it would, but it would buy Trychon another few minutes.
The younger Sith knew if they could just reach their respective canyons they could lose their pursuers, as the Raiders would have to slow down to react to the twists and turns, whereas the Sith, with the Dark Side as their servant, could forge ahead at full speed.
Blaster bolts flashed past Raezyr's head, and he rolled the swoop just barely in time to avoid them. Falka spoke over the comm, "I've got a bad feeling about this."
In the blink of an eye, the game of chicken was over as the four escapees screamed through the midst of the Raiders unscathed, yet leaving two smoking wrecks in their wake.
The Sith coaxed as much speed as they could manage from their vehicles, but the Raiders, who had quickly turned about to pursue, were closing the gap, slowly but surely. Each of the Raider speeders were military surplus, clearly built for speed, and only carried one rider while their quarry were on civilian models, and each carrying two passengers. Raezyr knew they had a decent head start, but it would just be a matter of time before their attackers closed to accurate firing range. Even now they were taking pot shots with their vehicle mounted weaponry, gauging the distance.
"If we stay close together, we'll only make better targets for them," Raezyr called out over the comm. He sensed Trychon's apprehension to the unspoken suggestion, and he echoed the feeling.
"We should probably stick together, watch each others backs," Trychon suggested.
"No, Raezyr is right," Falka said, adding his two creds. "If we split up, one of us will have a better chance of making it back, and then we can come back with reinforcements," he suggested.
"Why not call for back-up, now?" Trychon suggested.
"No good," Haley stated flatly. "I tried that already. They have some sort of long range transmission jamming going on. Our communications are unaffected because we are so close, but by my estimation, it will only last up to a distance of 262 meters, give or take 3 meters."
"Nice 'estimate,'" Trychon said, grinning over his shoulder.
"Cut the chatter, Trych," Raezyr scolded, as a blaster bolt ricocheted off Trychon's swoop. A gout of black smoke erupted from the back end, then trailed off. "You alright over there?" Raezyr called.
"Yeah... yeah, we're okay... nothing serious... secondary stabilizer broke loose... nothing major," Trychon said, flipping a few control switches on the panel in front of him before continuing. "We'll split up, then?"
"You and Haley take... Mos Castoff Canyon across the Jundland Wastes," Raezyr said, looking at a small readout on his contols. "Falka and I will take Tracker Canyon and go over Deathshead Ridge," he informed them.
"See you on the other side, little brother," Trychon said, shooting the bigger man a grin, "and may the Force serve you well."
Together they dropped into a gully between two large sand dunes, and immediately Trychon swerved North, angling toward Castoff Canyon. Raezyr watched his sensors as their pursuers dropped down into the same gully. It took them a few seconds to realize their prey had split up, but as soon as they did, two of the remaining four speeders turned in pursuit after them. The maneuver hadn't worked quite as well as Raezyr hoped it would, but it would buy Trychon another few minutes.
The younger Sith knew if they could just reach their respective canyons they could lose their pursuers, as the Raiders would have to slow down to react to the twists and turns, whereas the Sith, with the Dark Side as their servant, could forge ahead at full speed.
Blaster bolts flashed past Raezyr's head, and he rolled the swoop just barely in time to avoid them. Falka spoke over the comm, "I've got a bad feeling about this."
539. Black Phoenix - Trychon
The two swoops continued on their paths for several klicks, changing their route ever so slightly every few moments to keep from being auto targeted. The misaimed shots of Rus'El's cannon exploded farther and farther from their location as they added distance, and Trychon's laughter increased with it.
"Knock it off, Trych! We can laugh at the Raiders later... right now we still need to get back to safety!" Raezyr growled over the comm. Behind him, Falka calmed his chuckle. He wasn't sure if he found the useless cannon funny as Trychon did, or if he was simply amused by Trychon's amusement. Either way, he thought to himself, it wasn't the first time he'd had a laugh at the expense of some ridiculous decision or another of the Raiders' organization.
As though to punctuate Raezyr's sentiment, a small freighter flew over their heads at dangerous speed for the low altitude it was maintaining. Probably just a scare tactic. Trychon thought to himself, noting that it would likely be rather effective against most swoop riders. The dust and wind brought up by the flyby made it not only next to impossible to see, but was even enough to rock the small vehicles' flight. Not being average swoop riders though, Trychon and Raezyr turned to their instincts and senses to allow them to recover and continue on safely.
Within moments, the freighter had turned around and was speeding back towards them from the horizon. Raezyr veered slightly to his port, increasing the distance between the swoops to avoid being jarred into each other.
"That was... interesting." Trychon commed to the group.
"Eyes open, everyone." Raezyr commed back.
"We have incoming." Haley's voice picked up where Raezyr's left off. "Half a dozen swoops, by my sensor reading. On a path to intercept us shortly."
Trychon muttered something about ridiculous ploy maneuvers then spoke up. "They must have dumped them when they turned. Your call, Raez."
Over the comm, they caught the tail end of Raezyr muttering something that sounded like a curse as well. "Lets take them head on at first and see if we can use their numbers against them before we split them up. Falka, Haley... I hope you're up for a few more engagements. Lightsabers aren't really meant for this sort of fight."
The two Phoenixes responded with affirmatives, readying the weapons and ammo they'd gathered inside the Raiders' compound during their hasty exit.
With only a few moments left before they were in the middle of a chaotic mess, Raezyr commed the group one last time. "I never got to ask, Haley... how comfortable are you firing a blaster anyway?"
The incoming bikes were growing ever closer. Haley leveled her blaster at the front of the formation and squeezed the trigger as the ball of dust separated into individual targets. She was rewarded with a small explosion at the front of the lead vehicle, which swerved and nearly took out one of its compatriots before crashing.
Haley spoke over the comm. "The concept is not really that difficult."
"Knock it off, Trych! We can laugh at the Raiders later... right now we still need to get back to safety!" Raezyr growled over the comm. Behind him, Falka calmed his chuckle. He wasn't sure if he found the useless cannon funny as Trychon did, or if he was simply amused by Trychon's amusement. Either way, he thought to himself, it wasn't the first time he'd had a laugh at the expense of some ridiculous decision or another of the Raiders' organization.
As though to punctuate Raezyr's sentiment, a small freighter flew over their heads at dangerous speed for the low altitude it was maintaining. Probably just a scare tactic. Trychon thought to himself, noting that it would likely be rather effective against most swoop riders. The dust and wind brought up by the flyby made it not only next to impossible to see, but was even enough to rock the small vehicles' flight. Not being average swoop riders though, Trychon and Raezyr turned to their instincts and senses to allow them to recover and continue on safely.
Within moments, the freighter had turned around and was speeding back towards them from the horizon. Raezyr veered slightly to his port, increasing the distance between the swoops to avoid being jarred into each other.
"That was... interesting." Trychon commed to the group.
"Eyes open, everyone." Raezyr commed back.
"We have incoming." Haley's voice picked up where Raezyr's left off. "Half a dozen swoops, by my sensor reading. On a path to intercept us shortly."
Trychon muttered something about ridiculous ploy maneuvers then spoke up. "They must have dumped them when they turned. Your call, Raez."
Over the comm, they caught the tail end of Raezyr muttering something that sounded like a curse as well. "Lets take them head on at first and see if we can use their numbers against them before we split them up. Falka, Haley... I hope you're up for a few more engagements. Lightsabers aren't really meant for this sort of fight."
The two Phoenixes responded with affirmatives, readying the weapons and ammo they'd gathered inside the Raiders' compound during their hasty exit.
With only a few moments left before they were in the middle of a chaotic mess, Raezyr commed the group one last time. "I never got to ask, Haley... how comfortable are you firing a blaster anyway?"
The incoming bikes were growing ever closer. Haley leveled her blaster at the front of the formation and squeezed the trigger as the ball of dust separated into individual targets. She was rewarded with a small explosion at the front of the lead vehicle, which swerved and nearly took out one of its compatriots before crashing.
Haley spoke over the comm. "The concept is not really that difficult."
October 22, 2009
538. Black Phoenix - Raezyr
The passages consisted mostly of long unused ore tubes and chutes, and a few times they had to emerge from their hidden passageway to enter another, but eventually they were led into a long tunnel carved entirely from the rock. The passage looked to be much older, ancient in comparison, than the structure that sat upon the desert sands above, and for a few minutes Raezyr wondered who might have built the passage, and for what purpose. He quickly decided he didn't care, though, as long as it was of use to him right now.
At the front of the line, Owen came to the end of the tunnel, climbed up on a plasteel crate, pushed a door in the roof of the tunnel upward, and pulled himself up. When Raezyr finally followed, he found himself inside one of the adobe hovels just 50 meters outside the walls of Jama's compound. The inside wasn't as bad as his mind had imagined these dwellings to be, as it was semi-clean and at least clutter free. Behind him, Owen lowered the door back into it's position above the passageway and carefully rearranged the blankets and sleeping pallet which hid the entrance.
"As long as we don't take anything too valuable, the Raiders don't get suspicious," Owen Loneozner commented. "They mostly think their own are responsible for the minor losses, and mostly leave us alone, unless they need some menial tasks performed."
"I came to Tatooine some time ago, as a miner, but the company abandoned me and...," Owen began when Raezyr interrupted him.
"Yeah, that's great," the blue armored Sith said absently. "Listen, we appreciate what you did and all, but we have to go while they're still looking inside the compound for us. The minute they turn their search outside the walls, our escape is done."
Raezyr pulled up the hood on his cloak and turned toward the exit of the small domicile.
"Wait, you said I'd have your gratitude... can't you take me with you?" the man pleaded.
Trychon and the others looked at Raezyr, waiting for him to answer, but the Sith was staring intently outside, studying their route to the shed which housed their speeder and swoops. Just when it appeared that he wasn't going to say anything, he finally spoke up. "Falka, give him the sequencer for the speeder."
"What do you mean?" Falka asked.
Raezyr turned his gaze to the Khommite. "That speeder is too slow and not very maneuverable. The minute we take off, we'll have Jama'Rukus Rus'El and the Raiders hot on our heels. That speeder will never outrun them, but if Trych and I take you two with us on our swoops, we stand a chance."
Falka tossed the initializer over to the older human, who caught it deftly. "Your just going to give me a speeder?" he asked, tears beginning to well up in his eyes. "Finally, I'll be able to get out of here. Ever since I was abandoned here, I've longed to..."
Raezyr interrupted him again. "Whatever. But you better get out of here fast. They should send everything they have after us, when they leave, that's your chance, because they minute they come back, that speeder is theirs."
Raezyr didn't wait for a response before turning to the others. "Hoods up. Let's go. No running or it will draw attention. Right now their eyes are turned inward, but it won't be much longer before they realize we got out somehow, and then they'll turn these squatter houses inside out and upside down, unless they spot us taking off first. A quick escape on the swoops is our only chance, and the only chance the dregs out here have of not being annihilated." He spoke to them over his shoulder as he walked out the door.
So far so good, he thought to himself as they approached the shed housing their bikes. "Falka, with me. Haley, you're with Trych." He stretched out with the Force as they neared the shed, and sensed a presence inside of it. He saw that Trychon sensed it as well, as his brother drew his lightsaber hilt from inside his robes, just as Raezyr was doing.
Together they stepped around the corner, flicked on their blades, and cut down the Weequay guard who apparently had been trying to ambush the four escapees.
As the slashed open body of the alien slumped to the ground, Raezyr noticed the comm link fall from its off-hand, and the transmit light was glowing green. He stomped the device into the ground, crushing it beneath his heel. "We're about to have company!"
Within moments, the four had mounted the two swoop bikes, and we're speeding across the desert sands, Tatooine's twin suns blazing down upon them in the late afternoon.
Suddenly a giant blast errupted off to the right of the fleeing swoops, sending molten sand and dust many meters into the air.
"What the hell was that?" Trychon shouted into the comm unit on his swoop.
Another giant blast erupted off to their right before anyone could answer. Neither blast had been near enough to do any damage.
"It's Jama!" Falka yelled into his comm. "He's got a giant turbo laser cannon mounted on top of his hideout!"
Another blast erupted harmlessly dozens of meters behind them.
Trychon started laughing.
"What's so damn funny, Trych?" Raezyr asked.
"Jama'Rukus Rus'El may have one helluva cannon, but he couldn't hit a ship hangar if he were locked inside it!"
At the front of the line, Owen came to the end of the tunnel, climbed up on a plasteel crate, pushed a door in the roof of the tunnel upward, and pulled himself up. When Raezyr finally followed, he found himself inside one of the adobe hovels just 50 meters outside the walls of Jama's compound. The inside wasn't as bad as his mind had imagined these dwellings to be, as it was semi-clean and at least clutter free. Behind him, Owen lowered the door back into it's position above the passageway and carefully rearranged the blankets and sleeping pallet which hid the entrance.
"As long as we don't take anything too valuable, the Raiders don't get suspicious," Owen Loneozner commented. "They mostly think their own are responsible for the minor losses, and mostly leave us alone, unless they need some menial tasks performed."
"I came to Tatooine some time ago, as a miner, but the company abandoned me and...," Owen began when Raezyr interrupted him.
"Yeah, that's great," the blue armored Sith said absently. "Listen, we appreciate what you did and all, but we have to go while they're still looking inside the compound for us. The minute they turn their search outside the walls, our escape is done."
Raezyr pulled up the hood on his cloak and turned toward the exit of the small domicile.
"Wait, you said I'd have your gratitude... can't you take me with you?" the man pleaded.
Trychon and the others looked at Raezyr, waiting for him to answer, but the Sith was staring intently outside, studying their route to the shed which housed their speeder and swoops. Just when it appeared that he wasn't going to say anything, he finally spoke up. "Falka, give him the sequencer for the speeder."
"What do you mean?" Falka asked.
Raezyr turned his gaze to the Khommite. "That speeder is too slow and not very maneuverable. The minute we take off, we'll have Jama'Rukus Rus'El and the Raiders hot on our heels. That speeder will never outrun them, but if Trych and I take you two with us on our swoops, we stand a chance."
Falka tossed the initializer over to the older human, who caught it deftly. "Your just going to give me a speeder?" he asked, tears beginning to well up in his eyes. "Finally, I'll be able to get out of here. Ever since I was abandoned here, I've longed to..."
Raezyr interrupted him again. "Whatever. But you better get out of here fast. They should send everything they have after us, when they leave, that's your chance, because they minute they come back, that speeder is theirs."
Raezyr didn't wait for a response before turning to the others. "Hoods up. Let's go. No running or it will draw attention. Right now their eyes are turned inward, but it won't be much longer before they realize we got out somehow, and then they'll turn these squatter houses inside out and upside down, unless they spot us taking off first. A quick escape on the swoops is our only chance, and the only chance the dregs out here have of not being annihilated." He spoke to them over his shoulder as he walked out the door.
So far so good, he thought to himself as they approached the shed housing their bikes. "Falka, with me. Haley, you're with Trych." He stretched out with the Force as they neared the shed, and sensed a presence inside of it. He saw that Trychon sensed it as well, as his brother drew his lightsaber hilt from inside his robes, just as Raezyr was doing.
Together they stepped around the corner, flicked on their blades, and cut down the Weequay guard who apparently had been trying to ambush the four escapees.
As the slashed open body of the alien slumped to the ground, Raezyr noticed the comm link fall from its off-hand, and the transmit light was glowing green. He stomped the device into the ground, crushing it beneath his heel. "We're about to have company!"
Within moments, the four had mounted the two swoop bikes, and we're speeding across the desert sands, Tatooine's twin suns blazing down upon them in the late afternoon.
Suddenly a giant blast errupted off to the right of the fleeing swoops, sending molten sand and dust many meters into the air.
"What the hell was that?" Trychon shouted into the comm unit on his swoop.
Another giant blast erupted off to their right before anyone could answer. Neither blast had been near enough to do any damage.
"It's Jama!" Falka yelled into his comm. "He's got a giant turbo laser cannon mounted on top of his hideout!"
Another blast erupted harmlessly dozens of meters behind them.
Trychon started laughing.
"What's so damn funny, Trych?" Raezyr asked.
"Jama'Rukus Rus'El may have one helluva cannon, but he couldn't hit a ship hangar if he were locked inside it!"
October 21, 2009
537. Black Phoenix - Raezyr
The man wearing little more than rags cringed as the weapons were brandished against him. "Please, put your weapons away, I mean you no harm," the man simpered.
Raezyr took him in at a glance. He looked much older than her probably was, late 40's but looked more like early 60's. The twin Tatooine suns and harsh desert climate hadn't been kind to the man. His skin was dark brown and leathery and his bearded face was deeply lined. "I am Owen Loneozner, and if you're enemies of the Raiders, then I'd like to help."
The four still hadn't lowered their weapons, wary of a trap. "Unless you can get us past all these mercs and bounty hunters, I don't think you'll be of any use to us."
"But I can, you see," the man said, cowering a little less. "I can, because I do it all the time."
"What do you mean?" Trychon asked.
"I live in the encampment outside Jama's compound. I sneak in and out for supplies all the time," he replied.
They all thought of the "encampment" they had seen as they drove in. Run down and abandoned adobe houses being used by the unwanted and undesirable. Raezyr was about to turn down the help, cringing at the thought of being in proximity to the likes of them, but Trychon spoke first. "Owen, if you can get us out of here in one piece, you will have not only the gratitude of the Black Phoenix, but of the Sith as well."
The man frowned at the mention of the Sith as if he were reconsidering his offer, then said, "Come with me. There are secret passages within the old mining millworks here." He picked up a dirty burlap sack and then dropped to the floor, scrambling into a panel that had been taken off the wall. "Whoever comes last, close that panel."
Raezyr let the others go first, bringing up the rear himself. He didn't really like the thought of following this man, and the frown he had given at the mention of the Sith wasn't reassuring either. It was something to keep in the back of his mind.
Once inside the wall, there was more room than Raezyr expected, and he easily reached back through and secured the panel. None too soon, as he heard the sounds of booted feet on the metal walkways approaching. He listened at the panel for a moment.
"Well they clearly came this way, but Takk says they haven't made it up to the first landing yet, they're still waiting," said one voice.
"I don't know... you and your men go down that way, check every nook and cranny. Jama wants them DEAD!" said a familiar female voice he recognized as belonging to that of Lexa Teal.
For a moment, Raezyr considered climbing back out to get a crack at the beautiful bounty hunter, but dismissed it just as quickly. Quietly, he crawled along in the direction the others had gone.
Raezyr took him in at a glance. He looked much older than her probably was, late 40's but looked more like early 60's. The twin Tatooine suns and harsh desert climate hadn't been kind to the man. His skin was dark brown and leathery and his bearded face was deeply lined. "I am Owen Loneozner, and if you're enemies of the Raiders, then I'd like to help."
The four still hadn't lowered their weapons, wary of a trap. "Unless you can get us past all these mercs and bounty hunters, I don't think you'll be of any use to us."
"But I can, you see," the man said, cowering a little less. "I can, because I do it all the time."
"What do you mean?" Trychon asked.
"I live in the encampment outside Jama's compound. I sneak in and out for supplies all the time," he replied.
They all thought of the "encampment" they had seen as they drove in. Run down and abandoned adobe houses being used by the unwanted and undesirable. Raezyr was about to turn down the help, cringing at the thought of being in proximity to the likes of them, but Trychon spoke first. "Owen, if you can get us out of here in one piece, you will have not only the gratitude of the Black Phoenix, but of the Sith as well."
The man frowned at the mention of the Sith as if he were reconsidering his offer, then said, "Come with me. There are secret passages within the old mining millworks here." He picked up a dirty burlap sack and then dropped to the floor, scrambling into a panel that had been taken off the wall. "Whoever comes last, close that panel."
Raezyr let the others go first, bringing up the rear himself. He didn't really like the thought of following this man, and the frown he had given at the mention of the Sith wasn't reassuring either. It was something to keep in the back of his mind.
Once inside the wall, there was more room than Raezyr expected, and he easily reached back through and secured the panel. None too soon, as he heard the sounds of booted feet on the metal walkways approaching. He listened at the panel for a moment.
"Well they clearly came this way, but Takk says they haven't made it up to the first landing yet, they're still waiting," said one voice.
"I don't know... you and your men go down that way, check every nook and cranny. Jama wants them DEAD!" said a familiar female voice he recognized as belonging to that of Lexa Teal.
For a moment, Raezyr considered climbing back out to get a crack at the beautiful bounty hunter, but dismissed it just as quickly. Quietly, he crawled along in the direction the others had gone.
October 16, 2009
536. Black Phoenix - Raezyr
Apparently the Desert Raiders didn't expect them to still be right on the other side of the door, as several rushed headlong around the corner at the far end of the corridor. Falka picked of the first two before they knew what was happening, and the rest began firing, as they tried to back up to the corner they had just rounded.
Their firing only gave Trychon and Raezyr the ammunition they needed to fell a few more before they were able to retreat to safety. They then began taking potshots from cover, which the two Sith easily deflected.
"Haley! You're done. Now!" Raezyr snarled.
"Just one more moment," Haley replied.
"We don't have one more moment," he said, exasperated. "They will now be content to keep us pinned until we're surrounded. We have to leave. NOW!"
"Got it!" the cyborg declared. "That way," she said pointing down the hall perpendicular to the one they were currently fighting in.
"Alright, go!" Raezyr ordered. "Trych, you and Falka take the lead, I'll catch up in a minute. I have a surprise for our friends who are sure to try and follow us."
Trychon didn't hesitate, but took off down the corridor Haley had indicated, with Falka and the cyborg close behind him. Raezyr covered them as they crossed the open area, deflecting bolts toward their attackers.
When the others were clear, Raezyr spun as if to follow, but stopped, and pressed up against the wall around the corner and just out of sight of the Raiders. Closing his eyes, he sensed the beings as they climbed out of their cover and began to pursue.
He split his concentration then, and felt with the Force along the ceiling, looking for weaknesses in the structure. Elation soared through him as he found what he was looking for among the rusted metal and stone. Now for the timing.
He felt the beings moving cautiously down the hall coming closer, and closer. As soon as they were in position, Raezyr spun back out into the hallway, eyes still closed behind his mask, and reached upwards with his hand, actualizing with motions what he willed the Dark Side to do for him.
Clenching his fist, he jerked his arm in a downward motion, and a large panel came loose from the ceiling above the Raiders, landing on top of one or two. Raezyr didn't take time to assess the damage caused, spinning back around the corner and trotting down the hall, but he knew they'd be a bit more careful now.
As he ran, trying to catch up with the fleeing figures several dozen meters ahead of him, he noticed a burning sensation in his shoulder. He looked down and noticed scorch marks on his armor and vaguely recalled the Raiders firing at him when he had appeared suddenly in the hallway. The wound beneath the armor wasn't bad, though, and he pushed the pain to the back of his mind. He'd had worse, but it was a reminder to be more careful next time.
He saw his companions duck around a corner ahead, and put on a burst of speed to catch up. As he neared the corner, he heard more blaster fire, and hastened his pace even more.
By the time he rounded the corner, Trychon and the others had already taken care of business, as there were several aliens and humans lying on the ground either dead or dying.
"Late to the party as usual, I see," Trych said, grinning at his half brother. "And wounded again, too," the older Sith added, clicking his tongue in mock dismay.
Raezyr wasn't in the mood. "Shut up, Trych. This isn't the time for jokes."
Trych cocked his head to the side. "Why so serious?" he asked with a grin.
Raezyr clenched his teeth beneath his helmet. "I swear by all that is holy, if I didn't need you to get out of here..." he let the threat trail off, realizing anything he could have said would have sounded stupid.
It was enough, though, and Trychon got the hint. "Okay. Haley says the only way out is up to the roof, and they've locked down the turbo lifts."
"That means they'll be waiting to ambush us on each level," Raezyr said, battle strategies already forming in his head. "How many levels above us?" he asked Haley.
"Fourteen. Fifteen if you count the roof itself."
They stood their silently for a moment, their hopes dropping. Finally Raezyr spoke up. "Four, five, maybe even six, we could handle, but we aren't going to be lucky enough to make it all the way. Not all of us," he said looking at the other three. Somehow they all knew it was true.
These weren't casually trained security troops. These were hardened mercenaries and bounty hunters, and going against wave after wave was going to take it's toll. Raezyr and Trychon knew they had the best chances to make it with the Force as their minion, but Falka, and certainly Haley had little to no chance.
"Maybe I can be of assistance?" a timid voice said.
The four spun around, weapons leveled to see who had spoken.
Their firing only gave Trychon and Raezyr the ammunition they needed to fell a few more before they were able to retreat to safety. They then began taking potshots from cover, which the two Sith easily deflected.
"Haley! You're done. Now!" Raezyr snarled.
"Just one more moment," Haley replied.
"We don't have one more moment," he said, exasperated. "They will now be content to keep us pinned until we're surrounded. We have to leave. NOW!"
"Got it!" the cyborg declared. "That way," she said pointing down the hall perpendicular to the one they were currently fighting in.
"Alright, go!" Raezyr ordered. "Trych, you and Falka take the lead, I'll catch up in a minute. I have a surprise for our friends who are sure to try and follow us."
Trychon didn't hesitate, but took off down the corridor Haley had indicated, with Falka and the cyborg close behind him. Raezyr covered them as they crossed the open area, deflecting bolts toward their attackers.
When the others were clear, Raezyr spun as if to follow, but stopped, and pressed up against the wall around the corner and just out of sight of the Raiders. Closing his eyes, he sensed the beings as they climbed out of their cover and began to pursue.
He split his concentration then, and felt with the Force along the ceiling, looking for weaknesses in the structure. Elation soared through him as he found what he was looking for among the rusted metal and stone. Now for the timing.
He felt the beings moving cautiously down the hall coming closer, and closer. As soon as they were in position, Raezyr spun back out into the hallway, eyes still closed behind his mask, and reached upwards with his hand, actualizing with motions what he willed the Dark Side to do for him.
Clenching his fist, he jerked his arm in a downward motion, and a large panel came loose from the ceiling above the Raiders, landing on top of one or two. Raezyr didn't take time to assess the damage caused, spinning back around the corner and trotting down the hall, but he knew they'd be a bit more careful now.
As he ran, trying to catch up with the fleeing figures several dozen meters ahead of him, he noticed a burning sensation in his shoulder. He looked down and noticed scorch marks on his armor and vaguely recalled the Raiders firing at him when he had appeared suddenly in the hallway. The wound beneath the armor wasn't bad, though, and he pushed the pain to the back of his mind. He'd had worse, but it was a reminder to be more careful next time.
He saw his companions duck around a corner ahead, and put on a burst of speed to catch up. As he neared the corner, he heard more blaster fire, and hastened his pace even more.
By the time he rounded the corner, Trychon and the others had already taken care of business, as there were several aliens and humans lying on the ground either dead or dying.
"Late to the party as usual, I see," Trych said, grinning at his half brother. "And wounded again, too," the older Sith added, clicking his tongue in mock dismay.
Raezyr wasn't in the mood. "Shut up, Trych. This isn't the time for jokes."
Trych cocked his head to the side. "Why so serious?" he asked with a grin.
Raezyr clenched his teeth beneath his helmet. "I swear by all that is holy, if I didn't need you to get out of here..." he let the threat trail off, realizing anything he could have said would have sounded stupid.
It was enough, though, and Trychon got the hint. "Okay. Haley says the only way out is up to the roof, and they've locked down the turbo lifts."
"That means they'll be waiting to ambush us on each level," Raezyr said, battle strategies already forming in his head. "How many levels above us?" he asked Haley.
"Fourteen. Fifteen if you count the roof itself."
They stood their silently for a moment, their hopes dropping. Finally Raezyr spoke up. "Four, five, maybe even six, we could handle, but we aren't going to be lucky enough to make it all the way. Not all of us," he said looking at the other three. Somehow they all knew it was true.
These weren't casually trained security troops. These were hardened mercenaries and bounty hunters, and going against wave after wave was going to take it's toll. Raezyr and Trychon knew they had the best chances to make it with the Force as their minion, but Falka, and certainly Haley had little to no chance.
"Maybe I can be of assistance?" a timid voice said.
The four spun around, weapons leveled to see who had spoken.
October 15, 2009
535. Black Phoenix - Raezyr
Raezyr smashed his gauntleted fist down on the door controls as soon as he backed through the small portal, demolishing them in a flash of sparks and smoke and bringing the door crashing down. He stretched out his hand toward the wall above the door, feeling the mechanism with the Force. Suddenly he closed his fist and twisted simulating what the Dark Side was doing to the hydraulic piston which raised and lowered the door.
"There," he said in satisfied tone. "That should keep them from manually opening the door. They'll have to find another way around."
For a moment they looked around them and took in their surroundings. They were standing at an intersection, with long dim hallways stretching out to either side and before them as well. "Which way?" Falka mused aloud, mostly to himself.
"Haley, plug yourself into that terminal by the door and find us some blue prints or schematics or an emergency evacuation plan or something which might tell us where we are or how to get the hell out of here," Raezyr said, pointing toward the computer screen.
"I'm not a droid, thank you, I can't just 'plug in' to the system," she said, rolling her eyes at Raezyr.
Raezyr felt his irritation rising. "Just do whatever it is you do, and find us a way out of here," he said through clenched teeth.
"I'll do it," Trychon volunteered.
"No, we need your fighting skills," Raezyr said, putting a hand on his brothers arm. "I just hope she's as good as you said she was."
Haley gave Raezyr a cool glare and then turned toward the terminal and got to work. "This computer system is ancient. My hardware isn't compatable. I'll have to interface manually," the blond cyborg said calmly.
The other three kept watch down the different hallways. Trychon and Raezyr could sense beings drawing closer. "Hurry Haley," Falka said encouragingly, sensing Raezyr's growing impatience.
"I'm doing my best, Captain," the cyborg replied.
"Here they come!" Trychon called and flicked on his black bladed lightsaber once again, staring down the empty hall to the left. Falka took cover at the intersection and got ready to return fire, while Raezyr stepped into a position to cover Haley as she worked at the terminal. He was impressed as her fingers practically flew across the keyboard and the screens flashed in front of her so quickly he could barely tell what was on them. Still, he wished she'd hurry up. Things weren't going nearly as well as he'd hoped.
"There," he said in satisfied tone. "That should keep them from manually opening the door. They'll have to find another way around."
For a moment they looked around them and took in their surroundings. They were standing at an intersection, with long dim hallways stretching out to either side and before them as well. "Which way?" Falka mused aloud, mostly to himself.
"Haley, plug yourself into that terminal by the door and find us some blue prints or schematics or an emergency evacuation plan or something which might tell us where we are or how to get the hell out of here," Raezyr said, pointing toward the computer screen.
"I'm not a droid, thank you, I can't just 'plug in' to the system," she said, rolling her eyes at Raezyr.
Raezyr felt his irritation rising. "Just do whatever it is you do, and find us a way out of here," he said through clenched teeth.
"I'll do it," Trychon volunteered.
"No, we need your fighting skills," Raezyr said, putting a hand on his brothers arm. "I just hope she's as good as you said she was."
Haley gave Raezyr a cool glare and then turned toward the terminal and got to work. "This computer system is ancient. My hardware isn't compatable. I'll have to interface manually," the blond cyborg said calmly.
The other three kept watch down the different hallways. Trychon and Raezyr could sense beings drawing closer. "Hurry Haley," Falka said encouragingly, sensing Raezyr's growing impatience.
"I'm doing my best, Captain," the cyborg replied.
"Here they come!" Trychon called and flicked on his black bladed lightsaber once again, staring down the empty hall to the left. Falka took cover at the intersection and got ready to return fire, while Raezyr stepped into a position to cover Haley as she worked at the terminal. He was impressed as her fingers practically flew across the keyboard and the screens flashed in front of her so quickly he could barely tell what was on them. Still, he wished she'd hurry up. Things weren't going nearly as well as he'd hoped.
October 08, 2009
534. Black Phoenix - Raezyr
They followed Lexa across the cantina to a set of big double doors. She took one last drag from her cigarra, then dropped it to the floor and crushed it out with her boot heel and exhaling the thick tabac smoke our through her nostrils. "I suggest you don't upset Jama. I doubt your Sith body guards will be able to help you if you do," Lexa said, touching Falka's arm.
Raezyr could sense Falka's stress, and Trychon calling on the Force as they resisted the Zeltron's pheromones. He could tell she was trying to give them one last dose to distract them before entering the Hutt crime lord's throne room.
Lexa hit the control switch and the doors slid apart and into the walls. Raezyr could feel the vibration of the electric motors through the floor as they hummed. The doors came to a stop with a clang, and Lexa walked down a set of wide stone steps which opened up into a much larger area.
Off to the left, a band was playing while a pair of blue Twi'lek dancers moved in unison to the music on the main floor. The fact they wore collars around their necks and were chained to a nearby wall wasn't missed by the Black Phoenix group.
Around the outside of the room various aliens and humans sat at tables while a pair of serving droids went about, serving drinks or other things requested of them. Some of the people sitting at the tables appeared to be mercenaries or bounty hunters, while others looked as if they had never held a blaster in their lives. Trychon assumed these must be advisers or other yes men which the Hutt kept around.
Across the room on a platform, lounged Jama'Rukus Rus'El, surrounded by pillows and smoking tabac from a hooka.
Raezyr and Trychon made sure they were in formation as before, on either side of Falka as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Whatever happened here on out, they needed to keep their wits about them in case the giant slug tried anything.
Lexa led them forward onto the floor, and was about to announce them to Jama's "court," when Falka spoke first. "Jama, you requested that Falka, leader of the Black Phoenix come see you. I am here, and I am a busy man. What is it that you want?"
The big Hutt laughed slowly. "Oota ka wachi no wonga mae tama," he said in a deep rumbling voice, and a protocol droid stepped forward from the shadows behind the slug.
"The mighty Jama the Hutt says you are bold, and he likes that. Therefore he will let you live," the gray droid said with a female voice.
"Again, what do you want with Black Phoenix?" Falka said, ignoring what the protocol droid had said.
"I want your puny smuggling ring off my planet, or under my control," the Hutt said, switching to Galactic Basic when he realized that using the droid wasn't going to impress the Khommite.
Falka crossed his arms. "Is that what you called me all the way here for? I would have thought you were smarter than that... maybe suggested some sort of working relationship."
"I did suggest a working relationship, pirate scum. You will take your orders from me, or I will wipe you off the planet," the Hutt said, then picked up his hooka pipe again, as if the discussion were over.
Falka knew the negotiations were over, as did Haley and the Sith. Apparently the whole room did as well. Raezyr and Trychon shifted a bit, turning their backs slightly toward Falka so they could see the rest of the crowd. They could feel the tension rising and watch the seasoned mercs and bounty hunters ease their hands toward their weapons, some even grabbing them out right.
"I will think over your proposal, and will give you an answer by the end of the week," Falka said, attempting to get them out of there without a fight.
"No, you will give me your answer now," the Hutt replied.
Falka didn't hesitate, "Then my answer is, 'no.'"
"Then you are my prisoner. If your Sith attempt any tricks, you will all be gunned down where you stand," the Hutt stated, and dozens of guns around the room were drawn and leveled. "And you, sweetie," Jama said, directing his comments to Haley, "will be added to my harem." Raezyr couldn't help but shiver with repulsion as the big slug licked his lips.
Several guards began approaching them, some with leveled weapons, and others with stun cuffs in hand. They were smart to be cautious as they approached, knowing that even unarmed, a Sith can be dangerous, but they weren't cautious enough.
As soon as they drew close enough, Trychon and Raezyr reached forward, each using the Force to yank a blaster from the hands of an approaching guard, then activating their lightsabers at the same time they tossed the blasters to Falka and Haley.
Instantly the room was filled with red and green bolts, the acrid smell of smoke, and the sounds of gunfire as well as the hum and crackle of lightsabers.
Falka, Trychon and Raezyr all had the same idea, firing, and deflecting bolts at the Hutt, but at the first sign of resistance, the crime lord had slapped the panic button on his platform, which activated shields and slid the platform back and into an alcove, where blast doors began to lower.
Trychon swore softly and began redirecting bolts toward a small side door, trying to clear an exit. "I was hoping to at least take out Jama if we couldn't get him to back down. I should have known he was craftier than that!"
October 07, 2009
533. Black Phoenix - Raezyr
As they followed Lexa down the hall, Raezyr wracked his brain. He knew he had heard something important about Zeltrons, but whatever it was was eluding him. He glanced sideways out of the eye slits of his helmet at Trychon. His half-brother was staring intently at something and he followed the other Sith's gaze... to Lexa. Looking over at Falka, he noticed the same thing. The Khommite's gaze was also firmly affixed on their guide.
Suddenly, the fact he had been trying to remember dawned on him: Zeltron's could emit pheromones. Raezyr thanked the ancient Sith Lord's that his helmet filtered the air he was breathing, leaving him immune to the Zeltron's pheromonal effects.
That sly Hutt is already trying to put us at a disadvantage, just like we were trying with Haley, Raezyr thought to himself, and made a mental note to speak to Trychon and Falka and urge them to resist the effects.
When they finally reached Jama'Rukus Rus'El's "reception chamber," it looked like nothing more than what it really was: a dingy, nasty, backwater-planet dive cantina. Drunk mercenaries, thugs, and bounty hunters lounged about the place while ladies of ill-repute made their rounds, enticing the Desert Raiders to buy them drinks, or spend their money at the gambling tables.
"Relax, and wait here, and make yourselves comfortable," Lexa said. She pulled a cigarra out of a pouch on her belt and lit it up, inhaling deeply. "I'll go and let Jama know you're here," she said, exhaling the smoke as she talked.
"Who are you?" Falka asked, clearly still enthralled.
"I'm Lexa Teal. Jama's top bounty hunter," she said, a wry smile on her face.
Raezyr was pretty sure she thought she had them all where she wanted them. He waited until she was out of earshot before speaking. "Falka, Trych, snap out of it," he said, jabbing his mailed finger into their ribs.
"What is going on with you two?" Haley asked at the same time. Clearly she had noted their state as well. Raezyr was glad she was unaffected, and although he didn't know whether it was because she was female, or a cyborg, he didn't really care.
Both Trychon and Falka tore their gazes away from the pinkish-skinned alien after the severe jabs. "What the hell was that for?" Trychon asked quietly, using his elbow to rub his ribs discreetly.
Raezyr guided to them to a table in the corner where a lone alien stood by himself. Trychon stretched his hand toward it, "You're at our table."
"I'm at your table," the alien replied and moved off toward the bar.
Falka started to comment, but Raezyr interrupted. "Lexa is a Zeltron. They can emit pheromones, and she clearly was doing so. Most likely by order of Jama, trying to throw us off our guard. My air filters in my helmet will save me from the effects, but you two will just have to fight it."
"Now that I know about it, I'm fairly certain I can fight through the effects," Falka said, and Trychon nodded in agreement.
Trychon then turned to Haley, "Speaking of 'now.'"
Slowly she slipped her hand inside of her cloak and to the open slit on the side of her dress. With a few quick taps on specific pressure points, a small door opened on her artificial leg. She slid out the two lightsaber power cells out of the slots usually reserved for her backup power cells, which ran many of her components should the primary power go down, and handed them discreetly under the table to the two Sith.
Raezyr and Trychon inserted the cells into the cylinders of their lightsabers and clipped them back on their belts, using their cloaks to hide their movements.
"Now I don't feel so naked," Trychon said with a grin.
"Easy for you to say," Haley replied. "You're not wearing an unnecessarily revealing outfit and having to go without your back up power."
Trychon opened his mouth to say something, but she continued. "I will go get you all some drinks to keep up appearances."
Raezyr leaned over next to Trychon and spoke so quietly, Trychon had to grasp the Force to hear what he was saying, "So, out of curiosity, what was with your reaction out there?"
"What reaction?" Trychon returned, just as softly.
"When that lizard was groping Haley."
"I don't know, really. She's part of our team, I guess," he replied, shrugging.
Haley returned with their drinks, just as Lexa Teal returned. The Zeltron spoke loud enough so many could hear her. "The Great Jama has summoned you, Falka of the Black Phoenix."
For a moment the crowd quieted, then the dull roar returned. Trychon and Raezyr looked wistfully at their untouched ales. "Probably tastes like bantha poodoo anyway," Trychon said as they all turned to follow the beautiful bounty hunter once more.
Suddenly, the fact he had been trying to remember dawned on him: Zeltron's could emit pheromones. Raezyr thanked the ancient Sith Lord's that his helmet filtered the air he was breathing, leaving him immune to the Zeltron's pheromonal effects.
That sly Hutt is already trying to put us at a disadvantage, just like we were trying with Haley, Raezyr thought to himself, and made a mental note to speak to Trychon and Falka and urge them to resist the effects.
When they finally reached Jama'Rukus Rus'El's "reception chamber," it looked like nothing more than what it really was: a dingy, nasty, backwater-planet dive cantina. Drunk mercenaries, thugs, and bounty hunters lounged about the place while ladies of ill-repute made their rounds, enticing the Desert Raiders to buy them drinks, or spend their money at the gambling tables.
"Relax, and wait here, and make yourselves comfortable," Lexa said. She pulled a cigarra out of a pouch on her belt and lit it up, inhaling deeply. "I'll go and let Jama know you're here," she said, exhaling the smoke as she talked.
"Who are you?" Falka asked, clearly still enthralled.
"I'm Lexa Teal. Jama's top bounty hunter," she said, a wry smile on her face.
Raezyr was pretty sure she thought she had them all where she wanted them. He waited until she was out of earshot before speaking. "Falka, Trych, snap out of it," he said, jabbing his mailed finger into their ribs.
"What is going on with you two?" Haley asked at the same time. Clearly she had noted their state as well. Raezyr was glad she was unaffected, and although he didn't know whether it was because she was female, or a cyborg, he didn't really care.
Both Trychon and Falka tore their gazes away from the pinkish-skinned alien after the severe jabs. "What the hell was that for?" Trychon asked quietly, using his elbow to rub his ribs discreetly.
Raezyr guided to them to a table in the corner where a lone alien stood by himself. Trychon stretched his hand toward it, "You're at our table."
"I'm at your table," the alien replied and moved off toward the bar.
Falka started to comment, but Raezyr interrupted. "Lexa is a Zeltron. They can emit pheromones, and she clearly was doing so. Most likely by order of Jama, trying to throw us off our guard. My air filters in my helmet will save me from the effects, but you two will just have to fight it."
"Now that I know about it, I'm fairly certain I can fight through the effects," Falka said, and Trychon nodded in agreement.
Trychon then turned to Haley, "Speaking of 'now.'"
Slowly she slipped her hand inside of her cloak and to the open slit on the side of her dress. With a few quick taps on specific pressure points, a small door opened on her artificial leg. She slid out the two lightsaber power cells out of the slots usually reserved for her backup power cells, which ran many of her components should the primary power go down, and handed them discreetly under the table to the two Sith.
Raezyr and Trychon inserted the cells into the cylinders of their lightsabers and clipped them back on their belts, using their cloaks to hide their movements.
"Now I don't feel so naked," Trychon said with a grin.
"Easy for you to say," Haley replied. "You're not wearing an unnecessarily revealing outfit and having to go without your back up power."
Trychon opened his mouth to say something, but she continued. "I will go get you all some drinks to keep up appearances."
Raezyr leaned over next to Trychon and spoke so quietly, Trychon had to grasp the Force to hear what he was saying, "So, out of curiosity, what was with your reaction out there?"
"What reaction?" Trychon returned, just as softly.
"When that lizard was groping Haley."
"I don't know, really. She's part of our team, I guess," he replied, shrugging.
Haley returned with their drinks, just as Lexa Teal returned. The Zeltron spoke loud enough so many could hear her. "The Great Jama has summoned you, Falka of the Black Phoenix."
For a moment the crowd quieted, then the dull roar returned. Trychon and Raezyr looked wistfully at their untouched ales. "Probably tastes like bantha poodoo anyway," Trychon said as they all turned to follow the beautiful bounty hunter once more.
October 06, 2009
532. Black Phoenix - Raezyr
The three vehicles sped across the desert planet, Trychon’s swoop following the land speeder closely while Raezyr ranged out far ahead, keeping watch for any up coming dangers. The Sith's black cloaks flapped in the wind behind them, and through their comms they hammered out a few more minor details.
After an hour and a half, the four closed up their formation as they arrived outside of an old abandoned mining facility many kilometers south of Anchorhead. The main facility built of stone and metal, had been refurbished into the landing hangar and headquarters of Jama the Hutt and the Desert Raiders, while many of the outlying adobe buildings were falling into a state of ruin and disrepair.
They slowed their pace as they navigated the ruins. Some still appeared to be inhabited, most likely by camp followers and others of ill repute who weren't skilled or privileged enough to be allowed inside the main compound. The couple of glimpses they were able to get as they cruised by told them their assessment was probably correct.
Eventually, they pulled up outside the rusted, sand-pitted iron gates of huge fortress and parked their vehicles next to several others in a small storage building clearly converted to a small parking hangar, backing them in the off chance they needed to leave in a hurry.
After disembarking, they walked toward the gate in their pre-determined formation: Falka in front, Raezyr to his left but a step behind, Trychon in the same position on Falka’s right, and Haley to the rear. Trychon and Raezyr pulled the hoods on their cloaks up, hiding their features deep within the cowls.
Falka had worn a vaguely militaristic uniform to give him the appearance of authority and respect, while Haley had worn a white dress made from a light material, which had slits up both sides to her hips. Over this she wore a white cloak, the hood pulled up as well, making the fact she was a cyborg less apparent.
Haley had protested the revealing outfit on the grounds that it wasn’t practical for travel across the desert, but Falka had insisted on it. Rumor had it that Jama’Rukus Rus’El was easily distracted by beautiful women.
After identifying themselves over a comm port, two mercenaries exited a small door set into the larger main gate, a blue-skinned Duros with red eyes and a reptilian-looking Trandoshan. “No weapons allowed,” the Duros said brusquely.
“As you can see, I am unarmed,” Falka said spreading his arms out so they could see he had no weapon strapped to him.
“Scan ‘em,” the Duros said, turning to his lizard-like counterpart. The Trandoshan hissed a reply and stepped toward Falka holding out a metallic wand, attached by a cord to a hand-held device. After passing the wand quickly over Falka’s body, he checked the readings on the hand-held device, then stood back. He hissed something, then motioned for Falka to step aside, and for Trychon to come forward.
Trychon stepped forward and, held out his arms, allowing the Trandoshan to scan him as well. The reptilian alien ran the scan, and checked the screen, then motioned for Raezyr to step forward. Raezyr’s scan also turned up negative results, and hissing, he motioned for Raezyr to step aside and Haley to come forward.
Haley stepped forward, and held her arms to the side. The moment the lizard’s wand got near her, the hand-held device began emitting a high pitched wail.
Instantly, the Duros swung the blaster rifle he was carrying up to cover the three who had already been cleared, while the Trandoshan grabbed Haley by the collar and threw her up against the wall, drawing his pistol and placing the barrel at the back of her head.
Trychon started to step forward, but Falka placed his hand out in front of him. “Easy, my loyal body guard,” the smuggler said, playing his part to a tee. “I will take care of this.”
Raezyr stood still, although he was surprised to feel Trychon’s anger rise in response to Haley’s treatment, and it only grew hotter as Trychon watched the Trandoshan search Haley for weapons. The Trandoshan was clearly taking his time, searching some areas more thoroughly than necessary.
“There is no need for that kind of treatment. My attaché is unarmed,” Falka said to the two alien guards.
“Our scanner detected high levels of energy, which indicates a power source for a weapon,” the blue Duros said, keeping his weapon pointed toward Falka and his body guards.
Falka began to laugh. “I’m sorry to laugh, but… she’s a cyborg. She needs artificial power sources to run her components.”
“Sskrok will determine if she has any weapons or not.”
When the Trandoshan finished his search, Haley stepped aside, jerking herself free from his grasp, and a look of extreme irritation on her face. The lizard-man hissed and grunted something in his native tongue to his Duros counterpart, and they both chuckled.
“I understand Dosh,” Falka commented dryly, which caused both mercenaries to shut up.
The Duros stepped punched something into his wrist comm, and opened the small security door, and a pinkish-skinned Zeltron woman with blue hair stepped out. She was wearing a few armor pieces over a tightly fitted, low-cut black and yellow body suit with twin blaster pistols strapped to each of her thighs.
Both the Duros and Trandoshan stood a little straighter at her arrival. “The visitors are weapon free Lexa, although the female is a cyborg, so Sskrok had to search her by hand,” the Duros reported.
“I saw the whole thing,” the Zeltron woman said, a disgusted look on her face as she glanced at the reptilian. “Come with me, I’ll show you to Master Rus’El’s reception chamber.”
The group from the Black Phoenix followed her through the door and down a dimly lit hallway. As Raezyr watch the sway of her hips in front of him, he feeling that he knew her from somewhere kept coming over him, despite the fact he was sure he had never met her before.
After an hour and a half, the four closed up their formation as they arrived outside of an old abandoned mining facility many kilometers south of Anchorhead. The main facility built of stone and metal, had been refurbished into the landing hangar and headquarters of Jama the Hutt and the Desert Raiders, while many of the outlying adobe buildings were falling into a state of ruin and disrepair.
They slowed their pace as they navigated the ruins. Some still appeared to be inhabited, most likely by camp followers and others of ill repute who weren't skilled or privileged enough to be allowed inside the main compound. The couple of glimpses they were able to get as they cruised by told them their assessment was probably correct.
Eventually, they pulled up outside the rusted, sand-pitted iron gates of huge fortress and parked their vehicles next to several others in a small storage building clearly converted to a small parking hangar, backing them in the off chance they needed to leave in a hurry.
After disembarking, they walked toward the gate in their pre-determined formation: Falka in front, Raezyr to his left but a step behind, Trychon in the same position on Falka’s right, and Haley to the rear. Trychon and Raezyr pulled the hoods on their cloaks up, hiding their features deep within the cowls.
Falka had worn a vaguely militaristic uniform to give him the appearance of authority and respect, while Haley had worn a white dress made from a light material, which had slits up both sides to her hips. Over this she wore a white cloak, the hood pulled up as well, making the fact she was a cyborg less apparent.
Haley had protested the revealing outfit on the grounds that it wasn’t practical for travel across the desert, but Falka had insisted on it. Rumor had it that Jama’Rukus Rus’El was easily distracted by beautiful women.
After identifying themselves over a comm port, two mercenaries exited a small door set into the larger main gate, a blue-skinned Duros with red eyes and a reptilian-looking Trandoshan. “No weapons allowed,” the Duros said brusquely.
“As you can see, I am unarmed,” Falka said spreading his arms out so they could see he had no weapon strapped to him.
“Scan ‘em,” the Duros said, turning to his lizard-like counterpart. The Trandoshan hissed a reply and stepped toward Falka holding out a metallic wand, attached by a cord to a hand-held device. After passing the wand quickly over Falka’s body, he checked the readings on the hand-held device, then stood back. He hissed something, then motioned for Falka to step aside, and for Trychon to come forward.
Trychon stepped forward and, held out his arms, allowing the Trandoshan to scan him as well. The reptilian alien ran the scan, and checked the screen, then motioned for Raezyr to step forward. Raezyr’s scan also turned up negative results, and hissing, he motioned for Raezyr to step aside and Haley to come forward.
Haley stepped forward, and held her arms to the side. The moment the lizard’s wand got near her, the hand-held device began emitting a high pitched wail.
Instantly, the Duros swung the blaster rifle he was carrying up to cover the three who had already been cleared, while the Trandoshan grabbed Haley by the collar and threw her up against the wall, drawing his pistol and placing the barrel at the back of her head.
Trychon started to step forward, but Falka placed his hand out in front of him. “Easy, my loyal body guard,” the smuggler said, playing his part to a tee. “I will take care of this.”
Raezyr stood still, although he was surprised to feel Trychon’s anger rise in response to Haley’s treatment, and it only grew hotter as Trychon watched the Trandoshan search Haley for weapons. The Trandoshan was clearly taking his time, searching some areas more thoroughly than necessary.
“There is no need for that kind of treatment. My attaché is unarmed,” Falka said to the two alien guards.
“Our scanner detected high levels of energy, which indicates a power source for a weapon,” the blue Duros said, keeping his weapon pointed toward Falka and his body guards.
Falka began to laugh. “I’m sorry to laugh, but… she’s a cyborg. She needs artificial power sources to run her components.”
“Sskrok will determine if she has any weapons or not.”
When the Trandoshan finished his search, Haley stepped aside, jerking herself free from his grasp, and a look of extreme irritation on her face. The lizard-man hissed and grunted something in his native tongue to his Duros counterpart, and they both chuckled.
“I understand Dosh,” Falka commented dryly, which caused both mercenaries to shut up.
The Duros stepped punched something into his wrist comm, and opened the small security door, and a pinkish-skinned Zeltron woman with blue hair stepped out. She was wearing a few armor pieces over a tightly fitted, low-cut black and yellow body suit with twin blaster pistols strapped to each of her thighs.
Both the Duros and Trandoshan stood a little straighter at her arrival. “The visitors are weapon free Lexa, although the female is a cyborg, so Sskrok had to search her by hand,” the Duros reported.
“I saw the whole thing,” the Zeltron woman said, a disgusted look on her face as she glanced at the reptilian. “Come with me, I’ll show you to Master Rus’El’s reception chamber.”
The group from the Black Phoenix followed her through the door and down a dimly lit hallway. As Raezyr watch the sway of her hips in front of him, he feeling that he knew her from somewhere kept coming over him, despite the fact he was sure he had never met her before.
October 04, 2009
531. Black Phoenix - Raezyr
The quarters they were given at the Black Phoenix Headquarters were sparse, but that was fine with them, as they didn't intend to stay but a couple of days. They not only found themselves rooming together, but speaking through the Force more than they were used to as well. Neither of them trusted this crew to not have some sort of listening devices planted in or near the room.
Trychon sat cross-legged on his bunk, eyes closed in a meditative state. The cash flow problem here makes it all the more imperative that our plan goes through, he thought to the other Sith, who was taking up a similar pose on his own bunk on the other side of the room.
I know. I still don't like it, but I don't see any way around it, the younger man replied before changing the subject. What do you think about our role in the meeting tomorrow?
I think it will show that Falka and the Black Phoenix are not to be trifled with, not when they are powerful enough to command two Sith Warriors, Trychon thought back. But we must be cautious. Hutts are known for their treachery and deviousness. I sense there is much potential for a trap, though.
The two Sith continued to discuss the situation for a bit, although their thoughts passed back and forth less frequently as they each sank deeper and deeper into meditation. Each was aware of each other, but each sought out sources of power to draw upon, sources of raw emotion and feelings given off by others and drawn into themselves as they wrested with the new knowledge and techniques they were attempting to learn.
At the appointed time the next morning, they met Falka and Haley in the hangar bay next to the speeder and swoops which had been brought inside for them.
"Let's go over this one more time," Trychon said to Falka. "We don't want to mess this up."
"Very well," Falka said, beginning a review of their mission. "Jama'Rukus Rus'El is a Hutt who has recently been put in charge of the local crime syndicate, known as the Desert Raiders. He isn't the brightest star in the Galaxy, but he makes up for that in sheer meanness, and his Desert Raiders follow that lead. 'Just succeed,' is their motto, and they've done it by any means necessary, back stabbing and double-dealing their way to the top. Even Czerka Arms pays Jama a fee to leave them alone.
"Apparently our small amount of success has already caught Jama's attention, and he contacted us, summoning me and a small retinue to his presence," Falka explained. "I believe that he is going to tell us that our business cannot be conducted without his approval, or he's going to demand a percentage of our profits," Falka concluded.
"Which is unacceptable," Haley interjected. "I will be going along to attempt to slice Jama's computer systems, if I can get the chance, and see what kind of information we can get on Jama's business. Originally Falka was going to take Tocar and two others, but since you are here, we are hoping that if it appears Falka has Sith Warriors who do his bidding, Jama may be bluffed into backing down."
"I like it," Raezyr said, his voice altered just slightly through the helmet's vocabulator.
"Lord Raezyr and I will use our abilities to watch your back, Falka," Trychon assured the Khommite. "Just don't back down from a slimy Hutt. If you give in now, any ground we try to make up later will be just that much harder."
"Understood," the gray-skinned alien replied.
"Let's go then," Trychon ordered, placing a pair of goggles over his eyes and straddling his swoop. He caught himself watching Haley as she climbed into the speeder next to Falka. Her aloof demeanor, and cyborg implants made her seem like a living computer. A sexy, attractive computer.
And computers were one thing in this Galaxy that Trychon knew inside and out.
He tore his gaze away from the blond and looked over at Raezyr, who was sitting astride his own swoop, looking straight at Trychon.
Even with that blue helmet on, he could somehow tell that his younger brother was grinning at him. He shrugged his shoulders and held held his hands out, palms up and mouthed the question, "What?" as if he didn't know what his half-brother was grinning about.
The other Sith just shook his head, and grabbed the throttle. In an instant, Raezyr was gone, slipping through the barely parted blast doors and into the blazing sunlight of Tatooine's twin suns.
A moment later, Trychon's swoop, and Falka and Haley's land speeder followed them out.
Despite the fact he and his team were going up against Jama'Rukus Rus'El the Hutt on the Desert Raiders home turf, Trychon felt it was going to be a good day.
Trychon sat cross-legged on his bunk, eyes closed in a meditative state. The cash flow problem here makes it all the more imperative that our plan goes through, he thought to the other Sith, who was taking up a similar pose on his own bunk on the other side of the room.
I know. I still don't like it, but I don't see any way around it, the younger man replied before changing the subject. What do you think about our role in the meeting tomorrow?
I think it will show that Falka and the Black Phoenix are not to be trifled with, not when they are powerful enough to command two Sith Warriors, Trychon thought back. But we must be cautious. Hutts are known for their treachery and deviousness. I sense there is much potential for a trap, though.
The two Sith continued to discuss the situation for a bit, although their thoughts passed back and forth less frequently as they each sank deeper and deeper into meditation. Each was aware of each other, but each sought out sources of power to draw upon, sources of raw emotion and feelings given off by others and drawn into themselves as they wrested with the new knowledge and techniques they were attempting to learn.
At the appointed time the next morning, they met Falka and Haley in the hangar bay next to the speeder and swoops which had been brought inside for them.
"Let's go over this one more time," Trychon said to Falka. "We don't want to mess this up."
"Very well," Falka said, beginning a review of their mission. "Jama'Rukus Rus'El is a Hutt who has recently been put in charge of the local crime syndicate, known as the Desert Raiders. He isn't the brightest star in the Galaxy, but he makes up for that in sheer meanness, and his Desert Raiders follow that lead. 'Just succeed,' is their motto, and they've done it by any means necessary, back stabbing and double-dealing their way to the top. Even Czerka Arms pays Jama a fee to leave them alone.
"Apparently our small amount of success has already caught Jama's attention, and he contacted us, summoning me and a small retinue to his presence," Falka explained. "I believe that he is going to tell us that our business cannot be conducted without his approval, or he's going to demand a percentage of our profits," Falka concluded.
"Which is unacceptable," Haley interjected. "I will be going along to attempt to slice Jama's computer systems, if I can get the chance, and see what kind of information we can get on Jama's business. Originally Falka was going to take Tocar and two others, but since you are here, we are hoping that if it appears Falka has Sith Warriors who do his bidding, Jama may be bluffed into backing down."
"I like it," Raezyr said, his voice altered just slightly through the helmet's vocabulator.
"Lord Raezyr and I will use our abilities to watch your back, Falka," Trychon assured the Khommite. "Just don't back down from a slimy Hutt. If you give in now, any ground we try to make up later will be just that much harder."
"Understood," the gray-skinned alien replied.
"Let's go then," Trychon ordered, placing a pair of goggles over his eyes and straddling his swoop. He caught himself watching Haley as she climbed into the speeder next to Falka. Her aloof demeanor, and cyborg implants made her seem like a living computer. A sexy, attractive computer.
And computers were one thing in this Galaxy that Trychon knew inside and out.
He tore his gaze away from the blond and looked over at Raezyr, who was sitting astride his own swoop, looking straight at Trychon.
Even with that blue helmet on, he could somehow tell that his younger brother was grinning at him. He shrugged his shoulders and held held his hands out, palms up and mouthed the question, "What?" as if he didn't know what his half-brother was grinning about.
The other Sith just shook his head, and grabbed the throttle. In an instant, Raezyr was gone, slipping through the barely parted blast doors and into the blazing sunlight of Tatooine's twin suns.
A moment later, Trychon's swoop, and Falka and Haley's land speeder followed them out.
Despite the fact he and his team were going up against Jama'Rukus Rus'El the Hutt on the Desert Raiders home turf, Trychon felt it was going to be a good day.
October 03, 2009
530. Black Phoenix - Trychon
Tocar and Falka watched on the monitors carefully as the two cloaked figures slowly but deliberately walked towards the main entrance to the Headquarters. They paused several times, as though trying to decide on their approach... or perhaps as though they were waiting for something.
Within just a few minutes, the Gamorreans showed up on the monitor, having come out of a small security door to the side of the main entrance, which only opened from the inside. Tocar made a note to work on their response time, even though he knew they were great for general security work, and not inclined to improve otherwise.
Off to Falka's right, a door slid open and Haley Stargazer walked in.
Falka gestured her to join the other two of the command team in monitoring the situation. "Ah, Ms. Stargazer... your timing is perfect. We have a potential situation."
Tocar jumped in. "Although your response was slower than the Gamorreans, which isn't great... you may want to check your link with your security protocols. I thought you'd worked out all glitches."
Haley walked up to the computer by the display and tapped several controls in rapid succession, giving them a much improved view on the intruders and the guards simultaneously, though the intruders' faces were still hidden. "There were no 'glitches'. I am always finding ways to improve however. I got the alarm when the intruders entered the outside proximity range, before the general security is set to note their occurrence. I was in my room and chose to monitor from there and also monitor the other security protocols in case they needed to be controlled remotely. Once the guards were in place, I sought you out."
Tocar grunted and nodded approval. He tested many of their personnel by prodding at them in such ways. Haley knew she had more than passed his 'test' question.
"Very good, Ms. Stargazer." Falka noted.
They all turned their attention back to the security feed. The two shadowy figured seemed to be talking at the Gamorreans, gesturing at the guard door. The guards turned around back towards the entrance, signaling to open it up. Tocar put his hand over his eyes as the guards inside complied and let them in.
The grisly second in command keyed the comm. "Tocar to front guard. What in the twin noon is going on?!"
The comm was filled with excited grunts. Tocar interrupted them. "What do you mean they MUST be allowed to see the Captain?" After a few more grunts he became even more agitated. "No, that's not for you to decide, let alone let them in for!" He had to resort to interrupting again "Yes, you already said they must see the Captain. That's not really the point..."
He turned to Haley. "Dispatch a full security detail to intercept at the Front Guard Station, and lock down any further access for the time being..."
"I don't think that's necessary or wise at this point, Commander." Falka pointed at the monitor, which Tocar had turned away from in his fury.
On the display, he saw the figures... who had finally removed their hoods. Recognition rang over his expression.
-----------
Trychon and Raezyr sat nonchalantly in the conference room they'd led themselves to, and waited for their 'hosts' to join them.
"Well, I'd say that went pretty well!" Trychon joked, to break the silence.
"It was beautiful." Raezyr chuckled a little. They had been in the small meeting room for just a couple of minutes, but they were both growing impatient.
Finally, the command team walked in on them in proper order. Falka went to a spot at the head of the conference table, flanked by Tocar, then Haley. "Welcome." Falka spoke without prompting. "We've been expecting you."
Raezyr acted as though he was looking at an invisible wrist crono. "Really? We've been expecting you, too."
Tocar was still obviously upset about the form of their intrusion, though to his credit he did seem to be trying to control it. "It's a rather large facility..."
"We noticed." Trychon responded in an offhand manner. "I assume it set me back substantially."
Falka nodded. "You would be correct. We did get an unbelievable deal, or it would have been beyond our means entirely. It has limited our ability to purchase some of our other needs for the time being, but as you so wisely pointed out at our last meeting, a strong figurative base for which to build on is key. This non figurative base was one we couldn't pass up on."
Raezyr nodded. "Fine. We'll get into the specifics later. If I had to venture a guess, we won't be taking a share just yet. That will need to be rectified, but take care of your biggest needs first. For now, how is the crew? Other than your guards, that is. We met them."
Falka ignored the verbal jab. "Our crew is our biggest asset. I'd say we have a strong beginning. Very strong."
"And how do you think our return will be received in general?" Trychon added.
Falka thought his response over carefully. "To be blunt, I'm not sure. Some may still hold some resentment over how we got to be here. Others may still have questions about working for Sith."
"I think the word you mean is 'do', not 'may'." Trychon gave Haley a quick glance, wondering if she'd caught her mistake in her guess on the mood of the crew. She did not meet his eyes. "You do not need to hide the truth from us. In fact, I don't recommend it. Your attempt to save our feelings is noted for its intent though. In the meantime... let us go ahead and get back to the specifics. What do you have left, and what is it that you need. Even better... We may be here for a short stay. What can we do to help, briefly?"
Within just a few minutes, the Gamorreans showed up on the monitor, having come out of a small security door to the side of the main entrance, which only opened from the inside. Tocar made a note to work on their response time, even though he knew they were great for general security work, and not inclined to improve otherwise.
Off to Falka's right, a door slid open and Haley Stargazer walked in.
Falka gestured her to join the other two of the command team in monitoring the situation. "Ah, Ms. Stargazer... your timing is perfect. We have a potential situation."
Tocar jumped in. "Although your response was slower than the Gamorreans, which isn't great... you may want to check your link with your security protocols. I thought you'd worked out all glitches."
Haley walked up to the computer by the display and tapped several controls in rapid succession, giving them a much improved view on the intruders and the guards simultaneously, though the intruders' faces were still hidden. "There were no 'glitches'. I am always finding ways to improve however. I got the alarm when the intruders entered the outside proximity range, before the general security is set to note their occurrence. I was in my room and chose to monitor from there and also monitor the other security protocols in case they needed to be controlled remotely. Once the guards were in place, I sought you out."
Tocar grunted and nodded approval. He tested many of their personnel by prodding at them in such ways. Haley knew she had more than passed his 'test' question.
"Very good, Ms. Stargazer." Falka noted.
They all turned their attention back to the security feed. The two shadowy figured seemed to be talking at the Gamorreans, gesturing at the guard door. The guards turned around back towards the entrance, signaling to open it up. Tocar put his hand over his eyes as the guards inside complied and let them in.
The grisly second in command keyed the comm. "Tocar to front guard. What in the twin noon is going on?!"
The comm was filled with excited grunts. Tocar interrupted them. "What do you mean they MUST be allowed to see the Captain?" After a few more grunts he became even more agitated. "No, that's not for you to decide, let alone let them in for!" He had to resort to interrupting again "Yes, you already said they must see the Captain. That's not really the point..."
He turned to Haley. "Dispatch a full security detail to intercept at the Front Guard Station, and lock down any further access for the time being..."
"I don't think that's necessary or wise at this point, Commander." Falka pointed at the monitor, which Tocar had turned away from in his fury.
On the display, he saw the figures... who had finally removed their hoods. Recognition rang over his expression.
-----------
Trychon and Raezyr sat nonchalantly in the conference room they'd led themselves to, and waited for their 'hosts' to join them.
"Well, I'd say that went pretty well!" Trychon joked, to break the silence.
"It was beautiful." Raezyr chuckled a little. They had been in the small meeting room for just a couple of minutes, but they were both growing impatient.
Finally, the command team walked in on them in proper order. Falka went to a spot at the head of the conference table, flanked by Tocar, then Haley. "Welcome." Falka spoke without prompting. "We've been expecting you."
Raezyr acted as though he was looking at an invisible wrist crono. "Really? We've been expecting you, too."
Tocar was still obviously upset about the form of their intrusion, though to his credit he did seem to be trying to control it. "It's a rather large facility..."
"We noticed." Trychon responded in an offhand manner. "I assume it set me back substantially."
Falka nodded. "You would be correct. We did get an unbelievable deal, or it would have been beyond our means entirely. It has limited our ability to purchase some of our other needs for the time being, but as you so wisely pointed out at our last meeting, a strong figurative base for which to build on is key. This non figurative base was one we couldn't pass up on."
Raezyr nodded. "Fine. We'll get into the specifics later. If I had to venture a guess, we won't be taking a share just yet. That will need to be rectified, but take care of your biggest needs first. For now, how is the crew? Other than your guards, that is. We met them."
Falka ignored the verbal jab. "Our crew is our biggest asset. I'd say we have a strong beginning. Very strong."
"And how do you think our return will be received in general?" Trychon added.
Falka thought his response over carefully. "To be blunt, I'm not sure. Some may still hold some resentment over how we got to be here. Others may still have questions about working for Sith."
"I think the word you mean is 'do', not 'may'." Trychon gave Haley a quick glance, wondering if she'd caught her mistake in her guess on the mood of the crew. She did not meet his eyes. "You do not need to hide the truth from us. In fact, I don't recommend it. Your attempt to save our feelings is noted for its intent though. In the meantime... let us go ahead and get back to the specifics. What do you have left, and what is it that you need. Even better... We may be here for a short stay. What can we do to help, briefly?"
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