590. The Heist - Trychon/Raezyr

Lexa watched as her quarry took off down the street. She followed them from a distance, relying on the fact that she would be able to smell them if she lost visual sight of them. If she got too close, she knew they would probably be able to 'sense' her with their annoying Force skills. Also, should Correllian Security show up too quickly, she'd be able to act like an innocent bystander if she wasn't right on their tail.

She closed in a bit when they came to a dead end. She could hear them talking from 100 meters away or so around the corner, but she couldn't make out what they were saying.

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It didn't take them long to run out of room at their Force enhanced pace. Raezyr cursed. "We're gonna have to cut our way through here."

"Good plan, Darth Obvious." Trychon looked around for a second, until he found what he needed. "In fact you go ahead and do that, we should have just enough time for you to cut two or three holes. Put some stuff in the way as you come back, and cover the holes up. That should make it seem like we're trying to get away and don't want to be followed."

The younger Sith didn't hide his irritation as he growled back. "We ARE trying to get away and we DON'T want to be followed."

"Raez, stop. You're making it too easy." His brother called back to him as he waved off the comment with his hand. "We are going to get away. We're just going to do it without leading them straight back with us. We're going to use the maintenance tunnels, which have a handy little entrance right over there." He nodded in the direction he was looking. The two of them made quick work of creating their false trail, noticeable but not too much so.

They climbed into the maintenance hatch and looked around. The tunnel they found themselves in was completely nondescript, and after heading off through them for a bit they stopped. Trychon pulled out his datapad and whispered a few choice words under his breath about making sure to download city plans in the future before they crawl underground. They had a quick discussion, and ultimately continued in the same direction, hoping Raezyr's instinct was correct.

They continued on for many twists and turns before they both stopped simultaneously. Trychon nodded at his brother. I feel it too. He went back around a few corners to a panel they'd recently passed. Some quick fiddling with that as well as his datapad, and the ventilation fans began kicking on and off in random succession.

They headed off on their way again and felt like they had to be getting near to where they needed to be. Then they passed a ventilation control panel that looked extremely familiar, as did the markings where Trychon had dusted it off. "Sithspit!" He yelled as he looked at his own handiwork.

"You know boys... I usually like to know my quarry a little better before I capture them... how about you give me your names?" A voice carried over them as though it came from all direction like and omnipresent temptress. "The acoustics in here make it impossible to follow sounds, and you've successfully thrown off your scent... I figure we may as well become acquainted."

"Oh, absolutely." Raezyr mimicked one of his brother's smiles. "I'm Darth Obvious, and this here is Darth Comedian."

Lexa Teal chuckled. "Very funny boys, but have it your way. I'll still collect Jama's bounty eventually." She paused for a moment before continuing. "I was lucky back on Tatooine. A Corellian corvette made a fly-by just after I had taken off after you and your friends. It nearly wiped out Jama's entire complex, but I suppose you wouldn't know anything about that, now would you?"

"Would it matter if we did?" Raezyr asked, stalling for time while Trychon tried to find any information that might help on his data pad.

"Let me ask you this," Raezyr replied. "I know Zeltron's have the ability to detect pheromones, but how did you recognize us? How did you know it was us under our disguise?"

The huntress didn't answer for a minute, and the two Sith assumed she was debating her answer. Finally she spoke. "For our race as a whole, that wouldn't have been possible, but I was born with a... birth defect, if you will. I can not only detect, a pheromone, but my sense is more highly developed and I can pinpoint individuals. I've found it particularly handy in my profession. As you found out, my quarry can't hide by simply wearing a mask."

We're completely lost, Raez. Trychon thought to his brother, tucking his data pad back in his belt.

Raezyr cursed aloud.

"You boys just figuring out that you're completely lost down here?" She waited for a moment. "I'll take your answer as a 'yes.'

"Tell you what: Why don't we call a truce, and I'll show you how to get back to the spaceport before CorSec figures out you didn't tunnel your way into that other building," she offered.

"Right," Trychon said, rolling his eyes. "And would you like us to stab each other for you too?"

"I'm serious."

"Why would you help us?" Raezyr asked, confused by her motives as well.

"Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm going to collect on you, but think about it this way: If you're caught by Corellian Security, they're going to turn you over to the Jedi at a minimum. If that happens, how do I collect the Hutt's bounty?" she answered.

"The Republic has a bounty on us as well. You'll just turn us in to CorSec," Trychon stated.

"I couldn't even refuel my ship on what the Republic is paying," Lexa Teal replied. "No, if I'm going to collect, it's going to be from Jama. I give you my word of honor, I'll show you the way out... no tricks."

Raezyr looked at Trychon. They both knew they were lost down here. Trychon shrugged as if to say, "What else do we have to lose?"

"Alright," Raezyr called. "Where's the exit?"

They heard her footsteps on the damp duracrete floor, but were unable to determine where they were coming from. Finally, they found her using the Force just moments before she stepped around a corner.

"This way, fellas," the bounty huntress called, grinning.

Both of the Sith kept a close eye on the Zeltron, but she was true to her word. Thirty minutes later, they stood at the bottom of an access tube. Durasteel rungs stuck out from the duracrete and lead up the tube to an access hatch.

"That hatch should open up into a maintenance room inside the spaceport," Lexa informed them. "Catch you on the other side of the moon... literally." She grinned again, and for a moment, both Sith felt as if they should kiss her.

Raezyr shook his head clear of the pheromones he was sure she was purposely emitting. "Knock it off," he said irritably. He grabbed the rungs and began to climb.

"It was worth a try," she said shrugging.

"You'll have to excuse Darth Obvious. He's afraid of girls," Trychon said with a grin.

"Shut up, Trych!" came Raezyr's voice from near the top of the access tube.

"No names, damn it!" Trychon yelled up the tube. He turned to look at the bounty hunter, but she was gone.

589. The Heist - Raezyr

Lexa Teal's blade came instantly back into line after Raezyr batted it aside. "Over? Why, my little Sith friends, I think we're just getting started," she said, her eyes reflecting sheer joy of anticipation.

Trychon suddenly threw his hand out, releasing Dark Side energy in the form of electricity, but the Zeltron bounty hunter dropped to the ground and rolled to the side. The Sith's blast struck one of the bounty hunters behind her, throwing him backward through the air.

Screams rang out from the crowd. Initially they had been eager to see a battle, maybe see some blood spilled, but they scattered and ran in terror when it became apparent their own lives might be in danger.

Raezyr drank in the terror, let it fuel the Dark Side energies swelling within him. He spun to the side, slicing two of her companions and evening the odds just a bit more.

Lexa Teal rolled to her feet lunging toward the Trychon who deftly blocked her strike and spun away, taking down another of her companions as he did. He tossed his ill-fitting helmet to the ground and readied himself to defend another attack.

The last two goons accompanying the beautiful bounty hunter closed on Raezyr, having drawn swords of their own. The big Sith focused all his attention on his atttackers. Somewhere in the back of his mind, it occurred to him that his scar must be showing once again, but he had more important things to worry about.

Raezyr met the goons' attacks, blocking each of their blows as they pressed him. He gave up ground, but only to reposition himself for his own attacks. As soon as the opportunity presented itself he struck, diving forward between the two mercenaries and cutting them both in two. He rolled to his feet ready to coordinate with his brother.

The Zeltron, seeing her back up dropping like flies, had launched a flurry of attacks backing up Trychon with her unexpected fury. He had been looking forward to igniting both ends of his dual-bladed lightsaber, but this bounty hunter was much better than he expected. Using his better judgement, he stuck with what was most familiar and only used the one end of his unique weapon.

The bounty hunter must have smelled Raezyr come up behind her, because she broke off her attacks and spun to the side, keeping herself from being flanked. "You boys are good," she grinned. "Most of the people I hunt are dead within moments after I engage them."

She glanced at Raezyr and notice his scar. "Well, aren't you the pretty one? How'd you hide that ghastly beauty mark?" she asked, grinning sadistically.

The taunt was too much for the younger Sith and he attacked, rage twisting his visage into a mask of it's own.

Attack was what she had wanted him to do, but the savagery and intensity was more than she or even Trychon expected. Even though she blocked each of his blows, their force was driving her petite frame back too quickly for her to recover.

Trychon moved quickly, trying to get around and behind her to take advantage of the situation, but she was backing toward an ally and the older Sith was unable to get by. Suddenly saw a better option. He reached his hand out and a small crate flew away from a building wall and into the back of the bounty hunter's legs. Lexa Teal spilled backward to the ground, yet somehow managed to maintain her grip on her sword.

A siren pierced the air behind them and a voice boomed over a loud speaker as a CorSec speeder came to a halt thirty meters away. "Halt! Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air. Do it now!"

Raezyr and Trychon froze and Lexa Teal looked up at the two of them. "We'll finish this another time, my Sith darlings." With that, she rolled to her feet and sprinted down the ally.

The brothers watched her go, then slowly turned to face their new adversaries. "I said drop the weapons. Toss them over here!" called the voice over the loud speaker.

"Alright," Trychon called out. He gave Raezyr a sidelong glance to make sure his brother was thinking along the same lines. The grin he saw told him he was. "Just remember you asked us to do that."

The two Sith suddenly tossed their still ignited lightsabers side-arm. End over end the blades spun through the air, guided through the Force by the Dark Side users and slicing through the engine and repulsor lifts of the CorSec speeder. The vehicle exploded as the brothers called the weapons safely back to their hands.

"We better get out of here, and quickly. More Corellian Security will be here soon," Raezyr commented and began trotting down the street.

"What makes you say that?" Trychon said, following his brother's lead.

588. The Heist - Trychon

Anya met up with the other Sith at their booth, sitting next to Tyr and ordering herself a strong local whiskey. Trychon seemed to think that was also a decent idea, and ordered himself a whiskey as well.

Tyr laughed. "Trych, if there's something that looks odder than a man sipping ale through a straw and a helmet, it's a man sipping shots through a straw and a helmet."

Trychon mumbled something about not caring. Without any prodding necessary, Anya quietly went into some detail about her vengeance. She was still near shaking from the mixture of excitement and absolute anger. More than anything else, she was furious about the 'lame excuses'. The others picked up on some mild doubt when she continually said it, but they all agreed she did a good job and they needed to be on their way. Trychon was the most emphatic.

They walked as a group through the streets, pointing and gawking at the various neon signs intent on looking like a bunch of tourists. Even as late as it was, the sky had no visible stars due to the massive amounts of lighting as they passed through the entertainment district.

Something on the other side of the street seemed to catch Raezyr's attention. Before they realized it, all four were crossing over to investigate what seemed to be an unusually large crowd. As they neared, they saw a pink skinned alien clearing her way through the crowd, with the help of what looked like paid muscle.

"Hey, I think I know her!" Raezyr told the others, louder than necessary as he picked up his pace to close the distance.

Recognition dawned on Trychon as well as he remembered why they recognized the Zeltron. He turned back to Tyr quickly as he kept up with Raezyr. Get to the ship and start prepping for take off. We may need to make a hasty exit. Tyr looked at him disappointed, but Anya seemed to catch her wits slightly quicker. She grabbed him by the arm and headed off at a run towards the docking bay.

Trychon caught up to his brother, who seemed to be in a near daze. "Raez... we don't know this woman."

"Don't be silly, Trych. I know I have to figure this out." Raezyr continued on his course.

RAEZYR! We DO NOT know this woman!

The mental thought came with images from their trip inside the base of Jama the Hutt... the last time they nearly fell to Lexa's pheromones. It was enough to get his attention, and he stopped in his tracks.

"You are right, of course. Let's get on our way."

The alien was already turning to face them though, and with a look on her face as though she was smelling for something. She made eye contact with Raezyr. "I know you."

He shook his head thoroughly. "Nope. Not possible... I was just informed."

Trychon hit him in the shoulder.

"Yes, I remember you both. You know, Jama put a rather large bounty on your heads. I could retire if I brought you in. Not that I would, mind you."

Trychon began to pull Raezyr to turn and leave as he denied it. "No, see... we've never been to Tatooine."

Raezyr punched him in the arm. Lexa pulled out a rather large sword and pointed it at Trychon. "I never mentioned Tatooine."

Raezyr instantly had his lightsabers out and was batting away the business end of Lexa's weapon. "I think this little chat is over."

Trychon ignited the black end of his blade. "Shame, too... it was going so well.

587. The Heist - Trychon

Tyr caught up to Trychon and Raezyr in their booth right around the time that three drinks were arriving. “Aw, guys... thanks! You didn't have to order for me...”

Trychon's helmet turned awkwardly towards him. “We didn't. I ordered myself two, in order to get my mind out of this particular hell.” He lifted his tankard, which rebound heartily off the barrier surrounding his head. “However, it appears as though I'm going to be spending some time getting used to drinking in the Sith forsaken thing, so have at it.”

“It's the thought that counts, Trych.” Tyr patted him on the back, knowing that the incorrect phrase usage would drive him as crazy as the helm did. He took a seat and grabbed the other tankard that Trychon had ordered. After taking a sip, he smiled. “I missed real Corellian Ale. They ship out the weak flavored stuff off-planet. The nut flavor is almost like a liquid Ryshcate.”

“If you say so, Tyr.” Trychon irritatedly commented while he tried to hold his helm up to figure out how to try it for himself.

Raezyr quietly growled as he set his own drink down. “Will you stop playing with that? You look exactly like someone who's wearing a disguise to avoid notice. It's more than a little obvious.”

“Oh, like this is going to look so much better...” The older brother said as he took the straw that his sibling held out to him, ignoring the grinning expression Tyr had. “I wonder what it'd be like to be a listening device under the table across the street.”

“Just your normal 'repressed teenage angst spilling out', I'm sure. Just like any bad depressing holo-drama. 'Oh, my parents ruined my life!' No offense, Tyr.” Raezyr didn't hide his grin any longer while he watched Trychon's sip on his ale.

“None taken. At least the ending is bound to be more interesting in this story... Now that, I would pay to see.”

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“What do you mean, you tried your best?!” Anya screamed, throwing another plate across the room at her mother who was dodging rather well for a woman of her age. She talked to herself to try to stay in control of her mind. God, I wish I could crush her with my mind, but I can't even Force toss these plates. Guess I'll have to do this the old fashioned way...Her emotions rampantly split between anger and utter joy.

“Your life would have been a tragedy here!” Her mother pleaded as she tried unsuccessfully to hide behind a couch. Shards of glass and cheap kiln-fired dinnerware kept bouncing off her head, leaving minor cuts in their wake.

“So you sent me off to be a tragedy elsewhere? So you didn't have to watch?” Anya yelled, feeling her voice already beginning to go hoarse from the screaming.

“No, I swear! I had to! It was your step-father! Your sister ran off without a credit to her name because of the things your step-father did to her. I managed to protect you from him when you were very young, but I could see that look in his eye, and I knew I couldn't save you forever.” As her story went on, the projectiles slowed to a stop, and she came out of hiding with tears streaming down her face. “That's why I wanted to find a place for you to live and work. I gave them some money to start in your account. So you would be set for a few weeks. It was more than I had a chance to do for your sister.” The last few words trickled out as she was on the edge of bawling.

The mention of her older sister had Anya choking back tears of her own, but her fury only grew. “So you thought it was best that I sell my body?!” She waited for a response for only a moment. “Well, congratulations on your plan, Mother. I did plenty of that. Earned lots of money for my owners. They were nearly as proud as you!”

"N-n...No!" Her mother stammered, clearly having lost all attempts to withhold her tears. "You were to be a servant girl working for yourself!"

Anya's face twisted into rage. "You LIE! Everything you spout is LIES!"

Her mother ignored the outburst. "Your stepfather beat me horribly for letting you go. I had tried another way before, where he thought he could benefit... but the Jedi said you were too weak to train and..."

Before she even saw Anya move, she felt hands wrapping coldly around her neck.

I... Am NOT. TOO WEAK! was the very last thing Anya's mother ever heard as she slipped unconscious.

586. The Heist - Raezyr

The four Sith stood outside the apartment complex. It looked like it was occupied by mostly lower-middle class families, making it one of the nicer buildings in the area.

"You guys don't need to come with me," Anya said, pausing just outside the door to the tenement.

"Good, I need a drink," Trychon said quickly and hustled across the street holding his helmet with one hand to keep it from jostling around. Raezyr shook his head at his older brother.

"I better go with him. If he takes that off, or if it falls off, we may be in for a hasty retreat," the big man said and after pausing for a speeder, took off after his brother.

Tyr watched as the two disappeared into a run down tapcaf before turning back to Anya. Once he was sure the brothers weren't watching him, he slid his hands around Anya's waist. "You sure you don't want me in there with you?"

The blond Sith looked down for a moment and then into her lover's eyes. The determination that was there needed no explanation.

"Alright then," Tyr said. "You call us on the comm when you're ready to go." He started to lean in for a kiss, but she tried pulled away.

"Not now, Tyr. They might see you."

"I don't care," he said and pulled her to him forcefully.

"I'll call you when I'm done," she said after they had parted, and disappeared into the building she once called home.

Tyr stood watching for a moment, then followed his fellow warriors across the street and into the bar.

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Anya stood outside the door to the apartment. A part of her hoped that no one was there, or if they were, it was no one she knew. She swallowed hard and pushed the buzzer, still unsure of what she was going to say, only knowing how this was going to end.

"Who is it?" came a vaguely familiar, feminine voice over the speaker.

"Open the door, Mother," she replied, her voice nearly cracking.

"Anya? Is that you? Oh, my!" The door swooshed open almost instantly, sliding back into the wall.

Anya stepped into the living area of the apartment. It was more worn than she remembered, but other than that it was pretty much the same. A woman in her late forties stepped out from the hallway which led to the sleeping chambers.

At least Anya knew she was about that old. She looked much older than that for some reason.

"Oh, Anya!" her mother exclaimed, rushing forward with her arms out stretched. "I was so worried you were dead!"

Anya let the woman hug her for a moment then pushed her away, taking a few steps back.

"What's wrong, dearheart?" her mother asked, a puzzled and almost hurt look on her face replacing the joyful one.

The Sith couldn't stand it any longer. "What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong: How can you act like this after all you did to me?" she asked. "I didn't come back for reunion. We're not going to go on a shopping trip and have 'mother/daughter bonding time,'" she said mockingly.

The look of grief came over her. "I don't understand. Why did you come back then, sweetheart?"

"I returned to pay you back for all thing things you did to me."