Star Wars: Return of the Sith

[Quiet_Cool]

Marius

The explosion made little sense to me. Why attack here? There was nothing of interest here, in fact, little of noninterest.
I stood quietly, watching as the soldiers surveyed the area, putting out the small fire that had erupted as a result of the explosion.
What would the point be?
I sensed no malicious presence, even Azraiel's signature seemed fairly distant, at least in terms of his closeness to the storage area.
Yet, someone had specifically chosen this spot to attack. Why?
What would the point be?
"Perhaps it wasn't an issue of damaging this point, or attacking an enemy at all, Marius," a voice said, from behind me.
"Sure," I agreed. I should have simply asked Master Basaal in the first place. "But what would the purpose be, still? What would..."
I turned to look him in the eye. He was smiling, nodding his head slowly.
"A distraction...but from what?"
"That, I donot know, at least, we donot know just yet. It is likely that whatever has motivated whoever did this to do it was something new to Yavin IV. Might I suggest you begin to poll the new arrivals here?"
"Tholin?"
Basaal thought about this for a moment, then shook his head slowly.
"I donot believe so. I don't believe there is so strong a force signature here for a Sith to have done this."I nodded, agreeing.
But who?
Tynan came to mind. His force signature might still hold its pure feeling to it, that of a Jedi, but weren't his intentions a mystery right now?
I decided I must find the man.
"I will speak with Tynan first," I told Basaal.
He nodded. "That seems wise..."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Mogo

We jumped into hyperspace, moving toward Bespin at an increased rate. It wouldn't take long now, but still, I felt as though it might take too long.
I glanced back at the boy and tried to smile, then looked to Orin and rolled my eyes. It wasn't looking to be a fun trip ahead.
"Buckled in good?" I asked Orin.
The man gulped, then nodded.
Stealing a child from the Jedi and taking him to a Sith...was there a worse position in the entire universe for us to be in?

 

[Paendragon]

Tynan

Tynan rounded a corner and approached a group of the temple's defense force. Marius was also present, with Master Basaal. No one seemed to agitated, so Tynan assumed they had the situation well in hand. he crossed his arms across his chest, and studied the area.

The blast seemed to have no real purpose. The area was neither important in any strategic value, nor would anyone of importance be stationed or living in the surrounding areas. Odd. The blast didn't even seem to be that powerful, not doing any more than scorching some plasteel, and carving some chunks out of the rock over head. It looked closer to the damage a small thermal detonator would do, than any kind of heavy grade explosive.

There seemed to be no motive, other than distracvtion. And distraction for what? Unless the temple had changed in recent years, they kept no top secret plans or devices here. And if they did, this small of a diversion wouldn't alter the defenses of such a place.

It was, indeed, a mystery. Tynan hated mysteries. He always felt compelled to solve them.

 

[Kelson]

His normally well-disciplined mind continuing to concentrate on the one he had seen, Kelson was almost upon the others before he realized he had arrived.

Flashing a quick, warm smile, Kelson tipped his head in recognition to Master Bsaal and gestured toward the source of the sound.

"No one was hurt. What happened?"

 

[Paendragon]

Master Duu'Raan

The ship reverted to realspace in orbit around the forest planet of Ithor, and was immediately contacted by planetary defense.

"Welcome to Ithor..." there was a pause as the defense force read the ships transponder signal, "...Desert Spirit. What are your intentions in this system?"

Surprise at the question, Duu'Raan exchanged looked with Doprekka before answering. "My name iss Duu'Raan. My friend and I are travelerss, in need of ressst, and we thought we would sstop on your world to take in the wondersss of the great treessss."

There was a long silence. Much longer than usual for these people.

"Desert Spirit, you may follow the transmitted coordinates. Land on pad 14. For you own safety, do not veer away from the projected flight path under any circumstances. Understood?"

"Underssstood."

"You will remain in your ship until an escort can be arranged. Planetary Defense, out."

"Interessssting," Duu'Raan said to his apprentice. "Much hass changed ssince my lasst vissssit here. We musst remove any articless that identify uss assss Jedi, and keep our lightssaberss concealed, until we know more of what awaitsss uss."

He set the ship on autopilot to follow the signal to the landing pad, and stepped into the back of the ship to change his clothing. He decided to wear a simple green tunic with black trim that matched the color of his scales, and had some more cloth that covered his whip-like tail like a glove. He hid his lightsaber inside the holocam he kept onboard, and gestured to Doprekka to do the same with another piece of equipment. "Jussst in casssse we are ssearched."

He waited for his apprentice to finish readying himself, and walked toward the boarding ramp to wait for their escort.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Daelon

Daelon stopped beside Kelson, listening in silence. His eyes scanned the area, and he noticed Marius hurrying off. Wondering when he would get another chance to talk to Marius, Daelon returned his concentration to his master and Basaal.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jedi Master Basaal

"An explosion has occurred," Basaal explained. "However, it seems it was either misdirected, intended as a warning, or intended to be a distraction. My guess would be the latter. No one was injured, as this location is rarely even visited, nonetheless populated. However, I would suggest you and your padawan remain prepared for anything. There is treachery behind this I am sure."
He looked between the two before him, Kelson and Daelon.
"THe questin remains, what would they need to distract us for?"

 

[Kelson]

"Whatever it is they have already distracted us from it, notice now the gathering we have here. I fear it is now for us to see how wise those who might do this on purpose were," said Kelson, glancing at Daelon to check his thoughts.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Darth Azraiel

“ As the years passed I grew in power, and gained rank and prestige in the Sovereign Protectors. When I made captain I was sent on a mission from my Emperor to kill a man, a renegade Jedi named Seth Hart. I tracked him to Tattoine, where he had found refuge acting as an enforcer for the hutts. It was there that I found my soulmate in a Force Witch named Decima.”
I turned and looked at Tynan. “The Jedi teach that love is to be avoided, that it can lead to the dark side, and they are right. Most strong emotions lead there, and love is a very strong emotion. Beware of it, for it can overcome your willpower and your senses with a subtle vengeance you have never felt before. Now, back to where I was."
Before I could continue a blast sounded in the complex. I looked at Tynan, then at my serious-faced minder. Tynian moved off to investigate the explosion, & I continued to follow the young jedi to my quarters.
She pointed to a door "These will be your quarters while you are a guest here, please call if you need anything."
She looked anything other than pleased that I was there, so I gave her a grin.
" Of course, ladt Jedi. Thank you for your courtesy"
I then entered my room to meditate on what I should do next.

 

[Call Sign Oracle]

Doprekka

He gave a nod to his master and moved to the back, removing his simple robes and placing them in a concealed slot on the ships floor. His lightsabre also wrapped within the robes, he looked to his master at the mention of "searching" but gave a nod and moved to join him being a simple fur covered wookie pilot with nothing on him except for an old utility bandolier which carried the small amount of credits he had on him as well as a few other utilitarian devices.

He followed his master to the hatch and walked out of the ship to await escort when it hit him. A strong presence of evil about this place it was not near but strong enough that it seemed to radiate over them. He recognized that presence from old but he could not remember from where or from what. Looking to his master he gave a slight frown as he saw the approaching "escort" which was apparently armed. Not needing words he simply waited on his masters signals.

 

[Paendragon]

Duu'Raan

"Welcome to Ithor," the escort, a human oddly enough, did not sound welcoming at all. "My name is Paynar Preen. I'll be your guide."

"My name iss Duu'Raan, and thiss iss my friend and pilot, Doprekka. Thank you for esssscorting uss."

The guide nodded in greeting, and his two armed companions stepped to the side.

"May I assk why we are under armed essscort?"

"There are factions here who do not like outsiders. It is for your own protection."

"I sssee." But Duu'Raan didn't see. Not at all. The Ihtorians were peaceful people, welcoming of all races. Hardly Xenophobic.

"Would you like to be shown to your quarters?"

"Actually, we'd like to ssee the great treesss."

The great trees were more than just trees to the Ithorians. Thay were held in almost religeous reverence by the people, to the point that Ithorians no longer actually lived on the surface, but in giant floating cities that hovered over the treetops. It was sacriligeous to set foot on the forest floor. Still, some Ithorians felt the trees 'call' to them, and went down to the planet regardless. Becoming outlaws subject to Ithor's harshest laws for their beliefs.

Paynar frowned, and waved his hand impatiently down an alleyway of the giant floating city. "There is a transport waiting."

Duu'Raan looked to Doprekka, hoping he was sensing the same things he was. This was all highly irregular. There was usually a legnthy session with planetary government required before being given access to the trees, even by hoversled.

They rounded the corner, and came within sight of their transport. It too, was under guard, and stood near a recently added guard towr whose construction did not match the rest of the city.

Suddenly, there was a repulsor roar, and a ship rocketed out of the forest canopy,and dove toward the landing pad, opening up with a barrage of turbolaser blasts. Several transports went up at once, and several more guards were killed. Their escorts took cover, and returned fire. The guard tower door opened, and more warriors filed out. Duu'Raan's breath caught in his throat, and his eyes widened.

"Sssstormtrooperss!" he hissed.

There escorts turned on them raising their weapons. With Force-enhanced speed, Duu'Raan removed his lightsaber from the camera and snapped it to life, it's silver blade blocking the stun blast. Overhead the attacking transport veered away from the city, and soared back down to the planet below.

The Stormtroopers turned toward them. "Jedi! Destroy them!"

"Back to the ship!" Duu'Raan called out, then went to work, deflecting the blaster fire that rained down on them.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Marius

I approached Tynan, stopping before him but being careful not to block what I guessed was his field of vision. He was surveying what had happened here, and I didn't want to sdisrespect his abilities by interfering is this.
"Perhaps we should talk," I began. "We hardly know each other, and Raine has mentioned you little."
Small talk would be best to start, I felt, to ensure that the man didn't take my questions as accusations.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Mogo

We came out of hyperspace and Bespin sat before us, larger than life to my dismay.
"We're here," Nastasia said, taking in a deep breath. She gave me a serious look, then glanced to the child and smiled. "Ready, Luke, to meet some new friends?"
I glanced to Orin, thinking, new friends, huh? What till the kid sees this one. He'll crap his pants. I almost did...

 

[Call Sign Oracle]

Doprekka

Doprekka actually uttered a curse at not having thought to bring his lightsabre with him, he had assumed things might be hostile but not so soon without being able to return to the ship. His master however proved his resourcefulness as he took his lightsabre from his camera, Doprekka himself vowed to get one of those in the future, retreating with his master as they went, he without his lightsabre and incapable of deflecting or blocking the blasts took a shot to the shoulder. Though the blast was a solid hit he was more than a match for a light blaster, though he was indeed wounded and in great pain he did'nt collapse from it, showing his wookie constitution and pain tolerance, he turned and concentrated on the force, even his master might feel the enormous build up of power in his padawan as he faced the troopers and pushed with his hand at the air using the force to "push" his enemies away, though this was no ordinary use of telekinesis this push threw some 10-15 of the troopers back and off of their feet and even managed to knock the airborne ship off of its gyro stabilization enough for it to halt in its shooting to regain control of itself. Doprekka turned and ran after his master now. Mentally berating himself. Though he had not killed with the force or used it to harm, only to subdue he had still struck back out of reflex and pain, from the blaster wound. He would need to meditate on that when they were safe. Letting his master lead the way as he took to using the obstructions around them for cover as he ran.

 

[Paendragon]

Tynan nodded to Marius, confused at the time he chose to get to know one another. He suspected there might be questions he wanted answered.

"Raine knew me from our days as Padawan." The image of Raine holding him upside down with the Force came to him, and he smiled slightly. "She's an interesting woman, and the closest thing to a friend I knew." It was true, in a way. Tynan had no friends at all, really. But he trusted her, which was more than he could say for many. "You're lucky to have her as your teacher." He looked at Marius. "You must have impressed her a great deal to make her choose you as an apprentice. She has..." he laughed, " high standards."

He glanced around at the gathering again.

"I'm sure you're all aware, that this was a decoy..." he gestured to the damage. "There's no real damage done. Any word of anything stolen? Or anyone hurt or missing?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Raine

It glowed out at me, seeming to float in the air a few inches above the rock holder it had been placed in. I'd never seen anything like it, the way it shimmered before my eyes, the crystal no larger than three inches wide and six inches long, turning there under what seemed to be its own power.
As I stared, I was lost for time, unsure how long I had ben there, but not caring.
My mind wandered back to when I was just learning the ways of the Force. I was frustrated much of the time, relaxation being the key but not coming easy to me. I remember Marlik's glances, harmless but appearing condescending, as though he wondered if taking me on as a padawan had been a mistake, as though I wasn't good enough to be a Jedi. Anger surged in me then, and I thought ahead, to Marius, as I trained him, his arrogance getting the better of him, and of my temper, though I'd held it.
Why, though? Why had I?
Expressing such emotions would have been healthier, wouldn't it? Hadn't my discretion kept me from showing Marius what type of behavior that arrogance created?
I thought it over for a second, the thought turning in my head as the crystal turned before my eyes.
Yes, I decided, then no.
It wasn't the way of the Jedi. Don't hold the emotion in, but anger and frustration would only lead to more negativity, right?
I wasn't so sure just then. Surely we could use these negative energies in a positive way...as science has taught us, energy cannot be created or destroyer but...
I shook my head, realizing then that my thoughts had taken me over for some time.
Distantly, I could hear a loud growling sound, familiar.
If I'd lost my temper with Marius, he'd have taken it as a sign he could do the same, and that wasn't the way of the jedi, and Marlik had always felt I was good enough, his best pupil at times, words from his own mouth.
But suddenly, I wondered.
The growl came again, and I turned, reality seeming to fall back into me as my eyes left the crystal.
The creature that had stalked me through the swamp toward the little guys, or one like it, very near.
I had to check on them, to make sure they were gone, before getting the vessel ready.
I hurried out of the cave, moving swiftly through the swamp water, the sounds of the creature becoming closer and closer as I neared where I'd left them.

 

[Paendragon]

Luke

"I guess so," Luke answered. "Does he know Tynan? When will the others get here?"

As he followed Natacia off the ship to meet her friends, the tingling sensation he had on Yavin came back, stronger than ever, and he shivered. The others seemed nervous for some reason. Well, except for Natacia.

 

[Paendragon]

Duu'Raan

They kept up a running retreat through the vegetation-laden city streets. Duu'Raan deflected as many blaster shots as he could, and the ones he missed, Doprekka took care of with the odd piece of transparisteel, by Force-lifting it into the way of the attackers. Eventually, their ship came into view. He tossed his lightsaber to Doprekka, and signaled him to cover him, while Duu'Raan turned and raced toward the ship. He turned the camera over in his clawed hand, and tapped the keys hidden there, which lowered the landing platform, and started up the engines. Doprekka, he was rtelieved to notice, was right behind him, his long wookiee legs easliy covering the distance, while Duu'Raan's lightsaber, looking like a toy in the large Padawans hands, spun quickly to deflect blaster shots.

Duu'Raan made it to the ship, and raced up the ramp. "Ssssecure the ramp, and lock it!"

He ran to the cockpit, and slid behind the controls, lifting the ship off of the landing platform.

They didn't get far. The ship was racked with explosions as it was hit hard from all sides by Turbolaser batteries. Duu'Raan pulled hard on the yoke, and brought the ship under the floating city, struggling to regain control. But he knew it was pointless. They were going down.

"Brace for impact!" he called out through the internal comm system.

Another explosion rocked the small ship, and it plunged downward, tearing through the foliage. Duu'Raan tried to steady the ship for landing, but the last thing he saw was the dround rushing up at him, before impact, and loss of consciousness.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Mogo

We were headed inside far too quickly. It was as if they were waiting for us to get there. We landed, and before the ramp had descended, three guards stood at the bottom of it, several more waiting in the background.
"Tell them to wait," Nastasia said, heading into the back.
"Um...wait a few minutes, eh?" I shouted down the ramp.
When she returned a minute or two later, she was in her full armor again, her body hidden by it.
"It's me, Luke," she said. "I'll explain later."
We moved cautiously, Nastasia in the front and me slipping between her and the child, feeling protective all of a sudden.
A new thing for me, I can assure you.
"We have the boy," Nastasia announced, "But I will not bring him out here if weapons are held at ready."
THe guards conformed to her request with little hesitation.
"He is waiting for you," one announced, "And rather impatiently."
"It took as long as it took," she replied, coldly, moving past him.
The guards moved to either side, making a walkway for us as we entered.
"How did you...?" The guard began to ask.
Nastasia threw him a threatening glance, uncertain if he would ask something that might give the child the wrong impression, although in this case, it happened to be the right one.
I wanted this overwith already, but I doubted all of a sudden that the child would come out of this okay.
"Take me to him," Nastasia said, "I want this over with."
Now she was talking sense.

 

[Paendragon]

Luke

Luke was confused, and a little frightened by the new outfit Natacia wore. But trusted her to explain it to him later.

"We have the boy," Nastasia announced, "But I will not bring him out here if weapons are held at ready."

Now Luke was really getting nervous. What did she mean 'we have the boy?'

"He is waiting for you," one of the men outside the ship replied, "And rather impatiently."

"It took as long as it took," Natacia answered.

He was grateful for Mogo moving in front of him, for once wanting to be near familiar people. His hand reached down and gripped his lightsaber, but he would never use it unless he needed to. He didn't know how, for one thing.

"Take me to him," Nastasia said, "I want this over with."

Suddenly, so did Luke.

 

[Call Sign Oracle]

Doprekka

The large wookie made it into the ship and secured the hatch locking it down, moving to find a secure place to seat himself or just something to hold onto as they lifted off, but to no avail. As the ship rocked from the turbo laser fire he thrust his arms out and grabbed a hold of a support beam holding on to avoid hitting any of the walls too hard. Though even for his formidable strength he couldn't hold on as they went down into the forest and connected with the ground, he was tossed around the hold like a rag doll getting quite banged up in the process. When things had settled and their were a few cracks and fizzles from exposed electrical conduit he shook his head to regain his senses and looked at the damage with a sigh. The ship was damaged beyond repair, he reached for the floor plate and pried it open with much trouble as the plating of the ship had warped on impact, pulling his lightsabre free and his robes. The robes themselves had cushioned the sabre but they had been burnt and ripped in the warping of the floor panels. He simply attached the light sabre to his utility bandolier and moved to the cock pit tossing pieces of plassteel out of his way to reach Duu'Raan. Upon finding him unconscious in the cock pit he wasted no time in grabbing up a scanner and assessing his injuries. Finding nothing too serious he picked up his unconscious master and moved out into the forest to find a suitable shelter and hiding place for them to regain their wits and center themselves once more.

 

[Kelson]

Master Kelson turned and frowned suddenly, looking intently at Daelon to see if he felt it too. Something was wrong, very very wrong. The force seemed to call to him, screaming at him to perform...what he did not know.

The dark side grew stronger each day, the danger screaming louder and louder in his mind every moment. This was becoming very, very bad. Raine...he could use her thoughts now. Perhaps that would be a good goal, hunting a jedi...

 

[Quiet_Cool]

In the Mines Beneath Cloud City, Bespin

Bennison looked at Leroy Calrissian, disbelieving.
"You're leaving?"
The man nodded. "We're in too much danger here," Leroy responded, "And we're placing you workers in danger as well. It's a risk we're not ready to take."
Bennison had heard the man speak in the past of overcoming obstacles and fighting to the end, and he'd shown special care over the rebels occupation of Cloud City, an important place to anyone of the Calrissian family. Was he truly leaving?
Relief sank in anyway. The words were unexpected, not unwanted.
"When will you go? I will make certain you are given the proper help in removing yourselves undetected."
"Very soon," Leroy responded. "I'll send word when we're ready."
Bennison nodded. "It's a shame you must leave. I consider myself losing a friend, not only in the Rebellion, but in you, Leroy Calrissian."
Bennison bowed and exited the room. Once he was gone for a moment, one of Calrissian's men entered, letting the door close behind him before speaking.
"Sir," he began. "Our men are ready to attack."
"Good," Leroy responded. "I believe our friend Mr. Bennison in unawares, as I tried to convince him we wee leaving. That should save us some time with the Sith. He can't read what the man doesn't know. We should wait until it's less expected, I'll tell you when. Remind the men who we're dealing with. The utmost caution will be required if we're to kill the man before he escapes."
"Sir," the man nodded his understanding and exited.
"A matter of time," leroy muttered. "Sorry to lie to you, Bennison, old friend, but it was necessary. Now, you should be safe..."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Marius

"No one injured or killed, and we're currently sending units to various places to ensure that nothing was taken. Here, there was nothing of importance anyway, only a few useless items, some old machinery and whatnot, and it's over there, away from the damage. A small explosive, not even enough to kill save were someone standing right on top of it. Loud though," I replied.
I stood there silently for a moment, examining the man's response in my head for only a moment before realizing for certain that he realized my intent.
"Raine trusted you, I sensed, when we were all here," I began. "So I can give you the benefit of the doubt for the most part, but I have to wonder about this Darth Azraiel, you realize. Do you think he might have had somethng to do with this? He did arrive suddenly, and unexpectedly. Other arrived with us from Mached as well, but few that I didn't know. It seems our only possibilities here and you, Azraiel, the girl he was with, Kerra I believe her name was, and I haven't seen her since we left Mached V, this small group of frieghters, and the boy Luke. The child clearly isn't evil. I would have sensed it. His path seems undetermined, but evil...not yet at least. The frieghters, well, what could they do against a planet full of Jedi, and besides, the girl has hardly left Luke's side. That's you and Azraiel, and what I find odd is that I sensed no presence of the Dark Side when I first entered here. It seems if either of you have planted the bomb, I would have sensed your presences as I arrived, even if you were no longer here. A trace or something...Thoughts?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Cloud City, Bespin

"They have arrived," a man's voice announced.
"Excellent," Darth Vaine returned. "Prepare the chamber, I want the body unfrozen immediately. Have the bounty hunter bring the child to me at once. I shall wait here."
The man nodded and turned to leave, gulping once his back was turned.
"And Mr. Delaithe," Vaine called.
Delaithe stopped, glancing back, holding his breath.
"Where is Mr. Bennison?"
"Uncertain at the moment, sir," he replied. He was relieved that the question was not about anything more serious. Bennison had told him to keep an eye out,and that he would return, and then disappeared. "He merely told me--"
"That's enough explanatin," vaine interrupted. "Bring the boy once the unfreezing has begun."
Delaithe nodded and hurried out fo the room.
Once outside, he let out a long sigh of relief and turned to one of the men outside the door.
"Begin the unfreezing process," he instructed.
The man nodded and hurried away, Delaithe heading in the opposite direction, reaching a waiting area in only a minute or so. When he entered, he saw Nastasia and her crew, the Toydarian and the mech, with the boy Luke. They were alone now, and he saw the Toydarian hovering close to the ground near the boy, while the woman had moved away, standing out front with a weapon, a hand blaster, drawn.
"Bring the boy," Delaithe said. "And you won't need that weapon, not if you're on his good side. You're not in any danger from the residents of Cloud CIty."
The woman waved her hand to the others with her, silently ordering them to follow, then moved toward him, weapon still in her hand.