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Meira
She don't mess around
2,830 posts
583 likes
Half awake in our fake empire
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last online May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
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Jul 30, 2019 9:52:34 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Jul 30, 2019 9:52:34 GMT -5
Through the transparesteel, Nal Hutta loomed in the distance. But that boggy, fetid homeworld of the Hutts was not the focus of attention. Rather, it was the Smuggler's Moon that drew the eye. The moon and, of course, the combined fleets of both the Empire and the Republic that had taken formation there; to say nothing of the enormous flagship of the invading Archeri Chorus. The so-called Singing Spire was simply massive. It was a pity that it would have to be destroyed. So much might be learned from such a feat of engineering.
A loud pop signaled the opening of a new bottle of champagne. Renata turned her gaze from the view port and scanned across the small group that attended to her this day. All of the truly important people were, of course, engaged in some fashion during this endeavor. Many were on the front lines, but most were aboard the ships above Nar Shaddaa, doing their part to bring that Spire down. The Caldera currently housed a number of the Aristocracy whose efforts toward the conflict were not direct. Arms manufacturers, raw material miners, bankers... soft men and women. These sat comfortably, ate plenty, and drank more. They chuckled and gossiped, and they oooo-ed and ahhh-ed whenever a distant ship bloomed in an explosion.
Scattered among them were the spouses or other close kin to key military leaders. These, while not as hardened as their military loved ones, bore the marks of a disciplined life. They sat straighter, ate or drank only as much as manners demanded. They stopped breathing for a moment each time a distant explosion occurred. While the hawks arranged brunches to go over the next quarter's figures, these wondered... Was that his ship? Will she survive?
"Another cup for Lord Tilen." Renata said, her eyes settling onto a thin man standing near a view port clutching a string of beads in a hand so white-knuckled they threatened to break and scatter. Tilan started at the sound of his name, almost dropping the beads. A true aristocrat, he recovered quickly, clearing his throat and shifting from one foot to the other. He discretely tucked the beads away into an inner pocket of his jacket as a servant approached and filled his empty glass.
"To Her Radiance." he said with a practiced projection as he raised the glass. The others quickly followed suit, turning their eyes toward Renata.
"To our brave defenders." Renata added, raising her own glass. They all drank and the chatter soon returned. Renata gestured for Tilen to come closer.
A chair was produced at Renata's side as Tilen walked over. He did not take it until Renata gestured again, giving him permission to sit. He was indeed a proper nobleman. "Tilen," she said, her voice honeyed with concern, "you have barely eaten. If the food is not to your liking, I am sure we can have the chefs make something more suitable."
"Please, forgive me, Your Radiance." Tilen quickly replied. An honest blush reddened his cheeks. It was almost enough to make Renata laugh. "The food is exquisite, of course. I just..." he fumbled.
"You worry for Zela." Renata supplied. Tilen sighed, as if her naming his fears somehow both eased them and worsened them. He kept his eyes down, mostly out of deference to her station. But Renata could sense the shame as well. Tilen loved his wife fiercely, with all his heart. That heart, as it turned out, was what kept him from serving the Empire as she did. And no amount of piteous reassurances the other nobles gave could take away the shame he harbored at his failure to live up to her and to the soldiering expectations of his family. Renata was about to ask him about the beads and the prayers he was repeating in his mind just before when the doors to the room opened and one of the Adamant Guard approached. She leaned away from Tilen, who took his cue and stood, crossing back to the view port. The Guard leaned down and whispered into Renata's ear. All around the room, an obvious chatter attempted in vain to mask the piqued interest of her guests.
"Out." she said, and the room went silent for a fraction of a second. It then rang with the sudden sounds of chairs scraping and bodies moving. The click-clack of heels accompanied the duller thuds of boots and then the room was empty. Renata pressed a button on a console set into the armrest of her chair and a side door quickly opened. A uniformed ship's crew member stepped into the room and bowed.
"A log of available Praetors and their current locations." The crew member bowed and disappeared. Moments later, her datapad pinged with the information. She scrolled through it, searching. When she found the name she'd been looking for, she frowned. That would not do at all. Pressing another button activated a holorecording device. It floated down from a storage space hidden in the ceiling and positioned itself in front of her. Renata took a moment, and then set the device to record.
"You have new orders." she began without preamble. "You will take a detachment to the surface of Nar Shaddaa and seek out Lady Sagitta. Her last known coordinates are attacked to this message. It is paramount to Our interests that Lady Sagitta be brought safely to the Caldera. Failure will not be accepted."
Renata ended the recording and then scrolled through the list of Praetors again, searching for a suitable recipient. A moment later, the message was sent to the comms officer to relay to Lord Zihhaiz.
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last online Sept 8, 2019 15:35:29 GMT -5
Force Sensitive
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Jul 30, 2019 16:16:54 GMT -5
Post by Zihhaiz on Jul 30, 2019 16:16:54 GMT -5
In space near Nar Shadda a battleship fired into the ranks of enemy ships, a man dressed in the empire clothes of a Captain watched calmly from his viewscreen. People on the bridge had already moved onto their next target. The ships weapons fired and flowers of orange and red blossomed in the soundless void. A beeping noise told the captain a message had been sent, he looked at who the message was from and his face blanched. He quickly rose from his chair and exited the bridge, his feet moving at a power walk that was just barely below a full sprint. He turned down another corridor and came to a large set of double steel doors. He spoke his name and the doors opened up into a empty room, a large window looked out on the battlefield and a man stood in front of that window.
He was a tall man at six feet, lean with long black hair that looked as dark as the space around him. From where he stood he could see a robe of white on the man with red lining on the shoulders and down the seams. He knew under that robe was a set of eradicator armor that could stand up to blaster fire. Though, he doubted such mundane things as blasters bothered his master. He was about to speak when the others voice spoke out. "The Empress has sent a message." It wasn't a question and the man nodded though his master wasn't looking at him. The message slid up on the window and opened up, the image of the Empress appeared and her recorded message was given. Zihhaiz turned away when the message was finished and closed, walking past his subordinate whos eyes were blank, the man turned and left the room without remembering a thing he saw. Thus was the force powers of the Sith Lord.
Stepping out two people seemed to step out of the walls. One was a Twi'lek woman with red and black markings. She was lean and only about four and a half feet tall, she wore the robes of the Sith Knight and under her robe was a pair of twin lightsabers. The other was a tall Zabrat with horns and Sith markings on his face. He wore battle armor of a Sith Knight enforcer and carried a lightsaber that utilized two hands. Both stayed in perfect unison despite their size difference, a half pace behind their master who walked with purpose towards the hangar where his ship was held. Walking into the hangar he headed towards a ship that could hold at least fifty men. A droid stood beside the ship as well as several battle droids. Zihhaiz entered the ship via ramp and was followed by the two Sith Knights, the droid, and the battle droids that entered and folded up allowing for him to bring a hundred droids. The first droid took it's position in the pilot seat, integrating it's AI with the ships computer. The pilot droid could fly as efficient as the best normal human pilot. Zihhaiz never learned to pilot a ship, it was just one of those things he felt best left to droids or one of his bodyguards.
The ship rose from it's place and out the back of the Battleship. Using it as cover as it flew around the other ships and headed down to the surface towards an empire controlled post. Zihhaiz was being sent by the empress to locate a fellow Sith Lord, possibly a favorite of hers. He smirked at the idea but would refrain from politics for now. The ship hit the atmosphere and the G-force slowed the ship down. Zihhaiz watched as the nose of the ship glowed before breaking through and down past the clouds. The ship was right on the mark as an empire base sat right where it was supposed to be. The ship moved in a arc and came down to land. Several men ran up along with a Commander in uniform. The hatch opened and Zihhaiz and his two guards as well as the battle droids exited off the ship. He walked over to the man who gave a low bow at the waist. Zihhaiz rested his orange gaze on the man and smirked. "I need all information you have on a Lady Sagitta and I need it as soon as possible." The man nodded quickly and ran towards the information station. Zihhaiz walked into the command center and stood waiting, arms behind his back and as always his two guards behind him.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
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last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
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Jul 30, 2019 21:48:45 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Jul 30, 2019 21:48:45 GMT -5
From his distant vantage point, Io’an watched war sweep over Nar Shaddaa. In the hours-long twilight on the Smuggler’s moon, the laser fire zipping threw the air through the dense urban blocks outshined the city’s lights. What lights remained. He could even see turbo laser fire lighting trails through the night sky, in rare breaks in the smoke-haze that blocked out the sky.
He leaned back against the wall of the half-ruined ruined skyscraper and closed his eyes. Breathing came in deep, long draws as his body protested for rest. He’d lost track of how many stim shots he’d taken since the Republic and Empire arrived. Working for the Exchange came with some benefits, at least.
Just a little longer, he thought. Just until the battle is over. Then I can rest.
Io’an’s eyelids fluttered up and his sea green eyes rolled lazily to a distant building, towering above its surroundings. Livco Tower, though some of the lettering pronouncing it such was missing or broken now. A gaping hole, a few floors from the top, spewed dark smoke into the smoke-filled air.
His lips pressed into a line. That was his handiwork—his and Imago’s. There was a time, not that long ago, when Io’an would’ve had nightmares for weeks on end about unleashing that kind of damage.
Now, he was just happy to be alive, and that he and Imago’s abilities happened to compliment each other so well.
Though if that Sith hadn’t shown up...
Creel stood off to the side, muttering over a comm line. Io’an didn’t know what he was talking about. Right now, he didn’t care, if he could rest.
His gaze settled, for a long moment, on the second Spire, rising from the city’s underbelly and jutting so far into the sky that the smoke-clouds obscured its almost-done top. He wondered, not for the first time, how Ms. Faine’s strike team, with Vance and that strange man and the Sith, was doing.
They’d move on soon enough. The battle was far from won, and everyone had a part to play.
It’s all on them, he thought, closing his eyes again. Or this is all for nothing.
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last online Sept 8, 2019 15:35:29 GMT -5
Force Sensitive
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Aug 1, 2019 2:49:15 GMT -5
Post by Zihhaiz on Aug 1, 2019 2:49:15 GMT -5
Zihhaiz stood in the command room watching the monitors for space, he had ordered his own battleship Leviathan to retreat back behind enemy lines so he wouldn't lose his ship while stuck here on this moon. He examined the people around him, his mind reaching out for any sign of anything. He smirked finding nothing fear at the idea of having a Sith so close to them all. The movement made his Sith bodyguards turn but Zihhaiz stayed facing forward, both of them it seemed were in better need of training with their senses. The commander from before arrived and gave a salute to the Sith Lord. "My Lord, we have the information. Her last location was Livico Tower for a classified mission we can't access, sir." He held the salute as he stared at the blank face of the lord who simply stared forward.
Suddenly he turned and walked out, his guards following him. Zihhaiz walked up the ramp of the ship and took his seat. "Droid, Livico Tower." The droid gave a beep in response, the Sith smirked and considered removing it's voice box but better for it not to know that he spoke it's language. Not yet at least. The ship rose and arced around and headed towards the tower. His gaze rested on his guards before turning back to the window. "When we arrive I will need you both to scout out and look for our dear Lady, if you find her she is to come to no harm and you are to bring her back to the ship regardless of her objections. The Empress said to retrieve her and that is what we will do. Be sure to mention the Empress orders, I rather neither of you were killed after all my hard work." He turned to the captain droid. "When we arrive I want your men to set up a parameter and send out droids to also try and find the lady. No firing unless fired upon." The droid name and spoke two words. "Roger, Roger."
Zihhaiz pointed at a spot that looked like an old landing zone. The ship hovered down and landed, Zihhaiz exiting first followed by his two guards who immediately took off in different directions to look for the Lady. He stepped out of the ship and onto the ground as droids began walking out, a hundred of them in total and got to work. After the area was secured the scout droids headed out in different directions from the two other Sith to look. Zihhaiz decided to wait, reaching out with his mind to see if he could find a force sensitive in the area.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
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last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
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Aug 1, 2019 20:28:36 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Aug 1, 2019 20:28:36 GMT -5
For a long time, Io’an sat on his perch, watching the battle unfold below. It was easy to see the Coalition’s force, with blaster fire and traditional projectiles against the Archeri’s crystals and swirling Force powers.
The Coalition would advance here, only to meet stiff Chorus resistance elsewhere and be forced back. In the distance, far above, a Republic destroyer and Imperial frigate dueled and Archeri cruiser, violet and crystalline.
The ships debris rained on the city below as the warships tore each other apart. A set of explosions suddenly rippled through the frigate and it started to list, belching black smoke. Io’an grimaced at the thought of the ships crashing to the buildings below, but he watched, as the engines sputtered and failed to gain footing against the gravity dragging the ship down, as an explosion in the ship’s center tore it to two pieces that crashed into the city in bursts of orange flame.
He watched as countless thousands of people died.
He closed his eyes again, as the Republic ship climbed and attempted to disengage, as the Archeri vessel followed.
On a normal day, that would have sent waves through the Force that would have crippled him and set him to curling up on his bed with tear-reddened eyes. But Nar Shaddaa hadn’t had a normal day since the Archeri laid siege all those weeks ago, and the battle had turned the Force into a disorganized mess that was impossible to read at long distances.
Even to his senses, honed beyond a razor’s edge, the spike of death and despair felt like little more than a ripple from a rock thrown into a lake washing ashore.
Distant movment caught his eye. A Coalition ship — Imperial by the look--was setting down at Livco Tower. Wish that had come earlier, he thought dully, glancing over his shoulder. He still didn’t know where Imago had wandered off to.
He closed his eyes again. Creel, too, had gone off somewhere, giving him, for once, a few moments of blessed silence. With the stims pounding in his system, he almost couldn’t feel the sickness’ aches and pains. Almost.
”Why do you resist?” The Chorus’ voice was angry; it seemed to grow more and more enraged as the battle dragged on. ”You cannot stop the inevitable, Marked One. You cannot deny us.”
A smile touched the edge of Io’an’s lips. What’s the rush? he thought, though he wasn’t sure if it was to the Chorus or himself. If we lose here you’ll get everything you ever wanted...
The voice was silent. Io’an didn’t complain.
A short time later he felt a presence, reaching out, probing for something. At first he retreated, hesitant of the taint that clung to it like oil over water. But this wasn’t the stench of the Archeri; it was the Dark Side. A Sith, probably.
Io’an’s mouth twisted slightly. Only circumstance, he assumed, made one better than the other. But he made no attempt to hide his presence.
It wasn’t as if he could, anyway.
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last online Sept 8, 2019 15:35:29 GMT -5
Force Sensitive
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Aug 3, 2019 11:41:53 GMT -5
Post by Zihhaiz on Aug 3, 2019 11:41:53 GMT -5
Zihhaiz stood, his force senses reaching out like long tendrils searching for signs of other force users in the area or if they had been here recently. The taint of the Archeri touched one of his tendrils and a sneer of contempt crossed the Siths face. He would deal with that in a moment. For now, he felt the presence of another Sith though its user was no longer there. He reached out further, feeling out the force until he caught it. There was a Sith here! Zihhaiz first however had to deal with that taint creature, he didn't know if it was a spy or an assassin or just a victim. Any of the three could be potentially dangerous when it came to the cursed fungus creatures.
With just a thought, Zihhaiz lifted himself from the ground and flew up into the air, his senses now focusing fully on his surroundings and aimed at the taint of the Archeri. His lightsaber floated into his hand, the curved handle fitting perfectly. He preferred the curve to the straight, it felt more natural to the hand than the straight handle. Zihhaiz floated around, letting the force guide him as he used the dust to hide his physical self while he moved through the air. Finally, he saw the man resting against the ruins of a sky scraper. Ignoring him for the moment he tested the area, tightening his sense tendrils to focus down on anyone who may be trying to hide themselves with the force. Sensing none he revealed himself.
The dust around the Sith evaporated as he floated down to land a few feet away from the Archeri tainted man. As he landed, he examined the man with his own senses. Compared to their power the man might as well have been a child. He sensed ability but no true power from him. A smile slid over his face as his lightsaber ignited. "Fear not any longer citizen, for soon you will be cleansed along with the Archeri. Your death will ensure they never rise again after the Empires great victory and your name will be written in the annals of those whom were lost. Now, simply kneel and I will make this quick and painless."
His voice was smooth and gentle, the kind from a gentle friend who only had the best interest for you in his heart. They were tuned in with his force telepathy ability, willing the man to simply submit and let himself be a sacrifice for the greater good of the Empire. Persuasion and Telepathy together made a almost terrifying combination from the Sith who walked ever closer, each step a gong on the bell of death.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
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Aug 4, 2019 11:24:52 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Aug 4, 2019 11:24:52 GMT -5
Io’an could feel the other presence approaching. It was dark, with all the twisting and distortion that came with the Dark Side. His stomach churned, and he frowned severely, as if smelling some rotting carcass. He’d spent no small time around the Sith, since the Coalition arrived in the system — and Ms. Faine was herself the former Darth Novus, a name that had sent shockwaves of hate and fear rippling through the Republic only a few short years ago.
But this was... different.
And it’s coming my way, he thought. That didn’t concern him in and of itself; the Coalition’s forces were free to move as they pleased, with war raging across the Smuggler’s Moon.
But the malicious intentions running through the presence like a riptide beneath the surface — that gave him pause.
He sat up, coughing, as the man — wreathing himself in dust — arrived at the damaged skyscraper. A lightsaber ignited as he approached, attention focused solely on Io’an, and that sent a shock of alarm through the Sephi’s system.
"Fear not any longer citizen, for soon you will be cleansed along with the Archeri, the Sith said. “Your death will ensure they never rise again after the Empires great victory and your name will be written in the annals of those whom were lost. Now, simply kneel and I will make this quick and painless."
Io’an stood, now, a hand instinctively going to the lightsaber in his armorweave jacket. “...Come again?” he stammered, not sure if he’d heard the man properly. The telepathic urgings didn’t go unnoticed, but Io’an held no delusion that this man bore any goodwill. And after months’ worth of the Chorus’ tempting and taunting in his head, in his dreams, the act served only to annoy him.
“Listen, I don’t know who you are or what you want, but I’m not kneeling for you.” He tried to sound bold, but his voice trembled more than he intended it to. The other was powerful, and Io’an had no inclination to fight. “Especially if you want to kill me for...” he searched for any words, any reason. He could find none.
“I’m not one of the Chorus’ brainwashed,” he said. His eyes and voice hardened, as his grip tightened on his still-unactivated lightsaber, and he stood straighter. He didn’t realize he’d been retreating until he felt a wall behind him. “I’ve been fighting the Archeri since before the Coalition,” he stressed the word at the Sith’s proclamations of Imperial victory, “got here. Since before you got here. So if you’re looking for someone to cleanse, you’re looking in the wrong place.”
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last online Sept 8, 2019 15:35:29 GMT -5
Force Sensitive
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Aug 8, 2019 8:53:19 GMT -5
Post by Zihhaiz on Aug 8, 2019 8:53:19 GMT -5
Zihhaiz stopped as the man spoke, his head moved as his senses explored the mans aura, he could feel the taint of the Archeri but their was no mental connection to the hive. The saber turned off and floated back onto his belt. The Sith Lord walked in a half circle to stand with his arms behind his back and legs spread. "Well then, I have found an ally in a hostile environment." The word ally felt wrong on the Sith's tongue, the empire did not ally with others, they crushed them under their boot. But the Empress had decreed they work with the other factions in the galaxy and Zihhaiz had no desire to challenge her...yet. He turned his head, using force sight to 'see' he felt them coming. He looked up at the building but for now they were far apart not to cause a problem just yet.
"Well then, since you are an ally and not an enemy than there is no reason to kill you. I apologize if you saw my act as cruel but none of the vile fungus creatures can be allowed to survive, and those who are infected usually end up as one of them and just one can cause a plague. So, since you are here I need some information. I am looking for a Woman, a Sith female by the name of Lady Sagitta. A friend of hers is worried and has requested me to find and bring her back, being such a generous guy I figured why not. I sense that she has been here but there are others around her as well. I need to know how many, friend or foe, why she was here, what she was doing at this location, and what she is about to do. I am guessing since you are here that you are apart of whatever it is they are doing. Surely you are willing to tell me?"
He was about to continue when he suddenly stopped and turned his head, a wicked smile forming. "It would seem we have company, I would get that saber of yours at the ready for there are quite a few of them." He tapped a communicator. "I need a kill squad at my location." He smiled as his curved saber floated back to his hand, igniting in a beam of red as he stepped out. Looking down at the ground where eight Archeri ran across the broken battlefield. As he looked, several droids appeared and began firing at the Archeri. Two falling to the blasters as the others moved around or through them. Droid parts being ripped apart as the Archeri engaged the machines. "We really need to build sturdier droids, this is ridiculous."
His left hand open as casually as possible as one of the Archeri climbed and leaped. Zihhaiz caught it with the force, nearly face to face with the creature. "You are getting in my way, I suggest you don't." He closed his hand and the creature squirmed as the bones inside crushed into shards. He flung the creature away, the second to appear was dispatched with a weaving web of red that removed head and torso. "Now would be a good time to join my friend. While I could kill them all myself it would be interesting to see your level of ability."
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
6,347 posts
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last online Jan 12, 2024 11:24:20 GMT -5
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Aug 8, 2019 13:59:34 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Aug 8, 2019 13:59:34 GMT -5
Io’an’s breath held in his throat as he waited for the Sith, face hidden behind an emotionless helmet, to respond. His grip tightened involuntarily on his lightsaber hilt as he tried at once to stand tall and to press himself further away, against the cracked wall behind him.
But the Sith, blessedly, relented. Io’an sighed, sagging slightly as the tension left his body. Though while his grip on his lightsaber was no longer white-knuckled and terrified, he didn’t completely let his guard down. His sigh turned into a violent fit of coughing, doubling him over as his body convulsed. He realized, looking at fresh smears of red on his hand, that the Sith was talking, asking after a woman.
Lady Sagita. Io’an stood up straight, smearing the blood onto the wall behind him. The stims could keep him going through the end of the battle. They’d have to. I don’t know that name.
“You were going to kill me and now you want me to help you?” he asked, voice scratchy. He sighed. There were Sith everywhere on Nar Shaddaa now. Jedi too. “I... I don’t think I know a Lady Sagita."
But as soon as he had spoken, he felt them; Archeri, scurrying across the ruined city. Io’an groaned. “Always another fight,” he muttered, pulling the surgical mask he’d taken to wearing since the siege began back up over his nose and face. If that Sith wanted his help, they’d have to survive the coming storm, first.
Down below, he could see the Archeri slam into the droids. A few of the creatures fell to fire, while others surged on, tearing into the Sith force with crystal projectiles and blasts of the Force.
Then they were atop the building. The Sith dispatched two--Io’an felt a slight knot of dread in his stomach to see the Sith was as powerful as he’d feared--and more appeared, crawling like overgrown spiders up the side of the building. Io’an was starting to hate their eyeless, pockmarked faces.
“You resist and resist.” The Chorus sneered in his mind. It sounded angry; that’d happened more of late, since the Coalition arrived. Io’an reached for the Force as one of the Archeri emerged atop the roof. He was dimly aware of the Sith stating interest in his ability. ”You use our gift as though it was your own. We opened your eyes, lent your voice strength so that you may sing.”
The Force flooded into him. Io’an felt a strange calm, for all the trials he’d been through. The Chorus still seethed, like an angry swarm of wasps, swarming just out of sight. He ignored it.
The Archeri before him stood to its full height, towering above him with deadly arms spread wide.
”Insolent child.”
The Archeri leaped at him. Io’an ducked, hand going to his belt. A sharpened limb cut through the air where his head had been moments before. A blast erupted from Io’an’s saber hand, buffeting the Archeri back in midair. From his other hand, his disruptor pistol fired.
The creature screamed in the Force as the bolt hit it and disintegrated part of its torso. Another shot hit just below the neck, blasting it away as the Archeri fell back over the side of the building.
As another Archeri ran at him, Io’an’s lavender lightsaber sprang to life. He threw it, cutting the assault short as it seared through the on rusher’s legs and sent it tumbling and flailing awkwardly to the ground. Still, it fought on, as if unaware it’d lost its legs, using its long arms to try and pull itself.
Io’an’s lightsaber returned to his open palm and he stepped forward blade raised-
An explosion of white-hot pain suddenly swept over him, like a wave over a seawall as a storm crashed ashore. He screamed, lightsaber falling to the ground with a clatter as he grabbed the sides of his head.
For what felt like an eternity, he could only feel that explosion of pain and furry and sorry, echoed and amplified again and again.
When it finally cleared enough for him to bear it, he looked up, with tears clearing streaks over his ashen face the feeling of warm blood trickling from his nose. The sky was ablaze--not as it should have been in Nar Shaddaa’s long twilight.
Far above a purple sunburst pierced even the thick haze of smoke and dust that filled the sky.
Io’an knew as much as he knew the Chorus’ pain had just washed over him, that the fleets in orbit were triumphant. The Archeri that had been fighting to kill them only moments ago stared, still as statues, as the explosion.
“The Spire,” he said to the Sith. “They must have... gotten the Spire.”
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last online Sept 8, 2019 15:35:29 GMT -5
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Aug 18, 2019 22:38:52 GMT -5
Post by Zihhaiz on Aug 18, 2019 22:38:52 GMT -5
Zihhiaz grunted as he stumbled, a blinding white light flowed through the force and smashed against the Siths Psyche. Luckily he had spent years training his mind and his force abilities that he was able to compartmentalize the effect while force grabbing a Archeri and ripping him from the ground and smashing it into the ground before flinging it into another one and sent both rolling off the edge of the building and down to the ground where the other Archeri were gathering. Zihhaiz pushed off the ground and leaped down, force lightning covered his body like an aura and smashed into the ground. Lightning leaped from his body, running across the ground and up the remaining Archeris bodies. A second saber appeared in Zihhaiz hand and ignited in a jedi blue. He stepped forward and drove two sabers into the Archeri's chest before pulling back and decapitating it.
He spun, moving in a dance from one form to another as his lightsabers flashed, weaving a web of red and blue. The sabers moved so fast the colors seemed to hang in the air and form a circle around the Sith, anyone with sheer combat experience could see that Zihhaiz never moved more than two steps. In a circular area Zihhaiz had created a kill zone and it showed as the Archeri rushed in and struck with their limbs but regardless of where they came from or what direction the sabers seemed to be there to slice and tear. His hands reached out and lightning leaped from his hands, arcing through the Archeri. He looked over as even more came running, at least five of them running across the ground towards the group.
As they got closer, Zihhaiz took his stance ready for the coming wave when all of a sudden two forms moved quickly from behind. Landing among them, a two handed lightsaber moving with force and rage as it slashed and cleaved. A pair of small dagger sized light sabers weaved among them, the girl like a spider crawling over, under, and around as it stabbed and slashed removing the enemy with the skills of a surgeon compared to the tank. When it ended Zihhaiz watched as his two bodyguards approached and kneeled, he gave a nod of confirmation and turned his head to look up at the man. "You still alive?"
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Aug 22, 2019 14:04:55 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Aug 22, 2019 14:04:55 GMT -5
Io’an remained on one knee in pained, stunned silence as the battle raged on. He fought for calm as his pulse pounded in his ears. He fought for the Force, seeking shelter after the explosion of anguish and horror and death from the Spire’s destruction washed over him.
But every time he did, he felt the Chorus — the taint that seemed to cling to the Force like an oily film to water, churn and boil with seething rage. As the Sith fought on, Io’an pushed himself to his feet. His lightsaber was on the ground, dropped in the shock of what happened.
“This is not the end,” the Chorus seethed in his mind. “It cannot be an end. We have conquered greater foes than you.”
With an unsteady tug of the Force, Io’an called the lightsaber to his hand. Its lavender blade ignited again and he turned as an Archeri lurched at him. He dove out of the way, yelping as a long, sharp arm tore through his shirt and left a long, shallow cut down his side. Io’an gasped as the hard ground knocked the wind from him.
“Marked One, you will submit.” The Force closed around Io’an like a vice. As he struggled to breath, he was picked up from the ground and pressed against the wall. His lightsaber clattered uselessly on the ground. He forced his jaws shut to keep from screaming as the Force pressed at him, as if trying to force him into the metal beams behind him. “We grow tired of your games.”
Io’an’s mind raced for answers. He was tired. He was tired of being sick, tired of fighting, tired of hoping he’d survive every day. As the pressure increased, causing his lungs and chest to ache, he felt a spark of anger, echoing the Chorus’ own fury. Leave me alone, he thought. The thought lit an inferno of rage at the Chorus, at everything it’d done to him and his friends. The anger was blinding.
Before he was fully aware of what he had done, a lightning bolt arced a jagged path from the sky above and seared the Archeri.
The thunder that followed was defeating. Io’an fell to the ground with a cough and deep, greedy breaths of air. A quick glance showed the Archeri corpse blackened and smoking, and lifeless.
Io’an slumped back down and finally picked up himself up, grabbing his lightsaber as he did. He was, ears still rining, aware that the roof had quieted down, and that two others had joined the mysterious Sith.
”You still alive?”
Io’an took a long look at the Arhceri next to him and shrugged. “I… I am.” His stomach knotted upon remembering the Sith’s greeting. Are you going to kill me now? He wasn’t sure he could offer any meaningful resistance, to say nothing of the two that joined him. “I shouldn’t stay here,” he said slowly. “They’re going to keep coming.”
It was at that moment that Creel emerged. “Aetoris, whe-“ the Sith stopped at the sight of three of his fellows. He offered Zihhaiz a polite nod of his head. “I see we have guests.”
“Creel,” Io’an said, suddenly grasping an opportunity. “These Sith are looking for someone -- Lady Sagita.” He looked at the Sith, eyes pleading. “Do you know who she is? Or where she is?”
Creel frowned slightly. “Sagita? Of course. She’s in the pit.” He lifted a thickly-muscled arm to point to the distant battlefield, where the second spire still towered into the sky.
Io’an looked at the Sith who’d approached him. “Does… does that help you?”
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