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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Jul 14, 2010 22:36:04 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Jul 14, 2010 22:36:04 GMT -5
Nieraan smiled at Abu when the older man made his ultimatum. So that's the game he would play then, was it? Fine then. It was an annoyance, but Nieraan could deal with it. Their alliance would only last so long. Of course, if he acted quickly, he might be able to take one down before the other could react. Force Grip was a favorite power of his, and it provided quite a multitude of options. Grip to Rajjdan's heart or lungs to disable him, and then deal with the old man one-on-one. His eyes flicked to the various controls and sensitive equipment that filled the bridge. Sensitive equipment that was vital to keeping the freighter in the air. That or just send the ship down and take us all out. Not that he'd start something. Not now. He wasn't stupid.
"How noble of you," he said to Abu as he sheathed his sabers. Nieraan took up a relaxed stance, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed lightly across his chest. "Taking it upon yourself to defend the soft one here." He jerked his head over toward Rajjdan, grinning cockily. "And people say chivalry is dead. But very well. You have my assistance. For the time being. But hear me, I'll get my answer from Trillvan one way or another."
The Rajjdan spoke up, drawing Nieraan's attention. At least the tall man wasn't a complete idiot; he was sharp enough to wage that Nieraan's main motivation was not, in fact getting him into the Sith--which is to say, he was at least as sharp as a wheel. Nieraan cared little for the Sith's plans to conquer the Galaxy or for their squabble with the Jedi. But he knew that, as time progressed, he'd have to choose a side, and the Jedi certainly wouldn't work. Couple that with the fact that the Sith provided numerous opportunities to grow, and the choice was an easy one.
"Ah, Rajjdan, now I can see how you're so good at what you do! Your ability to read into the intents of others and discern the obvious leaves me in awe!" When he spoke, it was with a deadpan seriousness, though no one could deny the sarcasm that was laced into his words. "And if you think the Sith come to people to grovel and put on a show like some door-to-door salesman, then you clearly do not know us, but if you want perk and a sales pitch, I'll tell you what should be obvious:
"The Galaxy is changing." Nieraan looked between Abu and Rajjdan, speaking to both of them. "Any fool can see that, with the war brewing. I know what it's like to be in your shoes; I was in your shoes not even a month ago. I was an independent soul, free to do as I wished, with little care for the big players and their game of thrones. But as I said, things are changing, and as the war progresses, things are only going to get harder for people like us. So we're left with a choice: pick a side, or get crushed in the middle. And do you really think the Jedi will accept types like us?" The question was rhetorical, but he let silence hang for a moment, to drive home the point. "You're right, Trillvan: I'm only here because I had a previous interest in you, before I even thought about joining the Sith, but if you want to know why you should join us, there it is. I joined to further myself, and I'm hardly the only one among us who has done as much. But it's your choice. However, know that should you refuse, I'll simply take it being freed from my official reasons for being here and do what it was I've been wanting to do: test myself against you."
Nieraan shrugged dismissively when he was done, as if he'd been stating the obvious. He'd never in a million years thought he would be the one giving a pitch to join the Sith to someone. The other time he'd been sent out to spread the message of the Sith, he'd been sent with Silas, among other ones; he'd been some extra muscle, not the talking piece.
"As for my name... I'm called Nieraan. Nieraan Onin." He turned to look at Abu. "I'm not apologizing for getting on this ship," he started bluntly, before jerking his head in Rajjdan's direction once more, "but it should be fairly obvious that I came after him. Couldn't rightly go broadcasting myself for the world to see and expect to catch him, could I?
"For the mean time, though, it seems we've formed an alliance of convenience. If we're going to do this, then Rajjdan's right in suggesting that we need some plan for going about it."
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last online Jul 18, 2010 23:49:12 GMT -5
Youngling
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Jul 14, 2010 23:22:30 GMT -5
Post by liamkrupej on Jul 14, 2010 23:22:30 GMT -5
Abu listened to the young one's words as he spoke of the Sith and the galactic situation- and was surprised by the logic and wisdom in his words. Perhaps, he had under-estimated him.
Thinking about his meaning, the older man considered his take on the situation- and realised he had never cared. For the last decade or two of his life, he had been bent solely on the destruction of his nemesis, Kynan Skar. He had not considered the ever encroaching war, nor the rise of the dark side again...All he had ever thought about was that wretched Mirakula.
And now that the thought of the Dark jedi Master filled his mind again, Abu felt the terrible rage and grief which had consumed him for so long return. But then it died away, as he controlled himself, and was replaced by solid resolve. Looking from Rajjdan to Nieraan, he spoke:
" The first thing you should know, if you walk this road with me, as that you may never return from it. Skar is no second rate rebellious Jedi- he is a master of the force, and very powerful. Although weak in combat, his senses are incredible- He probably already knows we're coming. Whenever I attempt to focus and see ahead, it is blocked by some dark shadow- his powers are such that he can cloud your mind and deceive your senses. He is a master of deception and manipulation, and no doubt he will have a trap ready..." A faint smile touched his lips, " However, he may not know the exact number of our gathering, or who YOU both are. That may well play to our advantage. As for a plan...I cannot see far enough ahead to make one. But we must be ready for anything he will throw it as- he is as cunning as a viper, and twice as deadly."
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Jul 15, 2010 0:29:38 GMT -5
Post by danthien on Jul 15, 2010 0:29:38 GMT -5
As much as Rajjdan understood and agreed with what Neiraan said about the approaching war, he felt himself developing a hate for this arrogant Sith. Rajjdan believed that the best chance he had was joining the Sith, as after killing some twenty Jedi over the years, they probably wouldn't accept him with open arms. Worse they would forbid him from using the Dark Side, and make him obey their weak philosophy of peace and self-sacrifice. And worse of all, they would strongly discourage sex. And Rajj just could not have that.
"Neiraan, after this situation has been resolved and I've collected my bounty, I'll gladly have a match against you. I'd really love to wipe that smirk off your face. And after I've thrashed you I probably will head to the Sith and join them, because you're right. I do need to pick a side, that or run off and hide on some independent planet for a couple decades which would be too boring for me."
Rajjdan walked over to the nearby weapons console, attaching his data-pad and launching a couple missiles at the two following ships, who were so surprised after such a long period of quiet, failed to dodge, exploding into pieces. Afterwords Rajjdan calmly turned to Abu to speak.
"I get the feeling that you haven't planned much beyond your vengeance against Skar. After you've killed him, I would suggest you go to the Sith as well. I'll even give you a lift on my ship, The Gifted Shadow, if you'd like, providing the officials at the Starport don't realize that I'm with you and impound my ship."
He smiled lightly at the aging man. He was much more civil than Neiraan, pleasant. He somewhat reminded him of his master, when he wasn't seething with rage against Skar that is.
"I doubt you'll get far with this ship anyway, after half of that city saw you use it to abduct their priestess."
He said his last words with a shrug.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Jul 15, 2010 10:29:45 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Jul 15, 2010 10:29:45 GMT -5
Abu spoke of the danger that would be waiting for them when they arrived, warning them that if they were going to go with him, they might not return alive. Nieraan only scoffed. "I've had my share of dangerous jobs before, and if I can't handle some rogue and his lackeys, then I've no business being with the Sith, do I?" It wasn't as if he'd be doing safe jobs with the war looming. "I'll survive." He said it flatly, nonchalantly, as if he didn't have a doubt in his mind that he was speaking the truth.
Then Rajjdan spoke again, and Nieraan's smirk only grew. So he would get his chance to do battle with the bounty hunter after all, then? Excellent. If Rajjdan was as strong as the stories made him sound, it would be a good fight, but Nieraan was more than confident that he would triumph. "I look forward to it, Trillvan. But don't think you'll be the one handing out the thrashing.
"And as for both of you joining the Sith... Once we're done here and Trillvan's had his ass-kicking, you'll both need to trail me back to the Temple, either in one ship or in two, I don't care, but I can show you the way."
He looked around the bridge, and pulled some large metal container to him with the Force. Easing it against the wall, he sat down on it and looked at the other two, content with his new seat. "Now, for what we do when we get there... I don't really care about this Skar man, to be frank, and he's obviously what both of you are after, so it might be best to leave tracking cornering to you two. I think it's safe to assume he'll have at least a few goons protecting him, though, yes? I think I'll put my attention to dealing with them." He grinned wryly. "I'm very good at making distractions."
Nieraan leaned back easily, as if the bridge of the ship were a part of his home. "So how long of a flight are we looking at before we arrive, anyway? And what's this place we're going to like, if either of you know?"
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Jul 15, 2010 11:27:27 GMT -5
Post by liamkrupej on Jul 15, 2010 11:27:27 GMT -5
Abu grunted. " Skar has many followers and apprentices... Whether they are with hiim or not, I cannot answer. It is possible he is here alone, to search for relics of the Sith, which he seeks relentlessly. However, that is probably not the case. If he has let me get his close, then he thinks he has the upper hand- which means he will probably have a small army at his disposal..."
Just then, Abu caught a flash of white behind the two younger men. Looking past them, he saw a lady in white robes, moving towards them. The priestess. The Dark Jedi's eyes met hers- her face was deahtly white, and her lips were tight. Yet, she held her chin high. Looking down over her, his eyes ran from her face, across her shaking arm and down to her hand. A blaster, which Abu recognised as one frm the fallen guards who had tried to storm the ship, was clutched in her slender fingers.
" Enough of this..." She commands, her voice thin and nervous, the authoritative tone obviously forced. " Turn this ship around now, or I'll kill you."
The blaster was pointed straight at Abu's heart.
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Jul 15, 2010 12:03:03 GMT -5
Post by danthien on Jul 15, 2010 12:03:03 GMT -5
Rajjdan stared at the stupid woman for a moment. The three men in the room were all powerful Dark Jedi who individually could each kill her in thousands of different and horrible ways. With their lightsabers and their skills at deflecting blaster bolts being a renowned ability of force users, the fact that she had the audacity to point a blaster at them, at the oldest and likely most experienced one at that, boggled his mind. With a small flick of his wrist he pulled the blaster out of her hands laid a Force Bitch-slap upside her head, sending her to the ground. In the motion the blaster bolt fired while it twisted, sending the bolt at Neiraan's feet. Rajjdan stood up, lifting the woman in a Force Choke, dragging her so that her face was inches from his.
"Woman, if you know what is best for you, you will not pull such a stupid stunt again. If you do not wish for one of my special torture session, which will make you beg for death, you will shut up and return to the cargo area. If your information is true, Terra's already promised to let you go. Now don't make this mistake again."
The woman ended up fainting after Rajjdan's chat, from both the lack of air and the fear he was instilling. Letting her crumple to the ground Rajjdan turned to the other two.
"I'm going to bring this silly woman back to the cargo area. I'll be back in a minute."
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Jul 15, 2010 12:32:55 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Jul 15, 2010 12:32:55 GMT -5
For once, Nieraan was surprised. Surprised at the absolute idiocy of the Priestess when she came into the room as if she owned it and pointed a gun at Abu, as if Nieraan and Rajjdan weren't standing right there. There were a few moments where all he could do was stare at her, dumbstruck, wondering if she was serious or if this whole thing was some sort of joke.
Then he just laughed. And he laughed harder when Rajjdan slapped the woman, sending her down to the ground in a heap. Of course, the pistol misfired when he hit her, sending a bolt of plasma down to the ground toward one of Nieraan's feet. He simply shifted a bit, and it went on to hit the metal floor, leaving him unharmed. Then he picked her up, strangling her with the Force and gave her a little chat on why it wasn't smart to storm onto the bridge of a ship that was filled with enemies: namely, that it was likely to get you hurt. Or killed.
The Priestess passed out, and Rajjdan took her out of the bridge, back to the cargo hold where she'd been before. Nieraan watched him go, and then shook his head bemusedly once he was gone.
"Such a charming woman," he said to Abu. "I can tell she just really wants to live through this ordeal, can't you?" He snickered, trying to remember what it was Abu had been saying before they were all so rudely interrupted. "She has a pair, though, that's certain.
"Ah yes, but about this temple. Your friend very well may have a 'small army' waiting for us. But as I said, I'll put my energy into carving through and distracting what I can. You and Trillvan are the ones that have the interest in Skar, not me, and I'd just hate to get in your way."
He looked up at Abu from where he was sitting on the metal box and flashed a grin. "Like I said, I'm good at making distractions."
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Jul 15, 2010 13:23:12 GMT -5
Post by liamkrupej on Jul 15, 2010 13:23:12 GMT -5
Abu watched Rajjdan's abuse of the woman with an expressionless face. But his heart was troubled. He didn't know why- Over the years he had been so blinded by his lust for revenge that the only emotion he ever felt was anger. But as he watched he choke under Rajjdan's power, he felt...What was it? Was it compassion? It couldn't be....It had been so long since he had felt anything that even remotely resembled compassion...
Frowning, he resolved to speak to her later, and turned back to Nieraan.
" You shall have all the conflict you desire, Sith. Perhaps, even more than you can handle...Yet, if you are as powerful as you imply, you may survive...As for Skar,he is mine alone to kill. Once his allies lie dead, and he is vulnerable, I shall fight him. Nobody shall interfere..." His tone was cold and resolute, yet his eyes burned with a passionate anger, " It will be my lightsaber and his. "
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Jul 15, 2010 15:25:57 GMT -5
Post by danthien on Jul 15, 2010 15:25:57 GMT -5
After depositing the Priestess' limp body back in the cargo area he stared at her for a moment. She was an insolent, proud woman, fairly pretty. He could see why she had attained the rank of High Priestess. But her attitude needed adjusting. They needed her to be obedient. Using some rope and a nearby crate, Rajjdan tied her down, so that she could not move. Then he applied some tape over her mouth, so she would not scream. After that he used the Force to awaken her. She stared at her, shivering in fear, though he eyes betrayed none of it. She stilled had that haughty look.
"I believe its time you learned your place. That look in your eyes says that you still wish to defy us."
Rajjdan spoke with a calm voice, with the air of a supervisor calmly informing an employee of a typo in their last report. Gently he placed his hand on his Lightsaber, holding it in front of her as he admired it. It was his favored Lightsaber, with a Rainbow Gem in it. It was the only memento he had of his mother. After she had him put in that orphanage, he had only ever seen her once. After which he had forgiven her, and gained revenge for her against the one who had hired the man who would rape her, fathering Rajjdan. Though his mother did not know of his dark tendencies, he preferred to use this Lightsaber when torturing people.
"Let's see if you will still have that look when your face becomes a hideous, burned mess."
The Lightsaber ignited, hissing in the air. Her eyes opened wide in terror, realizing what he was about to do. Holding her head still, he began to burn into her cheeks a symbol. It was the crest of his mother's house on Hapan. No one would ever know what it meant because his mother was just a lesser noblewoman, of little importance. Even though her voice was muffled, her scream was still loud, loud enough that the two in the bridge probably heard it. After he was done he stood away from the woman, whose tears ran down over the burns, evaporating from the heat of her freshly cauterized flesh.
"Remember this woman, the next time you defy us, I will cut off your limbs. You can live without those after all."
He turned away from the sobbing woman and returned to the bridge.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Jul 15, 2010 16:57:40 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Jul 15, 2010 16:57:40 GMT -5
Good, Nieraan thought when Abu said there would be plenty of people to fight. Let them gather around their man. It's been too long since I had a real test of my abilities. Always one to look forward to a fight, Nieraan was quite looking forward to things unfolding once they arrived. It should be entertaining, to say the least.
"He is yours and I will leave you to him," said Nieraan with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Like I said, Skar this Skar isn't of any interest to me. If you want him, you're welcome to him. Trillvan's the one I'd be giving this talk to, not me."
Nieraan was on the verge of saying something more, but he was cut off by the sound of a howl suddenly echoing up from the cargo bay. Rajjdan's voice was too deep to have given such a yell, and it was clearly a woman's voice, leaving only one possibility : it was the Priestess."What in the world is Trillvan doing back there?"
He glanced back into the hallway for a moment as the scream continued and then shrugged, figuring they'd find out soon enough. "How long of a ride are we lookin' at?" he asked Abu, stirring up idle chat while they awaited Rajjdan's return.
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Jul 16, 2010 10:02:35 GMT -5
Post by liamkrupej on Jul 16, 2010 10:02:35 GMT -5
The rest of the short journey to the southern hemisphere of Yanibar passes without anything of note occuring. They discuss tactics and battleplans for the most part, but all the time Abu's mind is in turmoil...He keeps thinking about the priestess.
However, as they approach the co-ordinates of the supposed Jedi Academy, everything goes wrong. Standing on the bridge, Abu feels a lurch as the entire ship swings to one side. And then again as it rocks to the other. Stumbling to the conn panel, he checks the sensors...And sees a monstrous dark cloud consuming te atmospshere around. It was some kind of storm....Yet the kind of thing which would wreak havoc upon the surface of a gas giant, not a habitable planet.
Just as he does this, there is a vicious ripping sound, as if the very fabric of the world around them is being torn. Lightning. Before Abu can react, the lightning connects with the side of the freigher, and the hull explodes as a large chunk of the vessel is blown into the upper atmosphere.
The freighter lurches once more, before spinning into a hurtling nose dive, heading towards the planet's surface. Clutching on for dear life, the Dark jedi peers through the viewer....And sees thte tops of many trees below.
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Jul 16, 2010 13:32:02 GMT -5
Post by danthien on Jul 16, 2010 13:32:02 GMT -5
As the ship falls after its catastrophic failure, Rajjdan looks out the viewer at the ground.
That is coming up way too fast, we'll pancake!!
Rajjdan quickly grabbed onto some nearby handles. Letting the full might of the Force flow through him, the Light and the Dark, Rajjdan brought all his telekinetic might to bear, pull up on the ship with everything he had. The ship creaked even louder, parts started to fall off as the ships downward fall started to angle up. In some far corner of his mind, Rajjdan sensed the cargo area and the priestess break off, falling to her death. Rajjdan's veins were visibly pulsing his muscles bulging, his whole body shaking. He was used to throwing people or objects with his power, small things in combat, his skill was average. And it wasn't enough, their angle was still to steep. The ground was rushing up at them.
"Help me!!"
He yelled at the others, hoping that their Telekinetic skill would be enough to angle the ship up enough to skim over the trees and crash into the nearby plain, because at this speed the trees would kill them.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Jul 16, 2010 18:34:22 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Jul 16, 2010 18:34:22 GMT -5
Booms echoed through the freighter's hull when the bolt of lightning stuck. Nieraan was thrown to the floor from his rather comfortable perch on the metal box as the ship shook violently, writhing like some beat gone mad as it struggled to stay airborne.
Nieraan scowled as he picked himself up, silently thanking the Force he hadn't cracked his head open on the edge of one of the nearby control panels. Chaos swallowed the world around them, and was even creeping into the relative solitude of the bridge they all shared, and just when things between them had finally calmed down. The skies were nearly black; rain fell like little daggers hurled by the gods, seeking to destroy those that dared to intrude upon this hallowed ground. Above it all, looming in the heart of a clearing beyond the forest's edge, was the ancient Temple.
Perhaps it had been a grand place once upon a time, but now it lay in a state of ruin-like disarray. Many of the columns that held up parts of the roof were broken, and with them were areas where the roof had collapsed in on itself. The great stone walls were cracked and damaged where they were not broken entirely, and there was a very generous strewing of rubble all around the grounds of the ancient place. Still, the core of the Temple remained largely intact, and that was where Nieraan imagined they might find their foe. Even that wasn't enough to preserve the temple's long-lost grandeur, though.
Gone was the sense that this place was a fortress for the light; no, now, with its ruined form and the storm that raged about it, the Temple looked decidedly dark. Fitting, perhaps, considering those that were gathered there already and the three dark souls that were on their way.
Of course, none of that would be of any import if they all ended up as nothing but smears on the sides of the trees down below. Abu hung on to one of the panels, clinging with all of his might to keep from being tossed about by the oh-so violent whims of the freighter.
Rajjdan was trying to save them using the Force, but as Nieraan observed the man and the way he strained physically to do what was done through the Force, he knew that the bounty hunter didn't have what it took. Not alone.
For once, Nieraan kept his ego in check; the task of correcting the ship's flight path enough to keep them all alive would be a tall order--if not impossible--for anyone to do alone. Nieraan let his eyes slide closed as he reached out into the Force, preparing to force it to do his bidding.
As it happened, he was very talented with telekinesis. He could do a number of things many other Force users could not, and with a great deal of power and precision. Even then, their current situation might have been out of his reach if he tried it without assistance. But with Rajjdan's aid...
Nieraan explored the form of the ship, using the visual image he'd gotten of it before boarding to aid him. The back was gone, nothing more than a ruin in the trees, surely, but the rest of the vessel was in decent enough condition. He didn't notice his hands as they moved about him, weaving out fibers of the Force to take up positions to fortify those that had already been laid by Rajjdan.
Without a word, he pulled. The ship resisted. He pulled harder. Nieraan's face was calm, though had his body not been covered by his clothing, the others would have noticed that, much like Rajjdan, his muscles had gone tense and hard, accented by the networks of veins that flowed around them. A single vein sneaked it's way across his right temple, mostly hidden by his shaggy hair, but it was there. But other than that, there was no physical sign of his struggle.
Still he pulled, and still the ship continued to resist. There was a moment there that Nieraan knew that impressive as his skill was, he wouldn't have been able to do it on his own. But as Rajjdan and he continued to strain, pulling with all that they had, a shift began. It was slow, almost unnoticeable at first, but the nose of the ship slanted up a bit. Then it went more, and still more, pulling the doomed vessel back enough to delay its landing until they'd cleared the trees. And then, though he still held strong through the Force, Nieraan allowed his eyes to open just in time to brace for the landing as ground and ship finally united.
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