A Day in the Countryside (Zilfer, Semi-Open)

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Aerith Vand was surveying the scenery from her favorite vantage point: on top of a horse, and not just any horse, but her beloved black mare, Tyuru. From her back, she commanded a view in ever direction, in the center of a meadow filled with tall grass.

It was exceptionally peaceful, and extremely relaxing. Aerith needed these little excursions into the countryside, as breaks from the heavy burden of running a company, and of course plotting to take over the family. That one was too much stress, enough for her anxiety to nag her persistently. She hated every minute of it, but she couldn't stop it.

She was behind, the third in the family. No one respected her, and the most that could be said was that she was wealthy, and the Criaxans who adored the Vand family were very admiring of her. But that was her public persona, and in private... Her family didn't appreciate her. Well, she was about to force that issue. With her brothers dead, her father would be forced to appreciate her.

She'd be all he had left.

Aerith sighed. Why was this all so hard? She was smart, smart enough to make all this work, but it wasn't easy. Everything took large amounts of work, both manipulation and logistics. The rewards were going to be delayed by months, or years if her father lived long enough. It wasn't over by a long shot.

Yet, some day she would bear the title Countess, and be the figurehead of her home world.

The future-Countess led her horse across the meadow at a canter, aiming for a small lake nearby, where Tyuru could get water and she could dismount, possibly sitting in the shade and reading. She had brought along a good book for just such an occasion.

She wasn't expecting company.

[Zilfer]

The sun was warm, and that was about the only thing pleasant he was finding about this day. That and that fact that this world very much reminded him of Chinine. Not quite a 'savage beauty' like the world he had spent the last few months on. He almost missed it wondering if he'd lead a happier life away from all civilization, through most of his life it seems it had only brought pain.

Looking out at the lake however it was easy to forget that, and getting lost in the blue waters and pure reflective surface it seemed to hold a world of itself. He wondered if anyone had ever thought of it as a gate to another world? Heh, that would be pure folly. Almost as foolish as getting involved in political intrigue in a world he didn't quite understand. He had arrived three weeks ago seeking out work both mundane and his other... 'specialized' skills. The empire was always looking for ways to out maneuver their opponents or those that threatened their power in the system. Well he had done his job but that hadn't played out like he wanted. Double crossed or his 'employer' who wished to remain anonymous, didn't feel the need to pay for his services. If this was back on Nar Shaddaa he had a few contacts that would be able to fix that. He'd get a name, or at the very least the name slandered of the one who had employed him in the first place.

"What I would kill for a fruit drink right about now," said Zilfer aloud believing himself to be alone in this place. He walked forward to the edge of the water as if tempted to go in, though his robes would be soaked, and his lightsaber probably wouldn't be too happy for a few hours later. He sighed for a moment running a hand through his long black hair until it reached his ponytail. Then on a whim he picked up a rock and threw it across the surface of the pond just to see the waves caused by the rock. He smirked almost boyishly for his age. He would let the prying questions lie to rest for now, for how knew what tomorrow would bring. The worry about what he was going to do next or if he should be expecting an 'cleaner' crew from his former employer was temporarily put aside.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Aerith slowed the pace of her horse as she passed through a grove of trees and onto the shores of the lake. She dismounted swiftly, landing on the ground with poise and pulling errant locks of raven hair off of her face. As she turned, she took a double-take as she saw a dark-haired man. His hair was as black as her own, and almost as pristinely pale as she was. Unlike her, who was dressed in jodhpurs, riding boots, and a blue silken blouse, he was wearing black armor.

One of the two looked highly out of place, and it wasn't Aerith.

The aristocrat was somewhat taken aback at the presence of someone else at the secluded lake near her estate, but it was technically public land, though closed for development. She'd encountered someone once before, by which she meant she'd seen a man once fishing on the far side.

But, it wouldn't do to be discourteous. Her saber was on her saddle, if she needed it, and being rude wouldn't solve any problems.

"You startled me. I don't often see people here. It's a very secluded place."

Aerith tied her horse's reigns to a fallen tree next to the water, so her 'friend' could drink. As she did so, she patted the creature's neck again and turned to the stranger, book now in hand.

"I hope you don't mind if I read here."

[Zilfer]

Zilfer turned looking behind him, half expecting a drawn weapon at his back. He was pleasantly surprised however as he looked back and saw a young woman dressed in an aristocrat outfit. From the way it looked she did not look anything like someone who'd kill you while your back was turned.

"Apologies, I was just wandering and found this place. I don't like large crowds and sometimes I find it is nice to get away from people for awhile," said Zilfer trying to be curious as possible. He then looked to the horse curiously before back to the girl.

"A book? oh yes, I don't see many people use those nowadays," said Zilfer holding up a datapad for a moment. "Not when you keep everything on one of these. To each his own I guess."

With that he looked back out to the lake and was silent for a good few minutes allowing her to read in silence. His curiosity as usual got the better of him.

"Sounds like you come here often, don't suppose you come here to get away from people as well." said Zilfer crossing his arms. He noticed he probably looked a bit funny dressed to be out here but hardly ever left his armor behind. It had been made by a friend of his. A rather stubborn Mandalorian, he might meet again in the future if he could pay his way off planet. Currently he was lacking enough to get past the next week in food. Vacations from the galaxy generally left your credits down Mynock hole as some people would put it.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

"There's something soothing about paper. Makes me feel secure and comfortable."

A genuine flicker of honesty came through with that relaxed statement, and for once Aerith was simply being herself. And moreover, the nice aspect of her personality rather than the conniving and occasionally-cruel ruler she also was.

The young noble walked over to a tree root and sat on it, tucking her knees up towards her chest and resting her back against the tree trunk. She opened her book to the correct page and started to read, drifting off into the old epic story of the Queen Cavelia and her seven suitors, as recorded in verse. It was, by most standards, rather weighty. But Aerith enjoyed that in her reading material.

She was interrupted as the armored man spoke again, and Aerith closed the cover of the book, leaving her finger in to mark the page. What he asked was remarkably true.

"I do. A woman in my position has a great many things to get away from. Sometimes it is people, other times responsibilities. Even those times when I simply feel overwhelmed I can mount my horse and ride out here. Then I simply relax, and ride home when I am done. I imagine you are getting away from something here as well?"

It was a subtle line of inquiry into the man's affairs, and one Aerith Vand didn't particularly feel any burning curiosity in. If he eluded it then he eluded it, and if not then she had an answer as to what an armored man was doing here. Somehow she doubted he meant her harm. After all, if he did he would have done it already.

In fact, it was likely he didn't even know who she was. That was in a way quite relieving.

[Zilfer]

He smirked at her comment about leaving responsibility behind. By her appearance alone he would judge she did not know anything about living the streets or the toil that her servants probably lived in from day to day. Though there was a slight edge about her he thought he could feel.

"Isn't that the way of it all, everyone's running from something. I don't know if I came here for an escape or if it was just a whim of fate," said Zilfer who went over to examine the horse for a moment. An interesting beast of burden he noted, though he had seen no creature like it in his travels. Bizarre but that's what you grew used to when traveling the galaxy. It's like whoever made it couldn't make the same thing twice or it had too many ideas and not enough places to put them. An odd thought to say the least. He looked it in the eyes as he petted its head and then held his hand at the noise for a moment. "A noble creature. You can tell by the eyes like most things, it holds some intelligence there. Some say a gateway to the soul."

He finally placed his finger on what he liked about the place, it was the quiet lack of noise that was calming here. It was easy to miss because most people weren't listening for silence. "I bet you don't have long here before whatever you ran from comes looking for you. Just a small respite, don't you ever get tired of it all?" asked Zilfer whether he was asking himself that question or her.... he wasn't quite sure the answer himself.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Whims of fate. Now that was an interesting notion. Some people thought fate was some governing aspect of life, an important and irresistible force. To Aerith that was a childish belief, a bunch of nonsense. Life was not destiny. She was hardly destined to be Countess, that was entirely her own works.

Fate was a joke.

Aerith was considerably more pleased by his comment about her horse, pleased to the point of a smile that graced her fair features. A genuine smile. That horse was her prized possession, and it was very good to have her admired. Like an art collector whose signature piece was praised, Aerith beamed.

"A beautiful creature. I helped raise her, since she was a filly."

Another question arrived.

"Yes and no," Aerith answered. "I wouldn't trade what I do or how I live. But it can be tiring at times. I find the key is to take time for myself. I have to entrust my affairs to others now and again. I don't like it, but I find it is essential. But I do place a barrier between my work and my social life, though in a way my social life is work of its own. There is a great deal of pressure, and I ride to escape it. But... I am afraid the pressure will only increase as time goes by. But, noblesse oblige."

[Zilfer]

"And just what is it that you do may I ask?" came the next question from Zilfer indeed it sounded like she had a wise outlook on life. Sometimes it was important to see to your own needs before the needs of others, because if you weren't at your best how could you expect to help others succeed in doing their best? The answer was simple. You couldn't.

"Maybe I've seen to many holo-vids, but I'd expect you to be accompanied by prince charming or him sneaking out of the bushes any second now to challenge me to a duel," said Zilfer chuckling at that notion. No doubt he had seen to many holo-vids, a hobbie he should kick for more training but that was life wasn't it? Endless choices. "Not that you'd need protecting of course." With that he left the horses side making a mental note of the scabbard. Adept with swords, perhaps? A curious one this... not that noble's weren't known for dabbling into that.

He realized now that he might be only here on this lady's good graces and it was a possibility that she did not want him here and was only being polite. He hadn't had polite conversation in a good while, most of the time it was either a target trying to bribe him, or dissuade him in some way or he was slamming some hutt-slime around for some information. Not the kind of topic he'd bring up here, but if he was intruding it would be best if he left now. "If I am intruding I can leave. I realize that may be intruding on your private time, and as you said it is important."

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Aerith chose to answer the last two questions first, as they seemed the most pressing.

"Not at all. I don't mind this little conversation. I don't often get to talk with strangers. I live a rather cloistered life sometimes it seems. I do have societal standards to live up to, and I wouldn't be associating with you if we weren't completely alone. Not that it would be anything personal. It just isn't done here on Criaxa."

It was a rather cold truth, but it was thoroughly honest, and she didn't have a qualm with being honest when it came to a man who was possibly inconsequential, and didn't even know who she was. Of course that was about to change rather suddenly.

"I assure you, I need no Prince Charming. Some of us are in no need of a tin-plated rescue by some gallant buffoon."

That statement was accompanied by a bright and airy laugh like the tinkling of small bells, one of Aerith's better traits. Even when her laughter by all rights should have been snide, cynical, or 'evil' for lack of a better word, it was merry and very 'good.' Like Aerith herself, it was the best possible packaging, and rather deceitful.

"As to what I do, I am Lady Aerith Vand. My father is the Count, and I am the head of a fair-sized commercial empire. So I have to balance high society with high business. Now perhaps you can see why I need my rides in the countryside."

[Zilfer]

"The name's Zilfer," he said in response. Even after hearing she was royalty it didn't seem to affect him in the normal way. Most people would fake at least a little bit of courtesy and bow. Some would use "mi'lady" or "mi'lord" but those were just hollow titles to Zilfer. Titles that no much told him about the person than say a word defined an object. He could call a rock the third in the line of kings but that didn't change anything about the rock itself. "It is wonderful to meet you Aerith, though I expect if more people weren't divided by these social trappings we'd get to understand each other much more."

He decided that she must definitely be a key in her father's plan for the future. He thought he had heard something about there being only one last child of the Count. If he had learned at least a little bit of the political intrigue here. On most planets if the leader only had a daughter they would marry her off to someone they knew could handle the empire. This place could be different but sexism reached most places of the galaxy.

"So what's your plans when your father is out of the picture than? I'm not sure your going to have time for strolls like this anymore. I do think you are rather brave," said Zilfer smirking mischievously. "Most would run away in the face of such responsibility. I cannot say that if I was in your position, that I would stay around."

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Aerith blinked in surprise at the response he gave, inquiring about her plans. For a half a second she had a great and overwhelming fear, and was convinced he knew every detail of the plans she'd been hatching for years, that she planned the deaths of her brothers and the eventual seizure of her father's title.

And then, the fear died down. No, it was obvious he lacked that knowledge. He was simply under the impression she would be Countess some day, which was true. Very few people knew it would happen, but this man's guess was correct.

The real question was about how she would handle the demands of being the monarch of a planet, and such an influential Sith aristocrat. Moreover, it was rather nice to hear herself referred to as brave. Aerith had never really associated bravery or courage with herself, content in the knowledge that everything was planned in advance so as to minimize risk, and not looking for anything else. But perhaps she was brave in a sense for taking on the challenge of ruling, of leading the Vand family.

Aerith had never thought of it that way before.

It was with a sad realization that she realized her rides would probably become both shorter and farther between as she gained prominence, but that was a sacrifice she would bear to have the title of Countess.

Her response was, as befit the conversation so far, remarkably genuine.

"I stay around because Criaxa is my home, and I am a Vand. I grew up taught I was a leader, that I was intelligent and destined for greatness. I knew I could shine if just granted the time to do so, I can tell my time is coming. I will help govern the Sith Empire, and everyone will know my name. It will be like a reward for all my years of study and work."

[Zilfer]

“You’re definitely patriotic about your home in the very least. I will give you that. The problem I have with such things isn’t the strong belief that ones own home, country or world is important, but to the extremes it can be taken. Though your planet seems like its not as bad as most,” said Zilfer knowing Nar Shaddaa could be a much worse place than any other place.

It was he had spent a good deal of his life making a living and calling it home would be awkward. There was something about it that left him feeling like it was home there, but any cityscape had that affect.

He had never been one for the spotlight, and wondered how he would have faired under such scrutiny. In the end everything seemed to go in circles. The recounting of history told us that. The Sith had come and go, Empires had sprung up only to crumble. The republic had been crippled to near extinction in the past and crawled its way from the depths. As long as there were large amounts of people to be ruled, and people who grew upset with the current system there would always be reform. His friend Bermfad had recounted stories of his ancestor’s in the Mandalorian Wars. In the long term things seemed so pointless, but the galaxy moved on without them.

He muttered something in Mandalorian under his breath before asking, “Darasuum di’kutla… Do you ever wonder if it’s worth the effort? I’m not for either the Republic or the Sith empire, both sides have their faults. I just catch myself wondering if it all really matters in the end. Forgive me, I do not often talk to nobles let alone future rulers. My manners are that of a drunken bantha who thought he was invited a party of Vornskr’s.”

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Of course Criaxa wasn't as bad as most. It was one of the most pleasant planets in the Empire, and definitely a vacation destination. People liked the idyllic countryside, the massive freshwater oceans, and the culture that had arisen there. People also liked having an aristocrat to lead them. There was something comforting about tradition, like old leather long since broken in.

Zilfer said something in a strange language Aerith didn't know, and she frowned over it briefly, annoyed at the fact she didn't comprehend something. Of course she'd always been that way, ever since she was a child. Little Aerith had always had the compulsion to understand absolutely everything, and had an insatiable appetite for new knowledge, something that hadn't changed with her coming of age.

No one ever stopped learning.

Did it all matter in the end? What a silly question. Aerith of all people knew how foolish waxing philosophical was, and that the only result one would be given from such musing was a headache and nagging doubts they were doing everything wrong. She'd found liberation in the idea that power was her motivation, not ethics or philosophy. She knew what she wanted, she took it. It was simple enough really, and she didn't need more nagging doubts about doing the right thing in the back of her head, constantly coming up again and again. This was much better for her.

Zilfer obviously needed to find his own direct philosophy, and avoid the musing.

Aerith opened her mouth and spoke in her usual polite voice, brimming with haughty control.

"Of course it matters. Everyone desires power, a measure of control. It doesn't matter whether it is over yourself or others, power is power. Everyone wants it, and we do what it takes to have it. Prestige goes hand in hand. Everyone wants their day in the sun, their chance to shine. All you have to worry about is doing what you need for yourself. Don't burden yourself with excessive philosophies. Find what you want, and take what actions you need to secure it. That's simple enough really. Nothing is inherently good or evil, only your thoughts make it so."

[Zilfer]

Zilfer smiled when she said Philosphy had nothing to do with it really. Life was simple, sure you could apply such simpleness to the world but it wasn't like that. He found it doubly humorous that she offered him a philosophicle outlook right after saying not to get caught up in it.

"Ah yes, wasn't that from a philospher named... Shake--... ah I've seemed to have forgotten, but I remember hearing that before," said Zilfer seeming to think for a moment before repeating the line but the version he had heard, something he himself had said when he was much younger. "Nothing is Good or Evil but thinking makes it so. Yes, that's how I remember it. My master was into such sayings."

That brought back bitter sweet memories, of a time much simpler. His world was controlled by the whims of his Master Carashi, and it occured to him that he knew very little of him which to this day saddened him. He would never get to know much of Carashi's life now that he had... become one with the force as they say. A bitter chuckle excaped him. "Above all else to thine ownself be true. That was his favorite."

Since he had the unique pleasure of finding out how the noble's thought of prestige and power he figured he'd delve a little bit more into that. Hopefully he wasn't coming off as presumptious or rude, though he expected this woman would speak her mind if he did. It's not like he wanted an ruler to be hunting him down once she was in power. Hell even being the daughter of the count probably gave her enough leeway to put a bounty on his head. Not something he envisioned would be fun.

"The problem with power is everyone wants it. Once you become Countess what's going to stop the next person in line from trying to 'rush' your way through? I suppose you have an idea of what your going to do to prevent that but lets face it. There are more minds arrayed against you to get any ruler or person in power out than working for you. I'm speaking hypothetically here, but what would you do if suddenly your people didn't want you ruling anymore? Or if someone managed to out manuver you to counthood? Have you even thought of such possibility? Are you prepared for that possibility?" asked Zilfer. He was curious for he always thought nobles could never see themselves not getting what they want. Was this attitude just a show they put on display to appear to have no doubts in themselves? Or did they truly believe it was something akin to divine right?

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Aerith smiled an amused smile, dismissing all of Zilfer's concerns one by one inside her mind. Did he really think she hadn't planned out every possible contingency? Did he too think she was some airheaded young socialite incapable of sound thought?

Sadly, too many people on Criaxa thought of her in those terms, knowing of her only for attending parties or her box seat at the opera. Even her own father and brothers had always thought of her in that way, as some trivial child whose interest was in dresses and horses rather than politics or business.

Well, Aerith had proven her prowess at business years ago, and soon when she delved into the political landscape of the Sith Empire, she would prove herself too. She could surpass what goals she set, could perform adequately under even the most adverse conditions, and prove once and for all that Aerith Vand was the greatest Vand of all.

As the armored man went on and on about concerns and what-ifs, Aerith grew steadily more displeased, and the amused smile vanished, to be replaced with a serious face. A frown in fact. It was obvious from body language that Aerith was displeased.

The constant naysaying, the opposition to everything, and the assumption she was some kind of fool who didn't understand the responsibilities she was going to take on had made her quite angry.

When she spoke, Aerith snapped out her reply.

"Do you think I am some idiotic child? You treat me like a fool. I am not some stupid little girl, or some upper class twit. I am Aerith Vand. Aerith Vand. All of my life I have been ready for the burdens of ruling, ready to use my intelligence. I will not have that questioned by some vagrant. Of COURSE I am prepared. Do not dare to treat me as some incompetent infant. Perhaps you think you are better qualified to become Countess than I am? Yes, I'm sure such a brilliant politician and strategist as yourself can clearly do a better job than some foolish woman."

Aerith rose to her feet during the course of her rant and folded her arms angrily. She was glowering, and her brows were knit in anger that was short of fury and well short of rage, but much more serious than moderate displeasure.

[Zilfer]

Inside Zilfer couldn't help but smile. She couldn't have said it better herself for how she was acting. A child indeed, give but word to the contrary to their beliefs, and they begin to grow angry. thought Zilfer who remained unphased outwardly about the outburst he was having. He wasn't here to make enemies, and he was doing a sure good job of making a potential deadly one. After she crossed her arms he resisted a smirk, it was kind of cute in a way. So he proceeded in the calmest voice he could.

"I assure you, I hold no claim to such a title. A street rat from Empress Teta, hardly sounds like someone who would be a king, or count," said Zilfer almost scoffing at the idea. "I merely wished to point out the gravity of the situation your facing. As I now know you are well aware of. I will not apologize for angering you. The fact that you showed such a strong emotion such as this means that you have a rare passion for your beliefs. Never let anyone take that away from you."

He scratched the back of his head smiling for a moment. "I guess I should let you get back to your reading, I'm afraid I may have ruined your trip to relax, by reminding you of what you sought to get away from. My sincerest apologies Miss Vand." said Zilfer the closest thing he got to formal with anyone. Hopefully he had avoided any aggressive action on her part, and if she dismissed him he would try and keep his distance. Practicing perhaps further away his daily training of his telekinetic powers. Away from her of course and other prying eyes.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Somehow Aerith found this man's tone increasingly grating. It was like he thought he was superior somehow, and he acted it. He was like one of her brothers, and that deeply bothered her.

There was always someone who thought they were better than you, not matter how different the facts were. Aerith was an aristocrat, nobility. She made millions upon millions of credits, and next to her, how could some vagrant even think he could compare? It was bad enough that he called her 'Miss' rather than Lady.

Aerith's frown continued.

His apology was not adequate in her eyes. At first his honesty had been refreshing, now it just felt like a session with one of her brothers. And that filled her with deep displeasure.

Aerith returned to her seat without saying anything and reopened her book, reading it in silence. She delved into the words and tried to let herself relax again. And she found after a short while it was indeed helping.

With any luck it would stay calm.

[Zilfer]

With that Zilfer nodded his head giving it a second before turning and walking away. He looked at the horse one more time before turning, he smiled at the horses look. It seemed comical to say the very least. He decided space would help, it wouldn't do to stay within a 100 feet of the woman. He had encountered worse women than this, particularly some vehement twi'lek dancers. Worse yet, he was under the sneaking suspicion Red Twi'lek's in particular were the worst.

Zilfer found a place near the water and sat down staring out once again peacefully taking in the sight. He began to relax his muscles after picking up a handful of small pebbles. He closed his eyes, and opened himself to the force and nature around him. Slowly he began to rotate four small pebbles around him trying to arc them in slightly different patterns. This allowed him to clear his mind he found instead of having his thoughts wonder onto other subjects.

He lost himself in the abyss of mental concentration, and for a time he lost the consciousness of self. When he grew tired of this exercise he shot the pebbles across the water again skipping them with the force of the throw. One... skip, skip skip, two.... skip skip skip, ect. He opened his eyes afterward and stretched tiredly and threw his arms up as he laid back with his arms behind his head. It was almost like a mini vacation, and it wouldn't be long before he felt the life draining from those he killed, not something he reveled in but hey it was a living right?

He decided to wager a glance over towards Aerith to see if she had stormed off in anger. It wouldn't have surprised him if she had but surprisingly she hadn't. He saw some people approaching in the distance, and figured her guards had decided to show up to finally get the royal heir and drag her back to soceity. That's when he noticed they didn't look like any guards he had seen since his arrival on Criaxia and they were closing in on her from a circle like pattern as if to cut off her exit.

'Prepared... why do I get the feeling she didn't see this coming,' thought Zilfer to himself as he set himself into motion. Why was she out here without an escort anyways? If your that important to the future of a planet why wouldn't you take a least one body guard, especially to a remote place where anything could happen. He had gotten onto this private land easily enough... There was no time for those thoughts they were still off in the distance. Hopefully his appearance would give them pause, an armored body guard, he made sure his lightsaber was in plain view. Sometimes just seeing a lightsaber could make even the hardiest thug give pause.

"Please tell me you know these people..." muttered Zilfer as he approached Aerith who appeared to be absorbed thoroughly in her book. "If not I hope your good with that weapon strapped to your horse..."

"What's the meaning of this? Who approaches Lady Aerith?" asked Zilfer deciding to play it out, and see where it lead. Hopefully they'd be willing to talk so he could glean some information.

"Your not our quarry, step aside and you can walk away." came one of the men's voices. Under his voice Zilfer muttered a count. 'Five, that I can see maybe more.'

"Whoever you work for is pretty blazen attacking Lady Aerith, when her father hired a Sith bodyguard," said Zilfer flatly as he reached for his saber. 'Oh I'm going to regret that...'

Examining his enemies, most of them were outfitted in some armor save for one which was the one who had spoken to him. Blonde hair, blue eyes and a confident bearing about himself. Zilfer counted on that one having a shield up for protection. That or he was just plain confident.

"If you defend her you'll die just the same."

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

"What people?" Aerith asked as she looked up from her book without the outward sign of any concern besides the recent dispute. In fact, her voice sounded slightly exasperated, as if approaching people were fictional in all likelihood, or else some pair of hikers on a pleasure trek through the countryside.

Grayish-blue eyes went from the pages to the approaching figures, and promptly the book fell to the ground. Each of the men was armed, some with vibroblades, others with blasters. Automatically Aerith's keen and calculating mind leapt into action.

Five of them, and by a lucky coincidence the three facing Zilfer had blaster rifles and- Interesting. Zilfer had a lightsaber. But the other two men had vibroblades. The natural course of action was for the aristocrat to grab her saber from the saddle, and let Zilfer handle the other three.

With that course of action decided, Aerith dashed across the sand to her horse and pulled the saber from its sheathe, and raced back again. The weight of her duranium saber was reassuring in her hand as the bright metal shown in the sunlight, the gold and silver detailing gleaming. It was exquisite, down to the ivory hilt.

It was fortunate she had dashed back behind Zilfer, because a blaster shot echoed through the pristine surroundings as a bolt of superheated plasma whizzed past where she'd just been.

"Take the three while I take the two. I promise you'll be rewarded for this."

Aerith's voice was clipped, but it also had a combination of fear and grim determination in it. She was more scared than she liked to admit, and her heart was beating loudly. But she was a Vand, a noble. She wouldn't show weakness. Not now.

[Zilfer]

These guys really weren't into talking much he surmised already a shot had gone off as she raced for her weapon. Luckily it missed the horse, or Zilfer might have just had to start the killing than. "I won't say no to that," said Zilfer to Aerith when she mentioned a reward for helping her. His judgement was almost at an impass of what to do, if he defended her it was likely he wouldn't be able to take the offense and dispatch these men, and if he couldn't do that then he wouldn't be able to hold them off forever... if he did attack it might leave Aerith open to the others. Once Aerith assured him she could take two of them then his mind was set, this was going to end bloody.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," said Zilfer activating his double bladed lightsaber, the silver blades slowly shooting out. Their blasters rose to bear but he was already charging them. The force flew from his hand blasting the rifle men out in different directions. He came upon the first one grabbing for his rifle and Zilfer passed him up with a sweeping blow still sprinting towards the next one. He hadn't been able to avoid a killing blow but now wasn't the time to dwell on that. He hoped Aerith could handle her own against the two, a misjudgement now would make this whole attempt to even the odds a waste.

Ahead the man was aiming his rifle from down on his ass. He wasn't going to be able to make it in time so he threw his lightsaber both blades humming through the air like a chainsaw coming at the man. It was hard to guide it and not kill the man hopefully armor would save most of him as it sliced through his gun, and through him spinning off in the distance and started it's return trip. A bolt slammed into Zilfer's side sending him sprawling onto the ground from the shot.

Disoriented he smelt smoke and burning cloth as he looked down to see a scortch mark on his right side on his beskar armor. He muttered a silent prayer to his Mandalorian friend who had gifted himself the armor. The man was lining up for another shot at him, and Zilfer reached out to his lightsaber that had landed and deactivated. It reached his hand almost as the shot was fired.

No time to react, he twisted his lightsaber hilt drawing the two halfs apart as they activated. With a flurry of blaster bolts he deflected them one by one.

"Just die already!" shouted the man as Zilfer made his way closer weaving his lightsaber blades independant of each other yet almost as if they made a complete whole. This man would learn just how well his coordination was with two hands. After thirty seconds of this prolonged gun fire he had managed to get within striking distance of the man who was now slowly backing away. Deflecting a bolt aside with a flick of his wrist he rushed closing the distance and sliced through the man's gun effectively disarming him, while his other saber rose to the man's throat.

"You will answer me, who do you work for?" demanded Zilfer vehemently. He managed a side glance over to where Aerith was to make sure she wasn't in trouble or needed assistance.