Less Than Noble Intentions

[Kella]

Sheera's feet touched grimy streets. Coruscant. So much in her life had revolved around Coruscant. It was the center of the galaxy. It was the center of her galaxy. Coruscant.

Her silent steps began to carry her along the street. Higher and higher she climbed, cheap slums fading to expensive housing, pawn shops to open markets. Salesmen and women flaunted their wares, cries like feral brays rising above the noise. None of them took any notice of her. That's how it always was, these days. But not how it always had been.

And then she saw the temple, tall and graceful in its glory. A facade. The Republic, the honor, the Jedi, it was all a facade. Sheera's expression was one of subtle sneer as she neared the temple. Her revenge would not be complete; no, far from it. But she would be that much closer...

Sheera's sneer fell away, and her face grew stony as something caught her eye.

They all marched in perfect unison. Their uniforms were spotless, perfectly arranged. The blasters they carried were graceful, clean. Ceremonial. First one way, then another, the soldiers marched. Republic soldiers.

The memories came surging back, like persistent Kath hounds. But Sheera didn't hold them back. She never did. They strengthed her resolve, intensified her lust for revenge. She became perfectly still, eyes locked upon the Drill while Coruscant swirled oblivious around her.

She could see his face. Remembered the way he had taken her honor and crushed it into dust. She remembered that uniform, that uniform of the Republic. They were all like him every soldier, every officer; no matter how well they hid it. The Republic was built on lies, only lies. Nobility, Justice... bah! Mere facades.

So many soldiers, just going about their business... Ignoring the injustice, the cruelty. Sheera felt sweet temptation on her tongue, as her fingers stroked the surface of her forbidden fruit. Fruit with a pin, a pin she only had to pull...

Sheera brought that forbidden fruit to her mouth, took a bite. The metal of the pin was cold on her tongue. And then she yanked her hand away, renting the pin from its mooring, hate-filled eyes never leaving the drilling soldiers. With a movement like the sweeping of her cloak, Sheera sent the temptation skittering across the ground. The hiss of metal against flooring was quiet compared to the commotion. It would not be heard.

The soldiers had paused in their drill, twirling their blaster rifles. The grenade slid across the ground, beneath their feet. It came to stop at the foot of a Captain, but by that time, it was too late.

Click, hisssss! Sheera watched with satisfaction as a roiling cloud of acrid green smoke began to billow from the small device. She watched the soldiers' faces. Panic, fear. A few showed courage, but she ignored these. Regardless, they were soon swallowed up by the cloud, devouring them like a monster.

Sheera swept her eyes away, satisfaction curling at her lip. They had gotten what they deserved. But that's when she caught a pair of eyes fixed upon her. They swirled with fear, defiance, courage, frailty. Those eyes were transfixed upon Sheera for a moment. Her own gray orbs cut sharp as daggers. For a moment, Sheera's eyes defied the others. They said 'take me, find me, kill me. You never will.'

And then Sheera was gone, her silent footsteps carrying her further down the way. The silky taste of victory was still thick upon her tongue. She could hear the coughing and the gasping behind her, and as she walked, a med-vehicle raced by, lights flashing, sirens blaring. Her smile of satisfaction deepened. No matter the consequences... she had no regrets.

~

Each temple step was another step closer, and Sheera clutched the letter. More poison. This deepened her smirk of satisfaction, thin black lips curled like a talon.

And then the Temple swallowed her, like a hungry dragon. But Sheera would never be devoured. Never. No, she would cut open the dragon of the Republic from the inside out, tear it to shreds. The dragon in dove's 'guise.

[Kella]

ooc// Thought I might as well re-use this thread! ;D Dialogue from the Council Chamber is here. //


//~~~\\


Sheera escaped from the belly of the dragon. However, she simply could not erase Jace's gaze from her mental gaze. It was not so much a physical image; she could not have retold what color his eyes were, or the shape of his brow. It was as if his gaze plunged so much deeper into his soul... or perhaps it was the other way around. Perhaps Sheera was the one who had been flayed.

However, she shoved these thoughts from her mind. Vehemently. And then she willed that cocky satisfaction to come back to her, that attitude which had allowed her to survive the past few years. She had not chosen this life. She would do anything, anything to have her old life back...

But she was not about to admit that she'd made a mistake, and so she forced herself to believe the lie that she was better off, that they'd been holding her back.

Sheera focused on the material. She street below, the people milling around. She was no genius, but she was at least smart enough to deduce that she'd probably be followed. She would not visit Ty's address just yet. The betrayal would have bothered her little, but Sheera got the feeling that Jing was the kind to store her credits elsewhere, and a search of her dead body would yield little.

Somewhere in her mind, this disregard for life disgusted her, but she'd embraced the thoughts so long that they'd become completely ingrained; a part of her.

Sheera's path brought her back by the scene of the Soldiers' drill. Her black lips were like a slash of ink as she sneered. They'd gotten what they deserved. They all deserved to rot in--

Sheera felt a force catch her across the stomach and she tumbled forward onto the ground, the harsh metal cutting deep into her left palm. Sheera cried out, the pain echoing and radiating up her arm. Her face twisted into a viscous scowl as she turned to see a burly shopkeeper, sneering down at her. Apparently, he was in a hurry, for he barely spared her another glance before moving on, the large sacks he was carrying the cause of Sheera's fall.

Now, Sheera had a very calm demeanor. However, there is something each person ought know about Nagai. They put an extremely high value upon honor. And so, offending one -- especially one born noble -- is a very, very bad idea. Sheera's emotions had been stirred, her control shaken, and so it took no more than this nerf-herder of a shop-keeper to send her over the edge.

In mere moments, There was a dagger in Sheera's hand. She didn't even hesitate before drawing her left arm back, crimson blood trickling down her death-pale wrist. And then she brought her arm around, flicking her stinging wrist and sending the dagger arcing through the air, a comet-like high-light flicking down its length as the blade spun toward its mark...

ooc// Well, this was unexpected. xD My charries to tend to run away with me. Now the Jedi simply must haul her in, interrogate her, and search her pockets for the slip of paper with the address of her employer... ;D //

[starwarsgirl008]

Ty grinned walking down the streets of Coruscant. Her plans had changed within the past few hours. She grew tired of waiting in her vast apartment. Instead she wanted to do more. Inflict more pain on the Jedi, especially the wretched Grand Master. She had the will to run straight to the Temple and stab the Jedi with a dagger, but it would only end badly for her. Sitting in her apartment, she came up with a plan: she would hint that she was the one who sent the letter, the Jedi Council would be quick to accuse her after previous events. However, she wouldn't reveal enough to allow herself to get arrested. It was perfect and would give the Jedi plenty of stress. She just needed to figure out how she could do this. She needed the most valuable force in the Galaxy. She needed time.

She thought for a few moments. The Nagi woman was the only lead the Jedi had. Surely they would track her in some form of another. Ty came up with yet another plan: send the Jedi on a goose chase into the wilderness of the Galaxy. Away from Coruscant, and away from the Core Worlds. It didn't matter where, as long as it was far, far away. It would allow her to feel safe on Coruscant and lay low for a while, and would add to the stress level of the Jedi. It was perfect.

And so, Ty got out a piece of paper, and began to write a letter to the Nagi women:

Recent events have changed the course of this mission. I want you to leave Coruscant. Go anywhere you please, I couldn't care less. Just get off of this planet, and take the Jedi with you. Allow yourelf to be hunted, and don't dissapoint me...or else.

I have used this letter to wrap a comm unit that will allow you to contact me. I want you to inform me of your status at least once a day, and be sure that you use general statements when you speak to me, and never mention anything about me personally, from my name to the clothing I wear. If you fail to contact me I will assume you have been captured and will simply destroy my device so it can not be tracked.

And feel free to strike when you feel the time is write...

Ty wrapped the letter around one of the many comm units she had laying around her apartment. She then faced another problem: how would she deliver the letter to the Nagi woman.

She headed to her closet for a costume of sorts, and came up with a perfect idea. She found a brown overcoat that belonged to her later grandmother. Ty was too lazy to throw it out. She spent a few minutes ripping it up in some places and poured some black ink around the edges to make it look dirty. She found some hair extensions to make her hair look long, and then allowed her hair to fall freely down her back as opposed to her usual style with a ponytail or bun type creation. She also ruffled it up a bit. Using some make-up, and covered her cheeks with black powder. She then found a pair of sunglasses which she placed over her eyes to shield them from the view of others. She looked through her kitchen cabinets and came across a small, wooden bowl which she took.

She returned to a mirror to check herself out. A perfect beggar. She had changed her appearance just enough for one that was looking for her to notice her, but for one that wasn't to have no idea as to who she was.

And that brings us to now. Ty, walking down the streets. She found a nice allyway to hide herself in. It was located about one block away from her apartment building, and had to be passed if one was to travel from the Jedi Temple to her apartment. And now all she had to do was wait...

[Jace]

Jedi Knight Tyr Asgaard remained at a respectable distance from his charge. Only minutes before he had been summoned to the council chamber, his orders were clear. He was to follow the Nagai back to her employer and apprehend them both. Tyr was a seasoned investigator and had been assigned to countless missions of this nature. He was good at either making himself invisible or hiding himself in plain sight. The Jedi Knight had just returned from an off world assignment and was hoping to get some rest.

Tyr let out a sigh, the life of a Jedi was quite demanding. That was not to say that he regretted it but only that he understood its hardships. A slight shake of his head dispelled those thoughts for the moment, he had a task to focus on. The Jedi looked up just in time to see the Nagai woman knocked over by a burly man. She suddenly cried out in pain as the man turned and began to walk away.

This can't be good

As the woman rose, he swore he saw a blade in her hand. He could sense her intent. She drew back and the blade went flying towards the back of the man's neck. The Jedi knight began to focus, the Force flowing through him. He projected a minor Force barrier in the path of the blade and let out a sigh as it clattered harmlessly to the ground. Tyr had to come out into the open, and he knew that this Nagai woman would quickly put two and two together.

Lets just hope the council understands

In Tyr's area of expertise, it was very touch and go. Sometimes the target just didn't lead you right back to bad guys. You may have to wait for days, until they feel comfortable that they aren't being watched. There were other times like this one, where your cover was blown and you had to bring the target in. The Jedi walked forward slowly, hoping that this woman would just come in peacefully.

"Please don't make this anymore difficult than it has to be"

[Kella]

Sheera's eyes tracked the trajectory of her knife; its course was straight and true.

What the-- Sheera whipped around as her knife clattered to the pavement. There was only one answer for that. Damn Jedi!

Here eyes were fiercely wild, like a lighting flash in a Kiffex storm. Those wild eyes she turned upon the Jedi, rage boiling to the forefront of her consciousness for a moment. Just... a moment.

And then the rage subsided, tamed and fettered once more by her mind. The severity of her glare, however, did not abate. She simply stood up very straight, very slowly, watching the Jedi's every move. Jedi. Every time she saw one, it was like looking in a mirror. Seeing her own fear, her own heartbreak, her own darkness reflected back at her. She hated it.

Absolutely hated it. And so she hated the Jedi. They could all rot in Hell, as far as she was concerned. And she had no problem knifing their throats to get them there quicker.

However, at present moments, there were too many witnesses. Too many people around... too much noise... she'd never stand a chance against a Jedi, not one-on-one. But... she could probably get away...

Some say that time speeds up in times of danger. For others, it slows down. But for Sheera, this was just another day in the shoes of a Nagai. She watched the Jedi for a second longer, judging his movements, his pacing...

Flash!

In a whirl of black, Sheera's muscles suddenly snapped, whipping her around. Her feet skimmed ever so slightly along the ground as she sprinted, making not a sound, nearly all her momentum horizontal. She couldn't stay on the open streets for long; there were too many people. The throng groped at her like soft sand; she had to get somewhere open...

Which was, strangely enough, also somewhere closed. Sheera ducked into an alley-way, narrow route between two buildings. She looked around, taking in all she could; the trash receptacle to her left, the Blast-Escape stairway which trudged up to her right. She sprinted for it, just to see that the bottom platform hung just out of reach, teasing her, taunting her. Sheera swore.

She wouldn't have long, the Jedi would be on her tail... she'd have to turn and fight. Sheera wrapped her right hand around her--

Her hand grasped only air. Sheera swore again, for her knife was still out on the sidewalk where the Jedi had felled it, no doubt either stolen or trampled by now. Sheera scowled harshly, lips a thin black line. She still had one knife, yes. She wasn't about to throw her last weapon, but she could fight. She could injure the Jedi long enough to make a getaway.

... No she couldn't. Either she'd kill him, or he'd catch her. And the latter seemed far more likely. But Sheera wasn't about to go in without a fight; she was too spirited for that. Her eyes flashed again as she ducked behind the trash bin, melting into the shadows, waiting for the Jedi to come after her.

Anger tasted metallic on her tongue. Through all the variables, one thing was certain. Sheera wanted blood.

And then she heart footsteps... light, not heavy. Cautious. The step of a Jedi. Sheera waited, waited until he was just close enough...

And then she pounced, fierce as a wildcat. Her knife gleamed in the air as she swept from the shadows, right hand tight on the grip. She made a smooth, back-handed swipe, aiming for the Jedi's gut...

[Jace]

Approaching slowly, the Jedi tried to make it clear that he had no interest in fighting. Something in his mind told him that this Nagai didn't much care for what he thought. There seemed to be a good deal of that sentiment in the galaxy these days. Tyr mentally shrugged, it couldn't be helped, the Jedi had always endured such trials. He pushed such thoughts away as he continued to approach the Nagai woman slowly.

Tyr only received a seconds notice before the Nagai woman became a blur and...ran away. The Jedi was somewhat nonplussed, this was not what he had expected. Sighing, the Tyr sprang forth, the Force aiding him in his pursuit. He had lost sight of the Nagai initially but pushed forward, confident that he was going in the right direction. The harried crowd was an easy enough path for the seasoned Jedi to follow.

He didn't like this, there were too many people for that woman to harm or take as a hostage. Tyr needed to get the Nagai off these crowded streets so he could take her in without any collateral damage. Oddly enough, the Nagai had managed to do that for him. Stopping suddenly in the center of a crowd, he studied his surroundings.

There He said to himself

The Jedi had spotted a little alleyway off the main street, the Force nudged him in that direction. He had long ago learned to trust the nuances of the Force, and slowly approached the alleyway. Entering the alleyway, his eyes scanned the small street. Next, he sent his consciousness through the Force, probing for any signs of sentient life. He wasn't surprised when he sensed the presence of another being up ahead.

He approached it slowly, methodically, waiting for the inevitable strike. It came just as he approached a trash bin. The Nagai woman sprang from the shadows, slashing at his gut. Tyr was more than ready and jumped back, avoiding the Nagai's attack. His lightsaber flashed to life bathing the alleyway in a dull green.

"There is no need for violence. We both know how this will end if it continues. Just tell me who your employer is and we can avoid any needless bloodshed"

Though his lightsaber was in hand, Tyr really had no intention of using it. There were multiple ways he could have incapacitated this woman, but he was a Jedi and he walked a different path. He just hoped that she would see sense instead of doing anything rash.

[starwarsgirl008]

((I don't know if Kella intended that Ty would be in the alley that she entered, but hey, let's make this more interesting by putting her there))

Ty had been waiting for minute after minute in the gloom of the alleyway. She found some trash bags next to a wall that enclosed the alleyway. In her true form she wouldn't be caught dead near any sort of trash, however she knew she needed to stay in character and would probably be there for a while. So, she situated herself on top of the bags which were so nicely located behind a dumpster. Ty could not be seen from one entering the alleyway.

Suddenly, footsteps. It must have been the Nagi woman. Ty stood up and began to step away from her hiding spot behind the dumpster. Something wasn't right. The Nagi woman seemed off. Ty began to suspect she had been betrayed. She went back into hiding behind the dumpster. Then, she reviewed the facts. How would the Nagi woman stop in an alleyway when she had no idea Ty would be there? So, she most likely wasn't in the alleyway to confront Ty.

Then another voice. A male one. He spoke of peace and non violence. Jedi talk. Ty knew it by heart and it made her sick. No one besides a Jedi would want peace with a woman like the Nagi woman Ty knew. Ty didn't dare move from her position. She had been in the Temple before, and while even in costume, a Jedi may have been able to notice her true identity.

"Calm down." she thought to herself, realizing she was beginning to get paranoid. Suddenly a sparkle glistened in the corner of her eye. There was a tare in one of the garbage bags, and it seemed to be create by a piece of glassy material, hence the sparkle. Ty reached her hand out and picked up the object. Indeed it was glass. It seemed to be a vase of some sort. Of course Ty had no need for a flower holder in the situation she was in at the moment. What she needed was a form of defense, and if the situation called for it she new how to use sharp materials to her advantage.

[Kella]

Sheera hissed as the Jedi leapt back; her knife met only air. Her momentum carried her, and she stumbled slightly to the right. She looked upon the Jedi with eyes filled with hatred; deep and utter loathing. She hated mirrors.

Sheera quickly stilled her racing heart; if she started getting sloppy, it would do her no good... she forced her grimaced face into an indifferent line, and then finally, into a forced expression of submission.

"You... You are right. But I cannot tell you here... I... I shall come quietly..."

Sheera's gut twisted as she spoke those words. It nearly killed her. But she spoke them all the same, and she was sure her expression was one of a broken spirit. She let her knife-hand hang by her side, and she stepped slowly toward the Jedi. Maybe if she could get him to lower his blade, if only for a moment...

Because Sheera would not be going quietly. She would never be going quietly again. This time, she would reclaim her honor... This time, she would die in a way that would make her Father proud. He would hear about her, how she died for the Nagai, how she died for Lunipodatra. Sheera fingered the clasp of her cloak. But it was not just a clasp. It was a family crest. Her father would hear of her death, her death of honor, and he would feel shame.

Sheera took another slow, silent step toward the Jedi, hanging her head. Dark hair fell around her face, disguising the way her thin lips twisted into a dark smirk... Jedi were benevolent creatures. He would fall for her charade, he would let his guard down... and then she would kill him. She would bathe her blade in his blood...

Or she would die trying.

[starwarsgirl008]

Ty grew more and more paranoid by the second. She could not risk losing her job, and that alone kept her from making any mistakes, or so she thought.

Her time sitting alone in those trash bags allowed her to think. Her next steps needed to be most careful. Her little scheme came at a great time: the old Chancellor was out of office for whatever reason, Ty didn't really pay attention to anything that wasn't about her. However, that was one of the few positions above Ty, not that she didn't have a lot of power, but she did rule in a republic after all, and there was some form of checks and balances. In the end with the Chancellor gone Ty could be a little more stealthy at the moment, and that was always a good thing.

Her goal at this time was to not only carve fear into the minds of the Jedi, but destroy their relationship with the Repulic. After he and her partner got out of the situation she was in, she would hand her the note. She would then write up another note, one explaining the threat, and that note may just fall into the hands of an HNN reporter. Then, with the public viewing the story, Ty will make a visit the Jedi. From there she could do anything she pleased, but it would take time.

But eventually, Ty grew bored in her position. She decided it was her time to act. She clenched t vase in her hands and slowly rose from her position. Then suddenly she heard her partner talking:

"You... You are right. But I cannot tell you here... I... I shall come quietly..."

Her jaw dropped, and she could only tell herself it wasn't real. Now the question was who would she use the vase against...

[Jace]

Well so much for a peaceful solution

The Jedi Knight let out a long sigh as he watched the Nagai 'surrender'. He could have sensed her killing intent from a mile away, of course he was much closer than that. This had become much more problematic that he would have liked. It seemed that another problem had presented itself, in the form of a person.

Tyr could sense another being in the alleyway. Any normal person would have made a break and run away considering it wasn't their business. Which logically meant that the person here had an interest in this altercation between the Nagai and himself.

The employer..

Well, it was a little early to be making such assumptions, but it didn't seem that far off of a possibility. Tyr wasn't only the one following his assigned targets sometimes. It was not unheard of for employers to have their people followed. The Jedi was somewhat sickened by the mistrust. These people were supposed to be comrades yet they couldn't even trust each other. Tyr was glad that the Jedi were not like that.

A variety of options whirred through the Jedi's mind as he considered what to do from here. The easiest would just be to take the Nagai's hand off with his lightsaber but he would never do such a thing unless he was in dire straits. Moments later the Jedi came to the best solution to avoid anymore violence. It wasn't his area of expertise but if the Nagai had a weak mind it may work.

"Why don't you drop the blade so we can go and talk somewhere safer?"

The Jedi's voice was accompanied by a subtle nudge of the Force, stressing the importance of his suggestion. Telepathy was really not where his aptitude lay, but most Jedi could use the mind trick to some extent. With luck she would cave and then he could find out more about who was truly behind all this.

[starwarsgirl008]

((Ok, my one question is are we still going to turn this into a mission for the Council of Reconciliation??? If we are, I think Jace's character needs to get injured and then Kella's runs away and gives the Jedi a good old goose chase. I know Kella wants to be interrogated, but I thought that might have been a nice addition to the mission. If we want to end this, then we can let Jace interrogate Kella's character and go through all of that now. I would just like to point out again, I would prefer Ty's identity remain unkown at the end of this. So, I am gonna make Ty try to attack Jace's character, if we want this to be a mission I think Jace should get hit, if not Jace should remain uninjured and continue with his procedures.))

Ty breathing began to grow more and more heavy. She couldn't handle it. The more she waited the more the ideas knawed in her mind.

She had surrendered.

She would give in.

The Jedi would search behind the dumpster and bring Ty in.

The words began to run together in Ty's mind. She began to grow dissy, her throat burned for a glass of some liquid, but she could only provide her own sweat and blood. She need to act drastically, fast.

She stood up, and immediatly felt as though her feet were rubber. Staggering a bit, she gripped the side of the dumpster to prevent her from making any sudden movements. In her right hand was the vace. She pulled her head out from the side of the dumpster. The back of the Jedi's head was staright ahead. Ty squinted to get her aim right. She raised the vase and practiced swinging it a few times.

Then, she let go. The vase went spiriling, and Ty immediatly back, behind the dumpster. A smash. Ty could see some of the shards come flying back next to her. Had the vase hit the Jedi, or plummeted to the ground? Ty didn't want to take the risk to find out. She looked above her, a fire escape ladder lead up to the roof of the building. She needed to leave before nayone had time to react.

Pulling herself up she rapidly climbed up to the top of the building, keeping her head turned from the action preventing any thought of who she truly was. Once at the top she ran to the other end before purposely collapsing to the ground. The only thing louder than her thoughts was her heavy breathing.

Had blood been spilled? Or worse, had life been taken? Wait.

Ty's thoughts paused. Life. The only thing standing in front of her true goal was life. If a life hadn't been taken today, one would surely be taken in the near future.

[Kella]

"Why don't you drop the blade so we can go and talk somewhere safer?"

It was a simple question the Jedi posed. And Sheera could suddenly feel the... the sense of it. Safe, safe was good... all she had to do to be safe was drop the blade... Her fingers twitched, loosened... but they would not let go.

"Why... Why don't I drop my blade?"

It was a simple question Sheera posed. But the answer was like fire, it was like mercury, and it suddenly exploded in her head. She turned her dead eyes on the Jedi.

"Why don't I drop my blade?" She took a step closer, ever so subtle, and that question brought a predator's light into her eye. Whatever semblance of surrender she'd been holding onto, had been forgotten by the woman, chased away, shattered by that singular question.

"Because I am a Nagai. And we never drop our blades."

There was a curios expression on her face, as she tilted her head and looked at the Jedi. The strangest sensation of... of Deja Vu... had the Jedi been fiddling with her mind? Surely these thoughts weren't--

Something suddenly flashed into Sheera's peripheral vision. Her head jerked as she turned towards it, realizing too late that she'd seen it before the Jedi, and had just alerted him to it. Less than a thought later,

Crash!

The screaming shudder of shattering glass, pieces of which pelted Sheera, who had thrown her arms over her face. What had just happened? Was she on the ground because she'd dove or because she'd been hit? Where was the Jedi? What the heck was that thing?

Did she dare move her arms and find out?