Dark Alliances

[Nightender]

Time period: A few months ago
Location: Dantooine
Participants: Koeing Turion, Alindra Vordrinn
Other Info: This is the beginning of their entanglements as they seek out Korriban and the Sith.

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Waiting. It had become the most common thing for Alindra to do. She would occasionally walk from one corner to the next, then back again. Never when she did this, would Alindra look like she was pacing, it always had to look natural. She ran off most of her competition, having said subtle things to them about bathing in blood. Her tale hadn't been empty, since Alindra had taken such a bath once. It wasn't the greatest tale to pass the time, but when rival girls strolled along the streets, they had to pass the time somehow.

Unlike Alindra's competition, she knew she could leave her temporary profession any time she wanted. There might be a bit of violence involved, but that didn't bother her any longer. Fooling around with anyone interested in her was an easy way to make money. And if anyone didn't like how much she asked for, she would convince them to change their minds.

The state of occupation killed any real chance for commerce. Everyone Alindra saw kept their dealings quiet, out of sight. Most people were afraid. The citizens feared for their lives. Business owners feared for their profits. Soldiers feared retaliation. They all stabbed each other in the back because they were so afraid, much like starving animals would sometimes prey on each other. Alindra needed to leave Dantooine, but she would need a way out.

She had plenty of money, even after spending some on the dress she wore. Blue and half transparent, the dress gave Alindra a little better exposure in her mind. It looked like a dancer's dress in her opinion and that made her feel good. So little in her past made her feel good and just the idea of dancing gave Alindra a little pleasure.

In the quiet realm of fear, Alindra kept her eyes open and her senses alert. Anything could change at a moment's notice. She would have to be ready to act. Whether that meant she would have to run, fight, or something else, she needed to be ready. But until that time came, she had to wait.

[Deleted]

The Approach

Dantooine, a planet that had deep roots with Koeing had now not only been taken by the Sith but a Blockade stood in his way of landing. So a simple distraction would have to suffice, he left Dantooine behind him and set out to hire a mercenary, the planet of Nar Shaddaa should work he thought and had his pilot plot a course for the Hutt planet. Arriving on the planet they docked and Koeing stepped off the ships edge onto the metal platform with a resounding thud. His robes flap around his legs caused by the wind rushing by, his hood up and sabers on his belt he starts on his way into the underbelly of Nar Shaddaa. The Corellian sector is where he headed to the Slag Pit a cantina in the sector which several bounty hunters would wait around in for a job.

The perfect mark sat in a chair across the cantina from Koeing, he looked ragged, maybe he had just survived his last job or he was just a pathetic bounty hunter, either way he served Koeing's purposes. Striding over and taking an abrupt seat he stared across at the ragged man, nodding to him he placed five thousand credits down on the table. "Five thousand now, the other five when the job is done." Koeing said without emotion, the man stared at Koeing in shock for a moment then nodded. "What's the job?" A grin flashed across Koeing's lips and he then explained what the man had to do, he also stated that they would not exchange names as they would not know eachother long enough.

The bounty hunter now sat in the pilots chair of his small fighter looking out at the Sith Blockade surrounding Dantooine, the man had said there would be a signal, another ship was handling part of the distraction, so he was told. He was to fly straight toward Dantooine to distract any fighters in the way, so he would. The signal went out, he saw Koeing's small transport ship now, larger then his but still nothing compared to the ships that blockaded Dantooine. Koeing had chosen what looked like a weak spot in the Blockade and sent the bounty hunter right in. Watching the bounty hunters small ship now from the bridge of his own Koeing grinned.

The man shot off toward the Blockade and was able to draw their fire long enough for Koeing to get through the Blockade, not without damage to his ship though, the port side took damage, causing one of the back compartments to seal off along with some damage to the engine. The bounty hunter however was not as lucky, he was blown into space dust, Koeing nodded to the pilot and they landed awkwardly almost crashing. Opening the doors Koeing stepped out onto the stone floor of the landing pad and Kayn padded out beside him. Shifting his gaze to the Liger he grinned he knew the beast was excited about being back on his home planet.

They began their exploration of the farmers planet, the Sith had changed it though. Outposts here and there, he shifted and watched as a patrol passed by him, they paid no attention to him really. It was when the Sith Patrol sent out to find the person who illegally crash landed on Dantooine came towards him did he walk the other direction. He lost them easily finding some caves to duck into, though when he turned around a Kath hound lunged at him, Kayn however slammed his solid body against the hound and dug his paralytic claws into the beast. The hound now entirely immobilized Koeing moved on, though was more cautious from then on watching for patrols, they were sure to have caught his pilot by now.

Prostitutes and Violence, The Perfect Combination.

Koeing had found his way into a very heavily Sith patrolled area, a cantina and a few shops had been set up here for the Sith to unwind at and Koeing made his way into the Cantina. Stepping in he noticed several drunken Sith Soldiers along with farmers, the farmers were confronting the soldiers about the occupation of their planet. The scene would soon turn bloody as the farmers attacked the unarmed off-duty soldiers, the resulting fist fight spilled out of the cantina. All the while Koeing amused himself by watching the drunken morons blow off steam, it was when one of the farmers killed a Sith Trooper that Koeing stepped in. Keeping his sabers hidden within the pouch on his right hand lifted and his fingers curled motioning for the farmers to -Come get some.-

They attacked and not in the normal one at a time fashion, they mobbed Koeing, with a grin he greeted the first with a heel to his shin snapping the bone then his right fist to the mans jaw, the distraction however had the farmers jumping on Koeing and wailing on him. He slipped out from beneath the drunks and as they stood he took them on again. This time the three remaining farmers met Koeing and did not succeed, his quick reflexes and superior intellect had them floored within moments. He had used their own balance against them, as they were drunk they could hardly stand while throwing their punches, and so Koeing used it against them. Their sloppy and wild blows were easily dodged causing their torso's to be wide open.

Several broken bodies later Koeing brushed himself off and nodded to the drunken Sith men. They all shouted that he had avenged their comrade and promised to buy Koeing a drink then treat him to a woman, so Koeing accepted, because if he hadn't the drunken idiots may have taken offense. An hour or so later, after having one drink and secretly tossing the rest while they weren't looking he walked out of the cantina with credits they had provided for some entertainment. Now Koeing had no intention of using them to buy a womans company, but when he spotted the one pacing back and forth along the corner his eyebrow raised slightly.

Then, thinking on it a bit more, such a woman could have information he needed, and so he strode over to her. But when he approached her, his sense skill kicked in and he could feel the force flowing within her, grinning now, a twisted grin, sadistic he pushed his hood down and stood infront of her. Holding out five hundred credits he stared into her eyes, his striking green eyes burning a hole into hers. "I'd like some of your time."

[Nightender]

Looking across the street at the cantina, Alindra noticed a sudden movement outside. Farmers and soldiers fighting among themselves, a never-ending battle that usually murdered any chance Alindra had of making any money. She decided to leave matters alone until she felt it, a surge of energy near the battle itself. It wasn't the dying trooper that lured Alindra's attention, nor was it the farmer standing above him.

Filled with bravado, a new arrival had stepped into play, wanting to prove his mettle against the farmers. Something in the way he moved seemed to keep Alindra's interest, especially when he was mobbed by his opponents. Tall and slim, this daring fighter moved in flashes of black and maroon. He knew something of fighting, much more than any farmer would ever know.

The notion of farmers displeased Alindra more and more. She felt an acrid taste whenever she saw too many of them. It wasn't the lack of money that she despised about them, it was the fact that so many of them were complacent with what they were, even before the Sith had come. It could have been Alindra living such a life and she knew it. Instead of thinking back on what actually happened to her, she turned her attention back to the lone fighter clearing the streets of drunken fools.

Even though the "battle" was over, Alindra's attentions had not faded. She kept in place, waiting to see what would happen. The soldiers took their newest friend back into the cantina, likely paying his way into drunkenness as well. Alindra stayed, waiting for a new reason. Something inside of her wanted to know who this man was, if only to see if she could watch him fight once again. It wasn't an easy thing for her to understand why she stayed in place, but she did. Several men passed by, men who would have paid Alindra's prices, but she didn't make any move at all, she watched and waited.

Over an hour later, Alindra's wait ended. She saw the man venture out of the cantina and lock eyes on her. Green and striking, his vision stayed in place, possibly wanting something of Alindra. There was nothing saying she had to deal with him or speak to him at all, but if she didn't, the wait would have been for nothing. Still, he approached.

With five hundred credits in hand, the man said, "I'd like some of your time."

Alindra looked up, finding she didn't want to turn away such an offer. Any of the men who had already passed would have paid half that price and Alindra would have taken it. Her smile beamed as she said, "Of course, sir." She gently pressed his arm, leading him away. Her hand reached out to take the credits. "Whatever you need, I'm sure I can provide."

[Deleted]

He allowed her to press on his arm, shifting with the pressure and began walking along side her with an unnatural grace. When she reached for the credits however he pulled them away, just outside of her reach. "I want information, i'm sure this is more then most of your customers would pay. You will provide me with all the information you can, if i find it satisfactory i may give you more then just credits, is that understood?" As he spoke in his deep velveteen voice a Sith patrol went by and Koeing paid a bit more attention to them then what a normal person would. Shaking it off he quickend his pace slightly then lowered his hand so she could take the credits, then pointed out in the distance where the rock seemed to split. "There's a set of caves over here, we can do business there without being disturbed."

He had left Kayn there within the caves to gorge himself on the Kath Hound while he was out. As they got closer Koeing could now see the large feline standing at the entrance to the caves licking his paws clean of the blood and tissue he had ripped from the Kath hound. Smiling his twisted smile Koeing nodded to the beast and reached out through the force to touch Kayn's mind, the beast suddenly stiffened as if he had been called to attention, it's eyes narrowed and muscles flexed waiting to attack.

Running his hand across the ligers back slowly he nodded then turned to her, his eyes locked on hers. "If you're afraid of him you will become his next meal." With that he went further into the cave where a couple rock formations were perfect for sitting. Sitting down now he stared at the girl and with his twisted smile began. "First, your name. Then i would like to know, have you ever been able to do things, things others cannot? Things that got you in trouble or made you seem better then others?" The tone in his voice serious, dead serious, such a tone would command the attention of most.

[Nightender]

Alindra thought this might happen; clients rarely gave money up front. He gave a brief explanation, saying, "I want information, I'm sure this is more then most of your customers would pay. You will provide me with all the information you can, if i find it satisfactory i may give you more then just credits, is that understood?"

Something about her fighting client, filled her with a little of the bravado she'd seen in the fight before. Nodding, Alindra said, "I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement."

After the fight, the patrols had increased. The Sith soldiers weren't going to take any risks having lost one of their own to a farmer. Soon enough the locals would have to pay for the loss, though it wasn't anything Alindra felt she would morn. She didn't know the deceased, to her he was just another corpse. So, when she was asked to accompany her client to a set of nearby caves, she didn't mind. Information was easy enough to sell, provided she had the right information to give.

Inside the caves, Alindra saw a large feline devouring bits of kath hound. The beast looked up at her, sensing an unknown presence. "If you're afraid of him you will become his next meal." Alindra smiled at the ferocity present in the animal; it was something she understood quite well.

"Nothing to worry about from me," she said. "I think he's exquisite." Unsure how effective her response was, she continued into the cave, following her client, though she was still unsure what he might want. He sat down and looked at her. Again, she offered only her smile while waiting to see what might happen.

With a tone cold and inquisitive, he spoke once more. "First, your name. Then i would like to know, have you ever been able to do things, things others cannot? Things that got you in trouble or made you seem better then others?"

"Being able to do things others cannot?" Alindra looked around while she processed her answer more. It amused her to think someone wanted to find out such secrets. "I can do lots of things others cannot." For an instant, she felt her answer was vexing and she didn't feel it necessary to go down that road yet. She still wanted to keep her secrets, at least as long as they served her better concealed.

"My name is Alindra." Again, she tried to not only seem cordial, but outwardly friendly. "Why don't you tell me yours--and how I can actually help you?"

[Deleted]

"Nothing to worry about from me," she said. "I think he's exquisite." Unsure how effective her response was, she continued into the cave, following her client, though she was still unsure what he might want. He sat down and looked at her. Again, she offered only her smile while waiting to see what might happen.

Kayn's fur rippled as he heard her speak, sensing no threat the beast went back to his meal while Koeing and her spoke. Koeing on the other hand had his brow raised in curiosity as she was not afraid of Kayn most were, with a shrug he relaxed as much as he could against his rock chair. He kept his mind open loving the feel of how the force ran through her body, how it lived in every fiber of her being and how intoxicating it is to think he could harness that power and shape it. With a grin he watched her contemplate her answer, it seemed as if she would be evasive, shifting her gaze, thinking carefully and chosing her words just right, and so she did, she evaded the question then attempted to be friendly.

"I'm not here to be your friend Alindra, nor am i here to be nice. When i approached you i had a reason and it is not to be taken lightly. For all intents and purposes my name is Koeing, that aside since you will not answer me properly i shall show you what i mean by things others cannot do." He said in an irritated voice then got up slowly, he loomed over her and his grin left his lips.

Moving past Alindra to just outside the cave Koeing spotted a pack of Kath hounds and grinned, he beckoned for her to follow as he approached them. Lifting his right hand he sent out his connection to the force and enveloped a nearby mid-sized boulder and lifted it, then suddenly it began hurtling through the air and struck two of the Kath hounds breaking bones and crushing skulls. The other two rushed at him angry and looking for blood, Kayn ignored it as Koeing's raised right hand coalesced with the force, sparks began jumping across his forearm then suddenly a wave of lightning erupted from his finger tips and met the hounds.

Stepping away from the carcases and back over to Alindra he stared at her, there wasn't an ounce of humor in his eyes. "Now answer me, or you will share their fate. I am a Dark Jedi Master young one and not to be tested." His eyes burned with rage as he awaited her answer, if she evaded his question again he would then show her his Lightsabers and that may not end well for her.

[Nightender]

Alindra hadn't wanted to say too much. It wasn't that she was trying to irritate anyone, she just didn't want to give anything away without reason. But her answer apparently was less than satisfying.

"I'm not here to be your friend Alindra, nor am i here to be nice. When i approached you i had a reason and it is not to be taken lightly. For all intents and purposes my name is Koeing, that aside since you will not answer me properly i shall show you what i mean by things others cannot do."

She looked up at Koeing, keeping her expression as pleasant as it had been a moment before. Since his tone was so harsh, Alindra nodded acquiescing to his proposal to show her what he meant.

They went outside, looking at a group of kath hounds. Using the Force, Koeing lifted a boulder and smashed a pair of hounds with it. The surviving members of the pack moved to attack Koeing, but were met with a shower of lightning. Dazzled, Alindra took a step closer, though not too close to his side.

He stared her down once the hounds had all been dealt with. There was no forgiveness or sympathy in his gaze, only hard intent. "Now answer me," Koeing said, "or you will share their fate. I am a Dark Jedi Master young one and not to be tested."

Alindra smiled. She didn't mind revealing herself to one such as Koeing. Bowing for an instant, Alindra rose again, almost cheerful as she answered. "I am like you, bound to the Force. My strength isn't quite what yours is, since I've only been training for the past few years. An old woman named Stormfist showed me how to embrace my power." Turning for a brief moment to a stoic expression, Alindra added, "I have spent too much of my life weak and incapable."

Moving past Koeing, Alindra said, "Excuse me." When she was clear of the Dark Master, she extended the fingers of her right hand, locking her thumb to the side of her palm. Alindra shot out her arm, letting her palm face the boulder as the Force rushed outward. The boulder sprung into the air before bouncing a short distance.

Dust settled and Alindra turned back to face Koeing again. This time, instead of being evasive, she turned back to a path she thought she'd forgotten: the path of a servant. Alindra lowered herself onto her knees. "I hope my demonstration was satisfactory--Master Koeing."

[Deleted]

Weak and incapable Koeing thought as he watched Alindra, she would no longer be those things, she would become an apex predator that which all feared. He would not make Alindra his pet as Xael had made him, no Alindra would be an extension of himself, not a tool but a living breathing weapon. One in which he could extend at any time then retract without fear of betrayal she would love and fear him a grin forming as his lips curl. Her display of the force was weak and he shrugged some then nodded to her when she turned back to him. "Good, very good."

However when she became submissive this changed Koeing's demeanor quite a lot. With a sudden movement he would dart forward and attempt to force her up off her knee's. "You are not my servant nor my pet, understand that now. You are my student, not a tool." He spoke in that same harsh tone as he glared into her eyes. Moving away Koeing faced the caves and sighed slightly, he stood thinking for a few moments before turning back to her. "Listen to me Alindra, you will follow my orders, but i will not treat you like an animal. You can question me as you like, as long as it is not a stupid question. You will follow my every step, you will learn from everything, i will not tolerate an unintelligent student."

A sharp whistle had Kayn rushing away from his meal and over to them, he sat next to Koeing and ceased to move, almost like a statue, the only movement was the motion of the beasts chest while it breathed. "I was once a Jedi, a very compassionate and caring Jedi. No more, the council betrayed me, i am what i am because of them. Despite my hatred their teachings can be used, i will not teach you to show mercy as they do. But love can be a powerful emotion that can be used against your enemy."

He began to move now, past Alindra and through the grass, Kayn followed just behind Koeing to his left silently. The caves were not good enough they would have to find a place of residence for the time being, so Koeing remembered an old farm not too far from where they were. It had been there back when he was on his assignment with Jedi Master Night. "There should be an old farm not too far from here, we will head there. You're lessons will begin when we arrive. However i need information on the Sith here. Do you know where their holding areas are? For prisoners." He asked in an emotionless voice as he watched the distant Sith Patrols.

[Nightender]

"You are not my servant nor my pet, understand that now. You are my student, not a tool."

Alindra listened to Koeing speak, unsure if he was telling her the truth or not. She waited for him to say more, to be given the opportunity to be released. Being forced to obey orders was nothing new. Alko had ordered her, her parents had ordered her, the old woman who'd trained her gave her orders too.

"Listen to me Alindra, you will follow my orders, but i will not treat you like an animal. You can question me as you like, as long as it is not a stupid question. You will follow my every step, you will learn from everything, i will not tolerate an unintelligent student."

"Yes," Alindra said, her voice soft, her eyes staying low. "I will do as you ask." She stayed low and quiet, trying to figure out what the best course of action was. There was no telling what might happen and she knew, deep down that she could use any guidance Koeing might have to offer. When he mentioned having been a Jedi, Alindra started to feel odd, sick. Part of her actually wanted to question him about it, but she had no chance against someone with as much training as Koeing had.

He suggested they find a better place to stay, an old farm not far away. Alindra wasn't too sure. She came from farmers and she had no desire to see herself drift back that way, not after having come so far. "Do you know where their holding areas are? For prisoners." Koeing spoke coldly, even of the Sith. Underneath the words, Alindra thought there might be something more.

She got up, dusting off her knees. "I don't know exactly where the holding areas are, but I think I can find out."