Slaves No More

[Austin Wolfe]

theme​

A blue hologram flickered to life, showing Master Austin Wolfe seated in a meditative chair. ”Knights Lucian Volante and Parthum Lucerne,” he opened, bowing his head to both Jedi. ”The Rakatans are by nature drawn to the Dark Side, although few truly delve into it to make use of its power, as they understand the destructive corruption that it brings. However, there is one such cult that openly worships and practices such evil, deep within the city’s levels. As you may know, the Rakatans are also an arrogant race and feel themselves superior to all others — even those of their own race they deem weaker.” Austin looked from one Knight to the other, continuing on from his opening statements.

”This cult has enslaved several civilians of the city, but the local security forces will do nothing to apprehend these self-proclaimed religious leaders. It is up to you to recover these hostages and disband the cult. They will likely not take kindly to your adherence to the Light.” Having finished instructing the Knights, Austin nodded to the two once again. ”May the Force be with you, Lucian and Parthum. Restore order to this city and bring balance to the Force.” Now equipped with their mission, the hologram fizzled out.

@Nefieslab @Force_In_Balance​

 

[Lucian Volante]

Well it seemed that he was forever going to be getting into scrapes for Austin Wolfe... not that he minded, of course. He rather enjoy having a good scrap or two and he preferred it even more when he was doing so in the name of the Jedi Order. When he was making sure that he was doing the right thing by both his own morality and the Jedi Code.

Taking down a cult of Dark Side worshippers?

Well that sounded pretty much like the definition of what the Jedi Knights were supposed to locate, engage and remove from the Galaxy. Certainly, the ideal solution would be bloodless but... well, even Master Wolfe himself agreed that it was unlikely that that would be the case here.

Dressed in his armour and armed as he usually was, Lucian turned off the projector as Austin signed off. He didn't draw his lightsaber but he did draw one of his pistols - specifically the one that had five stun rounds before it's ten lethal rounds. He turned to Parthum as the two Jedi Knights began to stride forwards towards their destination.

"Any suggestions Parthum?" he asked the other Knight as he looked over the area, "I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a 'burst in and take the hostage' type mission."

They weren't very bloodless.

@Force_In_Balance

 

[Parthum Lucerne]

Parthum had kept his eyes closed and his senses sharply stretched out to the Force while Master Wolfe had spoken. He analyzed what was spoken to them as best he could, and found the prospects presented worrying. Indeed their deployment on Rakata Prime, a planet that, despite his best efforts to shield away the echos of it's dark and bloody history in the Force, still prodded the edges of his perceptions with sharp, burning prods to his connection to the Light. As his fellow Knight, Lucian Volante, turned off the projector and set to walking Parthum fell silently into step beside him. In truth, Parthum had yet to truly experience the darkness that could inhabit the minds, and wills, of others aside from his own near-brush with the Dark Side and he was... concerned for what he felt. To his senses, this planet was swathed in the darkness in a way that was so... utter... so steeped in it's history that even as he gained an inch of clarity to his senses he could only feel the darkness beyond deepen as sighed.

It was not until his fellow Knight addressed him directly that Parthum drew in a steadying breathe and opened his eyes. He had kept the hood of his robes down, not wanting to seem overly conspicuous, and his pointed ears gave a slight droop and twitch as he glanced side-long at his compatriot. A grimace both knowing and determined setting upon the off-shoot's lips "In truth Lucian I have a strong suspicion that, even should we be able to confront these cultists without them showing immediate hostility, the best possibility we can likely hope for to demonstrate a show of superiority of the Light over the Dark would be a test of arms." Parthum's ears perked back up as he became distinctly aware of a few Rakatan onlookers muttering to themselves and he altered his manner of movement to seem more.... well, confident and less like someone they could snatch off the street. "I say a show of superiority because from what I understand of the Rakata as a whole, what they prefer for their own reasons and what they deem to be superior are near always one and the same."

Parthum glances sidelong at the other Knight, his eyes a cool, glacier blue/silver as he hums in thought. "Even the planet itself seems steeped in darkness." A short, contemplative pause "If we were to enter their compound and simply demand the release of those they have enslaved we will have violence and, no doubt, a potentially hostile backlash from the Rakatan people as a whole. Alternatively, we could attempt to negotiate with them. However this will likely lead to hostilities, if not a demand of a show of force and subjugation of the cultists. A... past-time I do not exactly desire to share with them, in subjugating someone simply because we can. That is, IF we can." Parthum's attention turns briefly to his other shoulder where Patch, the small nudj he kept as a pet, scampered up onto his shoulder. The reptile's thin, silver body wavering with a prisma of colors across it's scales as it licked the air and curled languidly about the back of Parthum's neck. A small, wry smile tugs at Parthum's lips before he scratches the little creature upon the head and remarks to Lucian "In all earnest opinion, Knight Volante, I believe our best course of action will be infiltration in as bloodless a fashion as we can. If my understanding of Rakatan culture is correct the loss of their slaves, or more accurately the lack of power on the cult's part to KEEP their slaves, to an opponent that doesn't even see them as worthy of facing in open combat will at least discredit them and perhaps make the Rakata more naturally open to a suggestion of alternatives. At least, in a best case scenario." With his piece said Parthum turned his attention from Patch, to smile softly at his fellow Knight and attempted to seem as calm, placid and immovable as his faith in the Force was before he asked simply. "Your thoughts?"

@Lucian Volante​

 

[Lucian Volante]

His compatriot was correct of course - the people of this world were not the kind to be taken in by the diplomatic approach from a Jedi Knight. Superiority was something that Lucian didn't really agree with but he knew that he was going to have to just go along with it. The Light could forgive a lot of things so long as the intent was pure. He really hoped that this was one of those cases because he was beginning to think that Parthum might have the right of it there unfortunately.

The idea suggested just might work as well.

"Alright - we'll attempt to sneak in and out with the hostages." he agreed to Parthum's idea before glancing significantly at the young man, "If we are spotted, you take the hostages and make a break for it."

He didn't have to mention that he would be staying behind in that situation and he would be ensuring the exit of the hostages and his partner by whatever means were necessary.

Time for them to infiltrate.

Gesturing round to the side of the building that had been identified as belonging to the cult, Lucian nodded to Parthum before gathering the Force to his legs and jumping clear over the outer wall, landing sprite-like within the outer edges of the cult's compound. He frowned as he counted out the number of guards.

"Five guards Parthum..." he whispered to his partner, "We should make sure they're out before we move on. Moving the hostage back through here would be a nightmare if they're still up."

@Force_In_Balance

 

[Parthum Lucerne]

Parthum's smile became just a bit brighter as Lucian hinted at his heroic intentions should they be discovered and he wordlessly nodded his head in affirmation. He did not at all intend to actually leave Lucian behind, of course, but rather Parthum was glad to see such regard from one of his fellow Jedi. In it's own small way the selflessness of the suggestion reaffirmed Parthum just a bit more that even on this darkness-drenched planet everything would work out. Noting Lucian motioning to the side of what was surely the Cult's compound, Parthum waited a mere moment or two after Lucian's own Force-assisted jump to make sure no-one could see him repeat the jump. A small, silent chuckle left the off shoot as he landed, feeling Patch clinging more tightly to his neck so that the little Nudj didn't fall off during the descent.

Landing beside Lucian with as much grace as he could muster, which was a considerable amount all things considered, Parthum nodded once more at Lucian's words before beginning to think of a way to handle them in as passive a way as possible. After a few moments of thought Parthum inhaled sharply and nodded to Lucian "I believe I have an idea. If you wouldn't mind Lucian, I would ask you hide yourself and wait until they leave." Without another word Parthum would do the same, hiding himself among the outer extremities of the courtyard in the shadow of the courtyard wall and scattered objects within the courtyard itself. Then... he simply waited until a single guard came close enough before reaching out with the Force and rendering the guard unconscious with Force Stun before catching the unconscious Rakata as he fell and slowly lowering him to the ground.

Parthum sighed and murmured quietly to himself as he checked over the unconscious Rakata. "I can only hope they're at least as intelligent as I give them credit for...." Thankfully for Parthum, the cultists were indeed smart enough not to use the same key card for the compound itself and outer wall's gates. Parthum smiled as this meant his plan would proceed a lot more smoothly. Parthum pocketed the key card to the compound itself before untangling Patch from around his neck and gently connected to the little Nudj through the Force, guiding the little creature with instructions on what he wishes for Patch to do. The little Nudj gave a curious tilt of it's head before Parthum held up the keycard to the outer wall, which Patch grasped in his tiny mouth, before Parthum pet the little creature and smiled "Now be careful, okay?"

With that said Patch jumped down from Prthum's palm and onto the ground, key card in it's small jaws and began to scurry off towards the center of the courtyard. Per Parthum's instructions Patch made sure he was seen by every other guard on the grounds, who were both surprised and distressed by the fact some creature had gotten it's jaws on one of their key cards, and began to lead them on a merry little chase away from the entrance, yelling in the Rakatan tongue all the way. Meanwhile, Parthum hoisted the unconscious Rakata onto one shoulder and grasped the key card to the compound in his other hand. He approached Lucian with a smile and offered him the key card as he rolled his shoulder to indicate the unconscious guard "That should keep them occupied for a while. This one, however, won't remain unconscious forever. I don't suppose you've an idea of.... erm... where to put him? I do not fancy the prospect of sending his soul to the Force anymore than I enjoy the idea of killing a sickly person for their bodies failings."

@Lucian Volante​

 

[Lucian Volante]

An idea?

Well, Lucian was all about ideas. They meant that they weren't going to march their way in there and get themselves stabbed or shot after all. Far be it from him to deny an idea - especially since his idea had been to sneak up on the guards and bodily knocked them out one at a time.

"By all means Parthum - anything is probably better than my idea."

Knocking people out wasn't as risk-free as the holovids said it was after all. People being unconscious like that was actually really bad for their brains. Having them distracted by a funny little creature and led on a merry chase away from where they were?

He rather liked that.

As for their now unconscious friend? Lucian looked around the guard's belt before finding exactly what he needed. Taking the guard off of Parthum, he pressed him up against a wall and popped a grenade on his lap... moving out of the blast radius, Lucian activated the grenade.

The adhesive grenade burst, encasing the guard in breathable adhesive that stuck him firmly to the wall.

"He's not going anywhere."

There had been a pun about sticking around but Lucian refused to sink that low. Instead he waved for Parthum to follow him as he headed for the back door into the main building itself. Taking the keycard from his partner, he used it and readied himself.

The door opened to a small store room, with only one guard sat rolling a cigara for himself, his helmet off. Lucian raised his pistol and fired once while the guard was distracting - hitting him right in the head with a stun bolt that had him slump off, out cold.

"Alright... time to keep moving." he declared as he moved on ahead. He couldn't help but comment, "What's the bet this will go a lot less smoothly from here on out?"

@Force_In_Balance

 

[Parthum Lucerne]

Parthum was, for a brief moment, shocked beyond words as Lucian dropped a primed grenade in the guard's lap. Only to shield his eyes as the grenade went off. Parthum gave a VERY relieved sigh as the grenade turned out to be an adhesive grenade and silently followed Lucian around the back of the building. He readied himself in the same moment Lucian did, centering himself in the Force and turned the corner into the store room directly behind Lucian. It didn't take Parthum more than a moment to realize the guard in question had indeed been alone and he gave a wry smirk to Lucian at his comment. "Well considering how well it's gone thus far even if it does get worse it won't be that bad." Parthum chuckled, moving over to the only other door leading out of the store room. Using the Force Parthum prevented the door from opening automatically, telekinetically holding the door's panels together as it's sensors tried to make it open for them. Instead the door opened a scant inch or so as Parthum peaked out into a curving hallway.

The hallway was in the shape of a "U" though with more rigid, straight edges rather than the curved shape of the actual letter, much akin to the shape one got if they made two L shapes with their fingers and touched their thumbs together. In this instance Parthum and Lucian were where the space between one's right thumb and forefinger would be, with a small section of the hall directly outside the door to their right, the longest section directly in front of Parthum, with another short hall intersecting the longest segment at it's other end. Filling the space between the small segments and to the right of the long segment, diagonally to the right from Parthum and Lucian's door, was what one could only describe as a security station. It ran the entire length of the longest hall segment with a counter and glass window, and Parthum could barely discern what appeared to be holo-feeds of cameras scattered throughout the compound inside.

At the end of the small segment that went off to the right roughly ten meters or so a featureless door like the one Parthum currently peered out of, while to it's left across the small hall segment from Parthum and Lucian a scant three meters to the right, appeared to be a door to said security station. Nearly directly to his left was another doorway and at the very end of the longest hall section was both a doorway directly across from them, and a similarly mirrored door right next to it on the same wall to his left. If Parthum had to guess, there would be yet another door on the other side of the security station on the same wall to their right.

All this in mind, Parthum noted the five guards present outside of their current location. Three were present within the guard station. One was seated and 'observing' the cameras, though it was more accurate to say he was looking at his datapad. Parthum could also see two more guards in the station retrieving weaponry from a set of lockers, and lastly two more guards stood at the far end of the hall where the longest segment and the short segment further from Parthum and Lucian connected, seemingly in conversation. Moving back from the door and closing it with the Force Parthum sighed before turning to Lucian with an amused chuckle "Well, I'm glad I'm not a betting Jedi."

@Lucian Volante

 

[Lucian Volante]

Good idea to get the door to open only partially - that way they could see out without announcing that they were here. Was this Knight a Jedi Shadow or something? Seemed to know a thing or two about conducting himself in a stealthy manner it had to be said. He would ask Parthum but not right now.

Right now they were still in enemy territory.

Looking over the situation, Lucian tutted in annoyance. He wasn't usually one for being sneaky it had to be said. He was, after all, a combat pilot. He was usually called it when fighting was ongoing and there was no reason to be sneaky.

"Alright... I'm going to make a move on the two guards." he told his ally with a small frown, "You keep an eye on the security room - they might spot what I'm doing. If they do? You stop them from raising the alarm."

Using the Force, Lucian slipped out through the door silently and pushed himself forwards towards the two guards. He flicked his wrist, causing a noise to occur behind them, turning them both away from him for a second... which turned out to be all he needed to slide up behind the guards, pressing the barrel of his pistol against the neck of the first guard, between his armour, to fire a stun round directly into his neck - and do the same to the other guard.

Catching both men in the Force, he crouched down by the wall as he held them upright using the Force... by all appearances, nothing had happened, except they were now both unconscious.

@Force_In_Balance

 

[Parthum Lucerne]

Parthum gave a knowing nod as Lucian informed him of his intended plan. As long as Lucian avoided the sight of the guards through the window he should be fine. After all, judging by how engrossed the one Rakata had seemed in his data pad, the cameras were all but for show at this point. "As you say." Parthum gave Lucian a moment to get into position before following him out the door, to his right a step or two, and bracing himself against the corner of the wall beside the doorway into the security room. Peaking around said corner he could see through the glass window into the security room, as well as Lucian approaching the two distracted guards. He had to admit, for one who seemed out of his element in the realm of covert applications, Lucian handled himself very well.

Nodding in satisfaction as Lucian lowered the two individuals silently to the ground, Parthum drew up the hood of his robes, to hide his more unqiue features from identification, and took a steadying breathe. Pivoting on a heel, Parthum moved himself into the sensors of the doorway to the security room and, in the same moment the doors opened to the three now-surprised Rakata, drew his light saber..... only for it to quite literally slip through his fingers and tumble unceremoniously to the floor with an odd and VERY anti-climactic "CLACK". In this moment, Parthum could only think sardonically to himself 'Well, seems I am more out of practice then I thought.'

Parthum simply stared at the Rakata for a moment, while the Rakata looked from the hooded stranger, to his fallen weapon, and back. There was a short, awkward pause in which Parthum cleared his throat and held up a finger, a hesitant grin settling onto his features. "Ummm...wrong room?" The Rakata shouted something in their common tongue and as they began to raise their weapons Parthum knew he had utterly failed at taking them by surprise, even still he refused to allow them one thing.... thus with Force-assisted speed did Parthum raise his hand and emit a shock of energy to the console the alarm was wired into. Disabling it in the same manner one would a droid or any other electronics, after all, it isn't just organics Parthum had studied in how to deal with in a non-lethal manner.

Parthum was, thankfully, able to duck back behind the corner as the guards opened fire. Well, it was more accurate to say the two who had claimed their weaponry from the lockers opened fire, while the third raised his own hand and emitted his own blast of what Parthum and Lucian would know as "Sith Lightning". Granted Parthum had not seen that coming, then again he hadn't thought to see if any of the guards may have also been Force Sensitive. His mistake, he supposed. No doubt Lucian would hear the commotion from his place at the other end of the hall and Parthum huffed as he smoothed back his hair, extended a hand to retrieve his Light saber from the hallway floor with the Force, and peaked around the corner and began to speak to Lucian. "Well... Lucian we seem to have a problem." Parthum once again paused for a millisecond as he casually remarked on the worsened situation they now found themselves in, deciding to omit the part about him dropping his light saber and instead speak as if he were commenting on the weather "One of the guards seems to be Force Sensitive, which I did not expect."

The window of the security room would violently shatter outwards and Parthum would duck back behind the corner for a moment to avoid the hail of shattered glass and blaster fire that left scorching, burning marks in the wall before he began to speak again. "Thankfully, I was able to disable the alarm."

@Lucian Volante

 

[Lucian Volante]

They had a problem?

Well that was expected.

When things were going this well, it was kind of expected that things were bound to go wrong quickly. But the fact that he had managed to disable to alarm was good. The fact that one of them seemed to be attempting to use Force Lightning? Well that was bad but it wasn't the worst thing in the Galaxy.

"It's alright Parthum." he told the other Jedi as he approached, hiding behind the half wall with the window above him into the security room, "Look away Parthum."

This likely wasn't going to be pretty.

Reaching up, he touched his free hand to the glass and reached into the Force, pushing and pulling at it as it agreed to execute his will - all within the space of a second.

And then?

The window shattered entirely, glass shards separating from the perfectly smooth sheet of glass they had been but second ago. But they didn't fall to the ground as gravity would have them do. Instead, they turned, presenting their edge to those within the room, before they shot forwards into the room like a violent rain.

Lucian paused for a moment as each of the guards slumped to the ground. He reached out with his senses in the Force, to see what damage he had wrought... before simply sighing, eyes closing, as he had to accept that he had killed the three guards.

Something to work through later.

"Come on." he urged Parthum, "We need to get the hostages and quickly."

Taking a quick glance over at the security console, he looked over the camera feeds before spotting the room that held their hostages. Moving with purpose down the hallway, he ignited his lightsaber as he walked before plunging it into the correct door. The door opened and Lucian took a deep breath,

"A single hostage Parthum... looks like we're going to have to be extra careful."

@Force_In_Balance

 

[Parthum Lucerne]

Parthum was...... saddened by the death of the guards. He could feel their deaths in the Force, even as the glass ripped and tore through their flesh. He closed his eyes, swallowing thickly, and came around the corner as Lucian beckoned him to follow to the hostages. Parthum glanced at the fallen guards, head bowing in silent prayer to the Force that they now be at peace, before following Lucian down the hall. As Lucian plunged his light saber into the doorway, forcing the locking mechanism open, Parthum inhaled sharply as the lone woman sitting on the floor before them was revealed. "Agreed."

Parthum stepped forward, kneeling beside the woman with a comforting smile. She seemed..... shocked beyond words, to put it mildly. Two Jedi showing up on a world in Wild Space just to save her? Parthum could see why such an occurrence could seem..... odd. Parthum glanced at the bindings keeping the woman's wrists and ankles bound together and met her eyes with calm confidence as he spoke "It's alright, we are here to take you someplace safe. Understand?" The woman's eyes only widened and she nodded wordlessly, to which Parthum waved his hand and unlocked the bindings with the Force. Instructing her in a soft, almost fatherly tone "Good. Now, stay behind us, and if things get dangerous I would like you to hide yourself." Again a small nod, and Parthum began to wonder what exactly these cultists had put this poor woman through as she had yet to say a single word to either of them.

Regardless the woman stood when he stood and, turning to Lucian, Parthum sighed "Come Lucian, I believe we can leave most effectively through the same way we entered this place." Parthum suddenly blinked for a moment as he felt something around his arm, only to turn as the hostage had all but hugged his arm, her eyes downcast as silent tears ran down her dirty cheeks. She whispered a soft "Th-Thank you..." and Parthum could only smile "Of course. It is what Jedi do, after all." She didn't seem too keen on releasing his arm, so Parthum simply began to walk back down the hallway once Lucian was ready. It was rather simply to walk into the store room, through it and out the side entrance they had started with. What awaited them outside, however, would make things far from simple.

Spoiler: Cult Leader

As Parthum exited the compound proper, whether in front of or behind Lucian depending on their want, a sudden Dark surge in the Force would alert the two Jedi to the presence of three figures who had been waiting for them in concealment. With startling speed and force would the hostage be wrenched from Parthum, lifted into the air, and begin to be Force Choked. A robed Rakata with a light saber grasped in one hand with the other extended toward the hostage, would be flanked by two more Rakata in sleek black armor with their own light sabers. The leader's red eyes would begin sweeping over the two Jedi to rest more on Lucian than Parthum as a small pulse of Force energy washed harmlessly over the two of them, taking their measure. When the leader spoke it would be, surprisingly, in Basic. His voice a low, almost tired-sounding rumble "It would seem..... we have uninvited guests. Do not worry, my brothers, the Dark will see them eradicated from our world."

Parthum grit his teeth and, without a word, would raise a hand and emit a Force Light at the leader, expending all of the spare Force energy he had been able to cobble together on this darkness-drenched world during their approach to the compound. The robed Rakata's extended arm would shake, his red eyes narrowing briefly in concentration before he released the hostage under the weakening of his powers. Parthum too, would take a deep breathe as he lowered his arm and glance askance at Lucian "Lucian, I do not feel I can contend with their Leader. His underlings certainly but.... I will have to leave him to you." Parthum glanced at the now coughing and sputtering woman before moving over to her as the Leader ignited his own light saber. "Please wait inside, hide yourself and... if things go poorly, escape in the confusion." It pained Parthum to suggest such a thing to her, but though she seemed frightened and scared, she did as he asked as Parthum move beside Lucian once more. "I am prepared if you are." Without another word Parthum drew his light saber from his robes, igniting the silver blade and assuming a Makashi dueling stance.

@Lucian Volante

 

[Lucian Volante]

They had to protect a single hostage.

This was the Galaxy's way of spitting on them wasn't it? Protecting one hostage was both the best and the worst case scenario. Good because they had two people to help cover one person. Bad because they would fail their entire mission if one stray blaster shot somehow managed to get through and hit her.

Seemed that Parthum had the 'dealing with the hostage' part down so Lucian just nodded to the woman with a small smile before focusing on covering their flank and their rear, his lightsaber still ignited in his right hand and his blaster pistol still in his left. They could relax when the mission was over and until it was over, he was going to be acting as if they were moments away from having the entire planetary defence force on their laps.

Ah.

It seemed that he was right.

The Galaxy lived to test them didn't it?

Unfortunately for this Dark Sider... Lucian was not in the mood to humour him. Advancing on the leader like a nexu stalking it's prey, he addressed Parthum.

"I'll assist you in a moment, Parthum." he promised his ally even as he refused to take his eyes off of his opponent, "This shouldn't take too long."

As he advanced, his opponent grew angry and sent forth a steady stream of Force lightning at him - Lucian's blade took the brunt of the attack but he could still feel the current rushing into his body and beginning to mark and burn at his armour. Fortunately for Lucian this meant that the enemy was singularly focused on him, which meant he was unable to resist as Lucian used the Force to twist his eye-storks, twisting the sensitive nerves so hard and so suddenly that the enemy gave a surprised cry of pain before immediately passing out.

The lightning stopped and Lucian looked between the two minions.

"You can run now."

They didn't.

@Force_In_Balance

 

[Parthum Lucerne]

As Lucian stalked forward to confront the Cult Leader and the hostage they guarded hurried inside the compound, the two bodyguards to the Leader circled around their Leader's left, Parthum and Lucian's right. They too seemed intent on letting Lucian and their Leader clash, and Parthum pivoted his stance accordingly to meet them. Parthum made certain to place himself not only between the two Rakata and the doorway back into the compound, and subsequently the prisoner, but also move forward enough they wouldn't be able to flank Lucian without coming into reach of his blade. As they advanced, the two Rakata ignited their own weapons. Light sabers of crude design and make, but functional enough. One of them wielded a blade in each hand while the other opted for a single blade held in both.

In the following moments, the two Rakata and Parthum would be both surprised and impressed, as Lucian overwhelmed their leader in rather short order. Parthum smiled, pleased with Lucian's success and turned his attention to the two Rakata fully, and was not surprised in the least when the two opted to instead rush to engage the two Jedi. The Rakata wielding two blades throwing one at Lucian with the Force before jumping into a high, front-flip slash down at him. Parthum was almost made to shudder involuntarily at the unnecessarily flashy movements of the Rakata, while the other opted to instead engage Parthum with a powerful overhead slash.

Parthum adjusted his footing, stepping off to the side ever so slightly as he angled his blade to intercept his opponent's. Holding true to the principles of the Makashi fighting style, Parthum did not dare meet the full force of his opponent's blow. Rather he angled his guard in such a way as to make the strike bypass his now-moved body completely and leave his opponent's arm exposed with a quick flick of his wrist away from his opponent's body. Contrary to what many may have believed, as the blade of a light saber was weightless, and only true amateurs allowed their strikes to be diverted wholly to the ground by their own momentum alone.

With yet another controlled, practiced movement in the next moment, Parthum clipped the bicep of one of his opponent's arms. Severing the muscle and making the Rakata cry out in pain as the arm closest to Parthum became functionally useless. The Rakata grit his teeth as Parthum finished the motion by righting his footing, now standing off to the side of his opponent with the Rakata's arm dangling limply at his side, the Rakata's light saber now only gripped in his other hand. The Rakata growled, letting out a warcry before swinging his other arm across his own body, turning on a heel and slashing at Parthum's neck. The Jedi reacted coolly, unfazed by the Rakata's ferocity. Readying the muscles in his legs Parthum crossed his own body with his light saber, using the angled construction of the blade to assist him as he both pivoted on a heel and pivoted his blade as it caught the tip of his opponent's. The pivot of his heel put the momentum of Parthum's entire moving body behind the motion of his wrist, which flung the Rakata's saber up over Parthum's head.... and out of the Rakata's grip.

Bringing his blade down on the Rakata's now defenseless self, Parthum once again clipped the outside of the Rakata's right thigh before Force Pushing the Rakata down to the ground and unconsciousness. Parthum sighed, taking a moment to make sure he hadn't killed the Rakata before he turned to check on how Lucian's own engagement was going and, if for some reason need-be, would be ready to assist.

@Lucian Volante

 

[Lucian Volante]

Oh for the love of... what even was this right now?

Lucian knew that some Jedi younglings thought that jumping flips were a good idea but literally every Force User worth their salt knew that it was always a terrible idea as it put you on a very easily-followed path. Sighing, Lucian batted the thrown lightsaber aside with his own, sending it tumbling away as he raised his blaster.

Backing away as he tracked his opponent, he fired once with his blaster - the shot slammed into the cultist's left leg above the knee and Lucian avoided the slash by simply not being there anymore.

He watched as the Rakata fell to the ground as his left leg refused to support his weight.

"Feel ready to crawl away and live to fight another day?"

Again though, the Rakata grinned his teeth and attempted to pull himself to his feet.

By the Force this guy was a stubborn one.

@Force_In_Balance

 

[Galahad Vult]

The sound of an object could be heard as it whistled through the air at high speed. Seemingly out of nowhere emerged the towering form of Galahad Vult, whipping about his Brylark staff as he built up momentum. As the Rakata slowly managed to plant his feet underneath himself, he would be too slow to react to the new threat. The Jedi Master suddenly whipped the blunt weapon out at the last moment, striking the cultist square in the head and instantly knocking him out cold.* Planting his staff back on the ground, Galahad offered Lucian a brisk nod in greeting. "Knight Volante. It seemed you could use some help," he quipped in jest. Though he was certain the Jedi ace pilot was entirely capable of handling the situation on his own, Master Vult loved making an entrance.

Beckoning to the two other Jedi and the released woman, Galahad motioned down a hallway where he had apparently emerged from. "This way; the exit is not far." As the group made their way out of the building, they would face no more opposition attempting to halt their escape.*

@Nefieslab
thought I'd jump in since FIB is gone and the thread's so close to finishing anyway :D​

 

[Lucian Volante]

Lucian was aware of Galahad's approach - his skill with the Force was not inconsiderate and Galahad was not exactly a weak user of the Force himself. All he did was make sure that their opponent's attention was solely on him... and then watched as Galahad knocked the stuffing out of the guy in one hit.

"Show off."

There was nothing but amusement in his tone as he regarded Galahad with a small sigh,

"But I suppose you have your uses, Vult." he quipped back before gesturing for the former prisoner and Parthum to follow them as they began to make their way out, "Showing us to the door is my favourite one so far actually - this planet is a strange place."

They were actually free from interference too.

How peculiar.

They were free and clear - something that let Lucian take a deep breath before leading his allies back towards their parked ship. He glanced at Galahad.

"Why do I get the feeling that you kind of joined late in the game?" he teased before shrugging, "Alright - good job guys. Let's get out of here."

/End Thread
@Force_In_Balance @Shalken