Ask An Ongoing Situation

Rishe Vakren

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"Ah, shrakh. Here we go again." Muttered the helmeted Ranger lieutenant as three Jedi arrived to a specific, very messy ongoing situation in the D-section of a Haven medical station.​

The cause of the issue was only 23 prisoners, men and women who had been held in the Republic's highest security prison around Odik II. They were not mere bounty hunters, thugs, or common criminals, but some of the most dangerous sentient beings the Galaxy had managed to lock away for the betterment of all. Tears were not shed for their absence.

But the old Imperial prison that had been repurposed for their stay was also the location of their last stand. The Rangers hadn't passed any information to the Jedi yet, but the method and direction of their escape seemed clear. They'd reached the prison station escape pods, then intentionally rammed the fragile things into the Haven station. One of those pods cartwheeled lazily through space near the control center, with the rest having succeeded in their penetration.

Of course, Rangers had responded within hours.

A day later, the Jedi arrived to see all entrances into the ward of the medical station locked down. Doors were welded and secured in place, hallways were barricaded. Most of the rangers - a twenty to thirty strong taskforce - were suited, armed, and armored, staring down barricades with an acute mixture of alertness and exhaustion that would have suggested they were the last defenders against an invading army. Yet their barricades trapped less than two dozen people.

Rishe stood to the side of the other two Jedi; Padawan Aran and Knight Voran. Aran was a promising padawan - and obviously had Ranger familial influence, so he was a natural fit for the mission. And Voran?

Well, the Knight's had an experience with a hostage situation before. She'd likely recognize another one when she saw it. It was clear in the Rangers' restraint, that they hadn't moved in despite their chokehold over the station and the surrounding space. Or rather, considering the caliber of enemy they're dealing with, it was equally telling that someone hadn't accidentally slipped a torpedo into the side of the station.

"Jedi." The lieutenant said, resting his hands on a blaster rifle. "I hope against impossible odds that you're here to just watch and let us do our jobs?"


Apologies for it taking a while to get out, I need to get better with starting threads!
Last I checked, Rangers and Jedi were on semi-bad terms with the Trys coma and all of that, if that's inaccurate let me know and I can try to adjust.

I also looked into your characters a bit to try and add some fluff details but it's not as much as I'd like, but I'd rather get the post out now and get things started than keep you all waiting while I research every tiny detail. If any of that is also problematic please let me know.
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Alexandria Voran

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The Force spoke to them all differently. Oh, the Order had similar platitudes and teaching on the sounds of the Force, but the truth was much different. The Force worked through each of them in a way they could never really explain. Jedi Knight Alexandria Thayless Voran had spent almost a century trying to solve a riddle that could not be solved. Even now, she was never entirely certain she heard the right tones. The Light shone brightly in her heart, but the Force hummed with undeniable tension. A bowstring impossibly taught. Dangerous.

Alex’s back was straight, head up, and eyes forward. Those eyes projected calm and confidence honed over decades. Doubt had crept into her mind lately, doubts she shared only with Max. There was no reason to present that face to the galaxy at large. Today she was Knight Voran. She was a representative of the Order responsible for two of its Padawans. The fears she faced at night were locked away in a tight corner of her mind. She was dealing with those in her own way. In the D-Section of the Haven Medical Station flanked by two Padawans, Alex was nothing but the perfect image of a Jedi. Brown robes, soft tan synthweave, and all. She nodded kindly to the Lieutenant. “You have command, Lieutenant. We are not here to interfere with the Rangers…only assist.” Her voice was calm as she spoke. Alex’s mind was elsewhere.

She surfed the waves of the Force, looking for a solution. There would be no easy fix. The Rangers were nearly outnumbered and facing a terrible foe. They needed the Jedi, but it would not be forced on them. “As near as I can tell, you are roughly evenly matched with the prisoners.” Her hands emerged from her robes palms up to motion towards Padawan Vakren and Aran. “We can tip those scales and save lives in the process.” The lieutenant grunted. “Maybe…but you Jedi pretend to know more than you do about these situations.” Alex smiled. “Agreed.” That seemed to shock the lieutenant. “Why don’t you hear the suggestions of my companions and then decide?” These were supposed to be teaching opportunities in conjunction with repairing their relationship with the Rangers.

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Crix Aran

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The whole situation was a mess and he could say that both as a Jedi Padawan and as someone who had seen things from the Ranger point of view not too long ago. Honestly, prison breaks were terrible at the best of times but this was far from being the best of times - the Rangers were stretched thin and the prisoners had managed to take over large sections of a medical station. Sure, they didn't have much in the way of heavy firepower but the fact that the Rangers hadn't pushed for an insertion beyond simple containment spoke volumes.

Crix reached into the Force for both answers and comfort as they made their way forward. His fellow Padawan, Rishe, felt different to Knight Voran. Rishe felt...

... the nerves before his exams never lessened even when they were only mock exams... a tightness to his stomach despite the undercurrent of confidence...


As for Knight Voran?

... watching his mom on the news was often enjoyable, especially so when she was there to watch with him so he knew she had managed to get out of there okay... watching her take down criminals twice her size with poise, grace and more than a little bit of power was always just so fun, though it carried with it the understanding that his mom was dangerous... dangerous to others though and never him...


He did his best to ignore the flashes of his own memories that came up from touching upon both the Knight and the Padawan with the Force. Crix was used to it by now, used to the way his own memories played when trying to get a sense of the people around him and he was getting slightly better at understanding what any of it actually meant as well. He smirked a little bit at the byplay between the Lieutenant and the Knight.

Good to see that they weren't going to waste time being belligerent with each other. Rubbing at his chin with one hand, Crix nodded to the Knight before eyeing up the assembled Rangers. They were all fully kitted out with weapons at the ready but they weren't psyching themselves up so...

"Hurry up and wait, right?"
he asked the Lieutenant who grunted an affirmative without actually speaking, "Do we have eyes on the prisoners? Internal security cameras or heat sensors at all?"

They needed to get an idea as to where they actually were within the area and how they were spread out before they thought about any kind of options. The Ranger in command waved them over to a bank of monitors set up, showing the feeds from six different security cameras. Five of them were showing static while one of them showed a canteen area with six nurses with their hands tied together being watched by some of the prisoners who were armed with assorted rifles and pistols.

"They took out most of the cameras but they kept this one running so we could see that they actually did have hostages. 6 nurses who were on shift in the infirmary of the prison - they grabbed them on their way to the escape pods to be used as hostages."
he admitted, arms crossed over his chest, "We can't afford hostage deaths and they haven't made any demands... yet."


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Rishe Vakren

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Rishe liked Voran. The image of the knight was the one that Rishe herself wanted to cultivate and project. It was a refreshing change from the inexperience and informality that she'd seen from most of the other knights, save for Tionson. Voran represented that perfect blend of sheer capacity and restraint from what the padawan felt. She even found herself standing a similar way, much to her own embarrassment as she altered her stance later to be less obvious.

From Crix, Rishe saw earnestness and thoughtfulness. He took in the scene around him, absorbed information, and tried to learn. She could respect that. Though there was a brief flicker she felt in the force. One of the strings that connected all being plucked, the note tested and recorded. She wondered what sort of information could have been gleaned.

She never had an accurate picture in the Force. Everything was connected, and she could feel it acutely. Minds, emotions, concepts. But never precise images, nothing as miraculous as psychometry. She could walk into a ruin and feel pain layered over the stones, knowing it had suffered war. She could step into a city and feel despair painted upon every surface and flaking away, and she knew it to be a hard life for those who remained. But never who did what.

She did feel something here, even as it was painted over by the new emotions and experiences of the Rangers. Not thoughts of panic, desperation. It was determination, resolve, and faith. She'd never really understand the mechanics of these situations with her lack of experience. The Knight and the son of a Ranger could probably provide more accurate insight than her. But she had read about hostage situations that affected the Republic in the past, and she knew what she felt. This wasn't an opportunistic hostage taking, there wasn't a political motive. There was a plan. Of course, the Ranger wouldn't care about a Jedi's senses. He'd want something concrete.

"They may already have what they want."
She said softly, causing the Lieutenant to cock his head and brow both. "They'd have to know giving you more time is only bad for them, and that their demands are going to be met up until the point that Rangers or Commandoes burst through the windows. But they're happy to wait, so they might be betting that it helps them more than it will help you."

It made sense to Rishe. If she was in a similar situation, she wouldn't depend on the Rangers actually acquiescing, or getting an escape out of a negotiation. She'd only operate on known, static variables. Rangers wouldn't risk hostages, they'd wait the situation out. That would give her a window of time to call for help. A sure escape. And if she knew an escape was coming? She'd very well feel confident about the plan.

"And those escape pods have beacons and communications devices. They don't serve any purpose to us, but if their escape was planned? It might be a signal someone has been waiting for."

"This isn't a holodrama." The Lieutenant says, looking to Alexandria with a pop of his brows. Jedi really did pretend to know. And it wasn't a surprise he was dismissive of it. Alex let him take the lead in judgement, Crix had asked a good question and seemed to speak their language. Rishe had arrived with a long-winded explanation. "They're debating on what their demands would be. Some of them aren't on camera, they probably have the sense to argue out of sight. Worst case scenario for us? We drop a magnetic pulse on the place, disable every commbead on the station, and move in."

"When that time comes, Jedi, it would be useful for you and yours to assist. Maybe it would be less messy. Despite what she seems to think, we don't actually have the luxury of waiting much longer."
He says, a tad begrudging. "I don't suppose that the rumors you all can turn invisible are actually true? It would help us get to the canteen without them being alerted."


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Alexandria Voran

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Focus. Alex fought the urge to let her gaze wander. She was not used to this much chatting, especially with armed prisoners having a delightful time throughout the station. The Ranger Lieutenant would be a difficult nut to crack. Luckily, Alex could multitask. While Rishe and Crix explained their well thought out inquiries, Alex let her mind expand. She fixed the Lieutenant with a calculating gaze. There. That should keep him busy. He expected her to be a judgmental hag after all.

Her mind expanded beyond the room. The Force carried her perception past the Ranger checkpoint. This was not magical sonar that gave her mysterious insights, but she could feel the rising tension. The cluster of fear that were the hostage. No. Two clusters. The escapees had smartly split the hostages into two groups of 3. There was a palpable sense of waiting riding on the Force. Waiting for what? Another cluster of vibrating emotions. Excitement? Concern? What were they doing? A spike of alarm ripped through the Force. When all the ways free were shut, you made your own path. Alex snapped back into her mind.

“You don’t like us, you don’t trust us, and I don’t blame you.” The words spilled out. They needed to act quickly. “I’m not going to change your mind…but you are going to need us.” Kriff. She was not fast enough. The sound of distant explosion rocked the checkpoint. Her lightsaber hilt sprung into her hand. A tell-tale snap-hiss rang out. Alex quickly motioned towards Rishe and Crix. No deaths by our hands.” Her voice was brooked no retort. Despite what the galaxy might think, they were not weapons of war. She would not have the Padawans she taught killing anyone. Alex walked forward while pooling the Force in her left land. A soft glow began to emit from her hand. A little showmanship never hurt. “Times up Lieutenant.” She motioned for Crix and Rishe to follow. She would not usurp the Rangers command but there was more time to waste.

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Crix Aran

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Crix wanted to get a better look at the blueprints of the station but they didn't have the luxury of time when it came to situations like this. He remembered his mom complaining about hostage situations as being incredibly tricky but always very rewarding when they went right. When they went wrong they played hell on the soul, with every action and inaction weighed both by the Rangers themselves and by their internal affairs teams. If it went wrong it turned into a cluster-kark where everyone focused on who messed up rather than anything else.

Of course when the explosion rang out he cursed in his mind and his lightsaber slapped into his hand with the Force. He didn't ignite it straight away, waiting the span or two heartbeats first. Hans had taught him to take in the situation before he responded and he wasn't liking the situation. Crix nodded once at Alex's instruction about killing - he wasn't a fan of it either.

"I heard more than one explosion, Master Voran."
Crix reported as he ignited his saber and stepped between the Rangers and the door facing them, "I think they might be trying to open up more than one escape route."

Blaster fire over an open comline confirmed it even as one of the Rangers at the ops center that had been set up spoke up.

"Sir, there's fighting at the hanger we arrived in a few levels down. They're not sure how many are there."


Crix narrowed his eyes before glancing at Alex.

"Do we focus on the criminal's escape attempt or the hostages?"



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Rishe Vakren

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Two explosions. The rangers delaying. The station had been breached to provide a dangerous method of escape. But fighting in the hangars meant that the Jedi and the Rangers both were actually confronted on multiple fronts, both in front of them with the barricaded ward of the station, and behind as the hangar the Jedi and Rangers used was assaulted by reinforcements.

"If they've blown holes into the station, then both objectives have the same path. The hostages will be in danger as they escape, either taken aboard whatever shuttle's come for them, or left in vacuum." Rishe said, "And they're either escaping deeper in the ward, or they think they can let their friends fight through us here so that they can reach the hangar. They don't have any other good way of getting there." She left her preference unsaid. It would be up to the Knight, of course, and she was a properly deferential padawan. But she felt the prisoners they were here for were further in the wards, as were the hostages. Though Rishe unfortunately hadn't picked up on the tidbit that the hostages were separated.

Her own saber slid from her sleeve into her outstretched hand, but she hadn't ignited it yet like the other two. With how the situation was shaking out, this was a strange time to emphasize a non-lethal approach. The lives of the hostages were either forfeit or in clear danger, and these criminals or mercenaries or whatever they were would not hesitate in blasting the Rangers or the Jedi. Yet, she wouldn't question the Knight. Not openly, and not in a situation where seconds mattered.


Down the halls from the operation center, blaster fire could be heard. The Lieutenant swore and barked orders, putting his helmet back on as the rangers bustled into activity. They split into two groups, with a larger portion actually heading away from the ward and towards the hangar.

"If time's up and you're here to help, then go!" He calls out to Voran, pointing down the hall towards the ward, where the ten or so smaller group was headed. Despite his caustic attitude, he wasn't going to turn aside the help. Especially not in a rapidly escalating situation.

Anxiety. Lethal intent. Adrenaline. Panic. New emotions, new thoughts and feelings. Rishe wasn't a stranger to facing down danger, but she still wasn't acclimated to it. She didn't have the instinctual training of a soldier, and for once, she felt she could fully emphasize with the minds that created those emotions, they mirrored her own. She stuffed them in a box, as she often did.

Down the hall leading into the ward, the Rangers were using bare amounts of cover to try and move forward. Repeating blaster bolts fizzled into the wall of the impromptu operation center, painting the sterile white a scorched black and grey. The prisoners and whoever came through those holes to help them would have a difficult time fighting their way through, but so would the Rangers. It was an equal opportunity killing field, and both sides had arms enough to shoot down even a Rancor before it took a few steps. But then, a thermal detonator erupted.

The bodies of two rangers were flung backwards, their heavy armor scorched and tattered as they sprawled over the tiled floor.


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Alexandria Voran

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Calm in a storm. Alex immersed herself in the Force, the Light bristling around her. Time seemed to move just a little more slowly. The Rangers raced around the Jedi to engage, the entire situation escalating rapidly. There was little and less time to plan. Luckily the choices were easy. The hostages always came first. They could round up the criminals even if they fled. Alex knew there was a danger there, but there were innocent lives they knew were in danger now. A part of her wished to send Crix and Rishe after the hostages while she delt with the escapees. Perhaps if she knew them better, she would have, but the Order could not afford any more mistakes by their youth.

“Hostages first.” Alex stepped towards the hallways. The explosion sent a shockwave rippling her robes. The bodies flew past. No time for second thoughts. She rushed forward. Her hand was forced, she would need to trust the young Padawans. Blaster fire began to rip towards her. Alex’s blade moved in tight circles as she batted bolts aside. Her mind reached out to brush against the young Jedi. “Find another way in…I’ll draw their fire.” The Force did not make them magical wizards, but there were times to fuel superstition. She poured the Force into her hands…a soft glow beginning to form while she worked. “Stay calm…stay together…and follow the will of the Force.”

Alex quickly snapped her attention back at hand. The bolts were pouring at her now while her hands glowed ever more brightly. The convicts in the room were beginning to turn their attention to the Jedi. She did not particularly like the trapping of the Order. That did not mean she was unaware of their power. The convicts saw a chance to lay low a powerful Jedi Knight. She would give them that chance if it meant Rishe and Crix saving the hostages.

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Crix Aran

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Going for the hostages? Crix could respect that he supposed, even if he wanted to make sure that the criminals responsible paid for their crimes. What good was saving people if the people who did it were running free to do it again to other innocent people? Sooner or later the good guys would drop the ball and innocent people would die because they weren’t able to stop the bad guys before they could get more of a body count.

But he was the padawan and the Knight called the shots – and he’d never have an issue with saving people. Gripping his lightsaber tightly in his right hand, he nodded at the Knight’s instruction for them to save the hostages.

“Right!”
he confirmed, his lightsaber’s pale blue blade joining the mix as he took a second to prepare himself, “Lets save some lives…”

Dust and blasters everywhere, there was confusion and fear all about them as people without the Force panicked and otherwise let their emotions get the best of them. It was enough that he was beginning to see some of the Rangers and convicts alike hardening their hearts to the violence. Crix nodded to Alex before moving off to the right with Rishe following he hoped.

“Flanking is always an option when you have lightsabers.”
He joked in spite of the situation as he plunged his lightsaber into the wall and carved out an entrance wide enough for both himself and Rishe to squeeze through, “Lets go.”

Stepping through the hole he had created, Crix would actually extinguish his lightsaber. They were now round to one side of the enemy and glowsticks were a big target. Hopefully Alex would be able to keep them fully occupied.


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Rishe Vakren

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"Hostages first." Rishe agreed with the Knight. She followed after Crix, her own saber remaining dormant in her hand for now. As the fight in the hall escalated, the tempest of thoughts and violent emotions washed past Rishe just as blaster fire did, the padawan keeping her head down as she swiftly followed through the hastily made hole.

"Hopefully we don't accidentally flank into space." Rishe replied, casting an uncertain eye towards the hole as they sidestepped the fight entirely. "But now, all we need to do is follow their fear through the Force." Though, as the Force soon indicated, Rishe realized what Knight Voran already discovered much earlier.

If the split sensation wasn't evident in the Force for her fellow padawan, Rishe's moment of deliberation would be clear. "There's two groups."

Sticking together and saving the hostages seemed to be mutually exclusive tasks. The padawans would need to split, but she did worry on how Crix would handle it, for he was unknown to her just as she was to him. The plan forward was obvious, but in case he'd object, she needed to be absolute with it. No claims of believing or thinking it was the best course of action. Yet, only Sith dealt in absolutes.

"I can sense the emotion of both groups from a distance. While we split, I can time my arrival to match with yours based off how your group reacts. The hostages will relieved to see a Jedi or hear a lightsaber. And if either of us has trouble... Knight Voran will finish with her problem quickly, I'm sure." She said. She left little room for argument, as she followed the guidance of the Force as dutifully as a kath hound as it led her further into the ward. They needed to be decisive, to have confidence in their own ability.

Of course, the former prisoners had some way of communicating with each other. The appearance of two visible lightsabers at the fight near the impromptu HQ was drawing aid by pulling extra hands and blasters away from looking over the hostages and sending them towards that fight. The loud thud of multiple boots and magnetic shoes upon the station's floor would make itself clear to both Crix and Rishe as they took their respective paths, these reinforcements likely to pass by them on their way to confront the Knight.


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Alexandria Voran

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The Force bristled around her. A glowing paragon of the Force stood in the hallways. Alex moved as water over stones while she batted blaster bolts into the ceiling. She was the valiant Jedi Knight down to the flowing auburn hair. She was also annoyingly mortal. Her skills as a Jedi were growing but she was hardly a master of the Force, and she was outside her element. Alex’s skills resided squarely in less combative pursuits. That did not mean she was unprepared.

Still, the Force was quickly burning through her reserves. She could feel her movements coming slightly more slowly. The bolts creeping closer and closer. She could not keep the show going much longer. There was a point where her strength would fail. How could she keep the distraction going? A blaster bolt nearly grazed her shoulder. The heat burning her robe. Think Alex. Her mind reached out to the Rangers around her. She touched their thoughts. Respectfully. “I need cover…I’ll draw them in…get ready. If the brigands thought her wounded, they would press the attack.

The chance to kill a Jedi? That was far too tempting for even the most disciplined thug. If they rushed forward to end her, the Rangers would have the chance to quickly counter. That would hopefully further draw the prisoners away from the hostage. Alex felt the general assent from the Ranger. They had no idea what she was planning but they would back her up. She took a deep breath. Kriff this was going to hurt. The Jedi Knight allowed her movement to become just a little sloppier. She could sense the growing confidence from the attackers. The zeal was building. Yes, they thought her tiring. Just as their desire peaked…she slipped. A blaster bolt burned into her shoulder. The Force alone kept her from fainting. Searing pain laced down her spine. She heard a cry. “She’s down!” The prisoners began to rush forward…right into the teeth of the rangers.

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Crix Aran

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Seriously? She thought he was dumb enough to shove his lightsaber into an exterior wall? Actually, thinking about it for a few moments, he wouldn't rule it out - not as an accident but actually as a tactic. Most sentients needed air to keep going after all and if he had a rebreather on he would have enough air to keep going while they didn't... a thought for later because he didn't have enough rebreathers to save even a single hostage that way.

Follow their fear?

"The Force isn't a radar."
he repeated, verbatim, from a lecture Hannibal had given him when he'd asked why they couldn't track someone through the Force, shrugging slightly when she looked at him, "Hans likes to tell me that whenever I say something about using the Force to track someone."

Crix gave Rishe a winning smile, honestly slightly more of a rakish smirk than anything else.

"Let's go play hero."


Two groups made sense though. Crix grinned a little bit before nodding and making his way through the corridors silently. He had picked a direction he was confident in not because he could feel anything in that direction but because it made sense; a generator room. They were often more securely locked than other rooms in ships and space stations - it made sense to try and convert one into a kind of brig.

He was more inclined to think it was something important however because it had a guard. Sure he looked mostly restless and he was only armed with a shiv but what did that matter? Totally looked like a guard to him. Hiding back around a corner, Crix drew his stun blaster with his left hand before spinning out from around the corner. He hammered the trigger twice, the guard barely managing to get a shout off before he was hit by both stun blasts and he slumped over.

Reaching the door, Crix cursed lightly at seeing that it was locked before reaching out with the Force to communicate with the other Jedi.

"I've either found a make-shift brig for hostages or I'm about to turn off the power... maybe both... wish me luck!"



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Rishe Vakren

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"Hans-?" Rishe asked, surprised. How well connected was the other padawan if he referred to a councilor by their first name? Though, she was fine with the zabrak's confidence, playing along with a polite smile of her own. "We're not playing hero if we're doing actual heroics, right?"

Rishe went in a different direction, deep into what seemed to be a pathogen quarantine unit. Or that's what the signs said. The already sterile station took on a sanitarium-like appearance, doors replaced with airlocks and showers. And as she was approaching one, it opened.

She tucked into one of the hallway's ribs with a fluttering of her robes as she heard multiple footfalls turn the corner into her hall. She kept stock-still, held her breath... and willed the Force around her to escape notice. As the group passed, she was able to see two of the prisoners bypassing her very hasty hiding spot, not paying attention to the strange way the wall seemed to bulge.

Then an idea came to her. The illusion slipped from around her as she stood in the hall. "You heard a disturbance back where the prisoners are being kept."

The two of them flinched and whipped around, their blaster rifles held at the ready. The Force was dripping into Rishe's words as she stared the two down. She looked at the one on the left. "You think you should investigate. You will catch up to your friend in a minute."

The prisoners didn't have weak minds, that was for sure. They stared towards her, their minds arguing with the influence of her abilities. She repeated the command. And then... she could hear garbled communication from a radio one of them held. Something about something being down. That thankfully seemed to ease the manipulation as they looked towards one another and nodded.

"I'll check it out and catch up in a minute." The nikto prisoner said, going back the way he came as his comrade kept going down the hall. I apologize, Master Voran, more trouble is coming for you.

She followed the nikto down the hall, through an airlock, past a password locked door, and into a segregated ward. It looked like a single wing of a prison block, but the cells were separated by plasma barriers and furnished comfortably at least. Here, those emotions felt strong. The fear, anxiety, the confidence of a plan well-executed. Desires and thoughts of two disparate groups mixed together in a swirling paint and plastered over the canvas of the station, with the deeper cells hidden behind the curving design of the hall.

Crix's thoughts touched her own. He'd found something. Potentially his group of hostages. Rishe was certain that further down this hall, she'd find her three as well. 'Force give you luck. I believe I've also found - shrakh!'

The airlock door they'd just used hissed open again. Blaster fire and a curse came out of it as soon as there was an opening. Her manipulation hadn't lasted long enough to get the second prisoner to go and attack Voran instead. "Echuta, Je-dai!"

Her amber saber roared to life, kicking in her hand as the blaster bolts pinged against the blade, ricocheting into the walls as she fell into a basic stance. Next to her, the nikto was shaking off her Force manipulation, and further down the hall, she heard a third prisoner swearing, yelling about what the commotion was.


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Alexandria Voran

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Alex huddled behind a makeshift Ranger barrier. Very dignified. Her ploy had worked well, drawing the glory hungry prisoners out from behind their cover. Stun bolts from the Rangers had sailed by…dropping prisoner after prisoner. Alex had flung herself haphazardly behind a barrier. They had managed to gain significant ground in the hallways while putting a several of the prisoners to sleep. Unfortunately, a few of the wiser agitators had stayed behind. They were bogged down again. The pain in her left shoulder radiated down her arm. She had pushed a small amount of the Force into the wound, just enough to ensure she remained functional. The pain she locked away in a corner of her mind. That would cost her later.

Her senses expanded beyond the hallways. She needed to keep an eye on the Padawans. They seemed to be making acceptable progress. She was not thrilled they split up, but they truly had little choice. Her thoughts rumbled acknowledgment as Rishe reached out. Alex almost felt a little satisfaction. They seemed to have things well in hand. Rishe and Crix were rescuing the hostages…no prisoners had yet escaped…and the hallways was secure. Of course, the moment she allowed that thought into her mind the Force screamed warning. She felt Rishe’s spike of alarm in the Force. By the Force.

Alex peaked around the barrier. There was no rushing the prisoner encampments. She thought back to Corellia. She had not been strong enough alone then, she had needed Max, but she had grown since. There were four prisoners still blocking the Rangers way into the main holdout. Rishe needed help. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Yes, she was tired. Her mind reached out to touch the four prisoners. Their will was stronger than the others. They were smarter more determined, but there was fear in their minds. Their fear was the crack she needed. Alex wrapped her thoughts around them…pressing into the weak points. They resisted. Another deep breath. Alex pressed harder. The mental walls bowed. She could feel her strength being spent. Another deep breath. The cracks grew and the wall fractured. Her mind rushed in…one word flashing in their thoughts. Sleep.

The four prisoners hit the ground with a thud. Blaster bolts stopped firing and the Rangers quickly pushed forward to secure the area. The prisoners were cuffed, and their weapons taken. Alex’s breathing came in ragged huffs. She stood but put a hand on the wall to steady herself. Several of the Rangers gave her a thankful nod as they passed. More deep breaths. Her mind reached for Crix and Rishe. “We are coming.” She shielded her exhaustion from reaching them. Alex took off after the Ranger squad.

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Crix Aran

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Good point… they weren’t playing Hero if they were actually doing heroic stuff. Which meant that he wasn’t playing hero – he was being a Big God Damn Hero right now. Crix could get behind that he decided with a grin.

Of course he needed to stay on point.

There were still blasters being fired in other areas of the medical station and he could tell that meant things weren’t anywhere near wrapped up yet. He wanted to get to playing his part though so it was time to actually get to the hero stuff and save some hostages. Being a hero, being a Jedi, wasn’t about beating up bad guys so much as it was about saving innocents after all.

He ignited his lightsaber carefully before bringing it’s tip to the lock on the door, burning through it almost instantly with the power of the lightsaber. Without the lock in place, the door slid open and Crix was revealed to have been right on both accounts; it was the generator room and there were hostages here.

However there was also a prisoner, holding one of the hostages in front of him as a human shield as he held a shiv to her neck.

“S-stay back Jedi! I’m walking outta here and there’s nothing you can do to stop me! I didn’t want any of this…!”


Crix slowly extinguished his lightsaber and clipped it back to his belt, making sure he was able to hold both empty hands up to the prisoner. Showing he was now unarmed as he very firmly didn’t take a step forward or back.

“Alright, I believe you.”
He assured the prisoner in a calm voice, “You can walk out of here – but then you’re going to be in the corridor with Rangers. Some of your friends have killed some of their friends…”

The prisoner’s eyes widened and he pressed the point of his shiv against the hostage’s neck a little harder.

“I didn’t kill any Rangers! I just wanted out! I didn’t kill no one!”


Crix nodded slowly.

“I believe you, I honestly do. Look at me.”
He gestured to his own chest, “I’m a Jedi – you know about Jedi right? Rangers might take a shot and hurt you because your friends hurt their friends… but what about me? I’m a Jedi. Would a Jedi hurt you because of what your friends did?”

The prisoner was shaking but the shiv moved away from the hostage’s neck slightly.

“… no… no, Jedi are those… goody-goody types. Don’t kill people… right?”


Crix smiled.

“Right.”
He agreed, “Your friend guarding the door? I stunned him; he’ll be right as rain. And even the Rangers can’t shoot a stunned man and justify it to themselves. So how about this for a deal? I stun you, I walk out of here with you and your friend; make sure the Rangers can’t take out any anger on you. All you have to do? Is let the nurse step away from you… can you do that for me?”

The hand holding the shiv started shaking.

“I didn’t want to hurt anybody… we were just supposed to escape! We were gonna let them all go, we were…!”


The young Jedi’s smile softened and he nodded again.

“Maybe I shouldn’t but… I believe you.”
He assured the man, “Let me help you; I stun you, I speak to the Rangers and the hostages do the same and we tell them you didn’t want to be here. That the others dragged you into it; get you a lighter sentence. Maybe a lower security prison, planet-side. Just… let the nurse go, yeah?”

He didn’t think it was going to work. For one, breathless, moment he thought he had signed the poor nurse’s death warrant before the impossible happened; the shiv fell to the ground and the nurse was free to run to stand with the other hostages. The prisoner stood there, completely devoid of cover, shaking.

“I’m sorr-“


Crix didn’t let him finish, drawing his pistol and shooting the man square in the face before rushing forward to catch his falling form. True to his word, Crix had used his stun pistol and stunned the man cold but he hadn’t been willing to risk the prisoner changing his mind so he quick-drew on the man. He set the prisoner down to the side and reached out into the Force.

‘Power supply secure; hostages too. Got a couple of stunned prisoners here – where is everyone else?’



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Rishe Vakren

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These three were prepared to hurt somebody. Her saber hissed as blaster bolts pinged away. She was surrounded on both sides, but that unfortunate situation gave her an advantage. If they weren't careful, they'd shoot one another, especially when she was so close to the prisoner who'd been affected by her trick.

She heard the faint thrum behind her before the weapon even bore down on her. Even if it was faint in comparison to the angry hum of a lightsaber blade, she'd still recognize an active vibroblade. Her hand snapped the saber backwards as it spun behind her back, her offhand yanking the nikto's rifle against the doorframe with the Force as her body twisted with the momentum. She could hear the sharp rapport of her saber forcing the vibroknife aside as it tore a ragged hole through the back of her robes before clattering against the wall.

She allowed her attacker's momentum to carry him past her shoulder as she kicked at his legs. She rolled with it as the man crumpled behind her, their places having effectively swapped in the span of a few seconds. While that was good, it left her open to be shot at, and the nikto pressed her, carefully firing and advancing against the Jedi so as to make it difficult for her to deflect.

Then the situation repeated itself. There was a third guard after all, and he emerged from the end of the hall brandishing a pistol. The second was standing up again, picking up their knife before leveling their rifle as well. She didn't have many options right now, and she clearly couldn't block everything.

Her hand flexed at her side, the Force trickling through her. Then, she made a show of it. She looked up, trying to mimic surprise and relief. She was never a fantastic actor, but with everyone's nerves raw and plucked from battle, it didn't take much. One of the two shooters near the door turned around, and gave a surprised yell. The nikto whirled around, and they started firing into the doorway. The image of a green twi'lek Jedi faded away after the first few bolts, taking with her the golden glow of a familiar lightsaber.

And that gave Rishe barely enough time to charge further into the hall against the pistol-wielder. Rishe's real saber lashed out, carving a burning score through the floor as she swung upwards, severing the pistol in two, and taking with it some fingers judging by the scream. She passed by the stunned prisoner.

She was now in a much better position, and turned around to face all three. Now, she was between them and the hostages kept in the cells, and they weren't surrounding her. 'Quarantine ward. Three hostages. Three kidnappers, but they can't get close now.' Her thoughts were terse and focused.

The illusion had been taxing, even if it was for such a short period. Not for the first time, Rishe cursed the Force. If she were of stronger ability, these three could be pressed against the wall with a mighty push. But now all she could do was slowly give ground as the two rifles shot volleys towards her, forcing her to utilize a mix of the Force and her saber to deflect.


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Alexandria Voran

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A closed fist impacted her ribs. Alex’s normal serene demeanor morphed into a grimace. The Force immediately pooled in her left hand. Her unlit saber hilt gripped tightly in her right. A group of prisoners had rushed them from around the corner. Alex’s tiring mind had been unable to detect their signatures in time. The hostage area was a mess of tangled life and emotions. It made it extremely difficult to pull out friend from foe. A body had slammed into her before she could react, forcing a close encounter she very much was not enjoying.

Alex grappled with the twi’lek prisoner. She could smell his hot breach against her face. Enough of this. The Force burst out from her left hand, slamming the prisoner into the durasteel wall. He slumped unconscious on the floor. She had been careful to moderate her use of force. It was far too easy to forget telekinesis could be as deadly as any saber blade. The Morellian Knight let out one held breath. Her eyes swept around as the Rangers continued to carefully sweep rooms. Her hair was a matted mess, her robes singed, the pain of the blaster burn was creeping back again. This needed to end. Alex was not a hero and the longer this went on, the greater chance for a mistake.

Her mind reached for Rishe and Crix. “Crix, secure the stunned prisoners…I’ll alert the Rangers.” Where was Rishe? Alex’s mind floated about. Ah. There. “Rishe, we are coming.” She could feel the Padawan tiring. Feel the Force slowly sapping her strength. Alex took another breath, falling deeper into the pool of the Lightside. She needed every bit of strength she could muster. Calm descended as physical pains washed away. Serenity returned to her face. They were not mythical heroes, but they had a gift. Their duty was to protect life. Her mind pushed at Crix, urging him to begin making his way toward Rishe once the prisoners were bound.

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Crix Aran

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Alright time to secure the prisoners - thankfully some of them had managed to cuff the hostages so it was simply a matter of transferring the cuffs from the hostages over to the prisoners he had managed to stun. Dragging both prisoners into the back of the generator room, he bound their hands behind their backs before tying the cuffs themselves to different pipes. That way even if they worked together they wouldn't be able to unlock their cuffs. Though he was reluctant to do it, he still handed the weapons the prisoners had taken to the hostages.

"Stay here until the Rangers show up."
he warned them, "Stay down and make sure they identify themselves before you start firing at them alright? They should be set for stun but still - best to give them a chance before you fire."

He was fairly certain that there would be miss-fires before long anyway but he had made sure to put the stun setting on the weapons. Whether or not it stayed on would be up to the people who were there. Still, he was fresher than Rishe and Alex so he needed to get moving. Needs must so he couldn't afford to waste time making sure the former hostages understood fire discipline.

Rushing out into the corridor, he lit his lightsaber as he went. There was no being stealthy about things this time, not when the prisoners were already aware the Jedi were here. Rishe was using the Force, hence why he could feel her so clearly, and it seemed she was weakening. Barging through the door into the quarantine area, Crix emerged behind the trio of prisoners. With Rishe having swapped sides, she was actually further away from the doorway than them.

He had a couple of seconds before the trio realized someone had come in through the door behind them. Crix didn't waste a single one of them, sweeping his saber horizontally from the right, using it to sweep upward slightly, cutting through both legs of the shooter to his right. As the man fell backward, away from his lower legs, Crix reversed the momentum of his swing and smashed the base of his saber into the man's face as he fell, to knock the man out as quickly as possible.

The other two realized that they were no longer alone and the middle turned to shoot at him. Crix ducked back to avoid the first shot before blocking the second and third with his lightsaber, the shooter very uncomfortable trying to shoot when he was within such a short distance of Crix and his lightsaber. Fortunately for the shooter, Crix was on the defensive, blocking the shots sent his way and unable to push forward. Well, not 'unable' so much as 'unwilling'. Already he could see openings, ways he could push forward and end the fight but they all used lethal force and he was holding back on that.

So he just waited for the right split-second to arrive, his arrival already having thrown everything into chaos for the prisoners and giving Rishe a chance to recover and retaliate.


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Rishe Vakren

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It probably helped that Rishe had pulled the illusion trick earlier. When Crix came to back her up, they almost believed it was just another mirage. Then one of the rifle shooters lost their legs. It was a gruesome thing. She spared a glance towards one of the hostages held in the cell, and they shrank back from her gaze. Was she frightening, or were they just worried about the conflict?

Because Crix had diverted their attention and lessened her own burden, Rishe had plenty of time to take advantage of the reprieve. She might have been far from the doorway, but now they surrounded the prisoners. While the middlemost prisoner shot at Crix with a rifle, the other one took aim at Rishe with a blaster, the two convicts putting their backs to each other. That gave her an opportunity, and against a pistol - shoddily aimed due to shock and pain - she had significantly less issue approaching, each blaster bolt thrown off target with a wave of her hand.

Fear joined the emotions where triumph and lethal intent had once been. Each step Rishe took heightened the pistol-wielder's own fright, and with her nudging in the force, she amplified it. A panicked, frightened mind was harder to soothe, put to sleep, or otherwise influence, but fighting the Jedi as they were, they couldn't have been persuaded into putting down their arms, influence from the Force or no.

What's the difference between a Sith and a Jedi stoking fear? She thought, staring into her foe's eyes with a resolve that hopefully sabotaged his own. She just needed him to back up. Is it kinder to kill, or to terrify so you don't have to? Is it their fault for their crimes, or due to my poor effort that they're in this position now?

As the blaster raised towards her for another shot, she pushed the hand aside with a precise nudge from the Force and lunged forward suddenly. The man cringed backwards into his compatriot, and she gestured to both their feet, locking the lower parts of their limbs in stasis, switching between her tiny, rapid uses of the Force with a practiced fluidity.

The rifle wielder toppled onto his face, the pistol one facing Rishe crumpled backwards on top of his ally awkwardly, his knees bent up like he was attempting a situp.


"Let go of your weapons."
She commanded, a stern finality present in her tone that was nearly unnecessary with the lightsaber leveled point first to both men. The blaster pistol was released, and after some grunting and hesitation, the rifle was as well. She sent both tumbling aside.

"Thank you."
Rishe said, her gaze barely flickering towards Crix before monitoring the two who still had their legs. "They threw off my influence, I didn't intend for for them to turn around and attack me from behind." She admits, "Now you've got heroics and a half, and perhaps I could claim the remaining half."

Her mind felt out for Knight Voran's again. Rishe was a little tired, but being unable to advance due to a volume of blaster fire was different from being on the ropes. Or so Rishe stubbornly thought. Padawan Crix arrived, Master. Everything should be alright now, though the rangers bringing some sort of restraint would be appreciated.

Ever cautious, the Padawan didn't move her lightsaber, even though her posture did straighten instead of stooping over the two like she was about to deliver the finishing blow.


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Alexandria Voran

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It was almost over. Alex could feel finality gathering in the Force…a drum in the back of her head. Forward. Forward. Forward. This path had nearly come to an end. She was in the middle of one last cluster of prisoners. The Rangers had rushed in behind her while the Jedi Knight pushed on. Her saber was a whirlwind of indigo. She batted bolts harmlessly into the ceiling. A part of her mind whispered warnings. You are tiringyou have pushed past your limits. Alex ignored those unhelpful thoughts. She would be fine, as she always was. Still, this had all gone on long enough.

The Force gathered in her chest. Slowly she built, the pressure growing as the prisoners surrounded her. Finally. With one small nod the Force raced outward, down her arms, exploding from her outstretched fingertips. Four prisoners when sailing into the wall. They fell harmlessly unconscious to the durasteel floor. Her Ranger companions moved swiftly to apply stuncuffs. Alex received a few saluted. She curtly nodded in return. Her mind stretched outward one last time. It was over. The pockets of intense emotion no longer bubbled in the Force. The uprising had been subdued, the hostages saved, and the prisoners secured. Somehow, by some miracle of the Force, no prisoner had managed to escape.

Alex walked very gingerly towards the humming presences of Rishe and Crix. The former lightly touching her mind as Alex drew close. She arrived soon enough. The Morellian Knight knew she looked a little worse for the wear. Her robes were crumbled and singed, her hair an impossible mess, and of course there was the intentionally taken blaster wound. Alex allowed her calm features to break into a smile upon seeing Crix and Rishe unharmed. Her faith in them had prevailed. “Well done…both of you.” Her eyes flicked to the missing limbs. A small grimace pulled at the corners of her mouth. “There are some costs that cannot be avoided.” Alex looked between the two Padawan’s. “Whoever took those limbs should see the prisoner gets the medical attention he requries.” The exhaustion was beginning to pull at the edges of her vision. Not yet. “When you are done, we will begin tending to the others…start with the hostages and then assist me with the prisoners.” Alex removed her ruined Jedi robes and clipped her saber hilt to her belt.

She bent down slowly as she rolled up her selves. Now was the time for true work. “We are more than lightsabers and mystical powers. It is important to remember we are first servants to life…” She flashed a smile. “Heroes second.” Plus the Rangers and Hostages needed to see that side of them. She could pass out later.

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