~At The Dawn of a New Day, Behold as Fresh Blood Spills the Streets...

[Orphen]

11:55pm almost midnight, enough time for one more story....

NEWSFEED - a woman stands in a suit, with a microphone in her hands on holonet news. "Sirens are blaring down at Southern Empress Teta, as it seems there has been an attack on one, Elizabeth Dane. The female researcher, and head engineer in particle physics was fount today in a back alley, walking home from her activities in the office where she was cornered and cut down.

Police aren't releasing any details, but from what we can see the body is indeed fragmented. It was carted away covered over on several stretchers, Elizabeth Dane was a popular public figure in the area, from Level 216 in the lower city, she received her education largely own merit, self taught, self practicing, her friends quote She was the person everyone wanted to become, an Idol, a symbol, and a friend.

Police ask all those who saw, or have any news on the killer, please refer it to the number 546-36-49212 with your name and details. It is a tragedy, and the authorities are doing everything in their power to stop it.

End Holo recording, dated: 2 days prior to engagement.

Orphen had geared up to go to the lower district to investigate the murder which had happened Dressed in her armour weave robe, and her lightsaber, she had called her two newest Padawans to help her on this mission. Though she did not know how much physical help they would be, she had been training them in basic exercises, sword techniques, and force use for the better part of a couple of weeks since their first meeting and training.

Standing in the vicinity of the original murder with a Datapad in her hand looking into the events which had transpired, normally, a Jedi would not be called into a murder investigation like this. But in a murder where a lightsaber had been determined as the murder weapon. Fingers were beginning to be pointed at the Jedi as the killers. Conspiracies of Jedi sanctioned assassinations, as well as, to the few more political individuals, pointing fingers at the Jedi for not dealing with the Sith problem.

Though there was one case in particular that she had to take into account. The voice of a Mr Johnithan Dane. The womans' husband, swore to the police as a witness that it was a Jedi responsible, a Master in fact, A Kaminoan by the name of Ashra. A political Consular which had been on the planet at the time. And the person who had commissioned Orphen to perform the mission to the best of her ability, and resolve any of these issues and find the truth behind the murder.
​

 

[Torchgram]

Olive wore much tighter clothing than her usual training robes. She had a robe draped over them, but wore a combat uniform underneath. They were off on their first mission today, and she would not be caught unprepared. Lois too seemed to be taking extra precautions, wearing the shoes they played in, rather than the ones she trained in. While her training shoes were geared more for comfortable walking and meditating, her play shoes were geared more towards running. Guess she was also worried.

Ready? Olive asked telepathically. They had given up verbal communication the week before, now preferring the faster telepathic conversations they had picked up in training.

Yes. Lois sighed, sounding reserved.

Don't worry, you'll do fine.

And if I don't? What if I'm just in the way?

That won't happen. Olive didn't add her fear was that she'd be the one in the way. Look, we're running late, lets hurry and meet up with master Orphen.

Ok. Lois acquiesced.

They rushed out the door to their room and out to the spot their master had asked them to meet at.

"Sorry we're late master." The two said simultaniously, though Lois forgot to switch over to speech and sent the apology via the force instead. It would feel like a hammer blow to Orphens less compatible mind, even though she was already holding back.

 

[Orphen]

Orphen could feel the force welling up from her nearly a mile away. She was focusing too hard, but as the bolt of telepathy came her way Orphen had ardent time to block the blow and knock it to a side of her mental barrier. Sighing slightly, giving her a stern look afterward.

Keep it under control Lois... that can hurt people.

Orphen shook her head, looking to the two of them and throwing Olive the datapad with all of the mission information on it.

Mission is simple, we have to investigate this murder mystery. As well as the suspects, look over the body, which is being held at the coroners' office. as well as investigate the crime scene. Because none of us have the power of psychometry. That I know of, this is going to be reasonably difficult, there have been antagonistic claims that the Jedi are behind the murder... We're here to prove otherwise and bring the culprit to justice.

Orphen knew that this was a lot to ask for the two young girls, but they were going to learn the nature of what it meant to be a Jedi eventually, though experience, was the best way to do it. They were near the scene of the crime itself, so that seemed like the best place to start. Looking over her shoulder, she felt that the two of them were going to see things and experience things that they didn't want to see and feel. But there was already a feeling of danger looming over Orphen...

None of this is going to be easy.

 

[Torchgram]

Lois apologized again, orally this time. Olive meanwhile deftly caught the datapad. "Don't worry master, I'm sure we'll have no trouble handling it." Olive's bold claim was an obvious front, the news they were investigating a murder troubled her. She began to thumb through the files on the datapad. "Have there been any leads yet? Or are we starting from scratch?"

 

[Orphen]

Orphen shook her head unfortunately, there were leads, but not ones they were able to pursue, they had to go over everything from scratch again. Turning to take this conversation on the road, Orphen began to walk to the crime scene. Less than fifty meters away, it was a good place to start but also probably the biggest dead end. As most of the evidence over the past two days had been askew'd. She walked into the alleyway where it supposedly happened.

We need to go over everything, as it wasn't gone over by a Jedi, We need to accumulate as much Data as we possibly can, once we've done that, hopefully we'll have a lead on the killer.

Orphen moved to the center where there was a chalk line out of where the several parts of the body were dropped. All in close proximity. Both arms, the upper chest and then the lower part of her body, very little residual blood stain. She was facing the exit of the alley. But she can't have been moving much. Then there was a couple of melted sections missing on the rails of the nearby fire escape...

These were defiantly done by a lightsaber....

 

[Torchgram]

Olive looked around the scene, no idea what she should be looking for. She never was one for mysterys, always preffering to watch the battle holos their grandpa had had from back during the wars on bakura. This was all just so much mess to her. She looked at her sister, who had turned a pale colour.

#

Something felt wrong. This place had been corrupted, not just by the death, death was an all to common thing on bakura, this felt different, stronger. It wasn't at the murder point either, that area was surprisingly normal feeling, but everything within ten meters of the murder felt bad. Like some great evil had been there. Lois opened her sight even more, fully studying the surrounding and then the corp-

Lois turned and heaved behind some litter bins. She had never seen a dead body before... of course she hadn't. But the sight of it was quite power. It lay on the ground, the cold lifeless eyes of the victim. Then suddenly it was gone. Lois looked and realized she had been seeing the memory of that death in the force. Her eye's went wide.

 

[Orphen]

Orphen felt the force surge from lois. Looking at her and grabbing her arm to keep her up. At this rate, she would burn through her force reserves. She was a powerful force user, it was true. But the force could only be channeled so much from a single person. And she was powering through it, without a doubt at this rate she'd end up short circuiting herself with force usage.

You need to be more careful Lois, you're your body is not yet used to this kind of power. Though, as far as the vision went, what did you see? The lightsaber damage is clear. But is there anything? A trail? A feeling?

She asked lightly. Weighing a lot on the senses of the youngling, but she knew, deep down she would be able to handle it. Her bright cerulean blue eyes searched her for answers before she spoke them, not using the force, merely worrying and inquisitive about her student.

Just remember to take it easy Lois.

 

[Torchgram]

"Sorry I worried you master, I'm alright." said Lois wiping some vomit from her mouth. "I'm just not used to-" Lois lurched, nearly vomiting again, but holding it down. "I felt something dark. It felt like us, but wrong, i don't really know how to describe it. Its not near where the body was, but its all around the site. I think it tried to hide itself but forgot to hide the surrounding area."

#

Olive looked at her sister, stunned. Then sighed. She really shouldn't be surprised by her sister at this point, after all she had more than proven her ability to impress these last few months. "Can you tell who killed her?"

"Let me try." Lois nodded.

#

Lois felt out to the presence, trying to touch it the way she would touch the other jedi at the temple, trying to glimps the person from their aura alone. Suddenly everything went blank and she felt her legs fail below her.

 

[Orphen]

There Would be an image, a flicker of a red blade and black clothing, A tall figure wrapped in darkness. Nothing more than a flash as the vision seemed to be cut off, from an outside force almost. As if someone were hiding it. Like US, but wrong... echoed in the vision, like a whisper. Orphen could feel the force wrap around Lois, but moved to Olive, bit by bit Orphen began to fear for her. Slow progress beside her sister, with utmost skill with a blade.

She, of all people would be prone to the promise of power. The dark side. Could tantalize her with her sisters' example. With each new skill Lois learned. It became all the more important to focus on Olive and her training.

Placing a hand upon Olives' shoulder, Orphen could sense something faint nearby, something dark...

Olive, do you feel that, that dark feeling on the wind? Something isn't right... Someone is watching us from afar. Olive, we need a perimeter... Keep your lightsaber on you. In hand. And be ready at a moments' notice.

 

[Torchgram]

Olive nodded, pulling her blade from her belt. "I understand master." She then turned to see Lois collapse. Olive ran forward, catching her as she fell. "Lois! Lois! Answer me!"

Olive felt her neck for a pulse, still alive. She sighed, pleased but still worried. What had Lois seen in the force. In a place like this she doubted it would be good, but enough to make her sister collapse? Why did I ask her to look again. It's all my fault. I got her hurt, again. Why do I keep doing this.

Olive seemed to freeze as she sat there holding her sister, locked in a memory. Grass, trees, a crack, a scream. Why had she pushed Lois so far? So far...

 

[Orphen]

Orphen moved down to her side, taking some of the weight off her, It was at about that point she drew out the Anterres crystal from her lightsaber. Pressing it to Lois' chest, she channeled her healing power through it, intending to revitalize her energy reserves. Though, if she was sensitive to the crystal before. The Anterres crystal would be like staring into a sun. The immense healing power of the legendary gem flowed into her, seemingly limitless.

Combined with Orphens' healing art, Talent combined with the nature of the artifact, further combined by the crystals' power to boost Orphens' light side abilities. Combining into a cocktail of power which came out as the art of healing at its greatest point of mastery.

Though There was still the need for the perimeter.

Olive, don't worry about her, she's safe, and when she wakes, I'll ask her about the vision. You go, see if you can find anything in the direct area, remember, just follow your gut. You'll know if something feels off. You're stronger than you think. Orphen said with a wink, keeping her calm, and attempting to keep this mission on track.

 

[Torchgram]

Olive nodded, she had barely gotten two meters away when Lois awoke, instantly slapping away her masters hand with the gem and crying as if burned. Her eyes opened to reveal they were glowing. Visibly glowing! A pale orange aura emanated from them. Her arms spread out, and she lifted off the ground, floating in front of them. "I have seen him." Her voice sounded wrong, distorted, as is coming through a filter. Then, as suddenly as she had risen, she fell back to the ground. She lay there for ten seconds, before her eyes opened again, the glow was still there, but less pronounced, it had also changed to a more silver shade with specs of orange in it. "Ow." Lois sighed.

#

Lois woke to a hot pain on her chest, like someone was branding her, the pain had also spread through her body, so that she felt tendrils of it in her shoulders and her hips. On reflex she slapped at the pain, trying to stop whatever was causing it. Her mind was white, in sharp contrast to the usual darkness she experianced. She still couldn't see, but now it was painful to not see, like when she accidentally starred at the sun without sun filtering eyepiece. She felt the force take command of her, lifting her into the air, the energy began to cluster into a ball and flow upwards into her head, which began to pound from the power stored in her. She felt her mouth open and words poured out of it, words that weren't her's, she couldn't even understand them, the sounds blending together like a wookie gargling in her face. As the force left her she fell to the ground again, panting this time. She could still feel some coursing through her, it hurt, like all of her muscles were on edge, constantly working.

"Ow." She muttered, sitting up. "What was that? Did something attack me? What got on my chest?"

 

[Orphen]

Orphen smiled, happy she was okay, unaware that forces moved against them until they were no more or less than half a block away. Three men, each of them decked out in GA armour, but they were not the original wearers. Upon their waist they had holstered a blaster pistol. In each of their hands a blaster rifle, then finally sheathed on the other side a vibrosword. Only one of them, in stead of blaster rifle held a promethium thrower.

Though they looked and moved like GA, but they were mercs underneath, and of mind.

When Orphens' mind touched theirs, she knew the three of them were in danger. She could sense the hostility. But mercs had to be hired from somebody, so, if they could be made to talk, then they would prove to be potent witnesses.

I was healing your exhaustion, now we need you up. Trouble is on the way.

As Orphen spoke they entered the alley. Orphen quickly, with telekinesis, ruptured the gas chord of their flame thrower, using an advanced form of force wound. The gas began to leak silently. As the two flanking men took aim at the Jedi. The middle one deciding to open his mouth.

Such a Pity to see you bought little kids into this Jedi... They're gonna have to pay extra for this.

Orphen grimmaced standing in front of lois and extending her lightsaber. The pristine blue beam resounded.

I would not do this if i were you. Men, stand down, and tell us, who is your employer....

The men laughed...

Any last words doll face?

 

[Torchgram]

"Exhaustion?" Lois raised an eyebrow, a curious movement on a blind girl. "I havn't even begun to tap out my reserves." Lois winced again, pressing a hand against her chest. "Ow, now I have too much energy in me."

"Oh look, something to use that energy on." Olive pointed at the three soldiers in the alley. "Whatever shall we do against three soldiers with blasters?"

"They do have a flame thrower." Lois smiled, nudging her sister.

"Oh, right, my mistake." Olive nodded. "Two soldiers with blasters and one with a flame thrower, whatever shall we do?"

"I know!" Lois growned. "If only we had force powers like jedi!"

"Lois."

"Yeah."

"We do have force powers like jedi."

"We do?"

"We do."

"Well in that case." Lois raised her hand, in a deft wave the three soldiers flew 30 feet into the air, staying there suspended. Lois didn't even seem to notice the energy she was using, her eyes still glowing. She then turned to face her sister. "What were we talking about again?"

"Who killed this person."

"Right!" Lois nodded, thoughtfully, the soldiers rotating in air behind her. "So it definately was a sith. Dark cloak and everything. I swear whoever it was was staring right at me when I tried to find his aura. All I got was yellow eyes."

"Not a whole lot to go on." Olive sighed. "Lets see if we can find anything else."

"Ok." Lois nodded. They continued to search the crime scene, ignoring the floating, spinning soldiers.

 

[Orphen]

The soldiers, the mercs, were not taken by surprise. The one with the flame throwers' gas path was completely disabled and dispersed, leaving Orphens' ambush useless. As one of the soldiers, righted himself with the aid of a military jump pack, rocketing down for one of the girls with an opening slash for Lois. Orphen jumped in front, with her lightsaber intending to block the strike As the other two men activated their own jump backs, which allowed them to stabalise themselves in the air, and simply open fire down into the alley.

Orphen with her block was slid back almost a meter, damaging her wrists thoroughly from the impact of the attack. Though with iron will she defended the full force only barely parrying it up. And using a force push of her own to turn the mans' trajectory and slam him into an adjacent wall. These guys weren't Jokes. The force was not something which could be used so lightly, it was not a toy. Orphen gave a very, very stern look in Lois' direction for using it that way.

She was surprised at her fount of force power. But she was wrecking her body, although her energy levels were not decreasing, and Orphen had healed her stamina, Orphen wondered how she was not in pain. If she was so sensitive to the force she could not touch a crystal, then how could she display such power.

Though there was another thing which worried Orphen, The Anterres crystal only burned Dark Side force users, combined with their attitude now... They needed to have a talk once this was over. Orphen did her best to deflect blaster bolts coming her way, though from such a raised position, their marksmanship was also not to be sneezed at.

Serious up you two! and bring them down.

 

[Torchgram]

Lois blinked, surprised by the jet packs. "You didn't say they had jet packs!" She yelled at Olive.

"Your the one with super sight!" Olive growled, deflecting bolts.

"What do I do?"

"I don't know?!" Olive yelled. "Rip their jetpacks off maybe?"

"Good idea." Lois nodded, raising her second hand, with a crunch and a rip, the jetpacks flew from their attackers. Not far, but they didn't need to be. She then released the men. They would live, but it would hurt, and GA armor was notoriesce for being poor in defensive quality. They were probably out of commission. "Now what?"

"A barrier would be nice." Olive said, running.

"Got it!" With a wave Lois focused her energy. Olive could do barriers now, but they took valuable time for her to create, Lois on the other hand had spent a week doing nothing but barriers, on everything. Constant repetition had made it easy. The energy flew out of her, not in a bubble, more like a lense. It was also penetrateable from one side, but not the other. Had taken her all day to figure out that adjustment.

Olive used the barrier as a guard and ran to meet the final attacker. Slicing forward with her blade. She had modified it so when it contacted metal it would send out a pulse of electricity that could disable droids, or those foolish enough to wear durasteel armor. Whether he blocked with his vibroblade, or took the blow, he was down for the count. Olive gave a small smile.

 

[Orphen]

Two men fell thirty- fourty feet out of the air, one, broke both of his legs in several places upon impact, he was the lucky one. The other, hit a building on the way down, bouncing off, his trajectory shifted. He span, landing on his head with a sickening crack, his neck shattered. Killing him instantly. Meanwhile, during the fight The electricity shot out, the man jumped back, parrying the lightning and catching it on the blade, normally it would have channeled down the blade and catching him.

The swordsman laughed as the insulation on the blade stopped it. This man was hired to fight force users, but he expected to find one, not three. With the death of one of his men he grimaced. And Orphen felt the death of the man as he screamed to the ground like a nail being driven through her mind. Her empathy sending terror through her body.

The man un-clipped his jet-pack, still runing with a spin it shot at the three of them as he seamlessly drew his pistol and shot the jetpack. Where a bomb, or a grenade was clean. The explosion of the highly volatile rocket-fuel. would be dirty, and encompassing with a ludicrous sum of force. Capable of ripping through their defense. Or around it.

Orphen rushed to their aid, aiming to Telekineticly throw the weapon up. So the explosion was routed that way, but it would not stop all the shrapnel. Nor would it stop some of the explosion coming down on the twins and her.

 

[Torchgram]

Lois saw the explosion coming, and widened and solidified her shield. She tried to make it buoyant, but wasn't sure how well she had succeeded. She then pulled the barrier towards herself. The wall of force would hit her sister and master a second before the jetpack exploded, scooping them up and holding them while the blast propelled them forward, probably bruising them, but it would keep them from dieing. She would however recieve the full brunt when then shield reached her surfing the shockwave of the explosion. She wrapped her arms close to her face, trying to keep from getting hurt.

 

[Orphen]

The tyhree of them were launched, but so was the man, largely unhurt from the captain armour. He began to stand, and so did Orphen, who's cuts and bruises were already healing rapidly from the blast. Drawing her stun pistol from her robes. She took aim. The high charge concussion blasts let fly, one scoring the man in the back of the leg, then the back, then the back of the neck. In several well aimed shots.

All three of them were finally incapacitated.

Orphen looked over at the two of them. Sending a report to the Kaminoan Master who had put them on the mission. Giving a detailed report, and the intention of interrogation through peaceful means was told. And that one of the men was killed in action was also confirmed. But there was worse and worse news coming.

The three of you are in danger, those men, those mercs, were not just recent killers, they were integrated spies... So, for all intents and purposes they were a Sergent and Private first classes of the GA military, a warrant has been issued for your arrest. We'll do your best to smooth it over, but it may take some time. Be careful, and stay under the radar.

Orphen was shocked, this mission was one bad thing after another...

We think we have, well, we have news and proof of a sith which has been working in the area, we;ll interrogate the soldeirs for the whereabouts, then, hopefully, finding the sith can help to clear our names, if we can get a confession, it should not be hard.

The holo image of the master thought about this for some time. before continuing.

You'd need to be quick, if the sith's assassination attempt failed on you, he will be surely creating another one. Be careful. And may the force be with you. And with that, the image disappeared. And orphen looked to the twins, which had now been dragged into this mess. They were felons, temporarily, until they could get to the bottom of this conspiracy which seemed to get deeper and deeper.

Orphen looked troubled

 

[Torchgram]

"Wait wait wait." Olive raised her hands in protest. "Last I checked jedi were above the law. Aren't we the councils sword against evil and shield from invasion? Doesn't that give us any special privileges or leaniency?"

"But sis, we-" Lois broke off, looking down in shame. "I killed a man."

"So!" Olive was shouting now, looking to her master, her eyes pleading. "Jedi kill all the time! I know its not our first option, but we do it. Surely this kind of thing doesn't happen every mission a killing occurs on?"