Battle of Coruscant: This Ends Now

[Vinny]

Nimarra had been made unsteady by the initial shudder through the ship. She had to grab on to the frame of a nearby door in order to stop from falling. Her veiled face whipped left and right, searching for the source of the disturbance. Rokuro was long gone, having retreated to his room. Below, several dark presences had emerged in the hangar of all places. They quickly made their way into the greater ship, one of them charging toward the holding cells. The paladin had to make a choice. Defeat the rear guard, or secure the prisoner. Nimarra made the only choice she could, given her circumstances. She darted toward the holding cells, twin blades of blue-white springing to life with a snap-hiss.

The Jedi Knight ducked low beneath a damaged overhang before sliding to a halt near the entrance of the holding cells. She could feel someone nearby, her sightless eyes taking in details others could not. She opened her hands, reaching out with the force and wrapping her mind around the hilts of her blades. They levitated in the air, slowly making a circuit around her body. She would be ready when she faced the enemy.

She slid toward the door, only to have it open in front of her. A blue skinned Chiss stood there, his very being stained with rage and hate. Both lightsabers spun once, pointing at the Sith, while she brought her armored fists up. "I do not suppose we can settle this matter peacefully, can we, sith?" She asked, though she didn't hold her breath. She had one ace up her sleeve in case things got dicey, though. Not nearly as powerful as Vosrik's, but it would be enough for self defense.

---------------------------

A black wellspring of fire broiled in the crucible of Lord Cain's soul. The flames growing brighter and brighter, even in the everdark of their shadow. It was a strange juxtaposition inside of him, his devotion turning into power. Even so, the effects were explosive. Cain whirled and lashed out with the dark side, a single bolt of lightning piercing a jedi like a blaster bolt would. He whipped his hand, clawing at the minds of two defenders. One dropped to his knees, terror welling up inside until he punctured his own eyes to stop from seeing what he saw. The other ran himself through with his own lightsaber, falling to his knees in a fetal position.

Cain's lips curled in disgust.

Then he felt something, a presence, he glanced up at the door leading out to the halls of the vessel. He smiled, flicking his lightsaber once, its blade seemingly passing through the blade of another jedi. The Jedi stared at her own weapon in confusion as her severed legs fell to the ground separate from her torso. "Rokuro..." He muttered, striding towards the doors. "Come out, dear Rokuro!" Cain called, kicking a defender in the chest and dropping to a knee, skewering him. "Show your face! It might slow the death toll." He snarled.

@Cameron Foster @Argus

 

[Vosrik]

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Even as explosions and the impact of the War Leviathan into the Strength of Ilum's hangar rocked the ship, alarms sounded loud and clear. Holding himself up by the back of the captain's chair, the Jedi Lord focused his senses on the Force. He hadn't felt this weak in a very long time, not since he had uncovered the temple entrance on Naboo. Despite the overwhelming sense of fear and panic of the Antarians and Jedi around him, Vosrik began to feel the revitalizing energy of the Force bring life back into his body. Standing up straight, he took in all the indicators displayed on several holoscreens.

"Lord Tanari, the Sith are sending everything they have. Fleet lines are holding most of them off, but we've been breached."

"We have several hostiles aboard the ship. They're cutting through security faster than we can send reinforcements."

"The prisoner - my Lord, the prisoner has escaped!"

Vosrik sat down in the Captain's chair. This was not a time for him to show weakness. He had made the ultimate statement not only to the Sith, but to the Jedi and their allies as well. If he faltered now, they would lose faith in him forever.

"I want two Marauder-class blasting that Leviathan immediately and a detachment of Zealot-class disabling the engines with their Ions. Captain Rimgard, focus your tractor beams and pull that ship out of our hangar! I don't want those Sith leaving this ship. Corvo, get our most elite Jedi and stop them."

"Roger that, Lord Tanari," Rimgard replied as he directed his squadron of Zealot-class Cruisers to fire away with their Ion cannons and activate their tractor beams. Having lodged itself so firmly into the Strength of Ilum, this War Leviathan wouldn't be easy to extract.

"Maliel, go to the prisoner and make sure she's—" Vosrik didn't finish, as he peered around the room and didn't spot her. Ah good, she must already be on the case, he thought, continuing on with commanding the beleaguered flagship. Cameras were down in the brig, so he had no vision on what was going on down there. He could only hope his Jedi were successful.

 

[Victoria Beauregard]

Victoria awoke from her exhausted slumber to explosions. She sat up, startled. She looked around the medbay of the Strength of Ilum, her eyes desperately searching for her father. Not seeing him, Victoria then got up, much to the nearby medical droids chagrin, grabbing her training saber as she went. She then made her way through the halls of the ship in search of her father. She heard a scuffle coming from a door down the hall. She stuck her head out to look and, to her horror, saw a Sith cutting people down. She then stumbled back, terrified, and tried to open the medbay doors, but unfortunately it had been locked down, and she didn't know the code to open it. She looked around wildly, begging the force to get her out of this. She noticed a nearby vent, and then ran and slid into the ventilation shaft. She then slowed her breathing, and hoped the Sith wouldn't notice her.
@Vinny

 

[Prudence]

Maliel hadn't really moved yet, likely stunned by the sudden kiss and the interruption of her smurfy lover. Kira's eyes darted over to Argus and she gave him a weak smile and a shrug. She glanced back towards Maliel and gave her an appraising gaze before looking back to Argus, "I thought you'd find her cute. If she's not your type you don't have to come along...." She gave him a wink, and was quite sure that Maliel would be mortified and embarrassed. She wasn't even sure if Maliel knew about Argus yet. Her steps were discoordinated, though she had summoned an initial burst of energy at the excitement of freedom, her body was weak and ravaged. She reached out and braced herself on the wall, taking a moment to breathe. Through her exhaustion she felt a bit of pride in these two. Her closest friends, and her lovers, they had just successfully broken her out of Jedi custody - risking life and career.

"Don't get your boxers in a wad Argus." She gave him a real sincere smile, "Not just anyone crashed into a Star Destroyer for me.." Her cheeks blushed a little, "Especially now that I'm useless." She staggered towards him, falling into a tight hug around his body. "Thank you." She whispered into his ear and drew away. As she did so she saw the Jedi entering in through the door behind Argus. Kira's face grew in anger at the sight of the Jedi who had so chastised her earlier, "Ah Jedi. Nice to see you again. Yes, we can solve this peacefully. Please place your lightsaber, emitter up, pointed somewhere around here." She motioned, with her own saber putting the emitter against the bottom of her jaw, "And then press the ignition." She lowered her saber, careful not to accidentally pull a Mari Zel, and glanced at Argus. She hoped the angered Sith would go do his job, because if not she was completely fekked - unless Maliel wanted to kill yet another Jedi today.

 

[Wit]

New as he was to the limitations that riddled his body, and having sprinted towards the holding cell, he was a little out of breath when he found his way blocked by two Jedi. They both seemed young, but inexperienced as he was with his new body, Valin was not excited about the prospect of combat. Specially having to fight other Jedi.

Not wanting to waste time, or put any of their lives in risk, he pulled on the Force with everything he could safely manage and unleashed a powerful push. He had hoped to send the duo flying out his way but once more he was surprised by how much stronger in the Force he felt. Whoever this Sith had been, he had been strong. THe Jedi were not only sent flying out of his way, they went crashing into the bulkhead behind them, impacting with a disturbing crunch as they folded to the floor. A little guilty, a little surprised, and a lot more out of breath, he started running once more, this time at a more respectable pace.

Skidding to a stop in front of the holding cells, he slapping open the door and was presented with a sight that was both surprising and predictable. Away on the far side of the room a Chiss was facing off against a Jedi he did not know, but inside the room he saw Kira and Maliel. What he found surprising was that she didn't seem to be restraining Kira, the Force-less Sith Lord actually seemed to be in possession of her lightsaber and about as much in control as you could expect her to be.

Did I miss a memo? As suspicions started awakening in his head, the distant sounds of lightsabers clashing forced him to push them away. Move, we're running out of time.

 

[Vinny]

Nimarra wasn't as much taken aback by the Sith's retort as she was disappointed. She had been disappointed a lot recently. She had a rule about dealing with sith and those who wielded the dark side with impunity. One chance. She gave them one opportunity to cast aside their weapon before she struck. It was the least she could do, given the Paladin's mandate. She let out a sigh, she was vastly outgunned by the sith in front of her. She knew it. Even so, her duty to the jedi order was without question. She would serve in her role as a Knight even if it meant her end. She was comfortable with that, she acknowledged her own mortality. The force was with her, a light that burned away the darkness that she had lived with her entire life. Her sightless gaze fell upon the two motes of dark side power that stood adjacent to the weakened Dark Lord.

She drew on the power of the light. She would give anything to extinguish this darkness, even her own innocence. She had done so time and time again, and each time sadness gripped her heart when she felt the power of the light welling inside of her. To kill was an affront to the force, yet the force granted her a power to do just that to a darksider. To cripple them, to-light began to gleam off of the gauntlets she wore, her lightsabers spun once, light flowing through them. She would smite this evil with the power precursor to severing the force. It would leave a darksider dazed and weakened among other maladies, as it attempted to purify them.

"Very well. In the name of the Jedi Order and by the Solemn Mandate, I execute you." Nimarra said, her voice tight, and spun, her blades turning into whirling arcs of energy.

----------------------------------------------------------

Cain could taste the tang of fear in the air. The sith who controlled his emotions so carefully had become so intimately familiar with how they felt in others. His head turned, two sets of glowing eyes burning beneath the hood of his cloak. He hadn't noticed the second pair of eyes finally open beneath his cowl. The force wound was progressing. His lip twisted into something that could have been described as a smile, or as a spit of venom. He threw out his hand to the left, raised it up, and cracked the vertebre of the jedi who had lunged at him. The corpse hit the ground. The red blade of Cain's hook handled lightsaber skipped across the ground. There, next a ventilation shaft.

The Sith Lord extended two fingers, breaking the mechanism of the ventilation shaft.

"Fear. Is a step down the dark path." Cain rasped at the girl.

@Caleb Richardson @Argus

 

[Victoria Beauregard]

Victoria froze with fear, but only for a second, as she then let loose a blood curdling scream. The scream seemed to resonate with the force, the pitch and volume going higher and higher, reaching a point to where her own ears started to bleed! Hoping the Sith was caught off guard, she used the force to dash past the him, running faster than she had ever run before. She ran down hallway after hallway, rounding corner after corner, hoping to outrun him. In an act of desperation, she reached out with force, sending a telepathic message to any Jedi willing to listen. It was one word. Help!
@Vinny

 

[Vinny]

Cain rolled his shoulders and neck when the concussive sonic blast struck his body. The force casually wrapping around him in a cocoon. He turned his head slowly, the hood falling from his head. His cowl remained in place, fortunately, and four glowing eyes peered out from behind the shimmersilk. He watched the tiny female flee. "You cannot flee." Cain said, the intonations of a priest layering smoothly over his usual nonchalance. "No more than can the dark side be purged from this galaxy. No more than can the Jedi defeat what is to come. You are going to die, child, or you are going to submit to us." Cain drawled as she fled up the stairs and down the hall. "It is inevitable!" He called after her, feasting on the energy of her terror.

He turned to the other sith who had begun to waver here and there. "The DARK SIDE is with you! Brothers! Your priests support you! They give the dark side freely! Take it! Use it! Slay any who would prevent our dark lady's escape! I assure you, there will be time for punishments later! There will be retribution!" He roared, spittle flying from his lips, his glowing eyes growing brighter. "Through Zeal, the Sith are invicible!"

The other sith joined his cry, their passions, their desire to crush the jedi in the name of the brotherhood, in the name of the coming empire. It boiled in their veins hotter than any anger or fear or hate. This was true power, and Cain loved it.

 

[Richie B.]

Brand had been in his room for the majority of the fight never one that was comfortable in space fights especially when he was in a giant ship rather then a star fighter when he had more control. For now though he had a lot on his mind and needed sometime to think of his next moves, of course that was when the ship was hit and things started to get out of hand. Hearing sounds of battle and pain though both the force and his own body, the general knew he couldn't sit around any longer. And marching out of his room with his two lightsabers at his hip, his leaf green robes, which he would be seriously ticked if someone made fun of it. And two stun pistols on his hip the general rushed to see the damage and where he was needed. Allowing the force to guide him he battled though a few Sith soldiers that got in his way sensing a great need somewhere close.

Grabbing his standard green lightsaber in his right hand and a stun pistol in the other the general marched though to apparently a sound of a small child screaming. Instantly father instincts came in and Brand was rushing to the source of the sound. His green blade cutting a path through any who got in his way, as he turned up to find a man and a small Padawan screaming and running away. Taking the moment to act the general of the Jedi sent a powerful force push at the man hoping to knock him away from the small child. The light side flowing though him as he need to protect the young was a powerful emotion for the Jedi. Though he knew to keep his emotions from turning to anger or hate.

"I suggest you get off this ship Sith!" Brand said as he was about 15 meters away his pistol on his left hand and his lightsaber in his right the general stood ready for whatever the Sith might sent his way.

Brand watched carefully as he stood a good half a foot taller then the man. Whatever happened the general knew he wasn't going to die here today.

@Vinny

 

[Zenya]

Lanna flinched when Rokuro's hand met the side of Kira's face. She didn't expect such a burst of anger from her friend, nor did she expect to hear the loud crack that sounded between them. She swallowed, a dry, bitter feeling growing inside of her.

The Dark Lord of the Sith was then taken away, leaving the space filled with Jedi with their thoughts and impressions of what had taken place. Then, they began to leave, back to their rooms and dormitories.

The young Jedi stood a few moments longer, while people brushed passed her. She was not in shock so much, as she was processing the events, and how she felt about them. She felt justified.

On her way back to her room, she decided she would take the time to sleep and think. Once she was inside, she closed the door, and took a step. To her surprise however, she slipped, as the whole room around her jolted, and the door made a violent swing against it's own hinges, and then flew back, slamming shut. She stumbled, grabbing onto the side of a metallic dresser for support

Sucking in a breath, she steadied herself, and stood up, wrenching the door open. It felt as if the floor beneath her could even be slanting a bit. Glaring down the hall, two Jedi she did not know rushed passed her.

"What's going on?" She called after them.

"We're being boarded by Sith. Either prepare for battle, or get in your room, and lock the door!"

Of course she grabbed her light saber from her belt, and made her own way out into the ship, looking for some way to assist her fellow Jedi. They were going to come for Kira, she knew that. But she was also certain that it would be chaos wherever they were holding her. And by some selfish chord inside of her, she had no desire to face that sort of danger unless she absolutely had to.

Looking around, she searched for Yva. Or Rokuro, or Maksem. Best to support whomever she could.

Sprinting down the hall, she skidded to a stop. A familiar presence invaded her senses, and her attention was brought to the man she had met previously, many, many times. Cain.

As much as she would have liked to attack him, she didnt. She had other priorities. She took a glance at him, then moved on. Off to find something to fight back with.

As soon as she ran forward once more, she slammed into someone.

"Ahg!" She winced, stepping back, once. With her hand on the bridge of her nose she squinted at who she had just stumbled into.

"Yva. I was just looking for you..."

@Orbis

 

[Argus]

Holy hell, here the Chiss tried to stay fully immersed in his rage, and the absolute worse things that could happen would occur. The jokes, the smile, everything he loved about this woman came out and tugged at the strings to take him down from the high horse. Disengaging his saber, removing his helmet and throwing it onto the floor at their feet, Argus felt the cool skin of his lover in an embrace with his cheek. He sighed, listening to her words, closing his eyes and accepting this turn of events.

“Of course, she's adorable, we'll have a fun time back home. Together.” Hearing her whisper thank you into his ear, he replied in an even more hushed tone just for her to hear. “I love you.”

Eyes stayed trained of the woman he loved, even with the Jedi making immaculate speeches about smiting evil and such. Typical Jedi, while Kira was still focused on the banter, Argus had eyes only for her. Pulling the Dark Lord's attention away from the Jedi back to him, the Chiss forced her lips onto his. A hand extended outward towards the Jedi, sending a wave of force crashing into the blind woman, forcing her into a tumble backwards. The amount of sheer power Argus called slamming into the Jedi flew her into a shaft, sabers tumbling after her as the woman became stuck inside the hull of the Star Destroyer. For all those who tried to mess with his woman, they would be immediately shafted.

Raising his head from the kiss, Argus gazed towards the space where the woman once was, grinning in self confidence. Stepping back and continuing down the hall, towards the warcry of soldiers in the midst of battle, it was time to finally face the man who caused all this. With the Dark Lord rescued, the apprentice of Darth Solum encroached the bridge of the Star Destroyer. Troops planted a breaching charge, destroying the door as they cleared a long pathway leading up to the lounging Jedi Lord. Guns trained on the people still in the room, with distinct orders to leave the man himself for the Chiss, Argus had slowly approached until there was at least twenty feet between the two. An unimpressed expression fell upon the Chiss' face, hawk-like as his presence increased the tension in the room, it was time to exact revenge.

“In all honesty, I think you'd make a great Dark Lord... Kind men would have killed their enemies without a word, it takes one to be truly evil to resort to such methods as you.”

A mocking grin stretched across his face, as the saber of the Chiss ignited, glaring red light crossed the empty pathway between the two. The Chiss steadied himself, left foot stepping back as his saber's tip glared towards the Jedi Lord.

@Prudence @Vinny @Vosrik

 

[Vinny]

The force push was a surprise.

Cain spun once, pirouetting in the air before landing to a sliding stop just five meters back. Twenty between himself and his new assailant. His new, powerful, and rather good looking assailant. He remained in a half crouch, his head directed at the ground. His hook handled lightsaber was pointed outwards, flicked slightly up as he assessed his opponent. The jedi was taller than him, not that it really mattered. Size meant little within the force, even a wrinkly green old crone understood that. He shifted, rising to his feet and angling so that he showed his side to his opponent. "Well! That was a passionate display." Cain laughed, taking one step and flicking his hand out, sending a single thin bolt of lightning between himself and his target.

He took another couple of steps, walking to circle around the Jedi, and flicked out with tiny bolts of lightning a few more times. The Jedi was strong, so it was not so much a way of attacking, it would feel more like... flirting. "Lord Cain, a pleasure." He said with a half bow. "You'll forgive me for being hasty, I prefer to talk things out usually." He twirled his lightsaber, angling it into a form II stance, one hand behind his back and his weapon tilted toward the ground.

"Come then."

-----------------------

Nimarra did not even have a moment to react. His attack had come from nowhere, so suddenly and so powerfully. She had underestimated him, and she had paid for it. Her body hurtled through the air, cracking once against the wall of the shaft before beginning to plummet. Her sightless eyes remained affixed downward as her senses reached out for the nearest outcropping. There, on the right. She lunged for it, the armor of her gauntlets piercing the metal and giving her enough leverage to cling on. There was a sickening snap, and her arm clicked from it's socket. She grunted in pain, her face, beautiful despite her own blindness, slick with sweat and blood from her mouth. She pulled herself up with her good arm, crawling into a small ventilation shaft.

She gritted her teeth, spitting out some blood and a tooth. Her lightsabers were gone, she had her hand to hand combat, but the Sith was so consumed by his emotions that he seemed untouchable in the moment. She would have to handle this a different way. She coughed up a bit more blood, it stained her white hair and brown robes. "This is Jedi Knight-" She coughed again, the pain in her arm making her feel like she was going to sieze up. "Nimarra Skai. I engaged the enemy. Do not trust the jedi accompanying the escaped prisoner. She is not an ally. The chiss sith is-" another coughing fit, "Powerful." She did not bother giving her own location. She could worry about herself after the situation was resolved.

Instead, she glanced at her limp arm, swallowed, and shifted her weight, placing a reflective metal boot on each side of her wrist. She grabbed for the collar of her robe and stuffed it into her mouth, taking a few deep, meditative breaths, and then pulled.

@Richie B. @Argus

 

[Orbis]

Yva had been speechless throughout the entire ordeal. As the Sith Lord had been led in, she had had only one thing on her mind: she'd totally called it. It seemed that, indeed, they had a Sith to execute, and not just any Sith, but the Dark Lord of the Sith herself. Yva was aware that Lanna seemed to have a strong reaction upon seeing her, and uttered a name, Kira. She assumed this to be the name of this Sith, and she made a mental note to follow up on that lead later, but for now, she was ready to watch a Sith be executed.

And so, it was to her great surprise when the Sith, this monster who'd undoubtedly killed dozens of Jedi, was not executed, but rather had had her powers stripped from her. Yvannia couldn't say she was displeased with this, it had a certain... Poetic justice to it. Regardless, she felt the Galaxy'd probably be better off with such sinister people dead.

It seems that we've forgotten that it doesn't take a force sensitive to cause horrible suffering upon others.

She did find it quite amusing when a fellow Jedi - Yva wasn't quite familiar with who - went up to slap her. Anyone with the gall to do that received instant hero status in her book. She was tempted to follow suit, to have at least that little contribution to the victory and the total humiliation of the Sith. And yet, she'd remained where she was, anchored in place. Perhaps a part of her knew an initiate such as she shouldn't get involved with a Sith Lord, even one without the Force. And so, she'd simply watched, and silently cheered from the sidelines even as the Sith was led from the room. Even as the crowd funnelled out, she'd found herself standing there, grinning ear to ear. Today's special event had been far more amusing than she'd thought it'd be.

Tonight, I'll give a toast to the maniac who slapped a Sith Lord. But first, I believe my head has an overdue rendezvous with my pillow. She chuckled to herself, turning to leave the bridge, as well. As she left, she noted she was among the last to disperse.

She hadn't even made it halfway back to the comfort of her room when it happened. Suddenly, she found herself thrown into a wall, and then onto the ground by a sudden jolt that shook the ship around her. "Ow. That's not normally supposed to happen, I'm fairly certain..." Even as she uttered the words, she could feel something wasn't right, an innate sense of unease. Whether it was the Force or just her gut feeling, she didn't know, and right now, she didn't much care. She had to find out what was going on, yet she just stood there in the hallway, unsure where to go. Reaching to her side for the comfort afforded by a familiar friend to any Jedi, her hand was met with nothing.

"Frak! How could I have been so stupid? I left my gear in my room!" She banged her head against the wall in anguish. Taking a deep breath to bring herself back to her senses, she considered her options.

It was while she was doing such that she found herself being once more toppled, this time not by a sudden jolt reverberating through the entire ship, but by a person - a Jedi. A friend, even.

"Yva. I was just looking for you..."

"Were you, now? How fortunate of me to have been standing here. I don't suppose you've any idea what's going on, do you?"

@Zenya

 

[Richie B.]

Brand was glad to seem his attack hit its mark, this was good every hit that lands was one that weakens his enemy. Sure the general would rather have the Sith realize the error of his ways but even he knew right now wasn't the time for long drown out speeches about morals and what was needed of those with the force. Yet Brand knew better then to go straight for a kill, a single mistake was all that was needed if he was to get killed and that could not happened thinking of what it would do to his new responsibility would cause him to die twice.

So watching the Sith slowly get up, who seemed to almost enjoy this bout between them. And with a quick flick of the Sith's hand a small stream of force lightning was sent out, which the general caught on his blade. Each time the general made sure to keep his lightsaber up hoping that maybe the Sith was a fool and would tire himself out. Though he couldn't place all his cards on this bet and so took out his shoto lightsaber just in case. Having to replace his stun pistol so he was down a effective long range attack but each bolt of lightning that he defected or his lightsaber absorb pushed his arms just a bit. No doubt they would be sore in the morning.

"General Brand, now I hate to do this to you but even if you weren't a Sith. I don't think it would work out friend." And with that said channeling the force a bit the general gathered the Sith's pants and pulled it down and sending it to the right of the Sith hopefully knocking him prone.

Yet the general was not quick to jump and attack yet, hoping to see what the Sith's first reaction is first before making his move.

@Vinny

 

[Vinny]

The sudden tug on his britches was the first hint. The second was the tug to the right. If it had not been for the fact that Cain was, in fact, probably the strongest sorcerer among those present now, it probably would have worked. He grunted once with the force just as the waistband of his pants hit his thighs, he cracked a wide grin, taking two steps back as the telekinesis was dismissed. The Jedi would have to do better than that to unsteady the master of the Sith Priests. He barked out a laugh; "You know! I had never considered doing that! You really do learn something every day!" He chuckled, pointing his finger out at the Jedi as he yanked his pants back up.

"My turn." He held his free hand up, cocked over his head, his fingers splayed in a complicated and rather uncomfortable looking way. Words broke from his lips, a whisper turned into a wave of Dark Side power. Yet it was not fear that was carried by the sith's spell. The sensation was that of love? Warmth, comforting and breaching began to cast over the enemies of the Dark side. One Jedi off to the right looked confused, he even smiled before the Sith he had been fighting a moment before skewered him with his lightsaber. "Are you sure it won't work out? How does that feel?" Cain called, lacing his words with the power of the dark side.

You are up against a master mentalist, Jedi. Do not think parlor tricks are going to be enough! Cain thought as he resumed his approach, lightsaber back in it's form II position.

------------------------

POP

There was a loud, sickening sound that brought Nimarra to her knees just after her arm slid back into place. She crawled over to the edge of the ventilation shaft and looked up through the large hole that the Chiss had shoved her through. Her head felt heavy, bloodloss? She checked her gauntlets, still functional. They would have to do. She began to steady herself for a leap back up to the detention level.

@Richie B.

 

[Proleptic]

Maliel was pleasantly surprised to find Kira in such high spirits. She had expected the woman to be in a dismal state, and an even worse mood. She hadn't expected such a warm welcome, though it was certainly quite the welcome. Maliel hadn't realized how much she had missed Kira's kiss, considering just how long it had been. When Kira's lips locked onto hers, Maliel was all but puddy in her hands. She returned the kiss eagerly, bringing her hands up to cup Kira's face tenderly. Even still, Maliel couldn't help but let her mind stray to thoughts of Kira's deceased lover, Eryn.

Knowing that Kira's heart didn't truly belong to Maliel was something she could handle, for the moment. Mal just didn't know if she could handle the knowledge that Kira felt that pressing guilt, her guilt for letting Eryn down, with every kiss she laid upon Mal's lips. Inevitably, Maliel was doing all of this for Kira. What else could turn Maliel from the Jedi's true, noble cause than love, especially that of the romantic variety? Maliel would choose whatever made Kira happy over anything, save for whatever made her safe. If what made Kira happy was burning worlds, then Maliel would rend her very soul for the woman. What could be more motivating than love for a friend?

This meant that Maliel was most certainly concerned with what truly made Kira happy, and if that guilt gnawed at her, even now, then Maliel would most certainly step aside to ease that pain. She hoped with all her heart that she needn't take such actions, but the doubts still ate at her mind. For now, however, she would simply enjoy the woman's lips upon her own, and press forward with all the love she had. After all, if she was to kill for Kira, she would at least reap the rewards, for the time being.

Maliel got a rather nasty surprise, though not a particularly shocking one, when Argus came through the door. She had known that Argus was Kira's apprentice, and even that the two were close, but she hadn't expected them to be lovers. It wasn't something that shocked Mal, and she tried her best to push away the spike of pain that came from the knowledge that the two were intimate, and probably on a deeper level than Kira and herself, but she couldn't simply disavow her emotions that way, try as she might.

Maliel pushed aside the unpleasant thoughts, archiving them for a more appropriate time and place, and sat helplessly as Argus staked his claim on Kira, planting his own kiss upon her lips. Maliel winced inwardly at the sight. She didn't appreciate Argus' little show, but she tabled that for the next time the two were alone, not that she would ever bother addressing the subject. Maliel waited patiently for the two to separate while she forced her eyes to a different spot in the room. She caught a flicker of movement in the corner of her eye, and turned quickly to find the source.

She was slightly surprised to find an unknown figure, presumably a Jedi, not that she could be sure, watching from the shadows, but the figure moved on, and she hadn't the time to follow. Archiving the man's image in her mind, intent on finding him later, Maliel turned her attention to the opposite door, where a new presence had introduced itself into the scene. A knight whom she was unfamiliar with stood in the doorway, sabers hovering around her in some sort of odd ready position. Maliel was able to tell at a glance that the woman was blind, and was quite impressed by her awareness with the force. Maliel had taken on some sensory training on that level, but never got a hold on it. She suspected that it required a drive that Maliel didn't have while possessing vision.

Maliel was very thankful that the woman couldn't see her, as it would make distinguishing her defining features much more difficult. That would help her keep her cover, though if that man from a few moments ago was to go telling of her involvement with Kira, things could get all too complicated. Maliel was just glad that she still had Vosrik's trust, if she could call it trust. At least he had seen fit to grant her the rank of master. That would guarantee at least some modicum of trust.

As the woman issued her standard threats, Kira responded in kind, being none to pleased with her current state. Mal felt quite certain that committing suicide didn't count as a peaceful resolution to any circumstances, but held her tongue in favor of going unheard by the blind knight.

Maliel was debating whether or not she needed to strike against the woman, but she held herself back, not much wanting to strike if she could help it. Thankfully, Argus took care of that situation, though perhaps more brutally than Maliel would have liked, not that she was one to talk, considering she had murdered two Jedi in cold blood just moment prior. The woman was thrown bodily through the floor, and into the ventilation shaft below. It was a brutal hit, and not one that would be easily recovered from, but Mal felt certain that the woman would survive.

As Argus departed, Maliel was left with the task of accompanying a crippled Kira to the Sith ship. Maliel just hoped that no blood-hungry Sith tried jumping out at her from the darkness as she went. She didn't need this to be any more complicated than it already was. She was going to have to knock out all the cameras as it was, and she didn't need any more delays. The sooner she could get back to the bridge to defend the Jedi Lord, the better.

"Let's go, Kira." she said shortly, putting a hand on the woman's shoulder. "We have to be fast, I can't be gone from the bridge for long. I'm also going to need you to give me some wounds." Mal said, thinking realistically. "I have to make it look like I really took damage, otherwise it looks like you got away without my attempts at stopping you."

Maliel began walking through the halls, knocking out the cameras as she went. She was knocking them out just before they reached the sight line, as she knew just what the range of them was. It was hard not to after spending hours monitoring the security feeds. Sometimes you had to do these things, at least when you're a lowly padawan.

 

[Cheshire]

Rokuro sprinted down the halls, reaching through the force, feeling that all too familiar feeling through the force. He had improved rokuro mentally noted, smiling at the recent prediciment that his friend was in. Then He realized that Cain wasn't happy, probably with him after all, he had just bitchslapped a Darth.

Still, he continued sprinting onwards, only skidding to a stop when he saw the stupid and quite frankly embarrassing battle the pair were engaged in. He couldn't help but facepalm loudly at the sight of their ridiculous battle. He was more surprised at how loudly he faceplamed and he knew the pair would hear it when they jumped away from each other.

"Hey Cain!" Rokuro said happily waving energetically before a proper bow to the General in front if him. "Good day mister Brand! I presume you've met Cain already " he said grinning and giving a slight drunken giggle. "You guys just looked so stupid fighting I don't think I could go on watching!" He said, now doubling over in a fit of laughter and amusement, despite the battle on the ship.

@Vinny @Richie B.

 

[Victoria Beauregard]

(Theme)
When Victoria finally stopped running, she was in a completely different part of the ship now. She tried to calm herself, but she couldn't seem to slow her breathing. She then took her lightsaber in her hands, looking down at it. She had run away. She was a Jedi and she had run away in fear. She let the blade fall from her hands, and onto the floor. She walked to the elevator, and went down to the level with the escape pods. She unlocked a pod, entered the coordinates for Ahch-To and jettisoned from the Jedi ship. She looked back at the Strength of Ilum, tears in her eyes. She would not return until she was ready... until she could make her father proud. Where ever he was, she would find him.

 

[Prudence]

Chills ran down Kira's spine as she heard Argus profess his love for her, and she felt her lips twisting into a smile. The kiss immediately following caught Kira offguard, but she wasn't displeased by it. She stayed in Argu's embrace, returning the kiss and allowing the two of them to dictate how long they would stay in that moment. It felt good and peaceful, a kind of calm warmth that the woman hadn't felt in weeks since her capture. She could feel Maliel staring at her, the girl likely hurt, or embarrassed, or both. She also felt Argus jerk his hand backwards towards the Jedi that she'd seen. While their lips were still locked the Jedi had been dispatched, and then Argus drew away from her. He had a Jedi Lord to go fight, and Kira let him leave.

Maliel jarred her form her daze, taking her by the shoulder. She understood the need to be fast as well, and listened as Maliel talked about how she would need to be wounded. Kira turned to face her and nodded, a grim smile on her lips "I've never really had a problem hurting you have I Maliel?" Her smile turned sad and she stopped abruptly, hobbling back into the prison area. She knelt down and picked up one of the comm units from the guards and smiled. Lord Vosrik may have stripped her of her usage of the Force, but that wasn't even close to Kira's only abilities. Dun Moch had always been one of Kira's most proficient tactics, and proper Dun Moch required no usage of the Force. She switched through the channels until she was on the channel broadcasting to the ship's intercomm, an emergency frequency. Squeezing the activation on the comm link Kira began to speak into it,

"Hello Jedi Flagship the Strength of Ilum, and hello Vosrik. This is Darth Solum speaking to every single Jedi aboard. My Sith have boarded your ship, and are currently wreaking havoc. Vosrik, you have failed the Jedi Order. My Sith Order will lay waste to everyone aboard, unless you lay down your arms now and kneel awaiting Sith arrival. Those of you who do so will be permitted a swift death. Those of you who do not will experience pain like no other you have faced." Kira had an idea, which would ultimately prove to be a gamble. There were two Sith she expected would be here, two that would lead the charge to save her. One was Argus, her apprentice and her lover. The other was the newly promoted Darth Cain. The young boy was the leader of the Priests of Tund, and seemed to quite nearly worship her. She couldn't be sure who was here, as she had been out of the loop, but she would put down a fortune's worth of credits that he was aboard right now, "You are staring down the wrath of the Sith Brotherhood, and as we speak Darth Cain is carrying out my will across this ship. Lord Cain, leave none alive. Line the corridors with corpses, for the Jedi have spited us today and their insolence will be paid in kind. Vosrik, this is your legacy. Every drop of Jedi Blood spilled, every initiate that my Brotherhood slays is in your name. Can you feel it Vosrik? Can you feel it now? The Death? The Destruction? I cannot, but I know that you can. I will tear down everything that you have built, and from the ashes of your failed Order will rise a Sith Order like you have never seen. "

The speech ended with a cold and sick laugh by Kira, resounding across the halls. She hoped that Cain really was aboard, as if not then it would be quite awkward. She then glanced over to Maliel, "So which way's the hangar?"

 

[Phoenix]

The general chaos flowing through the Force on account of the battle below almost covered the approach of the Sith fleet. However, upon the impact sending shockwaves through the ship there was no doubt anymore of what was going on: there was a rescue attempt underway. For his part, with the impact, Corvo was nearly thrown from his feet and indeed would have been were it not for the railing he was gripping from the outset.

Everything was moving quickly and Corvo watched as each of the Jedi went his or her own way. Some seemed prepared for such contingencies and some seemed utterly confused by the assault. They're going for Kira. It was no surprise, but the speed with which their assault was put together was impressive. He was already on the move when Vosrik gave the order to stop the Sith. He didn't need to be told twice; he didn't want to see their prisoner - his monster - escape to kill again. No more capture.

The realization that it was so easy for him to slip back into the mode of extermination that had earned him his galaxy-wide reputation was terrifying but not a new concept. Venator still lurked inside him and no-doubt would until his dying day.

With saber hilts in both hands, he tapped into the Jedi's general coms channel and listened to the reports coming in, using it to guide him through the ship toward his destinations with minimal combat. Most of the fighting seemed to be centered around the hangar as Sith flooded out to meet the Jedi defenders while individual strike teams seemed to be making their way throughout the ship, no doubt in search of the Dark Lord.

It wasn't until the com channel opened up and he heard a woman's voice that everything inside of Corvo went cold and dispassionate. Do not trust the Jedi accompanying the escaped prisoner. She is not an ally. He had a hard enough time trusting people in the Order, now he was going to be dealing with a traitorous Jedi. Who could it be? He wasn't sure that he cared, it likely wasn't anyone he knew, but just for insurance, he flipped an audio recorder on on his datapad. He was not going to be framed as a traitor here. He'd worked far too hard for his freedom.

His feet moved even more quickly as he approached the cells to find them empty with dead Jedi littering the floor. His immediate thought was to gain the identity of the traitor, but he immediately noted the burned out husks of security cameras: a trail that led back toward the hangar. There was nothing to do but follow the scorched trail, and that's precisely what he did.

The route continued, unslowed by physical wounds or exhaustion as was his opponent suffered, until he turned a corner and came upon them: a pair of women not ten meters away; one he knew well and the other... what the frak? It was the same woman that Prudii Kyramud had disguised himself as on Lothal and more importantly she was the spitting image of Terra. She was like a twin. His jaw nearly dropped inside his helmet, but he did his best to push it aside focusing himself instead for combat.

Kira, his voice carried across the short distance, cold and emotionless. His mind was split: a part of him said he should bring her in, but another, darker part, told him to end this decisively. To put the powerful Force-user out of her place once and for all and take the doppelgänger with her. Give it up. It's over. @Proleptic @Prudence