Before 5am

[jamessour]

Leira and Tarnit had gotten back to his place late. There was little talking, and there was even less that needed to be said. Leira needed someone to be there for her, and Tarnit needed to be that person. His apartment was small, one bedroom and a small living room, but the small 14 year old girl fit well on the couch. He was glad she was here.

After they both had retired for the evening, Tarnit gazed out the window overlooking Coronet City. It was a beautiful and teeming place - as most cities were. It was places like this Tarnit felt like Jedi should be - helping out law enforcement. While the war was getting started, crime was expanding faster that Tarnit had seen before. He was glad to be here.

He then went to bed.

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

BRRRRRRRBRRRRRRRRRRRBRRRRRRRRRRR
Head spinning, sitting quickly, Tarnit looked for where the horrific noise was coming from. Glancing to his left, his data-comm was lit - it was his friend from CorSec. Shivers traveled down his spine - it was never good to get a call early in the morning.

His hand shot toward the communicator and he brought it to his ear: "Buck, what's going on?" His voice a mixture of tiredness and adrenaline.

Buck's voice was flat and serious, "We have a homicide... and it seems like your cup of tea."

Tarnit paused as he stood up, "Why can't CorSec deal with this?"

"Tarnit, this man seems like a serious killer. I don't want to send any more of my officers in. We have him contained in a warehouse by 324 St."

"Send me the coordinates. We will be right there." He hung up and walked briskly into the living room, hold his saber in his hand.

"Leira, you awake?"

@Leira Rys @MariaDespisesYou

 

[Leira]

The placid tempo of inhalations occupied the small apartment. Eyes were motionless, shadows relieving them, warmth immersing Leira’s body. Free from fighting, panicked running, from death, temporarily. Granted the pleasure of ephemeral absence from the world around her, ravenous exhaustion gaining satisfaction. Granted vital sleep.

Chilled Corellian air rolled through the open window, arising goosebumps on bare skin. Yet, warmth was to be discovered. Velvet encased the lines of Leira’s figure, grasped tightly by flecked hands, drawn securely around elfin body. Comfortable, contented, she found no problem in finding rest that night. Pacified by the distant sounds of Tarnit’s breath, the faint hum of lingering traffic. The night was beautifully peaceful.

All beautiful things were fragile.

Noise inevitably ascended, destroying the hush ambiance. The punitive cries of a data-comm disrupting tranquil. Lashes quivered, chocolate eyes forced out of ebony blankets. Scarlet head ascending, muscles aching from previous exertion, Leira rubbed heavy eyes.

Senses prickled with something amiss; She knew her rest was over. Grasping thick, crimson locks, binding them in a ponytail. Waves cascaded down her back, lapping her shoulders, tickling her arms. Slipping on tan boots, sullied by use. She threw herself together, preparing for whatever the night bore.

Tremors of footsteps traveled through carpeted floor. Tarnit’s hands clutched saber, stray bars of moonlight glaring on metallic surface. Trouble. Weapons were only a necessity when peril arose. Leira shuddered.

“You awake?”

“Now I am. What’s up?"​

 

[MariaDespisesYou]

David stood over the body, it's unseeing eyes staring at him. It was a wrong decision to cross him that night; high on sadistic desire for blood shed, high on a bit of spice. He looked strong, yet nobody was a challenge for David. So many people had died from his machete and saber, that it seemed almost like an art form. But, it didnt take long for law enforcement to report of the matter.

Fleeing, hiding, but keeping an eye on the scene. He heard the name Tarnit. Snickering, another innocent person and his unknown accomplice would face the same fate. His crime would go unpunished.

Adrenaline pumped through his veins, a smile creeping on his face. Two more kills. What fun.

The alleyway they were going to was filled with abandon buildings, a good place to lure unsuspecting people in to.

He waited, scrubbing blood off of his hands.

 

[jamessour]

As Leira sat up, Tarnit turned on the lights causing his eyes to shut until they grew accustomed to the bright once more - darkness took its toll. He walked over to the sink and splashed water on his face, bringing his fingers through his blonde hair like a comb. The cold helped him awaken. He turned to address the young girl.

"My friend from CorSec, Buck, just contacted me. They need support. There has been a violent murder and they want us to go and investigate - quickly - and hopefully catch the killer."

Tarnit threw on a brown leather jacket and sat down on a chair in the living room to put his boots on.

"The incident happened close by. CorSec sent over a transport to take us there."

Standing he looked at Leira, "Will you help me bring light to the darkness?" He shuddered at how cheesy his comment was.

@Leira Rys

 

[Leira]

“Oh shit. A murder?”

Blazing with curiosity, yet solemnly allowing his words to sink in. Expiry was a tragic occurrence; yet some earned their fate. The swarming Corellian depths could not be controlled. Law’s reaches could not touch all the crime-ridden favelas. Inhabitants proved terminally capricious. Anarchic, freedom granted to both the immaculate and depraved. Society was fickle. With freedom came sin, an inevitable setback from tarnished people.

Attempts were made to preserve the pure, to thwart the evil. For naught, avaricious people found the sliver of chaos left; Reducing it to nothing.

Compelled to aid. Perhaps more for her than anybody else. Selfishness, the nucleus for every choice any living thing made. In pursuit of redeeming herself, winning her own absolution. Her succor would better her.

A jovial smile casting over her face, gripping the chilled handle of her saberstaff. She was ready.

“Yea, I’ll help. Just don’t make cliché comments like that the whole damn time.”​

 

[jamessour]

Tarnit chuckled, "I won't." He gestured for Leira to follow before he walked through the door. The elevator ride was quick and quiet. Tarnit wasn't a morning person - and it felt particularly dark. Growing up as a Jedi had taught him to trust his gut. His gut was telling him two things: first, that there was something truly evil waiting for them and second, he should have grabbed something to eat on his way out.

Waiting outside the apartment building was a CorSec speeder. Exchanging quick pleasantries with the office, Tarnit and Leira entered the speeder. After a few minutes, the speeder stopped outside a warehouse surrounded with glowing CorSec tape and officers. They had effectively blocked off the entire industrial area. Exiting the speeder, Tarnit saw his Buck and walked over to him.

"Well friend, what's the situation?" Tarnit spoke smoothly while running his fingers through his hair to keep it out of his face.

"We believe we have the suspect contained to this area. We found a body butchered in this building," He pointed at the warehouse closest to them, "But as you can see, there are several other buildings the perp could be hiding in." Buck looked toward Tarnit, "I've got a bad feeling about this one."

Tarnit examined the buildings, "Me too, Buck..." Looking to Leira, he was curious as to how her young eyes would capture the scene, "What you feel, Leira? Do you sense anything?"

 

[Leira]

Abandoning the hectic scenery around her; Fleeing from the reprise of speeders, worried strangers’ stares, the chatter floating around the scene. Sinking in to her senses, her conscious wading in the Force. Her ‘eyes’ mulled through strangers, rummaging for a killer amongst barren buildings. She searched, and found.

A Force Signature. Foul to the senses, reeking of freshly spilt blood. Uncannily familiar, stimulating fear, desire, desperation. Leira was a frightened animal, quivering and pacing aback, searching for shelter. In vain. She could not escape the silver headed bullet which endangered the fragile formation of her life. Compelled to fight, to destroy the threat that laid within sullied brick buildings. The feeling was peculiar; fate beckoned, its’ persuasive voice moved her feet forwards. Snapped her out of the trance, made her face reality.

Harsh synthetic light greeted chocolate eyes. Hand grasping Tarnit, for stability, for solace.

“It’s a man. I think I’ve ran across him. I can’t remember where, or how…”

Clinching her cheek in thought, the metallic taste of blood swept over her tongue.

“Are we gonna go in?”​

 

[MariaDespisesYou]

He felt her; Leira's signature was unique, a cerulean like color, tainted with darkness. David remembered the young girl. She was a fighter, killed his two best friends, and got away with it. Foul-mouthed and impulsive, yet strong in a way that couldnt be matched by size or strength. Cunning, you might say. But she was going to be stopped. He had no idea what became of her, except that he loathed the child and wanted her dead, Jedi, Sith, whatever.

"Come here, little rabbit.."

Shooting a bullet to the ceiling to give them some idea where he might be, and attempting to lure them in.

 

[jamessour]

BAP

The sound of a gun firing sent ripples through the air and through Tarnit's mind. He immediately snapped his attention down the alley. It was likely a trap... the force whispered it to the ex-Jedi. However, it would be easier to follow it instead of mindlessly searching for hours hoping the perp didn't get away. He would have to rely on the force.

"Yeah, we're going in." He turned quickly back to Buck, "Keep the perimeter secure." The officer nodded.

Stepping forward, Tarnit beckoned Leira to follow him down the alley. "I hope you know this one is prepared for us. A talented criminal wouldn't give away his position when surrounded by CorSec officers.... No, this is a trap." Looking down to Leira, "Please be careful."

After walking for several moments, Tarnit stopped at the door of a warehouse and put his hand on the door. Reaching out with the force, he closed his eyes. "This one." He opened the door, his saber ready.

 

[MariaDespisesYou]

David looked at the intruders. Leira, and some older man accompanying. They stood together as if they were close. Like they loved eachother. A gleam of care reflected in Tarnit's eyes. Did he look at her like a daughter? Perfect. The relationship was something that could be used against them in many ways.

"Leira, Leira, Leira... You know I missed you. You were a fun toy to play with, all those years ago. You know, you shouldn't have killed James and Merle. They were just playing with you. They were good kids."

He sighed, and chuckled.

"Give me the little girl, and I'll surrender myself. If you don't, I'll take your life, and then her's. It won't be hard for me. Look at her. Thin as a toothpick, my, my, are you her caretaker? Are you starving her just like her daddy did?"

He was obviously very sick in his mind, to take delight in the pain of a little girl.

"Hand her over."

 

[jamessour]

Tarnit walked in and stopped as he heard the voice of the sadistic man. Immediately Tarnit flicked his saber on with a snap-hiss. He held the blade diagonally across his body, the now silver blade igniting the darkened room with a white gleam.

This wasn't his first run in with a psycho - or someone influenced by the dark side. These people loved exploiting relationships in the hopes to cause pain, anger, hatred, and passion. Tarnit was too steady and trained for such an obvious and blatant strategy.

A cool smile fell on his face, "She isn't a commodity to be given and taken. And don't be mislead by her size, she's more than capable." Walking forward a step, Tarnit fell into a soresu defensive stance.

"You will surrender now. If you don't, I will make you." Using an obvious play on his own words just to upset him, Tarnit was hoping to make the criminal strike out.

 

[MariaDespisesYou]

"Oh? Really? Makes me wonder why she was passed from person to person... You really think you can replace her father?"

David laughed.

"Ridiculous. You can't be what she needs. She's damaged merchandise. Even if she survives today, she'll turn from you and fall to the Dark. They all do."

"But she won't make it out alive."

Pulling out his blaster, firing three shots at the little girl's ankles. But they were very easily avoidable and he watched as the thin girl disappeared behind a wooden crate in the restaurant.

"Clever."

David ignited his saber, and ran towards Tarnit, swinging as his mid section, and used his other saber to defend against oncoming blows.

 

[jamessour]

As the shots rang out, Tarnit strode forward quickly. Sensing that Leira was okay, Tarnit was committed to handling this man quickly, and non-lethaly if possible. David met Tarnit's stride with a swipe at his midsection. In one fluid motion, Tarnit brought his saber down with his right hand to block the blow, while grabbing his blaster with his left hand out of it's holster and aiming at David. As soon as as the blow would hit his blade, Tarnit would quickly fire two shots at David's upper thighs, trying to force the enemy's movement into the air.

 

[MariaDespisesYou]

Swerving to the side of Tarnit's blow, and then staring at him. Hoping to intimidate the man with his glare, and hopefully tricking him into surrendering the child.

"I dont want to kill you. It'd really be a shame if I had to.." David smirked. "That little shit has blood on her hands. The blood of my friends. We did bad things to her--Sure. Made her our pet for a few days. But she did worse. She took their lives. I just want justice for my fallen friends. Fight for justice, Jedi. Hand her over, now."

David felt another presence. A very Dark one.

Perhaps someone was coming to his aid.

 

[Leira]

Heart lurched; Emotion welled, edging her desire. Anger, vivid as blood on snow, cast its’ ugly shadow on her face. Drew her eyebrows together, curved her lips in to a glower. The wrathful display was simply that. A mask for the fright palpitating her heart, shaking her muscles.

She observed Tarnit. Words rolled off his tongue effortlessly. An undisturbed river, the insults a force too feeble to shift his waves. His manner inspired her, restrained her temper. Admiration stirred; The virtue of peace was unattainable to her. The Dark was a hereditary disease, passed from predecessor to descendant, weaving itself into every particle of her being. Controlled by selfishness, trauma, she danced the delicate line of insanity and stability. Tarnit was perpetually collected.

Opposites attract. Leira didn’t defy nature’s laws. She clung to the tranquil man like a dying person to their last breath of air.

Leira mimicked his demeanor. Straightening the downward curves of her lips, swallowing invectives that craved verbalization. Kept her saber firmly by her side, refusing to strike first.

The fizz of oncoming bolts shattered her replication. Bullets fell short of her ankles, their vestiges burnt into ligneous floor boards. A stumbling step sent her forwards, threw her body upon course ground. Wooden splinters scratching skin, blood trailed down stippled cheeks. Losing grip on saberstaff, the device slipped from her grasp, rolling into oblivion.

“Fuck!”

Lifting her head, vermilion halo swaying with the movements. Eyes peering over jagged corner, caught glimpse of the lethal jade radiance which menaced Tarnit’s mid-section. Time constrained Leira to uselessness. Panic gripped her chest. Sealing her eyes, sparing herself the sight. Praying, to whatever omniscient being that monitored them, for Tarnit’s safety.

Her prayer was answered.

Pushing herself up, gripping cool metal of her switch blade, she offered her succor.

“Get away from him, you chicken shit!”

Running forwards, raising the shining blade over her head. The knife met David’s shoulder whilst he was distracted, tepid crimson accumulating in the wound. Deep, painful, sending a surge of victory through Leira’s bones.

The Force was an ally; Leira accepted its’ aid, used its’ gift to her advantage. Ghostly hands gripped David’s saber, attempted to loosen it, and give it the same fate Leira’s saberstaff had met. ​

 

[Marf]

(OOC: scripted thread, done with participants' permission.)

recommended listening
♱​

Hues morphed icily beyond glassy foreground. Traffic lights stained wet ashfelt, arousing clouds of steam. The clash of plasma pounded the middle ground, muted. Pounding unto ceaseless vigor, passion without direction, without judgement. Distorted by incessant chatter, emanating from a transparent source. Opaque smoke, moist obsidian, sprawled over the damp stone. Seeping across the abandoned sector, the dark miasma gathered before the restaurant where the combatants clashed. A figure devoid of countenace, Vereshin appeared a faceless death god in the center of the road.

"An infantile display, Tarnit Taddler. Let the child reach unto her own desires."

A voice, ethereal and otherworldly projected into the minds of the three warring apostles. Face hooded and concealed by black cloth, Vereshin extended both arms in an assault on the Force. The front wall of the restaurant shattered from it's hinges and materials, exploding veritably in a secluded nova of violet electricity. The three of them, Leira, Tarnit and the repulsive David, stood exposed. Gloved hand raised a second time, an imminent surge of deep purple amassed in the air beneath his palm. Lightning, brilliant and enormous, surged forth and grappled the rogue Jedi's physique.

Wind entered the ruined space where the wall of the empty cafe stood previously. Electricity sparked and cackled sparsely over glassy stone. The bandaged visage shifted soundlessly toward the man named David. His Force essence tasted putrid, of all vice and deviancy committed by nature. From Leira, the same burning nova of sadness and righteous anger he recalled from their first meeting, emanated brightly. They equated. The inky smoke swirling over the ground and encircling Vereshin's figure pigmented. Deep sanguine, like gaseous blood, collided with cool tones, bathing all scenery.

Kaleidoscopic imagery filled David's senses, overwhelmed his brain. Footage of indescribable horror played in repeated sync over grainy monochrome. Plagued his thoughts, incapacitating his form. Fear so intense to arouse even physical agony pulsated every fiber of his person. Heartbeat rapid, innards burning, lungs exasperated and crunched like a vice. Mentally only, no true harm befell David's physical vessel, if only to inspire young Leira. The voice, demonic. Seething absolute rage and displeasure, resonated entirely over the spectacle, toward Rys' abuser.

"You know so little of darkness."
@jamessour @MariaDespisesYou @Leira Rys

 

[jamessour]

Tarnit turned to respond to David's retort with another follow of energy from his pistol when a terrifying voice assaulted Tarnit's mind.

"An infantile display, Tarnit Taddler. Let the child reach unto her own desires." Tarnit's eyes slammed shut, extending his senses to find where this dark voice was coming from. He didn't invite it - and it made him put his guard down. This was his undoing.

What he sensed was so evil, he couldn't help but try and protect his daught- his friend, Leira.

"NO!" He shouted jumping towards Leira, as if to shield her from the horror about to happen.

With a purple explosion, the wall evaporated from the warehouse. Tarnit didn't even know what hit him when a when lightning surged out and groped his body with it's electric claws.

Letting out a guttural scream, the energy through him back, as he was in mid air, into dura steel crates. Out of instinct, his saber deignited. Out of pain, his eyes shut.

"Leira... follow the light...." He murmured under his breath, silently cursing himself for being cliche once more, and he slipped from consciousness. His body laid folded on the ground, sparks still flashing from his body.

 

[MariaDespisesYou]

David let out a cry of frustration when Leira's blade sunk deep into his shoulder, ripped past the layers of flesh protecting his vessels. He felt the warm trails of blood seep down his back, the warm heat irritating to him. The child's blow was effective, and it hurt.

His saber slipped out of his fingers, and rolled somewhere he did not know. He growled in frustration, taking out his machete and prepared to swing at the small child.

"You little c/nt! Look what you did!"

Before he could swing at her, the wave of Force Horror hit him. It shocked him so immensely, he dropped the machete. It slid under a nearby set of booths. He didnt acknowledge where it went though.

He turned to observe. Vi was cloaked in black, like a mysterious ghost. He had no idea whom the man was who ripped down the wall, but he wasn't on his side. Vi even had the nerve to call him a name. He saw Tarnit laying on the ground in pain. He smirked.

David saw Leira, and pulled out his blaster pistol and shot at her once again. The shots were clumsy, but they threatened her head and mid section.

 

[Leira]

An evocative Darkness arrived.

Black silk weightlessly glided, flowing like cursive writing. The sable cloaked specter was familiar to her; An ethereal comforter, a menacing captor. His icy touch was a vivid reminiscence of Terminus, the horror that lie there. The haunting presence stirred upset in the depths of her chest, paled her vibrant skin. Vereshin was an unwelcome vestige of the past. Still, his malevolent powers never wrapped their ethereal claws around her. Vi’s intentions didn’t lie in fleshly harm; It was her mind he desired.

A blaze of lightning assailed Tarnit. Luminous threads slithered across his skin, aroused intolerable pain within his depths. Panic quickened Leira’s heartbeat; sent flying to her father. The word resonated bitterly in mind, laid emotion on her soul. Leira longed for one. The desire was quenched around him. And there he lay before her, writhing in pain.

She clutched his flaxen hair, the soft tendrils of it flowing through her fingers like lucid water. Pools of lapis reflected agony, panic. Leira quivered, tightened around Tarnit. Craving the stability of a guardian, witnessing her protector collapsed on the ground, suffering. A brutal sight.

“Tarnit? C’mon, Tarnit. You gotta tell me what to do, you gotta get up.”

Only whimpers replied.

“Vereshin, what the -“

Oncoming bolts again interrupted her. Sent her diving for the safety of wooden crates.

Rage pumped through her veins. Tightened her grip around knife, compelled her to strike once more. A slave to impulse, to egocentrism, she obeyed every Dark whim the Force cast towards her.

Sneakers quietly sidled across rigid timber; Chocolate spheres examined every bodily aspect of David, ravenously hunted for flaws, devoured their delectable structures when found. Revenge was a force too prevalent in Leira’s life. She willingly yielded to it.

Today would be no different.

Sprinting to David from behind, constraining him with the tendrils of the Force. With a cry of ire, jagged movements drove the silvery blade deep into vessels in his side. Twisting the device, finally releasing it, and repeating the process with his left thigh.

“Asshole!”​

 

[MariaDespisesYou]

David screeched as the blade grained on his flesh. He bit his cheek in pain, and dropped his blaster.
Drawing out his vibro blade, he struck Leira in the thigh. As she dodged and tried to run, and grazed part of her back, and the wound expanded to her front. It wasnt deadly or crippling, but it would hurt very bad and make some movement hard.

"Ah, hell!"

His knees gave way, and he collapsed for a moment. He could no longer stand. David just needed a break from the pain, and standing was too strenuous. The little girl fell next to him. But, for the moment, he was too weak to go hurt her again. But if she tried anything, he would.