Ask Finally a Nice World

[Vanya]

Normally, Vanya felt like she only ever went to nasty places for work. The galaxy was full of tiny holes of... filth and crime, and as a Jedi it was often her duty to go to these places seeking the murderers, lowlives, and other despicables of the galaxy.

Or she was fighting straight up abominations and Dark Side entities. Either way, it was generally in unsavory places.

In this case, though, this place was a much nicer location. Vanya's arrival at Berchest was... well, it was a tourist destination. Not quite as claustrophobic as Coruscant, but still quite populated, the planet was the perfect balance. Maybe this was what the Jedi meant when they talked about "balance" in all things.

Berchest and Mindor had together sent request for aid after hearing about Drearia's problems that the Jedi had solved, and in this case it was a slightly bigger problem that needed dealing with.

Specifically, they had a problem with an organized crime racket that had set up on the pair of worlds, using a hyperspace route to smuggling more and more spice into the pair of planets. The heart of the operation was thought to be on Berchest, so that was where Vanya had gone.

In this case, her actions were being done in conjunction with another Jedi who she hadn't met yet, but who had eagerly signed up for the Crusaders after the break away from the Council. To Vanya, that was a good sign although time would yet tell what kind of a person he ended up being.

Their ship set down on the planet and Vanya exited into the clean, fresh mountain air, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face.

It's nice to be on a pleasant world for once, she commented to the other man.

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

Zorin was a Dwarsin who greatly appreciated landscapes that weren't as flat as blue milk pancakes. He also valued a certain amount of action and strongly disliked stagnation or idleness, as they meant boredom to him. Therefore, the request from another Jedi Knight to join a call for aid was highly appreciated by him.

Berchest was a beauty. The landscape and the cities perched high on rock formations were quite majestic. "No wonder people gather around here to see this... An intriguing challenge for a place like this," he thought while descending upon the majestic sight.

As the ship touched down, Zorin followed Vanya and also experienced the crystal-clear air and the sun gently caressing his skin. Zorin walked up to Vanya, who was clearly enjoying the surroundings. He kneeled and touched the ground, wanting to feel the stories it held. With fingers spread and eyes closed, he sensed both joy, happiness, and peace, as well as anger, fear, and hatred.

"This place is troubled... I can sense it... But yes, the view is quite astonishing," he said as he stood up. He then retrieved his EZ-Phone to check the local weather and how it would develop over the next few days. His dark brown beard gleamed in the soft sun's rays, meticulously braided, and his hair was tied in a bun.

"So... do you know where we're going?" he asked while putting the EZ-Phone back into his pocket.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya watched as he bent down and touched the soil, almost as if he connected with it in some way and she wondered what exactly he was doing. She, perhaps more than most, appreciated the different ways that people interacted with the Essence, and when he declared that he could feel the world was troubled, she felt this confirmed her suspicion about what he was doing.

What did you sense? she asked, wondering if he was a geokinetic or something.

Either way, she headed on and toward the heart of the city, following the directions on her own EZPhone to pull up the address they were supposed to be traveling to.

Local security office. They've been instructed to hand over leads that we can use to flush out our spice network, she said.

As they walked, she decided it was as good a time as any to get to know the man she was working with.

So where are you from? How'd you come to the Jedi? she asked, leaving nice, broad questions for him to jump off of in whatever direction he chose.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

"Joy, happiness, peace, yet anger, fear, and hatred," Zorin answered when Vanya asked him.

"Ladies first," he said after hearing where they were going. He enjoyed the walk, as it was nice to see a new world and its fauna, mountains, and people. The sun gazed through the leaves the trees carried, creating a beautiful color ensemble that shone on the path they were walking on. The sound of their boots rolling over the stones beneath their soles and the sounds of birds chirping got interrupted by her questioning Zorin about his origin and his path into the Jedi Order.

"I'm from a space station close to Tangrene. I was evacuated from that station and was picked up by the Jedi Order once my temporary foster family recognized my Force abilities and reported them. How did you get in? And where are you from?" he inquired while closing his eyes and facing the sun again as they walked out from under the tree.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

The response Vanya received was... a bit more vague than she had anticipated, but she supposed that was fine. Those terms could probably sum up most worlds because... life was hard and it was complex. It weaved its patterns together to bring all of those emotions to bear. It was why the Jedi had to learn to live in balance with all the emotions that threatened to carry them away.

A space station?! Vanya blurted out in surprise. Yeah, even now Vanya wasn't exactly what you would term "subtle" and sometimes acted before fully thinking through how things might be perceived.

It was also not what she would have pegged him for in addition to being very different from how she had grown up. Space stations were all... cold metal and empty voids rather than lush wildlife and plant life.

My story couldn't have been much different, she admitted when he asked. I grew up in the wilds of Dathomir as part of the Singing Mountain Clan. Raised to practice our magick and fight for my Clan. After the Imperials came and I assisted them in killing the Queen, I left to try to fight for the Light, she said.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

"I've heard rumors about that kind of magic, but I don't quite understand its capabilities," he said, enjoying the conversation they were having.

He admired her decision to oppose the Queen. However, he was uncertain if the rumors about a deranged queen who could corrupt people's minds were true. She seemed rational at the moment, so he decided that time would reveal whether her fight was genuinely for the light.

"So, how do you plan to accomplish all this? I don’t think they can be easily dissuaded from their business—it's too profitable. Unless, of course, we offer them a different perspective," he said, turning his gaze to Vanya.

"What do you think is the origin of crime?" he asked, eagerly awaiting Vanya's perspective on such individuals.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya didn't say much more about the magick of her people. Even here, among the Jedi, it wasn't something that people often looked kindly on and there was a piece of her that even now knew that it was - in its own way - sacred and not something to just be spoken of lightly.

I don't plan to dissuade them, I plan to subdue them, she said. They were criminals engaged in crime and that meant she had no problems with arresting them or - if it turned to violence, which it probably would - taking a more aggressive approach to things. The galaxy had done enough negotiating with monsters and terrorists.

His next comment caught her somewhat off-guard. She knew that her perspective on her world had been quite different from the rest of the galaxy. There was conflict and even wars between Clans, but within Clans there was very little "crime" as off-worlders understood it.

She decided it was too dismissive to say "I don't care" because that was fairly true, but she didn't know him well enough for that, so she tried to think of a more thoughtful answer.

I think that answer is probably as diverse as the people committing crimes, she said. Desperation, greed, tribalism, anger, mental instability... they were all components, and what motivated a Sith was going to often be very different from what motivated a petty thief.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

He accepted her rather vague description and concentrated on the task at hand.

Soon, they arrived at the local security office. The office was modern and clean. Its door was shut, requiring visitors to ring a bell for entry.

Zorin didn't hesitate to ring the bell but grew impatient as no one responded even after ten minutes.

"Uhhh, do you have a Plan B?" he asked, looking to Vanya for an answer.

Peering inside, he noticed disarray, as if someone had been searching for something. Broken datapads lay scattered on the floor. At the back of the front office, he spotted a figure slumped in a chair, uncertain whether the person was asleep or dead. Zorin relayed his observations to Vanya.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

A churning feeling grew in Vanya's gut the closer they drew to the security office, and as they entered, she started to understand why. The place looked like it had been ransacked, and she even saw blaster bolts had scored the walls in several places.

If someone had attacked the police station outright then things on this planet must have been much worse than she thought.

Zorin relayed his own concerns to her, and her eyes started to look around as she plucked the lightsaber off her belt and held it inertly in her hand.

Keep your eyes open, she said in hushed tones. Whoever did this might still be nearby, she said. She hopped over the front counter and moved near-silently toward the person that she was pretty sure was dead, looking around but seeing no one else at first.

Then, she rounded the corner and saw the other bodies. More officers shot to pieces and the bodies of several others who looked to be not in uniform. The attackers hadn't seen fit to take their dead.

She checked the pulse of the man sitting in the chair, and glanced back at Zorin before shaking her head.

She started going room to room but there didn't seem to be anyone alive, leaving her with more questions than answers.

See if there's any security footage and I'll try to find any physical evidence of who the attackers were, she suggested.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

"Understood," he replied succinctly when instructed to review the security footage. Navigating his way to the security room, he carefully stepped over the lifeless bodies scattered across the floor. Finding the door closed, he opted for a forceful approach. With an outstretched hand, he commanded the door to swing open with a resounding crack.

The security room was deserted, leading him to ponder whether it was usually unattended or if someone had been lured away. Settling into the comfortable chair, he began acquainting himself with the unfamiliar technology. Zorin Ironstar, a craftsman at heart, was admittedly not adept with tech, far from being a skilled slicer.

It took him about four minutes, but he eventually managed to access the security system and started reviewing the footage.

The playback revealed a harrowing scene: six heavily armed, masked individuals, likely humans, emerged from a transporter and immediately opened fire, wreaking havoc indiscriminately on officers and civilians alike. The brutality of their assault was chilling. The transporter bore a distinctive insignia - a red skull crossed with two vibroknives.

"Uh, Vanya... you might want to see this," he said, visibly shaken by the disturbing footage he had just witnessed.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya began to poke around the area as Zorin left, doing her best not to smear too much of her own DNA over the area. She had half a mind to call the police before she remembered that this was the police. She was surprised that no one had called out. She wondered if a signal jammer had been used to keep the security officers from calling for reinforcements. There was no other explanation.

Heading through the offices, she found that they were methodically and systematically cleared out of any survivors, every person killed.

She felt a weight settling on her, and she shook it from her mind, pushing on and focusing on the task at hand.

As she came to the evidence lockers, she found that one of them had been torn into and emptied while all the others were untouched. Money, drugs, guns... all left untouched save for this single locker.

That was when she heard her partner call out to her and she headed back up to check on what he had found. The disturbing footage was pretty much in keeping with what she had seen.

They broke into one of the evidence lockers and took something out. I'm not sure what, but based on this video, it almost seems like they want us to know who did it. A calling card or a warning, she speculated.

Can we cross check that symbol against the database? she asked. When they looked, they would find that the insignia belonged to the Red Skulls. What an original name...

Further investigation would reveal that not only were the Red Skulls one of the largest pirate groups in the area, but they operated primarily out of a spaceport only a few miles from here: an excellent place for the pair to continue their investigation.

Are you a... lightsaber kind of Jedi? she asked, a nagging feeling growing after watching the video that they were probably going to be shot at a lot very soon.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

"Or perhaps they simply don't care, having realized they can do whatever they want with impunity," he replied, echoing her speculation with a tone of dismay.

"Sure," he agreed to her request, still reeling from the shock that a pirate group could overpower local law enforcement and escape without punishment. The reality seemed both unreal and unsettling. Zorin was disgusted by the sheer audacity and ruthlessness of their actions, driven by greed and a hunger for power, to the point of harming innocent civilians and law enforcement officers who sought only peace.

"Hmm, I consider myself more of a 'Force' type... But if you're suggesting we go after them, count me in. However, we should first give them an opportunity to surrender. If they choose not to, then we can consider... 'more drastic' measures," he proposed.

"Ladies first," he courteously said, holding the door open to the police station.

Spoiler: Music

As they approached the spaceport, the pair were met with the sight of a large gathering of the red skulls at the entrance. A yet unidentified figure stood atop a cargo crate, loudly proclaiming, "WE RULE THIS FUCKING PILE OF MOUNTAIN SHIT... NOBODY WILL STOP US N—". His declaration was abruptly cut off by the igniting of Zorin's lightsaber, immediately drawing the attention of the entire group.

In a firm and authoritative tone, Zorin declared, "In the name of the Jedi Crusaders, we ask you to surrender your weapons."

He stood poised and ready, hoping this bold move would be enough to capture their attention and persuade them of the futility of their resistance.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya let out a throaty growl from her throat as the seriousness of their situation became even more dire.

His suggestion that they decide to try to get them to surrender was... not really her first choice. They were going to be outnumbered and loudly declaring themselves would give up one of their only real advantages: stealth.

Alas, he wasn't the only kind of Jedi who felt this way, though, and Vanya decided to just go along with it. She wasn't the type to kill a surrendering enemy, but she also wasn't the type to turn everything into an honor duel either.

Her fingers brushed absentmindedly along the hilt of her lightsaber as they walked, knowing that this was going to end in bloodshed. Her heart started to speed up as they grew closer, her fingers threatening to shake. No matter how many times she went into a fight, the anxiety beforehand was always the worst. That sense that you might not be fast enough or smart enough to make it out.

She reminded herself that her fate was in the hands of the Winged Spirit, and no matter what happened today, it was as it should be.

As they arrived at the spaceport, the sheer number of gang members there was alarming and Vanya began to turn to Zorin when she saw that he was about to make an announcement. Vanya practically slammed bodily into him to keep him from declaring themselves to everyone here, and would slap her hand over his mouth if she had to.

No, she hissed, glancing back at the nearly score of gangsters there. Vanya was a skilled fighter, but she didn't like 20 to 2 odds.

We just announce ourselves and we're going to get gunned down and help no one, she said.

Stealth. We'll pick them off one at a time, she said, moving further away from the spaceport.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

"hmpfff... Stealth..." Zorin grumbled under his breath, his voice tinged with obvious displeasure. The concept of sneaking up on an enemy didn't sit well with him; it felt akin to a dishonorable backstabbing. He was a person who believed in facing his adversaries head-on. Consequently, he resolved to refrain from using lethal force unless absolutely necessary, if the enemies resorted to it first.

"Well then, lead the way," he whispered, resigning himself to follow Vanya's plan. As they moved stealthily and prepared to neutralize their first target, Zorin paused momentarily. He leaned in closer to Vanya, whispering a question to confirm her intentions, "Are you sure this is how we should proceed?" His tone conveyed a mix of reluctance and a desire to uphold his principles, even in such a dire situation.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya could sense his displeasure in her suggestion, and she was fully prepared to have a small, civil argument about it, but he seemed to relent and go along with the plan, much to Vanya's relief.

Even if they didn't agree, she could understand his question and concern. She frowned and stopped walking once they were out of sight of the spaceport.

What if we leave them a warning. Twelve hours to surrender themselves to the authorities and anyone remaining is considered a combatant? she suggested. It was the best compromise she could think of given the situation. She knew there were many Jedi who struggled with the idea of a first strike, but she also knew that history was littered with examples of Jedi doing just that.

Either way, walking in and declaring ourselves and having twenty blasters shooting at us isn't an option, she added.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

Zorin found himself in agreement with Vanya's plan, though he harbored reservations about the potential consequences of a warning. "Let's proceed with stealth," he suggested. "I can't dictate your methods, but I will commit to non-lethal action unless they engage us with lethal force."

He understood the dilemma: openly declaring their presence could be risky, but the idea of attacking without warning felt morally ambiguous to him. Nonetheless, considering the pirates' recent actions, he conceded that they might not warrant the honor of a prior warning.

Signaling Vanya to take the lead, he quietly followed her to where the first unsuspecting pair of pirates stood. They were heavily armed but unarmored. Positioning himself strategically, he whispered to Vanya, "Good, it's your call." He waited attentively for her command, ready to act on her signal.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

They at least seemed to have found their middle ground, though it would end up delaying their situation for a while.

If we're giving them time to clear out, then we have time to kill, she said. They would have to take the time to get them the message, let them clear out, and then preferably not immediately attack lest their enemy be on high alert.

---​

When it was all said and done, Vanya had a courier droid take the message to the Red Skulls and... well, the outcome was not great.

They had absolutely fortified their position, but the outcome at the security station had been discovered by the rest of the planet's government. With no small amount of effort, Vanya and Zorin were able to convince them that they needed to mount an official attack.

Police and SWAT forces had been raised in preparation with the Jedi at the head. It was much better odds now, but Zorin and Vanya would still be at the head.

Well... it's not stealth, she said with a smirk at Zorin as they road along on the SWAT assault vehicle.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

Zorin's resolve solidified in the face of the escalating conflict. "When bullies refuse to listen, they leave you no choice but to fight back," he declared in response to Vanya, recognizing that stealth was no longer an option.

As the scene unfolded, it was almost cinematic. The wind whipped through Zorin's beard and hair, creating a dramatic tableau amidst the chaos of smoke and red blaster bolts. The scene had a movie-like quality, except for the unfortunate obstruction it caused for a fellow SWAT officer trying to clear his vision.

This brief, almost romanticized moment was shattered when a police car exploded from the impact of a thermal detonator. The SWAT vehicle screeched to a halt, and a commander's voice rang out, "DISEMBARK, ENGAGE!"

Releasing his grip on the SWAT vehicle's railing, Zorin stood tall and imposing. Clenching his fists, he focused his energy, and the ground began to tremble. Suddenly, three massive walls erupted from the earth, forming partial barriers that shielded the police forces from their adversaries. "TAKE COVER!" Zorin bellowed, urging his allies to find safety.

Then, with a swift movement, he ignited his lightsaber. The blue blade came to life with a resonant SWOOOSH, casting a glow around him and heralding his readiness to confront the escalating threat head-on.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya was braced up and within moments of arrival, all chaos broke loose. The police who had come here were militarized in full-combat equipment with heavy weapons, and it seemed the pirates were equally as prepared for the same.

It was heavily armored troops who had raided the police station, and she could guess that would happen here as well.

Blasterfire was exchanged in the street as the building itself became the center of a warzone.

Vanya leapt from the vehicle, violet lightsaber bursting to life in her hand as she hit the ground. She was always inclined toward being on the front line herself, but in this case she did her best to protect the officers advancing on the building.

Her saber swept cleanly through the air with expert precision, knocking bolts out of the air before they struck either her or the officers.

In the second story window, she could see a group of thugs beginning to prepare a heavy repeating blaster.

I'm going to go for that gun, try to secure the front door! she shouted to Zorin, trusting he could manage to help the troopers get to the front door.

@JoeWing

 

[Zorin Ironstar]

"Yes ma'am!" Zorin shouted back to Vanya, his voice resounding amidst the chaos.

From a distance, the scornful taunt of an enemy echoed, targeting the Dwarsin Jedi with a disrespectful jeer: "GET FUCKED!!!"

In the next moment, a thermal detonator obliterated one of Zorin's protective walls. Debris rained down, trapping one of the officers under a pile of rocks. This unfortunate event, however, sparked an idea in Zorin's mind.

With a focused gesture, he levitated three sizable rocks, each akin to a jawbreaker. With a forceful motion, he hurled them towards the enemy. Two of the makeshift projectiles found their targets. One struck an enemy's left arm, shattering it, while the other left a grotesque, gaping hole in the chest of another. The man with the fatal wound collapsed, the rock landing unceremoniously behind him.

"NO, U!" Zorin bellowed defiantly, holding his lightsaber firmly at his side. "CHARGE!" he roared, surging forward into the enemy lines. Initially hesitant, the troopers soon rallied and followed his lead.

In a symphony of combat, Zorin's lightsaber sliced through the air, accompanied by the forceful push of his powers, the deflection of blaster bolts, and the strategic return of a detonator. This coordinated assault rapidly brought the troopers to the enemy's front door.

The door, barricaded from the inside, initially seemed an impediment. But not for long.

With a powerful force push, SMASH! The door burst open, sending tables and chairs flying across the room, striking down the remaining adversaries caught unawares by the sudden breach.

@Phoenix