First Strikes

[Andraste]

Though she despised being in jungles and forests, the intel they had gathered pointed to this planet as the perfect target to attack. Alais hadn’t made any offensive moves since the trial. It had taken her quite some time to recover, and she had to pick up the shattered pieces of herself to put herself together again. In the end, this resulted in a version of her that had a tough exterior, though internally there were some slivers of self doubt. No one on the outside would see this.

Alais was adorned in black attire that formed to her frame, dark robes atop it all. She was never in the habit of wearing armor, but she did think to bring a collapsible vibrosword for once. Alais stood at the beginning of a path that led through the forest, one that was to lead to a temple that served as a listening post for Jedi. Alais knew the structure was tucked away deep in the forest and away from civilization. There were no doubt guards posted along the way, and they would have to make short work of them. The rendezvous spot was in the middle of the remote forest as well, and she had arrived early.

She had wanted this to serve as the point where she looped Siris into the ever-growing group of Exiles setting out to build the faction. Alais had also called Rhea, the mysterious woman that had brought her to the Exiles to begin with. She wasn’t sure how much she trusted the woman, but she hadn’t steered Alais wrong thus far.

She checked her chrono, glancing up to see if Siris had arrived. Upon spotting him, Alais managed a small smile, checking to see if Rhea were here yet. She took a few steps closer to him, making no gesture to close the distance any further, “The temple should only be about a mile from here,” She glanced over in the direction of the trail and then back at Siris, “Be wary around Rhea. Just….” How could she warn him to keep his thoughts on lock down? A grin came to her then, “Just be yourself.”

@Orbit @Malon

 

[Siris Drast]

Siris silently moved through the trees before coming upon a small trail before his eyes met Alais. When she stopped a respectable distance away, Siris arched an eyebrow at her. He glanced to the direction that Alais pointed before returning his gaze to her, understanding immediately coming to him as he realized now why she was different. It was small things but Siris knew her well enough to spot those. "Be myself.." He repeated before just shaking his head and passing Alais. He crouched down by some nearby bushes, his eyes trained forward in case any guard decided to extend their patrol a little.

Alais had contacted him after their little excursion in Alderann, fond memories returning to him for only a second before he shut them down as he recalled what Alais said. There was a small temple on this planet, a listening post for Jedi in this sector. That's all she told him and that the someone named Rhea would be joining them. Siris never met this person but the way it made Alais cautious to just stand close to him, he knew he had to be vigilant with her. His hand dipped down into the dirt, lifting a large clump of it as he sifted it through his fingers before any battle. It now turning into a little tendency he did before any battle.

He let the remaining dirt fall from his hand as he opened it before standing up and dusting it off on his pant leg. He donned tight fighting robes as well, black to camouflage him in the night. His hood was drawn and covered most of his head, the edge of his nose and jaw the only thing sticking out. He leaned against a tree, holding onto a branch above him with one hand as they waited for Rhea. Siris suppressed his presence and his emotions, locking them deep inside and under multiple layers of protection. Even though he didn't know what was at stake, Alais told him to be wary and he wouldn't ignore her.

 

[Rhea]

Rhea had not been to Devaron in many years, not since her tenure as a Jedi historian and librarian. The Jedi enclave there was a small tower; those that knew of it called it a temple, but few who saw it would ever truly consider it such. Yet, she came anyways, because it was here that Alais Drast—her protege—had chosen to reveal herself for the first time since the incident on Ossus. Leviticus and the others were occupied finishing the last preparations for the base on Prakith, so she had agreed to follow her pupil along.

She, too, had come as she truly was: dressed in a black robe, cowl up as usual. She carried her two lightsabers—one up each sleeve—though only in case of emergencies. The Force would suffice in most scenarios, at least as far as the Jedi Temple Guard, which no doubt were guarding the path to the outpost, were concerned.

Alais was going to use this operation to bring another Exile into the fold. The thought mildly perturbed Rhea, who was beginning to feel as though the group was expanding too quickly. Unlike some of the others in the group, she did not see the need for an army, when they already had all that the needed (and had told them as much twice now). And, unlike Leviticus, who was, for some reason, timid around the girl, Rhea made her opinion known despite the male's presence.

"How many more do we intend to gather to us?" she asked the girl in a whisper, which sounded more like a hiss, as they made their approach. "This group is not the galaxy—there is only so much room. Prepare for an army, I think, for it seems many more will come in time. They will follow you because you are a leader—because their kind always needs such, even when the figure deserves no such obedience."

The girl would have a retort. Alais always had a retort. But Rhea was nothing if not blunt, and Alais knew as much. It was why—though things could often grow tense between them—the two dark women had grown rather fond of each other, though neither would admit it. It was a quiet admiration and both were happy to keep it that way, lest the other see it as a sign of weakness.

 

[Camila Shan]

Things had gone a little differently recently for Camila. Becoming reacquainted with a ghost from her past was not generally something that turned out well for her, but Kal finding her in that dive bar on Alderaan might have been the best thing to happen to her since the day Camila was found and taken to the Jedi. A young woman named Alais - and that's really all Camila knew of her - had managed to garner the attention of her old friend, and that fact alone had piqued Cami's interest.

If there was one thing she remembered about Kal, it's that he didn't waste his time with nobodies. This Alais person definitely didn't seem like a nobody.

She had followed Alais without much hesitation or questioning, Camila finding herself in the jungle somewhere. She had dressed for violence, wearing her usual armor covered by a dark overcloak. Her lightsabers were tucked neatly into the small of her back, well out of the way of prying eyes and potentially thieving Jedi. She had a vibroknife too, and her utility belt, but truth be told Camila sort of hoped they'd be spec ops enough that she'd get to put her bare hands on Jedi throats.

She stood quietly as Alais and another man had their small conversation, not caring enough to inquire about who Rhea was or anything of that nature. It was not Camila's place or prerogative to ask questions for the sake of asking. Anything she needed to know, she would be told. Otherwise, she would simply listen.

 

[Darth Kravos]

Why was Kal here? Well the answer was simple, he liked watching Rhea cringe and squirm when he was around. Although he was initially not going to accompany the group out into the forests, he'd made it after all once he finished up his previous job. Now, he was out here and met up with the rest of the group at what he would consider to be an opportune time. Mostly, it was opportune because no one was dying yet.

Quickly and quietly, he made his way through the foliage and out into the area with the rest.

Immediately, he recognized everyone in the group except the man who muttered silently next to Alais. Who was he? A question for later, maybe, but then there were a host of Exiles that Kal didn't know yet. The fact that their group seemed to be growing was a good sign at least.

 

[Dragen Wrexyl]

”Hmph,” was all that escaped from Dragen’s lips as he paced down the short, cyclopean stone corridors of the listening post. He hated guard duty, but such was the state of things that all able-bodied Jedi had to contribute in some way to the defense of their outposts. Devaron was a dreary little jungle planet, one which Dragen found some degree of solace in. The planet was teeming with life, and the sounds of the fauna in the distance put him strangely at ease.

He was clad in his typical ivory-white sleeveless cloak outfit, which he lovingly dubbed his Scapular Incorruptus, with only his arms protected by the dueling armor worn by many Jedi. It was light enough to allow for mobility without leaving him defenseless. On his waist hung both his lightsaber and a 4C blaster, both attached to a utility belt that contained the three grenades he typically wore on his person. His cloak had gotten dirtied from the environment, but the general look remained the same. The Alderaanian wiped the sweat from his brow as he headed towards the outskirts of the temple. It was time for the changing of the guard.

He passed by one of the silent temple guards, offering a curt nod in his passing. It was returned, the conversation being brief but enough. Another bead of sweat rolled off his nose and splattered on the stone beneath him, the humidity of the jungle his biggest concern as of now. It was such an unlikely place to attack, but nevertheless Dragen did his duty faithfully, personal feelings notwithstanding.

Leaving the outpost grounds, Dragen now entered the edge of the jungle, his eyes cautiously peering into the flora ahead. The dirt and twigs crunched gently beneath his bantha leather boots as he made his rounds. Finding nothing in the dense vegetation, Dragen made his way back up the stone steps and stood at the top of the staircase, turning to look back down on the jungle. He crossed his arms over his chest and reached out with the Force, feeling the life in the jungle for anything of concern.

Just another boring day on Devaron.

 

[Liam Valros]

Liam had traveled to the remote listening post in search of any information on the Exile he had been tracking. It was nearly impossible to track their members due to to the utter lack of organization among them.

"We found nothing. We are sorry, Knight Valros." The young woman said bowing slightly to him. "You have nothing to apologize for. I knew this was a long shot. The Force will lead me to the answers I seek." He said giving the woman a distracted smile.

What could be his next step? He was quickly running out of options and with each day the youngling grew harder and harder to find. The woman left, leaving Liam sitting in the room alone. He ran a hand through his hair letting out a frustrated sigh.

He stood, but sat back down and the Force washed over him. A deeply unsettling feeling came over him, sending chills down his spine. He shifted his Jedi Dueling Armor and felt for the comforting weight of his lightsaber hilt on his bet before exiting the room he had been waiting in.

Something was coming.

 

[Saeros]

From an open balcony on the Listening post, Saeros watched. The binocular-like vision typical of his species was an excellent perk in such a situation as this. He had tracked the movements of some Exiles to this planet, and it could only be assumed that an attack was imminent. And so, the Rishii waited until they came to him. Though the path through the forest was thick, Saeros could faintly make out the movements of newcomers. Below, close by, he nodded to Liam Valros (@Raydo) who had also been present at the disastrous Trial and the Convocation.

"I'ksherea tulien," <The evil ones are coming,> he murmured, continuing to watch. Another of their Order, Dragen Wrexyl, was patrolling close by as well. He double checked his armour and weapons, assured that they were on his person and he was ready for what he felt was impending doom. Saeros had the gut feeling that only by the will of the Force or some higher, devil power would he survive this day.

For the first time since the Tragedy of Ilum, Saeros was wearing his embroidered mask, regally etched with leaves and custom fit to his disk-like face. While offering no real protection, it was a constant reminder to him of the Light and gave him a slightly more intimidating look than usual.

 

[Vin]

Vin felt trapped, stuck in her tiny prison of a room. This wasn't what she had signed up for. Well to be honest she hadn't signed up for anything, but her outburst at the conclave had drawn attention to her actions on Jakku and some Jedi hadn't taken to nicely to her innocent slaying ways. As if she went around killing innocents on a daily basis. As renowned rapper Fanda-lore would say after each show, it had been a one time gig.

She cringed almost instantly at the thought. Murder wasn't something she should be joking about. At the end of the day it was a coping mechanism, hide her fear and insecurities behind her own stupidity and clumsiness. But deep down she knew she was just making things worse. The longer she pushed away dealing with this, the worse it would be. And she would, she knew she had to face her demons. The forest had taught her that you couldn't really run away form them, even someone like Fey had tried and failed.

But the point was that she was here as some form of punishment. Man a remote listening station and meditate. Well meditate she had, though even here she had not been able to bring herself to deal with her shit. Today was for sitting around in a cramped outpost and meditate, as always tomorrow would do for dealing with shit.

But she had decided to make the best of her punishment. She was here in the hopes of beginning building her lightsaber. At long last she had gathered most of the parts, all that was left was finding a crystal. She has spent the better part of the last two days locked away in her room assembling the blade. Tomorrow she would venture out for Christophsis in search of a crystal and completing the blade. All she had for now was a shell, a glorified glow stick that didn't even glow.

Satisfied with her work, she clipped the empty blade onto her belt, mirroring the training lightsaber that was clipped on the other side, and stepped out of her room. She felt an excitement at the prospect of finally building her blade. She had made it without one for far too long, the vribrosword and blaster she had scavenged years ago having served her well so far, but hopefully today would be the last day she would rely on them. Some dingus had once told her that manners maketh man, but lightsaber maketh Jedi. Being the gullible kid she was, she had believed him. Well she would soon know what it meant to be a Jedi.

 

[Nora Grazioso]

"I didn't droid-nap you." Nora told A-7 as he chirped in protest as they made their way down to the lower levels of the outpost, "I just need you to talk to the computer, tell it that I can have that clearance, and I will get you that upgrade that you've been bothering Liam about." she explained the plan again to the droid.

A-7 whistled something that Nora interpreted as doubt, "I absolutely can afford it, and its none of your business where I had gotten those credits." The chime of the lift alerted Nora that they had reached their desired floor and the Knight walked with the astromech, who whistled a tune nonchalantly as though they weren't up to anything. She smacked the back of its doom and in turn, the droid zapped Nora who let out a yelp of surprise by the act, but she critiqued herself, what did she expect. Reaching the terminal, she pointed to it and A-7 plugged in.

She stood guard, arms folded as she waited for the droid to work its computer magic; her eyes swept up and down the hall. She felt a slight impatience grow within her, finding it was taking longer than expected; Nora opened her mouth to say something to A-7, but paused, feeling a cold chill run down her spine. The Knight stood up straighter, and looked down at A-7 who noticed its human companion acting differently. Nora waived for him to continue and stretched out with the Force, closing her eyes and breathed, the disturbance was growing stronger.

Nora instructed A-7 to keep at it while she headed to the outpost's main entrance, exiting into the humidity of the jungle, her eyes sweeping along the forest line as she grabbed her staff from its sheath.

She felt a presence, familiar ones...and they weren't welcomed.

 

[Andraste]

Alais could only chuckle at Rhea’s words, “As many as will follow me,” She turned to meet her gaze, always finding the stinging words amusing, “As for following, you are here as well. Is that not why you plucked poor little me from the clutches of the Jedi?” Alais gave her a grin that had ice behind it. Siris would not recognize this demeanor in her, it was frosty and distant, as if she were almost a different person.

She remained silent as others began to arrive, noting Camila and then Kal. Her gaze on Kal lingered for a moment longer, though there was no change of expression on her face. Alais gazed ahead, “Let’s proceed,” She allowed the others to walk ahead, falling into step behind them. She felt that prickling at the back of her neck to let her know that they would run into trouble ahead, but she wasn’t privy to what kind.

It wasn’t long before they arrived, and she had taken routes that made them difficult to track. The forests provided excellent cover, and most within the group were experts at being discreet. Alais fell in with them, keeping her presence hidden. The walk to the temple had been without incident, and she expected as much.

Right away, Alais could spot a man (@Painus) standing outside atop some stone steps. She ensured she was positioned behind the others roughly above 20 meters away from the steps. She didn’t hesitate, letting the Force course through her as it rapidly coiled around the man. Alais immediately yanked him down towards the group of Exiles, intending to take him clear off the steps and send him flying down to crash to the ground. It would be the Force as he had never felt it, raw power surging to constrict around his torso to lift him up. She watched to see if he tried anything during the pull, ready to fling him in any direction accordingly. After the attempt, Alais kept the Force at the ready to throw up a barrier or help defend the others should any incoming attacks come.

 

[Siris Drast]

Siris heard the others enter, turning his gaze to find Kal and Camila enter. He gave them both a nod, not knowing either of them and wanting to skip introductions. He caught the grin that Alais flashed Rhea, devoid of warmth and different from what he was used too. He remembered what she told him to do at Alderann and he exhaled, already beginning to see the difference. He also noted the way her gaze lingered on the Exile, Kal. He ignored it, not needing petty details to be the reason he was killed.

With the go-ahead, anticipation flowed through Siris as he stood up and led the small group, silently traversing the flora of the planet. It provided perfect cover for them and seeing how the rest of them seem to have delt their hand in discretion before, the approach going smoothly without interruption. Siris took cover behind a large tree, peeking around a corner as he reached for his saber. He spotted the same man (@Painus) that Alais did and his hand lifted his saber off his belt, ready.

Siris built the force in his left arm as Alais sent the force to snake around the man and attempt to fling him towards the group. Siris stepped out slightly from the tree, using it as half cover for his right flank and sent the tendrils of the force to the man (@Painus) as well to assist Alais in yanking him off the steps. If everything went to plan, the man would soar through the sky and Siris would step out from the cover of the tree, his blade activated in his right hand before as he would slash towards the Jedi from Siris's left to his right, intending to cleave the man in half from his mid-torso before he could even touch the ground. And if it didn't work, Siris's blade would be in a ready position, ready to deflect any incoming fire.

 

[Rhea]

Rhea did not offer Alais a retort for her retort; they would have time to speak of this matter later, privately. Besides, other matters were more immediately pressing. She stretched out with her senses and perceived only danger ahead. The Jedi were on to them and, now, there was no way they were leaving Devaron without a fight—not that they intended it otherwise.

She backpedaled and fell into step behind Alais. The girl was her main concern. All the rest could perish gruesomely for all she cared, but the girl had to live and she would see to it that Alais did just that. She shadowed Alais until the girl spotted a man (@Painus) standing atop a flight of stone steps. Only then did she step out of Alais's shadow and behind a pair of thick trees two meters to the girl's right—blocking her from the sight of the man Alais then subsequently attacked, while allowing her to keep the girl in sight.

There, she opened herself up to the dark side and made her fear for the girl's safety a weapon to increase her connection to the Force. She built it up, allowing it to fill her veins with its icy chill, until she was a conduit of its dark power. For the moment, she kept this power contained within herself, waiting for the proper moment to unleash it. If Alais was attacked, she would throw up a Force barrier to defend her; if she was attacked, she would widen the scope of that barrier to include them both.

 

[Camila Shan]

True to form, it didn’t take long for her cohorts to isolate a foolish Jedi and attempt to eviscerate him. Not interested in whatever particular murderizing method they were using, Camila pressed forward slightly, crouching in the thick underbrush.

In her heart Camila was a predator and it didn’t take but a moment to acquire prey. While she herself would still be relatively concealed - the dark tones of her clothing blending well with the foliage - Camila spotted a second person just as they were exiting the main entrance to the encampment.

“Be ready.” The words would whisp across the mind of Kal(@Phoenix) and be gone just as quickly as Cami drew in her focus and the force filled her.

Reaching out with both her hands, Camila put a great deal of her concentration into her action. The woman outside (@GABA Ren) would feel in the same moment her ankles and her wrists gripped by the force. Camila would pull Nora’s legs outward like she was doing the splits to hopefully prevent her from bracing against the strong force pull that would come directly after.

She pulled Nora towards her, and everyone else. If Kal was who Camila thought he was, he would know what to do.

 

[Darth Kravos]

The forest was just a lovely place to be, and it offered the Exiles a moderate amount of concealment as they moved forward. Kal had his saber hilt and pistol in hand as he approached the area, several meters to Siris' side to allow him maneuverability and a few meters in front of Alais and Rhea. He saw Camilla take to the bushes and didn't ask questions. She had been a shadow once, and he could guess well enough at how she preferred to fight.

All he did was give a quiet nod at the admonition to be ready, and his saber leapt to life as he looked to Nora (@GABA Ren). The Force drew to him, pouring into his body and bending to his will as he stood before her. She was once an ally in the Jedi, but he had put that life behind him. He was given to the Dark Side and all of its ways, and perhaps ending her would be one of his true steps to fully emerge himself. Whatever flickers of self-doubt were quickly stamped out as he stood in front of her, drawing her attention to him.

This is the end, he said without a quiver or hesitation in his voice. He was ready if she tried to attack, but he knew his ally was in the bushes nearby as well. The Jedi were a blight on the galaxy as much as the Exiles, and he only regretted that it took him so long to see it. There would be no peace as long as they were alive.

As he distracted her, Camila had the opportunity to reach out with the Force and Kal raised his pistol to fire a trio of shots, letting the recoil carry the shots up from the groin to the chest and finally the head as she flew through the air. His saber was ready and his mind was alert to his surroundings in case their allies materialized out of the air. @Painus

 

[Dragen Wrexyl]

Something wasn’t right.

Dragen abruptly opened his eyes, having spent some time scouring the forest through the Force. There was a heavily-concentrated pocket of malignance very close nearby, something which he had not felt since his time being stationed on Devaron. There was something – or a group of somethings – moving towards them. They were close, so it was difficult to discern the nature of the threat, but it was a distinct evil that stalked this jungle.

Traitors.

Dragen gripped his lightsaber and peered into the vegetation ahead. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nora – a fellow Knight – exiting the outpost’s main entrance. He knew he was not alone out here, which offered him some degree of comfort, but the air was noticeably tenser now than before. The jungle was unnervingly silent, a disturbance he hadn’t noticed at first.

”Do you feel tha-“ was all he had managed to get out until he was suddenly and violently jerked off of his feet, the rest of his sentence being interrupted by an alarmed shout. He flew through the air, momentarily stunned, until his eyes found the crimson blade ignited in the forest. Igniting his own lightsaber, the blade suffusing him in a gentle blue light, Dragen twisted his body midair – as he had quite a ways to fly – and positioned himself to block the incoming upward slash.

Dragen brought his own lightsaber down diagonally, counter to Siris’ (@Orbit). The two weapons collided and Dragen landed on the dirt of the jungle floor, his heart pounding. In the open, the view of Dragen’s clash could be see unobstructed by the foliage. He bounced backward with his lead foot, not crossing his feet, farther into the open and closer towards the temple.

Adopting a wider stance, Dragen lowered his weapon, keeping the hilt near but off to the side in front of his hip joint. His left foot was in the lead, toes toward Siris, with his right foot pointing nearly 90 degrees to the right. His knees were lightly bent and he rested on the balls of his feet. The point of his lightsaber was pointed thirty degrees skyward, the tip aimed at Siris’ throat. His right hand gripped near the top of his hilt, while his left was placed near the pommel for stability and leverage. This stance afforded Dragen good protection.

The duel was on. He really hoped the others would come.

@Raydo

 

[Nora Grazioso]

The Force had shivered as Nora drew its power to her, opening herself to it's will the warmth of it's light chasing away the cold. The forest was unsettling silent, no birds or creatures were making their calls and to Nora she knew for certain someone was out there. The Jedi in front of Nora spoke, stating instead of feeling. However, his observation was cut short as he was yanked from his spot, letting out a holler of surprise as he was pulled to the forest line. Nora leaped off the stairs after him, unknowingly out of the grasp of a dark siders attempt to subdue her. She felt the chill of the dark side under her feet as landed on the earthen floor in front of the stairs, her eyes shooting back to the forest in time to see Kal ignite his lightsaber.

Nora heard the Outpost guards sound the alarm as they also spotted the Intruders.

She turned to fully face the former Shadow, two hands on her staff and she eyed his other hand that held his blaster; Nora frowned but her brow furrowed as she looked him dead in the eye, her gaze hardening."For someone who ran from the Jedi, you are awfully eager to come back."

With a swift twist of her wrist, she released her hilt from the staff and ignited her blade, pointing it to Kal as she closed the distance between them. She could feel another near Kal, "C'mon then," she taunted, "Show me how this path is so much better for Kal Vox."

 

[Vin]

Vin stopped in her tracks as the alarms sounded. If you could call it an alarm. For all it's glamour as an outpost, the most archaic element of the temple was this supposed alarm, which was actually a really large and really loud horn. It was stupid, but it was a tradition, and she had learned early on in her tutelage under Fey that the Jedi did a lot of stupid things in the name of tradition.

Words the Jedi in charge of the outpost had told her on her first day here started echoing in her as the horn blew a second time. One blast, Jedi returning from a scouting mission. Two blasts, danger, most probably wild animals. Three blasts, Exiles approaching. As if on cue the horn blasted a third time.

Vin just stood there for a moment, wondering if she had really heard three blasts, but as she opened herself to the Force she sensed something. Not the dark side, not any exile malevolence, the Force didn't work like that unfortunately. What she sensed was a familiar presence, one she could almost put her finger to but not quiet.

Letting her curiosity guide her steps, she ran out onto another balcony, one much lower than the one Saeros was perched on. By the time she had made it outside her companions were already engaged in combat, she saw Dragen get pulled away from the steps though her eyes weren't drawn to them. She almost didn't notice what was happening to them, for she had finally identified the presence. Alais. (@Sreeya)

Her eyes locked at the patch of the woods where two of the the Exiles stood, one of whom she recognized in the far reaches of her mind to be Kal (@Phoenix), and by extension where she expected Alais to be. Acting almost on autopilot, she jumped off the balcony and landed on the steps below, the Force cushioning her landing. Even as Dragen was engaging the exile, and without reeky thinking about it, she pulled out her blaster and raised it in front of her, aiming as much with the Force as with her eyes. Before she realized what she was doing she had fired off three shots with her blaster, aimed in the general direction of where she thought Alais was.

It was only then that she realized what she had done and stopped. She had thought what she would do when she met Alais again, someone who till recently considered a friend. Shooting at her hadn't been anywhere near on that list.

 

[Saeros]

Knowing he was of no use up on the balcony, Saeros dove off of it and glided down toward Dragen's position to warn him of what the Rishii could sense. Even as he closed the distance, the Knight was ripped off his feet by the unseen energy and pulled towards the treeline. Still mid-flight, Saeros continued gliding while traveling at the same speed Dragen was pulled. Behold, an Exile (@Orbit) had made his appearance and ignited his lightsaber. Even as the man (@Orbit) swung his blade, Saeros landed to Dragen's right, digging his sharp talons into the ground. Simultaneously drawing Aranrúth in his left "hand" and his 4C blaster in his right, Saeros quickly shot twice at the Exile's completely exposed left flank — riding the recoil, from chest to head. Being fully occupied with swinging his blade and having it blocked by the blue saber, Siris would be unable to deflect it with his own lightsaber.

Saeros lowered his gun and having already positioned Aranrúth in a defensive point, he also drew the Force inside himself in preparation for a further attack. Though he fully intended on stopping these Exiles, he felt no hatred against them. All was calm determination and resolve. ⁝⁝ Emotion, yet peace. ⁝⁝ The Dark Side was powerful, but the Light was stronger.

 

[Liam Valros]

The feeling of unease only grew stronger and stronger. He had to find Nora. He knew she was talking to A-7 earlier ok their ship so he made his way outside the main entrance. As he exited, he spotted Dragen get pulled down to the forest floor and Nora follow after.

Using the Force to give him speed and agility, Liam took off down the stairs, lightsaber igniting, after the pair. He reached the bottom just after Nora. He held his blade in a defensive manner as he moved to Nora's right. He stayed close enough to offer aid if needed, but not so close they were on top of another.

Moving closer, Liam continued to circle around to the right. He had taken count of enemies absentmindedly, he believed there was someone in the treeline just behind Kal, but for now his focus remained on the Fallen Jedi Master.