Ask Making Enemies

[Darth Arcanos]

Instead of the pat on the back Vander was likely expecting, he would instead hear a feminine shriek behind him, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” The voice cried out. As the shista-idkhowtospellthis started to hobble away, Azar sprang to his feet. He gently pushed Vander out of the way and bolted after the assailant, coiling the Force around the wolf’s feet to make him trip.

“Why the hell were you attacking us?” Azar asked exasperated, “We seek the Forgotten Lord!” He hissed, “Don’t you get it? We wish to see Arcanos and Tempest destroyed.”

The wolf struggled at first and then stared vacantly at Azar in his disguised form. Technically the henchman’s mission log detailed a male Pureblood and this was definitely not that. And there was no ‘accomplice’ to speak of. Were these really two additional initiates to join the cause?

“You just took us by surprise, okay?” Azar said, breathing heavily as if calming down, “We are on the same side.”

“They will make you prove it,” The Shistavanen choked out, nursing a saber wound.

“And we will,” Azar said firmly, nodding, “Just take us with you.”

He didn’t look back at Vander and hoped against hope the Champion would simply play along. The other man would quickly realize that Azar had a very different method of operating than simply going in sabers blazing.

 

[Vander]

Vander really shouldn't have been expecting a "good job" and silently reprimanded himself for even looking for it. The only person you could rely on was yourself.

Arcanos leapt after the wolf-man and tripped him, nearly knocking Vander over as he pursued. Vander was quite sure the Sith Lord could handle himself, and so he turned his attention to making sure there were no other unseen assailants.

The Sith Lord seemed to be selling wolf-man on it, and Vander couldn't help but wonder if he was using a mind trick - albeit a subtle one - to influence the man's thoughts. It was said that the most powerful Force users could manipulate in subtle ways that were almost undetectable, and Vander had very much chalked Arcanos into the "consider him very dangerous and don't underestimate" category.

Wolfman seemed skeptical still, but lowered his lightsaber, and Vander did the same. While talking his way into and out of situations wasn't his go-to, he was at least smart and adaptable enough to recognize an opportunity when he saw one.

Yeah, Darth Arcanos actually choked me once for trying to help, he added, just "playing along." To his credit, he delivered the statement deadpan and really resisted the urge to shoot a sideways glance over at Arcanos.

I mean, granted, who was going to suspect a Zeltron lady? Vander certainly wouldn't have and the wolfman didn't seem to either.

He led them out of the building and down an alley toward a small manhole. Much to Vander's relief it didn't smell like sewage within, which was weird. It spoke to something larger at work: the fact that this was not what it seemed.

A glance back told Vander that Azar's Zeltron lady form was going to look a little more than "out of place" climbing into any kind of manhole, but the sooner they were out of the streets and down below, the sooner they wouldn't have anyone asking questions.

No time like the present, he thought to himself, grabbing onto the ladder and beginning the climb down.

Oh we're in it deep now, was his first thought as he looked at what was down here. Cameras lined the tunnel with droids wandering about and even a few autoturrets in the far corners. It was bordering on a fortress, and would no doubt be a nightmare if things went sideways.

This way. Don't stray to the sides, he said, not explaining why they shouldn't "stray to the sides" as Vander looked off to the sides of their passage. Mines? Just getting shot? Other security? he pondered, hating everything about this. He shoved all the tension down inside of himself, and only Arcanos would be able to sense that this seemed to grind against his entire inner being.

The chalice of loyalty, the wolfman said, picking up a cup filled with unknown liquid - and Vander and unknown liquids were not on the best of terms - that the Sith assassin guessed was a truth serum. He really hoped Arcanos had a trick for this one.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Ladyzar nodded along, “Yes, Arcanos and his standards are just too high. Us shoot first and ask questions later type Sith have no chance..” He lamented as an underhanded quip right back at Vander while giving him a mock sympathetic look. Azar’s petty levels were the stuff of legends.

“Eww, what?” Some of his real personality came out as they were faced with going down through a manhole. Never mind that the term itself always sounded unsettling to Azar, but really? He crossed his arms over his chest, grimacing profoundly at the thought of going down into a sewer. In fact, he almost thought of dropping the disguise and consuming the wolf through the Force and getting another puzzle piece. However, Vander was also apprehensive and seemed to be satisfied after doing a sniff test.

With a sigh, Ladyzar turned to Vander, “Hold these,” He said, handing Vander his girly heels. They wouldn’t work with the steep ladder. He slowly climbed down, horrified to be doing it barefoot, but at least it wouldn’t ruin the shoes. The logic would never make sense to anyone. Azar snatched his heels back and replaced them once they were down below.

As they walked, Azar felt Vander’s overwhelming sense of discomfort wash over him. After a few moments of walking, he turned to glare at the Champion, whispering angrily, “Will you stop being so…loud?” He gestured the last word while waving his hands about theatrically.

Azar’s eyes narrowed at the caution about the sides, “Why, is it all shit?”

“Yes.”

He remained silent after that, scowling as if this was all Vander’s fault. After they arrived and the wolfman drew up the chalice and offered it to them, the Pureblood glared at it. He sniffed tentatively at the chalice.

“How do we know this isn’t poison?”

The wolfman sighed, “Why would I waste all this time hauling you both here WITH AN INJURED ARM when I coulda killed you by now?”

“I mean… could you though? My friend here had you on the run,” As Azar spoke, his hand discreetly hovered over the chalice, “We need to know this is the real deal!” The Force subtly worked on the liquid, Azar tapping into his innate knowledge to alter the very chemistry of what was in the chalice to become as base as possible.

The wolfman grinned a toothy grin, “That was up there. Down here you and your little boyfriend will get torn to shreds if you try anything funny. Now drink.”

Azar sighed and took a drink, handing it to Vander. Whatever came next would have to rely on them both doing some stellar improv acting because the chalice was basically water.

 

[Vander]

Vander's nose scrunched up slightly in a snarky face as Ladyzar commented on "shoot first and ask questions later." That's not even true, he internally grumbled.

As Ladyzar shoved the heels across at him, he squinted slightly, nearly commenting about how little sense that made not only because then your feet get dirty but also that your dirty feet then get put back in the shoes, ruining them anyway. In the end, though, he just shook his head slightly and went along with it. Wasn't like it was his shoes. Not his style anyway.

As Azar asked him to stop being so loud, he just looked at him with a face that very much said he had absolutely not idea what Azar was talking about

What? he whispered back, having no idea that his discomfort was so apparent to Ladyzar.

At the end of the day, though, they managed to make it to the spooky chalice that reminded him of something that was going to make him wither away if he took a sip from it.

Vander's skin was crawling and he wasn't sure if it was the sewage, foreign liquid, or all the enemies around him. And the cameras. And the autoturrets. Sure, Vander was a nobody, but this went against all the training he had ever received. Maybe there was a small blessing to being a nobody. But if he weren't a nobody then he could just squish people.

Power fantasies aside, he started trying to count how many enemies he saw: droids, other Sith, and anything else that could kill him. He'd spotted five combat-capable people so far and... maybe another half-dozen support droids.

Eventually, his eyes flicked back to the chalice a moment later and Ladyzar just... went for it. Like downed more than Vander would have expected. Maybe it tasted like strawberry or something. Knowing Azar - which of course Vander didn't at all - he guessed the Sith Lord probably didn't like strawberry or something.

Well... Pinkie drank it so either it was now okay to drink or Pinkie knew some trick for not being poisoned. He didn't see anything in those bright, vibrant green eyes that was telling him not to actually drink it, so he gave another flicked glance back at those eyes and then took a sip.

He handed it back to wolfman and glanced over to Ladyzar, not feeling any effect, which was probably good, but he also had no idea how he was supposed to be acting. Acting... wasn't really his forte.

Alright, now let's hear what you really think about Arcanos and Tempest. And a little about your history. Both of you. I'd guess you're the stabbing type... he said pointing to Vander ...and you're the seducing type. Brain and brawn, the man said, and Vander just scowled at the rude assumptions.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Vander’s excessive panicking really was a buzzkill. He weighed his options on what would happen if he just killed Vander. Wouldn’t that make him look devoted to the cause? Wait no, that would just be random. Vander was a nobody and it wasn’t even a flex. Plus, Azar couldn’t deny the Champion was quite handy with those sabers. Vander’s anxiety was like having a mosquito constantly lingering around Azar’s ear. He gritted his teeth and played the role, purposely stomping on Vander’s foot with his heel at one point just to divert his angst in a new direction.

Vander would notice that Azar had a vacant look on his face since chugging the liquid. It was Vander’s cue to look the same - dazed and as if in a trance. Shouldn't be too difficult for a man that hardly used his brains, thought Azar, 'Look like someone asked you how to brew a paralysis potion,' Azar telepathically suggested to Vander in case he remained confused. When wolf asked his question, a few seconds passed.

“Tempest has all but faded into dust…Arcanos grows as a threat but he is misguided. He cannot lead the Sith Order to glory because he has ambitions of his own,” Ladyzar spoke in a slow, monotonous voice, “Only the Forgotten Lord understands. Only the Forgotten Lord can bring the teachings of old and new together to bring the Sith Empire to new heights of power.”

Whether Vander picked up on it or not, Azar purposely directed the conversation away from Arcanos and Tempest and more towards fluffing up this Forgotten Lord and guessing at his ambitions. He took the approach of being a blind devotee to where Arcanos and Tempest hardly registered. It was only about the Forgotten Lord.

Wolf rubbed his chin in thought, “Wow…you really are devoted..” He mused, actually impressed, “We are a coven of assassins that follow His Holiness Occidius to eliminate his rivals. With Darth Raze gone, we rise again to strike at the lesser threats-”

“Excuse me, lesser?” A highly offended Ladyzar began to break character so Vander would have to be the one to nudge him to shut up. Azar cleared his throat and returned to his vacant face.

The wolf narrowed his eyes but thought nothing of it, “Come, let me guide you to the chamber of the disciples. You will begin initiation and training to prepare for the coming war. Tempest and Arcanos have formidable powerbases and they must both fall at once.”

 

[Vander]

Vander's eyes went wide as he felt a sharp heel slam down on his foot, shooting an enraged gaze back to Arcanos and in his current state it was almost possible to forget that it was a Sith Lord who he really shouldn't be hitting. He wanted to.

Maybe it was a good thing that everyone thought Vander was dumb, and he tried not to let it bother him too much. Nope, wasn't bothering him at all.

He stared ahead blankly, vaguely mimicking Azar's own empty gaze but actually listening quite closely out of curiosity at Azar's own impression of himself.

Occidius and Raze. Tempest and Arcanos. Kriff, you stepped out of your league didn't you, Vander, he thought to himself. He wasn't a Sith Lord. He was a good fighter and a skilled assassin, but he wasn't even a Master let alone a Sith Lord.

Yes, well with Raze and Tempest both gone, things should be quite open to takeover, he said, though in this case Vander was as much talking about Arcanos taking over as Occidius. He was smart enough to see the writing on the wall.

Wouldn't you agree? he said, looking over at his Zeltron "friend."

The wolfman started leading them down the halls and into a small dorm room.

The new initiation ritual should be starting soon, he said, arriving at a room that was large and looked old. Carved out of stone a trio of other "initiates" sat on uncomfortable-looking stone benches in the center of the room.

At the other end of the room was a series of small stone steps leading up to a slightly raised platform on which a throne sat with a trio of other Sith-looking figures sitting on a smaller set of platforms right in front of it.

The man who sat in the "throne" was aging but still had the build of a man who could break a log in half with his bare hands. A long, gray beard and long hair fell over his armor that seemed to cover him from the neck down.

His eyes were serious, appraising each of the newcomers in turn but saying nothing.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar was disappointed that the man sitting on the throne was not Occidius himself, but he wasn’t entirely surprised. Occidius sounded far too prissy to be sitting around in a sewer. If it wasn’t for morbid curiosity, Azar wouldn’t have gone to such lengths himself to be here. However, he wanted to eradicate this enemy root and stem.

One of the female figures stepped forth, “We stand tonight upon a precipice,” She said, “The eve to herald the dawn of a new era. One that sees our Forgotten Lord returned. Long has he stayed in the shadows and through the failures and deceits of false Sith. He existed before Raze and Andruil and he exists after them,” The woman paused, “You drank from the waters. Now prove your commitment through flesh. Take the dagger and submit your ring finger as a show of your permanent commitment and devotion only to our Forgotten Lord!”

Azar watched the other initiates take up the daggers and prepare to do just that almost in a daze. Whatever was in the chalice was exceptionally powerful. He scoffed at the sight, speaking to Vander telepathically, ‘I believe - what do they call it? - the gig is up’ His voice echoed dryly. No one was going to make Azar cut off one of his precious few fingers.

Without warning, the daggers were abruptly thrown across the room and at the figures assembled. The woman that was speaking was stabbed across multiple places throughout her torso but the man sitting on the throne was quick enough to put up a barrier and protect himself and the others. The simple gesture actually took Azar by surprise - perhaps this wouldn’t be such a simple battle.

 

[Vander]

Vander's jaw was clenched almost without realizing it. This whole place put him on edge as had been thoroughly established already, and he had to actively keep himself from reaching back to absentmindedly tap his lightsaber.

Things didn't get better from there either, and as he watched what unfolded, his brain started to do that thing where it ran through a list of targets and the best order to kill them in. He had no desire to lose a finger and even then... who knew how they would use that finger to manipulate their disciples later on. Hard pass.

The drinkers were clearly in a daze, which he guessed meant that their reflexes and maybe even their connection to the Force was diminished. They would be the least threatening and arguably not even worth considering in an engagement at the moment.

Of course, the trio on the stage were the biggest threat posing themselves to him and he was sure he could take one of them, maybe even two, but certainly didn't like his odds against all three.

Then finally there was Old Grey Beard. If Vander had to guess, that guy was going to be out of his league.

Vander just gave a subtle nod as Azar's voice rang out in his head. And just like that, the fight was on.

Vander's saber burst to life, launching past the woman now choking on her own blood after Azar's strike, everyone here except perhaps Old Grey Beard seeming to be momentarily stunned that this Zeltron woman no one had ever seen before was suddenly pulsing with so much power. It was... impressive, Vander had to admit, and although he had already seen it in the containment of the explosives, it was still something that seemed to strike him in his core. It was powerful.

He didn't let it keep him from his attack, though, launching a blow at one of the women that was narrowly blocked as her own lightsaber burst to life, but her form was sloppy and left her open on her right. He released the second saber, bursting to life and cleaving right through her chest, which left only the druggies and the single other woman... plus Old Grey Beard, of course.

He had seemingly batted away Azar's attack with surprising ease, his eyes practically glowing with rage and indignation.

You insolent child, the man hissed at Azar. You will see the glory of our lord, and he was crush you, the man said and... instead of attacking, he did that classic bad guy thing and slipped down a hatch next to his throne, seeming to slide away to some deeper and unknown layer of this place. Had he... really made himself an escape hatch in the sewers?

 

[Darth Arcanos]

“God dammit! I hate when cliches happen in real life!” Azar shrieked in his Zeltron female voice, actually stomping his foot in his irritation when Old Grey Beard slipped out of sight. He had a feeling it wouldn’t be simple to track him. He turned to Vander, “Kill the recruits,” He ordered the Champion, focusing his own attention on the single woman left.

"Wait..what did we do?" One of the recruits mumbled unhappily from the back, "I thought this was a cosplay club.."

Without warning, the woman Azar addressed was sent sailing back to slam into a wall, suspended several feet into the air. Azar slowly approached her, “Tell me where he went and I won’t go looking for that information in your head,” He said using the Force to finally let his disguise slip. Vander would be treated to the odd sight of Azar suddenly standing in heels, but it was far from the weirdest thing that happened thus far.

The woman gasped at the reveal, “It’s you!”

“Where did he go? Where is Occidius?” Azar asked.

The woman chewed on something in her mouth before Azar could start extracting details from her head. He could tell what was happening, and he gave a frustrated growl. Instead, he used the Force to crack multiple bones in her body and cause unimaginable pain for the last moments before the poison she chewed took her. Out of sheer spite, he watched her squirm and suffer before she landed in a heap on the ground.

Azar stepped back, fixed his hair and exhaled to calm himself. He cast a sideways glance at Vander, “Are you done playing over there? We have another dead end, it appears,” He said moodily.

 

[Vander]

Vander glanced over at what could only really be described as a "shriek" from Azar. It was... strange. Not that Vander knew the Sith Lord... well, at all, but he didn't really... fit what Vander expected from a Sith Lord and it was only amplified more by the fact that he was now a Zeltron woman.

He might have lingered more on it if he had had time, but he didn't, his mind shaken out of his thought by the order from the Sith Lord. Yeah, Zeltron woman more not, he wasn't going to do anything to step out of line.

Understood, he said. It made sense to him: they had signed up for this and that made them the enemy. Add to that they were stupid enough to actually let themselves drink that swill and it didn't speak highly of their intelligence and wisdom.

He moved through with cool precision, saber flicking with minimal movement until all the drug-addled people were lying dead on the ground.

When he looked back again it was suddenly Arcanos again, and although it was indeed not the weirdest thing that had happened, it still made Vander do a quick head shake and double take.

Ah yes, and then there was the bone-crunching and another quick and decisive reminder of just how close to the edge of oblivion the Sith assassin now walked. Mind the step, he told himself.

The anger of the Sith Lord was almost palpable in the air and Vander... didn't make his way over. There were those moments in life where you just went to yourself "yeah, maybe I'll stay on this side of the room."

Still, he was no stranger to having to track his targets, and this was suddenly all very within his wheelhouse again. He made his way quickly over to the dead trio that had been on the dais, deciding that it was most likely that they would have some information over any of the useless recruits.

He started pawing through their belongings, finding a mixture of mostly useless items like knives, jewelry, and some ciagarras and gum that he left behind and a few possible useful things that he still pocketed nonetheless in case they needed them later: IDs, some cash, a couple of keys that he had no idea what they went to, and a vial of poison.

He opened the vial and sniffed it, noting that it was without any odor before closing it and setting it aside of Arcanos. Vander knew a bit about poisons, but he was no alchemist and wondered if Arcanos might have something more useful to say about it.

There's a vial of what I assume is poison here. Not sure if it's alchemical or not, he said. On examination, Azar would find that the vial indeed was alchemical, and required exceedingly rare ingredients that could only be found among certain desert tribes of the Purebloods. Had Occidius managed to convert some disgruntled followers on Korriban? Was it just black market trading? Questions that needed answering.