Ask Pirates, beware! Here be...

[Tiye Kahina]

Outer Rim, Coordinates Unknown ​

This…was a mistake. One that Jedi Knight Kahina may yet live to regret; admittedly, on this (rare) occasion, she had acted rather recklessly. Her sole objective was to gather information, not launch herself into the very thick of peril. What would the masters think of this? Force, forgive her…But these were dire times, and there were innocents at risk.

If given the choice, Tiye would have likely made the same decision.

Getting captured was truly the easiest option, even if it meant being confined to a dank and dower cell. Hapan heritage be damned, Tiye could hardly see a thing thanks to the dull lighting. Perhaps it was for the best. There was scuttling all about her, vermin most likely, situated in the very walls that detained her. That in itself was a small blessing. After all, it could always be worse…the pests could be inside the cell with her.

Force, how long had it been? Surely days by now. Days of isolation, with only the occasional scrap of food thrown her way. But this did confirm Tiye’s initial thoughts. The pirates wanted her alive. In fact, they were going to great lengths to ensure all of their ‘precious cargo’ stayed alive, just long enough to be trafficked off somewhere else.

The children…how terrified they must be right now. The very thought steeled her resolve. She was right to be here. Someone had to help.

Yet, Tiye’s lengthy imprisonment did confirm yet another suspicion; there was no pirate base, at least, no sedentary one. It appears these pirates were constantly on the move. No wonder authorities hadn’t been able to locate it; this whole thing was a completely mobile operation. Snatch and steal, then duck and run. Rinse and repeat till the pirates were ready to sell off their ill-gotten goods.

Force-sensitives.

Tiye dreaded to think where they’d all end up. One thing was for certain, she didn’t plan on finding out. Soon, she would make her move…soon.

But there was one small problem. A rather unsettling one. Her connection to the force, it was…wavering? No, that wasn’t it. More like it fluctuated, fading in and out as if afflicted. She’d never experienced such a thing, nor could she determine the cause. Meditation didn’t help either. This would complicate matters, but still, there was hope. All she needed was an opening, a chance.

Force willing, that opportunity would soon present itself.

@Charles

 

[Hardy Wren]

Pirates were a disease that plagued the galaxy, which was why Hardy Wren had no problem taking bounties on such devilish souls. A favorite tactic of the Death Watch was allowing their targets to feel in power. Then, with a quick and decisive blow, their targets became overwhelmed with doom and dread, which would result in the crippling of their entire society if done proficiently. That was what Hardy was keen on preforming today.

After being escorted into his cell, the large man immediately noticed his cell-mate but did not do so much as glare at her before the cell door slammed shut behind him. While the pirates had been walking him through various corridors and hallways, the big man got a good lay of land he was going to ravage. Directly above the dungeon were the guard barracks which were good and bad for business all together.

If Hardy could grab his things along with maybe a few of the pirates' gear, he could smash his way into the kitchen and lounging area. However, the barracks were going to be more than likely filled with armed guards as well as the rets of the dungeons. Stealth and silence was going to be a key component to the gran escape and quick decimation.

The woman he was supposed to be sharing a bed with looked exhausted and fatigued. How long has she been here? Why did they take her? She was so young- yet a familiar fire burned in her eyes that Hardy knew all to well. Empathy touched the terrorist's heart as he gazed at her with a much softer expression. She reminded him of himself when was just a boy growing up in Mandalore's most secure prison.

"Can you walk, madam?" Hardy crouched so she could be eye to eye with him.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Tiye Kahina]

The thumping of footsteps quickly drew Tiye's notice. The pirates usually patrolled alone. Why were there so many now? She quickly got her answer when all movements came to a halt and the thick cell door swung open. The brief flood of light would have blinded her, had the man's hulking great frame not obscured most of the doorway. She could barely get a glimpse of him before they were both locked in.

Tiye wasn’t quite sure what to expect. In situations such as these, people could be unpredictable. They might panic and wail, decrying fate for such a cruel twist. Yet the stranger did none of this. Instead, he spoke with her, calm as anything.

She could only stare, uncertain where exactly to direct her gaze. Her eyes squinted once and then again, but still, all she could see were shadows and darkness. If his eyesight was better than hers, he might assume she was as good as blind.

"I…can manage." The reply wasn’t all that convincing. Admittedly, Tiye was sore all over, but Jedi’s first concern was that of others. "Are you hurt?"

Pirates only got rough when cargo resisted. For now, playing placid for the safest option.

@Charles

 

[Hardy Wren]

So the woman could speak. She didn't sound like she could manage, but Hardy wasn't going to challenge her pride. Then, like the angel she was, she asked if the terrorist was hurt. Hardy only chuckled, taking a seat against the wall by the cell door. "If you can manage, then I am in perfect condition." Hardy replied. There were a few bruises here and there, but it wasn't anything he couldn't deal with.

"Why did they take you?" He inquired. If these pirates were slavers...Their quick deaths would be considered a heavy mercy. No one deserved to be exterminated more than slave traffickers. "I am here...on a business venture, so it would seem." Hardy chuckled again. He only needed to wait just a few more minutes for the guards to finish their patrol and go upstairs to eat. Then, it would the terrorist's turn to deliver the bruises.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Tiye Kahina]

Tiye hesitated. She had been told often to exercise caution when acting as a Jedi; not everyone appreciated the Order's efforts. They had enemies, most assuredly. Enemies who would gladly boast about killing a Jedi. Though new to the outer galaxy, Tiye was no stranger to the way of things. Like a game of pazaak, it was best not to show your hand.

Still, lying did not come easy to someone like Tiye. Complete dishonesty would only breed distrust, so she decided to offer up half the truth as it was better than nothing. "The pirates, they attacked a village and took some of the children. I tried to stop them and ended up getting taken myself."

The Hapan hybrid remembered all too well how much of a mess the whole affair was. She had arrived at the village with another of her Jedi companions; they had originally been summoned to offer aid but instead found themselves caught up in one of the pirates' many raids. Her fellow knight had escaped, taking with them some of the intended victims but still, some were captured...

"Some hero I am." Tiye was being hard on herself, and rightly so. A Jedi knight should know better, should do better. She still had a long way to go in making a difference.

Here, she determined, would be the perfect place to start. she would rescue those children, and also bring some justice down on these cretins. "They're going to sell us. I heard them during one of their patrols; they were pricing up everyone as cargo."

They mentioned the force too, but Tiye couldn't hear all that was said. Was that the true reason for all this, to scourge and sell force sensitives? Why? And to who? Questions she would ask later, when finally free from this cell.

Hearing his comments did make Tiye smile. Even in this dire strait, she could appreciate some humor. "Oh, a business venture? My apologies, but you don't exactly strike me as an everyday man of business." The man just had an air about him, one even Tiye could note. "...You're going to fight them, aren't you?"

@Charles

 

[Hardy Wren]

Ah, so the pirates had children held here too. All the more reason to punish these insolent Dar'manda. Hardy wondered how many of the villagers were simply killed to make up for cargo space. Children were small and vulnerable- to do something so horrendous and heartlessly so, was a crime punishable by death on most systems. Unbeknownst to them, their executioner had already arrived.

"Many believe as you do- but all will be made known in time." Hardy stood up and placed both hands on the cell door. The guards would be finishing up their patrol by now, which meant Hardy all the time in the world to sense where the weakest point of the door was. Just as he had done in the supermax prison back on Coruscant. Eventually, he did just that. So, he gathered the Force into his body and made a fist with one of his hand. It was quick and surprisingly quiet. But the lock on the door was busted open. With a small push, the door swung open. Freedom at last.

"I have every intention of fighting them. They have made an enemy of Death Watch- they shall pay for their transgression with their own blood." A new plan began formulating in his head. If their were children locked up, then Hardy was going to pave a way for their escape. "Go find the little ones. I will be creating a distraction. While all eyes are on me, take what is yours and leave." Hardy instructed. He made his way down the corridor to the spiral staircase that would take him to the barracks. Fire was brewing, and it came from Hell. No one would see mercy on this day.

No one...

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Tiye Kahina]

What a confounding man. Speaking wisdom one moment and then making threats the next. You certainly wouldn’t see someone like him living amongst the Jedi. Which begs the question, how was he able to manipulate the force? Untrained ability was one thing, but in a single moment, he had rendered the cell door moot.

Did he…use the force to augment his strength? She’d never seen it done before, at least, not in that manner.

Admiration aside, it appeared now was the time to move. Tiye trusted in the force and it had delivered; with no better opportunity, she moved out of the cell to gather her bearings. The whole hallway was full of cells and (understandably) as soon as they were free, others began rooting for the same liberty. The hollering became so loud, Tiye could hardly think. The thought of leaving the stranger made her anxious; could one man really handle all those pirates, alone? If able, she may return and lend him further aid.

Then it dawned on her, one crucial thing. She never got his name.

By the time Tiye turned back to face him, the warrior was already on his way. She bid him a simple thanks, and prayed “May the force be with you.”

It was doubtful he heard her though, given the bedlam brewing about the ship. But with her ‘new friend’ on a rampage, Tiye was quick to make work of the cells, unlocking each and every one of them as she passed by in search of the children. She did her best to direct the masses of captives back, hoping to keep them out of the ensuing crossfire. If only she still had her lightsaber; the pirates had taken it from her shortly after her capture. With any luck, maybe she would find it.

Wait…did he say Death Watch?!

@Charles

 

[Hardy Wren]

The loud ruckus coming from the rest of the prison cells was the only outlier Hardy didn't think of. It had grabbed the attention of a few of the guards, but Hardy was already up the stairs. Both of them ran right into the big man and fell back on their butts. Before the could react, the Terrorist smacked their heads together, knocking them out, and then grabbed one of their DL-18 blaster pistol and shot the two in the head.

Hardy decided he would take his time with this venture, and made no rush up the stairs. He was greeted by more confused pirates that quickly realized what was going on. Three shots nailed three pirates in the throat. Another rushed Hardy with a knife, but the Terrorist quickly disarmed the man by breaking his wrist before snapping his neck. The remaining two gawked in fear as their doom approached them slowly and steadily.

One of them bolted for the exit while the other opened fire on the big man. Hardy narrowly avoided the shots and returned some of his own, aiming for the escapee. After the deserter fell, the remaining pirate threw his gun on the ground and put his hands up in defeat. Pathetic. Hardy shot the man all the same.

Now that the barracks had been cleared, Hardy could search for his equipment. Two Galaar-15s and an Assassin's Rifle with Death Watch insignias all over caught his eye. Now that he had his weapons, he needed his armor. It was simple henchmen garb, but it was currently all Hardy had left to protect him and he wasn't going to settle for what the pirates called 'protective gear'. Soon after, he found his grim armor and began donning it as necessary.

When he was about finished with his gauntlets, a new weapon intrigued the mind of the Death Watch insurgent. A Z-6 rotary cannon was propped up next to a satchel that seemed to be absolutely strapped with explosives. Hardy grinned with glee behind his breathing mask and gladly grabbed the to items.

The original plan was to go about business quietly and discreetly, but that no longer became important to Hardy Wren. As soon as the barrack's blast doors opened, he tossed two plasma grenades through the doorway into the kitchen and lounging area. Before anyone knew what was happening, the two explosives went off and decimated the obstructions and obstacles in Hardy's way.

With the rotary cannon in hand, the Terrorist let loose on the remaining adversaries. "May Kad devour your souls!"

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Tiye Kahina]

Tiye didn’t need the force to tell her that it was near pandemonium on the ship; sounds of blaster fire rang out everywhere. Absolute bedlam. And it seemed to follow in the wake of that stranger.

Death Watch…

So, that would make him a Mandalorian? Obviously, she’d heard of them. Who in the galaxy hasn’t? But if her knowledge was correct, that man was incredibly dangerous. Mandalorians and Jedi didn’t exactly have the best history with one another. Then again, in dire situations, even enemies can find common ground.

There was a hiss at Tiye’s feet, and quickly all was made clear. Ysalamir. And the place was crawling with them! No wonder her connection with the force was so inhibited; the creatures acted as a natural defense against it. Pirates must have been using them as makeshift interference and the population grew out of control…

Shooing the creatures away, Tiye made it to the last of the cells. The children…She’d found them! As expected, they were beyond frightened but otherwise unharmed. Her heart broke at their shuddering fear and at that moment she wanted nothing more than to ease them.

Cradling the youngest and guiding the other, Tiye called to the rest of the weary captives. Naturally, they flocked to her, purely because they had no other options. “Everyone, to the escape pods!”

They could have tried to take control of the ship itself, but who knows what other carnage might unfold. Best to get the innocents out of there before things got any worse.

In all honesty, Tiye was ready to leave with them but then the Mandalorian would be left alone to face the odds. She couldn’t in good conscience do that. When the captives were safe from harm, Tiye doubled back, ready to face whatever was left of the pirate crew.

@Charles

 

[Hardy Wren]

Alarms were blaring and Hardy felt more alive than ever. The ship's crew could be heard yelling for backup, but they made on fatal mistake. The only place to gain extra ammo, weapons, and armor had been taken by the terrorist. The pirates were essentially crippled with their lack of resources. And with the rotary cannon...nothing was getting past Hardy Wren alive. A few pirates trickled in and opened fire, but due to the smoke and debris in the air, it made it hard for even Hardy to know where to aim. Luckily for him, however, he had a repeater and knew where the doorways were.

So, after taking a few seconds to connect the dots, Hardy returned fire, figuring that the cut off screams and yells had meant that someone had perished. As long as Hardy could hold the line and prevent the pirates from accessing the barracks, the prisoners could escape without harm. Surprisingly, the woman Hardy had met earlier had come to assist him. She was an admirable soul for an auretii.

"Welcome, madam." Hardy inclined his head into a respectful bow. "Come to see the carnage?" He chuckled.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Tiye Kahina]

So much death. It almost made Tiye feel queasy; she was used to temple life, not mass slaughter. Then again, Mandalorians thrived in conflict. Perhaps that is why the man seemed to be so enjoying himself. If Tiye didn't know any better, she would have thought he was akin to a sith.

No, not quite... He had after all aided her in the escape. Had specifically directed her to rescue the children. There is honor in him.

Nevertheless, she balked at him. "Carnage? No." It was clear though that the man reveled in it. "But I did come to help! No one should get left behind."

Despite Tiye's good intentions, it seemed he did more or less have things under control. Still, she felt a sense of duty in repaying his kindness and that meant dealing with the remaining pirates (or, however many were left). Hardy's position was a firm one; by selecting a narrow point, he had essentially forced the pirates into a channel. If they advanced, they'd be exposed to offensive fire. Tiye shouldn't have expected anything less.

Concussion renades were thrown their way, and the Hapan seized her chance to intervene. Using the force, she flung them back no sooner had they been thrown. They detonated soon after, a resounding blast causing the entire structure to shudder. Tiye even managed to shield them, though admittedly, combat was not her forte.

@Charles

 

[Hardy Wren]

"You are a lovely woman, Madam." Hardy spoke sincerely after Tiye had chosen to stay and fight. She would make an excellent warrior among the Death Watch if she could fight as well as her heart burned for honor. But, for now focus needed to be placed on taking care of the remaining pirates. A few grenades had been lobbed through the smoke, but before Hardy could move to cover Tiye, she had used the Force as Hardy had.

This would earn her a curious stare from the bigger man. The ship shuddered and lurched, but it did not impede his gaze. Was she Jetii? Sith? Hardy wasn't sure, but he was hoping she wasn't Jetii. Hardy had used to Force earlier, but that sorcery was simple and was only used in the absence of his beskar'gam. Didn't she say there were children on board as well? Maybe these pirates were after Force sensitives- but why? There were too many mysterious at the moment, and too many pirates to clean up as well.

So, with that thought out of the way, Hardy turned his gaze to the hallway. "I think that was the rest of the infantry. The rest of the crew will be simple engineers, pilots, and the like. They will either sway to my rule, or die. Either way, this ship will be ours soon enough." Hardy explained, walking down the incredibly damaged corridor that was littered with the fallen pirates. "You may call me Hardy Wren, by the way. I do not think we have properly introduced ourselves." Something was missing in this strange puzzle, and Hardy was hoping his companion had at least a few of the missing pieces so he could get a better picture.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Tiye Kahina]

Without those ysalamir lizards scurrying about, Tiye (with a sigh of relief) felt once more attuned to the force. She felt whole again. How on earth did cutthroat pirates know about the animal and its unique properties? Surely it wasn't that common of knowledge. Another worrying thought came to mind the more Tiye pondered on the topic; back at the village, the pirates were strangely skilled in dispatching her and other force sensitives. They were well versed, and their methods were frustratingly effective. Did it come with practice...or with training? She'd be sure to report this back upon her return to the Order.

Caught up in her musings, the young knight became increasingly aware of the conflict's actual aftermath. Many pirates lay dead, and though they were her enemies, Tiye still felt a degree of guilt. In order to protect life, she had to take another's. Violence did not come naturally to the Hapan hybrid and she regretted the need for such action. The very thought of more bloodshed made her flinch, but in schooling her features, she hoped to hide such truth from Hardy.

Despite his brutal one-man army assault, he didn't immediately strike her as malicious. On this alone, the Jedi hoped for more peaceful interactions.

"I'm Tiye Kahina." She gave a nod of greeting, her azure eyes searching his for further cues. "What exactly is your plan now? You mentioned something about business. Are you... a bounty hunter?"

 

[Hardy Wren]

"A lovely name for a lovely woman." Hardy dipped his head towards the Hapan in respect. "I am Death Watch. Not a lowly bounty hunter. These pirates stole something from my people. I will have it taken back." These pirates were not your average pillagers. They had been trained warriors that might have been able to overwhelm Hardy if he didn't have them all in a choke point. It was sheer luck that everything went according to plan, and that thought terrified the big man. The guards were not a problem, but the shock troopers that were caught in the choke point might have proven to be more vicious combatants.

Then, a small shining ring caught the Mando's attention. He stooped down to pick it up and grimaced when he saw the insignia engraved upon it's surface. Crimson Dawn. Hardy dropped the ring and grumbled something about fanatics. "Miss Kahina, gather the prisoners. Ask the adults if they've had any Force sensitive children or if they were invested into some sort of Force artifact related organization." Crimson Dawn did not take simply anyone. There were going to be archeologists, historians, and collectors down there. On top of that, the crime syndicate might have also taken couples that have given life to Force users. It was disgusting to think of sentient beings as simple pets meant for breeding weapons

"I am going to take care of the crew. I will be back shortly." Hardy made his way up the stairs into the main hull of the ship.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Tiye Kahina]

Courteous and a cut-throat. A dangerous combination. This Wren fellow was quickly proving himself adept at putting Tiye ill at ease. The Hapan shouldn’t really be that surprised though, given the nature of this man’s profession. Death Watch. It seemed Hardy was quite proud of his allegiances, given how openly he proclaimed it; there wasn’t even a moment of hesitation. For that, Tiye envied him. It was no secret the Jedi were quickly falling out of favor. How the tables had turned; the irony of it all certainly wasn’t lost on her.

What on earth would the masters think of this? A Jedi and a Death Watch Mandalorian…

She flinched at the very idea of it. If they ever got word of this, she’d be in for the scolding of her life! Deviating from the plan, letting herself get captured, and now engaging in full combat. She felt faint just thinking about it!

Yet somehow, Tiye kept enough composure to notice Hardy’s scavenging. Curiosity got the better of her and soon the young knight was herself peering over Hardy’s shoulder, trying for a better look. Admittedly, she had to go onto the tip of her toes just to get a peek; the ring, as well as the insignia, didn’t mean much to her and why would they? She was sheltered behind temple walls for much of her life; she wouldn’t know of anything related to criminal activity.

Force-sensitive children? Artifacts?

It seemed Hardy had more pieces to the puzzle than Tiye did. Was this whole thing bigger than she had first anticipated? A worrying thought. Perhaps that is why the young Hapan decided against derailing Hardy’s apparent mission; the last thing she needed was going toe to toe confrontation with a mandalorian. For now, it was safer to just play along. Who knows, if she was lucky, she’d find out some answers herself.

With one last wary glance, Tiye made a move to rejoin those who had been rescued. “Stay safe, Mister Wren.”

@Charles

 

[Hardy Wren]

When the blast doors to the main bridge opened, Hardy didn't give anyone any time to react before opening fire. This rotary cannon continued to prove itself a more valuable and valuable weapon the more the terrorist used it. Blaster bolts tore the crew apart, along with some of the main computers, and when Hardy was finished, he took some time to give a short prayer of thanks to Kad. Crimson Dawn were heretics to the galaxy- especially the Mandalorians. Cleansing them did everyone a favor.

"This ship will crash into the nearby planet's surface, for their control systems have been utterly destroyed." Hardy informed Tiye upon his return. "There is a CT-1000 cruise liner in the hangar. I suggest we hurry." This ship wasn't rid of the Syndicates just yet. There would still be those willing to take back the ship or take some of their precious 'cargo'. That would not happen under Hardy's watch. The Death Watch terrorist led the way down the corridors, clearing the path of pathetic Syndicate members for the rest of the group until they reached the hangar where the cruise liner was awaiting their arrival.

"Mandalore can raise these children well. You can make yourself a warrior for a righteous cause as well!" Hardy pleaded with Tiye as he ushered the prisoners and children on board. "Join our crusade. Help us take back what is rightfully ours. Join me." Hardy outstretched his hand for the woman to take it. They were already on board, but this was more of a formal gesture. "Kad's blessing shines bright within you. Do not throw it away."

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Tiye Kahina]

Sounds of further fighting caused fear amongst the masses and Tiye did her best to settle them. She had hoped the rest of the pirates would surrender peacefully but it seemed such thoughts were foolish. They were willing to die for the ship and its cargo but was it truly worth it? Maybe Wren was right. There was more going on here than simple sentient trafficking. The Mando confirmed this upon his return with news of the now doomed ship.

Destroying evidence, perhaps?

All her efforts would be wasted. She'd have to return to the Jedi would only her accounts. A frustrating turn but it couldn't be helped. So long as innocent people were free and away from harm, she had done her duty. Everything thing was but a minor detail. With that in mind, Tiye aided in the quick evacuation.

That was until the Hapan nearly stumbled over Hardy's words. She was stunned, his bold declaration catching her off guard. "Now wait just a moment, Mister Wren. Your intentions are noble but I'm sure these children have families of their own. They should return to their own people."

An entire generation of potential Jedi, falling into the hands of Mandalorian Death Watch? Out of the question.

When Tiye took Hardy's hand, it was only to offer a subtle shake. "I am honored, Mister Wren, but we do not walk the same paths." She did not wish to cause any offense or provocation, but ultimately she was a Jedi, born and raised. "I must respectfully decline. I am needed elsewhere. I must return to my.... home, to my family. I hope you can understand that."

@Hardy Wren