Ask Pit Stop

[Renfry]

Renfry had arrived on Malastare and somehow felt even more out of place here than she did on city worlds like Corellia. Malastare was just so... barren.

There was almost no wildlife, no plants, and just dirt and rock as far as the eye could see. Still, Renfry tried to withhold her judgement. Just because it wasn't like Dathomir didn't mean it didn't have its own redeeming qualities. Maybe.

Regardless, it was a prime fueling station outside of Corellia and so she had stopped here on her way to poke around Sith space. She'd left her ship and headed for a local restaurant, looking to get some food and unwind while the ship got refueled.

Setting foot inside the cantina, she was immediately hit with the smell of old smoke and alcohol. It wasn't what she would classify as a "pleasant" smell, but it wasn't the worst thing she'd run into out here.

 

[Asminys]

Asminys' plans on Malastare hadn't gone... well according to plan. Instead of acquiring a brand new cult to worship him and carry out his bidding, he had instead aided his Cadre-sister in the selfsame goal. Granted there was the deal they had struck which afforded him a one time no questions asked use of her cult, likely as fodder, but still it didn't taste quite so sweet.

He had wandered the city until a hunger within his belly had driven him into a nearby cantina. Could he have subsisted entirely on the power of the Darkside? Sure. That didn't mean some real food was unwelcome, especially when he had nothing else to do at the moment.

Having arrived earlier and found himself a seat in the corner, he was aware of the general sense of unease that the cantina patrons had developed since his arrival. The local Grans and Dugs avoided the man in the corner who unsettled them so, opting to cram themselves around tables that weren't directly adjacent to the tattooed and angry eyed man. This suited him just fine and left a wide berth of empty tables around him.

The cantina's fare was adequate, a simple stew with some sort of local meat accompanied by a thin ale. Asminys seldom ate food that had flavor, so used to the simple nutrient gruel that he had grown up on. Watching the local pod race that was displayed on a nearby screen as he ate, a low chuckle emerged from his throat in between bites as one of the racers exploded into a fireball after crashing into a low stalagmite as they raced through a cavern.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry wandered up to the bar and immediately received a scathing glare from the dug behind the bar. She looked up at the menu before settling on a mixed bowl of noodles and some local meat she'd never heard of before. She had to say, the foods of the galaxy were far more exotic than anything she got at home, and that alone was making her traveling more bearable.

And then the dug was asking for payment. Right, that was something they seemed completely consumed with in the galaxy. Money. Well, Renfry had none of it, and wasn't entirely sure how to get more of it without actually getting a job, but that would undermine what she was trying to accomplish.

I don't need to pay, she said after glancing around to ensure none of the nearby patrons were paying attention. The dug repeated the words, prepared her food, and handed it over to her.

She took it and moved to a table not far from the man in the corner. With tattoos of her own, the markings on the man didn't bother her, though there was something... a bit sinister that seemed to be emanating from him. It was enough for her to make note, but do nothing further yet. Those tattoos, though. They reminded her a bit of the night brothers.

Interesting, she thought to herself. @Arclight

 

[Asminys]

Asminys was halfway done with his bowl of soup when he felt a ripple through the force. Eye's up, he scanned the bar before settling them on a woman who had just entered. She too had tattoos etched into her skin and wore outlandish garb that did not seem to fit in on this world.

Filing it away for future reference he returned his attention to the meal and entertainment on the screen. He wasn't particularly aware of the rules of the race, but it seemed like there weren't many as the two leading pod racers rammed into each other repeatedly as they jockeyed for dominance. He personally hoped to see another fireball result from the competition.

Paying the woman no mind as she took one of the empty tables adjacent to his, he did sneak a glance here and there. She did not seem to be a Sith, the tattoos certainly were not of any Sith origin that he could place, but she was most certainly a force user. Perhaps another unhinged force adept like the cult leader that he had helped eliminate earlier.

Before he could think on it further however, a trio of newcomers came barging through the cantina's door. A rather tough looking Dug with a missing eye and some sort of gang symbols tattooed on his neck, flanked by a pair of Gran with tattoos that matched his. They scanned the room before their eyes settled on Asminys.

Pointedly ignoring them as they swaggered over to stand before him, Asminys continued to eat his meal, stumbling on a particularly chewy bit of stew meat.

"Uba doth pinteba du mah baha." The dug spat in a language that Asminys was not familiar with. Looking up from his bowl, he glanced first at the pair of toughs flanking the shorter alien before meeting his glare.

"What?" He said simply, still chewing on the tough bit of gristle. He wasn't sure if food was supposed to be this tough but he was beginning to think he might prefer the nutrient gruel. There was a simplicity to the bland and grey paste.

"Uba stoopa? Toupee jen." The Dug waved to one of the Gran, who brayed in laughter(?) before speaking in basic. "You're sitting in his seat." The Dug barked something following this, to which the Gran glanced at him before gulping and speaking again. "Are you stupid?"

"Are you?" Asminys growled back. Tired of chewing, he adjusted the hunk of gristly fat in his mouth before spitting it in the Dugs face.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry sat down with her stew at the table, glancing over to the man at the other table. She thought she caught him looking her way a couple of times, but otherwise didn't do much of anything to bother her, so she kept to herself.

That was until the entrance of the others. She could feel pulses of discomfort in the Shadow. It responded to whatever these aliens' intentions were and she got the distinct impression that it was a negative. She half-expected them to come in and cause problems for her. People loved to single her out for her garb, which actually lent credence to the fact that she may need to obtain other clothes for her. But rather than go for her, they went for the man, making some claim that he was sitting in the alien's seat.

She frowned, continuing to scoop stew into her mouth as she watched the exchange. Anger was growing and close to bursting. She thought she caught a whiff of the Shadow's movement for a moment and then the tattooed man promptly spat in the face of the others.

They moved all at once to fall upon Asminys. One of the Gran pulled a short vibroknife from his belt while the other moved to grab him and hold him down. They clearly had no qualms about abusing their numbers advantage to "teach this scum a lesson."

Renfry stood from her seat, knocking it over as she took a step back. She still wasn't certain she wanted to involve herself, but she also didn't know that she liked the precedent being set here. If they would jump all over this man who reminded her of the nightbrothers, certainly they'd have no qualms in doing the same to her.

But still, she didn't act. She waited, watching a moment to see what the man would do first.

@Arclight

 

[Asminys]

Asminys was not surprised when the trio attacked. He had been waiting for it. If he was honest with himself he had been hoping for it. Pod racing was boring entertainment.

The Dug came lunging over the table in a wholly unnatural movement that defied more humanoid forms, clambering over Asminys' food and drink and sending them spilling to the ground. The Gran on the left rushed in while the one on the right pulled a short, wickedly sharp blade that hummed with a silent promise of spilled blood.

The Darkside whispered around the tattooed Sith. As the pair of gangsters grabbed him, he flexed the metaphysical muscle that was his control over that dark power. With a silent whoosh, the pair were flung from him, the Gran falling to the floor and the Dug going down with the table as he "gently" repulsed them with a telekinetic burst.

The third Gran came in with the knife as Asminys stood from his seat. Dodging to the right, his right hand clamped down on the Gran's wrist. Another gentle pulse of darkness, he sent a wave of power to the hand, strengthening his grip as he felt bones crack beneath his fingers.

The knife fell to be swooped up by his left hand. Releasing his hold on the arm, he brought his elbow up in a swift jab to the Gran's face before taking his throat out with the knife, sweeping it up by the handle and slashing in one fluid motion. Continuing the motion, he spun and threw the knife to embed itself in the second Gran's chest, putting him down once and for all before he could get back up again.

Turning to the Dug, Asminys reached out at him with his left hand. The Dug had swiftly lost his taste for a fight and was attempting to scramble backwards before he found his momentum suddenly arrested. Pulling back with the hand, the Dug flew to him screaming before being silenced as Asminys caught the alien by the throat with his right hand.

"You spilled my drink." He snarled in the alien's face. The alien blubbered in whatever language it was that he spoke before Asminys snapped his throat with a silent surge of power to his hand. Letting the alien fall, he swept the room with a threatening glare, his yellow-red eyes glowing hotly with menace.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Well that had answered a lot of questions that Renfry hadn't actually asked. She could sense the power flowing through the room, whistling and singing in dark power. It was both haunting and alluring all at the same time.

She watched as the man dispatched his attackers in short order. There was barely even a competition as the attackers were quickly dead on the floor, pools of blood spreading out and staining the floor. The dug behind the counter shouted and began to call for the authorities, hurrying out the back door in an attempt to get help. One of his regulars had just been murdered on the floor of his cantina.

Renfry's eyes swept quickly from the carnage to the man who had caused it all. What was he? As she understood it now, not all off worlders were "Jedi." Perhaps one of these Sith? Something else?

She didn't trust the man and could clearly see that he was dangerous, but as was her typical way... she was curious. She wanted to know more about him and his people. He didn't even seem to fit well with some of the other things she knew about Sith. Or at least it didn't feel that way to her.

They're going to be coming for you, she said, still holding her bowl of stew but not longer eating it. While she was wary of the man, she didn't seem to be panicking or running in fear at the violence in front of her.

@Arclight

 

[Asminys]

The Cantina quickly emptied of patrons and employees, a general sense of panic filling to room. The barman shouted before fleeing through the back door. Only one person seemed brave enough to remain, the same woman that Asminys had sensed a ripple in the force from.

His burning eyes settled on her as she spoke. They burned with rage and hatred, but slowly settled, their glow receding to a simmering of low and constant anger. She looked at him cautiously, but did not seem to fear him in the way that many would. He wondered if she was a Jedi, but he figured a Jedi would probably have tried to stop him from disposing of the insects that had interrupted his meal.

"Let them come." He said with a shrug, his tone low and indifferent. "They will die just like these bugs if they get in my way." Turning his attention back to the dead men that surrounded him, he reached for the vibroblade in the Gran's chest and it flew to his hand. Examining the humming blade for a moment, he found the deactivation switch and turned it off before stowing it in his belt.

"Why do you not run?" He asked, looking at her curiously before squatting over the bodies to relieve them of their money. Money seemed to be what ruled in these parts, so he wouldn't waste the opportunity to acquire more.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Renfry could sense the anger and violence emanating from the man without even trying to. It was practically a slap in the face through the Force at this point. He gave her the impression of one of the creatures of Dathomir. He was filled with the same instincts and predatory urges that drove so many there, and she knew simply from that that he was dangerous. But like most predators, he didn't seem to kill without reason. Even if the reasons were not deemed "appropriate" by society.

Are you intending to kill me? she asked in response to his question about why she didn't run. If the answer was "no" then she had no reason to run. If the answer was "yes" then she had learned long ago on Dathomir that you couldn't outrun a predator. Better to embrace the Shadow's power and fight.

What brings you to Malastare? she asked. Something about him made her doubt that he was the type to wander aimlessly. He seemed the type to keep himself sharp always and always have a goal. Of course, he may not choose to tell her, but she saw no reason not to ask anyway. @Arclight

 

[Asminys]

He eyed the woman as she asked if he intended to kill her. She stood there calmly with her food as she did so. "No." He said simply with a shake of his head. Not unless you give me reason to. The words were unspoken but no doubt still heard, she seemed the perceptive type. The fact that she remained garnered her a small amount of respect from the Sith, and looking at her it was clear that if he had said yes she probably would have stood her ground instead of trying to run.

Circling the woman towards the bar, giving her a wide enough berth as not to spook her, Asminys hopped over the counter. "An associate of mine needed... help with something." He said, vaguely. Perhaps that was too much information given already, but he didn't really care. Grabbing hold of the register that had been conveniently abandoned, there would be a small whisper of darkness as he once again sent power to his grip, ripping the cashbox open.

"You do not seem to fit," He said as he helped himself to the contents of the cashbox, gesturing to her clothes and tattoos that were just out of place as his. "Prettier than the natives." His eyes flickered over to the lolling head of the Dug he had killed. "Why are you here?"

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Yes, despite the fact that he didn't intend to kill her right now, she got the distinct impression that he wouldn't have thought much of killing her if the situation changed. Yes, this was a surprisingly familiar place she found herself in. Much more than the spaceports and cantinas she frequented in the galaxy at large.

He circled around to the register and ripped it open, keeping a wider berth of her as he did. She leaned forward across the bar as if to peek at what he was doing on the other side. Ah, yes, the "money" everyone cared about. Well, she was here and he was taking it anyway...

She stuck out her hand as if waiting for her cut. She wasn't really sure that he would hand any over, but it was worth a shot. If he opted for a more violent response she was wary of that as well. She didn't really trust him... well, at all, and she knew she was playing with fire a bit, but she wasn't always known for being the most conservative person among her people.

Fuel, she said. I'm heading off toward... well where was she heading toward? She probably shouldn't outright say "Sith space."

The outer rim, she decided on. Didn't expect to find someone with your... abilities here, she added. @Arclight

 

[Asminys]

Asminys was wary as the woman did not keep her distance, seemingly unconcerned with the potential threat he posed. Instead she peeked over the counter to see what he was doing and once she knew, held out a hand expectantly. He looked at her, at her hand, then at the remaining cash in the register. Why not. It wasn't like there was a lot anyways.

"You're an opportunistic one." He commented as he dumped a handful of credit chits in her hand, chuckling slightly. He supposed he couldn't blame her, the credits were there for the taking. He was taking them after all.

The way she spoke of where she was heading indicated she held reservations about telling him exactly where she was heading. That was fair, it wasn't as if he had spoke openly about what he was doing on Malastare after all.

"The Outer Rim." He mused before continuing, "Do not be surprised if you find yourself running into more people of my ability out there." The Sith had been been expanding their presence in the Outer Rim, even on the planet which they currently stood. "Maybe even here, with time." He said, the implications... implicit.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Oh, that was perfect. She happily stuffed the credits into one of the pouches on her belt She really was opportunistic, and she wasn't ashamed of it. Making the best of any situation was the means to survive.

I'm hoping so, she said. She fully intended to find more Force users. She was even curious about the man in front of her and wouldn't have minded sitting down to have a chat with him, but even now she could start to hear the sounds of sirens.

We should go, she said. She'd rather not fight her way through the whole city. Perhaps he'd reject the "we" but she wasn't sticking around and it didn't disadvantage him to come with her.

She turned around and headed for one of the doors, slipping it open and peering outside. It led to an alleyway and smelled vaguely of urine, but was otherwise devoid of anyone else. Her head turned and looked both ways before she slipped outside and across the way to the other building across the way.

@Arclight

 

[Asminys]

She was hoping so. It seemed perhaps that the Force had brought the tattooed woman to the tattooed man for a reason. The more he considered the possibility the more he thought that perhaps he was right. It seemed she was more curious about him than afraid even after watching him do the thing that he did best, which gave him all the more reason to be intrigued as well as distrustful.

He would have to keep an eye on her. And what better way than to keep her at his side.

"After you." He said, giving a small bow and a hand wave towards the door, the one that she headed towards. He wasn't about to just let her have his back after all.

Following her outside of the bar and into the piss-stinking alleyway, he observed her mannerisms. She was cautious, glancing around to make sure nobody spotted them, which he supposed made sense in the current situation. He had mostly just been planning on walking out the front door, witnesses be damned.

Crossing the alleyway, there was a closed door that looked like a convenient portal to get out of the open. Closing his eyes he reached towards the lock, sensing its internal workings. With a slight nudge, the door clicked before sliding open silently.

"In here." He said, walking through the open portal into what appeared to be some manner of apartment building. Closing the door behind them, he figured they could either hop from alleyway to alleyway and traverse the city that way, or if she was competent enough perhaps jump from rooftop to rooftop to speed away from the grisly scene he had left behind.

But first introductions were in order.

"You may call me Asminys." He said bluntly before giving her an expectant look with his eyes, not dissimilar to the one that had earned her a handful of credits.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

The door was locked when she tried it and was fully intending to open it through more violent methods, but the man seemed to have his own techniques for bypassing locked doors. It slid open a moment later and Renfry's eyebrows rose slightly. Impressive, she thought to herself.

They made it inside and she closed the door behind them, following him deeper into the room before he stopped abruptly.

Asminys, she thought to herself. Well, she saw no real disadvantage to offering her own name as well. It was clear they were working together in some capacity and her name wouldn't really get him much of anything anyway.

I'm Renfry, she said a moment later. Of course she had a whole slew of her own additional questions, but this was neither the time nor place for that assuming he was willing to answer at all. She figured she couldn't just manipulate him into telling her and she didn't really fancy a fight either.

If we move to the rooftops we can avoid anyone combing the area below, she said. This seemed like the best option to her as the authorities were far less likely to be looking for people on the roof than in the alleys.

Barring his objection, she began to make her way up toward the top. She could hear people in the buildings and the sirens had gotten much closer now, likely stopping outside the cantina. The locals inside their apartments didn't care much, which was good, but who knew how long that would last for?

I don't suppose you had an escape plan? This didn't seem... planned, she said. She couldn't help but wonder just how often he killed people. She guessed frequently. @Arclight

 

[Asminys]

"Renfry." He nodded as he spoke, tasting the new name as it left his lips. Having once been nameless, Asminys knew the value of names. Following his strange new accomplice to the rooftops, he could feel the energy of the people who dwelled within the building. The building spiraled in the strange architecture of the planet and reminded him in a way of a colony of ants. Those who dwelled within were ants after all.

"Not really." He admitted. He hadn't particularly planned on killing anyone that day. "It wasn't planned. Those... men just bit off more than they could chew." He chuckled at his own joke, remembering the look on the Dug's face when he had spat that particularly chewy piece of meat in it's face. He hadn't meant to kill anyone today, but he wouldn't deny that he had enjoyed it.

After what seemed like a long climb, the door to the rooftop was before them. Opening it, Asminys found the rooftop to be rather small, which made sense considering the conical shape of most of the buildings on Malastare. The distance to the next roof was a bit further than he had pictured it in his head. "Can you make the jump?" He asked. He was... uncertain if he could, but the pressing sound of sirens grew closer by the second.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

They made it to the roof and Renfry looked out over the rooftops to the next one over. It was longer than expected, but a glance down over the roof told Renfry that there were enough people already gathering from the crime. There was no choice but to move forward.

I'll be fine, she said. She had no intention of making the jump. Something like a green flame sprung up around her and she vanished, reappearing in another puff on the roof across the way and looking back at him. She thought she sensed some doubt in him, but at the same time there was determination. She was fairly confident that he would be able to make the jump. If not... well, she'd rather not have to deal with that now.

As she waited, her mind traveled to their next course of action. Another location where they could lay low would be preferable. She didn't fancy trying to run while the authorities were scouring the port, but she was uncertain where they could go. A restaurant? A hotel? Or perhaps something in the wilds. Outside the city. That was where she was more comfortable in many ways. Perhaps that was the way. @Arclight

 

[Asminys]

Asminys tilted his head. Renfry seemed entirely assured in her ability to clear the gap. She was not Sith, of that he was certain. Asminys only felt a brief warning of what was about to happen. A whispering ember of darkness that bloomed into shouting emerald flames. A flaming rift of dark power that ripped its way through the bleakness of reality, and then she was gone. And the whisper was quiet, its flame kindling down to ember once again. Gone.

Such power. It was beautiful in his eyes. He turned his eyes expectantly to the other rooftop to see Renfry standing there looking back at him.

What power. Asminys regarded the gap once more. Had the Cadre-masters known of this power? surely they did, yet they had Chosen not to teach it to their disciples in war, or else were unable. It burned him. His chest burned with anger at the failure of their teachings.

Anger that he needed. He stoked its flame as he backed up to the edge of the roof. It wasn't far. He fed the furnace inside himself with his anger. They had denied him so much, and now more. It would not stand.

He fixed his eyes on Renfry for a moment, and they burned with hate. Not at her, but at her, and at everything and everyone.

Bursting into a sprint he dove for the rail with a burst of speed. His muscles roared with strength as he grabbed onto the rail, launching forwards and up as he got a foot on the rail. He kicked off, and soared in a flash as the rail behind him crumpled and broke.

Speeding across the gap, he judged the oncoming rail of the building in the flash of time it took to cross the distance. He grabbed the rail, flowing over it, grabbing hold and slowing his momentum with hardened arms before rolling into a skidding slide that brought him screeching to a halt.

Resuming a standing position, he turned his eyes on Renfry for a moment. They burned with the fires of hate so deeply in their red-gold hue that if she looked she might see the writhing of the flames. The roaring rage of the darkside occupied his mind for a moment before quieting.

"You wouldn't happen to know a place we could lay low?" He asked, cocking his head at her with a small grin as the glow in his eyes died. His anger faded as he fixed his mind on a new goal. It was the same goal. Different, but the same.

Power.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

As Renfry turned back to look at him, she could feel a boiling fire raging. Everything in the world around them seemed to fade away as she retreated into the recesses of her mind and just to the edge of the Veil. This world became inconsequential and she saw it now through another pair of eyes. She could see the rage within Asminys. He burned with it but it failed... aimless. A portion of its beam was directed at her, but there was so much more below the surface. She was half-wary that he would simply come over the rooftops and try to kill her.

But he didn't. He hit the ground and she felt the anger subside if only slightly. She already knew he was dangerous, but this was the first time she'd felt as though she may become his prey. She didn't like that feeling, but she didn't flee from it either. She took it in stride and would show no weakness in the face of another.

No, but I think it's best if we get outside the city, she said. Anywhere outside the city at this point would be better than remaining here. She turned and made for the next rooftop, this time closer and more easily jumped to. She leapt across, landing gracefully and continuing as the buildings got shorter.

They never did make it to the edge of town, though. And of course not, for the city was no small village on the edge of the wilds but a bustling spaceport. That also meant there were ample places to hide. The building across from them was clearly still under construction and it seemed today wasn't the day for the workers to be at it.

She hopped over the side of the building, dropping to the ground several floors below and entered into the empty building. They would likely be here for hours but there were no sign of other people. But now she was more skeptical of the Sith than the "authorities." @Arclight

 

[Asminys]

It seemed she did not know a place to stay. Which was fine, as he didn't either. Letting his rage cool down to its glowing ember once again as he followed her, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, he considered his options. They could seek refuge at his Cadre-sister's hideout with her creepy cult of worshippers, but he didn't wish to be in her presence. They could try to seek the outskirts of the city, head for the wilds, but the city was large and travel took time. Personally he didn't care much for hiding, he would tear the security forces of this world apart if they happened to find him. They would regret crossing him.

Ultimately however Renfry found an abandoned building, its skeleton half finished and missing its outer shell. Dropping down into the depths of the building, he landed in a crouch behind Renfry. They weren't outside the city, but this would do well enough. He looked around, the dark shadows of the evening beginning to stretch across the bones of the building. Nice and secluded.

"Renfry." He began, eyeing her back as he spoke. His mind whirled as he considered the words she had spoken earlier and the power she clearly held. The still glowing darkness within him whispered animalistic impulses of violence, to be shuttered and caged. He stood.

"What is it you hoped to find in the Outer Rim?" He asked, though he was fairly certain of the answer.

@Phoenix