Open Nar Shaddaa Post Crisis: Cleaning Up

[Juniper]

Nar Shaddaa never slept. Usually, the combination of sleaze, vice and general criminality kept the wheels of the moon turning, every hour of every day. Always something going on. Always something to try, steal, drink or... well, y'know.

Now, though, Nar Shaddaa was still emerging from a living nightmare. The infected hordes that had raged through moon had mostly torn themselves to pieces, but there were still rumours and whispers of roving packs, spreading the infection amongst the slums. Ragged, torn apart corpses littered the alleyways in some sectors. They clogged the drainage and sewage, as well as the undertunnels that ran beneath it all. Order was being restored somewhat, with the crime bosses and Hutts starting to take stock of their territory, seeing what they'd lost or what they could retain. Rival worked with rival to clear the streets and restore some semblance of sanity.

And there were many, many people still injured.

Nara's ramshackle clinic was stuffed full of people. The fearful hubbub of conversation could be heard everywhere, as people shared what they'd heard. Sometimes, what they'd been through. Innocent families sat by a stretcher, wounds bandaged. A sawbones checked over some enforcer's cuts and bites, checking for infection. Tired and hungry people stood listlessly, waiting for their treatments to take hold, nursing the bowl of soup they'd been handed by a very frazzled Rodian woman.

In the middle of it all was Nara. Nara, looking stressed. Nara, looking tired. She hadn't slept much since it'd all happened, since she'd delved into the depths of the sewers with Izel, Isen and the strange new Mandalorian woman, along with the blind Jedi. She'd been beaten around, pushed through raw sewage and seen people tear each other into shreds. It hadn't been great, to put it mildly. Now the nightmare had finished, there was just the long, arduous task of trying to put everything back together again.

Jedi work never ends.

She stepped back from the bed, letting the hand go. She'd given the last of the energy she could spare to some young woman, caught in a fever. She'd been healing and organising and helping all day and it was getting to her. She pushed through a host of others needing help, stepping towards the front. Out into the fresh... well, more fresh, air. Fanning herself as she leaned against the wall, shaking her head. The streets were somewhat busy... but not in the normal way. Everyone looked a little shellshocked. A little bit scared. She couldn't blame them.

As for what I've got hidden in the back... she thought, shivering at the mere acknowledgement of what she'd taken from that thing.

Spoiler: OOC

Open to Jedi, Rangers, Independents and anyone else who'd be involved in helping Nar Shaddaa recover. Open particularly for people involved in the Nar Shaddaa portion of the Galaxy In Crisis event, but feel free to join in if you're just helping out!

 

[Izel Thral]

She still saw his face. She saw it in her dreams. She saw it with her waking eyes. The living corpse laying on that bed, tortured and desiccated. Hynsa Bekk, the once Jedi Knight. The Jedi Knight she murdered. She had played out the scene over and over in her head, ever since escaping the sewers. Him laying there, begging for the release of death. She knew what she had done had been merciful and necessary, and that it had saved millions more lives. That didn't make it any easier.

She had tried to keep her mind busy helping out at Nara's clinic, pushing herself to exhaustion even as she was still recovering from the wounds she sustained during the chaos. She couldn't even keep track of how many people she had sat down with to heal. There always seemed to be more waiting for their turn. And even with every ounce of her energy dedicated to the task of healing, she still saw him. His face remained stuck square in the center of her vision, staring at her.

Finally she sighed and sat back, weakly raising her arms to rub her face. She looked out over the throng of patients, out to the streets of the city. Not quite as busy as usual. But then she knew very well why that was, and the thought didn't help her in the slightest. There really was no winning. If not at work then all she had to do was think about everything that had happened. Their journey into the sewers, those monsters, the Sith and their nightmarish experiments, those relics of the dark side they had recovered that even now reeked of an evil that permeated this entire place. And Hynsa Bekk.

Izel stood up, an empty look in her eyes as she brushed past all of the patients and out into the open air. Tangentially she noticed Nara standing off to the side as well. She could feel the human was just as tired and miserable as she was. But even the talkative Vratix didn't seem to have it in her to say anything. Instead she just stood a few feet away from her fellow Jedi, watching the tortured citizens of Nar Shaddaa try to go about their daily business. Completely silent.

@Charndley (also tagging @Isen if the Padawan wants to help with the clinic)

 

[Vayla Mirana]

Music OOC

Spoiler

The Blue Knight
​

There was something surreal about the fires that had lit up Nar Shaddaa. It was like some knight of justice had swept over the moon and plunged a burning blade into its core, purging it of its filth. Vayla recalled that sentiment as she watched the denizens of the city groan and grunt in grief, wearing the aftermath in their eyes like scorched pupils, on their bodies like charred flesh. The citizens of Smuggler’s Moon had long since had whips taken to their backs, but what had just befallen them was a cruelty not yet glimpsed.

A padawan dies in the master’s arms, a horde of monsters stalk the streets, the symbol of law and order is blown apart. The galaxy has gotten better each and every day. The Pantoran witnessed this corner of it as she walked the scene. She was dressed as anyone else, with black boots leading up blue pants to a tan leather jacket. Some individuals around her contrasted the outfit with torn clothing. After spying a boy quivering over a motionless woman beneath him, it was understandable how one could yet hope for an end to the misery at whatever cost. Vayla thought about that as she crossed the street, the throngs of skinned sheep on the other side. If a limb is wounded, you heal it, but what if the wound will not heal and the limb threatens the rest of the body?

The clinic probably had the answer as she arrived to find a Vratix and a Human standing outside the building. She recognized both. Years ago, the two Jedi had once united in their passion and zeal to free Oren Zapan from the Sector Rangers, all but dominating the council on Ajan Kloss with their voices even while Vayla had not joined them with her own. Another time. Another aftermath before this one. Seems like so long ago. First swords of light are broadcasted to the galaxy, a red blade rages, and now a shadow burns with hate as it carves a charnel pit for the void.

Whatever fate the galaxy at large was in store for, Nar Shaddaa had been given its own black hole to contend with and it had swallowed its fair share of souls. Knight Nara surely had her hands full in patching up who and what she could, no doubt with help of her own, and already Vayla felt dwarfed by the duty and diligence of her counterparts. She took a breath, her electric eyes scanning the pair of faces as she hesitated. “Hello,” the Jedi Knight greeted simply as she approached, suddenly wondering if she was where she needed to be. “Been some time.”

Letting stories be traded later, Vayla looked from Izel to Nara. “I’m here to help, however I can. If you’ll have me. I’m no medic but I’ve done my fair share of healing, with and without the Force.”

 

[Juniper]

Nara watched Izel step outside and said nothing. She'd barely spoken to her friend since they'd escaped from the sewers with her padawan and the others. Since then, it'd been a lot of sleeping and a lot of healing. Had Nara actually spoken to anyone properly in the last few days? Outside of barking orders at people and giving healing advice?

She wondered what she could say to Izel. It probably wasn't time to be joke-y, and she most definitely wasn't in the mood. Her mind wandered to what they'd managed to accomplish. Lingering on something positive might help, right? They'd managed to stop it. Izel hd managed to end it. The whole nightmare brought to a close before it could engulf the entire planet. Millions of lives saved and they were still doing it now. If they hadn't been there... well. Nar Shaddaa wouldn't be alive at all.

And there'd be one more Sith creep still wandering around.

Nara was spared from further thoughts by the arrival of someone unexpected. Her eyes adjusted in the gloom as she took in Vayla, a knight she hadn't really since she was a padawan. Her mouth fell open in shock. They did say the Force worked in mysterious ways.

"Yeah... you're telling me," Nara replied to her 'long time' comment. "I uh... yeah. Yeah, of course we'll have you. There's plenty to do. We've still got people coming in all the time. Mostly just injuries from the fighting. Anyone who was infected has either fought it off or... well, y'know." Yet again, she admonished herself for not risking it, down in the sewers. They could've found the lab. If she'd have been braver. If she'd have been quicker. If she made the right choices, she could have had the samples and they could be on their way to a lab...

And now we've got nothing but endless crowds of injured people. And...

Nara looked over towards Izel. "There's... something else too. I'd like to get your perspective on it. I have something that might give us some... intelligence." She clenched her fists a little, thinking about it. "And I think it'd be better with other Jedi around."

@Reyn @Die Shize

 

[Izel Thral]

The only indication Izel had even heard what was said was a slight twitch of her antennae. For several moments she remained in something of a stupor before finally turning her attention towards Nara and the newly arrived Jedi. She vaguely remembered Vayla's face from Ajan Kloss. But that was years ago, when she was still a Padawan. How strange to see her now. Here.

"What?" She asked absently, looking between the two humanoids. Then she remembered the lightsaber. His lightsaber. "Right, of course." She still seemed a bit out of it even as she raised a hand to her head, thinking. "Well... I'm not personally blessed with the gift of psychometry. And I'd advise having a master on hand if you're going to inspect such a dangerous item. But if you really want to go ahead with it now... I'll do whatever I can to help." It was only then the Vratix really seemed to take notice of Vayla.

"Oh, hello." She awkwardly addressed her fellow Knight. "It has been some time hasn't it? You'll have to tell us what you've been up to." She tried to put some cheer in her voice. She'd gladly listen to the Pantoran Jedi describe in excruciating detail everything that had happened to her in the past few years rather than spend any more time stuck in her own head.

@Charndley @Die Shize

 

[Vayla Mirana]

Music OOC

Spoiler

"Yeah... you're telling me," Nara replied to her 'long time' comment. "I uh... yeah. Yeah, of course we'll have you. There's plenty to do. We've still got people coming in all the time. Mostly just injuries from the fighting. Anyone who was infected has either fought it off or... well, y'know."

It was when Nara spoke that suddenly her countenance came to life with the spark of her voice, and Vayla reserved a smile. The young girl of a padawan ago had grown into a young woman over the years; years that the Jedi Knight standing before her had missed, but this other knight clearly had missed little in the way of development. She had once braved the noxious fumes of Raxus Prime, climbing through garbage to gain a generator. Now, here she was on Nar Shaddaa, getting her hands dirty once more for the sake of someone else.

Vayla nodded her thanks at being accepted to share in that endeavor, listening carefully to the exchange between Nara and Izel before the latter met her gaze.

"There's... something else too. I'd like to get your perspective on it. I have something that might give us some... intelligence. [...] And I think it'd be better with other Jedi around."

"Right, of course. [...] Well... I'm not personally blessed with the gift of psychometry. And I'd advise having a master on hand if you're going to inspect such a dangerous item. But if you really want to go ahead with it now... I'll do whatever I can to help." It was only then the Vratix really seemed to take notice of Vayla.

"Oh, hello." She awkwardly addressed her fellow Knight. "It has been some time hasn't it? You'll have to tell us what you've been up to."

It was all Vayla could do to blink at such a venture. How would I even begin? With grim poetry about the shadows that burn? She let her eyes wander over the crippled moon and the clinic that stood out as a gem in a heap of dirt. “Same thing as you two: Helping.” That sounded simple enough to suffice, though she bit her lip as though it were not enough. “I’ve been doing what I can where I can to reach the hearts of all these wounds and heal them in what ways we Jedi are best able to.” That, though, is never enough.

“Forgive me,” Vayla diverted as she looked between her two companions. “This ‘intelligence’ you mention—can I help with it?”

All in all, she would be content with mending bodies if that’s how best she could help her host. Still, she had not spent those years bringing light to the dying as doctors did. She carried out her duty in different ways and with different instruments.



@Charndley @Nara Allam
@Reyn @Izel Thral

 

[Juniper]

Nara listened to Izel's advice, and Vayla's talk. It was probably all going to be a bad idea, just like Izel said. But it couldn't hurt to have a look. Think about it a little. Maybe she could push one of the other Jedi into it and make them experience whatever the heck was stored up in there. That wouldn't be particularly nice though, and she was getting a little worried about Izel already. She really didn't need a direct hook-up to the dark side at the moment.

"Okay well... follow me," she said to Vayla, nodding in towards the clinic. She presumed that Izel would follow her in as well, if she wanted to join them. Inside, the noises of the clinic grew louder and louder. Almost overwhelming. Quickfire chatter, barked orders, the occasional cry of pain... all fun. Nara ducked and weaved amongst the partitions, passing by recovering civilians, injured fighters and a couple of ill-looking children. She moved towards the back, opening a door.

The room beyond was small, drenched in darkness. A flick of the switch showed a small office, with a bed behind it. Messy, filled with circuitry, wiring and clothes. Pretty typical of anywhere that Nara lived... but on the desk was something wrapped in heavy cloth. Nara could feel it the second she stepped in there. Stepped over, she held her breath as she lifted the cloth, feeling it unravel...

Thud.

The saber landed on the desk noisily. A dark hilt, decorated with an occasional spike around the emitter. Nara stepped back from it and stared, bracing herself for the oozing, cloying stain of the dark side to start washing over her.

"I took it from the Sith that started the outbreak. Or at least, I think it was him," Nara explained quietly to Vayla. "He presented like he was but that might just be Sith megalomania. They all think they're masterminds." Her fists clenched as she looked at it a little more, wondering whether she should use it.

"I'd hoped to get some actual samples of the virus. Something we could use as a base, create a vaccine or a cure but no dice. Whole place came down around us. We could try and see if he had a lab there but excavating under Nar Shaddaa is not advised. We're lucky that the sector didn't collapse into the superstructure when it happened."

All the while she spoke, the slow, tingling radiation of the dark side permeated from the saber hilt. It'd done terrible things with a terrible person.

@Reyn @Die Shize

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel nodded and followed Nara and Vayla back into the clinic, hanging back a bit. In all honesty taking a closer look at Flood's lightsaber was the last thing she wanted or needed right now. But she wasn't about to let her friend do something so dangerous without some backup. And really what would be the result if they just passed this up the chain of command? Would the Council do anything useful with any information gleaned from the Sith's lightsaber? Would they even bother to touch it, steeped as it was in the dark side? Or would they just lock it away somewhere safe? No, this way they could ensure any knowledge gleaned from it was put to good use. If they could learn where Flood had been, or who his allies were, they would have a target. They could exact retribution for these horrors.

The moment they stepped into the back office the dark energy swirling within hit Izel like a tangible wall. The Vratix made an audible grunt of displeasure, taking a step back and cringing momentarily, her antennae twitching like crazy. As Nara turned the light on she looked up at the desk, and the lump of metal wrapped within the cloth.

"That thing is exceedingly evil." She muttered as she walked fully into the room, taking up a place on the other side of the desk. She watched as Nara unfolded the cloth, antennae twitching again as it landed heavily upon the desk. After listening to Nara's hunch that Flood was the one behind everything that had happened she piped in. "It was him alright," She murmured as she kept her eyes locked on the lightsaber. "I could feel him through his connection to Hynsa. He was certainly the most powerful one down there." She looked up at Nara.

"Just... Be prepared when you touch it." She warned. "The things he did to that man were... unspeakable. If you go through the weapon's memories you'll see all of it, feel everything he was feeling as he tortured him. Don't let yourself be taken off-guard." She offered a hand. If Nara would take it she would feel the encouraging energy of Force valor. A gift Max Tionson had once offered her she now offered her friend. Perhaps it would be enough to strengthen her resolve for what she was about to endure.

@Charndley @Die Shize

 

[Vayla Mirana]

Music OOC [Recurring]

Spoiler

“Mama?” A little boy called toward Vayla as she followed Nara through the clinic. She had half a heartbeat to stop, frozen in time as she glimpsed the wide eyes and quivering lips, the blood and dirt caked on the cheeks and the slow hand that spread its fingers toward her. No, Vayla frowned where she wanted to smile. Not your mother. And I don’t know where she is.

In the office, she let the light linger around the telltale signs of an owner who looked for organized chaos or chaotic order, which in no small fashion meant every other Jedi as far as she could remember. Already, though, Izel’s reaction to the very darkness before the light had put the Pantoran’s nerves on edge. It was definitely the desk that caught her attention. Wrapped in cloth, an object within that might as well have been a hideous face waiting to scream with bleeding eyes. When finally the curtain was drawn, Vayla’s breath caught in her throat and she felt as frozen as an icicle on Pantora. No…

The Jedi Knight shook her head as though her companions might heed the notion. Forget excavating under Nar Shaddaa… Nara, dear, what you glimpse to grasp is far less advised than that. It was all Vayla could do to gaze upon the dark hilt, staring down its wayward spikes and flagrant blackness as though a contest had been sparked. Galactic histories were replete with good intentions gone awry; noble quests and brave companions and their campaigns to shine light upon the shadow, cradle the sword so as to cut toward salvation, spare the living by spending lives. A man and a woman and more had uttered Nara’s very sentiment: downplay the opposition—”They all think they’re masterminds”—while upscaling the fellowship.

Vayla took a deep breath as she watched the former Padawan’s fists clench before the dark, dark hilt. “Something we could use…” The fancy rang throughout Vayla’s head, but it was little more than that, and she should know. No light without dark. No price without payment. In contrast to Nara, Izel’s reaction to the macabre weapon on that clinic desk was a mite more reassuring. Yet the Vratix became more and more like a curious cat who recognized the danger but reacted with a wonder to challenge it. Vayla had seen it before, amid others and among herself. Power… The word tickled her tongue, then stung. As bright and dark as a star that becomes a black hole...

“Don’t,” the Jedi Knight spoke firmly. It was her turn to offer her own hand to Nara Allam as she looked between her and Izel Thral. “You asked what I’ve been up to...namely over the years...well…” She trailed off, blinking between that black and brazen lightsaber hilt and the eyes of two Jedi that meant more to the light than missed years could ever mean to her.

“I have spent my days in the shadow, stalking the dark with my blue light as though it might shine through the dark…” She felt the breath in her throat; heavy, tight, like the air had grown thinner in a room where a Jedi’s evil sought to suffocate. “...It never did. The shadows surround us, here and now, and they do not balk at our higher desires…”

Her hand reached for Nara’s arm just then, as if to hold her in place like a mother would her daughter. It was an odd notion. But my mother held me just like this as I walked toward that well…

“Your friend speaks of being prepared…” Vayla looked toward Izrel with thanks. “...But I say that you are not. This foe is beyond you, Nara Allam. Don’t.”


@Charndley
@Reyn

 

[Juniper]

Both of them had reservations. Deep reservations. Nara couldn't blame them. She'd had similar thoughts. Throughout the last few days, it'd raged over and over in her mind. Whether to do something with it or get rid of it. Not that she could just dump it down a sewer grate and hope for the best. The responsible thing would be to take it back to Ajan Kloss and hand it to a Master, or one of the Council. They could handle it much better than her.

But they weren't here right now, and patience had never come to Nara very easily.

She looked down at the hand on her arm, wanting her to stop. The temptation tugged at her, even with the warning of the others. Think what we could learn. Think what we could find. Who knew where the Sith had been? Who knew where he'd come from, or who else he knew? Networks of Sith hidden throughout the Outer Rim. Schemes uncovered. Worlds saved.

In the end, her hand fell away from it. Her shoulders sagged a little. "You're right. This isn't a good idea right now." Tired, sore, still recovering from what they'd experienced... she'd be easy prey for whatever still lingered in that saber. "I'll take it to Ajan Kloss. Hannibal or Max will be better equipped to deal with it than me," she admitted, grudgingly. She didn't like to admit she was outclassed but then again, they were all friends there. Well, Izel was. Vayla was... more a mentor.

"When they're done though, it's getting cleansed. That piece of shit wants to try and destroy my moon? I'll take his weapon and make it ours. And every time it gets used to help someone, to fight the Sith or save a life, I'll be spitting on his grave," Nara hissed towards it, glaring.

@Reyn @Die Shize

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel understood Nara's decision. Even so, she couldn't help but feel the slightest twinge of disappointment. Her eyes remained fixed on the lightsaber as Nara backed off. It had such potential to give them an advantage over their enemy. An advantage they sorely needed right now in the Vratix's opinion. The Sith were making gains across the galaxy, and the Jedi as a whole were still floundering to keep up. Were she versed in psychometry, she might have just done it herself. And it would be irresponsible of her to have Isen help her do it when the others weren't around. Unfortunate, but she had to agree with the others.

"I suppose it's for the best." Izel sighed despondently before looking back at Nara. "We can't put it off forever though. We need to find a way to get a hand up on these monsters, and soon. If we keep up this reactive strategy over a proactive one soon there'll be no galaxy left to protect." Izel could feel Nara's anger and loss over her homeworld. As much as Izel felt for and sympathized with her, her mind couldn't help but go to a more selfish place as well. If she allowed an attack like this to reach Thyferra she would never forgive herself. The time for action was now, they were already at war. But nothing could be done until there was a chance to meet with their fellow Jedi again. And they couldn't very well leave Nar Shaddaa just yet, not when there was so much work to be done. She reached out and patted Nara on the shoulder, trying to console her.

"Let's not dwell on this," She said. Perhaps for the time being it was better to get out of this room and away from that thing. "There's still other work to be done. We should focus on that for now." In the Vratix's experience working with one's hands was the best way to get your mind off negative thoughts. Healing was tedious and exhausting work, but it would be a good distraction. Hopefully.

@Charndley @Die Shize

 

[Vayla Mirana]

Music OOC

Spoiler

Vayla sighed out her relief at Nara’s decision, and it truly was her own to make. So much time had passed since those days that felt like simpler times in comparison, and there was no telling yet of what dangers and ordeals the Padawan back then had gotten herself into since. Vayla, though, knew of her own all too intimately. What a dark thing. She eyed the weapon as Nara spoke of Ajan Kloss. It was a wiser course. Like a nightmare lying before me, tugging and tempting...

She blinked herself out of it as her younger companion offered her intentions with the vile hilt upon returning it to the Jedi's very home. Vayla was not so sure they were the best movements, but they were better than flirting with an evil that could overtake any of the ones in the room. All in all, it was quite clear how strongly Knight Allam felt about the saber’s owner. Grown into adulthood, but still like that teen in the hall with a voice to fill it. She smiled, though it felt weak on her lips. Tugging and tempting.

Izel had the way of things when it came to the Jedi’s need to step up and step forward. Why did the dark side ever get to conquer anything? It was not simply because of their militant minds, but their light side opponents were on the reacting end. That’s fine. We reserve the peace and respond to war. But when will we prevent more than we react? How far will we go to prevail? Perhaps it was not her place to determine that and, if it ever was, no longer. It was all she could do to analyze that Sith weapon in the same way. Twisted and taunting, a black arm with a red eye...

“In my experience,” Vayla began after Izel’s input, hesitating as she wondered how much her experience mattered anymore. “The best way to get the upper hand is with your own hilt, not your enemy’s. I hope the Masters can make use of this ‘thing’ but I hate the idea of perverting our own walls with its...presence.” Think of what we could learn. Think of what we could find. Those memories, poisonous though they were, trapped in that hilt, were like untapped ore. Careful, Vayla. Dark roads lead to dark sides.

“We could…” She trailed off, stepping toward the desk. “We could…” The hilt was as dark as empty space, its spikes cruel and cursed, its emitter like a sleeping anger just waiting to be woken. “If not should…” She reached a hand out, and maybe she had heard a voice behind her, maybe a hand was reaching toward her, but as her own hovered over the hilt her other hand came up with a hilt of its own. Dark roads lead to dark sides.

A blue blade thrummed forth from her hand to hover over the Sith’s memento instead. “Destroy it.”



@Charndley @Nara Allam
@Reyn @Izel Thral

 

[Juniper]

Admitting her own limitations was incredibly frustrating. Exceedingly annoying. But it also brought relief. She was tired, worked up and still fuming over what'd happened. That was not a mental landscape that was conductive to resisting the Dark Side. At best, it'd probably just about wipe her out for a week. At worst? Well, Nara didn't want to imagine. Like heck she'd do anything to benefit the Sith though.

"Thanks," she said to Izel, patting her in return. At least she had good friends who'd help her out and an action plan. Ship it to Ajan Kloss, shove it in front of a Master and get them to help. I have a really good record with getting Jedi Masters to do anything, it'll be fine, Nara thought to herself, managing a smirk.

Nara watched Vayla reach for her saber though, and hold it over the Sith one. Her eyes opened wide, about to reach out and stop her. She held herself back though, just looking for a second. It'd be easy. It'd end it. They could turn a corner on Nar Shaddaa, bring it to some sort of conclusion. Focus on the future. Whatever that Sith freak was, that'd be the end of him.

But what conclusion was that? We let a Sith run riot and Izel killed him by chance. His own experiment backfired on him and only by our own luck and the Force did we stop Nar Shaddaa from being completely overrun. That's not an ending, that's barely a victory. We don't know where they come from.

"No," she said finally, shaking her head. "No. There could be information we get from it. We might not get much from it, but someone can. Someone more experienced than us and... we'll all be safer when it's on Ajan Kloss, nice and safe. Saf-er. Safe-ish." There was no safe when it came to that saber but there were better places for it. "If there's anything we can glean from that saber, it'll be worth it. At some point, we take the fight to them." They had to. Otherwise, the Sith would just inflict attack after attack on the Galaxy.

Nara went over, wrapping the cloth back around it carefully. Making sure not to touch it directly, but she sure felt it radiating something through to her. Made her feel a little sick. She pushed the bundle along towards a box, shoving it inside with a loud clang.

"Plenty of work to be done," Nara agreed, turning to her friends. "We could do with checking in on the bite patients again, make sure they haven't got signs of infection. Vayla, there're some more people to be assessed but they look to be fairly minor injuries. Anyone with cuts and scrapes gets sent away, anything more serious then try what you can. I'm rationing bacta for the most serious cases, my shipment never got here because of.... this." She waved her hand around, indicating everything. "If anyone comes to you with bites or deep wounds, particularly with a weird discolouration around it, take them to the obs area, we've got it towards the back." Nara was being very, very careful about anyone who could be infected.

"Oh and grab some food when you need it. They're running some kinda soup for everyone out there. Keep yourselves fed."

@Reyn @Die Shize

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel was immediately taken aback by Vayla's words. Destroy it? Was she insane? Destroying such a valuable piece of intelligence now would completely nullify everything they had managed to accomplish here. All those people would have died for nothing. She was glad Nara spoke up and disagreed with the Pantoran in a civil way. Izel herself might have had a much more radical response to any attempt to destroy the lightsaber.

As Nara wrapped up the Sith weapon and stored it in the desk again the Vratix managed to calm herself somewhat. She was starting to think it was the lightsaber itself making her feel that way. Flood must have been very strong with the dark side indeed. As Nara started to explain the situation to Vayla she took particular interest in the mention of the bacta shortage. She hadn't been aware of that.

"The local crime lords probably grabbed as much of it for themselves as they could in the chaos." The Vratix theorized. "Stockpile the stuff to mark up the price for people that desperately need it. Leeches..." She clicked thoughtfully as she tried to puzzle out a solution. "Kolto would be an acceptable alternative if you could find any. Or we could import the individual ingredients and make a bacta solution ourselves. Most people aren't aware how simple the formula is. All we need is kavam, alazhi and ambori. On their own none of those three components would be very valuable targets for thieves."

Of course there was still the issue of getting their hands on those individual ingredients. Izel very much doubted they'd be readily available on an ecumenopolis like Nar Shaddaa. Bacta was produced on worlds other than Thyferra but they usually had to have similar climates and... well... Actual fields to grow the crops on. Still, this was an area where the Vratix thought she could be useful.

@Charndley @Die Shize

 

[Vayla Mirana]

Music OOC

Spoiler

It seemed so simple a thing, so certain, so necessary—dip her wrist and watch as blue light sliced through black metal, severing an evil with one fell stroke. Why should she not? Why should they blight their home and the home of their brothers and sisters with such a foul and flagrant thing? Why should we give them any more attention than they deserve by bringing their own poisonous instruments into our sanctuary?

She was about to do it, her hand on the edge of reliving an ancient creed and fulfilling her own bygone agenda, but a firm “No” held Vayla’s hand in place. Just like that, the blade was sucked back into its hilt and found silence once again—but the same could not be said of the hilt that still layed and lingered. She caught herself staring at it, relaxed though she was, holding herself back with more ease.

Nara spoke of information. At what cost? She spoke of safety. From the Sith? What about from ourselves? She spoke of taking the fight to them. Yes. Now, not later. Before more die, not after. But you don’t destroy your enemy by preserving their mementos. Sighing out her surrender, at least for the moment, Vayla turned to face her companion—that little one from time ago; from teenager to young woman. It was all so suddenly profound because she suddenly saw herself and wondered what might have become.

There was a particle of disturbance that floated before Vayla’s vision as she watched Nara cover the monstrosity, the Pantoran’s fingers shifting over the hilt she still held, but the moment passed and Nara’s soul was safe—for now. Always for now. Still, on that same note, for now all three Jedi in that room had more pressing needs to attend to, so she cilpped hilt to belt. There were souls to heal beyond their own, and Vayla stole one last look at the spot that lightsaber had been stored away before she focused on the task at hand.

“I agree with Knight Izel,” she nodded as she entered the tail end of the exchange. “Kolto is less effective than bacta but certainly not something to pass up under the circumstances. Of which, simple or not, I’m no chemist. I’m also not exactly versed on Nar Shaddaa…” It was a moon that she never quite had a reason to visit except for entitarian purposes, this being one such occasion. “On that note, I can definitely put my hands to work with the patients directly. A bowl of soup sounds like a good idea right now and I can assess in the seconds it takes to slurp it.”

She smiled, as weakly as ever, looking between her counterparts. “Not to derail the subject but...I…” With a breath, Vayla steadied her thoughts and feelings, determined not to let the shadows of her past loom over her now. “...I’m sorry...if I acted out of line earlier. I do not seek to thwart that which you intend to do with that lightsaber but, as you well know, it is...dangerously powerful...and I learned time ago how to deal with what is both dangerous and powerful...” In my own way, perhaps.



@Charndley @Reyn

 

[Juniper]

The question of the saber was dealt with, for now. She wasn't going to hear any argument either. Too much of a waste to get rid of it. She wasn't privy to the inner thoughts of her companions but she had enough confidence in her own self when it came to keeping the saber. Using it, trying to gain information from it, maybe not. But she'd keep it for now.

The discussion of actual, real business made her relax a bit more, even if logistics wasn't an area she claimed any competence with. All that effort and work just to get some bacta. No wonder it was such a great restorative, it'd have to be in order for people to go through the effort of creating it. She knew Izel was right about the crime lords hoarding the stuff, though. Completely abhorrent and so utterly predictable.

"Nothing brings out the charity of crime lords than a disaster," she joked hollowly, staring into space as she thought through their options. "I don't even know how much kolto we've got. Not much, if we have any. There might be some ingredients being offloaded at the spaceport nearby, I know a few of the crews in this sector are into synthetic bacta generation... among other things." Nara kept a rudimentary record of what the crime gangs in the area were up to, just in case it presented any difficulties.

"I can call in with a contact in one of the gangs, see if they have anything we can take." Nara spared the others the identity of exactly who she was talking about for the moment. "Izel, if you can get a list of suppliers in case we need to import, preferably as cheap as possible? Tell them I'll kiss their boots or something. Vayla... that sounds great. Some of the people here are very cage-y among Jedi, anything you can do to get them assessed covertly would help."

She stood up a little straighter, smoothing out her coat. "It's a start."

When Vayla apologised, Nara just waved her hand. "It's okay. You're only looking out for us." It was only out of concern for them all, even if Nara might've felt it a little preachy. Still, more discord between them wasn't going to help anyone other than the Sith. "No apologies necessary."

And if that slimy Hutt is hoarding my bacta, I will wring his fat, greasy neck until he vomits it up.

@Reyn @Die Shize

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel nodded along with Nara as she assured the Pantoran Knight that all was well. She was right, Vayla only meant well, even if Izel would have vehemently disagreed with her conclusion. Ultimately they all wanted what was best for the galaxy here. Better they work together.

Turning back to Nara she nodded again in acknowledgement. "Right, well, the only companies that produce bacta are Zaltin and Xucphra. They control the industry and the prices. I have a few siblings that work for Zaltin. I'll see if I can't convince them to give us a better deal. Charity in times of crisis looks good to the public after all, they might be convinced to do it as a PR stunt. And if you think we might be able to find what we need at the spaceport we can take a look now." She paused to look out at the rest of the clinic, seeing the state of things wasn't exactly getting any better.

"Or we could stay here and focus on healing the patients, it's your call. I'll go where I'm needed." Staying and continuing to use her powers to heal the clinic's patients would be the easiest and most direct way to help. But in all honesty Izel was sort of hoping for a reason to get out of here for a bit. There was too much doom and gloom in this place. With everything that had happened it was only worsening her mental state. Hunting down the ingredients and trying to make some bacta should prove a decent distraction. And it could potentially help out the clinic a lot as well. Still, this was Nara's operation and she was prepared to do whatever her friend felt was most important in the moment.

@Charndley @Die Shize

 

[Vayla Mirana]

Music OOC

Spoiler

Her fellow Jedi had not held her actions against her. She had not exactly expected them to but she was all too aware of her own zeal; a byproduct of hazy history and fighting feelings. More so, that Sith’s saber had had its own effect on her too. If not for its power she might not ever have stepped forward to ignite her own. Soon enough, it would be removed from Nar Shaddaa and taken to Ajan Kloss, and despite her reservations about that she had no mind to get in the way of two Jedi who had more history with the weapon than she did.

When it came to what to do next for and on Nar Shaddaa, Vayla shared Izel’s sentiment; Nara was more or less leading the operation here and the Pantoran would defer to her. Even if the other two might head out toward spaceport or elsewhere, though, Vayla was of the mind to remain in the clinic. Its patients needed healing beyond physical wounds. And I might yet heal myself by treating the injuries of others. Besides, that soup was sounding more and more appealing with each passing moment.

“I’ll echo that,” Vayla nodded after Izel’s speech. “Still willing to stay put unless there’s a shift in direction, but on that note either or both of you can reach me as needed.” With that, she held out her commlink to exchange numbers. Ultimately, the Jedi had arrived outside the clinic with the very genuine statement of: “I'm here to help, however I can”. Sith sabers aside, all Nara had to do was point the finger and Vayla would follow.


@Charndley @Reyn

 

[Juniper]

Nara listened to the advice that was being given. It was a strange position to be in, giving out orders. It was her clinic, her homeworld and she was the resident healer there, of course she should be telling others what to do. She paused for a couple of seconds to take a breath, summoning her resolve.

"We could stay here and heal everyone we could, but getting more bacta would be more efficient, I'm guessing. We don't need to be healing every cut, broken bone and seared lekku." She smiled towards Izel, considering what she'd mentioned. "I'll take any leverage I can get, to be honest. If you could get in touch with your siblings, we can start getting a reliable supply. But I think we should go to the spaceport and see if we can find any ingredients. And we're not going to ask if we can have it." Whatever crew was hoarding the stuff, she'd take it from them and they could go cry in a sewer about it. And if it was some corp or something, well... they could bill her.

"Vayla, you're welcome to come with us but I'm sure you'll be exceedingly useful here. If you need some help, look for Thoo, the Rodian woman. She's somewhere, triaging people." She grabbed her bag from the back of the room, pulling it over her shoulder. If she had to, she'd sneak open a crate and cram it full of stolen ingredients. Needs of the many, needs of the many...

"Make sure you eat something! I'm not picking you up if you collapse!" she told Vayla as she moved to leave the room.

@Reyn @Die Shize

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel nodded in agreement with Nara's conclusion. Using bacta was certainly less time consuming than healing wounds themselves, they could help more people this way. And while she could begin making the calls necessary to get a steady supply of the stuff, there was no harm in getting a jump start on the process by going out and getting the things they needed to make their own in the meantime. She was a bit surprised to hear her friend encourage theft, although she understood why. They were in a desperate situation, and ultimately the people they'd be stealing from probably had it coming. Still, the Vratix crossed her arms as Nara said this and spoke with feigned offense.

"Nara, it would be completely unbecoming of a Jedi to break the law. I could never condone that." She then leaned forward and spoke a bit more slyly. "Of course... This is Nar Shaddaa. More often then not what's lawful is a matter of perspective." Standing up straight again with a lighthearted chitter she called her pike to her hand with the Force and made to follow her friend. Looking back however she felt a twinge of uncertainty. She didn't doubt Vayla's dedication, but she did somewhat doubt her judgement after what had just transpired. She was just a little worried about leaving her alone with access to Flood's lightsaber. She might end up doing something drastic while she and Nara were away on their little mission.

"I'm sure we could use your help." She encouraged the Pantoran to come with them. "Once we get there we could split up and retrieve everything we need individually. Then we'll be able to get back sooner and get back to work. It's your choice of course." Whether or not Vayla agreed to come with them, Izel would still follow Nara to the spaceport. Hopefully this stealth mission would go a little more smoothly then the last she was on...

@Charndley @Die Shize