Open Jakku What's buried beneath the sand?

[Darth Caelestis]

Artorigas kept his own saber lit as well, the odd mixture of Red and Purple giving the pair light as they made there way down the a wide corridor leading them to the hanger. The Acolyte kept to Hunters left, it might not be any real advantage but keeping his potential killer on his weapon arm made him feel a little better at ease.

Eventually the corridor came to a T-junction, if he remembered correctly both ways lead into the hanger from different angles. Now would the tightly wound Hunter let him go one way whilst he went the other. Or would he suspect the strategy for more than what it was, just a way to make this go quicker so Hunter could leave him to his own devices. "Shall we split up? I go left you go right. They should meet in the main hanger. Gives the Alien less avenues of escape?"

@Phoenix

 

[Vizim]

Vizim kept careful distance from the other man. Not so much as to draw large attention, but precisely as one might expect from someone who didn't trust his partner. Nor did the acolyte trust Vizim. Such was the way. But at the moment - assuming the man wasn't Jedi (which was a big assumption) - Vizim saw no reason to attack him. The same couldn't be said in the opposite direction for all the hunter knew.

Fine, he agreed after a moment's pause. If you see him, don't hesitate. We don't need him alive, he said. It didn't seem the other man was particularly interested in questions or argument, so unless he asked another clarification, Vizim would head off.

He headed down the hall and around the corner, and his saber snapped out and he reached out to the Force. It took him a few moments to focus himself but slowly his need for sight began to lessen. It was a technique he was still no expert at, but he could navigate... acceptably in pure darkness.

He continued on with careful steps, bumping lightly into a wall only once as he came toward the hangar. It was large and still dark apart from a single glowing light at the far end. It looked as if someone was working with a fusioncutter as sparks flew from a source that couldn't be seen.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Hopefully he could get this over and done with as quick as possible, Artorigas moved off to the left at a quick pace. As he rounded the corner the light from Hunter's saber disappeared, he was now alone. He was tempted to just wait here in the corridor let Hunter deal with his target then politely ask him to leave so he could go about his own business. But Artorigas thought that if anything not helping him would only lead the man to delve more into his business than less.

So with a sigh he walked towards the hanger, one of the blast doors was half closed forcing him to hop through his landing was perhaps a little to loud for his liking but nothing he could do about it. Durasteel was not the most sound absorbent material in the galaxy. A few more turns and he reached the hanger. He could see nothing through the pitch blackness of it, flipping the ignition switch he let the saber go dark and closed his eyes.

Pulling The Force into him, he felt its warmth, they were deep inside the ship now well hidden from the burning Jakku sun and if anything it was cold here. Tendrils of power flowed out of him, trying to find their target. For him to cover as much of the hanger as he could Artorigas would have to stay stationary, luckily there were only three main entrances to the hanger, two were covered by Sith the third by a whole lot of sand. Artorigas aimed to flush him out and towards Hunter and let the Sith take the kill he wanted, he easily found Hunter on the opposite side, his own Force ability pulled towards the gravity of Hunters own but the target took longer. Then he found him, nicely about half way between the pair.

@Phoenix

 

[Vizim]

Vizim's hand closed around the handle of his pistol as he saw the sparking flashes in the distance. Though he couldn't see his "partner" he could sense the man in the distance.

Good, he thought to himself. He dropped down, using the Force to buffer his fall. The thump wasn't too loud, but louder than he would have liked. The light from the fusioncutter seemed to cut out and the glow of a beam tube replaced it.

We... weeka chay!? a voice shouted into the darkness. Vizim could sense the fear. It spiked through the Force and sent a shiver up his spine. Fear and helplessness. They were sensations he had known in his youth and hated. For a moment, he almost felt a hint of pity for his target, but he quickly quashed it. It had no place in him. It had no place in a Sith. This was an enemy of the Order. His death put Vizim one step closer to never feeling that again.

He would die.

The hunter continued, skirting toward the edge of the hangar in hopes of getting a better position against the Rodian, his pistol slipping free from the holster on his thigh.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

So Hunter had also spotted his prey, it was only fitting Artorigas thought a small smile creeping onto his face beneath the mask. 'Time to flush him out' He thought opening his eyes and letting The Force dissipate around him, he could barley see his hand in front of his face but luckily their pray had brought out a small light giving him a direction to head.

Stepping out from the door he moved slowly shuffling his feet encase he kicked or tripped on something, it was slow work but he didn't need the man getting spooked to early and Hunter getting angry. "Why don't you kill both of them?" Why of all times had Andros chosen now to talk, "Just think, you can go back home with two heads as trophy's Sith Lords like that." Artorigas had to stop, he couldn't concentrate on his surroundings as well as the Sith Lord in his head. "Do you want me to go see Darth Andruil?" Artorigas whispered to the voice in his head, the Sith Lord, was the only person who he had come across who seemed to keep the ancient Sith Lord in line.

It seemed to work as he went quiet, thank the Eternal. Artorigas began walking again when he felt something, it was pulling at him but not in the direction of either the target or Hunter, but to the rear of the hanger.

@Phoenix

 

[Vizim]

Perhaps whatever the other man felt didn't call to Vizim or perhaps the Sith was simply too preoccupied with his target to notice it, but the rear hangar's call was completely lost on him.

He was thankful that the Rodian was using a light of his own to make himself easy to find, but the Sith had to duck low behind a half-crushed speeder bike to avoid being spotted as it swept over him.

Vizim got the general impression that the other Sith was still off to his left, so he decided it was as good a time as any to act. He didn't have much of a shot on the Rodian, but his goal wasn't really to hit him. It was either to keep him in place or force him toward the other Sith.

As the beam swept past him, Vizim popped up and squeezed off a single shot. It lanced through the darkness and struck the chassis of a ship just above the head of the Rodian. The man yelped and ducked down, but Vizim couldn't see what happened next. He got the impression he was crawling toward the Acolyte, but it was difficult to say. Hopefully the other man would have an easy kill on the cowering traitor.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

He was about to make his way towards the pull when the obvious sound of a blaster reverberated around the hanger. It was answered by the yelping sound of the Rodian target, it appeared the target was only a few meters from him scurrying away from Hunter. The alien didn't seem to realise his Sith tracker was not alone and was quickly making his way towards Artorigas.

At this distance Artorigas didn't have too concentrate to hard to feel the Rodian through The Force as he made his way towards him. Holding up his hand and reaching out in the darkness with The Force he found the alien and then with a little bit of pressure through The Force he grabbed hold. The creature screamed out for a moment before Artorigas took better hold on his throat. Walking over to the levitated alien Artorigas ignited his saber a deep purple glow illuminating him in the eyes of the Alien, a few steps later and he could see the little greenish creature dangling in the air grasping at his throat.

"Would you like to finish this Hunter?" He called out into the hanger, he had no idea if the man would be upset for him taking his kill or not, so he would leave it to the Sith to decide.

@Phoenix

 

[Vizim]

Vizim was glad to see that the other Sith had done precisely what he hoped. He came around the corner with his pistol aimed, but the Rodian was already a foot off the ground, clutching at his throat. He would be dead shortly at this rate, but the other man asked if Vizim would like to finish him off.

He shook his head.

No, looks like you've got him under control. Finish him off, he replied. motioning with his hand to indicate the other man was welcome to finish the job. Vizim's pistol slipped back into its holster and his lightsaber came back on to light the room around him.

He began rummaging through the Rodian's medium-sized bag. It looked like it was his "go bag" or something along those lines. Clothes, personal items, some credits, and several datacrons. Vizim began transferring some of the contents of the bag into his own pack, taking a sip from his water as he did so and glancing up at the other two periodically.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Was it to test him again or was just that Hunter wasn't interested in the targets manner of death as long as it was done. A small part of his mischievous side wanted to let the Rodian down and run out of the hanger, but it would not be worth the hassle with Hunter. Although he had the Rodian by the throat he had never actually snapped a neck with The Force yet and today would not change that. Artorigas had preferred the saber to The Force for killing since he joined the Sith, something about actually doing the deed physically himself made him feel better about the death.

Pulling the Rodian over to him with The Force he allowed him to hover in front of him for a second before letting go, as the alien dropped to the ground Artorigas swung the saber cleaving his head clear of the body. "Felt good, didn't it." That voice in the back of his head always liked to turn up in times like this, but he ignored him. The head rolled away into the darkness, Artorigas left it there if Hunter needed a trophy he could find it himself.

Walking over to the Sith he watched him ransacking the alien's things. "Anything interesting?"

@Phoenix

 

[Vizim]

Vizim watched the saber pass cleanly through the Rodian's neck in a single blow. The head rolled free and the body collapsed onto the floor where it had been floating moments earlier.

He could feel the darkness emanating from the other man whether the acolyte realized it or not. Vizim was now satisfied that he was who he said. Jedi didn't have a tendency to execute unarmed prisoners, and when they did, it was usually the beginning of the end. Add to that the fact that Vizim really didn't care about being the one to deliver the final blow, and it all worked out.

He stuffed the credits into his bag because the Rodian certainly wouldn't need them. What he'd really been looking for were the datachips. They contained planetary defense information downloaded from Dromund Kaas. Darth Stolas - understandably - wanted them recovered or destroyed and the mole with them.

If he could find more information about the Free Souls, that was just a bonus at this point.

Stolen planetary defense data, he said. Though he didn't trust the other man, some basic answers seemed as if they weren't entirely out of place. Still, if the man were going to betray him and try to claim the reward, then now would probably be the time.

He checked the clothing and personal items meticulously before he tossed them aside. He had no need for them and he wasn't going to take them with him.

Not much else of value, he said, though he still needed to check the Rodian's pockets for his datapad. If it contained any additional information, he would need it as well.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

Now that was interesting, he wasn't expecting the little alien to have something so sensitive as to data on Dromund Kaas, he was expecting perhaps minor sabotage or perhaps murder but not this big. Artorigas let out an audible 'ha' at the realisation that he was not just helping a little Sith Lord go about his grudges but actually a Council Member.

Artorigas watched him for a moment or two whilst he searched the remainder of his belongings, though he seemed dissatisfied with what he did or did not find. He was lost in it all as he watched then he snapped back, remembering why he was here in the first place. Turning away from the other Sith he began walking back towards the rear of the hanger, he held the lit blade above his head letting the purple glow light as much of the area around him as possible.

At the rear of the hanger there was a section which was weirdly closed off from the rest, it wasn't anything like a fence or wall but a number of crates and other assorted items had been moved to surround a section of the hanger. He could feel part of what he was searching for on the other side, he smiled with excitement. Their were easy gaps to move through however and he stepped through one into the area beyond.

It was empty, now that was disappointing.

@Phoenix

 

[Vizim]

The other Sith started wandering toward the back of the hangar and Vizim moved over to grab the datapad and search the pockets of the Rodian. It was done. Nothing else needed to be collected, and Vizim's mission was finished.

Another sip of his water before pulling his mask back up. He watched the other Sith, but didn't say anything. He seemed to be... looking for something. But the ebb of the Force told Vizim that whatever he was looking for, he hadn't found it.

He waited for a moment, simply watching the other man curiously. On the one hand, his job was done and he could leave, but on the other hand he was curious. Though he no longer thought the other man was a Jedi, something certainly felt a bit... weird about him.

Looking for something? he asked with a quirked eyebrow.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

"Yea, I guess." He called back to Hunter as his eyes passed over the separated part of the hanger, he was vague as he honestly didn't know what he was looking for. A couple of boxes stood to one side, tools and parts strewn across them, as Artorigas approached them he could see a thick layer of dust over them. This area had been abandoned for a long time, then why had The Force brought him here?

Walking across the open space again he spotted scorch marks on the ground from thrusters, three rectangle marks from landing gears lightly dented into the Durasteel surface, a ship had definitely spent a long time here. "But how long ago?" He muttered to himself as he walked back and forth trying to figure out why he was here. Then he spotted something odd, a hydrospanner left on the ground separate from the other tools, the Acolyte bent down and picked it up.

A rush of energy seemed to pass through him as his soul felt ripped away from his body, flashes of light assaulted his eyes, squinting these flashes turned into images. Lush forests, waterfalls, deep valleys, caves and what he could only think of was, lighsabers. Then the flashes disappeared and he was pulled back into the hanger. "That was interesting." Lord Andros said.

@Phoenix

 

[Vizim]

Artorigas couldn't have seemed much more disconnected from Vizim's question if he'd said "I'm disconnected from your question." Vizim could have left - he certainly didn't love this stupid, desolate planet - but he was already in here, the ship was cooler than the outside, and he could still leave whenever he wanted.

Waves of something tore through the Force from the other Sith to Vizim. It was almost like emotion or confusion, but whatever it was, it was strong. It had influenced the other man in such a way that it was obvious to Vizim that something had happened.

No job's ever easy, he thought. He once again thought about just turning around and walking out, but his desire for answers overrode for just a bit longer.

What was that about? he asked.

@Braden Drake

 

[Darth Caelestis]

"Not a clue." He replied to the Sith, it took some effort to get his eyes to readjust to the darkness. Which was strange wasn't it just a vision in his head, why had his eyes adjusted for the light of this forest planet? Forest Planet? "I think, yea, I'm done here." If he sounded aloof and confused that was because he was. His mind was trying to process not only what he had seen but also what he know felt through The Force. That weird beacon which pulled him here at moved, far far away.

Walking past the Sith he made his way back to the hanger entrance. "Its been a pleasure." Artorigas finished with a hint of sarcasm.

@Phoenix
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End Thread