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The Shadow's Gambit


Raynuk Montar

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The lights had flickered, several times in fact. The occurrence was not lost on Quietus, nor was the numerous possible meanings behind it. The one thing that he did know however, that it was not just some random power flucuation; not with that pattern. It seemed, at least on the surface, that Emerald was no longer alone. Whether that meant that her compatriot had once again managed to get on board, or if there was somehow a remote access, she was not alone.

 

The sudden change in Emerald's behaviors all but confirmed it, the sudden return of talk of business bringing about an end to Quietus' games. With a twinge of disappointment, the Sith relented his silent mental assault on the woman, allowing her to naturally come down from the rush of endorphins he had forced upon her. He did not immediately respond as she laid out her renewed terms, giving substantial pause to the moment as his eyes studied her. Finally he spoke, is words even and calm, and yet carrying a very ominous tone.

 

"Your 'terms' as you call them, are barely acceptable. But acceptable they are none the less. You and your merry band of misfits will work as agents of the Sith, and more specifically, of me. I am sure that we can come up with some clever uses for you all. You will in turn be provided with the umbrella of support and protection of the Sith. bring any issues that arise for your organization to me; You tell me what you need, and I will endeavor to make the necessary things happen. How these problems are dealt with, is entirely up to my own discretion. I will not hesitate to exterminate an entire company for slighting you, bare that in mind when you bring forth a request. Likewise, I will protect my interests in your organization from any threats that I perceive; even if they include your own people."

Once his words had set in, only then did Quietus stir, turning from Emerald and walking back across the room towards the door. He first keyed the comm panel by the door, entering the access codes to get a direct line to the bridge before turning to watch Emerald as he spoke his next words.

 

"Captain. scan the area around the Shadow's Gambit. We are looking for a ship; one that a group of pirates would use. Perhaps a freighter; smaller, easily blends in with ships around it. Most likely making all attempts to not stand out. Look for a ship that's keeping its distance, but doesnt look like its keeping its distance. Flying casual. At the same time, run a frequency scan; lower bands. One that would be easily hidden in all the traffic. Use the pirate's scrambled comm frequency for reference. Then cross reference the two searches. When you find them... blast them."

 

Immediately after his words, Quietus reached out with the Force and found the presence of the Captain, touching the man's mind. It was short, but not subtle. It would serve as a message to the Captain. Despite all of his words, he had two final tests of Emerald's resolve. As a devilish grin spread across his face, his eyes still watching Emerald, Quietus keyed the door open, and spoke again. This time he spoke into the hallway, but kept his gaze on Emerald.

 

"My dear, please do come in and meet our guest."

 

((Posting on Hallie's behalf)) A few scarce seconds later, Emily emerged from the darkness of her corner and entered the state room, with Roe'gall following close on her heels. There were now two enormous Sith beasts in the room, and now two powerful Sith. Roe'gall of course was on alert, but still found the surroundings comfortable enough to turn its attention to its brother, Vex'aedr. While the two tuk'atas greeted each other and caught up on their adventures in kind, Emily made her own track directly to Quietus. She had, to a point, seen and heard what was going on in this room, and despite her knowledge of Quietus' ways, still felt the need to establish her dominance over this pirate. So, she did just that by pressing herself close to him, wrapping one arm around his waist and letting the other come to rest on his chest. Quietus' own hands found her hip and forearm in kind, completing the effect of wrapping each other in their embraces. Emily looked sidelong at Emerald, a threatening fire behind her eyes, but with an otherwise neutral look on her face as she sized Emerald up. However, it was Quietus who spoke first.

 

"This, is Darth Eris. Darth Eris, meet our newest associate. She has graciously offered her.. services to us in return for, of all things, protection." He spoke through a smile that was reminiscent of a used speeder salesman.

 

======================================================================

 

On the bridge of the Shadow's Gambit, Captain Kira was beginning to reconsider his choices of late. On the outside, the maiden voyage of the ship was going perfectly smoothly, but to Kira it had been a nightmare. Between serving the whims of the now three Sith on board, covering up the movements and actions of those three Sith so that none of the passengers found out, maintaining the intended schedule of the ship through all these stops, and the fiasco with the pirates, the Captain was a little frayed around the edges. And so when the comms beeped and notified Kira that Quietus was on the line, it was all the Captain could do to simply sigh and see what he wanted. What Quietus wanted however, was fairly extraordinary.

 

"...Use the pirate's scrambled comm frequency for reference. Then cross reference the two searches. "

 

To perform the task would take a sizable amount of effort, but it could be done; especially now that most of the transports to and from the planet were not active for the next few hours, leaving most of the crew with a minimal amount of work to do. Perhaps Quietus knew that, or perhaps the Sith was simply lucky with his timing. Either way, Kira wasnt going to let the Sith down.

 

"When you find them... blast them with a broadband clearance to land on the Shadow's Gambit."

 

The second half of the message was odd to Kira, as if a part of it had been said directly in his mind rather than coming from the comm panel in front of him. Kira didnt think much of it however, taking it to be a sign that he really was exhausted by all of this. Without giving it a second thought, he began doling out assignments to get the task done for Quietus.

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I ate a hippo. It was delicious.

May the Forth therve you well...

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  • 1 month later...

Of course he had been toying with her, she had expected nothing less. But to bring in this dark mistress of his and flaunt her before Emerald—well, if she needed any further reminding that this Sith Lord was just like any other man in his base instincts, she had been given all that she needed. Still, the break in the room’s tension, even to exchange for tension of a different sort, was welcome. The daggers in the eyes of the woman currently wrapping herself around Quietus were impossible to miss, but the conclusion of this rather odd and strangely fortunate meeting was both welcome and timely.

 

“Darth Eris. I'd say it's a pleasure, but from what I've heard, making the acquaintance of too many Force-wielding magicians can be hazardous to your health,” she said with a casual nod and impish smile to show the lack of enmity she bore for the dark-shrouded sorceress, turning her attention back to Quietus. “Well, your hospitality has been most appreciated, my lord. I assume I’m free to go at this point?”

 

Her eyes flicked to the ceiling, clueing them both in on her full awareness of the disturbance in the lighting that had signaled the arrival and systems abruption coming from the Nebula’s Glory.

 

Giving only brief pause for the gesture to have effect, she continued. “Given our arrangement, is there anything pressing that my organization can begin work on? If it involves heavy explosives or covert ops, so much the better,” she flashed a predatory smile as her mind turned to the memory of Ruby and Sapphire standing over a blackened wall in the hold of the Glory.

 

A pang of emotion struck her as she considered the memory, something long-forgotten and disregarded to the point that she had a hard time placing it. It wasn’t simply nostalgia, or wistful remembrance, but rather—homesickness. These compatriots, these fellow pirates, they were her home, her family.

 

As quickly as the thought appeared, she shunted it out of her mind. Not wise to display weakness in front of two of the most dangerous clients she had even been in the employ of. She didn’t attempt to dispel the notion that such an emotion had overcome her for a moment: she knew enough about how their sorcerers’ tricks worked to know that would never fool them. Instead, she moved to the table once more with a lithe grace that paraded utter self-control and tossed back a final shot of Kashyyyk’s finest. Hoping for a favorable response to her attempt at self-dismissal, she placed her glass back onto the table with delicate fingers and turned her fiery eyes toward the pair, waiting.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Once Quietus had invited her into the room, Eris moved elegantly, projecting a cold power designed to show this pirate that she was not threatened by her. Nevertheless, she felt that she had to show some dominance, so she crossed over and wrapped her arms around Quietus, who likewise wrapped an arm around her waist. Turning her cold mismatched gaze on the gorgeous blonde pirate, she sized the woman up, just as Emerald was doing the same.

 

The pirate's words about not making friends with Sith caused Eris to smile inwardly. Not only was the woman beautiful, but she was intelligent too. That was a dangerous combination, and one that Emily was sure Emerald used to her full advantage. If the other members of her pirate band were as clever as she, Eris knew they would be useful allies--at least as far as non-Sith went. If Quietus had use for them, and here they were asking, it made sense to accept their service.

 

Her mind wandered for a moment. In truth, she was quite distracted. There was a lot on her mind; a weight of responsibility, change, and decisions made. She had rediscovered herself while she had been gone, and it was important to her to share that with Quietus. She was, if she was honest with herself, a bit nervous. She didn't know what he was going to think, or how he was going to respond. She had known him for several years now, interrupted though they were, but he was still much of an enigma to her.

 

Roe'gall seemed to sense the underlying tension in his mistress, and, as a result, after having greeted his brother, he moved to stand behind Emily and Quietus, his head lowered until it was next to hers. The Sith Lady refocused on Emerald now, belatedly realizing that she had completely missed the pirate's reaction to Quietus' ploy. It mattered little. She was just ready for the pirate to be gone.

Emily%202015_zps34rpkjob.jpg

 

"Days in the sun...what I'd give to relive just one. Undo what's done, and bring back the light."

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((I assume both Ruby and Sapphire are aboard now going by what Sapphire put in the space thread. As such my post is based on that fact.))

 

Another hour had passed before Karys made contact with Captain Kira again. He was beginning to lose patience, that was until he heard some interesting news, it appeared their 'guests' had returned. A fact which confounded him but which brought a smile to his face. The force it seemed favored him as now the hunter had his prey back in his sights. He would make them regret coming back yes but most of all...he would make them suffer for denying their fate. Unaware of what else had transpired the massassi cared only of his assigned task, it had become his purpose and without it he was nothing. He had made it his sole duty to hunt this Chiss and any who got in his way would reap their reward for such an offense. All, save his master could command him to relent.

 

His task was to capture the Chiss and catch her he would, the pirates simply made his job easier by coming back to him. Kira further informed him of the fact the Chiss was not alone. It twas as expected, she had help on the outside however it mattered little. She to would get her due reward in time as all who opposed would.

 

Oh how they will suffer. The dark does not forgive nor does it forget.

 

He spoke through to Kira.

 

''Captain it's Karys. Lock down the hangar bay the two pirates just arrived in, the surrounding area and seal them in until I get there, have turrets trained on them at all times with stun rounds. Also seal the damned grates and gas the venting system in that area without alerting the guests...some kind of sleeping agent should do it. I want no escapes this time. Have a dozen men or so equipped with blaster rifles set to stun, CryoBan and Stun grenades if possible, riot shields and batons to meet in an adjacent room for briefing. I'm done playing nice with these two.

 

Keep the two pirates in that hanger no matter what they say or try to do and keep the doors sealed. Have someone go in and tell the pirates that someone has been sent to escort them and that they will be required to wait there until the 'escort' has arrived. But whatever you do, do not let them catch on to our scheme and do not let them out. Delay them however necessary should words fail but do not kill them. We need them alive.

 

And if people start asking questions about the large number of men, make up some excuse about a politician or some such. And if others ask about why the hangar area is sealed off tell them it's a electrical issue and you can't do nothing about it at the moment. Or say it's a maintenance issue. Whatever you use I trust your imagination can come up with something. I'll meet your men shortly, in the meantime have them prepare and be ready by the time I arrive. Inform my master that we shall soon have his prize.''

 

At that moment Karys ended the communique. He was fairly certain he almost felt Kira's raised heartbeats which almost made him smile. Almost. The massassi set about placing the armor he came in on and adjusted it, checking that it allowed him to freely move and fight if required. Moving to the bed he leaned under and opened up a ancient looking chest. Inside of which contained most of his weaponry. Looking inside he decided which might be better suited to his task.

 

Grabbing 'Chaosas' he placed it upon his right had, briefly flexing his wrist and fingers and adjusting it to allow movement in much the same way as he had checked his armor. Happy with the outcome he proceeded to lift up 'Adas Fury' and applied the same treatment before placing it on his belt, across the front of his torso before picking up his combat knife 'Tsis Skylum', placing it in his boot. Just in case.

 

Now to the ship armory for a few more supplies. Closing the case and standing up, Karys practically jogged to the ship armory, entering he chose a selection deciding upon 3 Cryoban, 3 stun grenades and two stun batons. Attaching the grenades across the back and front of his belt he he slid the two batons into holsters he had grabbed and stuck them on both sides of his legs (think commando style). He checked he could move as freely as before, before departing. He was sufficiently happy. Now he was ready. He headed to the nearest turbolift and entered, keying it to take him to the hangars. Hanging his hood over his face, he covered himself as he went about before heading to the selected briefing room that had been discussed with Captain Kira.

 

Inside the men waited patiently, all standing, making last minute adjustments. As Karys entered silence seemed to ensue. He could taste their fear of him and curiosity. He cared little for it save to feed his rage for the coming battle. That was if a battle occurred, but he fathomed these pirates would not go easily and chose that root. It was in their nature to run and hide from their fates. He however had no such moral compulsions or feelings. He accepted whatever fate had in store for him.

 

He spoke up as all could hear.

 

''Listen up, I'm only going to say this once. When we go in there, I want it professional. No mistakes or I shall personally gut you all one by one and make sure your mothers will never recognize your corpse for the funeral. Do I make myself clear.''

 

Karys listened before hearing a unanimous yes. Fear of death, he found was a useful motivator, as was the reputation of the force users. His 'gift' had it's benefits. He carried on.

 

''Keep those two within your sights at all times and act on my command only. I shall distract the two.When I give the signal AND ONLY when I give the signal, move in surround and contain them. Do not let them get back aboard their ship or elsewhere. As for where we contain them we do it here.'' He pointed to a location a little further down the corridor to where the pirate's hangar was. A perfect bottleneck with a few area's where at least some of the men could hide well enough. As for the others they would go with him to meet their 'guests'. Afterall it was too be expected that at least some security would show up with him to meet them. As was the common practice with dignitaries and politicians. It would better mask his true purpose and aid the illusion.

 

However he knew there was also a chance the illusion would fail. At which point he would consider a decisive countermeasure, but for now he was confident of his plan. He continued.

 

''Stun them with bolts first, ram them with the shields and baton them to the ground until their legs give up swinging. But allow them to remain otherwise unbroken and alive. If that fails throw the Cryo's and Stuns. Aim ahead of them and continue firing stuns. I will cover where I can. Make no mistake this time she and her help DO NOT get away. Now go to your positions and put your masks on.''

 

With that all was set in motion. He informed Captain Kira to begin. Secretly and with stealth, doors begun to seal up, vents were systematically gased with a powerful sleeping agent. Coma gas was the given choice. A colorless, odorless gas used to incapacitate most species of humanoids. Common in riots it was plentiful in the galaxy. As such they had ample stock of the substance aboard. All it took was a few breaths of coma gas for a person to be out for hours. A reason Karys approved of it's choice. All of course this was being done without the guests knowing. Overall it took an hour or two of waiting, a fact which infuriated Karys but he had no choice to abide by. Those that complained why the hangar area was sealed in that particular part of the ship were given ample excuses. He doned a mask as to not be affected by the gas, just as he had informed the security team too. When meeting the two pirates, since they did not know his species, he could explain it away easily enough.

 

He sent the droid in. Soon it would be time to act.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

A short while later.....

 

Shortly after the doors were sealed, one opened up letting a single occupant enter by closing again. A droid not all dissimilar from a certain silver droid in a movie a long, long time ago in a long forgotten prequel trilogy.

 

''Greetings, I am C8H0. Representative Karys, spokesman for Lord Quietus asks that you forgive his delay in meeting you but he will be with you shortly. He also says that do not be alarmed by the closed doors in the area it is just a maintenance and electrical test.''

https://jedirp.net/topic/4851-trodai-narat-iv-adas-darth-akheron/

Akheron.jpg

 

 "Only in my pain, did I find my will. Only in my chaos, did I learn to be still. Only in my fear, did I find my might. Only in my darkness, did I see my light." - Darth Akheron

 

I survived the Great JNet Outage of 2012

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((Ruby let me know that she will not be able to post until the new year at least, so I think it'll just be me and you, Lucifer))

 

Sapphire's stride down the landing ramp was met with an empty hangar, leaving her nonplussed. "Hello?" she called. Just then a door slid open and a man hurried out.

 

"Sorry we weren't here to meet you, miss," he said. He was wearing the uniform of a lieutenant. "We are sending an official representative to meet with you, but he is tied up at the moment, so if you wouldn't mind waiting, he should be here shortly."

 

The Hapan pirate traded looks with Ruby. "Then take us somewhere so we can wait for him," she said, rolling her eyes.

 

"I'm sorry, miss, regulations say you are not permitted to leave the hangar." He turned and headed back out, leaving them alone again.

 

Sapphire turned to Ruby. "Would it help to say that I really don't like this? They invite us onboard and then ignore us completely? I hate it when people play games with me."

 

They waited for about fifteen minutes. No one showed up, and the hanger was locked down quite tight. Obviously they expected the pirates to cause problems. But Sapphire didn't see any benefit to doing that. Things were out of their hands now. There was nothing to do but ride out the tide of events.

 

But seriously? Now they were just being rude.

 

Sapphire finally threw up her hands. "I'm waiting on the ship." She reboarded the Glory, Ruby following. Hitting the ramp by force of habit, she made her way to the cockpit. She would be able to see if anyone came, but wait in comfort.

 

Fifteen minutes turned into thirty, which turned into forty-five. At around the twenty-five minute mark, Sapphire had resumed checking through the Gambit's security footage to see if Emerald was alright. This waiting made her doubt that more and more as each minute ticked by. What could be the reason for the representative making them wait this long? Was he setting up a trap? If he wanted them dead, why didn't he just blow her ship up? If he wanted to capture them, why wait? The security forces on this ship were numerous, and there was no way she and Ruby would be able to fight their way through them all.

 

As she flipped through the feeds, she noticed that one of the hangars was under an alert protocol and was venting gas. She frowned. A few minutes more of digging revealed it to her--they were gassing the hanger the Glory was in. If she and Ruby hadn't gotten so bored with waiting that they had reboarded the ship, no doubt they would have been knocked out cold by now.

 

Sapphire gritted her teeth. Well, that decided it. Emerald had failed in her negotiations. They would be rounded up and tortured or killed. And Emerald...well, if Sapphire was honest with herself, Emerald was probably dead. "Sithspit!" she cursed violently. "Kriff, kriff, kriff!" The Glory was trapped. Sapphire could turn the cannons on the blast door and blast her way out of the hangar, but there was still the issue of the tractor beam that was holding the ship here. If they were going to escape, they would have to disable it, and that was not something that Sapphire could do through hacking the system. It was something that would have to be done in person.

 

She knew that the hangar was probably surrounded on all sides by security personnel. There was nothing to be done. This was end of the Blood Gem Pirates. And it was all kriffing Emerald's fault. Sapphire had warned her, hadn't she? Sith could not be trusted. But she had insisted that it was the best thing to be done. Well, that was that.

 

Ruby loaded herself up with explosives and Sapphire made sure she had plenty of power packs for her twin blasters, as well as a highly-illegal thermal detonator. They both strapped on breath masks to protect themselves from the gas, and Sapphire headed to the top of the gunwell on the Glory while Ruby took the bottom one. Any sign of movement, and they'd open up. In the meantime, Sapphire took her remote uplink with her, and discovered that the turrets lining the walls were active. That wouldn't do. She had just enough time to isolate their signals when the doors slid open and a silver protocol droid came shuffling in. It lasted long enough to deliver it's message to the outside of the ship. Clearly, this representative thought they were stupid. Sapphire's answer was succinct. She punched in a string of code that deactivated the turrets in the hanger while Ruby twitched the trigger on the quad lasers, sending a blast of energy in the droid's direction, leaving nothing but a scorch mark scar on the decking where the droid had been.

 

The message couldn't be clearer. You won't take us without a fight.

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Blood Gem Pirate

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  • 1 month later...

((Sorry for holding you up Sapphire been real busy on my end however I won't hold you any longer. In fact my plans now take me elsewhere IC so I leave you free to deal with the situation as you please))

 

Karys was about to issue a ultimatum to the two pirates currently holed up inside their ship in the hangar...when he felt it. A un-natural disturbance, not here but elsewhere. Something had shifted in the force, a darkness..a wound had opened up and this intrigued him or rather enthralled him, more so than his current predicament. He wondered how it was his master did not feel it also, if he did not then he was perhaps not the one he was looking for. He could almost feel the power coming from whatever it was and felt compelled to seek out the source as he felt the dark call to him like a beacon in the deep of space. In fact he felt several beacons from various locations all further than the next.

 

For good or ill he made a choice. He found himself compelled to disobey his current master, compelled to seek out this dark wound. He gave orders for the men to keep the pirates in the hangar and to even despite his leave contain them inside by whatever means necessary. He heard pandemonium aboard as he enetred the upper decks and rumors that the stock market on Corellia had crashed followed by a ultimatum to the senate and all at large via the holonet by a sith. One he had heard of before only by reputation even on Korriban...Faust. It greatly amused him that he had such gall and the audacity to make such a public display of defiance. It excited him that he invited chaos so openly, a man unto his own heart. It was lucky for him he had never taken to putting much money in stocks, he kept safe boxes heavily secured and guarded instead stored in various places in the galaxy at large.

 

Such a man he could follow, if he could find him. Unlike the man who he currently served who seemed more intent on merely toying with pirates rather than sowing the seeds of chaos as was the sith's destiny. As was his destiny..his birthright. For the supposed inheritor of his people's power so far he was not impressed, perhaps this Faust could show him who truly had inherited his people's power.Thinking upon it he could think of only one way to find this...Vladamir Faust, this man who would be worthy of his service. He would need to wait for the next beacon and then he would know where to find him and from there to arrange for it that he would not meet a premature demise by his hand.

 

He moved quickly, masking his movements aboard the ship from both the captain and his master. It wasn't long before he was able to locate a vacant shuttle and quickly make his exit, however before he left he made certain to remove the evidence that he had left from the records using what knowledge of computers and the ship he had. By the time it would be discovered something was amiss, he would be long gone. Although the scans would no doubt pick up a shuttle however it made no difference, one way or another he was leaving. And with that he took what weapons he had brought with him and placed them in the shuttle before powering it up. When asked where he was going he simply told them he was on a errand from Quietus and it soon kept them quiet. With that he set co-ordinates for the deep of space and hoped he would find the beacon he sought. Even as he left he listened out in the force for it.

https://jedirp.net/topic/4851-trodai-narat-iv-adas-darth-akheron/

Akheron.jpg

 

 "Only in my pain, did I find my will. Only in my chaos, did I learn to be still. Only in my fear, did I find my might. Only in my darkness, did I see my light." - Darth Akheron

 

I survived the Great JNet Outage of 2012

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  • 3 weeks later...

The situation with the Blood Gem Pirates resolved itself, and life on the Shadow’s Gambit soon settled back down to normal. Emily and Quietus had a long, celebratory reunion, and the next morning, Quietus had asked her what she had been up to while she was gone. It was strange, but at the moment, Emily couldn’t quite bring herself to go into the details. Her carefully rehearsed speech evaporated, and in the end, she gave him just a simple version of events. Perhaps this cowardice was beneath her, and she knew she still wanted to tell him everything, but she wanted to wait for the opportune time.

 

That time never came. For a week after her return to the Gambit, it became clear that there was something seriously wrong with Quietus. He grew so pale that his skin seemed almost translucent, and his energy was sapped until it was a struggle for him to simply get up in the morning. A week later, he was bedridden. Emily had overridden his pride and called for med droids, but they couldn't find any diagnosis.

 

Emily never left his side. She helped him all she could, but the situation was extremely frustrating for a man who was fiercely independent and prided himself in his strength. At the same time, he seemed to know what was happening. Emily knew it too, although she never admitted it to herself. Finally, it took the med droids, clinically sterile, to deliver the news both Sith knew to be true: Quietus was dying.

 

From that point, Quietus’ health decreased dramatically, and a few days later, he slipped into a coma. The beeps measuring his vitals became slower and slower, and Emily could feel his life slipping away in the Force. She couldn't help but feel this was all her fault. Her curse had caught up with her again, and it had never been so hard to bear as now. Everyone she cared about was doomed. It had become a fact of life. She had dared to believe that this time would be different. After all, he had come back to her. She had hoped that would make him immune from being taken from her again. Part of her wondered if this was the darkness taking revenge on her for freeing herself from Eris’ clutches. But in the end, none of that mattered.

 

She sat by his bedside, clutching his hand, her heart a cold hard lump of pain in her chest. “Don’t do this,” she whispered to him, begging. “Say something. Come out of this and be yourself again.” Tears gushed out of her bicolored eyes. “You promised you wouldn't leave me again.” She didn't even know if he could hear her. “Don’t go where I can’t follow. Don’t leave me alone in the dark.” She kissed his cold lips. “Please. I love you.”

 

The beeps slowed even more, and then there was nothing but silence.

Emily%202015_zps34rpkjob.jpg

 

"Days in the sun...what I'd give to relive just one. Undo what's done, and bring back the light."

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  • 1 month later...

"Captain, docking bay crews report all shuttles are secured."

 

Jacob Kira stole a momentary glance up from the readout before him, giving a curt nod to the logistics officer standing on the command walkway above him before turning his attention back to the display of the crewman he was standing over. Kira and the crewman were reviewing the latest projections for the profit that the Shadow's Gambit was due to bring in. Kira allowed himself a small reprieve, letting out an audible sigh as he rubbed the bridge of his nose between two tensed fingers, closing his eyes momentarily.

 

Kira had lost count of how many days and weeks had passed since the massive casino ship came fully into his responsibility. A blue of time since the Sith Darth Quietus had died only a few decks below the bridge. When the Sith had first fallen ill, he had left the ship in the hands of the Captain, claiming that he was perfectly capable of running the ship without Quietus. Kira had been less than sure of the fact himself in the few first days. He had half expected Quietus to suddenly barge into the bridge demanding why something wasnt to his specifications or desires, especially after the fiasco with the Blood Gem pirates had nearly cost him his life and his command. But that day had never happened, and instead Kira saw less and less of the Sith as time went on. Quietus' apprentice, the red one, had simply taken a shuttle from the docking bay, claiming a secret mission from Quietus himself. But by that point Kira knew better to believe the apprentice, but he was also smart enough to not question the politics of the Sith. To Kira, it had simply meant one less headache on the Shadow's Gambit.

 

Darth Eris however, was a different story all together. It seemed to Kira that no sooner had she returned than Quietus fell ill. At first Kira had thought, although he was ashamed of it now, that Eris had poisoned Quietus in another chapter of Sith politics. But that idea was quickly washed away as time passed. Kira had seen what Quietus illness was doing to the woman, both physically and mentally. Once QUietus had been bedridden, he would often visit, and always found her at his side, almost stoically soldiering on. In that time Kira had developed a deep seeded respect and compassion for her. And when Quietus continued to worsen, it was Kira who ensured that Eris was herself cared for while she did so for Quietus. There were times when he would test her patience in attempting to persuade her to leave Quietus' side, if only to eat or get some rest herself. Had he not been saddled with the entire ship's continued operation, Kira would have enjoyed actually getting to know Eris, and perhaps could have counted her among his friends.

 

But as it was there was no time to sit and chat with her, though he doubted even then that she would speak much to Kira; he knew every fiber of her being was focused on Quietus. She mourned for him, she prayed for him, she hated the world for him, and most importantly she loved him. The best Kira could do was offer a degree of companionship, a subtle note that Eris was not alone in her grief over Quietus. As much as Kira feared Quietus, he always respected the Sith, and could never have thanked the Sith enough for both his position as Captain and for the level of trust that Quietus had put in him. In the end, Quietus did indeed die, and not two days later, Darth Eris too was gone from the ship. Kira still felt a twinge of regret for not finding out where she was going the day she left the Shadow's Gambit with the body of Quietus in tow.

 

And so now Kira was the one and only commander of the massive ship. And for as much as he had squirmed under their constant vigilance, their constant presence over his shoulder, he had grown accustomed to it. In a word, he missed their sense of power and control. He missed having someone to follow like that. now there was no one for Kira to follow; only directions. Only a memory of the Sith who had designed and built this ship as a secret project. And it was in the memory of that Sith that Kira continued on as the Captain of the Shadow's Gambit.

 

They continued making their scheduled stops; passengers left and passengers joined the ship at every planet. Numerous local merchants would come to sell their wares, and for all intents and purposes, the ship was prosperous. They continued to make a steady profit even after Quietus' death. But now, Kira stood on the bridge of his ship, looking at a display that showed some possible trouble. By now, the entire galaxy had either heard of, or seen the holovideos of what the renegade known as Faust had done to the financial markets, and now that shockwave was about to hit the casino ship. With the financial markets utterly destroyed, the public, and particularly the rich clientele that he was here to serve were reacting accordingly. Whether the Shadow's Gambit could ride out the wave of depression that was coming or not, would greatly depend on the choices that Kira made in the next few days; how many supplies he purchased, how many local vendors he allowed on board, and most importantly, what destinations he would put forth for the next cycle of the cruise.

 

Having been on the ship the entire time it was operational, Kira had seen what worked and what didnt. Gone were the days of trial and error for most of the components that made it successful, and that included destinations. Coruscant, Corellia, Mon Calamari, Bothawui; all were popular stops that the Shadow's Gambit had made in the past, both in terms of passenger satisfaction and finances, but given the recent galactic developments, Coruscant and Corellia were far from ideal locations anymore. Likewise, the Bothans had decided that the instability in the galaxy was the perfect time and reason to clamp down on their own tourism allowances. But there was still always Naboo. While it wasnt the a regular stop like the others were, Naboo had always ended up as a positive stop, and Kira had long considered adding it as a more regular destination. And it seemed that there was no time like the present. His mind made up, the Captain stood, giving the crewman little more than a pat on the shoulder as he made his way back up to the command bridge from the starboard crew pit. Once firmly back in his place above the bridge crew, Kira issued his orders.

 

"Alright everyone, listen up... its time to shake things up a bit. Helm, set a course for Naboo. That should give everyone enough time to get our new supplies squared away. And im sure our on board vendors wouldnt mind the added traffic that comes from a long trip through hyperspace."

 

He showed just a hint of a grin as he nodded, the sing for his crew to carry out his orders.

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I ate a hippo. It was delicious.

May the Forth therve you well...

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A few days of hyperspace travel found the Shadow's Gambit in a lazy orbit over Naboo. The travel time, plus the recent offload of patrons gave the crew their first real sense of a break since the ship had first launched. The coming days would be filled with both the acquisition of more supplies and the mass marketing campaign that would hopefully bring more patrons to the massive casino ship. But for most of the crew, Captain Kira included, it would be a period of rest. The Captain in particular was looking forward to being able to step back and not feel like he had to be on the bridge 24/7, and instead found himself touring the ship at times, taking in all the various facets of entertainment that his ship had to offer. But even then, there were times when Kira wanted to be completely alone, and would retreat back to his own modest cabin for some quality time with a book.

 

It was during one of those periods in which he sought isolation that Kira decided to visit the room that had been Quietus', the room that the Sith had died in. Kira felt it best to keep the room as the Sith had left it; he had heard that the Sith have a tendency to return from the dead, and Quietus especially so. Even then, it brought Kira a sense of accomplishment, as Quieus was the reason the Captain was even here. The room still stood as a reminder of the origins of the ship, so for as long as Kira was Captain, it would remain so. As he entered the room for what he realized was only the eighth time, he looked around in silence. It was as if he was walking through a museum, looking around and taking in every facet of the things around him. He studied what little belongings remained of Quietus, out of curiosity more than anything else.

 

Following his detour to Quietus' room, Kira returned to his own quarters and picked up the book he had been steadily reading though, intent upon getting through at least four more chapters. But as he went, he increasingly found his mind wandering, drifting back to the events that brought him here. The trip down memory lane in Quietus' quarters certainly didnt help, and it wasnt long before Kira was forced to put down his book, and crossed the room to his desk to send a comm.

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I ate a hippo. It was delicious.

May the Forth therve you well...

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A reply comes in for Captain Kira after a few days.

 

Captain Kira,

 

Thank you for your kind words. Perhaps our paths will cross again. But the future is something that none can read with any clarity.

 

If you ever have need of assistance, you will find me in the Rish'navin system. Call, and I will come. It will be the least I can do.

 

Sincerely,

Lady Eris

Emily%202015_zps34rpkjob.jpg

 

"Days in the sun...what I'd give to relive just one. Undo what's done, and bring back the light."

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  • 4 weeks later...

By the time the Shadow's Gambit had been orbiting over Naboo for four days, Captain Kira was permenantly assured that he had made the correct choice. They had gained a respectable amount of passengers from the planet, as well as a handful of new vendors to take up spots in the bazaar. The passengers who had arrived with the ship also found themselves equally entertained and content with all the tourist traps that Naboo had to offer. And in return for the added tourism, Kira and the crew had negotiated a very sweet deal for supplies from the Naboo government as well. On all accounts, it was a win-win for the Shadow's Gambit and Kira couldnt have been more pleased with himself.

 

So naturally, that was also about the time that his bubble was popped. With all the added business, the Captain's leisure time had once again become a premium. It was during one of those rare moments, during which Kira found himself engrossed in another historical/drama novel in his quarters, that his personal comm beeped. Kira ignored it the first time, glanced at it and sighed the second time, and silently cursed the third time before giving up and putting his book down on the fourth beep. Now a bit irritated, Kira practically slammed the button.

 

"Yeeess... What is it?" He said, sounding far more aggravated than he had planned.

 

"Er, sorry to disturb you Captain but..." The bridge officer's voice came through the comm, sounding equally more worried than Kira had wanted to find, "there's... something going on. I think you should come up here. We dont know how to respond."

 

"Lieutenant, if this is another complaint from 327E, I swear I'll send you down there ==" Kira began to reply, his hand finding an excellent grip on the bridge of his nose, as he thought of all the stupid, mundane, pointless things that could have gone wrong to disturb him this time. But everything that Kira was thinking was instantly wiped away as Lt. Ressicz cut him off.

 

"Its the Starviper-class ship in the docking bay... It just launched itself."

 

Shock. That was the only thing that rose up in the wake of everything else disappearing from Kira's mind. There was a pause as he tried to wrap his head around what else it could mean to have that ship launch itself. But he could only come up with one conclusion.

 

"I'll be right there Lieutenant." Kira finally responded, already halfway out of his quarters. the aggravation was gone from his voice, replaced with focus.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Less than two minutes later, Captain Kira walked onto the bridge of the Shadow's Gambit, and marched directly to Lt. Ressicz, who stood looking at a monitor of the space traffic around the ship. And there, the clearly marked dot that continued to move away from the much larger shape that represented the Gambit. Ressicz was himself scrolling through a datapad as Kira arrived, and looked up.

 

"Who's ship is it sir? I cant find it associated with any of our passengers.." Ressicz asked as Kira continued to watch the display.

 

"How long ago did it launch, and where is it heading?" Kira responded, completely ignoring the question.

 

"Uhm... approximately three minutes and forty-two, forty-three, seconds ago its systems activated and it simply left the docking bay unauthorized. But like I said.. I cant seem to --" Ressicz began, before Kira cut him off.

 

"Where is it heading Lieutenant? To the planet? Getting clear of orbit?" Kira demanded.

 

"No sir. Its heading along vector thirty two point four, mark fifteen, mark eighty... Somewhere else in orbit." Ressicz responded.

 

"Keep an eye on it." Kira said plainly as he walked away from the display, heading towards his own control panel, intent on ruling out a possibility. A few minutes later, Kira returned to Ressicz display, and asked for a report.

 

"The ship docked with another ship, a uh... A-Z-Z-3 Light freighter by the looks of it."

 

Kira nodded, indeed seeing that there were now two dots sitting right next to one another. But just as Kira was about to make another comment, the dots suddenly began to split apart, with the Starviper-class ship moving further out of orbit from the planet. Kira turned to Ressicz, who seemed equally perplexed before turning his attention back to the display. And just like that, the ship that Kira knew to be the Ogariv II, disappeared off the screen, presumably to hyperspace. Kira stood there for a few moments longer in silence, before turning and walking away without a word. He left the bridge, managing to tell someone he would be in his quarters again before he left, and indeed headed straight to his quarters. There was someone he needed to contact about all this; he owed that to her at least.

 

--------------------------------------

 

Not five minutes after Kira sent out his own transmission, one came in for him. Kira should have known instantly who it was, but still found himself authenticating that it did indeed come from the Ogariv II.

 

Captain Kira...

No doubt you've noticed by now that I reclaimed my ship from the belly of the Gambit. I must express my gratitude for your loyal service to me, even in death. I can see that I was correct to pick you as the Captain of the Gambit, as she appears to be prosperous under your command. You have done well for yourself, and I ask you to continue on at your discretion; serve the wealthy of this galaxy, and keep the profits up. That is all I ask of you for now. I have matters of my own to see to for the time being, and you have proven that you no longer need me to supervise your operations, so I will not be joining you. Just remember who it is that you serve, and what that ship represents, for I will not. My only directive to you now, is that you keep my quarters available to me at all times, for in time, our paths will cross again.

 

Quietus' voice sounded strong as ever, and from what Kira could tell, the Sith did not sound like someone who had died. But then again, the Captain had never actually known anyone before to have returned from the dead.

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I ate a hippo. It was delicious.

May the Forth therve you well...

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  • 1 year later...

As the Shadow's Shine came out of hyperspace, Emily turned her attention to the luxury liner hanging in space in front of her. Her mind was irrepressibly drawn to the first time she had seen it, and the memories since that time, which were a mix of pleasure and pain--though mostly the latter. She sent out a ping to the large ship containing her unique identification codes, activating the private hanger Quietus had set aside for their use. As she brought her ship into dock, she allowed herself a little smile. The captain would be surprised to see her, but she flattered herself that it would not be an unwelcome surprise.

 

Once she was onboard, she headed up to the bridge, letting Roe'gall wander off with a warning not to go into the civilian sections of the ship. When the turbolift doors slid open, she headed straight for the captain, her features warm and friendly. "Captain Kira," she greeted him with a small smile. "It's been too long." She shook his hand.

 

"Lady Eris," he greeted her in return. "Indeed it has." He was clearly surprised, but didn't dare ask the reason for her return after her long absence.

 

"How is the ship?" she inquired politely.

 

"We're doing excellent business," Kira replied. "Passenger numbers are up, and our reputation has only grown more positive."

 

"That's great news," Emily replied genuinely. "You have been doing excellent work." She inquired after a few more particulars, simply catching up on what had been going on. The conversation had an undertone of unease beneath the pleasantries, however, as neither of them dared to bring up the name of the true master of this vessel. Once duty had been done, she commended Kira and informed him she may be staying onboard for a few days. "I need to do some research, and to train my apprentice."

 

He nodded. "Of course, the ship is yours."

 

She thanked him politely and left the bridge, heading for the Sith side of the vessel. She'd wait for Karys there. In the meantime, she felt sure she could research some tools and techniques to help her heal Fett's mind permanently.

Emily%202015_zps34rpkjob.jpg

 

"Days in the sun...what I'd give to relive just one. Undo what's done, and bring back the light."

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  • 2 weeks later...

Karys soon reached the outer reaches of the Coruscant system, per the instructions from Emily...his mentor. He recalled the last few days, and the research, everything he had learnt from his search and then he headed towards the vast vessel in front of him. The Shadow's Gambit he remembered when he was last here. It was in the presence of his former master, Raynuk Montar...Darth Quietus.

 

At that he contacted the captain, who informed him his presence was expected. Karys likewise offered a reply.

 

''Thank you Captain Kira, it's great to hear from you again. I see the Shadow's Gambit is just as beautiful as I remember and kept in pristine condition. Raynuk Montar, Darth Quietus would be proud, rest his soul.''

 

Kira was somewhat take aback by the words, when they last met Karys had for the most part kept to himself...save the incident below deck a few months or so ago. That he offered such compliments was a little strange, but he thought nothing of it. The praise was welcomed no matter for what reason.

 

''Thank you...uh...Karys was it?'' He said looking up the manifest.

 

''That is correct Captain Kira. Have you any news for me?'' was the reply...''Yes I do have one message, from Lady Eris she informs me to instruct you to meet her in the usual place. She takes the suggestion that you will know what I mean when I say that.''

 

Karys responded as he thought on it, he knew where instantly. The Sith side of the vessel, where he began his initial training under Quietus. Now he was back to use it once more, it seemed the Force was not without a sense of irony...and that was not lost on him.

 

''Ah yes, I know where. Thank you again Captain, be sure to have my usual quarters ready.''

 

''Of course. I'll lay a course and guide you in'' in moments Karys navi-computer came alive as co-ordinate were sent from the mighty casino ship. Moving his ship, karys piloted it along the route he was given to follow and finally entered the selected hangar he had been assigned too for his duration aboard. Opening the canopy, he stepped out and offered a nod to the security forces before making his way directly to Emily. He did not want to keep her waiting, besides which...they had much to discuss.

https://jedirp.net/topic/4851-trodai-narat-iv-adas-darth-akheron/

Akheron.jpg

 

 "Only in my pain, did I find my will. Only in my chaos, did I learn to be still. Only in my fear, did I find my might. Only in my darkness, did I see my light." - Darth Akheron

 

I survived the Great JNet Outage of 2012

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The Sith holocrons were a wealth of information. It was fascinating, but few of them were actually helpful. Many of the gatekeepers were eager to share the knowledge they had on how to destroy minds, or warp them, or wipe memories, or drive someone to the brink of insanity...but their eagerness often turned to scorn when she explained that she was interested in protecting the mind in question. She forced them to obey her, however, and did come up with a few things that she thought might help. Something like this...it had rarely been tried in the history of the Sith Order, stretching back millenia. And she was sure that this case was surely unique in its details.

 

"...but of course, if you go too far, the mind will be utterly destroyed," a wizened Falleen Sith gatekeeper finished as Emily sensed Karys approach.

 

"I understand," she replied.

 

"Anything other questions, Lady Eris?" it asked her.

 

"No, that's all for now." She touched the holocron and it deactivated, its glimmering light fading as it closed itself up. She turned and faced the Massassi who had approached. "Well, apprentice. Tell me what you have learned."

Emily%202015_zps34rpkjob.jpg

 

"Days in the sun...what I'd give to relive just one. Undo what's done, and bring back the light."

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  • 3 weeks later...

((OOC: Well...it's been about three weeks since I last posted, and Ian's still waiting, so I'll just keep this going...Lucifer, if you come back and want to continue, you can contact Emily IC, per this post.))

 

IC:

 

Karys had been very hesitant, but he had eventually explained what had happened and what he had discovered. Emily was gratified to hear that he seemed to want to continue on his path for knowledge, and that he still felt it seemed to lie outside of both the Jedi and Sith Orders. There wasn't actually all that much to teach him that he couldn't learn on his own. But there was one more task that she wanted him to complete. After talking for some length together, she finally rose from where she had been seated. "Well, there is one more thing. The next phase of your training involves listening to the Force. Those of us who find ourselves with a holistic view of the Force nevertheless cannot escape the destiny the Force gives us. The Sith believe they create their own destiny, and the Jedi seek to discover theirs, but we must do both. Seek out what the Force has for you to do, then take it in your own hands to do it. Meditate on this, apprentice. Mediate well, for you must be absolutely sure before you act. This may well be the most dangerous thing you attempt in your training. No, believe me," she added, for she had seen the doubt in his eyes. "The Force can be a cruel mistress. It has taught me that lesson many times." She couldn't hide the hardness and pain in her voice completely. These were difficult topics in the best of times, and it was much amplified by being here of all places. "But in the end you cannot fight it. You can only embrace it and make the best of it."

 

She turned away. "Ask the Force what it would have you do to complete your training, and then return to me and I will give you your trials." She made to stride out of the room, but paused. "If you need me during whatever it is you do, you may contact me over the comm, and I will do my best to answer."

 

With that, she left him. She would collect a few supplies, and track down Roe'gall, and then get off this ship and back to the Moon Knight.

 

((EDIT 4/13:))

 

She tried not to. She really did. But she couldn't help herself, and soon enough found herself in what had been Quietus' quarters. She spent a while in silence, feeling the echoes of him through the Force.

 

But finally, she spoke aloud. "I miss you. Every day. The pain is fading, but it will never truly go away. I think that is the biggest proof to me that what we had was real. I really loved you." She reached a hand out to brush the headboard of the bed. "You are with the Force now, and the Force is with me. They say the ones we love never really leave us, and I am coming to think that is more and more true. You're still with me, in some strange way. I think you always will be." She sighed. "One day, we will be reunited again, and I will look forward to that day eagerly. But until then...I hope that you remember me, wherever you are. And I hope that you are proud of me."

 

She couldn't stand any more. Giving one last look around, she headed out, locking the door behind her. Roe'gall was waiting for her outside. She placed a hand on his snout affectionately, and then the two headed to the hanger, boarded the Shadow's Shine, and headed for deep space.

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"Days in the sun...what I'd give to relive just one. Undo what's done, and bring back the light."

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  • 3 months later...

Karys gave a nod as she departed before considering the question. This was not something he believed that could be solved overnight, nor was the answer straightforward...there was no set time or limit...no knowing how long it could take to find a solution...no meditation was indeed in order. As such he settled into a cross-legged position on the floor, entering a deep meditation...yet little did he know how long it would last.

 

Closing his eyes he focused himself in the Force. And this was how he remained for several month's, with the good captain checking on him every now and again when time allowed, it was he who had attached a intravenous sugar-solution drip to the young sith to keep him alive in the trance at the massassi's suggestion. with that he could remain in a trance up to a year. Despite his deep trance like state, Karys body never weakened nor thinned...the Force sustained him in the trance in a strange bubble like affect along with the drip's aid. Subtle eye twitches and body tremors every now and again informed the captain he still lived.

 

It was in the third month of the trance that he felt it. A disturbance, one which centred around Korriban...home...and Adas. It was this which awoke him from his deep meditation and let him know what the Force required of him. Opening his eyes for the first time in those months caused a short discomfort as he adjusted to the ambient light briefly before his sight fully returned and he arose, disconnecting himself from the drip that had helped sustain him.

 

Lifting himself up, Karys disconnected himself from the drip and thought on what he held felt and seen while in the trance. Korriban was key to it all, he knew it...and somehow he suspected Adas was somehow involved. As such he informed the captain he was awake to tell Emily should she turn up where he was and departed shortly after.

https://jedirp.net/topic/4851-trodai-narat-iv-adas-darth-akheron/

Akheron.jpg

 

 "Only in my pain, did I find my will. Only in my chaos, did I learn to be still. Only in my fear, did I find my might. Only in my darkness, did I see my light." - Darth Akheron

 

I survived the Great JNet Outage of 2012

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  • 1 year later...

2V turned to glance at Raynuk, who seemed focused on the ship before them, then turned to pull up the transponder and information of the ship that the droid did not recognize. The information came up without incident, and 2V turned again to Raynuk.

 

<>

 

“No. No that won’t be necessary.” Raynuk said, cutting the droid off as his own gaze dropped to the communications console beside him, from which he entered an elaborate security code, transmitting them to the golden ship. The code would make the sensors and logs of the massive casino ship ‘ignore’ the Ravenhammer, ensuring that it would go unseen and unnoticed unless Raynuk wished it so.

 

As the distance between the two ships grew shorter and shorter, Raynuk angled the Ravehammer to line up almost perfectly with the point of the ship. With no more than 200 meters to go, Raynuk again glanced down at the communications console and entered another elaborate code and transmitted it. Almost instantly, the top of the pointed nose of the ship shifted, opening to reveal the long hidden docking bay that rested within. With barely enough clearance, Raynuk slipped the Ravenhammer expertly through the gap, landing it on the plating mere seconds later before keying the command to close the docking bay doors, then stood to leave the cockpit.

 

2V, after only a moment of apparent confusion, scurried to catch up. But before the droid could even speak, Raynuk answered the coming questions.

“This ship, is mine.” He stated, almost callously moving through the Ravenhammer to gather what he would need, giving Raia’s room a wide berth. "I designed it, and commissioned it, to serve as a source of credits for the Sith, many years ago. I had this bunker built into it for use only by those I valued… This is the first use it will see. Contained within is everything a Sith could need for a short term stay. Including a medical facility with cloning services. ”

<> Was all the droid could say in the wake of this new information. Raynuk descended to the lower level once more and lowered the entry ramp, pausing only long enough for it to descend, taking that time to instruct 2V to remain aboard the ship for a few minutes until called for, before he stormed off the ship with unspoken purpose.

 

As he had told 2-VSH, the Shadow’s Gambit had been designed by him many years before. It had since served the Sith well as a source of credits and income, yet this was actually the first time Raynuk had used its hidden section since before the ship had been launched. Still, he knew its layout, walking silently through the empty halls towards the central command node for the bunker. The majority of the section had languished in darkness, illumination only coming as Raynuk’s presence and movement tripped the motion detectors, lighting the hallways in which he walked.

 

Once he reached the command console, one final security code would bring the bunker, and its droid servants, online for his use. He watched as around him consoles, droids, machines and more permanent lighting all began to turn on.

:: COMMAND BUNKER ĒNA ONLINE ::

Raynuk returned his attention to the console, issuing temporary clearance and limited command privileges to 2V, and full but temporary clearance to Vex’aedr, who he expected would eventually wish to explore the space; it wouldn’t help to have the bunker’s more sensitive areas deploy defensive measures simply because Vex was exploring.

 

As he turned to leave the command node, he pulled out his comm and signaled for 2V that the droid was clear to enter the bunker, and told him to bring Raia’s body to the medical facility. Raynuk intended to meet the droid there, and so moved to prepare for what was to come. He entered the medical facility to find the GH-7 medical droid performing an inventory of the supplies stored within the facility, who quickly turned as someone entered it's medical facility for the first time ever. Raynuk held up a hand, silencing the droid before it could begin prattling on.

 

"Prepare the cloning vat and the neural interface for flash memory imprint. We have work to do." Raynuk commanded.

 

The floating droid merely bobbed as though nodding its head before floating off to do as it was told.

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I ate a hippo. It was delicious.

May the Forth therve you well...

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The following minutes were much a blur to Raynuk’s memory, but saw 2V and Vex’aedr enter the bunker and proceed to the medical facility before being directed by the GH-7 droid and Raynuk on where to place Raia’s limp form to prepare for the cloning. Raynuk took samples of her genetic makeup and began the cloning process, while the medical droid hooked the flash memory device up to copy the memories, experiences, emotions and overall ‘identity’ of Raia to be imprinted on what would become her clone body.

 

Soon enough, there was little to do but wait for the process to complete. Raynuk used the first bit of time to ensure copies of both Raia’s memories and her genetic material were stored and secured not only within the bunker, but aboard the Ravenhammer as well. It gave him something else to think about however; his own continued existence. It had been some time since his own genetic makeup had been stored for cloning, and with the renewed Sith Trinity, there was to be no room for Raynuk to be absent from the hierarchy of the SIth.

 

So, with those thoughts fresh in his mind, the further passage of time saw Raynuk extract and store his own genetic makeup and memories along side Raia’s. With the information secured, he then instructed 2V on how to access the data on the Ravenhammer should the need ever arise.

 

And then he returned to waiting. Hours, perhaps even an entire day passed before Raia’s clone body began approaching the adolescent stage of her developmental cycle, and it was when that point was reached that Raynuk entered the cloning chamber, and sat down in front of the cloning vat, and reached out to the Force on a grand scale.

 

Raynuk had very, very, hazy and faded memories of the first time he had been cloned so long ago, but knew that the experience had been disorienting and confusing on both sides of the coin of life. He would anchor himself, in that place and at that moment in time, and become a beacon of existence to the Force; a lighthouse in a storm of the Force for Raia to see and follow, to guide her to the cloning vat just before him as the body continued to develop.

 

And there he would remain until Raia was again breathing, shutting out the rest of the galaxy.

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  • 3 weeks later...

For all intents and purposes, Raynuk has fallen into a form of meditation, shutting out anything and everything that he deemed to be unimportant. But he was equally aware of the present and that which immediately surrounded him, as well as reaching ever deeper into the ocean of the Force.

 

He was aware of the GH-7 droid and 2V busying themselves with the medical equipment mere feet behind him, their conversations barely coming through to his awareness as little more than warbles of sound. He also was aware of Vex’aedr wandering restlessly through the boundaries of the bunker, the tuk’ata at least somewhat aware of what was going on and where they were. The last time they had been aboard the ship, they were both in the much more spacious and less covert, public sections of the ship.

 

Yet none of that was presently impacting Raynuk through his meditative state. He continued to reach out into the darkness of the Force, being very careful to broadcast his presence only in directions he wanted it to, limiting the chances of discovery by any pesky snooping Jedi do-gooders.

 

Through the course of his focus, Raynuk had come up with an idea as to what he would project into the ether. Initially, he decided on something green to match the motif Raia had painted in her room aboard the Ravenhammer. But reminding Raia of Dathomir he knew was a negative experience for the girl, and so decided to change the visual representation to a cityscape not unlike the view from Alora’s apartment on Coruscant that Raia had marvelled over when the group had been briefly based there.

 

The result of those two ideas became nothing less than the skyline of a city, bathed in emerald light and shining like a beacon as Raynuk pushed the image into the darkness towards the ‘other side’ that he had visited so many times in his own life.

 

He would draw Raia back. He had to.

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The floating sensation didn’t cease as she opened her eyes within the dank dimness of the cloning vat. No! No, no, no! She panicked, thinking this was some new trick or torture of Ar-Pharazon’s making. He can’t have won! I felt Tetis. No, no, no, no...

 

Her hands flew to the mask at her face as she struggled amid the sensors and neutricords, kicking at the sides of the tank. The pressure sensors started to go off as the cloning liquid surged around her, the sound muddied and distant.

 

There was a groaning of metal, then a pop, and a rush as the tank’s door buckled just enough to relieve the growing pressure from within and Raia spilled out onto the floor of the bunker gasping and gagging for air.

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Raynuk had no tangible concept of how long he spent in that focused state, reaching and projecting into the ether of death and darkness. The drone of the machines around him had turned almost comforting and steady, like a warm blanket on a cold evening. It was only when he was physically and violently shaken that Raynuk’s concentration was snapped.

 

His eyes shot open as the world around him came crashing back to his senses. 2-VSH was looming over him, having been the source of the violent shaking, as the medical droid was floating around the room almost frantically. The return to awareness brought with it the realization that several alarms were blaring in the room as well, a result of the cloning machines finishing their work.

 

Raynuk stood, his eyes focusing on the cloning vat before him. 2V spoke, but the words didn’t fully reach him as the sound of the cloning liquid sloshing within the vat was all he was focusing on. A moment later, there was a loud and impactful bang against the side of the tank, which rapidly turned into the groaning of metal before the door suddenly broke free, spilling the contents of the cloning vat onto the floor.

 

For a single heartbeat as the door broke free, Raynuk’s heart dropped. He had received nothing in the way of response or indication that his efforts to pull Raia’s essence back from death were successful, and now the cloning vat that was essentially crafting her a new body, had seemingly suffered a catastrophic failure, breaking the equipment and sending the fluid and body to the floor.

 

But the crushing feeling of defeat did not last beyond that single heartbeat, as the body slid across the floor gagging and gasping for air. The sudden change of reality left Raynuk stunned, not sure if it was real as the wave of cloning fluid washed over and past his boots.

 

The GH-7 medical droid was apparently quicker on the uptake, as the droid quickly hovered over and draped Raia’s form in a large and warm blanket, beeping softly before floating back a bit to give the girl space enough to stand.

 

By the time Raia recovered and found her lungs full of air once again, Raynuk had crouched down towards her.

 

Meita...? How do you feel…?”

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She looked back up at him with wide eyes still utterly disoriented and seemed to look through him for a moment as her brain continued to try to process what was happening.

 

I was in the tank. I'm out. I'm cold and wet, but I can breathe. I don't know where I am. Is this another of Ar-Pharazon's tricks?

 

Uncertainty and anger surged through her as she stepped back from Raynuk and looked at the GH-7 before demanding, "I know you're here Ar-Pharazon! Show yourself. I'm through with your deceptions and being toyed with!"

 

The GH-7 droid emitted an alarmed beep and darted backward away from her, entirely not expecting such a visceral reaction. But it nearly instantly followed with soothing beeps and hums as it closed again slowly, and carefully examined Raia.

 

Despite the strength of the statement, her lower lip was quivering and she wasn't quite able to keep back the tears that formed at the edges of her eyes. Several moments passed, while the leads still connected to her body continued to feed data to the monitoring equipment, resulting in a soft and steady beeping that served to soothe her the longer she listened and no specter of Ar-Pharazon presented himself.

 

As the moments stretched and nothing happened, she slowly began to trust the situation more and finally rose from her crouched position under the blanket the unfamiliar droid had given her. Clutching it around her with her left hand, she slowly reached out to Raynuk with her right. She drew it back with a gasp as she realized that her arms no longer bore the marks from the Dagger's tattoo. Pulling the blanket away from her body slightly, she looked down at her collarbone and noticed that it was gone completely.

 

She looked back at Raynuk, willing to acknowledge that his presence was real for the first time. Her eyes immediately went to the bandage that covered the side of his neck where she'd struck him with the knife.

"Tētis! I'm so sorry...I never should have tried to help Telperiën. I didn't know he was in me before it was too late. He kept me from telling you, from being able to warn you. I tried to fight him, I promise. Where's Vex? I'm glad he was there to stop me. I didn't hurt him too, did I?" The tears that had threatened to fall before were now pouring down her cheeks as she sought her father's forgiveness.

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Raynuk had also not expected Raia to emerge full of fire and anger, but did not recoil as the droid had when it emerged. He was instead struck by her words as he momentarily closed his eyes. It was a confirmation of what he had initially suspected had caused the incident in the first place; Ar-Pharazon had gotten a hold of Raia, and intended to use her against him and prove one of his terrible ideas. It was good that she at least was able to recognize the fact that she had been manipulated by him, but he knew it was a possibility that somehow, he had returned with her again.

 

The thought was broken as Raia moved again, rising from where she had fallen. Raynuk rose with her, silently studying her for any terrible signs of Ar-Pharazon lurking below, while the GH-7 droid finished its initial preliminary check-up on her, emitting a long beep that was nothing if not cheerful, which Raynuk simply took as a good sign. When she reached for him, he instinctively reached to take her hand, but the sudden snap back and gasp from her as Raia realized the tattoos were gone made Raynuk pause, then allow a small glimmer of amusement rise to his face.

 

When Raia eventually recovered from the series of shocks enough to actually look at him, he resolved himself, the distant threat of a resurgence from Ar-Pharazon not quite as far from his mind as it should have been in the moment. But then Raia broke, mentally and emotionally frayed, as words of sorrow, regret, and forgiveness spilled from her lips.

 

He closed the gap between them and took a hold of her shoulders for a moment in silence, letting the cascade of words subside before he lowered to one knee so he was at her height level, just as the GH-7 droid appeared again and began removing the leads that were still attached to Raia, utterly oblivious to the importance of the moment

 

“You couldn’t have known this would happen Raia. Telperien is your friend, and you wanted to help her; I would never fault you for that. And you were so strong to fight him off for as long as you did, but he is gone now…”

 

While his words on the surface were to reassure Raia, Raynuk had built them upon truth. The moment he had spent in silence, was a moment he had spent diving into Raia’s mind through the Force, searching and plumbing the depths for the presence of Ar-Pharazon that he knew so well. Raia was so caught up in getting her words out that she likely didn't even realize Raynuk was in her mind, but in the end he had left no shadowy corner unchecked, and had found nothing.

 

“Vex is perfectly fine. He’s around here somewhere, and judging by the fact he wouldn’t let you out of his sight until we got here, I don’t think he’s holding a grudge either.”

 

He offered her a small smile and then pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her blanketed shoulders into a hug that was likely equally cathartic for the both of them, even as the girl continued to sob into his shoulder. Eventually, Raynuk turned to 2-VSH, who had retreated to standing beside the doorway after shaking Raynuk back to the present.

 

“2V, go back to the Ravenhammer and get some clothes for Raia if you would, and on the way back get Vex as well.”

 

<>

 

Raynuk could only sigh in response. “Just go.”

 

2V paused as though it were going to continue to argue his point, but did not, instead just turning and exiting the room to perform the tasks assigned to it, leaving Raynuk and Raia alone with the bobbing GH-7 droid.

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Her tears finally spent, she stood and wiped away the remaining tears from her eyes. “I don’t understand how I am here. Where are we and why am I not dead? I know I fought to get back to you, but...I died. But you were dead, Emily said so, and you’re here now. I don’t know of anyone else that’s come back from death. I don’t understand. I’m grateful, but I don’t understand.”

 

Her mind flashed to his tomb, where they’d first met. “Ar-Pharazon was supposed to be dead, but wasn’t, at least beyond having a physical form. Did you know you could bring me back when you,” she hesitated before forming the final words, “killed me?”

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“We are aboard a ship, much bigger than the Ravenhammer, in a medical facility. Don’t worry, it’s not like Corellia; no one knows we are here. The way I was brought back to life, and the way you are now alive again, are different. I was forcefully returned to life, back into the body that was laid to rest on Korriban. But you… you were willing to come back and…”

 

Raynuk realized what he said next might shock or scare Raia, so he took her hand and looked directly into her eyes.

 

“Raia, your body has been cloned; copied basically. This isn’t the same body you died with. It’s still you; same hair, same face, everything is the same, right down to your fingers and toes. The only thing that is different, you already noticed; the tattoos are gone.”

 

He watched her face for her reaction, wanting to give her ample time to wrap her head around the idea.

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She didn’t immediately respond, but he could feel her reaching out with the Force as though she were testing things. Slowly a smile spread across her face and she laughed slightly. “A new body. I do feel like me. More than that, though. You gave me a new life when you adopted me, but that was still Raia Selik taking the name of Montar.”

 

Her smile grew wider and there was no mistaking the contentment in her eyes. “You brought me back in a body you made for me. I’m more your daughter, Raia Montar, now than I ever was before.” She giggled. “I think that will upset Master Ar-Pharazon more than anything.”

 

Mentioning her Sith tormentor’s name sobered her slightly. “Do you think he’s really gone this time?”

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“He’s gone from being able to manipulate you from inside your head, that much I know for sure. Sith as powerful as him, and me to an extent, are never fully gone. There’s always a chance he could return, especially with Telperien being his daughter, there will always be a connection there. But it will be significantly more difficult for him to come back now, that was the point of Exodus, Sheog and I banishing him in the first place. None of us anticipated he would be able to latch onto you.”

 

He turned to the door as 2V returned, carrying a bundle of folded clothes in his hands and flanked by Vex’aedr. They both paused as Raynuk turned to look at them, but he simply waved them in and turned back to Raia.

 

“And to answer your earlier question… Yes, I did know I could bring you back. I’ve gone through the process myself a few times myself.”

 

2V approached, and handed the clothing to Raia. <>

 

Raia laughed again as she accepted the bundle. “That was sweet of you 2V. Thank you.”

 

The droid nodded, saying no more before he took his leave of the medical facility. For his part, Vex had entered the room, but did not initially approach, seeming to take his own time sussing out Raia’s returned presence. Raynuk caught sight of the tuk’ata’s reluctance to approach, when Vex looked to him, Raynuk gave his pet a gentle nod.

 

“Thank you for saving him Vex,” she called gently, holding her hand out for him to approach and verify for himself that it was her. “I’m glad you were there.”

 

Vex gave a hearty whuff then slowly approached Raia. Initially sniffing at her hand, he looked up at her face and then to Raynuk once more. Seeming to have made up his mind, he licked Raia’s hand and then stepped forward again, giving her a strong shove with his head before looking her in the eyes.

 

“I know, I know. I’ll be more careful next time, Vex. I promise.” She rested her head against his.

 

Whuff.

 

Raynuk’s hand came to rest on her shoulder again. “I’ll let you get changed. Come out into the hall when you’re ready; I bet you haven’t even realized how hungry you are.”

 

He offered her a smile and then headed for the door, waving Vex to follow out into the hallway, giving Raia the room aside from the GH-7 droid that continued to bob around the room, mostly examining the damage to the cloning tank, emitting sad beeps and whirls.

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Raia emerged from the medical facility about twenty minutes later having taken the time to wash away the remnants of the cloning liquid in the attached refresher and drying her long, thick, chestnut hair.

 

She was wearing the silver-rose brocade sleeveless tunic that Draken had bought for her, over a set of black leggings. Raia almost didn’t bother with the soft grey boots, but the metal decking had a nasty way of leaching the heat from her when she went barefoot. Tetis?” she called into the unfamiliar hallway as she finished braiding her now waist-length hair.

 

Roughly halfway down the hallway, Vex’s head popped out of a doorway, giving a soft yet sharp bark aimed at Raia before the tuk’ata turned back and disappeared again.

 

As she walked, the girl looked up and down the long hallway wondering what might lie beyond the doors she passed. Her grumbling stomach quickly turned her curiosity and she smiled at how right her father had been.

 

Peeping her head around the corner of the doorway Vex had disappeared into, she saw her father.

 

Raynuk was standing in the middle of the room, nearly entirely surrounded by security monitors, data feeds, and communications readouts that seemed to float in midair. Raia ran up to him and hugged him fiercely from behind. “What are you doing?”

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OOF! Raynuk was not expecting the fierce hug, the collision actually pushing him off balance enough to make him take a step forward. “Keep me updated Kashaw. I have to go.”

 

Raynuk had been talking into an unseen headset when Raia entered, which had been the cause of Raia’s ability to surprise him with the hug from behind. He reached up and pulled the headset from his ear, tossing it to one of the consoles that was projecting the readouts.

 

“Sorry,” she said as she made a face that was half-amusement, half sheepish. “Who’s Kashaw?”

 

He lifted his arm and twisted around, meeting Raia’s face as the girl was still attached to him, and mirrored her amusement.

 

“An agent of mine on Korriban; apparently there’s some new hopeful who thinks he’s the greatest gift to the Sith and considers himself above everyone else. Caused a massive fight in the Warrior temple, and even killed another hopeful. All on his first day.”

 

Raia stepped back from her father and shook her head, having only started to really make peace with the fact the Sith were not peaceful themselves. “Many of those in the arena with me were the same. I thought Dark Lord Exodus was building a different way? He disrupted your temple, what are you going to do about it?”

 

Raynuk turned fully to Raia, and narrowed his eyes as he considered her question and his answer. “Lord Exodus is indeed building a different way, but that doesn’t stop egotistical hopefuls from coming to Korriban. This hopeful will be broken down in time, so that he can be properly built up to be an effective addition to the Sith… Or he will die in the process, proving himself to be not as strong as he thinks. For now though…”

 

He turned and deactivated most of the communications and data feeds he had been immersed in moments before, and then turned back to Raia.

 

“For now, I’m going to get my daughter a massive meal that she can eat to her heart’s desire.” He answered with a smile as he walked past her and waited at the door for her, extending his hand towards her. “Time to show you where we’ve hidden away.”

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Raia nodded eagerly, more than happy to let the subject drop. “You know I’m always up to try new foods and I am especially hungry.”

 

She followed him to the turbolift that connected the bunker to the rest of the ship and let out an audible gasp as it opened into the massive suite that had always served as Raynuk’s personal quarters when he was aboard the Shadow’s Gambit.

 

The turbolift door was hidden behind a massive and insanely heavy bookshelf, which Raynuk easily moved aside with the Force. Once Vex and Raia were in the suite, he turned and keyed the lockdown code into the panel beside the turbolift door, returning the bunker below and the turbolift itself back into their shutdown state that they had remained in for most of the ship’s existence. After that, it was a simple matter to move the bookcase back in place.

 

Raia turned around and took in the sight of the luxury suite around her. “This is much better decorated than Furion’s quarters on Spite Station were. I like that that there’s a strong aesthetic here, but it’s not overpowering. Almost comfortable in its own strength without having to shout it as loud as a bansheemok,” she murmured as she moved about the room, taking in the details in the woodwork, and feel of the various fabrics that made up the furniture.

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