Artus Prime

[Piccolo]

Piccolo shrugged his shoulders. He saw no reason not to comply with Zara's wishes. Besides, he wished to make certain Ka-rith had truly brought the children. He pounded on the door. Two guards opened, and Piccolo walked into the hallway.

 

"Lock the door, leave two Destroyer Droids inside."

 

The Droids entered and Piccolo heard the door shut behind him as he made his way to Ka's location. Piccolo found the mercenary quickly,

 

"Where are the kids?"

[Ka-Rith]

For the longest time the young force adept had been speaking with a few of the BlackSun operatives, feigning interest in the higher ranking of the pair since she was so bored. The conversation slowly began to die down and as it did the young force user slipped past the man, leaving them behind...also leaving behind an item in his pocket that not even he would notice for some time, but it would be a pleasant surprise when he did.

 

Ka looked up as she noticed the hunter moving towards her. She was holding the two kids by the wrist leading them slowly through the compound. She had no interest in anything really, she was only here to deliver the kids and get what she came for after all. She was relieved to see he had finally come to retrieve the two little brats.

 

"Here they are..."

 

She could tell that they were afraid of the man before them and they were right to be. His appearance would throw off many people, especally little kids. With a simple manipulation of the force, everything needing to be done was done and the little kids were seeming rather excited to visit uncle Piccolo, since they hadn't seen him in so long.

[Piccolo]

Piccolo looked at the children carefully. Nothing appeared to be amiss. The ordered two guards to take them from Ka-rith, he had no intention of touching the spawn of Wartide. The credits had already been wired to an account for the woman.

 

"Well done. I have given you one million credits, if that is not to your satisfaction, name a higher price. It will be granted to you. Now, there is one more matter I'd like to discuss."

 

The hunter could sense the woman's impatience to leave. It was understandable. She had not exactly had friendly relations with the Black Sun in the past. But Piccolo was so pleased that he had the children, he had no intention of doing anything to Ka-rith ever. Piccolo's plans were coming together beautifully.

 

"I need to know what members of the Link are still running around. Exion and Kal are accounted for. Ronin is missing. Is there anyone else?"

[Zara Nargal]

With him just turning and leaving the room without another word Zara threw the only thing that was within her reach at him, one of the pillows on the bed. The destroyer droids she just glared at before turning her back on them, clutching the other pillow and holding it as she would her babes. She focused again, this time able to clear her mind more, clear it and touch the children. What had been done to them? They were happy to see him?!? Zara was furious. There was something truely wrong there, her twins should never have been happy to see anyone that had hurt their mother. Her anger further smoldered within her.

 

She wanted to lash out, but being in only a hospital gown with no weapon to defend herself against blaster shots from destroyer droids wouldn't be a wise move. She curled back up on the bed, still not understanding why she had been in so much pain before. What had they done to her. What torture had those monsters performed that made her feel like she had been ripped in two? Tears of frustration ran down her cheeks, now buried into the pillow as she tried to calm herself. Silently she repeated the words Sabian had taught her long ago. At least this time the pendant was back in the safe at home, it was only the replica they had taken. She would make them pay though, she would even if she had to do it all herself.

 

She stretched out again, now much calmer, though that inner fury still present. She touched her mind ... What the hell have you done bringing my children to that Monster!! I befriended you! She passed her by, stretching out her senses to the one person that meant anything to her... only he was too far away... so very far away that she couldn't reach him in her current state of mind... the main thing on her mind was her twins... how fearful she was that they would be harmed by the monsters at Black Sun. Zara swore that she would destroy them for this. No one took her children and got away with it...

[Ka-Rith]

"One million credits is more then enough. Greed is a terrible vice to suffer from."

 

Seconds after the funds had been transferred into her account they were split into ten different sub accounts and sent throughout the galaxy, hoping bank accounts once every minute until she gave the command for the action to stop so she could retrieve the cash. She was taking no chances in being double crossed in anyway, shape, or form. Such a thing would be unacceptable and easily avoidable.

 

"Ronin isn't with the Link. From what I understand they had a big falling out and the Pirate King went out for revenge, committing an act of disassociation. I didn't have the privilege of meeting to many of the workers since as soon as I arrived I was sent into the field. "

 

As the two of them were speaking, the higher up that Ka had been speaking to was in the control room, observing them. After all, he had been given orders to keep an eye on Ka, something he didn't mind as she was easy on the eyes...when she had her hood down. As he slipped his hand into his pocket he noticed what Ka had left for him. It was a curious item. It felt like a stack of deci. credits rolled up in some sort of thin paper. When he pulled it out he looked it over before pulling back the paper thinking she had left him some sort of holo present. The item had no trace or indication of what it was and had been designed to be untraceable by most every modern standard.

 

They never saw it coming. The tiny device was a high yield explosive and went off in the Black Sun control room. Fire erupted from the door of the room and shook the entire base, throwing many people to the floor. The signal to Ka's Lyger droid had been received and no that the security cameras were off-line for the most part it slipped out of the custom designed attachment on Ka's defender. It moved through the base dispatching anyone it had too, but remaining undetected for the most part.

 

Ka tried to keep her balance, but in the end allowed herself to be thrown to the floor. The guards moving down the hallway with the kids had just turned a corner as a small beeping noise was emitted from one the boys pocket. At first one would think it a stray toy of his, but by that point in time it was too late. The twins were dead along with the guards, fire bellowing out from the corridor they were in. Ka's eyes went wide as she saw the fire coming from around the corner.

 

"What the hell is happening!?!"

 

Fear could be sensed in her eye, Nothing more then an innocent bystander. She stood up and quickly dashed down the hallway to see if the cargo she had just delivered was alive or not. She knew inside they weren't though, she was a force user after all, but she had to keep up the appearance. Anyone with half a heart would be worried about the kids, but Piccolo would be just as worried surely. He would hear her scream as she turned the corner...to face the charred remainders of half a guard, the one that had been slightly protected by the door he was opening.

 

She felt Zara touch her mind, asking why she had brought her children into the grips of this monster. Ka had to fight back a grin at the fact she was looking at the charred remains of said kids. She touched the frantic womans mind with her own powers.

 

Shut it damnit. I can't concentrate. Your kids aren't even on the planet!

[Piccolo]

The flames danced on Piccolo's visor as he watched the events unfold. The hunter was very angry. Doshan rage boiled within his blood. Outwardly, calm he followed Ka-rith, giving orders to the central base command. When they did not respond, he sent a communication elsewhere. He hated to involve them, but there was no other option. Something was very amiss here. Piccolo rounded the corner and observed the dead bodies with no reaction. Ka-rith arrives, the children she brought die, and central command is not responding. Needless to say the hunter was suspicious.

 

Of course, it could also be KVC or Ronin. I hope its Ronin.

 

The hunter collared the female mercenary, dragging her back.

 

"Until this is sorted out, you don't leave my sight."

 

They proceeded to the room where Zara was housed. Piccolo gave orders to all the guards they passed to follow him. Piccolo patched himself in to the base's comm system. He gave orders to report any intruders to him immediately. He spoke to the guards before entering.

 

"No one enters or leaves this room without my okay. You will defend this position to the last man."

 

The hunter had the door locked behind them. Zara, Piccolo, ka-rith, and two Destroyer Droids were alone in a windowless room. He was sure Zara had sensed the death of her children. He didn't have time for her shrieking.

 

"If you speak, Zara Nargal I will cut out your tongue. It was not I who killed your offspring. You have created another enemy aside from the Black Sun it appears. Probably your dead beat husband. For now, feel lucky they are my enemy as well. Whoever is responsible for this will have an agonizing death."

 

His soulless gaze hovered over Ka-rith upon this statement. The hunter sat and waited as the reports flooded in. The comm silence over the room had been lifted with the destruction of the command center. Piccolo made sure his helmet continued to jamm Zara's hidden comm signal just in case.

[Zara Nargal]

Her face was pale as a ghost, not having understood the internal message from her fuddled mind. Of course her children were no longer on the planet... they were dead. Zara didn't even look at the young woman that was dragged into the room along with the Hunter. She had tears streaming down her face, the look of extreme loss in her eyes. At Piccolo's words she hissed at him, not caring any longer for what he said or did,

 

"Ronin was never my husband, don't ever speak of him again. It is YOUR fault they're dead..."

 

She began to murmur strange words that made no sense, one would think it was because of her grief, of using her native language to farewell her children. Her voice took on a strange mesmerising lilt. Wind began to pick up around the room as the Dathomir Witch in her came forward. She'd not only done this before, but she'd had it done as a child to her, to whip her out of the grasp of her mother's hands, luckily then it hadn't worked. Now though, with grief fuelling her actions, the mini cyclone that whirled around her caused the others to be pushed against the wall...

 

((Force Wind:: Allows a witch to manipulate and channel air currents into powerful cyclones of wind. ))

[Piccolo]

Even Piccolo's droids were thrust against the wall. Piccolo was shocked by her display of power. He was dealing with a Force-user, and a strong one at that.

 

I've killed many of those before though. Even a Dark Jedi.

 

But he knew this would be infinitely more difficult. The hunter had half a mind to slay the woman in her bed. Or at least remove her tongue as promised. But he did not yet want her dead. He needed Zara Nargal. He had to take her down quickly, but leave her alive. It would not be easy.

 

She keeps begging me to end her life with displays of stupidity.

 

Piccolo increased the volume of his voice as projected through his helmet. Even with the powerful wind, it was clear to all present.

 

"You fool. I may have indirectly slain them. Just as you did with your actions. But their actual killer is still loose on this base. Continue to go against me, and you will not live to see them punished."

 

Piccolo pulled his arm from the wall. If it was not synthetic, he would not have had the strength. He aimed his powerful grappling hook for Zara's chest. He hoped his guess was accurate. As the weapon fired out, it was affected by the cyclone's wind. It diverted to this side burying itself in her shoulder.

 

Luck was with me on that shot. It could have hit her heart if her cyclone was any weaker.

 

Piccolo verbally commanded his suit to put medium power into the wire. Powerful, but not deadly, electricity flowed into Zara's body, causing her to visibly convulse. Piccolo hoped it would break her concentration and render her unconscious. But with Force-users one could never tell.

[Zara Nargal]

Her anger intensified at his words,

 

"Who are you trying to fool? You killed them! I carried them, I nurtured them, I cared for them but you... you have killed them! You were told to leave them out of this and you put them in harms way... this is your fault!"

 

Zara was far from seeing reason she was so grief stricken. She screamed in pain as the hook embedded into her shoulder, unable to dodge out of it's way. Blood poured out of the wound, adding to the blood loss she had already sustained. The agonising scream was mental as well as verbal as her grief penetrated through the pain she was in. She had lost everyone that mattered to her now. With the hit to the shoulder, it came back to her, she had miscarried the child of that rape, the child of LAP and now she had also lost her beloved twins. That she hadn't really wanted the other child didn't matter, she had still carried it. She had nothing more to live for. That didn't mean she would ever let Black Sun have any form of control over her Organisation. It had been set up so that they would never get control. Zara would sooner see the Organisation fold than become under Black Sun's control.

 

The convulsions hit her body, making her scream even louder before she collapsed, her last conscious thought being that she had lost everyone that meant anything to her... she'd lost her beloved twins...

[Ka-Rith]

Ka didn't appreciate the roughness with which Piccolo dealt with her, but she didn't fight it as that would only make it that much more worse. She followed the hunter to the room where Zara was being held, guards breaking off and following them all along the way. She didn't really pay attention to what Piccolo said as her mind was busy running through the information the lyger droid was providing her with. She was less then pleased to be in the same room with Zara, as she had planned to keep the other away from her for as long as possible.

 

Ka was caught off guard when Zara began to use her own power, causing everyone in the room to be lifted off of their feet and pressed against the wall. Her lips curled in disgust at how hard this wench was making her job. Everything she was doing was only bringing up more things that Ka would have to rectify, but before she could do anything about this problem Piccolo fired a grappling hook at the woman across the room. It hit her in the shoulder, blood spraying out of the wound and catching in the now weakening wind.

 

Ka dropped to her feet as Zara passed out. Her own anger was starting to bubble to the surface and she hated dealing with it. She had kept it in check since she had fallen to the Dark side that one time and no was not the time to lose control again. All at once her plans leapt into action. The snap-hiss of duel lightsabers igniting filled the room as the crimson and azure wrist sabers sliced through the air. The wall just behind Zara erupted as a massive Lyger droid bursted through it, closing its jaws around Zara's waist and bursting backwards.

 

Ka's blades cut through the wire holding Zara in place then the floor around her, letting her drop down to the room below as an Ion grenade was left for the droids and Piccolo to deal with. It would fry the droids and many of Piccolo's systems, which would suit her perfectly. Her feet carried her faster then any other person would hope to catch, her body a simple blur as she darted around corners, tracing the droid that was above her with the Nargal. She knew the hunter would be after them soon, but by the time he got to them she hoped to have Zara out of the compound.

 

After only twenty seconds of running she moved up a story and entered the docking bay that held her ship. The capsule attached to it was sealed, as was the cockpit. She knew that the Nargal was inside and the ship would be taking off shortly. She pulled another spherical object from her belt and tossed it at the main entrance of the hanger. Just as Ka dived behind another ship and her own was lifting off, they were both rocked with the explosion of a thermal detanator fifty feet away.

 

Her only hope to prolong the chase long enough for Zara to escape was to stay behind. The lyger was hooked into her ships systems and would get them back Coruscant, back to the Last Call where KvC would take care of them. Just before they arrived she pulled out the last of the tiny, deci. credit like items and activated it. Five minutes. If she hadn't gotten away in five minutes...Things would end then.

 

((to clarify, Zara is still here..but Is exiting the hanger as we speak. Since most of your systems aren't functioning properly it'd take a lot to bring her down. This ones between me and you piccolo less you want to keep her here longer 1v1 3 posts, mod rules winner, jah?))

[Capt. Phillep]

From the blackness of space a trio of Imperial II-class Star Destroyers appeared out of the horizon, the several squadrons of TIEs escaped from their bays and flooded the skies, joining with their Artus-based counterparts.

 

The alliance with the Black Sun ordered such actions...

 

Meanwhile transport vessels continued to store the amount of cortosis being withdrawn from the mine shafts by Imperial workers.

[Brina Thalin]

A Coreillian freighter, YT-2400-class, exits hyperspace over Artus.

 

During the trip, Brina had called up everyone she could think of to help, but hadn't recieved positive confirmation from anyone. She had strapped on her weapons, leaving behind only a small blaster.

 

As soon as she came out of hyperspace, alarms sounded all over the ship. There, sitting over the planet, were three Star Destroyers, surrounded by swarms of TIE fighters. Brina bit her lip. "Well...this is unexpected..."

 

It was going to take some fancy flying to get out of this one alive. She had a feeling a crash was going to be the only way she'd be able to get on the planet's surface...the Imperials were never ones to make a bargain, especially when they were allied with the people she was trying to attack.

 

With shields up at maximum, Brina pushed her ship forward, hoping to slip by unnoticed, but highly doubting that possibility.

[Piccolo]

((Sounds fair to me. Good luck, I'll start.))

 

Piccolo was already moving as soon as the strange droid grabbed Zara in its jaws. There was no doubt it shocked the hunter. He had never seen anything like it. But it would not get his prize. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the ion grenade in Ka's hand.

 

I knew she was playing me the whole time, since Coruscant. X7 was assigned to her, I should have gotten a report from him before I permitted Ka to enter the base. But I was eager for vengeance. All I can do now is salvage what's left of this and get my prisoner back.

 

Piccolo's jaw clenched in anger, before he quickly changed direction. His metal shoulder slammed into the door, sending him out into the hallway. The grenade flashed behind him. He couldn't permit it to hit him. It would probably be absorbed by his armor, but there was a risk it would strike his body beneath. Piccolo was much more machine than human now.

 

I should have shot Ka as soon as the children were killed. It has all been a ruse.

 

No matter, Piccolo knew they would not get far. He dashed back into the room to see his Destroy Droids toppled over in death. The hunter didn't have time to call in any droid reinforcements. The human agents in the hallway would only make his presence more obvious. They were useless against that metal creature. He ordered them to begin evacuating the base. There was no guarantee there weren't more of those monstrous machines, and his troops were no match. Piccolo drew his pistol and ran into the hole Ka had headed into. He knew he was not going to catch them in time, and knew he didn't need to. There was no escape. Artus would be their tomb, there was no doubt of that. The question was whether it would be his as well. The hunter took his time following their very obvious trail of debris. He emerged into the hanger to see the remnants of Ka's thermal detonator attack. They weren't exactly being subtle about this escape. It was a sign of overconfidence. Ka had no clue what she was dealing with. He looked up to see Ka's ship flying into the sky, already too high for him to shoot.

 

They won't make it very far against the Empire. Our alliance was the smartest move I ever made.

 

Piccolo was about to call The Howling Runner when he caught Ka's scent. It was too strong to merely be a remnant, she was here. He dropped behind a battered fighter trying to ascertain her location. His vision turned to infrared. He was better served to let the Imperials take care of Zara. Ka was still here. If Zara was killed, he would make sure to have at least one prisoner alive. The hunter saw her crouched form behind a nearby ship. He used his suit to calculate the trajectory and aimed the rocket on his blaster pack toward the fighter and toward Ka-rith. His finger paused above the button.

 

Don't be so hasty. You are enraged at her interference. This is the way of a Doshan lizard. You are a bounty hunter and the leader of the Black Sun. She must be taken alive.

 

He altered its course, and fired. The weapon struck the ceiling of the hanger, sending chunks of metal raining down on the starship and on the female mercenary. He pulled his other pistol and stalked toward the pile of debris. His mechanically filtered voice echoed in the damaged hangar.

 

"Ka-rith you have chosen the wrong side. Zara and the Link are dying. The Black Sun is at the height of power. There is still time to change your mind. If you do not, I will keep the promise I made. Your death will be an agonizing one."

 

((1))

[Ka-Rith]

The once gentle flow of the force had been interrupted for a brief second. Something was amiss, but the young force adept could not be sure what it was. The force took over her body, activating her lightsabers and cutting through the hull of the freighter she had been hiding behind at the last second. Her petite frame slipped through the hull just in time, had it been even a fraction of a second later and she would be buried beneath the falling rubble. Still she heard the hunters words, a grim smile crossing her face at his mention of her choosing the wrong side. He had no idea who's side she was truly on.

 

Ka-Rith closed her eyes and focused on Piccolo's position in the hanger. She didn't have a clue how he knew where she was, but now was not the time to analyze any mistakes she might have made so far. With her minds eye she reached out and tugged at the subtle strings of the force, letting her words flow through it and into the others mind. It was the simplest way...

 

"The Black Sun is a shadow of its former self...You are a worthless leader, you can barely keep control of yourself. How can you expect your men to follow some foolish being such as yourself, losing most every confrontation. What kind of example is that? You've no idea why I returned for the Nargal, but I do not serve that wench as you would think.."

 

She moved through the ship quickly, finding the cockpit without hesitation. Her fingers ran over the systems activating the weapons. In a few more seconds a gentle whir could be heard from the ships left side. Any trained bounty hunter would know the sound and Ka expected Piccolo too as well. As the concussion missile fired forward and slammed into the hanger wall, Ka used the distraction to make her way out of the hatch.

 

"I'll be bringing down the house tonight..."

 

The woman grabbed a stray pipe in the hanger and moved towards Piccolo. There wasn't a hint of fear in her eyes as she raised it over her head in preparation to hit him. Judging by her size it would barely phase him, but with her own strength combined with that which her form fitting suit underneath her cloak gave her it was liable to crush the bones of the weak. Her movement was a blur as she brought the weapon crashing down into the side of Piccolo's helmet.

 

 

___

 

The Tie defenders sensors picked up the arrival of the Imperial ships. Before their ships could break the atmosphere and shoot it down it disappeared over the horizon, in effort to escape to the other side of the planet before entering space. All the while the Lyger was running the calculations for the jump into hyperspace.

 

(1)

[Piccolo]

The explosions ripped through the hangar much to Piccolo's dismay. The Artus base had always been a favorite of his, even more than the Citadel. Now it was falling apart around him. Piccolo's eyes narrowed. There was no doubt in his mind Ka was trying to flee. He would not allow it. She would suffer.

 

No one alive has been with the Black Sun longer than I. She is a fool, and I will show her the strength of the Black Sun!

 

The hunter began to run toward the ship. He used his helmet to try to hack into its controls, but he knew it would take far too much time. He had to bring it down. He slowed and prepared to leap onto its surface. His narrowed eyes lifted in surprise. At the last moment, he caught Ka's scent, and he knew she was close. She was right behind him.

 

She managed to distract me and anger me. This cursed lizard blood couldn't even catch her scent. I must control this blind rage, she is only taunting me. She knows nothing of the Black Sun's history or the enemies we've trappled.

 

And secretly Piccolo had to admire her ingenuity. She had somehow managed to get the ship going and circle behind him. He had grossly underestimated Ka, and allowed himself to lose control of his Doshan blood. Mistakes like that were going to cost him his life. He turned quickly just in time to see the pipe slam into his visor. Its surface cracked and the helmet dented enough to pierce his skin. Blood dripped down his cheeks as he hit the floor. His blasters clattered to the ground beside him. Piccolo was so surprised he had let a cry of pain escape his lips. He did not have the presence of mind to regret such a show of weakness. He was much more concerned with his wound.

 

How could she possibly have the strength to damage my armor?

 

Piccolo knew there were only two possiblities. Either she was a cyborg or she was a Force-user. To increase the pleasure of this battle, he sincerely hoped it was the latter. Ka was moving again at blinding speed. There was no doubt she had the taint of the Force now. He saw the pipe coming for his head again. But this time he was ready. Ka was so fast she was a blur, but Piccolo was fast as well. Fast in a different way. His reflexes were dictated by a computer. A Force-user could increase her speed, but the actions of a machine were instant. His metal fist caught the end of the pipe firmly in his grip, crushing it. They struggled for a moment, each trying to show they had the superior strength. But even with Ka's Force enhanced power, Piccolo's fake arm gradually tired her out. Another interesting thing about machines was that it took them decades to wear out. Flesh and blood needed rest after a few moments. The hunter used his other arm to thrust himself back onto his feet. The taller warrior lifted the pipe high, leaving Ka's feet dangling from the ground. His other fist flew quickly, pounding into her mid-section. A loud crack echoed through the hangar as his knuckles struck rib bone. Ka lost her grip on the pipe and tumbled through the air, rolling several feet along the ground. Piccolo shook his head, blinking his own blood out of his eyes.

 

Why do they always go for my head?

 

Piccolo staggered before regaining his wits. He advanced again, crumpling the pipe into a ball and tossing it aside. There would be no talk this time. They were in a life and death struggle. Piccolo would not allow his anger to control him, and speech would only make that harder. As he had many times in the past, he fell into his battle mode. He would permit himself no emotion as they fought, ensuring he remained calm and rational. The hunter stopped and pulled his stun whip. He sent a painful lash toward Ka's fallen body.

 

((2))

[Ka-Rith]

Ka wasn't surprised when the hunter caught the pipe, she knew that much of his body was machine. If she wasn't careful she would end up in much the same way, or worse. She felt a sharp pain in her gut as his fist knocked the air out of her. She could barely get a breath in without being greeted by immense pain. That would prove a problem shortly if she didn't take care of it. She managed to shake her head, the first thing meeting her eyes was the sight of her pipe being crushed into a ball and thrown aside like a wet piece of paper.

 

It was then that the young force adept turned mercenary realized that one could always say they were prepared to meet the end, but it wasn't until death was starring them in the face that they realized just how horrible such a thing could be. The thing before her would be a personal angel of death if she didn't get things working in her favor somehow. Once again the hairs on the back of her neck stood up as the pond that was the force rippled outwards. In an instant she ignited her left wrist saber, holding it up to block the whip, watching as it wrapped around her weapon.

 

A grin crossed her concealed face as he ripped the weapon back towards him with her still attached, just as she had hopped. With a simple manipulation of the force she flew at him faster then he would have expected. Ka tapped the edge of her right boot against her left one, a small knife slipped out of the tip in the same instant she brought the weapon around to collide with the opposite side of his face then she had hit last time. The blade was custom designed to even the strongest of alloys, she could think Lycus for that one. With a simple tug upward the knife dislodged from her boot as was left going through Piccolo's right cheek and through his mouth.

 

As he stumbled backwards she fell to the ground, the air escaping her for the second time in less then half a minute. Ka took only a second, for that was all she had, to regain her composure before pushing herself into an upright position. She pulled the force to her in an attempt to wash a soothing wave over her body to ease the pain a bit, but she couldn't feel the light that was around her usually. All she could touch was the familiar bitter taint of the darkness. 666

 

Ka's hood fell back to reveal her pale face and hair dark enough to rival the depths of space. She raised her left hand, the crimson blade that was still ignited following. All of her pain flowed through her body, swelling up and empowering the force as she closed her hand, gripping the figures throat tightly with the force. With her free hand she pulled to spheres from her belt, holding them loosely behind her back out of Piccolo's sight. Her hand shot forward, rolling the first right before him. It was a Flashbang..Hopefully he would have his visor shut out his vision for a few seconds.

 

Hoping she had timed it right...She rolled forward the second grenade as the first went off, this one was another Ion nade. Submerging herself in the force she let it take over her movements, it would guide her even without sight in the fight against the leader of the Black Sun.

 

((2))

[Silas]

Jacen heard of all that was happening from the commotion outside.

 

"Katarra, come with me, you're hired for the time being, but don't do anything without consulting me on it."

 

Jacen headed for the control center at a dead sprint. He arrived and discovered the center destroyed.

 

My ship, I have to get it out of the hangar!

 

He sent a comm to his astromich driod aboard the Lucky Me.

 

--Comm to droid--

 

Get my ship out of that hangar immediatley. I don't care if you have to blow a hole through the ceiling to do it, but get it out of there, ASAP, don't bother with the preflight check either. Set her down in the front of the base, I'll be waiting.

 

--end comm--

 

He turned to the captain that had arrived shortly after he had arrived.

 

"Keep everything running. When Piccolo returns, inform him that I have gone after Nargal. If you require assisstance, comm me, but don't do anything that you're not sure about without contacting myself or Piccolo."

 

Jacen left the remains control center at a run, Katarra on his heels. He yelled as he ran.

 

"I'm going to need you to come with me on my ship. I'll need a co-pilot and you're the best thing I have. Follow my instructions and you'll have proven your loyalty to Black Sun."

 

* * *

 

The Lucky Me powered up, piloted by Jacen's R5 droid once again, and blew a hole through the ceiling of the hangar bay, away from any ships that were of consequence. It flew through the newly created hole and headed towards the front of the base, where it's owner was waiting.

 

It flew once in a circle, seeing Jacen and a strange woman standing, waiting, then went in for a rather bumpy landing.

 

* * *

 

Jacen saw the Lucky Me land and ran towards it with Katarra in tow. The landing ramp dropped and Jacen went up it at a dead run. He sat in the Pilot's seat, which he had modified to be a self conforming chair, along with the copilots seat, and did a quick check of the systems. When he got all the green lights, he lifted off and headed towards Nargal's last known trejectory.

[Piccolo]

Piccolo felt the blade pull away from his face, blood pouring from his wound. The armor against his cheek had prevented the knife from imbedding all the way, and piercing his brain, but the wound was still severe. It hurt much worse than the bump on his skull, that was for sure. Blood pooled on the floor as it leaked out of the knife hole in his helmet. Piccolo felt it pour down his throat as well. But the brief pang of fear he was feeling overwhelmed the intense pain.

 

The red saber. She is a Sith! And a trained one apparently. It's the only explanation

 

Piccolo had fought and defeated many Sith before. But he dreaded battles against them. They were vicious warriors, and every battle he had been in with a dark side user had left him near death. The hunter knew now that this one would be no different. He had not only underestimated Ka, he had overestimated himself. In his foolish eagerness, he had permitted an enemy Sith to enter his stronghold. Ka should not have been allowed to freely enter. If he was thinking rationally, like a human, she wouldn't have been permitted in. It could be a fatal mistake.

 

Well, if I die so be it. I've had my soul ripped from my body, nothing this woman can do will be any worse.

 

The hunter's stun whip clattered to the ground as he suddenly lost focus. Twisting in confusion, the fell to one knee as she Force gripped his throat. It took Piccolo a moment to realize what she was doing. He smiled, at the familiar feeling. It was a foolish gesture. The hunter had had a Dark Jedi try to collapse his windpipe. Ka was powerful, but so was Piccolo's will. Force choke would not be effective against him. If she wished victory, she would be wise to use less Force power, and more of that knife. He was preparing to retaliate, when he saw the flash grenade roll toward him.

 

Where does she keep all these bombs?

 

Piccolo did not panic. The hunter's visor would protect him, just as Ka anticipated. He didn't see the second one coming. Piccolo was thrown off his feet by the jolting ion grenade. Piccolo wasn't sure what had happened. His vision was still dark. He couldn't get any of his systems to work. He realized what had happened. She had used another ion grenade.

 

I am blind! My arms and legs cannot move either.

 

Panic set in. The hunter had accepted the possibility of death, but he at least wanted to see it coming. He didn't want to die helpless. Fear gripped his heart and would not let ago. Suddenly he felt his arms and legs flailing on the ground. His green face turned greener, in embarassment. He was a bigger fool than he thought. He had not lost the use of his limbs yet. Piccolo sprang to his feet. His vision was still black.

 

It is not my eyes that are damaged, it is the visor.

 

Much of Piccolo was cybernetic. An ion grenade could be deadly to him if it penetrated into his brain, or left him helpless. His Eclipse armor had been constructed to protect him from this. But Piccolo had always had doubts. It was his one weakness, and he was always concerned about it. He had panicked and assumed it was his mechanical eyes that were blinded. It was only his helmet that was damaged. The visor was merely locked in blind mode. In fact, every circuit in his entire suit was offline. But the armor had stopped the ion grenade from penetrating into his body. This time at least. Piccolo pulled his helmet off and thrust it to the ground.

 

It was then he saw Ka coming. She was already almost on top of him. While he had been panicking, she had been preparing his death. Piccolo felt his throat choke up at her Force power once more. He immediately feigned injury by gripping it, blood pouring over his hand from his still bleeding wound. As Ka neared, Piccolo's stun baton emerged and slammed into her cheek. It was not operation because of the ion grenade, but with Piccolo's powerful strike, it was still severly damaging. Ka's jaw shattered instantly.

 

An eye for an eye. Or in this case a cheek.

 

Of course, Ka had sensed his attack. And her wrist saber should have been able to protect her, but Piccolo's armored limb was coated in cortosis. His suit didn't need to be functional for that to work. Ka was a strong Force-user, and her knife came back quickly. Most creatures would have been knocked unconscious by his attack. The hunter's fast hand flew once more and gripped it tight, as he had the pipe. He felt it slowly cutting into his armor as they struggled. Piccolo knew he should let go, but he found himself unable to move momentarily. He was frozen as he felt an odd feeling come over him. Suddenly his mind remembered what his body was already reacting to. The taste of blood was still in his mouth.

 

Blood. It is what releases the feral animal.

 

Realization dawned on the hunter. His machine parts had failed him. His precious suit had failed him. Perhaps it was time to release the anger. The taste of blood had stirred his Doshan genes. Pure Doshans could be sent into a frenzy merely at the sight of blood. Half-Doshans needed a bit more. Swallowing so much of his own blood had been enough. Piccolo roared in spite of his broken mouth, his own blood spraying Ka's face. The hunter dropped his baton. He needed no weapons for this. The knife broke through the armor, and began cutting into the metal of his hand. Piccolo did not flinch. He had no pain receptors there. Even if he did, the bloodwrath prevented him from feeling even the agony of his face wound, let alone Ka's knife. Piccolo surged forward, pushing Ka onto her back and landing on top. His knee was in her chest, crushing the life out of her. His other hand closed about her neck and squeezed tightly. Ka still had one hand free. But nothing she did to his arm seemed to work. He lifted her head, and repeatedly pounded it into the durasteel floor. The gray steel was stained with red. No amount of pounding on his arm, no about of Force choking, no amount of knife penetration into his hand, could stop the hunter's rage. Ka would suffer an agonizing death as promised.

 

((3))

 

Great fight, good luck

[Ka-Rith]

((Mm...Raging Doshan. Yummy.))

 

Her plan had worked perfectly it seemed. If it hadn't then the hunter had made a foolish mistake in not moving long enough for her to charge in the way she had. With each step she took the pain in her chest grew to near unbearable amounts. Many would contribute her still being up to the force, as force users were known for that sort of thing. But she knew deep within herself that that was not what was going on. It was her own adrenaline that kept her going.

 

Just as she was about to perform the killing she witnessed him toss his helmet aside, with a quick use of the force she choked him just enough to pull his full attention away from her. When his hand went to his throat so quickly she was a bit surprised, perhaps the dark side truly was more powerful when it sunk it's venomous fangs into someone. Every receptor in her brain screamed stop all at once, but it was too late. She felt the blinding pain of his weapon crash into her jaw. Blood and teeth flew every where as she was lifted off of her feet by the blow, twisting around in the air before hitting the ground.

 

She didn't have time to notice that her left blade was no inoperable. Her saber she had crafted to match a Sith's blade. The hunter was not aware of her second blade, her Jedi blade. In this state of mind such a thing meant little though. Her body was working of it's own accord, moving faster then the eye could see as she was fueled by pain and now hatred for this beast before her. A hot sticky fluid sprayed onto her face matching that which was already pouring down her face.

 

Her next conscious thought was of the hunter being upon her. His weight was crushing her body. There was no way she would be able to fling him off of her, even with the combined use of the force and her own strength. Perhaps when she was in top form she might have had a slim chance of lifting a suit of armor and a doshan with so many mechanical limbs, but not now... He was going to collapse her chest cavity at this rate. . . Her hand slipped into her pocket as her head hit the ground for the first time. She wouldn't have time to do anything else surely...So she did the only reasonable thing she could. If she couldn't live, Neither could he!

 

"You go to hell!"

 

Her blood coated fingers pressed down on the explosive charge in her pocket that had been meant to blow apart the Black Sun Citdal. Fitting that it was being used to end the life of the very man that ran the entire organization. She could only hope that his suit was not enough protection to save his life, for his was over no matter what as the final beep from the charge went off signaling it was detonating...

 

 

((3))

 

 

Very good duel. I had a good time =) G'luck

[Zara Nargal]

((OOC: Edit - Rather than post again for just an ooc I'm editting this for this OOC. I should have put this quote previously but I forgot to at the time. When I wrote this post it was in response to this one made by Thorpe in the Space thread:

 

With the extraction of Zara Nargal complete the Lyger droid made a series of random jumps. The small shuttle carried only two...Zara Nargal, slowly recovering from her injuries as a result of her torture, and one Anamorphic Lyger droid hardwired with directional data and Ka-Rith's signature codes. Mid-jump, it approached the semi-concious form of Zara, and administered an injection of adrenaline and stimulants to rouser her.

 

"Target designation #0124 ...Zara Nargal...your instructions are nessecary. Your extraction has been facilitated by TCS. Input of eventual destination is needed. Calculate less then 4 standard hours until arrival at Golden Casino." The droid said in a slow slightly modulated tone. "Awating detailed instructions, otherwise target saftey mode will be initiated."

 

The droid was awaiting Zara's instructions...while capable of delivering her to the destination of her choice it wasn't about to jeporadize it's mission of her safe delivery.

 

I apologise if I've caused anyone to think I was just escaping easily - I was just responding to the above.))

 

 

Zara came to, the pain in her shoulder so intense she let out a cry. She had no idea where she was, only that her beloved twins had been killed. She opened her pain filled eyes, finding herself in the cockpit of a small ship. Testing her comm she found she wasn't jammed any longer. Brina!

 

-- Comm to Brina --

 

Can you hear me? I'm... in a ship... in the cockpit... There's some strange looking droid here... it's piloting it I think... coz I can't. I ... don't know where I am... beacon is on... have... grappling hook... in shoulder... the twins... they're... gone... Ka-Rith...

 

-- end comm --

 

The comm cut off with a choked sob. Zara rested her head back against the wall of the ship, feeling the cold in her thin hospital gown. Looking around the confines, she saw what looked to be a first aid kit. It hurt to lean forward, the hook still embedded in her shoulder. There was one of the thermal blankets inside the kit. Pulling it out she wrapped it around herself. She had to get the hook out, didn't know if she could. Gathering the courage, she brought her good arm up to grab hold of where it petruded, the wire still hanging off it. She attempted to pull it but the pain... it was too much... Zara passed out again, just as the ship entered hyperspace, the Lyger droid having calculated it's first jump...

Edited May 25, 2006 by Guest

[Silas]

Jacen and the Lucky Me were just in time to see Nargal's ship enter hyperspace. Jacen swore loudly, Nargal had escaped once again, and it was Kal's fault, or at least, so Jacen thoguht. He sent a non-priority message to Piccolo.

 

--Comm to Piccolo--

 

"Sir, Nargal has escaped once again. What are your orders?

 

--open comm channel--

 

He leaned back in his seat.

 

D***, she escaped again, I'll get her eventually.

 

Nath! I forgot all about him.

 

Jacen sent in a comm to the medical wing.

 

--comm to medical wing--

 

I need to know if agent Corun is all right. If he is fit to speak put him on this channel, tell him it is Jacen.

 

--open comm channel--

[Brina Thalin]

She heard her comm crackle to life, and she closed her eyes, dreading the inevitable confrontation with the Imperials.

 

However, the voice that came over the comm was utterly different than she was expecting. "ZARA!!!" she cried. Somehow, the woman had gotten off of the planet. She tried to translate the near-incoherent message without much luck. It certainly sounded like her. If this was a trick...

 

But Brina realized she had no choice. Cursing Black Sun if this was a trap, she turned the ship around, and got the coordinates for the Casino. A few minutes later, she was in hyperspace.

[The Archivist]

"Hello Jacen", Nath said into the Comm as he sat up from his bed in Medical Dormitory, "What is it that you want sir?"

Nath looked at his Mechanic hand as he responded.

[Capt. Phillep]

The Imperial pilots cursed themselves, "Vice-Admiral, we don't know what happened, it seems we were too late. It was almost as if, once we appeared, she took off..."

 

The Vice-Admiral muttered a curse, "Well... this may not bode well for our alliance... we could offer assistance to them tracking her down?"

 

The General chimed in, "I agree, sir. Either way, the Admiral might be a bit bothered by this turn of events, he values the Black Sun for some reason or another."

 

The Vice-Admiral, replied, "Well, he also assists Pirates at his discretion, clearly, the Admiral's decisions are contradictory at best."

 

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

 

A comm was sent for the Black Sun, "The Lyger Droid escaped us, it seems. The Empire sends its apologizes and offers assistance in tracking down the Lady of the Link."

 

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

 

Still the transports continued to load more and more cortosis ore before shipping off towards Carida, another appearing just out of the skies to continue.

[Silas]

--Open Comm channel to Nath--

 

Yes, I just wanted to make sure that you were properly healed up. I'll have orders for you in a few minutes.

 

--Close Comm--

Edited May 27, 2006 by Guest

[BLCKCLONE]

For the duel between ka-rith and Piccolo I honestly am not sure why my ruling is even needed. The charge that went off easily killed you both. I am not sure how else to rule on this. You both died because of the explosion.

[Silas]

Jacen walked through the destroyed hangar. This was where his leader had died. Some rubble slid down a pile near him, but there was something strange about it. There was a gleam. Jacen walked over to it. He picked up the case that he had seen.

 

Of course, Piccolo's brain case! I'll take it back to Coruscant and get them to revive him.

 

Before leaving for Coruscant, Jacen sent out a comm over the loud speakers.

 

--Loud Speaker Comm--

 

All((PC)) agents are to report the the Coruscant Citadel'. Report to Vigo Mindan, and he'll give you orders.

 

--End Comm--

 

Jacen then boarded his ship, and after a quick pre-flight sequence, lifted off and headed towards Coruscant.

 

((Okay guys, this is how I interpretted Piccolo's PM to me, but I may have misread them, so be ready to recieve different orders.))

[The Archivist]

Hearing the comm Nath jumped out of the hospital bed and ran to his ship,

after the preflight checks and all he lifted off towards Corusant.

[Commander Valinor]

Katarra ran to the docking bay and into her ship. She blasted off for Corusant.

[DarthBrendo]

Mindan set down the Laayla on Artus, and commed the senior officer, instructing him to set about securing the area and making a base to get them through the immediate period unitl.