A Death in the Family

[Riggs]

It's not what it once was. A war torn galaxy filled with displaced souls. Orders fallen. Alliances broken. Councils dismantled. And brothers separated once again. Life begets death which begets life, but all the man saw was darkness. It pulled at him calling him, weighing upon him, enticing him. It knew his name intimately.

Lightly he tapped the rifle's stock with a finger as he aimed down the sights letting the cross hair drift over the unsuspecting bystanders. A neon sign was lit, flashing obscene images in a promotion of the establishment's wares. He was kneeling in the shadows behind the sign patiently waiting and watching for his target.

Once he was a knight, redeemed from darkness but now he stood on a knife's edge swaying to and fro knowing that a simple breeze could topple him into the abyss. A single shot could shatter his resolve and push him into a living hell.

But that was the job.

Kill a smuggler who was getting too close to his employer, an employer he would meet after this job. A slave and spice trader. A man who traded in flesh.

Bjork didn't want to kill this target but it was the price of getting inside the slavery circle and show him to eliminate the slaver ring permanently.

The price: a piece of his soul. A price he was willing to pay to free the innocents and save future innocents from slavery. A price purchased with a single smuggler's blood and Bork's broken soul. A price he would pay.

So he watched for the suave smuggler who 'lost' a shipment of slaves and had the guts to come to Coruscant to meet with the slave ring leader to apologize.

Sweat and a light rain coated his skin and clothing to his body as he waited and watched for his target with patience born of training ingrained from youth. Lessons learned the hard way.

 

[Ellion Corsair]

Some thing change, some things don't. I can't begin to understand what happened to my world, my galaxy. But evil still stands strong and good seems to be few and far between. But I'll do what I can where I can til I can't.

The man smirked as he walked among the lower level back alley. His button down white shirt with the sleeves rolled up his forearms was accented by the black vest that made him appear both casual and sharply dressed. The black slacks were heavy duty and hiding the combat boots adorning his feet. He looked like a business man or gambler but the dual blasters tied low on either though told the truth about his character.

Here was a man used to danger.

The twinkle in his blue eyes, which were framed by shaggy black hair and stubble on his face, glittered with excitement. He was looking forward to this meeting with the slave guild masters. He helped to relocate a shipment of slaves and one he would be brought in as an example to other smugglers. But he was prepared. After all he was a knight, even if his order was fine and he was operating solo.

With thumbs hooked casually in his fun belt he exited the alley and turned onto a sidewalk heading for a local warehouse where he was to meet the leaders of the slave ring to plead his case. But he was ready for action.

I just wish I knew what happened to this galaxy to turn it all today turvy. But I've got a job to do and it's helping those who can't help themselves. And it won't get done by itself.

 

[Riggs]

Bjork waited calmly and patiently ignoring the slight aches in his body as muscles tried to cramp and tremors attempted to run along his spine. A brief touch to the force alleviated the weaknesses of the flesh and refreshed him allowing him to focus once more without difficulty.

The moment connection with the force gave him a sense of familiarity but when Bjork shut it down so too left the impression that came with the clarity and focus from the force.

The cross hair finally picked up a sharply dressed man in the distance who walked with a slight swagger. Instinct told him this was his target but to also wait for positive identification from his employers.

Activating the holo cam built into the scope of the rifle he sent a live feed to his handler to confirm the identity of the target.

While waiting the target's features became clearer and Bjork frowned, a familiar sense of unease coming to his mind as he uttered a familiar phrase, "I have a bad feeling about this."

 

[KitKat]

As much as the galaxy had changed evil still remained the same. The Sith of this galaxy controlled Coruscant so things like slavery rings were completely legal here. Katarine couldn't help but feel nauseated as she walked the streets, past vendors dealing in fleshy goods.

Once or twice she considered leaving the planet, certain her feeling hadn't been accurate. Why in the name of the Force would she wander here? Well these days that was exactly what Katarine was doing, wandering. Since her sudden appearance in what she now was almost certain had to be another dimension she'd been trying to patch together how she had gotten here. Research at the galactic library had lead her on a scavenger hunt with a Corellian who had lost his home in the destruction of the planet. From there she'd ran across a dark Jedi who should have recognized her but didn't. Slade had given her the details of another dimension but he didn't know the specifics. He did have the name of a scientist who might and unfortunately the pursuit of such a scientist lead her to Sith controlled space.

Despite the danger it seemed like she was exactly where she ought to be, in that annoying way that only a Jedi Master could pull off. So she wandered the streets of Coruscant. Now if she were a renown scientist studying the netherworld... where oh where would she be? That was the million credit question on the woman's mind.

[member="Bjork Corsair"] [member="Ellion Corsair"]

 

[Ellion Corsair]

Walking along the cracked sidewalk he paused as he was passing two children and a woman huddled on the side of a building. The two boys were half starved and the woman's eyes were red, blood shoot, speaking of drug habit.

Crouching down he looked at the two boys who were nearly half feral. On the planet which was a Sith stronghold he had made his force presence as small as possible not even touching it. But here he made the decision to touch the force despite the risk of exposure.

The trickle of the force eased into him reminding him off drinking hot caf on a child night, refreshing. Reaching out he soothed the three as he pulled out the small pouch of credits inside a hidden pocket from within his vest. "Food, a place to stay, it's not much."

The larger boy took it and clutched it protectively. Ellion shook his head sadly and made a second risky choice. "Hangar bay four, slot twelve, three levels up. A modified Corellian freighter. You want a ride off this planet meet me there. Take care."

He sent a rush of hope into three three as he stood and moved reluctantly away. It hurt to see the pain of others but that was one of the things that made him effective, compassion and an honest desire to help.

But it's time to go to this meeting.

But as he began walking again he felt a familiarity in the force as well as danger.

[member="Katarine Ryiah"] [member="Bjork Corsair"]

 

[Riggs]

The comlink beeped in his ear. "Target confirmed. Kill order rescinded. An acquisition team is in route. Provide cover fire if necessary and follow them in to meet the boss." Bjork double clicked the comlink to show his affirmative.

Focusing in on the smuggler Bjork grunted under his breath as he placed the figure below. "Eli." Things had become more complicated. On the one hand all he had to do was accompany the team and his brother to the boys so he could eliminate the ring leaders. On the other hand Eli was the first recognizable face in this new galaxy. Then again he could merely be a doppelganger and not the brother he knew.

A signal appeared on his mini map showing the acquisition team was ten minutes out.

[member="Ellion Corsair"] [member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

She needed to find some official building where a scientist might work but Coruscant looked nothing like it did in her day. She frowned and wandered what should have been the official district, but which now seemed to be riddled with homeless citizens and drug addicts. She passed two small boys eating a meal as if they hadn't ate in days and frowned. Their mother hissed at her, but judging by her eyes she was so spiced out she didn't realize what she was doing.

Katarine closed her eyes and continued to walk. Wandering the galaxy to figure out what happened to her seemed selfish now. Did it matter what happened? There were people who needed her help. The issue was Katarine didn't know who she could trust. The Jedi were so fragmented now which ones were doing good and which were doing wrong?

She rounded a corner and felt her unease triple. There was a warning in the Force but her deep green eyes detected nothing except ordinary citizens wandering the small alley that to her should have been one of Coruscants main streets. Something else stirred in the Force, something familiar. She frowned. Nothing was familiar in this galaxy. Even the people she thought she knew seemed different and did not recognize her.

She put her hands inside her jacket pockets and kept walking, the unease quickly doubling the closer she got to the neon flashing signs promoting women and good times. She looked out of place, in fashions that were over 800 years old, but hadn't had time to change that yet. Instead the woman wore her usual black flight jacket, white tank, and skin tight black flight pants completed with black boots. Passerby were eying her, no doubt wondering where she'd gotten the funny looking clothes. They didn't seem to be the source of the warning though.

She heard quick footfalls on the far side of the alley behind her and glanced over her shoulder. Someone or perhaps a small group, was moving quickly toward her.

[member="Bjork Corsair"] [member="Ellion Corsair"]

 

[Ellion Corsair]

Walking along he paused again to pull a datapad from his back pocket. The layout of the city, no the planet, was so different. Looking at the map he scrutinized it furrowing his forehead in deep thought. But it was only for show. He had memorized this level and the one immediately above and below remembering to always plan for the worst case scenario. Contingencies saved lives, his in particular and on more then one occasion.

Like the sense of watchfulness coming from the roof top with the neon sign. He felt a sense of grim determination from above until moments before. Now a confused mind unsure of which part to take. Eli smiled as if he had found the right route and stumbled slightly as if his preoccupation had made him trip ... Just as a small group passed in front of him.

Slipping into the mouth of the alley he leaned against the wall as if he was resting from the effects of a drug or a drinking binge. His eyes flicked up at a figure in the same alley. A woman with a silhouette that brought a pang to his chest. But that woman was lost in a galaxy far far away.

But the nearing of a small group down the alley was a development in his meeting with the slavers.

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[Riggs]

He rose from his position as his target slipped from view. A grimace was etched on his face as he gripped the rifle and ran lightly across the roof top til he neared the edge. Then he leapt off the roof and sailed across the empty space between buildings before his feet touched the top of the next roof.

He could have taken a roll to take the impact and redistribute it but he chose to land upright. Jogging to the edge he dropped to a knee and brought the rifle up against his shoulder as he looked through the scope and reacquired his target.

A woman was in the alley as well. Down the alley approached the five man acquisition team. Bjork waited and watched prepared to do what he had to to complete his mission.

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Katarine was not quite as prepared as she should have been for this trip. She hadn't expected Coruscant to look differently, though she probably should have. Zeltros certainly had. She really was reading her datapad to figure out where she was. Her senses were concentrated behind her though. The hurried footsteps were getting closer. The only other person in the alley besides her was a tall lean man. She couldn't make out his features in the dark but the curve of his shoulders made it hard to breathe. She felt like a hole had opened in her chest again and her drug of choice to help her forget was nowhere to be had. She blinked, trying to shake off the feelings that were about to pour in.

Unfortunately her moments distraction was a dangerous one. The footfalls were too close and the next thing she knew someone had pushed her up against the wall. She was a little less fragile than he had intended however and soon found an elbow to the jaw. She pushed him off of her and spun around in time to take a sucker punch to the face. She stumbled backwards, in time for someone to grab her arms and restrain her. This wasn't particularly difficult to get out of, if you were a Jedi, but their voices made her hesitate.

"He was supposed to be alone!"

"Whose she?"

"A shopper whose in the wrong place at the wrong time you Nerf." She pulled away from him and he tightened his hold.

"Do it again and I'll slit your pretty throat." She felt a blade at her throat and stopped struggling. It STILL wasn't a completely lost situation, but her curiosity was raised.

"Calm down. If she isn't with him then we kill her." A more authoritative voice sounded behind Katarine.

"Whoa let's not jump to conclusions boys. I'm a lot more fun alive."

"Hush. What are you doing down here?"

"I told you I'm lost."

"You aren't with the smuggler?"

"Depends, is he single? How much money does he make?"

"I'm not playing games girl! I'm asking you a question! Are you here to double cross us?"

"I told you I'M JUST LOST!"

"Find the smuggler!" She heard two pairs of footsteps head further down the alley.

[member="Bjork Corsair"] [member="Ellion Corsair"]


((I'm not sure if you were expecting this party to ambush you or escort you. I'm totally willing to edit ))

 

[Ellion Corsair]

Ellion was aware of the commotion but he waited as he continued to lean against the wall. That voice! Like a dream one only half remembers upon waking. A dream you try to remember but the details are fuzzy and out of focus. He knew what he hoped the dream was, but in this realm he knew that he would just awaken to the harsh light of day and realize she was just a figment of his imagination. Unreal, just a pipe dream.

The two men approached with blasters gripped but barrels lowered as if not to attract attention. But he was a Jedi Knight and knew their intentions. But instead of reacting as a Jedi with lightsaber blazing he reacted in character, as a smuggler, a character that was not fictionalized but who he truly was. A rogue, gambler, smuggler, and scoundrel.

He spun, hands flashing down and pulling the twin blasters from either thigh on a flash born of years of experience and practice. The two men were startled, their blasters still out of alignment. "Come now boys, I'm not that wet behind the ears."

The men looked at him as Ellion slowly holstered his blasters and unbuckled his gun belt. Holding it out with one hand he motioned to the girl who he still believed was a dream, or a mirror image of a green eyed temptress he once knew but was only a reflection in this fraked up galaxy.

" Let the girl go, she isn't part of this. I came willingly for this meeting so I'm not fighting you." Tossing his gun belt to one of then men he kept his hands hooked in the pockets of his vest. One of them men fingered a silver cylinder hanging from the belt. "What are you doing with a lightsaber smuggler?"

Ellion smirked, half his lips turned up. "Won it in a sabac game. Impresses the ladies and it can cut big holes." The other man walked behind Ellion and poked the blaster painfully into the small of his back. "Time to meet Flynn. The boss is dying to meet you."

They began walking down the alley toward the other three men and the captured bystander who Ellion felt echoing in the force which hit him in the gut like a left hook.

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[Riggs]

He watched the events unfold in the alley. Grimacing again he slung the rifle and jumped from the roof landing on the street. Pulling on the helmet attached to his belt he gripped his rifle once again.

Now incognito he entered the alley quietly radiating menace in the force.

 

[KitKat]

Katarine felt herself being pushed forward and decided to play along. Her left eye was starting to swell from where the idiot had hit her. They pushed her forward until she was close enough to see who they were talking to. Her deep green eyes slid over the man in front of her and she felt the galaxy coming to a crashing halt. Surely this was her own personal hell? It was one thing for Slade not to recognize her... but this? How in the name of the Force could Katarine exist in a galaxy with the creature across from her, knowing that he was some reincarnation in a dimension where she had never existed? How could she possibly continue to exist for even another moment when such a taunt existed?

She felt the hole in her chest rip open and air come slower to her lungs. If the idiot holding her would just slip he could slit her throat and this would be over. She couldn't do it. She couldn't live knowing this version of her mercenary existed yet would never know her, would never remember her. It was pain the Jedi couldn't bare.

She felt the point of the blade dig a little further into her neck, spilling a small trickle of blood as the mercenary gave up his weapon. "Oh THAT smuggler. Well you didn't say he was so handsome. I like what I see but I didn't come here with him. Sorry to disappoint."

"That's funny.. because you both seem to accessorize the same way." Katarine growled as the man in charge pulled her lightsaber out of her jacket.

"Take them both to Flynn. If he's telling the truth we can dump her body behind the club."

Katarine winced when the man holding her spun her, pushing her shoulder blades up uncomfortably. She felt someone else in the alley and ground her teeth together, hopping things weren't about to get worse.


[member="Bjork Corsair"] [member="Ellion Corsair"]

 

[Ellion Corsair]

Eyes glanced over and took in the lightsaber that was the woman's. Seems like everyone in this galaxy has one. Shaking his head he was prodded in the back again by the blaster as they continued along. He listened to the words that were bandied about between the guards and the woman. She may look like the woman he knew. She may sound like the woman he knew. But she wasn't the woman he knew

"You should let her go. She's got nothing to do with this." In answer he got a rifle butt to the kidneys. Grimacing he let out a small grunt. "Makes a man wish for the days of hunting rancors and breaking into Sith tombs ..." A second assault on the kidneys had him grunting for breath as they neared a waiting speeder at the mouth of the alley.

"In you go. Flynn can't wait and he's only minutes away." Ellion turned and grinned. "Talk about hospitality. I get a personal chauffer to my meeting." A first lashed out and connected with his temple launching him into the speeder and across the seats.

Straightening Ellion shook his head lightly to clear the webs and looked up at the woman now that they were fully under the illumination of the street lamps. The leather jacket and haunted look in those green eyes pierced him as he gasped, "Kat..."

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[Riggs]

He followed quietly as they spoke. He felt the pain they both were radiating andand knew without a doubt that they were like him, torn from his home dimension and tossed into this one. His brother. A master from the old order. The odds of them all meeting here on a single planet in all of the galaxy were insurmountable. But they were corellians, his brother and he, you never told then the odds.

But keeping with his mission he simply climbed into the speeder parked behind the first and waited to be brought to the leader, Flynn.

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Katarine struggled slightly when the men around her hit the mercenary look alike with a rifle. He might not be HER mercenary but she would still be damned if she was going to let anything in this galaxy hurt him.

"Makes a man wish for the days of hunting rancors and breaking into Sith tombs ..."

She frowned, wondering, but was immediately distracted by the man behind her pulling her wrist so high she could feel her joint straining to come out of the socket. She winced and stopped struggling to avoid having her arm ripped off. Her left eye was now swollen and watering but she could still see well enough to know things didn't look good. Whatever this mercenary had gotten himself into was not good.

"STOP!" She tried to rip her arm away but too late. The mercenary went down across the seats. He took it in stride though and shook his head, like a dog who had merely gotten his ears wet. Katarine felt the corners of her mouth tug upwards and had to remind herself they were in danger.

When he straightened up and looked at her she felt her stomach somersault and the hole in her chest threaten to consume her until he gasped. "Kat.."

Her eyes widened. Did he recognize her? It couldn't be. It was too much to hope for. She blinked at him uncertainly, and smiled despite herself. Maybe he was hit a little too hard in the head. She'd take what she could get. "Hi Slick."

"So you DO know her!" The man brought the butt of the riffle up again, aiming at Ellions head but a second latter he dropped it and screamed, holding his head.

"That is a tear in your front hemisphere. Touch him again and I'll give you a stroke." It was a bluff. Katarine was about as dark as a newborn Nexu kitten. She was merely flooding the pain receptors of his brain with the Force but THEY didn't know that.

She felt the handle of the knife hit the back of her head and stumbled forward, her eyes watering. "I don't like your new friends..." She was rubbing the back of her head but hadn't gotten off the speeder floor yet. She didn't know what was going on and for whatever reason the Mercenary, dare she hope Ellion, might WANT to see this Flynn character.

[member="Ellion Corsair"] [member="Bjork Corsair"]

 

[Ellion Corsair]

Ellion snarled when she was hit in the head. His hand slapped his empty thigh where his blaster should be but he remembered he had given up his weapons. Well not all of them. He pulled on the force feeling it grow with in as he stretched out his hand at the guard with the knife. But common sense and him remembering why he was in this situation stayed his hand. Pointing his finger he snarled. " Do that again and I'll kill you. "

The guard grabbed Eli by his shirt and yanked him upright to crack him in the temple with the hilt of the knife. Stars erupted as Ellion fell back, several buttons popping and lasting his shirt open to reveal the mass of scar tissue over the left side of his chest.

The guard sheathed his knife and climbed into the front. "Move out. We should report this force user to the Sith, but not until Flynn days so."

The speeder lifted and took off followed by the second speeder with the other guards. Ellion reached down and pulled the woman up into the seat, his arm around her. Reaching out through the force he checked her for serious wounds as he spoke low against the whipping wind.

"Slick? Only one woman ever called me that." Blue eyes focused into her face as he tentatively reached out in the force to touch the woman's mind who surely was just a chance meeting with a woman who wore the face of one he knew better then he knew himself.

Before he knew it they had stopped in front of an old, large warehouse.

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Katarine was still on the floor, slightly nauseous from the blow to the head. She was trying to decide if she was going to ruin whatever was going on here, or if the situation was still under control. She felt Ellion summon the Force and felt the familiar sensation of hope in her stomach. She had been his teacher and knew his style. It felt like him but he didn't follow through. He held off and Katarine made up her mind. Whatever he was doing here was important.

She took a deep breath and willed herself not to incapacitate the people on the speeder, despite every instinct in her screaming to protect the man. She heard someone mention something about reports tot he Sith and silently thanked the maker he hadn't shown himself Force sensitive.

She felt him reach down for her and let him lift her into the seat next to him. It was hard to breath, but not because of her injuries. Her eyes were watering, possibly because of the swollen left eye but more likely from the realization that he was here. It still seemed impossible. She smiled at him. "She sounds like a class act. I wouldn't let her go if I were you." She felt him reaching for her mind in the Force and held the defense mechanisms perfected from years of family abuse at bay. It felt like him. Could it really be him?

She felt happier than she had in months, despite the nasty situation they were in. Before she could reason with herself she had wrapped her arms around him, and pressed her cheek against his chest silently thanking whatever deities had brought them together.

"Well what do you know. She can be friendly." The guy smirked and pulled Katarine over to him. "I could use a little friendly."

Katarine clenched her teeth together, clearly trying to maintain patience. "I only need to leave one of you alive to get where we are going scumbag."

He laughed at her and then licked her cheek. Katarine scrunched up her eyes as if disgusted. "Your mother must be so proud."

"Knock it off and restrain them" barked the guy who was obviously in charge.

[member="Ellion Corsair"]

 

[Ellion Corsair]

When his mind brushed the heavily fortified mind of Katharine he knew it was her. He remembered how strong she was at protecting herself, largely due to Lord Ravage, and his lopsided grin broke across his face. Then the guard grabbed her and again he resisted the urge to crush the man's windpipe. But the frustration and anger swirled around him for a moment until he controlled himself.

Once the guards surrounded them and pulled them from the speeder it was a mere moment before they were cuffed with hands behind their backs. Again they were force marched forward as the door to the warehouse ruled open and they were ushered inside.

As their eyes adjusted they saw an older gentleman sitting at a table eating what appeared to be a nerf steak. Thin and gray haired the sharp features of Flynn made him look like a bird of prey, large hooked nose and all. Dabbing his mouth with a linen napkin he did and straightened his three piece suit as he slowly walked around the two of them.

"You lost me a very costly cargo. Those slaves would have fetched a great deal on the market here. These Sith love their slaves. I just did my entire line of product to them and your cargo would have made me a small fortune. But this woman will make up some of my profit loss. Kill the smuggler and take her to market. Jove should still be there buying up the rest of the slaves."

Flynn turned to walk away until Ellion some up. "Thanks for the Intel. Now do you want to surrender now or do we do this the hard way?" Flynn turned around and frowned. "I've changed my mind. Kill them both now."

Ellion grinned that roguish grin as several more guards entered with blasters. "Time to go to work."

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Katarine narrowed her eyes at Flynn when he suggested she should be a slave. She was a very difficult person to break, Lord Ravage could bare witness to that. The man changed his mind at the last moment and more guards entered.

"Time to go to work."

"Finally." The man behind her gasped as Katarine's elbow suddenly came up and collided with his nose. She felt it break as she kicked him away from her. He lifted his blaster, blood streaming down his face, but he wasn't concentrating and it was ripped out of his grip as if by an invisible hand.

She had just enough time to move sideways out of the range of blaster fire. It was very difficult to move with your hands tied behind your back but she found her way behind some statue of some sort, which was currently absorbing a lot of the blaster bolts. Her deep green eyes scanned the room, through the smoke, looking to see if Ellion was alright while she strained against the cuffs holding her hands behind her back. She felt for the man who had been in charge on the speeder with the Force, attempting to tug the lightsabers off his belt and send them flying in her padawans direction while she worked her legs up and over the cuffs holding her so she could see her hands.

"Come out come out wherever you are."

She hunched lower behind the statue and waited until the guard was on her side to elbow him in the face and take his blaster.

"I'm ready to get friendly now." She smirked at him.

[member="Ellion Corsair"]