A Piece Toward Completion (Nar Shaddaa)

[Seto Du Couteau]

The people of Nar Shaddaa Seto never really grew to hate, rather annoyance would often be the emotion triggered. Such as it was the emotion in question was triggered as Seto felt himself lurch forward from a sudden impact from behind him. Seto knew he relaxed his senses to conceal himself with the Force but to the point of being pushed around?

Thugs, of what Seto deducted, using the Force to once more stretch out and figure out what had incurred such anger from these thugs. Much to his surprise he felt another presence, a small presence certainly but one Seto shared, remembering his boyhood adventures of toying with the Force. Seto followed the pursuit, a simple task as the anger lit up from the thugs lit themselves brightly that Seto could follow them with his eyes closed and just the Force.

Even so, the chase was indeed a short one, a pause occurred as Seto focused on the situation in front of him. There were five in total facing directly at what Seto guessed was a child that gave off the small Force presence from earlier. Beyond the assumed child stood another pair of humanoids that Seto guessed had little to do with the first five thugs standing between Seto and the small person.

Seto quickly approached the middle thug and tapped the shoulder to grab the thug's attention, "Excuse me, but I would like an apology from your act of rudeness earlier, you see-" Seto raised his voice slightly higher, "-you pushed me," Seto explained

The Thug in questioned turned around, obviously confused, "Wha-" the Thug began, as the other four also turned to face Seto, each seemingly angrier than the last. "Apology?" One asked while the other, "Just shoot him. . . " explained, obviously not taking any heed from Seto. "Look man, you ain't getting an apology, in fact you're getting a beating instead," The Thug in question finally replied to Seto directly.

"Oh dear, that is exactly what I wanted to hear," Seto began, raising both hands to chest level, "I have a magic trick to demonstrate, now here my left hand-" Seto gestured raising his left hand, "Each finger controls a pair of boots all five of you are currently wearing, and my right hand-" Seto raised his right hand, "Controls each pair of shirt you are all wearing,"

Before the thugs could respond he yanked back his left hand and pulled down with his right, and each thug simultaneously had their legs shoot up in front of them while their backs pulled down to the ground below them. Seto breathed in coolly, releasing his hold on their clothing and offered a cheeky grin as he walked over them. It was a simple of enough Force technique, he was no master but controlling small inanimate objects were child's play to him. Besides, I mostly had gravity to rest of the work Seto mused, chuckling at the image of grown adults slipping up in comical fashion.

Approaching the one that the five currently incapacitated thugs were chasing Seto offered a smile and an extended right hand, "Hello the name is Du Couteau, Seto if you wish," a small head bow to show respect, "-and would you too like to see a magic trick?" he asked to [member="Bengalo Chergari"]. Though in the back of Seto's mind, he felt the darkness that had brought him on this planet grow ever so slightly.

 

[Bengalo Chergari]

Things were going right sideways in very bizarre ways, but it seemed to be working out sort of. Maybe?

The three she'd nearly barreled into ignored her entirely, though the way the leading figure stepped past without acknowledging her in the least to immediately shank some guy without the usual prerequisite threatening was a bit worrying. Folks who just murdered without threats or speeches were the most dangerous sort. Normally ego insisted that these blood-spillers be properly acknowledged, and during that time you could find a way out. They turn to make some grand gesture and you'd run like hell or something. If they just stabbed you, well, what was a person to do about that?

Hope to all the powers that you weren't their target that was what. One threat at a time. Benny stayed very still, save for the tip of her tail which lashed back and forth, waiting on the ground as the three filed past. A momentary stop at a closed door and then they were inside. Allow that the stabbed thug had been protecting that door. Not very well, but he'd made an effort. Accepting that this was so it was about to be a very bad day for those inside. Curiosity might have been a driving force for Benny but she was not full on suicidal. She was definitely not going in that building. Nope.

Well unless...

She turned to look for the thugs who had been pursuing her and found a young man sending them flying without touching them.

Ah gunoi, force user. The problem with force users was they were always throwing themselves into some doctrine or another and always reacted with extremes. You never had Jon Smith who lived a pretty quite life but never did his own heavy lifting, no, it was always Sithly McBadface who wanted to enslave everyone and throw buildings about or Jedi McMoral who was going to take your ship because maybe you hadn't exactly bought it the traditional way.

At the very least though, it meant she wasn't getting robbed and left for dead right this exact moment. Don't borrow trouble, you'll get enough on your own, she chided herself as she rose to her feet to gingerly accept Setos hand with her own and offer a quick shake "Benny." Like hell she was giving him her full name. That was what they put on warrants. "And uh.. not that one, if it's all the same to you."

@Locke @Seto Du Couteau

 

[Seto Du Couteau]

Seto nodded, "Certainly not for that little trick is reserved for rather rude people," he explained, his eyes snapped towards the door before looking back. "You've been very cordial, in fact I could even teach you how do that very magic trick," Seto added as he moved closer to the door from where Benny had once been.

Hand reached underneath Seto's vest, but stopped as he saw the body slumped on the ground. Eyes turned to face Benny once more, "I don't suppose you're responsible for that?" Seto asked, gesturing at the body. Even on Nar Shaddaa Seto did not want to leave a trail of bodies, so finding one here piqued his interest. Seto stretched out with the Force, again only to probe lightly and Seto confirmed what he was initially looking for was now inside the building.

"Those thugs won't be waking up soon,so you got a chance to get away-" Seto explained as he began to move closer to the door and the body. "-Or if you wish, I wouldn't mind some company as I go inside," Seto added as reached into his pocket and pulled out a casino chip and tossed it towards Benny's way, "Either way, if you ever find yourself stuck in Imperial space and need a friendly hand," Seto explained. I wasn't expecting a chance to find a possible friend Seto mused, of course seeing someone with Force potential out here wasn't just some chance or luck.

Seto slowly knelt by the body and noticed nothing else but the stab wound, nothing special killed the poor sod. His hand reached to the door to allow himself entrance, Seto wanted to know what was happening here. Though Seto's survival instincts began to scream at him all at once as he stepped inside the building, Maybe I should just knock this whole building down.

[member="Bengalo Chergari"] [member="Locke"]

 

[Asheda Tyr]

Once again Vettu could not help but laugh as yet another person fell into the trap of calling her honey, sometimes she wondered if Father had given her that name for the sole reason of one day taking up the family spy business and using it. It may have been easier just to tell the Rodian her first name, but she needed to keep some aloofness in mind, and this was more humorous this way, for both members involved.

She gave the bounce a small goodbye wave as the two walked into the bar, the familiar smell of the den wafting through the air, the usual games and patrons one would expect milling around, 'this place seems cozy enough'. Vettu continued to follow Jorco over to the table the Rodian greeting a friend of his, a rather large friend, "He he, I do have that effect sometime, part woman part lucky charm", she joked in response to the Besalisks comment.

She proceeded to sit down politely in the at the table, crossing her legs so no one was able to look up her skirt without expressed permission, "Thank you babe".

[member="Jorco Czeku"]

 

[D'vok Windroamer]

D'vok rubbed his eyes, entering the gambling den. The place reeked of cheap cologne and broken dreams, but that didn't bother D'vok. He made a beeline for the bar and ordered a bottle of Corellian Whiskey. The bartender looked at him funny at first, but after credits were placed on the table, he quickly brought out the goods, as well as a glass. D'vok nodded, thanking the barkeep, before turning and looking at the tables, wondering which one he should try. He walked over to one, leaving the glass at the counter and sipping directly from the bottle. He took one of the empty chairs at a table. He looked at his compatriots. The rodian and Chiss girl from outside, as well as a few others. He placed a pile of credits on the table before sipping the bottle again, resting in on table when he was done with a clink.
"Howdy everyone. What are we playin' tonight?"


[member="Jorco Czeku"] [member="Vettu'honi'oazi"]

 

[Bengalo Chergari]

"Ehhh.." Was all Benny managed at the offer to teach her said trick, as though being some Force nutjob was something you could just sign up for. Oh aye, I've my Taungsday afternoons free, go ahead and put my name down, I've always wanted to be able to lobotomise people by waving a hand about. When he started prodding the dead guy her reaction was immediate.

"No Sir, wa'nt me, I 'ad no part in that, never seen that guy before, never seen the guy what done it." Didn't matter that this guy looked younger than here, between having the Force and a posh name like Du Couteau, Benny was in full on denial form. Who me? Certainly not Guvnor. Eyes wide and hands up Benny was the picture of.. Well honestly like someone who was definitely a small time criminal but likely couldn't pull off that sort of thing.


No lie, there was a moment when he said getaway that Benny very nearly high tailed it out of there. Right-o thanks mate, catch you later (never). Buuuuut, that damnable curiosity. She caught the chip as he tossed it to her, and wondered vaguely if it was a bribe because she could cash it in, or if it was somehow a way to contact him in the future. Maybe he owned a casino. Casino owners were all fancy Du's and De's and Von's and such right? Like they got posh points for having longer names. Either way she made it disappear in a hurry.

"Eeeeh, I reckon I can come with ye. For a bit. Y'can go first though." Slash be a walking barricade in case of further knifings. If things went south though, Benny was gone, quicker than a tauntaun in a heat wave.

[member="[FONT=tahoma][URL="http://starwarsrp.net/user/6717-seto-du-couteau/"]Seto Du Couteau[/URL]"] [/FONT][member="Locke"]

 

[Jorco Czeku]

After getting his, I guess you could say date situated Jorco took a seat next to her. Then watched as a newcomer took a seat with them. His friend spoke as the newcomer asked what they were playing. "Sabacc, here I'll draw you two in." The alien said dealing them their cards.

"So Huni, you want to play, or sit back and watch?" He asked after getting his cards and putting in some of his credits. Carefully looking down at his cards and coming up witha brief strategy. Then put on a mild poker face to hide any reaction to the cards he just received. He looked over at the three other players, one being his friend, the newcomer, and a silent individual. He figured Honi would just wanna watch, cause then they'd be betting over eachother's credits. Plus if they lost they couldn't have any drinking money. Plus, she did mention she would use her womanly charm the throw off the other players, and maybe him if he drops the ball some.

[member="D'vok Windroamer"]
[member="Vettu'honi'oazi"]

 

[Locke]

Darkness sought darkness. Where light existed, darkness thrived. In shadow. In corners. Underneath and within. It came with purpose. Without reason. Meaning.

It was a den, of sorts. Neither bar nor barracks, yet both. Dirty. Dingy. Dimly lit and occupied by ill repute. It went quiet as the figures stepped into the room. Three in all. Silent. Voices stilled in the half light as the air grew colder. Steadily. Rapidly. Their breath misting with each exhale.

Around his feet the darkness drifted. A mist, nightmare black. Roiling. Churning. The robed figure slowly pointed. A back door. A private room. Perhaps a secluded hallway. It didn't matter. The way was clear. The path set.

Behind was lit. Not in light but in flame. He could feel them. Twin flickers. Dual sparks. Curious. Following. One was the glimmer from before. The other new. Eager. Foolish. They would run. Or fall. He didn't care. Couldn't care.

A silent command. The robed figure raised a single hand. It lifted its palm to the ceiling. Fingers slowly curled as the Force swelled. As the den of thieves began to react, the hand snapped down.

Dimness turned to blackness as all light was extinguished, the hardware ripped from it's mountings entirely.

Darkness would always find darkness.

[member="Bengalo Chergari"] [member="Seto Du Couteau"]

 

[Seto Du Couteau]

Brave Seto thought, or maybe curious enough to take the thought of self preservation with a grain of salt. Either way Seto had a partner for at least a short while, which very useful when one isn't exactly confident in their senses. Extra pair of eyes and ears never hurt, and possibly a source of reason Seto thought. Moving into the building, stepping carefully around the growing pool of blood developing underneath the body and Seto examined the hallway.

Seto blinked, adjusting to the low light and slowly observing the area ahead of him, "That device I gave you is a simple way to contact my private comm-frequency, and it only works one way unless you of course use another Comm-Unit in tangent," Seto explained, it was nothing more than just way for others to contact him, and since he couldn't even track down the device there was a certain degree of security for the user. Charming person also, I might have made a very interesting work associate possibly.

Taking a few more steps inside, stretching out with the Force to encompass a few yards around him, Seto turned his head to address Benny, "Earlier, I was meaning to ask if you knew that you're Force-" Seto cut himself as the lights suddenly went out and the already dimmed hallway darkened considerably. Interesting, it seems my target is aware of us and feels the need to turn off the lights Seto himself reached further out with the Force, getting a sense of a growing darkness in the building.

"You're not scared of the dark are you?" Seto doubted that the crimson blade of his lightsaber would suffice for a light source. In fact being seen as some evil Force user brought some preconceived notions that Seto did not want to be associated with at all. I mean it's not like my eyes are yellow and l only think about dominating the galaxy for fun and see it as not a practical goal. "Because it appears someone knows we're here and is either allergic to light or is trying to tell us something,"

[member="Bengalo Chergari"] [member="Locke"]

 

[Bengalo Chergari]

"Right, got it." She did not in fact get it. It wasn't like her comm-unit had a casino chip shaped slot. Maybe there was a secret button you could press on it or something. Or maybe it had the comm-channel hidden on it somewhere. Whatever, she'd figure it out later. She was mildly disappointed it wasn't just a bribe but such was life. Besides, you never knew when you might need a favour.

He was still chatting away when the lights went out. Benny let loose a low mournful whistle of distress. That wasn't good. She'd had a bit of a peer about as they went in, and this place stank of den to her. This was clearly the home turf of the sorts of folks Benny didn't like to mess with. To be fair, a good percentage of the galaxy was made up of folks Benny would rather not mess with. Was it so much to ask to just have a drink with someone you had a problem with rather than trying to add ventilation where ventilation shouldn't be?

Analyze. Turn about now and possibly walk straight into the thugs who'd been after her to start with or continue on. Assume that continuing is the best bet for now until it's proven that its not. Assume that the Three who'd entered were all sorts of bad news. Don't rush ahead too quickly, let Seto stay in front. Assume that the den is populated, a place like this if it was left alone another group moved in, so at the very least there would be folks here to defend it, and that meant they'd be armed. Assume by the stabbing out front that the Three and the Defenders were going to be violently at odds. The Three had entered the same way they were entering know which meant any stray blaster shots would be coming this way.

"I might be scared of things in the dark." Was her rather unhappy reply as she pressed against a wall and crouched further down. Hopefully everyone shot at adult man chest height.

One hand and her tail were brought forward, the hand warding and the tail sweeping back and forth, feeling for any sudden obstacles. Her amber eyes, though a little better than humans still weren't made for this sudden darkness.

"Reckon it ain't us, reckon given the gent at th'door that things're about t'go red up ahead." Had the three had their faces covered? She couldn't remember. If they had they might have thermo-gear on. Quick and dirty way to get an advantage. Drop the lights, target the heat while your opponent was fumbling blind.

[member="[/FONT][SIZE=13px][URL="http://starwarsrp.net/user/6717-seto-du-couteau/"]Seto Du Couteau[/URL]"] [/SIZE][member="Locke"]

 

[Asheda Tyr]

"Thank you for the offer Jorco, but I'll just watch for now, let me get and idea of how you boys play before jumping in the deep end and all and wind up losing all my cash", these type of gambling dens usually had special rules, or player knew each other really well and could work together to win in some cases. As such Vettu would be her usual spy self, observe lean and plan your next move, maybe even try and see where people may be using certain not so rule abiding moves to win their hand.

She moved behind Jorco, placing her hand on his shoulder as the Rodian went to work, giving the others at the table a, but at the same time sly sultry smile, "I have a feeling this is going to be fun". Perhap her presence and looks would throw off the others enough to Jorco to win, maybe it wouldn't and if the game was going bad for him she could jump in herself and try to gamble some credits in.

[member="Jorco Czeku"]
[member="D'vok Windroamer"]

 

[Seto Du Couteau]

A laugh escaped Seto's lips, Yeah the darkness is often filled with rather unpleasant things and people, his legs moving him closer to another door that would lead him towards his mark. Seto had little issue with the loss of his vision for the time being, the Force offered him enough to get by and if push came to shove Seto had another method of lighting things up. Pressing his hands towards the door's controls, Seto paused to listen and sensed with the Force for the restlessness of the people within the building but most importantly the violent emotions brewing among the inhabitants.

Something felt wrong though, and Seto's curiosity needed to know why his mark felt off and not like any Force user he had met before, ​I've met plenty of weird ones too Seto mused wearily, his eyes narrowing. Seto's right hand opened and his lightsaber fell nicely into the palm, but he did not ignite his weapon. The moment Seto opened and walked through the door he would be the only light source and mostly likely targeted with all the unwanted attention. "Fierfek" Seto mumbled, voicing his emotion as he thought of his next move.

Seto looked around, even with the Force Seto had issue seeing enough detail but the stairs were spotted a bit further down the hallway. Even if I don't mind, possibly, fighting in the dark, it would be a lot easier with than without Seto confirmed with himself of his next plan. He turned and took a few steps closer towards Benny, "The stairs are a bit further down the hall and possibly a way to get the lights back up, or at least the emergency lights," If this building has any, shoot it was probably a miracle the place was dimly lit at all.

"Also, fair warning, there is another Force User in here, so I plan on making sure there is another exit for us," Seto explained. Digging into his pocket Seto pulled out his small lighter, a token from his short time as a Combat Medic, and quickly ignited the very small flame.

"And in case I do not have time give a warning-" Seto started, using the Force now to keep the flame levitating, "-If I ignite my saber, probably means things will be getting out of hand," Seto explained, lowering the volume of his voice. If things go really south, I'll make a door then, Seto mused as he walked down towards the stairs. The small flame following Seto, as Seto hoped it wouldn't attract unwanted attention of blasters. Which with that thought, Seto raised it a bit higher and closer behind him. If only I could give a five second crash course of the Force, Seto sighed inwardly, maybe after this he could offer Benny a chance to train her Force potential. Better than getting into a cult after-all The irony a bit lost to Seto.

I mean, I'm not calling people heretics. . .

[member="Bengalo Chergari"] | [member="Locke"]

 

[Locke]

In the darkness there was light. Flickers. Streams. Flashes. The den of thieves reacted as the darkness came. Blasters fired as those inside panicked. Bolts of plasma flew about the room hitting walls and furniture. Ceiling and criminal. They fired where they'd seen the figures, but only fools remained. They had moved. Shifted.

Their helmets let them see, though he needed no sight. He could feel. Sense. Touch the beings around him as he moved. The other were his puppets. His minions. Dead bones held together by his will. Spirits bound to his control. Products of his work. His task. He let the bolts fly around them. They were of no importance.

Brown eyes turned black beneath the faceplate of his helm. The black mist moved about his feet. Spread along the floor. Surged up from below. It grabbed and ripped. Tore and shattered. Screams filled the room, adding to the sounds of blasterfire.

The door was ahead and then behind. The room they'd left was still dark. Silent. Dead. The nightmare mist was gone. Only crimson remained hidden within shadow and death.

The prize was ahead. The price didn't matter.

The currency was already paid.

[member="Bengalo Chergari"] [member="Seto Du Couteau"]

 

[Bengalo Chergari]

Benny nodded along as if she were paying proper attention before it occurred to her that Seto likely couldn't see the motion anyway. Emergency lights? Had he looked around this place? What sort of swank joints was he used to? Places like this if the power worked at all to start with it was damned near a miracle. Besides, the sound of twisted metal that had preceded the dark meant that even if by some twist of fate there had been emergency lights the infrastructure to run them was probably just as trashed as the regular lights. Still, maybe he had some other force-y rich person plan.

All this became suddenly less pressing when the sound of blaster fire broke out, the Ryn immediately dropping flat to the floor. Much more chilling however was the screams that came afterwards and the.. noises that accompanied them. They were very organic those noises, and yet not the sort of noise that a body should ever make. They lasted slightly longer than the screams. The silence that followed was both a relief and somehow much, much worse.

Curiosity was gone, only terror remained. This was bad. A smell was starting to make itself known. It would have been nice to say it smelled of a charnel house. But that suggested bodies that may have been rotting, but which were also placed with care, prepared. No, this, faint hint though it was at this distance, was something far worse. This was the smell of a slaughterhouse. Of animals butchered in terror, of blood spilled and bowels voided, of burnt hair.

Amber pupils widened even further, heart beat a staccato that seemed like it must surely be the loudest thing in the building. She would have run if she could have. But now she was the rabbit watching the oncoming truck, caught on the headlights. Frozen. Best not to move, to stay still and pray you went unnoticed. That the predator that stalked this darkness deemed you unworthy of their attention.

[member="Locke"] [member="Seto Du Couteau"]

 

[Seto Du Couteau]

Seto moved with urgency, the sound of blaster fire muffled between walls only hastened his steps as he jumped down the short flight of stairs. Descending into another dark hallway Seto blinked before trying to focus his Force sight to do more than give Seto the barest outlines of the building around him. Should have practiced this ability a bit more Seto thought, hindsight always taught him the best lessons. Even if such lessons were woefully late.

A small ripple gave Seto pause, immediately trying to close off his senses and diminish his connection with the Force to let the wave of pain and terror wash over him like a vapor of water rushing past him. Seto realized that his mark was definitely in a different league, one of which sent a cold shiver down Seto’s spine. This galaxy is filled with some very interesting people but his thought was interrupted as a flash of light blinded Seto momentarily.

“You okay there?” The male voice asked, to which Seto only responded with a grunt. The lighter that Seto was controlling fell to the ground, it’s flame extinguish. “If you’re looking for a way to get the lights back on, no good I’ve tried a lot of power was lost and someone messed with a lot of the circuitry,” The voice continued.

“Is there an access hatch to the roof?” Seto asked, his senses returning as Seto covered his sensitive eyes and reaching down to collect his lighter.

“Yeah, there’s a hatch you can open up, it’s inside the main room back up the stairs where you came,” The voice continued, pointing the flashlight out of Seto’s face. To which Seto was very thankful. “And it’ll be located above the third booth to your right-” Seto didn’t even wait for the man to finish before Seto took off.

Seto refocused his Force sight as he moved up the stairs and back to the door leading into what he could only guess to be filled with something unsightly. Seto stopped, realizing that Benny was laying down on the ground, hoping to be rather hard to find or target.

Walking closer Seto knelt down and cleared his throat to grab her attention, “Whoever is causing all this finished their business in the room ahead, and there’s an access hatch to the roof we can use in there,” Seto prompted. Dodge the thugs outside and the Force User still lurking in this building.

Seto ignited his lightsaber, its crimson blade illuminated brightly in the dark hallway. The red glow certainly did not add much cheeriness to the atmosphere, if anything it had an adverse effect that Seto now wished for his older saber. “Let’s get moving and I’ll buy you a drink once we’re out,” Seto prompted, he knew fear was a good motivator but it also paralyzed, here Seto was hoping to get Benny moving with something different. Staying still in this situation is a sure fire way to get into some major problems.

Standing back up, Seto reached out with his free hand “So how about it, let’s see if you can make me wish I hadn’t offered to pay for drinks,” Seto added, a small smile growing on his face.

[member="Bengalo Chergari"] | [member="Locke"]

 

[Jorco Czeku]

As the game started and everyone had their card, Hunss, the Besalik assumed the position of going first, and the game only started with a pot of 10 chips. They would simply check and the game would cycle over to the quite man playing with them. He'd protect his card, thus giving a hint as to what his strategy was. After that it was Jorco's turn. Checking his hand for a quick moment, then decided o raise the pot by 5. Ending his turn with that. Leaving @D'vok Windroamer the last one to go.

Most everyone was glancing at each other. Jorco had a bit of an advantage when it came to it given that it was a little hard to tell where his eyes were looking at. Besalik would give Honi a bit more attention then his current competitors. Perhaps she was a good distraction. Meanwhile the quite man didn't look up much, just keeping his eyes on the table with the cards and chips. It was clear that Jorco was kinda in the zone at the moment. The thrill of gambling again silently bombarding his senses. It could easily be said that he as a dopamine issue in the green head of his.

[member="Vettu'honi'oazi"]

 

[Locke]

Ahead were whispers. Murmurs. Hushed. Silent. Fearful. Perhaps they'd heard the screams. The blasterfire. Watched the lights wrenched from all around. It mattered little. They possessed what he sought. The final piece. The last component. The tool he required. His puppet required.

His minion would be whole.

She had felt it. Her spirit had guided them. Lashed to her bones. To his will. She had sought it. Sensed it. Her sight had brought them here. A den of inequity. A slum among slums. Here in squalor lay what he required. The crystals within called to his puppet. To him. He could feel it now. Close. At hand. Efficiency was key. Stealth was unneeded. Unwanted. It never was. The door ahead was locked. Barred. Manually. No coded entry. No electronic lock. It was held fast from the inside. It wouldn't keep him. Couldn't keep him.

A silent order. Unspoken command. The robed figure stepped forward. Ahead. It raised its hands up. The palms faced out. He felt the pull of his senses. The sensation of the Force tugged and manipulated. It was like a wind around him. Powerful and hot like a gust front off a wildfire. And yet deathly cold. Empty. Hollow. Void.

His minion thrust its hands apart. Metal tore and twisted. The building shook. The door disappeared as it was crushed aside. The walls crumpled from the powerful blow. Inside the gang leaders panicked. Their deal gone horribly wrong. Blaster fire rang out. Bolts of light streamed all around. It didn't matter. It never did. Around his feet the darkness stirred. The nightmare mist rose from below once more. His lips twitched beneath a faceless helm.

The price was paid.

[member="Seto Du Couteau"] [member="Bengalo Chergari"]

 

[Bengalo Chergari]

The crushing oppressive curtain of terror was intruded upon, shattered by Setos insistent chatting, and part of Benny that had been wholly derailed slowly realigned itself. She was operating entirely on auto-pilot, and luckily or not Bennys auto-pilot mode was all bravado and swagger. When you didn't even hit the five foot mark you had to make up for it by being a very large presence and pretending to be fearless. Still, not even she was that good an actor.

"They ain't done. Might not be in that room no more, but they ain't done." She wasn't sure how she knew that, but she knew it in her bones. It was a certainty. Still if there was a hatch.. a quick way out, an escape route where she could dodge all the current threats..

She pushed herself up into a low crouch, lips pulled back from canines. "Let's go."

She crept forward, eyes having started to adjust, at least enough to make out rough shapes. When blaster fire rang out once more she started, another distress whistle escaping her for all that she wanted silence. This was the sort of noise prey couldn't help but make as a predators claws closed around them, had there been any other Ryn in earshot the message would have been clear 'Stay away, here there is death'.

Into a room where the floor was wet and sticky, the stench was strong in her nose and shapes you didn't want to make out lay twisted and broken on the floor or draped over furniture. Not far ahead another door, figures back-lit by ever fewer blaster bolts. She sidled into a booth. Ducking under a table to gather her courage before searching for this mythic hatch. Reaching up onto the table, trembling fingers felt along the surface, finally grasping like a drowning man onto a life preserver, a slick surface.

She brought the mug, still half full, under the table with her and took a long fortifying draught, before coughing. Spitting something into her hand she was silent for a moment, eyes fixed on a light object resting in her palm.

"Is that a tooth? Oh gods. Hrrrrg-" What followed were the sounds of a person getting violently ill under a table.

[member="Locke"] [member="Seto Du Couteau"]

 

[Seto Du Couteau]

Seto carefully stepped into the room, trying hard not to step on too much broken pieces of flesh, his eyes focused up ahead of him to the sound of more blaster fire. He kept his saber on his left hand, with a split focus between the hatch and the blaster fire as he moved towards it. Seto wanted to stretch out with the Force and even get closer to the darkness pooled around one of the robed figures. Curiosity be damned, Seto finally reached the booth that had the hatch to lead them out of this nightmare.

With his lightsaber raised, he illuminated the roof and Seto found the indents and cracks that showed the hatch. The hatch appeared ajar, likely from the shake the entire building took, but the lock was still in place as Seto stepped on top of the table. With a precise and quick slash with his saber the hatch opened and a ladder landed on top of the table with a thud. Seto took a step forward and looked up the hatch, Seto called on the Force to swell up in his right palm and launched upward to blow open the top. Street lights and other smaller lights illuminated the top of the hatch and Seto stepped back down from the table.

Seto kept his saber up, eyes narrowed towards the sound of more blaster fire as he slowly stepped closer towards Benny. For a moment, he looked at the ground and felt a small creeping feeling that he was unsuited for this scenario. Fingers gripped his saber's hilt tight, Seto whispered as loud as he could, "The hatch has a ladder and its one booth over towards my side," he quickly explained, urgency broke his calm facade, "-Come on, fresh air waiting up there," Well whatever people of Nar Shaddaa call fresh air anyways.

Seto moved away and took a few steps closer and he raised his free hand up, but quickly stopped. I don't need to do anything, who ever this is has ignored us as if we aren't threats, best to keep up that impression with that thought Seto backed closer to the hatch and kept up his defensive posture. Last thing he needed was for someone to shoot their exit. His breath coming in quick Seto found himself in an unusual state of tension, Even the vong monstrosities of war didn't give me this much pause. Perhaps a first time, Seto found himself with the deck stacked not in his favor.

And here I thought being an Inquisitor was going to be fun. . . .

[member="Bengalo Chergari"] | [member="Locke"]

 

[Locke]

It tore and cut. Ripped and slashed. Crushed and sheared. The blasters were useless. The screams more so. It didn't matter. Never mattered. Eyes opened beneath the faceplate. He moved forward.

Boots crunched on glass and metal. Trod through pools of spreading crimson. Of flesh torn apart. Of death. He could feel the twin flickers. Sparking and yet not. Attempting to hide. To avoid. Curious, yet afraid. He could sense it. Feel it.

Taste it.

They were no threat. Not yet. Perhaps never. He could feel their presence. Their souls. The void told him. Whispered to him. Keened. He felt the pull. His puppet sensed it.

The room was silent. Still. His minions followed, their boots stepping over and around broken bodies. A deal gone wrong. A sale left incomplete. Interrupted. Permanently. Atop the table lay a case. Unremarkable in it's appearance, it was sealed shut. The robed figure stepped forward and touched the clasps.

It wasn't hers. Yet it was. Not original for the original was gone. Rusted. Destroyed. Useless beneath sand and stone and glass. A nameless owner long gone. Perhaps not. It didn't matter so long as it functioned. The crystals within called out. Cried. Attuned to the light, they could feel the dark. The black. The void.

And yet, they were bound as well. The robed figure took the cylinder from it's case and held it. Clasped it almost reverently. Gently. Gauntleted hands tightened around the hilt. He could feel the spirit's anger. The wrath. Sense as it strained briefly against the chains that bound it. Lashed it. There was strength there. But only just. Only a moment. A silent second of rebellion. There and then gone.

The chains were stronger.

The figure hooked the newly claimed weapon to it's belt. Hidden behind robes. The piece was found. The final part added.

With the lightsaber, his puppet was complete.

[member="Bengalo Chergari"] [member="Seto Du Couteau"]