Act I Through the Looking Glass [Green Zone Open Thread]

[Mirror Emperor]

In an instant, thousands would wake up to find the Galaxy was wrong. Instead of CHAOS there was ORDER. Most would arrive in Imperial Centre, though a number would be scattered across the Galaxy. Some had swapped places with their mirror selves, unsure why they felt out of place. Others would suddenly step into a reality they could not understand. ​

Would they CONFORM or would they REVOLT?​

Mirrorverse Introduction

Backstory #1

Act I Introduction

Put a header in your posts with the district your character is in

Tag [member="Drones"] if you want an Event Team member to interact with you as a Citizen Advice Drone

Surface

District 1: Floating city
District 2: Palace district
District 3: Gemera Isles

Underground

District 10: Pipeworld

Spoiler: Surface map

Spoiler: Underground map

Spoiler: Zone Map

 

[Ashin Varanin]

PIPEWORLD

Something warped in the universe, and Bob Talith puked in the gutter.

Something, he decided as he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand, had serious failings as a designator. It lacked any kind of qualitative significance or quantitative precision. His first instinct was to turn to the Force, but even as he did, he knew the answer might not be wholly discoverable by that avenue. What had changed was involved in the Force, perhaps in the same sense as a life, but it was not primarily a shift of the Force like a ritual or grand defeat might be.

Bob squinted down the pipes in either direction, eyes flashing orange for an instant, then finished keying in the code. A small section of wall hissed aside. A very long life had given him a broad collection of hideholes and hidden grandeurs.He shut the door behind him and made for the 'fresher. His stomach rebelled again, but he kept it down and washed up, then traded his beloved NekroKorpse T-shirt for a hooded black robe. When he stepped out of the 'fresher, he was every inch Darth Moridin, Master of the Sith.

He stepped past the holocron racks into a side chamber of the hideyhole, and gestured like a Jedi Knight conjuring a mind trick. A vaguely flat, angled plane of translucent orange-brown crackled into existence before him. In it, or behind it, or behind him, smoky silhouettes and open mouths twisted and writhed. The Dark Side of the Force burned hot in him. Hot and gleeful.

"Time...to do something," he murmured to himself, eyes flicking from soul to soul. With a decisive nod, he let the warp fade away and headed back through the secret door into the corridors of the Pipeworld. "Anything, really. Anything at all."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

It had been a long time since he had visited the Imperial Center, and the loudness of it all quickly became very discomforting to someone who had lived in a land not desecrated by unending urban sprawl. Magistrate Zambrano lightly caressed the medallion that hung around his neck, the symbol of his office as Magistrate of one of the many civil sectors of Planet OUTRIM-57569 (also locally referred to as Panatha). Back home he'd wishfully thumb one of his religious idols he kept hidden below his bed chamber, but he couldn't risk bringing an illegal item to the Imperial throne world. Religion had been banned on his planet, like it had on many others (Kaine suspected that all religion was banned in the galaxy, but he was unsure), and all citizens were required to give total devotion to the Emperor or face harsh persecution. In times of great stress Kaine often found himself going back to his idols and incense, it calmed him and eased his troubled nerves.

But not today.

Definitely not today.

He turned his gaze from his badge of office to the wide transparisteel window that overlooked one of the many swaying district blocks that comprised the Floating City. He found the mocking gapes of the citizens here grating, as he was unaccustomed to the swaying architecture and found himself awkwardly keeping his gait as normal as possible wherever he went. Still, he had to keep his cool. No point getting yourself killed, or worse; thrown into an Imperial detention center, over something as petty as some strange looks. He and the other Magistrates of his sector had been summoned to the annual summit by their respective Imperial overlords.

The quicker this went the quicker he could leave this godforsaken world and return home to his family.

 

[Azula Tindara]

Mirror Thrukk
Pipeworld
Shhena (Twilek City)
Industrial District

Clang. Clang. Clang. There was just the sound of the hammer coming down. The hot and heavy air didn't bother him, nor the thick smoke that caught in his lungs.

There was no need for him the think on these things whilst he toiled in the factory. It was easier to clear his mind and hammer away. They had taught him this from a young age. Too much time thinking on the job only brought about dangerous ideas and difficult emotions. Better to relax, make your mind quiet and knuckle down to another productive twelve hour shift.

The satisfaction of doing hard work for the Emperor was enough. Thrukk was strong. He could carry more, hammer harder and for longer than anyone else. He could take pride in his work.

The alarms sounded, signalling the end of his shift. He slipped and caught his thumb.

"Kark!" he swore under his breath, before placing his hammer down. There was a quiet hum and a Citizen Advice Drone floated down beside him. He sighed.

"That was a class two curse, citizen. Are you feeling distressed?" it asked.

"Nae 'at jist fethin' hurt," he said. "Sorry!" he said quickly, holding up his hands. "Long day, time for rest."

"You have had a productive day citizen Gulpdar. Take pride in your work. Please visit an emotional welfare centre if you feel further stress."

"Aye."

As Thrukk meandered back to pipe A7 he checked his personal data pad. The wrist mounted device was as thin and light as paper, yet gave him instant access to the Imperial net. There were the usual daily messages he had to scroll through first.

The screen crackled. The small red logo replaced the Imperial cog.

"His lies?" he mumbled to himself. What an odd message.

 

[Darth Voracitos]

FLOATING CITY

Surveillance of [member="Kaine Zambrano (Mirror)"] was being sent directly for his own observation. There was nothing peculiar about this situation, or this interaction between the two figures. It was all an ordinary occurrence that happened every day. It was the annual Summit, and as an Agent... no, THE Archagent, it was his duty to ensure the highest level of security for the citizens. These off-worlders after all could possibly disrupt the natural order of a conformist state like the Floating City.

A sneer developed on the bloated face of the Archagent.

"Has he been scanned for contraband?" His baritone voice sounded throughout his observation deck. He was informed that he had, and was clean. Something was still odd about this one... he couldn't put his finger on it. He was moving awfully fast, wasn't he? Better keep an eye on him. If he was here to cause trouble, he to make sure the trouble was useful, and concealable. Otherwise, he was just another wasted resource.

"Increase the number of drones tailing him. Call me racist, but I've never trusted an Epicanthix..." The voiceless workers on the deck did as they were told without much complaint.

He hoped this one would prove to be interesting, and if not... maybe he would make him interesting for his purposes.

 

[Matreya]

Location: Floating City
Gear: Beskar'gam, Cloak of Nuun, Cater a Coat, Tantibus, Kallig's Scorching Lightsaber, No-Show, 3 Betty Blasters, Gun Belt filled with ammunition and explosives

Swinging Tantibus around in preparation of a killing blow, Damien grinned - the world shifted and began to spin swiftly around him. Dropping to knee, the Ancient Sith fought nausea, and lost in a puddle of deep hued vomit. As his body relieved itself, he missed the change of location, until he looked up to find himself surrounded by unarmed men and women all shuffling about.

Rising slowly, Damien looked around, his swift intellect catching on immediately to the displacement. In what would be a single second for others, he decided on several factors that were intimately noticeable. One, he was no longer on Dantooine. Two, his opponents were no longer around. Lastly, that the Force was urging himself to hide who and what he was - whatever that meant.

Quickly removing the scabbard to his blade from its location against his back, Damien noticed that the Force Fear imbued into his sword was effecting the crowd now. Sheathing the massive blade, he then wrapped it in his Cloak of Nuun, before replacing it so as not to be seen holding something undetectable.

Drawing his Coat about himself tighter, he turned his eyes slowly to take in the views around him. This place was different in to many ways...

Recon was needed.

 

[Sibar Laval]

Palace District

Sibar woke up suddenly lying on the ground next to the street, where was he? He soon felt a the butt of a gun in the back of a head and then he heard muffled voice. "Hey buddy, you a peacekeeper? I mean you have the look but your armor is weird lookin'" Sibar turned around and saw white armor he instantly recognized. He's a stormtrooper, but his armor is strange, I've never seen someone with that armor. "Where am I, I can't remember much of what happened." Sibar looked at the trooper, hoping to get answers. "Your in the Palace District, I'm guessing you were patrolling a got hit with something. Names Kale, what's yours? Sibar had to think for a moment "Sibar, and what's the Palace District?" The peacekeeper shook his head "That thing must have hit you hard. Come with me, I can take care of you and hopefully you'll get your memory back." Sibar nodded and got up, where was he?

 

[Fifth Sister]

District 1: Floating city
Music: Tom's Diner

Spoiler

https://youtu.be/aQ6ciQG1LTI

​

There was such joy in routine.

Life was a series of checkpoints and appointments. Of law and regularity. Everything had its place. Everyone had their role. The shafts of sunlight would filter through the glassteel high rise windows, casting amber rays that would illuminate the luxurious suite of the Empire's own.

Bare feet would pad in a confidant stride, unabashed and unhindered by cloth or veil. Strands of damp blonde hair would sway with every step, pale ice blue eyes coming to land upon the view of the Floating City beyond the glassteel.

Naked, the Inquisitor stood ramrod straight, a distinct pleasure in her expression at what lay beyond, staring down her patrician nose with a ripe ripple of amusement with an imperious air. A flick of a wrist would snap the length of a terrycloth bath towel, draped with precision over the back of a chair.

All was well in the Empire.

 

[Mirror Edward Blake]

PALACE DISTRICT

"What is this, KL-006? Is this a new prototype armor? He's not coming out on my HUD."

Blake walked up to the two figures in the Palace district, one a Peacekeeper and the other an unknown figure, clad in some outdated looking armor. He himself wore the standard Peacekeeper gear, the only thing denoting his rank an orange shoulder guard on his right shoulder.

Edward was, of course, addressing Kale, the soldier who had stumbled along the amnesiac Sibar. He had his rifle aimed loosely around the strange figure, suspicious. He took a look at the foreign armor more closely. It wasn't any make he had seen or studied about. Strange.

"You there. What's your identification number?"

[member="Sibar Laval"]

 

[Sibar Laval]

Palace District
"I have no idea about his armor, I'm assuming he is some kind peacekeeper." Sibar tilted his head slightly "What are you guys talking about? Is a peacekeeper a new form of stormtrooper?" Kale turned back to Sibar "What are you talking about? Peacekeepers are exactly as the name says, keepers of the peace. We mostly do patrols but we do have the occasional riot in the Black Hole district we take care of. I believe he had something knock his memory out ED-034."

[member="Mirror Edward Blake"]

 

[Mirror Edward Blake]

Blake shook his head in disapproval.

"Take him to the infirmary, KL-006. We can sort out what happened once he regains his memory. Give me a detailed report of what happens."

The Peacekeeper Officer walked off and continued his patrol, blaster rifle slung across his back. Something wasn't right about this. He'd personally check up on this later.

[member="Sibar Laval"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

PIPEWORLD
Industrial District

Lost. Confused. That's what Kay felt. She wandered through the large pipe, clutching her satchel like a lost child. There were so few humans brushing by her that she stuck out like a sore thumb. [member="Drones"] were everywhere, buzzing about and talking to people, though she didn't give much thought to listen in on what they were saying. She was too busy trying to figure out where she was and how she could get back to Commenor. Was this some new region of Hutt Cartel space? That might explain the Trandoshans and Twi'leks. Maybe it was a new place that Sempra dumped her into in a bid to get rid of her.

As [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"] was walking and checking his messages, he didn't quite notice that he nearly walked right into Kay. She was short afterall, in comparison. "Sorry. Excuse me..." Seeing Thrukk here only confirmed her suspicions. This was Cartel space! She needed to get out as quickly as she could.

 

[Raziel]

Palace District
Mirror Raziel
DfR control centre

"Sir, there is an anomaly and I would be appreciative of your oversight on this manner."

"Understood Analyst Hark, I shall provide," Raziel replied. Outwardly he was as passive and detached as any DfR controller. Inside was a tumultuous mix of emotions. The message that had spread across their messaging network had greatly concerned him, and the Emperor himself had contacted him. And now there were...anomalies. Raziel lived for his job. The glorious purpose the Emperor had given him was a mission that occupied his every waking moment. He thrived on the control he held over every citizen's life.

He did not like anomalies.

"Please, describe what manner you require assistance with?" Raziel asked without inflection.

"Look at these citizens and their trackers," the analyst said. Raziel watched as several numbers appeared next to scattered lines.

"Seven two three six auresh was in both districts twelve and one at the same time?" Raziel asked.

"Indeed. The drone found her in twelve without her regulation datapad. She seemed confused about her situation and where she was."

"And this citizen..." Raziel started, the slightest hint of inflection in his tone.

"Indeed. Recorded dead seven years ago. Found by a CAD wondering the palace district carrying illegal arms. He has been detained by peacekeepers. Sir...sir how is this possible?"

"Keep this contained analyst. Maintain your calm. I shall contact the HRD group and ensure this is not a mistake. Cross reference with the red list," Raziel said. The analyst simply nodded. The red list was their data file on citizens marked for replacement by HRD. Perhaps this was simply a clerical error. There could not, after all, be two versions of the same citizen in his city.

"Operative Tzak, increase Peacekeeper patrols in all districts to yellow level!" Raziel called across the control room.

"Query: is this related to the message from this morning?"

"Query dismissed, conform with your instruction," Raziel replied curtly.

"I conform. Orders distributed."

 

[Azula Tindara]

[member="Lady Kay"]

Mirror Thrukk
Pipeworld
Shhena (Twilek City)
Pipe A7

Thrukk quickly shifted his bulk to one side. If she hadn't noticed that both his arms still remained - this Thrukk had no massive robotic claw - his demeanour would soon alert her to the differences.

"Ah pleasant morn citizen!" he decreed with a polite node. "My apologies fur blockin' yer path," he added. If she was heading in the opposite direction, she must have been heading to work, he assumed. She looked really rather slender to be working in the sweltering heat of the durasteel works, but perhaps she was some kind of administrator.

"May ye hae a productive work shift. Emperur bless!" he added autonomically.

 

[Kay-Larr]

PIPEWORLD

She raised a brow. Well it looked like [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"] and sounded like him but he sure didn't act like him. What he said was also bizarre. Maybe it was another trick. The last time something similar to this happened, she woke up in a mental institution created by Thraxis.

"Emperor bless? What in the Force is going on? Is this another of Thraxis' mind games?"

But maybe if she was on some other world, then he just could be a relative. "You don't have a twin brother named Thrukk, do you, sir?"

 

[Mirror Edward Blake]

PALACE DISTRICT: YELLOW LEVEL

"Captain Blake, orders have been relayed. All districts are under yellow alert now. Conform to the orders."

"Yes, sir."

Edward, on the ball, ran off and opened a communication channel to the rest of the Peacekeepers in the area.

"All Peacekeepers, the Palace District is now under yellow alert. Cut off all routes to government buildings and detain any suspicious citizens on the streets."

He was on a street corner now, making his way to the nearest Peacekeeper barracks. He had to organize the forces now, making sure that-

Wait.

That weird soldier in armor, that man who looked like he stumbled out of a museum, could he have something to do with this?

Blake called over the nearest [member="Drones"] and spoke to them.

"CAD drones. This is Peacekeeper Captain ED-034 overriding your civilian protocols. This is a yellow level situation. Search for any suspicious individuals and detain them. Look specifically for an individual in white armor, outdated, not registering in any HUD database."

Edward hit the communication channel button on his helmet and patched to Peacekeeper Kale.

"Peacekeeper KL-006. Detain the unregistered individual and await drone detainment."

He was still moving to the barracks, the CAD drones flying off to fulfill orders, Blake waiting for the acknowledgment of Kale that his orders were followed...

[member="Sibar Laval"]

 

[Azula Tindara]

Mirror Thrukk
Pipeworld
Shhena (Twilek City)
Pipe A7

Thrukk's brow furrowed in confusion as her considered her words. "Thraxis?" he asked, his broad grin had started to slip. "Ah dunnae kinn a thraxis aam afraid citizen," he replied. One massive fist came up and he idly scratched at the back of his thick neck.

"But aam thrukk, th' one an' only!" he declared, jabbing a thumb towards his own chest. There was just a hint of the childish smile she might have seen on the other Thrukk's face. Before he could continue a drone floated down to them. Across its holographic body a number of question marks appeared.

"Citizen Kay-Larr. You should be starting your shift in District One. You are not authorised to be in this District. Are you lost?"

 

[Cassus Akovin]

PIPEWORLD

This was an ordinary operation.

An illegal criminal hideout deep beneath the surface of the floating city, cooped up in one of thousands of pipes. It was rather dangerous, but it wasn't anything Mercy Company couldn't handle... and certainly nothing The Remorseless would worry about. Her duty was absolute, and she would carry out that duty to the letter by any means necessary. Even means that seem far more extreme than what would ordinarily be called for. It's how she got her reputation after all, and what was more important than a reputation?

She selected a few boys from her company, "Storm Squad". There was nothing really significant to the name really... not on the surface for these people. Perhaps in some alternative time line such would be indicative of their original purpose, retooled for the Empire's use in an age of absolute peace.

"Captain Akovin, if our technicians are correct, opening this valve will open the floodgates to this pipe. Are you certain about this?" One of her boys reported to her.

"I didn't tell ya to get aquatic gear for nothing now, did I? Activate you mag boots and open it up already. Let's flush these illegals out." The Peacekeeper merely nodded, and pointed to the technician, who hesitantly returned the nod. His eyes reverted back to the machinery he was tasked with operating on, and pulled down his helmet and sealed it, before cranking open a switch.

In moments, a tumultuous roaring crashed out of an opening suddenly from around the corner, as tidal wave of massive proportions swarmed through their pipe. Activating her kinetic-particle shield belt, she braced from the impact of rushing water. The gross liquid slammed into her shield, almost deactivating it on impact, and swept past her own squad. Yet they remained just as fixed as she was. In seconds, the entire pipe was filled with water and sewage.

Deactivating her mag boots, she softly hummed upwards, as her aquatic jets went into gear. The other Peacekeepers followed suit.

"Alright boys and girls, let's play count the illegals. Report back to me any casualties and contraband, let's make this quick so I can get back to polishing my shiny armor. Got it?" Her voice crackled over the com network, and her Squad let a collective "Yes, ma'am." as they swam through the sludge. They were a little ways out before they actually reached their destination.

A yellow flag popped up in her HUD, indicating a heightened security level.

"Looks like it's going to be a good day."

 

[Kay-Larr]

PIPEWORLD

"But your arm...It's fixed." Kay just had to pinch herself to see if she was dreaming. No. She reached out to touch [member="Thrukk Gulpdar"] to see if he was real too.

But then the drone appeared and addressed her with her full name, rather than one of her titles. "District One? I..Yes, I am lost. But I'm sure that Thrukk can guide me back safely. Thank you..."

If this was Thraxis' doing, then it was the most intricate ploy that she has ever seen...But what if it was real? There seemed to be some weird order to things that she didn't quite like. The drones were quite unusual as well. She scratched an itch on the back of her neck as she was growing uncomfortable.

 

[Sibar Laval]

Kale stood still a moment and then responded "Of course ED-034" Kale then turned around to Sibar "What's wrong?" Without warning Kale then tackled Sibar "WHAT ARE YOU DOING! "Higher up has reported that you needed to be detained, nothing personal, just my job." Sibar struggled with all his might to get the peacekeeper off of him but to no use. "This is KL-006, I have detained the individual." Kale stood there looking at the sky, waiting for the [member="Drones"]