Faction Ashes in the Undercity [ME]

[Evangel]

Evangel didn't respond to the young man insistent Rynna had her reasons. In point of fact, Evangel did believe that. Because the alternative was likely the young woman wasting away in a gutter somewhere unseen by any living soul. The galaxy was a ruthless, heartless place where only those that fought for their right to survive lasted. Likewise, as a Mandalorian, Evangel was expected to enforce law on criminals caught in this theater of operation -- that was what she had to do in order to survive.

Ferris turned his efforts toward Rynna next, which had Evangel curious if it would help motivate her to action.

Behind the helmet, Evangel actually smirked. Not one of mirth, but of amused acknowledgement. "You'll be given a chance to become a Mandalorian. The training will be harsh, but you will be provided shelter, food, clothing, and armor. You can forge bonds with others. And when you graduate, and come of age, you will have everything necessary to forge your own destiny. Or I will release you to return to the lower levels and forget you drew a blade intent on doing harm to vod. Your call."

That was a shocking good deal was it? A chance to get everything denied to her so far, or to return to what she found familiar; either way Rynna could avoid being hauled off, thrown in a city, and then summarily returned to whatever she found familiar and poorer for it. Somehow, Evangel didn't expect either Ferris or Rynna to see it as generous as she did.

Ferris Skirata | Rynna​

 

[Ferris Skirata]

T A R I S​

Undercity – Barricade
Ferris caught it, the way her hand inched toward the blade, the look in her eyes that said she'd risk it all for steel. He almost spoke, almost barked at her to stop, because he couldn't let her swing at a Mandalorian again. Not with his sister-in-arms standing right there. That wasn't who he was trying to be. He had a code now, and breaking it wasn't an option. His mouth opened, the words ready, but Evangel's voice cut the air first. Rynna's hand stilled, and Ferris let his breath slip out slow, thankful he hadn't had to make it worse.

He shifted, careful to stay out of the line of fire, but not retreating either. His visor flicked to Evangel and then back to Rynna, catching the defiance in her face. He knew that look. He'd worn it himself, not so long ago, when he thought every deal was a trap and every offer came with a price he couldn't afford.

"It's not a cage," he said finally, his voice carrying over the crackle of blasterfire. "It's a choice. You take it, you decide what comes next. If you don't… then you walk. Nobody's dragging you anywhere." His helmet tilted toward Evangel for a beat.

"You don't gotta trust me. I wouldn't trust me either if I was you. But you can trust what I am. Skirata. Foundling. Same as you'd be. Six months ago I was standing where you are, swearing nobody was gonna tell me what to do. And here I am. Still breathing, still figuring it out." He shifted the rifle strap against his shoulder, the thing almost too big for him but steady all the same. His voice softened a notch when he spoke again. "You've already done the hard part, Rynna. Don't throw it away for a knife. There's better fights out there waiting for you."

TAG: Rynna Evangel ​

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[Adelle Bastiel]

Something crashed into a dumpster in a nearby alley.

Adelle hardly had time to register the ringing in her ears or the pain in her head before she rolled to feet, narrowly avoiding a blow to her head from a durasteel bar. The bar had been overrun. She'd been flung out the window into a mob and lost track of her drinking buddies. Somehow she'd fought her way to the edge and found herself on the defensive with a Lasat that towered over her. Said Lasat grabbed her arm and tried to throw her--again. Adelle broke free and kicked out one of his knees. The Lasat growled and swung the bar wildly at her. She ducked, feeling the wind ruffle her air, and threw a jab at his unprotected torso.

He backhanded her for her trouble. Adelle fell backwards, hitting her head against the walkway. Alright, kriff this. Her hand pulled her lightsaber hilt from her belt as the Lasat advanced, durasteel bar held high. Smoothly, Adelle rolled to her knees and thrust, igniting the saber as she did. The Lasat staggered, stopped, and gasped.

"Finally," Adelle hissed. She deactivated the blade and let the body fall sideways, still kneeling on the ground. Blasterfire came from the end of the alley; she hadn't realized how close to the frontlines that fight had taken her. She caught a brief glimpse of an armored body before it moved out of her line of sight, close to the alley entrance. Fierfek. Mandos. Hopefully they hadn't seen her lightsaber.


Nearby: Evangel | Rynna | Ferris Skirata

 

[Rynna]

Shelter, food and clothing sounded good. Too good to be true. She'd get all that, just for taking them deeper into the undercity where the Preachers had been stockpiling? She didn't trust it, not entirely, even with the boy singing all the right tunes for someone like her. She chewed the inside of her cheek. She could become like her father... her eyes shifted again to the knife and she heaved a sigh.

"Alright," she agreed, pushing herself to her feet and gently touching the back of her head where an egg sized lump had formed, her fingers came away dry at least, which was a good sign. She bent to pick up the vibroblade, looking at it for a long moment, before tucking it back into her satchel. "I'm keeping my stuff though. And I only tried to stab you to get you to let go, gonna have bruises in the shape of your fingers on my arm."

A blaster bolt smashed into the stonework above her head and she ducked instinctively covering her head, suddenly remembering they were on the edge of a battlefield. "Fierfek." she swore, ducking into the alleyway. "Come on, its this way." She made it a handful of paces before she found the dead Lasaat and a woman on her knees above him.

Rynna knew better than to ask questions. She lifted her hands in defence. "I didn't see nothing."

Adelle Bastiel Ferris Skirata Evangel

 

[Evangel]

Evangel didn't say anything in response to what might as well be Ferris challenging her authority in this matter. If the time came to settle such debts the young man would know it. Seeing how the urchin did attack, however, holding her until the riot was settled was no unreasonable. if anything they might get an earful from Jonah for making such deals without command approval.

Timing had the Dark Mandalorian's fingers twitch slightly, however. Not because of Ferris' words, but from a familiar sensation. Evangel couldn't hear it. She hadn't visually seen it with the two standing before her occupying her full attention. But she had felt it. Lightsabers didn't require the Force, but they channeled it through kyber crystals. There were ripples with their usage. Where were they? Who were they? It had Evangel's teeth on edge.

"Try that with your instructor, and you will have more than a few bruises on your arm," Evangel snorted. That was the problem with being "lenient." People took you for granted and thought they could walk all over you. For the time being, however, the Mandalorian would endure it. It might be viewed as petty to react to something as minor as reclaiming her weapon -- even if it had been engaged in a crime just a moment ago.

With a grunt, Evangel followed after the woman eager to flee the fight and have her commitment fulfilled. Or to escape. The latter wasn't going to happen. She didn't even check if Ferris followed; Evangel expected he would to ensure nothing 'untold' happened out of sight. Their progress, however, was arrested as suddenly as it had begun.

Evangel stepped ahead of Rynna in the alleyway. Her golden visor caught sight of the woman that stood there over the corpse. "What detachment are you with?" No accusations. Evangel didn't really care for 'morality' as others understood it. But who was Adelle? What were they doing there? That Evangel did care to understand. "We intended to strike the enemy. Will you join us?"

Ferris Skirata | Adelle Bastiel | Rynna​

 

[Adelle Bastiel]

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Her lightsaber had just slipped back into place on the magplate at the back of her belt when movement at the alley entrance caught her eye. A girl strode into the alley, before lifting her hands to show she wasn't currently armed.

She lifted her hands in defence. "I didn't see nothing."

Adelle pushed herself to her feet, still trying to catch her breath when a Mandalorian stalked up behind the girl and then stepped in front of her. Ah shit. She could understand why Mandalorians had the storied reputation they did: staring into that expressionless T-visor was intimidating.

"What detachment are you with?" No accusations. Evangel didn't really care for 'morality' as others understood it. But who was Adelle? What were they doing there? That Evangel did care to understand. "We intended to strike the enemy. Will you join us?"

Ho boy. Adelle steeled herself, settling into the habits learned from her time in CorSec, and eased into a stance similar to parade rest. "No detachment. I was in a bar that got overrun by rioters. My fight landed me here. And if it'll stop this madness--" She gestured to the fighting in the main street just beyond the alley. "--I'd be more than happy to help."

She stood to the side to allow the Mandalorian and girl past, assuming the girl was a local guiding the Mandalorian, then fell in behind them.

"What's the objective?"

Evangel | Rynna | Ferris Skirata