Bay of Tears

[Skye Mertaal]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

So, at least the Sith's companion was not expected. Or someone that he was keen on keeping by his side. He was playing a game or had some other agenda.

A mental tick and the Hunter gathered her thoughts. Odds were high that whomever the big male was did not hold any love of the Sith; that she could tell from the snippets of conversation.

How long did she have to be able to attack and cuff the Sith? Would he have any other exit strategies? Likely. Those she scooped out and any that she may have missed. Plus the other guards that would come when the alarm went off...

Alright, let's see what we can do.

The element of surprise was her greatest asset right now. She was about ten meters from the Sith. Odds were that he would be able to at least track her soon.

Well, nothing like a concussion grenade to start it off.

The hunter actually used two. The first was the concussion grenade. The second was a brown colt Force breaker grenade with an internal presure switch. If the Sith pushed it back, it was going to explode anyways.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Skye Mertaal"]

Val didn't really have time to register the grenades.

Hell he barely had enough time to even really think about what was going on. The first one came with a pop, the second came with...well he wasn't exactly sure what it was, but it seemed to hang in the air for half a second before it too exploded. His senses immediately fell away. His ears began to scream, his eyes seared, and his muscles finally gave way. He had no idea what happened to the Sith, had no idea who had thrown the grenades.

All he knew was whatever had been holding him in place fell away.

It happened instantly, and ensued an almost comical scene. "OH KARKING KARK KARK KARK."

Val screamed over and over again as he found himself blind, half dead, and suddenly collapsed onto the floor. The odd wave of whatever had been holding him in place had weakened his muscles in an odd enough way that when it slipped away he very suddenly found himself incredibly weak. Without much time to think, or react, the great viking just fell to the floor. Robbed of his senses, and at the very least momentarily, of his strength there wasn't much for him to do.

"Poodoo." He said as his head slammed against the heavy wood floor.

 

[Skye Mertaal]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

Mertaal didn't let any second pass her up. The enclosed helm provided its oxygen, preventing her from having to inhale the cloud of ixtel cilona. The added cacophony of the concussion grenade along with the Force weakening effect of the Force breaker struck the Sith. While he couldn't block the shrapnel, he was able to fling a nearby table to toss it out in front of him.

A wretched growl went ripping from his pale lips, and the sudden snap-hiss of a lightsaber blade illuminated in a bright red sphere.

"SHUT UP!" his voice cracked through the room, moving towards the new threat. The man rolling around the floor was forgotten.

For the present time.

He would feel the Force drain from him. Become fuzzy. It made it all the more difficult to use his senses to track the new comer.

Mertaal knew this, and she plucked out a distinct bounty hunter bola. It was flung into the air, hoping to tangle the Sith.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Skye Mertaal"]

The bola didn't work.

Though the man was weakened and disorientated he was still Sith, and when the bright lights of the bola flew towards him the fragile and half broken man swung his lightsaber. The bright red plasma of the blade dug through one of the ends of the bola, instantly vaporizing and disabling it. He turned, shifted, looked around the room like a madmen searching for the voices in his head.

Val meanwhile groaned on the floor.

The odd ache in his muscles was slowly retreating, though his head was now hurting and everything seemed a little bit...fuzzy. A frown pulled at his lips as his fingers curled. He tried to gain some measure of control once again, taking in deep steady breaths. ]"You got this."

He quietly said to himself.

The Viking's attempted motivational speech apparently worked, as half a second later he was off the floor.

The blade that he had dropped was scooped up and quickly he stepped back and out of the odd fog, moving away from the Sith Lord whom by now was rushing through the other end of the library, lightsaber slicing through bookshelves, artifacts, and whatever else in a mad attempt to kill whomever had attacked him.

 

[Skye Mertaal]

@Valkyrien Aurelios

Nek take it!

There was no time to mull over the lost chance at a quick end. The red blade came right at her, prompting the hunter to grunt as her alchemized phrik dagger was brought out to clash against the saber. Sparks flew over the two straining figures in a kaleidoscope of colors.

Oh no, you don't.

The crimson blade darted out as they began their dance. Block, parry, attack. A deft movement of feet and the sudden fly back of the Bounty Hunter. She didn't fight with hard, savage, brutish movements typical of a Mandalorian. It was telling.

The Sith came at her again, striking with hard strikes, unwilling to give any quarter. Mertaal shot out a few of the ixtel cilona darts filled with smart ran. If they hit, then perhaps the Sith would be knocked unconscious.

Elsewhere in the castle, the remaining guards were on high alert.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Skye Mertaal"]

What the fuck was going on?

There was another person now? Jedi? He had no idea. His head spun and he tried to get his bearings, but he quickly heard the tromp of boots behind him. A scowl crossed his features as he looked back behind himself. He tried to articulate his thoughts out loud, but all that came out was a garbled mess "SfAEga."

Val said as he turned.

Luckily for wall the narrow and cramped entrance of the library was too small for any one of the Sith's goons to actually raise his rifle, meaning there was ample opportunity for him to use his brutish strength to simply force any issue. The first guard that stepped through the door was met with the blade Val held. The tip of the sword slid though the mans stomach and by his spine, killing him nearly instantly even as Val wrenched him away and tossed him towards the next one.

"WEAADF!" Val roared as he moved forward and into the fray of thugs.

 

[Skye Mertaal]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

The massive roar and the sudden crashing of bodies told the Hunter that the other had finally risen to his feet. She paid him no mind, as her attention was upon the Sith. One of the darts had hit, the liquid injecting into his system.

A savage curse blew from the Sith's lips. He had used the Force to help maintain his strength and body functions. The ixtel cilona did it's work quickly. Like a suffocating blanket, it would cut off the Force from the Sith, denying him the ability to draw from its strength.

It didn't stop his rage.

The saber came at her in a frenzy, and Skye had to react quickly. His strength would wane, but right now he was vicious.

Sparks flew as the saber struck the beskar, charing lines but unable to cut through the alloy. His kick had her slamming back against the wall, stars in her eyes.

Well damn.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Skye Mertaal"]

His blade plunged through the stomach of another guard, slicing with a quick swipe as he turned and around on the figure that had cropped up behind him. He saw terror flash on the mans face, but it was already too late. Val grasped him by the throat, a loud shink sounding out as the sword stabbed through the mans heart.

The viking wrenched back with the blade, letting the guard drop dead to the floor.

He frowned slightly for a moment as he caught sight of the Sith and...whoever was fighting him through the haze. He hefted the blade, enjoying the feeling of it's weight. Oddly enough it felt right carrying a sword. He frowned and then scooped up one of the blasters dropped by the guards. The last time he had tried stabbing the Sith things hadn't gone so well...so why not try shooting at him instead.

For a second Val fumbled with the weapon.

The sword was stabbed into the hardwood in front of him, forgotten for a moment as he fiddled with the weapon.

The assault on the woman continued as he looked up, the Sith battering at her with his lightsaber until finally he managed to find the safety on the blaster rifle. Val gave a pleased smirk, and then began to open fire on the Sith Lord.

 

[Skye Mertaal]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

The Sith Lord, cut off from the Force, was unable to maintain the assault on the Hunter with a volley of blaster fire heading his way. A bolt struck in his thigh and another in his back.

He screeched in rage, and Skye took advantage of it. Without further ado, the Hunter stepped forward, using the advantage to curl her fist tightly. One massive wallop of an uppercut clad in beskar went to strike at the Sith right at the jaw.

It hit, knocking the Sith back into another table, scattering scrolls and books alike. A glance went at the man with the blaster still standing.

She tugged out her stun blaster, and without hesitation, shot a few more bolts into the Sith.

That's when more guards piled in.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Skye Mertaal"]

Almost instinctively Val twisted.

He dropped the blaster, knowing that it either wouldn't be much good in close quarters or that he'd somehow mess up using it. Instead he returned to the sword, a weapon that he was far more comfortable using. There was a slight, off, pang as he drew the blade from the wood, the sword reverberating for half a second as the steady metal shifted around. He flipped the blade, and then immediately stabbed the first guard through the door.

There was a harsh guttural cough, and then the man fell to the floor.

It was only one man, one of a dozen, but it was a start.

Val grabbed the man by the man, dragging him by the collar and using his returning strength to toss him into a column of approaching men. The body went crashing into the men, causing several of them to fall to the ground. Blaster shots went wild, and Val took the opportunity to yell something to...whoever had been fighting with the Sith. ”Kill him!”

That was the only way to end this.

It was the only way to make sure that both Ryssa and himself remained safe. It didn't matter if whoever this person was wanted the Sith alive, he was too dangerous. Everything that Val knew about Sith told that story, everything. They couldn't be contained, not forever anyway, it was better just to finish them off and end the story.

 

[Skye Mertaal]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

The issue was, the Hunter needed the Sith Alive. He had questions to answer and none would be had if he was dead. However, the man yelling at her to kill him wouldn't have to worry for long. Those stun blasts did the trick - after another was sent his way at point blank range. The Sith Lord's body gave a twitch, his saber falling to the floor and deactivating. It rolled until it swung in a semi circle on the ground.

One down.

Several other guards to go.

Adjusting her position, Mertaal brought her arm back up. What she saw almost had her stunned. Having a sword welding beast of a man swing a deadly blade in such close confines was just... crazy. For a moment, Skye couldn't believe her eyes. Until a second later she had to start shooting down range at a guard looking to gut Val from the back.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Skye Mertaal"]

He ignored the bolt, or rather, didn't even seem to realize it was there. "Kill. Him!"

Val couldn't have been more emphatic about that particular suggestion.

It was clear that he was not well pleased with the idea of keeping the Sith Lord alive. The man was after all, dangerous, but more than that he was a threat to both himself and Ryssa. He had no idea where Ryssa had gone, had no idea where she might be, but she had the Gauntlet. That meant the Sith would eventually come after her, and while he'd never completely trusted the Changeling she had saved his life more than once.

That was enough.

"Do it!" He shouted at the figure before turning and burying the sword in another Guardsman's gut.

The fight was now turning into less of a coordinated assault and more into an outright brawl. The guards attempted very hard to bring Val down, but somehow the massive Giant kept on his feet, swinging the blade, punching whomever was near him, and weaving through random blaster bolts.

 

[Skye Mertaal]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

Couldn't he just shut up?!

A frustrated growl followed the sudden blasting volley of stun bolts that went raining down upon two of the guards. It was an all out brawl. The Sith Lord was out for the count, and as soon as those two bodies near her fell to the ground, the Hunter quickly snatched the Force Cuffs from her hip and bent down.

Click, click. His arms were bound with the Terentaktek AEL cuffs. Viola.

Another figure came looming over her and Mertaal swept her leg right under the guard. His massive body flipped and fell down into the ground.

Two more blasts from her blaster and the man flopped unconscious.

"No." her voice modulator commanded through her helm. Another series of punches and more darts filled with Smartranq hit two more guards.

They were down to the last four.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Skye Mertaal"]

His blade passed through another guard, though this time it remained firmly in place as the dying man gripped it's edges. Val looked down, frowning, and then raised his foot. A heavy kick forced the man to give up his purchase, freeing the sword with a shower of blood. Val scowled, looking at the last three guards. They seemed to linger for a few moments, looking at one another, then glancing towards the Sith lord who by now was reeling from his encounter with the masked woman.

Then they ran.

For a moment Val was so startled that he didn't even do anything. He hadn't expected the SIth Soldiers to run, but...well he should have. Val was used to loyalty, fanatics even, but these men...well they didn't really care. Their master was captured and that meant the fight was over.

For them at least. "Well."

Val said through gnarled teeth, watching as the guards dropped their blasters and simply booked it out of the door of the library. He stared after them for a few more seconds, ensuring that none of them were trying to trick him, then he rounded on the mysterious figure that had disabled the sith.

"Kill him." He repeated again even though she had denied his request. "He's too dangerous to be kept alive."

 

[Skye Mertaal]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

The Hunter ignored him. There were parts of her body that were protesting the earlier brawl. She was sure that there would be a constellation of bruises under her armor. Maybe even a cracked rib or two.

Gorram it, came the grimace under the helm, holstering her blaster away. A few staggered strides, and she loomed over the unconscious Sith Lord.

Bending to a knee, she checked his readings. He was still alive but would be knocked out. The Force cuffs would hold him, and the Force breakers would cut him off of the Force for at least five hours. Long enough to get tossed into her Force detainment cell in the Pheonix.

"You should go before any more of the guards return." finally, the metallic voice modulator echoed out. Female. Indistinguishable age.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Skye Mertaal"]

"Sure." Val said as he stepped forward. "Right after I bury this sword in his throat."

That was a simple notion really.

Currently the Sith Lord was knocked out, Val saw this as a perfect opportunity to kill him. Without his force powers he was basically just a frail old man, and Val...well was a six and a half foot tall Viking warrior from the outer rim. He was fairly certain that at this point killing the Sith Lord would be easy, and if this woman objected to that? Well then that was just too bad for her. He was in no mood to talk about this, especially considering what he had learned a few days ago.

"Get out of my way." The sword was pointed to the ground.

He wasn't threatening her, yet, but his intentions were more than clear.

 

[Skye Mertaal]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

This was the part where Valkyrien would realize that getting in between a Bounty Hunter and her quarry was a terrible idea. That dark tee visor swung over the the broad shouldered and towering form, taking in the sword in his hand and reading his body language.

An internal sigh came. He was worn. Weary. The fight had indeed made some of him and right now, Mertaal had no patience for dealing with someone coming in between her bounty and the questions she had.

"No," she said firmly, voice echoing as she turned back to the Sith.

"Pick your battles and leave." the Hunter added, her voice intending to give him advice.

"I have a contract to fulfill." such an echo of words from another woman. She body was flexing, relaxing for any move he might make. If she had to, she would unholster her stun blaster and send volley after volley of stun bolts at his direction.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Skye Mertaal"]

"I can't." Val, notably, didn't raise his sword.

It was partly because he wasn't entirely sure that he could take this woman, but also because he didn't quite want to take up any hostile intent towards her...at least not yet. The way he saw it they were allies...if only vaguely. She had taken down the Sith, as a Bounty he presumed, and that at least made her not on his side. That quality alone was enough for Val to give her some leeway. Of course if she stood in his way much longer that might change.

"He wants me dead." He nudged his head towards the Sith. "As well as a friend of mine."

Ryssa was hardly a friend, but the Bounty Hunter didn't need to know that. "If he escapes from wherever you're taking him he'll be a thread to me."

Val couldn't allow that.

That would have been incredibly poor strategy on his part.

 

[Skye Mertaal]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

"He won't escape." the Hunter told him bluntly. Skye wasn't aware of Val's story or history with the Sith Lord. While she could sympathize with his predicament, she had a job to do.

"You can ask whoever wants him to hand him over to you after they are done," she told him flatly. A sudden grip of the Sith Lords cuff and the bounty hunter slapped a carbonite dispenser onto his chest. A second later, it began to spread, turning into a shell casing of carbonite that could be connected to a small hover pack for ease of movement.

This was non-negotiable.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Skye Mertaal"]

He cast down at the body.

"And exactly who wants him?" Val asked.

It was really the only option left over to him. The carbonite slowly began to spread over the Sith Lord's body, Val frowning as he watched the odd contraption do it's work. A part of him wanted to intervene, stop whatever the hell process was going on, but he decided that once...just once he would be diplomatic.

"I need to know." He told her. "I can't have this man alive."

Not with what he had learned.