Private Distractions

[Amani Serys]

Long after the battle, Tython still was not free of danger. The planet itself could never be fully tamed, but it was nonetheless a frustrating reminder coming of the heels of its near destruction.

Not even the end of the world could stave off some of Tython's worst: Flesh Raiders.

Part of Amani wondered if they even fully grasped the nature of what had nearly happened, or if they even cared. Regardless, it was clear that whatever could have been was not nearly as relevant as what they wanted to do.

A village not far from the refugee camp was currently in the sights of one such roving raider band, and with aid already spread thin, Amani took it upon herself to answer the call. If nothing else, it would prove a mundane distraction from all of the apocalyptic tragedy.

She took a moment to prepare at the village outskirts, just beyond the ridge where the raiders had roosted. As far as Amani was aware, she was going alone.

Elpsis Kerrigan​

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Amani Serys

Over the years of her admittedly fairly short life Elpsis had come to the conclusion that peace was not the natural state of life. Rather it was a brief interval between the last big war and the coming one. Bloody conflict, not peace, was the natural sentient condition. It was not that this was the kind of world she wanted to live in. Or that she craved the glory of battle - there was none. But it was...acceptance. Just as she accepted her eventual fate. One day, everyone's number came up. Bam, dead.

Tython still bore the scars of the battle that had raged here. Supposedly the 'Sith'ari' - or rather the latest of many pseudo-messiahs - had been on the brink of reshaping reality. Elpsis was sceptical. The Force - the Lifeweb - was stronger than any one man. But that was besides the point. Countless had died, many more displaced.

And soon the process of destruction would begin all over again. Which brought her here. Refugees, opportunistic Flesh Raiders sensing easy prey. She'd brought some minions to Tython, but left them behind. Firemane wanted to wave their flag by participating in the reconstruction for not at all-serving reasons. She could use a break. Before they sent her into the next battle. Or she sought it out on her own volition.

Flaming red hair framed a tanned, viciously scarred face with milky-white eyes. Aside from conventional marks of battle, there were scars that resembled burning cracks, glowing like embers. One arm was a skeletal, cybernetic that pulsed with energies of the Force, just like her mechanical leg. Gait a bit awkward. Still getting used to the artificial spine.

She was apparently not alone. Elpsis had long been robbed of physical sight, but what her dead eyes could no longer perceive, the Force did. "Jedi? I'll make an educated guess and assume you're here for the Raiders."

 

[Amani Serys]

Amani had hardly noticed the arrival of another until they had spoken. "What?" She reacted, more instinctively than anything. Her eyes darted up to the new face for some semblance of recognition, but found none.

"…Yeah. You? I was beginning to think I was running solo." Not that the thought stressed her out much; Flesh Raiders were a familiar threat for her. As for the woman, Amani was less certain what to make of her, but appearances could be deceiving, and the Force had already told her more than sight ever could. Between the two of them, she expected less of a challenge and more of a chance to let off some steam.

"Got a name?"

Elpsis Kerrigan​

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Amani Serys

"Yes," Elpsis responded simply to the query about her intent. Dead, lifeless eyes stared at the Jedi. Being physically blind, Elpsis could not view facial expressions. Or even really tell what the other woman looked like, beyond perceiving a blurry shape and her aura in the Force.

Of course, she could've easily afforded cybernetic or cloned replacements. Indeed, she'd been encouraged to do just that. Another reason for her to do the opposite. The other was acceptance. In loss, the Lifeweb had granted a gift. "Name's Elpsis Kerrigan." Theoretically, Baroness and a bunch of other silly titles. She wasn't inclined to mention that. It was another millstone around her neck imposed on her by self-serving leeches. "Rank's lieutenant. What's your name?"

 

[Amani Serys]

Amani continued to study the woman in front of her. The lack of sight on Elpsis' part was pretty safely deduced, given the glaze over her eyes, and how she seemed to respond to stimuli. Still the healer was unwavered. Blindness had been overcome by Force-sensitives in the past, irregardless of cybernetics or other replacements. "Lieutenant in what?" She pried. The woman didn't exactly strike her as a typical Alliance trooper.

"Amani Serys." Her introduction was added on after a beat. The mirialan stretched her back and slung her saberpike over her shoulder, heading for the incline up the ridge, "Shouldn't take us too long to reach them if we head up now."

Elpsis Kerrigan​

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Amani Serys

"Firemane Industries. Or rather their Force order," she shrugged. Usually, corpos didn't have those. But Firemane had decided it would be fun to larp as a government in a bunch of remote areas in wild space because Elpsis' adoptive mother fancied herself a queen. Except now she was in coma. Surely she'd wake up one day. Surely her loyal counsellors, who were governing in her absence, were doing everything for her to recover so they could relinquish power to her. Instead of bickering about who should be in charge.

She gave the Jedi a curt nod, following her in the direction of the ridge. "So I can burn stuff, hit things and shoot." There was not boastfulness in her tone. It was matter-of-fact. "What can you do?" It was important to know who you were working with, even though she didn't expect much of a challenge.

 

[Amani Serys]

“Hm. Not familiar,” She shrugged. An industry with a Force order certainly seemed like a red flag, but she wasn’t really here to talk corporate politics.

Elpsis’ very matter-of-fact analysis got the slightest snort from Amani. She didn't really ever bother to examine her skill set in such a mathematical way, “Uhhh, I can heal stuff, hit things, and shoot.” She mirrored the woman’s words. “I don’t think we’ll have to worry.”

Elpsis Kerrigan​

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Amani Serys

Elpsis shrugged. "Figured. Don't have much of a presence here," was all she had to say in regards to her employer. She was probably not the type to hand out company brochures. Well, they put her face on recruitment posters. Much to her annoyance, said face was a good deal less scarred. She gave the Jedi a curt nod. "No, but it's good to know who you're working and what their capabilities are." Just in case you needed them.

Shapes would be moving in the far distance. Vaguely humanoid ones, but communicating in growls. Their language was guttural and angry. Feral intent could be felt through the Force. The creatures were masses of flesh, with hammerhead like skulls, jagged fangs and muscle, armed with primitive weapons. So far so good. But as she stretched out with the Force, Elpsis felt something odd. Among the mass of savage creatures, she fet the presence of the Force in one of them. But alien and twisted.

 

[Amani Serys]

The Force reached out in tendrils, weaving across the landscape as it did across all of Tython. Even after the mass havoc that had been wrought, the planet was still bathed in the energies of the Force. Amani connected to it, and noticed whatever underlying reaction played in Elpsis' focus. "What is it? I-" Then it hit her, too. A decidedly unnatural presence in the Force. In one of them. She had heard rumors of such a possibility before, but never seen it until now. "Ah."

"Maybe we will have to put in some effort after all," Amani smirked and headed into a swathe of tall grass for cover. From there, they could get an undisturbed view of the camp. Flesh Raiders milled about, minding their own business (for now). But their intent couldn't be ignored. When they came across the refugee village, it would be a bloodbath.

"How do you wanna play this, Lieutenant?"

Elpsis Kerrigan​

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Amani Serys

"Means we get a better workout," Elpsis responded dryly. She liked workouts. Ducking in the grass to keep a lower profile, her ethereal sight took in the camp of Fleish Raiders. They had enough discipline to post sentries. Her senses focused on the Forceful Flesh Raider. There was something off about him. The aura unnatural and twisted, but it almost felt like it was alien.

"I'll use fire. Split the mooks from the boss. Maybe it'll panic them. You hold position and keep them from getting past me. Then we take out the Forcer." Reaching out, she pulled at the web of the Force, white eyes flaring. Her cybernetic arm glowed red-hot as a ball of flame manifested inside her mechanical palm, growing in intensity. Heat surged through her body. Arising from the cover of the tall grass, she headed forward. The heat surging through her body manifested as she hurled the blast of flame towards the camp.

 

[Amani Serys]

“Lead the way, then,” Amani nodded, letting Elpsis take point on her plan. In short order, the camp was accosted by a plume of fire and smoke, and the Flesh Raiders were thrown into disarray. Guess that’s the cue.

Their number had a variety of reactions. Some, especially those closest to the flame, were thrown into a blind panic, while others posted up as sentriest or headed straight for the source of the attack. As one drew near, Amani sprang from the grass and kicked them back. The raider flared its row of nostrils and charged in for an attack. The scuffle was short-lived, however, seeing as its primitive blade had no counter for a lightsaber.

It fell to the ground, and Amani stepped forward into a defensive stance. The white beam of her crystal shone beckoningly for the next challenger.

Elpsis Kerrigan​

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Amani Serys

Suffice to say, the plume of flame and smoke caused quite a ruckus. In short order, the hitherto well-ordered camp had been thrown into chaos. Some panicked, not the least those ignited by the fire or close enough to be frightened by the horrible sight. But others were seized by rage, charging.

Flesh Raiders hurled themselves at the duo, stomping on burnt grass with their clawed feet. One was taken out by Amani in short order, white lightsabre blazing. As a creature raised its large, primitive sword, Elpsis carved through it with an orange coloured sabre before cleaving the creature from shoulder to belly.

Pain shot through her as a Flesh Raider managed to take advantage of her being otherwise occupied and thrust its long spear into her side. Without missing her beat, she grit her teeth, raised her cybernetic leg and stomped on its foot. That didn't just mess up bones, it set the Flesh Raider's leg on fire, causing an agonised howl. The creature stumbled, ere her cybernetic fist smote the beast's throat.

Perhaps angered by the demise of its comrade, a third Flesh Raider came at her with maul and shield whirling. Ducking the maul, she avoided a blow meant for her head, but the shield, though primitive, slammed into her hard enough to knock her into the ground, as the hulking brute charged. Burning light and flame burst from her hands towards its face, and her blade tore its legs away.

 

[Amani Serys]

Two more raiders charged in, but with the pike hilt of her saber, Amani was able to keep them both at bay. That was, until a third charged in and tackled her into the dirt. The others quickly joined in, pinning her arms as he bit down on her shoulder in a cannibalistic frenzy.

She yelled in pain before sending the two flankers rocketing across the field in a powerful shockwave. The one on top was then thrown into a reversal as she grabbed him the eyestalks and rolled over. First a fist, then the butt of her saber, struck the raider until it gave up the fight.

No longer keen to be in close range, Amani drew her slugthrower and began firing at whatever Raiders caught her attention. “Where’s that Forcer?” She called to Elpsis.

Elpsis Kerrigan​

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Amani Serys

Elpsis had not been sure what to expect of the Jedi. The Mirialan's obvious skill in melee and with a gun met with her approval though. The lack of preaching and willingness to take direct action also met with her approval. A Flesh Raider burst into flames when a fireball erupted from Elpsis' hand, setting it alight. Lifting the flaming Flesh Raidr with an invisible grip, she sent it flying towards another of the savage creatures.

She heard Amani's call, but ere she could respond she had toevade a heavy blow from a maul. Raising her cybernetic fist, she activated a hidden mechanism and the wrist bolter fired. An armour-piercing round, fired at rather close range, blew away much of the creature's skull. But it was then that her Force Senses prickled, directing her to the Forcer.

Smartly, they had held back. Dark tendrils had erupted from him, finding purchase upon wounded and dying Flesh Raiders to drain them of what was left of their life force. Heat surged through Elpsis' body, but ere she could act the Forcer converted the stolen energy into a powerful blast of darkside energy directed towards the two interlopers who had so rudely attacked his camp.

 

[Amani Serys]

The presence of the Dark Side raised Amani's hackles, and she rolled out of the way just in time for the energy to launch past. "I guess that answers my question."

This being had no sentimentality for even his own kind, sapping their strength to grow his own. Selfish, as the darkness inherently was. The Jedi threw her lightsaber pike like a javelin, carried at supernatural speed by the Force, only for it to be caught by their Flesh Raider adversary. Amani grimaced, "Why do I even bother?" This was actually not the first time throwing the weapon had backfired on her. She pulled out a normal saber next, this one deep blue, and charged her enemy.

Elpsis Kerrigan​

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Amani Serys

Elpsis was ironically less adept at evading the blast. Her manifold cybernetics made her stronger and more durable, but also weighed her down. As a result, she took the wave of concussive energy head on and was slammed into a tree. Ouch. But she was a tank, more or less, she could take it. The Force formed a cocoon of sorts and her cybernetic spine took the concussive impact well enough. Still, it hurt. Blood dripped down her forehead.

Unfortunately, meanwhile the Flesh Raider had traded his primitive great axe for a significantly more advanced lightsabre pike. Which he promptly proceeded to wield like a big slashing glaive, taking advantage of the reach by attempting to brutally hew the Mirialan Jedi down and try to drive her back. The corrupted energies of the Force flowed through his muscles, empowering him.

Elpsis groaned irritably, getting up and drawing her shattergun revolver. "Never throw your weapon at an enemy. It doesn't work outside of 'vids," she grunted. Probably loud enough for Amani to hear. Coming in from the side, she aimed her revolver, trying to make sure she didn't accidentally shoot Amani, and fired. The Flesh Raider was engaged, and the revolver's projectiles were propelled too fast to block.

 

[Amani Serys]

"Not the time!" Amani called back. Being chastised for her failed attack was just more fuel to the fire, and frankly she needed all the focus she could to keep from being overwhelmed by the Flesh Raider. The Jedi dipped and dodged, avoiding the heavy swing of a weapon turned against her.

Finally an unavoidable strike came, and she was forced to block it with her other saber. The sheer weight of the hit made her slide on her feet, but she held her ground and counter by slashing at its arm.

Danger wracked her senses, and on instinct Amani sprang away like an ejector seat. The Raider toppled over as the blast of Elpsis' gun found his back. He fell rigid into the soil, smoke wisping off his form.

"Is he… dead?" The Jedi asked with a hint of skepticism.

Elpsis Kerrigan​

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Amani Serys

Elpsis gave no response to the query. Not a verbal one at any rate. The prone, bleeding Flesh Raider made no immediate move. Suspicious. Aiming her revolver at their fallen enemy, she squeezed the trigger, double-tapping him. That blew a good portion of his face away. Blood leaked out into the grass. But there was something off...

All of a sudden the mouth of the corpse opened, expelling what looked like a black cloud of smoke. Said cloud soon solidified into an apparition that vaguely resembled a Rakata. "You will be a far superior host!" the spirit would snarl inside Amani's mind just before it dove towards the Mirialan Jedi. In all fairness, the spirit was not incorrect.

 

[Amani Serys]

Amani winced a little as the raider’s face was decimated by a second shot. If he wasn’t dead before, he definitely was now. She seemed just about ready to sigh with the dip in tension, when a dark presence escaped from the raider’s corpse. It manifested as an alien figure wreathed in shadow, and made a move on the Jedi.

For her part, Amani appeared rather unmoved, more irritated than anything, “...Uh, no.” She raised her hand in front of the lunging wraith, and blasted it with an eruption of Force Light. Their opposing natures clashed, with the Rakatan proving a little more stubborn than she anticipated. “Feel free to help-” Amani commented to Elpsis.

Elpsis Kerrigan​

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Amani Serys

The spirit struggled against the withering blast of light, spectral features contorted into an expression of rage, pain and sheer annoyance at the mortal's impertinence. Orange tendrils of draining energy sprouted from its spectral hands and swept towards Amani, intent on leeching the light and the vitality that empowered her so that she would finally accept her glorious destiny as its host.

And then it was suddenly...grabbed. To be precise, Elpsis grappled it with her cybernetic, Force-powered hand. There was a faint glow about the metal fingers as she channelled her power through it. She winced, gritting her teeth as she felt some of the draining tendrils affect her, too. Pain shot through her, but her grip would not be dislodged.

"You cannot harm me, slaves! I am eternal!" the spirit shrieked. Then her flesh hand thrust her lightsabre into it. The sabre had been enchanted, so it could affect spirits in the manner a Force-imbued blad would.