Elemental

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Jacen knew there was only one way out of this for him. And it wouldn't be followed by any kind of holidays. He clipped his blaster back together, giving the prisoner a stern glare as he stepped out of the room.

In the next room he dragged a chair around such that it faced the door of the suite. Jacen crossed his legs and placed the blaster pistol on his lap. It was difficult, but as he closed his eyes he split his attention between the door and the presences next door. Their prisoner was tired, his mind open.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Questioning someone took time, a lot of time.

The Sith always thought that Torture was the best method of extracting information, but they were wrong. When you were in pain, the logical thing was to give the one putting you in pain anything they wanted. Information, answers, whatever they requested you would throw out. It didn’t matter what, as long as the pain stopped. Aela knew this, she had read countless studies, read hundreds of novels.

Pain, torture, was about as ineffective as simply asking the question upfront. Interrogating someone properly required time, patience, and quite a bit of knowledge about the situation at hand. It was more of a game of words than one of violence, it was about making your opponent believe you already knew parts of what they were doing.

Unfortunately, Aela didn’t have time for that game today.

”Wake up.” Her voice was solid ice.

The guard seemed startled at first as Aela nudged him awake with the force, his eyes popping open and immediately searching the room around him. ”You and I are going to talk.”

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Ratgower slowly blinked his eyes open. He was cold. He breathed short sharp breaths as he tried to fight back waves of nausea.

My kriffing head!

The cold was explained a few moments later as he realised he'd been laid out in a ceramic bathtub. Grunting, he shifted himself to keep his skin away from its smooth, cold touch where possible.

His bleary eyes came to rest on the woman who had spoken. He remembered her. Had watched them drag her away with the other one. He'd felt sympathy at the time. Not all of their group were on the path, some were barely more than animals. A girl with such delicate features in their care? He had asked them to post one of the Guard at the door.

There was no such compassion now.

"If you've been set free, then it's..." There was a pause as he peddled to keep his head above the water. "...part of our plan."

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

She looked down at the man, but for the moment didn't say anything.

Jacen and her already knew that it wasn't 'part of the plan' to let either of them escape, mostly because that would have been a very stupid plan. They must have known that she and Jacen were Jedi, letting them run rampant through any plan would have been absolutely idiotic. She smiled though, and then slowly leaned towards the man so that she could grasp his attention. "Sure it is."

Aela patted his cheek.

"Listen." She began. "Aside from our little snafu at the beginning of all of this, I don't think you realize what's actually been going on here."

This was the hard part. "The truth is, The Jedi have been watching The Royal Guard for years. Ever since your defection after Lady Mierins death."

It wasn't a difficult sell. The Jedi had operated under one wing or another for quite some time, and The Royal Guard had been a prominent feature on Alderaan, Empress Teta, and a dozen other major invasions. It would make sense that the Jedi would track them. Of course what this man...hopefully, didn't know was that recently the Orders hadn't really communicated all that well, and if the old Order really had tracked the Royal Guard, then the New Jedi Order had absolutely no idea.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

A flash of rage went through him when she patted his cheek. It was quite apparent as his lips curled back.

No, he told himself firmly, unaware that such a loud internal monologue was quite audible to the man next door. I am burdened with glorious purpose. Give her nothing. She doesn't even deserve your scorn.

"You don't know anything. You stumbled upon us in your ignorance. Should have put you both down."

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

"Sure." Aela said flatly. "Let's just go ahead and say I know nothing."

This was where things got difficult.

Aela had an almost encyclopedic memory when it came to things she had read. It was a skill that had helped her quite a bit in her lifetime, one that she used on many occasions during military operations and even invasions. Now she was using it to trick someone into divulging their plans. She took half a breath, as if she were already getting tired of this entire conversation, as if it was only a matter of time. "I don't really need you to tell me anything. I'm just here to give you an opportunity."

She explained to him, her tone condescending.

"We're just about ready to wrap this up." She checked her chrono. "In twenty minutes this ship will be pulled from hyperspace and the GA will board your craft. We disabled the bio weapon, so now all thats left...is finding the guy in charge. I'm guessing that's not you."

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

"Disabled?" He asked incredulously. Instead of a flare of panic, Aela would see confusion as he cocked his head to one side. Jacen saw an image of something enormous. Stretched down the length of the induction shafts, convulsing, growing.

Ratgower considered the possibilities for their plan. There were several, but without the nack'char their options would be slim. But he didn't believe her.

He shook his head as he decided that was the case. But the boarding was a possibility. They'd need to hold them off. Twenty minutes wasn't long enough. But if she was lying about the biot...

"You won't get to speak to the one in charge. Not yet anyway."

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Aela shifted slightly.

There had been a moment. She’s seen the look of confusion on his face, the way that he had looked at her, it was telling. This interrogation was about finding out more information, and thanks to Jacen reading this man he likely already had a pretty large clue to what was going no. The Jedi Marshall hesitated for half a second, but then continued.

”Vanir Technologies helped quite a bit.” She steamrolled over what the Guard had said, ignoring any denial that he had and countering it with a denial of her own.

Vanir was known for its work in biological affairs, creating several variants of the Alpha Red Virus that dealt with Yuuzhan Vong biots while at the same time creating several antidotes to several pathogens throughout the galaxy. It was a scapegoat of sorts, a way to say ‘we countered whatever you put in place’. Aela had no idea if it would work, but it was at the very least worth a shot.

”I don’t know why you think we’re so stupid.” She smiled a thim. ”We’ve already won. Just tell us who put all of this into motion.”

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Vanir? He mouthed the word, chewing through the syllables and he digested their meaning. It took him a moment to connect it together. Even at the best of times Ratgower was not the most expensive thinker. He had a role, knew he was part of a much greater purpose. That gave him a great deal of satisfaction. Not as much as it would have done to grab the girl by her blonde hair and smash her face into the basin until she stopped moving though.

There was a way forward still, but the chance of success was slim. It would require far more sacrifice. If they'd known that much though...

For the first time his faith was shaken.

"He's not on this ship girl. And you wouldn't want to meet him."

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

That had felt good. She’d gotten him, he had seen the reaction on his face, the odd mix of fear followed by confusion.


Aela had never been the best at interrogations, the others at the SIS said that she gave too much away, but apparently the wound in the back of her head had allowed her to gain a modicum of still, or perhaps it was the seriousness of the situation. Either way she had now gained the advantage, she only had to press it.


”I think I do.” She said leaning back.


”We’ve already foiled this plot. Don’t you think we’ll be there for the next, and then the next…” She trailed off with a slight smile. ”And then the next…”


She was trying to push his buttons. ”Better to just bring this to a true confrontation, don’t you think?”


There it was, the play on his warrior sensibilities. The Royal Guard had always focused on Honor in combat, maybe pressing that button would allow this man to spill the name of whomever was in charge of this operation.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Ratgower’s changing expressions settled on something. Pursed lips pulled back into a snarl. A proud animal pushed back into a corner. “You don’t understand,” he said. “If you’ve foiled our plans then you don’t get to meet the one who put this in motion. If we succeed then…

“Ah. You don’t understand what we’re trying to achieve. If you don’t understand that then… No, no. Maybe you haven’t stopped us have you? Not yet. You won’t save the hostages, no matter what you do. There was an opportunity to prevent this from escalating and you missed it. Their sacrifice will honour your failure.”

Next door, Jacen was becoming increasingly concerned at the scale of the operation they’d stumbled upon. The words he heard passed through him without leaving an impression in their wake. Pointless accusations that wouldn’t deter Aela. But what the man conceived of as his goals? That shook him.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Was it a sacrifice?

Some kind of ritual?

The Sith had plenty of ways of bringing someone to life or into power through the sacrifice of others, but mixing it with Yuuzhan Vong technology? That was new. She frowned for half a moment, leaning back in her chair as though she didn’t have a care in the world for what the man was saying.

In truth her heart was thundering.

”I see.” She raised her hand to inspect her nails. It had to be a ritual of some sort...it only made sense for what he was saying. Were they going to kill the hostages and bring something...new about? His words seemed to imply that at the very least, but Aela couldn’t be sure, and she was at a loss for what to ask next. ”I suppose we’ll just have to see which of us is right.”

Aela checked her chrono again. ”I doubt whatever it is that you’ll be a part of it.”

She smiled at him.

Hopefully Jacen was getting something.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

There was a creak as Jacen slid off the bed in the next room. The door opened and he beckoned Aela through. Ratgower have him a curious look. Then he sensed the signs of the intrusion.

The door was closed softly and Jacen walked to the far side of the next room. His face was a mask of concern.

"I got a few things. That biot has spread all along the lower decks, soaking up heat to grow. In a few hours, just begore arrival time, it'll burst with infectious spores. I think... I think they believe if they kill an entire world they can bring him back. The hostages aren't enough. We've pushed them into plan B already. Get them infected and give them over."

Jacen took a breath to reassert his mental control. "Whatever the truth is, he believe it will work. He's also not overly concerned about it going off with him here. Either immunity, some kind of protection, or more comfortable with the notion of death than I've felt before.

"We need to get a nessage out."

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

The Dark Lord.

Well that made a whole lot of sense. The Royal Guard had originally been created in this era to serve Lady Mierin. She had been one of the greatest devotees of the Dark Lord...well ever. She had fought and killed dozens, including several famous Jedi. She had apparently held quite stringently to the tenants of the Dark Lord, and before her death had made it quite clear that she, and she alone, held the Dark Lords affections. Whether or not that was actually true...well who knew.

"How?" The Comm-array was likely on the bridge.

Getting there would be difficult, sending out a message even more so.

They at the very least knew the plan now, as horrible as it was. She frowned slightly and thought of a back-up plan, but decided not to mention it to Jacen, at least not yet. They still had quite some time before they got anywhere, that twenty minute figure that she'd given the Guard had been a complete lie.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

"I know comms pretty well," he said. Back in the Republic army he'd taken several course is maintaining comms equipment before being promoted up the chain. "If I can get a datapad and access to a maintenance hatch near the array I can probably circumvent their control and get out a hyperwave. Nothing large, just text. They'll send some more to stop us, but right now I'd rather fight a few more of them on our terms than try and take the bridge."

Another thought crossed his mind. "I don't know if this would actually do a damn thing, but starships take a long time to cool. If we can shut down some of the heating systems and power grids it might buy us more time if the biot is drawing on that.

"And I'm going to need my lightsaber. Or a bigger gun," he said, looking down at the heavy blaster pistol. This one had a stun setting. He thumbed it on.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

For a second Aela considered.


Getting comms up and running was important, the Alliance needed to know what was happening, but killing the biot...that was really the most important thing. She frowned for a moment, mulling over the idea in her head as she considered what, if anything, they could actually do. Unfortunately for them they’d not brought any Zeta Red.


”Space.” She snapped her fingers. What if we expose the biot to vacuum?”


It was a rather...harsh measure, but an intelligent one.


”If it lives off heat, then in theory cold will kill it. Not to mention space is big enough that no one will ever run into the thing.” Of course, that would require them exposing a significant portion of the ship to vacuum, which would not only be dangerous to themselves, but everyone else on board.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

"On a cruise liner? That's probably a lot of safety protocols to override. Could do it though if we could find a way. Easier if they've left some of the senior crew alive and we can rescue them. If we have to do it ourselves?" He took a moment to think about that. "Might be best to do it mechanically. Cut or blow doors then release an airlock. I can make something reasonably potent with a blaster power cell."

Another thought occurred to him. "Need to get the ship out of hyperspace first. If we can drag them into realspace well away from any systems that puts the hostages at risk, but keeps the bioweapon a long way from any targets."

It was the logical choice and regardless of anything it put a dampener on their plans. There were a number of systems they could hit to revert to realspace. This wasn't a military vessel with well defended, redundant systems.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

It was the best option they had.

”If we find our lightsabers we can just cut the hull.” She pointed out, though they would most definitely need space suits. That shouldn’t be too difficult to find though, there was bound to be an emergency station somewhere on the ship that had what they needed. She frowned for a moment. ”So first things first.”

They had to prioritize. ”Comm the Alliance.”

After that they could figure the rest out.

Exposing the biot to vacuum was likely the best, and the easiest way of killing it. How they would do that...well they could figure it out later. She frowned slightly and then scooped up the force-pike once again, wishing that she had her sabers with her instead of this cheap knock-off.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Aela Talith"]

"Alright, watch the door a moment."

Jacen headed into the refresher suite, closing the door behind him. Even with it closed the noise of the stun shot was relatively loud with a blue flash that framed the door. As he came back in he thumbed his blaster back to lethal bolts. Some of their men had thick armour and depending on the type of engagement a stun right might have turned out to be a poor choice.

The swelling had come down as far as it would. Bright colours were spread across that side of his face and the area above his eyes was still swollen.

"Let's move. Could have put him out more quietly, but after one concussion I figured a second one would be a bit dangerous. The comms array is around the nose of the ship. Good distance between that and the bridge and hostage pen. Shouldn't be too much trouble until they realise what we're doing."

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Aela nodded.

She still wished that they had their lightsabers, but those were likely kept with whomever was in charge of this operation. She had no doubt they would recover them eventually...but having the weapons now would have helped them a great deal. She frowned for a moment, closing her eyes so she could imagine the distance they would have to travel.

”Let’s try to avoid any of them that we see.” She said quietly.

”The more we take out, the more information they’ll have about our movements.” If patrol sectors went dark, it would be fairly easy to see where she and Jacen were going just from which ones didn’t check in. That was simple logic. ”Quiet is the name of the game.”[/color

Not something she excelled at.

Nevertheless, Aela pulled open the door to the cabin and was the first to slip out. She didn’t wait too long for Jacen, preferring to rush down the hallway to the nearest corner. Her eyes flicked back and forth, a frown settling on her lips as she motioned to Jacen.

This would have to be done carefully.