First Reply Fresh Canvas

[Sylvia Virtos]

Canvas​

Everyone always said you couldn't run from your past, but she was going to do everything she could to prove them wrong. Where she came from had nothing for her anymore. The one friend she had, well...

She didn't talk about it anymore. It was stuck away in the deepest recesses of her memories, except for the times when it all forced its way back up. Which was upsettingly often. It didn't matter, she was alone now, far from the clutches of the Sith. She was an outcast there, anyway, so it was unlikely anyone would actually miss her there. She had tried to fit in for too long, tried too hard to become something she wasn't. If only she had followed Ellie when she had the chance.

Sylvia had managed to get herself beyond Sith Empire borders and got her hands on a ship. From the outside it looked like it wouldn't fly further than a couple of meters before nose diving straight back into the ground, but with her skill in mechu deru the young woman had managed to make it hyperspace-worthy. Since then she quickly adapted to the life of a spacer, flying from world to world to pick up the odd job to earn enough credits for her next meal. All the while she continued running from her own demons, too afraid to confront them. As far as she was concerned, this was all her own fault anyway. Had she not ruined the one friendship she had, she would've been in a much better place. Ellie would have been there with her, at the very least.

But that wasn't how things went. She was alone.

It was one of those jobs that brought her here. A simple courier job, get some shady package from one planet to another, toss it off, get paid. With the goods in her backpack, she walked through the spaceport in search of the package's recipient. They had to be somewhere around here...

Spoiler: Please read!

Hi! This is my attempt at reviving Sylvia's story. Her previous arc fell apart after the writer of this 'Ellie' left the board, leaving her in limbo. I am open to any and all stories, whether you're a friend or foe, the one who was supposed to receive the package, just a bystander, or someone trying to mug poor Sylv here. I left the location open for you to fill in, if you so wish, though Sith Empire territory is probably not the best idea. Beyond that, make it whatever works for your character!

If you have written with Sylvia before, you are also welcome to post!

 

[Crane Baxa]

This needs to be done today.

Walking through the spaceport, he would use a rather wooden cane as people kept scanning over the Chadra-Fan through multiple checkpoints. He had a very old reputation and in this place, the planet of Wayland, had enough secrets to last a lifetime. However after a run in a few weeks ago, his body had literally started to fall apart. He did not want to admit it...but he had finally gotten old. With a few more clacks of his cane, he carefully propped himself up against the wall, wincing in a bit of pain.

He had to stay in this one spot for a particular package. The message sent be probably the most clear, look for a person with a cane that was shorter than a human...who had gray fur. It was vauge enough not to get caught if the message was intercepted but clear enough also to the location desired. Standing outside the spaceport, he awaited his package as he gently with his other hand, rubbed on his chest to circulate his heart.

Time was running out.
Sylvia Virtos

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

The description Sylvia had been given was enough to conclude that she could skip over any human or near-human, which certainly helped narrowing down her search for the soon-to-be owner of the package she carried. She was hoping to get it done quick, though. She was dangerously close to Sith territory here, and the last thing she wanted was to be recognized by a former ally. The moment her job was done, she was leaving.

Luckily, her eyes met someone who fit the description she had been given pretty much exactly. Short, grey fur, cane. If this wasn't the one she was looking for, she didn't know if she'd ever find them. After a couple of quick glances around to ensure she wasn't being watched, she carefully began making her way over to the presumed-recipient. The man who hired her told her what to tell them and the response she was supposed to get, all to make sure nobody who wasn't supposed to got to run off with the goods. Nothing she hadn't done before.

The lightsaber Sylvia pilfered from an ancient Sith tomb in her 'previous life' was hidden in her jacket, though hopefully she wouldn't have to use it. It tended to draw attention, which wasn't what she was looking for. She was hoping to replace the crystal one day, but those weren't particularly widely available. One day.

As the woman approached, something flashed by in the corner of her eye. She chalked it up to her paranoia, but did make sure to keep her voice hushed.

"How you living," she inquired, just as she was told to. All it took now was for nobody to get any funny ideas while she was getting ready to hand over the backpack.

Surely that wouldn't happen, right?

Ben Acrax ​

 

[Crane Baxa]

He noticed what he presumed a human girl approaching him. She was a bit taller than him though everyone around him practically beat him in a height contest. Yes, they were close to Sith Empire territory and for that matter, the next battleground area for war, almost sandwiched between Sith Empire, the Silver Jedi, The Mandalorians and close yet not to close from the Brynadul. It was not a nice place to be but he had unfinished business that had to be done. Giving a small cough, he hit his own chest for a brief moment as he saw her approach a bit closer.

On his left side was unusually a vibrosword as it seemed rather weighty. He had a spot for a lightsaber but in the front, it was currently missing after a disasterious skirmish that...well shortened his lifespan even further than he ever expected. Himself being a person with the Force, he always had an affinity with technology but after that brush, his Force Energy was still recovering in his own body. Very slowly...very very slowly. Was it due to age or how badly he called upon it? He may never know but he could now at least pick up objects again and do minor things though healing was out of the question.

She got right close enough to ask the phrase as he gave a very gentle smile as his little front teeth shown as he spoke out. "Dead but breathing. Please...take out the package. I don't know how much longer I can be standing for today." Giving a short cough as he looked down rather quickly, he felt himself fade just a little bit but he knew one thing. He needed to finish this...eight hundred years ago they took something that was his and now, knowing where it went, he was ready to take whatever is left back with him. "Please....open it for me." Inside was the Nun-Nix Transfer Transformer, it was in two parts as they seemed to be settled to be put onto the wrists as he squinted a little in pain. "I just...got to finish...one more job."

Sylvia Virtos

 

[Ladybug]

The spaceport was overly crowded, far more than she had expected. She was here for two reasons. The first, she needed to speak with a highly respected man of science regarding a project she was toying with in her genius mind. She had all parameters written out, the tests set in a staged order, and all the materials she required to conduct her experiment; what she was lacking the initial starting point. Science was a delicate flower, pluck to hard and who knows what can be released into the galaxy. The second, she was looking for a book on the nature of surrounding the creation of the known galaxy. There were hundreds of theories, and though she had explored the subject numerously, this book could shed some light scientifically.

As much as she craved both the book and meeting this fellow scientist, she hated being so close to the Sith. There was a history there, and though she left them behind on her own terms; she harbored pure hatred for the Order. Of course, there was also an absence of love for the Jedi too. After her failure as a Jedi, her corruption to the Dark Side via the Sith philosophies, and many isolated moments; she discovered she could not find a balance between the Light and the Dark aspects of the Force. She had fallen to far beyond the hands of redemption, forever a child of the Dark Side. Oddly enough, she found a dark sense of tranquility in this.

"Excuse me," she said to a passer-by, "I'm looking for the store called Omega Thirteen. Perhaps you could point me in the right direction?"

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

"As you wish, but let's not do it here," Sylvia replied as she slung the packpack off and pointed towards the slightly quieter place. The last thing she was looking for today was to get robbed right before the handoff, and the client probably wasn't going to be of much help in retrieving it if things indeed went south. The few shady jobs she'd already done had taught her to leave as little up to risk as possible.

As requested, the woman opened the backpack. It was the first time she'd catch a glance at what she had been carrying with her; she really didn't need to know the kind of cargo she brought with her. It was none of her business. This time, the cargo didn't look too shady. It wouldn't have been any sweat off her back if it had been, though. All she cared about was getting her payment from the previous owner for shipping the things.

"It's all yours," Sylvia remarked. "The previous owner told me to lend a hand if there was anything else I could do."

She had half a mind to get back to her ship and get out of dodge, but when one had to count every credit you didn't always have a choice in matters. Every second spent on Wayland was a second too long, as far as she was concerned, but she was getting paid for this.

Ben Acrax ​

 

[Crane Baxa]

The Chadra-Fan nodded and leaned forward, using his cane to walk as his right leg seemed a bit bum. He really needed to have it operated on but he could not risk it, at least not right now. The clock was ticking down though and he felt himself gently fade as he looked on over towards the female human before him. He never asked a name, it was dangerous in his old profession to do so and he rather not risk it from some oddball sensor eavesdropping on them. Getting the items from the human, he would lean the cane on the wall and attach to the two wrist devices as he gently tugged on both of them to make sure they were snug.

"Least I can trust some Hutts still."

A sentence probably said for the last time most likely in this day and age. Giving a short cough, he would try to make sure the extender on the left side was working as it did, sliding out as there was a metal ring before sliding it back into place as he heard she could help him. The great Ra-then he felt the pain and his dulled senses. Even if he was a Master Thief, he was in no position to refuse any form of help. Holding out a credit chit as he suppressed another cough, it was of ten thousand for just the simple duty of delivering this as he spoke out, letting what he needed to do be known.

"There is something I need...here in a vault, a relic from Derra IV. I only need one thing...but due to the contents of the Crime Lord whom owned it nhrnn and the fact that I won't be here much longer to show my footprints before a war, I believe the rest can be for the taking. I cannot physically...hold my own to do locks at the moment and my ability to see beyond has become extremely limited now. If you are as good...as I heard about, then I want you to help crack it open. Again, I only want one thing...rest is yours. If credits are an issue, I will front a hundred thousand as collateral if there is only my one item in there."

The Chadra-Fan looked right up at her as he awaited her response, leaning against the wall as he could hear things above and around them clatter softly and quietly. The Crime Boss in question was not much of an old friend, but an upstart that he had his eye on for a long time. He did however know that inside was a few odd things, one of which is highly dangerous which is what he wanted.

Sylvia Virtos

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

When Sylvia took up the job, she kept the chance it was a little too good to be true in mind. The promised payout for such a seemingly simple job, being the rookie that she was, seemed way too high. There hadn't been many more other people in need around where she was though, and so she had taken the risk. Of course the credit chip would have to be double-checked later, but for now it looked like the gamble paid off. Being able to stop stressing over when her next meal was going to be lifted a lot of weight off her shoulders.

Better yet, from what the man described, it seemed like the woman had another job on her hands as well. It was rare to see anything go her way, but she finally caught a break. Hopefully, anyway. Accepting the job meant spending more time on Wayland, but also gave her a chance at nabbing herself a few souvenirs. She figured it was worth the risk once again.

"You could say I have an affinity for tech, yeah. I can give it a whirl," Sylvia responded, knowing better than to throw out the words 'mechu deru'. She had done that exactly once and all she got from it was a lecture about the dangers of the Dark side and a lost job. It was something better kept to herself, another lesson learned.

"Tell ya what. We'll see what's inside that vault, we can discuss if payment is needed later." Sylvia wasn't the harshest of negotiators.

Ben Acrax ​

 

[Crane Baxa]

"That is good...very good. Walk with me."

At that moment, he would lean forward with his cane and start to walk across the street as it was not to far from where he had to go. He did not ask where her training came from, he had his own from a very young age and was...gifted per say. Each clack was a bit loud though they passed a few large buildings as he spoke, the crowds nearby a bit loud as it felt like the old times, traditional masking.

"Agreed then, welcome to the heist. Two blocks down to our left is a high rise, our vault is on the seventy-second floor. There are two elevators, public and private. We will be taking the private one, I have the access card, should be simple with very few guards."

They would approach the building as it was rather grand, a bit more cornered off as it had lovely gardens up front. It was known as the Kithip Skyrise as it seemed to tower almost into the clouds itself. Very carefully, the Chadra-Fan would stop and kneel against the fountain up front as he had to catch his breath while also having to talk to her somewhat privately.

"Before we go in, I need to know if you ever killed before...or if you ever been in combat. Killing is not needed here regardless unless it cannot be avoided. We are thieves...not killers. Each guard there is making a paycheck to take home to their family, nothing more, nothing less. Remember that. You have a weapon?"

Looking over at her somberly, his eyes started to look heavy. Time was not on his side indeed, he almost looked like he would fall over in a few hours yet he had a lot of willpower. Tapping on his left breast jacket, it would make a soft clang as he indicated he was armed aside from his unusual vibrosword as everyone seemed to have ignored it. Probably due to the situation at large though...who knows. The private elevator was on the outside, a maintenance like elevator as the Chadra-Fan shuffled out the access card and slowly handed it to her, letting her hold onto it.

"Whenever you are ready...I will follow your lead. Eight rooms, six hallways, two lavatories."

Sylvia Virtos

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

Sylvia didn't consider herself a thief. She'd never take from those who needed what they had, a piece of morality the Sith hadn't been able to beat out of her. Stealing from a criminal though, that she could excuse. Besides, there was a first for everything. Whoever this crime lord was surely could miss a couple of items.

"I can hold my own," Sylvia bluntly responded. That was all he needed to know and all she was willing to divulge. She hadn't really come to terms with her own past yet, and definitely wasn't nearly comfortable enough with it to share it with strangers. She did open up her jacket and quickly flashed the lightsaber hilt inside before zipping it back up, though. "And no need to worry, I'm not a psychopath."

The woman took the card and inspected it for a second before nodding. "Eight rooms, six hallways, two lavatories. Got it," she reaffirmed, but she wasted no more time as she swiped the card through the reader. The elevator opened and Sylvia stepped inside, waiting for his employer to follow her. "You can wait outside if you want. I think I got this, and you, well..."

It took her a moment to say it in a way that wasn't simply rude. "You don't seem to be one-hundred percent, you know?"

Ben Acrax ​

 

[Crane Baxa]

The flash of the lightsaber raised a rather large brow as he blinked for a moment. So he was not alone per say in this instance. Sometimes it was best left unsaid but perhaps if she would, he can as well later. Giving a nod at not being a psychopath, that did put his mind at ease just a bit as he leaned forward and with his cane, walked forward to the private elevator as she spoke on the rooms, hallways and so forth though...to ask if he should wait outside.

If it was a long time ago, he would laugh and jump straight into the duct and crawl in that way, he was very good at that. Now though...it was simply a different story. He had no means to do that without causing himself great amount of pain and more so...he had less time than before. He needed this help yet he wanted to see this through also as he got into the elevator and leaned on the railing as it would close on them and slowly start to rise up.

"I honestly would have agreed...if not for the package you had sent to me. This is...my invention. I made it to sustain my body for a bit longer, a prototype model per say."

Looking over at her, he would open the locking mechanism on his right wrist as it made a unique ring magnet and pushed it into the left wrist holder as it made a few beeping noises before nanomachines started to pour out extremely fast, wrapping around the Chadra-Fans body as it was a mixture of blue, red and white as it engulfed him. In less than ten seconds, with the cane being put on the side, the Chadra-Fan started to stand straight up and seemed to be better supported than before. Speaking out loud, he explained his armor to her as they kept going up.

"Nun-Nix Zero Armor. A prototype and my...first one I made. I am extremely skilled in programming so I decided to make use of the technology available to me to create...well not only armor but something to keep me from falling apart. Sadly it only last about two hours but I can walk, move quick and not feel in to much pain while this is online."

There was a soft ding as the elevator would open to a small unoccupied office area as he would walk in and look around before going inside the room, still taking his time but no longer needed the cane, having it picked up at the middle with his left hand. Placing it near some paper boxes, he would stretch his arms out a bit as they would crack a little bit as he looked on over to her.

"You take point, the vault should be somewhere close by."

Sylvia Virtos

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

While the chadra-fan started explaining, Sylvia pressed the button to let the elevator shoot up. Floor seventy-two, it would take a minute or two to get there. It was the Force that then caught her attention as the nanomachines covered the body of her partner in crime. Mechu deru allowed her to understand what was happening, and it intrigued her. Perhaps she'd ask about it later, if time allowed. "Fair enough. Let's do this, then."

Eventually the elevator doors opened up and Sylvia walked inside, though she treaded lightly. The unhearable buzzing of machinery reached out to her through the Force, allowing her to feel her way through the room and pinpoint anything of interest. After a few careful steps forward, she quickly dove behind a large, ornate vase. She looked over to the chadra-fan and pointed towards the camera she spotted hanging from the ceiling. Hopefully it hadn't spotted either of them yet, otherwise things would be going sideways in a hurry.

"Camera," the woman whispered, though she wondered why it hadn't been pointed at the elevator door. She made a mental note to herself to never just hop into an elevator without a watertight plan ever again though, just in case. "Should've brought Spark with me..."

Sylvia sighed. With her companion droid, getting around it would've been much easier. Instead she was forced to solve the camera problem herself and from a distance. The woman closed her eyes, letting her focus drift towards the camera. She could see into its inner workings, mess with it, and after a few minutes had passed, she nodded. "Feed's looped. They'll figure it out eventually, but it should buy us some time." She was confident to step away from the vase's cover.

"Now to find that vault. I'll check the room over there."

Ben Acrax ​

 

[Crane Baxa]

Giving a nod, he had walked forward carefully, following her lead wherever possible yet stopped when she made a dive behind a vase which perked his eyebrow. That was...unusual though the pointing showed a camera as it was coming back as he hugged the wall nearby and remained quiet. Hearing she wish she had her own droid, secretly so did the Chadra-Fan but sadly...they were all gone now. Anya, Marcus, Dom...Hoffman, Baird and Cole were all gone now. Shaking his head, he watched her do something in the Force as she spoke of the camera being looped as it brought a sly smile under his helmet. Felt like old times.

"I got a better idea so we do not waste any more time."

Going over towards the camera, he would take out a datapad from inside his armor as the nanomachines moved over. Extending a small wire onto the camera above him, he would pull it close to him and started to tap things out as he executed a few programs. It filtered through the camera system and then beyond that as he slowly took control of the entire floors electrical department as he tapped the side of it.

"I am in. I will watch the cameras, I got them on a loop now as well, call it old coding. I got two guards right now patrolling the hallway, blind spot be coming in half a minute into intervals of two minutes. Vault Unknown, Room Seven and Two are offline. Two is next door, cannot find any of the other guards, be careful of the first guard in the hallway, Trandoshan."

Flicking a few switches onto the side, it started to activate other functions as he spoke a bit more, getting her attention before she left.

"Lighting fixtures are under my control when you need them. I can overload a terminal when needed also but...I will note I can overload an entire floor like a blackout but that generally raises an alarm. If stuff goes sideways, let me know."

Sylvia Virtos

 

[Sylvia Virtos]

"I should be fine. I'll go check those rooms," Sylvia remarked as she set a timer on her wrist holo to match the guards' blind spots.

Room Two would be Sylvia's target for now. The vault was more than likely either there or in Seven, and the one closest by was the easiest to check. Quietly she waited for the next blind spot, standing ready to rush through the door and make her time spent in the hallway no more than a few moments.

Three, two, one...

The door quietly slid open to allow Sylvia through. A quick few paces brought her to the room she was looking to get into, though she was greeted by a lock. Fortunately, it wouldn't be more than a small hurdle.

As the woman pressed her fingertips against the lock, the circuits inside revealed themselves to her and with just the right pinpricks on the right places, the door slid open. She snuck her way inside and shut the door. The room greeted her with rows upon rows of sealed crates, but there was no sign of a vault. Room Seven was the room to visit, then, and it was going to be much more of a challenge to get there.

Ben Acrax ​

 

[Crane Baxa]

He kept track of her, along with the guards patrolling the main hall as he sat against the wall quietly, tapping at certain buttons as he made them seem a tad faulty, giving the impression that the lights need to be changed. Watching the two crowd together, he would made it go down the hallway just a bit to where they be away from the room Sylvia Virtos was in at the moment. Letting it flicker a few times, one of them would tap at the light fixture as the Chadra-Fan made quick work of the security cameras in the hallway, having them focus onto the pair having issues with the lighting.

For good measure, he made sure to have the one tapping at the light fixture make it look as if it broke from touch. The next touch would make it spark and blow out completely, making that section of the hallway a bit darker. There possibly is an argument between the two as they would still have a flickering light above them as they talked on getting some from storage downstairs as he chewed on the bottom part of his lip.

"Come on...hurry and find it...two idiots can only be distracted for so long."