Give me freedom or give me death...

[Sha'so]

Sha'do sighed as she lounged on a stack of cushions in her Master's office as she waited for his return. It was so quiet in the compound tonight! Most of the muscle was out on the streets already, collecting their monthly 'taxes' and bribes, leaving only a minimal compliment of guards to protect the heart of the Sevanar crime ring on Nar Shadda. And of course his most prized possession was the Force-sensitive Cathar whom Abraxis Sevanar had bent to his will and trained to be a lethal weapon. Those who had thus far attempted to penetrate her Master's compound had yet to succeed when facing Sha'do. She had even managed to take down a Jedi attempting to gain information on her Master's empire. It wasn't like she enjoyed it; in fact, she hated the fighting and killing, but if she gained her Master's favor then he wouldn't make her suffer...

Sha'do stretched with a jaw-popping yawn, draping herself over the cushions in a careless, lazy manner that only felines could pull off. As her amber eyes grew heavy and drooped, she wondered where her Master was. She vaguely recalled some mention of a meeting, but she couldn't remember with who or where or even what time. What time was it now? Like it mattered, wasn't like she had anything important to do except wait for her Master to return.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Valkren's eyes slowly opened to take in the scene of the Nar Shadaa night life. Light after light whizzed by as the D25 Dropship soared through the sky and the multitude of air cars that interwove between each other to make the worst traffic in the history of the planet. As the Sergeant stared out the open door, thoughts raced through his mind.

It's almost beautiful, if you forget that the place is run by giant slugs..

A voice rang through the comms system that was hooked up to his suit. "Beautiful, isn't it Boss?" Calderon shifted his gaze over to the source of the voice that spoke into his ear. Sitting beside the open dropship door was Lance-Corporal Young, Intelligence specialist and team handler for the mission. The marine already had his helmet on and the only real thing that Valkren could make out was the glimmer of his helmet's visor. Usually one would be able to tell who was who on Saber Team( A temporary team for missions in this vector) by the colored markings on their armor. For example, when in his normal Heavy Assault armor, he had dark blue markings among his helmet and chest plates. For this mission, the whole team was clad in black assault armor, as to not be recognized as Republic forces. "Only if you like the smell of rotting corpses hiding behind the giant slugs!" This voice came from further down the dropships' seats. It was Corporal Michaels, engineer and demolitions expert on the team, also a jokester like Valkren. The Sergeant threw a jeer back to Michaels, "Giant slugs, reminds you of home, doesn't it Michaels?" The Corporal laughed into the communications system, slapping his knee in a sarcastic manner.

"If you three are done flirting, i'd like ya'll to know that we're coming up on the target location. Compound's up ahead."

Valkren looked to the other side of the door, opposite of Young. It was Watson, the team's hick marksman. He sat against the edge of the door frame with a rifle in hand, customized for a more suitable range. Ofcourse, the distinction about him was his heavy southern-like accent. He'd nod toward the front of the dropship, but outside of it. With this head motion, Valkren lifted his helmet over his head, his HUD and visor kicking into gear. Each of his men were now outlined slightly with a faint blue line to alert him of friendlies. Their names were also on Heads Up Display, just to alert where each one of them were. The Sergeant stood up, grasping onto the handle to the right of the door, leaning his head out slightly. "Pilot, ready the EMP. It should knock out the lights and communication systems inside the compound for five minutes. That should give us a big enough window to slip in and get to work..Well, a small window, but big enough for us to fit into." After receiving a thumbs-up from one of the pilots in the cockpit, Valkren would pull himself back in and sit back down, lifting his modified rifle onto his lap, checking over it quickly. "Young, give us the layout."

"Will do, boss. Alright fellas'..We're preparing to infiltrate a crime-lords compound, don't worry about who..That's none of our concern. We're looking for information on Republic Scientist Ar'man Shaw. Doctor Shaw went missing two months ago once his transport was raided by pirates. We believe this crime lord has something to do with it. We go in, posing as a rival swoop gang, get out, and deliver the information to Republic intelligence."

"I've got two contacts on the edge of the compound, possible guards."

"I think it's past their bed time, isn't it, Watson?"

"Aye Sir."

Valkren stood up, holding onto the handle of his rifle with his right hand, holding an emergency grip on the ceiling of the dropship with his left. One of the Pilots looked back and nodded to the Sergeant, alerting him that the EMP was ready. Calderon looked to the other seats, there sat his two assault specialists: O'Connor and O'Riley. He nodded to both and then spoke back up.

"Lights out in three..two..one."

The EMP was deployed just as the dropship was in range, at the same time..Watson engaged the two watchmen.

[member="Sha'do"]

 

[Sha'so]

Sha'do was very nearly asleep when the lights suddenly went out. And then she could sense one... no, two of the gate guards had been taken out. Whether they were dead or unconscious she couldn't tell, but either way it meant the entrance was no longer guarded. She pulled herself from her bedding and found her polearm which was tucked discretely underneath the voluminous cushions. Then she exited her Master's office, her eyes able to cut through the darkness quite easily with the aid of the dim emergency lights. She found one of the guards and pointed towards the main gate.

The soldiers of the Sevanar Empire were scurrying about trying to figure out what was going on, and they didn't appreciate taking orders from Abraxis' sex pet, but she had proven her senses and instincts to be right on more than a few occasions. So when she came out of the office armed and pointing towards the main gate, the Nikto soldier didn't question her or hesitate to act. He and a few of his brethren headed for the main gate with a handful of torches while Sha'do remained behind to guard the office.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Calderon, Watson, Michaels, O'Connor, and O'Riley all lined up near the open dropship door, as the dropship tilted to a stop right above the compound. Valkren and Watson hooked up to the rope grip at the edge of the door. The Sergeant gripped the rope, his boots teetering on the edge of the opening as the cruised to the stop.

"Remember, the Republic does not have full jurisdiction in this sector. Try not to cause a scene, yeah boss?"

"You know how I love to make scenes.."

On this note, the first two marines fast-roped down. As soon as their black armored boots hit the ground, they lifted up their modified, short rifles and advanced to form a perimeter. The others followed suite, leaving Young behind to provide support on the dropship if needed. As they all dropped in and crouched in the darkness, the dropship roared away into the distance to get ready for the second approach. "Sir..Looks like we've got hostiles coming in fast."

"They can't karkin' leave us alone for a second, can they?"

"Saber team, disperse! Watson, with me! Michaels, take O'Connor and O'Riley toward the guard room! If you come into contact then engage and keep moving! We'll go for the data! Move along the shipping crates around the landing pad..And try not to get high of the spice people.."

Just like that, the team separated into two small squads, going along separate sides of the landing pad and into a maze of containers and crates. Three minutes of darkness left. They tried their best to avoid the small group of hostiles, leaving the two guards dead for them to find. Valkren and Watson moved to the opposite end of the compound, trying to find an entrance.

[member="Sha'do"]

 

[Sha'so]

Sha'do stood still with her eyes closed as she stretched out her senses through the Force. Seemed like there were 5 of them and... they were avoiding the guards entirely? Smart... They wouldn't be able to avoid her, though. They were coming right her way and she placed herself at the end of a hall they would have to pass through to get further in to the compound. If she could just hold them off until someone could get the power back up then she could sound the alarm, but she didn't think she could take out 5 combatants all on her own.

The enslaved Cathar woman stood ready at the mouth of the hallway with her polearm at her side, the staff extended and the blade fully deployed. She would not risk her master's displeasure by letting these invaders get past her, she would hold them off!

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

The five men slipped past the thugs with ease, meeting back up near the entrance. "Michaels, I want thermal detonators hooked up to a single proximity mine set up at the entrance to the landing pad. Once the power comes back on they'll want to come back through to get to us. That should keep them away, after that move to the other end of the compound. Place all the explosives you've got on the rear wall. It's weak, that's our exit."

"Uhhh..Sir?"

Valkren turned around to see Watson, O'Connor, and O'Riley all crouched, rifles raised toward the female standing at the mouth of the hallway. The Sergeant stepped forward, infront of the rest and about eight yards from the stranger.

"And who the hell would you be..Miss?"

Valkren was rather confused, the reports didn't include anyone else beside the race of Nikto. He held his rifle down at the readied position, but not aimed at her like the rest of them.

[member="Sha'do"]

 

[Sha'so]

With a growl, Sha'do leveled her weapon at the man speaking to her. Even if she was capable of responding to him, she couldn't risk it. Communication meant an attempt to appeal to her in some way and that would lead to her betraying her Master, and it always inevitably ended the same: the enemy would be defeated and she would be punished for her lack of loyalty. And she knew her Master would never kill her for any perceived betrayal; he had invested too much time into her training to just throw it all away, though sometimes she wished he would...

But she couldn't stop the fine tremor that ran through her. She was so tired of hurting people, it got a little harder to do each time and took a little more out of her, slowly smothering her soul. She wanted to hear this man out, see what he wanted, even beg for these intruders to take her away from here, but not only was she incapable of speaking but she couldn't take the risk that they would fail in their task anyway. No, she had no choice, she had to hold this point. The only consolation she could take from this was maybe, just maybe, she would die in the conflict and then she would finally be free! She steeled her nerves and stilled her trembling, then advanced a step closer to the man.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

"She's got a collar, Sir. Maybe she's a slave?"

Valkren lifted a hand up and motioned Watson up forward with him.

"Hey there, girl..We're friendly..I think our dropship could accommodate one more if you let us through and get some information from that office down the hall.." He'd nod his helmeted head down the hallway behind her.

Both Valkren and Watson had their weapons lowered slightly, while O'Connor and O'Riley had their weapons trained on her, but soon their line of fire would be blocked by their allies if they kept advancing. Watson was moving alittle faster than the Sergeant, so he was closer to her.

[member="Sha'do"]

 

[Sha'so]

Oh, the temptation of those words! It was written painfully across her face how much she was struggling with her orders versus what she really wanted. Her Master was out, the guards were distracted, there was a chance they could get away. But what if her Master found her later? What if he didn't? Yes, take me with you! No no, I don't want my Master to hurt me... Oh stars above, he's going to hurt me anyway, just kill me now! But seeing them advance on her had her on edge and it muddled all the thoughts in her head. She simply reacted and suddenly Watson went flying with a burst of uncontrolled power from the Force. She hadn't meant to do that and her shocked expression reflected that.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Watson slammed into the wall to the left of the group, skipping off of it and onto the ground behind the small squad. "Sithspi-" His vocoded voice was cut short as he slammed into the ground, no movement followed.

The other three heads lifted up and watched as their comrade was thrown back to the mouth of the hallway. "Son of a blaster, what was that?"

Valkren lifted his rifle up after looking back to the Cathar. He was on edge now, ready to fire if needed. The Sergeant was ready to fight for the protection of his squad. "Now miss, why don't you just put down that fancy pole there and step aside..Maybe we can help you, if you help my friend back there.." Valkren was in the right mind to pull the trigger, and the other two marines behind him were now ready. Just as the fact that their fellow brother had just been skipped across the room settled in, the lights flickered on. All of a sudden, their black armor was distinctive against the bright background of the hallways, and now the guards behind them could see the squad of 'rival gang members' that had slipped by them. The squad was caught of guard by the lights, a moment of weakness as they tried to find their bearings in the sudden flood of white light.

Michaels voice came through the comms system. "Uhhh..Boss? I think that's our signal that we need to leave. Explosives are set for an exit, ya'll got the information yet?" This wasn't going well at all; their window was gone, they were about to get in a serious firefight, and they happen to of crossed a possible force-sensitive slave? Just Karkin' great.

[member="Sha'do"]

 

[Sha'so]

Sha'do's breath came in short rapid pants from the adrenaline and panic. What to do?! She was so close to a wall panel, she could hit the emergency button and trap the intruders here. And the guards... Oh poodoo, if she helped these guys, the guards would see her and report back to her Master, she couldn't.... But they would also report on her hesitation. She had delayed the intruders, but she hadn't engaged them, hadn't done all she could to expel them. Damned if she did, damned if she didn't. Her choices weren't that great, but now it was time to make one!

Her gaze shifted to the Nikto guards and she raised her free hand towards them. With more deliberate intent, she sent them flying, tossing them about the stacks of cargo crates behind them. Then she lowered her staff and nodded her head towards her master's office. These guys wanted information, well she would give it to them!

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

A smirk would tug at his lips behind the visor before he nodded. Valkren turned around, pointing with two fingers on his right hand down the hall and to the landing pad.

"O'Connor, O'Riley, get Watson up and get him into cover. I want you two to keep those guards busy until we get our intel. You, since you injured the man that was supposed to help me.." He grasped the Cathar by the shoulder, not even realizing what he did was probably a bad idea. He'd turn her around and move her toward the office. O'Connor bent over and slipped his arms underneath Watsons', dragging him back further into the hallway to keep him away from the fire fight. Watson didn't look good, he was out cold and his arm was bent in a very bad direction. Best case scenario is that he has a broken arm and that's it. O'Riley took position behind one of the pillars that decorated the hallways. Both O'Riley and O'Connor started to let a few potshots off as they'd slip out of their cover. The Nikto guards were up again and moving to the mouth of the hallway, and were barely being held back by the potshots.

The Sergeant was in a hurry, pulling the Cathar along with his rifle in his right hand now. The mission was already going FUBAR, so he had to make the most of it. He turned the corner, letting go of her and bringing his rifle up to clear the room. The soldier entered the office space to meet three men on the left side, but he was completely oblivious to two on the right. They would easily take him down due to their sheer size. Valkren took a single shot as he entered the room, one of the three slumping onto a couch as he was eliminated. The commando crouched, pushing his left leg forward as he slid forward into the room. He'd take three more shots. The first dropped the second Nikto, while the other two slammed into the third. The third fell backwards onto the console, groaning out and cursing in it's own language.

This all happened in a matter of seconds, so he wouldn't have much time to react to the other two on the other side of the room.

[member="Sha'do"]

 

[Sha'so]

Sha'do didn't like to be touched, but she tolerated his grasp given the situation, and thankfully he didn't hold her for long. Once they entered the office, she was surprised to see the guards. Only she and her Master were allowed in here, he didn't even let his mate or children in this space! So what were they doing here? Perhaps she was not the only one taking advantage of the intruders' arrival...

Sha'do hated fighting, but self-preservation kicked in and she swung into action when she caught sight of the two Nikto that her new companion had missed. To watch her move was like watching a dance, she was so agile with an effortless grace. Anyone with any experience in bladed combat could see that her technique was not perfect, though in her defense she was still young and learning, but she was more than proficient enough to take out these Nikto.

Sha'do's blade arched through the air and into the side of first Nikto. She kicked at the staff to punch the blade deeper, then swung out, throwing him against the wall. Then she turned and jabbed her blade into the chest of the second Nikto. Her heart was racing, pounding in her ears. As she pulled her blade free, she realized that her Master would definitely recognize the marks her blade left. This was it, her fate was sealed. There was no going back, she was definitely committed to this course.

She swung her blade one last time to fling the blood off, then with a flourish of the staff, collapsed the weapon so she could hang it over her shoulder. Then she returned to the intruder and led him to the computer. She entered in her Master's passwords so her new companion would have unfettered access to the information he needed.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

The Sergeant would spin around, rifle shouldered with the expectation to see two more hostiles, but instead met the gaze of the Cathar slave standing over two dead bodies. Valkren smirked once again, nodding as he moved to the console across the room. He'd lift his rifle up onto his right shoulder, resting it as he pushed the body of one of the Nikto guards off of the console for Sha'do to go to work. After she'd enter in the password, Valkren would cock a brow.

Impressive...

Valkren removed a device from his belt with his left hand, inserting it into a port on the console. After moving his left hand back to the console controls and tapping several commands, the download would start. It was a fast program, Valkren had written it himself. "Hope whoever your master is doesn't mind his computer being drained of every piece of information that has ever been in it."

After a few more minutes of waiting, the download was finished. Calderon would yank out the device and shove it back into his belt. "If we get out of this alive and with this data..I'll give you some credits for some real clothes, I also have a pretty good idea on someone you might want to meet later." He'd smile behind his visor at her, but it'd be impossible for her to see due to the emotionless helmet he was sporting.

Outside, the firefight was getting hairy. O'Riley kicked up, sprinting across the hallway closer to where Watson was lying, now awake, but groaning in pain. O'Riley got back into cover before leaning out to let several more shots go. O'Connor slipped out of his piece of cover, firing several three-round bursts off as he backed up, searching for more cover. A blue blaster bolt slammed into O'Connor's right shoulder, making him stumble backwards into another piece of cover. "Sithspit!" Valkren walked out into the hallway, just to meet another blue bolt skim across his chest plate. "Whoa!" he exclaimed as he backed up into Sha'do slightly.

All of a sudden, the compound shook ferociously, and Michael's voice came through. "We've got an exit, boss! Got alot of new friends here though!"

Two more Nikto guards came from the other end of the hallway, the end where they were supposed to go to escape. They were pinned in.

[member="Sha'do"]

 

[Sha'so]

Sha'do trembled from behind his protective stance. Her Master was here... She tentatively peeked out from behind Valkren to confirm what she felt. Oh no... She saw him. And what was worse, he saw her! Oh no no no... Suddenly she grabbed at her collar, trying desperately to get it off but failing. No, she had to get it off, or he was going to-

Sha'do cried out in pain as her uncompromising Master, Abraxis Sevanar, activated the remote to her collar, sending a powerful shock through her tiny body. Then to her horror, he crushed the remote so it could not be turned off. Sha'do slumped to her knees in pain. She couldn't breathe! She looked up at the soldier she had helped, her eyes pleading for help. Help, please!

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

O'Connor dropped his rifle, the barrel steaming from constant fire. He'd yank out his side arm as a Nikto guard began to pass by his piece of cover. O'Connor lifted the weapon up, blasting out the guard's left kneecap, forcing him to the ground. After this, the soldier made the kill shot, letting the body slump forward into the ground.

Valkren leaned out around the opening to the door, firing down the other end of the hallway. He'd pull himself back in after another blue bolt slammed into his right leg. "Skroggin' sons of blasters!" He'd yell out in a vocoded voice as he slipped back into the office. His eyes would suddenly go wide as he saw the pain in her eyes, he'd drop his rifle, ripping the blaster from his holster. He'd place his gloved hand against her neck, with the barrel of the pistol against the very fine edge of the collar. She might get slightly burned, but if anything, it should release the collar from her neck. "Close your eyes, girl!" He'd say, pulling the trigger and blasted the edge of the collar, the rest of the blaster bolt traveling across the room into a far wall. "Sir! We gotta' go!" Watson would groan into the comms system.

[member="Sha'do"]

 

[Sha'so]

Sha'do squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the pain to end one way or another. She heard the blaster fire off and was almost afraid to hope that she was still alive. The collar fell away from her neck; she had ended up with some mild burns from the shock and Valkren's blaster, but it was a welcomed discomfort at this point. The air became thick in a wave radiating out from her, like the universe was exhaling a sigh. It was the Force; her connection to it had been inhibited, and with the collar gone her connection was unrestrained. The rush of it was almost overwhelming! But she had to use it while it lasted. Still struggling to breathe, she stood and brushed past Valkren and out of the office without worry of being hit by blaster fire.

Sha'do raised one hand, creating a barrier around herself and the team of infiltrators. She smirked as she watched as the blaster fire from the Nikto was deflected off the shield, some of the blasts bouncing back to hurt the Nikto. Then she raised her other hand and the Nikto began to rise up off the ground, floating and bobbing in the air. For all the power she was channeling, she didn't have the mental discipline to keep this up. The Nikto were still firing at her shield, and since her focus was divided her shield was faltering! So she decided to do something a bit more... final. Several tears slipped down her cheeks as she dropped the shield and the Nikto, then began pinning them to the walls with a crushing force. Later, she would find a holy-person and beg for forgiveness, but right now she was more concerned with survival. She looked to Valkren and nodded towards the hole in the wall that had been blown out for their escape. Now was the time!

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Valkren was astonished, how did they keep someth- someone like this in captivity for so long..How did she not escape? He watched as she caused mayhem and havoc, until he snapped out of it and started to get his squad together. "O'Riley, get Watson! O'Connor, you and I cover our six. The Cathar will take the front!" He limped over, grasping her by the arm for a moment. "Listen, keep moving until you find the giant karkin' hole in the wall!"

Valkren pushed her slightly, grimacing behind his visor as the hole in his leg burned. "Move!" He said as they started to move at the fastest pace they could. "Hey boss, miss me?" the roar of the dropship could be heard easily overhead, it soared to a stop right outside of the compound, right past the blown out wall. Michaels already had pulled himself in with the help of Lance-Corporal Young. During the sprint, O'Riley stumbled abit, but with the help of Calderon, he got back to his feet.

[member="Sha'do"]

 

[Sha'so]

Sha'do's body trembled with the effort it took to hold the Nkito while moving as Valkren instructed. Each step was agonizing, but each step was that much closer to freedom. Besides, her Master had taught her well how to endure pain... By the time she reached the hole in the wall, most of the Nikto's screams had quieted. There were some she could sense were still alive, but not many. She couldn't sense if any of the living were her Master, her senses were too muddled, but she couldn't hold them any longer. With a pained cry, she released her hold over them and they all fell, then she slumped against Valkren.

She had to resist the urge to cry as she was helped into the ship. How many lives had she helped to end, all in the name of survival and freedom? Sleep would not come easy tonight, she knew this would be with her for a long time, but at least now she was free... Somehow 'freedom' had a bitter taste now.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Valkren gripped Sha'do by her side with his left hand, holding his rifle in his right. He'd turn, taking pot shots at the guards that had regrouped and gone for them. The Sergeant turned back to the dropship, placing her down gently. From Sha'do's point of view, all she could see now was Valkren standing infront of her as she sat up. Watson and O'Connor crawled in after, moving to the seats on either side of the dropship. Another blue bolt skipped off of Calderon's shoulder plate. For this split moment, with the angle he was turned at and the light from the alarms, she could catch a glimpse of his icy blue hues behind that visor, the only time she had seen any sort of detail of their faces. The Sergeant would turn toward their exit, lifting his rifle and firing several rounds into a charging Nikto, continuing to fire until the body fell motionless.

Soon after, he'd pull himself into the dropship, wrapping his arms around Sha'do and pulling her further into cover. He'd sit against the edge of the door, his chest rising and falling gently as he looked across his men.

"What now, boss?"

"We go to Republic space, get this information to Intelligence..Get ready for the next mission. It's Ossus for her, at the Jedi Academy."

[member="Sha'do"]