Go With the Lava Flow (Serapin)

[Darth Ophidia]

Sarapin​

One of the many volcanic worlds in the galaxy, and also one of the most prominent in one aspect in particular: Energy. Serapin was once estimated to provide 80 percent of the Core Worlds' energy. Of course the figures may have changed over the years, but the significance of the world's ability to harvest power from its volcanic surface was as vital as ever. Especially for Kalor Tech it woud seem.
Two Assassins: Newly appointed Lady of the Sith Darth Ophidia and her Iridonian apprentice [member="Xavka Duquo"] were hired to hunt down and assassinate the owner of one such Energy Collection Plant, so that [member="Killian"] could assume ownership of the plant. Nothing two Sith could not handle, of course. Ophidia's Phasma Class infiltrator ship dropped the two off over the the plant. It would be their job to make their way inside the administration buildng and dispatch of the owner. Simple in theory.

The construct consisted of several interconnected structures. Along the bank of the lava stream lay the Energy Collectors themselves, connected to the Energy Farm. On a hill above the farm was the administration building,

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

Xavka, near silently, stepped into the cockpit as the ship dropped out of hyperspace above the planet of volcanic Serapin and came to a stop behind his Master as the ship was slowly lowered down through the heated atmosphere. Holding his tongue, Xavka continued to stare out of the window at the planet covered in browns and reds in such a way that it reminded him of his home planet of Iridonia.

Currently Xavka was wearing his usual black, silk jacket - open this time, exposing his scar covered and tattooed torso - along with the matching black and baggy trousers which were cut short above the ankles. Wrapped around said ankles were white, clothe wraps which continued down onto the foot but came to a stop around the middle of the Zabrak's feet. Around his waist were two belts, one was chain and hung loose while the second was leather and was tightened far more than the chain one. Hanging from the leather belt on the right side was a pouch which was filled to the point that it bulged noticeably. In Xavka's hand was a wooden cane.

As the ship's engine slowly wound down, the whine of which followed the same pattern, when the ship landed on the dusty ground, Xavka spoke up, looking down at his pale Master. "What's the plan, Ul-Jenorkeyn?" His voice was harsh and rough as it echoed in the small size of the cockpit, small enough that Xavka had to bow his head slightly.


[member="Darth Ophidia"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

"The plan is to knock on the door and ask for an audience. The best way inside is through the front door, my apprentice."

Her eyes quickly glanced over Xavka's clothes and gear. He had a certain flare about him that reminded her of her old master, Darth Ferus. The many weapons and his very physical way of approaching things was testament of this. However, she would have seen him as nothing, but another warrior if it was not for the crucial fact that he had chosen the stealthier path: The path of the Sith Assassin. It was a curious mixture and one that filled her with a conflicting feeling. On one side, he was her apprentice and would be held to the standards she taught by. He would succeed or he would perish. At the same time, she felt something of a kinship to him relayed through her old master. His brutish tendencies amused her somehow.

Ophidia's outfit was in the armoured department. Her robes were of a black silken material, and she wore a cuirass of beskar with similar arm-braces. Under her left arm she held a full helmet of the same metal, equipped to keep her senses at point where they would be obscured. Behind her trailed a cape. Some would deem it a weakness, but she often found it to be a useful weapon and it was easily detached from the rest. She had pulled her hood up over her head, which obscured her features somewhat. In many ways, she resembled a Mandalorian warrior more so than a Lord of the Sith.

"Just act like you're supposed to be here. Confound them with confidence. Let the sheep invite the wolves for dinner."

From their landing site, she lead [member="Xavka Duquo"] to the administrative entrance of the Power Plant. The entrance and exit used by workers, leaders and those who wished to discuss business. She walked up to the door with the confidence of one who expected everyone to know she was coming. Often, she had found the mere attitude could get her past the more.. slack security.

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

Following behind his Master as she walked down the ramp, wooden cane tapping as he did so, Xavka kept his strides long and his head held high as he stretched his body to its full height. "So," his voice was kept quiet, barely above a whisper, as he mumbled to himself, "we are opening a path of least resistance by acting in such a manner that we appeal to their basic and feral nature and make them see us as their Alphas? Hm. I've never though to try such a technique against those who do not embraces their primal side as existing." A cruel smirk twisted into being on his face.

Shaking his head so as to refocus himself, Xavka sped up his pace when he noticed that he had fallen behind Ophidia. His eyes continued to flicker around the immediate area, trying to locate any signs of danger as well as to mentally map the location into his head so that he would not be caught flat footed if a fight should happen.

Looking down slightly, Xavka turned his gaze to the Rattataki before him a drew a bit more equal with her, now only being slightly behind her left shoulder. "Any way we're goin' to play this? Or are we goin' to improvise the whole thing?"


[member="Darth Ophidia"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

"Those who do not recognise their feral nature are doomed to obey it. These are not Jedi trained to discipline their passions. They are workers, simply deluded to think they are above their most basic nature."

She walked with him a little more as she considered his second question. Did she have a plan? Usually she did, but she found there was no way to really plan for their reactions. So in the words of her apprentice, they would have to 'improvise the whole thing'. It was also a good chance to see just how good Xavka was at adapting to an uncomfortable social situation, a problem she was often faced with as an Assassin.

"Improvise. Try to make them give you the information you need, and keep a calm exterior."

She looked up at him from the corner of her eye as he came close, then looked back to their front as they came close to the entrance. There stood no-one there, but the wall was fitted with a camera and a communications device. Ophidia adopted an annoyed mannerism as she approached the door and activated the comlink. Her eyes, suddenly adopting a deep brown colour, stared up at the camera as she crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.

[member="Xavka Duquo"]

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

"As you say, Master."

Dropping back a few paces, Xavka draped an mental and emotional mask over himself, removing all signs of the workings of his mind as well as his emotions from all but the most keen and skilled of observers. Soon after a new mask was fitted into place, was that was a mix of boredom and disdain, while he leant heavily onto his cane, giving the impression of a weakness. The idea behind him walking behind his Master from the distance he was was to give the impression of subservience. The impression Xavka was aiming to give out was one of an overconfident guard, as it was the first idea that had formed within his head at short notice.

Drawing upon the knowledge of his past, from the times where he had served as a bodyguard along with mercenary, assassin and gladiator, Xavka adopted the demeanour he had always used, his eyes flickering around the immediate area, landing on everything that could be a weapon against he and his charge, everywhere that could be an ambush site as well as everywhere that could serve as cover.

He made to speak up, to offer a quick explanation to his Master, but drew back before he even made an attempt to do so. Doing so ran the risk of being over heard, plus, Ophidia had said to improvise, so that was what he was going to do.


[member="Darth Ophidia"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

"Hey! Get this here door open! We have an appointment with the manager."

As her mannerism changed, so did her voice. Her cold rasp became a colourful outer rim accent with an annoyingly high pitch. From a slouched position, she waved her datapad irritatedly and rolled her brown irises with a sigh. Her arms crossed over her chest restlessly before once more uncrossing and beating on the metal door that separated them.

"Are you deaf, or just stupid?! What kind of establishment is this!? I demand my appointment with the manager! Don't make me quarantine this whole site for unsafe work conditions."

Throwing her arms up in frustration, she stared at the camera with a sour look on her face. Then, an audible click came from the door and it opened just enough to reveal the muzzle of a blaster.

"Oh get that toy out of my face you buffoon! I don't have time for this"

Quite rashly, she tore the door open and took a step towards entering, only to find the muzzle becoming intimate with her nostrils. For a second, the visage of the Sith Lord flashed through her disguise as her left hand made a subtle sweeping motion and then clenched. The wielder of the blaster went momentarily cross-eyed before retreating with a few polite mutterings. Darth Ophidia passed him, once more adopting her irritatingly impatient persona.

[member="Xavka Duquo"]