Hell to Pay [Silver Jedi/Crusaders]

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Watching the Mandalorian trio abruptly step out of the conference room, apparently having deemed the talks over and done with, Thurion's right hand balled into a fist as he struggled to maintain composure. Could they not get their thick heads out of their own asses and realise the true threat now taking up residence in the Korriban sector? Were they even here to talk or just to size up a potential target? Mandalorian pride will one day be their downfall, and they'll be too stubborn to realise it!

Without turning to either Coci or Connor he grabbed hold of a nearby chair and tossed it across the room in frustration. "You ignorant brutes," he muttered with a snarl through gritted teeth. Truly rare were the days when he'd give voice to his frustrations, or even show a hint of anger in any form. This was one of those days, however he quickly regained his composure. Valkyri blood could be a curse some days.

By now his wife had already made for the exit, and so Thurion turned to Connor and placed his hand upon his shoulder. "Sorry you had to see that, old friend..." he said along with a deep sigh before moving past Connor. "Come on, we'd better make sure she doesn't break something as well."

[member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Commander Lusk"]​

 

[Commander Lusk]

Lusk was just as livid. The Jedi were the same no matter where you went, they wanted to give a mass murderer a fair trial and put them in a jail when they should of gone Pablo Escobar on her ass and shot her then and there, you know Viva La Columbia and what not. But no, they were content with letting the cycle of death and destruction repeat itself over and over again. So before Lusk left the room he looked back at the angered Jedi and spoke.

"Keep Karrin's name tag, maybe it will help you decide. And for the record Master Jedi. Sometimes what's right, and what's best, are two different things." Lusk then exited the room.

It was a mildly silent walk back out to the ship and Lusk was seething with anger over the self righteous bull crap that the Jedi spoon fed themselves to make sure their morality was still intact despite allowing someone to kill thousands of people. Hopefully they'd make the best choice and gain the crusaders as an ally in the war against the sith, but as long as that woman drew breath the Crusaders were content to put their feet up, light a cigar, and watch the problem solve itself with the destruction of either group.

When they approached their ship there was of course the Jedi who initially greeted them on their landing. Who was now giving them a heartwarming goodbye before they would walk up the ramp to their ship. Lusk's eyes kept straight ahead and did his best to keep himself level while he walked past the young man.

"Thank you for visiting Voss, we deeply appreciate your tim-" The young man was cut off before he could finish, but by what exactly?

Blood splattered from the kid's nose as Lusk's helmet collided with the Jedi's face in a viscous headbut with an audible crunch. The kid fell to the ground holding his broken nose as Lusk walked past him and up the ramp without looking back.

"Punk queen." He said as he took his seat in the craft.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Coci Heavenshield"] [member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Alkor Centaris"]

 

[Zak Dymo]

[member="Commander Lusk"]

He'd seen the swing of the helmet. After all, this was Voss where he lived. The Crusaders had come into the Jedi's home. Been welcomed. And saw fit to spill blood.

Calling out to the Mandalorian's back, the medic knight called out. "You're very... Mandalorian... to attack someone who was showing you kindness."

Kindness. Not a threat. And unarmed.

Hadn't that man just demonstrated everything that the Jedi needed to know about the Mandalorian Crusaders, and how they were no different from the Clans that had massacred younglings on Ilum.

Helping the young Jedi back up to his feet, the Nautolan stared up the ramp into the ship. "Why don't you step outside with someone who won't?"

Let that sink in for a moment.

"Or would that require a show of honor that Mandalorians are just incapable of?"

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor suppressed a smile as the Mando's walked out. So much for a diplomatic resolution of the bigger issue. He sighed, and held back another smile as Thurion let loose his furstration. Watching the chair tumble across the room and Coci exiting opposite, Connor chuckled to his friend and nodded, patting him on the shoulder.

”Don't worry, I'll smooth it out. You go make sure she's ok!”

Taking off out of the room, Connor fell behind the Mando group as they navigated their way back to the hangar and their ship; Keira knew her way through better than any Mando. However, as much as he was ready to pull her to one side, the sudden act of violence towards the young Ranger infuriated Connor. The Ranger fell back with a sickening crumple and spurt of blood.

”HEY!”

He barged past the remaining warriors and knelt by the bloodied Ranger, visibly shaken and in pain. Connor held the back of his head, titling it slightly, and pressed hard on the bridge of the broken nose, pushing inward with a Force wave of healing energy to clot the blood and accelerate the broken bone to become stronger and ease the healing process. He shot a glance to Keira.

”Get the hell off this planet and think twice before contacting me again if that's the respect you command from your savages,” he hissed, visibly not impressed. Connor returned to help the Ranger up. ”Great job, Keira. I'm so proud.”

The venom was clear, and he walked away with the Ranger, noting the ones who had stepped forward with their weapons ready - one act of violence was enough to get the warning sirens going in their heads in these dangerous times, and this had shaken it even more.

[member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Commander Lusk"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

Solan blinked as he watched the scene, having headed to the Hanger to see off the old friends of his.

What he saw was rather surprising and he chewed on the inside of his cheek before heading over and smiling to Alkor and Keira specifically, trying to keep a softer expression as Lusk punched down the Jedi seeing them off. Instigating things would only make them worse, and there was little need for more fighting to begin, even so as he smiled at Connor too and shook his head.

His voice raised slightly, coming from his throat as he continued walking and gave his attention to those who would be coming to their ship. "Keira, Alkor. How come you didn't tell me you were coming. I could have gotten a drink with you before all of this." He chewed again on the inside of his cheek for a second, having no intention of baring them from their ship but at least trying to calm people down. Anyone that knew how an Empath would operate, would know that Solan was trying to pull their more hostile thoughts into himself and away from the others, softening their expressions and words if possible.

"Please, let us all just go take some time to relax, there is no reason to leave things so..."

Was he out of place, yes. Why was her out of place? Because he was neither Mandalorian or Jedi and had no right to speak with any authority. Why was he speaking, though? Because both sides he had fought for, he cared for both sides and had friends in each group. Them at each other's throats over the reckless action that the Mandalorian named Lusk just caused... it would simply continue a cycle Solan was so tired of seeing.

"Drinks on me, a Correllian Ale I was able to save before the Netherworld incident. Talks can take more than one day Keira..."

[member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Alkor Centaris"] [member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Zak Dymo"] [member="Commander Lusk"] [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Commander Lusk]

While grabbing a Ysalamir pack from the back with a pulse rifle full of sith killers and spraying up some Jedi sounded like a great time. Keira said not to start a war, and so he refrained himself from letting the darker side of him come out. He'd kept that intact ever since Dash's funeral and now he was going to keep it in check unless these Jedi wanted to fight.

"I don't waste my time on weaklings who let mass murderers live, sorry." Lusk shouted from inside the ship.

"How bout you click your heels together three times and go back to Tython? I mean you can do that now that the MANDALORIANS liberated it from the sith." And that was really all that needed to be said.

If the kid wanted a fight he could come up here and get one, until then it was just best that they leave.

[member="Zak Dymo"] [member="Solan Charr"] [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Zak Dymo]

[member="Commander Lusk"]

So the Mandalorian wouldn't waste time fighting an armed adult male, but he would waste words. Because that cost him nothing. Least of all the possibility of being made accountable for his actions.

"A coward's response," the Nautolan fired back flatly, as he moved to stand at the foot of the ramp. "So when presented with an unarmed target, you are quick to fight. Now that a man stands before you, you retreat behind words."

These people gave the good Mandalorians of Clan Betna a bad name.

Perhaps it was best they leave, before they embarrass themselves or their Mandalore any further.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor let a medic help the Ranger from his grip, and he turned, the flicks of hair hanging over his brow and face hard with anger. How had it come to this? With a grunt of frustration, he span and walked like thunder back to where the Knight Zak was standing with Solan.

”Enough! Zak, stand down. You're better than this.”

He stepped between the ship and the Jedi. He pointed with a finger out beyond the Mando transport to the purple sky of Voss.

”Go.”

That wasn't a request. Often under-estimated and often mis-understood, it wouldn't take much for Connor to make it clear where his morals and standing lay when faced with this on his doorstep.

Labelled as murderers.

Branded as cowards.

Seen as weaklings.

It all stopped here. It all stopped today. He wasn't going to see the Silver Jedi - and alliances of the galaxy - ripped apart by an event that needed to be laid to rest as soon as possible before more people got hurt than needed.

[member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Commander Lusk"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Zak Dymo"] | [member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Zak Dymo]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

The Nautolan looked over at the Jedi Master.

"You're far too generous, Master. There's no friends that we should want on that ship," the boy uttered, before casting another glare up the ramp.

Turning, the Nautolan moved to go check on the Jedi that the Mandalorian had assaulted for no reason.

That kind of senseless violence demonstrated that the Mandalorians were no different than the Sith. And should be treated the same.

 

[Alkor Centaris]

Alkor stood at the foot of the ramp, between any Jedi who thought they had the testicular fortitude to try passing him to get to Lusk. His gaze fell on the Nautolan, and he tilted his head slightly. "Your Master has your best interests in mind, boy," the Corellian exile stated to [member="Zak Dymo"] in a bland voice. "If not for the warleader's words, that man's anger would not be confined to this ship."

His arms folded and he glanced toward [member="Connor Harrison"]. If any of them tried to pass, the fallen Jen'jidai would make certain it was their last decision among the living. "I can sympathize, at some level, with the detachment your kind place such high value on. That man is a soldier. He is not a Jedi, nor is he Sith. He has emotions. He has seen innocent people die. If you fault him for what he has seen and felt, then that is your failing as one who subscribes to a dogma that venerates compassion. Such typical Jedi nonsense."

His lips stretched into a wry smirk. "I do have a great appreciation for that willingness to take up arms, though. The greatest of Jen'jidai shared that same yearning for the blade. Such a waste, that quality in a Jedi."

He glanced back toward where [member="Commander Lusk"] had already holed himself in the recesses of the ship. [member="Keira Ticon"] would be the last to board, and she would pass Alkor to do so.

"I will send the initial report to [member="Isley Verd"] . I sense I am the only one among us who is not reeling from the events of this meeting." His words were meant only for Keira, low and nearly whispered.

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Whenever Lusk got like this Keira knew better than to attempt to console him, and so offered no commentary during their walk back to the ship. When he headbutted the Jedi her jaw tensed but she said nothing, knowing full well there would be repercussions now that blood had been spilled. And so she remained at the rear of the party, bearing witness to the bickering between a Jedi Knight and a soldier she knew was above this. "I would advise the both of you to hold your tongues." She spoke to Lusk and Zak, raising her voice enough that the former might hear her even from within the ship. "This ends now. If there is to be further discussion, today isn't the day. Heed your Master's advice, Jedi."

Her gaze remained locked with Connor's for a long few moments, almost daring him to make a move. The bladed edge to her eyes and aura communicated all the threats she didn't utter, the promises of violence that would usually be prominent swathed over by a want to protect and watch over her own people before settling this here and now with a blade. Even still he would recognize the dangerous fire behind her eyes, one that beneath the surface of its inherent volatility meant they needed to talk again, whether with words or weapons. For now, the former would have to suffice. "Do not presume to speak to me about controlling my men after what happened on Korriban."

She put a hand on Alkor's shoulder and nodded for him to enter the ship and presumably handle the report of what had transpired. Turning, she looked to Connor one final time before boarding herself, the ramp sealing itself shut behind the three of them. "Thalia, get us back to Echoy'la. We're done here." The AI didn't respond, instead transferring over to the ship's computers and pulling them out of the hangar, beginning the trip back home. Wordlessly she seated herself near Lusk, motioning for Alkor to find a place nearby as well. Only when the vessel exited the atmosphere and they had jumped to lightspeed did she dare speak, her voice deadpanned, "That went well."

[member="Alkor Centaris"], [member="Commander Lusk"], [member="Connor Harrison"], [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], [member="Coci Heavenshield"], [member="Zak Dymo"]