Kicking the Hornet's Nest

[Aidan Moonrunner]

Another one.​

Another Hand of the Shadow base, another time she was forced to attack the ones that raised her, that gave her the power to fend for herself in this world. Then again, they had already attacked her more than once, and attacked her new family. They had already forfeited their lives in the young Acolyte's mind.​

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She had contacted [member="Lord Ajihad"], one of the few in the Assassins she had allowed to get close to her. He was an authority figure, someone that had led her away from the path of self-destruction the Hands had put her on.​

On the world of Utapau, a Sanctuary was now marked for death, and the two of them were going to carry out the sentence with great enthusiasm.​

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Beside her on the land speeder as she piloted, Nox looked him up and down. ​

"Are you prepared for this?" She asked quietly.​

For some reason, she had a very bad feeling about this.​

 

[Lord Ajihad]

Next to [member="Nox"] sat a black-clad figure, covered from head to toe in malicious-looking armor. He had a balaclava pulled over his head, along with a hood made from Terentatek leather to help conceal his identity. His eye burned through the hood like glowing embers of a dying fire, cutting through the otherwise very dark atmosphere around them.​

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Utapau was a remote planet in the deep outer rim, out of the way of much of the galaxy's wars and such. There seemed to bit large city-pits scattered across the planet's surface, perfect areas for assassins to be hiding. The Sith Assassins had heard rumors that an ancient fortress on the planet had begun to show signs of life again, though anyone who went to investigate was never seen again. It had all the hallmarks of the Hands of Shadow, and it was their job to exterminate it.​

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He slowly turned his head towards the girl as she asked him a question. He would turn his head to look at the landscape in front of them, taking a few moments before answering her. "Indeed, I am ready. I assume you are as well?" However, despite the lack of worry in his tone, he indeed had a seed of doubt in the depths of his mind. The Miraluka Sith sensed something about this base, something different from the rest. This felt more archaic, and much more powerful...​

 

[Aidan Moonrunner]

Nox gulped and nodded her head, glancing at the map leading to their destination. The fortress was coming up, hidden in the side of one of the large sinkholes. In her time in the Hands, she had studied many of their Sanctuaries, though she was not aware of one on Utapau. This had all the signs of a trap.
But she had [member="Lord Ajihad"] with her, one of the greatest Assassins. Surely, if anyone could help her spring and survive this trap, it was him.

They soon arrived at the location, a large sinkhole isolated from any civilization.
Nox glanced at the description of the fortress: hidden four meters from the surface, under a ledge. Good.
Exiting the speeder, she began to load one of her crossbows, her cloak billowing behind her. The Acolyte turned to Ajihad, an eyebrow raised.
"Would you like to go first, or shall I?"​

 

[Lord Ajihad]

The Sith Lord would slowly step off of the speeder, his eyes scanning the fortress below. It was imbedded in the side of the pit, like most of the planet's structures were. The very top of it began several meters from the ground they were standing on, tucked beneath a stone ledge. He spotted the main entrance platform below. As inviting as it seemed, it would almost be too easy. No, they would a less obvious means of entry. He then saw a small ledge jutting out from a high-up window. It'd be easy for them to lose their footing there, but it'd be a more unorthodox entry point, one that the Hands hopefully wouldn't be expecting.​

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In response to [member="Nox"]'s question, he would say, "We can both go at once. Take my hand." The assassin stuck out his black gloved hand, waiting for her to grab on.​

 

[Aidan Moonrunner]

Nox stared at the outstretched hand, hesitating. Something was off. This place felt more. . .powerful, than it should. It felt old, unnatural, and deadly. She didn't wish to enter, but she was loyal to the Sith, and did what she was ordered, no matter what.
So she took his hand, and gulped as she looked at him, nodding in affirmation.
"I'm ready."
[member="Lord Ajihad"]

 

[Lord Ajihad]

As soon as [member="Nox"] took hold of his hand, they would both suddenly feel the sensation of weightlessness. That is, of course, because they were now literally weightless. Both of the assassins had transformed into a cloud of black smoke, hovering in mid-air. They would then suddenly shoot down to balcony below, materializing back into their normal forms. Ajihad had done this many times before, but the acolyte may have experienced a slight bit of nausea from the occurrence. Just after looking back to make sure Nox hadn't fallen off the edge, The Demon's Fist strode into the dim-lit hall. He was following the scent of power, the trial it left hanging before him as clear as day. Who was this mysterious being that generated this aura of power? Ajihad hadn't felt anything quite like it before, and he was determined to figure out what it was.​