Private Not Enough Tihaar in the Galaxy

[Aether Verd]

Assets: Beskar'gam | Basilisk
Darksaber | Resolute Dawn​

SOMEWHERE OUT THERE

Aether gave a short nod as Adelle confirmed her intent to join. “Good,” he said, his tone even. “His last confirmed sighting was on Ryloth, at a fortress built into the cliffs near the old spice routes. It has been quiet for some time now, but that is where the trail went cold.”

His attention shifted to Evangel next. Her declaration drew a faint curve at the corner of his mouth. “The stronger they are, the more dangerous you become,” he repeated, his voice carrying quiet approval. “Good. You will need that edge.”

He took a slow drink before setting the glass back on the table. The pause that followed was deliberate, giving the weight of her question space to breathe. “As for why,” he began, his gaze steady beneath the dim bar light, “I am not blind. I can feel it: both of you carry strength that goes far beyond the average soldier.” His fingers tapped once against the table, a rhythm of thought. “And because I do not know you, neither does he. That makes you unpredictable. A wild card. It may be what finally corners him after all these years.”

Another sip. Aether leaned back slightly, the faint blue hue of the hologram still painting the edges of his armor. “Since you’ll be risking life and limb for this, you deserve to know who we are truly hunting.” His tone softened, though it never lost its gravity. “The man we are after is my father. The one who trained the Sith Empress herself, conquered a quarter of the Galaxy with his Confederacy, and built the first Mandalorian Empire of the modern age.”

He let the words hang for a moment before adding, “Bring him in, and the payout will be enough to buy you both waterside estates on Naboo. Shining ones, with room enough to forget this life for a while.”

The faintest hint of a smile ghosted across his lips. “Until the next hunt calls.”​

Evangel , Adelle Bastiel

 

[Adelle Bastiel]

Every word was heard and processed even as Adelle continued to study the face of the target projected by the bounty puck. Ryloth. Cliff fortress. Abandoned. The Mando addressed Evangel, and something tickled at the edges of Adelle's brain the more she studied. Something familiar. Something like a memory.

Evangel had asked why. The moment breathed and drew Adelle's attention away from zeroing in on what vague feeling was bothering her brain.

“As for why,” he began, his gaze steady beneath the dim bar light, “I am not blind. I can feel it: both of you carry strength that goes far beyond the average soldier.” His fingers tapped once against the table, a rhythm of thought. “And because I do not know you, neither does he. That makes you unpredictable. A wild card. It may be what finally corners him after all these years.”

Both of you carry strength that goes far beyond. Adelle's focus sharpened, the gnawing all but silenced. He'd felt it then. She should have known, should have assumed someone could sense her abilities in the Force. It was fortunate this Mandalorian didn't seem to hate it like the ones Adelle had experienced. She'd gotten careless. Adelle inclined her head in acknowledgement, the ceaseless whisper raising its voice again.

The dossier flashed through again, the list of aliases scrolling through again. The more she looked at the target, the more she had the sinking feeling she knew him. Why would she know someone like this? A name caught her attention.

Isley.

"Kore," she said at last. "Yours?"

"Isley." he began, uttering the name of his birth.

"Brace yourself," she said, trance-like. "This will hurt."

Adelle took a deep breath in and slowly let it out. It couldn't possibly be the same one... but the familiar sensation settled like a lead-weight in her stomach.

The Mandalorian mentioned a payment large enough to buy estates to satisfy, at least until the next hunt came knocking. Adelle rubbed her forehead with her fingers and took a long drink from her whiskey.

"You should know," she said slowly, quietly, "I am not entirely unknown to him. We've met. Once. On Monastery."



Evangel | Aether Verd

 

[Evangel]

Evangel gave a clip nod. It was an edge. It was the reason for her existence. So many experiments had resulted in her (and others like, but different from her) all for the purpose of having a better tool to fight her previous Master's enemies. Who held her leash may have changed, but her nature had not. The Mandalor was free to make use of it, if it would be of service. Certainly excited Evangel.

Strength that goes beyond the average soldier? One could make assumptions as to what that meant, but Evangel didn't waste time. Adelle's capabilities in the Force were by and large unremarked in the Sithspawn's thoughts. Whatever he'd meant would become apparent in discourse or act soon enough, it would seem.

Father? Evangel didn't have one of those. Most people did and from what she'd observed usually they tended to like them. But this one was a Dark Sider, yes? Trained the Sith Empress. She didn't personally know what family meant at a visceral level, but Evangel well and truly understood Sith. Sometimes even family had to be removed in order to ascend to higher levels of power. It was quite normal and socially acceptable -- provided you didn't make a mess of it.

Was that what this was? Doubtful. Evangel was curious, but did the motivation matter? A hunt was a hunt, and this one sounded memorable.

Lips pressed flat for the time it took Aether to transition from forgetting 'this life' to 'until the next hunt,' then her expression relaxed. Credits? Useful. Upkeep on armor, weapons, consumables, transportation. Food. Otherwise, 'more than you can count' didn't impress her much. The hunt was literally the only thing that mattered. It was never an option to 'take a break,' 'find a hobby,' and 'settle down.' She'd tried. Always went stir crazy before the first day was out.

Adelle, however, had a slight correction to add. Evangel turned her blue eyes over to the other woman, curious. "You remember. Do you feel he would recall you as well?" Meeting someone of power was memorable, whereas meeting a rank-and-file was often not. Easy for people to forget. Then again, Evangel had no idea as to the nature of this encounter, its duration, or whether Isley could remember everyone he'd ever met -- such people did exist, albeit few in number.

Aether Verd | Adelle Bastiel​

 

[Aether Verd]

Assets: Beskar'gam | Basilisk
Darksaber | Resolute Dawn​

SOMEWHERE OUT THERE

Aether’s brow arched slightly when Adelle spoke, the words carrying a quiet gravity that drew his full attention. The corners of his mouth curved as a low chuckle escaped him, warm yet touched with something knowing. He spread his hands in a gesture of mock surrender, the faint shimmer of the hologram casting azure lines across the gold of his vambraces.

“Well now,” he said, voice smooth with amusement. “Seems the Galaxy is smaller than I thought. You meet a man once, and years later, you find yourself hunting him over drinks.” His tone softened as his gaze lingered on her. “For what it’s worth, he never mentioned you. That means there might still be an edge we can use. If he does remember, we’ll find out soon enough.”

He eased back in his chair, the faint light from the puck dancing across the armor at his chest. When Evangel turned her eyes toward Adelle and asked her question, Aether’s own attention followed the motion. He said nothing, content to observe the exchange unfold. One hand lifted the glass from the table, and he took a slow sip as he studied the pair of them, the flickering blue light of the bounty puck reflecting in his dark eyes.

Two hunters, both carrying their own histories, now drawn into his. He set the glass down again and watched in silence, waiting to see what truth would rise between them.​

Adelle Bastiel , Evangel

 

[Adelle Bastiel]

Evangel | Aether Verd​

Evangel asked if it was possible Adelle would be recognized. The Mandalorian with authority in his voice mentioned that the target--his father--never mentioned her, remarking how small the galaxy seemed in this moment. Adelle scoffed softly: she never liked coincidences and never had since Coruscant. Coincidences, either accidental, planned, or fated by the Force, always triggered her paranoia.

"He might recognize my presence, although I tend to keep that under wraps these days," she said, taking a long drink from her glass. "But he's never seen me fight so that's something. And . . ."

The thought of what she was about to suggest pained her as a Healer and a Jedi--former Jedi. But if the Sith lord was as powerful as the bounty puck led them to believe, they'd need every advantage.

"I'm skilled with the Art of the Small. Given time and space, I can disrupt body functions. Maybe even undo what I did before." Adelle knocked back the rest of her drink, hoping the burn of alcohol would wash away the distaste she felt. If she was able to pull it off, it was going to be so much worse for her. Death already affected her. Death while her focus was within the same body would be so much worse. "But that means all my focus goes into using that skill. I will be unable to fight while doing so and therefore vulnerable. If he's as dangerous as all that, that's not my preferred option. But it is an option."

Adelle set the glass gently down on the table. Force, what was she getting herself into?