Peace the Warlike, Healing to the Broken

[James Justice]

James gave a sheepish grin as he got up and dusted the dirt off his jacket. "Sorry, mate."

He checked his body, no injuries other than a few bruises, he would live. He grabbed keys off one of the guards and unlocked the door. It swung open with a creak, little more than a wooden door with hinges and a simple lock.

Inside was an older man. He was wizened with age, his uncovered body was lined with tattoos and old scars. A trimmed graying beard lined his chin, his hair was speckled with white hair. He looked to be in his mid fifties, and even though he was tied to a stake and aged, he had the bearings of a man who was well-accustomed to fighting in the past and leading. Around him a woman, three adults were tied as well, one man two women. James untied them and ungagged each. "Lady Kay, allow me to introduce you to Dargquin and family, cheiftan of the village. Darquin, this is Lady Kay."

As Dargquin rose to greet her, blaster fire erupted, hitting the door and back wall.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay stepped inside the stone hut, surprised at seeing not one, but four people inside. It didn't seem as though any of them deserved this.

When she was introduced she bowed her head, which was great timing as a shot zoomed past and hit the wall. Reacting on instinct, she shut the door, possibly trapping them all inside, but giving them an opportunity to move out of the way as well.

"Everyone up against the wall on either side of the door, this way whomever comes in won't be getting an easy shot."

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James ducked for cover, Dargquin pulled his family to safety with the speed and strength of a man half his age. James drew his pistol and took a few pot shots, peaking and trying to gauge the number. "Ten, we got ten. All behind cover. We are in fething trouble when they realize one grenade will end this fast."

The spacer switched his weapon to rapid fire and max power. He squeezed the trigger and a volatile barrage of energy bolts flew from the DeathHammer's barrel. It tore into one of the building's corners and brought down the edge of it. Ducking back for cover, James replaced the drained powercell, "That's two. I can't do that many more times, miss." he tossed his hold out blaster to Dargquin, "Then we are dead for sure."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

"Just keep them busy!" She sighed. Well she guessed it was a last resort to be used. Kay dug into her satchel and brought out the lightsaber. She moved to the opposite wall and ignited the blade, before piercing it into the stone wall. The rock reacted like butter to a hot knife as she cut a hole in it big enough for them all to climb through without touching the hot stone. Once the circle was completed, she pushed the round stone to fall onto the outside and then shut off the lightsaber, slipping it back into her satchel.

Kay then signalled to Dargquin to go through the hole first, followed by the others, with [member="James Justice"] and herself taking up the rear. She didn't speak for fear that their enemies could hear of their escape.

 

[James Justice]

[member="Lady Kay"]

James nodded at her order and kept barraging them with a blaster-fire. He was willing to keep them busy as long as it took. A few shots carved bits of the rock off the side of the hut, flecking off and hitting his face, "Ugh, feth you."

The spacer popped back and fired a few more shots. When he saw the the Lady duck through the hole he fired off a few more shots and pulled out a small cylinder, a small thermal detonator. He tossed it in the hut as they left and lead them in a sprint away. The explosion was a strong enough distraction to keep themselves covered.

Dargquin naturally took the lead and used his knowledge of the small town to lead them to the Drunken Angel.

Reed, on board, gave a cheerful greeting. James patted the droids head, happy, "Ye old rust-bucket, ye had me so worried!"

Dargquin turned to the Lady and gave a slight but humble bow, "Thank you for rescuing me and my family. I am in debt to you and James. Would you both please be willing to help me rescue my people? Please, we have been subjected to so much at the hands of Havagg. He hunts us down and continues to try and kill without mercy and without reason. He tried to exterminate us for years, please he will kill the innocents," he pressed his lips in concern. This was not the begging of a power-hungry man but a leader of people gently pleading for the lives of innocents under him.

James looked to Lady Kay, "I am game if ye are, miss."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was glad that her little idea had worked. It wasn't always that that was the case. She bowed her head in return to Dargquin. It was horrible what was being done to his people and she really felt for him. One look to [member="James Justice"] was enough to see that he was just as willing to help. His words confirmed it and strengthened her resolve. "Alright, but we can't fit them all on board. There must be some place that your people can go that they'll be safe."

 

[James Justice]

Dargquin thought for a moment, "Yes, we can evacuate to just past the plateau half a mile from here. There is an old fortress there, an old secret kept by my people. It is stocked with weapons and food enough to protect us from him for quite a while and maybe even take him down for good, in the future, to stop more murder."

James patted the older man on the back and looked to Lady Kay, "We can move in at night. Or, rather, ye can. I will cover and make enough of a distraction so that ye can get them to safety," he chuckled and poured each of them a drink of Alderaan ale. It was very light, however, it was full of flavor and very fruity. He took a sip and sighed. "Questions, comments?"

Dargquin nodded, "I will help to create the distraction, Nelwan," he motioned to his daughter, "can help to lead Empress Kay," he said mistaking her title in his limited basic, "to the safety zone."

James nodded and looked to her, "Ye good with that, miss?"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay took the ale and had a small sip. Sapir tea was more her drink of choice, but this was a small celebration for a small victory in this civil war that she found herself to be a part of.

She liked the idea of the old fortress. At least then the would know where the attacks were to come from. Upon being called an Empress however, she raised a brow, giving [member="James Justice"] a quick glance. No doubt he was finding this amusing as ever. But she had no desire to be Empress or rule over anyone. It just wasn't her cup of tea.

"I would be happy to help Nelwan in bringing the others to safety. We should have as much of a head start as possible in case something goes wrong. Has a scout already been sent ahead to be sure that the fortress is secure?"

 

[James Justice]

Old Dargqin wagged his head, "My other son here can scout ahead he is a great warrior, Empress, you can count on him."

James puffed a cloud of smoke from between his grinning lips. Inside he was laughing, dying inside from humor. He dusted the ashes from his light, "Ye are wise as ever, and very insightful, Empress." He gave a teasing wink. "As for now, I have weapons-a plenty." He pulled open a drawer, revealing a host of weapons enough to arm a small military, "Fill yer boots, lads."

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Night had fallen over the quiet town. James and Dargqin with his closes son were waiting. The Lil Monster machine gun slung across the spacer's shoulder was ready, chambered and able to deal death at a moment's notice. His HUD contacts displayed a wide array of enemy positions and hazardous locations. He took a deep breath and grabbed a thermal detonator off the bandoleer across his chest. Tossing it into a stack of crates he waited. It exploded a moment later in a ball of fire. Dargquin took the opportunity to raise his assault rifle and squeeze off a few rounds. It had begun.

[member="Lady Kay"]
[member="Udrusa"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay narrowed her eyes with a smirk towards [member="James Justice"]. Oh yeah, he was enjoying this a little too much. She turned her attention back to Dargquin. "I'm sure that your son is all that we'll need. By the way ...you can just call me Kay. I feel that I don't need any titles here." She bowed her head and then took a blaster from the drawer to replace the one that was taken earlier. "Thanks James, this will do nicely."

As nightfall came, she moved on ahead with Nelwan and the others, the chief's daughter leading the way. A couple of hours ago, one of Dargquin's sons went on ahead to scout the hidden fortress. No news was good news and so they pressed on ahead, half expecting to meet up with him on his return journey.

 

[James Justice]

The enemy presented themselves when the gunfire started and the explosion broke out. Each began to scramble for cover and attack points, the HUD in James' contacts locked on to each when they came into view, illuminating them with red outlines. He shouldered the weapon and squeezed a few rounds off, taking down one of the scurrying enemies. As the two native warriors covered him, James began advancing forward slowly and steadily, eyes down the sights of his weapon. The barrel swiveled with every burst of shots as he took down two, then three, then four, shooters.

Stopping at last behind a building, he let out a satisfied sigh and drew a second grenade. Removing the pin, he lobbed it down the road, blasting another house. Dargquin and his son took the advantage and sprinted to James' position. It was going to be a long night, the spacer decided.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

The sound of the battle could easily be heard behind them, but the group pressed on towards the hidden fortress. Nelwan led them, and it was clear that she was the chief's daughter. She displayed the skills and mannerisms of a leader. It was just a shame that their people were going through such hard times.

Kay followed along, helping to carry some of the children when needed. Everyone was moving at a quick pace which was surprising, but not unwelcomed. Still there was no sign of the chief's son, but she had no idea how far they had to go. Did any of them besides Nelwan? She wasn't sure.

Hopefully [member="James Justice"] and the others provided a good enough distraction.

 

[James Justice]

With a finger flick, James ejected the clip. As it clattered on the ground he grabbed a new one and began peppering the red outlines he saw with sprays of bullets. This was not some skirmish anymore, this was a full-fledged battle of three guerrilla soldiers against a superior force. Good fething hell it was intense.

Dargquin began dashing for cover, crouched lower to the ground. One of the soldiers squeezed off a round that landed square in his chest. The warrior staggered, struggling for life. Another three rounds from different directions began to tear into his body. Willpower alone kept the aged hero on his feet. Struggling as his life ebbed away, the defender of his people raised his weapon and roared, sending a barrage of fire into the enemy. Drawn to the scream, Havogg's murderers began to annihilate his frame with blaster-fire and bullets. James felt a hollow pang of horror as the saw the lifeless, mutilated body fall to the ground. That was when he snapped.

James drew his DeathHammer and began to shower a rageful volley of death into their bodies. Behind crates, behind windows, from around corners, his shots tore the life from their weak forms. The HUD on his eyes meant there was no hiding--the rage in his heart meant there was no escape. Marching forward the bitter spacer's trench coat billowed behind him, his eyes scanned for more targets and his aura, in the Force, had become a black rift.

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"We are getting closer," Nelwan promised in her re-assuring, youthful and melodic voice. She was loved by the people for being a bard, a singer, and the bringer of comfort to children. She had learned the old stories and was known for her lilting, sweet voice singing over baby's cribs, soothing like none other. The thin girl gave Kay a smile, "Thank you for helping us. You truly are a blessing from the gods."

As the came on the fortress a few minutes later, seeing its ancient grandness, carved into pure stone of the rocky plateau. Its massive metal doors were open, and leaning against the side of the archway, her brother Madlon leaned covered in blood and clutching a stab wound on his side as he panted.

"S-se-secured," he managed, "Base is secured."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smiled and bowed her head to Nelwan. "You are helping as well. I just merely followed."

As they came upon the fortress and Madlon, her eyes widened. They hurried towards him. "Secured? Are you sure? There might be more.....Just hold still." Kay got him to lean against his sister while she closed her eyes and placed her hand on top of his. She focused on the Force and it's energies surrounding them, then manipulated it into first fixing the cut veins to stop the bleeding and then to healing the surrounding muscles and tissues. It would seem to take forever, but really only took fifteen minutes before he was healed enough to be able to walk around.

Kay opened her eyes and removed her hand from his. "How many were there?"

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

Madlon gave a sigh of relief as the pain ebbed away. His worried sister gave him a hug, some of the blood plastered on him transferred to her light tan tunic.

"Thank you," he managed to say, "There were 15 of them. They were good, they were his best. They were scouting, looking, trying to find if my dad had retreated here. They must have left long before we got there. But feth, I have to go back and help dad, he will be in dire danger before this is all over, there are way too many," he took a halting step forward but his sister stopped him.

"You have lost too much blood," she warned him, "you will never make it."

"I have to try," he said to Nelwan, "Father will die, you foresaw it, we have to help him!"
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James slammed a guard's skull on the stone wall, cracking it open, the lifeless body fell to the ground. Spinning around he shot another in the chest, killing it in mid step. He angled left and shot again, taking down a third before briskly stepping through the streets. This one was clear, time for the next.

He felt it a moment before it happened, but a spray of blaster fire cut his path off. He ducked for cover out of the line of fire from the Eweb blaster. Where was the boy? He didn't remember. Now was a time for killing not baby sitting. Grabbing a thermal detonator off his bandoleer, James hurled it at the nest. A moment later it exploded in a violent roar.

Stepping out he continued on his way, bristling with anger.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="James Justice"]

Kay looked from Madlon to Nelwan, then back again. "First thing's first. We need to get everyone settled in first. Madlon, you aren't ready to go. Your body needs to replenish itself, otherwise the only help that you'll be on the battlefield is a few second distraction while they kill you because you are too weak to fight. Your father asked us to see to the people first, so that's what we're doing."

She hated being forceful with people but sometimes that was needed. She then looked to Nelwan. "Not everything that's foreseen will come to pass. James is there and already we have changed things."

 

[James Justice]

Madlon grit his teeth in a combination of anger and shame. He knew she was right, but he wanted to be a great warrior--like his father. His father would have taken the blows and kept on walking. Felling a sense of shame at admitting weakness he nodded at last, "Your right. I am sorry."

Nelwan nodded, distracted by her brother's injuries. She shot Kay a look of gratitude before passing her wounded brother to a passing civilian to help to the medical center and making her way to the stores.

"I do hope your right, Kay," she said over her shoulder.

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Dawn was beginning to rise. James had spent several hours crushing whatever and whoever posed a threat. Bodies of the dead littered the streets, some killed by simple blaster fire, others by James' rage-filled batterings. Wear and covered in gore, the bitter spacer crossed two of the roads. He would not stop hunting until he found what he came for. His machine gun had been discarded hours ago, empty. His DeathHammer was clutched in his hands, the powercell drained but its weight made a deadly club. In his other blood-soaked hand James gripped a grisly sword, covered in the blood of many.

That was when he saw it. Havogg was in the middle of the street, barely kept upright by leaning on a building. A brutal blaster mark rank across his side, scorching most of his body. James looked down on the murderer with glowing, angry eyes.

"How does it feel?" he growled, "to finally be on the receiving end?"

"Jamesus, we can work something out," Havogg began.


"Shut the feth up!" James roared, he gave the warlord's back a brutal smack from the DeathHammer.

Havogg weakly rolled over. His eyes were still defiant, "If you expect me to beg for my life--I won't. Kill me now like a man."

James wanted to. He wanted to slaughter the murderer for his crimes here and now. He wanted to bring restitution. He wanted to stop the murdering. But no. He couldn't. He was not the man to do that.

"I am not like ye," he said at last. "I dun't kill the weak and defenseless."

James turned to leave, Havogg saw his opportunity. Roaring, he pounced at the spacer. James fell back into a crouch, the blade in his hand driving deep into Havogg's stomach. The warlord's breath caught in his throat a moment before his eyes dimmed and the life faded from his body.

Pushing the carcass aside, James rose to his feet wearily. He lit a cigarette and began puffing a cloud of smoke around himself, surveying the carnage, "Where the kark do they keep the booze around here?"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

After Nelwan turned away, Kay frowned slightly. She hoped that she was right too. She shook her head and did her best to keep positive.

An idea struck her. She dug into her satchel and took out her commlink. She signalled for [member="James Justice"] , hoping that her message would reach him.

"James? Are you alright? We're all safe here. How's the chief?"

 

[James Justice]

James looked over the carnage again, the sun's fresh rays over the blood made it look even more gruesome. His eyes came to rest on the war-torn body of Dargquin, his son was bent over the body--several stabs had wrenched the life from him as he fell defending his father's body from defilement. James set his jaw and a wave of remorse swept over him. He should have paid better attention to the boy, feth it. He was only twenty. Feth James and his righteous indignation.

Swallowing hard he activated his comm, "We--Dargquin went with honor. His son too." A rare tear rolled down his face, "Rest in peace me mate. The threat is gone. Tell his people they have nothing else to worry about," the spacer willed his feet to start moving, "Bringing the Angel to ye, I--" it was all he could to to compose himself, "I'll pick ye up. Out."

A few moments later the Dynamic-class freighter landed in front of the fortress. James wiped his tears away and downed them in a bottle of Ale. That was all he could do right now to stay awake, to stay on point. James opened the loading ramp and pressed his lips together. It was time to hold it together. No matter what.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay almost dropped her commlink as she heard the message. So she was wrong....And she had to tell them.

She clenched her jaw and stepped into the fortress, looking for Nelwan. Once she found her, Kay bowed her head and looked upon her sadly. "I just got word from [member="James Justice"] and he says that the battle is over. Your people are safe.....You and your brother have done your father proud." She lowered her eyes. "James wanted me to pass on the message that your father and other brother have died with honour...I am...sorry that we weren't able to change the future."