Si non, quis.

[Karacan Rigten]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nQCxwneUwA[/youtube]​

​

If an injury has to be done to a man,​

it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.​

Ferron had heard it... by VSF, by her sister, and read the reports by his men. She was dead... but she wasn't dead... the cruel one who had turned her was no where to be found, but she was. Or... it was. Ferron put the little personal funds, and used his position, to find the information he needed. He had a few contacts in necessary places, and thankfully these kinds of questions didn't jeopardize their secret positions. Ferron had what he needed, and after weeks of preparation, he had everything needed to perform his mission. He swore to this person that Kuat Drive Yards and Kuati Sector Forces would protect her, even though she willingly left. This individual was already made protected, and it was made personal because of that. Ferron could not let such an injustice happen. The reports of how she died... it was not okay. It was... despicable, it was cruel. And to make it worse... she didn't even experience death. She experienced worse. To live after feeling everything, but be trapped and mindless to a robot. His thoughts of robotics lessened, and he started to hate them more, but that would be a thought to contemplate later. Right now, he had to carry out his mission.

Ferron was traveling to Vjun, the last known location of his target. Was this vengeance? Or mercy? All he knew was that she didn't deserve such a fate, and he will kill her, with kindness in his eyes, but agony in his heart. He swore to uphold justice, and he failed that already. He had to pay back himself, and the people who worked under him, but most importantly... to Ra'a'mah. Soon, he exited hyperspace over the planet, scanning it for potential locations to land. There were a few locations, some decimated by past wars. There were reasons the robot would be in any of them, and reasons to not. Ferron didn't have time to think before traveling, had to ponder and do research while en route to the planet. He decided to land between two of the locations; an old ruined home, and an odd castle. He would figure out his next move once he landed.

[member="Ra'a'mah"]

 

[Ra'a'mah]

It had been several months since her first encounter with Ferron and what alerted Ra to the fact she was being hunted. Luckily she had been well taken care of by him and turned over to Stardust and Vulps after an almost fatal run in against Darth Tacitus and Adron. At the time it happened, she had known only of Tacitus' men, as time had passed though, she learned that Adron had also been present that day.

Returning to Vjun after essentially faking her death, Ra was now at home again. The cold, dreary and acid rain atmosphere fit the former sith very well right now. Still not fully comfortable being alive, she had decided to maintain her death and allowed only a handful of people to know the truth. Her servants and friends were the only people that knew she still lived.

She was sitting in her library, more metitating than actually acomplishing anything productive. Vincent, her oldest servant came in and cleared his throat. Getting her attention, Ra looked at him and wondered why he was there.

"It seems there's an unidentified ship that landed not far from here. You may want to go and ascertain just what is going on. I'm getting too old to keep going out myself. I'll be here when you return though and if our unexpected guest gets here first, I will welcome them and keep them occupied until you return."

Ra stood up, nodding and​ went to put her desguise on. Its uses were wide and varied. It also protected her and allowed her go into stealth so she should be able to sneak around this visitor and not be seen. Placing the final touch on and covering her head, she walked out into the grey weather outside the castle.

[member="Ferron Troste"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member=Ra'a'mah]



As the large craft began to automatically land, Ferron prepared his gear. The rain would be troublesome so he brought along a weather-resistant cloak. He didn't bring a helmet or specialized armor, just the new one that he currently wore. Unfortunately, if the day were late, it would only help to cover his face. Once the craft touched down, Ferron hopped out. Once more, he checked his weapon, to see if it was in proper maintenance. A tried and true DC-15 Rifle, proper for Ferrons mission; to kill a droid, but enough power to kill any organics if they got in his way.

Ferron scanned the nearby, local area, before pulling out a datapad with information on the planet. He looked towards the abandoned homestead, and then towards the castle. Unless the ruined house had an underground bunker, it had no protection against the elements, so he decided to venture towards the Castle, hoping to find more information.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

The weather for now stayed calm and there was not a storm in the air. Ra walked out of the castle in stealth and headed in the direction Vincent had indicated the ship landed on. In the years Ra had called Vjun home she had no nearby neighbors, but knew of various ruins. Even the former facilities she had build with Dominion funds were falling into disrepair as they were no longer used.

No longer head of intelligence with the dead government, there was no need to train new people there. As she traversed the familiar paths here, she avoided going directly into the path of her visitor. When his ship came into view she stopped in her tracks.

It was of an imperial design so could come from either the Sith or First Order. However, she had cut her ties with the Sith and had no contact at all with the First Order. The Galactic Empire had recently joined up with the First Order so she did not think this ship was theirs. She did not approach the ship any further and looked at it again. There was one other place she could think of that it could have come from and it wasn't government at all. Suddenly it seemed much more likely this was a KDY ship.

Turning around to return the way she had come, she altered her course so hopefully come across the person or people from the ship. Provided whoever it was had decided to head to the castle, they would cross paths. Not making a sound, she would follow in the steps of Ferron and hopefully catch up to him before he reached the castle.

[member="Ferron Troste"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Ra'a'mah"]



Ferron walked a short distance from his craft, taking his time so as not to rush. He was taking his time so he could survey his surroundings and figure out how to use the environment in case he became ambushed. The castle wasn't far, but he still wanted to know what was between him and the castle, and it seemed he may have been closer to his target than he thought before. Ferrons current appearance was draped in a long, environmental cloak, one large enough to cover his whole body like a blanket if he let it and yet just barely able to touch the ground. However, the front was parted, and behind it, his Presidential Uniform could be seen. His face was otherwise hidden, so it was unknown exactly how he looked. He could appear to be a traveler, salvager, or even assassin.

He stopped, suddenly, as his scanner silently started to sound off a tone. Amongst the scattered remains and decaying structures he started to get into proximity of, a power signature appeared. It was a peculiar signature... yet it mostly showed to be a droid. No ordinary droid could survive out here, even with intelligence gained without data wipes. So either it was new, or the most stubborn droid he had ever met..... he assumed it was his target. If the signature assumed Ferron would pull a lightsaber, they would be disappointed. From under his cloak, he drew his DC-15 rifle, and held it up as he looked around in the general direction of the signature. Once they were barely in yelling distance, Ferron stopped, and called out to the shadows, "reveal yourself." Perhaps, they would recognize his voice.... or not.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Almost like stalking her prey, Ra came up silently to within shouting distance of the figure and then he stopped. In her turn she also stopped, but made no further move. It was unknown how he knew she was there, but it soon became clear it was a male. He yelled out and there was no mistake on who it was yelling at her. He had done it to her before when he had held her for a trial where he was her judge.

She owed him her life. If not for him, she wouldn't have been stalking him. With a simple push of a button two things happened. Her visor lifted to reveal her organic face and the stealth field disappeared. Ra trusted Ferron to not shoot at her once he realized she lived. On the other hand he might because she had fooled even him with her charade though it was a side effect she had not thought of.

"Don't shoot, President Troste."

Walking out from where​ she had been hiding when he stopped, it would be clear now this was no droid that followed him.

[member="Ferron Troste"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Ra'a'mah"]


Ferron raised his rifle, aimed at the figure that approached him, "halt!" He heard the reports, what remained of her body was used for a droid. For a moment, when he heard her voice, he felt a shiver up his spine, but he couldn't be tricked. This droid could not sway him or make him put his guard down. "Don't.... don't make this any harder than it needs to be," he took a breath, "I came here to do something, I came here to carry out my promise; to protect her."

 

[Ra'a'mah]

If Ferron had watched the video that had been sent to the public, then he would know the body had been totally covered in metal. There was no way flesh could have survived the encasing. She wore simple armor and nothing more, to appear like a droid and that was all. It was built to take blaster and even lightsaber hits though. If he fired at her, she felt confident her suit would accomodate the damage. Might leave a nice bruise or two, but she would live.

Once she had revealed herself, Ra had stopped moving so his order to halt was met perfectly. She would be standing in full view of Ferron. Her hands at her sides and no weapons could be seen.

"I am not what you think I am, Ferron."

Lifting one hand to her head, the helmet would come off fully. There is no way he would mistake her for an HRD at this point.
​
[member="Ferron Troste"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Ra'a'mah"]


Ferron knew droids could be altered and augmented, easily, to sound and look like humans. All he knew was the reports, and they weren't just from his men. If he had the power and intelligence to find the one who did this to her, he'd push his limits with the control of his company and the people under him. Ferron took aim, but he knew this wouldn't be so easy like an execution. The droid could very well have quality armor, or have unmatched speed. But that's why he came alone, so he wouldn't endanger his people. "Listen I-," he paused, sighing, obviously in anguish, "don't say my name... You think this is easy, but it's not. I swore protection to her, I put my company and my people on the line," he jabbed a finger at his chest, "I put my people in danger and I've already failed once, I won't fail them, or anyone, again! Please, please! Don't make this harder than it already is!" Ra could tell there was pain in his voice.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

She stood holding the helmet at her side and he still didn't believe she was real. Even though she had said his name, revealed her face, Ferron still didn't think she was who she was.

"I never said anything was easy. Do you think pretending to be a droid and hiding in a suit is easy? And I gave up that protection you offered when I requested to be released to my people."

Ra considered her options here and a few ideas came to her mind. If what she said did not convince him, she had others that would.

"President Trose, Ra'a'mah Numare did not die in reality. The video that displayed the death was faked. I am Ra'a'mah Numare. It was a simple HRD made to look like me that went into the sarcophagus. I remember your questioning of me on your ship and I didn't lie to you then. I'm not going to do that to you now. Take my word or not, the choice is yours."

In a very human action, she raised the hand not holding her helmet up to hover over her heart and lowered it again.

[member="Ferron Troste"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Ra'a'mah"]


"And you could be the HRD, and that which you claim was t he HRD could have been Ra..." Ferron gritted his teeth, as what she said was still true, but it wasn't entirely convincing. He thought for a moment, before taking one hand off of the rifle. It was the hand he was using to stabilize and aim the rifle, so his other hand was still on the trigger. He raised his palm as to imply 'keep calm,' then reaching, slowly, to his waist. "Just because Ra'a'mah relinquished the protection I gave her, it doesn't mean I stopped trying to protect her. It was an entire faction against one person, it wasn't fair. But if you really are who you say you are, that you're Ra, you won't object to this," moving his cloak, he revealed a grenade belt. On it were two Ion Grenades and a Thermal Detonator. He removed one of the Ion Grenades and slowly tossed it over to her. "Hold it, and pull the pin. If you're Ra, you won't be instantly dead from it," of course, it would be a lot harsher than a Flashbang without the ringing in the ear, and might throw her to her feet, but she wouldn't be harmed except if she hit the ground wrong. Nothing serious. Ferron felt it was now an ultimatum. If she refused, it would prove to him everything she said was a lie, and a fight would begin. But if she hadn't been lying.... Ferron would be upset with himself.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Perhaps she hadn't phrased things in the best manner, but it at least did give Ferron some thought. Watching the movements he made and following where his hand went, Ra saw the various grenades. His one hand remained on the trigger of his gun on the chance she attempted something, but it wasn't aimed as securely on her.

"Life is rarely fair."

The slowly tossed grenade reached her and she caught it before it could hit the ground. She knew where he was heading with this. An ion grenade would neutralize any electronics and a droid was one. Being an organic wearing armor only...Ra would be fine. Some of the parts of her suit would need to be reset, but she knew how to do that.

Pulling the grenade's pin, it felt like a full body shove. Landing on her rump, she wasn't hurt at all, but had maybe a bit of bruised ego.

[member="Ferron Troste"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member="Ra'a'mah"]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ODDtLMiGnY[/youtube]​

Ferrons heart sank as it felt hard to breathe as he saw her pull the pin without question or thought. He took a deep breath and covered his face as the grenade went off. He adjusted his footing as he felt the blast, taking a step back. But once it was over, and he could clearly see, he looked over to where she was, and saw she was unaffected by the grenade. His weapon was useless now, and he quickly tossed the rifle away as if it was trash, and hurried over to Ra. "I'm sorry, I-" he knelt down, reaching out to try and help her up, "everything I had heard, what Darth Tacitus said, your sister, I-" Ferron took a deep breath which Ra obviously could tell he was holding back a whimper, "I-I came to show mercy, so that you wouldn't have... lived a painful life..." Ferron was upset that he made her do such a thing for no reason. "I'm sorry Ra, I'm sorry, are you okay," he asked, in a hushed tone, hoping the grenade didn't hurt her ears or injure her.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

She understood exactly where Ferron was coming from and easily forgave him. Having faked her death and then had that video sent to show her change, it wasn't surprising he assumed she was a droid. Very few people knew the truth and now he numbered among those few.

"I don't think it would have been painful living in the body of a droid. After all, they don't feel pain. However, there is something else they don't have and I do. Morals. What I did was to stay alive and it was a façade to put this on."

Accepting the help up, Ra listened to what he was saying.
​
"President Troste, I am fine. A sore rear end, but alive. Thank you. What did they tell you?"

Unless he had let go of her hand, it was still within his after she stood up.

[member="Ferron Troste"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member=Ra'a'mah]


"No," Ferron spoke up, "I don't mean raw, physical pain. I mean..." he looked down, thinking for a moment, "the misery, the anguish, the sanity being pulled from you as the only thing you could do is see what was going on, but no ability to think, or speak, or reach out. A slave to your own mind, not even having an existence. I couldn't bare the thought of you having to live a life like that. It's why I came here alone." He still continued to hold her hand. He didn't really forget about it, in fact, he held it sternly, "I had no right to endanger the people that only work for me. They have their own families and those they need to protect. I came here, hoping that I could stop the unruly, the disgusting continuation of your existence, slowly seeping from you, until you become mindless. I don't know anything about droids, and I know very little of the body, but that's the point." He clutched her hand with both of his now, raising them, "Ra, if this wasn't faked, if it was real.... and I sat by and did nothing, or if I wasted time trying to find a way to save you, you'd be facing something worse than death. It's disgusting and cruel." He let go of her hand and turned away, "it doesn't matter that you turned my protection away, it doesn't matter that we don't know each other. If I don't stand up, and do what's right, no one else in this universe will. It doesn't matter if we're friends. There are people that deserve a fate worse than death, but you weren't someone. You didn't deserve that fate. You tried to save people. You deserve more than this lonely, cold galaxy can offer you."

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdfhzKK3WJs[/youtube]​

 

[Ra'a'mah]

His words indicated he felt the judgement given to her was as wrong as what Wolfe would have done. She would never call him Darth Tacitus and she hoped with her deception they would never meet again. Even Ra had no idea what would happen if they did. That didn't matter now and Ferron did.

She listened to what he had to say and nodded. It was a life she wouldn't have wanted to live either and appreciated his consideration. He said he came alone and in a way found that odd. Then again he assumed he would have been facing off against a droid. Confident he could have beaten her in combat. That ion grenade would have done its job. At that point he could have just killed the shell her mind was held captive in and destroyed what was left of her.

Glad it didn't come to them fighting, they held hands until he let go.

"I have deceived you and the galaxy. To avoid the death Wolfe was going to do to me, I had to lie and show a death like what he would have given me."

Something in more than what he said spoke to her. It had happened before on his ship too. They were both people bound by an honor of their own. Looking away from him for a moment, she looked again at him.

"What do you think I deserve?"

[member="Ferron Troste"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member=Ra'a'mah]



Ferron shook his head as he turned around, whispering, "No... no..." He spoke up so that she could hear, "No, Ra. Like I just said, someone has to do it. Wolfe will never have a chance against you as long as I breathe. I have the power to make a difference in the galaxy and I'm fething tired," his voice raised, his right hand balling up into a fist as it thrusted downward, throwing emphasis into that final word, "of everyone thinking they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, no matter the circumstances, as if there are absolutely no consequences! I have the entire power of Kuat Drive Yards! I have rebuilt it with my own decisive planning and the proper knowledge to expand! I've created soldiers to take innocent lives off the front line! I've designed warships that can go face to face with hostile scum! I have a chance to right this universe, Ra."

He turned back to approach her, putting his hands on her shoulders, shaking his head. "You no longer need to hide. I don't care if you leave, I don't care if you tell me not to risk my life. I have to. I have to risk everything to help those people who need help, because no one else will. Everyone else will just... exploit and abuse them. You take that disguise off, and you give Wolfe the middle finger. I will be right behind you, every step of the way, no matter what. I promise."

"I believe you deserve better, you deserve to smile, to live a life without being afraid every time you wake up, afraid that if you close your eyes you'll be robbed or killed. That's what I believe."

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOwJSpt2m_w[/youtube]​

 

[Ra'a'mah]

As he spoke, Ra realized something about herself and it was not something she wanted to admit. Wolfe scared her. When she had struck out at him and the Shrouded Republic, it had brought attention to her. However, she did not regret that choice she made. While it had failed, it still gave a message and that message was essentially the same she heard coming from Ferron.

He had his business to attend to and she had hers, but she saw them working together. A mutual goal to accomplish. Not right now, but in the future.

Giving him half a smile as he said she no longer needed to hide, she wanted to tell him he was wrong. However, she considered what he said. That suit certainly came in handy and Wolfe assumed her dead. Maybe she did not need to remain hidden and secret. It wasn't time yet for her to come out of the shadows again.

"For now, I do."

She did not pull away from him though and gave him a small but real smile with a nod when he answered what she felt she deserved. For the most part that was in her life already. Happiness was still not fully present, contentment to a degree, but not fully.

"I think we can work together and accomplish each of our goals. Maybe along the way some happiness can be found."

[member="Ferron Troste"]

 

[Karacan Rigten]

[member=Ra'a'mah]


Ferron had no say in the womans life, and made no attempt. He nodded, and pulled his hands back, "your life is yours to do with as you please. As long as your intentions and actions are proper, I will support you. But I want you to understand, no matter what, no matter when you decide, you no longer need to hide. If Darth Tacitus comes, he'll face the full might of Kuat Drive Yards, and so will his organization." Ferron would shake his head and hush her if she tried to argue, "this will just have to be one of those things in life you'll have to accept; that you will have my support and backing whether you want me to or not, miss Numare." He smiled, before reaching towards one of his pockets on his suit and pulling out a small device. He handed it over to her, and refused to take it back. It was almost as small as a thumb. "This is an emergency beacon with a hard-coded transmission. It will always reach Kuat Orbital Array. Always. I had it made in case I needed emergency reinforcement or medical aide. I can always make another, for myself. But now you have one, and should you ever need me, if it's an emergency or not, I will always be there." He pulled his hand back after handing it over, putting his hands on his hips and chuckling, "although, it would be kind if you could relay a message through the holonet, if I need to bring an army or not."

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Her smile faded just slightly when he mentioned Wolfe and his organization. There was a chill on her shoulders when Ferron removed his hands, but what he said was true. It also applied to him. At least about their lives, but as long as her actions were proper she would have his support.

"I have no desire to further entangle myself with Wolfe or the organization he belongs to."

At that point he hushed​ her and reiterated to her she would have his support. Also adding in even if she didn't want it. That was not the case though, she wanted his support and backing. More than that, she wanted to work with him more.

"President Troste. I am sorry you were among the many to be deceived by my actions. What can do to right what wrongs I have done?"

Accepting the device, she looked at it and nodded. It would only be used if the need was there. There were other ways to contact him as he stated...the holonet was one of them.

[member="Ferron Troste"]