Private Starcrossed

[Marek Silvanus]

Anja Doreva

Carannia, Serenno​

It had been a long time since he had been here. Once, he had called thus place home. That was a fond time; a much simpler time. Now, although there was a certain level of familiarity in the air as he disembarked his craft - a non-descript spacecraft that was more utilitarian than anything else, this place didn't quite look or feel as he had remembered. The 'New Imperial Order' flag waving in the wind was definitely not there when he was here last. No, Serenno was a neutral world back then. Back when he had a family. Marek mused over a few different things as he exited the starport. Of course, to the authorities, he was not 'Marek Silvanus'.


Given the unknown that was his father's temperament as of late, Marek thought it best to not use his official travel documents. He still presented himself as a Jedi, but instead went under the soubriquet "Fjargo Saevio", a fellow "Jedi Archaeologist". It was an identity he used often when arriving on worlds where he felt better off not going by his true name. Despite his stated reason for visiting, Marek was not here to excavate relics of antiquity; but rather, to rediscover the remains of a life more recently buried in the sands of time itself.


In his travels, he had long kept his eyes and ears open for information pertaining to the fate that met his sister, Asha. Not a day had passed when he didn't regret begging for his mother's transport to stop so as to bring his sister on board. He never thought his father capable of filicide, but in truth, Marek hardly knew his father at all. For the Jedi Knight to stumble across information from the NIO news agencies that "Lord Silvanus of Serenno had taken ill, due to his advancing years, but his stately daughter and heiress had assumed his role while he recovers" had certainly piqued his interest. They even used her name - Asha.


I'm coming, Ash. I'm coming A slight gust of wind caressed his face as the thought crossed his mind, and a faint smile creased his lips. He had wondered if he had made the right choice coming here. His master was quite... vocal in the past about acting based off of his emotions, especially when it came to family. He remembered the events surrounding his mother all too well... a fresh wound that had not yet fully healed. He could feel something faint... some feeling that this was the right decision. It was as if the force were drawing him further forward, and saw fit to coax the wind itself to provide further encouragement.


With that, he took his first steps into the city of Carannia - the first in nearly seventeen years. He had thought about where to go first, and while he was tempted to make way to his old estate in the countryside first (as it was highly likely his sister and father were there), he instead made his way to a small inn outside of the city that rested between the two. He was tired, and he wanted to have his full faculties about him before unfurling the years that had past since he has last saw them - and in dealing with the emotions he would undoubtedly face.

 

[Anja Doreva]

TAG: Marek Silvanus

O~~>DEVIL WOMAN<~~O​

Serenno.

Danika stood scowling on the bridge of the Fortuna. She hated the planet. It was cowardly - spawning the likes of the Dooku and Demici lines. They were all knife-in-the-back type operators. Staging coups or cowardly conquests that could not be achieved without the help of the dismal New Imperial regime.

"My Lady, we are being hailed by the New Imperials." Captain Gael Stark told her from where he had been called over to the comms panel.
"Sound them through." Danika said.
"This is Imperial Planetary Border Command. Please state your business." a firm, masculine voice crackled through the comms.
"I am Ismena Knox, independent historical geographer on behalf of the Scarif Scientfic Institute in order to collect data on the historical relics in the area. May I please disembark per shuttle to the surface?" she asked with the most innocent voice she had ever mustered. At the same time, the Captain himself patched through the bogus clearance codes they carried around.
"Your codes check out, ma'am, You are free to proceed." the garrison officer's reply finally came through after a minute.
"Thank you, sir." she said before she signaled the comms officer to disconnect with a roll of her eyes. "Samron, darling, be a dear and ferry the Hellions down to the surface with a shuttle, please?" Danika then asked the great Falleen General as she turned to face him.
Samron Gerron raised an eyebrow. "So you would rather sit on a tree stump, waiting for us to reach the surface?" he said, though the teasing lilt could be heard in his voice.
"I have to make sure it's clear to land, now shouldn't I?" Danika teased back before she waved a hand, conjuring the tear in time. "Don't be grandpa in reaching the hangar at least, darling." she smiled before stepping through the portal.

The Lady of Bone was picking at a smudge on her vambrace as the shuttle touched down in the docking bay in the Carannia starport. Within minutes, Samron and the Ash Hellions filed out.
"That didn't take too long this time." she observed as the Falleen approached her.
"Yeah, I nearly beat the pilot with the butt of my pistol." he said.
"Violence helps sometimes." she laughed.
"Why exactly are we looking for this girl, Mistress?" Samron then asked as they started moving out of the spaceport.
"In all honesty, I am not sure. All I know is I foresaw a shift in the Force and it's tied to her. So intend to find out why her." Danika answered softly as they moved toward the city.
"Where do we start looking then? This planet is not small." he asked.
"At the local watering hole, off course. People have loose tongues after a few drinks." she said as she led the way to the inn that lay on the outskirts.

The inside was dimly lit, but bustling as the Lady of Conquest and her men entered, two Hellions remaining outside at the door, not outright guarding, but keeping a nonchalant eye on it, nonetheless.
Danika glided over to the bar while Samron and the men all squeezed around a corner table. The Falleen knew to leave his Mistress to conduct her investigation, so he flagged down a droid to take the guys' orders.
The Herald of Death could not help but chuckle at the comical picture of the big armoured guys all squashed in next to one another as she leaned on the counter.

As she ordered her wine, there was an itch that crept up her neck in the form of the Force. The stinking Light Side was around, but it was tainted. But for now, she opted to stick to her plan for a change. So she scooted closer to a duo of Troopers who looked like they had a few drinks in already.
"Excuse me, darlings, but I wonder if you could help me. I am here to meet with the acting head of the Silvanus family - the Lady Asha. Could you perhaps point little ol' me in the right direction?" she asked coyly, the subterfuge coming naturally to one that had been on the run for almost half of her life.
"Well, sweetheart, if we tell you, what would we get out of it?" one of them asked as he suggestively looked at her while resting his cheek on his hand.
Danika gave a coy smile. "For me to know and for you to dot dot dot." she said.
"She's over at the State House right now." the Trooper laughed.
"Thank you." Danika said, the coy smile turning into a sinister smirk. Then she subtly grabbed hold of both their throats with the Force without really lifting her hands, snapping their necks almost instantly and silently.

Much less fun than taking heads, but Death at least brought some satisfaction to her. All the while, the nagging feeling was running up and down her spine.

Someone was going to be a thorn in her side during this mission.

 

[Marek Silvanus]

It was a few hours past midday when Marek arrived at the inn. He was tired from his travels, and ready to rest for the remainder of the day prior to continuing onward. As he neared the establishment, something felt... amiss. The hairs upon his arms stood on end as if the very air itself bore an electrical current. He knew all too well that Serenno did not have such properties within its atmosphere, and that it was probably linked to the mysterious warriors who milled about the entrance of the inn. Every natural instinct within his body told him to avoid the place, as if on a primal level. But his duty as a Jedi, and his curiosity as an explorer coaxed the next few steps forward to the door and within the establishment. It took only a few more moments thereafter for him to initially process the scene before him, and again a few more still to wish he had listened to his prior instincts. The tavern within the inn was moderately populated, with the majority being troopers bearing the same strange armor with masks that bore very distinct, menacing facial features. Then, a Falleen adorned in similar garb, although distinct - as if to distinguish his station above the others. But the fixture of the room; and the sole reason for his regret in entering, was the chilling vision of a woman standing at a table where a pair of Imperial troopers sat. Marek couldn't help but feel that he knew her from somewhere, but recognition soon flooded his eyes at roughly the same time as his senses honed in on her as the source of this 'electricity' in the air.

This was the Herald of Death itself - Danika Leventis. To see her standing in a tavern was as extraordinary as if seeing a nexu aboard a luxury star liner - both out of place, and distinctly dangerous. To Marek's credit, however, the only 'feeling' visible on his face and discernable through his signature in the force was that of surprise and mild confusion. His master had taught him well in stifling feelings of fear, at least to the point of preventing them from leaking through the force. Further to his credit, Marek stood with a straight posture, and a confident air about him as if this was nothing more than a pleasant surprise. His face was relatively neutral, aside from the aforementioned surprise. He was, however, keenly aware of the precarious situation he was in. He was heavily outnumbered by the armored warriors and the Falleen. Even if he wasn't, the woman standing before him was a well known threat to the Galactic Alliance, Silver Jedi Concord, and the New Imperial Order; who could easily handle herself by her own right if the reports he had read were true about her. Plus, he wasn't 100% certain those troopers were still alive at the table, given they had not moved an inch within the moments that Marek had entered the inn. All of these facts brought Marek to the conclusion that it would be unwise to be the cause of any hostilities that may as of yet erupt. While the odds were not absolute, they were decidedly not in his favor. He simply hefted his pack, as if to distribute its weight a bit before giving the Fallen a nod, then turning his attention to the woman. He gave a polite grin before he said a quaint: "Hello there."

It wasn't exactly a question, but his pale eyes appraised Danika as he sought to gain the measure of her from her reply. It was far too late to even attempt to carry himself as if he was not a Jedi - he had not gone to any lengths to hide that fact, despite his fake identity. And the lightsaber on his right thigh was a dead giveaway to all but the truly blind. She was known to be a threat to the Jedi Order; her response would hopefully give Marek the few seconds he would need to ascertain if he had best order a drink at the bar, or reach for his light sabers to fight for his life. Despite that thought in the back of his mind, and although Marek had only seen her via digital displays, he could undoubtedly say that those likenesses did not do her justice. She was... remarkably striking in person, with a dangerous but... alluring air about her. In another life, perhaps they would share a drink together rather than entertaining less pleasurable confrontations. Nice going - what next, falling into a nest of gundarks? he thought to himself.

Anja Doreva

 

[Anja Doreva]

TAG: Marek Silvanus

O~~>WELCOME TO MY WORLD<~~O​

Ah, there it was.

The Ashlan Presence assaulted Danika the moment the door opened behind her. She could also feel Samron's non-Force Sensitive energy surge as the big Falleen rose to his feet, hand resting on his holstered Verpine.

The Lady of Conquest turned her unnatural teal gaze toward the newcomer in the room.

"Hello there."

The quaint greeting brought another sinister smirk to her lips as she cocked her head to the side, looking him up and down. He wasn't unseemly - on the contrary. But it was his Presence that truly grabbed the Force Master's attention. Not only did it seem confident, but there was a shadow starting to creep over the Light. Interesting.
"Well good afternoon, darling." she said as she started to glide forward in his direction, the ever present arcane breeze playing with her dark tresses. She held out a calming hand to the side to prevent Samron from declaring war.

She had a shrewd idea she could use this one in her endeavour.

Her teal eyes studied the Jedi as she approached him. She knew from experience how jumpy they could be when she approached them, no matter how innocently she tried to do it. She would then usually linger on the "some pacifist peacekeepers you are" argument. So the Lady of Bone was more than ready to defend herself should this Jedi fly off the handle as well.
"It is unfortunate that you only drop by now. I would have loved to stay for a date, but I have an appointment at the State House. But please do call again." she said sinisterly yet coy as she started to move past his tall frame. "Oh, there are two Troopers over at the bar that would love to keep you company in the meantime." she added with a teasing smile, trailing a finger across his chest before beckoning her men to follow her.

That small bit of contact told Danika all she needed to know at this moment in time. His Light was definitely tainted, faintly, but it was there. Perhaps even without his knowledge. Interesting. This boy-toy might be some fun to play with after all.

Outside, she waited for her men to join her.
"What was that about, Mistress?" Samron asked as he fell into step beside her.
"Jedi. We'll see how long it takes him to try and stop us." she said.
"You think Kaze sent him?"
"Dagon Kaze was far too desperate to redeem me to rely on someone else to whisk me away to Coruscant. No, this Jedi is here for something else. He was surprised to see me here." she mused.
"Would you go to Coruscant if Kaze asked, though?" Samron cautiously asked.
"I would go to Coruscant, yes." she said, her face turning dark at the memory of Korriban and her moment of weakness because the charming Jedi kept digging into her past. "Only to retrieve that pretty head for an honourary spot above my mantelpiece." she sneered.
"And this one?" He knew his warlord well enough to know her fascination with handsome faces.
A sinister smile crept around the corners of her mouth. "Oh, we'll have fun with this one. Coruscant and Kashyyyk would be off the table soon enough. He's pliable." she said, teal eyes burning brightly at the thought. She doubted she'd need to take this one's head.

There are few things as satisfying as heralding in a fallen Jedi.

 

[Marek Silvanus]

TAG: Anja Doreva

A chill went up Marek's spine as Danika regarded him with her otherworldly gaze. It was both unsettling and, in some curious way, inviting. He did not gaze upon her with the 'force sight' he possessed, but knew she would appear even more imposing if he did so. She seemingly glided over and past him, an action which he had to consciously prevent himself from reaching for his lightsaber over. This woman was dangerous, despite the effect she seemingly had on him. Her aura was... daunting to say the least, and her gentle graze sent a pulse of dark energy coursing through his mind. A part of him was glad that she did not appear aggressive as she made her way to the exit. Her parting words, however, placed him even more on edge. How did a woman like that have business at the state house? Surely she didn't mean...

No... He mentally remarked, denial creeping in as the reality of the situation struck as squarely as a mag-lev train. She couldn't be here for Ash, could she? But why else would she be going to the state house? He glanced over at the troopers Danika mentioned as she departed the inn, quickly striding over to place a hand on their necks to see about sensing a pulse. His hands confirmed what he already feared was true. Rest would have to wait - he needed to beat her to the state house. He quickly raced out the back door of the inn, glancing to and fro for something that could assist him in his endeavor. There was the marked speeder the troopers undoubtedly used for their patrol, but Marek knew to appropriate it even though its owners were dead would not be conducive to avoiding unwanted attention. He saw a small speeder bike parked near the kitchen, and quickly slung his pack across his frame as he jumped onto it. Bypassing the ignition lock was easy enough as he revved the engine and speed off down a back street, that skirted behind storage warehouses in the fading city district. Instead of making for the family estate, Marek turned around and headed back to the State House near the center of the city.

The Imperial State House was a dominant fixture within the capital, wrought of sandstone hued durasteel, with NIO banners draped from the top of the building. Massive sheer columns flanked the main door, and a red, stately carpet adorned the marble floor. Judging by the appearance of the building, the Planetary Council would be in session, with Imperial Guardsmen guarding the entrance with their rifles. Marek parked the craft he had 'borrowed' off to the side, in front of a local cafe, and continued on foot with his hood draped over his head. Access to the building was not restricted per se, but access to the council chambers themselves while it was in session was definitely inadvisable. Marek blended in with a crowd of Imperial Citizens walking into the main foyer of the building, where a reception area dominated the entrance, and security was in force within the building itself. While Marek couldn't claim to know Danika very well, something told him she wasn't going to be shy about presenting herself, given the retinue she had with her. For now, he contented himself in taking a few spare moments to come up with a plan. He could sense his sister within the chamber, but he couldn't just barge in. Perhaps there was a maintenance access he could take advantage of.

 

[Anja Doreva]

TAG: Marek Silvanus

O~~>HALF GOD HALF DEVIL<~~O​

Danika smiled sinisterly as she approached the steps of the State House.

A sigh came through Samron's helmet's ventilator. He knew what that expression on Danika's face meant.

"What is it, Mistress?" he asked, sounding somewhat resigned. She was going to give him grey hairs before 100 with all her extra-curricular activities.
"Well, we won't have to wait for the Jedi, for one. He's of sharper mind than I thought. He and the girl are both inside. Two birds one stone." she said, turning her teal eyes to regard the General of her forces. "Have the men stay outside for now. It would put the New Imperials on edge if we march in there, armed to the teeth."
"I'm not letting you go in alone." Samron said after a heartbeat.
"Oh darling, I'm flattered. You'll be coming with me." she smiled
The Falleen nodded before turning to face the Hellions. "Graves, you have command. If you don't at least hear back from us in 15, storm it." he said to his second in command, Prefect Nathan Graves.
"Copied, General." the human warrior replied.

Danika shook back her dark hair before gliding up the decorated steps and into the State House, Samron following a meter behind her. Being as primly dressed as she was, they were allowed inside without too much trouble. The foyer was typically gilded and luxurious as befitted Serenno. She had to admit that at least the New Imperials preserved most of the traditions of the cowardly planet.

Her teal gaze swept over the crowd, as the stinking Ashla was very close. The otherworldly eyes finally found the Jedi where he was looking around like a lost puppy between the crowd. She nodded towards him with her chin so Samron could keep an eye. A nod from the armoured Falleen was all she needed before gliding over, placidly parting people like the sea.
"We really should stop meeting like this, darling." she said, her ever present smirk adorning her porcelain features. "If you wish to spend time with my, all you have to do is ask."

She moved past, but glanced back at him over her shoulder. "Coming, dear?" she asked teasingly, motioning with her head toward the closed Assembly doors guarded by State Guards.

Turning to face them, she subtly waved a hand in their direction. Like zombies, the guards turned to open the doors for her.

Giving the Jedi a wink, she then glided forward.

 

[Marek Silvanus]

TAG: Anja Doreva

Did she just... handwave her way into the chamber? Marek thought to himself incredulously. Why didn't the guards stop her? Why didn't anyone stop her? Surely the Imperials cared that a known terrorist and war...(lady?) was entering one of their most auspicious houses of governance. But from what he could see, either no one cared, or no one dared to stop her. He wasn't sure if it was due to the sheer power she marshalled within the force, or if it was her obvious feminine allure... or perhaps a combination of both. Even he had to admit he was hard pressed to get in her way, for both of those reasons. It was at that moment that his former master's voice echoed in his mind: Focus on balancing your emotions Marek! You must control them, lest they lead you like a slave to your own damnation and ruin.

Such a lovely man. Marek thought to himself. He had practiced keeping his thoughts clear of emotion for the majority of his life. While the effort became easier over time, and he was fairly certain he was thinking clearly now, he couldn't help but feel obligated to intervene somehow. It was at that moment that he saw an opportunity present itself. Off to the side of the foyer rested a small fire alarm pullstation - a rudimentary device, placed openly for anyone to access should an emergency arise. With as little effort as if he were standing beside it (even though he was easily 20 feet away from it), he reached out with the force and tipped the handle in the down position. Instantly, an alarm blared to life throughout the building, with the lights turning a foreboding red to provide a visible cue that everyone needed to evacuate the building. Nearly as instantly, the guards by the door appeared to shake from their stupor, and quickly rushed into the chamber to help the noblemen & women to evacuate the premises as quickly and as orderly as possible. Guards within the chamber, who had thus far not noticed the entrance of Danika, quickly stepped within the pathway between seats that she was about to walk down, blocking the way for any 'guests' who would peer into the chamber as they helped to lead the lords and ladies to the emergency exits off to the side and down through the door Danika just emerged from.

The dark force user would soon be engulfed in a sea of worried individuals coaxed forward by the guardsmen, attempting to press past (or through) her to the exit. Asha wasn't among those immediately in her vicinity - no, Marek felt her presence deeper within the chamber closer to one of the side emergency exits. Marek shot a glance over at the Falleen who stood near him, gave him a wry grin, and used the force to tug aggressively on the carpet under the alien's feet. Unless Danika's lacky boasted superhuman reflexes that would even surpass most force users, then he would likely trip and fall flat on his back. Unfortunately, Marek wouldn't stick around to find out.

Without skipping a beat, he ran off to the side, leaping over the mass of people surrounding him, using the desks and furniture spread around as footfalls for him to make his way over to an upraised side corridor. It appeared as though it was not part of the evacuation plan, or that few people actually were up on that level, as hardly anyone was using it at the moment. Based on both Marek's intuition and his memory of the layout of this building (for his father had brought him here on occasion to help expose him to what his intended destiny was), this corridor ran parallel to the main assembly chamber, which in turn fed into private suites and offices that overlooked the chamber, and contained a fire exit towards the east side of the building which opened up alongside the eastern emergency exit of the chamber itself. All he had to do was beat Danika to it, and make sure she couldn't follow him.

He made quick progress, landing on the steps leading up to the elevated corridor, and brushing past fleeing civilians with a brisk "Sorry!" leaving his lips on occasion. He would arrive at the opened doors, with a security officer glancing his direction and raising his blaster to challenge the Jedi. A quick wave of his hand would cause the officer to also stumble backward, and fall over the railing and down about 10 feet to land atop a small, unfortunate desk that collapsed under his copious weight. After rushing past the door, Marek glanced back at Danika's direction, shutting the doors behind him and twisting their metallic handles together to prevent them from just bursting apart so easily. He then continued running, hoping he bought himself enough time.

 

[Anja Doreva]

TAG: Marek Silvanus

O~~>KILLER QUEEN<~~O​

Oh he had moxy.

Danika flat out laughed when the fire alarm sounded just as she set foot in the chamber. And then it was just pandemonium. People started to panic while guards were milling all over to try and stem the tide both in and out. To top it off, Boy Next Door leapt over the desks and benches in the chamber like a pixie on coals.

Dark teal eyes flashed a bright sea-green.

No more playing.

Darth Halōsis flung her arms wide, sending people flying in all directions away from her line of path with the Force. Behind her, Samron was just rising from the ground from where he had been thrown from his feet.
"Have the Hellions intercept." she told him without turning around.
"Yes, my Lady." came the answer before he headed outside. He knew she wasn't playing now. He felt almost sorry for the fool that invoked her ire.

Then Danika tore the veil.

Within an instant, she stepped through time, as she so often did. The Jedi pulling the door shut behind him had no effect, as she was no longer in the chamber full of injured an panicked people and Troopers rushing in.

She stepped back onto the corporeal plane right in front of the fleeing Jedi just as her men appeared at her back. Lifting a hand, she thrust forward the Force with the hope of stopping him in his tracks.
"Such a shame. I have been nothing but cordial. Now I have to result to this, because you had to make things difficult." she said, her voice sounding like it came from the cold Abyss itself, carrying the sound of thousands of other voices. "We both want the same thing, my dear. Now either you work with me and we put this little incident behind us, or I dispose of one more Jedi right here, right now." The eerie breeze that always surrounded her, intensified in strength somewhat, the Nether teetering on the edge of spilling over onto the realm of the living once more. "You seem like a sharp man. Shouldn't take you long to do the calculations."

She would have loved to get two for the price of one. But if he wanted to slap away the hand of truce, then the Lady of Conquest would happily oblige.

 

[Marek Silvanus]

TAG: Anja Doreva

When Marek turned from the door to run down the corridor, he only made it a few paces when he saw what seemed like the fabric of reality itself ripple, as if a curtain in a theater parted and closed quicker than an eye could blink. In that exceedingly small window of time, what was once an empty corridor was now filled with over a dozen individuals, with the woman standing in the front. Her hand was extended in front of her, with a small pulse of energy bumping Marek back. The jab countered his forward momentum, basically causing him to fall back onto the heels of his feet rather than knocking him over, although he almost fell over from shock. What in the name of... His inner exclamation of surprise would be interrupted by Danika as she spoke, her voice carrying an other-worldly quality, and a tone that could chill a man's blood within his own veins. Another Jedi may well have frozen in his tracks, battle internally from the natural fear that threatened to creep up within from the sound of such a voice. Marek, on the other hand, did not feel any fear. But it was not because of his training. Instead of a state of serenity, he felt something else scratching at the edge of his consciousness. It was faint, but it was there - pleading to be brought to the fore rather than stamped down with his ingrained and heavily indoctrinated mentality. It was... anger.

Who did this woman think she was, claiming dominion over his sister? Despite his effort to contain his feelings of anger, his inner discipline was threatening to fail as his previously controlled and reserved presence in the force began to leak through his mental facade. His raw, unbridled power within the force threatened to seep through despite himself, as if a knee jerk response to the raw power that the Lady of Bones herself displayed. Where her power was flagrant for all to see, Marek's was clearly bridled and hidden, as if an indication of a far greater power than what he previously presented was begging to be released from his restraint. But he did keep it at bay - he had to; for Asha. His hands dangled dangerously close to his lightsabers, one strapped on his right hip, the other behind his back on the left, with a challenge in his eye. He took in a deep breath, as if trying to calm himself before he spoke: "How do you know what I want? What business do you have here?" He stared into Danika's eyes for a moment. As if judging that Danika likely knew what he was here for, he spoke again, with a more curious tone in his voice: "What... what do you want... with my sister?"

 

[Anja Doreva]

TAG: Marek Silvanus

O~~>RAISE HELL<~~O​

There we go.

The Herald of Death could sense the internal struggle.
<You got him now, Dani girl. Try not to kill him. He can be of use.> the spectre of Era Knox said from where she stood next to Danika.
<Of course.> Danika replied mentally as she watched the emotions pass over the Jedi's Presence. It was like watching a holo-drama.

"What... what do you want... with my sister?"

The sinister smirk was back.
"Well done. You gain brownie points for that quick calculation." she said, the abyssal tone still persisting. "As for what I want with her. Well, I believe we'll all find out once we get to her, now won't we? I was just led here by the Force. I wouldn't know what I'd do without assessing her situation first." she answered his question, watching his hands hover toward his weapons.

Cocking her head to the side, she regarded him with her bright teal gaze. Samron shifted next to her, which caused her to hold out a stopping hand toward the Falleen. She could feel all the bridled tension swirling all around the men in the corridor.
"Now, now, darlings. Let's all calm down. Let's not do something we will all regret." she said, her cool voice soothing her men at least. She could still almost hear the frown screaming through Samron's helmet, but at least he seemed to settle down slightly.

Men.

All so chest-bangy.

"Now, Master Jedi, what would it be? How badly do you wish to cut me down? Or can we call a truce for the sake of your sister?" she asked almost innocently. Part of her, however, almost wanted to bait him into attacking just for the sake of seeing what it was he could do. But then the chances of taking his head were so much higher.

Corruption was so volatile.

 

[Marek Silvanus]

TAG: Anja Doreva

To be honest, Marek wasn't sure how to handle Danika's response. It was both an answer & a non-answer at the same time. He could feel himself calming as she seemed to be... persistent about avoiding violence with him (the simple fact of which bore an irony so thick he could probably cook a steak on it), which in turn de-escalated his demeanor as well. He paused a moment, thinking about the best way to proceed from here. He knew no more about her intentions than when he asked the question, and he also knew that she likely wasn't going to answer his questions directly if she felt he opposed her motives. He also knew, that he only had two options; accept the truce, or fight, here and now. His master had ingrained within Marek to only fight when absolutely necessary. If the situation was deemed necessary, then ensure you know how to win even before the first blow is struck. At this stage, a fight didn't seem entirely necessary, and even if it did - he was not sure who would win the fight. Marek had confidence in his own abilities, but to say that Danika's reputation preceded her was a massive understatement. There was of course the added presence of her retinue, where no guarantee existed that they would not join the fight alongside her. That wasn't necessarily an advantage though, given their close quarters.

After debating back and forth within himself for a few moments, his posture relaxed as he replied: "I'm here to protect her. To be honest, I have... little desire to work alongside someone without knowing their motives. If you truly want a truce between us, then I require one thing; the truth. No games, no deceit." His reserved, dignified demeanor returned to him - as if a mask that had fallen off, but was now reset in its proper position. Although he wasn't certain that she would acquiesce to his 'demands', he would do the best he could to turn this situation to his advantage one way or the other.

 

[Anja Doreva]

TAG: Marek Silvanus

O~~>BAD ROMANCE<~~O​

Danika's head cocked to the side as his posture eased.

A perfect brow lofted slightly as a calmness settled over the Jedi once more. How disappointing. One small blessing was that she did not have to kill him just yet, however. It would have been a shame to mar such a pretty face.

"I'm here to protect her. To be honest, I have... little desire to work alongside someone without knowing their motives. If you truly want a truce between us, then I require one thing; the truth. No games, no deceit."

A sinisterly sweet smile spread on Danika's lips.
"I'd tell you the truth, darling, but would you believe me? I think not. You'll have to see that for yourself. So all assurance I will give you is that I am not intent on harming her. On the contrary, I very much want her alive and with free will. There's enough dead people with a grudge walking around me already. I prefer not to kill those of use to me." she said calmly, the otherworldly tone fading from her voice.

She placed another calming hand on Samron's shoulder, as he was still bristling slightly, before she stepped back while still facing the Jedi.
"Now, my sweet, do you care to introduce yourself or must I delve for a name on my own? It's slightly rude to persist on a date with someone without the girl knowing who she's seeing." she said teasingly. "I do wish to meet your sister without having to wonder who you are."

She then waved her men down the corridor.
"Now, darling, shall we?" she asked, motioning down the corridor for him with a sweep of the arm. Not that she needed to ask. But it would probably not do to force a potential Hand down a path just yet. It might breed resentment.

And resentment gets nipped in the bud permanently.

Danika had very little time for disobedience and rebels. Either the fear has to be so great that rebellion is completely out of the question, or convincing loyalty was the other option. And fear seemed out of the question with this little catch.

 

[Marek Silvanus]

TAG: Anja Doreva

So many questions swirled about in Marek's mind. What use did this woman have for Asha? Why wouldn't she answer the karking question? He could feel his irritation bubbling under the surface ever so slightly again, but it soon subsided as he thought through the situation again. He was getting nowhere, and if he persisted down this line of confrontation, he would continue further down 'nowhere' until his sister was long gone and indisposed to see anyone at all. Plus, they could only stand in this hallway for so long before the authorities realized the alarm was indeed false. As he was about to speak up to relent to her proposition, she spoke again. A date?! He blinked with a hint of incredulity in his eye.

She thinks we are on a... date?! Either this woman was joking, toying with him, stark raving mad, or a combination of all three. "...Marek." He finally replied, still slightly taken aback by the sheer wherewithal this woman possessed. When she turned and waved for him to join her, a part of him wanted to resist out of mere spite. He was tempted to, but before long he saw it as a rather immature way to go about the situation. He glanced back behind him at the door he had rigged shut, then glanced back ahead of him to her. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he followed after her. To what end, he honestly wasn't sure. While she seemingly refused to answer his questions, he judged it better to at least be where he could see her rather than deal with an unknown threat. He glanced over at the Falleen, who would have to surgically alter his face to scowl any deeper at Marek as he joined them.

As he left the building with them, he mentally apologized to Asha, as if she could hear him. I'm sorry, Asha. Dont' give up yet.

 

[Anja Doreva]

TAG: Marek Silvanus

O~~>SAVE ME NOW<~~O​

"...Marek."

The sinister glint in Danika's eye didn't dissipate as she waited for him to follow. It was quite enjoyable to see the confusion play across his face in different magnitudes before he finally decided to approach the unknown.
"A wise decision, really. So much potential would be wasted on its own." she told him as she turned to lead the way out of the corridor towards the outside.

Samron, on the other hand, was not happy at all. His disdain of the Jedi was bombarding her senses in droves. She couldn't blame him, however. For so long, they had minded their own business - not getting involved in the politics between Jedi and Sith since she was running from both. And then the moment she had turned her sights on the Galaxy and had run into a Jedi barring her way to her goal, she had changed. No matter how she tried to bounce back, that promise of redemption made to her, remained. Made her hope. And that unsettled her long time friend and protector.

Danika glanced down her nose at Marek.
"Where would your sister go after you so valiantly raised a false alarm?" she asked casually as they moved into the street. "Do we need to invest in transport?" Travel for her was pretty simple. But to ferry her men to and fro the whole time, is slightly taxing.

There was something on the Force that shifted that Danika could not exactly put her finger on, but it made her uneasy. Teal eyes flashed bright as she stopped and glared at the Jedi.
"Tell me now - what tricks do you have up your sleeve? I am not in the mood for any more surprises." she told him. If she had to lead her men into a trap, she would raze the planet as a whole.

Including any Jedi in hiding.

 

[Marek Silvanus]

TAG: Anja Doreva

He didn't like this - not one bit. The longer he was around this woman, the more he was convinced that the last thing he wanted to do was to lead her straight to his sister. Granted, he hadn't seen his sister for many years. He wasn't exactly the definition of a loyal, protective brother. But he had a duty, if not because of his familial bond, then because of his mandate as a Jedi. Marek was convinced that Danika was definitively no Jedi - she had a chilling air around her that simply felt... wrong. Despite the revulsion he felt at the idea of leading her to his sister, the rational part of his brain soon kicked in.

What other choice did he have? It was a wonder that the authorities weren't focused on arresting him under suspicion of being in league with this party. If anything, he had thus far created more of a panic than either Danika or her party. Could he really expect to battle with her in the streets of Carannia, in some vainglorious attempt at saving his sister whom he had not even really met as an adult? Even if he, by some feat of skill and a bit of luck (even though his master insisted that there was no such thing as luck), managed to defeat Danika in battle along with her team, what next? He would likely be pursued by law enforcement for good - meaning he would need to leave the planet without even remotely coming close to seeing his sister.

Perhaps it wasn't so crazy to play along, at least for now. At least he could finally make headway to his familial estate. From Danika's previous response to his questioning, she assured him that she meant no harm upon his sister - but there was no guarantee that she was telling the truth either. For all he knew, this was some grand ploy to manipulate him into securing entrance into the estate. He did not sense deception within her, but given her ability to... phase in front of him, he judged her abilities quite... considerable. Even still, he didn't sense a complete absence of intent either. She seemed rather... earnest, if not eager to get a move on.

After brief mental deliberation, he finally relented: "She... would likely retreat to our family estate. The inn is actually halfway between here and there. Transport wouldn't necessarily be required... but I guess that depends on how quickly you wish to arrive." His tone was even, his demeanor a touch somber. He hoped he wouldn't regret this. At the mention of 'tricks up his sleeve', he stifled a slight grin: "Since you mentioned the prospect of a 'date', I would be curious what exactly you are in the mood for..."

Seriously? Jokes? Well, he could at least have a bit of levity before things got serious again.

 

[Anja Doreva]

TAG: Marek Silvanus

O~~>DARKSIDE<~~O​

Danika smiled knowingly, as if she could read his mind.

Not that she could, but it was not hard to guess what was going through his head. She knew full well how imposing she could be. Even her men recoiled sometimes.

But it seemed this man was smarter than some, as he decided to answer her in the end.
"Well, darling, I do not want to stop and smell the roses, so the quicker you can walk, the better. The sooner I can get off this piece of dust, the better. I have no desire to run into any of your friends you brought along." she said as they moved down the road. "Besides, three's a crowd." she added with a sinister smirk.

"Since you mentioned the prospect of a 'date', I would be curious what exactly you are in the mood for..."

Danika let out a laugh, even as the displeasure oozed from Samron at yet another Jedi that was throwing sass at his warlord.
"You would, would you?" she chuckled. "You sure you can handle it?" she added teasingly before picking up the pace in the general direction of where Marek said the estate would be.

After a bit of walking, they finally ended up in front of the gates. Danika rolled her eyes before turning to the Jedi.
"Want to try to get them to open the gate the peaceful way first before I do it my way? I don't like wasting time, mind you." she asked Marek as Samron looked at the gates, his hands resting on the disruptors on his hips.
"We are exposed here, Mistress." he said without turning his helmeted head in her direction. He was clearly on edge on the Imperial planet.
"Yes, dear. But we are not here to wage war. Yet." she told him, enunciating the 'yet'. She would strike at the Imperials and Jedi some time soon. Acting now, would throw a wrench in the works.

 

[Marek Silvanus]

TAG: Anja Doreva

It had been some years, nearly a lifetime in fact, since Marek had visited Silvanus Manor. It had appeared far more austere and idyllic in his childhood - not that it hadn't remained a stately estate in its own right over the years. But, it was distinctly different from what he had remembered, not in the least because of massive, ornate Imperial banners mounted along the columns of the external gate. A pair of guardsmen were posted outside of the gate, no doubt due to the disruption caused at the council chambers earlier in the day. Marek couldn't help but let out a sigh at the whole affair. He had caused so much trouble earlier, only for the sum total of his efforts to amount to the same outcome as if he had done nothing. Now, he had to help this woman, whom he had just met, to gain access into the manor he had left as a boy. The Jedi merely nodded at Danika as he approached the guards at the gate, still wrestling with the best way to go about this even as he neared the pair of armed men.

He soon caught their attention, with one raising his blaster at the Jedi and the other extended his hand authoritatively, his voice demanding: "HALT! State your business, or leave the premises immediately." Marek wasn't particularly known for being a 'smooth talker' per se, but he also wasn't the opposite of that either. He began with a hesitant smile, raising both of his hands slowly in a non-threatening manner.

"Sorry to intrude. I am actually here to see my sister... My name is... Marek Silvanus." The body language of the guardsmen indicated they were primed to bodily throw the intruder into the street, but the last bit of his introduction gave them pause. Uncertainty flashed through Marek's mind, until the lead guard spoke again.

"Yeah, and I'm the new Imperator. I'm in a good mood today, so leave before that changes!" The guard tilted his head back to his companion with an obnoxious chortle, reinforced by a chuckle by his companion. Marek merely smiled at the pair, and waved his hand slightly at the lead guardsman.

"You will call ahead to verify my identity." He said softly, barely audible for either of the two men.

"I will call ahead to verify your identity." The guard responded rather awkwardly, interrupting his mocking laughter of the Jedi before him. The other guard seemed, if only briefly, mildly incredulous at his companion's change in tack, but did nothing to prevent him from doing as he said. The lead guardsman brought his finger up to his ear and turned slightly in an effort to avoid being eavesdropped upon. A few moments had passed, along with a brief exchange between the guard and whomever he was speaking with on the other end of the transmission, but soon enough the guard directed his attention back to Marek. "Mistress Silvanus wishes to speak with you." The guard extended his hand to Marek, but soon after glanced up at the 'companions' who were slightly behind him.

Before the guard had a chance to inquire, Marek spoke up: "These are my traveling companions. I'm sure my sister would be pleased to see them." As if to reinforce his point, Marek smirked and placed a gentle hand on Danika's back. It wasn't wholly inappropriate, instead appearing more like the casual touch of a friend introducing a friend to another.

The guard paused for a moment before finally replying: "Only the two of you. The rest must remain out here with us." Marek arched an eyebrow and cast a glance over at Danika, as if to gauge her willingness to comply with the guard's demand. Before she had a chance to completely blow his attempt to go about this peacefully, Marek opted to speak up again:

"We understand." He gave the guard a curt nod, and shot a sheepish grin at Danika. He was certain she could easily take care of herself should something happen within the estate, but the thought of even slightly inconveniencing her gave Marek some small grain of satisfaction over this whole thing.

 

[Anja Doreva]

TAG: Marek Silvanus

O~~>THE CHAIN<~~O​

It was cute.

Danika intently watched the exchange between Marek and the guardsmen, absently resting a gentle hand on Samron's wrist before he could draw a pistol. His arm tensed slightly under her fingers, but he refrained from whipping out the disruptor.

She could feel the Force at work as the Jedi spoke to the guard that had approached them first. It was quaint, using the cheap trick. So typical of the pacifists - not embracing their titles and breeding. Instead, Marek seemed almost ashamed of it, as he had not been exceptionally convincing.

Well, until he had to convince them to let her in as well.

A smirk curled the corner of her mouth as he placed a hand on her back. He was ballsy, she had to hand it to him. Especially with a bunch of her soldiers at her back. She looked back at the guards with a smile, but remained silent.

Until the order that her men were to remain outside.

"We understand."

She snorted. <I may understand. The big guy won't.> she told Marek telepathically.
And lo, she had to tighten her grip on Samron's wrist as he tried to take a step forward, authority oozing from the Falleen in spades.
"Mistress." he gritted, looking down at her.
"Darling, I'd rather have you all outside, ready to break down the manor if things go wrong than all of us caught inside." she told him softly. "I can hold down the fort inside if it ends badly until you get there."
Samron reluctantly stood down, finally relaxing his arm. "Yes, my Lady."

She moved her hand to his shoulder momentarily before looking at Marek with a sinister smile.
"Well, dear, shall we?" she asked him, not inconvenienced at all.

 

[Marek Silvanus]

TAG: Anja Doreva

The wind was taken from his proverbial sails slightly at the ready acceptance of his mild jab at Danika's retinue, although a small measure of satisfaction washed upon Marek when the Faleen reacted as he did. If anything, it seemed that Danika... was okay with Marek's presumptuousness in selling his deception. All of a sudden, he became very conscious that his hand remained upon the small of her back as the guards relented, and opened the gate before them. With his cheeks slightly flushed, Marek slowly retracted his hand and straightened his tunic as it to reassert some form of decorum. He cast a stray glance back at Danika before look back in front of him along the path that opened before them.



The path ahead was a quaint cobbled road flanked on either side by a dense copse of trees, the arms of which reached up and over to form a canopy over the path. It served as a natural barrier against prying eyes into the estate, but one could not deny the additional level of beauty it added to an otherwise mundane approach to the entrance. Marek thought of making conversation during their walk, but he felt a bit preoccupied when he thought to do so. Something didn't feel right - and it wasn't just the fact a dark sorceress had joined herself to his visit. He felt a... familiar presence on these grounds, a presence he had not felt for several years now. "Could it be...?"



"No, that would be ridiculous. What would he be doing here?"



The thought that his master would be here, on Imperial-occupied Serenno, sowed doubt within him. Surely such a thought was truly absurd, right? What business would his master have with his sister? What business would he have within Imperial space anyway? Regardless of how much he questioned his senses, it was as if his master's presence grew even stronger and more pronounced. Was this a trick by... Danika? She was undoubtedly an exceedingly strong practicioner of the dark side, but he had never known of an ability to mimic the presence of another Jedi using the force. But he also had rarely ever seen someone be able to literally teleport in front of him, either. His pace slowed, and he glanced back at her yet again - but this time his eyes lingered as he finally said: "That presence ahead of us... is that your doing? I'm giving you what you want, you don't need to trick me any further."



His voice was calm, if not mildly annoyed at his suspicions. He honestly didn't know what to think, but it was one of only two possibilities that made sense. In a way, he almost hoped this was the truth of the matter, as strange as it was to think.

 

[Anja Doreva]

TAG: Marek Silvanus

O~~>EDGE<~~O​

An impish smile spread the corners of her mouth.

His sudden self-consciousness was quite satisfying. A sinister light was in her teal eyes as she followed him through the gate and onto the canopied, cobbled pathway.

Her gliding step was almost silent as she looked at their surroundings. The closer they got, the more the itch spread under Danika's skin as that other Light Sided presence crept up on her once more. It seemed Marek felt the same presence at last as his bashfulness turned straight out uncomfortable before he turned towards her, halting their advance.

"That presence ahead of us... is that your doing? I'm giving you what you want, you don't need to trick me any further."

The Lady of Bone narrowed her eyes at him.
"Darling, I don't have need of Light Sided trickery. I can get everything I want by other means. Whoever that is, is someone from your side of the spectrum." she told him. It was clear that he did not expect any of his kind to be here. Which meant that whoever it was, they did not come here for the same reasons as she or Marek did. He did not even seem to know about his sister. "If you are concerned for your sister's safety, I'd be more worried about that presence ahead than of me." she added.

She moved forward, cloaking herself in the Presence of the Abyss. What or whoever lay ahead of them, would be in a for a great surprise. The Lady of Conquest would get what she came for - with or without this specific Jedi in tow. She stopped a few paces ahead, looking back.

"Best prepare yourself for the unexpected, darling." she said.

"Are you ready?"