Strength vs Honor

[Stephanie Swail]

Hurom, Thule
Thurra System, Outer Rim ​

Asterion, Sith Knight, craned his head to look out on the dark planet below; Thule. Breaking off to continue his self-teaching of Sith history and secrets, the planet below was rich with the scars of wars and super-weapons.

But of greater interest was the capital city of Hurom. There resided a Sith Temple, and as far as Asterion know, it was still there as a home to who knew how many treasures.

While the planet was on the edge of Mandalorian territory, Asterion was cautious but not worried. What as a tin-can with a blaster compared to the might of a Sith warrior?

As dark skies swirled below ready to erupt with thunder and lightning over the mountainous terrain, Asterion pulled the yoke up gently to work his way over to a break in the clouds in an attempt to move down through the atmosphere and down to seek the city before moving onto his next conquest residing on Ession.


[member="Cassandra Fenri"]

 

[Salaza]

Thule. Once this was a planet that belonged to the Sith. Now it was under Mandalore control. Without many force users among the ranks the Mandos didn't have too much use for an old Sith remnent like the Sith Temple on the planet's surface. Still it stood at the Mandos trophie, a sign of their strength over the Sith and to show the might of their military strength. for those like Cassandra Fenri, however, it was a place where possible teachings in the ways of the force could be found.

Being a recently discovered force user herself Cassandra realized how useful having that sort of power would be in a fight or leading forces in a battle. However, as said before, there were not many force users within the Mando's forces and she needed a master to help her hone her skills. Even when she went to her military supierors about this they said they would look into it, and that was over a week ago. Cassandra needed results sooner, or at least a decent enough start into how to use her abilites. And that was where the idea of traveling to Thule came to mind.

Using her military clearance she commendered one of the Mand shuttles off-world before making her way to Thule. Upon arriving she realized how harsh the weather was while trying to land as close to the Temple as possible. Armed with not up a dagger, a small hand-held blaster and a blaster rifle she was as ready as ever for any sort of opposition she might face. The planet still had it's fair share of Sith supporters and/or criminals who would try to steal from the temple or use it for a base. Better to have a weapon and need it, then need one and not have it after all.

Once she was set Cassandra, upon exiting the shuttle, made her way towards the temple's entrace with only a hood to cover her head.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

The small blue reader on the control panel of his Sith fighter charted his position to the Sith Temple in the city. Well, it was more to the city than the Temple, but Asterion doubted such a building of importance would be hard to miss. He remained low as the engine roared, piercing the light mist as the clouds above rumbled.

It didn't take long to see in the distance; situated on a large circular cliff face above the city. It was imposing on the skyline and magnificent to behold. Asterion smiled slightly, thinking about what lay inside. The surrounding area seemed quiet. A bolt of lighting cracked across the sky, forking along like an out of control speeder-train.

Banking left and down, Asterion circled the huge temple once to get a feel of the size before bringing his ship down gently at the base of one large pathway. Killing the engines and flicking a switch to transfer the map to his personal com, Asterion pulled open the hatch above his head, sliding it back and pushing himself out and immediately feeling the chill in the air.

Reaching over and taking his black lightsaber from it's compartment, he held it in his right hand as he slammed the cockpit hatch shut with the left, then pulling up the hood of his black cowl. His dark silver armour kept him safe and warm, and he looked around at the breath-taking sight of Sith architecture. The Mandos were sitting on a treasure trove.

Starting to walk up the rocky path, the Knight held his hilt lightly as he casually made his way up to what looked like the West side of the temple with no urgency in his movements, but just a trace of eagerness and excitement.

[member="Cassandra Fenri"]

 

[Salaza]

This was Cassandra's first time seeing the works of someone other than the Mandos. Given the immese and almsot intimidating structure of the Sith temple within the city she could see why any and all stories around the sith were dark, mysterious and often haunting. She knew they dealt into darker magics and the like in thier force training, something she wasn't too keen on taking up herself. All she really wanted was a lesson in the basics of how to handle the force on her own; perhaps a few advanced lessons for the heat of battle.

Once insid the temple Casandra removed her hood while looking around and trying to figure a sense for the place. Just as the outside the inside was grand and made her feel so much smaller just standing in it. Looking around she could see the still intact, if a bit fractured, remains of what the sith had built. Given what she knew about her people's own sense of construction she figured the archives she was looking for would be on one of the lower levels.

As she made her way towards the nearst staricase Cassandra had an odd feeling in the back of her mind. It was sort of an uneasy sense that something was wrong. She couldn't tell what it was exaclty, perhaps another part of her force abilites she wasn't fully aware of yet, but she kept her hand at her blaster the entire time.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Jumping up a series of broken columns that had suffered the effects of wild weather, the rubble crunched beneath Asterion's boots as he navigated up and over, into the large archway that led into the main courtyard where all exterior paths converged, with a single gateway into the temple.

And it was open.

Asterion had no clue as to who or what was here, but something felt wrong. He didn't know what...but something just felt off. Like he wasn't alone.

Narrowing his eyes, he stretched out with the Force to feel his way around the immediate area, and immediately snapped his head around and looked down to the ground. He could sense a Force signature of another - and it was leading inside the temple from the East.

Scanning the large arches and columsn above, Asterion slowly moved to the door, boot over boot, without making a sound. Gloved fingers inched around the wooden door and pulled it gently towards him, a creaking noise ringing out. His dark eyes scanned the ghostly hallway, with staircases on both sides - one leading down, one leading up. Everything about the temple seemed dilapidated, wrecked and rundown.

The signature trailed away to the staircase going up to the higher levels. Asterion kept his back to the stone wall as he slid inside, lightsaber hilt tight in his hand as he moved forward. His breath was slow but hard, eyes alert and senses ready to hear, see or even taste something that would indicate who - or what - was with him looking for secrets.

He crested the top step, and was in a large corridor that was illuminated by the light streaming in from outside.


[member="Cassandra Fenri"]

 

[Salaza]

Finally reaching the next level Cassandra's hunch was proven to be right. She could see the same data storage units that were kept in Mandaolrian archives, as well as most other large information storers in societies. Looking around she tried to find a nearby console to use, most of them being wrekced or looking too worn down to be working anymore. Thankfully, to her suprise, there was at least one that still looked intact. A quick brush off of dust and finding where to turn it on and Cassandra had basically hit the jackpot. While the console was still botting up Cassadra pulled out a datachip she was hoping to store any and all data on, which she would look at once she was back home. As she continued, however, that odd sense still haunted her. She couldn't help but draw her blaster pistol out while keeping it at the ready as she worked. Something was definitly here with her, she just couldn't tell what. But when she did it would have two options: come along quietly or get a shot through the head.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

About to continue up the levels, Asterion’s ears pricked up at the strange humming that came from the area he was in. Something had been activated - a comlink or holodeck. Turning towards where the slight noise came from, Asterion placed his thumb over the ignitor on the hilt.

His head crested around each alcove opposite the stairs, full of worn down observation monitors and other devices that seemed to have been looted or the subject of decay. It was the third alcove that made him stop, noticing blue illumination on the stones ahead of him.

Don’t hesitate – move swift and move hard.

Asterion turned the corner and met a dark figure facing the console. His left hand reached out and clamped around the back of their neck with his right hand pressing the saber hilt into their back. He kept his arms out and held his body back to avoid a flailing attack.

”You got 10 words to tell me who you are and what you’re doing here before I gut you.”


[member="Cassandra Fenri"]

 

[Salaza]

Cassandra's distraction with the hololink was what let herself be taken so easily. She went stiff and kept herself still as possible when she felt the saber pressed against her back. She couldn't tell what it was at first but knew it had to be some sort of weapon. It didn't help any better with the man's hand around her neck as well. Obviously she dropped her blaster at that point, since he would've said something anyways. While taking a moment to try and calm herself internally Cassandra realized that this was who she'd been sensing before, whoever this other force user was turning out to be a sith from what she could tell. Her force abilites aside it was the fact that he was approching her in such a hostile manner that she could tell he must've been one.

"I'm just here looking for information on the force." she answered him.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

His eye closed slightly, hearing it was a female and one who wasn’t evoking a sense of danger. He wasn’t expecting that. His hand remained on her neck.

”Who are you? You’re not one of us…you shouldn’t be here.”

He lifted his head slightly to see the screen before her, and it was nothing but assorted maps and flightpaths.

”Funny sort of information.”


[member="Cassandra Fenri"]

 

[Salaza]

With more questions Cassandra sighed, trying to stay calm, while answering "I'm a soldier in the Mandalorian forces. My people offically have claim over this planet. If you are what I think you are, your the one who doesn't belong here. Sith." She tried looking back to see him, and confirm on the fact that he was, in fact, a sith. When he commented about the information she was looking at she retorted with "It's not any of your business anyway. So why don't you stand down before you make one really grave mistake." While sayig this she looked down towards the blaster she dropped.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Feth – she was right. This was Mando space, and he was the one crossing borders without a care for anyone else. But then again, he wasn’t on anyone’s order or command. He wasn’t under a leader or dictator – the galaxy didn’t belong to anyone.

”Aren’t you a little short for a soldier?”

Asterion slowly let go of her neck and pulled the hilt away, keeping it forward however in case she attacked. He was well aware of the blaster before her boots. Glancing left and right, he rolled his tongue around the inside of his mouth, weighing up his choices. The girl didn’t seem well armed, or especially threatening for the typical Mando brute, but all he could see was the large robe she wore to cover her figure.

”Well, this is nice. How about you just head on out of here, forget you ever met me, and leave me to the business that rightfully is for Sith, not Mando.”



[member="Cassandra Fenri"]

 

[Salaza]

"Aren't you a little big for an ego?" she retorted to his question.

As he started to back away she slowly turned herself around to have a better look at him. This sith seemed as strong on body as he was with the force. It was still something didn't fully understand but she could tell that he was stronger and more skilled than her in the ways of the force, especially the darkside. It was so odd knowing these things now, epecially in such a situation as this. All she did was continue to look at him as he seemed to be examining her. She hoped it was just to see if she was armed, otherwise if he was checking her out she'd be sure to punch his eyes out first.

When he tried to tell her to leave she sneered and said "Can't do that. I'm here leagally afterall. And I need whatever I can find here. So here's the counter offer. You leave and I forget I ever saw you."

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

A bemused look crossed Asterion’s face as he was presented with the Mando warrior; not what he had expected. Why it is his expectations of things were never met? This seriously made him feel he was, actually, way out of touch with the current state of things.

She had long dark hair, a black leather jacket and, what looked like, armour that accentuated her body and gleamed with crimson and gold. A strange tiara-like headband was worn, a symbol of her legion or tribe?

He couldn’t help but shake his head in amusement at her impressive style but foolish attitude.

”Wow. Wonderful. What is this, fancy dress?”

Shifting his weight, he crossed his arms, the hilt resting on his arm.

”You know I could snap you in half right about now if you continue with that pretty little mouth of yours? I’m not here for a fight. Aren’t you better off elsewhere? This is a Sith temple – you are not Sith. You have no idea what you’re standing in, do you? Except a crater load of trouble.”


[member="Cassandra Fenri"]

 

[Salaza]

The more he looked as her the more Cassandra was trying to identify him via his demonor and the like. He was a sith, for sure, but he didn't seem as dark or mysterious as she'd heard sith to be. If anything he seemed more undisicplined and without need for a leader other than himself. Possibly a rouge or a deserter. It didn't matter either way. His snarky comments about her attire aside his threats he constantly threw at her weren't going to intimidate Cassandra that easily.

"I know that this is the best place for the answers I seek. Which are none of your business. And I'm a warrior. I don't run from a threat. Even one like you."

Just then she jumped back, flipping herself around before landing on the table behind her. Summoning the force she brought the blaster to her hand and opened fire, trying to either shoot or at least barrage with a flurry of shots towards [member="Asterion"] Either way when she finished firing she ducked down to the otherside of the table and readied her blaster rifle now. This was going to be a hell of a fight on her hands.

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion picked up a tremor in the Force that wasn’t coming from him, and his curiosity in the girl was amplified when she suddenly vaulted back, using the Force to summon her blaster and unleash hell. He moved quickly, only just avoiding the bolts that spat up the stone where he stood.

Turning to the other side of the alcove, he hugged the wall that separated each section in the corridor. He was impressed, and annoyed, equally.

”Son of a…” Looking down at the smoking holes, he heard the sound of another weapon being readied around from where he hid.

Asterion turned left and moved into the adjoining alcove, identical to where the girl hid with a burnt out terminal on a table. Running his hand along the stone that divided them, he was gauging where she may be.

”Ok, you have a little fight in you. Nice.”

He felt the tremor on the other side of the stone, and pulled back his fist, unfurling it out to be palm up.

”You’re out of your depth, sweetheart.”

Grimacing to defend himself from the shrapnel, Asterion slammed his hand forward into the stone, amplified with the Force as a barrier to break through the stone, kicking out chunks and dust as he hoped to hit her with the stone, the Force, or his own hand to grab what he could.


[member="Cassandra Fenri"]

 

[Salaza]

Hearing him calling out to her Cassandra made sure the safety was off on her rifle. No chances with this one. Especially since he was Sith. They either took prisoners or didn't depending on which sort you would run into. But Cassandra didn't plan on being one or the other today. She stood as he called her out, saying she was out of her depth, only for rocks to start flying towards her She ducked again before rolling out of one cover to another. She managed to fit herself behind one of the pillars in the room before turning with her blaster rifle pointed at [member="Asterion"]

"Don't call me 'sweetheart'." she growled hefore firing her blaster above his head.

She hit the celeing above, which was weak from age, and tried to drop a tone of debris on the sith's head.

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Peering through the broken wall, Asterion saw the flash of her armour through the dust and then her fiery reply. As the blaster echoed in the small alcove, the Sith snapped his head to the side and arched his body as chunks of rock and wood fell down beside and over the side of his head.

Wincing at the disorientating fire, Asterion coughed slightly and turned to the other side of the wall, brushing the dust and debris from his hair and face.

”You missed,” he muttered sarcastically.

Looking around the corner, the pillar she had fired behind was holding up who knew what, but all Asterion could do was force her hand and get her out. He inclined his head to focus on the root of the pillar and extended the Force control he had to apply pressure to the stone.

It started to crack and groaned as it shifted stone on stone – it was worth a try.

[member="Cassandra Fenri"]

 

[Salaza]

After her first round of fire Cassandra stood back behind the pillar and waited. Her rifle needed to recharge and right now it was her best weapon against the sith. She didn't risk peeking around the corner of the pillar until it was ready. Her own sense that he would have a trick up his sleeve waiting for her if she did try anything. Her attention was soon drawn to the sound of comthing cracking. Looking down she realized the base of the collum was somehow compromised and was starting to fall. Quickly she ran out of the way as the entire thing toplled over. However this started to cause half of the upper level above to start crumbling, forcing Cassandra to continue running to avoid being crushed. On the bright side this sort of damage would likey reach where [member="Asterion"] was standing and could possibly kill him; well it was good for her at least. Trying to figure a new starategy Cassandra tried to find the nearest staircase and make her way up to the next level. Hopefully she could find better cover and someway to deal with him there.

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Reading a barrage of Force energy to take down the Mando as the pillar caved in on itself, the ceiling above started to groan and collapse also.

”Feth.”

Asterion pushed himself up and dived forward back towards the corridor where they had come from, and where the Mando warrior now hid. The sound behind him was deafening as the floor above caved into the room that probably housed many secrets Asterion could have benefited from.

Plaster, wood and stone rained down and settled in an ugly mound, dust and grit falling down after the main chaos had settled.

Asterion noticed his cowl was ripped, but he was ok for now. He had gone down two of the stone steps, and decided to stay put, hugging the wall and looking out towards the smoky room that was now blocked off. He felt the Mando, but couldn’t identify where she was – and that was a concern.

”Getting tired yet, sweetheart?”

He smirked as he fingered the torn material he wore above his armour.


[member="Cassandra Fenri"]

 

[Salaza]

Cassandra was already at the next level when she heard [member="Asterion"] calling out to her. She stopped and took cover behind one of the large data storage units on wall she was near. Peaking out she could tell he wasn't too far away, yet had no real idea where he was. She thought for a moment before thinking back to her ability to sense people. It had always helped her in life as it altered her to anyone who tried sneaking up on her or the like. Perhaps, if she tried hard enough, she could reach out and tell where he was. With that in mind she closed her eyes and began to breath as she felt her sense grow out throughout the room. She could tell every emtpy space and every lone corner. Eventually, as she felt it, she could sense the darkside coming from the nearby corridor across from where she was. She opned her eyes and aimed her blaster rifle towards the entrace. The minute the sith would show himself she would open fire, trying to shoot him through the walls if need-be.