Duel The Bear and Bull

[Calder Icehammer]

Beorni were naturally large and lumbering creatures. Their view of the Force was vastly different from the views of the Jedi or Sith. Even Calder, who was a Jedi Master, didn't entirely believe in the code the same way his fellows might. Instead of the Force, it was spirits. Of nature, life. Death. Whispering their guidance. Every Beorni was taught how to feel the spirits, no matter the strength of their connection. So on a space station like Nespis VIII, the large figure couldn't feel anymore uncomfortable. The spirits were rare to find. There was little natural life in such a place, and it often made him long for home.

But he was here for a reason. A defector from the Sith had requested a meeting here. They had valuable information for the Concord so the Jedi might be better equipped to handle the growing threat if it's sights were turned on them. Calder sat in a large, empty hallway. The meeting location. His eyes were closed as he mediated. The few spirits that were around he could still speak to and at least calm his nerves in such a spirit forsaken place. Movement caught his attention. The lumbering figure rose to his full height and bowed his head at the incoming human. "You must be the Cypher. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The human, a woman barely in her twenties, practically hissed. "There are ears everywhere. Don't just drop such a name here." Her voice was hushed, but she didn't hide the annoyance she felt. Her eyes scanned around the hallway, as if there was something there. Calder smiled. "Do not worry, I shall protect you. Now come, I have a ship close by."

Darth Empyrean

 

[Darth Empyrean]

Maliphant couldn't help but rage to himself, annoyed that the Frumentarii agent in charge of hunting down the 'Cypher' had failed to track her after he departure from Yavin. Tricked by the classic 'three ship juggle', he had seen to it their position was transferred to as terrible a place as possible - likely out of the Galactic Disc entirely. At least then they wouldn't fail the Frumentarii so easily when there wasn't anything to even mess up. His jaw unclenched slightly as he pulled up the tracker and glanced to it - the bio signature matching Cypher only a few meters head of him, around a corner.

Simple enough, he though to himself as the armored Sith Lord moved with a careful grace to where she was. He even considered for a moment that it would be easy, what he might say - perhaps a silly one liner to make himself laugh for his trip back to Korriban. A small twist of his lips found itself as his expression, quietly entertained by his own simplistic jest; but as he turned the corner and saw his target with the all too massive bear known as Calder, he couldn't help but lose any smile he once had.

He had seen, glancingly, a report on the man - that he was active in the area, but Maliphant had assumed he wouldn't be a threat if he didn't know Cypher was there, or at least that he could get to her first. It seemed the agent had failed worse than he thought - and the quiet acknowledgement that they would simply be harvested for their life essence instead of reassigned dawned on him. Yes, they would die - but after he ensured the end of both of these two.

Maliphant sighed heavily as he came to a stop, no weapon on his belt of hands. He rested them on his hips as he looked at them both - letting an inkling of his presence leak as he began to speak;

"Jedi. Traitor.", he said, giving a quick glance to them both.

"I give you this one chance to separate. Return to your enclave, and let the traitor see her day in the Abjudicator's Court. It is simple, just, and more importantly; keeps you alive. I won't offer it a second time.", he said with a lowered growl in his tone.

Calder Icehammer