The Holocron Auction Redux

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen had finally reached the room, and used the force to open the door, just a crack before sliding his vibroblade forward. By what he had heard, this @[member="Velok"] was a sorcerer, and thus would likely hurl some sort of force power at his opponent. Vulpesen's blade slid through thr crack. He was sure that he wouldn't be seen due to the smoke, and he was equally sure that he was fast enough with the force to hurl his sword into a single attack. It was the only possible thing he could think of without getting killed, but it was better than nothing. @[member="Aleidis Ijet"]

 

[Aleidis Zrgaat]

@[member="Velok"]

Pain. Sudden, overwhelming pain.

What were the odds that he'd guess the right one?

About 50%, but still.

The bolt of lightning came streaking, and both Alei's dove to get out of the way. It hit her right arm, directly at the elbow, and sent white-hot agony coursing through her vibration-rattled form. Aleidis managed not to cry out, managed to keep up the mental focus needed to maintain her assault - knowing that if she showed the pain of her true form and let the illusion slip for a second, he'd be able to focus on the proper Aleidis. As such, crucitorn was her only option; it dulled the pain to merely agony, and Aleidis abruptly discovered that her right arm no longer was taking orders.

It fell, limp, at her side.

Aleidis's lightfoil clattered to the ground, and to keep up the farce of him hitting the wrong girl, she had it disappear completely - as though, in her absent-mindedness, the illusion of the foil stopped once it left her hand. A second later, the true Aleidis followed suit and disappeared from sight and sense as well. To hide in the White Current and maintain her mental assault.

The 'sleep gas' continued to thicken. "You've been bested, Velok. Sleep, now - your ship is gone and there is no escape." The Illusory Aleidis coaxed, as the mental assault continued.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

At the request of @[member="Sargon Vynea"], his Permanence-class Battleship made the very short leap necessary to put it in the Contruum system.

 

[Soeht]

Once the tractor beam pulled the ship into the hangar, it was dropped onto the floor. After being torn up by its small impact in space, the spacecraft leaned awkwardly on its side.

Before leaving the craft, Daella glanced into the cockpit to see @[member="Diana Moridena"] hanging her head. Then, she promptly exited the spacecraft. Klaxons blared as red lights flickered on and off to signal an emergency. The hangar seemed barren of anyone.

Drawing her lightsaber hilt in her right hand, Daella ignited a yellow blade. After silently waiting for Diana to exit the ship as well, Daella sprinted toward the bridge as fast as she could. It would take her several minutes, at least, before making it.

 

[Aedan Miles]

Aedan angrily hit the console of his fighter and snarled out five words a single command. "GET. ME. AWAY. FROM. HERE!" What he was owed would be collected later. For now he had an item to go and acquire what he had apparently won. He glanced out the hangar to see the republic ship its crew gone sitting there. A prize so tempting yet he had something else to get.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Vulpesen"] was the first Jedi to reach @[member="Aleidis Ijet"] on the bridge.

His flying vibroblade encountered the mass and impact of an expertly swung seven-foot half-metal staff wielded by a Djem So expert. Lightning sprayed from the staff, energizing the vibrocells in the shattering blade. Vibrating, electrified shrapnel sprayed the room.

Sometimes, stepping in as a brave Padawan just didn't help. The Dark Lord appreciated the effort, though. As best he could, anyway. Of course Aleidis would have heard how Boolon Murr once put him to sleep in the middle of a fight. She would know that mental attacks were his weakness. And he was having a truly terrible time concentrating.

For now.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's eyes widened as he watched the chancellor receive the attack. He had no doubt that such power would send him to his knees, and thus he finally figured out something he could do. Closing his eyes, Vulpesen reached out in the force. He'd spent five weeks with the fallanaasi during his journey. It was hardly enough to learn more than a few basic illusions, however he did learn how to access the current, and in doing so, he learned how to lend aid to its users. He grimaced as his blade was shattered. Two years with the blade had caused a personal attachment, and though it may not have done much, it at least provided the minute distraction he needed to send some of his energy towards the Chancellor @[member="Aleidis Ijet"]. He had no idea how much he could do, but he was determined not to let his leader fail. Vulpesen was many things. Weak willed was not one of them. As he sent his power to the Chancellor, he helped to strengthen the illusion, at least making up some of the little she had lost during the assault on her arm.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Diana rushed after Daella as fast as her feet carried her, her footsteps clanged loudly against the metal decks. As she ran her hands began to get sweaty. She was nervous, but it was a good kind of nervous. The last time she had faced Velok he had maimed her. The strength of his Force lightning had been such that her eyes had been permanently scarred. She frowned slightly and blinked, obscuring the shinning orbs in her head for only a few seconds.

She could no longer stand the sight of bright lights, they hurt her too much. Her range of vision now extended into the ultra-violet and slight infared, a strange thing that had been born of the twisting darkside that had run through her body. She wore a special set of goggles now to prevent herself from being blinded, of course in the dark she saw better than ever, that at least made her smirk.

Quickly she followed behind Daella, opening and closing her hands in preparation for the fight to come.

 

[Aleidis Zrgaat]

@[member="Velok"]

"I ordered an evacuation!" Aleidis barked - well, the illusory Aleidis barked. If Velok mustered enough power to blow up the ship, she didn't want anyone else caught in the crossfire. He was a master-level Sith known for board, oppressively powerful attacks. Help would just be in his line of fire, and if Aleidis had her way, he wouldn't kill another single soul.

The shrapnal was painful, but little more than an annoyance thanks to crucitorn. Aleidis stood up and redoubled her efforts, abandoning her illusions entirely for this moment. The sleep gas had done it's job in wearing him down. The dopplegangers had kept him busy while she probed his defenses. Now, it was time for the finishing blow. She could only fight so hard so long, after all.

And the longer this duel took, the more chance there was that someone would show up and get themselves - or her - killed in the name of trying to help.

With an arm turned black and useless by the Darkstaff's lightning, Aleidis blipped back into view as her clone and the gas faded away. The only defensive illusion she maintained was that of being a couple feet to the left of where she truly was. She let up on the focus required for crucitorn, and accepted the pain. She'd always found peace in her faith - faith in the light side, faith in the inherent good of all things, faith in the Jedi code. It'd carried her through troubled times, and it would carry her now. Aleidis had rallied the Republic behind her call to faith, after all.

Once peace suffused her, Aleidis reached out with the full brunt of her mental disciplines. Her complete strength was brought to bear on Velok's addled mind and rattled focus, attempting to share that peace and disrupt his connection to the hatred of the Dark Side. Her power was focused to a point, a mental rapier to pierce his defenses and force slumber upon him. She was betting everything she had on this attack, hoping to put Velok down before he caused any more damage.

 

[Sargon Vynea]

The Defender arrived shortly later establishing a connection with Sargon, and after a quick sitrep it seems the Republic was abandoning ship. ::Defender, open communications with anything evacuating the Chancellor's ship offering them refuge. Get me a shuttle down to the surface quickly, and see if you can find the commander in charge of the Republic ground forces.::

Walking into the main room he beckoned @[member="Darron Wraith"] to join him. "Care for a lift? I have a shuttle en route, and my ship is offering assistance to your evacuees. Not sure whats going on up there, but it seems like a party we should join."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Velok's eyes drifted closed, and his immense shoulders slumped, as Aleidis' powers sapped his rage.

"A mistake," he rumbled, "as significant as falling into my trap by coming to this system, Chancellor. In two hundred years of searching out the secrets of every Force tradition...surely you must have realized I know how to operate without fury."

He breathed out, and a deep calm settled into his mind, courtesy of long experience and iron discipline. The Darkstaff rebelled against him, sparking in his hands, and he cast the depleted superweapon aside. Tranquility was not within his ability to achieve, but calm? The sleeping gas, such as it was, actually worked for that, in a strange sort of way. He accepted that he might die, and moved from there, letting fear take hold, powerful hold. And then he used it, as he knew how to use all emotions.

Spears of Midnight Black took form, one in each hand, and he flung the energy constructs sidelong, spinning at thigh and neck height, their paths curving out and then in to come at Aleidis from divergent angles.

 

[Chupa La'Roi]

Man, Chupa loved exiting hyperspace.

The stars, the streaks of lights, the silence of space and the movement of the Wind through it all. Sighing, the Arkanian glanced out of his personal, public transport (manned by a small, ten person squad of his wonderful shieldbrothers and sisters) to start screaming as the back end of a Republic capital ship was getting much too karking close.

"STEER AWAY FROM IT, YA BLOODY SCOUNDRELS!"

The transport, even though it was darn slow, managed (barely) to pull away from the engines and slowly travel down the side of the ship, towards the hangars. Chupa winced, preparing to be hit by the weaponry as they sailed past it, but nothing happened. A curious grin on his face, he stepped down from his command chair and patted his lead pilot on the shoulder.

"Shieldsister, can we hear any communications from the vessel?"

"Nay, High Emperor, the communications are vacant. Like inter-vessel transmissions were cut off."

Tapping his chin in confusion, he slowly walked back up to his comfy chair and plopped himself down, nonchalantly.

"Take us inside the hangar, shieldsister. Carefully. Do not risk much, but be careful in all actions, when your enemy is silent."

 

[Soeht]

After a couple minutes had passed, Daella and Diana reached the entrance to the bridge. Upon walking in, Daella would have seen the chaotic battle between @[member="Velok"] and @[member="Aleidis Ijet"] unfolding before her. Her eyes noticed a faint cloud of gas within the bridge. Promptly, Daella pulled out a standard Jedi rebreather from one of her white hoodie’s pockets and placed it in her mouth.

Just as she turned her head to look at Diana, Daella noticed @[member="Vulpesen"]. Yet as usual, she remained silent. After a quick glance at @[member="Diana Moridena"], Daella dashed to the right as if to loop around and eventually approach Velok from the side.

When Velok unleashed his invisible attack at Aleidis, Daella's eyes widened. She glanced a the Chancellor for a moment and almost seemed to halt where she stood as she watched. At that moment, she began to change her path to go toward the illusion of Aleidis, yet would have been no where near that illusions before the spears would have made it.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen took note of Daella and Diana then pulled a blaster from his coat. It was his last weapon. A simple little thing that he had been trained to use, and use well. Vulpesen laid down on the deck of the ship and used his arm as a rest as he prepared for a shot. Life lesson... Patience. One thing he had learned was that he had one shot with a gun. Only one shot to take the kill. He relaxed and kept his prescense hidden behind the light of the others as he waited for his golden opportunity. This would not be another vibroblade.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Diana followed Daella's movements with expert eyes. She also saw the cloud and immediately placed a re-breather in her mouth. As soon as she did so Diana drew the sword from her back. Tyrfing rang out as it exited its scabbard, the blade gave off a soft silvery glow as Diana gripped it in her hand. She smiled slightly, and then began to circle opposite Daella. She however moved faster than her counter part. There was a rushed hurry to her steps, a slight increase of speed in her entire body. The Force filled her in its entirety.

She flanked Velok, placing herself opposite Daella and waiting for the other girl to move. Tyrfing seemed to call out for the Whiphids blood. The blade had been literally made for this confrontation, and Diana would use it well. Unlike Daella she kept moving in place to the side and slightly behind of Velok, knowing that was where it would be best.
@[member="Velok"] @[member="Daella Apparine"] @[member="Aleidis Ijet"]

 

[Domino]

The call of the darkside was clear to her, it's beacon lighting up the orbit of the planet. It made Domino pause and open herself to the force. Centering herself, she moved her mind's eye down to the ground and out. What she saw brought her blood to a boil. She had intended to look and see what would be waiting for them in orbit around the planet, but she never got that far. Jedi fighters shadowbombing her people. Slaughtering them with long-range artillery simply for walking away instead of killing or impeding their invasion. Oh she had played nice. She'd turned and walked away after they'd ruined her day! And now they were planning to kill her for it? Not in the nine hells!

Snatching her comm-piece from her pocket, Domino twisted the ear bud under her Lek band and activated it. "Vigo command, this is Vigo actual." She snarled into it with no preamble. "Launch the ready fighters and go to Alert One, they wont let us be peaceable about this. If any fighter approaches you are to shoot it down. If you see artillery setting up, strafe it. I'm done playing nice."

Ever since the, now spread out and combat ready, battalion had neared the edge of the city, they'd been walking into a steady, but very light head-wind backed by a humming that may have been just out of hearing for mos species. Now that wind picked up drastically as sections of the sky and the field under it began to flicker and fail. Piece by piece a massive dark command ship appeared as its myriad of weapons batteries began drawing power away from the cloak that had hidden it thus far. This was why you do not attack the Vigo of the Black Suns. She'd lead you away from your forces and to a place you very suddenly did not want to be. The jeeps made a staggered perimeter with the heavy walkers on the flanks and bringing up the rear on over-watch for enemy fighters or attacks from the rear while the whole group moved at a steady run towards the protection offered by the lowered boarding ramps and the arms of their fellow troops as Vaughan fighters began to take to the air.

((BTW, mechanized means they have armor and vehicles. Not that they are droids. My troops are organic in nature.))

 

[Darth Metus]

Once the coordinates had been sent out, the Echani CEO straightway dispatched a number of vessels in order to collect that which he had earned. This was quite a cache, and money well spent in the mind of Tyri. With his earnings in hand and on their way to a secure location, the CEO of Czerka Arms departed from his undisclosed location. Now it was time to see that which he had earned with his own eyes. To certain victors, namely Genesis Rostu and @[member="Domino"], transmissions had gone out. The Echani had a desire to work something out with them in the future; and hopefully things would go well with this.

 

[Aleidis Zrgaat]

@[member="Velok"]

Despair threatened to overtake Aleidis as her final gambit had had little to no effect. The consoles that hadn't been blown apart by Velok's Force Bellow were tweeting proximity alerts. Despite her orders, more people were coming into the room to interfere and no doubt fuel the darkstaff's siphon or die at the monster's hands. Why did nobody ever listen to her?

Two spears of black midnight were arcing at her. Aleidis went slightly limp and reached out as though to accept the fate coming for her. A low whistle, and her Lightfoil sprung from it's illusory cloak and into her left hand, the green blade blazing back to life - powered by a crystal that'd been housed in that of Yoda himself long ago, the slim weapon was as powerful a force of good as the girl who'd never once used it to draw blood. Strength rushed into her legs, and on instinct alone Aleidis lept forward - narrowly avoiding the twin, curved bolts of energy that'd been sent to slice her into three parts.

The help she didn't want was moving to flank Velok, which left Aleidis only a couple of options - either make her illusions base enough to work around the interlopers, or join their attack when she was weakest in assault. Especially since her saber-arm was a charred husk.

Aleidis lept into the air, directly at Velok. Her form shimmered twice, doubling - then tripling. Four clones of Aleidis lept at the Whiphid, green sabers blazing. Her greatest tools had proven to be useless before the god-like strength of the Whiphid, which meant she had to use what was left - Makashi, and an overwhelming offense of jabs, lunges and slashes.

 

[Onrai]

Receiving the locations of her artifacts, Circe's own ship - the Animus-class Assault Courier received from Karrde during her time in the Fringe - traveled to these locations, acquiring her prizes)and their containers as well) for later use.

After all, who knew what you could do with enough chew to turn the mood boo-hoo?

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Vulpesen"] would find an opportunity relatively soon. Because Velok had his hands full.

Between @[member="Daella Apparine"], @[member="Diana Moridena"], and four versions of @[member="Aleidis Ijet"], Velok was facing no less than six duellists. Lightning exploded out from him in all directions, but the Chancellor's blade slipped through, the corrupt energies warping away from the weapon that Yoda had carried. Velok backstepped furiously as her lightsabre point left gouges in his space suit. A few strikes punctured skin, and blinding pain reared up as his back hit the glasteel. A second blast of lightning, area-of-effect, demonstrated his hope to give himself enough breathing room that he could call the Darkstaff back to his grip now that he was well and properly angry again.