Private The Serpent and the Rainbow

[Starlin Rand]

Shep belched smoke and submitted to Tenn’s scratching with a wagging tail. Meanwhile Kairn placed a protective amulet similar to the one Kandri had around the neck of the sleeping Mirialan.

Starlin was more intrigued by all this than he wanted to admit. He had always loved to learn, but trying to understand the religion of these people was becoming increasingly complicated—and all the more fascinating. He resisted the urge to ask Kairn more questions than necessary, sensing what he mistook for the disinterest of his Padawan. Besides, they had a job to do. “We need to find this bocor and stop him before he can do this to anyone else,” he said, punching the palm of his other hand for emphasis. “Do you know who or where they are?”

“I know enough to realize it won’t be simple,” Kairn said grimly. “The greatest bocors of Dahrtag, the ones powerful enough to zombify dozens of people like this, are all in the employ of the crime lords and vampire princes of the underworld. The last Mayor of Lamont made great strides toward ridding the city of these vermin, but since Conrad Kane assumed office they’ve been resurfacing.”

Tenn Kalos

 

[Tenn Kalos]

"Vampire princes?" Tenn repeated unenthusiastically. This place kept getting weirder. Apparently things had gotten cleaned up some under the last Mayor, but now it was all bubbling back up, "Why? What's he been up to?"

Starlin Rand​

 

[Starlin Rand]

"Vampire princes?" Starlin and Tenn echoed together. "Jinx."

"Vampires have a long history of dominating our world," Kairn explained. "Those who remain in power today operate from the shadows. Many are just crime lords with fangs, though they stubbornly cling to their aristocratic pretensions."

Tenn asked about Mayor Conrad Kane, the eccentric man they had met with only a couple hours ago—though with everything that had happened since, it felt much longer. "Mayor Kane has a criminal history. Though he claims to have changed, most people believe he has not severed all his ties to the underworld." Turning around, he picked up something from the table beside the bed. It was the Mirialan's ID. "Perhaps there is some connection between the zombies and the mayor."

Starlin's eyebrows rose as he reached out to take the ID, looking at it then showing it to Tenn. The Mirialan's name was Clairvius Narcisse. “If the mayor is involved, why bring us into the equation?” he mused out loud. “If he’s in on it, we’d uncover his crimes. And if he knows that someone’s after him, why not tell us and make things easier?”

Tenn Kalos​

 

[Tenn Kalos]

Tenn didn't bother to say jinx. Though a faint smirk touched the corner of his lip when his master did.

A vampocracy sounded like pretty much the worst form of government available, and for once Tenn actually felt a bit of gratitude that at least his years on the street didn't add hiding from bloodsucking monsters to the list. Dahrtag's sanguivorous population now spent most of its time in the underground, but they still had connection. Possibly, it seemed, to the Mayor. Tenn's expression flattened in annoyance, "So why did most people elect him?" Pretty much any time something political was explained to him, he found it all the more stupid.

"Maybe his vampire buddies wanted some Jedi blood," Tenn joked grimly.

Starlin Rand​

 

[Starlin Rand]

“The same way all politicians are elected,” Kairn answered, taking a sip of a drink beside the bed. “By promising to make things better and give the people what they want. He said he would give Lamont a fresh start, free from superstition and fear. But ignoring evil and pretending it doesn’t exist won’t make it go away.”

Tenn’s macabre joke coaxed a nervous laugh from Starlin. “Heh, sounds plausible,” he said. “Or like Kandri said, they want to make us into zombies so they can have control over our powers…”

Kairn raised an eyebrow. “She told you that?”

“Uh, sounds like we should probably confront the mayor about all this,” Starlin abruptly changed the subject. “We better get going—”

A faint warning in the Force prompted him to look down the hall to his left. All he saw was a flickering overhead light, and yet…

“I can give you protection,” Kairn offered. “An amulet, like the ones I’ve given to the zombies. But regrettably, I cannot go with you. My associate and I have too much at stake to risk the wrath of the government, even for your sakes.”

“Oh gee, thanks,” Starlin muttered sarcastically, though he couldn’t exactly blame the Master of Cerements for being afraid. All of this chit was pretty damn spooky. "Any advice?"

"Leave while you still can."

Tenn Kalos​

 

[Tenn Kalos]

"Sounds like the wrong guy to trust with that promise," Tenn commented. Trust a political aspirant with known major criminal ties on his word alone? There was a time when Tenn would have scoffed and told the people they made their bed, now it was time to lie in it. And he was very annoyed that he couldn't maintain that blasé attitude any longer. Jedi had to do the right thing.

Kairn offered them an amulet for protection, but chickened out on joining their confrontation with the mayor. Maybe for the best. He seemed good at his job, but that didn't make him a fighter, if it came to that. Still Tenn only became further unamused, "Cool." He reacted dryly to the man's final piece of advice. Tenn then looked to his master, a look of can we touching his features for a moment, "Ready?" He said instead.

Starlin Rand​

 

[Starlin Rand]

Starlin gazed at Kairn, then at Tenn. The look in his apprentice’s eyes didn’t escape his notice. “Maybe we should go,” he said. “If this is bigger than we expected, we could wait for backup. Or send for someone with more experience in dealing with this sort of thing…” Who in the Order was an expert on zombies and bocors? He doubted there was such a person.

“You must—do what you must—” Kairn mumbled, coughing into his fist.

The itching sensation of encroaching danger returned. “Hold on a minute,” Starlin said, walking to the end of the corridor—and was startled by the sight of Kandri standing there, still in her hospital gown. “Hey, what are you doing up?” he asked.

In response, she threw white powder in his face.

Starlin stumbled backwards, stunned and blinded by the dust. He tried to cough, but his throat had begun to close up. Crashing into an empty hospital bed, he slid to the floor, struggling to breathe. He called upon the Force to cleanse the poison from his body, but it was too late. Already he was losing consciousness, unable to focus.

Kairn’s coughing had become choking. He collapsed to his knees, his face turning purple. While his Massassi assistant tried to help him, Tenn was left to his own devices against Kandri, who walked toward him, trace amounts of white powder leaving a trail on the floor as it fell from her hand.

Tenn Kalos​

 

[Tenn Kalos]

Tenn was surprised to hear Starlin take the offer seriously. It felt a little wrong to leave, but it also wasn't entirely irresponsible of them if they needed the backup.

“Hold on a minute,”

Tenn turned around to see Kandri up. His master approached, only to be hit by a puff of some white, powdery substance. Kairn was also succumbing to the effects, leaving Tenn and Shep to fend for themselves.

The charhound growled, but his master kept him at bay. If Kandri was under someone else's control, it wouldn't do well to injure or kill her. "I don't want to hurt you, Kandri." Tenn said, raising a hand. Then he would try and toss her backwards with the Force.

Starlin Rand​

 

[Starlin Rand]

Kairn was too far away to be feeling the effects of the powder, yet he was still choking. The Massassi tried various techniques to help, but he could only watch in shock and horror as the Master of Cerements slumped to the floor, dead. A residue on his lips caught the Massassi’s eye—a hint of poison. He looked around, his gaze finally falling upon the glass of water beside the Mirialan’s bed. It shattered as he threw it on the floor.

Kandri was tossed backwards by Tenn, skidding across the linoleum. A foot stepped over her prone body, pausing in the doorway. Loose-fitting clothing obscured the figure’s sex, and a painted mask hid their face. This had to be the bocor Kandri had spoken of.

The Massassi emerged from behind the curtain, carrying the unconscious Mirialan in his arms. “Boy!” he shouted to Tenn. “The Master is dead, and yours is doomed! We must go now, if you don’t want to join him!”

Tenn Kalos​

 

[Tenn Kalos]

Tenn pushed Kandri, but was then faced by a new, enigmatic figure. The bocor, no doubt. Starlin was down for the count, and Kairn was dead. Their chances were dwindling. Tenn snapped his attention towards the Massassi when his voice sounded, "What?"

His mind ran faster than he could process, "No! I can't just… leave him!" Tenn tried to reason, his focus steeling somewhat as he committed himself to the course of action. He drew his lightsaber, its golden beam glowing in stark contrast to the ever-drab ambience of Dahrtag as a whole.

Starlin Rand​

 

[Starlin Rand]

The Massassi gave Tenn a pitying look, but he knew he couldn’t delay a moment longer. He fled with the Mirialan, leaving the boy alone.

The bocor continued their advance at a leisurely pace, seemingly unafraid of the lightsaber Tenn had ignited. They had killed the Master of Cerements and knocked out the Jedi Knight—what could the little Padawan do to stop them now?

A hospital bed rolled out of a corner seemingly of its own volition, on a collision course with Tenn. White powder trickled from the bocor’s hand and onto the floor as they waited for just the right moment to toss it into the boy’s face.

Tenn Kalos​

 

[Tenn Kalos]

The Massassi ran. Part of Tenn wanted to be annoyed with him, but he couldn't really. He may very well have been the only one making a rational choice here. Tenn couldn't really back out now though. He noticed themed rolling towards him, and swung his hand in a violent arc, to trying and upend the bed and launch it at the bocor. Just after that, Shep would charge the mystery figure to take advantage of the intended surprise, belching flames at him.

Starlin Rand​

 

[Starlin Rand]

The bocor leaped aside, dodging the bed—but the flames engulfed them. With a scream, they dropped to the floor and rolled to put the flames out. Other objects were flying toward Tenn and Shep now, beds and tables and medical tools, scalpels, saws, and syringes forming a whirlwind around them.

Then, it abruptly stopped. The bocor was gone, and Starlin was nowhere to be found.

Tenn Kalos​

 

[Tenn Kalos]

Part of Tenn hadn't expected Shep to actually land the hit. And so when the bocor abruptly caught flame, he was taken aback by the sight. More debris was flung at them in return, and Tenn tried to push them back with little effect. A few stray edges caught his skin, leaving him with several small annoying cuts along his flesh, though he didn't notice them until the adrenaline died down, and the chaos with it.

Everything suddenly stopped. The tornado had dissipated, and the room was empty. Tenn blinked, "Master?" Starlin wasn't there. He turned to his charhound, "C'mon Shep! Find him! Where's Master Rand?" Shep picked up on his request thanks to the nuances of their bond, and began sniffing at the floor to try and pick up the familiar scent.

Starlin Rand​

 

[Starlin Rand]

"C'mon Shep! Find him! Where's Master Rand?"

Starlin awoke in a cold, dark place. His limbs felt too heavy to move, his body slack and motionless, but he was vaguely aware that the space he was occupying was cramped and narrow. Had he been drugged and shoved into a box? Well, that was a new one for him. Usually the bad guys just tied him up and threw him in a cell…

He was tired. So very, very tired. But as much as he wanted to go back to sleep, he really ought to do something about his current predicament. It was best that he not be left at the mercy of his enemy.

So he coaxed forth a flame in the darkness. It sputtered and went out, but not before he caught a glimpse of the size and dimensions of his prison.

It was a coffin.

Cold shock wore away at what remained of his drugged stupor. He was in a coffin? Did that mean—

A hazy warning from the Force was followed by scratching sounds along the edges of the casket. Something hungry was trying to get in, and he doubted the wooden panels would hold against their relentless assault for much longer. He had to get out of here!

Fighting through the panic, he called upon the Force to cleanse the drug from his system. Feeling was slow to return to his limbs, but finally he was able to move. He punched the coffin lid, which accomplished nothing apart from hurting his hand and sending a shower of dust raining down upon him. But hey, at least his worst fears were confirmed.

He had been buried alive.

Tenn Kalos​

 

[Tenn Kalos]

Shep's relentless sniffing eventually latched on to something. The hound barked and began leading out of the hospital, his nose still close to the ground. Tenn followed close behind, offering his companion the occasional praise and encouragement to keep him on task.

Their journey took them out through the ever-misted streets of Dahrtag, until at last they suddenly paused outside a gothic archway, declaring a graveyard lay beyond. Or at least, Tenn pause— Shep kept on following the scent to its destination. "Great…" This bocor worked quick. The padawan had a good idea of what to expect now. Shep eventually stopped at one of the burial sites, and pounced on it eagerly. Tenn caught up, "Dig!" As he said it, they both dropped and began clawing at the soil.

Starlin Rand​

 

[Starlin Rand]

Starlin could sense Tenn approaching. Relief rushed through him, but also fear. As long as his master was six feet under, the Padawan was on his own—and therefore vulnerable.

Cursing under his breath, Starlin tried to regain some semblance of calm. The Force came more easily to him in times of low stress. This was arguably one of the scariest positions he’d ever been in, which made concentrating all the more difficult.

He heard a wet plop, and felt something slimy land on his arm. Starlin yelped and squirmed, flinging off a worm of some sort. The creature had a mouth full of teeth. A boneworm. He crushed it with his fist, but more were coming through—

Another presence arrived nearby, a barely contained malevolent force rapidly coming closer. <Tenn! Be careful!> he shouted into his apprentice’s mind as he fought off the boneworms. <Hide!>

Tenn Kalos​

 

[Tenn Kalos]

Shep began to dig feverously, with Tenn helping as best as he could. Suddenly, a voice shouted in his mind, causing the young padawan to spring up startled. A moment passed before he recognized it as his master's.

<Hide!>

Hide? Tenn panicked, looking around desperately for a decent obscurant. All he found was an old gnarled tree nearby, and so he quickly tugged on Shep's scruff to bring him along, where they ducked down and waited for a sign.

Starlin Rand​

 

[Starlin Rand]

The bocor appeared from the fog, accompanied by Kandri. Approaching the grave, they noticed th disturbed earth. Someone else had already been here, but thanks to Starlin’s last-minute whispered spell, Tenn and Shep were both completely hidden from their perceptions, even in the Force. Have fun being invisible, kid.

Kandri was sent out to search the graveyard. Starlin, meanwhile, had bigger problems. From his coffin he heard the dirt above beginning to shift, first slowly, then rapidly as the bocor pushed the soil aside. The lid of the coffin popped off as easily as a tin can, exposing a sweat-soaked, half-paralyzed Starlin. He was covered in wriggling boneworms, their teeth flashing pearlescent white in the gloom.

The Jedi Knight was too weak to even muster up a smile, though he managed to shove them back with telekinesis. But it wasn't enough. The bocor regained their footing and began to seize control of Starlin's fevered mind, dragging it under their sway…

Tenn Kalos​

 

[Tenn Kalos]

Tenn hardly even noticed his own invisibility at first, until he saw Kandri pass him by completely. He glanced down at his now unseen hands, then watched as the bocor confronted his master inside the coffin.

Tenn waited anxiously until the incantations began, then charged the bocor. He ignited his saber, attempting to spear the villain on his blade.

Starlin Rand​