First Reply The strange artifact

[Lusar Khrau]

Lusar's Suit​

The Strange Artifact

Lusar sat at the corner table of the Metal Rancor in the Night District, waiting for his contact to show up. The Cantina was crowded this night, lots of beings going in and out. After he received the tip on this bounty, Lusar felt like things didn't add up: the employer, who ensured in any way to remain unnamed, just wanted this item removed from its original place, and moved where the wrong hands cannot reach it. They didn't elaborate on whose hands are wrong.
The extraction of the item was quite easy: the vault wasn't heavilly guarded, and it took very little work for an experienced hunter like Lusar to infiltrate it and steal the artifact; as soon as he had a grasp on it, he felt a thrill coming up from his hand, passing in his arm and going down his spine: something was off.
He didn't recognize it, and still doesn't, and that's why he arranged a meeting here with his Jedi Temple contact. He wanted to be sure to be doing the right thing by moving the artifact from its former position.

While studying the strange, glowing cube, the doors of the Rancor opened. The contact was finally here. Lusar called the bartender droid at the table while the hooded figure took a seat in front of him...

---

Image credit: DALL-E

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto stepped onto the Rancor, shifting uncomfortably beneath the robes he wore. He had assumed the identity of a Jedi, a transformation that hadn't been difficult; to some extent, he could even be considered one. Yet, being out of his armor left him feeling vulnerable. The armor was his shield, a protective second skin that brought him comfort.

However, it was necessary. He needed to project the image of a Jedi to access the artifact, which he hoped would contain knowledge vital for future generations of the Lilaste Order. While they had a wealth of understanding about the Light Side of the Force, their grasp of the Dark Side was lacking—essential for an order that valued true balance between light and dark.

As he approached the ship and boarded, Laphisto pulled his hood down. Towering over seven feet, his horns curved along the sides of his head, and his wings were wrapped tightly around him, blending seamlessly with the cloak. His tail swayed freely behind him, a reminder of his true nature. With a flash of teal, his eyes glowed as he focused on the man seated at the table, reaching into the Force to sense his alignment and further assess the surroundings. "Do you have the artifact?" he asked, his voice steady and commanding.

Lusar Khrau

 

[Lusar Khrau]

Lusar's Suit

---

Lusar looked at the giant figure before him: in all his travels and interactions with the Jedi Order, he never heard of a member this high and unique. Still, they are so many in numbers he could have slipped even the meticulous web of informants that the bounty hunter created for himself... so that wasn't his concern.

What caught him off guard is how the Jedi knew the reasoning of his invite here, and most importantly why his contact didn't tell him that they would be sending another Member to the meeting. Even if far from the Force, Lusar knew a thing or two, and he was sure that Mind Probe isn't a force power a Jedi would use. As he leaned back on his chair and secured the mysterious artifact out of sight of his interlocutor, he first told him: "I don't think we have ever been introduced. Lusar Khrau, Bounty Hunter." Lusar was interested in the reaction the being will have and started observing him, suspicious.

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto gave a small bow towards the man, giving a light chuckle, the teal glow fading from his eyes as he winced grabbing at the bridge of his nose in slight pain. Rubbing at the corners of his eyes with a small rumble. his gaze showing heavy signs of carbonite poisoning. " my apologies. Jedi Knight Laphisto " he frowned lightly to himself as he gave the mock title. or his old title back when he was still apart of the Jedi order some several thousand years ago. as he looked around, Laphisto used his force sight once again to get better acquainted with his surroundings before stepping forwards once again.

while he leaned more towards the light side of the force his demeanor spoke more as a soldier than a true jedi. the way he stood and carried himself. it was almost as if he was more used to battle armor and the heat of battle than the quite stillness of thier current setting.

 

[Lusar Khrau]

Lusar's Suit

---

"Very well," Lusar said, growing more and more suspicious of the figure he was facing. "I guess then you can tell me how you knew I was here, and how you knew about the strange artifact. "

He knew that he was dealing with something with the potential of containing valuable information, and how these knowledge could and would attract shady people. For what he was told by his contact in the underworld, the employer just wanted the artifact removed, but it all could have been a setup to know at all times where it was located: on him.

Lusar carefully observed each and every move Laphisto made, trying to link them to behaviors he saw in other Jedi he interacted with, but everything seemed stranger and stranger to him.

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto crossed his arms over his chest and looked the man over the thinking in his next set of words carefully before speaking again. " The Jedi Temple sent me. All I know was what I was told."

Laphisto's lone ear flicked softly as he peered down at the man. Eyes narrowed into a glair - or was he squinting? - " I'm afraid I can't tell you much more then that. I truth be told don't even know what it is I am to be picking up. Just that I will know it when I see it "

It was a simple trick, a simple lie. One that left room for plausible deniability and left him some cards in his hand should the man still not believe him on his identity and reason for being here.

Lusar Khrau

 

[Arthion Aesatra]

“A convenient story.” A voice sounded out near them, feminine and soft, yet firm, cutting through the conversation.

Standing a few paces away from the table, a tall blue-haired woman regarded both men, eyes narrowing ever so slightly as they shifted towards Laphisto. She felt many things: the uncertainty in the bounty hunter, the cloying darkness of what she could only assume was some sort of Sith artefact, and the deception that the horned man was rank with.

There was no doubt that he was trying to pull a fast one.

“I find it curious, though.” She continued, taking a seat with them as she spoke, “I do not recall being assigned a partner for this meeting, nor do I recall allowing this meeting to leak to anyone else. So how, pray tell, do you know of it?”

She made no accusations. Not yet, at least. But she didn't bother hiding the suspicion with which she regarded Laphisto. She wanted to put the man off-centre, catch him slipping. She’d already caught him red-handed trying to worm his way into taking what was not his, and she had no doubt he would try to make up some sort of cover story… but deception wouldn’t go very far with her.

As she sat there, Laphisto would be able to sense her alignment in the Force. It was bright and brilliant in its light, yet strangely volatile, spikes and sparks of passion within making her light an unstable and roaring thing rather than the calm tranquility most Jedi were known for.

---

Lusar Khrau Laphisto

 

[Lusar Khrau]

Lusar's Suit

---

Lusar looked at the tall woman sitting between them, astonished. Though it was his first time meeting Arthion Aesatra in person, they had already spoken over commlink to arrange this encounter. He hadn't noticed her entering, as he was too focused on protecting his discovery from Laphisto - and for good reason, apparently.

Mentally recovering from the brief lapse in awareness, he leaned back in his chair, took a sip of his spotchka, and smiled, deciding to let his partner handle the situation. Jedi business, after all, was not something Lusar wanted to meddle in unless he was asked.

---

Arthion Aesatra Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

the second voice caught him off guard, and made him frown slightly. his eyes darting over towards Arthion Aesatra as he cleared his throat. he was worried about this. he had hoped that he would be able to swoop in take the artifact and be gone before the actual jedi came rolling along. and teh fact they seemed to ave beaten him ere and heard everything that he said was unfortunate. but perraps not in vain.


he figured the gig was up though least the part of him being the original contact anyways. " well when a artifact as valuable as the one your friend here has makes its way on the open market. people talk. i have my contacts in the bounty hunters guild. and the spacers guild. such a valuable thing doesnt make a low impression"

he looked to the girl eyes flashing the same teal color as when he first looked at Lusar Khrau poking and prodding at her alignment. more so out of habbit than anything else. as it was usually the first thing he did upon meeting some one. it not only helped him get a better understanding of an individual. but it was his best way to see. as carbonite poisioning had blurred his eye sight millenia ago. he only hoped now. that he could at least still keep the visiage of a jedi. though if the woman asked for any sort of ID then he was well and truly out of his cover story.

" the jedi sent me merely to collect the artifact once i reported that such an object was on the move. i had no idea they assigned another jedi to this task."

 

[Arthion Aesatra]

The man’s surprised reaction was only more confirmation that he wasn’t supposed to be here. Arthion kept an even face as Laphisto tried to smooth over the situation, recover from being caught in the act and still try to pass himself off as convincing. But she would once again be able to sense the deception rolling off each of his words: this man was no Jedi at all!

Arthion couldn’t help the derisive sniff that escaped her at the tall man’s attempts, the naked suspicion in her face only growing. The only reason she had not outright accused him was because she wanted to expose this man to Lusar and leave no question as to the duplicity of this man.

“Is that so? I find it curious that you would need to rely on such contacts when you could just as easily find out more reliable information internally. I also find it interesting that you feel like no Jedi I’ve ever met.” Arthion commented sharply, before reaching to her hip and pulling out a holocommunicator, “Perhaps it would do for us to contact the Council to resolve this misunderstanding. You can clarify your side of the story, and they shall render their judgement. Surely, this is not a problem?”

---

Laphisto Lusar Khrau

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto frowned as the woman mentioned contacting the jedi order with a small chuckle rolling from his throat as he shook his head with a small sigh. " most of the order wouldnt even know about me. i have met very few of this newer generation. granted my clearance codes for the jedi order are several millenia out dated i suspect."

Laphisto knew when he lost there was no smooth talking this over, no lieing his way through things. with some one that wasnt of the order he might have had a better chance. To use their lack of knowledge against them. but now that the jedi Arthion Aesatra was here. it was much much different and so he moved to a different approach.

"i was a Jedi once. back during the Mandalorian wars and beyond. but as of late i do not recognize myself within thier ranks. not any more. "

He turned to Lusar Khrau and gave a small nod. " allow me to re introduce myself. I am Laphiosto Gix High commander of the Lilaste order. my interest still lies with getting ahold of that artifact and i am more than willing to pay for it. i apologise for my deception. but the jedi have a habbit of destroying Sith artifacts and i did not want to see such a piece of history destroyed simply because the jedi deam it evil."

leaning back in his chair some what he looked over at the true Jedi and rumbled to himself. he felt her alignment he could see it, the strange sparks here and there. perhaps he could work with her, perhaps she wasnt like most jedi, confined to walk a path so blindly as he had in his youth.

 

[Arthion Aesatra]

Arthion remained silent as the man changed his tune, the scrutinising suspicion in her eyes slowly easing off. She couldn’t sense deception in his words, but… if what he said was true, then he was thousands of years old. It was obviously a ridiculous claim, to say one was part of those wars of ages past, but even as she searched his emotions with her empathic senses, she could sense no deceit. He spoke the plain truth, at least as far as he saw it.

“Interesting. I hadn’t realised when I came here that I would encounter a relic of ancient history.” Arthion commented, before suddenly smiling, a spark of mischief in her eyes. “Perhaps we should take you to the Temple for study instead.” She joked.

Her smile, however, slowly faded as she considered what he said. He was being mostly sincere now, but there was something missing from what he said. After all, why would he risk provoking the Jedi Order by pulling this stunt if his interest was purely in preserving history?

“I do not wish to discount your personal experience, Commander Gix, but I believe you will find this Jedi Order to be far less dogmatic than the one you were likely familiar with in your time. Whatever this thing is, we seek to understand it, not destroy it without thought.” Arthion responded, holding a steady gaze, “But that point is ultimately academic. While I would like to extend my trust to you, it is not so simple. You represent an unknown order, with unknown goals and unknown beliefs. I haven’t the authority to grant you access to this artefact you desire, and even if I did, I would hesitate to give it. Until such a time as we fully understand this artefact and establish proper relations between our orders, I’m afraid I will have to insist that you leave this matter to the Jedi.”

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Laphisto Lusar Khrau

 

[Lusar Khrau]

Lusar's Suit

---

Lusar looked at Laphisto with distrust: he wanted to trick him, and he now tried to deceive a Jedi! He gazed at the artifact, again feeling that same thrill across his whole body. He was not eager to share it with someone he did not fully trust.
"I'm sorry, but I rather solve this matter with the Jedi Order alone, without interference. If we then deem it possible, we might share some knowledge with you. If it's for the better of the galaxy, of course. ", Lusar said looking back at the horned being. "If and when Arthion Aesatra and I learn more about this strange thing, we will think about it. But not a second earlier." he now turned to the Jedi: "Am I right, partner?"

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Laphisto Arthion Aesatra

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto remained seated chuckling at the comment about him being studied instead. it was an amusing thought and he half wandered if there were still traces of him in the jedi archives or if they had been burried so far that it was lost to time. shaking his head of the thoughts he listened to the two intently before giving a small frown " My order is one built upon trying to restore a true balance to the Galaxy, and to the force. while i admit i do not know what the artifact is, i have reason to belive it could be a viable tool of knowledge. one that could help the students and facalty at the Kirima Force academy better understand the force."

he didnt quite like the idea of being left out of the loop of things and he knew he would need to throw a bone into the mix in order to keep himself present for this discovery " my presence in this galaxy dates back to the second great scism. if this artifact is old. then there is a good chance i will be of great use. after all whats old to you could be common place for me"

he wouldnt admit his role in the second great scism but he had hoped referancing it would at least give the two somethign to work with. to try and prove that he could be valuable in this. granted he did spend alot of time in carbonite but he knew the sith well. after all he had helped to create them. from a certain point of view. and his purpose for a very long time was to be used as a weapon by the jedi to destroy them.

Lusar Khrau Arthion Aesatra

 

[Arthion Aesatra]

Once more, Arthion was silent as Laphisto told them more of himself, his Order, and his reason for being here. Her expression remained unchanged, but she couldn’t help but wonder about what he said. True balance… many claimed a desire for that, but many more had wildly different ideas about how to accomplish that.

Where did Laphisto fall on this spectrum?

Arthion focused, honing her senses as Laphisto spoke. Though he spoke in truths, there were still things missing, details he was omitting. He was trying to position himself as someone useful in order to maintain his access to this artefact, in hopes of deepening his and his Order’s knowledge of the Dark side. Truth be told, Arthion felt that she was out of her depth. What should she do…?

Arthion sighed.

“Perhaps.” Arthion responded to Laphisto in noncommittal fashion, “I acknowledge that your expertise might aid in the study and investigation of this artefact, though my concerns over opening this matter to third parties remain.”

Then, her gaze turned to Lusar, “You are the one who brought this matter to the attention of the Jedi Order, and I imagine you forwent a tempting payday. So, I shall put the choice in your hands: do you believe we should accept Commander Gix as a part of this investigation?” She knew Lusar hadn’t been keen on Laphisto’s involvement, but she wanted to be absolutely certain.

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Laphisto Lusar Khrau

 

[Lusar Khrau]

Lusar's Suit

---

Lusar, still suspicious, laid his eyes on the artifact once more, seeking guidance. He was afraid of giving out information to people that shouldn't have them, and Laphisto already lied to them more than once: he can't trust him.

"I'd rather handle this matter in a more private way, Arthion. We can always keep Laphisto updated if we think it is safe. Meanwhile, we shall keep an eye on him and what he does. so we can be sure if he's to be trusted. His help might come in helpful if ever needed and if we deem him trustable. "

He felt bad for excluding the Kiev'arian, but there was too much at stake to risk this artifact to cause another war.

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Laphisto Arthion Aesatra

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto frowned at the decision but he had expected it, after all he did come in here lieimg about who he was. And to a degree that gave him no right to demand or even expect trust. And so he tried to turn this situation purely business with a small frown " I'm sorry to hear that decision. But keep in mind I am offering my services for free just this once. The moment I walk away the next time we meet there will be a price for any services rendered. And if by some means what ever it is you two get yourselves into causes a great deal of harm I only hope the damage to civilian life is at best case none existent. At worse case minimal."

With that he moved to stand up his arms crossing over his chest gently as he gave a nod to Lusar Khrau and then a gentle bow towards Arthion Aesatra

" I hope you two are not to over your head the last time a dark side artifact was toyed with." He frowned lightly remembering the Jedi civil war " two extremely powerful Jedi wound up waging a war against the entire galaxy. And subsequently brought the entire Jedi order to extinction. Sith artifacts are not something to take lightly."

He tried to relay the danger of what they were messing with, along side his own cautious mentality. He had seen far to much chaos rush over this Galaxy time and time again because of the sith and Thier little toys. One last attempt to try and wriggle into the business they were toting with. Though more than prepared to depart should it come to it

 

[Lusar Khrau]

Lusar's Suit

---

Lusar laughed sharply. "First, you waltz in here pretending to be a Jedi, practically begging for the artifact and to be included in our studies. Now, you have the nerve to threaten us with an ultimatum? I'm starting to think you're just trying to scam some credits out of us—credits you haven't proven yourself worthy of so far. If anyone here is in debt, it's you. You need to prove you can be trusted with sensitive information. Frankly, we can conduct our investigation without you if this is the attitude you're bringing to the table."

Lusar's frustration with Laphisto was palpable, and both Force-sensitive beings in the room could feel it. He had tried to give the old dragon the benefit of the doubt, but Laphisto seemed determined to erode Lusar's trust with his deceptive actions. For now, Lusar wanted nothing more to do with him.

"Let's go, Jedi," Lusar said, grabbing his belongings and rising to his feet. "We have a transport waiting for us." He turned to face Laphisto, his tone sharp. "You'd better hope we actually need you, because if we don't, this will be the last time you ever lay eyes on this." He gestured toward the glowing cube, his gaze unwavering.

On his way out, he tossed a few credits onto the bar—more than enough to cover the table's expenses—and strode out through the main door without another glance.

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Laphisto Arthion Aesatra