Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos

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Till Death Do Us Part

Unknown Regions
Undisclosed Facility
“Yes, you are training to be assassins. But that does not mean you have the right to try and kill your fellow students. You’re all here to equally learn, until such a time that you’re ready to enter the service of our Master.”

Those had been words given to them during their fifth year, when a couple of the older students had gotten into a spat and had outright tried to murder one another. Leliana remembered that talk well, it had been a lesson with no real teacher other than simple observation. The two students in question had, despite their ‘superior training’, still not grasped the concept of zero emotions it seemed. Their violent argument had been over a female student they both fancied, as if they were in some normal school acting like hormonal idiots.

To Leliana it was further proof of how contradictory the entire assassin program was. It encompassed the entirety of a normal education, starting from the earliest and going all the way up to university. But at the same time every student was taught to separate themselves from their emotions, though only enough that they could still be used as any other tool or weapon. And more often than not, the students were capable of achieving this. Although it was not an easy struggle, nor for some did it ever stop being one. It would’ve been better to just severe them entirely, but then any assassins that came from this program would just be mindless drones. Ones only good for outright killing and nothing more.

“Match!”

Leliana’s thoughts were interrupted by the sudden shout, bringing her attention back to her current surroundings. It was the combat arena, which was in reality just a glorified gym, with lines of benches on each side full of spectators to the day’s fights. Leliana was one such person, her training having been completed in the eyes of the instructors months ago. However the facility was a nice place to stay until a proper assignment could be given that would take the assassin from there for good. It was during that time, that Leliana had begun her plan, all with the help of an outside source.

And as if on queue, the serpentine familiar that was the Nagajj slithered its way down one of her coat sleeves and popped its head out slightly.

One would probably assume such a sight to be off putting to others, but the instructors had given their students an ‘allowance’, certain hobbies and quirks were allowed per person. Leliana’s was tailoring and her pet white snake. At least that’s the veiled lie she gave when she had returned from her last field mission with the creature in tow. Little did they know the reality of just what the Nagajj was, and who was behind it.

It'll start soon,” Leliana murmured quietly, enough for the creature to hear.

Months of planning had gone into what was about to happen. After her return, Leliana had been carefully killing off a number of her fellow students. All were specifically selected, none that could lead to an accusation being pointed her way, but rather towards certain others instead. It gradually built up paranoia, both students and staff became increasingly tense as days and weeks passed by. In total, she had managed to assassinate ten of the one hundred students that currently occupied the halls. And the ones that ran the facility couldn’t afford to just stop the program to investigate the murders, they were on a tight schedule after all.

Following that were the whispers, rumors began circulating the students and information was leaked; both real and manufactured. The entire facility was becoming a boiling pot, just ready to blow open and unleash the chaos. Which was what Leliana was counting on happening, watching as two more of the day’s competitors made their way to the centre of the arena. And she simply watched, a cold calculative expression in her eyes.

BOOM!

An explosion shook the facility. The lighting above began to flicker in response, power fluctuating from the now damaged generator elsewhere in the building. The first domino had fallen, and Leliana watched as the next followed suit. One of the spectators pulled out a dagger and lunged towards one of the competitors, managing to take her by surprise and sinking the blade into her heart.

The female assassin had been previously accused of one of the murders, her presumed victim being the brother of the man who had just killed her.

Even Leliana’s cold exterior couldn’t stop the satisfied smile from appearing as everything around her suddenly erupted into chaos.

Assassin’s were killing assassins. All the while she remained at the back, watching it unfold. Waiting for the right time to make her move and seal the fate of everyone in this facility.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]​
 
There are things that creep and crawl in the shadows, venomous beings with teeth of steel and voices singing sweet songs of honey. Some of these creatures had eyes like burning coals and listened to the tenets of the dark side of the Force: Sith Assassins.

Nagajj, a long, white-scaled, ophidian creature with a dark presence in the Force, arched down onto the floor as her most recent carrier let her slither out of the sleeve. The floor was cold and the beings around her were tall, but she felt no fear. The serpent quickly set off between the stomping and stumbling creatures, graceless were they in comparison to her most beautiful form.

A foot stomped down next to her and she had to jump to the side. Her mouth opened wide, exposing its bright blue gums and long, needle-like teeth in a hiss. The foot retracted before she was urged to bite, and she slithered on. Her white head rose from the floor as she angled herself up and caught the edge of a plateau with her chin. That was all she needed in order to climb, and coil by coil she did curl her way up onto a higher place.

Her head turned as the final coil pulled itself up. Under the horn-like protrusions on its head, two glowing, orange eyes stared at the mayhem below, and a purple tongue darted out to usher scents into her nose.

She felt powerful, as though something surged deep within her.

[member="Leliana"]
 
Leliana watched as Nagajj slithered away, carving a path through stomping feet and falling bodies. It's presence was dark, almost intoxicating to have around especially to someone who had limited experience with the Force; at least directly anyway. Over the years spent in the facility, Leliana had experienced strange occurrences, one of which had was being able to move objects without being close to them; telekinesis. The Force was never intended to be taught to the assassins, only to make them more knowledgeable to combat against it. Not one of them were ever suppose to develop a sensitivity to it, yet there were a few rare ones that slipped through the cracks. Leliana was one such person, her kidnapping as a baby having been for personal gain rather than through the organization's more traditional selection process. Unlike the others however, she kept her gifts hidden from the start and only used them sparingly. And as such avoided the fate that befell those that hadn't.

But now? Now she could be as open as she wanted.

A male lurched up one side of the bleachers, rushing towards her. The paranoia had finally set in across the entire gym, there was no specific targets here. Just pure and unadulterated fear and anger etching its way into the minds of those present. To a point where there were even friendships crafted over the course of two decades being broken by one or the other's blade.

The assassin went to attack her, but Leliana raised her hand and used the Force to pull him closer without warning. The man was taken by surprise, losing his footing and falling into a stumble. It gave her ample time to reach into her coat and pull out a simple dagger. And a small flick of the wrist sent the blade slicing across the man's throat as he fell to the floor at her feet.

It was time to move.

Leliana cast a look over to where Nagajj had found its higher vantage point, before she stood up and moved down from the bleachers. A few attempted to intercept her, but she deftly dodged their attacks and plunged her dagger into their chests.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]​
 
The Nagajj slithered along the floor, carving a path like a winding river cutting its way across the land. Always did she find the passage of least resistance, but in this nightmare of stomping feet she was yet halted, forced to toss and turn and break out in a furious hiss; teeth extending in a display of fright. The power leaked from her scales, sending tremors of terror through the floor to clear the path.

She was not just here for the chaos, she had a mission.

She cast a glance back at the girl that had carried her for these last months, [member="Leliana"] . The pale mistress had plans for this young one. Soon, they would both return to her side, but first; the mission. The white snake pressed her head against the closed doors and focused, drawing power from the mistress. They parted as though flung and held open by terrible winds. The air seemed to chill, if only for a second as the serpent slithered through.

_ _ _ _

When most bonds broke, some became all the more solid. Zeneth and Tirol had long been aquaintances, but they shared no legendary bond. Yet, both knew they were beyond each other's reach of influence. When the rumours spread and suspicion grew like mould on damp minds, these two sons of Serenno had grown to rely on each other.

Now that the tension was released, they stood back to back in defence of each other. Around them fists and legs and shot flew. The blood seemed ambient, as though seeping through the walls and floors and ceiling, rather than the rapidly increasing number of mangled bodies beneath them. Tirol whipped the forcepike around, tapping a fellow student in the temple with the point. No more was needed; the head caved in under the transfer of power. Zeneth was struggling with a woman, a former girlfriend of his. His hands were wrapped tightly around her neck, her hands were scratching at his arms, and her feet kicking. He had too strong a position. It hurt to kill her, but she was a traitor.

We are all traitors.
 
She moved like a dancer, body twisting and concorting as she moved. Dodging attacks aimed for her, while delivering her own in quick succession. Leliana however had an advantage over her fellow assassins, one even she wasn't completely aware of. The Art of Movement; the basics of which had come naturally to her during training. It had seen a rise in her more physical classes, beating the majority of the other students went it came to agility. But it had also been Leliana's first inclination something was 'off', that there had been something at work giving her an edge. Couple with being able to suddenly move objects with her mind, it certainly pressed the issue to keep it all hidden as much as possible.

The moment she had moved from the bleachers; boots hitting the floor, she didn't hesitate a second before heading towards the nearest exit. Leliana avoided the large throngs of people, now nothing more than masses of flesh, blood and steel. She had no intention of staying, it would be an impossible task to oversee the deaths of everyone present. She'd leave that to the madness of paranoia, while she focused on sealing the fate of the Overseers.

"Lel!" A familiar voice managed slip through the chaotic noise, a young Arkanian man ran up to her. "I'm glad to see you're all right!"

He was a friend, ally and lover. It certainly wasn't an uncommon thing amongst the students, finding someone to pair up with intimately or otherwise. Having someone watch your back was an invaluable asset, but was a tricky thing to manage. No one could ever really be trusted, everyone had an ulterior motive.

And this one had been hooked by Leliana, much the same as her blade swiftly pierced through his throat.

His eyes widened in shock and surprise, but only found a cold expression in Leliana's. She pulled her sword out and didn't even look as he crumpled to the floor, instead she continued towards her goal.

While this situation hadn't happened before, Leliana knew all the timings; how long it would take for the security force to arrive, when the shutters would fall and lock everyone in. And as on queue, the fifth minute passed and a group of droids began marching into the gym.

"Please desist in your current action. You are to be apprended for the safety of yourself and you fellow students." They were bipedal in nature, carrying the same rifle that could easily be flipped between stun and lethal. Though they would find their numbers were sorely lacking in comparison to the assassins.

Leliana bounded towards one, coming at its left flank as its squad entered through her intended exit. The droid turned, raising his rifle, but the assassin used the Force to knock its aim off allowing her to get in close and slam her blade up under the jaw and into its processor brain. There was spark of destroyed electronics as she pried the weapon from its head. Leliana looked back towards the carnage and her eyes fell on Zeneth; recognizing him, Tirol and the woman that was now laying lifeless on the floor before him. A moment passed, their eyes connected before Leliana darted out of the gym.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]​
 
Droids stomping around, they did not pay the serpent much mind. Yet, she shot away with a dart of speed and pressed herself snugly against the wall. Watching the slaughter, she slithered along the wall and turned a corner.

Left? Right? ... Left.

Something guided her inner compass, drawing her in like metal to a magnet or flies to a corpse. She slithered down a flight of stairs. It was much more quiet there. Quiet was dangerous, yet she knew it was right. Her danger was their protection. What they wished to protect was what the Nagajj and her master wished to access and tear open.
---
Droids

"Zeneth!" Tiriol shouted.

Zeneth looked up just as the woman in her eyes stopped clawing at his wrists and looked straight down the barrel of a blaster. Zeneth's jaw started dropping and he tried to pull back instinctually. Was this how he was about to die? What a waste of life. He dropped the throat in his hands and raised them instinctually. Eyes flinched as the shot was fired. Yet, he felt no pain.

Opening his eyes Zeneth saw Tiriol's back in front of him, and a smouldering hole in his torso. Tiriol did not stop, but threw himself at the droids, knocking them over and taking the blaster rifle from one. He started beating them with the butt of it.

"Run you bastard!" "Tiriol..."

Zeneth took two steps back, then saw Leliana paving a path through the droids. He ran after her, careful not to get too close.

[member="Leliana"]
 
The moment Zeneth had slipped out of the gym a set of shutters descended. One after another the metal doors slammed down into place, sealing off the room entirely. The carnage that was left behind him was now nothing more than a muffled racket just managing to pierce through the thick material.

Leliana was already a fair distance down the hallway, she wasn't pausing for a moment as she made her way to her objective. The plan she had concocted was comprised of multiple parts, but relied on the facility's lockdown protocols.

With the gym being the focus of the chaos, the Overseers' attention would be solely on that. There surely wouldn't be any further need to lock anything else down if it's already contained, right?

It provided both Leliana and Nagajj nothing but open doors as they individually moved through the facility. The hallways were empty, the only potential threat that could crop up were more droids or even the few instructors that hadn't been present in the gym.

That, or another assassin who managed to slip out in Leliana's case.

The assassin stopped momentarily before turning on her heel and heading left. Her target was the facility's storage, where she'd find the explosives she needed.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]​
 
The Nagajj descended down the stairs and into the depths of the assassin compound. Most doors would be unlocked to allow the instructors and guardians free passage, locking doors behind them as they relocated. However, the white serpent knew there would be locked doors further down where she was going.

There were rooms down there, holding objects and information the pale mistress desired. So the Nagajj complied.

She slithered along the floor, her scales shifting colour to take the hue of the background; a dull, dark grey. She stopped, thinking she felt something in the floor beneath her. The horned head turned sharply to the left. Footsteps, one, two, heavy, metal. She coiled up, tensing readily. Down the corridor an instructor came running. The weight and subtle sound of servos told the dormant mind in her that the legs were not to bite. The white serpent waited, watched, and the instructor slowed down.

Strike.

She was almost too slow. The instructor snapped his hand back, but out from the jaws burst a pale blue spark of electricity straight at his chest. It was not powerful enough to kill, but it did stun him. Taking a step back, he could only watch as the disturbance in the shadow now darted out as a white serpent. Daggerlike teeth bore into his throat, pumping venom through the cyborg's system while the scaled body coiled up around his arm.

---

Zenneth was never the most accomplished student, but something about the current situation had sharpened his mind. He slipped into the most basic level of their training, and as such, followed Leliana from a distance. Was she escaping? She looked so in control, while he was confused. And Tiriol- Tiriol was gone. The grave acceptance of this reality settled over the young man's mind as he fit himself snugly against the wall and followed the black-haired woman down the open halls.

How did all of this come to pass? He wondered, pondered, weighed the scales but found no appropriate counterweight. All he knew now was that Leliana was up to something. Perhaps she was going home? What was home to them? He could not remember. This was home - They were home now.

Tiriol had fought and died for home.

A hard, cold truth solidified in him as he accepted this. Now, where did Leliana stand in this? Was she with him, or against him? And more importantly, where was she going? He followed her at a distance, quiet as a mouse. Watching from around the corner while she headed to the facility storage.

[member="Leliana"]
 
Leliana moved down the various hallways and hidden corridors rarely pausing to correct the direction she was going. They could change the staff, the guard patrols and the security codes. But it was impossible to alter the facility's layout. This had once been everything to her; a home where there was no other. As a child she had managed to slip out of her room and explore, despite how strict and by the book the rules were.

Even at that age, Leliana had an exceptional memory, recalling how to navigate the maze of hallways that were nothing more than a confusing mess for others at the same age. As she grew older, it became a self imposed test for her. Sneaking out, seeing if she could get to a specific point while avoiding whatever change to the patrols that happened that night.

So it wouldn't be al ltaht surprising to those that knew her, to see the assassin make easy work of navigating the facility.

Eventually turned around a corner at the bottom of a T-junction hallway, at the far end was a set of large doors she knew led to the storage area. Hearing the sounds of heavy footsteps, Leliana quickly ducked back into cover as a droid walked from the top of the hallway and began patrolling down towards her.

The assassin went to curse quietly, but cut herself off when she realized something.

This was an opportunity.

She recalled something specific Nagajj had mentioned when they had discussed the plan in detail. The droids used throughout the facility had a built-in security key that allowed them to get through otherwise locked doors. Supposedly these were located within the heads somewhere. How exactly a snake knew about it was a mystery to Leliana, but she knew there was no lie or deception from the snake.

So as the droid came stomping down, just about to turn the corner towards her. Leliana used the Force and blasted it into the wall. It immediately tried to stand back up, but before it could even speak, the assassin shot forwards and plunged her dagger into its neck. The droid twitched, any words it spoke came out as a mess of static. Leliana began cutting away further, until she realized it was going to be impossible to severe it with just the blade. With a slight grumble, the assassin sheathed her dagger and placed both hands one the droid's head. She called upon the Force, directing it around her hands before she began to pull and tug against the remaining wires and connections that kept it tied to the rest of the body.

Leliana overestimated the amount of power she needed, and once the head was free she went stumbling backwards until her back hit the opposite wall.

"Well, that wasn't particularly graceful..."

[member="Darth Ophidia"]​
 
One minute, two, three.

The instructor's body stopped flailing and finally went still. The Nagajj looked hungrily, but felt a spectral hand tap her on the snout; she had a mission to do. Releasing the instructor from her grapple, she slithered deeper into the subterranean corridors, keeping close to walls, peeking around corners and tasting the air with her purple tongue.

The coast ought to be clear, and there was no time to waste.

She slithered deeper, finding no hindrance until she met what looked like a sheer slab of a door at the end. Having listened to conversations and followed Leliana around, the Nagajj knew that the door on the slab-door was a trap.The real door was right under her fee- Uhm. Her belly.

---

What in the world was Leliana up to?

Zenneth watched Leliana as the droid came, a hand balling into a fist at his side. It was time he chose which side he stood on, would he help her or condem- WHAT. Zenneth's jaw positively dropped when he saw Leliana push the metal body up against the wall without even touching it. He knew she was skillful, but this was something else: This was cheating.

The plot thickened and Zenneth almost stepped out to confront her, but a thought occurred in his head as she tore the head off the droid: What stopped her from tearing his head off? - Rather ungracefully at that -

Nothing but good will, he supposed. So he stayed, and he watched.
Enemy or friend?​
Tiriol is dead.​
Friend or enemy?
Will I die too?​
[member="Leliana"]
 
Leliana groaned softly as she pushed herself from the wall, her back aching slightly from the impact. With one hand grasping the droid's head, the assassin examined it. The mechanical optics that made up its 'eyes' had already blinked out, and Leliana hoped that didn't mean it was completely fried.

"Well, there's only one way of finding out." She muttered, heading towards the large doors, sparing a glance over to the droid's body that was now slumped against the wall. For a moment she wondered if it was suddenly rise back up, but it remained motionless.

As she approached the double doors, raising the dismembered head up the moment she stopped before them.

Nothing happened.

Then the head began to groan, a mechanical racket as several internal pieces struggled to work together. Leliana was half expecting it to suddenly explode in her hands, and was about ready to drop it when a sharp hiss echoed down the corridor. The large doors had slid open, by about half an inch.

Leliana's arms just dropped to her sides, emphasising what slipped from her lips seconds after.

"Seriously..."

The assassin sighed, walking up to the door and placing the head down on the ground. She wait for a short moment, wondering and hoping they would open some more. But nothing happened, leaving Leliana with very limited options. She would have to foce them open, something that ought to be impossible for someone her size.

She moved up to the door, placing a hand on either door. At first it looked as though that was it, and to Zenneth it would likely appear as such. Instead, Leliana summoned the Force to her hands and began to push. Neither door budged initially, but gradually they began to groan as they were pushed apart. Once there was enough gap to fit through for a decent sized human, Leliana stopped. She let out an exhausted sigh as she felt her arms ache immediately after.

Okay, let's not do that too much...

Not wasting a second, Leliana picked up the head once more and slipped into the Storage Facility. Although she proceeded on, forgetting something quite crucial.

And it wasn't the fact Zenneth was following her.

The droid's right hand suddenly twitched, and its whole body lurched to life.

"System Diagnostics complete. Main Power has been disconnected. Booting up Secondary Power complete. New Objective: Reacquire Main Power Source." The droid slowly stood up, what remained of its neck twisting around even though the head was no longer attached. It began to move towards the doors, only to slam right into it. Pausing for a moment, the droid stepped back then thrusted its arms between the gap and pushed the doors even further apart, before stepping through.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]​
 
The white serpent coiled up, reaching deep into its dark origins as a source of power. Its red eyes glossed over and its form seemed to freeze as she felt the power of another seize her.

B͓̬͉̱̞̣ͅl̯̼͎̘ͦ͂̐ͫḁͫ̑c̖̝̗̫͋͒̍́ͬͨk̩̖͚͓͔̥̳̐͋̽ ̫ͮ̇h̭̰͆ͤ̐͋̑a̦͇͚̜͐͋̂ͩ̽ͭn̟͈̯ͣ͒͗ͪ̿͆͋d͓̼̂̐ͩͣ̈́̌,̯͉͖͓̭̗͙̐͗ ̺̠̭̻̞ͯ͌̽̈́́͐r̓ͣ̒ͣͧë̥̬̞͎́̄͐ͥͫ̽̋d̳͎̜͍̣ͨͅ ̞̭̥̪̓e͔̍ͭ̑͂ͦ͋̋ỵ̲̝̦̳͇̹̀͗͐ͩͫ̌e̺̝̠̎̏̀͒ͮ̐,̬̻͙̱̖̩͓̉̄̂̓̅̂ ͎͎̄͌b̦̦̆̆r̘̞̮͍̊ͣ̄͛ͥ͐̍ͅe̖̱͖͚͈̮̺̋͊͋ͧ͐ä̻̝̬ͮ͗̂t̘̺̰̂ͮh̀̋͐͋ͪ̿ ̭͊͋ͥ̿ͪ͗̿o̰̜̫̳̬͖͓ͩͩ̊̒̽̾ͧf̽̊̓͂̋ͬ ͙̦͚͍͎̗̥sm̘̭ͯͫ̃o̜̭̮̾ͥ̿ͥ̇ǩ̞̺̜̮̗̳e ͙̪̘̦̲̩̲ͥ̽͌ͧͪ͗ͩa̻̓̚n̯̱̝̠͆ͪ͗̽͑̌͑d̲͎̥̽ ̎̍ͯ͋̓s̲̪͋͂ͫ̈́͋̿ͅk̥͇͉ͯḭͫͤ͗n͔̗͎̘̭̥͔͛̍͗̑ͨ ͇̹̹̋ͯͮ̑̈o̘͕̩͓ͮ͑͐̐̓͆̈́f͖ͬ̓ ̭a̤͎͋̌̆͋ș̰̼̗̮̜̯̄̄ͨ̈̓h͕̭ͦ̌̇͑̄ͣ̀.̻͆̇ ͬ̈́ͣT̹̹͖͗ͭ͆ȟͦͥ̃͒̄è̦͔̄̽̐̓ ̫̝͖ͮͨͦP̳̞̻̖͂ͨ̊̎̒̅a͓͆ͭ̒l̯̳͙̣̭̠̪̒̎̂̏e̞̬̋ͪ ̞̼͔͔ͥQ̦̰͆̍u̫͚̖̱͖̗̤͌͆̅eͤe̼̜͚̺̠̼͔ͥ̽̾ͪṉ̻ ̳̞̳̠̱ͥ̓̃͆c͚̥̙̙͌͂ͨͪ͂̓̋o̺̾m͖͓ͪ̋e͍͇̟͇̹ͧ͂͗͂͑̆ṣ͖͕̳̖̔ͣ̇̈́.̱̠
Something welled up in the serpent's stomach, as though she retched up a second self. The Nagajj turned her fangs to the air as it reached through her neck, her jaw expanded to allow it space. Then, with a sickening sound of spittle and venom, a hand reached out from the white serpent's throat: Its skin was black as ink, patterned with the swirling, bulging pattern of a hot-water scar. Its fingers extended, spreading purple-painted fingernails. The palm rotated as more of the arm glided out. Soot gave way to ash by the elbow, and the hand touched the floor with a gentle caress. Another hand emerged, slithering out next to the first then fanning out. A head bulged out next, covered in lightning scars and the black war-paint of Rattataki.

One by one, the Nagajj's black scales turned black and its form seemed to peel away in four strips. Between the peel, layers of black, grey and dark blue cloth unfolded like a shadow coming to consume the world in which it had spawned. For a second, the shape simply laid there on the floor, then burning eyes opened and a smile spread on purple lips.

Gracefully, the Queen of Shadows rose to her feet; a tail of white scales disappeared between her lips as she looked down at the door beneath her feet. She extended a bare arm, black fingers curling as the door shook, resisted, then reluctantly moved under her command.

---

Zenneth almost chuckled at Leliana's struggles, but only stared when she was able to force the doors open by hand. How were she so strong? He had fought her before, she was not that strong. So she had to be hiding something. She had hidden something from everyone.

She was the enemy then; the origin of all this chaos.

He stopped himself from following right after her when he saw the droid move. The masters had taught him: Never get stuck in a three-way-fight. Watch, wait, and then strike when the time is right. He could probably have defeated the droid as it stood, but it was also more useful as a means to occupy Leliana. When it went through the doors, he moved up to them and looked inside, keeping out of sight.

Leliana was the enemy, righ?

[member="Leliana"]
 
The storage facility was as Lelaina expected, all neat and tidy with every sheld occupied with crates of various sizes. Everything was all perfect, and she could just see some prissy caretaker with a stick up his arse, fussing over to make sure it was all exact and precise.

Only staff and guards had ever set foot in here until today, although it wasn't as though there had been a lack of trying from the assassins. The vast majority of its contents were equipment, ranging from excercise to fake weaponry. They were never left in the classrooms, always moved back and forth when needed.

A truly monotonous way of doing things, but that's why there were droids around to do all the heavy lifting.

Leliana didn't pause as she strode past the towering shelves, there was nothing on them that interested her. Her goal laid at the far end of the room, where a locked door separated her from the real goods that were hidden away.

"Come on your rust bucket, work your magic again." Leliana held the droid's head up again, holding before the keypad and scanner. A similar event occurred, nothing happening initially until the head began to make a racket, although this time the assassin could feel it heating up rapidly. Now she was really expecting it to go boom. But it didn't, though Leliana did have to switch hands once, letting her right cool down while the left took the brunt of the burning sensation.

With the lock disengaged, Leliana placed the head down on the floor and swept into the room, searching for her goal. It was tempting to pick up a few of the weapons that caught her eye, but she pushed that desire aside and focused on the objective. She grabbed a bag, emptying it's contents before she began to pack it with explosives, enough for the plan at least.

Time was running short, and Leliana was back out of the room within minutes. Only to then find her path from the facility blocked.

"Stand down Assassin, Leliana. You are under arrest for crimes against..." The droid began to drivel on as they usually did, while Leliana was focused on finding a way to get around this. It was ultimately a simple matter of just moving around and leaving, but allowing the droid to remain functioning could potentially lead to problems. "...and damages against this unit." That piqued Leliana's interest.

"You want your head back?" She asked, leaning down to pick up the dismembered body part. "Then catch!" Leliana threw the head forwards, letting it hit the ground just before the droid's feet. And as it bent down to pick it up, Leliana summoned the Force to her free hand and sent the machine crashing into one of the shelves. It slammed into one of the supports, breaking it in two, and in a matter of seconds it all came tumbling down.

Leliana groaned, exhausted as she felt a sense of fatigue begin to settle throughout her body. She had gone so long without outright using the Force, and now it was a battle between wanting to unleash it, but her body just wasn't use to it.

Now that the droid was dealt with, Leliana pushed onwards to the exit. Towards the same doors she had entered through, and the one Zenneth was presently hiding behind.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]​
 
The Pale Assassin waited just a second as the doors opened. As she had expected, a gas was released from either side of the stairs. Darth Ophdia waved her arms, throwing out a gust of the Force. She knew this smoke: Forcebreakers. They were an alltogether unleasant experience to be around, but they did require a second of contact to take effect. As she stepped down the stairs, the smoke was pushed away from her by an invisible bubble. It did not eat the Force, just her ability to control it.

Beyond the stairs there was a snug corridor, lit only in the far end. Behind the stairs there was space enough for a person to stand. She shifted, making a quarter turn so her right shoulder faced the stairs. She stared into the darkness on the right side of the stairs, but her attention was elsewhere; Ophidia had purposely exposed her back to the left side of the stairs in order to draw out any attacker hidden there.

Swish!

Ophida took a step forward while ducking down as a wire swished through the air where her head had been. Her right hand went to the sabre at her hip, ripping it out of its resting place and activating the scarlet blade in an instant thrust. The tip burst through nothingness and summoned forth a flicker as the personal cloaking device failed. The Duro that wore it gasped for air as Ophidia's blade stuck through its abdomen, clearly missing the spine. She leaned back against it, running her other hand over its cheek

"Now tell me all your secrets."

She gripped the Duro's chin with the metal claws attached to her fingertips and assaulted it with her consciousness. The claws helped her burrow deeper and rip out the memories of the combination to the door ahead, she made sure the Duro did not give up before she had all she needed. Then, when she had what she wished, the Duro could die. The sabre twitched left and severed the spinal column, then deactivated.

"Some security."

Darth Ophidia strode over to the heavy vault doors, keeping a watchful eye out for more traps. The door itself was an intense piece of protection: Phrik and voidstone, wall to wall. Only way to get it open would be the combination that only select few knew. The Duro was not supposed to know, but how many times had it seen the code be typed? It had not wanted to remember, but it did none the less. Now Ophidia knew.

-----

Zenneth had expected more of a fight, even if the droid was decapitated. When Leliana tossed it with a mere thought and proceeded to let the ceiling crush it, he did not believe it. Could he really defeat such strength? She was something other than human; she was a, a, a forcer.

Yes. Yes he could. Fight smart, not hard. Even forcers can be defeated if you fight them right. He had to use everything he knew. So the apprentice assassin exhaled to calm his mind and slipped into the meditative state of calmness. His presence in the world shrunk as he let his self go and became one with the surroundings.

He drew a vibrodagger and held it firmly in hand.

Wait for it.

The moment Leliana came through the door, Zenneth made his move, still in a mode of hiding. His left hand splayed out, going into a faint against Leliana's face. The right made a thrust for her lower abdomen.

[member="Leliana"]
 
"Safety is not to be relied on, the only focus is and should always be on the mission. Even outside of an assignment, you cannot trust to be safe."

That was much true for the facility itself. While there were rules and regulations to stop students killing each other, there weren't any to stop them falling on more childish practices, like pranks. The assassins they were training were certainly not Jedi, and as such the Order's dogma had no place. Students were allowed; in a similar vain as hobbies, to enact pranks on their fellow students. All of which ranged from harmless to outright maiming someone.

And to say the least, a lot of the assassins got creative with what they did.

Ultimately it built up that idea that even in your rooms, where you think you would be safe. You weren't.

It ensured every one of the students was on edge a great deal of the time, and was Leliana's current state of mind. High on alert, even though there was seemingly no one else nearby. WIth the explosives in hand Leliana was moving quickly. She reached the door and immediately stepped through the gap.

Like the crack of a whip, she reacted.

As Zenneth's hand came towards her face, Leliana dropped the bag to the floor and quickly intercepted it; wrapping her hand around his wrist. There was an immediate glimmer of recognition, she recognized the move. She quickly brought her right hand down, mirroring the other with fingers clamping around Zenneth's wrist, just as the blade of his vibrodagger was about to stab through clothing and skin.

Leliana gritted her teeth, feeling the man trying to push through the last bit of distance. She didn't even know who was attacking her until she looked, just focusing on the fact that whoever they were, their intentions were clear.

"Zenneth." The last she had seen of him was in the gym, meaning he had managed to escape shortly after. Which also meant...The assassin cursed to herself, how had she not noticed him following her all this time?

With a swift knee to the gut, to wind and knock him back a bit, Leliana broke her hold and took several steps back. She grabbed ahold of the bag with her left, while drawing out her dagger with the right; poised before her and ready to strike.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]​
 
With each step, hips swayed and fabric followed. The pattern of blue diamonds trailing down the back of her hood and robes tailed the rhythm like the coiling body of a serpent. Each footfall was like a cotton kiss as she approached the door with the out most nonchalance. She owned these walls now. Her eyes blinked hard as she swallowed the Duro's memories, leaving only the combination. Her fingers traced the pattern in the air, lips muttering the ciphers.

This was a good code.

She closed her eyes and reached out in the pattern now so familiar to her fingertips. First, a swipe from left to right - A lever moved by her fingers. A sequence of buttons, ah but a double press on the third-last cipher. They thought one did not notice; one did. Press the centre button, and the bottom. Hold it. Pull lever back

click, clickclicklicklickclick, thunk.

Open

The Pale Assassin opened her eyes and took some cautionary steps back as the heavy door opened outwards.
----
'Zenneth'

So she did recognise him. It made the situation all the worse: She was not just a monster, the Leliana who had been one of them was still in there. She had always been in there. She had always been the monster.

Her swift knee and breaking away gave him an option: He could hold on and try to endure the knee to keep close; the image of how she had moved doors apart made that a less attractive option, or he could let off the pressure and minimise the impact of her knee. He decided so. With a swift shift of momentum, he shifted his weight so it moved the same way as Leliana's knee rather than opposed it, thus cutting the tip off her counterattack. His arms flew down to push off from her as he jumped back and into one of the defensive positions they had learned

"You are betraying us - Everyone. We can't let you."

He shifted the hold on his dagger and began to step sideways to cut her off from the exit. She was strong, yes, but he had less baggage. Could he win this? Yes, yes he could.

[member="Leliana"]
 
Leliana frowned as she kept her eyes on Zenneth, watching as the man stepped cautiously around to block her way. There was only one way down the hallway, and he was in between it. The assassin would've lurched forwards before he could, get through his defence before he could intercept, but the weight of the explosives was not going to allow that. Not without leaving her open for attack, especially from another assassin.

"This isn't our home Zenneth, it's our prison."

That would likely sting, as home and family was something that had been drilled into them at young age. All of them had been children at one point, of various ages of course but they were essentially all brothers and sisters to one another.

Albeit ones trained to assassinate, but a family nonetheless.

Leliana had been the same, years ago. Another part of the family and happily so. But that had all changed several months ago, about roughly a month after Leliana had returned from her last field mission. She had become a lot more closed and distant.

If Zenneth was smart enough, he might connect the dots, piece the puzzle together.

The recent murders of their fellow students...

Her betrayal went a lot deeper, beyond just being a Forcer; those they had been trained to be able to kill.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]​
 
The pale assassin passed under the thick portal and let her eyes traverse the room: Rows upon rows of locked drawers and closets; a computer terminal at the far end connected to a second door: The records. She strode through with confidence. Her left hand reached out next to her, as though helping her listen. The locked drawers and cabinets shook as she bit her lip in focus.

"Don't be shy, my love. I know you are- " Her eyes focused on a singular drawer "-Here."

She bee lined to her chosen drawer and made a quick pulling-motion. The lock cracked under the pressure and the drawer shot out violently. She stared into the drawer. Disappointment dawning on her face as she pulled out an ornate necklace.

"Pretty, but not quite." She pocketed it and resumed her sensing.

One more, two more, three drawers did she bust open and their contents pilfer before she stopped. She shifted her weight back and forth between two tiles, then stepped back and directed a hand down at them. Her fingers curled like talons and pulled back, crushing the tiles and revealing a safe underneath. Again, she tore at it with telekinetic claws, prying open the locks until the contents were lain bare before her.

"How coy."
-*-*-*-

"And all those we knew? Friends? Comrades? Family? Did they mean nothing to you?!"

It was all beginning to connect, but he wanted to hear her say it - Admit it.

"You killed them; you started this, didn't you? You are the reason-"

He choked on the names. His hand shook, but Zenneth re-solidified his grip on it as his jaw clenched.

"TELL ME! Why?! Why, Leliana?"

[member="Leliana"]
 
The coin had finally dropped it seemed, Leliana watched as Zenneth's face twisted with anger. Whereas she showed no emotion, just a cold exterior as she stared back at him.

"Because everyone in this facility are nothing but pawns and puppets, never amount to anything." It was something Leliana wouldn't stand for, not after what Nagajj had told her of the possibilities out in the galaxy - away from all this.

"So yes, I set up the board and the players, letting all the relevant pieces fall into place before the whole thing crashes and burns." Now there was the slightest of smiles, evident that the assassin was pleased with the fact she had managed to set things up unaware to everyone else.

"And well, I also did this for myself. Because i'd be nothing if I stayed here, remained in the grip of the Overseers. So it's time for a clean slate." Again, there was whole galaxy of opportunities for her, ones that involved learning more about the Force.

Leliana darted forwards, swinging the bag of explosives at Zenneth's head. She was gambling on the fact he was going to dodge, and not attack. Not even he would risk hitting it blowing themselves both up. But that wasn't the assassin's full intent, as she dropped her arm and let the bag fall back to her side - then thrusted her left hand forwards and attempted to stab Zenneth in the stomach with her dagger, leaving it embedded.

But that was just a second move, giving way for Leliana to quickly circle around the man and make a dash down the hallway. The assassin was counting on the man's anger to push him into a chase. As she ran, Leliana leant down and grabbed the droid's rifle, quickly switching it to lethal. Leliana turned around the corner and stopped, hooking the gun underneath one arm as she pulled open the bag and pulled out an explosive charge. With a swift flick of her fingers, she activated it and stuck it against the wall, just barely out of sight before someone came around the corner.

With a deep breath, Leliana jogged further down the hallway then turned around and waited. Placing the bag down by her feet, Leliana hoisted the rifle up and aimed - waiting for Zenneth to turn the corner, then she would fire at it.

[member="Darth Ophidia"]​
 
Darth Ophidia knelt down like a predator over its prey and metaphorically fed upon the contents of the strongbox. They were tucked away, piece by piece, and soon nothing was left. She looked up as a quiver shook the building. A wicked smile curled over her lips. Leliana was being quite rowdy.

Alas, such was youth.

Standing up. Ophidia strode out of the vault and made her way to the assigned place of meeting. Her form draped into the shadows, looking one with the walls and air. She waited for her new apprentice to return

Victorious.

*-*-*​
As Leliana swung the bag at Zenneth, he thought he had his cut. Rolling his upper body, he ducked under the heavy bag. His right arm cocked and launched forward with a thrust at Leliana's throat, but before he could reach her, something pained him in his abdomen. His eyes turned down at the end of his thrust, unconcerned with whether or not he had drawn blood. His free hand curled around the dagger as Leliana bolted, and for a moment he simply stood there.

He was weaker than her. Since when was he weaker than her?

Fury welled up in him. He did not draw the dagger out, but clenched his fist around his own.

He did not come running around the corner, rather he staggered. The knife had hit him square in the diaphragm and each breath he took expanded the wound. His eyes were desperate, watery from tears, blurred from sheer hate.

"We trusted you. We loved you. You were our family!"

He never saw the explosives.

[member="Leliana"]
 

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