Private Trouble on Kabal

[Itzhal Volkihar]

"Jetii, bid yai'yai bat jetii'dral," drawled the Mandalorian, his tone warm but with a tint of mocking that he couldn't entirely hide. This matter of coordination with a Jedi was something entirely new, even if he could acknowledge there were more than a few differences from the ones he'd met before. She smiled and laughed, something the others had never dared to do. Under the circumstances, it wasn't quite a fair comparison to those long passed. He hadn't smiled much back then, either.

It was a mere coincidence that he looked away afterwards, unwilling to focus on the personal issues that would tear him away from the mission. Her words were a distant if pleasant mummer that he couldn't grasp hold of as he looked out across the distance and wondered why he was here. Not on this mission, the credits were more than enough encouragement, but rather the much more critical question of why he'd taken an offer to work with the Jedi.

The answer never came.

Shaking his head back into action, Itzhal mumbled under his breath, the faint words sealed away by his helmet and the program that activated a moment later as the audial recording of the last few moments replayed back to him. The call for care resonated deeply in the troubled maelstrom of thoughts that encircled his mind, a quiet warning to get back in the game as he turned his helmet towards her. The T-shaped visor could not display anything of the chaos that lurked below, his body perfectly still, a hunter forced into dealing with the morality of his actions and the dangerous pause as he came to a conclusion.

"I'm not here to fight you, Mandalorian. But if you're not with the Ash Blades, maybe you're someone I can work with. What do you say? We have the same goal here." She offered, voice warm and confident as another path than total bloodshed was offered—a choice his people had never received.

It felt almost blasphemous to agree, as if the dead buckled and wailed with outrage in the knowledge that their great revenge was stayed for another moment. He could almost imagine their disdain as he held his blade, an inch away from tearing out an artery, as hands shook and an offer of cooperation was sealed. Yet, Itzhal could not force himself to lash out so quickly, lost in a world he knew so little about and with people so far removed from the systems that had ruined his life.

He could spend his days hating them all, their lives uninterrupted by a stasis that sometimes left him looking out into the distance to find only the vague outline of something recognisable yet utterly different in the details. Even on his best days, he knew it was only a matter of time, a poor day or just an unfortunate moment of deeply stored bitterness.

"Keep an eye out for anything I might miss, and I'll make sure we don't trip any alarms."

What type of a man broke his own promises?

"Ni hukaati gar shebs ti kama, gar hukaati ner. Tome." he whispered, the receiver in his helmet barely able to catch it as he stalked forward, the passage ahead already made up in his mind as he slid down the access ladder and over the street, closer to the security cordon that he knew awaited. He'd spotted a back alley on the overlook, a no man's land between Kabal Enterprises and a competitor, just large enough for them both to walk through in single file until they were halfway past and out of sight of the first camera rotating its way past.

Once they'd climbed over the fence, it would be a straight sprint towards one of the outer supply generators, the sparking energy visible as a shadow against the imprints of the fence. His back pressed against the other side of the alley, a proper wall, rather than the foundations in front of them, as he glanced Valery's way.

"The moment we're over, there's no stopping and no going back; it'll be a lot of bloodshed if we need to fight our way through," He warned her, his hands settled close to his hips as if in preparation for all hell to break loose, as the final decision was left in her grasp, "You certain you can get us to that side entrance?"

Tag: Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit (Robes over it)
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's amber eyes followed Itzhal's movements as he slid down the ladder and scouted the path ahead. She could feel it — subtle but undeniable. His sharp-edged demeanor, the hardened walls he'd built around himself, seemed to soften just slightly. It wasn't much, but it was enough for her to notice, enough for her to hope that, at the very least, they could work together without the tension snapping like a frayed wire.

As he pressed himself against the wall and glanced her way, his warning hung in the air. Her gaze met the cold visor of his helmet, and she offered a faint, confident smile.

"I can get us inside," she said firmly, her voice low but steady. "I've handled worse than this, and if we stick to the plan, we'll make it through without raising alarms too early." There was no hesitation in her tone — only resolve.

Valery adjusted her stance, her hand brushing against the hilt of her saber as she prepared herself for what lay ahead. The hum of the distant generator, the faint whir of security cameras — all of it faded into the background as she focused. The Force rippled around her, a steady current guiding her thoughts and actions.

"I'll take the lead once we're over." she added, her tone carrying a hint of reassurance. "But if anything does go wrong..." She paused, her gaze steady. "We adapt, and we make it work. No unnecessary risks, no needless bloodshed."

She took a slow, calming breath, her focus unwavering. "Let's move. We're not going to get a better chance than this."

Without waiting for his reply, she began to move toward the fence, her confidence in her abilities radiating outward. She was determined not just to succeed but to show Itzhal that she was more than capable of holding her own — and of earning his trust, even if it was only a small step at a time.

Itzhal Volkihar ​

 

[Itzhal Volkihar]

Itzhal's steel blue eyes examined Valery's face for any sign of doubt, a sliver of fear in the furrow of her brow, or a worried twist of her lips that would defy the claims she made. Yet as the seconds passed and his analysis came to a close, Itzhal only found determination burning in the light of her amber eyes.

She knew she could do it; was there any point in arguing otherwise? There was little point in a partner he couldn't trust to know their limits.

Without another word spoken between them, the Mandalorian nodded his head in acceptance, a silent promise that he would follow her lead, at least for now.

Itzhal's right arm raised towards the fence and the buildings beyond as he pointed his gauntlet in the direction of a nearby smokestack. A one-finger tap of the control panel launched a length of fibercord across the distance, the impact muffled by the belching fumes above. As suddenly he retracted the length, a warning tug was all he received before he was launched forward, closing the distance with the upper reaches of the fence and then vaulting over as he detached the magnetic hook. Before he even hit the ground in a roll that transferred into a jog across the tarmac, the cable had already retracted, hidden once again beneath the armour of his gauntlet.

He quickly followed in step behind Valery as he drew his right pistol, aware of the stipulations she set but ready all the same. It had been some time since someone had dared to set parameters for his missions; at least, it was something he could agree with. He'd seen enough bloodshed, and there was little honour to be gained in a massacre. If that meant sneaking into the building quietly, then a little extra challenge was worth the effort. It was about time he'd received a little brush-up on his skills; a proper commando was capable of more than just unleashing havoc across a battlefield.

Keeping up with the Jedi to the best of his abilities, Itzhal also wouldn't deny he held some personal curiosity about how he squared up to his counterpart.

Tag: Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit (Robes over it)
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery moved quickly and gracefully, her senses stretched out through the Force as she advanced with Itzhal close behind. The faint whir of security cameras and the distant hum of the facility's generators served as a backdrop to their silent approach. She spared a brief glance over her shoulder to ensure Itzhal was keeping pace. His movements were efficient and calculated, a reflection of his skill and experience.

As they neared the side of the facility, Valery's gaze locked onto the wall ahead. It was solid durasteel, unyielding and unmarked by any obvious entry points. A lesser-trained infiltrator might have seen it as a dead end, but Valery's confidence never wavered. She stopped short of the wall, turning to face Itzhal with a faint smirk tugging at her lips.

"Stay close and watch," she murmured, her voice low but carrying a quiet assurance.

With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and reached out to the Force, allowing its energy to flow through her like a river. The air around her seemed to shimmer faintly, the natural world bending to her will. As the Force wrapped around her, Valery took a single step forward — and passed seamlessly through the solid door in their way as though it were nothing more than a shadow.

On the other side, she reappeared in a crouch, her movements as smooth and silent as a whisper. The faint hum of the facility's internal systems surrounded her, but her focus remained sharp. She turned her head, waiting for a brief moment before she reached out with the Force again, this time extending her presence to Itzhal.

Her eyes searched for a control panel - a way to let the Mandalorian inside.

Itzhal Volkihar ​

 

[Itzhal Volkihar]

Unprepared for the sudden disappearance of his ally as they walked into the wall and then through it, Itzhal stalled, his blaster held without any purpose in hand as his eyes searched for a distortion in the air or some other explanation of the unexplainable feat. With a few steps carrying him towards her previous position, he dropped to one knee, armoured frame shrouded by the nearby structures as he gently tapped against the wall in search of a secret entrance. He found none, for the reality was the very thing he struggled to believe, whether, through technology or magic, the Jetii had phased through solid durasteel.

Alone on the outside, he took a moment to think. One hand plastered to the warm durasteel, Itzhal pushed against the thick metal plates and found the expected resistance from an unyielding surface. The other hand wielded a blaster that was kept just in case he was detected as blue steel eyes flickered from sound to sound, wary of approaching footsteps, and the fact "Stay close and watch" had hardly been an appropriate warning.

Itzhal took a deep breath. The tension in his body slowly pushed towards a tight knot in his chest as the lungs inhaled; his thoughts and worries gathered before him. He worried the situation he'd stumbled across was bigger than what he was equipped for; he worried that the Galaxy was so different from everything he knew and even how his ally was someone he couldn't understand with abilities and powers that defied the rules he'd always known.

Some days, he woke up feeling frozen in place, as if everything would have been easier if the stasis had never broken.

Those days, he knew the Galaxy would never be the same. He was an outsider looking in after everything else had changed and the only one who remembered how things had been before.

Other times, it was easier to move on. To find familiarity in the people who hadn't changed much, their lives moving on regardless of ancient conflicts and awe-inspiring magic. A form of resilience that so few focused on great glories and terrible ambitions stopped to admire. Life and people would move on regardless of how the Galaxy moved. All he could do was keep moving forward.

With an exhale that cleared the worries, at least for now, Itzhal looked up as a small vent opened up about twenty feet above his head. The sudden gust of fresh air summoned by the retracting metal plates, large enough for a floating droid to slip through and into the internals of the factory or a particularly determined Mandalorian as he fired off his whipcord once again and launched into the newly created opening in the factory defences.

Unable to silence the clang of his landing upon the grated walkway, Itzhal's hands grasped for nearby pipes, their exterior shell hot even through the protection of his bodysuit, as he took a moment to recover his balance. It didn't take more than a couple of feet of walking half-crouched through the tight corridor to reach a security ladder to the lower floor, where Valery stood waiting.

"Nice trick," Itzhal complimented with a nod that brushed over everything else he wanted to say. There was still a job to do; he intended to finish it.

Wherever Crasska lingered was going to be a pain to reach, but he hadn't come all this way to back out once inside. The Mandalorian also had something of a challenge to beat after the latest display; it wouldn't do for him not to be carrying his side of the deal. It was time to figure out a way to the security room and some answers.

"Does it work through other materials?" Itzhal inquired as they continued to stalk down the corridors. His eyes scanned for security cameras and other personnel as they moved from section to section, ever wary and prepared for the sudden moment that things went wrong.

Tag: Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit (Robes over it)
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery waited in the shadows of the corridor, her senses extending outward to monitor the environment for any approaching threats. She heard the faint clang of metal from above and smiled slightly to herself — Itzhal had found his own way inside. When he appeared at the bottom of the security ladder, she gave him a quick once-over, ensuring he was unscathed before nodding in silent acknowledgment.

"Nice trick," he said, his tone casual but carrying an edge of curiosity.

Valery smirked faintly, her amber eyes glinting in the dim light. "Handy, isn't it?" she replied, her voice low as they began moving deeper into the facility. Her footsteps were nearly silent, each movement deliberate and precise as they weaved between shadows and avoided the faint whir of security cameras.

As they stalked forward, his question broke the silence agai. She glanced at him briefly, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Anything," she said, her tone carrying a hint of pride. "Durasteel, transparisteel, stone, people... there's no material I can't phase through. It's one of the Force techniques I've spent many years perfecting." Her smirk deepened as she glanced back at him, her tone turning slightly teasing. "But don't worry. I only use it on allies in the rarest of situations."

They turned a corner, and Valery's hand shot up, signaling for him to stop. Ahead, a pair of guards stood at a junction, their rifles slung casually over their shoulders as they chatted. Valery tilted her head slightly toward Itzhal, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"Two guards. We can take them quietly, or I can create a distraction while you handle them from the shadows. Your call."

Her hand brushed the hilt of her lightsaber, ready for action but leaving the choice to her Mandalorian companion. This mission was about precision, not chaos, and she trusted his instincts as much as her own.

Itzhal Volkihar ​

 

[Itzhal Volkihar]

A few steps ahead of Valery due to his early start, Itzhal led their progress through the numerous corridors, the pistols in his hands ready and raised for action that never seemed to come, with each corner leading to another empty passage. The vast size of the facility, which sprawled with unexpected side corridors that branched off into a dozen different avenues and multiple maintenance areas, the latter of which came in handy more than once on their journey throughout the massive foundry.

The rare question and answer shared between them broke the silence, as well as brought their progress to a stall as Itzhal paused mid-step, caught off guard by the versatility of such a skill. He'd heard rumours of what the Jetii could accomplish with their infamous use of jetii'dral, though most focused upon their ability to grasp objects from afar or the legendary postcognition that allowed their kind to dodge and reflect blaster bolts. If he hadn't already seen her accomplish the feat once, then he'd probably believe she was pulling his tail. Instead, he was forced to concede to a reality he no longer understood the rules of, as he shook his head with a faintly disbelieving gesture. It still felt like something of a farce, though not one he could deny outright, as he forced his feet to move again.

In the pause of his steps, Valery took the lead, his attention somewhat distracted by the possibilities laid at his feet. Itzhal wondered then if she'd have been able to phase the both of them through the durasteel wall or if she meant something else when she referenced using it on allies. He imagined it was probably including others in the effect rather than jumping through them, the latter leaving him both curious and vaguely disturbed as he couldn't shake the thought of how it might feel. Would he even feel anything, or would it be the case of her appearing on one side and then on the other without even a whisper of sensation?

Before he could think to ask, she raised her hand, the curve of her shoulders held in stiff tension as the bright curiosity left his body in response, his head tilted like a hawk towards the sound of voices ahead. Against the metal surface, his steps were quieter than a whisper as Itzhal slinked down into a crouch aside Valery.

"I could take them down with stun bolts," Itzhal offered the most straightforward solution as he leaned forward just far enough for the sensor on his rangefinder to pick up a visual scan of the two guards. Neither of them were marked for any bounties, though the human on the right had a former history of minor assault cases, recently dropped after his employment with Kabal Industries. "It'd be less than a couple of seconds, and neither of these blasters make much sound. Either way, though, it'll put a timer on our infiltration. You mentioned being able to cause a distraction?"

Tag: Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit (Robes over it)
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery crouched low beside Itzhal, her amber eyes fixed intently on the guards ahead as she considered the options. The faint hum of machinery pulsed through the air, an ever-present rhythm that blended seamlessly with the distant clatter of metal. Her voice, when she spoke, was barely more than a whisper, but it carried the weight of decision.

"Stun bolts are clean and efficient," she said with a slight nod, her gaze darting to the guards and then back to Itzhal. "We'll still be on the clock once they're down, but distracting them runs the same risk if we're forced to take them out anyway."

She shifted her weight slightly, her hand brushing against the hilt of her lightsaber in a reflexive gesture, though it remained unlit. Her stance exuded both tension and readiness, every muscle poised for action. "If we stun them, we keep control of the situation. No loud noises, no chasing shadows. Quick, quiet, and we move forward before anyone notices something's wrong."

Valery's tone softened slightly as she glanced at Itzhal, her expression firm but trusting. "You've got the tools and the aim to make this work without a hitch. I'll back you up and keep us covered."

She gestured subtly with her head toward the guards, her body sinking even lower to the ground as she prepared to advance when the opportunity arose. Her hand rested lightly on her saber hilt, her focus sharpening to a fine edge. "Take them when you're ready. We'll deal with whatever comes next together."

The faintest flicker of a smirk touched her lips — an acknowledgment of the trust she placed in him and the confidence she felt in their ability to execute this flawlessly.

Itzhal Volkihar ​

 

[Itzhal Volkihar]

Itzhal leaned slightly to the side, his helm attentively angled towards Valery. She unravelled the thoughts that lingered in her head as they approached the new challenge. The sweet melody of her voice wrapped around them like a soft shroud deliberately lowered as a secret shared between them. Meanwhile, their unsuspecting targets lingered nearby, blissfully ignorant of the looming danger that hovered just beyond their perception. Their loud and boisterous laughter and banter were so close yet so unimportant.

His hands flexed, a flick of the switch activating the stun setting as he raised from a crouch, the angle better for his next movement as he nodded in Valery's direction. Leaving her to watch his back as he took another step forward, out into the open, the two employees were caught off guard as they reached for weapons they would never get a chance to fire. Both of Itzhal's pistols lined up with their targets, and without another word, he pulled the triggers.

The sparkling glow of cerulean blue lit up the corridor, then vanished in a flicker as they connected with the bodies of both guards. Their armoured forms did nothing to stop the impact against their exposed necks; shivering in shock, they collapsed to the ground like puppets without strings.

His steps crossed the distance in a heartbeat, over the unconscious bodies as he kicked away weapons to the side; their threat diminished for the moment as he prepared for more dangerous opponents. Itzhal watched both sides as the silence that followed settled back into place as quickly as it had fled. One arm twisted to the right of the junction as the other pointed towards the left, the sensors in his helmet compensating for the natural limits of his sight.

"Clear," He announced as the silence continued to linger, and no threat appeared. Their presence was unnoticed for now, but both Jedi and Mandalorian moved with the knowledge that a clock had been set.

They had to reach the control room or find Crasska.

"Well, Jetii better start that countdown, we're on the clock. If this place is anything like the usual type, then the control room should be up high; sounds like there's a turbo-lift that way," With a gesture of his raised pistol, Itzhal pointed down the left corridor where a faint hum of repulsorlifts and screeching metal could barely be heard by natural hearing. "I ain't seen a hair of our target, though. He could be anywhere."

Tag: Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit (Robes over it)
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery rose from her crouch the moment the guards crumpled to the floor, her steps light and deliberate as she moved to join Itzhal at the junction. Her amber eyes flicked over the unconscious bodies, her saber hilt still in hand but unlit. A small, approving nod acknowledged his precision.

"Nice shooting," she said softly, her voice steady and focused. Her gaze shifted to the corridor Itzhal had indicated, the faint hum of machinery catching her attention. "A turbo-lift makes sense. If Crasska has centralized control over this facility, he'd want to be near the nerve center. Somewhere secure but with access to everything."

She crouched again briefly, inspecting the guards for anything useful — comm links, access cards, or even a datapad that could provide a clue about Crasska's location. After a moment, she rose empty-handed, her expression unreadable but determined.

"Alright," she said, her gaze locking with Itzhal's visor. "We head for the turbo-lift and move carefully. If Crasska isn't near the control room, we'll at least have a vantage point to track him down." Her hand gestured toward the corridor, her tone firm but cooperative.

As she moved, she let her free hand brush against the wall, drawing on the Force to extend her awareness outward. The facility pulsed with activity, faint ripples of tension marking places where personnel were stationed or moving about. The control room would undoubtedly be heavily guarded, and their presence would be noticed the moment they got too close.

Her voice lowered as they approached the corridor, her tone a mix of caution and encouragement. "If we run into trouble, I'll handle the close quarters. Keep your aim sharp, and we'll cut through any resistance together."

The faintest hint of a smirk crossed her lips as they moved forward. "Let's hope Crasska doesn't make this too easy — I'd hate for you to get bored."

Itzhal Volkihar ​

 

[Itzhal Volkihar]

The faint clank of machinery continued to rattle from the nearby hallways, a constant source of noise and distraction that left the more minute details of footsteps and movement challenging to hear, even with the advantage of sensor equipment designed for such a purpose, which left the sound of two bodies clanging to the metal surface barely noticeable, even up close.

As Valery followed in from behind with her unlit saber braced for danger, Itzhal took another step away from the two unconscious guards, his steps quietened by the hiss of nearby pipes rattling as he took up a position near the centre of the junction, leaving the Jedi to check over their bodies for any equipment or surprises while he formed a shield of beskar. His pistols were raised and ready to fire as they discussed their subsequent movements, limited by the sudden ticking clock.

The weight of Valery's gaze and the certainty of her decision pinned him in place for only a moment as he returned the attention with a solid nod, his expression firm beneath the helmet. His steps followed after, a calm stride that defied the peculiarity of an armoured Mandalorian in the middle of the factory; his pistols would deal with anyone who made notice of the unusual sight.

Not that such a method was necessary as they moved through the corridors, but the Jedi's distinct abilities cleared a path around the ripples of activity and tension that allowed them to make their way through the factory. Far quicker than if Itzhal had been forced to skulk around corridors and maintenance levels, and with better company as they approached the turbolift.

With a slight smile hidden under his buy'ce, Itzhal kept his voice low in response. "Alright, when we get in trouble, I'll let you run in swinging and shoot the others. Just don't jump in front of my bolts," he continued with a shrug. "I heard Jedi like to do that from time to time."

Another few more steps brought the Mandalorian to the next twist in the layout of the building. Itzhal stepped around the side, one blaster up, ready to fire, only to be met with a closed elevator door as their companion continued to whisper to them. "I assure you, Lady, I am perfectly fine with a simple job and some simple credits. If Crasska wants to make this harder for himself, that's his decision. He just better be aware that I don't need to take him in, in one piece."

Continuing to the door, Itzhal poked inside, blaster first checking the corner before he looked up to the ceiling and a nearby camera that he blasted out with a single shot. The dark sheen of his visor turned towards Valery as he stepped beside the control panel. "They might have noticed that," He warned her with some humour.

Tag: Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit (Robes over it)
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery tilted her head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at her lips as the camera sparked and fizzled out. "Oh, I'm sure they noticed," she replied, her tone laced with dry humor. Her fiery amber eyes scanned the corridor one last time before she stepped up to join Itzhal by the elevator.

"Guess we'll have to make a strong first impression."

Her fingers hovered briefly over the control panel, her senses brushing against the pulse of the facility's systems. Even without slicing equipment, the Force gave her an intuitive grasp of the controls. With a subtle manipulation of the internal mechanisms, she pressed the button to call the elevator, her focus narrowing on the hum of machinery that signaled its approach.

The tension in the air grew thicker as the seconds stretched, her free hand resting lightly on her lightsaber hilt while she scanned the surroundings. When the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, Valery's eyes swept the interior. Empty. For now.

She stepped inside, her stance relaxed but alert, and gestured for Itzhal to follow. "Let's see what Crasska has waiting for us upstairs." Her tone was calm, but her posture spoke volumes — she was ready for anything.

As the elevator began its ascent, the faint hum of its motors blending with the ever-present sounds of the facility, Valery turned her gaze to Itzhal. "You're not wrong about Jedi and blaster bolts," she admitted with a wry smile. "But I'll make sure not to test your aim unless it's absolutely necessary."

The elevator slowed, and a faint chime signaled their arrival. Valery's smile faded, replaced by the sharp focus of a seasoned warrior. She nodded to Itzhal, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "Control room. Get ready."

The doors slid open to reveal a large chamber bathed in dim, flickering light from holographic displays and control panels. Crasska stood near the center, flanked by a mix of guards and automated defenses — turret mounts and a few intimidating droids stationed strategically around the room. His imposing figure turned toward them, his expression a mix of disdain and amusement.

Itzhal Volkihar ​

 

[Itzhal Volkihar]

Itzhal's eyes roamed the elevator as they stepped inside, filling a mental image that remained even as his gaze travelled over the rest of the metal box, his fingers close to the triggers. With a crunch of his heel, his boots crushed the remains of the camera as he settled himself, his back pressed against the wall and both hands firmly wrapped around the battered grips of his pistols.

The Mandalorian tilted his helm up towards the access point above his head, an emergency hatch barely visible, with the seam covered by the harsh glow of the lighting rig that covered the elevator in a yellow haze that didn't quite succeed in its attempts to look like natural sunlight. It was just another reminder of the industrial mess they'd infiltrated, where even the air was pumped out through gaps in the ceiling, air-conditioning vents that hissed at a decibel just beneath Morellian hearing, although the sensors in his armour did well enough. A quick glance at the side of his HuD identified the chemical composition as fragments of oxygen and, if his memory served, a few 'cheaper' alternatives for a pollution-laden world.

Seconds later, the elevator doors closed behind them, leaving the unlikely duo alone as the elevator rumbled upwards—the flash of the level indicator chiming along after a slight judder that confirmed their movement.

Itzhal wasn't surprised that their banter continued as Valery's face twisted in an expression that was either mocking or just generally amused; considering it was a response to Jedi walking into blaster bolts, he'd take the positive response. "I'd make the shot," the Mandalorian asserted with an almost cold level of certainty as they reached the top.

He nodded in response to Valery's last warning.

Then the doors opened, exposing the sight of their target and the guards that surrounded him. Crasska's scarred smirk was even more distorted in real life than the bounty mark had suggested, an open sore curved over the edge of his mouth, sheering away scales to expose the muscle beneath in a way that even Trandoshan biology failed to heal. Behind him, in the ceiling above, were a total of four mounted turrets with a spread of blaster cannons on either side of their domed frames. The droids, illuminated by nearby holographic displays and the consistent shimmer of buttons, spread across the control panels of nearby terminals, were an even stranger mix of those carrying blaster rifles and a couple of electro weapons that appeared more for crowd control than dealing with a Jedi.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A Jedi and a Mandalorian walk into my home and..." Crasska's voice was rough like sandpaper torn through a belt stripper; a stun bolt aimed at his head did the job, even as he ducked the moment Itzhal pulled the trigger. The human behind him dropped like a bag of weights, their head clattering against one of the terminals on the way down, completely unaware of the chaos that followed as blaster bolts soared across the room.

One bolt slammed into Itzhal's shoulder, the beskar holding up even as he shifted his body weight to avoid the roaring barrage of a heavy turret that was consumed a second later in the blazing explosion of an anti-armour missile to the dome. As he fired off another turn of bolts towards a nearby set of droids, their blaster rifles returned fire; though he reached cover just in time, the frame of a terminal covered his body as the three droids dropped with an assortment of holes in their upper torsos.

Tag: Valery Noble​