Private Way Down We Go

[Arken Rhau]

//Coruscant Underworld

//Level 996​

He had dreamed of falling again.

His screaming plummet ended with a sudden, uncomfortable jolt. Arken, blinking blearily, peeled his cheek free of its resting place and peered up. The Ithorian whose bony shoulder he’d been drooling on looked back at him, none too pleased. It grunted something at him, angrily if he had to guess, then its bulbous eyes drifted downwards. He followed them warily to the pair of little green hands rifling through his jacket pockets. With a start he bolted upright from his seat, the little runt of a Rodian letting loose a squeal as it stumbled backwards and collapsed. They looked at each other for a brief moment, gleaming black orbs staring up into a snarling, scarred face. It was just a youngling, no bigger than a bug and twice as ugly. It's little pursed mouth worked raggedly, opening and closing as if it were aiming to say something, but then it was gone, running, dashing through the transport and towards the exit. Instinct spurred Arken to action and he was galloping in pursuit before he knew it, long strides closing the distance quickly, hands outstretched, its little neck so close…

He stopped himself just short of hover lift's doors, panting as he watched the pickpocket all but dive into the crowd of platform technicians and laborers outside, but not before throwing a rude gesture over its shoulder at him. It disapeared a moment later beyond the rows upon rows of gray shipping containers filling the yard in towering blocks, each stretching high into the thick, smog like haze that separated the affluent upper levels from the impoverished slums. “Little monster!” Arken snarled, his good sense keeping him from the chase but doing little to abate his roiling fury. Rob me? Me! Don’t you know who I am?!

Somewhere in the back of his head, he thought he heard someone laughing.

A moment of sudden panic sent his hand diving for his belt, scrabbling, searching… Oh, thank the stars! A wave of relief washed over him . His light saber was still there. The great and terrible Rhau, disarmed by a child. I’d have never lived it down. His fingers ran across the jagged surface of his weapon as he reeled, gingerly caressing each notch and groove with soothing solace. I would have never lived long enough to get a chance. Stupid! Stupid! If he was lucky, he wouldn't have need of today.

Behind him, someone grunted impatiently. Arken peered over his shoulder to see the Ithorian he had fallen asleep on, the lumbering alien’s shoulder still wet from where he had apparently tucked himself in. He actually considered apologizing, but the truth he was much too embarrassed to even look the being in the eye, either one of them. He stepped aside and let the alien pass without another word, watched it lope away towards the countless narrow alleyways and shadowy structures looming beyond. He looked down the length of the narrow passenger compartment of the tram, all rusted steel rivets and rows of stained seating. With the Ithorian’s departure it left Arken the last living soul onboard, save of course for the rats. Turning over his wrist he checked his stolen commlink. Level 996, the little device blinked back at him. He ran a hand across his smooth scalp and sighed. Almost there.

His glare softened and eventually shifted from the rough crowd to the sky above, or at least where it should have been. Deep beneath the surface, away from the throngs and speeders and the sun itself, Coruscant’s underworld shimmered with its own oppressive skyline. A plethora of blinking traffic and runway lights, gaudy neon signs and blinking camera droid, even the headlights of a few rickety looking hover barges, all of it served as the only source of illumination down here. And all of it wreathed in a hundred thousand tons of corrugated steel. He wondered if there was any earth left on this planet or was it all truly just skyscraping megatowers and abandoned warehouses. At the very top, if he craned his neck high enough, he though could see the oval opening on the surface, the dusky orange and red hues of the Coruscant sun setting somewhere above the clouds. It was hard to even imagine the sky this far down. What he sought however, could not be found in the light. It rarely ever was.

This was the third time in as many days that Arken had ventured below the upper levels in his hunt, and each time crossing the threshold felt like stepping into a new world entirely. Of course, everywhere had its shadowy margins, places where the lawless and the wretched slithered into the shadows in search of reprieve. It may as well have been a different world. No better place to hide, he mused bitterly. Pestilent. Ruined. Decayed. Just like the mines, the deeper one descended, the stranger the shadows felt, the more dark and twisted they became… But Arken was no stranger to the dark.

His attention shifted down, down, down into of the yawning, endless chasm that was the massive ventilation shaft turned underground highway. There, in those depths, hid his quarry. Steadying his thoughts, Arken reached out with the force. After a moment, a litany of souls answered his call like so many stars shining in the night sky. Arken let out a faint hiss between clenched teeth, an uneasy feeling welling up in his chest as he continued to delve through the chaotic turmoil of his senses. There were two specs in the tapestry in particular that wrenched at his mind. The one he’d been expecting, and the other he had not. Almost brazenly it shifted in the unseeable distance, power radiating off it like heat off the thermal exhaust vents lining the shaft walls. This was not the first time he’d sensed this presence, and it had not escaped his notice that every time he seemed to be growing closer to his quarry, so to had this stranger. There was no ignoring the coincidence any longer.

There was a muffled chime as the doors to the transport began to close. Arken stepped back and tapped at the communicator on his wrist, pacing anxiously as he awaited a repsonce. Belatedly he was rewarded by a pop of static as the device whirred to life and the ghostly blue image of a slimy looking Weequay stuttered into existence. The one he’d been expecting. “Ah, friend!” Brass Turga’s over friendly voice chittered across the commlink in broken common, an unassuming smile cutting his leathery face intwine. “You are near, yes? Brass has been waiting for a very long time now. We hope this one has brought the credits for-”

“Who’s that with you!” Arken all but howled.

Brass hesitated, his vile grin faltering for just a moment before spreading even wider. “Good Brass is with no one. All alone in the dark, waiting. Brass is wondering now if he should just leave. This one has not come, and this one has not brought any credits. What is Brass to think?”

Arken could feel his teeth grinding. “I have your… credits.” He said, trying to calm his tone into something approaching reasonable. It was a lie of course, he barely had enough for the shuttle ride back to the surface, but Arken could ever so convincing when he needed to be. “You have her? Well?” Brass frowned mightily, but a moment later the terrified visage of a Twi’lek swam into view, her face marred by a nasty bruise made all the more haunting by the ethereal glow of the holo image. She was yanked away a moment later, replaced with the Weeqauy wringing his hands.

“Now Brass has shown you his, time for this one to show- Wait... what is this? Who-”

A loud whine echoed across the communicator, then the image shuddered and died. An instant later the transport rocked as an explosion throttled the world around him. Barely keeping his feet, Arken cursed and rushed to the windows, pressing his face against the glass to peer down over the side at the source of the blast. Black and rancid smoke was billowing from somewhere below, the telltale flash of blaster fire illuminating the rising ashes.

Arken’s hand reached for his lighsaber once more, feeling each notch and groove. It seemed he'd have need of it after all.

 

[GreyJedi]

Galen had still been on that mission to recreate the Jedi Order. He hadn't come across any one but he did sense a lot of force sensitive types around. The only issue with these force sensitives were, well, in a nutshell, they weren't strong enough to develop into a Jedi. All just wouldn't cut it or, in his opinion would fall to the darkside way way too easily and he, himself, was growing impatient.

Galen had been on Coruscant, or 867ABY Coruscant, for about 2 days. He had managed to get intel on a Twi'Lek, a Force Sensitive, that supposedly was powerful enough to be trained into a Young Jedi, a Padawan Learner. Galen had, unfortunately, had gotten his hopes up this time, which he never did, but this one, well, she really sounded promising. He remembered over hearing, back during the clone ways, Master Yoda speak about Aayla Secura, a Twi'Lek Jedi and a powerful one at that. So, remembering mention of her, this made Galen want to get this Twi'Lek. He was determined.

Unfortunately, Galen had gathered information that a Weequay name Brass Turga had managed to catch this Twi'Lek girl and was holding her captive on level 1001, in which had had managed to get himself to. Another set of information he gathered was he was not the only one looking for her. Apparently there were 2 bounty hunters after her as well. So Galen had to be diligent about this. Galen had been keeping to the shadows. Galen walked past a few shops and dwellings when an unfamiliar voice had spoken to him.

"Well, Well, Well, if it isn't the Jedi out of place. I heard you've been looking for someone and gathering information about a certain Twi'Lek. Looks like we've come to an impasse, haven't we?" The Bounty Hunter spoke. His voice garbled by the half face mast he was wearing. His eyes were a slight shade of purple. His armor almost looked Clone Trooper in origin but wasn't. It was hard to explain the armor. Galen just happened to look him over. Attached to his hips were two DL-44 blasters. On his back, which all Galen could see was the stock, was a Blaster Rifle. "But alas Galen Paven, here, here is where the Skylane ends for you!" and just like that, the poodoo hit the fan.

The Bounty Hunter, how had not introduced himself, had grabbed both of those DL-44 blasters and began to shoot at Galen. He had managed to jump out of the way and tumble backwards and as he came back to his feet, his Lightsaber hilt was in his hand. He got into his stance and brought that hilt closer to his own face and pressed the button. The blade hissed and buzzed to life. The Orange glow of the Lightsaber had shown the angered expression on his face. The soot from the blaster bolts hitting the ground and kicking up sediment was attached to his face,

"So, Bounty Hunter. You know where the Twi'Lek is being held. How about we skip the niceties and you just tell me where she is at?" Galen had asked. The Bounty Hunter fired a few more shots and this time Galen was prepared. he deflected the blaster bolts back towards him but missed. "So, guess we are going ahead with the niceties" Galen started to make his way, slowly, towards the Bounty Hunter. He continued to shoot and Galen continued to deflect. Only problem was, not far behind the Bounty Hunter was a fuel station. Galen deflected a few more bolts but, just what Galen didn't want, one of th bolts hit the fuel station. The fuel tank went up like a Rodian firework.

Galen had managed to jump out of the way of the blast as well as the Bounty Hunter. As Galen got up from the smoke, the Bounty Hunter was gone. He had no idea who he was, but with those purple eyes and half of face mask as well as what looked like Clone Trooper armor, Galen wouldn't forget him. Unfortunately, the blast had managed to rock at least six levels up and six levels down. Galen just stood in that cloud of smoke, which didn't or wouldn't stop until a Fire team had arrived to put out the fuel fire and turn off the piping which fed the fuel depot.

As he stood in the smoke, pretty much camouflaged from anything or anyone, he sensed a presence. A strong presence at that. Not weak like the ones he had been sensing but a full on Force Sensitive being. Powerful enough to possible be trained in the Jedi arts and be the first, or even second, to be trained in the new line of Jedi. Then, through the smoke, another blaster bolt has wizzed past his face. He stuck his hand out and summoned his Lightsaber back into his hand. Instantly pressing the button and igniting it as it hit his palm.

"I got you Jedi! I got you! No way you are going to get that Twi'Lek! No damn way!" He proceeded to pop off shots and Galen would deflect them. The blaster bolts deflected everywhere. Again, six floors up and six floors down now could not only see the smoke billowing but now the deflected blaster bolts that were shooting off in all directions.

Galen had managed to hit the Bounty Hunter in the leg. With a loud groan, the Bounty hunter decided to jump off the side of the level and disappear into darkness. ​

 

[Arken Rhau]

“I said get this thing moving!” Roared Arken!

“Please, sir -and or madam- return to your seat. Passengers are not allowed in the front.” The droid’s whining protest warbled through a dented voice box. Its torso twisted around upon a mounted dais, the spot where its legs would have instead a rotating swivel connecting it to the floor, and pointed a metal pincer of a hand at him. “Damage of Cazka company property will result in a fine and potential incarceration.” Arken glanced at the pilot bay door, its metallic edges still simmering. Nothing opened doors better than a saber, he found. He turned back to the cantankerous machine. An old, repurposed service droid by the look of its derelict chassy. Half of it was covered in what appeared to be gang graffiti, the other half was -in Arken’s honest opinion- a rather exceptional depiction of the High Chancellor in a most inappropriate set of attire. “Get us down there now!” He bellowed into its metallic face. His weapon hissed to life in his hands once more. He pointed the tip of its red glow at the chancel- the droid as threateningly as one could to a machine. A pair of dim, yellow optics considered the lightsaber impassively. “Damage of Cazka company property will result in a fine and-” Arken snapped, a wordless cry bursting from his lips as he raised his saber above his head and-

A burst of blaster fire crashed through the window of the passenger cabin behind him, glass exploding across the transport’s interior in a thunderous crash as a second and third followed shortly after. Arken dove to the ground in search of cover.

“What the karking chit! Whose shooting at us?”

The droid spun round back to its controls and Arken felt the small craft begin to bank sharply away from the onslaught of ricochets. “Cazka corporation would like to remind its passengers that the company is committed to its customers care and satisfaction.” Its tenor and tone took an abrupt change. “Cazka corporation is not responsible for any injuries related to… gang violence, collisions, falling debris, Sith incursions, engine failure, planetary bombardment-”

“Just return fire already!” Arken howled, another shot coming dangerously close to taking his head off. “Evasive maneuvers!” The transport lurched with a sudden violence that shook the whole of the craft, a sickening rumble of metal coursing through the vehicle and shaking Arken to his very core. A blaring of red warning lights snapped to life across the ceiling, flooding the cockpit in whirring red chaos. Then that uneasy feeling he’d had before returned as his gut twisted itself into knots. The transport gave one last valiant push, then, with a whimper, they began to fall.

“What’s-” Was all he managed before the Sith’s face was suddenly smashed against the ceiling of the cockpit, the wind driven out of him as all around he could see refuse and trash and shards of glass suspended adrift in the air. Gravity had taken the wheel. “Please remain calm.” He heard the chancellor repeat. “We are approaching your destination ahead of schedule. Remember to take any luggage you may- we have arrived at your destination.” Arken watched in wide eyed dismay as platform 1001 zoomed by outside the smudged window. “The bus is now departing…” the droid cooed again, struggling to keep up with its own announcements. Then 1002, 1003, 1004, and all the rest raced past even faster.

They were falling like brick!

No no no nonono no! This wasn’t supposed to be like this! They had promised him this would be easy. Flash a few credits, slum it with a few scavs, find the force adept and report back. A week at most of humdrum drudgery spent in squalor. This was... this was madness!

There was that laughing again…

A cold Fury roiled in response. Not like this! With a hiss he spun himself around, back to the ceiling so he could face the control console below. The droid, for his part, seemed to be taking things rather calmly, slowly but surely picking away at the flashing buttons lighting up across his panel. Arken reached out, one hand stretched towards the steering lever. It was the only way to seize control, but the damn thing was too far away, he’d never make it!

“Droid!” He howled, wind whipping wildly as the ship began to lurch ludicrously unto its side. “Restart the engines!”

“Please remain calm.” Was that a tremor in the machine’s voice? “I am attempting to effect repairs,” Its one good pincer was hammering furiously at a beeping button on the console, “but at our current velocity and angle of descent the remaining engine will not reengage.” It said, its other metallic claw flailing uselessly against the increasing g force pushing everything up to the ceiling. Arken knew he had to right the craft again and right it now or he was going to end up a stain on the ground floor, if there even was one to this place. Not… He reached for the controls… Like… reached out with all he had… This! The steering bucked, an unseen hand pulling hard and up. With a cry half victorious, half delirious, the transport began to level out under Arken’s ministrations. The whine of the sole remaining engine spooling to life a moment later up was like music to his ears.
When he hit the floor he managed to do so on his feet, rising immediately and seizing the paint chipped, frayed wire head of the droid between his hands so that he could look directly into its eyes. “Now get us back up to 1001…”
This time, the machine brokered no argument. Soon enough they were ascending, and quickly at that.

Now Arken just had to get back up to the floor and find Brass, the rotten alien. He had only glimpsed it for a nanosecond, but what he could see of the platform as it surged past was absolute chaos. Even now there was still errant laser shots ringing out. Someone was letting loose up there, but he couldn’t stop, not after so much effort in getting here. For it all to go to waste... He'd had to suffer that Weequay's wretched company too long to go back empty handed! Thankfully, with so much time wasted on roundabout negotiations and haggling, he had Brass sense, he’d be able to find him and the girl with just a little bit of concentration and lot of help from the force, he just needed-

Something heavy thudded hard against the cockpit and for a moment Arken thought they were taking fire again. He winced, instinctively dropping low, but as he looked up, he found instead they had… picked up a passenger, as it were. Splattered against the driver side window of the transport’s cockpit was a man… a heavily armed man, his face obscured by some sort of mask. Violet, bloodshot eyes glared at Arken through the cracks in the glass his impact had left. They caught the Sith’s bewildered gaze and tightened angrily.

It was a look of recognition.

“All passengers should keep all limbs and appendages within the vehicle until it has come to a complete stop.” Chancellor cooed up at him. The gunman began to slip and slide over the hood as the vessel rose. A gust of wind saw him vanish over the side a moment later.

Great clouds of swirling, blinding smoke billowed around the transport, their tendrils warped into dark vortexes beneath the churning of the transport turbo lift engine. It struggled valiantly under the strain and gave out entirely just as the creaking vessel arched over the lip of floor 1001's landing pad. Blaster riddled and smoking, the craft abruptly dropped unto the landing platform with a teeth jarring crunch, smashing a lone speeder under its bulk. It had been the last of its kind remaining on the platform.

All the others had been taken as everyone had fled.

A wave of blaring heat welcomed Arken unto the landing as the doors to the transport were torn aside in his haste to escape the flying death trap. Here and there he could still see people running, shadows in the chaos that skittered this way and that. Most had had the good sense flee when the shooting started, he imagined. A ruinous column of blackened, acrid smoke rose from the ruptured remains of what was once appeared a fuel line. A blazing orange jet of fire blossomed from the heart of the thickening smog where the fuel must have still burned. It’s radiant fury, even shrouded in the smoke, almost reminded the Sith of a lightsaber’s…

Arken’s scarred brow furrowed.

The transport craft’s arrival had dissipated the worst of the explosion’s aftermath, allowing him to take in the scene with middling clarity. Now, as his eyes adjusted to the smothering smoke and heat, he recognized with growing alarm and darkening mood, a figure in the unfurling clouds of smoke and ash. A man, tall and lean, an ancient weapon burning in his hands.

He sensed… power.

A surging hiss of light snapped into existence at his side as Arken ignited his own saber. Its shimmering glow cast a deep, crimson hue across the ruined platform and he raised it before him, shimmering tip pointed at the stranger's heart. A large courtyard separated the two men, rubble and ruin scattered about, smoke shifting wildly with the sweltering drafts of wind coming up from the vast ventilation shafts, yet even from such distance Arken could feel something more than just the flames scolding his skin. The stranger in the smoke, whoever he was, was the same unknown force who’d Arken had noticed before. The way the force echoed off him, trembling and dangerous...

Arken's grip upon his saber tightened.

The gust of air coming off a passing ship cast his plain red spacer jacket to snapping wildly about him, his hood pushed back, his icy glare revealed.

“You!” The Sith’s challenge carried across the divide almost like a growl. After what he had just endured getting here, Arken had only one thing in mind and little patience to spare on civility or introductions.

“Where. Is. The. Twi’lek?” Twisting his saber at the man, he took a step forward. “I won’t ask again.”

 

[GreyJedi]

Galen had heard the shuttle falling and repositioning itself as the Bounty Hunter had made his jump. Still standing there, that Orange saber hue seemed to light up the smoke, that billowed around him, as if it was a massive fire hidden with in the confines of the fumes. Galen had walked out of his shroud as he saw the crimson blade ignite with in the hands of the man standing in front of him. Suddenly the man spoke.

"Where. Is. The. Twi'Lek?" He twisted his saber at Galen and took a step forward. "I won't ask again." Galen just gave a half cocked smile. He got into position, which the stance that would be the perfect defense position for this was the seventh form known as Vaapad, and just looked at the lightsaber wielding person in front of him.

"Crimson Lightsaber? Angry demeaner? and what's that I sense? Anger? Sith!?" Galen shook his head in disbelief. Sith? Sith were around? Wait, if the Sith were around, did that mean there were Jedi? Not just Force Sensitives but full on Jedi?! Galen had been just a little dumbfounded. "So, Sith are still around but Jedi did not survive the Great Jedi Purge? Well, isn't this just a turn of events" Galen lounged forward with a basic attack. Both their lightsabers hissed and screamed at the fact of them touching each other as Arken blocked the basic attack.. Galen expected nothing less. "But what I find interesting the most is......" Galen went high with his saber and again, the hiss, scream and sparks from both sabers coming in contact with each other "....Is that there is a lot of conflict with in you. You want to be a Jedi but your anger and undying devotion to power is what is undoing you......" Galen hadn't felt this since he had been working as a Jedi Inquisitor during the Clones Wars. Arken had then tried to attack with an over the head strike. Galen of course blocked it ".....And your attacks reveal that you are torn on the inside. And you mentioned a Twi'Lek? I am assuming you are hunting the same Force Sensitive I am. From Brass? Looks like He had doubled down to see who would reach who first!"

Just as that small test of wits with a lightsaber had began, it ended just as fast as a blaster bolt had managed to appear towards them from the billowing smoke on the other side of the pad. The Bounty Hunter had returned. it seemed the bolt had been aimed towards Arken. Galen had maneuvered his lightsaber and deflected the bolt back towards the Hunter, essentially saving Arken's life.

"Aw, isn't this cute! The Jedi saving the Sith. That is something different to see!" The Bounty Hunter lifted up those 2 DL-44 blasters and aimed at the two. "Oh and How rude of me, the name is Rik Vonden, Bounty Hunter Extraordinaire! Now that there is two of you, it'll be twice the fun to kill you both!" Rik had popped off a couple more shots. Galen had blocked one bit missed the other. Out of no where Arken managed to block the other. Galen looked at Arken and then back to the Bounty Hunter.

"Well, Rik Vonden, You will not stop me achieving my mission." Galen went back into the stance of Vaapad. Rik had popped off another shot and Galen had blocked it. Arken had decided to become inpatient and just straight up attack Rik Vonden. As Arken ran towards Rik, Rik had holstered his DL-44's and pulled out a vibro-blade and blocked Arken's attack. The hiss of the crimson lightsaber against the vibro-blade didn't make much sound but threw off a bunch of sparks. Arken had attacked high and low and didn't seem to be able to finish the job.

Galen had slowly spun his lightsaber around as he walked towards Rik and with a flick of his hand, he moved Arken out of the way before the Vibro-blade made contact with his own flesh. Arken had slid to the left and Galen come in with a heavy attack and it was blocked almost instantly. With out warning, Arken come up behind Galen and swung his saber with a loud scream. Galen had managed to force push Rik Vonden out of his way and place his own saber behind him, blocking Arken's attack. The blades again danced as they sparked and screamed. Just as Galen blocked Arken's attack, Rik had swung at the two of them with his vibro-blade. Galen moved his saber and blocked the attack.

"Do you really think you can defeat two of us? Even if we are of two different orders, the two of us together are unstoppable!" Yes Galen understood that he was about to team up with a Sith, which was unheard of, but together they were clearly more powerful. When it came to the Twi'Lek, Galen would cross that bridge when it came up again.

"So a Jedi and a Sith going to battle me!? RIK VONDEN!?" The Bounty hunter bolstered! Arken looked at Galen and then to Rik and laughed. Galen pretty much felt Arken's amusement but of course did not show any reaction........
​

Arken Rhau

 

[Arken Rhau]

GreyJedi

As the dust settled the three men found themselves in something of a stand off.

Each circled the other in a intense dance, their sabers humming, blaster’s shifting, boots shuffling. Each more wary of the next and none willing to be the first to flinch, because to be slow man out meant a quick and violent death one way or another.

Arken, for his part, was using the break in the action just to catch his breath.

He was making a good show of it for the others of course, chin held high, a smug smirk, the usual. Inwardly however, was another matter. The stranger with the saber and a fashion sense that dated back to the clone wars had very nearly slain the young sith half a dozen times during their furious duel. Barely had Arken been able to keep up with the man and more than once it had only been the idiot hunter Vonden’s interference that had kept him from being chopped in two. His arms burned with the intensity it had taken to match the duelist’s skill, and he eyed the stranger sidelong. Jealous of his abilities. Bitter at his taunting. Outraged that he... agreed. They were better together, better than the likes of Rik Vonden, that was for damn sure.

Suddenly, the bounty hunter in question broke the tense but silent stalemate with a chuckle. He eased out of his gunslinger swagger and smiled. “You punks are pretty good, I’ll give you that, but if you think you’ve got old Rikky V beat, then you got another thing coming.” The puffed up bounty hunter blustered from behind his mask. He was fidgeting with something in his hand. “Cuz you see, I’m a professional.” He continued, now stepping back from the two swordsman slowly. Arken was beginning to suspect something all together not good was about to happen, and he realized why when the sound of the transport’s ships shoddy engine kicked in behind them.

“And that means, I’m on the clock.” The Hunter said, raising his wrist mounted commlink to reveal the timer on its digital face had run down to 00:00. With casual swagger, Vonden revealed a detonator switch from between his fingers and pressed the button.

It felt like the whole of Coruscant began to shake.

The young Sith spun around towards the distant source of the blast just as Vonden kicked on his jetpack, souring over the pair and towards the bus. Inside the transport, surrounded by a bunch of his armed goons, was a familiar, leathery face.

“Brass, you wretch!” And he was stealing Arken’s ride!

In the distance, the sound of thunder was rolling down the towering structures of underlevel 1001. Arken began to feel the very ground beneath his feet shake and that terrible feeling making its way into his gut again.

“There!” Arken cried to Galen, pointing at the struggling twilek fighting against his grasp. The Weequay gangster grinned as his men leveled their blasters at the duo from inside the craft.
“Good Brass Targa thanks this one for his generosity.” The sleazeball shouted as the Bounty Hunter landed on the top of the blaster riddled craft.
“Go on boys,” The Hunter said, drawing his pistols in both hands, “lets show our friends how grateful you are.”

The gang of thugs opened up with their weapons!

Arken, overcome with his rage, had rushed headlong at the gangsters just as they pulled the trigger. A wall of laser fire lit up the smoke filled plaza and the Sith would have met his end righ then and there by the ambush were it not for a push delivered by the force.

He scowled over at Galen on the otherside of the landing pad, forced to take cover as Arken had from the hail of laser fire. Not even his orange saber could deflect all that death raining down.

Arken heard the stuttering engine of the lifts struggling to lift off the ground. They were running, and Arken could see why. In the distance a seriers of violent explosions was tearing its way towards them. Like a serpent of fire it poured down the fuel line leading right back to the depot he and the jedi were standing next too! The explosion would destroy the entire area. Meanwhile, they were forced to hide as Brass and Rik friggin’ Vonden got away!

Arken glared across the way at Galen who looked back at him, the same thought crossing both their minds.

They were going to have to jump…

The rumbling of the ground intensified. But first, they had to clear the distance to the bus who was quickly going over the edge and descending down the levels. Blaster fire still poured fiercely, but if ever they were going to have their chance, it was now. Arken considered Galen’s saber once more. He had thought not even he could block all that fire, but he had never considered if the two of them together could.

He snapped to life his saber and yelled to the stranger. “I’ll cover you, if you cover me!” He said. “On the count of three!”

The flames of the explosion were getting closer.

“1!”

Vonden and Brass were getting ever further away.

“2!”

 

[GreyJedi]

"3!"

Arken had yelled as Both of them jumped on the ever distancing bus. Galen had barely made the Bus and Arken, well, he was a meter too short. With out hesitation, Galen had grabbed him through the Force and gallantly landed Arken right on the bus. Just as they both landed, the barrage of blaster blots had started back up. Rik Vonden, of course, had been in the center of it all. Galen took his lightsaber, as the blaster bolts shot from below them, and cut a hole in the top of the bus. Arken had turned and looked behind them, the Explosions had stopped, but the carnage and damage had been done.

"Arken, get to the front of the Bus! Flank them from the rear! Separate but together!" Galen had explained. He wasn't sure if it would work but Galen figured it would be better then just a defensive stance and deflecting these wamp-rats blaster fire. Arken just gave Galen kind of a dirty look but he did what he was told. Arken jumped over him and landed on the front of the bus and cut a hole as well. Both at the exact same time jumped into the Bus.

"It's over Vonden!" Galen had yelled out. Vonden had looked at Galen and then Arken and laughed.

"Oh, you think so!?" Arken grabbed Brass and looked at his wrist comm-link and pressed a button. The side of the bus had pretty much been cut off. Galen looked confused. Arken also had the same look upon his face. "I'll catch you punks later, much!" Rik had jumped out of the hole with Brass. Galen could feel the anger building but he quickly let it dissipate. Galen looked at Arken and then all of a sudden, all of Rik's "goons" disappeared and blaster cannons had been there. Remote control cannons!

"Dammit, Arken! It's a set up! We need to get out of here!" Just as Galen said that, the sound of a Thermal Detonator had kicked on. Arken looked at Galen and pointed up, as if up through the holes they created to jump into the bus. Galen nodded and, with much concentration, They both jump out of the bus mere seconds before the whole thing exploded. Galan had grabbed onto a railing on level 999. Arken had grabbed on a railing one below at 1000. As he caught his breath, Galen dropped down to Level 1000. He landed on top of the railing and jumped onto stable ground. He turned and helped Arken up. Arken jumped up and pushed Galen

"Are you kidding me!? How the hell did the both of us fall for that Bantha Poodoo!? Holograms that looked that damn realistic!? How did either of us not sense that?! How didn't you!? What kind of Jedi hoopla are you trying to pull!? You should of sense that way before we even jumped into that bus!" Arken yelled at Galen. As he yelled you can still hear the screams of the people levels below as the bus plummeted down, down, down. God only knows how deep it went, but the lower it went the scummier and more villainy. Galen had looked at Arken. if they were going to work together to defeat Brass and Rik Vonden, He had to remain civil.

"I sensed actual beings! I wasn't able to sense the cannons nor the holograms! I sensed 13 People! Brass, Vonden and the Twi'Lek. Then, eleven of them were gone and Brass and Vonden had escaped out the side of the Bus! Those Holograms were way more developed then anything I've ever seen! They...They....felt real! They had an aura!" Galen had no idea how he missed that but he did. He sat there and just was puzzled. Then all of a sudden Galen felt a disturbance. "Arken, WATCH......." before he could finish an explosion had landed between them. It sent Arken one way and Galen the other. Galen grunted as her hit the ground and saw Arken laying unconscious. Then, Rik Vonden had reappeared in front of Galen. Galen went to reach for his saber as nonchalantly as he could, but alas, it had been disconnected from his in the explosion. Rik slowly made his way over to Galen.

" So, now that I have one of you Jedi scum out of the way, It is time for me to finish YOU off Galen Paven!" Rik had spoken. Galen was confused that Rik knew who he was fully. "Oh, so you didn't know I knew who you were fully? Jedi out of place, out of time and now out of lives!" Rik had lifted his vibro-blade up over his head and went to land the killing blow. Just as the Vibro-blade had gotten dangerously close, Galen had used the force and grabbed his Orange bladed saber as well as Arken's crimson saber, ignited both and managed to block the Vibro-blade!

Galen used his right hand, which had his own saber in it, and pushed Rik away about 20 feet. Galen jumped up to his feet, both sabers in hand. Rik just laughed and ran at him. Rik had swung right, Galen blocked, swung left, Galen blocked. With two sabers, blocked a simple vibro-blade was much easier. For Galen, with a single saber and Rik's impulsiveness, it was easy either way.

Rik once again tried to come from above with his attack, using his jet pack. Galen blocked it once again. This time Rik punched the power on his jetpack and pushed Galen, still blocking the vibro-blade, about 30 to 50 feet. Galen grunted and just dropped to his back and let Rik Vonden fly past him. Galen jumped back up and Rik had turned around.

"Give up Vonden! You're no match for me!" Galen yelled as Rik screamed and ran towards him. Rik flew up into the air and tried to attack, flipping over Galen, using boost from his jetpack. Galen once again blocked the attack. What Rik hadn't noticed was Arken had managed to get up. Just as Rik had gotten himself situated back in front of Galen, Arken had ran towards the two. He jumped into the air, flipping over Vonden and as he did, Galen tossed up the Crimson saber, still ignited and Arken caught it mid-flight and landed in perfect stance. Rik looked at Arken

"Rikky Boy, Now there are two of us, again, this time you wont best the two of us! You'll only get turned to mush, Sleemo!" Arken yelled back. Galen just looked at Arken with a look of confusion "What?! it sounded good!" Arken whispered to Galen. They both had turned and looked at Rik Vonden.

"Well, if you think so, come get me!" Rik had dropped a smoke deterrent and with in a flash, Galen looked up and there Rik went up, up and up.......

​

Arken Rhau

 

[Arken Rhau]

GreyJedi

"Wait." Arken's placed a stiff hand on the Jedi's shoulder. He knew Galen wanted Vonden's fall almost as badly as Arken did, but none of this felt right. "I know a distraction when I see one." He leveled a hard glare at skyrocketing bounty hunter, "He's trying to lure us away..." The Sith's eyes widened. Of course! "The girl! Brass is getting away with her!" All the taunting, the holograms, the lengths they had gone through to lead the two of them off the trail. Arken cursed himself for not realizing it earlier and turned on his heel, speeding off towards the city. "Come on!" He shouted over his shoulder. "We've got to stop that slug before he gets away for good."

High above, Rik Vonden soared through between the megaspires of Coruscant, a close eye on the two force users as he banked his jetpack's pulsars hard towards the rendezvous. "Damn punks."

Back down on the ground Arken and Galen were hurtling down the grimy back alleys and narrow streets of the congested underworld, leaping over market stalls and shoving through crowds of wanna be thugs. Guided by the force, Arken let himself be carried along through the winding city streets, turn after turn taking him closer to his prize. A blaster shot rung out across the jam packed market square Arken and Galen stumbled into, and all around the crowd of people burst into a panic. A second shot and the blast barely missed Galen by an inch, scorching the fruit stall behind him. There, amidst the screaming and running crowd, dragging a scared twi'lek around by the arm, was Brass Turga. A worried sort look crossed his leathery face as he saw the look Galen shot back at him and decided his best course of action was to run for his life.

The Sith shoved past Galen and barreled into the chaos, hot on Brass's trail. He looked back grinning at the Jedi. They may have worked well together before, but theirs was still a competition that could only end with one victor. Arken intended that to be none other. The idea of returning to his master empty handed... it was not worth even considering the idea, so instead he focused on the hunt. The alien's fear and panic fueled the apprentice as much as it guided him towards his quarry. "That's right, Brass. You're going to get yours." He hissed, weaving his way through the market.

While the force users may have been fast, the Weequay was at home, and his knowledge of every back alley and tight turn around saw him leading Galen and Arken in a merry chase through the seedy underbelly of the city world. He had the vague notion that were climbing upwards, but this planet was as much a maze as anything and were it not for his burning desire for vengeance fueling his connection, he'd have been as lost as a lamb this far down in the black. He didn't realize just how high they were until Brass led them to the edge of a very, very long drop.

He pointed his blaster at the twi'lek, the girl screaming as he positioned her like a shield to be used. "Get back! I said get the kark back!" The Weequay shouted, jabbing the gun at him. Arken laughed.
"What happened to your accent, Brass." Torn between peering down over the ledge he'd been back up into and aiming his blaster at the Sith, Brass squeezed off a wild shot, the laser flying wide. Arken strode forth nonplussed.
"Damn you!" Another pathetic shot, this one slapped aside with casual scorn as the sith activated his lightsaber and swiped away the shot. It was only when the underworld goon raised the weapon tot he child did the dark apprentice hesitate. "Thats right!" He squealed, beady little eyes looking all about as if in search of a hero to fly to the rescue. "I've got what you want." The Weeqauy said, pushing the blaster harder against the twi'lek head. "But... uh, this one and Brass can both get out of this rich men."
"...Go on."
"We turn in that friend of yours, the jedi. I'm sure he's got a huge bounty on his head, bigger that mine and yours combined, big enough to set us up for life." Arken's brow furrowed. It was only the alien's way of speaking of Galen in the past tense that alerted him to the fact that the jedi had vanished? He was sure he'd been behind him a second ago. Where did he- There! Sneaking around from the the unseen flank, Galen had positioned himself perfectly to strike from the shadows and rescue the young hostage. Now all Arken had to do was keep the idiot hostage taker busy talking.
"Fifty Fifty!"
"Ha! Eighty twenty!"

 

[GreyJedi]

Galen had snuck around to literally the perfect vantage point. He was with in feet of Brass Turga and the Twi'Lek girl. Galen literally could reach out and touch them both. When Turga started on about a Bounty on his head, Galen just rolled his eyes. No know knew of him. He had literally been on, or in, this Coruscant for literally 3 to 4 standard days and this is literally the first set of trouble he had gotten himself into. Galen had chuckled to himself listening to the two banter back and forth about how they will split the bounty. Leave it to Arken to be interested. Sith Scum! Galen had thought to himself about how he was going to grab the girl and take care of Turga in the process until he saw it; a flicker of a fluorescent light off of something metal. Was it a blaster? No, it didn't look like....Wait...a Lightsaber!? Galen had took a step back deeper into the dark. He looked a little harder and noticed it was attached to the Twi'Leks belt. Galen thought to himself

"Why would the Twi'Lek have a lightsaber attached to her belt clip? Why wasn't she using it? Why would she.........Dammit!"

Galen had looked over to Arken and just at that very moment Arken had looked over at him. Galen shook his head and pointed to his own lightsaber. Of course Arken wasn't going to get it. If Arken had done the same to him, He wouldn't of gotten it either. Galen closed his eyes and reached out towards Arken

"If you are done with your banter, trying to sell me off for a bounty that doesn't exist, She has a Lightsaber Arken. Why isn't she using it but most importantly, WHY does she have one!? How well do you know your master Arken!?" Galen's connection had been disrupted when, you guess it, Rik Vonden had landed between Arken and Brass Turga. Galen shook his head and stayed in the shadows. If the Twi'Lek girl was what Galen had suspected, He would be noticed either way. Galen had continued to watch as Arken now had Brass Turga and Rik Vonden in front of him.

"So.......Did ya boy with the Orange saber abandon you? Hmm? Leave you high and dry to deal with myself and Brass here!? Typical Jedi! Running away from a fight. He's a coward! He left you to face us ALONE" Rik had yelled. Arken had looked over again and laughed.

"Yeah, Well, I expect nothing less from a Jedi of the likes of him! He was weak! But, You, Rik Vonden, Interrupted our conversation! See, apparently, Galen Paven has a Bounty on his head and Brass and myself are splitting the bounty, Eighty/Twenty. Eighty for me, twenty for him! So if you want in on that deal, Well, RIK VONDEN, You're just going to have to split with Brass, Ten/Ten! Plus, on top of that, I get the girl, Jedi goes to jail, you both get paid, everyone is as happy as a Gungan in a swamp!" Arken had proceeded on with the banter. Now with Rik involved, clearly, Arken was still stalling.

"Ten/ten!? Please! it's fifty/fifty, or nothing Sith sleemo! And the Girl stays with me! Rik here gets your half and he kills you! I like that plan a bit more. " Turga had snapped. Arken just looked at him with a smirk. Galen had closed his eyes and sensed something more sinister. Something he just couldn't see fully. It was a blur. What exactly happened? What was happening? Galen had just no idea.

"Enough of this stalling! Where is the Jedi!? Brass and I are growing impatient and that is NOT in your favor. Turn him over to us and We will make your death quick!" Vonden barked.

"Death? You mean make YOUR death quick Rikky Boy!" Arken reignited his lightsaber and ran towards Rik Vonden. Arken then took one swoop and the sound of Lightsabers clashing had filled the air. Sparks had flown and Galen couldn't believe his eyes. The Twi'Lek had ignited a crimson lightsaber and had deflected the attack that Arken had started. Galen was lost. A Sith!? How did Galen not sense this? He knew Sith were masters of treachery but this, this was new! Galen had stepped out from the shadows and behind Brass, Vonden and the Twi'Lek0 .He ignited that orange colored saber and got into position.

"So, this was all a set up. Sith and their Rule of two! A Master and an Apprentice!" Galen looked at Arken. He could sense the confusion in him. Arken didn't know what to think. Arken pulled away and Rik Vonden turned and looked to Galen.

"Ah, there you are Jedi! I see you have discovered our plan to draw you in! It obviously worked but I never, in my wildest dreams, would image we'd get two Force Users! A Sith and a Jedi! Double the Fall! Unfortunately, we had to spring our trap a little early and introduce you to Do'Tala! Sith Apprentice! She actually was the one, a little over a week ago, sensed a great disturbance in the force and that Disturbance was YOU Galen Paven! Now Not only do we have you, but we have the former Sith Apprentice! This is going to be fun!" As Rik spoke, the two, Arken and Do'Tala's lightsabers were still linked. Arken had backed off and shut down his lightsaber. Do'Tala did the same.

"So, Fun? Betraying two Force Users at the expense of another? This day just keeps getting better! Well, Rik and Brass, let me tell you something. Little do you know is this "Sith" you have there is most likely going to betray you. It's what the Sith do! You think I trust Arken?! No! I know the minute We get out of here, He is going to betray me! I am not stupid! I've been playing him from the beginning. Why do you think he has a tracker/Detonator in his belt pack?" Galen of course was bluffing. He had nothing on Arken. He was not sure about the betrayal but he had to think fast! Galen shut down his lightsaber and pulled, out of his pocket, what looked like a switch to detonate the "tracker/detonator" that was supposedly on Arken. Galen had attached his lightsaber back to his belt and kept his eye on the three in the middle, between Arken and himself.

Galen had to think quick. What to do, what to do?! The people had cleared out, which would not stop Vonden from using his rocket that was attached to his jetpack. Hell, even is there were still people, Rik would use it. Galen had to think of something quick, painless. Galen had motioned, with his right hand, as nonchalantly as possible, for Arken to go left. This would have Galen go right and distract the three enough to maybe get out of this situation and regroup and approach this differently!
​

Arken Rhau

 

[Arken Rhau]

This wasn’t going at all as he had expected.

Arken stared at the humming red blade with wide eyed shock. This trap was beginning to reveal layers to its depth that the young sith was worried that if he was seeing meant he was already to deep to ever get out of it. He’d be duped, they both had! A trap the entire time, one Galen and he had sprung like mice chasing the cheese. Had his master known about this? Had they orchestrated it? Who was this Twi’lek, really? A hundred questions and mores raced throughout his whirring mind, but chief among them was the most important; how the hell was he going to get out of this now?

His first plan was usually to charge in and start swinging. As his primary go to in times of emergency it usually got the job done, or at the very least got the ball moving in the right direction. Looking at the situation now, it didn’t appear like it would prove the best choice, and thus his arsenal was now incredibly limited. With Rikky and his blasters, whatever Brass had up his sleeves, and now this latest threat in the shape of the unsuspecting Twilek, Arken was feeling suddenly outnumbered. The sith glanced at Galen, eyeing the peculiar jedi with equal amounts of suspicion and expectation. He’d proven himself more than capable in a fight so far, and it seemed he had something of an idea blossoming in that head of his. Though whether Arken was ready to put his fate in the hands of a jedi was another matter altogether. Yet, what was the alternative? Get gunned down by friggin’ Rik Vonden? Sliced to ribbons by this ‘Do’Tala’? …Yelled at condescendingly by Brass? None of those sounded appealing for his tombstone. He’d much rather something along the lines of; here lies Arken Rhau, incredibly handsome and outstandingly talented dark lord of the sith. He died as he lived, on his pleasure yacht surrounded by his harem.

Arken, noticing Galen’s subtle signal, sighed to himself. A man could dream, but if he hoped to be anything more, a man had to act. “Bloody Jedi!” Arken snarled, face twisting into the perfect visage of pure outrage. Arken’s hand fell to his belt, an instinct borne of having his ‘secret weapon’ outed. “You knew about my detonator and or tracker!?” He began pacing left, counter to Galen’s rightward advance. Immediately, Arken senses Vonden was on alert, his pistols and more ready to unleash hell, but the sith pressed on. “You think you’re so smart, don’t you Jedi!”

GreyJedi

From his belt Arken plucked something between his fingers, lifting it high for all to see. “Well, you’re not half as clever as you think!” Cold eyes fell upon the twilek youth. She had to say anything, her eyes, now callous and cruel, had latched themselves to the sith. He could tell she was trying to rummage through his thoughts, to sense his motivations and emotions, but she’d find nothing but frustration denying her mental advances. There was no more room for another mind within Arken’s. “Here.” He said, tossing something at the motely trio of near do wells. “I surrender.” It may have looked like a detonator at a distance, really it could have looked like anything spinning through the air, but by the time it reached the twilek’s outstretched hands, she would realize It was merely his bus pass.

Do’tala stared in perplexed obstinate apprehension at the little card Arken had tossed at her. By the time she realized the error she had made, the sith -the true sith- was already enacting his plan. All that he had, all that he could muster, he conjured into a singular point within he force and unleashed at the trio of Brass, Rik, and Do’tala. It wasn’t impressive, it wasn’t even competent, but Arken none the less pushed out with all his might, a wave of the force launched at his enemies that sent them stumbling backwards. It was the only opening he could create with mediocre abilities, and as he tossed his lightsaber at Galen, Arken wished his sworn enemy the best of luck. He was there only hope now.

Vonden’s blaster took aim, the bounty hunter recovering quickly from the distraction and squeezing off a shot that Arken had no chance of avoiding.

I hope I’m right about you, Galen Paven, whoever you are.

 

[GreyJedi]

Galen had managed to stir something up in Arken. What it was, he was not sure, but Arken was throwing off some intense vibes. Do'Tala had some confused thoughts as well. She could sense that Arken was much more powerful then her but Galen was much more powerful then the two. Why? Well for instance, Both were apprentices. They really didn't have a grasp on their abilities and on top of it were way off the reservation on keeping their emotions in check. Galen had just got done wondering about the both when Arken had tossed whatever he tossed to Do'Tala.

She had caught the object and looked up to Arken awfully confused and angered. She turned her head towards Rik Vonden and Brass and before she could turn her head back, Arken had used the force to literally push the 3 of them about 30 yards away.

Of couse, Rik Vonden was the first one up, his jet pack sputtering as he got to his feetl. he had taken that one shot. With in that shot taken, Arken had tossed Galen his lightsaber. He caught it and in the mist of catching it, Galen somehow, wasn't sure how, pushed Arken out of the line of fire. Unfortunately not quick enough as Arken was hit in the arm, flesh wound, but hit nonetheless. Galen ignited that red lightsaber and then his own. The two hues mixing together.

Do'Tala managed to get up and ignite her lightsaber as hell. Rik had looked at Brass and they both went a running. Typical pansies! Leave the young Sith Apprentice to face Galen on her own. She had faced Galen and snarled.

"Well, that is an unbecoming look for a lady such as your self!" galen had chuckled. Yes, being a smartass was going to get him in trouble one day but until then he would do his job. Galen had gotten into stance. Do'Tala had that look upon her face. She then started to move towards Galen. With out hesitation, Galen as well moved towards her. She had lifted her red saber and with in seconds Galen had blocked her forward attack with both lightsabers. Galen had stepped back and kept his defensive stance.

"Jedi Scum! You are no match for the likes of me! I will succeed in defeating you! Just you wait and see!" Do'Tala barked! Galen was none too impressed. Galen had shut down the red lightsaber and attached it to his belt. He looked at her and smiled. She came back at him with a blow to the right. Galen had blocked it once again. Do'Tala started to show the frustration even more. Galen then lifted his hand and pushed her back using the force. She landed on her back and with in seconds Galen had her picked up and tossed her away. Brass and Vonden had been Long gone. Galen went over to Arken and looked at him.

"Get up! Its a Flesh wound! Lets get out of here too before Do'Tala climbs back up. We need to regroup!"
​

Arken Rhau

 

[Arken Rhau]

“Run. From those weaklings?!”

Even as the words flew from his lips, spittle and all, the apprentice did not believe them. “Never!” He hissed, grabbing at his freshly scorched injury. It didn’t feel like a bloody flesh wound. It felt like his skin was on fire where the shot had skimmed him and the pain was only now slowly blossoming outward like a red rose in bloom. It joined the garden of his other agonies as the adrenaline slowly began to fade and the reality of his mortality reasserted itself. The strain of battle, the foot pursuit through the under-level streets, the ache in his ribs where he had landed on the transport after that insane jump off the upper levels, all of it and more were catching up to him and it was a struggle just to keep from panting in the exhaustion. It felt a lot like defeat, he noticed, and winced at the vile thought. Pride was his poison, and humility was ever the bitter antidote. One he thought himself long since done with by now. How wrong he had been.

Wrong about a lot of things it seems…

Arken looked up at Galen with a grimace, taking the Jedi’s hand and lifting himself off the floor with concerted effort. High above them -or perhaps below?- the column of smoke hung high and heavy in the city air, its chemical stench pungent even here. Arken could see the flashing lights of response crafts surging down from the surface to help put the flames out, there whirring lights dimmed like distant stars within the blackened miasma. No doubt law enforcement and other, less welcoming aspects of Coruscant’s response to the explosion were soon to follow. “A tactical withdrawal however…” he muttered, eyeing the skies warily “To regroup, yes. Yes, to gather our strength and destroy them later. Especially that bounty hunter!” Vonden, the name would haunt him till the day he had his vengeance on that slime! Arken would use that anticipation of such satisfying violence and hatred to fuel him. Not just to keep himself upright and moving as they fled the scene, but for what inevitably would come next. Failure was not a thing lightly accepted by those he served, and such a spectacular one as this would certainly demand a high price. The highest if wasn’t careful. Thankfully the young sith had anticipated the possibility, as unlikely as it had been. “That shuttle pass I threw at the twi’lek. That little distraction. It’s got a tracker in it.” He said, rubbing clear his eyes as he checked on the wrist mounted computer. It wasn’t particularly strong, a simple thing meant to deal with theft and loss, not something he could likely use off world, but the girl’s sudden revelation had left him wondering. If she was sith, perhaps there were more like her. A master, even? If so, then he could spin this little fiasco into a victory after all, one he had brilliant planned from the very beginning, of course. After all, what could be better than one force user save a whole bunch of them all gathered up together and ripe for the harvesting.

The lie was quickly taking shape as he concluded that the marker was indeed moving and active. Do’tala was moving in the opposite direction from them, seemingly unaware for the time being. For Arken, it would have to be enough. Meanwhile, he and the Jedi were quickly beating feet in search of somewhere safe enough to ‘regroup.’ By the time they finally stopped and had a chance to catch their breath, the sirens and screams were a distant enough thing. He had regained most of his wherewithal in that time and after making sure they were indeed safe, he and Galen found themselves with much to be said between the two. Looking at the Jedi, really looking at him for perhaps the first time since they crossed blades, he recalled the things their enemies had said about him between their taunts and threats. A man out of time they said, a disturbance in the force. Arken chewed on his next words carefully. “It…” he began begrudgingly, “has not escaped my notice that I owe you my life, jedi. A few times over even. You certainly don’t fight like any jedi I’ve ever heard about. And that little trick you pulled back there -well, it was almost inspired.” And he trailed off, uneasy about this whole thing but he knew it had to be said. “You’d make a fine sith were you not so soft on your foes. A strong sith, and in these chaotic times, strength is the only thing that matters. It is the mold by which we shape our destinies and the destinies of those lesser. Those without it must plot and scheme like that Do’tala and her minions.” He spat, nerves fraying all over again at the mere mention of her name. He looked at the tracker, watching the little blip slowly grow further away… and handed it to Galen. It was such an idiot thing to do, being his only recourse from certain punishment, but without the Jedi there this trap he had been lured into would have sprung on one unwitting and utterly unprepared apprentice instead of two warriors. If nothing else, Galen at least deserved to decide the little witch’s fate. Though his better judgement was screaming in stark protest, his conscious, for what it was worth, was at least appeased.

“I think there’s much you and I could learn from each other master Paven, Jedi out of time. Much indeed. We will meet again, of this I am certain.” The sound of a passing police speeder over head cut their conversation short. He turned back to Galen and nodded, an accustomed and unpracticed show of simple respect.

“Now, if you don’t mind.” He smirked, holding out one expectant hand, “I’ll have that lightsaber back, Jedi. You’re dangerous enough with one as it is.”

GreyJedi

 

[GreyJedi]

Galen had looked down to his belt clip and chuckled. He unclipped that red bladed saber and looked at it with in his hand. Galen looked back up to Arken and handed it to him. Galen had sensed more conflict with in Arken. The conflict was leaning more towards the light. Galen was actually surprised. He placed his hand to his side and shook his head.

"There is still a world-wind of conflict with in you Arken Rhau. Just know, on your travels, use your mind, trust your instincts and furthermore trust in the force!" Galen knew his reaction would be less then stellar but again, Galen had felt Arken leaning more towards the light but it still didn't seem to be enough. Galen had faith that Arken would see the light eventually but it would be a process. Arken had shook his head.

"Trust in the Force? Oh Please! Your Jedi ways are arcane! I will follow my own path and if we cross again, You luck may not be so good, huh!?" Arken had snapped back. After what they just went through, Galen sensed that he was only flexing and his thoughts were saying otherwise. Galen nodded as Arken turned and made his way out in the under-belly of the city. Galen had looked at the tracking that Arken had given him. The blip had gotten extremely weak.

Galen had did an about face and went towards Do'Tala. Galen kept an eye on the tracker and followed as best he could. Galen had knew something was up. He stopped mid-stride and looked behind him. Nothing. Arken had definitely moved on. Galen looked up and concentrated. He managed to jump and get to a set of Cat walks. Galen sat down and closed his eyes. Meditation was the key to calming ones self to get to where he needed to be. He took a deep breath and reached out.

He could sense Do'Tala. She was scared and on the run. She had much fear in her. Fear of her master, fear of rejection and fear of disappointing her master. Galen took another deep breath and Do'Tala was gone. He lost her. It was going to take a Miracle to find her. What was he going to do? Galen had no idea. What he did know was that He would absolutely have to rebuild and would have to find who the master of the Sith was. Improbable not impossible. The work would be hard but Galen had to do it.

He stood up and made his way towards the way Do'Tala was heading.

END
​

Arken Rhau