Weekend Treasure Hunt 23: A Fistful of Denarii

[Haytham Kaze]

His dash towards the Herglic had paid off as his lightsabre dragged a furrow through the armour of the walking whale. It was clear at that point that with all of that armour and his large size his strength lied in powerful counter attacks. Based on his opening form, he was experienced with Djem So.

Not only did his blade drag a furrow through the being's armour, the moment he made contact, his left foot that had been planted on the ground was his only foot actually making contact with anything as his right leg pulled his body into a pivot around the Herglic's own right side, and lowered his head as the fist went through the spot that the ebony haired human was previously occupying.

That pivot brought him into a spin as he reversed the grip of the hilt in his hand, and seeming to abandon all hope of utilizing an actual form, he dashed along the back side of the large whale to hopefully drag another furrow across the back of both of his legs.

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

 

[Mammut]

The young padawan had forgotten one key detail. Orcus was right handed.

And in that hand? The great saber.

He was quickly reminded of that fact when the Herglic also pivoted, ignoring the pain in his leg, to follow the human's trajectory. As the cetacean did so, the enormous blade hummed angrily through the air in an underhand swing that connected with [member="Haytham Kaze"]'s attempted strike in a powerful parry. The force of the blow could possibly push Kaze's blade into his own flesh and then keep going. At worst, it would cut him in half from balls to brains. At the least, it would shatter or numb his wrist, especially given the reverse-grip with which he held the lightsaber.

 

[Graze]

"Understood, Sir," Graze replied as bent to pick up the map then dragged the Hapan into motion. "I will be arriving with her shortly."

The two exited through the doorway opposite from the one Graze had snuck through seemingly so long ago, the noblewoman's body functioning as a small shield for him. As they continued down the hallway, Graze slowed periodically to check that they were walking in the correct direction. He had changed out the Gun of Command for his own blaster after shooting the Hapan and ordering her to remain calm and not fight him; however, he held his weapon ready, just in case. Finally, after a few minutes of walking, they neared the airlock.

As they drew closer, Graze slowed even more. He could hear the grunts of a fight close at hand, and he didn't wish to be caught unaware. He placed his pistol against the noblewoman's temple and directed her around the final corner, ever nearer to the two fighters.

The sight that greeted him caught him unaware, but Graze nevertheless composed himself in the face of his commander's darkened fury. He had witnessed the Herlic's rage enough times in battle to understand that distraction was necessary. His commander was injured. Graze couldn't leave him to the attacker, child though he seemed.

"Attack again, boy, and the woman loses her head," he called to Orcus' opponent with a growl. "It won't be pretty, and then I'll turn to your head next. Give up."

[member="Hion the Herglic"] | [member="Haytham Kaze"]

 

[Haytham Kaze]

He was countered, hard this time.

The Herglic's blade crashed into his own, and although he applied more of his own Force into surviving the parry and not splitting himself in half, he felt a sudden and excruciating pain his wrist the instant contact with his own blade was made. Immediately, his lightsabre deactivated as he cradled his left hand to his body, and it dropped to his feet as he slid a few metres away from [member="Hion the Herglic"] from the force of the blow.

Leaping back up to his feet, he reached out with his right hand to grasp his lightsabre's hilt, but before he could even begin to figure out a new path of attack, another being seemed to enter the area, this time with their own hostage. He hardly spared a moment before he rose up to his full height and shrugged.

"Not everyone can be saved," he said as he started to wave his left hand to perform a dismissive wave of his hand before he cringed and brought his arm back to the safety of his body, tucked carefully to reduce the pain he felt. He was already at a disadvantage. Whoever the woman hostage was, she was most likely going to be killed anyway, whether he gave up or not. He felt that he had already been outmatched versus the first one, but with two? It occurred to him that he was going to have to do things he wouldn't have done when he first set out on this path.

"You're different," he said softly as his grey gaze turned towards Darth Orcus, his eyes seeming to have darkened whilst he remained in thought.

[member="Graze"]

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Definitely Waste Management
[member="Abric Korne"]

"Not yet," face was swathed in the glowing red-light cast from the lightsaber. Nose crinkled and she fought to keep the bile at the base of her throat. Morris bumped against a wall to the right. A small boom shook their room from somewhere above. From the command center?

"No need to get handsy," the teen grin in the semi-dark as she waded through the floating trash to where her BB8 unit was. "I think Morris found a way out."

Fingers pulled a hydro spanner from her tool belt, using it to ply open the door's access panel. His lightsaber might work but it would take longer. Plus. "Be careful with that thing and give me some light over here, will yah? And watch the sparks. This stuff is probably flammable. I bet we're in the waste dump right below the hangar."

Blue-eyes took a skittish look around before returning to the panel. If she could repair
Star-fighters she could certainly open a garbage chute door. She hoped. Hopefully.

Suddenly, there were two loud clicks and the door popped open. She tumbled out along with Morris. A brilliant smile crossed her face as she looked at Abric from the floor, random trash and junk staining and clinging to her clothes. "Boom. What'd I tell yah?"

 

[Mammut]

The Sith Lord glared down at [member="Haytham Kaze"], who stood between [member="Graze"] and the airlock. The only remaining obstacle to the mission's success. The boy cradled his wrist, clearly broken. Orcus suspected that the next attack, should it come, would be even shorter than the first.

Dim, artificial light from the ceiling shone on the four occupants in the isolated corridor. They flickered occasionally, mirroring shudders in the floor. The results of distant and unseen conflict deep within the station. Behind the towering, battle-armored Herglic lay the body of Haytham's master. Her head had rolled apart from the rest and now lay fetched up against a support beam. Sightless eyes stared aimlessly into the nothing. Her mouth bore a defiant sneer beneath the vac helmet, frozen in death.

"Hauum. I am no wanton butcher. I strive only for peace, but my efforts are impeded by those like her. She," he gestured at Raxis' body behind him, "stood with the terrorists of the Underground. A friend of yours? Then it would pain you to know that she fell to the Dark Side before the end."

The great saber deactivated with a sudden whoosh.

"Your end need not be the same. Let us leave with the prisoner. I give you my word she will not be killed. When the time for her release comes, she will be ransomed back. Is this agreeable to you?"

[member="Graze"]

 

[Hasuras va-Agrel]

Corridor

​

...the lightsaber flashed closer with Kinsey's prompt lighting the area near the access panel she'd pried open in a dull red glow as it hummed, crackling maliciously occasionally in what Abric considered a fairly stereotypical trait for a sith weapon. Nonetheless the Bearded Man would shed as much light on the area as possible allowing Kinsey to work..."Well aren't you full of surprises."...he'd have said watching her use the hydro spanner with what he would consider a innate talent. Upon mention that the refuse they were standing in might be flammable Abric would hold the lightsaber a little higher, he liked using a flamethrower but he was in no hurry to burn himself. Beards were highly flammable themselves some might say...

....watching Kinsey work Abric wasn't surprised when the two clicks heralded the opening of a chute door which saw Kinsey tumbling out of it into a corridor below. Looming overhead Abric would look down at the girl, deactivate the lightsaber and attach it back to his belt before giving her a slow thumbs up. "Never doubted you for a second."...he'd have said in the rough voice he often used then he was gone momentarily. Disappearing from view Abric would have only returned a few moments later when he'd retrieved the Incinerator Flamethrower which he now held in the powerful grip of his right hand..."Watch out below."...then he leapt down the garbage chute...

...landing on the floor close to Kinsey he'd shake a bit of garbage off that came with him before turning his head to look from side to side. They were in another corridor, this one underneath the Hangar Bay somewhere if the garbage chute they'd just come out of was any indication. "Any ideas?"...he'd have asked looking between Kinsey and Morris, the BB8 Droid, thus far the girl had been his guide and an apt navigator throughout the space station so Abric felt secure in following her lead. Abric would tilt his head backwards, musing..."There must be a few ships left in the Hangar. Force Fields will be active again by now and I opened the doors again."...he wasn't saying it outright but it might be time for Kinsey and him to claim a ride and leave the station before it was overrun with any other surprises...​

​

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

 

[Haytham Kaze]

It was clear who was the leader between the two of them.

He had already come to a decision on the matter and he made a show of mulling it over as he did his best to look behind the Herglic to see his Master's corpse behind him. Grey gaze jumping to every object that was out of place in the room, he soon found her head laying next to a support beam, the look on her face one he hadn't seen in their short time together.

Rolling his shoulders back in a shrug, his right hand clenched the lightsabre hilt tightly, as if he wanted it to shatter in his hands, but instead he slowly clipped it back onto the belt loop around his waist. "I want to know something first," he said.

"Were you always a Sith?"

[member="Hion the Herglic"] [member="Graze"]

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Back Where it All Began - The Hangar

[member="Abric Korne"]

The teen picked herself up off the floor. "I always have ideas," she grinned, face lighting up at Abric's words. "There better be some gorram-fighters up there or we could be stranded." Morris whistled.

Blue-eyes narrowed as she dipped into the force. Booted-feet moved down the hall. There was a small access door at the end that swished open - with motion sensors. Her BB8 unit clomped up the stairs and popped open an access hatch. Kins followed and found herself staring at a few slightly banged up but not completely wrecked fighters. Back in the hangar. Thank the stars the fields were back up or this would've been a short trip. "Awwwwwwyeah! It's our lucky day Abric." She smacked him on the shoulder.

She could do that, right? Morris twirled circles around her legs. "Let's see if these babies actually work. Also, we should totes exchange info because I totally wanna buy one of those flame throwers you have."

 

[Mammut]

An ache rose within Orcus' chest, a wave of emotion sweeping through the floodplains of his heart. Well did he remember laughing, sunlit days spent on Temple grounds, or late nights perusing the great library. Trying to lift a pebble in the air, his first lesson with Kira Lidain. How odd to think of it now, when a single bellow from his lungs could tear apart a man's insides. And now what? A monster, perhaps not of his own making, but he knew it was within his power to turn aside from this path. It need not be his fate. Remembering those days... he had been happy then, basking in the lies. Yet, sometimes the hardest sacrifice of all was of the self. Oh, and what a ruin he was, consumed by hate and a quest for power. A wreck, despite all his newfound wealth. All for the greater good.

Stability. Peace. Justice. Whatever the cost.

Hoarsely, he said, "No."

[member="Haytham Kaze"]

 

[Hasuras va-Agrel]

The Hangar Bay

​

...there was a moment when Kinsey dipped into the force that Abric could sense it, feel her connection to the force and note its similarity to his own with several key exceptions. Abric wasn't particularly strong in the force ensuring that Kinsey likely held a deeper connection to it than him but the reality was that the Bearded Man also relied on natural prowess and training more than his force connection. Being able to use a lightsaber was a definite perk though even if he didn't have more than a basic instruction it its application...

...when Kinsey moved down the hall Abric would follow, when she followed the BB8 up to the access hatch he did likewise. Moving back into the Hangar Bay where this all began Abric would scan the interior until his gaze fell over the starfighters only to be snapped from the moment when Kinsey clapped him over the shoulder. The Bearded Man jostled forward slightly then turned his head to regard the girl momentarily, a strange expression falling over his features..."They'll fly, I can feel it."...he didn't say it but he'd started to like Kinsey in their brief time together as allies. Maybe one day they could help one another out again, Abric might even consider it a shame if they had to fight one another at some point...

...Morris was twirling around Kinsey's legs, Abric looked at her and then started to part ways and move towards his own starfighter. Moving away Abric came to a halt, turned and raised the Incinerator Flamethrower he'd been holding in his right hand, gripping it by the neck he'd have called out..."Hey!"...then thrown it over to her..."Don't spend it all in one place kid. I'll see you around."...she'd better catch that with both hands because it was actually fairly heavy but the results were evident. Abric would get his hands on another in no time. Approaching one of the starfighters the Bearded Man would lean down, begin to disengage the docking clamps holding the fighter into place and then prepare to take his place in the cockpit....​

​

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Abric Korne"]

She staggered back with the classic Kinsey-smile on her face as she caught the flamethrower. A FRICKEN FLAME THROWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Thanks Abric!" Uncle Coren would totes be jealous. Kaia might too.

"Fly safe beard guy."

She saluted him with two fingers. Without wasting anymore time, she staggered to the fighter and hefted the flame thrower in a storage section. Morris was already on board, checking out the systems. Scurrying up the ladder, she slid into the cockpit, opening a channel to Morris. "Yeah, feels like home. Abric?" Blue-eyed gaze peeked out of the canopy. "Yeah, looks like he can handle himself. Don't worry Morris."

Did her droid have a crush on the older dude? Maybe he did.

Pre-flight complete and the fighter free of its clamps, she maneuvered the prize into the chaos of space and her backyard.

 

[Ronan Nakasla]

OBJECTIVE: Get a Lightsaber
LOCATION: Just Within the Command Centre

---

The air in the room felt cooler than the rest of the station he had slipped through so far. There was something in the air, something that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He stepped further into the room, and caught a shiver even though he was wearing his usual coat and hat. He ducked his head and slid behind a console when he heard footsteps. An explosion passed, the steps faded away, and it was quiet again. It was too quiet.

The eerie atmosphere was amplified by the way all of the sounds of combat he could hear just outside the door seemed completely gone. He heard something then. It was hushed, like a whisper, but it made his fingers feel like they were turning to ice, and Jules realised he was starting to breathe heavier. He did not know what was going on exactly, but it was troubling him. He was a stubborn one, though, and he wanted his prize. Crux wouldn't leave without getting one of those lightsabers he had heard about, and with that determination came another whisper. It almost sounded like it said 'follow me'. He peered around the corner, and saw an open doorway leading somewhere dark. For some reason, he felt drawn that way. Like it was where he needed to go. He did not want to, but he had come too far to leave empty handed.

Jules slid out of his little hiding place and went toward that door.

 

[Haytham Kaze]

Haytham waited for the creature's answer. He could only imagine as to what the Herglic himself was thinking at that point. It wasn't contempt for him and it wasn't even hate, he thought. He would've sensed those things he was certain. What he did sense from the Herglic was a difference between him and the Sith he had fought before in his relatively short lifetime. Other Sith he had encountered simply wanted to crush what was good in the Galaxy, to stomp out the Republic and it's Jedi allies.

This Sith however wanted something else, something more than that, but that was all that he could discern from the darkness before him...

"I think we want the same thing in this time." He paused. "Peace and justice. A Galaxy where the common person won't have to look up to the sky in fear of seeing an invading force descending upon your home." He chuckled once, allowing a smile to surface on that face of his. His grey gaze slowly looked towards Vassara's corpse, a slow shake of his head occurring as he looked back upon the Herglic's face.

"Whatever the cost," he said, right fist clenched.

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

 

[Mammut]

Orcus's eyes narrowed. "Our goals are one and the same, but our methods... I do not condone the toppling of legitimate governments, nor the terrorizing of citizens. More blood is shed during civil wars than in any other conflict. Infrastructure fails. Trade collapses. People suffer. The galaxy suffers. If you believe this, then you believe as I do."

The Herglic extended a gauntleted flipper. "Join the Dark Side. Only through its power can we hope to destroy those who would stand in the way of prosperity."

[member="Haytham Kaze"]

 

[Haytham Kaze]

Haytham rolled his shoulders back, a habit that he paid for when he felt the pain pulse through his body. Biting on his tongue, he thought on the words of the Sith before him. It wasn't the first time that he was making a decision such as this. There had been one that first time he left Dromund Kaas, and then when he had fought the Sith Knight Darth Raven. Soon after that encountered and victory, he had encountered Sitara Qin. That had been a close encounter, he was certain that he had gone perhaps a little too far then...

But it felt great.

Shaking his head, he already knew his answer. He knew he had to remain a Jedi to bring peace. But what could one Padawan do against the might of the One Sith? They had gone undefeated against the Republic last he had heard anything of the War.

"What must I do?"

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

 

[Graze]

Graze stood, waiting for the moment that the Padawan's attention would be focused fully upon Lord Orcus. Wait...wait...there! The two fighters had ceased to think about him and his Hapan prisoner. He grasped her arm tighter and slowly strode forward, remaining close to the wall. He paused as [member="Haytham Kaze"] looked toward a nearby body, then continued forward once the Jedi had again focused on the Herglic lord.

Their voices were quiet, their minds seemingly intent on the future they each imagined creating. Orcus--through power. The Jedi--through insurrection. Neither had succeeded thus far, but each appeared strong, their desires prominent. Graze could only wonder whether the Jedi would agree to Orcus' request.

Finally, the Karkaradon and Hapan passed the Jedi Palawan and drew near the Sith Lord. Soon, they would be on the awaiting ship. Soon, they would return home, to Darkwater Security.

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

 

[Mammut]

"A wise choice, but forgive me, I like to be certain of my bets."

A gambler by nature, he was not averse to taking a risk on this youth, but not at the expense of a failed mission.

Orcus extended an empty flipper toward [member="Graze"] without looking at him. His Karkarodon accomplice dutifully placed what appeared to be a pistol in his palm. The Sith Lord looked at the weapon for a moment.

"Do you know what this is? It is a gun of command, prized by Hapans and a favored method of execution among their species. It emits an electromagnetic wave field, which scrambles the thoughts of the victim and renders them wholly compliant to a given command. An ion gun for sapient organics, if you will."

The Herglic leveled the gun at [member="Haytham Kaze"] and squeezed the trigger.

"Give in to your anger." He commanded. "Let the Dark Side flow."

 

[Ronan Nakasla]

OBJECTIVE: Get a Lightsaber
LOCATION: Command Centre

---

The whispers kept coming. They were like a terrible siren's song. Every time Jules got second thoughts, the call was more urgent. It drove him practically mad until he continued his journey into the bowels of the Command Centre. He reached the doorway, his hand came to rest on the frame. Beyond this threshold, light seemed to be afraid to trespass. Indecision crept through him. Hesitation stapled him to place, but the whispers were getting louder now. It was starting to make some sense in a strange way. Ways he did not truly understand. He held his breath and took a step forward. One small step across the line and into the abyss.

The air felt like ice. As he tried to take breaths, he found that he truly could not. He collapsed just within the doorway. Panic began to set in. His eyes darted around wildly. He had expected some kind of trap. Instead there was nothing. Only darkness. It was all around him now, the whispers were everywhere. They were getting louder. More like speaking. Chanting. A dark hymn that turned his veins to ice and ran out his sanity as it ran out light. He gripped at the floor desperately, his fingers turning red, white, then red again from the mental exertion of getting these voices out of his head. His eyes squeezed shut, and he let out an anguished cry.

 

[Ronan Nakasla]

OBJECTIVE: Get a Lightsaber
LOCATION: Command Centre

---

The cry carried such pain that it resounded within the Force. It sent vibrations through the air that knocked over a chair and broke a vase. It was weak in its ability but the power made itself known nonetheless. Jules himself was oblivious, but he knew he felt better now. There was a weight on his shoulders now, though. Something that was not there before. His breath was shaky and he rose up to a kneel, then to full standing again. He coughed, and hunched over. His eyes darted up and flicked across the scene around him. The chanting grew stronger again, and pulled again. Crux's feet shuffled toward the source, and as the chanting reach a crescendo his foot kicked against something that clinked and clanged like metal. He blinked the blur out of his eyes and looked down at it. It was a metal cylinder, with buttons and knobs. He bent down, picked it up, and turned the device in his hands. It thrummed in his grip as though it were aware of being possessed again. The young human's eyes fell upon the activation button, and he felt compelled to press it. He pointed the business end away from himself and his thumb flicked the activation. A quick snap was followed by a sizzling hiss.

The aggressive lightsaber's beam was steady, true, and red as blood. It illuminated the room in its crimson hues, and in the midst of Jules' relief at collecting his prize, he felt a strange new sensation. He had never felt such a thing before, and it crept from his chest out to his arms until it washed over him like liquid energy. If he had to describe it in one word, it would be simple. Power.