Private Where the Roots Lie

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

It was no Jedi mind trick, but it was just as effective. Verse remained still throughout the encounter. When the guard walked away to check the other vent, she let out a quiet breath. They were safe - at least for a little bit. Quickly returning the blaster to her bag, the Agent offered her companion a sharp nod. This time, she would not linger, however. Instead, she continued crawling down the vent.

They had to take two turns. First left, then right. It was a significantly more straight-forward path than running through the corridors would have been. Both literally and figuratively. Still, their journey took a bit of time: The distance was not short per se and crawling was a slow business. They had been extremely close to getting caught but the Force Adept had managed to bail them out. They were now approaching the shuttle bay.

Soon, Verse stopped by one of the openings. She gestured for her fellow Rebel to hold as she studied what was happening outside. There, she remained for more than a couple of minutes before she nodded. A large door could be heard swooshing to a close as she slowly opened the hatch. With a fluid and agile motion, she hopped out and landed with an impressive degree of stability for someone wearing heels.

The hangar bay they had entered contained two Lancers pointing to the exit at the backside of the sky palace. There seemed to be no permanent bay doors - but a force field shimmering in blues and whites kept ships from exiting and entering. The large bay area had a long rectangular shape - the door leading to the rest of the complex was located on the short western side while the ships were lined up next to the door, facing the force field. On the opposite side were two rooms: Closer to the outer wall was a storage area with a large open door and multitudes of crates and barrels stacked ontop of each other. Farther from the outer wall was a control room with two different sets of consoles which were likely intended for managing the traffic and the barriers. Railings for different mechanical devices and ship holdings ran across the ceiling, far above the ships. The two rebels entered at the middle of the long side, opposite to the force field.

"I'll get the force fields open. Can you get the engines running?" She was not waiting for an answer. Instead, she ran over to the room at the far end of the area and woke the closest console up from its slumber. Just like before, her fingers began a little dance across the keyboard as she snuck into the system. There was no download they needed to accomplish this time - disabling the force field would be quick.

It all seemed to be going so well. The girl was able to take the force field down quickly and a loud click indicated that the one entrance had been locked. All they needed to do now was to get into the ship and escape.

Bor Tii Yar had something else in mind. Like a shadow, he had been watching them from the railings above. Narrow eyes marked a mostly calm and collected face. He was studying his prey, observing them work and waiting for the right time. Soon, however, he realised that there would be no perfect time - the invaders were about to leave. Without further adoo, he hopped down and used a small thrust from his jet pack to soften the landing.

The contours of his heavy armour moved underneath his formal robes as he raised an arm to fire off a stream of fire from his vambrace. Flames burst out from the device in a wide cone and would soon engulf the ship and - unless the ramp was raised - enter the cockpit. Without uttering a word, the bounty hunter turned 90 degrees to face Verse. Snake-like eyes bore into the blonde hair which hung over her back before he raised a javelin and flung it at the Agent. Meanwhile, he leaned forth: If someone came charging at him, he was ready to activate his jetpack to create some distance.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

Equipment:
Formal Wear | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Commlink

Ace dropped from the vent after Verse, knees bent. He was impressed at the rebel's capability to land in heels. The hangar stretched wide. His gut already told him this wasn't going to stay quiet. Verse had informed him of the plan, it was straightforward enough that warranted a nod from him.

He was halfway up the ramp of the nearest ship when the roar hit. A wall of fire spat wide from the rafters, rushing across the deck toward the Lancer's hull. A wall of fire erupted, he couldn't see who. It washed across the deck toward the Lancer's hull. Ace's lightsaber hissed alive in reflex, but flame wasn't something he could parry. Heat seared his face as he dove clear, rolling down the ramp just as the fire licked across the cockpit glass.

A flicker in the Force. He twisted, eyes snapping to Verse just as a javelin cut through the air toward her back. His free hand shot out, pulling hard. The spear wrenched sideways mid-flight and clattered against the deck with a metallic scream, deflected inches off course.

Ace's gaze snapped up to the source as the bounty hunter landed hard, robes splitting to reveal the bulk of his armor. Bor Tii Yar. Of course. Ace rose, lightsaber angled low at his side, heat still rolling off his skin.

"Never did like to play fair, did you?"

Ace caught the shift in Yar's stance even before the flames died down. He was waiting. The thought hit him quick and sharp, if he charged, Yar was gone, up in the rafters with every angle in his favor.

Maybe that was the play then. Spring the trap, force the hunter into motion, and keep him from dictating the fight. He'd learned from when he fought Dro. Ace exhaled once, then pushed forward to close the gap. His lightsaber was angled to strike, and through the Force, he kept his other hand free, ready to drag whatever he could between Verse and the next gout of fire.

If Yar wanted him to bite, fine. He'd bite. But he wasn't about to come alone.

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan​

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

The Agent's eyes flicked over to the javelin which just impacted harmlessly on the floor right next to her as her finger hovered over the 'close door' button. Verse was far from as cool and collected as Ines: She let out a scared yelp - possibly a few milliseconds too late. Her entire body turned to the javelin before backing off with a few scared steps.

It would, however, become abundantly clear that the young rebel was not about to be paralyzed by fear as she quickly ducked in behind the console she had been using and produced her hold-out blaster once more. Soon, two stun bolts were launched against the Togruta - but they would have little to no effect. The first bolt went wide, the second struck true - only to fizzle harmlessly against the hunter’s armour.

Bor Tii Yar paid her little attention. Identifying the main threat was an easy task. When the Force Adept came charging at him, the bounty hunter maintained his ruse and pulled a light vibrosword from his side. A low snake-like voice hissed with poorly suppressed resentment "You're a kid with space magic, don't lecture me about a fair fight." Staying true to his plan, however, he then ignited his jetpack and vaulted onto the roof of the other Lancer - one step farther away from Verse.

With his free hand, the Togruta produced a sonic pistol and fired off a stream of slow-moving sonic waves. The bounty hunter was skilled - but from the pattern in which he fired the blaster, it would be possible to tell that he was no specialist in fighting force users. He seemed to follow intuition honed by experience fighting smugglers, scoundrels and thugs - the shots were aimed at Ace's center mass and would normally have been easy to deflect if they had not been sonic. Meanwhile, he held the vibrosword at the ready with his off hand.

Meanwhile, Verse carefully peeked up from behind the console, now rather far away from the fight. The hold-out blaster was no longer set to stun. Taking careful aim with both hands, she fired an impressively accurate shot at their foe. Armoured plates would once more absorb her attack - this time, however, it was no mere stun bolt. Instead, it caused Bor Tii Yar to flinch. The girl nodded with a bit of surprise at the success before letting out a loud "Again!" Hopefully, the second bolt would provide her ally with a moment of respite, or perhaps even a chance to strike.

The Bounty Hunter chuckled bitterly and hissed under his breath "Fair fight, huh?"

If Ace tried to close the gap again, the bounty hunter would try to lock their blades for a brief moment before then firing a few bolts at the Force Adept from point blank range.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

Equipment:
Formal Wear | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Commlink

Ace’s teeth clenched at the hissed words. He watched the vibrosword flash as Yar vaulted high, the jetpack’s roar rattled in his chest as the hunter landed on the Lancer’s roof. Yar fired a sonic blast, rippling out in distorted waves.​

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The hum of Ace’s lightsaber cut short as he moved, he wouldn't be able to deflect this one. The first wave hit the deck where he’d been a milisecond before, rattling his bones even through the dodge. He slid low, shoulder skidding across durasteel, before vaulting to his feet again. His ribs buzzed, numb, but he kept moving.​

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Another wave roared. Ace telekinetically yanked a cargo crate from the side bay, shoving it between himself and the sound. The crate shattered under the pressure, pieces scattering across the floor, but it bought him a second. Just enough to surge forward.​

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Verse’s blaster snapped again, striking Yar’s armor with a bright spark. The bounty hunter flinched, just enough to give Ace another second. Blue light flared as he vaulted onto the Lancer’s nose, closing the gap in a rush. Then their blades met, lightsaber and vibrosword locking, creating an unnatural crackling between them. The vibration bit up his arm, the Togruta’s strength pressing against his own.​

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“Karma's a queen, huh?” Ace growled, eyes narrowed.​

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He caught the shift in Yar's stance, the free hand angling the pistol down toward him. Ace's own hand snapped out, the Force exploding from his palm in a sharp, brutal wave. The blast tore the air between them, smashing into the bounty hunter's chest. Armor clanged as Yar was ripped off his balance, his jetpack flaring wild as he crashed back against the Lancer's hull. The sonic pistol barked a useless shot into the ceiling before his grip faltered.​

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Ace dropped back into a crouch on the nose of the ship, lightsaber angled, chest heaving. His dark eyes stayed locked on the armored form trying to right itself. The ashen haired Rebel raised his lightsaber over his head.​

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Then came the dilemma? Was Ace going to have to kill Yar? Was this their only way of getting out of this? And for a split second, he hesitated.​

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Ines Pen-Ar-Lan​

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

She could see how Ace flung the bounty hunter away all the way from the control room where she stood. Once he landed, however, her line of sight would be broken by the two ships between them. Without even an ounce of hesitation, she rushed forth with her blaster at the ready. Instead of providing Ace with more covering fire, she opted to work on their escape whilst making herself as hard to target as possible. She entered the Lancer, which had previously been drenched in flames.

Meanwhile, the bounty hunter bore into his foe with a narrow gaze. He was still trying to recover - or at least that was how it would seem to most observers. In truth, he was feigning weakness in the hopes that the Force Adept would lower his guard and come closer. He spoke with venom, but his words were interrupted by heavy breaths "It's karma now, huh? Don't care much for a fair fight anymore, do we? What's next, honour? Haahh, honour, a spineless little womp-rat like you wouldn't even know how to spell it." Bor Tii Yar's intense stare and bitter smirk told a clear story; He believed every single word he just said.

Eventually weather the perfect opening for it came or not, the bounty hunter would lash out. With a quick burst of movement, he would extend his blaster arm and produce another onslaught of fire. This time, however, the burst would be significantly shorter - a sign that he was running low on fuel. If Ace came close, the Togruta would try to intercept his blade with his own vibroblade whilst producing a powerful kick to send the attacker back. Finally, he would activate his jet pack again, this time to move up above Ace and all the way to the command room where Verse had just been.

There was a clear threat in his new position: Maybe he could close the force fields again. He shot the console a gaze but seemed to be content interacting with it just yet. Instead, another stream of sonic blasts started coming Ace's way. When it did, Verse's voice could be heard from inside the Lancer. "Vayun, get in!" The ship's engines were already humming and seemed to start up for real as she yelled for him.

If Ace come close to the ramp, she would spin halfway in her seat and toss him the Imperial grenade "Use this." She would nod toward the other ship before pushing a lever to bring the Lancer into a pre-flight hover.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

Equipment:
Formal Wear | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Commlink

Ace's breath came sharp through his teeth, lightsaber raised high. Then Yar's words cut through the intensity of the moment The smirk, the venom, the deliberate rasp in his voice. A feint. Ace felt it in the Force even before the fire spat from the vambrace again. He twisted away, boots skidding across the deck as the stream scorched the space he'd stood in.

Recovering quickly, Ace lunged. His lightsaber met Yar's vibroblade with a shriek. Ace shoved back, only to catch the Togruta's armored boot slamming into his chest. The impact ripped the breath from him, sent him staggering. By the time he steadied, Yar was airborne again - jetpack flaring, carrying him high to the command room rafters.

Ace tracked him with his blade, tired of the hunter's slippery nature. The sonic pistol barked, waves tearing through the hangar and forcing him to duck behind the Lancer's wing. His ribs buzzed from the resonance, but he kept his footing.

Then Verse's voice cut through the din as the engines fired to life. The Lancer began to hover on its repulsors and without even looking, he darted toward the ramp. Then the arc of a grenade was tossed his way. It didn't take him long to understand what it was for. His gaze flicked back up at Yar, then to the grenade in his palm.

For a heartbeat, his instincts pulled in both directions. Hunt or escape. Ego or survival. Everything in him burned to chase Yar, to put an end to the hunt before it circled back on him again. But Verse's shout, the thrum of engines at his back, snapped him out of it.

Ace bolted up the ramp. He didn't stop moving, spinning on his heel at the threshold, he thumbed the activator and hurled it across the bay. The canister clattered beneath the landing struts of the second Lancer, then went off in a thunderclap. The shockwave rippled through the hangar, rattling the ship beneath his boots.

Ace turned, sliding into the co-pilot's chair beside Verse. His chest still heaved from the fight, hair singed at the edges, but his voice was flat and certain.

"Let's get out of here."

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan ​

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

An orchestra of explotions started smattering below as the ramp closed. The sound soon became muffled as the blue force field started to close. Bor Tii Yar had pressed the button, hoping to trap them there with him and the arriving reinforcements - or better yet, to kill them as they flung into the barrier. Fortunately for the rebels, the ship made it out just before the force field could shut them in. With a burst of momentum, the vessel rocketed away from the palace.

Verse let out a relieved breath and leaned back in her chair. Her shoulders fell as she looked over to Ace "Thanks. You saved me more than once back there." The grateful glint in her eyes matched her tone. The two of them had been through quiet a lot. Still, there was a hint - albeit a slight one - of sadness in both her expression and her voice.

"You aren't like most Jedi, are you?" she sounded impressed. There was, however, a 'but' to it. "There's a fierceness and decisiveness that I don't see very often." It was conveyed diplomatically enough. But fierce and bold was but a nuance change away from brutal and rash. "It's a shame about the scientist and the servant girl. I truly hope this was worth it." she said, throwing a glance down at the datapad to which she had downloaded the Imperial data.

For a moment or two, it probably looked like she had more to say. Her jaw moved a little as if her mouth was about to open. Her brows twitched as if ther was something she was about to say. Her gaze fluttered expressively. But ultimately, she let out a silent sigh and made a single subtle shake of the head. A small glimmer of hopefulness was mixed with bitter realism as she let out a low "But this was good, in the end. Rebellions aren't built on overwhelming force and guaranteed victories. I'm not sure if they're built on victories at all. They are built on people like us, shooting for the stars."

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

Equipment:
Formal Wear | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Commlink

The hangar shook with the last of the explosions as the ramp sealed behind him. For a heartbeat, Ace thought they were done but the Lancer's engines roared in defiance. Verse drove it forward with everything she had and punched through just as the barrier snapped shut. The ship tore free of the palace and into open sky.

Ace's shoulder loosened in unison with the relase of Verse's baited breath. He didn't say anything at first, just stared ahead with an expression that was unreadable. Then, finally:

"You don't need to thank me. You're Path, I'm Path - we look out for each other." His voice was measured but not cold.

He hissed through his teeth as he shifted his body, gently placing his palm on his chest. Yar's kick from earlier had left its mark, and he was starting to feel the effects. Ace's face twisted slightly.

Verse spoke again, this time saying something he was all too used to hearing these past few months. "You aren't like most Jedi." His dark eyes flicked over to her, still rubbing his chest, he quickly interjected - correcting her.

"That's 'cause I'm not a Jedi." Ace blurted out, then let her continue.

Then she mentioned the scientist, and their inability to rescue them. Ace's jaw ticked. He didn't look at Verse, just out at the smear of neon and cloud racing past the viewport. It felt heavy in his chest, heavier than he wanted to admit, but only for a breath. He shoved it down, forced it into the same dark corner as every other bad memory.

He could only respond with a simple "Yeah."

The datapad in Verse's lap caught his eye, and he latched onto it. Intel that could tip routes, starve supply lines, keep families from being crushed under Imperial boots. That was something. More than dragging a half-dead scientist into the crossfire ever would have been. He told himself the trade was worth it. That it had to be.

Verse's words, at least partially, echoed Ace's own sentiments. Reassuring him in a way.

"But this was good, in the end. Rebellions aren't built on overwhelming force and guaranteed victories. I'm not sure if they're built on victories at all. They are built on people like us, shooting for the stars."

"Victories are nice. But surviving long enough to fight the next one? That's what it's built on." His tone was flat, but there was weight under it, the kind that came from experience.

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan​