Private Where the Roots Lie

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

Dear Diary

I'm about to touch down on Nar Shaddaa. Using public transit to get here was a big mistake. They keep saying that all women should own a black dress. What they don't say is to not wear it when commuting. That Twi'lek dude two seats back is still giving me the creeps. I miss the times when I could prepare for these sorts of ops properly - not as some rebel amateur.

Anyway! Enough complaining. It won't do me any good, will it?

So, the mission! I briefly met my partner for the evening during the briefing. Didn't have the chance to say hello but that will come soon enough. I did a little background check on him. It seems like he's some sort of alternative Jedi? I dunno what the difference is so I guess this might be a good opportunity to learn something. Thurion Heavenshield set the expectations high - let's see if Acier lives up to them.

ACE! He's called Ace. I'll try to remember that during the cab ride to the palace. Off we go. Ciao!

The somber clouds in the sky carried a deep red colour from a nasty mixture of pollution and an abundance of red neon lights. Hutta hovered above like a toxic yellow orb, shedding a gloomy yellow hue on the skyborn palace below. While dystopian in more ways than one, the palace had a certain degree of pomp to it. For something of its massive size, it carried far too many architectural quirks such as elaborate domes and floating wings. The entire thing was a perfect example of gravity defying extravagance.

"Get off of me!" she yelped as she failed to pull away from the iron grip. An orange hand held her tightly by the arm at the edge of the wide palacial landing pad thousands of meters above the building below. A Twi'lek who had a waiting taxi behind him was pulling the struggling Agent toward the vehicle. Hutteese spewed out of his mouth as he insisted that she should come with him and that he knew some powerful Hutts. Onlookers stood far far away on the massive platform but did not seem to pay much attention to what was unfolding. Apparently, this was hardly uncommon.

It was obvious that the Twi'lek was struggling a little more than he should have. The black dress did nothing to hide her toned arms and legs, all of them stained in the sickly yellow-red haze that painted everything under the skies. Even then, it was clear that she was fighting a losing battle. She threw a glance to the palace entrance - warm yellow lights made it seem like a safe haven in comparison to where she was now. Her eyes flicked to the small handbag hanging from the arm he gripped. It would be a simple matter to simply open it, grab her hold-out blaster and the assailant down. Or to use the stun projector from behind her back. But then, that would neither be discreet, nor something poor Verse would be able to think of in a stressful situation like this.

The Agent looked around with desperate glances as she continued trying to pull away from the twi'lek. If this went on for just a little longer, she'd have to take action.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

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

Nar Sha-kriffin-ddaa.

It was worth noting. Again. How much he despised this planet. The smell, the constant hum of overcrowded streets, the way the sky never really went dark, just shifted between shades of grime-stained neon. Every time he wound up here, it felt like a cosmic joke. Like the Force had a personal sense of humor, dragging him back into the cesspit just to see how long it would take before he snapped.

The mission was simple enough on paper: infiltrate a gathering at some gaudy sky-palace, collect intel on the guest list, and slip out without drawing too much attention. The kind of job that demanded subtlety, poise, and someone who could play nice in high society. Which was probably why they'd paired him with Verse Melnau.

He hadn't formed much of an opinion of her during the briefing. She was quiet, composed, and clearly capable. But something about her sat wrong with him. More than his usual instinct to keep people at arm's length. Maybe he was growing more paranoid the older he got.

He was just crossing the edge of the palace's landing platform, wearing this stupid outfit, when movement caught his eye. It was Verse, locked in a struggle with a burly orange Twi'lek who had her by the arm, trying to drag her toward a waiting taxi. No one else seemed to care. Typical Nar Shaddaa. Ace didn't call out. He didn't ask if she needed help. He just moved.

One hand shot out, catching the Twi'lek's wrist before the alien could react. A sharp twist and pull forced the grip to break, and Ace stepped in between them, body angled just enough to shield Verse without looking like it. His gaze never left the Twi'lek's face it wasn't his usual unreadable calmness. His patience had worn thin from being on this planet for longer than five minutes.

Only then did he speak.

"I'll ask nicely, once." then he glanced down, revealing the lightsaber he covertly wielded in his free hand "Then I won't."

The message was clear in the Twi'lek's face - but the ripple his fear sent in the Force? It only served to confirm. Ace released his grip and the Twi'lek broke off into a sprint, shoving past both he and Verse. The rebel's brown eyes scanned their surroundings before he tucked the hilt of his lightsaber underneath his blazer.

Now glancing at the woman, he raised an eyebrow "Guess that's why they sent me with you, huh." it was a dry attempt at lightening up the thick tension.

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan​

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

The struggle ended as soon as the Jedi intervened. Ines was usually extremely hard for a Force user to read - but in this instance, she lowered her guard to allow a wave of relief to wash over her. Unsurprisingly, Ines was just as happy for the assistance as Verse was. The girl instinctively pulled away from the Twi’lek as Ace stepped between them and folded her arms tightly over her chest. The self-embrace was a way to feel a little less vulnerable.

She looked up to him with a grateful, and almost shy nod, paired with a slight shrug. "I don't know" she spoke with a low voice, obviously still a little shaken. Verse was doing what she could to push past it "They prolly sent you for more reasons than that" Her blue eyes still darted around as if trying to make sense of what had just happened - or possibly as if she was scanning for threats and observing onlookers. Eventually, she looked up to him again -it was now clear she had successfully held back the tears that had threatened to fall down her cheeks. "Regardless, thank you"

For a brief moment, Verse turned away to take a deep breath letting her chest rise high before finally letting it all out again. Her left hand subtly moved to caress the spot where the Twi’lek had gripped her earlier. Soon enough, she turned back to him with a smile that looked surprisingly genuine. "Okay. Okay, let's do this." she said, her tone edging back toward something closely resembling her usual cheerfulness.

She approached him with a sweet smile whilst timidly opening her arms "You clean up well. Would you mind?" she asked, offering her arm for him to take. Regardless of his response, she would then look to the entrance "Getting in won't be an issue, as long as we look the part. Once we’re inside, we’ll want to look for the staff entrance on the eastern wing. The other entrance works too - but it's on the same wing as the kitchen, so it'll probably be pretty busy. If we wanna avoid questions, awkwardness is our friend, Okay?" Her tone was light - almost playful. This was certainly no Imperial taskmaster.

Across the palatial landing platform they stood on, the massive gates leading into the palace stood wide open. Two gamorrean guards were placed outside with a pale twi'lek giving those who entered a look over. It would not be hard to deduce that anyone looking fancy enough was allowed to enter. This became even more evident as a third Gamorrean soon appeared from inside with a casually dressed guest in tow. Someone was getting thrown out. Inside was a gluttonous feast with lavish bouffets, a lot of dancers and one of Nal Hutta's rising stars performing live music. Evocii and a few others served as staff - even a light background check would suggest that their working conditions were abhorrent. It was exactly the kind of decadence people had come to expect from Nar Shaddaa.

[...]

So - this Ace guy! He's different. Jury's still out on whether I like him or not but he did save me from that creep. He's off to a strong start. Still, I can't give him too much credit, can I? In the Empire, that would have been the bare minimum - and to be fair, that's also true for the Jedi. They always help the people who are in obvious need of it. ----- Fine, I can give him all the credit I want! It felt good to have someone watch my back. I felt safe.

Anyway! He reminds me a bit of the strong silent types you usually only see in those cheesy Chandrillan flicks. Sweeps in, saves the girl and goes "I'll ask nicely once, then I won't" all tough and strong - he's a bit of a badass, isn't he? I half-expected him to blow our cover immediately so yeah, yeah.. this is good.

[...]

Spoiler: Outfit

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

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

Ace didn't respond to Verse, he merely observed her as her eyes frantically scanned the area. Understandable after what happened. He waited for her to regain her composure, still silent. Strangely, the woman seemed seasoned in some ways and others? Not so much. Like this for instance, her visible lingering distress indicated to him she hadn't seen much live combat.

She finally steeled herself, he was unsure whether it was real or not, but it didn't seem to matter. She took a step toward him, commenting on his appearance and immediately he felt self-conscious. Ace didn't show his discomfort, but he felt so unlike himself in this outfit and the fact it had been pointed out, even positively, reminded him of such. His dark eyes glanced down at her arm, and with a resigned sigh, he took her arm - linking his around hers.

Ace had only ever infiltrated somewhere off-limits once. Several months back and out of his own self interest, but this was different. The stakes were higher, and the outcome didn't just effect himself. The rebel listened attentively as Verse explained the plan, trusting she knew better than he did on a mission like this.

"'Awkwardness is our friend'? What does that even mean?" his tone was dry with an undercurrent of confusion.

He eyed the Gamorrean guards and the Twi'lek as they stood at the entrance. Big, broad, and bored, the Gamorreans were muscle for show, not speed. They were planted like statues, but the way their grips tightened on their axes whenever someone lingered too long told him they weren't just window dressing. The Twi'lek was a different story. Every glance, every little head tilt was calculated, like he was filing mental notes on each guest. The kind of guy who didn't just remember faces.

Ace filed it all away. The Gamorreans could be sidestepped with a confident walk and the right body language. The Twi'lek? He'd have to play it just right. Talk too much, you give him a thread to pull. Talk too little, you stick out. Ace guided Verse past the poor patron who had just been thrown out, still flat on his back.

The Twi'lek's sharp eyes flicked over them as they approached, taking in the cut of Ace's blazer, the way Verse's arm rested against his.

"Evening." the Twi'lek drawled, voice smooth but edged. "Name?"

Ace gave him a faint smile, polite but unassuming. "You won't find it on the list." he said "We're here by invitation."

One of the Gamorreans grunted, shifting his weight. The Twi'lek's gaze lingered a second longer than necessary, like he was deciding whether to push.

"Enjoy the evening." the Twi'lek finally said, stepping aside.

Ace's smile didn't change, but his eyes stayed locked on the Twi'lek until they were past the threshold. Out of the frying pan and into the fire now. Once they were inside, Ace unlinked his arm from Verse's and stuffed his hands in his pants' pockets. The inside was nice, as nice as Nar Shaddaa could muster. Live music, dancers, food - despite the pleasantries, he could still see the filth beneath it all.

Not one to waste time, he immediately began scanning for the staff entrance toward the east wing.

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan​

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

She tilted her head to the side for a little while as she considered how to best answer his question. Eventually, she let out a long "Well" and leaned away from him to get a more comfortable angle when letting their eyes meet. Verse elaborated "So, this isn't really foolproof - you'll always have to adapt a little to the person you're dealing with - but generally, people wanna avoid awkward situations. It's like when your best friend is getting a stern talking-to by his mother, or if you see some guy squabbling about his father-in-law with his wife - or even if someone is consoling their friend who's pet just passed away. Most people would choose to give them some space." Her blue eyes lingered on his as she studied his features, trying to discern if he got the point or not.

With a slight tug on his arm, she ushered him to move whilst leaning in against his shoulder "We'll be fine. I've snuck into more than a few parties I shouldn't have been at."

Ace would feel Verse take a breath as if preparing to say or do something when the Twi'lek asked for their names. The breath then left her as he took the lead. She looked up to him with a bright smile and starry eyes whilst waiting for the Twi'lek who considered his next course of action. Fortunately, his decision landed on letting them in.

Once inside, the two rebels unlinked their arms. Verse was quick to grab two drinks off of the plate of a servant and handed one of them to her companion. Raising the glass in a little toast, she let out a low "Nicely done. I'm starting to wonder why they sent me with you" She took a sip of champagne and allowed her gaze to travel across the room.

While the Agent would likely know of a large portion of the attending guests, Verse most certainly did not. Still, she managed to convey some pieces of information regardless.

• With a nod to a woman in a deep purple dress by a nearby table, she said "That lady looks important. But look at those nails. I'd wager she's a corporate type." Verse was right, of course, for Ines knew that this was Lorka Dugas, the owner of one of Hutta's largest chemical plants.
• She then tipped her glass to a troupe of five younger Trandoshans "I think those guys know how to have a good time. Do you see that? They have budget suits and old blasters - but those blasters are clean. I bet we'd all become very close friends if we treated them to a few drinks at the bar." In truth, the Agent had worked with this band of mercenaries before and was rather well aware, both of their poor financial situation and of their friendly disposition.
• Finally, she moved to face him directly before putting a hand on his shoulder to slightly adjust where he was looking. "Do you see that red Togruta behind me? The one way back in the corner? Don't make it too obvious that you're looking at him. I've seen his sort before - those bumps in his robes are probably all sorts of nasty, blasters, thermal detonators, toxins, everything. I'd stay away from him." Most people who knew of him would - for this man was Bor Tii Yar, an infamous bounty hunter from Cademimu.

"Have you seen anyone who looks int-..." her sentence was cut short as she spotted someone approaching. It was not a great achievement - for the person who was slithering their way towards the couple was none other than the host, Gorbaar the Hutt. Verse quickly lined up next to her companion.

Eventually, a larger-than-life voice beamed out of the massive alien who spoke in Hutteese "Ooh-ho-ho-ho-hoo, what have we here? Newcomers! Few guests are as exciting as those I have never met and never heard of. Hoooh, those sort of guests are rare - very rare indeed."

Verse chuckled. It seemed as if she was fighting some nervousness but she kept up appearances adequately enough to be convincing. In a heavily accented Hutteese, she responded "You are too generous, great Gorbaar the Hutt. We are but humble merchants making a name for ourselves running goods from here, all the way to the core worlds."

The Hutt considered her words for a few long moments until he let out a low grumble "Interesting. Maybe we will work together in the future. I pay reliable merchants handsomely." The Hutt kept grumbling - which soon seemed like something they did when thinking. Two big eyes soon turned to Ace as a slimy hand shot out to his shoulder. Unless dodged, the alien would then try to yank the young man closer. "And who might this be?" The large yellow eyes stared down at the Jedi. Many in Ace's position would get the feeling that the Hutt could see right through them - there were lingering speculations that Gorbaar the Hutt was Force sensitive. "There is something peculiar about you."

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

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

The young rebel politely accepted the drink from Verse, but had no plans to drink. Still, he'd hang on to it to play the part at least. Ace's eyes met hers after she had praised him for getting them inside with no issues and he offered her a faint smirk.

"Night's still young."

He quickly followed her gaze as she observed the area, Ace made a mental note of all the individuals she had pointed out - the woman in the purple dress, the five young Trandoshans, and finally the Togruta, Bor Tii Yar. Ace actually knew this one, having encountered him a while back when he still had the bounty on his head. He turned his head away, careful not to allow the bounty hunter to spot him - otherwise that'd be the whole operation out of the window.

"Yeah, I know that last one." he didn't elaborate, but his tone made it clear that it wasn't for positive reasons.

When he felt Verse line up next to him, he glanced at her and noticed a glimmer of worry in her blue eyes. Ace's attention turned to whatever she was looking at, turned out it was none other than Gorbaar the Hutt himself. Great. He had no idea how to speak Huttese, he looked at Verse side long, quietly hoping she'd know at least.

Thankfully, she did. Gorbaar greeted the pair, that much he could tell, and it didn't take him being Force-sensitive to know that the Hutt's pleasantries were artificial. As the two conversed, Ace's dark eyes flicked between the pair as he attempted to gauge what was happening. During the exchange, Ace felt a slight ripple through the Force whenever he looked at the Hutt. Could he be... Force-sensitive? If Gorbaar was trained, or even aware of it - this could be another problem.

Then the Hutt's eyes turned to him, big, yellow and droopy. Quickly, he plastered an insincere smile as Gorbaar placed his hand on his shoulder - although, he resisted being pulled in. Still unsure of what the Hutt had said to him, he glanced at Verse who quickly picked up on what his eyes were saying. The blue-eyed woman hastily translated for him, and Ace's gaze returned to Gorbaar.

"My name's Vayun." he answered, using his birth name to introduce himself. Then he produced a fake laugh "Peculiar? It's the white hair, isn't it? I get it all the time. I'm half-Dathomiri."

Gorbaar seemed to understand Basic too as he immediately responded before Verse could even translate. A rumbling laugh shook his massive frame.

<"White hair? Bah. Peculiarity is not in the hair. It is in the air around you.">

The slimy hand tightened on Ace's shoulder, a weight that felt heavier than it should have been.

<"Half-Dathomiri, half-Core, half-whatever…"> Gorbaar's wide mouth split into a grin. <"You smell of danger. Danger, or promise. Which is it?">

The laughter that followed echoed over the music and chatter, but it wasn't the kind that warmed a room. Ace thought back to Verse's 'awkwardness is our friend' but couldn't for the life of him figure out how to do that without coming off as suspicious. His dark eyes calmly met hers, although she would be able to read they were asking her to give him an out.

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan​

​

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

[...]

What could his upbringing have been like, though? He's got a lil' bit of edge to him with the threat - I get why he isn't part of the Jedi Order. He also knew Bor Tii Yar (I managed to hide my amusement at the time, raised a curious brow at him instead) but this has to mean that he's had a bounty on his head. Or maybe he still does? I'll have to look this one up. And then(!!) he doesn't speak Hutteese.

Oh, right, he said he's half-Dathomiri(!!), half-Core. I don't know how much of it was true but he didn't show any obvious signs of lying.

I doubt he grew up rich. He's far too uncomfortable in a suit for that. Most people with Mr. Yar on their tail speak Huttese - but he doesn't. And if the Dathomiri part is true... He's a man.. poor guy, his upbringing can't have been a good one, can it? But here he is, just as capable as he is witty. It's kinda inspiring.

Come to think of it, we aren't too different, him and I. I know what it's like, toughing it out on the streets and living hand-to-mouth for a while. The Empire saved me from that life - I wonder what it was that saved Ace?

[...]

Verse had followed the brief exchange between the Hutt and her companion with a bright expression and translated for him with an expressive voice, trying to convey not only the words, but also the tone. When he searched for eye contact with her, he would initially be met with a warm gaze. Without missing a beat, her brows fell just a little whilst a subtle smirk formed across her features. With but a few subtle changes, the Agent wiped away the sweet smiles and warm eyes - in their place came a cunning gaze. It would be obvious for him to see that she was putting on a mask.

Her head turned to the Hutt. Like an ice queen, she stepped in between them to place herself directly where Gorbaar was looking. Once more she spoke in Hutteese. Her words, while smooth as silk, carried a conniving undertone "Oh, great Gorbaar the Hutt, you are very perceptive. This man is the greatest freighter pilot I have ever seen. He is Dathomiri." she eyed the Hutt as if he should know what the origin implied. "This is what access to the core worlds smells like."

She had not leaned on awkwardness at all. Instead, she had leaned on what was far more important to any Hutt: Profit. A cold smirk to match hers grew on the slug's wide lips. His hand slithered away from Ace's shoulder and slowly reached up towards Verse. With a firm grip, he pinched her face by the cheeks "And you believe you have what it takes to keep him in check?" Sharp eyes studied the girl who couldn't do more than nod at him.

A few more moments passed as the Slug tried to see - or possibly sense - if she was lying. Finally, Gorbaar let go of her, causing her to stumble back at Ace. Verse went with the flow and twisted her torso a little to make herself easy for him to catch. Once she found herself in his arms, she would look up to him. Despite playing the role of a scheming ice princess, Ace would likely be able to see an ounce of warmth and fondness in her gaze. While the Agent Pen-Ar-Lan may have been able to fully blend into a role, Verse was not.

The Hutt chuckled with a distant sense of amusement before producing a lazy bow of the head. "It has been a pleasure making your acquaintance. My lieutenant will call you tomorrow. I look forward to following your progress." His words, now spoken in basic, carried conniving undertone. His eyes ventured to Ace as a smirk formed on his lips. It was as if a hunter was eyeing their prey.

Verse remained in Ace's arms as the Hutt slithered away. Once he was at a safe distance, she stood up straight and allowed the mask to melt away. In its place came an brewing sense of excitement "We make a good team. He thinks he's got a prodigal force sensitive smuggler at his disposal. Well played." She paused for a few moments to temper herself.

Leaning over, she whispered "When it comes to Hutts, always play to their greed." she offered a wink before starting to move towards the far end of the chamber. Borrowing a tissue from the staff, she poured a smidge of water onto it and cleaned her face before taking a big sip of champagne. They were slowly but surely making their way toward the staff entrance on the eastern wing.

"Vayun, huh? It suits you. Got any thoughts for who I may be? And more importantly, how to get past him?" she nodded her head toward the Togruta bounty hunter. Whether he was here on a job or not was unclear - but he sat in the corner of the large feast hall and would likely be in a good position to spot them if they were to just walk in.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

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

Verse stepping in had saved both of their hides. She had masterfully masked her previous warm and cheerful exterior, replacing it with something more cunning. The ease in which she was able to do this worried him slightly, made him wonder which version of her was real. Maybe neither.

He didn't know what either of the pair was saying, but it must have worked as Gorbaar had removed his hand from Ace's shoulder. Only to then grip Verse's cheeks with the same, grotesque hand. Ace's jaw tightened slightly, he recognized the power play he'd enacted on him and now Verse. It took everything in him not to do something - but he remained composed. Begrudgingly.

When he finally let her go, the force of his arm caused the woman to stumble toward Ace. Whether it was part of the show or not, he'd play along and reached out to catch her. One arm slipped around her waist while his other hand steadied her shoulder. To anyone watching, it would look effortless, natural, even intimate. It was all part of the act. But up close, his grip was tighter than it appeared, controlled, careful. Her eyes met his, a flicker of warmth bleeding through the mask she'd been wearing. Ace still wasn't sure what was real with her.

Ace's eyebrow rose when the Hutt began to speak Basic. Was this another power play? Regardless, Ace kept up appearances and plastered another fake smile at Gorbaar just before he slithered away.

Once the coast was clear and the pair separated, Ace's hands found his pockets again. He kept an eye out for Bor Tii Yar as Verse reflected on what had just transpired. Shrugging, he finally glanced at her.

"That was all you. You dragged me out of the fire with that one..." he paused, averting his gaze "...So, thanks."

He didn't respond to her tip about Hutts. Not with the intention of being rude, but Ace was certain that it was the galaxy's worst kept secret that Hutts loved financial gain. Probably more than anything else. Ace fell in line with Verse as they made their way toward the east wing, noticing she'd wiped the side of her face that Gorbaar had touched. He didn't blame her.

Verse had commented on the name Vayun, he assumed she believed it to be nothing but a cover name. Ace elected to keep it that way for now. He cast her a side long glance again, scanning her features deliberately, taking her question seriously.

"Not sure. You don't really look like a Verse though." his eyes narrowed on her face a little more "Maybe a Maya... or a Mia. Maybe"

Then his attention fell back on to Bor Tii Yar. Verse was right, the bounty hunter was going to be a problem. Their only saving grace was the fact that Tessk was dead, and the bounty on him was no longer cashable. Still, it was better safe than sorry. Ace looked at Verse again, leaning in slightly and voice low.

"I think I can distract him. Long enough for us to get through."

As they neared the eastern wing, and Bor Tii Yar's corner. He let his breath steady, hand tightening just slightly at his side. A serving tray wobbled in a waiter's grip as he passed, and with the smallest nudge through the Force, a single glass tipped. It hit the floor with a quiet chime, barely enough to raise more than a handful of glances. But it was enough. Bor Tii Yar's head turned, his focus drawn toward the spill and the curses of the flustered servant.

"Now." Ace murmured under his breath, guiding Verse forward.

They slipped through the flow of guests as if nothing had happened, weaving past silks and sequins until the music dulled and the air grew colder. The din of the feast faded behind them. By the time the bounty hunter looked back toward the crowd, they were already gone, stepping into the shadows of the eastern wing.

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan​

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

Her head shook. "You would've been fine." Kind eyes met his as she offered a gentle smile before mentioning that the Hutts were motivated by profit..

When he mentioned that she looked like a Maya or Mia, Verse allowed an amused smirk to form across her lips. "Really?" she said, amusement clear in her voice. As if trying to pick out the best vegetable at a street vendor, she played with the names "Mia? Maya? Mmm, Maya. I like it." she offered a bright smile upon landing at a good cover name "Okay Vayun, today, I'll be Maya, Ice Princess supreme"

For the next part, the girl played along expertly. She stayed close to the Force Adept and moved in closer to block lines of sight to his hand as soon as she noticed that he was pulling off a Force trick. When he let out a low 'Now', she was quick to move with him. Their entry into the staff corridor was smooth. She had been able to match his every step without any slip-ups - for a few brief moments, the two rebels had moved as one.

Once inside, her eyes scanned their surroundings. Soon, she pointed her finger straight down the corridor and started moving. Her steps were light and silent, but instead of moving with the focused determination of an agent, Verse crept like a kid sneaking into their parents’ house after staying out too late. Still, it seemed as if she was actively trying to move just a little bit ahead of her companion. Not for any operational purposes - but rather to give herself some space to reflect over what had happened without having to look at him.

Soon, however, the girl raised a hand, signalling for him to stop. "Someone's coming" she whispered as she tugged at his arm to move back in the direction they came from. After a few paces, she took a turn and entered one of the rooms they had just passed by. It was a room-sized freezer with a heavy door. It was filled to the brim with desserts, berries and even a few ceramic sauce-pots. The girl's arms immediately rose in a self-embrace. She shuddered as she walked deeper into the room in search of anything unexpected.

Agent Pen-Ar-Lan was a professional. While it might have been on her mind, she would never have done what Verse was about to do now. She finally turned around to face Ace. To claim that she was distraught would have been an overstatement - but she was clearly and visibly affected by something. Her blue eyes bore straight into him as if she was trying to find the good in a person who had just done something very bad.

"What were you thinking? Vayun- Ace, why did you mess with that servant?" She was caring, compassionate, and most definitely condemning his actions. "In a place like this, you'll encounter some of the wealthiest people in the galaxy. You'll also encounter some of the poorest people in the galaxy. You know the Evocii servants? I don't even know if they get paid. Maybe their village elder signed some stupid contract messed them over. Maybe they signed the stupid contract themselves. They aren't known for being bright, y'know. And the other waiting staff? Do you think that they make enough credits in a year to pay for the glass you had her drop? Not to mention the champagne inside of it." This was not a squabble between two rebel infiltrators - the passion she spoke with indicated that this was something she cared about.

Verse tore her eyes from him and cupped her hands in front of her mouth. She let out a breath to provide herself with a bit of warmth "I've been where that servant is. It wasn't as bad as it is here, but let me tell ya - it sucks when your boss wants you to pay for the porcelain you destroyed or the food you dropped." Verse shuddered, moreso from the cold than anything else, her eyes avoided him as she looked to the door: It was not safe to leave just yet.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

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

They were in the clear now, Ace was impressed at Verse's adaptability - stepping in to block any unwanted attention as he did his thing. As they carefully made their way down the corridor however, Ace noticed Verse had deliberately moved ahead of him. She was uncharacteristically quiet... or maybe this is how she was really.

Then he sensed something, tugging slightly at the edge of his senses. Before he could decipher the feeling, Verse had spelled out what it was. Someone was coming. He felt her grab at his arm, herding him back in the direction they'd come from. Without protest, he followed her and then turned into the same freezer she'd entered.

He didn't embrace himself as Verse did, but he was visibly cold. His jaw chattered and his body calmly shook - then he saw it, her eyes. Gone was the usual warmth and kindness, it had been replaced with a stare as ice cold as the room they were in. Confused, the white-haired rebel raised an eyebrow at her. It didn't take long for the woman to make her issues known.

She had asked him why he'd 'messed' with the servant. Then followed her question with a long tangent on the hardship of the Evocii servents and the other waiting staff, how awful their lives must have been to be working under Gorbaar the Hutt. His eyes lingered on her as she gave her passionate scolding, or whatever this was, even when she'd taken her eyes off of him.

Finally, in that moment, he'd seen something real about her. Ace knew it deep down that this wasn't some act. There was no strategic reason or value to get this worked up over something so small, or to feign a story about having been a servent herself. In response to her rawness, Ace's eyes glanced away before quickly falling back on her, he inhaled deeply and quietly exhaled.

"I prioritized the mission and couldn't think of any other solution to the problem." Ace placed his hands in his pockets again, trying to control his shuddering "I tried to go with the least devastating option."

He looked away, contemplating, jaw tight. Ace saw the merit in Verse's frustration, of course he did, but in the environment he grew up in? It was dog eat dog, adapt or die. He had power now, power to make a difference - but habits like that? Instincts? They're ingrained into your very DNA, and it isn't something that's so easily rid of.

"If Bor had made us. Me? Who knows what would have happened." his tone was devoid of its usual dryness, replaced with sternness.

Ace looked toward the freezer's exit door, listening for any outside noise. Silence. Good, he turned back to Verse and grabbed her arm without saying anything. His determined expression alone would remind her that they had a job to do.

The corridor outside was still empty, the muffled hum of music and laughter faint in the distance. They moved quickly. The eastern wing wasn't meant for guests. The decor grew plainer the deeper they went. It was quieter too, the kind of silence that pressed in on the ears.

As they turned a corner, Ace felt it first... that subtle ripple in the Force, a vibration in the stillness. He slowed, raising a hand for Verse to halt. Ahead, a door was cracked open just enough for light to spill into the corridor. Voices carried low, clipped and official. He moved closer, careful with each step, and glanced inside.

Imperial uniforms. A pair of officers stood at a comms terminal, its holo-display alive with shifting codes and sigils. Ace's jaw tightened as he caught the tail end of their exchange: coordinates, ship manifests. This wasn't just a feast... Gorbaar was running shipments for the Empire.

Ace drew back before they were noticed, his pulse steady but his thoughts sharp. This wasn't what they'd come for, but it was something. Something big. He looked to Verse, expression caught between grim and calculating.

"Intel like this could change everything." he murmured. "Question is… do we stick to the plan, or take it?"

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan ​

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

A shivering jaw framed the Agent's blue eyes as she looked up to him intently. As soon as he mentioned having gone with the least devastating option, he was met with a skeptical squint. Without a word, she conveyed a clear 'Oh really?' but Ace kept talking - what if they have been found? While it was possible that Ines might have had a rebuke, Verse did not.

Instead, it would seem like his stern tone had an effect. A little bit of hope seemed to leave her as she shook her head and let out a low "I don't know." She hugged herself tightly as she turned away from him "Maybe you're right. I just felt so bad for her, y'know? She's been dealt a rough hand working here, and then we come along and make things even harder." Her voice was small - clearly she had no interest in being treated sternly.

[...]

I was so mad at him. And this time, Verse not only backed me up, she enabled me to express it. Having a thought and then just saying it out loud for a change felt so good. I kinda liked his response too, but just kinda. He didn't respond much to my-.. Verse's emotion - he just explained that the end justifies the means. He would have been a good Imperial, maybe even better than me. It's a shame that he's fighting for the wrong side.

I'm worried for him though. That glimmer in his eyes? The warmth. It's all buried underneath all of these tough-guy layers. I think he'd be a much happier person if he just started letting people in - or letting himself out, perhaps.

Ahhhhhhhhhh maybe it's just me. I dunno. I shouldn't care about him anyways. I should be focused on the mission. But my mind keeps dragging me back to-


Had to step away for a moment. I'm back now. Anyway, the mission: We found an interesting Imperial connection. It would obviously have to go into the mission report afterwards so at this point, it was just a bit of damage control. Maybe I should've done more? I didn't even consider taking him out until after the fact. Everything is fine, going with the flow was the right call, but I should've at least considered it.

[...]

Verse fell in line quickly once it was safe to leave the freezer. She did not seem to have any issues with him grabbing her arm and simply moved together with him as they pushed deeper into the palace. Eventually, they stumbled upon the Imperials who had not closed the door properly, thus allowing themselves to be spotted by the Rebel and the Spy.

Verse produced a holorecorder from her purse and activated it to capture a few images of what they saw. Neither of them would linger by the door for long however - one glance in the wrong direction would expose them immediately. Instead they moved back to decide on their next course of action. A mischievous smirk grew on her lips as he suggested that they take a detour to grab the potential treasure trove of intelligence that might be in the console the Imperials worked at. "I like the way you think"

The girl produced a hold-out blaster from her purse. It had already been set to stun mode - it always was. Verse was ready to move - but before she did, she paused and whispered "How sure are you that you can do this on your own? Getting caught is not an option here - and if we make too much noise, we might have to cancel the mission." While she appeared to be ready and eager to move against the Imperials, the risks she highlighted were significant. Ultimately, a lot of it would depend on Ace's answer.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

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

The corridor was quiet again, but Ace's focus lingered on the door ahead. The blue glow of the console flickered against the walls, Imperial voices still low and clipped. Verse had seen it too, her expression already calculating risk.

Ace's gaze stayed fixed on the light spilling out from the crack. Every part of him said walk away and finish the mission, get out clean. That would've been the smart call months ago. But now? After everything he'd been through, after everything he'd become? His jaw set, shoulders rolling back as he looked to Verse.

"That console." he murmured, tone low but edged with certainty. "Whatever's on it… ship manifests, supply routes, codes. It's worth more than what we came for."

He knew the danger, of course he did. But he also knew himself. He wasn't the scared kid ducking corners anymore. He was faster, sharper, stronger. Trained. And the Force hummed steady at his back. If anyone could pull this off without leaving a trace, it was him. Ace slid his hands into his pockets, forcing a calm posture that didn't match the adrenaline thrumming under his skin. He leaned slightly closer to Verse, eyes locked on hers.

"I can do this. Quiet, fast, no alarms." His voice didn't rise, but the conviction in it was unmistakable. Then, with a faint smirk tugging at his lip, he added "We take it. Walk away with more than we came for."

Ace moved before Verse could even argue. The first officer didn't even look up before Ace's arm clamped around his throat, dragging him back into the dark. A sharp twist, a muffled struggle, then a blue stun ring from the DL-27 dropped him limp onto the floor. The other officer spun at the sound, eyes wide, hand slamming down on the console. The terminal wailed alive with a shrill pulse before Ace could cross the room. He raised his blaster, fired, and the second man collapsed in a heap beside the first. The damage was done.

Ace holstered the weapon, jaw tightening, gaze locked on the flashing console.

"Shit." he muttered, glancing at Verse with a curt nod. "We've still got a shot. Pull everything you can before they trace it."

The faint sound of boots was already beginning to echo somewhere deeper in the wing. Ace was adept at slicing, but he was certain Verse was faster and more efficient than he could be. He stepped toward the doorway and ignited his lightsaber.

He preferred fighting anyway.

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan​

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

When Ace set his mind on something, things sure moved fast. Verse's brows rose upon hearing her partner's words about how the data they had just stumbled across was worth more than their current goal. There was no hiding that the young Rebel disapproved of his words - much like back in the freezer when she had disapproved of his actions. There was no time to voice her concerns, however, for Ace pushed on.

The initial, less than positive reaction, soon faded as he formulated his plan - obviously, she did not seem to keep a grudge for long. The mischievous smile returned as she offered an impressed nod upon hearing his claim. Most Imperial officers on these types of assignments had undergone more than just basic training. They were proper combatants and Ace was confident that he could handle them.

And just like that, he begun. Verse sprung to action immediately. While he dealt with the first guard, she pushed forth with her blaster at the ready. While they would ideally not need to make any noise at all, one could never be too sure. And just like that, a blaster went off. The girl quickly turned to see that it was indeed Ace who had taken out one of the officer. Without missing a beat, she turned and pointed her blaster at the other officer. Bare moments before she could pull the trigger, another blaster went off. Her trigger finger relaxed and her shoulders fell as a relieved breath left her.

With hurried steps, she then proceeded toward the computer console. Her fingers started dancing across the keyboard as she went to work, steadily making her way through its security systems. "Maybe I should've brought computer spikes rather than a blaster. You seem to have that stuff covered. You made taking those two officers down look easy. Did you fight them on Coruscant?"

As he answered, she would let out a low "Starting the download now" before going silent to let him continue. In the meantime, she would access the security cameras. Her eyes went wide.

"We've got a lot of movement. Two of them are about to come from the opposite side of where we came from. One is older, but he looks fit. Both carry rifles." her voice was tense. A group of goons seemed to be moving past the freezer they had been at a little earlier. "Not so fast" she mumbled whilst shutting and locking a door in their path. She then proceeded to activate another alarm at a weakpoint she had studied before the mission. While their foes might suspect something fishy, they would have little choice but to check it out.

"I might be able to daze them for half a second, just give me a signal." she kept working the console, trying to stay in control of the system whilst also accessing the security functions.

This time, the two foes would be members of Gorbaar's cartel, rather than trained Imperial officers. In a fair fight, the officers might have had the upper hand, but these goons carried automatic weapons which made it hard to rely solely on them missing their first shot. And in this instance, they were ready for action. If given a signal, Verse would push a vent far above capacity and flood it with pressurised air and smoke. Enough to temporarily make it hard for their foes to see, hear, feel or even smell what was going on around them. It was nothing permanent, however. The attack was brief and immediate.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

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

Ace didn't flinch under the question. His eyes stayed on the doorway, lightsaber humming low in his grip, jaw tight.

"I wasn't on Coruscant when the Empire hit." his tone was flat, not defensive, but there was a current of something sharper beneath "Wouldn't have made a difference if I was."

He didn't linger. The sound of boots thudded closer in the hall, rifles clattering against armor. Cartel muscle - loud, sloppy, but heavy. Verse's warning sharpened his focus. Ace shifted his stance, blade angled low, its blue glow painting the walls. His gaze flicked to Verse, catching the tension in her posture as her hands kept flying over the console. Then he gave the smallest signal, a sharp nod, two fingers raised.

Once Verse had flooded the vent pressurized smoke and air, he moved. The first cartel goon rounded the corner and snapped his rifle up. Ace surged forward before the barrel leveled, his blade flashing upward in a tight arc. Blue light cut through metal and flesh, the man's weapon clattered uselessly to the ground along with half his arm. He went down screaming, clutching the stump.

The second opened fire immediately, muzzle roaring in the confined corridor. Ace twisted hard, the shots chewing into the durasteel wall where he'd stood. His footwork stumbled for a half-beat, but he forced the momentum into a roll and came up inside the man's guard. One brutal horizontal slash, the rifle split in two, and so did the man's leg at the knee. He collapsed with a howl, weapon sparks guttering on the deck beside him.

Both were still alive, but no longer a threat. Ace's jaw tightened, lightsaber humming steady in his grip. Better them crippled than Verse shot dead. Ace casually made his way over to each one, sending his boot into their teeth to put them out.

"How's the download looking?" he asked, glancing over to his ally.

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan​

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

For a while, both of them were operating at full capacity. Ace was locked in a tough battle with two guards, while Verse struggled to maintain control over the Palace systems. The system was trying to push her out which drew a good portion of her attention. Meanwhile, she was also trying to slow enemy reinforcements down. Doors would close at inopportune moments, either blocking path entirely, or splitting groups apart. Some rooms would be flooded with super-heated gas redirected from the hover-engines. She was working on many ways to harass their enemies until she finally let out a victorious "Done!"

She looked over at Ace with a happy smile whilst unplugging her datapad from the console. The smile wouldn't last for long, however. Her expression twisted. Absolute horror flooded her eyes as she let out a high-pitched scream. Beneath her protector lay a man whose face had been stomped in. Limbs littered the floor. Her hands quickly shot up to cover her mouth - they didn’t need to draw more attention. For a few long, agonizing seconds, her eyes stayed fixed on the carnage before slowly drifting up to him.

You are a monster

She expressed it without uttering a word. This time, it was not judgement or condemnation that she showed. It was fear and horror.Her legs barely held her up as she stumbled backward - away from him - only stopping when she hit the wall. Her eyes shimmered - on the verge of shedding tears. Her breaths were heavy and her gaze soon fell back down onto the dismembered guards.

The duo needed to move. Each moment that went by increased the risk of their foes cooling a heated room or hacking the lock of a shut door. But Verse appeared to be in no state to go anywhere.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

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

He saw the shock in her eyes, the fear and horror - before she'd even screamed. Thankfully, she covered her mouth before she could really draw any attention. Ace couldn't just see it all over her, he felt it too.

The Force pressed her fear into his chest like ice water. Horror, revulsion, the way her heart spiked when she looked at him, all of it ran through him as clearly as if it were his own. For a second, the hum of the lightsaber and the ringing in his ears faded, leaving only that weight. She was afraid of him, and ome part of him wondered if she was right to be.

Images cracked through his mind uninvited. Tessk falling, the life he'd cut short with his own blade. The shadow of his father, a name and a legacy he swore he wouldn't become, but one that clung to him all the same. Was this what it felt like? The slope everyone whispered about? Step by step until you looked back and couldn't see where it started?

His grip tightened on the hilt. His jaw clenched. For a moment, he stood on that edge and then he forced himself back. This was war. Survival. And you did what you could if it meant you and the people you needed to protect were safe. If Verse couldn't handle that simple fact, then she didn't belong here.

"They're breathing." his voice was low, hard, as if he needed to convince himself as much as Verse. "If I wanted them dead, they'd be dead."

The lightsaber hissed shut, and he clipped it back to his belt, refusing to let his hand tremble. He turned just enough to meet her eyes, even if she wouldn't meet his.

"I don't like this any more than you do. But if it's them or us?" he shook his head once, sharp. "I'm not giving the Empire or Gorbaar's men, the satisfaction of seeing you in a body bag."

The boots and shouts were getting closer again. Ace straightened, shoving the weight of his spiral down where it couldn't show. He forced the smirk back onto his lips, a mask he'd grown too good at wearing.

"Come on. We've got what we came for. Time to move."

Ace didn't wait for her answer. The weight in her eyes pressed too hard, so he turned and let motion carry him. The corridor outside was chaos, boots pounding, shouts in Basic and Huttese cutting through the smoke. Through the Force he felt them closing in from both sides. Too many, and then cold reality hit: even if they broke out, the scientist was lost. The thought twisted, but he shoved it down. Not now. Verse needed him moving.

Shadows cut through the haze ahead. Ace fired a stun bolt into the first man's chest and was already moving, lightsaber flashing to carve through another rifle. He didn't pause to watch them fall, just pushed forward with relentless momentum, clearing a path that Verse would have to follow. Hesitate, and they were done.

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan​

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

Her eyes were still fixed at a point, somewhere vaguely behind him. His words seemed to fly right by her as he explained his actions. The Agent was still trying to regain some sense of composure. It was a struggle - but a struggle she seemed to be winning. Footsteps were coming closer, distant doors were being breached and clear instructions managed to cut through the noise. Come on - assets gained - move out.

Verse blinked a few times as her companion moved out. She now seemed to be back fully. Her eyes darted around the room before she sprung to action. With quick - but still somewhat uncertain - steps, she approached one of the knocked out Imperials to grab a grenade and a stimulant from his utility belt. Once the stim was in her bag, she hurried to get back to Ace with her hold-out blaster in one hand and the Imperial frag grenade in the other.

When she fully caught up, his saber just cut through the rifle of another cartel enforcer. A - perhaps surprisingly - accurate stun bolt launched to bring the disarmed man down. She kept jogging until she was just a few decimeters away from her protector. She fired her blaster, seemingly prioritising those close to him first. A keen observer might have noted how it almost appeared that she was just as interested in neutralising threats as she was in saving them from the menace heading their way.

A door swooshed up far down the corridor, in the opposite direction they were moving towards. A band of four Hutt Enforcers immediately raised their blasters and fired off a volley. Ines, however, had acted as soon as she heard the door open. With a long step to the side, and a hand pushing against Ace's side, she had tried to bring them out of harm's way - and into what looked like a two-meter-long indent in the corridor wall. Under normal circumstances, it would have been where carts would meet to pass each other by when traversing the narrow corridor.

"They wanna pin us down." she said before peeking out of cover to fire two bolts down the corridor. If nothing else, the threat of returning fire would keep them from pushing too fast. "According to the schematics, there should be a shuttle bay nearby. If we can get there, we can also get out. But the scientist..." she trailed off to fire another volley at the enemy. This time, her hair fluttered as an enemy bolt wooshed by far too close for comfort. Verse immediately returned back into cover. Her chest rose and fell with every breath. "Close" she whispered, taking a tiny moment to recover.

"We'd have to get deep into the restricted area. But I doubt we could make it there. If they keep us pinned here, we won't even be able to make it to the shuttle bay, and it's much closer." She pushed on, words flowed out of her mouth at a rapid pace. They had no time to waste. Once more, her gaze scanned the area quickly but methodically until she finally looked up. She then spoke with a bit of resignation in her voice "If we're quick, we could try to take the vent and hope they don't fire a few bolts in there to be safe."

At this point, all options looked like bad options. If given a boostie, the girl would quickly break the hatch open and enter the vent before giving him a hand up. If Ace instead chose to fight, she would stay close and try to provide him with as much covering fire as possible.

[...]

"They're still breathing. If I wanted them dead, they'd be dead"

"I don't like it any more than you do. But if it's them or us, I choose us. I'm not giving the Empire or Gorbaar the satisfaction of seeing you in a body bag"

I thought I'd have to scribble these down. He said them after he brutalised those guards early on. I couldn't get his words out of my mind. Still can't get them out, to be honest. They keep looping in my mind and I can't help but revisit that- pffff. I've seen worse. It's fine. I just didn't expect this coming from someone who's supposed to be on the "good side".

I must get back on track. His words! Since I couldn't get them out of my mind, they must've meant something, right? I'll probably have to think about this a few more loops until I can get a proper fix on his profile. But for now on Acier "Vayun" Moonbound:
1. He wants to avoid killing.
2. In most instances, he is direct and rational but,
3. when in danger, he displays an us-versus-them mentality,

3.1. when in such a state, he is brutal and in completely disregards proportionality,​

4. he has displayed impulsive tendencies with little regard to the consequences of his actions

4.1. this is curious, seeing as how his default modus is rational.​

There are two primary points of interest here:
First: 1. and 3.1. is a weird combination.
Second: There's a notable gap between his base-mode in 2. and 3.-4.

As for the second POI: Right now, I'm assuming that something makes 3. and 4. seem rational to him. It could be a number of reasons. He hasn't shown enough indicators of being sadistic. He fights with enough skill for it not to be pure desperation. Stress is a good candidate. I doubt it's anxiety that drives him, although he doesn't seem to be completely free from it. Background is a big one - I've read about how harsh social environments can lead to similar behaviours. I'll probably have to look into this further
The first POI: This one is tricky. Could be religious or moral. Some see life as sacred but has no regard for the rest. This could actually also be related to background. If not, this could be indicative of desperation or a lack of confidence which could warrant reevaluating the analysis above.

One more thing: Just like Heavenshield, he makes me feel safe. Like nothing can harm me. No thugs, no Imperials, noone. I think he'll go to extreme lengths to protect the people he choose to protect. And everyone else? Well, I'm glad I'm not a captive of Gorbaar the Hutt today. 'Cus that would suck.

[...]

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

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

Ace slid into the wall's recess with her, the blaster still warm in his off-hand. The crossfire lit the corridor in flashes, red bolts scorching past the lip of cover. Her push into his side had been sharp, almost urgent, but the grenade clenched in her hand told him she wasn't about to freeze again.

He hadn't missed how Verse had watched his six during that firefight. Ace would make sure to thank her for that later. The turmoil in Verse lingered beneath the surface of an ice cold focus, that was good. Meant she was able to place her attention on what really mattered, despite her feelings.

Verse had said about the vent, the shuttle bay, the scientist. It all tangled into noise under the thunder of blasterfire and loud callouts. He already knew the truth, but hearing it from her lips settled it cold: the scientist wasn't getting out. And it was on him... but the Imperial data. It could, no it was going to help the Hidden Path.

Ace's jaw locked as he leaned out, his lightsaber cleaving through an incoming bolt. The vent was narrow and exposed, but it was a way out. Survive at any and all costs, right?

"Then we take the vent." his voice was iron, low over the hum of plasma "Bay's suicide. We're not making it through that choke."

He dropped his blaster and lightsaber into where he had concealed them before entering the party, dropped low, and laced his fingers together as a step. He didn't say anything, just nodded for her to do what she needed to do.

Once she was up, he took her hand and hoisted himself up with the aid of the Force. The cramped crawl forced Ace to move with one arm and drag himself forward, his shoulders scraping - trusting Verse to lead them through. Through the Force, the pressure of their pursuers were firing up his neurons. They hadn't lost them, just bought a little bit of time.

As they navigated their way through, Ace figured this was a better time than any:

"Thanks for watching my back, and..." he trailed off before finding his words again "You're doing good. Keeping it together."

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan​

​

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Where the Roots Lie
Acier Moonbound ​

The vent it was. Verse gave him a nod and a small "Thank you" upon stepping onto his clasped hands. Once the hold-out blaster was back in her bag, it was only a matter of seconds before the lid popped open and she nimbly climbed up into the opening. It was most fortunate that Ace used the Force to boost himself up - for while she may have been able to pull him up, it would more than likely have been a hard, exhausting and slow task.

Once the two of them were in the vent, the Agent moved elegantly. She was not for a moment trying to hide that she had done this before. Aside from experience, she also had considerably less bulk to worry about than the Jedi. For some time, she would stop to look back at how he was progressing and bite her tongue when he made more noise than Imperial standards recommended. One of the times when she looked back to him, he offered a seemingly sincere thank you and a few words of encouragement.

There may have been hints of a serious frown marking her otherwise cheerful face as they crawled away for their lives - but those hints disappeared quickly once she heard his words. "If you are truly grateful, you can take off your shoes. It would probably make us both a little safer." she offered a playful smile - but not one to take away from the truth of what she had just said. "I should be the one thanking you though." her eyes lingered on him for a few long moments - her mouth moved as if she wanted to say something more before she shook her head and turned around to push on.

Eventually, they would find themselves over another corridor. Verse signaled to her companion to be extra silent. Footsteps could be heard underneath them as a patrol seemed to be walking by. One mentioned how they should just be filling the vents with holes but was quickly shut down - Gorbaar was not about to destroy his own ventilation system for the sake of two intruders. They kept up the chatter but it became increasingly hard to hear as they walked away.

When the patrol was at a safe distance, the girl turned "Did you hear that? I think they're going to execu-" she cut herself off as quick and determined steps were coming their way. One of the guards whom had walked by earlier was heading back whilst saying something about having forgotten to check one of the vents. The Agent hastily pushed on forward to position herself close to the hatch and produced her blaster. If he read her lips, she would mouth a clear 'MIND TRICK' - completely unaware of whether he was capable of pulling it off or not. If not, she was prepared to fire off a stun bolt at the guard and go loud: Once their foes knew where they were, staying in the vents would likely be the most dangerous option by far. Preferably, however, would be to avoid going loud in the first place.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Nar Shaddaa

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

Ace huffed through his nose, shaking his head at the mention of taking off his boots. They were well beyond that by this point. When she added that she should be the one thanking him, his brow furrowed, a faint crease of surprise flickering before he pushed on behind her.

The vents rattled under them as they crawled, and when the patrol passed below, Ace held his breath, tightening the muscles in his chest. He caught every word, the talk of filling the ducts with blasterfire, the careless mention of executions. He bit his cheeks.

Then he heard the sound of boots turning back. Ace felt the weight of the words hit him, about checking the vents. Verse was already at the hatch, blaster drawn, and when she turned to him, he caught the shape of her lips.

MIND TRICK.

Ace blinked, and a feeling close to embarrassment washed over him. His mouth pulled into a thin line because he didn't know how. Not the way she wanted. But if she fired, the whole place would know where they were. He shifted forward, hand brushing the vent wall, mind racing. His options were thin. He could drop down, take the guard quiet and fast, or… create something to draw him away.

Ace glanced down the shaft ahead, then back at her, eyes sharp. He raised two fingers, a silent signal: wait. He brushed his palm against the vent wall. The Force carried his push further down the corridor, into another hatch. Metal rattled, just loud enough to sound like something inside was moving.

The guard froze beneath their vent, rifle already half-raised. Then he turned toward the noise, muttering under his breath. His boots carried him off, quick and determined, following the sound. Their hatch was forgotten. Ace held his breath until the steps faded. Only then did he crawl forward again, shoulders brushing the metal, the faintest smirk tugging at his lip.

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan​