Star Wars: The Star Forge Sagas (Episode I: The Fall of the Sith)

[Lylith]

The ship never faltered during its descent through orbit, and into the atmosphere of Geonosis. It sliced its way through the hot air of Geonosis towards the area designated by the Republic Navy as "secure", despite the fighting raging down below...

The Acquiesce listed as it slowed down for its first and last landing on Geonosis, and the massive ship groaned as it hovered just above the surface of the planet, as the engines fought with gravity for dominance... She crawled to a soft and surprisingly even landing atop the cracked, and desolate landscape.

A long ramp hissed as it stretched out to make a 50 yard long exit for people, while at the same time, a large elevator like structure extended from the docking bay directly down to the ground... After the dust settled from the massive repulsorlifts, the blast doors opened, and people began to bustle around, descending the ramp as they took in their surroundings...

Far above could be seen the ships of the republics navy, hovering about in orbit as they defended the planetary forces from bombardment. Other ships could be seen landing or darting into orbit, as they transported troops and materials for the planetary occupation. Near the Acquiesce was one such landing zone... A "safe area" for civilians to group for extraction from the planet while troops moved in to secure more territory...

Lylith von Black, #ff4d4d

Lylith toyed with her spear as she waited for all non combatant passengers to depart and board republic transports. She watched through the viewports as similar ships to hers flew about, armed to the teeth, carrying troops... Ships whose sole purpose was conquest and domination. Like hers, they were large enough to carry their own fighters, and the crew to man them, as well as enough troops for a planetary strike team... The only thing she didn't have were the guns... Turrets... Ion cannons... Torpedoes... But that would all change soon...

"Arden!" she called out, knowing her trusted chief of security was always on the other end of the comm unit... "What's the status on those weapons?"

She paused, waiting for his response... And smiled when she heard his voice crackle on the other end... "Captain, we're rigging the cranes right now for installation, and the engineers are prepped for it. We're just waiting for the civvies to move out..."

She waited for him to finish, and as she watched she saw evidence of his report, as a crane neck stretched out over the dagger like edge of the ship... She nodded in satisfaction as she saw others repeat the process all along the ships length, getting ready to haul the massive guns from storage and up on top of the ship for re installation.

Lylith looked down at her list, and mentally checked off the items... "Two Ion... Fourteen Heavy... Six more Turbo's... And... " She bit her lip, and spoke over the comm once more... "Arden, how many Proton Torpedo catapults do we have?" she crossed the other weapons systems off her list and waited for his reply...

"Only one, Captain... " came his reply. Lylith frowned and crossed out the launchers from her list as well... "Don't even bother with those... We'll use that power for particle shielding..." Lylith cursed her forgetfulness and imagined one torpedo launcher on one side of her ship... She laughed and shook her head... "Can't fly a ship that isn't symmetrical... Just can't do it..." she laughed at the mental image before dismissing it and returning to the power grid that supplied energy to various areas of the ship...

"Almost there, Lyli... You're almost there... "

 

[Lannis]

TERSHA VALESKA: GEONOSIS, purple

Tersha slipped into the space between light and sound as she neared the battle, invisible to the naked eye, but still visible within the force, albeit as a faint shadowy whisper. Her steps were soft, carefully placed to minimize the foot prints left behind. She deftly wove between combatants, neither helping nor hindering either side. Their battle was not her concern. She was here for something greater.

Kill. Kill them all. Hear their last breaths and bathe in their blood.

Days, hours, minutes, time was of no concern to her, but sometime later, she made it through the fighting, never deviating from the sedate pace she set in the desert. She saw a ship. A ship that was obviously not commanded by the Republic military and its presence in a Republic safe zone suggested that it did not belon to the CIS either.

It was an abnormality, and for that alone, she would have walked aboard, but there was something else too. Darkness, alike yet different than that of The Other. Where as The Other was crushing, overwhelming, this was like a finger stroking her spine, a honeyed voice in her ear, death by poisoned kisses.

Power. There is power here. Go forth and claim it child.

Still invisible, she stepped onto the ramp, artfully navigating the stream of bodies heading the other direction. As she stepped fully onto the ship, something else touched her senses. Light. But that did not interest her. She filed the knowledge away in the back of her mind. They would be dealt with when confrontation came. With that, she ghosted through the halls of the ship, phantom whispers in her wake.

 

[Megilwen]

She smiles and chuckles at him as the walk across the ship. "I would hope they are already aware of the giant battle they are participating in, though I agree they should be made aware that a Separatist ship managed to break through and is now heading toward a neutral planet like Mandalore."

She hides a second smile behind her hand as he blushes and quickly releases her hand from his, like a little boy who'd just kissed his first girl. She lowers her hand and nods at him. "Rest does sound pleasant after the long day it's been so far, especially if I have to talk the Senate into sending a mission to Mandalore. They won't the most supportive because of Mandalore's declaration of neutrality." She grows silent for a moment as she taps her chin as she begins thinking exactly who she needed to talk to and what she needed to do upon reaching Coruscant. She glances back up at Vrill after a moment. "My apologies, I can get distracted easily when it comes to work." She opens the door to the quarters, before turning back to look at him. "If you think of anything else don't hesitate to come talk." She flashes one last smile before closing the door behind her and crawling up onto the bunk to get some rest before she had to face the Senate on their arrival.

 

[Lady Alainn]

Iluna Akari: Hello Geonosis and Goodbye Senator, #32CD32

"You're coming too?" The question was more of a statement. Iluna shook her head at the ambassador's upturned brow. "No, Ambassador. I have been summoned away."

"Then how am I to get back to Coruscant safely with an assassin after me, foolish child?" he blustered.

"You shall have the entire Republic army at your disposal, sir," Iluna said with a sweep of her arm. "I am sure you will be safe."

The ambassador's eyes squeezed shut. He clutched his enormous gut. A pained expression not unlike constipation soured his features. Iluna bowed and departed quickly, leaving the ambassador wallowing and shrieking his "Force" predictions beside an escort shuttle on the scorched earth of Geonosis. Two soldiers rushed towards him to offer assistance while the young padawan slipped through the crowd unnoticed by all.

The wind whipped her skirt about her ankles, billowed her sleeves from her slender arms, and tugged at her braid as her eyes fixed on the large vessel ahead of her.... the Acquiesce. Her new home. Iluna stretched her arms out before her, her fingers splayed to feel the dry wind funnel between them and around her body. Taking a moment, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply even as it scorched her nostrils. This.... was the smell of freedom.

But wait... her eyes snapped open as something emerged in her mind as she drew closer to the ship. Something... no.... someone? Whatever or whoever it was, the presence was dark and unsettling. A frown pulled gently at her lips. She could not shake the feeling that within all the mayhem of disembarking passengers, they had acquired an unwanted stowaway. We must be alert... she thought as she stepped onto the ramp.

 

[Bounce]

The Adventures of Jono Jawa, #cc99ff

The adventurous adventurer swung over the swamp bottom of the planet Ord Mucktel, vaulting off the vine to precariously land on a stout branch positioned above where the bandits had made camp. Adjusting the patent leather fedora cap that rested on the back of his robed and cowled head, the daring do-er of dares stared down at where the stolen artifact lay in the open.

The legendary legend's grappling line sailed across the camp, wrapping itself around another branch as the bravest of brave Jawa's descended upon the bandits.

A Weequay came at him with a blaster, but Jono Jawa don't care. Jono Jawa got skills. A one-two punch combo, following by the back-flip kick and the Weequay was napping in the swamp.

A Dug with a vibroblade? A Herglic with a staff? Jono Jawa don't care. With awesome skill born of awesome awesomeness, the Jawa soon stood triumphant over a mass of bodies, as he reached out to seize hold of the stolen treasure to at last return it to it's rightful...

"Ho ho ho ho ho."

That laugh.

"Ha ha ha ha ha."

He knew that... "Utinni!"

No sooner had the Jawa of Jawbreakers yelped in surprise, than a rush of moss grass was pulled aside, revealing the large and smelly form of none other than Gangsta the Hutt!

"Jo'shooda mai f'r ooda."

As the jiggling Hutt spoke, a gold-plated protocol droid stepped awkwardly around the massive villain's mobile dias, to announce,"All hail the illustrious Gangsta, master of bling. The mighty Gangsta wishes you know that he will enjoy blasting a cap in that..."

"Youngling, what are you doing?"

Zak Dymo, #00ffff

TYRENA, CORELLIA
The Corellian System, Mid-Rim

...with a sharp intake of breath, the young Nautolan's head snapped up in surprise. The large Thisspiasian's gargantuan length filled the entryway from their hotel suite into the refresher. The serpent-like Jedi had removed his brown outer robe, revealing the tan and beige tunic he wore underneath. All four-arms were crossed as the bearded snake patiently waited as he stared down at the small green-skinned boy who was occupied with an assortment of small toys.

With a sudden splash as the water in the bathtub was displaced, the youngling snapped to his feet. Protocol dictated that a youngling stand whenever a Jedi entered the room. It was only after the fact that it registered that protocol didn't really say what one did when one was taking a bath when a Jedi entered the room.

It was different with the teachers. They were Jedi... mostly. Even those that weren't were Jedi Service Corps, which was kinda like Jedi. But, those were teachers. Which, for the members of a youngling clan, were the closest thing that they had to parents. As such, they didn't count and the rules that they dictated were the first to be broken. On general principle if nothing else. The teachers came in when the younglings were bathing all the time, usually to stop the water fights from escalating into all out warfare.

This Jedi said he was Zak's teacher, but... Zak didn't know this Jedi. He knew his name. He knew he was a Jedi Sentinel. But, it wasn't the same as with Master Dirandu.

So standing there, the Nautolan shifted uncomfortably as he stood in the shin-deep water, awkwardly moving his hands around in front of him. "No... nothing, master," the boy stammered quietly, as his dark, almost black eyes scanned the bottom of the refresher floor.

"That was the noisiest nothing I ever heard," the snake quipped dryly, slithering further into the fresher in order to place a hand on the boy's shoulder and gently push him back to sit in the bathtub. As the boy slid back into the water, the Thisspiasian's hand went to the mass of stubby tendrils suspended from the crown of the boy's head. "You've been in here for over an hour and you haven't even washed your head tails," the Jedi noted pointedly.

The child's hands immediately flew to the aforementioned tendrils. "I don't wanna get soap in my gills," the boy protested loudly. A momentary look of confusion crossed the boy's face as he realized he was forgetting something. Had he said 'master'? Was he supposed to say that every time? "...master," the child tacked on, for safety's sake.

With one of his other three available hands, the snake turned on the faucet while a second picked a washcloth from off of a counter top, and then moistening the cloth under the water. "Wash," the Jedi commanded firmly, depositing the damp cloth on the boy's head before the snake slid back out of the refresher. "Then get ready for bed," the Sentinel added, as the last of his tail vanished from the doorway.

The small Nautolan stuck out his lower lip, sulking as he hunched down in the now cool water of the tub. Raising a hand up, the boy plucked the wash cloth from off his head and looked at it a moment, before lifting up the action figure of Jono Jawa in his other. "Utinni!" the boy chirped in Jawaese.

After he'd finished scrubbing his head tails with the cloth, the boy stayed until the Jedi returned a second time. He'd been intent on holding out for a third, but a hand wave from the Thisspiasian opened the drain the bathtub. So Zak naturally went with the impromptu material he was given, and feigned gasping for air as the water was let out of the tub. "No... water... life... ughhhh..." the child exclaimed, flailing about and then collapsing inside the now mostly dry tub.

Some critics threw roses, others threw rotten fruit. Zak's threw a bath towel.

Wrapping himself up in the towel, the youngling picked himself up from out of the tub and began collecting his toys from the various parts of the refresher where they had ended up as part of the production of the Adventures of Jono Jawa that had been opening that night at the hotel. After he had dried those off, the Nautolan wrapped the now damp towel around himself and exited the refresher to put the toys away in his backpack.

"So what are those?"

The boy turned to look back over his shoulder. Holding up the signature figure of the line, the youngling explained, "This is Jono Jawa. He's an adventurer battling against the space pirates led by Gangsta the Hutt!"

"Gangster the wha..." The Thisspiasian echoed, trying to follow what the boy was saying, but the snake was already shaking his head. Who, in their right mind, even came up with this stuff? It didn't even sound like bad holo-vid quality. It was just bad. As the boy finished putting his toys away, the Jedi drew back the duvet on the bed.

Letting the backpack and the damp towel fall to the floor without a second thought about either, the Nautolan went vaulting through the air, flopping down on the bed. Then, pushing himself up on his arms, the small amphibian tucked his head under and rolled up to the head of the bed, pushing up against the pillows as he turned and looked up at the Thisspiasian. "See... Like, Gangsta's pirates... There's this Weequay whose, like, major bad and all, and he... He, like, stole this Alderaan crystal that's, like, a thousand years old," the boy began to narrate for the Jedi. As he listened, the Sentinel pulled the covers up as he guided the boy to lay down and rest. "And... and, so... So Jono's on this planet - Ord Mucktel - and it's, like, really swampy and then Gangsta, he's... He's, like, trapped Jono..."

Sometime between Ord Mucktel and the trap, the Nautolan blinked. And he yawned, then blinked again, this time his eyes staying closed a little longer than they had the first time. His eyes would flutter open, the boy supplying the next evolution in the ongoing Adventures of Jono Jawa, and then flutter closed. Until they stayed shut, and the adventures continued only in youngling dreams...

The Thisspiasian coiled up near the bed, attempting to meditate and finding himself unwittingly pulled into the boy's narrative bed-time story. After the youngling had drifted to sleep, the Jedi picked up both the backpack and the discarded towel. The pack he set with his own things, while the towel went with the boy's clothing into the fresher so that they were ready again for morning.

...didn't want to get soap in his gills...

So how did Nautolan's wash their heads, the Thisspiasian wondered. It seemed an odd thing to think about, particularly with a war going on, but there he was. A Jedi Sentinel pondering how Nautolan parents cared for their young. Or, more likely, how non-Nautolan parents of Nautolans cared for their young outside of an aquatic environment. If Zak were on Glee Anslem or Dac, he'd be in water constantly... which would eliminate any need for bathing. But on dry land, there was the need to remove dirt from the body. And salt too, such as the residue from salt water, to prevent the moisture in the skin from leeching out.

So... if soap irritated their gills then... the Thisspiasian gathered he had something of a mystery on his hands on top of his mission to Mandalore.

 

[Lannis]

TERSHA VALESKA: STOWAWAY ON THE ACQUIESCE, purple

Somewhere aboard the Acquiesce, a stray shadow froze, distracted from the invisible trail it followed. Light, more light, a different light, more refined.

Jedi.

"Jedi," a disembodied voice breathed into the empty hallway, the single word hanging in the air, lingering like a curse.

Kill it.
No. The darkness, we find the darkness first.
Kill.
Darkness, find the darkness.
KILL.
NO.

Tersha pressed a hand against a nearby wall, leaning against it for support. Her breaths were harsh and ragged, and sweat beaded along her brow despite the controled environment of the ship. Her shield of invisiblity was barely in place, anyone looking would be able to make out the faint outline of a hooded figure, but thankfully no one was nearby, at least no one she noticed. She took a few calming breaths and reinforced her mental shields. No need for The Other to make an appearance.

A moment later, she straightened, fully invisible once more. She ghosted along the corridor, following the call of darkness. She slipped past the various workmen hustling about, leaving behind an unnatural chill. For the few unlucky ones, she left a touch of insanity. Nothing too serious, just a bit of illogical suspiscion. Easily cured by a Jedi... it if was noticed.

Later, she found herself in front of a closed door. The bridge perhaps? Maybe the captain's quaters as well, judging from the amount of guards around and the ornamentation in the area. The darkness had been behind that door. It was no longer there, but it had left a large imprint. She pressed herself against the door, using the force to send a probe into the room beyond.

 

[Lylith]

Lylith von Black, #ff4d4d

Lylith finished her records keeping and noticed that the installation was nearly complete... It had been only a few hours but the heavy lifting was done, and only the fine details were left to be completed by the engineers. She suspected it may take the evening to finish everything... But she could wait one evening. Besides... She had Iluna to keep her company...

"And where is that cute little Jedi anyways... " she said out loud... Arden, who was nearby, instantly checked a small datapad for any sign of the Jedi. Only moments later, he replied... "No signs of her on board, Captain. I can send word out, if you need her?"

"No, no.. I was just wondering. Oh, and is there any chance you can hook her into Security Comm, so we CAN get in touch with her if we need to? I don't want to leave her somewhere on accident... " Lylith set down her datapad and stood, moving over to the R1 unit and had him scan the weapons systems for ETA on completion... He displayed a depressing 45% on the overhead monitor, and left it there.

Lylith sighed and rolled her eyes... "On second thought, it would be nice if I had someone to talk to up here... Go get her for me, please?" Lylith sat in a nearby chair, resting her head on the back as she waited for Arden to complete her command. She smiled as she heard the door hiss open...

Arden had always felt obliged to obey Lylith after a series of events left him in her debt, permanently... Not only had she saved his life, but she'd given him a home, and a good job to work, and a title to use whenever he went to a nightclub or a bar to meet women. But most of Ardens time was spent on board, making sure the ship was secure, and none of the stupid, rich, passengers killed eachother. He liked it... It was simple, and he got paid well for it.

He checked his datapad on instince, hearing a question from his Captain, Lylith... "And where is that cute little Jedi anyways... " He flipped to his security camera, and monitored a scan for the young Jedi. He also did a quick face search through the various cameras on the ship... Nothing... She was most likely planetside with the passengers the Acquiesce had dropped off, helping... Arden almost smiled at that, but he was too busy lusting over her tight little...

"On second thought... "

"Damn woman!" he thought, as his train of thought was interrupted... Lylith looked lovely, but Arden had always liked younger, more innocent prey. Not that he was going to try after the Jedi, but he could dream, couldn't he?

Arden nodded and adjusted his gear before spinning on his heel and marching towards the blast door that separated the bridge from the rest of the ship. It had been build long ago when the need for massive doors, almost as thick as a hull plate, were needed, to protect the bridge from a boarding party... Even though that wasn't necessary now, Lylith had decided to keep the giant, slow, door for looks... She certainly had her own style.

Ardens approach signaled the door to open, but his key is what unlocked it and allowed it to do so. As he neared the door a proximity scanner detected it and the door hissed open...

 

[Lannis]

TERSHA VALESKA: STOWAWAY ON THE ACQUIESCE, purple

Pressed against the center of the door as she was, Tersha stumbled and nearly fell as it opened, just barely missing a man coming out.

Clumsy Child

She straightened herself and checked to see she was still fully invisible before looking around the room she was now in. It was the bridge as she suspected, and its main occupants were a red haired woman and an astromech hooked up to the ship controls. Tersha glanced behind her to see the man she had nearly collided with heading out to some other part of the ship. He didn't interest her.

She strolled leisurely around the perimeter of the bridge, trailing a hand over the top of the astromech as she passed it. She resisted the urge to send a jolt of electricty through it. It would be much less interesting if this ship couldn't fly. After one circuit, she stopped near the red haired woman. This woman had the force. Light, but not completely light. Perhaps more barely light. There was also a touch of foreign darkness on the woman. This woman had touched the darkness Tersha was after.

She leaned in to study the other woman's face, close enough that their noses were almost touching, then abruptly jerked back when she remembered that while she was invisible and inaudible, there was nothing stopping the other woman from feeling the puffs of her breaths. To stray on the side of caution, she stationed herself in an unoccupied area of the bridge, a safe distance away as she considered her next move.

The source of the darkness was on this ship. She was sure of that. She could continue tracking it but- she glanced at the door to the bridge to see it closed- that was not an option at the moment. She would stay put for the moment and see what she information she could gather.

 

[Lady Alainn]

Iluna Akari: Arden's Secret Crush, #32CD32

Effortlessly gliding against the river of bodies, Iluna passed up the ramp and into the Acquiesce. A bottleneck at the top of the ramp caused by a collision of two merchant carts bade her stop her ascension to assist with gathering spilled boxes and trampled produce.

"My cabbages! They're ruined!" cried the elder merchant as he chased a rolling head of cabbage down the corridor. "Why didn't you look where you were going, you overgrown nerfherder?"

"You should have had your cart sent down to the docking bay like everybody else, slimy Hutt!" the second merchant shouted back with his arms full of tattered box and cloth. Iluna quickly spread her hands out to halt the escaping vegetables, even the ones barreling down the ramp, and reversed their roll to bring them back to the carrier. The elder merchant skidded to a stop as the cabbage he was chasing paused and began heading towards him.

"Attacking cabbage!" he cried, waving his arms and unintentionally whacking passengers as the cabbage chased him back to his cart.

Stepping between the two overturned carts, Iluna worked unnoticed by the name-calling merchants as she righted the carriers with one hand and directed the cabbages to jump into the elder merchant's cart with her other. Next she focused on the large boxes, moving her feet and hands in a fluid dance as she lifted and placed the heavy cartons on the second merchant's carrier. She had just finished balancing a particularly awkward-shaped package on the cart when Iluna felt Arden's eyes upon her. With an extra flick of her wrist, she ordered the package to rotate and settle on a corner, then whirled in a deep curtsey to Arden in response to his applause.

"I wasn't aware we were offering a circus act for our parting guests or I would have sold tickets," Arden said dryly as Iluna fell in step with him.

"Jedi do not accept payment for services rendered," Iluna countered with a laugh.

"All services?"

Iluna raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Except for that one. We don't offer it."

"Could one persuade a Jedi to add it to the catalogue?"

"You'll have to order it elsewhere," Iluna answered lightly.

Arden feigned disappointment and then frowned as he remembered something. "Oh, speaking of orders, the captain has ordered you to join her on the bridge."

"Has she now? Then to the bridge, I must go I suppose. Lead the way!"

-----​

For some reason, this trip to the bridge filled Iluna with dread the closer she got to it. By the time Arden opened the blast door for her, she was suffocating. The oppression left a bitter taste on her tongue and quickened her heartbeat which she forced to calm down. Lylith reclined in a chair, relaxed and giving off her strange aura as always, but that was nothing to this new feeling. Though Iluna could not locate the origin of it, she could smell the traces of it. The mysterious presence. Iluna paused, closed her eyes, and felt through the Force for the other form.... there.... Her navy blue eyes fluttered open and bore into the empty part of the bridge, challenging the presence to make itself known.

 

[Lylith]

Lylith von Black, #ff4d4d

Lylith brushed a stray lock of hair from her face as she examined the countdown timer... She groaned as time passed... Five minutes... Ten minutes... TWENTY minutes... 46%

The display changed, and a cheerful little "bleep bloop!" emanated from her R1 droid... She wanted to go do something, but honestly, despite all the ships bells and whistles, there wasn't much to do... Unless you liked sex, drugs, gambling, and sleeping after you'd done all the rest... And Lyliths time for most of that was done... Now, she made money off the lucrative gambling business, and kept her customers happy by offering the rest as services, aboard her ship... But that was a different matter entirely...

She sat up and took a deep breath... It turned from a deep breath into a long sigh as she continued to watch the countdown... She felt a nagging sensation, as if something was pulling her attention away from watching the screen, but she continued to watch it devotedly. But the sensation grew, and she felt the ominous goosebumps crawl up her legs... She pulled her legs up and smoothed her hands up and down the length of her jumpsuit, pushing away the icky sensation...

She was about to get up when the blast door hissed open... She turned her head and looked, seeing her two friends. She smiled, and was about to stand up to go to them, when she noticed Iluna wasn't really looking at her... She was staring off into a corner of the room as if looking at someone she didn't like...

"Umm... Iluna? " Lylith asked... "Arden, is she ok?" she said, as she stood and walked towards the two... She imagined what trouble the little Jedi may have gotten into while she was away, but couldn't imagine anything that would cause her to look like... That...

Lylith stopped a few feet away from Iluna and allowed herself to reach out with the force... Her bubble expanded rapidly, engulfing herself, then Iluna, then Arden... It reached across the expanse of the bridge, from side to side, and then she felt the... Heat? Anger? Maybe it could be best simply described as evil... She wanted to reach out with the force ans squish it, but she couldn't pinpoint its location. She only knew something was near.

Lylith reached down and unclipped her spear for the first time since Iluna had shown up, and held it like she would a sword... Her finger remained on the button that allowed it to extend, similar to a lightsaber, only her weapon extended to about six feet in length, with a dagger like vibroblade at the end...

"What is it... ? " She asked, knowing already something was amiss.. Maybe Iluna had a better idea of what it was...

 

[Lady Alainn]

Iluna Akari: Hide and Seek Aboard the Acquiesce, #32CD32

Arden was just as puzzled as Lylith in Iluna's demeanor and shrugged his shoulders in answer. As the captain approached, Iluna's hand shot up as a warning to halt. A connoisseur of using the Force as a shielding device, Iluna knew what to look for even if her eyes did not.

"We have an uninvited guest," she explained, her piercing orbs never leaving the area where the wrinkles of a shadow hovered. Her stance relaxed, allowing her upturned hand the freedom to summon her lightsaber from her belt without resistance should the need arise.

"Despite my record of hasty action, I have recently learned the value of long-suffering patience," Iluna told the shadow in a conversational tone. "I warn you, I can and will stay in this position until you make a move...." her lip twitched as one corner pulled up in a smirk "...even if it takes months."

 

[Lannis]

TERSHA VALESKA: ON THE BRIDGE OF THE ACQUIESCE, purple

Whatever Tersha's long term plans were, they were interrupted by the return of the man from earlier and a new guest. A miralian.

Jedi...
Idiot child. Kill the jedi. Kill them both. Kill them all

"Jedi," Tersha greeted with a slight bow, letting her shield of invisibility drop. Her lips curled into a practiced smile, the expression clashing with the marks that mimicked eyebrows drawn in anger tattooed across her forehead. "It pains me greatly to see that you see me as an uninvited guest," she coutinued, her voice a gravely rasp, almost male with a strange echoing quailty. "Perhaps an invitation could be extended," she asked, looking towards the red haired woman who she presumed to be someone of some authority on the ship.

One of her hands itched to reach for her lightsaber, but she resisted, her hand clenching tightly enough for her leather gloves to creak.

Why do you resist? Kill them, they are obstacles.
They are still useful.
They are useless to you. Kill them, take over the crew. The droid can pilot the ship.
No. They need not die.
Need? You want to kill them. Deep down, you want to spill their blood. Especially that Jedi. You want to see her self righteous face ruined by lightning burns. You want to see your lightsaber pierce her heart. You want to send her severed head back to those cloying-

"SHUT UP!" Tersha screamed abruptly, her eyes briefly flashing golden, her face controting into a bestial snarl. She quickly regained her composure, her face a pleasant smile once more, her hands clasped tightly, too tightly behind her back.

 

[Lylith]

Lylith von Black, #ff4d4d

Lylith was about to comment "I sure hope it doesn't take a month... I have shit to do... " when the stranger appeared... A woman. Not a very nice looking woman, but a woman... "Perhaps an invitation could be extended,"

She relaxed a bit, allowing herself to take on a less aggressive stance, with her weapon by her side, rather than at the ready. Lylith loved her spear... She enjoyed using it... But someone who could vanish into thin air with the force should be taken care of with more finesse... Besides, Lylith wanted to know how she got into the bridge, and why she was here in the first place.

"I'm sure that could be arranged, after I'm informed of the reason for the unexpected visit... I'm sure if you simply need transportation off planet, the Republic fleet would be more than happy to relocate one of its citizens... " Lylith suggested, half knowing the visitor would decline, even though she didn't know the exact reason why.

She examined the woman carefully, trying to determine more about her. She felt the Force in her, but it wasn't what she was used to feeling... It was hot... Similar to the dark side, according to historic records. This was interesting, to say the least... Two force users in the span of a few days... What luck!

 

[Lannis]

TERSHA VALESKA: STILL MOSTLY SANE, purple

Tersha let her smile widen slightly, showing a hint of white teeth. "Unfortunately, I am no longer one of the citizens of the Republic." As she spoke, her eyes darted around the room, pausing once on the other human's spear before coming to rest on the mirialan, her gaze searching to see if the jedi recognized her. After all the things she had done, there was no doubt the jedi at least knew her name, but her appearance had changed much.

"As for why I am here," she continued, turning her focus back to the red haired woman. "I sensed force sensitives, I became curious," she lied smoothly, her eyes glancing over at the jedi. "I admit it is perhaps not the best of reasons to undertake an action, but I have little else to do these days," she finished with a light shrug, her hands still clasped behind her back.

 

[Lady Alainn]

Iluna Akari: How to Get Rid of Uninvited Guests, #32CD32

A frown settled on Iluna's dark lips as the captain and strange woman conversed. The more the woman talked, the less Iluna felt at ease... and she hadn't felt at ease since her circus performance. There was something...not right with the woman. It wasn't that Iluna could taste the dark side of the Force on her simply by standing in the same room with her, nor that the woman was a very smooth liar. What bothered Iluna the most was that she didn't seem all... there. She studied her intently even as the strange woman's gaze was upon her.

"No, it wasn't the wisest of moves," Iluna said coolly. "But now that you've seen the force sensitives and have had an unguided tour of the ship, your curiosity should be satisfied enough now to leave us in peace."

While Iluna could advise the captain what to do or hint to the woman, she had no control over who Lylith allowed on her ship. Her muscles constricted as the tension grew thicker between them. Hopefully this interview was nearing an end.

 

[Lannis]

TERSHA VALESKA: HOW TO OVERSTAY YOUR WELCOME, purple

"Oh, but unguided tours are hardly informing and just seeing the force sensitives does nothing to sate my curiosity," Tersha rasped, her yellow eyes coming to rest on the jedi. She considered revealing her knowledge of the artifact on the ship, trying to decide if it would get her kicked off the ship faster.

No.
No?
No.

To anyone observing closely, Tersha's eyes seemed to unfocus at odd times, staring at someone one moment, staring through them the next. Seeing that the jedi was adamantly opposing her stay on the ship, Tersha turned her attention back to the other human, freeing one hand to brush her hair out of her face. "The question of my curiosity aside, I do require transport off Geonosis, and as previously mentioned Republic cruisers are not an option of transport for me. Perhaps you would permit me to stay aboard until the next planet with a spaceport your ship arrives at? I do believe my current finances will allow me to pay a reasonable sum for any... inconvinences caused." She canted her head to the side, eyes staring at the red haired woman as she used the force to keep a vague sense of the mirialan.

She supposed it wouldn't hinder her too much if she was kicked off the ship. A glance at the monitors earlier, when she was still invisible, told her what she needed to know of the ship's take off time. It wouldn't be too difficult to sneak back aboard through a maintenance shaft. All things considered, that may even be the better option, as she had no doubt that if she was allowed on the ship, her movements would be heavily monitored.

 

[Lylith]

Lylith von Black, #ff4d4d

Lylith felt the tension between Iluna and the newcomer... She felt the others odd, hot, presence, and found it distasteful and a little unnerving. She didn't know what to expect from the woman, but she knew Iluna had a good sense of what to do with her own kind.

"Unfortunately, I do not think it would be best for my crew, or my ship, if you stayed aboard... We will have to part ways, but, if you like I can arrange another transport for you. I understand you don't want to fly with the Republic, but I don't imagine a Private starliner will care who your allegiance is with, as long as you can pay... "

Lylith didn't want to turn the other force user away, but it seemed the best, and safest option at the moment... Iluna didn't seem the kind of person to be unsettled easily, so this must be pretty serious. She decided not to risk the unknown, here... Not when her life, and her ship, were at stake...

 

[Lannis]

TERSHA VALESKA: PLAN B, purple

"Ah, yes, a captain must do what is best for her crew." Tersha nodded in feigned understanding. "I apologize for taking up your time. Perhaps you'll allow me to show myself out?" She glanced towards the heavy doors. She doubted that they'd let her wander around the ship alone, but it would make sneaking back in easier if she found a point of entry beforehand. Still, inconvinences were just inconvinences and could be worked around.

She glanced at the Jedi again. A hint of hostility not entirely her own rose up, but she quickly quashed the feeling. The Jedi need not sense her supressed homocidal desires. But wait, perhaps there was a way to stay on the ship without sneaking back aboard. She redirected her gaze back to the woman she assumed to be the captain, and arranged an expectant expression on her face as plots began unfolding in her mind.

As she planned, she felt that sense of haughty amusement one gets from outsmarting an other, and carefully gathered that feeling and shifted it to the surface of her thoughts, somewhere more easily sensed by the Jedi. She carefully hid any lingering annoyance at the captain's refusal to have her on the ship. Over all, she projected the aura that she was 'up to something'. Hopefully the Jedi would decide that it was a better idea to keep her on board where an eye could be kept on her and convince the captain to the same line of thinking. If not, she would be trying to sneak back onto the ship with a very suspiscious jedi on the look out.

 

[Lylith]

Lylith von Black, #ff4d4d

Lylith smiled as she heard the woman concede to her decision. "I apologize for taking up your time. Perhaps you'll allow me to show myself out?" She watched the strange woman, waiting for her to show signs of deceit, or signs of aggression... She couldn't spot any, but she hesitated to allow the force user to escort herself through her newly armed warship... "I think, for everyone's safety, it would be best if I accompanied you to the surface. Unless... " Lylith turned to Iluna... "You have a better idea... "

Lylith waited for Iluna to respond, knowing the Jedi may have some insight in the matter, simply because she was more attuned to the force than Lylith...

 

[Lady Alainn]

Iluna Akari: You Gotta Know When to Hold 'Em, #32CD32

Eyes narrowing, Iluna crossed her arms and stared pointedly at the woman. It was almost like she was casting suspicion upon herself with the way she reeked of mischief. Her initial feelings still screamed to escort the woman from the ship, but a small part of her was now nagging and Iluna never could stand a nagger especially when it was herself. Should they keep the strange woman under surveillance? Iluna was not sure how strong in the Force this woman was, but with her years and ...off... aura, Iluna doubted she would be much of a match if something did go wrong. Combat was never her specialty. But, it was still painfully obvious that the woman wanted something or someone from the ship and wouldn't rest until she had what she was looking for. When all else fails, let someone else decide, she considered with amusement. With a sigh, the young mirialan turned her gaze to Lylith.

"I wouldn't put it past her to sabotage the ship, captain. The question is, do we escort her off and let her tamper with the outside or hold her in the brig and let her tamper with the inside?"