Star Wars: Warring Forces

[Firechild]

A pair of shadows crossed the sunbeams of the tiled floor, one a lumpy object floating in the air, the other humanoid striding strongly towards a room at the end of the corridor. "Master Kova...are you sure about this? I haven't felt anything." A deep voice belonging to Jedi Knight Vaughn echoed off the walls. The Jedi Master floating beside him nodded seriously. "Sense a disturbance I do. Travel to the Smuggler's Moon you must." The pale skinned Knight sighed in defeat as he brushed the long dark-brown tresses from his equally brown eyes. "You said there was three of us. Who besides me is going?" Kova crossed his small arms. "Jedi Master Maries Venota, and Jedi Knight Codiv Blyth." Vaughn had to do a double take. "You're sending a Jedi Master? And Master Maria no less! She's one of the strongest in the Jedi Order, rivaling yourself Master Kova, why would you send someone so important?"

The old Jedi Master sighed his impatience growing at the young Knight's badgering questions. "Always full of questions you are. Send her I do, because something terribly off there is." The pair pass across the threshold of the Jedi Temple, stepping into the sunlight of Coruscant. Maria and Codiv were waiting for them in front of a ship that was ready to lift off at a moment's notice. "Are we ready to leave?" Maria spoke softly, her silver tresses glinting softly in the light as she tucks a few strands behind her left ear. "Retrieved Vaughn I have. Be careful you should be. Maries watch over them." Maria nods her head respectfully. "I shall Master Kova."

The trio board the ship, Maria taking the pilot's seat, and Codiv taking the co pilots seat while Vaughn grips the hilt of his lightsaber nervously as he gazes out of the ship through the cockpit window. "Rest easy Vaughn. You are far too tense. Go meditate if you are uneasy, it may help." Vaughn bows slightly to Maria as she coaxes the ship to lift off. "Yes Master Maria." Before leaving towards one of the quarters to find peace and solitude.

"This is his first assignment as a Knight." Maria answers the unasked question. "In addition to that, he's in the pressence of an accomplished Guardian, and a Consular who happens to be on the Council. So it's small wonder why he's nervous." The Miraluka shook her head softly inputting a few commands into the console of the ship before turning and standing. "You should rest as well Codiv, we will not arrive for a while I am going to prepare some sustenance for later."

After a hot meal, the ship finally pulled into the loading bay of Nar Shaddaa. Maria and Vaughn stepped out of the ship, leaving Codiv to finish up preparations. The young Knight was still fidgeting like he was walking into a lion's den. "Calm yourself Vaughn. Channel the Force through your body, let it give you strength." Maria's words seemed to calm Vaughn, if only slightly. A lone Rodian walked up to them. Vaughn did not understand Rodese so he wasn't aware of what the Rodian was saying. "We are here on official Jedi business. We're going to be observing for the next few days and would like accomedations if you would master Rodyle." Rodyle nodded with a jolly string of Rodese and led the pair of Jedi to where they would be staying.

It took a few hours, but Maria and Vaughn were finally settled. Vaughn was igniting and sheathing his yellow saber over and over and over again. It was really starting to get on Maria's nerves. "Must you continue with that? A lightsaber is not a toy Vaughn...as a Jedi Knight you should be well aware of that fact." Vaughn's cheeks grew red from embarrassment. "My apologies master Maria. I'm just very anxious. Since we got here I too now have sensed the disturbance...It's unlike anything I've ever felt, and this worries me." Maria nodded in understanding. "Yes...I feel it too. There is something very...wrong here...And it's nearby..." The Jedi Master took hold of one of her sabers, holding it in the dueling fashion. "Be on your guard. There is something outside."

Vaughn didn't need to be told twice, he tightened his grip on his own saber as the two went outside the building. The silence was almost palpable outside. Like...there was force blocking out all sound. "Be careful Vaughn..." Maria said. The Knight nodded as Maria turned her back to him, gazing at what little bit of Nar Shaddaa they could see. A sound of a lightsaber igniting sounded behind her. She whipped around igniting her own, to see that it wasn't Vaughn's. With shock etched on her face, she gazed at the black saber protruding from Vaughn's abdomen. Black...that was impossible. There WERE no black crystals. It was impossible...The wielding was cloaked in black, with a hood drawn, casting a shadow over a face one could not see. All Maria saw however, was a black voice in the shape of a man. It was as if there was nothing there. No body, no presence, no air, no nothing. It was just a void.

Maria gritted her teeth as she ignited her saber, launching into a frenzy of blows as she danced about with Ataru. The...Thing, whatever it was, warded off her blows easily with it's own pitch saber. This thing was impossible. This was the disturbance of that Maria had no doubt. But what WAS it.

[GoldenKitten]

Tylek stood atop a nearby outcropping in one of the innumerable buildings of Nar Shaddaa that rose in this area. He didn't need to be told someone had arrived, when you had stayed here as long as he had you sort of got used to the insanely cluttered feeling of Nar Shaddaa and thus detecting a force adept, especially one of such strength was not difficult. Admittedly he had not realized who it was until he had arrived in time to watch them take to their lodgings, it had been quite some time since he had seen Master Maries, even longer than the last time he had seen his own master. Regardless even if it hadn't been her he would have helped, like usual the jedi had no idea what they had stumbled into. For now he would wait though, the foe would no doubt arrive soon and Tylek would wait for them to show themselves before making a move, lest he get caught from behind by taking action first.

A disturbance in the force, he knew thats what the jedi who had sent the group here had called it. A few days ago, somewhere far away some toadstool of a jedi master had used those exact words, he'd said "Disturbance in the force I feel". They liked to say that allot because it meant two things. "Disturbance in the force" was jedi euphemism parlance for “I have no idea whats going on so you need to go check it out” and “BIG. PAIN. IN. THE. ASS.” ...oh and sometimes “SUICIDE MISSION”. Jedi masters were like that, liked to send other people into stuff they didn't properly understand and then later act on incomplete information. But that was of little true meaning now, for the moment Tylek simply needed to do what he could do and that involved keeping these people alive.

Tylek was in his usual outfit but today had included a scarf around his face simply because he couldn't be bothered with being noticed right now. The last thing he needed was a group of mercs dropping down on him right as one of the assassins did. Given a scarf wasn't exactly “facade extraordinaire” but it would keep him masked from simple glances in his direction and for now he had been traveling the rooftops and dark alleyways, ever since this new enemy had appeared he did not chance the city streets for others safety. Given it was difficult to hide from a...individual, if thats what you wished to call these things, gifted in the force but Tylek had his ways and better yet Nar Shaddaa was a natural blanket against force sense especially without considerable time spent there.

As he waited a beeping in his ear told him a new message had arrived and with a tap on his visor a variety of information feeds flashed before his eyes. As usual first and foremost was his current bounty level, he noted it had gone down some odd ten-thousand credits, he wondered how that had happened though it was of little concern since the amount was still high enough to live the rest of your life in quiet comfort. He browsed through the mail and found an invitation to an unexplained event due to unexplained reasons from a name composed of numbers and symbols that meant nothing. However Tylek knew that this was one of the contacts that sent out jobs for Eewata the Hutt. Quite some time ago Tylek had both worked his way into their system and paid a backstreet hacker to link him in to some of the underground data networks to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and also keep track of their hunt for him. For them to be so careful about the information in this particular message it had to be big, he also noted it had a high priority code meaning it had only gone to select addresses rather than a blanket bounty, he would have to check on it later but not right now...because right now something was about to happen.

After facing several of these assassins or jedi killers as they in fact seemed to be, Tylek had become adept at recognizing when one was nearby. It was closing in quickly from the east, though whether it was coming for him or the group below he could not say, these things just sucked in the energy around them and left a big hole in the force in a certain area. Thus while you could tell the general direction from which they were coming it was impossible to pinpoint them except via visual contact. He stayed on guard but had the distinct impression it would go for those below, after all while relentless even an animal learns when a tactic is ineffective and whereas he had driven several of these killers off there was new prey to be had that might not be as capable below. Of course he doubted Master Maries would be caught off guard but it seemed a competent tactical assumption to make none-the-less.

But even as he thought this he could not be prepared for the speed with which it arrived, one moment Maries and the jedi whom he did not know were coming outside, surely sensing it as he did now. The next the jedi was dead and the assassin had besieged Maries as she entered into a dance of death with her opponent. She backed it up but she didn't have to wait long for victory, true she could likely have won but Tylek knew these force creations were stronger than one could imagine, they were easily as competent as your average jedi and there was no sense in taking a chance. He was watching from his perch and then he was upon the creature, surely it sensed him but not even a force monster could turn their back on a jedi master thereby splitting their attention and thus Tylek had an easy kill. Truly violence was not the way he desired to settle affairs but he had long ago found there were few other options on the smugglers moon, and even more so when facing these beings.

An arc of lightning slammed it in the back and though its body instantly began convulsing as a normal beings would it eerily made no sound in response. This level of energy would be more than enough to kill most sentients, even most jedi but it was highly likely that these creatures did not have the physical body make-up of a normal sentient. This meant that while they could be defeated it could only be done through sheer overwhelming damage and not area-specific strikes...not counting the head which he had found was an effective target. The being attempted to turn around to face Tylek who was several paces behind it shooting electricity from his hands, he saw that it meant to bring its “lightsaber”, for lack of a better term to bear and block it.

“No I think not.” He said and released the lightning, causing the creature to jerk momentarily while he reached to his back at the sash he used as a belt.

Two strangely shaped lightsabers came to life, one green the other an equally odd color of orange, and spun several times like batons a clear sign of a Shien wielder. However that was the end of this current bout of dexterous manipulation as he proceeded to drive his blades straight. They rammed through the force creatures back and expelled out the front, one on either side of Maries head though one could tell this wasn't an accident and Tylek had in fact been careful to miss her despite the close proximity. For the first time in this fight the assassin let out the high-pitched inhuman shriek he had come to associate with them, clearly showing despite its inhuman form it could feel pain.

Before it could regain control Tylek ripped the blade out each side of the creatures torso. The force of this pushed him back as he extended his arms outward and a small gust of air kicked everything up as the creature sagged before him, clearly a move aided by the force. The blades spun in his hands and were sheathed as quickly as they had been brought out. Low to the ground now Tylek brought his right hand forward again, a ball of force clearly building within it that he brought past the assassins legs, causing it to begin to flip into the air. However before it could even begin this incidental acrobatic volley his hand was on its side and the force within his palm released sending the broken creature hurtling through the air, contorting into positions no human form could. And then, perfectly aimed, it went sailing down one of the many pits that dotted the Nar Shaddaa landscape. It might be back, it might not but either way whether it did recover or it was one of the others they at least had some time before another attack. Tylek fell back into a natural stance after insuring his lightsabers were secure.

“Don't tell me Master Maria is losing her skill in her old age!”

Despite his quip he had maneuvered over to the jedi on the ground and knelled, he knew it was to late but innate nature demanded he do so. A quick look both via his force detection and the sensors in his visor ruled out any chance of the boys survival and he got back to his feet. He turned back to the woman and brought one hand to the top of his head pulling down on the scarf so that it quickly fell apart exposing his face, allowing the scarf to fall to his shoulders. He made a semi-salute with his pointer and middle finger to the woman.

“We need to move, we can only buy time as they will inevitably find us again...always do, but we can at least delay that while I tell you what little I know. I figure it should be useful no matter where you go from there.” He reached under his robe and brought out a radio capable of reaching any frequency, “In case you don't have one...” he waited to see if she would take it and after a few seconds continued, “You need to contact the one in your shuttle. They came for where there were more of us gathered but they will inevitably seek out any force sensitive, they are not safe. Tell them to stay amongst groups of people but always stay on the move, such masks are but temporary and they would not want to involve civilians anyway.”

He turned around to look off into the distance, he could feel more of them massing and he spoke as much to himself as Maria, “It seems the fresh abundance of force energy is already making them more active than when it was me alone. We need to get move now...tell the one on your ship to head for a bar called Ur'thurs Saloon in the western district of this hub, once they get close we'll make ourselves known and link up with them. But before we go...”

He pointed to the young jedi.

“What do you wish to do with him. I'll be straightforward, we haven't the time to return him to your ship or have a proper sending off, but we can do something quick if you wish. However we mustn't tarry here for more than a few minutes, this place is marked and they will begin arriving en-masse soon.”

He paused and gave her the first concentrated look of this conversation including a wry smile.

“Oh and hello Master Maria, it's been some time...to bad our situation doesn't call for joviality.”

[kensei]

Izo walked over to his deep space sensors. “Oh how nice, another ship coming into smugglers moon. You best not be after my prize.” He said as he looked onto a screen as he got a new message. “Tylek. This time your mine.” He said before walking into the cargo bay. He pulled out his bag and started to load it with a few mines, two grenades, and food and water to last a week if he used it sparingly. But then he felt a slight twinge inside him, he always felt it when something was happening around people of great power. “Wonder what it is.” He said before shaking it off and walking back to the cockpit.

As he entered it, the ship jumped out of hyperspace. He entered the auto pilot into the ships command and had it land in a abandon space port. It was in a run down part of town that could hardly be classified as civilized, or running. He walked into the cargo bay and lowered the hanger door before getting on his speed bike and heading out. He decided to draw as little attention to himself as he could this time. Your not going to get away again! He thought to himself as he started to head farther into town.

Izo and Tylek had, had two run-ins in the past. Both times Tylek gave him a scar and got away. It had been over a year since the last time, and as far as Izo was concerned Tylek was the biggest prize out there. So far he had been the only one to ever evade capture twice. But as he started down his trip down memory lane he was pulled back by a black being, almost looking like shadow as it swung a sword in the path his swoop bike was going.

He leaned back, parallel with the swoop bike as the saber passed right over him. He put his foot on the throttle and accelerated the bike a bit before slowing it down and spinning it around. He pulled the trigger and started to shoot at the creature before pulling out his pistol and charging it. The creature had taken one blast but blocked all the others. As the swoop bike neared it he killed the throttle as it passed to the side of it. He jumped into the air and shoot at the creatures face before pulling out his sword as he landed on the ground.

He spun around blocking the creatures strike before raising his gun and shooting it in the torso. It pushed him back and started to strike at him several times. “Damn grub is tough.” He said as he blocked the first few strikes, only to be grazed by a stab at his leg. He held his Vibroblade against its saber and went to take another shot. But then the creature sent him back twenty feet. “Also use The Force do you?” He said slowly getting up as the creature swung at him. He ducked and rolled out of the way, only dropping the blaster on the ground. He got up and took his stance, slowly circling the creature. It then dashed him. It went for a wide slash to the left, and then a slash from above. He blocked both, but was sent onto one knee, into a kneeling position by the second hit. It started to push his blade downward, making its way for his face. “Damn it!” He said trying to push the saber back. He jumped to the right, sliding the saber across his blade so that it hit right next to him. He used The Force to pull his pistol back to his hand. The creature went for a stab and Izo blocked with the width of the blade before shooting it once more in the face. It let out a unnaturally high pitched scream, before it started to smoke. It curled into a unnatural shape no living creature could go into before it seemed to wash away with the wind. He sighed before walking over to his swoop bike which was now on its side. He once again started out for the heart of the city.

[Firechild]

What IS this thing?

It killed Vaughn...

What is this thing!?

It's not natural...

WHAT IS THIS THING!?

Maria's mind was reeling. The former apprentice of one of the last of her friends within the Order was slain as if nothing, this THING...whatever it was was not something naturally formed. Maria weaved a flurry of blows around the black saber, shifting into her signature style, appearing as if there was a rain of light striking the Jedi Killer. But she wasn't prepared for just how strong it really was, easily as skilled as a Knight ranked Guardian it was able to hold it's own against her using techniques that focused on disarming and penetrating defenses. Before she could regain her composure and vanquish the thing, a familiar flash of light caught her attention. An arc of lightning struck the creature, stunning it momentarily before it whipped around, moving to block it with the "voidsaber". But before it was even able to raise the saber, the lightning abruptly stopped, causing the creature to stumble before it got a chance. "No I think not." The wielder of the Electric Judgement said. Maria started. "Wait a second...I know that voice."

The sound of a pair of lightsabers igniting and the whirring of the blades spinning filled the air. From the other side of the Jedi Killer, Maria could see the spinning motions of an obviously skilled Shien user. It could only be one person...At the same time as the pair of blades were thrust through the creature, and came resting to a blistering stop on either side of Maria's head, the orange and emerald glow lighting up the Jedi Master's face before she thrust her own saber through the center of where the two potruded, the end of her saber stopping just before the other Jedi's forehead. An unearthly shriek was release from the creature as it began to burn with black fire. As Maria's blade was driven downward, cleaving the creatures lower torso in half one way, the other two sabers ripped the creature in half horizontally as they were yanked out it's sides.

As the other Jedi spun his sabers, sheathing them swiftly, Maria; with the aid of force jump, leaped over both the creature, and the finally revealed Echani, landing behind him as a gust of wind whipped through the area, obviously originated by the Echani Jedi's use of the force. He was crouched before Maria as she sheathed her own lightsaber, clipping it back onto her belt as he thrust a ball of force, which when released cause the creature to flip into the air. Just as swiftly as his saberplay was, so was his movements as he was able to move in and place his hand against the creature, blowing it away with the force as it contorted and shrieked again before, in a burning lump fell down one of the many pits on the Smuggler's Moon. "Tylek..." Maria muttered crossing her arms, before the Echani fell back to a natural stance, quipping in with a smart comment. "Don't tell me Master Maria is losing skill in her old age!" Maria sighed and was over kneeling on the ground next to Vaughn, just as quickly as he was. Despite her hoping for the best, she already saw that his Life Force had winked out of existance, his spirit joining the Force. The pair stood up, and Tylek revealed his face, though she already knew it was him simply by his Force signature that she was able to see clear as day. He thrust his fore and middle fingers away from his forehead in a semi-salute before speaking. "We need to move, we can only buy time as they will inevitably find us again...always do, but we can at least delay that while I tell you what little I know. I figure it should be useful no matter where you go from there."

Maria looked back down at Vaughn sorrowfully. "He was the apprentice of one of my good friends within the order...was a very skilled Jedi..." She glanced up and took the radio that was offered her.

"In case you don't have one." the Echani said matter of factly. She donned it, making sure it was adjusted correctly before nodding. She contaced Codiv immediately, before Tylek even had to say anything and told him to keep on the mood and mask his force signature, while staying in a crowd to help hide him. When she turned back to Tylek, she saw that his back was to her. She did as Tylek suggested, and told Codiv to meet them at the saloon, before Tylek pointed at Vaughn. "But before we go...What do you want to do with him. I'll be straightforward, we haven't the time to return him to your ship or have a proper sending off, but we can do something quick if you wish. However we mustn't tarry here for more than a few minutes, this place is marked and they will begin arriving en-masse soon."Oh and hello Master Maria, it's been some time...to bad our situation doesn't call for joviality." He grinned wryly at her causing the Jedi Master to shake her head and sigh. "Yes Tylek...it has been a while." Without saying a word, she used the Force to lift Vaughn, and dissolve his body into the Force, insuring that he would be in everything, body and spirit. An eternal peace. "Let's move...as you have already said we shouldn't tarry here. I have sent Vaughn off...that is enough. I will inform Grand Master Kova at our nearest convenience of his passing." The Jedi Master moved towards where the saloon was, as she grew up in this place she new it well enough to know where all the joints were. "So...young Tylek...what have you been up to since my last visit, and what are THEY. They are...nothing...That is the best I can describe them as. Voids in the force, just darkness...I am disturbed by this, what do you know?"

[GoldenKitten]

Tylek watched with little to no emotion as Maria rendered the young knight into nothingness. He himself could have done the same thing but that didn’t stop it from being impressive because she did it without really focusing on accomplishing the task before she was ready to go. He motioned her to follow him and then walked off down a series of cramped back-alleys where no signs of life could be found. The inevitable question he knew she would ask came up and he thought for a moment before simply responding, “Jedi things.” At that time he reached up to his headset and tapped through a series of menus before a robotic voice spoke from the speaker at audible volume for all those around.

“Case 13843-5B0-26: Tylek Starr. Code: Black. Extremely dangerous, jedi weaponry and powers, possible jedi connections. The Bounty Hunters Association of Nar Shaddaa takes no blame if hunters of inadequate skill are injured or killed while attempting Code Black hunts.

- Posted Bounties for Case, all bounties hold up whether Dead or Alive -
Eewata the Hutt: 920,000 credits – The BHA recommends careful attentiveness when collecting bounties from Hutt’s.
Ran Calder: 650,000 credits
Lorel Rak: 600,000 credits
Morae Loak: 570,000 credits
Teia Roose: 510,000 credits

Two thousand, eight hundred and seventy-six other bounties have been posted on this Case but have been ruled inadequate for the subjects capture. Please select link below if you wish to view these anyway -”

Before it could continue however Tylek tapped the button on his headset and the voice stopped again. Most people, but especially Maria would know these names; every one of them was a large criminal on Nar Shaddaa and beyond, the first three were well known for their sentient trafficking on a wide scale basis. He waited for a few seconds and then she asked her next question, one that was far easier to answer since it wasn’t so personal. As he began to speak they turned on to a main street, this was an area filled with stores however it was far enough off the beaten track that most had closed for the night, regardless more and more people were showing up and more open stores with brighter fancier displays could be seen ahead. Tylek didn’t mind talking, few around would have known what they were talking about and even if they did it was not like it would cause any problems, you could not cause a panic on a planet that was always chaos.

“Where they come from, is well...of sith origin, of this I have no doubt, though they themselves are the anti-thesis of the force there is a hint of the darkside on some of them, as if they were freshly created and still wreaked of their masters. More crucially I have felt the darkside itself from time to time, out among the masses, I have assumed this to be the creatures masters depositing them here though for what purpose I am unsure as they are always gone by the time I arrive.”

He looked around and cut across an open intersection before they arrived in a huge open-air square that looked out across a massive valley to even larger buildings beyond. In the immediate area there were countless bars, shady looking businesses and equally shady characters walking about. Amongst these was one extremely dirty three-story building with a giant electric sign as big as the building reading “Ur’thurs”.

“WHAT they are…well that is far more simple. They are jedi killers…to be more accurate they are force killers but they focus on those with the greatest amount of force first and in most places that will inevitably be jedi. Their powers and even their weapons, the black sabers are not real, they are the utter lack of the force and their job is to use that to consume anything with the potential to use the force. They have no sentience, they are creations that fight off of instinct and raw skill alone with one mission in mind, that which has been programmed in, they do not retreat, surrender or show mercy, and they are perhaps even less capable of personal thought than droids.”

Tylek walked to the side of the bar and walked around its side until they were no longer in the open. Along the backside of the brightly lit saloon was a set of old rusty steel stairs, which creaked in an ominous manner as he raced up them as if they were prepared to drop at any second. The stairs went to the third floor of the building where he held the door open for her to enter through before going in himself. Inside was a large and mostly empty room with several windows looking out on the plaza they had just come through, the large saloon sign pasted across have the window filling the room with red light. It was clear the room had at one point been a fancy bar itself but had long since gone out of service, in a far corner there were signs of a makeshift cot and some of Tyleks personal possessions but there was nothing else.

“We can wait for your companion here but once they have arrived we should move out. The abundance of people will mask us from their senses for a time but that was far to close to this location, they will spot us should we remain here for more than a few hours…perhaps less now that there are so many force users in one place, I can’t say I have no basis to theorize. More importantly I myself have been using this place as a home-base for two days, it is very likely some of the more skilled bounty hunters have located me at this point and if they are not yet on their way, are making a plan before coming. Soooo…a good idea not to stick around. Anyone who can find me that quickly is not to be doubted, force user or not.”

He walked to the far wall and looked out of the window, his senses could pick out a force savant as well as any sensors so he would know when the other jedi had arrived even without the radio.

“So Maria, did someone make a “Disturbance in the force” prediction about all this or are you here on other business?”

[kensei]

Izo had arrived in the main town about ten minutes ago, and he already had gotten a good bit of information. He had figured out the general location Tylek was held up at, or at least had been in the same area for a few days. Knowing Tylek though, he most likely was about to move on or had already done so. It was like that often, he would be right on he heels then he would vanish again. He would be damned before he let Tylek run him in circles again. No this time it would be quick, precise, and it would be the last time.

He walked into a small rundown bar. He scouted the area quickly, noticing a few practitioners at the bar who had had far to much already, a man trying to make his way with a lady who was far to sober to fall for it, and a couple of old guys who seemed to be only coming here because its former glory rested back with theirs. He sighed before walking up to the bar tender and ordering a shot of jusgrive, a local drink that was comparable to some homemade moonshine. His brow fidgeted as he let out an “Ahh” as he downed the shot in one gulp. “Im looking for a guy named Tylek, hes an Echani, shock white hair, pale skin, grey eyes, he is quite musculature even for there race. He his hair is generally short but when he forgets it, it can get down to his shoulders. HE often wears a red visor over his eyes. Seen him?”

The old man started to cough, and kept doing so for nearly a minute. Izo was half convince he was going to die right then and there and he would be no closer to Tylek. But when he had about made his mind up to leave the old man stopped and started breathing weasingly before saying. “Yeah I seen him. Comes and goes every now and again. Saw him go into a old abandon bar just last night as a matter of fact.” Izo’s smile was cold and filled with the thought of how he was going to enjoy capturing Tylek. Yes, he couldn’t wait to see that smug grin of his face. “Where exactly is this abandon bar?” He said looking at the man who now looked scared. He stuttered his next few words, realizing that Izo’s intentions where ill. “I-I-I-I d-d-d-d-ont think I sh-sh-should be telling you this… Y-ya-ya-ou don’t seem like his fr-fr-iend.” Izo turned to walk out but after three steps he pulled out his pistol and turned around. He poped three shots off into the bar, blasting it apart from top to bottom. He turned it to stun and pointed at the closet customer and said. “Tell me where Tylek is or I shoot this man!” The man turned around placing his hands in the air and leaning against the bar as if it was going to magically teleport him elsewhere. “Hey man, I got a wife and a kid on the way.. Please.” “Who doesn’t?” He said before looking at the bartender and saying. “Where?” The old man sighed and said. “About two clicks south of here, he lives next to the bar ’Ur’thrus.’ Cant miss it.” He said before looking down in grief, knowing he had most likely sentenced him to his death. “Oh and one more thing,” added Izo. “has anyone else come asking about Tylek?” The bartender looked at him before sighing and saying. “Yes, a young lady, no older then twenty five, she had the grace of a dancer..”

Volina! Damn the wretch! She always could find the information she needed and quickly. She was a deadly assassin, hell, she was almost as good as Izo. This was going to make things all the more complicated. He guessed it was only natural that the best would be after Tylek, but he would die before he let that wench steal his prize from him! Tylek was his!, and no others!

He pulled out a wallet from his back pocket as he put his gun back to fire and holstered it. “Here, for the damage.” He said tossing him 8000 credits. The man was confused but graciously accepted it. “Don’t tell anyone else about Tylek understand?” The old man stuttered his answer. “Y-y-y-ye-yes sir!” Izo grunted as he walked out the bar and got on his swoop bike. “Two clicks south eh?” He said punching the throttle full blast, sending a single shot from the built in blaster into a trash can to warn away pedestrians.

He smiled as he saw the sign the man had talked about. He slowed down to a full stop before getting off his speed bike. He walked into another bar a bit of a ways away from Tylek’s supposed outpost. He smiled as he saw someone with a visor capable of zooming in. He had forgotten to pack one considering how the entire planet was a city. He walked over to him and opened his wallet. 600 credits Damn, he gave the old man to much cash, oh well hopefully he could persuade him to hand em over for 100. He walked over to the man and started to engage in a small dialoged. Despite his best efforts to buy them the man would not part from them. But he did manage to get usage of them for ten credits. He took the visor and proceeded to walk up a flight of stairs, the man fallowing him. This area was far less congested, and he could actually use this thing to his benefit. He zoomed in and out of the area around Tylek’s hideout, looking for any sign he was still there or that Volina had gotten there already. There where no explosions or signs of heavy gun fire so he guessed the whore was off somewhere else.

Naturally Tylek’s actual place of residence could not be viewed except from the alleyway that allowed entrance to it. He had to admit, the place fit the bill. He had only hopped that it turned out to be correct. He tossed the man his visor back and proceeded to walk out of the building and to Tylek’s allyway. He sighed as he watched the alleyway for a while, questioning wither he really wanted to get in such close corders with Tylek. He sighed realizing if he wanted to catch him he had no choice. “Fine.” He said to himself, before looking into his tan bag to inspect how many mines he had brought. 6 less then he should have, but what could he do? He slowly walked down into the dark ally, he could feel the sweat on his brow, and the racing of his heart. His adrenaline was making noise, he was alert and ready for anything. He had to act quick, for he feared Tylek may have picked him up already.

He armed a mine and placed it behind him and then another and placed it in front of the doorway. He then proceeded to plant one behind the door way as he walked in. If nothing else they would give a moments hesitation to Tylek, and he could always shoot them to help stop him. As he started to ascend up the seemingly endless flight of stairs he drew his sword and pistol, ready, ready for Tylek if he tried to make the first move. His eyes widened as he neared a door. He felt it, like a tingling in his spine, he knew Tylek was in there, and another. Shit, Volina? No there’s no fighting.. A…. Ally? No it couldn’t be. Could it? He pushed the thoughts from his mind, even if it was a ally he would deal with it, he might even make a little more profit off him. He sighed before lifting his leg.

With the force of a warhorse Izo kicked the door down, instantly acquiring Tylek in his sights. He pointed his blaster at him and plucked off three shots. He noticed another, female, humanoid; she had a strange aura around her, just like Tylek. She was obviously Miraluka, the blind fold giving it away, either that or she was just blind human, but this he doubted. Possibly jedi, he noted instantly as he watched her out of the corner of his eyes. He shot another four shots at Tylek, while still ready to dodge any attack that he might throw his way. He knew he could go toe to toe with him for a while, but he knew nothing of this other being. What did she hold in store for him? He shook his mind from these thoughts, focusing only on the battle at hand. Not this time, no distractions, and he would get his prey.

[Firechild]

Maria stayed silent throughout the headset's speech, she nodded a couple times as if she expected as much. "Only Nine twenty? Either Eewata has gone soft, you've been laying low...or theres somebody that's a much...bigger threat to him." She cleared her throat loudly as they rounded the corner, comning to an area with many shops and stores before she asked about the Force Killers. "Yes...it would seem the Sith are once again moblizing...I am sure it is Darth Aran that is behind this...Nobody else has the power to command such creatures." As the pair entered into a sort of square, Maria glanced around at the shady businesses and the numerous bars. Bad vibes in the force could be seen by her force sight everywhere, signifying it was probably a place criminals often gathered to have a drink or four."Nice place..." She noticed the electrical sign on a particularly filthy building which said "Ur'thurs."

Several moments passed while Maria thought about Tylek's words. "Force Killers...It almost sounds as if we are threatened by the Star Forge again...But as it has been destroyed, that's impossible." This news obviously troubled the Jedi to the point that she was unaware of being left behind. When she realized that Tylek had gone ahead, she followed his force signature to a set of rusty steps behind the saloon. She effortlessly leaped most of the stairs using force jump to save time, before she slipped inside what was obviously the Echani's current headquarters. "This situation has me troubled, the last time there were such beings was when the Star Forge was active as I have said...How can anyone have gained such power..."

Tylek's warnings about staying her for too long also worried the Jedi. She had seen far too much in her time to not be. "I will attempt to contact Codiv in a minute. If I am unable to...I fear we will have to leave without him." Maria walked over to where Tylek stood, and gazed out at the shifting plane of Nar Shaddaa she saw with her Force Sight. She smiled softly at Tylek's perceptive guess at the reason as to why she was here. "Yes...Master Kova sent Codiv and Vaughn here...I came of my own accord however...I had sensed something wrong here as well yes, but one of my sources contacted me and told me Eewata was once again starting his..." she paused and rolled the word around her tongue before saying it in disgust. "Business...again. But, we have more pressing matters at hand now."

The Miraluka turned around and leaned against the window, her mind deep in thought as to how to go about the current situation. "This is Aran's work...I have no doubt of that. The problem is...she's likely across the Galaxy in hiding...but if she's constructing these...Force Killers...she would be sending off massive ripples in the Force...Where is she hiding herself? More importantly HOW is she hiding herself...And how is she getting these Force Killers here so quickly...It takes several days to get here from the quadrant she was last sensed in...And if she was here, no matter how good she is at masking her pressence I would be able to sense it...I have spent too much time with her to not recognize it at any given moment..." She drew her datapad and began cycling through several calculations, as if there was something hidden in them that she was missing. "This worries my Tylek...However she is doing it, one thing is clear. Darth Aran has grown far more powerful than we could have ever anticipated."

A few moments passed, giving Tylek time to put in his own thoughts on the matter before she launched into a series of quesitons. "How long have they been attacking you? And where and when was it you first sensed their pressence?" She waited a few minutes, and listened to his answers before asking another question. "How many have you fought...and just how skilled are they?" Another few moments went by. "What of these..Darkside signatures...can you tell me anything more about them? Or is that all you have been able to analyze?" Depending on the answers to these questions, Maria may be able to get a better idea of how Aran was at least getting them here. As Tylek answered her questions, she was putting in more and more data into her datapad, causing it to beep and flash several times as more data scrolled across the screen. Before she could attempt to make sense out of the data, a twinge caught her senses. "We're not alone..."

As if on que, a somewhat powerful force signature was at the door, who knocked it down. A series of blaster fire launched into the room as Maria effortless put a wall of force up to deflect them, causing them to leave scorch marks on the walls, floor, and ceiling. "That was awfully rude of you..." Maria said with a smile as she dashed forward, using Force Speed to get behind the obvious Bounty Hunter with speed not even a force adept could easily track. Her palm was no sooner pressed to the intruder's back with a ball of force surrounding it than the words had left her lips. The Force Push launched against the Bounty Hunter's back, before Maria spread her arms to be perpendicular with her body, her hands clenched into fists and started glowing as a pair Force walls appeared in front and behind of the intruder. Maria slammed her fists together, causing the two walls to enclose around the Bounty Hunter in one of her signature Force Lock techniques.

"Well well...I have three questions for you...and I would like to receive honest answers if you please." Maria knew that Tylek could have handeled himself easily enough, but the time for messing around was not the present. "Who are you? Where are you from? And what were you THINKING? You must not be terribly bright..." The Miraluka walked around to gaze at the Bounty Hunter's face. "First of all...you are force sensitive...and somewhat skilled in it's use at that. Did you NOT sense that both myself, and Tylek are incredibly skilled and powerful Force users? And to answer that question that is most likely brewing in your mind. I am Jedi Master Maries Venota. I prefer to be called Maria however and you will address me as Master unless I say otherwise. Is the clear?" She spread her fingers, and the Force Lock pinned the Bounty Hunter against the wall, before she dropped her hands and crossed her arms waiting for her questios to be answered.

[Zhiel]

At the highest levels of Nar Shadda, within one of the many skyscrapers which spanned nearly to the moons surface a gathering of individuals was taking place. These were not your average individuals however, no they were some of the most dangerous people one could find on the Smuggler's Moon. Immediately upon arriving upon one of the many entrance platforms surrounding the skyscrapers top layer, each person was escorted to the same room within this massive building rumored to be Eewata the Hutt's headquarters.

The room itself was magnificent, being very spacious and with a good thirty meters from wall to wall and almost five meters to the ceiling and with only a few elegant and exotic couches and tables standing in the center of the room. The walls were richly adorned with paintings and trophies such as rare animal heads or skulls, while the floor was covered in carpets of varying color and make, many being exceedingly expensive looking and it was clear that this was meant to impress anyone who entered this room, and it had not just been that but also the corridors that had taken them here had been richly adorned as well, showing just how rich (and powerful) their soon-to-be employer really was, or at least how powerful he seemed to be.

The atmosphere in the room was tense at best, one might go so far as to describe it as hostile as several of the Bounty Hunters and Assassins gathered in this room glared at each others, many being rivals or outright enemies but was forced into a truce while they remained there. Into this tense atmosphere entered a fancily dressed male Twi'lek, looking like if he was a butler or perhaps an aide, who despite the atmosphere of the room and the dangerous people present within it did not seem to care all that much. Many of the gathered individuals glanced towards the new arrival, while a few either ignored him or didn't notice his entrance so in order to get everyones full attention the twi'lek 'cleared his throat'

"Ahem. The exalted Eewata the Hutt bids you welcome to his most humble abode. You are here today because you are the best at what you do..." The twi'lek spoke loudly, his voice carrying across the room and it was clear he was a practiced speaker. However before he could continue a mocking laugh sounded out from the other side of the room, leaned against the far wall a man cloaked in black stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his cloak slightly apart across the front showing the advanced stealth suit he wore underneath. Every person in the room turned suddenly at the sound of his laugh, some even being about to draw their weapons out of surprise, no one had seen or heard him enter the room, despite the only two entrances being on the opposite end of the room and the wall beside it. "Some of us, yes."

The room fell silent the moment the newcommer spoke, as every person in the room had their attention locked on him. It was obvious he was a human, his face not covered by anything but his dark brown hair that was split over his forehead by a gray bandana that at closer inspection seemed to have nano-tech built into it, his face was that of a mid-twenties person and apart from a few shallow scars he could be considered handsome, though his piercing gray eyes that seemed to take in everything around him might scare those different from him.

After maybe ten seconds of silence the twi'lek began again. "Ahem, yes well with that out of the way... The illustrious Eewata the Hutt has called you here today-" But the man was cut-off once again by the newcomer. "Cut to the chase already, your boss wants me to kill those Jedi that arrived here recently, yes? Give me the details and I'll be on my way." The pure arrogance that reeked off of his words were enough to reward him with a hateful glare from all of the assembled hunters, even the twi'lek seemed beyond irritated by him. "Who are you to demand such from the..." The Twi'lek began, before he suddenly went silent as he seemed like if he was listening to something and it became apparent from where as he had an ear-piece in his left ear. "Erh... Very well, I will now explain the details..." The twi'lek then continued, his voice sounding slightly nervous. "Very good." Riwan said as a smirk crept up on his face, having a reputation sure felt good.

[GoldenKitten]

Tylek let Maria speak, he didn't have much to add at current and while he was certainly more world weary than your average jedi there was still wisdom in what a book taught jedi could say. Not only that but Maria hardly classified as closed-off, she was old and experienced enough to have seen much of the universe unlike some. What she had to say about the source indeed caught him by surprise, he knew most of the dark lords, but he definitely knew Aran. The fact that he hadn't deduced this already was a bit of a embarrassment really but he supposed he couldn't be to harsh on himself, he didn't know everything the sith lords were capable of. When she finished Tylek sort of mused on what she had said and off-handedly added.

“I remember her, should have guessed...oh...and for the record the Tarentak? They aren't as dead as people'd like you to believe...not at all.” He sighed a little after saying this and then returned his attention to more important things.

He listened to her questions and answered as quickly as he could.

“They've been attacking for about a month, however they became really aggressive about a week ago, I think whoever is releasing them, Aran or not, realized someone was cutting their toys down and so began sending them on the attack rather than simply searching...maybe it was some kind of test early on.” He listened to her again and then continued, “I've fought about sixty of them, forty of those in the last week. Their all roughly of the same strength as the one you fought, that is to say equivalent to your average Jedi Knight.”, he paused, “As I said the signatures have disappeared long before I've been able to get to them. Either they knew I was here and so chose a location far away or they just got lucky, however they were certainly strong enough to be of trained jedi...or rather sith strength, they would not have been padawans at any rate.”

While she paused and began entering data into a pad he couldn't resist, “So if we're playing twenty questions does that make it my turn? Hmmmm...does it fly?”

But before he could get a response he too felt the presence at the door and muttered, “Of course we aren't, it's the blood smugglers moon.” in response to Maria. A few blaster shots came through the door to which Tylek merely tilted his head to the side to avoid before Maria caught their genius of an attacker and began quizzing him. Before she could really get anywhere with him though Tylek spoke up and walked toward the trapped bounty hunter.

“Izo Kuhnari... if memory serves correctly the last time we saw each other we had engaged in a firefight with a private army while fighting each other at the same time on a star cruiser as it fell through the atmosphere, ripping apart and inevitably landed on a fuel plant that caused such a cataclysmic explosion that they felt the tectonic shocks the world over...and you thought bumrushing my door was a good idea.” He paused for several seconds, “Did you take retarded pills boy?”

He walked past Izo who was stuck as stuck could be and peered out the door, “If he's here others will be to, and they might use tactics more effective than 'I've got a gun, I've got a foot, lets kick down this door, THIS. IS. GOING. TO. WORK!” He turned around and came back to Maria, “Well, we could kill him, he's not exactly a good guy...or we could toss him out the window over there and be on our way, by the time he got back over here he wouldn't be a real issue. Or whatever other choice you have in mind, but we need to go now, his attack probably sparked anyone in waiting to begin an assault, we have a minute at most.”

[kensei]

Izo eyes widened as he realized who he was up against. Someone who could block bolter blasts that easily was definitely strong. Not to mention the massive energy she was giving off. You’ve done it now Izo. He thought to himself as he kept his eyes on Maria. He grinned and said in response to Maria’s comment. “You think that’s rude? Obviously you haven’t met my mother.” But as he was saying this he noticed Maria turn to a blur. HE knew his eyes couldn’t keep up, or his body, so he closed them and listened to his feelings. Like the tip of a dull blade going across his skin, he felt a point on the skin of his head that moved in unison with Maria. He started to turn, only to be sent into the air by a wave of force power. Time slowed, his adrenaline was at its peek, his breaths where quick and sharp, hardly letting enough air in, he lifted his gun in the air and pointed it straight at Maria. One, two, three, four, he counted as he pulled the trigger each time. But he doubted very much that those few shots would save him now.

His back slammed into the wall with the force of a breaking car. The impact dislodged his shoulder, and he hissed in response to the pain. He placed his left hand onto his right shoulder, seeming to be accustomed to such things; he popped his shoulder into place and let out a gasp. He stood and pointed his gun at Tylek before pulling the trigger one time. But the he felt a force against him, from both the front and the back. The sudden impact caused him to drop his gun and he was rendered immobile.

Izo smiled slyly as he listened to Tylek and remembered the scene. “Good times, good times. Your lucky you got that ship and hit hyperspace before I go a lock on you. A second later and Id be singing Kumbaya and sitting on some beach on some exotic planet. Not stuck in the ass end of space still going after you.” He looked into tylek’s eyes as the silence took the room before Tylek continued talking. He let out a slight chuckle and said. “Well, now that you mention it, it most likely wasn’t the best plan. I was hoping to force you out of the wind with a few well placed grenades and blaster shots and have you land next to a mine then shot the mine then stun you and take you to the highest bidder. Also, my mother didn’t breast feed me when I turned two. ”

He looked down before letting out a sigh and saying. “When did the jedi council start looking back into you? I thought you pissed em off and they never wanted anything to do with you again. Much less, how the hell did you make a friend? You a asshole.” He looked at Tylek with shock in his eyes and said. “Kill little ol me? Now that’s just like you isn’t it Tylek? Well if you want to go out there and not know who knows you’re here and who’s all after you then be my guest. You’re not going to get that little felling in your spine that lets you know someone’s there like you do with me. I know where there staying, what there doing, and who they are. Isn’t that worth trading? Sides, I got a ship you could use to leave here if all else fails.”

He scanned the room quickly, noticing the accommodations. “Dude, my prison cells are nicer then this dump. Seriously, I know you want to be able to leave with your shit on a moments notice but you could really add a lamp.. a rug? anything really. I bet your bed is horrid as well. Seriously, jedi master person, don’t spend the night here. Who knows what diseases this place has.”

But when he was about to finally shut up there was a huge explosion outside. It shook the whole building and Izo couldn’t help but smile. “That would be my mine.” He said in an almost childish manner. “I hope that was one of your rodents not a drunk… I really do...” He let out a sigh before looking at Maria. “Oh and to answer your questions. What where they again? ‘Who am I? Where am I from? And what was I thinking?’ correct? Well, to the first, Tylek answered that one, to the second, I am from Endor, originally, I left there and became a bounty hunter, though I doubt you really want my life story so ill spare you ANY details. Also, I was thinking that you might not be as good as Tylek and therefore I would have just killed you and captured Tylek. I made a mistake, my bad.” He said rather sarcastically.