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Author Topic: Zealots  (Read 14471 times)
Karmack
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« Reply #15 on: January 29, 2018, 04:06:12 PM »

Chapter 4: Playing the Line
Unknown Space Lanes
5 ABY

The mood in the cockpit was tense.  The trip from the Lyran system to Rothana had been uneventful - until they arrived.  As instructed by Garak's shipping agent they had input a specific code in their IFF transponder identifying themselves as KDY Heavy 224.  They had been immediately challenged by a Nebulon-B frigate, which had accepted their challenge response and directed them to follow the frigate to a site in the outer system.  There they'd joined three other frigates and a dozen other light freighters, mostly YT-1300 variants and older XS "Stock" light freighters in a loose formation. 

What followed had unnerved them.  The convoy commander had demanded that all ships slave their navicomputers to the lead Nebulon-B.  Those who refused would be fired upon.  At this point one of the YT-1300's had broken formation and made a run for it, only to be gunned down by two of the Nebulon-Bs.  With no choice, the team yielded control and they were off.

After each jump they took fixes and worked out their location along the way, aided by the ship's astromech droid.  It soon became clear that they were headed for the Mid-Rim, an area known as the Null Zone, an area with few stars and fewer planets between the galactic arms. 

They were now at the end of the latest jump, and all of them were on edge.  Bernard's gut was churning with danger signals.  Julwynn and Illian were both hearing the rapid tempo increases and tense "danger" chords ringing through the song.  Even Talia, with her limited and focussed training was picking up danger signals from the force.  Whatever was happening, it was going to happen soon.

"Signal from the flag." Kohl suddenly said.  "Emergence in one minute."

Illian nodded, and suddenly sat bolt-upright in his seat.  "Julwynn, did you hear that?"

Julwynn's eyes were wide.  "Yes.  There's trouble ahead.  Imminent."

Balnard didn't hesitate.  He'd learned to trust his wife's 'intuition' as he called it.  "Illian, Jules, take the turrets.  Talia, take the engineer's post.  Kato will assist but you'll need to help him keep power stabalized and the deflector screens balanced and properly angled."

There was no hesitation.  Talia spun from her communications station to the engineering panel.  She was out of her depth, but she would only be assisting Kato in keeping the power balanced so the deflectors would stay up.  Illian dropped into the turret well, going to the bottom turret while Julwynn climbed into the top turret.  They just had time to get the turrets powered up and ready when...

<<< EMERGENCE >>>

The wormhole tunnel collapsed and the Dragon emerged into real space, surrounded by the other ships of the convoy ... and the scream of TIE fighters.  "All ships BREAK BREAK BREA...hsssshhsskkTT"Illian heard the comm link from the convoy commander crackle and go dead.  At the same time there was a flare of light and the lead Nebulon-B frigate suddenly came apart, the narrow hull between the forward and after sections disintegrating under a concentrated attack.  At the same time a flight spun through the convoy - and into Illian's sights.  Without hesitation he fired, raking the flihgt as it swung past.  Two TIEs exploded, one disintegrating, the other spinning out of control and slamming into a neighboring YT-1300 freighter, which in turn spun down and away, spilling atmosphere and debris as it dropped out of formation.

Julwynn's turret hammered out fire on a different angle as Illian searched for more targets.  A second frigate was streaming air and appeared to be on fire but its laser cannons were still firing sporadically.  The other two had pulled together and were now putting up a shell of heavy fire, driving the fighters away.  Illian drew a beed on another gaggle and opened up, blowing up another fighter and damaging a second before they broke off.  Illian could feel the frantic pace of the song, but the melody was reaching a cadence point, shifting from a motif of fear and danger to one of relief and positive resolution.

The firing slacked.  Illian keyed his comm.  "Bal, any word from the convoy commander?"

"Not yet.  The fighters are pulling back.  I was afraid there'd be a couple of star destroyers here to back them up, but it looks more like an ambush by a lightly armed fighter carrier.  I'll bet they were expecting something with less defensive punch."

"Well, I'm not complaining." Talia replied.  "We took a few hits but the shields held..."

Illian used the turret sites to look over the formation.  Three freighters had been hit, two catastrophically.  A third appeared to be generally intact at first glance but a chill wind crept down his back when he realized the cockpit itself was gone, the tube a jagged scar with an emergency bulkhead visible just beyond the break.  That ship was maneuvering erratically, probably on some sort of emergency helm control from inside the ship...

"One of the frigates is swinging around to take the wounded freighters in tow." Julwynn called from her station.  "Bal, I'm tracking the fighters that pulled back..  They don't seem to be running to hard."

"Signal from the Katana." Talia broke in.  "Commander Sinclaire has assumed command of the convoy.  He confirms he is taking the damaged freighters in tow.  He and the Persus will transfer cargo and personnel the scuttle the ships.  We are to proceed independently to the final destination.  Jump coordinates are being transmitted now."

Balnard's voice came next.  "Navicomputer is receiving coordinates.  Charging the hyper drive for the jump now."

Illian scanned the area again.  The surviving TIE fighters had pulled back but were circling, regrouping but not assuming an attack formation.  "Fighters appear to be holding a perimeter.  I wonder what they're waiting for..."

Two freighters, apparently with faster recharging engines, suddenly streaked into wormhole space.  They were followed a few seconds later by another one, then three more.  "Ten seconds to jump..." Balnard called on the comm.

"There's your answer Illian." Julwynn called from her station.  "227 relative."

Illian spun his turret to the rear left quarter in time to see a second Star Destroyer emerge from hyperspace.  "Star Destroyers..."  The fighters had been a picket, covering one of the many points a convoy might appear in the system.  "It was all a trap..."

"Yes, but they're to late.  Here we go!" Balnard called, and they were suddenly streaking away into hyperspace - and safety.  "Looks like the rest of the freighters got out with us."

Illian secured his turret and climbed back up into the core of the ship.  He and Julwynn returned to the cockpit, where Julwynn assumed the copilot's seat while Illian slipped into the engineering station, allowing Talia to return to the communications panel.  "What about the frigates?"

Balnard looked at Illian and just shook his head.  Julwynn spoke for him.  "No way they'll make it out..."

"So where are we?  Kato?"

The droid booped and beeped impatiently.  Balnard chuckled.  "Ok, ok, do your calculations.  I know there's not many reference points out here."  He turned to the others.  "Kato will work up an exact position, but we're well out in the Null Zone in the Mid-Rim, somewhere opposite Hutt space, but exactly where...?"

The communications panel beeped, cutting off their speculation.  "Attention Convoy! This is Scardia Space Control.  Set transponders to the pre-arranged code and form up.  Escorts will rendezvous with you shortly.  Anyone not squawking the correct transponder codes will be ... quarantined.  Welcome to Space Station Scardia.  Control out."

"Well I'll be..."  Bal brought the Dragon around as a flight of fighters, sleek TIE Interceptors intercepted them.  Bal manuevered smoothly, slotting in with the other freighters while Julwynn found the transponder setting they'd been given and started transmitting.  Illian just stared out the windows, reaching out with the force, listening...  "Scarlia..."

Talia moved next to him, wrapping an arm around his waist and drawing herself close. She could sense her husband's reaction: disgust, loathing, fear, anger, sorrow... "What's this Scarlia?"

Illian shook himself, pulling back from the darkness he sensed.  "Scarlia is the headquarters of 'Church of the Dark Side'.  It is run by a collection of "dark prophets", founded by the Emperor's Hand

Blackhole and guided by those same dark prophets.  They're the "spiritual" arm of the Empire.  Scarlia is also, we believe, the primary recruiting center and training base for the Inquisitorious.  My former master and the other Jedi survivors on Jedda looked for this place for years.  We're literally about to walk into the heart of the enemy's camp."

Talia looked out at space, following Illian's gaze to where she could just make out the twinkling lights of a large space station.  Her eyes glittered.  "Well, we'll just have to knock their socks off then."

************

A half-kilometer away, another pair of eyes glittered as well.  "The Dragon...  So, Sgt. Kohl, we will finally meet again..."
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TheDutchman
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« Reply #16 on: January 29, 2018, 07:29:28 PM »

Oooh, that's ominous!  Looks like someone knows who (or what) Kohl is! 

LOVING the space battles!  I need to learn that dynamic, I think  Grin

And "Scarlia?"  Nice introduction for the Church of the Dark Side; SO many possibilities to involve the Inquisitorious with that  Wink

And I'm reminded of Admiral Ackbar: "It's a trap!" 

BTW Karm, your use and knowledge of the SW galactic locals is amazing!  I love cross-referencing your stories with Wookiepedia, getting more backstory.  Wonderful!

Until next installment friends  Smiley
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My sabers:Zearic's Aldrnari, Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, AS; Zearic's shoto, Apprentice v4 w/Obsidian, AS; Graflex SE w/Obsidian, GB; Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, CG; Dark Sentinel v4 w/Obsidian, BR; Sentinel LE v4 w/Obsidian, GB; Initiate v5 w/Obsidian, AS; Sentinel LE v4 stunt, EG; Aeon LE v4 stunt, FO; Dominix v4 stunt, BR; Aeon v3 stunt, SY

Karmack
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Light side points please.


« Reply #17 on: January 29, 2018, 07:40:36 PM »

Chapter 5: Into the Net
Scarlia Station - Blackstar Construction Yard
5 ABY

Illian was ill-at-ease.  They'd been docked at Scarlia now for three days, at a section called the Blackstar Construction Yard.  It was quite obvious that the Church was busy preparing for some kind of military action.  Rumors, passed to them by dock hands during the process of unloading their cargo and replacing it with various cargo modules filled primarily with pamphlets and other "distribution materials" for the Churches angents on the Outer Rim, indicated that the head of the Church, a Prophet known as Katann, had thrown his support behind someone named Trioculus, the Slave Master from Kessel.  However, once Trioculus had moved to assume power the same Prophet had then withdrawn his support, probably because other power factions had moved against him and his position had grown weaker.

This had left Scarlia open to attack by those same forces.  Most of the locals, however, were confident that with a combination of the combat power they were amassing and the strength of the Dark Side
prophets their Church would prevail.  It had been all Illian could do to avoid choking as one chatty dock worker had shared a drink with him and did his best to recruit him into the Church, singing its praises with the fervor of a True Believer.

Fortunately, Illian had had something else to distract him from the pitch and his disgust at it.

About ten minutes after entering the bar, Talia had come in, her arm looped through that of the local comptroller, an over-weight middle-aged man who looked like a bald troll in his black "church" robes.
Talia had been a jewel on his arm, radiating glory and drawing every male eye in the room to herself as she'd flirted shamelessly with her target while Illian had seethed.  Nor had her dress, made of a shimmering, sheer material that left very little to the imagination help his mood.  He's managed to stay put and maintain a demeanor of attentiveness as his dock-worker buddy droned on, but mainly he'd
been angry at the way Talia continued to play the harlot- despite his request that she back off.  He'd tried to express his displeasure, but she hadn't understood.  To be effective, she had to have an effective cover.  One that others would believe.  But that was precisely the problem.

It was far to easy for Illian to believe her...

Illian's contact droned on.  This man was one that knew where things went and to who.  Illian had cultivated the contact in the hopes of extracting that information, but all he wanted to was preach about the virtues of the Church of the Dark Side.  He simply didn't see that "virtue" and "dark side" were mutually exclusive terms, even as he spoke of Ultimate Power and the Might to Crush the Foe...  Finally Illian had had enough.  He was supposed to meet Balnard and Julwynn in the cafe attached to the bar for a late meal once they were done securing the cargo containers on board, but he needed to take a walk, get some air and clear his head before that.  And he needed to get away from Talia and ... let her work.   He grabbed his drink and tossed it back, grimacing as the raw alcohol burned down his throat.  "Doug, my apologies.  Your Church sounds fascinating, but I will have to pass for now.  Please excuse me, I need to get back to my ship and check a few things out..."

Doug just grinned and raised his own glass.  "No problem, friend.  Consider what I said!  The Church will prevail against her enemies!  It is up to us to decide if we're on her side ... or not."

Illian just nodded and waved, tossing a hard currency chit onto the bar as he turned to leave.  He was one step away from the door when a very large, burly man blocked his way.  "Hold, friend.  Come with me, Administrator Carcas would like to speak with you..."

Illian had been fuming over Talia and her flirting, and had not been paying as close of attention as he should have.  He snapped his senses open as he stepped back, hands raised to shoulder height.  "Hello!  What seems to be the problem?"

The face before him was scarred and battered ... and looked like he could be Balnard Kohl's brother.  There was disfigurement, however, and a series of intricate tatoos that covered the left-half of the face, bald scalp, and ran down the neck under the armor.  Illian was struck by the sudden frenetic pace of the song, the melody hammering out a fight-or-flight agitato with a sinister harmonic undertone.  In the force he sensed there were several additional armed men in the passageway, all geared for a fight.  

Illian tensed but before he could do anything the man grabbed him by the lapels and pulled him in close, nose-to-nose.  His voice was a hoarse whisper, pitched low so only he could hear it.  "The problem, pretty-boy, is your ship's captain.  Balnard Kohl ... I want to know how you met him, where you came from, anything and everything you can tell me."

Illian's mind raced.  What does he want with Balnard?  He was framing a response, calming his mind to supply a mental nudge, when he felt Talia exerting pressure on him in the force as her sultry voice spoke from behind him.  "Well, I love to see men exerting themselves but fighting is so destructive.  Maybe I can offer a ... more entertaining diversion?"

The man drew Illian in even closer.  His hand shifted and Illian felt cold steel against his throat.  "M' name's Orlan.  Balnard and I were ... pod brothers.  We did everything together ... until he left us at Cold Harbor to die.  Now I want to know how you came by him and what his game is here." His eyes shifted to Talia and his voice rose enough for her to hear.  "I spoke with Garan.  He's a weak-minded fool, and fell for your witchcraft.  But if you or your whore try to use your mind-tricks on me..."  He left the threat un-said, the menace in his voice making his intent clear enough.

"Talia..." Illian said softly.  They would talk to this man.  Meanwhile they could find another way out...

A weak force-push drove the blade away from his throat - briefly.  Before more than pure shock could register Orland's hand countered the weak move.  Illian moved reflexively and managed to get his left hand up in time to fend off the first thrust, which saved his life.  His throat remained intact as he drew his saber and ignited it...

The knife, eight inches of razor-sharp battle steel, sank into his left side with a wet smacking sound.

Illian was aware of a cold numbness under his ribs on the left side.  For a second he assumed Orlan had either cut him or only made a shallow strike.  His body followed through with his own strike - an angled cut that split Orlan from his left shoulder to his right hip - without interruption.

Then the numbness was gone and there was only blinding, white-hot pain...

Illian collapsed, his saber shutting down and clattering to the deck.  Talia screamed and attacked, drawing a hold-out blaster she had somehow managed to conceal despite her brief attire.  Two of Orlan's
crew were killed instantly, two more wounded by Talia's fire, but it was to little to late.  Before she could consolidate the position or even attempt to escape station security personnel as well as bar patrons and passing Church acolytes swarmed her under, easily incapacitating her and binding her.

Illian saw it all through a red haze, his hand wrapped around the hilt of the knife which impaled him, struggling just to breathe...  Maker, preserve us...

The last thing he saw as the red veil closed over him was Talia being dragged away - and down the corridor, Balnard and Julwynn's shocked faces as they ducked into cover...
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« Reply #18 on: January 29, 2018, 11:52:59 PM »

Don’t think anything is going as planned for the team, and their efforts to improvise aren’t working either….

“He simply didn't see that "virtue" and "dark side" were mutually exclusive terms”
I think Illian’s problem is he doesn’t realise for some people there is no contradiction there…that kind of thinking is going to get him in trouble by viewing them all as enemies.  Let alone his inability to let go of his jealously over Talia, he doesn’t own her after all. Every chapter he seems to become more and more of a liability to the whole operation...perhaps it’s not the Church of the Darkside that are the Zealot’s here….

Pod brothers sounds interesting though…vat grown, clones?

On an editorial note should it be Scardia not Scarlia?
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Lord_S_Gray

Surik: "Kreia, what are you—are you a Jedi, a Sith?"
Kreia: "Does it matter? Of course it does, such titles allow you to break the galaxy into light and dark, categorize it. Perhaps I am neither, and I hold both as what they are, pieces of a whole."

Karmack
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« Reply #19 on: January 30, 2018, 02:33:54 AM »

You are right, LSG!  Scardia Station.  Oy...  Somewhere I transposed the "d" to an "l".  Nice catch!  Thanks, I have it corrected in my manuscript.  :-)

As for the rest...  Yes, they're all Zealots.  Nice catch, though.  You hit the nail on the head.  And while its good and even often essential to hold a belief in a zealous manner, you also have to understand other people's points of view...

I felt kinda bad killing Orlan off so quickly, too...  But we'll still learn a little more about him and Balnard's past...  :-)
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« Reply #20 on: January 30, 2018, 04:51:12 AM »

I just love your writing. It is so fun to read, kind of like a mixture of J.R.R. Tolkien and Brian Jacques (if you know who he is). Fairly simple and easy to read, yet with the depth of an experienced writer. Anyways, two great chapters. I can't wait to see what comes next.
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"I am the Outcast's Shadow" - Taegin Roan
"Confronting fear is the Destiny of a Jedi" - Luke Skywalker
"So this is how liberty dies: with thunderous applause." - Padmé Amidala

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« Reply #21 on: January 30, 2018, 04:27:51 PM »

Yes, Karm's writing IS fun to read  Smiley

Still: I wonder what conundrum our friends have off and gotten themselves into now.

Ouch, hope that Illian has a healer nearby... And I'm wondering if Balnard's abilities with the Force are an inherited genetic trait or a fluke...

Awesome Karm!  Can't wait to read more  Smiley
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Sig courtesy of DarthScrub

Cataphract Triarch of the Vhal'Dan

My sabers:Zearic's Aldrnari, Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, AS; Zearic's shoto, Apprentice v4 w/Obsidian, AS; Graflex SE w/Obsidian, GB; Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, CG; Dark Sentinel v4 w/Obsidian, BR; Sentinel LE v4 w/Obsidian, GB; Initiate v5 w/Obsidian, AS; Sentinel LE v4 stunt, EG; Aeon LE v4 stunt, FO; Dominix v4 stunt, BR; Aeon v3 stunt, SY

Karmack
Forumverse Loremaster
Master of Ceremonies
SaberForum.Com Moderator
Knight Commander
************

Force Alignment: 1152
Posts: 5602


Light side points please.


« Reply #22 on: February 06, 2018, 09:56:18 PM »

Chapter 6: Decision Point
Scardia Station - Blackstar Construction Yard
5 ABY

Balnard led the way, weapons still holstered but his hand hovering only inches away from it.  Julwynn followed him, reaching out with the force, signalling him when to turn, when to duck, when to speed up or slow down.  They wove their way through the construction modules, taking maintenance corridors and side-passages, doing all they could to stay off the beaten pathway...

"Bal, left, we need to lay low for a minute!" She hissed in his ear.  Balnard didn't hesitate, just turned right and used a small electronic gizmo that materialized in his hand to open a door for them.  The two piled in and the door closed behind them, giving them their first moment to stop, breathe and think since...

Since Illian was ... killed?  Julwynn sank down into a lotus and reached out with the force... No, he was still there.  Still alive, but hurt badly.  His song was a chaotic jumble of pain and fear, all sense of melody and harmony lost, only the rhythmic beating of a heart hammering under it all and growing steadily slower and weaker...

Julwynn pulled herself out of Illian's song and used a part of her concentration to engage a healing motif and direct it at him in the force.  It wouldn't heal the way the strongest singers could, but it would hold the line for a while, giving Illian time.

Giving them all time...

"Balnard, we need to go back, get them out.  Signal Kato to get the ship ready..."

Balnard cut her off.  "No, lass.  That way is suicide.  We have a job to do, we need to do it.  Illian and Talia knew the risks going in.  Its only a matter o' time before these 'prophets' figure out who and what they are.  We need to take what we have and get it back to the Mak'Tor.  Let them mount a rescue mission.  Our job now is to survive and report."  He turned, offering her a hand to help her up.  "We need to move...now."

Julwynn pulled her hand away, scooting back, a look of shock on her face.  "You're...  you're going to leave them behind?  To die?  To be tortured to death?"  Her head started to shake slowly side to side.  "No...   No.  I cannot leave them behind.  I won't!"

Balnard reached down and seized his wife by the shoulders, physically lifting her to her feet.  "You will.  Its out DUTY, girl!  The information we've gathered, the intel that Kato lifted from the yard's computers while we were unloading, even just the location of this place, all need to be transmitted back to M'Tzigon!  C'mon, lass, think!  Yes, Illian and Talia will die.  Yes, it will be horrible.  But how much worse would it be for US to die as well, and all for nothing?  They are sacrificing themselves even now so that we can complete the mission!  Do we let them die in vain?"

Julwynn's green eyes hardened to emeralds, anger smoldering in their depths.  "No, Bal.  We don't let them die in vain.  We have Kato launch and squeal the information out, then stand by while we try to find a way to rescue our friends!  We don't abandon them.  And if the Maker decrees it, we die with them."

Bal released her and stepped back.  "So, that's it.  You're doin' this because you've gotten your head filled with this 'Maker' nonsense!"  He leaned in close, eye-to-eye and nose-to-nose with Julwynn.  "No god tells me what to do.  We have a mission!  We will finish it!  Because that is what I will."

Julwynn refused to back down, but she choked off her anger as best she could.  "Bal...  My head is not full of nonsense.  Yes, I believe in the Maker.  Yes, I believe in the Way that Father Tim'Ous taught me about.  And yes, that Way runs through here.  Bal, we all have a purpose!  I can hear the song.  Feel the force.  We're at a ... tipping point.  I can't sing and add my song to the greater melody the way my sister or Master Karmack can.  But I can feel when its reaching a point of decision.  Please..."  Julwynn fell to her knees.  "I can't promise its the best decision for us, personally, but the right thing to do is to at least try to help Illian and Talia.  I ... don't think I could live with myself if I walked away from them now.  Please..."

Balnard Kohl looked down at his wife ... his lover ... on her knees, begging him.  Begging...  So different than what she had been.  She'd been one to take, to use, to cast away.  She'd been intrigued with him more than anything else.  He'd taken her by surprise, and yes his original intent had been to use her as well.  But as she had been captivated, so had he, and as they learned more about each other he found that he had ... become used to her presence.

And then she'd changed.  It was easy to blame it on the Mak'Tor and their blasted 'Way' but he knew it had started long before that, before they'd even left Sullust.  When she'd seen more of what her sister was up to, learned more about Mellichae and Cha and Mendax, she'd ... turned.  Started to care more about others, less about herself.  M'Tzigon and the Way had only given form and direction to the change already happening within her.

And now she was begging him to let her die for a friend.

Balnard Kohl reached down and lifted his wife again, hugging her close.  "Alright Lass.  I'll send the bug-out code to Kato with a Case Red attached.  Lets see what we can find out about this place. I'd still rather survive than die, if that's ok with y' lass?"

Julwynn smiled a brilliant smile through her tears.  "Thank you."

Bal kissed her and grinned.  "Don't thank me yet!  I'm just a daft old man.  I haven't been able to say no to y' since the first time I saw ye on that table.  So lets get somewhere secure and see about helpin' our friends."

*************

Illian floated in a sea of blinding red pain.  The force, the song...  both were gone, lost in the swirl of searing agony.  It washed out his senses, blinded him, rang in his ears.  There was nothing else.  Illian heard a raspy, hoarse cry and distantly knew it as his own voice...

The pain dimmed.  Like a calm, soothing wave the song returned, wrapping around his mind, easing the pain ... somewhat.  With the relief also came sight.  Illian opened his eyes and found himself nose-to-nose with his interrogator.  Yellow eyes gleamed in the dark hood.  "Welcome back, Jedi.  You are a stubborn one.  Stupid, too.  You know how this ends.  Your friends have abandoned you.  Your mission here has failed.  Yet you persist in resisting or even admitting what you are.  Please, end this destructive, painful resistance.  Bring yourself peace.  Talk to me, Jedi, and I promise you a quick and clean end.  Otherwise..."

Illian braced himself, anticipating a return of the pain, but nothing happened.  His interrogator laughed.  "See?  You already anticipate it.  I think you might like it..."  A gloved hand reached out and lightly tapped the knife wound, driving a different type of agony through his body.  "Or maybe not..."

Illian shuddered and gathered himself, singing a healing song, desperately trying to damp the pain enough to access the force effectively.  His connection to the force was tenuous at best.  The song piereced the fog better, but he was no great singer.  He could only do what his mentor on M'Tzigon had called "humming" - finding and joining a few simple motifs that seemed to be woven into the very fabric of the song.  But even humming was better than nothing...

He felt a little strength seep back into his limbs.  The interrogation had been going on for a while now.  An interrogation droid hovered nearby, ready to attach additional leads to his body or inject chemicals as necessary, but it wasn't running the show.  Instead this dark hooded Inquisitor was personally inflicting pain on him via a series of bio-electrical probes stabbed into his body in various places - and makikng a show of enjoying himself in the process.  They had him bound naked to the interrogation table, and even as the cool soothing touch of the force aided by the song washed over him Illian knew that each of these interludes was calculated to further break him down.  Each recover only partially restored his waning strength - and only prolonged the overall agony.

As if reading his mind, the hooded figure manipulated a control and his entire left leg was suddenly on fire.  Illian reacted, back arching in agony and he emitted a hoarse shriek of agony as the electrical system convinced his nerves that someone had just immersed his left leg in molten glass.  Slowly the pain receded to a barely tolerable level again as his tormentor chuckled.  "As much as I enjoy this..."  He gestured to someone beind Illian, out of his view.  "I am afraid I must insist that you tell me what I wish to know.  Where are your Jedi friends hiding?  How many are there?  What provisions and equipment do they possess?  The pain will not stop, but if you will not answer me ... it will be shared."

Illian blinked and managed to clear his eyes in time to see a site that spiked him with terror and desperation: Talia, bound and stripped as he was, with the same probes affixed to her body.  Unlike him she was blindfolded and her mouth was blocked by a bulky gag, preventing her from biting her tongue - or screaming to loudly.  The Inquisitor's eyes danced with evil delight as he picked up the leads from Talia's interrogation table and plugged it into his control panel.  "And now ... everything you feel, she will feel as well."

For a split second Illian was frozen in time, filled with utter despair and impotent fury.  The force, so long his ally, was utterly out of reach, walled off by a wall of white-hot agony and he was unable to do anything.  Unable to protect his wife.  Unable to strike his enemies.  Unable to save himself or the woman he loved...

And then the device activated and husband and wife reacted as one, screaming in unison as the electodes mimicked the feeling of molten lead being poured into their stomaches and bowels.  Muscles strained against their bonds as they thrashed against the torment, to no avail.

Finally, after another eternity of agony, the pain relented again.  Again, the probe of his mind.  Again, Illian found the strength to batter it aside.  To set his jaw in defiance.  "Really you still resist?  I am impressed ... Jedi."

Illian looked hate at the man - and spoke at last.  "Mak'Tor...not...Jedi..." he coughed, ignored the blood on his lips.  "Much ... worse..."

The Inquisitor laughed, a full belly-laugh this time.  "Really?  You lie there helpless, unable to help yourself or your companion while I can do ... this..."  Agony coursed through them again.  "And you threaten me?"

He was still laughing when the wall of the interrogation room exploded inward, a shard of steel slicing him neatly in half...

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« Reply #23 on: February 06, 2018, 10:35:34 PM »

The voice of pragmatism against the voice of hope...seems Balnard gave in too easily at the end though. Really though they should've all realised they were out of their depth as soon as they Reached Scardia.  

Poor Illian, he can't get anything right can he....I'm surprised the Inquisitor was so "gentle" with them overall...I'd have thought a better way was to leave Illian and focus on Talia maybe he was just getting started...

Somehow I doubt its Balnard and Julwyyn who caused that explosion though, that would be much too easy.  Anyway small secondary problem - Explosion big enough to slice someone in two...Illian and Talia both tied naked....um...shrapnel much! Ouch!

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Surik: "Kreia, what are you—are you a Jedi, a Sith?"
Kreia: "Does it matter? Of course it does, such titles allow you to break the galaxy into light and dark, categorize it. Perhaps I am neither, and I hold both as what they are, pieces of a whole."

Karmack
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« Reply #24 on: February 07, 2018, 12:34:34 AM »

Chapter 7: Redemption
Blackstar Base
5 ABY

"I no ken how y' talked me into this lass..." Balnard mumbled under his breath. Then louder: "OK, lass.  Ready when y' are..."

"OK, brace yourself.  You'll only have a few seconds before the emergency bulkheads close.  Don't get caught in the wrong place!"

Bal laughed.  "Me?  You're worried o' me?  Lass, you do what y' must and then move your ass to the extraction point.  Whatever damage is done these black-souled Inquisitors will be swarmin' or're the place in no time..."

"I love you to, Bal.  Now, get ready..."

The detention block was in the core of the habitat ring of Blackstar Base.  If they'd been taken to the main detention facilities in Scardia Station this would never have worked.  The cubical station was to massive, the habitat and especially the detention areas to deep in the structure.  But here...

Blackstar was designed as a construction base, mimicking the far larger Kuat Drive Yards.  Built in 3 stacked rings, the upper and lower were a series of construction slips and cargo handling docks, with a habitat ring in between and a central hub housing operations and logistics support offices and zero-g construction modules.  The Dragon had shot away from its berth at Cargo Bay 3/C3 two minutes earlier, dodging and weaving as it broke contact and fled the system.  Fighters were in pursuit, but the modified freighter had a head start and was fast enough that it was already to far away for a successful interception before Kato made the jump to light-speed.

Balnard wished he'd insisted that they had gone with it ... but only for an instant.  Deep down, he was glad in the end that his wife had insisted they stay and try to spring Illian and Talia.  Even if they died, he suspected that he wouldn't have been able to live with himself afterward.  Mission or no, he'd made a vow to never again leave someone behind... Ach!  No excuses!  I'm goin' soft in my old age, and its going to get me killed today...

And then it was time.  They'd picked this spot because there was a large, automated freighter sitting nearby waiting for final docking instructions.  Julwynn was in a fairly safe place on the outer edge of the docking ring above him, with a clear line-of-site to the ship.  Balnard didn't fully understand why, but she needed to be able to see it to pull off what she was about to do.  He watched on a small screen display of the area outside as she used the force to reset the ship's controls.  She nudged the nose around, bringing it into line with the habitat ring ... and kicked the main engines to full emergency thrust.

The freighter was empty, waiting for cargo, but it still weighted upwards of 20k tons.  It was still only traveling at a few dozen meters per second when it slammed into the station's habitat ring, but that was a LOT of mass, and the engines continued to drive the ship forward even as the outer skin and bulkheads let go unleashing fire and chaos within...

Balnard leapt into the flames of hell.

His armor was a modified Mandalorian design, complete with a flight-capable back-pack and suitable for zero-gee and operations in a vacuum.  His first enemy was the wind, as the atmosphere around him vented explosively into space.  He held his course, dodging debris, and just as quickly as the hurricane began it ended, the local air gone through the massive hole.  A few quick thrusts and he was out of the public corridor he'd staged in and deep into the detention area.  He slammed to a halt as the emergency bulkheads closed behind him and pulled an unfamiliar device from his belt - a lightsaber.  Specifically it was Illian's primary hilt, the one he'd built as a Jedi padawan and carried openly as both Jedi and Mak'Tor Knight.  The smaller 'hold-out' blade he'd been carrying when he was taken was smaller, slimmer, and had a far shorter combat endurance but was much easier to hide.  He'd left his larger "combat" saber on the ship...

Bal ignighted the blade, nearly dropping it as the gyroscopic effects of the plasma in the blade reacting to the containment system surprised him.  He maintained his grip, however, and then grinned as the blade sliced effortlessly through the wall of the detention center.  There was just enough of an over-pressure from the internal space to pop the plug out of the hole as he finished the cut, and he killed the blade and drew his familiar blaster as he stepped through.

Maker....

Something, a support member of the station itself, perhaps, had been driven inward by the strike and had ... raked through the interrogation rooms.  Balnard was in the observation area, where the worst had happened.  The floor, the walls, everything was covered in blood...  There were three observers here, all robed, all dead, and enough spare parts to make up at least two more ... maybe three...

Balnard was moving quickly.  Time was short.  He kicked open a jammed door and moved into the main interrogation space and swallowed hard...

Someone with gray skin and sightless yellow eyes lay in two pieces, sliced neatly in half by a shard of metal that was razor-sharp and nearly five meters long.  An interrogation droid popped up from the corner and rotated toward him, trying to bring its stunner to bear, but Balnard was faster and calmly blew the black sphere apart.  He snatched up a bloody robe and draped it over Talia, who was unconscious and bleeding profusely from several cuts but didn't appear to be to severely injured.  He nearly blanched again when he realized that the electrical probes had been stabbed deep into her body, not just stuck to the skin.  He slowed and pulled them out carefully and quickly, then slapped backa-soaked field dressings on her wounds and wrapped the black robe around her.  Lifting her, he turned to Illian...

With a snarl the red blade appeared and dropped like a hatchet, cutting through the Mak'Tor knight and the table with ease before slicing into the complex interrogation controls on the deck.  The box exploded in a shower of sparks, obscuring the Inquisitor - a Zabrek with a cybernetic arm and wearing armor nearly identical to Balnard's.  Bal didn't hesitate.  He simply turned and ran, showering the area where the Zabrek was with blaster fire before ducking into the crawl space he and Julwynn had identified for their escape.

Adrenaline pumped through his system but Balnard kept calm.  He dropped a listening device behind him as he climbed, and quickly noted the sounds of pursuit.  As he exited the shaft he dropped a second gift - a small thermal detonator.  He had to use his jets, risking a collision and severe injury to Talia, to clear the space fast enough but he was just able to get beyond the next set of blast doors before the detonator went off behind him.

The blast doors he's just passed slammed shut as the space he'd been in suddenly lost its atmospheric integrity, and Balnard slowed his frantic pace, returning to the evasion pattern he'd planned and working his way carefully to the airlock where Julwynn waited for him, hopefully with a ship suitable for their escape.

It took twenty minutes to reach her, and when he finally did he was both relieved to see her ... and heart-broken as she saw Talia, the blood, and the look in his eyes ... and she knew.  He said it anyway.  "Illian is dead, lass.  One of the Inquisitors..."

"I am no Inquisitor, worm!" barked a voice behind Balnard.

Balnard Kohl was rarely taken by surprise, but this time was an exception.  "But..   How?"

The Zabrek laughed.  "Do you think explosives can kill me?  Really now."  He looked at Talia, still cradled in Balnard's arms.  "Fear not, I have no interest in you.  Its the Mak'Tor I want."

Julwynn stepped forward.  "Why?  What does she mean to you?"

Mellichae drew himself to his full height, and his eyes gleamed.  "You favor your sister...  You should have remained loyal.  But even you I will allow to live ... today.  I only need one sacrifice."  He drew his saber, igniting the blades.  "Now ... stand aside.  Or die."

Julwynn stepped forward and withdrew her own saber, also red, also double-bladed.  "No.  She is my friend, and if necessary I will die today to prevent you or anyone else from taking her."

Mellichae smiled.  "Suit yourself."  And he began to sing.

Balnard felt momentary confusion and panic slam through him as his wife went from defiance to fear to dispair before his eyes.  One moment she was a warrior, spitting defiance.  The next she was prey, utterly defeated.  Even Talia, just rousing, suddenly curled tight against him, whimpering in fear.  Then he realized what was happening and his mind raced.

The Zabrek, still singing, raised his saber and advanced...

Maker, preserve us! Balnard prayed, perhaps for the first time in his life, and waited, letting a look of terror inhabit his face.  He fell to his knees, toppled forward, dropping Talia on the floor as he scrambled, looking for everything like someone in a blind panic grasping at anything to just get away...

...until his hand arced up, the blue blade of Illian's saber igniting and slicing through the Zabrek's saber hilt, destroying the saber and cutting his mechanical hand off across the palm.

Mellichae roared, this time in pain and fury.  "No!  How???"  He focused on Balnard, who rose now into a fighting stance.  He'd never wielded a lightsaber before today but bladed weapons were old friends, and he knew several different fighting forms.  He adopted one now and advanced on the Zabrek.

Confusion pierced the rage on Mellichae's face.  "You...  What are you?  You're not ... there.  No presence in the force.  Like a droid..."  Fear appeared, and the Zabrek turned and ran. 

Balnard let him go, shutting the saber down.  "Are y' allright lass?" he asked, lifting Julwynn to her feet. 

"Yes..." She said, but her eyes said different.  Balnard pulled her tight as the tears started.  "Bal... I was terrified..."

"It's not your fault, Julwynn.  He was a singer.  A powerful one." Talia said from behind them.

Bal and Julwynn both turned to look at the young woman, sitting up now, swaddled in a blood-soaked robe.  Her voice was unnaturally flat and steady but her eyes were bright with tears.  Balnard met her eyes.  "I'm sorry, lass..."

Talia just nodded, her chin trembling as she burst into tears.  "No, Bal.  We screwed up.  You could have left us, but you came back for us and Illian knew it, at the last.  We felt what Julwynn was doing.  I just wanted to give up.  To wait, but he never quit.  I felt him grab the steel and steer it, but it split and in order to hit his mark..." she stopped, unable to continue.

Julwynn moved, sinking down next to Talia and wrapping her arms around her, cradling her head on her own shoulder. "Shhhh.."

Balnard watched them for long seconds, unable to look away.  Situation awareness, trooper! he chided himself at last, looking outward, plugging into the sensor net.  To his surprise their codes still worked.  He pulled up internal and external sensors, looking for an opening.  They had to be just about surrounded by security forces by now...

The internal board was clear.  That's odd...  A quick glance at the larger scanner showed the answer: a rash of red icons surrounded Scardia Station, led by the ISD Steadfast.  Rumors had been flying that Grand Admiral Makati had it in for the Prophet.  The workers Balnard had spoken to seemed to think that was the cause of the build-up and the reason Blackstar Base had been built. It looks like they were right...

So that was why no one was closing in on them: they had bigger problems to deal with than a prison break.  But it was also bad news, because that same crisis meant that everything capable of flying was now in space.

There was no way out.

Balnard looked back at his wife, still hugging the weeping Talia, and felt his own sorrow.  Not for himself, but for her.  For Talia.  For Illian.  He'd lived a good life, longer than he ever expected to live, and had more happiness in the end than he'd ever felt he would.  But they were both young.  Both full of life.  And now, like Illian, they would die young.

Maker!  You call yourself a God!  This is not fair!  This is not right!  This is NOT JUST!  Do something!

Green sparks erupted as the Steadfast began its bombardment of Scardia. 
Logged

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Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

Lord_S_Gray
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« Reply #25 on: February 07, 2018, 02:39:25 AM »

Mellichae is back...and he is not happy at all.  Good inclusion.  Poor Illian...he really wasn't suited to this mission on reflection, but he died well in managing to guide the explosion a little, given the torture that couldn't have been easy.  Balnard really gets going in this chapter, good exposition of his skills and experience.


It seems they have terrible timing though...infighting within the Empire is not the best thing to be in the middle of...
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Lord_S_Gray

Surik: "Kreia, what are you—are you a Jedi, a Sith?"
Kreia: "Does it matter? Of course it does, such titles allow you to break the galaxy into light and dark, categorize it. Perhaps I am neither, and I hold both as what they are, pieces of a whole."

Karmack
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« Reply #26 on: February 07, 2018, 04:00:58 AM »

Yeah.  As an author the phrase "painted into a corner" keeps ringing in my head...  ;-)
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« Reply #27 on: February 07, 2018, 06:42:00 AM »

When this gets back to Karm, he ain't gonna be happy. Wonderfully written, yet extremely sad. Obviously I hope that somehow Illian isn't dead, but even the Aethan's can't bring someone who is dead back to life.  Cry  But that little winky face that you did there gives me hope that something may not be as it currently seems.
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« Reply #28 on: February 07, 2018, 12:50:29 PM »

Wow Karm...

Two big surprises: Illian dying  Sad noble sacrifice... And Mellichae showing up  Shocked

Man that guy always is in the wrong place at the wrong time (for our heroes, that is).  Bal has certainly become a favorite!  His skill set coupled with his unique ability...awesome.  But I have no idea how he's going to get them out of this mess...

playing "Taps" for Illian "To absent friends"
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« Reply #29 on: February 07, 2018, 09:14:47 PM »

When this gets back to Karm, he ain't gonna be happy. Wonderfully written, yet extremely sad. Obviously I hope that somehow Illian isn't dead, but even the Aethan's can't bring someone who is dead back to life.  Cry  But that little winky face that you did there gives me hope that something may not be as it currently seems.

Aethans can't bring back the dead - that sounds like a challenge!
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Lord_S_Gray

Surik: "Kreia, what are you—are you a Jedi, a Sith?"
Kreia: "Does it matter? Of course it does, such titles allow you to break the galaxy into light and dark, categorize it. Perhaps I am neither, and I hold both as what they are, pieces of a whole."

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