Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Jul 31, 2005 21:45:54 GMT -5
Iric nodded. He had sensed something in the bounty hunter from the beginning. The slew of lightsabers strewn about the cabin did nothing to allay his fears.
Perhaps he should have stayed on Coruscant, gone into the Temple, seen what he could scrounge up of the Jedi Order -- tomes, holocrons, records...but for what?
Iric settled back against the bulkhead of the ship and felt the tiny lurch in his stomach that signalled a jump to hyperspace. It would be a long trip.
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Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Aug 1, 2005 16:31:17 GMT -5
Iric felt Riz meditating beside him. What was his story? He was sensitive to the Force, and had clearly become more attuned by some sort of training. But what sort? And from whom? Over the past few days Iric had helped him in his exercises. It helped to pass the time, but it stirred feelings in Iric...dangerous feelings. Anu.
But he would not interrupt the young man's meditation.
Jacob came in, and began to speak, but when he saw Riz meditating, he quickly closed his mouth and pursed his lips. He recognized the repose that his fellow mercenary had fallen into, and its importance -- an odd trait in a non-Jedi.
His face was familiar.
Jacob whispered: "We're not far off. We should be coming out of hyperspace in half a day or so."
* * * They called it the Maw. It tore ships to pieces. There was no escape, and any pilot incompetent enough to plot a course without accounting for the Maw did not live to pay for any further stupidity.
But through the Emperor, all things are possible.
It took every variation of repulsor technology, every manipulation of gravity the galaxy's physicists and engineers could muster to keep the Maw Installation from succumbing to the destructive power of its location. The Maw itself was a cluster of black holes, ancient stars collapsed in upon themselves eons ago in some as yet undetermined catastrophe. The nearest star system, Kessel, often had to put up with the erratic behavior in its orbit caused by so dense a gravitic anomoly.
The immense danger of the Maw was attractive to the Emperor. No one in his right mind would dare even approach it, not to mention that the immense spacial distortion caused by so many overlapping event-horizons made it impossible to scan. The Maw was a huge, imposing, black spot on galaxy-charts.
A perfect place to keep secrets.
The viewports showed nothing but black as Lord Vader strode down the walkway, pits on either side full of the men who kept the star destroyer running. Some did their best to avert their gazes, willing their necks completely stiff and their eyes glued to their readouts. Others could not help but look up at him, at his flowing cape and black armor, at the reflective surface of his death's-head mask. The men all radiated fear like air from a cooling vent. Vader drank it through his pores.
The inky blackness was disturbing to the Sith Lord. Since he was a child, he had looked up at the sky and been amazed that all he could see, every shining point of light, was part of the galaxy in which he lived, that chances were he could close his eyes, spin around with his finger pointed at the heavens and, whichever little pinprick in the vast purple blanket above his little finger came to rest on most likely had planets, like the one on which he stood, had people. Even on Coruscant, where so few stars were visible, the lights of speeders and starships reassured him that the galaxy was still there.
Not here. All was darkness.
As he reached the end of the bridge, a slight man with prominent cheek bones removed his hand from his chin and excused himself from the robed figure he was speaking to. The man was Tarkin, the mastermind behind this installation, and, if Vader understood correctly, a powerful proponent of some sort of Geonosian designed weapon. The robed figure was Vader's master: Darth Sidious, the Emperor Palpatine.
Vader stood beside his master and crossed his arms. He disliked being here; despite all the gravitic manipulation, it still felt as if he was slowly being torn to bits.
Palpatine inhaled through his nose and spoke to his apprentice: "Gaze upon the future of the Empire, my apprentice."
Vader took a moment to adjust to the blackness of the void beyond. The black holes robbed light before it could reach the observer's eyes, but the sensor displays within his helmet aided him, helped him see things others could not.
Before him, looming in the darkness, was a massive metal structure. It hovered in the distance, a system of girders and frames, a spherical skeleton the size of a moon. It took a moment for Vader to take it all in. His lips worked wordlessly behind his mask before he could put together a coherent question.
"Master," he began, recoiling a bit from his new voice, "what is it?"
"That, Lord Vader, is the most powerful battle-station the galaxy has ever seen. That is the weapon created by the Geonosians. That is the reason this installation was built. That, my apprentice, is what we will use to bring planets to their knees."
Lord Vader merely stood, listening to his own breath.
* * * The ship lurched again as they came out of hyperspace. Iric hurried towards the front viewport.
Tatooine.
The world was a wasteland, a drab, almost featureless ball of orange-yellow sand and dust.
And yet it shone brightly in the Force.
Few planets had taken part in so many great events. Darth Revan stopped there thousands of years ago while he waged war on the Republic, and again when he turned back to the light on his jouney to destroy his former apprentice, Darth Malak. This world had been the birthplace of the great Jedi Sharad Hett, and his son, A'Sharad, also a great Jedi. It had been the birthplace of Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One, who had been birthed of the Force to bring balance by destroying the accursed Sith.
Staring down at the world below, Iric hoped with all his heart that Skywalker was still alive somewhere.
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SilvanoshiS
Apprentice
flightless and loving it
Posts: 143
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Post by SilvanoshiS on Aug 1, 2005 18:44:37 GMT -5
((OOC: This part should go before Southhorn's last post. I was writing this morning and didn't finish. I'll combine it with what happen's after his post, I'll indicate where the break is.))
Jacob walked back to the bunkroom with some bottles of liquid, one of witch he was drinking. "Hey! Don't touch those! I haven't finished them!" roared Jacob as he enterd the room and saw someone leaning over the workbench examining the lightsabers. He tossed a drink to his two passengers. "Those are prototypes that I'm working on," Iric looked as if he were about to say something, "I know, I know, 'They're a Jedi's sacred weapon and shouldn't be fooled with,' and all that voodoo *chocolate* about no one but a Jedi being able to use them, but I find that once you get the basics down, they're easy enough to handle. I'm not saying I could block blasters or nothin, but in a lightsaber on lightsaber duel, they're easy enough."
He could tell Riz didn't trust him anymore. "Come on, they're prototypes, I'll show you what they do, come on back to the cargo bay."
***
Jacob had quickly re-assembled the lightsaber on the table, but not in a fashion that Iric had seen before. In the cargo bay he had left them at the door and gone to the far end of the room. Turn your's on, and be ready to block whatever I do!" Jacob yelled.
Shzzk! A bolt flew out of the lightsaber and streaked toward them, Iric braced himself for the bolt after being cought off-guard by the lightsaber not staying within the confines of a sword. He hit it, but it dissapeared. "That would be the problem, it's so unstable after seperation that unless it contacts with flesh it fizzles. Here, this one's neat," Jacob said as he walked back over to them. He aimed the saber at a box and fired, but to everyone's surprise, the the bolt seemed to fragment and became a net that landed over the box and held it down. Jacob walked over to it and held the glowing fiber in his hand. "This is something I came onto accidentally. For a saber 'bolt' to stay stable and cohesive, it has to become non-lethal, which makes it a strong, almost unbreakable, net, useful for live captures." Iric noted that Jacob looked rather pleased with himself and his inventions.
"Just how did you get a lightsaber, anyway," said Iric hesitantly, fearing the worst.
"I won it, in a game of Sabbac. I bet my ship against it, almost lost too. Some bounty hunter must've taken it as a prize somewhere and I got a hold of it, nothing dark or sadistic. I can tell you're pleased." Jacob beamed as he told the story of his gambleing venture.
((OOC: After Southhorn's post.)) *** They came out of hyperdrive over Tatooine. Jacob could feel the Jedi come in and look out the viewport over his shoulder. He still didn't know anything about his passengers, including names. "You still hope Skywalker's out there, don't you?" The Jedi looked shocked and a little bewhildered at this. "Don't look surpried, I always keep up with galactic events. He was the Jedi's 'Chosen One' after all. I'd say be careful what you wish for, you may get it. Hold on, the decent into Mos Eisley is never plesant. Too many spacers, not enough space. Also, when we land, keep the saber hidden. You're worth nothing alive, but dead, you're worth a fortune."
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Post by Christopher on Aug 1, 2005 20:08:08 GMT -5
(OOC: Umm...Triceracops...I think you have this confused with something else. This is Star Wars, not a story about the future. Plus I'm going to have to complain about you breaking the thread, and putting a post under an inapropriate thread *Smite*)
Riz passed the days by letting the jedi show him his order's way of the force. He listened, and obeyed, just to pass time. He didn't really care about learning his way of doing things. Riz had his own ways, and they worked for him.
Riz finally came out of his medative state, to find himself alone in the bunk room. Rather than bothering to go look for the other two, he only shrugged, and sprawled himself out on the bed.
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Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Aug 1, 2005 20:11:07 GMT -5
"They have to kill me first..." said Iric, without a hint of irony. This was the galaxy they were living in now.
The Jedi wasn't sure about this Jacob. The lightsabers were unsettling. Iric did not appreciate the way this man treated Jedi weapons. They were sacred and lightsaber combat was more than mere swordplay.
And if Iric had to teach him that the hard way, he would.
The net of energy he had created was unsettling at first, but Iric knew from studying history that cords had been created before. Originally, it was a lightsaber malfunction -- ancient model lightsabers, when not tuned properly, would sometimes produce more plasma than energy, and could sometimes result in a wobbly, short lived "beam." Most often, this was something to be fixed, but there were instances of "lightwhips." The net, Iric reasoned, operated on a similar principle. Chances were this Jacob had not known this, of course, but merely came across the whole thing by accident -- judging by the workshop, most of his lightsabers didn't work.
And yet Iric could tell the man was familiar with Jedi training. He knew of the prophecy. He knew how to build lightsabers. He knew of Jedi philosophy.
And his face! Where did Iric know him from?
But there was no time to ponder this as the ship made a landing in Mos Eisley Spaceport.
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SilvanoshiS
Apprentice
flightless and loving it
Posts: 143
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Post by SilvanoshiS on Aug 1, 2005 21:03:04 GMT -5
Jacob let his ship down with an uncerimonious thud. He showed the two men out of the ship and led them out into the open air market. "I need to stop by the Hutts, they owe me some money, you can come if you want." The two made no reply but continue to follow Jacob to the palace.
*** ((Italics are spoke in Hutt, so if you know it you can understand it, otherwise it's just gibberish))
Jacob had no idea what he was in store for when he reached the palace. He and his companions were brought before the Hutt.
"Do you know how much trouble you're in hunter?" asked the Hutt. "What for I didn-" "You know that you now work for Black Sun! That's treason in our books!" roared the Hutt. "Look I had to, they wanted me dead. God, does this mean I'm not getting paid by you either?" Jacob's rage was building fast, not a good thing when dealing with a Hutt. "Do not think that you're better than that scum in Black Sun. The only reason you're not dead is because you're good." "Wait, if I were to give you Jedi, would that soften the blow? Two of them, I brought them just in case." Jacob hated to do this, but his neck was on the line here. If they survived he could come back for them later, he hoped.
The Hutts' guards swooped down on the Jedi quicker than either could react. They were bound and gagged and thrown before the Hutt. Jacob walked up to Iric picked him up an kneed hum in the chest, but then whispered in his ear "I'm sorry, we were all dead if I didn't do this, I'll come back for you later." Then he spat in his face and walked out, as the Hutt said something about paying him half for his bounty. He didn't care, he'd just sold out two of the nicest people he'd met in a long time.
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Post by Christopher on Aug 1, 2005 21:24:38 GMT -5
Riz cursed out loud, when he was tossed into a dank cell in the basement of the hutt's palace. This was followed by a grunt and even more curses, when the jedi landed right on top of him.
With the sound of rushing air, the cell doors slammed shut.
"Wait till I get my hand on that little pile of bantha fodder!"
Without any regard for the body that held him to the floor, Riz quickly sat up, tossing the jedi off him. With the greatest of ease, Riz slipped out of his bonds. The strange enraged force user charged the closed door, and started to pound on the door.
"Open the door, and you won't die when I get out of here!" He shouted to the guard
Paying no heed to the prisoner's threat, the hideous pig-like guard walked over to the cell door. Without a word, the guard stuck a stun baton through the small window, and electricuted the 'jedi'. The guard started to continue his patrol, while laughing, which sounded more like a pig squealing.
Slowly Riz stood back up, and took deep breaths.
"Alright...I'm calm again..."
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Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Aug 1, 2005 23:15:58 GMT -5
{{OOC: Thanks for the edit.}}
Iric sat against the far wall, crossed his legs, and began to meditate. Riz seemed appalled that he could sit there at a time like this, but Iric paid him no mind. Instead, his awareness flowed about the world around him, searching for shatterpoints and courses of action that could get them out of this. But for the time being, the best plan was restraint.
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Post by Christopher on Aug 2, 2005 0:03:30 GMT -5
Riz sighed and rolled his eyes. He understood the importance of keeping yourself centered an aware, but right now was time for action. It seemed he would have to get them both out of this. Casually, Riz strolled over to the door, and looked out the window.
"Hey, ugly!" He called to the guard "Come here for a minute, I want to talk with ya."
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Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Aug 2, 2005 0:07:02 GMT -5
The guard snorted and stared. He took step closer and shrugged, asked what the prisoner could possibly want.
((OOC: POST COUNT! WHOOO!))
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Post by Christopher on Aug 2, 2005 0:13:20 GMT -5
"What are you doing? Listening to that fat slug, and guarding us for? You have two guys in here, that could bring you four times the amount of credits the Hutts have!" Riz told the guard "You just have to carry us off, and no doubt you'll find a buyer. And if your worried about the Hutts getting ya, you could spend the money to buy an army of bodyguards! Along with your own planet! Just think of what you could buy, if you just fenced us for yourself."
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SilvanoshiS
Apprentice
flightless and loving it
Posts: 143
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Post by SilvanoshiS on Aug 2, 2005 10:13:45 GMT -5
Meanwhile...
Jacob walked back into the throneroom of the Hutt and stood in a shadowed corner next to Kel'Jathen, another bounty hunter that he knew.
"Why did I just do that?" sighed Jacob. "Sell those two? The Hutt would've killd all three of you if you haden't," replied Kel'Jathen "I know, I know, but I feel wrong for doing it. I want to make it up to them." "Well, do you have a spare tracking device on you? If you do, I'll go give it to them and you can rescue them when you see fit." suggested Kel. You'd do that? You know you'll be risking your neck."said Jacob. "I know, but I owe you one, let me have it," replied Kel as he held out his hand. Jacob gave him the device and wished him luck, and hoped that he didn't get caught, they'd both be in deeper trouble it he was.
Jacob's thoughts began to wander to his sister, Anu. The last time he had contacted her was on he thirteenth birthday, had it been a year yet? It had to have been, he needed to contact her again. He needed to get in contact with that Jedi again, make sure she was alright. He'd call him when he got out of here. He shouldn't worry, Anu was with a good Jedi, she liked him. What was his name? Master Irin? No, Iric. Master Iric had taken good care of her and she liked him. He hoped that was still the case, Jedi were dying all over the place. Maybe she had lost Master Iric. He backed farther into the shadows and tried to meditate like his sister showed him, feeling the energy of the Force flowing around him. He felt it, but he couldn't ever shape or control it, so he did the very seldomly. He didn't like not being in control, even though he rarely ever was.
Kel came back what seemed like hours later, even though it had only been a few minutes. "I got it to them, they didn't seem to be very trusting though, you did set them up once already," whispered Kel "I know, but I hope that they, being Jedi, can forgive me," said Jacob somberly. Thanks Kel, I owe you one for this." "Nah, for now we're even. I hope we can keep it that way." Kel snicked at this and then walked away.
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Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Aug 2, 2005 14:51:33 GMT -5
The guard seemed to consider what Riz was telling him, but shook his head, snorting that he had no reason to trust them. Stupid Jedi, he said, dirty baby-eating, mind-stealing Force-freaks.
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Post by Christopher on Aug 2, 2005 14:56:01 GMT -5
"Excuse you. One, I'm not a jedi, two I only eat them when they come from eggs, three I only have one person's mind in a jar, and finally your more of a freak than I am." Riz told the guard "Look, let me go, I'm not worth anything. I'm not really a jedi."
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Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on Aug 2, 2005 15:04:05 GMT -5
"It may not be wise to talk to someone you're trying to win over that way," said Iric, breaking his silence.
Riz wheeled on him. "Oh, thank you, Master Jedi. Your help is really appreciated."
Iric didn't react.
"Come on, you're a Jedi!" Riz said, "Can't you just pull the keys with your mind or mind-trick the guard or something?"
"They've tied everything down securely and they've sent one of their more strong-willed guards. The Hutts are not stupid. If I'm not mistaken, they've also destroyed my lightsaber."
Riz stared blankly at the Jedi before snorting. "Unbelievable. How do we get out of here."
"A solution will present itself."
Riz threw up his hands. "Oh, nova! You're such a karking Jedi!"
Iric smirked and stifled the urge to say Thank You.
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