Open Plot A Favor for a Favor

Nykoria Tallis

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Master

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Catbert
Joined
Apr 26, 2020
Messages
467
Reaction score
436
Nykoria and I both have responsibilities to our own Padawans... Yeah, ain't that so? Izel's comment struck a nerve, even though the Zeltron made an effort not to show it. Unlike her Vratix colleague, Kori was much more reluctant to take on an apprentice. Eventually, that choice was made for her; and the Council assigned someone barely past the youngling age.

Normally it wouldn't have been a problem. But ever since Kori had found her calling in going after the Sith and righting other wrongs, the poor Jawa didn't receive as much attention as he deserved an needed. Kori's missions took her from one planet to the next, and most of them would be too dangerous for a kid barely in his teens. She couldn't take the Padawan with her, but also couldn't give up on her quest. Kori felt that her responsibility as a Jedi to the galaxy was far greater than to that one person.

Meanwhile, Izel asked the question as to why Gram picked the Jedi of all the possible options. The Zeltron felt she already knew the answer to that. The Jedi were the most prominent, and also an antithesis of the Sith. Not to mention that Eileen, Gram's cousin, was in the Jedi Order. Why search for something else when you have an answer right in front of you? Of course, it all could be a one big ruse on Gram's part. But it'd have to be a very elaborate one, and the man didn't show any signs of deceit.

Regardless, she looked forward to hearing Gram's reasoning. If it aligned with what she assumed, the Zeltron would simply shrug: "Refusing to help someone is not the Jedi way, when it's for a good cause. Especially if it's just about sharing some of our teachings with someone who is genuinely interested." The purple-skinned woman turned to her companion briefly: "Something of this scale wouldn't even require the approval of the Jedi Council."

To Kori, that seemed like the only way that could suit both Gram and the Council. The Masters would undoubtedly seek to question the Sith—something he was clearly against—so keeping his past and affiliation a secret from everyone seemed like the most logical choice. Otherwise, they'd risk losing an aspiring adept of the Light. The fact that Gram was another potential supporter of the Guardians' mission was also a factor, albeit an insignificant one (or so did Nykoria keep telling herself). That left only one problem: who of the Guardians could train that man?

"We'll figure something out," the Zeltron told both Gram and Izel; but most importantly, she was telling that to herself. Kori was stepping on a rather slippery slope here. And the only justification if she failed would be "Keep your friends close, and enemies closer." Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that.

@Aurius, @Reyn
 

Gram Van Alasdaire

Character
Independent
Rank
Independent Force User

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Aurius
Joined
Apr 8, 2020
Messages
138
Reaction score
71
”Simply because you are the only ones with the knowledge and numbers to thwart them. Hold them at bay. But at present, I doubt we could win. And yes, I do mean we. The Sith took everything I ever loved and perverted it into symbols of hatred. I despise them, and I despise their methods...“

Gale paused, his breath becoming shallow and cold. Still images flashed across his mind. His commanding officer being eaten alive. The lightning that scarred his hands as he lanced it at the ones responsible, only to have them redirect it upon him. His fists clenched until they turned pale.

“...I wish nothing more than to see them reduced to embers before my very eyes. Scatter their order to the void and erase them from history. But that requires allies, that required knowledge and control of this disease that kriffs with my head.”

He turned, his eyes flashing but steely cold. When he was a young boy, his mother had warned him about the darkness within all Vahla. At the time he had believed they were akin to boogeyman stories, things to distress the young that misbehave at night. But she had been right all along.

“That’s what the Dark Side is, Master Jedi - it is a parasite that will consume me the longer it has it’s hooks in me. And as I already said I am not willing to become a infection. I will end my life before I ever let that happen.”

At that moment, a cloud of smoke erupted from Gram’s feet, suprising him momentarily before a blaster bolt burned through his left shoulder. The impact send him flying towards both knights, groaning in pain.

From the top of the building, two red lights flickered. The figure from rooftop to rooftop before finally reaching the ground. The lights revealed an old, but repaired and upgraded, BX series commando droid.


“I have finally caught up to you, Master. I need to thank you for reactivating me.”

Gale’s eyes widened. He began to push himself to his feet, but the droid whipped a pistol from its side and aimed it squarely at Gale’s skull, tutting in disapproval while shaking its durasteel head.

@Catbert @Reyn
 
Last edited:

Izel Thral

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Master

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Reyn
Joined
Jan 6, 2020
Messages
676
Reaction score
486
Izel's antennae twitched again as Gale answered her question. Just as Kori she sensed no deceit coming from him, no matter how hard she tried to find it. The Vahla was being brutally honest about his feelings towards the Sith. And if Izel was being honest with herself, she began to feel her opinion towards Gale soften with the expression of such contempt for the dark side. It seemed his feelings very much aligned with her own. Really that should have concerned her considering he was clearly a dark sider, but instead she found herself just a bit amused by the prospect.

"Well said..." The Vratix chittered out in an almost admiring tone in response to Gale's vehement denouncement of the Sith. She then looked to Kori as the Zeltron spoke. She found herself in agreement with her fellow Jedi. It might be dangerous to pursue this endeavor, but the benefits could be great as well.

"We'll figure something out," Kori said, and Izel nodded as she turned back towards Gale.

"Indeed." She agreed as she looked the Sith over once more. That's when the commando droid appeared, injuring Gale and seemingly preparing to execute him. Izel didn't take the time to think about what had just been said. Instinctually she reignited her pike while simultaneously lifting her free hand and delivering a Force push, targeting the droid. She would then quickly move to Gale's side and offer him a hand up while keeping her attention on the assailant and her lightsaber ready to deflect any incoming fire. "Friend of yours?" She asked the Sith dryly.

@Catbert @Aurius
 

Nykoria Tallis

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Master

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Catbert
Joined
Apr 26, 2020
Messages
467
Reaction score
436
One moment, it seemed like the meeting had concluded, and they reached the agreement. And the next moment all Malachor broke loose: Gram was on the ground injured, the lightsaber floated into the Kori's hand from the hip and illuminated the area with azure glow, as the Zeltron looked around for the source of the gunfire. Then the perpetrator made its presence known and all but shot the Sith seeking redemption. Apparently, the Sith like exposition so much that they program their droids that way too. Slighlty before Izel, Kori stepped forward and angled her blade to deflect a possibly fatal shot. But then the Vratix sent a Force push the droid's way.

If Izel's attack gained the Jedi any momentum, it was a perfect time to capitalize on it. Kori's blade wouldn't stay in one place, but rather move to defend herself from a possible shot as she threw herself between the droid and the wounded Sith. Depending on how Izel's Force push worked, Kori would try to close the gap as soon as possible and deliver a slash to the droid's weapon arm, that would fluidly transition into a beheading motion. Then, if successful, she'd throw her left hand and send the debris flying away from her, just to be sure that there wasn't an explosive inside.

"Thank him later," she'd mumble, flourishing her saber around her instinctively, in case someone else would fire at her at that very moment. Only then would she half-turn her head to Izel and Gram, the saber still in a ready stance: "If Vasser's security system is any good, help should be on their way already. You ok?"

@Aurius, @Reyn
 

Gram Van Alasdaire

Character
Independent
Rank
Independent Force User

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Aurius
Joined
Apr 8, 2020
Messages
138
Reaction score
71
Hegemony didn't last long against two Jedi, but Gale hadn't expected the droid's return nor a surprise attack. The wound on his shoulder was minimal, and would only really burn the surface, thanks to the armor he was wearing underneath. The Vahla could not help but wince and smile as he watched the droid get tossed about and scrapped just as easily as it had entered the frey. His annoyance, however, was peaked ever so slightly when one of the Jedi asked him if the droid was a friend. His reply was swift, dry, and sarcastic.

"Heggie killed my parents after I reactivated him against their wishes. Twenty years ago."

It was matter of fact, said impassively, and would hopefully explain why he was both shocked and assaulted all in one go. Slowly rising to his feet and rubbing the dust from his tunic, the Vahla shook his head and groaned slightly. Grabbing a small metal tube from his coat, he quickly lit a cig and put it to his lips, sighing gently. Yes, the security would be here momentarily and Gale had little doubt he would once again be sucked into another long and boring interview as to what happened. Not exactly how the man planned on spending his day - so, he needed to make himself scarce.

"I'm fine. My armor absorbed the blast. Thanks for that - I'm surprised that thing was still active. Good to see it scrapped."

Gale finished by severing the droid's head from it's chasis and punting it into a nearby lake. Good riddance. Turning back to the pair of Jedi, he bowed low and offered his thanks. His cloak quickly covered him as a few members of security rushed to their sides, but Gale waved them off with platitudes while they attempted to deduce what had happened. The Van Alasdaire did not intend to stay, and he made the security aware of that and the fact that he and his companions where safe. Once that was done, he turned to the Jedi and handed them each a chrome communicator with an embossed symbol on the front.

"I take it that this is where we part ways. At least for a little while. These communicators should allow you to contact me directly, but I'll warn you that they are one-way encrypted. You won't be able to track me, I won't be able to track you - you will be able to call me while I cannot call you. For both our sakes, you understand."
@Catbert @Reyn
 

Izel Thral

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Master

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Reyn
Joined
Jan 6, 2020
Messages
676
Reaction score
486
Thankfully the assassin droid went down without much trouble, leaving Izel to focus her attention back on Gale as she extinguished her lightsaber. His explanation as to his relationship with the machine caught her off-guard, and she was quick to bow her head consolingly. "I see... My apologies, I didn't mean to dredge up any unpleasant memories."

Gale displayed his hatred for the destroyed droid by taking it's head and kicking it into the lake. And not long after that, as Kori predicted, TAU security was there to investigate. Fortunately they were able to convince them the situation was under control with little hassle. When the Sith offered her the communicator she took it and inspected it briefly before looking towards Kori. Well, this had certainly been an unexpected development, but she was starting to think it might not be a bad one.

"Thank you." She said as she turned her gaze back towards the strange Vahla. "I'll give your regards to your cousin. And we shall see where this... Experiment goes." She took another glance at Gale's lightsaber. "And as I said, do try to repair that thing before you hurt yourself." From this point she wasn't sure how they should part ways. She still didn't trust Gale enough to turn her back to him. So she waited to see how Kori reacted and planned to follow her lead.

@Catbert @Aurius
 

Nykoria Tallis

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Master

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Catbert
Joined
Apr 26, 2020
Messages
467
Reaction score
436
A smirk appeared on Kori's purple face when Gram mentioned it was good to see the droid scrapped. The Zeltron didn't mind the exercise, and was happy to oblige. Even if it meant that they'd have to explain themselves to Phyllis Vasser eventually. With the threat gone, Nykoria clipped the hilt of her lightsaber to the belt again.

When the time came to part ways, and Gram offered each of them a communicator, the Zeltron simply accepted it with a nod and listened to the explanation. But more importantly, she tried to perceive any sort of malicious intent in her vis-a-vis. Nykoria did her best to appear inscrutable; yet she couldn't but think whether or not it was a ruse. Regardless what Gram said about the communicator, it could end up being a tracker, or even a miniature explosive.

In the end, Kori trusted her feelings; but she did press the button on the device. And in the VERY unlikely case it was a miniature explosive, Izel would bag the treacherous Sith there and then. Of course, no explosion followed, which made Kori smile rather widely; both at her paranoia and at the fact that she might have gained an ally. "We'll be in touch before long." With that she turned her head to Izel and nodded; for now, the Jedi were ready to leave. But they couldn't leave Gram hanging for too long after that. He had asked for their help, after all.

@Aurius, @Reyn
// End thread?
 
Top