Ask A Not So Perfect Eshan

[Param Vour]

Arla's greeting jolted Param from her memories. Her silver eyes widened at the woman a moment, her hand that had been gently caressing the scabbard now gripping it tightly to be ready to pommel strike. It was just Arla though, and a second later Param relaxed, returning a more relaxed lounging. She cast a side eye to Vee, who had popped his head up when Arla was approaching but didn't make a sound. Little adorable shit.

"Yeah, was just lost in memories for a moment," Param said, straightening. She listened to the lead, taking a few sips of tea. It wasn't as good as the tea she had made, but it did the trick for now. Cito had looked like a standalone operation, and the fact that it wasn't meant that the person in charge had set it up to look like individual cells. Enough of your players go dark and you have a built in warning before anyone has a chance to get to you. The thought practically solidified Param's resolve in participating in the hunt for them.

"So what's our job this time?" Param asked. It was safe to assume with her new Wester-35 holstered on her thigh, two daggers at her hips, the karambit vibro-blade at the small of her back, and the curved Force-Forged sword in her hand that she had come ready to fight. Hopefully this time she wouldn't drain herself before the fight even really starts.

Vee stood up and hopped onto Param's left shoulder. He got settled on his perch, with a low beep and whir of contentness. Param gave him a pat on the head, turning back to Arla. "Did you want something to eat or drink while we're here? Or are we leaving immediately?"

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

She saw the way that Param seemed almost ready to strike at a moment's notice. Living the life of a Sith first and then someone being hunted after that, Arla knew those were reflexes that were hard to break. She probably never would break them, but they just might keep her alive.

Search and destroy, she said in response to Param's question. That meant it was effectively the same operation as before just in a different environment.

We think this is the main operation, though, so we're going to need more than just the two of us, she said. I've got multiple teams and an interceptor pair coming in to provide support. Your friends going to be joining us? she asked, rising to grab a drink before they headed out.

An iced caf was slid across to her by the barista, and she grabbed it before taking a sip.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Search and destroy. It's what Thel had trained her to be good at; she was a weapon to be pointed at a target and let loose. Param hated it, but it wouldn't have really ended up much different growing up on Eshan rather with the Sith. For a girl that just wanted to be normal her entire life, she got really good at not being normal.

"No. They were more collegues by happenstance than anything," Param said. They were also local to the capital. The immediate threat to them and their livelihoods was over, there was no reason for them to care about what happened on the other side the planet. That was okay with Param though. Between eyeing her, and eyeing Vee up, she'd had enough of the roughians to last a very long time- even if their overall intentions were good.

"I'm sure Vee and I can make up for the lost firepower," she added, tapping her curved sword. She fed just a minute amount of Force into it, making it hum through the Force. The crystal inside the hilt didn't much agree with her anymore, though. It still allowed her to use the sword, but it made sure that Param heard the screams of the kyber crystal in pain. Param just didn't know how to fix it.

She got up when Arla did. Vee shot up and hopped onto her left shoulder. When Arla got her iced caf, Param smiled as they turned to leave. "You like caf over tea?" It was an honest, and innocent question, completely unfitting for what they were about to do; but they weren't killing people yet.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla's head tilted slightly to the side as Param tapped her sword, the Force seeming to sing its own song as it resonated within the blade, and Arla found herself curious. She'd interacted with all manner of Force-suffused weapons over the years, but this one's design and origin was a mystery to her.

That's an interesting weapon. Where'd you get it? I can tell that it's alive in its own way, she said. Not unlike a lightsaber was alive, it had the Force flowing through it to bring it to life. Perhaps it had a kyber crystal at its core like Arla's kyber staff did.

Arla glanced down at the drink she held in her hands and quickly took another sip savoring the flavor.

I like both. I grew up on tea, but caf was one of the best inventions the wider galaxy has ever come up with, she said with a smile. I like both, though, she said, rising to her feet and starting to head toward the space port.

Do you have transport? she asked. Although she was hesitant to invite a near-stranger aboard her ship, she was confident in her ability to handle herself if something actually happened. She also wasn't actually a Sith any longer, and there weren't many people out there who would want to hunt her down.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

"I forged it myself," Param answered with a smile. "Found myself in a forge with a friend all by ourselves, and just let the Force guide me. Could have done without the tarentek that showed up afterwards though." A shiver ran up her spine as she remembered the beast batting both Cyu and herself around while Param was completely exhausted. It was the only reason Param hadn't made more Force-forged weaponry. A forge on Eshan would have probably been a lot safer, but Param didn't want to wake anything ancient up on any planet after exhausting herself like that.

"I'll have to make sure to make some tea for if we ever meet again. I had a tea shop before my untimely end," Param said with smile. The memories of the tea shop tried to surface, but Param shoved them back into the recesses of her mind. The past was done.

Param slid the curved sword through a small loop on her left hip, letting the tan poncho drape over the sword entirely except for the hilt and and the black rose that served as a guard. Her left hand held the sabbard just in front of the guard, thumb pressed against and ready to quick draw if needed. She'd spent most of her time since forging the sword marrying the echani martial arts with the brutality of the Sith.

"Um..." Param thought for a moment. Using her own ship would be more comfortable, but it would also end up running the risk of getting tracked or any number of things. For the sake of not having to deal with deep sweeping it again and dumping her transponder, it was probably better to keep official business to the official ships. "It's probably better if I don't use my own. It's not meant to be anywhere near fighting."

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

A tarentatek, she thought to herself. She had fought one as well once, but they were a terrible, dangerous creature. Dangerous quarry, she said knowingly. You're lucky to have made it out, she said.

For some reason it surprised her to hear that Param had once owned a tea shop. It seemed like an oddity for a Sith, but Param wasn't really a conventional Sith.

Sounds like a deal, she said in response to the tea comment and snickered.

She didn't miss the woman's mention of "untimely end."

Do the Sith know you're still alive? she asked. They could be a spiteful and vengeful people, but these days they were also busier trying to survive and expand than wasting resources hunting down former members.

The trip back to her ship didn't take long, and Arla clicked the button on her EZPhone to drop the ramp.

Come on inside, she said, heading inside first and toward the central sitting area.

Kabluk, Fenris, she said quietly to her saber wolf as he stirred, eyeing Param as she entered the ship. He stirred and moved over, sniffing at Param, though he seemed placated by Arla's command.

Teecee, take us to the RV point! she shouted toward the cockpit of the ship as she moved to take a seat in the main living area, waiting for Param to join her. The ship shuddered and started to take off as she settled into her couch.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param nodded with an exhausted look at Arla's comment about lucky to be alive. As much as Param would like luck to not have anything to do with her survival thus far, it couldn't be counted as pure skill. The look on Cyu's face while thinking Param was dead was heartbreaking enough. Thinking about how it would look if Cyu had brought Param to Korriban just to have Param die made her heart sink a little. It was all behind Param now, though.

"They think I'm dead," Param said. "Hence the dyed hair and tan. You're the only person on Eshan that knows my real name, actually." Even if the Sith weren't looking for her, being identified in passing was risk enough for Param to change almost everything about her appearance. The entire time on Eshan she'd been going by Rose, and even her ship was fake registered in that name. There were millions of echani on Eshan, and thousands of Params, but if someone came looking she didn't want to the be reason villages were wiped out because someone heard Param was running around the planet- not that she'd be here much longer anyway.

As she was greeted by the saber wolf, Param held her hand open for him to sniff, a bright smile spreading on her lips. "He's adorable!" Param hazarded a quick scratch behind the wolf's ears. Vee whirred from her shoulder, tilting his head from side to side as if studying the creature. Param left the wolf to its devices and followed Arla, sitting down across from her just as the ship shuddered in take off. Vee kept a watchful gaze on the wolf, fascinated by it, while Param's silver eyes focused on Arla. "Anyway, it's probably better if you don't mention me in any official reports."

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Probably wise, she said. She'd be lying if she said that a part of her didn't think about what would happen if she turned the woman in for a bounty, but that wasn't really the point, was it? Arla didn't actually do this job because she needed the money, she did it for the thrill. For the satisfaction of victory. She didn't need those now.

Arla had a genuine, warm smile on her face as the wolf nudged up against Param's hand, sniffing it and suddenly melting as he was scratched behind the ears. The sight always brought a smile to her face, and it was in stark contrast to the often cold and distant woman that she so often was.

He likes you, she said.

Apex reports are sealed. Discretion is the cornerstone of our business, she said. The operations that Apex undertook were often done in secret and were often blatantly illegal. Even the jobs she had worked for the Sith weren't publicly known. Unmarked vehicles and a lack of uniforms had defended Thule, but the payout had been excellent. The list of assassination targets was also long and distinguished.

Still, it might be beneficial for us to be able to stay in touch, she said. She was the kind of woman that Arla might someday have use for. After all, there was an entire arm of Apex that was more than a little shady, and someone with her skills were... useful.

The ship jolted slightly and Arla took that to mean they were here, pushing herself to her feet as they moved in to land.

The staging area was already bustling with activity when they disembarked. Kaleesh, human, and droid soldiers were milling about the area, and a woman with markings similar to Arla's came over to greet them.

We are ready to proceed on your orders. The interceptors are flying a high pattern ready to intercept any fleeing enemies, the woman said, her accent identical to Arla's own.

Good, let's get this started. Execute when everyone is in position, she said before turning to Param.

To the heart of the fighting? she asked.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param nodded, noting Vee turning on her shoulder only for the wolf come again and sniff her and nudged up against her. Her little droid hadn't gotten a chance to really see the pups that the woman in Imperial space had with her. Seeing one fully grown like this was a treat for him. It was also a treat for Param, who happily gave the wolf pets and scratches on his neck and behind his ears. "Fenris is his name? He's such a good boy!" There were three ways into Param's heart: Being smooth, being a plant, or being cute. Fenris had certainly made the cut.

She turned her gaze up to Arla, keeping a hand close to the wolf to pet and scratch absent mindedly. Discretion was useful for contractors and mercenaries. Param had hoped Apex was discrete and that hope had paid off. She pulled out her EZPhone and sent her contact details to Arla directly. Arla pretty much already knew everything, so there wasn't much point in making a burner account to send anything.

"Good idea," she confirmed. The ship landed, and Param broke away from the wolf and followed Arla out into the staging area. Everyone looked like a soldier, through and through. Another Nightsister approached, and Param stood behind Arla and listened. How many Nightsisters were there? Then Arla turned to her, and Param broke her trance-like gaze from the surroundings to fix it on her with a nod.

"Lead the way."

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla was all smiles as she watched Fenris and Param, nodding like a mother in confirmation to Param's question.

Yeah, Fenris, she said with a nod.

As they prepared for the final assault, Arla flexed her neck and her hands, loosening up all of her joints in preparation for the absolute violence they were about to unleash on these slavers.

Execute, execute, execute, she repeated into her comlink, giving the order for the assault to begin. In the distance she heard the boom of an explosive door breech and blasterfire began inside the building.

More blasters opened up as a frontal assault began.

I'm going to provide support, feel free to join the fray if you want, she said. Arla's strength lay in her skill with the Force, and that was easier to focus from the safety of the rear line.

She began to move her arms rhythmically through the air as she conjured signs and released them as shard of ice, balls of fire, and other deadly assaults on the enemies below in support of her troops.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

The word execute rang through Param's ears. Explosions, blaster fire, the cacophony of noise that brought her back to training under Thel. The kind and warm expression lighting her face turned to a cold deadpan. As Arla offered for Param to join the fray, Param turned her head slowly to Vee. He took the hint and hopped off, staying close to Arla's feet but careful not to get in the way. Param gave Arla a quick glance, and then became a blur of movement.

At first she didn't use the Force to speed her movement, just relying on her natural agility and speed, but then she applied the Force to her legs. Clumps of soldiers and mercenaries were fighting each other from cover. The tan blur that was Param stopped on a piece of stone wall that had collapsed and was being used by the slavers. The slavers had just enough time to look up before Param's curved sword sliced through their exposed necks. It drew attention to Param, but she was in her element.

Param moved through the slaver positions one by one, carving through them in a show of her mixing echani martial arts with her Sith training. It was clear that she was well practiced. Her sword sang through the air and hummed through the Force as it cut down slaver after slaver, but it wasn't alone. Her left hand began to work the scabbard in much the same fashion, but as a bludgeon, pairing off with the sword in a whirlwind of deserved slaver bloodshed.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Death filled the air, and Arla drew on it. Anger and hatred flowed off of all those involved in a way that only happened when the stakes were your death or the death of your friend.

She let that hatred flow back out in the form of ranged death, raining down on the slavers even as Param carved through them like a dervish of death.

The battle - if you could even really call it that - was over quickly. Professionals and Force-users against slavers who were used to kidnapping and beating up on innocent civilians was no competition.

As the post-battle quiet began to settle over the area, Arla finally let her muscles relax as well. It was done, and that meant her contract was finished. If Param went inside, she would find the slaves were held here in bulk in conditions that were beyond appalling and could make even the strongest stomaches turn.

Eventually, when she came to find Arla again, the Nightsister gave her a smile.

Good work. You're quite the menace with that blade. I hope we get to work together again in the future. You've got my number, she said, extending a hand out to Param.

 

[Param Vour]

Param almost went into where the slaves were kept, but as the Apex soldiers began to extract them from their cells and rooms she thought better of it. The fighting had all but died, with only a few stragglers popping out to fire one or two shots wildly before getting obliterated with return fire. Param's silver eyes watched each of the slaves being taken from the compound, her deadpan expression turning into a frown with water eyes. There she was, covered in different colored blood from head to toe like a tie-dye of death, and it was worth every drop to see what mostly amounted to kids and teenagers freed.

The soft scurrying clanks of a small droid running up on her from behind made her turn around. Vee hopped up onto her shoulder, giving her a happy chirp of encouragement. Param gave him a smile, noticed Arla still up above, and began to make her way over to the woman. She flicked her blade with her wrist and slid it back into it's scabbard, sliding the pair back into the loop at her left hip when assembled again.

"Thanks, you're quite good yourself. Something I've learned you have to be to work for Apex," Param said, taking her extended hand. She gave Arla a warm smile. "And you've got my number in case you want anything. Just give me fair warning so I can whip up some of that tea for you."

@Phoenix

/end