An Informant on Alderaan

[Iden Farlander]

Aldera, capital of Alderaan

Iden was surprised that she had been sent on this mission alone. It wasn’t that she minded, and it wasn’t that she didn’t think herself capable of handling it. The mission itself seemed straightforward enough, but there were, as always, variables.


According to an anonymous informant, there was a large transport of spice tucked away somewhere in the city of Aldera, set to be shipped out in a few days. If this shipment of spice was as large as was to be believed, it would no doubt fetch its sellers a nice sum of credits. More importantly, such a shipment would only result in more addiction, lying, and harm to any buyers.


Iden was to meet this informant in a bar called the Blue Moon where, if he or she upheld their part of the agreement, they would be waiting to quietly lead Iden to the shipment of spice.


Swiveling her cockpit chair around and away from the control panel, Iden made sure her two lightsabers were securely at her sides and out of sight. There was no need to call unnecessary attention to herself. She had already sent a confirmation of her arrival as well as her coordinates to her superiors, so now all that was left to do was to find this informant.


Making her way down the open ramp of the Corellian Dagger she’d landed moments earlier, she took in her surroundings. The city of Aldera, capital of Alderaan, was as beautiful as she remembered. It was built on an island in the middle of a lake and was host to the Royal Palace as well as a University. The city’s gleaming and white structures were befitting of royalty.


Somehow Iden doubted the same could be said for the Blue Moon. Iden never spent any of her time in bars if she could help it, so it was with a low sigh that she now entered the Blue Moon Bar. It wasn’t the largest bar she had ever been in—of that she was thankful. The room was filled with all types of life forms, and the sound of the band over in the corner filled the room. People were having a good time and laughing.


Making her way to the bar, Iden ordered a Moof Juice and waited, trying to act as if she was at ease and relaxing while she actually kept an eye on her surroundings. She wished she’d been given a description of the informant. She hated places like this, and she didn’t like this waiting around.

 

[Iden Farlander]

Already on her second glass of Moof Juice, Iden was beginning to wonder if this informant was actually going to show up. Had she really just wasted half an hour of her life in this bar?
Considering wether she should head to the refresher and contact her superiors for further instructions, a Rodian appeared by her side at the bar. “Buy me a drink?” he asked.


Sparing him a side glance, Iden answered, “I’d rather not.”


A smile formed on the Rodian’s green lips, his purple eyes sparkling as he lowered his voice to a whisper. “Not even for that shipment of spice?”


Now the Rodian had her attention. Her full attention. Iden waved the bartender over, and the Rodian offered her an approving nod of the head as he ordered his beverage, one of the most expensive drinks credits could buy, naturally.


“Now, about that shipment...” Iden began in a hushed tone.


“After my drink,” the Rodian interrupted.


Iden could see she had little choice but to stand there and wait for him to finish his drink. She considered using a mind trick on him, but those only worked on the weak minded. Somehow she got the feeling that this Rodian was anything but weak minded. So she waited. And waited.


With a drawn out, satisfying sigh of fulfillment, the Rodian finished his drink and set the empty glass down on the bar. “Now we can talk business,” he said matter-of-factly, leading Iden through the crowded bar and toward the door.


“It’s about time,” Iden quipped, “I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever finish that drink.”


Iden could hear the smile in his voice as he said, “In my line of work you learn to appreciate every sip you can get of a drink like that.”


“And what exactly is your line of work?”


“I don’t believe that was part of the agreement,” the Rodian replied as he opened the bar door and stepped outside.


Iden followed.

 

[Taalong Vorr]

Aldeeran was as much a mystery to Taalong Vorr as all the beautiful things he saw in his travels. A world of natural beauty and light, and somehow retaining a pure balance between that nature and civilization. Tall buildings sprouted up from the ground, gleaming of silver and gold, yet somehow forming naturally the endless plains that wrapped the world. Cool blue waters, as pure as the first pools formed of rain drops, refreshed the air to give it a crisp sensation with each breath one took. It was all as pleasant and comfortable as anything, and it was almost a haven for a weaker sort of species.

Taalong Vorr had not known such places until he was well into his years. Kalee was a harsh barren world of blood and starvation. A tribal conflict could cause famine and peace drained limited resources even more as the people prepared for future wars on each other. It was not a place anyone missed or visited, but it was the fires in which he was forged.

Within the Blue Moon Vorr sat, waiting for his quarry. He could sense it before it even stepped inside. He knew this to be the place where he'd first set eyes upon them. Not by some random chance, but by the will of destiny, which he would bend to his will as needed as all true Sith did.

In his hands he clutched Gar-uchat, one of the harshest most miserable tastes anyone could grow accustomed to. Gamorians and Ugnaughts tended to be partial to it, and Vorr had found it the most common taste to the drinks of his youth, celebrating another day of life.

And then the quarry entered. He did not speak a word, did not even turn his head. In his minds eye he could see them, even beneath his mask and under his hood, he could sense them as clearly as if they were sitting before him. His dark corner shrouded him the same was it did all others that did not wish to be found in the shabby little cantina. He sensed the tense nature to whom they spoke, he could almost hear the conversation.

As the quarry turned to leave the place, Vorr breathed in.

Patience was a new skill he was learning, but not quickly. Satisfied with the time that had passed, he stood up, moved to the door, and followed. He was hidden in the crowd, yet was fully aware of the turns and twists that were made by the one he sought and mimicked them with each step.

@llamallove

 

[Iden Farlander]

There was no doubt that this Rodian knew the streets of Aldera like the back of his hand. Turning and twisting down streets and alleyways alike, the Rodian led Iden through beautiful, lively streets as well as dark, unfriendly alleyways. As beautiful as Aldera was, it had the same problems every other city in this galaxy had.

Seeing life forms in such a depraved state of existence, wether by choice or by force, always brought a feeling of sympathy and regret to Iden. Regret for the war and the choices people made, sympathy for the people affected by those choices and, even on occasion, for the choice makers.

Sensing they were being followed, Iden looked back over her shoulder but saw nothing. The street was crowded with people, none of them arousing suspicion. If they were being followed, whoever it was knew how to blend in well.

I’m probably just being jumpy, she thought to herself, sidestepping a drunk twi’leck stumbling out of a bar. “Are we almost there?” she asked the Rodian.

“Almost,” was his reply. “Stick close to me.”

Only moments later they reached their destination. They were in one of the lower sectors. “Here. Take these.” The Rodian took electrobinoculars from his belt and handed them to Iden. “Look down there.”

Peering through the electrobinoculars, Iden saw a landing pad below, a transport ship, and cases upon cases of what she assumed was the shipment of spice.

“Why are the containers of spice out in the open like that?” Iden asked her companion. “You informed us shipment was to remain here for several more days.”

The Rodian shrugged with indifference. “I haven’t a clue. Now, my credits please?” he asked with an outstretched hand.

“You get your credits after we’ve secured the shipment.”

“That wasn’t the agreement,” he growled.

“You’ll get your credits,” Iden assured him calmly. Activating the holoprojector on her bracer, the blue image of her master appeared.

“The informant has led me to the shipment of spice. I’m sending you the coordinates now. I’ve yet to have visuals on any pirates, but it appears the shipment may be leaving tonight.”

“Good work, Padawan,” The Jedi Knight replied. “A carrier ship will be sent immediately with what backup we can spare. Wait for their arrival, and do not engage the pirates unless absolutely necessary.”

“Yes, sir.” Iden switched off her holoprojector and returned to looking through the elcectrobinoculars.

@Morse

 

[Taalong Vorr]

There was a tenseness in the air, up ahead there was a sensation of caution. All in the street exuded it, for this was not a good place of the town. This was a place that was as much a victim of the wars as any, but not in the same way as he grew to know. They were the miserable and down trodden, people that could not stand on their own and were stomped over as the sabres and ships rattled over them. It may have been from any number of conflicts, perhaps not even recent. The Mandalorian and Imperial contested many worlds for right to rule, the Empires splintering over their now deceased Emperor, or perhaps even the quelling of the rebels that drifted the galaxy sewing chaos and misery in their wake... or even just a local squabble of gangs and raiders and local factions that no one in the galaxy had ever heard of.

Vorr did not know Alderaan well, nor had he ever seen it until he had arrived. But he did know its people once he set eyes on them. He'd seen them on a dozen worlds that the Empire claimed. Weak, useless, peasants that could not defend themselves and lived to perform lesser functions... a fate he would die before denegrating himself to. No matter how many defeats he had recently seen on battlefields, he would never submit to the life of peace... for peace was weakness... and weakness was utter submission.

He hesitated as the quarry ceased its movements, opting to place himself at a wall, back to it. He slowly turned his face to peer about those he sought. His yellow eyes gazed with the harsh stare of a predatory beast. Such was the evolution of the Kaleesh, and through his mask his vision focused.

They turned to see him. He did not jerk, he did not buckle. He merely turned his head, but for a moment he swore eyes may have been locked.

The quarry searched for something themselves, and took quite some time as they were. He listened intently and heard a gentle wirr

Voooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

A freighter took flight from somewhere below walkway they were upon.

"A landing zone" Vorr thought to himself. "They hunt something of their own."

Vorr suspected what they sought, and recognized vulnerability. He would soon make his own move and strike.

@llamallove

 

[Iden Farlander]

“You honestly expect me to wait here for your Galactic ship to arrive, Jedi?” the Rodian spat.

Keeping an eye on the landing pad through the electrobinoculars, Iden calmly, indifferently repeated herself. “You will receive your credits once the shipment has been secured.” The Rodian was beginning to wear on her nerves. Patience, she reminded herself.

Heaving a large sigh to let Iden know his dissatisfaction with the situation, the Rodian began to pace back and forth impatiently. As if she needed such social clues—his anger was easy to pick up on through the force.

Pirates began to emerge from the warehouse. Iden counted ten, all of them armed—some with blasters, a few of them with vibroblades. Their life forms varied greatly—humans, twi’leks, trandoshans, and Bothans alike.

“It looks like your information was wrong,” Iden informed the Rodian as the pirates began loading the the cases of spice into the ship. The shipment wasn’t leaving in a few days; it was leaving now, and there was no time to wait for backup.

Returning the electrobinoculars to their owner, Iden pushed her robe back and fingered one of her lightsabers in thought.

“Wrong or not, I led you to the shipment of spice, as per our agreement. You owe me my credits,” the Rodian pushed. “Pay me before you go down there and get yourself killed.”

“Thanks for your confidence in me,” Iden replied, smiling faintly. She jumped down from their perch, using the force to break her fall and land silently behind a garbage container. Making no noise, she began to make her way toward the landing bay.

@Morse

 

[Taalong Vorr]

The quarry was alone. The moment had come at last. Vorr's pupils narrows on the lone figure that moved alone and silent, yet with a degree of discontent. Their feeling that he senses further proved that they were unaware of his presence. Though Vorr was not much of a stalker, he was certainly capable of it. An ambush was easier to strike in then a direct and firm assault. Honor was such that it got people killed, and standing alone to take on an enemy in a face to face combat was not always the healthies.

Here he could strike from behind, pure domination being the mode of the day. He would take hold of them, and they would be powerless to stop him, his own blade being prepared.

He lifted his body forward, his dark robes hiding his armor in streaks of loose and ragged dark cloth. Vorr stepped forward, feeling his lightsaber in his mind. He reached behind him and place it in his hand, the long silver hilt fitting comfortable, if a bit scratched from the battles that had been fought in the wars that raged around the galaxy even in that moment.

Vorr came close to the ledge, took eyes on the quarry, and made his move.

He gripped the Rodian by the throat! He came around him, hoisting him up. The Rodian struggled for words, living in the purest state of fear.

Vorr looked at the landing, not knowing where the guest the Rodian spoke to had gone, and likewise not caring. He brought the Rodian to the ledge and threw him downward.

The Rodian screamed as he was tossed, but he would not be killed. He smacked a ledge going down, moved further and spun over a rope, and hard cracked his arms on low ventilation duct until finally coming to rest upon the ground on the either end of the landing pad. He croaked with pain, still alive but needing medical attention.

Vorr took the simple route of utilizing the force to break his fall, landing upon the ground beside him. His saber hilt was in his hand, blade unextended, and he grabbed the Rodian's throat once more.

"It was unwise to stand upon the side you have." Vorr spoke, harsh and deep as a natural tone. "Unwise that you would think yourself hidden in plain sight." He continued, looking within the Rodians eyes. "Your informant cell has superiors. I'll ask only once. Where do you meet with them?"

Vorr was prepared to kill and he was not in a moment to have his patience tried.

@llamallove

 

[Iden Farlander]

The Rodian’s scream broke Iden’s concentration. Of course he had to go and get himself into trouble, Iden thought to herself impatiently. She had a dislike for the Rodian and was tempted to continue on her mission, ignoring whatever dilemma he may have found himself in.

He was a backstabber and no doubt a liar, only interested in self-preservation and what he could take from others. She hated dealing with such low moral fiber people—the Galactic Alliance should be above such murky and gray moral associations she thought, but she knew this was war, and as she was increasingly learning not everything was black and white.

Like it or not, her superiors had made a deal with this Rodian, and she was going to stick to it. She couldn’t just leave him behind. With a huff, she turned on her heel and advanced toward the sound of the scream.

Rounding the garbage container, Iden’s eyes opened wide at the sight before her. A dark figure held the Rodian by the throat, a lightsaber in hand.

Iden knew the Rodian’s scream hadn’t gone unheard by the pirates. It was only a matter of moments until the pirates advanced on their position. She had to act fast.

“Let him down,” she said.

@Morse

 

[Taalong Vorr]

The presence came from behind the Kaleesh Sith. It was a pulsing sensation, a strange pull to the light that was foreign yet familiar to him. Foreign in that he had never come to experience within him, familiar as he had faced it as a foe many times over. He could sense well what was there with him, but he recalled well the last time he was near one. A tug in the force that focused on a singular source. He likely projected a similar essence but precisely in the opposite direction. A harsh, coarse, feeling of darkness and hate that was uncompromising and had seen a lifetime of suffering and aggression.

Taalong Vorr turned his head, still kneeling with the Rodian trapped in his grasp. He took in the image of a young human girl, smooth skinned and bright hair. Determination filled her eyes and passion in her grip as he sized her up. There was an armor on her, that of the recently appeared Jedi Order. Likely there was a lightsaber but he did not place where it was. No doubt she was ready for a fight.

All of the sight of her seethed a single theme to Vorr.

Naive

A young fool that was prepared to die for something she did not understand, against an enemy she hardly comprehended. This was not the first young Jedi that Vorr would stand against, but upon this world he would certainly have a disadvantage. Here she could call for help, this newly emancipated Republic would come if she called out loud enough. No one would come to save Vorr.

But he would not need a savior. He was on a self appointed mission and with malice he would complete it.

"Jedi." Vorr hissed full of realization and awareness. "Determine now what the value is of this weevil is to you." He stood up, still clutching the Rodian in his left hand and his lightsaber in his right. "And match it with the weight of failure should you try anything foolish."

Taalong Vorr's speech was as barbaric as it was stoic, but he was not bluffing in his will to see her fail should she try to save him, and the price he would exact on her may be equally extreme. He was a veteran warrior of battles and duels throughout the galaxy, and though the Sith Empire had withdrawn... the experience lived on in the Sith.

@llamallove

 

[Iden Farlander]

This was so not how this night was supposed to play out. A Sith on one side and pirates on the other were not two ingredients for success.

The Sith’s presence was disturbing and unsettling. He stood for everything she didn’t—everything she worked so hard against. He was much more experienced than her and no doubt had fought more Jedi than she had Sith. It had been some time since she had crossed blades with a Sith.

Iden took a step back, signifying her willingness to “co-operate.”

Despite her intense dislike of the Rodian, she wouldn’t let him die because of her. That was not the Jedi way.

Feeling their presence through the force, she sensed that she had only a moment more before the pirates would be upon her.

@Morse

 

[Taalong Vorr]

No words came from the Jedi, perhaps a sign of submission. It was a rare moment when they were cooperative in the face of oppression. It was difficult for Vorr to discern whether or not it was wisdom or naivety that was dictating her action, but whatever the case, the Rodian was entirely at his mercy. The difference in their apparent power was not unrecognizable. Though the force bridged many gaps, Vorr's connection to it sent ripples like lightning of rage and spite. A true sith warrior, controlled only in his thoughts and mind, but hardly at all in his feeling. It gave them the ability to unleash great strength against their enemies, and he would if he needed to.

Vorr turned back to the Rodian, whose throat he had continued to squeeze tightly. There was a feint wheezing sound coming from his throat, as he made small gasps. Vorr raged into his eyes, and the Rodian gasped out a single word.

"Taldazier"

Taalong Vorr did not know this word, perhaps it was a name, or a place, or something in the Rodian language which he did not know. But it was something all the same.

The Rodians eyes rolled in his head, his eyelids flickering and his body went limp. Perhaps Vorr had put too much pressure on him. He could still feel his pulse in his neck, and he was alive, if only just. Vorr dropped him to the ground, and looked back at the Jedi.

He was not sure what would happen next, but the action was decided for them.

A group of vagabonds, five in total, three carrying blaster pistols, and two with rifles, came about to see the source of the noise that had come from the Rodian. They appeared to be some sort of criminal or pirate group, as they were certainly not Alderaan authorities. They brought weapons to bare, and Vorr held his ground.

The Jedi's moves would be her own, but as she was wise enough not to have struck him before he got what he needed, he'd deal with the rabble first.

"This is not your concern, worms!" Taalong Vorr spat with a harsh call to the five. "Leave or die!"

On this world he did not have time to dally. He would dispatch them if he needed to, but for the moment it would be better if he disappeared.

@llamallove

 

[Iden Farlander]

Watching the Rodian drop to the ground, Iden instinctively took a step toward him. Using the force, she was relieved to find that the Rodian was still alive for the moment. She didn’t intend to let him die on her watch if she could help it.

His care would have to wait, unfortunately for him, because she had another problem she had to deal with first: the pirates had found them.

Readying her hand to make use of her lightsaber at any moment, Iden remained silent and stared at the pirates.

“What are you two doing here?” one of the pirates growled.

A second pirate saw their lightsabers and not so bravely ordered them, “Drop your weapons.”

@Taalong Vorr

 

[Taalong Vorr]

The Kaleesh had issued two warnings this day, far more then he did on a typical battle. These days were strange, all that was happening was happening quickly. An Empire collapsed, Sith being hunted all over the galaxy. There was never a moment anymore that was not accounted for with danger and destruction for a Sith. While those words filled the life of a Crusader... it was not typically found with they as the prey.

Yet pirates, or vagabonds, or bandits, or whatever these fools were did not present to him such a pressing fear. Though they had everything to gain by reporting Vorr's appearance, they were not so dangerous that he was unwilling. Vorr had been on dozens of battlefields, he had killed beings on many worlds, and many at a time. He could sense the blasters he could feel their fear, and that was something he was ready to exploit.

Vorr knew the Jedi was there and was ready for her should she attempt something foolish as well. He kept an eye towards both, and squared his lightsaber forward.

He ignited the red blade, it singing the air particles around it, and gazed forward at the pirates. They did not move but levied their own weapons at him. Vorr reached his hand up, gripping a rolling rubbish bin behind the pirates. He could feel its weight in his mind and spirit. He clenched his fist and the rubbish bin began rolling hastily towards the group.

Some of the pirates heard it and turned, others did not. It hit several of them and forced others to move.

That was when Vorr charged, his lightsaber defending his body as several blaster bolts raced towards him from the unprepared pirates. He was somewhat vulnerable to the Jedi's attack, but it would be to her to decide what fate she sought that day.

@llamallove

 

[Iden Farlander]

Iden watched silently as the garbage bin was picked up via the force and thrown at the pirates. It served as a perfect first blow and simultaneous distraction. This Sith knew what he was doing—she had to give him that.

The Sith charged, and so did Iden. Her lightsaber flew to her hand, and she ignited the orange blade. She knew that now was the perfect opportunity to deal a blow to the Sith, but she didn’t. She might not get another opportunity such as the one she had now, and he was obviously her superior in training and years of experience. But somehow... it didn’t seem right. She couldn’t draw her blade against him. She supposed that, for the moment, the enemy of her enemy was her friend.

Iden deflected blaster bolts as she advanced steadily toward one of the pirates.

@Morse

 

[Taalong Vorr]

There was the wave and glint of another blade, more bright and beautiful then his own. One of purity, one without malice or hatred, but the solumn indication of a kind and selfless heart. It was brilliant in itself, and it cast a light in the dark part of the city that they stood within now. It deflected blaster bolts with ease, swiftly and surely. It advanced closer to the pirates. It did not have move with the experience and harshness of his own... but it had a grace that Vorr did not posses.

Vorr put it to the side of his thoughts for a moment. The Jedi was not standing in his way... as others had. She advanced on the pirates, in a unified charge with Vorr.

Vorr deflected bolts until he was upon one of the pirates. He dismembered the pirate, and his blaster and limb smacked upon the ground. Vorr did not hesitate to continue the assault. He swiftly cut through the air and swung his blade through another pirate. He screamed in agony as he faded to nothing. Another moved against the Jedi, which was not likely to be a great match for her power.

Two of the others began to run off, still firing, but not having much they could do to stop the attack.

@llamallove

 

[Iden Farlander]

Out of the corner of her eye, Iden saw that the Sith had already disposed of two of the five pirates. He had fought swiftly, meticulously, and with relative ease. Iden doubted he was even sweating, which would be all the more impressive considering the Sith garb he wore.

The other two pirates could be heard fleeing the scene, their footsteps soon fading into nothingness. They were smarter than the three that had remained.

The last remaining pirate continued to fire at Iden. Drawing closer to him, she deflected the last bolt he would fire and redirected the bolt. It made impact with his arm, and he clutched at the wound with a grunt, dropping his blaster. Using the force, Iden pushed him into one of the large garbage containers behind him where he proceeded to fall to the ground with a satisfying thud, unconscious.

Adrenaline still flowing, Iden remembered the Rodian and deactivated her lightsaber. Rushing to the Rodian’s side, she knelt down beside him and outstretched a hand a few inches from his body in an attempt to keep him alive with the force.

In the other hand she firmly clutched her lightsaber, keeping an eye on the Sith in case he decided to attack her.

@Morse

 

[Taalong Vorr]

The pirates moved off. Perhaps to flee and rethink their lives forever, or to gather assistance in preparation to battle further. They may well have the numbers, and the announcement of the Sith and Jedi standing opposite them would garner them time to prepare. Many in the galaxy were learning tricks to fight force users, most certainly after many long years of fighting, and the losing battles that the Mandalorians had forced upon the Sith. The Sith were by far the more warlike and steadfast in the face of combat, more prepared and willing... and if even they were failing, the Jedi and Sith could be swiftly placed upon the defensive.

The brief, yet neutral toned, alliance in the form of a united front that came from the Jedi would not hold, not against an onslaught of brigands. One would be tempted to strike the other. One would take the advantage when they had it, leaving the other to die, or striking them in the back. It had happened to Taalong Vorr before... the young Jedi apprentice he'd crossed paths with several times still as fresh in his mind as the battlefield he'd last seen him on... the treachery of the Jedi was subversive yet ever present.

Vorr would not let it happen to him again, and he calculated the Jedi's move as she crossed towards the fallen Rodian. Vorr could sense his life, battered and bruised, but breathing and beating. It was the ideal distraction, the point of weakness that was key to his next move.

He plotted it well, in his mind seeing how he would sweep. Preparing, he gripped his lightsaber, ready for what would come.

He gazed at the Jedi, seeing her for all she was.

"Do not waste your time with the worthless, Jedi." Vorr spoke, his voice deep and harsh. "Their weight... will be your failure."

The time came and Vorr made his move!

He turned around quickly and made his way towards an alley of darkness near the landing pad. He could sense the shadows their and moved quickly and deliberately, his senses still tuned all around him for an attack. He drew in his lightsaber, the red blade vanishing beneath his dark robes. He made it into the darkness and continued on, vanishing down a passageway.

He would not fight any further that day, and had the information he sought. It was only for him to continue on his mission, and for the Jedi to consider what wisdom he spoke, and determine what path her life would follow then.

@llamallove