Ask Another Busy (K)Night

[Kalique Baize]

Perhaps it had only been a matter of time until Kalique would stumble upon traces that would sound very familiar...having dropped of a Knight and a Squire for a mission elsewhere in the Outer Rim, she had gathered some footage and distress calls that sounded just like the ones she had picked up when she had ran into Leon.

She was too far away from Imperial territory as so she had immediately hit him up with a message, hoping he was somewhere close by as there were literally a few other things she wanted to discuss with him any time soon as while building up the New Order, some questions had arose that could potentially be answered with the help of the Jedi.

She had messaged him the first details about which attacks had occurred and how the case seemed to have similar patterns like in their last encounter with the hide-snake cult and while she was already headed to the surface, she had at least seen the message about how he was actually not that far off. "I'll meet you on the surface then, BK ;)". She had quickly messaged back before she had initiated the landing sequence.

This time, she was parking the ship far off from the apperent 'crime scene', not wanting to risk having an Imperial vessel getting blown up by some fanatics and while she prepared herself for the investigation, she waited for him to arrive as well.

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

A faint crimson glow rippled across the walls of Leon Baudelaire’s quarters on The Freebird. Sweat was beaded across Leon’s forehead, but his face was devoid of any emotion. He was sitting on the floor, legs crossed, and hands extended toward three blazing crystals.

While he permeated calm without, Leon’s mind was at war. Crimson and Pale yellow collided in a spark smattering grappling contest as two versions of the same person sought to consume one another. Inside you are two wolves… said the voice of his uncle… One seeks to corrupt, consume, and destroy, the other seeks joy. The other seeks kindness. The one that wins is the one you feed…

The pale yellow blade slipped the crimson beams' defenses and ran them through. The pereating scarlet tone of the room began to soften. The remaining figure removed a mask, revealing itself to be Leon. The body on the ground was wearing a similar mask, a gash cut up the side revealed his adversary to be himself. He looked into his own dead verdant eyes and mourned the death of himself. Three braziares burst from the ground behind him. Leon’s consciousness greeted the souls of Kyber and began his communion.

He opened his heart to the pain of the three souls. Tears filled his actual eyes as allowed himself to feel their moment of corruption. The pain, the failure, the shame, the sadness, the anger, the hatred all of it. All of their worst aspects rushed him like rabid dogs smelling a fresh kill. He didn’t run, he didn’t shrink away, he opened himself and began to allow the Light to flow through him. The negative wave of emotions crashed against the Light side power pouring out of him like the waves of an ocean against a sheer cliff.

He’d been here before. He’d failed here so many times, been overrun and forced to suffer as they’d suffered, but this time was different. He wasn’t trying to fight. He was trying to heal. The emotions that warred against him were met with love and understanding. They were granted something greater than sympathy, he met them with empathy. He welcomed their pain with his own and he could feel the corruption of the Dark side emptying.

The light surrounding the room grew pale… and then individually each crystal became it’s own again. The brazier on the left glowed a deep orange like the blazing sun just cresting the horizon in the early morning. The middle crystal shown like mercury, the pure silver of moonbeams. Finally, the soul on the right shone with a delicate lilac hue.

He couldn’t tell if he’d imagined it or not, but he could have sworn he felt a flicker of gratitude in the force before his eyes finally opened. He’d done it. He’d finally purified the crystals. Leon was suddenly exhausted. His back was stiff and his legs started to cramp. He needed water.

Baudelaire stepped into the lounge and checked his phone. A small smirk spread across his face when he read the text.

“Peetwo, change of plans, we’re heading to Saleucami.”

A few hours later he was dressed in his battle gear with his usual arsenal hanging from his utility belt as he made his way down his boarding ramp. The only change in his weapons was a new lightsaber hilt. He’d set down next to Kali so as he ducked under his ship he called out, “Hey there stranger.”

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique wasn't entirely sure about what to expect. The cultists had seemed rather unpredictable, so even if they had gathered some first hand experience, she wasn't sure whether they'd be prepared. She changed into her armor, minus the helmet, clipped both lightsabers to her belt, loaded up on her other weapons and used the little time she had for some meditation.

Maybe they wouldn't even run into the cult, but something similar or just another dark sided abomination, but one way or another, she was rather keen on not ending up with a bunch of broken ribs this time. As her radar announced an incoming vessel, she got back to her feet just to see that the Freebird was already approaching and so she double checked on her equipment one last time before she went over to the fridge, taking out an iced-coffee to go.

She then made her way down the ramp and locked up her ship. A smile was immediately planted on her lips as he walked over and she greeted him rather happily. "Hey there!" she called back before they almost met in the middle, extending her hand with the little, chilled beverage.

"Thanks for stopping by so quickly...I feel like if something is looking like the hidesnake cult, it's better to call the professional right away". She was indeed grateful of no other Knights had been anywhere close and she had made the experience that a lightsided ally was actually very helpful with exterminated those fanatics.

The Iced coffee she offered him was just a little 'thanks for responding so quickly', knowing that he was rather fond of coffee in general "How have you been?". This time, there was no immediate danger around, so while they had to start investigating quickly, they could still afford a little chat prior to heading out.

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Leon looked down at the iced caf in her hand and he frowned. He looked up at her while gesturing at himself, “For me?”

He was blown away. He couldn’t remember a time someone had just unprompted brought him something. Leon took the cup and said, “Thanks! I ran out of beans today, I was struggling,” he laughed. He took a sip and knew it was starbucks. His heart secretly broke as he hid the pain of drinking their burnt sock blend. It was the thought that counted and he wasn’t gonna be a snob, on the outside.

Baudelaire waved her off, “No thanks necessary, I’ve been stuck hunting Killiks and when your message came through I was only a sector over.” He took another sip, then added, “I’ll be honest though, I don’t think these are Hindsnake cultists,” he thought back to the images he’d seen. There were some aspects that were irrevocable. The tattoo on the chest was a dead ringer, but there wasn’t a spike in grave robberies or outright murders. This had been more… more mundane?

“Have you considered these being fakes?” he asked, more curious than anything hear what her take on the current situation was.

“Honestly, not bad. I’m a little more rested since our last meeting. Jedi stuck me with a Padawan, poor thing, and we got our main base up.” She’d notice he said nothing about the base’s location or its name. There were few things Leon would keep from Kali, their home base was one of them. He and his friends had worked way too hard for him to blather about it wherever he wanted.

“What about you? How’s life in your neck of the woods, oh, congrats on the win over Aundril. That’s gotta be huge for you guys.”

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

"Nope, for my buddy Peetwo", she teased amusedly, handing him the drink with a smirk. "Of course you. It's still very nice to drop down right away". She waved of his thanks, adding, "seems like right timing then".

He waved of her gratitude then which made her chuckle, however her amused features soon turned into a little frown as he mentioned the Killiks. "Oh really? We've currently ran into issues with them as well. I feel like most of the Galaxy has almost forgotten about them, but we've also picked up recent emergences and I'm afraid incidents will increase..". They were still a thread, to all of them, but so were the cultists and they were here for them today.

"Funny that you mention it", she continued, realizing that their way of thinking was quite similar. "I had my doubts as well...also, the rather subtle attacks have died down again. The people are still worried, but given the randomness and subtlety, I also wondered whether someone was even faking or staging these attacks", she replied with a shrug, knowing it was a possibility.

"Shall we?" she then asked, jutting her chin towards the East, already having pinpointed where they'd probably have to begin their investigations. "A padawan? How adorable...how are you getting along?" she asked, a smirk crossing her lips again. She refrained from teasing him about how he was basically a baby himself, but had to stifle a chuckle at the thought.

"That's funny again. So we've also set up our new base after the attack on the castle and I'm currently involved with the training of three Squires" she relied, a soft sigh escaping her. It was fun, it was surely a great experience, but it was exhausting on the long run. Much more draining than killing some darksiders...

"I've also received my official promotion again...and yes, Dathomir. The battle was intense, but so was its aftermath and regardless of the victory, we had a lot to process. But thanks. It's appreciated. I believe having the former Sith Empress dealt with was also in your interest?". She was convinced the Jedi had processed her differently...or well, maybe they wouldn't have done anything differently at all.

After all, they hadn't put Darth Draugr on trial, and the senator and Ex-Sith Stythani had also died rather quickly and under mysterious circumstances. Maybe they too, had changed, and they weren't giving people who had commited such terrible atrocities any second chances. Obviously, Sith didn't deserve them, but the more she spent time with Leon, the more similarities she discovered.

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Kali confirmed his beliefs that the Killiks were still around and kicking. It was disconcerting to think the bastards could hijack an entire fleet one moment, wreak massive destruction, and then simply vanish from the galaxy’s mind. Was the universe as a whole so desensitized to massive threats, that an invasion like the Killiks was just another day in the life?

He sighed, the Force really had a knack for keeping him busy.

“Yeah, I’ve got a feeling the Killik are prepping for another grand show of strength,” his brow furrowed as it always did when he was getting lost in his own thoughts, but he managed to cut it off before he was totally lost in thought.

He considered her analysis of the attacks on the planet and he crossed his arms over his chest as he listened, while sipping his iced caf.

“There’s gotta be something we’re overlooking,” he mused.

“We shall,” he shot back with a smirk. He laughed when she asked about his Padawan. “She’s awesome. We might get along a little too well, if I’m totally honest,” he admitted, “What about you? You got a squire yet?”

His eyebrows inclined in surprise as she admitted to training three squires, “Good lord, when do you sleep,” he teased. He couldn’t imagine having three of Koemi running around. That would be a nightmare.

“Ayyye, congrats! What’s your official title, Super Knight Commander or something like that?” he joked.

Leon registered hesitance in her voice and hoped he hadn’t over stepped by mentioning the battle. He mulled over her point and shrugged, “We shall see,” he said more cryptically than he’d intended.

From Leon’s perspective, losing an entity as powerful in the Force as the former Empress wasn’t something to celebrate, but to prepare for. Every check had a balance and each time the Light or the Dark lost some of it’s power, the Force sought to correct it. Aundril’s demise would mean another attack from Raze was imminent.

The main city hub on Saleucami, was a town by the same name. Saleucami Town was a quaint spaceport town currently under it’s own jurisdiction, which in his recent experience meant, they were scared out of their minds and had no real direction in how to operate during a crisis.

“Aside from the attacks was there anything else you needed, not that I don’t love beating up bad guys with you, but this feels like something you could have easily handled,” he said with a friendly smile.


@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique found it interesting than apart from the Sith, the Killik were also a common thread and problem the Jedi currently tackled. She sighed as he mentioned it, founding herself nodding. "You might be right...I mean with the galaxy paying them less attention, they can gather in the shadows and regain their strength".

It was much like with the Sith, and she feared that the Sith could even use the chaos the Killiks usually triggered to strike, but perhaps that wasbjust thinking too much into it. One way or another, they had to remain attentive and Kalique would not hesitate to execute rather preemptive strikes to avoid catastrophes.

"I'm still trying to remain positive, but I guess we'll see". The conversation then shifted onto the learners and she couldn't help but to chuckle as he asked whether she ever got the chance to sleep. "Well, sometimes" she admitted with a smirk. "Most of the time it isn't too bad...I can give shared classes or take them on missions individually to target the exact areas where they still need to improve in", she then added,

"I'm happy you're adjusting so well. Seems like you've been thrown into this new chapter quickly though". She knew he was young, but admittedly, she wasn't much more older. Still, with more responsibility she had found herself growing quickly and she was convinced it was the same for him.

"Knight-Captain Demici...but I have to admit yours sound fun" she replied with a chuckle, walking alongside him. As the reached the city hub, Leon seemed to sense that perhaps this was not just another shared adventure, but that Kalique had actually seen a chance in it to learn as well.

"First of all, you know them better than me. I found it rather helpful to have you by my side". While his presence within the Force felt somewhat disruptive, she had learnt a lot as they had fought alongside each other. "But I also intended to ask you a few things. The insights I've gained last time were very thought provoking" she admitted with a smirk before they crossed a little plaza.

The attack side was another click up north, but they'd be there in no time. "You have Jedi Seekers...right? I've been wondering what you are doing to deem someone ready for your order...do you run tests? Psychological ones, or are you relying on seasoned Jedi to get a feeling whether someone has the potential to wander your path?" she then asked him, genuinely curious.

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Leon rested his hands behind his head as they walked. Peetwo slipped out of his bag, spotted Kali, twittered a greeting then settled in on Leon’s shoulder.

“That sounds amazing,” he said almost wistfully as she explained her process in training. “I envy the military structure you guys have. Honestly, that way of doing things just makes sense to me.”

“The Jedi take those kinda things a little too seriously, in my opinion,” Leon hated that he’d been passed around like fresh meat when he’d initially arrived at The Order. He’d developed a complex about being worthy of mentorship which made his transition from no one’s padawan to Hera’s incredibly difficult. He’d nearly lost himself in the transition, even the Force stepped in to keep him on track…

Leon laughed at her next observation, “Thanks! Yeah, had a lot on my plate last time,” he said, flashing her an apologetic smile. “Besides, growing pains are the worst, but they don’t last forever.”

“Awww that’s lame, you should position for better rank names. Super Knight Commander sounds way cooler,” he teased. “Congrats though, a lot of people would have let a setback like that crush them, you on the other hand seem to be thriving.” He added with a warm smile.

Leon fixed her with some serious side eye as she tried to cover up why she’d reached out. His patented mischievous smirk tugged at his lips as she eventually got to the real reason.

“There it is,” he said with a broad smile spreading across his face. Peetwo chortled a little then hopped down walking beside Leon. Kali asked her question and he considered how to respond concisely. After a moment of contemplation he said, “Seeker used to be a prominent position within the Order, but recently seasoned Jedi have been the biggest contributor to our numbers,” He cupped his chin in his hands while he crossed his arms and rested his elbow on his other hand, “To my knowledge, there aren’t hard guidelines to follow when bringing someone in,” he chuckled then clarified, “It’s basically, be Force sensitive, and don’t be crazy.”

Leon snapped as if just remembering something, “Oh, and If you come from a dark side background there’s a probationary period where you’re put under constant surveillance.”

“Truthfully the Light is all about redemption. I think a lot of Jedi forget that Luke redeemed Anakin. Rey redeemed Ben. In my opinion no one is too far gone and everyone is welcome to walk my path should they choose to do so.”

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

So far, the coast seemed more than clear and so they could continue their conversation without any interruptions. "Thank you! That's honestly appreciated. I've learned a lot about myself and I've gotten so much stronger" she was obviously referring to her mental powers and her ability to resist the darkside as much as she had to even if she was drawing her strength from it.

"But I'll keep that in mind with the names" she then amusedly joked, adjusting her utility belt as she kept walking, her senses constantly checking on their surroundings though, before the conversation shifted to the question she had asked.

She intently listened to what he outlined and shared, however it did surprise her that the Jedi were so lenient when it came to their initiates. Surely, they didn't share such a military background, but after everything that had happened, wasn't there a need to be more careful?

"This isn't meant...as criticism or whatsoever. I'm just curious. Within the last few years there's been some incidents of negative publicity after Jedi...well how do I put this elegantly? Where Jedi haven't acted like Jedi were supposed to be. Or well, some have actually fucked up. Excuse my language" she threw him an apologetic smile.

"I know there have been consequences and that you have your Justicars...but I was conviced you'd have a detailed, complex training program to sift out those who wouldn't manage to stay true to your path" she then admitted, still extraordinarily curious about his views and insights.

"I'm asking because we haven't established a routine yet, but we saw the need for actual testing. Even tiny sparks need to be contained as they can set whole planets on fire...so how can you truly tell someone will live up to the expectations and abide by the rules?" she asked, perhaps stating a rather rhetorical question.

"But you have an interesting philosophy...it sounds like when speaking of redemption, no Sith is fully beyond saving, isn't that it?". Here, she definitely had different views and she was also certain that other Jedi would follow a much stricter, conventional code, but she found their exchange very thought-provoking again. "So generally, you're offering everyone a chance but then you keep monitoring them?".

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Her next question was a long one. Rather than interject at everypoint she made or asked he simply gave her his full attention and waited for his opportunity to respond. He took a moment to gather his thoughts. He wasn’t entirely sure where she was going with her line of thought, but he’d do his best.

He shrugged and said, “We’re not an Empire.”

“We’re a group of beings that have decided to devote our lives to the preservation and protection of others. We give those interested in changing the opportunity because they deserve that chance. I might be underplaying our structure a bit, I can assure you there’s plenty of bureaucracy within the Order, but we aren’t an army.”

He picked at the scar on his cheek as he continued, “I can’t really speak for the atrocities others in the Order have commited. To be clear, I’m not offended, I just don’t have anything to say about the actions of people I never knew. That’d be like me asking you to explain why the Sith invaded my home.”

Kali outlined the areas of their recruitment she was looking for help on and honestly, he didn’t think he was going to have the answer she wanted, “I don’t think there is a set of rules or regulations that can control whether or not a person will do the right thing. The essence of sentience is choice, no? If you take that away from someone what do they have left?”

He hated philosophical debate. It was great to experience another perspective, but he thought it was so boring. To his credit. He respected that she’d been pretty adamant about this considering she called in a favor for it, so he didn’t complain as they continued down the path.

In response to redemption, “That’s the hope. If Kylo Ren can be redeemed, then why can’t the Dark Lord?” He then clarified, “I’ll be real, I don’t think I’m the one to do it, but I don’t think striking it from the table is the way to go. Unless we're talking about Raze. Not sure there’s hope for that one.”

He nodded, “I mean yeah. It’s probationary and once the Council deems you good, it's done.”

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Again, Leon positively surprised her with his unbound openness. She found his outlines fascinating and realized that Sybella's philosophy differed in a few aspects, but she was always grateful for more personal accounts and opinions.

Of course the Jedi had huge structural differences in comparison to the Empire, but the Imperial Knight's philosophy was similar in many regards. They protected the Empire and the Imperial citizen from whatever dangers threatened them, but Kalique had saved countless of non-Imperial citizen as well.

Her life was dedicated to the Empire and her unrestricted loyalty laid with them, yet in terms of preserving lives, it wasn't even that different. "I understand" she replied in terms of the atrocities others having commited, knowing how it felt as the Empire had done terrible things under Sith leadership as well.

Even if she had never been part of their order, the training she had received had come from them and she had been forced to work with them long enough. Why she had asked Leon the questions though, was that given how many Imperial Knights were former Sith, they were right in the middle of finding ways to ensure the line drawn between Knights and Sith was unmistakable.

"I see what you mean...the matter is complicated, but it's interesting to learn how your about your views on redemption". From an Imperial perspective, Sith had made their choice and they were considered a threat for safety, absolutely beyond saving and in need of extermination. It was their very essence to give away their humanity, and once it was gone, what was there to save?

"And yes...Raze might be a different story...but the Wraith doesn't even seem to be a person anymore". There were still different levels of corruption, but for Kalique there were only a few that could actually be redeemed, even if history and proven other things - he definitely wasn't wrong about that either.

They did cover quite a distance while talking, so that after a few more minutes, they were already reaching the outskirts of the 'crime' scene. There were just a few signs of struggle, but what Kalique immediately realized was that the scene seemed too accurately and meticulously set.

There was a pair of policemen nearby, currently busy studying traces on the ground that looked like a lightsaber had been purposely dragged across the duracrete. "Is it just me or does this look like a bad movie set?". Everything looked so...arranged, so as if someone had scattered some pieces of evidence post hoc.

Apart from several scattered lightsaber traces, which obviously indicated that someone was indeed in possession of one (and the reports had even stated it had been a red-bladed one), but what Kalique had also read was that the assailants had been chased of as the authorities had closed in earlier, and what she noted where the scattered runes that no one could have drawn right in the middle of an actual fight...

Also, the absence of blood, body parts and necromantic traces surprised her. "It seems like our initial assumption might prove true. What of someone is simply trying to instill terror and fright?". She was very curious about his piece of mind. What they saw here was slightly contradicting the reports and a few things didn't add up...however, the policemen suddenly spotted them too and walked over. "You...", the first one looked them up and down, before he continued, "Are you Jedi? We're not making any progress here and could really use a hand...".

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Kali seemed to consider what he’d said, and that was a relief because he wasn’t sure he’d said anything worth considering. To his surprise they'd been so wrapped up in their conversation that they’d arrive at the crime scene in no time.

Peetwo decided to grace them with his company as his little head popped out of Leon’s sling bag. The little droid immediately hopped down from Leon’s shoulder and started scanning various portions of the scene. Baudelaire notated the dramatic scene and scoffed as Kali pointed out how staged it looked, “Yeah, it’s not the cult, but this does look familiar.”

Leon opened himself to the Force. The presence of a lightsaber was concerning, but as he stretched his consciousness out he only felt Kali’s signature within the preternatural power.

Kali posed a solid theory and Leon was just about to respond with one of his own when a local law enforcement officer stepped up. Remembering the Imperial Knight’s dislike of local authorities, Leon intercepted the guy, “Jedi here at your service my man.”

The cop’s attention shifted to Leon, and Baudelaire stuck his hand out in greeting, “Leon Baudelaire, Jedi Knight.”

The relief that washed over the guy was palpable in the force. “Thank the Force, okay, here’s everything we know.”

The Officer filled them in on the entire situation. Apparently, a group of people boasting the Hindsnake tattoo went nuts and started attacking and destroying anything and everything they could get their hands on. They were stopped here when law enforcement arrived and provided resistance. The “Swarm” scattered, and one was captured.

Leon crossed his arms over his chest cupping his chin in his palm as he considered the information. There were several red flags here. The confirmation that there were members of this attack that had the Hindsnake tat on their chest was the most puzzling. None of this lined up with them, but it did however align with Killik activity he’d investigated a sector over.

“Can you take us to the captive, please? I’ve got a few questions I’d like to ask.”

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique was relatively grateful that Leon handled the authorities, because as soon as they heard 'Jedi', they completely focused on him. Kalique was suspicious about the police, knowing damn well how the whole government could be involved in this like on Centares, and so she didn't bother placing her trust into them.

She trusted Leon's abilities to gather information though, and so while she kept listening in the back of her kind, she continued investigation. She picked up a piece of torn, dark fabric and rubbed the material inbetween her fingers for a moment, however there was nothing super unusual about it.

As she had taken all of her pictures, she rejoined Leon who was done with the conversation, simply nodding at his suggestion to pay the captive a visit. So at least one crimson lightsaber, the notorious tattooes and the swarm? With a raised brow, Kalique exchanged a puzzled look with Leon before she turned to follow him. An interrogation wasn't a bad idea, but this case just got more confusing.

She ran a view background checks on the evidence gathered through @Guinevere, her tech smart best friend, but she wasn't really hopeful as this simply looked like a collection of bs. Kalique didn't have a good feeling about this all, but they had to find whoever was responsible, and also, even if didn't seem like the cult, it was fairly obvious that it was part of a different bigger scheme.

The captive was being held at the local jail and it was only a few minutes walk until they were being led inside. Kalique's senses were on full alert as they walked through the entrance, the cop explaining how they had the captive in one of the holding cells, assuming he was still out cold from the stun bolt.

"You are free to ask some questions. But we must insist you won't harm him as he'll be put on trial tomorrow", the policeman explained, eyeing them both rather seriously for a moment. "Of course not. We just want to help" Kalique faked a polite smile, obviously not wanting to break their rules, but simply not trusting either of them.

The officer pressed a button and with an electric buzzing sound, the door to the cells opened, allowing them to enter. "Alrighty...do you want to begin?", she quietly asked Leon, following him inside.

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Leon gave the officer a nod of understanding as he stepped through the gate. Kali stepped up and asked if he wanted to take the lead, “Sure, I won’t need long.” He said, stepping into the interrogation room.

The room was what one would expect. Pale walls, dark ceiling, single slightly swinging lamp equipped with a flickering bulb. A man in his early forty was slumped over in a chair pushed up to a durasteel table. The clothes he wore were tattered and singed. There was blood clotted in his hairline, and as his head swung up, Leon and Kali were met with a black gaze.

“That’s what I thought…” Leon muttered.

The Man’s eyes were solid black, like his pupils had dilated and just never stopped consuming the whole eye. His mouth hung open and he was muttering something so quiet Leon had to reach into the force to hear. Even enhancing his hearing only revealed a strange chittering. Like a morse code of carapace clattering. An unnatural noise to emit from the mouth of a gaunt human.

“Peetwo, stim.” said Leon, skipping the questions.

Peetwo spit out a vial and Baudelaire caught it, he pulled an injector and seamlessly engaged the vial while stepping up to the black eyed man’s side. He injected the guy with the joiner vaccine. Leon could hear the muffled voices on the other side of the mirrored observation room.

He stepped back hands up letting the trigger of the injector hook around his thumb and out of his hand. The door snapped open and the amicable officer from earlier barreled in looking pissed.

“It’s cool, he’s fine, look,” said Baudelaire, emitting calm toward the man. He shot Kali and apologetic smile, then the man coughed.

“W-where the hell am I?”

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

In the interrogation cell, Kalique positioned herself in the back, casually leaning against the wall and her attentive gaze directed at the captive. She crossed her arms in front of her chest, wahting to look relatively impassive for now, but she was ready and had the force already coiled around her left arm in case they'd need it.

There was pure emptiness radiating of the man as his abysmally black gaze eyed the Jedi. Oh perfect, Kalique thought, gritting her teeth, but her Jedi friend was already a step ahead. He effortlessly injected the captive with the vial his droid friend had tossed over, but as the doors hissed open Kalique pushed herself of the wall, gesturing soothingly.

Right. The Jedi had worked on a cure and apperently, Leon was perfectly equipped. The Officer wasn't too convinced at first, but retreated after another moment of eyeing them. Kalique exhaled slowly as he walked up to Leon, taking her position next to him.

"You are okay...relax" she calmly stated, watching his pupils slowly shrink. "What is the last thing you remember?". There was a hint of concern on her face as she was simply perplex about this whole case, but she tried her best to keep the man soothed, projecting calmness onto him. 'Great thinking', she telepathically said to Leon, actually amazed about how he casually carried such Stims with him.

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

The Cultists looked back and forth between them, still working to regain his footing in reality. To Leon’s surprise, Kali stepped forward offering calm through the force. For whatever reason, Leon hadn’t considered that as something dark side users could do, but that was dumb. Her mental projection sent a shiver down his spine, but all he did was nod. His attention rapt by the man’s transformation.

It was like watching someone wake up from a coma. Fear, confusion, displacement. They all wrestled for prominence in the man’s expression.

Kali’s voice seemed to snap the guy back. He started to hyperventilate, his eyes widened and darted around the room, realization of his location adding to his confusion, as sweat beaded across his brow. “I-I, can’t remember anything,” he muttered.

Leon didn’t believe him.

They were walking on eggshells here. His little stunt would have put the officer watching on the other side on edge. Force users weren’t exactly the most trustworthy members of the galaxy, even if one of them was a Jedi.

“Take a breath, the influence of the hive is still receding. Look, I know this is tough, but–”

Rage contorted The Cultist’s face but before he could say anything Leon raised a hand, “Don’t speak. It’s already over. There’s no escape.”

The Man’s body began to convulse, “What’s h-happening?”
“Your body is trying to purge itself of the hormones you were exposed to. I’m sorry even with the vaccine it’s… not going to be pleasant.”

Black ichor tears began to slide down the man’s face. His mouth twitched and his chest shook violently.

The door behind them opened and the Officer reentered.

“I’m sorry, it’s clear the prisoner isn’t well. I’ve been ordered to ask you to leave.”

Frustration settled across Leon’s expression. He considered ignoring the officer, but The Prisoner wouldn’t be talking for a while. He’d been in deep. The Joiner’s Leon had come across a sector over weren’t nearly as submerged in the mind of the Killik.

To the officer Leon said, “His body is still purging the influence of the Killik, I’d get him medical attention asap.”
“The Killik? You mean those bugs?”
Leon nodded.

Outside he crossed his arms over his chest and stared out at the horizon. The Killik were here. He chewed on the inside of his lip. He made his way back to the crime scene. Peetwo hopped down and went to scanning as Leon’s verdant eyes roamed the space with fresh perspective.

He looked over to Kali, “Well, that could have gone better,” he joked.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

The captive remained disheveled, confused and agitated while he found himself face to face with Leon and Kali. He began freaking out as she calmly adressed him, and she closed her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath and pushing the projection of relaxation further.

Like a wild animal waking up from sedation in a cage, the man didn't seem to like any of this 'interrogation'. She wasn't entirely sure about whether he was lying or not, but it became fairly obvious that he was in no real condition to talk and supply the Intel they needed, which annoyed her a little.

Leon began trying his luck and with her arms still folded in front of her chest, Kalique watched his demeanor change. She raised a brow, never having seen the vaccine in action before and at the realization that the transformation process seemed rather unpleasant did hit her a little unprepared.

She didn't flinch at the thick, black liquid came running from his bewildered eyes, but her stomach turned itself upside down. It was a creepy display of how terrible the Killik pest still was, but for his sake she didn't let any of her own inner turmoil bleed into her appearance. In the end though, it mattered little in general as the man began to twitch right as they were asked to leave.

She followed Leon outside and together they began walking back to the scene. There had to be something else, she thought, but things could somehow never be easy. "Yeah...seems like it's upon us to tie up those loose ends" she sighed, however immediate began to order thoughts in her mind.

"So once he's purged, we could still try talking again...until then though, maybe we should start following traces ourselves. If it's a setup, we'll surely draw someone's attention onto us and perhaps we'll be led to the hive then", she mused, perhaps even voicing wishful thinking. All of this was just weird, but they did at least arrive badly at the scene a few minutes later.

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Baudelaire wasn’t as optimistic as Kali.

Ironic.

Leon’s frown deepened as he swept the scene again with his eyes. He considered her plan, but had a pretty good feeling they’d never get the chance to talk to that prisoner again. Peetwo whistled and Leon headed in that direction. In the ground at the edge of the encounter was a saber score, but it was irregular. It was like someone was holding a lightsaber tip down and dragging it behind.

“Kali,” he said, waving her over. “Might have found something.”
Peetwo’s scanner illuminated the score and he twilled excitedly.
“Really?" asked Baudelaire.
Peetwo grunted in confirmation.
“I’ll be damned, looks like we’ve got a lead,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Leon stared out into the surrounding terrain. The direction Peetwo was trying to get them to go was headed directly into a swamp…

“Well, it’s better than a sewer?” he tried with a sigh.

The sloshing of their boots in shin high water added to the cacophony of the wetland they trudge through. The dense brush pressed in all around them. Peetwo was on Leon’s shoulder and even though it was early afternoon the packed canopy cast the marsh in perpetual twilight. In all honesty he had no idea what they were about to find. He really hoped it wasn’t a nest. If that was the case they’d be fucked, but he couldn’t get past how indoctrinated that joiner back at the station had been.

“Be ready, no telling what we’re about to walk into…” he said.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Back at the scene, a frown was written in her features again. She let out an inaudible sigh as she kept investigating, however not finding any actual clues until Leon's droid buddy chirped. She immediately went over, watching the droid scan and Leon finally verbalize what the droid had excitedly indicated.

"Oh no" she exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples. "Not the swamps". He pointed out that they were better than the sewers, but Kalique shook her head. "I wouldn't agree with you there. I had a terrible mission in a swamp...just as dark as our sewer adventure" she explained, giving away her genuine concerns.

"It's a lead though. You're right. Let's go". Once again, they were left with no other choice and so Kalique reluctantly set her body into motion. Not that she had much experience with Joiners, but she had fought so many darksiders that she didn't find it surprising that evidence led them into the swamps.

They started their short walk until the soil kept growing wetter. It grew darker as they continued, some kind of thick mist already lingering on the distance as they began wading through the wetlands. "So do you think the Killik have purposely chosen cultists to join? Or was that a mere coincidence. I don't like the idea of two such sinister forces combined.. " she admitted, genuine concern in her face as she instinctively reached for her lightsaber hilt.

It would take another while with the sloshing of their boots being the only perceivable sound, but after some more marching, the would spot a some kind of silhouette scurrying through the mist. It did made her flinch a little, not having expected any motions in this exact moment and also, funnily enough, not sensing anything within the Force.

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Leon blinked when she mentioned having a worse time on a mission in the swamps. He took a breath then kissed his teeth saying, “Well, maybe this time won’t be… uhh, as bad?”

As they began to enter the marshlands Kali asked about the Killiks, “Think of it more as a symptom rather than a direct attack,” he crossed his arms over his chest, “Joiner’s are created from an overexposure to the pheromones the Killik produce to communicate. So it’s more an unlucky proximity thing, at least in the cases I’ve seen.”

Leon sighed, “Honestly, this situation is probably the weirdest coincidence.” He scoffed, “Hey, this might actually lead to break through in the hunt for the cult’s base.”

Their conversation died away as the monotonous sloshing of their boots filled the silence. A shadow in the distance took off and Leon froze, verdant eyes locked on the silhouette. Then he gasped when he realized that wasn’t the only one.

“Oh boy,” sighed Leon as nearly a dozen shadowy figures coalesced within the haze of the encroaching fog. He couldn’t feel them and he couldn’t make out what they were, but he could hear a faint humming— no… a buzzing. Like the constant flutter of insect wings.

@LadyRen