Buried Treasure

[Pyromaniac]

Acolyte Zoroc made his way from the camp, towards the edges of the clearing that opened up into the ruins of the Jedi Temple of Typhon. The young Zabrak didn't know why the hell they would be sent to this ruin. It was mostly overgrown, collapsing, and if he hadn't of seen the wrecked age old landing pads he would have thought it a strange creation of erosion.

Zoroc sighed but continued to stare at the Temple. Some portions were still navigable, mostly the sub-levels. It was there the real reason they were supposedly sent here was. Supposedly, there was a Holocron hidden in the long since plundered Archives, under a statue. He didn't know how this information came to pass, but some higher up Sith wanted this Holocron for himself for reasons the Zabrak did not know. Maybe to horde it away from the Jedi? Who knew.

Looking behind him, he heard a howl in the distance which made his companions perk up at the sound. The fire was warm in the center, their tents pulled up for they expected a long adventure to get into the Archives. The night sky loomed above them and insects chirped, but Zoroc turned away. He did not wish to partake in the populated area near the fire, nor the conversations taking place. All he cared about was getting the job done and returning to Korriban, to further his training.

 

[Butler]

Dust drifted off the rock, black vines hung over the cliffside like neck-knot curtains closed from death's finale long ago. Her whispers still clung to memories stifled and stepped on by a hatred that snuffed out her very soul. Roots pulled out of the side and fell into the abyss. His hand reclaimed a corner edge and pulled further. Golden talons, rusty and ancient, stuck into her bones, for old time's sake, and he climbed up her deformed landscape.

Black glove clasped. Then golden talons. His black head of straight strung hair arose, and he muscled himself up and over onto his rolling side.

Do you remember me? he thought to ask the land he now laid upon. Would that others could read your scars as I have, his mind continued; the only spite he had left to dig into enemies' eyes. As he lay there, he pretended to hear the raging waters that once fell over this perch. So massive were her falls that they'd almost been swallowed up simply by standing still. Nothing but dust lie next to him now. What he had climbed, now seemed a mountain wall; though once was a great river fell. And as the night came, he reveled in her suffering all those years; not a scratch upon her lifespan before his time. And already she tried to return, ravaged of her purity.

Hours past as he regained his composure, preparing meticulously under shadow for this return to seize what sources informed him to be worth the dangers of exposure. Ship captain to stowaway. Murderer to savior. Laborer to slave. Whatever it took, he had sacrificed and now journeyed on his own with ship in waiting. If the Sith discovered he was still alive here, and hadn't returned to them, he could only imagine what they might think. Never was there more a loyal hound, yet he was a complicated simpleton.

There came a howl in the distance, and he looked up. Tython was stirring. It knew he was here.

 

[KineticEnergy]

Acolyte Agneta sat in the camp. In a simple folding chair, she disassembled and cleaned the light repeater pistol previously hooked to her hip. The moonlight glanced off the pink hue of the Zeltron's skin. In all honesty, she was quite beautiful. What was worrisome was that she knew it. The Acolyte had used it to her advantage once or twice in the past. The flicker of the fire in the middle of the basecamp helped her see what she was doing. Screw up the reconstruction of your pistol and it could cost you. The deconstruction and reconstruction of her repeater pistol had been dedicated to muscle memory, but she wanted to be safe instead of sorry.

Agneta had previously been briefed on the specifics of the temple on Tython. It would most likely be dangerous due to Jedi traps, but nature had retaken the temple. The wildlife here had the possibility to be as dangerous as a Jedi. This was to be the Zeltron's first mission in the Sith Order and she didn't plan on taking it lightly. She dressed in full battle gear, a set of Verpine Fiber Ultramesh was to keep her safe in a time of great danger.

She stood and smelled the clear air of the landscape. Her companion, if you wanted to call the Zabrak that, had been assigned the mission as well. She saw that he didn't want to be social, so she respected that. Yes, she was part of the Sith Order, but that doesn't mean that all manners and common courtesies were to be thrown out a window. The air was amazing. The best part was that it didn't remind her of home. With a slight smile on her face, Agneta munched on an energy bar. They most likely wouldn't be eating in the morning so it was best to eat before then.

A howl rang out through the darkness and gave Agneta Skarpsvärd a terrible case of the shivers. Calming herself down, she pushed the fear out of her mind as if it was an annoying child.

 

[Lindgart]

As I saw the half hull from the luxury Yacht, I felt sure should not have taken the job. Nevertheless, I needed the money...

She looked excessively classy and her expensive garniture contrasted with my simple, half-clean and cigarette smelling office on the backwater planet Elrood. In addition, it had warned me something was too good to be true, I chose not to bother. “My son ...” she said “... left to a planet called Tython. I did not pay much attention but is has been two weeks with no news. He said he was after some old treasure so he could prove his valour.” In my ignorance, I thought it would be another case of a rich kid, bored with his family and that ran away on an adventure trip. “I need your help Mr Knight, my associates guaranteed you are good and I can pay.”

She reminded me of the people my old man liked to hang out with. People who were interested on themselves and showing their wealth around. I had ran from home once when I was a youngling. I had once too, worried my parents to despair, until a CorSec Detective found me. Maybe it was karma; I just wondered what I have done to pay for it exponentially…

To find his ship was not difficult. As many rich parents do, a locator device had been secretly installed in it in and, out of sheer luck; the remaining half part of the Yacht’s hull, was the one with such device. The unfortunate landing had consumed the rest. Of course, I ran my scanners, if I found a body the job would be over and the credits in my pocket. I would naturally feel sorry for the Lady and her 18 years old kid, but the credits would be in my pocket and would be able to spend some of it with fun. After all, fifteen grand would easily take care of my late bills. And, of course, there was no trace of carbon or any other matter that indicated Zyran had died there. I scratched my head and wiped the sweat out of my forehead. Relying on less sophisticated techniques, I went to my knees and found the footprints.

“Keep the ship locked Excel and only open it for me. I will send you a message if anything happens. If you don’t hear from me in 72 standard hours, you know what to do.” The droid answer affirmatively as I gathered a few things I would need and shoved them in a backpack. “I agree it is not a nice place, keep the Quidnunc hidden and make sure you keep energy emission to a minimum. I will follow the footprints on foot. Take care.”

“You too Rod.” The loyal droid replied.

I began to follow the footprints after checking my chrono, the surface was not the best one and they faded from time to time, forcing me to use time on finding them again. The steadiness of the footprints gave me the impression the boy was not injured, if they were his. I was about to find out when I spotted a camp next of what seemed to be ruins. I adjusted my battered trench coat so I could cause a better impression and checked my ‘Zeus’ the reliable slug thrower I used to defend myself when needed and pressed on. I approached the camp with the attitude of who wants to cause no harm. For some reason, I was aware. I kept the pace until someone could see me. The sounds of my boots on the rocky ground were baffled by a nasty howl...

 

[Pyromaniac]

Zoroc heard footsteps on the rock and turned, his hand steadily grasping his lightsaber on his right hip. He looked back to the fire and made eye contact with one of the Acolytes, a Zeltron female, and motioned towards the sounds. He then began to take slow steps towards the man appearing out of the shadows.

His approach was too noticeable, too direct to be a sneak attack, unless he had others in the shadows. Zoroc opened up his Senses and took a good look at the surrounding area for other life forms, finding none. He was alone...

A fool then, or someone with a death wish. You should never lower your guard.

His lightsaber in his right hand, the Zabrak's yellow eyes were cold and calculating as he began to probe the man's mind gently, as to not arose suspicion, for any information he could offer on why he was here, who he was...

Zoroc got his name quickly, for it was a fresh memory and easily analyzed. He stood before the man, not saying a word, but kept his senses open for any sign of hostility, even as he slide around in Rod's head.

 

[Butler]

His shoulders press down into his flexing ribcage, legs folded flat upon the earth. His knuckles crack from clenching fists, hung wrists over knees that digits scrape black soot. His chest breaths open, neck stiffening straight with rising head up to midnight stars. He looks up. Mouth drooping agape, his eyes roll back into his skull. White flush floods under opened fluttering lids in a trance.

His chin lowers level. He sees beyond, sight stretching out across the landscape. Low light vision peers through shadow, even further until he sees scurrying critters along the walls of the ruins. He senses them, yet does not cast his presence upon their notice. But beyond that, he sees their essence as it pings their location; cast in a soft white amidst the blackness. Peering round the Temple grounds, his sight swings over a group. He's only capable of distinguishing them from the planet and its distorted life because he sees them first, from afar. They are familiar to him. Yet he does not know their individual presences, cannot recognize their silhouettes even as white lights radiating from the void.

From his perch, he revels in his solitude. Noster Eden, the destroyer of an ecosystem, feeds off of memory in her pain. Her wounds spread open about him, weeds writhing and withering in wilting drain of spirit. She cowers to his touch. Tython never forgets. She never forgets.

 

[KineticEnergy]

Agneta made eye contact with her fellow Acolyte, a young Zabrak. He motioned her towards the sound of a possible intruder. A human who looked to in his early thirties stepped out of the shadows. Zoroc had his lightsaber drawn but had yet to perform an action of any kind. The stranger's purpose here was unknown, so the Zeltron treated him as if he was an enemy. What other choice did she have? Her mission was of great importance and she wasn't going to let anyone get in her way. She wouldn't murder the man, but she would definitely do her best to incapacitate and immobilize him. She sensed that he was alone, and rocketed into the sky. Her jetpack boomed in the near silent night. Pulling the repeater pistol out of its holster, she fired a quick burst in the man's direction, then sent a strong push with the Force at him.

 

[Lindgart]

I knew it... For the few seconds I had to evaluate the situation, I was sure I should not have accepted the job...

I didn't survive five years in war against Sith and their troops by being inept. Also..., of course, it happened again...

The Zabrak approached silently. Despite being an young adult, his eyes bore wisdom. They were eyes of a predator. Unavoidably, my unvisited memories from the war made me aware when I instinctively noticed the lightsaber in his hand. I was about to introduce myself deciding for the right words to convey nor fear or disrespect. I just wanted to find the boy's body. Intuition told me maybe this was a setup. Unfortunately, I had not time to go over the possibility. The old and familiar tingle in the back of my neck grew stronger too fast and all seemed to be in slow motion...

Another figure, armed, female, without a hint activated a jet pack, her hand already drawing a SE-14, a Imperial appreciated side weapon for its fire rate. I only was aware of the fusillade after finishing an improbable cartwheel dodging out of the way, behind a stone boulder which barred the "punch" generated by the strong Force Push sent in my direction. Twenty-six years of my life were devoted to Tëras-Käsi, anticipation and daily physical and mental training, kept me alive to this day. I intended to keep it that way.

The scent of ionized gas started to spread and as a reflexive action, I pressed a button on my chrono. I decided not to fast-draw my Zeus yet. Maybe one of them could sense my lack of anger or hostility... Anyways, still using the rock formation as cover, I shifted into a position in which I could react in case of being attacked again."Cease fire! I'm not your enemy! I'm a P.I. Just looking for someone! Skrag!" Five years of experience in a war fought on deception and dubious deals taught me nothing was ever guaranteed, my eyes quickly scanned the terrain for any and everything I could use to my advantage. My first procedure would be remaining cool. These Sith, at first assessment, seemed to be new, which didn't mean they weren't extremely dangerous. I would have to charge my contractor an additional extra for "extremely hazardous conditions"...

 

[Pyromaniac]

Zoroc watched as the Zeltron open fired on the man. He sighed, but made no move to intervene. When he began to call out, however, Zoroc listened. A non-hostile investigator? What in the Force was he doing here, of all places?

"Seize fire, there is nothing gained by killing him yet." He said through Telepathy to the Zeltron.

Zoroc approached, his lightsaber still drawn but not activated, and called out to Rod. Something felt... off. Zoroc looked around, and could only see darkness and the light cast by the fire. Why did he feel like he was being watched?

"You... Rod... if this person you're looking for is here, they are most likely dead. You know the state of Typhon. So, why would he have come here?"

The Zabrak grabbed his comlink with his left hand, and brought it to his lips. Depending on the man's answer, they'd have to either move fast. If he knew about the Treasure, then... more would be coming soon, if they haven't already. He would not fail.

It was then he decided to search again with the Force, and probe the distance for life. There was some, yes, but something else...

Zoroc shrugged. He couldn't sense anything other than the darkness that surrounded the planet and a few life forms. Yet, he couldn't shake this uneasy feeling in his gut. He'd been alive long enough to know to trust his instincts, for they rarely failed him, but he couldn't sense why they would be telling him something was wrong.

"Come out, Rod, and let us talk."

Talk, yes, and with that talk Zoroc planned on probing the man's mind for any information he could gather. But first, they had to coax him out. And then he'd led the Zeltron woman kill him, once Rod was... no longer needed.

 

[Butler]

His flesh swelled in stasis, unflinching. His mind breathed amidst the night sky, all the stars his eyes as he watched two Acolytes and an unknown using his unique techniques of shadow the Imperium could never have taught him. Yet at ease his body was, reassured by concaving inflection of the Force; the dark side as it was, surrounding all of this place. His presence meshed with the planet's pain, laying her hands on him now in worship of his power and fear of his wrath. His seated sight was stroked with remuneration, rejuvenation.

Determining distance, from a distance, and interpreting potential, without touching their minds, he deciphered these children to be of sound mind and proper skill. They worked together well, but seemed quick to act. They appeared to be alone. He'd faced a Jedi Master and survived unscathed. He'd faced a Sith Master and shown his merit. A few Acolytes might best be avoided simply to expedite his stealthy recovery of his objective, remaining currently unknown to the Sith as a whole. He desired not to cross swords with kin. Even as these were untested disciples, they were still brothers to him. But he was not yet permitted to leave Gloom and her sect. He would not be deemed their enemy. Realizing that he might have to announce his name to them, his lacking logic strained to strategize a plan...

 

[KineticEnergy]

He had spoken in Agneta's head as soon as she began her attack. It threw her off, almost startling her. With rage, she threw another wave of force energy in the direction of the man who 'wasn't her enemy' in an effort to kick up the dirt and dust. It obviously wouldn't cause any harm to her potential opponent, but with some luck it would block his view for a few moments. Agneta couldn't necessarily hear what her ally was saying, but it sounded like peace keeping efforts.

That was unacceptable.

She sped up her decent and landed next to Zoroc, her boots smacked loudly in the gravel. She kept her blaster sights on the rock the man was hiding behind. An expression of anger was clear on her face. "Don't you dare think for a second that I'm going to treat him like anything other than an enemy. He will meet his demise if you bring him into our camp," She moved a little bit closer and spoke in a calmer, more friendly tone, "Remember our task here Zoroc. We need to deal with him quick and then move out."

 

[Lindgart]

My mental defences were risen up as soon as my name, which I had not spoken, came out from the Zabrak’s mouth. It seemed he was the reasoning kind, the most dangerous in my opinion. Now I had to keep him out of my mind. The memories of war I kept in my mental forge. The distance I slowly walked for almost three hours while following the tracks, would be covered in no more than few seconds by “Excel” in the Quidnunc.


“I have to confess, I’m still a little bit worried about your trigger happy friend there, with all due respect.” I reached the Imagecaster in my pocket and flicked it on. The fifteen centimetre tri-dimensional image of the kid came to life. I waved the image caster on the rock side before throwing it in the couple’s general direction “That is the kid I’m looking for. His mother is paying me for finding him. That’s why I happened to be in such unfortunate planet. I was hired to come over here and look for him.” The sounds of boots hitting the gravel did not escape my ears.

“I found his wrecked ship two hours walk south-east, the only tracks I’ve found led me here. As I said I have no other business in here.”

I did not want to kill two Acolytes in a Sith controlled planet, it would draw more attention to myself than the meek credits I was getting for this job were worthy. The war was over and I had decided not to muse over it during my whole life, still I would have to do what I did for five years if the two young Sith went rough, and also, if I wanted to finish the Corellian whiskey bottle in my desk drawer back on Elrood. “I have you in the sensors… 5 seconds.” My droid companion’s voice came through the earplug I wore. He had received my emergency signal. I hoped that among all the strange mojo from the Sith, these two weren’t able to pull up some super-hearing or something like it.

“I will be able to tell his mother Imperium Authority has the kid granted for dead. This planet is not exactly the one I’d choose for leisure.”

The chromed Helix already showed on the horizon and the most observing beings could already noticed it. Involuntary, I clenched my left hand forming a fist under the arm guard I wore. My other hand still wanted to reach either the Zeus or my tonfa, but I managed to keep it at bay for now

“Now, if you can somehow guarantee I won’t be shot or mojo’ed as soon as I leave my cover, maybe we could talk a little more…”

Once again, the motto of my old guerrilla squad came into my protected mind “Alea jacta est”.

 

[Pyromaniac]

"First, it is better to determine the strengths and weaknesses of your enemy before you engage. Also, he might not have been our enemy. He very well could have been an Imperial soldier, for it's not as if we have interstellar communications in these comlinks. I wanted to learn a little before we killed, for a Sith must kill with purpose, lest we become animals."

He watched the holo-image thud before him, and he gave it merely a simple glance before listening to the man and feeling his emotions. Zoroc was angry at himself for letting the name slip without thinking, putting up the man's defences. It was harder to pry into his mind, but Zoroc could at least get glances and feel his emotions. However, something troubled him. If the boy's tracks led here, then he was either lost... or looking for something.

Suddenly, Rod felt calmer... and that is when Zoroc figured out why.

"Something is coming, non-biological. Begin to move out, Zeltron, we're going in."

"The boy you are looking for is most likely dead. However, I am willing to speak. My associate is moving on, so it'll be just you and me. You may come out."

Zoroc looked to the Zeltron, "He will most likely follow, stubborn as he seems, and may either trail us, or go a different path in search of that boy, for I sense he is being honest when it comes to his purpose here. I want you to lead the four of the five Acolytes with us to a way inside the Temple, and I shall follow shortly. I'm going to send one off on their own, to wait and hide, and then trail this investigator. I'll stay long enough for the stalker to get into a position where he can either strike or follow. If it does not kill him, it will keep him occupied long enough to give us a good head start."

The Zabrak smiled and looked towards one Acolyte that had come with him. He was strong, well built, and apparently good with a lightsaber. Now it was up to him. Zoroc invaded the young man's mind as the others began to move, and with a good amount of effort, implanted his command to hide and wait for the investigator along their path. Should he not follow them, he was to race to catch up.

While it might be a terrible thing to use this power on a fellow Sith, he did not find it heartbreaking. After all, the Acolyte's death would serve a purpose should he die. Besides, if he was so weak willed for another Acolyte to use the Force on his mind like this, then he obviously was not proper Sith material.

 

[Butler]

Black irises flicked down from the back of his skull, trading the white clouded haze for pale green rings; eyes fixed on his decision. When the Acolyte spoke of determining strengths and wanting to learn before killing, Noster realized this was his opportunity to move. Assuming the Acolytes would clash once again with the lone explorer, distracting themselves from Noster's side-stepping intrusion, Noster punched his knuckles into the dirt beside his hips and unfolded his legs pushing up to a stand.

He inhaled. He exhaled.

A kick of dust flew behind his feet, and the Crusader was building to a sprint straight down the tunnel vision of his unnerving ease in a stare. Between the sickly black unearthed roots twisted up into gnarled inversions of what could be interpreted as trees, he strode an inhuman speed towards the distant Temple. Yet as his gaze no longer focused on the Acolytes afar, he did not know that they no longer waited to begin their own search.

The balls of his feet dug scratches into dust like the patter of raindrops in a humid hailstorm, the passion of his momentum searing ribbons of smoke trailing behind. He could see the side of the Temple exterior coming into distant view. And if any had strayed beyond the entrance of the Temple, around the exterior, they might find themselves in his warping path...

 

[KineticEnergy]

Agneta strongly disagreed with Zoroc's decision making process. Normally, his response to an unknown entity would have been warranted. This was an important mission however, and there was little room for error. Not only did was the outcome of the mission at stake, but their lives as well. Agneta liked to take a risk every once in a while but she wasn't stupid. With a scoff, she gave the Acolyte a slap on the arm. "See you in a bit then," her voice was ice cold.

She flew up into the air and looked over their camp. The fire was still going and the other Acolytes, who weren't worth naming, were still in their tents prepping for the expedition into the temple. The Zeltron activated the communicator on her wrist and began to relay orders. "Acolytes! You have sixty seconds to be ready for the expedition. Pack light. Speed is the key to success on this mission." On that note, she stopped deactivated the communicator. She paused for a moment and looked up at the midnight sky. The stars formed patterns that played with Agneta's imagination. Constellations had always fascinated her and had provided a sort of mental escape. For now, she used the beautiful sight to calm herself.

Sixty seconds had past. Surprisingly the Acolytes were ready to move. "Lets go," She voxed on the comms. She blasted off into the direction of the temple with incredible speed. Trees and all matter of plant life passed under her in quick flashes. She intended to be at the temple before any of the other Acolytes.

 

[Lindgart]

The sound of the four potent H-L Block ion drive engines tearing Tython sky grew louder fast. It didn't take much for the "Quidnunc" to land with the boarding ramp opening a second after the landing struts had touched the poisoned rocky ground. It was time to move. "Understood." It was all I managed to reply as I quickly made my move to my ship. When 'Excel' informed me the Sith numbers, I knew that as a good Corellian I had rendered the odds useless. I would live another day. Using the terrain to my advantage I crosses the ten meters to the ship, trying not to expose myself to an attack.

Already moving from the sight of the unfortunate encounter I mused on what to do. If the boy was alive, I wasn't convinced he would be for long. The Sith numbers were to big for me to devise a way to pass unnoticed. The "skrags" could sense through the Force. Since not everything could go wrong I wasn't taken by the "Corellian overdrive". I think the lost war might have put me in a somewhat aloof state. I wondered if something didn't happen so I could have real objectives in my life once more, I would not walk a sad bitter path. I just had realized my P.I. job, was just that, a job. I knew how to it, but I extracted no pleasure from it. I told my pilot droid to fly back to the crash site so I could really comb the area again. If I managed to find something personal, it would help making my point about the kid's fate to the mother.

 

[Pyromaniac]

Zoroc made no move to intervene. He watched the man leave in his ship and speed off, without a care. It was time to move. Using Force Speed, the Acolyte rushed to catch up.

 

[Butler]

The massive temple arose in fear, lifting from the breadth of an expanding landscape in closing distance as the midnight monstrosity barreled straight for its wounded side. His emerald eyes saw a double vision as he ran through rippling waves of violating air through carving spread, recalling the image of the Temple he helped sack nearly ten years ago. He'd seen her in her prime, seen her proud and swollen. And now she showed signs of age, cuts turned into gaping wounds and bruises turned into battered paper thin hide. He knew exactly where to look for that one weakness in her outer integrity. And he was sprinting for it right now.

His cheeks forced a frowning lip pucker, in all seriousness and unparalleled focus; that of a war hound without the brains to be distracted. And he flexed.

CRASH!

In toppled her most external frame with a spherical blast of translucent force, his ravaging form skidding in through the brown dust cloud of caving stone and collapsing wall. A bull, a beast, he was with one recovering breath through animalistic nostrils after head rises to return to task. A final square stone teeters off the line and smacks into pieces beside his boots.

He'd broken through.

"Hmmm," he growled.