Crystal Thieves

[vamp]

CRYSTAL THIEVES
.

Crystal Caves, Dantooine, K/L-4

The pleasant environment on Dantooine encompassed the entire planet, save for a few locations. One of these locations was the Crystal Caves, where swarms of Kinrath had settled, filling the caves with intricate hives, and hindering progress for travelers. What made matters worse was that Dantooine was controlled, for the most part, by Jedi. Although the risk was high, Calmax had decided to venture out to the Caves for a lightsaber crystal, preferably red. Aware that those could only be achieved artificially, he had decided corrupting a normal one himself would add a personal touch and bring him closer to the object when he Force forged it into a weapon.

Here he stood in front of the cave entrance. He was wearing his armor, and carrying his lightsaber, 3 thermal detonators, and 3 Firespray grenades, although he was a bit tentative on using explosives inside of a cave that could potentially collapse. Just in case, he chose to be safe.

Now prepared, he ventured into the cave, eyes blinded by his mask. Nevertheless, the Force showed him the way, and he could feel a great mass of creatures toward the heart of the caves. He could also feel the lightsaber crystals in the walls, although they were buried too deep. Sighing, he went in deeper, following the way to one of the hives.

OOC NOTE: Thread is death-enabled.
OOC THREAD

 

[Gian Greydragon]

Sohsat sat cross-legged behind a large cluster of blue crystals, meditating on the energy of the sacred caves of Dantooine, about 30 feet from the main surface entrance. It had been many years since his first visit; when he built his sabers, and installed the purple crystals that emit his current lightsabers' blades. His eyes were shut tight, in a deep, meditative trance, as as both of his lightsabers levitated in front of him. Sohsat had spent the last couple of days on the world as a sort of spiritual vacation from the violence of the Army of Light, and spent many hours in the caves, meditating on the Force, newly recovered from his injuries after going on an assassination mission, to take out the infamous leader of the Knights of SIN, an antiquated intelligence agency from the days of the Sith Brotherhood. It was during their attempted escape that Sohsat was blown clear through a doorway, when someone had flown what Sohsat had guessed to be a starfighter into the side of the hangar. Although, he lost his teammate, another Jedi, by the name of Shae Vis saved his hide, by duping the Sith Assassin into thinking she was a Sith. The months following were spent in a Bacta Tank, recovering, and shortly after release, the Jedi felt the need to visit the ancient cavern where he built his sabers.

Sohsat carried with him his staff, and both lightsabers, as well as six throwing knives and about two dozen durasteel ball bearings, kept in a satchel on his side. A warrior's weapons were an extension of himself, and Sohsat scarcely parted with any of his weapons. He did not feel the need to carry an arsenal with him to a peaceful cave, but brought the necessities, should a group of Kinrath get the wrong idea. He donned typical Jedi robes and tunic in a dark brown color, and no armor except his Cortosis woven gauntlets that extend from his elbows to his wrists.

The tempered breathing of the Jedi stifled, when the air around him became constricting. Such perversion of the atmosphere of this hallowed ground could mean only one thing to Sohsat. Silently, he stood, calling his saber hilts to his sides, and gripping his staff, from it's position on the floor, turning to face the foolish Sith.

"Your presence perverts this sacred cave. Leave now, and you will not decorate it's walls," Sohsat spoke matter-of-fact-ly, before stepping from behind the crystals that had previously concealed him. His eyes locked with the eyeless mask of the Sith before him, before kicking on his communicator.

"Intruder, Kyber Crystal caves. Send a clean up crew." he spoke, before taking up both hands on his staff.

 

[Narsi]

Gren glared down at the footprints spuriously, eyeing the offending marks with clear distaste. She'd come here for some meditation, some peace and quiet to think over recent events. She'd even brought her recently acquired lightsaber to start the process of purifying it, or at least exploring the crystal it contained. It was far from her expertise, hence why she'd been counting on the meditation and peaceful location to do it. Now she likely wouldn't be getting that isolation she needed, not that she minded the presence of another Jedi, she'd just really wanted to be alone for this.

Still, something seemed off, a vague feeling in her gut, strange that she hadn't heard of any other Jedi visiting the caves. It was a dangerous location, and even an experienced Jedi would at least tell others that he was venturing into them, just as she'd left a note proclaiming her destination. Slowly, Gren's forked tongue slithered out from between her lips, tasting the air apprehensively. It smelled wrong, like someone who didn't belong, someone who definitely didn't smell like a Jedi. There was a familiar smell as well alongside it, more stale, and evidence of more than one being ahead of her. Reaching out with the force, Gren let her senses explore the footprints, tasting the air and environment almost like a second tongue. Near immediately, she found a sense of perversion, a whisper of the dark side hanging in the air alongside a lighter familiar presence. A snarl spread over Gren's maw, and she hissed softly as she withdrew her senses.

So, a Sith had come to Dantooine, and obviously hadn't taken any precautions to hide their presence, and he'd been standing right here a few minutes ago. There was also another Jedi in the caves, someone she'd worked with before, and would likely be encountering the evildoer. Luckily she was here now, just as ordered by the general, the force was indeed guiding her feet. She considered calling for backup, this was literally a planet of Jedi after all. But then the general's cold disapproving words and face swam into the forefront of her mind, and her resolve hardened. She didn't need the General getting wind and ordering her to retreat, not when the force had clearly set her here for a reason, she could handle it. Besides, she'd come equipped for a fight, all her usual gear along with her new lightsaber, the caves were teeming with Kinrath after all.

It was then that a message came through on her communicator, ringing with the familiar tone of Sohsat about an intruder in the caves. The time for introspection had ended, now it was time for action. Drawing one of her maces with her right hand and unslinging her rifle with her left, Gren headed into the caves. She was careful to keep an eye out behind her however, it was possible more Sith were around.

 

[Undine]

Emerald had decided to visit the location where she'd found her kyber crystals. Where here the crystals within her lightsaber felt like an extension of herself, the crystals still embedded in clusters around the walls of the caves felt like family. The Force echoed here, reverberating off the walls of the cave as it did off the walls of her mind. She stood, not in deep meditation but in deep thought, examining one of the larger specimens of kyber crystal, the same hue as the emerald blade of her lightsaber. She couldn't help but wonder how or why a specific kyber crystal choose their owner. It was a sacred thing indeed, but something Emerald didn't fully understand.

Being deep enough into the the caves that she could hear the echoing sounds of Kinrath scurrying about nearby, Emerald had made sure she didn't fall into a meditative trace. She didn't want to be eaten by cave bugs while half asleep after all. To that end she had made sure to bring her lightsaber, as well as her discblade, other than her typical robes she hadn't thought to bring anything else. She would never have guess what the day had in store for her though, the worse the caves had ever had to offer were a few bugs here and there, nothing a lightsaber or the Force couldn't keep at bay. There was something though, something she'd never seen happen before.

As she gazed into the deep emerald hued kyber crystals, that almost seemed to glow at her presence, she saw something, a flicker, something made the light of the crystals dim for a split second. Emerald had been caught completely off guard by this, she almost thought she'd imagined it but it happened again, this time she felt a sense of danger. The Jedi knight could only guess the crystals themselves were attempting to warn her of something. Emerald knew she needed to leave, and quickly, whatever it was she wasn't going to let the crystals be destroyed. As she left the small cave she'd been in, entering a passageway leading back towards the main entrance, Emerald heard a voice.

Another Jedi. It had to be, this was Dantooine after all. Still, with the sensation of danger growing in her stomach, she made her way toward the voice quickly, attempting to move silently as she readied her lightsaber. As she caught close enough to hear the last of the Jedi's words, Emerald was stunned. A sith here, in the heart of Jedi territory? What arrogance compelled a man to be so foolish? No longer did she move silently, stepping forward from the passageway as it broke into the main chamber of the cave's entrance. She would stand with her fellow Jedi, fight and kill if she had too, but for now she simply spoke as if to make an abstract comment towards the intruding Sith. "This Jedi greets you, Sith." As she ignited the emerald blades of her double bladed lightsaber, the very same hue of energy that was her namesake.​

 

[vamp]

.

Of course, he thought, smiling to himself. Of course there has to be a problem. He stopped walking as the voice pierced the peaceful silence of the cave. He remained facing ahead, since he had no need to turn around. He already could feel the 3 Jedi around, getting closer. His heightened sense showed that a large one was en route, one he certainly would not enjoy facing.

For now, a single Jedi (@Gian Greydragon) stood behind him, but he could feel another getting close. "Hello to you too," he replied, no arrogance in his voice. "I was hoping this would not happen, but clearly was too foolish to think for a second that the Jedi wouldn't swarm to a Sith like bees to honey."

He let those words carry through the air, echoing off into the cave. The kinrath were no doubt already stirring. Calmax sighed. "One lightsaber crystal is all I need. I won't destroy anything, nor will I take something else from this cave. I just need one single crystal," he said solemnly, then added, "No harm will come to you."

Calmax remained where he was positioned, and he held the hilt of his lightsaber loosely in his hand. He didn't ignite it, hoping that the sign of goodwill would carry. As he waited for a response, a new Jedi (@Undine) came in and spoke.

"This Jedi greets you, Sith."

"Greetings to you as well. Your friend and I were just discussing my motives. I'm sure you overheard us."

 

[Prudence]

"Listen here miss, I really don't care about standard Jedi procedure. You lot use your mind to yahtzee toss blokes on the regular, nothing about you is standard."

"I understand your frustrations Sergeant Ordo, but I'm afraid I can't let you through to see the Grand Master right now."

Kalan's eyes narrowed behind his grey visor. He had come here to get paid for his assistance on Umbara, where he had murdered the two Sith that they had encountered, and in the processes saved two Jedi younglings from executing one of them. However this old ass Jedi woman was blocking his access to the credits that were owed to him. "I don't really care, I'm here to get paid lady. So please, move aside."

The Jedi rested her hand on the saber that rested on her belt and shook her head, "The Grand Master is not here right now, I'm going to have to ask you to leave now."

Kalan's jaw set, but he spun around on his heels and headed towards where he had parked his own ship, near the Crystal caves that were just a short walk away from the Jedi enclave. He would find a way to get his payment from the Jedi and then be off this damned world. Just as he was approaching his ship he heard a call across the comms that he was still patched into after the Umbara mission.

It was the voice of an older man, calling for assistance after spotting a Sith in the Crystal caves. Again??? Kalan charged forward, pushing through the mouth of the cave, his A-140 that rested in a chest harness raised, and the saber he had taken from the male Sith on umbara jangling at his belt. His boots clattered against the stone floor as he approached the Sith from behind, "Look, I don't give a damn why you're here. Hands up now, or I'll fill you full of plasma."

 

[Gian Greydragon]

"You realize you're basically asking the enemy to allow you to build a weapon, with their sacred crystals? I ought to kill you just for thinking I, or any Jedi for the matter, would conceivably, ever let a Sith take a crystal from our caves. You-" Sohsat was interrupted by the entrance of a female Haransi Jedi, even taller than himself, as she stepped into view, from a tunnel to his left, readying her lightsaber hilt. Skipping introductions, she addressed the Sith directly. "How nice of you to join us," he said, warmly to his sister Jedi, then turning back to a hard glare at the Sith, "I was just about to show this wretch the error of his ways," he spoke, without breaking sight of the Sith.

Shortly thereafter, an interesting pair appeared from behind the Sith; one, a fully decked out Mandalorian, and then, Gren, the Jedi Initiate that he'd met months before, on Hoth. He remembered her ferocity in battle, and grinned at her sight. "Good to see you again, Gren," he spoke to her, telepathically. "Mandalorian! Lower your blaster; these are sacred caverns!" he shouted, before telepathically speaking to him, as well.

"If you hit one of these larger crystals, they'll detonate like a grenade. Kyber crystals are extremely volatile, and will make a big boom if you hit them. Not god for anyone nearby. Lots of shrapnel. Don't ask how I know." he spoke, hastily, to the Mandalorian, hoping he will comply.

"As for you, Sith, this is your last warning. We are not the peaceful monks of the Order. Your lot made sure to get rid of them. We, the warriors, remain, and we don't freely offer peace. Leave now, and keep your hide in tact, to die on the field, like a warrior, instead of in a cave, like a rat," he said, in a coarse tone. He had no time for this Sith's shenanigans.

 

[TheMorrigan]

"Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Sound familiar? Tsk Tsk Tsk. That is not the Jedi way, now is it? You give peacekeepers a bad name, Jedi. It is lucky, then, that you could never sense me. Calmax."

A blaster primed itself from behind a nearby rock, and steady steps revealed the figure of the sapphire skinned Sith Tactician, Vrist. He wore his black shocktrooper armor, as usual, and had his revolver raised towards the leading Jedi, who spoke with such defiant threats. Alas, it was he who had been asked to shadow his ally into the caves, and he who would hopefully discourage such foolish behavior. No fight was required, but if one was warranted... He would do what he must to defend his ally. Before heeding Calmax' request, he had informed his friends and allies of this almost suicidal mission. If they died here, it would not be unnoticed. Or unavenged.

"You killed a friend of mine recently, Jedi. As I am not a vengeful being, I do not seek conflict. Allow us to pass, and this lapse of judgement will be overseen. You are warriors, but of the light. Surely you can see this is unnecessary?"

Vrist paused, setting his eyes on the three, finally resting it on Kalan.

"However. If you really can't see the idiocy of this situation, I will be more than glad to show you. As Malek Maldor once showed me."

He allowed his anger and grief echo through his voice, sending it in waves throughout those nearby.

Not again. Not this time. No one else dies.

​

 

[Narsi]

It seemed there were far more people around then she'd realized, way more actually. The first Sith wasn't a surprise, rage inducing yes, but she'd fully expected to find one here. Sohsat was also a surprise, though a happy one, and she immediately felt a surge of relief to see the familiar knight. Gren openly offered him a quick smile before turning a full on glare towards the Sith. She didn't know the other Jedi with him, but Gren remained quiet, this was not the time for introductions. The Mandolorian's sudden appearance next to her was also shocking, though somewhat relieving actually. He was a fellow warrior for justice against evil, and HE wouldn't order her away.

The true shocker however, was the new Sith that suddenly stepped into view from behind a rock. She hadn't sensed nor scented him in the slightest, it was as if he'd stepped into being from nothing. Still, Gren near instantly locked onto him, making up for her seeming incompetence as best she could by reacting quickly. Pointing her ACR rifle at the black stormtrooper, Gren allowed it to charge as she took aim, using her right arm to provide support. All in all it was quite a scene, a Jedi and Mando standing together near the entrance, two Sith ten meters or so in front of them, and then two more Jedi a good distance in front of the Sith. Everyone was amiably speaking too, Not that she herself was participating, as an Initiate it wasn't her place, not with superiors around. Everyone had spoken to much already anyway, Sith weren't worth it, and their foul presences were polluting the sacred caves.

She did listen however, and it was for that reason she pulled the trigger. Polite greetings? Idiocy? A Sith angry for the killing of his friend? All blasphemy and nonsense, and suddenly, she just couldn't bear to listen anymore. As the black armored Sith finished speaking, loosing some name as if it had meaning, Gren unleased a sonic blast right at the man. Keeping Sohsat's words in mind, literally, she aimed for his legs so that the blast would hit the ground even if it missed, unleashing its deadly five meter burst into the relative safety of the floor.

 

[Undine]

The arrival of the mandalorian had been a surprise, Emerald had half expected him to be working with the sith as a Jedi would be hard pressed to find a mandalorian that wanted anything other than their hide. Damn bounty hunters, she could never tell which of them were friendly and which would need to be put down. As a general practice she simply didn't any of them. Surprising still was the black armored trooper that had made himself know out of nowhere. Foolish she thought, the Horansi was a huntress by nature and would have never given up her position like that. Still, her opponents were outnumbered and outclassed, only thing left to do would be to fill out the paperwork.

Emerald wasn't the type to wait and listen to lengthy monologues, if the black armored trooper wanted to talk he could later when she beat any intel out of him. Emerald's earlier words were meant as a warning, not a greeting, and she had no intentions of offering further warnings or words to that effect. Instead of listening to him say his piece, the Jedi Knight focused her mind and reached out with the force in an attempt to twist the blaster, along with the blue skinned hand that wielded it, sharply enough to break bone. A broken wrist was just as effective a means of disarming an opponent, one that that also had the added benefit of disarming them in a more literal way as well. If her efforts were fruitful, the sith would start off on the defensive, right where they belonged.​

 

[vamp]

.

Although he was calm, Calmax could feel the situation slipping out of his grip. Things were escalating quickly, and the arrival of the new man (@Prudence) worried him. He knew the new guy wasn't a Force user, and signs pointed to him being a Mandalorian judging by a gut feeling. Mando or not, Calmax knew the man was probably armed from head to toe, and he was not excited to start a fight.

"Look, I don't give a damn why you're here. Hands up now, or I'll fill you full of plasma."

Reluctantly, Calmax turned toward the two Jedi and the man, and lifted his hands slightly, still holding his lightsaber hilt. "Step aside, Mandalorian. This is not your business," he said, still confused as to why a Mandalorian had ended up on Dantooine on the same day as him. "I don't see why we need unnecessary bloodshed when all I wanted was a kriffing crystal," he added.

He shifted toward a corner that forked to the right. Calmax stood ready to jump to the side if attacked, although he didn't see why a Jedi would let someone attack a compliant and innocent person. After all, wasn't it against the Jedi code to kill needlessly?
The tension was high in the cave, and the only sounds heard were the hum and buzz of a Jedi's lightsaber and the skittering of Kinrath somewhere far off. Birds chirped outside, but the sound was muffled by the walls. Calmax let the Force radiate from the Kyber crystals into his body, and he could feel his senses heightening already.

The otherwise peaceful noises were penetrated by the voice of his comrade, who had arrived in the nick of time. Calmax had previously sent out a message on the Sith comms before the mission, asking if anyone wished to join him, but was denied. Now, it seemed, someone had taken up the call. A bit surprised, but glad, he moved from behind the corner.

"However. If you really can't see the idiocy of this situation, I will be more than glad to show you. As Malek Maldor once showed me."

Calmax could feel the emotion radiating off the other Sith, and accepted the grief willingly. He knew that in the end, it would make him stronger. Inside him, the relatively light energy of the crystals clashed against the dark energy he and the other Sith were giving off, but the dark ultimately got its way. He couldn't attack while the Mandalorian (@Prudence) and three Jedi (@Gian Greydragon, @Undine, @Narsi) stood in front of him at various points, so he thought fast.

He charged forward, letting the Force flow through him, which gave him a boost. He made a break for the exit, lightsaber hilt still in hand. Should anyone try to approach him, he would switch his lightsaber on and slash at them. However, that was unlikely, since they would be preoccupied with the other Sith (@TheMorrigan), who had dodged to avoid the sonic attack, and who would then open fire.

 

[Prudence]

Kalan found himself beside the young Barabel Jedi that he had encountered previously on Umbara. It was interesting that he had found her once again, on Dantooine, only days later. The two of them were blocking off the only entrance to this dead end cavern, and were roughly thirty feet from the pair of Sith that found themselves within the cavern. He was bored with the situation, and chose to put on some music softly inside his helmet to ease his nerves, or something. Beyond them were the other two Jedi, sandwiching the Sith between them. Kalan had been mildly amused to find that the mentally challenged Sith that he had first threatened had managed to convince a second Sith to join him as well. Is there mercury in the Korriban water supply? I feel like the Sith used to be... better. The next interaction he had with the Sith proved that he was, indeed, right about their mental incapacitation.

A quick glance upward with his eyes revealed that the roof of the cave was just high enough for what he had planned. As the Chiss sith was droning on about how the Jedi had killed one of his friends, Kalan acquired a quick target lock on the Chiss - not a difficult feat seeing as it was a direct line of sight, and fired the clusterbomb from his jetpack. It had a 10m blast radius, meaning that Kalan and Gren, as well as the other team of Jedi, would be just outside of its range. The rocket would interrupt both Sith before they were able to run or otherwise do anything - considering the Chiss himself had just been droning on about lost friends.

As the rocket flew Kalan would raise his A-140 and fire three rounds towards the Chiss sith, tracking him should he try to juke, jump, or otherwise dodge the shots. Seeing as you're sad about losing your friend, I figured I'd send you to hell so you could say hi in person.

 

[TheMorrigan]

"...As Malek Maldor once-"

Abruptly, the Mandalorian unleashed a cluster bomb from his jetpack, arcing toward him and Calmax. As a follow up, the Barabel Jedi unleashed a sonic blast aimed at his legs. A wise choice, otherwise the Kyber crystals would react negatively. It seems these Jedi where not nearly as Logical as he has hoped. Vrist scoffed. Such attacks, although effective, were predictable. Vrist began drawing his Lightsaber, but felt the ripples of a powerful force attack tearing towards him-

Nah, Tocu'ren'mur. Nah vuckust k'ir to To ren'mur bah Csiplar k'it (No, Jedi. Not idly do the guardians of Csiplar fall)

He allowed the attack to approach before reaching out and feeling the force around him. He felt the attack and it's vicious intent, the hands from which it was fired, as well as the path through the Force it took. Feeling the currents of Force energy, Vrist attempted to stem it's intent. The ability was powerful indeed, however he was able to subvert it ever so slightly. The Force attack twisted the air around his hands, meeting his own force defenses, and resulting in the crack of speed. Emboldened by his own ability to match the Jedi, he leapt into the air, using the folds of the Force to propel him. As he rose up, arcing calmly towards the exit, he twisted and drew the lightsaber he had been gifted, arcing it's crimson blade in preparation to attack. He would still prefer to leave without causing death, but it seemed no longer plausible. Although he seemed to be away from the sonic blast and it's companion, a triumvirate of blasts met him. As he had expected, the Mando pegged him immediately and opened fire. Unable to dodge completely, Vrist winced as the bolts impacted his chest, causing him to release his pistol and groan in pain. The third blast had hit home, leaving a generous wound in its impact location. The attack caused him to temporarily lose focus, changing his rise into a free fall. The following explosion ended with a blackout.

Must I break my oath, give in to my darkness? Not yet.

@Prudence

​

 

[Gian Greydragon]

"You idiot!" Sohsat belted, as the Mandalorian shot off his clusterbomb, leaping backward, to make sure he was not in the explosive's blast radius. Seeing the force-sensitive Shock Trooper attempt to leap out of the core of the explosion, and he watched as three bolts connected to his chest, in mid-air. Sohsat threw up a hand, to soften the fall of the wounded legionnaire. Even if he was an intruder, the Jedi in Sohsat wanted one or both of these men to stand trial. Jabbing his staff securely into the ground, Sohsat drew his two connected lightsaber hilts, extending both blades and hastily setting upon the wounded man, he swung at the man's head, but halted the blade just millimeters from the Shock Trooper's helmet, burning a divot into the outer corner of his helmet.

"Stand down, soldier. You're coming with me. Or you'll die like a rat in these caves," he spoke in a neutral tone, as if he'd calmed down again, even though the darkness inherent with his species of humanoid whirled around within his chest, he sustained it well, but not without some difficulty.

"Gren!" he shouted, before switching to the phonetic version of the Barabel language he learned during his time served on Barab I, "secure the Sith, make sure these idiots stand trial for their trespassing!" he spoke, and stood, with a hawk's eye on the Shock Trooper.

 

[vamp]

.

So far so good. Of course, for Calmax that just meant things were about to get harder, but he pretended he was content either way. And things did get harder, as the Mandalorian (predictably) shot a missile (in a small, crowded cave no less) at the other Sith behind him. Calmax was already on the move before the shot was fired, and thus found no difficulty in avoiding taking heavy damage. He dashed through the cave, and was about to pass the female Jedi (@Undine) and the huge Jedi (@Narsi). It seemed as though the projectile would still hit him, and so he leapt, aided by the jumpers he was wearing. The blast did not quite hit, though he flew forward for a meter, and stumbled.

Ahead, he would then have to pass by the Mandalorian (@Prudence), who would be 10 meters away from him and the last foe, (@Gian Greydragon). Should he keep the course he was on, he would simply dash past with a few meters between them.

After the Jedi, the exit to the cave lay, about 25 meters from his current location. Calmax was moving fast, and the distance continued to close. He was using the built-up energy to channel the Force into his movements, quickening his steps. His hilt was still in his right hand, unignited but ready in case someone neared him.

He would attempt to dodge any projectile aimed at him with a mixture of feints, pivots, or jumps.

Calmax knew the Sith trooper had fallen, and while he felt remorse, he kept going without turning. He knew that that man had just possibly sacrificed his life so that he may escape, and he was not about to waste Vrist's life.

Now nearing the two enemies, he jumped, and got a boost from his jumper, along with the Force. He wouldn't reach the ceiling, as the jump was more horizontal than it was vertical, but it would be enough to keep him moving and make it hard to shoot him. He'd learned from his comrade's mistakes and knew that he should keep to the air as long as possible so that no one can shoot the ground under him.