Ask Do You Feel In Control?

[Vex]

Lianna || Outer Rim Territories

They came in the night. Three wraiths hellbent on 'justice' of a sort. The Empress' justice, or at least, that's what Vex wanted them to think. Make no mistake, the men in her crosshairs had committed crimes. They were murderers, money launders, and drug traffickers. The alibi checked. But their biggest crime was crossing Vex and thinking they could get away with it.

Fortunately, the Empress had a legion of loyal soldiers ready to carry out her justice. Still, it wouldn't be as easy as just waltzing in an executing the offending party. Evidence needed to be confiscated on their way in, and the villa the malignant board members were holed up in was well-guarded. She doubted they would submit easily. Even within Sith space.

Vex exited the ship the three had taken together, cape billowing in the crisp sea winds, and found the catwalk in front of them empty. The manor loomed overhead, the lights were on—someone was clearly home. And yet, there was no welcoming party. No one to come out and receive the Sith. Which either meant they hadn't noticed the ship's approach, which was unlikely, or they had seen it and were getting ready for them. More likely.

"No welcoming party," she mused out loud to her compatriots. "I'm almost offended." She quickly scanned the looming cliffs for snipers or anything else that might bring them harm. Her helmet's vision functions revealed nothing, but that didn't mean there wasn't anyone lying in wait up ahead. "So, gentlemen. The direct approach, or a game of cat and mouse?" @Altaris @Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn was a bit excited and a bit nervous for this operation. Since joining the Empire he had managed to avoid much of the worst it was said to offer. He'd seen the attack on Kashyyyk - a horror to be sure - but his time here was nothing compared to what he had expected.

In fact, this wasn't the first mission he'd gone on that was simply a matter of enforcing laws and protecting citizens. It... actually hadn't been so different from being a Jedi.

Of course, he was doing all of this in conjunction with Sith, but still. Law and order had to be upheld even in the Empire.

As the only Acolyte on this particular mission, a lot was on his shoulders not to screw up. He mentally reminded himself that he was a full Knight of the Jedi Order and he could do this.

He disembarked from the ship shortly after the others, looking to the horizon and wishing he could feel the cool breeze of the day. Unfortunately, in keeping with the others, he'd come in armor and facial concealment. It wasn't usually his thing, but he was advised it was prudent, so he obtained a set of all-black IAC armor from one of the quartermasters. His lightsaber hung from his belt and he was really digging all the extra belt pouches.

Sith or not, we're outnumbered heavily. Direct approach may not be the best, he said, eyes scanning over the horizon for routes they might exploit.

Could we commandeer one of the cargo ships? he asked, pointing out toward one of the incoming ships in the distance. He wasn't sure the mentality of these particular Sith... some thought Acolytes should be seen but not heard. Hopefully they weren't like that.

@Altaris @Mockingjay

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Truth be told, Jaikus was feeling particularly eager to see this operation through to completion. The entire flight fo Lianna, he had meticulously gone over the brief that had been provided - and whatever crime the men within the Villa may have committed, they all paled next to the fact that they were also guilty of pedaling Wildfire.The Axxilan had seen a multitude of reports about the drug - both in and outside of Sith space - and he knew exactly what it was capable of doing to Force Sensitives.

The very existence of such a substance was enough to send a distinct spike of rage through Jaikus, and he more importantly knew the type of devastation that it had the potential to inflict upon the ranks of the Empire. It was vitally important to eliminate the substance whenever it was found, and those who dealt in it would be made an example of.

He stepped down the ramp of the ship alongside the other two Sith - handed folded neatly against the small of his back. The Axxilan had arrived for the expedition adored in his signature Sith armor - the ensemble of cloth and armorweave fitting tightly to his figure, while his features were shrouded behind the wraith-like visage of his mask. The hilt of Jaikus’ crimson-bladed lightsaber hung at his hip, alongside the vibroblade he typically carried along with it. He expected he would be using both, before long.

Citrine eyes scanned the horizon for a long moment, pondering their options as the other two Sith spoke. After a moment or two, Jaikus finally glanced back towards Varyn and nodded. “Agreed.” He said. Despite the reputation of some Sith, the Axxilan was never the type to disregard the Acolytes around him. “They will be expecting us to attempt to breach the villa through one of the primary entrances. If we use the Cargo ship, we can slip through the hanger bay and engage them on our own terms.”

He gave glance towards Vex, questioning whether she was in agreement with the plan.

@Phoenix @Mockingjay

 

[Vex]

Jaikus' eagerness was infectious. It rolled off him in waves through the Force, rushing over Vex like a blast of cold air, racing down her spine and brining bumps to the surface of her skin. Her own eagerness was difficult to contain, but she kept it down. These men could never know that she was eager to dispense the Empresses judgement—and her own. Because that pesky question would inevitably follow.

Why?

So, she was silent for a moment, not immediately answering. In her armor, her feelings were incomprehensible. She was more a creature than a person. A being of impulse and instinct. Yet, eventually, she gave a sharp nod voicing agreement with Varyn's plan and shifted her attention to the cargo ship he had indicted. It landed two platforms over and was already unloading its cargo; but another flew overhead and disappeared somewhere within the villa complex. There must be another landing platform inside, where the men vacationing here took more... personal orders.

Vex took off walking long strides towards the nearest cargo ship, beckoning the two men to follow her. She doubted their ploy would last very long, but if they could take this one and get to the interior landing pads, they would at least be inside, likely where security was the lightest. That would be all they needed to get the jump on their targets.

As she strolled up to the landing pad, the unloading workers and ship crew stopped what they were doing. This was a Sith world, and they knew Sith when they saw them. "Who is in charge here?" Vex asked, projecting her best authoritative tone. She injected ice into her voice to inspire urgency. A Twi'lek man scurried forward and bowed. "In the name of the Empress, I am commandeering this vessel to dispense the Empress' justice."

The Twi'lek cowered. "Of course, my Lady. But, might I ask what justice the Empress wishes dispensed?"

"No." She glanced back at Varyn and Jaikus, nodding them forward. "Rest assured you shall be compensated for any lost cargo or damage your ship takes in the course of our mission... If you are found not to be among our targets, violating Imperial law."

She didn't know it was possible for Twi'lek's to pale. But this one did, and stuttered too, though Vex ignored him and strolled past. Her intentions were clear. They should search the cargo for any illicit goods. Though it was unlikely they would find any, the more evidence they could gather, the more solid their case would be upon marching in on the criminals. @Phoenix @Altaris

Note: Rolled a Nat 18 out of 20 for the commandeering attempt.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn felt his muscles relax ever-so-slightly when his suggestion was well-received. Getting on the bad side of your superiors was never a good thing, and an acknowledgment of a good idea was a welcome thing even if it was from a Sith. He wondered if the Shadowmasters would have disapproved of that private sentiment.

Varyn followed along, lagging behind just a bit. Both of these two he was with had a certain presence that felt like they weren't people to be trifled with. They felt like they wanted to kill someone, it was the absolutely murderous intent of an assassin on a mission. He briefly mused if it were turned against him and thanked the Force for all the time he had spent practicing with his saber.

As Vex confronted the Twi'lek, Varyn swung across the deck of the ship and down into one of the cargo holds, looking around for whatever he might find inside. There were a variety of foods and grains, some technological supplies that he didn't really know what they did, and mostly just things that looked... mundane.

His rummaging took a few minutes before he found something of interest and popped up to tell the others.

They've got some weapon shipments down there, he said. Big weapons. Heavy repeaters and stuff, he said.

Ah, yes, those are um... for the local law enforcement. They take their jobs very seriously, he said.

Varyn got the sense the man was telling the truth, but that he knew the "local law enforcement" probably had ulterior motives to their reason for buying this. The Twi'lek probably got rich not asking questions, and it also meant the Sith might be in for a lot more than they had bargained for.

@Mockingjay @Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

There was absolutely no denying the emotions that radiated off of Jaikus. His expression was hidden behind his wraith-like mask, and his body language betrayed nothing. But the sensations of raw contempt and rage emanated through the Force vibrantly enough for both Vex and Varyn to feel - like the heat that radiated off of sunbaked stone.

For all of his diplomatic and polite mannerisms, this was a matter that struck a distinct nerve and enraged Jaikus greatly - motivating the desire to dispense with it quickly.

Jaikus allowed his gaze to linger on Vex for a long moment, waiting until the fellow Sith Champion gave a nod of agreement and indicated for them to proceed towards the landing cargo ship. The Axxilan kept both hands tucked against the small of his back as he walked - steady, purposeful steps carrying him towards their destination. As they arrived at the landing pad, Jaikus observed the exchange between Vex and the Twi’lek attentively - the hollowed sockets of his mask boring into the captain. He saw the way that the captain paled and began to stutter, gaze lingering for only a few seconds before the Axxilan too strolled past.

There was purpose behind every step he took - eyes fixed straight ahead as he strolled past the crew of the ship and towards the cargo hold, walking through the durasteel doors that separated the compartment. His gaze immediately turned towards dozens of crates that were stacked nearly to the ceiling of the cargo hold - an Aurabesh symbol on the front indicating that the cargo was marked as produce. Without a word, Jaikus reached out with the Force - coiling his grasp around several of the crates littered about the room. With a flick of his wrist, the Axxilan tore off the lids - taking a moment to gaze down to the contents inside. Upon initial inspection, the labeling of the crates appeared accurate - with fresh vegetables packed to the brim and occupying the top layer of the box. Unsatisfied, however, Jaikus once more reached through the Force - peeling away the top layer of vegetables.

And there it was. Tucked into the middle of the crate were several durasteel canisters - the purple hue plastered across the glass keying the Axxilan in on exactly what it was he was looking at. Wildfire.

There was a sharp exhale through Jaikus’ nostril and out the filter of his mask, fingers curling towards a fist as he reached down to pick up the canister. Without a word, the Axxilan stepped back towards Varyn and Vex - tossing the container filled with the horrific drug at their feet - evidence of what they were looking for. His attention then snapped towards the ships captain.

The twi’lek wouldn’t so much as have an opportunity to speak before he was hoisted several feet off the ground - the Force coiling tightly around his torso. Without warning, the man was hurled against one of the interior walls of the ship - a painful thud echoing through the vessel and eliciting a whimper from the man.

“W-wait, WAIT!” He pleaded, continuing to be pinned against the wall with the Force.

@Phoenix @Mockingjay

 

[Vex]

Internally, Vex was glad for this development. Her attack on the villa was now wholeheartedly justified. She would be regaining what had been stollen from her and carrying out the Empress' will. She could think of no better a stroke of luck. Turning slowly, she stalked closer to where Jaikus had suspended the Twi'lek captain. All around, his crew looked petrified. They couldn't run. Where would they even go?


She paused, purposely drawing out the tension. She drank in their fear. The dark side came alive around her. But instead of focusing on Jaikus and his catch, she instead fixated her attention on the Acolyte. "Good work, Acolyte," she said. "The Wildfire is obviously the big catch here, but those weapons would have been problematic even without it."

"Please..." the Twi'lek gasped. "We we forced! We were—"

Vex tsked. "You know the law, Captain. Wildfire is banned throughout the Empire. Just being found with it is a death sentence. But transporting it...?" She kept her gaze fixated on Varyn. She meant to ask who his Master was, but decided it didn't matter. He was her and Jaikus' responsibility on this mission. Their job to teach him. To model Sith behavior. "Acolyte?" she asked. "Is this your first enforcement mission? You should get some experience. Being Sith doesn't just mean ferreting out traitors, it means ending them, as well. Kill him."

Here, she finally looked to Jaikus, seeking his approval, though her mask would show none of her features. The Twi'lek whimpered. His crew began to back away. But they could not be allowed to escape either. She took out her lightsaber and ignited the blade, stepping passed Jaikus towards the nearest cluster. "Be quick about it," she said. "We still have the villa to deal with. There is sure to be more inside." @Altaris @Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn had evidently drawn a great deal of attention from one of the Champions, and he wondered about the intensity of the gaze. Surely she couldn't be suspicious of him because she simply hadn't known him long enough. No, this was simply a test related to being an acolyte.

His gaze behind his helmet shifted to the man pinned against the wall. The man he'd just been ordered to execute. He knew this was the kind of thing he'd face within the Sith, and this man was hardly innocent. He was smuggling a drug that destroyed lives even if he claimed it was happening as a result of being forced into it.

Of course, ma'am, he said. His hand dropped to the lightsaber on his belt and he pushed aside any thoughts. Thinking would be the death of the man, the death of his mission, and the death of him. Before he could overthink further, his saber ignited and pierced straight through the man's face and out the back of his head in a single, smooth motion.

He gritted his teeth and immediately the thoughts he knew would cause him to hesitate came flooding in. This wasn't you. You were just the instrument, she ordered his death. He was dead either way. You didn't bear him any ill will or hatred, he told himself.

His saber flashed out and went back to his belt. He forced the thoughts aside, maintaining the protections around his mind that he had been practicing ever since coming to the Empire. You've killed before. Drug dealers, too. It's the same thing, he told himself, stepping back and simply waiting.

@Altaris @Mockingjay

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Time itself seemed to come to a slow, moments ticking by as Jaikus held the Twi’lek Captain against the interior hull of the ship. Fury radiated off of the Axxilan with an energy that was palpable in the very air around him - citrine eyes luminescing behind the mask that he wore. The man was guilty of distributing Wildfire, and one could only guess how many - both within the Empire and without - had suffered for that crime. Countless lives ruined to an addiction whose cure was still barely being circulated. Slowly but surely stripping themselves of the Force - the very thing that was intrinsic to who they were.

And it was that notion that drove Jaikus over the edge.

Nevertheless, the Axxilan didn’t shift from where he was standing or lash out against the captain. He allowed Nox to draw out the tension for as long as she deemed fit, citrine eyes momentarily flicking over to the fellow Champion when she suggested Varyn carry out the execution. If she wished to turn this into a teaching exercise, Jaikus certainly wasn’t going to stop her in that. After a split second, he glanced over to Nox properly and gave a solid nod of his head in silent approval.

Moments passed, and Jaikus continued to hold the twi’lek in place - pinning him to the wall while the Acolyte carried out the execution. The Axxilan never looked away - citrine eyes burning into the captain as Varyn’s blade cleaved through him, watching as the life faded from the man’s eyes. Unlike many of his peers, Jaikus took no pleasure in what he witnessed, nor did he find entertainment out of inflicting suffering onto others. But it was the necessary course of action, and given the crimes of those present, it was the sole course of action.

He briefly turned his attention to Varyn, giving the Acolyte a nod of approval before turning his attention to the rest of the crew. They too were guilty of the same crime, and their fates were to be the same. With an exhale through his nostrils, Jaikus strode forward - having no desire to draw this out any longer than was absolutely necessary.

Jaikus’ lightsaber snapped into his hand - its crimson blade springing to life with a low hiss. Before he swung the plasma blade, however, the Axxilan coiled the Force around the hilt of his vibroblade - flicking his wrist to pull the weapon from its sheath and launch it through the air in one clean motion - it’s buzzing blade embedding itself into the chest of one of the crewmembers with a wet ‘thud’. He didn’t give the others time to react - lunging forward with alarming speed to close the distance between them. The Axxilan’s saber cleaved through the air in a brilliant display - crimson plasma arcing through the air as the blade sliced through flesh and bone alike - two more of the drug-peddling smugglers dropping to the cold floor.

Only when each and every member of the crew was dispatched, did Jaikus finally unignite his saber - the hilt snapping back to the magnetic clip on his waist. He reached out with the Force, pulling the vibroblade from the first man’s chest before sheathing it too back onto his waist. He took a moment to glance at his surroundings, grimacing from behind his mask before looking to Varyn and Nox. “The villa, then,” He said simply, jutting his chin towards the cockpit.

@Phoenix @Mockingjay

 

[Vex]

Vex also acknowledged the Acolyte's actions with a respectful nod in his direction. If he acted with that sort of decisiveness going forward, he would make a fantastic Sith Lord someday. Though, the Acolyte's one murder was nothing compared to the death the Wraith unleashed. Vex was only able to kill two men in the time it took for Jaikus to murder the rest. It came down to personal preference, she supposed. He preferred quick and efficient, while she enjoyed the chase, the fear that crawled out of her victims and into the Force. Sometimes, she swore she was half-Anzati with the way she enjoyed drinking that fear in like it was another form of sustenance.

She let the blade of her own lightsaber fade before clipping it back to her belt. "To the villa indeed," she replied, stalking past the two men and climbing an iron ladder into the cockpit.

Getting the ship to fly was easy enough, but she knew it wasn't going to be as simple as flying over the villa and landing. Were it that easy, they would have just landed there to begin with. As they approached the skies over the villa, a light on her dashboard lit up, signaling a message from the compound. "Cargo ship, what is your destination and clearance codes?"

"The villa loading dock," Vex replied into the comm. "I am transmitting our clearance codes now."

Vex fully expected these would not work. These codes permitted them to land outside the villa, but not within it. The only way this would work is if they truly were allowing drug shipments into the compound. Wouldn't that make this her lucky night? At first, she didn't think so. It took seconds too long for the response to come in. And it when it did, her eyes narrowed beneath her helmet.

"Cargo ship, you have been cleared for landing. Please follow these coordinates."

"Copy that," she replied, setting the ship's course to the transmitted coordinates. But once the comms were safely switched off, she leaned back over her chair and called back down into the cargo hold. "Get ready boys. I'm sensing some sort of deception. That was too easy."

She set the ship down on the designated landing pad; and already she felt validated. The landing lights were off. The entire pad was cast in darkness. Was this a normal practice? A way of keeping drug shipments discreet? Did they kill the smugglers bringing them the Wildfire to prevent word from getting out? She wasn't sure. But her hand flew again to her lightsaber. If they were anticipating common smugglers, they were about to be in for the night of their lives. @Phoenix @Altaris

Note: Rolled a nat 15 on a d20 dice to confirm the ship's code works and we didn't alert the villa.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

It was only moments later that the other two Sith went to town, slaughtering the remainder of the crew without mercy or hesitation. Wraith was quick and efficient at least, but he couldn't help find himself disgusted at the way that Vex seemed to draw it out. She enjoyed the killing rather than just a means to an end. His mind momentarily slipped into wondering what it would be like to put a saber in her back before he pushed it aside, trying to refocus on the mission. Always the mission.

For the moment he occupied himself with moving around to make sure they were clear and unimpeded moving forward.

The ship took off and he moved over to a window, trying to see if there was anything that he could see outside. The sun had gone down and the landing lights seemed to have been killed as well. He didn't expect them to be able to just... land, but that's exactly how it turned out.

I'll try going out the cargo door, he suggested. It was less conspicuous than leaving through the front ramp, but he half expected them to want him to do that. Draw fire as the throwaway acolyte, but he... wasn't particularly eager to die for them. Like a good Sith?

@Altaris @Mockingjay

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Unlike his fellow Champion, Jaikus took no pleasure in dispatching the remaining smuggler crew. Even if they were peddlers of Wildfire, and had brought down the Empire’s justice upon themselves. Even if their actions had been the source of the anger that radiated off of the Axxilan - he did not enjoy drawing out the suffering or watching the life fade from their eyes. When he struck, it was quick and efficient - eager to be done with it and move on to complete their task.

The Axxilan followed Vex into the cockpit, folding his arms against the small of his back as they approached the villa. He couldn’t help the way his eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly at the exchange between Vex and the individual on the other side of the transmission - clearly picking up on the extended delay just as she had. “Perhaps.. Or perhaps they truly are as clueless as they appear.” He said in response to Vex’s own concerns, flexing his fingers ever-so-slightly as the spoke.

He couldn’t deny being slightly surprised they were allowed to simply land at their destination, but that is what had happened and it did nothing to quell the Axxilan’s roused suspicions. He glanced back over his shoulder when Varyn mentioned going through the cargo door. “Very well,” He gave a nod. Whatever the Acolyte’s assumptions, Jaikus had no desire to use him as the throwaway meat shield.

He glanced back towards Vex, “Shall we go greet our hosts?” He said, turning on a heel to begin making his way towards the main exit ramp, and thus towards whatever was waiting for them in the hanger.

@Phoenix @Mockingjay

 

[Vex]

Vex slid down the latter and was at the landing ramp by the time it had fully descended. She had thought it had been too easy. Thought maybe the men who killed her mother and father and screaming sister were smart enough to set a trap for them. They weren't. In the end, they were a bunch of lazy fat cats too drugged and rich to think they could be touched.

But Vex was not the scared little girl they had nearly killed all those years ago. She was vengeance. She was wrath incarnate. She marched right up to the the villa's main glass doors and with a thought send the doors hurdling off their hinges and into the interior of the house. Audible shouts of shock and surprise flitted through the now open hole in the villa, but Vex marched through unencumbered.

«What is the meaning of—»

She silenced him by pinching her fingers together and closing his windpipe with the Force. He gagged and gasped as she surveyed the room. The evidence of Wildfire was everywhere. Bags of it were lying around in plain sight. Some obviously had been used; others were clearly marked for sale. A grave crime in the Empire. The man in her grasp struggled to say something. She regarded him coldly.

And remembered his face.

This was the one who had put a blaster bolt in her mother's heart. She let him struggle for breath until he struggled no more. Then Vex turned to her companions behind her and gave a single nod. The rest of the men in the room went pale. One of them tried to protest, «But we—»

"Are criminals." Vex was shocked at the calmness in her own voice. Revenge so near at hand. She thought she would be angrier. But she was calm. Ready. Resolute. "Who have grievously violated Her Majesty's law. And the price for violating this particular law is death. No matter who you are."

She reactivated her lightsaber and stalked forward. Heads were going to roll tonight. And in the morning, this bit of her bloody past would be behind her. @Phoenix @Altaris

Dice Roll: 11/20 for catching hosts off guard, 14/20 for finding drugs on them.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn descended the back hatch of the ship, but found no signs of an ambush. In fact, the other two Sith seemed to make it inside without any issues, but Varyn still didn't take things for granted. He headed along the outer edge of the landing area, ascending up to the second floor and heading for the entryway.

That was where he spotted the pair of security droids en route to intercept the Champions from the side.

Varyn dropped from the balcony above, saber igniting as he fell and sweeping cleanly through one droid as he landed before spinning off and hammering through the torso of the other droid a moment later.

By his reckoning the control of the house shouldn't be that much harder to gain. It wasn't an actual fortress, after all.

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Jaikus was silent as he walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Vex, stepping down the ramp of the ship and through the villa doors that the fellow Champion so kindly removed from their way - citrine eyes promptly fixating onto the men inside and the Wildfire that was scattered about plainly in sight.

The sight was enough to cause Jaikus’ jaw to set into a firm line, the grip tightening around the metallic hilt of his saber.

The Axxilan narrowed his eyes slightly as Vex spoke, and the moment she finished speaking, he activated the crimson blade of his saber - vibroblade pulled through the Force and snapping into his other hand.

His body bent low to the ground as Jaikus lunged forward - the Force flowing through his limbs and enabling the Axxilan to move with unnatural speeds. Unlike his companion, Jaikus had no desire to see this drawn out for some measure of satisfaction. He was efficient and cold in his task, and he would not stop until those guilty were handled.

@Phoenix @Mockingjay

 

[Vex]

Vex surveyed the wreckage of her enemies. With this much of the board dead on Wildfire transportation charges, taking her company back as Nahri would be a small feat. Not to mention she would get to gloat about being a small part of the solution to the Wildfire epidemic in Sith space.

With their mission complete, the villa locked down, and the perpetrators dead, Vex ushered her fellow Sith outside before sending a small spark of Force lightning into the still-open door. The entire building was quickly consumed in a blaze—a blaze which would destroy all of the Wildfire inside and ensure no Sith ever wrongly ingested the deadly substance.

Now, all that was left was to bring her traitorous company to heel. Then, at last, she could put her family's deaths behind her once and for all.

/End Thread