Get off my lawn!

[Vardon Galland]

Boonta. Local time: 22:20

A few hours had passed since they escaped the last scene of battle. Their 'camp' was by Hask's speeder located in what could best be described as a small valley or a crater as it was surrounded by a series of hills just a little higher than two meters on all sides but the one directed away from the pirate camp. There were a number of bushes and trees along the edge of the valley and a few bushes on top of the hills, but by the middle of the valley, there was a notable lack of cover except for the speeder and a few larger rocks. It wasn't a large valley, perhaps just eight meters wide, but it was certainly enough for the two temporary allies.

They had taken their time to lick their wounds after having escaped the large pirate horde, but it was just a matter of time before they would be tracked down again. The pirates knew the area well and the tired and injured force users could only do so much to hide their tracks. Only managing to slow down the search at best.

Null stood by a bush right at the edge of a hill and acted as a lookout, allowing Vardon and Hask to rest in relative peace. Their pact was a very uneasy one to say the least and the padawan sat leaned against a tree with outstretched legs by the edge of the valley, a few meters away from Hask. The wound he had acquired was much better now than it was before, but there was still a big hole in his now rather dirty shirt. At his belt hung his lightsaber and two vibroknives, just like before their last battle.

Breaking the silence, Vardon spoke "So what is it that you Sith do when not kicking down doors and conquering stuff around the Galaxy?" his question was asked rather lazily, but his curiosity was genuine.

After chattering for a while, Null let out a long and concerned "whoooo" before making a somewhat urgent sounding series of beeps and boops. Informing its master and the Sith that three armed strangers where approaching and seemed to have contact with the pirate base. It seemed as if the force users would soon be found again.

@KinkyPrawn

 

[Hask Jen]

They had gotten back to the speeder and moved into a clearing a little farther from the speeder's original position, but still close enough to the base to keep a lookout. The Jedi sat against a tree a few metres away, while Hask sat on the driver's seat of his speeder. The top part of his armour was placed on the passenger seat next to him and the body glove underneath hung around his waist over his gear like an unzipped jumpsuit. The shot to his chest, while not going to leave a permanent mark, still burnt his skin and the pain was annoying to say the least. He cleaned off the spot and held a bandage with his left arm over the wound, allowing the cold metal to soothe the wound somewhat.

They did a decent job about covering their tracks, but Hask knew that it would only be a matter of time before they would be found again. His strength had returned somewhat and he felt like a proper Pureblood once again. His ally attempted to make some small talk, but with his patience already thin as it is, Hask didn't take kindly to the topic he chose. "I might be a Pureblood, but I'm not sith. I left the Order, thank you very much." "and I even have the arm to prove it." he thought as he fired back irritably. Under different circumstances Hask would gladly sit down and have a semi-civilized chat with the man, but right now he didn't feel quite up for it.

He fastened the bandage over the burnt spot on his chest to ease the sensitivity and pulled the body glove over once again. As he fiddled with his armour, the droid warned them of 3 life forms approaching. "Oh wonderful." he grumbled as he suited up and placed his helmet over his head again. With the poncho in place as well, his armour's shimmer was somewhat covered up decently against the setting sun. "Take cover." he said softly to the Jedi as he jumped off the speeder and strafed to a nearby shrubbery and took cover, waiting for the men to come into attack range.

@Pyrenees

 

[Vardon Galland]

Oh, small talk didn't appear to be the Sith's cup of tea. Definitely not. At least that's what his annoyed comment made it seem like. Vardon weren't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing as getting to know his enemy could definitely prove to be useful in future encounters, regardless of if it was against this guy, or another Sith. Still, if destiny wouldn't have them conduct any small talk, the padawan wouldn't make a fuzz about it. Once again raising his arms to show the pureblood his palms, Galland spoke innocently "Right, right! Sorry I asked." The young man had already gone through the force choke experience and did not feel like trying it again. At this time, it was clear that Hask was the more powerful among them and knowing how temperamental Sith could be, the Thyferran knew better than to provoke him further.

Vardon rose from his leaned back position as Null warned them of incoming enemies. The padawan turned to lie on his stomach and slowly started crawling towards a bush near the top of the hill while grabbing his lightsaber with his right hand. If these fellows could contact base, a rather unpleasant experience awaited them. It didn't take too long until the three pirates stood ontop of a hill overlooking the valley. First giving a few confused exclamations upon seeing the droid who chirped aggressively at them and then the Sith below. Making use of the startled enemies, Vardon used the force to pull the pirate in the middle who also happened to be the one who was bright enough to start contacting the base. The pirate fell and started rolling down the small hill and dropped his rifle while doing so.

Despite wanting to ensure that the middle pirate couldn't contact base, the other two were more direct threats now, and with that, the young man sprung to action. He rushed out from his bush, much to the nearest pirates surprise. The fellow didn't even get the chance to fire his gun at Vardon before his weapon was sliced in half by the now ignited lightsaber. The padawan proceeded to give a hard and well placed punch to the smaller opponents head, effectively knocking him out. He threw a quick glance at his ally, wondering if he needed any aid with the remaining two pirates.

@KinkyPrawn

 

[Hask Jen]

Hask waited patiently for the enemies to come over the hill. He unclipped his lightsabre once again and got ready to attack as the middle pirate started to radio in, but the Jedi beat him to it. Hask left the pirate to roll down the hill as his focus fell on one of the two remaining pirates. As his ally charged and dispatched the other pirate in a more peaceful way, Hask took a different approach.

He stood up from his cover, ignited his lightsabre and hurled it at the pirate. The blade plunged into the pirate's chest, shocking him and bringing him to his knees. Not wasting any time, Hask unclipped his second lightsabre and hurled it into the dying pirate's face, finishing him off completely. He recalled both lightsabers as he looked for the pirate that fell down the hill. The chime of a commlink and the whispering of the startled pirate drew Hask's attention. He charged over and impaled the pirate through the back with both blades, but it was too late. Their location was compromised and in a few minutes they will have a small army come down on them.

Hask took a look around. The only thing of value were the pirates' bodies, their rifles and his speeder. A plan formed in his head and he sprang to action. "Help me with the bodies and bring one's rifle as well. I have a plan." Hask called out as he dragged the body of the pirate beneath him to his speeder and placed him on the speeder. As the Jedi brought the other bodies, Hask was stripping the speeder's panels off and exposing the engine.

By the time the pirates would get here, they will be in for one big surprise.

@Pyrenees

 

[Vardon Galland]

The brutality which the Sith displayed was frightening but at least he got the job done quickly. But, unfortunately, the last pirate managed to call for reinforcements. The padawan looked out towards the base from the hill and saw how it buzzed to life with several lights turning on and people running around in between the sheds as well as in and out of the command ship. He then turned to look at the Sith who was already beginning to bark an order at him whilst dragging the body of the most recently killed pirate towards his speeder. Not one to care too much about prestige, at least in these kinds of situations, Vardon complied. The Pureblood's plan seemed to be of the sneakier kind which prompter the padawan to carry the bodies one by one instead of dragging them which minimized the marks which would be left on the ground. "This one is still alive" he said with a grunt as the second body last body was dumped by the speeder.

Walking over to pick up the rifle, he could see a truck coming towards them from a distance. The Thyferran could only see three people in the front of the truck, but there were four more people all hunkered inside the cargo space of the vehicle. "They're coming in one of those trucks. You know the ones which usually transports furniture and stuff when moving" he said right before rushing back to Hask with the rifle. Vardon then proceeded to brush away the tracks left by the dragging of the body which the Sith did with his foot. "Now what's this plan of yours?" he asked with rifle in hand as he stood behind his ally, ready to pick up Null and move out if needed to.

After a while, the truck could be heard coming towards their location with full speed. The three pirates at the front of the truck carried rifles while the four in the back had vibroswords and blaster pistols as they preferred sticking to their short range weapons they used when boarding a vessel. These boarders were certainly not at the same level as the force users, but they were most definitely seasoned fighters and had worked together as a team before.

@KinkyPrawn

 

[Hask Jen]

As Hask finished stripping the engine plates on the one side, the Jedi dumped the last bodies by the speeder. He grabbed hold of the unconscious pirate and placed him behind the controls of the speeder. The speeder itself is easy to come by, but the Pureblood rather enjoyed it. Hopefully the pirates had a replacement in their camp...

"Perfect. It'll just add to the authenticity." Hask spoke as he finished up. The Jedi drew his attention and he could see the truck approaching. He asked about the plan, and in response Hask grabbed hold of the rifle and motioned for the Jedi to follow. "Stay out of sight, be patient and stay down." Hask spoke over his shoulder. He took cover behind a thick shrubbery, well out of the pirates' sight while still providing him and his compatriot full view of the truck.

Hask hid under the shrubs, only the tip of the barrel sticking out. They were practically invisible and at 40 metres or so away from the speeder they were well within a safe distance. Hask was lying dead still, observing the pirates' approach as they neared. With the unconscious pirate squirming on the speeder, they will no doubt investigate. The crosshairs were resting on the exposed engine. As soon as the group would huddle around the speeder, a single bolt would be fired and the speeder, along with the pirates, would go up in a roaring explosion.

@Pyrenees

 

[Vardon Galland]

After having quickly packed up the droid in his backpack and ran in behind the shrubbery, Vardon realized that they were rather well hidden from the pirate's sight, despite his white clothing. The truck quickly emptied, just as it got down into the valley three of the boarders set up a rather tight perimeter around the speeder whilst the other four checked on their friends and the speeder. Distraught voices could soon be heard in the distance as they discovered that two of their three friends were already dead. Just as the guards turned around to look at what their friends where wining about, Hask fired off the bolt that would cause the speeder to explode. Including the previously knocked out trooper, six pirates died in the explosion while two of the perimiter guards survived since they had been fortunate enough to stand a little too far from the explosion to be killed in the blast.

The padawan gave his ally an annoyed look from the side. Instead of trying to incapacitate his enemies, the other just tried to wipe them all out. Even the defenseless fellow who was no longer a threat as he was already knocked out. Laser bolts weren't quite as easily hidden as people and as soon the two surviving pirates rebolstered their courage and started firing their blasters at the force users. The blaster pistol shots weren't very accurate from this range but they became more and more deadly as the pirates advanced towards the shrubbery. Without much hesitation, Vardon rose to his feet to stand at his full height while drawing his saber. After taking a step forth to the front of their cover, the Thyferran easily deflected the few bolts that flew towards him and his ally. "I hope your aim against these guys is as good as it was against your speeder" he said with a few short breaks here and there as he deflected the incoming shots who grew more accurate by the second.

Encumbered by the droid, Galland barely managed to dodge a bolt that hit the shrubbery they had been hiding in instead. "'Cause I'd really like for them to stop firing now" he continued as it started to become rather challenging to defend them against the incoming shots. The arid weather along with the thin leaves resulted in a small fire starting in Hask's cover after it was hit by the laser bolt, but it would take a while before it spread to him.

Null started beeping again as it sat on the padawan's back. Apparently, another truck was coming their way and judging by the carnage just caused, these people would most likely be prepared for combat.

@KinkyPrawn

 

[Hask Jen]

The speeder blew the pirates apart, leaving only 2 to contend with. Hask eyed the Jedi as he received an annoyed look. "Don't give me that look, they're pirates. They kill, rape and plunder for a living." he spoke flatly as he focused once again on the last 2 pirates. The Jedi stood up and deflected the bolts coming at them...but not good enough since they still managed to set the bush on fire. He was complaining over getting shot at, but Hask ignored him as he took aim and planted a bolt into one's chest.

The fire started spreading, causing Hask to crawl out of his spot, stand up tall and fire another round with force-guided precision, killing the last pirate. "For all that talk of peace and non-violence, you don't seem to mind cutting them down like grass at all." Hask fired at the Jedi as he walked past into the open. The burning bush and the smouldering wreckage of the speeder was lighting up the night, giving Hask an idea. He fired a few rounds with the rifle into the dry grass and bushes around them, spreading the fire and putting him right in his element.

He threw the rifle to the side and drew his lightsabre, keeping it extinguished as he awaited the arrival of the second wave. He drew the force around himself and opened his right hand in preparation for what was to come. "These pirates are going to regret jumping out of the frying pan in the first place." Hask said with a grim chuckle as a menacing grin formed on his face.

"Look alive, Jedi, because you're going to get a lot more acquainted with your 'light' in a few moments."

@Pyrenees

 

[Vardon Galland]

The Sith was certainly long winded when he wanted to be as he kept nagging about the annoying look the young man cast at him when he killed the group earlier. But at least the menace, both in regards to his kill potential and his relentless nagging, took out the remaining assailants. Vardon was frustrated by the Sith's last jab at him - his new dark ally was correct, he did take the life of others rather easily. "I don't want to kill them! But.. sometimes I don't have a choice" he said with frustration marking his voice rather clearly. "If I knew that flash technique of yours, I might be able to preserve lives instead of taking them more often" he grumbled, more for himself than to the Sith.

It didn't take long until most of their surroundings were set on fire and the padawan looked at Hask with a puzzled look. But he had already given up on trying to make the Pureblood reveal his plans and simply went along with it. After having set Null down behind a small boulder, he rushed back to the truck the first group of pirates arrived in and hopped into the trunk and closed the doors. Even if the Sith was content staying so far away from the site of carnage and destruction, Vardon knew that he needed to stay close to his enemies in order to do something of use.

It didn't take long at all until the other truck arrived. Stopping right between Vardon's truck and the burning speeder. Silently, the padawan hopped out of his truck and used his lightsaber to jam the locks of the trunk door on the pirate truck, effectively containing the boarders inside. Hen then extinguished it again as they started banging on the door and screamed something about it being jammed again. Soon, one pirate from the passenger's seat came around with his rifle drawn, obviously prepared for battle seeing the carnage around him. Unfortunately for the pirate, Vardon was prepared for his arrival and ignited his saber into the man's head. After retracting the blade again, he remained by the trunks exit and waited for the second passenger to come to open the door whilst the driver was still at his seat in the front. Vardon nervously looked at the trunk's doors - the pirates were now banging hard enough for it to break open in a few moments, apparently not caring too much for their truck.

@KinkyPrawn

 

[Hask Jen]

Hask was slightly amused by the padawan's frustrated answer. He knew exactly how that felt, not being able to spare the lives of others no matter how much you wanted. "You're starting to sound like I did a couple years ago." he said calmly as the Jedi made his way to the truck. While that mindset of his was only a few years ago, it felt like an entire lifetime...though since then the once naïve and good-hearted Pureblood has both risen and fallen in many ways.

His attention snapped back to the approaching truck. The Jedi had hidden inside the trunk of the other truck, lying in wait to surprise the enemy. Hask was standing in the open to the left of the burning speeder, igniting his blade and getting ready for the fight. When the truck stopped and the one passenger got out, the Jedi emerged from behind the truck and stabbed the man through the head...a very strange move considering what he just said a few minutes ago. The rest of the pirates hadn't gotten out yet, which was probably thanks to the Jedi's quick thinking.

The driver attempted to get out, but as soon as his feet touched the ground, Hask's lightsabre stabbed through the door and into his heart, killing the pirate instantly. By the looks of it the rear window was open which would allow the pirates to get out...or Hask to get in. Hask recalled his lightsabre and clipped it to his belt, freeing both hands. He thrusted his arms out to his sides and pushed them towards the truck, calling the surrounding flames to him and blasting it into the truck, setting the entire interior of the truck on fire. He quickly moved in and stood at the ready. If any of them escaped the inferno, they would have to contend with a Jedi on one side and a slightly bloodthirsty Pureblood on the other.

Hask was only glad that Aurie wasn't along to see what he had done. Exterminating vile pirates didn't exactly feel wrong to him, but she would never see that the same way as him...


@Pyrenees

 

[Vardon Galland]

The third guy at the front quickly burned alive as his seat was quite unprotected against the flames which Hask brought in after having shot at the bushes. The poor man produced a horrible scream in agony before his voice finally went out. Despite not being able to see the man, Vardon certainly felt for him, not thinking that anyone deserved such suffering before dying. The flames which his ally summoned kept getting more intense and violent, and the screams inside the trunk of the truck started growing more unbearable to hear. Please of desperation along with steadily weakening bangs against the door made the padawan doubt what they were doing.

Galland's eyes were closed as he contemplated on what to do. He finally decided that no servant of the light would let people suffer like his ally made them do and with a quick move of the saber, it ignited and cut whatever kept the doors closed open. Letting the four pirates our. The poor fellows where desperate, but only one was stupid enough to run through Vardon's saber in desperation. In truth, the young Thyferran was surprised at how the desperate pirate just ran through his saber. It saddened him that, once again, he had taken a life without really having the intention to do so. Perhaps he was becoming too dangerous? Still, three of the pirates was at his mercy, begging for him to let them live on their hands and knees.

Vardon was soon met by Hask, letting him see the prisoners. The padawan held the values of honour high and approached the situation carefully "I've captured a few prisoners, much thanks to your sage council" he said, not even having thought about what to do with prisoners. For now, the decision was a rather simple one, keep them alive or execute them all? At least it was simple for the jedi who very much wanted to keep the poor souls alive. But in the end, he feared that it was up to the Sith who he had no real intentions of fighting on the matter. Whatever the decision may be, they now had a truck at their possession and a few pirates which they might use for the next step of the plan.

Not wanting to drag out on the process any further and have pirates out on raids return, Vardon knew that they were getting close to the point of being able to counter attack. With that, the padawan looked to his mate for any final instructions before he moved on.

@KinkyPrawn

 

[Hask Jen]

When Hask saw the pirates escape out the back, he moved around just in time to see 1 prisoner slump down to the ground and 3 on their knees, surrendering. Hask walked up until he stood right next to the Jedi, staring down at the pirates with his lightsabre still ignited. The air was filled with the smell of burnt flesh, plastic, metal and various other smells. Hask had grown used to the smell over the years...but it still stank something fierce. He pushed his right hand out to the burning truck and killed the flames in the truck, making the situation a little more bearable.

"Prisoners, you say?" Hask spoke as he crouched down, extinguishing his lightsabre but still holding the hilt in his hand. He pressed the emitter up against one pirate's chin, forcing him to look the Pureblood in the eye. "If you value your own life, you will help us get into that camp of yours and give us all the information we want over it. So, do you value your own life?" Hask spoke calmly and the pirate nodded quickly. As twisted as his morality was, he still had a sense of honour, and killing a surrendered enemy was still beneath him.

He stood up, looking at the Jedi. "Let's tie them up and start questioning them. Their forces will be depleted but it still won't be a walk in the park. Let's get to it.", and with that they got to work, preparing for the final offensive.

/End Thread

@Pyrenees