Ask Onderon Side Of The Law

[Rya]

Rya gave her an odd look when she told her to check the tee-muss, it hardly seemed like a priority at the moment. After all, even if it was alive it would be in no state to pursue an airborne Mandalorian. She went over to the animal all the same to give it a once over. If it hadn't died after crumpling to the ground, the collection of holes in its back left by blaster bolts certainly had. Maybe it would have lived had she not used it as cover, but it was a worthy sacrifice. Her main issue is she wouldn't be able to return the animal to its owner like she had initially intended.

As she was thinking of what kind of incident report she'd need to file with the Jedi to ensure the tamer was compensated, she turned back to see what her partner was doing. She didn't catch all of it, but saw enough. A bloody blade, a portion of the incantation and the ensuing green flame. What was that? But she had little time to voice the questions that sped through her mind. Venatrix was disappearing quickly in pursuit and Rya had to book it just to not lose line of sight.

Her legs churned beneath her as her heart rate shot up once more. With every stride the movement of her arms sent waves of pain throughout her injured back but she pushed through it. She was hot, sticky, and covered in all kinds of debris from this stupid planet. It wasn't exactly convincing her to get off of her ship more often to say the least. Venatrix seemed to know exactly which way to go at all times without hesitation. Every time Rya thought she was mistaken she'd spot a broken branch in the canopy or embers still alight from a jetpack burning the foliage.

Finally she saw her huntress companion grind to a halt. There ahead of them was a rock face with a crevice eating away at its otherwise steadfast natural wall. It was a cave of some kind, one that would make an ideal hiding spot. Tucked in a corner, out of the way, and impossible to see with any droid scanning for one from above. It also looked like the perfect death trap. Only one entrance and a slim one at that. They'd have to go in one at a time, making them easy targets to pick off. There was no telling if there were other traps laid around the entrance either.

Turning to Venatrix she said "What's the plan? If you have any more of those magic tricks that could help be my guest." She said, letting her know she'd seen her at work but not at all confrontational about it, only wanting to be as optimal as possible. That wouldn't be possible if her mysterius bounty hunter felt she had to hold back in her company.

@Phoenix​

 

[Arla]

Arla pulled to a stop as she sensed the tether growing stronger. Their target was certainly inside, and she absolutely hated it. It was absolutely a trap, and she didn't know what kind.

She listened to the Jedi's comment about her magic tricks, and it actually gained her a lot of credit with the Nightsister. The fact that she had seen something and didn't immediately confront, argue, or anything else caught her by pleasant surprise.

Hmm, she said, still thinking to herself for a moment.

Nothing that can tell us if it's trapped, she said. And it almost certainly is, she said. She hated the idea of just walking up and trying to throw something through to spring the trap, but that might be what they have to do.

We need him alive, too, she said. She folded her bow down and slung it over her back. The bounty was for "alive" which wasn't really her preference, but she didn't have a choice about it.

We should look for other ways in. We don't want him sneaking out the back while we're caught in a net or clamp-trap, she said.

@Pazaakly

 

[Rya]

At the very least they didn't have to act as quickly as before, but it would still be a ticking clock as Venatrix said until he either escaped or found a way to dispose of them. She thought about meditating to see if the Great Presence would guide her, but decided against it. Now wasn't the time for inner peace and deep reflection, it was time for quick and decisive action.

She tried to think quickly, recounting all the information that they'd gathered thus far. The elder in the village mentioned he sold them meat and skins, implying the poacher prepared it some way before delivering the goods. That kind of flaying and preparation was sure to attract nearby predators with a keen sense of smell. So, ignoring the protests from her back, she scaled up a nearby tree for a better vantage point. Nothing along the cliff face stood out to her. Then she scanned on the rocky platform above. There. A group of some kind of scavenging raptor species was huddled together on a seemingly ordinary piece of rock.

Dropping back down to the ground she told Venatrix "Scavengers above, I think there's an opening that leads down into the cave. They can smell the raw meat of his kills inside. Can't tell how big of an opening it is." She wasn't entirely sure how useful it would be given they may not fit through it. She wasn't sure how different their approach could be if they were okay with bringing him in dead but figured Venatrix must have something up her sleeve just in case.

Making eye contact with the bounty hunter she said in a serious unflinching tone "I understand you want your target alive, I do too. Just know that if it comes to it I won't hesitate to kill him if he's in a position to kill you. Bounty hunters can get tunnel vision with their payday sometimes, but I think your life is worth a lot more than 50,000 credits." She wanted to say that she hoped Venatrix would adopt the same attitude if the roles were reversed, but she was far from that optimistic.

@Phoenix​

 

[Arla]

Arla liked what the Jedi said, looking to the animals for direction. It was smart.

Good idea, she said, though the Jedi wouldn't likely know how rare it was far Arla to actually compliment people.

What she was less thrilled about was the fact that the Jedi declared she would kill the poacher if it came to it. Arla was extremely unenthusiastic about that.

Then we will make sure it doesn't come to that, she said. Take an arm or leg or whatever else, but not a head, she said.

Oh right, no lightsaber, she remembered, Hm.

I will go investigate this other hole. You can stay here and guard the front or come with me, she said. Everything with Arla was simple statements of fact. Seldom questions or opening for discussion about things.

For her current plan, she would head for the back hole and hope she could teleport through. Perhaps fight or flush him out the other side and into the Jedi's arms if she chose to stay out front.

@Pazaakly

 

[Rya]

Rya nodded solemnly at her doubling down on the bounty's importance. She knew it was tough, and wanted to inspire confidence after all. It was probably more for her own sake than Venatrix's anyways so she said "I have no doubt we'll have made you a richer woman by day's end."

She looked down at her hip giving a soft chuckle "Still no lightsaber, no. Or magic bow." she said pointing at the huntress' weapon. "Hopefully I get one of the two sooner rather than later. They seem to be rather efficient tools." Looking back and forth between the entrance to the cave and the path up the cliff face her options were visualized.

If the magic woman felt it best she go in the secondary entrance Rya had to assume she had some CQC capabilities, otherwise she wouldn't risk a confrontation in a possibly cramped cave.

"I'll stay out front to make sure he doesn't escape if you happen to flush him out. Here..." She held out a rudimentary comlink that was meant to work only over short distances. "Use this. Once you're in position let me know. Give the red signal if he's trying to escape towards me, yellow if you need backup, or green if you've apprehended him."

With that she left the huntress to go about her side of the operation. Now was the time she decided to meditate. She was sure she'd have time before Venatrix had made her way inside, after all it did look like a tight squeeze, so this was the opportune moment. She knelt down just enough of a distance away that she could be sure she wouldn't set off any traps, but close enough to cut off any would-be runaway mando.

@Phoenix​

 

[Arla]

Arla was agreeable to the woman's decision and simply gave a nod to show it. While Arla had perpetual concerns about most people's competence, but thus far the Jedi had proven herself to be reliable, so she really couldn't be too judgmental.

I will notify you, she said, taking the signaler and slipping it into a pouch on her belt. She found herself wishing she'd brought along a duskblade or lightsaber, but her knife and magick would have to suffice.

She moved along in the direction the Jedi had indicated, and eventually found the hole... yeah, and it was as small as they'd feared. Maybe smaller even. Arla put her eye up to it and could see to the other side, which was all she needed. She considered for a moment using terrakinesis to simply open it up more, but thought better of it, knowing that such an action would be loud and give away her position immediately.

Teleportation, then, she thought to herself, letting her mind and body melt into the flow of the Shadow as she was whisked away. When the green fire in her vision cleared, there was the inside of the cave. Truly, her goal was to capture the Mandalorian, but flushing him out was also an acceptable outcome. They just couldn't let him escape again.

It didn't take long for her to find him, either. Fortunately, he looked surprised, leaping to his feet and reaching for a blaster before she knocked him back with the Shadow, sending him slamming into the wall. She closed in on him in a heartbeat, hand spewing out a hail of ice shards to pepper against his armor. Fortunately, one found purchase in a leg, causing him to cry out in pain.

Still, he was a formidable warrior and a spew of flame from his wrist-weapon meant that she barely escaped having her face scalded off. She ducked to the side, the flames still licking at her shoulder and arm as she rolled aside, doing her best to pat it out.

It didn't take the Mandalorian long to capitalize on that, scrambling out the front passage and directly toward Rya.

@Pazaakly

 

[Rya]

Rya's meditation was shorter lived than she'd expected. Her partner in bounty hunting must've been more slippery than she imagined. It wasn't long at all before she heard the sounds of combat emanating from within the cave. Almost as fast as the echoes were reaching her was a wounded looking Mandalorian bounded out of the entrance. Now it was her turn.

She burst into action, rising quickly from her kneeling position she'd been meditating in. With the ease of a motion practiced thousands of times her blaster came to be level with the runner.

She peppered the poacher with blaster fire with a rapid pace. Unfortunately for her his armor meant most of her shots did nothing more than provide a nice light show to accentuate his escape. One did manage to find a gap in the armor causing the man to keel over and tumble to the ground.

A glancing blow to the stomach via blaster tended to have that affect.

Seeing him hunched over and facing the ground she approached and said "I am Jedi trainee Rya, sent to apprehend you Ragn--" An unforseen second wind sent the Vizsla's gauntleted arm into Rya's face too fast for her to avoid. Her head snapped back and the next thing she felt was her back hitting the ground. Barely comprehending her actions while disoriented she squeezed out more blaster fire from the ground.

What she couldn't see is she managed to hit him in the foot that was attached to his otherwise still healthy leg. Unfortunately the removal of his method of transportation meant all his ire turned to her. Before she could fire again the full weight of his body and armor was on top of her and thick hands formed a vice grip around her throat. Her hands tugged frantically at his hands and tried in vain to hit him through his helmet. If Venatrix didn't catch up soon Rya's neck would snap.

@Phoenix​

 

[Arla]

Fortunately, Arla was quick, and she was on the Jedi and Mandalorian in a flash. She teleported through the opening to avoid any traps that the Mandalorian might have avoided in his departure, and descended on the man with all the fury of a predator.

She whipped her arm around and sent a blast of energy into the man's side, flinging him off of the Jedi, but she didn't stop there. He was wounded already in multiple ways, and he knew he could only have so much more to give.

She gripped his head with the Shadow and slammed it back into the tree over and over. She knew he had a helmet on so the otherwise-lethal strikes would serve only to disorient and possibly knock him unconscious.

It seemed that was the effect. He went completely limp a few moments later, and Arla wasted no time in stripping away his helmet and weapons to ensure he wasn't simply faking. He wasn't.

Are you injured? she finally asked of the Jedi only once she was satisfied the danger was passed.

@Pazaakly

 

[Rya]

She had probably come closer to death than she had today. A couple miscalculations during some of her more delicate maneuvers through the Chaos had probably brought her closer to such an end. But it was a much more visceral feeling having another living thing trying to snuff you out.

If she mishandled her ship, she'd be gone in an instant with no time to process her demise. So she found herself very thankful she didn't have to find out what being choked to death felt like. She'd take instant disintegration any day.

Her neck was sore from the pressure it had endured and her wounded back had only been aggravated by being crushed into the rough ground beneath them. It took a lot of strength for her to get up and start brushing herself off, thinking to herself I hate being planetside, next time I stay in my ship.

She stood next to the unconscious Mandalorian opposite of Venatrix and tried responding to her question but found herself unable to squeeze words out of her throat. Trying to distract from that she gave a weak salute in the huntress' direction to cover up her current state. After a brief pause she managed to say "Its... getting dark out..." looking to the diminishingly sunlit sky "What do you think... we should do?"

@Phoenix​

 

[Arla]

Arla just nodded as the other woman gave her a "salute" and Arla went back to stripping the Mandalorian of anything dangerous.

Spend the night in the shelter, then see if he has a speeder or ship to get us back to civilization, she said. They could tie him up in the meantime and Arla had no qualms with simply leaving him like that overnight if it would remove the danger from them. Also his armor would have to go.

After a painstakingly long time making sure there were no traps at the entrance to the building, she dragged the Mandalorian back inside, tied him up, and started looking for something to eat.

As she started making food in a pot, she turned over toward the Jedi.

Why the Jedi? Why not some other Force-using sect to train yourself? You don't seem excessively stuck on idealism, she said.

@Pazaakly

 

[Rya]

Rya decided to make herself useful by starting to catalogue everything she found in the poacher's hideout to be able to put it on record. It was a sparse collection in the sense of illicit goods, but there was probably enough evidence here to trace back to the village they'd come across earlier in the day. They'd never track down all of his ill gotten gains but better for his prey to have died for better causes than his pockets.

In the end she had stacked a couple of unfinished pelts and leathers in the corner and wiped off most of the blood that adorned the floor of the cave. Not exactly her preferred decorum when eating dinner. She was caught off guard by Venatrix's question. After all, to this point she'd been dry and distant. Why ask questions now?

"The simplest answer is they were the first users of what you call the "Force" that I came across after leaving the Ascendancy." Rya was feeling a lot more relaxed now that danger had passed and there was no rushing a planetary cycle so she could afford to be at least slightly more cavalier. Because of that she continued "Why, you looking to recruit for your sect? I have to admit your abilities do intrigue me." She said in a lighter, more playful tone than usual.

@Phoenix​

 

[Arla]

Arla continued adding things she found in the kitchen to her improvised stew as they spoke. The answers the Chiss gave were... interesting. Arla had done some more thinking and trying to dig through what little she knew of the Chiss, but one thing stood out.

I appreciate competence, and you handled yourself well for someone who has apparently had very little training, she said. Arla had a habit of simply stating things as she saw them. Although it was intended as a compliment of sorts, it could certainly be construed as something else.

But I was under the impression Chiss couldn't be Force-users. Or at least not for more than a few years, she said, frowning. There was no point in wasting time training someone who was going to lose their ability to use the Shadow in a few years anyway.

@Pazaakly

 

[Rya]

Rya sat up a little straighter and the commendation. She lived for praise and especially from someone as skilled as she’d seen this Venatrix be. It gave her a small boost of confidence that she’d only get better with training. Something that definitely wasn’t feeling like a certainty when she was being choked out.

She nodded at the mention of the Chiss’ loss of their Third Sight during adolescence. “Yes, the sky-walkers are very talented but their connections die out around age fourteen at the latest.” In truth it was one of the reasons she had had to keep her ability secret from her peers. Had she entered the sky-walker program like other Chiss her split-parentage would’ve been extremely apparent when she didn’t lose her abilities like all the others.

“My mother was Vak” she explained “It’s why I’m a paler blue than most Chiss, and why I will possess the ability to sway the Great Presence for as long as I live.” She silently hoped that that would be a long time, though the prospect of living longer than her mother had did have a twinge of bittersweet need to it.

@Phoenix​

 

[Arla]

Hm, Arla acknowledged, nodding and deciding that the explanation made perfect sense. It also meant that Arla wouldn't be completely wasting her time on the woman.

It was strange to hear she was part-outsider, but that was something the two of them had in common. Arla was not full Dathomirian due to her father's heritage. Chiss were perhaps even more xenophobic than the Nightsisters.

And what is it that you want out of life? she asked. Most people would have just done small talk, but not Arla. She hated small talk, and she rarely said things without purpose. The questions she asked were intentional. The two of them likely weren't going to be compatible if the Jedi was... a Jedi, but it was unwise to make assumptions.

@Pazaakly

 

[Rya]

The young Chiss took great pause at the other’s question. It was a heavy one to be sure. She took her time processing it, silently enjoying her stew to fill the time.

Did she want glory? Not necessarily. She didn’t feel the need to “sign her work” so to speak in any way. She was of the opinion that if one truly made a difference people would naturally take notice. She wanted to be happy, of course. But happiness was a byproduct. A life had to be spent doing something gratifying to obtain it.

She tried vocalizing her thoughts to gain clarity and began “I want to be useful. To become the best individual that I can become…” she was about to say that she wanted to help people.

Then she corrected herself mentally and continued “I want power. The power to change the galaxy. Too often those in the highest positions of power are the least deserving of it. Imagine, in the Ascendancy there are all these assets that can tap into the Great Presence yet they’ve never used it in the capacity that the users in the greater galaxy do. Where I’m from those with our talents are treated like sentient navicomputers.”

At this point she was just venting, all the frustrations she’d had with the systems that she’d grown up in. The inaction, the lack of preemptive measures on the part of her superiors, all the politics that stood in the way of change. A part of her felt that if the Ascendancy with all its might and tactical prowess took an approach of expansion and trained practitioners of the Great Presence how the Jedi do they could take control of a much larger section of the galaxy.

She let out a huff, but cracked a slight smile and concluded “I’m a long ways away from such a rank, but if I ever manage to be in command of the Jedi Order, I think a lot of changes would be made with that kind of army in my control.”

@Phoenix​

 

[Arla]

Arla listened to the other woman, hearing the frustration in her tone. There was emotion that underlay everything, and it was no doubt brought on by a great deal of conflict and hardship with her people. Conflicts like that were what created deep drives within people.

Arla didn't know the Jedi well. She had heard rumors and, of course, read the histories as passed down by the Sith, but the Sith were a biased source.

Except the Jedi don't do that, do they? They don't use their power to rule and guide, they use it to... she didn't even know. Sit in their temples? Being passive pacifists while spouting philosophy.

Sit around and be passive, she said. It was clear she didn't have an overwhelmingly high view of the Jedi Order in general. Maybe that was why she thought the Chiss should be doing something else with her life. But ultimately, Arla also knew it wasn't really her business.

@Pazaakly

 

[Rya]

Rya initially just gave a shrug. They certainly weren’t her cup of tea when it came to structure and discipline. There was far too much left up to interpretation and training felt lackadaisical at times.

What was the alternative though? Go out in her own? Join a smaller organization? “The Jedi have massive unused potential to be sure. Trust me, I wouldn’t be making myself the most powerful I could be if I followed their teachings alone.”

She talked using the terminology that came naturally and explained “Even if I don’t become a Jedi to the truest sense, is it not better to steer a massive ship in the right direction than try and build a new one altogether?”

The Jedi were an organization with a millennia of history behind them. It would take generations to create a new sect or even to bolster a pre-existing one to their Order’s status. But if she played her cards right, rising through their ranks could be accomplished in a single lifetime.

@Phoenix​

 

[Arla]

Arla thought about the response the Jedi gave and she supposed she couldn't fault her for it. She had a goal she wanted to accomplish, she was working toward it, and that was admirable in its own way. Just so long as she didn't get lost in the Jedi's general nonsense.

I agree, she said when Rya said the Jedi had unused potential. So much unused potential.

That depends, she said when Rya asked if it was better or worse to be on your own. She had left the Sith because of bloat and because she didn't want to try to drag everyone along after her.

Bigger isn't always better. Sometimes, bigger is just dead weight, she said. And filled with people who were going to try to change you instead.

@Pazaakly

 

[Rya]

Rya gave her impromptu interrogator an arched brow when she challenged her viewpoint. It pulled her out of her self-reflective state and more engaged in the one on one conversation. No more pseudo therapy session. There was far too much she had questions of her own about.

"Who are you, really? A bounty hunter wouldn't concern themselves with the likes of me, wouldn't do half the feats I've seen you do. And I'm sure there's plenty I missed along the way, too. I sensed something back in the village. What did you do to learn where Vizsla was heading?" These were the easy questions, the ones that she'd held off on asking for fear of intruding on her personal space. Now it was different though.

She wasn't accusatory in her tone. If anything it came across as hungry. Desperate for answers and growth of her own knowledge and understanding. Unaware of the fact that she was now physically leaning in to the conversation. "You clearly hold a great deal of expertise. What would you recommend I do?"

@Phoenix​

 

[Arla]

I am a bounty hunter, Arla reiterated, though, of course, that wasn't her entire life's story.

I'm also connected to the Force, she said. She wasn't really trying to hide it necessarily. She just didn't exactly advertise it. Arla could tell the other woman wanted knowledge. She wanted to know things the way Arla had when she'd gone to the Sith. It was a desperate craving for knowledge.

I can't tell you what you need to do, but I can tell you that there are many other sects out there who have control of the Force besides just the Jedi, she said. Open up your mind, ask yourself what you want, and who can help you get that, she said. Even Arla wasn't entirely sure why she was telling her this. Ultimately, she settled on the potential benefits of sewing seeds of doubt and testing the woman's thought process. While taking an apprentice who used to be a Jedi was probably too risky, she'd have been lying if she said she wasn't giving it some superficial thought.

@Pazaakly