The Manaan Initiative: Isolation

[Kalladrrl]

The shuttle rumbled as it cut through the atmosphere, its hull groaning against the shearing of the winds that buffeted it from all sides. He'd wanted the two of them to have a stunning view of the ocean and fate, as fickle as it could be, granted them nothing despite their imminent touchdown on the water-locked planet, oceans covering it entirely from pole to pole and meridian to meridian. Manaan. Everyone everywhere in the galaxy knew that under Manaan slept a veritable ocean of wealth, the ultimate medical resource available: kolto. He'd seen his fair share of kolto, mostly applied to himself. Kalladrrl’s feet itched inside his battle armor at the memory of days of kolto treatments after his ordeal with Draco Virtus in the ancient burial grounds of the Old Sith. Somehow, probably through some trickery of the Force, the burial ground had been turned into an inferno that had left his feet and legs burned. But the kolto had done the trick and even helped to heal the hair follicles quickly. Miraculous stuff.

It made sense that the Sith had somehow managed to co-opt the Selkath into a stronger sharing of their kolto. With better prices the Empire could afford more of the stuff than the other polities that vied for control of the galaxy, and a sick rush of pleasure ran through him like a shiver as he thought of poor Republic soldiers dying because their weak leaders had not been able to secure their supply of emergency medicine. Weaklings. Fools, the lot of them. They crooned in their opulent Senate of justice, freedom, yet could not mobilize to protect these ideals. The Sith brought their power to bear for freedom and order and now the people of Manaan would know of their resolve and their strength firsthand. Kalladrrl and Vex would show them the way.

This was official business, so he knew Vex would be focused on the objectives of their mission. He also knew that despite the hard-boiled demeanor that she would be glad to be with him; their nigh-on tangible connection would inform him of her emotional state should she let it.

The shuttle descended through a cloud layer as the very last cracks of sunlight were swallowed by the planet’s rotation. Kalladrrl craned his neck to look at the viewport and for a moment it was like they weren't about to bring battle to the moronic enemies of the Sith. Instead, they might have been enjoying this vista from a viewing deck, Vex in some elegant number that showed off her beauty with a veritable feast of seafood arrayed before them. But it was just a moment of passing fancy, and he sighted their destination as it grew from their approach. He turned to Vex, his helmet by his side as he checked his belt. Two lightsabers, three grenades. As was his and Vex’s custom, he had left his pistol behind. The Force and their lightsabers were all they needed to bring death to enemies near and far. Kalladrrl brought the fragmentation grenades simply because he liked explosives. They had their uses, especially against those who were unable to manipulate the Force. Finalizing his loadout was a package of magnetically primed mines for sabotage.

Why was it that when he and Vex were together, they were blowing things up?

His equipment was in place after his final checks and he pulled up a holographic display of the surface complex, several buildings highlighted a burnt orange among the green. Kalladrrl reached over and secured his helmet, checking the gauntlets of his armor as well and adjusting one that felt loose from its point of attachment inside the forearm guard.

He spoke in low, secret tones, confident in the intelligence presented to them but also strangely humble in the presence of Vex.

"Ohhkkannharrffaaoh." he grumbled honestly. "Ohrraahoooraggarraffnycrrallanyrrokkarran Karrffrrana rokkrkarra." In the wake of the political shifts in Manaan, uncouth elements had sprung up to capitalize upon it, and Kalladrrl was willing to bet that a good kolto operation relied on its machinery not being filled with metaphorical holes. It was their job to stop those who might try to create more leaks in the proverbial mechanism.

@Dread

 

[The Eternal (Vex)]

Vex's yellow eyes leveled with the holomap Kalladrrl pulled out, scanning the layout before putting on her helmet and unclipping a lightsaber and blaster from her belt. Per usual she was wearing her Away Armor, though last she was on this planet she'd been wearing her Wraith armor. She was still doing the mission for the Black Hand, just not officially this time. After all that sneaking around she wanted to see this thing through.

Kalladrrl's feelings were almost tangible to her when she was this close to him, and she wanted him to know she was happy to be close and working together again. Though of course she'd remain her laser focused self; wanting nothing more than to see the job done. They'd protect the ships and wipe out these pirates that the selkath were having so much trouble with.

She was about to answer Kalladrrl when something caught her eye. A flash of light from a blaster pistol. Turning she caught a small glimpse of a man ducking behind some barrels. Instead of ducking herself, Vex ignited her crimson blade and raised her other hand. Blue lightning crackled down her arm and from her fingers. Spilling out in front of her towards the barrels, obliterating them in it's wake and sending two pirates flying back. Their fried corpses slid to a stop shortly after.

At the same time from the left side, two pirates came out and fired one shot at her and one at Kalladrrl. Vex batted the shot at her away without too much trouble as she lightninged the others. She assumed Kalladrrl would deal with the ones shooting at them.

@Rexx

 

[Kalladrrl]

He was glad to be able to feel what she felt. It reassured him and his fighting spirit roared within him, ready to take the fight to the enemies if the Empire with the mighty Vex by his side. As usual though, his reverie was broken by rude interruptions from those who would oppose them. Kalladrrl furled his brow in consternation as he ignited both lightsabers at once, deflecting a shot and grinning as it rebounded with the target even as the Wookiee closed to engage them, lightsabers spinning with momentum as he slashed at the other pirate, goring him with a smoking slice that delivered him to his death. He felt alive with her so close to him, the two dealing death as one, and the shouts of more consternated pirates could be heard drawing closer at the volume of their attack. The game was on.

Kalladrrl followed suit with Vex as the pirates came into view and he raised his right hand to deliver one of them to their death with a potent blast of his own lightning, observing Vex's technique and drawing strength from the bond that existed between them.

“Why can't we ever just get away from it all? His voice entered her mind and it was as if he could speak Basic with his own voice, his tone dark and rich with irony.

 

[The Eternal (Vex)]

As more pirates flooded in Vex did not stop her blast of lightning, simply turning it onto the new arrivals. Some were able to run out of the way briefly to fire at her, but she simply batted away the bolts until her rage caught up and obliterated them.

Kalls words rang through her mind which elicited a frown on her face. It was true that they were almost always at work. She considered herself a workaholic and usually enjoyed it but now that she was with Kall she found herself wishing for more downtime to spend with him.

Lets... lets find time... she sent back to him. Something she never thought she'd think. But she truly did.

When she stopped her attack a wermal stepped out from behind some of the new debris, decked out in armor and a few blasters. It raised both up as Vex raised an eyebrow at the sight. This was only the second time she saw one of them.

It hissed, "How dare you attack my men!"

Vex tipped her head, realizing it was the leader. Quickly she grabbed hold of some of the debris and threw it at him, expecting him to dodge and attack. Instead, the debris simply smacked him on the head and he fell over.

"Umm," Vex hummed, quite frankly confused.

 

[Kalladrrl]

He grinned inside his helmet at Vex’s competence and at her heartfelt words as well. Perhaps his dream of overlarge cocktails served out of tropical fruits was not so farfetched after all. Perhaps they could find a moment of calm and quiet amidst the war that was life in the galaxy. There could never be peace, but a few days, a week of calm? The prospect energized him even as the wriggling mass of a Wermal challenged Vex.

He chuckled as Vex eliminated him simply and quickly, as further reinforcements arrived.

"Karrnakarraycrranhoornympynalurra!"

His voice was loud and he amplified it further with the Force.

“Sod off, you Sith bastards!” The mouthy pirate was bold and he emboldened his fellows who jeered them.

Wrong answer.

His magnanimous tone turned quickly to a savage snarl and he leapt forward and to their left into the group of them with a battlecry.

"Rrooohrnalarranakannarr!"

He summoned the Force to him and executed a pirouette into the group as he extended the blades on both of his lightsabers, cutting five apart at the middle in an instant. The pirates’ jeers turned to cries of alarm as blaster bolts careened for him, the Wookiee deflecting them at random back into the crowds, taking down another two with ricocheted shots. Other bolts scored the sides of shipping containers or the raised gantries that ringed the room. All of their attention was on the ground attack from the Sith, just as the Dark Lord had ordered. And all of the attention of the ground attack was on him. These pirates saw his strength but his vicious attack left them open to the more dangerous opponent that had joined battle, her size no indicator of her skill or deadlines. It would be their undoing.

 

[The Eternal (Vex)]

With the Force, Vex used their advantage by grabbing hold of pirates either going to fire at or trying to dodge Kalladrrl's assault. Making it all but impossible to stop him or gain any ground whatsoever. The group fell quickly under the pair by the time the fleet was in position.

With their job down, Vex smiled at Kalladrrl. Though he wouldn't see it he would sense her happiness at a job well done. She waited till he returned to her side before leaving with him. Though she should be focused on getting home and looking at some reports, she wanted to discuss going on vacation with him.

//Vex and Kalladrrl exit and end thread