Ask The Path: Temptation

[Zay Kartan]

The mottled blues swirling in front of Zaylos Kartan normally stirred a peace within him, but today they aroused his anxiety. He'd been employed as a commercial transport for a couple of weeks, and after his dramatic introduction to flight, he'd found his mundane existence a little slice of heaven. It felt good to work for an entity by choice. To be compensated for his effort. What a concept... Today, however, he'd been presented with a unique situation. Instead of moving just goods, he'd been hired to transport a substantial load and it's owner.

Kartan was a decent pilot, but he was still pretty green when it came to the procedures of transporting. The last thing he needed was someone watching over his shoulder making him nervous. He found himself very aware of the half pack of ratty cigarettes in his jacket pocket. He drew a breath in and slowly let it out.

A few days of patchy stubble peppered his jaw, his hair hung in his eyes, he pushed it back and adjusted his flight jacket labeling him a pilot for Kross transporting. He wore a black jumpsuit, under his leather jacket, that tucked into his work boots. on his hip, he wore a service pistol, but it might as well have been for show. Aside from the ultrabasic arms class, all transports were required to take before employment, he'd never used a gun and after he'd seen what they could do first hand Krantan wanted nothing to do with them.

Zaylos emerged from the cockpit headed to his refresher when he nearly ran smack dab into the client, "Oh shi— er, I'm sorry ma'am, please excuse me."

@Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

Things in Aadya's life had only been getting more complicated recently. Between hijacking ships from the Black Sun and running into ghosts from her Jedi past, the young Sith wanted nothing more than to kick back somewhere and take a much needed respite. Of course, that appeared to be nothing but wishful thinking as one of her acquaintances on Nar Shaddaa had finally called in a favor Aadya had owed them, and boy was it a doozy.

Under normal circumstances, running some highly illegal black market items from one place to another wouldn't have been much of a problem. Unfortunately, the sheer amount of shit she needed to move required a ship, and Aadya didn't have one. Not to mention that even if she did, she was trying to keep a low profile and flying herself had the potential of attracting attention she didn't really want.

So instead she'd hired some no-name pilot to help her out, not telling him exactly what he was moving. Lying was becoming more and more commonplace for Aadya, and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. Oh well, she should probably get used to it. She was a Sith now, after all.

Nose deep in a datapad, Aadya had been on her way towards the cockpit to say something when suddenly the pilot of the vessel careened into her and caused the datapad to go flying, smacking off the durasteel floor and shattering into about a dozen pieces. Letting out an annoyed sigh, she eyed the kid with venomous gaze that quickly softened as Aadya let it go with a shrug of indifference.

That's coming out of your cut, She said with a half amused chuckle. Eying Zaylos up and down, Aadya couldn't believe that of all the pilots she could have possibly hired, she hired the one that looked like he'd gotten his pilot's license yesterday. Although.. with the bit of stubble he'd managed to grow on his chin, he was pretty cute.

Brushing the hair out of her face, Aadya motioned for Zaylos to re-join her in the cockpit. Whatever Zaylos had been going to do would have to wait for now.

So I probably should have mentioned this before, but once we get into FWA territory, we should avoid the main space lanes and ports. The less people notice us, the better. For now, Aadya would leave it a little vague. There was no sense spooking out an inexperienced pilot by telling them they were hauling enough illegal stuff to send them to prison for several life times.

Their destination was Ord Cantrell, a planet known for its resorts. And where there were resorts, there were rich fools. And where there were rich fools, there was spice.

Checking her chrono, Aadya saw that they were still a couple hours from their destination. Pulling a pack of smokes from inside of her jacket, she'd offer one to Zaylos before lighting her own and taking a drag. There were few things better in the galaxy at relieving stress than a good cigarra.

So, not sure we ever did a true introduction. I'm Aadya, She said, flashing Zaylos a friendly smile. Despite being a Sith, Aadya was still a nice person.. or at least she tried to be.

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

Zaylos watched as the datapad flew from the clients hands toward the ground. His heart jumped into his throat and everything seemed to slow. The datapad landed face down with a thunderous reverberation that could have rivaled the explosion of a thermal detonator.

Oh, I'm totally karked.... he thought as his eyes shifted from the shattered datapad back to the client.
Kartan expected to meet the eyes of a raging rancor, mirthless and spewing vial thoughts, but to his pleasant surprise, her eyes were... well, they were beautiful.

"That's fair," Kartan managed. His client brushed the hair from her face and motioned toward the cockpit, Kartan looked longingly toward his quarters, but he wasn't about to push his luck. Before following her back into the cockpit, he picked up the damaged datapad and smirked.

I can fix this, no sweat. he realized. He made a mental note to let her know when he felt the opportunity was right, but for now, he needed to get to the cockpit before she suddenly wasn't so cool.

As he entered, she started in on their trajectory. Zay wasn't too keen on skipping weigh-ins and slipping security, but it's not like he didn't know how. His time working as a pilot for Dravv Dislov's pirate crew had taught him more than enough tricks to slip past checkpoints and skirt the main hyperspace lanes.

"As long as you're okay with it taking a bit longer, I'm sure I can work a little discretion into our flight path," he said with a smirk. He realized this job might not be that bad after all. He still wanted that cigarette though....

As if she'd read his mind, she pulled a pack of cigarettes from her jacket and offered one to Zay. He was in love. She offered him a light, but he already had his lighter in hand. He took a drag and leaned against the nearest console. As he did his client introduced herself.

"It's a pleasure to cordially meet you, miss Aadya. I'm Zay." Kartan returned her smile with one of his own and couldn't help but feel she'd gotten the shorter end of that stick. Feeling the need to keep the conversation going, Zay asked the obvious.

"So, what takes you to Ord Cantrell?"

On the surface, the question seemed dumb. Anyone going to Ord Cantrell was going for the resort. The difference between Aadya and other tourists was the cargo he'd been hired to haul. He could feel his curiosity stirring and hoped to reign it in before his imagination ran wild.

@Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

Oh, I could tell you Zay.. but then I'd have to kill you. Aadya said, her tone laced with a hint of joking, but her gaze betraying her cordiality ever so slightly. There was danger there hidden behind caramel doe-eyes.

A moment of silence hung between them before Aadya said: Plus, the less you know, the less anyone can pry out of you later. Plausible deniability has saved more lives than seat belts. For a second, Aadya had thought of telling Zay exactly what was stowed away in his cargo hold but decided against it - despite the mild sense of guilt bubbling in her stomach.

How'd you get in the transport biz? She asked suddenly, wanting to move the conversation in another direction. Got any good stories? Spacers usually meet some interesting characters out there.

At this point, Aadya was just trying to find something they could do to pass the time. Ord Mantell was close but not that close, and talking helped keep her mind off the idea of getting picked up by Sector Rangers or something. Pulling a flask from inside of her jacket, Aadya took a swig before offering it to Zay.

That's Corellian, She said with a hiccup, the whisky burning her throat more than she'd expected. The good stuff.

Getting your pilot all drunk on Corellian whisky probably wasn't the greatest idea, but the potential danger they might find themselves in when dropping out of hyperspeed called for some liquid courage.

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

"Oh, I could tell you Zay... but then I'd have to kill you."

Zay laughed but there was a predatorial glean to her eye that sent a shiver down his spine. Suddenly, feeling like a bantha in a rancor pit, Kartan decided to choke his insecurity with a drag from his cigarette.

Aadya broke the silence with what he was sure she assumed would be a comfort, "Plus, the less you know, the less anyone can pry out of you later. Plausible deniability has saved more lives than seat belts."

A wave of concern washed over his face specifically, and inadvertently, in his brow, "Uh... cool," he managed between puffs. This was turning out to be a little more than he'd bargained for. Luckily, his employer seemed to pick up on his discomfort and changed the subject.

"How'd you get in the transport biz?"

Kartan considered the question a moment, chewing it over before saying, "Honestly, I'm more of a mechanic. I got into transport out of necessity, really."

Yikes he was boring.

"Sorry, I don't really have any cool stories, I was a slave, I escaped, I was captured by pirates, and that's how I learned to fly," he said attempting to downplay his shit show of a life.

Aadya offered him a flask of Corellian whiskey. He smiled as she hiccuped, maybe he was being paranoid earlier. Looking at her now he just thought she was cute. He thanked her and tipped back the flask. He passed the flask back and asked, "What about you? How'd you land here?"

Zay wasn't the best at small talk, but he relished little moments like this. In a galaxy so full of chaos it was nice to have a little connection with someone, but like most things in this universe, it wasn't meant to last. An alarm twilled on the main console and Kartan moved to investigate. Before he could reach the main console the ship was ripped out of hyperspace slamming him into the ship's instrumentation and knocking the wind out of him.

Kartan groaned as he got to a knee, he looked back to Aadya, "You alright?"

The chortle of an incoming hail brought his attention to the ship's comm system. Zay's blood ran cold. He stood and accepted the call.

"G'day, we've ripped your ship right outta hyperspace and we, will be boarding in a matter of minutes. Lower your shields or we will lower them, sound good?"

@Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

Now that's a long story, Aadya began to say, but before she could get any more words out to answer Zay's question, she felt the ship lurch violently as it was forcibly pulled from hyperspace.

Luckily, Aadya managed to not smash her face into the ship's console, although she did get a rather nice jolt to the ribs. It hurt like a bitch, but she didn't think anything was broken. All things considered, definitely not as a bad as it could have been. Well, that was until the pirates started talking.

Yeah, fine enough I guess, Aadya said between tiny winces of pain. How about you? Pausing for a moment, Aadya shook the shock of what had happened from her starry-eyed brain. Both she and Zay needed to get their shit together as quick as possible considering they were apparently about to be forcibly boarded by pirates.

You should just put your shields down. At least if they come on board, we can fight them. Maybe if we kill enough, they'll kriff off back to wherever they crawled out of. Aadya didn't have a lot of experience in fighting pirates, but she figured that if they had the ability to drop someone from hyperspace, they were already sitting ducks if they tried to duke it out in some kind of dog fight.

Reaching into her jacket, Aadya pulled out a blaster and gave Zay an expectant look. Time to make a decision was running out. It's your ship so I'll support whatever you think is best here. But just so you know, if we somehow survive but lose the cargo to these pirates, we are gonna both wish were dead. There was no joking in Aadya's voice this time. She wanted to make it abundantly clear that she would be willing to shoot as many pirates in the face as it took to make it out of here with both her life, and the cargo.

For now, Aadya would stick to her blaster. She did have her lightsaber tucked tightly in a hiding spot in her jacket, but she didn't like using it in front of strangers unless she absolutely had to. Hopefully, they could dispatch a few of these morons and it wouldn't come to that.

Although if it did, at least Zay would finally have a cool story.

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

Kartan was frozen by the familiar twang of the deep outer rim lilting through the comm. His blood ran cold and the cigarette dropped from his lips. Fear gripped his core as a cold sweat covered his blanched face. Valen Corta, captain of The Crooked Grin, had found him.

Aadya spoke, but Zaylos was reeling. Flashbacks of his time indentured to the pirate preparing to board his ship flooded his mind. With each beat of his racing heart the buried anger, frustration, and fear he'd felt began to bubble up from below. A deep-seated loathing slowly slithered it's way into his mind whispering torment and terror. His hands clenched into fists and he squeezed his hands until the knuckles were white as bone.

Zaylos Kartan would not serve Valen Corta again.

Kartan got to his feet as Aadya was warning of the cargo's importance. Zaylos bobbed his head in acknowledgment and pulled his service weapon. He walked over to his captain's chair and opened a compartment near the floor, he pulled out a stun baton and two blast vests. He tossed one of the vests to Aadya, removed his leather jacket, and put on the other.

"Love's ya've three seconds to respond or we'll start blastin'," said Corta.

Zay hit the com, "We're lowering our shields."

"Good on ya, mate. The boys and I'll see you soon."

Kartan didn't bother responding. He cut the communications and engaged the blast doors on the main cargo hold. It wouldn't do much, but it'd keep them busy for a little. The ship they were in wasn't huge. The VCX-100 was a standard light freighter, reliable enough, but outdated and under-equipped to deal with hostiles like the ones they faced now. They'd need to play it smart. The odds were definitely against them in this, but Kartan would go down blasting before he returned to Valen Corta.

"They're gonna have a six-man boarding party, and they'll be armed to the teeth. I hope this cargo is worth it."

@Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

While any situation where you were given an ultimatum of death or being forcibly boarded by pirates was concerning, the emotions Aadya could feel radiating from Zay told her that there was more to this story than a kid scared by a random act of piracy. There was something about it that struck a nerve within the kid, something personal.

But as quickly as the cold grip of fear had come onto him, Aadya felt it change, felt it curdle into something she had a lot more experience with: determination filtered through unabashed enmity.

You have experience with these guys?" Aadya asked probingly as she slipped on the blast vest, trying to get a read on whether her own intuitions were correct. Securing the vest, Aadya stared knowingly at Zay, her eyes catching his and conveying something she chose not to say out loud: don't kriffing lie to me about this.

We should catch them as they come in through the blast doors, Aadya said, leaving the cockpit and heading towards the cargo hold. They'll have to funnel in and we can probably even the numbers a bit, assuming its six of them like you think. Truth be told, Aadya was not afraid of pirates, armed to the gills or not. If worse came to worse, she did have her lightsaber after all.

Arriving in the cargo hold, Aadya crouched down behind a durasteel crate, leveling her blaster towards the cargo hold door, which was already being sliced open with a fusion cutter. Sparks flew in all directions as the pirates eventually finished the job, the heavy blast door now having a gaping hole in it big enough for two men to walk through at once.

Wasting no time, Aadya fired off several blaster shots towards the hole, two of which caught the guy running the cutter, smashing directly into his face. He keeled over almost instantly, which was good. His death seemed to invigorate his pirate comrades who came storming through the blast door hole, screaming in blood lust, which was bad.

This is where the fun begins, Aadya said with a smirk, hoping Zay wasn't shaking in his boots and could also provide some cover fire before the pirates got into hack-and-slashing distance.

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

The entire situation felt like a cruel joke. His heart beat like a drum and he could feel cold sweat settle on his brow and back. Aadaya's question was pointed and her expression only punctuated the accusatory tone in her voice, but Kartan kept his cool.

"Yeah, when I escaped Lothol Minor I ran into these guys and worked with them for a bit," he said. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't wholly the truth. In most cases, pirates tend to be free-spirited, violent in their occupation, but marry in their revelry, not Valen. He was a cold and calculating son of a bitch, that only reveled in the suffering of others.

"I was just the ship mechanic, so I don't know much, but I know how many are in the boarding party."

Zaylos crossed his arms as he pulled up a schematic of the ship on it's console. He displayed a floor plan of the ship's interior and then pointed at the port and starboard docking rings.

"They're gonna hit from both sides. They split into two parties to cover more ground."

Zay cupped his chin in his hand while crossing the other over his chest to rest his elbow. His eyes ran from the docking rings to the cargo hold and back. He couldn't think of a better plan, so he nodded in agreement and followed Aadaya to the hold. He was pressed up against the back of a cylindrical container with his weapon drawn. The fusion cutter began it's arduous journey through the blastdoors. As it bit through the reinforced metal Zay did his best to remain calm.

Click Hiss

The blastdoors gave way and the pirates poured in. Kartan hesitated, but Aadaya moved with ease. She fired off two shots dropping their first assailant with ease. Giving in to reckless abandon the rest rushed in. Two cut to the left toward Zay, and four dipped to the right, which had more cover. Zaylos counted to three then slipped around the edge and opened fire.

Two shots hit the first pirate square in the chest, dropping him instantly. A third grazed the second pirate, who managed to retaliate with a shot of their own. The shot ripped through the sleeve of his right shoulder and sent him skittering behind cover. His flesh was seared, the smell of cooked meat made his stomach turn, but he swallowed back his bile with gritted teeth.

In the meantime, the four that had slinked off to the right were unloading on Aadya's position. Zay ducked a shot that was meant for his head and returned two shots of his own clipping a pirate who was trying to flank Aadaya. The battle was in full motion now. The cargo room was lit up by flashing blaster fire. Hues of red, green, blue, and yellow ripped through the air leaving it scorched and smelling of ozone.

@Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

The pirates moved with a coordination that surprised Aadya a little bit. Sure, they may have been seasoned raiders, but in her experience pirates still usually operated with a certain level of avant garde. Their leader must have been a cut above most, which Aadya did not like the prospect of.

Aadya noticed the group of pirates who moved towards her side and started to think that a simple blaster wasn't going to be enough to defend herself and Zay from the onslaught. It was a dangerous notion to stow her blaster in favor of the lightsaber tucked away, but then again, dying wasn't really something Aadya was interested in.

As she took cover against the barrage of blaster fire the pirates were raining down upon her, Aadya could feel the durasteel starting to give way. Looks like it was now or never.

Dropping her blaster, Aadya withdrew her lightsaber hilt and gripped it tightly in her right hand. Drawing upon the force, she sent what was formerly her cover rocketing towards one of the thugs shooting at her, hitting him square in the chest and sending him smashing into a wall. You could almost hear the sound of his organs exploding.

Not distracted for long, the other pirates turned their attention back towards Aadya and attempted to resume their fire. With a flourish, the young Sith activated her lightsaber with a snap-hiss, its red blade bursting to life instantly. Catching the blaster bolts, she deflected them back towards her attackers, catching each of them with one in the chest and throat.

Aadya hadn't noticed the fourth pirate who managed to crack off a direct shot, the bolt slamming into her upper arm. The pain was instant and it was intense, but survivable. Finding another set of cover, Aadya ducked behind it swiftly, falling to one knee as she tried to push the pain out of her mind and return to focus.

You got the rest of them, Zay!" Aadya called out through half gritted teeth, unsure if the young pilot hadn't already gotten his head blasted off or not. Hopefully he could dispatch the last couple pirates and discourage the captain from joining.

It was then that she heard the voice from before, coming from just beyond the breached blast doors.

"That's some of my best men you've killed 'ere, mate. You're gonna pay for that."

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

Pop shots ricocheted off the durasteel container Kartan had taken cover behind. The harsh smell of exposed chemicals filled the cargo hold. Zaylos' breathing was ragged as he tried to steady himself under the rush of adrenalin. Kartan stepped around the container and let off two shots, as he moved from right to left. He managed to make it to a fresh container, but he didn't hit his target in the process.

The pirate went on the attack and made a move for Kartan. Moving from their cover the pirate fired twice being sure to keep Kartan pinned down as they closed in on his location. Just before they rounded the corner the pirate pulled a vibroknife and holstered their gun. They postured up just out of Zay's view and when he tried to take a pop shot they attacked.

The blade bit into Zay's extended arm causing him to cry out in pain and drop his gun. The enraged pirate tackled Kartan and sought to bury the blade into him at any cost. Zaylos dodged the first stab and managed to get both hands on the arm with the blade. The pair wrestled for control of the weapon and the pirate was clearly the better grappler. With their free hand, they slammed a punch into Kartan's face, and he lost his grip on the knife-hand.

Suddenly, everything went black. A man dressed in ink-black robes stood before Zaylos wearing a smile that offered no warmth.

"Would you like me to help you?"

"Yes."

"As you wish."

As the pirate drove the point of the vibroknife downward, Kartan's body went rigid. Just before the blade touched his skin, it stopped. Confusion replaced the fury on the pirate's face as he put all of his weight behind the hilt of the blade. Kartan's face was calm as the blade began to raise from it's position. The Pirate held on to the blade as long as he could but dropped from it when he was lifted from the ground to his feet. As soon as he let go of the blade it spun toward him and plunged into his neck. The wet gurgling that followed would fall on deaf ears as Zaylos rose from the ground.

In his current state he didn't register Aadya's voice, nor her weapon.

"That's some of my best men you've killed 'ere, mate. You're gonna pay for that."

The voice of Valen Corta became his entire focus. Kartan's head tilted in the pirate captain's direction as the fully armored warrior sauntered into the chaos. Flanking him were two more pirates armed to the teeth.

"Kark, forcers!" barked the pirate closest to Aadaya, Valen sent his two goons after her and turned his sights on Kartan.

Kartan's hand stretched out toward Corta. The captain's feet suddenly began to slide toward Kartan, just before they met, Zay's body went into action. He lept into the air twisting and delivering a spinning back kick to the helmeted head of Corta. The Captain's head was snapped to the side and sent colliding into the container next to him. He collapsed to the floor and Kartan fell on him like a rabid animal.

Kartan's hands tore at the helmet's latch and he ripped it off. Rage broiled from the mechanic in a way it never had before. His eyes adopted a faint golden glow and he drew back delivering blow after blow to his former slaver. Blood was smattered across Kartan's face as he pounded the life out of the man below him. Each blow contorting the face of the handsome hellion into a more unrecognizable state.

@Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

The pain radiating from Aadya's arm seemed to fuel her resolve. Instead of trying to suppress it like she'd been conditioned to under the Jedi. Instead, she called upon what she was now, a Sith, and used it to her advantage. It felt liberating, if she were being honest, to let emotion flow freely. It felt right.

Standing up from behind her cover, Aadya saw the two pirates left heading towards her. With a quick flick of her wrist, she reached out with the force and knocked one's legs out from underneath him, causing the pirate to trip and fall face first onto the ground. Another flick brought over one of the durasteel containers, lifting it off the ground a bit before Aadya released it, letting it fall onto the guy's head and crush it like bug beneath a bootheel.

The other pirate continued closing in despite the fact that it was clear he was outmatched. His swing of a viborsword was met swiftly by Aadya's lightsaber, the young Sith catching the attack with her blade. In a quick motion Aadya used her offhand to gather the force and punch the pirate in the chest. The added strength to her blow granted by the force knocked the breath out of the pirate's lungs, and in another swift motion Aadya brought her saber down across his neck, sending his head rolling across the floor.

Turning towards Zay, Aadya couldn't help but let her eyes widen in surprise at the scene that was unfolding. The young pilot seemed to be a changed person, the shy lighthearted demeanor to his aura had darkened into a swirling mist of blackness trying to devour what light dared remain.

The heavy, smacking thuds of Zay's fist pounding into the lump of flesh that remained of the pirate captain's face was gruesome, but Aadya did not recoil from it like she would have earlier in her life. Instead, she walked over to the boy calmly, observing him like someone eyeing something special they'd spotted on a store shelf.

I think you can stop now, Aadya said, placing her hand carefully on Zay's shoulder. She hoped it would have a calming effect and pull him from his rage. He's not feeling it anymore, anyway. It was pretty obvious from the bloody mess of skin and bone that was once a normal face, this pirate captain's life had ended five or six blows ago.

Do you feel better? She asked genuinely. There was more than just anger at being boarded by pirates in Zay's eyes. Only something deeply personal could have caused the darkside to flow so freely in him, that much Aadya was sure of. She felt a faint hint of something she hadn't before - a spark of the force in Zay. An interesting development, that was for sure.

Deactivating her lightsaber, Aadya tucked it back into its hiding place. I can show you how to control the power you feel.. the anger. It is not something you need to be afraid of. Aadya paused for a moment, thinking about the original reason she was on this ship in the first place. We should start moving again, though. We've already been lingering too long.

Aadya would help Zay to his feet if he needed it, but would otherwise leave him alone. There was no telling what thoughts were surging through his mind at this point. Feeling the touch of the darkside for the first time was a unique experience for everyone, but some would choose to run from it out of fear.

She hoped Zay Kartan would not.

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

Visions of cruelty, torture, and malicious glee clouded Kartan’s vision. It wasn’t until Aadya’s hand landed in his shoulder that his senses snapped out of their enthralled rage. His eyes focused on the ruined face of the handsome pirate and then drifted to his hands. Blood and viscera coated his knuckles. His chest heaved and as he reeled against the violence he’d wrought.

"Do you feel better?"

The words sounded muffled as if his head was underwater. He frowned as he sat back on his haunches the adrenaline of battle slowly receding like the tides. Kartan’s expression crested and fell as the realization of his actions crashed into him.

How did he feel?

Shame colored his expression as he realized he felt... good. He couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud, the admission seemed to carry a weight he wasn't ready to shoulder. Again his dark passenger had come at this call and the end result was terrible fury and ruthless anger. Was this freedom?

The sound of Adaya’s lightsaber retracting snapped him out of his stupor. Pain lanced up his arm as he returned to the natural world. A tidal wave of questions flooded his mind. What was he? What was this force living within him? Would it consume him? Zaylos squeezed his eyes shut and held his head in his bloody hands trying to stop the flood of emotions from overtaking him.

Like so many times before he stuffed the pain, confusion, and suffering down.

"You're right, we need to get out of here."

The death of their captain wouldn't go over lightly. Even with Corta down they were still outnumbered three to one.

"I'll take the controls, you hit the guns, were gonna have to make a run for it."

Kartan desperately wanted to take Aadya up on her offer. He'd felt her power during his rage, he'd seen the crimson blade she carried, and she seemed to know what was happening to him. The only thing standing in his way were the pirate ships looking to blow him out of space.

Zaylos hit the corridor at a dead run, he had further to go than she did and he wanted to be ready. WIthout Valen to give orders the pirates would be caught unaware, their first move was the most important and if they botched it, it could mean their death. Kartan slid into the captain's chair and put on the headset, "We're only gonna get one shot at this. As soon as you're ready, start firing, I'll go into evasive maneuvers and start priming us for lightspeed. Sound good?"

@Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

Aadya could tell that the well of emotions Zay was feeling were bubbling just beneath the surface, like a pot of water before the crest of boiling over. While it would have been her advice to let them out, feel them all in their twisted glory, revel in the dark - she knew now was not the time.

Hit the guns? Aadya said trying to hide the surprise in her voice. She barely knew how to use a blaster, let alone how to man a freighter's weaponry. From the tone of Zay's voice she could tell that she didn't really have a choice, though.

Lets kriff 'em up, Aadya said back to Zay as she slid into the gunner's seat. Looking around, the controls luckily did not seem overly complicated. Gripping the yoke, Aadya let out an anxious sigh as she stared into the targeting computer.

As the ship ripped away from the pirate's docking tube, Aadya tried to make sense of what she was looking at. Just as she was starting to feel overwhelmed, she noticed that she had the turret facing the wrong direction, and that's why nothing was showing up on the targeting computer. Rolling her eyes at her own dumbassery, she whipped the yoke to the right and suddenly the machines started beeping as it attempted to lock onto the target.

Finally getting the pirate's ship dead center of the targeting computer, Aadya pulled on the yoke and engaged the blasters. Shots tore out of the blaster canon with an audible pewpewpew, zipping wide of their target. Making a small adjustment, Aadya fired again, this time hitting her target with several well placed shots. A fire sparked on the outside of the enemy ship as they attempted to return fire.

Get this thing into hyperspace! Aadya shouted over the comms. We can worry about the cargo drop later.

Continuing her barrage of blaster fire at the pirate ship, Aadya hoped that Zay would be able to get them away from the situation as fast as possible. Dying in a dog fight wasn't really on her bucket list.

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

Calamity and strife rear ugly faces at inopportune moments, and sometimes the deciding factor of their allegiance boils down to who can act first. Zay was emotionally wrecked, he could feel a vortex of spiraling emotion threatening to consume him, but he knew he had to get them the hell out of here. He had a job to do and that single fact was the only thing anchoring him to this dimension.

Kartan settled into the captain's chair and let his hands hover over the controls. He could feel the ship in a way he'd never felt before. As if his bloody victory over Valen Corta had awakened something in him that had been dormant for far too long. He slipped on his headset and said, "Get ready, I'm making a break for it in 3... 2..."

Without finishing he shoved the controls forward and slammed the left pedal sending them into a downward spiral, and sending the enemy into a belated pursuit. Kartan knew the gravwell was on Corta's main ship which would be steeped in chaos. The lack of any kind of leadership would basically render the ship immobile and with Kartan's downward trajectory, it was highly unlikely the ship would be able to aim the well before they made the jump to hyperspace.

A couple of shots skimmed the shields, but the attacking ship was blown out of the sky, Aadya's voice came of the com calling for a jump and Kartan agreed, he eased the handle forward and the stars laid out before them elongated into lines before collapsing to the swirling miasma of hyperspace.

Zay breathed a sigh of relief as his body finally relaxed. A quick sensor check confirmed their safety and Kartan hit the com, "Next stop, Ord Cantrell, and honestly, I could use a drink."

@Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

A sigh of relief escaped Aadya as she felt the ship slip into hyperspace and leave all of their would-be murderers behind. Pushing away from the turret controls, Aadya made her way towards the cockpit, towards Zay, knowing that the kid might have just undergone one of the biggest transitions he'd ever experience in his life.

Aadya knew what she'd felt coming off of Zay when he was smashing the pirate's face into a fine paste. She'd known that kind of power herself, and she knew how it effected a person. The first taste of the force was something that no one ever forgot - and Zay's first taste reeked of the intoxicating allure of the darkside.

Arriving in the cockpit, Aadya slid into the seat next to Zay and looked at him with a kind yet somehow still firm and knowing gaze. Reaching into her pocket, Aadya took out the small flask that she always kept there, it still about half full from their sharing before.

No sense waiting until we get to Ord Cantrell, Aadya said before taking a swig and handing the flask over to Zay. She paused for a moment before adding We can talk about it when you're ready.

For now, Aadya sunk into the co-pilots seat, her eyes closing for just a moment. Just for once, the young acolyte would like to make it through a single day without someone trying to kill her.

Ah, who was she kidding. Can you imagine a life that boring?

/end thread

@Zay