Ask The Retrieval

[Sah'ra Ryun]

Floating in the middle of deep space was hardly entertaining for anyone but as Sah’ra glanced around the cramped escape pod, the stern expressions of the small team of soldiers at her disposal demonstrating their preparedness for what was to come, she could ascertain that there was little boredom amongst them. It had only been approximately half an hour since the Harpy had dropped from hyperspace and ejected the pod into the projected path of their target before slipping back into lightspeed yet the tensions still ran high as they waited. Most of the forces placed at her disposal by Darth Caelestis had been allocated to the battle between the Ascendency houses, leaving her with little for assistance. True, these men and women were battle hardened and exceptionally trained but they would likely be vastly outnumbered by the pirate horde they sought to decimate. The one addition to her team the Champion was most eager to observe was also the one she held the highest expectations for.

Ashla Ti, a stand out amid the newest batch of Acolytes within their Order, was amongst them as they awaited their prey whilst the distress beacon of the pod lured them in. The rumours detailing her participation in the Battle of Telos claimed she had skill beyond that of many of her peers. Whether or not those rumours proved to be true would be cleared up shortly.

“Vessel approaching, m’lady,” a soldier stated, his tone deadpan as the words cut through the silence of the pod. “Energy readings indicate they’re charging up their tractor beam,”

Smiling beneath her half-mask, porcelain fingers reached up and pulled the hood back from her head to reveal her night black hair tied back with a series of long, slender rib bones in lieu of a more traditional utensil. Her blue iris’ popped in part from the accentuating black eyeliner as well as the fact that they were all of her face that could be seen, yet as they peered through the viewport in the direction of the nearing pirate craft, they were set ablaze with eagerness.

”Very good, Captain,” Sah’ra responded as she continued to watch the ship growing closer and closer until finally the pod shook momentarily as they were encased in it’s tractor beam. Turning back to both Ashla and the team of soldiers, the Sith Champion unclipped both hilts from her belt before addressing them as a whole. ”We all know what we are here for. The Acolyte and I will locate the missing child and return her to the hangar. The rest of you will make your way to the reactor and plant the charges. Once we’ve all reunited, we steal a landing craft and make our escape. Destroy any escape pods we may come across and ensure none of the vermin escape. They all die here today. No quarter. No mercy,” As the soldiers all offered their grunts of acknowledgment, Sah’ra turned her attention to the young Togruta. ”I’m looking forward to seeing if the stories about you are true, Acolyte. Perhaps you’ll get to kill someone with antacids yet,” she chuckled softly, sincerely amused by the tales of Telos.

As the escape pod was pulled on board, the pirate crew enclosing on what they assumed to be an easy mark of possibly abandoned smugglers or merchants, Sah’ra ignited both crimson blades of her saber into the viewport. The tips of each weapon were pulled outward to leave a molten incision through the glassl and leaving it in a weakened state; one of which easily allowed a kinetic wave of the Force to shatter it, sending shards of glass through the crowded marauders beyond, giving the occupants the opening they would need to spill out and engage their foe.

@Wit​

 

[Ashla Ti]

Dressed in her regular armor, Ashla waited patiently as the escape pod approached the pirate ship. The last time she had been on a mission with a champion she had almost blown the whole darn thing, and she had no intention of making a repeat of that day.

"Stories?" She asked, surprised. She had not realized there were stories, outside of the one where she had been tricked into thinking SpaceBucks was a mom and pop store with the best kaf in the Galaxy, more than one acolyte had reminded her of that one. But then the champion mentioned the tums, and a sheepish smile appeared on the Togruta's face. "Oh, that. You make do with what you get, right? That Jedi just refused to die, I think we all just wanted it to end." Still, while trying to be modest, she did make a mental note to add that to her list, another item to tick off. Have people gossip about you!

As the ship pulled them in and Sah'ra plunged her blades into the viewport, Ashla turned to look at hte soldiers. "Give me five seconds and then follow" Not waiting to see if they acknowledged, it wasn't really her mission after all, she returned her attention to Sah'ra sending the viewport crashing outwards with a telekinetic push.

Ashla shot out of the opening with a small surge of Force enhanced speed, both blades springing to life in her hands as she emerged from the escape pod. The pirates ought to have been caught by surprise, but the viewport exist was still a bottleneck that they could concentrate fire on, and she meant to create enough chaos to allow the troops behind them get out without issue. As a shout went up some of the pirates finally got their wits about them, she dashed towards the pirate closest to her and yanked him to herself and cut him down. Then the blaster fire started, but now it was focused on her and not the soldiers. Which was good, but she was sure to get overwhelmed if Sah'ra and the soldiers didn't join in on the fun.

@Tulos

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

The eagerness of the Acolyte had not gone unnoticed as Ashla soared past Sah’ra, entering the foray of battle without fear. Smiling beneath her mask, blades still lit in each hand, the Champion instead stepped slowly from the escape pod with the soldiers in tow. Most of the pirate attention had been focused on the young Togrutan and presented each of the men and women at her back the opportunity to create a cross fire that began to tear through those on the left flank of their collected group. Yet even with the element of surprise, the numbers were still heavily weighted against their incursion.

“Aye! There are more of ‘em!” one of the Sith troopers called out, diverting Sah’ra’s attention towards the turbolifts that connected the hangar to the remainder of the ship. Half a dozen pirates poured forth and began to take positions behind a collection of cargo crates. Between these new arrivals and the forces already present to investigate the score they had discovered, the pirates easily outnumbered their own forces two to one. Even despite their lack of practical training, the odds were entirely unfavorable and she needed to even them quickly lest they fail before they even truly began.

Each of the pirates by the turbolift were safely tucked away in cover and offered her soldiers little in the way of a window to strike. The distance between them and herself wasn’t anything vast but it still would have given the raiders plenty of opportunities to gun her down before she closed in but as she looked upward, she was presented with an alternative opportunity. Secured to the hangar ceiling by a pair of durasteel harness points was one of the numerous fighters the pirates had obtained through their fruitful career of robbery and plunder, those below did not even recognize that they had position themselves in danger.

Turning to face the newly arrived pirates fully, Sah’ra pulled her right hand forward and across her torso before casting it forth in a backhand throw. The lightsaber hilt in her grasp soon began to glide through the air as she guided it towards each of the harness points, sparks and droplets of molten steel falling to the floor as the blade passed through each with absolute ease. Creaking sounds of shifting steel echoed across the hangar before the starfighter above came crashing down and pinning each of the pirates under her wreckage.

Instead of guiding the lightsaber back to her hand, Sah’ra continued the weapons arc towards the rear flank of the remaining pirates that had been focused on Ashla, bringing the tip of her blade to connect with the rearmost threat. The crimson energy pierced between the man’s shoulder blades and protruded on the opposite side before finally being called back to it’s owner, searing through his pectoral and separating his right arm from his shoulder.

”Secure the hangar! Leave none alive!”

 

[Ashla Ti]

As Sah'ra and the troops stepped into the hangar and joined the fray, the champion's attack against the pirates who were still focused on the acolyte gave Ashla the moment she needed to catch her breath and recenter herself. Given an opening, she refocused her assault on the pirates and darted forward, blades slicing through bodies like a warm knife through butter. In a matter of moments she was surrounded by bodies, the remaining pirates having either taken cover or spread their attention across the Sith forces.

With a moment to herself, Ashla was able to turn her attention from the immediate threats to their task, locating their target. Her eyes went to the ceiling, and a smile appeared on her lips as she let go of her blades, imitating the Champion in sending them flying. But they went straight up, and slammed into the ceiling and flew in a large circle to cut a hole in the roof. She stepped to the side as the piece of metal came crashing down, summing her lightsaber back into her hands. She proceeded to lift the piece of ceiling with the Force and sent it flying at a cluster of pirates, providing another opening for the Sith troops to push the advantage.

"Lady Sah'ra!" She called out to get the champion's attention. pointing upwards. "This way!"

With that she jumped into the air, soaring through the hole she had made above them and landing in a couch on the level above them, lightsabers coming to life, ready to defend against anything that might come their way.

@Tulos

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

As her fingers wrapped around the curved hilt that had been summoned back to her grasp, Sah’ra took note of how quickly the rest of the pirates had been dispatched at the hands of young Ashla. Pondering if her own Apprentice could have performed as well as this particular Togrutan, the woman at least came to the realisation as to what it was about this particular Acolyte that had caught the attention of Darth Raze. With proper training by a skilled Master, few being as skilled as the one who had already taken her under his wing, she would one day prove to be a valuable asset to not only him but the Empress and her growing Empire.

”You two, hold the hangar and keep the ship ready for our departure. The rest of you-” Sah’ra commanded the rearmost pair of troops before turning to the others. ”-find that reactor and get those charges placed,” Spinning on her heel, she took long steady strides until she was directly below the hole the Acolyte had created and leapt into the air to follow.

As her feet touched down behind Ashla, it soon became clear that where ever it was that the Acolyte had led them, they were here alone. At least for the moment.

”You fight well for someone so young,” Sah’ra spoke cooly as she strode past her. ”An acquired attribute from new masters or old?” she continued. She had read her file, knew she was once a member of some sort of training program but little more was readily available to her. To say the history of the Togrutan girl intrigued her would be putting it mildly.

As the pair of Sith cautiously advanced through the drab corridor, Sah’ra raised an eyebrow in suspicion. It was proving to be eerily quiet after they had departed the hangar.

”One would suspect these low life criminals to have raised an alarm or something by now…” she muttered quietly, allowing her senses to penetrate the walls in search of any potential threats. Of course, they were mere pirates and not an elite combat force. Shaking her head at their inefficiencies, Sah’ra pushed on towards the brig.

@Wit​

 

[Ashla Ti]

Ashla watched Sah'ra as she walked away, thinking on her comment for a moment, wondering what she meant by "old masters". She was sure there were only two or three beings in the Galaxy who knew her past with the cadre, but there were rumors that flew around. And she herself hadn't tried particularly hard to hide the fact that she had received training before formally joining the Sith, it was always best to hide a lie within layers of truth. So maybe that was all the champion knew.

"A little of both." She replied as she started following the older woman down the corridor. She had to agree with Sah'ra that the pirates ought to have raised some sort of alarm, which made her wonder if they were just that incompetent or if they had something else up their sleeves. After all they had managed to abduct someone who was important enough to attract the attention of the Sith, so maybe there was more to this than simple pirates.

"I have a bad feeling about this..." The words escaped her lips as they turned a corner leading to the brig, surprised that there were no guards stationed outside. That was till the brig doors whooshed open before either Sith even raised finger to do so.

Behind the door waited at least six pirates, and leading the defense were two of the largest Rodians she had ever seen, both standing at least six and a half feet tall, armed with vibro-swords and fully armored. Ashla stared at them, her blades springing to life in her hands as she glanced at Sah'ra. "What's the play?"

@Tulos

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

”As do I, Acolyte. Something is… out of place here,” Sah’ra replied coolly as the pair continued to advance through the corridor. Somehow it had begun to feel as though her senses were being weighed heavily upon by an outside force, something she could not pinpoint within the pirate ship. Possibilities began to race through her mind, few making much sense. The only logical reason she could come up with being that the Admiral’s daughter’s fear of her captors had stoked her limited powers to heights the girl had not experienced before. The chances of simple pirates having the means to suppress the capabilities of a Sith Champion seemed unfeasible. No, it had to be the girl… right?

The brig grew closer, the door that would grant them access appearing at the end of the hall as they rounded a final corner. And much as everything else had been to this point, it was unprotected.

”This isn’t right…” Sah’ra growled, the grip on each of her hilts tightening and forcing the blood from her knuckles. This was all simply too easy, but as the doors slid open to reveal the opposition she had been anticipating all along, it was almost a relief.

“What’s the play?”

Blue eyes darted from one massive Rodian to the other, the sheer size of each thug making those who stood behind them seem incredibly insignificant in comparison. Fighting them head on would undoubtedly prove difficult, an alternative method likely preferred.

Ever so casually, Sah’ra took a few steps ahead of the Acolyte as she replaced each hilt to her belt. Every stride was met with one from the men who stood between her and her target until finally they stood a few meters apart.

“We figured you’d be along shortly. Boss told us to expect some witches to come for the girl,” one of the Rodian’s growled as he tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword, the other simply chuckling at what could only be his brother’s side. “She’s got a plan for the both of ya’s. I gotta say, I pity ya. She’s not exactly… hospitable, with her guests,”

Smiling behind her mask, a soft chuckle escaped the Champion as she slowly raised each hand with her palms point upwards. ”Nor am I,”

Years of training, countless inscriptions and recordings, education these men could never even fathom. All of this existed within the woman they chose to face down. Her mind was a sharpened tool far more dangerous than any blade or blaster. Their own, dull and dim witted in comparison. The Force penetrated their minds, twisting their own thoughts against them. As her influence began to take hold, each of the Rodian’s four eyes began to roll back into their skull, quivering antenna and twitching cheeks signifying their futile resistance. Slowly Sah’ra turned her palms towards the group of Pirates, the lesser men behind the brutes taking cautious steps backward in fear of what transpired before them. In unison with her guidance, both Rodians turned and faced their own men and levelled their weapons against them. Smiling and turning back to Ashla, Sah’ra nodded in the direction of their enemies.

”The play, my dear? Would you be so kind as to lend our new friends a hand in eradicating this filth?”

Spoiler

Rolled a 19/20. Not bad :p

 

[Ashla Ti]

Ashla's hairless brows furrowed as she peeked from behind Sah'ra to observe the conversation with the overgrown Rodians. Witches? They were expecting Sith, that was interesting. Whoever this boss of theirs was, she seemed to be well informed. That was good, that meant that they were in the right place. The higher up you struck, the more damage you dealt, so it was good that they weren't dealing with some useless underling.

As Sah'ra turned to her after turning the Rodians against the other pirates, the Togruta flashed a lop-sided grin as she twirled both blades in her hands and began making her way into the room. "With pleasure." She replied as she caught a stray blaster bolt and sent it back towards the pirates. The shock of the Rodians turning on them seemed to have made them momentarily forget about the two Sith, but it also made them attack haphazardly, shots flying everywhere.

Ashla ducked and rolled under a sweeping arc of blasterfire shot by one of the Rodians as it almost hit her, and sprang upon the pirates they had been aimed at. Trying to avoid the attack from the Rodian they were caught off guard as the much smaller Togruta sprang upon them with blazing blades in hand. As they fell, the Rodian turned his attention to another couple of pirates, and Ashla assisted him by reaching out with the Force and grabbing one of the pirates with the Force and yanking him out from behind cover, straight into the Rodian's rain of death.

The shock factor of the Rodians turning on them left the remaining pirates a disorganized mess, and it didn't take them long to wipe out the lot of them. Ashla scanned the room, looking for any stragglers, when a blinking light on a panel caught her attention. Walking to the panel, she identified the incoming request, pressing the button to activate the call. A face appeared on the large monitor at the end of the room, smiling contently at them. The face, Ashla noticed, was blue, and the eyes burned crimson. "My," the Chiss woman replied, "aren't we a handfull?" Ashla turned to look at Sah'ra, face questioning. They had come to rescue a girl, but this was no girl. Why was there another Chiss here? "Now, why don't we cut to the chase." The picture on the screen shifted and revealed a child, a young Chiss. And standing behind her were two heavily armed battle droids. "I was paid handsomely to grab her, you will be likewise rewarded on returning her. Your wants, my needs, they're at odds. Unless," the image switched back to the Chiss woman, evidently the pirate boss, this time showing another pair of battle droids with her "we come to an agreement. Why don't we dispense of this bloodshed, and have ourselves a conversation? If nothing comes of that we can always resort to violence."

With that the feed cut out, and a doorway on the other side of the room, revealing a passageway beyond. Ashla say more pirates beyond, but they stood off to the side, showing no intention of attacking. Ashla glanced at Sah'ra, wondering what the Champion was going to do next.

"Do you think we can trust her? It has to be a trap, right?"

OOC: 13/20 roll for assisting the Rodians.
@Tulos

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

There were few in the galaxy capable of withstanding the furious onslaught of the Sith, these particular pirates putting such facts on display. Blades of durasteel and plasma cut through flesh and fabric, shattered duraplast and splintered bone in spectacular fashion as the steel floors soon became covered in blood. Wild sprays of blaster fire leapt forth from rifles and carbines, desperately aimed from less than disciplined wielders, but even the unskilled sometimes strike pay dirt. Maintaining her hold on the two Rodian thugs required Sah’ra’s full attention, faltering for even a moment possibly resulting in them breaking free and turning on the Acolyte of whom was now within arm’s reach and unsuspecting of such an event. She watched carefully as Ashla carved through the opposition and allowed herself to make the slightest possible movements to remain out of harm's way as stray bolts whizzed by. Despite her efforts, one final beam of energy grazed the Champion’s thigh.

Pain radiated from the wound, breaking her train of thought and allowing one of the thugs under her command to slip control away from her. His eyes returned to normal, albeit wildly confused by what had transpired as he looked towards the gory mess before him. Gritting her teeth as one hand fell to clasp around the burn, Sah’ra twisted her remaining elevated hand and subconsciously gave the second Rodian the command to sink his sword between shoulder blades of his brother. The blood soaked tip of durasteel emerged from his chest before the Champion tightened her grasp, coiling the Force around the final thug’s throat and squeezing. A stomach churning pop followed before both brothers dropped to the ground.

”I almost forgot what it’s like to be shot,” Sah’ra painfully chuckled as she limped towards the Acolyte, doing her best to minimize the degree she faltered. As Ashla permitted the transmission through, however, the Champion allowed herself to lean back on the wall to observe, a stoic expression all she had to offer. That voice… It was the very woman who had kidnapped young Flora away from her father. She was still in charge, so it seemed. When the call came to it’s end and the woman’s face vanished from the screen, Sah’ra began to ponder.

Flora was there, under guard. All that stood between them and the young girl was another large group of pirate enforcers, four war droids and an exceptionally skilled mercenary of whom had already bested Sah’ra once before. No matter how she looked at the situation, no option looked better than the other. They did have one ace in their sleeves, however.

”Absolutely,” Sah’ra whispered as she cautiously eyed the corridor that separated them from their quarry. ”So let us see what they have in store for us,” Standing with a wince, Sah’ra started down the corridor unimpeded by those who lined each side until the door at the opposite end slid open to reveal the woman from the transmission.

”I must say how delighted I am to see that you’re open to negotiation, Sith. I think there’s been enough bloodshed for one day,” the Chiss woman spoke cooly, leaning forward in her seat with hands clasped before her. The air about her oozed with authority; much the same as it had with every other Chiss Sah’ra had met up until this point.

”You believe so?” the Champion replied with a polite smile, forcing herself to stride forward while ignoring the pain from her wound. ”There is always room for more, should it be required,”

”Anything is possible, I suppose. You’ve gone through great lengths to retrieve this young girl. Surely this must be beyond financial compensation? Otherwise Huri’soket’cin would have hired a team of bounty hunters. How has this situation managed to involve Sith, I wonder?” the woman asked, leaning back in her seat while the droids remained motionless at her side.

”Our reasons are our own, I’m afraid. All we require is that you hand custody of the child over to us and we can be on our way,”

”Ah but you’ve only just arrived and I went through a great deal of trouble to acquire the child,” For the most part, the Chiss woman’s expression did not falter. There was no fear, no concern that she was facing down a pair of Sith. The only hint of emotion being the corners of her lips twitching upward with a snide sense of confidence. ”Perhaps locating and securing such gifted individuals is a simple matter for the Sith, the Jedi… For us, it is far more complicated,”

@Wit​

 

[Ashla Ti]

Ashla, spotting the champion's injury, thought to ask if she was alright. But she knew better than to underestimate a Sith, and if Sah'ra didn't say anything further about it then it meant that she had the matter under control. So she said nothing about her injury and instead followed after the champion down the corridor to the audience that awaited them. She followed the conversation in silence, only speaking up when found an openining to question the Chiss woman.

"So why go to the trouble of grabbing her?" She asked, wondering what the woman wanted and not wanting to waste time dancing around the heart of the matter. "What's in it for you, and what's in it for us to let you have what you want?"

The Chiss woman was silent for a moment as she turned her gaze from Sah'ra to her, letting it linger. "Did you know why there aren't any Chiss Sith? Or Jedi?" The Chiss girl, Flora, tried to hide it but for a moment her eyes widened in shock on hearing the words. Apparently whatever she was saying was something Flora wasn't comfortable with hearing. "How old are you child? Sixteen? Seventeen?" Ashla didn't reply, letting the woman's question hang in the air. "Not many Chiss are born with the Force, but even the few that are only hold on to those gifts for a brief period of time. By the time they reach your age the gift leaves them." There was a wicked smile on the woman's face as she turned to Flora, whose eyes had been locked on her all this while. "Like it left me." This time the child could not keep the shock from her face, eyes so wide that they threatened to fly off her face. "You were a Sky-walker?" The woman's smile widened. "Yes, just like you will be."

With that she turned her gaze from the child to the Sith. "I need her because she is my key to greater power, whoever controls the hyperlanes controls the wealth that flows through them. And with her that can be me. That is my price." She paused, thinking for a moment, and made a gesture that made force-field drop down around Flora and the droids that watched over her, allowing her to speak without the child overhearing anything. "But I am not unreasonable. You you seek an alliance with the Ascendancy. Why else would you got to all this effort over a lost child? But you don't know the Chiss, not like I do. So why don't we trade? The child and my knowledge, and all I ask in exchange is power."

Ashla, still processing all the information the woman had shared with them, kept quiet. She had questions, so many questions, but for now she realized that this was something for Sah'ra to decide.

@Tulos

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

”And what will you do with her once she eventually outgrows her abilities? Is kidnapping children a nasty habit you intend to continue to pursue?” Sah’ra scoffed, arms crossed at her torso while she leaned most of her weight on her uninjured leg. Shaking her head, the Champion knew they were extremely limited on options in their current predicament. For now they had to play this woman’s game. ”Huri’soket’cin will not leave you or your enlisted alone, even if you return his daughter. I’m afraid your time here is at it’s end. At least for now. There is little I’m able to offer you within your own territory but if you were to consider relocating?”

”Relocating?” the woman pondered, glancing back over to the young girl that was bewildered by the radiating shield that enveloped her. Looking back towards Sah’ra and Ashla, an eyebrow raised in perplexity. ”What is it you’re proposing?”

Sah’ra wasn’t even sure how comfortable she was with what she could offer. She had sworn that everyone on this ship would die for trespassing against the Admiral, the key to securing an alliance between the Ascendency and the Empire. If she spared these pirates, empowered them, would it be viewed as betrayal? Absolutely. But there was an angle here, she just needed to be sure it was one she was happy to take.

”I have influence over a world along the western borders of known space. Very near the borders of the Free Worlds Alliance. If you move your operations to that border, then you could blossom and act without repercussions so long as you steer clear from any Sith worlds. Publicly we would condemn your actions but privately I can establish a deal that benefits everyone involved. You avoid repercussions from Huri’soket’cin and the other ruling families and you receive impunity. In exchange you hand over the child, provide me with intel as well as custody of this vessel,”

”My ship?! I beg your pardon?”

”I will need some sort of evidence that you and your people were destroyed. I can provide you with a new ship but if this is to work, you need to die in the eyes of the Ruling Families. I would also take a cut of any profits you earn to ensure our alliance lasts,”

The offer was put forth. If she agreed, then perhaps some lives would be saved and everyone could walk away happy. If not, then things would need to get violent once again.

@Wit​

 

[Ashla Ti]

Asha listened and took note as Sah'ra negotiated with the Chiss woman, and started to realize the multi-pronged attack she was trying to unleash. Placate the Chiss, deal with the pirate, and hurt the Free Worlds at the same time. She didn't say anything, for there wasn't much she could add, so she stood and waited, letting the Chiss the ponder the proposal.

"What of the child?" The Chiss woman finally spoke up, not glancing at her, or making any sign that might let the girl think they were talking about her, cut off from this conversation as she was by the force field. "How will you convince her that you upheld your part of the deal to her father? I assure you, she will not lie to him."

It was a valid point, and at this point Ashla did speak up. "The Sith have a reputation, a brutal reputation that our actions today will only have reinforced in her eyes. We leave with the child, and once aboard our ship we blow up your vessel." The Chiss didn't react to that, willing to listen to her plan before jumping to any conclusions. "That should give you enough time to board your escape pods and jettison them with everything but life support switched off. That way there will be no trail of your escape, and we let her think we tricked you by planting a bomb on the way out. One of our crafts picks you up and the Ascendancy is none the wiser."

After a few moments of consideration, the Chiss finally spoke up. "Very well, we are in agreement. But if I am to blow up my ship and launch myself into space with my life in your hands I will need assurances that you will uphold your part of the deal." She glanced from Sah'ra to Ashla, that wicked smile on her lips once more, before her eyes came to a stop on Ashla. "You, you will stay here. An exchange of prisoners, the girl for you, the Admiral will find that more believable. He would never give up such an hostage for anything less, and he would not expect anything less of me."

Ashla was quiet for a moment, but the decision seemed like an easy one, and before Sah'ra could chime in she spoke up. "Very well, an exchange."

@Tulos

 

[Sah'ra Ryun]

The pain from her wound would continue to radiate through her leg, forcing Sah’ra to fight back any facial expressions that would betray her condition though it made it complicated to listen to what was being said completely. Fortunately, the Acolyte she had partnered with in this endeavor was far from a tagalong. Ashla would one day make a fine Sith, this much she knew, so the elder of the women opted to remain silent and allow her to say her piece. While she still harbored doubts of going back on her prior agreement with the Admiral, Ashla was able to put the final pieces into place that would guarantee the success of this arrangement. Most was perfectly fine in her eyes. Most.

”I’m no-” Sah’ra began to interject after the Chiss woman requested, or rather demanded, that Ashla remain behind but the Acolyte quickly agreed to the terms. To say she was not keen on leaving the Togrutan behind was an understatement. The Apprentice of Lord Raze himself, abandoned on a pirate vessel in a prisoner exchange? Far from preferable. Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself that it was exactly who her Master was that meant she needed to trust the Acolyte to be able to handle her situation alone. ”Captain?” Sah’ra spoke into her communicator, staring deeply into the crimson eyes of the Chiss.

”Yes, ma’am?”

”Have you destroyed the escape pods yet?”

”Negative. We are moving there now,” As the message was heard, the Pirate leader scoffed. Perhaps she believed the Special Forces would have never accomplished their task, perhaps they had remained undetected. Regardless, what followed would be a sign to trust that this deal would be honored on her end.

”Leave them. Return to the hangar now. I am enroute with the child,”

”As… At your command, m’lady,”

As the shield around the child lowered, Flora cautiously making her way towards Sah’ra at the Chiss woman’s direction, the Sith shot a glare towards the Acolyte. Not one of condescension but rather one of concern. Pirates were rarely trustworthy and while she could sense no deception from the leader, she was still wary. ”Come, Flora. It is time to return you home,”

Much to her word, the Chiss woman never ordered any of her men to impede their departure. The trip back to the hangar was uneventful, to say the least. Upon arrival, the team of soldiers had already activated the landing craft and were patiently awaiting them. She could see in their eyes that they were aware that Ashla was not with her but they knew better than to ask questions of a Sith. As soon as they were safely away within, the small craft lifted into the air and launched out into space.

For a time, Sah’ra insisted they remained in sight of the pirate craft. Whilst caressing the hair of Flora as the child clung to her hips tightly, blue eyes watched carefully for any sign of the escape pods jettisoning from their berths. It felt like an hour but within minutes, the bright lights of their thrusters could be seen and she could sense Ashla aboard them. Pushing Flora’s face into her abdomen to keep her from witnessing the destruction of the pirate craft, Sah’ra gave the order.

[END THREAD]​