Ask Nar Shaddaa Whatever the cost...

[Hailee Lightwood]

Spoiler: Theme

Whatever the cost...

Nar Shaddaa. 1900 hours...

​

Hailee wasn't getting any breaks...After the invasion of Onderon she had spent a day off on Garos, but right after she had helped to free Kotii Solus before she had started a perilous Jedi mission with another knight. Right after she had flown back into the Outer Rim territory and this was when she had picked up a very interesting transmission: Once again, Jedi presence was required because something very dark loomed ahead...

Hailee had immediately entered the coordinates to set course for Nar Shaddaa, because there was no time to be wasted. She had gotten in contact with a knight that was close by and headed the same way, and soon the two women had already been on the said planet, briefly discussing their mission's details.

They were in a hurry, and so the two had been forced to spread out as fast as possible, gather their disguises and hop onto the transports already. Hailee was under the cover of a filthy rich woman interested in the actual auction, clad in a sparkly, golden gown and a hairdressed around the corner quickly done her hair and make-up so that she looked as rich as she should, but also not too conspicuous to raise unnecessary attention.

Her mission partner, the stoic, but beautiful and apparently skilled knight @Sybella Demici was choosing a different cover, so that the two women could divide and conquer like discussed. Hailee was seeming rather calm and composed from the outside, but on the inside a whole bunch of emotions, predominantly disgust and anger was boiling up. Who the hell stole and sold younglings?! She would have loved to blow all the disgusting, shady auction-goers up, but she knew they had to be extremely careful in order not to blow their cover and most importantly, to get the younglings into safety as quickly as possible.

After arriving at the grand auction hall, she received her welcome drink and positioned herself in a strategically clever position near to an exit, but across from Sybella. Now the two women patiently waited for the auction to commence while they kept eye contact. Hailee was quite on edge and her muscles tense, but she was still focused in order to keep up her appearance.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Donning her disguise, Sybella portrayed herself as nothing more than an envoy, working on behalf of some Huttese family. It was a simple ruse, but an effective one nonetheless. Few would dare to involve themselves with her, not when it risked courting the ire of some prominent crime syndicate - admittedly, Sybella had no such connections, it was just a clever ploy, invented so that she could attend the auction without much disturbance.

Whilst the rich and wealthy frolic in the comfort of luxury, the Serennian (adorned in her silver) would walk in and amongst the floor, glancing at holograms of the prospective products. People. Those products were people. Inwardly, the Jedi had never felt so sickened. Slavery was a trade as old as time itself. Despite the rise and fall of countless civilisations, the barbaric practice still persisted. How could people do it? How could they put a price on another person's life? Treating them like property, buying and trading fellow sentients as if they were nothing more than cattle. Such things were not permitted on Serenno. Well, not before the Empire staked its claim.

Still, there were many facets to Sybella's disgust. Innocent people were being made to suffer, with crooks and criminals not only benefiting from such sales but also thriving from it as well. None were safe. Not even Jedi. Never in her life did Sybella ever think force-sensitive younglings would become the target of crime. They were the future of the Order, not some commodity. But amongst the assembled masses, that's exactly what they were; mini magical tykes, ready for moulding. With the right 'instruction', they could be anything. Assets. Investments.Tools for nefarious crimes. The possibilities were endless, and that scared Sybella more than anything. She would be damned if she allowed such a fate to befall such sinless children.

@Hailee Lightwood , a fellow Jedi Knight, was similar in mind to Sybella. They would rescue the younglings, one way or another, and escape this wretched planet. But first, more than anything, they needed to confirm the state of the children. Poor things were surely scared witless. The sooner they located the younglings' exact position, the sooner they could rescue them.

With the lights growing dim, save for the stage itself, it looked as though the auction was starting. They started with the sale of certain females, followed by animals and combative males. Truly, it was hard to watch, simply standing there and doing nothing. How many faces had been seen? How many had called out for aid, only to receive none? It took every ounce of strength imaginable not to climb and stage and cause a scene. They had come this far and the end was in sight...

Especially when a trio of children were forced onto the observation platform. Sybella recognised them almost instantly. It was them. The first round of younglings were brought forward., ready for inspection. Seeing this an opportunity, the shrouded began her approach, all whilst nodding knowingly at @Hailee Lightwood

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

Hailee was dearly hoping that neither of them would blow their cover or would run into any sorts of trouble while waiting for what they had come for. This was obviously a precarious mission and a lot could go wrong, but they had no time and so they just had to try.

Their cover was obviously improved, but for the short amount of time, Hailee had to admit that they were doing a decent job, at least in Hailee's eyes. Hailee had also acted perfectly inconspicuous and had even tried to socialize a bit, even if talking to those terrible people almost made her gag.

Slavery was horrible and she had no idea how people could kidnap innocent children to sell them like animals. What made it even worse was that there were so many people attending this event, one apparently worse than the other, and it was getting increasingly harder to keep her cool.

So many smug, dirty grins crossed her line of sight while she casually sipped her champagne. So far, she felt quite confident about her cover, but now that the younglings were announced, she was getting completely sick. It felt like her stomach was trying to turn itself inside out and she froze up for a moment until she spied Sybella's glance.

It was time. She was right. They had to go. Hailee started walking, feeling utterly stupid while swaying her hips in order to walk as elegantly as possible. She was a filthy rich bitch, overly interested in ...buying force sensitive children, but of course they had to be thoroughly inspected first.

For the briefest moment, one of the frightened kids met her gaze and a deep shudder was immediately sent down her spine. She kept reminding her of how close they were-after all, they had managed to track them down and enter the event without being noticed- and now it was just about cleverly intervening.

Hailee despised crime more than anything else, but slavery was especially bad, since she herself had been sold as a slave all those years ago by her own damn parents. She didn't want to think about that now in order not to get distracted, but she was painfully reminded of her own childhood.

Still, she kept a fully straight face as she started to move, not losing Sybella either. She watched 'the envoy' getting closer while approaching the stolen younglings, however now the actual difficult part was about to begin. "The first bidders will start soon, we can't loose our targets" she telepathically said to her, afraid that after the inspection they would bring the younglings backstage again.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Like vultures, slavers and patrons descended upon the stage, taking great delight in tormenting the hapless younglings. They poked and probed the children, attempting to see for themselves the power of 'space magic'. But these youngsters had no formal training, precisely the reason why they needed to be within the care of the Order, lest they be moulded into weapons and tools. Those least fortunate might even find themselves in the hands of the Empire...

Sybella bit the inside of her cheek, affronted by the thought but the sight unfolding before her was just as awful. The younglings had shock collars around their necks, ensuring the utmost submission. When one of the tykes (a young Zabrak) swatted at some potential buyers, his collar activated, giving him quite a nasty jolt of electrocution. Some in the crowd jeered at his pain whilst others were amused by the boy's bravado.

How desperate Sybella was to reach out to the child and comfort him. But she knew better. The younglings were not aware there were friends here to save them; if they revealed themselves too early, the children could inadvertently expose them. For now, like @Hailee Lightwood , the deception was of the utmost importance.

Stay strong, young ones. It won't be long now...

Other than their deplorable treatment, the babes were not too worse for wear. Sybella assumed it was because any damage from hinder the negotiability of their price. Starting bid for the group was 40'000 units, in Huttese currency of course. Standard credits were no good here. The auction was charging roughly 10'000 per youngling in this group; an outrageous amount of money. Grumbles were heard throughout the crowd, suggesting already that some were not willing to pay such a price.

"My friends. My friends," A rather plump-looking Twi'lek took to the stage, calling order once more amongst the masses. He was the auctioneer and was ready to work his magic. "The price is high, yes. But the product, truly their value is priceless. Imagine it now - you would possess your very own Jedi servants! Why the possibilities would be endless. Assassins. Thieves. Bodyguards. You pay big now, you get big later. But I am nothing, if not fair - for you, the very best of customers, I offer a discount. Let's start at 30'000 units and see where the night takes us!"

The speech seemed to have worked and for that, Sybella cursed him bitterly. It just made the whole ordeal all the more bothersome.
Silent in appearance, the Serennian absently nodded at the words which her fellow Jedi 'spoke'. Telepathically, Sybella responded in kind with her own thoughts. We can't cause a scene. It'll draw too much. Win the bidding war first - then we can get backstage when they begin the processing. I'll 'buy' the group. You get the next.

With that, the bidding began. An Utapaun made the first bid but Chagrian quickly replaced it. The shouting began, with numbers being thrown left, right and centre.
"30,500"
"31'200!"
"31'300!!"
"32'800"
The price increased again, reaching close to the amount of 42'500 units. Sybella had been throwing in her bids as well, but she knew ultimately the final bid was the most important and that moment was fast approaching.

"Are we settled then? Four younglings for 42'500 units? It's a good deal, yes, yes. Only the best here. Going once. Going twice-"

"45'000!"

"Oh, I see a bid for 45'000. Are there any counteroffers? No? Shame, shame. Going once. Going twice. Sold, to the Cartel emissary!" With that, the Twi'lek slammed his gavel, concluding the sale.

The younglings were shuffled off stage, and the last three were brought on. They were in a similar state, seeming scared and afraid. Sybella looked over at @Hailee Lightwood and subtly nodded. She had done her part, now for the next phase.

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

Was she close to freaking out? Maybe a little bit...This was some really rough stuff. Infiltrating such a disgusting event was one thing, but pretending your part of that as well was a whole different number. Even worse? They had to watch the frightened younglings getting treated like cattle on the market, getting inspected like worthless livestock was making her so damn sick.

Another shiver was sent down her spine, yet she staggered closer to the stage, not letting her target getting out of sight while the other vultures kept almost circling the Force sensitive, scared children. She involuntarily held her breath, her lips curled into an amused smirk while she actually wanted to scream. But no, the blonde just kept a professional, straight face, constantly reminding her of the importance of that mission.

It was of utmost importance that they got the children out here safely and so this was not the time to bring the culprits to justice right away. When the auction began, Hailee watched 'amusedly', while still sipping her champagne, red lips touching the brink of the lush glass with the golden, sparkly liquid. Her muscles were completely tense, but she raised an intrigued eyebrow at the bidders, pretending to be one of those still contemplating whether they should make an offer or not.

Luckily, Sybella won the first auction by cleverly placing her bid, however her high offer seemingly made others even more curious. Hailee watched the group of younglings being shived off stage again, while the next three were led right into the spotlight as she briefly met the other Jedi's gaze and barely nodded at her suggestion.

It was showtime now. "Alright ladies and gentlemen, we got three more! Don't be shy, they'll be worth every last credit! I'm feeling generous tonight, so let's start with 23000 units for them. 23000!".

More and more bids were yelled, until the price was risen onto 31.400. "Goince once...going twi-", "36000!". Hailee raised her glass, a wide smile on her lips. "36000! Going once...going twice...and sooold! Sold to the lucky CEO of Emerald Envisions!"...oh yeah, right. That was her official title. Truth was, she had...well taken over that cover by sedating the poor woman that looked quite similar to Hailee.

Calystra Silvanya was a rich, young company heiress that had inherited daddy's company and unfortunately she was now sleeping for a few hours while Hailee filled her spot. Funnily enough, the young spoiler brat was not bothering to bring her own guards as entourage and so Hailee had had an easy game, but now it felt a bit weird to spend units she didn't even own herself...

Still, a wave of relief washed over the blonde Jedi when she won the bid, the bystanders amusedly applauding her while Hailee had a rather smug grin on her lips. Disgusting...just disgusting. While the younglings were led away again, the crowd was returning its attention back towards the stage and Hailee used that moment to flick her gaze over to Sybella.

Perfect. According to their source, there were seven younglings in total offered here, so they had accomplished part one. Now, however, it was upon them to fulfill the more complicated parts...

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

With the auction itself coming to an end, buyers were expected to make their way backstage. Ownership and information were due to be exchanged upon the transfer of payment. Then, and only then, would the merchandise (the slaves) be released into the possession of clients. Now, Sybella indeed owed a lot of money but she had no intention of paying such fees. Instead, she planned for a more devious method of acquisition - mind trick. She'd use the good, old Jedi mind trick. It worked like a charm in the past, with the Serennian's ability to influence others being stronger than most. If the two of them (@Hailee Lightwood and Sybella) worked in tandem, they could ensnare the minds of the entire staff. Release the younglings and walk out of there without in needless violence.

The perfect plan.

Except for one problem. The moment Sybella stepped foot backstage, she would stop dead in her tracks. Her connection to the Force...

It simply...vanished.

It was a harrowing feeling, being cut off so abruptly. It was as if a piece of her had suddenly severed. The sheer shock of it was enough to leave her heaving; never had she felt so vulnerable. Instinctively, she tried to reach out, tried to beckon Hailee, but of course, there was no answer. The Force itself was completely closed off. How? How was such a thing even possible? Looking around, Sybella noticed something.

Trapped in cages were dozen of Ysalamiri. The Four-eyed, lizard-like creatures were able to reduce the presence of the Force to a such point that no user could not access it. The tree-dwellers could grow up to 50 centimeters in length and were native to the planet Myrkr; their most known ability, to repel the Force, was achieved through the creation of Force-neutral bubble. If the archives were to believe, the animals' ability to do this had evolved in response to predation by the Force-sensitive vornskrs. It was theorised that many ysalamiri grouped together would expand their Force-neutral bubble by varying distances.

It dawned on Sybella then that, within the vincity of these lizards, the Force would be dead to her. Hailee would be similarly affected the moment she came in range. Have to warn her... Their telepathic connection, however, was now useless. Her companion had no way of knowing just what exactly they were walking in to, not until she herself stepped in proximity to the lizards as well.

Something's not right. Why have ysalamiri here? Because of the younglings? It would stop them from accessing their untapped power. Still, the sheer numbers of these creatures was a tad excessive, as was their strategic placement. It was almost as if...

We've walked right into a trap...

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

So far, so good. So far, so good. So far, so good. Just like an inner mantra, Hailee kept clinging onto that thought, hoping that part 2 would be just as smooth and easy going as the auction. They had discussed this: They would easily charm and manipulate their way out of this precarious situation and would leave the auction with their newly 'purchased' space magic kids. Not a single unit would be transfered, they would get the poor kids into safety before they would later on deal with the ones responsible for those atrocities. Easy.

The only problem was that it wasn't easy at all though...Sybella was first and entered the backstage area while Hailee still chatted with a Mikkian, but when she inconspicuously followed, there was a very weird, oppressive and at the same time empty feeling suddenly tightening around her chest which she simply couldn't grasp.

From one second go the next, she felt strangely alone, as though something was missing, but it took her a few more moments of casually walking until she could wrap her fingers around it. The Force. The connection between her and the living Force was somehow suppressed and she was experiencing something she had never felt before.

It was terrifying, yet she knee she couldn't freak out and lose her composure right here, but she was quickly catching up with the other Jedi and as she smiled over to her, there was hint of actual panic in her eyes. What the hell was happening back here?! 'You feel that too?!', she telepathically asked her, however it didn't seem like her word was actually getting carried over.

Was she losing her mind right now? She really had no idea what was happening and started to think that the drink might have had something to do with it, so she glared down towards the glass that was still her right hand, however she had never heard of a substance that could suppress the connection towards the Force just like that and she was not feeling sedated or anything...

Regardless of why this was happening, they still had a mission to pursue and so Hailee confidently stepped into the direction of where a whole entourage of slave vendors was already expecting them. "Ahhhh, ladies. Come on, step closer. You may inspect your wares thoroughly before we prepare them for shipping..", the Duros told them, a smug, dirty grins on his thin, dry lips that only barely covered the sharp teeth beneath. He was still rather far off, but he was calling through the room and it was obvious that he was addressing the two of them...Great. Whatever this was, it meant they had to improvise...quickly.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Sybella groaned inwardly at Hailee's arrival; she could only imagine right now what her fellow Jedi was experiencing. It certainly wasn't a pleasant sensation. Their whole lives, they had felt as if they were a part of the Force; now, they were separated from that feeling and it was an entirely uncomfortable ordeal. How Sybella managed to keep her own composure was beyond her but for now, it seemed the two Jedi still had a chance, so long as neither of them blew each other's cover. Subtly, ever so subtly, the Serennian would glance aside at the crates of lizards. She hoped her partner would understand her message - these creatures, they were nullifying the Force. And right now, getting rid of them wasn't much of an option. There were simply too many. They would have to keep this little charade of their going until a new opportunity presented itself.

With a less-than-pleasant look, Sybella reluctantly ventured further forward, regarding the younglings once more from the exterior of their cell. Some were crying, the youngest of the group, whilst the others appeared more determined and resolute. She commended them for that.

Shifting her molten eyes further, they finally landed on the Duros running the entire operation. Whilst her face was utterly impartial, inside Sybella was more irate than ever. Of course, behind every disgusting crime, there was an even more disgusting criminal. She could not move any closer to him, not before she was searched for weapons. They would find none, much to their disappointment. Indeed, for this mission, Sybella did not carry her Jedi tools - or, so it would appear.

Accessing them though would be tricky, especially with those lizards skulking about.

Thinking of her feet, the Serennian adopted a rather haughty expression, looking between the Duros and the 'merchandise' he wished to peddle. "Before we proceed, my benefactors require additional assurance. What proof do you have that these are indeed force-sensitive children? The Hutt Cartell was willing to pay, but first, they need a... product guarantee."

It was a fair request. Try, before you buy. Did they really expect buyers to take their word for it, just like that? If so, that was a poor way to do business. In reality, though, Sybella was stalling. For what, exactly? At this rate, anything. A miracle would be nice, if possible.

"You, child." She pointed specifically at one of the younglings, the Zabrak from earlier. "Do something."

Of course, he could not and Sybella didn't expect much anyway. She was only doing so in order to prove her point, going so far as tut rather impudently at the Duros. "You wouldn't be trying to deceive the Hutts now, would you? Risky business, considering they run this entire planet. How would it look if, right now, I messaged my masters? As my big boss likes to say - no honey, no money. I need evidence."

Sybella was playing a game of chicken with the alien. Who would be the first to relent?

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

Involuntarily, her heartbeat kept accelerating. All of a sudden, she regretted the cover she had taken over...What if someone was getting suspicious? What if the rich daughter was known here after all? Had she been at such an event before?! She swallowed hard while her panic levels were definitely rising.

Did Sybella have a backup plan? She was dearly hoping so. Hailee bad know idea why the kriff this was happening and only after she followed her gaze towards the durasteel cages it clicked. Shit. She had read of that before, but had been way too nervous to put one and one together. She didn't know how they were called, but she had been informed about that phenomenon, but knowing what triggered the loss of their connection towards the Force didn't actually help.

They were still stuck in a very dangerous situation and every step could be their last...So it was of vital importance to keep it together. She exhaled slowly, but as her gaze landed on the kids again, another shiver went down her spine. She was desperately trying to come up with a plan, but luckily her partner was already thinking ahead.

Hailee stepped closer, controlling her facial expressions once again. She pridefully came to a halt next to the knight and inspected the children, her smirk slowly fading and getting replaced by a rather mistrusting glare. "She's got a point...This could be a scam...My my...what a shame for all the units waiting to be transferred".

Was she taking too far now? It was surely risky, but maybe if they could keep the charade going, they would leave those halls with the younglings soon. "Ugh...they are offering regular street rats, I'm telling you...". She wrinkled her nose in a disgusting manner, folding her arms in front of her chest and staring at the Duros in the most reproachful way possible.

"No no no...", the Duros waved their doubts away. "Follow me. I've already scheduled a small show for representative purposes!", he then cheerfully proclaimed before he gestured for them to follow. Hailee immediately started walking, wanting to keep an eye on the whole scenery, but obviously also because she was afraid about what was next.

Would the effect of those creatures lessen if they brought enough distance between them and the cages?! Hailee was dearly hoping that this would be the case...The Duros lead them through a passage, herding the kids like cattle with the help of his guards. They soon entered a new hall with a stupidly high ceiling, but something was in the middle as well: In a circular shape, there was a hole in the floor and when they got closer, Hailee's blood froze in her veins. There was a pit. An enclosed pit that reminded her of countless underground areas she had seen before. "The show is about to begin...". Again, the Duros' husky voice echoed through the vast space and when he turned around to face them, there was a huge, smug grin on his thin, cracked lips. 'Kriff...'.
@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Whilst Sybella was relieved to be away from those lizards, she was dismayed to find their neutralising ability was still in partial effect. It was good to know, however. The further the distance, the weaker the interference. Even now, she could feel whispers from the Force returning to her and it brought with it a fraction of comfort. But the knight knew better than to celebrate just yet, especially when the situation remained so uncertain.

The pit below was especially ominous. Just what exactly did the Duros have in mind? A glance towards Hailee was not at all assuring; though she was playing her part well, it was clear the experienced padawan was struggling just like Sybella. Did she know what was about to happen? Whatever it was, it couldn't have been good - that Duros' smug grin said as much.

A nikto, walked into the centre of the pit and in his grasp, he held two things. A young ysalamir and an electro whip. The next thing Sybella knew, the younglings had been thrown into the pit! All from the batch, she had intended to 'buy' and the same three from Hailee's set. Some of them gave a sharp cry, landing below with a painful thump. The Serennian winced just having to hear it but what she had to watch next was just detestable. The nikto gave a crack of his whip, not at the children (thankfully) but at a nearby panel. Soon enough, the shutter opened, and a pack of monstrous creatures emerged.

"Are those...gutkurrs?"

They were nasty. Predatory insects with vicious natures to match. Native to the planet Ryloth, these carnivores frequently hunted in packs; they liked to quickly surround their careless prey, and shred them to bits with their sharp, curved claws. These looked to be rather young though, too small to be full-grown adults. The nikto beastmaster must be trying to train them, hence the whip; the baby ysalamir was there just for added protection against the younglings.

They were (understandably) crying, trying desperately to move away from the snapping creatures. Though small, the gutkurrs were still capable of damage; one of their claws had slashed at one of the younglings' arms, deep enough that it drew blood. There was a scream of pain and from that terror came a burst of the Force. One of the children, a green-skinned Twi'lek, had managed to push away one of the attacking bugs. It scampered back, noticeably alarmed by the brutal beastmaster and whip scourged its retreat; soon enough it was forced to halt and return once more to attacking the younglings.

"Enough..." Sybella hissed. She was so angry at that moment, so enraged, she could almost taste blood. Up until this moment, she had bit her tongue (quite literally) to keep from breaking character but this...

"I said, enough!" Moving almost instinctively, Sybella herself jumped into the pit, landing directly on one of the bugs. Her weight kept it pinned as she summoned forth as much Force as she could muster. It was a flimsy summoning but the call was answered nonetheless when a wave washed forth from within the pit. All of the young gutkurrs were sent tumbling back, as was the beastmaster his lizard. It wouldn't incapacitate them for long, however, and Sybella knew this. Using her flattering access to the Force, she was able to gain control of the whip - not exactly her weapon of choice, but it was better than nothing.

Checking on the children, the fiery-eyed knight glared up at the Duros. She looked incensed, as one might expect, yet all the while hoped Hailee could hear her, could perceive the desperate intent that lay within her thoughts:

Forgive me, Hailee. I couldn't ........idle and........................
You still have a chance.............
Let me ........distraction.......................
Save the younglings! ​

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

The tension inside this very room kept rising and rising and she could almost feel some sort of electricity in the air. This wasn't good. This wasn't what they had planned and if they lost control about the situation, the lives of all the younglings were in danger...

The further they got away from those creatures, the more she could feel her connection to the Force returning, which was at least something good. It was still weakened and frail, but at least there was something. It was enough to calm her a little bit and definitely some hope to hold onto.

However, all hope was lost when the Duro continued speaking...She caught a glimpse of the look Sybella was giving her and a wave of dread already washed over her. When he mentioned the show, he was already shoving the kids into the pit and that was when Hailee knew there was no way they would manage to maintain their covers.

They had walked right into a trap. This didn't feel like the usual demonstration, but it just felt like he was there to test them. Had rumors spread somehow?! Could he possibly know more about them than she had hoped? One way or another, when Sybella instructed him to stop, of course no one did.

They wanted to make the younglings suffer and apparently watch their reaction. Hailee tried to internally remind herself of the fact that they could also be bluffing. Maybe they just wanted to intimidate the kids and to test the waters and maybe Sybella was a bit to quick with her reaction, but no...her guts told her this wasn't good at all.

Hailee gasped in shock, but thr knight was right. The kids were in immediately danger and it was too late now anyway. But even before her words actually reached her, Hailee had an idea of her own and that included jumping forward towards the Duros, grabbing the dagger he had clipped on his holster and pressing it right at his neck, the blade already caressing his skin. "Let those kids go! If anyone steps closer to the boss, he's dead!" she hissed loudly and dangerously, her voice like venom as it got carried though the air. Her threat was a honest one and they knew.

The bystanding guards blinked a bit startled and it obviously took them a few moment to realize what the kriff was just happening, but Hailee was rather happy with that solution because her cover wasn't fully blown yet. As for Sybella, she sensed a ripple in the Force and knew she had used it, however she wasn't sure whether anyone had noticed.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

If it weren't for the situation's utter absurdity, Sybella would have laughed. Could things have gotten any worse? What had started out as a covert, rescue operation had soon warped itself into a hostage standoff. Surprisingly, the padawan's outlandish actions had bought them time, enough for Sybella to signal their nearby extraction ship. How exactly would they reach that ship? Well, she was working on a plan. Despite all the chaos, their primary objective remained the same; save the younglings, whatever the cost. Discretion be damned,

Motioning the children as far back as possible, the lady knight turned her gaze upwards towards the towering ceiling. Seeing no other option, Sybella made her choice. "Stand back, younglings. We're leaving..."

Calling once more upon the Force, the Jedi focused hard on creating an ever-expanding field of energy. As it grew, bigger and bigger, the structure of the ceiling began to crack; the upper portion of the walls trembled and the metalwork overhead began to contort and bend. This wasn't an explosive display; if Sybella did anything of the sort, debris could very well fall and crush the lot of them. Perhaps it was that exact fear which kept the guards from firing upon them, as many of them ducked and cowered for cover. Soon enough the ceiling began to split, its wrought iron supports peeling up and outwards. It was no easy feat and soon Sybella fell to her knees, chest heaving from the sheer exertion. She had had to claw at the Force and demand its power, taking whatever scraps she could muster - all because of those damn lizards. The sooner she was away from them, the better.

The Duro ringleader, still prickling under Hailee's dagger, spluttered as he spoke, "J-just what do you think you're doing? You really think you're going to get outta here, alive?!"

Spitting onto the floor, Sybella didn't even bother to answer him. She instead focused her attention above. Right on cue, the shadow of a starship darkened the entire hall. It hovered, rather tentatively, over the ceiling's newly opened mouth. With the click of a button on her wrist, a small platform descended down on a wired rope. Its reach was long, but not extensive. They would have to jump.

"Quickly!" Sybella shouted, "Move, now!"

Soon enough, all the younglings scrambled onto the platform; only when the last of them were aboard did the knight then signal for further cover. Plasma guns from the ship's hull began to open fire, forcing many to flee. It wasn't much but it was enough to ensure the platform's safe retrieval. Passing Hailee upon the ascent, Sybella offered her hand, prompting her to take the jump. She would catch the padawan and pull her up, just as they made clear in the air; now, they could make their escape.

But not before grabbing one last thing. The Duro.

Spying the alien below them, Sybella reached out, plucking him up as if he were but an insect. "You! You're coming with us..."

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

Hailee's quick thinking had bought them a little more time, even if it wasn't even visible at first glance. The Duros seemed to resist, emphasizing his point with a daring reply, yet even through the dulled connection to the Force, she could sense his fear in the ethereal plane.

He was behind all this, so she felt little sympathy for the thug. Instead, it gave her a much needed sense of control she desperately needed at the moment. While she kept ensuring the Duros wasn't trying to weave his way out of this precarious situation, she watched Sybella signal for the ship to retrieve them right after having wrecked havoc on the roof - leaving Hailee in both, sheer awe and slight concern.

While panicked screams erupted all around, the Duros froze up, giving Hailee the perfect opportunity to attempt dulling his senses. With her connection to the Force still inhibited, she couldn't muster enough strength to fully take him out, yet managed to bring him into a dazed state after all, allowing them to handle him without much further resistance.

Without hesitation, she took the Knight's invitation up the platform and heaved herself upwards before helping her reach for the Duros and pull him up. Exhausted, she helped heaving him inside before collapsing against the nearest wall, catching her breath for a moment before she pushed herself right up. "That was great...good thinking", she praised the other woman, although trying to hide the exhaustion from her tone, but there was not much time for a chat.

As the ship flew off, the more distances between them and the birds, the better she felt, allowing her to focus on the souvenir they had extracted. She wasn't exactly sure why she had grabbed him, yet expected her plan was to interrogate him, but while she would be able to oull him out of his trance, Hailee took a quick detour towards the kids. Part of the crew was already attending to the youngling, yet she wanted to check herself before she'd join Sybella with the Duros.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Taking hold of the Duro, Sybella wasted no time putting the lean on him. Quite literally. Whilst the younglings, and Hailee, retreated into the ship, the knight stayed at the doors of the hangers. She forced the alien to the very edge of the platform until only her grip was keeping him safe and balanced.

"Start. Talking..."

The ringleader, glancing at the abyss below, chose to warily call her bluff. "W-what you going to do, Jedi? Drop me? Ha! Don't make me laugh..."

Gripping the cuff of his clothing tighter, the knight roughly jostled the Duro even further out. Though her face remained impassive, Sybella herself was silently seething. "Don't tempt me...You tormented those poor children. You were going to sell them, like cattle!"

Impenitently, the scoundrel didn't even try to deny it. Instead, all he could offer her were fragments of excuses "L-look, it's nothing personal. It's all about the profit. Even you gotta understand that, right?"

Choosing not to dignify that with a response, the knight chose instead to toss the Duro into the outer shell of the ship. He slammed into the metal with such force, it left him dizzy. Clammy hands reached out for a grip but Sybella kept him, once again, dangling out and over the side.

Quietly now, through gritted teeth, came only one question. "Who was it?"

"What?"

"Who was it that gave you the intel?"

This gang wasn't some organised guild or even part of any cartel. How could they have possibly determined the location of those younglings, as well as counteract the system and defences put in place to protect them? The question had haunted Sybella for quite some time; was there a spy amongst their allies, selling information off without second thought? Even worse, perhaps there was a traitor within their own ranks. It wasn't unheard of. In the past, agents of the Sith were known to have successfully infiltrated the Order, sowing seeds of chaos with their shady, double dealings. Sybella would be damned if she let something like that happen again. She needed to know what the Duro was choosing to withhold.

The fool, however, stubbornly clung on. With a defiant shake of the head, he declared, "...Nah. You see, I'm a lot more scared of them than I am of you." Then, an ugly, bucked-tooth grin broke across his paling face. "Besides...you ain't got the guts, Jedi."

Annoyed, Sybella's eye twitched from the sheer effort that came with her measure of restraint. The damn alien was right. She was a knight of the Order. Not some Huttish thug. What would the masters think if they saw her right now? Such actions were not befitting a Jedi; that truth alone further frustrated her. It wasn't fair. Despite everything, despite all the awful atrocities committed against them, the Jedi were still expected to hold their stake on the moral high ground. The galaxy looked upon them and laughed - Once they were warriors of the light, and now? Now they were a joke on the decline.

It left Sybella seeing red.

'Let go...'

The thought seized hold of her quicker than she realised. Soon enough, it took root. A smile, devoid of humour, slowly blossomed across the Jedi's thinning lips. She stated the following, almost cockily "Well, you know what they say...No guts, no glory. Am I right?"

It happened so fast. In the most fleeting of moments, Sybella chose to simply let go. She surrendered her grip and, just like that, the Duro was gone...

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

After having rejoining Sybella who was immediately starting to try extracting information from the Duros, she could feel her anger returning. Her heart was still pounding from the adrenaline, but as it was slowly fading, all that remained was disdain for the scum who had tried to sell younglings like cattle.

Her eyes immediately narrowed as she focused on the boss while she remained quiet for now though. She let the Knight take the lead, but watched carefully how the experienced Jedi was conducting the interrogation. From the very start, Sybella made it fairly obvious that she was in no mood for games, but the Duros kept playing with fire.

While angered glistened not only in Sybella's, but also in Hailee's eyes, the padawan had no idea what the Knight had suddenly decided in her head and so right after she spoke those words, the sudden release caught Hailee off guard. Her own reactions surprised her even more as she shot forward in lightspeed and reached out with the Force to take hold of the man Sybella had just spontaneously sentenced to death.

Reaching for the Duros that quickly caused her a lot of strain, but lucky for her, they had brought enough distance between them and the birds to be at full capability again. She shot Sybella a quick, 'what the actual fuck' glare, before she pulled and pulled until she managed to get hold of the heavy Duros. Only with the help of the Force she managed to pull him back up, however Hailee was panting when she was done.

Whatever had gotten into her companion still mananged to persuade the rigid subject to speak, which was why Hailee let it slide for now. Had Sybella really tried to kill him? Or had this been a mere test of wit for Hailee? One way or another, the Duros' was staring at them wide eyed before he hesitantly began to speak and reveal details that seemed fairly honest, so that in the end, the interrogation was successful.

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Staring vacantly at her empty hand, Sybella seemed rather lost. It was as if she herself couldn't quite comprehend what exactly she had just done. One moment, she was holding the Duro by the collar, and then the next, he was gone. If not for @Hailee Lightwood 's quick thinking, the crook could have well and truly fallen to his death. This should have shocked Sybella... and yet, it didn't. Even now, as he prattled on, spilling his proverbial guts, the knight simply stared. It was like she was looking at a bug, scuttling helplessly on its back. Soon enough, his words proved more vexing than useful. He didn't really have much to offer; whoever had provided the intel had done well to cover their tracks, so much so, there wasn't even a name to further trace.

Once again, feeling frustrated, Sybella dismissed any further discussion. The Duro was taken away, out of sight, and would be detained in the ship's small brig until local authorities were summoned to properly apprehend him. With any luck, he would face a swift and just punishment.

As they departed the Nar Shaddaa territory, the lights of the neon world would grow ever dim. Soon enough, all that could be seen as the utter darkness of space. Standing in the observation bay, Sybella was all too aware of Hailee's presence; she could practically see the padawan's less-than-accepting expression right there in the reflection of the observatory glass.

"Please, don't look at me like that...."

'Show no weakness.'

Flinching somewhat, the veiled lady would then pinch at the bridge of her nose. How could she even begin to explain herself? There was simply no excuse.

'Lie..."

Turning away from the void of space, Sybella instead focused now on Hailee. "I... I can assure you, I had everything under control." She then stared down at her hands, as if weighing some invisible burden. "Scum like that...well, you have to scare them a little. Fear loosens the tongue rather well. Distasteful, I know, but the ends justify the means. Surely even you can understand that?"

 

[Hailee Lightwood]

Hailee couldn't fully place her own emotions after she had pulled up the Duros while Sybella just stared into nowhere, seemingly completely lost in thoughts. Was it anger? Shock? Disbelief? It was a perfect blend of all kinds of emotions that suddenly bubbled under her surface.

The Duros was secured and led away. The younglings were also fine for now and soon it was just the two of them again. Hailee tried not to be too impulsive about this, but this turn of events had shocked her. Facing the dark sky, she didnt just blurt out what waw on her mind but actually waited for the Knight to begin. They both knew what she had done had been wrong but she wondered whether she'd try to justify it.

She began speaking and soon turned to her, suddenly seeming a little off track. Hailee just stared at her for another moment before she opened her mouth, doing her best to surpress any emotions. "Sybella...you would have dropped him". Hailee had dealt with too many people throughout her life that she knew when someone was deeply troubled and even if she had been looking up to the Knight until then, she did have to say something. "I'm afraid you might need help". Her tone was serious, yet didn't lack the empathetic softness her worries about the woman had triggered.

It was not like the urge to wanting to drop such a bastard wasn't human, but it simply wasn't the Jedi's way and Hailee herself had learnt how easily you could suddenly stray from your path and drift into a direction you had never wanted. Maybe she was jumping to conclusion but she somehow saw the Knight in a different light now. "You weren't in control...why?".

@HoneyMagpie

 

[Sybella Demici]

Bristling with indignation, Sybella took a quick step forward and pinned Hailee within her gaze before beginning her rebuff. "Need I remind you, Padawan, that I am your superior? It is not your place to question my judgement."

The knight then abruptly winced, as if caught off guard by her very own words. What was she saying? How could she speak that way to a fellow Jedi? Hailee didn't deserve such venom; she was, after all, entirely right in her declaration. Sybella knew immediately she ought to apologise.

Yet she didn't. Or rather, she couldn't.

Something was silencing her. It was as if an invisible hand had wrapped its talons around her throat; its hold was so strangling, any semblance of regret was quickly snuffed. Sybella cleared her throat in an attempt to shake off the sensation, but it was no use. The more she strained, the worse it got. Pressure, a terrible pressure, was compressing onto her chest and, soon enough, she was robbed of her very breath. Disorientation was settling in and the knight struggled to comprehend the next of Hailee's words.

One, however, was particularly daunting.

"Help...?" Just the very suggestion made Sybella stiffen.

A voice then spoke, hissing whispers to her and her alone. 'Pathetic...Weak'

Feeling suddenly more abashed, Sybella turned away from the weight of Hailee's gaze; she choose instead, to look out once more into the void of space, going so far as to adjust the draping of her headdress, ensuring a portion of her lower face was now veiled and hidden. "Our duty is to help others, not ourselves. This concern of yours, padawan, it's...it's trivial."

Silence soon followed. A tense, uncomfortable silence.

"Control?" She scoffed, "I had everything under control."

Something flashed within Sybella's reflection, something so fleeting, it could be easily missed. Though the knight stood in perfect alignment, her mirror image seem to waver. A pale face, with thin, smirking lips, could be seen in place of the knight's own veil. It seemed to regard Hailee with some sentience before vanishing entirely from view when Sybella chose to speak again.

"This conversation is over. I will not entertain such nonsense..." With that, the Serennian turned, seeming intent on retiring to her private quarters within the ship. Her tone invited no refusal.