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Post by Binary the Great on May 12, 2006 5:46:12 GMT -5
Muramin al-Wyuli panted softly as she took a moment to rest. She had been running almost full-tilt for a good fifteen minutes, though her ears still rang with sounds of the swoops her pursuers enjoyed. She had hoped it would not come to this, but the snap-hiss of two lightsabers filled the small alleyway. So much for a peaceful ending, she thought as she watched the bikes move into view.
Fifteen minutes earlier, among the lower levels of Coruscant still habitable by sentient life, the leopardess had stopped to take a short nap. Unfortunately for her, that had been the same time a swoop-gang had decided to stop and relieve themselves of the burdens of metabolism. Naturally, the dozen men took an interest in the female as she tried to catch a rest, and it was not to her benefit that Muramin still held on to the tribal trappings of her home.
Awoken by a sudden grab as her tail, the young leopard had hissed at the wolf so pulling and seated him on his own tail. Hoots of laughter from the other males ensued, and both feline and lupine were quickly on their hindpaws. A few blows later, and the wolf once more found himself on his tail; more laughter flowed like at the lupine that could not beat a “defenseless” girl. The jibe had only served to spurn the male on to more drastic measures. The situation merely grew worse when the wolf pulled out his vibroblade.
Soft, amber light flooded one half while a jade glow filled the other side of the alleyway. The huntress’ eyes watched carefully as the sounds of mad shouting and repulsors drew nearer to her. Reaching out with the Force, she felt the eleven remaining gang members ride towards their demise in anger. When they realized she was waiting for them with sabers lit, it was already too late.
“Sith!” shouted one as an amber blade arced through the air, guided by the Force, and cut through both rider and bike. Losing control and life, the wreckage that was one his swoop hit the duracrete and collided with the vessel behind him, giving the second rider a less-than-pleasant interview with a durasteel support beam. His pain, fortunately, was insignificant as the breath of life left him.
The remaining nine riders pulled away and stopped, wanting to avenge their comrades and survive at the same time. As Muramin recalled her thrown saber, the nine planned their attack. Had they but known that she could both hear them and sense their plan; they would have likely left the leopardess alone. Alas, they too were soon to rejoin their fellow riders in the afterlife.
Kicking back into high gear, the party split up. With five riding one way and four the other, they hoped to trap her in the alleyway. As both groups cut into their respective entrances, they realized their folly. The feline, purring softly as they rushed at her, easily used the force to throw her up and out of the way, spinning slightly so that none of the swoops enjoyed a trip out of the alley. The first rider lost control and quickly did all nine find themselves in the entangling crash that followed. Landing a few feet away from the burning wreckage, the leopardess chuckled to herself and turned about.
Pawsteps silent as the grave carried the female back to the wreck, where only one of the males clung to the threads of life. The vulpine male looked up at Muramin and whined softly. “Mercy,” he begged, pinned beneath the wreckage of several swoops.
“And why should I show you mercy,” the leopardess asked, a sadistic gleam in her eye. “I could easily keep you alive for several days in shear pain. You’d have likely done the same to some other poor girl,” she added. A look of terror filled the fox’s expression. “But,” Muramin countered, “You asked me nicely. How could I refuse that?” The vulpine let out a cry of pain as lightning arced across his body until it gave out on him and he, too, knew the pleasant release of death.
“Worthless scum,” muttered a leopardess quietly as she slinked into a bar, looking to get a drink and maybe a nap after a workout…
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Post by Nik Vecto on May 12, 2006 6:44:59 GMT -5
".... Look, I don't care, gas-for-brains, I'm tellin' ya that your ship won't be ready for at least a week!" The man in the cloak stayed silent, while his younger companion spat out a retort.
"You've had it for over a month! Already, we've been charged for well over what the blasted thing is worth, and all you have to show for is a lousy paint job?"
The technician curled his ears in defense. "Now you listen here, buddy! It's not my fault that no one makes these 21B Dart fighters anymore, and we need the cash to get the parts custom-made from Corellia! Don't you come in here, mocking my work and my crew, or I'll have you thrown out by the 'Repub. Squad!'"
The angry customer opened his mouth for another string of insults, but a weathered brown hand appeared from under the older man's cloak, and placed it on his shoulder. "Relax, Cahn.... He's telling the truth. Let's leave quietly."
Cahn grimaced, but conceded. "Yeah, sure.... Whatever you say, Master...." The odd pair walked towards their speeder. The hooded man turned to the technician. "I apologize for my companion. A week will be satisfactory." The surprised man only nodded, and went back to his work, sctratching his head.
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The red speeder streaked across the skyways of Upper Coruscant, lost amid the other millions of ships in the air. Cahn turned to his companion, his brow furrowed. "Listen, Master, about how I acted back there.... I'm sorry, I just--" But the other interrupted him. "No matter, my friend. These things happen.... Just don't let it get to you." Cahn continued, trying to shape his words well. "I know, but I just got angry about how long that guy was taking.... I know how much that ship means to you, Vecto, and I just want to see it back on your own landing pad...."
Master Nik Vecto could not deny how he felt about that ship; the Jedi were not supposed to attatch themselves to material possessions, with the exception of a Lightsaber, but he had been through a lot in that ship.... A civil war on his own planet, several space battles, and nearly twenty-four years of isolation.... It was more than a vessel to him. It was a living relic of a time long past. Much like himself, he mused. Smiling, he spoke again. "Thank you for your concern, Cahn.... I think that--"
All of a sudden, a familiar, terrible, yet distant feeling struck at Nik's very soul. A feeling of Darkness, of Hatred.... And Death. Where was it? Close, he decided. Very close.... On the planet even. In the lower levels....
A voice called him from his thoughts. "Master? Master?! Hey, Nik, you allright?" Nik opened and closed his eyes, several times. He struggled to organize his thoughts. "Uh, umm.... Yes, Cahn, uh.... Thank you...." Cahn looked uneasy. "Heh, don't mention it, pal.... Just don't wiggle out on me, here, you're scarin' me...."
Nik stared out the front of the cockpit, thinking hard. "Cahn.... I-- Felt something, in the Lower Levels...." "Felt.... Felt what, Nikko?", Cahn asked warily. "It was the Dark Side, Cahn. I have to investigate.... Head over to your place, and I'll take the speeder to have a loo-" Cahn interuppted. "Now, what makes you think I'm letting you check out anything by yourself? What am I, TaunTaun meat?" Nik sat back, flabbergasted. "I only assumed, my friend, that you--" "Now there you go assumin' again.... Look, I know you have this oogy-boogy Force tellin' you what to do all the time, but you still need a second man.... Calms the nerves, you know, havin' a friend in battle?"
Nik finally smiled. "This is serious, Cahn.... I really think--" "Yeah, keep thinkin'.... On the way down to the Lower Levels. Now, use that Force-Sense of yours to tell me where to go, and tell Command that we're gonna' be a little late."
The speeder zoomed downwards, as Nik pointed out the proper direction....
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Post by Marcus Starkiller on May 14, 2006 15:00:23 GMT -5
The Starkiller couple and several other Raptor Squadron pilots are on R&R at Dexter's Diner in the Coco District. A female Brillekese Raptor Squad member Aisel "TIE Buster" Harlow is busy talking with her date, Dar Alixia in one of the booths.
Aisel: So then General Starkiller ordered us to break off the attack and target the group of A-wings... Somehow he discovered they were actually an Imp infiltration force.
Dar: I know, I've heard that story more times then I can remember. Hey Dex! When will those steaks be ready!?
The massive four-armed Besalisk cook gives Dar a frustrated look.
Marcus: Cool it lover boy. Your meals will arrvie soon enough. By the way, has anyone seen Master Vecto lately?
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Post by Nik Vecto on May 15, 2006 6:13:17 GMT -5
As his speeder began its dip into the Lower Levels of the city-planet, Nik clutched his palm holo-comlink. "General Starkiller.... Come in...."
A few moments passed while the comlink's signal worked its way to its destination. Cahn looked uneasy. "Just like 'im, keeping us waiting.... Never fails...." "Hush, Captain....", Nik replied.
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Post by Marcus Starkiller on May 17, 2006 15:55:01 GMT -5
General Starkiller's wrist comlink starts beeping and the fox answers it.
Marcus: Starkiller here, what is it Master Vecto?
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Post by Nik Vecto on May 18, 2006 18:55:35 GMT -5
The familiar form of General Starkiller materialized on Nik's communicator. "I have felt a disturbance in the lower levels of the Entertainment District.... Captain Barrows and I are going to investigate."
Cahn grunted again, under his breath. "Entertainment district.... Oh, but of course...."
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Post by Marcus Starkiller on May 21, 2006 16:35:01 GMT -5
Marcus: Stay there, we'll be there in five minutes. General Starkiller, out.
The fox stands up and addresses Raptor Squadron.
Marcus: Ivanova, you and I need to meet up with Vecto in the Entertainment district. he senses the Dark Side... Aisel Harlow, you have command while we are gone.
Aisel: Yes General.
The Starkiller couple runs out of the diner and jump into their Flash Speeder and take off for Master Vecto's location, after several minutes, they arrive.
Marcus: Alright, what's going on Nik?
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Post by Nik Vecto on May 22, 2006 15:35:20 GMT -5
Nik looked up at Marcus as he was kneeling down on the ground, aparrently feeling something with his fingers. "I've only found a few totaled swoop bikes so far...." He looked again at the object he was holding. "I believe that there are bodies further down the alleyway. The surrounding area has bits of clothing and fur scattered everywhere, and I can smell the adrenaline level in the air...."
He looked further down the alleyway, where Cahn was recording their findings with a holo-droid that had been taken from their speeder. "This was a Dark Side-user, Marcus.... I'm positive of it...." Cahn looked at the others, a chuckle on his face. "It's gonna' be a loooong night."
OOC: Maybe we should give Binary a chance to catch up. I don't want to end this too quickly!
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Post by Marcus Starkiller on May 22, 2006 15:38:58 GMT -5
ooc: Agreed Nik.
ic:
Marcus: This is not the way I was intending to spend my R&R, but duty calls.
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Post by Binary the Great on May 23, 2006 6:10:17 GMT -5
(( I appreciate the concern, but I hadn't planned anything further until you got to the bar. Oh well, I guess I'll throw you a lure... I mean, eh... A line? *nervous chuckle* ))
Muramin’s eyes slowly opened as she felt a pair of paws feeling her up, bringing her back to consciousness. She opened her mouth to speak, but a third paw was quickly put over it, one more moving claws to her throat. A primal chill ran down her spine and she thought of reaching for either of her sabers.
“Morning, Love,” said one of the two holding her. He added after a moment, “Will you be a good girl for us?” She glanced left and right quickly, noting the tigers –twins by their like appearance– and gave a little nod. “Good,” answered the first tiger again, removing his paw from her mouth; Muramin could smell the alcohol on his breath now.
“What do you want with me?” she asked quietly, trying to ignore the paws taking liberty with her form. The fear of the two males had calmed quite a bit, and the leopardess began to formulate a plan to extract herself from their paws.
“Just a little bit of fun, Love,” replied the second tiger, expression blossoming into a grin. Muramin frowned. It was not that they had no effect on her; the opposite was very true. Muramin, however, was not in the mood for any sort of invasion of her personal space at the moment. And yet, she realized that she had little choice but to follow with their demands for the moment; her position was not favorable to resisting their advances.
“Alright,” she said with a wry smile, “but I’d rather somewhere more private, if you don’t mind.”
“None at all, Love,” inserted the first of the twins before starting to pull her towards the exit of the booth. The second twin held on for a moment before letting go and moving out around the other side of the circular table.
Muramin rose behind the first twin and saw her moment to act, within a second she had a single saber in her left paw, ignited with the typical snap-hiss sound. She tapped into the power of the Force easily, focusing on the second twin for a moment to fling him as a rag doll across the bar.
“No blasters!” shouted the barkeep as he dove for cover, an action mimicked by the much of the crew. Muramin’s sixth sense told her that the first tiger was going to take a swing at her, so she quickly pivoted on her right footpaw. The amber blade easily cut through arm, torso, torso, and leg in a short series of cuts that left five pieces of very dead tiger in her wake.
“Kam!” shouted the second tiger, staggering slightly from the throw, as he watched the leopardess dice up his brother. Realizing he stood no chance at beating her, the tiger eyed the door and made for it with a sprint. Unfortunately for him, Muramin was of no mind to leave a survivor.
“Oh, no you don’t,” the leopardess called as he tried to run. She tapped into the well of sadness and hate she carried deep inside, forming raw emotion into a ball of orange energy with her right paw. Motioning towards the fleeing tiger, the orb shot forth from her palm towards him, striking square in the center of his back. He let out a shriek of pain as the energy caused his body to shred, leaving little more than a mass of undeterminable state, a vibroknife, and several coins. The female looked around to see if anyone else wanted to challenge her before returning the saber to her side and collection the coins from the two ex-tigers.
With a bit of a smile, she walked back to her table and finished her drink. A few more moments of tarrying were allowed, for things to get back to relatively normal, before she padded to the barkeep. “My apologies for the mess,” she said softly, giving a little wink and setting down multiple coins on the bar. “For clean-up and silence, Hon,” she added, turning towards the door and starting to step out.
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Post by Nik Vecto on May 23, 2006 6:23:29 GMT -5
Vecto froze as he ad the others approached a small, out-of-the-way bar. "There it is again.... But it's not purely the Dark Side...." Cahn looked at him, puzzled. "Whaddy'a mean, Master? I thought you were either a Jedi, or you weren't. How can you be niether?"
Vecto moved again, becoming calmer. "What I'm feeling, I think, is obvious use of the Dark Side...." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "But, it is not focused, not centered.... It's feuled purely by emotion." He looked at Marcus and Ivanova. "I don't think we're dealing with a Sith, General."
By this time, they had moved into the bar. Why they had gone in, only the Jedi knew; they were following what the Force told them, and Cahn, slightly aggravated, followed behind. On the way in, he bumped into a pretty leopard girl, who looked up at him with a calculating look on her face. "Eh, heh.... Sorry, Miss...." He looked her over. Very pretty, he thought, visions instantly dancing in his head. But, he knew, duty came first, and he wanted to make sure she was all right before anything else happened. "Are you o.k.?"
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Post by Binary the Great on May 23, 2006 6:44:50 GMT -5
Muramin blinked as she felt the Republic officer bump her shoulder in passing. She looked up at him for a moment, almost puzzled by the fact that she had allowed herself to be bumped into. Her slight smile spread further as he apologized, before she garnered the impression he too found her a sight to behold. She was, indeed, rather exotic for the average Coruscanti.
The leopardess continued to dress as was typical of her home. Very open sandal-like things covered her footpaws, and there was plenty of fur to be seen. A single band of cloth was all that covered her upper torso, wrapping around behind and tying betwixt her breasts. Her lower torso was covered somewhat by what looked to be a pair of shorts and loin cloth. Two silvery cylinders hung from her waist at her left side, and a small pouch of coins hung on the right. Both jade eyes studied him back from under her cropped, brown hair.
She canted her head as he inquired to her status, before realizing what he was asking. "Hm?" she asked for a moment, comprehension following shortly after. "Oh, right, yes," she said softly, "I'm just fine."
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Post by Nik Vecto on May 23, 2006 7:01:03 GMT -5
Cahn took a quick glance at the others, and saw that none of them had noticed him stopping. He looked at the girl again, a slight smile coming across his lips. "What's a nice girl like you doing in a dump like this?" He winced inwardly at the line, but didn't show it.
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Post by Marcus Starkiller on May 23, 2006 15:31:23 GMT -5
Marcus: So, it looks like your friend has found someone. *smiles*
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Post by Binary the Great on May 24, 2006 4:47:53 GMT -5
Muramin studied him for another moment. "Ah," she hesitated, running his line back and forth through her mind for a moment. "Just tryin' to get by, I guess," she finally said with a bit of a shrug.
The leopardess took a step back, freeing the way for a patron to enter the bar, eyes still assessing the Republic officer cooly.
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Post by Nik Vecto on May 24, 2006 5:30:33 GMT -5
Cahn looked mildly distressed, not wanting to leave. He didn't know why, but this girl seemed different to him.... Really different.... And something was telling him to stay put, and keep talking to her. Vecto had surely noticed his lag behind by now, but he could not convince himself to move! As he eyed Nik looking at him out of the corner of his eye, he tried to keep up his conversation with the lady. "I know how that is.... Work, eat, sleep, right? Heh, 'ya just do what you gotta' do until you die', that's what I say...." ----------- Marcus: So, it looks like your friend has found someone. *smiles* "Hmm?", Nik inquired, tearing his attention from his friend Cahn. ".... Yes.... Someone...." |
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Post by Binary the Great on May 24, 2006 5:41:39 GMT -5
"Exactly," Muramin said and gave a glance back towards the pair she had just 'taken care' of. "It's all just one big fight for survival," she added dryly, a somewhat grim expression filling out her face. She noticed that none of the patrons had approached the three inside the bar, and the barkeep had likewise kept silent about her work, just starting to get the stuff out to cleanup the mess.
Her attention turned towards the Jedi Master for a moment before it returned to 'Cahn.' She returned to smiling congenially and gave a slight bow. "My name's Muramin, what's yours?"
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Post by Nik Vecto on May 24, 2006 5:46:11 GMT -5
He looked confused. "Who, me? Oh, uh, Captai--" He smiled, and started again. "I'm Cahn. 'Muramin', huh? Pretty name.... Not Coruscanti, though.... You from the Outer Rim?"
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Nik again broke his gaze at his comerade, looking at the bartender he and the Starkillers had been talking to. "Hmm.... Busy night?" The barkeep looked incredibly nervous, but answered. "Uh.... Uh, yeah, oh, LOADS a' folks, yeah...." He was taking something out of a utility closet, that Nik couldn't see. Not thinking it was important, he continued. "Seems a bit tense in here.... Anything strange happen?"
The barkeep began to sweat bullets from his forehead, wiping it with one of his dishrags. Hands shaking, he closed the closet door, having already taken what he needed. "Uh, um.... No, nuthin'.... Nuthin' unusual...." The barkeep's eyes flashed back and forth from the far corner of the bar, and turned his head from it, nervously tottering around his tiny enclosure. Nik casually glanced in the direction the barkeep was looking, and something prickled in his neck. He motioned for Marcus and Ivanova to keep talking, and slowly made his way to the corner....
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Post by Binary the Great on May 24, 2006 6:21:15 GMT -5
(( *ahem* Ca~~~~~~~~~~hn! ))
Muramin thought for a moment, then gave a bit of a nod. "Yeah, I guess so," she said softly, not wanting to get on the topic too much; it was still a rather painful memory. The leopardess put her paws behind her head and streached out her back a little, inadvertantly giving a more than appealing sight. "But, I think I should be goin' now," she said after the streach. "Stuff to do and such; I'm sure you know the deal," she added.
In truth, the feline just wanted to leave the scene of her handywork. She could care less for the moment that someone would find it; she just didn't want anyone getting bright ideas. And, naturally, her presense was doing plent to keep everyone else quiet on the topic.
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Post by Nik Vecto on May 24, 2006 6:59:01 GMT -5
"But, wait, I--" Cahn thought desperately of something to say, but couldn't think of anything. As Muramin turned around, his shoulders slumped. If only he could think of something....
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Nik stood silent before the two bodies--Or, rather, what was left of them. Everyone else in the bar stayed away from the miserable mound of flesh, but Nik felt that they knew how it had gotten there. He examined the remains one last time, and Nik snapped his fingers at Marcus and Ivanova to come take a look.
At this, the barkeep's face went pale and dashed into his back room, keeping a large eye on one of the other patrons. Nik followed his gaze, and saw.... The young woman that Cahn was talking to! She was turning away, and left Nik with an unobtructed view of what she had on her waist.... "Marcus! That woman is who we are looking for!"
It was obvious, to Nik, at least. The lightsabers on the girl's waist had once belonged to two Jedi Knights: Nonna Krillel and her fellow Knight, Crom Dallex. The two had perished on Wyuli, after the Galactic Empire had taken hold.... Their death was some of the last news that Vecto had recieved before his exile.
He got up, and began walking towards the woman who had been talking to Cahn.
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