NationStates Jolt Archive

Elena Shan slid down the alleyway hiding in the shadows as she went. She approached the cleverly hidden door at the end and knocked with her left hand, her right slipped into her pocket and gripped her blaster pistol tightly.

A small slit opened and a man peered out, "Password?" He asked gruffly.

Elena tightened her grip on her blaster and took out a credit chip and showed it to the man, "The password is four-thousand credits." The man took the chip looked at it for a second.

"Correct, come on in." The slit closed and the door slid to the side. Elena stepped in.

She walked past the man down a short, grimy and stinking hall to another door with an old fashioned hinge-mechanism. She turned the knob and swung the door open.

The room past the door was nothing at all like the hallway she had taken get there. It was opulent, filled with expensive furniture, rare paintings and beneath her feet was a lush deep red carpet.

The room was also filled with numerous groups of people, human and alien alike. Glasses clattered against tables and clouds of dim hued smoke of many colours hung by the ceiling. One man, dressed in gaudy and expensive clothes sat at the center of the room on a large leather couch.

"Do take of your shoes Miss Shan. The carpet is such a pain to have cleaned." The man said to her and Elena obliged slipping of her boots. "Oh, and there's no need for your blaster either."

A guard appeared seemingly out of thin air and took Elena's blaster out of her pocket. Before she could say anything the guard had disappeared again.

"Come and sit with me Miss Shan. We'll discuss your request."

Elena didn't move, "How do you know my name?"

"Miss Shan I know everything about the people who seek my help." The man looked at her, "Now please come sit."


Elena still didn't move, the man nodded and a guard appeared behind her. "I'd rather not force you Miss Shan."

Elena scowled and moved to sit on the couch. "Happy now?" She said angrily to the man.

"Why yes I am," The man leaned back into the couch, "Now tell me what I can do for you Miss Shan."

Elena shifted uncomfortably, this man was the most dangerous person on the planet, but he was also the only one that could help her. "I need to get to Coruscant." She said simply.

The man leaned forward, "Many people have come to me seeking pasage to Coruscant. But with the trade restrictions that the Empire has placed their capital under it has become oh so hard and oh so much more pricey to do so."

Elena gritted her teeth, there was something on Coruscant she needed, needed badly. "I'll do whatever it takes."

The man raised an eyebrow, "Really? Would you kill a man in cold blood if I told you that was the only way?" Elena's face paled at his question. The man smirked, "I thought not." He held out his hand and a servant put a cigar in his hand. He magicked an intricately carved platinum lighter from his person and lit the cigar with a brilliant blue flame.

He inhaled deeply and let out the smoke with a sigh of pleasure, "A Grebaldi cigar, each one hand rolled by Grebaldi himself using the best tobacco I have ever had the pleasure to smoke."

"Smells horrible to me." Elena said with a voice of acid. "How much did you spend on that thing."

"Fifteen million credits, not counting the intergalactic shipping and handling." Elena looked away from him, repulsed by his frivilous use of money. "I see you do not understand the joys wealth brings. I have a case of these cigars in my private stores and another I use to gain me favors amongst the most powerful people in the galaxy. Palpatine himself has received one of these fine cigars from me, not that he cared mind you." The man chuckled.

Elena reached the breaking point and stood, "It's obvious that coming here was a mistake. All you do is prattle on about your wealth and your stupid cigars. It's clear you don't help anyone but yourself." Elena started for the door, the mysteriously appearing guards blocked her way.

"Now now Miss Shan, there's no need to leave just yet. It just so happens that I will get you passage to Coruscant, for a price of course."

Elena turned to face him grimacing, "And what might that cost be? Another case of Grebaldi cigars?"

The man chuckled, "Heavens no. I just ask that you obtain for me an certain item for me, a blaster to be exact."

Elena face twisted in surprise, "A blaster! All you want is a blaster! Just keep the one you took from me and give me my ticket."

The man gave a hearty laugh, "This is no ordinary blaster. It is an ancient artifact that should be somewhere in the ancient undercity." He took another long drag of his cigar, "I've sent teams to retrieve it before but none of them returned."

Elena was stunned, he wanted her to go into the undercity, "Can' I just pay you?"

"I'm a rich man Miss Shan, I have more than enough money as it is. This blaster is worth more to me than anything you could pay me. I'll get you to Coruscant only if you get me that blaster."

"How will I know which one it is?" Elena asked, her voice quiet.

"You'll know when you find it." He turned away from her, "I expect you back within a month, any later and you won't get your passage."

Elena began to object but it was clear the man would no longer listen. One of the guards grabbed her arm to lead her out. "I can find my own way out." She said gruffly.

Moments later she was back in the alleyway, it had started to pour since she had gone inside. She looked up at the sky and determined to get that blaster, for the sake of her entire family, past, present and future. Without a glance back and with her face hard, she set off into the rain.

bump

ooc: What kind of response are you looking for, as I was waiting for part two, which would give a chance to bring characters in. Also is this a SW tech thread?

ooc: What kind of response are you looking for, as I was waiting for part two, which would give a chance to bring characters in. Also is this a SW tech thread?

It's set in the SW galaxy, tech can be whatever you want. I'll post part 2 later. I just want more people to read it is all.

"are you sure of this, Sister? we have been wrong before."
"not entirely, but if the Weapon has been found, could we afford not to act?"
"I see your point, Brother sinvalj shall be dispatched to the planet at once."

For centuries their order had been searching the universe for it, a device that in ancient times had destroyed at least two empires, before is was lost. Now, it seemed, the Weapon had been located, and they could not permit it to fall into the wrong hands.

The door snapped shut behind Elena as she stepped into her small appartment. She tossed her soaked overcoat onto the floor aiming generally for the heater. The appartment was shabby and sparse, Elena had sold most of her posessions trying in her quest for passage to Coruscant. She walked over to the small window, it was more of a porthole really, and looked out into the artificial chasam that dropped for kilometers. A high pitched whine signaled the approach of a swoop gang. They had been a problem in the Lower City for millenia, but that was Taris for you.

Taris was hardly a unique or pleasant planet to live on. Sure the Upper City put on a show for the few meager trade companies and passenger lines that wanted a cheap stoping point on the outer rim that were the only support for the planet's economy, but a show was all it was. Elena had come across a few archeologists in her university days who said that Taris used to be a major trade hub before the time of Exar Kun, it was as hard to believe now as it had been back then. She glanced up at her degress hanging on the wall, a lot of good they had done her.

She pushed herself off the wall and shambled over to her kitchen and pulled a drink out of her fridge. She opened it and tossed the cap on the already littered floor and collapsed onto her only piece of furniture, an old sofa.

For the millionth time she picked up a holocube and activated the image. In the air floated two people, a man and a woman in a loving embrace. She stared intently at the women, whose face was remarkably similar to her own. It had taken her months of research to track down her name; Bastilla Shan a woman who had lived almost four-thousand years ago. Elena was one of her distant descendants.

The man who was holding Bastilla was more of a mystery, she never did find out who he was. Though by the way they looked at each other in the holo they were obviously very close, husband or lover maybe?

She shut down the holo and placed it carefully back in its box. That holo and the her few remaining things were all that remained of her old life. She blinked back tears at the memory of what had happened.

There was a loud knock on her door.

Elena was snapped out of her musings and shot upright. She rushed to her jacket for her blaster, only to reach it and remember that she had lost it to the guards. Settling her self for a knife, which she hid behind her back, she slowly walked to the door and keyed it open.

Standing in the rain were a man and what looked like some form of near-human replica droid. "Miss Shan," the man started, "My name is Andrew Gale, my partner here is Hector. We've come to discuss a mutual goal may we come in?"

Elena looked at them carefully, she didn't trust them, but her curiosity got the better of her. "Sure. Right this way."

"Thank you Miss Shan." Andrew said as he stepped past her into her sparse appartment, Hector followed pausing to give a courteous nod to Elena. She closed the door behind them.

"So what do you want?"

"Straight the point I see." Andrew grinned, Elena glowered and he threw up his hands, "Very well. We know you met with Fir Naberre earlier today, and we know that he asked you to retreive a certain blaster from the undercity for him."

Elena's eyes narrowed, "How do you know that?" She hissed.

Andrew's voice was calm, "We have our ways. The important thing is we want to help you find it."

OOC: Bump and the type of characters that would be good in this are evil people seeking power, treasure hunters, Jedi trying to keep the weapon out of the wrong hands. And while I'm not saying what makes the blaster so powerful, it is indeed powerful and has strong ties to the dark side. Look for part 3 tommorow.

Jet had been researching legends, myths, folklore and history. He'd come to the conclusion there was an interesting artefact, a blaster of somekind. If his ship's computers were correct it was on a planet in the outer rim known as Taris. With a few tapped commands, he set the NComp to take him to the planet, where if he'd managed to worm the truth from the compiled tales the blaster was somewhere in the undercity.

As the ship travelled, he went through a number of high-intensity combat simulations, got something to eat and took a nap.

Once the ship landed, he began getting ready to seek out information sources to aid in the finding of the artefact.

ooc: mind a gen-mod treasure seeker?

OOC: Not at all.

((I like the password in the begining.))

"What do you mean you want to help?" Elena asked, barely getting the words out through her shock.

Andrew laughed, "We mean we want to help you get that blaster. Me and Hector need to get to Coruscant too, but even we can't get through its defences."

Elena snorted, "Of course you can't. Palpatine has been fracking crazy and paranoid ever since the Jedi tried to kill him."

Hector spoke up ,his voice was a smooth male tone, "Yes, our government condemned the actions of Mr. Masaki."

Elena's eyes widened, "You two are Xessmithian? What they hell are you two doing out of your fracking galaxy?"

"We're here to get that blaster and make our way to Coruscant." Andrew explained again. "The Empire is threat even in our galaxy." He paused, "Let's just say that we have business to attend to that can only be done on Coruscant."

Elena was starting to calm down, if they were going to kill her they would have done it already. "All right, so you two want to help. Well I suppose you could start by telling me just what you know, because I know nothing."

Hector spoke in his cool voice again, "As you know this blaster is supposed to be in the undercity, we believe it to be in the ruins of an ancient Sith base."

Elena nodded, that was more than she knew right there, "And what is so special about this blaster that makes it so pricey?"

Andrew spoke this time, "We don't exactly know. All we do know is that it was crafted by an ancient Sith and so presumably has some dark powers."

Elena crahsed onto her sofa, layed down, and left the other two standing, "Well whatever is we can be sure that it's nasty. Anything involving the Sith in any way tends to get people dead." Elena said bitterly, a rush of memories came to her and blinked back some sudden tears.

"Are you all right?" Andrew asked.

Elena sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes, "Oh, um yeah I'm fine. Just some bad memories is all. "Well the undercity is dangerous, not much more so than the lower city but still we'll need weapons. And I don't have my blaster anymore."

Andrew nodded, "We've got the firepower covered." He paused and said in a soft voice, "Your presence would be extremely helpful, but it's not necessary. You don't have to come."

Elena stood up, "Thanks for the offer. But I need to this," she paused, "I owe it to my family."

Andrew nodded his head, "Then lets get going. We'll head back to our ship to get some equipment then head down."

Elena was the last to leave her appartment, she took one look around then closed the door and wondered if she'd ever see it again.

Jet had learnt much in a short time. Much of what he'd learnt dealt with something called an undercity and that was where he'd have to go to find out.

He returned to his ship and gathered a number of gadgets, tools, supplies and weapons and set out to find an entrance to the undercity.

OOC: Man with Bastila? Hmmm...couldn't be...R_v_n? Could it?

IC:
When you've seen one Catina, you've seen them all. Smokey, disgusting, usually pretty damp too. Doesn't mater what you smell like, how many tenticles are coming out of your shoulder, or how many stomachs you have: no one will notice you. No one. Well, that is unless there's a bounty on your head. But, then again, no one notices the bounty-hunters either.

So, when a tangled mound of cloak comes walking into a Cantina, orders the most potent drink on the menu -in the largest container, mind you- nobody gives a rylocks' ass.

Of course, if anyone knew what was under that mound of cloak, they would have all ran as fast as their legs could have. For under the navy-blue cloak with dull-grey linings was a killing machine. Two-hundred and sixty-three pounds of geneticly and cybernetically engineered man. Well, not so much man as pirate.

Space Pirate that is.

The Space Pirates. Only now do they come out of the shadows. The Empire made their statements only a few weeks ago. Space Pirates, a "new" race of aliens discovered near the Galactic Rim, had been responsible for 47 multi-ship raids, three of them military transport vessels. There were never survivors, there were never ships left. Almost all data about the Pirates came from a single ship intercepted by a full battle-group. Though the ship was lost, the piolet was recovered.

Anyway, this pirate was no ordinary Pirate Trooper. He was designed for several purposes: infiltration, sabatogue, kidnapping, and assasination. Today, his roll was kidnapping.

Under the soggy wet-blankets that were his crude, but effective, disguise, the Space Pirate named A'Zax'gh looked at a small hollographic cube in his right hand.

Displayed was a picture of a woman, quite young for a human. Her features were fair, which disgusted A'Zax'gh. "Human women..." it thought, his hyper-dexterous tongue scraping food from his yellowing fangs, "why do they try to soften their skin so? Bah! Repuslive."

Stil, as he sat there, he knew his time in this bar was drawing to a close. Soon, he would make his move. Soon, he would become the most trusted and powerful of the Space Pirate assassins. After all, he was part of the Galliant Crowns, one of the most elite group of Pirate Commandoes in the entire Space Pirate hordes.

A'Zax'gh looked down once more at the hollocube, memorizing the words beneath the picture, before rising to his feet and exiting the door. The orders playing back in his head.

---<PRIMARY ORDERS>---
---<COMMAND GREETS YOU, A'ZAX'GH>---
YOUR ORDERS ARE SIMPLE. CAPTURE TARGET NUMBER 14. HER LINEAGE AND GENETIC MAKEUP ARE ESSENTIAL FOR PROJECT FORCE.
DO NOT FAIL.
APREHEND HER, ALIVE. DEATH WILL ENTOLL DEATH.
REMEMBER: FAILIURE IS NOT AN OPTION.
DEATH TO THE HUNTER! ALL GLORY TO THE SPACE PIRATES!
---<END ORDERS>---

---<TARGET 14>---
NAME: Elena Shan
GENDER: FEMALE
AGE: (OOC: Don't know, just imagine it's the right one.)
WEIGHT: (OOC: Don't know, just imagine it's the right one.)
HEIGHT: (OOC: Don't know, just imagine it's the right one.)
PLANET: TARIS
---<END TARGET>---

OOC: Hey, ZP! A fellow Metroid fan! Would you be interested in a precursor RP to the first Metroid? It's something I've wanted to do for a long time, but haven't ever been able to gather enough people. As in, when the Galactic Federation attempts to attack Zebes, and the other bounty hunters do as well.
If not, oh well.

IC: An ancient suit glowed, and then shone with a brilliance rivalled by the sun. However, as this suit was deep within the earth, there were none to see it. A single Chozo, the last that he knew of his race, was looking for revenge. His skill in engineering was rivalled by none, but his skill at fighting lacked much. However, with the Gravity Suit he possessed, it was doubtful any could match him.

He could feel them. The Space Pirates. They were out there, and he must find them. For the death of his mate, for the death of all he had held dear. And, strangely enough, most of all for that strange little orphaned girl, who must be dead now. He had fled the dragon-like being known as Ridley, but had left examples of his engineering throughough the galaxy, so that the Chozo would not fully die.

But now, he had felt them. He knew they were out there, and, they were after someone. One of the greatest mystics, and engineers of his age, his sole flaw was that of his fear. However, his simmering rage overcame that, and was prepared to hunt down and kill every one of the Space Pirates, even at the cost of his own life. He had landed on this primitive planet easily, and was now prepared to protect the being, no, the female, who the accursed ones were after.

He remoulded his suit, to fit his ageing body, and then strode off. A suit of armour would not be out of place in this hellhole, and he could easily alter the colours to fit local tastes.

His brilliant mind, once revered throughout the Chozo Empire, was now ravaged by insanity, but tempered by grief. He was perhaps the only Chozo able to kill, and would do so at the slightest provocation...

OOC: I saw ZP, and just knew I had to RP a Chozo. Essentially, he's crushed by his (seeming) failure to protect Samus, and travelled, chasing the Space Pirates endlessly, and now feels obliged to protect Elena, simply because her situation is much the same. However, he's quite insane, and would probably kill at the drop of a hat.

OOC: To prevent this story from getting out of control I will only allow 1 more person to enter, and only on the condition of playing a bad guy. Also please keep the OOC posts to a minimum. Expect part 4 later today.

Ooh, I want to join. Need to write up some details though for my character.

OOC: To prevent this story from getting out of control I will only allow 1 more person to enter, and only on the condition of playing a bad guy. Also please keep the OOC posts to a minimum. Expect part 4 later today.

OOC: Well, my character, being totally insane, could quite easily become bad, if the need for it arose.

A'Zax'gh, after exiting the cantina, turned down a deserted alleyway. He was moving fairly quickly now, knowing that he would have to arrange for an ambush soon. The shadows that darted around him were trivial, almost meaningless, to the task at hand.

"There can be only victory," A'Zax'gh thought to himself, as he trampled over a homeless girl's teddybear, "There is no faliure. All glory to the Space Pirates. Death to the Hunter. All glory to the Space Pirates. Death to the Hunter."

The propaganda, while totally nonsensicle and outrageous, strengthened A'Zax'gh's heart. He was, to be truthful, worried. Not about the woman who was to be her target, nor the autorities, nor even the prospect of faliure.

A'Zax'gh was worried about losing his victory to some upstart commander, just because of who he was. Of the taint A'Zax'gh had to bear.

A'Zax'gh shook his head, the cloak slipping slightly over his beak-like mouth. "I must drive these thoughts from my head," he thought, his heavy breathing churning the air around his mouth into a billowing cloud of steam, "My lineage is not a determenant in my ability. I am Space Pirate to the core, no mater what my blood tells me."

A'Zax'gh was so buisy thinking to himself, he didn't see the two Aqualish he carelessly ran into.

"Out of my way," A'Zax'gh cried, catching himself before he fell, his cloak remaining around his features.

"What? Is that a challenge?" the Aqualish to the left cried. He had a large scar down the side of his face, punctuated by smaller cuts down his neck.

"I think it was, brother," the second Aqualish said, brandishing a fiercem looking bladed weapon, "What do you think, friends?"

A'Zax'gh looked around him to find he was surrounded. Eight beings in all. Four Aqualish, three Ithorians, and a single Weequay. All drew weapons of various degrees: vibroblades, heavy pistols, and even, to A'Zax'gh's delight and horror, a heavy blaster (wielded by the Weequay, no less).

A'Zax'gh calmly turned towards the Aqualish whom he ran into, and said, quietly, in the Aqualish tongue, "A challenge? Why not. I could use the extra practice."

The Aqualish and one of the Ithorians charged, brandishing their vibroblades, determined to cut A'Zax'gh to ribbons. In one swift movement, A'Zax'gh exteded his right forearm. A great orange blade of energy almost a meter long grew from a device near A'Zax'gh's wrist. Still keeping the cloak on the majority of his body, A'Zax'gh ducked and twisted, his bladed arm slicing through armor and vibroblade alike. In less than two seconds, the three attackers were dead. The crimson pools now churning on the ground began to wash into the street from the rain.

"You...you bastard!" one of the Ithorians shouted, pointing his blaster-pistol right at A'Zax'gh's head. Yet, just as the Ithorian pulled the trigger, A'Zax'gh drew his left arm forward. From this arm an orange discus appeared, similar in color and energy to the bladed weapon. The blaster shot absorbed harmlessly into the orange energy shield, without even jarring A'Zax'gh's arm.

A'Zax'gh, using his modified legs, jumped high into the air, soaring above the crowd of thugs. Droping the shield, A'Zax'gh placed his left arm and leg on the wall. There A'Zax'gh was frozen, like a fly perched ready to strike. In those few precious seconds, the others could have fired. They could have done some damage to the seemingly defensless creatuer. But, A'Zax'gh knew they would do nothing. The shock of what they were seeing was too much for the simple thugs. After all: what terrible creature could be hidden under those soaking rags?

A'Zax'gh now pointed his right arm towards the crowd. There was a small flash of light, only a blade did not apear this time. Instead, thick blue globs of energy, similar in appearance to a bowcaster bolt, flew forth from A'Zax'gh's wrist. With a howl of pain and agony, the thugs were ripped apart by the rapid-firing energy. The Weequay, his hair ablaze from a grazing hit, took a shot right in his artery. He gargled pitifully as a stream of crimson covered his comrades, most of whom were already dead. The stream of blood now filled the alleyway. There was a commotion as people came to look at what had happened. Where was all of this blood coming from?

By the time a small crowd had gathered around the mangled remains, A'Zax'gh was nowhere to be seen.

For A'Zax'gh had quickly climbed up the wall, doubled back, and crawled back down again at the start of the alleyway. After all, noone would notice a pile of cloth twisting down a wall like some spazmatic spider.

A'Zax'gh safely walked down the now crowded alley, his trailing cloak now lined with a deep shade of red.

A'Zax'gh was heading towards the undercity.

*Bump

Come on, don't let this thread die!!

*Bump

Come on, don't let this thread die!!

OOC: Sorry, real life got in the way. Part 4 will be up soon.

By the time Elena and her two companions had arrived at their ship the rain had slowed to a mere drizzle. Their footstepds splashed in the shallow layer of water that covered the landing pad.

Elena looked up, she could just make out the bottoms of the towers of the upper city through the fog and clouds. She turned her attention to the ship currently occupying the pad. It was boxy with a pointed nose containing the cockpit. It had a pair of short wings on which the engines were mounted. It wasn't exactly graceful but it looked like a ship that would get the job done.

The boarding ramp lowered from near the bow of the ship as Andrew activated a remote, Hector was the first to go onboard. "Well come on in." Andrew said to Elena. She passed him and he took a good look at her. Her face was dirty, her brown hair was stringy and her clothes were ragged. "Why don't you take a shower, get some new clothes. Then we can get the gear alright?"

Elena ran a hand through her hair. "Yeah, that sounds good. Do you have clothes for me?"

Andrew smirked, "I do infact. Like I said earlier we have our ways."

Elena couldn't help chuckiling, "Well thank you very much." Andrew smiled and turned away, "Um, could you tell me where exactly.."

Andrew stopped, "Oh right, down the corridor last door on your left. It's a spare room we put all of our unneeded things in. You'll find a fresher and some clothes in there."

Elena mumbled her thanks and headed towards the room. A short time later she had stripped off her clothes and was standing under a stream of hot water, she sighed with pleasure and let the water wash the dirt away.

***

"... competition in the undercity. It's mostly just petty criminals," Elena heard Hector say as she walked into the room he and Andrew were in. Andrew smiled at her.

"You look much better." He said.

Elena smiled back weakly, "Thanks." She said back, "So what where you two discussing?"

"We were discusing what opponents and competition we would face in the undercity. We aren't too concerned about it." Hector answered. "Our equipment and skill is more than up to the task of keeping us safe."

"That's good to know," She replied.

Andrew spoke up next, "Speaking of equipment, Hector and I have our stuff ready why don't we get you decked out?" Elena nodded, "Follow me then."

It was a short walk to the equipment room, on the walls were all sorts of weapons, sensor packs and body armor. "Wow. You sure have a lot."

Andrew chuckled, "Yeah. We like to be prepared. So what do you want?"

Elena shrugged, "Your basic stuff. A blaster, water, glow rods and the like."

Andrew nodded, "We actually don't have blasters, but our guns are just as good and just as easy to use. You should also have some body armor." Andrew walked over and grabbed a body armor vest. "There ya go. It's good against bullets, blasters and knives. Just not really really big ones of course." He said jokingly.

Elena joined him laughing, "Of course. I'll take a pistol." Andrew pointed out the pistols and she picked one that felt right. Ten minutes later she and Andrew were wearing their gear, Andrew had a rifle.

The joined Hector, who had a large sniper rifle, at the ramp and set off towards the elevator down to the undercity.

Jet had heard of an elevator leading to the undercity. With a quick trip to pick up his gear and strap on what was needed availble on a moments notice headed down toward the elevator. He idly wondered if there were going to be competitors for the artefact.

...But there was someone waiting for the three treasure hunters en-route to the city.

As the three travelers headed away from the Launch Pad, a wad of blood-soaked blue cloth walked out in front of them.

Nothing could be seen through the robes, save for a single, dark hole, where the face should have been on the soaken figure. From this uncanny opening in the "robes" white clouds of exhaled air spewed forth. The thing was obviously alive.

The thing stopped about 100 yards ahead of the party, its breath continuing to liquify in the chill air.

"Are you," it whispered in a barely audiable gruff voice, the blackened maw pointing in the direction of Elena, "Elena Shan? Age (OOC: the right age)? Resident of Taris? Currently leading an expedition into the Undercity?"

The thing's breath was faster now, more excited. It waited for a response.

(OOC: Don't worry, no ones going to die or anything. Just going to keep them on their toes...)

Elena stopped short as a mass of blood soaked robes stepped out in front of them.

"Are you, Elena Shan? Age twenty-five? Resident of Taris? Currently leading an expedition to the undercity?" The thing said in a dark whisper. It's breath hung around it in a thick vapor.

She opened her mouth to reply when Andrew elbowed her hard in the side. "I think you're mistaken sir or ma'am." Andrew said quickly, Elena looked at him in shock, he gave her a small smile that said 'Play along'.

"This is my lovely wife Cathrine Gale. While we are indeed going to the undercity we are doing so as mercenaries to try to root out some of the criminal presence." Andrew turned to Elena and smiled, "Isn't that right honey?"

Elena nodded, "Absolutely right, dear. I'm afraid I never heard of this Elena Shan person." Her voice trembled slightly, she hoped it would come off as mere nervousness from seeing the creature.

Andrew spoke again, "Now if you don't mind we're running late as it is and we would like to be on our way. Would you please move?"

The seemingly invincible suit of armour strode through the city, with the Chozo inside only having the vaguest idea of where to go. The voices that spoke to him in his mind.... the ones that taunted him, teased him, and never, never left him. How he hated those voices. They called him a coward, a liar, an oathbreaker... However, he would kill them. He would kill them by never again being any of the thing they said he was. He ground his beak against a slight protrusion on his suit, and walked calmly foward.

In front of him, was a massacre. Aliens lay dying upon the ground, and a crowd of huddled people were around them. He swept his arm, knocking a man to the ground, as he went in to take a closer look.

One of the aliens, beyond all chance, was alive. His voice rasped in his throat, as blood tricked from various wounds in his body.

The Chozo, being known as a great healer, leant down, and what he did was obscured from view. However, they heard a sharp intake of breath from the suit of armor, and a mumbled word... "Space Pirate.."

The suit of armor walked off, casually moving anyone who got in its way. It had a scent, and let nothing obstruct it..

Five minutes later, near the entrance to the Undercity

The Chozo ran fowards, as he could feel them. He knew that all of what he sought was so-so near, and yet he saw two figures descend, one of which, no one of whom, was that he had sworn to protect.

Outside, he saw a blood-soaked figure, but paid it little mind. He had a more pressing objective, now...

OOC: ZP, maybe your pirate could mistake my chozo for the Hunter, although there is a noticeable difference in suits. It'd be interesting to see a Space Pirate react, on a secret mission, to Samus...

Elena stopped short as a mass of blood soaked robes stepped out in front of them.

"Are you, Elena Shan? Age twenty-five? Resident of Taris? Currently leading an expedition to the undercity?" The thing said in a dark whisper. It's breath hung around it in a thick vapor.

She opened her mouth to reply when Andrew elbowed her hard in the side. "I think you're mistaken sir or ma'am." Andrew said quickly, Elena looked at him in shock, he gave her a small smile that said 'Play along'.

"This is my lovely wife Cathrine Gale. While we are indeed going to the undercity we are doing so as mercenaries to try to root out some of the criminal presence." Andrew turned to Elena and smiled, "Isn't that right honey?"

Elena nodded, "Absolutely right, dear. I'm afraid I never heard of this Elena Shan person." Her voice trembled slightly, she hoped it would come off as mere nervousness from seeing the creature.

Andrew spoke again, "Now if you don't mind we're running late as it is and we would like to be on our way. Would you please move?"

The mass of robes began to shake, and what was unmistakeably laughter came to greet Andrew's words.

"Ahaha...very clever, Andrew Gale. And, if I am not mistaken, the fine man to your other side is Hector, last name Unknown. Quite funny, really. Because, your records state that you are not married, Mr. Gale. And, as far as your financial records are concerned, I very much doubt you would be able to afford a dowery, much less a wedding band."

The robes advanced a little now, the ragged breath rising from the opening now slower...calmer. Something was about to happen.

"Again, I came here to address Ms. Shan. Actually, I must ask you, Elena Shan, to come with me."

With a whipping whirl, the mass of robes was flung up into the air.

There, standing in the wind and rain-soaked cooridor, stood A'Zax'gh.(OOC: He's going to look like this (http://www.conceptart.org/artist/andrew-jones/images/MP2_BONUS/space_pirate.jpg), only with a thicker torso, a thicker pelvis/hip area, and hands instead of claws.)

"Please, Ms. Shan. Come with me and don't resist too much." A'Zax'gh said, his mouth curling into a devilish grin.

(OOC: Let's say the Undercity enterance is only a minute or two away by walking.)

As soon as the creature shook of its robes Hector had been in action. Mere thousandths of a second had passed when he had activated his active camoflauge system, disapearing from all but the most powerful detection methods, and leapt up onto a balcony above them.

He swung his rifle off his back and leveled it at the creature's head.

Andrew was playing it cool, "I'm afraid I can't let you take her." He unslung his rifle and raised it to his shoulder, "So why don't you go first and we'll follow. We could use some bait."

TAG

I'll post up a responce way later on.....

Jet had arrived at the elevator to the undercity and pressed the call button. He then leaned against the wall as he waited for the elevator to climb from wherever it was, to where he was.

As soon as the creature shook of its robes Hector had been in action. Mere thousandths of a second had passed when he had activated his active camoflauge system, disapearing from all but the most powerful detection methods, and leapt up onto a balcony above them.

He swung his rifle off his back and leveled it at the creature's head.

Andrew was playing it cool, "I'm afraid I can't let you take her." He unslung his rifle and raised it to his shoulder, "So why don't you go first and we'll follow. We could use some bait."

"Clever, clever boys." A'Zax'gh said, tentitively, raising his arms above his head as he spoke. "But, I'm afraid, you have never fought one of my kind before have you?"

With a roar A'Zax'gh flickered suddenly, as though there were several A'Zax'gh overlaping each other. A crackle of gunfire greeted the many-layered Space Pirate, and A'Zax'gh saw a brilliant bolt of red laser stampeeding towards his head. Then, the laser began to move more and more slowly. Finally, the laser stopped completely: as though something had nailed it to the damp air. "WARNING: POWER LEVELS AT 73%." chimed through A'Zax'gh's earpiece as he began to charge towards Elena. A'Zax'gh was moving outside of local time-space. To the outside world, he would appear to be "invisible," when in realiity he was moving at lightning speed. Of course, this can only be sustained for a second or two at the most, and he cannot truly alter anything in the normal time stream (even the ground, for special pads were activated when A'Zax'gh mentally turned on the time-slip mechanism), but A'Zax'gh took advantage of these precious seconds by maneuvering behind Elena, posing his hand quickly.

To the three humans, and anyone else who observed the battle, the shot passed clean through the flickering pirate with no visible deflection before blasting a small hole on the floor. A'Zax'gh had dissapeared, only to re-appear in an instant behind Elena, his clawed hand gripped tightly around her neck.

"Now," A'Zax'gh said quietly, "I believe, it is your turn to fo-"

A'Zax'gh felt a sudden jolt on his hands, as though they had been burnt. A'Zax'gh nearly let go of Elena's neck, before the sensation had passed. He could not understand what had happened, only that something had lashed out at his talloned hands. A'Zax'gh had always been particularly sensitive to energy discharges ever since the...infusion...but to feel such a shock from nothing caused him to hesitate for only a second. Could it have been from her...emotion? Impossible...though, considering her herritage...

"...r, you to drop your weapons." A'Zax'gh finished, still gripping Elena's neck.

So, this was what Command wanted. It was so...perfect.

OOC: If you knock-out or somehow disable A'Zax'gh, try to take him with you, n'kay?

OOC: Just so you know, Hector is a droid. He looks like a more heavily armored version of an NS-5 from I, Robot (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/Xessmithia/NS5.jpg).

And while I'm at it, here's Elena (http://www.the-nextlevel.com/features/awards2003/kotor-bastila.jpg)
and here's an idea of what Andrew looks like. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/Xessmithia/firefly.jpg)

IC:

Elena was terrified. The creature had moved with inhuman speed, it had dodged a blaster shot and now it had its hand around her neck. Its claws were digging into her soft flesh, she started hyper-ventalating. She wished that he would just let go.

For a split second the grip seemed to loosen before returning to its former strength.

Andrew was visible shaking, "Alright," he said, "I'm putting my gun down." He lowered his rifle and placed it on the ground. "There's no need to hurt her."

Hector had been watching the scene unfold. His wrist laser blast had been deflected, it would appear that the creature had some sort of shield. But that was easily overcome, he had registered a drop of strength when his blast had struck. It was a simple matter to calculate the required energy to drop the creature's shield for a split second to allow him to be stunned.

Hector moved with superhuman speed as he adjusted the velocity of his rifle round to attain the desired energy, he aimed and fired just as fast. As soon as he had pulled the trigger his wrist laser activated ionizing a trail of air to the creature. He then sent enough electricicity through the pathway to stun three fully grown elephants. If that didn't take him down, he'd have to use lethal force.

A'Zax'gh, due to his super-human senses, felt the bolt of ionization as it left the consealed Hector's barrel. He knew he could not dodge it, for the time-slip mechanism would take quite a while to recharge again. He did the only thing he could think of: A'Zax'gh released his death-grip from Elena's neck and tossed her aside. In the same motion, he attempted to raise his shield to deflect the bolt.

The shield was activated, but the azure tendrils wrapped themselve around the energy shield!

He did not see what happened to Elena, he could only see the electric-blue burst of energy slam directly into his face. A'Zax'gh felt nothing...which was the problem. His suit, his imlantations, his electronical systems had all shut down. Then, he felt a sharp tingling sensation in the back of his skull. The ionization blast must have traveled through his cerebral implant tube. A'Zax'gh could feel his muscles loosing control and spasaming.

With a last brutal screech (OOC: think of the Pirate wounded cries in Metroid Prime) A'Zax'gh fell to the ground. His eyes moved across the ground, desperately trying to sustain conciousness. The last thing he saw before all went black was the fearful, yet fair, eyes of Elena gaising into his own.

A'Zax'gh passed out. Had his suit not absorbed most of the blast, he would be dead.

The creature slumped to the ground. "Well it sure took you long enough." Andrew said to Hector, who appeared seemingly out of thin-air just behind the creature. Andrew grabbed his rifle and walked over to where Elena was still lying on the ground.

"Are you alright?" Andrew said gently, offering his hand to help her up.

Elena nodded, "A little shaken up but I think I'll be fine." She took Andrew's offered hand and pulled herself up. She looked at the motionless creature laying not far from her. Her mind was still racing, "Something strangt happened while he was holding me."

Andrew looked at her and raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

"Yeah. I can't really describe it."

Andrew nodded, "Alright." He turned to Hector, "Hector finish the thing off will you."

Elena screamed, "No! That thing knows something. I don't know what, but it's important. We can't kill it."

Hector spoke, "I agree with Miss Shan. This sapient was obviously sent to obtain Miss Shan for a purpose. We should keep it."

Andrew threw up his hands, "Alright." He took something from his pack, "Help me put together this stretcher. We'll tie," Andrew looked at the creature oddly, "'him' I guess, to it."

Elena watched as they assembled the stretcher and tied the creature to it tightly. Afterwards they were back on their way to the undercity, with Hector dragging the creature along.

It was a short walk to finally reach the elevator. The guards didn't much care why they were going down. They just wanted them to pay the fee, which Andrew made a show of haggling over.

Elena was glad to finally get out of the wet air and into the elevator. She glanced at the creature, its hand twitched. She jumped back, "It's waking up!"

Jet had gotten to the bottom of the elevator and was surprised to note that someone had called it up almost as soon as he was down, leaning against a rock he prepared to wait for the next person or persons to come down.

ooc: When they get down, they'll see Jet there

"Half-breed! Half-breed!"

No...stop it!

"Hey, go back to your little humans, half-breed!"

No...no...STOP IT!!

"Half-breed! Half-breed!"

I'LL KILL YOU ALL!! I'LL KILL YOU!! I'L-

With a shuddering gasp, A'Zax'gh awoke. His senses immediately telling him something was wrong.

"Sha!? Ka'ha shaz'ga'h ma'gh'sha'!?" A'Zax'gh cried out in the harsh toungue of the Space Pirates. His head moving wildly around, he took a full acount of what was around him.

Elena, Andrew, and Hector were standing around him. Hector, aparently, had been draging him around into th-

...where were they?

Moving smoothly into English, A'Zax'gh shouted.

"Ka'ha shaz'gaere am I? Where am I? Answer me, Sha'gh'sha!"

Then, his eyes trailed over to the barrel of a gun pointed right at the space between his eyes. Panicing, A'Zax'gh checked his suit's power supply via a mental uplink. The fact it took several seconds worried him, "Power Operating at 5%. Non-essential systems are disactivated. Primary QAC, arm shield, and arm blade - still oprational."

"Damn..." A'Zax'gh thought to himself, "I'm out of power..."

Looking up, A'Zax'gh's manner changed. His voice became calm, rich, and deeper. "I asked you all...where am I?" he said, looking directly at Elena as he did so, his face never betraying the fear welling up inside of him.

The Chozo, transfixed, watched the scene in horror. He sighed, as the Pirate fell to the ground. It seemed the pair that he, for reasons unknown to him, sought to protect, were quite capable of protecting themselves.

He walked foward, attempting to keep quiet, which was hard, considering the fact that he walked in a suit built like a fortress. He stumbled, and hit a building, knocking the wall inwards, and creating a terrible clatter.

"Illukthir!", swore the Chozo. In anger, he activated his Power Beam, and fired it, several times, into the sky...

OOC: The Chozo is about 65 metres away.

"I asked all of you... where am I?"

Andrew looked down and him and grinned, "So you're awake. As for your question we're in the elevator going down to the undercity. You happen to be along for the ride." The elevator stopped and the doors opened, "Well it seems you woke up just in time as well."

"There is a human six meters to the right." Hector said as he stepped out of the elevator. "Perhaps he would like to come out and talk," he said in a louder voice to the hiding individual.

OOC: HT you're a tad late for that post of yours.

As the 'bot addressed him, Jet stepped around the stalagtite(sp*), "So what are you doing down here?" He asked the 'bot, man, women and oddity

ooc: * the one that is based on the ground.

OOC: HT you're a tad late for that post of yours.

OOC: Oops.

IC: The Chozo ran fowards, jumping into the elevator. He kept his booster recharged, in order to slow his descent, just before he hit the elevator. Punching through may hurt someone, and, it would look rather silly.

He boosted at the last moment, and landed with a thud on the elevator. He put his arm cannon up to the top of the elevator, and fired, ever so slightly, scoring a hole in the top. He kicked the piece of metal out of the way, and jumped into the elevator. The doors were closed. He swore again, more violently this time, and put his arm cannon up to the input device, and the elevator stopped, and the door began to open...

OOC: A little fast, but I keep getting left behind! Boo hoo hoo!

Andrew looked at the man who had come out from around the stalagmite. "Well why we're down here to enjoy ourselves a picnic. How about you fine sir?"

Just then the elevator doors blew out, and out stepped a heavily armoured man.

"I'm here on buisness." Jet replied, as the door exploded he threw himself behind a outcropping, a gun seeming to materialize in his hand as he peeked around the boulder.

[Suit Malfuction]
[Plasma Beam Malfuction]
[Scanner Malfuction]
[Arm Cannon Malfuction]
[Visual System Malfuction]
[9/12 Energy Tank Malfuncttion]

[Switching to secondary optics, emergency pistol activated]

Out of the broken elevator, a huge amount of electricity whirled, ripping into the Chozo's suit, causing the unpowered suit to be thrown backwards, the Chozo falling to the ground.

He was blind. No, not blind. He had relied on the suit's sensors so long, when the helmet opened, he shied backwards from the dim light, and screamed, a primal, bird scream, of pain and loss.

His face was pasty-white, and his beak was tremulous, as was his hand, holding a small, emergency pistol. He quickly fumbled with a controller in his damaged arm cannon, and a small, slightly opaque screen of energy appeared around him. He sighed, and walked fowards, his beak moving without noise, as if he sought words to express the pain he felt.

"Greaa- Griti- Graahtings. I aahm.."

He winced with pain, and began to massage his cracked beak, waiting for the energy to begin the healing process...

Elena rushed over to the creature that had fallen to the ground. She didn't know why but she knew that this creature wasn't like the one tied to the stretcher not 3 meters from here. This one was good, at least for the most part.

"Don't try to talk. Wait till you get better," She said as she lifted its head. She wished she could heal this person's wounds, and for a second she almost thought she was actually doing so.

*Julo Carius stood on top of a land speeder, fingering his Laspistol, and chuckling. How did he put the dead battery back in his Land Speeder Tornado... It didn;t matter now, he was stuck on a planet, tons of new xeno species too. But he needed to get to Corusant to 'chat' with an Imperial representative that had been known to smuggle goods from TCS. He kicked the speeder and began walking around in circles, staring at the sky.*

"I don't even know what kinda currency these people use!", he shouted in the emprty garage, how could he be expected to pay the people for their hard labors. He knew his speeder was gone, 57 years old, used by his father during a battle. But he might as well patronize them, they looked poor.


He slammed his head against the wall and shot his land speeder.

"Dang it..."

TCS, the thread is closed. I'm afraid you can't participate.

Nooooooooooooo!

*Hides in a cabinet and cries like a man*

Bump for participant replies.

Seeing the thing collapse, Jet stepped out from behind the cover he was using and trained his gun on the unknown. "Is it with you?" He asked

[Armour disabling, in order to conserve power]

The Chozo dreamt. In the madness of his mind, only a single pinpoint of light remained. All else was chaos, and madness. He screamed, mentally, and wondered if he was real. He felt, felt more than he was, and could feel the pain of all else that existed, the same, and all, all, that was terrible. It had overwhelmed him many times before, and he had simply locked out the rest of his mind, to save that single pinpoint.

At the same time, he saw. The energy ran up from his suit, regenerating his beak, and the numerous cuts and slashes on his body. He stared ahead, at the being that was a Space Pirate, yet, at the same time, not.

He spoke, unsteadily. "Pirate! Have you come to slay yet another innocent! The last ones your kind tried to kill became the Hunter! Have you not yet learned?!"

He fell back, again, and sealed off his mind, and the raging chaos which awaited within...

Elena laid the creature's head down. "He's unconscious. He's not here to hurt us though."

"How can you be sure?" Andrew asked.

"I just am." She replied, "Please just trust me on that."

Andrew nodded, then turned to the other human, "Yeah he's with us. So what's your name anyway?"

"My names Jet." Jet replied, the pistol disappearing again, "What is it?"

"I don't have a clue. But Miss Shan here," Andrew pointed at Elena, "Says he's not dangerous."

"We should make camp here until this sapient wakes up. We'd make better time if we didn't have to carry him aswell." Hector said.

Andrew nodded in agreement, "You're right. Let's break out the gear."

"So how come you came all the way down here for a picnic?" Jet asked

Andrew chuckled, "Who wouldn't want to come down here for a picnic." He waved his arms to point out the vast cavern with it's metallic roof and supports for the above city strewn about. At the various stalagmites and stalctites that had formed over the millenia from water and waste dripping from above, all of which was dimly lit by light panels that lasted were proving their designers right by lasting for thousands of years. "It's got all a good picnic needs,"

There was a far off russling sound, Andrew unslung his rifle, "Even pesky people to ruin it too apparently." He dropped to the prone possition and watched the direction of the sound.

"What do I get if I can guess the real reason you're here?" Jet asked as he took cover from the direction the sound was comming from, gun again appearing to materalize in his hand.

"A shiny penny and a swift kick to the crotch." Andrew grinned, "To be honest I suggest that you just don't try guessing."

Just then a piercing wail sounded and dozens of white monsters poured from their hiding places.

"Rhakghouls!" Elena shouted as she took aim and fired. A brilliant white bar showed the path of her 100km/s projectile and the creature it hit exploded into a fine red mist. "Kill then or they'll do worse than that to you." And she fired another round.

Jet fired his pistol, the ionization trail from the rounds mimicing the sight of lightning as they speed throught the air. The rounds punched throught and out the backs of the beasts essentially ripping the backs off the 'ghouls'.

As he fired on a leaping beast he commented, "I'm guessing we're here for the same reason."

Andrew fired off several rounds and more of the 'ghouls exploded. "So that would mean you're either here on a picnic or we're here on business. Either way that's not specific enough to earn you a penny or a kick to the crotch."

"Fire in the hole!" Hector yelled, Andrew dropped behind his cover and Elena did the same. Hector then fired his rifle at maximum firepower, the round struck with the explosive force of an old chemical artillery shell and a score of the monsters were shredded.

Despite the heavy casualties the 'ghouls kept on coming. "Good thing we've got plenty of ammo." Elena said jokingly, she was smiling broadly. "I haven't had this much fun in ages." She popped over her cover and empited her clip on full auto. A string of explosions traced her path of fire and a dozen more 'ghouls were blown to gory bits.

Jet dropped down as the grenade went flying into the mass of ghouls. Popping up he continued to shred the ghouls.
"I'm sure you guys are on buisness, and after an artefact." Jet commented

"Well I guess you'll just have to wait and see." Andrew opened fire and took out the last few 'ghouls. Another shriek was heard, but it was far off in the distance.

"It would appear that this area is not safe. I suggest we move on to a more defensible position." Hector said, Andrew nodded in agreement.

Andrew walked over to the tied up creature, "Well it's time to move buddy. I hope you like the way the ceiling looks."

Bump for participant replies.

[Plasma Beam re-activated. Approximately 76 shots remaining in cannon]

The Chozo stood up, his helmet still off. Three rakghouls ran towards him, and he blasted them, one after the other, each catching on fire, and bursting into white-hot flame, and screaming, just before they died from the terrible heat.

He seemed a little dazed, and then began fiddling with his arm cannon, noticing, perhaps, for the first time, that it was broken..

Elena hadned noticed the second creature get up in the firefight. "Glad to see you up. What's your name anyway?"

Now that the overtly hostilee creatures disappeared, looked at the others.

Elena hadned noticed the second creature get up in the firefight. "Glad to see you up. What's your name anyway?"

"Name.. Name..."

The Chozo thought, dragging out memories long-forgotten from the inferno that was his mind...

"Ri'tharus. I... Am I? Yes... Call me Ri'Tharus. It is fitting..."

He continued wrestling with his arm, attempting to cool down the metal, hoping to repair the missile and Morph Ball systems, although, he knew, even with his talent, this could take weeks, as such advanced technology was not easily fixed with bare hands...

[Morph Ball Capability at 25%. Transformation time at 17 seconds]

He smiled. The suit was not as broken as he had thought. His Morph Ball would let him transform, albeit for a very short time, maybe he could get his missile working...

Elena walked over too Ri'Tharus, "Let me help take care of those wounds for you." She took out her Medpac and started fetching various anti-infection agents, bio-foam and quick heal bandages to patch up his cuts.

Hector joined her at Ri'Tharus' side. He scanned his suits mechanism, "I believe I can repair the systems you are currently working on."

Andrew meanwhile had walked over to Jet. "We should get going before the 'ghouls come back. Help me drag the tied up dude."

"Why not just spike him, shove him in the elevator and press up?" Jet asked

"I would if I could. But apparently he knows something important so we have to keep him around for now."

"Why not untie his feet and let him take point then?" Jet asked

Andrew shook his head, "Not a good idea. With what this guy is capable of I wouldn't untie his pinky finger let alone his feet."

"Fair enought," Jet replied, "Switch off every 15 minutes?"

"Sounds good. We'll start off once the others are done. Hector, the robot," Andrew explained, "Probably won't mind helping us out either."

"Alright." Jet replied, "Thought why doesn't the 'bot, Hector is it, carry him?"

"Because he's my friend not my slave. Do you actually think he likes having to drag this guy?"

"He does have better strength and could do it far easier." Jet replied

"Of course." Andrew replied, "But he prefers taking point, and he is far better at that and would be better for us all than if he were dragging ugly there."

"Alright, what about her and it." Jet asked pointing at the creature Elena was tending.

"Elena there is an aquantince of mine." Andrew explained, "As for Ri'Tharus there we don't quite know that much about him yet."

Elena walked over to them, "He's all patched up. We should get going."

Andrew nodded, "I'll take first shot at dragging ugly." He grabbed the ropes and headed off.

OOC: I'm guessing this is still closed?

"Alright." Jet replied, "I'll take over in fifteen minutes."

OOC: I'm guessing this is still closed?

It is. Though if either HT or ZP doesn't post again in a day you can take one of their spots.

Why.... why did you tell them to call you "accursed one"? Why... why... You are cursed..... You are evil.....

Ri'tharus's eyes snapped open, and the voices were banished, for the time being. He was calm, however, a calm born of seeing salvation, and, perhaps, having a hope of that salvation being accomplished...

He walked fowards, his keen eyes spotting another rakghoul hiding behind a rock, no, perhaps it was not his 'eyes'. His ability, perhaps. He held his arm cannon steady, and fired another shot. He heard a distant scream, and smiled, a strange, alien smile. This place was dangerous, but it was nothing compared to Zebes, after it had been corrupted, and he had survived there, had he not...

Now, for the first time, he saw the pirate. Truly saw him, for what it was. Not a true pirate, but still mostly Space Pirate... The one that the man had called "ugly" was a dilemma to him, so, attaching his helmet once again, he went to talk to him.

His tongue flapping about wildly as he sought to speak the harsh language of the Space Pirates, he spoke, haltingly, but, in what he thought was perhaps an acceptable accent. "Who are you. What are you doing here. Mission what? Tell me, Pirate!"

Ri'Tharus was yelling at the alien in a harsh language. "Hector do you have any idea of what he's saying?" Elena asked.

"I'm analyzing the language, but it will take me more time to fully translate it. From what I do understand he seems to be asking questions." He replied.

"Well keep at it buddy." Andrew said, "We could use another set of ears here."

Bump for participants.

"Sorry, my skills in languages, at least spoken ones are useless." Jet replied, "If you can get him to write it down, then I might be able to help."

ooc: Sorry about that

"I was talking to Hector Jet. But thanks for the offer." Andrew said to the other man.

"Alright, and," There was a small beep, "It's time to switch off." Jet commented

Andrew nodded, "Right you are." He handed over the ropes to Jet. "Have fun." He joked and started plodding off again.

Jet took the ropes and hefted the burden, "So are you guys here for the same thing I am?" He asked

"That would entirely depend on what you're down here for." Andrew replied, "And I don't you well enough to tell you why we're down here." He paused and looked at his watch, "And it's time to switch off again."

"Alright." Jet said as he passed the ropes over. "Are you perchance in search of an artefact?" He asked

"It's possible. Are you?" He asked in return.

The air darkened, it swirled and coalesced into an opressive mass. Elena gasped for breath as the perfect black drew the very air from her lungs.

It swarmed around her and the ground fell out from beneath her. She plummeted into the endless, deathly void. Her mind clouded, and life faded away.

Elena jerked as if pulled, the blackness faded as quickly as it came, she gasped for breath and then she saw Andrew staring down at her with concern. "Are you all right? You went into some kind of trance then collapsed."

"My mind is all fogged up, I'm creeped out," She paused, "But on the bright side nothing hurts." She let out with a chuckle.

"That would be because I managed to catch you as you fell." Andrew smirked, "But don't worry about that and have some water." He handed her his canteen.

Elena took it and drank deeply. "Thanks," She looked at her suroundings, a old badly decayed blast door caught her attention, it had been where the cloud had originated, "We need to go in there. That's where we'll find what we're looking for." Elena stood up and entered the door before anyone could object.

Andrew shrugged and followed, Hector dissappeared into the door seconds later.

"Ya, I'm here after an artefact." Jet replied, pointing at Elena, "Does she get spells often?" He asked, as he dragged the dude over a bump.

"I haven't known Elena for more than a day. I have no idea if she gets spells like that often. But I do know that if we don't hurry up we're going to lose her. Just drop ugly and get going." Andrew said to Jet as he chased after Elena.

Up ahead Elena was moving with unnatural purpose. She wasn't thinking about where she was going, she was just knew where to go. The dark halls rushed by, the remains of ancient war droids littering the floor. It was near, she could feel it.

She rushed around a corner, numerous vermin rushing away from her presence. It was calling to her, beckoning her forward. She raced around a corner and there it was, lying on a table.

She walked to it slowly, she picked it up and images flashed through her head. She was strange aliens and droids, death and destruction, terror and hopelessness, but then finally there was joy and love, beauty and hope and images of Bastilla and her lover Revan. Elena's ancestors.

She clucthed the lighsaber that had belonged to Bastilla Shan millenia ago to her chest. She clipped it to her belt, it belonged there, it wanted to be there.

But the lightsaber wasn't what had caused the blackness. She glanced around the room. In the corner wasn ornately carved blaster, the one that she was sent down here to get. The one she no longer needed.

She ran her fingers down the lightsaber, it was why she had wanted to Coruscant. But now that she had it, she had no reason to grab the blaster. She turned to leave.

"Elena! Did you find it?" Andrew asked hurredly as he burst into the room.

"Yes, but I don't..." Elena began, but Andrew had already spotted the blaster himself and grabbed it.

"Let's get out of here."

"I don't think so." Came a gruff voice. "Drop your weapons and put your hands on your heads. You're under arrest."

Andrew turned to look at the sqaud of Clone Troopers standing behind him. He dropped his guns and raised his hands.

"Just so you know you won't live long enough to arrest me." Andrew said, "You see my companion Hector is an extrememly powerful combat droid that cost as much as a starship. He'll be killing you about now."

"Very funny you sc..." The trooper began before his head exploded as a lance of laser light blew through the back of his helmet.

By pure instinct Elena grabbed the lightsaber and activated, her hands guided the brilliant yellow blade as if she had been using it for years and a trooper had his head seperated from his body. She turned to attack another but saw the eight other troopers sawed in half by a brilliant beam of laser energy. Their armor glowed yellow as their bodies collapsed in two.

"Nice job Hector." Andrew called out, "And you too Elena."

Hector appeared out of thin air and Elena closed down her saber. "It would appear that the Empire has started taking over the planet. I suggest we leave." Hector said calmly.

The trio nodded and head back for the exit, halfway there they saw Jet, "Time to head out Jet." Andrew called as he passed.

Seconds later they saw the tied up creature, it had a black hole in it's chest, clearly it was dead. There was no sign of the other alien anywhere.

The now quartet of adventurers raced back to the elevator. The whine of blaster riflels and the howls of rhakghouls could be heard in the distance.

There was a small guard at the elevator, four quick shots and Andrew had them all dead on the floor with massive holes blown in their chests.

They entered the elevator and started up, Elena spoke, "So, what do we do now?"

As they left the undercity and Elena asked 'what now', Jet asked, do any of you have any way off this planet?" He asked, "If you don't, I have a ship, but it'll be majorly cramped."

"Thanks for the offer but we have our own ride." Andrew replied, "Can your ship run the Imp's blockade? Those Star Destroyers are faster than you'd think."

"We'll discuss this later, the elevator is stoppind." Elena said. She took out her pistol and readied it at the door.

"What, no lightsaber?" Andrew joked.

Elena laughed, "No, the pistol will suit this situation much better."

Andrew grinned and readied his rifle, slammed in a large C-clip and switched it to full auto. "Locked." He turned to Hector and grinned

Hector grinned back, he then reached behind his back and grabbed his large rifle, he pulled a chain of rounds out of his pack and inserted it. "And loaded."

They turned to face the door, it opened and they rushed out with a hail of extremely hyper-velocity rounds preceding them.

"Out-run, no, out fly and escape from, yes." Jet replied

OOC:I have not forgotten about this. I'm just suffering from a massive case of writers block coupled with University classes. So give me some time.

ooc: That's alright, I'm learning of the evils of University myself.

OOC: Huzzah. I finally have time to finish this.

IC:

Andrew yelled back over his shoulder as the last clone trooper fell, "Good. You better get going, before re-enforcements show up."

Andrew didn't look back as he led Hector and Elena off to their ship. They ran through back alleys to avoid concentrations of troops. It wasn't long before they arrived at their ship, it was under heavy guard.

Elena acted first, she fired all fifteen rounds from her pistol and fifteen clones dropped to the ground. It was if her hands were being guided by a higher force as she grabbed her lightsaber and leapt at the remaining troops.

She was a blur as the vibrant blade of yellow energy sliced the troopers appart. She saw everything before it happened, she got out of the way of the bullet Andrew just fired and bounced the clone's blaster bolts back at them.

Soon she snapped back to reality and realized she has spent only a few seconds clearing the landing pad.

Andrew walked up dumbfounded, "Elena... what... amazing!"

She nodded, "Let's get going."

Andrew shook his head, "Right. Hector get to the cockpit, we need you at the controls."

"Understood." Hector raced on board and Elena and Andrew fallowed. Fighters screamed above them as Hector lifted off with the anti-grav. As soon as he was in the air he punched the main drives to full.

The ship raced through the atmosphere at 70,000 km/h clearing it in seconds. Turbolaser blasts lanced out to strike the ship but Hector was good. He evaded them and brought the ship's drive to full power and it flashed past the Star Destroyer's at 30,000 gravities, six times the accelration of their pursuers.

In under a mere 45 seconds they had raced a light-second away from the planet and left the pursuing fighters in their proverbial dust.

Jet quickly got into his own craft, the automated systems sweeping anyone who tried to bother it, or it's rightful owner, aside like flies.

As it took off, he caught sight of the three, and after swing around the destroyer, including a few buzzes of the control tower, for laughts, and to 'paint' an obscene gesture onto the ship with a low-arc plasma torch, he set off to catch up with Elena, Hector and Andrew.