Private A Dance With the Devil In the Pale Moonlight

[Jacen Nimdok]

They tracked her to a desert planet in the Outer Rim. A camp of refugees from Sarka had set up there. Laertia Io, naturally, had come to provide assistance, though Nimdok sensed it was also a cover for her training new “Light Side Sith” to add to her followers.

It was night when they arrived—two Grandmasters, a Jedi Master, and a Padawan, Starlin Rand . Nimdok stood beyond the outskirts of the camp, merely observing. There were a few of Io’s infamous Neutralizers on patrol, but otherwise it seemed largely undefended.

“Well,” he began, turning to his companions. “What approach would you prefer? Direct, or subtle?” If they simply marched up to the camp’s entrance, they might be able to convince the Neutralizers to escort them to an audience with Laertia. Or they could find another way in and take her by surprise.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to try and negotiate first?” Starlin asked.

Nimdok folded his arms. He had agreed to let the Padawan come along due to Starlin’s connection to Laertia. He was the apprentice of her lover, and had fought alongside Laertia at Dantooine… until the events of the battle forced him to realize what a mistake he had made. Laertia blamed herself for what had happened to the boy. Nimdok hoped to use that guilt to garner sympathy from the stubborn Black Knight.

“Approaching her peacefully would certainly be preferable,” Nimdok replied. “But I don’t know whether or not the guards will shoot first, ask questions later. We may be walking into a firefight without any hope of a discussion.”

Laertia Io Josh Dragovalor Or'Fol Moric Chasianna​

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

TAG: Laertia Io Or'Fol Moric Chasianna



"We're Jedi, diplomacy comes first. From the perspective of a soldier, the direct approach is impractical. But from the eyes of a diplomat, direct works best in reaching hearts" brought up the Grandmaster of the Saber as he approached. He never liked this kind of business. Hunting people down, making arrests. Especially ones who had been their allies. But they had no choice now -- she had killed Jedi. A lot of them. There was no alternative but to bring her in, one way or another. It was the only way to stop the bloodshed. But the last thing he would allow if he could help it, was to answer bloodshed with even more.

"Let's consider Io's perspective for a moment. We sneak in, we look underhanded. We don't look sincere. We look like we're just here to take her in, and any attempt to negotiate will be looked at like it's just a distraction. We go in direct, we forgo a tactical advantage in a fight... But we increase our odds. Odds are pretty slim as-is if she's gone this far, so we need to increase them in any ways we can. If we're attacked, we defend ourselves. Cleanly, non-lethally. And we keep going. If it's self defense when we're attacked and we show that our intentions are genuine, we lower the risk when we do get to her."

He stretched out and limbered his shoulders. As he did, he looked to each one of their group. Bold, dead in the eyes. One at a time.

"To make things simple. We either go in with the intentions of being diplomats, or we go in with the intentions of being aggressors. Once we decide our course, the how-to is pretty simple."

He managed a cheeky grin, though it was still fainter than his usual.

"I'll apologize for upstaging Jairdain 's job later. Any questions?"

 

[Or'Fol Moric]

Or'Fol walked steadily alongside the Grandmasters. The Jedi historian knew what this mission entailed, Try to talk to Io, and at least get her to understand what was going on. He took a sharp breath as he thought about how the could handle this. His mind went back to various stories he knew in diplomacy, and the general reactions to everything. He then looked back at Nimdok and Josh. He was ready for whatever would come though. The current question revolved around how to handle this diplomatic approach. He would nod a little before finally speaking up.

"It may be a slim chance Grandmasters, but it is a chance worth taking. I agree that we should be prepared for an aggressive response, but we shouldn't be aggressive ourselves. I will admit though, Laertia Io is an aggressive individual, so remaining guarded could be the best course." He would look at the others, remaining very calm as he usually did.

Laertia Io Josh Dragovalor Jacen Nimdok

 

[Laertia Io]

Wearing: Black Knight Chitin

Armed with: Momentary Discomfort

Constant Gardener

Crime Hunter's Pistol (Charric Configuration)

With:

Serpents of Ashla

Nuetralizer Model 1 (10)

Advanced Prototype (Lyssa Io)

Came to hidden planet in: The Shadow Bride


Xiphos had been running desperately needed supplies to the Sarkan Refugees in the days since Sarka's fall.

Her motivation for the most part, was a sincere need to aid what survivors she could.

The rest of it, however, was that she needed personnel.

She had not been terribly surprised that The Silver Jedi had finally gotten around to condemning her and officially declared her persona-non-grata.

What had surprised (and thoroughly enraged her) was that the signer had been Errik Jacen Nimdok . He hadn't been an unbiased party at all. Just another spy for the SJC. Grandmaster of Knowledge. She had wanted to tear her hair out at having been tricked.

Xiphos wasn't sure how to punish him yet for his treachery. Killing was off the table. Xiphos was way past wanting him dead. His death would never satisfy her at this point.

She wasn't going to kill him. She was just gonna find a way to hurt him really, REALLY bad. Not necessarily in a physical sense.

As a particularly crazy Willem Dafoe put it, The Cunning Warrior attacks neither body, nor mind.

The heart though...that you attack.

Xiphos held grudges even worse than Laertia did, especially when she perceived herself as having been tricked. And she DEFINITELY perceived Nimdok as having tricked her.

She tried not to focus on grudges as she watched The Sarkan Refugees train with new rifles by Nine Lives. Organic weapons built by siezing captured Bryn'adul weaponry and figuring out how it worked. One of her beloved sons showed a bunch of attentive Refugees a captured corpse of a Juggernaut, having them autopsy it to figure out how, exactly, the enemy functioned internally, so they would know what to target in a fight.

The Black Knight watched the proceedings, dozens of refugees sparring with each other, as well as being trained by two War Knights from the Serpents of Ashla, themselves Jedi who became disillusioned with the SJC after their utter failure at Sarka. They had sworn themselves to Darth Themis after having been found drifting in a wrecked shuttle, having barely escaped Sarka with their lives. They weren't the only Jedi to go to her. Her message of total war against the Bryn'adul, a war of annihilation, was gaining more traction, despite the best efforts of the Jedi Order to try and reason with dissenters.

The combination of absolute failure at Sarka and The Black Knight's personal efforts to stop The Bryn'adul, captured from multiple feeds had caused a massive Public Relations and Morale crisis for The SJC.

The vicious, heartless traitor, it seemed, had more and more of a point. More people came to her now, each looking to aid in her quest, regardless if it inconvenienced The Jedi Order as a whole or compromised their war with The Sith.

Xiphos watched from a command tent that had been set up, clutching her alchemized Lightsaber Spear, The Momentary Discomfort. Her other weapons rested on her belt. It was night. She had been overseeing their instruction for much of the day. One of those War Knights had already found two potentials for Force Training.

Her daughter, Lyssa was present also, observing her Mother at work, learning how she talked and interacted with people, the Nanite Assassin Droid formed to look like she wore a silvery version of Xiphos's typical biker leathers with black spikes.

"Mother? Ground Sensors have detected a perimeter incursion..." Lyssa said with an out of place, unusually serene tone common to her due to how she had been programmed.

"Hmmm..." The Light Side Sith mumbled distantly. "Probably Jedi. Run one of your little brothers out to them. Invite them in. I imagine they are here to arrest me."

"Are you planning to surrender?"

"No. Never."

Lyssa began to develop an awkward expression.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I tried to save Sarka from The Bryn'adul. I battled their Leader, fighting alongside some brick chithouse ripped Jedi in spite of our differences. All they gotta do to get me to stop is focus on The Bryn'adul, for the most part. They don't want to. I'm going to hear their tired reasonings, and if they try and take me in, well...I could use the Adrenaline."

"You will have two different Jedi Orders in opposition to you."

"I could have five different Jedi Orders against me, and the answer would be the same."

"I worry for you, Mother."

"Your concern is noted. But my decision is final."

Lyssa nodded and flagged down a Nuetralizer, giving him orders.

"Get the ship prepped, Lyssa. Then quietly inform the refugees to be prepared to flee to Site B on this rock."

"As you wish." Lyssa replied, heading off.

Xiphos stepped out of the tent, calling everyone to her.

"As you have no doubt heard by this point, I have been officially condemned by The SJC. No doubt very soon, they will come for me."

"You have all suffered great losses. Family that cannot be replaced, due to the incompetence of the Silver Jedi Concord in not treating The Bryn'adul as the disease they are. They think to beat the Sith, yet cannot even defend one planet from an invading force."

Xiphos had their full attention.

"Accepting my aid, my training, will never bring you closure. Let's get that out of the way right now. I don't claim to have all the answers, just the ones that count the most. Killing The Bryn'adul will not bring your loved ones back. It won't give you justice, not in a way the Jedi would understand. But I offer true justice. For where The Bryn'adul are concerned, Vengeance is the only true Justice that can be had. I got many reasons to despise The Bryn'adul. If they weren't such genocidal cretins, I wouldn't have seen the need to rebel and kill the people I once called allies. In all likelihood I would still be taking their orders. But when Coren Starchaser refused to acknowledge reality and continued to engage in the Toy Heroics his peers were comfy with, then, and only then did I refuse to go along. I refused to be beholden to any master that would let himself be swayed by stupid teens with more sabers than sense! The Jedi would have you be satisfied with evacuation after humiliating evacuation of invaded worlds. They don't show that kind of cowardice when fighting The Sith! You know why? Because they want to fight the Sith more! They understand the Sith more! At New Adasta, the Jedi fought tooth and nail to keep the city, even after The Behemoth blew the whole place to whatever part of Hell Marka Ragnos is chilling in. They utterly refused to budge even when it was clear they had lost! No such defiance with The Bryn'adul! Their defense turned to an evacuation halfway, and they have retreated at virtually every point. Their victory at Yurb has proven to be a pure fluke! And people ask why I dare rebel!?" She called out to the gathered refugees.

"I won't lie to you: Likely each and every last one of you will die in the days to come, in the wars against The Bryn'adul. It will likely be a hidious, horrific end that you meet. But what's the alternative? Hide like rats while those who killed your families murder and rampage with impunity? I don't believe you want this. I believe you are here because you believe as I do...that the Bryn'adul must utterly annihilated.

The Refugees roared in approval.

"We may not succeed. But we are damned if we don't try. The Jedi failed you. Hell, even I failed you at Sarka. But I offer something they won't: A license to do anything to defeat The Draelvasir! A mandate to prevent them from conquering the Galaxy even if we have to become almost as monstrous as they! I offer you the chance for revenge on your families killers!"

The Refugees roared. She knew she had them now. They fully understood where she was coming from.

"I declare your training session over for the day. But be alert. Tough, brutal times are ahead for all of us. But I vow to do my best to prepare you for War. Unrestricted War. With no Jedi looking over your shoulder telling you to show restraint against true evil!"

All of the Refugees roared again in approval and began dispersing, going into their makeshift groupings. Some even hung around the nightmarish skeletons Xiphos called children due to their infamous quipping.

Xiphos meanwhile was hoping Chasianna would show up. She had sent out an invitation...

Meanwhile, a Model 1 Nuetralizer walked up to the group at the camp perimeter.

"Oh, look what we have here? Wolves staring at the campfire!" The Nuetralizer joked, hands held up so they knew it wasn't a threat at the moment. It spotted Starlin Rand , who was on their Do not kill protocols, Jacen Nimdok , Josh Dragovalor , and Or'Fol Moric .

"She's waiting for you." The Nuetralizer told them, their faces reflected in its nightmarish skeleton visage. (Welcome to my Nuclear Family: 2000 XP)

"Please follow me..." It said, turning around to lead them to the camp interior.

The Other Nuetralizers focused on them, each guarding their own parts, Droids so feared that the CIS had pulled the Banhammer on Mass Production after Sarka, where they slaughtered dozens and dozens of rampaging Bryn'adul, many of them being destroyed helping the Sarkan refugees escape.

"Mother? Jedi Candygram showed up and they brought Rand!" Their Nuetralizer escort called out as he led them into the training camp.

Xiphos strode out of her tent, a black armored wraith clutching a silvery spear, walking up to them once the escort came to a stop. Refugees focused on the Jedi, some pointing shotguns at them.

She scowled under her helm at the sight of Nimdok.

"Why Grandmaster of Knowledge...such an unexpected surprise." The Black Knight muttered sarcastically at them.

 

[Chasianna]

Location: Desert World, Outer Rim
Tags: Laertia Io Jacen Nimdok Or'Fol Moric Josh Dragovalor

After Trian, the Sister had accepted Laertia’s offer of training in her way of harnessing the Force. Now that she knew that the Black Knight was truly Sith, albeit of an extremely nontraditional school, the Sister felt more comfortable consorting with her. Furthermore, the opportunity to learn directly from her idol was one that she could not pass up. Twice now, she had been gifted with the opportunity to do such, once in being taken as an apprentice of Darth Carnifex, then now in training under Laertia Io. She did not take them for granted. While she was keenly aware that Carnifex and Xiphos would likely be at odds with each other were they ever to meet in a context free of the New Imperial Order and the Bryn'adûl, that thought remained firmly in the back of her mind. Now, they had mutual enemies, and that made them allies.

Dark and Light Sith, fighting together as one.

It was a strange concept, but stranger things yet were already transpiring in the galaxy. Though she was young, the electromancer was already quite aware of this, especially having faced the alliance between the Imperials and the Jedi over the course of the Third Imperial Civil War. However, she did find agreement with the Black Knight. The Bryn'adûl were an omnicidal threat that should have seen all of the major powers in the galaxy, including the Jedi and the Sith, putting aside their differences to face it together. Even she, an apprentice of Carnifex, could see that.

Unfortunately, the galaxy could not.

So far, it had been a long day of training for the Sister. The way of the Light Sith was different, though oddly not entirely unfamiliar to the diminutive electromancer. On more than one occasion before, she had harnessed emotions other than hate or rage to fuel her powers. She had called upon the passions of devotion and even love in fighting the two Jedi on the Prosperity, love for a Dark master, but such nevertheless. Those emotions, love and devotion, had ultimately seen to her victory in that fight, not the all consuming rage that had seen many a Sith fall to greed.

In training with the Serpents, she had discovered a radically different group of Sith, friendly and cooperative where she was used to perpetual competition, even among peers. Though she was a stranger, who perhaps under different circumstances might have been killed on sight, the Serpents had so far only shown her patience and kindness.

Later on, the Sister had also assisted in training many of the refugees as well. Having already faced two trained Jedi by herself and emerged victorious, the Sister had cultivated knowledge in various lightsaber and martial arts, though her skills were far from mastery. Nevertheless, the gaps in her instruction were filled by many of the more experienced War Knights, who assumed the bulk of the work in training the refugees.

Then, as darkness settled over the camp, the Jedi arrived.

The Sister was quick in preparing herself to meet them with Laertia, changing out of her training attire into her combat dress, weapons on her gauntlets and energy shield on her hips, ready to be activated with only a thought. Meeting Laertia in her tent, the diminutive electromancer followed the Black Knight outside as a part of her escort, helmet sealed over her head to project a menacing crimson mask to the world as they came face to face with the group of Jedi...

Spoiler: Loadout

• First Sister’s Sith Uniform
  • Undersuit
    • UL-14 “Virtus” Class Underlay
  • Energy Shield(s)
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Alchemical Talisman(s)
    • Jin'Wodasir - Pins of Protection (2)
    • Talisman of Concentration
  • Left Wrist
    • ACS-207 Cryo-Ban Gun
  • Right Wrist
    • Wide-Beam Sonic Stunner
  • Utility Belt
    • FAE/U-01 "Serenity" Anti-Signal Field System
    • Supernal Infusion
• Whimsy Knife
• DL-13 Holdout Blaster

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

“Naturally.” Nimdok nodded to the two other Jedi Masters as each said their piece. “I don’t know why I ever considered any other option.”

He did wish that Jairdain could have come, given that diplomacy was her sphere, but she was unavailable at the moment. Still, they had a chance.

Moments later, a Neutralizer approached them. Nimdok remained calm, though he knew exactly how dangerous the droids could be, having studied many hours of battlefield footage of them in action. The Neutralizer held its hands up as it greeted them, bidding them follow it into the camp.

They walked. All around them, droids and refugees turned to stare. Nimdok could sense the latter’s fear and anger even without the Force. These were people who had suffered greatly in the war with the Bryn’adul, and now they had been radicalized by Laertia. He couldn’t discount the possibility that she may have meddled with their minds, too—certainly there had been cases throughout history of individuals whose charisma was heightened to supernatural degrees with the help of the Force, convincing others to follow them without question. If that were the case, it would be easier to de-program them than if they had been willingly convinced by her talk of total war…

At last they reached Laertia herself. She sat in full armor, her weapons at her side, looking rather like a warlord who had united tribes of desert-dwellers in a holy crusade. Her annoyance directed at Nimdok in particular did not go unnoticed by the professor.

“Hello, Miss Io,” he greeted with a slight bow, remaining totally polite with her. “I have indeed become Grandmaster of Knowledge since our last meeting. I thank you for remembering to use my new title—most people still call me Professor out of habit.”

As the junior of the party, Starlin waited for the two other Jedi Masters to introduce themselves before he greeted Laertia with an awkward wave and a sheepish “Hi Laertia.”

“We offer you a choice,” Nimdok continued. “It’s true that the Silvers have condemned your actions—and it’s true that we’ve come here to arrest you. But we are giving you a chance to come willingly, with your dignity intact, rather than forcing us to take you in. We have no desire to harm you, but we must put a stop to your killing of Jedi. On that, there can be no negotiating.”

Laertia Io Josh Dragovalor Or'Fol Moric Chasianna​

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

They were allowed in without incident. Josh kept his calm throughout, even as he sensed the fear and anger that became a more prominent bellow the more they walked. But the harshest emotions radiated from the woman of the hour. A Sith, she may very well have become. He had heard the rumours. Talk of her title had spread quickly, so he had little hope of this working. But they had to try.

He let her and Knowledge have their back and forth before he would step forward.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Io. I am Josh Dragovalor, though Josh will do fine in the context of this conversation” he spoke curtly with a gentle bow of his head, before looking her in the eyes as he allowed the others to introduce themselves. Once they had, he got straight to his point.

“I could rattle on about listening to your heart and plead to your humanity, but seeing where you’re at right now, Lady Io... I get the impression that would just be a waste of both our time” the Grandmaster of the Saber admitted with a shrug of his shoulders. “So let’s discuss this in a language the both of us can appreciate. The language of practicality and rationale. The fuel that should and very well still could light our respective futures. The Bryn are monsters. Dangerous monsters. That’s obvious to both you and I. And from a purely tactical standpoint, it would have made sense for us to ally with the Sith Empire to stop them. This is true.”

He paced a bit, seemingly calm as could be as he examined the room around them with a curious eye. Brown globes analyzed the room decor, the layout, troop stations... But the pace also served to stimulate his adrenaline and in turn, his mind.

“But I’ve been around this galaxy for a long time. I’ve worn many hats under many different banners... And I’ve seen Jedi, Sith and plenty in-between come and go. But one thing has stayed constant. And that is the fact that the Sith Empire are monsters. They have come in many incarnations during my tenure. Whether it’s the Sith Empire, the One Sith, or all the other names, their heads are almost always the same, whether that’s in the front, or in the shadows. Monsters, just as bad as the Bryn. Just as much of a threat to the galaxy, and to you and I... As the Bryn. To work with them would enable them to find ways to take an advantage on us both when it suits them, and really... Trusting them on an open battlefield? Even if the Bryn’s demise benefits them... So does yours. So does mine. And on top of that, working with them shows that we’ve lost our way to the general populace. It casts a dark shadow that will spread fear and distrust, instead of the trust we want to cultivate. In the long term? It would only lead to shedding as much blood as the Bryn have.”

He cocked his head towards her. “But you’ve probably heard all of this already, and I doubt you want to hear it again. Just thought I’d make sure nothing’s been left unsaid, my therapist told me that when you start getting old, you gotta start doing that.”

He gave a faintly cheeky grin. “So I’ll move to what you want to hear. Even if you don’t like Jedi, you cannot deny that they’re pretty good at killing Bryn. Maybe not as efficient as you would like them to be, but you know what isn’t very efficient at dealing with Bryn? Killing the people who can. I mean, imagine if I had walked in here and just started slaughtering your followers? No reason, really, just... Because I don’t like you, or don’t like how you do things, yadda yadda... You get the idea. Been you know what would happen? That would be less people to stop the Bryn. And more of my people would needlessly die as a result. You know what that would make me? Stupid. Foolish. Less of a leader and more like an oversized child throwing a giant, murderous tantrum. Sound familiar?”

Okay, maybe the Jedi Master didn’t mince words. The others probably should have found that out before bringing him along. Then again, they had brought him along in case of a fight, not for negotiations. He was the Grandmaster of the Saber, after all.

“Point being... None of this is practical to either of our ends. Fighting each other just makes it easier for the Bryn to pick us off. You don’t want to be picked off like bantha for the slaughter and we have no interest in hurting people that we don’t have to. And if I could snap my fingers, wave a magic wand, shake your and waive consequences so we can go kill Bryn arm and arm like it was some kind of fairy tale? I would. But this is real life, and you’ve killed a lot of innocent people. Jedi, as well. So unfortunately that has to be answered.”

His expression had grown more serious as this went on. “You have my sincerest apologies for that. I have no desire to turn my lightsaber on someone that I shouldn’t have to. I have no wish to bring you harm, no matter what title you choose for yourself. But the law is the law. But even with that... The least we can all do is make the most of our circumstances for the good of everyone around us. If you surrender and come with us, at the least we can finally bring our efforts fully to where they need to be. And that’s the Bryn. Not each other. I ask this of you not as a Jedi... But as someone who dreams of a peaceful world. Perhaps I never truly lost that optimistic desire in all these years, perhaps it’s naive of me to cling to that hope. But I ask you to do the right thing for everyone. And that doesn’t just mean surrender.”

He motions to the others. Her guards. Her followers. “These men and women, some followed you from outside... Others from the Jedi ranks. They are scared, confused, angry... I doubt that even if you choose to surrender you’ll be willing to hear out a second favor from me. But I want to ask it. Because even if you surrender... That still leaves a loose end. I ask you to talk to them. Quell their rage, set them on the right path. I’m not asking you to return them to the Jedi way. That is a decision they can make on their own. But if they have to fight... Ensure they fight where it will mean the most. And when this war is over, well... We can do our best to help them find the path they want to follow after that. I’ve had students of mine choose paths other than the Jedi... And I don’t mind that. It’s a big galaxy out there. But it’s one that right now... We need to protect. In the short term... And the long.”

 

[Laertia Io]

Xiphos chuckled a bit.

"I'll be sure to more thoroughly screen the next feth that comes to interview me." she replied, clutching her Lightsaber Spear a little tighter, Chasianna at her side. She had taken remarkably well to the training of The Serpents. Xiphos was honestly amazed the Apprentice of Carnifex was backing her up out of nothing than shear hero worship. She had never had that before. It was...almost overwhelming to experience.

The presence of Starlin Rand evoked caution from her. She knew not a hair must be split on his head or she would answer to Syd. But there was no way that she was letting herself be arrested.

Josh Dragovalor spoke up, and Laertia scowled under her helm at the not so subtle accusation of her being a child throwing a massive tantrum.

"First off, Josh, I haven't killed innocent people. All my kills so far have been battlefield kills, against armed people who were attempting to kill me. Nobody who picks up a weapon and intends to use it is innocent. I never fethed over some unarmed civilian that didn't have it coming. And Jedi are pretty fething far from innocent at this point if Nimdok's reporting is more accurate than his claims of being a mere Historian."

"Tell me Josh, The Sith Empire have torched their share of planets but can you tell me the last time Sith Political Policy stated to wipe out everything and everyone they encounter in the Galaxy?" Xiphos asked patiently.

Xiphos shrugged. "I never to wanted fight the Jedi Order. But the Order's priorities are so horribly skewed you've all pretty much left me no choice but to fight you. And even if I did surrender, what the feth would I be going back to? I know. I'd go right back to to taking orders from incompetents I no longer have respect for, and expected to fight Sith who I simply no longer care about fighting. Except I'd be expected to do it with a smile and never offer up another word of disagreement as long as I live, with any dissent on my part viewed as me back sliding into so called treachery. And The Jedi Order has proven itself as a whole miserably incompetent at battling the Bryn'adul, whatever the effectiveness of individual knights. Your victory at Yurb was a complete fluke. You got lucky. The Bryn probably had the flu that day. Can you really say you're good at fighting the Bryn when your first course of action is almost always to evacuate instead of fighting with everything you have? I didn't leave Sarka until the only alternative was death. Most of you evacuated way before that. You want to defeat the terrifying monster that is the Sith, yet you crumple under a supposedly equal monster. You divide your forces against two foes, and you suffer the losses proportional to such an arrogant venture, and as far as I can tell, you all like to focus way more on the Sith. So what if they betray you eventually. Better the devil you know, I say. You'll be expecting it. All I have done is try and Force the Order away from a less pressing foe and onto the greater one. If that meant killing some knights who are so absolutely blinded by their grudges with the Sith that they will happily allow planet after planet, society after society to be wiped off the map while fighting the crimson saber, that's the height of insanity and selfishness to me. So..."

The Black Knight paced about, spinning her spear idly in her hand

"No Dice. And really, what world are you living in, telling these people around me to quell their righteous fury at watching their civilization be destroyed and their families slaughtered. These refugees? Every single one of them that you see is alive because of my Nuetralizers. I'm having their DNA and language preserved in CIS Space, along with any cultural artifacts that could be saved. I'm giving them the means to fight back, to know how to fight back. What are you going to offer? Safe Haven in rapidly crowding borders with the more evacuations you execute rather than actual defenses or holding actions. You gonna put a rifle in their hand, than ask them to help you fight the Sith? Piss off, Josh. Piss right off." Xiphos replied scathingly. "And just so you are aware, I didn't use the Force to persuade any of them. Not just because I would find such a tactic unconscionable, but because I didn't need to. The loss of all they knew is more effective argument than any crude efforts on my part."

Xiphos then focused on Starlin.

"And what do they hope to gain by bringing you here, I wonder? Lack of resistance? That's not going to happen, Starlin. Syd saw first hand what happened at Sarka...she tried to defend the Generator and failed once the SJC got the bright Idea to try using the shield as a weapon instead. She might not be saying out loud that the War can't be won The Order's way, but I know her. She's thinking it."

Or'Fol Moric

 

[Chasianna]

Location: Desert World, Outer Rim
Tags: Laertia Io Jacen Nimdok Or'Fol Moric Josh Dragovalor

The Jedi lied as easily as a Hutt ate.

This was the first time the Sister had ever spoken to a Jedi or heard one speak directly. In listening to them, especially the words of the fair-skinned blonde and the deception of the Professor, all of the propaganda the strandcast Sith had been inundated with even during her growth period within her exowomb was validated. Lies, lies, and more unholy lies. The truth, twisted and bent like a Mirialan contortionist, into an image that resembled nothing of the original picture. Now, she saw how easily it could all be perverted, how armed, bloodthirsty Jedi Knights could be portrayed as innocents, how a Sith defending her home could be portrayed as a monster akin to the Bryn'adûl, and how traumatized refugees receiving aid from a benevolent actor could be portrayed as indoctrinated cultists.

If treachery was the way of the Sith, then deception was that of the Jedi.

In listening to Laertia, the Sister took in the words of a heroine she had grown to love, once for her courage in fighting heretics over the Third Imperial Civil War and now for her relentless, uncompromising defiance in the face of the accusing Jedi. Her red mask was that of a villain, but beneath were the big, infatuated eyes of a girl, looking on her idol with awe and respect. While her devotion towards Carnifex and his Eclipsing Mission remained unchanged, for now, especially owing to the flash indoctrination she had been subjected to since her conception, in the Black Knight the Sister had found a being she could serve of her own free will rather than compulsion.

Only time would tell which master would win out.

For now, the Sister remained silent, letting her hate and anger slowly simmer to a boil, sensing that words were only a prelude to violence.

Spoiler: Loadout

• First Sister’s Sith Uniform
  • Undersuit
    • UL-14 “Virtus” Class Underlay
  • Energy Shield(s)
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Alchemical Talisman(s)
    • Jin'Wodasir - Pins of Protection (2)
    • Talisman of Concentration
  • Left Wrist
    • ACS-207 Cryo-Ban Gun
  • Right Wrist
    • Wide-Beam Sonic Stunner
  • Utility Belt
    • FAE/U-01 "Serenity" Anti-Signal Field System
    • Supernal Infusion
• Whimsy Knife
• DL-13 Holdout Blaster

 

[Or'Fol Moric]

“If I may Io, Grandmasters” Or’Fol started in his usual deep voice. He looked at the others there, knowing he would need to try and remain calm as he spoke. Not too hard for him. He would then continue, remaining in his usual, at ease state.

“While I can empathize with your views, I think that you are missing something. Yes, you’re kills have been in combat, but it has been in assistances to the Sith Empire. Along with this, you act as though facing the Sith and the Bryn is an impossibility. There is an old saying my own Master taught me when I was a Padawan. Do not become so blinded by one problem that another is ignored.

“I believe full and well that you began this with good intentions, I also believe it has, to some extent, caused you to forgot the rest of the Galaxy. You act as though evacuations mean we accept defeat, but my taking civilian population out of the war zone we can both better protect them, and open up the field for more a aggressive tactics that would be too dangerous otherwise.

“We can not turn our eye from the Sith just because the Bryn are our focus. I must ask, what would you have us do, Io? Take all of our forces to focus on the Bryn, leaving our other worlds unprotected. Even if the Elder Pact had gone through, have you forgotten what the Sith did to the Mandalorians, there own allies. After what happened, I’m not sure we can put enough trust in the Empire to fully pull our forces from the boarder.

“I will, however, agree that these people.... I can’t imagine what they’ve lost. I won’t say you should change them, as I’m not sure they will ever truly know peace after what has happened. I can only hope they are prepared for the fight that is to come.” Or’Fol would then stop, and look at Io and the First Sister. He could feel that neither quiet trusted what any of them were saying, and honestly, part of him couldn’t blame them. He could hope they would at least consider his words.

Jacen Nimdok Josh Dragovalor Laertia Io Chasianna

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

Nimdok kept his expression serene both during Laertia’s insults and her tirade. He was used to this by now, having witnessed it during the Elder Compact conferences as Tom Kovack, and even during their interview. It was more of the same, really, just with different planets and peoples.

Or’Fol said his piece, speaking calmly and reasonably compared to Josh, though both had made their points. So far they hadn't gotten anywhere. Before Nimdok could speak again, Starlin stepped forward to answer Laertia’s question of why he was here.

“I’m here as a Jedi,” the Padawan said, jerking a thumb at his chest. “I get that you want to help these people, and I don’t judge you for it. But you’ve been targeting my people, Laertia, and not even for that good of a reason. You realize the Jedi in the NJO have fought the Bryn’adul alongside the Silvers? They’ve added their numbers to ours whenever they could spare them. Sure, you can argue that they’ve spread themselves too thin trying to fight a two-front war, but that’s their problem, not yours. You’re spreading yourself thin by antagonizing them, when you should be saving your resources and manpower for the Bryn!”

Sighing, he took a moment to calm himself. Yelling at her out of frustration with her twisted reasoning wasn’t going to get him anywhere. Lowering the volume of his voice to normal levels again, he continued, “The way I see it, it’s only a matter of time before we end up on opposite sides of a battlefield anyway. Even if you don’t care about my life, think about Syd and what fighting me will do to her. Do you really want to put her in a position where she has to choose between you and me?”

There it was. The reason why Nimdok had asked Starlin to come with them. They had already tried to assail Laertia’s mind, and soon they would likely be assaulting her body, but the boy could attack Laertia’s heart. Nimdok couldn’t think of anything he could say that would top it, so he remained silent, watching to see Laertia’s reaction.

The professor saw it as a calculated move; the negotiations here were little more than a complex game of dejarik he was playing, albeit with many lives at stake. But for Starlin, this was a genuine emotional plea. He didn’t want to hurt Syd any more than Laertia did, but he was unwilling to go against his principles as a Jedi or tolerate the slaughter of his brethren. If she refused to stop killing Jedi, well… they’d have to stop her. It was unfortunate that they’d likely have to resort to violence, but if there was no other way to end the cycle of destruction, so be it.

Laertia Io Josh Dragovalor Or'Fol Moric Chasianna​

 

[Laertia Io]

"The NJO are a bunch of useless little chits." Xiphos said flatly. "A bunch of teens who screamed loud enough that Starchaser buckled and set me on the path I am now. Their leader led the vast majority of them to death, at either my hands or someone elses. He casually dismisses the death of unarmed children, and vows belligerence even towards governments that haven't wronged him just for being run by Sith. And you're quite wrong that this two front bullchit is their problem, and not mine. It IS mine. It's everyone's problem. The more they choose to focus on Sith, the less they focus on the Bryn. And they have clearly chosen the Sith as more important. You really wanna tout their successes? At Ziost, a lot of them went crazy and slaughtered their own after a planetwide Dark Ritual was performed. They want to defeat the Sith, and The Bryn'adul, yet they consistently fail to truly understand their foe. EITHER of them." Xiphos replied, gesturing to a corpse of a Bryn'adul on a table, a recent autopsy performed.

"Did you know these people are cloned? Some of them mature into full adults after five months or so. They often have a secondary heart and stomach that processes Ceramic material. The organs are coated by thick plates of bone in some areas. Their skin is compressed molecularly, allowing them immense resistance aganst heat. Their weapons use living tissue serving mechanical functions. I learned this because I want to know how to murder them better. Sith? I already know everything I need to know. Did any of you bother learning this about them? I'm betting no. Because you all turn tail and run from them. Because you all want that win against The Sith. Even though it won't matter in the end. You always miss one of them, at least. Always. I could play a tune to often its happened.

Her fist clenched as he brought up the possibility they would have to fight, and how it would hurt Syd.

"My resources are minimal at the moment. I lead only a relatively small army. Your factions are the ones with the major military power, and you waste it on old grudges. And if The Mandalorians got torn down by the Sith, well, they should be ashamed for not putting up a better fight, given their martial history. And its a risk you will have to take partnering up with them to stop a much worse evil. You might lose a few worlds to them. Might get a poison knife to your back in the end, but The Bryn'adul must be stopped even with the risks this one has mentioned." Xiphos explained gesturing to Or'Fol Moric .

"Don't talk like you are one of them. You're not...even if you'd like to be. (Ahead of The Curve: 90 XP) The only reason you consider them your people is because this slippery feth that is desperately trying to use you to erode my will sent you on a collision course with an Ex-Sith who became your Master. You really think you're pure in their eyes? You aren't. You're one major disagreement away from summary dismissal, Starlin." Xiphos scoffed, fists clenching. "I was you once upon a time. I had my head full of that same starry eyed bullchit. I grew out of it. You will too, I think, once you've worked with these out of touch individuals long enough." she said flatly and with conviction.

"One day, you'll wake up and you'll be thirty, and you will realize that the Sith Lords are still around no matter the victories, and they'll probably have a few new empires up and running. The same people giving you bad advice and bad orders on safeguarding the Galaxy now will be giving you bad advice and bad orders in the future, and you'll realize while you were busy gutting everyone with a red saber that a hundred, a thousand more insidious threats that don't need The Sith Code have taken full root. But it won't be your purview, so you won't care. If you had been at Sarka, you would understand just how much doubt is in Syd now, and why. I lost one of my only real friends there. His name was Alyosha. He died fighting, cut down from behind. He went down fighting the real enemy. Fighting me and the Sith is a waste of your energy. You think you're more important to Syd than a population getting wiped out because of a moment of misplaced sentiment? Because that's whats at stake here. Kashyyyk is on the menu now. You think you're worth more to Syd than helping save the Wookiees? Than helping save the whole Galaxy from The Bryn'adul. You even fought any recently, or have you just been mindlessly falling into their oh-so-comfy routines?" She asked. "You might be the closest thing Syd has to a son, but you do not come before the whole Galaxy, Starlin. And if she picks you what then? She's in for a life of scorn and humiliation from Jedi, a twice over traitor, forced to cross her T's and dot her I's. She'll never be allowed to disagree and they will never truly trust her ever again, if they ever did. The moment she acts up after that, it really 'will' be all over for her. That's what you'll be forcing her into, Rand. A life of misery and subservience, all for the sake of being perceived as righteous by her peers. She'll be wasted being sent to fight the Sith. You'll both be wasted fighting them. But that's okay, right, Starlin? As long as you get to live out your Luke Skywalker fantasies. What makes you think you'll be respected? You had enough will to defy The Order once. They'll spend the rest of your life trying to stamp it out of you. You offer stones around necks. I offer purpose. I don't want to fight you, but the only one who can place you on a battlefield is you. You will make the choice to fight. Not I."

Chasianna grew angry, anticipating the violence. Xiphos found herself thanking providence that she had found respect from someone the old Laertia would have considered an enemy.

"If The SJC will not appreciate the seriousness of The Bryn'adul, given all the slaughters that have occured since Sarka fell, I gotta ask, just how much do the Bryn'adul have to hurt you all, personally, before your two-front war crap stops making sense?"

Josh Dragovalor

Starlin Rand

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh remained calm as their furious adversary threw words into the wind. He knew it was coming, but deep down he really had hoped she'd understand. The others tried too. He looked towards Starlin Rand when they spoke, a bit surprised they had brought someone close to her to try and reach her heart. Was this a strategy? Or had they chosen to come themselves thinking their bond would allow for her to listen to him? He'd probably never know, but it didn't seem to do much. He had chosen to keep silent while the others made their attempts. But at this point, they were moments from being about to come to blows anyway. It couldn't hurt to try one more time.

"I've learned a few things over the years. Nearly every battlefield I've ever been on has wound up with innocents caught in the crossfire. Every battle you wage puts them at risk. War is a horrible thing, and I look forward to the day we'll be done with it. The families our battles impact is a never-ending source of guilt for me" he spoke softly, frowning in turn. It was part of why he had been on these big battlefields less than he was when he was a young man. Now that he was an older man with a family of his own, he couldn't ignore the suffering of others. It made him a liability on the battlefield. Which was why when the Concord had asked him to be there solely to get out innocent people in the previous battle, he had obliged. That was something he could do. "The more battles you wage, the more innocent people die. Which is why we prefer not to fight a battle on two fronts when it shouldn't be necessary. And why I don't understand why you choose to. As for the Sith... Yes. Yes they have. And they will again given the opportunity. If they cannot control it, they destroy it. That is the Sith Empire's way. I watched them glass their own ally's planet just to kill a handful of Jedi. I've got a nice scar from trying to hold that back. Still hurts sometimes. I've seen them abduct and experiment on people time and time again. Carnifex, Vornskr, whatever he calls himself these days, especially likes children as subjects. I watched his machinations destroy the Seren family. I hope he never takes your kids, myself. Nobody deserves that."

Somehow he doubted she'd care. She was likely too far gone.

"I'm sure this crusade started with good intentions. But fighting people who are fighting the Bryn right now is worthless. It's throwing away the lives of your own people, and putting everyone at a disadvantage against the Bryn. We're gift-wrapping them a victory, if you haven't noticed. I'm not asking you to throw away these people's ideals. But I am asking you that, if they have to fight, and really I'd rather they not, but if that fire is in their hearts, have them focus on what's important. And that's the Bryn. Once the Bryn are gone, and the Silver Jedi can turn our focus to defending the people against the Sith who will seek to take advantage the moment the Bryn are gone, then we can handle this ideological issue with these people. Preferably at a table, instead of on a battlefield. I have no desire to spill yours or any of these people's blood and my comrades feel the same."

He sighed. This had been a long week.

"My point? I won't ask you to gut your crusade and pretend that your anger and that of those that follow you isn't justified. At least not yet. But tensions are far too high with this war ongoing to do much in the name of heart to heart. We have a common enemy in the Bryn. If you care as much about this issue with the Bryn as you say, let's put the focus there. Let's get it done, let's get that bread. After that, I'd like to talk to those that followed you here. Hear their feelings, hear their ails. And try to figure something out. They're not like the Sith, or the Bryn. They don't just want to enslave, control or destroy. They're lashing out. That's not evil, that's human. But it's manifesting into something that will eventually spiral out of even your control. And I think that's something that can be talked over."

He wished they could do it now. But they didn't have the time, did they? And there was another complicating factor. If they arrested Io, it would take time for the initial rage to subside before her followers would be willing to talk our their issues. He didn't really want to arrest her, but the law was what it was.

Laertia Io Chasianna Starlin Rand Or'Fol Moric Jacen Nimdok

 

[Chasianna]

Location: Desert World, Outer Rim
Tags: Laertia Io Jacen Nimdok Or'Fol Moric Josh Dragovalor

“You lie, Jedi dog.”

The tiny Sith’s tone, though high-pitched perhaps to the point of absurdity, was nevertheless dripping with anger, primal and borderline unhinged as she addressed the blonde-haired Jedi in direct response to his statement regarding her master. Beneath her red mask, her pale features had twisted into an expression of rage, the cyan glint of her eyes visible even from a cursory glance at the visor of her helmet. Even if the Jedi indeed spoke the truth, she would never believe him, as it had been presented in a box of what the Sister considered to be lies, delivered from the tongue of an individual who peddled in such.

“Children? You want to speak of children? What about the acolytes on Korriban? Ziost? Bastion?” The Sister began. “The truth is that the Jedi enjoy fighting us, perhaps because everytime you fight the Bryn'adûl, you lose!” She roared. “Billions, trillions of lives mean nothing to you as long as you can continue your little crusades!”

“After all, they’re just a bunch of extinct aliens out in Wild Space! Only a couple of them are human or Near-Human, so who cares? The Jedi certainly don’t!” The electromancer added, shamelessly pulling out the speciesist card.

“It’ll take the Bryn’adul going after their harems and cafarels on Ryloth, Eshan, or Zeltros for them to finally give a kark.” The Sister answered Laertia. “But Lowick, home of the Pa’lowicks? Kubindi? Er’stacia? Not a finger.”

Spoiler: Loadout

• First Sister’s Sith Uniform
  • Undersuit
    • UL-14 “Virtus” Class Underlay
  • Energy Shield(s)
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Alchemical Talisman(s)
    • Jin'Wodasir - Pins of Protection (2)
    • Talisman of Concentration
  • Left Wrist
    • ACS-207 Cryo-Ban Gun
  • Right Wrist
    • Wide-Beam Sonic Stunner
  • Utility Belt
    • FAE/U-01 "Serenity" Anti-Signal Field System
    • Supernal Infusion
• Whimsy Knife
• DL-13 Holdout Blaster

 

[Or'Fol Moric]

Or'Fol looked between Io and the First Sister, quickly letting out a sharp breath from his blowhole, signifying he had something important to say. He then looked at the Sister, raising his hand slightly.

"Easy, young one." He almost waited to see if she'd realize something before speaking up, taking a more calm breath. "I do not believe any of us can answer for what happened to the acolytes.... I can only speak for myself on that regard. Attacks of that kind... they shouldn't happen. As for what happened on Lowick, no one, no matter how hard we try, can be everywhere at once. The Republic and Separatists both had similar issues during the Clone Wars. Even if we could clear the entire defense force from the Sith Imperial boarder, it wouldn't be enough to guard every world...." He would then turn to Laertia, looking almost like a slightly disappointed teacher. He almost wasn't sure how to answer her. He still remained oddly calm, but anyone who knew him for long enough knew that calm seemed to be the Master's default.

"Laertia... Do you hear some of the things you're saying? You act as if the only answer to convince the NIO to change tactics is to kill them if they fight anyone other than then Bryn. How many people will this extend to? The rebels in the Eternal Empire? Outer Rim militias fighting pirate? Where is the line drawn, Io? Along with this, you seem to want us to understand what your people here are going through, yet show an almost... remarkable amount of coldness to a people that were nearly wiped out, and could possibly empathies with those here better than any of us.

"I don't say any of this to berate you. I simply want you to take a second and think.... Is what you're doing really going to unite the Galaxy against the Bryn?"

Laertia Io Chasianna Jacen Nimdok Josh Dragovalor

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

Starlin scowled as Laertia belittled him. It was clear she viewed him as nothing more than a naïve child being led along by the hand by Nimdok and the rest of the Jedi. Her speech grew more lengthy as she refuted their arguments, trashed the NJO, and talked down to them from a position of imagined moral superiority.

“Do you ever stop talking?” Starlin snapped. “Ever since Syd fixed your speech impediment, it’s like you can’t shut the feth up. Hell, even before that you would shoot off at the mouth like you thought you were some great orator. You think you know better than everyone else, as if you have all the information—”

“Starlin,” Nimdok interrupted, holding up a hand to silence the boy. He was concerned by the anger he could sense bubbling up in Starlin, though not enough to be alarmed. There was no sign that Starlin was about to do anything rash, aside from exchanging verbal barbs with the woman, so he let it slide with only a warning.

“Yes, Miss Io, we have studied the Draelvasier ourselves,” Nimdok continued, addressing Laertia. He spoke with an air of patience which served to mask his own growing annoyance. “We also know that disruptor weapons seem to be the most effective offensive technology against them currently available. The main reason we have not employed them more extensively in battle is because disruptors are illegal in most civilized systems, and such worlds are unwilling to suspend their laws even temporarily in order to manufacture enough to eradicate the Bryn’adul.”

He didn’t answer any more of her words. Most of it was directed at Starlin, who seethed beside him, even baring his teeth. While Josh spoke, Nimdok focused on keeping Starlin in check.

<Do not give in,> he spoke to the boy telepathically so none would hear. <She is goading you. Her entire platform is moral superiority. She wants us to be the first ones to strike so she can use it as more fodder for her cause.>

<We’re supposed to arrest her!> Starlin shot back. <At what point do we stop listening to her foam at the mouth and actually do something?>

<When the time comes—>

His concentration was interrupted by the tiny fey-like girl in armor who stood beside Laertia like a loyal pet. She snarled at Josh in her squeaky voice, speaking up for the first time since the negotiations began. Nimdok’s brow furrowed. The Jedi enjoy fighting us? Ah. She was one of Laertia’s Sith allies. Given that First Sister had brought up what the NJO did to the Sith acolytes, and Nimdok was the one who had broken the news with his article about their war crimes, he opened his mouth to respond—only for Or’Fol to quiet them all with a blast from his blowhole. He spoke well, without mincing words, yet his honesty was tempered by compassion. Nimdok was unsure if Laertia would be responsive to it at this point, but it was worth a shot. All these negotiations were worth a shot.

Unfortunately, he never got the chance to see her reaction. Without warning, Starlin activated his shoto and a new lightsaber he had built using the Ghostfire crystal he and Syd had found in a cache on Kashyyyk. The blade was silent and nearly invisible to the naked eye, but the orange blade of the shoto bathed the immediate area around the Padawan in a fiery glow. That radius swiftly changed as he leaped forward, lunging at Laertia where she sat.

“Starlin, no!”

But it was too late. How the boy had managed to hide his intentions from Nimdok up until the very last moment, the Grandmaster didn’t know. There was perhaps a split second in which Nimdok might have been able to stop him, but he didn’t take the chance. Some part of him was admittedly glad that Starlin had acted, for while he had been willing to try, he had never truly believed that Laertia could be reasoned with.

As sobering as this realization was, he now had to act. Laertia was reluctant to harm Starlin, so he made no attempt to protect the boy or pull him away from her. While Starlin charged at Laertia, intent on disarming her by cutting off her hands, Nimdok instead focused on the people around them—the refugees, the trainees, the droids, and anyone else who might join the fight or get caught in the crossfire. Exerting his will, he stunned everyone who remained in the immediate area. A series of thuds followed as dozens of bodies slumped to the ground, unconscious. Some of the Force sensitive trainees might be able to resist, and it of course had no effect on the droids, but at least it got the civilians out of harm’s way.

Next he turned his attention to the Neutralizers. The air crackled with ionization as he attempted to disable the droid fighters before they had a chance to attack. If they could decrease her numbers now, it would increase their chances of taking her nonlethally. Her army would shoot to kill.

Laertia Io Josh Dragovalor Or'Fol Moric Chasianna​

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

TAG: Starlin Rand Laertia Io Or'Fol Moric Chasianna Jacen Nimdok



Josh stared at the Sister during her own tantrum like she had grown a second head for the sake of ensuring if one head got tired of going on a tangent, the other would pick up the slack. His eyes half-liddedly sending a clear message of being absolutely done with today. These people were lucky he had the patience of both a parent and a Jedi. Because he was pretty sure he was dealing with a bunch of children right now. Especially Io’s pet Sith, who he had figured was a Sith by her aura, but her wording made him realize he was seriously talking with a Sith Empire Sith.

Ok yeah no, these negotiations were doomed from the start if Io was sharing pets with Carnifex.

Speaking of children, Knowledge’s child became tired of being yelled at by Sith and clapped back. He didn’t blame him, but it wasn’t the best time. Nimdok seemed to quell his fire for a bit, but as the Sith continued being Sith, the child flew from the nest at probably the worst time possible. It was only when Nimdok cried out that Josh realized what was happening.

“Oh you’ve gotta be kidding me.”

Josh reached forward and yanked the kid back with the Force, yeeting him back and plopping him beside Josh who placed a hand on his shoulder. Buddy needed to slow his roll, otherwise they might skewer him.

Unfortunately, it was too late. Foreseeing an attack after Starlin struck first, Nimdok stunned Io’s followers. Josh sighed in exasperation.

“Can we have ONE conversation that doesn’t escalate into violence? Just one?” commented the Jedi Master as he held out his arms between the two groups like he was trying to keep back a bunch of angry dinosaurs. He didn’t blame Nimdok, these people were looking for an excuse to attack and Starlin had just given them one. But some peace would have been a nice change of pace. Still, he stayed at the ready, knowing full well his lightsaber would be in his hand in a second. “I swear to kark it’s like nobody knows how to act like a rational adult anymore” he muttered under his breath.

 

[Laertia Io]

"If you care so much about the Bryn, than why is it so hard for you to stop engaging the Empire? You guys have been looking down on me for siding with the Sith. Why the hell can't I look down on you for siding with the NIO? Those guys have Dark Adepts. You work with them because they aren't calling themselves Sith, and that's just enough to allow you to tolerate them. If the governments are not willing to manufacture disruptors, I have no such moral hangups. I'll happily make them and give them to whoever wants to kill The Bryn'adul. You guys can hold yourself to a pointless civility to them, but I won't. And how the feth is it you can have multiple factions unite when it's just ONE giant murderous space station over the world of Csilla, yet none of you will join hands to face the Bryn'adul?"

Before she could ponder the question further, Starlin Rand leapt to strike at her hands, his ghost blade almost catching her by surprise before she deflected his blade. The match had been struck. Despite Josh Dragovalor attempting to undo it, her son's went active, vengeance on their processor driven minds. Jacen Nimdok halted it somewhat with Ionize, but they had a natural resistance to Ion and we're only somewhat made to malfunction, their targeting system skewered as their glitched systems slowly started to recover.

The War Knight's drew green blades but Xiphos halted them.

"Get the refugees out of here!" Xiphos ordered. "The trainees too!"

The War Knight's nodded, and began twisting the Light Side to help reverse the effects of the stun Nimdok had used, reviving them and yelling them to run. The Neutralizers , still recovering, blocked the way of Or'Fol Moric to try and prevent him from interfering with the War Knight's efforts, pointing what onboard weapons were still operational at him, Josh, and Nimdok, but otherwise made no moves.

Xiphos went into a Soresu guard with her SynthBreaker, it's strange all green core and white blade an inversion of a typical lightsaber blade.

"Now I understand why Syd likes you. Unpredictable." She said to Starlin jovially. "The Jedi don't like unpredictable, Kid. They'll come down on you hard for it. Eventually."

Xiphos flourished her Lightsaber.

"I will not submit. I am no longer a part of your Order. It has neither the will to defeat the Bryn'adul, not the desire to do anything but waste time with the Sith Lords. You have no one but yourselves to blame for your recent setbacks. You lack even the resolve to employ the most effective weapons against your real foes. Going back to taking your orders would be a fool's game. Doing it your way dooms The Galaxy! So I shall do it my way. Not as Laertia Io. That woman fought her last battle at Sarka. No. I shall do it as a Light Side Sith. Out in the open. Allow me to introduce myself. My name...is Darth Xiphos..." Xiphos said calmly. "Attack me with all that you are. All that you have. I do not fear you. Or flee, as Ryv did, as Rurik Fel himself did..."

The Advanced Prototype, Lyssa, came running, arm's formed into blades to battle their Lightsabers.

"Do we get to Boogie, Mother?" Lyssa asked in her ever creepy serene manner.

"Oh, yes, Daughter! We're gonna Disco Ball this chit!" Xiphos exclaimed, willing a mechanism to activate with her technopath skills.

A little drone Disco Ball on a nearby box floated out and began spinning. "Ooooo, pretty!" One of The Model 1's called out.

Xiphos concentrated and backed away, summoning two Force Doppelgangers of herself, each having their own signature. They moved in between each other as they approached, trying to confuse as to who the real Xiphos was, as her blade struck out for Nimdok's wrist...

* Chasianna , pick whoever you want EXCEPT Starlin! He's mine to deal with!* Xiphos called out mentally to First Sister and got closer and closer to Nimdok...

 

[Chasianna]

Location: Desert World, Outer Rim
Tags: Laertia Io Jacen Nimdok Or'Fol Moric Josh Dragovalor

Her anger only grew more intoxicating as the Jedi spoke, mincing words in the manner of practiced liars and deceivers, offering platitudes, excuses, and most enraging, condescension. Fortunately, the Qilin could sense the tension hanging thick in the air, a sign that the time for words was about to draw to a close. In observing the impatience of the youngest Jedi in the group, the Sister embraced the power of the Dark, raw anger and hatred seized as a font of power, in stark contrast to that of the Light Sith. Having only trained with the Serpents for a day, after arriving at Laertia’s camp the night before, it went without saying that the Sister was not yet adept in their way of harnessing the Force. As such, she would use the teachings and techniques that were familiar to her, those of the New Sith, over the ones that she had only recently been exposed to.

Hated them though she did, the Jedi were unquestionably dangerous and would always receive the most effort and attention she could muster.

However, just as the youngest Jedi moved to attack, the Sister felt her focus briefly interrupted, owing to the effects of a Stun. Fortunately, her helmet’s integrated consciousness retention system quickly shocked her back into awareness, though too late for her to intercept the Jedi in his attempt at disarming her idol.

“You’ll pay for that Jedi dog!” The electromancer roared as galvanic energy crackled around her hands, primed to be released at will. “If she won’t kill you, then I will!” She added. If it came to it that Xiphos herself was unwilling to kill Starlin (Though, the Sister was confident that the Black Knight would be able to), the electromancer would not hesitate to electrocute him herself, if necessary.

“You chose violence by coming here!” The Sister shouted in response to the blonde-haired Grand Master. “You want peace? Leave.”

Spoiler: Loadout

• First Sister’s Sith Uniform
  • Undersuit
    • UL-14 “Virtus” Class Underlay
  • Energy Shield(s)
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Alchemical Talisman(s)
    • Jin'Wodasir - Pins of Protection (2)
    • Talisman of Concentration
  • Left Wrist
    • ACS-207 Cryo-Ban Gun
  • Right Wrist
    • Wide-Beam Sonic Stunner
  • Utility Belt
    • FAE/U-01 "Serenity" Anti-Signal Field System
    • Supernal Infusion
• Whimsy Knife
• DL-13 Holdout Blaster

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

TAG: Starlin Rand Jacen Nimdok Chasianna Laertia Io Or'Fol Moric



Josh's eyelids further dropped as the "newly" appointed "Light" Sith Lord announced herself. Yeeeeah this was never going to work, was it? She was bonkers before they had even walked in.

"Great."

He looked to Jacen Nimdok a moment.

"Just for the record? I'm drafting mental health legislation ideas when we're done here. I think it's kind of obvious when you consider what's in front of us, but I think it might be a little overdue."

Was he kidding? Who knew with Dragovalor? Either way, it looked like fighting was the only option they had. Even if they wanted to leave as the First Sister put it, the followers wanted blood. And did she call them her children? Okay, definitely off the deep end mad. Right down to the disco ball. Great. So now she considered herself a god, an all-mother of sorts. Even better! Josh couldn't look anymore like a disappointed and done-with-it-all parent if he tried. With that, he directed his attention to Xiphos and her goons.

"Well, that's a fine speech from someone who's so-far managed to kill everyone but the Bryn. Congratulations" he commented dryly as he drew his lightsaber, the blue blade humming as he flourished and took stance, further examining the battlefield around them. The attempt to knock out the brunt of their forces hadn't worked with ion, so that meant he'd need to do this the old fashioned way.

First Sister spoke up. Josh was more focused on more important things, but he didn't forget his license to sass.

"I'm starting to get the impression I touched a nerve by bringing up that experimenting on children is actually a bad thing" he brought up. "Considering you're a Carnifex puppet, this is probably news to you."

Xiphos made the first move. But Josh made the second.

He calmly held out a hand and ripped the disco ball from its position, deciding first to take care of the doppelganger problem. Controlling it with telekinesis, he launched it at the three Xiphos' from behind, hoping to pingpong it between the three of them and disperse the illusion before it could cause problems for Nimdok.

He never liked disco balls anyway.