A Quest For Good Or Evil

[Stephanie Swail]

NAR SHADDAA
Hutt Space​

Away from the tourists, residents and pleasure seekers of Nar Shaddaa's grimy underworld, Asterion sat illuminated by the faint red glow of a large neon sign high above advertising something in a language he didn't quite understand, or particularly want to.

Resting his arms on his knees with data-pad in hand, he was once more researching the history of the Sith, and this time it had brought him to this dirty planet, fuelled by filth, corruption and greed. The Sith had once seen a strong academy run on the planet to train assassins, and so during his training under Kara Vi'dreya, he had made it important to seek out all history he could of the Sith Order he was now following in.

He wore his Acolyte armour of course, but he hadn't fixed it all up to give him a more casual look as he wasn't expecting trouble. But on Nar Shaddaa he knew that could change in a heartbeat.

The Acolyte was sure there was more to this planet than meets the eye, and he wasn't going to waste his time in the entertainment districts longer than he had. Watching the population thrive off cheap thrills, seedy pleasure and endless gambling made him see how pitiful and weak these people were.

He kept his head down, running a finger across his stubbled chin as he read, the Force stretching out around him to guard his surroundings for any hint of danger.



[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

This planet...

So many memories...

Nar Shaddaa had once been the home of Maria Zambrano, the Witch of Arx Mortis. Her life had started here, her first years were spent here. It was more than home to her as it brought back bad emotions, the worst memories she had of her childhood. Yet she was on the planet again. Why? Was she trying to do something?

One couldn't say much about her reason to be there, herself included. Just like sometimes people get the need to do something, Maria just felt like she had to come to the planet. And she did.

Now standing on top of a building, looking down and around herself, she admired the business of this planet. It was a powerful ecumenopolis, a bit like Coruscant, for example. Strangely, Maria didn't know if she had ever been to the centre of the galaxy. Yes, she had been to other ecumenopolises before. And they were all great. So was Nar Shaddaa.

Mostly.

Wearing a civilized black dress, she looked quite normal on the planet. She would have easily managed blending into the mass and doing something with others, maybe even visiting a casino or something, but she wanted to do something more... exotic.

And on that moment, she understood, that there may be some artifacts on her former home planet.

Yes, there was a chance, that there are powerful relics just somewhere around the place. They could have been in museums or belonging to people, they could have been in safe places or maybe even underground.

But there were many treasures to find.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

It was the Brotherhood Of Darkness who had trained the Sith here many, many years ago. Asterion had heard about the Brotherhood, but didn't know how far their legacy had swept across the galaxy.

He needed to find the location of the Academy, now he expected nothing but desolate and a ruin, but maybe he could find something that would unlock a secret of the past that he could harvest from? Maybe. Jumping down from the low lying wall where he sat, he looked up to see his Sith star-fighter cloaked on the roof above him. Asterion flipped down his data-pad to pocket and ensure his transport was secure and tagged so he could find his way back.

Looking around at the bustling city he was in, he really didn't know where to start. He needed to find someone with connections to the planet; someone who knew its history.

Asterion closed his eyes and stretched out with the Force to feel those around him. A few casual citizens, a drunk, a couple of strong Force users whom posed no threat or interest, and a...Sorceress? A Witch? It was surprising to feel the presence of a Witch. Hadn't their type died out?

The Acolyte opened his eyes and decided to reach whoever was out there around him.

"Are you wicked or sweet. Witch."

He scanned around the area, the neon light casting a now eerie illumination around him.


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

Now came the moment when Maria felt the serious urge to do something. And this 'something' just happened to be jumping off the building. It was a skyscraper, a typical one on Nar Shaddaa, and falling down from it would be fatal. But insane ones would jump off of it willingly, and it seemed to be that Maria is one of these.

But she was a Force-Sensitive. Thus, there were many ways to protect herself from all the injuries which may follow the jump. Having fallen only fifteen metres, she already had a plan of what to do. She wanted to land on top of a car and then visit a museum. One of them just had to contain a powerful artifact Maria had never dreamed of having. But now, as an adult and a Force-user, she felt like it would be needed.

Of course, if nobody else wanted it.

At that moment, Maria did not know about [member="Asterion"], a Sith Acolyte, who had already noticed her. She wasn't prepared for meeting him.

And after some moments, the Witch of Arx Mortis finally landed on top of a driving car. The collision injured Maria greatly; her right knee started aching, her left leg nearly broken. Anyways, had she met the ground, there would be no Maria Zambrano anymore.

Phew...

 

[Stephanie Swail]

He looked up through the busy sky lane. Up over the rooftops. Across the various entertainment and retail units. Nothing. Maybe he was feeling something, or someone, too powerful for him to be involved with. Turning back on himself he decided to -

- There. What was that?

Asterion turned along with a few idle passers by at the sound of a sudden bang, an impact of something hitting a speeder. Accompanied by a flurry of alarm and horns, the incident was nearer than expected. The Acolyte started to make his way over to the sky lane feeding through the entertainment district and already saw a crowd amassing in an open courtyard.

It seemed either someone had misjudged passing speeders, or some dangerous assault gone wrong. Hanging back to see a girl being helped away from a speeder with a wonderful dent on the roof and smashed glass either side. He couldn't help flick his eyes upwards into the sky...she hadn't jumped, had she? No - she'd be dead by now.

She pricked his curiosity however, because she radiated that darkness he had felt before of the Sorceress or one involved with Dark Magic. Maybe she had just performed some in front of these others? What was she up to? Standing behind a pair of orange Twi'lek girls, Asterion watched and hid himself as best he could.


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

People had come to help Maria, but she stubbornly denied their help. She may have thought she hadn't injured herself at all. Yet she was wrong. As soon as she took as step, her left leg broke. It was painful even to see it. Yet Maria contained herself, tried to hold in a shout, and continued walking, Confectrix, her staff, being in her left hand, now using it to lean on it as she couldn't use her own leg anymore.

It was like a walking stick.

"Do your own stuff!" Maria yelled at the people around her. More and more people had come to see what had happened, a mass of them was forming around the place. The car she had fallen on was crushed, yet the owner didn't care about it much.

Kark.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion could only roll his eyes at her stubbornness - and it reminded him a lot of how he was months ago in his Sith training. Not letting anyone else in to help regardless of the situation. He still felt like that now, but if the goal was great however...then maybe it would be different.

With his Force ability, Asterion could feel the obvious pain the girl was in, but it didn't take the Force to see her leg was gone, and it looked quite painful. A small smile crept over his lips; what a predicament she was in indeed.

Stepping forward, Asterion made himself known.

"You want to get that leg sorted sweetheart. You carry on like that, you're going to suffer, worse than you are already."


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

What?

"Um... Well, I do not think I need help. I can carry on. You don't have to worry about me," the Witch of Arx Mortis spoke, her voice not being too friendly. In fact, it seemed like she thought these people around her are annoying. It should have told the man to stop worrying about the woman, at least in her own opinion.

Her leg hurt, blood flowed out of it, the bone was nearly noticeable. Yet she still wanted to continue doing what she wanted to.

As the woman moved away from the group, she left behind footprints of blood. She was terribly injured and would have needed some help really fast. Would have there been a healer, the whole situation would have been much less frightening. But most likely there were no healers nearby.

Why?

Seeing the path of blood behind her, Maria turned around and said, even though she didn't want to do that:

"Fine. I need help."

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Watching the girl, he felt nothing towards her, not even pity. The only thing he felt was there was something to her that Asterion could use, but he wasn't sure what. But he would certainly try to find it because she didn't just fall from the sky by coincidence...in his own mind, anyway.

"Wait there...for kriff's sake."

Pushing past a small Bith, Asterion turned to the crowd and spoke to their weak minds with the Force.

The Doctor is here. She will be ok. Go, now. Leave us.

Turning back to the wounded girl, he knew his mind-form would be enough to disperse most of the gawping crowd hoping to see some evolving drama play before their greedy, empty eyes. The Acolyte moved towards her and looked at her leg.

"Mind if I take a look...and is this dress of yours expensive?"


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

Maria sat down, not focusing on what the man is doing, and looked at her broken leg. Her knee was alright, but this one was both painful and... gross. Looking at it was actually as horrible as feeling it. She would have wanted to unleash a Force Scream, but she was able to hold it back a bit. Her own scream would have never been powerful as she was not too dark nor was she powerul enough. But still.

As the man turned back to her, she looked into the eyes of him. A typical human, she thought. She didn't know he was half Epicanthix. "My dress doesn't mean anything if I will be OK again."

She was a bit grumpy, but it was logical. Who would have felt happy in such a situation?

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Kneeling down in front of her, the orange and yellow neon sign of an eatery illuminated them from above in the square, a comforting noise of the nightlife around them made Asterion feel they were finally alone. But first he had to sort her wound out.

Taking the bottom of her dress, he found the thread and pulled it forcefully upwards, ripping the seam and taking a good length of the material from the dress. Sadly it now tore up to her thigh, hopefully she could cover up any modesty with her gowns.

"Sorry about that."

Wrapping the thread above the blood soaked wound, he tied it enough to cause her to wince but any pressure to help ease the blood would be beneficial for her. The next step however wouldn't be.

"Now, hold onto something. This is going to hurt."

He met her gaze again as he placed his right hand over her open wound.

"And no, I'm not a typical human."

Before she could protest, he pushed his hand down onto the wound, feeling the moistness of her blood soaked flesh and muscle under his fingers.

Fighting to keep her steady, Asterion closed his eyes and found himself pushing all of his Force power through his connection to the girl. He saw the muscles bind and dead cells regenerate. Her skin almost burnt as it radically began to heal as best it could against her resistance.

Her blood felt like it began to bubble gently under his fingers as it began to cauterize due to the accelerated healing process, hopefully it would be enough to repair her damaged muscle and skin enough for her to walk on with an aide and save the leg itself until she could have proper medical treatment.

[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"Now, hold onto something. This is going to hurt."

Maria didn't know what she should hold onto. There were not too many things which could just hold in her hand. But then, remembering her staff, she took it into her right hand and pushed it into the ground - even though it was cemented and what not - as deep as possible and just held it with her hands. She was lying on the ground, ready for whatever may follow up this little warning.

But what came was terrible. Whatever this 'saviour' did was horrible, it was pure torture to her.

"AAAAARRRRGHHH!"

And the Scream finally came. It echoed in the nearby locations, coming back from all objects the voice touched. Many people stopped what they were doing. Not many were used to feeling such a loud scream.

When the treatment was over, though, Maria's pain become a bit lighter. She was able to withstand it now, maybe even walk on the leg again. She had to try it out. "Are you done now?"

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion gripped her leg tight as he used what power he could to help accelerate her healing, until her scream knocked him back, hand pulling from the bloody opening. He rubbed his ear, looking at her as she stood as if nothing had happened.

"You're welcome," he said, half in shock, half in awe.

Standing, he wiped his hands over his dark trousers, her blood drying already on his fingers. Looking at her, it seemed his little touch had worked, and he was pleased with himself.

"Ok now what are you doing throwing yourself in front of speeders?"

He held out his arm in front of her, trying to take her to one side out of the yard and under the illuminated signs.


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"Thank you!" Maria said while rising to her feet. It looked like the leg was able to hold her up again, but it was still weak and painful. "I had a plan. I wanted to... Raid a place. And I had to get down from the building I was on really fast."

Her voice was returning to normal; her mood was getting better.

"Like you would care about what I do. Everybody should do their own things..." Well, no, she remained stubborn and a bit grumpy. Her mood was indeed better, but not enough to make her as cheerful as she typically is.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Frowning at her attitude, he remembered that he didn't owe this girl anything and she was lucky he was in a good mood. Otherwise he would have happily ignored her and let her bleed to death. He looked at her, taken aback by her attitude.

"You're lucky I didn't just leave you here so the least you could do is be nice. And no, I don't care what you do so don't flatter yourself thinking I do."

Tapping his chest, he smiled at her.

"I do what I want on my own terms."

His hands then opened up in a surrendering gesture.

"Good luck with your raid. IF you can hobble in past security that is."

Time to call her bluff. He turned to go back to his quieter place away from this girl and the eyes of those around them.

[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"Sorry..." Maria said without actually feeling like that. She was too selfish (at least at that moment) to thank anybody. It actually looked like her raid will not be successful. She couldn't go and steal anything with such a mood. Being angry was not something she enjoyed, thus, she would never be a great Sith.

The only thing is, that she isn't a Sith.

"Why would you think I can't break into a place?"

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

She certainly wasn't made of darker things, Asterion was sure of that the moment she uttered an apology. He smiled to himself and turned back to her, pitying the broken figure stood before him, yet admiring her strength and stubbornness at not giving in.

"You're wounded, hence you're weak. Expendable."

Looking around, he made a quick judgement and stepped closer to her.

"What are you seeking, and where are you planning to raid? If there's something in it for me... I may be willing to help you."


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

Pfft... What does being weak matter in this situation?

"I would love to break into a museum. It holds various artefacts, some of which have great effects on Force-Users. I am interested in stealing some of them. I don't know if you'd be interested," Maria spoke.

Of course he would be interested. Why would a Force-sensitive decline such an opportunity?

She tried to walk a few steps towards her staff which was still in the ground. It wasn't too deeply in it, only a few centimetres. That's what she had been able to do. When walking, her leg hurt, but luckily, not torturing her like it did only some time ago.

And she actually felt a bit thankful. The man had healed her leg, after all.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Why did he feel protective over this girl? He didn't even know her name. Yet he drive and her fire was something he could identify with - Sith or not.

"I myself am a Force user, albeit one who doesn't exactly follow the rules."

Automatically he helped her move towards the cane.

"I don't trust you, but I am willing to help if you say there are items there of great power. I could use some power about now."

Looking around, he found it hard a museum would be situated in a district like this, especially on Nar Shaddaa.


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"Oh, awesome! I don't trust you either, but..." came from Maria's mouth. She took her staff and kept it in her left hand.

"By the way, my name is Maria." She smiled and reached her right hand towards the man to shake hands with him. She had manners, actually. Just the current situation was not something where she could be really polite.

But her thoughts were not at all wandering around the current situation. She was more thinking about how to get into the building she wanted to raid. It was not exactly a public museum, more like a private one. And it belonged to a person she had heard of. The powerful businessman (most likely a Crime Lord) had been a friend of Maria's father.

And he had been a reason why her family had had to leave the planet.

[member="Asterion"]