A Quest For Good Or Evil

[Stephanie Swail]

He looked to her hand, and met it with his. It was funny how she seemed to warm to him. This immediately put his awareness on high alert, just in case.

"Asterion."

A gentle but firm grip spoke more than words, and she had it.

You just direct us to the museum and I will help you, it wont be a problem."

His ego was creeping up again, and he had to remember that it had nearly gotten him killed before and now he was with another, and wounded, he had to keep his wits and head about him.

"So tell me about this artefact you seek. Personal reasons or something else?"


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"I am looking to get some things for personal use. I don't know what kind of artefacts could be found there, but I am sure I'd love some of them. There should be Sith amulets there. And some meditation things. That's what I know. Of course there can be so many other things, too," was everything Maria said.

"We shall go now, though."

Starting moving towards the museum, one could easily notice how Maria hobbled. They should have taken a taxi.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion couldn't help notice Maria's hobble. He suddenly was unsure of her stability for carrying out a raid.

"Forgive me, but are you sure you're ok for this? I mean it could get a little dangerous and you may have to move fast. I'm not going to wait around for you."

In retrospect, it may work out better for the Acolyte to be in the better position of fitness here, as he could easily take what he needed and not fear her retribution on the basis she couldn't even walk without a grimace.

"You come here often then? Or are you one of those who turn up by chance and see what they can take before moving on?"


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"I can handle myself. Don't worry about me."

Maria was truly a bit tired of people seeing her as a weak person, even though this time, it was of pure empathy and she understood it. "I am a lady. I am a Force-user. Of course I can do that. I just need a bit rest. I'm sure if we took a taxi, my leg would get a lot better during the time we drive to the museum."

Then she listened to the man again. She wanted to give a perfect answer to his questions, but she wasn't able to form an effective one. Kark, why did she even want to form an effective sentence?

"It's more like a one-time opportunity. It just happened that I now want to steal some artefacts. Normally, I am a typical person."

"So are we going to take a taxi or not?"

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Nodding to try and quell her going on, he held up his hand to her.

"Fine, fine. Ok. Just...shut up, alright?"

Taking her gently by the arm, Asterion guided her down the stretch of the district towards a couple of dark yellow taxi speeders. He opted for the chubby Gran driver, who looked far more reserved and careful than the young Rodian in the speeder in front of him.

Helping Maria steadily into the rear seat of the taxi, Asterion followed and sat beside her.

"Ok, so where to?"

As if on cue, both Asterion and the Gran were looking at her, waiting for her destination.


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"I'm not sure if you know where it is, but... We would go to the residence of Sir Rylan Turow," Maria spoke. Turow was a known man on the planet. Not a celebrity, but still known. He was most likely the most famous person in this area of the planet. If the person driving the taxi was from that block, he would know where Rylan lives.

Hoping that the driver knows where he lives, Maria looked into the distance. Finally he'd get to pay back for what he did to the family of Servelus and Maria.

Finally Maria would get her revenge.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Safe to say Asterion had never heard of this Rylan Turlow, but the taxi driver had. Casting them a glance back for confirmation, which seemed odd, Maria simply nodded and with a grunt, he kicked the taxi into life and gently took off into the sky lanes, leaving behind the scene of their coincidental meeting.

The wind that whipped past them was wonderfully refreshing and very cooling, with the illumination of the seedy planet below a pleasant sight to behold on a dark night as this, with even darker company.

A thought crossed his mind - didn't she say a museum?

"Why are we going to a residence? And just who is Rylan Turlow? I thought you wanted to visit the museum?"

What was she up to....?


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"Sir Rylan Turow is a 'wondeful' man who owns the Turow Industries, quite a cool company. He owns a private museum near his residence which is really expensive, nearly five times as expensive as a typical one, and is full of things he has 'found'," Maria spoke. She didn't want to say anything bad about the man because of the possibility that the driver hears them and tells Turow what they are planning.

"And we are going to see what he has found. Maybe there is something interesting which could be studied... Maybe there are things I have never heard of before?" she continued. Yet she would have actually wanted to talk about stealing these items.

Just enjoying the way, Maria, who had turned towards Asterion again, looked away again, just looking at the buildings as they drove past them. The moon was as interesting as she remembered it.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Looking at her talk, it was obvious she was watching her words, and so it was easy to read between the lines. It seemed whoever this man was, he was hoarding artefacts that could be deemed very important to those in Maria's position, and even Asterion himself.

He simply nodded at her, not giving anything away to his intention to join or help her in case the taxi itself had ears.

Asterion never had pictured himself as a common criminal; was this not something below his ability? And why was he drawn to the mysterious Maria? He looked out over the planet, answering his own questions in the moment of peace he found in the air.

She could simply offer him something that he was studying for; true power and how to tap into the powers used by those that came before him.


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

During the time when the taxi drove towards the residence, Maria had time to check her left leg, which had been broken. Now it looked better; though not being completely healed, it was not wounded or anything anymore. It had been a miracle that Asterion had happened to be there, and that he had been willing to help her at all, considering how Maria had treated him.

Now the leg didn't hurt, but she knew she wouldn't be able to move like she normally does for some time. The leg hurt even when not using it, but it was not unbearable pain.

Moments passed, and Maria was finally able to recognise the house in which Sir Rylan Turow lived. "Finally we're here..." she whispered, her voice being soft and in a way even more beautiful than her full voice.

Nervousness rose in the woman as she understood soon she'd be doing something which is illegal. She had never done anything illegal before.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

As the taxi came to a stop before a large, dark and somewhat muted house, not what he was expecting from a Sir, Asterion took in the residence before him and climbed out of the taxi. As he offered Maria his hand to help her slowly out of the cab, Asterion turned to the driver and bore his gaze on him.

There is no fare required for those in the service of Sir Rylan Turow.

Maria wasn't even properly balanced on the street outside of the city before the taxi gunned the engine and took off back to the sky-lane. Asterion gave her a satisfied smirk.

"Well I hope this is the right place. It looks a little...quiet. Are you sure what you need is here?"

They were in a quieter district of the larger district, and Asterion had no idea where. He was totally playing into her hands and was dependent on her knowledge to get them back to safety. Or he would have to take care of himself. Which was a shame as she was stubborn but motivated by power, which he admired.

Placing his hand on her back gently, he guided her forward out of the way of passing speeders.

"We don't want another accident, do we?"


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"Yes, I am sure this is the right place," Maria spoke when walking towards a building. It was a skyscraper, like most of the buildings here seemed to be, but it looked a bit more luxurious. Next to it was a smaller building which was protected with most likely a strong door. And like one would assume, next to the door, placed on the wall, sat a panel in which a code would have to be entered to open the massive gray door leading to the building.

And that building was the private museum of Sir Rylan Turow's.

Maria's left leg truly hurt and she needed some help with walking, that's why she did let Asterion support her a bit.

"The front door is heavily protected, but the personnel door is nearly defenseless. The only problem is, that the personnel entrance is in Turow's house. We would have to break into his residence to get to the museum."

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

As she spoke to paint a mental picture in his head, Asterion steadily took in the buildings before them and their surroundings. There didn't appear to be obvious surveillance, which meant there was probably hidden security measures if this museum was so important.

He stepped forward and chewed the inside of his mouth for a second, before turning to Maria.

"Do you have any idea what is inside the house? Or the security measures in place?"

He turned back to the house.

"Or are you walking in blind hoping for the best, because I am happy to break through into his house. It's what's in there I'm afraid of. I'm afraid you're also biting off more than you can chew Miss Maria."

[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"I think I should remember what awaits us. I have visited this place, not the museum, but the residence. Turow isn't too much of a security person, some cameras and traps are his speciality, but nothing else. I would say getting into his house is extremely easy as the skyscraper as a whole is a simple loft and Rylan's home is only an apartment in it. Getting into the loft is not too difficult, I would say," Maria spoke.

"Of course we would need to break into the loft because to make the door open, we would actually need to enter a code. Unfortunately, I don't know what the code is..."

She tried to think a bit. These lofts don't change their codes easily, they do that only if a serious accident has taken place; for example, somebody breaking into the building. But as much as Maria remembered, nobody has done that yet. They know getting into this building is difficult, and not only because of the code.

They had only three attempts. If a wrong code is used three times, the whole door locks itself completely and the Nar Shaddaa security force is signaled.

Hmm...

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

He rubbed his stubbled jaw as he thought.

"Have you any kind of tricks or insight for that code? It wont hurt to try a couple of times. No more, however, we don't want to cause a lockdown or alert anyone."

He craned his neck to look at the building's apartment block at the top.

"If not, I say we simply get our way in; with your drive and my strength it shouldn't be a problem getting to that apartment."

Asterion began to walk up to the front of the buiding, pushing the heavy door only to find, without surprise, it was locked.

"Simple smash and grab I would say. But I don't think you're in any state to go hobbling around inside when speed is required."

He turned and cast his eyes over Maria. Young, yes; strong, not so much now with her leg.


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"Let me think for a moment..." Maria spoke, then sitting down because standing on her leg hurt a bit. "Have you ever heard of the power to... see actions associated with an objects? The power to know what has happened to an item or something?"

It was the telemetry power. Maria wasn't able to use it herself, but she really hoped Asterion would be able to do that. He seemed to be better at such things, that's why. Trying to surf in her memories would have helped at remembering the code, too, but it would have taken too much time. It was nighttime, yet, but Sir Rylan Turow was a crime lord. He may have been awake even at such a time, maybe organising crime or something.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

He looked down and scanned his memory as she spoke. He thought for a moment, unsure of what his Acolyte study had taught him, but he felt as if he knew what she meant.

"Do you mean Psychometry? If so I have studied that and am developing it still now."

Asterion nodded to himself and walked the path towards the locked door and the keypad.

"Give me a moment..."

This would be a test; a Force power he hadn't used before but now doing it before an audience.


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"Yes, Psychometry! Take the time you need," Maria spoke. Indeed, it was going to be a test of Asterion's powers and Maria had the chance to see how well the man does. EVen though being a mere Apprentice, Maria felt like she would be the person who can judge the Force powers of the man.

A bit untraditional.

Maria had never used nor studied this ability, but she knew what it was at least. She could not use it at all, but it looked like the man thinks he can use it. And Maria started feeling like together, they can form a team. Maria has knowledge of this place, Asterion has Force powers and knowledge. At least a bit more than her.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Trying not to show her uncertainty, he nodded and moved up to the keypad, thankfully far enough for Maria to only see his back.

Facing the 12 different buttons on the simply keypad, in digits ranging from 0 to 10 with a large green and red button below, Asterion muttered to himself to focus, to get a grip and envision the surroundings and the activity of the keypad.

He focused his gaze on the keypad, acting as if was simply a vision, watching the buttons for signs of use. There would only be one combination and one man using it.

Focus...

His vision clouded and he looked beyond the buttons and looked for the impact there, the aura of a simple tough and the genetic fingerprint standing out more than anything else.

Asterion took his finger.

0 - 7 - 7 - 2 - 1 - 5

The red button flashed once.

The Acolyte swallowed hard.

Don't look at her. Just DO IT.

There. His error. The 7 imprint was the same. He had read it twice. A stupid, and costly mistake.

0 - 7 - 2 - 1 - 5

The green button flashed and a soft click came from the door. Asterion closed his eyes and let out a long breath quietly.

He turned to Maria and beckoned her with his hand to join him, trying to keep his face cool and his attitude neutral regardless of the successful use of his Force ability.


[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"Wow, well done! It looks like your Master, whoever they are, has taught you fine!" Maria spoke. Her own Master hadn't taught her anything like that yet, but she hoped he would do that some time soon. Because this ability seemed to be really interesting and useful in such situations.

"So, let's get in. I think Rylan lived on the... 25th floor, maybe? I am not too sure, but that's how I remember it."

She remembered the time when she first visited the man with her father. It had to be the 25th floor. She remembered the moment when her father pressed the "25" button on the lift. Then they were right in front of Turow's apartment's door.

Yes, it was 25.

[member="Asterion"]