A Quest For Good Or Evil

[Stephanie Swail]

"Let's say it's a work in progress, but thanks."

He pushed the door open and held it for Maria to hobble through, making sure he closed it behind him. The illumination from the nightlights gave them enough to work with as they stepped forward to the isolated lift before them.

Maria was right, there was nothing else BUT the lift. What a strange, egotistical man this Turow was to live so high up in a house filled with nothing.

Calling it with the small button that had a dull yellow glow, the lift was already waiting. The doors swooshed open too easily.

"Let's go my dear. And... just watch yourself."

He followed her in and let her thumb the circular 25 button. A wave of confidence swept over him. He felt a slight progression in his training and development, and Maria had helped boost his pride.

[member="Maria Zambrano"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"Yes, let's go," Maria spoke. She, along with Asterion, set her steps towards the lift and then, finally stepped into it. "I must repeat, I am not too sure if it's the 25th floor, but it should be." She just decided to wait now. She didn't have any useful powers in this case. She only made the operation more difficult. The man could easily get whatever he wants to by himself now, leave Maria behind, or even kill her, and then perform the 'mission' alone.

Yet he had decided to help Maria. It was strange. But the woman had to say that she was really thankful for that.

It was a strange day... So much to be thankful for.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion couldn't help raise an eyebrown slightly at Maria's uncertainty. She was full of it, not one who was convincing him she really knew what she was doing or where she was going.

However it could simply be a ruse to lull him into a false sense of security. Senses on full alert, Asterion.

The lift growled and kicked into life as a series of whines and groans accompanied them upwards slowly. It seemed to take forever, and it wasn't the most exciting of entrances to break into an apartment. It was TOO easy.

Looking down at her, he flicked his eyes across her body and her wounded leg, before going back to watching the numbers.

22.

23.

24.

25.

With two sharp lurches, the lift came to a stop and the doors slid open to reveal yet more darkness. Asterion shot out his arm to block Maria from leaving.

"Wait. I don't like this. Something's in here with us..."

What was this... a trap?


[member="Maria Natalja"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"What? I thought he hasn't changed his security measures... It would be dangerous to go back now. I think." She looked worried, and it was exactly what she felt like. She was worried that Turow had caught them even before they had done something. There was no way such a man would come up with something like this, though, so it was really unlikely he worked alone.

Had he married to a Force-sensitive during the times Maria was away from the planet?

"I would say that we should be really careful. My leg is a bit better, after all. I'm sure we could spy around a bit." Great, she sounded just like she had set up the trap. Even though it wasn't true. Deep inside, she was as nervous as it would be possible to be.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Nodding to himself and half to Maria, Asterion stepped forward and onto the 25th floor. He was hit by the absence of life; bar the beating heart of Marias behind him.

The floor was dark and rather expansive and it seemed to be just one large room, but many of the furnishings were covered with rags and sheets.

"Are you sure this is the right place?"

Asterion had expected more resistance than this, and certainly more life. Was he wasting his time? What was Maria after.

He turned to her, a small frown on his brow.

"Alright, wait. Stop. Just what are you looking for here. You knew the place and the floor but you are saying you're just here for some theft? No. What are you keeping from me."

Asterion looked straight at her.

"Just who the hell are you and what do you want."


[member="Maria Natalja"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

"Look, I know this man. I have met him before, I have visited him. That's how I know where he lives. I think this room over here is the corridor-kind of thing. His own apartment is heavily defended. I am a bit surprised that the whole floor isn't, but I think it doesn't matter too much," Maria said. She was a bit terrified of the man and her voice trembled a bit while she shuddered, but at least she was speaking the truth.

"We can leave, if you want that."

She started moving towards the lift again, but she really hoped the man would be staying. So that they could both steal what they want to take. But Maria was here after a certain thing amongst the others.

She was just not sure what it was.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

He could sense the fear in her voice. Good. It was about time his real persona came through; he may be wandering a solemn path away from his Master now the Sith Order was up in the air, but he was not any less to be reckoned with.

Bearing his dark eyes into her as she spoke, he decided how to progress.

"You know the man. You know what you're after. YOU lead ME."

Taking her arm he pulled her forward before him, and he himself moved behind her, a switch of position.

"I have nowhere else to be and if there is a pot of gold at the end of his Bantha trail then I want it. But you have to earn it now - I don't trust you and am not going to be the one leading you to the prize so you can stab me in the back. Now move."

He kept his senses alert and ready for and retribution on her part. The sounds outside from the busy streets of Nar Shaddaa seemed quieter even more now they both were isolated inside, together, with the only path ahead of them leading to darkness.


[member="Maria Natalja"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

Gosh... Why so full of anger?

Maria never understood the Sith. In her opinion, the Dark Side didn't necessarily mean getting angry quicker, but completely other things. Turning around and moving towards the apartment of Sir Rylan Turow's, she thought about what may be waiting for them over there. If they were lucky, the man would probably be in the undercities, trying to organise some crime. Of course she wouldn't leave his house without any security, but two Force-sensitives could have easily managed to get past them, right?

As soon as they reached the door, Maria started looking around for cameras. She knew there had been one of them over there. A vision popped into her head. Well, yeah, it was more like a memory from the past, but still counted as a vision. She saw herself being a small girl and his father standing next to her. Turow had just opened the door and greeted them. But Servelus, Maria's father, looked back and probably had noticed something. And then she heard the Epicanthix man whispering, "Maria, look, there's a camera." His voice had been calm and peaceful, and most of all, quiet.

Then Maria looked behind and there it was, just behind the corner, a camera was looking at them.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion watched Maria move ahead, and his senses were active and finely attuned for any sign of a hostile. His sight was enhanced to see all areas of the room beyond them, almost like a sonar. His earing listened for any noise not made by their own movement. The smell of danger was the easiest way to identify a threat and Asterion kept alert for that foul stench.

It was Maria who stopped before them.

"What?"

Following her sight, he saw the camera. Walking forward he noticed the lense move to accommodate them. He prayed no-one was watching wherever it was transmitting to.

With a drive of Force energy, he overheated the camera and it exploded in a sharp pop and shower of sparks. Turning to Maria, Asterion had no immediate sense of urgency about him.

"A camera. How convenient. We have to move, and fast. Can you remember anything about where or what it will be you're looking for? If we're lucky we've got a few minutes before his cavalry arrive."

Great. She'd led him straight into a hornet's nest. This deal was getting worse all the time.

[member="Maria Natalja"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

[member="Asterion"]

WHY? Maria though. Her breathing fastened and it was clear the camera had been a surprise to her. How could have she forgot there was a camera just around the corner? Why hadn't she thought of that before? Her leg hurt so there was no use of her at running. She had to come up with another plan to save herself. Asterion would most likely survive, that's what she knew.

"If we could only stop the camera... We could break the door and then take stairs down to the ground level where we could quite easily access the museum. Then... go left once, then right twice. That's where the Force relics were," Maria spoke.

It all had been her fault. Had she not brought them there, neither one of them would be in such a trouble. But she had brought them there and it was her fault and now she was the one who had to fix this "little" mistake as best as she could.

"If he's inside, there are most likely some guards around, too. If he's not there, many other surveillance systems are activated. The former case is not quite difficult, but the latter one would involve destroying his home's central computer and probably the planetary security force's one."

"Or we could just improvise."

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Looking around he saw the small door ahead behind what looked like a thin drape trying to detract attention from it. Moving forwards, Asterion pushed his ear against it to listen for any sign of activity behind it, but there was nothing. Stepping back a small amount, used the Force to slam the door open with a lighting crack as it slammed into the wall behind, swinging quickly back on its hinges.

Dust was kicked up by the Force that barrelled towards the door and the drape fell to the ground. Asterion turned and beckoned Maria over.

"If anyone gets done for criminal damage, it's me now. You know where these relics are from here down those stairs? Go ahead, I've got your back."

And he had. He wouldn't lie, even thought he didn't trust this mysterious girl. He was sure there was more to her and she was acting the fool whilst he barged forward with his brutality. But he couldn't be sure...he had to stop second guessing her.

He held the cracked door open and waited for her to lead on, his eyes scanning the room and adjacent window for any sign of security.


[member="Maria Natalja"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

[member="Asterion"] (so sorry for the wait and a not so good post )

Maria, her leg really hurting, walked into the home of the wealthy businessman. At the moment it looked like some serious surveillance measures weren't used, probably due to the man being in the house. Though... would he have been there, somebody would have already come to the front door to do something about it. Strange. Maybe the man had loosened up his ways of protecting his home? It was an option and definitely not one which should be overlooked easily.

"Alright, what would we do now? Seeing how not too many measures of protection are not implemented, maybe we could just somehow get to the museum?"

She didn't want to be the bad one anymore. She didn't want Asterion to hate her that much, even though most likely she could never get the man's trust no matter what she did.

 

[Stephanie Swail]

([member="Maria Natalja"] - Ssh, it's fine! RL is that pain we can't shake, but you're here and I understand and have all the patience in the world for you. It's all good.)

Watching her from behind, Asterion had to juggle his pangs of compassion for the girl. Hurting and alone, she had entrusted him to help her and although he didn't trust her, there was something that made him feel he had a duty to make sure she got what she needed. Besides, he didn't owe this man any favours or know his little network, so it was no skin off his nose. He walked up beside her, eyes scanning the room and feeling no other presence which continued to un-nerve him.

But he was an Acolyte, and he had powers. He had to use them. He had to embrace them.

"Maria, if you can take me to the museum from here I will get you inside. I have powers at my disposal I need to use. I don't care for him, and to some extent for you, but I promised to help you and I will get you to where you seek. I just hope there is something in this for me."

He closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

"There is no one here at present. However...there you are...there is a stationary hunter droid around here. I assume it's in the museum. Watch yourself as you go, I'll take care of that when we get there."

His eyes opened and he looked at the girl.

"Trust me."

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

[member="Asterion"]

Maria looked around as she walked towards the museum door, trying to figure out why the man had left his apartment so unprotected. Even though the more she thought of this matter, the more surprised she became that the man had actually locked the door. He could have just left it completely open. It was rather stupid for such a person to do something like that. Unless there was a reason behind that. Unless it was indeed a trap.

But she and Asterion were able to freely walk through the apartment without too much to worry about. So the woman used this time to socialise a bit.

"I am wondering a bit... why do you even trust me? I mean, I took you here without you knowing anything about this place. You're like in a black bag with me pulling it around," she spoke to the man. She was personally feeling like something was connecting these two, but she just couldn't tell what it was.

Not love, because Maria really believed love from first sight didn't exist. It was something else, something spiritual even.

 

[Stephanie Swail]

He looked down at Maria, almost out the corner of his eye as the conversation started to become more hospitable. How long had it been since Asterion tried to talk like this? Too long.

"I don't trust you." He fell over his words a little. "You pretty much fell into my lap remember and I've nothing better to do. Maybe you're keepin' me out of trouble for a while."

He held out his arm and guided her around a dangerous crack in the floor before them, leading down a few flights perhaps if too much weight was applied.

"I said be careful."

Asterion looked at a painting on the wall, a faded one, of a sprawling city scape which looked like Coruscant...but he was no artist. Buildings on the horizon like that could be any of the major cities across the galaxy.

"You never told me what you were doing jumping in front of speeders anyway. Surely you had better things to do than try kill yourself? You're not THAT annoying."

A small smile curled at the edge of his lips.


[member="Maria Natalja"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

[member="Asterion"]

Maria only nodded while moving through the halls and rooms of the apartment and later through stairways down to the museum, at the same time listening to Asterion. Of course he couldn't trust her... But he still... had come with her. So that was a sign of something. Something which was definitely not trust at all. She was trying to figure out what it may have been, that's why she didn't noticed any of the dangers ahead of her, making the man protect her a bit. She was wondering why he would do that.

"I was not trying to kill myself. I am not suicidal," she spoke. And that was the truth of the matter. "I was looking for adventure. And a quicker way to get off the top of the building. Do you know how slow are the elevators in the section of the city we were at?"

"So that is the answer."

First time during this walk she admired some beauty of the apartment and stairways. Well, actually the walls of it and everything. There were some really expensive paintings, probably all of them being original. A man like this wouldn't buy some cheap copies, would he? Even Maria had some original paintings in her citadel.

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion nodded his approval - an honest answer to an honest question. The girl certainly had a lust for life, that was admirable. Without thinking, he placed his hand on her shoulder as she passed.

"Next time, call a cab instead of landing on one, ok sweetheart?"

He patted her gently and walked beside her looking at the paintings leading them down the hall way of the building that seemed to be far deeper than it looked, a visual illusion from the outside.

"I can feel you love for these paintings. You should take one. I doubt anyone will miss them, certainly not your man. Go on, pick one. You've earnt it."

Asterion ambled up to one that, on inspection, looked like the Valley of the Dark Lords on Korriban, complete with a full moon hanging over the tombs captured by the artists oils.

"How about this? Nice planet. Lot of nice people come from here."

Another smile formed on his lips. It felt alien, but he felt at ease and without worries for the first time in a long time.


[member="Maria Natalja"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

[member="Asterion"]

"I can feel you love for these paintings. You should take one. I doubt anyone will miss them, certainly not your man. Go on, pick one. You've earnt it."

Maria looked at Asterion once when she stopped speaking, and smiled. Why would he say something like that? she wondered, but then looked at the painting the man had given a look. It was a nice one, of a planet Maria hadn't been to, but which she had really heard of. She stared at its beauty while the Sith Apprentice spoke again.

"I actually quite like it," she said. "But I feel like we shouldn't spend too much time at the paintings, especially as we don't know too much about what Turow is doing at the moment." Her smile faded and it was clear she had started worrying again.

"I should take it, but let's get to the museum really quick." Maria grabbed the painting and tried to move it a bit to understand how it comes off the wall. Once when she understood it, she took it and continued walking.

 

[Stephanie Swail]

So she was nothing more than an opportunist thief, not really hesitating to take the picture. It did look nice though, and Maria obviously had no thought for this man whom was now the target of her sticky fingers. Asterion raised his eyebrows slightly; well, you only live once and she certainly knew how to live.

The Acolyte followed her without talking, the lines becoming blurred between respect and friendship. Something Asterion didn't understand the feelings of.

And when they arrived at a narrow steel door, highlighted with a large sliding metal bar over the frame of it, Asterion looked to the girl beside him.

"Now, there's either something you want further on behind this door, or we've come to another dead end."

He moved forward and gripped the metal bar by the small niches on the sides and pulled it across. It didn't take much effort as the scrape of metal rang out inch by inch. He lifted the latch and pushed gently but firmly on the door to crack it open, ever so gently letting it open inch by inch. Asterion continued to push it open with his right hand and guesterd to Maria with his left.

"I think the honeypot lies within. I can feel lots of energy from in here. Be careful."


[member="Maria Natalja"]

 

[Nikolas Faselli]

[member="Asterion"]

Maria looked at the man and then nodded. After entering the room, she carefully looked in every imaginable direction to ensure nothing could see or hear her. Nobody would leave any museum just unattended, without any measures of security implemented, but as a Force-sensitive, she really believed she should be one step ahead of the surveillance. Well, unless there was some kind of a FU detection thing which could spot her immediately.

"I will step into the room now and look around a bit. Are you coming in as well?" she asked from the man, expecting a positive answer. She had never seen a SIth who would turn down such an opportunity. There was a possibility that some incredibly powerful artefacts of Sith could be found from the halls of this archive. Some Sith would give everything for such a chance.