First Reply Apothic

[Cynthia Ouranos]

Coruscant was the Capital World of the Galatic Alliance, just as it had been of the Republic. The world as one had said, "one one big city." All night speeders and buses flew about the cityscape of skycrapers with thier lit up windows of white stretching to the skies. It was the planet that never sleeps, and invitably that led to injuries. Cynthia often would be closing up in the night, when brought to her was someone in need of cure. On this particular night, a young man was brought to her who had lacerations on his head, and a bruised jaw. No doubt he got these injuries from a cantina fisticuffs. Why people with spirits in their veins thought it was a good idea to pick fights had always confuzzled Cynthia. She decided that she had to look at it as business, the more brawls, the more treatment she gave, the easier to pay rent.

Taking a concotion from her wall of glowing blue liquid, she pouring it in a cup and holding it to to be bruised man, he taking a sip as he coughed. His friend a Neimodian was a suprise, they tended not to be involved in such affairs, usually swindling someone out of their fortunes.
"Is he going to be alright?"
Turning with her bright blue eyes as she took her nails to lacerations of his head, her nuckles had great crystals of all blue hues and purple, tapping them there was a sizzle sound and the nails became as embers.
"You really should hold your friend still.. this is going to hurt.. a lot."
She tapping his skull wrapped in flesh, cauterizing the open wounds as he began to scream, though whatever she had given him seemed to act as tranqulizer of sorts, his arms limp. The Neimodian drew near him and said,
"What are you doing to him?!"
Looking over at the Green Faced fella she said,
"Listen.. you could have gone to hospital.. waited in line, and explained to the authorities why you trashed a cantina.. but no.. you are hear, in my shop.. so hush!"

The Neimodian obeyed her as if she had taken control of his mind, she hadn't, considered it, but she tried to refrain from using her powers. Mind tricks were best used on her Landlord, to convince the Trandoshan that it was not the first of the month and she still had time to pay. No, these guys who had done stupid things while drunk were a waste of such a display. Besides she had a sorta unwritten agreement with her former Jedi friends that if she was to use her Apothecary, she would not abuse the Power and give those who use it a bad name. In return they turned a blind eye to her unorthodox methods, and that she had left The Order.

Having sealed his wounds and cut out some glass with her saber blade fingernail, she then let him rest and deactivated her nails. The Neimodian nervous said,
"How much do we owe you?"
Turning around as she wiped her fingers, she said,
"A lot.. especially for keeping silent about your antics."
She considered if she would extort this Green Skinned Friend of her patient, Neimodians were known to have a lot of money. But.. she heard that voice in her head, put there by the Masters in training about doing good and all that stuff. Truth is she had found that helping people tended to backfire, but she was not entirely cynical, one could not be to be in the healing trade.
"A 100 credits.. and try not to make this a regular thing or I will charge you way more next time."
The Niemodian gave a bow as he began to help his friend to his feet and exit the Apothcary, some chimes ringing as they left. Cynthia went over to the light illuminated in bright blue that said OPEN, and shut it off. She then went to the back of the place, behind a crimson curtain, and moved some boxes into place, when she heard the jingle of the door.
She shouted,
"We are closed.. if its an emergency go to a hospital."
There was no reply, putting a box on a shelf, she then made her way back out the curtain to see who had come in defiance of her turned off sign...

 

[Darth Kovras]

The door to the Apothecary opened with its chime, a cloud of smoke coming in, as Kovras held his cigar in his mouther, the ember at the rounded end glowing when he heard her voice tell him to go to a hospital. Sauntering over to the elogated register, the curtain of burgundy swaying as she stepped out. Her hair was unusual blue, though she appeared to be human, though her nails and hands were the most intriguing of all, crystals affixed all over which gave him pause. Blowing a ring of smoke he said,
"I am not in need of medical attention." Using only his teeth to grip the stogie, he pulled out a piece of paper, written on it was very specific ingredients that he needed.
"Here is a list I need filled.. I understand it is past closing orders, and will compensate you. In fact, I am willing to pay good money since I know the ingredients I need are precious."
The Sith Lord moved his head of silver and shadow hair with a hint of malice, though not directed towards her, it was a way he carried himself. This was his home world, and he had not been back in forty years. He intended never to return, and yet here he was, and entreating to this young lady who had all manner of potions, poisons, and herbs. Her eyes were bright as kyber blades of the Jedi, which he had exstinguished in his time. He sensed about her the faint traces of Ashla, though curious that she did not wear the mud sotted robes of the order. He got the impression at once that she was not a Jedi, though he could feel her examining him, using what training she knew to discern his intent. It was amusing really, in his black Gi and Robes, he was unmistakable, a Sith Lord.

The planet was crawling with the Monks of the Galatic Alliance, all with their notions of moral superiority. And yet none of them noticed him, for Kovras had trained hard in Eschan, and lost worlds of the Sith how to conceal himself. Only she would have a slight understanding outside of his attire, that he was a Master of the Darkness. He even had left his twin curved hilt lightsabers on his ship at the port, so that there would be no indication other than his robes of his devotion.

 

[Cynthia Ouranos]

Coming out from behind the curtain she saw the one standing there, filling her shop with smoke. She scoffed as she went behind the counter as she then gave him a glance.
"I prefer my shop not to smell like a parlor.. so for starters.."
She took a clear glass of water and put it on the counter and gestured for him to put it out. She began to search him in the Force and was rather alarmed, she sensed an aura that was blank, how could this be possible? His robes were rather similiar to the Sith, though how could that be? A Sith Lord on Coruscant so soon as the Invasion of the Dark Empire? He handed her a list, writtin on paper, that was rather.. antiquated.. only a handful of souls did this, most of them did not want a digital trail. As she looked over the ingredients she paused at venom.
"Cobra Venom? Seriously? Do you intend to poison someone? I need to be clear that this establishment is for betterment of others not the determent."
She taking the paper laid it on the counter, his offer of compensation and to pay her handsomely was tempting, but once she saw what he wanted, she knew she had to say no. She would not be responsible for an ill fated assassination. She may not be a Jedi anymore, but caring about other sentients was not strictly a Jedi thing, she was a healer not a harmer, and so she gave him a gesture to leave. As she was resolved to have nothing to do with his deal, her datapad chimed with the words "Rent Due." And she felt her heart sink. Cynthia let out a great sigh as she turned, and was met with a suprise, the cigar was in the water, snuffed out and it seemed he was gone. When suddenly she felt breath on her.. and she tapping her knuckles made the finger nails immolate with kyber fire...

 

[Darth Kovras]

She was commanding, which was to his liking, he gave a smile with the cigar in his lips when she sat the cup of fine glass and the means to put it out. Then taking his piece of paper she began to examine it with those glowing eyes and made remarks about how she was not involved in the take people out by subtle means trade. At this he took the stogie out of his mouth and put it in water, there was sizzle sound in the fine crystal, and minor puff of smoke. He then moved out of her field of vision, when she came back to the counter, she found he had obliged her request, though now she had lost track of him. He was slithering in the shadows, his eyes like two amber flames, as he then moved as if smoke itself to her side and he saw her snap her knuckles and those fingers became fire themselves.. how interesting, she had claws...

He was now towering over her, he could feel her heart beating as a drum, and those claws of kyber.. quite a unique weapon, poised to strike.
"That's it.. Strike Now! Strike With all your might! Show no mercy!"
In anticipation that she might actually do so from the startled he raised his naked hands ready to catch them with the Power that was creating as field around them, he was far more interested in her now that like a Lioness she was ready to dig her claws into him. She was right to be afraid, to react in this violent fashion, for if she knew what he was capable of, of the power he wielded, and what he could do to her, she should strike him down in an instant.

 

[Cynthia Ouranos]

Suddenly he was there, breathing on her with that fowl breath, and she without hesitation took him up on his words, she spun hier body, her claws of blue kyber fire striking at him as two fists, she kicked with her right leg, and thrashing her hands at him, when she felt that he clawing was meat by something.. he had blocked and not with a saber. She held at his arm and looking at him said,
"Your.. a Sith!!"
She did a cartwheel like movement as she slashed with her fingers outstretched and each time she either was met with air or some kind of pressure holding the nails back. She had heard of Jedi who could command the Force around their hands and arms and block a blade, there was famous Master Shan who long ago was seen catching a blade of Darth Malgus, and then there was Ezra who fought in this way, using Echani movements and the Power of the Jedi so that he needed no lightsaber. If this man, despite his seniority of age was able to do as they, he was formidable! And he had come in her shop! Her shop! And after closing! She had the worst luck! No there is no luck her Masters had taught, this was the vipers known as the Darksiders not learning their lesson when they were humiliated and beaten off world during the Invasion of Coruscant. Perhaps he was one that had stayed behind, been left behind more like, Sith had no honor and counted one another as disposable. She held him in lock up.. looking into those eyes of brilliant fire that all the workers of woe, those dedicated to the Dark seemed to possess. There was no mistakening it now.. he was one of them and he had come to kill her!

 

[Darth Kovras]

He speed of movement was impressive, she swept around as bird of prey, kicking and swiping with those beautiful claws. He using his Echani training, used his arms to block and the field of the Force around them to absorb the harmful energy of her ten little stinger sabers. She was tenacious, he could almost sense a growl when she cartwheeled and cut at him, his body knocking over some of her crates and shelf of wood that had some concotions. She called him Sith, at last she understood what he was.. though not the gravity of what that meant. He was not some acolyte to be toyed with and so as he caught her claws with his wrist, he then took his eblow and jabbed her beneath the chin, sending her soaring into the air, he then leapt up into the air and using his knee, dug it into her abodmen, he saw a great whiff of air come out of her throat, as he then took his hand and held her wrists to the ground, His eyes were crackling, he could have burned her, crushed her, or even desintergated her, but she had caught his attention and he desired to know more. Besides, he had not gotten his supplies that he needed, that would be great deal harder if she was deceased.

Holding her under his power he said,
"I did not come to kill you.. yes your thoughts are loud, clearly you never trained to conceal them. I did not come seeking your aid to synthesize something to destroy another.. I prefer to break bone, and use my full strength, not intrigues and teas with liquid death. No, the Cobra venom is for me."
He showed his neck, two prominent holes that had runic marks around them in the hood of a cobra.
"I am going to let you up now.. if you attempt to strike, make sure you do so to kill.. or you will feel my full might bear down on you and you will not survive..."
He began to lean up from her belly, and he withdrew his hands, though held them in his grip till he now was standing over her, his shadow cloaking her as her bright eyes burned. He levitating the cigar from the cup to his mouth, began to chew on it a little with his gum and teeth, taking in the nicotine without fire. He then released her, it was now up to her, attempt again, or call a truce and get him the things he needed.

 

[Cynthia Ouranos]

In an instant he had turned the tables in this fight on her, elbow coming up underneath her chin and making her fly on to her back as she let out an "Ooof!" only to then have his knee dig into her belly as if it was pick seeking precious materials in a mine. He then had her wrists, all of this was done in a succession of precise moves, none save blocking her blade nails, was the use of the Force. She at once recognized this kind of wrestling and martial prowess, it was Echani, for one of her former Jedi Brothers was an Echani, and he had tilted with her in the gardens, and the results were not dissimilar. Though this Man, this Sith Elder was not restrained by the Jedi Code, he could with a movement break her.. this vulnerability in her very shop made her angry.

Then he gave an explanation most bizarre, he showed his neck, the marks of a viper and had the temerity to say that the venom was for him. For him?! How preposterous! Was he some Anacondan in human form? She had heard the Sith could mutate beings through their dark arts, something called spawns, though with her eyes she did not seen anything amiss, he looked fully human. That or maybe he was projecting this form, or was a Clawdite? Though none of the Shifters she had treated ever asked for cobra venom. It was then she felt him remove his knee, and yet he held her hands back by The Power, and once he was fully standing he released her and spoke of her needing to make her next attack successful or she would be dead. Most Sith were boasters, the few she had ever encountered, but when she looked into his eyes as he spoke, this was no threat, he had already proved his ability to manipulate her with little use of The Force.

Slowly standing up, she snaped her fingers as she pressed the crystals and the fingernail blades went dime and then ceased glowing.
"Let me see that paper again.."
She held out her palm, a gesture that she had retracted her claws and had no intent to use them as before. The piece of paper was placed in her hand and she taking it in both her fingers looked over the list, all of which she had in her shop, even the venom, mainly for anti-venom purposes. Coruscant wasn't known for his serpents, but in lower levels a lot of clubs did have vipers they liked to use in ill conceived games and many would get a bite and come to her, not wanting to go to hospital and explain the stupid and rather illegal things they were doing.
"You really use the venom on yourself? As an Apothecary I have to say that is a first.. I use it to create anti-venom, the pure stuff well.. no one until now has ever asked for that."
She was uneasy, a Sith in her shop, who had demonstrated his power, and yet he seemed somewhat honorable, he could have just killed her and taken the venom for free. Fiddling around in the back, she found the vats of venom, in clear glass, they liquid was a clear yellow and she brought a case of it to the counter.