Private Conflict of Interests

[Lukas]

An opportunity to prove himself had at long last presented itself to Lukas, and he was more than willing to take it. His objective was a simple one, why would they trust a lowly Acolyte with a task of any significant importance? He was aware of that fact, but regardless it was important that he could prove himself, regardless of the task.

As Lukas boarded a ship, he ran through the mission in his head over and over. A small scale syndicate had somehow stolen some kind of artifact, and Lukas was to retrieve it. What was this artifact? Lukas had no idea of that, nor any idea of what this syndicate was, so he would have to exercise at least a little caution when engaging them.

Luckily one piece of information that he had been given was where this syndicate was hidden out, so his ship was able to descend moderately nearby. The walk across the desert gave Lukas the chance to begin formulating some kind of plan on how to approach what he expected would be a very much outnumbered fight. Once the lone tavern, conveniently placed out of any typical travel routes, came into Lukas' sight, he took one final breath, both of his hands lowering to rest on the hilts of his lightsabers.

Saeva

 

[Saeva]

Artefact retrieval. Like anything else, it was a test. The life of a Sith hopeful, Saeva knew, was an endless stream of tests one succeeded until one died. Saeva didn't think he would die today.

The syndicate was one he wasn't particularly familiar with, though these kinds of organisations tended to operate in a much similar way.

Saeva had arrived the day before. His ship had set down somewhere remote, and he had ventured out to a homestead he had marked out for himself upon approaching the planet's surface. It was far enough away that he could get in and out without attracting attention. The homestead was abandoned... Or, well, it was now.

The fact that he had killed its residents bothered him. Not the murders themselves, but his presence there was meant to go undetected. This meant he still needed to refine his skills.

Despite that minor failure, he had taken the family's speeder which carried him across the wastes at a pace to a certain lone tavern...

Lukas

 

[Lukas]

Killing would almost certainly be a factor in this mission, and Lukas had tried to make his peace with that as he got closer and closer. However, these would be the first lives that he would ever take. A fact that was somewhat impressive to him, as he'd came this far without having to take a life.

Lukas came to a quick stop, when two men, presumably syndicate members, walked out of the tavern, deep in conversation with one another. Lukas liked to think of himself as a calculated man, and often he was to a certain extent but as the two men noticed him, his instincts took over any kind of plan. He pulled both the hilts free from his belt, igniting them as quickly as he could, closing the distance between the two men. All he knew was that he had to kill them before they could alert people inside, he was unsure of what kind of security they would have, or how many syndicate members there would be.

The Acolyte was able to close the remaining distance very quickly, his physical condition having improved greatly as of recent. His head was screaming at him to slow things down and try think things through, but all the while his left light saber was already slashing upwards into mans chest. Sure enough, a lightsaber would make quick work of any unprepared to fight one, and then there was only one, and a moment later, his right sober had found its target, stabbing through the mans neck.

Luckily, he hadn't made a racket while killing the two men, but it was a lot for him. He unignited the two sabers, taking a series of deep, shaky breaths. He was sure the first would be the worse, but he needed to regain composure before he entered the tavern.

Saeva

 

[Saeva]

He hated desert planets. Hated. It was a well kept secret, but underneath Saeva's helmet, robe and armour was a Nautolan, longing for the cool breeze on top of the sea, and the familiar embrace of the depths beneath. Not a drop of water to be seen here, across infinite horizons. The armour came with its own regulating features, of course, but Saeva took care to never become too comfortable. Or rather, to never seek comfort. Strength came from overcoming adversity, however slight. Complacency was a pit within which greatness eroded away, like a rock under a strong river current. He would become the river that shaped the rock, never the other way around.

The speeder came in fast, and pulled up right outside of the tavern. It wasn't in time to witness the killings, but two corpses still warm lay atop the sand. No doubt the man guilty was aware of Saeva's approach, and perhaps thought to dispatch him too before entering. Looking between the man and the victims, the weapon in question clearly was a lightsaber. He'd seen its cuts too many times before to miss it.

The next revelation Saeva had, told him the approach he had in mind would never have worked. Saeva believed he could approach the tavern, enter and attempt to blend in. Looking at the dead men, how they were dressed, and the nature of this establishment, it became obvious he never could. They'd spot him for an outsider in an instant. The other man stuck out like a sore thumb, and Saeva couldn't deny that he himself had a similar feel about him.

The other man had it right. Infiltration would do no good, it would have to be violence from the start. But Saeva had not taken into the account the presence of another... Was he Sith? And if so, which order? Bounty hunter?

"We don't belong here" Saeva said, dismounting the speeder and walking towards the entrance, eyes never taken off the other man. "I have no friends inside. By the looks of it you don't either. So why come?" Saeva knew why he was here, but the other man was a mystery.

"This is very odd. I have many questions, but" he gestured with a nod towards the two dead men "I don't think there'll be much time to answer them." Perhaps someone inside would miss them. At any moment someone else might try to leave.

"We both want something here. Clearly. Questions later?" Saeva said, plucking the hilt of his lightsaber from his belt. In that moment he was not entirely certain if he'd have to use it against or alongside the other figure.

Lukas

 

[Lukas]

Lukas' gaze followed the speeder once it got closer, frowning beneath his mask as the man dismounted. His hand once again lowered, finding itself resting near the hilts of his light sabers. "No, we don't belong here." He nodded in agreement, his gaze now fixed on the other man, briefly sizing him up. "That question goes both ways."

The Acolyte's gaze briefly left the other man, following his nod towards the two bodies on the floor, his frown deepening. "No, I really don't think there will be much time. As you say, we can ask our questions later." while Lukas found it strange there was another man here, especially one with a lightsaber, he very much doubted they would be here for the same reason. Maybe this man would just make his work a lot easier, and help him deal with the syndicate men.

"Right then, let's go." he removed both sabers from his belt once again, igniting both blades and turning to face the tavern door. Go in fast and hard, then adapt from what you can see. That seems as good a plan as any really, or at least better than any he could make when he has no way of knowing what's inside. Lukas kicked the door as hard as he could, stepping inside as it swinged open. "Shit." was all he said as his eyes darted around the surprisingly packed tavern.

Saeva

 

[Saeva]

Both had questions, it seemed. It was only natural, given the situation. But they both decided to work together, for the time being if nothing else. What were the odds that they had conflicting interests, after all?

When one had to clear out a tavern full of hostiles, two Sith were better than one.

Saeva didn't realize how right he was before he walked in that main door. "Oh" he remarked, much like Lukas, he had anticipated a room not so densely packed. "This is awkward."

Lukas' crimson blades were already ignited. Saeva ignited his single blade as well. Their intent was quite clear. There was a stunned silence from the room, but it would not last. Saeva decided to be the first one to act.

Aided by the Force, he flung himself to centre of the room, near the right wall. With equal parts speed and savagery he spun his blade around, hitting at his enemies at all angles. Saeva had surmised that putting himself in the eye of the storm to be the best strategy. It would make it harder for them to get any shots off, out of fear of hitting their own... So he had thought. He was mistaken.

Turns out this wasn't a concern they held, and his only accomplishment turned out to be getting himself surrounded. "Feth" he said, a mere moment before a blaster took him in the shoulder. Fuelled by anger and hatred, he fought desperately, at the disadvantage he had placed himself in. He would take as many of them with him before he would go down, of that he was sure.

 

[Lukas]

"Not ideal really." He nodded in agreement with the other Acolyte, his grip tightening around the hilts of the blade, preparing to launch himself into midsts. However, Saeva beat him to it, which Lukas quickly realised was somewhat of a blessing in disguise. It also gave him the brief second to cool his nerves, and formulate a rough plan.

If Saeva had flung himself in there, then Lukas should deal with those around the edge. The other Sith seemed to be holding his own, so Lukas simply flung himself at the nearest hostile, both his blades slashing through the man. Before he could jump onto another, a stray bullet shot into the top of his mask, luckily missing any contact with his actual head, but it definitely broke his concentration for a moment.

As the Acolytes head snapped around to find the man who had headshot him, he turned just in time see a blaster shot hitting Saeva in the shoulder. "Shit." he echoed himself from earlier, before charging the crowd that surround Saeva, beginning to hack down those surrounding him, creating, if only for a moment, a gap in the circle for Saeva to charge through, should he notice it in time. While Lukas was definitely successful in creating the gap, he had become extremely tunnel vision on this sole task, when suddenly a knife plunged into the back of his shoulder.

 

[Saeva]

Not ideal at all.

The man who had stabbed Lukas in the back found his chest pierced by a crimson lightsaber. The man was lifted and carried forwards, slamming into one of his compatriots before both were impaled against the wall.

It wasn't elegant, but it got the job done. Lukas had created an opening for him when the world appeared to be closing in around him. Saeva had taken it to charge through, only to rush back now that Lukas found himself in trouble.

It seemed clear the two of them were improvising, doing their best to carve through their opposition. It was stronger than what they had anticipated, but they were Sith. That much would remain true until their death proved them wrong.

Saeva swung, heavy, arcing blows. He had no finesse in this moment, but there was power. More blows rained down on him now that he eschewed defence. Most slid off his armour, but a sudden scream revealed that one had gotten past.

In a spiral he carved at those around him. His fury of this situation was bubbling over, forcing itself to the surface in the form of a wild lightning shot across the room. Fortunately, Lukas was to his side and not in the pathway of his arc.

It was a messy operation, draining evening. But the room was thinning...

Lukas

OOC Note: Sorry for the long wait!

 

[Lukas]

Fighting seemed to be a very overrated activity. Where Lukas had expected and heard of a rush, instead he only felt a pain in his back and a sort of desperation as he continued to whirl around, slashing his two savers at anyone and everyone around him. While he seemed to have succeeded in saving Saeva, placing himself in the heart of it was a bad cool in hindsight.

Saeve had returned the favour and saved him, however, so he supposed it was sort of a give and take situation. The thinning was definitely becoming more and more noticeable, and attacks found their mark on Lukas less often than before. Sure, a lot simply lost themselves in his heavy clothing, or only managed to make shallow cuts. However, some did make their targets, and there was a noticeable amount of blood staining the back of Lukas' clothes, and around his shoulders.

Eventually, it was almost just Lukas and Saeva stood alive in that room. Some of the criminals had fallen down to hide amongst the bodies of their companions, and a few had fallen victims to slashes slightly off their marks, and were now lying with missing limbs, but very much alive.

The Acolyte breathed heavily, frantically glancing around the room, before calling out to Saeva. "Do you see a balcony or anything hidden? There has to be something around here at least."

Saeva