Public Coru-Scant

[Darth Sarla]

The City of Coruscant, the once great capital of the The Republic, now The Galactic Alliance. The surface decked with skyscrapers and the symbols of statecraft, while the Under City deep below the seemingly endless traffic and levels of apartments was another world. Perhaps it was ironic that Coru means justice, and Scant meaning barley sufficient; justice that is barely sufficent. Such was justice, promising equality, and in reality it was little better than anarchy; a calm sense of order in what could be another Nar Shadda.

Here deep in underbelly of privilege lived Sarla, who had escaped the Tsis’kaar Shadow Song. She had no desire to return to Sith Space, nor to her position as a once Boken Jedi Apprentice. Here she found a new life in the light of the neon glow of gambling houses, and cantinas. The Zeltron had no political affilations, she allowed the masters on the surface to caste the die, long as it kept The Sith Order far away. Her skills as an assassin made bounty hunting the most lucrative path, and her command of the dark side got results, old habits die hard…

Sarla walked the streets of the Undercity in her black robes, a hood flapping over her ruby forehead. She came to the Guild where she sat down on gray seats to meet a Toydarian named Musar. His flapping wings often were a distraction as he took a seat,
“Lady Sarla, I have several choice bounties for you.”

The Dark Lady nodded,
“Remeber our deal, no Uppercity targets. I do not want to draw attention.”

Musar sighed as his oval and wrinkled nose fell almost like a pear.

“You never make it easy.. Undercity doesn’t pay good. How you feed yourself is a mystery to me. I mean one bounty comes from one of those shady folk dressed like you, a Lord or some such from Juntrand.”

Sarla shook her head,
“Then I especially want nothing to do with it. You shouldn’t either, those sort are very dangerous Musar.”

The Toydarian laughed,
“The reports I get of your methods make me wonder if the same could not be said about you. But you get results and you are fair, always paying your Guild fee.”

Sarla hated to admit it but she had become fond of Musar, and his praise was not given lightly, well without credits that is.

“Ah! Here is the one! A Junker who started selling parts. He is wanted alive for 8,000 credits.”

Sarla pulled up a hologram of a man with short blond hair, and scar across one eye that looked foggy and white.

“Lots of junkers sell parts, why is this one special?” asked Sarla.

The Toydarian puller up the file,
“It seems the parts require permits, and have heen illegally smuggled. Of course what else is new? People have to make a living eh? But hmmm.. the parts are Classified, no description of what they are. That explains the higher than usual bounty.”

Sarla looked over, she felt a tremor in The Force as she looked at the Bounty, a bad feeling.

“I may have to pass on this one Musar.”

Musar looked intently at Sarla,
“One of your premonitions? Last time you had one of those the The Lazy Lothcat turned into a shooting gallery.”

The datapad that Musar held chimed.

“What?! The bounty is now 50,000 credits! Someone seriously wants this guy! And alive!”

Sarla contemplated what was at work here, and she hated to admit the money was pulling at her. Once she was drawn by devotion to her people and later to those in her path, now only money. Curosity killed the Nexu, and she had to admit this bounty had her intrigued.

“I will take it.”

Musar looked up at her.

“But your bad feeling.. and a price this high is bound to attract competition. May I remind you a certain Mando who nearly turned me into a Teardarian!”

Sarla chuckled.

“It is not funny! I lost my ability to flap my wings for weeks!”

The Dark Lady took her chain code on her wrist which hung around black leather glove and swiped it through the bounty hologram which chimed. Standing up she was met by Musar who flew up to meet her height.

“Be careful precious Sarla. I do not want anything to happen to you.”

Sarla gave a smirk as she exited the Guild, in a nearby booth sat a droid with a res visor that titled to look as she left. The Dark Lady was now walking the Undercity, the Neon lights of green, pink, and yellow trying to help the lower citizens forget how scant their accomadations were compared to those on the surface, such was the way of things, people forgot their troubles In a bottle or roll of the dice, Sarla preferred the hunt. She looked at her chain code, and noticed a presence behind her, steps following in tandem. However, her power could not deduce what it was, no heart beat or mind to prob which meant.. a droid.

Quickly she dashed into an ally and heard the mechanical foot steps pass, with a thud, thud, thud. Then she heard it stop and backtrack, she reached for her lightsaber hilt as a red light drew near, like a bar and sound of metal steps beating pavement. She took a breath, and snapper the hilt in hand and leapt at the Droid. The Ally sounded with blaster fire and hum of a saber, the wall glowed red showing two figures, one in a shroud and cape moving erratically, while monolithic shape of the droid pointed a blaster casting that shadow on the wall. Then suddenly the shots stopped and light went out on the wall, making the two images disappear…

 

[Ryder Moon]

It was finally time for Ryder to meet his new master. After a year of waiting he was finally to be assigned a new master to train him in the Jedi ways, something that made him very anxious. The absence of his former master has forced the Council to consider a replacement and since it has been a year, they have declared him MIA. Ryder of course still has hopes that his master is out there and will one day return and is obviously opposed to the idea of a new face entering his life like that, especially one with authority over him, he had enough of that when he was a lost child in the lower levels of The City of Coruscant.

He had to get his mind off of the situation and perhaps a breath of fresh air could do him some good, if you could call the air of the city that. And what better way than taking a stroll though his old lower sector favourite places, besides he also had to go shopping, even if the Jedi masters were opposed to it, it was something that he simply had to do. Finding the right parts has become increasingly difficult over the past years but his scrap made lightsaber had a special place in his heart and he wasn't ready to give up on it for a fancy new one just yet. Unfortunately, getting the right parts requires some illegal practices that the Jedi would never approve, such as coming into contact with shady dealers and characters in general.

Ryder made his way to the meeting point and made sure to dress in the most civilian and unsuspicious way possible, a simple everyday attire. Perhaps a move that could backfire soon. He was there to meet with his supplier for the past month, a person with a distinct scar across his one eye that looked foggy and white. He didn't know his name, but he did know the stuff he sold were smuggled, without permits and in many cases landed into the wrong hands. In all seriousness, he should arrest him immediately but Ryder needed the parts for his saber and besides he was part of the Coruscant underbelly since he was a child, surely he could make this one exception. He deserved at least that with all that has been happening lately.

All that remained now was for Ryder to wait... and not draw attention to himself.

 

[Darth Sarla]

The Fog Eyed Man watched his Client arrive at The Meeting Place. He held a metal case in one hand as he puffed an orange Death Stick with the other. Putting it out, he gave a second look at the Client waiting there, and placed his free hand on the butt of his blaster pistol which was holstered at his side.

“These precious parts don’t come cheap. You better have the agreed upon sum.”

His good eye shifted to the corners, looking for any signs of a detail of GA Officers or worse. His eye then turned to the Young Man.

“Well? You got it or not?!”

As he said this there was a thud, and approach of heavy steps. A tall obsidian colored Droid approached with a red visor scanning the scene, it came to Fog’s side.

“Master, problem. Bounty on your head, 150000 credits, and there is a..”

The Fog Eyed Smuggler turned to look at his Droid and two two holes smoking from his torso, and cleaved arm.

“A bounty? Great! Hey kid the price just went up!”

There was a snap hiss and then a red glow approaching from the shadows of one corner, Sarla approached with her scarlet blade crackling as water fell on it from pipes rising in a zig zag up with metal scaffolding and ladders.

“Who the farrik are you? Hey kid, on second thought, you wanna earn the parts?”

The Droid chimed,
“Master, Danger Master!”

The Droid was pushed hard against a wall of concrete by an invisible force, all they could be seen was that the Dark Lady had extended her free hand, each finger tip pointed directly at the Black Droid.

“Spooks and Sorcery.. I gotta get another job!”

Dropping the black case of parts, The Fog kicked it over to Ryder Moon and said,
“Parts are yours if you help me dust this broad!”

Sarla felt it immediately, her eyes shifted to the Young Man in civilian clothing. It eas not use concealing his convictions, she could smell Ashla a mile away. And yet she did not make a move on what must be a Jedi in disguise, her goal was the bounty.

“I have no qaurrel with you..” she said to The Young Man, her eyes fixed on Him as she spoke. She then turned the amber irises back to Fog.
“You on the other hand are coming with me.”
She held the droid steadily, her training and her time under a Domo Crime Lord had made her strong. She had not intention to cross sabers with a Jedi in the Capital, that would bring a hornet’s nest down on her. Would this disguised Disciple oblige her or throw in his lot with the Smuggler? Would he call for back up and she would have to contend with more than One Keeper of the Peace? All these questions rushed through her head as she now realized that bad feeling she had felt at The Guild was right.

 

[Ryder Moon]

Loud steps could be heard as the man emerged from the shadows. Ryder knew that face well by now, but it was stills a sight to behold, rough and aged like expected from a worm like him. Ryder knew what he was but his feelings for the past kept him going.

"I have the Credits... I heard you the first time!"

Ryder said as he opened his pocket and reached inside pulling out the credits and counting them. Barely enough for the price they had agreed prior to the meeting. Then... that changed.

"Great so now you have a bounty on your head and I have to pay double or something? I thought he had an understanding, I don't report you and I take the scrap at the price we agreed upon, you were already a wanted man"

And then he felt it. The presence of another force sensitive individual. A master Jedi? Was he caught? No... that blade signified something far more sinister. He saw the red crackling light and all of his anxiety from before rushed back to him only this time it could prove deadly. He had to keep calm and collected, the Sith Darth Sarla would surely have noticed that he is force sensitive as well and maybe even a user of the light side. The Sith knew he was a Jedi.

Then the case met his feet and forced him to look down at it. All the parts for free? This could mean he wouldn't have to get involved with this guy for at least another 6 months. But was it worth it, fight one criminal to save the other? And that other was a person who just did him dirty no less than ten seconds ago. Due to his selfish needs he was now caught in a situation where he had to make a very tough choice but a choice nonetheless, and fast!

Ryder put the case on his back and secured it firmly while a million thoughts rushed through his head. Notifying the Jedi Order would get him in a lot of trouble especially after storming out of the Council room to get some "fresh air". He needed the parts there was no doubt about it. Based on this logic and his needs, there was only one clear path. Plus, this was a Sith that was freely roaming his old hideout, one that he held close to his heart. The Sith could NOT go unpunished.

Ryder ignited his orange coloured Lightsaber. It was time to prove his worth.

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant
Tags: Ryder Moon , Darth Sarla

​

"Yeah, I wouldn't do that, kid."

Sith hunting in his city. Jasper didn't take too kindly to that. His focus was mostly on relief now, but back in his early days of knighthood the man had spent many sleepless nights cleaning up the underbelly of his home. These were the streets he grew up on after all. Folks of the brooding variety were bad news for all the regular people trying to make ends meet. Needless to say, rumors of Sith wandering around had caught the young councilmember's attention. And here was some hothead trying to prove himself. This was how young Jedi got themselves killed.

Now he had found himself at... some kind of strange hostage situation? Obviously a criminal, but it was strange to see a Sith hunting bounties. Strapped for cash?

Of course he had heard part of the conversation that the young man had been having. Negotiating with a criminal?

"If you need scrap there's a junk yard full of it you know," Jasper noted. "I used to make starfighters there when I was a kid. Don't need shady company to find good quality tech."

And with that he shifted his attention to the Sith woman.

"Alright, lady," he frowned. "You're in my city. I suggest you leave that guy and get the hell out of here."

 

[Darth Sarla]

Sarla was rather alarmed that the Jedi in disguise was determined to fight.
‘Keepers of the Peace, sure.’
When the orange blade snapped to life, she took a guard, angling the scarlet edge across her body in a diagonal. This was a basic guard that protected most of the body long enough for her to shift in her black leather boots to pounce when a voice interrupted the meeting of blades. Turning, Sarla saw another with blond locks who spoke as one with authority.

Fog fiddled with the butt of his blaster, “great.. now this has turned into a party. Keep the parts kid.” He then reached into his pocket with his other hand, placing his finger tips on round and metal object.

Sarla eyed the New Comer, who she sensed was strong in the Force. She raised he wrist and pulled up the chain code hologram that oscillated on a close up of Fog with his damaged eye.

“I have a legitimate claim from The Guild to take this Smuggler in alive. Do not let my saber fool you, The Sith Order and I stand apart.”

She had let go of her hold on the Droid which now was approaching the New Comer from the far wall. Its red visor of light strobbimg as it scanned Him, and then Her, and the Buyer.

Fog pulled out the Thermal Detonator into his palm and concealed it by wrapping his fingers around it like an apple.

“I am not going in alive sweetheart!”

He then armed the detonator and raised it up. It beeped loudly as dots of white in fours cycled in a pattern like a light on an alarm.

The Dark Lady lowered her saber into a tail guard with one hand, as she felt in The Force the shaking hand of this Man. She synched her heart beat to the bleep bleep bleep and then she felt the metal in her grip with the invisible hand. If it was a bluff she could yank it airborne , but his face was twitching, his good eye trembling like a Kath Hound cornered.

‘He wasn’t bluffing.’

The Dark Lady turned to the New Comer and then to the Jedi who lit his flame colored blade,
“How about some of that renowned Jedi diplomacy? Or is that a legend like Jedi Justice?”

Her mind went back to Kashyyyk where the Silver Jedi had sought to subject her to a through and harrowing Inquisition. The experience has completely soured her on her resolve to resume her training in as a Boken Jedi causing her to ‘relapse’ to her old ways. Herein The Capital she had found a reprieve from running, long as she kept herself from being entangled in Uppercity politics. Perhaps she should have taken the offer to walk away, and live to hunt another day. Even Musar would have understood breaking contract in these circumstances.

TAG: Ryder Moon Jasper Kai'el

 

[Ryder Moon]

Ryder got ready to take a step forward and engage, it was time to go all in. He raised his blade and locked eyes with the Sith. Before he could though a familiar voice reached Ryder's hears and relief quickly engulfed him, soon followed by guilt. A man appeared from the shadows, a man he recognised. Based on the situation, he was more lucky than not.

"Master Jasper Kai'el ?"

Was all he could utter as his eyes widened and locked with the mans. He stood tall and sure of himself unlike Ryder, ready to take down the threat albeit Sith or illegal scrap seller. Ryder's mind rushed to remember if Master Jasper was in the room with him when it was announced to him that he was going to receive a new master. If not, perhaps he still had time to explain himself to him.

"Master, I had no idea about the scrap yard... I was used to trading like that when I lived in the lower levels... I'm s-"

Before having time to process the situation he saw a hand raise with a detonator ready to go critical and hear the plea of the Sith Darth Sarla for the two to interfere in the ever so dangerous situation.

"Wow! What's gotten into you man? Are you really willing to to go that far? Lives are at stake here including your own! Think this through..."

He lowered his blade and opened himself up as to show he no longer had a hostile intent. Truth being told if Master Jasper didn't chime in soon his argument was really bear bones and perhaps unconvincing but nonetheless a true statement. He was slowly loosing what cool he had left.

"Perhaps we can come to a mutual agreement?"

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant
Tags: Ryder Moon , Darth Sarla

​

“I have a legitimate claim from The Guild to take this Smuggler in alive. Do not let my saber fool you, The Sith Order and I stand apart.”

"Yeah, well you're a rather lousy bounty hunter then," Jasper remarked with a frown. "Folks down here are in a panic. Rumors of lightsaber wielding lunatics running around don't exactly help people sleep at night. You're just asking to cause trouble."

Remaining low-key went a long way. Spreading fear in such a manner was unnecessary. People down in the lower levels already had it rough enough as it is. The situation seemed to develop quickly, however, and the criminal in question drew a thermal detonator. Jasper could only let out a groan.

"Jeez, you're a bright one," the man sighed.

He very quickly procured a device of his own, an EMP grenade. Jasper didn't hesitate, however, letting the device go off in his hand to send a pulse out that very quickly knocked out all technology in it's radius. The thermal detonator would go dark, leaving it as nothing more than a silver paper weight. The Sentinel's mechanical arm was caught in the crossfire, of course, but that hardly mattered. It's backup generator would kick in soon, and Jasper had experience working with one arm.

"Deplomacy over," he stated. "Take him in for his bounty. Just make sure he's off my streets."

Jasper frowned, turning back to the young man, who was very clearly a Jedi by his recognition.

"I grew up down here," Jasper told him. "Trading is all well and good, but not everyone down here is trying to make ends meet honestly. There's no telling who's dead bodies half of those parts were pulled off of. Not to mention the fact he was about to blow himself up. Was all that worth the risk?"

There was nothing to gain in winding up dead, and Jasper knew all too well that there were pleanty of ways to do that down here.

"What's your name, kid?"

 

[Darth Sarla]

The Fog Eyed Man’s tension was palpable, when he heard The Dark Lady urge the Jedi to reason rather than attack he hesitated and that was when EMP grenade went off and the threat of his detonator was neutralized. He looked at the grenade which was now useless, and then at The Bounty Hunter who had been given permission to collect him.

Sarla was suprised by the events, first the Jedi jumped to the conclusion that this was not her streets as well, her home, and as usual assuming that someone with a crimson blade started hostilities. But she had learned on Kashyyyk that Jedi are as prone to prejudice as Sith and unwilling to listen to explanations once they formed opinions, so why bother. What mattered is this Master Kai’el was allowing her to take the Bounty and go about her business. Holding her saber hilt that sparked at the emitter, the EMP having shorted it, which meant it would need repairs. Sarla approached Fog who dropped his dud of an orb, and she held out her hand, calling on the Force to help hold the Smuggler in her grip. The Droid was frozen like a statue, its red visor was gone and it reminded her of one of those black marble effigies of the dark lords on Korriban.

Clipping her lightsaber to her belt, she held her Bounty under invisible shackles, when she decided on a course of action that hopefully would build some trust with the Jedi.
Turning to Jasper Kai'el Sarla said,
“The parts that this smuggler is carrying are not junk, they are Classfied according to the information at the Guild. The bounty went from 8,000 to 50,000 credits in a matter of minutes. I sense something else is at work Master Jedi. I tell you in good faith as a gift for your clemency.”
Sarla took a deep breath, and continued, “You may join me at the Guild when he is arraigned if you wish.”

The Dark Lady was not only trying to establish good will with The Keepers of Peace, she also knew if those who placed the bounty had further designs, they would most likely emerge from shadows when she turned in the bounty, ergo she would even the odds with a Jedi entourage.

Sarla then turned to The Jedi in disguise ( Ryder Moon ) who had not revealed his name, “You have spirit. Never lose that. In your situation I would have snapped to action as well.”

Her praise probably would have no bearing now that the Jedi was mortifying himself, at least that was what she deduced from his demeanor. She would have advised that identifying a senior ranking member of the Jedi Order in a hot zone like this was dangerous, however, it was not her place to lecture Jedi, they would do plenty of that in their ivory towers.

The Fog stood as one ensnared in a web, the EMP had taken away all his advantages, even his blaster was little better than those mounted on walls for display. He felt the grip of the Dark Lady, and became more uneasy when instead of immediately taking him to The Guild, she spoke with the Jedi Master. Why was she delaying? He tried to overhear their conversation, his left ear nearest the damaged eye had stronger hearing, and he heard some of the details relayed.

Under his breath he said, “No.. no..no no.. a sum like that means.. they found me..”

The Smuggler began to fidget which The Dark Lady felt, she waited a moment before tightening her Grip with the Force and urging Fog to begin walking slowly to one of corners in the sqaure, when she noticed a pair of glowing yellow eyes in a crack of blinds that gave agood look before disappearing. She had been under the impression this square was abandoned, condemned, then again many took up lodging in such places with nowhere else to go. Poverty eliminated choices, and that was why she collected bounties. Sarla had earned enough to get a flat in The Uppercity, albiet lower Uppercity, but she preferred this underworld. Already here she attracted attention with her scarlet saber, what would happen if she had been spotted upworld, by Jedi with no understanding of the struggles of making ends meet down in shadow of skyscrapers?

 

[Ryder Moon]

Ryder's mind was rushing in all kinds of places and his eyes were locked on the device. Was this going to be it? Further negotiations would certainly be futile, the man was crazy and Master Jasper Kai'el was taking way to long to reply. Did he get cold feet too? No way Master would loose his cool in a situation like that when based on all of his previous experience with Sith and criminals. Maybe...

BANG

His lightsaber exploded in his arm and metallic pieces scattered all around them and next to them, the disabled detonator. Ryder kneeled and looked at his slightly burned hand in shock. An EMP explosion, of course! What you can not beat with words you can beat with technology. Ryder looked up at Master Kai'el. His arm was also disabled and so was the Sith's Darth Sarla lightsaber. His own couldn't resist the force of the EMP because it was made out of spare parts and over the years most of them must have started to give out or rust away. That's why he was here anyways. Ryder picked his kyber crystal from what remained of the hilt and found the courage to stand up.

"Spirit or not I acted foolishly to begin with, perhaps I should have asked for help before deciding to go on this meeting. Although praise from you means little to me, I honestly am surprised Master Kai'el is willing to let you go just like that. Although to be fair Master Kai'el, she did show good faith in warning us about further trouble so I guess I shouldn't be so harsh, perhaps we should look into this further?"

As if he was in a position to make suggestions or refuse praises, but he still was a Jedi and still had a role in all of this, perhaps it was time for him to look at the situation as an opportunity to redeem himself and of course stop whatever was going on here. He truly did care about the people of Coruscant. He wanted to say more too. The Jedi was from here much like he was. That meant a lot to him, but this wasn't the time nor the place for him to start asking questions. That was enough of an input for now.

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant
Tags: Ryder Moon , Darth Sarla

​

His own couldn't resist the force of the EMP because it was made out of spare parts and over the years most of them must have started to give out or rust away. That's why he was here anyways. Ryder picked his kyber crystal from what remained of the hilt and found the courage to stand up.

"Oh, jeez," Jasper reacted, giving an apologetic look. "Sorry about that. I... can give you parts to make another one."

What had been holding that blade together? It fell apart at the rather small EMP, so who's to say how it would have held up in a fight. Jasper went on to suggest following, which he couldn't help but sigh at. That was his plan, ultimately. He didn't trust this woman at all or whatever this deal was supposed to be. Now the cat was kind of out of the back as far as doing so in a more covert manner.

"I'm going to look into it further, yeah," he stated. "The Guild has some legal precident for hunting, but not all bounties are legal. I'd like to know who's on the other end of this exchange." He paused, turning to Sarla. "Not that it has to be your problem. You just have to take your winnings and leave, hopefully to go off and cause less problems. People already have it hard enough down here with the syndicates mucking around."

He paused for a moment, taking note of a pair of eyes that briefly appeared in the window nearby. Strange. Intel stated this place had been abandoned. It seemed there was something far greater at play. The Sith woman had said it herself after all. It was going to be a long day.

"Here, catch."

Jasper reached for his lightsaber, tossing it over to the padawan. It had built in surge protectors that protected the internal hardware enough to bring it back online following a forced shutdown. All power was from the kyber within. It would be able to turn back on in no time.

"Can't have you unarmed," the Sentinel decided. "Alright then. I'm eager to see what this all is about."

 

[Darth Sarla]

The Jedi Master agreed to look into the matter, which meant that they could all head to Guild. Sarla gave Fog a shove and got him walking, the path out of this abandoned square was a great opening leaving the courtyard. The Dark Lady felt something, a familiar presence, she tugged in Force to make Fog drop with jer a bolt went hurling overhead into the wall. She looked up with her amber eyes to see the shimmer of Beskar and then head the ignition of thrusters as Mando with chrome armor and yellow lines around the T Shaped visor landed in front and drew a IB-94 Blaster Pistol that he pointed at Sarla.

“This is how it goes, hand over the bounty Witch, and I leave you warm.”

Sarla peeked up from he low center of gravity and with twist of her hand pullled at his leg as he fired, he then rolled and pointed his incinerator unit at them both.

Sarla ahouted,
“The bounty is for alive not dead Narjin! You’ll get nothing if you burn us!”

The Mando rose up on his feet and prepared to unleash a wave of flame.

“Get up slowly Darjetii (Sith).. and watch those hands or I’ll make them crisp.”

The Dark Lady held her hands above her hooded head, she moved slowly, her hope the two Jedi would arrive on this scene and offer assistance.

Narjin grabbed Fog by the back and pulled him close.

“This is second time Sorceress that you walk away empty handed. Give my regards to Masur.”

Sarla’s eyes began to immolate, and her finger tips began to spark, she felt her rage building. The dark side swirled around her, she then dropped to the ground and extended her hands releasing bolts that wrapped around the Mando’s feet, and made him fall to his knees, she then rolled as he let a cloud of flame come at her, she then with both hands pointed channeled bolte from her finger tips towards Narjin, who turned to try and engulf her in fire, the two meeting as bolts slithered around and struck the Mando that growled in warrior tones and the fire caught her robe on fire which she caste off, and her fine ruby red skin covered in droplets of sweat. She aimed her next thunder bolts for his jetpack which triggered an explosion. Fog ran off as his outfit was on fire, Sarla chased after him and knocked him to ground and put it out, when she turned the barrel of the blaster pistol was touching her forehead.

“Argh! Dank Farrik! That jetpack was new! Now out of respect to The Guild I have shown Ijaat (honor) till this point. You force me to leave you cold..”

The Ex-Sith looked into the reflective visor seeing her face. In that moment she remebered Fiviune, and when she almost died, where her Sister laid rested. She had escaped the fate of Tsis’kaar only to now join her sister in the afterlife. She closed her eyes, each beat of her heart she waited for the Mando to pull the trigger. The anticipation of this inglorious end agonizing, ad yet beautiful. She had lived longer than her kin, and her fallen comrades, she had seen Chaos already, well a version of it anyway, and she now was resigned to her fate, if this was her destiny, then at least she had lived.

TAG: Ryder Moon Jasper Kai'el

 

[Ryder Moon]

"The blade had a special place in my heart and it was in need of repairs for some time, that's why I needed these parts but don't worry about it , I'm glad the EMP went off even at the cost of my saber. I have all the parts I need to make a new one since I got the case from the criminal."

Master Jasper Kai'el threw his lightsaber at him and Ryder caught it in the air with ease, he then immediately brought it close to his face to study it. The blade had gone though some kind of augmentation as to survive after EMP attacks better than others and certainly better than his own. The hilt was metallic and partially made out of ironwood. Not only that but he felt a connection with the blade, a connection he doubted a dark side user would feel, but perhaps that was just his imagination or perhaps the blade did have some kind of force oriented modification to it. Either way, this was certainly an interesting and while simplistic, practical design. Ryder always liked creating his own stuff so this was more of an inspiration to him than a weapon at the current moment. He proceeded to holster the saber on his belt.

"Thanks, I will take good care of it until its time to return it to you."

With not many other choices, Ryder simply followed along into the darkness of the city alleyways and towards the Guild. While this was not a moment for chit chat, he thought it would help to ease the situation and make their nerves calm down. Even though the Sith Darth Sarla seemed to have picked up pace and was already a few steps ahead of them.

"How did you survive down here? I know it was hard for me, I almost died in more than one occasions."

Perhaps a bit rude for him to dig into the life of the Jedi like that but Ryder's curiosity was getting the better of him. It has been a long time since he came into contact with an individual that had any kind of connection to him so even living in the same conditions was enough to spark his interest. The day wasn't over though, as the sound of an explosion made its way to Ryder's ears. It came from the distance but not too far from them, forcing Ryder to run ahead to have a look, making sure to be cautious this time around.

There stood a Mandalorian wearing a famous Beskar armor with yellow details around the T Shaped visor of his helmet pointing a blaster at the Sith. How did the situation escalate so quickly again? Was it time for him to make a decision? Things looked tough once again and his heart started racing. Knowing that Master Kai'el was experienced, he knew that if he made a move he would follow with something even better. Ryder closed his eyes and focused on the weapon as it started to tremble, and with a quick force push, he attempted to disarm him before he had the chance to fire. Not because he liked the Sith, but because she was slowly becoming valuable when it came to information.

 

[Darth Sarla]

To Sarla great suprise the blaster fired, and she opened her eyes to see the barrel had been shoved aside, the bolt wmptying into the ground, and without hesitating she reached her hand out and used The Force to tale hold of Narjin’s windpipe. Her eyes flared like coals with new wood thrown on them as she made the Mando gargle and choke, his Beskar helm bobbing back and forth from the pressure, she was close to snapping his neck when she took a breath, if she killed him that would develop a reputation at The Guild, however if she spared him he would continue to be a threat. Had he been an honorable Mando, she could make him indebted to her mercy, a life debt. So instead she moved to a course of action between murder and mercy, she leviated the blaster, and held it in her hand, she then fired several ahouts into his shoulder and his legs, the bolts beating his body with burning fire. The Mando groaned as all four limbs smoked and she dropped him on his back as she tossed the pistol aside. Placing her boot on his chest, she peered down at him,

“This time the prize is mine. You shall know the misery of being useless, to beg in gutter as so many do in these streets. I have taken your life in another way, a worse way, for your life as hunter is over, your Mandalorian glory no more. Taste that bitter ale, for it is all you shall know.”

She then released her grip and turned to see Ryder Moon who she suspected had intervened. Fog was still recovering from his burn, when Sarla walked up to the Jedi and spoke,
“Does this mean I am beginning to grow on you Jedi?” She smiled,
“I think proper introductions are in order. I am Sarla.”

The scene was bound to draw some attention, blaster fire was ignored in the Lowercity, however explosions tended to draw a crowd. She once more placed her Force Leash on Fog and yanked him from hunching on the ground back to a standing posture. The company of Jedi had proved advantageous, once more she had been saved from the threshold of death. Jedi had a reputation of helping others, but an enemy? This proved reform was possible, that prejudices could be overruled. Of course she suspected that it was not a free gift, nothing in galaxy was. She had been of help, now He had. But if a relationship could be struck of mutual cooperation, it could lead to a qausi-allliance, she could help the GA and Jedi by being eyes here in the Lowercity, and in turn they coukd turn a blind eye to her past and her wielding the dark side. Though suspicion would always be part of the game, fear she was a spy for The Sith Order. She would need to tread carefully.

The Mando groaned and she leaned over to look at him and then back to The Jedi,
“He’ll live.”

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant
Tags: Ryder Moon , Darth Sarla

​

"Good job, kid," Jasper praised.

He would have been on top of it if the young Jedi didn't act, but he wanted to get an idea of his skill level as well. An assessment of character. The Sith almost immediately made it about her, however, and less about the fact that she was an unarmed individual about to die. He couldn't help but let out a sigh.

"Yeah, he was just doing the right thing," Jasper remarked with a frown. "Don't overthink it."

Sarla. Well, he had a name now. All the more things to trace if she was intent on causing more headaches down here. She seemed... odd. Very odd. What was her angle with all of this? Choosing to hunt bounties and clean up what was very apparently crime. Jasper knew Sith well. He had spent his formative years standing down the Maw, not to mention the vision of the future that Carnifex, the former Dark Lord of the Sith, had been so kind to impart on him. Whatever this was, it certainlty didn't fit the Sith mold. The conclusion here that Jasper ultimately came to is that they just wanted to be quirky. They wanted all the perks of the darkside without the ability to fully commit to what the darkside really demanded of people. It wasn't just something you could pick up like a hobbie. Darkness demanded darkness in turn. Destruction had to follow in it's wake.

The Maw blew up planets. This woman clearly didn't have such capability.

"Man, that guy came out of nowhere," he remarked with a frown. "You'd think someone rolling up in heavy metal would be more obvious."

It hardly mattered. They had work to do.

 

[Ryder Moon]

"And I will keep doing the right thing, because this is all that this was. Death is never the solution and as such I was inclined to intervene. Growing on me would require that you don't keep getting in trouble every step we take."

Ryder said as he approached the wounded Mandalorian that was struggling on the ground. He then kneeled and attempted to move the man to the side of the road, helping him lean on a nearby house wall. That Beskar armor truly was heavy so Ryder had to use all his power to barely drag him in place.

"You didn't have to go the extra mile and shoot the man, I know you feel like you had your reasons but if conflict can be avoided its better that you keep your distance and I say that as a street urchin not a Jedi. I've seen my share of overconfidence before."

He added as he stood up and clapped his arms together to remove any remaining dust from his hard labor. He hoped that the man wasn't going to make a move of any kind... not that it looked like he could but one can never be too sure in the world they live in.

"Let's get this over with"

Tags: Jasper Kai'el Darth Sarla

 

[Darth Sarla]

Sarla now remembered that Jedi have no sense of humor and must preach the Way of Ashla in any given circumstance. Rather than argue and get nowhere, she choose to bridle her tongue. Her training as Tsis’kaar and as Boken Jedi under Remy Singh had taught her to control those powerful feelings of hers. It was why she had not killed the Mando, despite the Darkness bidding her to “Do it!” She had learned to make the power of the Sith submit to her will. This was how she had escaped the pitfalls of full corruption, and in truth the company of Jedi tested her resolve. She could sense in their words a disdain, a righteous complex that had to remind her no matter what decision she made as a Darksider, it was wrong. That was ok, they got confidence from their sense of moral superiority, she preferred to survive, and if that meant taking a homily of sanctimony, so be it. She owed the Younger Jedi who did not give his name, a precaution perhaps, and a sign these Jedi did have some shrewdness to back up their saintly platitudes.

The Dark Lady took Fog and urges him on, keeping him to her side with The Force. They were coming to The Guild, where Muser was flapping his wings and talking to a Rodian who held out his hands as if baffled by something. Muser turning to see Sarla with the bounty gave a smile with his underbite of tusk like teeth.

“My dear Sarla! You did it!” He took notice of the two Jedi, and squinted.

Sarla smiled and said, “I had help.”

The Toydarian looked and nodded, “Making friends at last? They are welcome to come in. You shall receive payment, and a drink I think.”

Sarla escorted Fog into the Guild Chambers, when she sat down she sighed, all that had happened with Narjin and Fog’s Droid catching up with her. The chain code was run, and payment was being transferred to The Dark Lady’s account. She leaned in towards Masur who looked over the particulars.

“The two gentlemen may have questions about this Bounty, I promised you’d cooperate.”

The Toydarian nodded and whispered, “You getting tangled up with Jedi suprises me Sweet Sarla, are you in trouble?”

The Dark Lady shook her head.
“I was promised they’d leave me be if you give them information on the One who placed the bounty.”
Her words weren’t the entire truth, the Jedi Master had told her she could go with her bounty before she offered information the Jedi would want. But Masur did not need to know that.

The Toydarian shook a little,
“If that is your wish.. you know our policy is not to reveal Bounty Placers, but I must admit this bounty has me worried ever since you mentioned your bad feeling. So ok, I will tell them what I can.”

Sarla leaned back against leather in the seat, and said,
“By the way Narjin is out of the business.” She said it with a wryly grin.

Masur smirked,
“I told him that poaching your bounties would get him one day! Did you kill him?”

The Dark Lady shook her head.
“Though I think he will wish I had.”

The exchange was complete as she stood up with so many credits safely in her account. She went to the Two Jedi,
“That Toydarian is Muser and has agreed to give you any intel you wish. May The Force Be With You.”

She suspected they’d take her parting phrase as sarcasm. The truth is she had gotten use to saying it in her brief stint as a Boken Jedi. Had things panned out differently in her life, perhaps she’d be beside them serving the GA, but that would be another life.

TAG: Ryder Moon Jasper Kai'el