Descending Darkness (The Sith Order)

[Stephanie Swail]

Lightspeed hit, and outside the cockpit was the dizzying and magnificent sight of the hypnotic blue tunnel of the cosmos they sped through. Asterion watched and thought about the mission ahead and what it would entail.

There was no reason to try and make more small talk with [member="Nickolas Imura"] because he didn't trust him and even now felt there would be some alternate reason he wanted to work together, he couldn't shake it.

Yes, trust was an issue, but this operation had come from nowhere and involved people Asterion didn't know, and vice versa.

Asterion span gently left and right in the chair, his fingers tapping the arm rests. This was one of the most uncomfortable journey's he had been on. And it wasn't the travel making him feel that.


[member="Darth Kentarch"] [member="Darth Ayra"]

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Darth Kentarch"] |

Darth Ayra lifted her hands to the cowl of her Sith robe, lowering it from her head. The scars and images of her nightmare, at the hands of [member="Stone Hermes"] and the curse that he had set upon her, were still fresh in her mind. It had only been a week ago that she had participated in the dominion of Bosph, alongside the New Order. During that event, [member="Darth Vulcanus"] had sacrificed a Graug, a member of his own race and instructed Ayra to drink the beasts blood. She didn't pretend to understand why the blood of the Graug and the midi chlorians they possessed would subsequently cure a virus such as the techno virus, but alas, Ayra had been cured of it and was alive to tell the tale.

Despite this, the techno virus that the Resu had infected her with was still there, although dormant. Ayra did not know this currently, but presumably, if she was to expose her bodily fluids or engage in sexual intercourse with another individual, then that said person would become infected and thus, the techno virus would ravage their body.

She turned her gaze to the mercenary. It was a cold, somber glare upon the man and Ayra felt the urge to snap the mans neck for a moment. She averted her gaze to Kentarch when he spoke and replied. "My name is Darth Ayra. I was infected by a creature that call themselves the Resu. They were fighting for the Moross Crusade."

"Who are you? Where is Darth Kyros?"

 

[Darth Kentarch]

As Darth Kentarch observed [member="Darth Ayra"], he was unsure whether the woman would flee, attack, or answer his question. Yet to the Sith Lord's surprise she cooperated and answered his question. He pondered on her answer, the Moross Crusade had the technovirus. This disappointed Kentarch as he hoped she would hold the knowledge to perhaps a long lost Sith temple, holding the ancient secrets to their order. But no, somehow a small galactic faction had gotten hold of the virus for themselves, which meant it was the crusade who had found it, and likely desecrated and contaminated the excavation site of where it was found.

Then this Ayra questioned who he was. The Sith Lord's concealed face glared down at the woman, and while she could not see it, his eyes narrowed. "I am The Lord of Guile." Kentarch replied in an ominous tone. "Like Lady Kyros, I am an Oligarch of The Sith Order. I stand as her equal. You do well to remember that." Kentarch pointed at Ayra. "For me to properly treat you I will need a blood sample. Its nothing short of a miracle you still live, and I would prefer your condition stabilized before you contaminate the planet." He ordered then, gestured for one of the mercenaries to take the sample.

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Darth Kentarch"] |

"Of course, my Lord." As Ayra inclined her head to Kentarch, she confused on her internal rage, allowing the beast to whisper only for a brief moment to remind her that, if it was her will, then the Sith Lord before her wouldn't be standing. But it was her will that Kentarch remain alive, basting in his diluted power. It was facade she had created, in order to continue the Sith Imperative set forth to her by her Sith Master.

Licking her index finger with the tip of her tongue, she rubbing the specks of blood protruding from where the mercenary had taken the sample. She said. "You didn't answer my second question. Where is Darth Kyros?" She wouldn't allow herself to be taken for an idiot, however. By asking the same question again, she announced to Darth Kentarch that Darth Ayra wasn't an idiot and would do well to accept that, whilst he was above her, there was potential there for a problem that he didn't want.

 

[Garza]

OOC: Sorry bro, Got busy with another character.

As [member="Asterion"] was not talking any more, I finally felt at peace. I knew that he was thinking of my possible of backstabbing him. And I had a hint that he may try it as well. But in truth, I was this man as a potential ally. He was more powerful than I was, and could probably have taken me toe to toe if we were to fight with lightsabers or nearly anything else. but if we would have done a battle of force powers, it may have been more towards my end. he was the typical looking brute. Big strong, good with a blade. While I was the mage or whatever you wanted to call it. More oriented with the force and powers than a blade.

However, I could tell this man was smart. and should he need to, he could easily overpower me. To have him as an ally would help me in more ways than one.

As we were in the middle of arriving to our destination, I decided to break the silence. "We need to sneak into the Governments stronghold. I am thinking for sabotage as a form of stealing blueprints and handing them over to the Hutts. From there, one of us, will assassinate one of the highers to start an internal war between both factions as to who let slip the blueprints and then the killing of the hutts." I looked to him, looking for his reaction to it, "You have anything to say?"

 

[Stephanie Swail]

The young Acolyte brought Asterion's attention back to the cockpit, turning to listen as he spoke. His eyes returned to the hypnotic view of hyperspace around them as he thought for a moment, nodding in slow agreement.

"Sabotage is best I think, yes. I can think of two options."

He held up his index finger.

"One. I get into the facility with your cover. You clean up the area, be my external eyes and I find those blueprints and leave a message to spark that internal war."

His middle finger came up next.

Two. We simply go in together, working in the shadow as one, back to back. In and out as a force of two with strength and stealth."

Asterion tapped his fingers on his palm.

"Either way, I think this will be a walk in the park for us."

Nothing wrong with instilling a little confidence in a partnership that had the opportunity to flourish.


[member="Nickolas Imura"]

 

[Darth Kentarch]

Kentarch watched [member="Darth Ayra"] with interest and amusement. He could feel the rage inside of her, and perhaps the contempt she felt towards the Sith Lord. One of the mercenaries drew the sample from her finger, and was off to the labs. “Tell the doctor to follow the protocol I have enacted for such procedures, I want them followed to the letter.” This included injecting a small mouse, to keep a perfect sample for his own uses. He glanced around to look for [member="Cameron Centurion"], the last thing the Sith wanted was rival lord nosing around in his plans.

“As for your earlier question on Kyros’s whereabouts. I don’t know. Lady Kyros does not brief me on all her dealings, as I don’t inform her on all of mine.” Kentarch stated. Eventually after a few minutes a mercenary returned. “We have some stims which will counter the effects of a virus. To put it simply it modifies your own genetic code so the Technovirus can’t reproduce and repurpose your cells. Easy enough given the lethality and danger comes not from its quickness in overtaking its victims, however you seemed to have survived long enough to administer an antidote. You’ll feel run down for some time.” The man said holding up an injector. Kentarch looked at Ayra. “Is this to your satisfaction?” He asked.

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Darth Kentarch"] |

Darth Ayra looked between the mercenary and Darth Kentarch, observing, listening and then thinking of it. Only one question came to mind. "I feel better now. I don't feel like, whatever it was I was infected with, isn't changing me anymore. I figured that it was still inside of me, and whatever happened afterwards, made it inert. Can I still live with the virus inside of me, without it having an affect on my health?"

 

[Garza]

I nodded my head as the Minotaur made two choices for us. One where I would hang back and be his eyes, and the second one where we both went together. I nodded at each choice. Giving the pros and cons over it.

Pros for the first one was that I was not being put straight into the confrontation. BUT the bad part was that the Minotaur would be alone and it could leave him stuck if he had to face up against lot of people. Good about being together was that we worked as a team, and our skills complimented each other. I weighted each option and nodded my head.

"In the back, The first left quarters is where all the weapons and clothes are stored. Inside you can make up a suit for a bounty hunter to blend in. As well as weapons should you need them. Anything under a blaster rifle is in there. I will do the same."

That should be confirmation on how we will be working together.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Darth Kentarch]

"The samples we can make from some blood cultures will give us enough of the virus to weaponize." The mercenary doctor said to Darth Kentarch. The Sith lord in response nodded and replied to the doctor. "Only create a small controlled amount here, I want the samples under strict guard and quarantine, don't let the sample out of your site." The Sith's tone instructed sternly, his overall demeanor insisting the urgency and digression needed. Then the Sith Lord turned to look back at [member="Darth Ayra"]. She questioned him on what she would become. "I can't answer that question." Kentarch said, his tone ominous. "There have been those who's conscious have survived the transformation. The extent of the damage to your body and your nervous system, the effects it will have on your ability to control the force have yet to be seen. However it is likely with a regimen of stims and gene therapy you may be able to make a recovery." He added, however he took no piety or concern for the woman's plight. Kentarch only stopped the transformation to gain the sample of the virus for himself.

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Darth Kentarch"] |

"As you say," replied Ayra, turning to observe the room. After a minute of silence, in which she observed, she asked without looking at Kentarch. "So, what is the plan, here? I came all this way to assist the Sith Order in their goals. If I know what is happening, then I can help, can't I?" She turned and gave Kentarch a small smile, allowing her rage and hatred to simmer down.

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Running a hand over his heavy stubble, Asterion thought about the best approach to take to form the look of a bounty hunter.

He figured it would be best to assemble a outfit consisting of brown combat trousers and heavy black boots, and above he would simply keep his Acolyte armour on but dress it with a number of red, black and sand coloured wraps to give a disorientating display of colour and no obvious allegiance to any, and also the look of one surviving each day as it arrived.

He wrapped two small white cloths around the palms of his hands to protect them from any climbing or holding he had to do, and took up a vibroblade to sheath in his utility belt along with a short ranged rifle to sling over his back.

While Asterion wasn't the greatest at handling weaponry, it at least fitted the image of a bounty hunter and gave him a bit more firepower should he really need it.

He looked like a scavenger; a dangerous one at that, and that suited him fine for the task at hand. Leaving the back room, he made his way back to the cockpit with [member="Nickolas Imura"], ready for the mockery in his voice.

"Don't say a word. Just go get yourself ready."

Sitting down with the rifle in his lap, he tapped his chest gently; the reassuring sound of the armour still there beneath his eclectic clothing.



[member="Darth Kentarch"] [member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Garza]

I waited as the man changed into his own bounty hunter looks in the cockpit. As he came into the room he said not to say a word. As if I was! I simply shook my head and went into the next room. Leist to say, I needed some actual plate armor on my chest. Rummiging through stuff, I came on what looked to be a set of mando look alike armor. Defiantly not made out of their coveted iron. The armor was light and with a smile, I could tell that it was made of armorplast. Too bad there was no jetpack or a beskad to match with it.

I set to work taking off my robes, but leaving the military grade iron skin on, I put on the chest plate over my head and tied the straps that were on my right side. I then put on my crimson cloak once more to cover it up as though I were a rouge Mando. I thought it was a good look with the idea that Mandos were known to be assassins and bounty hunters. I silently thanked my master for having a relations with a Mando and pulled up my hood over the top of the smooth dome of a helmet. I grabbed a blastech ol reliable blaster rifle, slinging it over my shoulder as I grabbed what looked to be a F-10 scatter shot. I smiled broadly as this would be a good gun to use at close quarters. With the extra weapon it may have matched the idea that Mandos carried alot of weapons on them. With the look of the companion that I had, he was not carrying that much.

Pulling out a taser knife from the rack, I slipped it onto my chest where the sheath was. It was a nice touch if I needed it. Slipping down the hall, I put my lightsaber into a locked chest, I was always precarious about my items, and quickly made my way down the hall back into the cockpit.

With the look mixed of military grey, crimson and a dull green. Even at my rather short height compared to @Asterion. I looked to pack a punch. I then too a seat in the pilots chair once more. Looking over the minoutar, I shook my head. Not saying a word, just silently chuckling to myself.

[member="Darth Kentarch"] [member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Turning to see the Acolyte's attire, he had to double take at the sight of what looked like a Mandalorian on a bad day. Letting his head rest back in his seat, he shook his head at the wealth of armour on show as if this was a military operation. He obviously was ready for some all out war.

Not Asterion, he expected nothing but infiltration; stealth; results. He chuckled softly.

Resting his hand over the grip of the vibroblade on his right hip, he swung the chair gently with his right leg and looked out in the swirling vortex ahead of them.

Either way, they both seemed kitted out and ready for the same thing; death.


[member="Nickolas Imura"] [member="Darth Kentarch"] [member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Garza]

(OOC: Congrats on getting Knight. )

IC:
We were both silently judging each other. That much I knew. Sure I may have been ready for war, but really it was not that bad. If we happen to get into a battle. I wanted to be prepared for anything. If he didn't realize that most of the time, running away from police and guards meant alot of running and gunning. Setting the F-10 scattershot down, leaning it against the console, I looked at the system to see how long we would have to wait to get there. Seeing as it was relatively close, it should be in a few minutes.

"We'll be entering orbit in five minutes."

I leaned back in my chair and waited. We had already spent most of this trip in silence, may as well spend the rest of it the same like wise.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

(IC: Thanks - passed me by actually, so better keep Acolyte status in this thread! )


Asterion sat forward and prodded the cloth over his skin, making sure it was tight, but really simply passing time before they broke out of hyperspace.

"Asterion."

He broke silence to cover the most obvious point they both probably needed to know; their names. He didn't look up from his hands and only expected a look of confusion from the young Acolyte by him.

"If we are going to do this together, best you know who you're working with."


[member="Nickolas Imura"]

 

[Garza]

I looked at him as he said his name. He was looking down at his crossed arms as though he was pissed for an unknown reason. He then continued to say that he wanted to know my name if we were going to be working together. As a guy that had spent most of his life running, you leanred how to lie, and to make the lies good. I oils have simply stated my name as Will or zack, but he was a Sith as well. And I had a slight trusting of him. Small as it may be.

"Nickolas"

I spoke back. Giving my first name only. Las time I had gone around giving out my last name, I ended up getting questions about where my brother, Morna the fire shaper of a suposable being who could very well be the strongest pyromancer in the Galaxy. Hearing it from people like my Master, Rave Merrill, Ashin Varanin, and even a few other masters that he worked with.

I would surely be connected somehow, and I wanted to avoid that. If he did ask for my last name, I would hand out the name Cordel as I was kind of like the son to my master. It would work just fine. I would rather be called a rich snob than picked out as the brother of a very powerful pyromancer. Cus names tend to fly around fast.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Darth Kentarch"] | [member="Asterion"] | [member="Nickolas Imura"] |

Wind whipped around around the Sith Lords body, as she made her way back to the Niathal, her current personal form of transport. The encounter with Kentarch had been interesting, to say the least. She had discovered that she still possessed the techno virus that she had been infected with during the conflict at the Silken Asteroids, but it laid currently dormant. That, in itself, made Ayra a weapon. One speck of her bodily fluid and the other would become infected. The possibilities, were endless.

Within her robes, she carried a specimen; an vial that Kentarch had taken for study. There were still others, of course. Such a weapon in Kentarch's hands would be useful, in the future; and she didn't want to step on any toes. Lifting her hand to the key pad of the Niathal, she typed in her code and then took three steps backwards. The doors either side of the lowering ramp retracted, allowing Ayra access as she climbed up and into the transport. Heading for the cockpit, she lowered herself into the pilots seat and closed the doors from there, whilst retracting the ramp at the same time.

What was slightly more interesting was the Sith connection to Rahvin Industries. She would remember that. Lifting the landing clamps of her transport, she took off from the landing bay, headed towards the skies and beyond.

(FIN)

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Nickolas.

He hadn't come across the name during his time with the Sith Order, but that meant nothing. Operating in darkness meant your names of the Brothers you served with were kept hidden.

The ships hum reverberated around them as hyperspace billowed around the cockpit.

It wouldn't be long now, and it would be time for the Acolyte's to show their worth as members of the Order. It felt like they would be operating on their own, and to some extent they would. Should one fall, the other would carry on. Should both fall, they would fade away as if they never existed.

Asterion looked over again at Nickolas and his armour plated outfit. Another smile crossed his face. He did look pretty imposing, he'll give him that.


[member="Nickolas Imura"] [member="Darth Kentarch"]