From Hunter to Hunted...

[Kian Karr]

Kian wished he could say that Empress Teta held good memories for him, but the last time he was here was many years before when Republic forces were attempting to retake the planet from the icy, cold grasp of One Sith occupation. Kian was just an apprentice at the time and had walked away from the battle with numerous battle scars.....some physical others spiritual. The Kel Dor Jedi stood huddled in an ally, watching as the people went about their daily business. Kian couldn't help but wonder what sort of affect the Sith occupation was having on the native people. They'd been under Sith rule for years now.....were they still defiant at heart or at this point were they beginning to succumb to the masters lash. Kian couldn't blame any of them. Living under an enemy and a government as vicious as the One Sith, Kian would be amazed to find any resistance still in them.

And yet, he had heard murmurs in the force as he stood there watching......murmurs of discontent and defiance.

Kian stepped out from the alley way and blended into the crowd before him. He was dressed in the typical clothe one would expect a merchant to be wearing with a dark grey cloak and hood covering his shoulder and head. He had arrived on Teta several days before and had been working tirelessly and secretively to secure as much information as possible about the Sith Lord that control this planet and many of those at the core.....Darth Vitium was the name.

As Kian rounded the corner he could see the small cafe up ahead. Pulling the shoulder strap of his satchel tighter around his shoulder, Kian approached one of the nearby tables where a young human woman was sitting. She was hard to miss with the brilliant red hair.

"Hello Miriam," Kian said settling down at the chair next to her and sitting his satchel down next to her identical one, "how is your family?" Kian asked as if they were old friends. Miriam lived on Empress Teta and it was her work that Kian was here to collect. She'd been collecting information for the Shadows for the past few months. It was only in the last week, however, that the most vital information had begin to surface. Kian had come at her request to gather what information she had, as she feared transmitting it.

"There fine, how is your brother?" She asked, all smiles and charm....but in her eyes, Kian saw fear.

And he couldn't help but wonder, what had her so spooked.

Spoiler

Jedi Shadows:
Kian Karr
[member="Varus Shatterstar"] - eventually
@Varus's apprentice (I don't know his/her name!!!)

Sith Assassins:
[member="Lord Ajihad"]
[member="Tain Organa"]
[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Lord Ajihad]

(Post removed)

 

[Darth Ferus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqOfPkHGq9U​

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There are many things people don't know. Within the darkness, there are secrets sinister and beautiful to behold. Knowledge forbidden yet needed could be found behind the veil of reality many hid behind. Miriam was one of those people, trying to learn something she should. Trying to tear her false reality into the truth for what it was. Here on Empress Teta life wasn't as bad as many would expect, if you lived in the upper levels. The Sith made sure to prevent a mass rebellion by giving the people a reason to sit still. But the deeper you went down, the darker the reality would become.​

​

For too long the Sith had been missing a shadow network, and those below were able to exploit this. Gangs took over, earning money and selling spice anywhere and everywhere they could. They took secrets from above and extorted major officials. Nothing could be done publicly. Yet now there were rumors. Rumors any on Coruscant would find drifting to their ears. Those who went after information ended up dead. Gang leaders were found dead in the center of their base with no trace of a killer. Pro republic officials trying to blackmail Imperial commaders were found in their beds, showers, and even doorways with slit throats and punctured lungs. ​

​

The Assassins had been getting to work, 'cleaning up' those who would dare try to take advantage of the One Sith. Mercilessly they would kill any and all who knew too much, or was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. In areas down below there was news of plauges and sicknesses claiming the lives of many, but always claiming the life of at least one information broker. And on this day another target was to be dealt with.​

​

It was to be simple. The Sith Lord dressed as a simple waiter would walk right up to the female. Her information grabbing hadn't been ignored, and with the hidden blade strapped to his wrist the red man would calmly serve Miriam her lunch, stab her in one of her kidneys, and walk away. The purpose was to keep the Assassins hidden. A shadow that could strike at any moment.​

​

Within the thigh hatch on his leg rested the golden blade of his twin sabers, as the simple black slacks and white shirt gave little to hide with. At least this way, he could still get himself a saber if need be. Stepping around the corner, the Red Assassin would move calmly towards the table. Until his eyes fell upon [member="Kian Karr"] . The Darth had a knack for shrinking his presence down utilizing Art of the Small to be virtually invisible in the Force, and thankfully he had chosen to do so now. He had no idea weather or not the alien could even sense him, but he was an unknown.​

​

And talking to his mark.​

​

Rather calmly, the red man would reach out with his mind to three others stationed nearby. [member="Lord Ajihad"] , [member="Tain Organa"] , and [member="Xander Blackmoore"] . More of the Assassins. He had asked them to come just in case there was an unknown. Turns out it payed off. Be Ready. It was a short message, but it would get the purpose across. Now, the Darth would move over to continue acting his role and complete his mission. Slowly he would set down the small platter of some sort of soup, Ferus couldn't identify the scent, and begin to speak in a rather odd accent. Truth be told, it was his old one.​

​

"Ja be gettin da soup? Ja becaful mon, dis ting be hot."​

​

He had picked it up early on in his life, and it was simple for him to switch back. Asides, no one would think twice on an alien with an accent. Or so was the goal. What happened next though, that would give him away. The female would suddenly find herself unable to breath, some sort of invisible force surrounding her throat. In truth, this was Ferus, and as she began to cough the Zabrak would pull up a seat and sit. His attention was on Kian, and despite this the choke seemed to be rather effective.​

​

It was one of his favorite Force Powers after all.​

​

Blue eyes would focus on the Kel Dor, he letting his eyes travel over his form. Part of the Sith expected him to get up and assist the woman, and another expected him to sit down and wait. Especially as the red mans signature and his voice came out at the same time.​

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"You, I don't know you. Tell me your name, and maybe I'll let you live." Ferus assumed he was chatting with a simple alien with no greater purpose but to chat up a semi attractive red headed human. ​

​

Little did he knew he was chatting with what would become his own nemesis.​

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian's eyes fell on the waiter as he approached and scrutinized the man suspiciously. Not because any trace of the force or any hint of wrong doing permeated the man, but rather because Kian's time with the Shadows had made him a tad bit paranoid. So as the man approached, Kian fell silent and watched. He could sense nothing in the man that would indicate anything out of the ordinary.

But then Miriam began to choke. And then the man spoke.

"You, I don't know you. Tell me your name, and maybe I'll let you live." ​

Kian had several options....none of them all that good. Kian felt the sudden force signature flare to life and new that his presence on Empress Teta, or at least Miriam's work hadn't gone unnoticed. First and foremost, Kian had to try to save his contact. Kian knew from personnel experience that the only way to break a force choke was to distract the force wielder effectively enough. Without speaking a word, Kian slammed his hands down on the table, lifting it up on end and with a flick of the force, sent it flying at the seated assassin.

Kian reached into his utility belt a pulled a small sphere from his belt and thumbed the switch, dropping it at his feet. Kian moved with the speed that could only be achieved by use of the force. In that moment Kian had to make a choice. He could have gone for the bag holding the information or he could try and save Miriam.

He made the right call.

Wrapping his arms around the red-headed woman, Kian leaped for the railing alongside them. It dropped down only a single story to the lower level of the cafe below. Kian had to move. He didn't know how many of them there would be. It could just be the one Sith....or it could be an entire platoon. Kian preferred not to stick around to find out.

As Kian's feet cleared the railing he heard the click of the flash bang grenade he'd dropped, indicating that it was about to go off.

[member="Darth Ferus"] | [member="Lord Ajihad"] | [member="Tain Organa"] | [member="Xander Blackmoore"]​

 

[Lord Ajihad]

The Demon's Fist watched the whole situation from an tenement building across the street from the cafe. He was staking out the area, watching the redhead seated at one of the tables. Since he was on a stakeout, he brought his silenced Tusken Cycler Rifle along with him. As a hooded figure sat down next to the girl, he activated the scanner in his eyepiece. It pierced through the creature's hood, running an ID scan it its face. It identified him as [member="Kian Karr"] , a Jedi Master. He raised his comlink to his face, with a message for [member="Darth Ferus"] . "Hostile approaching. Name's Kian Karr, Jedi Master."

As his master began to kill the girl, the Kel Dor sprung into action. As soon as Vi'kas saw the Jedi's twitch, he raised his rifle level with his eyepiece. It switched into sniper mode, targeting the girl's head. As the Master scooped her up, the Sith Knight fired a round into her head, and shot another projectile at the Kel Dor's head. He doubted he would hit the Master, but it never hurt to try. Regardless, the Jedi would not make it out alive.

[member="Varus Shatterstar"] [member="Tain Organa"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Blue eyes widened as the Kel Dor suddenly stood up. The last thing he was expecting was a Jedi Master. As [member="Lord Ajihad"] pipped in about it, Ferus barely had the time to ward off the table weapon. The snap hiss signature to any saber would come forth, and the pale blue blade built into the Sith's arm would alight. From the base to the top the Zabrak would cleave the table in two, but this would cause him to fall backwards from his chair.

His connection would be broken right from the get go, and the human female would soon be able to find breath, but none of that was Ferus's concern. The Jedi Master, [member="Kian Karr"] , was. Practically with a growl the Zabrak would stand, reaching out to grip at one half of the table. There shouldn't be a Jedi Master this far into the One Sith, and quite frankly it was beginning to piss him off.

That was the least of his worries however, as the Flash Bang went off. With a resounded howl the Darth would drop to the ground, letting go of the table and gripping his eyes. The noise meant nothing to him, his forge could be louder, but the blinding light. To him, it was as if his head was split apart, just so overpowering that it practically crippled him as he stayed curled up.

All around him a purple fire would ignite, part of an instinct to protect himself at his weakness. The screams of the civilians around the Sith Lord would fill the air as they suddenly burst into flame, unsure on where it had even come from. Darth Ferus just remained where he was however, screaming and screaming. It wouldn't last however, and after enough time for Kian to get a good distance away the Lord would once more move to stand up, his body visibly shaking with anger.

Once red skin became stained black, and blue eyes turned a solid gold. "Ajihad, where is he?"

 

[H3xle]

Tain had been stationed on top of the building the cafe was in. She heard [member="Lord Ajihad"] identify the Kel Dor right before [member="Kian Karr"] flung the table, dropped the flash bang and pulled the girl away. She saw him hop the railing, then was partially stunned by the flash bang. She was far enough away to only have spots in her eyes, but she couldn't immediately interdict the Jedi Master. Instead, she ran along the rooftops, paralleling his path. As he was running with someone in his arms, she could constantly see the wake he left in the sea of people.

"[member="Darth Ferus"], I have the Jedi under observation. Moving along the street toward the east."

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian felt the jerk of Miriam's head, and even if he hadn't he knew the feel of a life fading away in the force. He felt heat as a shot just barely missed him and slammed into the wall before him as he dropped. Kian hit the ground beneath him running, still clutching the dead informant in his arms. Kian expected the Sith Lord to be hot on his tail, but as Kian came to the end of the street, he didn't feel the man following....he felt the anger and the pain of the Sith Lord, but it was further away, as if the man hadn't moved.

Kian wasn't sure what delayed the Sith, but he was glad to have the time to collect himself. Kian darted down an alleyway and dropped down behind a large dumpster. Kian laid the girl down on the ground, glancing around looking for pursuers before casting a glance back at her. When she was alive....a few moments before....Kian hadn't noticed just how young she was. Twenty, twenty-one maybe? Kian's masked eyes glanced into the green eyes of the girl. They looked oddly peaceful in death.

Kian shook away the thought and rose to his feet.

"I'm sorry." Kian said turning and leaving her there. Instead of heading back out into the open, Kian rushed further down the alleyway. The building at the end of the alley had all the looks of an abandoned warehouse and Kian couldn't think of a better place to hide out for now. Kian ran a hand over the locking mechanism on the door and plugged in his datapad. Glancing back over his shoulder, Kian scanned the buildings around him as he waited for the datapad to hack the security on the lock.

Kian's eyes focused in on what he thought was movement, but the chirping of the datapad drew his attention and he quickly slipped into the dark building. Kian pulled his force signature in making it small and pressed the button on his datapad that sent the distress call. Kian had a planned extraction, but it would take time to arrive......time Kian might not have...

[member="Lord Ajihad"] | [member="Tain Organa"] | [member="Darth Ferus"] | [member="Xander Blackmoore"]​

 

[H3xle]

"I've lost his crowd wake near a building across the way from my current location." Tain then rattled of her coordinates before descending into the crowd. She wouldn't be in her red leather, more the pity, she was instead in non descript dark gray clothing with a hood pulled up over her head and baggy sleeves hiding her hands and bracers. She lingered around the street near where the Jedi Master had vanished, she focused on making her signature smaller, though she was still only skilled enough to make it as small as a fox. She was inexperienced enough to not know if that was worrisome or not.

[member="Kian Karr"] [member="Darth Ferus"] [member="Lord Ajihad"]

 

[Lord Ajihad]

Lord Ajihad heard his master's question through the com link, and chose his words carefully. He knew that his [member="Darth Ferus"] had trouble controlling his rage at times, and the assassin didn't want to be on the recieving end of the Zabrak's fury. "Target has moved into a nearby alleyway, sending you the coords now."

After sending his master the Jedi's location, he moved into action. He put his rifle on the closet's shelf, and made sure all of his equipment and gadgets were with him. After confirming he was fully equipped, he turned on his sonic propulsion boots. They were of his own design, a more subtle alternative to the common jetpack. He launched himself across the road, and right into the alley.

It was immediately obvious the Jedi wasn't there, given the fact that [member="Tain Organa"] was standing there with a somewhat puzzled expression. Frowning, the assassin began to try to feel the master's force signature, which seemed not to be there. He thought for a minute, wondering how else he could find the master. An idea struck him, and he got to work.

He pulled out his datapad, and plugged a JACKAL Code into it. This would give him more ability to slice than he would normally have with a datapad. He guessed [member="Kian Karr"] would have some sort of technological device on him somewhere, hopefully with Holonet access. If that was the case, then the Knight would be able to find him.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"There are not many Kel Dor on this planet. If you find one at any point, kill them. If they don't get killed, they're this Master Karr or lucky. Call me only if it's the first." The Zabrak spoke up only after he had picked up the pack [member="Kian Karr"] had sneaked onto the planet for. Once he emptied it, the purpose became extraordinarily clear. The Jedi was an info hunter. Tearing off the suit amidst the burned corpses of those who just wanted a lunch, the Sith Lord would activate the small chamber in his tight.

A slight ploosh noise filled the silence as the saber hidden within shot out, landing in it's masters grip. Both [member="Lord Ajihad"] and [member="Tain Organa"] had an idea on where the master was, but no specifics. It was better than nothing. But.. Even Ferus couldn't sense the man. Blue eyes narrowed in realization as the red man walked towards the location they both had mentioned.

Art of the Small.

As a skill the Sith Lord utilized himself, he understood almost immediately why he couldn't feel the lord. And it made him angrier. The now black man stepped off towards the building his apprentices told him the master may be waiting, he gripping the hilt of his blade much tighter than necessary. For now, he would have to rely on the eyes of his students until his would return to full focus. The flash still affected his gaze.

 

[Kian Karr]

The distress call was away, it was only a matter of time until his backup plan kicked in.....but time was one of the few things he didn't necessarily have. The building he'd entered was mostly dark, which was helpful. He had hidden his force signature, but he couldn't be sure that would be enough. From his experience the Sith were resourceful and this particular group seemed to be well organized.

Kian darted through the building, making his way to the next floor. It was a large, mostly barren open floor will pillars for support spaced out throughout the room. Finding a small cluster of crates, Kian settled down among them and pulled his lightsaber out from hidden amidst his robes. Kian looked at the dark hilt for a moment and took in a deep, calming breath.

He'd failed.

Sure, his presence on Empress Teta had provided with him a decent amount of information on the target, but he'd failed to protect his informant. The girl's dead eyes and serene expression would haunt Kian for some time. Kneeling down on the hard, duracrete floors, Kian began to center himself.

They'd be coming for him soon....and he needed to be ready when they did.

[member="Darth Ferus"] | [member="Lord Ajihad"] | [member="Tain Organa"] | [member="Xander Blackmoore"]​

 

[Lord Ajihad]

The Demon's Fist located his prey before long. He had hacked into several Republic frequencies, specifically those known by the Spynet to be used by Jedi. After a several minutes of frequency scanning, he got a ping from nearby. A distress signal was being sent from nearby, to an unknown location. The Sith didn't need to slice the device to know it belonged to [member="Kian Karr"] . After all, how many Jedi could there be within a two block radius? He located the signal from inside the warehouse he was facing. He grinned, knowing just how much trouble the Jedi was in for.

He quickly jammed the signal, and put his device. Giving [member="Tain Organa"] a nod, he spoke. "I tracked his location to within this warehouse in front of us. I couldn't get his exact location, but it should be good enough." He said this while his comlink was on, ensuring [member="Darth Ferus"] could hear him. "Should we engage?"

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Keep your eyes on the building. I will not have you or Tain harm themselves with an unknown. This, this will be my hunt within." With that, the Sith Lord entered the building itself. Slightly dazed eyes finally recovered enough for the darkness of the room to seem like day to him. Here within the shadow, Ferus was at home. His radio to both [member="Lord Ajihad"] and [member="Auken Koth"] was shut off. If something came up, the red man was sure he would know soon enough. A snap-hiss, and the golden unique saber of his came to life, helping illuminate the darker passage way.

"Come out Jedi. Neither you or I have the time to play this game." It was a gamble, calling out [member="Kian Karr"] as he did. Most would think it was a fool who would announce themselves as such, but both would know why. Showing a false weakness sparked false confidence, and with that hopefully a way to drag out the enemy Jedi Master. His blue eyes began to scan the area, his body already tense to leap. If there was a trap he just made for himself, he would be ready.

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian's eyes snapped open as he heard the words leave the Sith's mouth. He had hoped he'd have more time before they discovered him, but he should have known better. From the very start they had seemed to be better organized....better prepared than a simple Sith infiltration team. Whoever this group was, they were not amateurs.

Yet the Sith Lord seemed to have entered alone....and had just declared his location. Kian couldn't tell if it was Sith arragonce or a ploy to draw him out. Shifting up into a crouched stance, Kian considered his options. A part of him knew it was safer to continue to evade them, to hold off until the distress call he had sent out was answered, but a still greater part of him wished to know more about these Sith.

....and what better way to get to know a foe than through combat.

Stepping out from behind the crates, Kian ignited the silver blade of his lightsaber and held it before him in a shoulder high, two-handed guard. He walked slowly toward the Sith, his eyes narrowing beneath his goggles as he considered the man.

"You murdered that girl." Kian said matter of factly. "Did doing so make you feel....powerful?" Kian asked, his voice calm and dry, though with a static quality due to his antiox mask.

[member="Darth Ferus"] - [member="Lord Ajihad"] - [member="Auken Koth"]​

 

[Darth Ferus]

"I've killed a lot of people, and for a lesser reason than betraying the Sith." Ferus saw no reason to lie or hide his apathy from [member="Kian Karr"] . Years of utilizing the dark had made this lord cold, calculating. But such an appearance would let people read him easily. As such, the odd tendencies, the mock emotions, all of it was a shame. A shame to hide this apathy. It wasn't that he didn't hold true emotions, more that his twisted mind would not allow him to feel them except in the most extreme cases.

The blade would remain in a single grip, held off to the left side pointed down with no obvious intention of use. His feet were evenly spaced, and it seemed that even though the Kel Dor was walking forward, he kept still, just watching for the moment. He was studying Kian, looking for any opening, weakness to the stance. Much to his own pleasure, he could find nothing on the surface. If that was the case, it meant he would have an exciting duel.

 

[Kian Karr]

"No doubt." Kian said eyeing the man warily. Kian had met many of the One Sith on and off the battlefield in his time with the Jedi but he hadn't seen this Sith before. He carried himself with confidence, but also cautiously. Kian needed to buy more time and he didn't like jumping into a fight without as much information as possible.

"I am Jedi Master Kian Karr." Kian said bringing his lightsaber over in a salute before moving back into his defensive position. "It isn't too late for you to abandon your current path." Kian said, a small smile cracking his face beneath the mask. He wasn't mocking. Kian absolutely believed that Sith could turn back to the light, he'd seen it done and he knew the powers of redemption. No, Kian smiled not because he doubted the ability of a Sith to turn to the light, but because he knew all to well the reaction he usually got when he tried and offer redemption to one happy in their corruption and it very often amused him.

"You'll have to answer for your crimes, but you can find peace." Kian said, knowing that every moment they spent talking his extraction got closer and closer. Kian considered himself a skilled warrior, but he wasn't foolish enough to think he could withstand the combined efforts of this Sith Lord and his team. They would wear him down until he was dead.....or worse, captured.

[member="Darth Ferus"]​

 

[Darth Ferus]

"I'd rather not abandon my current path to be honest. So many plans I have to put into motion, so many activities I have to do. It would just be boring if I threw it all away now." And a waste. Blue eyes hinted at something more, but the hint faded as the eyes themselves began to turn into a golden color, much like his own saber. It was a sign, a clear one, that talking was most likely over. True to it, the Sith Lord brought up his saber, slashing it through the air.

This, to most, would be seen as a useless gesture. The most he did was cut the emptiness in between [member="Kian Karr"] and himself. But to those privy to the Force, they could feel and possibly even see what it was the red man did. The Force, channeled into his blade, was released with the strike, sending with it a ripple within the Force itself. It was slow enough for someone to evade at this distance, but it had the cutting power of the average vibroblade and almost invisible to the normal eye.

Ferus, having gotten tired of ranged weaponry constantly putting him at a disadvantage, had gone through years of perfecting this ability, and even then it was far from perfect. It was a test probe, meant to see how Kian would react, and how well he could defend himself.

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian wouldn't have considered the movement a mere showing of force, or an opening salute of his weapon, had it not been for the sudden shimmering in the force he felt at the flick of the Sith's wrist. Kian hadn't faced an opponent who had used the technique before, but he understood, all too well, the danger he was suddenly in.

Blocking the attack with the force was a potential course of action, but Kian hadn't ever attempted such a feat before against this attack and against this opponent. Evasion was far more preferable given the circumstances. Many might roll away, but for Kian, a practitioner of the V form of lightsaber combat, he preferred to advance on an opponent.

Leaping toward the incoming attack, Kian dropped down and rolled forward tucking his arm with the saber out to the side, feeling the intensity of the force attack passing over him as he did. As he came up from the roll, Kian's free hand grabbing the end of his lightsaber hilt and bringing the blade arching in a powerful horizontal slash at the Sith's waist. The momentum of the roll aiding in adding strength to the attack, but also made it likely that it would be a relatively obvious maneuver.

While Kian didn't know the man before him, he was beginning to think he might, in the least, know the man's name. Kian, as the Master of the Shadows, spent a great deal of time searching for information about the Sith Lords of the One Sith. Recently he had spoken at length with Jedi Knight Seraphina Shel'tah about a man she'd faced in combat on several occasions. The description of his physical appearance and his abilities was apt.

"Force forbid Lord Ferus were to get bored." Kian said, unsure if he was correct in his guess but wanting to test the hypothesis....and perhaps surprise his opponent.

[member="Darth Ferus"]​

 

[Darth Ferus]

A gleeful laugh escaped the Zabrak as [member="Kian Karr"] ducked under the blast. No one else had thought to do such a thing, either jumping over it and leaving themselves open or making some sort of barrier. And yet, this man thought of the -right- option and not only ducked under, but used it to get close. Oh the joy this fight would bring! Of course, the Zabrak couldn't stay still with a saber threatening to cut him in two, and so with a quick push off the ground he went to leap right over the Master.

The jump, a simple flip to get over the mans form, was accompanied by a quick slash from the golden saber. The humming blade shot out, aiming to catch the upper body of Kian as he passed over. With a simple twist of his waist during this however, he would land behind the Kel Dor facing to him, golden blade held aloft in a single grip in case of a counter attack. So far, Kian had proven himself a worthy duelist.

There would be no response to the name, or any other words. Ferus preferred to stay silent during a fight, as time to run your mouth is time to be run though.