Junction [GA/SO] Caldera Crisis — The Alliance Strikes Back | GA/SO Junction of Barkhesh and Kiffu

[Marcus Dinn]

Objective II
Location: Streets of Mirial
Accompanied by: Silas Fogg, Sith Alchemist
Tags: Xeykard Amani Serys

“We all have to start somewhere!” Marcus cheerfully replied.

With Silas having unleashed lightning upon Amani, it seemed like only a matter of time before the acolyte would have his chance at wounding or perhaps even defeating the Jedi. He followed her as she rolled away, swinging his lightsaber in preparation to strike. Eloise wouldn’t be happy about it, but she wasn’t happy with anything he did these days.

Before he could take the shot, he felt a sudden wave of dizziness and nausea. Something was wrong. He hesitated, bile rising in his throat as Silas, his gaze gleaming with malevolence as he submerged himself fully in the Dark Side, continued his electric assault upon Amani.

 

[Mercy]

Corazona von Ascania

Feth it was so satisfying so smash through her barrier and punch the prissy little jedi princess in the face. The way her face twitched backward, the bone cracking so perfectly under Mercy's knuckles, oh yes it made her own pain much sweeter. Worth it. Just to see Cora's expression as Mercy bloodied her face without... well... mercy.

The feeling of satisfaction was so bright that the giant woman thought little of Cora grabbing her by the shoulder.

Maybe the do-gooder needed some support. It wouldn't be the first- something painful and hot seared through her shoulder, impaling the lightsaber through her flesh and coming out on the other side.

Mercy cried out in agony and it was only a wonder that allowed her to grab Cora's wrist in a tight painful grip. It was coincidentally the same arm with the eldritch tattoos which had their own life. Her right arm was infused with magic and darkside energy. It would feel like a burn on Cora's skin for as long as she was holding her there.

"Got you now, you cretin." Mercy growled between her teeth as she gazed down at the Jedi. "I did tell you I'd have that bite, didn't I?"

Then cruelly she smashed her thick forehead towards Cora's face, utilizing the proximity to try and sink her sharp teeth into a chunk of her shoulder.

To rip and tear and taste.

 

[Aris Noble]

"If you can see where they're looking we can try to take advantage of it. You'll have to be our eyes, though." Aris glanced ahead, frowning deeper as he did. She was already aware they were being watched, just from the Force? It meant there were still a lot of unknowns on what they knew. He adjusted Seszil, nodding.

"Let's be quick, before they do start looking for us. I don't know how much the Master's will keep their attention."

Vera Noble | Darth Carnifex

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

It was a tense few seconds, as all that could be heard was the chatter on comms, and the hollow breathing through masks and helmets of all assembled on his side of the corridor, even his own. Such was always the feelings right before battle, the nerves that would give way as soon as the life or death struggle began.

But right before it, all could wonder was if they were ready.

If they were prepared.

If they would risk it all.

He knew his duty.

His men knew their duty.

It was when he heard the sound of muffled clicking that he knew they were close. The sound felt like it came closer, and then departed, as if it was passing over him, again and again. Its purpose, he had little idea, but he had some ideas. Unfortunately, he was uncertain if he could actually distract it... but there was no harm in trying, and thankfully, he knew his men would not require simply their normal vision to see.

He felt the Force in the air, grabbing it by its jugular, forcing it to bend and break to his will, commanding it to obey his demands.

And then within seconds out of him, like a mix of smoke and smog, darkness rose out of him, protruded out of him in waves, he would make the Mandalorians unable to see.

He would break their will to fight.

And thus would be his path to victory.

As further out of him, inky black tendrils flowed out of him, his Consume Essence flowing freely through the doors and walls, latching onto what he assumed were the M- Mandalorians. Feeling those emotions of those that he too felt, the fear of warriors about to battle.

He would make this swift.

Reaching into his side with his free hand, he drew forth the red plasma hissing as it activated, a lightsabre and a Sith sword, whomever would fight him today, would die cleanly or gruesomely, that was his guarantee.

Unfortunately, his own darkness almost made him miss the detonator tossed into the room, and a flash of light appeared as the doors opened. It did cost him, as trying to push against the detonator achieved little when he could not even tell where it truly laid, but pushing it back, he hoped to save his men the damage.

Still, as the explosion went off, a great bombard explosion stilled him, the M- Mandalorians were quick to take advantage, rushing into the room with a discipline that spoke to their merit. Building a wall with shields of all things, while those overtop fired, it took all that he had to see without his eyes, to deflect all he could, as he rapidly barked out orders.

"Open fire!"

Thus in the unnaturally darkened room, there would be the slight illumination of blaster fire from both sides of the hallway.

As Malum, wielding sword and sabre, marched forward.

Aloy Vizsla

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Darth Carnifex looked over the sealed container as it was further entombed within another, more heavily armored casing. The seal was tightened, expelling air into the cold wind. Then the laborers commanded the hoversled forward, and it slipped away into the bowels of the waiting transport. Two Sentinels walked behind them, heavy rifles held tight in their hands. The rumbles from below had reverberated up the tower, and their nerves were alight with wariness. That the Jedi would be so bold as to come here did not escape them.

When the hold had been filled, the shuttle slowly veered away and sped off into the sky; engines burning bright purple ion before even that disappeared into the snowy haze. Darth Carnifex watched as it faded before turning back reentering the spire. Sentinels and Blackblade Guardsmen were being redirected to the lowest levels to barricade against the incursion, but the middle levels were left relatively unguarded. The central laboratories were located near the upper levels, where tests would still be carried out up to the very last moment; their hunger for new knowledge and heinous progress overriding the fear of those who could destroy them.

Strangely, Carnifex did not venture down into the lower levels to face the intruders. He stayed in the upper levels, watching the tests as though they weren't under assault.

Waiting.

Vera Noble | Aris Noble ​

 

[Nouqai Veil]

A child of darkness. Nouqai was still pondering what the cipher of kaine meant, her words back in myrkr was confusing. 666 had left an ugly mark, the brand of darkness - the sith order. As Subconsciously, Nouqai's fingers traced the raised outline of the scar as her padawan master began shedding his wisdom. Naturally, she had been brushing up on the Kashyyyk native's language, Shyriiwook. But like many other things, she had lot to learn, the use of the vocoder translation was efficient.

Nouqai nodded. Internally trying to ease her own apprehension of this mission. To be sent into the battlefield at only 15, was a daunting challenge. As meticulous as she was, perhaps it was a standard she upheld too high of herself to succeed and gain her master's approval here.

The amphibious nature meant she didn't do well in the cold especially not in this harsh climate of Odacer-Faustin. She'd been given a new temperature controlled tech suit, contrasting from her usual lose padawan robes. At least it would help her skin to stay moist on the mission.

Despite his question, Nouqai remained silent. Indeed, there were a lot of things on her mind, doubt of her own kill to the reluctance of the inevitable encounter of more sith later on. But there was one thing on her mind that she was meaning to ask, a question she hadn't voice until they landed and was leaving the ship towards the facility. "I've been meaning to ask. Is this a trial?" She had completed her trial of flesh enduring the trauma dealt on Myrkr, if this was another, she would have to prove her skill and courage. It was one more step to arising from her rank.
Darth Assimilus

 

[Xeykard]

Amani Serys Marcus Dinn
​

The fight went back and forth. Xeykard watched intently; listened intently. He saw openings, grasped the rhythm of the battle. Several moments he found himself preparing to move, anticipating that crucial moment to strike -- but in each he stayed his hand, finding, for the first time in a long time, that the saber in his hand was heavy.

The battle seemed even, both sides holding their own. And yet, the way the Force swirled around the fight spoke volumes. Xeykard had never been one to be taken by such ephemeral things. The Force was a power, a tool, to be bent by great wills.

The Sith, Dinn, spoke of his grand designs of conquest. The Jedi, of course, spoke of the people she helped. The scale of their goals were uneven. Xeykard's was even loftier, of course; the glory of defeating a member of the Jedi Council would serve him well. But even that seemed dwarfed by Serys' presence and determination.

This village was nothing, this planet, even -- but still she forged on, and the Force with her.

He beat his thoughts back into submission, focusing his mind once more. Such ethereal ramblings were for weaker creatures. None of these combatants understood strength. He'd wasted enough time keeping it from them.

With all three of the fighters briefly locked, Xeykard leapt into the fray. At first his presence was only noted from the muddy footfalls from the melted ice, but then his bloodlust roared out, demanding his enemy's attention as he charged Serys from behind. The long blade of his lightclub snapped to life, coming down in a devastating diagonal slash -- then another, then another.

 

[Amani Serys]

Marcus Dinn - Xeykard​

While Marcus dealt with his sickening distraction, Silas continued to attack the Jedi Master. Without being harried by the apprentice, Amani was able to mount a more effective counter. At first she used the plasma of her saber as a lightning rod, redirecting and grounding the lightning. But Silas' assault was relentless, and the torrent of energy could only be held back in such a manner for os long. Amani swung her weapon to the side, trying to pull the lightning with it and create an opening. By the time Silas could redirect it himself, the healer raised a hand to absorb the lightning directly.

It took great effort to maintain, which is why the sudden appearance of a third Sith was something of a blessing in disguise. Amani sense the rushing danger, and turned to see Xeykard closing in. Had this ambush been part of a grander strategy, or was he operating solo? Didn't matter either way, she figured. Amani used the chaos of the moment to leap high into the air, distancing herself from the lightning and avoiding Xeykard's flurry of attacks. Better yet, the two Sith ran the risk of friendly fire as she suddenly removed the block between them. For all Amani cared Xeykard could get blasted by lightning, or Silas chopped up by a wild saber slash. If she was lucky.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Mercy's pained cry was the only reliable signal that Cora's blade had struck its mark. Her senses were overcome by the woman who was literally in her face, and the prude in her might've blushed if she hadn't been in such discomfort. Pins and needles burned along her skin where a large hand was
clasped around her much daintier wrist.

She actually did blush a little as the Sith gazed down at her. Cora grimaced, then cried out as Mercy smashed her head directly into the Jedi's face. She emitted a strangled sound, one that was quickly lost to a froth of blood that choked her.

Sharp teeth sank into the plating at her shoulder, threatening the flesh beneath it. Cora coughed once, twice, a crimson spray into Mercy's hair. Hissing, she fought Mercy's grip and attempted to drag her lightsaber further into the tendon between the bestial woman's neck and shoulder.

"You are...a very irritating woman…" Cora rasped beneath her. The hand that had grasped Mercy's shoulder sought what she could of the woman's face. A gentle, soothing touch of her fingers across her forehead.

Cora grunted in agony as her fingers tightened. Recalling the gathering of Jedi that had cleansed a corrupted nexus on Ukatis and the feeling that came with it, she sought the Light and brought it forth, concentrating it to her palm and fingers.

At the same time, her leg shifted beneath Mercy, curling back her foot and then thrusting it forward into Mercy’s hip with an explosive burst of Force.

"Get...off! of me!"

Mercy

 

[Marcus Dinn]

Objective II
Location: Streets of Mirial
Accompanied by: Silas Fogg, Sith Alchemist
Tags: Xeykard Amani Serys

Marcus did his best, but the malacia ultimately proved too much for him. He doubled over and puked on the muddy ground.

Meanwhile, Silas and Amani were duking it out. The boy raised his head, still retching a little and wiping his foul mouth, to see his mentor blasting the Jedi with lightning. She put up considerable resistance, first with her lightsaber then with her hand, absorbing the energy directly. But she couldn’t keep it up forever—

His visions suddenly shifted, but not fast enough for him to do anything to stop the giant lizard from charging at Amani out of nowhere. She used him as her ticket out of the bind, leaping into the air.

Silas ceased his electrical output and immediately steered clear of the lizard, but given how quickly things had happened it was entirely possible a bolt or two may have hit Xeykard. Served him right for barging in unannounced like a nerf in a porcelain shop.

“I had her!” Silas shouted angrily. His blue eyes narrowed as he honed in on the lizard. “Who the feth are you, anyway?!”

He had seemingly forgotten all about Amani in favor of raging at Xeykard. As for Marcus, well… he was still recovering from having yartzed in the middle of the duel, and was reluctant to continue for the time being.

 

[Vera Noble]

​

Tag: Aris Noble Darth Carnifex

"This way," Vera said with a nod of agreement. They were going to have to be quick, not just because the diversion of the other Jedi wouldn't be enough. But because He was there. If they took too long and gave him time, she knew they wouldn't be able to avoid running into him. Part of her wanted just that — so she could give him a piece of her mind. But she knew that they couldn't risk an encounter like that.

"They're waiting for us in the lower levels. Do you think we can maybe bypass them?" The floors above were not defended as heavily, so maybe they could get around the guards and make their way up from there?

They needed to get to the labs.

"If I throw you up there, will you be able to get through?" He was strong, so whether it was a window or a wall, she knew he'd break right inside. Or, at least, she hoped he could. "I'll jump in after you." Vera grinned and only if he allowed it, raised her hands to telekinetically toss him there. Perhaps his own jumping capabilities could get him quite high, but with her help, they'd be reaching the top floors in no time!

 

[Darth Assimilus]

Despite his question, Nouqai remained silent. Indeed, there were a lot of things on her mind, doubt of her own kill to the reluctance of the inevitable encounter of more sith later on. But there was one thing on her mind that she was meaning to ask, a question she hadn't voice until they landed and was leaving the ship towards the facility. "I've been meaning to ask. Is this a trial?"

The wookie reigned the ship down toward the planet manually with a speed that took even the inertial dampeners time to adjust to. He flew straight into a snow blizzard. Winds rocked the haul of the vessel and the icy gales began to frost the outer edges of the viewports, though only briefly before receding in minutes. The vessels navigational screen chirped and flashed a warning. OBJECT. TWO HUNDREAD METERS. PULL UP!

Grrwunhoooll roared in response to the machine and briefly glanced at his apprentice Nouqai Veil . He had indeed heard her question before all the plunge was taken down to the planet but he did not have the time to answer it currently. Using his eyes he tried his best to make that notion apparent for her. The last thing he wanted was to imply that he was ignoring the padawan. I dont need that at all.

Pulling up and barrel rolling the ship to the left the Jedi Knight led the ship out of the blizzard and back on track for the route provided by navigation. Underneath the shaggy fur of his hands, he knew that the knuckles were white and even now he could feel them with his grip. He let out a low murmur of a growl and eased off the controls. The destination from this point was smooth sailing and autopilot could handle the rest. Swiveling the pilots seat in his apprentices direction he observed her and smiled slightly. Now ready to answer her question he begun as he did before.
Shyriiwook and then vocoder.

" Hey! Get your head in the fight.. We can find out together." His golden eyes flashed a inner fire. " Once the fighting begins, ask me again..." The vocoder ended and Grrwunhoooll stood to his full height and extended a hand to help Nouqai out of her seat. They had arrived and now was the time.

 

[Aris Noble]

"You don't need to throw me."

Aris lowered himself to a crouch. If they needed to go up, then up was where they were going to go. It helped they were still young. Even as tall as he was, he could still fit into places the normal adult couldn't. Then he was up, fist raised as he leaped. The glass didn't stand a chance as he shattered right through it with a single punch. They needed to move quickly, after all, and he needed her focused on the fight to come and the people around them, than trying to get him to keep up.

He could, on his own.

"Seszil."

"Yes, young master?"

"Be ready."

The sword didn't reply, but did float close by his hand. He kept his gaze ahead as he waited for Vera. They'd make their way up to the upper floors as quickly as possible, since the element of surprise wasn't on their side any longer. They needed to be quick. Thankfully Vera's golem was. They'd make it to the upper floor in no time, and then things would finally begin.

Darth Carnifex | Vera Noble

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The halls would be empty, void of life. It looked like any typical Imperial facility the duo might have come across, if they had at all. Sterile white light illuminated each corridor, the doors marked by more subdued dark red strips of light. Each door would open at their approach, closing behind them once they'd gotten far enough in. Nothing seemed to halt or stymie their progress, as though they were welcomed just as much as the foul masters of the tower. But, with each ascension, the dark swelled in potency.

Their journey would end as they reached the main laboratory, the doors again opening up for them. Inside were walls of glass tanks filled with failed experiments, men and women half-twisted into malformed monstrosities. Green light spilled across the floor and the Jedi's faces as they passed, the phosphorescent light of the embalming fluid within the tanks casting a ghoulish pallor over every surface. Several workstations were in a state of disarray, tablets and equipment strewn about from when the scientists had fled.

Up ahead, the experiments kept on. New samples were being tested against previous strains, the methodical whirring of the apparatus like the tolling of a ticking clock. Smaller glass tanks were arrayed in front of the apparatus, each one containing the small half-grown form of a child pulled too early from their mother's embrace. They bore distinct surgical markings, as though they had been dissected and stitched back together multiple times.

It was a literal horror show.

A shadow fell across them, smothering the light. Above them, a figure loomed large atop a metal catwalk that spanned the width of the laboratory. He was cloaked in a metal shroud, glinting interlocking metal scales cascading down His form like that of a great dragon. The hem of His cloak was ringed with sharp blades, each one twinkling in the light as He moved to stand at the catwalk's edge. He lingered there, looking down at the pair with terrible molten eyes.

"Kindred. You should know better than to stray so far."

Darth Carnifex, Dark Lord of the Sith, smiled demurely. Then His hand shot forth, and bolts of bright crimson electricity leapt from His fingertips.

Aris Noble | Vera Noble ​

 

[Xeykard]

Marcus Dinn Amani Serys
​

The lightning lanced through his body for a moment, before he shifted his saber, taking the brunt of the Sith magic. His quarry escaped to the air, and then the other Sith-

"Shut up," he snapped, voice like the crack of a slugthrower. He paid Fogg no mind, instead spinning up to face Serys. He reached up to grasp her telekinetically, trying to pull her down at least at a pace quicker than she was expecting, and then launched himself into the air to meet her with his blade. Even if she evaded him again, he'd pursue even in midair; once they passed each other, he flipped himself, and then suddenly launched down at Serys again, as though he'd pushed off of some invisible ceiling.

 

[Vera Noble]

​

Tag: Aris Noble Darth Carnifex

"Coming up!"

Vera crouched down low and jumped her way up to where her brother had broken through glass to get inside. It was a feat of remarkable strength, but not at all surprising to Vera. Aris had his limitations with his peculiar connection to the Force, but the things he could do, were beyond what most other Jedi were able to.

"Cover me, please," Vera said once she made her landing and turned around. The Golem, while extremely capable, wasn't exactly an expert at jumping through windows. So with a telekinetic lift, she brought it up and started running down the dimly lit hallways of this testing facility. Empty hallways.

It had been the plan, knowing the guards were down below, but Vera couldn't help but feel that they were still being watched. That darkness was waiting for them around each and every corner.

The doors leading into the lab itself were pushed open with Force and the true horror was finally revealed. Vera spent a brief moment looking around, frowning and wondering who could ever build something like this. Then, she remembered. Darth Carnifex certainly could.

"I'm having the Golem smash everything to bits. Leave nothing for-"

"Kindred. You should know better than to stray so far."

Vera squinted, "You should know better than to underestimate us." She ignited her lightsaber and stood ready, as she watched the Dark Lord's hand rise. "Aris!" Vera extended a hand and projected a barrier to shield them both from lightning. She knew Aris could have blocked it with his lightsaber, but she wanted to cover him and give him an opportunity to make his move.

"Focus on the lab! We have to destroy it!"

 

[Aris Noble]

"Kindred. You should know better than to stray so far."

Aris looked up. Vera was quick to respond, but for Aris, this was the first time he'd seen him. The last King of the Epicanthix. His grandfather. He'd heard the tales of the man's cruelties, but that's all they had ever been. Tales. He trusted how his family felt, but at the same time he had the desire to know for himself. To see it for himself. Without his ability to feel the Force though, all he saw was the Epicanthix king for who he appeared to be.

Powerful.

"Focus on the lab! We have to destroy it!"

He gave his sister one nod before he reached out for Seszil, taking the heavy blade in his hand, then moved. He was a blur, far beyond what even a Jedi should be able to accomplish, especially given he was still a Padawan. But it wasn't the Force that made him move so fast, or at least not the Force alone. He cleaved through the first tank, the first set of controls, trying not to think further on what or who might've been within.

This needed to stop, now.

Vera Noble | Darth Carnifex

 

[Amani Serys]

The Sith had a bit of a spat following Xeykard's surprise entrance. Amani would have found it amusing, but the lizard paid his contemporaries little mind and continued to pursue her. They clashed midair, Amani swatting his weapon away from her center mass as they crossed. She landed back down, and generated a barrier to block the sudden warning the Force gave her. Xeykard's attack would strike the bubble instead of her, or more embarrassingly, he himself might crash onto it if he was caught off guard. Amani then made the bubble explode outwards in another burst of repellent Force energy, like the shockwave of a bomb.

"You're all too weak to take me one-on-one?" Amani declared matter-of-factly, "Embarrassing."

Marcus Dinn - Xeykard​

 

[Marcus Dinn]

Objective II
Location: Streets of Mirial
Accompanied by: Silas Fogg, Sith Alchemist
Tags: Xeykard Amani Serys

“Feth you!” Silas shouted, pointing at the big lizard.

"You're all too weak to take me one-on-one?" Amani declared matter-of-factly, "Embarrassing."

“He isn’t with us!” Silas whined. “He’s just some asshat who butted in!”

Shaking off the last vestiges of malacia, Marcus’ eyebrows shot up as he witnessed a future in which Silas, Amani, and himself teamed up to beat the snot out of Xeykard for no other reason than because he had tried to steal their victory. But the vision was brief—a momentary lapse in judgment on the part of his mentor. It would not come to pass. Marcus wasn’t sure whether to be thankful or disappointed.

Before Silas could lunge back into the fray, his acolyte grabbed his arm. “Leave it, master,” Marcus said. “Our fellow Sith wants to fight the Jedi all on his own. Why not let him have this?”

Silas glared at the boy, before realization slowly dawned. In the heat of the moment, he found that he hated Xeykard more than Amani, who was just like any other Jedi as far as he was concerned. It would be more satisfying to see the brash and arrogant lizard dead at the hands of the very kill he had stolen from them.

A bark of laughter escaped Silas. “You… are… a very strange boy,” he said. “Any other acolyte would throw themselves at a Jedi until they impaled themselves on her lightsaber. But you're telling me to just walk away?" He laughed again. "All right. Let’s leave these two to get acquainted.”

With that, the two Sith left to watch the duel from a safe distance away, fully expecting Amani to knock Xeykard into next week.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The lightning struck the barrier's center mass, a great deluge of energy bouncing away from the point of impact. Errant bolts struck the ground and the equipment around them, the sheer energy from each bolt causing the metal to glow brightly before it sagged from the heat. One struck the larger tanks, burst it completely and causing the water to steam and evaporate before it even had time to splash across the floor. Fires broke out where the equipment was burst, sending sparks and waves of heat in every direction.

But the Dark Lord seemed disinterested in the destruction wrought by His own attack, hardly sparing it a cursory glance. He hauled one leg up and rested His boot against the catwalk's guard rail, then He vaulted over the side and began to descend down onto the main floor. But, before His feet ever touched the ground, the Dark Lord appeared to vanish from perception. A strange distortion was left behind, the light that had been reflecting off of His body momentarily suspended in the air before it chaotically dissipated.

Then He was behind them, standing atop one of the workbenches nearest to where Aris was making quick work of the lab equipment. "Reckless and irresponsible childer. They've squandered your potential for benign mediocrity. Pitiful." The Dark Lord hopped down to the floor, His form looming large and imposing against the chaos of the laboratory's disarray. "The girl had been given a taste of what she could accomplish, but fear holds her back."

As He walked forward, a pressure wave rippled out from His body. It was strong enough to cause damage to air-filled organs such as the lungs, ears, and intestines, but not enough to mortally wound or outright kill. What it did do, however, was rupture the glass tanks along the walls in a rippling cascade; showering the room with shards of glass, a deluge of amniotic fluid, and what remained of the test subjects suspended therein.

"You need only ask, and I would unlock it for you again."

Aris Noble | Vera Noble ​