Haunted Forest

[Sawa Ike]

The sounds that were coming from the room, here on Atrisia the ancient energy vampire had returned home to find ruins and for the most part nothing much else but over time... All of this. The overweight human had been branded with a checkered face, black and white squares as he danced around and continued to sing to himself and the small crowd in the room. She had her own personal guards here, Yovshin swordsmen and women who were loyal to her as they remained a brutal fighting force here on the planet. Avoiding the other groups outside and leaving the black marble stronghold as the exterior looks had been done, the interior itself though.... Well she knew they were working and installing systems for everything.

"Moon Boy." She said it and the half wit danced over towards her stumbling with his larger shoes for show, pretending to be a jedi master she had met when she was younger until he was before the stairs and Sawa spoke. "Go and entertain my guests, I wish to be alone." He looked at her and tumbled off doing cartwheels where they might be able to enjoy their time. She had hired others to come and crossed her arms seeing some of the reports that had been built up for them here. She could see a few of the things in the defenses such as shielding around the stronghold where the walls would be built up here. With blastdoors that can descend and seal off sections, secret passages to get around and monitors all around lined with sensors.

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

A job of most interest had come up for her recently, something that at first glance seemed very odd, but on closer inspection was not too hard to believe. Kurenai had been hired to come to the planet of Astria by a lady Ike, but not the same one that as training her son, now a different one, that had also known about Kurenais past as the notorious 'Red Assassin', something only very old or powerful people knew, even then they would need to look in the right places.

"This looks like the place, very Astrian indeed", her eyes scanned the fortress from a distance a top of her start fighter, nothing really resembled Evil Sith, but there was a very present dark feeling, though that was more welcoming than anything else. Using the force, the aged vampire leapt off the craft, landing not too far away from the entrance of the great fortress, the number of guards being somewhat too few. "Halt who does there", Kurenai raised her hands in a non-threatening manner and slowly approached the guards, "My name is Kurenai Yumi, the Red Assassin... I was contacted by the owner of this fortress for a specific reason, which I have yet to know".

She reached into her vest pulling out the message sent to her, and the required identification, handing to the guard, "Alright, go on through, no funny business". "Would not dream of it", she casually strode pass the guards as the door was open, coming to a large open room, guest and other wandering about enjoying themselves, but that was not her goal, the only person of interest to Kurenai right now was this Lady [member="Sawa Ike"], how currently sat at the end of the hall, arms crossed, awaiting someone, most likely herself.

 

[Sawa Ike]

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

Sawa looked around the room, they had well restored this area first, massive walls that were bare of mural or color. Just the black marble of the fortress that almost radiated the darkside itself. Something nice and with the stone work it was set to look almost like a solid slab of stone that that almost absorbed the light around the room. From sconces there was a mixture of torch light but also the normal lights, black lights within the sensors to hide them while her guards were standing there in the traditional armor made from black metal and rippling with folds of the metal. Where Sawa was sitting she could see some fo the other parts, the stairs leading up to her chair.. or bench it wasn't as comfortable as others might see with the sides when she moved to let the others come here to see her. She had a couple ideas of how to best improve this stronghold for her own benefit and keeping it away from the prying eyes of anyone else was going to be paramount to defending it. "Welcome." She said it while sitting there with an eyebrow raised before she was looking down."

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Kurenai took in the full magnificence of the place, it was not often that she had the pleasure of being inside of such a building, even if it was not the most luxurious. And there up top, overlooking the entire open ball room was the woman who had hired her to be here this night, [member="Sawa Ike"], sitting on a bench like seat, awaiting her arrival. A strong welcome came from said owner of the complex, causing some people to raise their heads, noting Kurenais arrival, though most returning to their current forms of entertainment.

A majority of those present just saw the newcomer as another one of Sawa's mercenaries hired to keep the castle safe, but it was more than that and both women knew that, even if the details where still a not fully understood. With the guest and subsequently the party returning to normal it was time for Kurenai to finally meet her new employer, and finally get some answer, but also quelling genuine interest in this place, it had been a while since a bodyguard like job had come her way. Slowly the seasoned mercenary walked through the crow, ascending the stairs to Ike's 'throne'. Within near enough distance Kurenai performed a short bow, before introducing herself, "Hello Lady Ike, my name if Kurenai Yumi, also known as the Red Assassin to a few select people... might I ask my job here at this fortress"?

 

[Sawa Ike]

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

Getting a better look at her the sith raised her hea before motioning with her hand. "There is far enough." SHe didn't give it as a warnign as much as just state it when she was moving and prepared for any number of things. DIsplays appearing to show the defenses and weapons that they were bringing into the the stronghold and palace. Internal defenses with ray shields to block others from moving around and thick blast doors able to close and drop. Biometrics and sensor flooring few could bypass. Internal turrets made to fire on enemies and release gas to knock out or poison others who would pose a risk to her. The exterior had thick walls in different levels and sizes going up around it, a private army in the courtyard and guard towers, anti air towers as well as four massive ion cannons. The real thing she wanted to have was a built in shield and or cloak for the stronghold to let it hide from most enemies. "Welcome to my home, I will say as long as you are here and civil there is no harm to come to you."

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Yumi halted a bit abruptly at the woman words, it seemed most people in power had that sort of attitude, but something about this seemed different. It made her wonder that was going on, though probably got a response when several holo displays lit up all around her displaying some rather serious military hard ware, was this person preparing for war? or just very over paranoid of someone attacking her palace, then again, she had seen people attack with full fleets for less in the past, perhaps such measures were not so over the top.

Kurenai gave another bow to the woman as she welcomed her again, stating the general rules, "I appreciate this Lady Ike, but I would still like to know my purpose here, and also how you know about my past, though I am certain you have connection to those in high places". It may have sounded a bit demanding, but Kurenai always like to know what she was getting into before accepting a job, there did not seem to be an immediate threat, but looks can be deceiving.

[member="Sawa Ike"]

 

[Sawa Ike]

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

She stayed there for a moment looking at her briefly... then moved quickly letting the force whisper through her until she was standing close enough. "Well your past isn't that long ago. You are still so young." She said the last with a hint of a smile displaying her teeth and letting small fangs appear but she was drawing at the force to say a hello in a way. A suck the energy from you that only a few could do... Anzati could do the whole nose worm thing with each other but she should be able to get a moment going to the side and heading down the steps towards the open sections of the chamber they were in. She could see out upon a courtyard where guards were moving around with equipment and their weapons.

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Kurenai recoiled a bit from the ladies whispers through the force, her signature was as black as night, similar to the many Sith lord she had seen in the past, but what came as a even greater shock was the woman's next sentence. 'Me young I'm over 800 years old, unless', the slight hint of a smile, those long sharp fangs... and that pull from the force, a familiar feeling like those from her children when they where first able to take ones energy. this woman, was no ordinary Sith, they were an Energy vampire too, and one with a much longer past than herself.

Kurenai had not met another vampire in her life, or at lest not one that revealed themselves to be a vampire, and on centuries older then herself. She followed lady Ike down the stairs to the small balcony over looking the courtyard. "Forgive me Lady Ike, I did not realize that I was talking to one so esteemed and as experienced as you, I hope my comments and questions where not to rude", Kurenai again performed a bow, but this one was much more sharp and low, a pose that one apologizes to another.

[member="Sawa Ike"]

 

[Sawa Ike]

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

She looked at her with a hint of amusement. "Only eight hundred and still so pretty. Well when you reach five thousand." She waited there and saw the bow as she clasped her hands behind her back looking at the soldiers and equipment. Then further on. "It is alright though, how often do you really encounter another like yourself?" She was curious, she had seen one or two others but they had been young... and fo the most part just gleefully evil in the sith before they seemed to burn out. Some had seemed to try and be sith serving in the jedi not really dedicating to the cause but claiming the lightside.She had what they would get here and there for the soldiers when she put her hands together. "We are making this somewhat of a sanctuary for our kind. there is one on Gromas as well hidden away from the people near the phrik mines and serves to offer food who come there."

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

"Five thousand years, you must have accumulated an large amount of power, knowledge and fund in that time frame, I can see how you are able to gather so much support for your fortress". She shared a similar feeling about meeting one of her own, especially one much older then her, one that could probably share similar experiences, and it was also nice to meet another vampire just in general. This place seemed to have everything, solider, military facilities, vehicles and technology to spare, definitely a formidable place to attack, one would be hard pressed not to feel safe within these walls. "A refuge for our kind... a place were we will not be judge or hunted down, that sound to good to be true, but from the looks of things you are well underway in forming a separate military nation for yourself, I can see why you would want me here. I must ask though, are there other of us.. or am I the only one for now"?

[member="Sawa Ike"]

 

[Sawa Ike]

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

"There are a few, not a lot but a few I have seen. One was a sith who had gone feral trying to kill everything until he vanished. Another was trying to be a jedi but she wasn't very good at it. Kept doing all of the things a sith does and the idea of turning a jedi or making her fall well... wasn't really needed." Sawa shrugged while she was moving now along the small pathway and heading down. They were bringing in some of the equipment for defensive cannons that could be put up in towers to cover sections of the stronghold's air and ground. Where they were all looking when she passed led the way towards a small garden with a tree that radiated with the force energies themselves. "Some of the others I have seen though haven't done much, they came and passed along on their own business but never stayed interesting to keep track of."

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Listening to [member="Sawa Ike"] words Kurenai counted herself lucky that she had not fallen that deep into the dark-side, even though she had every reason to in the past, perhaps in a different time line she would have been ruling with Darth Vader in the Galactic empire. But that was the past, no changing it, she was here, in this moment, with a family to live for, and now with a new place to call home, where she did not have to hide her true self. "That is unfortunate, but now, with a safe haven for our kind, perhaps there will be more that are willing to show them true self to the galaxy, make our race more widely know, and that we are independent of both Sith and Jedi, that of course if you deem so". Even is Ike had express a causal nature Krueani still wanted to show respect to her, "What would our first order of business be, milady"?

[member="Sawa Ike"]

 

[Sawa Ike]

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

"The first step would be making sure the defensive nature of this place is secured. We don't want others to find it and for that we will need hibridium crystals. To conceal the stronghold and a planetary shield. The foundation of the stone work that is going on will make it something special and we have the time to ensure it is done correctly." Sawa was moving and giving the site of it now, as she walked along one ofn the battlements overlooking the valley below, the shambles of the tent city that was being set up and defensive barricades that were serving as walls for now. She had other defensive towers being set up between the barricades and designed so that they could be spaced but within range of each other to back up one another. Sensors and monitor droids, buildings that formed up as well as artificial mountains and arches created to make more natural looking defensive locations.

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Keeping the place cloaked and well defended, out of peoples sight would make sense, most likely those invited would be contacted like herself in private, given the location and told to come alone, and with their extended life time, a mere day would feel like a minute. This would mean even a slow processes like that would feel to be accomplished within now time, but still, "Hibridium crystals, those are not easy to obtain, even for galactic government, for such a small armed nation state on the moon, that would be a bit hard, but may as serve as a challenge. Though that does remind me, I still need to increase my knowledge about the force, in all my years I never gained a proper teacher, and the skill to cloak oneself in the force would be very beneficial".

[member="Sawa Ike"]

 

[Sawa Ike]

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

Looking at her while she let a thin grin appear on her face. Silver eyes flicking back and forth until she moved. "THen I will teach you what I know while we go in search of enough crystal. A cloak for this area shouldn't take as much as some of the planetary cloaks but it will still be a fair amount." Sawa was walking now and motioned with a hand as some of the soldiers were standing at the ready. Prepared to defend the area while they went off in search. Her sabers being brought to her as well as her armor. The sleek bodyarmor with its black ripples where the metal had been folded over. Reinforced duraplast able to go over the chainmail and power armor but still look sleek and flexible enhancing all of her body. The black metal lightsaber gleaming before she tested it and the blackish silver blade appeared humming with the darkside.

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

She had hinted deliberately towards the whole teaching subject, and was most please by Sawas decision to teach her, though in all honestly Kurenai would probably one of the few people that could under go such training, "Thank you, I will not let you down, I am ready when you are". Kurenai stood idly to the side as the server and guard brought out Sawas personal armor and weapons, true she had her own custom made blade and had a decent amount of weapons, but perhaps her battle armor could use a slight touch up. Though the operator class armor had many advantages, it was more for front line soldiers, and not so much commando force users. As Ike ignited her saber Kurenai could not help but stare "Is that a darksider.... very interesting', such a weapon radiated in the dark side, emitting a very sinister power, perhaps she could make something like that into a blade.

[member="Sawa Ike"]

 

[Sawa Ike]

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]Look

ing at her for a moment as she held her saber deactivating it for a moment with a nod of her head to that. "Yes it can be, the lignum and quioxi crystals make it something very sinister. The saber itself though is simple enough just reinforced duraplast that has been folded over and over with the darkside and blood then it was tempered with a shapers flames to make it into something solid and strong. My blade is something that can be worked on though and as I am considered the black sheep of my family it seemed fitting to let it be the Dark Sister." She checked it before sliding it onto her belt then giving them a place to go. A small hanger that had equipment set up for everything in a ship. To take them where they needed to go while workers continued. "We'll be able to slip past the Galactic Alliance easy enough and there are places we can go to train and ge the crystals. Some of the older trade hubs across the galaxy."

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Her eyes looked intriguingly at the blade in hand, "Duraplast, plastic and steel composite? must be very hard and resistant, and such a sinister vibe... its intoxicating beyond belief". Such an exotic blade made Kurenai want her own, a blade that held as much dark energy as herself, something that felt powerful to hold, something to get back at the stuck up Darth Vader wannabe, master of Ren she face not long ago, and lost due to his ligh-saber.

Kurenai fell in step behind Sawa as they walked towards the hanger bay, hand on her collapsible saber staff as she went, more out of habit then anything else. Her plan sounded reasonable, Astria was fairly close to the edge of GA space and with the Sith on the rise and tension higher, the Jedi would be less concerned about what went out of their space and more what came in. "Might I ask where we would be going, Garos IV is the most know place those cyistals can be found, but I have a feeling you have something else in mind".

[member="Sawa Ike"]

 

[Sawa Ike]

[member="Kurenai Yumi"]

Hmm Sawa was thinking about it and they might be able to work on a few things here... she knew there were a couple of worlds they might be able to go. Searching out a few things though. "There are some places we can go, the crystals might be there but if we are going to train there is a number of beings who have what we want and offer a chance to really try out your powers and capabilities." She could train with her in a room but that would only go so far... they needed to really have something to fight without limits and this was going to be something worthwhile to go and fight, to smash through with their weapons and powers.

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Kuernai gave Sawa an acknowledging smile,though out the many years and devastating wars there were bound to be collectors that would have amassed everything that they needed, and she had no doubt that Sawa held enough power to get what she wanted out of said people. "I'll trust you to lead the way, might I ask about your teaching methods though, you're a Sith, if I am not mistaken, though not one to judge, the training methods of the Sith tend to be very, extreme, in getting results as fast as possible".Though she had a very tough personality and own training regiment, the way Sith were usually taught was not her ideal though on training nor what she though got the best results.

[member="Sawa Ike"]