Human Action.

[Alkor Centaris]

Glee Anselm, 2300 Local Time​

The pungent, foul aroma of o-zone wafted across his nostrils as Alkot surveyed the island. Charred, dessiccated, and discarded Nautolan corpses littered the tropical sands, forever tainted by viscera. "The locals grew dependent on the Sith during their occuption," a mechanized voice drawled. Alkor nodded slightly, but gave no other response. "Records indicate that the local economy spiked during wartime because of the demand for medicine. It's not Bacta or Kolto, but other means of treatment are generally sought after for their-"

"If I need a lesson on Nautolan economics, I will be sure to ask you," the Dark Jedi spoke simply as he glanced toward his compatriot. "I understand the gist of the situation. The local populace is disgruntled by our attempt to drive out their profitability."

"The remaining Sith are still trading materials on the black market across the galaxy. Since no one in the proper, galactic economy is interested in "lesser medical supplies," they find their relevance elsewhere. In return, the Sith are able to cling to life in the shadows."

"Which is why we were hired," Alkor confirmed. "To find and eliminate the presence so that the planet can transition back to autonomy." He tapped a few keys on his datapad and a topographical projection emanated from the display. The Mandalorian in full armor stepped forward and pointed out a highlighted location.

"Ideally, they would have broken by now. These are the most likely coordinates of their stronghold, but we've seen nothing to indicate a large scale operation." The masked man sighed audibly, then reached up for the clasp of his helmet. "We've meet with a decent amount of resistance, but no more than other teams at similar locations. It's like they're everywhere, just taunting us."

"That is most likely their intention," Alkor pointed out. "The absence of evidence does not preclude a man from guilt. "

"Do you enjoy speaking in riddles?" There was annoyance in the words, if not the tone.

"It was one of my Master's habits," Alkor replied flatly. "More importantly, it means that simply because we do not see the target..."

"-that the target is not there, I got it." The man peeled his helmet away and revealed the rugged, graying face of a veteran soldier. "I have contact from the remaining Clans," he changed topics abruptly. "They wish to reunite and form a new war machine. They're seeking all able bodies."

"We have a job," Alkor reminded the other man. "And our job is to rebuild Manda'yaim. To that end, we need money. I have no interest in a crusade."

"When Mand'alor calls, we answer-"

"And what do we fight for?" Alkor glanced up and locked eyes with his comrade for the first time. Deep blue clashed with bright brown. "Do we fight simply for its own sake, to kill? I have lived that life, I know where it leads. I promised to fight for the Mandalorian people, but I will not become their rabid dog. The planet is an ideal, a heart for all those who embrace the culture. If we do not focus on mending it, we will fight over corpses forever."

"You're a sentimental bastard, aren't you?" Turk Ordo laughed aloud and clapped Alkor on his shoulder. "Wish there were more of 'em out there."

"Not sentimental," Alkor corrected. "Wholly dissatisfied with the current direction of leadership." He lifted a blaster pistol and glanced down the sight. After a brief pause, he fired down into the body of a young Nautolan male. "I will not fight meaningless battles anymore. I will decide what my blade means."

Turk grunted.

 

[Garza]

Thalia stood next to me as she talked with various people over Bacta that our company was supposedly purchasing. Thalia was the actual face of the Company after she took it over from my Master. She created items with the aid of Dark force users who wanted to still create a place for themselves to work. Or at least that's the story we are going with.

"I hate the fact that we have to act nice with these people."
"How do you think I felt about your father and you when I first saw you?"
"Thats rude."
"Truth hurts."

As of walking into the little "compound" they made for themselves, we were checked for weapons we were carrying with us. Thalia carried her lightsaber with her. As well as mine. She wore an elegant gown that could very easily hide lightsabers, and prevent a pat-down from being discovered. Me? I had weapons all over me. Carrying a rifle on my back, a blaster pistol, even my offhand lightsaber. Why? Draw attention from her to me. Sadly for them, it worked. They looked her over and gave her a good "pat-down" that was borderline sexual harassment, then let her pass. Me? I got the whole nine yards. Groped, taken weapons away, and even whispered that I was stupid to bring a gun.

I smirked under my mask. As a man was about to remove it, My hands moved lightning fast to hold his hand. My metallic hand gripped his wrist hard. His intake of breath was audible. Thalia instantly spoke up.

"He is my guard, and hides his face to protect his identity and family. Now unless you would like him to hunt down yours, I would say keep your hand away from his face."

The two other guards there nodded their head and the man released me. I squeezed the man's wrist one more time to make him fully aware that if he touched me again, he wouldn't have a nice day. Releasing him, I walked onward with Thalia. I was allowed to keep my blaster pistol should anything happen. The rest I would have to pick up at the gate as I left.

As we walked. I smiled lightly as I could feel the bump on my fleshy hand of Thalia's own hand. She has been learning in the manipulation of electronics. Mechu Duru. She was just advancing her skills in illusion as well. Thus, as she handed me my lightsaber, it was invisible to those who would try and see. However, it looked like we simply bumped hands, or even held hands for a moment due to nerves.

I however, controlled the item with the force to slide into my vest. Hidden away in a pouch to keep the weapon with me. We walked onward. Led by one man in front of us that was bringing us to the "black market" that had surfaced so close to the Iron Empire. We wanted to take control of this. Or, if that was not possible, to take it down, and take over their exports. Creating a legal system for the Empire.

Or, I could create a market of my own. One that could create a place where anybody could stay. One that couldn't be tied to the Iron Empire. And be open to anyone I feel is an ally without dragging other faction powers into this.

"Let's hope this works."
"I wouldn't bank on it."
"Why do you say that?"
"Hope is not what these Sith want."

[member="Alkor Centaris"],

 

[Keira Priest]

It had come with nothing more than a hunch at first, as things like this were wont to do. As always a hunch had turned into proper investigation, which had turned to proper contact with a handful of her Crusaders, and then she had found him. It had taken too long a time and all the resources she could manage to pool with what little connections she had left, but as always she had managed. [member="Alkor Centaris"] was a difficult man to find, but not entirely impossible, it seemed. It helped that he'd taken a number of what remained of their kindred with him, and more so that she'd managed to remain in contact with a good portion even after disbanding the Crusaders and relinquishing even the idea of being Mandalorian for so long a time. Now she was back, and so was he.

From the beginning she knew he wouldn't be happy to see her again after so long, or at least, not in the traditional sense. The bond between brother and sister was a bit strained to say the least, and they had never exactly gotten along as siblings were intended to. More accurately, they had butt heads nearly incessantly, and she had a feeling showing up unannounced after so long wasn't his idea of a reunion, but neither was it hers. These were simply the cards the galaxy had dealt them, and he would do well to learn to live with it just as she was. She may not have been his favorite sibling, and neither was he exactly hers, but family was family, and it all was more than blood.

"You know he's going to hate you for this, right?" As always, Thalia was offering her own special brand of optimism from the upper right corner of her HUD.
"Wouldn't be the first time, won't be the last."
"Was it always like this with the Ticons, too?"
"No, worse. At least this time we're bothering to keep in touch."

The AI didn't seem too impressed with that response, but then, she never really was when it came to their passing conversations. Besides, it wasn't as if she didn't speak the truth. She hadn't heard from her biological family in years. Those among House Verd and the Crusaders were the only few that had attempted to keep in touch, and if anything that had only cemented for her the value of choosing one's family. Perhaps Alkor hadn't chosen her those years ago, but he'd gained something much more than he'd initially bargained for, and that was brothers and sisters that would be slow in giving up the bonds they had formed. If Mandalorians were stubborn then Corellians were even worse, and unfortunately for him she was both of those.

"He's just ahead. You're sure about this?"
"Thalia, if I was ever certain about anything I wouldn't need you."

Long ago Keira had learned to expect everything and yet nothing from her younger brother, as he had the capacity to be and often was even more volatile than herself. Dropping in without warning would most likely stir up more trouble than it was worth, but that had always been her way. The sound of the blaster shot didn't faze her in the least, and when no more followed she figured she knew the source. Pinging his comms just as he came into sight, she spoke, "Fancy a talk, vod'ika?"

[member="Atheus"]

 

[Alkor Centaris]

Alkor stood over the sizzling corpse, satisfied it would not attempt to rise from death and attack. He replaced the firearm on his belt and regarded Turk. "Do you know why people bother investing in archaiac remedies at all, in this age of miracle medicine?" He lifted his shirt for the other man to see, and the Mando almost gagged. Poorly closed wounds bled across his torso, and bandages caked with blood barely managed to contain the viscera.

"Why haven't you seen a fething medic?" The warrior broke his gaze from the greusome sight and scanned the horizon for any sign of life. "Those wounds don't look like they're healing at all-"

"Because they are not." Alkor's confirmation was quiet and simple, but it carried great weight. "And I am allergic to Bacta. I contracted Blastonecrosis while my mother carried me in her womb. I nearly died from it."

The man pulled his helmet away and fixed Alkor with a stern look. "Sounds like you need more than medicine, ad'ika."

"Further compounding my difficulties," Alkor continued, "exposure to the dark side of the Force is a well known corrupting agent. It manifests in many different ways, most notably by giving them unnatural features or aging them horribly." The Jen'jidai allowed his shirt to fall back over his flesh. Turk was visibly relieved. "My body does not heal naturally," he explained. "For someone like me, medical treatment in the old way is the only realistic option. That is why this black market exists, and why it will be so difficult to dispose of."

"Because society and its technology became so advanced that it forgot something so simple," the Mandalorian muttered.

Alkor nodded, but before he could speak again, he heard a familiar voice. His gaze wandered toward [member="Keira Ticon"], but his first instinct was to wonder how she found him at all. He stared at her for several seconds in response to her query, then shot Turk with a look that said, 'we'll be discussing this later.'

"I prefer not to whenever possible," Alkor answered finally as the other Mandalorian headed toward the Command Tent to give Alkor and Keira some privacy. It was several yards from where the Dark Jedi stood. "But having had you come all this way, I will make an exception. What brings you to Glee Anselm, Keira Ticon?"

This was certainly not the person he intended to see; but [member="Atheus"] would doubtless not be far behind.

 

[Garza]

Thalia continued walking onward. The boots she wore snapped on the tiles. I shook my head as my own footsteps were almost silent. Considering our size comparison, It seemed the truth was the opposite of what it was. Either way, we walked onward. Trying to get a scope of all the Sith who could be in the area, I reached out with the force. Slowly snaking my way around in the dark to see where any hid. Some were dressed as normal guards as we walked past them. They would eye me as they could clearly feel my presence over that of Thalia. The point. I look big and bad, and she looks like hardly any threat at all.

However, what surprised me, was the connection I made with two blips that were outside. I could feel it. They were familiar. Part of me wanted to back out to see who it was. Even just to see would be good. However, There was one thing I could tell. It set them apart in ways that allowed me to know I had met them before. They were dark, filled with a pain that only years of torture and strife had caused, and had the aura of familiarity as though I hadn't seen them in a long time.

It confused me for a moment. I stopped walking as I concentrated on what it was. Trying to find something anything. I was getting closer and closer to figuring out what it could have been. That's when Thalia put a hand on my shoulder. Instantly I snapped out of it and retracted the force within me so quickly I could almost feel the whiplash from it. Blinking as Thalia looked up at me and just had a questioned look upon her face. Motioning forward, we continued on.

​"I felt others outside. Familiar. Regardless, be prepared for anything."

She simply nodded her head once to understand. It was a few moments later after we left that incident behind us, we came to the room in which we were meeting with someone who could aid us. The door was closed, and the guard in front of it opened it for us. Entering in first. My eyes scanned the room. Three people. One female. Near-human at least. Couldn't quite tell with the colorful hair and the mowhawk style going on. Two men. One was a Zabrak. Tattoos adorned his face and chest as he stood there. Horns crude, and even saw him missing a few. Second man was in a suit of armor. Completely covered up. Militaristic and of a unique design. No standard armor set. The armor wasn't heavy or bulky. Enough to move well, and was likely just to provide some protection while allowing easy use of the various items on his utility belt, as well as his strap across the chest.

The room itself was fairly large. One massive table in the middle with a intercom receiver. Likely connected to a holoprojector that was stationed somewhere else within the building. The room was entirely closed in. No windows. Yet I didn't hear any echoes as we walked into the room. After walking in, Thalia followed me. Her eyes going straight to the three there. It was met with silence as the door closed behind us. Once it did, the three of them sat in their respective chairs, and the female spoke.

"Welcome both of you. I can only assume the gentleman beside you is your guard Eris?"
"He is that."

There was a slight silence as the man in armor stood up. His T-shape visor was clearly molded after the Mandalorians. Walking over to me. We stood fairly close in height. Pointing to me. I simply stared at him.

"You look familiar. Vod be Manda'yaim?"

Looking the man over, I saw that he extended his arm to grab my own arm. Trying to see if I would accept it as though I were one of him. Nodding, I grasped his arm in my own and returned.

"Haa'taylir ibac Ni cuyir"

I could almost see the man's anticipation as he grasped my arm firmly and slapped his armored glove up against my metallic arm as though it were my real one. I owed it to Alkor and bringing me into the Crusades when he did. I learned much of the Mandalorian culture. Their code, language, and even how they would act and treat one another. Much in the same way, others helped me learn as well. The armored man nodded his head and then returned to his seat as the other two looked at him in confusion.

"Consider it a time before we had seen one another."

My voice rang out to affirm what the two may have thought. The woman smiling as she made her own comment followed by the Zabrak.

"It seems that this meeting will not all be in silence."
"I'd prefer it that way. Kiss up later."
​"I think it's part of their culture to do that regardless of what is happening."
"I could care-"
"If you don't mind, I would like to talk about a few things before we get started."

The Zabrak was put-off that someone would ever interrupt him. He was going to stand when the woman pressed her hand on his shoulder. He looked over, and seated himself once more.

"Sounds good to me. Shall we continue?"

[member="Alkor Centaris"], [member="Keira Ticon"],

 

[Keira Priest]

"You're a difficult man to find, I hope you know." It had been months since Keira had seen her younger brother, and it seemed he hadn't changed at all. if it was at all possible he'd even become more himself, growing into being Mandalorian more than she had ever thought possible. He melded well with their people and culture, more than he would admit, and it made her proud. As estranged as their relationship was, it made her happy to see him learning to be a part of something so much bigger than himself. Perhaps he would never truly learn the value of the bonds that he'd forged, but so long as he maintained them he would be better for himself, whether he fully recognized it or not.

Reaching up she unsealed her helmet from the suit of armor, momentarily working at the clasps before pulling it off and hooking it at her waist, affording her the ability to look at him properly after so long a time apart. There was nothing truly different about his appearance, but there were subtle nuances that hadn't been present before. Every movement held a deeper purpose that hadn't quite been present before, and he really had grown into himself far more than the last time she'd seen him. It wasn't something she outwardly acknowledged, because she knew it was something he wouldn't want to hear about, but the slight inclination of her head was enough of a confirmation.

"You know, you could just call me your sister. Whether you like it or not, we are related. Aliit ori'shya tal'din, vod'ika." He had never quite taken to the idea of having a family, but he'd never openly revoked it either, so she took it as a good sign. It was the little things that were progress, and this was one of them. "I wouldn't say anything necessarily brings me here. But I figured when I heard reports of Sith hunting in the system, I'd find you at the head of it. Of course, it helps that you were kind enough to take our vode with you." He was smart enough to have recognized that mistake just as soon as he made it, but he'd kept on for a reason. Of course, she wouldn't bet on it being his enthusiasm to speak with her.

Keira would have continued, had a presence familiar only in the vaguest sense of the word alighted on her senses. This was someone she recognized, but she couldn't quite recall where. Had he been an enemy there would have been that familiar spark of hostility to accompany it, but instead there was nothing more than sheer impartiality. But she knew him. Curious. Dark eyes finally seemed to center on stormy blue, and she posed but a single inquiry, "Friend of yours?"

[member="Alkor Centaris"], [member="Atheus"]

 

[Alkor Centaris]

Alkor glanced at the woman as she recommended he call her "sister," his gaze almost vacant. It would be more accurate to describe it as distant, since his mind went someplace else when she spoke. He understood the Mando'a now, over a year since they had taken him in. "Family is more than blood."

"You say that so easily." Alkor commented quietly. He regarded the men she indicated and gestured. "Each one of them needs money, just the same as everyone else. I cannot do this job alone, so I welcomed them along. There was no more to it than that."

"Don't bother trying to talk to him our way, Keir'ika," Turk told her as he slipped his buy'ce overhead. "His head is harder than my helmet."

Alkor shifted his gaze toward the man for a moment, but did not speak. The two clearly had a degree of familiarity and understanding that afforded them comfort and free speech. He lifted the datapad in his hand and began scrolling through pages as if to let them talk.

"That doesn't mean not to talk to you at all, di'kut. It's good to see you, Ticon, but I know you didn't come here for small talk with an old farmer."

Alkor looked up and blinked. Turk was walking away. Left with Keira alone, the Jen'jidai sighed and lowered the device once more. "The money is going to rebuilding Keldabe. Once I've repaid my debt to Isley, I'm going to leave."

They walked together for a bit toward the tent where all of the negotiations were taking place. The Liaison was a man Keira most likely would not recall outright, but they had fought together aboard the Omega. Since then, [member="Atheus"] had been accepted into Isley's crusade- even if it was only loosely. The man had some Mandalorian ties- possibly more than Alkor's own, if only because he readily understood them.

[member="Keira Ticon"] would undoubtedly not let that lie, of course. "He's an agent employing us as a subcontractor for another galactic power. They're choosing to remain anonymous for the sake of this operation, but a success here will further their interests in the region. That will be extremely lucrative for the Mandalorians."

Once they were all in the same place, he introduced them formally. "Keira Ticon, this is Atheus."

 

[Lorraei]

"This is a terrible idea. You realise that, don't you? Gods above! This is Glee Anselm. Former Sith stronghold. You know there's a war going on down there, right? Like Mandos actively hunting and fighting Sith." The Desert Fox spared his copilot a quick scowl before returning his attention to his landing approach. "This is officially your stupid idea, Cehla Je'ea. Just so we're clear. This whole trip, and everything that happens on it is officially on your head. If she's not in trouble, I swear to the gods!" Silently Lorraei prayed that his Master was anything but in trouble. Beside the tan skinned Companion a young Tailring, Cehla Je'ea, swivelled her head to one side with a confused chirping sound, gazing up at the man from her pillow on the copilot's seat.

Several minutes later the Desert born Nomad set foot on the oceanic planet of Glee Anselm for the first time. Immediately a grimace crossed his caramel features as the overwhelming darkness inherent to the planet crashed into him like a wave breaking against the shore. The Desert Fox turned his head to spit the taste of bile from his mouth. "Alright, this place is foul. We're leaving as soon as we find her." The young Jedi, for lack of a more appropriate term, took a deep breath, and gathered the Force within him. As he exhaled his very presence within the Force dissipated, spreading out to hide itself among the environment around the Nomad. He knew the skill wouldn't hide him from someone actively searching, but it should leave him unnoticed by anyone who was otherwise occupied. Mildly comforted by the first trick his Master had even shown him, even if she hadn't actually meant to teach him the trick, Lorraei began to walk.

It took longer than he had hoped, focused on hiding himself as he was, but in time the Desert Fox came to a stop overlooking a military camp. He sighed softly to himself as he crouched down to gaze at the camp. There was no mistaking a Mandalorian war camp when you were looking at one. "Feth. This was your idea. You go tell her we're here." A moment later the young Tailring lept from Lorraei's shoulder with a rare desert flower gripped in her teeth, the same type of flower Lorraei had given his Master every time they had come together. The Companion knew it wouldn't take his pet long to find his Master if she was in the camp, he just hoped no one shot the little winged creature down.

Cehla Je'ea flitted through the air in search of the Dark Jedi the Nomad was here for. In time the small animal latched herself to Keira's armored shoulder with a little chirp of excitement. Her long neck spooling out to offer up the rugged flower gripped in her teeth. The Tailring chirped and squeaked at the Dark Jedi insisting she take the flower.

[member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Alkor Centaris"] [member="Atheus"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Atheus. Keira may not have known the man before her, but she had seen him before. He'd been in the escape pod after Omega, sitting with her and her brother as if he belonged. In a way he had, because she knew from that single encounter that he was a warrior just the same as herself. He belonged among their number just as readily, and she inclined her head slightly in greeting, having a feeling this one was just as amiable to the more physical means of communication as her brother. Which was to say, not at all. "Perhaps now we can properly get to know each other. The Omega was hardly a good venue." The only response she anticipated was silence or a noncommittal noise, again, much like her brother. These two were more apt to be related than she and Alkor.

"Like hell you'e leaving." The response was nearly instantaneous, and likely not surprising for Alkor in the least. She had always been adamant about him remaining one of the people no matter his own opinions, as he fit better among their number than he would like to admit. "Isley accepted you into his own family without a second thought and no questions asked. I think you owe him more than simply rebuilding Keldabe and walking away. He was your brother just as he was mine, no matter how you feel about us." Her words were entirely sincere. This wasn't her attempting to persuade him purely due to her own beliefs, but rather her speaking genuinely as nothing more than his sister.

The sound of miniature wings flitting through the air caused her to turn her head, and she recognized the creature that soon thereafter landed on her shoulder nearly instantly, reaching out to take the flower and gently scratch the Tailring under her chin. "Where is your master, ad'ika?" The animal being here meant Lorraei was nearby, the only apprentice she had taken on who had bothered to stick around and actually learn something. More than that, the two were closely intertwined within the ethereal, her presence seeking out his own instinctively and finding no trace of his existence, which only brought a slight smile to her lips. Speaking aloud although it was likely her student couldn't hear her, she turned her head in the direction the Tailring had come from, "You can come out, Lorraei."

[member="Lorraei"], [member="Alkor Centaris"], [member="Atheus"]

 

[Garza]

It seemed that everyone was joining us. As the only person in the galaxy who could best me in combat walked into the room. He looked well, or at least as well as a man who was literally deteriorating could be. Walking in with him was the one lady that Alkor had spoken of a few times, and I remembered her face back on Omega when I had lost my arm. Thinking of that, I rolled my left shoulder as said woman spoke of the very place. I just looked at her. I was not her family, nor a friend. However, she was an ally due to her connection to Alkor.

Nodding my head, I then looked over to Thalia and nodded to her as well. She and the other delegates sat down and began to speak while I made my way closer to the two individuals. As I did so, Keira seemed to be speaking harshly to Alkor. I could only assume it was part of the discussion they were having on the way here. I paid no attention to it, however, I perked up at the mention of brother. Was Alkor adopted by the Verd Clan?

If he was, good for him. Finding a place to stay. While the woman seemed angry, she was clearly looking out for the man when no one else would. Instead of asking about it, I let it slide as Keira started to deal with some kind of creature. Turning to the man, I greeted him with a head nod, and spoke quickly.

"I did not expect either of you to be here. What's the business you seek?"

While I spoke, I reached into my ear, and removed a listening device that connected between myself and Thalia. She could handle it. I knew she could. No need for me to listen in. I took the device and put it in my pocket. Looking to either, this was the first time that Keira would have seen me with my metal arm, and Alkor could likely see the finished product I created for once. Unlike the replacement one I had during our tournament a while back.

I smiled behind my mask. The scars I had because of that I kept because it reminded me where I failed the man. We were to forever fight and rival one another. Yet we were allies. Its because of this, I wanted to become better and one day beat even Alkor, a Master of saber, and bladed combat.

My mind came back to the present as I looked to Keira, and asked a simple question.

"Should we be expecting others?"

[member="Keira Ticon"], [member="Lorraei"], [member="Alkor Centaris"],