Hunger and Darkness

[Syd Celsius]

"I suppose that is all we can ask..." the Geist replied to [member="Lilla Syrin"]...

"Hey, don't I get something? Nobody would have known where you were if I hadn't stolen the rock!" Rex complained.

"Lilla was the one who pulled it out of your hand!" Nine pointed out.

"But I found it!" Rex almost whined.

Nine turned to the Geist. "He does have a point."

The Geist turned to Rex. She headed out of the room and was gone a few seconds before retrieving the single red blade she had stolen from their earlier attackers.

"How's this: A free ride on my ship anywhere you like, and a free blade for your troubles..."

"I'm more curious about this purple eyed woman who hired you..." Nine mused, stroking her chin.

"Ohhh...I sure as hell ain't gonna try and find her. Screw up like this? I'm gonna be hiding underground a good long while before its safe to come up. That is NOT the kind of woman you piss off unless you wanna wake up on a sacrificial alter..."

"That's happened to you?" The Geist questioned.

"Oh yes...its usually over cards...I'm bad a cheating..."

"How do you survive the alters?" Nine asked in curiosity.

"I'm bad at dying..." Rex answered, grinning.

"I'll handle his interrogation. If there is some Sith out there who wants to get their hands on me, best to get an idea of what they're after specifically..."

The Geist then turned her attention to Lilla.

"I suppose you deserve some extra token of gratitude considering how long I was in that rock..." the orange eyed woman trailed, walking out of the chamber while Rex thumbed the stolen saber. Itd fetch a decent price.

The Geist walked to another exhibit, this one showcasing the pure white robes of her chief creator, and his purple pentagram faced mask.

She spied the talisman on the mannequins neck, and conjured a small, spinning gout of fire that she focused on its side, focused it against the transparisteel in a small tight spot. It grew hotter until the case started to melt from the funnel. Eventually after a few minutes she produced gaping hole and her hand stretched out...

(Zelda Acquisition Theme plays)

Acquiring for Lilla: Photosynthesis Talisman (http://starwarsrp.net/topic/137097-photosynthesis-talisman/)

She held the cameo-like object, letting it cool in her hand a moment before presenting it to Lilla.

"The Photosynthesis Talisman. My chief creator's badge of office. I consider this a long overdue severance pay..." the Geist said, wincing at holding something that belonged to The Man in White...

"Now, lets go find my ship...and we will be off this planet. Anywhere you want to go, the Scorched Earth can take you there...slowly..." she clarified.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

Lilla glanced at the man – in her eyes it was not about what you wanted, or getting equal shares. What you needed, yes – and what was appropriate? Also a yes.

Lilla supressed an obvious smile as he was offered something to appease him. It was reminiscent of mollifying a toddler who found, at the end of a shopping trip, that everyone else had bought something and he had nothing.

She allowed the banter to slide over her. The other three were having sufficient fun for the four of them, so she kept her ears attuned for anything untoward and otherwise mused how she would test the sword without risking hurting anyone. And she had decided quickly that she’d have to test it on herself first. The mention of interrogation did, however, bring her out of her thoughts and back into the conversation.

She smiled. “Gratitude? I’m a Jedi remember. Your release was an accident and your liberty is conditional on your behaviour after all – so I don’t see that I did all that much. And even if I did, gifts aren’t something Jedi should ever get too used to.”

But, as much due to interest in whatever else was in the bunker as anything else, she followed the Geist. The white robes caught her eye as much as anything else. Were they a little ostentatious? Probably, but they had a certain element of style – albeit they were clearly tailored for a man. But it was clear it was the mask that the Geist was attracted to.

The woman grabbed what appeared to be a locket through the molten hole she’d created and passed it to Lilla, who took it slightly reluctantly. It did not pay to appear ungracious, nor did she want to seem greedy.

“I appreciate the generosity of the gesture. Like the sword, I shall look after it for the duration of the time I am its custodian and I shall ensure that, when the time comes, it is passed on to someone worthy. Someone you would approve of.”

She bowed to the Geist and Nine. “Not a typical mission,” she said. “Not by a long way. But – when all is said and done – it’s been a most enjoyable one. I’m glad to have met you both and to have freed you in particular.” Now she looked at the Geist.

“Until we meet again, for I suspect it is a matter of when, not if.”

[member="Syd Celsius"]

 

[Syd Celsius]

Syd bowed. Nine, silent and sullen like she had been when elderly, nodded back.

Syd still didn't trust Jedi. Not entirely. She might well never fully trust them again. But it was obvious [member="Lilla Syrin"] was not one of those types who had cruelly trapped her in a rock.

She was still badly shaken by that. That and the enclosed chamber did her no favors, its golden gleam reminding her of the resin that imprisoned her. She longed to be out of here. The chamber was too small.

The Geist strode out of the chamber. "If I remember correctly, the hangar should be..."

She started flying using the Force, her eyes glowing orange as she tapped its power, traveling down the museum-like space full of ancient Jedi relics. All of which were of little interest to the Geist. There was only one thing more she wanted from this place.

She found the vacuum sealed chamber door, circular and enscribed with ancient symbols, typed the code, heard the gas cycling in on the other side and the door slid open...


(Zelda acquisition theme plays)

Acquiring: Scorched Earth (http://starwarsrp.net/topic/136853-scorched-earth/)

The hangar was appropriately large, just large enough to house its armored prize.

It was sleek, dark metal, its almost tie-fighter like profile broken up by its wedged shape in the front, the main cabin spherical and surrounded by curved foils, viewports tinted.

The Scorched Earth. An armored turtle with range. It was much like the Geist herself...it was one thing to see it, another to stop it. The armor plating was heavy and obvious, as were the modifications in some parts.

"Are those Tie Interceptor cannons mounted on the underside?" Rex asked, walking over to it. "Sienar model. Pretty nice. Didn't Darth Maul use a ship like this?"

"He did. But The Scorched Earth is a different approach from his ship. Main Weapons have three times the range of other weapons on ships this size. WhisperThrust engine, alchemized sensors rendering them sensitive even to stealth vessels, a fast hyperdrive and enough armor and shields to frustrate any attacker. Secondary weapons fire fast and swivel. Its a tank." The Geist said, smiling slightly at the ship.

"It's gorgeous!" Nine said in her deep contralto. "I want one!"

"I kinda want one too..." Rex mumbled. "Man, why couldn't I stumble on this first--?"

The Geist pressed a button on the hatch and the ramp slid open.

She crept inside, only slightly less discomforted by its interior than others. It was dark. She went to engineering, cjecking for damage. Perfectly preserved.

Just like her, she thought bitterly. Preserved to fight another day. And for what.

The words of the first Sith she had ever killed played out in her head.

You are a slave. You will die a slave.

Firing up the power after a few minutes, the ship lights went on. The Geist invited everyone aboard.

"Where to?" She asked Lilla.

 

[Lilla Syrin]

Lilla remained cautious. It was one thing to make a promise, but quite another to be trusted. She had said all of the right words – words from the heart – but there was no guarantee that Syd would believe her. Why would she? She had little to gain and a lot to lose.

And then they were following in the Geist’s wake, as she literally flew through the chamber and towards whatever goal she was hoping for. She mentioned a hangar and so Lilla suspected a ship – but that was little more than guesswork at present.

Finally catching up, Lilla spotted what Syd had been looking for. It was modern in appearance, considering its age – and Lilla presumed it would still fly, despite the period of inactivity. Sje raised an eyebrow at Rex’s observation – clearly, she was not the only historian in the group.

She smiled as they all fawned over the vessel. Sabine’s tastes in ships was far more modest. Large enough for a fellow passenger, a cargo bay to transport goods and a hyperdrive. Shielding was a big plus, as was speed an manoeuvrability. But in truth, she piloted whatever was available, never growing an attachment to any single craft.

Lilla was surprised at the question, once the ship had been tested and found operational. “Oh, I expected you’d…you know…skedaddle.” She smiled. “So the offer is a pleasant surprise. Not that I have a specific destination in mind. Who has a ship they can get off the planet in, and who needs a lift?”

[member="Syd Celsius"]