Hunting for Destiny

[Matreya]

Valashu straightened the armguard sleeve of his Archer Suit, rolled his shoulders, took a breath then exhaled, muttering to himself, "Gotta love the new gear.." Too which he leapt from his position atop the night darkened canyon, a cable of tungsten trailing after him, which was connected to a system at his belt that would slow his descent. The other end was connected to a grapple up top that would release its hold, break down and then return to his belt line, hardly noticeable when he needed it to.

Drawing a feathered shaft against the cord of his Compound Bow, Val drew tight and released the projectile. As the arrow whistled through the air, Val continued his drop, drawing another then firing that as well. Both met their targets, implanting themselves into the eye sockets of dual Maalraas that patrolled the area.

Landing silent as death, Val pressed a button on his belt-comlink that released the grapple and brought it back. Sticking low to the ground, the Kensûrai Archer nocked another arrow once more, ready to battle the encampment just ahead.

[member="Harley Quyn"]

 

[Harley Quyn]

Hunting the raiders down, Harley stayed silent and low to the ground. Having previously dealt with their kind she knew she would have been underestimated, and that gave her the advantage of a sneak attack. She could smell the rot and age of everything around her, a downfall of being in a graveyard. Staying low and quiet, she listened closely to the objects of her attention. Nothing could be heard over their chatter, until she heard the close-by sound of a thud, that of what sounded like bodies hitting the ground after two very fast, wet sounding strikes.

Immediately stiffening, she broadened her focus to every angle possible while staying as quiet and hidden as possible. At that moment, she expected a follower to jump out for attack at any second. Staying on guard, Harley stayed focused on the thieves that had previously attracted her attention, while trying to stay ultimately alert.

[member="Matreya"]

 

[Matreya]

Shoooooo...ft! The sound of the arrow along its trajectory before planting between the portions of the clavicle and chin, protruding from the rear of the neck, was a welcome sound. Moving closer to the fires lit by the raiders he had tracked from Korriban, he paused, as an odd tingle braced against the back of his senses. Spinning on his heels, still mid crouch, Valashu scanned the area with his cybernetic eye's macro capacity heightened.

There, an off white, like nothing found nearby.

But the feeling he had gotten was not one of caution, rather as if the Force wanted him to examine the effect... lurching into a combat roll, as switched his hold on the arrow until it was just below the head, to use as a knife should the need arise. When he was right side up, he was mere inches away from the gorgeous female, knife at her throat.

Drawing it back quickly he muttered deadly soft, "Harley? What are you doing here?"

[member="Harley Quyn"]

 

[Harley Quyn]

Harley, having been nearly killed just a moment before, took a second to examine the man in front of her. As recognition sunk in, she relaxed then smiled." Hello, Val. Been a while, huh? I didn't expect to find anyone here, other than the pair of thieves I was... hunting. Long time no see!"

It had been a while indeed, a few years in fact, since Harley last saw this man. "I was attacked and stolen from earlier, and I had followed my attackers here. I was about to make my move when you so rudely interrupted."

Looking at her friend, Harley gave a flirtatious wink." Might I ask though, why it is you killed them? Did they steal some thing of yours as well? I hadn't thought you would do anything without good reason."

 

[Matreya]

Matreya grinned, "I don't, but the same could be said for you. Obviously, we both have reasons. I was hunting an artifact on Korriban, stumbled into these frakers. They took my item, fled, and left me pissed. Hence my tracking them. Hell, let's take em together then." At that he grinned once more then vanished into the shadows.

Moving back toward the edge of the canyon wall as he had been previously, he slunked along once more drawing the arrow up against the drawstring on his bow. Many viewed his methods of assassination as outdated, useless, or simply ignorant, reporting they made more issues than they solved. In reality though, he felt, and saw frequently, the exact opposite. Simply put, arrows were near soundless, could easily be guided through the Force, they were capable of carrying gadgets and the like.

Coming to a stop, Valashu pressed himself tight against the crevice wall as a man came close. Silently placing the arrowhead into the ground, he took a step forward... then another... before lurching into motion, by sliding the cord of his bow over his targets head, twisting the bow in place to make a tight knot against his opponents adams apple. Next he turned himself, hoisting the man into the air against his back, by means of tugging the bow downward.

It was only a few moments before the soft echoing snap took place. Undoing the previous motions, he turned, set the body free of his bow, then drug the body behind a nearby rock. After folding him up in a position that wouldn't be possible in life, Valashu looked back the way he had saw Harley, wondering if she would follow him.

[member="Harley Quyn"]

 

[Harley Quyn]

Moving into the shadows to stay hidden, Harley moved quickly but stayed silent. Following Valashu, she stayed behind him in case of another unexpected attack. For some reason she couldn't understand, recently she felt as if there was always someone watching or following, not too close but not too far.

However, the woman couldn't help but feel excited to take the place of the hunter. When she was sure there was nobody here that would be able to harm her, or further distract her from the job she had come to do, her body and mind slowly relaxed in turn.

"Val, I think my attackers went that way," Harley said, pointing in the direction she believed to be east. "Did you see them? I wonder if you were robbed by the same men." She also idly wondered if he did what she did - let them get away, just to stalk and kill them.

[member="Matreya"]

 

[Matreya]

Valashu nodded, "I am guessing that yes, they are the one in the same. What are the odds they would be different, yet in the exact same proximity?" He murmured, then pressing a button on his Mask in, slowly the HUD changed, until it showed a powerful Infrared analysis of the surrounding area. Looking downward, he followed several lines of glowing red footprints.

"There is a heavy group, likely more than a dozen. Each seems large too. Bigger than our perished friend there." Val said, then pressed a second button, shifting his vision to a radio waves, "They also have an encampment, as I'm sure you guessed, just around this canyon wall." Once more his vision changed, though back to what it had been - the basic display with information input.

"Stick close." He said, then took off into a silent jog, his eyes scanning the area. Soon enough, he slid to a halt, hand moving to his waistline. Drawing free a green capsule, with a carved free tube through the center, he slowly slid it along the aft of the arrow until it rested just below the head. Nocking the arrow, he set it free, after drawing the full power he was able. The projectile launched cleanly across the prairie field they currently stood in, past a small guard set. With a flick of the Force, the excelerant exploded, and the thermobaric explosive set into motion, igniting the oxygen in an expanding circle.

Instantly the guards turned that way, drawing weapons up to guard.

[member="Harley Quyn"]

 

[Harley Quyn]

Harley watched Valashu prep his arrow, then his bow, and finally shoot in the direction of the guards. While watching, she began to plan her next move. Thinking to herself, she quickly tried to decide whether to stay with Val or split up with him and meet back up later. When the decision was made, she stood.

Quickly following the far off explosion, while the guards were distracted, Harley turned to her current partner in crime. "I'm going ahead, before they turn in our direction. Will I see you there soo, or will you make me wait?" Harley hoped he would follow, though not quickly enough to attract too much unwanted attention.

[member="Matreya"]

 

[Matreya]

When Harley turned back his way, she would see nothing...

Valashu had already vanished into the White Current's embrace. Moving quickly toward the group, he slid his bow over his shoulder, drew free from the quiver dual arrows, then worked to keep his breathing even. Soon enough he stepped between a partner set of opponents, and his arms snaked out then upward, the arrows held reverse style. After slamming the razor sharp heads into the men's necks, he withdrew them then snaked forward so as not to be easily found by being bumped when the dead beings' companions stepped to look at them.

Moving behind another, he wrapped his arm around, jabbing the shaft into the mans eye. Releasing it, he slammed a powerful elbow blow into the back, then stepped backward quickly. Slowly but surely bodies were already falling.

[member="Harley Quyn"]

 

[Harley Quyn]

As she silently approached a small group of guards, Harley pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, then reached into one of the cloak's deep inner pockets to retrieve her weapon - a small axe, made of very strong, very durable wood with a durasteel blade.

When Harley had nearly reached them, she tightened her grip on the weapon she held. Charging at them from her hiding spot behind some large boulders, she swung her weapon, moving swiftly, through the group.

After only a few moments, they were all lying on the ground beneath her, lifeless. After appreciating her work, Harley looked around at her surroundings, then quickly found herself a new spot to hide. Once there, she continued to look for guard.

Quickly, quietly, the woman slid through the prairie, heading for the newfound hiding spot that had led her here. As Harley hid and listened to her surroundings, she finally spotted more guards. Having found another few men, she continued toward them, all the while staying quiet and focused.

[member="Matreya"]

 

[Matreya]

Moving quickly and quietly in tandum with Harley, Valashu and she had the group incapacitated to the greatest degree in a few minutes. When he turned to speak to her, he noticed she was stalking low against the ground, moving away from him. She had her own agendas. Despite them feeling a mutual disdain for the beings present, she would do her own things, just as he would.

Sheathing his arrows, Valashu then released his hold on the White Current, thus returning to the realm of visibility. Freeing his Bow from his body, Valashu kept it at the ready as he slowly trekked the opposite way of his companion. Ahead he was already noticing another smaller group of combatants, though these were better armed, and seemed generally tougher. Perhaps these were the ones hired by the group he was tracking earlier.

Placing a hand loosely on his quiver, he contemplated the next move. He could use another explosive to distract them to the opposite direction yet again, but that seemed a one time thing with this group. There was flash bangs, and the like...

Snapping silently, Valashu reached to his hip and gripped a blue Capsule. Freeing it, he then drew free an arrow, which he slid the capsule onto. Next he popped two barely visible cables from it. One went to each side of the flat head that was the arrow. Nocking said projecticle, he let it fly at the sky, aiming for directly in the middle of the enemy...

They were all wearing cloth instead of rubber soled shoes!

[member="Harley Quyn"]

 

[Harley Quyn]

As Harley neared closer to the next small group of guards, she once again tightened the grip she had on her axe. Swinging, she watched the blade fly through the air then dig into a man's neck. Pulling free the blade, she swiftly turned toward the next man.

She began to swing - then fell to her knees as the force of a blow to her stomach knocked her breathless. While catching her breath, she watched as her attacker aimed to kick her. Narrowly dodging the man's foot, Harley pushed herself onto her back, then rolled onto her stomach and pushed herself up into a crouching position.

When her enemy came forward for another kick, Harle's axe swung forward, digging into his left ankle. As the man pulled his foot free, she aimed for another hit to his right knee. As the woman watched her wounded enemy fall to the ground, Harley stood, then swung her weapon and hit the man in the neck, ending his life.

Harley moved quickly through the small group again, careful not to be attacked again by surprise. Once they were dead and lying on the ground beneath her, she left the area in search of her companion.

[member="Matreya"]

 

[Matreya]

As the arrow landed, piercing the ground, it sent its massive surges of electricity through the moist ground. The resulting shock doubled each being over in anguish. He however was already vaulting over one, his elbow driving painfully into the back of his enemies neck as he did so. Before completely free of his opponents back, he already was swiping each leg outward in a Y pattern that struck dual opponents in the front of the neck.

Snapping these legs upward, he felt feet connect with chins, then rolled backward off the man once more. On his feet again, he nocked an arrow, aimed, then loosed, spinning around to counter a man that came within range. Pushing his arm outward, Matreya kicked at his knee, forcing him down where a knee of his own could incapacitate him.

Glancing to see the arrow from before had struck the lower center of a mans torso, he reached out a hand to summon the arrow free, then a flick of the wrist sent it to the side toward another.

[member="Harley Quyn"]

 

[Harley Quyn]

While seeking yet another lot of watchmen, Harley found a rather large bunch, though at least half were lifeless on the ground. Among them she recognized Val, quickly and swiftly moving through them, ending the life of any man who stood in his way.

Reaching the site of the dead men, she jumped into action, helping Val demolish the gathering that had been working their. Axe in hand, moving with focus and intensity, Harley was soon at Val's side, working to lower the enemy's numbers.

 

[Matreya]

Watching Harley move amongst his opponents, gave Valashu a certain thrill, one he couldn't describe. Was it joy at not being alone in this? No. Was it that she was almost as good as he already? No, because his skill was a different type...

Did he... love her?

Shoving the idea from his mind, Valashu spun, blocking a blow that came his way in the form of a swift kick to the stomach. Stumbling back from the blow, he almost stumbled, but righted himself, spinning his bow he knocked the man hard in the center of his ribs, before dropping low to kick at his ankles. The result was him dropping to the ground before a knee to the cheek, pressed upon heavily by Matreya's body as he raised then dropped.

From that vantage point, Matreya then drew an arrow and fired, dropping his last opponent, before glancing to Harley, "Thanks for the assist. Where'd ya vanish to woman?" He asked, a grin playfully at his lips before rising. A hand summoned the nearby used arrows, to which he placed them in his quiver.

"I'm down by a single, so I'm good, but I gotta ask, whatcha hunting these guys for? I know you said they stole from you, but what was it?"

[member="Harley Quyn"]

 

[Harley Quyn]

Harley grinned, moving slightly seductively toward Val. "Sorry for the holdup darlin'. Had to... remove a few of the guards real quick." Winking, she grinned at her friend. As she walked toward him, she placed her axe back in the inner pocket of her cloak, then pulled out a container holding cigarretes and a lighter." Smoke?" She asked, offering one to him.

"They found me on my way home, after receiving a little gift from a friend. Didn't even get a chance to open its container!" Harley giggled." Wish they would have left me alone. So many bodies!" Lighting a cigarette, the young woman looked up at the man, then exhaled." Watcha hunting them for, anyway Don't think you mentioned either."

 

[Matreya]

Valashu raised a hand as a decline to the offered cigarette, instead he deactivated the voice modulator of his mask, while reaching into a compartment on his belt. Drawing free a dented silver container, he flipped it open, revealing an assortment of the nicotine sticks. Removing one that had the barest hint of a cyan blue line, he put it to his lips, bit it to place, then in a flagrant show he used the single hand to flip the lid then light it.

Inhaling deeply as the flame touched the tip of his cigarette, he inhaled deeply, "I'm goad to find a beautiful woman I can smoke around. Hate getting bad looks from people for doing an obsession." He paused, taking another hit, "Well admittedly the tobacco is actually laced so, I guess its kind of understandable." He then grinned around the cig, smoke trailing from the nostrils.

"The item I am after is known as the Gauntlet of Crassus." Valashu said matter of factly, "Its ancient, centuries, millenia even, old; it was a work owned and made by the Sith Lord Crassus, with the intent of making his grip stronger, alongside his telekinetic abilities.

"Being that tk and illusions are my only real skills, I would like them as powerful as they can be." He finished shrugging, "Anyway, what about you? What's the gift? Were you told?"

[member="Harley Quyn"]

 

[Harley Quyn]

While taking a drag off of her cigarette, then slowly inhaling, Harley watched Val, as he reached for something at his waist. She briefly thought of what a relationship with him would be like. Would he be a good match for her? Since meeting him, she had pondered this a couple times.

Returning her thoughts to the present conversation, Harley looked at Val, then began to speak." He briefly mentioned what it was, an amulet of some
sort. The Amulet of... Kalara, I think he had called it. Said it was important, if you're into that sort of thing. Whatever that meant!" Harley giggled, remembering when she had received the box from her friend.

Harley inhaled another drag, held it briefly, then exhaled. "You know anything about it? I hadn't even heard about it before he told me about it. Wonder why he thought I would even want it?" As she spoke, she began to wonder aloud about the gift. Why did he think she would need it, or even want it? Maybe she would just give it to Val, when she got it back from the thieves that took it.

[member="Valashu Elahad"]

 

[Matreya]

Valashu nodded, another hit passing into his lungs, through teeth and lips then down his throat. He pondered the name, as it stood he had done plenty of study, into hard to know of relics, or items that would be worth it if ever he found them. Amulet of Kalara, he thought to himself, while his hand pinched the butt of his cigarette and pulled it from his mouth. Exhaling slowly he murmured allowed, "I think..." He shook his head, the Rokna Blue in his stogies dulling his throat process.

Snapping a finger, he smiled, "Its rumor only. I remember it now. Its one of those thing that was hardly ever mentioned, due to its rumored purpose. Much like the usage of Taozin, the Amulet was crafted to hide ones Force presence: not like Force Dead, but rather a glass prism instead. The Force would appear to flow through the person, as if not there at all." He murmured then grinned, "Sounds like a useful tool. I wish I had a friend gift it to me."

Rolling his shoulders, he readied himself then smiled once more, "Let's go Love." He murmured then crept more inward, toward the camp itself now.

[member="Harley Quyn"]

 

[Harley Quyn]

Was he hinting at her gifting him the amulet? Harley thought so. Grinning, she looked at Val, with a flirtatious look in her eye. "And if someone, say, were to give you such a lovely gift.. Would you give that girl - I mean person - something in return?" Still grinning, the young woman started to giggle.

Trying to keep a low profile, Harley crept forward with Valashu by her side. Still holding her cigarette, she took a deep drag, filling her lungs with smoke, holding it there. After a second, she exhaled, blowing a smoke ring as she did. Being around him made her happy, but she couldn't figure out why, or how, exactly.

Was it the memories they shared? Though she didn't know a lot about him personally, they had grown somewhat close in the time they spent together in the previous years of her life. She had always felt an attraction to Val, though she never figured out if the feeling was mutual.

Returning her thoughts to the present time and place, Harley took another drag of her cigarette before flicking it behind her." So Mr. Serious, what do you do for fun? When you're not, you know, hunting people down and taking their loot?" Harley giggled again, her thoughts turning to the task at hand, enjoying the thrill of getting revenge.

[member="Valashu Elahad"]