Private In the thick of it

[Aleena Aryss]

Aleena Aryss
In the thick of it

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Location: Rishi​

Appearance: Aleena​

Tag: Aayla Shan ​

"How did I get myself into this situation?"​

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Aleena wondered as she sat on her knees surrounded by angry slavers. Blood was dripping down from the corner of her lips, and she knew those punches she tanked with her body were going to leave bruises as well. Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea after all to venture into the Outer Rim without any real meaningful experience. During her time as a Padawan, she had visited many worlds, but always with her overly protective Master, who kept her safe. A planet like Rishi was something else entirely, and her combative skills weren't enough to fight off an angry mob of pirates and slavers.​

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Especially not after what she had done. ​

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Aleena came to Rishi after she felt the Force drawing her there. It often happened when there were lives she could safe using her Healing abilities, and this time was no different. She had first tracked a group of native animals, and taken care of a few who had been hurt. But somewhere during this endeavor, she came across a slave encampment. Seeing the poor condition they were in, she couldn't stop herself from going in.​

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She may have set some of them free... or all of them. ​

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Many had escaped into Rishi's jungle following quick treatment from the blonde Jedi Knight. Some were already back in captivity and punished for their escape attempt, while others were making their way to freedom. But there was no freedom for the young woman, who was likely going to be tortured and killed. Her green lightsaber had been taken from her and was kept away, and even if she tried turning mother nature against them, it was likely they'd still kill her.​

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Her only hope was someone responding to the distress call she had sent out just before her capture. The slavers had gotten their hands on her distress beacon and destroyed it only a few minutes after it went online, so the chance of someone discovering the pulse traveling through space was slim. ​

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"Please... st-" she tried to speak but she was cut short as one of the slavers planted his knee into her face. She fell backward and slowly, the world around her began to spin until it faded to black.​

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[Aayla Shan]

Silver Jedi Battlegroup - Rooni System - Tenchu Class Dreadnaught - Flight Deck C

Calls in the Force, prompted by healing? It wasn't Aayla's forte. Ever since she had touched a lightsaber, her interest had been in wielding them. Even to a fault at times. Even standing here aboard the Tenchu, her mind was floating across many different things. And yet, she settled on no one thing. Instead allowing herself to take a break from the usual stoicism expected of most Jedi. Albeit, she was far from most Jedi. Her mission rounds saw her riding with the Tenchu all the way back to Sev Tok at least before her current rotation was considered fulfilled.

Though in actuality, as a Shadow she was never really off of the job. She had agreed to some pretty steep terms to become a Shadow, and everyday she acclimated in ways that shocked her. Every single day within the Silver Intelligence Network (SIN) was a brand new learning experience, she might have even begun thinking she was getting good at this stuff. Staring out of the deflector shield at the planet Rooni, Aayla would murmur a bit to herself, a little taken aback by how beautiful planets looked from orbit.

Yet another thing that always felt like the first time, even well after the hundredth time.

'There she is now, come on... Commander Shan there's something you may want to see here'

An Antaran Ranger moved with fluidity up to Aayla, who had turned around partly to face him and the one in toe, a smaller woman, with what Aayla deemed a particularly ferocious looking demeanor.

"I'm not your Commander anymore Raj, that was a one time thing... What is it?"

She responded, reaching out her hand to take a data-pad, and ear piece from him, nestling the earpiece in her right ear, and taking the liberty of hitting play on a paused SOS signal from somewhere within CIS Space. Silver hues traced along the floor as she listened, finally nodding and removing the ear-piece, handing it back over to him, along with the data-pad.

"Rishi could be trouble... We have no jurisdiction there..."

'We were tasked with bringing this information specifically to you, someone over in SIN said you would know what to do with it. They wanted us to deliver the information before we pushed off again for Sev Tok... Excuse me Mam'

The smaller woman said briefly, offering a curt bow and turning to excuse herself from the group. Aayla peered behind her curiously, then looked over to Raj, feeling two distinctive feelings from them at that point. Jealousy, from her, and... Was it infatuation from him? Oh my...

She could only smirk in response, nodding to Raj.

"Thanks Raj.."

Aayla said, turning on heel and moving away before snapping her head back in one motion to add something else, catching his eyes pop up from the ground.

"Send me everything you have on it, I'll take it from here.."

Aayla said aloud, moving to her own fighter and doing everything necessary to take off. Within ten minutes, she would be out of the Tenchu, and flying in open space, It would take a few hours, but eventually her X-Wing Interceptor would be landing not even a mile away from the location the distress signal had come from. All things considered, she had better not linger out here. The CIS wouldn't take kindly to her being in their backyard likely, regardless of the reason. Even more so given her bustling spy status.

All the same, she set out. Wearing her (rogue-lite hybrid Jedi garb) usual fit, both sabers on her person making up the only actual weaponry she carried with her. They were enough. She would trek for about forty minutes or so then, finally reaching within fifty feet of where the signal had originated. She was hardly hard to see, but still moved stealthily enough to be unnoticeable unless someone was really looking.

Aleena Aryss

 

[Aleena Aryss]

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Location: Rishi​

Appearance: Aleena​

Tag: Aayla Shan ​

In the hours that passed between Aayla receiving the distress call and her traveling to its source, Aleena had been moved from the cages where had freed the slaves. She was now put inside one such cage herself, with her hands bound to the ceiling by heavy chains that made her wrists bleed. The knee that knocked her out had pushed her teeth into her lips, causing blood to run down her lips and mouth as well. ​

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She wasn't sure what else they had planned for her, but it wasn't going to be good. ​

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"What do we do with the Jedi?" one slaver asked another, as they walked over in her direction. ​

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"Sell her?" the other replied.​

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"Jedi always bring trouble. Who's going to want to buy one?"​

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The other slaver remained quiet for a moment and looked over at the blonde Jedi inside the cage. Her head hung low, her hair had fallen in front of her face and her body seemed to be trembling from the pain that was passing through her every second. She wasn't physically strong at all, and this clearly showed. ​

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"She's practically useless." the other slaver added.​

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Finally, the second slaver turned his gaze back and nodded. "Useless, and she has cost us a great number of credits by freeing all these slaves. I'm going to call one of our Trandoshian contacts, they might be willing to spend some credits buying a Jedi to hunt in their rite of passage."​

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The other slaver grinned widely and nodded, "Yes... that would be perfect. Great idea, boss."​

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Whilst looking down, Aleena had overheard the conversation and gulped softly. If they were selling her for the Trandoshian hunt, she was going to die. Even with her lightsaber, she wouldn't have felt confident in her survival chances, but she had no weapon at all and was beaten badly. ​

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This is it...​

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Meanwhile, Aayla had approached the slaver campsite, and been able to move around unnoticed. To encounter one Jedi out here was rare enough, so they weren't expecting a second at all. Especially not since they destroyed the distress beacon. ​

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Looking around, Aayla would spot a number of heavily armed guards, but most weren't the types to have received a lot of training. Some were simple brutes who fell into a life of crime and used their physical strength as means of intimidation. Others were of smaller frame but had the ruthless killer stare imprinted in their gaze.​

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These were all highly dangerous people, and several stood in the way of Aayla and the Jedi within the cage.​

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[Aayla Shan]

Aayla would find a piece of a communicator in the brush, smashed. No doubt the very same device that had been picked up by the network and routed in her direction. Kneeling down, she would lift it and roll it in her open palm before letting it fall away to the ground; rising with a light exhalation of air. For now she would watch them, observing their movements, and their potential for defense against what she could do. It could be dangerous, but danger brought a thrill she was all too familiar with chasing.

No reinforcements would be called, she was going to do this herself.

As such, she had made a few revolutions of the camp, spotting little tidbits of information as she circled; ingesting what she could into a mental map of the camp. Another fifteen minutes would pass before she felt ready to take it to them. And that she did, walking quite boldly towards two guards and raising her hands defensively. Or so one might think, instead she would cast a quick mind trick on the pair; waving her right hand to break their countenance, while speaking her command aloud.

"You don't want to fight me, there's something truly fascinating there in the bush. You need to find it, and figure out what it is..."

She would try, continuing past them, and quite literally turning to her side to squeeze past as they stared in the direction she had come from, looking to each other then moving to explore into the brush. Aayla sensed outwards in the Force, trying to account for any life she could sense, getting a good bearing on where the slaves were being kept.

For now, she unclipped her saber, and held it in hand as she walked cautiously through the camp. Hiding when necessary, but making a direct path towards the Slave Pens.

Aleena Aryss

 

[Aleena Aryss]

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Location: Rishi​

Appearance: Aleena​

Tag: Aayla Shan ​

After fooling the two incredibly weak-minded guards with a Mind trick, Aayla extended her senses throughout the camp to trace the slaves. She not only felt a high concentration of people somewhere inside, but also the presence of what could only be another Jedi. While Aleena wasn't particularly strong in the Force at all, she certainly felt distinct when compared to those without a Force connection. ​

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Whilst occasionally having to hide behind cages, crates, or other objects, Aayla slowly but surely approached the slave pens. From the position she reached, she could see mostly small cages that held a huge variety of people. Twi'leks, humans, Togrutas, Cathar... these slavers had been busy, and this camp was likely one of many locations where they brought them together before shipping them off to slave markets.​

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But one cage stood on its own, placed away from the rows of smaller cages. Positioned somewhere in the center, Aayla spotted a larger case with a woman who, unlike the other slaves, was completely tied up with arms to the ceiling, and legs to the floor. She was wearing her usual white dress but it was covered in bloodstains, shredded in multiple places, and she seemed to be losing her strength really quickly.​

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If Aayla were to remotely reach out through the Force, she felt a complete loss of hope from Aleena.​

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To make matters worse, her cage had two armed guards positioned right near the mechanism that opened it. Other guards were patrolling between the rows of smaller cages, and the boss' large tent stood nearby as well. To get Aleena out unnoticed would be very difficult, if not impossible. ​

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But at the very least, Aayla had the element of surprise on her side.​

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[Aayla Shan]

She continued along, creeping the pathways that opened to her until she found herself at what was undoubtedly her target. These Slavers had been busy. Now was probably a good time to mention if there was anything Aayla could, or would say she hated... Slavers held a spot on the list, being a slave for a brief stint of her own life. Many years ago, too long ago for it to bother her, but not long enough ago that she had forgotten. Her senses still alight, she could tell now why exactly she was sent here. The woman was a Jedi... A sister, in a sense.

She had lost her hope. She thought no one was coming. That feeling rolling off of her lit Aayla's soul on fire. And she approached stealthily, letting the light within rise up, and swell so as the other could feel it if they were paying attention. Aayla wasn't sure how she was caught, not knowing anything about the woman other than she needed her help now.

Perhaps it was time to do away with the sneaking... She would instead let the Force swell into her form, utilizing Force Valor before moving from her hidden position. She attacked from a flank, jumping and spinning in the air to deliver a solid kick again one of the men's face. Her intent to knock him into his ally. If it worked. She would land, perform an immediate side-flip while activating her saber, bringing it up to destroy a raised blaster in fluid motion, letting the weapon continue in a wide arc and snaking right around the downed mans form to destroy the blaster of the other opponent.

With that, possessing all the agility of some sort of jungle feline, she created space, not even looking at the lock of the cage behind her as she flourished the weapon, slicing at whatever locking mechanism kept the gate shut.

"Easy boys, I don't want to hu-... Eh, that's crap. I wouldn't mind breaking something on both of you. You can run, or fight; your choice"

Aayla offered, taking a quick glance back at the bound woman. 'Just another second, I'm coming' she thought to herself; offering a smile if she was awake to receive it.

Aleena Aryss

 

[Aleena Aryss]

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Location: Rishi​

Appearance: Aleena​

Tag: Aayla Shan ​

Aleena had reached a point where the despair was so overwhelming, that she no longer felt the burning pain of her bleeding wrists, nor the pain caused by the various beatings she received. The world around her slowly began to fade into darkness, but right before it could swallow her whole, she felt a powerful Light rise and shine that pushed it all away.​

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Her deep blue eyes opened and looked up to see a figure moving with incredible speed and precision. The acrobatic movements and flashes of the lightsaber on display were far beyond what she could hope to perform herself, and the guards clearly couldn't keep up with it either. They were disarmed before they truly realized what was hitting them, and then the woman stood between them and the cage. ​

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With locks of blonde hair in front of her eyes, Aleena offered a pained smile in return. She was still processing what had just happened, but Aayla would feel hope burn through the woman's body like fire.​

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Someone had come for her.​

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But while her despair was pushed away, the two guards looked at Aayla with widened eyes - there was absolutely no way they were going to attack her. As much as slavers were capable of terrible things, many were cowards in the face of a real threat to them. So as quickly as they jumped on the opportunity to make credits here, they now ran away.​

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"They.." she winced at a flash of pain. "..they're going to get help," Aleena said as she looked over at the mysterious woman who had come to her aid. ​

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Her blue eyes then suddenly watered up and she sniffed in a combination of happiness and sadness, "Thank you... I didn't think anybody would come." the still tied-up woman said. She began to smile, but it faded as she felt something around her. While she wasn't skilled with a blade, her Empathy skills were well-developed.​

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"I sense a lot of anger... they are coming."​

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[Aayla Shan]

She offered the pair no kind looks, glaring at them both until they rose and scampered off. Almost on queue, she cut the blade of her saber and turned to her would be ally. She had no idea what Temple, or organization the other hailed from, but for all intents and purposes she was in her care now. They would not touch her without risking injury, or death if they pushed her to it. That was just how it was going to be.

"They.." she winced at a flash of pain. "..they're going to get help," Aleena said as she looked over at the mysterious woman who had come to her aid.

"Good.."

Aayla said, moving inside, and using her saber to free Aleena from her bindings. Probably leaving the cuffs on her wrist, but freeing her otherwise. With that, Aayla got to a knee, and carefully assisted the other with moving out of the cage she was being held in. The fight was inevitable. Perhaps it was simply the Jedi way to avoid it until it reached a critical mass, but there was no way she was going to free everyone without busting a few heads. Again, if they pushed her to it, that's how it would be. Slavers should expect no mercy, and she wasn't keen on letting them walk away unscathed. Most especially after what they had done to this woman.

Aayla didn't know her from a hole in the wall, and she could tell the other was nothing but helpful. One of the best the Jedi had to offer, as far as Aayla was concerned. The stark opposite of what she was. If she had to guess, this woman was probably a highly developed healer, or perhaps some sort of empath... Perhaps both.

Her blue eyes then suddenly watered up and she sniffed in a combination of happiness and sadness, "Thank you... I didn't think anybody would come." the still tied-up woman said. She began to smile, but it faded as she felt something around her. While she wasn't skilled with a blade, her Empathy skills were well-developed.

"I sense a lot of anger... they are coming."

Oh come on, was she trying to make Aayla start crying. Something about her visage, even beat up made it very hard to not want to look out for her. She had that little sister aura to her. And the bullies were on their way back huh... Alright. With that being said, she rested the other down gently, making sure to take her time doing so before moving to stand at her full height.

"Not as angry as I am... You just relax."

Aayla said, removing her second saber from her other side, and activating it. With a saber alight in each hand, she held her arms to either side, the dirty-yellow blade just in front of Aleena, while the blue blade was held in the left hand. She kept the weapons activated, and simply breathed as she waited for them to arrive. There would be no confusion as to what her intent was when they saw her. They would stand down, or risk being routed.

Aleena Aryss

 

[Aleena Aryss]

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Location: Rishi​

Appearance: Aleena​

Tag: Aayla Shan ​

Aleena offered Aayla a warm and thankful smile, as she was lowered down to the ground. But free from her restraints, the Jedi Healer began to connect with the Force, asking it to come to her aid. For a moment, it seemed as if her blue eyes were shining brightly, and her blonde locks began to swirl around her head.​

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At an unnatural speed, the wounds in her face suddenly began to fade away, as if they had never been a part of the woman. She let out a few soft breaths and then looked up at Aayla.​

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"I'll leave the physical fighting to you, but I will do my best to assist you anyway," she said, not wanting Aayla to take on the burden of escape all by herself. She was the reason both of them were about to get jumped, so somehow she had to help. ​

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Aleena already had a few ideas floating in her mind.​

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Then finally, the first group of slavers appeared, armed to the teeth and determined to kill some Jedi today. But seeing who they were up against, Aayla would notice more hesitation with each step they got closer. The only thing that kept them from running was the belief that their superior numbers mattered.​

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They were wrong.​

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"Kill them both!" one called out and immediately, the air would be lit by waves of blaster fire. All of it was concentrated on Aayla, which likely made it difficult to do anything but defend.​

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But from behind her, she could faintly hear Aleena's voice like a whisper traveling across the winds. Consitor Sato, her voice said and almost instantly, something happened around the slaves that stood in the rear. Large vines suddenly burst out of the ground and began to constrict themselves around the arms and legs of the attackers.​

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They dropped their weapons and were unable to engage the Jedi, leaving Aayla with a smaller group of attackers to deal with. While Aleena wasn't able to restrict all of them, she hoped that Aayla now had the ability to take out the remaining ones before more showed up.​

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[Aayla Shan]

She stood resolute on her point, a grimace cast forward at the point of entry. She began to seep herself into the Force, the natural call of it seemed amplified at the moment she began to relinquish herself to its clarity. Her face seeming pained suddenly, Aayla would quickly glance back to the other.

Aleena offered Aayla a warm and thankful smile, as she was lowered down to the ground. But free from her restraints, the Jedi Healer began to connect with the Force, asking it to come to her aid. For a moment, it seemed as if her blue eyes were shining brightly, and her blonde locks began to swirl around her head.At an unnatural speed, the wounds in her face suddenly began to fade away, as if they had never been a part of the woman. She let out a few soft breaths and then looked up at Aayla."I'll leave the physical fighting to you, but I will do my best to assist you anyway," she said, not wanting Aayla to take on the burden of escape all by herself. She was the reason both of them were about to get jumped, so somehow she had to help.

Aayla stared at her for a moment, aware she was far from senile. She had seen this level of healing before, and every time it astonished her. Hell she had failed all her Masters, hadn't she... A smirk broke her attentive gaze, realizing this woman must have been a Consular. Like Master Cinsilo. Well... Maybe not like Master Cinsilo, but perhaps on par. Little did she know she hadn't seen anything yet.

"Together then, today we bring freedom and liberation;"

Then finally, the first group of slavers appeared, armed to the teeth and determined to kill some Jedi today. But seeing who they were up against, Aayla would notice more hesitation with each step they got closer. The only thing that kept them from running was the belief that their superior numbers mattered.

"By you, or through you... It's all the same to me..."

Aayla warned loudly, barely able to create the baritone she wanted, though the scowl on her features more than made up for it. Still, even though they were hesitant to engage a pair of Jedi, they seemed intent on pressing forward. Testing them...

Aayla would move the sabers in concordance, preemptively soaking in the information the Force presented. They would fight, and Aayla would entertain their delusions. She felt... entrusted with this fight. They had ruthlessly beaten and plotted on the soul of one of her allies. It mattered not what organization she belonged to in short, she was a Jedi that followed in the path of light. As such, she would be the others shield today. Her sword if it came to it.

"Kill them both!" one called out and immediately, the air would be lit by waves of blaster fire. All of it was concentrated on Aayla, which likely made it difficult to do anything but defend.

She took no break in the flourishing of her weapons, purposely performing a jester like dance in front of the group. Quite literally bouncing from left to right while deflecting, and reflecting blaster bolts at their attackers. Making sure to focus on any blaster bolts the cowards may have attempted to loose upon the Jedi. It was then she would learn the Jedi wasn't at all helpless.

Consitor Sato,

The sudden emergence of vines at the enemies flank would briefly bring a pause to Aayla's movement in unison with the Slavers, eyes widening at the action, but able to divulge what had happened from the whisper on the wind. Hew new friend was sharp, and now she needed to be sharper. Cutting the blades she sprinted out to her left, an explosion of momentum that lead her right next to one of the slavers as he turned back from Aleena's natural display of Force.

The uppercut delivered wasn't tempered by restraint either, feeling bone quake on impact, but more importantly the opponent's balance through his form leave him. She considered finishing his participation in the fight then, but her senses already alight warned her of danger. Her right hand shot to the other individual, stripping his blaster on instinct. Calling his weapon directly to her hands and using it to bash her original target with. Sending him toppling.

Her gaze would snap onto the remaining opponents, left hand disappearing behind her form to grasp at her saber once more.

Aleena Aryss

 

[Aleena Aryss]

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Location: Rishi​

Appearance: Aleena​

Tag: Aayla Shan ​

With some of the slavers constricted by vines, Aayla was literally was an unstoppable force to those who remained. Even without Aleena's help, she likely would have been able to defeat this group, but the blonde had made it just a tad easier. Seeing the combination of strange bits of 'magic' and the skill of a true warrior being turned against them also further reinforced the fear they carried when they initiated the fight.​

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However, there was no going back now.​

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Aayla had deflected bolts back to take a few out, knocked one slaver unconscious, and disarmed another, but a few more remained and they began to open fire from different angles. Their target was highly maneuverable so this was how they hoped to still be able to take her down. But very quickly, they realized this was unlikely.​

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So in an attempt to stop the beat down, they decided to turn for the easier target. ​

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Aleena sat alone inside the cage, her mind focused on the vines and keeping those slavers restricted. This alongside her weakened state made it more difficult to focus on other things in the environment. So much so, that she didn't notice a slaver sneakily approaching the cave. He held a large, incredibly mean-looking knife and seemed ready to cut her down.​

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It was only at the last moment, when he was getting awfully close, that Aleena's blue eyes opened...and widened from shock and fear. ​

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"NO!" she screamed as she crawled back deeper into the cage. Her lightsaber had been taken and physically, she was not capable of fighting off this attacker. ​

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She was in desperate need of help, or this man would get his hands on a very easy target.​

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[Rax Tremira]

(Disregard)

 

[Aayla Shan]

It took just a moment to reset herself in the combat, given a few seconds to simply stand and observe allowing her to plan her next tear through their ranks. Admittedly, harder to fight when you were trying to not kill, or outright maim your enemies. Though, that was reserved only for her. The more danger they created, the more Aayla's kinetic response would increase. They weren't going to harm another soul this day, no exceptions. She didn't notice the slaver herself creeping up on Aleena, focusing instead on the two Slavers that weren't captured by the vines.

Saber still hidden behind her back, she would be breathing lightly, waiting to see who would make the next move.

"Come on... You heard what the boss man said."

She goaded them, aware their will to fight was crumbling. They should've known better than to enslave Jedi, and should've double known better than to put their backs to the wall. This could have easily been a bloodbath, had Aayla and Aleena been more nefarious. Aayla even, had been trained specifically to be able to kill without sacrificing herself, or conscience. Though as much as she hated slavers, she didn't want to go carving people up in the Confedaracy's back yard.

Hell, she would need to sneak out of her just like she snuck in to rendezvous with the Tenchu before it reached Sev-Tok. With that, the dirty-yellow blade activated yet again, being flourished with purpose. The pair stepped back, firing blaster bolt each. To which she would deflect both harmlessly away with one horizontal motion, stepping through, and to her side to put one opponent in between the other. It was then she noted it, a second before Aleena called out.

'He's after her...'

The whisper came internally, loud enough to be understood without context. Aayla's head snapped, towards the cage, right hand raising and swiping from right to left, using the still ajar cage gate to slam into the man's head just as he was about to enter. This would result in him falling, and writhing in pain as blood poured from his head, but it would be important to note that he wasn't out of the fight yet. He had dropped his weapon briefly, but wouldn't stay down.

As far as Aayla went, she felt herself being grabbed from behind, and immediately flourished her blade behind herself right up the backside of her form, resulting in two clear singing sounds, and a blood curdling shriek as she 'disarmed' the one that had attempted it. Turning right into a vibroblade to the left shoulder...

She made eye contact with him for a moment, as if she needed to register it had happened, face souring as her eyes flickered silver. She Force Pushed him from point blank range into the wall behind him, assuming it would break... It didn't. He hit it hard, unmoving. The force likely killed him, if not critically wounding him. Without thinking she grasped the blade, and pulled it from her shoulder with a growl before discarding it, and regarding Aleena Aryss again.

If she hadn't taken care of her attacker, he was next... Aayla decided she was done playing with these people. The threat would be neutralized one way or another.

 

[Aleena Aryss]

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Location: Rishi​

Appearance: Aleena​

Tag: Aayla Shan ​

The gate slammed hard into the head of the attacker after Aayla turned around to help Aleena. With widened eyes, she watched it happen, causing the large man to drop the mean-looking Vibro knife as his body hit the floor. Aleena knew what this meant; she had to move and take him down or run as fast as she could. But as she experienced many times before, her fear caused her to freeze up completely for just a few seconds.​

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Eventually, though, a voice inside her head made her snap out of it.​

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Flicking her own hand from left to right, she directed the Force to fling his knife away from the cage right as the man was about to grab it. He got up with anger in his eyes as a result and looked at Aleena with the clear intent of murder in his eyes.​

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"Sorry..." she smiled weakly and flicked her wrist up, this time sending him head-first into the ceiling of the cage. If the first blow against his head hadn't given him a concussion already, this one surely would. A sigh of relief then escaped Aleena, but she felt rather conflicted. Using the Force to hurt someone was new to her, and she disliked the feeling.​

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But with this man back on the floor and Aayla taking care of the other few who remained, the two Jedi had overcome the slavers. The few that remained in the camp knew it was time to get out, and ran away into the jungle. Very suddenly, everything went quiet, with only the sounds of the jungle around them occasionally reaching them.​

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Despite this peaceful silence, Aayla would still feel on edge somewhat. As if the danger hadn't quite passed yet.​

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Aleena didn't seem to notice anything, and immediately rushed out of the cage, and towards Aayla. "You're hurt.." she said, looking at the woman's shoulder. She couldn't help but feel that it was her fault. If she had been able to fight, she could have taken care of the one slaver that attacked her by herself.​

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But while she stood there, staring at the silver-eyed woman's injury, a figure in the cage behind her began to rise. In his hand, a small blaster pistol that he aimed at the Healer's back. With a bloodied face and a hateful grin, he pulled the trigger.​

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A red flash followed.​

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[Aayla Shan]

It was just another scar to her, it likely wouldn't be her last. What she didn't know was that blade had nicked an artery, and was causing a fair amount of internal bleeding. Something Aleena would be able to decipher at a glance well before Aayla would notice, adrenaline having flooded her bioorganic form already, keeping her stuck in that fight mode until she had no reason to be in it. Aleena was moving towards her, but Aayla's eyes were bouncing around the area rapidly, trying to figure out where. Where was it...

One more, hiding, but she couldn't figure out...

Aleena didn't seem to notice anything, and immediately rushed out of the cage, and towards Aayla. "You're hurt.." she said, looking at the woman's shoulder. She couldn't help but feel that it was her fault. If she had been able to fight, she could have taken care of the one slaver that attacked her by herself.

"Its my job, stay alert... we aren't in the clear ye-"

The closer to the point of danger they got, the more acute Aayla's senses registered the intent, direction, and malice. Focusing on Aleena suddenly, and using the injured left arm to harshly pull her inwards, and past her; right hand snaking around and reaching out to the blaster just as the red bolt fired.

No time to dodge, too much of a risk to try pushing the bolt itself. Instead, she focused all of herself at the point right ahead of where her open palm was, the red blaster bolt fizzling into nothing, and singing her hand in the process. It wouldn't scar, but the carbon scouring on her hand made it clear to their opponent that the Jedi had literally just absorbed his attack. Her failure at dispersing the energy is what lightly burned her hand.

All said, she still stomped over towards him, half considering cutting him down, but aware she wouldn't. What a karking prick though, even after all that he was still intent on killing them? Really? Her saber would activate as he fired again, and she would reflect the blaster bolt unfortunately right back at him, striking him in the neck. She stared for a moment, then shook her head, collapsing the blade with a sigh.

Idiot... He brought that on himself... For now, she would look at her shoulder, noting... That was a little bit more blood than usual.

"Oh Kark, I'm hurt..." She exclaimed, moving to kneel and look over at the other. She wondered if the other could heal her, but for some reason felt hesitant to ask, or demand her do so.

Aleena Aryss

 

[Aleena Aryss]

​

Location: Rishi​

Appearance: Aleena​

Tag: Aayla Shan ​

Blue eyes widened as Aayla yanked her back and away from the line of fire. She heard the flash of the blaster pistol only a split second later and turned around to see Aayla catching the bolt in the palm of her hand. For a moment, she was worried that the shot would have been lethal, but she still felt the woman through the Force.​

​

Just another brief flash of pain from the bolt impacting.​

​

Not that it stopped Aayla at all - she set her gaze on the shooter and began her approach to take him out. Aleena just watched quietly, believing it best for her not to interfere. Moments later, another shot followed but this time, a blade of plasma intercepted it and deflected it back into the shooter's neck.​

​

As his body fell to the floor, Aleena looked over at Aayla, still worried to let her guard down. Every hit Aayla sustained was to protect her, which she didn't want to happen again.​

​

"Oh Kark, I'm hurt..." She exclaimed, moving to kneel and look over at the other. She wondered if the other could heal her, but for some reason felt hesitant to ask, or demand her do so.

This was the signal she needed. Without any hesitation, she rushed over and kneeled down beside the woman, her hands already finding their way to the injured shoulder. The deep blue eyes began to shine brightly and with ease, she began to trace the Force's pathways that ran through Aayla's body, allowing them to guide her to where she was hurt. ​

​

"Just sit still, relax," she said, her voice calm and comforting. At this moment, her fear and nervousness had washed away, replaced by the confidence she had in the one thing she was good at - Healing people.​

​

Having found the source, Aleena allowed the Force to flow from her own body into Aayla's. As a result, the bleeding very suddenly stopped, and the wound began to fade as if it had never been there in the first place. There wouldn't even be any scarring, if Aayla allowed Aleena enough time to do her thing.​

​

"There..." she finally said before falling back onto her rear. She was breathing more heavily and tugged some blonde locks away that had fallen in front of her now sweaty forehead. "I hope that's better."​

​

She then paused and blinked as she remembered something.​

​

"I uh, don't think I caught your name? I'm Knight Aleena Aryss." she smiled and slowly tried to get back up to her feet.​

​

 

[Aayla Shan]

Aayla's name? Errrr, about that. On one hand she should've given her the operator Moniker of Stratza, but wasn't exactly hiding her face from the other. It would backfire terribly if the other called her by a spy name in public. As such, Aayla did as he was told, remaining unmoving until the other had done their work. To note, Aayla was relatively silent for this, and would be mostly looking away. Silver hues finding streaks of mercury as she looked at the felled opponents. It was as if she could see something that Aleena couldn't, though no doubt the other could feel them.

Spirits were immediate, but fleeting; pulled away to that other side of the Force, that darker place that she had been before only once.

"There..." she finally said before falling back onto her rear. She was breathing more heavily and tugged some blonde locks away that had fallen in front of her now sweaty forehead. "I hope that's better."

She rolled her shoulder lightly, and would offer a slight smile before exhaling a bit as she rose. Clearly, a tough cookie for a smaller fighter.

"I uh, don't think I caught your name? I'm Knight Aleena Aryss." she smiled and slowly tried to get back up to her feet.

"Aleena Aryss, pleasure... I'm Aayla Shan, also a Knight. I should note that I shouldn't be in this neck of the woods, for any reason. I'd appreciate it if you kept this between us."

Aayla said, nodding to the other and turning her attention to the cages, going about taking off every single lock and bringing freedom to the briefly oppressed.

"Find your saber, I'll escort you to your ship once we're done here..."

Aleena Aryss

 

[Aleena Aryss]

​

Location: Rishi​

Appearance: Aleena​

Tag: Aayla Shan ​

​

"Aleena Aryss, pleasure... I'm Aayla Shan, also a Knight. I should note that I shouldn't be in this neck of the woods, for any reason. I'd appreciate it if you kept this between us."

Aleena tilted her head lightly in response - she had worked with or met countless Jedi, but this idea of keeping an operation like this quiet was new to her. But she wasn't going to be difficult towards someone who had just saved her life, and simply offered a smile and a nod.​

"Of course, everything will stay between us."​

​

This also meant nobody would hear about the trouble she got herself in basically on day 1 of being a Knight. It briefly brought a smirk to her face. But as Aayla asked her to go find her lightsaber, she quickly shook herself out of that and began to move. Luckily, the lightsaber was kept in the building nearby, so retrieving it would be quick and simple.​

​

Or so she thought.​

​

As she entered the building and found the room where they stored the personal belongings of slaves they caught, she sensed another presence. A single person remained inside the building, up on the 2nd floor. For a moment, she considered going after the presence herself, but she decided against it - too much risk.​

​

"Uh, Knight Shan," Aleena began as she moved back outside. "I sense someone inside the building. I think it might be the big boss not wanting to get his own hands dirty, or someone hiding up there," she said as she clipped the silver hilt of her lightsaber to her belt.​

​

"Do we leave them or do we go up there?"​

​

​

 

[Aayla Shan]

Aayla was busy freeing and consolidating the recently freed slaves into one position, sabers on her waist as she did what she could to comfort those that had survived the ordeal. Not particularly thinking about anything in particular, other than getting all of this done, and getting back to the Tenchu. Happy at least the other had agreed to leave her name out of whatever happened behind this. She had no immediate way to alert any authorities without betraying her own anonymity here. Therefore, she might have to ask Aleena for one more favor before she took off. Someone needed to watch over these victims until someone came to help.


She was just getting finished when the other approached her again.

"Uh, Knight Shan," Aleena began as she moved back outside. "I sense someone inside the building. I think it might be the big boss not wanting to get his own hands dirty, or someone hiding up there," she said as she clipped the silver hilt of her lightsaber to her belt.

She had been gazing at the other, mouth slightly ajar, before pursing her lips and looking up at the building. The work really was never done, was it. Aayla thought about what to do next, but would first regard the freed individuals.

"Everyone, go that way. Don't veer off the path that comes up once you break the tree-line. After a while you'll see an X-Wing, White and Red. You..."

She pointed one person out in particular, lightly pressing her hand on his left shoulder.

"There are rations in the boot, water as well. Take everything and share it equally amongst yourselves. Look out for each other, and we'll be right behind you..."

Aayla noted, waiting until they had begun the trek before turning on heel and upnodding Aleena.

"Let's go introduce ourselves."

The woman would say plainly, content to follow Aleena until the door, when she noted Aleena probably wasn't... Well, the best combatant, and would gently stop her with a light touch on her elbow.

"Perhaps I should take point?"

Aayla asked, curious to see how the other would react to the simple suggestion.

 

[Aleena Aryss]

​

Location: Rishi​

Appearance: Aleena​

Tag: Aayla Shan ​

Aleena watched the way Aayla directed the freed slaves - she was confident in her tone and body language, and clearly showed that listening to her was in their best interest. Not that they had any reason to ignore her - Aayla had literally just rescued them all. So the people immediately followed her directions without any problems and began their walk towards the X-wing. It made Aleena wish she could be the way in large groups. But she had to set these feelings aside quickly.​

​

There was still a job to do.​

​

Aleena nodded to Aayla in return and began to walk towards the building where this last figure was apparently hiding. But when she felt the nudge against her elbow, she stopped and blinked.​

​

"Perhaps I should take point?"

Aayla asked, curious to see how the other would react to the simple suggestion.

The blonde's cheeks reddened slightly at the question, but she agreed completely. It would be a really bad idea for Aleena to lead them into this next situation.​

​

"Uh, yes... I think that would be best." she smiled sheepishly and waited for Aayla to take lead.​

​

With the more combat-capable Jedi taking point, they would enter the building and move up towards the second floor. Once there, they'd find a rather heavy-looking locked door. But behind it, they could sense a presence. ​

​

"I can sense fear but also anger," Aleena whispered as she looked at the door. If Aayla were to approach or attempt to open it, her senses would certainly alert her to danger. Whoever was in there had no intentions of being friendly.​

​