Into the Deep End

[Alkaios]

Equipment: Doom Bringer Armor, BRP-003, Charric Rifle, Throwing Knives, 3 Thermal Detonators, Lightsaber, Scatter Gun

They once said that demons fled when a good man went to war, but that was a lie. There are no good men. The Jedi could think of themselves as fighting the good fight but in the end what did they do besides incite more violence in the name of the ‘lightside’. The Sith certainly weren’t good either… Not even I am a good man. We are all demons, and I will ensure that at the end none of us continue to plague the galaxy. Alkaios mulled over these thoughts as he stood on the grassy plains of Drev'star. Rain fell down with a pitter patter that seemed almost deafening as the storm reached its zenith. The wind whipped around lashing out at the armored figure, the howls were like a haunting specter seeking to claim Alkaios’ life but the man did not move. The helmet of his armor sat clipped to Alkaios’ belt, his black hair matting to his head as the cold water bathed him. These were the few minutes of calm before the true storm that would befall The Seven Moons Ranch. It would be no tempest that claimed the facility, no storm that swept it up and away. No, it would be Alkaios that destroyed the facility.

The grasslands were soon lit by a bluish glow as a lightning bolt crossed from cloud to cloud, swiftly followed by a loud Kakoom which seemed to shake the very earth itself. “I commit the souls on this day to the judgement of Arhikos.” Taking up his helmet and slapping it home Alkaios heard the click and hiss as the armor sealed itself. Now there was the stale scent of filtered air, it wasn’t as soothing as the scent of the grass but in a few minutes, all anyone would be smelling was burnt or wet Bothans, a fate many would wish to escape. At the base of the hill he stood on there sat the Keffi Stables, shielded from the rain above, their constant neighing and trotting revealed that the Keffi were frightened and trying to calm one of the stables was three Bothans. The security guards of this facility, there probably weren’t many who knew of who truly resided in the Seven Moons Ranch, the murderer, thief, the demon that resided within. One that had played a part in the One Sith, that had caused Alkaios to lose his family, though indirectly.

Hands opening and closing Alkaios looked to the highest floor of the domicile where there was a faint light. “I’m coming for you Tmoxin…” Sprinting off the hill, Alkaios’ legs pumped each footwall a thud that was drowned out by the rain and neighing of the Keffi. Above there was another strike of lightning that illuminated the armored figure for a split second, the armor was littered with scorch marks, on some portions dried blood that was slowly being washed away by the rain. This figure looked like a walking armory the large array of weapons he carried enough to match a Mandalorian.

The first of the Bothan’s was dead before they even knew what befell them. The fist which wore a crushgaunt lashed out in a punch that caught the first Bothan in the temple with enough force that there was a bone chilling squishing sound. The skull of the Bothan matched a deflated balloon as the corpse slowly began to fall. The Armor amplified Alkaios’ strength to that of a wookie, mix that with crushgaunts and you had a very lethal combination. The second Bothan looked up in time to see his allies brutal and quick end, eyes widening in horror the silver furred Bothan reached for the blaster on its hip.

Reflexes honed from years on the battlefield Alkaios snatched a throwing knife from his belt and with a swing of his arm he released the weapon with enough force that when it struck the Bothan’s chest it lifted them up off their feet to land a few inches from where they had once stood their coughs and rasps cut through the air begging for mercy. The final Bothan raised a blaster rifle at Alkaios, this one had brown fur which was matted completely to its body, their eyes wide with anger and rage. They now knew how Alkaios felt when he was but a boy, weak, powerless, and angered by the loss of those they cared for. “Don’t move! Hands up!” The Bothan shouted, the round orbs in its head glancing to his dead companions.

Head tilting slightly Alkaios began to approach, step after step bringing him closer to the Bothan. With a mighty roar the Bothan pulled the trigger letting out numerous blaster bolts which struck the armor dispersing harmlessly. Body now shaking and a deep fear setting in the Bothan dropped the rifle trying to flee but was now in the unbreakable grip of Alkaios. A swift kick from the Hellyni brought the Bothan to his knees, both gauntleted hands pressing on the side of the Bothans head. “Time to ring the dinner bell.” The screams of that Bothan would cut through the air, above even the rain, above the lightning hopefully warning those in the estate that their end was near. The scream ended abruptly with a sickening crunch.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Vexed by the storm that day, Tmoxin sat by one of the expansive windows in her ranch and watched the clouds gather and then congeal into a black morass, complete with dramatic lightning. She’d tried to read to distract herself, but since she wanted to ride Zeppelin, her favorite Keffi stallion, one she’d been training since he was a pony, the Hapan found herself distracted by the weather - both annoyed and awed by its power.

Finally she turned away as visibility of the foothills had dripped down to zero due to the lashing rain. Tmoxin had no idea what bloodshed befell the Bothans in the stable. They were cut down so swiftly there’d been no time to set off the ranch-wide alarm. Since the red-haired xenophobe had her own survival skills via the Darkside of the Force, she’d cut her entire security staff in half, perhaps with the hubris that if she encountered an intruder, spy or even a group of them, she would be able to take care of the grisly business herself.

But the scream finally alerted other Bothans, who then signaled the alarm which beeped throughout each room of the ranch. It had been nearly a year since there was any kind of security threat at the ranch. Since she was in lounge-wear for the most part, Tmoxin walked quickly to her closet and slipped into a black bodyglove. Her armor was on a lower level, but once she donned the underclothes and tied her copper-red hair back in a ponytail, she took the elevator down to where her battle gear was, including a custom made pair of boots.

[member="Alkaios"]

 

[Alkaios]

Equipment: Doom Bringer Armor, BRP-003, Charric Rifle, Throwing Knives, 3 Thermal Detonators, Lightsaber, Scatter Gun

Just as he’d been baptized by the rain before the siege had begun, now Alkaios was baptized in the blood of the Bothan’s he’d massacred, moreso from the one who’s skull he had crushed. Bits of fur clung defiantly to the crushgaunts, blood splattered across Alkaios’ armored chest and even a few specks of brain matter accompanying it. Balling his hands into fists and releasing the tension Alkaios felt an electric energy in his body, he felt revitalized, and a craving, a deep-seated craving that only the blood of his enemies could sate. Casting one final glance to what remained of the Bothan, Alkaios stepped over the corpse reaching to his waist and drawing the scatter gun that now rested in his hands. Its familiar heft was reassuring, a long time ago, back when Alkaios had been dedicated to his Spathi roots the man would’ve never lifted a firearm. Now he understood the true benefit of such tools, one could only do so much with a lightsaber when they weren’t a fully trained master. You could block blaster bolts, possibly even a few slugthrower rounds but there were numerous weapons that one couldn’t. That’s why Alkaios had selected these weapons.

A specter in the stormy night, Alkaios moved near silently through the ranch, all around the Keffi neighed, pacing away from the individual that walked among them. Before him sat a turbolift that would carry him to the next floor up, the life form scanners in Alkaios’ helmet warned him of a few individuals descending and by the time the turbolift came to a stop Alkaios was already at work. Pumping the scatter gun Alkaios raised it firing one shot, a majority of the pellets caught the first Bothan that exited the lift the kinetic force was enough to lift the Bothan off their feet and throw it to the back of the lift where all that remained was a mutilated corpse. The other two Bothans shocked and horrified opened fire on Alkaios who rolled to the side behind an unfortunate Keffi that was pelted by the blaster and slugthrower rounds meant for him. The Keffi neighed loudly as it toppled over the scent of charred flesh filling the air sending the rest of the Keffi into a riot. What had been a nervous trot turned into a rambunctious charge as they tried to escape, they were, of course, stopped by the fences that kept them contained but it was enough of a distraction to cover Alkaios’ movements.

“She is going to kill us! We killed one of her Keffi!” One of the Bothan’s shouted a sense of renewed fear filling its voice, its fur rippling nervously.

“You don’t have to worry about her, I’m here now.” Alkaios whispered a pistol resting against the base of the Bothan’s elongated skull. The second Bothan glanced over its own eyes widening. There was the sharp bark as the BRP-003 was fired. The shot echoed out across the ranch and Alkaios was sure those within the ranch would hear it. There was nothing that remained of the Bothan’s head after the trigger was pulled, from the neck up nothing remained besides a bloody stump. Bits of brain matter splattered against Alkaios’ visor causing the Hellyni to grimace at the sight. The last bothan yelled turning to flee the ranch. Alkaios simply stood there watching, letting his HUD track the Bothan’s movement. The being had been overtaken by fear, had given in to his baser instincts and fled. “It's always good to let a story spread.”

Entering the turbolift and pressing the buttons Alkaios placed the pistol back on his waist and pumped the scatter gun once more. “Ready or not here I come.” The turbolift would be taking Alkaios to the next floor up where he’d then have to reach another and take that one up. It was an intelligent setup, it didn’t allow someone to go straight to the top, Alkaios admired that despite it being such an inconvenience to himself.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

After zipping into her armor which fit her better than ever when she was on the ranch due to her strict fitness regime and better eating, and rather than consuming tons of wine and spirits when she was on Lok or Kamino, the lack of stress did encourage healthy habits. Perhaps she needed to elect a board of Directors for both Morpho businesses rather than continue to be at the helm. Then she could focus on the High Justice role of the Geonosian Knights that Darth Metus had granted her as figurehead of the Confederacy.

As the intruder continued to wantonly slaughter the Bothans, Tmoxin finally received a report from one of them with eyes upon the site of the carnage.

“Many casualties,” Pzandor remarked with very little emotion, knowing his employer was likely more interested in her prized stallions than the state of a few dozen aliens. “And a keffi was killed.”

She arched a copper-hued eyebrow at that statement, but would waste no more time getting the details. Men, women and property was now under assault, and the Blood Monarch’s rage began to simmer, wondering, by the Seven Moons of Hapes, who had the audacity to come in and attack her home like this? Later she would make contact with Kyrel Ren to see if he had any intel to share.

“Bothans are supposed to be the best in the intelligence community and here you are allowing someone to march around on all levels of the ranch apparently." Tmoxin didn’t even need to make any of her inept staff pay as it sounded as though this cat burglar was making quick work of them.

Yes, it helped to think of them as a mere thief not some homicidal maniac who would not stop until woman and beasts were eliminated this day. Luckily, her turbo lifts were compartmentalized enough to be a puzzle to anyone who didn’t often use them, especially after the alarm had been activated.

He wouldn't be able to feel her dark energy yet as she was reserving it for the moment she saw him and could unleash her fury.

[member="Alkaios"]

 

[Alkaios]

Rounding a corner Alkaios never looked back as in his wake he left nothing but mutilated corpses, the hallways of the Seven Moons ranch had become a canvas in which each death was akin to a masterful stroke by an artist. Blood painted the walls in illusive patterns, bits of Bothan innards and such added a gradient to the blood, art aficionado’s would possibly consider it a masterpiece. Emptying his scatter gun and reloading it Alkaios came to the final lift and near it the last bastion of defense. The final few Bothans that stood between him and Tmoxin, at this point Alkaios was a creature out of ones’ worse nightmares. The blood of many Bothan’s stained the green armor making it appear a crimson red while what blood had dried on it was a sickly brown.

“Are we seriously going to do this?” Alkaios asked a sigh in his voice and projected through the helmets annunciator. Taking his time Alkaios loaded each new slug into the scatter gun with a slow, chilling precision, one that showed a few more deaths would not impede the Hellyni, that there was no ending what had started. At least not until Alkaios was sated, he would not miraculously have some change of heart that stopped him pursuing Tmoxin. Sliding the last slug home and pumping the scatter gun Alkaios raised his head. The Bothan’s hands were shaking on their weapons, their eyes twitched. “Many Bothan’s have died on this day and there always needs to be people who tell of my story. Of what has happened here… This is your final warning.”

Noticing one of the Bothan’s fingers slowly beginning to press against the trigger of their slugthrower pistol Alkaios stepped forward. “Do it, make my day…” With each step forward the Bothan’s retreated three steps till their backs were against the final turbolift. “Have it your way then.” Raising the scatter gun Alkaios pulled the trigger. In the time it took him to pull the trigger his armor was shot half a dozen times. Blaster bolts struck it dispersing across the armor while the slugthrower rounds slammed into his armor before falling to the ground the rounds completely misshapen. With the Bothans all confined in one hall all it took was one shot from Alkaios for the pellet spread to strike them. The one in the center was dead on impact, its furry chest tore open. The one to the left's arm was struck by a few pellets causing it to drop the weapon and fall to its knees in agony. The final Bothan’s leg was blown out with it falling to the floor.

The Bothan with the now defunct knee tried to raise its slugthrower pistol one last time to be met by the barrel of Alkaios’ scatter gun. “He’s coming Tmoxin… He’s at the final turbolift! You have to- ARGHHH!” The words became screams as Alkaios reached down snatching the Bothan up by its neck and pinning it to the wall. The crushguants squeezed its neck preventing the bovine humanoid from yelling further.

With his opposite hand Alkaios plucked the com from the Bothan’s grasp. “You heard them, I’m coming… Roll out the carpet, will you? “ Crushing the com Alkaios finished the Bothan off, slowly the tight grip became tighter, the Bothan’s gasps of mercy fell on death ears as its furry, hoofed feet kicked out. With a final tightening of his grip, Alkaios was rewarded with the sickening crack of bone. “I warned you.” Taking one of the thermal detonators from his belt Alkaios activated it tossing it into the turbolift before sending it on its way. The woman would be expecting Alkaios himself, not a thermal detonator and just as the turbolift reached the top floor it would explode in a rolling ball of flame in an attempt to consume Tmoxin.

Alkaios had another way up, one he could’ve taken from the beginning but then it wouldn’t have been as fun. Going back to the nearest window he’d shatter it before stepping out into the air. With a near silent hum, the grav boots built into his armor would activate propelling Alkaios to the top floor where he could hopefully catch Tmoxin by surprise.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

All five senses heightened as she knew that whatever path she chose through the Seven Moons Ranch would eventually lead her to the intruder. Unless she opted to escape and well, now it was matter of pride for the High Justice of the Geonosian Knights.

If I am struck down today at least it’s in the one place that I love the most. And if she delved deeper into thoughts of mortality there would be one person - human and not Hapan - with whom she’d also like to be with when she died.

But those wavering thoughts fled when she finally detected the Force signature of the prowler and Bothan executer.

Weaker. He was weaker. An upstart. It figures.

She could not see the blood upon her walls yet, but would likely accept it as a redecorating challenge when it was all said and done. He was not the first Force user to wantonly slaughter her employees right out from under her nose, but today he might just be the last. Once Tmoxin grew so close that she could hear his blaster, she immediately hid her presence with Force stealth and drawing up on her military-experience, crept closer to his noise, barely breathing.

“You heard them, I’m coming… Roll out the carpet, will you?”

I’ll roll out the bloody red carpet, she thought as she tensed, waiting for the lift to open, expecting him to be standing there. And then roll it back up and bury your charred remains in it.

Shoooosshhhhh… BOOOOOMMMM!

Tmoxin leapt backwards, using the Force to enhance her speed and widen the distance between the detonator and her corporeal form. As smoke thinned, she caught sight of him - HIM! He who dared to kill her keffis and demolish her expensively furnished ranch. The Bothans were replaceable… the stallion was not.

Growling from the corner of what used to be her living room, but now had a gigantic, crumbling hole in the middle of it, Tmoxin immediately gripped Mr. GravBoots's mind and gave it a painful, unforgiving squeeze. Among the throbbing ache in his brain, he would hear her voice inside his head:

Drop your weapon, lower yourself to the floor and lie prone.

Tmoxin’s well practiced mentalism would be difficult for a padawan to evade, although the Hapan did not take anything for granted, even the use of ysalamiri in this instance.

[member="Alkaios"]

 

[Alkaios]

Equipment: Doom Bringer Armor, BRP-003, Charric Rifle, Throwing Knives, 3 Thermal Detonators, Lightsaber, Scatter Gun

Having a front row seat to the explosion Alkaios hovered outside the window, the faint ding of the turbolift arriving could be heard through the windows and then the explosion of the thermal detonator consumed a large portion of the living room in a fiery explosion, Alkaios’ target had barely escaped it. Good didn’t want it to be too easy. Alkaios thought examining the damage to the living room. Now there was a large portion of it missing, smoke beginning to fill the living room and a large hole leading to the floor below thanks to the explosion. This ranch would certainly need some renovations before it was considered adequate once again, plus a whole new paintjob.

Looking to the corner where Tmoxin was rising to her feet Alkaios began to descend to the ledge of her windows. He could almost feel the rage and anger rolling off the woman in palatable waves, something Alkaios himself was all too familiar with. Though when Tmoxin sought to penetrate Alkaios’ mind she’d find an impenetrable wall. Not due to some training that helped protect him from mental manipulation but due to his orgins as a Hellyni. A species that was near human and rarely known about due to how few actually left their homeplanet along with the fact that their world was hidden. Tmoxin’s attempt and telepathic words fell on a deaf ears as Alkaios raised the scatter gun pumping it and releasing the first shot. The pellets would tear through the floor to ceiling glass speeding towards the Hapan who stood in the corner attempting to penetrate Alkaios’ mind.

Pumping once more and feeling it as the spent shell was ejected and another slid into the chamber Alkaios fired a second shot at Tmoxin, the kick of the weapon and loud bark of it all too familiar. It reminded Alkaios of the battlefield, the times he’d been nothing but a boy how he’d been forced to mow down the Attikan’s as they crossed the hill charging his village. Behind the dark visor Alkaios’ eyes hardened as the memories were once more shoved deeper into the recesses of his mind. Taking his first step into the chamber Alkaios would fire a third time, all three shots were fired in a quick succession hoping to catch Tmoxin in the chest.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

The fact that this worm who lived in Keffi dung could resist her Mind Trick infuriated Tmoxin. There was no time to ponder the hows or the whys - she needed to neutralize him before he tore her ranch apart.

Coughing due to the smoke and noticing her favorite sculpture of a Battle Dragon was now on fire, the Hapan could hear the mechanical click of the scatter-gun. Her armor would protect against most blaster fire, but this sounded like a more primitive weapon with real bullets.

She immediately retreated from her mental attack and threw up a Force Barrier with her hands outstretched. It wouldn’t last long but it would stave off the hurtling metal pellets, though she could hear more glass shattering around her from the spray of bullets.

As the barrier dissipated, the Hapan using telekinesis threw out a strong tendril of energy to yank the weapon from the intruder’s hand and disarm him.

“Your conventional weapons are no match for the Force,” she reminded him calmly, though he would be able to feel the raw and palpable rage emanating off of her physical form.

[member="Alkaios"]

 

[Alkaios]

Grimacing Alkaios was forced to watch as each of his shots became as useful as a toddler’s toy, all of the pellets that struck the semi-translucent barrier. What once didn’t come to an outright stop and fall to the floor bounced off harmlessly. The scattergun had failed in finishing off the force user but it had done its job in putting Tmoxin on the defensive. Alkaios was perfectly fine wearing the Force User down with conventional weaponry till she couldn’t go anymore, whatever to keep her focus off of him or utilizing the force in massive amounts.

In-between the pumps between the third and what would’ve been a fourth shot Alkaios felt an invisible tug on the weapon, one that was a strength above even his own which was amplified by the armor. Unable to fight the force Alkaios went with it. Jumping forwards and releasing the scattergun to the grip of Tmoxin, Alkaios hit the ground and with his forward momentum came up in a crouch his right wrist aimed at the woman as she took his weapon away and decided to taunt him toting how the force was above his weapons. It would be the hubris of Force users that would be their fall, the belief that they were above those weaker in the force than themselves or had an advantage due to it. Throughout history time after time there had been the underdogs that surpassed those that by all rights should’ve been more powerful. Alkaios planned on following in their steps.

“If you say so.” From the wrist mounted missle launcher built into the armor Alkaios fired a rocket at the women, at least it looked as though it was aimed at her, instead the missle was intended to strike the wall behind Tmoxin and knock her to the floor and let the sound of the explosion break her concentration on the force hopefully. Considering she had blocked the blasts from the scattergun earlier Alkaios was already formulating his next few steps in his head just in case his plan didn’t work.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Quickly the Force Barrier eroded, and Tmoxin watched as her telekinesis attack yanked the gun but also the intruder along with it, and he crashed to the floor, tearing up a few tiles along with him. Activating his rocket launcher, Tmoxin also flattened to the ground, letting it crash into the wall behind her, the blow-back throwing her a few feet.

She didn’t like using Force Drain, but at this point she wanted to neutralize her target before he did anymore damage to her bedroom, her ranch and her keffis. The purple lightning snaked from her hands as she rose from a prone position to her knees.

It would zig zag towards her target until it clasped upon his very soul through his eye sockets. He would feel it slither into his dark soul, yanking upon both his physical organs and his very essence, and there would be little that he could do to stop it. Not as a padawan with a limited use of the Force.

“Do you want to die today?” she asked in a menacing voice with the distinct and clipped Hapan accent dripping from every word. “Because I can keep going, or we can stop, you can surrender and let me know who sent you here to kill me?”

Bloody Kyrel Ren! It had to be.

[member="Alkaios"]