It's A Trap!

[Jsc]

Alderaan
Chambers of Darth Tress

"...My Lord. It's obviously a trap."

The attendant was quick to point out as Lord Tress examined the letter. An invitation, of sorts. The message requested Darth Tress' presence at the Governor's Mansion in Rela. One of the local manufacturing sectors located onworld. The business was discuss furthering corporate infrastructure and reorganizing the military industrial complex to suit the One Sith's ever-evolving needs. Apparently the Governor's Wife had some very interesting ideas about how to shift the GDP in new directions. More guns, and all that.

Alas. Some details were missing. In fact, the Governor of Rela didn't have a wife. Nor did he have any vested interest in the prescribed meeting location. A country estate and science facility in the snow-capped mountains of Shembala. Heck, that wasn't even in Rela province. It was an R&D lab owned by another University and used for live animal gene-therapy testing. Clearly, it had nothing to do with guns.

"Yes. It does appear indeed to be a very sloppy attempt at an assassination. Or at least... To get my attention."

"So my Lord? What shall we say in reply?"

"Nothing. Tell [member="Darth Vulkan"] to go instead. And... Don't tell him it's a trap either. Let's just see how this plays out. If he survives? Fine. If he dies? All the better. One less opponent for me to worry about in the Emperor's service."

The attendant seemed surprised but bowed non-the-less.

"As you command, my Lord. I shall dispatch for Lord Vulkan to dismantle the situation immediately."

"Good. And remember. It's not a trap. It's just ...Lunch. Hahaha."

___


The Shembala Facility
Kaprath Mountains, Alderaan

It resembled a private college campus. Three science buildings, a data center, a communications building, and a large marble mansion. All set on a hill with a perfect winter vista. Pretty as a picture and shining like the sun.

The perfect place for an ambush.

Megan Rhymes and her small rag-tag band of Resistance Fighters set about the Mansion Estate. Putting the last finishing touches on a series of giant carbonite Wardroids that were sure to claim the lives of Darth Tress and his Honor Guard. One big explosive surprise at a time.

"Commander!" one of the men shouted down from the gloss balcony, "Shuttle inbound! Looks like somebody took our bait!"

"Good! Then it's time to get this show on the road. Warm them up boys. Our steel ladies are about to see some action!"

Megan Rhymes smiled and gave the man a big thumbs up. Because if there was anything the Republic Padawan liked more than ambushing Sith? It was watching all the explosions and destruction she was about to unleash too.

"Okay Rhymes. Time to look prime and proper. You're hosting today. Woo. A governor's wife in fact. Best to look the part. Umph! Okay. It's showtime girl. Look the part. Act the part. Okay."

She fluffed her hair, pushed up her breasts, and tucked in her Secretary's outfit. Looking every bit the sexy scientist. The perfect cover to lure a bumbling Darth Vader to his doom. She finished her preparations by slipping on her signature pink sunglasses and smiling. Oh yes indeed. It's showtime.

"Here we go..."

Rhymes opened the bronze doors of the Mansion and trotted out to the landing pad. Anxious to see Darth Tress' gloating face for herself.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Darth Vulkan, Sith Dreadlord, and more importantly Alor of Clan Vereen, currently on Alderaan at the behest of the Royal House of Organa was not pleased to be ordered anywhere by the One Sith. But, luckily for them, payment was approved from Darth Vornskr and Darth Carach, and the appropriate funds had cleared into his private estate, as well as the promised 'I owe you one' from one Lord Tress. Money was enough to sway him from standing vigil above the planet commanding a defense fleet aboard the Ori'Drahr, the Alor-class Dreadnaught currently hanging in orbit like a massive beast, facing outwards to ward off any attackers. In truth he took this opportunity to strengthen his ties to the planet and to the One Sith. Draco had promised House Organa to do everything he could to protect their claim to sovereignty, and so an opportunity to enforce a debt of his services wasn't to be passed up.

Lunch however came at an inopportune time for Vulkan, he had defenses to ensure were prepared and with the state of war the Clans were in with the Republic, he wasn't pleased with taking time off for something as trivial as Lunch with a governor's wife. For some reason they had requested an audience with a Sith Lord though, and so they would have it. Vulkan mentally made a note of the house's name for later.

When the shuttle landed, helmet in the crook of his arm, and only a combat knife on his belt, the Mandalorian Sith stomped down the ramp with a confident swagger. His face was hard and stoic, stubble covering his face from lack of shaving on deployment, his skin was still tanned from his vacation to a tropical planet for two weeks, and his eyes. His eyes were different. Bloodshot, dark side corruption causing him to have small dark colored veins surrounding his eyes. His irises were grey, with flecks of gold, with a bold red ring surrounding them. His Force Aura exuded a subtle fear about him as he walked from the shuttle to meet with the Governor and, or, his wife.

Instead he saw a pretty, young, brunette with pink sunglasses in a secretary's outfit one size too small. He stopped at the end of the ramp, blinking momentarily with confusion, thinking he recognized her from somewhere. She wasn't someone he had fought, that much was certain.

He offered her a polite smile, still searching the memories of his past self for where he recognized her. "Good afternoon, my dear. I am Darth Vulkan, here in Lord Tress' stead. And who might you be?" Worst case scenario he became distracted from his business by a pretty secretary. The governor would understand, or more likely, the governor wouldn't remember after a mind rub.

[member="Megan Rhymes"]

 

[Jsc]

Wait...

"Draco!?"

Megan lifted up her sunglasses in abject shock! Could it be? Was this one of Tress' insidious tricks? No. The aura, the weight. This was real. But... How? Megan stood dumbfounded at the end of the ramp. Almost blushing for how indecent she must have looked. This was not the man she had planned to kill today? Though. That aura? That command? What in the frell was going on?

She didn't even have to time to ponder it.

[member="Darth Vulkan"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

His real name resounded through his mind, echoing. The voice, the woman's appearance. He did recognize her, back from his days with the Republic a long, long time ago. He furrowed his brow for a moment, "Megan?" He asked confused, she recognized him instantly, but he barely registered her at first. So much had happened, so many people had came and went, died or abandoned him, he had just assumed she had been killed. He figured Contruum, where so many had fallen, had been her tomb, a tomb he had helped build. Almost instantly the mind of Vulkan shifted, feeling the presence of Draco attempting to swell up and take control. Even the red rings around his irises faded away even as he spoke.

"I thought you died." Vulkan said with a genuine smile, approaching her peacefully. "I'm glad I was wrong, its just been so long since I've heard from you I feared the worst." He winced a bit, remembering she was a Jedi of the Republic, and he was one of the Republic's strongest opponents, having opposed them from almost a half dozen seats of power since his schism with them. His aura lightened a bit as he spoke to one of his old friends. Friends he didn't really have anymore.

But what the frell was she doing here as a secretary for a governor. "What's going on, why are you here?"

[member="Megan Rhymes"]

 

[Jsc]

Holy chit. It was Draco!

"Me? No, what are you doing here!? ...Where is Lord Tress? Is he not with you?"

She couldn't understand. Draco was a hero. Similar, she expected him dead too. Not here. Not like this. It was difficult to think straight. Everything was happening so fast. This wasn't how the plan was supposed to go?

...

Inside the mansion, the eyes of a dozen rebels were upon them. Breathing deeply. Watching for the signal. Wondering why this was taking so long?

"Tommy. What's going on? What is she doing?"

"Shh. Shut up. I don't know. But that's not Tress."

"What!? Who is it then. Honor Guard? Blackguard?"

"Flip it Biggs. I don't know. Just shut up. Give her time. One flip of this switch and those giant Wardroids will rip through this wall like candy."

"She's taking too long. Somethings wrong. We..."

"We should keep our heads down and wait for the signal. Now shut the frell up and get back in line. ...God darn hotheads gonna ruin the surprise."

The impatient soldier wasn't the only one wondering about Megan's hesitations either. Inside the science building Team Two was getting nervous as well. Even with the mounted Megablaster ready to fire, they couldn't help but wonder what Megan was doing. It had taken months to plan this raid. So just what was the Commander stalling for? Waiting until more troopers dismounted the shuttle?

Rebel palms grew sweaty with every passing moment. If [member="Darth Vulkan"] even began to suspect an attack, they'd need to start shooting immediately. Even if Commander Rhymes was still out there.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Draco, smiled shaking his head, "No, he had better things to do or something, paid me to see to some busy work," He didn't even think about how odd it was she knew Lord Tress or why Lord Tress would be coming at first. He was mostly just excited to see a friend these days. He moved closer to her, putting a hand on her shoulder, "Besides, look at you. Moving up in the galaxy, not making the chump change from the order anymore I take it?" He was carrying on like nothing was out of the ordinary. Then a tingle in the back of his mind and his head snapped up from observing her figure to the buildings. Danger.

His eye's flashed red again, the grey gone and his aura growing dark and powerful. "What's going on?" He asked, his voice deep and raspy as he looked at the buildings, pushing his awareness into them. Vulkan could recognize the the threat, and he wasn't necessarily being subtle. "Megan, tell me what is going on now." Vulkan was a bit disgruntled now, angry even, drawing on the Dark Side of the Force, if she wouldn't tell him, he would make her tell him why there was danger, why she was worried and afraid.

Fear. He could feel it, pulling it towards him getting ready. Who was this that sought to fight the Sith Dreadlord? They would be taught the true meaning of fear.

[member="Megan Rhymes"]

 

[Jsc]

Tress wasn't coming!? No. That meant... No! Wait!

"Oh gods? ...Biggs! Wait!"

Megan spun around in a flash and put up her hands. But it was already too late. The first massive blaster bolt struck the shuttle with a bang loud enough to cause Megan to wince and cry out. The next three almost caused her to take a knee as the molten debris from the ship exploded all around them. Boom boom boom. Team Two was already firing it's cannon.

Alas. Not but a moment later did the other teams lose their nerve and unleash hell. Two giant Wardroids came bursting forth from the mansions southern side. Obliterating the exterior wall like it was made of popcorn and feathers. Gunfire from the rebels inside the building erupting like a storm.

"NO!"

She tried to scream out. Almost finished too. But the friendly fire found her first. Megan's torso exploded into shimmering white lights as the massive bolt thrust her body like a ragdoll towards the cliffs. Pop. Swish. Gone. [member="Darth Vulkan"] and the shuttle didn't have much longer to live either. As the dirt erupted into spires and the air screeched with incoming fire. The ground shaking, buckling, and thundering from the shear weight of the charging war machines. Guns blazing. Earth shaking. Doom, crafted perfectly for a Dark Lord.

Nearer the cliffs, Megan's Force Shield faded and she rolled to a halt. Fading into unconsciousness as the wind bellowed around her. Her thoughts drifting as the debris rolled over her body. They hadn't waited. Her team. Her friends.

They hadn't... wait... d.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The back of Vulkan's mind buzzed and just before the first blast he had started with his defense. His helmet clicking over his head he started, Force powers, eye movements and a whole lot of getting the hell out of the line of fire. Vulkan was a tank, but even he had limits to the amount of aggro he could pull and walk away from. This was one of those times. Three blinks for Predator mode as he dove for the deck. It may not be perfect, but a translucent outline drew less fire than a fully armored sith lord. And that was the plan. He was sure how many folks there were attacking him but he still tried to pull fire away from him through the an illusion of himself moving in the opposite direction, while he, merely an outline started rolling out of the way while on the ground towards the cliffs after Megan.

Vulkan didn't recognize the model of droids, and he didn't realize he warranted half that much firepower. He'd be lucky not to die today, but he certainly wasn't winning any battles. The whole goal was to leave, if he could get Megan out in the mean time, that was a plus. With that in mind, the illusion took a big shot to the chest, and Vulkan had it fall over, motionless.

He could feel heat blisters where a number of small arms blasters had struck him, and the pain coursed through him as he approached the cliffs through the fire and the smoke and debris blowing in the wind as the fire continued. His left arm was basically dead, a chunk of meat missing from the outside of his arm, burnt and painful, his back searing with pain from the explosion. Even absorbing what he could he wasn't that good with Tutaminis.

Almost there. The big problem, could he sense her presence at all? Was she worth revealing himself to attempt to grab and make away with? If not, he could drop off the edge and hope for the best. If she was, what would he do? Its not like he had the juice to heal her much.

[member="Megan Rhymes"]

 

[Jsc]

The decision was made for him.

For no sooner had [member="Darth Vulkan"] arrived then did the shuttle expire. A fireball of force and flame. An eruption that sent both weakened individuals out across the threshold and down into the snow below.

...

When Megan came to, she was freezing. Gut burning. Legs aching. From high above her, somewhere in the space she could not see, she heard a voice. Familiar, yet distant.

"...Nope. Nothing. Just debris. They're gone. Droids must have stepped on them. Come on. Let's turn back."

"Wait..."

She wanted to call out. Tell them she was still alive. Ask them what was happening. But it was no use. Something was in the way. So Rhymes stirred from her frozen slumber and swam her way upwards.

Poof.

She exited the snow bank with a cry of pain and tears in her eyes. Her body ached, burned, and felt so very very cold. Her vision blurred as she looked around the expanse. They'd fallen from the cliffs into the mountains below. Snow broke the fall and engulfed them. It must have been... Only moments they'd been out. A few minutes maybe. There was still fires smoldering from the ruin. And she said *them*, and meant it. Because [member="Darth Vulkan"] was also nearby. She could sense him. Not see him. Wounded. But alive.

"Draco."

She climbed out of her icy eggshell and staggered about the sparse white forest. Leaning on a tall gray rock for comfort as she tried to focus. Maybe she could rouse him. Maybe he would respond. Buried deep in the snow.

~ "Draco." ~

Agh. He forehead hurt when she did that. But she had to try.

~ "Draco. Wake up. ...Wake up Draco. You're not dead. Wake up Draco. ...I need you..." ~

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Vulkan had fallen to the bottom of the canyon and closed his eyes, channeling his energies into a hibernation trance, the best way to heal his injuries without bacta. He was hurt, and hurt rather badly, and assuming Megan had lived he needed to be stable to be of any use. He heard a voice from deep within his mind, <Draco.> and Vulkan visibly winced at the name.

He heard it again <Draco. Wake Up.... Wake up Draco. You're not dead. Wake up Draco. ...I need you...> and he opened his eyes looking up, groaning as he tried to sit up and found debris and snow on top of him. "I'm coming Abi." He said, instinctively assuming the female voice calling to him in his mind was that of his own child in danger and in need of assistance.

Using the Force he generated heat from his hands melting away the snow while he lifted the moderate sized rocks and stones off his body, his form sparking from a broken and malfunctioning Active Camouflage. As soon as he was free he tore off his helmet and breathed the cold crisp air in, gasping and coughing as his lungs filled with cold air. One of his arms was still very badly hurt and he had injured his ribs somehow, but he wasn't quite sure how badly. He grunted as he finally stood up, looking around "Abi?" He said hissing under his breath until he say Megan. Almost instantly his aura went from one of worry and concern to one of anger.

She was leaning on a tall gray rock only a dozen or so meters away. His instincts told him to eviscerate her here and now, but having been concerned for his child Draco had surged up from the depths of their mind and taken a modicum of control. Enough to ask questions as he walked towards her, limping just a little. "Why in the Nine Hells shouldn't I kill you?"

[member="Megan Rhymes"]

 

[Jsc]

Her faced hardened into that of Commander Rhymes. A far-cry woman from the girl [member="Darth Vulkan"] used to know. Time changed you. War forged you. Megan was not so different. Her reply was as hard as her face,

"Because if you make too much noise right now those giant Wardroids will finish us. Both, of us."

She extended an arm to their surroundings. They had fallen yes. But there was debris enough around to note that they had not fallen far. Especially in relation to the effective range of a heavy mounted blaster cannon.

"And I'd dare say the same of you Darth. Malice. Ugh. Whatever you are now. ...Gods damn it Draco! What happened to you? Where did it go wrong?"

She leaned against the rock harshly. Too numb to fight. Too cold to be anything but angry. She couldn't even stand up and Vulkan didn't look much better. Hell, half of the burning metal in this forest was from his ship. Now was no time for name calling. Wasn't it clear? There was enough firepower up there to kill a Dark Lord and more. Megan had seen to that personally. No. One shout. One blip on a sensor screen. ...And it was back to both of them getting eviscerated again.

Not even Alderaan Rebels make the same mistake twice.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

He shook off some of his confusion and the haze of having been grievously wounded and gone into a hibernation trance to repair his body somewhat. "Then come on. We need to find cover and shelter before night falls." He said, moving to stand next to her looking to head for cover and away from the ambush that had been set for him or his employer in this case. He was still confused, still didn't really understand what was going on but he knew how to make it out in the wilderness and he knew they couldn't stay here. It was too cold as it was, and it was only afternoon, that meant night was going to be very cold, freezing.

His aura cooled some, still dark but not angry, "Come on." He said, offering her his arm so that she could use him like a crutch. "Lets get out of here."

Where did it go wrong? "Well, its gone wrong a lot. It wasn't one thing or even a handful of things. It was just everything." Everything indeed. He didn't really have any friends, they had all drifted away, every time he had attempted a family or tried to pull himself out of the darkness the universe had smashed him back down, deeper and deeper into the abyss, until eventually he snapped and changed. Where there was one, there was now three.

"I kept trying to have a family and watched it blow up in my face every time. Eventually pouring your heart out that many times and watching them walk away or die changes you." Even now Draco was committing his heart and soul to the liberation of Alderaan, and that could end in absolute disaster if it didn't work out. Even if it did it could still burn everything down and kill what little progress Draco was making at trying to become the dominant personality.

Trees, a forest. Not the best place to try and find a camp but better than nothing. The evergreens could provide cover and maybe firewood if he could find them a place to spend the night.

[member="Megan Rhymes"]

 

[Jsc]

Lucky for [member="Darth Vulkan"] , this mountain estate was her base of operations. She knew where to find cover. Albeit, careful not to allude to anything more than circumstance. She was inviting a Sith into her confidence after all. She wasn't even quite sure what game she was playing anymore.

"There. We have an animal clinic just down there. It's used for storage now. No animals to tend and no doctors to run it. The front door has a thermal camera but the loading dock is open. We'll make it inside and no one will be the wiser."

She appreciated Draco's help. It was nice to lean on someone again.

"I joined the relief efforts for the Invasion forces. Did as much as the Jedi would let me. But the politics. The fighting. Just... War. Eventually I just started fighting and never looked back. Left the Order. Ambushed Sith for freedom. It was... Never how I pictured my life would end up. Jaded."

She limped along through the cold. Half broken already.

"I'm sorry about your hardship's Draco. But... Why them. Why all this dark inside of you?"

Megan was no saint. Never had been. But she did the best she could with what she had. Life, liberty, healing, and freedom. She had a Jedi's heart. Even if her hands had become those of a soldier.

She knew she never ask a Sith Knight for mercy. Or, for help. But something about Draco told her that wasn't here to kill her. Actually. She felt kind of ashamed that in this case? It was the other way around. She was the trained killer now.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

He scowled as she spoke, partially from the pain of having her weight on his injuries in addition to his own, partially from having to explain himself to a young Jedi. "The One Sith?" He asked when she finished, grunting as he started leading them both towards the animal shelter she spoke about, pushing his Force awareness outwards, scanning for danger or life forms.

"They pay me. That's as far as my loyalties to anyone outside of Mandalore goes. I tried to sell to the Republic a couple of times, but they kept wanting me to fight for them for the cause, and I don't believe in fighting for free." Vulkan was just a mercenary from Mandalore at the end of the day.

"Being a Sith doesn't make me loyal to the One Sith." In his mind there was a difference, a bold difference in his mind. "Its easier to be a Sith and have a code of honor, than care about people and watch them die and betray you. A lot easier, trust me." Vulkan was willing to fight for or alongside anyone, good, bad, or indifferent. Normally Jedi didn't work out, they always tried to stab him in the back, but he knew Megan from before. Surely she wouldn't turn on him for her convenience like the others he had dealt with. Surely a little history went a long way.

"Heck, I'm on Alderaan to help the Royal House in the first place. Those are my ships guarding the system. I came here because honor demanded they be helped, and for no other reason." Alright he had other reasons, but they didn't revolve around money.

[member="Megan Rhymes"]

 

[Jsc]

She frowned as he spoke. A pity. No. Worse than a pity. An illusion.

"So that's it huh. Hmph. At the end of the day you think you're just a mercenary. Pfft. No. I don't buy it."

Megan pushed off of [member="Darth Vulkan"] and found her own footing. Shoulders limp and head sagging. Wrapped up in frayed wet cloth and a simple torn skirt. Body cold and ankle broken. But her eyes told a different story to her surroundings. Her hard brown eyes told of a woman who could not be swayed. A older woman than in his memories. And one who could stand on her two feet.

"Your dark aura has nothing to do with who you fight for. It's just what you are now. Isn't it? One of them. One with the Darkness. One without mercy."

Underneath her jacket pocket she pulled out her cold hand to revealed a gun. A gun she aimed right at the man she once thought she knew. Ready to do what she had always done to Sith Lords and Black Tyrants. Even as her own hands shook and trembled badly.

"No. Your not him anymore. You're just one of them now. ...Nothing."

Slowly, she aimed the gun up into the air. Tempting even a far greater threat to find them. Frowning harder now. Brow sweating. Making a decision she knew would probably kill them both.

"Goodbye Dark Lord. ...And may you burn in hell."

...

*bang*

...

High up on the cliffs two red optical eyes snapped to target and a rebel soldier dashed to the edge. His eyes seeing it clearly too. Just as the metal ones did.

"There! Robots. Destroy!"

...

Two brown eyes stared back at the Dark Lord of Mandalore that stood before her. Tears frozen on her cheeks. Sorrow and pain burning red trails against her eyes. Saddened and despairing to see that she too, had already lost another friend. Frozen tears to a frozen form, which melted gradually into glittering snowflakes as the first cannon blasts took her. Disintegrating Rhyme's body in a hailstorm of red searing flame. Boom boom boom. Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. Scattering her limbs to the wind.

A tree burst nearby and shrouded the ground in splinters. A harsh and sudden chime which might awaken Draco to his own plight. The Wardroids were efficient. Ultimate and bombastic. Even from this terrible long range. The corpse of a Jedi Apostate and a Rebel Commander disappeared amidst the chaos and the debris. All the while even more gigantic blaster bolts searched the terrain for survivors. Evaporating stone and rock and tree alike. A world of fire. A world that dared to consume them all.

If [member="Darth Vulkan"] was to escape his fate. He would need to leave now. Survive these petty bandits and escape their lumbering toys. Heal himself and rearm. Then. When he was ready. He could return to the office of Darth Tress the Infallible. And show him just what profit the day had earned him.

And after eight long years of terrible war. Megan's soul was finally free.