Looking Glass

[Eshtaol]

V E L U S I A

It had taken over a fortnight.

When Yvana Flynn had broken out of the laboratory that had been her prison for two and a half years, the only thing she could do, the only thing she wanted to do was run, put as much distance between herself and the labs as she possibly could. She had run with her first smile in weeks on her face, run until she was completely and utterly incapable of moving - and various injections had given her quite a boost in stamina - and then she had collapsed on a rare grassy patch, sat sprawled against a rock, and watched the first sunrise she had seen since the maker had stolen her past.

But then thoughts of the future had come about. Yvana had to work out what sort of world she'd been snatched on, reacquaint herself with it - but then? There were matters of the labs to think of, for one. The Maker was, to her, synonymous with the devil; everyone involved in the operation, everyone who stood for what the Maker stood for had to be stopped. She only had a name, one she'd seen at the bottom of documents, one she'd heard muttered between directors - Darth and a word she couldn't pronounce.

She had found Mount Hollow then, worked out her living arrangements within the volcanic city, however temporary. Of course Yvana wanted to see the universe now that its existence was within her grasp, but there were more important things to be done and she needed to settle herself the first place she could possibly do them. A seedy cantina had agreed to keep her under their roof provided she earnt her keep; Yvana wasn't certain how she'd convinced the owner, only that it had brought about a sensation faintly reminiscent of the times the directors had switched their training to the force, as they'd called it.

The Force was just one of the things she'd had to research when research became an option. Finding resources had been tricky, but Yvana was a fast learner.
She learned of the force, of the light, the dark.
She learned of Darth, of what the Maker must surely be.
She knew, then, what she had to do.

Her attention had turned to procuring a datapad - and then to learning how to use it. Yvana had limited range without access to the holoweb, and limited power without knowledge of how to use it - so the moment she had her plan, her focus was on how to execute it. All she knew of hacks and signals and encryptions was what shed eavesdropped upon, and it wasn't remotely enough. She had to learn, and learn fast.

It had taken over a fortnight.

But she was ready now.

She sat in her room, huddled over her datapad.

And she sent the message.

// Begin Encryption

Darkness falls across the galaxy. The light is weak and hesitant, it wavers in the night - there is need for something more, something stronger, if the darkness is to be fought.

We do not need a candle flame.

We need a wildfire.

I am calling you to stand the vigil and feed the flames. I can do little to convince you,I can offer you nothing in return - but know that I will see this fight through to the end.

Find coordinates attached [x]. If you will stand, meet here in twenty-four standard hours.


// End Encryption...

​

- [member="Sam Paige"] - [member="Maiev"] - [member="Vivienne Bastra"] - [member="Diana Veneris"] - [member="Jy Din Lorr"] -​

​

​

 

[Maiev]

They were in the middle of hyperspace when the message had reached the ship. Maiev hadn't even been in the cockpit at the time, and instead only learned of it when her droid pilot; 1G-6Y - otherwise known as 'Iggy', had informed her about it. At first she assumed it was her contact, but had dismissed that notion rather quickly, given the fact she had literally just left the planet where she had met them. And it had been a satisified transaction, she got her ingredients and he got the credits. There was no sound reason if it was him complaining about something. But no, it wasn't that, most certainly not when it was discovered to be encrypted.

Maiev had Iggy immediately begin to decrypt it. And as she waited, she couldn't help but feel an odd sense of excitement take over, her mind a whirlpool of questions. Though she was just as equally annoyed, especially at herself. She hated surprises, or rather spontaneity in general. But this was something she couldn't simply pass up, the allure of not knowing something was an eternally long game of tug of war for her. When the decryption had been completed, Maiev was instantly absorbed into the words. Reading them out loud, even though it meant nothing to the only other physical occupant in the cockpit. A fire was immediately sparked in both her heart and mind, the message practically singing to how own thoughts on the galaxy as a whole.

"This...cannot be just a coincidence."

<I agree. This goes beyond such matters of chance and luck. This my dear Maiev, is fate.>

Kalax-Ra's voice echoed, her ancient tongue smooth as silk as it stretched across the spanse of Maiev's mind.

"It's essentially a call to arms, not specifically addressed to anyone in particular." The witch in question was looking at the message with contemplation.

<Precisely, and we just so happen to find ourselves within range to pick it up?>

Maiev eyed the viewscreen for a while longer before she turned her attention to Iggy.

"The attached coordinates, where do they lead?"

"It is in the Velus System, Master. The planet of Velusia in fact."

"Excellent, takes us out of hyperspace and chart a course for our new destination."

And that was how the crossbreed Witch found herself on Velusia, a datapad on her wrist with the specific coordinates copied on it. She was dressed casually, or at least to degree Maiev thought suitable. Boots, trousers, shirt, and a jacket with a large enough hood to contain her wild mess of black hair. It had a rather short trek from the spaceport, following the information at hand until it eventually led her to a cantina.

"Well, this is certainly a place to meet..."

With a cautious hitch to her step, Maiev walked into the establishment, her grey eyes immediately beginning to search around for whoever had sent out the message.

[member="Yvana"] | [member="Sam Paige"] | [member="Vivienne Bastra"] | [member="Diana Veneris"] | [member="Jy Din Lorr"]​

 

[Darth Imperia]

DEEP SPACE

Darkness falls across the galaxy. The light is weak and hesitant, it wavers in the night - there is need for something more, something stronger, if the darkness is to be fought. We do not need a candle flame. We need a wildfire. I am calling you to stand the vigil and feed the flames. I can do little to convince you,I can offer you nothing in return - but know that I will see this fight through to the end. Find coordinates attached [x]. If you will stand, meet here in twenty-four standard hours.

Was it a trap? It was possible that it was a trap - no, scratch that. It was almost certainly a trap, if Vivienne really thought about it. The broadcast she'd picked up certainly didn't sound like any Jedi she'd ever met - and she'd met quite a few during her time with the Lotus. As lovely as they were, they lacked a certain drive. Fittingly enough, she'd found that they lacked fire. The thought brought a smirk to her lips, but it was a brief expression.

What if it wasn't a trap, though?

Well, that would mean that someone else out there who got it. Someone saw the Galaxy, saw the darkness and the suffering, and knew that something had to be done.

But most importantly, if this wasn't a trap, it meant that someone out there needed help.

When she thought of it that way, there was really only one option.

~~

VELUSIA, 14 GALACTIC STANDARD HOURS LATER

Lightsabers at her hips and armorweave under her jacket, Vivienne Bastra, Padawan Mediocre, hopped out of her interceptor. She'd landed in the space-port of Mount Hollow, which, if the coordinates were to be believed, was the meeting place. Assuming it actually was a meeting, and not the most obvious trap she'd ever seen. The young woman still hadn't made up her mind about that part.

Guided to a seedy little cantina by the instructions she'd received, Vivienne stepped through the door -

And immediately noticed something was off. A wave of Darkness hit her, not unbearable, but certainly distinct. With a mental tug, her lightsabers jumped to her hands, but she didn't activate them - not yet, anyway. That wasn't proof that this was a trap.

If it wasn't, though, someone had better do a damn good job of explaining themselves.

---

[member="Yvana"]
@Maeiv
[member="Sam Paige"]
[member="Diana Veneris"]
[member="Jy Din Lorr"]

 

[Diana Veneris]

V E L U S I A ​

​

There was something to be said for orphans, runaways, and broken things—the degenerates, the unwanted, the nonconformists that society would cast into the dirt, not knowing they were seeds. When the tyrannous hand of her uncle claimed House Veneris and buried her in enslavement, Diana had risen. When the people of Eshan, her people, branded her a witch—a monster—Diana had risen. Again, and again, and again, she had pushed her flaxen head through the vile mulch of despair until she had burst forth and not merely risen, but bloomed.

This was justice.

Justice, however, meant little after that one shining moment of vindication. Had Diana simply rolled over and snuggled into the cheap satisfaction of having won, her hard-fought battle would mean very little indeed. Justice was nothing without follow-up action. The morning that Diana, in a violent paroxysm of her strange Force powers, had killed her uncle and repurchased her freedom with his life, marked the day her higher duty began. There were men in the galaxy more wicked than her uncle, and souls whose suffering eclipsed her own. What could she do now—as a freed thing, as a survivor—to help keep the devils of the world at bay?

Diana had answered the call and flown across the stars to Velusia.

The message first reached her back on Tygara, which had become her closest semblance of home since the morning [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] rescued her from Eshan, after her uncle’s demise. The Fire-Maned Lady promised to teach Diana how to control her unpredictable and often dangerous connection to the Force, but Diana’s quiet drive to exact justice in the galaxy was all her own. It was a somewhat naïve notion, driven in part by Diana’s youth, in part by her sheltered life in exile. The sweetness of her heart, stoked by the fire in her belly, made her reckless for the greater good. She arrived on Velusia in due time.

“Hush, Nairobi.”

Diana stared down into the disgruntled face of her little pet loth-cat, who, as was her habit, had taken up residence inside Diana’s rucksack. Nairobi liked to ride along with Diana, strapped to Diana’s back like a papoose, only poking out her furry head to mew for food or to express her disapproval at sudden changes in her mistress’s gait. Tonight’s grievance, however, was the cantina. The cultured intonation of Diana's voice came soft and gentle as she soothed her small, temperamental friend.

“I know it’s loud here, but this is important. I’ll keep you safe.”

With Nairobi placated, Diana draped her rucksack over one pale shoulder and emerged into the seedy establishment that veritably pulsed with nightlife. The young Echani moved like a beacon in the darkness, moon-blonde hair and porcelain skin giving her away as not entirely Human, as she reached beyond the physical realm to tap into the energy field that bound them all.

Had others answered the call? Would she recognize them if they did? Diana surveyed the perimeter with wide crystal eyes. She hoped to find the Messenger.

[member="Yvana"] | [member="Maiev"] | [member="Vivienne Bastra"] | [member="Sam Paige"] | [member="Jy Din Lorr"]​

 

[Jy Din Lorr]

KASHYYYK


The pad on Jy's table lit up. It had never done that before. She stared at it as if it were an alien thing, and possibly hostile.

The pad was one of the only acknowledgements that she hadn't been born on Kashyyyk, one of the only touchstones to her Human birthright. She'd never been able to activate it, nor had Attianta, her adopted mother, nor any of the skilled slicers that Attianta knew. Jy assumed the thing had been broken beyond repair in the crash that had left her orphaned on Kashyyyk, but she'd held onto the thing all these years, along with the three holos of her as a baby being held by her birth parents, one of which had burned out only three months ago.

Jy cocked her head to one side and let out a low growl, an unconscious trait she'd picked up from being raised among Wookiees. Picking up the pad, she touched the long-dormant activation key.

Darkness falls across the galaxy. The light is weak and hesitant, it wavers in the night - there is need for something more, something stronger, if the darkness is to be fought.

We do not need a candle flame.

We need a wildfire.

I am calling you to stand the vigil and feed the flames. I can do little to convince you,I can offer you nothing in return - but know that I will see this fight through to the end.

Find coordinates attached [x]. If you will stand, meet here in twenty-four standard hours.

Jy's eyes widened. She looked around her room quickly, wondering if someone were playing a prank on her. Shryykorr, or Lllwrrbekk. She ran to her window, then her door, but found no one. As if in a trance, she walked back to her sleeping pallet, sat cross-legged, and stared at the screen. The message remained. Touching the pad again, a set of coordinates appeared. Jy studied them in silence for a time, then rose.

Time to talk to mother.

[member="Diana Veneris"] | [member="Yvana"] | [member="Sam Paige"] | [member="Maiev"] | [member="Vivienne Bastra"] | [member="Tegan Katarn"]​

 

[Arage Bao]

O U T E R | R I M​

"Master?"

"Master!"

"MASTER!!"

Heavy machinery whirred in the background, the engine rumbling as it was fine-tuned to precision once again. Metal groaning gently as they rose up and broke through the atmosphere, causing sudden pressure to increase and forcing the hull to contract in minuscule ways. The echoes of the robotic call bounced through the corridors over and over again and Tegan couldn't help but sigh just a little bit. She had salvaged the protocol droid about a month ago and was already considering reversing the repairs she had made on him.

Engine oil clung heavily against the textile fabric of her pants as she wiped her hands. Tegan was more engine grease than anything else by this point, but the salvage run had been a wild success.

The Jo'henry's cargo bay was filled to the brink with salvage and other valuable crap that would earn a small fortune at the floating markets.

"Master, there you are!" This time the voice rang straight into her ear and Katarn looked up, the protocol droid standing in the corridor adjacent to the engine room.

"Yeah, HK, what do you need?" She rose up, stretching softly, before leaning against the wall and wondering what this was all about. More often than not there was silence in the salvage ship. Just the way she liked it, she hadn't been much about people after the disaster that was her run with the New Jedi Order. Bunch of pansies and cowards bumbling their scripture instead of trying to actually do something about things.

"You received a message you might be interested in!"

V E L U S I A​

One of her contacts had forwarded her a missive.

Some kind of nothing-to-glory invitation for any hopeful soul out there hoping that there was more in life. Tegan was bored, had made enough coin to pass through the next three months and was curious if this group was anything worthwhile. So her crappy rinky-dink ship settled itself down in the starport of Mount Hallow. It was clean, too clean, obviously corporate-ruled by the way of the many uniforms moving through the crowds.

Great.

Katarn hated corporate goons.

About ten minutes later she walked into the cantina and immediately almost walked into [member="Diana Veneris"]. Who was standing near the entrance and gawking her eyes out for some reason.

"Might wanna cover the hair and your Force signature, sunshine." Tegan mumbled not too loudly over the music and clinking of glasses. "Places like these, don't pay to stand out too much."

With that Katarn moved to brush past her to take up one of the tables in the corner of the bar. Always have something at your back in places like these. He had taught her that and it was a lesson that had kept her alive in many ways over the years. This way you wouldn't get clubbed over the head without you noticing their approach for one, also gave you a warning if trouble walked through the door.

[member="Vivienne Bastra"] | [member="Maiev"] | [member="Yvana"] | [member="Jy Din Lorr"]​

 

[Sam Paige]

Sam knew her family didn't really get her. Then again, they had never really tried. The youngest of four girls, by the time they'd gotten around to her, there wasn't much time left to spare, or interest in another daughter. She knew they loved her- and she loved them!

But they didn't *get* her.

Then again, she'd never really tried to make them.

"You want to buy a what? Well. I don't understand. But if it'll make you happy sweetie."

"Thanks Daddy."

*****

Setting foot on Velusia was probably the bravest thing she'd ever done.

It had taken her weeks to track down the part she needed for The Messenger, the old clunker of a cruiser she'd purchased, specifically with the intention of fixing it up. The ship ran for sure- she'd more than gotten it running. But there were parts she still needed to bring it back to it's original configurations. Modern fabricated parts? Not good enough. She wanted original parts, where she could find them, and if she couldn't, she'd machine her own custom replacements. It meant, however, that she'd needed to travel a bit to track down everything. Most of it had been available on Coruscant. Her parents (surprise) hadn't understood why she couldn't just use the parts available there, why she had to go to Velusia- to a junk yard- to pick up the last thing she needed to get this pet project off the ground. But, as usual, they had simply shrugged and let her do what she pleased, so long as it didn't require their attention.

Dark red hair was pushed up under a billed cap, errant strands escaping here and there in the stiff breeze coming off of the shore. She threaded through the streets, murmuring excuse me's and I'm sorry's left and right, taking far longer to navigate the way to her destination than it ought to take, but she was used to that, so she hardly noticed. Bright blue eyes peered through her glasses, shaded by her hat, as she looked up at the Junk Yard sign.

Crazy Je'rth's Discount Emporium

Oh boy.

*****

It had gone better than expected. The Rodian had the part she needed- she had his asking price, which seemed to surprise him- and Sam felt incredibly pleased with herself that she had navigated such a place without being ripped off.

The part was slung in a canvas bag over her shoulder. It had taken less time than expected, and she wasn't expected back right away. She could wait at the space port or duck into that cantina for a bite to-

rrrrrrumblegrrr

She blushed scarlet around her freckles as her stomach made it's opinion known.

Lunch it was.

****

Sam was entirely certain that the Dantooine Plains turkey on her sandwhich was indeed not turkey and had probably never seen the Dantooine plains, but she said a quiet thank you and accepted it and the dirty glass of water (?) without complaint.

It wasn't that the food was particularly absorbing, but Sam kept her head down, and her attention on her plate as she ate, despite being keenly aware of the fact that she did not belong here at all. Bite, chew, swallow.

At the table right next to her, a dark haired woman plunked down, her back against the wall. Sam glanced over and then immediately back at her food.

She'd been feeling pretty good about herself not ten minutes ago. But now she just wanted to finish her lunch and get out of there.

[member="Jy Din Lorr"] [member="Diana Veneris"] [member="Yvana"] [member="Maiev"] [member="Vivienne Bastra"] [member="Tegan Katarn"]​

 

[Eshtaol]

She'd waited precisely twenty-three of the twenty-four hours set out, and then promptly she'd traipsed into the cantina to ensure herself ready by the time people arrived - if they arrived. After all, it was entirely possible her call would go unheard, and it was a risk Yvana had been aware of when she uploaded the encryption. She was always one to think things through carefully and logically, but she was also always one to take chances when she knew that a chance simply had to be taken.

Hopefully she shared that trait with those who'd received the message.

The hands inched further up the clock-face on the wall, and Yvana kept sharp gaze on the door. She was inexplicably certain that there would be others who understood, who'd be ready to risk turning up, but that couldn't prevent the sigh that escaped her every time someone entered the building who was clearly without a second intention to their arrival. Untrained but mercifully existent force-sense served to aid her powers of observation, but she could only do so much when there was nobody-

Her eyebrows drew together as the door swung open. The signature she picked up on confused her. All she'd managed to learn of distinctions in force-use was of light, and dark, and what was in between - she sensed all three from the dark-haired woman who'd entered.
The next who caught her attention was simpler to identify; what Yvana had come to distinguish as light comprised the woman's presence in the force easily. Was she there to fight the dark side? Was she there to order a drink?

It took two more arrivals for Yvana to fully register that people had received her call - that people were answering her call. A surge of warmth spread through her, but she didn't stop to feel proud of herself; assembling people was merely the first step, and currently those people were scattered across the front of the cantina.

For a brief instant, her expression conveyed intense thought, and then the lines of her face smoothed out.

Wary, she got to her feet, and light tread closed the distance to the bar. The bartender stood opposite the counter, pouring bottled contents into a pint-glass for the man in front of her, and turned to face Yvana as he slid the glass to its customer.

"The usual?" Ale was her usual - the cantina made it decently well, too.

"Oh, no, thanks," she replied carefully, "I need something more...something stronger." Every word was deliberate, voice loud enough that inside a cantina not even half-full it'd be heard by those listening - and she was certain now that people would be listening.

The bartended nodded sagely. "I know what you need." What he poured out looked awfully strong - Yvana had only very recently been introduced to alcohol, after all - but she took the glass with a nod of thanks and turned at once to sit down again. She'd sensed four who might've come for reasons beyond the drink, but only one had taken a seat; so she sat opposite the tall brunette, setting her glass down with a slight thud on the table.

"My name is Yvana Flynn," she said lowly, eyes darting between the woman opposite and the three others whose eyes were on her, "yours?"

- [member="Maiev"] - [member="Vivienne Bastra"] - [member="Diana Veneris"] - [member="Jy Din Lorr"] - [member="Tegan Katarn"] - [member="Sam Paige"] -​

 

[Maiev]

Maiev had been in cantinas a number of times previously, though they had always been to meet a contact who had desired to meet there. She had nothing against the establishments, but she just generally didn't like being in them. The noise was one thing, music was always too loud, the rambunctious racket of its occupants. It simply wasn't her go-to place for well, anything really. Although the thought did remind her of the second ever time setting foot into a cantina, years ago. Again it had been to meet someone, and after her experience the first time, she had been adamant to change the destination. Ultimately though that didn't happen, and the person had been very bemused by her reaction. In the end though over the years, she came to see such places as 'necessary annoyances'.

The Witch had walked a little ways further in before her eyes fell on someone. It was a woman, had to be in her late teens if Maiev guessed correctly. She was situated a ways away, but her attention seemed to be glued to the entrance. Case in point that she was currently being watched by said person, a look of confusion on her face. Before Maiev could react, her senses suddenly flared to life and she turned to look in that direction. Another young woman, this time for shorter hair. Though Maiev was more concerned with the two hilts in the girl's hands. Maiev instinctively moved her hand to her belt. Only to find it was empty, specifically lacking a weapon, not even her dagger.

This is why I don't like spontaneity...

Had nothing to do with the fact it made her forgetful. Not at all.

Keeping half her attention on the potential danger, Maiev looked over to see another new arrival. This one's presence in the Force seemed to practically shine, much like how her light blonde hair stuck out. Shortly following her arrival though, another slipped through the doors, taking a moment to say something to the blonde woman.

If this is a coincidence, it's getting rather creepy now. Surely these lot aren't here for the same reason? That we would literally walk into this place within minutes of one another?

Maiev's thoughts were disrupted by a voice, and turning to look she realized it was the woman who had been watching the entrance. Only now she had moved to the bar, and was seemingly ordering something, and being specifically loud about it.

<Follow the Force, my dear. Follow it.>

She watched as the woman got her drunk and made her way over, taking a seat at the same table as one of the other women who had just entered. Maiev followed suit, sparing a glance towards the short haired one, before heading to the table.

As the two already seated made their introductions Maiev sat down, taking the spot beside the Lorrdian, and sitting facing the woman who she now suspected had been the one to send the encrypted message.

"I'm Maiev."

[member="Yvana"] | [member="Sam Paige"] | [member="Vivienne Bastra"] | [member="Diana Veneris"] | [member="Jy Din Lorr"]​

 

[Darth Imperia]

A lot happened in a relatively short time.

Vivienne and the apparent Dark-Sider locked eyes for a brief second...and then Vivienne clipped the hilts of her sabers back to her belt. There was no malice in this woman's eyes, no hint of the all-consuming madness of the Dark Side. She didn't need to die. Besides that, starting a fight in a cantina was a bad idea in general - too many people, too crowded.

As if the Galaxy had decided to demonstrate that exact point for Vivienne, a few more people caught her attention - and the Rogue quickly realized that, much to her surprise, she wasn't the only one to answer the call.

A pale blonde woman with a presence that could only be described as Radiant walked through the door of the establishment, exceptionally out of place in such a rough establishment. Following soon after her was another woman, this one out of place too, but for an entirely different reason - whereas the blonde appeared too innocent for the locale, the short-haired woman who followed was almost like a soldier. Determined, driven, deadly. A cut above the rabble that surrounded her.

And then, finally, the woman who had been watching the door - who had totally escaped Vivienne's notice. Instead of slinking away or trying to appear unimportant, this young lady made it a point to attract attention. Vivienne entertained the idea that she was just an idiot, but then she said two simple words - "Something Stronger."

With a chit-eating grin and the sort of swagger normally reserved for hot-shot Corellian smugglers, Vivienne sauntered over to the bar and sat herself down next to this 'Yvana Flynn.'

"Vivienne Bastra. And the way I see it, the whole fething Galaxy needs something stronger."

[member="Yvana"] | [member="Maiev"] | [member="Diana Veneris"] | [member="Sam Paige"] | [member="Tegan Katarn"] | [member="Jy Din Lorr"]​

 

[Jy Din Lorr]

Velusia

Jy took a deep breath and entered the cantina. The Stormcloud, the small transport she'd borrowed from her clan, sat cooling down on a landing platform a quarter click away. To Jy's surprise, her adopted mother had been excited, not hesitant at all, when the girl had shown her the pad with its coded transmission.

"A key, perhaps, to your past!" she'd growled. "After all these years, a clue to hunt! Go, and quickly! Even if you leave now you'll barely make it in time!"

And so she had, and so here she was. She felt her heart racing, partly because she was concerned she would be late and miss whatever lay at the other end of the summons, and partly because this was the first time she'd been completely away from the comfort and strength of the Wookiees. She'd left her bowcaster on the ship, and hadn't even thought to bring a concealed weapon of any kind, just in case. My own two fists, she mused. Father would be proud.

Entering the cantina, she looked around for someone who was looking around. She was likely not the only one who was expected, not if a "wildfire" was being planned, and since no one had requested to know what she looked like, nor had provided any indication of what to look for, she had to assume that there would be some way of identifying each other.

"Vivienne Bastra. And the way I see it, the whole fething Galaxy needs something stronger."

Like that, maybe? she asked herself.

"A wildfire," Jy offered hopefully, moving up next to the short-haired woman.

Diana Veneris | Yvana | Sam Paige | Maiev | Vivienne Bastra | Tegan Katarn​

 

[Lok Xiangu]

The core worlds stank and were plagued with crime and injustice.

Two things that called and reached out to the Arkanian Offshoot, and whenever she came to fight injustice she conquered it with justice. Vigilante justice that is, and there was a plenty of it on Velusia. The planet attracted tourists and corporations to reap fish and sell it to the market. But it also attracted cartel rings and outlaws. There wasn't too much urbanization on Velusia, save for Mount Hollow, but it did offer criminals to make secret enclaves to hide away on and conduct other operations under the noses of everyone.

And Catya was determined to rid of them from existence.

Appearing as a bounty hunter which was her casual clothing everyday, she walked into the cantina very menacingly but tried to veil away how tired she was. She forgot when was the last time she got a good amount of sleep. That seemed like ages ago...hell, it was right before she joined the Republic's military as a marine. Her helmet was on which concealed her tiring face, but it was her body composure she tried to control. Sometimes she would find herself off balance and drowsy, telling her she needed a quick nap; however, she barely listened to her body's needs and pushed herself to the extreme.

The only thing to combat this was...

"Caf. Now," she demanded at the bartender and her figure made him to quickly get the Delarn a mug of strong caf.

There was a group of girls a few feet away from the vigilante to which she paid no mind to; however, she did begin to eavesdrop on all the conversations that was happening around her in the cantina. Perhaps that would be a lead to some secret cartel ring.

[member="Jy Din Lorr"] [member="Vivienne Bastra"] [member="Maiev"] [member="Yvana"] [member="Sam Paige"] [member="Tegan Katarn"] [member="Diana Veneris"]

 

[Diana Veneris]

Might wanna cover the hair and your Force signature, sunshine. Places like these, don’t pay to stand out too much.

If the terse injunctive was not enough to break Diana’s reverie, the command of strong shoulders brushing past her through the crowd certainly was. “Pardon me,” The girl murmured on refined instinct, turning over one pale shoulder to greet the owner of the authoritative voice. As her clear blue eyes beheld [member="Tegan Katarn"], however, Diana grew self-conscious. Suddenly, she felt quite small. Young. Inexperienced. Naïve. Who was she—a sheltered exile of a girl, barely more than a foolish child—to think that she could travel alone across the stars at the beck of a cryptic message?

Diana lifted a hand to touch the glory of her starlit hair, as if seeing herself for the first time through the eyes of a stranger. The woman was right. Abashed, Diana stepped out of the beaming overhead lights and into a shadowy corner. Her back, and her rucksack housing Nairobi, came within inches of [member="Sam Paige"] and her lunch.

Nairobi, a lavish glutton and brazen opportunist, smelled food. Unbeknownst to Diana, the little white loth-cat immediately popped up from the rucksack like a veritable jack-in-the-box, so that the top flap rested on her furry head. If the freckle-faced lunchgoer were to glance up from her sandwich, all that she would see were two pointy ears and a pair of beady amber eyes staring intently at her from the darkness of the pouch. Slowly, a single paw emerged. Nairobi, thinking herself most sneaky and clever, flared her tiny claws and made to swipe at the sandwich—Dantooine plains turkey was her favorite.

“Nairobi!”

Diana felt the sudden shift of weight in her rucksack and turned to catch her feline companion in the larcenous act before the crime could be completed. Empty-pawed, Nairobi glared and disappeared with a dramatic flair back inside her pouch.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Diana scolded quietly, like a little mother. “I’ve fed you two dinners already. It’s not polite to steal from others.”

With that, Diana shifted her attention to the would-be victim. Her eyes grew soft beneath knitted brows. “I apologize for my cat,” Diana ventured. “I hope we haven’t ruined your meal.” She might have turned to leave the redhead in peace, but before she could, something compelled her to add, almost shyly, “My name is Diana. I don’t come to places like this often.” I don’t come to places like this ever, she might have said. Diana was perhaps open to a fault, but among the seedy mass of revelers, she found a strange comfort in the bespectacled girl’s face. She offered her a gentle smile.

Someone else soon demanded her attention, however. The indeterminable swirl of energy that clung to [member="Maiev"] acted like a magnet. It overpowered Diana’s senses and drew her wondering eyes across the vibrant room. She watched intently as the dusky woman claimed a seat next to another subject of interest, [member="Yvana"]. One by one, their number doubled—next, [member="Vivienne Bastra"], then [member="Jy Din Lorr"]. The women's combined presence rolled out through the atmosphere with so much power that Diana found herself wanting to drink it in like water. For a moment, she could only stare.

Go on, child. Go on.

The Force-driven summons resounded from deep within her subconscious and emboldened her gentle feet to move where they would have otherwise remained frozen. “If you’ll excuse me,” Diana murmured almost absently to the redhead, before gathering the courage to approach the bar.

Something stronger, she heard one woman say.

A wildfire, another offered.

Could those words be coincidence? Diana, cautiously drawing herself up to the four women, resolved to find out. Her voice would call to them like a little bell.

“ . . . perhaps something to feed the flames?”

[member="Yvana"] | [member="Vivienne Bastra"] | [member="Jy Din Lorr"] | [member="Tegan Katarn"] | [member="Sam Paige"] | [member="Maiev"] | [member="Catya Delarn"]​

 

[Arage Bao]

V E L U S I A​

​

Two seconds after her drink settled itself down on her table someone sat down in front of her.

Only a moment later a second one joined them next to her, before a third one brushed past and placed herself neatly next to the first. More and more individuals were swarming her table and joining the impromptu meeting and spoke vague words to signify their budding alliance.

But Tegan was less than comfortable with this public scenery.

Already the spacer noticed about four pairs of eyes studying them intently from two tables left of them, it wasn't even subtle. So, she did what she often did when scum and thugs became too curious and started studying pretty skin like it was their force-given right.

Elbows settled themselves down on the low-standing table and she leaned in a bit.

This gave them a perfect view of her neckline.... and the singular tattoo burned into it. An unfinished circle that signified her affiliation with the Crimson Corsairs, they were mostly known for their vigilante work around the Outer Rim. A slaver ship overrun, cargo released and the heads of the slavers shoved on pikes, pirate enclaves burned down to the ground... you named it and the Corsairs had a finger or an entire hand on it.

It wasn't their real name, obviously, but it was what people started calling them.

The reputation was good enough that about twelve pair of eyes suddenly found elsewhere to look.

"Tegan." The spacer filled the quiet void of silence smoothly, before taking a good sip from the glass and enjoying the sting of the buzz. She studied the faces around her and what she saw concerned her slightly.

Maybe one or two had ever killed, but most of them were green.

"Don't know shet about wildfire, but I think it's about damn time someone started killing these Sith and other scum with the intensity they deserve, ya?" But why would it be her problem, if these good Samaritans got themselves killed? As long as Katarn got a few Sith heads rolling and maybe put a dent in their population?

Sounded like a fair trade-off.

"Doubt we gonna get more takers here, Flynn." Unless Tegan was blind, this one had called the meeting in the first place. "Might be a good idea to take this elsewhere, before the gaggle of pretty faces start taking up too much attention, dig?"

[member="Yvana"] | [member="Vivienne Bastra"] | [member="Jy Din Lorr"] | [member="Diana Veneris"] | [member="Sam Paige"] | [member="Maiev"] | [member="Catya Delarn"]​

 

[Sam Paige]

Sam was doing her very best to be unobtrusive and just eat her darn sandwich. This is what happens when you think with your stomach Sam, she thought to herself. You end up in shady places, with bad food, and surrounded by shady....

Someone was watching her. Being as shy and self conscious as she was, it was an impossible sensation to miss. Sandwich halfway into her mouth, her eyes turned up beneath the bill of her cap.

Blink blink.

Green, feline eyes started back at her.

"Er."

Well, technically, stared at her sandwich. But since it was almost in her mouth by that point, it was basically the same thing. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, a tiny white paw snuck out of the pack the animal lurked in, moving inexorably toward her lunch. Sam sat, frozen, just watching, mouth still open around the sandwich until that paw was almost on the bread-

“Nairobi!”

Both girl and cat jumped. Her head whipped up, looking at [member="Diana Veneris"] with something akin to legitimate alarm for a moment as the silver haired woman scolded the cat and then offered apologies.

Sam tried to respond, say something self assured, or at least anything. Maybe 'no, it's okay, I like cats' or maybe 'nothing to worry about! No harm done!'. Or even 'I'd be happy to share!' Instead she responded simply with-

"Um....I....."

It wasn't until the other woman was already turning away that she managed to sputter out, "Oh. I'm Sam-"

Which was, in fairness, fairly typical. It took her a little while to figure out what she was going to say in a given situation, and most people had already moved on by the time she managed it. She was kind of used to it by now. That was just how things went- Sam couldn't really blame them for it either. Her sisters were quick to inform her just how annoying and weird it was. Which in turn, made it even harder to talk to them.

Her grandmother was probably the only person who had ever really taken the time and patience to let her get comfortable. To listen to Sam. But if Sam had a choice, she preferred to listen, even to her Nan. After all, she told the best stories about her days as a Jedi Inquisitor and her fights with the-

"Don't know shet about wildfire, but I think it's about damn time someone started killing these Sith and other scum with the intensity they deserve, ya?"

Sam blinked. Blue eyes cast to the side, head never moving as she looked over at the gathering of women. The murmured conversation reaching her ears, but it was one word in particular that drew her attention. Sith.

Sandwich forgotten, excitement grew.

"Doubt we gonna get more takers here, Flynn. Might be a good idea to take this elsewhere, before the gaggle of pretty faces start taking up too much attention, dig?"

Takers. Takers. They were.... it was the start of something. Sam could feel it. She watched [member="Tegan Katarn"] out of the corner of her eye, then cast over to [member="Yvana"] when she answered a steely affirmative.

Sam didn't know what possessed her. Maybe it was a lifetime of being ignored. Maybe it was her grandmother's stories. Maybe it was being here, in this moment, and any other place or time would have meant she stayed hovering over her sandwich.... but-

"Anyone got a ship big enough for a more private conversation?"

"I do."

She had no idea when she'd stood up. She must have blacked out a little at the sheer audacity of herself.

"Um. I mean- I- Um. I'm Sam? I didn't mean, you know, to eavesdrop- not that I was trying to listen! I just- heard. And. I have a big enough ship. If, I mean, if you all. Want to. If not, that's okay too. But, I thought-"


[member="Vivienne Bastra"] [member="Jy Din Lorr"] [member="Maiev"] [member="Catya Delarn"]

 

[Farah]

Crouching to inch his way through the door, Grru did his best to skirt along the tavern walls and blend in—which was difficult for the hulking, hairy Wookie. His entrance turned a few heads and caught a wary eye or two, and Grru could only bare his teeth in his best awkward smile. Ever since leaving Kashyyyk, the young giant barely scraped by as part of a crew transporting small rounds of goods in a dilapidated old freighter. Grru had a sneaking suspicion that the business was not entirely legal, but he was in no position to argue with a paying job that took him on with no experience. So far, the Wookie made a living loading and unloading heavy boxes.

Shuffling his way to the bar, Grru’s beady eyes locked with that of the bartender, both sentiments looking a bit unnerved for very different reasons. Grru only wanted a drink and maybe a little something to eat, but the Wookie did not drink alcohol so his options were…limited? Feeling the anxiety in his chest rise as each silent moment passed, he nearly jumped as the bartender muttered out a “Whaddya have?”

Startled, the Wookie looked around for anything that appeared to be non-alcoholic. In desperation, he pointed to the sink behind the bartender, specifically the water tap.

It took a few moments and some more pointing for Grru to get his water, and even more gesturing and charades for him to get a little bag of tea.

Finally, the frazzled creature took a seat at the table across from the young women. Keeping his head down, the Wookie couldn’t help but peek through the wisps of fur that obscured his vision, curious about their conversation—until one of them mentioned killing these Sith and other scum with intensity and he flinched, looking back down at his cup of lukewarm water. The teabag and gone stale long ago, but the great beast dipped it into the glass with a practiced, delicate hand. Grru had only vaguely heard of Sith in passing, but he had been present when his home was attacked and subsequently set aflame by Mandalorians. That day marked his departure for more than one reason.

[member="Sam Paige"] [member="Tegan Katarn"] [member="Diana Veneris"] [member="Catya Delarn"] [member="Jy Din Lorr"] [member="Vivienne Bastra"] [member="Maiev"] [member="Yvana"]

 

[Eshtaol]

One by one, the crowd grew. The dark-haired woman with the strange presence joined Yvana and the woman opposite first, introducing herself as Maiev - then the brunette strode over to the table, naming herself Vivienne. A woman who'd just arrived followed and the word wildfire rolled off her tongue; a girl with a snowy white mane of hair and a cat in her arms joined them last, offering something to feed the flames.

For just a moment, Yvana had to grin.

Tegan introduced herself and Yvana's focus was back on the matter at hand. An eyebrow lifted in surprise at the woman's directness - not in displeasure. She was right - they were here for purposes beyond drinks and exchanging names, and there were likely places to discuss that purpose which were less. . .conspicuous.

"Of course." Five was a perfectly good number to begin with, after all - Yvana was still partly amazed that any number of people had come. Eyes went around the small gathering. "Anyone got a ship big enough for a more private conversation?"

"I do."

She looked in surprise to the redhead.

"Um. I mean- I- Um. I'm Sam? I didn't mean, you know, to eavesdrop- not that I was trying to listen! I just- heard. And. I have a big enough ship. If, I mean, if you all. Want to. If not, that's okay too. But, I thought-"

Yvana cut off Sam's nervous stream of words swiftly. "Hey, don't worry. That sounds perfect. Any objections?" The question was met largely with vague gestures of agreement, and Yvana nodded in approval. "Alright, lead the way, Sam."

She rose to her feet when the others did, and she'd follow Sam when she led.

- [member="Maiev"] - [member="Vivienne Bastra"] - [member="Jy Din Lorr"] - [member="Catya Delarn"] - [member="Diana Veneris"] - [member="Tegan Katarn"] - [member="Sam Paige"] - [member="Grru"] -​

 

[Farah]

As the women continued to converse, Grru did his best to observe them without looking too conspicuous. The Wookie was well aware of his imposing figure, so he overcompensated for it to the point of being timid. Whatever they were doing—fighting bad guys?—seemed exciting and something that the young, impressionable Grru could get into. Though he had anger issues, the great beast was very gentle and compassionate. He wanted to help people, and what better way to do that than to help take out bad guys?

As the more petite group headed for the exit and out into the night, Grru waited a few moments before abruptly standing up and downing the rest of his tea in one go. He figured it would be no use asking the barkeep for a to-go glass, given how long it took him to communicate that he wanted a glass of water.

Exiting the tavern, he began to tip toe his way behind the women. Quickly realizing that it was creepy behavior that could be seen as threatening, the Wookie switched gears and meandered at a slower, more casual pace while doing his best to admire the graffiti that covered the dingy permacrete structures lining the street.

Maybe he should start whistling to add to his cool and calm demeanor? Could he even whistle? Grru didn’t remember ever whistling in his life, but maybe it was one of those little subconscious things you did without realizing?

Grru tried to whistle, but it came out more like an odd spitting sound. Trying to distract from that, he settled on looking as engrossed as he could in a piece of street art which had a lady and she wasn’t wearing any…oh. Ohhhh that was obscene! If Wookies could blush he would have been beet red, instead he just cringed.

[member="Sam Paige"] [member="Tegan Katarn"] [member="Diana Veneris"] [member="Catya Delarn"] [member="Jy Din Lorr"] [member="Vivienne Bastra"] [member="Maiev"] [member="Yvana"]

 

[Maiev]

As she remained seated, Maiev began to observe; to watch and listen what was going on. Within minutes a half dozen people had suddenly flocked to one building, one spot. And if her senses were correct there was at least two more on the fringes. It was like a wave had washed in a load of fish, straight into a one net.

And it seemed [member="Yvana"] Flynn was their fisher.

To Maiev she looked young, too young perhaps. Though the witch wasn't always the best judge on someone's age, albeit she could roughly estimate she had about a decade on her. Despite that though, she couldn't ignore the fact that she was the one who had sent the encrypted message out, bringing them all together.

<I like her.> Indeed, Maiev could feel a sense of pride from Kalax-Ra swell in her chest, at seeing another youngster who had taken a similar stance towards the galaxy as whole. Much like how the spirit had guided her at a similiar age.

Before she moved on, Maiev reached out with the Force. Moving with the silent subtlety of a snake in tall grass. She carefully and briefly brushed against Yvana's presence in the Force. Something she would repeat for each person present. She identified hers as neutral, and if she weren't mistaken it was truly so. It peaked Maiev's interest, wondering how that had come about in the young woman.

She then moved on to the short-haired one, [member="Vivienne Bastra"] was her name. Kalax-Ra had been quick to warn her to be cautious around her. After all this had been the one who had almost immediately picked up her darker presence. Though, the fact she had not taken it further seemed to indicate she understood Maiev was no true darksider. That, and the feel of Bastra's presence in the Force gave her a neutral tone, with an inclination towards the light.

“Nairobi!”

At one point her observations of those nearest was interrupted by a commotion. Maiev's attention shifted to [member="Diana Veneris"], the blonde-haired woman she had sighted entering earlier. It didn't really take much for her to realize Diana's presence was practically shining bright and very light to those looking for it.

After that, she returned to the table she was sat at. Her attention turning to the woman to her side, [member="Tegan Katarn"]. Maiev didn't require to Force to get an impression of her. The way she held herself; how she sat. How spoke, and the words used. It gave a sense of danger to her, which made Maiev quite interested when she realized the woman's presence was neutral. It seemed to be a common theme, leaving the crossbreed Witch as the 'black sleep' so to speak.

Finally of the group around them, her attention was on [member="Jy Din Lorr"]. She immediately noted the untamed brown hair, somethin Maiev knew well with her own mess of dark locks. Her presence gave off that familiar feel of neutrality, and yet had what seemed like a chaotic side to it.

Aside from that her eyes did wander away from the table. Angling towards the bar where she spotted [member="Catya Delarn"]. At first Maiev thought nothing of her, but as she occasionally glanced back there, she noticed the woman was eavesdropping on their conversation. Maiev reached out with the Force, finding another neutral, but realized that there was something off about it. There was no connection between them, as if the woman wasn't aware she was even sensitive to it. Similiarily, she had caught sight of a Wookiee; [member="Grru"], which wasn't particularly difficult given the size of him. But what intrigued Maiev was the fact he kept looking, clearly trying to not be obvious about it. Though the Wookiee lacked any presence in the Force.

"I do."

Then a small voice reached her ears, and Maiev rose an eyebrow when she turned to see the source of it. It was the redhead, [member="Sam Paige"] who she had only given a glance to previously. Now the young woman was standing up, facing them. She had an odd expression on her face, almost as if she had surprised herself in suddenly speaking up. But what particularly interested Maiev, was the fact her Force presence was currently quite small. Which rather amusingly reflection on the young redhead.

The events that followed seem to blur together. Yvana had requested any objections, and no one had a particular disagreement, at least not to a point that they didn't also stand up and follow. It must've been quite a sight to see this group following shortly behind Sam. From the cantina all the way towards the starport and inside. Eventually reaching their destination, where supposedly the young redhead's ship was located. There was a brief wait, but the doors soon slid open revealing just what exactly was awaiting them.

Only then, did Maiev finally talk again.

"I know you said it was a 'big enough' ship Sam, but this...I wasn't expecting this big."

 

[Jy Din Lorr]

Jy felt something. A tingling. A mental tingling, like she was being watched, only different. She'd felt it a few times before in her life, and had always shrugged it off, but this time it felt more important somehow. She scanned the group until at last she made lasting eye contact with the one who had identified herself as Maive. The woman had a powerful gaze. Her instinctive reaction was to feel challenged, but she pushed it down. They'd only just met and hadn't even has a conversation yet; there was no reason to get defensive. But Jy knew somehow that this was a woman to either befriend or avoid. Time would tell which.

The cute redhead with the glasses offered her ship, and the group began moving as one. Jy could tell they were feeling each other out, wondering if they were all here for the same reason, suspicious of the reason for their meeting. Or maybe that's just me, she mused.

As they walked, a large shadow fell across her and she turned around. A Wookiee. She'd noticed him in the cantina as well. It was hard not to, given his size, and she instantly felt a bit less alone. He was moving in their general direction, so she dropped back from the other women as they all approached Sam's ship.

"I saw you before," she growled in Shyriiwook. It wasn't perfect, but it was as perfect as a non-Wookiee would ever get. "Are you following us?" She kept her tone purposefully light.

​

Diana Veneris | Yvana | Sam Paige | Maiev | Vivienne Bastra | Tegan Katarn | [member="Grru"]