Nightcrawler

[Heca Foliou]

Maena​

The New City​

Level 219​

~~Weeks ago~~​

​

Darkness​

​

She had become very attracted to the dark, dimming out any light from her. How long had it been since the incident? The tragedy. The murder. The day and bright light that left her with scarred images that would she would see forever. How funny it was for even the day to bring tragedy over one's life? Never she had thought it was capable for the beauty of day and the joy of light to harbor foul fiends.

Why do I deserve this?​

​

Every minute passed and she was thinking of them. Thinking of the life she was stolen from some savage. She can still remember his face. Every detail inch by inch. Heca's blood boiled. She could feel her own eyes about to gouge from her sockets fueled by her own anger. The young woman could feel her own chest stirring, even about to burst out open by her pure hatred for the man.

She needed to do something.​

​

She felt the need to​

​

kill.​

​

And she craved for it.​

​

It didn't matter to who or to what. She'd do it indiscriminately. Her parents taught her to be better and to never commit such atrocities, but she pushed aside those beliefs and morals. She was consumed by something else, and that something else told her that she had the power to do whatever she pleased. The thug, a complete animal, had the power and free will to kill her parents and rob them, almost doing the same to the young Foliou.

Therefore, didn't she shared the same rights to such lesser being?

~~Now~~​

​

Police reports had gone high as killings were happening in levels from 200 to 300. Criminal activity flourished here and the ongoing battle between justice and crime was eternal. But there was something odd and sinister from what was going on here. Normally the murders happened because of something; a reason. Drug trade, territory, or firefights between police patrols. These homicides were at random and it could happen to anyone.

Both gangs and officers that heard about these events were wary and cautious of their next step. Had it been in the upper levels, the law would have a better chance at catching the serial killer behind all this but with ongoing crime in these certain levels, detectives had limited time to do any investigating. Little did they know it was a girl from high society behind all this.

She was armed with only a rapier, and she dressed herself in an unusual way...for tastes of high society of course. She painted her face in a ghoulish way, and dressed awfully with only a cloak to veil most of her face.

Heca was out for blood tonight and she'd shed as much as she could of it...before the dawn of day rose up.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

MAENA - NEW CITY​

LEVEL 219​

11:47 PM LOCAL TIME​

Serial murder, to Maenans, was a drop in the bucket.

It was a common trait among those native to the planet that traveled beyond it to cause trouble, often inadvertently. The level of crime, violence, and corruption rife in their society simply made them incompatible with the laws and norms of the galaxy at large. So another serial killer, no matter how grisly, would mostly be cause for momentary interest if even spared a second glance. Of course, in the Upper 100 levels such a string of connected events would be given their due process. But below that...it was simply the way it was.

And Matsu Xiangu certainly wouldn’t bother with such trivial matters.

But whoever this was happened to have chosen a victim that would draw terrifyingly singular attention.

The Sith Lord had acquired immeasurable wealth since quietly drawing Maena within her web. The mining operations alone netted millions of credits. But sound financial tactics - as far as Matsu was concerned - involved multiple revenue streams. So of course there were the credits pouring in from businesses jockeying for prime real estate on the New City’s highest levels, the quiet black market sales of bioweaponry shipped from the Unit, and investments from the wealthy across the galaxy in the planet itself.

As far as the Lady was concerned, many of her investors were annoying sycophants or spoiled idiots disconnected from reality. But there were a few she liked. And it just so happened that the latest victim of one serial killer happened to be the eldest son of one she very much valued. Vakran Marur was a wealthy Togruta that owned one of the largest discreet shipping companies in the galaxy, and he and Matsu had struck up a mutually beneficial agreement. He was the finest distributor of Maenan products, and had proved himself nothing but extremely competent and trustworthy.

And now his son had died gruesomely in the New City’s lower levels.

His son, Rakry, was well-known for being a lush and had no doubt gotten himself poodoo-faced in some Level 200 bar looking for a hint of danger...and found more than he bargained for. He had been a bit of a fool, truth be told, but now one of Matsu’s best associates was demanding justice.

And that was why, despite her usual indifference, Xiangu found herself personally looking in to the murders. At her side walked a droid, though not in the form of her usual companion, Six-O, or her standard geisha droids. The geisha droids were reserved strictly for seemingly benign purposes and tourist direction. What the populous at large did not know, or only suspected, was that all geisha droids were reconning the levels they walked at all times and were capable of spying and collecting information...even if they appeared exceedingly simple.

No, the droid at her side was one reserved for messier business - a JIANGSHI-12 model created specifically for elimination of all biological targets. Each step it took was heavy, watching the world out of multiple pairs of eyes frozen in faces all over its head and one large optical sensor beaming from its front.

The geisha droids had been gathering intelligence, and would continue throughout the night, alerting Matsu and her JIANGSHI to any untoward disturbance...

[member="Heca Foliou"]​

 

[Heca Foliou]

"Father, why are those people so miserable? And why are they so..."

"Inhumane? Uncivilized? They choose to be like that, my dear; and yet they fancy themselves being victims from folks like us. That we purposefully place them where they are, and that we take them for granted. All lies and slander."

She continued to observe them, wondering why they had taken such barbaric behaviors.

"I don't want to end up like them."

"And you won't, my love. I promise you."

____________________________________________________________​

​

Just a memory she remembered.​

​

It seemed that the conversations mouthed and performances acted that she forgotten long ago was something easy to recall of. She was young during that time, and was like most of the girls at that age. Curious, afraid, wondering, and speculating. Anything odd or strange took her attention, and would wonder about them. The poor, unfortunate, and lawless was something she thought about all the time. Along with other subjects of course, but the poor stood out the most. Something she also wondered too.

But now look at that promise her father made to her. Empty and broken. She had become the very thing she was afraid of all because of that night and tragedy she witnessed before her own eyes. Remembering that memory and others grieved her, but that refined into another source: anger, and then hatred. Finally, it evolved into fury. An emotion that took control of her and she submitted into it, and it demanded blood. It made her feel...good. It didn't fill in that void of her heart and soul, and couldn't replace her murdered parents; however, she relished the feeling and soon it became an addiction for her.

Not long ago, she killed the son of a wealthy Togruta. She remembered the faces of all her victims as they would visit her in her dreams and try to torment her. She remembered how much he pleaded to her to spare him. He'd offer money, power, favors, all the luxuries that the elite possessed. None of it would sway her. Money she had and she lacked nothing else of. Remembering the mention of power did make her chuckle. Power? Power was something everyone possessed, yet most surrendered it to those above them and thus making them more powerful. But how funny it was that an offspring of a powerful parent, cornered like a rat, tried to give her power? Showed that even the mighty can fall to the strength of someone else lower than them.

She walked stalked the streets of Level 219, sometimes merging herself into walking crowds. She was thirsty, but she was smart. She knew she couldn't take on a group unless they were weak and not capable.

But there​

​

A young couple were walking and turning the corner to another street which was ill illuminated. They would be her first prey on this young night as she followed them.

Little did she know that the geisha droids were spying on the citizens of the New City. She always thought of them as droids to provide information, not to spy. Perhaps the way she dressed would inform Matsu and the JIANGSHI droid; and perhaps the Sith Lady would sense Heca's raw, dark emotions of hatred, anger, fury, and grief.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

It had been wanderlust that had drawn Matsu off Atrisia as a kid, and it motivated her thus far in life. In all those travels however, she’d never found a culture quite like Maena’s. Like other planets with large cities there was evidence of the customs of those people who had come to populate it, of the things critical to every human subset, every alien species that settled. Foods for every digestive system lined the street, thousands of religious idols were crammed on vendor’s stalls or lining storefronts and alleys, dozens of languages could be heard at once.

And yet, above it all, was the understanding that all these differences came together under the blanket of Maena’s claustrophobic sin.

It changed you. It dissolved lines.

Steam hissed out of piping overhead, drifting down to leave a sheen of moisture on the high planes of Matsu’s cheekbones as comms whispered in her ear, a tinny hum meshing with the brilliance of the life all around her. If she closed her eyes she could almost imagine being a child again.

Potential sighting. Coordinates are as follows.

In a city where most directions were given something like “Take a right at that meat shop, go straight down past the club with the neon girls on it”, there was no specific sector or block designation to assist Matsu in her search save for her access to limited mapping. It was another thing that made it so difficult to hold to any sort of law and order where the Security Bureau was concerned: coordination was nearly impossible save for locals. And no local was going to tell them anything.

Number flowed in to her ear from the geisha droid in question and she and the droid at her side set off in pursuit.

____________________​

​

The geisha in question walked placidly, hands folded within billowing sleeves. Black eyes seemingly vapid, a hidden operating system flowing beneath a finely tuned chassis, it just walked and waited for a traveller’s question.

But it was watching.
And it saw the oddly dressed girl.
It was not however, her wardrobe that was cause for alarm.
Distances and crowd openings calculated mathematically...something wrong.
Suspicious.
Coordinates sent to Master.

And then it cut through the crowds to follow the girl, seemingly stalking another pair of people. In two, three, four strides it had shed any question of its being benign, its limbs extending to make it a full two feet taller than its base setting - too long, too tall, too angular. Its face opened, revealing golden plating beneath in which recording systems whirred. Its voice was far less friendly than usual as it called out to the girl in question.

“Halt. If you do not stop for questioning, deadly force is authorized.”

Maena didn’t really care much for the concept of ‘innocent until proven guilty’.

[member="Heca Foliou"]​

 

[Heca Foliou]

Her face was blank and neutral, there was no smile or frown on that beautiful face of hers that she temporarily tarnished with her makeup. She had enjoyed reading books of myths and legends, and those that touched the topic of horror and ghosts were one of her favorites. She took inspiration of the stories she read, picking up a trend that most women that were unfortunate to be cursed were beautiful and gorgeous only to be cast a face that was horrifying and ugly. She'd give her prey a quick glance of her face before reaping their lives. Something to frighten them and leave them screaming only to be silenced by the flow of her rapier's blade.

Apart from her bloody addiction, she found some obsession with the dead. She'd sometimes find herself having a conversation with her dead parents or some other deceased person in her sleep, or when she was zoned out of the realm of the living and focused into some other dimension of space, only being pulled back by the disturbance of her servants knocking at her door or a book falling out of place and slamming into the floor. They were just illusions though real enough for her to come with scratches and minor cuts on her skin.

While there was no facial expression upon her there emotions in her eyes. They looked focused and determined on the young couple she eyed upon. There was a hint of hungry mixed in as well.

But that all changed when...

“Halt. If you do not stop for questioning, deadly force is authorized.”​

​

Her eyes widened in fear when she was called out. She had just passed a geisha droid and this was the first time she had seen them act like this. Fear took control of her, and it commanded her to not stop and heed the words of the droids. She would ignore it, pretend to be deaf or hard of hearing. That was a good excuse, but then again it was Maena and no one gave a flying damn about anything.

She could feel her heart racing, adrenaline kicking in as she continued to walk. The strength of fear told her to forget about the young couple she was stalking and to walk until she was far away from the geisha. Was this something new from the Security Bureau? She couldn't be the only one to be singled out by them, right?

Would it continue to pursue her? She didn't know as she didn't look back at it as she took a left turn on the adjacent street connecting to the avenue she treaded on.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

Contact made. Suspect is not compliant.

A clicking that sounded eerily like some kind of rolling stutter from the back of a human throat started issuing from the JIANGSHI, its optic sensor glowing a hotter orange as it calculated the quickest interception routes within seconds from available mapping. A string of binary cracked from it before it strode off, picking up speed, the crown of faces encircling its optic sensor towering over the Maenans that scrambled out of its way.

Matsu simply kept on walking.

_________​

There were no final warnings. On a planet like this, taking the extra moment was not a question of life and death, but simply fact. The wide-open face of the geisha droid allowed for video recording, a constant stream being sent to the fast-approaching JIANGSHI droid so it would know the human in question. Had the geisha droid been alone it could well have captured the young woman in question, having the usual strength of any droid meant to be able to dispatch a quick shot of...control.

But it was not meant for organic disassembly like a JIANGSHI.

Which, speaking of arrival, sent the potential victims of the young woman scrambling in terror as it came sprinting towards the alley they’d used as an innocent shortcut. It appeared, silhouetted in the alley’s mouth, standing an imposing eight feet with thick plating around its many parts. It had been designed to engage with organics of all species, and therefore had been built to meet head-on with larger aliens as well. But this young woman was tiny, it processed. Stalking forward, a singular purpose to the sway of its arms, its weight could be felt in the pavement with each impact.

When it was close, it reached out, snatching metal fingers for the young woman’s clothes in an attempt to throw her against the hard, firebrick alley wall. It had orders not to kill, at least not at first. But it hadn’t been told not to injure.

It was at that moment that Matsu caught up, entering the alley’s mouth, significantly smaller in the JIANGSHI’s shadow. The sound of her voice drifted lazily through the young woman’s mind…

Are you deaf? Or just stupid?

[member="Heca Foliou"]​

 

[Heca Foliou]

It was a long alleyway she had come across from when she took that turn. She had no map to navigate these strange waters in the New City as the whole place, well starting from levels of the slums such 219, was labyrinth. A labyrinth full of mystery, adventure, wonders, murder, corruption, and other unique factors that made it unlike Coruscant and other City Planets. Not even wealthy folks like herself didn't know what passageways in places like these. She'd just take whatever turn, find whatever prey, and come home from her nightly activities.

She heard nearby screams, but didn't dare to look back as she faced the lonely alley with lights flickering and trash littering. She couldn't look suspicious, she needed to shake off whatever attention was on her. She was still smart and knew when to give up a chase and when to act.

Speaking of acting, her head finally turned when she could feel it quake and rumble beneath her.

Oh, chit.​

​

And started to run away from the giant of the JIANGSHI in this narrow alleyway, yet somewhat spacious. Unfortunately it was futile. She could feel something strong grabbing her by her cloak and then threw her like a rag doll against the brick wall. She could tell the geisha wasn't joking at all when deadly force would be used against her. On impact she faced the wall forward the wind knocking out of her lungs, her nose cracked and started to bleed, bruises forming on her cheekbones, and minor fractures on her jaw. Her chest pained her too with perhaps some ribs broken.

She fell to the floor, still conscious but dizzy, and crawled away from the droid. Her rapier was still on her body, clinging to her waist and sheathed. "Frak," she gasped out, wheezing as she tried to regain the rhythm of her breath. She was scared from the figure of the JIANGSHI and angry for being tossed like that. There were tears dripping from her eyes and the blood of her nose oozing down. If she thought she looked like mess with her makeup, she upped the ante with warm blood and wet tears mixing in.

A woman that joined the fray, a light of the alley flickering to let Heca know that the unknown woman was smaller than the droid. And she spoke to her, not in syllables mouthed off but a voice entered a mind.

Are you deaf? Or just stupid?​

​

The Foliou winced, looking away from her attackers. She was none of those things especially the former. She didn't answer back immediately, but it did daunt her with how this woman spoke to her mind. Something she wouldn't forget.

"I'm...none of those things," she said weakly, knowing it'd be best to comply for her own sake.

"What are you," offering her own question to the Sith, "what do you want?"

She'd continue to crawl away, taking it easy to not immediately get up and fall again.

Please...someone help me​

​

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

She could taste blood in her mouth, but it wasn’t her own. Some of her ability, through decades of use, had become passive - a feeling of living in more than one mind at once, especially at moments like this. She had to think about it to root through someone else’s mind, but watching the blood drip from the younger girl’s nose, Matsu could feel that muted sensation.

I’m...none of those things.​

Not deaf, jury was still out on stupid.

What are you?​

Not ‘who’. Maybe not completely stupid.

Please, someone help me…​

The thought drifted across Matsu’s mind, pushed in that way that the Force made possible above the strength of a regular plea. Interesting. That the girl had the Force wasn’t, in itself, of note. Little rats with power seemed to run rampant these days and as far as Matsu was concerned, they were a dime a dozen. No potential. A waste of a gift. Until proven otherwise at least. If the girl kept crawling however she wouldn’t live to find out.

It was a small thing. She reached out, took hold, and impressed the command stop...moving… An unbearable, unbreakable will.

“I want to know if you have any information regarding the serial murders on this level, Level 220, and Level 221. I can assure you that if you do, I’ll find out. But telling me yourself would be less...of an ordeal.”

[member="Heca Foliou"]​

 

[Heca Foliou]

And like that she stopped moving and was static. Of course she could move her lips, eyes, and crane her head but that was all she could do. She panicked internally which was the most normal, obvious thing to do in a situation like this. Fear for her life and whatever this woman was. She heard tales of the Force, stories of the Jedi and Sith in whatever readings she could find them on. The name "Sith" intrigued her even before her poor parents were murdered before her eyes, and after that tragedy it called to her more.

What is going on?​

​

You are gonna bite the dust, that's what's going on girl

Oh, this is getting good. I hope it goes slowly for you​

​

Come on, I can't wait anymore. This wait is killing me, hah!

Break her more! Make her ask for death!​

​

It was the voices of the victims she killed from these past few weeks on Maena. The ones that would try to haunt and torment her in her private moments in which Heca would laugh off and disrespect them. But now look where she was. She had become the prey for some other woman that clearly outmatched in her the food chain. Even without the JIANGHSI Matsu could handle the Foliou without breaking a sweat.

However, there was this voice that spoke to her that was foreign to her, yet somewhat...familiar.

Pathetic, I truly hoped more of you. You had potential, but now you're just a waste. Alas, you're going to end up like your poor parents.​

​

She flared up. Heca was angry at the taunting voice. The thought of dying like her parents frightened her, but the fury in her gave her the will to fight back.

I wo-​

​

Then fight back, girl. Prove me wrong. You haven't even tried.​

​

What it asked seemed impossible, but the taunting, the tormenting, her emotions of fear and anger fueled her. No, she couldn't escape whatever that kept her in place yet there was a way to get out of it. There was always a way. You just had to find it.

Cooperate. Surrender to her dominance.​

​

Heca assumed that she wouldn't be getting off with her life from this encounter. Less ordeal for herself? Meaning less pain for her before she croaked. This was Maena. People died left and right, justice failing to avenge those deaths. It'd be a miracle to be left off the hook, but miracles didn't existed. If so, life would be so much easier and much more enjoyable without blood being shed.

"W-which murders? There's plenty of them here...maybe a bit more specific, p-please," Heca said to Matsu in a humble, complying tone of voice, knowing in what position she was. But with that there was a trick in the play. That intelligence going to work. She didn't know she was sensitive to the Force and with that saying she was of course untrained in it; however, her eyes caught on a dirty, aluminum trash lid behind Matsu and the JIANGSHI. Something took over her and she, with everything in her might, picked up the object. Her face started to sweat and her breathing became heavy. It was too much for her, but she had to try. Otherwise, that taunting voice would be right all along about her.

With a steady grip on the lid, she then threw it at Matsu from behind; and if she was successful at this attempt, then she'd make a run for it.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

“I suppose you’re right,” Matsu said. Even specifying a level often wasn’t enough to narrow down which murder she might have been speaking of. The 200’s were calming down after their influx of new refugees from the Great Fires down in the 300’s, but still - tensions were high.

The effort it took the girl to manipulate the lid was rife with a sense of herculeanism that signaled to Matsu that she would be attacked long before the trashcan lid went flying. She turned ever so slightly and raised her hand, the lid smashing painlessly against her phrik palm.

She sighed.
She would admit the girl had balls.

“Fine. I’m going to search for the answer myself then. Tell me when I’m warm,” she said, a frightening irreverence.

Matsu’s touch on a mind at first felt like almost nothing, a subtle pressure and fullness in the center of one’s head - a sensation of establishment. From there she could be careful, searching quietly and almost imperceptibly. But there was no need for such precautions here. And when she wasn’t being careful...there was agony.

At first voices screamed at her, dozens all screeching at her to leave them alone. But almost as soon as they appeared they pulled backwards, hiding in corners, whispering in pain as they huddled from her.

They stood in that alley, Matsu’s eyes tracking the wall as if reading something no one else could see.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” she asked quietly of the young woman.

[member="Heca Foliou"]​

 

[Heca Foliou]

There was a grin on her mouth when she performed such act that was supernatural to her, yet ordinary in the Galaxy with orders and cults such as the Sith, Jedi, Witches, and other entities that could manipulate the Force. With this newfound power she felt awe by it and a sense of victory of throwing the lid at the woman. How unique and complex the mind worked. Here she was attacked by this mysterious duo of woman and machine, having some wounds inflicted upon her; but she found a light from the end of this tunnel when she threw the lid at Matsu.

But then that light diminished and that grin faded away.

The sense of defeat and dread filled her heart. She could've sworn she skipped more than one beat when Matsu anticipated her attacked and met the lid with her metallic arm composed of phrik. The lid fell to the concrete floor along with her chances to get out of this situation.

Those voices inside of her cackled and mocked at her as her attempt, tolling her strength and energy, was futile. She hated to be laughed at whether dead or alive. But her fear drowned more than her anger or hatred combined. How funny, yet interesting she was a whole different person until this night. She was vicious, ruthless, and uncompassionate. Now she harbored emotions like a prey. Full of fear, finding a way to outwit her attacker, internally begging for some miracle to save her. She tried to worm out from whatever was holding her, but it was useless. The Sith Lady spoke to her in a cold manner, making Heca's eyes widen. She could only imagine she'd feel physical pain...but she was wrong.

The Foliou's mind was breached easily as no barrier was formed to protect her. Indeed she did not feel Matsu's presence inside her head, but then...

​

SCREAMS​

​

Heca's body twitched and moved violently the more Xiangu invaded her mind. She wasn't joking around about being inflicting pain on her. Of course, it would've probably been much less ordeal had she not been so bold to attack her from surprise with the Force. More tears poured out from her eyes, making her look more ugly with the paint and makeup she applied on her beautiful face. The young woman also begged for Matsu from her mouth which was ignored as the woman continued to press on. Finally the Xiangu left her mind as she gotten the answers she wanted leaving Heca lying down and one side of her cheek touching the dirty floor as she whimpered and shuddered from what she had experienced. She could move, but she dared not from how afraid and scared she was.

“It was you, wasn’t it?”​

​

The woman quietly asked of Heca. There was no point in lying or avoiding the truth. Not that she wasn't ashamed of her actions, but lying would most likely have her face more agony.

It was me.​

​

The Foliou said as she reached out to Matsu telepathically as it was hard for he to try to move her lips.

Suddenly they were not alone in this alley as a group of people filled it by where Matsu, Heca, and the JIANGSHI entered and the other entrance that was ahead of them. They were armed with blasters and virbo-knives, and they weren't officers of the Security Bureau.

"Well, shoot! Lookey here, fellas!"

"Looks like some asshats have parked up in our spot."​

​

"You know what this means, right?"

"Slice and dice?"​

​

"Oh, yeah. Fun time before the meeting."

"Let's make this quick, boys. And take out that...thing"​

​

A group of men, fourty and no more or no less, entrapped the trio where they were. Blasters were aimed at the JIANGSHI droid and those with their vibro-weapons charged at Matsu and Heca. They wore no armor, only their clothes and they out to harm the two women and the droid.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

There had been a time in Matsu’s life where she might have taken the same turn this younger woman did. She’d grown up on the streets and perhaps murdering others to steal their clothes and credits might have made certain things easier. But as a tiny urchin, the probability of that drawing attention from the wrong people made it easier just to steal and scrape. Under the radar.

But this girl had made no effort to disguise her murders.
What did it mean?

Matsu was no stranger to stubbornness either. She would not have wanted to give up her actions so easily even if it would mean less pain. So while in her position she just wanted expediency, there was an understanding to what it meant to guard the only thing some people had: their secrets.

The answers would have to wait.

Men and women, clad in the gear of one of many lesser gangs vying for relevance on the New City’s streets, appeared on both ends of the alley. Numbers gave them confidence, even in the face of a JIANGSHI. Matsu sighed. Truly, this was becoming more trouble than it seemed her associate’s son had been worth. But the importance of his continued business pressed her to settle in to calm preparation.

“You’re not off the hook. But let’s deal with this first and then we can go somewhere and...talk.”

The first shot from the ambushing group exploded in a gush of plasma on Matsu’s arm as she lifted its phrik surface to block the bolt. In the same motion she reached out and gripped just a few of the weakest minds in the groups - the blind followers. They turned their blasters on their friends, colored plasma flying in all directions as the gang suddenly had to defend themselves from some of their own.

On the other end of the alley the JIANGSHI was in motion, plasma bolts bouncing off its chassis as it lumbered towards part of the group. Its sheer weight was its greatest weapon and as it started swinging, the air around it became a red mist with pulpy bits of flesh flying occasionally upon its impact with something. From its left shoulder a small on-board blaster system appeared, suddenly firing indiscriminately in to the group it wasn’t directly attacking.

It was, truly, mayhem. Perfect for a girl with some repressed anger to work out.

[member="Heca Foliou"]​

 

[Heca Foliou]

Get up girl.​

​

Now.​

​

More danger had come. Matsu and the droid were enough for her and the addition of gang members from the streets was making her chances of survival lower. But, fortunately for Heca, there was hope. Or so she thought. Could she really trust this mysterious woman that had attacked her and made feel pain she had never before experienced. So many questions with so many hypothetical answers to them. Trust was hard to give and receive, but what poison would she rather take?

Being dead meat to these sociopathic rats, looking at her as their next meal? Or have a...potential civilized talk with this woman that would maybe spare her life? Her money was on the latter. Matsu wasn't like the vermin that wander these streets. If she wanted to, she could've killed Heca moments ago; however, she didn't as she looked for answers. Answers to the killings the Foliou had done. She had gotten them, but still allowed the young woman to breathe. The same question that Matsu was asking to herself.

What does this mean?​

​

She had gotten up on her two feet, stumbling a bit after what the so far adventures of tonight, with her rapier unsheathed. Heavy breathing was exhaled and inhaled from her mouth. She felt weak and tired, but that surge of adrenaline kept her from collapsing. She was running on fumes of energy; little, yet enough.

As Matsu and the JIANGSHI took care of some personnel of the group, Heca was already dealing with some of her own. A male, and a dumb one, holding two vibro-daggers in both hands simply charged at Heca. He was taller and most certainly stronger than Heca. She was small and weak, yet looks could easily deceive. Her blade was longer than his knives and was lightning fast with a flick of her wrist. So she swung first, in an elegant and precise manner, with the man blocking with his own blade but by the second wave his throat was cut open. He dropped his weapons and clutched his throat to stop the lethal wound, but it was no use. A third attack horizontally cut at near his eye and fell to the floor, bleeding out before death.

She charged at the rest while being greeted by a red blaster bolt striking at her left shoulder. She yelped as her skin burned by the blaster. So many wounds and injuries tonight, the worse being from Matsu's journey in her mind with the treatment from the JIANGSHI droid being second. This was nothing. She didn't stop as a couple more thugs fell by her blade. At least she had spilled blood and reaped lives tonight. Confidence soar which them evolved into cockiness. An emotion she caught up on that would soon be used against her as several of the gang members surrounded her and one of them made a deep, gashing cut on her arm. She flinched from the attack as blood poured out from her veins, and that flinch would be taken for granted as another cut was made behind her back.

She was in a real pickle with quick insight of the situation she was in as she started blocking attacks from her multiple adversaries. Yet she could feel something inside of her building up: anger, hatred, and fury. Voices of the dead enjoyed seeing her in pain, only to fuel her rage. She acted on emotion rather than critical thinking. Slashes were made across the upper hemisphere of her body with her form being sloppy.

Haha! Yes! More!

Make her look hideous before death!​

​

Wonderful! Truly magnificent!

Die! Die you worm!​

​

More gaping wounds happened across her, weakening her and bringing her an inch closer to death.

A cut, following with laughs.​

No.​

​

Another cut, more mockery.

​

No.​

​

And another, with gasping chucles.​

​

NO.​

​

And she then exploded with her fury uncapped. With the gift of the Force she telekinetically repulsed those around her, making objects and subjects to fly away from her. Some died from the act as they broke their necks and others were paralyzed. Those lucky enough to breathe and stand on their own feet were stunned and shocked of what they had activated. Fear invaded their hearts and minds. They didn't dare to attack which allowed Heca to take advantage over this fatal mistake.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

There was a displacement to telekinesis that offset its explosion, a pulling inward before bursting outward. Matsu was as proficient as the next person at such things but she’d had to study once she started clashing with Siobhan Kerrigan. The massive wounds burned and cut in to her skin had made it critical to understand that momentary twisting of gravity when she felt it.

Therefore she knew what was happening behind her even though she was too busy to look.

And when she finally turned, the last few thugs choosing to cut and run rather than die for one alley among thousands of other options in the New City, the results were a bloom. Graffiti was obscured by bits of brain and blood, a distinctly ammoniated smell to the air. The JIANGSHI whirred loudly behind her as it blew off air through its exhausts, cooling mechanisms hot with the exertion of performing its primary function. It too could appreciate the scene painted before its sensors. It appreciated creative dispatch.

The city kept turning outside the alley, seemingly unphased. Oh - none of them would venture down, at least not until Matsu and her companions departed. But then the scavengers would come, picking pockets for credits and valuables. The curious would come, though they wouldn’t spend much time; this was less interesting than it might have been on less chaotic planets. The less fastidious exotic meat dealers would come and look over the scraps left and see if any were worth something of value. And lastly, the clean-up crews of the New City would come to erase any evidence any of this ever happened at all.

Looking down at herself, Matsu noticed a large bloodstain on her new starsilk sweater. It wasn’t her own blood but that wasn’t even the concern - this was a nice sweater. She let out an audible sigh as she picked at the stain. There would be no getting this out of such delicate fabric.

“We’ll go back to my offices. I need a change of clothes.”

The JIANGSHI stalked behind her and the girl, just so the little murderess didn’t get any ideas about running off.

________________​

Her offices in the very top levels of Maena were as tasteful as her choices in clothes, modern and clean and lots and lots of white. Shocks of obsidian furniture and counters broke up the wash, brilliant streaks of red, purple, green, blue catching the eye in art and sculpture. But the Lady was obviously a fan of the sleek and minimal.

She rejoined Heca, who had been seated rather unceremoniously by the JIANGSHI, on a square of couches nestled in a sunken space on the floor of one of Matsu’s more personal spaces within her offices. Another clean, well-fitted sweater sans bloodstain in place, she sat across from the girl.

“You can start with your name. And then maybe we can jump right in to what you think you’re up to in my city.” Of course, it wasn’t her city. But when something threatened her livelihood in it, it was the same sentiment.

[member="Heca Foliou"]​

 

[Heca Foliou]

It felt...good. That surge of energy that flew through her and unleashed gave such a thrill to it. Of course, that little stunt she just pulled off tired her and caused her to fall on her knees. She didn't had to worry about her guard down as the thugs thought it best to retreat from the two women and the giant JIANGSHI. Fortunate for them they had a brain and a few neurons to know when a fight could be won and when to fall back. Heca was still hurt and in pain from the nasty cuts she gotten from the outlaws that were deceased, but there was a grin on her face. While tonight was a strange and peculiar one, she still managed to draw blood loose.

The alleyway was painted with crimson, corpses, and loose organs. A beautiful picture that filled her corrupt, wicked heart. One that would be erased and forgotten. No one gave a damn about the little scenery taken place. Sure, there were people that heard the loud commotion happening and would come to inspect it really quick, though they'd be indifferent towards it. The same attitude when the Foliou's parents bit the dust on that foul, sunny day.

Heca's grin disappeared as the mysterious woman that attacked was still here as she spoke. The young lady was so into what had happened that she had forgotten about her. Again fear seeped through her, but not as intoxicating as a few moments earlier. Curiosity and wonder was mixed in. This woman had attacked her for information and had not killed her yet. She could easily do it if she wanted to. Like a hand snapping a weak twig. Heca did find it somewhat amusing that the Sith Lady needed a change of clothes after this. The two women then headed off to said offices the droid in tow. The young woman could run off if she wanted to, but she chose not to. Something pulled her to Matsu and she couldn't shy away from that.

_____________________________________​

​

White everywhere, with small patches of different colors that danced in the offices. Oh, she could definitely tell that Matsu was much more wealthier than her. The Lady looked like she belonged to those kinds of secret societies with unquestionable authority. After all, wealth meant power.

The Foliou was clearly nowhere near Matsu's league. Literally. She was outclassed in every aspect. After that little trick of trying to attack the woman with a trash lid, there was no point in trying to resist against her dominance. And so when she was asked for her name, she complied.

"M-my name is Heca. Heca Foliou," she said said and allowed a short, interval pause to pass by before opening her mouth again. Her tone was cooperative and a bit scared. She didn't want her mind to be invaded again.

"Who and what are you? Why didn't you...kill me?"

She shuddered at the thought of her own death. She brought death, yet feared her own. Ironic.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]​