One brisk evening...

[Darion Blackstaff]

Darions home was not simple, nor as extravagant as it could have been. While Darion was a very wealthy man he also enjoyed the privilege of having the peoples trust. And part of feeding that trust came with a moderate life style, from a very wealthy mans perspective at least.

The mansion on Pengalan IV rested on a cliff overlooking a small oasis of the desert dunes. There the three story building carried an impressive balcony where one was offered a magnificent view. Inside the large living room was furnitured to take advantage of that view.
On the top floor was also the republic senators office where the aging man spent most of his time when he was at home.

Darions fingers pressed the red button and the screens dropped down into his desk. It was growing late and he had a long journey tomorrow.

The Republic had faced much headache of late and its democratic ideals had been questioned both from outside and within. For now, they had managed a fragile truth with the mandalorians but the damage done to the commonwealth was extreme.
This was partly why Darion had decided to try and attempt to mend some of the wounds that now littered the Galactic Republic. One being the lack of allies.
It had been much work to

Before he had finally gotten hold of [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] who had required some persuading to agree to a meeting, one to hopefully close the gap between their two nations. A meeting that was necessary if the Republic would have a chance in their constant struggle versus the One Sith.

Darion pushed himself to his feet and moved out from the office and into the living room.

There she sat, a jedi. He barely accepted it himself but the senate security had insisted that one escorted him. In a way it was perhaps logical considering that Thurion supposedly was a jedi master, and who knew if he would use his powers against him somehow. But then, who could tell if not this jedi would do the same.

Darion took a deep raspy sigh and nodded to her.

"I will be heading to bed. We got a long journey tomorrow. I was informed by the captain that they will be ready to take us away around mid day." he tried a smile.

"Make yourself at home master jedi..." he then continued motioning around the room.

[member="Ella Nova"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XjqGn2VsIE​

​

As night crept over the planet, another shadow began to loom. War and Death had come for Pengalan IV, and they had come for [member="Darion Blackstaff"] . A single ship exited hyperspace just outside of the atmosphere, and as soon as the vessel dropped out it's cloaking was activated. Neither of it's inhabitants were flying however. Instead, a single, artificial, mind was controlling everything within. S.I.C.A., Darth Ferus's personal AI, built specifically to fly and operate stealth vehicles.

The ship hit heavy turbulence as it went from lightspeed to entering atmosphere, causing the Sith Lord within some discomfort. He never did like flying, but this? All to try and keep them off the radar, though it wasn't something he enjoyed. Red eyes would narrow in annoyance as he spoke up, the same emotion clear in his voice. "I don't see why this was necessary, Sica. No one will be expecting us, so why the over the top stealth tactics?"

"Even if they're not, there's no reason to alert suspicion. And I like seeing you squirm."

"Stop the sass."

"Yes master."

The A.I. went silent, followed by Ferus with a deep frown clear on his face. One of her quirks was really beginning to surface. He had noticed it during the raid on Coruscant, but now it was getting a bit much. This was something that would have to be dealt with later. The turbulence was over, and it was a quick zip down to the location of their target. Darion was going to try and forge relations between the Silvers and the Republic, something that couldn't be allowed to happen. So he, with [member="Darth Ophidia"] , would make sure they wouldn't meet.

The Assassins had come.

[member="Ella Nova"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Unlike War, Death did not mind the little extra bumps. She sat in meditation, eyes closed and breath slow. Her presence was shrunk to avoid detection through the Force, and she meditated to sharpen her focus as well as conserving strength to the task ahead. Her droid, Darling, just finished up securing the cargo bay for their drop, making sure nothing would be dropped with them. Darth Ophidia was clad in her Assassin Armour, a little scuffed but fully functional. In her hands, she held the helmet, ready to place on her head and complete the deadly attire.

They had come for the life of [member="Darion Blackstaff"], a senator that had done more than enough to earn the wrath of The One Sith. Now, he would finally realise what such brazen words would awaken.

Soon, the Pale Assassin opened her burning eyes and looked at [member="Darth Ferus"]. She didn't speak, but a small smile pulled on the corners of her mouth, a knowing smile. It had been too long since last they worked together, and now the galaxy would see how fearsome it was to be targeted by the Sith Assassins. Turning her head left and right, she cricked her neck into place.

"The little extra caution may be just what we need. As long as we get there in time."

She turned her head to Darling, her hands shifting on her helmet.

"Darling, keep an eye on Sica. Sica, Extraction must be swift and accurate, or the both of you will be deleted."

As the droid nodded and turned its gaze to Sica, Ophidia looked once more at Ferus and placed the helmet on her head. With a sound of suction, it fastened to her head, and the HUD systems adjusted. She knew she could trust Darling. He had no quirks, only obedience, and he was programmed to be a capable pilot, capable enough for the job at hand, anyway.

She stood up and adjusted her gear, making sure everything was in its proper place before she turned once more to Ferus. No words were spoken, but the question ought to be quite clear. It was time they dropped.

"Darth Ferus, let us give them fear."

[member="James Mathison"]

 

[James Mathison]

The call had come in a couple days ago that a Jedi assigned to a Republic Senator had to leave her post for unforeseen reason, and as such, James had taken the job in her stead. He approached the senators room after the Female Jedi left her post and made his presence known.

"Senator Blackstaff, I am James, I'll be taking over security for you, sir."

Dressed in his Jedi Shadow gear, his face hidden behind the Shadow mask. The Wandering Jedi stood guard at the senators door, pressing out his sensory skills to feel for any presence that shouldn't be there. The HUD of his mask was hooked up to the security systems of the senators residence, allowing him acces to the holocams, motion sensors on the doors and windows and the IFF tag on the Senators person. James also had a GPS layout of the entire residence accessible on his HUD, with the added security access, James had the entire area under his surveillance.

"I'd like to ask that you keep your IFF tag on your person while you sleep sir. An annoyance I'm certain, but in these trying days, one can never be too cautious. Thank you sir."


[member="Darth Ophidia"] [member="Darth Ferus"] [member="Darion Blackstaff"]

 

[Darion Blackstaff]

Darion looked up at his protector with a tired nod.

"Yes, yes... I will do so master jedi." he answered.

The old man then scuttered inside his bed chamber. A servant droid helped to undress him and prepare his bedroom for the night.
There it placed the portable IFF on his night shirt as the senator went to bed.

With a clap of his hands the room went dark and Darion soon drifted into sleep.


[member="Darth Ferus"] [member="Darth Ophidia"] [member="James Mathison"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Fear is good. But make sure we mark this with at least one death. Remember the plan, and keep in mind security will be on us before we know it." Simple reminders, and probably some that he didn't have to say. [member="Darth Ophidia"] had grown quite well. If anything, she would be the one having to remind him if he continued down the path he was. And he didn't plan on stopping anytime soon. The holographic figure that was Sica cast a glance to Ferus when Ophidia gave her order/reminder. Only he could command the A.I. after all. A quick nod was offered to make sure Death's orders were followed.

"Very well. Just remember to get out at the right time and I'll be there. Also, time to jump." Ever with the sass. Another frown took over the Sith's features as the cockpit opened. They were just above the house now, where [member="Darion Blackstaff"] and [member="James Mathison"] resided. He didn't have the time to scold the A.I. before he jumped right out, landing before the home itself. His dark aura was clear, his murderous intentions plain. And if that wasn't enough, he spoke, making sure his voice could be heard throughout this politician's home.

"Come out, Darion. I've come for your head."

 

[Darth Ophidia]

"You are one to talk of caution."

Darth Ophidia jumped right after Ferus. She aimed for a slightly different approach than the Red Assassin's boisterous claim for the senator's blood. She steadied in the air and flicked the switch of her stealth-field generator. Her visage became nothing but an oscillation of air as she softened her landing with a telekinetic push and landed with her hands and feet on the building's ceiling structure. Amidst [member="Darth Ferus"]' spectacle, her subtle use of the Force was not likely to draw much attention. She looked around for cameras as she crawled over the ceiling on fours. With every step, she tested her footing before putting weight down. Her movement was not fast, but it was certainly quiet as she crept over the roof tiles like a cloaked spider. Her presence still shrunken to avoid detection through the Force.

Stopping, Ophidia closed her eyes and stood perfectly still. Before the Black Rose had betrayed the One Sith and splintered off, she had learned the art of Force Sight from one of their sisters, a Miraluka. With her eyes closed, she allowed the Force to enter and take visual form in her mind. Walls became clear as glass and living beings lit up like torches. Those saturated with the Force glowed the brightest. Say, a Jedi or a Sith without a masking technique active. With this sight, she ought to be able to locate the senator within the building, making it much easier for her to find a short-cut to his chambers.

Unless, of course, [member="Darion Blackstaff"] wanted to go outside and face the Zabrak in combat.

[member="James Mathison"]

 

[James Mathison]

It was like seeing a flash bang grenade from far away as his senses exploded with a Force Signature not of his own. There was a sense of familiarity in this signature...Assassins! He'd faced them before on a scrubbed mission to find their hideout. James had made it all the way inside their base when something set off both sides in a panic to run from the mission. Back then, the strongest signature he felt was this one. The leader of the Sith Assassins was not someone he'd wanted to see tonight.

"Senator, get your things, Sith are here!! Where's your friends the Silvers when we need them?"

James sent out as many feelers as he could to track the presence, a second, sliver of a signature appeared for a split second just after the Sith did, but he either wasn't strong enough to break through their Force Concealment or the Sith had brought a Sith cat too. The person was directly out front to main door, the security cameras picked him up and showed up on James' HUD. Tall, dark and Sithy was an imposing sight even through the camera lense.

Steeling his mind from thoughts of his enemy, he needed to find a safe way out of this location. The back was the first thought, but any good Sith had to know there was always a back door. So, out the side or, down they'd have to go.

"Senator, is there a basement or a cellar here that's not on the schematics?"

[member="Darth Ophidia"] [member="Darth Ferus"] [member="Darion Blackstaff"]

 

[Darion Blackstaff]

Having closed his eyes Darion had prepared himself for a good night’s sleep as his peace suddenly was changed into something else. Something dreadful....

"Come out, Darion. I've come for your head."

His eyes came wide open, fear started to fill his mind as the bodyguard suddenly gave off his warning.

No, it could not be... assassins, for him? No, it would not be fair!

He rushed as fast as he could to his feet. Being a man well beyond his 60 and of mediocre health that was perhaps a bit slower than [member="James Mathison"] would have preferred. Regardless it was fast enough to get him out of the bedroom and into the living room. He looked at his protector with pleading eyes.

"There is the wine cellar... I don’t know if it is in the schematics...." he spoke, panic covering his voice.

[member="Darth Ophidia"] [member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Silence. That was his answer. A frown settled on his lips as his red eyes glared towards this home. Such welcoming hosts! Ah well, at least their fear was palpable. Well. Maybe just [member="Darion Blackstaff"] . That would be enough, for what he had planned next. Black lines would slowly form over his skin, marking the Dark as it flowed through his form. [member="James Mathison"] could feel the massive surge of energy brewing within this Sith Lord, and the result would become clear.

With seething anger and visible strain the Sith, with his hands shaking, would begin to rip apart the front of the mansion. It was one thing to tear down a door, but that wasn't enough. No, if he was going to make an entrance, he would make an entrance. As if he was tearing open a present with both hands the entryway would slowly spread, ripping and tearing as metal and wood was forcibly torn. The echo of metal and wood shattering was far louder than his voice before, and hopefully send a better message.

Once he was finished showing off, the dark figure stepped right into the new entrance, letting the haunting voice once more sing out.

"I hope you don't mind I let myself in. Now, why don't you come and at least great me? It's rather rude to leave a guest unattended."

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Ophidia had climbed over Darion's bedroom when he was rushing out into the living room. Focusing once more, the Pale Assassin took a deep breath. Suddenly, once more a gust of force-use would envelop her as she used it to phase through the ceiling and drop into the Senator's bedroom. She caught herself silently and stood perfectly still, letting the darkness and the stealth field generator do its job in concealing her. She could hear [member="Darth Ferus"] all the way there, she understood why Darion had woken up and fled.

As she moved up to the door, through which Darion had just escaped, Ophidia plucked a curved lightsabre from her hip and rested her thumb on the activation button. She could not take chances with the Jedi present. The first strike was her best chance, lest she ended up in a duel. Then again, between the two assassins present, there would be no escape for the senator, of this she was certain.

She opened the door without the Force, and as soon as she could fit through, she rushed at the figure of [member="Darion Blackstaff"]. Her stealth-field generator shorted out as soon as the bloodshine blade erupted from her hilt and immediately moved into a thrust worthy of a Makashi expert. She aimed to take out the senator with a single thrust to the heart. Or, if stopped, engage [member="James Mathison"] enough to prevent him from protecting Darion from the Red Assassin.

 

[James Mathison]

James felt the entire house shake as the Senator ran past him into the living room, James pulled the blueprints up and linked a route to the cellar. They were a couple rooms away. That was when he sensed that Sith cat turn into a full fledged Sith Assassin right next to him. James hadn't moved from his spot yet, as he was feeling for the Sith the whole time. So when the Sith appeared, she was right in front of him.

Quick as he could, James reached out with the Force and haulted the Sith mid air and flung her to the side using TK.

"Run!" He yelled to the Senator. "Head for the Cellar!"

Using Telepathy, James sent a simultaneous message to the Senator, telling him to return to his room.

James turned to the Sith and drew a lightsaber. Igniting the Orange blade and taking the Shien opening stance. He'd need to buy the Senator time to escape, hopefully James would be enough for the two Sith. Hopefully they'd focus on James and not the Senator.

His eyes focusing on the Sith woman before him, hoping the TK toss would have stalled her enough for Darion to run.

[member="Darth Ophidia"] [member="Darth Ferus"] [member="Darion Blackstaff"]

 

[Darion Blackstaff]

Darions mouth hung open in a terrible grimace along with his eyes opening wide in fear as the lightsabers ignited in front of him. The dreaded voice kept haunting him and everything started to spin.

Whatever adrenalin his body could muster was being pumped out into his system and his entire being screamed for him to flee. There were not much keeping him from the deadly blade of the sith assassin and he barely managed a hoarse howl in panic as he belived his time had come. But the jedi had interfered. He lived still...

He would follow the orders given to the letter although the double command did confuse him at first. He ran a half circle around the room loosing some precious time before somehwere his reptilian brain decided to go with the voice in his head. And so he darted toward the bed room again. Hitting the lock button right as he passed inside.

Inside he pressed his back to the door for a short moment trying to get a grasp on what to do from here...

[member="Darth Ferus"] [member="Darth Ophidia"] [member="James Mathison"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"I can feel your fear, Darion. You can't hide from me, I'll tear this whole building down on you." Ferus was enjoying his haunting speech. But as he stepped in he saw [member="James Mathison"] and [member="Darth Ophidia"] . He had just pulled her back from the killing blow on [member="Darion Blackstaff"] , and a frown settled on his lips. So the Jedi was focusing on the shadow, not the beast? Very well.

Unfortunately, there was no sign of Blackstaff, but at least the Jedi had his back to the Sith Lord. Though he imagined that wouldn't last for long, as he's not the stealthy one of the pair. With a quick glance around the room Ferus found a bookshelf, and a chair. Well, that will do. Quickly, with both hands, he would grip the two objects to bring them down on the Jedi. First, the chair to his left, then the bookshelf to his right. All to upset his concentration and let Death fade back into the shadows to continue the main hunt.

War could deal with this Jedi.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

She had hi- and then the wave struck her. Darth Ophidia flew a few meters through the air before rolling, turning and coming to her feet in a single fluent motion. The verbal command grabbed her attention for a moment, but she saw Darion flee into his room. She did not question it, but slipped into her fencing stance. Her body pivoted, putting her right shoulder to the Jedi and making her body a narrow target. Weight shifted to the balls of her feet, lightsabre pointed diagonally down at the floor. Her grip on the weapon was firm and delicate.

Buying herself a few seconds, she stepped forward while gliding to the right, and then the left. Her movements made the exact position of her body difficult to pin down. It was not a trick of the Force, just practised movement. Then, she vanished. In mid step, her form was swallowed up by a cloak of shadow. She did not mask her presence in the Force, but War's presence ought to be enough to distract from her.

Again, she ran towards a solid surface and slipped right through. These abilities came with a cost, they made her tired, but it was all worth it if she could get within reach of the Senator. The moment she passed through the wall, Darth Ophidia became visible once more. The bedroom would fill with the red light of her bloodshine blade. She surveyed the room for her designated target.

[member="James Mathison"] [member="Darth Ferus"] [member="Darion Blackstaff"]

 

[James Mathison]

[member="Darth Ferus"] [member="Darth Ophidia"] [member="Darion Blackstaff"]

Just as James was getting ready to counter/block any move the Sith Kitty would potentially make as she moved, she disappeared. To his surprise, she did nothing to conceal her presence, but then, he was made aware of two large piece of decor being thrown at him at high speed. The other Sith had entered, clearly, and made an attempt on him from behind.

Quickly, whilst keeping an eye on the Kitty, James curled his fists and sent out a Force Blast to deflect the objects. In such a close, yet destroyed, space, the shockwave should send a large amount of debris in every direction. This minor distraction, hopefully, would be enough for James to run and phase through the wall of Darion's room, right behind the presence of the Sith Kitty. His first priority was Darions safety, the Sith were an afterthought.

As he followed the Sith, as soon as he could physically see her, still suppressed in the Force, try to make physical contact with her.

"Qâzoi Kyantuska" whispered words echoes like the wind inside the Crimson lit room. If he didn't make contact, the mental pressure would be immense, but if he did, it would be almost impossible to resist the technique. A powerful version of Mind Control that made the victim a puppet to its new masters will.

 

[Darion Blackstaff]

At first Darion froze with his back toward the door. [member="Darth Ferus"] voice tore through his mind causing him to whimper and collapse to the floor.

"No... please dont kill me... I... I have money..." he cried to the room. But no one was there to answer him.

Some turmoil was heard from the living room though. It made him snap somewhat out from his paniced state. There was after all a jedi knight here to protect him. He could either trust in his bodyguards talents or at least use the time bought to him.

There was no clear exit from the bedroom. A balcony, but from the second floor he stood little chance of making a jump like that.
Then he recalled the small window in his private bathroom. It lead to the rooftop of the garage. If he could get out onto it and maybe lower himself on the fire ladder he just might make it to a speeder...

He got to his feet just as [member="Darth Ophidia"] and [member="James Mathison"] materialized in the room.
Terror accompanied the aging senator, yet this time it fueled his thin body with new energy, energy to stay alive. He darted toward the bathroom with the intent of opening the window inside.

 

[Darth Ferus]

A quick movement of his hand kept the Sith Lord from being affected by the shockwave. With [member="James Mathison"] so focused on [member="Darth Ophidia"] , and oddly not on War himself, it was rather easy to keep his own footing. A brow raised as he watched Ophidia go through the wall however. That.. Was a new one. Not that he actually saw her, but when her presence went suddenly into the wall itself, it was easy to assume what she had done.

Though the Jedi was so keen to follow? Foolish. Ferus is completely free to move, and more importantly, intercept. Before the Jedi could even begin to phase through the wall, a skill needing so much concentration, the Sith Lord reached out through the Force. A powerful grip of the Force would catch the Jedi, meant to yank him away from the wall and prevent any interference.

"Stop screwing around Jedi. There's more than one Sith to face."

Blue lightning began to crackle down the arms of the Sith Lord, his red eyes burning with the signature anger of those in his rank.

"Or I'll just kill you when you turn your back again."

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Darth Ophidia was no stranger to mental techniques. She was trained in withstanding mental attacks as part of her own considerable proficiency in the art of mentalism; a vigil she never let go in the face of combat. Furthermore, the lining of her hood, made with alchemised leather from a terentatek, gave some shielding against mind-affecting abilities as long as it was up. Furthermore, the ability in question was something of such dark nature that only one who had fully given himself to the dark side of the Force would be able to put it to full use, especially against a more experienced practitioner of the Force. With all these factors in mind, the Sith Lord could resist the mental attack as long as he could not touch her.

If, of course, he even had the chance to cast the dark magic while under telekinetic seige by [member="Darth Ferus"].

It didn't take Ophidia a second to see [member="Darion Blackstaff"] and begin moving in on him. She had not obscured her presence when she phased through the wall. Phasing required energy and focus. Now, however, she shrunk her presence to an atomic level with the art of the small. Her voice rang out in response to his feeble efforts to buy himself freedom, it was distorted, unrecognisable, but the words were clear.

"Your money is filth. I have come for your head Darion."

As Darion ran for the bathroom, she threw her lightsabre at his legs. Aiming to stop his movement by taking away his locomotion entirely. Her left hand went to her spare hilt in case something came into the bedroom, and she kept her head turned just so she would catch a visual of any movement in the corner of her eye. She needed War to keep the guard on his toes for now. Then again, he was a Sith Lord of repute, it should be easy pickings.

[member="James Mathison"]

 

[James Mathison]

[member="Darion Blackstaff"] [member="Darth Ferus"] [member="Darth Ophidia"]

James was almost to the wall when he felt the Force wrap around his body and yank him away. He slid on his heels to a stop a few meters from the wall, focused on the Sith inside the room, James launched a Force Shockwave at her last known location, which he felt until a moment ago. Minute as she made it, the shockwave was plenty big enough to take out the Sith as the shockwave destroyed everything in its path.

The Senator was near his bathroom, which was far enough out of the radius to take any damage. If the Sith would shoot the Lightning from his hand, James could counter it. He cared not for the Sith, his duty was to the Senator.