Scouts' Honor

[Jaron Lesan]

The prime shadow was still a prototype, as far as Jaron knew there had not been any more of this series made. He had taken full possession of the ship when Belis Ren had defected. Why his master had done so only to return was a question Jaron would never have the answer to. It was among one of several reasons that had seen the Knight of Ren take off on a personal journey of sorts. Now that he had returned fully to the Knights of Ren, Jaron was about his old work, scouting. Xan 3 was a world the First Order seemed to be interested in, and whether it was true or not, Jaron wanted to know everything he could about this world before any formal military campaign would begin. Whether this was an official scouting mission or not was yet to be seen. Either way, Jaron was going.

His research had brought up an interesting facet of the world which he wanted to discover in person. The Armorer's Confederacy was a group of smiths which had been known to be the greatest in the galaxy. While they had been run off from Xan 3 long ago, Jaron was curious if there was any sign of whether they remained, and if they could be persuaded to come under the employ of the Knights of Ren or the First Order. This was not a mission to run alone and Jaron had reached out a knew Knight as well. [member="Isla Ashen"] was said to have been competent and her help in rescuing the Grand Moff was what had caught Jaron's ear. She was on the Prime Shadow as well, and hopefully ready as Jaron was about to drop the ship out of light speed and take up an initial orbit of the planet.

"I hope you are ready for this," Jaron said as the ship dropped out. "I don't like to move slow, and we don't know what is waiting for us down there." Jaron guided the ship through the atmosphere once the initial scans were made. He was not the best pilot, and preferred to have a personal pilot, but that was not available to him at this time. He was picky about his selections and having just returned his credibility and his position in the pecking order was going to have to be re-established. This would be the start of it.

When the ship touched down, Jaron retrieved his mask and fixed it to his face. The modulator would change his voice to sounding a bit more metallic, disguising it enough that his identity would be safe should they run into anyone who knew him. He carried two lightsabers, one a gift from a Sith who had sought to train him, and his first. Jaron had not exchanged the blue crystal from that one as he wanted the reminder of where he had come from. It was that knowledge which would keep him from growing so dark he lost the balance which he had finally found. Finally turning to Isla he spoke. "Shall we be off to it then?"

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla sat in her seat, hands folded neatly in her lap, the fabric of her hood obscuring the green of her eyes. As far as her companion was concerned, she might have been asleep. But she was not tired, and her nerves were bundled too tightly to be at ease. While Isla had mostly conquered her irrational fear of small spaces, she still disliked being confined. However, instead of merely succumbing to these feelings like she used to, she harnessed them. At least now, the fact that she was uncomfortable would not be outwardly apparent. And if her fellow Ren felt anything through the force, it could be likened to the slight tensing of nerves – anticipation, or even excitement.

Pale hands rose, and slender fingers let her hood fall to her shoulders, revealing her crop of flame-hued hair. Her eyes shifted in the direction of Jaron’s voice, her gaze curious and perhaps a bit skeptical. While Isla was still relatively new to the fold of the Ren, she was aware the Jaron had joined their ranks long ago. However, he had been absent from the Citadel for some time now. Isla had agreed to accompany him on this quest, merely for the experience it would bring. She had been working on moving silently and swiftly like the shadows, so this seemed the perfect chance to put her skills to use.

“I am ready,” Isla’s low tone spoke after Jaron, “I don’t move slow, and I will take things as they come.”

Isla was not an overly friendly woman, but she generally got along with the other Knights of Ren. She worked well with a number of them, and she suspected that it would be no different this time. She watched as Jaron donned a mask, like many of her Ren brothers did. However, Isla did not take to wearing one of her own. Perhaps it was a bit against the grain, but she did not see a reason to hide. Her black saber hilt was on her belt, like always – for now it was the only weapon she carried.

She nodded to [member="Jaron Lesan"], signaling that she was ready to go.

 

[Jaron Lesan]

The mask was nothing more than another layer. He smioed inwardly as he rememebered his own dislike for the masks the area wore when he had first joined. It was a tribute Darth Vader he supposed, and yet if that was all if was then it seemed a bit childish in a way. Even Jaron's practical reason was such. On the other hand he found that Isla had a very good reason to don a mask. Her face was rather pretty, and it would be a shame to see it ruined by a scar. They were known to happen and moreso when following a dark path. "You don't seem to approve of the mask?" Jaron commented as he stepped past her to lower the boarding ramp of the ship.

Xal 3 was the third planet from the sun, and it appeared to be in autumn. There was little information on the flora and fauna of the world, so Jaron was surprised to find the climate to be temperate and the forests to be thick. He could understand why the armorers would like this world. They could easily hide. This would be a good advantage if the First Order military needed to make a campaign. Jaron was the first to step off. His boots sank slightly into the mossy ground of the world below his feet. Reaching out with the force he sensed nothing immediate save for the anxious excitement of the woman he was with as his aura brushed against hers. All she would sense was his determination to prove his return to the Ren as valuable. Isla would find him to be slightly guarded, a trait he had never carried before.

"I do not doubt you move quickly, but stay with the shadows. They will hide more of you than you know. Suppress your aura and even other force users will have a difficulty tracking you. This armorer's confederacy, do you know much about them?"

Jaron was testing her. He wanted to see how much research she had put into this mission. Had she accepted simply because she wanted out of the citadel, or had she actually wanted to be here. It wasn't that Jaron didn't trust her motives, but he had learned to be cautious. The Knight had been betrayed because of letting people in without testing them. He would not make that mistake again. "There should be a structure to the north which is worth looking into," he said before bounding off toward it. It was time to see if she could keep up.

[member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla began to follow [member="Jaron Lesan"] towards the ramp, and her shoulders lifted into a slight shrug. “It is not that I don’t approve. I don’t find it necessary, at least, not for me.” Her boots carried her a few paces behind him. Isla was a woman that enjoyed feeling the breeze on her face, even if it came with a bit of a cold bite, as it did tonight. The autumnal splendor of Xal 3 almost made her feel homesick. Unlike her companion, Isla had not researched anything about the world they were now on, but she enjoyed the sight of the trees.

She had felt when Jaron’s aura brushed against her own, testing the waters, she suspected. For the most part, the woman liked to remain like a blank slate. However, the ride to the planet had her nerves slightly undone still. But in the next few moments, that feeling would subside. And what did she glean about him in that moment? There seemed to be a thirst to prove his worth, but nothing more came through to her. She would not pry further, it was not her way.

“I know nothing.” Isla said with a nod, she had no reason to lie. She had gone into plenty of missions blind, but she always found her way, even if she had to feel her way through the dark. “I was merely curious.” To Isla, curiosity came as naturally as breathing did.

But still, she would perform her duty well.

She listened as Jaron mentioned a structure, and just before she blinked, Isla caught sight of him taking off. So, Isla’s boot pushed off the ground, and she was moving after him. Running was easy; she had spent many of her days simply running through the back woods. These movements came easily to the woman, almost like her legs were built for it – her strides long and graceful. And with much practice, her feet hitting against the ground barely made sound.

Isla drew in a breath, reaching out slightly with the force. The area around them seemed quiet. For the moment, there was nothing that set her on alert. But she knew all that could change in a matter of a second.

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Not everyone used the mask, and perhaps there was some good reason why Isla did not. Jaron did miss the fact the breeze would catch on his cheeks, especially when they were fresh and cleanly shaved. The stubble tended to minimize the feeling of the crisp contact the air made with his skin when cooled, but he was not here to enjoy the world's beauty. There was a mission, and assignment, there was no time for the distractions he had allowed himself in the past. Isla herself could be a distraction if Jaron would allow it, but he could not be useful to the Ren or the First Order if he allowed anything. The man had become as cold as the wind no doubt, but that was his demon to deal with.

"Curiosity is a good thing," Jaron regarded. He liked that she was so. A good scout was naturally curious, but they did not allow it to get the better of them. Would Isla be able to do that. "What was it you were so curious about?" Just because Jaron was cold these days did not mean he didn't know the art of conversation. The Knight was just as curious about her as he was the world they were on. It took courage, inner strength, and determination to pull off a rescue like the one Isla had. There was something about her which Jaron knew would make her great among the Ren. Perhaps it was as simple as the curiosity she boasted, or the contrary nature she displayed. Either way she was one to keep an eye on certainly.

The structure to the north could have been anything, but Jaron wanted to see it. What it could be for the First Order was what he needed to know. His legs carried him at a pace which was not natural save for the dark side giving him strength. The numbness Jaron currently felt had limited his ability to access the dark side as well as he liked, but there were other ways to use the force. The passion he once felt had been subdued for a time, and that had it's advantages, but in this case it was a weakness. As much as he teased Isla about keeping up, the pace would be easy for even the most novice of beginners.

They stopped just as the tree line ended exposing the structure and wild grasses which had grown. It was clear the land had once been cared for, and the clearing intentional. Signs that the facility had been abandoned long ago were apparent, but was there active security. Jaron reached out with the force to be certain, and despite the fact it seemed abandoned he sensed life. "Can you feel it as well," Jaron asked to be sure. "It would seem we are not the only ones here. Tell me, do you feel up to a visit?"

[member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

“Indeed.” Isla answered plainly at Jaron’s remark that curiosity was a good thing. Her eyes shifted in his direction as he kept the conversation going, for a moment she remained silent. It wasn’t that she disliked talking to people, but perhaps that she was simply not accustomed to much small talk. It had a time and a place, but Isla had never been very good at it. She merely shrugged; there were many things to be curious about: the planet, the notion of the mysterious armorer’s confederacy, and her fellow Ren.

Isla ran easily alongside [member="Jaron Lesan"], the tips of her fingers occasionally reaching down to touch the tall grass that rose up to meet them. The structure in the distance was rising on the horizon with each step, and soon they came to a halt at the edge of the woods. At first glance it would not appear to be anything special, but there was something more to this place. There was life here, it was not easily seen, but she could feel it. “I feel it too.” She said, her voice carrying low to her companion.

“A visit seems appropriate.” Isla responded, her emerald eyes lighting up.

This place reminded her of a hunting blind, a place carefully left overgrown to avoid a second glance, but harbored something hidden and potentially dangerous. Isla straightened up slightly, her boots now walking lightly over the ground, being careful not to break twigs beneath them. Her hand twitched at her side, ready and willing to take up her saber at the first sign of trouble.

 

[Jaron Lesan]

She felt it, good. The citadel, whatever the structure was, seemed buried beneath centuries of neglect and yet Haron knew it was simply a facade. There was a door near the ground level, but that seemed too easy. He wasn't the type to knock on the door and just walk in. Instead his eyes examined the building for another entrance, a window or something he could fit through. Jaron knew if he could fit, Isla would. His eyes rested on a window about forty feet high. A smirk stretched on his face, though it was hidden by his mask the smike would be heard in his remark. "There... That's our way in."

The force was pushed deep into his legs as he leaped through the window and landed on the floor just inside. It was a dirty floor, as unkept as the building outside. Had he not sensed the life, nor had Isla, Jaron would question whether his intuition had been right. He could still feel the presence of life, and it was distinct from Isla. He waited for her to make the leap herslef before moving too far ahead. They were partners in this after all, and he was never one to abandon a partner. For being a dark and cold man, Jaron still found it easy to for attachments of sorts. He was a Lesan after all, and some things about that neve changed.

A hand rested on the cold wall. It was vibrating. Curious. "Touch the wall." Jaron didn't wait for her to touch it before moving on. "There is something happening below the building, not in it." The task was different now. They had to find a way to find what was making the building vibrate. Jaron was hopeful there were armorers still around. If that was the case then security would be higher the closer they got. He would learn how well Isla could handle her blade before the day was over. Jaron was certain.

[member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla caught the hint of lightness in [member="Jaron Lesan"]’s voice, noting the window high above them. She watched as he easily leapt into the air, easily closing he distance. Her emerald orbs watched until his form had disappeared through the window. For a moment she merely stood and listened, her sense of hearing alert and enhanced. She had heard her fellow Ren’s feet hit the floor, but there were no sounds to suggest any sort of struggle. It wasn’t that she wanted to leave him to fend for himself, but she wanted to be cautious and get a feel for the situation at hand.

The flame-haired woman tilted her head back slightly, eyes on the open window now. She drew in a deep breath and bent her knees, pushing the force down into her legs. Isla’s feet left the ground gracefully, and she landed softly in the window sill. One boot came down to the floor, followed by the other, and she stood to her full height again. Her gaze shifted over their surroundings, the walls and the floors appeared dirty and dust-caked.

Isla’s palm reached out and pressed against the wall, it was easily to feel the vibrations coming from below. “Interesting,” She remarked, moving along after Jaron. Indeed, there was something strange happening here. Slowly, her form made its way out of the room and into the hallway just beyond. It was still quite, but Isla had a feeling that they were certainly not alone here. Though no alarms had sounded to herald the arrival of the two Ren, she couldn’t help but wonder if the beings within already knew of their presence.

“Shall we?” She asked, her voice carrying low.

Her eyes were on the set of stairs that seemed to lead into the depths of the structure.

 

[Jaron Lesan]

"I never thought you would ask," he teased as he moved toward the staircase. The spiral structure descended well below the earth, Jaron could sense that much by being in touch with his environment. As they moved further below the stronger the vibrations became. He could feel the sensation with every step now as they neared the mystery of what was below the building they had broken into. From here Jaron would insist on telepathy. Their voices would only echo in the contained space they walked in, and that would likely travel to whatever security they had. It was possible their presence was already known. Though if it were the lack of response was interesting.

"There is not much I am aware of that could make this kind of vibration. Perhaps the armoers never left?" Jaron pushed forward until the hall stopped. A hand raised to indicate to the redhead they needed to wait for whatever the dark side showed them. Eyes closed as he sensed no immediate danger. There was something rather odd about this entire situation. He sensed life, but no danger. Jaron felt the vibrations, but there was not much of a security presence. Had they been expected?

Sensing nothing of danger Jaron continued on around the corner. There was a large metallic blast door in front of them. He smirked. There were not many ways to get beyond the door which involved staying undetected. If they were to open it they would be discovered. Jaron looked to Isla. HIs mind reached to hers again. "Have you saber ready. This is the only way in."

Jaron reached to the molecular make up of the door and once he had felt the connection to it, he reduced it to a pile of dust. Resonate was a skill many did not understand it seemed, and Jaron only knew it because of his uncle's teaching. It took a lot of energy for him to use, but the Knight would recover quick enough. Beyond the door was a corridor which seemed to be filled with droids on either side. They were not active as of yet, but they could be at any moment. He tested that with one step, and in that one step all their eyes lit up. Jaron ignitied his sabers and prepared for the onslaught of blaster fire which was certain to come their way.

[member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla felt a touch of a smirk on her face at Jaron’s teasing, and she followed him towards the staircase. Her gloved hand slid along the handrail, not so much for support, but simply to feel the metal vibrating beneath it. It was a strange sensation, almost like the structure itself was humming. The balls of her feet touched lightly upon each stair, a lightness in her steps that left little sound behind.

Jaron’s voice spoke into her mind, almost making her pause. Even in her time among the Ren, it was taking the Knight some time to get used to the idea of foreign voices in her head. And though she could return replies, she kept them easy and short. “Yes, perhaps...”

Her feet found solid ground again, and she moved alongside [member="Jaron Lesan"], until the hallway ended before them. She watched as his hand rose, and she stopped immediately. Isla’s eyes were alert, and she reached out with the force. Nothing alarming, confirmed by the fact that Jaron did not seem worried. The pair rounded the next corner and found themselves confronted by a sturdy blast door.

When Jaron’s voice came again, her hand was already on the hilt of her saber. Her deft hand lifted it from her belt, finger hovering ready to ignite the blade. Isla’s only experience with forcefully opening such doors had come through explosives and cutting through with sabers. And so, she was stunned to see Jaron’s technique. The door seemed to fall away instantly, and became nothing more than fine grains upon the floor. Isla finally turned her attention to the corridor ahead, the area teeming with droids.

They looked strange, standing there lifeless. But a moment later they were alive – eyes flashing in the direction of the two Ren. Isla saw Jaron ignite is sabers out of the corner of her gaze, and she quickly followed suit. Two droids broke from the pack first, walking side by side, and firing off the first rounds of blaster bolts. Isla’s crimson saber was ready, and she made quick work deflecting the fire that came her way. One bolt rebounded back towards the droid, hitting it square in the middle. She watched as it seemed to short out, and then fell into a heap. But its companion still moved.

And it was not the only one...

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron smiled as [member="Isla Ashen"] sprung to action. She did not wait to deal with the attacking machines. Both of Jaron's sabers hummed to life as the came to his hands. Perhaps the blue color of one would surprise the other Ren, but that was Jaron's choice. He was certainly not traditional and had always refused to be cast into a mold. The Ren were closest to what he was with his own philosophy and the aggressive nature he felt within. The anger he felt over Corellia's demise had best been channeled by the Ren. Jaron was loyal as a result.

The darksider cut down two droids himself and deflected a bolt which had gone wild as a result. What Jaron was most curious about was how well the two Ren would dance around to handle the onslaught of droids. This was not something Jaron was used to. The last time he had fought side by side with a dark sider was when he had come across Zilti. She had been a firebrand and then some. Jaron would not be forgetting those encounters anytime soon, however, she was no longer someone in his life. Jaron had to admit that it felt good to be in battle with another dark sider as his ally.

He did not know how long it had taken them to defeat their attackers, but when all was done they stood back to back, blades humming, and a pile of rubble around them. The Knight dischareged his sabers and returned them to his belt. Jaron removed his mask as sweat had started to sting his eye. It was secured to his belt as well, his hood removed and face left in plain sight.

"Nice dance," Jaron smirked. He teased, and he was also serious. They had moved well together. "Let's find these armorers. We shall convince them one way or another, and I do not think those will be the last of the droids."

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla had noticed that one of Jaron’s sabers took on a blue hue; it was different than most she had seen used by her fellows. However, that would have to be a topic of conversation for another time. For now, there were far more pressing issues at hand. The two had finished off the first wave of droids with a fair amount of ease, and the next came swiftly on their heels – the last battered scraps had barely even touched the ground.

The minutes that followed were filled battle, sabers cutting, blasters firing and being deflected. Inside the corridor, the close quarters did nothing to help their situation. However, the two Ren seemed to work well together. Although Isla did not have time to watch [member="Jaron Lesan"] during the fight, she was still very aware of his presence. She could feel the power around him, and she could sense his movements. Isla focused on the comforting hum of her saber, and the satisfying sounds it made cutting through the mechanical beings.

Isla’s fluid movements only stopped when there was a pile of droid parts at their feet. Standing with her back to Jaron’s, she let her eyes survey the new scene set before them. It was an empty corridor now. Her tall form was crouched slightly, ready for anything that might spring out of the darkness... but nothing came. Isla stood a moment to catch her breath, and turned around as Jaron spoke.

“You too,” She said with a nod, and a bit of a grin. Her footsteps carried her forward; the main corridor broke off into two directions – a door at each end. Isla closed her eyes; slowly she began to reach out with the force. The flame-haired woman shook her head, looking to Jaron. “If they are here, they are well hidden.”

There were two ways, and two of them... but it did seem unwise to split up. Her gloved hand gestured to the left, they had to start somewhere.

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron was quite satisfied this mission had developed into a few mysteries. The first and most prevelant was the hum of the building. Jaron felt it would answer the point Isla had made about the armorers being well hidden. She was correct. Neither path before them gave way to any clues as to which one was correct. While Jaron would be the type to split up here the other mysteries kept his curiosity in check. They would find the armorers together, and that would allow him to investigate the third mystery, [member="Isla Ashen"] herslef. While Jaron was likely an enigma to her as well, the flame haired Ren was not the typical Knight he was used to. There was a tough of something else to her, and Jaron would not be satisfied until he knew what it was.

His steps carried him over the rubble as his mind extended down either corridor to find nothing. It was possible they both led to the same place, but that was a risk he would not take at the moment. Isla had chosen the left and with a nod Jaron pressed on that direction. "They are here. The question is whether this is a test or a trap. The droids were not as difficult to handle as they could have been." Jaron smiled. "Or we are naturally an excellent pair."

Jaron's smile faded when the path they had taken led to another blast door. The image of rats in a maze came to mind as he guessed the other direction would have a similar obstacle. If the armorers were here they did not want to be found. This was not a test or a trap. This was an intentional deterant. That fact only emboldened Jaron's determination. He would find them, and Isla would help. He smirked. "Do you wish to learn the technique I used earlier? Now is a good time if you wish to."

 

[Isla Ashen]

“Well then,” Isla started to reply, “We shall find them, eventually.” After all, the complex could only be so large. The armorers could not hide forever. Isla agreed that the droids had not been all that formidable, which was mildly suspicious. She said nothing in response to his last comment, but the corner of her mouth moved up into a smirk.

Silence fell between the pair once more, and they traveled swiftly through the corridor. Isla slowed to a halt when the blast door was visible down the way. For a moment, her green eyes merely watched as her fellow Ren continued forward. She could sense his determination, and she bowed her head slightly, finally coming to stand at his side once more.

Her eyes shifted to view [member="Jaron Lesan"] from the side, his offer of knowledge had not fallen on deaf ears.

“Please,” Isla affirmed simply, turning to listen to the instructions that would surely follow.

This was one of the reasons she had joined the Ren in the first place, to learn and grow. She recalled the way the door had fallen to nothing, and was curious to learn the technique for herself.

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron had not missed the smirk. He was not so arrogant that he was unaware of his faults, but Jaron did suffer from pride. Most people dealt with pride. After all it was the most common of mankind's sins and the root of them all. This was not something Jaron sought to remedy as long as he could keep himself in check. Pride was also useful to building confidence. What he had said was true. They had naturally moved about and around each other through knowing their place in the force. For some it took years of practice to do such a thing. Had he found a partner which he could use for future missions of a similar nature? While it was not advertised, Jaron was looking for another scout, and how convenient and ironic would it be for Isla to be that person.

Whether it was curiosity or greed, [member="Isla Ashen"] wanted to learn the skill. He had known she would say yes by the way she had responded to seeing the skill displayed. Jaron closed his eyes and placed a hand on the door. His own aura connected with it, surveyed it. When his eyes opened he nodded. "This should not be beyond you," he stated as his chocolate eyes turned upward to meet those of the fiery Ren.

"This skill requires you to go beyond the surface of what you see and deconstruct it from the inside out you could say. Use the dark side to isolate its molecular structure then send a shock wave of force energy pulsating through it to disrupt the hold of the structure. The metal will fall to dust in front of you."

Jaron lifted Isla's hand and placed it on the door. "Feel it with your mind, know it, then destroy it."

 

[Isla Ashen]

Her boot slid close to the door, and she surveyed the physical barrier before her, a gloved hand reaching out to glaze across the cold surface. Isla’s gaze turned back to find Jaron’s once more, listening as he explained the technique that she would need to employ. Isolate a molecular structure? Well now, that sounded quite complicated. A brow quirked slightly, but she gave small nod in response.

“I will try,” She said, turning her back to [member="Jaron Lesan"], and removing her gloves.

Once the leather gloves were stowed away in the pocket of her trousers, she placed a bare hand upon the door. Isla let her eyes close, and she drew in a deep breath to center herself. It was strange to perform tasks under the scrutiny of peers, but she did not let the possibility of failure shake her concentration. She began to call upon the power of the dark side, drawing it in and making it flow slowly from her palm. With her hand still contacting the door, she began to feel as though her skin was almost melding with the metal.

It was a curious sensation. A moment later, it became clear to her that she could make this metal become whatever she willed it to. But the task at hand was to destroy it. Isla let the force power build up around her hand, and with a tiny flex of her palm, sent a shock wave through the door. Just as she had witnessed previously, the door fell away without resistance, tiny particles falling through her fingertips. Green eyes grew wide for a moment, but there was little time to bask in her accomplishment.

A dark and seemingly empty room sat before them – waiting in silence.

Isla did not feel anything noteworthy about this room, but she was prepared, for appearances could be very deceiving. There was only one way forward, and Isla took a step in that direction.

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron watched and nodded in approval as the door fell to dust. He looked to flame haired Ren with a knowing smile. The feeling that such a thing could bend to the will of one who used the dark side was a marvelous discovery. Jaron liked her. There was still some semblance of humanity in her that was lacking in some of the other Ren he had met. Jaron liked to think he was still human after all, but he knew the more the darkness overtook him, the less human his heart was.

They stepped into an empty room, but it was not long before something hummed to life. A blue light of sorts seemed to scan them both then it vanished. "Odd, but promising," he said as the floor shook before it was clear the room was actually a lift. They descended further below ground. Jaron would estimate 100 meters before the contraption stopped. The door in front of them opened to reveal a work room. Several pieces of armor on display, others still unfinished, but all in immaculate condition.

His feet carried him forward. This was the time to be bold and confident. [member="Isla Ashen"] would no doubt be on his heels. This was as much her accomplishment and discovery as it was his. They had accomplished this together. In the back of the room was lone man, aging. Was he the only here? Had he made this armor alone? This was odd indeed, but as the walked forward he seemed to draw them in.

"Welcome young ones. I've been waiting for some time now to be found. All of my tests you've seemed to find away around them..."

His voice was frail, but he seemed strong. It was almost as if he reflected his armor to a degree. Jaron looked on the man with curiosity.

"You tried to kill us, yes?"

My work is important to me... shouldn't it be worth going through an obstacle like that to find it?

"Point."

Jaron nodded, and indicated for Isla to inspect the work. If it was good armor the conversation could continue. Perhaps he would enjoy the employ of the First Order.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Just as their feet passed over the threshold, Isla’s eyes darted about as a blue light filled the small room. Her hand rose to shield her eyes, but the brightness was gone just as suddenly as it had appeared. Isla’s attention shifted down towards her boots, the floor beneath them was shaking, and then she realized that they were now descending. The lift shook again slightly as it reached their new destination, and Isla peered side to side as the doors opened before them.

She moved forward, just a few paces behind [member="Jaron Lesan"]. Isla gazed in wonder at the sets of armor displayed here; even from a distance it was clear that it was immaculate.

Isla’s eyes found the lone occupant of this room, a man with a face that age had clearly touched. His expression seemed pleased, and perhaps even slightly surprised. She could hear his voice cracking around his words, a voice that seemed delicate. However, there was strength there, too.

She gazed over at the old man, almost looking for his approval to approach his work. When he nodded to her, Isla strode over to what looked like battle-armor. Isla had seen few pieces like this up close before, and she had certainly never worn any. A hunter, she preferred pieces of natural leathers and hides. But it was true that these skins could only provide so much protection. Her hand gently ran over the smooth surface of the arm plate, it was easy to see the time and craftsmanship that went into these pieces.

Some of the armor on display looked far heavier than any Ren would like to wear, as it could easily compromise mobility and stealth. But there were still some that looked promising – a slightly lighter armor that would allow for ease of movement, while still offering something in the way of protection.

“The armorers,” Isla spoke, her eyes shifting to the man. “Are you the last?”

It was a pity to think that this work could be the last of its kind – a dying craft.