Silent Shimmer

[Vaermina]

Vaermina had gotten herself off Dathomir. Perhaps more accurately, Maiev had gotten her off Dathomir. Regardless which version you went by the result remained the same. She was free. No longer the oppressed, she was free to harness power of her own and use it as she saw fit. The galaxy seemed wide and mysterious to her. There was so much she did not know. So she explored.

Vae had followed the scent of power and destiny. She could see patterns no one else saw, make sense of puzzles with pieces most were not even aware existed. It had led her to this planet. This place. This, well, prison. She never claimed her methods were flawless. It would appear the witch had moved from one cell to the next, although this one appeared far more civilised and less macabre than her last. It felt better too. She was off Dathomir. These were different people. She would find a way out.

No you won't. Trapped. Again. She always does this. Incompetent. Maybe you belong in a cell. She will never get out.

There had to be a way. Slender fingers grasped the iron bars, yet she never felt its cold touch against her skin. Almost before her skin made contact her hand jolted back to her from the electric shock. She yelped in pain and withdrew a few paces from the bars until cold stone touched her back. Okay, new prison, new rules. Whoever this Baron was, she would find a way to play his game and shift it in her favour.

It was a little bizarre, how she had come from being the girl dressed in leather and hide in a prison made out of a hallowed out rancor carcass, to a woman in an elegant black dress in a cell of stone and metal with electric bars. Her brown hair was pulled back and fell down onto her left shoulder with its wavy lengths. She looked way fresher now than then too. Felt calmer, more at peace with herself and her place in life. Yet it was hard not to question; if you trade one cell for the next, what in Allya's name are you doing with your life?

[member="Jairus Starvald"]​

 

[Jairus Starvald]

​

Coruscant​

​

[member="Vaermina"]​

​

It was a hobby.

Strange when you thought about it, but that was what it was.

The planning, the checking of the gear beforehand, stretching and training, then the actual execution of the plan. Sneaking in, explore, maybe steal some things here and there, then make the target a deader, before disappearing once more. Perfect execution was a plus, but sometimes the chase was just as sweet and you'd let yourself be seen on purpose.

Anything for the thrill.

No, neither [member="Irajah Ven"] nor him needed the money that he was pulling in. She had her own sources and even if she hadn't, Jairus would never be without money.

Not with the deep reserves established through years of corporate scheming and exploitation of assets he had gained.

The current target was one Dvun Kareth. A Devaronian male of questionable repute, made his fortune in the underbellies of Coruscant, waste management first, then the foundries second. The industrial sector of Level 5004 still had a lot of his fingerprints on it, but that was exactly the reason why Jai was currently sneaking through his lavish apartments. They were elaborate - the last five floors of the towering skyscraper all reserved specifically for him and it showed.

Expensive decor, art, his library was quite extensive and even tasteful.

In a different life Starvald might have been friends with this sentient... in a different life he might have been, tough to say. But he had begun anew and all former relationships were questionable.

He pushed a door open, silently and disappeared behind it.

As the door closed gently lights flickered on and what Jai saw next made him blink. An extensive dungeon of sorts, chains and cells from row to row across the walls.

In one of them was a lady.

She was staring at him and Jai stared back at Vaemina. "I suspect... this is not a game you are playing with the dear Baron."

 

[Vaermina]

Someone’s coming. I can hear that. Quiet. Doors opened. Was it her captive? Was it his henchmen? She couldn’t tell what was coming next, execution or punishment. You’ll never get out of here. Trapped. They didn’t need to tell her that. She knew. Lost. Forsaken.

What happened next puzzled her. A man came in, cloaked in secrecy. What would he do if she screamed? She imagined he wouldn’t like it. It’s a trap. He didn’t want to be seen. You can’ trust him. “The baron did not want to play.” Not her game, oh no. He works for the baron. “I don’t think so” she whispered, eyeing the man with cautious curiosity as she stepped up towards the bars of her holding cell. Primitive, yet fancier than any she had seen.

“What game is it that you’re playing?” Does the baron know he’s playing? “Does the baron know he’s playing?” You should kill him. Make him free you. Kill him. No… He’ll kill you. She’s afraid. She’s weak. It was too soon to tell. But it was better than staying locked up in a cell. There was no arguing that, she knew they had to at least concede this point.

[member="Jairus Starvald"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Vaermina"]

Jairus tilted his head a fraction.

Only months ago he would have been able to immerse himself into her mind and figure out the way she ticked as easily as he took a breath, but things were more complicated now. He had to keep his wits about him and not overstretch himself... or risk the chance of being taken over again. The last thing that Jai wanted was for the Lady-in-Silver to take control of him again.

"Suppose you could see it as a game." Starvald mumbled as he stepped closer, but remained outside of arms-distance.

No sense in taking a chance here, not with what he was getting from her mind.

She seemed... not completely there. As if Vae was going back and forth between what she was saying and... elsewhere. Every once in a while Jairus could sense conflicting feelings from her.

Kill, flee, help, run, kill, kill, flee.

It was jarring.

"I am here to take his life." The second question made him smile. "Well, I hope he isn't aware, that would be a touch awkward."

His hand indicated towards her entire situation.

"What did you do to get imprisoned by him?"

 

[Vaermina]

Everything was a game. One way or another. The kind of game gods played to torment the mortals. It entertained them. That had to be it. The only game that mattered, of life and death.

The lady in the cell walked closer to the bars as well, although she had learned to keep her distance now. Her head tilted as she examined him. He had entertained her, so perhaps she should entertain him as well.

Her right hand absent-mindedly played with the fine fabric of the sleeve of her dress. It wasn’t hers. Nothing was hers anymore. It belonged to Evie. She hadn’t stolen it, but in the absence of anything but leather and hide to wear her friend had told her to rummage through her wardrobe and pick something she liked. And rummage she had.

The second question made him smile. It made her laugh. Take his life? Kill him? Oh how glorious. It was a in-the-moment kind of thing, and she found herself unable to stop. She felt as if she was literally cackling like a mad witch. Good thing she wasn’t mad. Right? No we’re not. Good.

“Well let me know if you need any help with that.” He didn’t look like a man who needed help. But he did need to free her from this sterile cell. “He has something I want. He didn’t appreciate me trying to take it.” It’s not his. He doesn’t understand it never belonged to him. We have more claim. Its ours. She kept herself from talking further about it. She didn’t see cause to ramble and explain herself to him, that wasn’t like her. He is here for it too. He wants it. We must not let him. It was a thing of Dathomir, made by the witches. And she would claim it for her own.

“Why do you want to kill him? What did he do to you?”Thief. Liar. "I would be more than happy to help you if you help me."

| [member="Jairus Starvald"] | ​

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Vaermina"]

Do to him?

Jairus was confused for a moment and it showed on his face.

"To me? Nothing at all." Once again the assassin was reminded that if this had been years ago, that the two of them might have actually been friends and allies. "This isn't personal, just a job."

In truth it wasn't even a job.

He wasn't going this because he was desperate for money, hell, he didn't need the money he was earning here. But it was something to do and for the most part Jai enjoyed it. The killing didn't really bother him, not after decades of conquering worlds, breaking empires and generally causing the collapse of society all around him with each move he made.

At some point you grew desensitized.

"Help me?" The glance went up and down her, some of it appreciative, others in a clear gauge of how effective she could really be. "Can you fight, kill? What can you do to help?"

 

[Vaermina]

“Ah” Vae responded with sudden understanding in her voice. “An assassin” Lackey. Manservant. He does the dirty work so richer men won’t have to. He won’t help you. That could be both good or bad. Probably he was on someone else’s payroll and not his own boss, meaning he might not be authorised to free prisoners. On the other hand, maybe he did not care. In the end it all came down to his heart.

“Does it really matter?” She caught his eyes, and they told a lot about him. It seemed to reveal a man with an appreciation for beauty and a high opinion of himself. On whether it was earned or not, she couldn’t possibly comment. But it was useful information to help leverage her own freedom, perhaps. But first to gauge his morals. “Would you really leave me here to rot in a masterless mansion?” Yes. Definitely. Shut up.

A thought struck her mind. What was he even doing in here? These were the holding cells, a dead end so to speak. Maybe he was hiding. Maybe he simply did not really know the way. “But a big man like you, I’m sure you’ll be fine. You seem to know your way around the place” her tone wasn’t shy of sarcasm. You’re pushing it. Now he’s definitely not going to help you. “You probably don’t need any directions. Might want to think fast though, guard shift is about to come about.” Was it? She hoped so.

[member="Jairus Starvald"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Vaermina"]

"Didn't answer my question." Jairus retorted without his usual bemusement or even amusement. This could be bad development, but it could also simply mean that he was focused in the moment. Difficult to say unless you knew the Sith really well and only a few people could truly claim that. "But let me answer yours, simply to provide a good example."

His fingers rose in mock articulation of the articles he was going off of.

"First, yes, why not? I am already a killer and releasing you might be more trouble than you are worth." Not it's worth, but her worth. There was a subtle difference in the specification if she cared to notice.

"Second, I am lost, but not for my target... he hasn't arrived yet. I was simply exploring the place, see if there was anything of value I would be interested in, before going in for the kill anyway." The third finger rose up... but instead of a verbal reply Jairus simply shrugged, signifying that he didn't really care about one detachment of guard or the next. It didn't make much difference to him - after all, the Devaronian would not be calling the police anyway.

None of the corrupt and criminals did that.

"Now then, are you useful in a fight or are you simply going to be in my way?"

 

[Vaermina]

“Well you’re no fun” She played it off, while leaning herself off to the wall on her side, in front of what she was fairly certain had to be her very own, personal cell door. He kept pushing the issue. Could she kill? Could she fight? Wanting her to prove herself to him, build the case and like a lawyer in front of a court argue that she was worth something, anything at all. Well kark that.

Vaermina wasn’t a killer. She just made people easier to kill. Or, to put an alternative twist to it, she made it easier for them to kill themselves. “I can handle myself.” Clearly, she couldn’t. She was in a cell after all. But for all he knew she could have been put up against overwhelming numbers.

I was simply exploring the place, see if there was anything of value i would be interested in… She didn’t much care for his tone. But she imagined he did not much care for hers. “I guess all that’s left is waiting for our dear friend then. Are you gonna keep me company or leave me while you explore?” That thing of value better not be the same thing she was here for.

[member="Jairus Starvald"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Vaermina"]

He wasn't fun?

That was a first, but Jairus supposed that his business face was less fun than his other faces.

"Oh, perhaps I would have... kept you company a few years ago." A shrug of the broad shoulders followed soon after that. "Suppose we all gotta grow up sometime." Two fingers flicked up and the celldoor's latch crumbled in the face of a sudden kinetic impact. Palm forward his hand pushed and the door sprang open.

If she wasn't fast enough to act it might even have hit her in the face.

"Try to keep up, yes?" From his pocket Jairus revealed a hilt, nothing too fancy, until he hummed and it somehow folded out and turned into a functional sword.

The Sith Lord stretched casually, before turning his back on her and moving back towards the exit of the dungeon.

Time to get busy.

 

[Vaermina]

Vaermina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Or actually, she didn’t. That was who she was to him, someone to keep him company, but only in italics. Not only that he had outgrown her kind. It would appear his mind was made up, and the fury was starting to boil within her.

It was not given time to fester, but was immediately replaced with something else. Watch out! Vae darted away from her position leaning against the wall. There wasn’t much time to think or act, and the sudden dodge had her avoid the door but stumble and fall down onto her bum. She grunted but contained her frustration. Vae reached a hand up for him to help her up, only to catch herself. He’s never going to do that, you know. She was right.

Vaermina stood herself up. ‘Try to keep up’. Suppose she shouldn’t be too mad. Sure it was patronizing, but he had just made her escape a whole lot easier. Now! When he’s turned. Kill him. He will betray you. You don’t know that. No, she won’t do it. She scared he’ll kill her. No, I… Nevermind, I don’t have time for this.

His sword was wicked cool. Too bad Vae didn’t have any equipment worth mentioning on her. Nothing worth keeping at least, not here. However if all things went according to plan, she would have at the end of this day.

With a quick jog Vae attempted to mask as a walk, she caught up with the large man. “When is he coming back? Do you know?” Why would he tell you? You can’t trust him. She was on edge, her emotion mildly provoked and it all promoted the voices to speak their mind more freely.

[member="Jairus Starvald"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Vaermina"]

"Twenty minutes." Jairus responded absent-mindedly, while pushing open the door once more and slipping through it. His passage was remarked with silence, even his footsteps were quiet, quite surprising for a man his particular size.

The tip of the blade was angled to the floor, but something would tell Vae that it could be wiped up at a moment's notice.

They passed through one corridor, the fires bathing the corridor both in amber light and deep pocket shadows, before Jai stilled himself. Big arm rose up smoothly and rested easily before her - don't move, stay silent and let me listen. For a moment nothing happened further as they crouched there, while keen ears tried to pick up on the sound Jairus had heard just a moment ago. He was about to raise himself again, assuming it was simply a rat or something else, before the Sith Lord suddenly moved with frightening speed.

His frame pressed her against the wall and deep into the shadows.

"Silence makes life." Long and heavy purring resonated in outer layers of her mind. Jai didn't have the focus right now to do anything more, not when he had whispered up a shield around them. Deepening the shadows they resided in and making eyes glance over them like they were simply part of the decor.

A moment later the reason came.

In the form of two guards trundling past.

For a moment Jairus thought he'd have to kill them, but luckily they passed the door to Vaermina's dungeon and disappeared around the corner. The Sith still did not let go of her, pressed tightly against her as he listened and made sure that there was nothing more coming in the moment. It would not be the first time an errant thought and lack of patience spelled disaster for would-be assassins. Sometimes, not often, guards traveled in asymmetrical groups of fours.

Two first.

Two next.

To catch what the first two could not, while their predators were occupied elsewhere.

 

[Vaermina]

Vaermina nodded, not that he would see it with his back turned to her. When he signalled for her to stop and be quiet she did so without hesitation. She strained to listen, but heard nothing.

Vae gasped in surprise but was quickly hushed by a hand over her mouth that slowly let go once their situation became clear. Her brain didn't have time to catch up to his actions until after they had happened. She suspected a surprise attack, but of course by the time that thought came to bare it was clear it wasn't.

She held her tongue and her breath, doing her very best to keep quiet. It was a good thing she had dressed in black, she thought, though how much of her that would even have been visible, with the assassin pressing up against her, she did not know. His frame easily encompassed her. She might as well have worn neon pink, but there was not exactly an abundance of that in Evie's wardrobe.

With all this focusing, the incoming footsteps were hard to miss. When the guards passed it became clear why she found herself pin up against the wall. Of course, the mystery remained to her why that continued to be the case even after they rounded the corner. It got warm in the shadows. She was about to put voice to an opinion, but the flame in his eyes told her to keep quiet.

The reason became clear enough when another pair came walking past. The time in the shadows grew long, and it became harder to mask the need for heavier intakes of air. From trying to hold her breath, of course.

When he finally stepped back she indulged herself. Staying that quiet was hard. She wanted to tell him to warn her next time, but she acknowledged that there was no time and the fewer words the better. So in the end, she settled with a simple "That was close"

"How paranoid is this guy if he keeps patrols of four?" And she doubted that was the only one. Who was he. Was he really that important, or did he just believe that himself?

Vaermina started walking, thinking 'we better keep moving'. She didn't know where he was headed, but she had her own agenda, and she started moving in direction of where she believed there to be some kind of storage area or vaults.

| [member="Jairus Starvald"] |​

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Vaermina"]

Her mind went to shiny and desire.

It told Jairus that letting her lead right now would bring him to the vaults or the storage room or anything else, where the valuables would be located in this place. This was what signified his way of going around the job - if he had been all professional no-nonsense and going straight for the target that would be one thing, but Jai was doing this as a hobby.

Just a thing to keep himself occupied.

Oh, he would get the job done, but he'd do that in his own way, own time and doing the things he wanted to do in the meantime. Like robbing his targets at the same time.

"Some people feel important and need to show that belief." Jairus mumbled back, while keeping an eye on her back and their surroundings at roughly the same time. Her back was getting the blunt of the attention, however. Perhaps old habits died harder than he'd like them to. He wondered if the Devaronian's bed was comfortable.

"Plan is to wait on him in his bedroom, right after his arrival he takes his supper in the dining room and then takes a swim." Poison was out of the question, Devaronians were very hard to poison right.

"So that gets us about an hour, before we need to get out of the vault."

They reached a staircase and next to it an elevator.

If this had been just him, he would have simply used the elevator shaft to climb his way up or down. But... looking at Vaermina, he didn't think that was a likely proposal. That dress was nowhere near flexible enough to be climbing. "Better to use the stairs, the elevator will attract unnecessary attention to us."

Still a risk.

But at least they'd be able to hear them coming, if they came.

 

[Vaermina]

"Some people have lost sight of the order of their priorities." she muttered in return, turning to look back at her unlikely ally. She thought she caught his eyes darting upwards, but he moved too quick to tell.

Vaermina chuckled. "And put him to sleep. Poetic. Or perhaps just efficient." It would take the guards long to learn of his death. They might think him sleeping. Whatever carnage the assassin chose to leave, it would be unseen until the morning. Probably.

"I won't need that long." she continued pressing on, taking on the role of leader. She knew the way after all, at least to this spot. It had been where they had caught her. Suddenly, she turned around, finger pressing up towards the assassin's chin and there was a certain fierce flame within her eyes. "I only care for one thing. Whatever else you want is yours, but that is mine." she made it clear she would hear no argument about it.

When they reached the staircase, Vae nodded. She agreed with his assessment of the situation. Taking the stairs made sense. Considering they were short on time Vaermina went ahead, walking up with quick steps from the dungeons.

"Oh, and they took my weapons. You should give me your dagger. It'll be more useful in my hand, than hidden in your belt. And don't try to trick me, I know you have it. I felt it before." she was unarmed. While she had her witchcraft it didn't apply to all situations.

| [member="Jairus Starvald"] |​

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Vaermina"]

Head tilted in amusement.

"Sounds like a reasonable deal." Strange how a decade ago anyone talking to him like that would have earned a quick trip towards having their mind locked in itself with no chance of escape. But situations changed, people changed and these days Jairus didn't really consider it that important for people to be... careful around him. He wasn't the Voice of the Dark Lord anymore, his every move wasn't scrutinized, he didn't have to seem strong even when he was weak.

That kind of precautions were irrelevant now and part of Jairus enjoyed it. Not as much as he enjoyed having to walk behind her as they walked up the stairs though.

The soft ripple of muscle moving one step at a time was a pleasant distraction.

If a brief one, before the assassin returned towards ensuring they were safe. As safe as they could be when being in the literal stronghold of the enemy anyway.

"Dagger?" Brows furrowed in apparent confusion, before lighting up again in recognition. "That... was not a dagger you felt." Once more amusement was felt at the assumption. The Sith Lord had not been particularly aroused at that moment, but sometimes it was difficult to hide certain facts when size and tightness were added into the mix.

"I do not think it's the time for that kind of handling right now."

Smirk lit up if she cared to look over her shoulder.

"How are you with blasters?"

 

[Vaermina]

Sounds like a reasonable deal. Solid. He had agreed. The amulet would be hers, then. Don’t trust him. He’s a liar and a killer. ‘I know’…

“What?” she turned with confusion painted on her face. Was it one of those lightsabers she had heard so much abo-oh spirits preserve me. It was hard not to blush. “Oh, I.” She paused, staring back at the unashamed man with a slightly perplexed expression. “Yes. Well.. Alright. We must away” We must away? Did you just gain 40 years? Can it.

‘How are you with blasters?’ “I’m better with a whip.” Dear heavens above. “I mean. Not like that. Just.” How do you recover from that? You don’t. You just gotta walk those steps. And walk she did, a little faster than before even.

The rash and reckless pace had her make it to the next floor a little sooner than she should’ve. Too late she heard incoming footsteps. Another moment and they would both be exposed. Her body froze, her hand reached for a weapon that was not there, and her lips muttered a swift incantation. Afterwards she held out a hand towards the assassin, urging him to stay still and not make a sound.

Two guards passed before them, continuing on their patrol down the hallway. One of them stopped, and stared right at the pair. “What’s up?” the one now out of view asked. The other stared dead into the eyes of Vaermina, and replied. “I thought I heard something. Guess it’s nothing.” “You sure? We can run a check on-” “Nah, nah. I think it’s good. Let’s get back on route” and he walked away. Vaermina did not move for another ten seconds, and only after that did she let out a deep gasp. Okay, that had been close.

“One more floor and we should be there. There’ll be guards though. I don’t think we can sneak past those.” she said, turning to her companion with a face that was distinctly paler. Time to move on.

| [member="Jairus Starvald"] |​

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member=Vaermina]

Brows rose up.

"Is that a promise." Jairus murmured behind her while his grin only grew more pronounced. Her fluster did little to dissuade his slowly rising interest in the prospect. A few years ago he would have offered to put a halt on this shindig and do it right there and then, but some things did change and the Sith wasn't in a hurry. Sometimes it was better to lengthen the process, make it enjoyable, tease around, before going into the meat of things. He halted when she did and remained silent.

When the duo guards passed by and one of them stared right at them... Jai already rose, before softly being tugged back into place by Vae.

The frown was wiped away when neither of them seemed to actually be aware of them. Huh. "Then you probably should have this." Vanir-made, blaster that was completely silent and even its blaster bolt was completely invisible to the eye.

There would be no chance of the guards seeing their men being shot to death, as long as they stayed... quiet.

Once more they moved and Jairus stayed at her side, until his eyes noticed something that she did not. Fingers curled around her shoulder and pulled her back into the shadows, in a room adjacent to the corridor, looking around it seemed to be some kind of study. Maybe a workshop was a better descriptor, there were tubes and flasks, liquids bubbling in containers. The walls were adorned by dead animals frozen through special treatments and chemicals.

"Two guards, forcers, they are stealthed... which is probably how they captured you the first time around."

How Jai knew this was anyone's guess. "You take the left one with the blaster, I will get in close for the right one."

 

[Vaermina]

“Huh” she examined the blaster she was handed. It looked sleek, smooth to touch and the weight of it surprised her. “Oh!” she yelped out loud as she accidentally fired a shot into the wall. Woops. But thanks to its silencer properties the loudest sound was Vaermina herself. Thankfully it was not loud enough to draw back the guards who had just passed them.

Once more she felt a sudden pull on her shoulder, powerful and without hesitation. He was neither waiting nor asking for her say or permission in any of this. It was what needed to be done, she could sense he was a professional. Yet she suspected he added in his own twists to amuse himself.

“This is becoming a habit” she muttered back to him as the pair found themselves separated from the rest of the mansion, alone in a dark room. That table over there looked sturdy enough to...Focus! Right.

The assassin told her of his plan while she stared absentmindedly at the dead animals cruelly put on display. “Forcers?” she turned back to him, picking up on that word but knowing not what meaning he put into it. “Right” She muttered back when it became clear that they were doing it live.

How do you kill that which you can’t see? You fire a karkton of bullets. Here! Over here! He’s here! Her mind shouted at her, something drawing her mind towards what her eye failed to perceive. And sure enough, when she sprayed her weapon in that general area something dropped down. Neat.

“You never told me your name” she mentioned as she passed the assassin standing over his mark, moving ahead to the halls further down. She peeked ahead, but quickly pulled her head back. “Vault is just ahead. But there’s another set of guards there. And a laser cannon in the roof.” It was not. It was a camera. You live and learn.

| [member="Jairus Starvald"] |​

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Vaermina"]

"I hope it does." A grin found itself tugging at the corner of his mouth.

It was instinct at this point, a reflex that wasn't really possible to suppress unless Jairus really wanted to. He didn't want to in the moment. But right now Jai was on the job and that meant enjoying the little things without allowing it to escalate into more. Catching her glance to the table, he looked over as well and if that grin could have grown wider it would have.

"I like what you are thinking, but one thing at a time."

He stepped back and gave her room, waltzing back into the corridor with sword already out. His presence shimmered out of existence and popped back up right in front of the guard right as the invisible blaster bolt hit the second guard.

Two bodies dropped within the span of a single second.

"Can't say that I have, but I ain't got the pleasure of yours either." Jairus mumbled as he leaned over her and peeked around the corner. Again a set of guards and the Sith noticed the black half-sphere hanging off the ceiling. But that wasn't a turret, unless the turret was completely integrated into the concrete.

Didn't seem likely.

"Camera, not a turret. I will take out the two guards, you take the camera, yeah?"