Private Star Light, Star Bright

[Ala Quin]

Alakatha
Southern Hemisphere
Night
​

Ala had only ever received average marks in her stealth and infiltration parts of her Padawan training. Things had not improved as a Knight, and as a Master she still had not gotten a great handle on it. Well, she had gotten good at masking her presence, but even that was not great should someone be truly finely tuned in their senses. She was a Jedi Master, but a master of what? She was not yet sure.

The team that she had been assigned to were tracking Tsiskaar activity in the regions along the mutual border between the Alliance and the Sith Order. That had lead them to an industrial district on an otherwise picturesque vacation locale on Alakatha. It had also lead them this warehouse, and the support struts in the ceiling where she now crouched.

Up and down the support struts were various operatives from the Galactic Alliance. All of them were distinctly more stealthy, and cooler than Ala. Even the way they crouched looked practiced and epic. She on the other hand had been brought for one purpose. She was the light bulb.

Beep bzzzt beep.

The signal for targets being present was sent over the short range comms. Their communications had been designed to mimic static, or basic signal interference should they be detected.

Ala scratched her ear. She hated having an earpiece in. They were never made for her elven shaped ears. It was a small insight into how human-centric the Galactic Alliance could be sometime. She pushed the idea aside.

Tsssfffffk tssssffffk...

Ala's breath hitched, one more and it was...

Tsssfffffk

Without even a moment's hesitation she jumped from her perch. Gravity did the hard work, and she landed quickly in a three point landing. She felt eyes in the darkness focus on her immediately. She felt their intent to run and hide. Ala would not let that be so easy.

Standing as tall as her diminutive frame could allow, she stretched her hands upwards. A translucent blue orb shimmered around her, warping the image of her for anyone that might look in her direction. Her eyes were closed, concentrating and summoning every ounce of her connection to the Force that she could muster.

Ala erupted in light. It was as if her body itself became a small star, absent the fire. From her perch on top of one of the higher crates in the room, her presence illuminated the whole warehouse, and the Sith operatives that were skulking back towards the far corner, and their exit.

The cultists immediately turned on her, hissing, and covering their eyes from the brilliant light. Thoughts of escape were put aside, as they charged her position.

Allyson Locke

 

[Allyson Locke]

//: Ala Quin //:

Working within the Sith Order and specifically the Tsis'Kaar had been an eye-opening experience. Allyson had typically forced her way through with a finesse only she could garner. Still, things were very different with the Emperor's permission and the Tsis'Kaar leader's permission. Allyson had warned the platoon leader that they were being too loud, noticeable by the surrounding Shadows that had come to investigate. It seemed her history with the Jedi and the fact that she had killed their brother during an invasion.

They had decided to make camp, and Allyson was beyond ostracized from the group. She could hear their whispers and their plots for her assassination. The Corellian was far from one of their own, so killing her wouldn't be a loss to the Tsis'Kaar. In reality, it would probably garner the one who slit her throat a promotion. More power, especially now that the Inquisition god had been slain. Allyson chewed on one of the rations she had been given. The others devoured prey that she had hunted and threw at their feet. If anything, she could say she tried.

More whispers echoed over the crackling flame of the fire that had begun to die out. The evening was coming, and that meant rest and potentially her death. Slowly standing, Allyson brought the black cloak over her face and looked towards their hapless leader. "I'll scout ahead." The man didn't respond but waved her off as he cleaned his teeth of the fresh meat of his dinner. Allyson rolled her eyes and faded into the shadows of the Force. Covering ground was easy for the Shadow; she knew how to quickly navigate and formulate a map in the back of her mind. Sometimes, it was the only way to travel on backwater planets where the technological dark ages still grasped tightly around civilizations' throats.

Time passed quietly, and Allyson found herself in a place far enough to perch and catch some sleep safely. She doubted the platoon of wannabe stealth fighters would have followed her, and none of them were capable of it, even if they tried. Yawning, she stretched her arms up and slowly allowed her mind to drift. As quickly as sleep came, a blast knocked her out of the tree and into the dirt below. "What the actual..fuaahhhhh?" Allyson turned to see a brilliant blue light shine in the center of the camp she had just left. "Well, that's not good for them, I did warn him." She quipped as her hands dusted off the mud and leaves from her clothing.

Moving quickly, she fell back into the Force Cloak and drew in her presence in the Force. If what she assumed was a Jedi was searching for Force-sensitives, she would appear as a void. If it was a Jedi, it could mean that her cover was blown, and they were here to exterminate the traitor. Allyson cringed at the thought all her fun would be over. It wasn't time yet.

Climbing over one of the walls still hidden with the Force Cloak, Allyson saw what was occurring. The bright light was coming from one of the rooms she had seen the Tsis'Kaar retire to for sleep. "Oh, that's not good," She continued towards them, ripping off the dark cloak. The last thing she needed was whoever this intruder was, Jedi or not. She didn't want to be seen as the enemy.

Their backs towards her as she entered the doorway, the Corellian drew her bow and nocked a kyber-tipped arrow. Aiming towards the closest target, the arrow began to glow gold. It fired through their cutting and only left traces of gold ribbons as it sliced through one of the Tsis'Kaar agents. The leader, knowing how the Corellian fought, almost instantly turned to her. Growling, he motioned to the others that she had betrayed them and was fighting alongside the other Jedi. Allyson's form faded, shimmering almost as she returned to the safety of the Force Cloak. Moving quickly, her footsteps silent, she reappeared again, but with a small silver blade flipping almost out of thin air.

The blade made contact with the unprotected throat of one of another agent, its sharp edge flaying the thin skin of the sith. Again, she took cover within the Force Cloak and continued to move.

All she needed was for this Jedi to know that she was on their side. Hopefully, the Force Light-tipped arrow was enough of a tell.

 

[Ala Quin]

It took a lot to maintain her state, but Ala gave it her entire being. She felt would be killers attacking the edges of her barrier. They would make it through eventually, but her comrades would not grant them the time needed. Instead, Ala felt momentary assaults from different angles. Weapons of various sorts being discharged at the surface, but still she held the barrier and the light that illuminated the battle.

For Ala, the hardest thing was to concentrate despite the lives that were being extinguished. Even those lives of their enemies were innately precious, despite their corruption. Each death hit her in the chest like a dart tipped with grief. She could tell that some of her fellow Jedi were falling, but the battle was still swinging wildly in their direction. All until there was but a few.

Those few that remained of the Tsis'Kaar were set to flee, going for the door, but were taken out by a stranger. Just prior to the death of the agents, Ala sensed betrayal. She could feel herself waning. So much death. There was one left though. This one felt different though.

The blue orb began to warp, and ripple, before its integrity began to fail. She pulled her arms downwards, as if fighting invisible chains. The light began to focus into beams from her hands. She focused them in the direction of the last deaths, the last known location of the one that had turned on their enemy. And then her strength failed.

Ala slumped to her knees, feeling emptied of all reserves. An Alliance operative took her by the arm and tried to help her up. "No. No, Farad. Just let me rest." The operative did not leave her side, but also did not try to help her up. The others were heading in the direction to which Ala had directed her beams of light.

She closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the departed souls in her very core. Opening herself to the light, meant touching the light within all around. With their light extinguished, it felt like it killed a part of her, even if it were only a part that had just recently been born. They had won the day, but Ala felt the loss.

Allyson Locke

 

[Allyson Locke]

//: Ala Quin //:

Everything happened as a blur. Allyson stood over the last Tsis’Kaar Sith, he was their leader and he looked up at the double agent with disdain. His lips moved, no sound came out but Allyson knew what he was saying. With his last breath he cursed the Corellian. She didn’t care, he wouldn’t be the first nor the last to do so. Once his body slumped, Allyson placed the bow over her shoulder and began to move towards the source of the barrier. Voices, more than one echoed which meant that there was not only one Jedi, but potentially more. Frowning, Allyson had to keep her composure - the last thing she needed was someone thinking it suspicious she was here.

At least none of the dead could speak of her involvement.

“Is she okay?” Allyson spoke, nodding towards the woman that the operative was holding up. They supported, but didn’t move her. It was a curious situation, but at least she wasn’t being questioned beyond notes as to what happened. Her cover was still intact, but the Corellian didn’t feel as relieved as she thought she would be.

Few days later

​

The Alliance and NJO had set up in one of the nearby beach towns. Scattered along the shore were modern villas, decorated with straw roofs. It was a place Allyson would have never found herself visiting. It reminded her too much of a place that she longed to forget with a woman who’s memory only broke her heart. She was given the go ahead to leave, the Operatives that had accompanied the Jedi seemed to understand the elusivity of the Jedi Shadows. A part of Allyson appreciated the understanding. It was something that she felt the older generation struggled with.

It was nice having a little R&R while waiting for the Jedi to recover from her ordeals. Allyson chewed quietly as she read one of her comics on her device, things had been slow with recovery. Mid-chew, Allyson raised an eyebrow seeing a message from the recovery team that was looking over the woman. Seemed she had woken up, or was well enough to have visitors. Taking a few more bites, Allyson finished off the breakfast and dumped the garbage on her way out. She checked her reflection in the device to make sure there was no food stuck in her teeth. The Jedi was cute, so best foot forward.

Didn’t take Allyson long to find the villa and room that the Jedi was staying in. She had a quick conversation with the healer and the other operatives. Brief conversations of thanking the Shadow for being in the right place at the right time. The thanks made her feel awkward, but Allyson nodded and kept face. “She’s good though?” The conversation remained hushed, which also had more jargon for Allyson that she really didn’t understand. Either way, the Jedi seemed to be okay enough for Allyson to visit.

Allyson pushed through the doorway and listened to the gentle hum of the machines in the room. They seemed to have been used previously, but weren’t in use anymore - from what Allyson understood. She quietly moved a seat closer to sit. With her legs crossed, Allyson folded her hands in her lap and waited for the Jedi to open her eyes.

“Pushed yourself pretty hard there eh?” Allyson smiled softly, “I appreciate the cover - don’t think I could have made it out without your help.” Seeing the Jedi in a better light, she leaned forward, hands on her knees as she tilted her head. “Do we know each other? I’m Allyson by the way.”

 

[Ala Quin]

They fussed over her far too much. Sure, she was tired. OK, she was really, really, really tired. But that was nothing. She could just sleep. Instead, the treated Ala like she was going to hurt herself if she got up and went to the bathroom.

She would always get a visit from one of the Jedi councillors as well. This time it had been a wise old Thisspiasian with a gorgeous array of hair looped up into buns on either side of her head. She had been delightful to speak with, but her deep concern for Ala's well being was a tad overbearing. The talk though had brought up a couple of well made points though.

This new technique she had developed, based on her philosophy that all had a touch of the light within, was untested waters. Yes, it had proven successful in four encounters with enemy combatants at this point, but each experience was more draining than the last. Even for researches sake, it was probably a good thing that Ala be questioned about it. Who knows what could happen from constant connection to the light within people just before that light was permanently extinguished.

She had just woken and was feeling greatly refreshed, but for some reason in the back of her head she felt a little off. To that end, her eyes were still closed when she heard the voice that sounded a bit familiar. She couldn't place it though.

"It gets a bit harder to recover every time," she said while rubbing her face. She felt entirely unprepared for visitors. Her hair was an utter disaster - she just knew it. Probably a big mass of curly knots. The staff did not offer a free brushing service, unfortunately.

Her eyes opened upon realising that the new arrival had indicated their presence at the operation. She looked at the woman, squinted and pushed through he blurry just-woken vision. "Flower girl?" She asked.

Her face lit up. Eyes grew wide and the energy that was Ala returned. She sat up, spun her legs off the bed, while holding on to her gown, and then jumped into a full on embrace of the visitor.

"Flower girl!" She said, nearly squealing but practicing a surely appreciated degree of restraint, "it is you! You have no idea how much of a difference you made."

It was an Ala hug. So there were not half measures made. And when the tight, well configured, embrace broke off, Ala just held 'Flower girls' shoulders and smiled broadly at her.

"You were there? I have been told the shiny time...thing...looks really cool," she said in a blur, "I haven't given it a name yet...all the cool names seem to be taken already...oh wow...what you were doing there? Do you go around giving flowers out all the time? Oh...Flower girl probably isn't even your name...what is it? My name is Ala. But you probably know that already. Oh, I have so wished to thank you for that kind gesture..."

Allyson Locke