Sweat and Blood [Mandos]

[Verz Horak]

On Aeten II, former Sith Empire world, now under control of an Imperial remnant, life continued as normal for the human citizens. The world went around its star as always, warmed by the nuclear furnace that birthed it long ago.

In a remote facility, once a research base for the Empire, a man sat in a cell, naked without his signature crimson armor.

His flesh wasn't bare, but without his armor it might as well have been.


Sweat beaded on his brow.


Blood, dried and flaky trailed from his nose, but that was nothing new.


Four stormtroopers in riot armor, armed with shock prods opened the door. Nothing new.


They moved in cautiously. They always did, after he put up a fight and knocked one unconscious.



One of the stormtroopers zapped him, causing the Mandalorian to fall to the ground. One kicked him several times, causing pain to bloom in his gut. The other two dragged the burly man from the room, down a dark, red lit hallway. A door opened with a pneumatic hiss, leading down another hallway. They dropped him in a familiar chair, then strapped him in.

Nothing new.



While Verz waited for his "host" to arrive, he thought of what led to him being here. He had gone to sleep after the hunt with [member="Arla Balor"] with her close in his arms. He had woken in that damn cell, groggy and wondering where he was and why. His first thought was that he missed Arla's warmth next to him.


Then the door slides open. That damn interrogator walks up to Verz, then hits him with a closed fist, striking him across the face.

"​So, Mr. Horak, will you tell me where it is now? Or do we need to call my friend back in here?"

Nothing new today then.

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Space... The final frontier... At least Ijaat had found passage aboard a ship... With Geoffery still offline and having hidden his old ship as asked, the Iron Father had to find purchase the old fashion way. Even though his armor fit ill over the bionics, he still managed to fit it, and despite the infirmity had played a rather intimidating bodyguard for the Captain on the way to his goal. Even made a tidy handful of credits. Which though he didn't lack them, felt good to get around to doing the old fashioned way.

Hefting the spear, his left foot thumped heavily on the gangplank as he walked away from the ship, the barrel-bellied captain calling out a farewell. He knew the man would miss him, he had offered him a permanent bunk on his ship. Who wouldn't want a Mandalorian warrior who seemed to know what the enemy was doing before they did so? Ijaat had not mentioned his Force sensitivity, but he hadn't gone terribly out of his way to hide it.

But the mission at hand was more pressing than steady credits and a life of ease and wanderlust fulfillment. Checking the load on his pistols, he adjusted the keldabe cannon on his back and draped his left arm on the pommel of his sword. Sauntering about with the murder-tooth skin over his armor, he looked the picture of a young warrior who had seen beyond his years. Life had guided him on funny paths, and stranger still perhaps was his current one. The name @Verz Horak had been heard, for the first time in ages. The former Manda'lor and himself had been stuck in the Netherworld together, and though neither were terribly close... That sort of experience forged a bond nothing sundered.

When he had heard the distress beacon, he had responded immediately, leaving the rebuilding Clan in the care of a close lieutenant and taking passage immediately. There were friends, there were allies... And then there were debts of honor and bonds of war-kin... The last any Mereel valued as sacred almost beyond reproach and reason. So he had come, bringing all the fury he could. His once comrade was in danger, maybe dead, and had called for aid shortly before being lost to the galaxy. So he was meeting an informant, armor repainted, posing as a Death Watch dissident looking for work.

Hold on Verz... I'm making my way... Carefully, though...

 

[Verz Horak]

The base, nestled deep in the red desert, was built to look like nothing more than a sand dune from above. The sun beat down on the base, the harsh solar radiation trying its best to cook those inside, but the walls and climate controls mitigated the heat. Within the walls, troopers stood guard, technicians made repairs and corrections, and the prisoners waited for their turn with the interrogators. The cell block was small, and no space was wasted on the prisoners within. Likewise, supplies were not wasted on the prisoners. Barely given the minimum calories needed to sustain themselves, and hardly any room to do anything, many wasted away and became skin and bone.

The Mandalorian currently in the interrogation room was not exactly an exception. He was definitely skinnier, and had lost muscle. However Verz had stubbornly continued with a portion of his daily exercises, combating muscle loss at the expense of always feeling hungry and a bit light headed. The interrigator had an angry look on his face, seething at the warrior in the chair.

"Tell me where the weapon is, and we can end this Mr. Horak!" The man shouted, spittle flying, his face turning red.

Verz looked up at him, glaring right back. "I never will, you ge'hutuun."

"Then you leave me no choice."

The interrigator signaled to someone unseen, most likely behind a camera, and the door opened. In the frame, an interrogator droid hovered.

[member="Arla Balor"] [member="Ijaat Mereel"] @Gilimar Skirata [member="Isley Verd"] @Mandos

 

[Krenis Skirata]

[member="Ijaat Mereel"] [member="Verz Horak"]

A distress call had been found, and while Krenis had never met the Mandalorian in question, word was that he had once been Mand'alor, and presumably had been captured. Krenis too knew the bite of imprisonment and how that ate at body and soul, and it was something he would never allow a fellow Mando'ade to suffer from, if he could do anything about it. So, he had come on this mission, working with others of the clans he had never met before.

But that never bothered the old clone. His people were a people of honor, and of warriors. He could rely on them in this mission, so he had come to fight with strangers. He had his eukar'gam and weaponry, leaving the sniper rifle behind, as rarely were they of use in rescue missions. But they needed intel first, and as of yet, they had none. Ijaat Mereel was out seeking information right now, as best as Krenis could understand, while Krenis himself stood in a small ship, floating in orbit around a moon, and waiting.

Reconnaissance was an art of patience more than anything else. Eventually, no matter how careful they were, the enemy always tipped their hand. Recon was simply paying close enough attention to notice it and being in a position to act on that information. So for now, he leaned over the ship console, staring at the display. And he waited.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

After getting a distress signal Stardust had a crazy idea

How does one get into a prison you can't find?

Well you cause some chaos, yell out something out, and then you usually had a one way ticket

So now on Aetan II, stardust dressed in medium armor as opposed to her heavy armor she usually wore, had been busy for a little bit setting explosive in clear areas yet nearby to where it would cause chaos, she had a blaster that wouldn't do much damage probably wound a person severely

Now it was time, she sat in the middle of a busy area...people setting around talkimg as Normal security forces patrolled 5he area for trouble...she waited till the security guard got close and raised her blaster pistol and shot at his side causing him to fall and scream, he'll just broke loose people started screaming, stardust hit the red button and explosions ripped through the condemned buildings yet it just caused even more chaos around people were running each direction as more guards started coming at her, she fired at another and another watching them fall...not dead but would need medical attention

Now time for the line of the play"death to imperial forces! All glory to the republic of mustafar!"the republic of mustafar being bogus of course none existed but it would surely get them riled up

Few minutes later....

Finally Stardust was subdued...it took them a little but stun blaster had brought her down...now she was being loaded up...which took four men to do so...but in any case she was loaded into the speeder and on route to a place you can't see

[member="Krenis Skirata"]
[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Ijaat Mereel"] [member="Krenis Skirata"] [member="Stardust Raxis"]

Verz felt like there was liquid fire in his veins. The interrogator droid had injected him with something, and as soon as it had his his bloodstream it had hurt. The pain was only matched by the time he had been heavily wounded during...something. The pain made it hard to think straight. Still, he gritted his teeth as the interrogator, the human one, spoke again, in a smug tone.

"I can make this stop right now. All you need to do is tell me where it is!"

Verz looked the Imperial officer in the eye, worked his jaw, and let loose a glob of saliva, right in the smug man's face. With a yell the officer smacked Verz and the droid responded by zapping him with raw electrical current. The Mandalorian's musculature now tensed up, overridden by the electricity. Verz could feel his bones creak as the built in fail-safes that nature had provided were ignored by the electricity.

The Mandalorian could only muster up a shout of pain, long and drawn out.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Her body ached...been awhile since she had a stunning blaster used on her...but by the force she realized why she was glad to not have one used on her before

The men carried her two on each side, they had transported her to a nice little hidden place, probably realizing that a twilek shouldn't be as tall as she was, more then likely they had now planned several test and such

Soon they stripped her armor off leaving her in the body suit and put her in a cell for the moment till she was called upon for whatever they needed

And soon slowly feeling returned as she gave a soft breath as to not alert the guards...now was the time from stealth..or we'll at least be quiet, she shifted and looked around...normal cell from the look of it...all the way up to the door, next she checked her right arm...yep seems it looked real enough that it fooled them...she had a single power cell there...30 shots was all

Next she had to break free and locate this...manda'lore the destroyer...apparently the former manda'lore but not the matter she had caught that distress signal and now the plan was set

She closed her eyes, she started gathering the force tp her and held a hand at the door, shatterpoint was of soemthing she was glad to of learned...yet wasn't skilled...it would take another roost at her level before the door was in pieces



[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Stardust Raxis"] [member="Krenis Skirata"] [member="Ijaat Mereel"] [member="Arla Balor"]

Verz, after another 20 minutes of pain and beating, was unceremoniously thrown into his cell, near unconsciousness. His whole body ached, and parts of his face were bruised and puffy. He could taste copper in his mouth, and wasn't sure if it was from blood or the electricity. Possibly both. He was so tired, and wanted to just rest. He collapsed onto the small metal bench, welcoming the coolness of the metal on his skin. His eyes closed, and he tried to think of happier times.

His mind drifted towards the times that he had taught Arla about being a Mandalorian, and before that, of teaching his adopeted daughter, Sandis. He wondered where they were, and if they were well.

What he wouldn't have given for even a good old field ration. It would have tasted better than the tasteless rations these Imperial wannabes had.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

She focused more, keeping a look out with forcesight just so no guards would come by and question her, she felt guards coming and lowered her hand as she let the force fill the cracks in the door..not yet...Wait for them to go...however that man looked like the picture she had seen...though a bit roughed up looking...better to see if he was such the man she seeked in this hell hole

As soon as the guards left and she could feel them out of sight, she gave a grin and felt the door break however it remained there as she used the force to gently lay it down "alright "she rose and grabbed a long bar from the pieces of the once door

She inhaled a she peeked out, a guard was coming by, a gun in hand that would work perfectly, she waited till he saw the pieces and ran over, she pulled him into the bar making it go through his neck before throwing him away and picking his gun up along with the key card

She stood and walked over past the cells as she looked inside the one [member="Verz Horak"] was at"hey you wouldn't happen to be verz would you?"she spoke "of so get up we don't have time to waste they'll more then likely dispatch another guard to here soon

 

[Arla Ordo]

Arla had borrowed a ship to make a run to a small planet just past Alderaan. How many weeks had passed by that [member="Verz Horak"] had disappeared, it wasn't the first time he had not did she think it would be the last. They had been working on, well they had been working on things.

A message was coming through from one of her less than notable information dealers. "Alor Balor so nice to see you again."

"Cad, you know I hate beating around the swamp right." Arla's voice was tight she wasn't all that fond of the rodian.

The rodian nodded he knew not to test her out she could have a terrible temper, "I have friends in dark places. One that whispers that one of your Vod is sitting in a cell"

Arla thought for a moment it could be anyone and her Clan had a rule help those that need it, "Cad, do you know who it is?" She needed proof a name something she could check.

Cad nodded, "I only know one name Horak"

Horak, first or last name?? She growled slightly, "No other name just Horak?" It could be Verz, possible, but...how they would of had to break into the house, get past Mirdala and then not wake her.

Was this Verz, was he was in trouble, a prisoner. How the Feth did someone get in the house? How? Oh there wasn't time to think about all that again, she looked at the information, she could ignore it. She could just keep going home to the planet Ordo with the credits she collected. She could.

ahh kark she knew she wouldn't she wouldn't leave anyone in a cell anywhere that was one of the Vod and certainly not Verz, not after everything they had been through. Arla paid the credits requested for the information, "Transmit the information Cad"

Once she had it, read it, she changed course. She was on her way.

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Stardust Raxis"] [member="Arla Balor"] [member="Ijaat Mereel"]

Verz lay there in his cell, bruised and bloody, with the last of the torture drugs in his veins finally starting to fade. When he heard a hushed voice whispering outside his cell, he was still on the edge of consciousness. He groaned, trying to pull himself into a sitting position and failing. In his near delirious state, he called out to the voice.

"Arl'ika? Gar ogir?"

 

[Arla Ordo]

Arla had to fake some information to get on this Sith world and that was no easy task, paying with precious credits that would help put another bio dome on Ordo she could only pray that it was Verz in this place.

She actually got permission to deliver some goods into the place, yeah the food stores she had bought.

Off-loading was no problem droids took it all, but now the infiltration was going slow. She ducked behind more cartons, and corners then she had when she fought in the streets. Winding her way upwards through the halls she listened.

Guards talking, "Yeah that one won't last much longer, if the torture doesn't kill him the drugs will"

"One less in the galaxy good riddance"

Arla hoped they weren't talking about Verz. No one deserved to die in a place like this it felt dark, damp and rampant with sickness. It felt more like a dungeon.

She waited, patiently, very patiently. She needed a single guard, just one. Alone.

5

10

15 minutes passed before one finally came her way, Arla reached out grabbed his shoulder with the crush gauntlet, and pulled him to her he cried out just as she put the pistol his cheek, "Prisoner, Horak where?"

Short on words. Very short.

"Who?"

Arla shoved him, "Mandalorian, named Horak"

The guard shook his head, "He's dead, the cell that way but they probably took him out already"

Arla punched the man and he crumpled. Dead she thought, Manda no not dead not in here.

Arla started down the hall.

[member="Verz Horak"]
[member="Stardust Raxis"]

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

By the force what did they do to you"she said as she looked around, she needed to act quick and be very very quiet" stay still Mr horak I am goimg to get you out of here ok just hold still

She said as she chacked left and right pulling the key card, she slid it down and opened the door slowly as she went over to him and checked him over"dear Feth, you stood strong vod now it's time to leave hell"she said as she started to lift him up and put him so he was laying on her back, like how'd you get a solider out of a combat area who's been wounded, she peeked out and held the blaster out before she started out"horak stay with me vod ok

She said as she made her way and saw someone approaching, she raised her blaster unknowing that it was [member="Arla Balor"] "hands up now and get to the floor!

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"] [member="Stardust Raxis"]

Verz could feel someone trying to lift him off the ground. At first he thought it was the stormtrooper guards, here to bring him back for more beatings and torture. Like any proud Mandalorian, Verz tried to struggle. He could hear a voice, different from the modulated stormtrooper voices. A feminine voice.

"Tion'ad? Vaii Arl'ika?"

 

[Arla Ordo]

Was someone ordering her to the floor?

Arla leveled the pistol, "you first dar'jetti thtabr" Arla could withstand a bit of blaster fire in her armor, "I want the prisoner named Horak, give me him and I'll consider letting you keep your life"

Arla had never met Star before but if she saw her she would know her from the day that Gray gave up his hand. She thought she heard her name, "Ver'ika?" She didn't lower the weapon it could be a trap.

[member="Verz Horak"] [member="Stardust Raxis"]

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

She adjusted horak and gave a whisper " hey stay still now ok just gotta get out then it'll be fine dont worry I promise

She Keating the blaster raised and slowly moved forward letting the light finally hit her face as she slowly lowered her gun recognizing mando'a "vod? "She said gun still slightly raised yet not leveled "

She stepped closer as she looked around and gently sat horak against a wall before turning back to [member="Arla Balor"] and spoke " well he's right here you got here just in time I just barely got him out of his cell, he's not in good condition"she said a she c4ouvhed by hin" I don't suppose you have a ship do you vod?" She asked [member="Arla Balor"]

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"] [member="Stardust Raxis"]

At the sound of Arla's voice, the large Mandalorian stirred. He tried to sit up, only to find that someone had been carrying him. He was still disoriented, groggy and defiant. Verz thrashed, trying to get free of his assumed captor. He fell to the floor with a thud, bruising his already battered body more.

True to himself, Verz tried to stand, looking around him with blurred vision. He saw a familiar shape and flash of red.

"Arl'ika! Jatne haa'taylir gar mesh'la"

Then his exhausted legs gave out and Verz barely avoided smashing his face on the ground, just banging the side of his head instead.

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"] [member="Stardust Raxis"]

holy manda it was Verz She looked at Star, "Clan Raxis I know your face, yes i do. By now it may be noticed im not near it, its in the delivery hangar if we can get back"

Arla got down by Verz "Nice to see you to we got to go" She started lifting him up, "you have to walk Verz" Security was gonna be tight She and Star would need to be on their toes going out of here. She could see he was hurt and it hurt to see him like this but she couldnt fret now there would be time later. Safety Got to get him out.

Claxxon went off oh this was bad

"Feth." She put an arm under his to help him walk she lifted her pistol and scanned ahead.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

She gave a loud gasp as he fell and crouched down but then stopped when [member="Arla Balor"] react and stood on watch as she raised the blaster and looked around, this place soon would be crawling with guards and troops no doubt....this would turn out to be quite the rescue

Let's hope your right I'd hate to try and walk out of this place"she said as she heard the alarm go off and checked the blaster"oh boy they either found my cell or him gone "she said as she gave a grin and stood on the other side of herz and a littke in front so she could react better

She hoped they got out...unharmed


[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"] [member="Stardust Raxis"]

Verz could feel Arla's arm under his, pulling the Mandalorian to his feet. Verz blinked several times, trying to clear his vision. He spotted a blaster pistol, some cheap sidearm the guard was carrying before Arla disposed of him. Verz grabbed it. Better than nothing.

"Arl'ika, they have my beskar'gam and my rifle. We need to get them back. "