Private The Blade Thief

[Minna Balin]

LOCATION: NUBA CITY, NUBIA, SILVER JEDI SPACE
EQUIPMENT: IN BIO
CURRENT OJBECTIVE: TRACK DOWN GENZI

Nuba City was more beautiful then anything Minna had ever seen before.

It was a stunning place. The buildings were smooth and chrome-plated, their highest peaks piercing the sky, slight and shining like icicles. Ships and speeders navigated the air lanes, many of them with the same chrome sheen on their hulls. Even in the industrial sector of the city, where a slight figure strode, smog and pollution didn't clog the streets. The people here, mostly human, but not overbearingly so, strolled the elegant walkways, off to jobs at starship factories or simply admiring the gardens and parks that were interspersed throughout the city.

That slight figure was quite the sight to behold. She wore solid plates of durasteel armor, encasing and protecting her body, but her face was clear to see, her helmet clipped securely to her belt. Her face was youthful, exuberant, full of awe at the scenery around her, dark eyes drinking in every detail.

Pistols rested at her sides, and a compact jetpak was attached to the back of her armor. She was a bounty hunter, so of course there were more weapons, well-concealed around her body. For this job, she thought she might need all of them.

The target was a Kyuzo woman named Genzi, a criminal, and vibroweapon blademaster. Minna's client was the son of someone who this Genzi had recently killed, along with an entire crew of merchants. Under normal circumstances, this would have been a hard hunt. But, of course, it only gets worse.

Minna had recieved a tip, that Genzi was attempting to escape Silver Jedi space, and was spotted fleeing Truuine with a Jedi's lightsaber. How she got such a weapon, Minna wasn't sure, but she had managed to track the blademaster down to Nuba City, in the ship-building sector.

All that was left to do was the hard part; tracking Genzi down in the city unnoticed, without the point of a lightsaber stabbing her in the back.

- Iston Voronwe -​

 

[Iston Voronwe]

Minna Balin

A cloaked figure stood in an alley way. The day was in full bloom as the sun shone, all but on the figure. Iston had been dispatched on a mission from the council; normally, dispatching a knight for a mission such as this, they felt Iston’s colorful background might be better suited to this particular situation. He walked with a slight shuffle, his beskar cane stomped the ground with a metallic thud, one that seemed to have a perpetual echo — and cadence all on its own. It was one thing to steal valuables — this was an offense on its own, but when a sneak thief dares to steal a lightsaber, one from the order — it became an issue all on its own. A tip recovered by an informant of a girl, bragging of her spoils, and coercing with said weapon. The old man moved as he spoke aloud to himself. “Ashla lend me your grace. Guide my footsteps.”



Iston came to a cantina... a local man, whom seemed far too friendly — well, inebriated approached Iston, his arm swinging over his shoulder. “Hey pal — don’t you think you might be a little lost? It seems to me the early bird special has passed and you might be better off at home.” Iston simply smiled and chuckled as he inhaled, then exhaled. He wouldn’t let this anger rise within him, nor act upon it, they didn’t know better. How could they? The man shook him, and to any bystander — it would seem that this gentleman, was shaking down a helpless old man... that — was the illusion Iston allowed. “Hey! Old man! Let me make this simple — beat it! I can’t have the likes of—...ugh...—“ the man was cut short as he grabbed his head, almost acting ill. Iston looked at the man as smirked. “My dear boy, you seem ill. I’ll tell you what, I’ll leave — but only when you answer my questions. Tell me what you know of a girl on here days ago, one bragging about a job, one flashing a saber. Speak.” Iston was forcing his will onto the man, dominating his mind. The man tried to speak, but as out of it now was he was, he managed only grunts. Iston sighed — his hand moving to the mans head as he peered into his mind, only glances, not definitive answers. Another dead end, it seems she hadn’t been here.



“Sleep friend — you’ll wake up with nothing more than a headache. When you do wake up, remember this — your worth more than this life. You want to do more. You will change.” The man with a final groan slumped down into a slumber as Iston rose, bystanders looking at him as his hood went back over his head and he continued back down the alley way.

 

[Minna Balin]

"Have you seen this woman?"

When the fifth shipbuilder she asked shook their head no, Minna began to lose hope. She had been lingering around the elegant warehouse district for nearly an hour, staking out the streets, looking for the Kyuzo. While she waited, she busied herself by tying and retying her hair beads. Keeping her hands busy helped her focus. But even a bounty hunter's patience could wear thin. And she was beginning to doubt herself.

The light of the sun was beginning to fall behind the city's spires, and the sunset's tenfold colors reflected in the mirror-like metal covering the city. However, Minna noticed the beauty a little less this time around. Her lead was drying up. No doubt Genzi was going to leave the planet soon. She was running out of time.

"Hey. You." A voice from the darkness.

Minna stopped her walk hesitantly, turning her head over a shoulder to look. A group of four humans, each one with a blaster. They were holstered, but each one had their hand hovering on or near their grips. "Me," she said, not quite daring to move.

Minna was sure she could feel the malice billowing off of them. "You've been asking questions, offworlder. Too many questions." The lead thug stepped forward, an enormous beefcake of a man, with a nasty rifle on his back. "You've gotta stop. Whatever, or whoever, you're looking for isn't here."

Minna narrowed her eyes at the man. Threats and posturing. That meant they knew something.

"I think they are here," Minna said, keeping herself from moving an inch. She could feel the excitement, the nervousness, of a potential fight worming it's way into her muscles. "And I think you're gonna tell me where."

Nobody moved for a beat. Two. Then the thugs went for their weapons, and fired on her. Minna reacted unnaturally quickly, flipping back onto her hands, then pushing herself off of the ground. Her jetpak sputtered with flames as it took over, launching her backwards, and giving her the chance to draw her pistols, the sizzling of red bolts blasting past her.

She didn't want a firefight, but she would give it to them.

- Iston Voronwe -​

 

[Iston Voronwe]

Iston had walked down another series of alleyways as he began to notice bystanders fleeing the opposite direction he was headed towards. Something was fixing to take place.



Iston picked his cane up, now simply holding it in hand as his strides increased in gait. He approached a side alley, one that gave him full view of the scene that now began to unfold before his eyes. He only caught the tail end, but knew — this young woman, a bounty hunter by the looks of it... was searching for the same person.



~ A disturbance ~



They fired without warning as the young girl quickly reacted, Istons eyes narrowing slightly at her reaction time, quick for just a bounty hunter — and then she hovered as they began to converge on her. It was time. Iston stepped out, directly behind the group, his beskar cane landed on the ground, both hands resting on the top as a loud ringing noise, amplified by the force would be heard from all causing discomfort to the men in front of him— to Minna, a helpless old man cloaked in brown robes just interfered with a delicate situation. Or was he. “Seems to me girl — you and I have some common interest... with these, gentlemen; and with what you seek.” One of the men turned his pistol firing as a bolt came Iston. He never moved, yet the bolt suspended in air. His amber eyes glowered at the thug as he stepped to the side and it released. His hand rose as they all began to turn — he spoke “Be still...” — and then, like the bolt — they all froze. He looked up into the air, once again addressing the girl. “I assume you’ll want to question them? This should make them much more compliant... wouldn’t you agree?” Who was this old man? Who was he to interfere with a hunter in mid-work? Was he friend — or foe?

Minna Balin

 

[Minna Balin]

Minna let the jetpak carry her weight, pistols at the ready, not yet firing. She almost did, but something incessant in the back of her mind told her to wait. Stay your hand, it seemed to say. Wait and see.

So, she did. It wasn't the first time she trusted her inner voice. The Force.

Instead, she took full control of her jetpak, using her wrist remote to duck around blaster bolts. One shot clipped her shoulderplate, knocking her back in the air. Minna hissed at the bolt blistered skin underneath, but morphed it to a grin as she realized she wasn't hurt too badly. She was about to say 'screw the Force' and return fire, when a form appeared behind the gang. A man in a long brown cloak, toting a cane.

Minna tapped a few buttons on her wrist remote, and the jetpak deposited her on the ground. She took a quick second to attach the helmet to her head, and activate her wrist weaponry, which hummed to life, even as she still held her pistols. Suddenly, she was in control of four blasters, each one pointed... where should she point these?

The goons? They were frozen somehow. Minna had seen, from the corner of her eye as she had prepared, a blaster bolt stop in mid air. They didn't seem to be a problem right now.

The older gentleman, however, had obviously done all this. He was the threat? An ally?

Minna decided to err on the side of caution. She pointed her weapons at the Force-user. Jedi, Sith, something else, didn't matter. Any one of them could spell trouble, or even disaster for this hunt.

"How did you... What...?" Flummoxed, she blew out a breath through her visor, and tried again. "Who are you? How did you know I'm looking for something?"

- Iston Voronwe -​

 

[Iston Voronwe]

Iston stood, shoulder width apart, both hands on the cane as he removed his cowl, his gray weathered hair neatly fixed as one hand came and stroked his beard. His amber eyes never leaving contact with Minna Balin . “I am that I am young lady.” Iston completely dodging the question — for now at least. His title, wasn’t exactly something he simply just flashed about — nor did he desire too. “ My name is Iston — I’ll give you that much. Might I be so bold as to ask what your name is?” His eyebrow raised slightly as he asked the question. “Now — to answer your question, I simply happen to overhear your conversation... your looking for a woman, one that is in possession of a item, an item that belongs to people whom I seek it for.” That would pretty much give away Iston — the stasis field, the cryptic answers — he was a Jedi.



During his conversation, not ever having broken concentration with the field, one I’d the men manage to luckily, and without knowledge broke free of the field pistol pointing towards Minna, and without blinking Iston stepped in almost seeming to blur out of sight — the humm of his lightsaber heard as well as the accompanying smell of burnt flesh as the mans hand dropped to the ground. The man knelt and dropped to the ground in pain as the yellow blade made its way in front of the man. “I apologize for that, but someone with your intentions needs to learn what happens when impulses are acted on without thought or care — now... I doubt she’ll ask again, answer her questions ... “ Iston now looking back slightly concentrated harder on the others, bodies now falling limp as they feel unconscious. He wouldn’t risk another altercation, despite knowing that young lady could very easily hold her own.

 

[Minna Balin]

It took Minna about two seconds to piece it all together. When the man, Iston, he said his name was, identified that his people wanted the 'item', it finally clicked for her. In retrospect, it didn't take a genius.

She wasn't so quick to trust Jedi. But she knew they were good people. Besides, something about Iston gave her a good feeling.

"Minna the Fish," she said, giving him her Bounty Hunter moniker, and lowering her arms a little. "Thanks for the assist, Iston, but..."

Danger.

Minna's weapons darted up to the freed man just a split second after the Jedi Master's blade cut his hand clean off. And Minna realized, with not a little surprise, that this man could have done the same to her, and she would've been far too slow. Then, she realized that Iston likely saved her life. Or, at least, saved her from a pretty nasty burn.

Kark, why not?

"Alright," she said, conceding what she was about to say with a defeated smile. She strode up to the un-handed man, and knelt down, putting the hardest edge on her voice as she could. "Genzi. Kyuzo. Lightsaber. Talk."

"Fine, fine!" The man was in obvious pain, and probably a little shocked at the sudden loss of his appendage. "Genzi came to the boss yesterday. Said she got a big score, and she'd trade it for a ride off-world. They're leavin' tonight, out of one of those old shipbuilding yards. The coordinates are in my bag. Please, let me live!"

"Who do you work for?" Minna risked a glance up at Iston, to see how intently he was listening.

"The Talon Reds. An' a lot of 'em are a lot better than me. Used to dealing with you Jedi freaks." Apparently, this man's sense of self-preservation only went so far.

"Thanks," Minna said, pulling her blaster, and very deliberately setting it to stun. "You've been a big help." Minna blasted the man with the stun cone, knocking him out like his friends. She dug into his bag, and pulled out an old datapad. She turned to Iston, not quite sure how to deal with the complication before her, not quite ready to completely lower her guard.

"So have you. I guess I owe you, Master Jedi." Minna smiled a little under her visor. "I don't much like owing people. How can I repay you?"

- Iston Voronwe -​

 

[Iston Voronwe]

Minna Balin

Calculated, quick to act and a rancor at heart Iston observed the girl question the man. Upon being done with what she needed Iston let out a thoughtful grunt as he thought about the incursion that would soon take place. All this fuss, just because one young upcoming thief wanted to prove worth. He didn’t want to see bloodshed, and knew the order would disapprove if things went that way... but Iston wasn’t about to give up.



Iston letting out a small chuckle as Minna asked in regards to paying him back. His hand stroking his grey beard as both hands now rested on his cane. “No need to worry Minna — but I wonder, it seems this job of yours and mine is now beginning to take a turn, wouldn’t you agree it might be in both our interest to work together? You end up with your bounty... and I retrieve what’s needed for the order?” He paused and then smiled as his eyes once again locked on hers. “ Oh — there is actually a tiny favor, humor this old man and call me Iston?”

 

[Minna Balin]

Minna studied the Jedi, dutifully noting the way the lines in his face moved as he talked, trying to set a baseline. He seemed... genuine. Very genuine. The young bounty hunter had only met so many Jedi, and only young padawans with something to prove. This was different. Iston was old, experienced, and, apparently, willing to work with a bounty hunter.

The Fish nodded to the Jedi Master, understanding. "Will do, Iston." Minna tapped on the datapad in her hand, glad to see that the device wasn't locked. She surfed through it, looking for the target.

"If you hadn't suggested a team-up, I would've, so I'm glad we're on the same page. Great minds, and all that." Minna's smile got a little smaller. "Didn't think you'd actually say yes, though. Outsourcing isn't exactly in the Jedi Code."

She handed the datapad to the man, having quickly discovered the location of the shipbuilding yard, and started walking in the right direction. It was only a block or so away, which the Jedi would see for himself soon enough.

"I saw you move. You could probably take the entire gang on by yourself. You probably don't even need me." Maybe there was a little unease in her tone. A little awe, too.

- Iston Voronwe -​

 

[Iston Voronwe]

Minna Balin

Iston smiled warmly yet again as she dropped the formalities with him — he was a Master, didn’t mean one should flaunt a title around, because that’s all it was, a silly title. Action was what meant something in his eyes, and sure enough it meant a lot to Minna, whom as she spoke, regarded other Jedi she had crossed paths with that flaunted about, and with no humility did as they felt best. Iston sighed slightly as he nodded. “I must apologize for any fellow brothers or sisters you come across.... but with that being said my young friend, I’m more of the.... grey sheep of the family?” He chuckled as he began to walker bedside her, using his cane, which would now be seen clearly as just a facade he used, being labeled as old — until for his opponent it would be too late.



Iston grabbed the data pad as Minna handed it to him and he looked at the information, mind formulating a two man assault on the warehouse as Minna once again complimented him on his prowess in combat. “Oh stop it, too many compliments creates ego, if you live to see my age, one day you’ll be just as good, if not better.” Iston chided lightly as he continued, only turning the compliment her way. “Besides, I observed your reflex’s, if I’m not mistaken, you react as one who.... well, never mind this old mans ramblings. What is your preferred choice of assault? What did you have in mind for our two man incursion?”

 

[Minna Balin]

"Grey sheep? I think I understand that." Minna slowed her pace to the older gentleman's strolling. She noted the cane, specifically how he hadn't needed it a few moments prior. Smart, resourceful, deceptive. Not something she often associated with Jedi.

She did understand being different". A bounty hunter with morals didn't get much work these days. She would have loved to do jobs for the Alliance, or the Silvers, but they weren't hiring. She wasn't gonna go beat up people for slavers like the Black Sun or Hutt Cartels. She was stuck with private contractors, people who had personal grudges and couldn't pay much, and the stray governmental job.

When the compliments were turned back on her, she was surprised. They'd just met, how much of her could he possibly...

He mentioned her reaction time? Had he clued into her Force-sensitivity?

If he had, Iston made no further note on it, instead pivoting to the matter at hand. Minna looked at him a moment longer, trying to collect how much he knew, before responding. "Right. Well, I haven't seen the place, but I've got an idea."

Minna turned her body to look at Iston as she walked, her gait adjusting to keep her moving forward. Now, she had time to do what she did best; prepare. "Genzi is going to be at a shipbuilding warehouse. If we spook her, go in blasters blazing, she'll probably just take a ship and get out of there. We have to make her feel like she's in control. That she has a chance."

"We either have to sneak in, find her, and confront her where she is, or draw her out. Maybe with a captured Jedi?"

Minna shrugged. She knew the warehouse would be in sight soon, and they would have to stop to plan. But without looking at the hideout, she figured those were the best two options.

"So, Iston, do you wanna be sneaky, or do you wanna be bait?"

- Iston Voronwe -​

 

[Iston Voronwe]

Minna Balin

From the way she held herself, to the way she formulated strategies — this girl was tenacious, he grinned as she laid out the plan. She paused, asking the question... and for Iston it was a no brainer. “It’s been a long time since I got to play a game of cat and mouse. Bait the trap... we got ourselves a mouse to catch.” His hand went under his cloak as he pulled his lightsaber out. It would feel light in Minnas hand, the casing almost shining like white gold — but what would be most peculiar would be the sensation it held, one of it almost seeming, alive. Iston knew at this point for one to do what he had done in such a short amount of time would be odd — trusting his tool like that to someone he’d only known for hours... and potentially his life.



Iston knelt down as he grabbed a small pouch of filthy street water, messing his well braided hair up, dirtying himself up. Cramming dirt under his finger nails. He removed his robe, tearing a sleeve of his tunic, and again... causing the appearance of a life and death struggle. His hands rose and came together as binding danced in the air — slithering like a snake around his wrists as they too became bound. “Know this girl — deception is a powerful tool... but I must ask you now to do something — you must hit me hard enough to draw blood and break skin. Anything you do, know that I can handle and heal later... but this will be the final touch that adds credibility to your story of capturing the old Jedi.” His eyes were serious as asked this of Minna. Iston turned his head, focusing on what pain would come — exposing his cheek for a straight dead on blow from her. Gruesome, but necessary.

 

[Minna Balin]

Minna felt her eyes widen in their sockets as the lightsaber was handed to her. It was beautiful, in the same sense that the buildings of Nubia were beautiful. It was sleek, metallic, held a lot of history. But unlike everything around them, MInna could feel the life coming from it, as if if had a soul. And while the weapon itself wasn't heavy, that realization alone gave the elegant weapon a lot of weight.

She had never held a real lightsaber before. It felt good. Natural.

What came next was expected. Minna saw what the old Jedi was doing, and decided to act in kind. Taking off her shoulderplates, she shot a few scorching blows along the corners, as if a Jedi's blade had sent her own blasts back at her. She thought about igniting the blade itself, maybe scorching a glancing blow across her armor, but thought better. She had no right to activate his weapon. Besides, these criminals might not believe she had the skill to survive up close with a Jedi. Better they believed she took him down from a distance, then went in for the final strike.

The strike that they were about to act through.

"You got it, Iston," the young hunter said, stashing the lightsaber among the weapons at her belt. She got to hold a lightsaber, AND punch a Jedi, all in the same day? Lucky her.

She waited for the Epicanthix to ready himself, then got into a classic Teräs Käsi pose, setting her stance, and preparing a punch she may never forget.

Minna was a young woman in her prime, with years of martial training, at the peak of her potential as an athlete. Even a stubborn trandoshan with a field generator could have felt the mammoth slug she landed into Iston's cheek. To her credit, she tried not to crack bone, but she wasn't holding back, per the Jedi's request.

After giving the older man a look, to make sure he was alright, she handed him a pair of stun cuffs. "Put those on loosely. Hopefully, they'll be so excited, they forget to check."

- Iston Voronwe -​

 

[Iston Voronwe]

Minna Balin


Old, feeble, worthless, weathered — these words would describe what people would think of Iston as he casted his usual illusion of himself to the general public and his enemies — but the strike — the strike to be, would be met with an iron wall. Iron met with Iron — Minna’s strike would land a dead hit as it would crack — reverberating as if it had met some foreign material, head turning slightly as the old man just simply smirked; blood now trailing down from his mouth. Warmth spread now from his jaw line to his neck and the adjoining areas — he inhaled deeply as he focused it, the pain holding at bay as he simply turned his head, almost seeming to enjoy himself now more than prior during the engagement. “I must say, it’s been some time since I’ve enjoyed myself this much.”



What an odd old man.



She threw a pair of cuffs at him, Iston using the force to latch them as he eyed a horse — his concentration moving to it as he urged the horse over. Eyebrow raising slightly as she smirked at Minna. “I don’t suppose the owner of this horse will mind me using it much —- Minna, listen carefully. I’m going to slow my vital functions down... it will appear is if I’m dead, but that will help play to your part. I’m bound, roughed up — this will complete it. I’ll be aware of everything, when you give the signal, I’ll be at your aid young one. Do you understand? No matter what they do, punch — hit or kick me; you need to act as if you’ve rendered me dead. Most Jedi cannot withstand excessive fire power for long periods — I’ve lived a long time to know, I’m by no means invincible. If they ask, you bested me that way. Which leaves me to my last request.” He was honest — he just provided her with means and ammo against more inexperienced Jedi — he paused as he looked at Minna “... — you need to shoot my chest. I’ve got trauma plates — it’ll still hurt— but it’ll put a vital blow to your story.” Iston never did anything halfway — nor would he leave anything to question for her safety. He readied himself, and would sling himself over the horse after the slug would hit.

 

[Minna Balin]

Of course, Minna expected her punch to do a little more. It felt unsatisfying. Were she just a touch more open, and a lot less reserved, she might have asked him for a second go at it. Thankfully for everyone involved, she was more impressed by the show of resilience.

"You're an odd old man," Minna teased, crossing her arms over her chestplate.

Iston's next request, Minna had not expected. Shoot him? That put a lot of faith in his armor. At least, Minna conceded, this particular Jedi prescribed to the use of armor, instead of favoring the plain robes and the Force. Minna had never understood that brand of Jedi. Trusting entirely in the Force to protect oneself seemed a little like putting all of your eggs in one basket.

"If you're sure," She muttered pulling out her weapon again. She lined up her shot carefully, examining the armor, and making sure that she wouldn't miss. She fired once.

Content with her work, Minna watched as Iston slung himself over the purloined horse, and walked over to it. She stepped onto it, happy that the owner had failed to take off the saddle. She looked back to Iston, seeing if the old Jedi was paying attention, then put her hand on the animal's cheek. She closed her eyes a moment, and sent a small jolt of emotion through the Force. Thankfulness. The horse seemed to relax under her in response, and Minna smiled.

- - -

Riding up to the doorway of the warehouse, Minna began to doubt their plan.

How likely was it that they would believe she could take out a Jedi Master? Her, who had no reputation, no fame, not a single shred of renown. But it was too late to go back on it now.

There weren't any guards in the street, but the Fish was sure they were being watched. She got off the horse quietly, and rapped her knuckles against the door. No response for a few moments, before a long camera on an eyestalk-like appendage shot out.

"Killed a Jedi," she said, in her toughest voice. "Figured you guys might have a reward."

Another moment of consideration, before the door slid open, and they were allowed inside. Minna gathered the reins of the horse, and risked a whisper. "Maw, I hope this works."

She led the horse, and the seemingly-dead Jedi into the shipbuilding warehouse.

- Iston Voronwe -​

 

[Iston Voronwe]

Minna Balin

Dark, damp and tense was the atmosphere Minna would ride into. Several hired guns seemed to guard the entrance as they glared at the young woman, they were measuring her up. A short distance from the entrance a man appeared, it was Genzi’s right hand man. He approached her, breathing as loud as a rancid as he scoffed at her. “So your the tyke that took down a Jedi? This — I’ve got to see.” The man walked over, his hand reaching and grabbing Iston’s messy braid as he lifted the head and examined him — and within seconds let out a loud cackle as he jerked the body off the back of the horse and it landed with a sickening thud on the ground — Iston knew he would feel this latter, but he wouldn’t blow his cover or relax his focus.



The commander looked at Minna. “This — this old man is a Jedi? What?... can’t take down a real one?... have to go after the left overs, the easy pickings?” He eyed Iston again as he spit on his limp form. “...— 5,000 credits and a free ride out of here is what you’ll get for this sack of Feth. Take or leave it girl.” His foot lifted up as it rested on Istons back — they had no respect for life, let alone one they perceived dead — but Istons words would ring in reminder to Minna “no matter what they do — keep the act that I’m dead.... no matter how they treat me. I’ll wait for your sign”. Iston had explicitly put his faith and trust in Minna, and knew she would pull through and signal him when it was time.

 

[Minna Balin]

Minna rode in, and as she was surrounded by dirty criminals, a different woman seemed to evolve from her form. She sat up straighter, and got the savage glint of someone dangerous in her eye. She immediately seemed to take up more space, be more in control of the situation.

No trick of the Force. She just knew how to take control, and fill a room. Her father had taught her well.

Minna watched as the talkative one in charge, not Genzi, but someone that spoke for her, walked up and inspected the Jedi. "Yeah, this is my handiwork. Saw 'im snooping around, heard you guys have a vested interest in taking them down."

Then he pulled Iston off the horse, and Minna didn't even flinch. She was an incredible actor when the job was on the line.

"A Jedi's a Jedi," The young hunter said, as if she were insulted by the insinuation that her Jedi-killing skills weren't up to snuff. "Gave me a run for my money, it did."

The man offered her credits and a ride. The ride, Minna thought, with rising excitement.

"I'd usually argue for more," the Fish stated, hopping down and, unassisted, putting the old Jedi back on the horse, "But I'm sure the Silvers won't wait around and see what happened to their precious Jedi, so let's not argue particulars".

- - - - -

The ship itself was a beauty.

It was a J-type diplomatic barge, covered in chromium and shining like a star in the dank hangar that the traveling group walked through. Apparently, they cared more for their ships than for routine maintenance of their base. Standing at the ramp to enter was a Kyuzo woman, with a wide metal war shield on her head, wearing warrior's clothing, and a small metal tube dangling from her belt. A lightsaber.

Of course, she wasn't alone. Flanking her were four guards, each with heavy weapons, and geared for a fight. She seemed ready for a fight as well, as when Minna, Iston, the horse, and the thugs stepped into the main hangar, she removed the lightsaber from her belt, and activated it, a dark blue blade illuminating her glowing yellow eyes.

Man, I need to get me one of those.

"Who is this?" She was cautious, looking at her second with some accusation on her lips.

- Iston Voronwe -​

 

[Iston Voronwe]

Minna Balin


Iston heard the hiss of the blade activate... Feth, this isn’t going the way we thought. I have to act.

... A disturbance in the force ...​

Istons eyes opened, ablaze with nothing but sheer contempt as he effortlessly seemed to flip off the horse into a roll and immediately free himself of his restraints. The old man stood straight now, the Epicanthix now standing at his full six foot four height. His hand came out as the lightsaber holstered on Minna’s waist would fly and set in his hands, the hum of his own saber now heard as he turned and faced the woman. “You have something that belongs to our order... but seeing as you’ve taken a liking to it, flashing it — let’s see how you fair in combat with somebody that actually knows how to use one of these blades.” His eyebrow raising slightly, almost as if seemingly to just mock her.

... The atmosphere was tense ... as if on a precipice before the plunge ...​

A soldier took an impatient lunge at Iston, angered by the twos deception.... but would immediately stop dead in his tracks as the man would be seen immediately dropping to his knees, gasping for air. “Allow me to introduce myself — my name is Master Iston Voronwe, Grey Pilgrim.” Rare was it for him to announce his title... but Iston felt it was appropriate for his opponent to know who he was, and allow them a chance to stand down. “You’ll find I’m not like my brothers — in essence — to my disdain, you may receive your judgment here and now. My apologies ahead of time.” He spit the last few words out like venom almost as the man whom tried to take his life stopped gasping for air as he lay lifeless now on the ground, Iston defiantly looking at Genzi, unwavering in his stance.