The Sewer King

Orion Darkstar · May 10, 2018

Laying useless in the hospital bed meant he was at the mercy of his own body recovering. It was a sad predicament, but with his stubborn personality, he should have expected such outcomes by now. He survived many time before. Whether it was a Jedi Master, or Dark Jedi Master, Orion managed to still breathe. It was impressive for an acolyte to be pitted against such odds and survive.

Now, he dealt with the consistent pestering of a demonic spirit attached to him, and a supporting catalyst in his newfound armor. It was a requirement to keep the ruthless beast at bay. He watched as Garland placed the garments right near his hip. With as much effort as he could afford, he formed a weakened smile. If not for Garland's easy gesture, Fovos could have been unleashed, again. Just as the armor rested close by, he felt the clicking mechanisms of his mind regaining strength. The purple clasps that held Fovos at bay immediately tightened their bond. He was free from the demonic bastard for now.

Orion turned his head to see Garland already halfway out the door, before an alarming voice invaded his telepathic channels of the force. It was Garland. The words slipped into his conscious mind, carefully dissecting everything as they came. They were kind words. In all his time being a sith, gratitude came and went. The old man was truly a good ally, one that Orion was careful to call friend. An epiphany hit him like solid rocks as Garland's telepathic words ended.

Was a monster capable of having friends? Or rather, Orion, labeled as an evil darksider by the false ideologies of the Jedi; capable of such connections with others?

Ironically, most in the galaxy would argue the most basic of answers... No. Although, emotions took part in such connections. So what did Jedi know about the inner source of the darksides drawing affinity to emotional, raw power? They didn't. So why did their words weigh so heavily on him? Perhaps in his mind there was always something there. Preventing him from creating deeper connections with others. All based on the very word of those he highly disagreed with? He wouldn't allow such fallacies to dictate his life. Let alone, Garland's. Instead, he would embrace it. Take it as it was. In the end, for better or worse, he'd deal with it.

< Just because you are older than me,doesn't mean I don't deserve ample amounts of rest. I'm glad I woke up too. As far as the length of time I'll be laying here, I already feel better than before. Give me an easy half hour and I'll get out of here. Granted, I won't have a lot in me if a fight breaks out. I refuse to lay here any longer than that. You go check on Mr. Couth. I'll keep an eye on Sanova for you. Oh and whatever needs to be cleared up, I have all the answers. >

Orion gripped onto the fabric that remained attached to his armor and gripped it. His strength was there, but as he went to lean upward a searing pain surged through his other arm.

Kark

A little more time and he would be ready to at least walk out. His eyes shifted to Sanova, her small nimble frame showing excessive training for her age. He hoped that his physique matched her in his later years. The force wouldn't grant him a healthy body, in fact, in time the darkside could decay it. Taint it with every extreme usage of the gifted practices of the Sith. Still, he would pursue till he achieved true power. It drove him to push further and further. In time, he would arise a Lord of the darkside. A king among insignificant beings that came after him.

Orion took notice of a few random things in the room. The first thing was the cracked window, the howling winds of the night creeping in. The second were the piles of books spread in a closet. Last but not least, a small piece of paper resting alongside the edge of his bedside table. Reaching for it, he sat up ignoring the tingle of pain through his shoulder. Lifting the paper from the table he began to slowly unfold the parchment. Tiny scribbles stretched across it. Orion began to read.

Enemy of my enemy, after dispatching one of my guards I should be trying to kill you. My visit to your hospital is in regards to a more threatening organization than I had foreseen. I present this with an opportunity for you both. Mr. Darkstar and Kramer, I write this in the face of something beyond my control. I've been a loyal broker of information for the Empire, still am. Even with the un-loyal antics of your own Mr. Darkstar, I am willing to give you a free ticket, my guards death from your very own hands will be buried. Of course, in order for such a forgiving process to happen. I request both of you to eliminate the entire organization of what we call, 'The Black Rose Council.' They are responsible for the successful attack on my precious Nemec Royale. While the resources are there for a man hunt, I'll need as much capital to rebuild her. I only come to my fiercest of enemies for help. Consider that a compliment. One last thing, with or without your cooperation I have ties to far worse individuals that can easily dismantle the both of you. This is your only warning, I trust that your cooperation will rectify any and all headaches for the both of us.

Sincerly,

~Mr. Couth~

Orion grinned, the man was resourceful. The note was compelling in its argument. The only real question that was really eating at Orion was how he survived. He watched him fall, was he missing something? Maybe, the far worse individuals he mentioned were the answer? Did this mean that Mr. Couth was guilty of association with Jedi? Were they the other end of the rope that Orion missed? The very thing they came to confirm, might be staring right back at him. He racked his brain to piece it all together. Searching for the correct puzzle piece, interruption slithered into his thoughtful practice.

"Oh, you're awake..." Sanova said, curious about the note held in Orion's hand. "I don't think reading is the best idea, you were in pretty bad shape." She stopped for a moment and stood, looking to her right to find Garland's chair empty. "Anyways, thanks for saving me back there. Garland seemed real worried. Not me, after I watched you fight that guy Gregory, I knew you had it in ya." Sanova smiled, walking closer. "Who left that for ya? Some lucky lady?"

Orion lowered the note, leaving the words visible to her eyes. His green eyes traveled to her violet jewels.

"Bad shape or not, I'm glad I read it." Orion said, trying to sit upright a little more. "I didn't save you." Orion's voice dropped to a cold tone. It was stupid to consider him a savior, he simply saw a threat and eliminated it. "Not a lucky lady, but a very smart, dumb guy. I've got to get out of here, just sitting here is going to drive me mad." Twisting his upper body to grab the poles on the sides of the bed he slipped off the side and onto the floor. Wires and tube snapped as he stood. Thankfully, no needles were live. The back end of his hospital gown split down the crevice of his butt cheeks.

Sanova frowned at his rude comment, he did save her. Quickly the frowned turned to laughter as the young buttocks of a man met her gaze. Her initial thought, lead to sensual images in her mind. Having the chance to grab either cheek would have made her a happy woman. Regardless of such thoughts, she laughed. "Excuse me, I'm standing right here." She said, a light chuckle escaping at the end of her tone.

"Then don't look." Orion said, turning his head to find his black clothing. He would change, quickly. If things were going to be brought in motion, he would need take the appropriate steps to get healthier on the move. Undressing, Sanova turned around and smirked. She gave him a stiff rebuttal.

"You're no fun, go ahead, I won't look."

"So Garland's fiance, how does that happen." Orion said, stress heavily accented his words. Just taking the steps to put his shirt on was difficult. Checking the bandages, he made sure to slowly unfold the curled ends of his shirt passed it.

"I don't know, I guess when a man and woman..."

"Alright, forget I asked."

"What? Can't handle the sappy stuff?"

"Forgive me for not wanting the whole story." Orion finished up. "You can turn around, all that is next is my armor."

"I don't know if putting more weight on that wound is a good..." Sanova said, watching Orion gear up.

"I'll ask for your advice when I trust you."

"Wow, even after everything. You know for a savior you really don't fit the part. Lighten up." She said, rolling her eyes.

"Done. Let's go find Garland, I'm sure talking to him will give him much more pleasure than me." Orion said, grabbing the last key ingredient, his mask. Tucking it into his cloak pockets, he walked toward Sanova. "Love doesn't qualify as trust for me, you have to earn it."

"After you..."

[member="Garland Kramer"]

Garland Kramer · May 12, 2018

Garland watched as Dr. Steadfield finished applying the synthskin to the left hand he had just got done tinkering with. His left leg and right hand were also covered in synthskin, it was odd for Garland, he had never used it to hide his mechanical extremities. It looked and felt just like the rest of the body, a seamless conversion. "All right, time to test this one out." Dr. Steadfield guided the left hand to Garland's outstretched wrist. As the metal touched his skin, the cold contact ran a chill up his spine. The hand was attached and the neural interface activated. "Go ahead and try it out." Garland slowly flexed his fingers, and made a fist with his new hand. It felt like he hadn't even lost the original, and thanks to synthskin, it didn't look like it either. "Just like new, thanks doc." Garland saw the doctor make his way to his computer and begin typing. "Now, let's talk payment, is the address on Corellia still correct?" With a straight face, Garland responded, "Yeah, that's the one." In his mind, Garland was grinning, the address was indeed correct, but it was his childhood home, a place that was no longer inhabited. He used it to dodge medical bills since the Empire didn't exactly have a lucrative salary and benefits package to opt into. "Ok, if there's nothing else, you are free to go Mr. Kramer."

Garland stood up and shook Dr. Steadfield's hand then headed out of the office. On the way back, Garland just kept making a fist with his left hand over and over. He wanted to really make sure it was working correctly, after all, if it malfunctioned during a fight, it might mean the end of his life. As he passed the nurse's station once more, he saw the nurse who had helped him on the phone again, he flashed a small smile and waved to her with his new left hand. She smiled back and covered the bottom part of the phone with her hand to whisper "Nice." before returning to the call. Garland continued back to Orion's room in silence, unsure of the path to take next. The number of variables for this mission is growing to an unpleasant number. We have Hargrave and her group to contend with, Mr. Couth is now under suspicion for not only the original reason for this mission, but now for the attack on his own hotel. Then there's Orion, the man who is supposed to be my partner in all this. He knew of Hargrave and the Nemec Royale attack before it happened, but was visiting with Langdon Couth during the ordeal. Garland sighed as the thoughts ran through his head, the last thing he wanted to was turn Orion against him, not when they were neck deep in this mess, but they did need to talk about what had happened.

He rounded the last corner to the wing that Orion's room was on, Garland was surprised to see not only Sanova, but Orion was fully dressed and walking out of the room. He couldn't of recovered fully in this small amount of time, not without something short of a miracle, it's that stubborn attitude again. Garland watched as both of them turned to face him, Sanova took off in a small sprint towards him, colliding into him with a full body hug. Garland wrapped his arms around her for a second before she backed away and grabbed his left hand, her face looked like that of a child with a new toy. "It looks great, and with the synthskin, you can't even tell it's a replacement. Feel good to have two working hands again?" Sanova's smile brought one to Garland's face also. "Yeah, and i got synthskin for the rest of them too, so they match." She reentered her hug from earlier, her face was buried in his chest, though it wasn't for the same reason. <I tried to get him to rest more, just as stubborn as you though. There was a letter from Mr. Couth left on the stand next to his bed, someone must've brought it in before we arrived. Seems like you two have been "invited" to take out a group known as the Black Rose Council, the group who attacked the Nemec Royale, as reconciliation for Orion's killing one of his guards. Are you sure we can trust him?> Garland remained calm as Sanova relayed her message, it was a lot of information to take in at once. He only responded with one thing. <I told you before, I trust him with my life, nothing has changed that.> It was true, no matter what had occurred on this mission, Garland still knew that he could count on Orion for just about anything. Garland on the other hand hadn't been acting like a partner lately, sure he had made sure Orion got the medical attention he needed, but the doubt that had clouded his thoughts was unacceptable, and from here on out was not going to be tolerated.

Garland broke free from Sanova's hug and headed to Orion, she stayed back, watching the scene unfold. He stopped just a couple of feet from him. Garland could see that his arm was still in rough shape, it was kind of impressive that he had even managed to get dressed. "Glad to see you on your feet again, had me scared for a minute, was afraid I would have to take care of this wreck of a mission on my own." A smile spread across Garland's face as he poked fun at his partner. "Mr. Couth wasn't admitted here unfortunately, but luckily he left you a note huh?" Garland's expression turned to a more serious one, I can't say I'm thrilled about being told what to do by that man, but I guess it lines up with what we have to do anyway. The little girl that attacked the Nemec and that I fought with earlier, she introduced herself as Darth Hargrave. She also mentioned being a Sith lord, so we have our work cut out for us. We can handle Couth's audit after that. So how about we get out of here, grab some real food, and figure out our next step. Garland turned and waved to Sanova, letting her know to catch up to them. Garland said one last thing to Orion, though telepathically this time, before turning to the ICU's exit. <It doesn't really matter anymore now, but I wouldn't mind knowing how you knew about the bomb and Hargrave before it was going to happen.>

[member="Orion Darkstar"]

Orion Darkstar · May 14, 2018

The hallway was bright, lifting his arm he felt a surge of pain radiate through him. Bent and stiff his forearm lowered slowly, allowing his eyes to adjust to the brighter circumstances presented. He felt a little dizzy, but his knees were far more sore. Laying in a bed for longer than a day made him stiff. Cranking his head to the left, and then right, a small snap echoed through the hall. Orion grinned, the chalked white lips parting before he sighed. The relief he felt was indescribable. Following the cracking of his joints, he stretched his arms and hands. The small needles of his nerves strained in response to his efforts to loosen his body. It mattered little, fighting would be out of the question for a while. Taking it slow would be a more appropriate approach, but of course, Orion rarely followed doctor's orders...or anyone's orders, really.

He watched Sanova, carefully so. She seemed loyal, only under non-disclosed circumstances, it seemed like Garland kept her a secret for a reason. Apparently, Garland was in love with someone Orion might not have been comfortable with tagging along. Still, Orion wasn't sure if she was loyal to the Empire's cause or her own. These days in the galaxy it was hard to tell. Everyone had their own agenda. Orion was guilty of it too. It didn't make anyone less Sith, more than it meant cause for concern for a potential threat. At least, in this very peculiar case. Being paranoid wasn't what drove Orion's instinctual disapproval of her, no, it was the sheer feeling that weighed over him as he watched her talk to Garland. The images of her stabbing him had been false, but the dreadful cloud that hung over his mind, prevented him from opening the gateways to a cordial relationship. He couldn't trust her, not yet.

Observing their interaction, he could tell they had something for a long time. Love was a strong concept, but concepts were meant to be broken. Still, Orion was witness to such an emotion creating fierce Sith in the past. It all came down to the core of the force user. Regardless, Orion watched, taking note of the newly adjusted limbs of his partner Garland. Synthskin was truly an amazing invention. On top of that, it only progressed further and further as time went on. There were very few things that impressed Orion. Synthskin was one of them. The only issue he had with it, were the wasted technologies that remained dormant with each new batch of capabilities. Some of the older parts could be used for his own experimentation, let alone sold off for lucrative change in the pockets.

Fixing his attire, he bent down and tied the strings of his boots tight. Standing back up, he looked to Garland who mentioned how glad he was to see him on his own feet. It was a nice sentiment, but he knew there were other things that needed to be addressed.

"On your own? Give me a few hours and I'll be good as new, much like you old man. Nice touches." Orion said, nodding his head towards the new synthskin improvements on Garland's new hand. "Darth Hargrave...hm." Orion lifted his fingers to his chin, contemplating if he heard the name before. If she was a Sith Lord, she wasn't one that was loyal to The Empire. As far as Orion was concerned, Darth Hargrave wasn't anyone he knew of. Sure, the note already confirmed it, but in the wake of his aggressive actions, trusting Mr. Couth, could lead them down a darker path. "Doesn't ring any bells, all I know is according to Mr. Couth." Orion stepped closer to both of them. "The Black Rose Council is where her loyalty lies. As for the food idea, I'm starving."

Orion looked at Sanova. Her expression was still with a smile. She was oddly, for her age, fairly cute. Looking to Garland, he wondered how a man like him sealed the deal. It was an ironic thought, one that Orion never thought he would waste his time with.

Having ties to others is making me susceptible to useless thoughts.

Wasting no time, he started for the exit. He felt the tugging force of telepathic pathways interconnect with his own. The very question he assumed would come, slipped into his mind.

<<The bomb. Right, so I had a vision a few nights ago. The nightmares...They even showed me Sanova. Doubt, I allowed it into my heart after what I was shown. For that, I am truly sorry. I tried to tell you, but I was suspicious. Even more so, when I heard you talking to the same woman, that according to my visions, would leave me bleeding in a hotel room. It's a long story, but we can discuss it over food. Now, I have a question for you...>>

Orion waved his hand and the door opened sideways to obey his calling in the force. The brisk night air touched his skin. a small smile curled upwards.

<<Why did you keep her a secret? After all this time.>>

[member="Garland Kramer"]

Garland Kramer · May 16, 2018

Garland listened to Orion's response, he had known about the bad dreams that had been plaguing Orion the past few months, but had no idea that he was receiving visions from them. More disturbing was that he was shown Sanova before Garland even knew she would become a part of this mission. However Orion was getting these visions, he was getting glimpses of a future, and that worried Garland a bit, a force that strong was surely not something to underestimate. Then Orion asked a question of his own. <<Why did you keep her a secret? After all this time.>>

The question was a fair one, but not one that Garland had prepared to answer. As Sanova caught up to him and grabbed his left arm, which had apparently become one of her favorite spots. They followed behind Orion towards the hospital exit, Garland thought of a response. After sorting out a few thoughts, he spoke to Orion again. <Honestly, I didn't expect to ever see her again, the way things were left before, I didn't even know where she was or if she was alive. She called the ship before we landed here on Nar Shaddaa and told me she wanted to talk to me, to clear things up. I wasn't really even given a choice, she was waiting for me in my room once we got to the hotel. After we fought for a bit, things settled down, and feelings resurfaced. I was planning on having you meet her afterwards but that's when you told me about the bomb, and things have been chaotic since then.> Garland figured it was best to just lay it all out in the open. They were partners, something that Garland had come to enjoy, and secrets would only slowly kill their bond.

Upon entering the lobby, dozens of eyes turned towards them, there were still a ton of people waiting to be seen. It appeared to be even more full then when they had first arrived after admitting Orion for his injury. <What's on your mind?> Sanova's voice entered his mind, he turned and faced her, she was smiling at him despite the curious comment. <Just trying to think about our next step, we need to pick and focus on one. If we deal with the Black Rose Council it gets Couth off our back and will let us do our original mission objective.> Sanova's face showed a bit of confusion as he finished his thought. Garland immediately picked up on why. <Orion and I are here to do an audit of sorts on Langdon Couth, to see if his loyalties still lie solely with the Empire.> They made their way through the lobby and exited the hospital. The smallest hint of a sun hitting the horizon was able to be seen at this early hour. It had only been one night, but Garland couldn't wait for their time on Nar Shaddaa to end.

Garland called out ahead to Orion. "I'll get us a cab, you shouldn't be on your feet more than you have to be." Sanova let go of Garland's arm as he walked over to a pay phone to find a cab service. He flipped through the pages of the phone book that was left there for reference. After thumbing through a few, he found cab services, there were a few to choose from. One in particular caught Garland's attention, "Shaddaa speed" was the name, and Garland stopped for a second upon realizing that was the company that Steve the guard had called for him last night. Let's avoid that one. Garland had no intention of being recognized as the man who had killed one of their drivers. Looking further down the list, he found another company called "Cabs N.S.", he dialed the number and turned back to the hospital to check it's name. In bright blue letters on the front of the building read the words "Shaddaa Memorial Hospital." Garland told the driver their location and then hung up. He headed back to where Orion and now Sanova were standing at the curb. "They said it would be here in about five minutes. So now the important question is, what do we want to eat?"

[member="Orion Darkstar"]

Orion Darkstar · Jul 25, 2018

The rays of sun that began to rise behind the very top of the hospital expunged the remaining shadows of the night. It was a gift from the force. The three of them had made it out of hell and back. Only force could grace them with such a warming presence. Even so, Orion could still feel the weight in his shoulder. Time would heal it, but they needed to be swift with the recuperation. Staying in a hospital wasn't going to help him along any faster. Instead, the idea struck him as the exited the emergency exit. If they were going to get food and they were already on Nar Shadaa. Orion could garner some stims to help his progress a long a little further. After all, his connections with The Sith Empire made it easy for him to find criminal thugs willing to direct him in the right way.

There was only one place on the god forsaken moon to get what he needed, The Red Light Sector. Of course, like all unwanted guests they would bring attention to themselves. Preventing a fight would be the best. Orion branched out into his mind to find a reasonable way around the gangs that guarded it. He knew exactly where to go in such a district, the only issue was the menacing threats. With his injuries, Orion couldn't be of much use during a long fight. He wasn't a good shot either. He looked over Sanova, she was clearly capable in the force. Regardless of how much he couldn't bare the thought, she could be the exact variable needed to make everything go smoothly. Distracted by the white noise of his inner mind, he was brought to the words of his friend, Garland.

"I'll get us a cab, you shouldn't be on your feet more than you have to be."

Orion turned to look at him, his knees spiking with pain as he did so. "What are you; my doctor?" The question was rhetorical and the sarcasm that was carried in his voice didn't help. Orion shifted an exonerated glance at Sanova. She stood confidently and stared back. The violet eyes were hiding something, he knew it. Something about the vision felt too real. Orion knew his doubt showed and asking her for what he really needed wouldn't work. It was a frustrating predicament indeed. It was even more surprising that after all the damage he took his mind was still sharp as a saber. It was all mapped out for him. One thing needed to happen.

"They said it would be here in about five minutes. So now the important question is, what do we want to eat?"

Without any hesitation, Orion answered.

"We'll be eating in the Red Light Sector. There's a place on the upper level that has some amazing Fire Stew. I could use something hot to ease this pain." Orion paused, careful not sound too pushy. "Unless you guys would prefer to eat on the lower level, with a flooded amount of gang members looking for anything they can get their hands on. Either way, we're going to the Red Light Sector." Orion lifted his arm and smiled. "I know just the guy to fix me up in no time."

Orion could feel the gurgle in his stomach, he didn't think he could ever be so hungry in his life. Placing his already extended hand over his forehead he looked upward toward the silver light signs at the top. Shadaa Memorial Hospital. They had done a good job at patching the hole in his shoulder. He sighed, it was one hell of ride so far and it was far from ending. Between the Black Rose Council and Mr. Couth. Garland and him were the only thing that could prevent some loose cannon of an organization from becoming a worse threat than they already were. On top of that, how could Orion just go along with the demands of a man, who clearly would want him dead. Perhaps killing his precious guards wasn't the brightest of ideas he's had. Still a temper was a temper.

It felt like longer than five minutes, but the singing whistle of steel and swooshing wind met their ears.

Finally.

Orion smiled, opening the door and waved both of the others to get in. As they all packed into the cab it shook, swaying back and forth just above the ground they had left. Orion meet the drivers eyes in the mirror before the driver lifted his hand and spoke.

"So, where we going on such a nice early morning?" he asked, placing his finger on the center console in front of him. "Off to anywhere fun?"

Orion looked at the others. He'd let them answer, they knew why they had to go to the Red Light Sector. Orion had already explained himself, at least partially. He bowed his head at the thought, hiding it from Garland might ruin the trust they just worked to rebuild. Unfortunately, Orion would just have to take a chance. Otherwise, they wouldn't get out alive.

In fact, the only way they would was if Sanova became a...

[member="Garland Kramer"]

Garland Kramer · Jul 27, 2018

"Red Light Sector, upper level. Just looking to get some food after a long night." Garland responded to the cheery cab driver with Orion's suggestion. Garland felt slightly uncomfortable being in the back of a cab again, considering that the last ride he took in one, resulted in murder. "Alright, should be fairly quick trip." The cab driver set the gps and started the timer for the fare. Sanova sat between him and Orion, she was staring at the floor, something was clearly on her mind, and from everything that had happened recently, Garland could only guess as to what she was fixated on at the moment. He laid his hand on top of hers, and she looked up to him, her expression was one of worry. It quickly changed to a slight smile upon meeting his gaze. <Got a lot on your mind by the looks of it.> Garland figured that Orion wouldn't want to listen to a conversation about their current thoughts and feelings, it would surely only annoy him in his already agitated state. <Hard not to think about the mess we are in, just like old times, only now I don't really see a way out anytime soon. When we get to a place to eat, I need to make contact with my master, let him know the situation, and that my mission will take a bit longer than first anticipated.> Garland had forgotten that detail from the call on the Stigma I, she was here on business, not just to see him. <What did you come here to do exactly, if you don't mind me asking, since you were staying at the Nemec Royale also.> She squeezed his hand as she answered, as if to reassure him about something. <I was here for an investment meeting, that is, until the hotel was destroyed, now I don't even know if the people I was supposed to meet are even alive now. I may even have to leave after contacting my master, it would be unfortunate, but this isn't my fight.> Like most of the time, she was right, she may have gotten dragged into this by Garland and Orion, but it was merely a coincidence that they met again in the first place. No matter the outcome, Garland knew what had to happen. <When everything finally dies down, we can have some time for us, I promise.> Sanova's eyes glistened as he told her his plan. Her head then found its favorite spot, his arm, for the rest of the trip.

Garland watched out the left hand window as they drove through the streets of Nar Shaddaa, the environment changed. The driver payed a toll to enter the zone, and once they were past the wall, nothing looked as it did just a few moments ago. It was like they had landed on a totally different planet. You could hear shouting in the distance on almost every road, and groups of people were holding out on street corners to protect their turf. Crime was done here just as much as the other parts of Nar Shaddaa, but here it was more open, the law didn't interfere with it, because they were part of it. Every official had been bought by someone, and they weren't going to risk their lives for honor or integrity. The lower level was the true underbelly of crime here. Luckily they were headed to the upper level of this part of town, it was a middle ground between zones where white collar crime happened, like where Mr. Couth did business, and the gang infested streets they were on right now. Garland's stomach growled, he smiled, he hoped that the fire stew that Orion mentioned was as good as he said it was. At this point though, any food would do, it had been quite a bit since Garland had gotten a full meal.

The cab came to a slow stop upon reaching a street that seemed to be exclusively restaurants, lights and signs were abundant, trying to pull customers into their establishment over the competition. Garland looked over to Orion, he was still being quiet, contemplating their next move no doubt. "So which one has the fire stew that has your stamp of approval on it Orion? I'm starving, and we don't have much time to waste." Orion shot back a short answer, with a hint of annoyance in his voice at Garland's tone. "It's called the Diamondback Club, right up this street." Garland and Sanova followed Orion's pace, as they hurried up the street, it may have been a nicer part of town, but it was still the red light district, and they couldn't afford to have trouble rear it's ugly head right now. The place certainly lived up to its name, it seemed to outclass everything around it, and music seemed to hit the front windows from within. Bouncers stood at the entrance, prepared to take care of any issues that occurred. They held open the doors for them, and the music grew louder as they entered.

The first thing Garland noticed was the atmosphere, the room was fairly dark, dimly lit, except for the center of the room. There was a stage and a band playing heavy rock, lights of all colors flashing and waving around. It was the kind of music Garland would have listened to in his youth, but that time was far behind him. The people gathered here though appeared to love every second of it, a large crowd was gathered at the base of the stage. They were jumping, shouting, and spilling beer everywhere. On the sides of the room were booths, some had bodyguards in front of them, clearly VIP's of some sort. Sanova spoke up, "Is the music really necessary?" Garland chuckled, "If the food is good, I don't really care what they play." They found a booth off on one side and slid in. A waitress approached them in a black tuxedo outfit, they all ordered drinks and the suggested fire stew. Once the waitress left, Sanova stood up, and spoke, "I need to use the bathroom, I think I saw the sign for them on the back wall, I'll be right back." She left the two of them waiting for their meal to arrive. Garland turned to Orion, "So do you have a plan or even a next step in mind, I know what we need to do, I'm just not sure how to go about it, and your gears are always turning. Any insight would help a ton.

Sanova found a small hallway with a neon sign that read "Restrooms" above it, she entered the one marked for females, and headed for the end stall, she checked under the doors of the stalls she passed, no one was there. Once she entered the last stall, she pulled out a holo-communicator, it had managed to survive the destruction of last night. She turned it on, and the image of a man in a dark hooded robe appeared in blue light in front of her. "What's your situation, you should have been back by now, is everything under control?" Sanova sighed at the man, "Things have gotten complicated, I haven't had an opportunity to strike yet, it will happen soon, but I can't be sure when." There was a pause, then the man spoke again. "If you want I can send a strike team to assist you, he is a dangerous target after all." Sanova immediatly protested the man's offer. "No need, I have gained some trust, I just need a window to carry out the plan, by the end of this, you will have your armor, and Orion Darkstar will die."

[member="Orion Darkstar"]

Orion Darkstar · Jul 29, 2018

Orion's hand slid across the red leather as he found solace in the cushions of the booth. He sat and leaned upright against the back half of the booth. It was more comfortable than a hospital bed, something that relieved him. He allowed Sanova and Garland to get situated as they entertained the waitress that hurried over. It had been so long since Orion stepped foot in the establishment, even the attire on the working staff had changed. A light smirk curled onto his face as the waitress turned to leave. Nothing about the Diamondback club was how he left it. He remembered the raging fires on that night, it was only a matter of time before he returned to the Diamondback. The only thing that mattered right now, was getting what he needed. As he went to slide out of the booth, he stopped. Sanova stood and made way for the restrooms.

"So do you have a plan or even a next step in mind, I know what we need to do, I'm just not sure how to go about it, and your gears are always turning. Any insight would help a ton."

"My Gears?" Orion lightly chuckled. "I'm slowly feeling better, but if we are gonna make sure of any plan on working. I need an illegal form of treatment. One that will require some...finesse." Orion looked at Garland, concerned at the motives of his lover. "If I'm going to be honest with you, quite frankly, I think it's too dangerous for her to be here." Orion motioned toward the direction Sanova had left. Getting Garland to understand would be difficult. Still, acting like he cared for her safety could work in his favor. The only thing that really concerned him was if the Locks got word of his arrival. If they had, time wouldn't be on their side. "The note, it's forcing us to side with someone we don't even want alive. He holds secrets to the empire. Secrets that i'm almost sure of could be utilized against us if he's in cahoots with the Jedi. So why give into his demands and take down the Black Rose Council?" Orion said, his voice lowering towards the end of his question. He grinned, they wouldn't. Instead, there had to be a way to turn the whole situation on it's axis. Something that screamed genius.

Before such a tedious plan could be implemented, Orion's words rang true. He needed to find at least one them. Observant to not only Garland, but everyone around them, Orion watched. He knew exactly what symbol to look for. The only issue was that there was no sign of any of them. It was odd, last time he was around, you couldn't go five minutes without seeing the snake symbol wrapped around a vibrosword. They ruled the drug game in the Red Light Sector, if none of them were here. A new gang was in charge of the drugs, but worse than that illegal treatment. It seemed Orion was in over his head.

"Who the hell are you?" A voice asked, it's accent foreign and thick with agitation.

"Ease up Cylus." Another voice said, this time feminine.

"Both of you shut up. He asked you a question, who the hell are ya?" Again, another voice demanded, this time breaking free from the darker half of the club and towering over the both of them. The outlines of his body showed fierce muscle mass, but not so much that it looked funny. Equipped to his resided two customized blasters and rounds, upon rounds of ammo latched to his belt. The attire that accompanied his body showed a thick leather jacket and black battle pants, lines outlining that of his armor threaded into his casual look. He was clearly ready for a fight.

"This is Garland Kramer and me?" Orion pushed up from the booth and sneered. His eyes leveling with the muscular threat. "I'm Jorin." Orion lied. Keeping his name away from the Lock family was difficult enough just being in their club. After all, he burned it to the ground last time he was here. Plus, he owed them. They were heavy into the slave rings throughout many systems in the galaxy. They only took specific candidates, but that didn't matter. What mattered was the current monster in front of him.

"He's kind of handsome. Don't ya think Badger?"

"Hate to break it you Blaine, but you might need to get your eyes checked."

"Say's the guy who can't hit a target six hundred feet out with a polarized scope."

"I'll kill you both, if you don't stop talking." Badger said, turning towards his two lackeys. "As for you two." Badger paused pointing to Garland and then with a stiff finger pressing into Orion's chest. "No one enters this club without notice and this booth is no longer yours." Badger said, slightly looking to the top floor of the VIP section. "The boss wants to see you both. Follow me or die, either way I get paid."

"Ahem, we get paid..." Cylus said, clearing his throat to the better of Badger's annoyance.

"Can we just kill them and get paid?" Blaine questioned, he tone carrying anxiety at the proposed notion.

"No, we get paid more for the package being alive. Let's go you two."

Orion wasn't entirely sure who was behind it, if it was the Lock family, not having Sanova to trade for would ruin his plan. He looked at Garland and clenched his teeth. They would never go for someone like Garland, he was too old. Anything past the age forty they would consider too much of a project.

Kark, did they really find me that fast?

Stepping in line with Badger's demands Orion shook his head. Best case scenario, they would lead him to a connect for the medicine and treatment to speed up his recovery. Chances were, it was a long shot. Judging by their conversation from a few seconds ago, they were well trained in the arts of gun slinging. Regardless, even if Orion wanted to fight, the better option was to comply, ride it out till the moment came to finally decide the severity of their situation.

<< Do as they say Garland, the more time we ride this out. The better. >>

He reached a spiraling staircase, before the large man Badger, pushed him forward. Orion made a mental note of it before stepping upward and ascending to the top floor. The rock music became a distant backdrop of muffled thumps and chiming guitar rifts. The floor opened up into a gigantic display of surrounding windows all around them. A dimly light white floor beneath them encased the well furnished center area. To the side resided a bar, with a tall and lanky bartender. The whole place reminded him of the upper level in the Black Adder. Still, the quiet threw him off as the people below continued to dance and enjoy their wasted forms of entertainment. Stunned by it's beauty, he missed the key integral part to the entire room.

A lady rose to the center of the room, he dress stretching to the floor in a sequin pattern of black and silver. To say that she was gorgeous was an understatement. Her red locks of hair were accented by the slim and delicate features of her face. Her lips that of a bright red cherry blossom. She was truly a sight, but even the most prestigious women in the Red light Sector were as dangerous as Sith. She smiled, and finally broke the silence.

"So they complied. A deal's a deal." She nodded toward a guard near an exit around the corner. He turned to disappear only for a moment before returning with a suitcase in his hands. "750,000 in credits and two full serums for..." She glanced at Orion and Garland. "Well you know what it's for." She lifted a glass toward the three odd escorts and took a sip.

"Thank you, you're too kind. As requested before we left, I've delivered you...One, Jorin and Garland Kramer."

"Good, stay at the entrance." Again she glanced over to Garland. "Just to be safe." She shrugged her shoulders as she said it. "I'm being so rude, please have a seat."

Orion looked to Garland and nodded. As Orion rounded the arm of the couch he spotted a unique center piece on the table. It stood tall and the silver engraving was elegantly done. It looked slightly familiar, but couldn't quite put his nose on it.

Who was she? On top of that, why didn't he know her? Was she the new boss in town? Did she end the reign of the Lock family? So many questions bombarded his mind, before he sat down onto the edge of the couch cushion. Then, he felt it. The nagging stem of a needle breaking through the force a alerting him. It was powerful, the burning rush of the intrusion almost made him nervous. Still, he remained calm.

He looked around for any hints. Nothing revealed itself. It was official, they were sitting ducks in the lion's den.

[member="Garland Kramer"]

Garland Kramer · Aug 6, 2018

Garland accepted the woman's request and took a seat on the couch next to Orion. He didn't know who they were dealing with, or what they wanted Orion and him for. The three goons, Blaine, Cyrus, and Badger had been paid handsomely to deliver them to this point though. "You have us at a disadvantage, you know our names, but we don't know yours." the woman who had paid to have them brought here took a seat in the chair on the other side of the table from them. "Those around here know me as the Red Queen. You however, may call me Veronica." She snapped her fingers and the bartender rushed over with a scotch glass and handed it to her. "I run the operations here at the Diamondback Club." The smile on her face told the whole story, she was used to getting what she wanted, when she wanted, no matter the cost. "Now, I know Jorin and I here are quite the lookers, but what makes you think we are worth anything close to 750,000 credits?" Garland needed to understand the situation before they made a move, he was going along with Orion's plan, not causing a scene immediately. He didn't like their odds if a fight broke out though, between her guards and the mercs, they were heavily outnumbered.

Sanova exited the bathroom of the Diamondback club, she had to come up with a plan to seperate Garland and Orion. Her attempts to poke holes in Garland's trust in her target, were shut down on the spot. Garland would be furious with her once he found out what happened, but she was certain that if it was after the fact, she could convince him that Orion attacked her, and she had no choice but to defend herself. Halfway through the building, she saw the booth they were sitting at, it was empty now. She approached it, looking for a note or a reason for why they had left. "Where could they have gone, I was only away for a few minutes, perhaps something required their immediate attention? If that was the case, why didn't Garland leave something for her to follow?" She took a seat in the empty corner booth, she closed her eyes and laid her head back. A headache was coming on, she had a lot to deal with, and how her future looked rested entirely on how this mission went.

Veronica let out a small laugh. "You clearly think too much of yourself Mr. Kramer, those funds weren't for you and your quiet friend here. No, that was for another job they did for me, you just happen to walk in here the same time they came to collect their payment. Now tell me what two sith are doing in my place of business." A smile rested on her face as she spat out the insult. Garland knew how to play this game, he could get under someone's skin and in their head with dangerous fluidity. "To be quite honest, it saved us the time of tracking you down. You see we showed up at your establishment not for the food, but because we need medicine and word is, this is the place to get the kind that works faster than government approval." Veronica's right eyebrow raised slightly at his comment. Her smile turned to a look of intrigue. "We may be able to work something out Mr. Kramer." Garland had begun to start a quid pro quo situation, and for that, he now smiled. "Please, call me Garland."

Sanova's eyes opened as she felt something go over her left hand resting on the booth seat. She knew what it was immediately, she turned and looked down to confirm her suspicion. An amphistaff was looking up at her, the same one that had been on her arm only a couple of days ago. It was undoubtedly Garland's, no other would approach her in this manner, and they weren't exactly a common creature in these parts. He must have left it here for me to find, but if that's the case, he will need it again soon, he wouldn't want to go into a fight without his most valuable weapon. The snake-like creature wound its body around her left arm, under her robe, she felt it slightly tug, as if to tell her where to go. It must know what way Garland went, or at the very least, feel his force presence in this direction. Sanova got up from the booth and followed the pull of the amphistaff. It was an odd feeling, having it sitting on her arm, she wasn't used to how it felt resting there. I wonder if this ever bothers Garland? The thought quickly dissipated when she realized where she was being led, the back of the room was barely lit, but there were two large men, standing at the front of a small hallway, in the back of it was the a staircase. Should be easy enough. She knew exactly how to handle them. She dug deep, and accessed her emotions, she went back to the time when she had lost Garland in the prison. Tears began to well up in her eyes, and she went up to the guards, face in her hands. When she looked up at them, her face had tears rolling down it. "I....I need your help, my ex is outside, he's drunk and yelling, he won't let me leave and I can't get to my vehicle, would one of you go out there and handle him, please? She knew she was convincing, after all, the tears came from a real place. They looked at each other, and the left one nodded. "I'll take care of it miss, let's get you out of here." Sanova cracked a small smile from behind the tears. 'Really?! you'd be doing me a huge favor, thank you so much. I'm parked around back." She followed the man to the door, it wouldn't even be a fight.

Veronica took another sip of her drink before she spoke again. "So Garland, what are you willing to do for the treatment you seek?" This was the moment Garland was waiting for, he would try to gain leverage in their situation. "The better question is what is it you want? We are capable of most anything, but I must insist on one condition no matter the job. He turned to Orion, wondering why he hadn't hopped in on the conversation yet. "You see the medicine is for Jorin, and for him to perform his best, he needs treatment. We need you trust that we will do your job, after he is healed." Garland knew how unlikely this was to work, but it was the truth, Orion needed to be at full strength before they did anything else. Veronica rose to her feet, she waved her left hand and one of the four guards near the bar came over, he opened his jacket and pulled out an instrument with a long needle at the end. He handed it to Veronica and went back to his post. "There's only one problem with your offer Garland, I don't trust anyone.

Sanova was ready to take out the guard who had offered to help her with her "problem." As soon as door closed behind her she pulled the hilt of her lightsaber out and pushed it into his back. Then something unexpected happened, the man let out a laugh. "You must think you're so clever, making up a story to get me out here alone. The truth is, we pegged you from the start, the two you were with are meeting with the boss right now, and if something happens to me, they're as good as dead." Sanova's eyes grew wide with fear, she was willing to let Orion die, it would save her the trouble of dealing with him herself, but she wasn't ready to let the same happen to Garland. "NO! You're lying." Once more the man laughed at her. "Are you willing to take that chance? If not, lower your weapon." Sanova reluctantly obeyed. The man turned and swung, the large fist connected with her chest, sending her into the wall of the Diamondback Club with a pronounced thud. She laid there, barely conscious, but her whole body hurt, it was as if he had struck her entire being with one punch. She felt him lift her up under one of his arms, and took away her lightsaber. "Let's go see the boss."

The sound of the door opening behind them caused Orion and Garland to turn and see what had caused it. A large man, one of the guards from down below walked in, and to Garland's surprise, under his right arm was Sanova's limp body. Garland managed to calm the rage that welled up as the guard came over and dropped her on the floor. The small grunt from her, made Garland both furious and relieved. Hurt, not dead, I can deal with that. Veronica walked over to her and hunched down, the threatening tool still in her hand. "You play a good game Garland, unfortunately sometimes that doesn't matter and you just have to hold all the cards. I know she is with you, the three of you entered together on the security footage." Garland wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of his emotions. "Your silver tongue seems to have left you, perhaps she is more than just a part of your team hmm? What would happen if she died right now, what would you do?" Garland stood up and the guards all pulled out laser rifles, they weren't going to take any chances with him. He looked at Veronica with a stare that would give a sith lord chills. "If that happened, well I'm afraid that negotiations would be out of the question, and Jorin and I here would just kill you and all of your men, which if you must know, was the original plan anyway. We just figured we would try and ask nicely to not cause a scene here at your little dance hall." Garland knew how to bluff, but in this case he was dead serious, nothing would stop him from tearing everyone in the room to shreds if Sanova was killed. Orion would be quite handicapped, but Garland wagered that he would still be able to take out one or two of them in his state.

Veronica's demeanor shifted, she felt that Garland meant every word he said. "Alright, I can see that this woman means that much to you, either that or you're just that confident. Either way, this tool in my hand is a chip injector, and I'm going to place a GPS tracker inside of her shoulder, and if you cross me or try to leave the planet, it will explode, and leave barely a corpse, sound good?" The question was obviously rhetorical, as she pulled up the right sleeve of Sanova's robe and stuck her shoulder with the needle and pulled the trigger, a small object moved through the needle and seemed to disappear almost instantly, it had gone deep into her shoulder. Veronica stood up and faced Garland once more, "Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, you and your team are going to retrieve something for me. A crate of my merchandise was taken late last night. The only lead we have is this."

Veronica cautiously handed Garland a holoprojector and turned it on. Garland, still in a state of controlled anger, watched as a figure appeared in front of him. He recognized him immediately, Gregory, one of the people responsible for the explosion at the Nemec Royale, and part of a group known as the Black Rose Council. He must have come looking for something to cure Hargrave's lack of vision after our fight. Guess the reputation of this place is known pretty well. He handed back the device to Veronica. "He managed to get in and not trigger any alarms, and the guards I had stationed were all killed. I do not tolerate thieves Mr. Kramer, and I hope you will deal with this with your professional discretion. Garland knew what she meant, "Don't want anyone knowing that we have ties to you, shouldn't be too hard." Veronica's face again turned to a smile as Garland lifted up Sanova and propped her up on the couch next to him. Veronica turned to Orion and asked, "Now that the adults are done talking, let's see the wound you need healed up."

[member="Orion Darkstar"]

Orion Darkstar · Aug 28, 2018

Comfortable...

The cushions almost forced Orion downward as his back planted nicely onto the couch. Relaxed and more inclined to have a sip of the fine whiskey, Orion remained quiet. The fact that the Locks were no longer present was worrisome. No matter what, the two sith would get what they want. It was inevitable. They usually didn't negotiate with drug lords or even kingpins. This...this was different. Something circulated in the air, the force tugging at him as he patiently waited for the icebreaker to happen. It seemed that the first to fire, would be Garland. The old man was a true negotiator, masterful at the psychological tendencies of others during imperative conversation. It was an invaluable asset. Orion was more meticulous about his approaches, but the time he had spent with Garland had taught him two things.

One, movements. It was odd to think about, but a lot of things happened during conversation. While subtle, physical and altering patterns in a persons demeanor, spoke volumes. It gave way to form the perfect balance between two conservationist. The fluid repetitions of the art evaded most people, but not Orion and Garland. So much so, that in dire situations against an everyday criminal, they could manipulate them into their favor, often generating profit and bottom feeders for their wealth. It was ruthless, but necessary process for sith. Intimidation was a core concept behind such trivial things. However, Orion wasn't dealing with some random thug, no, this seemed to be the queen of an unknown underworld operation. Unfortunate for him, Queens never wavered. So, instead of jumping into the heated conversation he examined, took notes and by the end of it all, nothing was given. Nothing, except for the cold and merciless actions she instilled by the end of it.

Fitting for the title, The Red Queen.

It was odd to see Garland and her go back and forth. In the end, she had leverage as Orion looked to the unconscious Sanova. Garland was strong in his resolve and if looks could kill, well there would be no more queen, that Orion was sure of. Threats were just that, threats. If action was taken, he had no doubt Garland wasn't lying about killing every one of them. Instead, it seemed an ultimatum was given to them both. In exchange for helping the queen, with a curve ball in the mix, which rested in Sanova's shoulder, they would be able to walk freely. Still, Orion only cared about what happened to the Lock family. If said queen took them out of the game, she was more dangerous than he thought. By the end of the conversation, the two of them had come to an agreement. One that Orion grinned in disgust about. Having a GPS tracker on them the whole time would prove difficult to not obey with her demands. On top of the Nemec Royale incident from the night before...this could provide enough time to capitalize on the Black Rose Council request from Mr. Couth.

It was ironic how two enemies of their own happened to have aligning concerns. Orion ignored the two for a moment as he took a gander at the image. The monstrous man was from the night before. Orion had gotten the best of him, but that was because he wasn't expecting it. Taking on the behemoth of a man, again, would surely demand for his wound to be tended to. He had to be at one hundred percent to take on the mysterious organization. It would be even worse if their were cultist following Darth Hargrave's teachings. They were on their last leg and the Red Queen was their only shot. Orion hated not having options, even as adaptive and versatile his mind continued to be, he saw no other way. His thoughts sank deeper and deeper, till a chilling revelation struck him. The second teaching of Garland.

You old bastard, you're a genius.

Orion sat upright and smiled, the cute remark that filtered through the air and into his ears wouldn't be entertained. He wasn't a child, he was a mastermind. All this time he had been keeping tabs on the vicious operator, The Red Queen. He was looking in the wrong place. He was thinking of the wrong tactic, instead rule number two would be perfect, especially since telepathic communication was out of the question. Ever since they walked into the room the force presented it self, it weighed on him heavily. Enough to be cautious. Something or someone, was gifted in the force and powerful. The queen had an ace up her sleeve, but so did Orion. Letting Garland know would take intuitive movements, ones that he rarely had time to practice. Still, it was worth a shot. Better yet, it was their only shot. All Orion had to do was start talking. So, without hesitation he wiped his hands free of the glass. He placed it awkwardly at an angle. The shimmer of the glass sparking upward to a vent. It wasn't an exit strategy, it was a warning. They had to comply with Veronica, for now.

"I apologize for being so rude, my friend here enjoys the company of women. Surely you know this based on the nimble woman currently unconscious on your sofa." Orion shifted a glance toward Sanova, his hand slightly lifting to send his first signal. The lengthy fingers of his right hand slid through his hair. Whatever he was trying to tell Garland, rested with Sanova. "My wound, it's infected. Even after care. I know that in twenty-four hours I;ll lose all motion in my left arm. I'd imagine you understand the severity of my situation." Orion paused again, this time reaching for his glass and taking a sip. It was another signal. The clutching motion meant to emphasize their situations severity. Not his own.

"I can see how this could pose a problem for you, Jorin. Tell me, what happened?" Veronica inquired. Her face remained magnificently beautiful in the bright light.

"The Nemec Royale, have you heard the news?" Orion asked.

"Do I look like an idiot to you?" Veronica smirked as she rolled her eyes in agitation. "Yes, I've seen it. That was your doing?"

"No, you see, that man, was part of the attack. During the explosion, I fell and a beam went clear through." Orion told the truth, pointing at the picture of Gregory. "It was rusty, I need a vaccine for tetanus."

"Well, it's your lucky day Jorin." Veronica said, snapping her fingers. "Let me see the wound."

Orion was cautious, but stood. His garments were heavy, but when he released the robe he unlatched the straps to his armor. Lifting upward he placed it nearby against the couch. A slight tinge of pain slipped through his arm. The pain almost forced him back down, but with a slight wince he overcame it. His black long sleeved shirt was perfect for an extra layer of protection. He curled his fingers under the hemming line and lifted upward. His muscular body revealed itself. The pale complexion indented his toned body perfectly. Training at a young age paid off. The white plastered bandage obstructed the wound, so with a delicate tug he release it's grasp, dried blood staining the soft suture cover. The wound seemed to have gotten worse in recovery. The dark veins abnormally started to spread towards his chest. It was clearly more than a regular Tetanus infection.

Veronica stood, slowly making her way closer. Along with her, a man with a tiny box followed. She pressed her hand against his skin and smiled.

"Not bad, Jorin." Veronica said, looking down at his abs with delight. "That's way more than just a infection. Are you sure it was just rust?"

"As far as I'm concerned, yes." Orion said, his eyes staring into her own fiery red ones.

"I'm afraid I will not know the results of this one. Kark it."

Like a snake she snatched the liquid syringe from the small case and slammed it into his wound. The searing pain shuttered through him. A loud click reverberated through the room as Orion clenched his teeth. His muscles contracted and his neck began to bulge as the shock spread through him. His whole body seized up, he couldn't breath. No matter how hard he tried, the expense for air refused to come forward. Worse than that the pain worsened, his only reaction stretched for Verionca's throat. Right, when he was about to make contact, the pain vanished and a large gasp escaped him. She wasn't impressed, weaker looking men withstood the pain. Then again, they weren't as banged up as Orion. He bent over and began to cough. His lungs thanked him by the end of it. Finally, he sculpted words.

"How do I know it worked?"

"You won't." Veronica said, a sly smile curling once again on her devilish face. "I don't even know. That was our new batch. concocted by our new alchemist." She seemed to be toying with the both of them. "I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to my new henchmen, I really need that shipment. According to my alchemist, that serum is fully loaded with tiny mites. They can disperse and eliminate anything. It can even restructure muscle, something we've been messing with lately. Now, the side effects could be anything. Plus, I think it worked..." Veronica turned away, heading back to her seat. "You aren't dead yet, that's a good sign."

The three of them waited at the top section of the steps like they were ordered. Being paid in a volatile galaxy was all they really needed, till the next job. However, this last one was personal. Personal for Cylus and Blaine, they were fierce mercenaries, but under their carefree and vicious judgement they needed the serums for their younger siblings. They would kill anyone to get their hands on it and they did. Veronica had ordered them to preform some of the most dangerous raids they had ever taken. In fact, they were responsible for her rise to power. Now, they were tossed to the way side. It's not that they cared, but dealing with the Lock family proved difficult when they started. Till this very day, Blaine had experienced several nightmares. The dead wouldn't let her rest some nights. However to her it was all worth it.

Cylus, he was a criminal at heart. From the very first moment he was picked on, to utilizing his first bat to break open skulls. He wanted the hill, no, he wanted to be the king on the hill. He constantly fought with right and wrong at a dangerously young age, but what he turned into was one of the best gunslingers in the Red Sector. Right now, with serum in hand he took a deep sigh. Contemplating on the time it took to get where they were... Cylus still felt empty, compared to his sister, being king was all that mattered. Somewhere along the line, everything was less and less for his siblings and Blaine. Instead, the end goal corrupted his mind. Greed was his strongest benefactor of his creation.

"Stand post, till ordered otherwise. Don't mess this up." Badger said, his hulking image towering over the two.

"Yeah, yeah." Cylus said, sarcasm weighing heavily on his words. "Can I at least take a peek?"

"No." Badger grinned. Cylus was always against the queen, but Badger knew better. She was powerful now, too powerful and they put her there. Underneath his strict demeanor, Badger knew she was a threat. "Blaine, give us the play by, we'll stand guard."

"Sure thing boss." Blaine said. She quietly knelled down and looked through the sliced curtain, hiding her perfectly. She watched intently till the very last moment. Her brows arched upwards. She witnessed something odd, the syringe she plummeted into Orion's chest was different. Her heart rate sped up, sweat forcing her anxiety through the roof. Her eyes squinted as she examined it closer. Her assumption was right. "Cylus." Blaine whispered. "Come look at this..." Blaine took a deep gulp as she watched the reaction from Orion's body seizing up. "Bring the serums over here."

Cylus looked to Badger, waiting for the go ahead. Badger scanned the area and gave the nod. Carefully, Cylus pulled the tiny kit from the cold case. He knelled by his sister Blaine and he leaned in to watch. Blaine looked away for only a moment before unlatching the kit, two syringes with an odd color liquid encompassed the inside of them. There was only one problem, it wasn't the same one administered minutes ago by Veronica. "I think we were scammed..." Blaine said, leaning toward the curtain to make sure. "Son of a-"

Orion wiggled his left arm. Numbness began to set in. Clearly a side effect of the mites. His shirt lowered and he grabbed for his armor and suited up. Veronica was dangerous, that much was sure. Even worse, there was a hidden factor that still kept Orion on guard. The force in her personal hidden bodyguard was talented. While Orion could sense his or her presence, he couldn't pinpoint it. The mysterious individual was exceptionally gifted in sensory based technique. It mattered little to Orion, but he still had one important question to ask. Before he did, he slipped into his normal attire, armor and all. Bending down to sit, the numbness of his arm began to stretch to his fingers. He placed them against the glass of whiskey and took another sip. His eyes were like green daggers, his demeanor almost changing to a demonic presence.

"The Lock family..." Orion paused, the only tell of the night surfacing on her face. Veronica's arms crossed, she was uncomfortable. "Did you wipe them off the board?"

"I can neither confirm nor deny that accusation."

"Well, I guess we'll be on our way."

"Remember, one shady move..." She lightly chuckled. "And boom!" Her eyes glanced over to Garland.

Orion grinned, his eyes followed the guards moving toward them.

"Escort them out, tell the others they are free to leave."

[member="Garland Kramer"]

Garland Kramer · Feb 26, 2019

Despite Garland's best efforts to negotiate with Veronica, she just had more leverage in the situation, they were going after Gregory and Hargrave like they had intended, but now were on a short leash with Sanova's life hanging in the balance. As he watched her small form slowly breathe next to him, emotions flared and his mind began to wander to a time where he and Sanova were still together, working side by side, letting nothing get in their way. Deep down Garland wanted some version of that situation again. He mentally scolded himself for thinking about this right now. Old fool, focus on the present or you won't even get a future. Orion was now in the midst of talking with the Red Queen about medicine for his wound. She was aware of the Nemec Royale destruction, though Garland suspected that not many left in the city were still unaware of its collapse. As Orion took off his robe to show off the hole in his shoulder, Sanova shifted, Garland turned to her and watched her eyes slowly open, the lights above causing her to squint. As she regained focus and orientation, her eyes finally rest on Garland's, a small smile appeared on her face.

Sanova still felt extremely weak and tired after her earlier encounter, so instead of trying to speak to Garland with her voice, she opted to instead use her thoughts.<I found your amphistaff in our booth, it led me to some guards downstairs, as you can probably tell, things didn't go as planned. Guess I still managed to get up here to you, so it all worked out.> Garland's grim face showed no signs of changing, despite her attempt at humor. He snapped back at her telepathically. <I'm not in the mood for jokes, things have gotten quite serious during your nap. For starters, you now have a chip embedded in your shoulder. The woman talking with Orion right now, The Red Queen, or Veronica, put it there as a way to track us while we help her get stolen merchandise in exchange for Orion's medicine. If we don't follow her orders or go off-script then she will detonate the chip and kill you.> Garland had decided that the time for subtlety was long gone. Having her caught up to speed would save them time later. Sanova's face had transformed from slightly happy to one of guilt and fear. She knew that if she had been more careful, they wouldn't have to be pushed into a corner right now. <I'm so sorry, clearly I had no intention of making things worse for us, we'll get through this though.> She pulled Garland into a hug, the embrace calmed her, just as it always had. It also allowed the amphistaff on her arm to silently and stealthily return to its owner.

Upon pulling back away from the hug, she took a moment to take in her surroundings. The lounge they were in was exquisite, but more than that, it was well guarded. The woman Garland had mentioned, Veronica, was now looking over Orion's injury. Behind her were two guards along the back wall, with another in the far corner staring at them. To her right was another two guards enjoying their position at the bar. She began to speak to Garland again, <I count five guards on this half of the room, how many did you pass coming in here?> It was true that she was injured, but she wasn't about to let the situation go unchecked, things had gone too far off track already to assume it would be better going forward. <There were two guards at the bottom of the stairs leading up here and one in the back of the room where we entered earlier, so six immediate threats and at least two close ones.> Sanova scanned the room carefully to see if there was anything they had missed, she felt the force from somewhere in the room, the aura didn't belong to any of them, and the guards didn't emit such powers either.

While looking around, a small but strong glare caught her attention, it was a reflection of Orion's glass, the angle he had placed it at had caught the light. She wasn't sure why it drew her focus so much, but after a few seconds she had a small epiphany. During the years of working with Garland, she remembered they had developed a series of codes and signals to communicate with each other while hiding it from their company. <Garland, have you taught Orion the signals we used to use on missions to communicate situations?> Garland was quick to respond. <Yes, we have been working on them recently, why do you ask?> Sanova saw that the light from the glass was no accident or coincidence, the glare from it led ones eyes to the vent above them. <It would appear that we have another guest at this meeting with us, in the vent, there appears to be a force sensitive.>

Garland's mind was so preoccupied by what they had to do next that he had foolishly ignored their current situation, assuming it would go over well now that Veronica and them had come to an agreement. He watched as Veronica stabbed Orion's wound with a syringe, the effects were immediate. Orion's body seized up and he looked like he was having trouble breathing. Garland hesitated to act, if he overstepped his bounds here, Sanova would be killed. As Orion's hand outstretched toward Veronica in what appeared to be an attempt at an attack, Garland readied himself for a fight, if Orion died, none of them would live. Orion bent over and coughed a bit after finally finding the air missing from his lungs. He was in rough shape still, but Veronica looked slightly pleased that he hadn't died from the injection, a possible medical breakthrough in their testing.

As Orion put on his attire, Garland stood up, ready to leave this place. He helped Sanova get up off of the couch, but her legs were shaky at best. She almost immediately leaned into Garland as a support. He knew how this would look to the people in the room, but he didn't care what these strangers thought of him, or her for that matter. Finishing his drink, Orion asked Veronica about the Lock family, which by the way it was presented, used to run the Diamondback Club. She playfully dodged the question, refusing to give any real information to them. "Well, I guess we'll be on our way." Orion was ready to leave this meeting, and Veronica was happy to oblige, but not without one more snarky comment. "Remember, one shady move..." She lightly chuckled. "And boom!" She made sure to look at Garland as she reiterated her threat to Sanova's life. Garland was less than pleased with her attitude, he didn't give her an inch of a reaction. I'll be damned if you get the last laugh, things may go differently the next time we meet. Veronica motioned to the guards behind her to come forward. "Escort them out, tell the others they are free to leave."

Gunshots rang out from the hall right outside the meeting room. It was a couple of quick short bursts and then two distinct "thuds" that only meant one thing, bodies dropping. The three individuals who had escorted Garland and Orion up here just a short while ago burst through the door, guns drawn and started shooting, the guard stationed at the door didn't stand a chance and was killed before he was able to fight back. Garland, Sanova, and Orion watched as they all quickly took out another guard each, closing the gap on the number of forces in the room. The leader of the yelled at Garland "I'm only going to say this once, then you start getting filled with bullets. Put down your weapons and back away slowly." Veronica's calm demeanor was entirely gone, she was furious that her hired guns had turned on her. "What the hell do you think you're doing Badger? We had a deal and I upheld my end." The female of the three snapped back at Veronica, "We saw what you did for him." she had her gun pointed at Orion while talking. "The vial you used on him is different than the ones you gave us for doing your dirty work." Veronica scoffed at the statement. "Little girl, Blaine was it? You and your brother Cylus here were promised an experimental solution to your problem, of course I have more than one batch that needs testing." Blaine scowled but Cylus was the one to speak next. "Hold your tongue Veronica, no more tricks, just give us what you gave him." He gestured to Orion as well.

Garland was not in the mood for yet another distraction from their task, at this rate, they were never getting off Nar Shaddaa. "Your fight is not with us, we are not associates of Veronica. Let us pass and then continue your squabble. All three of them trained their weapons on Garland and Sanova as he spoke. "Perhaps you misheard me old man, put down your weapons and back up with the rest of them." Badger was itching to pull the trigger now. "You need to listen to me, if you want to leave this place alive, take my advice, go now and you stand a small chance to escape, if you continue this tantrum, it doesn't end well." Badger let out a laugh before replying to Garland's warning. "You're just an old man with a injured girlfriend and a crippled partner, what are you going to do to me?" Garland sighed, he enjoyed killing people, that was true, but he was in fact tired of being underestimated due to his age. "If you do manage to kill any of us, the other two will make sure this will be your last fight. If by some miracle that all of us managed to get defeated by you, Veronica has a force-user in the vents above us, and I'm willing to bet that you wouldn't beat them so easily." Blaine's eyes had a tinge of fear in them now. "Maybe we should listen to him Badger, he seems pretty confident." Badger yelled at her, "Shut up, I'm not falling for his tricks, he's just bluffing to save his life." Veronica then spoke up, "He's not wrong you know, my deadliest guard is directly above us, waiting to strike at the command." The confidence of the three mercenaries was beginning to crumble. Cylus pleaded, "Come on Badger, this isn't worth losing our lives over, we can find another treatment." Immediately a shot rang out, Badger had quickly disposed of another of Veronica's guards. "This is not up for discussion, the medicine now, or everyone dies."

"You're right about one thing Badger, this is not up for discussion, Garland, kill them or she dies." Of course he knew that she meant Sanova with her newest addition lodged into her shoulder. Garland shifted his stance and told Sanova to go back to the couch. She slowly walked back, Garland wasn't sure if they would stoop low enough to shoot Sanova in her condition, he was prepared to take a shot to ensure her safety though. Veronica spat out another phrase from her vile mouth. "I'll make this interesting Badger, if you three can manage to kill him, I'll give you the medicine I gave his friend, and as for the girl, her life is already in my hands." Garland didn't flinch, he knew when someone was trying to get a rise out of him. "It's a deal Veronica." He looked back at Garland, "Nothing personal, it's just business, you understand." Garland, still stone faced, responded, "Of course, just as you will understand that I was being extremely generous before with my offer."

Garland reached down to his waist to pull out his lightsaber, his amphistaff was still hidden on his arm, waiting for the order to strike. He grabbed the hilt but when he did, a loud noise filled his mind. He wasn't sure what it was, but it was deafening and drowned out everything around him. His hand instinctively moved from his waist to his pocket and he felt for the pocket watch that Orion had given him. When his fingers clasped it, the object pulsed. Over and over as if to match the loud rhythmic booms that had entered his mind. What is happening, why now? He pulled it out completely, in the palm of his hand, it pulsed repeatedly and the third prong, the one that seemed to serve no purpose for the watch but Garland had seen it was a mechanism for some other function of the device, was glowing white. "Enough waiting around, this ends now. Kill him." Badger, Cylus, and Blaine all fired at Garland, but he wasn't worried for some reason, he felt that being shot at was alright, he pushed in the glowing prong of the watch.

Immediately, everything stopped, Garland shook from his trance on the watch to see what had happened. it was eerily quiet, what he saw he couldn't believe. It appeared that time around him had stopped. Badger, Blaine, and Cylus were "frozen". Garland looked down at the watch, no longer pulsing but the loud ticking was still present. The hands were counting down. They were at the 5 on the face now. Not much time to ponder, let's see how this works. He walked a few steps towards his opponents, still nothing else was moving. Hands passed the 4 now, 20 seconds left, make them count. He was assuming that when they reached 12 or the "0" of the timer, things would revert. He rushed up to Badger and without hesitating, he pulled out his lightsaber and sliced through his right shoulder, a clean and brutal cut, the arm sat still even though it was no longer attached to the rest of his body. 10 seconds, amazing how a little bit of time changes everything. He knew what he had to do, he ran back to the spot he was standing at when this started, only slightly shifted left to avoid the incoming shots they had fired initially. The hands reached the end and the loud ticking ceased, time began to flow again.

Blaine, Cylus, and Badger looked confused, they were sure that he wasn't standing there a moment ago, but somehow he had shifted. "Cute trick, let's see you do it twice." Badger's arm fell to the floor with a thud before he could make another attempt at Garland. Blaine let out a scream of terror. Cylus looked pale at the sight of the severed limb. Badger turned to Garland, "What the hell are you?" Garland's face cracked a small smile for the first time in the confrontation. "I'm just an old man of course." Garland turned to Veronica while the three of them were frantically trying to fix Badger's injury. "Your pet can handle them from here I take it. I'd rather be leaving now, lots of work to be done. We'll be in touch." Veronica closed her slacked jaw, she was just as confused as everyone else as to how Garland had just done what he did. "Yes of course, and Sanova will not be harmed if all goes to plan." The change in her tone was a pleasant one, she wasn't going to risk her life until she at least figured out what just occurred.

Garland walked back to the couch and stood Sanova up once more, she resumed her place attached to his left arm. <Going to tell me what just happened? It sounded like you surprised them all.> They continued to walk towards the door, Orion was presumably behind them. <Later, right now we have to actually do some work.> Passing the distraught Badger as Veronica's guards moved in on them, he spit on Garland. Garland didn't even stop, but the amphistaff on his arm came off, lunged out, and bit the side of Badger's neck. "Respect will be taken if not given willingly." That is all Garland said as the sound of Badger's gurgling slowly faded out into silence. The snake returned to Garland and reclaimed it's resting place on his left arm, hidden safely under his robe. Blaine wimpered and tears were streaming down her face. Cylus was consoling her, holding her in his arms as Badger's body slumped to the floor. The guards stood them up and were taking their weapons. "We won't forget this." Blaine forced the words out from the lump in her throat. Cylus shushed her. not wanting to lose anyone else today. Garland said one last thing as he exited the room with Orion and Sanova. "I should hope not."

[member="Orion Darkstar"]

Orion Darkstar · Feb 26, 2019

It had been days and the only thing they had was a location. While many would have considered it a victory, Orion did not. He wasn't simply going to waltz into a fortress with crazy heretics lying about. That would be vacuous. Not only was it agitating, it meant "Hargrave and company" weren't as careless as he originally thought. Still, the fact that Orion and Garland were even alive was surprising in and of itself. Not only were both of the Sith pitted against a cult of radicals, they had to deal with Veronica. Not to mention; the Mercenaries, whom sought both their heads for dismantling the brolly Badger. It was a shame too, if the monstrous man kept his mouth closed and temper under control, everything would have been avoided. On top of all that, there was Garland's beloved Sanova...who Orion still wasn't sold on. Regardless, Veronica could flip a switch and she would be extinct, expunged from existence in a abrupt, bright flash. But that wasn't all...

No, things were only getting worse and thanks to the few days of rest, everything started to become more clear.

The nights for Orion felt like eternity, the microscopic bugs that were injected into his body had cured him, but began to fight off any thing that didn't belong. Surely, Fovos Torgon, his embedded demonic partner, if you could call him that; fought tooth and nail to prevent the enhanced bugs from severing the connection. While Orion had thought the possession was in the armor, slowly a transfer was being made. During his nights of rest, he lived through horror after horror. Almost as if Fovos was ready to eat again. The only issue, no one would stand still while being tormented by a unknown entity. Even with everything going on, Orion still needed his own answers. That wouldn't be able to happen if Garland and him didn't save Sanova first. Despite all of that, the worst thing in front of them was Hargraves fortress...

Orion leaned over the table, his pale hands shifting the objects around on top of a white piece of paper. Along the sides of it were numbers, that; of course, aligned with numbers along the top. It was clear that the blueprint took longitude and latitude into consideration, something all cities should consider during construction. Probably, the most important; were the blue lines that ran parallel to one another all converging into one central area. The schematic expanded in and out as Orion scanned it with a copy device. Quickly, a world was built in front of them like a digital 3D painting. It spread throughout the air, stacking upward like a spiral of confusing pipes and ventilation ways. The multi-level sewer system was massive; without a plan, one could easily get lost in them. It was a maze of disease and darkness. It was quite perfect for a secret cult to gain traction, but they were committing heresy. Only the Sith Empire was the absolute when it came to the darkside.

"Here." Orion said, pointing at the hub that was covered by the inner passageways of the sewer above and below. He took a closer look as he pinched his fingers lightly, zooming into the central hub. "This is it." Orion paused and looked to Garland. "Their hideout is immaculate. It's gonna be dark, wet, disgusting, and filled with traps. Not to mention, if we get lost we might not be able to find a way out and die from starvation. Again, that's without triggering the traps they most definitely have." Orion's eyes slid upwards, where a vertical white line pulsed at the top of the hologram. "And that." Orion pointed at the pulsing line. "That's our way in."

A slight grin creased along his face. He was lucky that the force gifted him not only with powers, but an intelligent mind too.

"They were capable of escaping so quickly because of the Nemec Royale. The entrance is below it. A clever tactic, hiding in plan sight. The only issue, there are officials swarming that area right now as we speak." Orion knew the danger that came with such a plan. They could be stopped before they even reach the entrance. Hell, one of the cultist could be dressed as a medic, officer or any other formal co-op. Either way, they had nothing else to lean on. Plus, there could be an over abundant amount of them. Risking a covert ops mission in a maze of pipes and vents would have resulted in the same outcome. They had to go in blind. All they could really do was be more than prepared.

"Also, one other thing Garland." Orion thought back to when they were in the Diamondback Club. "I don't know how and I don't care to, but if we are going to get out of this alive..." Orion shifted his attention back to Garland, his young pale face exposed. His expression more serious than before. "Can you do the skip move like back at the club a few days ago?" Orion asked, curious to see what would come of it. Orion's head snapped back to the floating blueprint and studied it.

There has to be something we're missing...

[member="Garland Kramer"]

Garland Kramer · May 20, 2020

Garland pondered on Orion's question, the truth was he wasn't entirely sure if he could perform the skip move that he had at the Diamondback Club again. He was pretty sure he knew how the pocket watch worked by now but he didn't know if there needed to be a certain amount of time to pass before it would work again. Garland responded to Orion, "There's only one way to find out I suppose, try it and hope I don't die." It was the best answer he could give under the circumstances. Garland stared at the map that Orion had pulled up to see where Hargrave's lair was located in the sewers. His mind was somewhere else though. He was worried about Sanova, she lay on a bed in a small hotel they had found, she was resting and recovering from her injuries she sustained from Veronica's thug. There's nothing you can do for her besides let her rest, so focus on the mission before you end up bones rotting underground.

Garland had tried to get in contact with Langdon Couth in the last couple of days since they had down time to see if he would be any help, but to no avail. By now Langdon probably guessed that Garland and Orion were here to check up on him, and he didn't feel like helping out those who were going to audit him and his empire. Veronica had contacted Garland and Orion and taunted them with her usual spiel of letting them know that she could track Sanova's location and if she wasn't where Veronica liked, then she would kill Sanova with the detonator in her shoulder. The location part didn't matter though since they informed Veronica that Sanova would be bed ridden during their descent due to the injuries. Veronica wasn't thrilled about not being able to track the whole group's movements but she understood.

Orion pointed to a pulsing line on the hologram map that was pulled up. "That's our way in." Garland took a closer look and realized that Orion had found the best point of infiltration. "Nice job, you always manage to find the needle in the haystack." Garland was ready to go down into the sewers, they just had to pack light and enough supplies to get past traps and fight when they found their targets. They could be ready in a couple hours time. He looked to Orion and let out a sigh, then said, "All we have to do is infiltrate the sewers and slay a cult, take the product back to Veronica, find and interrogate Langdon Couth, and then get the hell off this planet. Easy enough, let's get started."

Orion and Garland headed into the small hotel room and rifled through their equipment and stashes. Garland was of course going to bring both his amphistaff and ysalamir since they had been invaluable in his last fight again Hargrave. He also would bring his lightsaber in case he was separated from his amphistaff. Orion had pondered how long they would be down there as well as the environment itself they had to traverse. Garland had brought a few things with him for the Hunt they were originally supposed to partake in. He laid them out on one of the beds and said "I've got two flashlights and we have enough food for 2 days each between us. Seeing how we are going to be down in the wet sewers I would suggest we lose the robes unless you never want the smell to come out of it."

Garland took his robe off revealing normal clothes and his small ysalamir cage on his left hip. He hung up the robe and then he looked his body over, it was bizarre to him. He saw flesh but knew that it hid synthetics beneath. It was a strange thought that his body was now almost as much machine as it was man. The thought was fleeting though and his mind returned to the task at hand. "We should be good with this, the traps will be problematic but we should be able to make it through in one piece. We'll go and get some cable launchers for some easier movement in bigger areas." He thought about anything else they might need and his mind wandered to Sanova and to one of the tools they used to use when they were on missions, they would be perfect for infiltrating here as well. "One last thing that might come in handy, I'm going to go to the entertainment district and see if we can find some smoke generators to use to our advantage.

. . .

Garland returned some time later with 6 smoke generators and 2 cable launchers. He was proud of his planning and saw that Orion was ready to embark as well. He went over to Sanova and bent down to give her a small peck on the cheek. She was still out cold and that was probably for the best. He left a small holodisk that he had recorded earlier on the nightstand for when she woke up. He hoped that what it stated wouldn't come to pass but it was the always better to be prepared for the worst case scenario. Standing back up he looked to Orion and said "Ready when you are." His grin had returned to his face as he got into the mental state needed for the upcoming fight.

Orion Darkstar

Orion Darkstar · May 20, 2020

Orion wasn't sure if Garland would even have an answer to his question. The more disturbing thing was the mystery behind how his partner even managed to move that quickly, let alone, take Orion by surprise with such ease. The old man had his own set of useful tricks, that much was true. Orion just stared at the blinking light on the hologram, the inner lines mixing and twisting into one another like a labyrinth of illusions. The sewers were old, but the systems in which to regulate the water flow of the sewage could potentially pose a problem too. There were so many variables to this infiltration, the only thing he could do was think. Then think again. His eyes shifted over to Sanova, her state seemed restful. She took a mean beating at the club, worse off, she had detonation device inside her shoulder. He wasn't sure who got the better trade from Veronica. Between Sanova's predicament and the nano-mites that were injected into his body to stop an infection, he was sure he got the worst of both worlds. Not to mention the consistent burning feeling that lay under his skin as Fovos fought ferociously within. It was a good and bad thing, on one hand Fovos would be occupied with the mites trying to tear him away, it was their job to rid anything in the body that didn't belong. On the other hand, if either one of them came out on top, he would have to deal with it immediately. It was truly a toss up,. Although, if the mites chased Fovos completely out of his body, it would be one less thing to worry about. Something about that option seemed incredibly distant, even as he thought it.

"There's only one way to find out I suppose, try it and hope I don't die."

Orion looked at Garland, it wasn't the response he expected, which meant it must of been new to Garland's arsenal of capabilities. It would be foolish to rely on something so uncertain. However, given the time restraint and the amount of things that had to be taken care of, Orion had little to no choice. Between Veronica, Langdon Couth & The Black Syndicate's Hargrave, there was was only one thing left to do. Just as he went to speak he was cut off, the exact thoughts that penetrated his mind came out of his partner's mouth.

"All we have to do is infiltrate the sewers and slay a cult, take the product back to Veronica, find and interrogate Langdon Couth, and then get the hell off this planet. Easy enough, let's get started."

Orion almost smiled, but he maintained his composure with a nod. He was in full agreement, at least partially. If Garland thought that Veronica would make it out unscathed, Orion had other plans. Obviously, his own agenda would be fulfilled in the long run. Such things, could wait till later. A few more hours and they would be off, scouring the sewers for a fortress that based on Intel was massive. Preparations were left to Garland. Orion ordered comms to his servicemen on the ship, he assigned two guards to watch over Sanova. This was necessary, not only because of the circumstances at hand, but something still was off with her. Orion knew, his very core ushered him to kill her, her nimble body laid soundless. He could do it, on simple motion and that would be the end of her. Despite the urge, Orion knew better. He needed her, more so, Garland. Her being alive meant better co-operation between them. Assaulting a fortress with someone you were at terrible odds with, would do them both in before they even started. After listing off all the supplies that were currently at their disposal, Garland took his leave. Orion was impressed with his prep. Very few knew how to utilize what was around them at any given time and using smoke generators from Nar Shaddaa's entertainment sector was genius. They could be used as cover or distractions.

Alone with Sanova felt weird as he waited, he looked her over once more. His hand lifted as he spoke. "What are you up to?" He asked, his hand meeting his chin.

"Graaagh! Finally, the last of them has been dealt with." The ashy voice ruptured through his mind like a uncontrollable wildfire. "You already know the answer to that question Orion."
"You're impulsive Fovos,."
"Impulsive? You allowed that witch to infect us!"
"To let us live."
"No, not us. You did that one for yourself. You knew you were weak, worried I would take over completely, don't act like I can't hear your own thoughts. I could've healed you, chased out the virus!"
Orion looked away from Sanova and turned his back, a slight tinge of pain slipping into the back side of his head. He sighed, the words ringing through him.
"At what cost..."
"Cost!? Forget it, you still don't know do you?" Fovos lurched back in the darkened plane of his mind, the image that of a black flame with red sinister eyes. "The Mites were attacking everything, even your heart!"

Orion shook free from the conversation within. He had gotten better at forcing Fovos back into his shackled prison inside his mind. He would no longer listen to it. Even if Fovos was telling the truth, Orion knew there had to be a catch. He pondered on the other words for a moment. What didn't he know? The question stayed with him. His fingers moved to unhinged the clip that resided on his robe. He remembered Garland mentioning to travel light. Also, his entire armor set wouldn't be coming, the straps on the side released as the coating and bracers were removed entirely. What was left underneath cloth-like straps weaved under and over one another to make a tight arm wrap. Orion left on piece of armor on, the Emperor's old battle armor. He would have taken it off, but with the unpredictable effect it could have with Fovos, he decided to leave it on. His mask was already removed, his young complexion remaining. His long black hair fell to his shoulders and as he moved to gather his things, he loosened his normal magnetic belt. He diligently replaced it with a cloth made sash. The only thing hanging of his sides were his lightsaber and two small devices. Orion sighed, he was ready.

Garland arrived right as he finished up. The two gaurds positioned at the entrance of the door were directly under his commands. Their orders were to protect Sanova no matter the cost. He looked at Garland. "She's in good hands, let's go crawl in some sewage."

Garland Kramer

Garland Kramer · May 21, 2020

Garland saw the two guards that were in front of Sanova resting, he recognized them from Orion's ship, It' won't do much if that detonator goes off, but it's a nice gesture either way, Garland thought. Orion and Garland hailed a cab and asked to be taken to the wreckage of the Nemec Royale, the cabbie gave them the side-eye but agreed anyway. He didn't ask any questions, which made it easier for them to think through things as they traveled to their destination. They both got out of the cab and took a look around. The area was still blocked off with police tape everywhere and there were 4 cops stationed at the front of it all. "Not too bad, but still annoying." Garland stated to Orion. Killing cops wasn't exactly something he wanted to do, sure killing was fun, but killing cops meant that more would come and they would draw a lot of attention to themselves. Garland spoke to Orion telepathically, <Let's just go introduce ourselves as city inspectors and go from there, might not need to create a mess to get inside.> They approached the 2 of the cops standing close together.

Garland immediately started up the conversation as the cops turned towards them. "How's it going officers, I'm John, and this is my partner Jorin, and we are with the city planning department. We are here to check out the infrastructure of the sewers underneath where the Nemec Royale fell to see if it's safe to build here again any time soon." The cops looked at each other, and then back to Garland and Orion, the one on the right spoke. "Sorry guys I'm afraid we can't let you in this area without the proper paperwork, boss' orders." Garland looked around as the cop spitted out his reply, and he managed to see the sewer lid that was where they needed to head down. When the cop finished, Garland paid attention again and responded. "Your office should've gotten the paperwork a few days ago, now if we don't get down there today my boss will tear you all a new one for wasting tax payer money and time."

The cops looked nervous, they didn't want to get in trouble over something so simple but were still hesitant to go ahead and let them through. The cop on the left spoke up, "Right this way then gentlemen, no need for anybody's boss to raise hell." He led them over to the sewer lid and as he did, the other 2 cops that were on the perimeter came over to see what was going on. Garland looked back and saw that the 4th cop was on his communicator, time was running out. The 3 cops near them lifted off the sewer lid and the smell inside poured out above ground. It was disgusting and vile, a couple of the cops slightly gagged. Orion headed down first, he had no trouble entering it seemed, the ladder was still sturdy even after all the destruction that had taken place above it.

As Garland got on the ladder, the cop that was on his communicator a moment ago was running over and yelling. "STOP, DON'T LET THEM IN, THEY AREN'T WITH THE CITY." Garland then used the force on the sewer lid and lifted it then used it to swing into and crack the heads of all 4 cops. He definitely heard shattering and probably caused internal bleeding. Garland knew that Orion had heard the commotion and told him what happened when he got down the rest of the ladder. "Whoever they called, they think we will have been taken care of. No worries until someone shows up to relieve them later, and by then we will be long gone. Let's get going."

Orion Darkstar

Orion Darkstar · May 21, 2020

The pungent smell was strong, the swishing liquid caressed the edges of his boots. The water was of a dark green murky color. He wasn't sure if sewage water could be utilized in anything he was working on back on his ship. The only result he did know of in any case was it smelled like pure poodoo. While it was revolting, it was nothing compared to the torched smell of certain sithspawn. This didn't mean Orion enjoyed it though or was impervious to it either. He looked around and was presented with four different tunnel-ways. They seemed to have gotten lucky and bypassed the first layer of sewage pipes that would require them to crawl. This was a blessing, being able to run or walk through the intricate labryinth would make their job easier. Orion gripped at his armor straps on his shoulders and repositioned himself. He looked to Garland as he descended from the latter. The old man filled him in on the events above. Nothing could ever go as planned. Nar Shaddaa had become more of a headache that never ended. They were safe from the law for now and the real problem they were faced with was right in front of them. The sewers.

"It's this way." Orion said, his arm extending over to the leftmost route. He couldn't mess up where they were going if he tried. He studied the sewage system for three days. His notes were penetrating his mind as they navigated their way through a sea of pipes. The smell began to lighten up a bit as they continue to make their way. A thundering sound rattled the metal coils. Orion almost lost his balance until he caught his footing. He looked at Garland. "The water system was activated to flush all of this down into the lower levels. The systems starts at the lowest level and works its way up. We have to be mindful of how many activation there are. This marks the first one. Which means there are four more." Orion continued to walk while talking. "I need you to keep count, if we lose count we'll be taking a ride down the drain." Orion thought about being chopped up by the largest grinder invented for a disposal system ever. he shook it off and started in again. "Basically, chopped up."

Orion pressed on with navigation in mind, he didn't think too much of traps so early on in the tunnels. It was the lower sector that really worried him. The deeper they went the more rats they began to see. Before long hours had passed and where the sewage pipes were once lit, a blackness stopped them both in their tracks. Orion knew this would make it more difficult, so he did the only thing he could think of with little at his use. With the quick motion of pulling his lightsaber into his hand he activated the red beam of light in order to light the way. He held the saber out in front of him like a torch as partial areas of their path lit up. The stone beneath them looked more dry than wet, much less any sewage to steep in. It was a strange change from the hours of trudging through murky water the entire time. Orion didn't mind it, in fact, he welcomed it. He hated water, he wasn't fond of it in the slightest. Even with Fovos making him an iron fortress in the department of fear, it didn't mean his own fear was extinguished. There was still a lot to figure out in that department. It would have to wait anyways, he had no choice he was stuck in a sewer..

They moved forward for a few miles only to be greeted with a protruding stone platform splitting their path two ways. Orion didn't recollect this particular part. he ushered his saber closer. "What the..?" Orion looked at the middle of the stone pillar. A large amulet shimmered across the surface as Orion waved his saber back to the front of him. "Any thoughts

Garland Kramer ?" Orion was confused, he pulled out his only data-pad, but the reception was useless. Frustration mounted, but than a thought struck him.

Wait. Sith used to lay traps and puzzles for potential threats unlocking their secrets. Maybe this is a Puzzle?

Garland Kramer

Garland Kramer · May 24, 2020

Although Garland was ready for a fight in the sewers, he wasn't really sure what to expect on the way to the Black Rose Council's lair. Orion explained the water flushing system and how they were now on a timetable due to it. "The water system was activated to flush all of this down into the lower levels. The systems starts at the lowest level and works its way up. We have to be mindful of how many activation there are. This marks the first one. Which means there are four more." Garland had no intention of drowning in this wretched place. They walked a little bit more and then found something they hadn't expected to find down here. The path split in two which caught Orion off-guard "What the..?" This clearly wasn't on the map that they had studied. There was a pillar that protruded from the split path and on it was an amulet. "Any thoughts?" Orion asked Garland. "I'm not sure, could they have made their own tunnel to a base, so that it didn't show up any city maps?"

Orion pulled out his data pad and tried to find more info on their location, but he couldn't get a signal. Garland decided to walk up to the amulet. He was hesitant to touch it, but getting a better look couldn't hurt. It had a blueish purple hue that showed more as he got closer. What's the worst that could happen? Garland thought as he reached for the amulet, he lifted it up off the stone slowly and carefully. Nothing happened, he turned it over to see any distinguishable markings, but there were none. Garland turned to Orion and said "Not sure what to make of it, no markings of any kind on it, and it doesn't seem to be giving off any energy or aura." Then he put on the amulet and everything changed.

As soon as the amulet settled on Garland, he felt pain, not just like a pinprick, but shooting and searing pain that engulfed his whole body. He dropped to his knees and let out a yell, "AHHHH, IT BURNS." Garland squinted his eyes open while his blood was boiling and he saw that the left doorway had a rose symbol on top of it. Garland felt like his arms weighed 2 tons as he lifted them up and removed the amulet. Immediately the burning subsided. He used his amphistaff as a cane to help prop himself up. He turned to Orion, and explained what he saw. "When I put on the amulet, it made my blood boil but it also showed me a rose symbol on the left doorway. This must be part of their security system to keep out intruders." Garland was breathing heavy now, that amulet had drained him pretty hard. The two of them agreed to go left and see what else awaited them.

. . .

Sanova opened her eyes slightly, she saw the two guards that Orion had ordered here to watch over her. Whether for her protection or his she didn't know. There would be no way that he was on to her plan, but based on what she knew of him, he wasn't trusting of anyone, especially someone he had only known for a few days. She sat up and the two guards turned around. "How are you feeling?" one of them asked. "Better, but I still have a headache, do you think you could get me some painkillers?" The guard nodded and went to the bathroom to check the medicine cabinet. He returned a moment later and handed her the bottle. Sanova took a couple pills with the glass of water next to her bed. "Much better, thanks." The other guard spoke to her, "Is there anything else we can get you? We've been ordered to watch over you while Orion and Garland are gone." Sanova thought for a moment, Gotta get out of here and find my own way into the sewers... but it might not be worth it at this point. Sanova figured it might be easier to stay in the hotel and await their return, if they survived the Black Rose Council, they might be exhausted, and if they didn't, well she would find a way to explain it to her client. She spoke to the guards once again, "You guys want some food? I'm ordering something for myself anyway." The guards nodded, they weren't about to pass up a free meal.

. . .

Garland and Orion had taken the left path of the fork, it twisted and turned for miles. Garland was hoping that they hadn't been tricked but just as he started to doubt their choice, they rounded a corner and found...a wall, Garland let out a small scowl at the sight. He immediately looked at the amulet once more. This is the last resort, that pain is something only my enemies should feel. They looked at the wall for markings but just as the hallways had been before, there was no markings to give some idea of where they should be going. Garland looked at Orion and sighed. "Alright, here we go again, I might need your help this time, the pain is excruciating." Garland slowly put on the amulet once more, and just as the time before, as soon as the amulet rested, the pain began.

Garland bit down on his lip as the feeling of his blood boiling returned. He fell to his hands and knees, his legs unable to keep him upright. Garland could taste copper as some blood trickled into his mouth. He tried looking around for another sign, like the rose on the doorway. There was nothing on the wall that sat in front of them though. He turned his head slightly as the pain continued. On the right hand wall was another rose, it just sat on the wall, but the symbol was smaller than the last one he saw. It sat on a singular brick. It's gotta be a switch of some kind. Garland looked over to Orion and struggled to lift his arms, As they reached the amulet, Garland collapsed, his body couldn't take the intensity any longer. His body was twitching as he laid there, his mind was swimming. He used the remainder of his energy to call out to Orion telepathically, <He........Help Me....> With his message sent, he blacked out.

Orion Darkstar

Orion Darkstar · May 29, 2020

Orion waited patiently for the old man to put his own wits to the test. Based on the low light of his red saber, the only thing he could ascertain was the exceptional gem within. The braided etchings that steadily began to form a circular pattern, found its way to the very top of the pillar. It was strange, but with a giant fortress beneath them that could harbor a potential exiled syndicate, meant there would be unpredictable obstacles in their way. Orion carefully watched as Garland approached the pillar. Careful to not shift the light away from the stone intrusion, he stepped forward to provide more light for his comrade.

"I'm not sure, could they have made their own tunnel to a base, so that it didn't show up any city maps?"

"It's entirely possible. The blueprints are a little dated, but it's the best we could do in the short amount of time."

"Not sure what to make of it, no markings of any kind on it, and it doesn't seem to be giving off any energy or aura."

"Hmm, it looks like an amulet of sorts."

Orion watched as Garland lifted the amulet over him and down onto his chest. The sudden scream made Orion lurch backwards. He couldn't quite make out what was happening. His first worry was that of a trap, potentially turning Garland against him. His saber rose in a slanted way. It was so fast, the hurtling words that escaped his partner's mouth. The amulet was burning him.

Was this meant to prevent us from continuing forward? Did they know we would touch the amulet? This doesn't make sense...

Orion watched as Garland pushed through the pain and described what happened. Boiling blood wasn't something anyone should have to endure. Orion knew this recently, with the mites being torn apart by Fovos, it still felt like his body was slightly on fire. Even with the nano-mites eradicated from his body, he still felt discomfort. That wasn't the issue at hand, however, through the pain that Garland endured it seemed they found a clue. Garland explained the rose symbols, their appearance only presented to those with the amulet. Garland hit it on the nail, it had to be a security precaution. Those that were in the Black Rose Council, probably had a mechanism to get by. Or something to dispel the item entirely, to prevent the horrific pain Garland had just gone through. Orion listened intently to everything his fellow sith had to say. It turned out that where ever the rose appeared they would have to follow. Thus, they began their march down a longer tunnel to the left. The stench from before was almost non-existent and the sewer grew in size. It was clear that it was built for a large group of people the further they continued.

They came to a halt. The pathways began to incorporate twists and turns. The inner connected system threw them completely off track and the only thing left to do was utilize the agonizing amulet to find the next rose. This wasn't something Orion liked, nor agreed on. Although, it was the best possible option, they could have spared a few more minutes thinking about the blueprint and potentially finding a better way through. Just as he was about to speak up, he felt a presence. Something in the force that felt unnatural. It cut through him like a poison coursing through his body. Orion's eyes latched onto Garland and before he could stop him the amulet fell onto his shoulders.

Poodoo.

The ripple of the force shattered his reality as his saber was flown violently to the side. He packed light and as the room became shrouded in darkness he lost track of Garland. The assailant thought blacking everything out would be a smart move. Although it was, Orion was trained in these circumstances. He felt a little pinprick in his fingers. The swelling of the force asking him to dismantle the real threat. He lifted his hand tightly against his own bicep, The first blow came as solid contact was made. Orion blocked it, the force feeding him clarity. Another blow from the front, this time the sensation of wind lifted his hair. This was quicker than the last and nothing Orion had dealt with before. It would have been practically invisible if not for the circulating force around him. It slashed at him, like an invisible sword. The sting of the cut caught his cheek as he dodged out of the way. The green sappy liquid began to slowly drip from the wound.

Orion called on the force, the tugging sensation in his palm was met with cold metal. He waited patiently, this time ready for the coward to strike. Then as his concentration broke, the words infiltrated his mind.

<He........Help Me....>

The words seemed faint and even though it could cost him his life. Orion did the only thing he could do. He ignited his saber, calling on the force he threw the blade outwards, the piercing light of red shimmered with reflecting light. Orion's eyes darted for Garland, who now resided on the ground. With the sense of his attacker behind him, he ignored all intentions of protecting himself. One last ditch effort to force pull the amulet off Garland's body was all he could muster. The concentration from his lightsaber throw, fell dead as it hit the ground. The lat thing Orion actually saw before the light completely went out was the purple and blue amulet being ripped into the air. A sudden stabbing feeling seeped into his head, the only thing he saw now was true blackness as he faded away from the blow...

Garland Kramer

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