The Sith are eternal (solo thread)

[Connor Harrison]

Silver Jedi E-Wing
North of Nar Shaddaa, Outer Rim Space​

Due South of Voss, Connor maintained the speed on his E-Wing at a comfortable pace - it was unlikely a slicer was going anywhere fast located in the pits of Nal Hutta's moon.

The galaxy passed by, but Connor took his time to read and process the coordinates of the registered address where "Connor Harrison" resided. Somewhere in the Corellian sector of the moon. While Connor had only visited the moon a few times, he knew enough that the sector housed many entertainment and social establishments, but also many illicit gangs and traders.

Just the sort of place a Silver Jedi would be found, naturally.

The yoke was pushed forward by eager hands that also gunned the engine, taking the ship through the darkness towards the moon.


[member="Darth Arcanix"] [member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

The Smuggler’s Moon. As she approached the city, she was amazed by the filth, pollution and by definition crime infestation. Actually, hadn't she thought these very thoughts before?

Once more she navigated past the ancient refuelling spires and loading docks and reached the designated hangar.

She put on some less conspicuous clothes and donned the heavy robe that made her look shapeless and pulled up the hood to hide her hair. She'd already made too many enemies to risk being seen now. Last time she needed to play a role to get what she wanted. This time her limited patience wasn't going to get involved in any games. She would arrive, beat the living kark out of whoever had the crystal and then leave. Simple. She didn't do planning, she did action. And she admired her strategy.

Then she could leave for Kashyyk and find this book. Life was good. Nobody knew she was coming and nobody was left to stand in her way. What could possibly go wrong?

[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Corellian Sector
Nar Shaddaa, Outer Rim Space​

As the hatch slid back on the cockpit of his E-Wing, Connor winced at the smell of decay; a metallic, organic, blood-tinged smell that came from the refuse and discarded debris around the city. Pushing up from his seat, he looked around at the landing pad he was on, thankful to see some sort of security on patrol – but wasn’t exactly brimming with confidence in them or the state of the city.

Blowing out a breath, Connor climbed up and out and slid down to the ground, securing the ship and taking his lightsaber hilt, fixing it to his hip and covering it with the black greatcoat. To many, he would just look like a traveller, dressed in black and walking with a muted confidence.

Connor felt the ripple of life through the Force, but felt nothing out of the ordinary – those who were leaning towards the Light, those to the Dark and those in between too busy drinking, gambling and living a life that wasn’t guaranteed to make it into the next day.

The city was bright, and it was alive.

Looking around as he walked, gently brushing by the odd Twi’lek, droid or human, Connor had the area where he…where “Connor Harrison”…resided, and it was up above street level.

”Excuse me,” Connor gently asked, leaning into a group of conversing humans, looking like pilots, "I’m looking for Level 88?”

One of the burley pilots, nodded to Connor and simply pointed away to the right, still chatting to his friends.

”Thank you.” Short and sweet.

Connor moved away out to the name of the building he had from the Order; Level 88.

[member="Maja Vern"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Maja Vern"] [member="Connor Harrison"]

Taeli stretched as her shuttle finally reach Nar Shaddaa and was granted permission to land. The Force was humming here, so full of life and vice, hopes and despair. It was a weird mix that seemed to symbolize the struggle that life on the Smuggler's Moon was, not surprising given how much of a den of scum and villainy it was.

Walking down the ramp, checking her satchel to make sure her lightsabers were in place, she breathed in the air and almost gagged a little. Yep, definitely a world of excess and while she was hear seeking whatever had caught her attention in the Force, she couldn't wait to leave this place. She didn't particularly like excessive crime, ad Nar Shaddaa promised almost nothing else. Too many criminal gangs and thugs lived here for it to be a place that one could have a nice easy life.

"What are you doing on my landing pad?" a Bothan with a robotic arm grumbled.

"I was granted permission to land here," she sighed. It was always something. "Perhaps you can help me though, has anyone interesting come through this area that doesn't usually?"

"Why should I help you?" he grumbled.

Rolling her eyes, Taeli tossed him a handful of credits that immediately perked his ears up.

"Aye, a little blonde girl and some guy with brown hair came through not long ago, separate mind you, but they was weird," he said, scratching his face with his robotic arm. "That girl had this look though, like she was willing to kill a man and enjoy it. The man seemed to be looking for something or someone, maybe her. I don't know."

"I see, do you know where they went?" she asked.

"No idea," he said, but a sly smile made her roll her eyes again and handed him more credits. "Level 88, just take the turbolift up ahead down and you'll reach it."

"Thank you," she said, moving past the Bothan and towards the nearest life. Curiosity raging within her, and wondering who she was about to encounter.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Level 88
Nar Shaddaa, Outer Rim Space​

Stepping out into the sprawling courtyard of Level 88, which seemed to be nothing than a huge tower block surrounded by neon lights, smaller complexes and speeders landing and departing, Connor moved forward casually, glancing back at the prickle that teased the nape of his neck.

Something just irked him. And that meant one of three things; the Sith Magic was rife in his brain, Corvus Raaf was nearby and would be on some damn fool idealistic crusade, or trouble was around. He didn’t know which was worse in the long run.

Moving into the open plan reception area, he moved to the side and took a seat, lacing his fingers and keeping his head down, and decided to wait to see who or what was around.

[member="Darth Arcanix"] [member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja picked just the right pace. Too slow and you were made out as an easy mark - someone lost or a tourist. Too quick and you looked nervous and that attracted all kind of attention. She she overtook as many as passed her and she kept her eyes straight ahead, keen not to get any eye contact without appearing not to get any eye contact. It was a challenge to pull off well but she made a passable attempt.

She still struggled to feel the Force. Faced with a Sith Lord at point blank range, she felt it - but as she walked through the crowded streets, she was unable to identify individual auras but there was enough combined to stand the hairs up on the back of her neck from time to time. Little did she know she was about to be the filling in a Force sandwich and she was way out of her depth.

Oblivious of this, she stepped on to the sprawling courtyard of Level 88. More concrete, more neon and lots and lots of people. But then people meant crowds and that made it easier to go unnoticed. So she past people standing and sitting and just kept her eyes on the prize - the beautifully named Slag Pit. If she closed her eyes and followed the heat being generated by the most neon, she could have found it easily. The animated images of women opening and closing their legs was just the cherry on the icing on the cake.

Shaking her head, she pressed on. Best to get this over with as soon as possible.

[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Maja Vern"]

Coming down in the turbolift, Taeli ignored every advertisement that was boomed through the entire lift. Honestly, someone had thought it a good idea to advertise that way? It annoyed her more than made her want to go and visit these places, if they were places she was interested in. Pazaak dens, pleasure dens, pain dens for those who couldn't get enough of Yuuzhan Vong torture devices, underworld betting rings, recruitment ads for different gangs, and on and on it went.

When she finally stepped off the lift onto the courtyard of Level 88, she started to move carefully around the area, looking for signs in the Force. She wouldn't feel much distinct in the area, but a few small eddies were sensible. One had the distinct flavor of a Jedi, lovely, but the other was much more interesting. It was twinged in darkness, but not well trained if at all. Determined too, and each of the small eddies led her towards a very obnoxious establishment with women opening and closing their legs. Lovely, she had always wanted to see what a Nar Shaddaa pleasure house looked like . . . not really no.

Moving towards the building, and keeping her black cowl raised on her cloak, she followed the trail towards what she hoped would lead her to the prize she was seeking, not noticing the man watching and scanning the crowd.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Resting his chin in the cup of his fingers, Connor looked back and forward, only moving his eyes and keeping his ears peeled. Nothing out of the ordinary – blinking lights, passing cabs, drunks, a strong Force tremor up ahead.

Connor felt it immediately as the hooded figure passed by outside to the units next to Level 88; the cantinas and casinos. His head shot up and he found the figure straight away. Sending a spiking pain in his head, the Sith Magic helped identify the obvious; the Sith were present and after Connor Harrison.

Standing up, he wasted no time in walking through the lobby and back out into the open courtyard. He breathed deeply and let himself focus on the Force, to build a wall of resistance to help avoid unwanted intrusion by deceptive Dark Side powers that may be lurking.

Failing to note where the hooded figure went, Connor looked across at the number of sleazy establishments and walked over to the place a slicer wanting to avoid interest would be – The Slag Pit. He smirked at the gratuitous display of cheap thrills for the most credits

Connor hung back, not appearing to be in any rush. Loosening his neck muscles, his body went a little limp and he casually ambled over and through the double doors of the establishment, looking like he was simply after his next few rounds of alcohol.

He bumbled along the dark corridor into the dizzying cantina full of noises, gambling, smells, sex and seedy lighting. Connor put on a nice weary look on his face and slurred politely to the nearest patron.

”Don’t you just….WANT a drink? Y’know? YES. Please. I owe him a DRINK! Where’s he gone…”

Spinning around and jeering a passer-by, Connor felt totally stupid, but just rolled with the punches, and pushed through to the bar, keeping his left arm across his greatcoat to avoid the lightsaber hilt flashing out into view and arouse suspicion.

”Harrrrrrison. Where’s Harrison. Connor…? Anyone? He owes ME a drink. Please.”

[member="Darth Arcanix"] [member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja got a few strange looks as she entered the 'establishment.' Having clarified in no uncertain terms that no she was not here looking for work and no she didn't want to immediately go upstairs and finally no she didn't need any stimulants or aids to raise her arousal, she headed into the bar.

Deciding they didn't probably cater for the cocktail set, she grabbed a beer and keeping her hood up, leaned against a nearby wall. There was plenty of neon inside too - but nothing said 'Boss's Office - get your lightsaber crystal here.' And the place felt wrong. Sure there was money to be made but why would someone that owned this place want Bane's Heart? It made little sense.

But she figured if she stood and waited something or someone might present themselves. In fact, a few patrons presented themselves but she found a small snigger was the best antidote to that kind of attention and each skulked off for more easy prey. She sighed audibly. She was out of her depth - again. It would take some sort of an idiot to lead her to what she needed. And as if on cue...

”Harrrrrrison. Where’s Harrison. Connor…? Anyone? He owes ME a drink. Please.”

​Maja eyed the man and moved a little closer to him. He clearly knew the man she sought and all she had to do was see who reacted to the drunk's request.

[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

This was not the normal place she found herself, far from it. She couldn't get anything to drink here that wouldn't leave her gibbering like an idiot like the man yelling something or other.

”Don’t you just….WANT a drink? Y’know? YES. Please. I owe him a DRINK! Where’s he gone…”

Rolling her eyes at such antics, she sat down in a secluded corner and just let each Force presence flow over her, looking for the one twinged with darkness she wanted to find. There was so much vice, noise, and everything going on around her that she wasn't able to fully concentrate, but . . . she could feel the person was here. Something about it seemed . . . familiar now, but not quite the same.

”Harrrrrrison. Where’s Harrison. Connor…? Anyone? He owes ME a drink. Please.”

That drunk was extremely annoying, and Taeli had half a mind to get up and just knock him out for being loud and obnoxious. That was when she felt a flash of interest at the man's words and her eyes immediately landed upon a smaller figure in a hood edging closer to the man. She carried herself in a more feminine way, and darkness lingered behind her as she moved a little closer to the drunk yelling for someone named Connor Harrison.

She would keep a very close eye on both the drunk and girl now, curious to see how things would play out and if this Connor Harrison would react to being called out by some drunk.

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Keeping his body swaying and his eyes on the bar ahead, Connor felt eyes on him, which was something he hated. The feeling that he was a target was never welcome. There was no need to use the Force – he just had to use his head. Licking his lips quickly and turning sharply to face the first pair of eyes glaring out from a robe – this wasn’t the Sith; his stomach dropped.

He didn’t like where this was going. Where was the Sith?

With a smile, he pointed a finger at the girl.

”Alright? Where is he then? Come on. You a girlfriend? Entertainment??”

Batting her away, he sighed and banged his hand on the bar, shaking a glass nearby.

”Tell – CONNOR. HARRISON. I want my drink!”

From down the bar a youth, no older than probably mid-teens – what was HE doing in a place like this? – leant over and threw a handful of dry snacks at Connor.

”Upstairs with the others, your fucking moron!”

Connor smiled lazily and tried to swat away the snacks, minutes after they hit him square on. Pushing back, he focused and glance up the steel staircase that led to the more interesting areas of the establishments.

Others? Other what?

He started for the stairwell, moving through the patrons with gentle hands ushering them out the way, and cheery apologies if he got too close.

[member="Darth Arcanix"] [member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

The whole point of the robe was to remain incognito. A challenge when the loudest drunk in the place points at you and then shouts. But to skulk away would only draw attention, so she stood her ground and decided to play this out. Her simple plan was in serious need of a review.

Maja suppressed the desire to lash out as the drunk pushed her away. But at least all eyes now were on him, not her. Allowing the ricocheting bar snacks to bounce harmlessly off her robe s he moved towards the stairwell, she put her untouched beer on the first table she passed and followed him. In his current state, he wouldn’t notice her following him. He was, after all, a karking moron as the spotty youth behind the bar had commented.

But talk of others did worry her and she involuntarily pulled her robe tight around her as she followed in the much larger man’s wake. She had to admit, he was an efficient lead blocker.

[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Now they were getting somewhere, Taeli thought, her interest piqued as a young teen boy edged over to the drunk and whispered something. Apparently, it involved the drunk going upstairs to see this Connor Harrison person, and she noticed the girl was subtly moving through the crowd behind him.

Getting up from her table, she drew her presence in the Force into herself to avoid detection and started to follow them through the crowd. Her curiosity was sufficiently piqued that she was now just curious how everything was going to play out. Very subtly, she shifted her lightsaber from her satchel to her belt and hid it underneath her cloak as she followed. Her senses were telling her to be ready for a fight, as if something truly interesting was upstairs and within reach. Perhaps she would find the cipher here after all.

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Pulling himself up the sticky railings of the stairwell, Connor saw that upstairs was far darker, louder with music but more intense with booths full of private dancers, credits passing hands, luminous drinks being downed and private booths where...well, credits could buy anything on Nar Shaddaa.

Conner felt the figure behind him, and he was done leading whoever it was to "Connor Harrison".

Stumbling, he half fell and half turned on the metal grating of one private booth, back to the wall and getting a look at the hooded figure. A girl, probably a slicer working with "Connor" and out to make a quick fix. He exhaled loudly.

"Y'alright? Have a credit on me, get me a drink - sorry."

Fumbling on his greatcoat, eyes dancing around the busy floor, he suddenly bolted. He moved forward, grabbing the girl by her arm and pushing her backwards, up against the railing of the stairwell; another big push would easily send her backwards down to the ground below.

To others, just another floozy pushing her luck a little too far with a drunk.

"Alright - enough messing around. What are you following me for? What do you want?"

He bore his blue eyes into the girls, seeing nothing but deception and mischief behind them. Touching upon her with the Force, he felt a slight tinge of recognition, as if he had met her before. The hooded girl's Force aura was familiar of that to a Sith that had toyed with his very mind.

"Who are you..."

[member="Maja Vern"] [member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja followed him, not looking to be discrete - he was drunk after all. And she did her best to not be distracted by the booths as they made their way upstairs. She’d seen worse. Well maybe not worse but she’d seen enough. That particular use of a profogg was a new one on her.

Dismissing the thought she was caught unawares as the drunk suddenly stopped and spoke to her. His breath did not reek of alcohol. But before her brain could tell her body what to do with that information, he was upon her. She stared into his eyes. A nice shade of blue to be fair. But he was a Jedi. Again, she didn’t know exactly why she knew, she just knew. There was an aura about him. Like her sister’s but almost the exact opposite.

“That’s three questions. You’re a very greedy man, do you know that?” She held his gaze. She wasn't pretending not to be frightened, there was genuinely no fear. Perhaps there should be but if he were a Jedi, he wouldn’t hut her. Their precious Code or something. How foolish to advertise the fact you’re a pacifist.

“Now which one would you like me to answer first. Then I get to ask you one and so forth. That sounds a much fairer process to me. What about you? Oh, and nice eyes by the way.”

She smiled playfully, this could be fun!

[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Conner looked around casually, moving the girl in his grip more to the side. He already felt she was baiting him.

"Thanks. Now why are you following me. That’s my first."

This was one was muted in her Force aura; it seemed wild and unstable, but calm and almost at peace. Well that could all change in a heartbeat, and the best way to pacify someone like this was just to keep them feeling in control.

[member="Maja Vern"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Maja Vern"]

Taeli stayed in the shadows, moving silently through the crowd until she reached the stairs up to the VIP section. The drunk didn't seem so drunk anymore, and even though she was keeping her presence tightly close to herself, she could sense the light side radiating from him. Oh joy, a Jedi. He was confronting the young girl that had caught her interest, and Taeli wouldn't intervene unless necessary.

Staying out of sight among the crowd, she watched the confrontation and waited to see if anything they did would warrant her either intervening on the girl's behalf or if they would lead her to her prize.

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja weighed her options. He knew something and that was for sure. So playing dumb could count her out of the equation. But then giving in too quickly would show weakness and she needed to see how far she could press the Jedi's pacifist button.

"OK then, so you get my first answer. Which is that it is because you used the name Connor Harrison. Now my turn." She smiled and leaned forward. Blowing gently into his ear, she was sorely tempted to nip the lobe with her teeth but decided he was too highly strung for this approach - at least for the moment. So she whispered into his ear, "Who is Connor Harrison?" She pulled her head back and looked into his eyes.

[member="Darth Arcanix"] | [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Head down to the girl, but eyes scanning the floor below, Connor felt the spike in the Force and it wasn't this one in front of him. She spoke with a sultry confidence, and held herself well. He didn't react to her teasing, breathless reply in his ear, however his senses did bristle with the sensation.

Mulling over her question, he looked at her, feeling the psychological game both were playing. Finally, someone with a bit of bite. Connor leant in, eyes on the ground floor, mouth next to her ear.

"Me."

His response was equally as alluring as hers. Two could play that game. He pulled back and let her take that answer in.

"Now we've got that out of the way, my turn," Connor said, moving his arm on the railing to prevent a quick escape, effectively blocking her in. "Why is there a Sith Lord following you?"

He met her gaze, and raised his eyebrows in mock surprise.

[member="Maja Vern"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Whatever he said, she was not going to be surprised - that much she knew. To be honest, she expected him to choose not to answer and play hard to get - which might be fun were the stakes not so high.

Oh how wrong she was. Because his answer was just plain crazy. If he was Connor Harrison, why wasn’t he the one sitting in the office rather than the one trying to find it? She narrowed her eyes at him - as if in some way it would help her understand if he was telling the truth. But it added nothing to the equation so she shrugged and started laughing. Quietly at first but it grew louder and louder until it suddenly stopped.

“Fair enough, and my answer will be equally honest. I don’t know.” She was sure Silara wasn’t there. Even with her Force signature hidden they seemed to be able to locate each other regardless - but there was no reason why she was being followed by anyone.

“Guess what, my turn. Why are you here?” The concept that a Sith Lord was here bothered her but she was pragmatic. She couldn’t control the situation, so she planned to go with the flow for now. "And nice eyebrows too..."

[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Darth Arcanix"]