The Sith are eternal (solo thread)

[Connor Harrison]

When the girl spoke, it irked Connor that someone else was talking to him, someone else stood before him. The girl was a trouble sort, a dark vibe radiating from her but who wouldn't be radiating something rotten in this place? He was cautious, but not concerned; not about this one anyway.

And it was clear she wasn't playing by the rules.

He guided her away from the edge of the barrier, so they were both sideways to it, to try and retain some normality in their conversation. Connor had no need for aggressive negotions. Yet.

"Thank you. And I'm here to find me, and why my name has been linked to a dump like this and with an identity thief."

Connor leant on the barrier with his left arm.

"My turn; who are you and what do you want with...me. And yes that's two questions but you're trying my patience; while I'm gassing here the man I want could be heading out the back, so hurry up and answer or get out of my way."

Ok, so the aggression was evident a little sooner than expected, but he didn't want to let her get the upper hand.

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

 

[Darth Zilti]

Oh, she'd gotten the goody-goody Jedi to raise the stakes. Did they lose privileges or something if they got angry? So she smiled at him. "Actually I think you'll find that's two questions. In theory I should have the choice of either to respond to. But I'll be kind and answer both. So you'd better be nice to me OK?" She stuck out her bottom lip in a mock pout.

"I genuinely don't know my name," the best lies were always the ones wrapped in the truth of course, "And I don't want you at all." How delicious, two incompetent questions. If he was the victim of identity theft, she didn't want him at all.

"And I'm bored with questions, let's just find this thief and you can do with him whatever you want." She kissed him on the nose. "Come on, whilst you're gassing he could be heading out the back, right?"

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

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor's irritation steadly grew, and it showed that even having restraint just made people think he was a push-over and a fool. This girl before him had Sith blood in her; he could smell it. She was radiating the aura of someone who used deceit, lies and violence to get what she wanted.

When she kissed him on the nose, Connor recoiled slightly. He gripped her arm.

"Listen, sweetheart, I don't care what you want, but you're after a guy with my name and for me that's enough of a warning that something's going down I need to know about, so cut the kark and stop acting sweet with me. You're Sithspit. Get the hell out of my face and sort out your own problems before you start thinking you can worm your way into mine."

Pushing her back against the railings, Connor held his greatcoat tight and moved back across the floor to a group of, what looked like, gamblers who were smoking, betting and drinking amidst a veil of mild hallucenojetic smoke that went straight through Connor's head.

He walked up the gang, populated by non-humans who he hopefully understood basic.

"Connor Harrison - where? Credits for help."

A Gran with a drink in his hand grumbled something and pointed to the metal grating across the floor, opposite a group of semi-naked Twi'lek dancing girls.

"Thank you," he pulled out a couple of large credits and tossed them onto the pile of winnings for the Gran, who's triple eyes bulged with a little delight.

Connor looked, and then glanced back at the robed girl, still watching him. Time seemed to slow down as he made his move, walking over the to sliding door.

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

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja didn't know why she didn't try this before. How she was planning on taking on the owner of this beautiful establishment was anyone's guess - and she wouldn't have been able to give any clues. But having a ready-made hero all pumped up and anxious for blood was perfect. If she could have planned it, it couldn't have worked out any better. He was location the boss, he was kicking down the doors and whllst the two beat seven kinds of poodoo out of each other, she could simply take the prize - which the real Connor was clearly unaware of - and waltz out of here.

So she followed him - giving him a small head-start. Sure he'd know she was there, but that would only aggravate him and how was that a bad thing? The only worry in her mind was the Sith he'd mentioned earlier. She was tempted to scan the room, but that would give away the fact she was aware of company - so better keep this fact for herself - at least for a short while.

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

 

[Taeli Raaf]

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

Well it seemed the Jedi had lost interest in the young girl and wanted to get about whatever he needed to do. Ascending the stairs slowly, and allowing her hand to glide along the rail, she walked onto the VIP floor and kept track of both of her points of interest. Pretending to be completely drunk, while keeping her Force presence tightly concealed, she watched the Jedi make his way to a floor grating, the girl behind him slightly.

Whatever had drawn all of them here was nearby, she could feel it, but for now she would remain in the shadows, pretending to be a drunk patron if need be until she was in distance to make her own move in this little . . . drama of theirs.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor moved across the floor, music echoing in his head and around the club. It really was another world.

He sized up the grate and stuck his fingers in the holes, and pulled it over with a whine of metal on metal. However, it opened quickly to reveal two humans; one dancer and one patron. One with quite a handful of the other.

Their reaction was as if Connor wasn't even there. Typical for a place like this. How many would it take to really get the party going. Connor stood at the door, neon light illuminating the seedy private booth. The older man was dressed in typical slacks, and was certainly giving the Harrison name a bad rep.

Connor looked to the girl still by the railings, and a few other patrons milling around, and beckoned her over with his hand.

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

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja watched as the Jedi moved purposefully forward. She stood transfixed as he moved to the grate and opened it. She leaned forward as he stopped moving. She glanced past him and saw precisely what you’d expect in a place like this - lots of flesh and low self-esteem.

And then he beckoned her over, so she duly obliged, ignoring the complaints as she bounced off drunks and over-eager patrons alike who foolishly stood between her and her destination.

But this was not adding up. Not by a sizeable margin - but she had no choice but to head over to where Connor stood and waited to see what he had to say. But she was on her guard now - this was no longer going the way she expected and she was getting nervous and not a little angry. And with her lack of control of the Force, she knew that was a lethal cocktail. So she moved up to the Jedi and shrugged. "You wanted me?"

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

 

[Connor Harrison]

Cracking a bemused smile to himself, shaking his head at the performance before him, Connor glanced left to see the hooded enigma saunter over, her Force signature more wild and un-predictable.

As she spoke, nonchalant with a shrug, Connor gestured his hand into the room.

"You wanted Connor Harrison - there he is. Get on with your business and then leave me to mine. Don't worry, I've got your back."

His tone was flat and not really a request. Stepping back, he held his hand out for her to go inside for whatever dealing she had to do.

"Make it fast. You wanted to play with fire here on Nar Shaddaa, then you should have been prepared to get burnt."

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

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja laughed. Not loudly, not maniacally but genuinely. This was just getting stranger and stranger. Now the Jedi was helping her? It made limited sense - but then nothing in the last few days had. But then she reflected he was unlikely to actually be helping - more likely he was keeping an eye on her and would no doubt be able to step in when he wanted. He may be a Jedi - but that didn't mean she could trust him.

So she gave the woman astride the man a withering look and jerked her head. She took the hint and scrammed. No sooner had she done so than the man tried to say something. Maja immediately sat on his lap and put a finger to his lips. Adjusting her seating position, she quickly got his attention - men are just so predictable and pathetic most of the time - and a kiss on his lips sealed the deal. But she pushed his hands away as they attempted to add an additional clause to the contract.

"Now, now. Take your time. First I need you to answer a few questions. Well one really. Where is it?"

As he shook his head she held it in her hands and moved her own in closer until their noses were touching. "Let me try again. You used the name Connor Harrison to purchase something. Where is it?" There was no aggression in her voice or even steel. It was calm and light. His eyes darted to his right. This close to him, she saw it. It was minor, almost imperceptible - but at this distance it was telegraphed. She straightened his tie and climbed off him, looking where he had involuntarily given himself away. All she could see was his jacket - hanging on a stand. So she sauntered across. The man was sharing his time focused on her and Connor and seemed genuinely paralysed.

He was a low-life opportunist that the Chiss had made a few quick credits out of. How he managed to get the crystal from the safe was anyone's guess - and she didn't care to be honest. She rifled the pockets and felt a hard lump in one. Smiling at the irony, she calmed herself and slowly put her hand in and felt a velvet pouch. Removing it, she saw a small draw-string bag. Untying it, she gently removed the crystal. It looked like any other saber crystal - in fact very like the one she'd found in the kinrath egg on Dantooine. Except this was dull in appearance - as if coated by some strange matt chemical. She put it away and was unaware that it glowed slightly as she released it back into the bag.

She put it in her small holdall, beside the other crystal and the notebook. Smiling at the fake Connor, she smiled. "Well that was painless wasn't it. Alas I can't promise what approach he'll take." She looked the real Connor in the eyes. "OK, handsome, he's all yours."

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

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor was on edge; he didn’t like being here, and didn’t trust anyone. The girl was using her feminine ways to get ahead of the game, but what game were they playing, and was it even the same one at all?

Standing just outside the wire-framed door, Connor watched the shifting display of power, submission and manipulation at work. Glancing left at the staircase to their floor, Connor maintained an air of a calm and held no aggression in his body, trying to look to the drunks and gamblers like he was simply here to have a good time with his…friends.

The girl got up and moved across the room – it was hard to hear her purring to the man over the obscure music and cheering behind them and being fed over the intercom system above his head. Hands worked his jacket, and pulled out a small bag.

Looking at the bemused man, unaware of what was going on with these two strangers, Connor looked back at the girl who pocketed, what looked like, a crystal – a glowing crystal, and one emitting a calling. A dark calling that sent a cold wave down Connor’s spine. The last time he felt that, was in the presence of another Dark Lord on Prakith, surrounded by the effect of a holocron.

"OK, handsome, he's all yours."

She was moving to go – and right now his head was on the verge of exploding with questions, and possibilities. Quickly, he pushed his arm out to hold the other side of the door frame, not allowing the girl to leave.

"Just…slow down."

Connor looked to the perplexed “Connor Harrison”, still seated in his chair. He stared into the soul of this lowlife.

"Tell me where you got the name Connor Harrison. Lie to me, and I’ll sever the brain stem from your spinal cord and leave you here as a lifeless cabbage.”

He applied the tiniest hint of pressure on the man’s mind, like a dull vice starting to tighten inside his head. “Connor Harrison” began to yelp, and breakdown almost immediately; his current position wasn’t doing his confidence and strength of character any favours, and Connor was simply adding to the humiliation he already felt.

”Ohh! It was aaggggg! I heard it from Kyra Sol when we used to hang out! That’s it and she said he was a treasure hunter or something!”

Connor let the grip go the moment Kyra Sol was mentioned. If there was ever a blast from the past that was unexpected, it was that one.

"How do you know Kai, and where is she?”

”We salvaged things from junkyards – we did stuff here and then she took of to find her family or something, I don’t know – told me to keep on doing what I do best, man, I swear!”

One of his first real friends, Kyra Sol was a salvager and ship builder who had demonstrated what Shatterpoint could do in the heat of battle when he accidently nearly killed her on Denon, eons before the Silver Jedi became his home.

The girl pushed against his arm, but Connor snapped his head to her and said nothing. He then turned to “Connor”.

"In a pit built on depravity such as this, at least you remember how to tell the truth. My name is Connor Harrison of the Silver Jedi Order. If I come across you ever again, you will be arrested and incarcerated for the rest of you miserable life.”

Kyra had left without saying goodbye, and this just hurt to know his name had been spoken of in a way another could steal it. He moved out of the door and took the girl by the arm again and led her away.

”What are you doing after a lightsaber crystal that reeks of the Dark Side.”

Again, not a question he was going to flirt at getting the answer. The stakes had just increased a little more.

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

 

[Darth Zilti]

She watched the scene play out. A couple of times she tried to sneak past the Jedi - but only made a half-hearted effort. She hoped the low-life would put up a struggle and she could leave when it got heated - but this guy couldn't fight an Ewok and win.

So she waited and listened and knew - inevitably - his attention and therefore the subject of conversation would turn back to her. She smiled and raised her bag. Gently and slowly opening it, she removed a piece of paper. It was a print-out of the Invisible Market transaction that she had been given by Cryax.

"You see - non-functioning. There is no reek, so you'd better check your Jedi-sense or whatever it is you use. It was broken when it was on Kashyyk. The scientist did something to it and broke it. Now it's just an ornament. A very pretty ornament - but useless none the less. And it's mine - not yours. I've traveled half-way round the galaxy for this. Your beef is with this guy, not me." She raised her eyebrows and glanced at his arm as if to say, 'move it.'

Yet no sooner had she said the words than she felt the crystal. It was more in tune with her than even the kinrath crystal was. Yet she knew it was broken. Beyond Connor's arm, a drunk got to his feet - he could barely stand - and he stared into her eyes. And he mouthed a few words. So quiet that without seeing his lips, she wouldn't have been able to pick out the words.

"There is a Sith Lady here. You may have to use her help." No slurring whatsoever. And then the man passed out on the floor.

"Cheap liquor will do that to you," Maja said, not knowing what to make of that and so returned her gaze to Connor. "Can I go now?"

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

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor held his arm out firmly, looking around and feeling that cold, needle like sensation eating away at the back of his head…which meant, again, one of now two things. One more worrying than the other.

Looking at the girl raise and open her bag, he twisted his head to read what he could of the print-out as she spoke. But something just felt…off.

The identity thief didn’t seem as important as the fact the girl had a strange crystal that she seemed to underestimate, or simply was lying about. But, then, was it just one big coincidence that his name had been used to deal in artefacts such as these? He hated things that didn’t make any sense.

Closing his eyes to stem the mounting frustration in his head, he opened them at her request to go.

"You’re not going anywhere. I’ve felt you before – your aura," Connor said in a low tone as he moved his arm to take hers yet again, "so you’re going to tell me the truth, and that’s non-negotiable."

He looked around and moved forward into the private room, pushing her in with his body as he discarded her backwards. Connor looked down and indicated with his had back to the door.

"Out.” It wasn’t a request.

“Connor Harrison” looked like he didn’t even want to know what was going on, and covering up any flesh on show, he took a handful of credits and a holo-vid from the side table and moved out of the room. Connor moved with him and pulled the fenced door shut, music piping into the room and a few cheers out on the floor behind them from the gamblers.

"Who are you.”

He turned to face her, face devoid of any sense of “flirtation” she may have expected with her playful persona.

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

 

[Darth Zilti]

The silence could mean he was about to say yes. He closed his eyes and…it was a no. She shrugged. She’d gotten this far, what would a few more minutes matter.

“You felt my what?” She smirked. “Funny, I didn't feel a thing you naughty boy.” He was beyond flirting now, but it helped to pass the time and gave her the pretence of an element of control. So he wanted the truth. Now there’s the thing. He could have exactly what he wanted - but that didn’t mean he would benefit from it.

Now he had his game face on and she mirrored him. “OK,” she said, taking a chair, “The truth. I don’t know my name. Do whatever Jedi trick you know on me and you’ll know I’m telling the truth. Next question?” She sighed and shook her head. “It’s been a bad few weeks and I could really do with going home and taking a long hot shower. And don’t get any ideas. Any chances you had have just evaporated quicker than an ice cube on Mustafar.”

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

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor didn’t respond to her little quip. At one time he probably would have, but now? He was wrestling with the fact he was trying to be someone better, but silence the voices that told him he could be greater. He stood his ground, not leaning on the door, not sitting down, just standing.

He was aware of the company outside the room and inside it, and felt the tremor that was circling his Force aura like a hawk-bat.

"Fine. You don’t know who you are," he paused, hesitating on whether to say the next statement or not; it was a gamble, but he had to trust the Force. He promised her he would.

"But you are related to a Sith, and to me that doesn’t bode well."

Connor held out his hand and looked down to her.

"Give me the crystal, and let me help you get to where you need to go."


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

 

[Taeli Raaf]

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

Seeing the Jedi push the young girl into a private room, Taeli decided it might be time to stop hiding in the shadows. The drunk she had paid to inform the girl quietly that she was here was passed out, but he had delivered the message as best he could. Slipping some more credits into his pocket, she straightened and moved over to the private room where the Jedi and girl were.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting anything?" she asked, pretending to be just a simple call girl and keeping her Force presence tightly shut and hidden so she would feel like a normal being. "I was supposed to see Connor Harrison, have you seen him? He said he wanted some alone time with me, but he disappeared on me."

She added a pouting lip for good measure, her purple eyes dancing all around the room as if looking for him, while she was more concerned about figuring out angles and other obstacles when the inevitable fight began. She could feel something else besides the girl and Jedi though, something ancient and dark. Oh, someone was looking for a certain relic it seemed.

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja was about to complain about rightful ownership and poodoo like that when someone new entered the room. She was - if nothing else - a useful distraction.

Maja stood and as the woman talked to Connor, she slowly edge to the doorway. No sudden movement - no bolt for the door, just nice and slow. "Now I don't know who was playing games with you - but this" she indicted the Jedi at this point, "Is Connor Harrison and I just know he'd love to have some alone time with you. He's too much of a man for me." She smiled at the woman. "Nice eyes by the way - unusual. I think he likes them exotic."

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

 

[Connor Harrison]

The sound of the door behind him made Connor turn his head to see a dark haired female enter, a strong aura about her but thankfully not drunk. But...no. The young girl made her move to get up with that mouth of hers when Connor's name was thrown around again.

He side stepped and moved backwards to keep the two in view - this was a setup.

"Woah, slow down - " he held his palm out to stop the crystal thief in her tracks, turning to the dark haired woman.

"The Connor you wanted just left - he was using a false name, just a man pushing his luck," Connor said gently, but took notice of her eyes as the young girl had pointed out, and smiled to himself internally.

"This is Jedi business. I'll leave you to your work here."

Now it was evident who and what he was, so time to act. Connor leant over towards the door and held out his arm to entice the girl with no name to come with. "You're coming with me."

In reality, he wanted to get out and fast. There was something not right, and his senses were all over the place, and he could smell deception in the air and a high Force aura. Dropping his hand nearest the door, it was ready to move if things go heated. "Now."

This time there was urgency in his voice; he felt this was going to be an attempt on her life.

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

 

[Taeli Raaf]

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

"Oh well in that case," she said, starting to move away from him and the girl as he stated he was on Jedi business. "I wouldn't want to interfere at all in official Jedi business, but you're much more handsome than the other Connor is. Maybe I'll give you the business he wanted from me. . ."

She pivoted and swayed over towards the Jedi, making her movements exaggerated to try and catch his eye . . . which she knew most Jedi didn't care about, but it would be effective to cause the slightest distraction for her next move.

"A strong handsome Jedi like yourself shouldn't be concerned with someone so young like her," she said, a seductive smile on her lips. She always did enjoy putting on a good performance, but it was time to drop the pretenses. "Maybe try someone more . . . your age and size . . ."

There would be the smallest shink sound and suddenly her lightsaber leaped to her hand, the half circle hand guard resting comfortably in her hand and her Force presence now blazed into life as the red lightsaber blade ignited. Her eyes turned yellow, and she smiled coldly at the Jedi.

"Try a Sith Lady for instance," she said, bringing her blade towards his arm in the opening attack of this drama. The girl had to be protected from being taken into custody by this Jedi, she knew something about what she sought. But in case she used this opportunity to escape, Taeli made sure she knew exactly what the girl felt like in the Force.

 

[Connor Harrison]

The one thing that Connor hated about his own person was the way he handled himself – at times he felt he gave the name “Jedi” a bad name, and at times wondered why he served the Force the way he did. Their strict codes, morals and procedures were understood, but often bent by him in order to do his duty. Perhaps that was why he was classed as a rogue amongst others – not conforming to the usual class of Jedi.

Perhaps that was why he wore the outfit he did, not feeling worthy enough to wear a recognisable Jedi robe. But, perhaps, it was this that kept others safe as his standing with the Silver Jedi wasn’t obvious to all – and being a little rough around the edges meant he could get his hands dirty and sacrifice himself where others daren’t tread.

Case in point; delving into the Smuggler’s Moon underworld and now seeing the allure of a woman who spoke directly to him, massaging his ego and giving him attention that so few did or even wanted to. It was these moments that, while not acting on them, made him feel he wasn’t of right mind to serve – but then again, he had always firmly encouraged emotion to be used and never hidden to save the spark of humanity in all Jedi before it was lost completely, and so was the person.

His hand came out to ease the alluring woman, all the while keeping tabs on the crystal thief, but before he had chance to say anything, a wave of the Dark Side of the Force hit him, and the crimson blade and amber eyes came alive inches from him; the Sith Lord revealed herself.

At the shockwave of energy that hit him and the flash of crimson, Connor sharply recoiled as her blade pierced the air between them and her words turned to dark ice. He swallowed sharply, and his heart thumped; the room was small and confined, and the girl had to be kept safe from the clutches of the Sith.

Immediately, the world slowed around him; igniting his saber would throw the room into chaos and severely limit his movement and present more danger than needed. But, more disturbingly, his eyes narrowed to her in confusion as her Force aura was more recognisable than that of the young crystal thief; this Sith had an aura as strong as Corvus Raaf, the Republic Jedi who was becoming a bad habit of Connor’s in coming together by will of the Force. Now, however, his stomach lurched at the thought of Corvus being linked to the Dark Side – after all her lecturing about the weak falling to it.

With a bubbling pressure of anger from all factors; Corvus, the ambush, the manipulative young girl and now the Sith, Connor pivoted to the side and swept out with the Force to knock what could form the right side of the room over to the left, where the Sith stood, glaring and feeding of his emotion.

Bolting for the door, he reached out and emitted a burst of Force energy to buy him a few seconds that would require a more defensive action from the Sith rather than offensive. Pulling the door quickly open, he reached over and grabbed the girl pushed up against the wall and threw her out, causing her to spin as he did.

”Stay down!”

It was only then, hearing the hum of the blade behind him, that Connor snatched the hilt from his belt and activated his blue saber with a snap-hiss and turned, a fire and passion in his eyes to tackle the Dark. The patrons soon cleared the floor they were on with screams and shouts; coupled with the music blaring overheard, Connor focused all he could on the emergence of the Sith Lord from the room, his blade ready – his thoughts once more feeling that had been shattered.

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

 

[Darth Zilti]

Things were going very quickly now. No correct that, things were unravelling quickly - there was a distinction.

One minute it was all innuendo and doing her best to sweet-talk her way out of the room, the next she had a front row seat in a saber battle. And if there was one thing she knew about sabers - it was that they hurt. And where she was standing was right in the middle of the pair.

The Jedi and the Sith - an eternal struggle - but one she didn’t particularly want any part of, at least at the moment. Maja had but one priority in life - Maja. OK, two - her sister’s acceptance was the other. And with this crystal she believed she would have found herself something worthy of showing her big sister what she was actually worth.

She was vaguely aware of being picked up bodily and thrown out of the room - it seems chivalry wasn't dead - although landing in a puddle of what she hoped was beer, wasn’t entirely without a lack of refinement. Peeling her now wet face from the floor, she was met with the ever so helpful advice to ‘stay down.’ That ranked right up there with eating yellow snow or the folly of raising a wampa cub.

But on the plus side, these two were now blissfuly focused on each other. It could almost have been erotic if it weren’t so deadly. So she remained on her hands and knees and, weaving between the patrons, she crawled as fast as she could for the exit. She could feel her kinrath crystal - it’s aura gently making her aware of its presence - but the other one had gone cold. Maybe she’d just imagined its awakening. Yes, she considered, nodding furiously as she sneaked out - it was all in her mind.

The irony of the situation was definitely lost on her - for now.

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