First Reply The strange artifact

[Lusar Khrau]

Lusar's Suit​

The Strange Artifact

Lusar sat at the corner table of the Metal Rancor in the Night District, waiting for his contact to show up. The Cantina was crowded this night, lots of beings going in and out. After he received the tip on this bounty, Lusar felt like things didn't add up: the employer, who ensured in any way to remain unnamed, just wanted this item removed from its original place, and moved where the wrong hands cannot reach it. They didn't elaborate on whose hands are wrong.
The extraction of the item was quite easy: the vault wasn't heavilly guarded, and it took very little work for an experienced hunter like Lusar to infiltrate it and steal the artifact; as soon as he had a grasp on it, he felt a thrill coming up from his hand, passing in his arm and going down his spine: something was off.
He didn't recognize it, and still doesn't, and that's why he arranged a meeting here with his Jedi Temple contact. He wanted to be sure to be doing the right thing by moving the artifact from its former position.

While studying the strange, glowing cube, the doors of the Rancor opened. The contact was finally here. Lusar called the bartender droid at the table while the hooded figure took a seat in front of him...

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Image credit: DALL-E

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto stepped onto the Rancor, shifting uncomfortably beneath the robes he wore. He had assumed the identity of a Jedi, a transformation that hadn't been difficult; to some extent, he could even be considered one. Yet, being out of his armor left him feeling vulnerable. The armor was his shield, a protective second skin that brought him comfort.

However, it was necessary. He needed to project the image of a Jedi to access the artifact, which he hoped would contain knowledge vital for future generations of the Lilaste Order. While they had a wealth of understanding about the Light Side of the Force, their grasp of the Dark Side was lacking—essential for an order that valued true balance between light and dark.

As he approached the ship and boarded, Laphisto pulled his hood down. Towering over seven feet, his horns curved along the sides of his head, and his wings were wrapped tightly around him, blending seamlessly with the cloak. His tail swayed freely behind him, a reminder of his true nature. With a flash of teal, his eyes glowed as he focused on the man seated at the table, reaching into the Force to sense his alignment and further assess the surroundings. "Do you have the artifact?" he asked, his voice steady and commanding.

Lusar Khrau

 

[Lusar Khrau]

Lusar's Suit

The Strange Artifact

Lusar looked at the giant figure before him: in all his travels and interactions with the Jedi Order, he never heard of a member this high and unique. Still, they are so many in numbers he could have slipped even the meticulous web of informants that the bounty hunter created for himself... so that wasn't his concern.

What caught him off guard is how the Jedi knew the reasoning of his invite here, and most importantly why his contact didn't tell him that they would be sending another Member to the meeting. Even if far from the Force, Lusar knew a thing or two, and he was sure that Mind Probe isn't a force power a Jedi would use. As he leaned back on his chair and secured the mysterious artifact out of sight of his interlocutor, he first told him: "I don't think we have ever been introduced. Lusar Khrau, Bounty Hunter." Lusar was interested in the reaction the being will have and started observing him, suspicious.

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto gave a small bow towards the man, giving a light chuckle, the teal glow fading from his eyes as he winced grabbing at the bridge of his nose in slight pain. Rubbing at the corners of his eyes with a small rumble. his gaze showing heavy signs of carbonite poisoning. " my apologies. Jedi Knight Laphisto " he frowned lightly to himself as he gave the mock title. or his old title back when he was still apart of the Jedi order some several thousand years ago. as he looked around, Laphisto used his force sight once again to get better acquainted with his surroundings before stepping forwards once again.

while he leaned more towards the light side of the force his demeanor spoke more as a soldier than a true jedi. the way he stood and carried himself. it was almost as if he was more used to battle armor and the heat of battle than the quite stillness of thier current setting.