...to the last I grapple with thee...(private duel)

[Kian Karr]

“Where did they find it?” Kian asked as he turned away from the computer console in the center of the conference room of The Dorin Run. The small, holographic image of Soli Baris looked down at the datapad clasped in her hands. She was back on Ossus, communicating to Kian from the lowest level of the Jedi Shadow Enclave.

“An archeological dig on Rhen Var.” Soli said, the young girl’s voice calm and confident. She was turning into a true asset to the Shadows. “They still aren’t sure if it is functional or not, the outer casing has scaring and burn damage…..but they believe it is a Holocron.” Soli said, and her young voice broke with excitement.

Kian ran a hand over his mask. The Shadows had intercepted an encrypted message leaving Rhen Var. It had taken the Shadows and their droid helpers a day to break the encryption, and what it had revealed was communications between the archeologists on Rhen Var and Darkwater Security, a private security firm. What had struck the Shadows, and namely Soli Baris, as odd was the fact that these communications were encrypted. It didn’t take her long to discover that Darkwater Security had known ties to the One Sith.

“Very good, Soli.” Kian said smiling beneath his mask, “we aren’t far from Rhen Var. Jedi Qual and I will investigate.” Kian cut the communication and left the room, making his way toward the cockpit of the ship. Nestled in the co-pilot seat was Jedi Knight Koras Qual. The Selkath was dressed in Shadow Robes, outlined in dark blue, giving him an even more aquatic look. Koras was a new member of the Shadows, having only recently achieved his Knighthood status. Their trip to Feleucia had been Koras’s first Shadow mission and it had been a waisted trip. The rumors of the darkside artifact turned out to be nothing more than a hoax, but while Koras cut his teeth on that assignment, Kian had met with a few contacts with regards to a potentially rising threat along the outer rim.

“Everything alright back home?” Koras asked as Kian settled into the pilot seat, his thick accent distinctly Selkath.

“Yes, but we’ve received rumor of a potential holocron on Rhen Var.” Kian said as he entered in the change in coordinates. “It won’t take us long to get there, so we’re going to investigate.”

“Trouble?” Koras asked sitting forward. Kian didn’t miss the excitement he suddenly felt in the Jedi.

“Darkwater Security was contacted…..they are a One Sith company.” Kian said smiling beneath his mask. “Looks like you’ll get that action you were so eager for on Feleucia.” Kian said, partly humorously but also partly chastising. Kian felt the sudden change in Koras and knew he had taken the comment as a warning against allowing himself to get caught up in the excitement of it.

“Of course.” Koras said smiling and bringing up his datapad. “I’ll see if I can find out more information on Darkwater.”

“Good.” Kian said and he looked out the viewpoint at the hyperspace lines in front of them. Closing his eyes, Kian focused himself. He had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach…..a feeling he just couldn’t shake.

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

A shuttle swung down through the cruel winds of Rhen Var and swept west across a field of icy, inhospitable tundra that soon rose into the craggy snow-capped peaks of one of the planet's many mountain ranges. The shuttle slowed near the base of one mountain, where a large campsite was tucked against the walls of the crags lest a sudden avalanche sweep the pre-fab constructions away. Scaffolding was worked along the face of the mountain, nearly hiding time and weather worn statues behind a forest of hewn timber and portable metal poles.

Repulsorwash sprayed snow as the shuttle settled down on the nearest patch of flat ice. Members of the campsite streamed out to crowd around the vessel, which soon lowered a boarding ramp. Three massive figures emerged, Herglics all. Clad in cold weather gear, the foremost was not the largest, though perhaps the most recognizable. He wore a massive shield of some chitinous substance slung around his back and he had scarring on his forehead. Closer inspection would reveal that the scar was a brand, a Massassi hieroglyph for a single word: slave.

An oversized lightsaber hilt hung from his belt, though on him it looked 'normal' sized. The same could be said for the rather gargantuan pistol strapped to his right thigh.

The two Herglics behind him, mean-looking cetaceans, also carried similar pistols. They wore armored vests visible above their cold weather gear. Both had the same insignia: a black fin rising above turquoise waves.

"Darth Orcus," said one of the women from the campsite, bowing slightly to the lead Herglic. She was horned, perhaps of the Zabrak line, though she bore no facial tattoos. "Your prompt arrival is welcome."

"Hauum. Of course. How is the dig progressing?" Orcus' voice was a deep and oily bass that reverberated through the snow-flecked air. The kind of timbre that made you want to stop and listen because it sounded so congenial. But it was not hard to imagine that same richness roused to wroth.

"Quite well. Avalanches this month have slowed. As you know we had a recent break through into the vault. Our archaeologists prize every new find, but some of them were quite... extraordinary." She gestured, "If you'll allow me to show you?"

"Lead the way," Orcus rumbled, "I am anxious to see the reason for our summons."

[member="Kian Karr"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Rhen Var was a cold, inhospitable world, and of all the cold and inhospitable worlds Kian had frequented, it was perhaps the coldest. The ice beneath his boots crunched as Kian and Voras made their way through the snowy wind toward the dig site. Kian and Voras had abandoned their typical robes for warmer winter gear that was white to blend with the surroundings. Most of their heads were buried beneath the fur lined hoods, leaving only their faces visible.

We go in quietly. Gain access to the dig site without the workers noticing. Kian telepathically communicated to Koras and turned to look at the Selkath. Koras nodded his head in agreement. They had touched down far enough away from the dig site to avoid detection, but that had meant that they had had to trek through the snow to get there. Kian had been working with the Jedi Knight on his stealth abilities since he had joined the Shadows. He had found that Koras was picking it up quickly, but he wasn't adept enough that Kian was completely without concern. Koras would be able to get past the workers, but if the Sith had beaten them here, he wouldn't be able to hide for long.

Pulling a pair of electrobinoculars from his utility belt, Kian surveyed the archaeological dig before them. The campsite lay in the shade of the mountain and there was scaffolding lining the rocky walls. Kian caught a slight bit of movement along the mountain walls and thought for a moment he had seen bodies moving into an opening there, but the distance and the snowy wind made it difficult to see. Kian and Koras were above the campsite, at the edge of a plateau that feed down. Glancing around, Kian saw a safe place to make their way down. They would have to move slowly to avoid detection. Even with the force aiding in their stealth, a small avalanche would likely give them away.....besides, Kian certainly didn't want to be buried beneath the bitter snow.

It took them thirty minutes to traverse the snowy climb down. Moving along the edge of the campsite, Kian went first, picking his way from building to building, staying out of sight and using the force hide his presence. Stopping by the edge of one of the buildings, Kian glanced around the corner and saw a shuttle parked not far away. Judging from the snow cover on the ship, he doubted it had been there long. He was ready to move on when he caught a glimpse of the insignia on the vessel. Darkwater Security. They had beaten them there after all.

Darkwater beat us to the site. Be on your guard. Kian communicated to his fellow Shadow silently. With their camouflaged outfits and the force aiding them, Kian and Koras made it to the scaffolding without any of the workers noticing them. With the urgency with which the workers were scurrying about, it was clear that they likely wouldn't have needed the force to get by unnoticed, but Kian preferred not to take chances. Cutting a path through the wooden and metal framing, Kian came to a opening bore into the side of the mountain. Stealing a glance back at Koras once more, the Selkath nodded again, clearly eager to get inside.

Kian took a deep, steadying breath and stepped through the opening.

[member="Hion the Herglic"]​