Private Training of The Light Sith

[Laertia Io]

Wearing: Ursula's Robes

Armed with: Double Bladed Lightsaber (Viridian Crystal)

After the Invasion of Ziost by The Ashlan Crusade. Before The Tragedy Of Darth Xiphos Thread.


Location: Uncharted Planet

14 hours prior

She had made the unfortunate mistake of giving into her curiosity and dueling The Battalion

She hadn't planned on it beforehand. When she had arrived at Corbos, it hadn't even been to meet with her, just scrounge up Imperial Weaponry

It was just after the third invasion of Ziost. She was still processing everything that happened, and what it meant. It had been a rare moment where she realized she simply had nothing to do beyond menial tasks. So she had brazenly journeyed to where she knew The Battalion had a safehouse set up on the planet.

She hadn't been wearing her usual white catsuit. When she had opened the door, it was in a ceremonial hooded red gown., That split down the sides, exposing her hips and legs slightly.

"Why Xiphos. An unexpected pleasure."

"Am I interrupting?" Xiphos had asked.

"Of course not, my door is always open to you..." The Witch flirted, beckoning her to step in with a crooked finger. "What's the occasion?"

"I'm bored. I seek a challenge." Xiphos said. The interior of the luxury safe house, even the furniture, was a stark white.

Neither one of them, it seemed, wanted to talk about Ziost.

"I have many ways to slake your...thirst..." The Battalion said, slinking up to her, smiling.

"I'm always a fan of a good dominance contest. What'd you have in mind? Force? The Blade? Who decides what's for dinner?"

This last question got an actual chuckle from Xiphos in spite of how fethed up her life was. Syd had stopped joking before she left. That someone could make her laugh was... refreshing, in spite of the source.

"The Blade."

The Battalion grinned. "Testing my skills against one such as you is an opportunity that comes but once a millennium. I accept. Conditions for victory?"

"First to make a contact mark has to tell a secret..."

The Witch bid Xiphos to follow her, and Xiphos did, wincing at the very slight Discomfort that would have otherwise been a raging migraine if not for the pain suppressing effects of "Ursula's" white robes.

The sparring Chamber was large, Cube-Shaped, and it had a rack of Lightsaber Models.

"What's your poison?" The Battalion asked, gesturing to the lightsabers.

Xiphos went over to the rack and retrieved two simple lightfoil models, tossing one to her.

The Battalion grinned. "Finesse...Lightfoils are great for teaching self control. Let's see how much you really have..."

The ultra thin red blade flashed on and The Battalion lunged just as Xiphos's blade activated, parrying her lunging swipe, their red blades now in a fierce contest of constantly intercepting swipes and stabs, their feet, their whole bodies only moving as much as they needed.

The way The Battalion fought with the foil was so beautiful it actually threatened to bring Xiphos to tears, moves as elegant as a dancer, as cunning as a viper. Xiphos had become a master of Makashi, but The Battalion was a savant at it.

Flashing, long needles of red lit both their faces, Xiphos seeing The Battalion enjoying the spar, her dark nature invigorated by battle, it's ecstasy creeping over a lust filled face.

"It's been such a long time since anyone has kept up with me at pure Makashi..." The Battalion said. "Your fighting method resembles you father. Very Methodical. Yet fast."

"You knew my father?" Xiphos asked as she barely parried a ghostly swift stab.

"Morris Crownwraithe was one of Ession's great heroes. Unfortunately for them, he didn't see it that way..." The Battalion trailed, delivering swift, precise cuts that Xiphos barely parried.

"He looked down on the Church. And looked down on those who swore by the Church. Surprised the hell out of my Jedi Self..."

"You were a Jedi? An actual Jedi?" Xiphos asked, delivering a heavy, power thrust to The Battalion's stomach, which caused The Witch to parry very fast, so much so Xiphos was now having immense difficulty keeping up.

"Well, let's try Jedi-Adjacent and work from that point."

"Did you join Phyre's cult willingly?" Xiphos asked, guarding.

"For lack of a better word: No. But, it worked out nicely. I certainly haven't looked back." The Battalion answered, thrusting.

Xiphos countered twisting to the side, but now in a blade lock

"It sounds like she was afraid of you." Xiphos surmised.

This gave the Battalion pause.

"Perhaps..."

The pair resumed swiftly attacking each other...

Present...

Darth Xiphos practiced a moving meditation with her blade active, atop a hill on an uncharted planet. She had to get what happened on Corbos out of her head. Had to stop thinking of the Gorgeous Witch and center herself.

Little did she know the planet she fled to recenter her mind, was about to have another visitor....

Lilanna Kelamvor

 

[Cameron Crownwraithe]

Location: Uncharted World
Attire: FAE/eA-06 “Hayai” Energized Bodysuit - No Helmet │ Shock Boots
Equipment: Jasmine Lightsaber - Pink Kyber Crystal │ The Sprinting Frost
Tags: Laertia Io Lilanna Kelamvor

Meditation was always a foreign concept for the diminutive speedster.

Slow down to go faster.

The words of her mother echoed in her head, but up until now, they had always seemed counterintuitive, failing to make sense in the young strand-cast’s mind. After all, it made intuitive sense that pushing her body as hard as it could go, would in turn make her faster. In turn, doing something that often felt more like doing nothing, then hearing that it would make her faster, seemed almost unbelievable.

Up until the moment Cameron learned how to do it.

While she was unable to hover in the air like her mother, she could harness her emotions to draw on the calming Force of Ashla, exploiting it to place her mind in a deeper state of relaxation, temporarily free from the passions which often embroiled her thoughts. While the Zanshi were molded under the influence of Bogan, in mediating in such a manner, Cameron discovered that she could twist the Light to bring about order within herself, harnessing its calming influence to achieve a powerful awareness of her body.

A part of her wondered if this could solve the issue of the Red Eye.

The fear of the curse lingered in her soul after Vjun, to the point where she had as of recently, avoided traveling with her mother, fearing that combat would awaken the curse again.

However, she couldn’t stay afraid forever.

If there was even a minuscule chance of meditation staving off the Red Eye, she had to take it. Her mother needed her by her side, with the Bryn'adûl yet still genociding through Wild Space, the Maw growing stronger every day, the Jedi continuing to persist in their murderous missions, and the New Imperials expanding unchecked across former Sith territories. The galaxy was a mess of contradictory, yet evil alliances, all ignoring the omnicidal threats manifesting within the less-developed regions, in favor of their own moralistic crusades.

Opening her eyes from the trance of meditation, Cameron felt sweat beading across her forehead, wiping it away before looking to her mother. Unable to sense the incoming visitor, the speedster smiled then, happy only just to be in her mother’s presence, without the creepy Witch she was flirting with nearby.

Then, she moved in for a hug.

“I feel so much better, mom! I think this is working!”

 

[Laertia Io]

Xiphos's moving meditation broke as Cameron Crownwraithe hugged her.

Xiphos returned the hug gladly. She knew without loved ones she would have cracked a long time ago. All her children were precious to her, which was why she had equipped them with every tool they would need to succeed in life. Cameron and her had so much in common. Both made by Sith. Both created to be warriors. Both highly Specialized.

Xiphos adored her.

"Yes, it is." Xiphos said, "You are starting to understand how to twist the Light to your bidding. But that is only one of the reasons I'm proud of you."

Xiphos stared out into the ancient ruins around them. The search for resources was now a constant effort. Even planets like this were not to be discounted. Who knows what one might find in the ruins? Her Nuetralizers were combing the ruins for anything useful, anything valuable. It would all get funneled somewhere.

"Your training only gets more difficult, but I have faith in you." Xiphos said, still hugging her a bit before pulling back.

"We have entered a dangerous new phase of our efforts. It is clear now that The Jedi Order will have to be punished nearly as hard as the Bryn'adul will be. To do this, we must be strong and skilled. I know you fear this thing inside you, this red eye. It caused great harm to you on Vjun. But it may yet be mastered, and if not mastered, mitigated to a degree. To help with that, I will test you...with Aunt Melissa's help. Then we will test it further by exploring these ruins.

Striding up the hill was Melissa Io, an organic Droid with blonde hair and metallic pink eyes, slender figured, wearing a metallic pink Catsuit.

Melissa was one of many copies of Westenra Mina , and had defected to Xiphos after the battle of Sev Tok. She had originally been requested by Laertia to publicly denounce her to save herself and Laertia's other sisters. She had eventually been unable to live with herself not being by her sister's side. The other two, Meleena and Melinda, had barely resisted the urge to defect with her. They were still members in the SJC.

Melissa's heart had melted for Cameron ever since meeting her, and took the role of being her aunt very seriously.

"Hi, Cam!" Melissa said excitedly, jogging up to and hugging her. "Oh, I missed you so much."

Melissa then threw her arms around Xiphos, hugging her.

"I missed you, Sister."

"As did I with you, Melissa..." Xiphos said. "Are you ready?"

Melissa nodded and smiled. She stood across from Cameron.

"Cameron, the constant offence, I have noticed, is one of the strongest aspects of your style. Today, you will deliberately place yourself on the back foot. We will discover exactly under what circumstances the Red Eye emerges. To control ones emotions, to lock them away utterly and focus on pure logic in battle, one must know what it is like to be under constant attack. You must learn to use your speed as a scalpel, a shield, and a sword equally. Your power makes you more lethal than any ordinary soldier, but that power also nearly undid you when your thought process was taken over by emotion."

Melissa pulled out a training Lightsaber.

"Melissa is more durable than most opponents. And more lethal. She quickly learns from her errors...and will quickly learn yours also. All you have to do for now is last two solid minutes against her."

Melissa cringed slightly. "Err, Sister, I think that might be a bit much for her."

Xiphos thought about it a moment.

"Very well then. One minute. We will build up the number of seconds you have to hold out, and as part of your training, Melissa will attack you throughout the day without warning and at random intervals." Xiphos explained. "Any questions before we get started?"

 

[Cameron Crownwraithe]

Location: Uncharted World
Attire: FAE/eA-06 “Hayai” Energized Bodysuit - No Helmet │ Shock Boots
Equipment: Jasmine Lightsaber - Pink Kyber Crystal │ The Sprinting Frost
Tags: Laertia Io

If there was anything the speedster loved more than high calorie desserts, it was hugs with her family.

Cameron hugged her mother, letting go only just before it would have gotten awkward. Then, when she saw Melissa, she ran and hugged her as well, embracing her aunt’s perhaps artificial, yet nevertheless familial warmth with equal amounts of vigor and love as she had with her mother.

“I missed you too, Mel!” Cameron answered cheerfully, taking in her aunt’s wonderfully pulchritudinous visage with big pink eyes, matching Melissa’s own.

To say the least, in being surrounded by so many beautiful women, there were times when Cameron felt the urge to be more than just family.

Nevertheless, clearing her throat, the diminutive speedster smiled and turned to her mother, listening with wide eyes as she told of the day’s training regimen. While the Nuetralizers combed the ruins of the city, which Cameron had heard was likely a First Imperial Era settlement, based on the discovery of an ancient walker factory which contained rows of unused, yet 800-year-old AT-STs that could potentially be restored, the speedster would be training with Melissa. It went without saying that the prospect of fighting her aunt very much excited the diminutive Zanshi, to the point where she couldn’t resist the urge to let out a high-pitched sqee, even as her aunt cringed.

“I-I think I can start from two minutes!” Cameron spoke up. “I could go even longer if you want~” The speedster added, her voice taking on a slight lilt as the words left her lips, before suddenly clearing her throat as if she had said nothing at all.

“I’m ready to go, mom!” She added innocently.

 

[Laertia Io]

"Very well then. Begin."

Melissa rushed forward at superhuman speeds, with hand to hand strikes, not designed to cause agony, but enough to temporarily, painlessly paralyze Cameron Crownwraithe by targeting certain pressure points on her body.

As Melissa attacked Cameron, Xiphos started to speak.

"There is a reason you bear the last name 'Crownwraithe' rather than 'Io' as all my other daughters do." Xiphos began, observing the proceedings.

"Laertia Io is a name I assumed in my youth. A convenient alias. My birth name is Julia Crownwraithe. Daughter of Morris and Lysandra Crownwraithe, a pair of Jedi Knights that had been active during the Gulag Plague. They died protecting me from Darth Phyre...but present circumstances have...nullified this sacrifice...to a degree..."

As she observed Cameron's reactions as the clock ticked down, she spoke more.

"Giving you the name Crownwraithe was a reflection of the fact you were altered before birth, just as I was. And you were made to be a warrior, just as I was. Just as I made my initial daughters to be. But as you are flesh and blood and my first daughters are purely technology based, I felt it was only proper you carry a name that reflected that fact. It was meant as a gift, me passing the name of my parents onto you. A way for the Crownwraithes name to bask in the light of day once more. You will always be a member of House Io, however, even if you do not bare the name..."

A Model 1 Nuetralizer ran up the hill to reach Xiphos.

"Mother!" He called out. We found something in the factory!"

"What is it, Son?" She asked.

"A vault. It's sealed. Reflec on the interior. But it looks like a databank. We also covered a very small stash of Aurodium Ingots. Precious Stones. Also got a blip on scanners at the edge of the system."

"Dispatch a unit to intercept and keep me informed."

"At once, Mother. Hey Cameron, make another sonic boom!" The Model 1 encouraged.

"Noooo, no, don't do that please...You and your brothers might get a kick outta me goin' deaf for a week, but I didn't."

"Heh!" The robot son of Xiphos chuckled, heading back down.

 

[Cameron Crownwraithe]

Location: Uncharted World
Attire: FAE/eA-06 “Hayai” Energized Bodysuit - No Helmet │ Shock Boots
Equipment: Jasmine Lightsaber - Pink Kyber Crystal │ The Sprinting Frost
Tag: Laertia Io

Cameron was in her element while moving fast.

The Zanshi was capable of matching and even exceeding her aunt in terms of raw speed. However, since the biot initiated the engagement via hand-to-hand combat, Cameron was forced to do so in kind. Unfortunately, this was a weakness for the diminutive speedster, having focused the bulk of her training on the lightsaber and bladed weapon arts, in addition to marksmanship. With the beautiful biot moving to target her pressure points, Cameron was immediately forced on the defensive, even though she was always more comfortable on the offense, where she could more readily harness her speed as a means to shock and overwhelm an opponent.

Nothing was more devastating or demoralizing than an assassin who could strike and disappear faster than the limits of unenhanced perception.

Strikes came for her throat, nose, and knees, of which the speedster committed herself to blocking or evading, moving her body in a subsonic dance which to the unenhanced eye resembled naught but a blur of motion. Melissa moved with slightly less speed, but she had the advantage of strength and skill, to the point where she managed to throw Cameron back with a single blow to the head, which while blocked, carried so much raw power that the speedster briefly lost her balance.

And yet, it had been less than two seconds since the beginning of the fight.

Nevertheless, the flurry of blows, counters, and attacks continued, with Cameron moving on the offensive as Laertia began to speak, listening while trying to defeat the beautiful woman moving across from her. Sweat beaded across her brow as she did, her eyes going wide at the revelation of her name.

“Wait!” She called out, breathing hard as she moved to evade a powerful punch directed towards her stomach, an attempt to knock the wind out of her lungs. “I’m named after your parents?!”

Cameron was slightly off-kilter now, enough that Melissa landed a few powerful blows, throwing the speedster back against a nearby tree, covered in sweat and winded, but nevertheless still capable of fighting.

“I-I-I feel honored….mom.” She stammered.

Then, came hard and swift kick, intended for her head.

 

[001-A-986 "Nix"]

When being hired for this Neutralizing force, Hades Corp designated Nix to handle it on behalf of the company due to his experience in dispatching combatants to put it respectfully. carrying a Submachine gun. on him as well as a bandaleer of energy cells dispite no energy based weapon on his person would seem strange to everyone onboard his attire was far stranger wearing a sleeveless synth leather jacket with the Hades Corp logo printed on it, a pair of urban grey camo BDU pants and a set of combat boots. no undershirt no body armor just as is.

Nix's Eyes glew as he hopped aboard the shuttle designated to intercept whatever it was that Laertia Io ordered. He kept quite Only speaking if spoken to with his arms folded over his chest and his strange almost skeletal smile plastered to his face he was releshing in the idea that there would be something he needed to kill and he was happy for the chance to get to do so. the last time he was designated for such a mission he got to tussle with the empress of Eternal Empire herself and kill a wookie bodyguard. mabie this would be more of a challenge to him and he loved the idea of that

 

[Laertia Io]

The Model 1's that were on the TIE Boarding shuttle with 001-A-986 "Nix" began to give a rundown of what they were encountering. They were escorted by Nuetralizers in TIE Silencers, surviving vehicles from the Battle of Sarka as it left the atmosphere with Nix aboard.

"Alright boys. Unknown tango entered the system. Whoever they are, they're keeping their Ion Emissions to a minimum. Assumed hostile." The Model 1 leading the operation, Argyle, explained.

The silvery droids, modeled after a humanoid skeleton, clutched their Semi Automatic 12 guage shotguns and Force Pikes. They had wore various kinds of masks to hide their Skeleton Visage, others covered their skulls with writing or symbols to differentiate themselves. None of the droids moved like droids. There was individuality to them. They moved like men did.

"What if it's civvies?" One Droid in the back asked.

"Subdue non-lethally, and bring back for memory wipe. Then release them. If it's allied Military like CIS, let 'em pass. If it's NIO, GA, Maw, SJC...kill at will, and take the ship and it's material. Now, I'm sure you've all noticed a newcomer amongst us. Since Mother recently obtained Feth-You Levels of Credits, she's been hiring outside the family, looking to expand her military options by hiring mercs. But if Hades Corps is gonna go tear ass alongside us, they need to prove they're worth the expense! So "Nix" here has been selected for the honor of leading the boarding party. You will follow his orders as if they came from Mother herself." Argyle told them.

Argyle, who distinguished himself by wearing an Atrisian Oni Mask looked at Nix, offering him a Dashade Sonic Blaster.

"My brothers swear by these. One of these days the Galaxy will get over it's hangups about Disruptors."

"Ship coming into proper scan range!" The Model 1 pilot called out. "It's a Corona Frigate!"

The fighter escort sped ahead to try and weaken it's defenses.

"Alright. Tough ship. But nothing we shouldn't be able to seize. Nix! We're gonna forcibly make contact with the ship. No damn way that's a civilian vessel. Likely pirates. Weapons free."

 

[Esmeralda Io]

Location: TIE/br Boarding Shuttle - Approaching Corona-class Frigate, System of Unknown World
Objective: Board Possible Hostile Pirate Vessel
Tags: Laertia Io 001-A-986 "Nix"

House Io gained more enemies seemingly every day. Fortunately, it was also gaining more allies and assets.

While she was the sole Siren on board the shuttle, surrounded by Nuetralizers and Hades Corp mercenaries, Esmeralda did not feel as out of place or anxious as she had initially thought she would. The diminutive Echani had volunteered for this mission on impulse, not wanting to refuse a potential opportunity for combat. Moments later, she found herself on the boarding shuttle, standing among the towering mechanical figures of her brothers as she listened to the quick briefing from Argyle, an Oni Mask-clad Model 1 Nuetralizer.

"What if it's civvies?" One Droid in the back asked.

“Hopefully it’s something ugly and evil, like Maw or Crusaders.” Esmeralda answered in a vivacious, bloodthirsty tone.

"Now, I'm sure you've all noticed a newcomer amongst us. Since Mother recently obtained Feth-You Levels of Credits, she's been hiring outside the family, looking to expand her military options by hiring mercs."

“There’s also me!” The Echani piped up, waving her left arm in the air as she did. “I’m Esmeralda, by the way. Or, just Esme, for short.” She said, before directing a coy, girlish smile towards the other newcomer, accompanied by a playful wink. “What’s your name, by the way, mercenary?” Echani asked the biodroid ( 001-A-986 "Nix" ), her icy cyan gaze staring intently at the mercenary’s glowing red eyes, unconsciously drinking in every subtle shift of his body language in the Echani fashion of kinetic communication.

Then, before long, the klaxons began to blare across the passenger area as the unknown vessel came into sensor range.

"Alright. Tough ship. But nothing we shouldn't be able to seize. Nix! We're gonna forcibly make contact with the ship. No damn way that's a civilian vessel. Likely pirates. Weapons free."

“No civilians? Then, let’s rip and tear, until it is done!” Esmeralda said, readying her rifle as she spoke. “We’re ready, Nixie-boo!”

Spoiler: Loadout

• FAE/A-02 “Kinnara” Energized Combat Armor
  • Right Gauntlet
    • Universal Gas Launcher
      • Pink Vapor
  • Undersuit
    • UL-14 "Virtus" Class Underlay
  • Energy Shield
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • B-11 “Greitis” Class Combat Boots
    • Vibrodagger (2)
  • Droid
    • IBIS Drone
  • Utility
    • Evasive-226-R Field Disruptor
    • ABC Scrambler
• Hekler'Kok FR-01
  • 45-Round Magazine
  • Ammunition
    • Hekler’Kok Polymer Cartridge Ammunition-Explosive
  • Target Imaging Scope
• Esmeralda’s SE-14r Light Repeating Blaster
• FAE/M-01 “Scherezade” Energized Vibroblade

 

[001-A-986 "Nix"]

“I’m Esmeralda, by the way. Or, just Esme, for short.” She said, before directing a coy, girlish smile towards the other newcomer, accompanied by a playful wink. “What’s your name, by the way, mercenary?”

Nix would look up to the woman and then to her hand. "My name its 001-A-986 or Nix for short." Taking the blaster from the Model 1's he nodded to them. "I appreciate the blaster it'll be a good backup when I'm low on energy." Looking to the girl and the Model 1's Nix Sighed. "if I'm being honest Being a leader isn't something I'm good at I used to just lone wolf things due to how dangerous I am, this being said I'm going to ask for your safety in mind Please don't get near me while I'm fighting. "

Nix would demonstrate what he means by making heated energy ball of plasma with the same damage of a droid plasma thrower. were as his other arm would have tendrils that would be summoned from his forearm of pure superheated energy as he is able to control the tendrils movement and shape as if its a extension of himself.

"As you can see its rather a bad idea to get to close to me due to my internal weapons....unfortunately I was originally designed to be a combatant against force users and be a assassin on force users....however with me gaining citizenship within CIS it has allowed me to seek my own future and subsequently have a better life working with hades corp now that im not treated as a thing."

as he made the tendrils and energy ball dissipate back into himself He looked forward until it was time for them to disembark.

 

[Laertia Io]

"I'M SO EXCIIIIITED!" The Model 2's sang as they patiently cut through the locks to the massive vault they had found at this old Military base close to where Cameron Crownwraithe was training with their Mother.

*AND I JUST CAN'T HIIIIDE IT!" a pair of Advanced Model 1's nearby sang as they loaded shotguns.

"I'M ABOUT TO LOSE CONTROL AND I THINK I LIKE IT!" A entire squad of Model 1's sang as they hefted their Frontier Rifles.

One by one, the locks to the vault were breached, until they had all been burned through.

The Model 2's, being among the very strongest of Nuetralizers soon began prying the giant door open.

The Model 3's however, were busy securing the rest of this interesting base and military factory, hoping to use it as a staging ground for seizing the rest of this abandoned planet. They had found plenty here already. Stockpiles of M-45 Blasters (Xiphos's favorite heavy weapon after the Stouker) F-11's, TIE SF Fighters (in need of restoration), and the AT-ST's. First Order Stormtrooper Armor, Megablasters...

Xiphos's old vessel, The Absolution Of Loste, hovered in Orbit, occasionally sending supplies down, surrounded by Sarka Class Frigates doing the same.

Other Model 1's were on the planet training the newly created Siren Corps, designated as daughters to Xiphos and Sister to all mechanical Nuetralizers. So of course they were making sure they would be able to kill as viciously as any Model 1.

Alicia, a deadly prototype Xiphos had created and Sub Matriarch of House Io oversaw the operation from inside a control tower, "Flesh" morphed to look like it was clad in a skintight silver catsuit, patiently going over whatever base specifications that Lyssa, another Sub Matriarch had dug up by repairing the system with her Nanites (She had learned how to do this recently).

"What were these Imperials doing out here?" Alicia asked herself. Little more than wild life, the occasional forest and lakes, and almost endless plains of grass dotted with jagged rocks. Few exploitable resources...not near a strategic hyperlane. No settlements beyond strange ruins.

"Guarding something. Something that has to do with that vault." Lyssa asserted. "There was enough here to field a couple of Garrison's. First Order was protecting something so valuable here they put it off all official records. On the uniforms we found there is no rank, no insignia, if it wasn't for the base following First Order construction protocol to the letter, we'd have been tempted to think it was a pirate or mercenary base only masquerading as military."

Alicia pursed her lips.

"Alicia to Jakob." she called out in her installed comlink to a Model 1 Nuetralizer still overseeing the opening of the vault.

"Jakob here. 'Sup, Sis?"

"The vault open, yet?"

"It's opening now..." Jakob answered as the vault door was swung open fully. The Model 1's went in first.

They saw ingots of Electrum, Aurodium, Beskar, racks of precious stones, itemized, catalogued. It didn't go very high, but went rather deep.

The Model 1's scanned the place, then signalled for the Advanced Model 1's to come in.

"Looks like a jackpot. Lots of Bullion. Beskar Stash. But not nearly big enough to justify this whole base. No security either, which has me real suspicious...nobody puts money out like this unless it's a distraction. They don't mind losing it..." Jakob reported on his comlink.

"The real treasure they are guarding is close by then..." the Advanced Model 1 known as Effigy said, exploring the interior with her other sister and her brothers.

"Sisters, go through every crevice of this place...this vault makes no sense. I want you to look for hidden entrances, hidden chambers. The rest of you, run scans on these ingots... Perhaps the actual treasure might be very small..." Jakob instructed.

Meanwhile...

The boarding shuttle docked with the Corona frigate and it's onboard cutting laser began to cut into the hull.

"Anybody who can kill a Force User is always a welcome asset, Nix!" Argyle assured the artificial life form. "You won't want for that sort of work amongst us!"

They were through, and the Model 1'z let Nix and Esmeralda Io out first before joining them.

The Model 1's had swapped out some of their Onboard lethal weapons for Phantom Laser tech, which would behave like a normal blaster but be incapable of killing.

They processed Essionian Symbols and language in a passageway they went into. The ship alarm was ringing.

"Ashlan's..." one said quietly, looking for hostiles.

"Civs? Even those feths have Civs..." Argyle asked.

The snap hiss of a Lightsaber made them all swivel their heads. An Ashlan Jedi brandished his blades, surrounded by Essionian troopers.

"Nuetralizers! Nuetralizers!" one trooper yelled, having experienced their viciousness at Ziost and again at Korriban and on the verge of panic.

"Ahhh, the glories of Brand Recognition..." Argyle chuckled, hip firing his shotgun and blasting the guy's head off.

A fire fight erupted, the Ashlan Jedi charging...



001-A-986 "Nix"

 

[001-A-986 "Nix"]

Nix would nod his head thanks to the Model 1 as he exited off the shuttle Having heard of the symbol From Ghosts accounts of Korraban the air around him would heat up as he removed his jacket, and let his power cell bandoleer dangle at his waist. a total of 20 tendrils of energy erupted from his arms 10 on each he made sure to have them writhe and twist avoiding his allies when the Ashen Crusader ignited his saber "make peace with your god's crusaders because I'm coming for your necks!" with that he rushed forward to meet the charging force user. as his tendrils and their lightsaber clashed. he had the high defense on his side For the times the Crusader would get hits past his tendrils the lightsaber would leave minor burns on his Lightsaber resistant Bioflesh.

At the same time, the tendrils would hammer away from every direction besides the back of the crusader due to their range limitation. His assault was only paused momentarily as a shotgun blast from one of the enemyes nailed him in the back and would probably leave a nasty welt by tomorrow.

"Feth, Model 1's take up Find cover, I don't want any showboating. Aim for center mass and concentrate fire as a group on one target at a time."

 

[Esmeralda Io]

Location: Passageways, Corona-class Frigate - System of Unknown World
Objective: Take Ashlan Vessel
Tags: Laertia Io 001-A-986 "Nix"

Cyan eyes sparkled with envy beneath her helmet as she watched Nix manifest a superheated ball of plasma before her eyes, the energized tendrils on his arms moving as if of their own volition. No doubt, that would be deadly, perhaps more than enough to kill some pirates or Maw, but the Siren also wondered whether it would work to equal efficiency in killing Baedurin. However, upon hearing that he had been created to kill Force-wielders, that worry was quickly put to rest.

And yet, that worry was a projection of her own anxieties. Would she be good enough to kill Bryn'adûl? Or would she fail like so many others had done before?

Fortunately, the lurch of the boarding shuttle as it docked with the Corona frigate, slightly jerkedEsmeralda in her seat, directing her attention away from that thought towards the matter at hand. Quickly pulling off her restraints, the Echani slammed a fresh magazine into her rifle, loaded with explosive rounds to better kill heavily-armored or powersuit clad soldiers. Then, she moved after Nix out of the hatch, keeping her distance from the plasma casting biodroid as she followed him into the passageway.

To say the least, she was quite surprised to see Essonian symbols and language.

“This is...unexpected. What are Ashlans doing out here?" She began, her voice initially hesitant and slightly questioning. “But, they are ugly and evil, so ideal for ripping and tearing!” The Siren added cheerfully, a schoolgirl’s giggle escaping from her lips just as the sound of heavy boots pounding against a hard floor began to manifest, enhanced by her armor’s auditory receptors so that she could better process their position.

Before long, the Marines were upon them.

“Woops! I got your back, Nixie-boo!” The Siren said as the biodroid was struck by a shotgun blast from behind. In answer, Esmeralda set her attention on the Marines coming from the other side of the passageway, who were attempting to trap the boarding party in a pincer. With her sights set on the closest, shotgun-wielding Marine, Esmeralda punched two bursts into the soldier’s armored chest, the explosive slugs detonating upon impact and quickly putting the target down. Then, snapping her sights to the end of the hallway, she squeezed the trigger as the Marines rounded the corner, laying down fire in a longer burst that struck down a three of the soldiers in a series of tiny explosions before they could make any significant headway.

So far, it was all John Wick.

“Be seeing you!” The Siren called out to the Ashlans, before moving into cover behind a nearby bulkhead.

Spoiler: Loadout

• FAE/A-02 “Kinnara” Energized Combat Armor
  • Right Gauntlet
    • Universal Gas Launcher
      • Pink Vapor
  • Undersuit
    • UL-14 "Virtus" Class Underlay
  • Energy Shield
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • B-11 “Greitis” Class Combat Boots
    • Vibrodagger (2)
  • Droid
    • IBIS Drone
  • Utility
    • Evasive-226-R Field Disruptor
    • ABC Scrambler
• Hekler'Kok FR-01
  • 45-Round Magazine
  • Ammunition
    • Hekler’Kok Polymer Cartridge Ammunition-Explosive
  • Target Imaging Scope
• Esmeralda’s SE-14r Light Repeating Blaster
• FAE/M-01 “Scherezade” Energized Vibroblade

 

[Westenra Mina]

Melissa fought Cameron Crownwraithe with great alacrity and speed but Cameron was just that damn fast. The kick aimed for her head missed entirely and Melissa soon was flung backward by a counter attack. She felt no pain, but was stunned a bit nonetheless.

"Well done, my Niece." Melissa complimented, turning to Xiphos.

"Sister... perhaps we should test one among us who is truly high speed..."

"What did you have in mind, Melissa?" Xiphos asked.

"I brought a surprise with me..."

Xiphos tensed, sensing another, familiar presence. One she hadn't felt in months, walking up to her.

She turned and saw another Westenra Copy, this one slightly older looking than Melissa, flesh in the same gold catsuit appearance Melissa had.

It was Meleena, coded to act as an older Sister to Laertia. Meleena was one who was the least impulsive of the first three Io Sisters. When she said to exercise caution, Laertia had often listened.

Xiphos teleported to her immediately, throwing her arms around her beloved Sister in excitement.

"Meleena, you're here! I...I'm so happy..." Xiphos said in a quiet voice as Meleena returned the hug enthusiastically.

"What happened to you in the SJC?" Xiphos asked worriedly.

"After Melissa attempted to steal a tactical nuclear weapon to use on the Bryn'adul at Sev Tok, a call went out for her arrest after the attempt failed. Me and Melinda's loyalties were also called into question also. Melinda is trying to stick it out. I got one dirty look too many after I refused to apprehend her. Figured, screw this, I'm tired of waiting for the SJC to get serious about the Bryn'adul. I should never have left you, even if you did order it."

"It's enough that you're here..." Xiphos whispered, guiding her over to Melissa And Cameron.

"Cameron, this is your Aunt, Meleena." Xiphos explained.

Meleena zipped over to Cameron in a superhuman blur, far faster than either Xiphos or Melissa could track.

"Melissa has told me all about you, Cameron. It's so nice to finally meet you..." The blond Biot said warmly, yet one more piece in House Io's growing power structure.

 

[Cameron Crownwraithe]

Location: Uncharted World
Attire: FAE/eA-06 “Hayai” Energized Bodysuit - No Helmet │ Shock Boots
Equipment: Jasmine Lightsaber - Pink Kyber Crystal │ The Sprinting Frost
Tags: Westenra Mina Laertia Io

Melissa was a tough, strong opponent, skilled in martial arts where Cameron was not and sturdy where the speedster was delicate. However, speed, in the raw and blistering style the Zanshi often utilized, was a killer. Her perception began to accelerate as she recovered from Melissa’s initial flurry of blows, the world slowing down just before the biot could land her kick. Ducking underneath the powerful leg which would have struck her in the head, Cameron harnessed her newfound leverage to accelerate out of reach in a blur of movement, before running with the velocity of a speeder bike towards a nearby tree a few meters away and bouncing off of it to deliver a flying kick to Melissa’s chest, the blow carrying immense amounts of kinetic force to send the powerful biot flying backward.

Covered in sweat and breathing with some effort, the speedster quickly sensed that she had emerged victorious, at least for the time being.

Blushing at the compliment from her frankly, smoking hot aunt, Cameron’s nostrils flared in interest at the mention of someone who could perhaps compete with her when it came to Speed. The Zanshi was well aware of her own limitations as a speedster, her lack of finesse, her poor endurance, and most notably, the curse. Cameron also knew that she could be faster, as while she was far quicker than the average Force-wielder, she wasn’t anywhere close to her goal and wouldn’t be for quite some time.

Seeing her mother’s features tense, Cameron’s eyes widened as another pulchritudinous, blonde biot emerged from the forest, one who appeared slightly older than Melissa, though no less stunning in appearance.

At some point, the speedster began to wonder whether consorting with her mother’s sisters, even if they didn’t share any blood relations, could be considered as a form of electral love.

"Melissa has told me all about you, Cameron. It's so nice to finally meet you..." The blond Biot said warmly, yet one more piece in House Io's growing power structure.

Was she flirting with her?

Cameron took a deep breath, wanting desperately to believe it. However, the biot’s expression seemed to be more of familial warmth than romantic interest. Nevertheless, swallowing nervously, Cameron smiled at the blonde biot’s greeting, resetting her focus to learning as much as she could from a fellow speedster and perhaps, maybe even getting a selfie together and her autograph.

“Oh my gosh, how many aunts do I have?” Cameron answered in an excited, bubbly tone, as she moved to hug Meleena. “And y’all are all blonde!” She continued, her voice suddenly accelerating in excitement as she spoke. “I can’t wait to train with you! What’s your highest speed? 400 time? Favorite color? Can we take a selfie?” More questions followed, spoke in a high-pitched, nightcore-like register as Cameron began to obsess over finally meeting another speedster, an unnaturally hot one, at that.