Uncommon Sanctuary

[Jaron Lesan]

The sun began to peak over Sanctuary Rock. What seemed like just an ordinary rock was an old abandoned base and temple which had a rich history in Jaron Lesan’s family. Standing on the flat surface of the top, Jaron found himself feeling the heat of the mid day sun as it had kept its promise of being a warm day. Black was a bad idea in the heat, but it was the only color Jaron had worn in a long time. Looking out over the forest world below where he stood, the Dark Jedi, the only Lesan to embrace the darkness, pondered his path in life.

Failed attempts to find those as loyal to him as he had been to others seemed to always fail. He was the one who had many masters, all betray him. Factions had shoved him aside for new ideals, or directions they had promised never to take. Whole worlds had been lost in his attempt to serve those who promised what had happened to Corellian, his home, would never happen again.

This Rock was his only constant. Arbra was his home now. Was it a lonely life, yes, but he was truly free. The cost of his freedom had been the intimacy and belonging he had longed for as a young adult. Near a quarter century, he was still young, but no longer naive to the world and Galaxy. Another faction was seeking to move into his world, and he was aiding it. He might as well try to trust those who would take his world.

One of their ships was landing on his rock. He stood by as the engines blew up the dust which was on the rock’s surface. Some of the particles whipped about his face, scratching it slightly, but leaving no visible marks. Hands where folded over his chest. A description of the one being sent was not given to him, and he had no idea what to expect. His hope was they would be smart enough to send a force user, but he wasn’t even sure about that.

The assignment was simple. They were to identify potential problems among the few humans that had colonized the planet, whatever forces had moved in since the collapse of the GA, and whatever activity of the Templars could be found on the planet. It seemed even the Confederacy had powerful enemies, but at least they were smart enough to send a scout. Jaron, was an excellent scout. Would their agent be as well?

[member="Dianah Vrorae"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah whooped and hollered as the ship came to a rather rough landing on the rocky terrain. She felt the edges of laughter creep up in her throat and burst out like a song. She clapped the pilot on his back with rather more force then she had intended too and took her leave. It felt good to be out of the ship.

Seeing as it was just going to be herself and one other she had opted to change into her original form. This form was the one most members of the confederacy would recognise. She had chosen it for a very good reason as anyone with who had anything to do with the confederacy would recognise her Father's fire in her eyes. Rather sensibly she had chosen to wear bright, white coloured silks that were tied tightly to her body. The light breeze whipped the her robes into a frenzy almost the moment she stepped off the ship, giving her a rather regal quality.

She scanned the landscape quickly searching for her counter-part, pausing only briefly to marvel at the scenery. Once her onyx coloured eyes had found him a cheeky grin spread over her face. 'You must be the one I'm looking for.' She said in a lilting voice. In three quick steps, taken on the tips of her toes, Diahan closed the distance between them. She held her hand out toward him gracefully, hoping he would take it as a greeting.

'Dianah Vi'Dreya. The pleasure is all mine.' After a brief pause, in which she took the opportunity to scan his face, she let out another sing-songy laugh. 'Or at least it would be, if you didn't look so bloody miserable.'

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

A girl? Metus sent a girl?

Jaron sighed as he watched her hop her way over to him. She was about as young looking as he had been when he took the galaxy on for himself for the first time. It was a small a small smirk that pulled at his lip as he looked her over. He coukdnsee it in her, the reason Metus had sent her. The name gave it away as well, at least how she introduced herself. He nodded.

”Miserable? This is my happy face,” he said with a small tease as he took her hand and shook it in greeting. ”Jaron Lesan, and I am the tour guide if you will.”

Two lightsaber hilts twirled about on his waist as he motioned for her to follow him to the hidden platform elevator which would take them into the control room of his base. It was a simple enough room, nothing much different from a room that most would. The monitors were full of people and places Jaron had been keeping his eye on. He’d always been a work first kind of person. That’s why his finger went right to a screen.

”This is where we are headed. I’m not sure how aware you are of the Templar Order that seems to show up on the outskirts and surrounding planets along Confederacy space. Metus wants them gone as they provoke opposition to his Confederacy. His forces will come in later. There are others arming the pockets of resistance to these Templars as we speak. Our job is to find the weaknesses to this fortress, here, and report back.”

Jaron looked the girl over once more. White silks that hugged the form of her body were attractive, but not practical. A knowing smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth as he headed toward the armory.

”If we can eliminate the head of the Order here, all the better, but ummm, you might wreck your silks in the forest. Lots of things for the fabric to catch on...”

His hand motioned to the armor hanging in the armory as with the weapons. Whateverwas there that could fit her, or that she liked was hers.

”Make yourself at home... take whatever you want...”

[member="Dianah Vrorae"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah smiled widely, showing the tips of her bright white teeth. His response had done wonders to improve her first impression of him. She thought on how perhaps, just maybe, she had been wrong to judge him miserable so quickly. After all, she loved a little banter. 'I have changed my mind, perhaps it's a pleasure to meet you after all.' She met his eyes, her own dancing with mild amusement. He turned to walk and she walked along side him. It wasn't a struggle to keep up. After all, she was only a foot shorter then him.

When they stepped on the platform she graced Jaron with a childlike smile and closed her eyes in anticipation of the whoosh of air. Despite the wind being above them now her silks snapped back and forth violently, creating sharp cracks that broke the air in two.

The simplicity of the room they entered didn't shock her in the least. From the slip information she had told of him she had expected him to lead the simple sort of life.

She sat herself down on a console, not seeming to care that buttons were being mashed wildly underneath her. Her slender legs stretched out underneath her as she leaned over to focus on the screen Jaron motioned too. Dianah was desperate to get the job done right in an effort to impress her Father. So, unusually, she threw her full concentration on the map displayed in front of her. Her head nodded quickly as he spoke, ensuring him that she was indeed listening to every word he said.

'Sounds simple enough to me.' At his next sentence she raised a single eyebrow and turned the corners of her mouth into a frown. ' You might be right there.' She swung herself up from the console and began making her way to the armoury. As she walked she began to tear away the silks that hung loosely from her outfit. They made a sharp ripping sound then floated unceremoniously to the ground behind her. Once she was finished the only silks that remained were the ones that were wrapped tightly around her body.

'Do you have any information on what's waiting for us when we get there?' She said by way of idle conversation. Her eyes scanned over the various pieces of armour quickly then settled on some simple plastoid armour. She heaved the chest piece over her head, flicking her curly black hair out from under it. Diahan glanced down quickly and heaved a heavy sigh. It was too big by far. It hung loosely on her torso, making her look like a child attempting to try on their Father's battle gear.

With a huff, she closed her eyes and focused intently on her body. While she wasn't perfect at skin-shifting just yet, she could at least do this. Looking at her it would seem the armour was getting smaller. But what was actually happening was something all together different. The chest piece was followed by a pair of shin, thigh and forearm guards, then finally some cops. 'There!' She exclaimed as she twirled delicately on the balls of her feet. 'How do I look?'

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Just because Jaron wore a misterable or stoic expression on his face most days did not mean he was devoid of any amount of humor or pleasantries. His manners were well enough when they needed to be. His time as a scout for the First Order had seen him come into contact with many foreign cultures, some with high level of propriety. It was rare Jaron was simply able to be himself. He was a social chameleon of sorts. He could adapt to whatever he found himself in.

He nodded. Of course she was going to retract her previous opinion. Second impressions were rare beyond seven seconds, but Jaron usually was the exception to that. She herself made a good impression that carried her past the influence of who her father was. Jaron was never one to judge based on a person’s connection, but their own merit. She had yet to prove her worth, but she had her with and spunk. She was alright in Jaron’s book.

”Careful where you sit. It’s expensive and antique equipment...”

He wasn’t as wealthy as his parents. His dad’s company would have been nice to control, but Jaron was never suited for it. Capitol Shipping was purely his father's company.

”I have limited intel on them. That’s why we are scouting. I would say that I’m sorry I don’t have a better answer, but this job is to get answers so that when Metus asks, we have them.”

Suddenly she was ripping her silk off when he commented about ruining her clothes in the woods. His initial instinct was to a dry his gaze, but it happened so fast it would not have kept him from seeing anything. Fortunately the tight and firm pieces were still in place, and she began to fit armor over her torso. It seemed loose, and then it didn’t. She was... changing herself.

Jaron nodded and walked into the armory himself and grabbed his usual pieces of armor.. The helmet he would save until later. The HUD in it was his favorite part and a little momento to his mother’s culture. She was Mando’ad and while Jaron had not chosen to follow that culture, he knew the language, and he knew the Resol’nare. His armor was part of the culture, but also the path he had chosen.

He chuckled as she turned in front of him and asked how she looked.

”Radiant...” he said before putting on his helmet and pulling up his hood over the mask. The voice changer would deepen his baritone slightly, making it more coarse and mechanical. ”And what about me?”

Jaron didn’t wait for an answer as he knew the sudden voice change was often intimidating. He was meant to be. She wanted to know what would be waiting for them, and they did need to get there. His feet carried him toward the hidden hangar, the sound of the waterfall which covered the easement filled the hall with an echo.

”I hope you father taught you how to ride one of these,” he said as the speeder bikes came into view.

[member="Dianah Vrorae"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Her dark eyes rolled upward dramatically. While she was clearly having a little fun with him, she meant no harm and to show this she placed a playful smile on her lips. 'Not very good at making casual conversation are you? I thought maybe you might have some inkling, considering you seem to have made your home here.'

Her arm flicked lazily to the rest of the room, indicating that she could tell it was lived in. 'Or are you not as perceptive as you seem?' She chuckled and poked him playfully in the chest.

At his compliment, ever the drama queen, she took a dramatic curtsy and let just the right amount of blush cover her caramel skin. 'Thank you!' At his question she made a massive show of stepping toward him and inspecting the armour, walking slowly around it like a cat on the prowl.

The voice may have shocked any normal woman, but not this one. To begin with she wasn't normal and very difficult to scare. To top this off she had, first and foremost, been raised as a Mandalorian. Her early childhood and part of her late teens had been spent on Mandalore.

'Hmm...' She stopped just in front of him and brushed imaginary flecks of dust from his shoulders. 'Yes, this will do nicely. The voice is definitely an improvement.' She gave him a wide grin to show she was joking. 'Might I be curious and ask where you got Beskar'gam from?' Dianah tapped a long, painted fingernail against the helmet gently.

He turned to walk and she followed him with a bounce in her step. 'Speeder bikes...' At this, she shook her head. 'He tried, I don't seem to have the balance for them though.' Her fingertips grazed across the handlebars of the machine. 'I suppose there's no better time to learn!' With this, she flung one leg over the side of the bike and settled herself into the seat, looking remarkably like an animal getting comfortable in bed. 'Now... how do you turn these things on again?'

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron shrugged at her slight rebuke. She was teasing, but there was a small correction in her words.

”Sorry... it’s not just that I’ve made myself home here, I’ve also been alone for... I’ve lost track. Casual conversation, and playful banter is something I’m rusty with,” he said looking her way with a knowing grin. ”But with a little practice...”

He was a scout. Jaron was plenty perceptive, but that didn’t mean he was still in practice of what to do. Everything had been about getting the job done for so long that he often failed to slow down and process what was right in front of him. The las time he’d met anyone had been months ago, and before that, at least a good year. She didn’t need to know that much, but his answer explained his occasional mood, or grumpiness.

Jaron stood upright at her inspection. His arms fell crips at his sides and his back popped fully straight and rigid. His mother had often inspected his armor, looking for anything out of place. Her mock Dianah’s mock inspection brought back fond memories and drew a smile to his face. She wouldn’t see it under his helmet, but it was there.

A smirk came at her compliment on his voice and her question was acknowledged with a nod.

”My mother was Mando’ad. She’s since marched on, and while I don’t live to the Resol’nare, my mother ensured I would know then culture and the language. The armor comes with it.”

It was a simple answer, and his own observation that she knew how it was supposed to be worn was not lost on him, which brought a question of his own.

”You do not have your own?”

Jaron thought being the daughter of a man who was once faithful to the Mandalorian ways would have ensured his daughter had her own armor. Perhaps he was mistaken, but she did know how it was to be worn. They way she inspected him proved it. It was also odd she couldn’t drive a speeder bike. Balance, he scoffed under his mask. Again she wouldn’t see it.

”Ignition is on the right handle. Gear shift on your left foot... Just try and keep up.”

With that Jaron started his bike after mounting it, and sped out of the hangar toward the cave they were set to gather intel on. What the video surveillance could not tell them is what they were there to discern. The speeder bikes were parked a good mile from the entrance where the two would have to proceed on foot. Jaron had kept his eye on Dianah to be sure she didn’t have too much of a problem with her speeder, and after a bit she seemed to have gotten enough of it to not need his immediate assistance. She was going to need practice, and it was good he hadn’t let her fly his ship.

He motioned for her to hide with him just behind the tall bushes and boulders. His HUD was already analyzing the area.

”Hmmmmmm they don’t have any cameras up yet. They haven’t been here long. I would have had it set up right away.”

Jaron handed the girl a pair of binoculars.

”Alright, tell me what you see, guards, defenses, etc. I’m gonna move in for a closer look at the mouth of that cave.”

A commlink was pulled from the belt around his waist and was handed to Dianah. It was a patch to his direct frequency. Jaron usually did things like this alone, but if he had someone there to watch his shebs, he was going to take advantage of it.

”Don’t let my shebs distract you either,” he said before moving through the brush to get a better view.

[member="Dianah Vrorae"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Her eyes passed over him quickly, inspecting his face for a flicker of emotion when he mentioned his mother. Her own Mother had passed too, but she had been too young to remember much of her, it didn't pain her like it must pain others. She straightened her spine, mimicking his stature.

'We are born to die. We live to be remembered.' Her tone dropped from it's usual mouse like quality to a mocking serious voice, shockingly similar to her Father's. 'You do well to remember her, vod.'

At his question she shrugged her shoulders lightly, shaking her head to accompany it. 'I did have my own set. It was beautiful.' Her eyes lit up with a glimmer as she remembered, catching the light and making her dark eyes a little lighter. 'I left it on Mandalore when I left. I won't be able to use it where I'm going and it would do me no good to take it. Besides!' She tapped the plastoid plate covering her chest, returning her voice to the mocking, deep tone of her Father. 'Verd ori'shya beskar'gam!'

Dianah paused and, for a few seconds, let a look of pain pass over her ordinarily smiley face. 'I miss it... and home.'

Setting her jaw with determination, she turned the ignition gingerly. The speeder sprang to life with a loud hum. 'I've totally got this.' This she had mumbled to herself, hoping the sound of the speeder would cover up the hesitation in her voice. At first she shifted it into a slow crawl. Then it sped up suddenly, causing her to yelp like an injured kitten.

But it stayed up and she sped on. It wobbled violently as she tried to dodge in between the trees that littered their path. Eventually it levelled out, quivering only rarely. She lent her head back and cheered in celebration, her dark hair whipping about her face as she did.

When they had finally arrived it was a definite relief to be off the speeder. Her legs were only shaking mildly, but still shaking none the less. She took a few moments to compose herself and then slipped behind the bushes with Jaron.

'Done deal.' Taking the binoculars from his hands, Dianah pressed them to her eyes and began inspecting the length of space in front of them. As she did she absentmindedly mumbled what she could see. 'Two guards directly east. Another two to the west. They walk towards each other and pass by, changing places every five minutes.'

Dianah pulled the binoculars from her eyes, revealing that they squinted close together in confusion. Almost as quickly, she had them pressed to her eyes again. 'I can only see blasters. Not much in the way of defences... I wonder why?' She mused that the people who were supposidly arming this resistance didn't seem to be doing a very good job.

Her arm flicked out to the side, reaching for the commlink held out to her. As he walked away she called out in the best stage whisper she could: 'I won't if you don't flaunt it like that.' While it was clearly said in a very distracted tone it was filled with a layer of amusement.

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

He nodded. Of course it was good of him to remember his mother this way. Not only had it been drilled into him, it was right. As dark as Jaron was, it had always come from a deep love of home and family. Protecting them, keeping tragedy from happening again, was why he embraced the darkness. It was his tragic flaw, and one he proudly embraced.

”There is nothing more sacred than family. I would embrace the blackest of nights to see them safe.”

There was truth and conviction in his voice. She would know this was the passion from which he drew his strength. Like Metus, family was important to him, even if he was odds with some of them.

He listened as she told him about the guards. Jaron did his best to ignore the wobbly legs. It was nothing to be concerned about and typical of new riders. Dianah would learn eventually, and Jaron would be sure to make her practice. If Metus was going to send his daughter on further assignments like this, she was going to have to know how. Jaron didn’t use anything else aside from his ship for transportation.

‘I won't if you don't flaunt it like that.'

Jaron smirked.

”It’s not flaunting, just my natural gate.”

He would have stuck his tongue out, but his helmet was on and she wasn’t looking at his head anyway.

Moving toward the cave, his steps were silent, pondering what they had seen. Either this crew was a decoy, or they had more than enough firepower inside the cave to deal with a direct assault. There would be only two reasons to have such lax security. Jaron wasn’t going to kill the guards, it would just put the Templars on high alert. He just wanted to see what was in the cave, and if needed, destroy it.

”I’m going in. Follow up to my position when I do. Once it’s clear, you join me...”

With that, Jaron rushed the gap as soon as the guards had left a brief opening. With the side of the force he moved like blur, completely unnoticed to the naked eye as anything more.

[member="Dianah Vrorae"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

When he slipped behind the rocks to make his way toward the cave entrance, Dianah was close on his tail, placing herself in his previous position. It had the perfect view of the cave entrance and the guards pacing slowly up and down. She watched him, or at least attempted too, with curious eyes. He was as fast as anything she had ever seen before.

She lifted the commlink close to her mouth, using a real whisper this time so as not to alert the guards. 'Natural gate, sure...' Her voice dripped with sarcasm but a smile could be heard amongst it. Dianah watched closely till the black blurr that had been Jaron slipped from her vision into the entrance of the cave. Now it was her turn. She cracked her fingers against one another, followed by a slow rotation of her neck.

All the while she kept her eyes on the guards, waiting for her opening.

Once her chance appeared she took it without hesitation, crossing the open space between the safety of the boulders and the unknown of the cave. She was remarkably light and quick on her feet, though nowhere near as quick as Jaron. She moved with silence in her footsteps. Fortunately for her the guards seemed to be focused too much on what was in front of them and never what was behind.

For his own personal amusement she finished her last few steps off with a childish skip, hop and a jump followed by a graceful spin mid-air that brought her over the threshold. She brought herself close to him, assuming that he had scouted at least a small portion of the cave while he waited for her. Dinah lent close to him, guessing haphazardly where his ear would have been if not for the helmet. Without a hint of breathlessness or exhaustion in her voice she asked in that low familiar whisper: 'What now?'

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron did not watch her as she neared the cave until he heard her close to the opening. His eyes turned to watch as she playfully slipped into the entrance where he stood waiting for her. Later he would have to tell her that more astute guards would have already tried to arrest her by now, but she was having too much fun, and these guards deserved the tease.

She twirled and stepped close to him. Her head moved to where his ear would have been and she whispered. Quietly he motioned for her to follow as he skillfully and quietly moved further into the cave. What he had been able to scout so far was nothing. Not that he didn’t try, but the cave was empty.

This was typical.

They pressed further in, and when Jaron was confident they were alone, he broke his silence.

”Look for what could be a door. The Templars like to make underground tunnels, and I’m certain this is exactly what they are guarding here. We have to be sure, and we can’t get caught.”

That meant as much as he enjoyed the banter, it was done for now. This was business and it was their freedom, and possibly their lives on the line. The tone in his voice would tell her it needed to be all business now. Metus had trusted him with one of his new recruits, his daughter no less, and Jaron was about to kark that up.

”Once we find what we’re looking for... once it’s confirmed we get out of here, once I set up another camera anyway...”

If he had the chance. Someone could bust through the underground doorway at anytime. That would be bad, but was also the thrill of being a scout. There was a chance of being caught.

[member="Dianah Vrorae"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

As the walk through the caves she noted how plain and empty it seemed. For some reason she had built it up in her head to the point where she almost expected them to be dancing and diving about, trying to avoid a flurry of blaster shots or some quick-witted younglings with sabers. It made for a pleasant surprise. Maybe this would be easier then she thought. At the end of the day all she was there to do was impress her Father.

It just so happened that working with Jaron was a bonus. She mused on whether their alliance would continue after their mission.

Dianah noticed the tone in his voice and nodded her head seriously. She could be serious when she needed to be and now was one of those times.

On her face she wore what she described as her 'Nar dralshy'a' face. Her try harder face. Often, when she was younger, her Father would scold her with this saying for not taking lessons seriously enough. Dianah adopted this face out of habit and as a personal joke.

'Sounds good to me.' Separating herself from his side, she wondered around the cave of her own accord. To the naked eye the walls of the cave were plain and simple, but with his words Dianah knew they were searching for something more. She touched the wall with her fingertips, feeling the cool stone beneath them. As she walked they trailed lightly behind her, feeling for the slightest break in the stone.

Suddenly, she stopped stock still with her palm pressed firmly against the wall. Her fingers curled into a fist and rapped the stone. It sounded like typical stone, apart from a hollow echo that followed mere moments after. 'I think this is it...' Turning her head to see where he was Dianah pressed her body flat against the wall with her arms outstretched, trying to feel hinges, cracks, handles... anything that might make it seem like your typical door.

All she could seem to find was the distinctive outline of a stone carved door. Huffing with some form of frustration she dug her nails into the crack and attempted to pull.

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron sat on a rock. There were other ways to find a door, and when one had use of the force, it saved from having to feel every nook of the rock surface. His eyes were closed, tuning out what his HUD was telling him. Sometimes the technology got in the way of things. His connection the force was his own, and it was more important than the tools and toys he had. While most Mando’ad has taught it was just another tool, Jaron knew it was more than that. It didn’t fit with the Resol’nare, and yet it did. Though Jaron wasn’t concerned with such matters.

His senses reached out beyond what the naked eye could see. Looking to connect with his environment around him, the former sentinel locked onto the door, and found it just as Dianah did. He chuckled as his mind showed her trying to pull it open, but more than that, she was more of Metus’ daughter than he had originally realized. He smiled under his helmet and saved that information for later.

”You won’t open it like that...”

Pressing deeper beyond the door, Jaron searched for what signs of life he could. There was something, sometbing coming to the surface. There wasn’t going to be much time.

”Dianah, move, we are about to have company. Hide...”

Jaron didn’t move. He wanted to be found. A distraction? Maybe. He just wanted to see the door open, and he wanted Dianah to see how it did. Sure they could blow it open with charges, but that was too loud, and something the Knights would do later. For now, they needed to gather information.

As the door opened, Jaron moved one of his lightsabers into his lap. His eyes were still closed, and his legs were crossed. Three more men came from the door, this time carrying heavier blasters.

”What are you doing here....”

”This is my meditation cave. There is a dark side nexus under this cave, and from it I draw power.”

There wasn’t, and the goons wouldn’t know that, and that was the point.

”What are you doing here?”

If Dianah was smart, she was already getting around the men, and ready to take them out. Jaron wanted to avoid a fight, but they were about to be in one. Anything that happened was going to draw the attention of the guards as well. Hopefully the girl was handy in a fight. She was raised on Mandalore, so he was certain he could trust her.

A small laugh escaped as Jaron’s blade ignitied, the color of crimson, and struck down the closest to him.

[member="Dianah Vrorae"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Huffing a heavy sigh of air through her pursed lips, she stepped away from the door. Her hands came to rest on the curve of her hip and she gently blew a stray lock of hair away from her face. 'You're right about that.' A gentle hum of concentration escaped her lips and her foot began to tap a gentle, soothing rhythm as she thought.

In the blink of an eye, almost the same time as Jaron had finished his last word, Dianah had disappeared into the shadow. Her skin had already begun to shift in random patches from its usual colour to a black so dark she very nearly disappeared. She wasn't completely adept in the force but she could certainly sense the life forms shifting behind the door and she knew enough to cloak her presence. Just in case.

The last thing to change were the whites of her eyes, turning her into the definition of darkness and just in time, apparently.

Lady Luck was looking down on them that day as the door swung open toward her. The three bodies shifted quickly into the wide opening of the cave, with their backs facing Dianah. It couldn't have been more perfect. She let them ask their questions and allowed Jaron to reply in turn. One wrong move at this point could give the entire game away and put them both in danger. But she trusted Jaron's abilities as well as her own.

With baited breath, she waited for the familiar hum of a lightsaber being ignited. At the noise she took one large step forward, her hand wrapping around the hilt of her own borrowed blade. She couldn't resist giving it a graceful twirl in her hands before pressing it to the back of the closest man.

The blade hummed and hissed as it ignited, straight through the left hand side of his torso. His horrifying scream pierced through the silence and echoed against the cave walls. Quick as a flash she dragged the blade sideways through the remainder of his chest. This both silenced him and prepared her to bring it down toward the third and final man.

If you were to look at Dianah at this moment, you could tell why she had an affinity for the dark side. Her playful features, which had begun returning to her original colour, had a look of malicious joy. Instead of their usual dark brown, her eyes were now a deep crimson. A childlike grin had spread over her mouth and she almost delighted in the saber wooshing down to bite at the goon's shoulder.

He stood limp for a minute, then the top half of his body slid away from the lower half, revealing Dianah standing behind him. But there was no time to lose. The steady beat of at least four more pairs of feet were getting louder and louder each passing moment. Moving quickly, she took a stand next to Jaron and set her feet right. 'So much for a quiet entrance... You ready?'

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

A sick and twisted smile formed on Jaron’s face as he watched the young woman cut her way through the other two guards. Had he been curious about her ability to shift, he was certain of it now as she finished her change in front of him. She was a natural killer. Nothing would keep him from trusting that she could handle herself in a fight from this point on.

She asked if he was ready, and without a word he leaped from the rock and ran toward the other guards rushing in from the cave entrance. Normally he would tell her to keep the door open, but they knew where it was, and could watch it now. Besides the disappearance of seven on patrol would alert the Templars to something. They would have other entrances, but this one would more heavily fortified.

As he ran, Jaron called the other blade to him. This one snapped to life, a sapphire blue. Blaster bolts were fired at him, but a few twirls of his blades and they were sent bouncing off the rock walls. The first guard had no chance. Jaron slashed at his knees, knocking the man lower before the second blade swung from the opposite direction to decapitate him. The second managed to pull out a vibrosword, but Jaron easily spun around the thrust. Cutting the man’s calves, Jaron brought both blades down, stabbing the man in the back of the neck and down his torso. His two were taken care of quickly.

Her turned to see how the girl was doing, but after what he had seen of her just moments before he knew he was turning to see their crumbled remains on the floor.

”We have to get rid of them...”

[member="Dianah Vrorae"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

Her chest rose and fell as she watched Jaron fighting. There was a fine quality to the way he fought. Dianah admired him for it. But she had little time to watch and learn as already the two guards were advancing on her. A high, crystal clear laugh escaped her lips as she charged forward to meet them head on. The first seemed unnerved by this advance, but the second had a hint of fear in his eyes. In an instant she had picked up on it, and it fed her like water feeds flora.

She brought her hand out in front of her. A wave of force caught the confident man square in his chest, winding him and sending him flying across the cave. It wasn't enough to kill him. She was still far to weak for that. But was enough to smack his skull against a bit of jagged rock, knocking him out cold.

By this time the other had managed to free his blaster from it's holt. Entirely focused on something else, Dianah had not noticed. The bolt fired through their air and very nearly met it's target. The sound of it had knocked her from focus, just in time to make a half-danced step to the side. Instead of planting in the centre of her chest where it was aimed, the blaster bolt grazed against her left shoulder. It burned through the pure white silk that was visible behind the armour she had donned.

'Krif...' The swear escaped her throat, covered in a rough growl. There wasn't too much damage done but her skin had been burnt slightly.

In a few blurry moments she had stepped forward and swung her saber upward at the poor excuse for a guard.

The blaster, and the attached hand, flew upward into the air and landed with a thump on the dirt covered floor. The man followed shortly after, clutching at the stump where there had once been a hand. Without a hand to fight with and nothing else to lose, he was an easy target. Dramatic as always, her hair began to turn white at the roots. Her face began to follow suit, slowly draining of all colour. If anything she hoped, now in her fully chosen form, it would scare him even further.

Her other hand gripped the hilt of her saber tightly and raised it above her head. The perfect execution. It came whoosing down to meet the skin of his neck where it separated his head from his shoulders. Her blade dis-ignited quickly after that. One hand raised to gently inspect the burn on her shoulder while her foot lifted up to push against the dead mans chest. He flopped to the ground causing a poof of dust to explode in the air. 'That was in no way as good as it looks when other people do it...' Her nail idly tugged at the ruined silks, dragging them away from the flesh wound. 'Where is the fun in them dying so quickly?'

She glanced up at Jaron as if expecting an answer. At the same time she inspected the two bodies he had added to the growing number littering the cave floor. Particularly focusing on the one who had been severed at the spine. She motioned toward him, using a finger on her damaged arm. 'Now that is more like it...'

[member="Jaron Lesan"]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

She was vicious. There was no doubt that her favorite thing in life was to end the lives of others. Jaron had spent time with the Sith before and saw it among them. It wasn’t for him per se, and while the darkness had taken him, he was not the sadistic type of killer. If Dianah wanted to be, she could be. It was a joy to watch how naturally this came to her, and even moreso the form she chose to take on.

”That looks much more like you,” he said with a small smile. ”True to what seems to be inside you. Stunning in either form.”

She wanted the killing to take longer. Jaron simply shrugged as he used the force to gather the bodies together. They had to take them along with them after all. Hiding them in the cave wasn’t going to work.

”With what I do, you’re thankful for the quick and quiet deaths. It means we get to continue our mission. Never forget that the mission dictates how you kill, not your appetite, regardless of what anyone has said to you before.”

The one statement that separated Jaron from the Sith. He maintained control over his desires, and while he indulged in them at times, he was always mission oriented. The mission always came first to him. Looking at her arm he nodded. It seemed as though it would be okay, though it would smart for a while. His eyes then went to the opening.

”It seems we have a choice. We can disappear and set up the camera, or we admit our stealth has been compromised and we clear out the tunnel underneath and send a message to the Templars. Since I’m loathe to be without your company anytime soon... I suggest we finish what we just started. The choice is yours however...”

Jaron looked at her, and while she would not see under his helmet, his smile was wide and wicked.

[member="Dianah Vrorae"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

A childish giggle filled the silence and she twirled rather prettily in the centre of the massacre. Her stark white hair danced, catching on the breeze she created. At the end of her twirl she gave a dainty bow. The scene was rather grim, considering the silks under her armour were stained a gory red. 'Thank you kindly, Sir.' ​She finished the whole charade with a charming smile that stretched the corners of her mouth wide.

'Where exactly are we going to put them? I think we'd be more of a target if we walked out of here carrying six bodies.' It wasn't at all sarcastic or condescending, it was a genuine question.

She walked forward to lend him a hand, adding one or two bodies to his growing pile. As she worked she listened to his words carefully. It made sense that he hoped for quick and quiet deaths. After all the very nature of his missions were stealth. But her natural instinct was to enjoy the moment. There was always time to savour the kill.

'What you say is true, but that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun while you're doing it. Life is a gift that everyone cherishes, but has to return.' She quoted the proverb easily, as if it were always there in the back of her mind. Dianah turned her head and titled it slightly, a small indescribable smile passed over her face. 'It stands to reason that we should cherish in returning a life, just as much as we cherish living it.'

It wasn't much of a decision. It was already decided before they had finished striking their last blows. They both knew it, they were going to carry on. Her arm stretched forward and swung gracefully toward the door, her body followed in a low bow. 'After you.'

[member=Jaron Lesan]

 

[Jaron Lesan]

Jaron could not find a single argument to her words. His mannerisms however were of a man who had found no real enjoyment in life. What he had enjoyed was stolen from him when his home was destroyed. His mission ever since had been to never let that happen to anyone again. It was a foolish mission, and one he would never succeed in. Still, it was his choice, and people like the Templars they were a threat to what he wanted to see. Of course they were going to move forward.

”They don’t have cameras out there remember. Always remember what you see in one look. You may never have another...”

The lessons poured from his mouth it seemed. Jaron had only taken one student past being an apprentice. Kaalia has been a Ren who eventually left for the Sith. Her wife may have had something to do with that, but she had been the one who had given Jaron the confidence to teach. Now, he looked at Dianah, and he saw raw potential. Metus had brought her to where she was, and Jaron wondered what she could be if he took her on, or chose to be involved with her in any capacity.

It was tempting.

A nod was offered with her proverb and her comments.

”Enjoy what this life doesn’t steal from you. Take vengeance for what it does. Some of us have lost more than we have gained, and the only gift we have left is the breath which fills our lungs.”

It wasn’t a correction, just a comment. His words would give her a window into who he was, his past. There were reasons Jaron was alone, and remained that way. Someone, someday would work their way past his obvious defenses, but until then, Jaron was pretty much what one saw on the surface.

There was no hesitation as they walked forward. No question came to his mind as if it were the wrong thing. Wherever the tunnel led was where they really wanted and needed to be. If they had to kill again, so be it. Dianah was quite the killer and stained in blood her chosen form popped even more. It was truly something that suited her.

Once the passed through the door it closed behind them. Jaron heard it latch.

”Well this just got interesting.”

He looked back to Dianah then pushed on foreword. It was going to be the only way out now, and whoever they found between them and an exit was going to die. That still didn’t mean they were going to be noisy. Something was in the tunnels, they led somewhere, and they needed to find out.

Reaching out with the force, Jaron searched for any sign of other force users.

”Hmmmmm...”

[member="Dianah Vrorae"]

 

[Darth Miseria]

'Always remember what you see in one look. You may never have another...'

His lesson rang with sage wisdom. Dianah couldn't help but tuck it away for later use. Always eager to learn her mind was forever clawing at any information she could get her hands on. It was young and supple, it retained information like a sponge held water. Whether it was facts or advice, she wanted it all.

If it was intentional, Dianah had to bow her head to her Father. Jaron was a more interesting companion then she could have hoped for. Better than the image she had formed in her head of some boot kissing peasant who wanted nothing more then to prove himself. In fact, he was beginning to grow greatly on her. On top of being interesting he showed a cleverness that only made Dianah respect him more. His willingness to listen and discuss other opinions left a deep impression of what intelligence should really act like.

Curious as ever, she couldn't help being perceptive to a hint of pain behind his mask of charming and serious. Not the kind of pain that prickles the nerves or pulls at the senses. A kind of secret pain kept in secret places. The pain rarely ever spoken of, yet it was the hidden motivation of anyone with a heart that felt and a mind that thought. It was not her business though and she had no intention of prying. These kinds of secrets stayed hidden till there was trust enough to break the barrier. There was no point in trying to ask about it now.

'Perhaps if they really thought of their breath as a gift they would have fought harder to protect it. Sometimes we are caught unaware and unspeakable things might happen. This is fate. Nothing but pure luck can chance with fate and she is an unforgiving mistress.'

'But having the upper hand... Standing in the face of your enemy with your weapon drawn and being too afraid to pull the trigger. Unforgivable and worthy of more then a swift, silent death.'

As they entered the door way the loud click of the lock jolted her a little. Simply because the noise was piercing in the silence of the dimly lit tunnels facing them. They pressed on together into the maze of dark winding caves. Despite being made of rock solid stone it smelt of damp and mould. It was wide enough for the two of them shoulder to shoulder but they would have been hard pressed to fit a third. There were a few lamps hanging in odd patterns along the walls, casting shadows that danced in the swell of pale yellow light. The floor seemed to be littered with old packages and various wrappers, likely from nutrition bars.

There was nothing to do now but walk. Dianah mused that they must send guards through this tunnel one by one when they switched shifts to watch the cave entrance. Perhaps they had missed another entrance in the cave that would have taken them directly into whatever it was they were looking for. 'I think maybe we might join on to another passage soon. This feels too neglected to be a priority. Those other guards that came. They were switching shifts, that's why they were so close.' She paused for a second to glance at him. 'What can you see?'

Beside her voice, which was held close between the two of them, there was no sound in the cave save from the steady tapping of their boots.

[member=Jaron Lesan]