Up, Down and Sideways

[Dax Perl]

Dax pulled the door open, and the wind attempted to pull it back closed. The Rogue held it open so that the Jedi could pass through without being hit in the face with the large door. As soon as [member="Sorel Crieff"] had exitted, Dax followed close behind. The wind whipped sand and dust into their faces, stinging and scratching whatever skin was exposed. The man's shemagh provided ample protection for his face and neck, and found that the most irritating thing was the dust he breathed in even through the cloth.

Yeah...this was why he hated deserts...

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel kept her head down but found even this approach was insufficient. So she closed her eyes and sunk into the Force. Using Force Sight, she turned and walked backwards – allowing the three hundred and sixty degree map she’d created in her mind to guide her. She felt the sand on her back and the hood of her cloak but it was a lot less painful than direct contact on her skin.

Progress was slower than possible – but given the conditions, they made good time to the doorway that would take them back indoors.

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

They finally reached the door. Dax heaved it open, struggling against the wind which attempted to rip it from his hands and slam it shut again. Once [member="Sorel Crieff"] made it in, Dax went in after her, the door slamming closed with a loud crack.

Dax coughed, plumes of dust rising from the shemagh. He pulled it down and coughed again, then spat on the ground. He could still taste and feel the dry dirt in his mouth.

"You good?" he asked as he removed his goggles and dusted himself off a little.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

She may have sheltered her face from the ravages of the wind and the sand it carried, but she felt a few kilos heavier than she did when she set off. She emptied her pockets of the sand that now filled them and considered removing her boots and doing the same before realising that it would take far too long. She would have to walk around like this until the mission was over. Uncomfortable – but necessary.

“Good might be stretching it,” she said – wondering where else sand might have found its way during the short journey, “But at least I’m in one piece. And prepared for the next step. Slaves, release, high tail it out of here. Yes?”

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

"Like an X-Wing from a Death Star." he affirmed. "Let's get moving then." the young man looked at the stair cases, one up, one down. He doubted that the slaves would get a room with a view. Once again the two descended into the depths of the compound.

The sub-level was not like the labyrinth of the main building. A single hall stretched, doors on either side of it, each leading to various cells.

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel chuckled. “Interesting analogy – given how many X-wings perished at the hands of the various Death Stars. But I take the point, swift and focused. And using the Force would no doubt be sensible!” Every Jedi knew how the first Death Star was destroyed. Although it had a fatal flaw, it took the Force to take advantage of it.

As she followed Dax, she was pleased to see the sub-level was not another dungeon crawl but offered quick access to the cells they would soon be opening.

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

The Rogue stepped forward and began to peer into cells. At the first one he closed his eyes and looked down, "Phrik..." The man gestured [member="Sorel Crieff"] over. The woman would see, past the rusting iron gates the bodies of two twi'lek and human lay on the ground. The rags that dressed them were burnt and singed, the tell tale signs of a lightsaber.

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel smelled the problem before she saw it. Cauterised flesh had a distinct aroma and she was smelling it now. There was no telling how many slaves had been slain and even if the apparitions they had seen before were the culprits – or were summoned by the person that did this.

“There must be some alive, surely,” she said as she went from cell to cell, hoping to find some slaves still in the land of the living.

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

As the two searched each cell in turn, they'd find similar scenes as the first. Everyone, from Twi'Leks to Humans, to even the odd exotic species whose name Dax could never remember, all lay dead in their cells, some huddled in a corner as if to try to escape.

"What the phrik..." Dax said suddenly, his tone not quite matching the atmosphere. "This doesn't make any sense. Why the kark are the Sith here? And what happened to the Hutt and his entourage? They have to have heard about this. No way they haven't had some kind of monitor here to notice all the dead lying around."

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel shook her head. Her Force Sight told her there were no living bodies remaining long before her eyes told her the same truth. But she checked every cell regardless.

“No sense at all,” Sorel echoed. “Slavery is one thing, but the wanton killing is of no value to anyone. Whoever these Sith spectres were, I’m guessing they weren’t invited. And random death and destruction isn’t entirely a Sith plan. Usually there is a motive. It is either a message to the Hutt, or they want the building to themselves. Maybe there is something here they want or need?”

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

Dax thiught for a moment, wracking his mind at all the possibilities. And one wrung in his mind clearly, "Or to keep the field clear for two Jedi." The spectres could certainly have been created by a single single powerful Sith. It made sense to him.

"Either way, there's nothing left for us here. We need to move." the Rogue began to move back towards the staircase.

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel looked at Dax. His potential explanation made sense as a viable option – not that it truly resolved the ‘why’ of the situation.

“It’s a possibility for sure. Or maybe we were to be blamed for this act?” This still didn’t answer the ‘why’ – and unless they bumped into the miscreant responsible for this act, they were unlikely to find out.

Sorel shook her head and glanced around, before realising Dax was already on the move. With a final glance, she turned her back on the cells and headed after her fellow Jedi, jogging to catch him up.

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

"If the Sith managed to frame Jedi for the murderer of a Hutt, killing everyone in their path, including slaves, it'd discredit the Order, the Alliance, the Outback, and bring tensions to a high between the Hutts virtually every faction we're allied with." the Knight said as he made his way up the first few steps, "Sith kills us, says he was here for whatever reason, caught us, killed us, then there we go, we're blamed for all this."

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel nodded, it was a sound plan – albeit an evil one. “I wonder if our presence here was a trap in itself. False information to lure us here at just the right time for the plan to be enacted.”

She sighed. “Which means only one thing. We need to find the Sith and stop him from killing us. Simple really. He’s set a trap and we need to spring it.”

Her voice was resolute and without any doubt at all. In her mind they would prevail. They had to – for the sake of Jedi across the galaxy.

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

As Dax reached the the top of the stair case, he stopped, dead in his tracks. "Uh, one step ahead of you my friend." Another Specter stood before the two, its cloak shrouding its face, a scarlet blade humming maliciously. And yet, palpable waves of anger and darkness radiated off it, a sense of such blackness Dax's stomach began to churn, the hairs on his neck standing on end. "And I think this guy is the real thing." The Knight's orange saber roared into existence, thrumming as it waited for the impending clash.

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

They made good progress. With any luck they could raise an alarm and spoil any trap the Sith or whoever was paying them – could spring. But life was never that simple – at least not for Jedi. So Sorel was not exactly surprised when they didn’t even reach the top of the stairs before they encountered another spectre. And this one was more powerful than the last group combined – the waves of dark sided energy that came off it left an almost oily taste in Sorel’s mouth.

And it had the higher ground. "Bantha poodoo," she said under her breath.

And real thing or not, it would take them both to defeat it. Instantly Sorel activated one of her sabers. The area was too tight to utilise both, so she held one in her left hand and left her right free.

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

A few brief moments of tension stood between the Knights and the Sith. Like lightning, the tension was cut, a red blade lancing towards Sorel at a speed far greater than any of the specters had ever exhibited. Dax, caught by surprise by the sudden rapid movement, didn't react as quickly as he'd intended. As the Rogue's saber screamed through the air, the Sith showed no sign of backing down. The moment of hesitation meant that the saber passed over the Sith's head as he lunged towards the Jedi.

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

The Force was a great leveller when it came to reflexes – especially if you are gifted with Farseeing. Sorel sensed the attack even before it started and her saber was moving into a perfect intercept course in just enough time to block the move.

Her preference was always to parry – and with good reason. The block stopped the blade hitting her, but the kinetic energy was transferred from the powerful blow through her own saber and into her forearm via her wrist. She felt a bone break and she instinctively dropped the saber, catching it in her other hand. Fighting one-handed was typical and she was equally adept with either hand, but the combination of pain and an arm now flapping uselessly by her side would be a hindrance.

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

As [member="Sorel Crieff"] blocked, Dax retaliated against the Sith. He violently struck theother man's saber, loud crackles dispersing through the compound. The Rogue hoped to push the Dark Sider back into the main room, where at least they'd have even footing. As he struck once more, the Knight pivoted, positioning himself for a Force Push. They had worked on the specters before, he was certain it'd work now. The Sith was pushed backwards by Dax's attack, but he remained steady on his feet, the heavy cloak he wore billowing backwards as he slid across the dirt.

The Knight burst into the room, preparing for another attack, only to find the Sith's crimson blade screaming towards his neck. The Rogue barely ducked, only to recieved a booted kick to the face, knocking him flat on his back. The Sith struck downwards, and Dax brought his own orange saber up to block. The two sabers clashed together in a cacophany of sound, the man now pinned below the Sith.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

As Sorel fell back, Dax took the offensive to the Sith – their sabers clashing with a resulting noise that reverberated around the whole compound. It was clear Dax was doing his best to push the spectre backwards – to manoeuvre him into the open room and allow them a better chance of success. Here, where space was restricted, they could not flank the Sith.

Dax managed to push him back, even if he was unable to unbalance him and followed him into the room – only to be knocked onto his back. And then their sabers were locked again as the Sith pressed Dax to the ground.

Seizing her chance, Sorel swiftly moved behind the Sith and proceeded to stab at him. He’d kicked Dax, so perhaps this Sith was corporeal?

[member="Dax Fyre"]