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(4.4) Coming of Enemies (Part Two)
Coming of Enemies (Part Two)
Pickerson's Estates
Korriban, Galactic Republic
“Come on mommy! You're missing the beat!” Adi called out laughing as she watched her mother continued to play music on the game. Music of the game and laughter filled the brightly lit family room as most of the family played while Adi and her father watched. It was Friday night and a storm was brewing in the distant sky. Already lighting was flashing across the night's sky as thunder was being heard in the distance. It was coming up fast and was promising to be strong and gave the family all more reasons to remain at home tonight.
The entire family room had been transformed in to a music sound stage as the family set around the large holoplayer. The tables had been moved to allow for drums to be set up while shads on the lights were removed to add more light to the room. About the tables and floor was a wide range of snacks and canned drinks to hold them over till dinner arrived. It was Friday family fun night and the entire Nammon family was enjoying time at home together. For the Nammon family, it was their Friday tradition to spend quality time together so that they don't grow apart. Tonight's festivities was game night with musical instruments and the holoplayer. With mother, Hala playing lead on her instrument, while oldest son Bror was beating on the drums keeping the rhythm for the family. youngest son Tal, played back up with his instrument and his older sister Gara sang to the lyrics on the player. The youngest daughter, little Adi set next to her father, Jedi Investigator turned Prison Warden, Kell Nammon. The family room was filled with music and laughter as they enjoyed their Friday night tradition. As the song finally came to an end, Hala laughed while bending over from exhaustion as she placed her instrument down in its stand, “Okay, I have had enough for now!” She said then turned and pointed to Kell, “Oh darling, you are up!” as she rolled her hand over and curled her finger playfully luring her husband up to the game.
He laughed as his daughter Adi leaped from the sofa to retrieve his instrument laughing along the way. Just as he was crossing the floor there was a ring from the front door. “Oh saved by the delivery boy” he laughed while returning to his seat “Looks like dinner is here!”
Gara placed her microphone down, “I got the door!” she said with excitement nearly leaping over Tal and pushing Bror out of the way. The two younger boys both laughed and made smooching faces at each other. Gara glared at them while fainting to swing at them as the boys both busted out in laughter. She waved her parents and younger sister off and started to walk towards the front door. “Is the money on the table Mom?”
Hala reached her place on the sofa next to Kell and flopped down, “Yes it is, don't forget to tip him. I think its that boy that likes you so much.” Hala said while giving a playful wink to Kell. He smiled back at Hala and gave her a playful nod. They both knew their daughter's affection towards their local delivery boy and Hala had made sure to request him tonight and got the boss' permission for the young man to hang around for a song or two. He was a nice young man and the Nammons knew his family well. The Nammon's were well known in the neighborhood for being a polite and respectful family. Their charity work at the local Temple was well known.
“MOM!” Gara turned and glared back at her mother. She turned her head flipping her long blond hair in the air behind her as she reached down and picked up the credits on the table. She watched her youngest sister run off to the back of the house yelling something about getting her stuff animal. Gara only shook her head as she turned for the door. She took a glance back at the family room and smiled, 'they are not prefect, but they are my family. And I wouldn't have them any other way' she thought as she turned her attention back to the door. The smile on her face was board as she thought of what to say to the young man she had looked forward to seeing again. She hadn't seen him since school let out last week and was excited to see him again. She reached down and unlocked the door.
Before she knew what was happening, door flung open just as she unlocked it and a bright flash filled the air right in front of her face. The shot nailed Gara dead between the eyes as her head whipped back causing the lifeless body to follow the motion. Even as the body was falling towards the tile floor, two masked figures dressed in military black uniforms rushed pass the falling body. They were dressed in some kind of commando outfits with hooded masks over their heads. They had their blaster rifles up and pulled in to their shoulders while looking straight down the sights as they continued to move in haste. Their speed was surprisingly fast as they continued to rush forward in to the entry way of the family room before anyone had any clue what was happening. Just as Gara's body was just hitting the floor they were already taking aim at their next set of targets. Bror was raising up from the drums with a look of shock and terror on his face. One of the intruders shot him square in his left eye sending him flipping over his left side and backwards towards Hala who was screaming out in bloody murder. The second intruder leveled its blaster rifle at Tal and fired, the shot hit Tal between the eyes killing him as fast as his brother and sister. Tals body flung in to the drum set as it fell backwards, the killers didn't waste time waiting as they switched targets once more.
Even before Tal's body was dancing across the drum set that he was blasted over, Kell reached out with the force and flung his lightsaber from its resting place on the mantle to his waiting hand. He leaped from the sofa to protect his surviving wife as he activated his lightsaber. Once more did the sound of blaster fire fill the room. Kell lurched forward as Hala turned in horror to see the origin of the new sounds. Kell dropped to his knees as his lightsaber slipped from his grip and deactivated as it hit the ground. The smoke leaving the small burned hole in the back of his head told the story. Hala turned to see two more intruders coming up from the backyard door. One carried a blaster just like the first two while the second one had no weapons out that she could tell. Total shock and confusion had taken hold freezing Hala in her tracks. She slowly turned to see Gara's arms flopping one last time on the tiled floor of their entry way. The attack had occurred so fast that the first victim's body had not settled before it was over. She continued to turn her head just in time to take a shot between the eyes. Her body crumpled as she fell on top of her beloved husband. Within seconds the entire front of the house had turned from laugher and chatter to terror and then dead silence. Three of the intruders that had blaster rifles shifted their stances as they searched the room for the last target that they knew was here. Their fingers off the triggers as they continued to search for for that target.
The only mask intruder without a blaster rifle walked through the room, “Corporal” she said as she pointed to the home office. One of the intruders dropped his blaster and let it swing from its harness as he rushed in the direction that was pointed. As he moved for the home office as she spoke again, “So where is the baby?” she paused, “Adi” she called out as she started to walk through the room. “Adi” she said softly in a kind hearted voice, “Come on out sweetie. Its okay now.” The masked intruder said as she motioned for the other two intruders to protect the home office. They were already behind schedule and needed to get back up before all was lost.
The masked intruder walked towards the back of the house as she reached out with the force, “Oh Adi, touched by the force, aren't you child.” She calmly said as she walked in to the first bedroom, which she already knew was Adi's. They had studied the lay out of the house for days and even had a copy built where they had trained. They knew the house as good as those who lived in it. Using the force she ripped the doors from the closet as well as everything else in it. She turned to the bed and lifted it up and over to the side. Shaking her head she continued to move to the next room. “Come on Adi, you can come out sweetie. You're safe now.” She ripped this room apart as well searching for the young girl. Without locating the girl the masked woman walked back in to the hallway and reached out with the force once more, “Adi, where are you” she said softy as she could feel the child through the force. The woman walked in to the Master bedroom slowly as she knew the child was hiding in there somewhere.
Adi hid under her parents' bed as her tears filled her eyes. She held tightly to her stuffed animal that she had rushed to get just moments before she heard the blaster fire. With her face buried in the animal in hopes of keeping her sobs from being heard, Adi did everything she could to not make a sound. She could hear the footsteps of the woman, who was calling out for her now, walking around her parents' room. Holding the little stuffed animal tightly to her face, she turned her head so she could look out from under the bed. She had to wipe the tears from her eyes just to see normally. Adi saw the same kind of boots that the military men had worn a few months ago at her father's work. She was so scared, she didn't know what had happened or why her mother and father weren't coming to help her. 'Mommy where are you?' she thought. She could still hear the sounds of the game playing in the family room. 'Where are you guys' she thought as she continued to watch the military boots walking around the room. She was so scared that she could help but whimper as the boots moved closer to the bed.
The masked intruder slowly searched the room as she walked around. She wasn't trying to be silent, she could feel the child's fear and she loved it. She checked the bathroom, closets and even the cabinets in the bathroom before returning to the bed. She could feel that the child was close by but couldn't locate her. Then she heard it, a soft whimper from under the bed and grinned at the discovery. The intruder turned to walk down the bed as if leaving the room, “Well I guess I can't find the little girl” she called out as she pulled out her lightsaber. Holding it above the bed as she walked getting a better fix on the sound she had heard. Then without warning, the lightsaber activated sending the blade burning through the bed and causing a small plum of smoke to raise up from the bed. From under the bed a small hand rolled out letting loss a small stuffed animal. The intruder nodded as her eyes narrowed with her smile, “good bye Adi” she said coldly as she deactivated her lightsaber and left the room.
Jenna walked down the hallway as they had completed part of their mission. The delivery boy was a distraction and a delay she had not counted on. It was up to her Corporal now to make up for that lost time. As she entered the family room she noticed that one of her men was about to remove his mask. “I wouldn't do that if I were you” she said walking up to him as she placed a hand on his. The confusion in his eyes prompted her to explain, “Farseeing, retard. Remove your mask and the Jedi will know who you are.” With that explanation he nodded and returned his mask to its normal position.
“Corporal, how much time” she asked as she set down on a chair.
The masked man at the office computer was typing away fast, “Almost done. It was easier to hack his system then I had first suspected. We will be ahead of schedule Captain” The man explained.
Jenna nodded as her comlink went off. They had chosen to use comlinks over hololinks to prevent any images landing in a Jedi farseeing vision. She activated the link, “Speak”
“Captain, the preshow is ready for the team to hit the field.” the voice said in a short to the point communication.
Jenna knew all to well that they had to be fast if this plan was going to work. She nodded as she heard the report. “Thank you, standby, once the team is on the field we will start the show.”
The Corporal turned to face Jenna, “We done here. Everything it set to go off once you are ready.”
She smiled and leaned back in the chair, “Sit back boys, all we need do is wait for the team to arrive.” She said looking at her watch, “And they should be arriving right now.”
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Drifting silently out of hyperspace, a large heavy cargo shuttle turned as it started to make its approach to Karriban's northern hemisphere. Its red and silver markings along the body and wings signified that it was a Republic merchant shuttle. The numbers that it bore proudly matched the ones of a shuttle that regularly traveled back and forth to Karriban. Its IFF code told Karriban control that it was the same shuttle that they checked in and out regularly despite being an hour late from its normal arrival time. However if anyone noticed, this shuttle was nearly twice the size of the regular shuttle and the wing pattern was slightly different. To a sound military eye, it could easily be noticed that this was not a civilian merchant shuttle. If fact, it was a Republic military heavy cargo assault shuttle. Sadly no one noticed the differences or barely pay heed to its tardiness. The shuttle continued towards the planet as it normally did as if nothing was wrong. However already tremors in the force have already reached one small Jedi Master on the nearby world of Azgard. These warnings did not go unheeded.
"Karriban Control, this romeo two niner fife alpha foxtrot." The pilot said calmly as he worked the controls of the large shuttle. It was not the starfighter that he was used to piloting but he managed the controls without any major issues. Aside from his Republic issued civilian helmet and coat, the rest of his uniform was completely Rebel in origin. He glanced at his copilot who was also dress just like him. One more means to fool the Controllers at the civilian space port. Their trip started nearly two hours ago and light years from Korriban. After the failed Azgard mission, it was decided that better planning needs to come before hasty organized operations in the future. This operation however has been in the works even before the cease fire and final betrayal had occured. For Colonel Kerish, this was more than just a operation to strike back at the Order and the Republic. This was about saving his brother in arms from wrongful imprisonment. And while they had limited resources following the disastrous defeat at Azgard, soon they would be able to field an army again. He smiled at the idea 'soon we will be matching across the stars again' he thought.
"Romeo two niner five alpha foxtrot this is Karriban control. Welcome home guys. A bit late I see." The voice over the com said softly. Had the Republic fleet remained on station over Karriban, then their more advanced sensors might have been able to tell the controllers that the shuttle on approach was not the same that they were expecting. Instead the civilian space port relied on lower technology and the on board IFF system. There was also the voice modulator which disguised the pilots voice and made it sound like one of the pilots of the crew they were pretending to be. The trade off was a five second delay between his spoken words and the actual transmission of those words. Sadly no one in the control room noticed the five second delay. All of these factors only confirmed the disguise and allowed the shuttle to slip in to position with out warning.
The pilot nodded knowing he was on holovid communication, "yeah, we are having engine problems on our number two main coil exchanger. Its been messing with our flight controls and even com systems. Hey shep, can we get a direct approach on pad twenty three left? We can wait up here if we have too. I don't want to put too much strain on that coil." Col Kerish wasn't about to tell them that the reason why they were late was they couldn't find the IFF device from the wreckage of the real transport shuttle they had attacked in deep space. It was a lucky shot that placed the whole mission in jeopardy from the beginning. A blaster shot hit a fuel cell and blew their target shuttle in to large chunks right when they first fired on it as it exited hyperspace. Sure it ended the combat even faster than planned but then they had to conduct a number of space walks to find the IFF from the debris field. This was no easy task, and without it, the plan could not work.
The voice over the comlink replied, "hold on, I will have to check." A few moments passed then the voice returned, "yeah that approach works. But you know the deal Vin, remain clear of the prison's airspace. They do get a bit testy when our traffic violates their airspace. You are cleared for approach as requested. You are at the top of the stack, you may start your approach now." The Col smiled as he got his request. That was the only part of the plan he was personally worried about. The shield that covered the prison alone was too strong for their ships to punch through. They had lost their only major capital ship during the Azgard mission so they lacked the fire power needed to force their way through. They had to get under that shield for the plan to work. This approval got him one step closer to completing the most daring mission of his life. From this moment on, it all would ride on the training of his soldiers to complete their tasks for the mission to succeed.
He turned to the woman standing in the entryway, and out of sight of the hololink, of the flight deck, "Captain, pass the word that the troops, tell them to be ready for the big game. We are about to hit the field and we will be moving hard and fast."
Captain Cordelia Vicsoum smiled as she nodded, "indeed Colonel, our troops will be ready for the big game." She said as she turned and left the flight deck. Unlike the pilot and copilot, she was dressed in her jedi robes with a black outfit underneath it. Her double bladed lightsaber hung from her hip. Her pale skin marked her as a near human but the black tattoo that covered her left eye and part of the left side of her face was her most significant feature. She was a well built female with the clear signs that she works out that gave her well defined muscle masses that fit her frame. A black reinforced bracer on her right forearm reached to just the top of her right hand. Her shoulder length black hair was neat yet chaotic in cut.
Col Kerish activated his personal comlink, “Pregame this is the team. We are taking the field now. Keep to the schedule no matter what.” He didn't wait for a reply nor was he expecting one. He knew already that either everything was in order or it wasn't.
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The Capital spaceport was a very well laid out port that had given attention to the large number of passengers that moved through the port and this region of the Republic. The architecture of the three large main buildings that made up the entire spaceport was one of the must sees for Korriban. The designers of the spaceport had it in mind that when a visitor arrived to this remarkably changed world, they would be greeted by that change once they entered the main concourse of the spaceport. Local artist displayed their best work while performers conducted any number of displays of song and/or dance throughout the concourse. This was the full intent of the spaceport, to show travelers what level of culture was in store for them on Korriban.
With the night's fast moving storm approaching the spaceport, many departing flights had to cancel or postpone their departures due to weather issues. With these flights were on hold, the concourse of the spaceport had become filled with tourist and travelers waiting to leave Korriban for other destinations. The spaceport administrators did everything in their powers to ensure that their weather bound guests were well taken care of. So despite the late hours of the night, still performers would entertain while food and drinks were passed out. Many travelers had taken to just sleeping along the walls of the concourse and waited out the storm. The concourse of the spaceport started to look more like a homeless shelter due the number of travelers. With so many travelers overwhelming the security, no one noticed a few travelers moving among the large groups leaving a bag or there. Their abnormal behavior would have easily been noticed during any normal day. However this is not a normal night and the security personal had their hands more than filled as the situation turned from bad to worse.
By the end of their trip through the concourse, ten small bags had been placed next to unsuspecting travelers throughout the concourse. The original plan had not called for mess casualties but from the way the weather was looking tonight, that is what they were going to have tonight. This attack was only meant to be the diversion from their real targets. Once they got the word, they were going to unleash hell in the concourse and all those inside it. The six volunteers knew that this was a suicide mission but if they succeeded in their operation then the main mission would also succeed. And for them, that was all that they needed to know to sacrifice their lives. Each of the men looked at each other as they stood in one of the bathrooms just off of the concourse as they waited for the signal. And then it came, “Pregame this is the team. We are taking the field now. Keep to the schedule no matter what.”
One that note, one of the men lifted up his suitcase and laid it on the counter. Slowly he opened the case and pulled out the body armor from within it. And under the armor was number of blaster type weapons. Each of the other men did the same as they started to get their gear out of their own suite cases. The words of Colonel Kerish still resting heavily on their minds, “None of you have special training or Jedi powers, yet each of you are the most important part of the plan. Without you six, the mission will fail without a doubt.” Within moments they were ready to make their mark on Korriban as they were armed to the teeth. One of the men walked over to a wall as he shook up a can and then spray painted a large 'F' on the wall. He turned to the others as he tossed the can on the ground. Each one nodded as they dawned combat helmets and checked their gear one last time. The last man to dawn his helmet pulled out a remote as he checked his watch and with a nod to the others he activated it. The request from Colonel Kerish was simple, “All we need is one hour. Just sixty minutes. Hold on for sixty minutes and your place within the Force is assured.”
The blast was so powerful that it rocked the entire building and knocked out power. As if the large blast was not enough chaos, the sounds of blaster fire rang home the truth that the spaceport was under attack by terrorists. Security teams who had managed to survive the blasts found themselves overwhelmed by the attackers and cut down. The attackers didn't stop with the security teams, as they turned their weapons on the travelers and tourists. Even the wounded became targets as the massacre continued. The attackers just marched up the concourse firing on anyone that moved or seemed to be alive. Within moments of the attack starting, the administrators knew that they had to call for help but hoped that their own security teams could control the situation. The closest garrison they could call upon was located at the prison. As reports of more attackers in the other two buildings started coming in to main administrators office of the spaceport,they had to accept the fact that they needed help. The call was placed.
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“Romeo two niner fife alpha foxtrot, this is Korriban Control. Be advised that we have a situation down here that is forcing us to close the spaceport to all traffic. You are going to have to climb to orbit and hold till we can get things under control here.” the voice over the holovid said with a hint of terror in his voice.
Col Kerish smiled as he heard the report and checked his watch, “right on time” he said looking at the copilot who nodded back. The Colonel activated the holovid, “Korriban Control, negative. That coil is already red lining it. One way or the other, we have to land.” He said then leaned over to look pass the doorway and held up four fingers for those in the back to see. The message was clear, four minutes out.
There was a long pause from Korriban control and the Col already knew what was taking place. They were desperately trying to find a place for them to go. They couldn't land at the spaceport while it was under attack. So where would Korriban Control send this shuttle in distress. “Romeo two niner fife alpha foxtrot, here is what you need to do. You will make a one eighty and fly on heading three three seven. You are going to set down at Borsk Roc'ag Complex till we can get control of this situation over here. They understand your situation and have approved this procedure. Once you are on approach you are to contact Borsk Roc'ag Control on two seven three point eight. Do you understand these instructions?”
Col Kerish smiled as he nodded, “Korriban control I copy all. You guys keep your heads safe and we will see you shortly.” He turned to his copilot as they turned the shuttle around.
While they flew back to the prison, both men watched the surrounding skies carefully. There was just one last thing that needed to happen to this plan to work perfectly. And it was not long till they saw it. Six large air speeders with prison markings making their way towards the spaceport. The rapid reaction force of the prison had taken the bait and now all that remained guarding their target was the normal prison guards and a few dozen workers. And within a few minutes, most of them wont matter at all. Col Kerish, was not a lucky man, he just knew his enemies very well. Nothing here had been succeesful because of luck. In fact luck was against them even from the beginning with that lucky hit on the other shuttle. The successes that they have enjoyed so far was knowing how their enemies and how they would react to certain events.
As the prison came in to view, the Col contacted the prison controllers and informed them of the situation. They gave the Col his landing instructions and advised him and his crew to remain in their shuttle at all times. The Col of course agreed to the terms and thanked the prison for the use of their pad. As the large shuttle hovered over the pad, and lowered its gear, the copilot activated a small comlink and sent a single click over it. Somewhere in a nearby subdivision, Jenna and her team waited for that very signal to start their phase of the plan. The Col turned the shuttle slowly to face the control tower as he started to lower the shuttle towards the ground. He smiled as he saw the lights across the entire complex go out. He could see the controllers rushing about trying to figure out what was wrong. “Its go time!” he yelled as he targeted the tower with the shuttles main pair of quad heavy blasters. The shuttle fired and the control tower erupted in to a massive fireball.
The sides doors of the shuttle opened up as the shuttle continued to turn firing on other near by guard towers. Along the side of the shuttle, gunners laid down a blinding flash of repeater fire on the guards that had come to greet the wounded shuttle. Col Kerish took his time to clear out all of the guard towers as he moved the shuttle towards their true destination. Blaster fire filled the roof tops of the prison as guards were cut down while they fled the area. There was no need to hurry this part of the plan. Had Jenna done her job right, the prison would have no power, no communications, all the riot doors were sealed blocking support from stopping them from doing what they wanted. For the time being, they owned this prison. Checking his watch, that time was running out but they had to take care to do this operation right. As the last guard tower was blasted from its supports, the Col shifted the shuttle over once more and allowed it to hover over a building.
He got up from his chair and removed his Republic garbs, “Keep the shuttle here till I return. Don't let the guards flank us.” he informed the copilot then left the flight deck. “Lets get our men!” he ordered to cheers.
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Jenna was sitting in her chair just waiting for the signal to come in. She was not in a talking mood nor did she care for anything anyone else had to say. All she had to do was give one command and then she was finished with her part of this mission. She had two of her men go get the body of the delivery boy and drop him in the family room with the others. Soon it was all going to be over and the Jedi would not be able to take the Flail lightly ever again. Then it happened, her comlink went off. “That's the signal. DO IT!”
Within seconds the Corporal sent the commands under the Wardens own account using his own password to lock down the prison and kill all the power. They were able to shut down the back up generators as well as killing the communication and security systems. They knew that this was only a stop gap delaying tactic but it was going to be more than enough time for them to do what they had to do. Once the final command was set, Jenna ordered her men out as she walked to a wall in the family room. There she used her own lightsaber to burn a 'F' on the wall. “Under estimate us again!” she said coldly then vanished in to the storm with the rest of her team.
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Lysire always believed that getting out of a secured area was always harder then getting in. With the adrenaline pumping and the taste of victory on a person's lips, it was this time that the most common mistakes are made. Lysire was not about to blow it just yet. She calmly walked down the corridors of the database network complex as if she had nothing to fear. Her mind as clear as possible as she forced herself to ignore the passing time to when her program will auto launch. For her there was only the calming breeze on some distant world moving leafs on some strange tree. There was no fear, no worry, no negative emotions at all.
She found her small duffel bag still hidden in the bottom of a trash can where she left it a few hours ago. Once she retrieved the duffel, she crossed the hall to the same service elevator that she had overridden to get down her in the first place. Once inside the elevator, she checked and found her patch still in place just like she left it. Using the patch she commanded the elevator to return to the main level. Once more, she was calm and relax. Even here, she could make a number of mistakes that could cost her their mission. So she just relaxed and enjoyed the ride up. It would be a ride back in to the light of the prison that will take over thirty minutes.
The ride up was long and gave her time to reflect on the days events. She felt like they had come a long way. Despite the few encounters they did have, neither Biggs nor herself had shed any blood. Lysire leaned back against the elevator wall and sighed, 'we have come along way since then' she though as she watched the negative numbers climb up to zero. The war had changed her, tainted her, corrupted her in to something that she had become ashamed of. It was not just her either, Biggs as well had been changed to something far worse then they both had imagined. It was Biggs' idea to dye their cloaks blood red to reflect the blood that covered them both because of what they had done.
The thoughts of blood on their hands triggered memories of back in the Garden. It was supposed to be a show of trust that Grand Master Quaad had invited them to see the the Garden first hand. However for both of them, it was a wake up call to the real horrors that they had become a part of. They all had had their eyes opened to the true darkness that they each had become a few weeks before this, but walking through the Garden and seeing the true horrors that they were a part of became a sense of battle cry for them now. It wasn't long before the entire team, who was completely loyal to both of them was helping with the over all plan. It started with one or two beings at a time were helped flee the fate that so many others couldn't. It soon grew to tens of beings at a time were being saved.
Lysire remembered how on that fateful night together, Biggs seemed so distracted. She had gone to her husband to comfort him after a rather hard day of 'playing the part'. That day they had nearly escape Daz but half of those they were trying to help didn't make it. She had sworn that the prisoners would have ratted her and Biggs out in an attempt to save their own lives. surprisingly they just went to their fate taking their secret with them. Quaad and Daz were no more the wiser that one of their most trusted was undermining their operations in the Garden. What Biggs told her that night showed her once and for all why she loved him. Yes he had done such terrible and horrible things before, how he had been such a monster and she was blind to it. But those things were in the past, now, he was making good one their promise to turn back the darkness.
He wanted to get them all out and shut down the Garden once and for all. Not just some, not just a few, but all of those locked up in the Garden. He had a daring plan that if it worked, no one would be the wiser to their involvement. As he explained his plan Lysire watched his eyes. She knew that those four being they had failed to save had gotten to him. She knew that the plan was foolish and too risky. But he wanted to save all of them. He needed to save them all. It was if his own soul rested on this mission. What could she do, for all of his faults she loved him. So she agreed and help him convince the others. They set their plan in motion with hopes that the force would be with them. Yet sadly it wasn't. Quaad and Daz had made a surprise visit to the Garden just as they were getting their plan underway. Their plan fell apart and failed horribly. They were unable to get even one prisoner out and safe. Even worse Biggs was caught nearly red handed by a guard. He was able to talk his way out of it. They thought that the guard had been convinced, they had thought they were safe.
They had managed to escape the Garden without their involvement or their plan being discovered. Or at least that was what they had thought at the time. A couple days later they received a summons by the Grand Master himself. Everyone knew it was a trap, but Biggs was determined to face the Grand Master once and for all. He had hoped by killing Quaad that they would be able to save all those left behind in the Garden. What could have Lysire done, she fallowed him this far. It only seemed logical to finished what they had started a few months prior. She stood beside him despite his protest and she demanded to stand beside her husband. One by one the entire team stood and agreed to face the Grand Master and end his rein of Terror together.
It was indeed a trap, they were ambushed in the hanger bay just as they left their ship. Sadly no Quaad or Daz to arrest the squad, they were attacked by jedi who had been told that they were evil darksiders that had to be destroyed. Lysire sighed as she slid down the wall watching her slow accent back in to the light, "evil" she stated softly. "Can we ever wash away the blood from our hands?" She asked softly, “will we ever not be evil again?” as she lifted up her red cloak the tears from her eyes washed down her face. The battle was largely one sided and each had thought they were not going to leave it alive. Lysire, Biggs and their friends had reserved themselves to this fate and fought as hard as they could to try to make a difference.
However fate was on their side this time in the form of thirty some odd thousand elite Azgard warriors led by Warlord Rayner. Seizing the moment Biggs led an organized retreat back to their ship and out of the temple. Knowing the tide had shifted against Master Quaad, Biggs had set course back for the Garden in hopes of rescuing those they had to leave behind. They flew as fast as possible for the Garden and once they had arrived the battle was joined once more and this time was even more intense than the one they just left. The guards had been warned about Biggs and his team. In the end, it was finally down to Lysire and Biggs. The others had given their lives to open the way for the rescue.
However it was not to be. Lysire saw it in Biggs' eyes. It was the kind of horror that comes from seeing in to the eyes of the beast. Biggs told her that they had to leave, and leave now. When she asked about the prisoners, he replied only with. "Quaad's message beat us here." For the next few days, Lysire watched the man she loved suffer like no other. They drifted in deep space without any course or hope of salvation. The whole time he just set in the back of their shuttle staring out at the stars as tears washed down his face. So much had been paid to rescue those left behind and she knew that the guilt of failure rested heavily on him. Nothing she said seemed to bring him any comfort as they drifted hopelessly.
Finally he broke his silence, "we have to let everyone know what happened at the Garden. We have to expose the secret." Lysire had argued that this was a bad idea. They didn't know who to trust, she pleaded that they should just disappear and never look back. He looked at her with those eyes and just said, "we can't let them get away with this, Lysire." She was worried because while Quaad was dead, he had powerful allies that they still didn't know of. Plus there was still Daz. She knew all about his Doctor Jeckel and Mr. Hyde personality. He was more dangerous then any other of Quaad's allies. Daz and his team of murders would be on their heels once they showed their faces.
She didn't want to but still she knew it was the right thing to do. So first Biggs went to his family to try to speak with them and get their help. They laughed at both of them even as they showed them the evidence of the Garden. His family accused them of making it all up and even threaten to call the authorities if the continued with this. Both Lysire and Biggs did have blood on their hands and it was the blood of innocents. LOTS of blood! Yet here they were trying to do the right thing and failing at it. Next, Biggs tried to speak to the Chancellor himself Coruscant. Biggs had hoped that seeing how the Chancellor was a close friend of his family, that he might listen to the pair of do gooders. However to their dismay, Daz had beaten them and was already all over the Chancellor. No doubt attempting to block them from speaking with the Chancellor about the Garden. Daz had gotten ahead of them and was waiting for them.
Next it was Lysire's turn, she choose to go about it a different way. She managed to speak to Warlord Raynar. He didn't trust her, after all, to outsiders, she were part of Quaad's best Hunter Team and his most trusted bunch of murders. Lysire wasn't proud of of her actions and understood why she was not to be trusted. He had every right not to trust her so she had to try hard to get him to listen to her. He had agreed to view her data after the signing of the peace accords. She watched him place the datachip in a compartment in his hammer as he left. She finally allowed her self to feel like Biggs idea was going to work after all. Then they heard word that the Warlord had been assassinated. By the time they had reached the scene, Daz was already there. Both just knew he was involved somehow in the assassination. Worse yet, the Warlord's hammer was missing. They slipped back in to the shadows as depression set in. It was if the Force its self was working against them doing the right thing.
Biggs had one more idea, but it was by far the most dangerous and would send him right in to the mouth of the dragon it self. He was going to speak with Visst personally. Lysire finally stepped up and stood her ground. She didn't trust anyone close to Daz, and no one didn't get closer than Visst. Biggs was well known and to easy of a target for Daz's hunter squad. Many still believed that she was weak and easily controllable. She could slip in and get Visst alone and talk to him. She also had the skills to make sure that she had an escape plan should it turn bad. She demanded Biggs listen to her and accept it. Daz hated Biggs and therefore she was the best one to speak to Visst. After an hour long heated debate he finally gave in and agreed to leave Coruscant ahead of her meeting. It was just before the meeting she received word from a trusted friend within the Temple that Daz was returning to the Temple. Surely to capture and silence before she can shed light on the Garden. Visst didn't surprise her, and with Daz just a few minutes away she had to run. They both had to run. There was simply no other choice for her or the man she loved.
Lysire looked up at the numbers clicking away, the ground floor was near. She slowly got up and pulled at environmental mask out of her duffel bag. She checked the gages and smiled, "plenty of time" she said with confidence. She pulled the mask up on top of her head then picked up the duffel bag and got ready to leave the elevator behind. She knew that once the elevator doors opened up there would be a slight change in pressure so she prepared for it. She watched the levels slow as it reached zero. She reached up and pulled her mask down. Taking her time she sealed the mask and started the air flowing. The level counter reached zero finally and she braced herself for the change in pressure. As the elevator finally came to a rest the entire power went out!
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