Well, this is my last update for 2012. Thanks again for the reviews, love them! Below I provided some definitions, hope it helps and that I am not confusing anyone with the Lore!
Beskar: A unique metal found in Mandalore and only the Mandalorian blacksmiths hold the secrets to manipulate the metal and bring out the its potential.
Jedi Masters: There are different tiers in the Jedi world. First, you begin as youngling or initiate. Once of age, in their teens, initiates become Padawans or Jedi Apprentices (under the tutelage of a Jedi Knight). Then at the end of their apprenticeship, when ready, they become a Jedi Knight. Ultimately, the most skilled Jedi Knights become the elite Jedi Masters. Within the Council, one is selected as Grand Master.
Hope you enjoy...
'Breathe'…she thought as she walked upon the marbled floor found within the Jedi Temple. The floor's blue tincture caught anyone's eye. It projected a sense of regal. "Well, message received" she scoffed. Before you entered the Jedi chambers, they wanted to ensure that everyone knew they were to be respected and feared. Surely, not the message they used to convey to the world - at least, since the war tipped in favor of the Empire.
'Breathe'…she repeated to herself, a method to calm her nerves. Before any mission, she always felt a bit anxious. Although she considered herself fairly successful in her occupation, aside from those hasty Mandalorians who gave her a run for her money, the anxiety she often felt reminded her that she was fragile and human…ish. In this line of work, she will always have that in the back of her mind. She did not have the alien strength of the Chiss or the agility of the Twi'leks. Her red eyes were they only advantage she had and they had served its purpose at times. No, weighing all odds for or against her and finding the best opportunity where she could, is what has truly saved her life countless times. A pessimistic trait she was forced to take at a very young age.
She had a motto for the way she lived, "Her life above others, do nothing without compensation, and always have a plan B." That is how she was able to survive Hutta and all other vast and hazardous locales.
Her latest mission has taken her to Coruscant, once a beautiful land and the top destination for the Galactic Republic. Now only a ghost of crippled architectures and Republic leftovers after it's attack over a decade ago. It is here where the Jedi Council resides. In the oval High Council Chambers found within the sacred Jedi Temple. A room placed upon a high spire, a fragile option. The Chambers is a room where twelve Jedi Master's sit in a circular fashion, all equals, all-powerful and all attention drawn to center of the room. There, in the center of the room, always stood a person sharing their cause or plea. The Jedi would lend a judicious ear in attempts to find a resolution. Here the Jedi have spread their message as Protectors of the Republic and freedom. "Of course, they were never there when you really needed them," Shizuru thought.
However, it was her turn today to stand front and center. She made her way to the lobby, an unnecessarily vast room, to meet her contact. Many heads turned her way as she walked through the lobby. Her heavy armor concealed under her cloak did little to hide the subtle scrapping of metal, as her thighs rubbed the beskar* plates in pace. Luckily, all sorts of characters walked through here on a daily basis and interest slowly dissipated, turning their attention elsewhere. She found mirth in their short-lived interest.
"General Dodonna, thank you for agreeing to give me an audience with the Consulate," Shizuru spoke as she reach out to shake his hand. He was an older man, well experienced in military battle. A former General for the Empire, who switch allegiance based on ideologies.
"Anything for a friend," He smiled. "I still cannot thank you enough for retrieving my grandchildren…," he continued to speak.
Shizuru feigned interest in Dodonna's elaborate tale and began to look around, observing her surroundings. Then, she felt it, a presence she has not felt for a long time. Looking towards the balcony, she saw her, "Natsuki," she uttered. It was Natsuki, the dark haired beauty with a piercing green gaze that could easily weaken knees. The raven beauty stood there, wearing a rare black robe, entertaining a one-sided conversation, just the same. She was staring back at Shizuru, not bothering to conceal her interest. Shizuru knew she was trying to determine who hid under the cloak and t-visor shaped mask. Natsuki was trying to figure out who was engaging in a conversation with the esteemed General Dodonna, as is if her Jedi powers could penetrate even the strongest of metals.
"Eternity, that's how long we'll be together," Shizuru spoke. "Promise?" Natsuki asked. "Yes," Shizuru she responded with conviction. It seemed like such a simple promise when they were children.
"I'm sorry, who is alive?" Dodonna responded.
"Excuse me?" Shizuru asked confused.
"You just said, 'She is Alive'. Are you feeling well? You can very well meet with the Jedi Counsel tomorrow," he suggested.
"No, thank you. This message cannot wait," Shizuru assured. However, uncertainty briefly clouded her thoughts. How could I speak those thoughts unwittingly? Glancing back, Shizuru saw that Natsuki was no longer there. It had been so long since she last saw her, that she did not know whether Natsuki was truly alive, and if it that moment she was just hallucinating.
With the decade long genocide of the Republic Allies, only those that displayed neutrality and fealty were allowed a modicum of peace in the Galactic Empire's reign. It was a high probability that Natsuki did not survive. Although, deep in her heart she knew - Natsuki is a survivor. Her heart felt a dash of levity, as if her thoughts all these had held so much weight. "She is alive," she was certain that it was not a hallucination. Shizuru sensed her knees buckle slightly, a feeling that she had not felt for quite some time. She had half a mind to go out and look for her. Shaking her head as if to dispel such thoughts, she scolded herself, "Get your head in the game."
"I do prefer you go in without the armor, would you consider removing it? The council might consider you a threat," General Dodonna suggested.
"I'm not here to make friends General, only to deliver the message. They will take me as I am," Shizuru responded.
"As you wish," He replies. "Follow me."
Shizuru follows closely behind the General, taking in her surroundings. The building had many possible exits, of course, the options becoming slimmer the higher they went up in the building. Her recent review of the facility blueprints conveyed limited escape routes, something she took into account as she staged this coup. Shizuru also hoped to see if she could catch another glimpse of Natsuki, before meeting the Jedi Council men. Her mood dampened when she recalled this was not a social call. "Besides, what could I say?" she entertained. There are only a handful of outcomes that she imagined would occur in the next few moments and none of them ended with her having a cup of Coffee with Natsuki, to play catch up. Either she narrowly escapes, is killed (by a lucky shot) or if caught, she will be imprisoned. Shizuru was confident her first option would be the winning bet.
"This is the lift that will take you to the spire, where the Jedi Chamber is located. I'm afraid this is where I must leave you."
"Thank you," Shizuru responded.
"You are welcome. I bid you farewell and leave you with this lovely young woman," He points at the women that appeared behind them. "She'll will do me the honor and take you the rest of the way," he added.
Shizuru could only nod as he departed. She knew who stood behind her, as luck would have it. She will have to endure the awkward elevator ride with none other than Natsuki. Turning to face her, she found inquiring green eyes staring straight at her. After a brief moment of silence, Natsuki motioned towards the elevator, giving Shizuru her queue to enter. As she followed her inside, Natsuki tapped the button to the top floor.
Shizuru leaned against the wall and managed to clear her throat a few times. Natsuki returned a glare. "Boy is this weird," Shizuru thought. She was unsure of where to put her arms. "On my waist? No, I will look too feeble. On my chest, crossing my arms? No, too tough," she had an inner debate as she maneuvered through some of these poses. In return, she received an indescribable look from Natsuki. Finally, they reached the chamber floor and the doors to the elevator opened. Shizuru released a long held breathe, one she did not realize she was holding. Natsuki turned to look at her inquisitively. Shizuru shrugged, she had no idea why she herself was acting so ridiculously uncool.
"You are about to meet the Council so relax," Natsuki spoke. Shizuru was surprised when she heard her voice. That deep husky voice sent shivers down her spine. Any nerves she felt dissipated as a wave washed through her. "Just do what you came here to do," she added.
Shizuru nodded and tilted her head in curiosity. "Came here to do…what does she know?" Shizuru wondered. Yet, she was left with no time to inquire, since she was guided quickly towards the Council room.
The walls were interestingly thin, one could hear their unified oath "With all of us may the Force be, and may the peace of this temple be ours, a place open to thought and speech, a realm of mutual respect, and a haven of shared noble purpose. Let us take these seats together, with no one above the others. May we work together, free from the restraints of ego and jealousy, at this gathering and all others to come."
"To think I once almost uttered those words…" she pondered. Once the chant was over, the doors were opened and Shizuru soon found herself in the center of a room. Shizuru was surrounded by the Council of Jedi Masters*. The Council consisted of twelve individuals, but they were also surrounded by a few Jedi Knights taking interest in the day's affairs. Natsuki made her way towards the side of the room, but not before giving a respectful nod to all those present.
"Visitor, identify yourself," Grand Master Kaiji Sakomizu spoke. Shizuru remembered him. He was the gardener of the Jedi Academy. Natsuki always sought him out as some sort of mentor. He was a stocky man of the Zabrak species. He had an afro on his head that seemed to conceal his horns. What gave him away as a Zabrak, Shizuru mused, were the unusual facial tattoos on his face, a rite of passage from his race.
Shizuru glanced around the room; a group of powerful Jedi's were present. A few she even recognized from past encounters, Master Yoda, Master Yamada, and Master Sanada. "Aha!" Shizuru smiled. She found him, her target, the bounty, Jedi Master Nagi Homura.
Shizuru reaches under her cloak and pulls out her blaster, quickly aiming at her intended victim. Master Homura's eyes nearly bulged off his sockets as he saw that she drew a weapon.
Kaboom! Shizuru instinctively rolled away and ducked behind a table, placed near a wall. That was definitely not her blaster going off.
"What is that?" she muttered as she glanced towards the explosion. Just as she was about to take out her target, a spaceship crashed through the wall, knocking everything in its path. It definitely took out the Zoltron Jedi, a pink arm laid limp under the ship.
The entrance to the ship dropped down and storm troopers came down walking through the ramp, blasting everything in sight. Everyone in the room began to scramble. The Jedi's took out their light sabers, defending themselves from the attack. You could hear the zoom and clang of their saber as they battled the troopers. Soon the building's alarm went off, announcing that they were all under attack.
"This isn't good," Shizuru thought. The sheer numbers seem to be overwhelming enough.
"I didn't sign up for this…,"she cursed. Taking another gander at the events, Shizuru saw that a Sith stood behind the Storm Trooper, shouting orders. She had short teal hair and was nearly human. The Sith was quite possibly a Chiss or Pantoran, judging from the pigmentation of her blue skin. "Still she was quite attractive…but this was not an adequate time to ponder this," Shizuru chastised herself.
Glancing towards the exit of the room, Shizuru saw her intended victim making his escape. "Fucking wimp...," she muttered. Gathering her wits, she removed her cloak to facilitate her movement. Underneath, her Mandolorian armor was revealed in all its glory. It was a metallic silver suit with ruby red accents that matched Shizuru's eyes. Who said you could not be stylish yet roguish, simultaneously? Shizuru had won it in a mostly fair fight. With this gear, she was ready to go chase that bastard of Jedi.
As Shizuru made her way towards the exit, not bothering to become further involved in the conflict between the Republic and Empire, she noticed a familiar face cornered in the other end of the room. "Nat...Su..Ki…" she whispered. "Get your ass up from the floor," she growled, growing impatient. It appeared Natsuki was in a haze and trapped by the Sith she had seen come out from the vessel. As she recalled the moments before the crash, Natuski was actually standing near the wall that the vessel came through, surely, she suffered some sort of injury from the impact. However, Natsuki was resilient as always, managing to handle the impact from the wall as well as she could, still the haze she appeared to be in would not work in her favor and left her vulnerable. The blue headed Sith stood in front of her, mocking her, placing the tip of the blade near Natsuki's chin. Yes, the Sith was ready to kill her
Shizuru jumped over the tables and leaped in the air, extending her legs and feet out. With all her force and a little help from her booster pack, she kicked the Sith through the wall.
"Well that was fun…" she added, taking a peek through the newly added hole in the wall. Since they were so high up in the spire, she could not see if the Sith had a graceful fall to her death. Anyway, it was no longer her concern.
Turning around, Shizuru saw Natsuki trying to find some balance by leaning against the wall. Shizuru quickly went up to her to help. Looking around, she noticed the fight continued regardless from what occurred moments ago. Shizuru still had to get her target but she was not going to leave Natsuki lying around in the room marked as an easy target. She quickly lifted Natsuki's arm and wrapped it behind her head, speaking "It's okay, I'm helping you," she said soothingly when she felt Natsuki resist. "Lean on me," she added. Natsuki did as requested.
Shizuru helped Natsuki, guiding her down the hall, hoping to find a location where they could hide. Finding the hall in a familiar mess, she kept dragging Natsuki along some distance. Finally, they ducked in a corner at the end of that hallway to figure out their next steps.
Thanks again and Happy New Years!