AN: I don't normally like to answer reviews in the actual chapter as I feel it adds a false word padding to the story but I can't pm guest accounts so...
Andrew: I won't be adding a female Sith inquisitor into the story nor the harem. The Inquisitor is already planned out to be male and Ashara will show up eventually. I have it planned out for how she'll get involved in the story and how she'll be joining our group instead of the inquisitor. Honestly I could make the Inquisitor female as their gender doesn't have any affect on the story but either way they aren't going to be apart of the harem. I do plan to have Serenity be kind of a mix of juggernaut and marauder classes. She doesn't have to adhere to the rules of the game though like our protagonist does so it might not be as apparent. She'll dual wield lightsabers eventually but besides that she doesn't really have any abilities besides just natural combat prowess and training. Thank you though for the youtube suggestion. I do have to look up the abilities of the differing classes at times so the videos can come in handy sometimes.
Guest (About Serenity's name): When I chose her name I chose it because I thought it would be kind of ironic to have a Sith named Serenity in the Empire. Also I hoped it would show off or give off a vibe that she's different when it comes to her fellow Sith. I understand though that the name doesn't fit for a born and raised Imperial so I'm planning on adding in an explanation of why she's named that. Will it be good enough of an explanation? I'm not sure, that'll be for you to decided but she's named that way because that's the way I wanted it to be. Apologies if it ruins your immersion somewhat but it's not changing. I am glad you're enjoying the story though beyond that :)
To my other reviewers who I've had the pleasure of conversing with I'm glad each and everyone of you are here along for the ride. As always feel free to send me a message when ever. I do enjoy our conversations a lot.
Please make an account if you want to review. It takes no time at all and it allows me to respond to your messages within hours or days instead of you maybe having to wait weeks or months for me to publish another chapter and answer your review there. But hey if you don't mind the wait then you do you.
As always hope you enjoy, and there'll be another AN at the bottom with a question from me so be sure to read that when you're done.
Crossroads Chapter 5: Rough Draft
The three of us were standing around silently in front of the taxi droid at the spaceport waiting for the taxi to arrive. After Serenity had told me to gear up, she hadn't spoken a word to me, let alone looked at me.
I let out a quiet sigh. She was still angry with me about what happened a few hours back. Understandable given my lacking ability to provide forthright information, but still, didn't make me any less upset at the situation.
The taxi finally arrived, Serenity climbing into the driver's seat, with Vette waiting by the passenger door for me to get in first.
"You can get in Vette. This taxi's just for the two of you," I told her.
Vette looked confused but did as I said and climbed into the passenger seat. I noticed Serenity had turned my way slightly and was looking at me from the corner of her narrowed eyes.
"You're not coming with?" Vette asked me as she settled into her seat.
"No, I have some shopping I need to do and some side missions to take care of. I'm sure you two will be fine on your own. I'll meet back up with you two later."
I heard a light growl come out of Serenity's mouth and I swear I saw the metal steering wheel begin to bend as she gripped it tighter. Before Vette could even formulae a response, Serenity had speedily taken off and left me alone at the spaceport.
Letting out a sigh, I said, "Well that went better than expected honestly."
I turned to the droid and had him call me another taxi. I needed to get to the Promenade. Getting new armor plates was going to be important for staying alive, but besides that I had an even more immediate concern. Finding a scanner that could detect Imperial grade listening devices.
I had been perusing some of the shops along the Promenade seeing what was for sale. When I got here, I thought there would be some bullshit excuse for why better armors weren't available but that turned out not to be the case. Every differing set of armored plates were available and easy enough to find. The only problem? They were so absurdly expensive I would never be able to afford them.
Tier 15 plates would set me back a hundred thousand credits at minimum, and that would only buy me enough to retrofit my helmet, forget the rest of the armor.
I was running tier 4 right now, and taking a look at the shops, a full set of tier 5 would cost me 5,000 credits. Which was just about every credit I owned.
As much I wanted better armor the next tier up was only 8000 for the full set, so I would be better off just waiting and saving my money. More importantly though, I needed to make sure I would have enough credits to buy that scanner.
I asked around if anybody knew where I could find a scanner like that or if they could lead to me a black-market dealer. And yes, I realized how stupid that was only after I had tried it though.
No one was willing to entertain my line of questioning, and I couldn't blame them. If a strange man that looks like a Sith walks up and starts asking about how to find the black market, I would pretend I don't know too.
With no way to find the black market, and feeling down on my luck now, I began making my way to the taxi station so I could take one to the Corellian Sector and meet back up with Serenity and Vette.
Along the way though, I had to stop and do a double take when I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
Off in the distance, was Kira Carsen. I would never mistake that fiery red hair for anybody else. I started making my way over to her, excited by the prospect of seeing one of my favorite companions in the flesh. I didn't realize my mistake until Kira noticed me approaching and started reaching for her lightsaber.
"Peace, Jedi!" I said quickly, throwing my hands up to show I wasn't armed. "Lest you forget this is a neutral world."
"What do you want Sith," she spat out at me with her hands still resting near the hilt of her blade.
Not knowing what to say I came up with the only reasonable reason I could have for coming over.
"You're the padawan of that Knight that has Angral so riled up," I said as I looked her over, pretending to size her up.
"If you think I'll be an easy target-" she started to say reaching for her lightsaber.
"Like I said, peace Jedi. I thought your order was supposed to know all about that," I said in a taunting manner.
Maybe realizing that she wasn't being a very good Jedi right now, she relaxed herself a bit.
"If you know what's good for you step away from my padawan," a voice ordered out.
Turning around I watched as the Jedi leapt from the balcony above and landed a few feet behind me.
I was glad I had my mask on because I'm sure I couldn't stop the shock from showing on my face when the knight before me was the perfect carbon copy of the Jedi Knight I had created when I played this game, Kalrin Farwell.
Kalrin, maybe feeling uneasy at my lack of a response up to this point, began settling himself into a combat stance.
"Like I told your apprentice, peace Jedi. This is a neutral world, wouldn't want to piss off the Cartel now would we," I said quickly.
"If you're not here to fight then what do you want?" he asked me.
"I was merely on my way when I noticed your apprentice here and knew that if she was here, you couldn't be far behind. You've caused quite a stir within Darth Angral. He's rather mad about you killing his son."
"That Sith spit deserved it!" Kira said.
I turned my head slightly saying, "He probably did," before turning back towards Kalrin.
That seemed to throw Kira enough for a loop that she kept silent.
"Well, I don't mean to keep you, I'm sure you're very busy tracking down all those terribly illegal experiments and projects the Republic were doing. The one here on Nar Shaddaa being particularly bad, if I do say so myself, but I'm sure you'll realize that yourself if you haven't already."
I gave them a formal bow and began walking away towards the taxi pad.
"Wait Sith! How do you know about what the Republic was doing here?" Kalrin asked me.
I stopped with my back turned towards them, not able to keep the smirk off my face, though luckily the helmet was concealing that.
"I wish the both of you the best of luck in stopping Darth Angral. The madman deserves whatever's coming to him by both of your hands."
I knew I shouldn't, but I couldn't help but add in one additional note at the end.
"Good luck Hero, Child of the Emperor, may the Force be with you," I said ignoring Kalrin's calls for me to stop again and took a taxi over to the Corellian sector.
Stepping out of the taxi I was stopped by a Neimoidian.
"Sith you work with that apprentice of Darth Baras's yes? Hopefully you'll be more open to hearing my proposal than she was. My name is Ghost, I am Nar Shaddaa's top information broker."
"You must be to know who I am and who I work with, but cut to the chase, what do you want?"
"I have some intel that may pique your interest. Normally I would charge top credit, but for you this one's on the house. My scanners picked up recent additions to Nar Shaddaa's information market. Top secret Imperial Intelligence reports. About to be sold to the highest bidder."
I crossed my arms and stared down Ghost. "I doubt your telling me this out of the goodness of your heart so you must have an angle at play here."
"You caught me," he said not really seeming all that distraught. "I receive a small broker's fee after the reports are recovered. Part of a deal I have with the Empire. So, are you interested?"
"Well, no promises but if I have the time, I'll deal with it."
"Great! The reports are in the possession of a local slicer gang located around this area," he said pointing it out on a map. "Once you've recovered the reports take them to Intelligence Officer Keeling at the Imperial listening post located here," he said pointing to a different part of the map. "He'll take care of it from there."
With that Ghost moved to let me be on my way. I made my way over to the contact we were originally supposed to meet, Halidrell Setsyn.
I stepped into the slaver's base and was quickly met with Halidrell pulling a blaster pistol on me.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll leave-"
Not wanting her to blabber on I Force pulled the blaster out of her hands. It came easily out of her hand and flew into my waiting palm.
I noticed her confidence had severely dwindled and was being replaced by fear after having discovered I was a Sith and having been disarmed all at once.
"Relax I'm not here to kill you. I'm a friend of Lord Baras' apprentice."
Taking a quick look around the room I didn't note Vette or Serenity being anywhere nearby.
"It seems my associates have already left; would you care to tell me where they have gone?"
I didn't really need the answer. I knew they had gone to deal with the deal Rathari was brokering between himself and the Hutts, but I wanted to see if she'd tell me.
Despite her fear she kept her mouth shut and refused to answer me.
"Fine be that way. If you could be so kind as to let them know that I am here and will be awaiting their return from breaking up the deal with the Hutts I would appreciate it."
She looked shocked to find that I already knew where they were and what they were doing.
"If they return before I do let them know that I'll be out questing. They'll know what that means," I added after seeing her strange look at the word questing.
Taking my leave, I threw her blaster pistol back at her and looked at my map to see where that slicer gang was supposed to be. I figured that since I had the time, I might as well get some work in.
Slicing my way through the slicers was a simple enough task. Their little gang might have been intimidating for a non-force user, but for me it felt like child's play.
Why random slicers of theirs were just carrying these highly classified and valuable reports out on normal patrols I'll never know but I assume it's a game thing.
I had already collected the four sliced reports I was supposed to obtain but it felt too easy. Switching over to my other presets I figured now was a good time to test if bonus missions appeared in the quest log.
To my pleasant surprise, underneath the heading of the quest I was currently working on, there was a subsection with bonus written beside it in parenthesis. Looking at the bonus I saw that I all I needed to do was defeat a total of 15 of these Krayt gang members and I had already accomplished 13 of those just trying to complete the main mission.
There were two lone gang members leaning against some speeder bikes that would have made for easy targets, but something was calling me away from them.
Having learned already that it was usually better to trust my instincts I did, and they lead to me a group of four other gang members underneath a tarp, getting warmed by a burn barrel. I ignited my lightsabers and began charging at the group.
I force pushed one of them temporarily knocking them out of the fight. The other three quickly turned my way, understanding that they were under attacked.
They raised their rifles and opened fire on me. Luckily with some practice, and more levels, I had gotten better at reflecting back blaster bolts. My blocks met their mark as two of the three were taken down by their own bolts.
The third one, seeing that a blaster wasn't going to be much use, stowed away his and pulled out a vibro-staff. He charged at me with a rough scream. I met his attack with both of my blades crossed in a x shape.
He pushed down to try and break my block, but my strength was sufficient enough to hold. Pushing back, I knocked his staff to my right and swung at him from my left. However, he was fast enough to recover and bring his vibro-staff up to block my attack.
I threw a few more swings in to try and hit him but they were to no avail. Like I had theorized before the system that seemed to be in place only amplified my skill with the blades. And while granted, that amplification was by a large margin, my starting skill level was very low. Pair that with the fact that this planet was a few levels ahead of where I was, and I was starting to see why I was having problems with a basic grunt.
If there was one thing I could count on though, it was that a Force user always had the advantage over a non-Force user, no matter the gap in skill or level.
Reaching out through the Force I grabbed the man and raised him into the air in a choke hold. The man dropped his staff as he began reaching for the invisible hand wrapped around his neck. Not even giving him a chance to try and find a way out of it I quickly snapped his neck and let his body fall to the floor.
Putting my lightsabers away I walked over to the tarp to try and see what had called me over here. Underneath the tarp, on the floor near to the burn barrel I noticed a chest I hadn't seen before.
Curiously I bent down and inspected the chest. Noticing that it wasn't even locked I pressed the button on its front and watched as the lid cracked open revealing the wealth of credits stored inside.
Figuring I could count them later I pocketed them away. Checking my quest log, I noticed the bonus quest was no longer listed underneath my other quest. Checking my experience bar, I did indeed notice it had risen a considerable amount.
Switching back over to where I had clear vision, I heard the sound of someone groaning and attempting to rise off the floor. Looking over towards the noise I noticed the first member of the gang I had Force pushed and forgotten about.
He was currently bent over and trying to push himself up off the floor, almost as if he were doing a push up. Casually walking over, I grabbed one of my lightsabers, ignited it, and stuck it through his back before he could get off the floor.
Looking to make sure he wasn't getting back up this time, I was satisfied when I saw no movement. I deactivated my lightsaber and reattached it back to my belt.
Figuring that my work here was done I began making my way to Keeling at his listening post.
Making my way into the listening post I noted that no one attempted to stop me and ask for credentials. Either this place was terribly guarded, or they saw the armor and didn't want to attempt and get on a Sith's bad side.
Asking one of the people working there to point me to Keeling, they pointed out a hefty older looking man. It was clear to see the toll working intelligence had taken on him.
He was far past his prime, with wrinkles and old graying hairs accompanying the beard on his face.
Keeling took note of me as I walked up towards him.
"Please do excuse me my lord, but I'm on surveillance duty," he said hoping that would end the conversation.
"This is important," I said. "Slicers were attempting to sell Intelligence reports on the black market. I recovered them."
"What?" he asked reasonably shocked. "Let me see those."
I handed him over the reports and saw the look of shock set in on his face as he couldn't believe what he was reading.
"These… these are my reports."
He kept reading them and the look of shock changed to anger.
"Wait, these reports are imbedded with slicing signatures. This wasn't just some gang. These bear the mark of the Republic's Strategic Information Service!"
"Sounds like you have a problem that needs solving."
Keeling put his hand up to his beard in thought.
"But why hid behind the slicer gang?" he mumbled aloud to himself. After a few moments I could see the lightbulb go off in his head. "Maybe to disguise a listening post," he said quietly.
He went back to looking through the reports, vehemently searching for something specific. He tapped his finger along the report finding whatever it was he was searching for.
"My lord, I beg that you please help us in this matter. The SIS signatures contained coordinates. I beg of you, go there, and destroy that listening post."
"I'd be willing to help… for a price."
Keeling seemed to take a step back in surprise for a second before he quickly recovered.
"We're fairly well funded, I'm sure we could compensate you greatly if that would please you."
I smiled underneath my helmet.
"The credits are nice, and I will take them, but I'm looking for something a bit more specific. I need you to get me a scanner that can detect Imperial grade listening devices."
Keeling seemed confused at that request, but he nodded yes after thinking about it for a second.
"I can scrounge something up that will do the trick."
"Wonderful. Have it ready for me by the time I return from that listening post."
I turned to leave but stopped after a few steps. Looking back towards Keeling I asked, "While I'm out, have any other jobs that need doing?"
"Uhh yes, yes. I believe the Cartel asked us to take care of some surveillance devices that have been implanted within beasts within the Corellian sector by the Exchange. If you'd heed their request, I'll transfer the rewards to you."
"Sounds good, have all payments ready by the time I return."
Walking out of the listening post I checked my quest log and saw that both quests had been added to it. I also noted that the quest dealing with the beasts had a bonus quest attached to it.
"I have time to make a quick stop before that listening post," I said aloud to myself as I started walking down the streets of the Corellian sector.
I was crouched behind some crates staking out the entrance to the Republic listening post.
On the way I had taken care of the Cartel's request. Getting those surveillance devices out of those beasts was disgusting but hey it was paying work. That quest had a bonus quest attached to it but weirdly enough when I completed it, I received the experience but didn't get any credits. I guess that one just didn't reward credits.
On the bright side through it was enough to level me up, making me now level 19. I felt the increase power course through my veins immediately after it happened.
I had been waiting here a while and hadn't noticed a guard change, so I assume the two soldiers stationed outside guarding the entrance would be the only ones I need to deal with before I got in the building.
Not wanting to alert the base too early I entered into stealth and started to creep my way up to the two guards. I acted carefully, waiting until they turned the other direction, and slowly made my way closer to them.
Eventually I was able to get behind the two of them. Coming out of stealth I activated my primary saber and had its purple blade come out and impale one of the troopers.
His comrade reacted quickly to the noise turning and raising his rifle, but I was quicker. I reached out and put him into a Force chokehold. Raising him from the ground as he suffocated, I snapped his neck and he limply fell back down to the ground.
Putting my lightsaber away I entered back into stealth and entered the listening post. Making my way through the halls I almost got caught when I rounded a corner and nearly ran into a group of three soldiers headed the opposite way towards the entrance.
'Looks like the guard shift finally happened,' I thought to myself.
Quickly backstepping round the corner, I hugged the wall and waited for them to pass hoping they wouldn't notice me.
It seemed like luck was on my side as the group walked past without any idea I was there. Silently following behind them, I waited until they got further down the hallway.
They were walking in a triangle formation with the singular man leading the way. Positioning myself in between, but just behind the two in the back, I ignited both my lightsabers and gave a quick swing in each direction.
Two helmets rolled as they were separated from their owner and hit the floor. The last man tried turning around to see what the noise was but a quick swing that cut a swath across his chest had him falling to join his comrades.
Putting my weapons away, I reentered stealth and proceeded into the deepest part of the listening post. Coming to the main hub I found a small section with three large terminals spread out in a U-shape.
Each terminal had its own group of what I assumed were SIS agents working away at them.
Adding them all up I counted a total of 12 men stationed on all the terminals.
'Might be too many for a fair fight.'
Looking around I didn't notice anything that would be particularly helpful in evening the odds. Looking up though I noticed there were metallic beams that were holding the lights. There was enough room for a person to sit on top of the beams if they crouched.
Remembering what happened last time I fell from a height on Balmorra gave me an idea.
Using the Force to boost my leap, I leapt to try and reach the beam above me. Sadly, either because I didn't put enough power into it or merely just not having enough power, I undershot the jump a bit.
Reaching out I managed to grab onto the beam as I fell. Unfortunately, this let out a loud noise of metal hitting metal.
Rushing to pull myself up, I barely managed to get on top and hide in one of the many shadows up here before the agents looked up at the noise they heard.
I saw the agents scouring the roof looking for the source of the noise.
"What was that?" I heard one agent ask.
"I don't know, the metal shifting maybe?" another responded.
"Hmm perhaps," said the first agent.
The agents kept looking around for a few moments, but not seeing any immediate danger incoming, they seemed to relax and get back to their terminals.
Letting out an uneasy breath I had been holding I crept along the beam until I was generally above the middle point of all three groups.
Exiting stealth, I checked my Force bar and saw that it had fallen to 18%. Having stayed in stealth as long as I did had taken its toll.
I decided to wait for the bar to refill before enacting my plan. While I was waiting though the agents seemed to become more alert to what was happening to their complex.
"Has anyone seen the guard shift come back?" one agent asked.
"No," another one responded uneasily.
The same man then raised a hand to his earpiece as he began to try and put a call out.
"Talon, come in. This is Crimson, what's your status?"
He waited a few seconds and when he didn't receive a response tried again.
"Talon, I repeat, come in. What is your status?"
Knowing my secret was about to be blown I checked my Force bar and saw that I had only regenerated back up to 37%
'I'm just going to have to hope it's enough.'
I charged all the Force I could muster into my fist and leapt from the ceiling aiming for the center point of the three groups.
"Alert the Republic we're going on threat level yellow! I think we may have been-"
The agent stopped as I landed, and the Force rippled out in a shockwave around me. The men were sent flying, crashing into the walls or the terminals they were next to.
Glass was laying shattered all around as I raised my head and looked around. I didn't see anybody moving.
That was certainly effective.
I took out a single lightsaber and took a few swings into each of the terminals control panels, just to make sure they would be no longer functioning.
After that I took my leave, strolling right out the front entrance, and made my way back to Keeling's listening post.
I walked up to Keeling and dropped a bag that made a fleshy and metallic noise.
"The surveillance devices the Cartel requested. Also, that listening post has been destroyed."
"I know. I listened in on their final transmissions."
He waved his hand at a subordinate who ran out of the room. I waited patiently and he came back in carrying a decent sized chest.
"Your payments for the completed jobs," Keeling said as the subordinate put the chest down in front of me. "The Cartel were rather pleased with how many members of the Exchange you killed and sent along a bonus reward."
Ahh well there was the bonus reward I was missing out on.
"That also includes bonus from me for doing such a good job at that listening post and…" he paused as he reached into his back pocket. He pulled out a small remote that reminded of a tv remote with two antennas on either side of the head. "A scanner that can detect Imperial grade listening devices."
"Thank you, Officer Keeling, I appreciate the assistance. Also, you may want to look away."
I grabbed the scanner as a light shot out around me.
"What was that?" Keeling asked once his vision returned.
"Nothing you need concern yourself with, do I make myself clear?"
"Understood my lord. Now not to be rude, but the intelligence life waits for no one. Safe travels."
I nodded my head in understanding and picked up the crate. It was heavier than I would have liked, but that's what happens when you have a chest full of credits.
Beginning what was going to be a long, arduous journey, I headed back to Halidrell's place.
When I walked in, I saw Halidrell reaching for her gun again.
I dropped the chest at my feet, letting my weary arms rest, and Force pulled the gun out of her hands once again.
I looked between her and the gun resting in my palm now. Looking back at her I tilted my head and muttered a "seriously?"
"Whatever I don't care," I continued on with. "Has Serentiy and Vette returned yet?"
I saw Halidrell gulp in fear before she said, "No my lord."
"I don't know why you're afraid of me, I told you I'm working with her but whatever I don't really care. I'm going to haul this thing back to the ship," I said pointing at the chest, "If they return while I'm gone let them know where I am. Ok? Great" I said without waiting for a response. Throwing her gun back towards her I bent over to pick the crate up.
"Uhm, my lord…" she started to say but teetered off.
With the chest resting in my hands, I looked at her.
"Yes?"
"I was just wondering why you don't use the Force to help you carry that."
I stood there in silence not answering. I mentally face palmed.
I can't believe I forget I could use the Force for this. Setting the chest back down on the floor I reached out and started floating the chest next to me.
Wow was this easier!
I turned towards the door, with the chest following, but stopped in the doorway. Turning towards Halidrell I gave her a "thank you," and continued on.
I had arrived back at the ship and opened the ramp doors. Stepping inside I heard the sound of two people conversing. Quietly putting the chest down along the wall, I silently made my way closer to the entrance to the central hub.
Peering in I saw Quinn was on a holocall with Baras. I pulled back to prevent myself from being seen but listened in on their conversation, catching the tail end of Baras' sentence.
"- integrated with the crew?"
"Yes, my lord. I've been staying away from Torrid but have been making strides to endear myself to your apprentice. As for the slave, I haven't had any contact with her, nor did I plan too, unless you wanted otherwise?"
"No that's fine, as long as you keep an eye on her. Your main goal is to become irreplaceable to my apprentice. As for Torrid, keep an eye on him, but do so cautiously. His power is immeasurable, pry too hard and I fear he may become wise to our operation."
"My lord, please forgive my insolence, but I don't see what kind of threat Torrid is. If it weren't for your apprentice that Jedi investigator may very well have killed him."
"What?" growled out Baras.
"The investigator knocked him out cold during their fight on Balmorraa. Apologies my lord, I thought you knew already."
"It seems my apprentice is already taking strides to secure my elimination when the time comes. The act would be almost applaudable if it weren't for the fact, she's plotting against me."
The line went quiet, and I assumed Baras was thinking. I thought about risking peeking my head back around to see what was happening when Baras continued.
"My apprentice has made it clear whose side she is on and that she cannot be trusted. You are to begin conducting surveillance on Torrid immediately. I want every scrap of information you can find about him, whether it is his past, likes, dislikes, whatever. If I can use it, I want it, and should you ever find yourself in a situation in which your poised to eliminate him, do it. Noman Karr and my apprentice are already enough thorns in my side."
"Your will will be done my lord."
"Good, from now on you are only to contact me on secured frequencies and only when you are 100% certain you are alone, and the area is secured. I'll be expecting frequent updates lieutenant," he said, and I heard the noise of the holocall disconnecting.
Immediately after I heard the sounds of footsteps approaching towards me. Silently cursing to myself, I enabled stealth and pressed my back up against the hull of the ship hoping he would walk right by me.
Luckily Quinn passed right by me, and I internally let out the breath I was holding. He stopped however near the entrance, and I couldn't figure out why until it hit me.
The chest was still just sitting there out in the open.
I watched as Quinn quietly unholstered his pistol and began looking around. Not seeing anything in the hallway he proceeded down the ramp and looked around the hangar.
Not seeing a threat, I watched him holster his gun, and barely overhead him say "damn delivery droids. They're supposed to make an indication when they've done a delivery."
I saw him continue his way down the hangar when the ramp bay doors shut behind him and I lost sight.
Decloaking from stealth, I pulled the scanner Keeling had given out from one of my pouches. Taking my time, and making sure to be as quiet as possible, I did a full sweep of the ship.
It seemed Quinn had done quick work after we had left as I had discovered a listening device in every room of the ship besides the two hallways on either wing.
This was going to make communicating difficult. I would have to make sure Serenity and Vette didn't say anything horribly compromising about myself, but I would still need to let them overhear some information as to not let them know that I discovered the listening devices.
This was going to be the hardest game of chess I've ever played, with my prize for failure being death. I had noticed though during my short time onboard that each room was fairly soundproof. That should mean in desperate circumstances I should be able to talk in one of the hallways freely, as long as we didn't raise our voices.
I pocketed the scanner and returned back to the front of the ship. Activating the ramp cameras, I made sure the coast was clear before I exited the ship.
I had dropped off my money and gained some useful information on Baras' plan when it came to me. Both he and I were setting up our pawns on the board. Now, before the game has been decided, it was imperative more than ever that I come up with a gambit, and hope whatever it costs me won't be too great.
I had stopped by Halidrell's place, but it seemed like Serenity and Vette still weren't back yet. Growing worried I took a taxi to the Duros Sector to check on how the negotiations with the Hutts went.
When I stepped off the taxi, I noticed there were no information brokers waiting around for me this time. I did notice what looked like a lot of vagrants huddled around, walking along the streets.
One walked by me and bumped along the way.
"So sorry my lord," they said before they kept on walking.
"It's fine," I muttered out. I noticed a weight in my hand that wasn't there before and looking down there was a small datapad now there.
"Hey what is-" I started saying as I turned around to see the vagrant again, but they were already gone.
Looking down at the datapad I thanked Vette for helping to teach me Aurebesh.
"To all Imperial - check in at - post."
I needed some more practice, but I got most of it. Plugging the coordinates that were attached in the datapad to my map I noticed the command post was along the route I was going to take to get to the Hutt's place so I figured I might as well drop on in.
The walk there was uneventful, with the streets getting considerably emptier as I made my way further into the sector.
I found the entrance to the command post. It was guarded by a few soldiers, some turrets, and some barricades for cover. Not the most formidable but it would be enough to scare away rift raft.
The guards let me pass on through without issue. After I passed through into the actual command room a light shined out as I leveled up.
Checking my quest log, I saw that the quest I had to check in had been completed.
"Easiest experience I've ever made," I said quietly to myself.
"My lord," a lady saluted me, "you certainly know how to make an entrance."
"That I do…"
"Oh, agent Madel Felth at your service my lord."
"Well met agent. Is there a reason you're directing all Imperial personnel to come to this outpost?"
"Yes, those here are working to stop a revolution. This sector is home to alien refugees who escaped our slavers. They've never been a threat, but a new leader recently emerged. They call him "the Flame" and we have killed him twice."
I raised an eyebrow underneath the helmet at her.
"You obviously haven't done a very good job if he's survived twice now."
"Each time we eliminate him, he reappears. The locals claim he's immortal."
"Somehow I doubt he's actually immortal. Do you want me to test that theory?"
"Only the Emperor himself can claim true immortality. But that's not what I'm asking of you, at least not yet. We had an undercover spy in the gang, but he was discovered and murdered. The Flame hung his corpse up to be displayed publicly in Ran Mas Square to taunt us. Every note he wrote is pinned to the corpse."
"I doubt you need me to tell you this is a trap correct?"
"We know it's a trap, but we haven't had a choice. We need that information. Everyone I've sent to retrieve it has come back in pieces. You might be the only one who can walk into the trap and survive."
"I'm always willing to help, for the right price."
If she was surprised at my request for compensation, she didn't show it as her face remained impassive.
"But of course, my lord. We have a healthy budget. The Minister of Intelligence has been quite concerned about this rebellion. Once you've retrieved the notes dispose of the body. We can't have them using it as a rallying point."
"Understood Agent, I'll get you your notes. Just have my compensation ready by the time I return," I said turning to take my leave.
"Will do my lord," she responded as I walked back out of the command post.
Checking my map, I saw that conveniently the body was being hung up nearby where the meeting with the Hutts were taking place, so I wouldn't have to make a detour.
Pulling my lightsaber out from the chest of the would-be assassin, I watched as his body crumbled to the ground.
I pulled out the lighter and flammable liquid the agent had given me and doused the body with it before igniting it.
With his notes safely secured I crossed the short distance to the entrance of where Serenity and Vette were meeting up with the Hutts and Lord Rathari's apprentice.
Nearing the entrance, I saw that the place was locked down. Police and Cartel officials were swarming all around the place. Guess that means the Hutts were dead.
A couple of officers must have noticed me snooping around near the crime scene and found it suspicious enough to come and try and question me.
"Evening gentleman, can I help you?" I asked politely not trying to start a war with the law enforcement, even if there was little of that being enforced on Nar Shaddaa.
The officers looked on edge, and I noticed they kept their hands close to the plasters holstered on their sides.
"There was an assassination committed here earlier tonight. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?" one of the officers asked.
"Afraid not, I just arrived. Here for work you see. But I hope you catch whoever did this."
I turned to try and leave when I heard the sounds of blasters being drawn. Cranking my head over my shoulder I saw the officers now were stood with their blasters trained on me.
"What exactly do you plan on doing here officer?" I asked calmly but threateningly.
"You see the Hutts don't appreciate assassinations on their kind. Makes the business look bad, you see? Now those Hutts were killed by a lightsaber and who do we happen to find near the scene of the crime but a man wielding a lightsaber. Mighty suspicious don't you think?"
"Like I told you before I just arrived for some work. Messes with the time frame for their death does it not? Besides I'm sure they had surveillance you could watch back."
"Surveillance was wiped, ain't that just inconvenient."
"Quite," I spat out.
"Must have been done by a professional." The officer responded before going into fake thinking motion. "Something a Sith could have done easily."
His words prompted his partner to tighten their grip on their blaster, their trigger finger inching closer to the trigger.
"You're making a big mistake here but count your lucky stars I'm a magnanimous Sith and am willing to offer you one last time to part ways as allies. Trust me that is an offer you want to take; my enemies tend to end up dead."
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before, now hands up or we will open fire!"
The other officers near the entrance seemed to finally take notice of what was going on and a few split off to come investigate what the disturbance was about.
Running out of time before this resulted in an all-out war or me being detained, I had to act quick. I racked my brain for a quick solution to this problem. And the only one I could come up with was one I wasn't sure I could even do.
Oh well no better time to try and Kenobi my way out of this one, I guess.
Not sure where to even being with this I waved my fingers in front of their faces and focused on trying to will the Force to flow through my voice.
"You will let me go and tell your fellow men that this whole thing was just a misunderstanding."
I was worried it didn't work at first as they didn't respond but then I saw the glazed look take hold in their eyes and knew I had them hooked.
"We'll let you go and go tell the others that this was just a misunderstanding," they both repeated back to me.
The glazed look vanished from their eyes as they snapped out of it.
"Sorry about that sir, you're free to go. You have a good night now," one of the officers said before they both turned around and left, stopping to tell the others what transpired.
I let out a sigh, glad I had dodged that metaphorical bullet, and made my way back to the Imperial outpost to turn this quest in.
Walking out of the outpost I stopped and breathed out a deep sigh. I had turned those documents the agent wanted in back to her and got a sizeable credit reward, and a nice chunk of experience, but it was only enough to get me about halfway to the next level.
That wasn't why I was sighing though. No, my problems lied within girl troubles.
I stopped my thoughts and scoffed aloud.
Don't they always?
I stopped again and shook my head trying to rid myself of these thoughts.
"What am I doing… We've barely been apart for more than a few hours and I'm already missing them like crazy." I let out another sigh before continuing, "What's wrong with me?"
"I think the easier question to answer would be what isn't wrong with you," let out a chilling voice as the person rested a hand on my right shoulder.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on edge and I swung around with my fist hoping to catch them off guard. My eyes widened in surprise though when my punch went straight through their face, as if they weren't even there.
The figure gave out a sigh.
"How come you always do this every time…" she said aloud to herself not really looking for an answer.
Withdrawing my fist, I pulled it back to my side and switched my gaze back and forth from it back to the figure. After the initial shock of my hand going right through somebody, I finally focused my gaze on my would-be attacker.
"Please," the figure that I now denoted was a woman said with a wave of a hand and a rolling of the eyes, "if I was going to attack you, you'd be dead before you even knew what was happening."
The woman was something of an ethereal beauty that I couldn't believe was even real and trust me when I say I couldn't believe it.
She had long silvery blonde hair that framed her head and flowed down her back, seemingly glimmering even in the dim lighting that was Nar Shaddaa.
A golden headband adored the top of her head. It wrapped a thin strand of gold around her head with small triangles jutting out up and down symmetrically along the whole thing, and in front were two small wings, beautifully crafted and detailed, that bent back towards the top of her head.
A single gemstone was inlaid, separating the two wings. It was a perfectly cut diamond shape, but I couldn't tell what gem it was. I could see that the gem was white- no wait black- no white again. I realized it was switching colors all the time. And directly in the center was a swirling circle of black and white strands constantly mixing and separating, swirling endlessly inside their prison.
Moving my gaze down I took in her face and was greeted by a very fair and porcelain skin tone. Framed within were eyes that seemed to captivate and draw your gaze in. Judging by the amused look in them she was enjoying my inspection. Her eyes were normal looking with white sclera and black irises, but her pupils held a mixture of purple and pure blackness as the colors swirled and intermingled.
She had a normal straight nose and bowlike lips a shade of a faint light red that I thought would only be attainable with makeup but hers appeared to be all natural.
My eyes widened in surprise once again when I came down to her body and what she was wearing or more like what she wasn't wearing. Her clothing was probably more suited as a negligee than one to walk around outside freely in.
It was made of what looked like a pure black silk that was very sheer, with some designs and frills stitched and scattered along differencing parts of the cloth. Long, flowing, thin pieces jutted out from the area around her biceps and hips, endlessly fluttering even though there was no wind.
To be fair she wasn't only in her "clothing". She also wore a few pieces of fantasy gold armor that looked like it came straight from a Korean MMO around her breasts, biceps, hips, and boots that went up to her knees.
I noticed each of the pieces of armor had that same white/black gem that was in her headband.
The coup de grâce of the whole situation though were the two black feathered angel wings sprouting out from her back and fluttering around as she waited for me to finish my gawking. There was gold plating that ran along the top and I assumed over the part where it connected to her back.
I was stunned into silence at my disbelief at the situation occurring in front of me. Trying to make sure I wasn't crazy I turned back towards the outpost to see if anybody else was seeing what I was seeing but nobody moved. Nobody breathed, moved, or even blinked. It was as if they were-
"Frozen in time? Yes, they are," the lady said finishing my thoughts.
Turning back to her I saw she was sprouting a small pout along her face.
"Although I wish you would have complimented me on my outfit, I chose it specifically for you," she said looking down to the ground disheartened before her head shot right back up with a huge smile.
"Or maybe the absence of a compliment is in fact itself a compliment. Yes, that would make sense," she said nodding along to her own rambling as if it was the smartest thing anyone had ever said, "after all you did seem to appreciate what you were looking at."
Normally I would have found this kind of rambling cute but there was this oppressive aura that was palpable in the air. Half of me was wanting to run into her arms and never let go and the other half was telling me to run far away without so much as ever looking back.
"Who… what are you?" I finally managed to say.
The pout once again returned to her face, and I felt like I had chosen the obvious wrong dialogue option in an RPG.
Suddenly I heard the magnetic locks on my helmet disengage and the helmet tear off of my head before landing in the waiting palm of the girl.
"Ahh that's better. I do enjoy getting to see your face. And always so quick to get into the specifics dear. You never ask me how my day has been," she said covering her face with her hands. It sounded like she began to cry.
My god this girl is-
"Haha crazy yeah. You love calling me that," she said with a giddy smile on her face, no sign of any previous tears being shed. "And it's goddess, amor."
Amor? What does that mean? And what the hell is going on?
"Oh, sorry I've kind of been jumping the gun, haven't I?" she said looking sheepish for the first time. "I'm so pleased to meet you again Zelwin, or would you prefer I call you Ed?" she asked throwing a wink in at the end.
"Zelwin is fine thanks," I said, not sure of what else to say.
"Hehe, I know silly," she said with such joy in her voice before she caught herself and fake cleared her throat before continuing more seriously. "As for your previous questions," she raised a single finger in the air, "Yes, amor." She raised another finger, "You'll have to figure that out." Again, she raised another finger, "As you love to say, spoilers!" she said wagging just one finger back and forth.
"Am I allowed to ask more questions?"
"Sure, doesn't mean I'll answer them, spoilers after all, but ask away!" she said looking excited at the prospect.
"Who are you?"
"Oh, come on, you're smart. You already know."
"I do?" I asked disbelievingly.
"Give it some thought, there's no rush," she said motioning to our surroundings and then burst out into a giggle fit. "Hehe, get- hehe, get it?"
She says I knew already but I wouldn't have been able to forget seeing someone like her before.
"Oh, thanks dear," she said starting to blush, but I ignored her as I tried to focus.
"Oh, sorry I'll keep quiet." She pantomimed zipping her lips.
I know her. I know her? I can't think about any time I may have met her before.
What do I know about her? She can apparently freeze time. I stopped when I saw her bobbing her head up and down in an affirmative motion. Pushing her out of my thoughts I refocused.
There was that weird feeling she gave off where it felt like I was being sucked into the darkness half the time.
Like a light bulb going off in my head it suddenly made sense. There was only one other time I had felt something even close to that before, and that was when I was first sent here. Which means...
"Ding ding ding! We have a winner ladies and gentlemen. See? I told you you could do it," she said clapping her hands exuberantly.
"You sent me here?" I asked incredulously.
"It would appear that way."
"Why? Why me?" I asked. The answer I had wanted to know most since coming here was right in front of me. I was so close to it.
She tilted her head in what I assume was supposed to be a cutesy manner, but it felt anything but that to me right now.
"Had to be you. Someone else… might have gotten it wrong."
"No! You don't get to give me a reference and skirt away like that explains anything. I want a real answer!"
She rolled her eyes annoyed.
"Like I said when I sent you here, you're here to be my entertainment… well and some other people's too but they're rather insignificant when compared to me okay?"
What, so I was just some pawn to toy with so that she could kill a few hours?
"Not a few hours, eternity," she said cheerily. "Sounds rather lovely, doesn't it?"
Not bothering to dignify that with a response as the anger built within me, I asked, "What do you want?"
"Sorry I know we're not supposed to meet yet but," she connected her index fingers and looked up at me shyly through her lashes, "I just really missed you is all. I know I said I'd try and stop myself this time and wait but I couldn't wait any longer."
"Does that cutesy crap ever work on anyone?"
She stomped her foot angrily on the ground.
"How dare you! I'll have you know it does work and people think I'm adorable hmph," she said turning away but I saw her keep peeking over to see if I was looking.
Seeing that her act wasn't working on me she dropped it. Her wings flapped and she began hovering off the ground. She rotated herself around in air and laid down on her back like she was getting in a bed with the top of her head facing me. She bent her head back to look at me and it afforded me with a clear view of her more than generous bosom.
Figuring this was another tactic of hers I did my best to keep my eyes on her face. The pout that adorned her lips told me I was right.
"What are you?" I asked next.
She rolled her eyes at me.
"Jeez I can't give you all the answers right away. Where would the fun in that be? Besides I've given you enough clues already alone with just my appearance to figure that out."
I filed away that clue for a later.
"What's your name? Do you even have one?"
"Oooh this part is fun. Some many different ways this could go. Well, if we're talking literally than I'm not sure I have an actual name, but I have been given many different names by different people over the birth of the universe. How do you feel about Atalanta?"
I gave her a questioning look which she must have misinterpreted because my look was meant to convey a "What the fuck are you going on about?" not a disapproval at a name.
"Not feeling that one, eh? How about Morgana? No, on second thought, too magic related. Hmm, oh I know. How about Lira this time. What do you think?"
"Uhh sure that's fine," I said wanting this headache to end.
"Great!" she said and then turned over her wrist as if looking at an invisible watch.
"Ahh, I wanted more time, but it looks like time is up."
I motioned around to our surroundings.
"How can time be up? You are literally controlling it right now!"
She waved away my remark with a simple remark.
"You're thinking of 4th dimensional time. 17th dimensional time is a whole other annoying experience that you do not want the hassle of dealing with, trust me."
She looked at her wrist again and quickly shot her gaze back to me.
"OK sorry really got to go now! Bye dear, I'll see you later! Give my love to the girls!" she said blowing me a kiss with a small wave.
Then she suddenly vanished, and I heard the ambient audio of the surroundings start up again, something I hadn't even realized was missing until just now. My helmet was laying on the ground where she had just been standing before.
Looking back, I saw the soldiers begin moving again as they stayed ready on guard duty.
There was really only one thing to say after that encounter.
"What the fuck just happened."
AN: Hope you enjoyed the chapter everyone.
I was conflicted about the whole last section with the "goddess" Lira. I'd liked to know how you feel about her from this introduction.
Is she too over the top?
Are you completely lost about what was going on and what just happened? If so the section was meant to be confusing as you and our protagonist don't have the full story yet but I hoped there was enough hints that it was followable.
Is she overly annoying? Do you want to see more of her? Things of that nature.
I'll change the photo of the story to the one I used as a reference for what she looks like. I think she's a character from a game or something but I have no idea what game the photo is from.
Other than that chapter 6 and 7 are done. I'm starting up 8 soon and story wise the group is about halfway through Tatooine at the end of chapter 7. Chapter 8 will finish off Tatooine.
Hope you enjoyed and hope to hear your reactions to our goddess soon.
Have a good one,
Magician.