THE FOUNDRY
Necrolis and Jaesa stood watching as the two Republic defender class corvette ships slipped into the docking bay and landed. The two sith cast a glance to one another, then looked back to wait and watch as the new arrivals exited their ships. Jaesa patted fingers on her lightsaber but Necrolis shook his head and she quickly moved her hand away. If they were going to cause problems, he guessed they would have done so without announcing their arrival and presence.
Asha Lightstar and Tormen Darklight stood ahead of the sith, waiting to greet their friends. Asha smiled and waved as she saw her crew. It was a warm reunion, Necrolis noted, though Doc and Tormen shared uneasy glances between them. Interesting, the pure blooded sith noted. Jaesa looked over the group, noting the robed tall jedi and frowning, elbowing Necrolis to get his attention.
"He doesn't look like your typical jedi." She noted.
"No, he's not." Necrolis growled, recognizing the tendrils on the chin, the dark red close to his own skin. A pure blooded sith. "He's a traitor."
"There you are, beautiful!" Doc chimed up and Asha shot him a look that could kill. Laughing he simply settled for hugging her, though she did note his hand brushing over the cheek of her ass quick and light.
"You all remember Tormen, of course." Asha chuckled as they all acknowledged the smuggler.
"It seems unusual company was an understatement." Scourge remarked, noting the two sith standing a ways off from them.
"Explanations later, but yes, we're all stuck in this together."
Kyl'thanis grabbed her up in a tight hug from behind then, laughing as he had caught her while distracted. Letting go, the jedi followed the glance of the others over to note the sith, his hand twitching and lingering at his lightsaber on his belt. Asha grabbed his hand quickly and shook her head negatively.
"They're allies." Asha stated simply and Kyl'thanis arched an eyebrow in return.
"Allies?" Kamthar commented as he led Havoc Squad over to the growing group. "Ok, this is just getting better all the time."
"Strange times make strange bedfellows indeed." Alric chimed in and shook his head, the cathar confused and unsure.
Asha and Tormen were just leading the group over to introduce them to Necrolis and Jaesa when they were interrupted. The loud yell of Necrolis's name made the republic group jump, and Necrolis turn to look back over his shoulder. Aela Darkstar and Vette raced into the hanger and over to him, both out of breath and clearly bothered by something. All Necrolis could think was, what now?
"Necrolis, its Quinn." Vette blurted out, and made her husband frown in confusion.
"Ok start at the beginning, what is going on? What about Quinn?"
"He's alive." Aela managed to get out, still trying to recover from her ordeal. "I saw him, he's alive."
Necrolis looked at Aela, still confused but somehow sensing such was indeed true. Necrolis and Jaesa had not felt any disturbance at all in the force with Quinn that day. He had wondered on that, but with Quinn not being a force sensitive, it seemed plausible he might not feel his death at all. It still troubled Necrolis, but he just did not know. Knowing Aela was upset, that her emotions were high, he was not sure if he believed in such or not. Had grief clouded her judgement, had she imagined and seen what she wanted to?
Aela caught her brother's sceptical look and frowned in anger and frustration. Smacking him on the chest she moved right up against him, staring up into his face with hard determined grey eyes. Necrolis did not move at all, merely watched and studied the woman closely. Casting a glance to Vette, he could see his wife believed the woman. Whatever had happened she had been there and witnessed such.
"I am not making this up." Aela stated hard and cold at Necrolis. "We need to rescue him."
"Aela, we can't." Necrolis sighed, knowing it was not going to be the answer she wanted to hear.
"We can, and we will!" Aela argued back, stepping back even as she shoved Necrolis in the chest. "We are not leaving him to their oh so tender mercies!"
"Necrolis I…" Vette made to chime in, but Necrolis's raised hand cut her off and she fell silent.
"No."
"Necrolis he was your crew, you'd abandon him?" Aela turned on him, almost pleading in argument.
"We cannot save him." Necrolis said and shook his head. "Much as I would do such, he's in Marr's hands. We cannot go toe to toe with him. Marching off headstrong only gets us all killed."
"Coward!" Aela spat the word in Necrolis' face.
Necrolis snarled even as he grabbed the front of her armour, yanking the woman off her feet holding her up. It was all he could do to force down the rage at her comment. Had it been anyone but family, he knew they would be dead. Letting Aela go, Necrolis stepped back and stretched his neck to either side to ease the tension in him. He could see Vette standing still, both hands over her mouth. She knew all too well how dangerously close Aela had come to facing his wrath.
"Be very careful, sister." Necrolis hissed the words out through gritted teeth before turning to walk away, knowing it was for the best.
"You won't save him, but I will." Aela stated, arms crossing over her chest in defiance, not caring how angry she made Necrolis. It was not about him, not about her, it was about Quinn.
Necrolis turned and made to tell her no she would not, but the words died as he saw Vette move to stand beside his sister, arm draping about the woman's shoulders. Necrolis paused and stared at his wife, knowing what was coming and dreading it.
"Yeah, what she said." Vette backed Aela up. "We're getting our Killjoy back, and that is final."
Necrolis swore under his breath and lamented not letting his sister force choke his wife not that long ago when they were not aligned as allies.
KORRIBAN
Blackheart sat and stared out over the darkening landscape about him. The sun had almost set, the skies a rich darkening red, the towering spires of rock drawn in sharp contrasts of light and long shadows. The zabrak had been a long time since he had been in a position to have to sleep outdoors. Despite the circumstances that had lead to such, he found he enjoyed it. A nice fire gave warmth and he found himself staring into the flames just letting his mind empty of thought.
"We should be careful of having this fire." Raistlis said, voice low as it usually was. Blackheart had quickly learned he spoke in almost whispered tones. It made it tough to hear him at times.
"We are well away from anything." Loun responded, stretching and then stifling a yawn. "On the odd chance it is seen by anyone, they will likely be a wayward lost acolyte and nothing to worry about."
They had fled the Valley of the Dark Lords, making their way to the small stretch of no mans land that marked the passing between the valley and the wilds. The wilds were inhospitable, often causing madness to those that ventured into and lingered there too long. Blackheart remembered it well, the uneasy cold feeling he had gotten, the nagging habit of thinking you heard someone whispering to you when the wind blew. It was not something he wanted to endure again, but they also had no other place to go. So they had found a spot just outside of the valley and made camp as night came.
"So why were they trying to arrest me?" Blackheart broke the standing silence by asking the question, knowing it was the only one that mattered to him.
"Because you are part of the Darkstar family." Loun answered, holding up her hand to silence him while she spoke. "You were adopted, I know. It makes no difference. In capturing you, or Raistlis, you would become bargaining chips."
"Who's after us?" Blackheart asked, noting Raistlis merely stared into the fire as if bored of the whole conversation.
"We do not know." Loun admitted with a shrug. "I only know of such when Necrolis's sister snuck into the academy. She's been marked for death for such a transgression. Someone already wants her, and all the Darkstar line dead and buried however, so it is the least of her concerns."
"We need to get out of here, find the others." Raistlis stated, absently picking up a small red rock and flicking it into the fire.
Blackheart nodded his agreement to Raistlis' words. Both young sith turned to stare at Loun and the Overseer sighed and shook her head. Youth had its advantages she knew. Endurance, strength, all would fade with time, but they lacked experience. There was no sense of caution, merely of invulnerability. There was no understanding of consequence at all with them. The truth was Loun did not know how long they could survive on the run. Whether they stayed or left Korriban behind, they had no idea where to go, and too many unknown enemies out there to try and evade. In the end she preferred to remain on the planet where she knew the area, and how to hide.
"We have no idea where they are, and our enemies are shrouded in shadows from us. We would not make it far. Best we stay here, avoid contact and wait."
Blackheart heard the words and merely nodded, Raistlis giving a snort of disagreement but saying not a word. He could only hope that in time, Loun would change her mind. Until then, he could only do his best to protect himself.
THE VAIKEN
Pyrannus walked in slow circles about her prey, light brown eyes tracing over every mark, every bit of torture that had been inflicted on the man. She had been impressed so far, but it was still early in the game of breaking him. She had made him buckle under the pain to scream, the first sign she was wearing down what meagre resistance the man could muster. It was only a matter of time.
The man's back was a bloody crisscross of gashes from her claws. Flesh was bruised, a lot from before she had taken over his interrogation, but she had left her own mark. The pierced abdomen on the front was but the first of her strikes on him. She had carved bloody gashes into his shoulders and pectoral muscles, even removing the skin of one nipple. Pyrannus grinned at the memory of doing such to Quinn, of listening to the sweet sound of his pain as it ripped from his throat.
Malavai Quinn was aware of the sith's presence, but he could not muster the strength to lift his head. As blood was let from him, he had found himself growing weaker. Trussed up and helpless, all he could do was endure as the cathar did her work on his flesh. He had screamed in pain until his throat was raw, holding to his silence, answering her flippant and defiantly every time. She had only kept working him over. It had been done slowly, drawn out, long moments where nothing happened other than for him to feel the pain. It would end with searing agony, only to be repeated over and over.
"You fight admirably, if not foolishly, Malavai Quinn." Pyrannus leaned in close from behind, whispering softly into his ear. "You know it does not have to get worse, just talk to me. It is not so bad, and not that hard."
Quinn gave a grunt in response, refusing to talk at all. The moment he gave in she would break him utterly, he knew. There was no denying he was in bad shape, but he also knew it was only the beginning. This sith had no remorse in her, and he knew there was far worse in store for him the longer he continued to not surrender utterly. A quick death was not going to be in the cards for him.
"You are all alone, Malavai." Pyrannus continued. "Abandoned and lost, alone to your fate. Save yourself. You owe them nothing."
The cathar shook her head as the man grunted again, his only response. So be it, she thought, all the more fun for me. Turning she walked towards the door to his cell, pausing there to look back over her shoulder at him as she played with the control panel.
"So unwise, so foolish." She purred to him. "Soon I think you will remember this, and beg me to consider such again."
The sith left the room, the door hissing closed and he could hear the dull thunk as the heavy lock bolt shifted into place sealing it. The lights kicked to a red, and it took Quinn a moment to realize they were heat lamps. The sith had set the temperature high enough to burn, but not enough to kill. He was going to be tortured without mercy or thought. I am alone, the words felt like another blow to the gut. He knew the truth in them. They could not risk a rescue, he was on his own. It had been his choice, and he knew he would not change it. Malavai Quinn could only wish for death to come and claim him now, that was his only means of escape.
Darth Marr entered the room and moved to stand beside his apprentice. The two way glass of the viewing room gave a pleasant view of Pyrannus' handiwork. Marr had known Malavai Quinn as one of Baras' trusted and competent men. He had at one time ventured the thought of trying to lure him into his service, but Quinn was nothing if not loyal to a fault. Shortly thereafter Marr had seen the transfer order, Quinn going from Balmorra to be part of Necrolis' crew.
"I see you've been busy, my apprentice."
"Merely the first session, enjoyable as it was. I fear he might well know nothing of real value, my lord."
Marr merely nodded to the cathar's words. He had suspected he might not be easily broken, let alone have any useful and vital information. Still, the man would have his uses. What information that could be gleaned would be, he knew. Pyrannus was stubborn to a fault, not so easily swayed to give up. At the very least, Marr was pleased to have removed Quinn's expertise and tactical know how from his enemies.
"I have need of your sister." Marr commented, knowing he had much to do still in fact. "I shall leave you to your task."
"Yes, my master." Pyrannus bowed her head to him before having a thought. "My lord, might I run an idea by you. I believe such might shake loose our enemies and bring them to us."
Marr paused at the door and turned, nodding for his apprentice to elaborate. Behind the helmet that hid his face, Marr was grinning. His apprentice always managed to surprise him. It pleased him greatly and he could not wait to see what she was up to.