Harry turned his body laboriously to face the sound. Behind him, standing at the entrance to Merrin's abode, stood a young man with red hair. Harry stopped breathing for what felt like a year as all he saw was the visage of his childhood companion, Ron. However, as the redhead shifted and took a step forward, the illusion shattered and Harry grunted as he physically shook off the thoughts that had seized him. His friend was not here with him. He was still alone.
"What did you do to Merrin?" demanded the redhead carefully as he slowly approached, his energy sword pointing to the side but held ready to engage at a moment's notice.
"Nothing. You Cal?" Harry gasped through his raw throat barely loud enough to carry across to the approaching young man.
"Yeah, that's me. Who're you?" countered Cal as he stopped coming forward and eyed Harry suspiciously.
"Harry," He said in a hurried introduction. "Merrin mentioned you and your friends, said you might be able to get me off this bloody planet?" He finished as his lethargic legs began to shake under him. Harry shifted his arms to get a better hold on Merrin so as not to drop her.
"We might. Merrin called us for a pickup and said something about someone that needed a lift…" Cal began but was cut off by Harry.
"Great," said a clearly unimpressed Harry as he cut across Cal's undoubtedly long winded explanation. "Listen, that tomb thing did a number on us, so can we skip the talk and just get to your ship and maybe we can talk more there?"
Cal, scrutinized the man holding Merrin and not feeling any sort of warning from the Force, complied. He turned off his lightsaber and attached it back to his belt before he approached and offered to take Merrin from Harry. Shrugging and not seeing a reason not to keep holding the woman given his exhaustion, he nodded.
Focusing for a moment Cal lifted Merrin from Harry using the Force and began walking away. Harry clicked his tongue before calling after Cal, "Hey!" Getting the young man to curiously look over his shoulder Harry continued, "Aren't you going to grab her things?"
Cal smirked at him as he turned back to the direction he was moving in, "You grab it."
"Bloody hero you are mate. Just leaving a lady's things while taking her home from a pub crawl," Harry groused as he stumbled into Merrin's abode and quickly packed away her things into the bag Merrin had brought with her. Groaning as he stood up Harry walked out of the shelter carrying Merrin's bag slung over his shoulders and looking around for Cal.
…Who hadn't waited for him to grab Merrin's belongings. Cursing the young man under his breath, Harry closed his eyes and felt for the familiar feeling that was Merrin's presence. She stood out from the background 'noise' of Dathomir and in the time it had taken Harry to find her, she had moved rapidly before she and, Harry presumed, Cal arrived at the ship. Rolling his eyes at the downright juvenile behavior of Cal, Harry once more gathered up his meager reserves of power and wrapped them around him until he felt comfortable enough to materialize nearest to where Merrin was being taken.
=)=(=
Cal was not happy.
He walked up on some guy that had his hands all over Merrin! And they could have been alone on this planet for nearly two weeks! Honestly, what had she been thinking? Having taken her from this 'Harry', he quickly sprinted away while carrying Merrin. They hadn't landed far away but it was far enough they could leave well before Harry was able to stumble his way to them. This guy was probably planning on taking advantage of Merrin had Cal not gotten there in time!
He mentioned the Tomb of Kujet too! Harry must have coerced her to go there just to attack her! Cal felt his breathing increase as he continued to think about what could have happened and he knew it wasn't because of his running.
Realizing where his thoughts were taking him Cal took a moment to remember the tenants of the Jedi Order.
"Peace," said as he centered himself in the dark haze of Dathomir, "Knowledge, Serenity, Harmony, the Force," he mumbled to himself as he tried to wrestle himself from jealousy's dark grip.
While he did succeed in freeing himself from the feeling of jealousy, he wasn't enough of a Jedi yet to stop himself from abandoning Harry on the planet. Surprisingly Cal didn't fight the satisfied feeling of abandoning the man on this planet. Arriving in the clearing where the ship had landed Cal slowed but still strode quickly into the Stinger Mantis. Greez was shuffling about in the galley, likely making himself a snack while they were waiting. Cere was seated on the couch reading something on a holopad. Both looked up from their tasks as Cal entered the ship with Merrin floating behind him.
"Time to go Greez!" Cal called as he walked past the alien to take Merrin back to her bunk space.
"Didn't Merrin say she had someone else that we would take with us?" Asked the, recently, three armed alien.
"He attacked her in the Tomb and was probably going to hurt her more when I found them. Best to leave now," Cal said succinctly as he disappeared into the bunk quarters in the aft of the ship.
Sharing a look with Cere, Greez shrugged his shoulders. Cal hadn't ever given them a reason not to believe him so the pilot trudged towards the cockpit. However, as he began his march to the fore of the vessel he leapt back as a being materialized in the middle of the living space of the vessel! A young man with black hair and eyes the color of emeralds. He appeared out of the air like he was stepping through a curtain and the material on his shoulders gracefully flowed like silk as he draped the cloth down his back.
Harry materialized in the clearing that the starship had landed. Taking a brief moment to awe at its construction Harry reminded himself to get aboard. Suspicious of Cal's actions Harry grumbled as he fished out his invisibility cloak and swung it over his shoulders. Harry boarded the ship just as Cal was walking into the aft of the ship.
Harry was not pleased with how Cal had presented him as he had arrived. He had slipped on his invisibility cloak and stepped into the ship only to hear Cal cast aspirations upon his person. More than a little put out with the action Harry swept back the cloak off his head and shrugged the cloak over his shoulders so that it only draped down his back instead of covering him and rendering him invisible.
Holding up Merrin's bag, he raised an eyebrow at both Greez and Cere, the latter having pulled a blaster and was pointing it at him. "Merrin's things," He said simply. "And I don't appreciate being made out a villain preying on women just to soothe the ego of a some spoiled brat."
The quiet confused atmosphere was broken by Cal as he came back from the bunks. "You!" he shouted with frustration and no small amount of anger.
"Hello again Cal," said an unimpressed and very tired Harry. "Did you forget something back there?" Harry asked with annoyance.
"No," responded the young man. "You hurt her," snarled Cal. Cere and Greez both looked between the two young men as the tension in the vessel grew slowly. "I think leaving you here is the best thing to do."
Cere, watching this all unfold, frowned to herself as she contemplated Cal's behavior. It wasn't like him to act this way. Angry. Certainly Merrin was strong enough not to be harassed in such a manner, and her communication mentioned a 'friend' that needed help off the planet. Cal was acting very…controlling. Cere supposed she could understand why. Harry was handsome, powerful, and not easily intimidated, obviously. She could feel the Force around him, wild and untrained perhaps, but not weak by any means.
"That damn Tomb certainly did put us through the grinder," Harry repeated. Seeing both Greez and Cere look to him at the mention of the Tomb of Kujet he elaborated, "I felt a call from the Tomb and went to investigate. Merrin mentioned that going might be a bad idea, but I knew I needed to go. What I saw…" He trailed off and in the Force echoed his anguish. Both Cere and Cal recoiled from the feeling. Harry shook himself and the oppressive pain faded from the Force and Harry took a breath before he continued, "Well it was painful. When I was overwhelmed she must have come to help." Harry turned to look past Cal back to where he could feel Merrin and let his gaze rest, imagining her sharp retort at him gazing after her. With a gentle shake of his head he continued, "Whatever was in the vision turned on her, showed her something as equally painful as my own. But her words pulled me from my own hurt and once she lost consciousness I was trying to bring her home," Harry concluded with a shrug, more because it was all he could do at the time.
"A likely story," sneered Cal as he folded his arms and stared at Harry.
Harry spoke as he pointed to the deck of the ship, "I don't have to stay here. Just wanted off the planet. Take me somewhere I can find another ride and I'll get off there." He walked over to the couch and sat down.
Greez nodded his head towards the cockpit after catching the eye of Cere. He walked past her and Harry, towards the fore of the vessel. Stopped when Harry called out to him, "You're the pilot of this vessel?" Greez just nodded in response. "Thanks for the lift," said the exhausted Harry. Greez gave the man a brief, uncomfortable, smile and headed back to get the ship off the ground.
Cal scoffed as he walked past them and followed Greez to the front of the vessel. Harry heard a small mechanical whistle of tones when Cal made it to the cockpit.
"Yeah, she'll be fine buddy," said Cal as the engines began to hum.
Harry sighed and freed himself from the invisibility cloak. Tucking the heirloom away into his pouch he caught the woman, Cere he remembered from Merrin, staring at him. "You must be Cere Junda, Jedi Master and unofficial 'big sister' to Merrin?" he asked as he noticed her gaze.
Silently she only nodded as she observed the young man that they had somehow picked up. Around them the sounds of the ship powering systems hummed with life and the two pilots making preflight checks bantered back and forth. Harry himself groaned as he leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes. As the silence stretched, Cere delicately reached out with her senses to feel out the passenger. In the Force he echoed with a pulsating agony, the wound was painful but no longer raw. The dark feeling of Dathomir pressed down on them and made it hard to find Harry amid its cloud of darkness. Cere winced internally and retreated from his presence in the Force. That made sense why she could only sense vagueness from Harry. She could feel a bit of his potential through the haze that was Dathomir's darkside presence. Harry didn't react to her metaphysical touch and only grumbled as he shifted in his seat.
As soon as they left the atmosphere of Dathomir however, things got 'exciting'.
Harry suddenly gasped and tried to stand on his feet. He failed, as he collapsed to his knees and grasped weakly at his chest. His breath came and went in a wheeze as if he were being crushed. Indeed Harry felt as if enormous hands were gripping him, attempting to pull him back towards the planet. Struggling against the feeling Harry twisted and tried to physically free himself before the feeling became too much and he slumped forward, his upper body splayed across the small table in front of the couch. Harry's fingers searched for something across the table and weakly curled around the edge giving him something to grab onto as he fought for breath in the planet's grip. The pressure increased and Harry struggled for breath that wouldn't come. The hands grasping him began losing their grip and like fingers slipping from their hold, the tendrils of Dathomir's darkside energies snapped and released their grip.
Harry, suddenly released from the desperate grip of the planet's instinctive Force presence, panted as air rushed into his lungs. As he finally gave up the last remnants of his consciousness he noticed how much Dathomir must have been influencing him. "It's so bright," he mumbled before he slumped onto the glass and lay unmoving.
Cere had tensed and reached for her blaster as soon as Harry sifted but shook off her reaction as soon as she noticed his distress. She had reached out to steady the young man. However, she flinched away and staggered to her feet, making as much space between herself and Harry as possible. In the Force she could feel a shroud fall away and Harry's presence radiated in that moment. He felt like cold, dark, and rot. He radiated the despair of someone's last breath and the agony of a lifetime of regrets.
"Death," she gasped in horror. A hand gently pressed down on her shoulder and her head swiveled to find Cal, staring down at Harry, his eyes wide and filled with fear. Having fought Inquisitors and other agents of the Emperor they knew this feeling. It was the Force presence of a darkside user. But this? This was primal, feral even. This darkness was instinctive and cosmic, a constant fear lurking on the edge of every living being in the universe. Harry radiated the darkness that Sith had chased for eons.
"Another Sith?" Cal voiced the question to no-one. Cere shakily nodded her head and turned to go to the cockpit to speak with Greez.
"We can't just kill him Cal," She said, seeing the young man fingering his lightsaber nervously. Catching her eye he centered himself before nodding.
"Get to the next habitable system and we'll leave him there. We'll have fulfilled Merrin's promise and he can get a ride with someone else there," Cal said apprehensive and agitated as Harry's Force presence battered against his mind. BD-1 scampered from the cockpit and trilled at him. Cal let out a heavy breath as he grabbed BD and put the little droid on his shoulder. "I'm not sure what happened BD. But this guy feels very dark, he can't stay with us," Said Cal as he leaned against the wall to watch over the Sith.
BD-1 peaked around Cal's hair and tilted his head as he scanned Harry. Turning to Cal he warbled. "Don't know buddy. But he did something to Merrin and Dathomir's Force signature isn't hiding him anymore. We know he's a Sith. We'll toss him out of the ship when we stop!" Cal snarled.
BD-1 was quiet for a moment as he looked from Cal, to Harry, and then to the bunks where Merrin was resting. He whistled quietly, and with uncertainty. "Yes I'm sure!" Cal snapped at the droid who hummed sadly and pulled himself tight against Cal's back and left the young Jedi to his vigil.
=)=(=
Cere made brief contact with an informant as they reached Mandalore space. During their sojourn around the galaxy the last few years they had made contacts with members who were unhappy with the Empire and were resisting. The contact Cere had made here quickly sent them a communication requesting they smuggle some information out of the system and get it to an ally who worked in the slave market keeping tabs on where Mandalorians and other important slaves were being sold to.
The Stinger Mantis landed on a private pad and Cere met her contact to get the data that needed to be passed on. During the meeting she mentioned they had a potential Sith onboard and no way to secure him. Her contact assured her they could handle the prisoner and after offloading Harry into the hands of Mandalorian resistance forces the Stinger Mantis left Mandalorian space as quietly as they had entered.
=)=(=
Kal Skirata was not pleased to have a Sith in one of his cells but he did want to question the damn dar'jetti. Palpatine and his ilk had caused more than enough problems and the jetti were no better. Scowling to himself, Kal quickly walked down the hallways of the facility to where he and his resistance members were holding the dar'jetti. He had fought in the Clone Wars and was, like most, surprised at the sudden change in leadership. But he was a Mandalorian, he and his people would survive. While he had friends off-world doing what they could to pull in money Kal was working training and organizing the Resistance on-world.
He found himself outside the cell that housed their problem jetti. He nodded to the guards and the door slid open, allowing three of them to enter the cell where a man with black hair and haunting emerald eyes watched them, hands and feet bound. Kal and Harry merely stared at the other, neither wanting to be the first to break eye contact in this first contest of power.
It was Kal's communicator peeping that forced Kal to break eye contact with Harry and check the pointless message. Scowling he turned back to his prisoner and folded his arms across his chest and after taking a fortifying breath, spoke. "So you're a Sith eh? What's your purpose being out here?" Kal demanded.
Harry Potter, twice incarcerated since arriving in this galaxy, sat in a chair with his hands and feet bound and three seasoned warriors standing around him. Without reservation Harry could say that he was not impressed with his situation. Staring up at his jailor and guards Harry blinked slowly before shrugging his shoulders and proceeding with the truth. "I got a lift from an acquaintance off of Dathomir. I lost consciousness while leaving the planet and when I woke up I was in this cell," Harry drily responded.
One of the guards scoffed and shifted their feet. Kal's only response was to continue staring down their prisoner. "So you just happened to have fallen into the hands of two Jedi and passed off to us…as a fluke?" He asked with the last statement made with a single raised eyebrow.
Harry only tiredly nodded in response. Kal obviously didn't believe him and there was no way that Harry could persuade the other man about his sincerity. He had no credentials and no reputation to lean on.
"I don't believe you. I should just force answers out of you," Kal unsurprisingly stated. Each guard stood a little straighter and they both seemed to enjoy the idea of putting hands on Harry to 'gather information'.
Harry was unimpressed. There was little that anyone could do to him that hadn't been done in the previous war. Still as unpleasant as the situation was, he felt compelled to just lay out as much of his situation about the galaxy as he could. "That'd do no good," Harry sighed. "I honestly don't know anything. I arrived on Dathomir in a manner that I don't understand and I've been on that planet for around twenty days or so. When we left it was with the help of my acquaintance's friends who, presumably, passed me off to you," he elaborated. "Whatever information you think I may have as being a Sith is a false assumption."
Kal narrowed his eyes before he walked over to where Harry was seated, grasped his chin and forced him to meet Skirata's eyes. Harry kept his gaze steady and kept the man's gaze despite his irritation at being manhandled. Seconds passed as Kal and Harry communicated with just their eyes and what was forged in fires beyond these 'windows'. Clicking his tongue Kal stood up and told the guards to leave. Grabbing another chair from the side of the cell he sat down across from Harry. "So maybe you don't know anything," Kal conceded, having been convinced of Harry's words and lack of any actionable intelligence. "But I also can't just let you go. Our facility here is hidden for a reason."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Just put a bag over my head, drive me to the edge of whatever town and toss me out."
Kal actually laughed at Harry's suggestion, surprising the sorcerer. "You're full of fire aren't you? What's your name?" Asked the Mandalorian as he pulled out the key to Harry's bindings and undid them.
Rubbing his wrists and taking a moment to roll his ankles to remove any discomfort from the shackles Harry responded to the older man, "Harry Potter. I'd prefer Harry if I have an option."
Kal stood and tucked the shackles away. "Well we don't have much space for entertaining. This cell will be your bunk space until we can figure out something to do with you. I'll make sure the door stays open and we won't lock you up," he said.
"I appreciate that mate. I've been holed up in worse places so it doesn't bother me. I do appreciate your giving me a chance," Harry responded with genuine thanks for the consideration as he stood and offered a hand to Kal.
Kal huffed, amused at the temerity of the young man. He shook the hand offered. Kal basically offered the kid a place to sleep, in a cell, after threatening to have him tortured for information. "Whatever kid," Kal said as he turned away, amusement lacing his words. "Those eyes of yours told the story, you mean what you said. Couldn't very well pump you for information you don't have." Kal shook his head as his day just got more and more ridiculous. He continued by giving Harry one last warning, "Don't wander off, you're not cleared for access in most areas around here," he said over his shoulder as he walked out of the cell and back down the hall.
"Wait!" Yelled Harry and Kal stopped, turning his head over his shoulder to eye Harry inquisitively. "Can I do anything to help around here? I'll lose my mind just sitting around here," Harry asked the man.
Kal laughed and sarcastically retorted, "Sure, I got space for a kriffin' nutcase on a one man suicide mission. Are you up for that kid?" Harry's next words practically knocked the Mandalorian warrior on his ass.
"Sure. I'm good at those," said a smiling Harry.
=)=(=
Merrin was livid.
Cal had -SOMEHOW!- been off ship when she woke up. So when she didn't find Harry on the ship, she marched to the galley and found Greez since Cal was 'indisposed'. The confused Nightsister demanded to know where Harry was. Not being able to locate him by feeling for his power had only led Merrin to wonder at what Cal might have done. She was under no illusion that it was any other reason Harry wasn't here. Cal was the unofficial leader of the crew of the Mantis.
Merrin felt the need to talk to Harry about what happened during the vision from the Tomb. As much as she didn't like to admit it, she had given him up for Ilyana, even if it was a vision and she felt incredibly guilty for letting the memory of her oldest love break her will. As she thought that she did feel shame, was she so heartless? Or was it just her being a Nightsister and using her assets, males being one of those assets? Maybe she had more to sort out after that meeting with Mother Talzin than she thought.
When she had found out from the nervous alien that Cal and Cere had dumped Harry off in the hands of some resistance cell on Mandalore because they assumed he was a Sith, the little alien pilot was quickly reminded that she was a powerful witch. The entire vessel that was the Stinger Mantis quivered under her rage. She had stalked off back to her room to await the two Jedi and had been waiting the better part of the day, which had allowed the young woman to build up a significant fury which led to her current situation.
It was the trilling and whistling of the little droid, BD-1, that alerted her to Cal's return to the ship. The young man had dropped himself into the couch on the Mantis and was relaxing from the trip, finally feeling safe enough to let down his guard. Cal's calm was immediately shattered when Merrin's searing anger burned across his awareness. Stumbling across the ship Cal rushed quickly towards the aft of the vessel. His actions were unnecessary as Merrin stepped out of the quarters of the vessel into the common room.
"Merrin!" Cal called to his fellow survivor. He was immensely relieved she had recovered from whatever she had suffered at the Sith's hands. Her anger must be from whatever he had done to her.
"Cal," she responded, her voice devoid of any inflection. Her maelstrom of anger raging under her calm exterior as she stared at the young man as he came to her.
"I'm glad you're ok!" He exclaimed as he slowly approached her. Her anger felt like cutting blades in the Force. "I was worried that guy might have…" he trailed off and cringed before he continued, "done things to you. I was worried," he trailed off sounding exactly like he said.
Merrin however was far from wanting to be coddled by Cal. For some reason Cal had made decisions for her. Did what he thought was best for her without even waiting for her input. She understood this role while during an groundside operation, someone had to be calling the shots and generally it was Cal while on the ground. But in her personal life? No, she was a Nightsister, males did not tell her what to do. Irritation briefly flashed across her face before she pulled her mask back down. During the moment of quiet Cal continued to approach and reached out a hand to place on her shoulder.
Merrin slapped his hand away and monotonously asked, "Where is he?"
"Who?" Cal asked with his own frustration now boiling up at her reaction. He knew who she was asking about but he didn't want to discuss Harry with her.
"Harry! Where is Harry?" Merrin hissed. Like a thermal vent releasing heat, her spike of anger stabbed at him.
Cal winced at the feeling in the Force and wondered why she was so upset still. What had that Harry guy done to her to make her this angry? "He's…secured. He's locked away Merrin," Cal whispered soothingly to the girl, "He can't hurt you anymore."
Cere arrived, and with great trepidation, entered the ship. She felt the Force pulsing with Merrin's anger and she cautiously drew closer to the two members of the crew. From the corner of her eye she noticed Greez barely peeking over the back of the couch to watch the interaction.
Merrin scoffed at Cal's statement and her sharp eyes settled on Cere as she came to a stop in the main hold of the vessel. Pushing Cal would be useless, he was stubborn when he wanted to be. "Why did you turn him over Cere?" Merrin demanded, her voice icy.
Not intimidated by the young woman's anger, but cautious of her potential reactions the former Jedi answered succinctly, "He is a Sith. We do not have the resources to deal with him."
This was the wrong thing to say.
The Force boiled in the face of Merrin's anger. "He is no Sith!" Merrin shouted. Her voice distorted as she spoke, echoing in the Force and in the air with the presence of thousands of her sisters.
"He was steeped in death and darkness! He's no Jedi, Merrin!" Cal shouted back. He imposed himself between Merrin and Cere, remembering when Merrin had sounded like this on Dathomir and the danger that this might foretell.
"So," She drawled, "that's what this is about." Merrin stated as she glared at Cal. With the presence of her sisters around her Merrin could feel Talzin's laughter from the spirit world. Merrin internally snarled at Talzin, this was about Cal's actions, not about Harry or her plans. Talzin's amusement faded into the press of magick power filling her, but Merrin knew she was still there, waiting. Merrin turned to Greez, "Take me back to where they," she snarled her last word, "left Harry."
Greez Dritius had his composure frayed by spending the day with an irritable witch. As soon as she addressed him and her brown eyes stared into his own he could see the eldritch green of her magick dancing on her skin. Greez leapt to his feet and ran to the cockpit, he would deny for the rest of his life that he squeaked in response.
As the Stinger Mantis began to come to life and prepared for another voyage through the hyperlanes Merrin turned her attention back to Cal, "I am not your Padawan, Cal, and I certainly am not your Twi'lek dancer!" She snarled at him. She clenched her fists and stepped up to Cal. Cal had paled and was stuttering trying to find something, anything, to say to defend himself. But his words failed him in the face of the angry Nightsister. "You have shown me your true face and I am repulsed by what I have seen," Merrin stepped a little bit closer to him, crowding him with her body and magicks. "I will never belong to you," Merrin growled like the force of nature she felt like. Turning away and going back to her bunk Cal and Cere noted that the young woman was wreathed in her green magicks. Once the door to her quarters had hissed closed and the frothing rage in the Force faded with her distance, Cere and Cal moved to the couch and sat down idly thinking on Merrin's words.
"Cal," Cere pulled his attention to her before continuing, "do you know for sure that Harry hurt Merrin?"
Cal, not pleased to be called out on his assumptions and having already been confronted by Merrin, grunted and didn't respond to the older woman. As the silence between them dragged on he eventually spoke without looking at Cere, "No. He was carrying her and mentioned being in the Tomb. But he must have done something to her while they were in there!" He insisted in an attempt to defend himself. Cere could feel his obstinance and jealousy tainting the Force like a miasma.
"Your actions and feelings create a poison in the Force, Cal," Cere commented dryly as she observed the young man.
Cal grunted in response and stood up leaving Cere to herself. He sought out his droid companion for a talk to see if the little being could help him clear his mind.
It was a few days later that Greez had brought the Stinger Mantis down where their contact indicated they would be able to meet with Merrin and give her some help in tracking Harry down. She stood at the hatch to the vessel and for a few long moments. She was leaving the friends, the family, that she had built after the trauma of her childhood. Cere, Cal, Greez, even little BD-1 were her companions. And she was leaving them for a male she barely knew. In the grand scheme of things the reason she was leaving was mostly because recently Cal had become stifling and controlling. Without the call from Talzin she might not have even seen the parts of their relationship that were twisting into something unrecognizable.
"Are you sure you want to leave Merrin?" asked Cal from behind her. The pain and desperation in his voice was that last thing she needed to hear to set out.
"Yes," she said without looking back at him. She had said her goodbyes to Greez, Cere, and BD-1. Her ire had cooled from her earlier tempestuousness and the damage that Cal had done to their relationship was something that she couldn't overlook or repair, even if she wanted to. Despite Talzin's motives, the trip made Merrin very seriously consider her future and the future of the Nightsisters. For all that she was still unsure of, what she wanted for the Nightsisters, she knew that she didn't want to be the last of them. Harry, she thought to herself fondly, at least knew about loss like she had experienced and from her brief time together treated her very different from Cal. Despite her distaste for Talzin's schemes Merrin had to agree, Harry could be her best choice as a mate.
Damn that dead woman! Merrin would kill her again had she the capability.
Merrin took a breath and slowly released it. Placing her aloof mask on her face she offered her final parting as she stepped forward and down the ramp.
"Goodbye Cal Kestis." She spoke without turning around.
=)=(=
Harry stared at the massive facility. There were those 'Stormtroopers' outside training in various exercises, a transport hub that looked like its gates also surrounded a few warehouses. Beyond the motor pool there was a well traveled 'road' that was currently being traversed by some repulsor craft ferrying containers from an adjacent factory of some sort. Harry could make out just beyond the factory another facility with watchtowers and fences and patrolling Stormtroopers with blaster rifles. Putting the electrobinoculars back to the pouch provided by Kal Skirata, Harry sat back down underneath a tree inside the forest so as not to be noticed.
Harry had no idea what he was doing.
Honestly he was flummoxed when he responded that he was good at suicide missions. It just felt like the right thing to say at the time. It was even true! Skirata had taken a very long hard look at Harry before telling him to follow. In a very quick briefing Harry was told that he was to infiltrate the prison facility and get out as many enslaved Mandalorians as he could before the Imperials caught on. The guy had tossed Harry a belt with a few objects to help him out. The electrobinoculars, a datapad and a coin stamped with some strange skull, and something Harry could only describe as a 'burner communicator'.
"Once you get out who you can, you, or whoever is still alive, can contact us with that and we'll give you meet up coordinates. It's built to fry itself after use, so it's the only way to get back in touch with us," Kal had said before the doors to the stealth transport closed and the pilot had barely mumbled a 'strap in' before Harry was slammed into the bulkhead as the small craft flew across the landscape towards his drop off point.
Once he had been dropped off more than two hundred kilometers away from the prison and left on his own, Harry began to wonder when his smart mouth would stop getting him in trouble.
Not anytime soon, given his record.
Harry had made up the distance by carefully materializing using the technique he had learned from Merrin. He was still a bit upset that he hadn't had a chance to check up on her before he was tossed out on his arse but considering they were her friends, he wasn't too upset. Seemed that Cal had more than a few issues with Harry being around than he had thought.
Once he had sighted the facility Harry had found himself a hidden and defensible location to observe the place while he began to think of how he might be able to break out the slaves. Idly he turned the situation over in his mind as he observed the prison, the factory, what he supposed was a barracks and the personnel that occupied it. What he needed was a way to gather up all the base personnel into one area to contain or eliminate them. But how could he do that without causing a panic or endangering the lives of the prisoners?
Harry sat for nearly an hour just staring at the goings on pondering on just how he was supposed to do anything to help the Mandalorian people. Huffing in frustration he dropped his face into his hands and groaned as he squeezed his head with his fingers.
"It would be easy if this were England and I were the bloody Queen coming for an inspection!" Harry muttered to himself. Immediately his body stiffened as the Force around him practically vibrated with excitement and humor at his statement. Harry slowly raised his head and his eyes narrowed as he looked to the facility under an intense scrutiny seeing something different altogether. Each moment he stared at the cold metal, details and opportunities wove themselves into a passable plan. Harry could infiltrate under the guise of a visiting Imperial General and gather up the garrison for an inspection. Once the garrison was contained he could hold them in place and release the prisoners and get them back to Kal Skirata and his resistance before the Garrison got free…
Except, Harry had no idea how the galaxy operated and wouldn't be able to pass off as an inspecting General. Harry had stood and strode into part of the forest to conceal himself from the barracks. Now standing he was in a cleared patch of dirt making notes in the ground with a stick as he mumbled to himself. Crossing out "Inspecting Imperial General", Harry folded his arms and looked at the rest of the highlights to his plan. Most of it was still viable; he just needed to figure out how to get the garrison together. The Force seemed to draw his attention by tugging on his mind. Harry looked down to the crossed out section of his plan and considered. As he did his eyes locked onto one of the previous words scratched into the dirt "Imperial". The word echoed in his mind over and over overlaid with his own voice and Harry jolted when it finally clicked into place.
Imperio.
He could infiltrate under his cloak, find the Commander of the garrison, use him to call a gathering of the personnel under the intention of 'important new orders' from a General or someone higher in the chain of command. Stepping to the side he made more notes on ideas and what he could do. Smiling as he worked out plans Harry continued to scratch ideas into the dirt.
=)=(=
Harry stood behind Imperial Major Shiro Ishii. The guy certainly looked Asian in Harry's opinion. Internally he cringed, stereotypes were true for a reason but he certainly didn't want to assume things in this galaxy.
Harry had succeeded in infiltrating the barracks building. As it turned out, the massive structure contained a barracks, the administrative section of the garrison, an armory, and the officer's quarters (at a much higher and spacious level than the rank and file). He had nabbed an off duty member and when questioned under the Imperius curse found his way to Major Ishii's office.
He may have gotten lost twice, but he eventually found his way without being seen.
So here he stood as Major Ishii called the company Captains and the additional 'Warden Captain' in charge of the prison. While they waited Harry, still under his invisibility cloak, questioned the Major about how the prison operated and how many Mandalorians it contained. Harry would have nearly one hundred and thirty prisoners to escort out of Imperial hands. Surprisingly, there was a scheduled convoy of deliveries of something called 'Beskar' to be made in the next few days so leaving with a group of repulsor craft wouldn't be an issue.
As Harry ruminated on the serendipity of such a thing the door hissed open and admitted four men and woman. The five came to attention and saluted the Major.
"At ease," drawled the Major. "I have received word that we will soon have a visit by Rear Admiral Miltin Takel." Each of the subordinates' eyes widened at the statement. Confusion on some faces, surprise on others. "We have had the best operational production of Beskar from our mines," continued Major Ishii, "the Rear Admiral wants to inspect our operation to ensure that others are set up and operating to our standards. In response, we will hold a formation today as a practice for his arrival at the end of the week. Once we have our garrison in formation I'll pass along the information about the Rear Admiral," with a response affirming they understood Major Ishii dismissed four of the Captains.
"Imperio," Harry hissed and the Warden Captain of the prison fell under the control of the Force Sorcerer. "Shiro, I need the garrison from the prison thinned as much as possible."
"Yes sir," replied the Major as he turned his attention to the now controlled Warden. "Captain Jewils, cut short the meal for the slaves and lock them into their cells early in response to the formation. No skeleton crew, bring everyone except yourself to the formation. Await word from my agent, callsign 'Serpent'," commanded the Major. Nodding in response to his new orders, Warden Captain Jewils was dismissed and left the two to carry out his orders.
Harry, wary of cameras or other recording equipment, merely moved to stand beside the Major while under his cloak. "Why have the prison personnel attend the formation and not leave a smaller occupying force?" Harry asked befuddled at the actions taken by the Major.
Major Ishii stood from his chair and went to a closet to change into a new uniform for ceremonies. As he changed he responded to Harry, "The facility can be locked down by the Warden and it is all automated with riot droids in case of a breakout. There's no need to have any other troopers for something like this. It's nearly the end of the day anyway," Shiro scoffed as he thought of the slaves. "There's nothing to have them doing anyway except whimper in their cells."
Harry really did not like this guy.
Harry didn't like him as he followed the Major to the formation. Harry didn't like him when Ishii locked down the parade deck to prevent escape. Harry didn't like Ishii as he set Fiendfyre ablaze inside the barracks. And Harry certainly didn't like him when the imperious curse was lifted and the Major just started laughing as his men and the building burned around him.
The Force mourned, the feeling was much akin to Fawkes sad trilling, at the deaths of so many but even as it did Harry could feel the acceptance of a job well done. The Force was a strange beast, more alive and complicated than the Magic Harry was used to. Determining its moods and intentions was difficult. Shrugging off the thoughts and getting back to his mission, Harry materialized outside of the prison and was contacted by a security remote. Warden Jewils let him in once Harry confirmed he was 'Agent Serpent'.
Indifferent to the burning barracks Jewils did as Harry directed. They shut down the riot droids, shut off the security, and opened the cells. Horrifying to Harry, Jewils entered a command to 'shut down the implanted subdermal explosives'. Jewils led Harry to the common area used for role calls and meals. Soon enough a small group of enslaved Mandalorians ventured into the hall investigating a potential for a jail break.
"Evening ladies and gentlemen," Harry said jovially. "I've come on behalf of Kal Skirata to get you all out of here and back home."
That was something. At his words a few of the group huddled up while a few others kept watch on Harry and Warden Jewils. After a few minutes of quiet arguing Harry was approached by a younger man, a blonde and apparently a leader among the prisoners. The blonde stood across from Harry and Jewils and stared hard at the two before he focused his attention on Harry.
"Oh right, I have something to prove that I was sent here. Just a second mate," Harry started when he remembered the other things he was given by Skirata. As Harry moved towards his belt the blonde moved back quickly and the other prisoners surged forward to get at the two before he could pull out whatever weapon they thought he might have.
"Here," said Harry calmly as he finally fished out the small coin and flicked it towards the blonde. The man snatched the coin out of the air. His fellow prisoners halted their advance on Harry and the Warden, suspicion still written on their faces. The blonde took a few moments to look over the coin and then study Harry.
"Alright, so maybe we won't kill you. Skirata sent you?" he questioned as Harry observed the group of men and women around him.
Harry shrugged in response, "It was more like he offered a crap job and I jumped at the opportunity not to be stuck sitting on my arse without authorization to go anywhere." The blonde raised his eyebrow at the comment but brushed it aside. "I have a datapad for someone here to look over, too, aside from the coin anyway," Harry said. Once the blonde nodded Harry pulled it from a small satchel on his belt and passed it over to the blonde. "Nice to meet you guys. My name is Harry," he held out his hand for the blonde man to shake after he had taken the datapad.
"Korkie," the blonde man responded after a moment and shook Harry's hand. After nothing was said about his name Korkie turned on the pad and began to scan through the information. Nodding to himself he was able to confirm a thing or two about what Harry claimed. It was no guarantee that Harry was working for Skirata, but given the circumstances it would have to do. Passing the pad to another prisoner Korkie looked suspiciously at the Warden. "So what's the story with the Warden here? Some deep sleeper agent?"
Harry, hearing the obviously sarcastic question, laughed. "Nah, mind control," he said. "Gather up your crew Korkie, we're about to get the hell out of this place," Harry said before he turned towards the front gates of the prison, the Warden following after him.
Korkie watched the man sweep out of the hall with absolutely no fear of the Mandalorians he walked past. Nor did he react to his name. Granted dropping the name 'Kryze' in front of an Imperial Agent wouldn't be a great idea, but even using his given name should have gotten some reaction. Intrigued and frustrated he turned around and shouted orders for the Mandalorians to go gather up the rest of their brothers and sisters from the cells and have them escape the prison facility.
Outside the prison Harry was discussing his options with Jewils. Having a large group of personnel to move, it was suggested they take a few cargo repulsor craft to emulate the convoy and have a few pallets of goods stacked in the back to prevent discovery in case of a stop. Harry had no idea where they were going to have to travel to since he hadn't contacted Skirata yet, but better to plan ahead. Confirming the decision Harry sent Jewils ahead to open the gates to the motor pool and shut down the security droids that might still be working.
"Dar'yaim," muttered a stunned voice from behind Harry. Turning, Harry found Korkie and the rest of the Mandalorian slaves staring at the still burning and melting Imperial Garrison.
"Yeah, I had to get a bit creative on dealing with the Imperials but they're not a problem now. Hopefully the Empire writes this all off as a successful uprising from the prisoners and doesn't look too deep. It'd be hard to explain all the molten slag," Harry commented as he nervously ran a hand through his wild hair.
"You, set the barracks on fire?" Korkie asked, unable to believe such a thing even as he and the rest of the Mandalorians were witnessing the conflagration that was angrily consuming the building. Some were even sure that they could see animals in the flames.
"Yeah. It wasn't my first choice, but I became convinced by someone's input," Harry nearly spat the words, his distaste for the reasons was so great, "it would be better to… relieve the troops of duty, permanently."
Korkie and the nearest prisoners nodded in understanding before he addressed Harry, "How are we getting out?"
Harry pointed to the motor pool and started walking towards it, "We're driving out. There is a convoy that was scheduled to leave in the next day or so. We could use that as a cover to get out with your people. I have a communicator to contact Skirata for meetup once we get moving," Harry stopped for a moment to let Korkie catch up and once the two were walking abreast Harry leaned in just a little to ask a question, quietly, "Do you have people that know how to drive those? Cuz I have no idea how any of this stuff works," Harry admitted on the tail of his question.
Korkie almost stumbled at the question. This guy was able to torch an entire garrison of Imperial Stormtroopers but didn't know how to drive a repulsor craft? "Yeah," Korkie said with some disbelief, "we can get that working."
Harry nodded as they entered the motor pool and let Korkie take over, dividing up the prisoners into groups for five repulsor craft. A few grumbled as they had to look for worker uniforms to wear to indicate they were 'Imperials'. As they were set to start loading a commotion grabbed both his and Korkie's attention. Approaching the arguing men, Korkie got to the heart of the issue.
It was a conundrum that they faced as far as the Mandalorians were concerned. The prisoners were mining Beskar for processing and shipment by the Imperials. Inside the warehouse was the latest shipment, all packed and ready to go. The Mandalorians didn't want to leave it, but a few argued there was nothing they could do, even with the repulsor craft it would take much too long to transport before the Empire sent agents to check the garrison and reclaim the supplies. Harry, being who he was, had a solution.
"I can grab it. Korkie, get your people loaded up, I'll take the Warden with me to see what else I can grab and we'll get it all delivered to Skirata and the resistance," Harry said before marching off with Warden Jewils.
Korkie shook his head at the idiot but didn't argue. He'd rather the people get out than all the Beskar. After all, Beskar didn't make anyone a Mandalorian, it was the heart of the warrior under the armor. Within a standard hour Harry had returned with Warden Jewils, no trolley or repulsor craft loaded and to be frank Korkie didn't care. He hauled Harry up into the front of the lead craft and started up the repulsor engine. Harry made sure Warden Jewils got pulled up into the cab of the craft before he slammed the door shut and gave the all clear. Korkie led the convoy out of the motor pool and down the access road out of the complex.
Once out of the complex and on their way Harry was able to get the communicator working, with some small prompting from Korkie, and a surprised resistance operative responded. Korkie took over talking as he actually knew how to drive and relayed the travel accommodations the escapees were using. Getting a new heading Korkie relayed the information to the rest of the convoy and they took off to the rendezvous point.
It was a calm journey as the convoy moved across the landscape and once they met up with the resistance quite a few happy faces could be seen at the rescue of their fellow Mandalorians. Korkie and Harry got the escapees loaded into resistance craft and the resistance scuttled the convoy craft, giving the impression that it was attacked by rouge elements but nothing that could be traced directly back to the resistance. Harry napped on the ride back to the Resistance HQ, Warden Jewils was put under arrest, and Korkie just stared at the black haired rescuer trying to figure out the lucky idiot.
Apparently it didn't get easier to understand once they reached the HQ. Korkie and Harry were met by Kal Skirata, who shared a handshake and a greeting with Korkie before he turned his attention to Harry.
"So you lived," Kal said as he contemplated the mystery jetti that was Harry Potter.
"You sound disappointed Kal," Harry retorted dryly.
"You did say that you were good at suicide missions," Harry was sure that Kal almost laughed, "I was thinking you ment you were good at dying!"
Harry was honestly offended, so far no one had been able to get his death to stick. "That hurts Skirata. It hurts right here," Harry responded grandly as he placed his hand on his chest over his heart. Relaxed as he felt safe here rather than in the prison he'd spent almost three years in, Korkie laughed. Kal and Harry both chuckled, joining Korkie in his mirth. As they wound down Harry brightened before he patted the older warrior on the shoulder, "I even brought gifts!"
Both Korkie and Kal looked at each other. Harry had facilitated the recovery of a hundred and thirty Mandalorians, wiped out an Imperial Battalion, and brought them back a Captain in charge of the prison facility that just answered every question posed to him. What other gifts could he have?
"Alright Potter, what do you have for me?" Kal asked, amused and bemused.
"I need some space," Harry absently commented, "You have a warehouse or something where I can offload some stuff?"
Kal, no longer willing to brush off Harry, eyed him suspiciously before waving Harry to follow. He led them to an underground space that was currently used for the meager bulk medical supplies they had on hand. Waving his hand into the space Kal indicated Harry had control of the empty space.
"Thanks old man," Harry responded cheekily as he grabbed the pouch on his neck and opened the top. Korkie hadn't seen it as it was tucked into his clothes during the rescue. Kal did recognize it, it was something the guards were not able to take off his body when they first processed the jetti. Now he would see what it was all about.
Harry reached across the Force and pulled on the pallets he had obtained from the Imperials. Harry levitated pallet after pallet of goods from his mokeskin pouch. He organized them as he recognized the symbols Jewils had pointed out to him when they had gone into the warehouse. Harry sorted medical supplies on one section, foodstuffs in another, Tibanna reserves, spare blaster weapons and parts, and the Beskar the Mandalorians were arguing about before they left.
"Jetti?" Korkie asked Kal as they watched, stunned.
"Well…" Kal said before he didn't say anything else.
"Dar'jetti?" Korkie asked in response.
"No, I don't think so," Kal mused. "He's certainly no Sith and during the brief talks I don't think he's ever been a jetii either," Kal shrugged as they watched the man float pallets around the room. "He's not affiliated with the jetti who handed him off to us. Honestly I'm not sure what he is."
"Well, at any rate he's a friend to us," Korkie punctuated that by stepping up beside Harry and slapping him on the back after the man finished moving the Beskar to a side of the room. Harry had filled up the space in the time it took most to look across the empty space. "Well Harry, it's been a long day, you made it better for my people, so take a rest. Tomorrow we'll take some of the freed slaves out for a drink to celebrate our freedom."
"We?" Harry asked, a smile tugging at his lips. Korkie was no Ron, but he found he was growing to like the former prisoner.
"Di'kut, yes! You don't think that all of us want to buy you a drink for getting us out of that mine?" Korkie laughed as he turned and followed Kal out to find where the new resistance recruits would be staying.
Harry took a moment to let the relief and joy that rolled off Korkie and Kal to sing across his feelings and soothe his own soul. Then he snapped out of his daze and scampered after Kal.
"Do I still have to sleep in that cell?!" Harry was only met with the laughter of the older man and chortles from Korkie.
=)=(=
Korkie was right, nearly everyone that had come with them to town had offered to buy Harry a drink. It got so bad that Korkie challenged him to a drinking contest to give everyone a chance to buy a drink for him. This was not a good decision for Korkie however. His body had been broken down by the time spent in the prison so the alcohol hit him a bit harder than he expected. Harry himself was magical and the workings of his Magic and the Force burned through the alcohol very quickly.
Harry was laughing with the rest of the Mandalorians as Korkie lay face down snoring on the table and surrounded by numerous empty mugs. Harry would give him a rematch sometime when he was back in a better physical condition.
As he enjoyed the company and the comfortable feeling of the Mandalorians celebrating, Harry felt a tug on his awareness. Immediately he sat himself up and rubbed his hand through his hair casting a sobering charm on himself.
At the entrance to the cantina were muffled voices. As the cantina denizens turned their attention to the disturbance, Harry almost dropped his mug to the ground as he recognized the feeling of the person on the other side of the door.
The door opened and a body sailed through the air before the man landed on his back on a table. The man skipped off the top and into the lap of another drunk patron causing the two of them to fall to the ground in a tangle of limbs. The cantina may have exploded into a flurry of drunken brawling if not for the woman who then crossed the threshold into the cantina.
She was gorgeous. Her silver white hair danced lightly in the air as it moved from inside the cantina through the open door. Her figure was accentuated by the tight pants she wore and the tight red fabric drew more than glances. Her necklace sat on a leather vest of some sort that stretched across her chest. Very likely the idiot had tried to cop a feel and Merrin was having none of that.
Her brown eyes glittered in the cantina light as she followed the feeling of Harry's magicks. Her eyes found his own from across the room and putting on her best irritated face she spoke to cover the smile that threatened to show on her lips, "Harry," She said simply and accusingly.
"Haar'chak!" breathed one of the Mandalorians that had accompanied Korkie and Harry. "You didn't mention if we kept you out your wife would come looking for you!"
A few of the Mandalorian women smirked as they watched. They knew the tone that Merrin had used and were amused at having the opportunity to see their rescuer get hung out to dry by the woman in red.
Harry glared at the former prisoner and his assumptions but figured it would be better to pay his attention to the potentially volatile woman that was Merrin. He put down his mug of... something, and raised his hands in surrender. "I didn't do anything Merrin. I was asleep when they tossed me off the ship," He responded delicately. They were friends but he still didn't know her well enough to read her tells, and right now her face gave nothing away, only showing her irritation with him.
Merrin hummed in response, giving the feeling that she didn't believe that he wasn't responsible for her anger at all. She strode through the cantina towards him. Her long legs made her hips roll side to side as she stalked towards him. The whole cantina was struck stupid except the women, who were beyond amused. At least the men that weren't directly around Harry were dumbfounded. Those brave Mandalorian warriors quickly vacated the seats around him, two of them snatched up the passed out Korkie and drug him out of harm's way.
She towered over Harry as she stood next to him. Harry's hands were still up as he tilted his head to look into her brown eyes. She finally smirked at him after he swallowed nervously at her intense gaze. Satisfied she smoothly sat in a recently vacated chair across from him. She folded her arms under her breasts and placed the most convincing pout on her lips as she could.
"Where's mine?" She asked.
Harry slowly lowered his hands to the table before he laughed at her pouting face as she unfolded her arms and joined him in his laughter.
"Oh I missed you more than I thought Merrin!" Harry said through his snickers. "One for the lady!" He yelled to the bartender.
In response the whole cantina raised their drinks and cheered in agreement.