Legends Always Have Several Sides

[Grace]

Aislin was startled at being called a guest. Whoever it was that wanted her LICE'd was either very rich, very brave, or both. More importantly, she wondered why she hadn't been stripped of her weapons. Cautiously curious, she moved over to the larger tent and slid inside. Just inside the tent, she stopped abruptly. Her eyes flew directly to Lord Tepe and Charna at his side. Next to Charna, she recognized Rellis Thren. The Hunter stared at her for a moment as if warning her not to try anything.

 

It wasn't the Hunter's presence that dissuaded Aislin from engaging now. She knew from her research that all of Tepe's family were Force sensitive on some level. In addition to them, there were the numerous Paladins scattered through the crowd. This would be a very bad day to draw a weapon against the Queen. And Aislin had not remained alive as a bounty hunter for this long by taking unnecessary risks.

 

She thought she should run. Her mind screamed at her that running was the best option. But she wouldn't. That would confirm to her 'hosts' that she intended to hunt one of them. She cursed her lack of preparation for this... and moved forward, causing a brief focus shift. Many eyes watched her approach Tepe and Charna and many hands went to weapons.

 

"Lord Tepe, Lady Charna," she greeted, bowing respectfully. Then, she sat off to one side of them, every muscle on high alert. She had to be prepared for anything, for this was a highly unusual situation for the young bounty hunter... and she didn't like it at all.

[Black Knight of Keno]

Wolf Sazen sat quietly with his apprentice until Aislin entered the tent. Cade turned to see her and then to his master, nodding towards her.

"Who is she?" he asked, having noticed all the hands going for the men and womens' weapons. Master Sazen looked at Cade and then at Aislin nefore grunting.

"A bounty hunter. No doubt here with the pirates" he said and nodded towards the pirates who had sat down only moments ago. Their looks were then drawn by Tepe who stood up once Aislin had taken a seat. Raising his hands to silence everyone, he cleared his throat.

 

"Paladins, officers, guests and performing artists, please continue this wonderful gathering. For me and the Queen, we must take a short rest from this all. Refreshments shall be served within the next ten minutes" he announced and led Charna out of the booth, stopping by the Sith Hunter.

"Bring the bounty hunter into the shuttle. I wish to have a word with her. Do not harm her. Do not make a scene. Just escort her to the shuttle" he said and lef Charna off. They entered the shuttle, giving the guards the notice of the bounty hunter's invitation with the Sith Hunter. They eventually sat on two seats in a larger room in the shuttle and rexieced refreshments. Tepe sipped to his cold water quietly and smiled, waiting for Aislin to arrive.

[Writer]

((Got my computer back a few days ago, but I've been busy. This is the first chance I've had to post. Told you I wasn't going away for good, didn't I Tepe? ))

 

Charna watched her husband in silence, a faint smile on her face. "You've gotten better at hiding your thoughts from me," she remarked. "What are you thinking?"

 

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Rellis nodded, indicating she understood what Tepe wanted of her. After the Lord and his Lady left the tent, the Hunter rose and moved across to where Aislin sat. Sure, Tepe had told her merely to escort the bounty hunter to the shuttle, but Rellis was a Sith Hunter in both nature and training. And that meant she wasn't keen on taking orders from anyone except her leader. So she sat down next to Aislin.

 

"I'm not going to let you play dumb," she said bluntly. "You know exactly who I am. Furthermore, while finishing buisness with the Greater Stars, you received a job request to kill Charna. The Sith Hunters detected no confirmation from you, but we understand that you sometimes don't confirm jobs until after you complete them. So I'm asking you plainly, are you going to try to follow through on this job?"

[Grace]

Aislin tensed visibly when Rellis sat down next to her and Rellis's bluntness only made her more uncomfortable.

 

"I hadn't decided," she answered honestly. "I wanted first-hand observation before making a final decision. Thanks to your friends, the Lord and Lady, that has become possible. More than possible. Now I don't view either of them as idiots, but this seems to be a critical error in judgment on their part. So either I've placed my level of respect for their wisdom too high or I've somewhat underestimated their level of preparedness."

 

She looked around the tent and added, "Seems to be an underestimation on my part..."

[Black Knight of Keno]

"I no longer think" Tepe answered and turned to smile upon her wife. It was a playful smile, yet somehow it had a string of truth wrapped around it. He turned to see the door and then shook his head.

"I wanted her out of the tent before she lost her nerve to do what she was sent here to do. Now she can try without having Paladins all around her to stop her" he then said and sighed.

 

"There is something very odd in this situation. And it is not helping that the power surge I got when Reibe and Strider clashed in battle is dying down. I have become slower, less able with the force and cannot foresee things as clearly as I could before. I think I am becoming more and more willing to just return to a place like Welmin's was and deal with issues when they came up instead of bossing everyone around into getting ready for things to come" Tepe said and turned to Charna once more.

"My emotions are betraying me, the Force is abandoning me and my most trusted men are pushing me. I wish it were still the times of expansion. When none could defy me and I was still strong enough to fight Strider or Riebe into a standstill"

[Writer]

"Perhaps a time will come when that is your path," Charna said quietly, touching his hand lightly. "And when that day comes, we will slip into history, you and I. Until then, there is work to be done..." She did not add that she thought of the coming situation with Aislin and Rellis to be one of the more important pieces of work they had yet to do.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

 

"An evasive answer," Rellis growled softly. "I don't like evasion. Come with me." Light but firm, Rellis' right hand wrapped around Aislin's left arm, forcing her to stand as the Hunter stood. "The Lord and Lady wish to see you away from the other guests."

 

Keeping her hand where it was, Rellis lead the way out of the tent, practically forcing Aislin before her.

[Grace]

As soon as the Hunter's hand wrapped around her arm, the anger within Aislin began to skyrocket. She hated being forced into anything, even if the 'escort' would lead her into a situation she wanted to face. As soon as they were out of the tent, Aislin wrenched her arm away from Rellis.

 

"You don't like evasion," she growled softly, "so I am going to be very clear. I intended to keep my options open on the assassination of Lady Charna and I still intend to do so. If the chance to execute the job appears, then you'd better believe I'm going to jump for it. The challenge is what I appreciate, as I'm sure you know, and your presence only adds to the challenge, adds to the elements enticing me to go for it."

 

She drew a blaster in her left hand, and the hazy orange blade of her lightsaber came to life in her right hand. "So you tell me, Rellis Thren. Is my bluntness enough for you to feel I'm truly a threat to your friends in the shuttle?"

[Black Knight of Keno]

As soon as the hiss of Aislin's blade sounded in the tent where the shuttle was located, several clicks around her sounded as well. Even if she could not see where the clicks came from, they were clearly heard to be those of weapon safeties switching off. Only moments afterwards from inside the ship, behind crates and the cover of the landing gears came out the Dominion Guards lying in guard around the tent. all of their gun barrels pointed at Aislin, even if their captain stepped out of the ship and decended down the ramp.

"Sith Hunter Thren, you were to bring the bounty hunter immediately. It seems you have stretched the meaning of the term to a rather loose one" the captain said and then turned to Aislin.

"And you, bounty hunter, are wished in the lounge" the captain continued calmly.

[Writer]

As soon as Aislin's lightsaber was in her hand, Rellis' saber was out and lit, the blade gleaming violet, a brilliant contrast to the dull orange of Aislin's blade. At the captain's words, Rellis stubbornly shook her head.

 

"She has just openly threatened Charna's safety," she countered. "And yes, I know that both Charna and Tepe are capable of defending themselves, but this is why I'm here. Don't worry. She'll make it to the lounge in one piece..."

[Grace]

"You're a loose cannon, Sith Hunter," Aislin said, switching her saber off. Turning to the captain, she inclined her head and commanded, "If Rellis Thren will disobey a direct order from the Lord and Lady, I must turn to someone who will not. Lead the way to the lounge, if you will."