Star Wars: Fugitives

[Alkonium]

"Stealth field generators won't exhaust you; take it anyway." Niera pointed out, passing Juhani the third belt. "Now, in order to find this Twi'lek, I suggest we head for Ord Mantell. It's in the Republic, but there's little to no real law enforcement. Perfect place for a crime lord, and if he's not there, I'm sure someone there will know where he is."

[Tysyacha]

"Got it," Tysyacha replied, "but, it's obvious that we're going to have to be incredibly careful even if we use our Stealth Generators. The Ebon Hawk may no longer look like the newest model in the latest showrooms of vehicle dealerships, but to someone with no starship at all, or a robber who wants to sell her anyway, she's going to prove a very tempting target." She winced. "I apologize, Niera. You were desperate for a way off Nar Shaddaa, but most of the other potential ship-thieves I've met were only hungry for credits." Another thought occurred to her. "If there are any bounty hunters on Ord Mantell, we've got to watch out for them, too."

 

T3-M4 wheeled himself to the front of the ship and warbled a greeting. "Could you please punch in the coordinates for Ord Mantell?" Tysyacha asked. The utility droid gave a warbling assent and did so. He was proud to be able to help with navigation, and anything else the Exile needed.

 

Another droid, this one far taller and far more rude, clunked forward as well.

 

"Perturbed Query: I say! My sensors detected the distinct possibility of a battle before we jumped to hyperspace. Why was I not involved, Master?"

 

She sighed ruefully. "There wasn't enough time, HK. Next time--I promise."

 

Everyone strapped into their seats and prepared for the journey ahead.

 

**************************

 

TELOS

 

Bastila Shan, Grand Master of the Jedi Order, was positively elated. Not only had her mission on Telos been a success--she had offered Jolee a teaching position at the Temple, and he had almost accepted--but she had just heard the latest report from her skillful mole within the TSF, Chandria Par Sakhar. According to Chandria, the Exile was nearing Telos. That was what Chandria herself had heard from the Mandalorian bounty hunter she had hired. At any moment, Tysyacha Dvyx would land on Citadel Station, and the TSF would take her into custody. They'd heard about the murders of two Jedi spies...

 

If the Exile decided to land on the polar regions or near a former Czerka research base instead, Bastila and her bounty hunters could track her there, too. Once she landed safely on Telos' surface, she would promptly be locked safely away in a Force cage. Then the arraignment, the trial, the verdict, eight to twenty years--Unless, of course, Tysyacha accepted a plea bargain.

 

If she told Bastila where Revan was, or where he'd gone, she'd be set free.

 

Bastila suddenly sat up ramrod-straight. Something is wrong. I can't detect even a trace of the Exile within the Force. What has happened?

[Chevron 7 locke]

"There wasn't enough time, HK. Next time--I promise."

 

That droid is still as bloodthirsty as ever

 

Juhani turned to the Exile. "May we have that sparring match now? I would like to see how good you are in combat."

[Tysyacha]

"Very well. I'd like to see how I do against you as well. Niera?" she asked. "Want to observe? I know that Juhani and I are going to use lightsabers, since we're exiled Jedi, but a lot of our moves can be done with vibroblades." She saw the Twi'lek nod and follow them toward the garage and workbench.

 

Once they were all there, the Twi'lek took a seat next to the workbench as Tysyacha outfitted her own and Juhani's lightsabers with non-lethal "blank" crystals. In sparring, you could certainly be injured, but true lightsaber crystals cauterized wounds instantly--and very painfully. It wouldn't do for Tysyacha to risk the kinds of fatal wounds that she'd inflicted upon Darth Traya in their duel when Juhani was her ally, not her enemy. She lit her dvyxplanochniy.

 

"Double blade versus single," she announced. "This is going to be interesting. When I dueled aboard the Hawk before, the rule was one point per move that would cause an injury with a real crystal in the saber. We spar until someone earns ten points." The Cathar nodded, and Tysyacha leapt into the opening moves of the Juyo or Ferocity form, her greatest one.

[Ataris]

Drayden knew perfectly well that the man in the armor was avoiding his question. Likely, the man was preparing for a fight, but Drayden didn't want another bloody encounter. He just wanted some answers. Deep inside, he couldn't really tell why. Perhaps he wanted the bounty. Perhaps he would know what he wanted when he found out more about the bounty.

 

"I don't want to fight you," said Drayden, "and I'm not going to compete with you for the bounty. I just want some answers." Some of it may have been a lie, but Drayden didn't care.

 

Somewhere inside him, he felt some sort of friendliness to this man. It had been a long time since Drayden had truly talked to anyone, and it had been a long time since he had thought about her....He shook the thought from his mind, and extended his hand to shake, ready for the unexpected.

 

"I'm glad we were able to meet, Gelvik. I just want to know about the bounty. Who is this Jedi, anyway?" Something compelled him to ask the question. It felt almost the same way as when he could sense other beings around him. Strange.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"Double blade versus single."

 

"Very well. Juhani replied as she grabbed her cloak and tossed it off into the corner and then she grabbed her own saber from her belt and ignited it.

 

Hmmm...Juyo. Also known as the ferocity form. This will be child's play.

 

She moved slowly into the opening form of Makashi and studied her opponet as she lept at her. Move to the left. Grab the arm as it comes by and then slam her into the ground or another firm object that won't break under the strain of a body hitting it.

 

She lept at the Exile and brought her saber down in a slicing motion intended to drive her opponet back slightly to give her drive home the blade between the chest.

 

Seven years of training on Nar Shaddaa does a body good. I doubt the Jedi have seen some of the moves I've perfected.

[Tysyacha]

Slightly alarmed, Tysyacha reached up and tried to block the incoming move with her own lightsaber. However, even though she was partially successful, she knew that Juhani had still won her first point according to the official rules of traditional sparring matches. Thus, the Exile conceded, "Your point, Cathar."

 

Tysyacha then tried a Force Jump, very brief yet very high, with a slight twist forward so in case Juhani tried to Force Jump back, the Exile would have enough momentum to close the distance in as little time as possible. She made a deft flick of the wrist. Her own move with the saber would have made a less-lethal but still-threatening injury to Juhan's forearm and elbow. "My point."

[Chevron 7 locke]

"My point."

 

She shook her head sadly. "If you do plan to confront Bastila then you will not survive the battle with these attacks. She has had years to develope an entirely new attack style. Learn to fight at her level."

 

Juhani jumped up and grabbed the Exile's arm with one hand in an arm lock and then brushed one of her hands with the very tip of her saber which she was holding in her other hand. "Learn to fight as I do. Fight on instinct. Fight with your heart and not your mind."

 

Juhani released her hands and stepped back slowly and then switched to a more neutral form. "In battle, Suprise and secrecy can be your allies if you allow them to work with you. Stealth can be your greatest ally."

 

Juhani cloaked herself in the force and slowly walked in circles so that her footsteps wouldn't make any noise.

 

"Find me...If you can."

[Tysyacha]

Now, stretch out...focus your thoughts, and listen...

 

She listened. Kreia had taught her that. She had taught Tysyacha many things before betraying her upon Dantooine and fighting her for the final time on Malachor V. The thing was, she could not read Juhani's thoughts, and that was the purpose of the listening exercise Kreia had proposed. This time, it was different. Around her, in the various spaces of the cargo hold, the Exile heard--and sensed--only silence. This was the way it was supposed to be. If you used a Stealth Generator correctly, whether via a belt or some other piece of equipment, your enemy could not trace you. Body heat was masked, electrical signals and stress levels were masked, and if you didn't make any noise or tried not to talk, you were masked as well. If you were cloaked well enough, whether via the generator or the Force, you could run.

 

Silence, silence, empty space...cold. The Exile sensed a distinctly cold presence in the Force, not a very large one but a very icy one. She made a Force Jump, ignited her lightsaber, and cried, "Shakh!" Check.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"Shakh!"

 

Juhani smirked as the Exile lept at the spot where she had been only a moment ago. Mate

 

She watched as the exile landed then she quickly got behind her and ignited her lightsaber under her throat.

 

"Mate."

 

She released her hold on her and then moved back in front of her. "What you sensed was an 'echo' that I was able to project. That was why it seemed so cold. It only works at very close range, but is does work very well as a distraction when fighting force users."

 

Juhani circled around her. "I can teach you how to do this if you are willing to learn. I can teach you how to wrap yourself in the force so that one one would be able to detect you...to project an 'echo' so you can confuse any foe...I can teach you the new lightsaber forms I perfected on Nar Shaddaa during my seven years of exile. But only if you are willing to learn from me."

[Tysyacha]

"Indeed I am," replied the Exile humbly. "Even as little as two years ago, I thought that mastery, and being a Jedi Master, was all about teaching. That was why I trained several of my companions--Atton Rand, Mira, Bao-Dur, Visas Marr, and Mical, the Disciple--to become Jedi. I wanted to teach them how to be connected to and use the Force, but more importantly, I wanted to teach them to be strong--to find the inner strength they had within themselves. This allowed me to be a Master, yes, but it made me arrogant."

 

Tysyacha's eyes were sad. "I never realized how much they had to teach me, until it was too late and I had to face Traya on Malachor V without being completely prepared. They were trying to warn me of the signs they saw, of how Kreia was more than just a fallen Jedi, but I thought I was so wise that I didn't need to listen. I won't make the same mistake again. Even beggars and the so-called 'scum of the galaxy' have taught me lessons. You are far more than that, and so I, the Master, want to become your student."

 

She held out her hand for Juhani to shake. Then she looked at Niera:

 

"Bounty huntress...I have the feeling you have something to teach me as well. Yes?" She gazed straight into Niera's eyes, feeling no fear or worry.

[Jedi_Man]

(I am soooo sorry, my internet wasn't paid. sorry again.)

Flashback

Sam'kil explained everything to Bastila.

"I am a bounty hunter, who served in the Mandalorian wars, and the Jedi Civil War, as you call it. If anyone can track Tysyacha, it's me, you no doubt can feel my force aptitude." Sam'kil said, levering his way into the conversation even farther. He tried using a Mind Trick, and it worked slightly, making her more open to the option.

" You can trust me on this one" He said, as sincerely as possible.

[Tysyacha]

"I still don't trust you," replied Bastila, even though her mind was open to the hunter more than it had been before. "I would like to give you a little test."

 

After a pause, she said, "Let's say that you and a friend, a colleague--maybe even one of your fellow bounty hunters--are captured by the enemy and held in prison. You are both going to be tried for espionage. If you agree to testify against your friend and betray him, and your friend stays silent, he gets the full 10-year prison sentence. Likewise, if your friend testifies against you and betrays you, and you stay silent, you get the 10-year sentence while he goes free.

 

"Now, then. If you both stay silent and refuse to testify against each other, you will only spend 6 months in prison on a lesser charge. If you both betray each other, you will serve five years. What is your best move? Do you stay silent and hope that your friend will, too? Or do you betray him, knowing that he may or may not betray you? What is your friend's best move? Hmm?"

 

She smiled. Mind games were, and had always been, her forte.

[Cyborg Ninja]

Pyscho was instantly greeted with a blaster rifle aimed at his face as soon as he exited his ship. Psycho put his hands up and a few more TSF officers moved in. They were all focused on him, ready to shoot if he made a move.

 

"Take it easy boys, I'm on your side this time. I'm Agent One, working for Bastila herself. You wouldn't want to make her madder than she is by shooting her best agent now would you?"

 

One officer looked away from Psycho and began speaking to someone. After a few minutes the officer looked back to Psycho and nodded. One by one everyone lowered their rifles; it was good to have power.

 

"Master Shan is here now, is she expecting you?" one asked.

 

"Yes" Psycho lied, "I need to keep her updated on what the Exile is planning.

 

One officer motioned Psycho to follow him as he led him through Telos. Psycho wasn't actually lying, he just wanted to make sure he didn't get screwed over. After what seemed like hours, Psycho finally made it.

 

"Oh brighteyes! Did you miss me!?!?"

[Tysyacha]

Bastila rolled her eyes. "Hardly." Sensing something was wrong, she then said:

 

"Where is she?"

[Cyborg Ninja]

Psycho laughed for a few seconds.

 

"What, can't a guy visit his favorite jedi?"

 

He moved a little closer to her.

 

"That's actually why I came to see you brighteyes. The Exile won't be coming to Telos. See you girl Tysy found out I was following her and had her little dog friend force choke me. I was able to break out of it but not before they jumped to hyperspace. I got lucky when I found her on Nar Shadaa but now she could be anywhere. Seeing that you and her are jedi and share certain interests I was hoping you'd be able to point me in the right direction."

[Alkonium]

"I guess so, but let's just say I have a 'watch and learn' policy, though I think you've already got a reason for eyeing me up so much." Niera explained, using a slightly flirtatious tone, but still taking the question seriously. She then started rummaging through her pack until she pulled out an outfit which strongly reminded Tysyacha of the outfit she had to wear when she danced for Vogga the Hutt. "If this doesn't get his attention, I don't know what will." She commented.

[CommanderQ]

"I'm glad we were able to meet, Gelvik. I just want to know about the bounty. Who is this Jedi, anyway?"

 

Gelvik took the man's hand and gave it a firm shake.

 

"You must be new...if you want to stay in competition, you should gather your own intel, not bother other hunters looking for the same thing. It's moves like that...that end careers."

 

The Mandalorian was turning, when a small change of heart struck him. He was wasting time talking, but he had just one thing to say.

 

"If you must know...the big Jedi bounty is on...'The Exile.' That's all I'm going to say."

 

He then turned, walking into the Basalisk and starting it up, raising it into the sky.

 

Gelvik knew he'd wasted alot of time, there was no telling where Tysyacha could be now...the Exile was known to move fast, and he needed to get to Telos as quickly as he could.

 

He activated his comm, "Chandria, I'm on my way...sorry about the delay. Make sure your guys at TSF are ready."

 

He then made the jump into hyperspace.

[Tysyacha]

Bastila scoffed. "Do you know how to use a little something I know of called...the Force?" Yearning to spit in his eye, she said, "Reach out. Listen."

 

************

 

"His attention?" Tysy gawked. "Even T3 would be paralyzed by passion and arousal if he wasn't a droid." She slapped her hand over her mouth to keep from giggling, pretending she was about ready to vomit instead. "Beware. Ord Mantell is one big junkyard, smelly and full of trouble, so don't forget to put that on when and only when we're getting close to our target."

[Chevron 7 locke]

"I guess so, but let's just say I have a 'watch and learn' policy, though I think you've already got a reason for eyeing me up so much."

 

Juhani briefly narrowed her eyes before turning to the exile. "I can feel someone...or something proding us through the force...It feels like...Bastila. Well...it looks like Bastila is attempting to locate us. The schutta is smarter then I gave her credit for."

 

She hissed angerly. "This will most likely throw her off our trail...and show her what she did to me as well."

 

Juhani returned the probing with her own...locating Bastila in the force would be easy after seven years on Nar Shaddaa.

 

Where oh Where is she? Ah...Lets see how she likes this.

 

She unleashed a massive surge of anger and hatred toward the probing hand through the force and watched with cold satisfaction as it recoiled from her touch.

 

You will pay Bastila...you have fallen and I will never forgive you for leaving me alone.

[CommanderQ]

The hyperspace jump had been extremely quick, thanks to the Slave Systems that Gelvik had reactivated. Only a Mandalorian would be able to bring back up the old, but powerful, systems that the Republic still had no knowledge of. He was immediately glad that the Republic had most of the Mandalorian's weapons destroyed, instead of studying them.

 

He stared down at Telos.

 

"Chandria, are you're people ready?"

[Cyborg Ninja]

Psycho laughed for a few seconds before stopping to see she was serious.

 

"Alright, I'll give you little jedi vodoo stuff a try."

 

Psycho stood still with his eyes closed for a few minutes. He tried to focus in on Tysyacha but that didn't work. He then tried the jedi aboard the Ebon Hawk but that failed as well. He then tried all jedi in general to see if anything would happen. He was about to open his eyes when something hit him. He began to see images...of a jedi. She was going up against a cloaked figure with a red lightsaber. She was talking about someone, a child. the fight broke out into a home where a little boy sat quietly inside. The boy cried out to his mother but was pushed away. Finally the fight ended and the sounds of lightsabers were gone. The small boy looked over at his mother and tried waking her up. The boy fell to the ground and cried. Psycho shot his head up and began breathing heavy. Was it a hidden memory locked inside the complicated brain of Psycho, or did someone reach out to him and send him those images.

 

"I couldn't do it but I saw a woman fighting a sith. She had a son and the boy watched the mother die. What the hell was that?"

[Tysyacha]

Psycho saw Bastila wince visibly, almost as if someone had slapped her right in the face--with a beskar-plated glove. She hissed in pain and utter surprise, and then calmed down a little. She said, through the Force:

 

Anyone who's not on the side of the Jedi is their enemy. Truly you misjudge me, and make yourself our enemy far too early in this game. Do you know why I left you alone? You were strong, yes, but without Revan, you were nothing. Revan was the one who saved you from falling to the Dark Side completely when you thought you slew your Master, Quatra. Revan was also the one who saved you from the slavers who hunted you. Revan taught you, Revan nursed you, Revan loved you--as a mentor. Revan also controlled you. He controlled all of us. I tried to make him see that and use it to his own advantage, back on the Unknown World when I fell, but...

 

I left you alone so you could learn to live without Revan and stop being a snivelling little whining brat. We all have issues, and yours have increased.

 

To Psycho she said, "That's the first interesting thing you've said to me so far. It is a portent of things to come. There are Sith remnants, but I cannot sense this Sith of whom you speak. I also cannot sense the mother or the child. Nevertheless, it is a Force vision, one you should pay attention to."

 

****************

 

"As soon as the Exile lands," replied Chandria Par Sakhar to the Mandalorian, "we here at the TSF are ready to capture her on Citadel Station and take her into custody. If we fail and the Exile escapes, possibly to the polar regions or Czerka sites, that's where you come in. Whatever the case will be, there's no way out for the suspect. Move out!"

[Chevron 7 locke]

I left you alone so you could learn to live without Revan and stop being a snivelling little whining brat. We all have issues, and yours have increased.

 

She narrowed her eyes and punched a bulkhead, leaving a slight imprint of her fist in it. You are blackmailing the exile Bastila, that is not the Jedi way...you know she doesn't deserve this. I've seen things that you could only have nightmares about on Nar Shaddaa...things that changed me. And did I tell you about the scars that the Sith Lord gave me?

 

But I didn't contact you just to talk about old times...I came with a warning. I'm coming for you Bastila. And I'm learning new ways to kill you every day thanks to HK. I'll see you later...Schutta

 

Juhani severed the connection between them with an angry hiss and then she punched the bulkhead again before she turned to the exile.

 

"Your training begins now. You must be ready to help me kill the shutta by the time we get to Telos."

[CommanderQ]

"As soon as the Exile lands, we here at the TSF are ready to capture her on Citadel Station and take her into custody. If we fail and the Exile escapes, possibly to the polar regions or Czerka sites, that's where you come in. Whatever the case will be, there's no way out for the suspect. Move out!"

 

Gelvik nodded to himself.

 

"Do your control towers have any possible estimations of when the Exile lands? I probably should've monitored them as they left, but I think they would've spotted me."

 

He pulled down a red lever which activated the Basalisk's heavy weapons. He was pleased to see that the Republic or TSF hadn't stripped it of its amazing capabilities. The Cluster Missilies were also intact, they would come in great use when the Exile landed. Of course, he wasn't going to use it to destroy the Exile, but Cluster Missiles were extremely good at disabling a target.

 

He hoped this would be a quick assignment, he had the visit to Chandria waiting for him when it was done. The thought of it lifted his morale greatly.