Star Wars KOTOR: Counterplay

[Rexraptor2000]

((Meta would.))

[Tysyacha]

REPUBLIC HQ, OFFICE OF ADMIRAL CARTH ONASI

 

"Very well, Atton," said Carth, smiling in a comradely way towards his newest espionage-team member. He turned to the others. "Any other volunteers before we take a speeder to the Iridium Complex? That's where most lower politicians work. The higher ones, such as Plina Skelch, have offices in the Senate."

[Alkonium]

(Garren could be there too, undercover. Maybe Plina's husband could be in on it.)

[Tysyacha]

((Agreed!))

[ForceFightWMe12]

"So it's true then." Fara muttered, tapping a nail against the top of her chair's arm. She looked at Sal. "Bring us into hyperspace."

 

"You got it, Cap."

 

As the stars enlongated and the view screens shut down - a basic procedure to conserve energy - the captain turned and looked at the Jedi to continue their conversation...and saw her green face. Her face folded with concern. "Are you alright, Perdante?"

[Tysyacha]

COCKPIT OF THE MILLENNIAL, SKIES ABOVE CORUSCANT

 

"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay," Perdante said quickly. "I think I'm about to experience an inconvenient event that I do every twenty-eight days." She winked at Fara. Being a woman herself, she would know exactly what the Jedi was talking about. "Other women are lucky. They only get cramps and bad moods. I get fatigue and tremendous heat flashes. It's nothing to worry about." Yet, even as she said this, Perdante knew it was more than that. She wasn't exactly lying, but...

 

Why worry the captain? So small a thing, unimportant to the mission at large.

 

Or was it? The Knight vowed to heal herself through the Force if this kept up.

[SkywalkerRules]

After Melany was done with the restroom, she decided not to use the Death sticks. Maybe later. But... something changed her mind to. The Force, maybe? Whatever changed her mind, it was for the best.

 

The young woman met everyone at the bridge. Perdante looked like she was about to hurl, due to the hyperspace. She hoped she'd be all right. As for Melany, she was use to it.

 

"Captain Starr? If you need any help... I, I would be honored. I mean, there's nothing for me to do. I could cook if you want me to. No problem." Melany smiled, waiting on Fara's reply.

[Chevron 7 locke]

Juhani saw the sword coming up toward her and instantly brought her lightsaber up in a position to deflect the blow before bringing up her leg and using the force to enhance her kick, kicked him directly in the stomach.

 

She then force jumped backward so she could have a little warning before his next attack came. I've never fought someone who could avoid that last attack. Perhaps it would be best if I called this duel to an end.

 

 

 

 

 

"Any other volunteers before we take a speeder to the Iridium Complex? That's where most lower politicians work. The higher ones, such as Plina Skelch, have offices in the Senate."

 

Atton was slightly suprised. He thought that all politicians worked in the senate. Then again he didn't really like politicians and they in return didn't like him.

 

"We should be careful while heading down there. Who knows what kind of reception we might get if we head down there asking questions."

[Tysyacha]

REPUBLIC HQ, OFFICE OF ADMIRAL CARTH ONASI, 16:15

 

"A wise strategy," Carth told Atton. "In fact, it might be a more prudent one if we go to Mr. Skelch's office to give him a preliminary interview first, to see what he thinks of his wife's campaigning and how he's going to help her win the next Coruscanti election--which is coming up very soon." He took a long sip of his caf. "All right, it's time to blow this fruitstick stand. Who's coming with me besides Atton?" He stood up. "Follow me to the main transport hub of the HQ. My own personal speeder's waiting there." He strode out of his office.

 

ABOARD THE MILLENNIAL, SKIES ABOVE CORUSCANT, 16:15

 

"Cook?" Suddenly, the mention of that word made Perdante's stomach grumble. She had completely forgotten how hungry she was in the middle of all the commotion--what with meeting the other crew members and captain of the Millennial and getting ready for launch! Launch...lunch...yum! "If you please, Melany, could you see if there are any frozen fruitsticks in the commissary?" Frozen fruitsticks used to be called "popsicles" in ancient times.

[Cyborg Ninja]

Zen was surprised by the force kick to the gut, it even moved him back a little. The kick was so strong it broke through his shielding. The shield began to beep inside his helmet indicating it had been broken. Had this been a normal fight Zen would have either charged the enemy or dove into cover. Since this was just a duel he stood there and let out a mighty laugh. The shield came back online after a few seconds and Zen raised his sword.

 

"Its been sometime since I've had a good fight. You have been so kind to show me a good fight so I think its about time I returned the favor."

 

He began running at Juhani with the sword raised high in the air. He brought the sword down this time with much power behind it.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"Its been sometime since I've had a good fight. You have been so kind to show me a good fight so I think its about time I returned the favor."

 

 

Juhani ran forward and brought her lightsaber up as Zen brought the sword down with a quite a bit of force. She felt her knees buckle beneath her and heard something make a sharp cracking sound.

 

She brought her lightsaber out from under his sword and then force jumped over his head and brought her lightsaber extremley close to his neck. Not close enough to cause any pain but he would most likely be feeling the heat coming off the saber.

 

"I think we should call it a draw." She gasped as the sweat rolled off of her. "I think You managed to break something and I managed to get my lightsaber past your guard."

 

She deactivated her saber and stepped back and bowed. "You are a worthy opponet Zen." She said respectfully.

[Alkonium]

Garren Shain, or as the people affiliated with Plina Skelch knew him, Ath Zallow, wandered through the halls of the Skelch estate, keeping an eye out of Xian Li. From what he knew about him, there was no reason from him to step out of the limelight for his wife like this. If he could figure out why, Xian Li Skelch could be a good ally against Plina. "Mr. Skelch, we need to talk." He said, finally finding him.

 

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

 

Niera took a look at Perdante, and commented, "I doubt it's just your time of the month. There's something wrong with you. I really think you shout at least get yourself checked on the sickbay."

[Tysyacha]

SKELCH ESTATE, CORUSCANT, 17:00

 

"Good evening, sir," replied Xian Li Skelch, believing Garren Shain/Ath Zellow to be some sort of reporter, courier, or official correspondent for the Republic. His voice was not unkind, very official and businesslike. It suited a politician well, lacking the glibness and folksy trill that his wife, Plina, was famous for. "About what do you wish to speak? If the topic is a short one, let us retire to the Atrium for a few drinks. If not, I invite you to discuss it over dinner."

 

ABOARD THE MILLENNIAL, MEDBAY, 17:00

 

Perdante lay on the metal cot in the ship's medbay, wondering how such a massive and yet antiquated ship could have such state-of-the-art facilities. A medical droid, programmed to sound and behave in a female manner, attended to her. The droid's name was Ona, meaning "she".

 

"Pulse rate: normal. Blood pressure: normal. Height and weight: normal. Body temperature: Slightly abnormal, possibly due to your basal body temperature rising." This confirmed what Perdante had suspected: it was her "time". However, she did not want to dismiss Niera's concerns. "Reverify."

 

"Reverifying: Signs of irradiation due to unknown metal are present. This has been well-treated, but not completely eradicated. Further treatment is duly recommended, although I do not have nearly the expertise to do so here. Suggestion: Visit the nearest medical facility, with organic doctors."

 

Perdante shook her head. "We have more important things to do. I'll pass."

 

"Thank you, Jedi Knight Dareva." Perdante left the medbay, satisfied.

[Alkonium]

"This is something we'd best discuss in private." Garren explained, leading Xian Li to a secluded part of the estate. "I take it you're aware of the anti-Force cult known as the Found, their use of the mineral ostanovium, and the Republic's attack on their compound two years ago. After than, the Republic banned ostanovium, a move to which as I recall, was vehemently opposed by your wife." Garren paused for a moment. "And there's you. Bright, ambitious, charismatic, brilliant even. You could have even been Chancellor, and yet you step out of the spotlight and let your wife run the show, which doesn't seem like you at all. Do you see what I'm getting at here?"

[Tysyacha]

SKELCH ESTATE, CORUSCANT, LOTUS BLOSSOM GARDENS

 

"I do," replied Xian Li Skelch gravely. "I would tell you to get out of my sight and have my security detail escort you off the grounds of my estate, but I'm sick of lies. I'm sick of hiding the truth, and of how I acquired my present position. My wife's family is incredibly wealthy, with stock in such companies as the Vector Space Emporium and Miracle Metals, Conglomerated. After I was done with my tours of duty for the Republic, I wanted to go to a prestigious law school. However, I had not the ability to finance my own education. Nor did the General Infantry Fund that your compatriots had so generously established. I was lost. I didn't want to end up as a waiter...

 

"Luckily--or, not so luckily right now--someone found me: one Plina Arasen. She was the daughter of CEO Erik Arasen, founder of Trillium Metallurgy. We fell in love, and Plina said that as long as I loved her, she would finance any endeavor I wished to pursue. Even though I highly resented this, being male, I accepted. We all need help sometimes, even from the unlikeliest sources.

 

"When I married Plina, I promised not to compete directly against her for any political positions she wished to acquire. Thus, I can make no move. My hands are utterly tied, sir. She is in the running for the Coruscanti election. If I betray her now, I'll lose my dearest love, along with any campaign financing. By the way, Trillium Metallurgy is in no way a producer of this 'ostanovium'. I'd suspect the Vector Space Emporium and Miracle Metals, first and foremost."

 

He paused. "You didn't hear that from me. If this gets out, I'll be ruined."

[ForceFightWMe12]

When Melany reappeared on the Bridge, it wasn't Fara that answered her question, but the Twins. They both hopped out of their chairs and appeared in front of her, both grinning like idiots, bent so that their faces were at eye-level and close to hers. "You could entertain us!"

 

"Sal, Mica, don't scare the passengers, please." Fara stood at that point and crossed to them, her hands folded militarily behind her back. "I don't really have anything for you to do at this point...and Mica, seeing as we have no immediate communication needs, you can be dismissed. Sal, sit down." The navigation man pouted in an exaggerated fashion and slumped off back to his seat. "If you can handle this one, Melany, you can feel free to babysit this one." Mica winked at the civilian.

 

When Salvatore had found his brother at twenty-minutes passed, he had been standing outside the restroom in the midst of a personal victory dance. It was evident that the space pilot had some interest in him, and that was enough to make him want to hang about her even more. Needless to say, he liked the idea of having her as a babysitter.

 

But if Melany went off with Mica, that meant that there was no one to get the popsicle Perdante had been asking for. When the Jedi woman followed the medical team down to the medlab when they came to fetch Caboose, Fara decided that she might as well meet her with the treat. When the medbay doors opened, Fara stood waiting.

 

"Perdante," she greeted, handing over the popsicle. "What was the diagnosis?"

[Tysyacha]

ABOARD THE MILLENNIAL, SKIES ABOVE CORUSCANT

 

Perdante took the frozen fruitstick, the strawberry "popsicle", and smiled. "Thank you, Captain," she replied. "This will certainly help my symptoms! I was promptly diagnosed by Ona, the helpful nurse droid in our medical bay. She confirmed that my body temperature is rising, but 'basally', as she put it. That means it might be my 'time of the month', and I'm having heat flashes. Yet..."

 

She took a deep breath. Jedi Knights don't lie, and I won't lie to the Captain.

 

"Back on Coruscant, when I was trying to help the Jedi infiltrate the Gathering Place of the Found, I surrendered myself to the cult's leader, Seeker Adeline. I was serving as a diversion so the rest of the team could carry out our attack in relative secrecy. As it was, I was bound fast to a metal chair called the Throne of Gain and irradiated with a metal called ostanovium in order to make me lose my Force powers. The cult called it 'Gain through Loss'." Perdy snorted. "As for me, I was treated at a medical facility after the battle was over, but it seems as if the ostanovium irradiation permeated through to my deepest organic tissues. I'm suffering minor side effects from that. So said Ona." She smiled, and, unwittingly, touched the Captain's arm. She froze.

 

"I apologize, Captain," she said quickly. "My symptoms are naught to worry about. They won't interfere with our mission. My heat flash was over as fast as you can blink."

[ForceFightWMe12]

Fara waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it." Clearly, she wasn't one who minded physical contact. And yet, she had cringed beneath the Twin's touch..."Are you certain that you should be on this mission, then? You'll most certainly be exposed to more of the metal. Your symptoms will only worsen..."

[Cyborg Ninja]

The thrill of battle was exciting Zen. The feeling of facing an opponent unsure of who the victor would be. The sound his weapon made when it clashed against another. It was in that moment of excitement that Zen had forgotten this was merely a sparring match. He too heard the cracking of something from Juhani, but he also felt it. He eased up on his attack and was ready to call off the match when she knocked his sword up and leaped into the air. He was amazed at her determination to continue and had almost forgotten the fight was still on. He felt the saber by his neck and couldn't help but chuckle.

 

"I think we should call it a draw." She gasped as the sweat rolled off of her. "I think You managed to break something and I managed to get my lightsaber past your guard."

 

"I believe it is a draw indeed, but what do you mean you got past my guard?" he said with a smirk.

 

His right arm was crossed over his stomach. He had loosened his grip just enough to have the blade deactivate. The now bare handle was just a few inches from Juhani's stomach.

 

"You are a worthy opponet Zen."

 

"As are you Jedi Knight Juhani," he said returning the bow. "I can escort you to the nearest medical facility if you require my assistance."

[Rexraptor2000]

“Captain Twinklestar! Perdles! I am so happy to see you both!” Caboose suddenly appearing right beside Perdy. Meta had given Caboose an armor enhancement that involved cloaking, among other things, to help the him survive in the galaxy. The armor on his foot where the sniper rifle had penetrated was repaired and he was standing fine. Before he said anything else, he noticed Perdy holding a Popsicle. “Oh oh, is that a Popsicle?! I love Popsicles! I love the blueberry kind. Church wouldn't let me have strawberry because he said that because it was red, it'd be like being on the red army. That's okay though, because I like blueberry better.”

 

The blue armored soldier maintained the happy attitude for a moment, though he mood sobered quickly. “But now I can't enjoy it with my other pinky toe. Why God?! Why?! Was it for not giving enough blood to the scary alien baby? For killing Church the second time? For stealing those cookies from Pvt. McMuffin? It was the cookies, wasn't it?"

 

"Was it- I never noticed this before." Caboose said, suddenly noticing that the scope of his sniper rifle painting green outlines of everything in its view. "This is awesome! It's like green-o-vision, or something"

 

He pointed the sniper at a passing crew member. "Wow, you're all green and stuff!"

 

The crew member immediately did a dive and ran down the hallway, much to Caboose's lament as he lowered the high-powered weapon again. "Why are you running away?! It's because I shot myself in the pinky toe, isn't it?!"

 

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

 

Meta stood in the background of the discussion, perceiving every detail the Xi revealed and attempting to discern beyond that. The versewalker didn't trust the husband to be fully honest we they questioned him, nor should he be. Xi would most likely lie to them and inform Plina of their investigation as soon as they left the estate. Xi himself had said that he could not afford to lose her or her money, and the Senator would undoubtedly use her powers to halt the investigation by way of conventional bureaucratic filibuster or less conventional, more direct methods. That was unacceptable, but he was willing to acquiesce until the time came for the actual interrogation.

 

Meta followed the Admiral to the speeder, continuing to think upon the matter and how they would go about this investigation.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"I can escort you to the nearest medical facility if you require my assistance."

 

Juhani smiled at him and shook her head. "No...I should be fine. I think it was just a rib or something along those lines. I should be fine."

 

Juhani turned and limped out of the gym and headed for the medical bay, after limping for a few minutes she arrived at the entrance of the medical bay.

 

"Hello?" She called out hesitantly. "Is anyone in here?"

[Cyborg Ninja]

Zen was once again impressed by Juhani's actions. Had she not been a Cathar Jedi he would have thought her to be Sangheili as well. Now that he had calmed down and the match was over he wanted to seek out the Captain to see if he could give her any useful information being a former found member. He walked around the ship with a bit more pride in his step this time.

 

He would have not found the Captain or Perdante had it not been for the very same blue armored man who took him over the top. The man seemed very childish in nature which confused Zen but perhaps it was just a defensive guard the man put up. He chuckled a bit when the blue man said something about shooting himself in the foot.

 

"Or perhaps the big scary alien had something to do with it," Zen responded in a joyful tone. "You have nothing to fear from me, we are allies which means I will fight along side you no matter how much I scare you."

 

He gave Caboose a slight nod before making his way over to Perdante and the Captain. The two seemed uneasy about something, he could tell by their facial expressions. Being around humans so much with the Found Zen developed a talent for picking those sorts of things out.

 

"Former Sith Perdante, Captain Starr," he said bowing at the latter's name as a sign of respect. "I hope I'm not intruding on anything but I wanted to know if I could help in anyway." He stared at Perdante for a few seconds before bringing up something else. "Forgive me for bringing this up but has something happened?"

 

---------

 

The sweet taste of freedom could only last for so long in the eye's of a former criminal. He knew all too well that if he walked into that building, Admiral Carth would have him executed. That's why he was waiting to see who exactly was leaving and see if he could join them. Finally when he did spot Meta he approached him casually, until he saw the Admiral up ahead.

 

"Hey there Meta old buddy, um I was just wondering where you were going and if I could join you? Please, please please, I'll promise not to kill too many people!

[Tysyacha]

((Perdy and Carth are back in the building after a great July 4th weekend! ))

 

ABOARD THE MILLENNIAL, SKIES ABOVE CORUSCANT

 

"I wouldn't miss this mission even if someone paid me ten million credits, Captain Starr," Perdante replied resolutely. "The Found are a threat to everyone in this galaxy, not just those who use the Force actively as we Jedi and the Sith do. We are keepers of the peace, yes, but as...events not so very long ago...have shown us, in order to keep the peace, sometimes we must prepare for war." She was thinking of the redeemed Darth Revan and the Jedi Exile, who had, each in their time and their turn, influenced the course of galactic history forever. Who knew what might have happened had Revan not destroyed the Star Forge, or if the Exile had not given the order to tear Malachor V asunder? No one could predict the future, but no one could change or revisit the past, either. That was the way and will of the Force.

 

"I'm willing to give my life again, if I must," she said. "However, if you believe that it might be too dangerous for me to go and find Khristoff--and be exposed to more ostanovium--then you can drop me on the nearest civilized world, Captain."

 

Her eyes were sad. What could she do if Captain Starr decided to do THAT? Absolutely nothing. She wanted to 'find the Found' just as badly as everybody else on the Millennial did, fever or no fever. How could she influence the course of galactic history if she were dumped on some planet and left to fend for herself? She would make a difference on this mission, even if she died--!

 

She turned to Zen. "I have only a slight temperature, nothing more," she announced, completely forgetting that Zen had been within hearing range of her and the Captain!

 

The hilarious thought of the bumbling, babbling Caboose suddenly popped into her mind. What in space HAD he been talking about. Who was this "Church"? Perhaps the "Red" and "Blue" armies were the Sith and the Jedi, but Caboose appeared to be absolutely neither.

 

Perdante shook her head. "I must be a bit delirious. I need my strawberry popsicle now."

 

SPEEDER LANDING PAD AT THE SKELCH ESTATE

 

"I trust him, and yet I don't trust him," murmured Admiral Carth Onasi to Atton Rand and Meta the Versewalker. "Xian Li sounds sincere enough, but let us not forget that he's a politician and that's his job. I think we ought to keep tabs on Mr. Skelch as well as his illustrious wife, but how? If push comes to shove, we might have to assassinate one or both of them." He sighed. "I don't like ordering hits. I'm not an organized crime boss. I'm the Admiral of the Galactic Republic, not some criminal on Nar Shaddaa! However, this may turn out to be a more serious political situation than we ever thought it would be. Atton? Meta?" Carth asked. "You're my allies. What would you do?"

[Shana]

(I shall take the opportunity that Juhani was injured to introduce Visas there)

 

The voyage had been tranquil for the most part and Visas dedicated herself to not be in the way of everyone as much as possible. She had not been much for crowded places. She simply kept to herself most of the time and she had found the medical bay to be quite peaceful. She was in plain trance when Juhani entered the door.

 

"Hello?" She called out hesitantly. "Is anyone in here?"

 

"Juhani?", she asked giving her back to her since she was sitting in the middle of the med bay. "I had hoped to cross your path on this voyage. I... wanted to ask you something"

[Chevron 7 locke]

"I had hoped to cross your path on this voyage. I... wanted to ask you something"

 

Juhani looked at Visas in suprise. She hadn't expected her to be onboard...in fact, it had been quite a while since she had heard anything of the Miraluka jedi.

 

"Of course. Ask away." Juhani replied as she tried to find where the medical droid was. She wanted to know what Zen had broken and if she had sustained any other injuries during the sparring match.

 

 

 

Coruscant

 

"You're my allies. What would you do?"

 

"Personally, I would question the senator using the force but thats just me." Atton replied. He was dead serious about using the force to question an individual.