Star Wars KOTOR: Counterplay

[Shana]

"Long had my life been intertwined with the Exile, just as your life was with the one who was Revan. I had always been able to feel her and through my visions, I was able to feel at peace. But these feelings of peace have faded away slowly but surely, at a steady pace. I have not succeeded in feeling her presence anymore, it has aroused in me a frustration I had not felt since the days when I served Nihilus", Visas said as she stood up and faced Juhani for the first time. "Tell me, have you had any visions of your friend? The one the Exile went to find?"

 

Visas was one to not let her emotions be seen but her worry was clearly present in her voice. She had vowed to serve the Exile until her last breath even going as far as to sacrifice herself for her. But she was long gone. And out of her reach.And this, was something Visas could not help but feel sorrow and loneliness.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"Tell me, have you had any visions of your friend? The one the Exile went to find?"

 

Juhani sighed as she sat down on one of the beds.

 

"At first I thought that they were simply to busy fighting whatever threat that went to fight against to contact us...but now I'm not sure. Over the past month I have been having...visions or dreams, whichever you prefer. But in them I always see the same thing: A robed man fighting against robed figures with a woman in jedi robes at his side. Eventually they are overwhelmed by their opponets and taken prisoner and then tortured."

 

She sighed again.

 

"I think that it's them Visas. I think that they ran into a threat that they simply couldn't fight and were taken prisoner. It's one of the reasons I joined this mission. If they are in trouble and if we have the slightest chance of finding them...then I'm willing to look for them. No matter where they are."

[SkywalkerRules]

((Hey all! Sorry I took long. Can someine please give me a recap on what's going on please? I'm kinda lost.))

 

Melany looked at Salvatore and grinned, leaning on a wall a few feet away from him. Another twin to talk to. And it looked like he was doing a victory dance. Maybe because of her? She chuckled.

 

"Boy, you twins have it good, don't ya?" Melany spoke, loud enough for Sal to hear. She smiled. She didn't mind "babysitting". Cooking wouldn't had been fun anyway.

[Tysyacha]

((Juhani has met Visas Marr, and Captain Starr and Zen are questioning Perdante. Caboose is talking about stuff that Perdante hasn't the foggiest idea about, and we're still in the skies over Coruscant. Hope that helps!))

[SkywalkerRules]

((Yep! Thanks. So my post is fine, correct?))

[Tysyacha]

((Correct. Carry on!))

[Alkonium]

"If you ask me, they're probably both dead by now. That'll come back to bite us eventually." Niera commented, leaning against the bulkhead. "I don't think they went after the Found.

 

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

 

"Thank you." Garren replied. "The Republic will compensate you for your assistance." And with that, he was gone again, continuing his undercover investigation.

[Tysyacha]

ABOARD THE MILLENNIAL, SKIES OVER CORUSCANT

 

Suddenly, Perdante sensed that her Master, even though Juhani did not yet bear that official title, was deeply troubled. "Excuse me," she told Captain Starr and Zen, finishing off the last of her popsicle and discarding the stick in the nearest waste receptacle. "I think Juhani wants to see me." Truly, she did not consider it a lie--or, at least, not a malicious one. If Juhani was as worried as she seemed through the Force, Perdy thought it best not to alarm the Captain or the Sangheili. Besides, she was Juhani's student.

 

Sensing the Cathar in the medbay, Perdante was shocked and surprised to find someone ELSE--in fact, TWO "someone elses"--in there with her. One she recognized: Niera, the azure Twi'lek smuggler. The other? A veiled enigma...

 

"Excuse me?" Perdante tried to conceal her shock. "Juhani? Are you all right?" Backing up, she kept a wary eye on Niera and the enigma--a tall female.

 

SKELCH ESTATE, LOTUS BLOSSOM GARDENS

 

Xian Li Skelch, rattled by the day's events and the questioning by Admiral Onasi and his comrades, tried to take a stroll through his favorite meditation gardens. However, his thoughts were all a frenzied jumble in his mind. Torn between his sincere love for his wife and his concern for justice and integrity, he honestly did not know what to do now. If he told Plina about what he suspected the Admiral knew and might do, she might take steps against Onasi: drastic steps, criminal steps. On the other hand, why would she do that? She would no doubt lose her seat in the Senate--and perhaps her freedom! Still, was it worth the risk to "go with his gut" and "rat" on her?

 

He heard a soft voice nearby: "Hello, Xian-san. It is good to see you."

 

"Plina!" With all doubts wiped clear from his mind, he flew into her arms. "How was your day, my love?" Xian Li nuzzled her nose and stroked her long hair.

 

"Politics as usual. Elections are hard to campaign for, much less win. Yours?"

 

"It was fine," her husband replied, trying to conceal the worry in his tone.

 

"Excellent. Is dinner ready?" Plina seemed not to have noticed it--or cared...

 

As they went inside to eat, Xian Li reflected: I just lied to my wife.

[Shana]

"I see...", Visas said and crosse her arms. "I had feared this would happen. But no matter how much I pleaded to her not to go alone, she ignored my plights".

 

Visas stepped to a side to call for the medical droid which promptly made his entrance.

 

"I also decided to come along in this mission because I was sure I would be able to find clues as to their whereabouts. I am sorry I took so long to join the order and then leave without as much as a word. But I had to keep searching. I owe my life to the exile, and I must find her whatever the cost", Visas said and walked over to Juhani.

 

"I do not feel you have sustained damage that won't heal quickly. Perhaps if you spend a few hours in trance you might be able to speed up the healing process in your body. Being a Jedi does have benefits", Visas said.

 

As she said this she saw another young woman enter the room. Visas could feel the force strongly flowing through the young woman. She tended to Juhani but Visas could tell the young woman was looking at her probably a bit puzzled as to who she was. But Visas was more concerned with Juhani than with introductions.

 

"She has sustained injury but nothing too serious that her powers can't cure", Visas said.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"I don't think they went after the Found."

 

Juhani turned to look at the Twi'lek and frowned. "I am convicned that the found are somehow involved in Revan and the Exile's disappearance. For all we know they ran into the found and were unprepared for them."

 

"I also decided to come along in this mission because I was sure I would be able to find clues as to their whereabouts. I am sorry I took so long to join the order and then leave without as much as a word. But I had to keep searching. I owe my life to the exile, and I must find her whatever the cost."

 

"I know what you mean." Juhani said quietly as she watched Perdante walk into the room. "Revan brought me from the darkside and back toward the light. I owe my life to him as you owe your life to the Exile. I won't stop searching until I find him."

 

"Juhani? Are you all right?"

 

"I am fine." Juhani said. "I broke somethng while sparring with Zen. I was just about to go into a healing trance actually."

 

She caught Perdante keeping a watchful eye on Visas. "Perdante, this is Visas marr, a former member of the jedi order. Visas, this is Perdante, shes my new apprentice."

[Tysyacha]

ABOARD THE MILLENNIAL, SKIES ABOVE CORUSCANT

 

Perdante held out her hand. "I'm quite pleased to meet you, Visas. My name is Perdante Dareva, and I'm a newly-promoted Jedi Knight." She smiled, but then looked askance at Visas and her red-violet silk veil, which covered her eyes. "I beg a thousand pardons of you for asking such a rude question, but how can you see while wearing the veil over your face? Do you 'see' with your other senses, such as touch, hearing and smell?" Perdy thought asking are you blind? would be too insulting, and she did not wish to insult the former Jedi.

[Shana]

"I see through the force, miss Perdante. It is a trait common with my race, the Miraluka. We are blind, but our strong affinity to the force allows us to see the world through it's eyes", Visas said and turned to Juhani.

 

"Her presence in the force is strong. I can tell by her aura, the promise she holds", Visas said. "As Juhani said, I am Visas Marr. I was a former member of the Jedi Order like Juhani said and I am searching for the one who was called the Exile, she is with Revan, somewhere in the Unknown Regions of space".

 

Visas then paused to look at Juhani.

 

"I would suggest you get on your trance, for that I shall take my leave", Visas said as she headed for the door.

[Alkonium]

Niera immediately stopped the Miraluka woman in her tracks. "Hold on a moment. I checked the ship's manifest, and there's no mention of a 'Visas Marr'. You don't look like a member of the crew, and if the Republic had hired you for this job, we'd have met already. I should report you to the Captain!" She told her, before moving to whisper something in her ear. "But you've impressed me. There's room in my quarters if you need to hide from security."

 

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

 

"If Trillium Metallurgy is innocent, then it's likely her family doesn't know. If not, this is way bigger than Plina Skelch. I can't trust Xian Li implicitly, so I can't rule them out; if he lied to me, the implications could be massive. We'll need shipping schedules from all three companies if we want to catch Plina in the act." Garren transmitted back to Carth, speeding towards his first stop: the head office of Miracle Metals.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"Hold on a moment. I checked the ship's manifest, and there's no mention of a 'Visas Marr'. You don't look like a member of the crew, and if the Republic had hired you for this job, we'd have met already. I should report you to the Captain!"

 

Juhani glared at the Twi'lek and her hand went down to her lightsaber. She trusted Visas more then she trusted the Twi'lek smuggler.

 

"I am the Grand master of the Jedi Order and this woman is now under my protection." She told the twi'lek. "This woman was at one point a member of the Jedi Order and thus will be treated with the respect she deserves."

 

"But you've impressed me. There's room in my quarters if you need to hide from security."

 

Juhani's eyes blazed with rage as she managed to catch that small bit of Niera's words. Her lightsaber lept to her hand and she visibly struggled not to ignite it.

 

"Apprentice..." She growled. "I would advise you to leave the room now. I am going to have a discussion with the Twi'lek."

[ForceFightWMe12]

"With all due respect, Grand Master," the sound of the Captain's heeled boots stopped just behind Perdante. "What she used to be is irrelevant; she's a stowaway now." She looked between Perdante and Juhani, first one and then the other. "The Twilek is right; her presence should have been reported to me immediately. You may be Jedi, but per the Admiral's orders, my word is still law on this ship."

 

She turned to look at Visas with her arms crossed over her chest. It was difficult to look at her - Fara knew she was a Miraluka, and knowledge of her race's fate made her uneasy - but she kept her eyes on the woman anyway. A Republic officer was not trained to flinch. "Now tell me - who are you and what the hell are you doing on my ship?"

 

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

 

"Oh yeah - we live in the highest level of luxury on the ship," Mica said, standing beside Melany and putting his arm cockily over her shoulder. He added lewdly, "Maybe you'd like to see it sometime?"

 

"Yeah - if she wants to sleep on a straw mattress." Sal muttered sourly, turning back to his controls.

[Tysyacha]

ABOARD THE MILLENNIAL, SKIES ABOVE CORUSCANT

 

Perdante Dareva could feel the intense rage and disappointment rolling off of Captain Starr in waves through the Force. Rage because a stowaway had been aboard the Millennial for who knows how long, and disappointment because said stowaway had not been located earlier--or reported to her for due processing and/or prosecution. One thing was clear, however: Visas Marr was about to take a long walk out the airlock if she, Perdante, didn't do something fast! A woman that angry was not to be trifled with.

 

That was why the Jedi Knight flicked two buttons near her waist, and two silver lightsabers ignited. "Check" and "Mate", she called them.

 

She crossed the shimmering blades in front of her chest. "I will not attack you outright," she told Captain Starr, "but if Visas Marr is harmed, stowaway or not, I will have no choice. Shall I make the first move, Captain?" Perdante took a step in front of Visas.

[Cyborg Ninja]

When the Captain had turned to follow Perdante, Zen had guessed it was much more than a fever. He motioned Caboose to follow him as he walked after the Captain. Zen looked to see what was going on when the Captain did stop moving. Some woman was speaking with Juhnai and Niera. It seemed Juhani was bickering with Niera and now the Captain was getting involved. This woman was a stowaway apparently and the Captain seemed displeased. Suddenly Perdante activated her lightsabers and pointed them at the Captain. Zen shook his head in bewilderment and stepped into the dilemma to serve as the voice of reason. He had his hand on his energy sword but he would dare not draw it. Drawing a sword meant he had to use it in his culture. Zen stepped in between the Captain and Perdante to prevent any physical contact between the two.

 

"Sisters, do not point your weapons and one another. We are all here to fight the Found not one another. Former Sith Perdante put your blades away, is it not the Jedi way to find a peaceful situation rather than violence?" he looked over at Captain Starr. "Captain, Jedi Knight Juhani knows this woman so I trust her in trusting this woman."

 

Zen stepped away from where he was and looked over at Juhani, Niera, and the woman called Visas.

 

"If we are too succeed in this mission then we must start acting as a unit. This bickering will only lead us to failure and I will not fail. I do agree with the Captain in that we should find out why Visas is aboard the ship, before any of us does something we'll regret."

[Tysyacha]

Perdante's lower lip was quivering visibly. "Give the order and I'll yield," she replied, "but I would prefer it, Captain, if you will give me your word beforehand that no injury, either bodily or mental, will come to this woman, no matter if she stowed away." She didn't know why she felt such abrupt and sudden kinship with this veiled and silent stranger, but she did. "Zen, I believe you are correct, but in life--as in the game of dejarik--you must always calculate your exchanges very carefully. I wish to exchange my standing down for Visas Marr's safety. Agreed?" She raised a quizzical eyebrow at Captain Starr.

[Shana]

Visas was a little worried about what she had started. The crew members were already bickering because of her. But she wasn't to let things escalate, she had learned from the Exile to do the right thing, even when she had nothing to gain, and she wasn't about to let Juhani or her apprentice take a fall for her. Visas then placed a hand on both Juhani and Perdante's shoulders.

 

"I will go with the Captain, it is only right that I give her an explanation for my presence aboard her ship. I was planning on doing this in the first place. I just wanted a chance to speak with Juhani in case the situation turned for the worst. I doubt I will come to harm, though physically blind, I'm able to see everyone present in this room with the force. I am perfectly capable of defending myself. I thank you for your efforts miss Perdante, Master Juhani".

 

She moved closer to Captain Starr.

 

"I will come quietly, I have no intentions of starting an uproar with your crew but know this, should I feel an intent of aggression, I shall respond accordingly", Visas said to Captain Starr.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Fara's eyes widened in disbelief; two Jedi, with three sabers between them, were rebelling against her. As Perdante moved to stand in front of the Miraluka, the captain's eyes became two little slits of rage - a rage the kept the hurt she felt at the betrayal hidden behind it. "So it is to be a mutiny, then." She said lowly, eyes flashing at Perdante.

 

The human staff of the medical wing stood demurely to the sides of the room, watching silently. The security droids marched and hovered nearer, blasters trained on those who fell into the category of 'armed agressors'. They were waiting on the orders of the captain to engage, and they very well might have been given those orders, had the Miraluka not spoken up.

 

Had Fara had any intention of hurting the woman, they disappeared under her cooperation. "Then I trust that you will give no trouble to my droids as they escourt you to the brig." She had a surprisingly friendly tone underlying the authoritative words, but as the stowaway passed by, that good cheer quickly evaporated. Fara stood and looked at the two Jedi, a look of disgust now inhabiting her face.

 

"I fought side by side with Jedi in two wars," she said, her voice seething with venom, "And I don't know what either of you are, but you are most certainly not Jedi." And with that, she turned on her heel and left, following the Miraluka and her escourt.

[Tysyacha]

ABOARD THE MILLENNIAL, SKIES OVER CORUSCANT

 

Perdante's jaw fell slack. "Mutiny?" she gasped. As Captain Starr and Visas left for the brig, she mumbled to Juhani, "That is not at all what I intended! I simply felt the Captain's aggression rolling off of her in waves, and it frightened me immensely. The Jedi teachings are correct: fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering. I did not control my emotions at that moment, seeking armed conflict instead of a peaceful resolution, as Soldier Zen suggested. I will follow Visas, the Captain, and their escort to the brig and beg pardon. If that doesn't work, then all is lost. Once again, Juhani, I have lost..." In a sign of humility, she unbound her hair.

 

When they all reached the lowest level of the Millennial, Perdante knelt down before the Captain as Visas Marr was led into a cell by the security droids. "Captain Starr," she began softly, "I implore you to forgive me for my aggression and insubordination earlier. It was a foolish and most likely fatal mistake on my part. If you wish to discontinue me from this mission, you may do so. I have utterly forgotten my place aboard this ship, thinking myself your superior due to my powers. You are right, Captain. I am not a true Jedi."

 

MIRACLE METALS, CORUSCANT

 

An administrative assistant droid was there to welcome Garren Shain as he stepped into the front offices of the Miracle Metals corporate building. One would imagine that such a building would be streamlined, noiseless, tall, and ergonomically designed and beautiful. Instead, it looked and sounded just like any other factory would--if, indeed, that factory were not at the peak of its technological capabilities. Miracle Metals was indeed a relic from the "bad old days", as some people called them, but the metal products it produced were truly miraculous. Most high-end medical equipment came from their center...

 

"Welcome to Miracle Metals, sir," said the droid. "How may I assist you?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

((Visas is going to the brig...not Perdante...))

[Tysyacha]

((Fix'd!))

[Chevron 7 locke]

((Just so you know, Juhani's saber wasn't ignited. And she didn't interfere with Visas's capture, she was angry at the twi'lek not the captain.))

 

"I fought side by side with Jedi in two wars, And I don't know what either of you are, but you are most certainly not Jedi."

 

Juhani growled deep under her breath and followed the captain as she returned the saber to her belt but not before turning around and addressing her apprentice.

 

"Think you before you draw your sabers next time." She said slowly. "I did not interfere with Visas's capture so the captain may listen to me. But in the meantime...keep an eye on the twi'lek. I don't trust her."

 

She hurried after the Captain and made sure that her lightsaber was securly secured to her belt.

 

"First of all Captain, you have no idea what the jedi have been through. There are barely a hundred of us left in the galaxy right now and I will be the first to admit that the Jedi order has changed, and maybe not for the better. We are not the same jedi you fought with in the wars. And second...I apologize for my apprentice's behavior. She had no right to draw her sabers against you."

 

She made sure she did not appear threatning but she didn't want to appear soft either.

[ForceFightWMe12]

((My apologies - I read that she pulled her saber, but must have misunderstood xD And thank you, Tysy))

 

"Nor did you have a right to try and hide the presence of a stowaway from my knowledge." Fara snapped. She wasn't a Jedi, so as far as she was concerned, she was entitled to as much righteous anger as she wanted. "I feel for the loss of your comrades, Master Jedi, but that cannot be used as an excuse here."

 

The captain was finished with talking to the Jedi - but they, apparently, were not finished with her. Just as the Miraluka was being put into a cell and just as Fara was moving to follow her, the apprentice barred her way. Fara's lips pressed together into a straight line as she looked down at the kneeling Jedi. Her face made no show of any other emotion but annoyance and a twinge of anger.

 

"No, you're not." She told her cooly, "And for all of this, I should drop you. If you were one of my crewmen, you would be court martialed and dicharged almost immediately." Her expression changed slightly, but it did not become any friendlier. "But as it is, your presence is a strategic neccessity - but know that if you act out again, even that will not be enough to save you." She stepped around the woman and proceeded to the stowaway's cell. "Now get out of my sight."

 

With both Jedi dealt with in the captain's eyes, she proceeded to stand in front of the forcefield that shut off the Miraluka's cell. Everything in the room - including the woman herself - carried a blue tint to it. "Perhaps now you'll have a chance to answer my questions. Most pertinent, I think, is your name."