KOTOR: Check and Mate

[Tysyacha]

((Sure! I'd love to meet her once we crash-land on the asteroid N'tala, though.))

 

ABOARD THE MILLENNIAL, AMIDST THE CHAOS AND DESTRUCTION

 

Perdante was all too glad to let Zen help hoist her to her feet. Even with the help of the Force, her balance was still shaky, and the spot where her head smashed against the table corner was still ringing. She gazed at him alarmedly.

 

"We might need to head for the escape pods," she said quickly. "Those hits were specifically meant to disable our most important systems, and make us suffer before the Millennial is blown into thousands of bits of scrap metal!"

[Tysyacha]

((Hey, Chevron? I'm sorry I forgot to clarify a little bit more about the 'disgusting aliens'. The asteroid of N'tala is actually a colony of Mal, where we will meet Master Archon's character. Torian K'il thinks they're disgusting, but they're not. Torian is just a bigot. That said, could you please edit your last post so you're not killing any of the aliens on N'tala?

 

Thanks, and sorry for the confusion!))

[ForceFightWMe12]

Captain Starr was just regaining her feet when - as if in response to Tysy's assumption - the ship shook again with another proton bomb's impact. The impact sent the aft end of the Millenial skidding sideways; the efforts of Sal to turn the ship around only complicated it, and the ship did a slow one-eighty. Slow as it was, the gravity systems couldn't keep up, and Captain Starr was now thrown against her command console, as Mica went rolling out of his seat.

 

A moment later, a siren began to go off.

 

"Mica!" Fara cried, "Get an open broadcast set up! I need to get out an SOS!"

 

"It's no use!" he growled from the deck, slowly regaining his feet and his balance as the ship gradually came to a resting stop. "There isn't anyone in this sector, and we'll be blasted to smitheriens before anyone even gets a chance to set a hyperspace route!"

 

"Then I need blasters!" Fara was gradually moving towards hysterics. She had been captain of the Millenial for over ten years now...she wasn't about to lose her now! Her fingers flew across her console's touch-screen. "Where are my turrets??"

 

"We can't get the turrets to shoot at something we can't locate!" Mica just sounded angry now. He abandoned his post and marched to the other side of her podium, putting his hand on the top and glaring at her. "Forget it, Fara."

 

"I don't care if we can see it or not! I want every single blasted piece of ordinance we have on this ship going loud, now! Even shooting blindly, we have to be able to hit one of them!"

 

Mica reached across the top of the podium and slammed Fara's hands into the console to stop them, forcing her to look at him. "Fara."

 

Another rumble sounded deep within the ship. Now, an automated voice joined the siren.

 

"Critical systems failing."

 

The Millenial's bow began to sink.

 

"Critical systems failing."

 

Fara stared up at Mica, her eyes wide and glassy. Her mouth had abruptly gone dry.

 

"Critical systems failing."

 

Finally, the captain straightened up. Her eyes were dead, but her voice carried all of its usual military authority.

 

"Salvatore," she said, "What's our trajectory?"

 

"I managed to balance her out with starboard facing a nearby asteroid." the Navigations Officer answered. "Unfortunately, I have no engines left to move; using the port pods will fling us into empty space."

 

"Very well." Fara answered, and then looked down at her console. "Mica, get me that open channel."

 

The Communications Officer looked at her for a moment before he returned to his console. A few clicks later, she had a link waiting on her podium. She hit it, verified her identification number, and made the following broadcast.

 

"Attention all hands," she said in a calm, directive voice, "Abandon ship. Repeat, all hands to the starboard escape pods. Immediately. Abandon ship."

 

Once the announcement was finished, Sal set the Millenial - as best he could - on a trajectory that would maintain her current position, allowing the pods to make it to the asteroid. But even so, there wouldn't be enough pods for everyone...

 

That thought sent his heart thundering into his throat. Not enough pods. If he wasn't fast, he wasn't going to survive this.

 

And if Perdante didn't get help, she wouldn't be fast enough, either.

 

Before anyone could make their move - most bridge officers were carrying out the final protocol that went into effect during a Code 911 - Salvatore launched himself from his seat, and ran over to where Perdante was standing by the Sangheili.

 

"No time to wait for medical attention." he said, bending. "So if you'll excuse me."

 

Before getting her permission - and before Zen could react - the Navigations Officer had lifted the wounded Jedi into his arms bridal-style, and took off down the starboard corridor.

 

His twin was left stewing behind him, waiting for Fara to retrieve, copy, and then wipe the ship's logs as his brother made off with his intended target.

[Tysyacha]

WITHIN ESCAPE POD 01, HEADED FOR THE ASTEROID N'TALA

 

"S-Sal?" stuttered Perdante after Salvatore hoisted her into the tiny two-person pod, shaped rather like a torpedo, but with far less lethal power. "Thanks for your help. You truly are a soldier of the Republic--leave no one behind." Despite herself and the intense fear she was feeling at the moment, the Jedi Knight smiled. "Without you, I'd be checkmated..."

 

With a warning hiss, the escape pod breached its berth as the Millennial continued to crumble. In a matter of seconds, she would explode. It was inevitable, for Torian K'il's shots had been so well-placed that there was no way anyone could hold their faithful starship together now. It was either the Millennial or their very lives, and every member of the crew knew which option they would pick. An immediate evacuation was absolutely paramount.

[SkywalkerRules]

((Hey, where can I meet you guys now?))

[Chevron 7 locke]

((Is it alright if Juhani and Zen are in the same escape pod?))

 

Even as the ship came to pieces around her, Juhani remained focused on her goal: To get to one of the escape pods and survive this unexpected attack on the Millennial.

 

Whoever attacked us must have some powerful weapons, she thought as she finally reached the area in the starboard side of the ship where the escape pods were located after a few minutes of running. She took a quick look at the remaining pods and noticed that only a few were left.

 

I can only hope that most of the crew has already escaped, she thought as she jumped in the escape pod.

[Cyborg Ninja]

((Zen would be honored))

 

Zen wasn't sure exactly what had just happened. One moment Perdante was beside him, and the next Sal was taking her away. Zen was beginning to like Sal the more the spent time around the human. Though he had thought of Sal as a slacker before, he now saw a proud human warrior. Zen let out a chuckle before he went out into a sprint.

 

Zen made his way down the hallway and decided to hop into an escape pod all the way at the end. He saw a familiar Cathar with a lightsaber inside the same escape pod.

 

"In brings me great joy to see you made it Jedi Knight Juhani." Zen then decided to add in. "You do not need to worry about your apprentice. Sal is taking her to an escape pod as we speak."

[Tysyacha]

((THREADMASTER'S NOTE: This is a placeholder to let all of you know that in my VERY next post, the evil Torian K'il is going to fire one more shot at the Millennial, because he's seen the escape pods go off. Meaning, our faithful starship is going to explode, and the aliens on N'tala are going to help us find a new one (hopefully!) So, if you don't want to end up fried, be a pea in a pod!

[ForceFightWMe12]

"There's no need to thank me." Sal said with a smile. In all honesty, her gratitude only embarrassed him - especially considering the particularly selfish motives he had for snatching her up so quickly. Beyond the fact that he didn't want to see the Jedi woman hurt, 'rescuing' her also meant that they would be alone for quite some time...first the time it took for their pod to hit surface, and then the time it takes for them to meet up with the survivors of the other pods. It probably wouldn't amount to anything more than an hour, but...the Republic officer wasn't complaining. Some time was better than no time at all.

 

He steadied himself with one arm against the wall of the pod, his other hand resting on her upper arm to steady her, in turn. Once they were jettisoned, he decided that now would be better than never to tend to that cut she had.

 

"When did this happen?" he asked her with a little smile. One of the packs on his belt served as a semi-first aid kit, and from there he took a few little gauze pads to mop up what blood was left. "Did you lose a fight with one of the sentry droids? Here, hold still." And to emphasize her 'holding still', his free hand took hold of her chin between his thumb and the side of his forefinger, holding her head in place.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Captain Starr stood by the last of the starboard escape pods, ushering the panicking soldiers into them - but showing no intention of getting into one herself. There wouldn't be enough pods for the entirety of the crew; already, they were packing five to six people into the pods only designed to hold three at absolute most. That being said, Fara knew what her duty was, and she was resigned to it. Everyone knows that any good captain goes down with her ship.

 

But Mica, it seemed, had other plans. As a power conduit exploded from the ceiling somewhere above, a wall panel blow out in a surge of electricity, he sprinted down the corridor towards her. The ship's logs had been officially wiped entirely; nothing now was left. He had a copy of all the wiped information on a disk in his bag, and now that all his responsibilities were finished, there was no way in hell that he was going to be left behind on this wreck as it went up in flames. And the captain...she could still be of use to him yet.

 

As Fara turned around to answer his call, her eyes went wide. He was barreling straight for her, showing no signs of stopping - and indeed, he didn't. Instead, he threw his shoulder into her stomach and physically tackled her into the escape pod that stood open behind her. Despite that they landed in the laps of those who were already occupying the pod, Mica managed to move quickly enough to slam the hatch and jettison the pod before anyone else could react. When Fara sat up, there was murder in her eyes.

 

"Mica, what the hell do you think you're doing??"

[Alkonium]

"Niera, come on! This way!" Torent shouted out, spotting Niera make her way for the escape pods. "What are you talking about? We have to get to the escape pods!" She shouted back. "They need all the space they can spare on those pods; if we get out on my Aurek fighter, that's two more crewmembers who will be able to get off the ship." Torent explained. "Then lead the way, Jedi." Niera conceded.

 

Despite the ship's deteriorating condition, the two of them managed to make it to the hangar in time, and boarded Torent's fight. Just before he took off, Niera commented, "We should have been expecting something like this."

[Tysyacha]

Torian K'il gnashed his lips (the Rodian equivalent of gnashing his teeth) in a foul display of wrath and frustration. "Skark!" he spat. "They're getting away!" With one last insane-sounding screech, he fired his last torpedo straight at the heart of the Millennial. When he realized that the weapon had met its mark, Torian threw his scaly hands in the air. "Die, Jedi scum!" he shrieked, enraged.

 

The Millennial proceeded to obey the assassin's orders by exploding into a near nova-size ball of fire, not-yet-spent fuel, scrap metal, and burning flesh.

[ForceFightWMe12]

The sight was a horrific one to see.

 

Sal and Perdante were far enough away from the explosion that the escaping pressure only jostled their pod, caused it to wobble about a hundred degrees in each direction, before it steadied out again. The Republic officer had just enough time after hearing the explosion to switch from one side of the pod to the other, settling himself in beside Perdante as the wave hit them. They braced themselves against each other until the energy was spent, and their pod evened out again.

 

Many of the other pods weren't so lucky. Those that had jettisoned only moments before the final explosion were either engulfed in the explosion itself, or battered by shrapnel until they lost velocity, were punctured, or crushed into useless steel cans. Fara, who saw all this from the small, square back window in her pod, screamed a disbelieving "No!" at the fireball. There were still so many of her men there on the ship...so many who met a horrible end on a mission that wasn't supposed to be so violent...

 

She was in the midst of getting to her feet, planning to make a run at the pod's hatch, when the wave caught them. Their pod was much closer than Sal's; instead of simply wobbling, their pod was slammed as if it had been struck by a massive hammer, an additional set of g-forces upsetting the balance of those in the cab. The captain and the officer were lucky; they weren't strapped in. Their bodies could account for the additional pressure by flying into the nose of the pod and slamming there. Fara was unconscious when she slid to the ground again. Mica was the only one around to hear the necks of those strapped tightly into the safety harnesses snap.

[Chevron 7 locke]

The escape pod containing Juhani and Zen ejected from the ship just before it exploded, the pod was far away enough from the ship not to be consumed by the explosive end of the Millennial but it wasn't far enough way from the ship to totally escape the shockwave.

 

"Hold onto something!" She shouted to Zen as the shockwave slammed into the pod and shook it violently. Juhani attempted to create a bubble of force energy around the pod only to have the pod shudder and shake and then she was sent flying into the side of the pod, not hard to kill her or knock her out but enough to make her lose her concentration and thus have the force bubble around the pod dissipate.

[Tysyacha]

WITHIN ESCAPE POD 01, HEADED FOR THE ASTEROID N'TALA

 

When the Millennial met its end, Perdante could not keep from screaming. Any ordinary person might have done so under the circumstances, but the Jedi Knight felt a terror that those who weren't sensitive to the Force did not. She suddenly doubled over as if in pain, because she was. Gripping her head so tightly in her hands that she was almost pulling her hair out, she tried to stifle her shriek so that Sal wouldn't worry. "Aaagh--the pain--the pain--so much death--hundreds lost!"

 

At that moment, she wished she wasn't a Jedi. At that moment, she would not even have wanted to be among the ranks of the Sith again. At that moment, she wished she were seven years old, subsisting on the streets, but at least relatively safe. There were other homeless people who had helped to care for her, including aliens. Perdante yearned to be back among them, and at peace.

[Writer]

((JP with FFWM))

 

Pauel's Ship, en route to Cocyta

 

Arai picked at her food, so lost in thought that an explosion might be challenged to stir her. Though she was glad she and Dom had worked things out and she was trying to consider where they were going from here, losing her Force sensitivity had effectively shattered her concentration. As a result, it was the Force and her recent behavior with it that dominated her mind.

 

However, during one wild distraction from that train of thought, she wondered aloud, "What are we gonna do about Khristoff?"

 

Dominic had been in a world of his own, thoughtless and quiet, mechanically lifting his fork to his mouth and chewing on the noodles as his eyes stared down at an indiscriminate spot on the table. When she spoke, the only sign that announced his functioning was a single blink of his eyes.

 

"What do you mean, 'about' him?" he asked in return, making another deposit of noodles.

 

Arai looked up from her plate, puzzled. "Is that what I said?" She sighed and shook her head. "Sorry, this whole situation is terribly distracting." She tried desperately to focus her mind and chase down the thought fragment that had popped out.

 

"I think..." she sighed. "Well, I think it helps us, my current condition. It sort of saves us from extra scrutiny if he has tech to scan for Force sensitivity..."

 

Shaking her head, she tried to backtrack. "I mean... well, I guess you never really explained why you wanted to go to him. I know my reasons... though I'm seriously questioning them as of late..."

 

He looked up at her as she spoke, finished with his bite but not continuing to eat. When her voice drifted off, he bent his head down again, and lifted his fork. "I'm Found. He's my master. I'm going to him for instructions."

 

"Instructions," Arai murmured softly. She frowned, worried. "Do you think he'll have you..." She hesitated, unwilling to finish the thought.

 

He went on eating. "Have me what?"

 

"Kill," Arai answered reluctantly. "From all I've heard about the Found, they've been portrayed as murdering without discrimination. Jedi, Sith, neutral, it's all the same, it's all bad." Hurriedly, she added, "Not saying I believe it. I'd be very hard to convince that you would join up with something like that."

 

Dominic gave a little, wry smirk. "You make it sound as if killing is such a foreign thing."

 

Arai grimaced, recalling the incident that ultimately led to her exile. "It's not that... I guess I just don't think that every Force sensitive is worthy of death, whether they reject the Found or not."

 

"There isn't any other way to ensure the destruction of the Force's teachings."

 

Arai grimaced. "That's the excuse of someone who doesn't want to consider other options. There's always another way."

 

"Perhaps you can explain it to me, then." He said. He sounded annoyed now.

 

Her eyes widened. "Yeah, that was a bit blunt of me. Sorry..." Drawing in a deep breath and releasing it slowly, she tried again. "I don't believe that the complete destruction of the Force's teachings is possible, let alone wise. And even if the Found succeed in that goal, they need to understand that the Force users learned their skills from somewhere, without the aid of training by a knowledgeable master. If we learned to harness its power once, we can and will do it again."

 

"Then we'll start all over again. "

 

"And you'd be in a cycle no less endless than the conflict between Jedi and Sith," Arai pointed out. "At some point you have to examine your motives and ask what's the point? And is it worth it?"

 

He was quiet as he looked at her. "I think you're overestimating the powers of Force sensitives. It's a very rare occasion when an untrained person manages to learn how to consciously and directly wield the Force on their own."

 

"True," Arai agreed. "But even one ordinary person is capable of great things."

 

"He's also a much smaller sacrifice."

 

Arai frowned thoughtfully. "Alright. So let's consider this from a more personal aspect, Dom. I've given it a lot of hard thought, mainly because it's hard to think about anything else right now. Being cut off from the Force, I've lost a big and important part of myself. Granted, I was misusing my power, but the more time I spend away from it, the more I realize that was always a choice, and I never chose right. I never chose right because I feared choosing wrong. Didn't the Jedi always say, "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." In that at least, they were right. I'm not saying they always are. I'm just saying maybe there's a better alternative to wiping us out entirely. But I'll get to that later. Knowing I'll never be "Found", if Khristoff tells you I'm next on that hit list... how will you deal?"

 

Dominic looked surprised by that question... and then that surprise slowly began to fade into am empty expression; blank face, empty eyes. Now that he thought about it... he didn't know what he would do. His two greatest loyalties... Slowly, he shook his head and pushed away from the table. "Khristoff won't find out."

 

Arai couldn't let it go at that. She caught his hand. "But what if he does?"

 

He yanked his hand out of her grip. "He wont!"

 

Arai tucked her hands into her lap and lowered her gaze to the table. "I know he won't," she said softly. "I'll still be Forceless when we land, and for another couple hours afterward. I'm sorry. The thought just wouldn't shut up." She paused briefly, and then added, "I trust you."

 

He looked at her for a while, and then began moving again. "I'm glad." He picked up his plate, having lost his appetite. Because I don't know if I do.

[SkywalkerRules]

((So... where would it be the perfect time to meet you guys, Tysy?))

 

MOD EDIT: Just PM her next time, yeah? ~ FFWM

[Rexraptor2000]

The hull of Issac's small, one-man fighter was of sleek black design and its hull was scarred by weapons fire. Armed on either side of the vessel was a set of standard fighter-to-fighter weaponry, with an additional set of not-so-standard anti-frigate weaponry. This addition was more convenient than actual intention for a possible outcome with the Millennial.

 

Bright lines of light stretched past the window of the cockpit and had been stretched that way for hours on end. Most view screens were dark, with only one in front of Issac being lit. The screen illuminated the cockpit with a serene, deep amber glow, and displayed a list of profiles. One such profile in particular was exposed: that of Perdante Dareva.

 

Issac sat in the pilot's chair, still encased in his armor, and peered forward at what little information existed on her. A name, some basic descriptors, an identification, and a picture. The picture was not what he'd expected. Instead of having any particularly strong or sharp features, this Perdante was instead round-faced with brown eyes and hair. Issac's hair was black, but he did have the same eyes as her. They weren't so tired though.

 

“You know, the director could have been misleading you, Issac. Men under terrible duress often will try anything to alleviate their situations.”

 

Issac's head snapped up in surprise. Outside the window, sitting on the nose of a fighter in hyperspace, was an old man in a decadent, brown outfit puffing a cigar. The man's hair, which protruded from under a funny hat, was pure white and overgrown, and his skin was rough but withered from age. He grinned, displaying tobacco-stained teeth, and when the man spoke, his voice was deep and gravel.

 

“But you knew that he believed it, and even if he was lying, a cult bent on the very destruction of the Force is no simple thing to overlook. Not when you yourself find it such a useful tool. I mean, you certainly couldn't let other people take care of it and try to make a life for yourself instead. You know, expanding your social group beyond people you are intending to kill and those you've already killed.”

 

“I will find Perdante Dareva.” Issac stated simply and returned his attention to the lone view screen, switching from Perdante's profile to that of another member of the Millennial. “And I will destroy the Found.”

 

“And anyone who gets in your way I'm sure. While I technically already know, I must ask, what are you looking at now?” the man asked, getting up from his position from the nose of the fighter and walking up to the cockpit. He plopped himself on a control panel next to Issac, passing through the glass easily, and glanced at the screen.

 

“Captain Fara Starr.” Issac replied unfazed.

 

A look of disgust formed on the man's face. “Girl with a nasty scar? Blah. Never did like the ebony girls either. I'm more toward the girls with squinty eyes and round faces.”

 

“You are lying.” Issac stated bluntly.

 

“Well, that's certainly a bold statement. What makes you say this?” the man huffed and crossed his arms.

 

“The women I prefer are blond with blue eyes. You are me.”

 

“True,” the man conceded, “but I'm supposed to be an original illusion, remember? A more original taste would add character to that concept. Speaking of character, have you thought of a name for me yet? These interactions really would be more productive if I had a name. You're also mentally unstable, so it's socially acceptable.”

 

“Church.”

 

“Church?”

 

“Church.”

 

“Okay. As Church, my newly appointed name by the Lord High you, I must inform you that you're probably going to want to stop now.” Church cautioned and then he was gone.

 

Issac immediately brought all of the fighter's systems online with the flick of a switch and smashed the conveniently located red button that said “Emergency Hyperspace Exit.”

 

The bright lines that lit the view of the cockpit slowed. They were replaced by molten slag and fiery spit and the sound of klaxons over his speakers. He had just exited hyperspace amongst the wreckage of the Millennial.

 

Panic set in Issac pulled back on the fighter-controls and narrowly dodged a slag of molten metal. He rolled to avoid an eruption that shot into his path and weaved between random shards of steel. Just as he was almost out of the wreckage, a piece of debris clipped his wing. Issac spun, out of control, before he was finally able to right himself just moments later. Relief, however, was not an option.

 

Death screamed to Issac as he glided away from the wreckage. It struck his mind like a tidal wave and he knew that the one responsible was not far. They would need to be dealt with before he could begin finding those left alive, those in the numerous pods heading at full speed toward an asteroid.

 

The torpedo trail was a start.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Sal saw Perdante crumple as the wave hit them, and as he grabbed onto a rail above their heads to keep himself steady, he wrapped his other arm around her shoulder and side, holding her tight to his chest.

 

"Perdante!" he said, over the sound of the wreckage, but he wasn't able to do anything until the shockwave had spent itself, and their pod had steadied again. Once the rocking had stopped, he released his grip on the metal rod and, releasing his hold on her, he got down on one knee in front of her. Grabbing both of her wrists, he gently tried to pry her hands open and away from her head and face.

 

"Perdante," he said, a little more gently this time. "Hey - Perdy, look at me."

[Tysyacha]

ABOARD ESCAPE POD 01, HEADED TOWARD THE ASTEROID N'TALA

 

Through the crimson waves of agony that were ululating behind her closed eyes, Perdante sensed a slight grip on her shoulders and insistent voice.

 

"Perdante. Hey--Perdy--look at me."

 

With her body quivering, she slowly opened her eyes and lowered her hands from her face. Her palms were wet, as was her hair. She was almost completely drenched in sweat, and the first thing that overwhelmed her was the stench of armpit musk. She wrinkled her nose. "Ugh--is that me?!"

 

This set both her and the Republic soldier to laughing so hard that they momentarily forgot about the scene around them. When they remembered, it came as an ice-cold shock. "They're all dead? Everyone aboard the Millennial? I hope all of our crew escaped...Sal?"

 

Yes, it was Salvatore Caraway. She was sure of it, even through her tears.

 

NEAR THE SITE OF THE MILLENNIAL'S EXPLOSION

 

Torian K'il, though certifiably insane, had a certifiable sixth sense about when others--especially enemies--were nearby. Of course, in his own mind, all people except Khristoff and Found members were enemies, and thus he reacted with hostility to the blip on his radar. Another spaceship!

 

"A witness!" the Rodian hissed. "Torian K'il doesn't like witnesses!"

 

He had no more torpedoes left: they had all been fired successfully upon the now-extinct Millennial. However, what he did have were two proton cannons, and making a sharp bank to the right that almost caused him to spew up green bile, he fired them point-blank at the ship that had arrived.

 

"Let's see how you dodge these," Torian sneered. "No, you won't!"

[ForceFightWMe12]

His smile slowly faded from his face as the situation set in again, and his hands slowly slid from her wrists. Instead his hands shifted, and his fingers curled securely in between hers.

 

"Yeah, it's me." he said softly, rocking their joined hands back and forth gently on the top of her knees. He looked out the back viewport to see the dying fireball that was the Millenial. How does one answer that sort of question? "I..." he said quietly. He stopped, and then tried again. "Most of the pods looks like they jettisoned." Sal turned again to look up at her, his fingers tightening gently against her hands. "There's a good chance that most of them escaped..."

 

Even as he said it, he knew the falsity of that question. The pods weren't built for more than two people, and even though more could be it...that fireball was so massive, and the shockwave so violent that there was a good chance that even those that did manage to get on a pod wouldn't survive to land on the asteroid. But he didn't want to be realistic right now. Realistic was too grim.

[Tysyacha]

ABOARD ESCAPE POD 01, HEADED TOWARD THE ASTEROID N'TALA

 

"I...I hope so," stammered the young Jedi, knowing that Sal's reassurance rang a bit hollow. "Still, so many people have lost their lives that..." She trailed off, and then her voice turned soft and cold. "Khristoff is going to pay for this," she said.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Salvatore Caraway had very little experience with Jedi or Sith. Having been raised alongside his brother on Dantooine, he had a faint comprehension of the two - but that comprehension came from history books and holorecords, nothing ever concrete about what each stood for. He didn't know the codes, he couldn't even begin to comprehend their lifestyles...but even without any of this knowledge, he knew that the look in Perdante's eyes was not a good one. The coldness of her voice sent a chill sweeping over him, and with a mouth that was now suddenly dry, he found himself without words to speak. Instead, he shifted once more so that he was sitting beside her, his arm draped around her shoulders while the other kept hold of her hand.

 

And for the first time in a long time, he was actually scared. Terrified, really. Because the voice that came out of Perdante then wasn't the voice of the woman that he had sparred with, that had accidentally kissed him in the heat of the moment, that had occupied his mind ever since. It was the voice of a Sith...and he was legitimately frightened of losing her.

[Cyborg Ninja]

Zen held onto a small handle that required one to stand in order to grab it. Zen nodded at Juhani, and braced himself for what was to come. He felt the pod shake as his left side hit the wall. Zen let out a slight grunt as his shielding went offline. He looked to see if Juhani was alright as his shields began to come back online.

 

He wasn't sure if anyone else had survived this attack. He knew that Perdante was alive, this he was sure of. He couldn't explain it but something told him that she had survived as well...at least he hoped. This was just another reason why Khristoff had to die. He turned to Juhani.

 

"What of the others...how many survived?" He wanted to make sure Perdante was alive and knew that Juhani would be able to find out.

[Rexraptor2000]

A vessel that reminded Issac of a diseased Rancor appeared in his view almost immediately after he cleared the Millennial's wreckage.

 

The responsible, he thought to himself as witnessed the split-second warmup of two photon cannons. A feeling of calm sudden washed over him. But this is not my grave.

 

Issac cut his engines and the hull of his ship groaned as he rolled it starboard. He could see the photon rounds as they glided within inches of both sides of his engines, triggering alarms within the fighter. The rounds went on to strike the wreckage of the Millennial and trigger another series of micro-detonations within its remaining hull.

 

Yanking the controls back, Issac forced the the nose of his ship toward the enemy vessel. He set the throttle to full and the ship shook as his engines fired up again. Issac was forced back into his seat with the sudden burst of acceleration. He focused as the view of the enemy became very large, very quickly and and he barely had the time to release a set of mines from the back of his ship. At the very last second, Issac changed course and avoided crashing into the enemy vessel.

 

However, mines in motion stay in motion until acted upon by an outside force, such as another ship.

[Alkonium]

"Good, our mysterious assailant hasn't noticed us yet; we're safe for the moment." Torent commented, looking out at the remains of the Millennial. "That could easily change. How many do think didn't make it out?" Niera pointed out. "Too many, but right now we to regroup with those who did." Torent replied. "I'm getting a signal from one of the asteroids. We have to check it out."