Lutris

*Lamia growled at the creature, showing her clenched teeth.*

Could it have been the ship that almost crashed that I was on? I am not in danger here. You can let him know that we are fine. If he wants to see his son, he will have to come here. Will that be all?

*Lamia wrapped her hand around her saber and waited for his answer.*

<< Be as it may, the impression is seemingly lasting. My master will not be pleased if he finds the mongrel boy hurt, togruta. I am to emphasize this point.. >>

It stretched an ugly claw that could pass through any physical armour and rend the flesh beneath with no less success than a lightsaber.

<< You would be wise to try and determine what is the source of disturbance that plagues my master's mind, lest he be forced come and ask himself. Fare thee well, lady of the Iron Fists. >>

It turned towards the Sith Lord.

<< Massasi. >>

As suddenly as it materialized, it faded so that it was barely visible, slinking into the shadows and speeding away through solid air like a silver shade.

*Moving gracefully through the clouds the ship carrying Alema makes its way down to the surface, she hovers above the city familiarising herself with its layout, spying the docking station she begins her descent and tries to steady the ship and it drops, yet, not being the best pilot the ships sways from side to side before eventually settling it with a large series of clangs .

Moving to the back of the ship she grabbed hold of her weapons belt and exited the ship, stepping out into the afternoon sun, Alema squinted as she bought up her right hand to shield her eyes, allowing them to adjust slowly to the light, she had been on-board her ship travelling for several days now and the false light was nothing compared top the daylight.
Closing the ramp and sealing the ship she began to make her way to one of the checkpoints of the city, tipping her head back allowing her, purple, red and black hair fall down her back and letting the breeze brush over her rusty tan coloured skin, enjoying the sensation and natural coolness it bought to her body.

Shaking her head, she flicked her hair and ran her fingers through it to tidy it a little before exploring the city…

She approached the guard at the check point and threw her weapons belt on the desk, spreading her legs and holing her arms out she allowed him top perform the scan before giving her a visitors pass and admitting her into the city, however the first place she was heading towards…the bar.*

*At the checkpoint...*

*The guard looked over the newcomer with a critical eye. He chuckles slightly as she moves into the standard 'pat-down' pose. He shakes his head and motioned for her to step into the walk-in scanner not two metres from where they stood. After the scan comes back as 'all-clear', Alema is issued a visitors pass and is allowed to enter the city.*

*In the interview room of the main starport...*

*Unseen under the hooded cloak, Grizz scowls; the recent interruption did not sit well with him. He quickly recovered, pulling back the cowl and exposing his large head and muzzle-shaped face.*

=Grizz=

Now that is over, we can return to our previous discussion of who I am and the use of a collar on your son. *He flicks the cloak away from his body and around his shoulders. He points to the chair that Walter had sat in and raises his hand into the air. The chair grows in size to accommodate his giant frame and he sits in it before continuing.* I am Sith'ari Grizz, a Massassi Sith Lord Sorcerer from an era long passed. I am the alpha and omega on this world, all obey me or suffer my wrath. As for your son... *He clicks his fingers and suddenly the ebon collar is in his hand; Ryddik is left untouched.* ...I am not completely without compassion. Walter was only following orders, do not hold it against him. Now, can we come to some arrangement where you will be satisfied enough that you will leave this facility? The staff here are not used to having guests and it makes them uneasy. I would like to have them return to normal duties as soon as possible and your continued presence provides an unwelcome distraction to their tasks.

*He was infuriatingly calm, as if nothing in the known universe bothered him. His recent victory over his former associate had left him in a good mood and he wanted to keep a hold on that for as long as possible.*

*Lamia looked at him. She took him in. Then it hit her. The dreams she had been having. The feeling she kept getting while she was in the interrogation room. The bigger entity.. it was HIM. She thought back to the last dream... the most recent and most vivid. She remembered that she had been somewhere other than Manaan, but couldn't place where. Was it here, on Tynna? She remembered being called.. that a higher power was drawing her away from her home. In her dream, she felt she needed to learn from the power.. that he had something for her. She straightened up and cleared her throat.*

Y...yes... I think I would be ok with that. I am not here to be an inconvenience to you. I... I do think, when we are settled, there is something we should discuss... but only after my family is situated. What are you suggesting?

*The red orbs of pure energy that had replaced Grizz eyes long ago bore into the Togruta. His presence grew and filled the room; he knew that Lamia's focus was on him and that she was beginning to enter a stage of tunnel vision that left nothing other than him in her sight.*

=Grizz=

I was not suggesting anything, I was merely waiting for you to accept my insistence of moving you and yours to another...

*The room began to shimmer and warp, had Lamia not been transfixed by the Massassi, she may have noticed the whiteness of the interview room being replaced by less harsher tones and more colour.*

*The spell complete, Lamia's focus became her own again.*

=Grizz=

...more suitable location.

*Grizz and Lamia sat at a dining-room table, inside what appeared to be a large dwelling. Grizz held up a hand to stop Lamia before she could say anything.*

=Grizz=

Do not concern yourself. Your son and his governess are asleep in their rooms, which are adjoined; and the male that was with you is also comfortably asleep in his own room. I did not wish to make presumptions about your relationship with him, so you have your own room as well. *Grizz sweeps his hand through the air, encompassing the room and all that lays beyond.* This is your home for the duration of your stay, I do hope that it is suitable for your needs and especially that of your child. It is near to the starport that you were brought to within the central district of Lutris.

*Lamia would soon notice that the bracelets that had been placed on her and the others back in the interview room were gone, no trace of them was left.*

=Grizz=

Now, there was something else you wished to discuss?

*Lamia ran her hand over her face and pinched the bridge of her nose. She took a deep breath, and thought about what she wanted to say. She wanted to choose her words carefully.*

I know that our abrupt landing may seem accidental...I mean, I left my planet because I followed my queen to search for her children- but sitting in your interrogation room, I couldn't help but feel like it was more than coincidence. I kept getting this feeling.. a feeling I had felt before. I couldn't put my finger on it until I was in the same room with you. You came to me in a dream. You came to me.. and you discussed training me. I have a deep interest in Sith magic. In my dream, you had the knowledge I need. Is this crazy?

*Lamia sat with her elbows in the table and looked at him, waiting for his response.*

*Grizz pondered Lamia's words for several minutes. He let himself sink into the Force, riding the ebb and flow of the universe while he contemplated the deeper meaning of it all.*

=Grizz=

Yes. I can see that you have been drawn here, that the Force specifically brought you to this place; to me. You say that you are intrigued by the arts created by my people, just how much do you know?

*Grizz could sense much potential within the Togruta. As they sat in Lamia's house he could feel the Force guiding him to teach this newcomer the arts of Sith Magic.*

*Exiting the pub, Alema steps out and stops tipping her head back and taking a deep breath, enjoying the feeling of the sunlight beating down upon her skin, feeling replenished she begins to stroll upon the lutris streets, looking into the windows of the shops as she passed, taking in the sites, getting to piece together the culture of the inhabitants, it all seemed so far from her own upbringing, worlds apart.

Slowly disappearing were the commercial streets and appearing in there place were the residential settings, homes of varying sizes and designs, all with quaint little gardens, many growing their own produce, some with little ones running around playing with each other, this made her smile, she longed one day for the love of a partner and children, yet feared due to her personality and lifestyle, it would never happen.*

*For sometime now Alema had contemplated her existence, why was she here? What was her purpose? Soften she had sat at her fathers knee as a child and listened intently as he spoke of their history, how the homeworld had become lost, how for centuries her people had separated and gone in search of it, always the neverending search.
Yet, in all the years of her exitstence, her parents had blindly and faithfully without question, flown from planet to planet searching, scouring for clues, for a sign, and yet, found nothing.
Did it really exist? She had to wonder, or had it died out centuries ago?

Surely if her people and homeworld still existed, they would have found it by now? Surely it would have been found and they would have sent word out, bringing together all of their kind once more…

Was she destined to follow the path of her parents? Praying daily to the goddess Vahla and following her blindly without question?
Yet, how was to do what was expected of her? How could she keep her kind alive and growing, strengthening their numbers? She had never in her lifetime met another Vahla, never, her parents had sent o that, never staying in one place for any real length of time, never mixing with society, always hiding themselves away like hermits, they had seen fit to head off on their own, hiding from the world.

The death of her parents had in some ways been a blessing, it had severed her chains, giving her the freedom she had so often prayed for, yet at the same time plunging her further into isolation, for till their death, she had only ever known their company, so now lacking people skills, lacking conversational skills, feeling comfortable only in solice.

out on the streets of Lutris, Alema strolled heading who knows where, with no purpose other than to walk, the gentle breeze creating tiny sand storms, slowly erasing the footprints behind her, blowing against her face, drying out her lips and mouth.
It was then she began to prey to the goddess Vahla…

Help me, give me a sign, anything…
Tell me, what am I to do?
Why I am here? I must have a purpose
Please help me, I don’t know what to do, I am lost
Is this it? Is this my life? Is this all you have in strore for me? All you have planned for my pathetic existence?
I have been a faithful servant to you, I have never asked anything of you, never questioned my life till now, but there must be something more, I gave my life to you, when do I get something,? When do I get a reward?

Standing alone on the deserted street, the afternoon sun, low on the horizon, glaring its bright white light, burning her skin, causing her eyes to water as she squints to see the path before her, she waits in total silence, waiting for a sign, for an answer, something…

After ten or more minutes, she gives up, cursing the Goddess Vahla, she continues to walk, she needed to figure out her next move, something had bought her here, she just needed to figure out what, but then she would need to decide where next, where was she to go after leaving Tynna, thinking back to her ship she tried to remember if she had seen any star chartsm yet all she could remember were the many undesirable things she had found on board, she would need to clean it before she took off, she shuddered at the thought, of what she had found…

Really, who would own such things?

Crusty pink thongs, rotting cucumbers, some very disturbing pictures, a large collection of goat lover’s weekly magazines.

Yes, upon her touch she would sterilise the ship and add a feminine touch, one thing she had been thankful for though, was the overly large collection of cooper’s beer, three whole fridges full.infact…

Now mind over matter she tried to stop acting like an emo and pushed all her thoughts to the back of her mind, and focused only upon her future, the next step, she was determined to carve a life for herself, she would no longer just exist.

Smiling now she turned and began to head back to her ship, this time with a bounce in her step…***

A sleek black ship arrived from the atmosphere, circling until the operator directed the crew to a free landing platform of approximately right size. Soft and smooth, the ship descended, sound of its thrusters being the loudest sound it ever made since the start of its journey. I strode down the miniature ramp, cloaked and hooded, aiming to embark on some more formal transport, cab or something of the sort. I needed no escort, I needed no fanfare to announce my coming. I also needed no tracking device or address to tell me where to go.

I felt it with every fiber of my being.

*Over the capital, an exotic looking vessel began a slow descent towards the private spaceport of the Sith'ari. The ship was fresh off the assembly line, sleek and clean, with no attempt made to conceal the opulently crafted style. Following close behind it was a Class 720 freighter that was marked with the emblem of the Twin Suns Transport Service.*

*This was your basic drop off and go procedure. A TSTS pilot would set the shuttle down at the drop off point, then vacate it and return to the station upon the escort transport. It was like ordering take out food except the ship was the meal....yeah, that sounds right. Take, mhmmmm, kind of makes you hungry come to think about it.*

*Landing struts extend from the bottom of the Grendal-class Pleasure Yacht, touching down on the cool grey stone of the landing pad. In moments the sound of engines cut off as the pilot ran through the deactivation sequence. The boarding ramp was lowered and the pilot strode off, handing the keys to one of the GSI operatives attending to the private strip. The man didn't hesitate in the slightest to board the TSTS transport, which proceeded to take off a few moments later and head back towards orbit where the Twin Sun Station currently resided. It had all taken place in less than ten minutes time.*

*The massive hanger doors slid shut behind the TSTS freighter; internal lights switch on as the overhead doors cut out the sun. The GSI operative motions to the hanger control suite and within a few minutes the floor of the stadium-sized spaceport is seething with engineers. Their job was clear, ensure that the Grendal-class Pleasure Yacht was built to specification and didn't contain any hidden surprises.*

*It didn't take them long; the craft had been delivered exactly as asked, and well ahead of the expected time. No trace of tampering existed within the craft, it was perfect, a testament to the hard working staff of Twin Sun Station.*

=Spaceport Officer=

Send word to His Divine Shadow, the ship has arrived and is in perfect working order. *A pause.* And hoo-boy, is she a beaut or what?

*Sictis Blade flew low over the city, the traffic lanes had been cleared and it had a direct path the the medical centre. It tore over the city at breakneck speeds until it reached the facility; at which point it wheeled about and touched down on the roof. As the ramp began to lower a team of doctors rushed out to meet the ship. They took receipt of the Sith Lord Sorcerer and took him inside, surrounded by 14 of Grizz's 15 clones.*

*The only clone left was One, and he was in the cockpit with Lamia.*

=Sictis Squad One=

Your home is just over there. *He points to a spot not half a click away.* Would you prefer to be flown home or make your own way there?

My concern for my Master was barely masked. I hadn't heard anything other than he was stabilized and that they had to get him back here.


No, I can walk. You need to get his Divine Shadow tended to. I will be fine, thank you.

I waited for the go ahead from the One to let me know it was alright to leave.

Soon after, I headed back to my home and my son. I knew he would anxious to see me.

*And so, Lamia left the hospital grounds and headed home. One locked down the Sith Infiltrator and joined his brethren in the high security ICU on the top floor of the building.*

=Sictis Squad One=

Any word?

=Sictis Squad Two=

No. The doctors are analysing the poison from the stinger now and have him stabilised - but there is no change in his condition.

=Sictis Squad One=

Do you think...

=Sictis Squad Two=

Not yet. We have decided to wait for the doctors to make a report before we start that course of action.

=Sictis Squad One=

Very well; and so we wait...

*And that is exactly what they did.*

*****

The vortex was open; time and space were meaningless here. A landscape shaped by his past, his present and his potential futures presented themselves to the near-death Ancient Sith. On the precipice of this realm and the next; the edges of reality; the beginning and the end of everything. His life played itself out in front of him over and over; tormenting him with the ups and downs of his history. This was not the first time he faced death, nor would it be his last if he had any say in the matter.

*****

*The doctors came into the ward and presented their findings. The poison was unique, having come from Ziost scorpions that had been altered by Sith Alchemy; but there were elements to it that they could use to create a form of anti-venom that would assist the Sith Lord's recovery. They were already working on it, but it would take hours to prepare; and so much could happen in that time.*

*****

His will never wavered, his strength never faltered; he was in command of every fibre of his being and would not let such a trivial thing as poison be his undoing. He turned his thoughts inward, found his calm in the middle of the storm and began slowly finding each particle of venom in this body and fighting it.

*****

*The room Grizz was in grew warm, then uncomfortably hot; the air became thick and muggy. Vials of fluids began boiling and exploding; their contents sprayed across the room. Alarms rang out from every machine, the ward becomes a cacophony of noise as the nurses station monitors kick in and activate even more alarms. Sictis Squad quickly ushered the doctors and nurses out to the relative safety of the corridor, joining them outside their masters room. The giant door is closed and sealed. It is not long before they are surrounded by dozens of staff members, all looking on in utter bewilderment.*

=Sictis Squad One=

It has begun...

*One of the doctors turns to the squad, eyes wide with awe.*

=Doctor #1=

What has begun, what's going on?

=Sictis Squad One=

Our Lord is taking matters into his own hands and shaping his fate as he so wishes. It is not up to us to question, we only obey.

=Doctor #2=

That's daft - we need to get back in there and stabilise him! Look at those readings, he will die if we don't do something!

*One wheels on the doctor, his face a mask of calm.*

=Sictis Squad One=

DO NOT QUESTION HIS DIVINE SHADOW! If he dies, then that is his choice, and he will live on in me. Enter that room and you will be slaughtered before your make it two feet inside. Can you not see that the equipment is melting? Can you not feel the heat emanating through the door and walls? Can you not feel the power he wields?

*The outspoken doctor cowers and falls silent.*

*****

He stood in the heart of a hurricane of fire, it encompassed him, surrounded him, flowed over him - but did not burn him. It grew in size and intensity until the landscape of his timeline burned with fury. He could feel the venom receding, it could not withstand his might and was perishing at an incredible rate. He tapped into the deepest part of his core and threw that power into the maelstrom, the flames flickered blue and white, his mind aflame with the power that coursed through his being.

*****

*Sictis Squad could sense the awesome amounts of energy from within the sealed room, they herded the crowd out of the corridor and into the main ward area.*

=Sictis Squad Two=

How many patients are in the ward below His Divine Shadow?

=Doctor #3=

We have about a half dozen patients on the floor directly below us...

=Sictis Squad One=

What of the floors below that?

=Doctor #1=

Well, the next three floors below that contain the cafeteria, the staff lounge and the diagnostics ward. And under that, there's the two floors of labs and then the main wards. Why do you ask?

*One ignores the question and addresses the rest of the squad.*

=Sictis Squad One=

Two - take Three and clear out the rest of this floor. Four, Five, Six and Seven, head downstairs and help the staff move the patients into the main wards. The rest of you, split into pairs and start sweeping the other floors that the doctor named all the way down to the main ward and get the staff to safety. I think that the bulkheads above the main ward should be strong enough to prevent a total structural collapse while protecting those below.

*The rest of the squad take a moment to think about it and agree with One's assessment before heading off to their assigned tasks.*

*The squad works quickly, clearing out the floors below of any staff and patients they find. One heads back up to the roof and into the Sith Infiltrator; ignoring pre-flight checks he pilots it up and away from the hospital while contacting the emergency services, informing them of the current situation.*

*Just at the moment when he is calling the other hospitals in Lutris for backup, it happens. The top five floors of the hospital erupt in an explosion that rocks the entire city and could be seen from orbit. The sky whites out for several drawn out moments.*

*Silence falls across the city.*

*And then the noise begins; vehicle alarms, building alarms, sirens, screams - all the noise that accompanies disasters flood the city as the news spreads. Government vehicles patrol the streets informing the citizens that all is well, that the situation is under control and that there is nothing to worry about. The city guard is deployed and order is restored within the first hour after the event; the clean up begins in earnest.*

*****

*Hours pass. The cleaning crews finish their job and the structural engineers move in to establish a plan of action for repairs to the affected buildings. Sictis Squad leave the hospital and meet up with One at the Information Bureau. They head through the hallowed halls, avoiding the bustling staff wherever possible and gather in the throne room deep within the underground levels.*

=Sictis Squad (as one)=

We give thanks to His Divine Shadow for his ceaseless vigilance. We worship His Shadow, long may he reign!

*The shadows around the skull throne quiver and crawl over the white bones. They pool in the seat and form up into a giant mass.*

=Grizz=

I will serve Order, and I will serve myself....

*The gunmetal grey Interceptor had been redirected from Outer Haven to Lutris, due to the intervention of stealthed guards, ruining Vao's mood to drink for the time being. The interceptor streaked towards Lutris, setting down at a local landing facility. As Kool had said, the officials ran his vessel's ID and wavered the landing fee. They also seemed to take a keen interest in the Twi'lek's weapons he had holstered on him. But, after watching Vao nonchalantly flex his biceps, they decided he was not worth the effort he was likely to put up relinquishing his weapons. Vao ventured away from the landing facility, taking the sights, sounds and smells of the bustling city. It had been some time since the aged Twi'lek had been in this heavy of a population center. Unless you counted his brief visit to Rhommamool, but the desert planet was very much devoid of life, save for the three main hubs of activity that were Redhaven, Novax Field and Tyr. The Twi'lek sighed heavily. Now it was time to move off to the nearest drinking establishment and have a few drinks, and to mingle with the locals and see if there was any work that anybody was willing to pay a free-lancing Twi'lek bounty hunter for.*

*After spending a substantial amount of time in one of the local watering holes, the large frame of the aged, blue skinned Twi'lek emerged. He stretched, feeling the joints and muscles groan and pop in protest. Some days he felt older then he really was. Then again he certainly wasn't as young as he used to be either. It took some hard living to inflict this kind of wear and tear on a body. While not being as young as he once was, he was still in excellent shape for his age. Many would assume that the majority of his larger stature was because his age was starting to catch up to him. That would be the first mistake. Clearly the majority of the aged Twi'lek's bulk was toned and tightened muscle. He was a solid tower of muscle. After living the life that he had, it wasn't surprising as to why Jerrak preferred to stay in such pristine physical condition. Having spent such a large quantity of time within the local drinking establishment, the effects of whatever consumed therein would now be null. Vao made his way to where he had parked his interceptor. After a pre-flight check, taking a little longer then usual, Vao's gunmetal grey interceptor lifted off and accelerated skywards, heading back to the Venator Class Star Destroyer, the 'Constantine, that was currently residing in orbit over the planet.*

Continued from here open-orbit-p1603100.html#p1603100

*Sleek black ship sailed through the night and landed in a hangar in a less reputable district of the city. Three figures descended down the ramp and scuttled off into the night, blending into shadows as easily as the ship avoided any detection from Tynnian authorities. Needless to say, their mission was that of secrecy... and one that wouldn't be greeted with fanfare from local authorities. They passed through the slums and headed towards the high class district of the city.*

To be continued here viewtopic.php?f=568&t=23216&p=1581175#p1581175

*Deep in the bowels of the Information Bureau...*

*Sictis Squad and their master had spent several hours discussing the fallout of Grizz's display of power back at the hospital. All of a sudden Grizz holds up a hand and the room falls silent.*

=Grizz=
There is a disturbance in the Force...

=Sictis Squad One=

What is it, my Master?

=Grizz=
The boy.. they are after the boy; they must be stopped! I am still too weak to teleport there; we must get there using more conventional methods, and we must go now!

*He had already started moving before he had finished talking. The squad fell in behind him as the giant Massassi broke into a run; they had much ground to cover and very little time to do it in.*

*The race was on and the clock was ticking...*