Freelancers

Pursuit

Her pursuit of power has led her on a seemingly never-ending journey to the ends of the galaxy seeking Force mystics, ancient libraries, and long forgotten holocrons for knowledge. The final step towards total Force mastery is within reach, one that can rival even the great Darth Vitiate. Her travels took her to the far corners of the galaxy where she learned about the ancient Dathari and their innate mastery of the Force. The relics in her adversaries' possession were imbued with the very essence of Dathari mystics and were a weapon waiting to be harnessed. In ordinary hands, it would grant its user access to Force abilities; however, in her skilled hands, the relics would transform her. It would grant her untold power - she would become a living vessel of the Force that could conquer the known galaxy and beyond.

Saiphyrr drew a long breath and stood at the top of her ship's landing ramp, looking around at her ship's interior. She's been tracking Nai'riss since Talus and she's seem to have picked up some bodyguards since then.

No matter.

Saiphyrr never strayed from violence and she preferred to settle differences at the end of her lightsaber blade. She relished the thought of a rematch with Nai'riss after their last encounter. The Imperator groaned and creaked as its landing gear engaged the spaceport dock. Coruscanti night life flashed through the overhead viewports and neon lights advertising wares and services blinked obnoxiously. She tugged at the cloak surrounding her and fixed at her belt, lightsaber hanging freely and seemingly begging to be loosed. She and her network of spies tracked the location of Nai'riss and her companions to a dilapidated shop in the nearby shopping district.

Saiphyrr turned to look at the control panel and willed the Force to open it for her. As the ramp lowered and hydraulics hissed, she took her first purposeful step towards her victory.

Towards conquest.

--

"The planet of Dath, far beyond the reaches of Sith influence, exists solely as a beacon of the Force," the man stated as he held the swirling blue and purple cube. He raised it again towards the light for a clearer look and said, "With both of these cubes, used together, they can grant untold powers." He paused for effect and then looked at the three people in front of him. Their individual visages remained unchanged by the knowledge he had shared.

Or, they can be sold for immeasurable wealth, thought Veriss.

"Where do we go from here?" she asked. "You obviously don't look like you have the credits to buy the relics. Who do you represent?"

Tonn looked at her with disgust, "I represent the highest bidder. My hands are in every seedy underworld pot, and I can help you with offloading your relics for an amount of credits that are simply unheard of."

Nai'riss added, "Tonn has many contacts in the underworld." She gestured and pointed at him, "He'll help to ensure that we're all well-compensated."

Tonn winked at her and said, "Of course. We'll all be well-compensated."

Jag shared a knowing look with Veriss, and the two bounty hunters quickly took note of him.

Tonn returned the relic to Nai'riss and took a step back and gestured with his hands, "There are many out there who seek what you have. Not only the various syndicates and cartels, but I've run into a few Force-sensitive types in my travels."

"Yeah, we've seemed to attract one of those types as well," chimed Jag. His gravelly voice in stark contrast to the smooth talking smuggler. Jag shifted his weight to his back leg and leaned against the bar top behind him.

Nai'riss looked at Jag and turned towards Tonn and shook her head, "Saiphyrr is back. She didn't stay on Talus where I left her."

Tonn's eyes narrowed, "Do you know if she's followed you here?"

"I would assume so," she replied. "I encountered her on Vaiken, and it was due to the quick thinking of our friends here that I was able to escape and have this conversation with you."

Tonn stood still, appearing to think for awhile.

Veriss finally spoke up, "None of this really matters anyway. By the time we give you your retainer fee, you'll be offworld and on your way to sell the relics for us. Saiphyrr won't even have a chance to intercept you."

Tonn's eyes fell to the floor and then back up to the red-haired mandalorian.

That's not quite true... he thought. He placed his hand in his pocket and thumbed a small device on. The Mandalorians seemed to suspect foul play as time appeared to slow to a crawl. Nai'riss, wild with anger mixed with disbelief and shock, raised her arms to block what was coming her way, only to writhe in pain standing up. The electro-net shot out from underneath the bar top towards the three people standing in front of him. The Mandalorians were caught as well, and unable to move or stop Tonn from rummaging through Nai'riss' waist pack for the pair of Dathari relics. The trio were stopped in their tracks by the electro-net, enduring painful, unrelenting muscle spasms. They grit their teeth and collectively shouted curses at Tonn.

"We had a deal!" shouted Nai'riss, in between convulsions, "Does loyalty mean nothing to you?" She gasped for air after her few short sentences, nearly doubling over from exhaustion. The electrified tomb sending even more shocks down her body.

Tonn shouted back, "I'm sorry Nai'riss, but I need this. You wouldn't understand!" He gathered the relics and hid them in his bag before turning towards the door to make his escape.

Suddenly, a flash followed by an explosion sent him reeling backwards to the floor. Jag, breaking free and standing upright, no longer affected by the electro net, was facing Tonn with a blaster equipped arm aiming at him. He closed his eyes and expected the inevitable searing pain of laser fire, but before Jag could squeeze off a shot, another larger explosion tore through the side of the shop and sent all four inhabitants flying into the adjacent alleyway. Smoke, fire, and debris spit them out onto the gray, metal alleyway floor. Homeless humanoids and aliens scattered and fled from the noise and left their modest belongings behind.

Veriss and Nai'riss, no longer held captive by the electro-net, slowly sat up and groaned, bodies tangled in a heap on the ground from the explosion.

"What was that?" asked Veriss rhetorically, as shards of steel and wood landed next to her. The falling ash slowly gathered on her hair. She brushed it aside as she stood and extended a hand to raise Nai'riss to her feet. The other woman grabbed it hurriedly and checked her body for injuries. Jag was nearby and coughing, but already standing with Tonn, arms pinned at his side.

Through the fire and flames of the destroyed shop stepped an all too familiar figure. Her trim, muscular body disguised her martial ability well, and at first glance, one would not believe her to be a vengeful warrior. The cloak, bound at her waist, flapped wildly in the firestorm. Saiphyrr walked through the billowing flames with unignited lightsaber in hand, the Force swirling around her pushing the fire harmlessly aside.

"I'm not surprised that the wealth I offered didn't sate you," she said, looking at Tonn scornfully, "However, I need the relics more than you do."

Her red lightsaber ignited and she propelled herself forward with all the power that the Force would allow. Before Tonn knew it, she was already on top of him with red, shimmering blade raised above his head. His eyes widened in fear.

"Farewell!" she roared.

A blinding flash of light, a deafening scream, and then silence.