Episode 1: The Search For An Apprentice

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:10 am Post subject:

[Safia]

How could this happen? Who did this……why?? These thoughts kept going through her mind. She found herself in complete darkness unable to move. The feeling of paralysis moving through her body and rendering her helpless was like a nightmare. She tried to open her mouth to scream for help but couldn’t. She could hear footsteps and felt the container she was in moving.

What seemed to be hours but was probably only minutes the lid opened and a man peered inside. The lid closed again and she could hear voices but couldn’t make out the words then a ray of light came through and a hand moved to her mouth and she felt a cold liquid run into her mouth and down her throat. The taste was bitter and she tried to spit it out without success.

Again the container she was in was moving and then she felt it land with a thud. More voices and then the lid opened and two men pulled her out of the container and placed her on a large cot. She tried looking around the room but couldn’t move her head. She heard footsteps and a door shut. She was alone, frightened and confused.

Stang! What do I do now?
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:11 am Post subject:

[Isleh]

"The watchers are gone"

Isleh had expected it. Still, it pays to be through she mused as she closed her comm and handed her shipping manifest to the imperial customs officer.

"What business is this of hers? Why should I care?" creeped into her thoughts. "Safia could be safe and Hashum could be meeting her. Hell, she could be skipping out of her room fee."

Isleh sighed out loud which brought glare from the officer who immediatly began to inspect the documents more throughly. Resigned to a few extra minutes for delay now, she let her mind wonder back to the problem.

"No. Something is not right. What, I don't know."

She tapped her datapad as her thought wondered and stopped quickly. Glancing at the officer to see if he noticed and took it as a sign of her impatiance but she was in luck. He was to busy with a subordinate going over her documents.

"Trust your instincts Isleh"

If someone has Safia, then they will expect Hashum to come looking for her. They would have watchers on him and maybe watchers for the watchers. Following that trail up could lead her to someone worth acquiring.

She typed a quick reply. A few quick phrases.

"Follow Kay's target. Stay distant. Look for watchers. Climb the ladder. Contact me on the highest rung you can reach."

She closed her datapad as the Officer returned with her manifest.

"There are a few discrepancies Ms. Mott. But nothing to serious ... "
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:11 am Post subject:

Fripp walked into the small backroom where she remained on the cot. The meeting had been better news than he thought. She was a pretty one indeed. He removed his vibrodagger from its sheath as the others entered the room - they all wanted to see this whether they would admit it or not. Her eyes followed him as he approached her and ran the blade across her neck lightly. She was a jedi. Calm, seemingly unflappable, but under it all she was still a woman with a woman's fears.

He dipped the point of the blade down the front of her robes and began to cut through it all, working his way straight down. He paid no attention to her now, lost in his work as he was. Being derobed in front of all these strange men had to be humiliating. A mere taste of what was to come. A short time later he replaced the blade and took a moment to admire his work. She now lay on the tattered remnants of her Jedi Robe - her boots the only clothing left attached.

"Give me a few moments." He said to the others while nodding his head toward her.

"Oh come on." Jarsk started to say.

"You'll all get your turn if ye want." Fripp snapped at him. Slowly everyone left the room and Fripp began removing his belt. "Don't worry love, by the time we're done here there won't be a part of you we won't know intimately." He chuckled swinging the belt.
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:12 am Post subject:

Shensen returned to the Academy after a successful foray into the wilds of Tattooine. He had gone out to collect pearls and hone his skills of course. A Krayt Dragon was far tougher than most opponents - a worthy hunt. He took a shower and changed clothes before sitting down in the kitchen and taking out his datapad and composing his message.

Master Hashum,

Sensors showed you left Yavin before schedule and now on a heading for Coruscant in a hurry. Is everything alright? I thought I felt a disturbance of some kind while I was on Tattooine, but given the Cities and the Imperial presence that isn't always surprising. Anyway, I wanted to make sure all is well with you.

Regards,
Shensen
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:12 am Post subject:

[Hashum]

The X-wing gently came to rest in the Coruscant docking bay followed by the light buzz of the cockpit opening. One of the attendants on hand rolled a ladder to the edge of the cockpit which I quickly descended. I nodded my thanks and threw my cloak back over my shoulders, pulling the hood up to hide my face.

I walked slowly down the corridor looking in every open bay looking for Safia’s yacht. Unfortunately I reached the end of the docks before finding her ship. It was very likely in one of the closed bay’s but I didn’t have the time to waste finding out, it was unlikely anything would be in it that would help me anyway.

I had nothing to go on so I started to make my way to the mall district, that’s the last place I knew she would have been, maybe someone there had seen something.

I wasn’t paying much attention to the city my mind was on Safia, running over every possible scenario. As each played out in my mind I could feel hate and anger beginning to build my blood felt as though it were boiling and I felt as if my skin must be burning red as well. I reminded myself that these feelings would not help me find Safia, I had to stop and clear the thoughts from my head, if I was going to help I had to control these emotions. There was no telling what had happened to her, she could still be ok…She had to be ok…yes…yes she was still alive, I could feel it, she is still alive…
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:13 am Post subject:

[Isleh]

"He certinaly is easy to spot" Juno thought to herself as she watched the wake of Hashum's passing through the starport crowd.

"Kay, do you see him?" she subvocalized into her comm.

"Oh yeah, he looks like he could chew through a durasteel bulkhead."

"Track him. I'll send an update and start looking for watchers."
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:13 am Post subject:

Raskim punched the private frequency code and enabled the scramblers. A few moments later the visage of Darth Songar appeared on the holovid.

"My Lord, I just wanted to report that all is going as planned and on schedule. She's being dosed regularly and the men have taken shifts to watch her and -"

"That is all good, but how goes her..training?" He asked calmly.

"She's being strapped regularly, used as a one night stand, and Fripp especially seems to have made it his mission to find new ways to cause pain." Raskim shuddered inwardly.

He didn't mind torture when warranted, but he preferred just killing them and being done with it. He didn't have the stomach for these things where it involved women. His men tried to get him involved in their methods, but he moved on claiming other resposibilities and no one pressed him. He was sure as far as they were concerned as long as he paid them they didn't care what he did or didn't do.

"Excellent. I have reason to believe her husband is or will be on Coruscant soon, no doubt looking for her. Given the size of the planet he won't discover her location before the proper time, but in any case drop some credits in the right places. Get every merc on Coruscant hunting him down. With everyone looking for him he should remain busy until I need him."

"As you wish My Lord. I'll see to it personally."
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:13 am Post subject:

[Hashum]

After arriving on Coruscant I spent the remainder of the day and that evening scouring the streets and local stores, unfortunately it seemed everyone was far to busy to have noticed anything out of the ordinary, or if they had they’d quickly dismissed it and forgotten about it.

The stores were all closing down for the evening now, and the streets were emptying, the lack of progress was extremely frustrating but knowing there was little more I could do for the time being I stopped at the nearest hotel and paid for a room.

I sat on the floor in the room, meditating, trying to let go of my feelings and clear my mind, trying to find peace... It didn’t take long for me to realize the attempts were fruitless, I could not relax, I couldn’t sit still.

I stood up pacing the floor, I knew it was too early to start inquiring at the local bar’s but I longed to have something to do. It was then I realized I had several messages that I had not yet checked.

I sat down at the table in the corner of my room and played the first. It was a lengthy reply from Hammar, I could hardly stay focused on what he had to say, and the answer he gave was not the one I had been looking for.

The next message was a short note from Shensen, as I finished reading it I closed my eyes for a moment and rubbed thumb and fingers over my temples. After a few moments I opened my eyes again and typed a reply.

Shensen:

Meet me in Coruscant as soon as you are able. You should be able to reach me on my Com as soon as you arrive, there has been a disturbance here and I’ve not yet been able to put everything together. Perhaps you can help, I will fill you in when you arrive.

Hashum

Yes maybe Shensen could shed some light on this, two heads are better then one after all. It was still early but my patience had run out I opened the door to my room, locking it behind me and headed back into the streets…
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:14 am Post subject:

[Isleh]

Isleh pondered Jay's report for a moment as she rode, then sent her reply.

"Slice into his ship and send him the following information to his own comm. Bribe..." Isleh paused and considered the implications of what she would be asking next, then continued "or kill anyone you have to not be seen."

"I am encoding the information I have from spynet. Funds will be transferred to you account. Use the muon if you have to. Be diligent and careful Jay."

Isleh changed directions to the ruins of Mos Tera. Specifically to the valley where the "Sublime Dance" lay hidden. She would need the communication equipment on that ship.
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:15 am Post subject:

[Safia]

The sting of the belt tore at her skin leaving it raw and swollen. She wanted to cry out but was unable to. The smell of her tormentor sickened her and she cringed at his touch. She tried as hard as she could to gather the force around her to give her strength to fight him off but it had forsaken her. Oh, God, I was so close .....why? .....Why?.....
WHY???
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:15 am Post subject:

Fripp entered the main sitting room of the small shack-like home they had taken temporary residence in.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes." Raskim said looking up from his datapad. "We need results and we need them soon. Something about this deal stinks and after all the years I've learned to trust my nose. The sooner we can be done with this Songar fellow the better."

"You don't trust im? He's wired our money and 'as kept to the agreement 'asn't he?"

"He has, but no I don't trust him, not even a little." He looked at him a few moments before reiterating. "We need results."
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:15 am Post subject:

The Molten Scale blew whisps of exhaust and the hydrolics whined as it came to a rest on the landing platform on Coruscant. He felt very much alive here with all the lifeforms teeming about their business and the force was a whirlwind, a raging torrent within him. He forced himself into the calm void expected of a Jedi - with some repugnance, before switching on his comm.

"Master Hashum? I've just arrived. What's going on? How can I help?"
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:16 am Post subject:

[Hashum]

It was turning out to be a rather long evening, I hadn’t slept much since I left Yavin which was several days ago. I’d spent the evening lingering around the local cantina’s listening to the local gossip nothing of any interest to me unfortunately, problem was if something had happened to Saf it couldn’t have gone unnoticed. I actually broke a smile as the thought of someone learning the hard way that there was a fierce warrior behind her beautiful features.

Several new patron’s entered the establishment one of them bumping me in as they made their way past the bar, abruptly ending my short day dream. I watched them make their way to a table near the dancers and then returned to the drink in front of me. I never drank, the idea of any drug inhibiting my conscious thought always bothered me, you never know when you’re going to need all your wits about you.

I swished the red wine around in the glass schooner, I’d hoped the drug might help me relax, and maybe it was or maybe it was the combination of the liquor and the lack of sleep but I ready to call it a night. I left the credits for my tab on the bar and turned to leave.

As I was leaving I noticed several men talking in the hall, one was very animated waving his arm’s and gesturing as he spoke. I stopped for a moment listening to the two recount an incident, as the two carried on I slowly became increasingly interested, just then a third man walked up and the first began to recount the story from the beginning again.

“There I was, just walked out of the store for the wife and walking down the street minding my own business.”

“and then bonk” The man used his hand striking himself in the back of the head “something hit me right on the noggin”

“I turn around to see how it is and not fifteen meters from where I was standing some women was standing with a laser sword”

The man cupped his hands as if holding a sword in it “All I see is her turn around and it couldn’t have been a second later she was on the ground and then must have been three or four men grabbed her up and were down the alley.”

The men with him chided him for a little while and prodded him with questions trying to validate his story, no the man was probably known for exaggeration and story telling. I backed up against the wall and let the men continue on talking as the subject changed and the carried on.

They must have been talking for a good thirty minutes before they parted ways. The story teller left and the other two proceeded into the bar.

I followed the gentleman out of the bar and down the street. Once we were out of hear shot of everyone but the few pedestrians still out. As I came up behind him I gently put my hand on his shoulder.

“Look, I ain’t got nothing worth takin’ so please just leave me alone.”

I slowly turned him around so that he was facing me “The only thing you have that I want or need is information”

“I ain’t got none of that either. Just leave me be.” He started to run around and walk away but I grabbed him by the shoulder again.

“I just need you to tell me what you told your buddies in there.” And I motioned back towards the cantina.

“If you heard what I told them in there then you don’t need to hear it again.” His voice was becoming agitated and he again turned to leave, this time when I put my hand on his shoulder I didn’t let go.

“I need to hear what you told them again, only this time I need you to remember everything. What hit you?”

The man brought his hand up grabbing my arm trying to pull my arm off of him “…I don’t remember.”

“Look, all I need is for you to remember exactly what happened, it’s worth a great deal to me.”

At he word worth his attitude immediately changed.

“How much is it worth to you?” you said relaxing a bit as a sly smile crossed his face

“It depends on what you remember, the more you can tell me, the more it will be worth to you, start with what hit you.”

“Well how about you start with a down payment, after all do I know you’re not just going to stiff me?”

“And how do I know what you’re telling me will be the truth?”

“I can prove it” he smiled again this time a boastful proud smile

“How do you plan on doing that?”

“Well after I got smacked in the noggin and they hauled that woman off I picked up the piece of junk that hit me…”

I cut him off at that point “Do you have it with you?!”

The man held out his hand “Like I said how ‘bout a down payment on that?”

“When you have the item I will pay you, let’s get it now.”

“Not till I have my money!”

My patience with the man was running very thin, I gave him a small roll of credits there was maybe 350 credits there.

“Well that’s not exactly what I had in mind”

Obviously he was becoming a little too demanding as well

“When you show it to me, we will discuss more.”

“Show it to you? For this I can barely show myself home!”

“That is all I have on me, if what you say is true then I will arrange for you to be properly paid but don’t try my patience now.”

“Well when you get more you can come back and see me and we’ll discuss it.” With that he turned and started to walk away again.

This time I reached out and grabbed his arm spinning him around to face me.

“You will take me now!”

He batted my arm with both hands trying to break my grip on his jacket sleeve to no avail. I turned around him spinning him around with me so that his back was facing the wall just behind him.

“Where is it?” I growled at him

“…I told you…It’s…it’s back home.”

“I don’t believe you! And my patience is at an end, I want it now!”

“…I…I told you…”

“You’re lying!” I screamed at him grabbing his jacket with both hands I lifted him an inch or so off the ground

“No…no, wait I remember now…yes you’re right I forgot…I have it right here…silly me.”

I let go of the man letting him fall back to his feet.

“I thought so, now let’s see it.”

“Look, you can have it, but it’s got to be worth more to you then this.”

“It is, and I’ll be sure you get more, but I need it now.”

“How do I know I’ll get my money?”

My blood was boiling I couldn’t take it anymore I began pinching my fingers together constricting the mans breathing and spoke very slowly “I will be sure you get your money, but if you want to enjoy it then give me what I want.”

The man started grabbing at his throat then fell to his knee’s, he began fiddling with his pocket and pulled something out extending it to me. I took it from his hand and released the grip on his throat.

It was a small tube of some sort, definitely burned by a lightsaber even in the dark it was impossible for me not to recognize the searing marks the saber left, it must have cut whatever it was in half.

I turned the tube around in my hand, the man had run off but now but I was oblivious to it. I moved under a nearby light to examine it further, some residue was left inside the tube either dried or crusted on, possibly caused when the tube was heated by the saber. I put in my cloak and went back to my room. I’d have to find someone to try to analysis it for me…
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:17 am Post subject:

[Safia]

The sound started deep within her throat, almost animalistic in its sound. The anguish she felt was unbearable and she just wanted it to end. If she could, she would kill every single one of them.
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.

Shensenn · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:17 am Post subject:

[Jart]

Jart Yryllyn sat alone on the lower level of the academy. The meditation chamber, down the hall, felt too...well, it didn't feel at all, to him. The large interior garden was filled with the buzz of life, and made the jedi knight feel welcomed and at peace. The tall waterfall on his right was not loud enough to disrupt his concentration....but the chirp of his datapad was.

As the only sentient in the building, he'd chosen to set the holonet transceiver to alert his pad when a message arrived. This one was marked as from Hashum. Jart was not upset by the interruption. What is is. I will return after I check what the master has to say.

The Twi'lek walked quickly to the elevator and made his way up to the terminal. Hashum knew Yryllyn was at the academy; therefore, it was very likely the message was intended for him. Dropping into the chair, he activated the console and read:

"Jart, I need you to join me as quickly as possible. I have obtained some extremely sensitive material, and it cannot be trusted with a courier. May the Force give you haste."

The message was vague, but it told him enough. Hashum was under a lot of stress, and the situation was dire. Time was of the essence and the purple sentient had none to spare for thought. He gathered a few supplies that were on-hand, dropped into his speeder and was at the starport sooner than he'd expected.

Finding a pilot was no trouble; finding the right ship took him longer than he'd planned. The Jedi knight was en route to Coruscant, and, now, had plenty of time to worry.
_________________
Forum guarded by Blast Cannons three days a week. Guess which days.