Destiny Entwined

A free-form writing forum set in the Star Wars Universe...

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Post by Gonesolo »

Leaving her new friend behind Ariane felt a slight rush of hope wash over her. After all these years could this nightmare be about to end?

She was confident she knew where Balgor had located the main troop barricks and was also fairly confident that Blagor would try and get off ship, but he would want to get some personal items from his 'office' first. Ariane knew well where that was but it would mean she'd have to fight her way up through three levels of the ship and past the barracks.

But anger spurned her on, grasping the hilt of the lightsaber that Rissk had lent her tight in her hand she strode defiantly through the corridors of the ship. About half way up a long corridor a large group of Balgors men appeared ahead of her. They carried a mixture of blasters and melee weapons. Unpreturbed she contined to stride determinedly towards them as the lightsaber hissed to life in her left hand.

"HALT!" called the lead soldier as they levelled their weapons at her. He did not wait long before changing his order "FIRE!!!"
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Post by SmokeMare »

Rissk slid gingerly into the gloomy weapons room. It was eerily silent, slowly she picked her way around the various consoles to get to the Cloak shut off point. As she rounded the corner she saw a rather strange looking large metal, machine - like sphere. Pausing at this she tried to remember what Ariane had said...

ex trade federation combat droids...

The sphere looked familiar... Raynards workshop... Raynard had some spares for one in his workshop... Droideka... " Frell! That's all I need! A heavily armoured and shielded combat droid!" she thought to herself and she considered what to do next. It didn't appear to be functioning... "Could this one be non-functioning?"


Slowly she stepped out... Nothing... The console to shutdown the cloak was behind the sphere. Gently, Rissk crept forwards... A whirring... Mechanical, old sounding grinding noise... A solitary red eye slowly lit up as the Droideka activated. Wasting no time Rissk truned and sprinted out of the room. " Shavvit! I can't throw a Thermal Detonator in there! Arianes ship... " She thought in dismay.

Before she could think about it anymore the Droidek clicked into the corridor after her. " Hmmph! Maybe it's shields are out of action ?!" She thought to herself as she levelled her blaster at it.

She fired a short burst of laser shots at it, as they neared it the shields glowed purple, stopping the shots in their tracks. In a flash the droid turned to face Rissk. Seeing this Rissk dived down the adjoining corridor as a fierce hail of high energy plasma bursts illuminated the corridor.
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Post by Gonesolo »

Spurned on by her rage, Balgor's men quickly feel to the reflected shots from the lightsaber. As she closed the last few meters between then she quickly severed the last two guards into four neat pieces.

Suddenly she heard a rumbling noise from down the corridor behind her, spining on her heal she was just in time to see the arrival of two Droideka which quickly uncurled and unleashed a heavy barrage in her direction.

The shots were easily defelected but the Droideka's were equally protected from her as their shields easily absorbed any shots she deflected back their way.

Ariane looked around quickly, she needed an escape. She looked up to see a maintenance hatch in the ceil and with a quick force push she sent the cover hurtling into the abyss beyond. Then she took two steps quickly forwards and force jumped into the hatch.

The Droideka tracked their target even after she had entered the hatch, using thermographic sensors they were able to keep firing although they could not see their target. Blaster shots ripped into the maintenance conduit as Ariane made her way up a feeder pipe to the next level. A few meters up the conduit was engulfed by the bulk head and the destroyers blasters could not longer penetrate, she was safe once she reached that spot.

She emerged, panting on the upper deck a few moments later. Sirens raged all around her and she could hear approaching foot steps.

Can't stay here! she thought quickly slipping down another corridor.
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Post by SmokeMare »

Scrambling to her feet Rissk dived into the first doorway along the corridor. The click, click, click of steel feet echoed after her. Panicking, Rissk scanned the room for a means of escape. Wasting no time she darted around through a door way on the opposite side of the room. As she did so another hail of blaster fire slammed past her as the droideka had followed her.

'Sorry Ariane, you're going to have to get your storeroom re-fitted...' Rissk thought to herself as she plucked out a Thermal Detonator, armed it and rolled it gently into the room, hitting the door controls after it.

As the sliding door hissed shut, Rissk blasted the control mechanism. A frantic clicking could be heard from inside, then a deafening bang, and the door ripped from it's housing and slammed into the wall opposite the doorway.

Slowly, cautiously, Rissk peered into the room. Pieces of Droideka littered the room, some of then still moving but the doid clearly disabled.

'Hmmph! Back to what I was trying to do in the first place then...' She thought to herself as she made her way back to the cloak controls.
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Post by Gonesolo »

Balgor's men were busily scurrying about the ship trying to track down the escaped fighter and her allies. Two squads of four men came up the corridor and crossed over the re-sealed maintenance hatch. Coming to a fork in the corridor they split into two teams of four and went down opposite paths.

About 20 seconds after seperating the team that went down the port path heard blaster fire and the hum of a lightsaber. Quickly followed by some screaming and then, silence. Wasting no time they back tracked and took the starboard path instead.

About 10 meters up the corridor they found the severed bodies of the other team. Limbs were seperated from torsos and heads from shoulders. None of the other team survived. Looking at each other rather anxiously they decided to press on!
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Post by SmokeMare »

After picking her way back to the room with the cloak controls, Rissk slipped inside, scanning for the control console. Seeing the most obvious possibility Rissk cautiously crept through the gloom, and looked at the console. When she inspected the large, red console, littered with screens and buttons, she noticed a key, under a plastic cover.

Flipping the cover open Rissk grabbed the key and tried to turn it clockwise. Nothing... Rissk adjusted her grip and turned it counter clockwise, slowly it turned and as it did so alarms started ringing. Rissk yanked the key from the slot and stashed it in her robe.

Externally the asteroid flickered for a while, then disappeared, showing the exterior of a Corellian Corvette in it's place.

'Hmmph! Where now ?!.... Guess I should make my way to the bridge...' Thought Rissk as she exited the room and stormed up the corridor.
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Post by Gonesolo »

Balgor pensively paced the deck of the control room of the corvette. Beside Balgor stood Degrez with a few of his guards.

"She's escaped before!" mutted Degrez.

"Yes and like before we will find her and stop her!" replied Balgor confidently as he did one of the monitors flicked on

"Sir we found her! She's engaged one of our scout teams on B deck" called a bridge officer as he put the security feed on the display

"Excellent" smiled Balgor, "They'll deal with her like they have in the past!"

But this time it was different, this time his men didn't have the upper hand. The lightsaber that Rissk had lent to Ariane was now more than making up for the previous advantage of blasters that Blagor's men were so used to using to their advantage.

As Balgor watched his smug grin quickly disappeared as on screen Ariane carved her way through another security team. Four on one were quickly proving to be bad odds for Balgor's men.

Turning from the screen Blagor snarled viciously and pointed to his head of security.

"Take ALL available men to B deck! Find her! Kill her!" He commanded a trace of panic rising in his voice. The guard saluted and moved to the door.

"And activate all remaining droids that we have on board and take them with you!" called Degrez

Balgor smiled a vicious smile, then turned to one of the bridge officers.

"Seal deck B once the squads are in! I want no one to enter of leave that deck!"
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Post by SmokeMare »

The thundering of feet stopped Rissk in her tracks. Hiding in a doorway near to a crossroads, she witnessed a large group of guards sprinting across the junction,

" This way! Set your weapons to kill! Mr Balgor wants us to shoot first and ask questions later!" A voice echoed from the crowd.

'Hmmph! They mean business... ' thought Rissk as she pulled out a thermal detonator. Quietly she waited until the large group had passed the junction, then strode out, armed the detonator to explode on impact and hurled it into the centre of the group while diving clear, into the opposite corridor, out of the blast radius.

Yelps of surprise were followed by a deafening explosion which rocked the deck, Rissk felt the intense heat wash past her... Then Silence... Picking herself up Rissk slid into the Turbo Lift and hit the button for the deck where the bridge should be located.
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Post by Gonesolo »

Ariane rounded a corner and ran into another of Balgor's search parties. She snarled as she swung the lightsaber around her wrist and rose the glowing blade above her head, ready to strike.

Suddenly from behind her she hear a rumbling, instinctively she turned but she already knew what the noise indicated. She turned just in time to see two destroyer droids uncurl behind her. As they did she could hear another group of destroyers arrive behind her and in the distance the clack clack of robotic feet off the deck plates indicating the impending arrival of some soldier droids also.

"Well this certainly makes things more fun!" she smiled as she prepared herself for the attack.


"WELL COME ON WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?" She yelled.

"FIRE" was the only answer!
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Post by SmokeMare »

The door swished open, Rissk gingerly stepped from the turbo lift, blaster cocked. The clacking of metal feet on deck could be heard all around, 'Hmmph! More droideka...' Rissk thought to herself.

Rissk rubbed her chin thoughtfully, Frell ! Where would the bridge be on this ship?! Shavvit... I haven't been on a Corvette before...Hmmph, must be this way...'

Levelling her E-11 Rissk trotted off in the direction she thought the bridge might be, as she rounded the first corner, two Droideka unleashed a hail of blaster fire at her.

"Frell!"

Rissk dived clear, and rolled to her knees, levelling her blaster. As the first droid rounded the corner, she flicked it onto fully auto and emptied her energy cell. Blaster shot bounced off the droids shields, ricochetting around the corridor. Scrambling to her feet Rissk sprinted around the next corner, blaster fire spraying around her.
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Post by Gonesolo »

Blaster fire from the guards filled the air and Ariane was hard pressed to deflect all the shots. The guards did not seem to be too picky on their target they seemed intent on filling the area with blaster fire in the vain attempt of scoring a hit. As such a number of shots impacted the shields of the droideka surrounding her.

The droids however were being more carefull with their shots, more shots were on targets and they were more powerful then the guards rifles. As she ducked under a blast from a droid she rolled to one side and quickly force pushed a droideka as he opened fire.

Steady on their feet the droid did not fall, but did miss it's intended target. A guard screamed and fell behind Ariane as she jumped back to her feet and ran another guard through with the lightsaber quickly bringing the blade back to deflect more incoming shots.
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Post by SmokeMare »

'Hmmmph! I can't go on like this!' Rissk thought to herself as she slapped a fresh powercell into her blaster. quickly she glanced around the corridor - the click of metal feet drawing closer by the second.

'Service Hatch'

It was a small door, just big enough to crawl into, but certainly too small for a driodeka to enter. Rissk skipped across the corridor and pulled hatch open. Sliding inside quickly, she pulled the hatch closed.

The hum of electronics and machines was deafening, but she could still hear the clicking of metal feet, slowing in the corridor... Then the faint whirring of the droid scanning for it's prey. Wasting no time Rissk started frantically clambering up the ladder inside the cubby, the ladder climbing up and away from the corridor at an angle. No sooner had she cleared the hatchway, than a hail of blaster fire destroyed the door and decimated the machinery where she'd been crouching. At this point the lights flickered a little, then went out... The hum of machinery stopped, clearly the droid had hit something important....

Making the most of her Trandoshan Infravision, Rissk navigated the tube, she found her self at the top, above a corridor full of Balgor's men - all fumbling around in the dark, complaining about the lack of light.

A wicked smile grew on Rissks face. Gently she opened one of the meshes that covered the ceiling and lowered her arm down as far as she could, holding her blaster. Holding it level, so as to seem to come from the corridor she fired a short burst of fully auto blaster fire. Most of the shots went awry, one or two clipping Balgors men and a couple hitting them square, killing them. Quickly and silently Rissk pulled herself back up into the ceiling. As she did so the group who had been hit immedietly opened fire, fully auto, spraying blaster fire about the corridor, in the response the group beneath Rissk began returning fire, soon blaster fire was blazing about the corridor, the smell of burning plasma and charred flesh permeating the air....
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Post by Gonesolo »

Another guard screamed and dropped to the ground as Ariane deftly severed his leg, just below the knee. At the same moment the lights flickered and died. Smiling Ariane closed her eyes and let the force guide her instead.

Balgor's men, blinded by the darkness, were firing wildly trying desperatly to hit anything. Moving between their shots became a lot easier and she quickly cut down another two. A quick force push knocked over the soldier droids leaving the only real threat to be the droideka at best all she could do to them at the moment was to force push them to mess up their aim.

After another few moments the emergency lighting kicked in and the corridor was again partially lit. The returing light silohetted a scene of devastation as Blagor's guards lay either dead or incapacitated and most of the soldier droids were now in pieces. Ariane stood in the center of 4 droideka deftly deflecting blaster shots. It appeared to be a stand off.
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Post by SmokeMare »

As the emergency lighting flickered on Rissk surveyed the carnage. Corpses and badly wounded soldiers lay strewn about the corridor. Dropping down into the corridor she scratched her head, 'Hmmph! Which way now!? '

Scouring her memory about Corvettes, Rissk wracked her brain for a clue on where to head. Casting caution to the wind she sprinted along the corridor and shot around the corner. There... The bridge section lay at the end of the corridor. Cautiously, Rissk crept forwards...
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Post by Gonesolo »

Acknowledging the stand off the destroyers rate of fire increased, now she was being pressed to keep herself safe. The force and speed of the blasts were forcing her back towards the wall. Soon she would have no further she could go. Then, she knew, the droideka would constantly pound her until she had no more strength left before they would move in for the kill.
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Post by SmokeMare »

Nearing the a corridor, that led off the main one the sound of heavy blaster fire became more and more prominent. Peeping around the corner, Rissk saw a group of Droideka raining blaster fire upon Ariane. Deftly blocking every shot, Ariane was performing impressively - but slowing down.

Rissk rubbed her chin thoughtfully. She had to think quickly. In a flash she darted back through the rooms adjacent to the corridor, store rooms and quarters seemingly. Eventually she was beyond the blast door seperating the Droideka from Ariane. She pulled out another live Thermal Detonator fro her robes. 'Hmmph! I'm running low...'she thought to herself. The sound of blaster fire was echoing through the corridor, the machines were firing flat out.

Rissk steeled herself, snapped the door open, swung on the frame and slapped the blastdoor control. Slowly the blastdoor between Ariane and Rissk, and the Droideka started sliding shut, Rissk armed her detonator, sprinted up to the now small ans shrinking hole in the centre of the door and posted it through. The door clicked shut just before the detonator went off.

As the detonator fired, the floor shook, and the blast door buckled. Rissk was thrown violently onto the floor. After the blast the corridor was silent, but for the sound of breathing. Rissk scrambled to her feet and turned to Ariane...
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Post by Gonesolo »

"Nice work!" smiled Ariane as she dusted herself off.

Rissk was about to say something when they heard the sound of approaching droids.

"More friends!" smirked Ariane, "We need some backup but I need to get to the bridge to arrange that!"

She slapped the panel on the wall and the blast door slowly opened, the chared remains of the droideka were revealed.

"lets go!" she called charging towards the control room.



_________________________________________________________________

Location: Arena bridge.

Balgor paced nervously up and down the bridge. Security teams were failing to report in and a number of his best droids were non responsive. His face was awash with sweat. He turned and looked at Degrez who was also a bit disconcerted by the current events.

"What do we do?" Balgor almost begged.

"Don't ask me!" snapped Degrez "I'd say she has a serious issue to pick with you after all these years!"

"And what about the way you treated her" snarled Balgor in return.

Degrez was stunned to silence, he did not know that Balgor knew what he had done to her.

"You have a point! I don't know about you but I don't want to face an enraged jedi. I'm getting the frell outta here. My ship is in the hanger, you can come if you wish?"

Balgor smiled at his old friend, "Thank you. But I have some things I need to collect from my quarters I won't be long!"

"Make sure you are not!" snarled Degrez I'm not waiting if she reaches the hanger before you do.

With that Degrez left with a team of security guards while Balgor made his way to his office accompanied by another team.
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Post by SmokeMare »

Rissk had barely regained her composure, before Ariane started sprinting for the bridge. As she launched after her, she checked her current energy cell - plenty of energy. She patted her pockets, one dummy, and only a couple of Thermal Detonators left...

Sprinting down the debris littered corridor Rissk was starting to feel fatigued, sensing this hse steeled herself to run faster. As she ran it brought back memories of running from Tumbus men, in the undercity. She'd come a long way since then...

As the rounded another corner two more soldiers jumped in front of them, before they could fire though Rissk had already fired a spray of blaster shots across the corridor, the two men keeled over, their stomache's charred and smoking. Rissk was feeling a little out of breath at this point, again she gritted her teeth and ran faster, until they came to another T junction. She turned to Ariane, " Hmmph! Which way now?!"

~

Meanwhile Raynard had set down at the shipyard. Louisa and Raynard were in Raynards apartment, above the junk cluttered room that Raynard called a workshop. Louisa sat silently, worrying about the fate of her companion. Raynard, was a little worried about Rissk, but at thte same time had some strange knowledege that somehow she'd be okay. He was on the holo-net, trying to establish a communication with the Senator.

The conversation was brief, Louisa couldn't really pick up on what was being said. After a few moments Raynard flicked the transmitter off, " HEy, you're father's in a conference at the moment - I left a message with his secretary to call me urgently... Can I get you a coffee ?"

Louisa nodded sombrely, and Raynard crossed the room and picked up the kettle, he made sure there was water enough for four, replaced it and hit the power switch.... All they could do now was wait.
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Post by Gonesolo »

"That way!" Ariane panted slightly out of breath, she glanced around at her companion

"You ok?" she queried with a smile.

Rissk just nodded and smiled back. "Ok lets go!"

As they turned the corridor more guards appeared behind them and opened fire.

"Keep going!" yelled Ariane as they raced on "I'll deal with them from the bridge, we can't keep taking them all on. otherwise Balgor will escape!"
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Post by SmokeMare »

Blaster fire ricochetted around the corridor, without pausing Rissk took off after Ariane at full sprint, firing wildly behind her as she ran. As they sprinted around the corner Rissk rolled a Thermal Detonator around the corner. Yelps of panic echoed from the other corridor, Rissk calmly stepped out and unleashed a volley of blaster firre at the fleeing troops, taking them all out of action.

Pausing briefly to pickup her dummy detonator she sprinted to catch up with Ariane. Rissk sprinted as hard as she could to catch up, " Hey Ariane! How much further is it?! What are we going to do when we get there !?"
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Post by Gonesolo »

As Rissk finished her question they rounded a corner and the doors of the bridge loomed ahead of them. Not slowing down the two women barged ahead and the doors quickly opened for them the bridge was


empty!!!


"Where is everyone?" queried Rissk

"I don't know!" replied Ariane scanning through the multiple displays in front of her "But I do know that we are still vastly out numbered!"

Rissk took a glance and the internal sensors that Ariane was perusing. "You're right!"

"We need re-enforcements!" snapped Ariane straightening herself up "COMPUTER ONLINE!" she called out to no one in particular.

For a few moments there was silence, Rissk looked at the red haired woman with a look of bemusement on her face until suddenly a metalic male voice broke the silence

"COMPUTER ONLINE. SYSTEM STATUS 85%"

Ariane smiled "IDENTIFY!" she commanded.

"SYSTEM IDENTIFIES ARIANE KAXSAN! WHAT ARE YOUR COMMANDS?"

"I hope your friend and Louisa are off the ship!" smiled Ariane to Rissk "ACTIVATE INTERNAL DEFENCES! ALL TARGETS OUTSIDE THIS ROOM ARE TO BE CONSIDERED HOSTILE!"

"COMMANDS ACCEPTED! INTERNAL DEFENCES ACTIVATING!....... CYBORG ACTIVATION COMMENCING..........COUNTING 200 VALID TARGETS AND 15 VALID STARSHIP CONTACTS IN LOCAL VICINITY! SHIP WEAPONARY ACTIVATING!"

In the distance the two women could hear the unmisstakable sound of Turbolaser batteries opening fire, quickly they glanced at the internal sensors again. Security cameras showed a number of lumbering cyborgs engaging Balgor's remaining security teams, the cyborgs, although old technology, were proving to be a match for even the battle droids and Droideka. Within minutes the Arena ship had changed sides and was extracting revenge on those who had unsurped her for the last 16 odd years. A blazing firefight was being raged not only on the decks of the corvette were droideka, battle droids and security guards fought against lumbering Cyborgs and internal security weaponry.

But in the space outside the Corvette the surrounding ships were finding themselves under attack from the Corvette's ample fire power!

"Told you I had a few tricks up my sleeve!" smiled Ariane wirely
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Post by SmokeMare »

"Hmmph! Looks like we're safe for now.... But what about Balgor?! Where the frell is he !?" Rissk muttered as she paced about the bridge, examining the security cameras as she went.

The echos of blaster shots could be heard in the distance, occasionally the ship rocked from gently as blaster fire impacted upon it.

Ariane seemed lost in thought, almost like a daze, her eyes scanning the interior of the bridge. Rissk squinted at her, "Hmmm, Kaxson eh?" The lack of response startled Rissk slightly, who was at this point, not quite grasping the poignancy of the situation. She strolled back across the bridge and gently shook Ariane's shoulder, " Hey! We still have to find Balgor and get the ship back !.... You okay!?"
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Post by Gonesolo »

Ariane stared intently at the computer readout and security scanners in front of her.

"Sorry.... yea Kaxsan although I keep expecting it to call me Nevar!" she shook her head in dismay "I wonder will I ever seperate the two!"

Not awaiting a response, or even expecting one she tapped a couple of keys on the security console

"THERE he is!" she exclaimed.

"Who?" questioned Rissk

"Balgor, he's in his personal quarters. And theres a ship in the hanger, it looks like Degrez is preparing to leave."

She turned quickly on her heal and charged towards the door. "I don't intend on letting either of those two get away" she snarled "COMPUTER LOCK DOWN HANGER BAY!"

"ACKNOWLDGED" responded the computer as Ariane and Rissk charged out of the bridge.
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Post by SmokeMare »

The door hissed shut after Rissk sprinted through it, panting slightly. Rissk frowned, " Hmmph! Where are we going NOW ?! What's the plan!? Do we go for Balgor or... erm Degrez?"

~

Back on Coruscant, Raynard slammed the holonet tranciever down hard, " Damn it he's still not available! Don't worry Louisa we'll get hold of your old man as soon as possible."

Louisa shuddered slightly, " Thanks Ray, erm, I'm worried about Ariane... Surely she should be back by now ?"

Raynard rubbed his chin thoughtfully, " Hmmm, I'm not so sure, they had alot of men... "

" and droids!" Louisa interrupted.

" Droids ? What kind of droids ?" Raynard enquired, a puzzled look on his face.

" Erm, the big sphereical ones... I can't remember what he called them..."

" Hmmm, Droideka? Yes, it must be... Well she's going to be having a tough time up there then... Don't worry you're friend will be okay I'm sure of it, Rissk has been in stickier situations before..."

Louisa nodded as Raynard picked up the holonet tranciever and started tapping in the code for the Senators office.
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Post by Gonesolo »

"Balgor first!" snapped Ariane as they ran through the corridors as around them Cyborgs and battle droids were involved in a fierce fire fight. "He can not be allowed to escape and start this up again!"
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Post by SmokeMare »

Rissk shrugged mid-run, " True, I'm sure the authorities will be happy to know the man responsible for this is dead."

As they crossed corridors, stray blaster shots whistled past their heads, battledroids and cyborgs were engaged in a ferocious battle every where they looked. Ariane eventually skidded to a halt outside a small door, with a makeshift 'manager' sign loosely tacked outside it.

Rissk slowed to a walk, then halt and eyed up the door, " Hmmph! You think this is it!? What's the plan? I know if I was him I'd have booby trapped this door and I'd have at least a weapon in each hand... What are we going to DO!?"

Rissk ducked another stray blaster bolt as Ariane spoke...
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Post by Gonesolo »

"I'm betting he's too busy trying to get his scared ass of this ship before I find him to tell you the truth" Ariane snarled as she pulled the hilt of her borrowed lightsaber from her belt and held it just in front of her. "None the less best to be carefull!"

"COMPUTER COMMAND OVERRIDE. OPEN THIS DOOR!"

There was a click and then the door slid open with a hiss, both women quickly slipped inside.

Balgor's office was lavishly decorated, massive paintings hung on each wall and the furniture was the finest silk from Naboo. Behind the large desk was a large leathar chair and a large display case stood on the far right of the room.

Balgor was hurriedly pulling items from the safe on the back wall when he heard the door hiss open behind him, he spun in a panic, drawing his weapon to meet the new arrivals. When he saw who it was he immediatly opened fire.

With a snap the lightsaber ignited and deflected two bolts as Rissk defly dodged clear of another two. Ariane stood just in the door and Rissk stood beside her, the light of the glowing blade casting it's glowing light on both women's faces.

In the light of the blade Balgor could see the intense anger buring in Ariane's eyes but more, from across the room he could feel her wrath hanging on the air. It was like the air was electric. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he stared down the two women.

"Ah Ariane!" he chimed trying to sound calm, "I'm glad I've caught up with you I wanted to show you something! Something that I think belongs to you!"

"This ship belongs to me" she snarled viciously in reply, "You stole it from me just like you stole my child hood. You tortured me, put me to work in your mines and robbed me off my innocence and now you are going to pay!"

"All true" he replied now more calm and reaching into the safe "But. I still have a trump card."

Slowly he pulled out two cylinders and held them at arms length towards her.

"Recognise these?" he queried "I belive they were you're mothers. I found them and a datapad many years ago. The datapad lead me to this ship, I have to say I never really read the pad in any great detail until you arrived, but you peaked my interest. It appears your mother kept a journal. The last entry would be the day she died, the day she found you!"

He paused for a moment as he moved away from the safe and towards the two women.

"After I read the pad completely I had a feeling this day would come so I decided to protect myself for this eventuallity. Although, I have to admit I never counted on your Trando friend here. But no matter I will deal with her once you are dead."

Both lightsabers in his hand hummed to life as he held the blades in a cross in front of him.

"So come on ONE lets see how good you really are!" he hissed.
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Post by SmokeMare »

Rissk frowned at Balgor standing there, menacing them with Arianes sabres. Memories of a time recently when Rissk had used her lightsabre sprang back, the unwieldiness and difficulty of steadying the blade... Yet the deftness with which she'd see Ariane wield the sabre... Balgor looked like he didn't have it he looked like he was bluffing...

Rissk sighed, " *sigh* I think I can understand what you've been through, hmmph! Similar childhood to my own I guess... I snapped Kregor's neck, it didn't make me feel any better... But I think this is your fight Kaxson..."

Ariane stared long and hard at Balgor, rage glowing in her sullen eyes, the thunder of blaster shots and explosions echoed outside the room. Balgor twirled the two sabres with surprising dexterity and strode forwards...
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Post by Gonesolo »

Ariane felt a little unsettled by Balgor's ease at using a lightsaber, yet she could sense nothing from him, no connection to the force. But could he be hiding it? or could her senses be dulled through all the years of inactivity. She could not be sure. One thing for sure she would die rather than let Balgor escape, after all he had done to her, and the other prisoners he had taken she could do no less then let their revenge be channeled through her.

"Rissk!" she called "head down to the hanger bay, see if you can stop Degrez. Let him know that Balgor will not be joining him.

At that comment Balgor shot her a wicked smile, "Once I've dealt with you my dear I will have no more need of that lift from Degrez!"

Ariane could hold back no longer, it was as if she could feel the pain of every innocent that this beast had ever hurt, the years of missery and pain he had caused to so many burned like a fire in her blood. She cast herself at him, belowing loudly as she went her lightsaber coming across in a vicious arc at his waist level.

Using both blades he blocked her blow, stopping it dead a few inches from his body, then quickly freeing one of the blades he viciously swung inside her attack back at her. In a panic she back peddled away from him, his attack missing her but she could feel the searing heat as the energy blade swept past her. Balgor, grining broadly, pushed his attack windmilling the two blades he advanced hard forcing her back. Blocking blow after blow Ariane stumbled back and away as Balgor pushed his advantage.

Her blade felt heavy and clumsy in her hand, she had not got the level of confidence in her blade that he appeared to have with his. In a blind panic she continued to be pushed backwards desperatly batting at his attacks to protect herself.

"Stop fighting the blade RELAX!"

The voice in her head sounded almost familar......

It sounded almost like her own

"Mother??" she queried to no one in particular
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Post by SmokeMare »

Rissk nodded, and backed out of the room slowly, Balgor seeming unnervingly adept at wielding lightsabres... As she left Balgor and Ariane were locked in mortal combat, slashing, blocking, striking and parrying.

Door slid shut with a hiss. Blaster fire had quietened down it seemed, one side was clearly winning, which one Rissk had no idea. Indistinguishable parts of droid and cyborg littered the corridors. Echos of blaster fire resonated through the corridors from some distant part of the ship. Rissk rubbed her chin thoughtfully, "Hmmph! Where the frell would he be?! Hmmm.... Main hangar - it's the best chance...'

Rissk sprinted off in what she hoped was the direction of the main hanger, E-11 cocked and ready.
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Post by Gonesolo »

Balgor could sense the advantage that he had gained. He did not know if it had been too long since she had welded a lightsaber, or maybee the child Ariane had never welded one, certainly her mother was reportedly very adept at their use, but this Ariane seemed unsure of her weapon. This advantage gave him confidence and he pushed his advantage, slashing viciously with both blades as he advanced, snearing at her.

Ariane was paniced, she fought desperatly to control her weapon and to block Balgor´s ever advancing on slaught.

stop fighting the blade!

that voice in her head again, so much like her own.

Ariane I am so sorry I was not there to see you grow up and protect you from this monster but I am here now. Please trust me. Open up to your feelings, reach out and feel your weapon. A lightsaber is a Jedi´s greatest asset but you must feel it´s presence through the force before you can use it correctly

Unsure quite why she was listening to this voice, perhaps out of blind panic, she closed her eyes and reached out with the force. Sure enough she could sense the energy of the blade in her hand. It´s seemed somehow foreign to her, were as the blades Blagor was using felt more akin to her. Undetered she concentrated on the blade in her hand let the force flow from her to it and back.

HE HAD HER. As she faltered one more time on the retreat Balgor knew the time for the final strike had come he drew both blades high above his head and brought them crashing down. A vicious, evil smile on his face

"No longer will you be a thorn in my side" he roared as the blades descended.

Suddenly the blades were stopped, he looked down to find Ariane had blocked both blades and was staring up at him, a burning rage in her eye´s that he had seen a few times before. His confidence started to leave him as in panic he swung wildy at her but she easily blocked and deflected each blow as she once again found her footing and started on the advance.
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Post by SmokeMare »

After picking her way through the battle torn ship Rissk came upon the door to the main hangar. The battle was still raging, but she'd managed to avoid the conflict for the most part and was now knee deep in debris from a collapsed cieling desperatly banging on the control to open the door.

" Hmmph! This is useless!" She muttered under her breath at the panel, which still showed no sign of life.

Carefully she picked edged around the wall towards a maintenance hatch and removed the cover. Crawling through the conduit, the sounds of the battle slowly dulled, and the sound a person struggling with something heavy became heard.

As she clambered out of the hole she saw who must have been Degrez, desperately trying to drag a large container of credits into the back of his shuttle. Rissk glanced at the opposite side of the door, the control panel had been oblitereated. 'Hmmph! He's sabotaged the door...' Rissk thought to herself.

At that point Degrez had dragged his container into the shuttle and stood looking desperately at the doorway, " Frell ! Where the blazes is he ?!" HE said aloud. At which point Rissk stod up slowly and levelled her Blaster at him,

" I'm afraid Balgor won't be joining you... He's dead...."

Degrez shifted his eyes to Rissk nervously. " And what of the lovely Ariane?! I would have she would want to pay me my complements and thank me...?"

Rissk shifted uneasily, Degrez could not get away, but to kill him? Wouldn't Ariane want that pleasure. She wavered slightly, her clawed finger twitching on the trigger...
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Post by Gonesolo »

Balgor was lashing out viciously with his blades, but with her mothers help Ariane was getting more and more confident with her weapon. Her mothers old skills quickly returned as she deftly deflected his aggresively powerful blows.

She started to push him back and the more she did the more he paniced and the harder he swung. But as he did so his attacks were less co-ordinated more sloppy.

With a vicious upward slice Ariane severed his hand from his wrist. His right hand freed from his body sailed gently across the room. He screamed in pain and grasped his arm, dropping his other weapon.

Almost snarling like a beast Ariane dropped the lightsaber she held in her hand and pulled her own two blades to her outstretched hands.

"These belong to me I believe!" she snarled as she steped in a kneed him in the face with all her might. He was thrown backwards and slid slightly across the floor as she advanced after him.

In pain and terror he gazed up at her, his face begging for pity. She put the hilt of her blade under his chin and lifted his head slightly so he was looking directly at her. She paused for a moment and whispered to him

"Revenge!!"

as she activate the lightsaber under his chin. The blade hissed to life and pierced straight through his neck and out the back of his head. She held him there for a few moments before whiping the blade away, neatly severing the head in two.

She stood for a moment, trying to come to terms with what she had just done. She had finally got her revenge, revenge for all the things he had put her through, for all the terrible cruelties he had inflicted on his slaves. For what he had done to Louisa. She fell to her knees shaking, tears flowing down her cheeks. She knew what she had done was wrong but why had it felt so good.
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Post by SmokeMare »

Rissk regained her composure and smiled warmly at Degrez, " Why don't you wait a while, I'm sure she'll want to see you off... She'd be dissapointed you'd left in such a hurry - not even saying goodbye."

Uneasiness spread over Degrez face, gingerly lowered his weapon to the ground, as if to surrender it. However as it clicked onto the metal floor he teaked the trigger, the blast shot hitting a coolant duct cleanly in the centre. Within seconds the hangar was thick with hot, blue acrid smoke, as Rissk struggled to breath and locate her target, the blast of Degrez engines lit up the area. Diving free of the flames Rissk crawled desperately back into the corrider, coughing and cursing.

When clear she stood up and shook her head in dismay, " Hmmph!"
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Post by Gonesolo »

Slowly the outside world penetrated through the immense wave of emotion that Ariane was trying to deal with. In the distance muffled explosions could be heard as the last of Balgor's forces were being dealt with by the Corvette's internal defences, now back under their mistresses command.

Slowly she picked herself up off the floor, she made her way back to the control room, which was still deserted. Once inside she activated the main computer and pulled up system information. Balgor's forces were in complete retreat, corridors were strewn with wrecked attacked droids and crippled cyborgs, yet the cyborgs were winning out.

"Computer systems check!" she commanded

A few moments later the computer responded.

"Hull integrity normal, however internal systems running at 40% efficiency. Internal explosions have damaged many internal systems!"

"And the intruders!" Ariane barked. "What about Degrez!"

"Sensors report a ship matching his logged vessel blasted out of hanger bay a few moments ago!"

Ariane paniced, Degrez had escaped but what of Rissk, what of the Transhodian who had gone to face Degrez and stop him from escaping.

"Computer scan for Transhodian life signs on board!"

"Internal scanner malfuntion unable to asscertain data!" came the cold reply.

"NO" Ariane though as she burst out of the control room and ran towards the hanger bay.
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Post by SmokeMare »

The echoes of blaster fire were quietening now, Rissk dusted herself down and glanced at her battered E-11. The thick smoke had invaded her lungs and she wheezed slightly as she limped along the corridor, weary and battle-worn from the days events.

Scars where shrapnel and blaster shots had made glancing hits on her were already starting to heal. Still the senators daughter safe, and the Arena ship closed down, the thought of all those credits, and the possible improvements to the gunboat brought a thin smile to her lips. " Hmmph ! "She said to herself as she reminded herself that this was provided Raynard had escaped to safety unharmed. Having seen the devastation he'd dealt out in the arena she didn't really doubt it. That was a side of Raynard she'd neevr seen or guessed existed, the quiet ship engineer dealing out violence with such fury and accuracy as to have a countless number of warriors crippled, kiled or fleeing... The image haunted her as she trudged along the debris filled corridor...

And what of the fire haired woman who had helped her to complete the mission... " Have to offer her some credits... Hope she made it..." Rissk muttered to herself as she stepped over another charred chassis of a destroyed battledroid.
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Post by Gonesolo »

Ariane ran up the corridor, ahead she could see Rissk walking towards her, a little bruised but still alive. She smiled as she approached her new friend.

"You ok?" she quiered from Rissk who nodded a silent reply

"Degrez?" she continued

"He escaped" replied Rissk "Balgor?"

"He didn't!" replied Ariane allowing a smile to form on her lips, possibly the first smile for a number of years.

"Now what?" asked Rissk.

"Well my ship is well and truly trashed, she'll need some repairs. You think you friend would be interested in the work?"

Rissk smiled "How about we go find him and ask him?"

Ariane just smiled a reply, as they passed the door of the hanger Ariane stopped for a moment and then opened the hanger doors. Inside was the silent form of a YT1300 freighter, the Dark Hunter. She was all but stripped clean, even some of her hull plating was gone. Sitting silently below the stripped freighter was another sad sight, the chared and burned remains of an astrometric droid.

"R5" whispered Ariane as she ran over to her oldest companion. Quickly looking over the damaged she sighed heavily as Rissk approached silently behind her.

"R5 has looked after me since I was a baby, he was originally my mother's droid and she asked him to look after me when she died. He's been my most loyal friend for as long as I can remember."

"Can he be repaired?" asked Rissk

"I'm not sure" sniffed Ariane, "there is a droid repair facility on board hopefully it was not too badly damaged during the fight, I'll take him there!"

Gathering up as many pieces of R5 as she could recognise Ariane placed her friend, gently on an anti grav pod and together she and Rissk took him down to the repair station near the cruisers engine room. Once R5 had been safely deposited the two friends started on a ship survey to work out if they could make it to Corruscant under their own power or whethar they would require a tow.
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Post by SmokeMare »

Rissk felt a strange sense of history wandering around the shell of the Corvette. The dust covered YT-13oo and dismantled droid only added to this. It made her think of Kregor, who was still out there somewhere, he could have been dead, but something told Rissk he wasn't...

She shuddered at the thought of seeing the Jedi Hunter again.

The debris about the ship, coupled with the modifications made by Balgor made work difficult. Slowly the two comrades wound their way through the corridors, inspecting panels and consoles and running diagnostics, in truth, Rissk not being technically minded felt a little out of her depth.

Ariane indicated a power flow regulator console halfway up a corridor. Gingerely Rissk prised the service panel off to reveal a cracked screen and charred keyboard, as she readed in to initialize the diagnostic the screen errupted, showering her and the corridor in sparks.

" Hmmph! It's taken a beating... I think we need to get back as soon as possible... How many ParSecs to Coruscant are we out here? I don't think it's far, we shouldn't need to use the Hyper Drive!?"

Ariane grunted softly as she finished connecting some conduit that had come free, then turned to Rissk, a puzzled look on her face, " You know I'm not sure... "

Rissk stood up and glanced into the smoking mess of the console she'd been inspecting, " Perhaps we can find out from the bridge.. Hah! Provided the Navicom isn't fried that is !"
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Post by Gonesolo »

The two women made their way to the bridge, picking their way past dead cyborgs and chared remains of battle droids. Some of the remaining cyborgs were starting to clear away some of the wreckage but there was still much to be done.

The scene on the bridge reflected much of the rest of the ship. With a sigh Ariane and Rissk started to pick through the rubble and bodies.

"looks like the main flight systems are ok" called Ariane "Navicomp says we are about a two day sub light trip to Corrucant"

"Looks like it might take a bit longer than that" replied Rissk with a sigh "The engines are functioning but only at half capacity!"

"Guess we're about to find out what kind of company we are!" smiled Ariane "setting course"

With a dull roar the corvette's engines ignited and the damaged ship started to limp towards her destination.
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Post by SmokeMare »

Rissk rubbed her chin while idly dusting off debris from a console, " Hmmph! We'd better try and let Raynard know when we're likely to make it there."

Ariane was still trying to clear off some of the equipment, she'd picked up an overturned chair and sat down, looking utterly dismayed.

The flashes of hyperdrives were dying down now as the last of the spectators were fleeing the arenaship in their craft. The soft hum of electrical equipment and the clicking of fingers on consoles was all that could be heard.

After attempting fuitlessly to initialise the Holo-net tranciever Rissk thumped the console, " Frell ! Why isn't this stupid thing working?! Looks like there's nothing wrong with it !"
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