Coruscant 43 ABY
The ambience of the galactic capital on this particular evening was relatively pleasant as speeders of every kind zipped along the crowded air-lanes that guided citizens home from their daily work. The sky was painted with waves of pink and orange while the light of Coruscant Prime crept below the horizon. A nearby spaceport hosted a variety of ships coming and going, either carrying passengers and cargo from the bustling city-planet or approaching to land on one of the numerous pads. One such ship, a sleek, chrome yacht of Nubian design descended into the atmosphere with objective grace, setting down on an open platform with landing gear extended.
The entrance ramp descended with the familiar hiss of hydraulics as three cloaked figures exited into the cool, evening air, all adorned in black. Though all were tall, the first down the ramp was more so, imposing with his dark garb and powerful armor. Of the two who followed behind him, one was just as intimidating, built big and bulky like a wall of hardened muscle, his own armor trimmed with crimson. To his side was a slender woman with smaller, sleeker armor, designed for stealth and flexibility. The shadowy trio strode off the landing pad, leaving via a lift as the ship’s ramp retracted and sealed behind them.
Inside, Furios Morega drew a datapad from his belt, pulling up the briefing to refresh his team on the mission details. “Our target is hiding in a warehouse district on Level 1138,” he stated, pointing to the screen. “Bhoc Vedmat, leader of the Quantum Shadows, armed and dangerous.”
Astralis Violentus and Willadean nodded in understanding before the former spoke up. “Do we know what kind of opposition we’ll face?”
“No. Though reports say the Quantum Shadows are fractured, there’s no telling how many remained loyal to Vedmat or how other gangs on 1138 will respond,” the Elder answered just before the lift doors opened to release the Plagueians into the dense cityscape.
Level 1138 warehouse district
Astralis leaned against the wall, covering his big yawn with his right hand. His left hand held his lightsaber. “Okay Willa, you’re the assassin - go see what you can find.”
When the trio had arrived on Level 1138, nobody was there to greet them. At this early evening hour most normal people must be indoors for the final meal of the day. While it was not unheard of, the complete lack of people was eerie and felt wrong to Astralis. He was, however, perfectly happy to lean on the wall while Willa did the recon - it was more aligned with her skills. Willa simply nodded and slinked off toward the nearest warehouse.
Furios looked at Astralis. “So you’re going to let her go find him on her own? What if Bhoc has his entire gang with him?”
“I’m sure she can find out without being seen.” Astralis seemed wholly unconcerned for his wife’s safety. He was confident in her abilities, as was she. His former master hadn’t seen for himself, hence the question. “We can hang back and if she needs our help she’ll come get us”. Astralis hoped that Bhoc would be alone, or close to it, and Willa would simply kill him. The sound of blasters contradicted that thought as he thumbed the stud on his lightsaber hilt and red plasma sprang forth.
Blue plasma jetted from Furios’ right hand at the same instant. “You were saying?” Astralis had already begun sprinting in the direction that Willa had gone, Furios only a split second behind him. Willa dashed from the warehouse on their left, ducking as she ran. Luckily she was close enough that they reached her quickly. Furios deflected a blaster bolt intended for Willa with a flick of his wrist.
Willa slid to a halt, turning as she did so. She deflected a bolt of her own. “He’s got at least twenty with him!”, her hand deftly turning aside another blaster bolt. Furios, lightsaber at the ready, seemed to be relaxed. “Only twenty?” he coyly remarked.
Astralis had miraculously gotten several meters beyond them and had already cut down the two pursuing Shadows thugs, putting an abrupt end to the blaster fire.
Before Furios could comment on his former apprentice’s excellent application of the Force to charge ahead at such speed, a fresh volley of blaster fire erupted toward the three Plagueians from the roof of the next warehouse over. Deflecting bolts from his team with ease, the Epicanthix noted that they wore the regalia of a different gang, likely just making their presence known in a vain attempt to defend their turf. “You two go in and take out Vedmat!” he ordered as he purposely deflected bolts away from himself and his attackers. “Just holler if you need me.”
Astralis and Willadean replied with a quick “Roger” and scrambled through the door that the pair of Quantum Shadows members had pursued the latter from. Furios smiled as he continued to absent-mindedly deflect the oncoming fire into the empty, duracrete wall of the warehouse. This was the perfect opportunity to let the pair of comparatively inexperienced Journeymen test their mettle, take out the target, and take on all the glory for this operation, while he got to simply stand back and play with blaster bolts. The Elder had an idea and started deflecting the fire into the duracrete walls to make the letter forn, followed by the letter usk.
Willadean turned to Astralis and asked, “should we do the Argrigag hustle?”
Astralis giggled and nodded his assent.
They snuck around the side of the action stumbling upon an open grate for the air conditioning. Willadean shimmied down the duct work. Astralis waited to cover her until he got the signal.
She yelled up the duct, “Right, Right, Left, Center.”
Astralis knew exactly where to go to get to a door that she would be waiting to open for him after he does the special knock. He was lucky enough to avoid any further action with the gang. Furios was bringing enough of a fight to keep them entertained and distracted. He followed along the corridor and stairs following her directions. He landed at a door, knocked their secret knock, and the door flew open.
Willadean pointed to the corridor to the right and signed to him there were enemies down that corridor. They were in stealth mode, no speaking or noise allowed. She pointed to the left with an undetermined signal. She didn’t know if it was safe or not.
Astralis knew exactly where to go to get to a door that she would be waiting to open for him after he does the special knock. He was lucky enough to avoid any further action with the gang. Furios was bringing enough of a fight to keep them entertained and distracted. He followed along the corridor and stairs following her directions. He landed at a door, knocked their secret knock, and the door flew open.
Willadean pointed to the corridor to the right and signed to him there were enemies down that corridor. They were in stealth mode, no speaking or noise allowed. She pointed to the left with an undetermined signal. She didn’t know if it was safe or not.
Astralis signaled to go left. He was ready for whatever the gang could bring. She wanted to get in, do the job, and get out without any more fighting than necessary. She would not be successful this time.
They slunk down the corridor checking all angles to make sure they were clear. As they walked, Willadean realized they were on the 12th floor. This floor looked like storage and mechanics for the building. She suddenly lit up and signaled to stop. She peaked around the corner to show Astralis that they had come upon 1238. They would have to take the chance that 1138 was just one floor below.
They walked into a room filled with boxes and other detritus. They both slipped down to the floor with their comms to see what they could hear. The room sounded like snoring with computers and comms going wild. They smirked at each other as a plan silently sparked between the two.
Astralis extended his lightsaber and started cutting a hole in the floor surrounding the pair. He barely felt the fall, but Willadean was jarred. She was seeing stars for a second. The man asleep was suddenly awakened by a couple standing at the end of their bed with ceiling blasted all over the room.
Before he had a chance to speak or scream, Willadean, still dizzy and without her normal elegant movement, slit his throat with a knife she pulled out of her cloak. She hoped that this was their target. Blood bubbled from the open neck, some coming from the gills and some coming from the wound. The flow ebbed quickly and she knew her mark was dead.
As the knife finished its gruesome duty, the door flew open to reveal a legion of security protecting the door. Astralis grabbed and spun Willadean out of the way as a stream of blaster fire rushed in. He blocked the first assault with his arms and cloak. He was able to fall back and use the bed as a cover. Willadean crawled under the bed.
Astralis prepared to go full berserker. He stood up with his weapons up and charged the gang. He stopped counting at 30. He charged the group. He kept anyone from being able to get in the room by stacking bodies as cover at the entrance. He was able to pick them off as new members hearing the kerfuffle ran in to help. After a while, he tried to move the bodies to get to the newcomers. He did not want to be unable to unleash his fury.
Willadean, while Astralis handled the horde, took out her pad to scan the face of the dead yet still gurgling man. She sent the details to Furios. He confirmed the man’s identity as their target. Their task completed, now they just needed to get clear. She whistled to Astralis to let him know they were done.
When he heard Willa signal that the target was dead, Astralis threw one last body towards the remaining thugs in the hallway, hiding around the corner. He walked backwards down the mountain of corpses he had created. He sensed Willa directly behind him and stopped, his feet finally on smooth, even floor. Willa put her hand on his back, gently, “time to go, dear”. Astralis blinked, shook his head slightly to clear the battle rage, and turned towards Willa. He wrapped his cloak around her and they went through the opposite door from where the remaining Shadows were still sheltered around the corner in the hallway.
His right arm still wrapping his cloak around Willa’s diminutive frame and his left holding his lightsaber in a ready position in front of him, the pair walked quickly but calmly back towards where they had left Furios. As they exited the building he saw several more bodies than there were before, and he looked up at the wall of the building across the main hall. Blaster fire had left a charred word in the wall: Furios. The namesake sat cross-legged under the art he had created, his hands folded in his lap, legs stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankles. His chin rested on his chest. Astralis and Willa both knew he wasn’t really sleeping, so neither was surprised when he spoke. “Once I deflected enough fire to sign the wall, there, I went ahead and killed the rest of the forward corps here.”
Astralis surveyed the group of bodies near his feet, admired the wall art one more time, then ushered Willa towards the lift. “Let’s go boss, still a few Shadows groupies back there. Only a few, but no sense hanging around to see if they are still game”. Furios didn’t move and when Astralis had Willa on the lift, he turned. Furios was standing directly behind them on the lift, having moved swiftly and silently before Astralis even knew he was on his feet. “Still got it, my esteemed former master”, Astralis smirked and thumbed the stud, red plasma seemingly disappearing into the metal handle in his left hand. Furios pushed the ground floor and the doors closed, the lift dropping rapidly back to street level.
Furios took one look at Astralis as they approached his speeder. “you are NOT getting into my speeder like that!”. Astralis’ black armor with red trim was pretty well covered entirely with blood and bits of meat of all colors. Willa giggled and jumped in the passenger seat, “have fun getting cleaned up, then maybe we can go get a drink”. Astralis smiled at that and watched the two disappear in the speeder. He pulled out his datapad and tried to find the nearest speeder washing terminal to hose himself down.