Session export: Prison Break - Kai's Escape

Aris stepped up to the counter and slid his ticket into reach of the officer behind the transparent barrier between them.

“I’m ticket number one,” he stated.

“There’s no way this is going to work,” muttered Bril Teg Erinos as he and Lulaire Sol'Vida approached the facility.

The SCP facility reminded him of his last time he’d visited the Caperion System, and of his unpleasant overnight stay in a facility just like this one. Hopefully, this mission wouldn’t result in him having to call his ori'vod to bail him out, but the plan he and his fellow Jedi had concocted didn’t inspire much confidence in him.

He breathed steadily from beneath his helmet to calm himself. The uncertainty of their mission was stressful enough, but to make matters worse, Lula’s mind was a mess of emotions. He couldn’t blame her. Her previous mission involving Kai Lap'lamiz had left her with a fresh wound, a wound that ached anew as their return to Imperial space ripped memories of Bafforr’s death back to the surface.

Placing a hand on her shoulder to help sell their ruse, Bril gave it a comforting squeeze just before they stepped through the facility’s doors as if to say: “I’m here with you.”

When they entered, Bril shifted his attention to the two Stormtroopers posted just beyond the facility’s entrance. “Well met,” he said, adopting a more serious tone than he usually did, “I have something that might interest you: a Jedi who has been conspiring to foment a rebellion against the Empire.”

He shoved her forward.

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Before arriving, the pair of them had to quickly train as evident with some bruises, blood at the corner of her mouth and her robes being dirty as well disheveled along with her hair. Lula’s skin changed to silver the moment he slapped the cuffs on her and it had not changed back to gold since. Her staying pale will help try to sell the story more. Her nails had been digging into her palms while the coldness of the stuncuffs was against her skin.

All she had to do was to focus on the emotional pain. His squeeze on her shoulder had brought little comfort. Despite everything that had occurred on Seraph and during the war, she still trusted in the Force to guide Bril and Lula through this.

Lula violently moved her shoulder back as if saying for the bounty hunter to not touch her ever again. Her orange eyes harden at the sight of the stormtroopers as she scoffed followed by a low growl. She raised her arms and wiped the dried blood from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve.

Lula let in a sharp inhale as the flood of emotions was almost overwhelming but for a moment, she closed her eyes. Prison always had mix bag of emotions but it was still nothing compared to war. She tried to focused to find the few that seemed to be the most calm during the situation.

-# <@679032520699805708>

Titius strode through the lobby, snatching a ticket and stopping behind Aris.

His respirator cycled quietly, eyes boring into the officers cap at the desk. He held aloft a code cylinder ready to scare the living Force out of the poor officer as he waited his turn.

In typical fashion, Idris sauntered into the lobby of the holding facility. This one was new, well new to him at least. It fell in line with the hundreds of others he had visited over the years, although with a less common Imperial vibe. But of course Scholae Palatinae never did get the message that Imperial was now several decades out of fashion.

He hesitated in the entryway for just a moment. Long enough to realize the red carpet wouldn’t be rolling out for his arrival, and long enough to do a quick head count of the lobby. Idris gave a quick nod of recognition and respect to the Mandalorian who was also there in the lobby, apparently turning in a bounty.

Idris regretfully hadn’t snagged a vagrant to turn in here today. He had other business, and time was ticking away.

As he walked further into the room, he noticed the ticket dispenser and a slowly forming line of people making their way forward. He took a ticket and looked around again, sighing heavily. He removed his helmet and flashed a pearly white smile to the workers, hoping someone would notice him. The Deputy Grand Master **surely* didn’t need to wait, right?*

The dreary Imperial decor betrayed the inherent gloom and distinct lack of joy that permeated the prison’s lobby. The staff were dead on their feet…and their chairs. Not physically, of course. No, that would be a kindness they themselves felt unworthy of in their wallowing orbit of sadness and despair.

Bureaucracy at its finest.

Nemera Skotos strode into the building with a well practiced confident gait. Her gaze was level and sharp behind the fake reading glasses sitting on the bridge of her nose. The upper rim cut through the center of her eyes, giving the impression she was looking down her nose at those present.

Which was fair, because she was.

Her dark blue-black hair was held in a tight bun but messy strands still managed to escape their confines. The Firrerreo’s boots clicked loudly beneath her long dress, even as the chain connecting the jewelry of her ear added sing-song accompaniment.

Long fingers pulled a number from the ticket box, then held it up as the woman sighed in disappointment. She would have to wait. Joy. How quaintly pedestrian.

Nemera’s gaze took in everything as her hands were busied with the folder and briefcase she had brought. After all, if you were going to play at being a psychiatrist, one needed props.

Aris opened his mouth to speak before being silenced when the officer raised his hand.

Instead of a reply he just awkwardly pressed his lips together, nodded and stood just past the ticket office while awaiting his escort. While waiting, he took note of the scene that was taking place in the lobby. All he had heard was there was something concerning another Jedi which peeked his interest but he didn’t have time to intervene. He was on a mission and if he could devise a suitable plan after rescuing his target, he’d come back for this newly captured Jedi.

Bril did as instructed, stepping back and tapping a finger on one of his beskar vambrace’s touchscreen. A thin beam of light shot upward from its mini holoprojector, producing a brief summary of who he was:

Dr. Bril Teg Erinos Mandalorian of Clan Arcona Golden Envoy & Guest Lecturer at the Aurora Collegium of Sciences.

“Consider it a gesture of good will from Clan Arcona,” he said. Bril knew that his previous adventure in the Caperion System would likely come up if any of the Stormtroopers bothered to run his name against their records, and that could work in his favor if he played his cards right.

Lula opened her eyes as she glanced over to the Rodian. Guilt swelled up to the point where she felt nauseous. How did they ended up being arrested? They didn’t even help her at all.

Lula slightly moved her restraints away from the stormtrooper, glaring him down as she would to an unruly animal, “ya didn’t ask for consent, you smooth brained nerf.”

Then she turned to look back the commotion then spoke clearly. This was going to put her in more trouble but if it could get his wife out…

“I was on Mos Glassa™ a few months ago. Are y'all be tellin’ me that y'all can’t confirm with the troopers that were there? I don’t know this Rodian or… whoever his wife be.”

Then she glanced back to the stormtrooper that’s trying to take her restraints.

“Are y'all tellin’ me that y'all system is so broken y'all can’t confirm with your buddies that was there?”

“I will be viewing your containment area and renewing my bounty hunter credentials. I will not be answering any further questions.” Titius drilled his eyes through his visor and into the officer. A hand was held out for the code cylinder to be returned.

Idris jumped to his feet and slid his helmet back. A shootout in the lobby wasn’t something he particularly wanted on a job like this. As he quickly sauntered over to his fellow Mandalorian, and their bounty, he caught the Erinos insignia, and the tail end of the Mandalorian’s ID flash to the security guard.

“Bril! Love the new paint scheme, sorry for not recognizing you earlier,” Idris said while giving a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Far from home, take a wrong turn?”

Idris flashed his own ID to the guards.

Lord Idris Adenn
Deputy Grand Master of the Brotherhood

He gave a quick appraisal of the Erinos’s bounty, and managed to stop himself from doing a spit take. He paused for a moment, assessing the woman, and realized that while she certainly looked roughed up, it had been deliberate.

“And my… what a… rapscallion you have brought in today,” his voice strained.

Are they here for the same thing?

If they were, that would be useful. If they weren’t this was some horribly bad luck for timing. The Grand Master would be rather cross if Idris allowed anything to happen to Lula.

Oh how wonderfully chaotic the variables were becoming.

All around Nemera she assessed the rabble to be playing theatre of their own. And what a bad play it was! Of course, she had prepared a script of her own. They should be thankful for the chance to follow it.

Adjusting her glasses and tugging the wrinkles out of her blouse, Nemera strode confidently towards the growing gathering of fools and miscreants.

“Troopers, please,” she began with a richly dancing accent, full of warmth and mirth in equal measure (to better hide the disdain). “I have been sent by the college to analyze these powered terrorists. Process her quickly, would you kindly, so that my work might begin.”

Aris looked the officer escorting him.

“Jedi, am I right?” He chuckled and shrugged as they kept moving.

After entering the room, Aris gets a barring on his surroundings. At the end of the hall, he sees an array of automated security lasers and holocameras. He took a mental note of their positions and angles they could see as well as their blind spots, though they were few and far between.

Someone called his name. When he turned to see who it was, he felt a hilt of surprise surge through him.

“Idris? I did not expect to see you here,” he said, offering a pat on his fellow Mandalorian’s back. Then, he shook his head in response to his question. “Not lost this time. I am completing a bounty.”

Bril turned to look at his Jedi “prisoner.” He frowned beneath his helmet after watching the guards put their hands on Lula and the Rodian. He reminded himself of his fellow Jedi’s advice to trust in the Force. This was all in service of the greater good. The pushy Stormtroopers began escorting himself and Lula further into the facility, but he didn’t leave without first confirming to the guards that Idris was who he claimed to be.

“I would not keep the Deputy Grand Master waiting,” he said. “It might be bad for your health.” The lilting cadence of Bril’s Iridonian accent gave his parting words an air of flippancy that belied the grave truth in them. Whether they chose to heed his warning was up to them.

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The hit was nothing. The silver-skinned Firrerreo simply glared at the Stormtrooper. However, the Rodian words impacted her much more. She felt her chest tightened and her breathing had slowed down. She let the stormtrooper pull her by the cuffs and she used this chance to close her eyes for a moment. She reached out to the Force with a plea, if she should intervene and save the wife as well the husband.

The answer was not clear and what little she had received, was not kind. It would be death if she had tried to help. She reached out further and she was able to find the wife.

There had to be a way. The Force had already taken away her abilities when she had tried to save Bafforr, surely it cannot abandon her again?

Her head snapped to Bril when the words Deputy Grand Master had slipped from his lips as she looked over to the Mandalorian.

No. Way. What the Kod'yok? The Jedi felt another pull as she pulled back herself, “I can walk, thank ya,” Lula growled. Her breathing stayed steady as she focused on the Rodian behind her, slowly trying to heal him just enough to keep him alive and avoid permanent damage. So he can live.

She looked over her shoulder to the psychologist, “Well, pretty lady, I ain’t gonna give ya any information. I say use ya time to talk to the wife and find out she’s innocent and free her. Then, yea, I suppose, waste ya time on me.”

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Not the expected reaction but the result was acceptable. Titius dropped his code cylinder back to its slot and moved through to the annex beyond. Seeing the desk, he sidled up and waited until the domehead seated there bothered to address him.

Idris sighed as Bril walked away. He knew the Mandalorian was up to something. It was not a mere coincidence Bril and Lula were here at this exact moment. He needed to convince these guards quickly.

Idris pulled up his ID once again and stood tall and firm. Presentation was everything, even when he was actually telling the truth.

“No worries gentlemen. I know you are just doing your job. Would be bad form if someone just walked in insisting they were someone important and you just waved them through.”

He paused while the guards examined the ID.

“That said. I do have rather pressing business to attend to. We have information regarding a prisoner here and I was asked to personally come and ascertain the validity of these claims,” he added taking several small quarter steps back while he spoke to indicate his desire to get moving.

Nemera was left blinking. No plan survives first contact, they say, and it was always painful when it proved true. At least she had contingencies. People, being emotional beings, were so easily manipulated after all.

Still, the situation was vexing. The Coven witch had intercepted the details of this little operation and figured breaking Kai out would add some delightful chaos that she could exploit. It wasn’t supposed to be already a mess.

So much for Imperial competency.

No matter. She could leverage this.

“But of course, darlings,” Nemera responded to the two troopers. “I can always begin the process with an analysis into this wife of his and if she’s harbouring any terrorist sympathies. We wouldn’t want to leave such leanings unverified.”

At that point, her gaze shifted towards the back of the office and the depths where she assumed Kai was being held, and where that fool of a farmer was attempting to access. With casual ease, Nemera leaned towards the troopers conspiratorially and allowed her false lenses to fall to the tip of her nose. Once she was certain she had captured their focus, she knew just how to stir their attention. Her blackened, sharp fingers reached up and took the edge of the frames. Pulling from behind her ears, the arms collapsed and the golden skinned woman pressed the corner against her lower lips and gave them a half-lidded glance.

“Of course, once I’m done with that unsavoury business you’ll take me immediately to the Jedi, won’t you?”

“Five floors? Quite the prison,” Aris stated uncomfortably.

“Have you ever fallen victim to one of these cells? What an irony that would be,” he paused for a brief moment, “Ha! The arrester gets arrested,” he laughed a little too long for comfort as they continued down the hallway.

‘Really, Aris? *That** was the best you could think up? Come on man…*’ Aris thought while internally facepalming himself.

“How much longer until I get my credits?” Bril asked, feigning impatience. As they ventured into the facility proper, he made mental notes of its layout. After all, it was likely that he and Lulaire would need to make a hasty escape from this place once they found Kai.

Despite being pulled around like an untamed bordok, Lula was able to stay calm in the midst of it all. She took in a deep breath and started to try to sense for Kai and shuddered.

Lula had a worried expression on her face that Bril may be able to see, but she kept her eyes forward.

‘….upstairs…. hard … sense… dark … again… careful.’

“Yall are sure busy today, aren’t ya?” Lula turned to ask the Stormtrooper who’s hand was on her cuffs.

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“Yes, Admin is on second level? Do I need an access pass for the stairwell?” Titius was getting slightly irritated at the blind bureaucracy. All he needed was access without being asked for the umpteenth time about his business.

Idris’ mind stalled a moment, as the intrusive memory of looking for information on this prisoner had led him to find the Justicar’s special Kamjin the Hutt investigation folder. A bit of bile welled up in the back of his throat as he snapped back into the moment.

“I have a name, and that he is a high-priority prisoner at this facility,” the Mandalorian got out. He looked around the lobby.

“Perhaps a conversation best had not out in the open?” he added as he saw several of the others in the lobby slowly mill around.

Nemera strode into the interrogation room with all the consideration of a nexu stalking its prey. The guard already within the room was weighed, measured, and found so deep into wanting that he couldn’t find his way back out of it with a map and neon-glow directions. He was immaterial and ignored.

Nemera’s folder and case found themselves placed onto the desk in front of the captive Twi'lek. A soft sound that turned into a punctuated thud, the case overturned to ensure the woman was shocked out of her fear-induced stupor and focused on the Firrerreo.

She sat, crossing one leg over the knee of the other. A datapad opened in front of her and seemed to hold all of Nemera’s focus while she let out a long suspiration to ready herself.

“Would you kindly tell me what first ran through your mind when this Force terrorist came to your door?” Grey-gold eyes looked up over her frames to lock upon the Twi'lek. “Did you report her to the authorities immediately or was there hesitation? Sympathies, perhaps?”

While still in transit, Aris makes sure to take a good long, subtle, look at his environment, looking for any clues as to where Kai might be kept or any facility and Imperial weaknesses he could use to the advantage of his true mission.

“You said there are five floors, right? Do they all have different electrical breakers in different rooms for each levels of the facility?” Aris asked in the most ‘maintenance-guy’ way he could think of while resting his hand on a tool attached to his belt. He kept his gaze towards the cameras and other electrical bits, hoping to not draw too much suspicion to his question.

Bril’s eyes narrowed beneath his helmet when the words fell into his mind, disjointed and fragmented. Although the sleuth loved a good mystery, now was hardly the time for his Jedi key information. He was able to piece together that there was a dark presence somewhere within the facility. But where?

He got his answer when he felt a dark cloud in the Force somewhere above them, impinging on his consciousness with the disturbing weight that the Dark Side often carried. Whoever or whatever it was, it was angry; its rage hot and radiant like an overheating speeder engine.

Lula didn’t respond to the Stormtrooper complaining that he wasn’t even suppose to be on duty today. If they wanted her to stop talking, that was something she can easily do.

Yet, that darkness she had sensed earlier… it worried her. It was too late to back out anyways. They were determined to see this mission through.

Titius nodded curtly to the security guard and turned to watch the parade go by.

This place is a regulation circus, replete with the freaks. Expendable ones at that but could prove useful. Put on a bigger show than me, perhaps? As unbidden as the thought, Titius ran his hands over his lower back as a plan started spinning together.

Rolling his eyes and shrugging, he followed the bucket of bolts that would grant him access to the way up. “Lets go, scrap heap, I don’t have all rotation.”

Idris gave a slight bow of his head in gratitude.

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

The Mandalorian stepped back quickly and made his way over to the guard room. Hopefully the Warden would be quick in understanding and ask few questions. Bureaucracy of course, would never function in a timely manner.

Nemera paused, having been looking at the woman she was questioning. The audacity of this man…

The Firrerreo slowly turned her head to stare down her nose at the offending interrogator. A signature Look of Superiority™.

“Oh, my apologies. Shall I defer to your mastery of the subject in this matter? How many credentials have you acquired to support such a thesis? I was unaware I was in the presence of my peerage. Do you have your doctorate? No? Then I would trust you at least possess the wherewithal to recognize your betters and to, how you say…sit down, shut up, and do as you’re told like a good little doggy, yes? Good boy.”

With that nasty business concluded, her gaze returned to the hapless witness.

“I am making a note that you show classic signs of duress under inept questioning tactics disproved as effective in several peer reviewed articles. You are a clear upright citizen of the Empire and have been honest in your questioning. I trust you will be kindly released shortly.”

The final sentence stabbed at the troopers in the room even as her gaze never shifted.

“I have Jedi to interview, yes? Would you kindly escort me now that my time has been sufficiently wasted?”

“Ah, yes, that makes perfect logical sense. A very good choice by the designer,” Aris said in the most convincing way he could.

Aris took notice of the new addition to the second floor approaching from behind as well as the two stormtroopers at the end of the hall, holding their blasters diagonally with both hands.

’Just play it cool… they don’t suspect a thing,’ Aris thought as they continued onward.

Just a normal day on the job. Not being suspicious at all.

Bril mused idly while watching the stormtrooper who stayed behind move toward the control panel. He took a step forward, peering (more like looming) over the masked figure’s shoulder. “What’s that button do?” he asked, pretending like he was going to reach forward to touch one.

“Hey! Don’t touch th–”

The stormtrooper’s words were cut short when that same arm coiled around his neck in a vice. Bril whirled around and stepped to his right to place himself outside the door’s view, but not before Lulaire got a glimpse of the stormtrooper flailing helplessly against the larger man’s hold.

Once he was unconscious, Bril placed him against the wall, and gently folded his hands in his lap. “You’re gonna wake up with a headache later. Sorry, bud.”

Lula watched as Bril went out of view, dragging the Stormtrooper along with him. That was her cue.

“I wanted to say that I’m sorry ya had to work today,” Lula said quickly as she moved her arms and twisted her body to force the Stormtrooper to let her go.

“Hey-”

With a fluid step, she was behind the Stormtrooper and her arms was around his neck. He started to flail a a bit, she released her grip at the right moment and let his body slumped back to her. Her arms wrapped around him as she slowly squatted to the floor, gently placing him.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him.

Her head snapped to the direction as she spoke in Firrerreo but her brows furrowed when she saw nothing. Yet, she can still sense him. As if he was right here in his room with her.

She could’ve sworn-

No. That was absurd. She winced, it still felt like he was here. Had she miss him so much and been fretting about the possible news that she was now imagining things? Was it a message from the Force?

It wasn’t negative nor positive. Perhaps not a message.

Lula started to pat down the Stormtrooper, trying to focus of the mission on hand, that mystery will have to wait later. She removed the blaster and set it aside for Bril to take as she fumbled with the key card.

She stopped for a moment to take a breather and was blaming on her possible anxious nausea and the little spook from earlier as the source of her losing her focus. She finally managed to get the key card off of him.

“I don’t think I can wear the armors, I certainly don’t talk like him. What does the other Trooper have on him?” She glanced up at the ceiling to try to figure out what kind of ceilings they were.

“Let’s get both of them bind to the table.”

Titius exited the stairwell, boots clicking down the hall as headed towards his destination. At the far end, he noted the increased security.

Ooo a hidden elevator. I am really going places.

Idris grinned as he walked towards the elevator and stuck up his hand, inviting the KX-series droid to a high-five.

“I thank you good sir,” Idris said. The droid paused, looking quickly from Idris’ helmet to the raised hand and back again. It forcefully smacked its own hand against the Mandalorian’s, a perfectly executed high-five.

Idris started to whistle softly as he entered the elevator. He pressed button for ‘Two’ and moments later stepped out into the second floor. A secret elevator straight to a shower and locker room. The Empire was kinkier than he thought. Three people were in the room, two guards and a tech. Idris paused to give an appraising look at the trio, before resuming to whistle and made his way into the hallway.

He was on the clock, fun could come later. And he didn’t want to keep the warden waiting.

Finished with her work, Nemera made her way to the front desk. She couldn’t be sure, but something felt…off. Like numerous chaotic variables were moving in competing directions at cross purpose.

To summarize: she had a bad feeling about this.

“My work is finished, I have been assigned to the new intake terrorist. Would you kindly let me back and I’ll go straight to their cell.”

As Aris and the officer continue down the hallway, Aris looks through both transparent sides of his path. And takes a mental note of the occupants as well as droids within his view all around.

‘Please don’t let the maintenance room be on this floor…’

Bril knelt down to search the Stormtrooper he’d choked unconscious moments before. There were a lot of useful things in his person, but none more so than the two code cylinders, which the zabrak Jedi quickly snatched. He took the thermal detonator too. He wasn’t very skilled with explosives, but it could still come in handy in a pinch.

Plugging the code cylinder into the computer, he quickly scanned the details on the display before him. “Turbolift in the staff office … seems like our best option.”

He shifted his gaze to Lula, and entered the room to convey the information to her. <@216702440140046336>

While Bril was busy checking the code cylinder, Lula stared at the stormtrooper. She really doesn’t want to put the armor on. With a groan of defeat, Lula stripped down to her underwear as she started to put on the armor. She grabbed the helmet and placed it beside her. Using the mirror, she ran her fingers ran through her hair and tightly put it into a bun and slipped the helmet on.

Lula didn’t like what she sees in the mirror. It felt…. wrong. But it was for the best to reduce causalities as much as possible. Right when she finished binding the now non-armored trooper to the table, Bril had gave her updates.

“Staff office? Yea, I reckon that’s the best. We can try to keep an eye out for the armory-”

She stopped as she noticed a sense of annoyance and panic getting closer to the door. She immediately stepped into the room and dragged the other stormtrooper into the room before hopping over him and back into the room. She looked to Bril as she held the blaster and the keycard was placed back on the belt where she had yanked off.

“Someone is comin’, best I don’t talk.”

She positioned herself in front of the two-way mirror at an angle so when the door opens, she would be blocking most of the view.

Titius finally made it to the Admin office and stomped in. He was greeted by far more monitors than expected and rocked back on his heels for a moment. He read the sign on the doorjamb, squinted and shrugged. “Yup this is Admin alright.”

Last door at the end of the hallway.

Idris made a beeline for Warden’s office. The vibes were in shambles, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that there were strange things afoot. The Mandalorian didn’t bother to buzz or knock, he opened the door and walked in immediately, banking on the assumption the Warden had been sent an alert, and well, his name and title did carry a little renown.

“Hello sweetcheeks. I’m here for a prisoner.”

Aris and the escorting office continue onward in silence. Aris remained especially cautious while passing under the ominous probe droids looming above everything in the hall.

This floor has proven to be far more guarded than other floors he had been on thus far.

’Almost there…’ Aris thought, drawing nearer to the end of the hallway.

“Everything is fine,” said Bril while folding his arms across his chest, and looking between the guard and Rodian. He focused his attention on the guard for a moment longer, tapping into the Force to peer into his mind.

Although Bril had hopped to gain some useful information on the location of the staff turbolift, he only learned of the guard’s resentment of Stormtroopers.

Lula stayed quiet as Bril talked to the guard. Her eyes gazed over to the Rodian as she frowned, glad that the helmet hides things. Why was he arrested? What was going on?

She peered through the guard’s mind and found some information about the turbolift. Her eyes flicked back to the Rodian and she realized that the guard was watching her and waiting for her.

IN the best deep and nasually voice she could muster, “ah, sorry, got a'head cold.” She sniffled really loudly and it almost sounded snotty.

She doesn’t know how ranks among guards and stormtroopers work but she was going to try.

“Oi, gimme that Rodian, I’ll take him up for ya.”

“Sir is reserved for pompous bureacrats and wizened generals. Do I look like either?”

Titius pulled out his code cylinder and set it on the desk. “I need my bounty hunter credentials updated and access to relevant parts of this facility.”

Titius leaned over slightly and lowered his voice. “I also need to know where the large amount of gear that was stripped from me is being held. It contained a very large amount of explosives and I did not see a single Ordinance specialist present when they slammed the lot into the case. Do you know what a Thermal Imploder and entire load of detonite does to a duracrete box? I do and if nothing else, I value my life.”

Idris stepped into the office and quickly removed his helmet, holding it under his arm. With a quick glance, he caught the nameplate resting on the Warden’s desk.

“Warden Davin, a pleasure,” Idris said with an easy smile.

“This is a very impressive facility you are running. You and the Empire must be very proud,” he continued looking around the office.

“I do not want to waste your valuable time here. You have a prisoner. I need him. Urgently.”

Idris trailed off while he tried to remember the prisoner’s name.

Right. Kai the Hutt…

Wait that **urgently* sounded sexual.*

“When I say urgently, I mean for important matters to the Brotherhood, not in a,” Idris held the a for a moment thinking before continuing, “sexual way…”

Idris trailed off again before pulling out a holoprojector. It slipped out of his fingers.

“Osik,” He cursed as he tried and failed to catch it. Idris sighed and straightened up.

“Kai Lap'lamiz. Turned in due to a bounty from the Justicar. Speed would be nice, I have a feeling there are strange plans in motion around this place.”

With an infusion of power, for what was a Witch if not powerful, Nemera’s heels clicked with forceful presence as she power walked down the hall at a rate that defied expectations. In fact, the woman managed to quickly come upon the Rodian and trooper at the door where she expected to find the Jedi Terrorist and her captor.

Only the room was down the aforementioned pair.

Simultaneously questionable and unfortunate.

Letting out a long sigh, the Firrerreo brought her long fingers up to the side of her glasses and adjusted them. At the same time, chilling fire raged inside her and lashed out in ethereal waves to fall upon the area like a living cloak. She was immediately bombarded with the sensations and awareness, quickly finding the signs of what she had been looking for.

And something unexpected. There were more presences in the Force than there were people.

The woman stilled, only her head turning as a dead-pan stare tracked across the room to look directly at the disguised Jedi herself…then drifted downward. Nemera’s head tilted to the side and she couldn’t disguise the look of confusion.

Oh my, little brother…twins, is it?

Aris takes a level-headed look around the room.

’Think, Aris, think’, the undercover Jedi thought to himself.

His gaze stopped on the Ewok and Imperial Technician… a metaphorical lightbulb lit within his mind.

Aris cleared his throat and look back at the officer who escorted him.

“I was sent here to oversee and assist with the work on the sewage system,” Aris replied to the officer.

As the situation unfolded before them, Bril breached the psionic divide between himself and Lulaire using the Force. Once the connection was made, he quickly conveyed what he’d learned of the security guard’s feelings about Stormtroopers.

<@216702440140046336>

Lula frowned as she got the message. A part of her wanted to call the guard back. She had an idea of trying to pull rank and get the Rodian released. Did Stormtroopers have high enough rank just to release him? She grabbed the Rodian’s arm. Lula dropped the nasal but still used a deep voice as possible to talk.

“Breathe,” She considered asking if she could heal him but she was worried he would start screaming that it was her in the suit. There was the idea of using the psychologist as suddenly being too busy for the Rodian and send him back with the guard..

Her orange eyes glanced over to the woman. Did she already interview the wife that fast? Lula reached out for a moment and shuddered like she did when she did it to Thane the first time.

Her skin turned golden for a second when she sensed an almost familiar presence before shifting back to silver. Her brows furrowed as she tried to figure out to why.

There was an another concern. This woman was a Force User, powerful as Thane, and focused on her.

There was no doubt that this woman knows who she was. She still kept her eyes on the woman as she communicated with Bril. It was a bit difficult but she managed to get the message through.

She knows it’s me. We may have to fight already.

Lula pulled the Rodian back, her hand still on his arm as she turned her body slightly to the side and kept her eyes on the psychologist.

“Do you need to come in, ma'am?”

-# <@185936112441622529> <@1056685516441006091>

Titius acknowledged the instructions with a grunt and returned his code cylinder to its home. Turning heel, he strode across the hall to the armory and greeted the droid.

“Picking up for Osseus with caution. If I could inspect the bin contents without you moving them, that would be preferable. I don’t trust a droid to know explosives handling.”

Idris let loose several frustrated swears. Not directed at the warden, but over Kamjin.

Is this **really* the best he could come up with for the Hutt stuff?*

“I apologize, Warden Davin. It would appear the Justicar was intent on wasting my time, and by extension yours. Here I was thinking I was doing the man a riye.”

Idris slid his helmet back on.

“I will not waste any more of your time. I appreciate the quick audience. You clearly run a very good facility here.”

He gave slight bow of the head in respect.

Time to see what Bril was up to. His shenanigans are surely more interesting than this feeble attempt from Kamjin.

Nemera blinked several times, her grey-gold eyes staring at the “trooper” addressing her. Slowly, she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back to intensify the look into a glare of derision.

“Do not insult my intelligence, nor your own. It is beneath us,” the acting psychologist started pointedly with her richly dancing accent. She looked them both down and up. “I presume this was not the original plan when you both arrived. Or perhaps it is. It would be unfortunate, if true.”

Glancing back at the hallway, once more assuring they were alone, Nemera strode with loudly clicking heels between Bril and Lulaire in her disguise.

“No, I suspect this was a panic fueled adaptation. Proof of poor planning, on account of not having multiple contingencies and failovers.”

She stopped, turning to face the both of them again having never moved her arms. The Firrerreo seemed utterly unbothered.

“You are up to something. That is fine. But as I am doing much the same, it behooves me to ensure the unpredictable variables are properly catalogued and refined. So, would you kindly avail me of your intentions so that we might align and I can save myself the inevitable migraine to come from your haphazard efforts interfering with my own plan?”

<@1056685516441006091>

Aris moves to the section of pipes in the middle of the room and begins to work on them. He pulls a tool or two from his tool belt and turns some nuts and bolts that are securing the connection of the pipes to one another.

After a moment of turning them, water begins to spray out the cracks of the seam in a pressurized stream before popping the nuts and bolts off entirely as they shoot off at the walls. The to pipes are now open and gushing out a rather questionable colored and smelling liquid as well as wads of who knows what. Among the debris, a plastic, airtight bag came rushing out of the stream containing a small blaster pistol.

Aris, not wanting to be shot on sight, immediately stood up and backed away from the plastic blaster bag with his hands raised just above his shoulders.

A heavy sigh rumbled out from beneath Bril’s helmet. This was not going well. It’d be the last time he relied on Lulaire’s advice to merely trust in the Force. He was as devout a follower of the Living Force as anyone, but there was nothing wrong with having a solid plan, especially when things going awry could result in his death or another stay in a CSP prison.

And then there was this woman who evidently didn’t realize how loud she was speaking, whose claims of their ulterior motives had inspired their rodian tag-along to start yapping about an exposed escape. He wasn’t about to allow either of them to mess this up. Without saying a word, Bril threw a left hook that made the Rodian’s head whip, and knocked him out cold. Instead of letting him fall to the floor and incur more injuries, Bril caught him and laid him against the wall.

Then, he turned to the woman who had tipped the unfortunate bystander off to their ulterior motives. “Do you always levy dangerous accusations against strangers for everyone within ear shot to hear?” he asked with a biting tone, clearly annoyed with the total lack of tact she’d displayed.

<@185936112441622529>

After that, Bril took a moment to focus his psychometric abilities to the keycard for the staff turbolift he’d taken from the downed Stormtrooper. After a moment, he’d found its location. He began in that direction.

<@216702440140046336> <@679032520699805708>

Lula’s eyes narrowed at the woman’s words. The woman had a way with words and Lula didn’t know what to think of it. She glanced over to Bril, frustration was building up in her. She had been respectful of Bril’s decision so she exhaled sharply through her nose to calm herself down. Bril moved quickly and the Rodian was down.

“Bril-”

She was interrupted by Bril’s words. She started to chew her cheek. They needed the Rodian. He would be good to keep up appearances that she was escorting him. When Bril turned to leave, Lula squatted down by the Rodian and placed her hand on his cheek.

Slight panic gripped her heart when she couldn’t heal him at first. Did the Force leave her again? Her hand started to shake.

Please, no. Lula meantally begged as she tried again. She sighed with relief as she can feel the warmth and focused on helping him wake up.

She turned to look at the lady before back to the Rodian, “we’re here to get Kai out.” She gently grasp the Rodian’s arm and helped him to his feet while he gets his bearings back together. They both walk to where she had folded her robes neatly and she got out a blue sash. She tucked it into her sleeve for now.

“I’ll do all I can to get ya out and reuinte with your wife, but we need your help first.” She then went back to the room, glanced over to Bril, he would sense her slight anger underneath her voice. She made sure her body was between them and the Rodian.

“We need this fella as an escort, to blend in. If he starts talkin’, I’ll gag him, personally.” She held the code cycliner and turned to look at the Rodian. “I will, give this to you soon, and when the time is right, you can decide to run and hope you don’t get shot down, or stay with me and I’ll try my best to get you back to your wife. Now, come on.”

She gently pulled the Rodian as they headed towards the turbolift.

-# <@185936112441622529> <@1056685516441006091> <@679032520699805708>

Titius glowered at the droid and strode quickly to the container indicated. Pulling it to the floor, he pulled open the lid and rummaged for his various weapons.

“Hmm…yep…ugh, no respect for quality weapons…at least the vials are intact…and then there’s…”

Slipping a hand around a large canister, he twisted an arming band. The device lit up with a steady pulse and a line began slowly receding accompanied by a low beeping.

“Stupid blaster jockeys.”

Titius looked up at the Stormtroopers and spoke firmly.

“This thermal imploder just armed itself because someone did not know what they were doing. Evacuate the room, I will try to disarm.” He waved his hand towards the door urgently.

“E.D.I., please make a note to do another run of the Slime-oh Protocol. And get someone to place a very heavy ring of salt around the Justicar’s desk. Ping the Regent as well; I am sure he has some good ideas on the next round of this game.” Idris said softly as he walked down the hall.

He was still mostly mad at just how poor an attempt at a prank this was. His ability to take the Justicar even slightly seriously was wearing very, very thin.

He paused just a moment as he heard some muffled noises from the room ahead. Since it was on the way to the stairs, and Idris was nothing if not a curious bastard, he peeked his head past the door frame to see what the commotion was all about.

Nemera shook her head once more in disappointment.

“Step aside,” she growled, having followed them towards the turbolift. As soon as they were inside, she extended a clawed hand towards the Rodian and sunk them into the flesh of his face without breaking skin. Her eyes seemed to ignite with a sickly, green flame within them, her eyes opening wide and locking onto his own.

In those moments of utter concentration, Nemera’s ethereal self worked through the weave of the Rodian’s thoughts, plucking at the surface strands until she had found the most recent memories. With practiced ease, she began reworking them to her will. Only for him to resist.

Really? This worm? No, he would comply.

Sweat began to bead her forehead only for the new weave to snap into place and rewrite his most recent experiences to have been, at best, a hallucination and at worst a faded, dreamlike remembrance.

The flames snuffed out and Nemera exhaled loudly, turning to glare between Bril and Lulaire.

“Amateurs,” she huffed with derision.

<@1056685516441006091>

Alarmed by the Ewok’s sudden display, Aris reaches one arm out in front of him towards the Ewok and one behind him, guarding the other technician.

‘Blast…’ Aris thought.

“I don’t know if you can understand me,” Aris paused, looking at the ewok, “but you need to put down that blaster. Everything’s going to be fine, all you have to do is hand over the blaster and we can get back to work like nothing happened,” he paused once more, “just put down the blaster.”

Though Aris may be undercover, the Force is still with him. Aris could sense that something in the next few moments wouldn’t go quite right which gave him even more caused to stay vigilant.

After examining the terminal for a moment, Bril took the time to explain his thoughts to the others. Then, after feeling a prickling sensation at the back of his mind, he reached out to press the button designated “Besh” without much thought. No thought at all, in fact. It was unlike him, but he couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling that that was where he needed to go.

Lula kept sensing around her. The people at the lobby. Some of the guards annoyance. Some fear and anger. And she was very concerned about that darkness up on top.

She was also using her sense as a crutch on her surroundings to help her stay calm for wearing the armor. Her skin was crawling the moment she put on the helmet but her master had prepared her for this. She could feel her sweat trickle down the back of her neck.

She was convincing herself she would be okay for a bit longer. She kept the feelers out to make sure no one was had directed their concern towards the group that was stepping into the turbolift.

When they stepped into the elevator she shifted her sense onto herself to make sure she would stay calm. At least, the elevator wasn’t small. While shifting her sense, she sensed them, a surprise, as a cold dagger of terror went down her spine.

Thane’s vision…

Two of them.

Oh. Vulptex!

Her grip on the Rodian’s arm had almost all but removed as the blaster lowered. Her eyes darted to the Firrerreo woman who already had used her powers on the Rodian and Lulaire was too consumed in shock to do anything about it.

She heard Rodian’s asking where they were going and she wasn’t sure how to answer that. She felt her heart beating faster as she had a new priority now. Panic rose when she watched Bril pushed a button. Did he know what the letters meant?

“Bril-” Her voice was low and full of concern. She let go of Rodian’s arm and grabbed the keycard from the loop belt and quickly inserted it into the slot.

-# <@1056685516441006091> <@185936112441622529> <@679032520699805708>

“NO, I did not arm this myself. Do you really believe I am stupid enough to intentionally splatter myself on the walls?”

Titius let out a dry chuckle.

“Or did I? I don’t think you knuckledragging buckets would have even known this was armed if I had not declared it. Regardless, **its counting down and I don’t believe everyone here has a deathwish.* Your best bet is to RUN!”

Idris paused just a moment, long enough to process the scene unfolding before him.

*Yeah this isn’t my problem.”

He backed away and kept moving down the hallway. He needed to find Bril.

Nemera sighed, then paused mid exhale. Oh dear. She was becoming her brother.

With a quick shake of her head, the Firrerreo crossed her arms over her chest before bringing a hand to press her fingers against her face. Composing herself, her eyes closed, Nemera once again spoke dryly despite her accent.

“The key usually goes in before you press the button.”

She then proceeded to push the same key again while Lula’s key was in.

<@1056685516441006091> <@216702440140046336>

When suddenly lifted into the air by the KX-unit, the blaster slipped from Krunkka’s grasp and slid right into Aris’s feet with a dull thud as it collided with the rubber of his boots.

With the KX-unit’s back to Aris, the unrevealed Jedi very slowly picked up the blaster and returned to his upright standing position all while not alerting the security droid.

With one quick movement, Aris put the barrel of the blaster to base of the droid’s head and fired. A series of deactivation noises came from the droid as it suddenly lost power.

Bril took one look at the droids and shook his head. “Nope,” he said. THen, he pressed the button marked “cresh.”

Lula stood still as the doors open and one of the droids had made a comment about the Stormtrooper forgetting how to work an elevator. She let out a small breath she didn’t know she was holding. She started to sense on the floor to see if she can detected anything familiar and winced at the looming darkness.

Her stomach turned and her grip on the Rodian’s arm tightened. Then she sensed him, the man in the lobby that knew Bril.

“Wait!” Lula shouted, releasing her grip on the Rodian as she put her hand at the door to stop it.

“I didn’t forget. I told this bounty hunter, Bril-” She emphasized his name loudly to make sure that Idris can hear her, “didn’t believe me. Inform the hunter, what floor it was for the cells. If I say it and then you do, he won’t believe me.” She had no idea of Idris’ exact location or if he was even at the distance. He was pissed, that was for sure. Additionally, she can hope that Bril won’t get angry at her.

She focused and sent out a beacon of some sorts to Idris. Last time she tried to reach out to someone, it didn’t go well so her faith in her abilities had dropped.

By the Force, please. We could use all the help we can get. The darkness was making her nervous.

And if she knew of the news, she wouldn’t be here.

-# <@1056685516441006091> <@360143250457100288> <@185936112441622529> <@679032520699805708>

Titius rolled the imploder to the side of the box and drew out a blade. Eyes flitted over to the trooper and he scowled. “I though you didn’t know anything about explosives? Be my guest if you think youre up for it.” Pulling out the rest of his kit, he backed off so the trooper could get a better view of the device.

Yes, do check it out, fodder. thought the mercenary.

Idris paused midstep as the hairs on his neck stood on end just for a moment.

“-unty hunter, **Bril, didn’t believe me. Inform the hunter, what floor it was for the **cells. If I say it and then you do, he won’t believe me.”

It came from the room to his right. The Mandalorian continued his step, pivoting to enter the room. He saw two droids and a turbolift with four occupants. Bril, the poor Rodian, the enchanting woman from the lobby, and an oddly short Stormtrooper. He didn’t notice the roughed-up woman Bril had with him earlier, but the Stormtrooper did seem around the same height.

Suspicious.

“Oh Bril, there you are. Escorting this dangerous Rodian to MaxSec? If you were so hard up for credits I could have pointed you in the direction of some easier bounties, my friend,” Idris said, rapidly closing the distance to the turbolift. Whatever this group was up to had to be more interesting than Kamjin’s boring attempt at wasting his time.

Idris squeezed in and pressed the Mern button several times in rapid succession.

“Mern. Maximum Security. They use the letters to remind the guards. They are all rather smooth-brained, it seems,” he cheerfully added, waiting for the lift doors to start closing.

He leaned towards Bril and asked, “Right, so what are you actually up to here?”

<@1056685516441006091> <@216702440140046336> <@185936112441622529> <@679032520699805708>

Aris sigh disappointingly while gazing at the deceased Ewok despite his efforts to save him. He turned his focus to the technician still in the room.

After a moment of looking at the frighten technician, Aris looked at the door, extending his arm and held that blaster out. Aris fired the blaster in his hand at the control panel to the one and only door to the room. Almost instantly, there was a bright flash then the panel began to hiss and buzz with electricity as the door slammed shut.

Arid turned his attention back to the technician.

“I’m not going to shoot you,” he said as he pocketed the blaster in his belt behind his back. Aris approached the technician and patted him down, removing any of his equipment that could be detrimental to Aris’ objective and progress in said task.

Aris pocketed any of the equipment he could then started scouring the room for an alternative exit.

’There’s gotta be something like…’ He spotted a large vent that he would most definitely be able to fit in, ’that!’ He finished his thought.

The awful aroma of sewage and fowl spelling organic waste. Aris could not wait to leave this room for more reasons than one.

Bril cracked a smirk at Idris upon hearing his question. “Just following the will of the Force, my friend,” he said, “what are you doing here?”

Once the turbolift doors opened, Bril once again reached out with his Force senses. Like a veil being lifted, the darkness that had subsumed the floors above them since their arrival finally lifted.

“Finally, I can see clearly. Thank Adhla,” he said.

It worked. Iddy had listened to her. She let out a sigh of relief.

Thank the Force.

The moment the doors open into an empty room, she waited for Bril to step out and followed as she gently pulled the Rodian with her. She moved the Rodian away from either doors. Lula started to remove her helmet. She just needed a moment to breathe. Long wavy ombre hair fell as she let out a sigh of relief. The silver-skinned Firrerreo frowned softly while she listened to what Bril sensed.

“Oh. Here.” She handed Idris the blaster over to him.

“I figured you would be better than me to be shootin’ at them.” She positioned herself beside the Rodian to keep an eye on him and protect him if needed.

“What do you guys reckon we do? We goin’ to try the door or blow a hole? By the way, I just found out I’m pregnant so I believe it’s best if I focus on releasin’ the prisoners.”

-# <@360143250457100288> <@1056685516441006091> <@185936112441622529>

The charade had gone on for long enough. Titius reached over the trooper and flipped the detonator off with practiced strokes. Its lights faded out and the beeping warbled down. Bringing his helmet close to the trooper, Titius hissed into their ear. “You were wrong this time. This model never goes haywire. Don’t go telling anyone ok?”

Horrific Deluge barely bucked as it gasped a whisper in response, its shot punching through the stormtrooper’s chestplate.

Idris took the blaster offered to him and gave Lula a long look.

“Right so you should stay well behind…” He trailed off and looked around the lift.

“Everyone. Including that Rodian,” he said, pointing with the blaster.

“Releasing the prisoners. All of them? I was here to get a prisoner myself. Turns out that the Justicar’s Hutt-brain really is only one very smooth cell.”

Idris grabbed the keycard and made for the doorway. With a quick swipe, he unlocked it, providing access to the maximum security floor of the prison.

Oh. Oh dear.

They were all here for the same reason weren’t they? Unfortunate.

“It seems we are all of shared purpose. Even more reason for us to coordinate our efforts. Lest we trip over one another resulting in a wave of chaos,” Nemera explained. “Well, more chaos.”

Aris made haste when he hears the clamor outside the door. He removed the screwdriver from his tool belt and began removing the screws to the large air vent.

After a moment, he got the covering grate removed and set it on the ground. He placed the screwdriver back in his belt and climbed into the vent. The dust in the vent clung to his clothing as he crawled through to its exit.

With a few moments he was at the other end of the vent. Aris turned around and kicked the grate off of the vent. He stuck his head out to make sure the coast was clear from troops. He only saw the same few prisoners that were washing their clothing when he had passed by in the hallway.

With the coast clear, Aris slowly climbed out of the vent and gently landed in the laundry room amongst the prisoners.

“We’ve got a lot of laser traps on this level, located between us and the guards up there,” said Bril to the others. “I suspect they’re the ones who we’ll have to take out to gain access to the holding cells. And at least one of them is worried that the Justiciar has hired us to bring order back to the prison.”

For that last bit, he shifted his gaze to his fellow Mando'ade in Idris. “We could use that to our advantage.”

<@216702440140046336> <@185936112441622529> <@360143250457100288>

Lula watched as Idris started to make his way to the door. She gathered up her hair. Her breathing stayed control as she despite the helmet but they had made it this far. It would be good to keep going. She put on the helmet on once again. Her hands went around her neck and made sure no strands had slipped through.

“C'mere.” She gently grasp the rodian’s arm and pulled him where the Stormtroopers can see them. She remained quiet for a moment while prying into their minds for their names and a bit more info.

“Hey Joe and Mac, mind openin’ up this door and turn off the lasers? Got a prisoner here to transfer into a cell. And these Mandalorians are hired to bring order back in prison.”

-# <@1056685516441006091> <@360143250457100288> <@185936112441622529> <@679032520699805708>

Titius did not even give the sneering twit an answer before burning a hole through them with Deluge. Not waiting for the body to fall, the merc let loose a volley of microgrenades into the rescue party. Green miasma filled the doorway.

Idris leaned towards Bril and, in a hushed but clearly audible tone, told a short but classic Mando’a joke.

He sauntered forward a few steps towards the guards.

“Joe and Mac. Mac and Joe. We are not here for your jobs, you guys are doing great. I’m sure you know how… particular the Justicar can be. Just this way, yes?”

Aris gave a nod of gratitude to the prisoner and hastily but quietly grabbed one of the prisoner uniforms. Despite changing clothes, Aris kept the equipment he had gathered from the imperial technician and hid it in various places accessible under his clothing. He especially made sure to hide the blaster. Though uncomfortable, he tucked it into his sock and pulled the pant leg over to hide it.

He made his way to the door of the laundry room and ever so slightly poked his head outside the entrance to check if the coast was clear. While the guards and droids alike were distracted, Aris did everything he could to sneak by behind them.

“Oh boy,” Bril muttered to himself upon seeing the Justicar. He took one good look at Idris before taking one pronounced step backward, though he remained in front of Lulaire.

<@185936112441622529> <@679032520699805708> <@360143250457100288> <@216702440140046336>

What Titius had done was colloquially called kicking a nest which was usually followed by whatever’s nest it was becoming aggravated and trying to kill the intruder. He needed a way out and fast.

Thankfully, quick unconventional exits happened to be a specialty. Popping his pack on the floor, he tossed out half a dozen disks, each no larger than a serving plate but thrice as thick. As he worked, practiced eyes scanned the wall noting the minute differences in texture and the placement of supports. Satisfied, he kicked the pack over and gathered the disks. Walking briskly to the wall, Titius adhered a pattern roughly doorshaped and took a breath to assess.

“That’ll do, pig.” he sneered, addressing his deceased audience as he laid beside the trooper corpse and thumbed a detonator.

The wall exploded outward, a fine dust covering everything in the room. It swirled angrily like wake from a watercraft as Titius popped up into a dead sprint towards his handiwork. It wasn’t perfect work by any stretch but he had managed to avoid a support pillar at least. Unconscious movements brought a grapple launcher to hand, as he poked his head out. Looking down, he saw the majority of the debris scattered below, then up, revealing the next few floors. Fibrecord screeched off its reel as the grapple sailed to the sky. Titius’ aim was a little off but he did manage to hit a lip of some sort. Giving a hard yank, the mercenary was satisfied it was secure and clipped the ascender to his belt.

I hate this part, he thought as he stepped out into thin air. Planting a foot, he deftly spun to stand perpendicular to the wall. Grasping a handful of line, he started walking up.

crunch, crunch, ziiip; crunch, crunch, ziiip The itsy bitsy Titius went up the bland redoubt. Brutalism had it perks. No weird domes or textures to stop a smooth ascent to the top.

“Why am I here?” Idris repeated.

He took a single step forward doing his best to keep himself between the Justicar, the guards, and his new found allies in this misguided venture.

“That is a complicated question. First I thought this was just you being dramatic. Oh my poor son is in lockup and needs to be broken out but I can not appear weak by doing so. After all what buir would not go to any lengths to protect their ad. Then I found out you were already here. Then I was thinking this was just an elaborate but poorly executed attempt at a prank. Waste my time, have a few laughs. But then! I ran into these guys, and it appears we are all here for the same reason. And here we are. In this hallway staring at you coming from a room where you are hurting your own.”

Idris’s arms moved around with gusto while he monologued.

“I had low expectations but wow. You sure did fail to rise to meet them.”

Idris sighed, dropping his arms dramatically to his side. He shook his head, freshly shined helmet catching the glint of the hallway lights.

In a snap his hands shot back up, firmly gripped on the blaster rifle he had been handed. It was a straight clean shot towards the Justicar.

He squeezed the trigger and fired.

Oh great. Wasn’t this just a clusterfrack.

This was why she never got directly involved. Things could spiral and then Nemera ended up in the thick of it. A place she decidedly did not want to be.

Weighing her options, the Firrerreo reacted quickly as Idris started blasting. She tapped into the fiery depths of power at her core and lashed out with ethereal tentacles. They tethered to the minds around her and gave her a connection through which to pluck at the strings of their awareness.

Not wanting to overcomplicate things, Nemera just multiplied their perception of Idris’ blaster fire. So, instead of a single attack from an insane Mandalorian, it was a wall of supporting fire.

At the same time, she slipped from where she stood and tried to put some distance between herself and the chaos about to ensue.

Aris paused for a moment and looked at his adversaries.

“Okay,” he shrugged and nonchalantly lifted his hands then abruptly extended them towards his opposers and with the aid of the Force pushed them.

Most of his opponents were greatly affected by the sudden force, the KX-Unit remained as it was.

With another exercise of the Force, Aris ran past the various Imperials at an unnatural speed and made his way to the latter half of the hallway, towards the upward stairwell within his sight.

Things escalated quickly, far quicker than he would’ve liked. “This what we’re doing? Okay,” the Mandalorian Jedi said with a light shrug. He just hoped his old pal Idris would guarantee him some form of immunity from prosecution will all this was over.

As the facility went into lockdown and sirens blared overhead, Bril took a deep breath, centering himself in the sensation of his breath passing through his nostrils in spite of the chaos that was beginning to erupt around him. The air temperature closest to his body spiked suddenly when his hands came together to conjure a dazzling white flame between his palms.

Then, he thrust his palms forward, causing the nascent flame to grow into a fireball that headed straight toward the Justicar and the approaching guards.

Lula turned to the Rodian while Idris and Kam was talking. She gave him the code cylindar. She spoke low enough that only Nemera and the Rodian can hear her.

“You were seen with us. It doesn’t matter what we say, truth or lies, they **will **hurt you. I’d suggest you use your head and get yourself out.”

Lula glanced to the doors where Kai has pointed earlier and reached out with her hand before closing into a fist. A pop was heard and the lock mechanism frizzed.

She then turned to look to Kam. Idris mentioned about Kamjin hurting his own child causing her blood to run cold.

A small fear started to nag at the back of her mind about Thane. It passed as quickly as she took few steps and was beside Idris.

She rose her hand, palm facing Kamjin, and relaxed her fingers. Her orange eyes locked on the Justicar. He would find himself frozen, unable to move his body.

The wind was making the world sound muffled and discordant whistling around the folds of Titius’ suit. Taking in the open sky and the drab grey of the structure, he wondered how helpful he would be stuck outside like a sentient comms array.

Glancing over, he came to realize there was a rather convenient landing pad and if he measured right….

Spooling out some additional cable, Titius pivoted his heels and began dashing along the duracrete wall, each step crackling underfoot. As he veered towards the platform, he pushed off and swung his arms forward.

Fingers barely caught the edge and Titius hauled himself onto the platform. Reaching behind, he flipped the cable anchor free and began spooling it onto the platform. As the braided cable zipped through his hands, he kept his helmet up, guarded against any suprises.

“You know what else is not a joke? Your mother and I. We are in love. You will need to call me daddy, just like she does,” Idris responded to the Justicar.

Taking a cue from Lula, he aimed his blaster at the locking mechanism for the door between the laser webs that he knew also contained people from the prison and opened fire, frying the mechanism.

He then turned his attention to the nearest laser web, laying out several more bolts in rapid succession. With a sizzle and a pop, they shut off.

Nemera glanced around quickly with a raised brow. Simply chaos. How disappointing.

She much preferred it when plans went as, well, planned. That was the whole point.

Oh well. If she couldn’t have things her way…she could always burn it all to the ground.

At the very least, she would feel better.

Having hidden her advance in the illusory barrage of blaster fire, Nemera raised a hand with blackened talons. A spark of emerald flame ignited within her grasp and quickly expanded.

“By my coven, I beseech the hearth. From ash, awaken. From darkness…” Nemera paused her chant, letting her false glasses fall down her nose, the light reflected within them and her eyes. “Burn!”

The Firrerreo threw out her hand and twisted the magickal flame to her will. It lashed out with a roar, twisting and spiraling through the corridor and wrapping around Kamjin and his guards. The heat licked at flesh and armour, catching the very building itself alight.

Aris ignored the incoming command and gave a quick look at the downed imperials. Extending his hand, Aris used the Force to swiftly draw a fallen keycard to his hand.

Not looking forward to the impending KX-Unit, Aris turned around and used the keycard on the control panel for the door.

The first time he swiped the card, it was denied.

‘Come on, come on…’ the Jedi thought.

He swiped the card again and with a swish the door swiftly opened.

Aris ran inside the door and was immediately met with an upward staircase. He began ascending on the stairs.

As the chaos within the facility continued to unfold, Bril moved over to the door that Kai had directed their attention to so he could try the lock. The first time, it didn’t budge, but he didn’t panic. Remembering that he had a code cylinder lifted from the guard he’d knocked out earlier, he fetched it from his pocket.

“Let’s hope this works,” he said to himself. When the tiny servos on the access port clicked into place, he shook his fist in triumph. “Alright everyone, let’s get moving. I’ll try to buy you some time!”

He turned back to where Idris and Nemera were standing and focused his attention on the Justicar. “Time to put you on ice,” he said while raising two fingers to his head. But nothing happened.

When the Rodian had tried to attack, a soft growl escaped from her lips. Her eyes hardened behind the mask as her hand flinched. She had tried to help him a few times. Just like she would to a rabid animal at a farm, he would had to be put down. And she had things much higher on her list to protect now. She grappled him and threw him at a safe distance from the fires and the group.

She squeezed herself between Idris and the terminal. She started to push any obvious buttons that may mean to release the prisoners. Then she saw the key card. She started to pat herself down, trying to find it. With a sharp exhale to control her frustrations, she lifted her hand in attempt to slow down the enemies for more time.

Barely thinking, Titius slid his code cylinder out, gave it a flip and jammed it into the SCOMP by the door. “I swear, if that twit downstairs miscoded this, its a long way dow…” The door popped open amidst his grumbling, venting a veritable cacophony onto the platform. Titius immediately pulled his rifle to ready, the cylinder tucked quickly back into its holder. Flipping his visor to thermals revealed just how out of hand the situation was.

Titius could not tell who was fighting or why but he had a mission that required a much less cluttered workspace…

Idris turned his head slightly as Lula tried and failed to get anywhere on the terminal. He let out a quick sigh, pulling the key card back out.

“E.D.I. tell me we can get in,” he said. The link to the A.I. was at least secure and functional.

“Of course, click the icon on the left. No, your other left.”

Idris quickly followed her directions.

“You do know you were the one who brought in the prisoner three cells down, right?”

Idris shrugged, even though E.D.I. couldn’t see him.

“Live and learn. Alert the client, package is on hand heading out to the upper landing pad,” He said as he finished navigating the system. With a final resolved tap, the doors of the cells unlocked.

Idris turned, placed a hand on Lula’s shoulder and gave a firm push.

As he pushed he yelled back over his shoulder, “Hey sexy witch woman and surprisingly useful Jedi, we’ve got an exit!”

Nemera sighed, the light of the flames still reflecting in her grey-gold eyes. The Firrerreo witch watched as Idris not-so-deftly followed instructions to navigate the system. With his final commentary, she raised an eyebrow in what (had he been paying attention) Idris would view as a very Thane-like expression in every way.

“Apologies, dear. I prefer my suitors know their left from their right. At the very least.”

Turning her focus back down the hall, a quick tear at her pencil skirt allowed Nemera the stride length to intercept Kai. The poor boy looked just like his dossier—minus the obvious signs of torturous interrogation. A blackened, sharp fingernail caught him under the chin, tilting it up before she locked in a grip. Glancing between his eyes for mental damage, she nodded quickly in satisfaction with whatever she saw. “Good boy. Out the door now.”

Having let him go, ethereal flames curled within her hands once more. The witch simultaneously stepped backwards whilst throwing her arms out in farewell towards the others further down the hallway. The motion was accompanied by a curling wave of flames licking up the walls and across the ceiling, adding to the barrier between them.

Aris paused to weigh his options.

’Two Stormtroopers, a guard at the station..’ he looked up, ’and two more droids,’ he finished his thought and dropped his gaze forward.

’Alright, shouldn’t be too hard’ he thought with a shake to loose up his shoulders and a breath in attempt to relieve some of his nerves.

Without another moment wasted, Aris breached the doorway and immediately grabbed both Stormtroopers by their helmets and slammed their heads together. The clatter of the helmets drew the attention of the stationed guard and the two prob droids.

As soon as the Stormtroopers collapsed to ground unconscious, Aris crouched down and drew the blaster he had stashed in his sock from earlier and set it to stun. Aris arose and continued moving forward as he fired a stun bolt at the stationed guard, watching him fall onto the control desk unconscious.

With aid of the Force once more, Aris moved at an alarming speed through the hallway with his eye set on the door at the end of the hallway.

The lightning struck Bril hard, briefly knocking him backward and causing his muscles to seize. He felt his twin hearts seize and spasm as the current of Force-born electricity coursed through him. He had clamped his mouth shut hard to prevent himself from screaming in that moment, but the sudden and forceful contraction of all his muscles at once made him clench his jaw so tightly that it left bits of dust on and around his tongue – tiny bits of pulverized teeth.

When the lightning finally dissipated and his faculties returned to him, Bril’s eyes locked onto Kamjin. The anger he felt welling within him suddenly roared to life like a nascent flame upon discovering fuel. But instead of giving into that anger and allowing it to control him, he took a deep breath, recalling the lessons that Cora had given him. A Jedi acted with equanimity, not haste born from anger no matter how righteous.

Straightening two fingers on his right hand, he traced an invisible path in the air just in front of his chest, causing electricity to briefly arc around him. It was blue at first, but as it took a more defined shaped in accordance with his growing concentration, it turned a dazzling white (the same color as the flames he’d conjured earlier).

He thrust those same two fingers in Kamjin’s direction, firing not one but two bolts of Force lightning toward him. As the lightning leaped from his fingers, the air surrounding him briefly took on a metallic odor that he could almost taste on the tip of his tongue.

Once his retaliation had been executed, he dipped to his right to head into the next room.

Lula didn’t fight against Idris when he started to push her forward. The cell doors were opened and while she can’t save them all, maybe, they can save themselves. She noticed someone was in the room but they didn’t dress like the storm troopers and guards of this place. Uncertain to who they were, she kept their eye on them.

Idris must’ve had a reason to come here and just happen to decide to help them. The other female Firrerreo though? Did she not mention that they had similar goals? Was it possible that this armored one does as well?

Out of the corner of her eye, she winced when she noticed that both Bril and the witch had been hit by the Force lightning. She let out a slow exhale and focused on both Bril and the woman. They both would notice they are slightly feeling better and less fried.

Titius balked at the inrush of people. Eyes darted across the group, latching onto Kai. One hand came up in a point.

“YOU. KAI. Outside. NOW.” His voice frayed as the command shot out.

Without pause, his other hand came around in a smooth arc, gripping a larger canister tightly. Both arms met briefly to twist the can and find balance.

A smooth pivot on his heel hammered the sonic imploder towards the stormtrooper just behind Kai. Momentum carried Titius around and he was already running towards the open doorway before the device landed.

He barely made it around the frame as room went white and dust lifted off every surface. His implants instantly gated and squealed from the overload.

Idris landed on his ass, head bouncing hard against the ground, ears already ringing before the impact. He didn’t know who the man was, but there was no mistaking the distinct Imperial design.

He struggled a moment to get to his feet. Lula lay next him, and near the far wall both Kai and Bril had been pushed forward away. He scrambled as fast as he could to close the distance to the doorway, putting himself in between whoever this new threat was, and his allies.

“Kai is not going back into one of your cells!” he screamed in Mando'a.

Amateurs. Imbeciles. Fools. Tyrants.

Nemera was surrounded by chaos, and not the fun kind, and decidedly undesirable relations she would be avoiding interacting with at extreme costs in the future.

On top of that, she was in pain. That was unacceptable, despite her unknowing sister-in-law’s healing attempts.

Now she was annoyed. With everything already on fire, that option had become derivative and performative. She had to do something else fresh and exciting, if for no other reason than her own amusement.

Glancing out towards the landing pad, past the sonic implosion and her scattered headaches, Nemera’s gaze landed on the open air behind the platform.

With a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips, she wove a connection between the point within her sight and her power. Then, turning towards the Justicar and his troopers, she finalized the connection and opened a portal between the points in space and time. (Which is not a simple matter as the planet itself was moving rather fast through said space).

She offered a clawed wave and a “ta-ta!” as Kamjin struggled but was pulled through and out the other side.

Just after the cells opened to the angry mob of prisoners, Aris tapped into the Force and used an unnatural speed to bypass the inmates and go through the door at the end of the hall.

The Jedi was met with another upward staircase.

He briefly paused and looked at the ascending steps.

Sigh

’What is with the Empire and so many stairs..?’ The young human thought as he continued up the staircase until he reached the top to be met with a door.

The door at the top of the staircase had a glass window the Aris peaked through before advancing.

The first thing he saw was a young woman and a Rodian. He briefly recognized them from the lobby and the scene that transpired there.

The second thing he noticed was the sheer chaos further down the hall. This was bound to be the right hall to find Kai but where to go from here…

When Bril saw the gunship rise into the sky before him, and heard the command issued by its pilot, a moment of genuine trepidation made his breath catch in his throat. He was without his sabers, after all. He wasn’t wearing his armor, and what was a Mandalorian without those things?

But he remembered that it wasn’t the gear that truly mattered, but the one wearing it. And part of what made a great verd was their ability to adapt and make use of whatever they had at their disposal … and for Bril in this moment, that was the thermal detonator hanging on his belt.

Unclipping the explosive, he pressed the button with his thumb, causing it to emit the distinct beep that rapidly increased in pitch and frequency as its internal timer went down. Once the weapon was seconds from exploding, he reached deep into the wellspring of the Force to fortify and augment the muscles in his arm and back.

With immaculate aim and form, he hurled the thermal detonator at the hovering gunship. Everything went silent, then …

**KACHOOM!*

A ball of fire erupted from the small metal sphere and enveloped one of the gunship’s sublight engines. It careened to their left as the pilot struggled to maintain altitude.

Lula groaned as she rolled over to her side. The containment for the helmet was too much and she couldn’t handle it any longer. Her breathing had quickened as she removed the helmet and let in a sharp gasp. Her hand went over to her belly as she just wanted to check.

They’re safe.

Idris had ran off screaming. Bril threw something and she can hear a muffled explosion. Her head still felt like it was being shaken up, thankfully, the armor she had put on had absorb most of the blast. She pushed herself up enough to see the she-witch did not get inside the room yet. She focused on her allies and attempted to heal them and barely managed it. Was any of the enemies close to the fire conjuring woman?

Lula grimaced at the different emotions. Then she felt her stomach dropped at the howling cries of people… falling?

With a sharp exhale, Lula finally pushed herself off the ground and left the helmet behind.

Titius could only hear faint buzzing, his implants still gated from the blast. Bright light blinded him, forcing a swap to thermals. Aiming at what he thought was the source of the light, he squeezed…

No shot came forth from the muzzle only a bloom of heat from excitation chamber as it overheated.

Through the buzzing, Titius let loose a tirade of foul expletives.

Idris let out a thrilled cheer as Bril’s thermal detonator rended one of the ship’s sublight engines apart. As the craft began to list, trying to prevent itself from crashing, Idris raised his blaster rifle, aiming for the now-weakened and damaged frame.

Squeezing the trigger, he let loose a volley, the impact of the bolts sending fresh shrapnel falling to the ground. The ship continued to veer away, but Idris squeezed the trigger once again, bolts leading to another small puff of smoke as the ship continued to try to stabilize itself, moving westward and further away from the platform.

Arriving had been simple. Leaving just kept getting…delayed. Nemera was tired of delays.

Getting a sense of the chaos around her, the Firrerreo finally saw an opportunity to join the others through the doorway that had thus eluded her. Marching through, she didn’t want any further distractions. So, narrowly, she turned and gripped the doorway, pulling at its structure and supports until it gave way to her telekinetic might.

With an appreciative flick of her eyebrow while observing the outcome, Nemera turned back to join the others.

Aris watched as the familiar Rodian busted down the crumpled door. The Jedi entered the hallway and approached the Rodian and took him gently by the arms.

“Come with me, I can get you out,” Aris paused as he looked into the Rodian’s beady eyes, “You can’t prove your wife’s innocence from in here.”

As Aris looked at the Rodian, he was met with a looked of deep confusion.

“Come on, I can protect you,” Aris tried again but was met with the same look of confusion.

With the prisoners rioting and Kai making his exit with who knows who, Aris had to make a decision… the Rodian or Kai?

Aris looked through the open doorway leading to the outdoors then back at the Rodian and the chaos enfolding behind him. With careful consideration, Aris released his grasp of the Rodian and slowly began to crest past the doorway. He paused and looked back at the Rodian one last time…

“Good luck… and may the Force be with you,” Aris said with remorse in his voice. The young Jedi knew the likelihood of that Rodian making out of the facility alive or not being incarcerated was very low.

With that, Aris set his sights and focus back on his original objective. Rescue Kai. Aris ran as fast as he naturally could until he was out on the landing pad. He saw a transport and a bunch of seemingly random people. A few Mandalorian’s, a couple of people from the lobby, and… a Stormtrooper? Weird combination. The thought that perhaps at least some of them were there for the same reason briefly crossed Aris’ mind as he continued his pursuit towards that transport.

Without a second thought, Aris climbed aboard next to Kai. Was this finally the end of his objective…?

Bril moved toward the platform, but only after making sure Lulaire and Idris were right behind him. “Well, that went much better than I expected,” he said, “Though I’ll have to figure out how to get my gear back…”

Nemera sighed. Mission complete?

Maybe. By a loose definition. Good enough. Therefore, it was time to make her own exit, lest the stupidity prove contagious. Summoning her power to hand once more, green flames ignited around the Firrerreo and in a blink the woman was gone.