The Avalan Crisis: Captured

Posted on Thu Feb 13th, 2014 @ 10:25pm by Sotah & Thurius
Edited on on Wed Jun 8th, 2022 @ 1:59pm

2,169 words; about a 11 minute read

Chapter: Additional Stories
Location: Onderon
Timeline: 1,208 ABY, After "The Bronze Keep"

OLD

Thurius' gaze was still locked on Garius, "You have made your position clear but you leave us no closer to ending this conflict. You must be aware that GalactaWerks has no intention of leaving because of these attacks. They will just use it as fuel in their campaign against you, bringing the people down with them. If these terrorists believe the same as you, then your words will mean a lot more than anyone else's."

He began to rise from his seat, "But somehow I do not see that in your intentions. We will relay your message and your request but I think you should re-consider what is really best for the people of Onderon."

"As should you, Master Jedi," Garius replied in a tone now flecked with a slight hint of malice. "As should you."

NEW

"This was a waste of time," Sazar said angrily as they made their way from the main keep and past the battlements, a Royal Guard lingering some feet behind them as they made their way towards the archway that signified the way out into the clearing beyond. "Time we could have been using to hunt down some actual terrorists or cutting his smug head from his neck," the Zabrak went on, loudly enough to warrant some attention from the soldiers and nobles they passed. "Although," she relented, "he's right in that we would have made a martyr of him."

Sotah hummed thoughtfully, somewhat irritated in his own way but still maintaining that visage of a calm, collected yet kindly stoic Jedi Master, his hands clasped together within his blue cloak. "It was a very unfortunate meeting, but we have learnt something from this."

Sazar raised an eyebrow as they trudged onwards, one Onderonian spitting in their direction, resulting in the Rift Jedi's mechanical hand clenching into a fist, but she did not act on the impulse. "And what would that be?" She asked through clenched teeth.

"That Prince Garius is not, in fact, the one controlling this whole affair," the Selkath replied with all too much cheer. "Certainly, he believes himself the mastermind, but a man of his sub-par intelligence, arrogant and self-entitled character is not adequately able to plan a guerilla war, nor maintain control of the various sources of information he clearly has. Someone is manipulating him; he's being fed the right - or wrong, dependent on your point of view - information from another source... the true kingpin in this whole sordid affair."

At that, Sazar's eyes narrowed in thought, and she looked with slight suspicion towards Thurius, perhaps not believing Sotah. "And what do you think?" She asked, now out of the grounds of the Bronze Keep. Behind them, the guards closed the gates and shuttered down the portcullis. The guards in the watchtowers about them kept a careful eye on them as they grew closer to the jungle.

Thurius threw a glance back at the Rift Jedi, "Perhaps if you cooled your temper you would have been able to sense it. There is indeed another element to this conflict that Garius is unaware of. If he were, he would almost certainly have given something away in one of his monologues of grandeur."

The royal palace now loomed into view as they made their way further away from Avalan territory. The group of Jedi caught up to a nearby royal guard and dispatched a message to the Queen informing her that they had finished their talks and would meet with her shortly.

"In the pursuit of power, one is always drawn to those who possess it," continued Thurius, having considered the matter further, "GalactaWerks is clearly now the centre of Onderon's power. This entire conflict surrounds the organisation and yet it continues to grow in strength despite their numerous enemies. I fear this investigation is leading us right towards, as Garius put it, 'our GalactaWerks'."

"There is a reason why the ORA does not permit them within our boundaries," Sazar said curtly, spite in her voice at the consideration of the company's presence as the group then continued to move onwards and back towards the jungle path they had taken before. "They are a cancerous pox upon the galaxy; whilst I am loathe to say anything good came of the Outer Rim Conflict, it is a blessing that the Republic at least acquiesced to that particular proviso." A slight hint of sadness now entered her tone. "Whilst I feel the Republic has long lost its way, I do pity that you must endure them yet."

Although keeping his jovial nature as best he could, Sotah gave a solemn nod, heading bobbing slightly as the trio strode onwards. "There is a place for corporations and private enterprise within the galaxy; more good than not comes from such a market, but I must agree to a concern at the growing powers of GalactaWerks, in partic-" The Selkath paused for a moment, inclining his head off to one side towards the foliage and the littering of small, old and abandoned buildings that were now becoming commonplace.

Instinctively, his hand had dropped to his lightsaber hilt and the other two paused in curiosity. "Their influence over the Senate is one thing," he continued in a slightly hushed voice, the conversation barely being a focus of his as he continued to peer about, "but that the people must suffer is quite anoth-"

With his blade igniting just a half-second behind Thurius', the two Jedi cut swiftly into several small metallic objects that zoomed towards them. In turn, Sazar's golden blade hummed to life and she spun into formation with her Reborn counterparts, slicing two more of the darts.

"Tranquillisers," she hissed, her blade held in the reverse-grip Shien form.

"And not just from one direction," Thurius added, "We are surrounded, I fear."

The three Force-sensitives now could detect a large group around them. Thurius stepped forward, his lightsaber still ignited and tightly gripped, "Show yourselves. You have been discovered and your darts have missed their targets."

Without hesitation, a figure leapt out from the doorway of a broken and abandoned building, "A pity. But I was not set on the idea of knocking you out."

It was a bald human man clad in old durasteel armour. He cradled a blaster rifle as he walked towards the group, "I don't like things to get boring and there is always some leeway in a plan. However, I think it is fair to warn you that you are surrounded. I would wager a rancor's bounty you couldn't best all the warriors training their blasters on your position right now."

"Come no closer," warned Thurius, "I could quite quickly dispatch you before your companions could pull a single trigger."

The man stopped and smirked. He relaxed his pose and held his weapon on his shoulder, "Hey, come now Master Jedi. There's me trying to be all diplomatic and you just make it about killing. If that's Republic diplomacy, then no wonder things are going to shab here."

Despite herself, Sazar smirked inwardly at the comment, but she did nothing to let her guard down. In truth, she had always relished such engagements, finding life and enjoyment when a hilt was clasped in her hand and she could do good through her actions, as opposed to attempting to appeal to the better nature of the questionable beings that often ascended to such public roles.

Of course, that was not to say she cared for the death that came of such affairs. Gripping her lightsaber more tightly as it continued to hum comfortingly, she jutted her jaw out at the bald man. "What issue do you take with us?" She demanded, his armour unmarked and offering little in the way of identification.

"Indeed," Sotah said, although his eyes continued to wander about the area surrounding them whilst he stretched outwards with the Force, seeking to pinpoint each of the beings now encircling the trio. "This planet has seen enough bloodshed of late. Do not add to it now out of some misguided principles; we are here to assist all sides. Let us on our way so that we may avoid any further unnecessary violence."

Trusting in his senses, the Jedi Consular could tell beyond a shadow of a doubt that there were many individuals training their weapons upon them. A shambles of thoughts and intentions made it difficult for him to discern any true motive, but one mind - thick with rage and greed - stood out from the rest, and soon enough, another figure stepped forward.

Dressed in the style many Avalans had adopted to differentiate them from others, a thickset woman came to stand beside the man, a heavy repeating blaster hoisted in a ready position. "These jetii don't stand a chance," she said with great derision, spitting on the ground before Thurius, who she then proceeded to point at. "I want that one."

For a brief moment, the armour-clad warrior simply flexed his shoulders and gritted his teeth. He hated it when someone else tried to steal his show but he reminded himself that this job required a certain amount of acting and he had to play his part right. He gestured his rifle forwards and two more men stepped out of the shadows and marched towards Thurius with the clear intention of restraining him.

"I told you to come no closer," the Guardian warned once again, raising up his blade and halting the men in their tracks. "Answer our questions. Are you with the Avalans?"

"You're not exactly in a position to make demands here, stretch head," chuckled the warrior, "Perhaps my 'associate' here can explain once you put out your sword there."

"'Stretch head'?" Sazar questioned mockingly, shaking her head ever so slightly. "The wit of your foes seems to grow with every passing encounter," she said slyly to the two Jedi Masters. Swinging her blade around threateningly in a manner similar to Thurius, she beckoned, "I imagine the three of us are still a greater match for your band of misfit mercenaries."

At that, the leading woman grit her teeth in a sick grimace and began to raise her own weapon, ready to start the massacre she so clearly longed for. Before even her comrade could quell her, Master Sotah disengaged his own lightsaber and threw it upon the ground in front of him, raising his free hand in a sign of deference.

"No bloodshed is necessary," he said calmly. "We surrender." Inclining his head back towards Sazar and Thurius, he added quietly, "The woman at least is a Mandalorian." Bulbous eyes searching their surroundings, his senses suggested yet even more of the aggressors were hiding in wait than had revealed themselves. If the confidence of their leader was anything to go by, there was likely a large amount of armaments lying in wait also.

Undoubtedly, they were not under-equipped for catching three well-trained and experienced Jedi.

Despite a few moments of sheer and obvious disbelief marring Sazar's features at Sotah's decision, they softened and she gave a small nod. Her own blade cutting out with an unsatisfactory whir, her metallic prosthetic hand let the weapon drop on the floor beside the Mandalorian, both women staring and daring the other.

Thurius briefly eyed the two men standing before him, before disengaging his own lightsaber and then standing straight in a defiant posture. The men then came forward and, grabbing the weapon from the knight's hand, they then roughly held his arms and began to march him away.

"Easy boys," the bald warrior spoke, shooting a quick glance at his frustrating female companion, "Let's not damage the goods just yet."

The Cerean shuffled slightly in his captors' grasps, which led only to a tighter grip, "Argh!" Thurius winced, "Given that you see us as goods to be bargained, can I assume you are merely the delivery men? Someone else does not want to get their hands dirty."

"Better to be the delivery men than the merchandise," chuckled the warrior as Thurius was bundled past him, he then pointed towards Sazar and Sotah, "Now, what about these two?"

"'These two'," Sotah responded with a practised ease of calm, "submit also." Sazar, whilst also nodding, had barely a modicum of calm as two of their captors came forth to collect the two lightsaber hilts resting upon the ground. As yet another came forward to apply restraints to the three Jedi's wrists, the Selkath asked, "Will it be a long journey to wherever you may be taking us?"

At that, the bald man - not only incensed by his 'victory' over his opponents, but clearly pleased with the question - revealed a set of smiling darkened teeth. "Not for you," he said. But before any of the captives could reply, a series of small metal objects buried themselves into the trio and it was just a few seconds before they found themselves falling the dirt, the world growing dark.

TBC

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