Keepers of the Empire (Imperial Knights only)

[Cernunnos]

[praetorian86]

Malius fidgeted in his seat. Most of his spaceflight experiences had been spent hiding in a cargo hold, so being in the regular passenger areas was still a bit new. "Well, if I can't sit still then I might as well do something constructive," Malius thought to himself. Unbuckling his restraint, he rummaged through his gear, quickly finding his remote. He stood up and moved to an open area, turned the remote onto its "hard" setting and thumbed on his lightsaber. With a snap-hiss, the blade sprung to life as Malius stretched out with his feelings towards the remote.

[wildknight]

Anakin, already fairly confident in his lightsaber skills, simply sat still and focused his mind, trying as much as he could to be balanced for what was to come.

[praetorian86]

Malius felt the remote moving through the air, trying to get a hit on him. He deflected the first several shots fired by the remote and grinned, feeling that the remote had nothing on his skills with the Force. In the brief moment his mind strayed though, the remote whipped around and landed a solid shot into Malius's guts.

"OUCH!"

[Cernunnos]

Imperial Knight Masters Kal Vetter and Vin Darklighter call their apprentices to the cabin. One inside, the masters motion for the other two to sit. After a moment or two Master Darklighter speaks up.

“Anakin… Malius… you two might be wondering what this mission is about. We are not authorized to disclose too much information to you, however there is something you must know. We are charged with the retrieval of an ancient Sith holocron, by emperor Fel himself.”

Master Vetter speaks up.

“Although we do not adhere to either the Light Side or the Dark Side of the Force, we cannot stress enough the magnitude of such a device. Sith holocrons have called out and corrupted many, many Force users in the past. The one that comes to my mind most immediately is the ancient Sith Lord Exar Kun.”

With that he looks at Master Darklighter, who picks up where the other Master left off.

“What we are trying to say to you is that you must place the well being of the empire above your own pursuit of the Force. This will be your final test before becoming an Imperial Knight… resisting the call of this Sith holocron. If you succeed in this and we retrieve this holocron for the empire… then you will have completed your trials.”

Looking the two apprentices in the face, Master Vetter continues.

“This holocron was supposedly bought by a criminal boss on Nar Shaddaa and will be transported there. Our job is to retrieve it by any means necessary. We will first ensure that the holocron makes it to the planet and then delivered to the Hutt criminal. Then we will try to buy it from him… and if negotiations do not go as planed… well then we will have to ensure that the holocron is presented before the emperor, in one way or another.”

[praetorian86]

Malius cocked his head to one side as he thought for a moment then drew himself into an attention-stance and began speaking, gesticulating at various points for extra emphasis.

"Masters, I do not wish to question the Emperor, but is it wise to keep such an item? You yourselves mentioned the corrupting influence of Sith holocrons and my people once were deceived by Sith teachings... they infect Force users like the Krytos virus. It would also serve as a magnet for the Sith, possibly leading them to Bastion. Would we not be better served by destroying it to deny the object the chance to twist others and deny the usurpers a weapon?"

Recomposing himself, Malius took a deep breath.
"Anyway, is the Hutt looking to sell? It may have contacted other... interested parties. That could compromise our mission."

[wildknight]

Anakin merely dipped his head in acknowledgment. He understood the parameters of the mission, and wasn't concerned with the number of criminals he would have to negotiate with... or kill... to complete his objective.

[Cernunnos]

In response to Malius’ questioning his Master, Kal Vetter, answered tersely.

“No my young apprentice… it is not wise to keep such an item, however it is not our job to question the Emperor or his motives, that duty is reticent for a select few. We seek only to protect the Empire and in doing so… the rightful Emperor himself.”

After that sunk in, he continued.

“If this item holds the power that it has been whispered to have, then it is a valuable artifact indeed. Which is why the Sith are after it as well as the Republic itself. The Emperor has strictly forbade us from destroying the item because it can, if used properly, become a means to ending this war… and might also prove to be the undoing of the Sith themselves.”

After that he motioned to Vin, who picked it up from there.

“As far as the Hutt is concerned, he has no knowledge of our arrival. This mission is after all about absolutes… in the service of the Empire. The Hutt will either sell us this artifact… or we will have to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

[praetorian86]

Malius bowed deeply to the Masters.

"Forgive me Masters, I meant neither disrespect nor to question the Emperor. I seek only to better serve my Emperor.

"How long until we reach Nar Shadda?"

[Cernunnos]

“There is nothing to apologize for my young apprentice. It is expected. If one is to properly serve, one must discern that which practical and that which is not. And in knowing this one must put aside their own principles and do what is best for the Empire. You have proven to be the epitome of this standard time and time again Malius. You will be a formidable Imperial Knight when you complete your training.”

With that said, Master Vetter continued.

“We should reach our destination in just under a day. I suggest you two get some rest until then.”

[praetorian86]

Malius bowed his head slightly towards Vetter and Darklighter. "Thank you Masters, I will strive to live up to your expectations."

Malius turned and smiled at Anakin, clapping his arm over his fellow apprentice's shoulders. "Come on Anakin, let's see if we can find something to do on this ship. Maybe there's a dejarik table somewhere."

[Cernunnos]

-The Next Day-
<Nar Shaddaa, planetary landing pads, daytime>


The starship hangar area was alive with hustle and bustle. Many galactic species wondered about, with very little to none of the same race present. Unlike other civilized areas this one had very little droid activity, being most of the labor on the planet was manual.

The four Imperial Knights had inconspicuously kept a careful eye on the activity. They were waiting for their cargo to arrive. After about half a day’s work, Master Darklighter comed the others for a gathering. After everyone was present he motioned toward a light freighter that had just recently arrived. A crew consisting of a Rodian, a Quarren, a Gamorrean, a Chiss and a Bothan stood just outside their ship, with a metal store-box.

They remained there for a moment or two until a Twi’lek motioned for them to follow. The crew then followed, without hesitation. Master Darklighter turned toward his associates.

“Time for us to fulfill our duty.”

[praetorian86]

That's right, walk off murglacks. Now, where are you hiding the holocron?

Malius pulled at his cloak's hood to cover more of his face and tilted his head toward the ground. His forehead furrowed in concentration and he began to bite at his lower lip. Stretching out with the Force, he tried to sense the holocron, any unknown Force users, or any Force irregularities.


________________________________________________________
FA - Sense Force - UTF: 22 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2343642/)

Initiative +5
Perception +7
REF 21 (21 Flatfooted) FORT 17 WILL 13
HP 32 Threshold 17

[Cernunnos]

[Malius reached out with the Force and could easily feel the holocron. He could also feel a Force sensitive alien or two among the mix, however, nothing too extraordinary.]

After about twenty minutes the ship personnel made their way to a bar and casino of sorts. Bortuga the Hutt seemed to be the proprietor, as the name “Bortuga’s Pleasure Palace” so implied. As the crewmen entered the establishment, Master Vin placed a halting hand out.

“The place is closed for several more hours. We can not enter into the establishment without causing a scene. That… and I foresaw danger in this mission. I asked for backup… but only a Knight apprentice responded.”

With that he motioned toward Maru.

“Malius, Anakin… this is Maru. She will help us on this mission. For something as simple as a retrieval… for some reason I felt an unnatural amount of fear and suffering. We are to stay out here, until we can come to a more sensible plan.”

Looking at the apprentices, Master Vin continued.

“All right. Since this is your trial mission… it is up to you three how we go about this from here on out.”


-Elsewhere-
<Space just above Nar Shaddaa>


An inbound Lambda shuttle flies into an Imperial Star Destroyer.


-Seconds Later-


Feet are seen and heard as a dark robed man makes his way trough winding halls, until he finally arrives outside a doorway. After waiting for a bit a green light comes on and the door slides up, revealing a dimly-light dorm. The hooded man cautiously makes his way into the room as he calls to the darkness.

“They are here master.”
“I know… I could feel the tremor in the Force. Come…”

With that the man continued making his way into his master’s den. Beautiful half-naked woman of various species could be seen all about. Although mainly Twi’lek, Zeltron, Human and near-Human, the wide variety and the diverse assortment made each beauty just as exotic as the other. Interesting foods of all locales as well as various narcotics could be seen, on and or around the master’s women. As the hooded man drew closer, he could make out his master’s turned back. On either side of him was a Zeltron and a Human.

“They had the merchandise aboard when you stopped them?”
“I could feel a Dark Side presence… if it was indeed the object… I’m not exactly sure.”

With that the man sharply turned around. Revealing a well built, beautiful Zeltron man. Although proper in attire, he chose to expose his flesh and adorn himself in dark-black leather, showing off his various Sith Tattoos. His light hair was dyed black and left free, further fitting his motif. The entirety of the man was a complexity of proper clean-cut mannerisms mingled with that of rugged Dark Side lust and Zeltron hedonism.

“NOT EXACTLY SURE?”
“Well master you see…”
“NO! NO I DO NOT SEE! PLEASE… EXPLAIN IT TO ME!”

The hooded man uncomfortably readjusted himself, as he felt his master subtly tug at his throat through the Force.

“In… order… to… maintain the illusion… we had to… let… them… continue.”

With that the master released his protégé.

“Very well. There is no mistake… it is down there. I can feel it! Gather the men and prepare my shuttle. I will personally ensure that this is taken care of. The Sith will once again rightfully see their place atop the galaxy as foretold by our master Darth Krayt. Now…”

The Sith waved away the hooded man.

“Leave me. I must prepare for the mission ahead of me.”

With that said the women all at once converged in on the man, as the ones in his arms embraced him even deeper. Taking a cue the hooded man bowed and quickly exited the room. There was work to do.

[suika17]

“We must do our best in service of the Empire.” Maru spoke as she nodded to the other apprentices in acknowledgement.

“Master, Does the Sith holocron itself not invoke strong feelings of fear and suffering? Could it be that the holocron can obscure one’s feelings so as to provoke hesitation of pursuit in the hearts of those who are not sith?”
At this point she felt pretty impassioned “I am not trying to second guess you Master; it is just that such a holocron is steeped in the darkest, most corrupted corner of Dark Side of the Force!!”
“...uh...I am simply suggesting that we consider this in our plan.”

She waited to see if the other two would propose any plans. Maru felt a little bit like an outsider to their group and didn’t want to impose.