Star Wars: Warlords of the Sith (Closed/Started)

[FalloutJack]

Between his efforts and that of the others, force powers and saber-striking and all, their previous five were now down to a wounded two. And those two seemed consumed by the thought of lashing out at Sitris and and Thalo in particular. It allowed Sirus the chance he needed. His personal damage was negligable and his stamina was good. This seemed like a good opportunity to end it for the two cybernetic beasts. Attacking two others, they were distracted. Sirus lined himself up after reattaching his sabers to each other. The creature which attacked Sitris, he struck from behind, but in a manner which he intended to inflict a heavy slash, spinning his body with the blade to give it extra torque. If the creature shielded itself from being cut apart, there was a good chance that it would still be fatally wounded and flung by the leverage of his attack into its partner to explode in its face. However, knowing the ease in which plasma parted flesh, it was possible that half of the creature's body would be rendered airborn for a second. Too heavy for his object manipulation - too heavy with cybernetics in a badly-disfigured body - he would instead place the force into a kick to plot it in the correct direction with the termination of his spin.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

Sirus' blade went a little deeper and faster than he intended, not that it really mattered. The blade split flesh and bone and metal, and the beast fell into two halves. The lower part fell a twitching, harmless pile of meat, and the upper part fell through the air into its companion. A heartbeat later the blast consumed the upper body and smashed the second to the ground. The first beast was still alive, but crippled.

Nine angry Sith Lords are rarely merciful.

As they composed themselves from the fight they found that all was silent. No buzzing, no hissing from vents, no nattering droid mind. Just an open doorway into the first chamber of the ancient Galactic Empire's premier research facility into the Dark Side of the Force.

When they were prepared, when the nine stepped forward, they found a long chamber with transparisteel windows on the walls. Rooms that would have bustled with researchers and acolytes now sat empty, their equipment abandoned and forgotten. Some of the rooms were in disarray, marked with carbon scoring and dented plating, but most seemed pristine.

And something in one called to them - a blue-white cube, about thirty centimeters on a side.

 

[blaze96]

Lampay deactivated his saber for the moment and walked toward the object that called to him, what was obviously a holocron. He had used enough previously to know one when he both saw and felt it.

One by one the Nine trickled into the lab, the door long since having been stuck in an open position, and as they gathered around the cube light shimmered over it, forming into the shape of an old Human man with long gray hair and a thick beard. His eyes blazed with power and passion, and his stance under traditional brown Jedi robes showed a confident strength. "This is the Holocron of Jorus C'baoth. Who are you?" His voice was sharp, each word carrying an undertone of challenge.

"I am Lampay Medon." He replied simply, he felt it would be unwise to reveal more information than what could be gathered by looking at him.

 

[Mr. Omega]

Thalo stayed in the middle of the group of Sith when they stumbled upon a Holocron, giving them the image of a former Jedi Master. "C'baoth? I've heard of this guy! Not sure what he actually did, he was just on a list of Jedi in an ancient civilization. Considering the brief bits of history, he seemed to have lived for a very long time. There was mention about some strange things done with the Force." I wonder what thing he could teach...

The thought of everyone else learning about this made the discovery a bit less special to Thalo. Maybe he could slip away while the old Jedi spoke. On the other hand, maybe he knew a powerful technique... "So what exactly do you know about this place? Any idea of what sort of goodies we can get our hands on?" He didn't even bother giving his name. Hardly seemed worth the effort.

 

[FalloutJack]

After he killed the penultimate one, the rest of the Sith descended upon the last wounded vessel and ended it. So saying, they left the room bloody, scorched, and littered with cybernetic parts. Their host would have to redecorate, assuming he had the faculties left to do so. Sirus smiled coldly to himself at the thought of some looney floor-cleaners having to deal with this mess, all at Antillas' expense. Still, they proceeded on, Sirus ready to lash out at whatever presented itself next. Well, the next thing was...nothing much, actually. A long corridor with a series of windows in which they could see labs or testing areas. Some were in a terrible state, others untouched. All manner of anything could have gone wrong there, including their cybernetic posse back there who exploded at deathpoint.

One of the rooms...had something in it, drawing their attention. Quite innocuously, yet nothing in this place could hope to play the innocent sort, so Sirus' paranoia and suspicion grew. They came to the room and spied a simple cube-shaped holocron. Had to be one. True, his Master had made use of a different-shaped device, but you noticed the signs, the general design. It was a device filled with knowledge, all the more likely to be valuable. And yet, Sirus' suspicion prevented him from speaking up first, especially since IT did first. The cube produced an interactive hologram and addressed them all.

"This is the Holocron of Jorus C'baoth. Who are you?"

Lampay gave a direct answer. Sirus was not certain if this should be done. True, it was just a holocron, but this place had also claimed a number of lives. Perhaps it was safe IF Jorus had been among those who had died here AND this device was untampered with. According to Thalo, this man was yet another legend among legends. Whatever this holocron had, if anything, would be valuable. The trick would be to convince this machine of the Jedi - because the owner was certainly clad so - that they were worthy of what it contained. He did not see anything out of the ordinary and it DID look like a genuine holocron. The trouble was that Sirus' experience with these things were nil. Perhaps if he had time, but this place was not so generous. Oh, what the hell-

"Very well. I am Sirus McLaylen. None of us will be known to you, Jorus C'baoth. Tell us what information comes freely, and what information bears a price."

May as well cut to the chase. Sirus would rather deal in clear terms than diplomatic womp rat chases...

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

Meria put away her lightsaber, scanning the room for anymore threats but a curious thing activated in front of them. A holocron activated, showing an old human man in front of them. Meria knew about these holocrons and how they hosted some great deal of knowledge of not only the force but of history. While she didn't exactly come in contact with one, Meria always wanted to use one. If this was an indicator of what they were to face later on then Meria started to get anxious and wanted to leave as soon as possible but the other Sith decided to stay so she did as well.

"These holocrons only hold a limited number of responses." Meria said to them. "I don't doubt that this holds knowledge but time is of the essence."

 

[Mr. Omega]

C'baoth looked to each of them in turn, a mocking grin on his face. "So, Sidious had enough of trying to extract my secrets and handed me over to a handful of his second rate lackeys? You are no Jedi, the stench of the Dark is thick on you." C'baoth laughed, a cold and harsh sound. "Precisely what help do you think the lessons of a Jedi would be on your fruitless quest for power?"

"Sidious is looooooong gone, old man." Thalo said, doing the Bith's equivalent of a smirk as he spat out the rest of his taunt. "But you raise a good point. There isn't much you could let us know that's actually worth anything. Still, I guess I can ask one quick question: how did you survive the purge of the Jedi during the rise of the Galactic Empire?" From what the records said, Darth Sidious, Darth Vader and their troops had left a surprisingly numerous number of Jedi alive. It'd be nice to know how someone survived first-hand. Once I take over, I can know what to look for... he steepled his fingers in anticipation... and got his response.

"Well, keep wondering. This Holocron predates the Empire. Sorry to dash your hopes." the sarcasm was practically dripping from the Holocron, taking a bit of enjoyment in Thalo's annoyance. "Still, Sidious isn't around any more? I shouldn't be surprised. So how was he done in?"

Thalo shrugged "Killed by the last of the Jedi at that time. Some guy named Skywalker. According to the records, you two met." C'baoth raised an eyebrow inquisitively "Skywalker? Anakin Skywalker? He survived? I knew him before the Outbound Flight Project. He was a child at the time. So we both survive and meet after the fall of the Empire. Interesting..."

Thalo shrugged, guessing that it was right. He was sure if he looked back at the details, they'd probably match what the Holocron was saying. After all, how far from the truth could it really be? "So yeah. Sidious dies, New Republic rises and then falls, and then a LOT of stuff happens and then here we are! So, what sort of goodies do you know are here in this place?"

 

[Pm0n3y]

Ja'Ysr didn't have much to add or intervene with as the Bith Sith had a enlightening conversation with the elder Jedi holocron. What questions he could've potentially asked were answered through sheer implication on the holocron's behalf. Instead, he gave brief thought to his left arm. The sharp sensations that wracked through the appendage had died down mere moments ago, only to replaced with a cold numbing that gave him thought of unfortunate decisions. Failing to move the arm only confirmed such suspicions.

"It'll have to be amputated." Such a decision probably would've came as a shock to a lesser individual. "Hm." Ja'Ysr on the other hand (for the lack of better phrasing), was more apathetic than anything, as if it were nothing more than a minor inconvenience. And as far as he was concerned, it was. Limbs become superfluous once you lose an eye, I guess. "Get one major organ replaced, and you figure the lesser ones wouldn't be to difficult to replace either." The thought almost made him smile.

 

[FalloutJack]

The little holocron was seeming less and less threatening, thus cutting down on Sirus' paranoid belief that it was a trap. Meria pointed out that while the thing would obviously be useful, but that they also had a limitation on time. Ja'Ysr had little to say at all, and nor did most of the others. Thalo was once again most-talkative one. Probably best if he were the group's face while Sirus spoke in stronger and less-subtle tones...or possibly actions. They would at least shoot him first on an occasion such as that. The other Sith filled the thinking device in on a little history, the most-impacting of which they surely all knew. Finally, it came down to them asking it about what it knew, which was frankly something Sirus had asked it before.

"Sidious did not see fit to apprise me of what kind of artifacts he had hidden away in this place. No doubt items powerful in the Dark Side of the Force, great knowledge that would be better lost. The details are outside my grasp, not that I would share if I had them."

"Let us not dwell on such matters, C'baoth. The galaxy is not what it once was. It is long past both yours and Sidious' death, and now you have an opportunity to shape in your own fashion the way of things to come. Some would call that destiny. It is down to you."

The Holocron sneered at him.

"And you think that gives me an incentive to help you? It would be an amusing experiment to teach you Jedi techniques and see you fumble and fail to master them. Or perhaps you'll simply lose your minds..."

"We're Sith. If we haven't lost our minds by NOW, it simply won't happen."