"Hunting lost secrets, my young apprentice, as always."

"You really think we'll find something here?"

"You remember the story of Darth Revan and the Star Forge, don't you?"

"If there was one of those still around, it would have been found a long time ago."

"A whole one, yes. But if there was just a piece..."

"You think he could have hidden something like that here?"

"Perhaps, my dear. Perhaps." They arrive at a stretch of unremarkable wall. Zash halts and claps her hands. "Ah, here we are. Set up the scanner."

She swings the bag off her back and busies herself with attaching the wires and contacts.

She's been on Nar Shaddaa for a while, investigating these rumours on her own. These two have piqued her interest. She hadn't entirely been expecting this to garner the attention of a Sith Lord - although, with hindsight, she should not be surprised that it has. She's close enough to observe, while hopefully, remaining unobserved herself. (Perhaps not, but she's gives herself approximately even odds on being mistaken for just another lowlife on a moon full of them.)

The pair gives no outward signs of noticing her, busy with arranging their equipment.

The blonde coos over the display. "Look at this power draw! I'd say we've found it, Elleira."

"That was easy."

"Ah, but look more closely, see here?"

"...Weapons systems. Alarms, multiple redundancies... those look like charging stations. I don't recognize some of these."

"Let's have a look at the front door, shall we?"

...She doubts they'll find it any more hospitable than she expected to, but she'll continue trailing them curiously, because if they have a plan, or a chance of succeeding, she wants in, somehow.

They circle the block, neatly detouring around the incipient street fight. Zash uses it to check how much their little tail wants to keep following.

Their little tail does in fact go straight through the incipient fight, showing no signs of being anything more than a thug of perhaps slightly above average capability who people apparently don't really want to tangle with, and a definitely more than average ability to keep track of the people she is tailing.

Well then. No hostile intent, and it's nothing Elleira needs to worry about, so... she'll just ignore it. For now.

The "front door" consists of a ordinary wire fence blocking off a short avenue that leads to a considerably more formidable looking gate. The avenue is covered in metallic detritus, and warning signs in various languages are strung across the fence.

"Now, isn't this interesting."

"The fence is a different construction from the rest of it. Looks local, unprofessional."

"Put up by the residents, perhaps. Let's see what they were afraid of." Her lightsaber snaps into her hand, igniting with a hiss. She slashes the scarlet blade through the fence, creating an opening though which she steps. After three paces, there's a low rumbling, and several massive turrets unfold from the walls and ceiling. The weapon barrels swivel, and lock onto Zash. She brings her weapon up to guard position, and takes another step. The turrets open fire with a thudding whumpf-whumpf most familiar to turbolaser crews on capital ships.

She bats aside the first few bolts and leaps out of position. The trash on the ground stirs, and clumps climb upright in the form of security droids. Zash retreats as they advance. When she gets close to the fence, the stationary guns cut out and the droids begin swarming. She ducks low-

-and Elleira lights up the field with a furious wave of lightning spraying from both outstretched hands, washing over the droids. They crackle and snap as their circuits are overloaded, plating heated to a white-hot glow.

"Is your curiosity satisfied now?"

"Mm. Now we know what the defenses are like."

...Yeah, like she thought, there was no way for her to get past that. So what is this Master and Apprentice duo going to do now? Since they've realised that the defences are likely impassable, even with the Apprentice's strength. (And Ira can admit to being somewhat impressed.)

"So what next?"

"Next... We recruit some help, I think."

"I doubt blaster fodder is going to be of any use. Those cannons will disintegrate them."

"Of course dear, but extra bodies open up many possibilities. Be patient."

...Well, she can pretend to be cannon fodder, although she suspects that her targets are less unaware of her than they are pretending, and also that up close, they're more likely to notice the things she doesn't want them to. But she thinks it's worth the risk, thinks they'll likely continue to pretend to be unaware, or think she is potentially more unaware of what she is than she actually is. The last is a hope, but she's willing to take these risks, if it gets her access to whatever is inside that compound.

And where can she find them recruiting?

At a local tapcafe later that evening, the Broonian's Bloat. They have a table towards the back, and seem to be conducting interviews one at a time.

Well, she'll go and speak to the bartender to see if they know how to get an interview - looks like they're offering good money.

She's trailed now, by a beaten up, but well maintained, old-model HK droid.

The bartender, after a quick glance back, sends Ira right over.

The blonde smiles and gestures at the empty chair. "Hello there. Do sit down."

She inclines her head politely. "Thank you," she says, taking the seat. "I'll state the obvious and say I heard you had a job?" There's a fairly obvious request for details in that statement.

(Her droid has settled at her shoulder, blank and impassive.)

"We do! Are you any good in a fight?"

She looks the droid over. Not a model she recognizes. Quite old. Probable combat model. Evidence of enhanced sensor packages, concealed weaponry.

"I've survived on Nar Shaddaa and worse for most of my life." (The numerous scars she bears should indicate at least a little of how much she's survived.) "I can hold my own, with blaster or blade. And I can take a beating and keep my feet." She doesn't sound like she's boasting, her tone is a flat assessment of what she's capable of. She doesn't mention the droid - either because she thinks its presence speaks for itself, or because she doesn't think it's relevant to mention.

"Mhm. And your droid?"

"HK-24, an old model to be sure, but serviceable. Assassin type obviously, more suited to blaster guns, but I've had- it," (there's a barely perceptible pause before that 'it'), "wield blades as well, and it was certainly within acceptable parameters. Makes an excellent...partner shall we say. Hard to find an organic on Nar Shaddaa you can trust not to betray you for a higher paycheck."

She doesn't think it's overstating to point out something that she thinks is simple common sense.

"An HK model? What scrapyard did you dig one of those up in?"

"Someone was still using it, believe it or not, for nothing near its intended purpose. I saw potential they didn't. Got it for a song, fixed the stuff they'd been neglecting, functional HK droid as it was supposed to be."

"You're good with machinery then?"

"Repairing droids and engines, yeah. Seemed a useful skill to pick up." Cool, hard, practicality, nothing to do with interest in how things worked, not at all.

"That sounds very useful. We're going to be attacking an automated facility. I think someone of your talents is just who we're looking for."

She gives a slight smile (her lips don't pull quite right for the expression, and her eyes are still strangely cold, but the impression is certainly there). "Would it be too mercenary to discuss payment?"

"A thousand credits, paid on completion."

She considers this, hums thoughtfully. "Market rate," she observes, watching her potential employer closely, looking for hints that she's willing to negotiate on this.

The same steady smile as always.

"If you had real options, we wouldn't be talking."

"Maybe I'm just bored," she comments, pauses - getting in on this is far more important than the paycheck. "You do raise a point. Ira Keler, at your service apparently."

"Welcome aboard, Ms. Keler." She pushes a datacard across the table. "Meet us at these coordinates at 1000 standard hours tomorrow."

She takes the card, and rises, inclining her head again. "Good day."

And she'll depart, HK-24 following in her wake.

"...She was a Force user. A trained one."

"I know."

"And you're still just going to hire her like she's some bounty hunter?"

"Keep your enemies where you can see them, my young apprentice. She obviously wants to see what's in that complex the same as we. Better we have her working for us rather than leave her the opportunity to stab us in the back after we exhaust ourselves."

"Hm."

"Come now, there's no need to look so glum. I dare say we have a sufficient force by now, let's go back and take another look at the defenses. I have a few hypotheses I'd like to test before tomorrow."

Their tail continues to tail them - after all, the more information she has on them the better - although she's under no illusions that they aren't aware of her.

Their conversation is much more difficult to pick up on now.

They circle the target, taking readings with various scientific-looking instruments.

Well, she didn't have any plans for tonight anyway, and even unable to pick up the conversation she can observe how they interact with one another, see if there's any potential friction she can leverage should she find herself in a position to need to do so.

They seem to have a fairly uncomplicated relationship.

There are slight hints that the apprentice is discontent when the master has moments of condescension or over-familiarity.

Not that different to some of the other Master-Apprentices relationships Ira has observed. Well. Are they going to do anything else visually interesting?

Only if you count the master patting her apprentice on the shoulder and then abruptly vanishing as interesting.

...That is, indeed interesting. Ira considers for a moment, and then breathes out, let's her eyes close, and sees whether she can keep track of the master through the Force.

Before she can properly try, a sourceless voice whisper in her mind.

I don't know who you are and I don't know why you are pretending to be a simple mercenary. But if you threaten my apprentice, I will kill you.

Her lips quirk in that uneven smile. Understood, she sends back, simple, bland.

And seeing as she is unlikely to garner anything else useful tonight, she'll depart, taking a circuitous route back to where she's staying. She keeps more than an eye out to make sure she isn't being tailed in turn.

She is untailed.

Then the next day she will be at the specified coordinates ahead of time, leaning against a wall, HK-24 just in front of her.

The room slowly fills with other mercenary types, of varying levels of professional- and scruffiness.

At the appointed time, the organizers of this get-together appear.

Ira definitely leans a little more towards the professional end, although her clothes are old and worn, everything is serviceable and well cared for - including her weapons.

She straightens a little when their employers appear, and tilts her head in their direction, blinking lazily. (Professional, but not threatened or concerned by the people around her.)

"Oh good, you all made it. Let's begin." Zash clicks on a holoprojector and an image of the complex appears, with defenses highlighted. "This is our target."

"That deathtrap down in the old refinery section?" asks one of the mercs. "Y'all crazy. I'm out." He turns to leave.

"Unfortunately, as of now, you are no longer permitted to renege on this contract."

He makes a rude gesture over his shoulder and shoves towards the door.

"Elleira, dear-"

She gestures, and the merc flies up to impact on the ceiling. A spear of lightning strikes out, and the unfortunate fellow drops to the ground, a smoking hole in the middle of his chest.

There's a general shuffling away from the corpse.

HK-24 shifts slightly so that it is between Ira and Elleira, but doesn't brandish a weapon.

Ira doesn't move at all, apart from a faint smirk.

"Any other objections?" Zash asks with a saccharine smile. "No? Good." She summarizes the defenses, turrets, droids, entrance. "However, we have discovered that the facility is not entirely self-contained, as many assume. It subtly taps several other reactors in the sector in order to power the heavy turrets." The projector zooms out to show the neighborhood map with the power plants. "If they all go offline simultaneously, the turrets will be disabled. That is your task."

"Permanently or temporarily?" she asks thoughtfully.

"Either will do. Though note that these two are owned by Cartel subsidiaries."

"Hm," she nods.

Are they expected to work in teams to do this?

Teams of five to take out each reactor, and a separate group will infiltrate the facility.

Is it a volunteer basis, or does Lord Zash have the groups worked out?

They're assigned.

Ira's with one of the ones going after a Cartel reactor.

Fuck.

Okay, she can work with this. She straightens properly, and steps away from the wall, making a curt gesture to HK-24 to fall in behind her. "You said simultaneously, time for them going offline?"

The projector changes again, displaying the schedule for the evening. "You must create at least a two hour window."

She nods sharply. "Simple," she states. As though it being a Cartel plant she's going after, and the two hour window are the easiest things in the world.

She's busy planning, meanwhile, how to complete this, free herself of the group she's been shackled with, and make it into the main compound. She hasn't come this far to not find out what's in there.

Zash claps her hands. "Off with you, then. Do not fail me."

Ira snorts, because of course she isn't going to fail.

She glances around, assumes the other people attached to the same plant as her will follow an stalks out, HK-24 at her heels. She pauses outside, waiting for her temporary compatriots to join her.

Three identical Rodians in heavy armor. One with a pair of blasters, one with a heavy minigun, and one with a flamethrower.

She nods sharply to them, rests one hand on the vibrosword on her belt, let's her other arm hand hang loose beside her blaster.

"How much do you not want to piss off the Cartel?" she asks, because it'll tell her exactly what order her evening is going to go in.

Flamethrower shrugs. "We already have a deathmark with four Hutts."

Ira flashes a vicious grin (that manages the vicious much better than the actual grin). "I'm better at permanent than temporary anyway. Shall we?"

Minigun motions for her to lead the way.

And so she does, apparently unconcerned for having the three of them at her back - she has HK, and the Force will tell her if they intend to try anything.

Power plant?

Tucked inside a massive enclosed space which also houses a plaza, a park, and a collection of miscellaneous offices. It's a squat little dome in its own fenced-off corner, patrolled by a team of guards.

Hm. How many guards? Are they clumped together or spread out? How many... she hesitates to call any of the inhabitants of Nar Shaddaa 'civilians', but she figures that keeping casualties to a minimum was a smart move, so how many of them are liable to be close to the plant?

Looks like half a dozen guards. A handful of supplementary droids.

There's about a twenty meter bubble around the plant which is clear of bystanders.

She clicks her tongue. Considers. "I can probably make it explode," she says. "But I need to get in close enough."

Better for her if she can make them underestimate her. Get them to think HK is her main means of defence rather than back-up if she needs it.

"We attack on the left," says Flamethrower. "They will come."

She pauses, feigns reluctance. "Do you want my droid as extra muscle?"

"Do not need."

She nods sharply again. "Skill," she says, and slips away, circling towards the right of the power plant, HK-24 continuing to trail in her wake.

After a short while, there's a bright light and blasterfire from the other side. The guards take off running.

Ira cuts through the fence easily and slips inside, leaving HK-24 to guard her exit.

Are there any guards inside the fence that she missed in her first scan?

Two security droids, already pulling their blasters into firing position.

Her own blaster is out with two precise shots aimed and fired at the droids before she's even fully finished processing the threat.

They drop.

The main emplacement stands unguarded before her.

Excellent. She works quickly, familiar enough around power plants that rerouting things to cause it to overload and explode is practically child's play, and in a fairly short space of time, she's back out the gap she left in the fence, and signalling for HK to follow her again.

Have her companions taken care of the guards?

The sporadic cries and bursts of fire say not quite.

She shifts one hand smoothly to signal to HK, and they circle smoothly so they're coming in from the left, although from something of a distance - she's got a count down in her head, of how much time they have left before the plant blows. She wants the three Rodians dead before she leaves to infiltrate the main compound, whether they die in the blast from the plant, or by her hand she's not too fussy about.

She pauses just beyond what she expects the limit of the explosion to be, and observes the remainder of the fight.

They're putting up a brave fight, though they are outnumbered. Looks like everyone should be caught in the blast.

Good. Given that that explosion should be going off about-

Now. And her judgement of the limit of the blast meant she was just outside it.

Any survivors of that?

...No. No, there are not.

"I'm almost disappointed," she observes, turning to leave.

"This is better for your goals," HK-24 notes. "Less time wasted."

Ira ignores the droid and makes her way back towards the main compound she was originally trying to gain access to. It doesn't take her long to get there. She assumes the group originally tasked with infiltrating it is already well inside?

Given the smoking droid husks and slashed-up gate, it seems likely.

Well, she's not going to make the mistake of assuming all the droids are taken with. She draws both vibrosword and blaster, and advances, aware of HK-24 continuing to act as a silent shadow.

Through the door, there's a short foyer carpeted with droids. Lining the walls are transparisteel-fronted pods, about human-sized. As she walks in, there's a hissing and the inside of the pods fill with smoke. Then the covers lift and more droids pop out and attack.

Are all the droids using blasters?

The answer is only mildly relevant as Ira lunges to close range, using both sword and blaster with most likely devestating efficiency.

HK-24 provides cover fire where applicable from a more reasonable distance.

The droids are using blasters, yes.

By the time she gets through about three-fourths of them, there's another hiss and the pods disgorge another wave.

...Okay, that's just irritating.

Option two. Hiding her ability to use the Force be damned.

She channels her irritation into a wave of lightning that washes over all the droids in the foyer. (She feels the familiar and welcome pain sear through her as she does so, and bares her teeth in another vicious grin.)

The room is clear. For now.

Ahead, she has a choice of which way to go: left or right.

She pauses, does the Force have anything to say about which direction the other group went?

...Both? Seems like both directions.

...Okay then, if neither seems to have a particular draw, she'll go left, on silent feet, weapons still at the ready.

The hallway's lined with, surprise surprise, more pods. And silent feet don't seem to fool whatever detectors make them spit out droids.

This time she doesn't bother with sword and blaster, just jumps straight to throwing lightning at them.

That gets her through more quickly.

In the next room, in addition to the droid corpses, there are also a few alien corpses.

She crouches down to inspect the alien corpses, anything she recognises?

Green skin, mouth on the forehead, eyes for ears, and some kind of... tentacle beard thing.

...Interesting. Moving on then. Anything want to spring out of the walls and attack her this time?

But of course!

To be honest, she'd be almost disappointed if there wasn't. Equally, this is getting somewhat repetitive.

She excises some of her irritation at the repetition with her sword, and then adds more lightning to the mix. (A few blaster shots inform her that HK is still as adept at reading when to take cover from her lightning as ever.)

The next room contains dead droids, live aliens, and one startled Sith apprentice.

Ira raises an eyebrow at said Sith apprentice, and inclines her head slightly in greeting.

"What are you doing here?"

"I suspect the same as you: Investigating. And massacring droids."

"Go investigate somewhere else. I don't need help."

"Whoever said I was here to help you? There were only two directions, I picked one."

"Then go back and take the other. Maybe Zash will be useful and kill you."

"Or I could kill her," Ira says simply, with no indication that she expects that to go any other way. "Or are you waiting to take that kill yourself?"

"It's not time yet."

"She has too much power? Or you don't have enough?"

"Both."

"Smart," she flips her sword end over end, aiming to catch the handle again.

"Why do you care?"

"Whoever said I cared?"

"You asked."

Ira gives something that's approximately a laugh. "Touche. I'd hate to see such talent...wasted."

"Who are you?"

"I already gave you my name." It's not obviously evasive, but it's certainly not a clear answer.

Her hands twitch towards her lightsaber.

Ira sighs. "Pyktis."

And waits to see if that garners any recognition - sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't, but if this situation arises, normally she's doing this with her mask firmly in place, pretending Ira Keler had been some hired lackey.

Good, she prefers this route.

"Darth Pyktis if we're being formal," she admits.

"What are you doing?"

"Investigating. I suspect the same rumours you and Zash are investigating. You arrived before I got very far."

"Who do you work for?"

"In the immediate, myself."

"And in the long term?"

"Still mostly myself, but occasionally I do need to pretend to be a good little Sith and assure the Dark Council of my allegiance."

Either not aligned with anyone or simply unwilling to disclose such allegiances. Unlikely to be Thanaton's, given tactics. For the rest... She doesn't know. But she doubts they'd meddle with Zash at this stage. Could be telling the truth about why she's here.

"My master would tell me to kill you, at this point."

"You're welcome to try," she invites. "But I don't see that ending well for you. And it really would be a waste of your talents to end up dead."

"I didn't say I was going to."

"No you did not. So what are you going to do?"

Elleira points at the far door and beckons.

Turning back to Ira, she asks "Do you know anything of Tulak Hord or Sith alchemy?"

"I know he was our ruler at one point," she says carefully, "but there's far too much history there to go through verbally unless you point me in approximately the direction you want." Pauses. "Permanently altering items or beings was...not high on my list of priorities." Doesn't mean she doesn't know anything about it.

"Aside from his military ambitions, one of Tulak Hord's obsessions was life extension." A hulking figure backs through the door, warding off a few final blaster shots with an immense vibrosword. "This is my Dashade, Khem Val. Formerly Hord's, now mine."

Ira nods sharply, she had been aware of Tulak Hord's obsessions.

She makes an impressed sound as the Dashade enters, and inclines her head. "I'm curious as to whether or not Zash is aware of his presence?"

"She is. Usually she prefers to not attract as much attention as his presence does."

<"Soft but not tender is that one."> He sniffs at Ira. <"This one is strong. Am I to feast at last, my master?">

Ira bares her teeth. "On the whole, I'd really rather not be made a meal of."

"This one is not for eating, Khem."

<"Woe am I. My hunger goes unsated.">

"I found him in the tomb of Naga Sadow on Korriban, next to a map of scattered artifacts. For the last several years, Zash has had me chasing them down."

(Perhaps she should've tried to lure one of the Rodians with her, she's not sure how good eating they would've made, but...)

She hums quietly. "Zash thinks they are the key to extended life?"

"Of some sort. The writings speak of souls and transference, domination. She is cagey about letting me see the full assembly."

"Wise of her," Ira observes - in a tone that suggests it's the first thing she's seen that suggests Zash is in any way that. Beat. "You have a suspicion for what she intends, don't you?" (Because Ira does.)

"Yes. But I do not yet know how I will counter it."

Ira hums again. "By being indomitable seems the easy answer, although far harder in practice."

"You don't say."

She absently spins her vibrosword around her hand. "Perhaps then, we can potentially assist one another."

"What is it you need help with?"

"You know what this compound is rumoured to hold. I just want a chance to get close to it and study it. I think you can likely help me get close."

One of the aliens twitches weakly at that. Elleira ignores it. "Perhaps. Khem, did you find anything ahead?"

<"Hard droids with nothing inside their metal shell and no end.">

"...It seems like there must be a way to shut that down. Although I doubt it is anywhere except whatever room the controls for this entire facility are."

"They seem to be programmed to ignore the inhabitants, at least. That's why this room is quiet."

"...Well, we do seem to have one...approximately still alive."

"Getting it to move is difficult."

"...Does it need to be moving under its own power?"

"I do not know."

"Only one way to find out then."

She gestures negligently with one hand, draws on the Force to get the alien upright (and Elleira might be able to feel that there's something not right there).

"HK, cover me," she orders.

The droid shifts to do so as Ira floats the alien into the corridor behind her, following slowly. (She has no intention of passing the Dashade until she has some form of deal worked out with his master.)

The droids move to attack when she enters, but stand down as soon as the alien appears.

She retreats back to the main room, keeping the alien in the corridor until she's back within the room with Elleira and Khem Val.

"It stopped me being attacked, a larger group is riskier to check, but I suspect we have the power to prevent any unnecessary deaths."

"That seems likely."

"After me then, I suppose. If you are amenable?"

"Lead the way."

"...If you do need to fry droids, please refrain from frying HK?"

"I will attempt to restrain myself."

"Appreciated," Ira notes.

And walks past them into the hall, the alien preceding her.

Elleira follows. The droids remain docile. HK remains unfried.

HK and Ira are both thankful for that, although neither of them expresses that in the immediate.

Anything interesting to see?

Without the droids spawning, not really. Maybe the pods that said droids spawn from.

Can they get them open without droids spawning?

If they try very hard and believe in themselves-

The covers pop open without that much effort. The insides look like what the most advanced 3-D printers in the galaxy want to be when they grow up.

Ira murmurs a curse, and leans in further to inspect it. Because anything that can manufacture droids at that speed is fascinating.

...Is there any apparent way to disconnect them or turn them off?

Nope! In fact it would probably be a very bad idea to poke it more than she already is!

...normally she's all for at least trying bad ideas, but she has another goal right now.

She sighs a little and retreats, and continues on their way along the corridor, keeping her eyes open.

Elleira relaxes a touch when Ira moves on.

There's an elevator up ahead.

She is aware of Elleira's response, but mostly ignores it.

She hesitates a little way from the elevator, and then advances to see whether it is going to require any coaxing into working for them.

It pops open readily enough.

Ira steps cautiously into the door of the elevator, keeping her shoulder braced against the door as she inspects the inside.

It looks pretty much like any other elevator, if an outdated one. Only two floors.

Well, in they can go then. She steps in, leaving the alien in the hall for now, she'll bring it in once the others are in the elevator with her.

It's a bit of a tight fit, but everyone manages to squeeze in.

Well, this promises to be somewhat uncomfortable - although Ira seems completely impassive again.

The next problem is that the floor selection buttons are unresponsive to poking.

Ira sighs and produces what appears to be a screwdriver from... somewhere.

Can she prise the panel the buttons are on open?

"Try having the alien use it before you break it."

Ira flashes that grin-that-is-not-really-a-grin. "Now where would the fun be in that?"

She does, however, go with that suggestion.

The elevator responds to its somewhat clumsy prodding and ascends.

This floor is different. Less starkly industrial, and the pods on the wall somewhat blend into the decorative patterning.

Ira eyes the pods suspiciously, and the decor with disdain. Still, she will proceed, alien continuing to float ahead of them.

"Looks more like living quarters."

"Hm. Which means we're either closer to our goal or further away. Normally I'd say the latter. But..." She shrugs.

"There must be a reason Revan left these people here. If he needed guardians..." She gestures at the pods. "He had plenty of droids."

"Did you happen to notice if you could understand them before you dealt with them?"

"They have a dialect of Huttese, I believe. There was not much discussion."

"Reasonable. But potentially worth interrogating one who is more..." She pauses, glancing at the alien she continues to have precede them. "Able," she settles on eventually.

"Reasonable. I sense a group in the room ahead."

Ira nods sharply, and (somewhat reluctantly) sets her blaster to stun. She glances to HK and the droid nods.

"Shall we then?" she's already striding forward.

"Khem, watch the door." The Dashade nods and falls back. Elleira follows Ira, saber in hand.

Well then. Into the room and trying not to kill anyone.

(Elleira, if she's paying attention might hear one or two whispers of 'shoot, don't stab'.)

The aliens are engaged in some sort of lesson or religious ritual. Most of the group have their backs to the door, looking at the two standing at the head of the room. There's a cry of alarm and they turn to face the intruders. They don't seem to be carrying weapons as they move to attack with fists, though more slowly than one would expect.

Elleira's saber is lit, but in a low guard posture rather than something aggressive. Her other hand is stretched out towards the room, intense concentration on her face.

Ira fires precise shots, manages to sheathe her sword. She moves further into the room, and resorts to her own fists and using her blaster as a blunt instrument when she strays close enough.

HK-24 apparently has its weapons set to stun as well, as it steps in after Ira, providing covering fire. (It steers as clear of Elleira as the layout of the room and the aliens allows.)

It doesn't take long to knock them all down.

Ira prods one with her foot, and then glances around in vain hope that there might be something to restrain them with.

There is not so much anything of that nature, no.

"Perhaps we should have killed some of them," she muses absently.

"There's still time to do so. It would make things simpler."

"Now that does sound like a wise move." She searches out the two that were at the head of the room. She frowns thoughtfully. "Do we reckon these two have more information, and can they be convinced to share it?" She prods one of them with her foot.

"Relative position is indicative of leadership. It seems likely. Everyone talks eventually."

Well then. Blaster flipped back to the normal settings, and Ira will work her way around the room calmly executing the others.

Elleira takes the other direction, lightsaber making a neat little hole at the base of the neck at each body she pauses at.

Well, between the two of them, they'll have the room cleared in fairly short order. Then Ira pauses, tapping her fingers against her blaster.

Hm?

Hm? --Oh. Her hand stills.

"Considering whether they're more likely to cooperate if we interrogate one of them and use the other as...incentive. It doesn't...always work."

"With only two I will be able to keep them entirely still. If it does not work, what have we to lose?"

"Then, I guess we have a plan of attack."

"I will wake them."

She extends a hand pointing at each alien and slowly raises her arms. The aliens lift up into the air, hovering. Turning her hands and clenching her fists, their limbs snap into a rigid spread-eagle, and their eyes blink open.

She produces a truly wicked looking knife from somewhere, flips it over in her hand as she watches the two aliens. "So, which of you is going to tell me what I want to know?" she asks in Huttese.

The answer to her question is a roughly even mix of fevered screaming and frantic babble, centered on the themes of "infidel", "god", and "divine punishment".

"Not the first time I've been called that," she steps closer. "But who is your god? Or do I need to start cutting?"

"The Revan! He will find you! You will die! The Seed! Outsiders will die!"

Ira smirks. "Perhaps," she agrees airily, "but everyone does. Now. Tell me more about this Seed. Where can I find it?"

"Kyaaa! Infidel!"

"We've been over this," Ira says with surprising patience. "I'm aware I'm an infidel. I'm starting to think you want me to start cutting. And I do so try to oblige."

She switches out of Huttese briefly. "Do you have any skills with mind probes?" she asks Elleira. (She could do it herself, but...)

"Not while I'm concentrating on this."

Ira sighs slightly, nods. Turns back to their captives, and switches back to Huttese. "This might hurt," she warns.

And there's that painful seeming wrench as Ira uses the Force, and forces her way into the head of the alien who had been speaking to her, looking for the location of the Seed.

This room, preaching to the congregation - "The Revan guides us! Do not fear the outsiders, my brothers, for they will be struck down by the righteous hand of wrath." - Earlier, in conversation with the elders, three of the seven lights have gone out, as has not happened in recorded memory - he obtains the ritual blessing from the Seed, licking the condensation from his fingers as he walks away from its pedestal, past the control room and down the stairs and to the hall where his flock awaits -

Ira grins. "Got it," she says. "I guess at this point we only need one of them to keep the defences from activating."

"Do you have a preference which?"

"Not massively. This one," she points at the one who was speaking, "appears to have some knowledge of the control room and Seed, but I don't know how useful that'll be."

"That's better than nothing." She makes a fist of one hand, and the other alien compresses in a way that living beings are really not designed to. Fortunately, all of the mess is thus contained as well.

Ira gives that wicked gleeful grin again.

(HK-24 doesn't exactly react to that, but there is a brief movement.)

"Shall we? Or do I need to take over containing him?"

"I can hold it. Lead the way."

So Ira does, tucking the knife away and drawing her sword again. A curt gesture has HK-24 waiting for Elleira and Khem to precede it.

Seems she still doesn't quite trust them. Fair enough.

Well. She's barely trusts herself half the time.

Still, she'll lead them along the path she's gleaned from their captive's mind, on guard for potential attacks.

There's a group of aliens waiting to ambush them on the stairs, armed with heavy blasters.

Ira senses them, and holds a hand up before they reach the stairs. Indicating the ambush awaiting them to Elleira.

She motions Khem to the front. He rolls his shoulders out, readies his sword, and charges the stairs with a fearsome bellow.

The volley of blasterfire that meets his attack doesn't seem to faze him as he continues up and out of line of sight.

HK-24 seems to take it upon itself to follow after Khem - at least, there's not obvious order from Ira - firing controlled and precise bursts from its weapons.

Ira bares her teeth, and darts after the other two, spinning her sword around her wrist as she moves, ready to attack anything still standing.

There is not much left.

Well. That's mildly disappointing, but probably for the best.

She throws HK-24 an irritated look, and glances back to see whether Elleira is following.

Now that her prisoner is unlikely to be harmed, yes.

Alright then, they can proceed, HK-24 falling further back again to bring up the rear.

There's not that much further. Soon they're at the final door.

Ira pauses, resting her hand on the door, trying to sense what's behind it. If there's another ambush waiting for them.

Feels like just two or three people, not overtly aggressive.

That doesn't mean they won't be when their backs are up against the wall.

Is the door looking like it's going to be easy to open?

Doesn't seem to be locked.

She glances back, tilts her head at Elleira to check she's ready.

Her saber jumps into her free hand, and she gives a short nod.

Ira opens the door, and steps through, slipping to the side the minute she goes through, leaving HK-24 and Elleira with clear line of sight. Her sword is held almost negligently, but there's no doubt that she's ready for an attack.

She enters the room, holding her prisoner before her.

The room is wide and deep, short steps leading up to a platform near the back. Upon the platform is a dais, with a strange egg-shaped machine. Wires and conduits sprout from the machine like mold on unattended bread, fuzzing out from the base and spreading into the floor and walls. Three of the aliens flank the device, wearing fancier version of the robes their prisoner is garbed in.

Well, that looks like it is likely her goal. She steps towards the device, very aware of everyone around her, waiting for a potential attack from any side.

The center-most alien takes half a step forward and raises his hands.

<"Please stop, outsider. We wish no further violence.">

"Does that mean you're going to cooperate?" (It's hidden, but she sounds almost disappointed.)

"Wouldn't that be a lovely change of pace," comes a voice from behind.

If Ira is startled, it doesn't show. "Not sure about 'lovely'," she comments blandly, shifting casually to try to have the aliens and Zash in her line of sight.

"Who's your friend, Elleira dear?"

"One of the mercenaries."

"Oh? And what's she doing here?"

"Investigating," Ira says lightly. "Much like you."

"How strange. I don't recall telling you to be here."

"Call it initiative. This is definitely the more interesting part. Besides which. I took care of my assigned task."

Zash taps her lips with a finger. "I suppose you did. Well. Let us table that for now, and deal with the matter at hand." She moves forward, brushing carelessly past Ira.

Ira doesn't yield, or flinch, just tracks Zash with her eyes, seeming surprisingly relaxed.

Part of her (a deeply buried part) hopes that Zash will provoke Ira into attacking her. A wiser part points out that in such an event, she would be required to pick a side, and quickly, and if she made the wrong choice, it would go poorly.

"Now. You three. Who exactly are you?"

<"We are the caretakers of the Infinite Seed that was entrusted to us by the Revan. It is our solemn and sacred duty to see that it comes to no harm and to preserve it against his return. For what purpose have you come?">

She taps her lips again. "To take the Seed from you."

<"You cannot-">

Zash gestures, and the alien who spoke falls to the ground, clutching its head.

"Do not presume to direct me."

<"The Seed sustains us. It gives light, power, clothing, food, water, air. Without it, we will die. But we can offer you a fragment. In time, it will grow to be as mighty as the original.">

"Very reasonable." Ira's eyeing the main set-up, her fingers itching to see how it's set up. But she isn't going to ask right now.

"And how long will that take?"

<"It is said that when the Revan planted the Seed here with us, it was half the size it is today.">

"Mmm. No. I think that will be too slow. I require present results, not future promises." She gestures again and the remaining two aliens collapse alongside the other.

Ira's only visible response to that is a raised eyebrow. She's not going to flinch at killing people.

Although she is rather curious as to what results, exactly, Zash is looking for with this.

She walks up to the Seed's pedestal. "Apprentice, come take a look at this. You can dispose of your captive, I think."

Elleira slams the alien she's levitating against the wall before walking up to join her master.

Ira continues to have no apparent response to the violence. She does drift closer as well, circling carefully to stay somewhat away from Zash. (Regardless of her confidence, instigating a fight when she isn't entirely sure which side Elleira and her Dashade will choose would just be idiotic.)

She and Zash are examining the wires running between the Seed and the rest of the room, probably working out how to disconnect it.

Ira begins her own investigation of the wires, although she's more concerned about the Seed itself. She moves close enough to rest a hand against it.

Suddenly Zash is there, grabbing her wrist before she can touch it.

She tilts her head so she's looking at Zash and arches an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"

"This is mine. You are free to leave."

"My employer wouldn't like that," she says calmly.

"I don't care, dear."

"Hate to tell you this, but the Darth that employed me is far more intimidating."

A flash of amusement, quickly tamped down.

"And who would that be?"

She notes Elleira's reaction, but doesn't respond to it.

"Darth Pyktis."

"Well, if she desires my cooperation, she can speak to me herself. Until then..." Zash's free hand begins sketching runes in midair.

Ira shifts, a deft twist of her wrist intending to free her hand from Zash's grip, other hand dropping to her blaster, absently signalling to HK as she moves.

With a flare of power Zash pushes her hand at Ira, and the world tilts and wobbles away from any consistent orientation.

Disorienting. Is the Force still steady?

Trying to grasp it makes the world wobble more. Zash smirks.

...Huh. Fascinating.

"What, scared to actually fight me?" she manages, sounding surprisingly steady.

"No need to make this more of a contest than necessary, dear." Her lightsaber snaps into her hand and ignites with a hiss.

She's fought through worse than this. (Maybe.)

And she does have her lightsaber. (If she can get it free.)

For now, she brings her vibrosword into a guard position. (Shedding everything she had cloaking her presence, letting Zash see just how powerful she is. Even if in the immediate she isn't using that.)

"Elleira!" Zash snaps.

Elleira- hesitates, for just a moment.

HK-24 is shifting and-

Putting its back to Elleira, and the position is more in line with providing cover for Elleira than dismissing her as a threat. (The droid could easily turn and become a threat to Elleira if it needed to.)

She reaches for the Force again, not caring if it makes the world wobble and sway, if she can't get this message to Elleira, she's not entirely sure she'll survive anyway. She might beat Zash, she won't beat both of them.

I offered my aid. I doubt she can defeat both of us. Claim what your strength gives you the right to.

-she's not ready-

-never going to get a better chance-

A barrage of lightning erupts from her fingertips.

"Treacherous little cur!" Zash screeches, turning to catch the brunt of it on her saber.

Her appearance flickers-

-and the dizziness affecting Ira fades.

She doesn't waste time, her 'saber suddenly in her hand, the vibrosword tossed to her off hand, and she reaches for the Force and pushes at Zash as she lunges for the other woman's back with both weapons.

Zash manages to twist out of the way and escapes with only a gash.

Elleira cuts off the lightning when it might hit Ira.

"You would betray me? I gave you everything you have. I built you."

"I am not your toy. You wanted me only for yourself. I owe you nothing."

She darts to one side, keeping herself low, vibrosword swept back, lightsabre ahead of her in a guard position. She's waiting, because this is Elleira's kill, but she'll help to make sure that Elleira is the one to triumph.

"So be it, then." She pulls one hand back, power beginning to crackle around it.

And Khem charges in with a bellow, slamming into her upraised hand and knocking her down. He staggers back, a smoking hole gouged into his chest.

Elleira renews her electric assault, pushing forward step by step.

Zash withers beneath the attack, sprawled across the floor, smooth face melting away, revealing a pitted and scarred visage.

"Nooo," she moans, breathed pained. "Not... like... this."

"Yes," says Elleira, stopping in front of her. "Exactly like this." And with one fluid motion she cuts her master's head off.

She watches, mostly impassive, but with a vicious glee bubbling under the surface. (She remembers killing her own Master.)

HK-24 has fallen back to beside her now that its combat capabilities seem unlikely to be required.

She stands over the body, breathing heavily.

"You hardly needed my assistance at all."

"She wasn't ready. Wasn't expecting this, now. I wouldn't have done it, if you weren't here."

"Opportunity is everything," she agrees. "So what now, for you?"

"I don't know."

"Would you mind a piece of advice from someone's who's been there?"

"Fine."

"Consolidate your power. Make yourself a force to be reckoned with. But not one that the Dark Council might consider a threat."

"I have two ships, a pirate, a Dashade, and at least one Councilor who destests Zash and anything to do with her."

"...Well. At least I didn't inherit any feuds I suppose." Considers. "I meant it when I said you had an ally in me if you wanted one."

"That would be useful. Do you have a base?"

She considers Elleira thoughtfully. "Yes. Fairly out of the way. And most people have realised that turning up uninvited is very bad for their continued existence. It won't keep a Councillor away, but it will give his lackeys pause for thought."

"If you took me in, I would be- grateful."

"I'll give you the coordinates." Turns her attention back to the Seed. "And unless there's any survivors left, we'll be as well taking this with us."

"I'm not sure how to disconnect it safely. Or if that's even possible."

Ira sighs. "I suppose I should've expected that." She looks at it. "Let's see if we can lock the facility back down. I'll come back later."

"We'll need the control room, then. That way."

She nods and stalks in that direction, clipping her saber onto her belt as she does so.