Where to go from here? (open)

[Lady Kota]

A red armor soldier walked in, the face covered with an equally red helmet. The presence of this individual was not apparent. (Force mask). This was the Grand Inquisitor, she took notice of Prazutis arguing with and officer, before they collapsed. As Prazutis went to the entrance she took notice of the pistol being pointed at his back. "I'd put that down if I were you." She said. Her hand on one of her hilts, but she also took notice of the others trying to hide themselves in here. 'force users.' She thought.
The Grand Inquisitor didn't need to sense them, force users thought they were always hiding in their cloaks. She sighed, she was only here to get Prazutis for an assignment, but seemed like this was going to be the assignment.

[Master Buggie]

((OOC: Posting on behalf of Arruna Lom.))

Of course the accused man continued to deny everything. Arruna simply shook her head in disgust until as expected things escalated. Apparently the shadowy figure had enough of the lieutenant’s shenanigans because not long after the denial the next thing Arruna noticed was the hapless and pathetic officer being pulled relentlessly to the one clad in black armor as if an invisible chain had grabbed hold the throat and was flung like a rag doll into the palm of the mysterious figure’s hand in a fraction of a second.

Amazing. That was some serious power there and Arruna couldn’t help but wonder if she had stayed with the Sith if she herself would have ever been trained in that method by Tormentous as she progressed. Now she had inadvertently witnessed a power she now wanted to achieve herself one day. It would prove to be an incredibly useful tactic if she ever found herself a bit too close for comfort with a foe.

Always the inquisitive one Arruna could not help but wonder that since the enforcer could fling the victim toward him, if it was possible that the same tactic could be used to fling someone or something outwardly away from the force user. Yep, she’d definitely have to learn this ability now and test her hypothesis one day. That was if she would ever be able to advance in her Force Training again.

Was it bad that Arruna pondered those things instead of showing any concern for the victim?

Yeah, probably, but oh well. The man probably deserved all that punishment anyway, and hey at least it silenced the pathetic excuse for a man and Imperial Officer again. That was a win in its self! Plus at this point, it was quite obvious Arruna wasn’t an intended target so that reassured her some. She hoped it stayed that way.

Therefore, Arruna simply shrugged it off momentarily and continued with her business of distributing bills for the few remaining patrons within the cantina so she could start closing out everyone’s tabs. Best to just keep things as normal as possible. Hopefully, it would reassure some of the patrons that might be nervous. . It wasn’t like this was the first time someone had been apprehended here, but honestly the process this time was definitely, well unorthodox.

In other words, it was business as usual for the most part with the added bonus that as she did so, she passively observed what continued to unfold through the force (Surveillance), a tactic she had utilized on countless occasions to achieve goals on previous intel, rescue missions and even just to keep things under control in the cantina whilst it was under her watch. It helped her to be prepared for whatever was thrown her way and to react in the most appropriate and efficient way possible. And it had worked so far for the most part. One of course could never account for all possibilities, but it definitely helped.. So why should this be any different? It was the one ability Arruna used most often and regularly, so it was like second nature to her at this point. At least that was what Arruna thought anyway.

At the moment, the enforcer seemed to have everything under control, but that could change suddenly and without warning. Consequently, Arruna prepped herself mentally in case she had to leap into action for some reason as she started to now gather people’s credits for their tabs, return change, etc.

And sure enough just as Arruna returned to her place behind the bar another pair showed up. She rubbed her temples in frustration as she went to grab several clean towels after a couple of inebriated male Devaronians spilled their last drinks as they horsed around a bit at the far left end of the bar.

Would this night EVER end? she said inwardly to herself.

Not again, she grumbled inside as she called out to Paloma just after she saw the new arrivals.

“Can you please get those two. I am a bit tied up at the moment?”

Paloma grumbled too, but she nodded in acknowledgment and headed that way, but her attitude changed when she saw how handsome the man was.

Arruna scurried back to where the two women were stationed from earlier just to check on them once more when the older of the two that just arrived shot a charming smile at Arruna and the young lady that had been so stubborn earlier and greeted them. Arruna had to admit he was quite handsome, but she knew his game all too well. At least so she thought. It wasn’t the first handsome stranger to flirt with the Twi’lek nor would it be the last. Arruna just rolled her eyes at him.

Just then a kindly, jovial retired senior Imperial Officer and his sweet wife that were celebrating their 30th anniversary in a quiet corner enclave by the far front left window had motioned for Arruna that they were ready to settle up for the night. Arruna was delighted. It gave her an excuse to move away from the man’s pathetic attempt at flirting.

“Sorry sir, but I am a bit tied up at the moment. Paloma here though will happily take good care of you. I have something else to attend to. “

Arruna then without even waiting for the man’s response to her rejection at his pathetic flirtation attempt scurried off without another word to the elderly couple by the window.


Sadly and unexpectedly things just then changed rather quickly.

This couple had chosen to sit in what had been originally a quiet little corner enclave by the front left window, not that far from the front door. As she was about to take their credits, she realized what was unfolding as the enforcer tried to drag the accused out the door and leave everyone else in peace to sip the last of their drinks. That was not the problem though.

Rather, one of the companions of the lieutenant had shakily reached for his holster, fished out the pistol, and had the pistol pointed it at the enforcer’s back while the other two nimrods had done nothing to stop him.

This all happened so fast it seemed that safely there was nothing Arruna could do to help that particular situation other than shout a warning at the enforcer. However, before she could even mouth the words, another figure, donned in red armor joined the ruckus. At that point, between the newly foreboding red-clad figure, and the stubborn girl from the bar having leapt into action and were addressing the culprit, there was nothing more that could be done to potentially help the original enforcer in Arruna’s opinion, so consequently she turned her attention to the the older couple she was waiting on solely at the moment.

!,”


“Don’t worry about it. Happy 30th Anniversary. It is on the house tonight. Things look like they might get a bit messy and I don’t want your anniversary ruined so if I were you I would strongly suggest you go straight through the hall by the restrooms and out the back emergency exit in case anything else unfolds.“

Thankfully, the couple wasn’t stubborn like that woman and they heeded Arruna’s directions and warning without complaint.

“Another potential bloodfest, just what I don’t need!”
Arruna mumbled under her breath as soon as the older couple were out of earshot.

And with that Arruna made her way quickly and calmly back to Paloma still at the bar with the handsome man and his companion and whispered to her calmly but with a sense of urgency at the same time.

“Paloma, I do not like the looks of what is going on at the main door right now. I fear that things could escalate any second now with the arrival of that red clad figure having entered the ruckus over there, so for safety of our patrons, I think it might be best for us to get them out of here out the emergency exits before things escalate and innocent bystanders might get hurt or worse. I will start with the patrons on the left side of the cantina and the bar, you do the right side and be vigilant, okay. Anything goes awry, let me know and I will cover if necessary.”

Thankfully, with one quick glance at the unfolding scene Paloma nodded in agreement and started to do her sweep. Arruna followed suit as she reluctantly addressed the handsome man and his companion.

“Sir, I don’t like the looks of what is going on by the main entrance and I don’t want either you or your companion to get hurt, so I would suggest going through the hall on the left by the bathrooms and out the back emergency door, but if you do stay and whatever happens if you or your companion remain, we are not responsible, okay.”

Arruna then turned her attention to the girl that had come in with that stubborn girl who was now in the midst of the ruckus along with the red-clad figure.

“If I were you I would do the same.”

And with that, Arruna not even waiting for responses from the two continued her sweep, ready to ignite her orangish-red saber if necessary to protect innocent bystanders.

Deep down Arruna really hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Revealing herself as an independent force user was the last thing Arruna wanted or needed.

This was definitely not how Arruna had envisioned her night going. Nothing was ever simple in Arruna’s life it seemed.

She wanted to protect the innocents, but at the same time she was horrified of what might happen if she was forced to reveal herself. Would she lose control again like what happened on Ryloth? Would she once more turn into that monster Tormentous had turned her into, or could she ultimately find the balance she yearned for?

[Master Buggie]

((OOC: Posting on behalf of Neive Undant.))

Prazutis paused.

Seeing the red-armored figure ahead, he thought for a moment, recognizing the design and the voice. It was the Grand Inquisitor, the first time he had seen her in a long while.

Prazutis remembered the woman wasn’t exactly happy with his promotion from Empress Karn, but he could only hope she had no qualms with Prazutis himself over the matter.

Turning, Prazutis saw immediately who she spoke to. The officer had been taken by the arm, one of the patrons discreetly trying to disarm and calm the man. Prazutis almost would’ve laughed if he could still feel such emotions.

The officer looked at him again, his eyes widening as they locked onto the two glass eye holes of Prazutis’ helmet. Neither moved as Prazutis stood in the hall, staring back at him.

Slowly, painfully, Prazutis squeezed his hand. The Lieutenant beneath his gauntleted palm began to grab and hit at his arm, pushing away as his throat was wavering beneath Prazutis’ grip. Yet, the agent of the Empress didn’t pay any attention, and kept his helmet facing the other officer.

Tighter, he squeezed, until the Lieutenant began thrashing under his grip, making gutteral, squelching noises that were just barely audible in the mostly silent bar.

Finally, the man fell limp after a moment, and the officer slowly sat back down, pale as a ghost.

“I… I…” the officer tried to say as he took his seat, finally looking away from Prazutis’ piercing black eye holes, but trailed off, not bothering to formulate any more of a thought.

Prazutis dropped Lieutenant Lamenston with a distinct THUMP before he turned to look at the Grand Inquisitor again. She had obviously sensed as he had, though now he felt another two presences. When did that happen? Another pair of force users arrived? What did the force want to happen here?

Prazutis looked around the bar from the entrance for a moment, thinking. What was his next move? One of the presences was dark, probably either a rogue dark side user or a Sith, as no other Inquisitors seemed to make themselves known, and with the Grand Inquisitor present, they would have. But there were also light presences… Jedi?

Prazutis spotted those in the room wearing cloaks, only 3 or 4. Perhaps force users weren’t quite as subtle as most of them assumed to be?

Prazutis approached, not overly hostile but also keeping his usual, extremely serious walk as he approached. Prazutis felt both the light side presence and the dark one get stronger as he got near a man who gingerly flirted with the woman who had-

Wait a moment. Prazutis recognized this girl. Tibrin?

Prazutis paused, looking at the girl for a moment, then at the man. It took him only a second to figure out which presence was which.(sense force user)

Prazutis put a hand on the girl’s shoulder and leaned down, speaking softly so only she could hear.

"I don’t believe we’ve had the opportunity to talk after Tibrin. Do you have a moment?"

It wasn’t a hostile statement, but it did carry a lot of weight. The last time they met was when Prazutis fought Jacobi Wylcott and Ben Kenobi, and Wylcott had kidnapped the girl. Obviously, now, she had been trained in the force, most likely by Jacobi’s Sith persona, Tormentous. This made the girl dangerous, and if nothing else, Prazutis would want to get her, and any other possible combatants, outside the bar before he engaged anyone. But, asking immediately for her to step outside would have been practically a threat to most people, so he started things slow, and hoped the Grand Inquisitor, and the others here, didn’t lose their nerve and provoke a fight inside.

[Sam Tallav]

BACKGROUND THEME: RISE
Well, now this was complication he hadn't foreseen.

Had Sam known that the Grand Inquisitor was planetside, he probably would have kept Rabé, at least, out of his misadventures just this once. The Empire's greatest enforcer was undetectable in the Force, but being elected to sit on the Jedi Council had only facilitated Sam's access to intelligence-sharing comms between the Jedi Coalition and the Alliance military. Everyone knew about the Grand Inquisitor. He recalled that distinctive red armor being a hot topic among junior apprentices around the Permafrost Temple's 'freshers at one point a few months back.

"I had intended this to be field experience for you, young one," Sam whispered to Rabé beside him. He nodded towards the red-armored woman. "Her arrival may have just made things a tad dangerous, though. Whatever happens, stay put. Be mindful of the Unifying Force. When the time is right, you will know what to do," he bade the apprentice.

Rabé, confused, simply nodded, internally reaching out as far as she could with her senses.

Sam had noticed the way Silvanius had practically ogled him, before clamping down on her emotions, and repressed a smirk. The bartender, on the other hand, resisted his charm, and kept her head about her. The Master's ocean blue eyes followed the Twi'lek going about the cantina, organizing a taciturn evacuation, as it were, and was impressed. 'This one has a good head about her,' he thought, before blue eyes darted forward to find Silvanius again and her impromptu attempt at playing femme fatale. 'They are exceptionally strong in the Force, though, both of them. Shouldn't let the Inquisitors get their sleemo hands on them...'

"Andoan White," Sam smiled at Paloma, turning his head towards her as he resumed his playboy persona, having charted a mental course about the cantina. He had formulated his plan. He bobbed his head towards Rabé. "And a glass of milk for the youngling."

Nonplussed, despite the situation, Rabé hissed. "Hey!" she glared at the Master, speaking in an argumentative whisper. "You brought me here, might as well let me--"

"Your father would have my head if he knew I let you drink," Sam cut her off, whispering just as low, as he patted her on the back in a failed attempt at placating her.

"He would have your head if he knew you brought me into a cantina with kriffin' Darksiders all around us!" she bit back, fire in her eyes.

Couldn't argue with that one.

"Cheeky brat," Sam chuckled, shaking his head.

Knowing she wouldn't get anything of worth out of this little spat, Rabé tried her best to breathe, channeling her anxiety at being so close to the Dark Side into the Force, as best as she could. From her position on the hoverchairs by the bar, she bravely turned head to look towards the commotion, her childish glare finding the Grand Inquisitor, Prazutis, and Silvanius with her back towards them. She slowly moved into a position to defend Paloma and Vidaa should it come down to it, her hands, concealed beneath her cloak, resting on her training saber and blasters, palms brushing against the padding of the Antarian Ranger armor that her father insisted she always wear whenever leaving Galactic Alliance territory.

Just then, Arruna and Prazutis both decided to head in their general direction from opposite ends of the cantina, and Sam Tallav recentered himself in the Force, prepared to do what may, his own palm finding the hilt of his lightsaber beneath his black cloak. Prazutis stopped by Silvanius, but the Twi'lek came up to advise him leave, apparently concerned for everyone's safety. Angle of mouth upturned, he smiled at Arruna again, but this time his smile was lidded with geniality, not seductive charm, as his presence in the Force lit up like an O-type blue giant star system, emanating rays of calm reassurance.

"Thank you for your concern, miss, but I think me and my little friend will be fine. I won't let any harm come to anyone here, in any case. It's actually why I'm here," he attempted to placate the Twi'lek, for the first time actually coming off as the Jedi Master he truly was, even as he kept the Grand Inquisitor, Prazutis and Silvanius within the very edges of his peripheral vision.

[Kita_Ikari]

Silvanius could sense Arruna's panic heighten as she talked and encouraged bystanders to leave.
Another person had entered through the door, already catching onto the scene of the officer with the gun pointed at Prazutis back. A woman in red armor had appeared yelling at the man, meanwhile during the outburst, the young sith had already snatched it quickly from the officer and put it in her pocket for the time being, making sure the gun was on safelock.

Standing straight, Silvanius looked over the woman. Things weren't looking any better for the sith. She was in enemy territory. So there was only one thing to do. Play it off.
Sighing, Kita remained with a neutral calm expression. "Ya don't have to yell, it's been handled." She said as her faded blue gaze glanced at the man having the life crushed out of him. A part of Kita hated seeing his lifeless body fall to the floor, the other part of her said it was good cause there was one less person to deal with. Of course these officers in the empire seemed to be spineless in a sense. Cowering in a corner as they were from the beginning, she wasn't sure why but it seemed a bit pathetic. Kita caught herself and closed her eyes in thought. "Obviously my own thoughts are altering. The darkside definitely has increased more then i realized..."

Heading back near the bar, she sat for a moment and glanced at Sam and Rabe. Obviously Sam was focused and his young companion was staying out of the way of the commotion. Arruna was also at the ready for conflict.

As the armored man approached, Silvanius caught his presence taking in the people remaining in the cantina as he walked forward towards the bar. Unease overcame the sith as he stopped in front of her. His body language had already spoken volume as he leaned forward whispering he knew who she was. Thinking back on Tibrin, she did remember one other person on the Beach that day entering the chaos during her abduction from her tropical home. He had been attacking the Jedi that had tried to save her from Tormentous. The Zabrak. Unintentionally Silvanius felt the blood drain from her face. Glaring at the man, she had already been gripping tightly the hilt of her lightstaff. "If you think your persuading me to go with you, you had better rethink that."

In a split second Silvanius ignited her lightstaff, it's silver blade piercing through the man's torso. However unknown to Kita, the Zabrak no longer had a physical form. Making her attack useless as she withdrew her blade from his armor. She could see clearly he did not bleed, nor have anything inside the armor. "How is that possible?" she thought as she quickly shoved him back and left her seat to stand near the backside of the counter. Keeping her eyes on Prazutis and the woman in red armor, Silvanius tossed Vidaa the pistol she retrieved from the officer.

As Silvanius dropped her robe to prevent it getting in her way, Vidaa caught it and stared at the weapon blankly before glancing up at her master.
"Why don't you keep it?"

Silvanius didn't look away but answered in turn. "Keep on lookout for me. And if things turn sour, leave. I'll be fine. I have a backup plan."
She smirked at the comment. She may have walked into a situation unknowingly, however, she never did go without being prepared for any unexpected failures. Of course her Master Tormentous wouldn't like the fact she failed at a battle at all, but Kita knew it happened at times. Thankfully he wasn't around to witness it.

[Lady Kota]

The Grand Inquisitor had been in a campaign against the Sith, she didn't discuss the outcome, but it had taken a while to sort everything out. She had heard about his promotion, but knew titles meant nothing, she was the Champion of the Empire. Watching the display unfold, Prazutis then went towards one of those trying to hide, calling them by name. She recognized none of the faces, she sighed. 'Going to have to see what I am dealing with.' She thought.

She dropped her force mask in order to feel those here. The Grand Inquisitor's presence was like feeling a storm, however for anyone that searched it didn't register as dark or light. *Sense* She felt the Sith and Prazutis now locked in conversation, she felt the Jedi master and his apprentice trying to hide in plan sight, but she felt the panic behind the bar. The Grand Inquisitor walked past the Jedi master, he really wasn't any concern of her's, unless he wanted to be. No she walked to Arruna, she knew a soul in torment when she sensed one. "The innocent people will be fine, I promise." She whispered to Arruna.

The Grand Inquisitor was not one to take out innocent people, she was one to keep her promises. As long as calm was maintained, they would not be hurt. She eyed Arruna. "You don't have to be afraid, no one can harm you with me here." She said.

[Arruna Lom]

So much was happening so fast that Arruna couldn’t take it all in. Quite frankly she was in shock and awe as things unfolded before her. Like how in the creator’s name did the Zabrak escape that attack? Then there was the fact that before Arruna could do anything else one that Arruna felt was full of power, confident, and obviously someone with a very strong connection to the Force and of great importance approached the Twi’lek and reassured her that as long as he or she was there, no harm would come to any of the innocents, also known as patrons.

It was so much to take in that it left the Twi’lek speechless and dumbfounded. Why did these type of things seem to always find Arruna? The last thing she ever wanted was to not draw attention to herself, yet it seemed as if trouble always found its way to her! She just wanted to have a normal, fulfilling, happy life like her sister had now.

Because she was in such shock that someone of obvious importance in the Empire would ever bother talking to her, not to mention go out of his or her way to reassure her that everyone would be okay, Arruna wasn’t sure what to say or do. Rather she simply nodded her head in acknowledgment at the stranger and said timidly “Okay. So what do you, uh want me to do then?”

And then she simply waited for some sort of direction.