[center][h3]Elam and Talnel[/h3][/center]

[h3]Warehouse 4524 - Keldabe Port[/h3]

Despite the festivities of Founding Day, a city the size of Keldabe never truly stopped. Like a vast, unending, machine it churned ever onwards regardless of what happened around it. Warehouse 4524 was part of said machine; goods for various businesses in this sector moved endlessly through conveyor systems while droids, mostly repurposed B1s lifted items from the belts to load them elsewhere. Normally there were at least a few organics doing maintenance or simply keeping an eye on the simplistic B1s, but today W4524 was left to the machines…in theory.

Amidst the sounds of the warehouse, two figures stood, watching the machines, but careful to keep out of their way. “How is your search?” “No better than yours I’m guessing. I followed up on that lead we acquired last month, but the trails went cold. You?” “No better on the fugitive, but I [i]did[/i] see something else, a ship landing in a private dock; it’s not part of our mission, but he’s a known enemy to the Order.”

The first speaker reached into his robes and pulled out a holorecorder and started playback. The short clip showed a VT-49, or one of its copies, coming into land. “Are you sure it’s him? They’re a common enough ship.” The second figure asked. “I had the same thought, but the dock is publicly listed and he rented it in his own name; also I was quick enough to get eyes on the door as he left.” Another holo played, showing a figure stepping out of the pad access and looking about before walking off. “Time for you to pay for your crimes…” The second man said, staring at the now still image of one Elam El-Rud, while his companion nodded.[hr]

Elam disposed of his food and drink containers, and was about to reorient himself to see if he could find the booth that Clan Drahl usually set up in Keldabe during Founding Day, when his comm chipped at him. Putting his helmet on for privacy, he stepped off to the side and raised an eyebrow at the caller ID; it was an older contact he hadn’t heard from in a while, voice only.

[colour=e97451]”Mister Xim? Been awhile.”[/colour] “It has, I know we talked about you helping me, but  things came up too fast and had to move before I could comm you.” [colour=e97451]”Understood, what can I do for you?”[/colour] “I’m on Mandalore and need a hand; the smugglers that got me here tried to cross me but I got free; problem is they’re still mad.” [colour=e97451]”Okay, since you’re comming me and don’t sound freaked I assume you’re secure?”[/colour] “Yes” [colour=e97451]Good, give me your location and I’ll cover you; I have contacts that can smooth over your entry and make you official.[/colour] “Really? Perfect. I’m hiding in a droid run warehouse…um…W4524.” [colour=e97451]”Alright, hold position I’ll be there soon.”[/colour]
-
Being only a few blocks away, Elam made it to W4524 in short order. Hopping the perimeter fence was a trivial task, as was gaining access to the building itself. Once inside he reached out with the Force, trying to sense any others, but it was challenging; partially because of the simple fact that a major city held so much life and because he was not the best at those sorts of techniques. Moving deeper, he still felt nothing. [colour=e97451]”Mister Xim?”[/colour] He called out cautiously. “Not quite, though the heretic [i]did[/i] prove useful.” A voice behind him sneered. Whipping about, he saw a knight of the Argent Order step into view…just as he heard someone else land from the rafters behind him. [colour=e97451] [i]Well done idiot, literally walked into that one.[/i][/colour]

Shifting so he could see both ambushers, he drew his sabre at the same time as the two Argent, the ruby light against their brilliant whites. Now that he could sense them, they both felt like they could challenge him so he wasn’t looking forward to a two on one. “For aiding enemies of the Order, killing members of the Order and profaning the Light with your existence, you are sentenced to die.” In the holonovel version, this is where Elam would snap of so catchy one-liner, instead with his free hand he yanked a nearby B1 at one of the Argent before taking off as fast as he could manage, aiming to escape via one of the high mounted windows; and to be fair he did make it…but not the way he’d intended. As he lept, a flurry of boxes and a droid or three slammed into him, driving him through the window and sending him sprawling as he landed outside, the two Argent hot on his heels.

Talnel, after aimlessly wandering the streets of the city for some time. He had decided to move away from the busy crowds and to a more quiet place. Near some warehouses since he is not used to being around this many people before. True Tund’s population was big but never were the streets this crowded. He needed a break, and he started to think again about his vision. Why was the vision so unclear and what is he supposed to be looking for? He thought, annoyed at his situation. 

But as he sighed and started to lean up against the fence of a warehouse to relax for a bit. Talnel heard the sound of glass breaking and a loud thud behind him. Talnel quickly turned around with his hand on his blaster. Seeing a man on the ground and two people in the background close behind. He can sense them, all three were force users, and it looks like his day just got more exciting. [color=2F4F4F]”What in the blasts is going on here?”[/color]      

[colour=e97451][i]Well done idiot…[/i][/colour] Elam thought to himself, as he leapt to his feet, his cybernetics and Force powers suppressing the pain of the rather ungraceful landing. Getting upright, just as the two Argent landed, after following Elam much more gracefully out the window, he heard a [i]new[/i] voice. His senses now all spun up because of the attack, he could sort both the Argent and the newcomer out from the background Force ‘noise’ of the rest of the city. [colour=e97451]”Argie bantha poodoo.”[/colour] He said. [colour=e97451]”Seems they don’t like me.”[/colour]

The lead Argent spotted the other man, pointing to him with his lightsaber, while addressing his companion. “No witnesses, for the Order.” “For the Order and the Light.” The other replied, advancing on Talnel.

[colour=e97451]”Sorry about this,”[/colour] Elam said ruefully to his new ‘friend’ as he readied to face his opponent. [colour=e97451]”I’ll owe you a drink after this.”[/colour]

Argent? Talnel had heard of them, and it looks like he has no choice but to fight if he wants to live. Granted, he could try to flee, but leaving his new friend to die in the process and since these are Argent. Then he should probably help the man, and in either case. He is probably going to have to use the force and while he would rather not to… but again little choice in the matter.  Talnel was quick to make up his mind. 

So Talnel jumped the fence and drew his blaster. He knew that the Argent could not sense that he was a force user since he has been using force stealth since coming to the planet, so maybe he could use that to his advantage.

“I will make this quick for your sake.” The Argent said to him as he started charging towards him with lightsaber in hand. 

Talnel held down the trigger for his blaster, charging it for a stronger shot, and waited until the Argent got close enough. When the Argent was about to swing at him. Talnel used force blind on him, and a sudden burst of force energy erupted in the Argent’s face and the Argent was blinded. 

“What did you do to me?” He said, and before he could regain his sight.

Talnel aimed for an opening and fired a shot from his blaster, and it hit the Argent square in the head. The Argent fell down, and his lightsaber turned off. 

With his Argent dead, Talnel looked at how Elam and his fight was going. Hopefully, as well as it was for him.  
    
The two Argent rushed their targets at the same time, leaving Elam hoping his new ‘friend’ could handle himself as he had his own problems. Taking it defensive for a moment, at first Elam focused on blocks and parrys, trying to activate combat protocols, but it was obvious the Argent he was fighting knew about them and the fact that he needed a moment or two to bring them online, so he was pushing the pace.

[colour=e97451][i]Fine, burn.[/i][/colour] He thought. Hitting the Argent with a quick Throw to give himself an opening, he went on the offence; as he did so he used Convection to alter himself. In moments the air rippled and shimmered with intense heat and the Argent yelled as they got into a bind with their sabres and the heat began to singe skin and cloth.

A desperate Push knocked Elam back and the Argent tried to leap free, but he was in no mood for a drawn out fight. Letting go of the Convection, he focused Combustion on the Argent’s lightsaber, the glowing blade a good focusing point. As the man landed the hilt exploded like a simple grenade, shredding his hand and forearm. In the back of his mind, part of him said to interrogate the Argie to find out what was going on; but Elam was too mad, both at the ambush and himself for falling for it. Instead he channelled a powerful Push that sent he opponent flying back towards the wall of W4524 at speed usually reserved for swoop bikes. Blinded by the pain, the Argent knight was unable to save himself and he hit like an overly large bug on a windscreen.

Coming out of it, Elam deactivated his sabre and turned to the other man. Seeing the second Argent down with a neat blaster hole between the eyes, he chuckled and removed his helmet. [colour=e97451]”And here I was worrying I’d dragged some poor bastard into my problems…seems you handled yourself rather well.”[/colour] He said, clipping his hilt back on his belt.[colour=e97451]”Like I said, sorry for dragging you into my problems; never thought the Argies would be stupid enough to pull kark on Mandalore [i]especially[/i] today.”[/colour]

[colour=e97451]I’m Elam El-Rud[/colour] He added, offering a hand. [colour=e97451]I think I owe you a drink or two.[/colour]

Talnel put his blaster away and walked over and spoke to Elam. [color=2F4F4F]”I will just take the one, and I thought a cantina fight was going to be the most… exciting highlight of my day.”[/color] He sighed as he looked at the Argent bodies. [color=2F4F4F]” I am Talnel, and to be fair,  the Argents did not really give me a choice in the matter.”[/color] 

Was this what his vision was about? Talnel did not know, and he shook Elam’s hand. [color=2F4F4F] “They were bold to attack here and during the anniversary.” [/color]He looked again at their bodies, the first time he faced a force user in combat, and he managed to come out alive. Though they were not expecting him to be a force user as well. Did Elam notice? Better not bring up that, he thought.

While he was hesitant to accept Elam’s offer,  he did feel some obligation to Elam who might have died without him, and he can wander the city later. Who knows maybe this is what his vision was about. [color=2F4F4F]”We better get out of here before someone sees or who knows. More Argent show up, and I would rather my day not get more exciting, so let’s get that drink a place away from here.”[/color]