Alfhedil

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

Also would mention that Velocity likes teaming up with people regardless of power-level. Also hanging out, especially for wing-night.

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

Happy to hear it, I'm just waiting on a few particular people to submit profiles before I start.

@Blackstripe

>.>
<.<

Hope's Last Stand

You look to be in CRUSADING DISTANCE

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

Velocity, our resident speedster, will likely not be in New York. Have yet to decide where to put her.

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy: OPEN)

I'll put updating Velocity's CS on my list of things to do.

The Skirt

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Verra Valinova "Velocity"

- Basic Information -

Superhero/villain Name - Velocity

Civilian Name - Verra Valinova (Presumed Dead)

Origin city/Planet - Central City, Earth

Hometown - N/A

Sex - Female

Race - Human

Height - 5'6"

Weight - >:|

Age - 27

Birth Date - May 20, 1994

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Debut Costume

_{"Velocity strikes a pose for the Central City Bulletin shortly after foiling the nefarious Captain Cold" - June 6th, 2010}

Costumed Appearance - (As her current costume differs from her debut)

Electricity crackling across pink and white, much of her look remains unchanged from those better days of her debut and certainly no one would mistake her for another hero for it. The long years since the Two Month war have shown that it is necessary to adjust and adapt to a more hostile world though, and as such she can no longer afford the flirty and whimsical look of yore. With the help of one of the few friends left to her and an ally within the Justice League, she was able to refine a new and more advanced suit before her disappearance. This suit just like before easily fit within the locket always about her neck, though was designed for more long-term use and direct combat. As expected of a speedster, the material is highly flame-retardant, resistant to high-friction, shock-proof and is even proof against small-arms fire. What's more is that the micro-circuitry within monitors her vitals at all times, linked to both the JL satellite in case of emergency and the smart bracelet on her wrist to display to her any issues. Aesthetic-wise she still wears the short skirt that she is known for, the pleats usually crackling with that signature electricity, bulletproof though it is. She has chosen to wear some actual pants and sleeves though, as well as including a full facemask and cloak for traveling through the wastes.

Non-Costumed Appearance -

Just like most of those heroes who have fought and survived through the Two-Month War and the intermittent conflicts since, Velocity wears the scars of that life plainly and is no longer the bright-eyed youth that she was when it all began. The emerald of her eyes have hardened just that little bit, no longer seeing the good in others and instead seeking out their intentions before speaking. Physically she's filled out a bit more, though refrains from showing off. All said though, due to her meta-human regenerative powers and the speed-force coursing through her she barely looks a day over twenty despite being quite a few years past it, and the marks of battle remain solely upon her mind. Her hair has grown a bit longer as well, no longer able to be held back by a mere ribbon or just let loose and instead left in a single braid both in costume and out.

Icon - Stylized lightning bolt

Costumed Personality -

"There are two Velocities, the one who struck the people as a personification of what we should strive to be, of the best in all of us and the good in our hearts… And the one who witnessed the depths of man's greed for power, of the wickedness in our hearts and lost everything..."

It is said that there is a distinct divide between the heroes of the last decade and those rising now. Where in one there is a rising star and hope to change the world, an optimism that belies their inexperience and often inability, in the other there is the cruel knowledge of what they truly face. The Two-Month War started by the Blackthorne and their dark god. The chaos of their hollow "victory" and the devastation wrought upon the world in the aftermath. They were celebrated as heroes who saved the world, but for some of them the cost was simply too high. One in particular emerged from the flames and ash different from before. Where once there was that self same hope and brilliance, it was now dulled and her fire a smoldering ember that struggled to remain alight. Verra Valinova or Velocity. One was presumed dead with the rest of Central City when the Coven decimated much of the midwest to create their own paradise. The other struggled to cope with the loss of everything she had known for her entire life. Even the Justice League who she had come to find companionship in, and a certain red-masked antihero could not truly see the effect it had on her until one day she was simply gone. She chose isolation and contemplation in order to better understand her role as a hero, what little contact she has had with people since the Two-Month War seeming to be merely out of obligation as Velocity. That is not to say that she is cold or unfeeling, or that she is incapable of showing that brilliant smile of before… Just that "Central City's Sweetheart" has lost a bit of her light and is on the journey to find it again in something.

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Abilities and Equipment

- Skills

Polyglot - Due primarily to her "Speed Mind" abilities, Verra is conversationally fluent in multiple languages, and is easily capable of learning others. At the current moment(2021) she speaks English and Russian natively, and is fluent in French, Latin, Atlantean, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.

- Powers

Speed Force Conduit -

Much like homo magi, the source of Verra's powers is something beyond herself, a dimension full of energy that seems to be the very fundamental force behind space and time. This dimension has gone by many names throughout time, though it is universally known as the Speed Force. People like Verra don't just have a connection to this realm as the magisters do, they rely on the leylines to channel their arcane powers and without them magic would simply continue on as normal. Speed Force Conduits on the other hand, serve a mutually beneficial purpose. Their powers are both a gift to the user, and a very necessary action for the Speed Force itself, serving as a release valve for the indescribably vast energies within the dimension. This is why there is always at least one speedster somewhere in the multiverse, running as fast as they can.

Superhuman Speed -

The primary power of a Speed Force Conduit, incredible speed. Because of the vast energies suffusing their body a speedster, as they are often called, is able to move at speeds beyond normal human ability. While at first she was able to achieve the speed of a mere mach 35 in the first few months of discovering her powers, she has since seen a steady growth after the events of the Two-Month War. Feats that require the use of special structures to channel her speed are now just for convenience, as with enough space she can punch holes through reality and time itself making her among the fastest in the entire multiverse.

Superhuman Stamina -

Along with superspeed, comes the ability to sustain it for long periods of time. Verra's superhuman stamina means that what would normally exhaust normal humans, is as easy as rolling out of bed. It takes excessive use of her powers to break a sweat, and pushing the limits to even come close to tiring her.

Superhuman Reflexes -

Another ability that comes paired with being a speed force conduit, is that of being able to perceive and react to things at superhuman levels. In an instant everything seems to slow down just for her, and she can easily dodge and redirect most direct attacks. No one is flawless though, and Verra's reflexes are only as good as her sense of awareness.

Accelerated Healing -

Down to the cellular level, Verra's body is in tune with the speed force and infused with its energies. Among the many other benefits and abilities, is that of greatly enhanced healing. What would take weeks for normal humans to heal from, she can do in mere hours if not minutes, and even some of the mortal wounds are just a setback. Accelerated healing can be a double-edged sword however, in that she has to be extra careful when dealing with broken bones and making sure to set them correctly as fast as possible before new bone growth occurs. Otherwise the bone would have to be broken again.

Electrokinesis -

Lightning. She can throw lightning from her hands. Well, it's not actually lightning, more like the electrostatic build up of energy bleeding off her body from the speed force when she's running at high speeds. With a little bit of effort she can directionalize the current that surrounds her, usually towards something that needs zapped.

Enhanced Mental Processes -

Moving at superspeed is one thing, reacting another, but being able to understand everything is something that could become quite difficult. Luckily for speedsters, their minds are also accelerated to process information as fast as they receive it. As quickly as she can turn the pages in a book, Verra can read and understand it. While initially unable to retain more than fragments of information attained in such a way, over time speedster minds are capable of speed-learning entire subjects and referencing it later as if they had known it all along. In her years since the Two-Month War, she has been able to reach these levels, having a photographic memory capable of near-perfect recall.

Enhanced Senses -

Even without immersing herself in the speed force, Verra's senses are vastly enhanced by its energies. This leaves her able to see things unfold as if in slow motion in front of her, hear whispers across the room and detect the subtlest changes in temperature or charge around her.

Molecular Acceleration -

Through practice and a stronger connection to the speed force, she has managed to achieve control over the basic elements of her body, allowing her to be able to vibrate at specific frequencies to phase through objects.

Speed Force Aura -

While running at high speeds the speed force envelops her body in an aura of energy, bleedoff from the buildup of kinetic energy that shrouds her and allows others traveling alongside her to be protected by the intense forces.

- Gadgets

Velocity's Locket -

A rather trivial looking thing, the small heart-shaped locket almost perpetually affixed around her neck is actually the source of Velocity's costume. With but a small charge through her skin and against the advanced alloy of the casing, the suit deploys before her where she can change out of her more civilian clothes and into it, stowing away the latter until after her work is done.

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- Civilian Occupation

N/A - At the current moment Verra/Velocity is living off the grid and traveling around the world. Her civillian identity is assumed to have perished with the other residents of Central City.

- Character History
Daughter of the infamous mercenary Julianna "Reverie" Valinova and Iosef Valinova life began at a swift pace for the woman who would one day become the fastest woman in the world. Born in Russia in the city of Saint Petersburg, the military life would have been something she picked up as well eventually. Each year it seemed they moved to a new city, new experiences for Verra as she developed and learned to walk and talk. Despite all of that though she had a brilliant spark within her, never having trouble with fitting in or making friends. Already she was a rising star when her family moved back to America and settled in Central City. A year passed, then two and she had begun to learn the new language and starting to lose the accent as her parents watched and ensured she had the life they couldn't have. Then tragedy struck as her father passed, at first the death sudden and unexplained but later finding that it had been the result of long-term polonium poisoning from consistent handling of the material.

Her mother took it hard, descending into drink and taking on more dangerous and less than legal jobs in order to keep herself distracted from the pain, unaware that her daughter was coping in her own ways. For her it was the schoolwork and finding a more productive outlet, knowing that what her mother was doing was self-destructive and trying to keep up appearances for the both of them. Each year afterward she seemed to keep moving up, acing tests, getting placed in more advanced classes and somehow fitting in cheerleading in between all of it. Those small personal victories added on one by one, showing off to her mother what she was doing and always seeking to make her proud. Eventually though she would find that one thing that struck her, and when it did there was no looking back. In middle school she took track and cross-country on a whim, trying out for the team and placing easily. There she found her passion, at first running to get better and medal for the team, then just to enjoy it and in the end it was the only thing that could bring her calm. A pair of running shoes, open skies and fresh air became an anchor of normalcy for her even as the world changed and strange forces moved in the background.

Then, twelve years ago she crossed paths with one that would change her life forever. On one of her many runs along the trails north of the city, she had found herself a bit farther out and later than normal. It had already gotten dark when she realized she was well away from home and needed to head back, and not even thinking about it she took a shortcut through the forest to get back to the city faster. Little did she know that there was a good reason why hikers were advised to stay on the main trails and avoid the side paths, park services aware of strange anomalies within the darker woods that tended to lead even the most seasoned and prepared astray. Storm clouds built overhead as she ran down twisting paths, eerie lights flashing within the darkness and in the sky as it felt like the air was becoming charged. Even as things began to feel very wrong she pushed on, knowing that if she turned back to find a different path it would only make her even later and risk getting lost instead. She didn't even notice that as she pushed on, the rain seemed to fall slower and slower until it stopped all together. It was only when a bright flash lit the sky and she watched the slow uncoiling of a lightning bolt falling towards her that she realized the rain drops around her had stopped moving. In slow motion the bolt arced towards her, where she stood mesmerized by the brilliant light, strange colors spilling outward as it got closer and closer. Part of her knew that she should move out of the way, but another also knew that it had already been done. That she had already been struck well before the bolt hit and knocked her unconscious.

A month later Verra awoke in Central City hospital. Flower arrangements surrounded her bed, cards addressed to her and wishing a swift recovery as well as a familiar face asleep nearby. Altogether it was just as strange a situation as the forest from her last memory, and it took a few tries to explain entirely what happened. All she could feel was a strange liveliness to her body, as if full of energy and unable to sit still. Despite being told that she had been in a coma for a month, that her heart had stopped multiple times and no matter what the doctors did there was no explaining how she wouldn't have a heartbeat for minutes at a time and suddenly start again. Unfortunately just waking up from her coma wasn't quite enough to be released, and it took a few more days of nurses fussing over her, doctors making concerned and confused faces at charts and of course an endless stream of visitors from school. Finally when it seemed clear that she was fine and her mother had leveled a few oddly specific threats she was allowed to return home.

To say everything went back to normal would have been a lie, and a few times Verra has joked about it when among closer friends even if she didn't reveal what exactly happened to her. School work caught up fairly quick, a few weeks passed and once again she was back to running for the team without any idea that each step came that much quicker than the last. Somewhere deep inside though she knew that she was changed. Things that left her winded before seemed a breeze, her memory became sharper and even though she was fairly quick on the ball with new concepts things seemed all that much easier. A little concerned by that alone, she started to look for ways to press herself, wanting to know the answer to a question she wasn't even sure she wanted to ask. And then it happened. One moment she was stood at the bottom of a hill, a soft exhale and pressing back against the block to start her practice run. Then she was at the top a mile away and with electricity crackling from her fingers and toes. It was as if she crossed that distance in an instant, but she remembered clearly every step. The way things seemed to just stand still as she ran by, the surge of energy through her body.

The crack of the sound barrier breaking rushed to meet her, blowing back her hair and answering the question she didn't dare ask. That night when she was struck by lightning she had been changed, she had become something more than human. A metahuman. At that time reports had been coming in more and more of people with extraordinary powers, and while every kid dreams of such things, to actually have them was something else entirely. On one hand she was positively giddy at not just the thought of having something truly special, but also the sheer scientific possibility before her. Yet… She had been changed, and part of her wondered if she was still Verra Valinova. A month passed by, and that doubt was washed away when she chose to simply accept what she was and try to do like others with her gifts, to help her fellow man.

For a short time she simply went in and out of dangerous situations, moving with such speed that even professional equipment couldn't capture an image of her and all anyone was left with was a blur across the screen. A robbery here, a mugging there, police standoff, bank heist, the more she showed up to intervene the more focus there was on trying to identify the pink blur that kept showing up around Central City. Eventually she would be seen, and as she had yet to actually do more than move really fast and cover her face, someone too clever for their own good would have eventually identified her. Verra knew this all too well and had been working here and there on coming up with something to conceal herself. It came to be revealed in the spring of 2010 when she finally stopped long enough in front of a camera to be seen. Pink and white, a short skirt and the smile that became almost as much a signature as her name and the lightning bolt on her chest. "I'm Velocity!"

Then in October of the same year, everything came to an end. Those forces who had been working in the background came to light in a violent way, sparking a two-month war that led the young hero to work alongside six others in a desperate stand against evil. Each fight took everything she and her newfound companions had, testing each to the limits of their abilities and thensome. For Velocity it was even harsher, as while some like Grim and Wonder Woman had years of experience to fall back on, she was making do with sheer willpower and ability. No one was as hard pressed as her, often having to run between besieged cities to save civilians caught in the crossfire, enter into a battle in progress to provide support for soldiers or her companions, or simply come back home to keep the streets clean. It seemed as if she was everywhere all at once, but as the days turned to weeks, and those weeks shifted from one month to two, the wear started to weigh upon her. Then victory came, but at a staggering cost.

The Three-Horned God was driven from Hub City and back into the midwest, only to sear reality with chaotic magicks that rent earth and steel all the same. A scar was left upon the continent and the world as a whole, a slap in the face to the seven heroes who fought bitterly against the foul creature. None felt it more than Velocity though. As fell light shone upon the horizon, corrupting and destroying everything in its path all she could think of was her home out there somewhere in the chaos. Central City lay in the heart of the devastation, and when it had finally ended nothing remained except ash and ruins. The staggering loss changed the young heroine even if the effects wouldn't be clear for some time afterwards.

After the Two-Month War things returned to a strange normalcy. People, scared as they were of the new world, slowly went back to work. They settled into their patterns and adapted. Other threats rose up and were handled, each one taken care of by what the people had called "The Justice League". Seven Wonders of the World as some referred to them, but slowly her smile faded and she started to be seen less and less active among the more civilized parts of the world. By the time the others noticed the change, she had already taken her new suit and disappeared into the wastes left behind by that war. Here and there word comes back of a heroine who arrives in a flash out there among the forgotten, assisting people who either can't make it to the safer regions or won't leave the homes they grew up in. Some think she was simply too young to have gotten involved with being a hero, that it was the fate of everyone who wears a mask. Others who know of the World-That-Was remember Central City's Sweetheart and understand the pain in her heart. Only a couple truly know though, and for one there is still a single voicemail left unheard in her phone.

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Nemesis: Depression

Allies: Arsenal

Team: The Justice League

Heroes Reborn: Prime Earth (Superhero/Urban Fantasy)

As said before, I can't really guarantee much time due to my own RP actively running at the moment, but could possibly reprise my role as Velocity.

Star Wars: The Harbor's Due

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Someone had once told her, that the world was gonna roll her. The circumstances back then had been vaguely similar, though she had been a mere bystander at that point. Chased by enforcers from one of the local gangs, some petty thug had forgotten one of the most pivotal rules of city worlds like Nar Shaddaa. Always, always, always, watch where you're going. Especially when it came to the more run-down areas. The joke was made that he fell so long that he had to take a breath partway down, but really it was more likely the poor fool passed out at a certain point and didn't even feel his death. That this memory was coming to mind now, with yet another before her making the attempt to justify his own lapse in judgement.

If it had been any other captain on this world, any other ship and crew… The discussion wouldn't have even been had. There would be a pair of bodies left for maintenance to clean up and a few good laughs at the cantina later. In fairness it likely wouldn't have even mattered to specify Anchorage. Pulling such a stunt anywhere else would have probably resulted in being shot in response, and sure enough not even bothering to hear someone out, at knife-point or not. His 'accomplice' spoke up midway through, pitching her services and thoroughly tossing him aside for her own benefit. The face was recognized, image pulled up as reference from the cantina and once more she praised Ashla for the forethought in getting cybernetics for just such a situation. It wasn't that she had a poor memory, just that being able to recall recorde images and video without a datapad was exceptionally beneficial.

"I'll deal with you after things are wrapped up here." Short and sweet, she nodded over towards Sable as an indication of how things would go. "Sable, escort her to the conference room and see if Five-Toes has anything freshly prepped for guests."

A part of her thought to clarify that Five-Toes was their cook, and that with all the circumstances her comment might have other connotations, but she wasn't entirely in the mood to be all that forthright with current company. Two stowaways, an untrained force-user and a boy with his dog shooting at her crew. How many times had they been on this planet before in the last six years? How many times had they been able to lift off without some kind of incident? Not counting the whole misunderstanding with the Mandalorian, it seemed to be in the single digits. Perhaps a change of career was calling to her… The signs seemed all there afterall. Words on a screen prompted her full attention back on the guy who was attempting to justify himself. For a brief moment her expression dipped, eyes narrowing at the message as she read it and wondering just who the hell this guy was and where he came from. Did people still talk like that in some… Yes, yes they did. She had nearly forgotten that one planet in the upper quadrant of the outer rim, some backwater that seemed stuck in the past.

"Look kid, first off I'm not your lady. Second, you're on Anchorage. The one with all the mercenaries and pirates. If you're going to be living in the Outer Rim and working with crews like mine you need to understand that there's no such thing as stupid and old out here. Stupid gets you killed, and trusting the wrong people… Well you should know by now where that gets you."

Whether he was sincere or not in his attempt to appease her didn't quite matter to her when it came down to it. The crew didn't entirely get along with each other perfectly, but she hadn't ever let someone on before after they shot at them, and it wasn't exactly good policy to do so to begin with. Forgive and forget worked fine enough in the core worlds, but as she had said… Stupid and old do not go together out here. A choice was left to be made though, between just killing him and his dog and moving on, taking him prisoner for a bit until they stopped at the next port, or turning him over to Port Authority. The latter was the most ideal option, as it meant she didn't have to deal with him at all, nor did the crew have to put up with someone who had shot at them.

At least, that was what she was going to go with until Kabal and yet another new face showed up. One that looked like she had been on the losing end of a brawl with a gamorrean as well. That wasn't too bad though, as she took in the new person for just long enough to see the bloodied knuckles and that most of the injuries were superficial. She had given just as hard as she got, which showed the blue woman had some spirit.

"Bring bomb."

Oh. That's right, she had given Kabal a sack full of credits to go hunting after that bomb, and somehow he had actually come back with a girl and a bomb. An actual Baradium Fission Device. It as immediately recognizable as such, the gravsled straining with the weight of the almost speeder-sized planet-cracker listing lazily to the side. A planet cracker. Illegal in literally every system in the galaxy and now apparently the company was in possession of one. At least it would keep Kabal happy for a bit and busy, though she loathed the conversations that would come of him desiring to use it. Then it seemed that the galaxy wasn't quite done with her as of yet, the sharp crack of the gravsled's thrusters going out and followed by a heavy thud as the bomb was dropped onto the ground. Silence followed as she waited for the flash and fire, but nothing happened. All it did was throw out a series of angry looking warnings across the control panel and make a few noises as if protesting its treatment.

Solace was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when once more the hangar doors opened, expecting some of the few remaining crew to rejoin them and instead facing the very last thing she wanted to see.

"Get on the ship." The command was given to both Kabal and the woman, mere moments left available to them before things went very out of hand. Then again to Jarak who had followed her here and the boy just behind her. "Get on the fucking ship and don't you dare leave the bomb behind!"

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The longer between that initial burst of panic and the calm of everything in hand the more she had to gently steady herself and once more return to normalcy. At least the normalcy that she knew. Colors swirled in her vision around all in the cargo hold, clinging to the makeshift family of sorts that her sister had introduced her to and been close at hand for the last few years. Shades of blue around the nicer ones, tinges of red here and there reflecting things that had to be done, and of course the tempestuous purple of Verra. The colors dripped off some such as Sir Elbas and Sharp, somehow the force hesitant to cling too closely to them as opposed to others. Verra and Airus had both explained why at some point, and she somewhat remembered lessons from before that another self understood a little more clearly.

That other self lingered close by in her mind, seeming to disapprove of everything. She didn't feel the same way that she did, the other Sena. Where she felt the fear of a moment and couldn't do anything except freeze and panic, that one was calm and seemed to always be watching and with some way out. It was hard to listen though, or at least to fully act out her advice when it was given. Like now she heard the soft whispers that the fluffy creature in her arms was not a plushy at all, and while it wasn't a feral beast either it was still dangerous. Sena had already named him though, and he seemed to like her as well. Otherwise he wouldn't have come to her aid surely? She had been about to simply walk away and allow him to roam the cargo hold, but at Airus' suggestion of meeting the other plushies she couldn't just leave him behind. Just as before, there was no warning and no avoiding it. Sena had simply picked up the ewok and carried him off as if it was completely normal.

Normal. Yes, everything was returning back to normal and soon she would have sweets to help ease her mind from all that had just happened. Of course she would be responsible and only have a little, as dinner was soon and Five-Toes didn't like it when anyone skipped a meal. After all the effort he went through to cook for them everyday she didn't blame him either, though she felt that maybe he was a little too aggressive in how he handled such things. Everyone tended to recall when Kabal went nearly a month without eating and had to get an IV drip before finally giving in. Then again, he wasn't very nice, at least at first. It took a bit for him to get used to the crew, but she thought he actually liked everyone and swore he smiled behind that mask when she was able to speak in Ubese back to him. Nevermind that he still said mean things here and there, probably forgetting that she could understand him now.

Her thoughts were again a swirl of chaos, a soft hum as she kept Bearnabus in her arms in the turbolift up to the main deck. Airus at her side remained ever close, keeping an eye on her as she felt that her sister had asked him to do. She was always doing that, though once he had joined up with them he tended to do so on his own anyways. Regardless it was nice to have friends and family close by and- Something startled the other self resting at the back of her mind, a sudden sharp sensation cutting through all of the distractions of life as she demanded attention with an urgency that made her start in the lift. It was just a slight jolt along her body as she went rigid and her aura was disturbed for that brief moment.

We're in danger!

It wasn't like her to be quite so direct or urgent, causing her to take a moment to furrow her brow and attempt to determine why. There was no one close by except Five-Toes in the kitchen, and he seemed quite occupied with making tonight's meal. Off a little further down the hall was the other girl, the one who sister and Airus seemed concerned about. She wasn't an issue it seemed, the bright flash of presence in the force calming and even dissipating back to the point where she had to try just a little bit to part the noise and see her true aura underneath. Blue. Just like brother Airus and a few of the others. So it wasn't her…

Approaching, starboard side. Three.

A direction… Sena turned to the side as soon as both her and Airus stepped from the lift, concentrating in the direction given. Again there was nothing so she looked beyond the ship. Beyond the hangar. People of varied species mingled about in small crowds beyond the port itself, walking beneath the dome of the city that kept breathable and livable temperatures within. It was harder to determine exactly what the other meant, as many of the people of Anchorage had purple or red auras, showing their malicious intent and that they were not afraid of hurting others to get what they wanted. It took a bit more of a firm hand, her other self taking nominal control once more to direct her gaze at four in particular.

They were different. They were not like the other citizens and visitors of this city. While the others were not afraid and some even preferred violence, these ones… Once her focus was on them she could tell that they were dangerous. With a purposeful stride they exited the same cantina that her sister and the others had just been in, only one destination possible from the direction they walked. Again fear gripped her, but this time it was for everyone around her. These three had felt the same disturbance in the force that her sister had felt, but she knew that neither her or Airus would be able to detect this threat until it was too late. Their intent was clear to her, and she had to make them aware. Her finger pointed directly at the wall in the direction her other self had showed her.

"Brother Airus!" Only a few times was she insistent enough to gain some clarity, some bit of focus. Her own intentions were made clear as she endeavored to reveal what she had been shown. "B-bad people!"

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Earlier...

"Aurek, I'm bored."

Three sat at the table within the cantina, each of them a particular brand of exactly what one might expect in Anchorage. The one who spoke did so through a helm, his voice slightly more mechanical and gruff as he leaned in and the leer of his red lenses focused on the current object of his ire. A few others at nearby tables subconsciously made a move to get a little distance from the hulking man, knowing full well what that kind of person did when they were bored, and he made little effort to conceal his intentions. That was because he was Mando'a. More than that, the skull and horns adorned his shoulders and the colors of his armor were black and red. There were few among the mercenary circles that inspired fear and respect at the same time from their fellows, and where he came from was one of those few.

Deathwatch. Only one of their kind was bold enough to carry weapons into Anchorage, much less into a cantina, and only one of their kind had the kind of presence to get away with it as well. Scores of kill marks ran up and down the sheath at his hip, a vibrosword scraping the floor even as he sat and with a well-worn grip that showed he had a preference for getting close enough to use it. That wasn't what worried people though. That particular honor went to the Z-6 rotary cannon slung across his back and the eerily human skulls that clinked as an armored finger pointed accusingly at the one directly across the table from him.

"I said I'm bored!" It came with the crack of his fist onto the table which scattered cards, credits and knocked over the drinks.

"Ceph, don't be such a bitch." This time a woman's voice, calm and smooth as she leaned in close and caught her own glass before it spilled even a drop. She was deliberate with each movement, not a single effort wasted as the glint of amethyst shone from her side of the table, her eyes focused on the Mandalorian. This one was another more particular danger, enough that her comment silenced him for the moment and he visibly withdrew away from her. Yet there was the obvious inclination of his helm towards her, showing that though as impossible as it was, while he was afraid of the woman quite literally half his size… He was drawn to her. In fact those who had before had their attention on him, were now looking at her as if unable to look away from her eyes. The pale skin of her face slowly came into view as she leaned a little closer over the table, two strange appendages at her cheeks reaching out and very nearly brushing along the beskar of Ceph's helm before another voice cut across the room and chided her.

"Release your hold on them and back away from Ceph. As much as we all know he desires you and knows the risks, I have already warned you both about partaking in such things."

He was clearly the leader of the small group, yellow eyes like freshly burning coals glaring out from beneath a wide-brim hat that concealed his face. It did little to hide what he was though. Horns poked through specifically cut holes in the hat, each a reflection of the other in size and shape as they curled just slightly towards his back, carvings along them going from base to tip in patterns that seemed to twist and writhe, changing shape even as one looked at them. His crimson red skin gleamed in the dim light, one hand bringing up a cigar to his lips beneath the brim of his hat and taking a long draw as his gaze settled on both the woman and Mandalorian in turn.

"If that is what you desire" She countered, and suddenly the other patrons had full control of their senses once more, unsettled by the disconnect between when they had been lost in her eyes and now as they stared at the strange creature sharing a table with a Mandalorian and a Devaronian. It was a thing with the face and shape of a woman, slight and with the correct proportions but something was definitively off about her. Most particularly were the two tendrils coming from her cheeks, seeming to seek out sources of heat and life as her purple eyes lingered on the Devaronian nearby. Whatever she was, there was an instinctive fear of her and how easily she had ensnared those who looked into her eyes.

"I just want to kill something, Aurek." The Mandalorian spoke this time, tearing his attention reluctantly from his female companion and to their leader. "I bet I could take out at least thirty before someone gets a hit in. Just let me murder." A hand went back to the assault cannon on his back and the threat was made very obvious to the closest, a couple people going to their holdout blasters in preparation and some of the enforcers nearby starting to move as they saw the threat. Aurek held up a hand though and immediately it was clear that he had been denied the chance. "You have also been warned." Yellow eyes narrowed in the Mandalorian's direction and just as quickly his hand withdrew from his weapon and back onto the table, though not without some barely audible grumbling.

"You remind me of my son, and not in the good ways. A foolish child too concerned with idle daydreams and playing at pirate."

A rather damning comment which killed the mood even more, as tended to happen when Aurek chose to speak to his comrades. Things were slowly settling back to as they were before the small outburst, most of the patrons around them focusing back on their own issues and more interesting events surrounding them. Someone nearby chose to pick a fight with one of the enforcer droids, a rather impressive KX-Series Security Droid that did not take too well to the prodding from the drunk man. The trio paid no mind to the sickening crunch of bone and scream as the man was flung literally across the cantina, instead returning to their game of pazaak with all the enthusiasm of a misfit group of killers playing with their boss. Hand after hand was played, each of them seeming disinterested in the stakes or the drinks even as they were refreshed and it was all for a good reason.

"Besh, found anything yet?"

The woman glanced up from her hand of cards, lips pursing into a frown as she focused her senses on those around them. A soft ripple in the force surrounded her as she reached out with her mind in search of others like herself. Force-users. As unlikely as it was for such people to be lingering in a place like this due to the large number of bounty hunters and general criminals, the more experienced of their kind would be more privy to do so exactly for that reason. Her gaze subtly lingered along a few particular individuals, a woman with short red hair sitting at a table with a particularly disturbed Rodian, another younger one that was being aggressively flirted at by a Zeltron at the bar, and a Togruta in the back who seemed adverse to dressing like a normal person. The latter woman didn't even try to hide herself, her presence in the force naturally indistinguishable from the natural world around them, but as soon as Besh glanced in her direction she returned with a narrowing of her eyes and tensing as if knowing a fight was soon.

"Not her." Aurek following her gaze recognized the Togruta from a few wanted posters on the bounty-board, and the failed attempts to collect her saber. Not many tended to return after pursuing that particular bounty, which left her as one of the few of her kind bold enough to sit out in the open and actually get away with it. "She's a low priority and we're not nearly armed enough to take her on directly like this." The others were discounted as well, both seeming to be subtle shifts in the current and not the distinct ripples in the force that a recognized force user would be. No one else nearby were of interest either, prompting her to expand her search even as varied events unfolded around her and her companions. The Zeltron and Kuati woman departed the cantina, soon after followed by an Ubese unaware that they were all connected to one person in particular. It was only when she arose from the table in surprising urgency that all three turned their attention to the woman.

She seemed upset over something, and it wouldn't be too out of place considering their surroundings or the perplexed man before her. Yet Besh looked deeper and felt those ripples she was looking for in the currents of the force. Another not too far away was communicating telepathically, sending their thoughts and feelings along a force-bond and before she could pinpoint exactly where she had lost track of that woman at the other table. Try as she might she couldn't find where the redhead had disappeared to, it was as if she had never even been there at all for all the effort she made.

"Besh?"

"That woman, the one with short red hair. She disappeared."

Aurek thought for a moment, yellow eyes narrowing in the direction of the cantina door and the other table. It was not the first time quarry had eluded him or their team. He prized himself on playing the long game though, and rather than it being a setback he merely nodded and set about the plan of action even as Besh returned to searching for more prey. The ability to simply disappear into a crowd was not exactly common, even to force-users. A few before had done such a thing, and as such he knew all too well that patience was the key to drawing them back out. To go out blindly, make a scene and shoot up their surroundings may well have been the Imperial way, but it was not his. Aurek steepled his fingers together before him, eyes closed in thought as he took another draw of the cigar clenched between his teeth. Jedi relied on patience and the lack of it from those like him. It was why he and his team had such a good track record, for they were never expected to simply take their time and be sure of the kill. Least of all Ceph, and he often complained bitterly of it. Even now he knew there was a hunt and was getting more and more restless.

Mandalorians tended to be that way, at least those like Ceph. Deathwatch got the job done, but they were fanatics to the core and it was hard to control them. They needed a tight leash and something to focus on. To that end he preferred if Besh acquired something for them and soon. It was just as that thought slipped his mind that he felt something distinct not too far away, and so did their seer.

"Oh. Oh."

Besh's attention was drawn towards the port, a hunger in her eyes as she licked at her lips and clenched both hands at the table. She had found prey, and by the looks of things something quite desirable for the vampire as it took everything in her not to get up and go for it right there. "Such a bright and youthful soul, untainted and a practical blank canvas. I can taste the brilliance of her aura from here, and the fear in her. Aurek, I want to feed on this one." Besh was practically slavering for the kill, enough that even Ceph seemed afraid and that was all that he needed. A glance to each of them and they stood as a group with hands on their weapons. No one dared to get in their way, as while before they were merely a hazard of life on the outskirts of the law, now they were determined and looking to kill. Their Mandalorian in particular clenched his fists together repeatedly on their way to the door, grasping the handle of his vibrosword and all too eager to unsheathe it.

Outside the crowd dispersed just before them, and Aurek didn't slow his stride one bit. Both of his companions followed behind, most keeping a more than respectful distance between themselves and the group. In the distance there was the sound of blaster fire, at first several bursts accompanied by the crump of a grenade, then slowing as it seemed a conflict was in its final moments. Only a few men in the uniform of the Port Authority blocked their path to the blast doors leading to the hangar beyond. One of them stepped forward, finding a clean hole punched through his sternum and the smoking barrel of a blaster pistol pointed at him. Ceph didn't hesitate as the shot echoed around them, stepping in and in a single motion drawing his vibroblade from the sheath at his hip and resheathing it in the skull of the second guard. Seconds passed between point of contact and the last body hitting the floor, their seeress releasing the man's face to allow him to drop.

Another blaster shot and the panel exploded in a shower of sparks and fried components, the door slowly opening to reveal what lay beyond. Four people were between them and the ship, and within the ship was their quarry. Aurek was first into the hangar, single blaster pistol held aloft as a stern warning while he strode purposefully towards the duo standing next to what was clearly a baradium fission device. Next to him their Mandalorian unslung the Z-6 rotary cannon and aimed it at the CR-90 before them just as one of the group before them shouted out a warning. That was enough to give him a moment of hesitation, recognizing her from the cantina as the one that gave them the slip before. All good things come with patience it seemed, and he gave the signal to attack.

Star Wars: The Harbor's Due

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The violence slowly shifted from that spontaneous moment and into a stillness, tension in the air as blasters were still pointed and it seemed one slight motion out of place would reignite it all again. As ever, Solace's attention was split between herself and the target directly before her, and that of her sister not too distant. Using her force abilities she was at least able to momentarily neutralize the threat by tying up the main attacker, his dog heeling to a command hissed through the man's teeth. That was curious, as the shared memory of Sena called to her of that instant before the blaster bolt. There too the command was non-verbal and when he fired the blaster he didn't give any sort of demand or warning beyond the shot over everyone's heads. Under any other circumstances she might have taken a moment longer to analyze that in particular, putting some thought into the why, but as she slowly followed the motions of his body with her vibro-blade Solace focused a little more on her sister in the cargo hold and Sable defensively poised before her.

++Sena, calm your thoughts like we practiced.++

Silence followed her telepathic attempt to soothe Sena, seemingly unable at first to break down the mental barriers that always seemed to raise during moments of stress like this. Again she tried, a little more firmly this time in order to try and reach her and for just an instant there looked to be an effect on her.

++Calm… Take a deep breath, then exhale. Sir Elbas is with you and I'm also here. The danger has passed so collect your plushie and join Airus at the door. Once I've taken care of this here we'll be on our way and you can go back to watching your shows, okay?++
++O-okay…++

When the soft reply came to her over their bond there was clear reassurance to follow, Solace immediately less tense than before and able to focus far more clearly on the issue at hand. A blaster pistol and rifle laid at their feet as she remained behind the man for a moment longer, eyes on those still in the hold and the cargo bay door shuddering as it wanted to close but could not at the moment due to her own presence at the bottom and her sister's at the top. Sliding her foot around in front of him, she kicked both weapons to her right and away from them and the dog, who had just been fired at by Lucien, but that wasn't her concern at the moment.

"Sable, disengage the boarding protocol. I think we've got this handled now."

Solace was about to step fully in front of their uninvited guests when she felt a slight disturbance, something on their ship sending a tremor through the force that felt every bit like an untrained user having a bad time. As if things weren't complicated enough… Her thoughts immediately went to closing things up here and in a hurry, knowing that someone else on Anchorage would have felt that and it wouldn't be too long before they got some very unwanted attention. At least less so than that of the Port Authority who was already watching the dock carefully and seeing how this situation resolved itself. That was someone she really didn't want to have to deal with today, and actually took precedence over the growing issues on her ship. With a quick tap of the communicator on her ear she swapped channels to a private one, glancing up to the tower overlooking the CR-90.

"VSA NE-3358 Confirming resolution in hand, Authority negotiators unnecessary… Understood, will keep appraised."

As soon as her report to the tower was received and she switched back to the crew channel the defenses stood down around them. Understandably so, Port Authority was not happy with the situation at hand, and the momentary pause between her reporting the resolution underway and their acknowledgement was mostly due to her receiving an earful for yet another incident of blaster-fire in the dock. That left her a little less endearing to the man before her, still unsure of just what drove him to open fire while outnumbered, outgunned and without even the background on who he was dealing with. She would have felt insulted if it hadn't been for the heap of other shit on her plate that needed tending to and competed with each other first place on what was worse. The answer came back as a Yes in general, only the slightest pulling at the corner of her lips showing her distinct irritation as she stared down their intruder before turning to regard the stowaway for a moment and send Airus a private command telepathically.

++Airus, I know you felt that too. I suspect it might have something to do with Natasha, as she had with her a rather bookish looking Core-Worlder when she left the cantina. Even if it's not though, it might be best for you to go and see about removing her from the Zeltron's presence and conduct a force-sweep once we're in orbit and away from prying eyes and ears.++

It came as she turned to make eye contact with her fellow Miralukan… Well, sort of eye-contact considering he didn't use cybernetics and actually relied more on his force-sight than she did. That was something that came to mind here and there in moments when she really could do without it, one of those sudden moments of clarity of sorts that left a lingering idea that she wouldn't be able to shake for hours. Could it really be considered eye-contact if someone didn't actually have eyes? Solace shook the idea from her thoughts for the moment, focusing her cybernetics on their stowaway and a smirk forming as she recognized her. It was that twi'lek from the cantina, the one she managed to get a couple decent angles of on her way towards her and out the door. Seemed the day wasn't entirely bad, considering. Sena too seemed to be okay with their stowaway, giving thanks to Sable for a moment as she gently ruffled the ewok's fur atop his head and slowly made her way to stand at Airus' side. She was calming down now, but the edges of her blue-silk veil were damp from her tears and still a slight shudder caught her here and there as she worked through the exercises to calm her mind and bring back stability.

"As for you." Solace rounded on the source of all this trouble, eyes narrowing and the hue of her iris' changing to a more threatening color as she menaced him with the vibro-blade still in her hand. "What the actual fuck was that? You know who we are right? The guns, armor and big-ass ship aren't just for show. What did you think you could accomplish with that, and I hope you have a damn good reason because I'm short on time and patience right now."

Star Wars: The Harbor's Due

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Conversation continued around her as the situation on the ship was being handled. All around her she could see the patrons working through their own problems, winding down afterwards or just about to make decisions they would likely regret later. One such regret was making her way towards her even as she sent another on their way. Natasha. Narrowed eyes communicated clearly her feelings on the matter towards the Zeltron, suppressing through willpower alone the gentle drift of pheromones that seemed to always waft from her kind. As troublesome as they were though, this one had been useful so far and despite her reservations towards exactly why the woman was on her crew she allowed it under a few of the usual restrictions. One it seemed that had perhaps not been communicated quite clear enough.

"Always be aware of who or what you bring onto the ship."

Doubtless Natasha had an inkling of who the girl was, and though they were close to the same age this one was most certainly just a girl out on the rim in the grand scheme of things. Her name wasn't familiar to her, or if she even was the one she was thinking of, but people like her were hard to miss. Someone who looked every bit like they were so far out of their depth they should have already drowned, and more than that she didn't have the usual look of desperation that most who found themselves in such a position had. No, she was here by choice and it wasn't hard to tell either. Solace locked eyes with the girl, a more stern expression meeting the demure wave as her mind worked to think back on some of the more recent wanted posters they had reviewed for possible crew candidates. A Kuati girl had come up not too long ago, though the reasons for the posting were strangely vague and seemed a bit high considering the charges.

Either way, the hapless pair was off and likely on their way back to the ship. She would merely have to lecture one or both of them later, especially if the girl intended to stay with them. For now though… Another person was starting to approach her, a man making his way through the crowd and once more she felt as if there was something strangely familiar about him. Exactly what could really only be determined if she used her force-sight, but to do so in the middle of the cantina like this on a whim would be irresponsible to say the least. Better Jedi than her had been caught doing just that in "safer" places and paid the price of their lives. Any number of bounty hunters would be more than eager to capture someone assumed to be a former Jedi and cash in on the bounty, nevermind that she didn't even carry a lightsaber anymore or that they would have to go off the word of someone claiming to "have a bad feeling". It was the Empire though, and it was best to play it safe on such things. So she merely offered a smirk, lipstick glistening in the half-light of the cantina as she turned to face the newcomer and offer a greeting in return.

At least she would have if not for the strange tingle along her spine, a sudden sense of danger looming nearby that had only been felt twice before. It was not the usual forewarning that force-users tended to have before imminent danger, such as the split-second before a blaster bolt screamed overhead. No, this was quite different. This was a more primal instinct, feeling the ripples of fate around her and the coming of a potentially life-changing moment. That the first time she felt such a sensation was moments before her clone-commander received the order to kill her and her sister, and the second was that night when they killed a moff was not lost on her. Immediately adrenaline flooded her body, muscles tensing as she went into a combat state and in a blink stood with a fluid motion that had her facing the man with her hand on the concealed vibro-blade at her hip.

There would be precious few seconds, already eyes were turning towards her and the man before her, the crew at the table and seeing others around the bar reacting in their own way. Without knowing his ability and armament it was impossible to fully judge how those next few seconds would go but… Almost as soon as her grip tightened on the pommel of the vibro-blade another more distinct sensation cut across every other thought. Fear. Realization struck her like a blaster in the chest. It wasn't him, and it wasn't here that the danger was. Sena's emotions flooded across their telepathic bond and almost as an afterthought she turned to the gathered crew and they would know even before the hurried messages came across the commlink.

"I should go. Jarak, CR-90 at the port."

Without even waiting for his response, she was gone. Solace wove the force around her as her body was in motion, first disclosing her presence even further in the force until she looked every bit like any other person even to the more observant of force-users. Step by step, more and more she blended in with the crowd and even though she hurried to the door and out into Anchorage beyond, it was as if she simply evaporated…

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Just a moment prior...

Entirely consumed with the creature within her arms, Sena was oblivious for the one moment where it had mattered most to not just herself but to the crew as well. It made such wonderful and strange sounds as she squeezed it, like nothing she had heard from the other plushies that her sister gifted to her. Perhaps it was something new and rare, one of those more lifelike droid toys she had heard of on the holonet recordings… Or maybe an actual teddy-bear from some far off world she had never heard of before. No matter where it had come from, she was simply infatuated with the creature that Sir Elbas seemed to call an "Ewok". It as a strange name, but she gave him a curious look from behind the veil across her face and gave a nod. Ewok it was, but that was such a silly name and didn't seem suitable to just a singular one.

A few thoughts floated around in her head as something else started to gently press in from the periphery. Just as Verra was sensing danger, so too was she but it was ignored as she looked down at the "ewok" in her arms. Mr Cuddleton? No… Beary? Not that either… Hmmmm~ Her thoughts swirled around an appropriate name for someone so fluffy and adorable, the stick in his hand seeming less like the threat he likely intended it to be and more like a toy. Oh! Sudden inspiration struck as a shadow loomed beyond the collected group in the hangar bay. There again was a more insistent press from her deeper consciousness, a voice cutting through the chaos of bright colors, fluffy things and sweet candies.

"Get down."

It ripped through and disrupted her train of thought, in that instant her expression slipping from that of joy and cheer to one more serious. For a split-second it seemed another person entirely was holding the ewok in her arms, lips pulling into a scowl as her gaze turned towards the man standing at the base of the cargo ramp. That was all it took for the image of danger to be sent across the telepathic bond linking the sisters. Man. Tall and lean. Armed. Control was slipping, panic rising. She had but the scantest moment to gauge fully the situation before it was no longer her's to guide. Canine. Anooba. Hostile. The man breathed through his teeth twice in slow motion, her senses finely attuned to the subtle world around her as she was entirely focused on that singular moment. Once. Before her the animal seemed to respond, body lowering just that slightest fraction that told her of a predator preparing battle. Twice. Eyes narrowing, ears flattening. Sure enough the man was the master of the creature and had given it an order of some kind but… A thousand simulations swirled about her of how this encounter would go-

The blaster bolt shattered what little control the other held as Sena was once more everything the crew knew her to be. Such a drastic action provided the expected results as everyone around her sprang into combat without even thinking. Her panicked cry echoed around the cargo bay as she fell to the deck, huddling up in a ball where she had stood while her newest friend abandoned her for the safety of a nearby crate, the only hint of him being there the spear sticking out and menacing anything that might dare to come close. Tears pattered across durasteel as her fear emanated from the woman in waves, afflicting most of all her sister as she rushed across the short distance to the port, but doubtless having just the same effect as her joy from before. The return fire of everyone around her only intensified her fear, crying out for her sister to come help even as Sir Elbas stepped before her protectively…

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Solace wove through people as if they weren't even there, pushing some aside and leaping over others without even the barest of reactions to her presence. The force wrapped about her body like a cloak, disguising her fully and not even the press of her shoes against the duracrete steps up towards the port made the softest whisper of a sound. It was her greatest gift, one that had earned her a thorough scolding back in the Temple when she was younger and discovered it, of course using it to her advantage quite eagerly. With training and focus she had found she had an aptitude for simply disappearing to all the senses of those around her, able to slip by even some of the masters who had been actively looking for her. Up until now it had only been used here and there to get by some stormtroopers or play jokes on new crew members. This would be the first time she had purposefully cloaked herself for what was clearly a battle situation.

Up ahead she heard blaster-fire, those first return shots at the boarder who had so foolishly chosen to brazenly attack their cargo-hold. That almost gave her pause, but she only slowed enough to give a cursory glance around her. No one except the port authority seemed to be concerned about what was unfolding just beyond the open blast door to port-35. Battle-droids rumbled to life in their charging stations, red eyes lighting up as they activated to remove the threat to Anchorage that cropped up in their port. Shit. Need to take care of this quick. If they got to the ship first, then it was likely they would take the return fire from her crew as a hostile act and that would only end poorly for them.

Solace leapt over a barrier, sensors unable to pick her up as anything more than a light breeze and the shouts around her showed ever more that time was not on her side. It didn't matter though, because she could see the man and his dog there before her standing boldly at the ramp. He actually was alone… No one else was in the port except for him and the dog, her crew shooting back at him in that instant after his first shot. Time to end this. She thought, a glance up seeing the shield barrier erected above the ship and blocking any attempt to lift off. With a slide around the corner and one foot pressing against the back of the Anooba to give her a launching point, she was there behind the man and in a fluid motion one hand pressed a vibro-blade taught against his throat with the field off, and the other force-pushed the thermal detonator bouncing down the ramp off into a grenade pit.

Twenty-five seconds passed, a heavy breath passing through her lips as she pressed against the man's back and allowed the force-cloak to slip from her, now fully able to be sensed by everyone around her. At the very least it would mean that the crew still aboard the ship wouldn't open fire on her and the man in front of her just yet… Well, she could at least depend on Sable and Sharp not to. First though… Her sister was behind the commando-droid sobbing on the floor, her fear paralyzing her for the moment, but she was safe enough unless someone made an exceptional effort to target her specifically. "Make your next choice count." Her tone was sharp and unflinching as a soft crump sounded from the detonation of the thermal detonator off to the side. Whoever threw that was also going to get a serious lecture later on, and might even force her to amend the few rules of her ship she bothered to have written down. For now though… All she could do was wait to see how this guy reacted.

Star Wars: The Harbor's Due

@Cuddles 1438 Jarak is clear to send over to the characters tab.