Shelter from the Storm (Return)

[Sage Hazzard]

The doors busted open. Rain drops formed alliances on the ground, slowly flowing bigger on the clean bar floor. Sage Hazzard left a trail of wet that came from the bottom of his boots.

"I'll have to ask you to leave that Lightsabre at the door, sir." A rather overgrown man ordered nicely.

Sage threw the hilt on the security table, head still lowered, rain dripping off his hair.

"Thank you. Enjoy your stay here at the Bar and Grill."

Sage adjusted his coat, water spalshed on the floor.

He walked straight to the counter, taking off his coat as he did. He threw the coat on a stool, dripping water covered the surrounding floor.

"Water." He said.

Redundant, yes.

"Please." He said following the order, raising his head to face the man. Raising his head for the first time since he entered.

The eyes of the two men met. Sage's eyes pierced one's soul, and you never forgot. It was usually a warm glow in your heart, but at the moment Sage couldn't muster good feelings to pass on.

"Master Hazzard! It's on the house." The man said. Water was always free but the shock of seeing the Jedi Master made his IQ jump down 20 points.

"Thank you." Sage said kindly. "Please, give me some bread. My stomach is on empty."

"Of course!" The bartender shouted from the other side of the counter.

He rushed over with the order. Sage ripped into the bread like a rancor to it's prey. He downed the water in one mighty gulp.

"Thank you." The Jedi Master said, finally sitting.

"This place seems differant. Where are all my fellow Masters?" He asked himself.

[Vega Van Derveld]

( Slew.)

A rough voice pricked into the Jedi Masters mind.

( Lain in a pool of their own blood.)

More pronounced now, the voice grew somewhat louder as its origin de-cloaked the Force mask he had created around him.

( Sliced into a hundred or so worthless pieces.)

The Force signature of the Sith Lord now seemed to press itself upon Sage as the Jedi turned to look around at the bar stool two down from his to the left. The bulky man gave a grin, showing the overly large canines which lined the upper row of his teeth. Whether or not Sage recognized the man, the man recognized him. Vega had encountered him in battle, and though the outcome had been undecided due to both combatants being pulled away by pressing matters, the Sith still remembered the lightsiders face clearly.

Finally, he spoke a loud in his usual regal and thickly accentuated tone, speaking three simple words.

Good evening, Jedi.

[Sage Hazzard]

The Jedi Master was in a horid mood. He didn't have the patience to deal with a Sith.

"Get out of my mind, demon." The Jedi shouted telepathicly.

"Go away. Now." Sage ordered in a somber monotone tone.

The man had changed in his absence. He had hardened, something about him was less innocent.

[Satine Capashen]

Alpha was enjoying a cup of klah as Sage burst in, and his eyes followed the dripping figure.

He had his supiscions that it was Sage, but they were confirmed by the bartender. Smiling, Alpha takes his cup with him, sipping it as he walks over to Sage.

"Sage, welcome back! I was--" Alpha cuts himself of as Sage looks at him, those eyes lacking their usual glow, and warmth. "What's wrong," The Jedi Knight asks, wondering what could have happened to his old friend.

[Sage Hazzard]

Sage swiveled his head back around from Vega to Satine. Water from his hair splatters faintly on Satine's shirt.

"Wrong?"

Sage caressed his own face. Hairs were showing slightly.

"Other than my needing a shave, nothing's 'wrong'. If anything, I'm better. My nightmares are gone Satine. Gone."

Sage smiled for the first time since entering the bar.

[Satine Capashen]

Alpha smiles back, and says, "I'm glad for that. Where have you been lately, anyways?"

[Sage Hazzard]

The bartender had re-filled the glass of water by now. Sage took a gulp of it.

"The real question is, where haven't I been?"

Sage sighed.

"What I've been doing is the very thing that ended my curse. I went back to helping people. I'm saddened and..." Sage swiveled his head towards Vega. "Proud to say that I have killed many terrible men in my absence. Of course, they all were threatening the life of innocents. The Light Side has rewarded me with freedom."

The Jedi Master had always believed that the Force was alive and could think independantly. In his youth he killed many innocent men on opposing sides of Naboo. He was drafted into an elite service for Force Users early on after his father died, the branch of the government was kept secret from civilians. He was tought to kill, and he did so with the Force. Needless to say he slipped into the Dark Side many times. Up until now he had reaccuring dreams where he was forced to live the death of his victims through their eyes. Sage always thought o

[Sage Hazzard]

OOC: EZBoard keeps cutting off my longer posts. It's because I'm not logged in. And I'm not able to log in because of the trial ISP software I'm using, it doesn't support Cookies. The last words were:

....this as punishment.

EDIT: TTT

[Vega Van Derveld]

I went back to helping people, Vega mimicked Sage, raising the pitch of his voice slightly, And making dresses in my spare time.

The Sith sniggered, looking up at the ceiling as he thought on the Jedi's words. People like Sage disgusted him - he couldn't stand their goody-goody hero attitude towards life. Where was the fun in it? Always helping the needy - what reward could he possibly get out of it?

Aggrivated by the thought of the peacekeeper, Vega sent out a subtle yet powerful Force push towards Sage, shaking his bare stool violently.

Heh heh..

[Sage Hazzard]

Sage's face twisted from a smile to a blank stare. He placed his hand on Satine's chest and pushed slightly. He wispered to him as well.

"Let me handle this."

Sage swiveled around on his barstool and climbed off. He cracked his knuckles as he looked blankly into Vega's eyes.

"Do you think this is funny scum? Do you think it is comical to be wiped clean from the face of the galaxy as well?" The Jedi Master asked grimly. "If you do, provoke me farther and you will laugh more than you ever dreamed."

[Vega Van Derveld]

He looked away for a moment, a weak laugh escaping from his lips as he stood up from his stool to look down on Sage with a sneer.

Make me laugh, Jedi.

Vega grinned a macabre grin, his fists balling as he crossed his arms over his chest, tiny tendrils of colour flickering across his fingertips.

I dare you.

[Sage Hazzard]

Sage's expression never changed as he looked at the Sith.

He had grown stronger in his absence from the Greater Order. Being a Jedi Master was the zenith of Jedi ranks, but he never stopped learning.

His right hand reached back for his glass. He took a brief look at Satine, he was safe. Sage took a large gulp of the water, prolonging the expected. He crossed his right hand over his body, placing the glass on the bar top.

"I don't know Vega. Maybe fighting isn't the answer."

His hand left the glass and turned into a fist. He uncrossed the arm with speed. It violently backhanded Vega's jaw. The Force enhanced the attack, sending Vega flying over two barstools. He came to a stop, sprawling uncomfortably ontop of two stools.

"Or maybe it is."

[Satine Capashen]

Alpha's mouth drops as Sage hits Vega. This was definately not like Sage. The 14 year old quickly gets into a fighting stance, taking a place beside Sage, and looking for any other Sith that might be lurking, and wanting to help his friend.

[Vega Van Derveld]

The Sith sat up slowly on the stool beneath the lower part of his body, a stiffled and forced sounded laugh ebbed out from his parted lips.

Well... well...

The sparks previous dancing across his knuckles became more clear now, snaking through the spaces inbetween his fingers as he stood back up - the tendrils of Force Lightning growing slowly.

You want a fight, hmmm? He looked from Sage to Satine, sneering, I'll take both you of right now.

In a quick swipe of his hand he had his saber hilt gripped firmly in his palm, it's yellow beam ignited and eager for blood.

[Satine Capashen]

ALpha looked to Sage, and asked, "You want to kill this idiot? OR wait for a chance in the battlegrounds?"

[Sage Hazzard]

Sage rejected the chance to summon his lightsabre, he didn't need it.

He turned to Satine.

"Whatever occurs, you will not be part of it. You're too young to lose your life."

Satine starts to speak.

"No."

Sage grabs Satine by the collar and throws him across the room. It was an act to save his life, keep him out of danger.

His head turned back to Vega.

"You're already dead."

Sage crouched low, his knees bent slightly, right in front of left. His right hand extended in a fist, his left hand went behind him, arm extended as well. His left palm faced away from him, open. He opened his right fist and summoned Vega.

"Come and meet your maker."

OOC - Appropriate time to let the dude in question jump on, no one else post. This OOC will be deleted after the character I speak of posts.

TTT

[Nathan W3st]

There was an audible sound of metal sliding against plastic, followed by an audible click. Nathan West shouldered an new, compact version of the NRSF Assault Rifle called the Sub Rifle, which lacked the power and the accuracy, but was fine for engagements within 40 meters.

"None of you are gonna do a goddamned thing. In fact, both of you are going to sit down and shut up before I add another way for oxygen to get to your brains." West didn't know either one of these yahoos, so he leveled the weapon at Sage, who just so happend to be closer. Nathan was crouched slightly, about six meters away from Sage, and about ten from Vega, and he could put a clear bead on either one.

[Satine Capashen]

Alpha gets to his knees, and looks in shock at Sage. This wasn't like him at all. Upon hearing the click, the JEdi Knight goes underneath a table, taking out a holdout--one small pistol good for two shots, but extremely powerful.

Sage, you know the dude pointing the toy at you?

[Sage Hazzard]

Sage turned around, snapping out of his stance. His legs were close together and one arm was to his side. The other hand was extended, palm up in a reasoning mode.

"Are you aware I can take that gun away from you before you even venture the idea of pulling the trigger?" Sage asked calmly.

Sage kept his telepathy with Alpha silent, and discreet.

"Yes, I see him, and that means you do too. I want you to run Satine, run. Hide before it's too late."

[Vega Van Derveld]

Looking from the Jedi to the gun-toter, Vega laughed inwardly. The man thought he would be able to hit him with a shot from that pathetic melee toy? For once he agreed with Sage, and brought a hand up into the air, ready to snatch the weapon away with the force.

Do you have any comprehension what and who you are dealing with?

[Nathan W3st]

"In fact, I do indeed know what I'm dealing with. I'm dealing with two force weilding morons who don't know a damned thing about this "toy" I'm holding." There was a quiet shuffle, and suddenly, there were five other guns trained on them. Six feet behind Satine a Wookie wearing a vest leved a bowcaster down at him, and growled slightly.

"Now I think I've provided you two with one hundred eighty-one compelling reasons to shut the frell up and sit down.

[Sage Hazzard]

Sage stopped his brain. It was flooded with ideas of how to stop the gun toter and kill Vega at the same time. Now all of those plans were mute. He only wished to decrease the Sith population by 1. Now he'd have to kill six innocent people in order to kill one, plus risk Satine's life. A task easily accomplished, yet unwilling was Sage to endanger all those lives.

"Okay." Sage said defeated, raising his hands in the air. "I'll sit."

Sage moved slowly to a chair. He slid it out from the table enough to squeeze into it. The Jedi Master sat, arms folded.

"First, tell me who the hell you are and why I shouldn't kill you along with him?"

[Vega Van Derveld]

The Sith refused to sit and stand down, however he would listen to the man for now. Perhaps he would have some entertaining little notions to humour Vega with for a while - just to pass away the time before he would be killed.

He snorted at Sage's words, staring towards the man in anticipation.

[Nathan W3st]

"Commander Nathan West, NRSF's 128th Lone Wolves. And you don't get to kill me because this is under NRSF jurisdiction, you stupid Force shlub. You're standing on my dirt. What I say goes." Nathan wasn't partictularly concerned who started it, and if it was a different planet, he would have just as soon walked away and let these dumbarses have at it.

He turned his head twoard Vega.

"I don't recall saying that you could stand there and look smug. But as long as you don't breath too funny, you'll have all the same holes you came in with."

http://learndifferent.clanpages.com/nrsf/west.jpg

[Satine Capashen]

ALpha senses the Wookie, and stans up, his Spirirt Stones embedded in his spine, the ones built to amplify his force powers, humming with reigned in energy. He puts his blaster up, and smirks at Vega.

As West opens his mouth to speak about the Jedi Knight's own cockiness, Satine cuts him off with a stare.

"I'm a Warrior Jedi Knight and I don't take orders from normals like you. Don't try to order me around and I won't have to ripped your arms from their sockets."

He notices Sage's surprised look to him, and thinks to himself Sage isn't the only one who had changed, after all

[Sage Hazzard]

Sage stared hard at Satine. He wasn't one to openly put people in their place, he opened the phychic link he already had established. Speaking with the mind was difficult, it was easier if you had a strong connection with the other, and that he had.

"Satine, suppress those thoughts now. He might not look the part but I sense he's tough. He'll blow your brains out if you make a move, and that Wookie has his eye on your hand. He'll rip it away before you can pull the trigger. Don't be stupid."

Sage sighed. He was hoping the man was a Sith or Dark Jedi, so he could hurt him without a second thought.

"I see your authority here and I respect it. But is it not your job to protect the people of this planet?!"

The Jedi Master stood defiantly. He smashed his fist into the table. Doing so he indirectly smashes it to pieces, albiet large pieces. He takes a deep breath, trying to retain a Jedi mentality.

"Allow me to take him outside and disconnect his head from his body, no one will get hurt! It will save lives. The crimes he has commited... He has already been sentenced to death by the Force. Don't you see?"

OOC - Satine, don't think I want you out of this RP. Nothing's farther from the truth. Sage always takes the role of leadership and protects his friends like a father.

[Satine Capashen]

{OOC: I sorta figured that Sage. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/image/emoticons_classic/smile.gif ALT=":)"> }

Fine...I don't think I could take a Wookie on right now anyways...

Satine slowly holsters his hold-out and contents himself to watching Vega for any suspicious moves...

[Vega Van Derveld]

He really would have liked to feign an attack to see Satines respones, however the NRSF troopers actions were more important at the time. It seemed he had somewhat of an ally in him - he would not allow the two Jedi to attack which left Vega unscathed, however it did mean the Sith himself could not maul the Jedi. A shame.

Well?! Why is it that you are holding us here, hmm? I see no reason for you to interfere in the affairs of the Sith other than that you have a death wish.

[Nathan W3st]

West snapped his head back twoard Vega.

"I don't think you were listening. I said that this is my dirt. If there is unnatural death I had damn well better be the cause of it. Get lost."

[Sage Hazzard]

Sage was growing weary of the chit chat. He had a duty to fulfill, a twisted agenda apart from normal Jedi practice.

In a wave of his hand the lightsabre he had since first joining the Jedi was off the security table. It zipped softly and silently into his awaiting palm. To his pleasure the others were distracted enough to not notice. Vega and Nathan, the key parties, were unaware as well.

The Sith Lord carried his lightsabre low, in a waiting postition. The yellow blade gleemed in the shadowy bar, silent and still, unaware of impending doom.

"Satine, don't move a muscle. I don't want you taking the fall from the council with me." Sage said to his long time friend through their open mind link.

The facial expression of the young Knight Satine showed he already knew of which Sage spoke.

In a flash of blue light the sabre sparked to life. Sage was already out of his chair, arm swinging forward. Vega's neck snapped to Sage a nanosecond too late, the sabre was already on it's killing path...

[Satine Capashen]

Every cell in Satine's body urged him to take action, but he trusted Sage. Even if he wasn't afraid of what the Council would do.

Sage, I don't care about the council. They're weak, in my opnion. But I will listen to you this time...this time.

Satine uses the Force to float his hold-out to his hand, also using it to blurr the people looking at him's senses. The Jedi Knight stands there, rady to defend if anyone else pops in with an insane desire to join the party...

[Vega Van Derveld]

The sudden flurry of blue and doe-brown moved past his line of vision in a brief moment, the Sith Lord's easy regestering exactly what was going on immeadiately. On his natural human (if there was any of it left in him) instinct, he ducked away from the advancing blow, his own saber hopping with a snap-hiss to life in his right hand. He leapt himself backwards quickly a pace or so, staring at Sage.

I thought you Jedi were the defensive types, he grinned, Seems you do have that spark of darkness in you after all, ey Sage?

Serpahim arced around quickly in his hand, its hilt coming to meet his left palm as he took the weapon firmly into his grasp. Now he began his first offensive, leaping forward at Sage with a snarl.

[Sage Hazzard]

Sage knelt down on his right knee. His arms guided the lightsabre to block the blow above his head. After the attack Sage went into a natual roll. This caused the Dark Sider to leap over him.

With the amazing speed that Sage already possesed coupled with ability one has through the Force Sage was fast enough to swipe at Vega's landing left ankle.

The lightsabre made a minor singe, but enough to make the Sith cringe. Sage fell quickly from his roll into a crouch, Lightsabre raised.

"I don't remember giving you permission to speak, scum. Stay silent or your tounge will be the first to go."

[Nathan W3st]

The only real noise from the railguns was the quiet crack of the slugs tearing through the sound barrier, and a high pitched hiss from the air displaced.

Sage managed to "block" one of the slugs, which vaporized the ceramic jacketing but left a fine spray of metal that burned into his skin across his chest. The rest landed true, ripping his legs out from under him. Vega suddenly had three holes in his right leg, one nearly ripping through the ankle.

There was a pause in the air.

"You dumbasses done yet?"

[Sage Hazzard]

Sage wasn't sure weither or not his face hit the ground or the ground hit his face. Either way it felt like crap. The Jedi Master had never been shot before, by luck or the Force guiding him, it wasn't clear. He found it incredibly hard to think straight, so speaking was beyond his realm of possibilities. The only words he could get out was...

"No... H-he--help me...." He managed to get out those words, drool escaping his mouth as well.

The blood was escaping his body rapidly, making it hard to think. Meaning that usage of the Force to ease the pain or aid the healing was out of the question. For the first time in his life since his Father died.... he felt helpless... And then he passed out.

[Satine Capashen]

Satine quickly runs to Sage, assessing his wounds. Taking Sage's lightsabre and thumbing it on, the Jedi Knight cauterizes Sage's wounds. IT was a painful option, but it would keep him from losing anymore blood.

Rising to his feet, the Jedi Knight activates his wrist comm. "Jedi Knight Capashen here. Send a med team to the Bar. Immediately."

Getting a click in acknowledgement, Satine turns his attention to West, recalling his own sabre from the storage area, followed by his katana. Dropping Sage's weapon, Satine grabs his weapon, thumbing on his sabre. A pure black blade springs out of the black hilt with a hiss, and the Jedi Knight looks at West with fury in his eyes.

"You might want to scatter before I forget that you have your friends around and rip your throat out. I should kill you for shooting Sage anyways, but I'll be leniant."

Satine shakes his head to remove a silver quill of hair from his eyes, causing his mane of quills to shiver.

"What's it gonna be?"

[Vega Van Derveld]

They say bigger they are the harder they fall, and boy did Vega fall hard. He toppled down against the bar, letting out a loud restrained rasp as the shots struck against his already partially wounded leg. The stool he fell onto quickly broken beneath him, causing his whole body to crash down onto the floor.

Bloody frell!

He looked down at the bloody running out from the deep wound in his shin and brought his hand down quickly to cover it, only to have the liquid seep out through the space between his finger tips. A growl passed his lips as he looked over to Sage, seeing the Jedi had undergone the same fate. He cursed loudly, calling Seraphim back to his hand to disengage the blade.

[Morgan Evanar]

Two of the gunmen handed over their weapons to a stout looking comrade and skittered to the scene. One leapt over the bar, and after a quick glance about, produced a medkit. The other, a Bothan, took out his combat vibroblade, and was about slice Hazzard's pants away so he could have a better look at the wound, but Satine objected.

"Frell off." Res'lay growled. "I am a medic." The other cleared the countertop and handed Van-Derveld three patches.

"They'll stop the bleeding." She said simply before pivoting on her heel and walking back to her comrades. The Bothan, in the meantime, cleanly cut Sage's pants away while staring hard into Satine's eyes.

"Veers, hand me three sealers with extra bacta." With mechanical efficiency, extra bacta was spread onto each patch, and handed to Res`lay who then applied it with equal speed and precision. Joanna Veers then leaned over the counter and filled a glass of water and set it before Vega, who had just finished applying his patches.

"You'll need that. You've lost fluid."

Suddenly, the medical team was on the scene. Vega quickly had a pair of crutches in hand, and a reccomendation from West to scat.

Sage, on the other hand, was carefully deposited on a stretcher.

[Vega Van Derveld]

The Sith Lord took the glass of what and crutches grudgingly and hobbled away from the scene, seething inside that he didn't get a better chance to attack the Jedi Master and his little follower. There would always be another day though, of course, and he would have his revenge...

[Satine Capashen]

Satine disengages his sabre, and clips it to his belt, while sheathing his katana in the scabbard on his back, he makes sure Vega leaves without bothering anyone else, and watches Sage leave.