darksideish

[darksideish]

The balcony was cold. He leaned on the railing and stared around the city. Too much light to see the stars. Almost blinding, in fact. He tried to search his feelings. He couldn't quite understand what he felt. Was it beautiful, or was it tired? Was it filled with wonder or anger? Did he enjoy seeing the people pass by or did he feel nothing for them? He let out a deep breath. All his time devoted to the plan, never really time anymore for much else. Today, he was free. He decided to take a walk. He tossed on some casual clothes and ended up still looking mostly formal. The lower districts of the city were filled with graffiti and stains. Rusted metal on old doors that rarely opened. Once used places now vacant. He ended up sitting on a bench in a public square. It was rarely used, dirty, and he got several funny looks. He sat back for a moment and closed his eyes. He felt the emotions of the crowd. So many of them, tired, hateful, disinterested. So many of them sad. So many of them... ...one of them hopeful. It was hope tinged with sadness, but it was hope. They seemed to be coming his way. "Hello." he said to them as they approached. It was a young man of about 17. "...hi?" the younger man responded. "Something wrong?" he asked. "Not really. I usually sit there." the boy responded. "Oh." He moved over a bit and the boy sat down next to him. "What is someone like you doing in a place like this?" the boy asked. "Stealing from the boy who just stole from him." ".......what?" He tiredly smiled at the boy. "You aren't the first person to try pick pocketing me, but I don't bring money when I go out like this. You, on the other hand, have been stealing all evening." He pulled a small pouch out of his pocket. "Give that-" the boy started, but was startled to have it tossed in his direction. "Yeah, sure, whatever." "You're not mad that I tried to steal from you?" "Mad? No. It's not like you want to." "I literally just tried to." He stared at the boy. "You don't want to though. I think, somehow, you can do better for yourself. Can't say how. That's up to you. I'm too tired for this. Do have a nice night, kid. I'm sure you've got places to be." 'If its any consolation, things will get better soon.' He thought. He gestured goodbye as he walked away. The kid was confused. Who was that man? Why was he in this part of town? The boy closed his eyes and listened for a moment. He felt, for a moment, like everything was connected. Like everything was moving. For a moment the emotions of the crowd calmed down as if they knew that everything would be alright. The boy sighed and everything seemed to go back to normal. It was just another uneventful night.

[darksideish]

"Hello! It's rather nice to see all of your welcoming faces today." He said, staring into the crowd. There were about fifty people there. Most of his current organization. The location was a small cafe he had rented out for a few hours. Those running the shop had stepped out, but had left beverages behind for them. "Why are we here?" One of the voices asked. It was an information salesman that he had hired. "Well, there is a reason why I have called all of you, but I expect you mean to ask why were are here specifically and not in, say, some dimly lit underground bar, or a warehouse, or anywhere else for that matter." He put his hands in his coats pockets and leaned against a wall. He closed his eyes and then calmly said "Nar Shub. Step forwards into the center of the room." A trandoshan stepped forwards with a confused expression. "A thousand credits to the first person to shoot this man." Nearly instantly several blaster shots were heard. "Thank you." he said casually. "This" he started "was not a show of power. Was not a test of loyalty. Was not for entertainment. He had compromised an operation of mine on Naboo, all for his personal gain. I am well aware of the fact that all of us are here for our own profit, our own gain, but I am not prepared to have all of us lose for any one person. I have recently gained rights to all of the prison labor on a whole world, and all it took was a few words at the right time. I did not call you all here to brag about this. I called you here to let you know that your rates have gone up. I have more resources to supply you with, and so I will give what I can. The reason we are here, specifically, is because the owner of this shop has recently become willing to operate as a live drop for us. Our network cannot become compromised. I am aware that I haven't shared my plans yet, and know now that I do not intend to. If you pay attention, everything will fall into place in its right time, and you will see it happen. We are a business now, a quiet little security company that also sells in some basic trade goods. Be well aware that I may have need of you at any time. However..." he paused for a second, then stepped forwards. "I know your names." he said simply. "I chose all of you personally. I know what you are capable of. None of you know what I am capable of though. This is a threat. We seek profit. We seek influence. We will not, not a single one of us, cause harm to any of us who seek to harm our profits or our goals. I know your names, and if I have to, I will find you. We all will. I'm not asking you to hunt each other down for sport, but this is a perfect example of our goals. Profit. Profit above all else. This man died for a thousand credits. None of you questioned why, and I applaud that. However, now that things are set in motion...we seek to gain a lot more than a simple thousand. Celebrate your increased pay as you will, your responsibilities remain the same. Just keep watch over what I asked, and you'll find a lot more than that. Betray us, and I'll allow the others to know that you are ruining their profits. I'm sure they'll know what to do about that." He turned and started to leave, before pausing. "Also, I chose this place because I like the drinks."

[darksideish]

A small, personal ship custom designed to look like a miniature star destroyer, though painted black. "Tali, I have need of your services." He said, staring blankly at the planet below him. "...who is this?" she asked. Her image appeared on the holo display. Tall, friendly, tired face. Medium short hair, strong muscles, wearing armor mixed with cloth to give it a half cloaked look. 'Quite the attractive outfit' he thought. He sighed and turned on his own holo display and turned off the voice modifiers. "Right, anyway, I have need of your services." He repeated "What's the job?" She asked "You get a premium job today, quite a deal." He smiled "How would you like to get paid half of a planets entire wealth just for a single shot?"

A small group of people in an underground bar. Password only, but he had his ways of getting into places he shouldn't be. The empire would call this place the base of a terrorist cell. The rebellion would call it one of the few truly free places on this world. He called it an opportunity. He wore formal clothing, the kind of stuff that you would never find among people who actively were having everything taken from them. The kind that would only be found among diplomats, high ranking imperial military members, or people running large scale businesses while either working with, or avoiding the notice of the empire. The people in the room eyed him with suspicion immediately. Their anger, fear, and suspicion was evident even without the force. He sat down in a corner and drew a deep breath. "I'm not looking for any trouble. I'm just some wealthy idiot who hates the empire." His words were very convincing... They just ignored him and went back to their conversations. "Kept me up for three hours at a checkpoint today. Three hours. I almost got fired from my job." one of them complained. "They broke into my house while I was away. They just hacked the doors open and searched the place. They broke my droid. That was my grandmothers droid. I spent years fixing it." "Why can they get away with this?" "I don't know! They shouldn't! I hate that we can't do anything about this! There are too damn many of them! How the hell did any of this happen?!?" "It just hurts that there is nothing more to be done." "You're right it does. Absolutely right. I just wish..." "...that you could do something. Anything, to stop them. Even if it meant begging or fighting." The people in the room murmured agreement quietly, but they'd heard all of this before. "Would any of you like some weapons? I have a lot of weapons." The voice in the corner spoke. "What...?" They turned their attention to him. Who was that? Did anybody remember him coming in? He seemed...odd. "What did you say?" "Who are you anyway?" He stood up. "I'm a weapons merchant. I'm...not really with the rebellion or anything. I don't quite trust those charity types. They can't pay me in promises and smiling free faces. Justice does not feed me. Credits do. Imperial, republic, local, whatever. I'm not here for you people in particular, I'm here because you want to be free on your own, and I see money in that." They stared at him, once again angry and tired. "What? So you want to send us off with your shiny weapons to gouge the last of our credits out of us, and then watch us die to the imps when they come around with an army?" He shrugged "Is there an answer you would accept, or are you just so terrified of actually doing anything to improve your own situation that everything seems like a suicide mission? Scared to look out your window at night because someone might think that that counts as you breaking curfew? Coward." The man ran at the weapons merchant only to suddenly find himself on the ground. He had been grabbed and thrown in an instant. "Yeah...weapons merchants tend to know how to fight. Just a fair warning for next time. Oh, and also, any other weapons merchant would have actually fired this." The man refocused his eyes only to find a small, compact blaster pointed at his face. The weapons merchant flipped the gun around and put it in the mans hand. "You can attack a weapons merchant on your own, but not a single stormtrooper?" He shook his head. "This, friends, is exactly what I'm talking about. They do have an army. They do have AT-STs, they do have giant buildings, turrets, fortresses...but do you know what they don't have?" He smiled. "They don't have infinite of anything. They are people. You are innocent to them. Exploitable, but harmless. Kill one stormtrooper where they can't see, and who is to say you did it?" He pulled out another blaster. "I'm not offering to sell you weapons. I'm offering to give you weapons. It is not charity. It's an investment. If you succeed at this, I want the rights to half of the mines, and half of the wealth of this world. That is all. You think it won't work. You think it'll be too hard, but all you need to do is kill a good number of those useless troopers, and you'll bait out an official who will do something drastic to fight back. When they do, kill them, and in the chaos of the chain of command being broken, by then you'll have contacted the rebellion. They will help you shrug off the empire. They won't fight against an entire imperial controlled world...but a world that already got rid of the highest ranking imperial officer? That's another story." He smiled. "I'm sure you can figure out what you need to do." "It...seems dangerous." "What if they found you here?" the merchant asked "Is this dangerous? What about a checkpoint just deciding that they didn't like you, and pulling you aside and taking you out? What about them waiting for you in your home, deciding that your taste in books breeds chaos, and killing you for it without a single word? This? This is dangerous, but no more than any other day under their boots. Take a deep breath, and try it. Throw away your gun after one kill if you don't like the feel of it. They'll never know it was you anyway." The patrons of the underground bar paused for a moment, and then several of them stepped forwards. "Good." He said. "You can do this. I believe in you."

The troopers saluted him. He had a serious, dark look on his face. 'How could this have happened?!?' He thought to himself. 'This is an outrage! A complete outrage! Not a single one of them should be-' he blinked in surprise as he saw the man in his office. He sat at his chair with a serious expression on his face. He wore a formal outfit and had an odd weight to his presence, as if the entire room was darker just because he was in it. It was almost hard to breathe. He swallowed. "W-who are you!" He demanded. "Sit down." The man commanded. For some reason, he felt he should listen. Despite all of his misgivings, he shook off the feeling. "I will NOT be ordered to sit down in my own office! I am not going to be taken for a fool by-" The man in his chair stared at him. The look in his eyes... He felt himself shaking. This man... He sat down. "Why did you allow this to happen?" He demanded. Oh. Oh no. This man...he must have been sent by...oh god. "S-sir... this is only a minor criminal group. It is nothing to be...to be..." he swallowed. "To be concerned about." "Concerned? This is not a matter of concern, governor. This is a matter of COMPETENCE." The force of the one word shook him. He tried to open his mouth to protest, but was interrupted. "Competence, governor. Yours." The look in his eyes got darker. It was like his eyes were burning into him. Like they were cold, so cold that it sucked all of the air out of him. He couldn't breathe. "I-I...s-s-sir...I...I..." He couldn't breathe. "They don't know about it yet. None of them do. I do." His anger made him shrink back into his chair. If he hadn't been sitting, he would have collapsed onto the floor and started crying by now. Only the hard supports of the arms of the chair prevented this. "I can help you." "What?" He managed. "I can help you." He repeated. "What do you mean?" "I mean that I can help you." "...why?" "Profit. Mine." This...this was familiar to him. He could do this. This made sense. He didn't need to know who he was. He didn't need to know who he reported to. So long as he got out of this, it would be fine. He just needed to make sure this man was paid, and everything would be fine. "What do you...what do you need?" "I want the prisons. Half of this worlds current wealth, and rights to half of the prisons on this world. Legitimate rights, nothing under the table that could have you squirm away from this, or that would get you investigated for embezzling and would ruin this for me." His eyes focused intently on him. It almost hurt just seeing them. "You couldn't afford the consequences of this otherwise." "I-I understand, sir."

A woman in armor hid in the shadows of the rooftop. "How many in the hideout?" "About a hundred." "How many outside of it?" "I dunno. I'd estimate about a hundred fifty." "Really? You're putting both of them about even?" "Well, one side theoretically has more, but also I don't know about outside of the hideout." "So, now are you finally going to tell me who my target is?" "There are two." "I thought you said that this job would be one shot fired?" "It is." She could hear the humor in his voice. "Did you know that your voice sounds really cool in that helmet of yours? It's a nice voice filter." "Thank you. Do try to stay on topic though." She replied. She was enjoying herself here, but he had been really evasive as to what, exactly, she was doing there. "Two targets, one shot, and one choice, Tali." He said. "Choice?" "You get to choose, either way, it's all the same to me." "What is this choice of yours?" "Down on the streets there, there is an imperial governor. He is personally leading his forces, and he is a clever strategist. He knows what needs to be done for this operation, and he has a fairly good chance at victory here." "And? Who is the other target?" There was a small pause. "A door panel." "What?" "Yes. A door panel." "How would that matter in any way at all?" "The hideout there has two exits. One at the front, and one far off in the back. The second target is the control for the door. Shoot it, and it will be sealed off, closing the resistance forces only way of escape, leaving them trapped and easy to pick off, one by one. Your choice. Kill the governor and allow the resistance to win, to call the rebels and liberate the planet, or shoot a single door panel, and close off all escape, ending all thoughts of victory in this place once and for all. The whole world is in your hands. Choose what to do with it. Either way, you'll still get paid." He was laughing to himself. The call ended. What kind of a choice was this? Why would he do any of this? Well, it didn't matter to her, in the end. A single silenced blaster fired. The sun fell over the horizon. The darkness crept in and the doors sealed themselves shut never to open again. Manic, intoxicated laughter could be heard on top of the resistance base. He was there. "Can't you hear it? The entire world, stood still on a point, a knifes edge and frozen in a balance, a stalemate, and now it's all crumbling! All of it! All of it falling apart! Every face, every voice, every thought they ever had, all of it shattered! You made this world! Haha. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" He saw it all moving as it happened. Saw through the troopers eyes, felt their movements, their emotions. Felt the color drain from the resistance members faces. Felt their hopelessness, their fear. Felt them as they desperately tried to hide away, their ragged breaths as they shook as the footsteps approached, their hearts stopping as they saw the lights of the troopers guns focus on them. The cruel pride the troopers felt as they did it all. He even whispered some hiding places into some of their heads, just as an added bonus. There was no way he could have lost this. In either case, he would have won. Now though, at this moment, he felt it. This is what he had wanted from her. Unrelenting, devoid of mercy, and certain of her choices. This, he thought, was a wonderful, momentous night.

[darksideish]

City streets. Same as last night. Same as the night before. Outside of the window, ships fly by. Low end apartment building. Nobody would expect me to be here. All of the resources at my disposal and here I am resting calmly in a slum. I turn on my communicator. "Misprint." It is not a question. The holographic display turns on. Full trooper armor, stands at attention like he is still in the service. It's a charming gesture. "Sir, mission complete. What now?" I closed my eyes and listened carefully. "Accompany me. There is a matter I must attend to." I smile at him. He scratches at the back of his head, though his helmet is still on, so I guess it was just a gesture of confusion. "Hell to raise?" He asked. "When isn't there?"

The club was quite loud. People in every corner, drinking, doing drugs, enjoying the...pleasant view of the dancers. "Sir?" he asked. Not quite in his element. "Yes?" I responded, not really paying attention. "I was under the impression that this was important." "This is important. Calm down. Why not have a drink?" "Look, I'm not being paid to-" "Well, I'm buying." "I'll take it." He responded instantly. Never one for anything that doesn't benefit him, but absolutely one to believe in me. Just the kind of business partner I love working with. I called one of the waitresses over and she took his order. I also whispered something to her as she was about to leave. "Sir, why are we here?" I thought about it. "Can't think of any reason why we'd be in a place like this?" I asked. "I can think of a few." "In that case, sit back and enjoy. I've got something big planned." One of the other waitresses came up to us. "Ordered anything yet?" "Must have missed our other waitress, she just left." I said "However, I would like to know when you're off work." I added. Misprint raised an eyebrow at me. I just smiled at her. She seemed to consider it, and then asked "Planning on taking me home?" "I thought a walk would be nice." I replied. She pulled out a data disc and set it on my table. "Delivered on schedule." I said happily. "Didn't expect you to come personally." She said cheerfully. "I do quite a lot of legwork. It's more fun that way." I shrugged and then decided to introduce them to one another. "This is Misprint. Misprint, this is Val'sun. She's not with us, but she works for an information seller that I am acquainted with." "...Nice to meet you." He said stiffly. I don't think he liked her. "He's the straight laced type." I said. "So, I do know that's our password, but I do hope you were at least a little serious about that earlier." She said with a glance in my direction. "I'm afraid not tonight. I'm busy. However..." I thought about it. "Well, maybe some other time." She gave a slight shrug and left without another word. "Why did you call me out here for this?" he asked, just getting his drink. "Not your kind of entertainment?" I asked. "No, sir." He said frankly. "I've got something a bit more up your alley then." I said, smiling at him. "What would that be?" I pointed towards the doors, and he looked and saw several low ranking officers walk into the bar. "They're not here for us, are they?" He asked. "Not at all. They're here for the bounty hunter who makes their base here." "What does that have to do with us?" "She's said to be quite skilled." I said. "Ah. I see." he smiled. I was already holding my lightsaber. "The only job you enjoy, right?" "No question." He replied, finally seeming to brighten up. "Though you really should invite me to some of those movies you enjoy in your off time. You are good company." "How do you even...?" I shrugged. "More fun to always hold the cards, no?" He reached for his belt and pulled out a detonator. "Hell, why not?" He asked, arming it and throwing it into the crowd. "Never boring with you around anyway." I smiled wide and found myself hiding behind an upturned table as the blast went off. Hell of a night indeed. Blaster fire all around us, and the pulsing music and flashing lights, mixed in with dark moments where the only lights were my lightsaber and the blasts. I reached out and destroyed the lights. In the dark, several voices rang out as his blaster silenced them. A voice came from behind me. "Nice way to get in touch. Got a job for me, or are you just a good samaritan?" She asked. "Pleasure to meet you too." I said, calmly noting that she was pointing her blaster at me in the dark. I slowly turned around and sheathed my lightsaber. "My name is-" the doors burst open and I grabbed her and jumped behind the bar. "Actually, I'll tell you later." I said. From the other corner of the room, several blasts took out the men that had entered. "Misprint!" I shouted, knowing he would understand that we were leaving. "But sir, happy hour hasn't even started yet!" He shouted back sarcastically. I could feel the presence of at least thirty troopers outside of the main doors. I reached out and connected with Misprint and the bounty hunter. I sharpened their senses and connected with them, and they just knew the plan. "And why would I do that?" the bounty hunter asked me. "They're here for you anyway." "Good point." I burst through the doors of the club and jumped onto the troopers transport. My lightsaber hissed on and took out their leader. The men who had already unloaded from the transport shouted in surprise as I seemed to flicker out of their vision. They saw me in several places at once as I came for them. Before they could react, several blaster shots hit them from both sides, taking out the entire squad. I sat on the front of the transport casually, waving at my comrades. "Well, it has been an entertaining night, but..." I smiled at them The bounty hunter nodded. "We seem to have other places to be." Misprint shrugged and jumped aboard the transport, followed by the bounty hunter. "Nice to meet you. I'm Tali." She said. "Hiya, Tali. I've got a job for you." I said. We flew that ship to the drop off point and returned to my base of operations together. Another successful night.

[darksideish]

"Don't move!" they shouted, pointing their blasters at him. He continued sitting in his chair, just staring at them. He wore a long black robe, and carried a lightsaber with him. "Get on the ground!" They commanded. He finally focused his attention on them, no longer reaching out with the force. "...it is, of course, a pity. Is it not?" he asked them. "Get on the ground, now!" they repeated. "Not one for dialogue before executing a helpless outcast?" he asked. "No matter." He stared at them, then stood up from his chair, and raised one hand. "I will give you my lightsaber. Do not harm me yet, I am sure that I have information that your emperor would be quite pleased to hear. I am of no use to you dead, and I am sure you shall see me fall when the time comes. You'll all be commended for it." He slowly reached for the weapon at his side, and then tossed it on the ground in front of him without igniting it. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?" He asked. "Though it is indeed such a pity." He stared at them blankly, neither disappointment nor fear showing on his face. One of the troopers reached down to get his saber, and when they stood up, the man was right in front of him. His face was cloaked in shadow. His hands were empty. The entire robe seemed to be moving as if it was in water, and the world was wavering between physical and shadow. The trooper could not move. "The greatest weapon to exist is not that which can kill thousands, but that which can influence all. Hundreds of years in secret. All of the plans, and works of the many from the weakest slave to the most clever of Darths and now that the plan is complete the greatest weapon is discarded." The shadow moved closer. "Do you see it? Look closely." The trooper saw his comrades moving, even though everything was supposed to be frozen. Their helmets began to rot as if they were flesh, and the mouthpieces opened and revealed teeth. "They are coming for you, child. Don't keep them waiting." The trooper screamed and ignited the lightsaber. He swung wildly at the creatures as they advanced on him. He shouted and kept slashing, one swing after another, until they were all in pieces. The trooper stood there, weapon in hand, staring at the red light of the saber. "Misdirection and subtlety." the voice said behind him. "Our greatest weapons, wasted. Now that they have power, they think themselves singular. They think the old weapons worthless, replaced with might to solve their problems. This empire of theirs is worthless. This is no order. Of course, I was an outcast of my own rights. Would you care to listen?" The trooper turned around. Behind him was a man in a black cloak. This was no jedi. "Good." he said, sensing his decision. "There is much to be done. Always much to be done, and the days are long. Come with me. There is much to learn." He held out his hand, and the trooper held out the blade. Two sets of footsteps walked away from the old ruins. Soon, many more would join.