So far as worlds in a galaxy far far away went, Odessen was relatively unsettled in the grand scheme of things. The Alliance base was built into a mountain to make it easy to defend, difficult to destroy. The network of caves offering all who lived and worked there the safety of hallways that would turn any idiotic attack by unprepared assailants into a free-for-all shooting gallery. Aside from that and outside the base's walls laid an entire planet's worth of wilderness full of lifeforms that could be either vicious or benign depending on whether they were predator or prey.
Unfortunately for their otherworldly visitor- or perhaps fortunately depending on one's point of view- rather than out in the wilderness where the biggest concern were a few hungry predators, the Force or the Void or the train or whatever mystical power that was in motion decided that the base's front door was a good place for a person to be dropped off rather unceremoniously and entirely unannounced.
And security was not necessarily more lax just outside the doorstep.
"Halt, meatbag!" Cried a voice that was most decidedly not human, or even organic at all, the electronic twang matching the approaching being- metal in yellow and black, shiny with a few scuffmarks, rifle trained on his target. Not alone either, a similar metal monstrosity following close behind, the sound of metal clanking against metal as they moved over the walkway that connected the base to the wilderness beyond. Though they were both armed, neither were attacking yet.
All bets were off on the figures in black and the figures in robes though. Not there one moment. There the next, up on the railings, behind and in front.
Predators circling prey wasn't the best description, but it looked the part and probably felt it too. The darkly clad figures had already pulled their weapons- blades that looked like fire, red and menacing- while the ones in flowing robes were entirely more hesitant to open with hostility despite their wariness.
"Not one move, meatbag, or I will spill your slippery components onto the walkway and into the chasm below!"
The perfectly pleasant greeting of a community not fond of unexpected visitors indeed.
Of course however paranoid the people who called the planet home were, there was one man who outclassed them all. One living breathing hive of secrets and lies who never relied on luck and always relied on being in the know when his busy little worker ants worked themselves into a frenzy without asking nicely if they had permission first.
Two minutes. It had taken two minutes for one of his little pawns to come stumbling into his office and by then he was already ready to head out. Aden had felt entirely more comfortable since returning- back to having enough weaponry on hand to both start and stop a few wars which he by far preferred to having to borrow some dinky little knife with which to defend himself. Though he had preferred even that at the time over being entirely unarmed.
Both the man who had come to report and every other person in his way flattened themselves against the wall as he passed, knowing better than to go about their business when their Commander moved with such purpose.
--- Knife.
That was the interruption to whatever the situation had devolved into in the time it had taken Aden to move from his office and down to the walkway that connected the base to the hill where his starship usually stood. A well-aimed throw going right through the wrist of the most aggressive of the Sith who had decided to respond to the unusual presence alongside his friends and the pair of metal assassins, ensuring that the only thing going down into the chasm below the walkway was a lightsaber and some blood.
To the Sith's credit, there was no yelp of pain, though there was an exhale of surprise.
"Everyone stand down," Came the cool voice that was entirely more commanding here than it had been on a certain metal coffin hurtling through the unknowable Void going who even knew where, "Or you're going to have to get some very shoddy cybernetics to replace that hand."
Much as he would have preferred to be entirely more gentle because he understood, most of his people- except perhaps the very relieved Jedi who followed the Sith in defense of both base and commander- didn't understand and wouldn't listen, too enamored with their own aggression to be willing to speak any other language than violence at the moment.
The glint of knives inside that long dark coat certainly made his threat very real, given the accuracy of the first thrown dagger.
"Back inside," A nod towards the elevator that led up and into the caves, "And I'll want that back."
To the Sith with the knife through his wrist, who was thankfully wise enough to not just yank it back out of his flesh. Whatever and whoever Aden had been on the train could wait. Right now he was the Commander and Keeper of all the Empire's secrets and lies, holding himself with an air of importance that both did and did not suit him.
Being anyone else would have to wait until everyone except him and his fellow Voidtrecker had slinked off back inside with their tail between their legs. He certainly hoped the ever so subtle shift in his expression was enough to communicate as much.
no subject
Unfortunately for their otherworldly visitor- or perhaps fortunately depending on one's point of view- rather than out in the wilderness where the biggest concern were a few hungry predators, the Force or the Void or the train or whatever mystical power that was in motion decided that the base's front door was a good place for a person to be dropped off rather unceremoniously and entirely unannounced.
And security was not necessarily more lax just outside the doorstep.
"Halt, meatbag!" Cried a voice that was most decidedly not human, or even organic at all, the electronic twang matching the approaching being- metal in yellow and black, shiny with a few scuffmarks, rifle trained on his target. Not alone either, a similar metal monstrosity following close behind, the sound of metal clanking against metal as they moved over the walkway that connected the base to the wilderness beyond. Though they were both armed, neither were attacking yet.
All bets were off on the figures in black and the figures in robes though. Not there one moment. There the next, up on the railings, behind and in front.
Predators circling prey wasn't the best description, but it looked the part and probably felt it too. The darkly clad figures had already pulled their weapons- blades that looked like fire, red and menacing- while the ones in flowing robes were entirely more hesitant to open with hostility despite their wariness.
"Not one move, meatbag, or I will spill your slippery components onto the walkway and into the chasm below!"
The perfectly pleasant greeting of a community not fond of unexpected visitors indeed.
Of course however paranoid the people who called the planet home were, there was one man who outclassed them all. One living breathing hive of secrets and lies who never relied on luck and always relied on being in the know when his busy little worker ants worked themselves into a frenzy without asking nicely if they had permission first.
Two minutes. It had taken two minutes for one of his little pawns to come stumbling into his office and by then he was already ready to head out. Aden had felt entirely more comfortable since returning- back to having enough weaponry on hand to both start and stop a few wars which he by far preferred to having to borrow some dinky little knife with which to defend himself. Though he had preferred even that at the time over being entirely unarmed.
Both the man who had come to report and every other person in his way flattened themselves against the wall as he passed, knowing better than to go about their business when their Commander moved with such purpose.
--- Knife.
That was the interruption to whatever the situation had devolved into in the time it had taken Aden to move from his office and down to the walkway that connected the base to the hill where his starship usually stood. A well-aimed throw going right through the wrist of the most aggressive of the Sith who had decided to respond to the unusual presence alongside his friends and the pair of metal assassins, ensuring that the only thing going down into the chasm below the walkway was a lightsaber and some blood.
To the Sith's credit, there was no yelp of pain, though there was an exhale of surprise.
"Everyone stand down," Came the cool voice that was entirely more commanding here than it had been on a certain metal coffin hurtling through the unknowable Void going who even knew where, "Or you're going to have to get some very shoddy cybernetics to replace that hand."
Much as he would have preferred to be entirely more gentle because he understood, most of his people- except perhaps the very relieved Jedi who followed the Sith in defense of both base and commander- didn't understand and wouldn't listen, too enamored with their own aggression to be willing to speak any other language than violence at the moment.
The glint of knives inside that long dark coat certainly made his threat very real, given the accuracy of the first thrown dagger.
"Back inside," A nod towards the elevator that led up and into the caves, "And I'll want that back."
To the Sith with the knife through his wrist, who was thankfully wise enough to not just yank it back out of his flesh. Whatever and whoever Aden had been on the train could wait. Right now he was the Commander and Keeper of all the Empire's secrets and lies, holding himself with an air of importance that both did and did not suit him.
Being anyone else would have to wait until everyone except him and his fellow Voidtrecker had slinked off back inside with their tail between their legs. He certainly hoped the ever so subtle shift in his expression was enough to communicate as much.