Tales from the Fringe Anthology IC

By P-47 Thunderbolt, in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Beginner Game

He slides the card through the lock and steps through as the door slides open. " Interrogation room."

As Vanya starts to pull the bow out from behind her back, he gives a startled shout and dives back through the door, shutting it behind him.

Vanya whipped the bow up and released an energy bolt between the bars of the door, throwing the guard backwards with enough force, he bounced off the wall behind him, and landing at the base of the cel door.

Vanya reached through and patted the body, searching for the door's keycard. Finding the card and a code cylinder, she opened the door and looked up and down the hallway.

It seems to be clear, the cells are all empty. At one end of the hall is the door he came through, currently open. As she walks down the hall and gets closer to the door, she sees that it opens onto a long hall with several similar doors down one wall, and some other less-secure doors on the other. At the end of the hall, it turns off to the side and there is a window looking out across the street. She can tell that it is above street-level, but she isn't sure just how high up she is.

Vanya goes back and checks the doors, finding Interrogation rooms with corresponding Observation rooms, inside the Observation room she notices a terminal. She quickly uses the Code Cylinder to gain access to the system, downloading any information they have regarding local and CIS ship movements, along with a building schematic.. So I'm not in the Defense Base anymore, eh? she whispers to herself..

From the hallway, Vanya could hear footsteps approaching, she had planned on getting out of the building as quietly as possible but it sounds like she'll have to deal with a few more on her way out..

Vanya waited until the new guard to pass the door before stepping out and released a bolt dropping him.

Vaya did a quick search for any other exits, but only found the one window, which showed that she was in fact on the second floor of the building, and the door to the police bullpen that did not have any controls, except for a com-panel.

She looked at the window to the door, weighing her options; make a jump out the window, resulting in possible injuries.. or ask who ever is on the other side of that panel to be released.. and possibly shot.

She sighed, looking back to the door. Not like I have anything left to loose...

She approached the panel and opened the channel. Hello? she called, could you open the door please? I'd like to leave now...

A voice crackles back over the comm, What? Who is this?

I, wooould, liiiike, toooo, leeeeave, nooow.. She explained slowly to the voice, The two guards in here say I can leave, apparently this was just a misunderstanding..

Uhhh... Hang on. After a minute, the door opens, revealing two police officers and a soldier with sidearms drawn. They fire point blank, sending searing pain into Vanya's shoulder as one of the bolts strikes home.

Nng! Vanya grunts, biting her lip through the pain. She drew the bow and fired in quick succession, dropping two of the three, then shouldered her way passed the remaining gunman into the bullpen.

The man backed up, firing as he moved towards the next room.

His shots went wide, missing her as she readied another shot.

She released the bolt as he made a run for cover, dropping him.. She slumped against the wall for a moment, catching her breath. She consulted the schematic again, noticing an evidence locker down the hall, past the Captains office. The thought of her sisters came back to her.. She had already lost too much today, she couldn't loose her sword and her other belongings too... and, the less they know about her, the better.

She collected herself and carefully made her way to check the office on her way to the Evidence room.

As she approached the office, Vanya prepared an illusion, masking the Captain's sight of her, then stepped forward aimed around the door and let loose a bolt into his shoulder, sending him to reel back.

He reels as the bolt hits him and sprays fire towards the doorway with his pistol, pocking the wall and doorframe. He yells into his comm, " Get those men up here NOW!"

Vanya swears, drawing the cord back and released the bolt, knocking the Captain back into the cabinets behind him. Vanya hurried over and searched him, finding a higher level keycard and code cylinder. She pocketed them and hurried to the Evidence room, activated the door and quickly collected her equipment. Then quickly headed back towards the turbolifts.

As she ran into the waiting room, she saw that the elevator on the right was about to open, certainly before the second one would get up here.

Vanya quickly uses the Captain's cylinder to activate the emergency stop on the turbolifts, then moved to the door that didn't have a lift in the way and forced open the door. She reached over to the emergency ladder and started to climb down, she made it halfway when her shoulder gave out and she fell the rest of the way down the shaft. ouch... Vanya gasped, fighting to get oxygen back into her lungs.. getup,getup,getup..

Vanya picked herself up and forced the door open a fraction to peak through...

Edited by RuusMarev

The lobby is empty except for the desk sergeant, who is busy yelling at his desk comm... Or whoever is on the other end of his desk comm.

Vanya forced the doors open and slipped out of the shaft, moving as quickly as she could out of the building..

Once on the street, she lifted her hood over her head and quietly walks down the street, trying to get her bearings. She watches for ships either taking off or landing, once she does, she limps in that direction. As she travels back to her ship, she goes over her injuries, wincing in paid as she touches them to gauge their severity.

Once she gets to the spaceport, she watches her ship for a few moments, to make sure it's safe to board. Then making her way on board, sealing the hatch behind her, sits down in the cockpit for a while before starting the engines and firing up the navicomputer. Vanya hails the Air Traffic Controller sending them the credit transfer for the birth fees, then accelerating towards orbit and the jump point. It takes just a few moments for the computer to supply the data for the jump, once the ready light flashes on her council, her reaches out and activates the hyperdrive. The stars flash and streak towards her as the ship makes the jump. Vanya leans back and tries to rest as the tears start to fall down her cheeks, letting go of the fragile control she had over her emotions... and screams in anguish.

Part One: Vanya Urai.
Chapter Two: Picking Up the Pieces
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When the salvage ship finally dropped out of hyperspace and landed on the surface, Vanya's throat was sore and her eyes were swollen and red from the unchecked tears.

During the trip, she collected the ship's med kit and used a couple of stimpacks and treated her injuries. Now, as she plodded down the ramp and surveyed the devastation around her. Bodies were scattered across the ground, small fires were also scattered around the battle field. While her stomach sank, but the tears stopped coming, she cried them out during the trip. As she took stock of the enormity of her planned task; the burial of her fallen sisters, she saw that the bodies weren't just her sisters..there were also droids.

She realized the droids would be helpful in collecting the fallen Nightsisters, but wasn't sure if she could get any working..she decided she would try when she had a moment..this massacre wasn't their fault, not directly. From what she has learned of the newer B1's, if their programming is altered, they were pretty harmless.

Vanya walked to the first Nightsister, lifting her up by the shoulders and dragged her to a nearby tree. Vanya would do her best to get her sisters into the traditional hanging burial pods that signify rebirth to the Nightsister clans. She noticed the scattered body parts of corpses and empty pods nearby. Giving clues to the dire conditions of the battle.

Mother Talzin had unleashed resurrected sisters. Vanya knelt down to the pieces, Thank you sister, for your help..

After a moment, she stood and walked to another body to bring it the tree. She would take care of the bodies first, then see what she could do for the corpses...

Edited by RuusMarev

After a few hours of work, Vanya headed back to the ship for a little rest and food and collected a couple of B1's to see what she could do to make them operational again.. at least enough to assist in her task.

She did her best to repair them, she had adequate tools but her lack mechanical knowledge wasn't going to get them back to factory spec, but there was enough droids in pieces outside to give her an idea on how to put these four back together. She did what she could with their programming, but since all she needed to do was to mitigate their combat programming, she succeeded in pacifying three out of the four. While not overtly hostile, the last B1 was very suspicious and tried to persuade his fellows that she was their enemy, but considering Vanya wasn't pointing a weapon at them, the other three were content to be friendly towards her. Vanya lead them outside after her meal and explained to them what she would like them to do..

I would just like your help as I put my Sisters to rest. Afterwards, you would be free to go anywhere you'd like, the war would be over for you if you choose.. No abusive commanders, no Jedi... She looked at the fourth droid, and held out her hand. Deal?

The droids exchanged looks, then discussed their options. Vanya heard a few words here and there, overall it seemed positive in her favor, they seemed open to the idea of not seeing Jedi or Grevious again..

The fourth droid approached her after a moment, What would we do afterwards? he asked in that nasally voice all B1's had, There's a war going on, we're battle droids.. we could be deactivated anyway if someone catches us.. His fellows nodded their agreement, even chimed in with a ' Roger, roger ' or two..

Vanya looked to each, I don't know.. she admitted, but we could find out together until we find you a future you are happy with..

They consulted between themselves breifly, then the fourth.. their new leader it seemed, stepped forward and shook her hand. Ok... uhhh, umm... Commander , we'll help you , in exchange for you helping us.

Vanya smiled sadly, Deal. Let's get started, then... and let's work on giving you all names.

Vanya and the droids spent the next two days between interning the Nightsister remains and collecting the many tomes and other artifacts of Nightsister magiks so Vanya could go though them later. Vanya set aside a few tomes that were copies of older ones so she could study them. These past days had been difficult, but also cathartic for Vanya, it gave her time to mourn and say goodbye to her clan.

On the third day, as they were finishing their work, Vanya started to ... hear?...feel?.., something, something that felt like it was calling to her. She would have to think on it.. meditate.. Mother Talzin spoke to her about choosing a new future for herself. She would have to give that some thought.. but that was for after she completed her work here, she owed it to her people.

She called the B1 leader, now called Kor, and thanked him for their help and let them know that she planned on leaving within the next couple days to find someone in the Republic to deliver the intel she collected. You are welcome to join me, she told them. We could even find some paint, so you all don't look so much like Separatist droids.

Thank you, Commander--err.. sir.. ma'am..

Kor, please.. she said, patting his shoulder. N o titles, call me Vanya.

Oh. uhh.. Vanya.. Thank you Vanya..

As the droids continued their work, Vanya walked out of the damaged cave and into the light. To find a male Zabrak patiently waiting with a small bundle at his feet. Sister.. he greeted her with a respectful nod. I am Glaive, Viscus appointed me to investigate the sound of battle. He looked around them, We.. regret not being of aid to Mother Talzin.. our village does not have any vehicles.

Vanya shook her head, I doubt it would have mattered. In the end, you and your brothers would have died as well. she assured him. I am glad the Nightbrothers survived this massacre.

Glaive looked at her, visibly surprised to hear that. Are.. are you well, Sister? Do you require my service?

Vanya approached him, gently placing her hands on his broad shoulders, she could feel his muscles tighten at her touch. She could feel his apprehension, his nervousness.. Even though he showed no outward sign of it, Vanya knew of course, how Nightsisters had treated the Nightbrothers in the past. She couldn't blame him.

It is a time for new beginnings Glaive, for both of us.. go back to your clan, be at peace.. She gave his shoulders a brief squeeze, then turned and walked away toward the twisted trees.

Glaive stood there bewildered, watching her walk away and finally sit below a tree and close her eyes. After a few moments, Glaive reached down and picked up his supplies and began walking back to his village.. Not sure how he would explain this to Viscus.

Vanya slowed her breathing, let her mind wander.. Where could she go, to find someone from the Republic that would trust a Nightsister and believe she was giving them actual information.. and not baiting a Separatist trap..

As she settled in, her mind blanked out all outside influence... She felt she heard... something... calling her... As she continued to meditate, trying to catch up to the feeling that always seemed to be just out of her reach... Always a few steps ahead of her... As she continued to meditate, to focus, to decipher she felt... Hope? Calm? As she allowed her emotions to wane and slipped deeper into her meditation, the whisper got louder, closer... It fled at her rising anger for her fallen family and returned at her peace... fled as she gave into her frustration and returned as she calmed.

In real time, days had passed. A ship landed near her position, and a small party disembarked...

The group came closer, putting restraining bolts on the repurposed droids...

The whisper was close, she could almost touch it...

They saw the woman sitting beneath the tree...

She reached out... it was just in front of her... waiting for her... Then there was a flash of blinding light and she plummeted into blackness...

The Trandoshan picks her up and tosses her over his shoulder, "Thisss trip wassn't a total wassste after all... Bring thossse droidsss, they may be ussseful to usss." His Aqualish companion grunts as he surveys his surroundings before responding in his native tongue, expressing his discomfiture. The Rodian sneers contemptuously at the Aqualish as he picks up the woman's gear. " Koochoo! Jee-jee nopa stuka kickee yatuka batta che doe cheeka, porko mu-moolee che cheekta." The Trandoshan, who is already several yards ahead, hisses in disgust, "Ssshut up, Deezbo. Let'sss get back to the ssship and get off thisss ssslimeball." The Aqualish grumbles again and trudges off as the Rodian bobs his head sarcastically, "Tagwa lorda." He then hastily follows, carrying the slave's weapons.

When they reach the ship, the Trandoshan tosses the new stock unceremoniously into a cage and slams it shut, locking it. "Put the droidsss in that crate and ssshut them down. Put the bow in the weaponsss locker, but I want the pretty sssword." As the Aqualish herded the B-1s into the crate, the Rodian sneers at the Trandoshan, but surrenders the blade. The Trandoshan holds it up to the light and looks it over, "Not much more than a knife." He says slightly disappointed. He tucks it into his belt and tramps out of the cargo bay, with the others following closely behind. The Aqualish slams the control panel, shutting the door behind him and plunging the cargo bay into darkness.
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Vanya's dreams are tortured, mocked by the escaped whisper and haunted by something she can't quite see or understand. The more frightened she gets, the closer it comes. Angry at herself and at the thing stalking her, she tries to lash out at the specter. It gives a haunting giggle and she feels a tap on her shoulder. She whirls around and sees... nothing. She feels a thrumming and a throbbing and then feels the touch of something cold and hard... After a moment, she realizes that she has woken up. The throbbing she realizes is her head, but she isn't sure what the other two sensations are. For that matter, where is she? What time is it? What's going on? What happened? Her stomach rumbles and she clutches it, groaning, wondering how long it has been since she's eaten.

Idiot! We no see any moving but the woman, big payment for her. / Yes boss.