The Mailed Fist (Ask)

[Triune]

*There was little Barzai could do on Onderon, and even after returning to the Freehold it became all but intolerable for him. Her attack on him came back every time he closed his eyes, anger and shame mingled with his thoughts everytime it came up. Finally he gives in to it and goes on the Hunt. Leaving the Obroa-skai facility behind he took a small sleek fighter and left the system. His first visit was Ord Mantell. He knew she has connections there. Connections could be squeezed until answers were provided.*

[Lady Zahra/Jules]

*She stepped out of the ship and took a deep breath of the foul smelling air that was Ord Mantell. Scum from all walks of life frequented this planet. She turned to activate the security protocol on her ship before turning and heading down the streets. The aire of confidence about her was evident as persons hurried out of her way to avoid bumping into her. There was something about her whole demeanor that echoed death to all who passed her. The low cut black dress with slit sides all the way up her thighs flowed as she walked by. Determination was clear on her face, though she was creating quite a spectacle. The former queen of Onderon who was rumored to be in exile was now walking free on Ord Mantell. It didn't make sense at all.*

[Triune]

*Gage was once a Republic Trooper or at least that's what he told everyone. In truth he washed out of bootcamp after four weeks but he never let that deter him. On Ord Mantell he was a bodyguard, thug, enforcer or any other profession that kept him in Lum, a roof over his head and a droxy in his bed. Nothing in his four weeks in bootcamp or the eight years as a leg-breaker for hire prepared him for this night.

He currently hung upsidedown, his armor dangled from his scar-covered torso like rags. The Ebon-skinned behemoth that held him there so casually was something out of a nightmare though somewhere in his haze filled mind he remembered a rumor of a woman named Lirreka that looked like this. She killed an entire base of smugglers but that was a long time ago, years or weeks or something.*

"This is the last time I ask, Kyra Maans, she might be going by the name Selae. What else know you of her?" Barzai growled as his grip tightened around the knee of the human, he could feel the joint begining to give.

"I tole you everything I know!" Gage whimpered. "I swear!"

*Barzai snarled and with a mighty flex of his hand the thug's kneejoint popped. The man promptly screamed as Barzai hurled him aside. He moved down the dark alley away from the injured human. He would find her or find someone who knew where she was. He would find her even if he had to pummel the entire planet.*

[Lady Zahra/Jules]

*Her meeting with Velaquez was interrupted as a young boy ran into the warehouse nearly about to have his lungs collapse with the exertion from trying to reach them. Selae looks at the boy amused.*

"One of yours, Velaquez? You should tell him to lay off the deathsticks before his lungs clog up and he strokes out at a young age."

"Fo...forgive me...I didn't mean to interrupt...thought you should know...

"What is the meaning of this? Well? Get on with it boy!"

"Big man...General Carzae....General something...looking for her."

*His eyes go to Selae.*

*Her smile falters for a moment as she gets to her feet and walks over to the boy. Kneeling down before him, she grabs his chin and lifts her face to her own. Her deep ice blue eyes peer into his very being.*

"Where?"

"He...He was in the far eastern alley. He's beating up mercs trying to get information."

*She snears at him as her fingers dig into his flesh.*

"What has he found out so far?"

"N..no...nothing, mistress. I swear it!"

*She lets go of his chin and smiles.*

"Good. I still have the element of surprise then. Go back into the streets and tell anyone who even thinks of telling him my location that I will skin them alive and let the fishies eat their warm innards while their last breath is in their lungs. GO!"

*Her voice boomed out with such authority that the boy scrambled to his feet and out the door. She watched him go and tapped her finger on her lower lip. Barzai hadn't had enough the last time they met. Very well. He didn't have Arael to save his neck this time. Turning around to face her accomplice, she smiled at him and tossed him a credit chip.*

"You know what I want and when I want it delivered. I expect everything to be in order. If your shipment is one minute late, there will be consequences. Days late and...well, let's just say I'm rather fond of you."

*She smiled as he swallowed hard and she moved towards him to kiss him on the lips while her fingers dug into his shoulder. Her lips move to his ear as she whispers something that causes the man's eyes go wide and shudder with fear. Once she pulls back, he frantically rubs his lips and looks at her like she was a mad woman before running off. If he was late, the poison from needled fingers would teach him a lesson he wouldn't dare forget. Raviel had indeed been such a help in developing this gene mutant. Basically his skin would start decaying without the antidote. No new skin....just bare flesh. Horrific way to die...so many types of infections and such. She chuckled and moved towards the door to peek out before slipping into the shadows.*

[Triune]

*It seemed that Thugs, like any scavenger, worked best in packs. The four humans circled around the ebon figure with their vibroshivs ready. They felt far more assured of the outcome when they numbered eight but someone forgot to tell this interloper they were dangerous. With but fists and feet he had killed half their number but now they had him, four surrounded him and regardless of whom he attacked now at least one would have his back. It was only a matter of time. However they did not know with whom they dealt. Barzai was no ordinary man but time was not his ally and his patience was thin.*

"I have no time for this." He growled and with a powerful leap vaulted high into the air, the low gravity (At least for him) gave him such an ability. He landed on the roof of one of the buildings and loped off. He would not be so hindered again. He headed for the area where he found her before.

[Lady Zahra/Jules]

*She knew the creature of habit that was Barzai. He wouldn't be able to resist coming back to the area where he found his dear, precious Adesia bleeding out her lifeblood. Her hands clenched tightly drawing blood as the thought of that fateful day came back to her. Kyra was a fool for thinking she could outsmart the ebonclaw harlot. Yet, Selae knew of how capable these Ebonclaw were at seeing in the dark. Using the Force to cloak herself, she awaited his coming. He would face the ultimate betrayl.*

[Triune]

*Like some ebon grasshopper Barzai leapt from building top to building top moving across the haphazard city following his memories to that alley. Dropping down into it he moved cautiously, keen ears tuned to danger.*

[Lady Zahra/Jules]

*She moved very quietly up behind him as she positioned herself for an attack. He was much taller than she. Instead of usually grabbing someone behind in the neck, she moved her hand softly against his back to where his backbone would be and kept her palm there. The bracer was perfectly positioned to release the dagger into his flesh and severely damage the cord if he made any sudden movement.*

"No farther, Barzai. I hadn't expected to see you so soon since our last encounter. Here I thought you would be down alot longer than this. It seems that dastardly daughter of Kyra's did more good to you than I had first thought. Tell me. Are you on a suicide mission again?"

*Her other hand moved up his back caressing the muscles there. He was a strong man. Kyra was taken by his strength, but to Selae he was nothing more than an animal to admire.*

[Triune]

"To hunt a predator, one must sometimes become prey." His voice carried the dark anger in him.

*His muscles tightened under her hand, again he wore no armor nor carried a weapon. He felt he could beat her to the punch if it came to that but for now he remained still.*

"Our daughters are beyond your reach." He comments.

[Lady Zahra/Jules]

*She laughed at his comment as her hand moved up to the base of his neck. Selae knew from Kyra how he liked to be touched. She would use it against him.*

"No one is safe from my hand. Certainly not your bastard children. Do you honestly think I would let such a distortion of powerful genes carry on? The halfbreeds will die just as the rest of the Ebonclaws."

*She pulls her hand back from the base of his spine and lets the blade pop out of the bracer. It digs into his flesh a little and stays there.*

"One smooth thrust forward and your legs will be useless to you. Speak now. Why were you searching for me?"

[Triune]

*Barzai laughted, the blade in his flesh caused him only annoyance not true pain. Yes her touch rekindled some of his feelings for her but her words doused those embers just as quickly*

"Better then you have tried to end us and we still thrive. What are you to think you are more than ash under the foot of Giants? Do you truly think the Force provides your Galaxy with more then sideshow interest for us? We are Danthiri, we have battled things your primative minds would only concieve as gods. You know nothing of Darkness... Dos xuat zhaun uns'aa."

[Lady Zahra/Jules]

*She laughs as she digs the blade in deeper and moves her hand to his arm touching one of his many scars.*

"Usstan zhaun dos saph Usstan zhaun jala sarol. Nindel zhah vel'bol dos ph'. L' sarol d'lil Ilharess. You mean no more to her nor any less. The only reason she keeps you around after all these years is your closeness to her daughter....and now Sayre. I'm not as stupid as you'd have me believe, Barzai. I know what Lirreka wants and lusts for and she won't have it....nor will you."

[Triune]

*This depth of wound does bring a wince of pain to his face. Even his thick hide only provides so much protection. Her words hurt nearly as much. He knew what he was and why he was. Hearing it spoken so callusly did have an effect on the General but like any good warrior he did not let it show*

"You know only what the Matron wanted you to know. If you believe otherwise then you truly have learned nothing and if you believe that blade even plunged into me will keep me from breaking your pretty neck you know less then nothing."

[Lady Zahra/Jules]

*This was her opportunity. She could so easily break him with a secret Kyra had kept while in Adesia's body.*

"Is that so? I knew of things that even the Matron did not. I single handedly saved your precious house and your matron from the hands of your former lover. Or what of how she saved even your life from certain death at the hands of Adesia. What thanks do I receive but insults from the very one that once claimed his undying devotion to Kyra. Yet, still you could bring yourself to breaking her neck?"

*She pulls the blade away from his spine and moves in front of him with her arms wide open. A mocking grin was on her face.*

"Show me. Show me that you have no love left for Kyra. Break her body just as your body was broken. You've been a puppet by the hands of the Matron as much as she was. Tiera-Qel would love to skin you and fill your position with that of another. If Lirreka dies, she will take the position of Matron and your life will be forfeit."

[Triune]

*He grabs her by the shoulder and lifts her from the ground, his eyes as she can now see smoulder, red all but boiling off of them*

"SHE saved me, not you, KYRA not you. My love for her is stronger than any words you can spew." He snorts as mist blows from his nostrils like an angry bull "I know more of human anatomy then most surgeons, I can break your neck and leave you alive, paralized from the neck down until Kyra returns, what think you of that Dark woman?" He leans closer, his eyes giving off palpable heat, like twin furnaces "And for your information I have two spinal cords." His grip begins to tighten.