LOTF: Dark Matter/Chapter 4

Asura Tyuki

Coruscant

"Get up."

The words rang over and over in Asura's ears as she struggle to awaken. She didn't known when she had gone unconscious or how long she'd been out, but she was still very groggy. Making out what she could of her surroundings, she saw 3 blank silver walls, and a blank silver floor. Quite the cell. On the final wall was an opening, with a blinding light pouring in. As Asura's eyes adjusted, she saw a woman walking closer. Asura recognized her facial scars from the files she'd found- Cyana Bastra. Despite her weariness, Asura struggled to bring back her fighting lessons in the Brotherhood, and threw a wide punch, almost stumbling. Cyana easily dodged the incoming blow and responded by shocking her with an electrical rod, causing Asura to black out again.

The world focused into view once more, as Asura was dropped by whoever had been carrying her onto another hard metal floor. Recovering more quickly this time, she looked up to see the busy bridge of a Star Destroyer. Officers walked about, while many men sat in their gray uniforms busy about whatever task it was they had been assigned. One figure stood at the front, facing what looked to be Coruscant through the window. Dressed in a gray uniform, his hands were behind his back as he observed the planet. His pale neck revealed his race--human--and the neatly combed brown hair lining his head confirmed his identity to Asura. It was Taran Ragnan, the man who had led the first Antimatter Squadron, working for Dylan under the guise of Republic activity.

"Asura Tyuki," he stated, still facing away, "Joining us at last." His voice was thickly Coruscanti accented and commanding, catching the attention of the officers on the deck for a brief second before they returned to their work.

Asura looked behind her to see the other "candidates" behind her, wearing orange prison garb, with the obvious exception of DX-245. "Take a good look at her. This is the woman who your life depends on."

As they looked at her, she noticed that Praxon was wearing an eye patch over his right eye. DX-245 also appeared to be wearing a restraining bolt. Kev looked pretty much the same as his picture, though he was clearly more upset.

"You gotta be kidding," Kev muttered grimly. His voice was also accented, but more in the style of a farmer from the Mid Rim. Asura had read that his parents lived on Ord Mantell. "You guys kidnap me, lock me up, and now you're telling me this little girlie is gonna save my life? He turned to Cyana. "You could do so much better than this guy."

She pulled out the rod and shocked Kev, a slight grin on her face. "Don't worry," she replied, "My husband's got that taken care of."

"Are you done?" Taran inquired impatiently. Wordlessly, Cyana returned to Taran's side, and Asura saw that he was now facing them. He had dark brown eyes with a fire in them that belied his years, and a thick brown beard running down and across his face.

"Your mission is simple. Tomorrow night, to celebrate their new alliance with the Empire, Dani Morrow of the Nebula Corporation will be hosting a party in the Coruscant underworld. You will lure her away and kill her."

"And if we don't?" Praxon intervened. "I'll gladly die before I work for you."

"Oh, did I forget to mention?" Cyana responded. "While you were out, you were implanted with some of my experimental tech."

Praxon fell to the ground, twisting in agony. "You c-can resist," he gasped, "B-but you'll p-p-pay." As he regained control of himself, he stood up, silent in his shame.

"I must say, he resisted better than our human test subjects. The rest of you lot likely won't be able to so much as breathe unless we say so." Taran commented. After a brief pause, Taran motioned for Cyana to take the prisoners away, and the others were grabbed by guards and taken to their cells, leaving Asura.

"As for you," Taran said, "You will be providing overwatch for the team. Anything that goes wrong, goes wrong on your behalf."

"And what makes you think I won't just take you down myself?" Asura replied.

Taran chuckled. "Because if you do, they will all die."