Isla Waverunner

Isla Waverunner, born Mitth'att'inrokini, renamed Isla Ahnkett by the Ahnkett family of Onderon and later voluntarily renamed Loreli Patek, was a ' ' taken in by the ' and trained as a ' until the age of ten when she and her master were ambushed en route to a diplomatic distress call along the ', after which Isla was pressed into joining the ' as a .

During this transition, she adopted the name Loreli Patek, and would continue to use her new name for the entirety of her Sith career, leading the Jedi to presume Isla Ahnkett had been killed along with her master.

Loreli was taught to specialise in stealth and assassination, learning to conceal her presence both ' and ' and eventually applying her abilities to assist ' operations as a volunteer when she became a Sith-proper, becoming a full-time operative of its successor organisation, '.

She fought against the invaders during the ', almost being killed at the very beginning of the conflict when she was cornered by a group of ', but was saved by Zhavi Waverunner, a self-declared Jedi .

Loreli returned to the Empire until , at which point her frustration with the lack of action drove her to abandon her duties and seek out resistance groups. Doing so led her back into the company of Zhavi Waverunner, and the pair eventually made their way to ' to join the newly formed '.

The two women developed an intense- and eventually romantic- relationship which continued beyond the , an event which saw a large portion of Alliance forces- Zhavi and Loreli included- return to their respective factions. Later in the year, the hidden Jedi colony on ' was ', and the couple met on  to discuss Loreli's part in the attack. This discussion almost immediately erupted into a duel, Zhavi believing Loreli had given the colony's location to Sith Intelligence, though the former Jedi couldn't bring herself to kill the Chiss.

For a time, Loreli devoted herself to her work for the Empire. When she learned that Zhavi's family had been captured, however, she spent months trying to find them, a search that ultimately led her to an ill-fated duel against her Sith mentor- Scarlet Jhang- in the . Loreli had her limbs severed and almost died, only surviving thanks to Zhavi's intervention.

As a security precaution, Jhang's ' was deliberately devoid of ', with her intended destination programmed in before she set off. Zhavi was faced with two options. She could commit suicide by plotting a course to , or she could go to Jhang's secondary destination, a neutral world that was only marginally better- Pyntiarri.

Pyntiarri was an authoritarian and totally industrialised world, with factories covering the planet, all producing military-grade weapons and supplies which they sold to both the Empire and Republic. The world was heavily protected, with dozens of orbital defence canons in orbit and a sizeable security fleet to prevent either side from trying to capture it. Additionally, ship traffic to and from the planet was strictly regulated, with a rigorous and intrusive security procedure for all individuals passing through customs at all of the planet's spaceports.

Thanks to that thoroughness, the government had successfully upheld the laws against privately held blaster weaponry, ensuring that only sanctioned enforcement officers possessed modern weaponry, which in turn made resisting the authorities a near impossible task for the majority of Pyntiarri's citizens.

Unfortunately, Zhavi could not maintain her dark healing forever, and even with Loreli in the kolto tank time was running short. She plotted a course, jumped and landed on Pyntiarri, immediately putting in a request for urgent medical aid and hoping that her parents would cover the expense when she tried to bill it to them later.

Due to her efforts and the quality medical facilities available on Pyntiarri, Loreli was stabilised, leaving Zhavi to breathe a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, during the long wait for Loreli to recover from her near death experience, Zhavi attempted to smuggle her repaired lightsaber through customs, dismantling it into its components and hiding them all about her person.

She'd underestimated Pyntiarri's exhaustive security, however, and was easily caught and arrested for smuggling prohibited goods.

When Loreli finally woke over a month after her arrival, she was visited by Countess Patrice LaLenna, an elderly  who had lived on Pyntiarri all her life as a member of the nobility. Countess LaLenna introduced herself, revealing to Loreli that she was the Republic's primary advocate on the planet, unofficially representing and furthering their interests.

Being vaguely aware that the Waverunners were a long-serving military family in the Republic, Zhavi's arrest had drawn LaLenna's attention, prompting her to investigate- leading her to Loreli. She was also under the impression that Zhavi and Loreli were the Republic agents she'd been expecting, sent by the . Loreli did not correct her assumption and decided to play along, introducing herself as Isla Ahnkett, knowing that any investigation using that name would lead her to find the records of a Jedi who had been MIA for over a decade.

A plausible cover for an SIS operative.

Isla explained, vaguely, that they'd fought a Sith before arriving, and she'd been injured in the battle. LaLenna quickly reassured her that Zhavi was alive and well, albeit in prison on serious charges- the government of Pyntiarri had a no-nonsense approach to law enforcement, and were particularly harsh when it came to punishing would-be smugglers.

Despite the setback, LeLenna assured Isla that they could get the charges dropped, in time, and that to do that she would need Isla's talents. Like the Republic, the Empire had agents on the planet too, and over the previous two years they had all but eradicated all traces of the Republic's presence, using the criminal underworld to kill Republic agents and influence the local government.

With Isla's help, LeLenna hoped to undo the damage and push back, ideally resulting in Pyntiarri favouring the Galactic Republic in future business transactions.

Isla explained that she could not help; she was still recovering, and she had no money, equipment or even her lightsaber with which to lend her aid. Fortunately, LeLenna was quite wealthy, and she offered to pay for Isla's medical bills, supply her with whatever resources she needed and arrange for lightsaber components to be smuggled in through her contacts.

Isla agreed, visiting the ship Zhavi reportedly arrived in (which had been locked down until further notice) to search for lightsaber parts, finding Lord Jhang's lightsaber instead. She contacted LeLenna, who directed her to meet a contact in orbit, dock with them and transfer the weapon. Told that it would take a few days to make all the necessary arrangements, Isla decided to travel to ', and to ' from there, taking a short time-out to meditate and revisit her childhood home before returning to Pyntiarri.

On her return, she was directed to Countess LeLenna's home, where she was briefed on the situation on Pyntiarri in full and provided with a general plan for how they would push back against the Empire's proxies, chiefly the Rabid Akks street gang. LeLenna explained that they couldn't direct control the government, and that the only way to effectively manipulate policy was to use blackmail, bribery and threats, which would require leverage and backing.

To that end, LeLenna would fund a rival street gang which Isla would lead, and they would take back control of the capital by seizing enemy assets, winning the support of local businessmen and obtaining blackmail information. It would take time, however, and with the ban on weapons it would be brutal and bloody, with only melee weapons and incredibly primitive handguns being available. Nothing could be imported, only made by hand.

She also explained that causing too much of a ruckus would also draw armed law enforcement, meaning stealth would be important. Regrettably, a lightsaber was not stealthy, and LeLenna advised that she avoid using it unless she truly had to, once it was constructed. In addition, she also told her she'd had quarters made up for her, in which she would find the smuggled sabre components, ready to be rebuilt into a functional lightsaber, and that once her tailor had Isla's measurements attire more appropriate for the planet would be sewn for her.

Isla was then introduced to a hand-picked group of lieutenants, specialists who would support and advise her in various matters. Bibi Jotto, a  who'd left the Republic military to support the SIS after a major injury took her out of action for a year, had volunteered to help coordinate the combat side of things, taking direct charge of the gang's troop deployments to ensure the best tactics were used.

Yagogg, a ' and lifelong gangster who'd served the ' for decades until a deal-gone-wrong almost killed him and his personality shifted dramatically, was to assist as an underworld expert, helping to recruit and train new members and lead the gang on the streets.

Tabassa was a young  businessman who prided himself on doing legitimate business while most Hutts stuck to the stereotype as criminals. He was a long-term supporter and associate of LeLenna, who'd took a chance and invested in him during his formative years. Despite the weak position Countess LeLenna was in, given her support of the Republic, he understood the value of loyalty, and had sworn his support to her cause out of friendship.

The final two were more specialised. Countess LeLenna explained that the Republic's assets had been devastated by the appearance of unusual creatures that were both unnaturally violent and immaculately well-trained, and- according to eye witness reports- commanded by Force users.

As such, Bon Yi, a failed , had been recruited to assist the gang in identifying and profiling the Rabid Akks' Force-using members. Countess LeLenna's butler of many years, the ' Rissessk, was a former a big game hunter who'd served time for hunting endangered predators and had retired after supposedly killing a juvenile '. He'd offered to take an advisory role on dealing with any beasts they encountered, and had experience dissecting many creatures that gave him enough insight to identify any biological oddities.

Early Life
"She'll spend her life in care unless someone gives her a chance. She's different, special. We should give her a chance to show it... be different, just like her."

- Mr Ahnkett, to his wife.

In ', on the world of ', ' scientist Mitth'icini'inrokini gave birth to her third child, a healthy baby ' whom she named Mitth'att'inrokini. At just under two years of age, Mitth'att'inrokini displayed her connection to the Force by telekinetically summoning a toy to her hand, sparking a debate between her mother and father in regards as to what they would do about it.

In Chiss society, Force sensitivity was not looked upon kindly, and lesser ranking members of the  were primarily exiled, with only the upper echelons of society being allowed to retain their citizenship and status on the proviso that they suppressed their powers through medical means. Mitth'icini'inrokini, still working on rising through the ranks, was certain her daughter would be protected by the time she was an adult, confident that she would continue to rise and gain a position with which she could shield Mitth'att'inrokini from exile.

Her father, in contrast, was unconvinced, certain his daughter would be exiled or worse, given that she was already actively using the Force- something which was, in the right circumstances, punishable by death in Chiss society.

The couple could not reach a decision on what to do, and as their impasse continued to endure through the weeks, Mitth'att'inrokini's father decided to take matters into his own hands. He took Mitth'att'inrokini from her cot in the dead of night, setting off in the family's shuttle and making a break for Republic space before anyone realised he'd abandoned his position.

Sadly, his dreams of a new life in the Republic safe from the laws of the Ascendancy were not to come to pass; pirates set upon his vessel on the Republic border, disabling it and fatally wounding Mitth'att'inrokini's father in the process. Before they could board and salvage the exotic starship, however, a Republic counter-piracy patrol came across the scene and drove off the rogues, saving Mitth'att'inrokini from death or slavery. They were too late to do anything for her father, but he lived long enough to tell the soldiers about his daughter, asking them to protect her from the Chiss.

Although her name had been given, in full and in short, the soldiers agreed that they should omit her name from the records, honouring the last wish of her father for her to be protected from her people, even if they didn't understand why. To that end, she was handed over to the appropriate authorities as a nameless war orphan, and quickly transferred to an orphanage for young children.

Due to her exotic nature and her young age, Mr and Mrs Ahnkett of  took pity on the misfit and adopted her, naming her Isla Ahnkett. For a time her new life was off to a good start, with loving parents who'd longed for a child of their own and finally found one in Isla. Chance would once again change the direction of Mitth'att'inrokini's life when the infant used her Force powers again, prompting another lengthy debate, this time between her adoptive parents, both of whom reluctantly- and after careful consideration- agreed that it was in Isla's best interests to be sent to the , where she could be raised by people who understood her powers and knew how to help her.

Travelling to ' to meet with representatives of the Order, the Ahnkett's bid a tearful goodbye to the young Chiss as she was taken away by the Jedi, departing for the recently discovered world of ' on which the Jedi had built a new ' to replace the one destroyed during the '.

The Ahnkett's tried to stay in touch with Isla even though the Jedi had made it clear they wouldn't see her again. Their attempts to reach her failed, however, and it would be almost twenty years before they spoke with Isla again.

A Youngling on Tython
"I should say I'm annoyed you disobeyed orders... reckon we both know that ain't true though. Nice job kid... makin' the rest of us look real bad, but ahhh, yeah... y' did good. Real good."

- Isla's CSF handler, after the resolution of a hostage situation.

Isla arrived at the temple on Tython blissfully unaware of what was happening, confused but not afraid, calmed by the influence of the Jedi gathered at the temple. As with all ', Isla was trained as part of a ', learning about the ', ', memorising the layout of the temple and the grounds as well as and the value of physical training.

In spite of her peers' best efforts, Isla was uncomfortable around other beings, seeking solace in isolation whenever she was able even at a young age. Conversely, she was a model student when it came to studying the ways and history of the Jedi Order, enjoying her time in the  and soaking in knowledge like a sponge.

As she grew older and progressed, she proved herself competent in the martial aspects of Jedi life too, being a capable fighter in both hand-to-hand and sabre combat, albeit with a clear preference towards the latter. Alongside her peers, Isla inevitably reached the stage of her training where her fate would be decided; the .

Being familiar with the Jedi Code and the various meanings derived from it by generations of Jedi scholars past, Isla's trials started well, with the young Chiss breezing through the tests of her knowledge of the Code.

For her second trial, Isla and her clan were taken to Coruscant where they were each tasked with aiding the  in their duties, mostly helping with simple tasks. The officer Isla was assigned to assist responded to a report of a hostage situation en route to their intended destination, ordering her to remain in the  while he joined his fellow officers in responding to the crisis.

Isla, now nine years old and on the cusp of adulthood by Chiss standards, did not see this as an acceptable order, yet disobeyed only when she saw an opportunity she could exploit. Smaller than the security officers, Isla realised that she could infiltrate the speeder showroom in which the hostages were being held through the ventilation systems, accessible via a maintenance access panel outside.

Sneaking out of sight, Isla opened the access panel, made her way into the ventilation shaft and followed it along, using  to immobilise a number of high-speed fans blocking her path until she reached her destination, inside the showroom.

Not one to rush into a situation, Isla listened from within the vents, eavesdropping on the hostage takers to try and get an idea of their numbers and mental states, quickly realising that they were Imperials agents, outed and forced into a desperate, futile retreat which had ended with them taking hostages to stall for time. They knew, however, that they would not escape, and as Isla listened she realised they intended to rig the building to explode using parts from the speeders, killing them, their hostages and the security personnel manning the front line outside with them.

Once she believed she had enough information, Isla used the Force to break part of the ventilation shaft further along from her position, drawing their attention long enough for her cut an opening in the metal supporting her weight. By the time they'd turned to her, she was on her feet with her blade raised, catching them by surprise.

Fortunately, there were only three of them, and in the close confines of the office Isla was able to use her small size and speed, coupled with the element of surprise, to overwhelm the unsuspecting trio, blinding one with the tip of her , immobilising another with the Force and repeatedly striking the last until he was in too much pain to keep resisting. With their suicide plan foiled, the Chiss arrested them and released the hostages, who were tied up on the showroom floor, in clear sight but safely away from the fighting.

As she escorted the hostages out and CSF forces swarmed the building to secure it, the officer who she'd been travelling with begrudgingly congratulated her, telling her he should be mad, but it didn't feel right. Given her heroic efforts, the officer returned her to her clan Master and praised her 'justified disobedience', 'sly tactics' and 'sheer dumb luck', stating that she made the right call- if she hadn't acted as she did, a lot of people would have been hurt and killed.

Pleased with herself, Isla meditated for the remainder of the trip to the capital, savouring her triumph while the other Initiates completed their individual tasks. Once the rest of her clan returned successful, the Jedi headed back to Tython, returning to normalcy for a few weeks before the final- and most difficult- trial was scheduled to begin.

The Dark Initiate
"You know that to grow is to outgrow; the shadows, the blood... death... they are your future, and the Jedi, your past- no matter how much you rail against destiny."

- Isla's vision of herself, immersed in the Dark Side.

For her second trial, Isla was tasked with experiencing the Dark Side of the Force, face-to-face, and overcoming it. Alongside her peers, Isla was taken to a cave far from the Jedi Temple, a site strong in ancient Dark Side energies that still lingered from the forgotten . Their instructions were simple; head inside and face the darkness within.

Isla wasn't particularly thrilled with the vague objective, but ventured in without question. As the younglings progressed, they began to experience visions, luring them away from each other and into the depths of the rocky labyrinth. Before too long, Isla was alone, walking through the darkness with only the echoed dripping of water to guide her, unable to see anything so far below the surface.

With no way to check the time, Isla wasn't sure how long she'd been wandering, though as her ordeal went on she felt certain she'd been lost for hours. Naturally, she began to worry, fearing that she'd failed somehow; until she came across a wide cavern, filled with enormous crystal growths that illuminated the space with a dim mixture of coloured lights. In the centre, a figure stood watching her, waiting patiently as she approached.

Initially, Isla believed it was one of her fellow students. She called out to the figure but received no answer, and when she got close enough she realised she was staring into her own eyes.

Clad in dark robes and with a lightsaber on her hip, Isla's clone was ominous enough at a distance. Up close, she was even more sinister, with sunken eyes and pale skin that was marked with subtle lines that Isla knew to be the result of the corrupting influence of the Dark Side. Her clone finally spoke as she came to a halt a short distance from her, telling her it was her destiny to embrace the Dark Side of the Force and betray the Jedi. She went on to claim that the Force had chosen her to destroy the Jedi Order, and that her trial was a ruse; Jedi only sent younglings into the caves to be killed by the hallucinations that plagued anyone who went in too deep.

According to the clone, it was destiny that Isla and her peers would be spared to become the weapon that would destroy the Jedi and end their corrupt and murderous practises so that the war between light and dark- in reality a war between control and freedom- could finally end, once and for all. The real Isla expressed her doubts about the claims and didn't believe her peers would fall to the Dark Side, at least until her duplicate made a beckoning motion, silently summoning the other acolytes from the shadows around her.

Their robes torn, their flesh bruised and bloody and their eyes glowing with the furious taint of the Dark Side, the sight was a convincing one. Isla momentarily doubted the reality of the situation, yet she was logical enough to understand she was facing temptation. She refused to believe her clone, who expressed disappointment, stating that she could not leave the cave if she didn't embrace her destiny.

With that, her peers launched clumsy, aggressive attacks in unison, devolving the situation into violence. As was the case with reality, so to was the case against the phantoms; Isla was the superior duellist, more physically advanced than the other Initiates due to her Chiss biology and therefore afforded an unfair advantage, even though Isla herself was unaware of why she was better. She outmanoeuvred all of them in quick succession, one after the other, and with each impact her foes burst into clouds of swirling black dust until only her dark opposite remained.

Again her clone tried to talk her into embracing the Dark Side, telling her that she had only reinforced what she already knew- Isla's peers were inferior. They were of similar age, but not similar ability, and the Jedi would continue to treat her as a child, ensuring she never reached her potential. As before, Isla refused to play along, prompting her clone to engage her in a duel.

Isla could not gain the upper hand against her clone due to their shared abilities and knowledge, yet her clone faced the same hurdle, ensuring that the duel continued for hours with neither of them able to land a blow. As time seemed to bleed out into an infinite path with no end in sight, Isla came up with an idea. She knew neither of them could win, that much was clear, and she also knew the vision could not physically hurt her, as it didn't exist in reality.

With that in mind, Isla worked towards creating an opportunity, guiding the duel in such a way that she gave her opponent an opening- then allowed her to take it, spearing the lightsaber through Isla's stomach. In doing so, however, her clone had bridged the gap between them and left herself defenceless as she relished her moment of apparent triumph.

Distracted, Isla took the opportunity to reach up, grabbing her clone's head in her hands and jerking her head violently to one side, snapping her neck and killing her instantly. She too burst into a cloud of dust, leaving Isla shocked, but unharmed.

When that cloud dissipated, the crystal cave she'd fought in was gone, replaced by the pitch black of the tunnels and the persistent dripping. This time, a single light source shone up from the floor beside Isla, a  that cast enough of a glow for the Chiss to navigate a way out of the caves with, emerging less than an hour later.

She was greeted by a handful of her clan members, with more joining them in the hours that followed. By nightfall, all but one of the Initiates had returned, and the clan were escorted back to the Jedi temple, glad to have succeeded in their trial yet kept awake worrying for their missing friend. Isla, in contrast, fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, certain that the hardest part of her Initiate trials were over.

Jedi Padawan
"You are a fine student, Padawan, but you must learn patience. An eagerness to learn is admirable, yet an eagerness to learn can easily become a hunger for power. That is why we teach patience, so that you learn to recognise the difference."

- Jedi Master Rosentine Synma, explaining the value of patience to Isla.

With the rest of her Initiate Trials behind her, all that remained was for Isla to construct her lightsaber. Using instructions from the  to guide her, Isla set about building her weapon using parts provided by the clan Master, spending several days in quiet meditation to assemble a sleek, simple lightsaber fitted with the crystal she'd collected in the cave, infused with Force energy during her ritual duel against her dark reflection.

Having successfully completed all her tasks to pass her Initiate Trial, Isla was approached by one of the visiting Jedi Masters, Master Rosentine Synma, who invited her to become her Padawan and accompany her on her travels. Eager to leave Tython behind, the Chiss agreed, departing with Master Synma later that evening, believing she would finally be given tuition appropriate for the speed at which she learned.

Unfortunately for Isla, the weeks that followed saw her training progress as slowly as ever, with lessons being staggered and cut short, or repeated, needlessly as far as Isla was concerned. Isla's time with Master Synma saw her deal with mostly diplomatic situations, primarily as an observer to learn from her master's example. She grew increasingly frustrated, and after almost a year in her service Isla had reached the age of ten, the age of maturity for Chiss. In spite of her reaching womanhood, her master still treated her like a Human ten year old, keeping her away from conflict areas and strapped firmly into the back seat during their assignments.

Unbeknownst to both master and student, Isla's training was about to take an unexpected turn.

In ', the duo were sent to assist with yet another diplomatic mission in the ', information about their travels reached the ears of the newly formed , prompting the organisation to seize the opportunity to eliminate a Jedi with almost no risk to Imperial assets. En route, the Jedi's vessel was intercepted and boarded by ' ' Vhama Kim, who easily disarmed Isla before proceeding to duel Master Synma.

Isla was apprehended by the Imperial troopers supporting Lord Kim and restrained with , preventing her from intervening. Lord Kim's use of ' allowed him to eventually outperform Master Synma's ', the limited room aboard the ship preventing her from making full use of her Force powers while his form was tight and precise.

Powerless to assist, Isla was forced to watched as Lord Kim slipped his blade through Master Synma's defences and , striking her sternum and killing her almost immediately, leaving her Padawan shocked and distraught and fearing her own impending death.

Curiously enough, Lord Kim had other ideas; he ordered his men to release Isla's shackles and ordered her to stand, detailing the situation she was in in a logical, straightforward way, pointing out the facts that were already obvious to all present. However, he then explained that Isla had two options she could choose from based on those facts.

Firstly, she could die with her master, a swift and painless death that would honour her commitment to the Jedi Order and allow her to stay true to her ideals.

The second, was to accept Lord Kim's offer of an apprenticeship, joining the ' as a '. The Jedi would not know what fate had befallen Isla, and thus her betrayal would not be known for a time, if ever. Isla, more confident now that she had an offer that involved her survival, asked if she would be held back by him, too, to which responded by vowing to push her beyond what she believed she could achieve, and promising consequences if she couldn't keep up.

Isla considered her options carefully. Lord Kim ignited his lightsaber and held it up, angling it so that the blade was almost touching her forehead, and asked her what it was to be- death, or the Dark Side.

Sith Acolyte
"Discretion has served me well in the past, and I do not intend to deviate from my current philosophy in my training of you. The Jedi will believe you are dead along with your master and only you, my men and I know you live. Provided we are smart about your training, that will not change, and you will not have to squabble with the rest of the rabble at the academy on Korriban."

- Lord Kim, to Loreli, shortly before ordering her to kill his troops.

Never being overly sold on the Jedi ideals she'd been raised on, Isla was quick to choose life over death, the decision being both easy and a forgone conclusion in spite of the years of teachings warning her of the dangers of the Dark Side. She knelt, pledging her allegiance to the Sith Empire and to Lord Kim, as instructed, after which she was told to rise as Kim detailed his intentions regarding her training.

Most ' were shipped off to ' to train at the , but Lord Kim wanted to train Isla personally, even before she was properly accepted as a Sith. As only Isla, Kim and the troops who'd helped him capture her knew of her existence, Lord Kim explained that he would train her in secret until the time came for her to face the trials, avoiding the backstabbing and underhanded tactics of other acolytes she'd encounter if she were trained in the conventional manner.

He also told her to choose a new name, forcing Isla to invent a new persona on the spot; thus, Loreli Patek was born.

And for her first act as the Sith Acolyte Loreli Patek, Lord Kim ordered her to execute the Imperial soldiers present aboard the ship, ensuring her apprenticeship could not be leaked to Kim's rivals or Loreli's old allies. Kim used the Force to yank the troopers' blaster rifles out of their hands; Loreli's skill was not being tested, just her resolve and commitment to her new path.

Left with no choice, Loreli activated her lightsaber and proceeded to repeatedly break one of the most basic rules of the Jedi, carving through the unarmed soldiers as they scrambled desperately to try and escape their fate. Once her task was completed, Lord Kim lectured her on the value of conserving resources, both equipment and personnel, and warned her that she should not mistake the calculated murder of Imperial troops for acceptable standard practise.

With that, master and apprentice set a course for the Empire's capital, the eternally dreary world of .

Cobalt Assassin
"You are slight, lithe. Direct confrontation is not your best approach, and if you had any inclination towards specialising in mastery of the Force it would have manifested before now. No, you are like me. A duellist. An assassin. Elegant and lethal. I will train you strike only once, and to master the grace and precision of Makashi for when circumstance dictates you must strike a second time."

- Lord Kim, regarding Loreli's training as a Sith assassin.

After arriving on Dromund Kaas, Loreli was outfitted with a  for her weapon and garments more appropriate for a Sith-in-training. Immediately, her training began, with hours of sparring and practising her Force abilities filling her days from the moment she woke in the morning till last thing at night, while her weekends were spent in meditation, focusing on the negative emotions that would allow her to channel to the Dark Side of the Force.

When she made mistakes or failed to achieve the result Lord Kim was training her towards, she was struck, and with each strike she became weaker and more prone to making further mistakes, creating a cycle of beatings that increased the rate of her failures. This only made her angry, though, and- as Kim intended- pushed her to draw on the Dark Side for strength, allowing her to continue sharpening her skills through the abuse.

In time, Loreli had mastered the core abilities Lord Kim had pushed her to focus on, unusual abilities but ones that were ideal for her intended role of ': abilities such as ', manipulating light and sound to ', ' and even the very basics of , though she found this incredibly difficult, only being able to extend the ability to her fingers for a few seconds at a time.

She'd also become proficient in Makashi, the lightsaber form most suited to lightsaber duels, for when she was forced to engage an opponent overtly, as well as some limited training in the basics of , a division of Form V suited to deflecting blaster bolts.

In ', Lord Kim (satisfied she was ready to put her training to work against a real challenge) sent Loreli- now thirteen years old- to eliminate one of his rivals in the ', a younger Lord who'd insulted and mocked Kim indirectly on multiple occasions. Knowing he was in the capital after a recent, successful assignment, Loreli chose to monitor the Lord's comings and goings over the course of a week.

Through her efforts, she soon discovered that the young assassin was a braggart with a weakness for alcohol; most nights, he drank heavily at the , staggering home with a different woman each evening, usually Imperials who were easily impressed by his boasting. Loreli exploited this habit, incapacitating an Imperial officer, hiding and binding her unconscious body in an alleyway and stealing her uniform before proceeding to enter the cantina, hiding her Force sensitivity while pretending to be interested in the Lord's wild stories.

The Lord, however, was not interested in fraternising with alien women, forcing Loreli to adapt. She waited, watching for several hours as he and a Human Imperial woman exchanged drunken flirtations, only moving late in the evening when the cantina had emptied out considerably. When the woman ventured over to the bar to order another round of drinks, Loreli tried engaging in small-talk, struggling at first due to the woman's clear dislike of aliens.

Thankfully, when Loreli moved the topic onto the Lord she'd been flirting with her interest was piqued. Loreli invented a story about how the Lord had single-handedly killed almost a hundred Republic troops, and the only injury he'd sustained was a small cut on the back of his neck. Loreli tried to draw her attention to the imaginary scar, tricking her into looking away from the bar- and the drinks she'd ordered- long enough for Loreli to pour a small vial of  into the oddly-coloured alcohol she'd observed to be her target's beverage of choice.

She departed almost immediately, returning the uniform to the imprisoned officer- whom she knocked out a second time, once she'd released her from her bindings. From there, the Chiss reported back to her master, only able to settle down the following morning, when word had spread of the poisoning and the mysterious alien assassin.

As a reward for her success and due to his good mood at having an upstart Sith put in his place, Lord Kim arranged for Loreli to finally attend the academy on Korriban a month later, a short visit that would pit her against the trials necessary to be formally recognised as a Sith and finally legitimise her as a member of the Sith Empire.

Rogue Asset
"The current situation is not sustainable. Pretending it is not happening and continuing to scrap with the Republic will not make the Eternal Empire go away."

- Loreli, offering her take on the peace treaty with the forces of Zakuul.

A year later in , galactic events took a dark turn. Loreli, now a rising star in ' had just been recalled from a sabotage operation at ' and was on her way back to ' to report in for reassignment when the ' began.

Forces were being evacuated, with all sorts of outlandish claims being made from the evacuees. Irrespective of her scepticism, she did what she could to help process the evacuated slaves and military personnel until the planet was consumed by the . The first of many major blows to the Empire.

The next was the ', which heralded the ' by the mysterious ' and their '. During the war, Loreli continued to serve as an intelligence operative, being sent primarily to follow up on rumours that were pertinent to the war and assassinate select individuals in an effort to influence the flow of war.

It was after meeting a contact on one of the lesser Hutt worlds that Loreli was finally caught up in her first battle of the war, the Eternal Fleet descending on the more or less defenceless world before Loreli could escape. Relying on stealth as she always did, Loreli was able to move around the fighting taking place between the local criminal scum and the unified , avoiding fighting entirely until she entered the city's spaceport.

With her own transport elsewhere, Loreli access the terminals in the besieged spaceport and picked a suitable ship from the list of vessels currently docked inside. Unluckily, when she arrived in the hangar she'd chosen, three Knights of Zakuul were present, forcing her to engage. She wounded one, but their unorthodox tactics and her relative inexperience in lightsaber combat led to her being overwhelmed and defeated by the remaining two, who beat her into submission.

The owner of the ship, Zhavi Waverunner, arrived in time to save Loreli, dispatching all three Knights and- after a brief moral crisis- carrying the unconscious Chiss aboard her ship, an act of kindness that would have lifelong consequences for both Zhavi and Loreli.

Loreli had her wounds tended to and was dropped off on the first safe world, returning to work until the war ended with the surrender of the Sith Empire and Galactic Republic. Although she continued to serve dutifully for a further two years, Loreli eventually grew tired of submission, and with Lord Kim dead she decided to depart Imperial space in , chasing up rumours of resistance groups to whom she could lend her skills.

A number of doomed initiatives cropped up and eventually fell, the survivors scattering, and it was after joining one such group that Loreli was reunited with Waverunner in . Due to the fact they'd already met, they gravitated towards one another rather than the strangers they were fighting alongside, travelling aboard Zhavi's ship to hunt down leads, recruit new members and raid Eternal Empire facilities.

Their efforts were in vain, ultimately, and the latest group was all but destroyed, Zhavi and Loreli being two of only a handful of survivors. They didn't find another movement until ', when word spread from ' of ', and through Zhavi's underworld contacts the duo managed to discover the location of '. On their arrival, they learned of the ' and the secret weapon they held that put them above other resistance groups; the colossal '.

Both women were pleased to see well-known faces from their respective factions, viewing their presence on Odessen as incredibly vindicating after so many failures had left them seemingly alone against the Eternal Empire's tyranny. Loreli was reunited with her old Sith Intelligence superior, ', while Zhavi got to meet the ', the famous .

Home on Odessen
"We both know feelings are irrelevant, Jedi."

- Loreli, to Zhavi, regarding their mutual attraction.

While the Alliance Commander led the charge against the forces of Zakuul, Zhavi and Loreli took to the underworld, working under the direction of , who'd been tasked with coordinating the Alliance's supply lines.

Aboard Zhavi's dilapidated old ship, they helped ferry cargo and passengers to and from Odessen, providing backup or an extra pair of hands to other crews when called for. During this time, the mutual attraction the pair shared developed further, with the Sith and Jedi becoming increasingly comfortable fighting and living together, often forced to spend time together for days on end in the cramped interior of Zhavi's small vessel.

It was only natural that their friendship developed quickly, and despite ongoing efforts from Loreli to remain distant from Zhavi, the Jedi voiced her opinions on the subject shortly before , after a failed attempt to kiss Loreli. Embarrassed and angry, she questioned why the Chiss was going to such great lengths to pretend she didn't feel anything, to which Loreli tried to claim she considered her a friend, but nothing more.

Zhavi, unconvinced, didn't let the issue slide, and- under pressure- Loreli conceded that she did care for Zhavi as she believed, but that how either of them felt was irrelevant, as eventually the Eternal Empire would be stopped and they'd go back to fighting on opposite sides of the galactic war. Zhavi tried to convince her it was a problem for later, but when that failed tried a more aggressive angle, appealing to Loreli's Sith ego by claiming she was a coward.

Unfamiliar with relationships and the emotions that came with them, Loreli didn't realise she was being manipulated into doing exactly what Zhavi wanted. Angered, she declared that she'd never cowered from anything in her life, then stormed over to Zhavi and kissed her- forcefully- as if to prove her point, only for the kiss to soften as the argument faded into memory.

After their first night together, the couple became inseparable and their ability to anticipate the actions and needs of the other developed to such a degree that their peers in the Alliance found their unconscious synchronisation slightly unsettling, given that they were unfamiliar with the effects of the Force. For a few weeks, a rumour spread around the base that Loreli was controlling Zhavi's mind, explaining their behaviour, though this was quickly dismissed by members of the Alliance's Force enclave who were told of the theory.

, head of the enclave, cited Zhavi and Loreli's relationship as proof that Sith and Jedi could work together as easily as they could with members of their own orders, using them as an example during a debate between two Force using members of the Alliance who had come to blows. Lana Beniko also made note of their connection in Alliance personnel files, noting that their effectiveness as a team was considerably greater than their individual value, recommending that they be considered a singular entity when it came to any future deployments.

Under normal circumstances the recommendation was irrelevant due to their role in the Alliance, but during the ' in ' they joined the defence of the Alliance base along with the other available forces, meeting the hordes of  head-on in the wilds outside the base.

Long Distance Relationship
"Hey, ain't like I'm a proper Jedi. I'm a smuggler, a crook, 'n' I reckon a Sith spy won't have no problems findin' a reason t' cross paths with a crook."

- Zhavi, to Loreli, during a discussion about their future outside the Alliance.

Remaining with the Alliance after the fall of ', Zhavi and Loreli saw out the ', the apparent betrayal of ' during a ' to the shadow world of ', the ' on the Chiss world of ' and the ' at the hands of the .

It was after the Alliance's naval force was decimated that many within the organisation's ranks decided it was time to return home, with large numbers taking the chance to accept pardons and leave Odessen before war broke out again.

Loreli was no exception. She knew she may never get another chance to return, and if the Alliance collapsed she would be cast adrift. Bidding an agonising farewell, Zhavi and Loreli parted ways, the Chiss returning to Dromund Kaas to resume her role as an assassin and spy for Sith Intelligence. Zhavi, meanwhile, returned to her smuggling ways, confident that they would see each other again, as agreed, sooner rather than later.

With war on the horizon, the Sith Empire was keen on locating and exterminating the Jedi who'd survived the war, knowing that- with the Jedi Order disbanded- they were weakened and exposed. To that end, Loreli was assigned to investigate leads on the hidden Jedi, the perfect cover to shrug off her duties in favour of spending time with Zhavi, letting her superiors believe that the failed Jedi was still in contact with her former peers.

She wasn't, of course. Even her aunt, a Jedi Master, rarely heard from her, but Loreli was confident she could keep her superiors at bay for a while. After several meetings, Loreli insisted that she meet Zhavi's parents, plotting a route to Coruscant while the drunken Jedi slept to try and force the issue. Despite Zhavi's concerns that her parents- Republic loyalists and members of the army- would react very poorly, Loreli was adamant about meeting them, intent on proving her commitment to Zhavi due to the former Jedi's quiet concerns relating to how serious Loreli was taking their partnership.

Disguising herself as a  using face-paint and sunglasses, Loreli arrived on Coruscant via the lower levels, where security was somewhat lax. Zhavi guided them to the surface level and to her parents' apartment, knowing they were not currently deployed thanks to Loreli's secret investigations prior to their arrival. Before they entered, the pair finally realised that they shared a .

Initially, the pair were greeted warmly. When Loreli's species and affiliations were revealed, however, Nomi Sofora-Waverunner, Zhavi's zealous mother, was enraged.

Her father, Yuri Waverunner, was far more understanding, and made an effort to calm his wife down before suggesting they split up, with Zhavi and Nomi going one way while Yuri took Loreli to the local gun range to chat, assuring her the choice of venue wasn't an omen. They agreed to meet up again later for dinner at the Waverunner's favourite restaurant, at which point they could calmly discuss any concerns or objections.

Carth Waverunner, Zhavi's younger brother and an agent for the SIS, met them at the restaurant, invited to be a calming influence and an additional vote in favour of Zhavi's choice of partner. Although the dinner was understandably tense, the discussion remained civil and Nomi was convinced to accept the reality of the situation, even if she didn't approve.

The morning after, Zhavi was contacted by Bao Shotti, a Republic soldier she'd first met back when she was a Padawan. He'd received a message from his young cousin, Maeve Shotti, who claimed to be living on the dead world of ' at a hidden '. Her message concerned her unhappiness as a Jedi, her feelings of isolation and homesickness and her belief that her master, Urthan Reynolds, couldn't understand how she felt.

Bao asked Zhavi if she could head to the colony to help her cope, stating that he couldn't think of anyone better equipped to help a teenager than a 'thirty-four year old kid'. Zhavi agreed, setting out a few days after leaving Coruscant and finding a mercenary contract for Loreli, hoping to show her that there was a life outside of the Jedi and Sith, one she could have if she left the Empire behind and stayed with her permanently.

Treasure Hunt on Dronim Major
"No offence but it seems to me that there's two 'teams' in this place right now. You're not with the mercenaries, obviously, and whether I'm a Jedi or not you'd have to be stupid to think I'm with the mercs"

- Benjamin, defending himself to Loreli.

Loreli's new job was simple; she was to head up security on an archaeological expedition to the unimportant world of Dronim Major, where a professor Demmen was intending to spend two weeks studying the ancient ruins. The ruins were well-documented already, so the expedition wasn't particularly well-funded, but Loreli cared more about doing the job for Zhavi than whatever credits she earned from it.

After arriving on Dronim Major, a dense jungle world with no settlements or sentient life, Loreli began her work, coordinating the mercenaries hired to guard the researchers and establishing a perimeter. The mercenaries, unused to taking orders, disliked Loreli's strictness, but professor Demmen was impressed with her professionalism- when he took the time to pull himself away from his studies, which he found inexplicably fascinating.

Whether through the will of the Force or by random chance, a private military organisation known as the Antiquarians- ostensibly a security force for large-scale expeditions in hostile environments- had been hired to secure the ruins, secure an artefact hidden there and kill any witnesses they encountered. Loreli's team of mercenaries were wiped out almost immediately, along with most of the researchers, though thanks to the Chiss' inability to let her guard down she reacted quickly to the assault on the camp, escaping into the wilds with the professor.

Unbeknownst to Loreli and Demmen, an independent Force adept was approaching the planet, also pursuing the lost artefact. The Antiquarians had a frigate in orbit, however, and the newcomer was shot down, crashing into the jungle. He survived, and as Loreli and Demmen continued to move away from the ruins to escape the mercenaries, the Force adept was heading to confront the mercenaries.

Despite the adept's strength in the Force, he was unprepared for the Force Suppression Spores, an airborne weapon that was able to dramatically reduce the power of the Force in the area affected. His senses blinded, the adept didn't sense when a pack of Mawvorr were preparing to ambush him, and though he put up an admirable fight it took Loreli- watching through the scope of her sniper rifle- opening fire to save his life.

Initially, Loreli was suspicious of the stranger, given that he had no reason to be on Dronim Major. Introducing himself as Benjamin Lambert, the adept explained that he'd been shot down and intended to stop the Antiquarians from claiming the artefact, believing they were acting under the orders of the Sith. In spite of her protests, Benjamin encouraged Demmen to agree to head back to the main temple, though Loreli insisted that- since he was confident he could defeat so many alone, even with his injuries- he lead the way while they followed after. She offered to provide sniper support where possible, but made it clear Demmen's survival was her priority.

It was his testimony that would force the Republic to investigate the Antiquarians.

Benjamin led the charge, though with no lightsaber and only makeshift weapons, progress was slow and stealth essential. The mercenaries were very well equipped, luckily, allowing the trio to loot rations, comm units and weapons from the scouts Benjamin killed.

Eventually, after somehow taming a wild , Benjamin stormed the temple, eliminating the outer guard and discovering that a secret chamber beneath the temple had been uncovered. Loreli and Demmen caught up, and the former agreed to help him investigate. Within the chamber, both individuals' Force senses were restored, allowing Benjamin to glimpse her Force sensitivity, her hidden presence slipping somewhat due to fatigue.

Benjamin remarked that he wasn't there to judge or out her as a Dark Side user, revealing that he- the former Darth Enigmus- had recently left the Empire and was not one to judge the preferences of others. He asked her to trust him with her lightsaber, and to create a distraction, allowing him to sneak past the mercenary guards and reach the room they were protecting. Inside, he encountered a confused Tavion Wyntoq, a  Sith who'd been charged with securing the artefact.

The room appeared to be empty, though, infuriating her and leading her to dismiss her journey as a wasted trip, assuming the relic had already been stolen. She intended to fight Benjamin, but he convinced her that he was a superior opponent next to her and she left peacefully, taking her mercenaries with her. Once she was gone, Benjamin studied the chamber, quite bare save for a single pedestal in the centre of the chamber, with a stone sword inset into it.

Benjamin approached the sword and attempted to lift it from the pedestal. It was then that a disembodied voice cautioned him, urging him to leave the chamber and forget what he'd found. In spite of the warning, the former Darth was not deterred, and using the ' his ' he managed to draw the ancient blade from the stone, triggering the temple mechanisms to reveal the artefact hidden beneath the chamber floor.

Still the voice warned him about the price of taking the artefact, claiming that the strange sphere that appeared would only cause death and destruction. Benjamin silently retorted that if he left it behind, others would come seeking it out, others with darker intentions than he.

Reaching out, Benjamin grasped the artefact and took it from the altar with immediate consequences; the orb fused to his hand, sending burning pain through his body as it began to test his worthiness, pouring energy into his body and forcing Benjamin to . In less than a minute, the process was complete and the sphere was gone, fused with Benjamin and multiplying his strength in the Force considerably, though Benjamin voiced his concerns at embodying such power long-term.

Victorious over the agents of the Sith, Benjamin, Demmen and Loreli left Dronim Major, the latter returning to the Empire.

Frinn Mesa Heartbreak
"Liar!"

- Zhavi, to Loreli, during their duel on Makeb.

Sadly, Loreli's run of good fortune was about to come to an end. Her mentor in Sith Intelligence, Sith Lord Scarlet Jhang, suspected the Chiss' loyalty was divided by her affection for Waverunner, and when she arrived at Sith Intelligence headquarters, she was disappointed that Loreli still had no actionable information. She used the Force to pin Loreli to the wall, demanding something worthwhile in exchange for her life.

Loreli was quick to sell out Benjamin, although she didn't report on the artefact she'd watched him take from the temple on Dronim Major. She offered up other, false rumours of Jedi activity, but Jhang wasn't satisfied, forcing Loreli to reveal the colony on Ossus out of desperation. As it turned out, Jhang already knew exactly where the Jedi colony was located and her demands were a test of Loreli's loyalty, which she'd passed. Plans were already underway to destroy the Jedi on Ossus, Zhavi included.

To ensure she didn't make any poor judgements, Jhang had the Chiss confined to Dromund Kaas until the operation was over. But when it was, Loreli made discreet arrangements to meet Zhavi on the dying world of ', in a protected biodome on ', maintained and operated by . Pulling some strings in Sith Intelligence, Loreli had agents within GSI insert false data that allowed Zhavi and Loreli to dock with the station and descend to the surface individually, under the cover of independent geology specialists.

When Zhavi arrived, Loreli attempted to explain, yet for all her protestations Zhavi refused to be swayed, distraught by the loss of so many innocent colonists and Jedi at the hands of the Empire's assault. The pair fought an aggressive duel, with Loreli refusing to do anything but defend as she tried to talk her partner down, failing repeatedly until she was defeated and at Zhavi's mercy. Waverunner drew her blade high, preparing to kill her lover, though ultimately couldn't bring herself to deliver a fatal blow. Instead, she took Loreli's sabre and left her there, wallowing in her loss.

Lord Jhang had got what she wanted. With Zhavi no longer a part of her life, Loreli had nothing left except her career and her dedication to the Empire. The Chiss returned home, unaware that her mentor had watched the entire exchange, her presence- physical and spiritual- masked from the two women's senses.

Inquisitor
"A promotion and a punishment..."

- Loreli, regarding her advancement to Inquisitor.

Rededicating herself to Sith Intelligence, Loreli took to filling her days with work. In her free time, she spent endless hours training with her lightsaber and Force abilities, to the exclusion of all else.

At one point, she investigated a company on the orders of her superiors, learning that it was a front for a small group of assassins working for the . Loreli was pressed into service, for a time, before departing the initiative alongside a Sith Lord, both agreeing that their talents would be put to better use elsewhere.

The Lord took Loreli as an apprentice for a time, permitting her to live in her family estate on the outskirts of  as she attempted to build up her own powerbase, though eventually the demands of Sith society drove her to defect, fleeing the Empire after detonating a bomb in the estate to try and kill Loreli. The attempt failed, and Loreli- along with a small strike team of the Lord's associates- was able to intercept the Lord as she attempted to hijack and Imperial vessel using hired mercenaries.

While the rest of the team eliminated the mercenaries and regained control of the ship, Loreli confronted the Lord, the pair clashing blades for a time before the traitor managed to escape aboard a shuttle. Failing to capture or kill the Lord, Loreli's situation only worsened when the ship was destroyed via sabotage, preventing the Republic from taking it but stripping it from the Empire as well.

Despite her failure, there was no formal punishment issued over the events, aside from the damage to her reputation for allowing a traitor to escape from under her nose. Informally, however, Loreli was reassigned from field work, promoted to the rank of Sith Inquisitor and tasked with tightening the security of the capital from treason and infiltration attempts, becoming one of many coordinating the eyes and ears of Sith Intelligence within Kaas City.

Internal security was important, but for Loreli, the promotion wasted her talent for murder and infiltration and saddled her with desk work more befitting a less physically capable Sith- or even an Imperial. She found herself coordinating agents, instead of being one, and while many Sith would see the advancement as a step up in their career, Loreli preferred to be a pawn in the  game that was Sith politics, rather than one of the players.

It did grant her a small measure of greater prestige, however, and thanks to that nobody attempted to seize her former master's estate after she'd coordinated its restoration, allowing her to live to a much higher standard than most of her peers. Although her old master's powerbase was negligible, Loreli did retain one of her agents, a former medic in the Imperial army, who lived with her in the estate, along with her young daughter.

For a time, the pair were romantically involved, but as the year progressed Loreli's friends in Sith Intelligence tipped her off about the capture of Yuri, Nomi and Carth Waverunner, prompting her to devote her free time to finding them, with the intention of freeing them however she could.

The information on their whereabouts was well classified, however, and when information suggesting they were being held on  became available, Loreli was suspicious of the sudden ease with which she'd found it. Irrespective of her concerns, she compiled all the information she had into a single file and set off for Dxun, transmitting the file to Benjamin Lambert once she was out of Imperial space, along with a request that he forward the file to Zhavi immediately.

The Death of Inquisitor Patek
"Inquisitor Patek. I'm so very glad you could make it.''" "''After all the time and dedication you have poured into this little project of yours it would be rather graceless of me to miss the grand finale, no?"

- Scarlet and Loreli, in the tomb of Freedon Nadd.

Travelling to the coordinates provided by the intelligence report on the Waverunners, Loreli set her shuttle down in front of the ', disembarking and entering the tomb with no resistance from the cult drafted in to help with the operation, a group of Dark Jedi fanatics who were obsessed with worshipping and emulating the abilities of the ' called the Followers of the Three.

Granted access to the burial chamber of the ancient Sith Lord , Loreli came face-to-face with her old mentor, Lord Jhang. The Lord explained that she'd witnessed Loreli and Zhavi duelling on Makeb, following the Chiss with the intention of murdering Zhavi only to come up with a better idea. Having seen firsthand how potent their Force bond was, the Sith Lord wanted that power on her side.

Instead of killing Waverunner to rid Loreli of her distraction, she would corrupt Zhavi by using the cultists to weaken her, the temple to sap at her spirit and her hostages to force Zhavi to embrace the Dark Side. Once she bested Zhavi in combat and left her with a choice between death for herself and everyone she cared about or a life where her family and lover would live, the failed Padawan would fall.

Allowing Jhang to claim two new apprentices instead of one- both of whom were far more lethal together than they were as individuals.

Loreli was not tempted, unwilling to help break Zhavi just to sway her into joining the Empire with her. She activated her sabre and engaged Lord Jhang, giving herself over to the Dark Side to combat her superior opponent, not truly believing she could win.

Her defeat came more swiftly than she'd imagined; Zhavi, trekking through the jungle, was attacked by a , and the pain from her injury was unintentionally projected through the Force bond they shared. With the Chiss' mind open to the Force, she was more receptive to their faint connection, and sensing Zhavi's pain caused her to hesitate and allow Jhang to injury her. It was downhill from there. Jhang destroyed Loreli's lightsaber and incapacitated her, locking her in a  alongside Zhavi's relatives.

She remained there until a few hours later, when Zhavi was fighting her way through the tomb to rescue the group. She sensed her former partner giving into the Dark Side's power, but found her attempts to communicate with Zhavi  rebuffed. It was when Zhavi reached the burial chamber and began her duel with Lord Jhang that Loreli escaped her cage, using the Force to  and rush at Jhang, calling the lightsaber that Zhavi had taken from her on Makeb from the Jedi's belt.

Sadly, the  was short-lived thanks to Jhang's cunning. Taking an opportunity to leap out of striking range, the Sith Lord lifted Loreli's empty cage high up in the air, navigating it above Carth Waverunner's cage and forcing Zhavi to rush to his aid.

Loreli attempted to follow her, but Jhang surprised her and used the Force to lift and throw her in the opposite direction, charging after her and switching from ' to the more aggressive ', intent on killing Loreli now that she was facing both women at the same time, a scenario she'd specifically planned to avoid.

Her life now forfeit, Loreli did her best to hold out against Jhang until Zhavi could reach her. She suspected, however, that she couldn't last. So she adopted a new approach.

Instead of simply defending, she blocked one of Jhang's strikes hard enough to lock their blades together, pushing against her so that she couldn't move her blade to attack again. With her free hand, she clamped the back of Jhang's neck, preventing them both from moving, keeping the Sith Lord trapped as Zhavi charged in to deliver the final strike.

But Lord Jhang was determined to survive. Empowered by rage and desperation, she pressed her blade against Loreli's, angling their locked blades downwards towards the ground, cutting off the Chiss' hand with her own blade before the tip of Jhang's weapon cut off the rest of her arm at the shoulder. Before Zhavi reached the pair, Jhang severed Loreli's left leg, just below the knee, stopping when Zhavi activated and attacked with her newly constructed .

Disarmed, Jhang took the blade from Loreli's hand, intent on destroying her. Frozen in shock, Loreli was powerless to defend herself when her right leg and hand were cut away, dropping her to the floor before Zhavi could attack again. When she did, the sight of Loreli being mutilated drove her into a , inspiring a brutal series of lashing strikes that Jhang couldn't defend against, in the end.

Loreli's stolen blade was pried out of her hands and spun into Zhavi's whip. She tried to raise her hands to attack with ', only for Zhavi to command her to stop, using her natural talent of ' to temporarily prevent Jhang from moving, giving her enough time to launch a final strike that carved a fatal burn through Jhang's skull, blinding her and causing catastrophic, irreparable damage.

Not that it mattered; Jhang died just seconds later, having only a few moments to come to the silent realisation that she was dead.

Freeing her parents, Zhavi used her newfound connection to the Dark Side and her Force bond with Loreli to pour her own life essence into the Chiss, refusing to allow her to succumb to her wounds. The group departed the tomb and split up once they were outside, the Waverunners taking Loreli's Imperial shuttle back to Coruscant to report on what had happened while Zhavi boarded Jhang's , fearing the harm she might do to her family at the slightest provocation, given her intense immersion in the Dark Side.

Zhavi and Loreli, the Chiss unnaturally suspended on the brink of death, launched from Dxun, headed to the Republic world of Onderon, orbiting overhead.

Recovery on Pyntiarri
"Uhh, wha- where... where am I!?''" "''Shh shh shh, relax, relax. You are at Capital Borough Hospital on Pyntiarri. You were in an accident, but you are safe now, my dear. Just relax."

- Loreli, meeting Patrice LaLenna for the first time.

When Zhavi attempted to land on Onderon, she discovered that Jhang's ship was protected by complicated security, preventing her from accessing many of the ship's systems, including the communications array. With a crucial Republic fleet in orbit and political upheaval causing tension on the surface, security was tighter than usual. An unidentified vessel approaching from Onderon's Demon Moon and refusing to respond to Onderon flight control's attempts to communicate was enough justification for the Republic fleet to launch fighters to intercept.

But no matter what the Republic forces brought against Zhavi and her new ship, she still couldn't respond. Forced to give up on Onderon, Zhavi accessed the navigation system, which was unlocked but wiped clean of star charts; Lord Jhang took no chances with security, and Zhavi assumed she pre-loaded her destinations into the  before each trip she made.

Zhavi had to choose between Dromund Kaas, the capital of the Sith Empire, or a neutral world that wasn't much of a step up- Pyntiarri. A supplier of armour and weapons to both factions, Pyntiarri was a totalitarian world that maintained a strict neutrality, protected by the orbital defence cannons that ringed the industrial planet. It was famous amongst the underworld for having a supposedly foolproof customs system, many smugglers having ignored the planet's reputation at their peril, for Pyntiarri's take on justice was extreme.

Despite their terrible civil rights record, Zhavi knew they had good hospitals, for those who could pay, and although Jhang's private  was easing the burden on Zhavi, she needed to get Loreli to a hospital soon.

So, reluctantly, she fled the Republic starfighters and jumped to , being directed to a free hangar bay when she arrived above Pyntiarri. Loreli was permitted to pass through customs without being inspected, albeit under guard, though Zhavi was subjected to the standard, invasive security checks to ensure she wasn't in possession of any weapons or banned substances.

Once cleared, Zhavi was directed to the Capital Borough Hospital, the largest and best equipped hospital in the planet-wide city- and the most expensive. Thanks to Zhavi's efforts, Loreli was stabilised, though remained in a coma for almost two months, giving Zhavi time to get her new ship's security system fixed before departing Pyntiarri in search of a way to pay for Loreli's medical bills.

By the time Loreli woke up, Zhavi had been arrested for trying to smuggle her lightsaber through customs and was awaiting trial. If found guilty, she'd be sentenced to death, though there was a backlog, meaning it would take time before she would appear in court. This information was kept from Loreli, initially, as when she woke she was greeted by the  Countess Patrice LaLenna, a member of the local nobility and Governing Council of Pyntiarri.

A Republic ally, Countess Patrice had lived on Pyntiarri most of her life, serving as a starfighter pilot for the Republic navy for a few years before returning home with her husband, a Republic soldier who had to retire due to injury. Her husband passed away year priors, but Patrice continued to champion the Republic over the Empire, strongly believing in the ideals of the ancient organisation.

Since Loreli had just woken up after a significant trauma, the Countess was patient with her, doing most of the talking herself, unaware that Loreli was studying the alien and her present situation to work out how best to take advantage. As she listened, she realised that Patrice believed she and Zhavi were the SIS agents she'd been waiting for, agents intended to help coordinate a proxy war that'd been going on for several years already.

Over the past few months, the Republic's proxies on the planet had been systematically eliminated in a sudden surge of support from the Empire, with their representatives- primarily the street gang the Rabid Akks- striking with incredible precision and force. Countess LaLenna was the last open supporter of the Republic, and feared that with her death the Empire would be able to sway the planet into aligning with the Sith Empire.

Loreli, sensing an opportunity, confirmed that she and Zhavi had been sent to help, as she believed, and introduced herself as Isla Ahnkett. She knew that any background check would show her as being missing in action, but that that was also a convincing cover for an SIS agent plucked out of the Jedi ranks, not to mention that her Sith name would yield little- if anything- when searched, though it could tip off the Empire that she was still alive.

Patrice informed her that she'd paid for Isla to be fitted with high-end , though it would take time for her to be physically well enough to have them installed, along with the associated recovery time. Patrice also gave her an address and asked that she visit her as soon as she was discharged from the hospital, explaining that she could not risk leaving her home needlessly for fear of being intercepted by members of the Rabid Akks.

Teamwork
"We will be the Cobbled Terentateks. Mighty, dwelling on the periphery and most will never even be sure if we exist at all."

- Isla Ahnkett, officially forming the Cobbled Terentateks gang.

Three months after first being admitted to the hospital, Isla was back on her new feet. She was given the all clear to leave, with a later appointment scheduled for the application of  to disguise her mechanical limbs.

With no money or possessions and with Zhavi's imprisonment not yet known to her, Isla went to see the Countess, as requested, being invited into her private estate. There, LaLenna explained Zhavi's situation and how she intended to secure her release, Isla being an essential part of her plan. First, however, the Countess wanted Isla to familiarise herself with the city- and her new allies.

To that end, LaLenna's butler, the well-spoken  Rissessk, would serve as Isla's advisor, confidant and guide. The Countess also explained that the primary means of changing the political landscape was through gang warfare, taking and protecting territory to convince local business leaders and figures of influence to support their work. The Republic needed a new gang to represent their interests; LaLenna believed that the mistake they made the last time was hiring a pre-existing gang, and that a group of their own making was needed to be effective and efficient.

Countess LaLenna also believed that Isla was the ideal woman to build it.

Isla herself was unsure, self-aware enough to know she was suffering from a form of  and was thus unfit for field work, never mind a leadership role. LaLenna disagreed, however, and insisted that she was the right person for the job. She wasn't unsympathetic though, assuring Isla that she had time to recover from the trauma. Zhavi's trial was still several weeks away.

Specialists had been recruited to serve as Isla's support network and officers within the gang, but while they discussed Isla meeting them, a pair of thugs broke in through the front door. The Countess calmly explained that they had followed Isla from the hospital, LaLenna's interest in a hospital patient being an anomaly in her behaviour that the Rabid Akks had been monitoring.

At LaLenna's suggestion, Isla vaulted over the balcony to confront the intruders and test her new limbs, dispatching the streets thugs- unarmed- with relative ease. Due to the restrictions on civilians carrying arms, the most advanced weapons available to the gangs were simple, , built illegally, more or less by hand, in the backrooms of select factories around the city.

Those were easy enough for someone in LaLenna's position to obtain, though she warned that smuggling in lightsaber components for her to construct a new weapon would take longer. She pointed out that at least Isla had the rarer crystals to hand, though Isla pointed out that the crystals from her old weapons had been badly scratched and were no longer suitable for use in a blade.

Learning of that, LaLenna offered her a blue lightsaber crystal, a family heirloom from her husband's side, which Isla was quietly uncomfortable about, not caring much for the symbolism. Regardless, she accepted the crystal, having her measurements taken for culturally appropriate clothing to be sewn for her. LaLenna explained that class was more important than race or gender on Pyntiarri, and simply dressing like she was nobility would automatically improve her social standing and dissuade the local police from bothering her without good cause.

With their business concluded for the moment, Rissessk provided Isla with temporary clothing to replace her medical robe and escorted her to a local club, which was closed on that particular evening. However, LaLenna was friends with the owner and had arranged for use of one of the clubs VIP rooms to serve as a safe meeting location for Isla and her new team of specialists.

Bibi Jotto was the first to arrive and introduce herself, a shy but bubbly  who used to serve in the Republic military until a mine caused nerve damage in her leg, making it hard for her to move with any speed. She'd been brought in for military experience, her strategic know-how being useful for deployments of the gang members they'd recruit in the months ahead.

The heavily-tattooed ex-gangster Yagogg was the next to show up, a ' who'd spent his life fighting and leading gangsters for the ' (their logo being tattooed on his face) until a near-death experience shook him to his core and caused him to rethink his life, seeking redemption for his past crimes. He'd helped the Republic's SIS take down two sizeable ' operations that were responsible for a large percentage of the drugs reaching the '.

He'd been hand-picked to assist on Pyntiarri for his intimate understanding of gang culture; he could screen unsuitable recruits and was better placed to understand the needs and motivations of their members. Isla sensed his distrust almost immediately, though he was civil in his interactions with her, cut short by the arrival of the last two specialists.

The first was Tabassa, a local  businessman who was concerned that the Empire might actually end up controlling Pyntiarri, which would likely cost him his business- and life. He was open about the fact that money was his reason for joining, but also seemed to be sincerely concerned about the social changes that becoming an Imperial world would inflict on the population, the poor in particular. He was offering financial support, along with advice on the strengths and weaknesses of other business leaders, potential allies and definite enemies alike.

Accompanying the Hutt was a far more surprising individual; Bon Yi, a failed ' ', who had been brought in to help combat and research Force users on the planet, potential recruits and enemy targets alike. Rissessk also formally introduced himself once the others had said their piece, revealing that he had spent most of his life as a hunter. He'd served time in prison for hunting endangered creatures- imprisonment costing him all of his '- but had resumed hunting after his release, eventually retiring after successfully killing a juvenile '.

Bibi pointed out that his expertise would be useful, as there were rumours that the Rabid Akks had started using weird animals to protect their territory and claim more. The group then turned to Isla, clearly expecting an introduction from her, too, forcing her to- reluctantly- offer up her name and her role as a Jedi. She then invented a story to hide her time as a Sith, claiming she'd joined the SIS to take out Sith and Imperial targets to destabilise command structures prior to large scale engagements.

Once the introductions were wrapped up, the group discussed where to start, eventually concluding that nobody would join them until they earned themselves a reputation. Bibi proposed that they hit a target, something small but big enough for word to spread, but Isla objected, stating that they lacked the resources and personnel to defend against any retaliation- which would come swiftly, if the Rabid Akks were fighting as intelligently as suggested.

To avoid putting her new allies in the firing line, Isla volunteered to launch a strike alone, swiping down Bibi's protests by pointing out that stealth and assassination were what she was paid to do for a living. Acting alone, any attack launched would leave the enemy confused and unable to explain the source, allowing them to build a reputation without exposing their entire command structure.

Isla said she would start by picking off members of the Rabid Akks, fear being a weapon they could use to harm their recruitment efforts. The others agreed, with some reservations about the mysterious Chiss, and Yagogg concluded by reminding them that a gang needed a name and a symbol, things they could rally behind.

Fatigued from the recent strain on her body, Isla was eager to conclude the meeting; she stated they would be known as the Cobbled Terentateks, after the cobbled streets of the city and the shadowy hunter believed to be mythical by the ordinary citizens of the galaxy. With that, the group parted ways for the evening, Isla and Rissessk returning to LaLenna's estate, where a room had been set aside for the Chiss' use.

Illegal Proceedings
"Ummin Cha Shyndatyriss is the most distinguished lawyer in the sector- and openly supportive of the Empire's 'rule of the strong' style of governing. As long as he is leading the prosecution team, Miss Waverunner's case is little more than a formality and political statement aimed squarely at myself and the Republic."

- Countess LaLenna.