Changes: Isla Waverunner (original timeline)

Revision as of 17:29, 13 December 2019

Isla Waverunner (born Mitth'att'inrokini, renamed Isla Ahnkett by the Ahnkett family of Onderon, later voluntarily renamed Loreli Patek and also known as Lady Isla Ahnkett of the Independent Nation of Voryle) was a female Chiss taken in by the Jedi Order and trained as a Jedi Padawan until the age of ten when she and her master were ambushed en route to a diplomatic distress call along the Outer Rim, after which Isla was pressed into joining the Sith Empire as a Sith apprentice.

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 believe Isla Ahnkett had been killed along with her master.

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

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

Loreli returned to the Empire until 20 ATC, 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 Odessen to join the newly formed Eternal Alliance.

The two women developed an intense- and eventually romantic- relationship which continued beyond the destruction of the Eternal Fleet, 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 Ossus was invaded, and the couple met on Makeb 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 Tomb of Freedon Nadd. Loreli had her limbs severed and almost died, only surviving thanks to Zhavi's intervention.

As a security precaution, Jhang's navicomputer was deliberately devoid of starcharts, 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 Dromund Kaas, or she could go to Jhang's secondary destination, a neutral world known as Voryle.

On Voryle, Loreli reclaimed her birth name, Isla, and allied herself with Countess Patrice LaLenna, an elderly Mikkian noble, who- along with Bibi Jotto, Bon Yi, Yagogg, Tabassa and Rissessk- helped her form a street gang called the Cobbled Terentateks, which she led to victory over the Empire's proxy on the planet, the Rabid Akks.

Biography

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 2 ATC, on the world of Copero, Chiss scientist Mitth'icini'inrokini gave birth to her third child, a healthy baby girl 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 Chiss Ascendancy 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 Onderon 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 Jedi Order, where she could be raised by people who understood her powers and knew how to help her.

Travelling to Coruscant 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 Tython on which the Jedi had built a new temple to replace the one destroyed during the Sacking of Coruscant.

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 Jedi younglings, Isla was trained as part of a Jedi Initiate Clan, learning about the Jedi Code, meditation, 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 Jedi Archives 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 Initiate trials.

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 CSF 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 speeder 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 Force Stasis 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 training blade, 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 Force Wars. 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 blue lightsaber crystal 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 archives 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 12 ATC, the duo were sent to assist with yet another diplomatic mission in the Outer Rim, information about their travels reached the ears of the newly formed Sith Intelligence, 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 Rattataki Sith Lord 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 stun cuffs, preventing her from intervening. Lord Kim's use of Makashi allowed him to eventually outperform Master Synma's Niman, 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 impaled her, 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 Sith Empire as a Sith apprentice. 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 Sith acolytes were shipped off to Korriban to train at the academy, 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 Dromund Kaas.

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 crimson lightsaber crystal 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 Sith assassin: abilities such as hiding her presence in the Force, manipulating light and sound to render herself practically invisible, remotely disabling security cameras and even the very basics of moving through solid objects, 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 Shien, a division of Form V suited to deflecting blaster bolts.

In 15 ATC, 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 Sphere of Mysteries, 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 Nexus Room, 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 Synox 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.

Independence

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 16 ATC, galactic events took a dark turn. Loreli, now a rising star in Sith Intelligence had just been recalled from a sabotage operation at Kuat Drive Yards and was on her way back to Ziost to report in for reassignment when the invasion 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 Sith Emperor. The first of many major blows to the Empire.

The next was the attack on Korriban, which heralded the invasion of the galaxy by the mysterious Eternal Empire and their unstoppable armada of warships. 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 Knights of Zakuul, 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 18 ATC, 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 20 ATC. 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 21 ATC, when word spread from Asylum of a battle that took place there, and through Zhavi's underworld contacts the duo managed to discover the location of Odessen. On their arrival, they learned of the Eternal Alliance and the secret weapon they held that put them above other resistance groups; the colossal Gravestone.

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, Minister Beniko, while Zhavi got to meet the Commander of the fledgling Alliance, the famous Hero of Tython.

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 Hylo Visz, 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 the raid on Darvannis, 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.

Sana-Rae, 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 Assault on Odessen in 23 ATC they joined the defence of the Alliance base along with the other available forces, meeting the hordes of Skytroopers head-on in the wilds outside the base.

Long Distance Relationship

Loreli and Zhavi, aboard the latter's ship.

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 Empress Vaylin, Zhavi and Loreli saw out the fighting on Iokath, the apparent betrayal of Theron Shan during a mission to the shadow world of Umbara, the surprising events on the Chiss world of Copero and the destruction of both the Eternal Fleet and the Gravestone at the hands of the Order of Zildrog.

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 Pantoran 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 Force bond.

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 Ossus at a hidden Jedi colony. 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 Fyrnock, 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 Rattataki 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 Force to augment his physical strength 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 call on the Force to endure the overload. 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 Makeb, in a protected biodome on Frinn Mesa, maintained and operated by Galactic Solutions Industries. 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.

Scarlet's Game

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 Sphere of Mysteries. 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 Kaas City 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 Dejarik 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 Dxun 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

Loreli vs Scarlet — Loreli vs Lord Jhang.

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 Tomb of Freedon Nadd, 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 Sith Triumvirate called the Followers of the Three.

Granted access to the burial chamber of the ancient Sith Lord Freedon Nadd, 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 Boma, 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 force cage 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 telepathically 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 destroy the circuitry that controlled the cage's barrier and rush at Jhang, calling the lightsaber that Zhavi had taken from her on Makeb from the Jedi's belt.

Sadly, the advantage of unity 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 Niman to the more aggressive Ataru, 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 Lightwhip.

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 rage, 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 lightning, only for Zhavi to command her to stop, using her natural talent of mental domination 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 ship, 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.

Commander of the Cobbled Terentateks

Recovery on Voryle

Uhh, wha- where... where am I!?"
"Shh shh shh, relax, relax. You are at Capital Borough Hospital on Voryle. You were in an accident, but you are safe now, my dear. Just relax.
—Loreli, meeting Countess 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 navicomputer 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- Voryle. A supplier of armour and weapons to both factions, Voryle 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 Voryle'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 kolto tank 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 hyperspace, being directed to a free hangar bay when she arrived above Voryle. 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 Voryle 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 Mikkian Countess Patrice LaLenna, a member of the local nobility and Governing Council of Voryle.

A Republic ally, Countess Patrice had lived on Voryle 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 cybernetics, 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.

Forming the Terentateks

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 synthskin 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 Trandoshan 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 cyber-psychosis 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, old-fashioned slugthrowers, 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 Voryle, 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 Cathar 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 Gamorrean who'd spent his life fighting and leading gangsters for the Hutt Cartel (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 spice operations that were responsible for a large percentage of the drugs reaching the Core Worlds.

He'd been hand-picked to assist on Voryle 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 Hutt businessman who was concerned that the Empire might actually end up controlling Voryle, 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 Voss Mystic, 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 Jagganath points- but had resumed hunting after his release, eventually retiring after successfully killing a juvenile Krayt dragon.

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.

Thanks to the influence of the Countess, the components needed to build a new lightsaber were purchased and smuggled in through government channels, included in a shipment intended for the weapons factories and- as a result- not subject to the same customs regulations as everyone else. Under the cover of an inspection, LaLenna recovered the components with the help of her supporters in the local police, using her position in government to bypass the compulsory searches all personnel were subjected to when leaving high security zones.

Isla spent two days constructing her new lightsaber, with Rissessk acting as her assistant during the complicated process. Unlike her previous weapons, her new lightsaber was to be far more ornate than the utilitarian designs she'd favoured previously, and with the Countess' fortune at her disposal Isla was able to incorporate expensive materials into the build, including phrik, aurodium and an electrum finish.

As lightsabers were just as illegal as blaster weaponry, Isla couldn't carry it openly. To circumvent this issue, Isla designed her new weapon to be a sabercane, her hilt was created to look like the head of a Terentatek, with the only indication that it was a sabre being the slight curve factored in to compliment Isla's favoured form.

Rissessk had a local craftsman create the length of the cane, a simple jewelled shaft with a retractable blade. Both the lightsaber and the physical blade could only be activated using the Force, ensuring that there were no visible switches or triggers that could give the lethal functions away. With two blades hidden within the cane, Isla could fight with the cane itself to avoid detection, while having a lightsaber on her person at all times, in the event she needed to use it.

Later in the day, Isla went to see Zhavi at the police holding station, her visitation request having been granted by the local authorities. Isla informed Zhavi that they had everything in hand, promising that she would secure her release, owing her that much at least. Zhavi said she didn't owe her anything after what she did for her and her family on Dxun, and the pair shared a tender moment, pressing their hands together on either side of the energy field keeping Zhavi from leaving.

When Zhavi tried to discuss the future of their relationship, however, Isla recoiled, finding the topic difficult due to the ongoing psychological effects of her extensive cybernetic replacement surgery. She closed herself off, which Zhavi took as an indication that Isla had moved on. The Chiss reiterated that they would get Zhavi out before bidding her farewell, heading back to LaLenna's estate.

Her new weapon finished and unable to settle after her meeting with Zhavi, Isla took to the streets that evening, heading to an alleyway where members of the Rabid Akks were known to loiter at night, harassing civilians for fun and credits. When she arrived, Isla interrupted the gangsters stripping a young Rodian man of his clothes. Dressed in fine clothing and carrying an expensive walking cane, the gangsters immediately lost interest in their intended victim and turned their attention to Isla, demanding she pay the toll to walk down 'their street'.

Isla pointed out that there were no registered toll roads in the city, to which they claimed she was misinformed. She turned to leave, knowing they'd try to stop her, and when the nearest gangster attempted to grab her by the arm she released the blade at the end of her cane, pivoted and swung it up into the Houk's throat, levering the cane over her shoulder to flip him, startling his comrades.

Realising she wasn't as defenceless as they'd thought, the group drew their knives and swarmed her, attacking in a blunt, disorganised manner that Isla- even fighting with an unfamiliar weapon- was easily able to overcome, giving her valuable experience with her unorthodox new blade as well as ridding the streets of a few gangsters, murders which would not go unnoticed.

The following day, Countess LaLenna told Isla that a lawyer had been appointed to lead the prosecution in Zhavi's smuggling case, the pro-Imperial Mon Calamari Ummin Cha Shyndatyriss, who was regarded as the best lawyer in the sector. The case had also been brought forward, an unprecedented move, and they had less than a week to influence the judgement and somehow get rid of the evidence. LaLenna knew a sympathetic police captain who would be in the running to take over as Voryle Police Commissioner if the current Commissioner were to stand down.

An unlikely scenario, unless something drastic happened on his watch. Such as an important and influential lawyer- visiting the planet at the government's request- being murdered within days of arriving in the city.

LaLenna cautioned Isla against approaching from the street, as the hotel would be well guarded, while the roof would have only limited protection, though the suite Shyndatyriss was staying in had a large skylight that could easily be broken with a lightsaber. The Countess warned her not to use her lightsaber against the lawyer, however, as that would raise questions that'd be better left unasked.

Regardless, she was certain that his death was needed, and Isla set off that evening, using the Force to cross between the city's rooftops until she reached the hotel, police guards standing out front and on the rooftop, as predicted. Though the police were armed with expensive body armour and modern blaster weaponry, Isla's speed, ability to cloak herself from sight and the element of surprise allowed her to execute them quickly and silently.

From there, it was a simple matter to wait for Shyndatyriss to move into position, shatter the skylight with the Force and make her move, stabbing the Mon Calamari in the back before he knew what was happening. With a twist, Isla withdrew the blade, discarding it and leaping back out to make her escape, ensuring Ummin Cha Shyndatyriss would never be able to prosecute Zhavi, or anyone else.

The Voryle Fight Club

Good fight. Fun fight, even. Been a while since someone made me work that hard."
"Likewise. I made the mistake of thinking this street fighting would be an easy diversion when I first arrived. Suffice to say I have been appropriately humbled..."
"What can I say? It's a fine art. Took me a whole lot of beatings before I got good enough to be the one dishin' 'em out. Name's Sam, by the way, Samantha if I were putting on airs."
"Isla Ahnkett- and this is my associate, Rissessk. A rare pleasure, Sam.
—Samantha and Isla, after their fight in the Voryle Fight Club ring.

With Shyndatyriss dead, blame immediately fell on the head of the Police Commissioner, with pressure increasingly daily for him to step down and Countess LaLenna doing her best to fan the flames. In return for her support with his bid to become commissioner, Tommo Sanders recovered Zhavi's smuggled lightsaber from the evidence locker at police headquarters, cutting it open to remove the crystal and destroy the internal components, ruining them beyond any hope of repair.

By the time Zhavi's trial began, the prosecution team had been significantly weakened and the sole piece of damming evidence that could be used to convict the Jedi was found to be inoperable, despite the arrest report claiming the weapon was tested and confirmed to be functional. Zhavi's defence attorney demonstrated for the court that the weapon clearly didn't work, and asked for it to be cut open for the court's inspection, revealing that the interior was filled with the wrecked pieces.

Though electronic components that could be used in weaponry were regulated by the government, the fact that the components Zhavi had 'smuggled' were so badly damaged that they could never be salvaged eviscerated the prosecution's case against her. The arresting officers claimed that the evidence had been tampered with, but without evidence the case was thrown out for lack of compelling evidence, pending further investigation.

Meanwhile, Sanders, who had successfully become Voryle Police Commissioner with LaLenna's support, erased the incriminating security recording from the evidence room and replaced it with looped footage from another point in the day, ensuring that the internal investigation he personally ordered after the trial concluded would never find anything.

Although Zhavi had been found innocent, she was required to remain in police custody until the appropriate documentation had been completed, checked and signed off on, which would take a couple of days at minimum.

In the meantime, LaLenna suggested Isla take some time to relax and enjoy their triumph, encouraging her to maintain a good work/life balance, lest she forget what they were all fighting for. Isla, however, was neither used to nor comfortable with sitting idle, and consulted Rissessk on what she should do to kill time. The Trandoshan, though aged, was still a keen combat enthusiast, and ashamedly admitted to betting his wages on street fights on more than one occasion.

Asked if he knew when and where the next fight would be taking place, Rissessk confessed that there was to be a gathering the following evening, down at an abandoned warehouse. Anyone could sign-up on the night, and anyone could challenge whoever stepped into the ring, the only rules being no killing or maiming and when the referee called stop, the combatants stopped. Rissessk remarked that it was actually a very civil affair most of the time, with only two or three deaths in the ring over the past fifteen years, an additional death occurring outside the ring as a direct result of injuries sustained, but without malicious intention.

Somewhat nervous, Isla was nonetheless confident that her training with both the Jedi and Sith would make her more than capable of defeating what she referred to as 'unwashed and uneducated gutter rats'. Initially, she drew a fair amount of attention at the gathering, the crowds of commoners clearly surprised and anxious at the arrival of a finely dressed woman and her butler, who they naturally assumed to be a noblewoman.

She surprised everyone when she challenged the winner of the fight that ended shortly after her arrival, shedding her elaborate gown to fight in her undershirt and stepping into the ring against a burly Nautolan, whom she defeated handily. After her surprise victory, the ringmaster invited in challengers to take on the newcomer, with two more muscular individuals fighting and losing, one after the other.

After her third win, an orange-skinned Twi'lek woman stepped up to challenge her. A few minutes were allocated to the placing of bets, but once that was done the two women began, beginning a brutal brawl between the two, Isla's opponent having considerable skill in hand-to-hand fighting. Despite Isla's own training, her skills were rusty and her foe was stronger, incorporating more aggressive, unorthodox moves to slam Isla to the ground, where she was pinned, unable to move, and was forced to accept defeat as the ringmaster counted her down.

She stepped out of the ring feeling foolish, yet the Twi'lek didn't stay to take on challengers, choosing to follow Isla to the bar and commend her on a fight well fought, introducing herself as Sam before buying the Chiss a drink. The trio chatted for a while (though neither Rissessk nor Isla were great at authentic small talk), and the Twi'lek encouraged Isla to return for a rematch sometime, flirting that she'd enjoy grappling with her a second time.

Isla returned home, processing the evening, although she was quietly looking forward to returning to the ring, against Sam or not, secretly admitting that she had enjoyed a night out that wasn't work related.

Republic Gang Leader

Voryle has, I am ashamed to say, employed child labour for well over a century now, but I know many are opposed to the cruel enslavement of minors. Liberating the workhouses will be an excellent way of gaining support, as well as saving lives."
"If they're as lightly guarded as y' reckon they are, I can deal with 'em easily enough. Isla, y' mentioned..."
"The Midnight Rose. The largest brothel in this borough. Rumour is that the madam in charge has no love for the Rabid Akks. They act in a brutish manner and the protection money they demand is extortionate; I intend to convince her that the Cobbled Terentateks can and will protect her, and her... 'entertainers', at a far more reasonable rate. Having access to the services she offers will also help keep our future recruits contented."
"Mm. Madam Quisselle is a pragmatic woman, but kind-hearted. If she believes you can truly push back against the Rabid Akks, she will be willing to help you. Be cautious though. Quisselle is fiercely protective of her charges, and her species are able to... 'influence' the feelings of others. She will try to get what she can from you without offering anything herself, if possible. Do not let her.
—Countess LaLenna, Zhavi and Isla, discussing their first major play against the Rabid Akks.

Almost a week after her charges being dropped, Zhavi was released from holding and allowed to go free, joining Isla at LaLenna's estate and being outfitted with equipment and clothing, though unlike Isla, Zhavi insisted that she'd be better off dressing like she belonged on the streets, claiming she couldn't pull off acting like nobility the way the Chiss could.

To celebrate her release, Zhavi wanted to head out for the evening, with Isla suggesting the fight club, knowing how much the former Jedi liked a brawl. Isla watched from the sidelines, betting on Zhavi to defeat the muscular Krex she was up against. Mid-way through the fight, Sam showed up beside Isla, trading small-talk for a few minutes before she suggested checking out the Midnight Rose, the largest and most reputable brothel in the borough.

She explained that Madam Quisselle's relationship with the Rabid Akks had never been entered into with enthusiasm, and that it was only getting worse the more the Akks solidified their control of the city, making them all the bolder- and greedier. Hinting that she was aware of Isla's activities, claiming that, if a rival gang were to show they could challenge the Rabid Akks and drive them out of the borough, Madamn Quisselle would be all too happy to support a regime change. Sam concluded by stating that it was a shame all the other gangs had been absorbed into the Akks' ranks, before heading off for the night.

The following day, Isla mentioned the Midnight Rose to Zhavi, who agreed it sounded like something worth looking in to, though urged her to bring it up with the Countess first. LaLenna already had her own suggestion on where to start their campaign against the Rabid Akks, pointing Zhavi to the boroughs workhouses and factories, where children were forced to work long hours in incredibly dangerous conditions. She agreed, however, that winning over Madam Quisselle would be a great boon.

But Quisselle was a cunning and experienced Zeltron, which concerned LaLenna. Isla suspected from her tone that the Countess had been swayed by Quisselle's pheromones at some point in the past to some extent, hence her caution, though Isla's past in Sith Intelligence meant she was trained to resist the influence of alien pheromones.

Not that she discounted the Zeltron's natural capabilities as a threat, but experience and training sapped much of her concern away. The same evening, Zhavi and Isla set off and split up, with Zhavi hitting the nearest workhouse and Isla visiting the Midnight Rose.

On entering, she was immediately set upon by Quisselle's courtesans, who tried to tempt her into indulging in the services they offered, brushing off her insistence that she speak with Madam Quisselle until it eventually became clear she couldn't be seduced. She was asked to wait before being led to a backroom, where she passed a dishevelled looking businessman on his way out. Inside, Madam Quisselle greeted her- still buttoning up her blouse- and informed her that she didn't cater to just anyone who asked, though admitted she might be willing to make an exception in Isla's case.

Isla, quickly catching on to Quisselle's methods, politely ignored her suggestive comments and explained that she was there to make her an offer, but one which strictly concerned business. Curious, Quisselle agreed to hear her out, listening as Isla proposed the arrangement between the Cobbled Terentateks and the Midnight Rose, though she was unconvinced initially, pointing out that the Rabid Akks had destroyed the other gangs on Voryle and had a monopoly on all underworld activities.

She asked what made Isla and her gang any better; Isla responded by removing the head of her cane with the Force and activating the lightsaber hidden inside, clearly surprising the aged Zeltron. Tempted, if not entirely sold on the risk, Quisselle told the Chiss about a train owned by the Rabid Akks, funded by their underworld activity. It allowed them to quickly move their troops from borough to borough, an investment that was the closest thing to legitimate business the gang dabbled in.

Without the train, they would have to rely on the roads to move their people around, making it all the more difficult for them to maintain control of all the boroughs. Quisselle told Isla that she had to protect her courtesans from retaliation, and before she'd make any risky choices the Chiss needed to prove what she was made of- by taking out the train.

Her people heard much from the Rabid Akks who visited the brothel. Through her courtesans, Quisselle was able to tell Isla when the train would next be passing through the borough, down to the rough time and the track it would be using, one of the main cargo lines used by the corporations to pass goods around the city.

After Zhavi successfully burnt down one of the local workhouses, Isla was confident that taking the train would be the icing on the cake. Quisselle was expecting her to destroy it, yet the Chiss had already come up with a better idea. Living with the Countess made her a target, which would only worsen as the gang began to expand and make itself known to the Rabid Akks, and though spacious they would need more room in future, to expand their operations.

To that end, Isla intended to capture the train, rather than wreck it. Not only would it prove Isla's skills to Madam Quisselle, it would also provide the Cobbled Terentateks with a mobile headquarters that they could use to move easily and discreetly around the city.

On the Right Track

Isla PNG Hoodie — Isla, during her theft of the Rabbid Akks' train.

Good evening, gentleman. If you would be so kind as to disembark the train in an orderly-
—Isla, to members of the Rabid Akks, before being fired upon.

Still struggling to come to terms with the losses she suffered on Dxun, Isla kept her plan to capture the Rabid Akks hovertrain from Zhavi, positioning herself above one of the elevated tracks that snaked around the borough until the train was in sight.

As it passed by, she jumped down, timing her fall so that she landed atop the rear carriage, allowing her to move through the train from one end to the other, ensuring she couldn't be surrounded. Luckily for Isla, inside the train was hidden from the wider public, allowing her to use her lightsaber without fear of repercussions from the local police.

Once inside, she asked the gang members to leave the train, fully aware that they would never do as she instructed. Before she could even finish her sentence, one of the gangsters pulled out a primitive revolver, a shot that Isla blocked with her cane. She disconnected her lightsaber and dispatched the gangsters one carriage at a time, leaving only the driver alive, using the Force to control his mind.

With the driver under her influence, she stopped off at the station briefly, wrote a note and paid one of the poor children littering the streets to deliver it to Rissessk, instructing him to bring the others to the station within the hour, gathering the leadership team aboard to reveal her prize and instruct them to begin preparing it for use as their new headquarters. Given the dilapidated state of the train, Isla was told it would take some time to generate the necessary funds to both repair the mechanical faults in the outdated, second hand model and spruce up the interior, which had been treated rather poorly in its role as a troop and goods transport. Yagogg removed the trains transponder unit, saying they should start by replacing it to give the train a new ID signature.

However, the team were impressed with her work, agreeing that it would serve them better than LaLenna's estate in the long-run. Sizeable carriages- and lots of them- also meant the group could live aboard the train, ensuring it was never left idle. Isla instructed them to tag the bodies of the fallen Akks with the gang logo, drive the train out to other boroughs and deposit the remains along the way, masking their location until such a time where they had the resources and personnel to ward off any retaliatory efforts. Before she left, she released the train driver from her control, only to snap his neck a moment later, ensuring no witnesses remained alive to report what had happened.

Having captured the train rather than destroyed it outright, Isla was confident that Madam Quisselle would honour her agreement and ally with the Cobbled Terentateks. She returned to the Midnight Rose, Quisselle greeting her at the door and congratulating her. In addition, she handed Isla the first instalment of the agreed upon protection fee, stating that she expected Isla to uphold her end of the arrangement.

Isla assured her that recruitment had already started, and that her establishment would be guarded within a matter of days. Quisselle, impressed, repeated her earlier offer, trying to tempt Isla into bed to 'celebrate' their new partnership, although she resisted the temptation. She assured her the offer would remain open until she changed her mind, telling her she had free use of the services available at the Midnight Rose as thanks for improving the working conditions of her courtesans.

Despite her successes, Isla was still struggling to just sit down and relax, agitated by her mental health problems which prompted her to ask Quisselle if she had any information she could use to help fund their operations. Quisselle considered the question carefully, telling Isla about the Capital Bank, the bank of choice for the nobility. The bank manager, an overweight Neimoidian, visited the Midnight Rose regularly, choosing to venture out to the city outskirts rather than using the services of the locals so that his wife- and mistress- remained unaware of his indulgences.

Even though he paid well, Quisselle clearly detested the man, calling him 'revolting' and mentioning how uncomfortable he made her people feel. Isla asked if she could arrange some one-on-one time between herself and the Neimoidian, though Quisselle was clearly concerned about being involved in interfering in something as high profile as the planet's wealthiest bank.

She told the Chiss she'd think it over; to help influence her thoughts, Isla gave her back to money she'd given her for protection, saying she would consider her a partner in any operation that came out of a meeting with the bank manager, and that partners received a portion of the spoils. Quisselle highlighted the fact that partners also tended to receive a portion of the blame, too, to which Isla retorted 'only if they are caught'.

The Neimoidian's Key

The manager is greedy, boorish. He ogles my boys and my girls equally, but can't tell any of them apart, and I'm sick of him treating them like toys. Henrietta has lent you a change of clothes in exchange for the night off, and he'll be too busy staring at your chest to notice you're new. I trust you can use your Jedi tricks to get what you need from him without him noticing?
—Madam Quisselle, to Isla, regarding the manager of the Capital Bank of Voryle.

Madamn Quisselle sent one of her courtesans to LaLenna's estate the following afternoon, delivering a message to Isla that asked for her to visit the Midnight Rose before they opened.

Once there, Quisselle talked about the bank manager's lack of respect for her staff, stating that she was sick of tolerating his behaviour, an encouraging start to the conversation. She then pointed to an outfit left out on the bar, explaining that Henrietta- the girl who'd summoned her- had provided her outfit for Isla's use, taking the night off so that the Chiss could take her place, 'entertaining' the bank manager.

Quisselle correctly assumed that Isla could use her Force powers to take the key from him without him realising, which she confirmed, and though Quisselle apologised for forcing her to endure the Neimoidian's company she made it clear that she had no intention of ever asking her staff to take part in any illicit activities that went beyond what they'd signed up for. Isla expressed her respect regarding Quisselle's loyalty to her workers, to which Quisselle responded with flirtation, prompting Isla to steer the conversation back to her objective, mentioning that she had neither the intention nor need to indulge the Neimoidian; her mind tricks would be sufficient to make him believe whatever she wished.

Armed with new knowledge, she asked if Isla could dissuade her from returning again, which she agreed to do. More than that, she also intended to convince him to make a generous donation on his way out, as well as to come clean and reveal all his indiscretions to his wife and mistress. Unfortunately Isla's gesture led to more flirting, forcing her to change the subject again, learning what time the Midnight Rose officially opened and what time the bank manager usually arrived.

She returned later in the day, shortly before sunset, and changed into her disguise to prepare herself for the Neimoidian's arrival. When he did, she understood the courtesans' collective disgust; he was loud, rude, incredibly fat and groped the staff a little too eagerly, even earning judgemental scowls from other patrons.

Guided into a private backroom by Quisselle, Isla appropriated an accent she'd heard one of the other courtesans speak with- Rylothian, she believed- and teasingly invited the alien manager in, encouraging him to take a seat. She waited, only briefly, letting him get comfortable and his mind to wander as he stared at her, just as Quisselle said he would. Then, with his subconscious mental defences lowered, she began to use the Force to gently take command of his mind.

She maintained the accent and soft, seductive tone of voice to keep him calm and avoided directness, knowing that an overt Force interrogation would make the process both more difficult and less effective long-term. Keeping him calm and asking her questions discreetly would make it a lot less likely for him to recall anything odd about his visit.

Isla learned that the vaults in the bank contained physical treasures. Some were simply hard currency, used by most of the population due to the planet's isolated tendencies, while many contained rarities of a more material nature, such as expensive ornaments, gemstones and other trinkets that would fetch high prices on the black market. Those vaults could only be opened and closed through a terminal in the manager's office.

And to get in there, Isla would need his key.

Handily, that key hung around his neck, all too easy for the Chiss to subtly remove and stow upon her person. Once she had everything she needed, she told the Neimoidian he'd had the most enjoyable night of his life, so much so that he felt weak with exhaustion and would need to take the following day off to recover. In addition, she followed through on her promise to Quisselle, instructing him to make a generous donation before leaving, and that he'd reached such an enlightening state of ecstasy that he'd realised the error of his ways, intended to tell his wife of his adulterous misdeeds and would never visit the Midnight Rose again, out of shame.

Weak minded and manipulated covertly, he staggered out of the backroom, under the illusion that his body was aching from exertion. Quisselle helped him outside where his driver was waiting, sending him on his way, very happy and very oblivious. By the time his troubles started, he'd be so distracted the Midnight Rose would never cross his mind.

Quisselle thanked her as she left, remarking that she'd never seen the Neimoidian look happier, and that she must have utterly spoiled him. Isla commented that the Force had its upside, though she was quick to change back into her usual finery, her revealing courtesan disguise doing her no favours against the city's bitter winter evenings. She shared a drink with Quisselle, but didn't loiter long enough for a second, returning to the LaLenna's estate to head to bed early, knowing she had a limited window in the morning in which to execute her heist before the missing bank manager- and his missing key- whipped up an air of caution.

The Voryle Capital Bank Heist

Is that...? Oh, it is. Interesting... Oh, and that is... mm, yes, I think that is genuine Beskar.
—Isla, looking through the contents of the vault.

The next morning, Isla entered the bank early, making her way through the main entrance confidently, to appear as if she belonged there. She'd borrowed Bibi's reading glasses to hide her eyes and- with the Cathar's help- applied some of LaLenna's makeup to pass herself off as a Pantoran again, hoping that if anyone did notice her once the alarm was raised, they would describe a Pantoran- rather than a Chiss, who were far less numerous on Voryle.

In fact, Isla suspected she was likely to be the only one on the planet.

Regardless, the ignorance of the locals to uncommon aliens was her advantage to exploit, and the disinterested men and women manning the front desks didn't bother the finely dressed woman as she marched through, likely assuming she had a meeting with one of the bank's service consultants.

Due to their security precautions, there was little reason for them to be overly suspicious of visitors. LaLenna had told her that the bank- grand as it was- was a common stop for tourists visiting the world, so it was not uncommon for people to wander around the bank aimlessly. It was only the secure areas that were actively patrolled. Luckily for Isla, she'd been trained to hide herself from sight. With a brief application of the Force, she manipulated both light and sound to pass by the guards stationed outside the manager's office, allowing Isla to unlock the door and enter without alerting them to her presence.

Once inside, she sliced the security controls and identified the vault suggested by the Countess, one of her rivals in government and an open advocate for closer business links with the Sith Empire. He'd inherited his wealth from his sickly mother, and LaLenna suspected he'd had a hand in the disappearance of three of her past suitors, and the public disgracing of a fourth, ensuring his mother never remarried and no man threatened the fortune she passed to him on her death. Isla didn't care much about justification.

He was the opposition. On that basis alone, Isla was quite happy to empty his vault of valuables. With the twist of a single dial, his vault was unlocked and a randomised security clearance code provided, leaving her free to pillage the contents. Before she moved on, she deleted the security camera footage and deactivated them, to make sure the only evidence she left behind was purely plucked from the vague memories of the people who noticed her.

The Chiss departed the office in the same manner she'd entered, locking the door behind her before heading to the north vault wing. The guards in the bank were government police officers, heavily armed and armoured individuals kitted out head-to-toe in shielded armour and with high powered blaster rifles to hand, forcing Isla to be stealthy to avoid detection. She was equipped to fight them, if needed, and they weren't trained to deal with Jedi, but that kind of noise would attract attention from the highest levels of government.

Isla preferred to work in the shadows- that was much harder when her foes switched on the searchlights.

Regardless, she managed to avoid being spotted by the patrols, eventually ducking into the vault she intended to rob to discover a genuine treasure trove of rare artefacts. The councillor's collection was incredibly varied, in addition to its overwhelming credit value; a Mandalorian helmet made out of Beskar, a statue of Sistros made of platinum, a real Rakatan mind prison, a number of rare paintings from various cultures, security chests literally overflowing with gemstones and, most notably to Isla, a rare Hurrikaine crystal.

Additionally, the vault was stacked with the currency of Voryle. With the physical monetary boon plus the money they could make selling the rarities, Isla believed they had enough start up capital to kick-start the Cobbled Terentateks, easily possessing enough to refurbish their headquarters and arm their recruits. Isla pocketed the crystal for her own use, then used the controls inside the vault to summon loader droids to her location, giving them the clearance code she'd received from the terminal in the manager's office.

Provided with the code only the manager could have access to, the droids obeyed her orders and started gathering up the contents of the vault for transportation to a secure loading deck at the rear of the bank, where the goods would be packaged up into secure containers for her retrieval. She was given another security code to access the loading dock. As she was leaving the secure area, one of the patrols spotted her and questioned why she was alone in the vault wing. She feigned ignorance, claiming to be a tourist who hadn't realised she was somewhere she wasn't supposed to be.

As she couldn't have entered the wing unnoticed due to the door guards, the patrolling guards assumed their peers had slacked off; they escorted her back to the main area before giving their companions an earful, giving Isla time to escape before she could be called back.

She made her way to the rear of the bank, where some of Yagogg's new recruits were waiting to help her, following Isla into the loading dock when she entered her code. Security staff asked for her code as an added layer of security, each crate requiring the code to be typed in to authenticate the withdrawal. Once she'd provided it, the guards allowed her people to carry the crates out to the street, assisted by built-in repulsorlifts.

They left the bank with the staff completely unaware of the theft; it was almost two days later that the manager losing his key came to light and the vaults were individually checked, leading to the discovery of the crime and the imprisonment of the bank manager.

Beastly Tactics

Hey! I'm just worried about my friend, y'know? You guys are out in the open now, and the Akks are stepping up their game, majorly. Let me help huh?
—Sam, to Isla, after the latter's insistence on working alone.

A month after the successful bank heist, the Cobbled Terentateks were blossoming. Their headquarters had been beautifully refurbished, they welcomed in new members daily and they had an unshakeable control of the borough of Yonmouth South. Zhavi, enjoying leading the gang in activities on the ground, was also branching out into attacking Rabid Akk holdings in neighbouring boroughs, giving them a buffer against any attempts by the Akks to push back.

While Isla was walking the streets on the outskirts of Yonmouth, she was approached by a panicked and terrified child, one of the gangs informants, warning her of a monster killing people in a residential area, just inside northern Yonmouth. Unconvinced the cause of the commotion was a 'monster', Isla nonetheless rushed to investigate the source of the trouble, intent on stopping it.

She followed the screams to a residential back alley, wading through a tsunami of panicked residents running for their lives from, to her surprise, a monster. A beast of some kind, larger than a house and spider-like in form. Though its skin was purple, it sported patches of blue crystal growths that Isla assumed couldn't be naturally occurring, a concerning thought that worried the Chiss far more than the creature's presence in the city.

Activating her lightsaber, Isla used the walls of the back gardens of the houses lining the alley to reach a slightly elevated position, then leapt up onto the creature's back, dispatching it without too much difficulty once she managed to pierce its hide. Tragically, she was too late to save the civilians and members of the gang who'd tried to fight the creature, doomed to fail even if they had blasters.

Of particular concern was what Isla sensed from the creature; like her, it was enhancing its senses- by using the Force.

Although the Force was in everything to some degree, most animals lacked the strength of connection required to employ the Force practically. It was clear this creature had such an ability, however, which made its presence deeply concerning. Isla removed the beast's head with her lightsaber and dragged it away before the police arrived at the scene. With the help of her troops, she had the head discreetly transported to the train, where Rissessk- an accomplished hunter- could study it.

Rissessk was able to identify the creature immediately; a Kkorrwrot, from the forested world of Kashyyyk. He confirmed just from a visual inspection that the creature's rocky growths were not natural, and as Isla helped him dissect the beast he was able to determine that the crystals had pushed up through the flesh from below, growing out of the Kkorrwrot's skull- which was made of pure crystal.

The Trandoshan found the revelation disturbing, claiming that he'd have trouble believing that even the grisly experiments of the Sith could produce something so drastically altered. To replace the skeleton of the creature would surely kill it. Isla couldn't sense the Force in the crystals, either, making the purpose of their discovery just as perplexing as its cause.

Isla saw the Kkorrwrot attack as an indication that she needed to step up and be more proactive. The Cobbled Terentateks had made a name for themselves and started strong, but she'd held back, wanting to consolidate their territory and strength before making any significant push into the other boroughs. Now, however, the Chiss was convinced she needed to be more aggressive in her leadership.

Under her orders, Bon-Yi began teaching the gang members how to defend themselves against the Force, hoping that being better educated about how the energy manifested in practical terms would improve their odds if they ran into more of the mysterious beasts. With the help of Bibi, Tabassa and Yagogg, Isla selected a target for her next attack, arranging a distraction that would divert the Rabid Akks away from her objective.

Bibi, having a slight crush on Isla, was worried about her, and though the Chiss dismissed her concerns as unfounded, the Cathar contacted Samantha, telling her what she was planning and sharing her worries about Isla placing the burden entirely on her own shoulders. Sam sent word to Isla that she wanted to meet her before she launched her attack, and when they did meet she confronted her about her isolationism.

Naturally, Isla rejected the accusation, stating that she was just doing what she was good at, though Sam insisted that that wasn't the whole truth and that she'd seen Isla let her guard down when they fought, but never since. She also said she wasn't going to pressure her into sharing how she felt, but that she wasn't going to let her play the hero either. The Twi'lek told her that Voryle was her home, so she was going with her to help, whether she liked it or not. Reluctantly, Isla accepted her assistance.

Under the cover of an early morning fog, the pair crossed one of the city's main rivers, a pollution-ridden thoroughfare that was used by the waterside businesses to transport materials from one end of the city to the other. It was busy at all hours, but particularly at the start of the day, creating a moving bridge that the duo used to cross the water and enter a storehouse used by the Rabid Akks.

Quietly, the pair crept around the stores and searched for clues relating to the Kkorrwrot Isla had fought, and even though they spent some time there searching, the best lead they got was a collection of food crates. None of the food was fit for a sentient being's consumption, however, and Sam theorised that given the state and quantity, the food might have been to feed the beast they'd been keeping. She also recognised the stamp on the box, but the two women were spotted before she could say more.

Forced to fight their way out, Isla and Sam were almost overwhelmed until the Twi'lek had the bright idea of igniting a cluster of crates sporting the brand logo of a popular Voryle-made whiskey, using Isla's cane to smash a hole in one of the crates, shattering the bottles inside and spilling the liquid, allowing her to use her lighter to start a blaze. With a wall of fire holding the Rabid Akks back, Isla and Sam jumped onto a cargo boat as it sailed past, disappearing down the river.

Crossing back into Yonmouth South, Isla asked Sam to tell her where the stamp she'd spotted was from. Sam refused to give her the location unless she agreed to take her along, prompting Isla to once again agree despite her preference for working independently.

Spitting into her palm, Sam offered her hand to shake on it, an act which Isla commented might be a contributing factor to the widespread problems of disease throughout the city. Sam told her to shut up and retracted her hand when Isla tried to shake it without spitting on her own hand first, insisting it was part of the gesture. The Chiss did as instructed, voicing her opinion that Voryle was a strange place, though Sam suggested that Isla loved it really before surprising her with a hug.

During the hug, she told Isla that whatever she was going through, it would be easier with the help and support of her friends, reminding her that people had put their trust in her and that it was discourteous not to give them the same chance. The interaction was the first close contact she'd had with anyone since her accident, and it sparked a realisation in Isla that she was drawn to the Twi'lek, emotionally and physically.

Swearing to herself that she would honour her agreement then avoid Sam and the distraction she posed to the best of her ability, Isla headed back to base, only noticing once Sam had gone that she'd never actually told her the location she'd asked for.

In spite of that detail, Isla had a feeling her persistent Twi'lek friend would find her and take her there as planned sooner rather than later.

Sith on Voryle

I'm so very glad they sent a Jedi for me!"
"I am not here for you. Sorry to burst your bubble."
"And yet here you are. I'm going to enjoy this."
"Looking at you, I daresay you are not quite the swordsman you think yourself to be.
—Artem Phond and Isla, during their duel at the factory.

After their incursion into Yonmouth North, the Rabid Akks lieutenant in charge of operations in the borough issued a challenge to the Cobbled Terentateks a day later, him against their champion of choice. He claimed to want to avoid wasting resources on both sides, believing a head-to-head fight would be the most efficient way of deciding things.

Zhavi, being a keen brawler, took a number of the Terentateks to the specified location, intent on meeting the challenge. Unfortunately, the lieutenant had no intention of a fair fight. Somewhat more fortunately, though, Yagogg had already predicted that with certainty, and so when Zhavi arrived to find the lieutenant backed up by a group of his subordinates, she had her own troops to counter.

In the meantime, Isla was on her way to meet Sam when she had her purse stolen by two Nautolan children, one distracting her while the other snatched the purse and ran. Isla pursued the boy, climbing up onto the rooftops to follow him and realising that he was using the Force to create obstacles to slow her down. But Isla had the Force too, which he clearly hadn't expected; before too long he reached a gap between rooftops that the Force couldn't help him overcome, leaving him trapped.

Being from a society that was harsh on criminal behaviour and operating on a world that was just as ruthless towards petty thieves, Isla took the purse when it was offered back to her to buy the boy some mercy. Then, she grabbed the boy by his collar, hoisting him up and holding him over the edge of the roof. The boy begged for his life, as did the girl- his sister- once she'd caught up with them both.

Isla asked why she should let him live after he'd tried to steal her hard-earned money, to which the boy fairly pointed out that judging by her clothing she was obviously wealthy and wouldn't miss a single purse of coins. Rather ironically, he then asked her if she wouldn't steal from the rich if she had nothing, which amused Isla, and to which she knew the answer not only theoretically, but also from experience.

She set the boy back down on the roof, telling him he could work off his debt to her by helping the Terentateks in whatever way they saw fit. The Chiss ordered him to report to the station in South Yonmouth and gave him the train's number, telling him to board it when it arrived and explain why he was there- including his attempt at thievery. She also warned that if he didn't show up her gangsters would find him and break his legs, scaring him into complying with her instructions.

Late due to the distraction, Isla quickened her pace and met with Sam as intended, who jokingly scolded her for her tardiness. According to Sam, the stamp on the crates she'd recognised was from a food factory in North Yonmouth that primarily dealt in tinned meats and pies for the working classes. The meat they used wasn't great, but it was affordable and the workers didn't know any better. Yet even though the meat was low quality, certain standards were still maintained by the company and meat that wasn't up to that standard- for whatever reason- was, historically, dumped into the river like all factory refuse on Voryle was.

According to Sam, that practise had ceased at some point, which was why she'd waited a few days before getting Isla to meet with her- she wanted to watch the factory and see if anything out of the ordinary was going on. She hadn't been able to ascertain where the meat was going now, as their transports moved all around the city and she couldn't investigate them all, but she was certain someone, somewhere, was paying to have that waste meat sent to them.

The Fathiers used to pull the carriages the city employed in place of speeders didn't eat meat, and the zoo in the Capital Borough imported its own food supplies to feed the specimens held there.

Both women agreed it was a question worth finding the answer to.

Sneaking into the factory, it didn't take them long to reach the owner's office, break in and check his ledger, revealing that the food waste was, in fact, being sent to Voryle Zoo, pointing them towards their next destination.

As they stepped out of the office, the owner was waiting for them, along with a more sinister figure, an armoured warrior towering over all of them and wearing a mask that resembled a metal skull. Lightsabers hung from his waist. The owner expressed his surprise and admiration, telling the figure he was correct in his prediction that his office would be broken into.

The figure itself greeted the pair, introducing himself as Artem Phond, apprentice of Darth Aivela. Isla politely introduced herself in response, asking if he intended to prevent them from leaving, which he confirmed. She told Sam to leave, but as the Twi'lek tried to vault the railing to descend to the floor below Phond used the Force to stop her, forcing Isla to intervene.

She pushed him to break his concentration, giving Sam an opening to make a break for it, before being gripped herself and slung out of the window beside her, landing on an elevated tunnel that connected the two separate buildings that made up the factory. Phond followed after her, slow and confident, igniting both lightsabers and prompting her to draw her own, dropping the cane, aware it would be useless against the cyborg.

Utilising the overwhelming erraticism of Juyo, Phond initially took the upper hand, forcing Isla to continuously give ground and break off and escape to avoid being captured, gradually moving their duel to the roof. Isla could sense the constant pain that gave Phond his furious drive, but she also knew he couldn't maintain such a ruthless assault forever.

As such, she planned to keep defending and stay mobile, hoping to weather his barrage and let him tire himself out. In pursuit of that goal, she ascended the factory's chimney, combining the Force with her climbing skills to ascend the smoking spire quickly, knowing Phond would follow.

Unlike Isla, however, he was too heavy and his hands too large to climb well. Instead, he leapt up after her in stages, hanging on while he found his footing before throwing himself up to the next hold, relying heavily on the Force to do so. Once they reached the top, they had very little space to manoeuvre, handing Phond an immediate advantage over Isla's use of Makashi.

But the Chiss had another strategy in mind.

While Phond was focused on killing her, Isla dodged and deflecting, using her lightweight, small frame and her massive agility advantage to weave around his attacks, cutting the bars they were standing on. She then used the Force to launch an empowered strike, letting down her mental guard so that Phond could easily sense the power she was gathering.

Isla leapt up and swung down- a move she'd witnessed Zhavi perform in the past- and he blocked with both sabres as she'd planned. The power of her blow was nothing to him, but the additional downward force was enough to cause the sections of the metal grid that she'd cut to finally give way.

Phond didn't see the trap coming until it was sprung, and before he could react he plummeted down the factory chimney, presumably meeting a messy end when he reached the bottom. Isla climbed back down to eliminate the factory owner to keep him quiet, now that he knew her face and that she was a 'Jedi', but found him dead in his office, a letter opener sticking out of his chest with a note hanging from it that invited her for a drink at the 'usual place'.

Annoyingly impressed by Sam's wit and practicality, Isla hurried out of the factory as she heard the distant sirens of the approaching police speeders.

Immortal Guardian of the Laboratory

I see the Empire has been busy here..."
"Not the Empire. Darth Aivela."
"Thank you. A name will make my hunt much simpler."
"There'll be no more 'hunts' for you, Jedi. You'll be going under the knife, just like that Human friend of yours that we captured a few days ago.
—Artem Phond and Isla, during their duel at the hidden laboratory.

When she returned to headquarters, Isla was unsurprised to learn that Zhavi had taken a shine to the Nautolan thieves she'd recruited earlier and had already suggested training them to become Jedi, a prospect that seemed to appeal to them. Zhavi also told Isla that she missed a fun brawl, with only a few of their people being injured due to their teamwork and the lieutenant being bested by the Jedi herself.

A short while later, Bon Yi warned Isla that she had experienced glimpses of a vision, leading her to be concerned for Yagogg's safety. At her suggestion, Isla went back out onto the streets, heading for the bar he and the Terentateks who'd joined him usually visited. She found the Gamorrean- the last man standing- in an alleyway en route, ambushed by members of the Akks as retaliation for their loss during the clash earlier in the day.

Isla intercepted the attackers as they were beating Yagogg, kicking him repeatedly while he was down. As Yagogg had indicated to Isla that he knew she was a Sith- hence his ongoing dislike of her without anyone else knowing why- the former Inquisitor didn't hold back, frazzling the gangsters with a stream of lightning that arced between the group, literally cooking them from within.

Applying her limited medical know-how (along with some kolto) to patch him us as best she could, he groggily thanked her, although given the circumstances Isla ignored his gratitude and told him not to speak. She helped him stagger back to headquarters, where he could be treated properly, and a few hours later- his injuries waking him- he joined Isla- herself a light sleeper- at the rear of train, where she often sat to smoke.

Yagogg thanked her for saving his life, saying that he didn't expect a Sith would have his back. She corrected him, pointing out that she left the Empire, but also made it clear that being Sith never changed who she was. Isla asked if she should judge him for being a Cartel enforcer, or judge him by his actions, to which he jokingly complained that she wasn't allowed to lecture him while he was injured. He apologised for his behaviour, and asked her why she did leave, prompting her to summarise the events by simply stating that she had to choose between the Empire and Zhavi, and chose her.

The Gamorrean, not quite the blunt instrument he first appeared to be, asked why she tried her best to avoid spending any length of time with her, that being the case, leading Isla onto the story of how she betrayed Zhavi's trust and didn't expect it back. Additionally, she finally opened up about how losing her limbs had affected her, along with the confusion she felt about her inability to come to terms with what was- in practise- an upgrade on her biological components.

A few days later, Zhavi disappeared while committing a routine robbery of one of the Rabid Akks' tobacco warehouses, prompting concern from the other officers, though they could do nothing about it. Isla decided the best course of action was to continue hitting Rabid Akk holdings.

While the gang stepped up their activities and started to search, Isla journeyed to the zoo in the Capital Borough, accompanied by the Nautolan children, who insisted that both Isla and Sam were too big to get into the zoo at night and would need their help. Sam agreed, forcing Isla to accept their assistance.

As it turned out, the locals were right; the zoo was sealed off well, but the children managed to find an opening, too small for an adult but large enough for them to squeeze themselves through and get inside. Within ten minutes, the kids had unlocked a door and let Sam and Isla in, and it took them under an hour to locate a sealed off section in the lower levels. Using the Force to shield them from the heat, Isla sent the twins through a heat outlet to find a way to open the door.

Sam darkly commented that the heat from the vent smelt 'meaty', an assessment Isla agreed with, taking it as a sign that something was living inside. Before long, they heard terrified screams from within, followed by the angry shrieks of some sort of creatures, and with the children in danger Sam pushed Isla to cut through the door with her lightsaber, creating evidence of Jedi activity that the authorities would find.

Ultimately, it was the right call, the children jumping through the opening as soon as it was created with the long-neck of some sort of reptilian carnivore pursuing them through the gap, snapping wildly, though with its larger body it couldn't proceed any further, allowing Isla to easily remove its head. Another pushed its way forwards, making the same mistake as its partner, but it seemed that- for now- only two of the creatures had discovered them.

The group carried on into what they soon discovered was a secret animal testing facility, with tanks filled with specimens floating in what appeared to be blood. Long tunnels that looked like they were used for transportation led out from the laboratory, but before the group could investigate further they were ambushed by Artem Phond, the Sith having survived his fall down the chimney shaft.

Ordering Sam to take the kids and go, Isla held off Phond for a time before attempting to fight back, though as before the Sith's ferocity was difficult to defend against. He was both larger than her and more heavily augmented, forcing her to depend on her speed to avoid the brunt of his heavy-handed strikes.

Their duel laid waste to the laboratory around them and spilled the contents of the tanks out onto the floor, a condition Phond tried to use against Isla when he managed to knock her to the ground, using his blades to pin her down in an attempt to drown her until she managed to kick him, throwing him forwards and giving her an opening to escape. To ensure her companions had time to escape (and hoping to exploit the same advantage she'd used to beat Phond before), the Chiss led Phond out of the laboratory and up to the higher levels of the zoo's operations building, temporarily outrunning him until she'd found a suitable location for an ambush of her own.

Using her stealth abilities, Isla hid out of sight when Phond reached her position, then launched a devastating electrical attack, hoisting him in the air as the energy destroyed his implants and cybernetics and smashing him repeatedly against the walls before throwing him through a viewing window, onto the maintenance platform of the crane used to lift wildlife transport containers up and over the outer wall of the zoo.

Rendered defenceless by Isla's Force lightning, Phond was at her mercy. He mocked her, claiming that it was at that point that Jedi offered mercy to their foe, but Isla reminded him that she'd allowed him to sense her in their last duel, and as such knew better. He conceded that that was true.

Isla attempted to torture Zhavi's location from him to no avail, trying for long enough that word of the fight had reached headquarters and Zhavi's ship- having been moved to a long-stay hangar in Yonmouth South- was brought in to extract the Chiss from the zoo, ostensibly transferring from a hangar in Yonmouth to a new hangar in the Capital Borough. While en route, the stealth systems were used to momentarily disappear from the eyes of the flight control staff, allowing Isla's officers to lower the ship into position over the site of the duel.

Instead of accepting the ride, however, Isla used the Force to hold the ship in place as it was turning and hoisted the cyborg up into the air before feeding him into the engines, disintegrating him quickly but painfully. When the ship turned in such a way that the boarding ramp was accessible, Bibi was on the ramp, hand extended for Isla to jump aboard.

Once aboard, it took under a minute to get out of the area, drop Isla off on another rooftop and continue on to their destination as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, shrugging off the ship's disappearance on the scanners as a temporary glitch. Because they'd dropped Isla off before arriving, they disembarked and passed through security with the same number of people as they'd left Yonmouth with, allowing them to avoid further scrutiny from the authorities.

By the time Isla got back to headquarters, Sam had been and gone, leaving a surprise in Isla's carriage; the door she'd cut through in the laboratory, the Twi'lek taking the time to remove it from its frame rather than leave evidence of Jedi activity.

Despite eliminating Artem Phond and discovering the creature laboratory, they hadn't found out where the underground tunnels led. Similarly, they still had no idea where Zhavi was being held. Isla finally settled in to sleep in the early hours of the morning, not feeling particularly victorious.

Invitations

I got your message what is it? What's wrong? You said you needed my help urgently?"
"I do, but nothing's wrong. It's just a nice day."
"Pardon?"
"A nice day. For a... date, maybe?
—Isla and Sam, at the Voryle Recreational Park.

Without any leads to follow up on, all Isla and the gang could do was continue their takeover of Rabid Akk territory in the hopes of learning more about where Zhavi was imprisoned.

To take her mind off her inability to act, Sam sent a runner to Isla requesting her urgent assistance with an unspecified problem, prompting Isla to make her way hastily to Voryle Recreational Park to meet with the Twi'lek.

When she arrived, she quickly discovered that she'd been tricked and that there was no emergency and no problem that needed her attention. Sam had actually drawn her to the park for a date, insisting that she couldn't sit in her room focusing on a problem she couldn't fixed and that, to combat that, she needed to distract herself- in this case, with a reward for her hard work thus far.

Isla drily commented that she was arrogant to refer to herself as a 'reward', with Sam quipping back that she wasn't as subtle at hiding things as she thought she was, but that she could go back and watch the sunshine from out of her train window, if her company wasn't appreciated without a financial or material incentive to accompany it. The Chiss apologised, only to spot Sam's sly smirk, realising she was poking fun at her. She agreed to the date, but told Sam she was paying any expenses since she'd rushed out without any money. The Twi'lek happily agreed to the condition.

The pair spent a few hours simply walking the park, discussing the future and how Sam would like to change Voryle for the better, if she could. Isla questioned if she thought Voryle should become a Republic world, discovering that Sam was actually supportive of independence, though admitted the planet would benefit from adopting more of their policies, particularly when it came to civil rights.

As the afternoon transitioned into evening, the pair shared a kiss. Sam offered to invite Isla to her place, but claimed Isla's was nicer. The Chiss jokingly asked why she thought they'd be leaving the park together, given that they were only on their first date, to which Sam voiced her opinion that just because they'd been fighting and blowing up warehouses during their previous dates, didn't mean they weren't still dates.

Charmed, as ever, Isla relented, remarking that in the balance of give and take, she seemed to always be the one giving Sam what she wanted, a fact the Twi'lek promised to make up for.

The pair spent the following hours locked in Isla's carriage, leaving only briefly to watch the sunset from the rear of the train before turning in for the night. But for all the distraction Sam had provided her, Isla's pleasant day was soon to be overshadowed by a more ominous invitation, quietly placed by her bedside by Bibi in the early hours of the morning.

The Chiss awoke before Sam, opening and reading the letter she found, curious about the expensive paper given her role as a street gang leader and the general poverty that gripped most of the city. LaLenna was the only one who could afford such luxuries. It wasn't from the Countess, however.

Reading down and feeling steadily more concerned as she went on, she quickly established that she'd been invited to attend an evening garden party at Prime Minister Namos D'callo's country residence, outside of the city. She woke Sam and asked for her opinion, being told that it was unlikely to be a trap. Crooked as the government was, they weren't the kind of people to make an overt move against an opponent at a party, if only because they enjoyed the politics that took place and wouldn't want the event to be spoilt by anything as crass as a police operation.

Isla later consulted LaLenna- who had also been invited- and assured her the invitation was not a trap. It simply meant she had been noticed, and was being taken seriously enough to warrant a formal introduction. Her invitation specifically stated that it was for Isla and Isla alone, meaning she couldn't take Sam, but LaLenna explained that that was simply a political statement- she'd earned the attention of her foes, but not their respect, thus she was not permitted a companion.

LaLenna was, however she seemed uncomfortable when Isla asked if she could take Sam. She promised to consider it, at the very least, reminding her that politics was a delicate game.

High Society

Ahh, Ms Ahnkett. I've heard so very much about you. My name is Namos D'callo, Prime Minister of Voryle. It's a pleasure to finally put a face to the name."
"The pleasure is mine Prime Minister, and thank you for your kind invitation. Your home is quite splendid."
"It is, isn't it? Oh, forgive me, where are my manners? This is Lord Sera Artofen, our guest from the Sith Empire. And you've met my daughter, I believe, Samantha D'callo?"
"Yes... we have met.
—Namos, introducing himself to Isla.

Two weeks later, Isla joined Countess LaLenna and Bibi- her chosen plus one, despite Isla's request- and arrived at Namos' estate, outside the urban sprawl of the city. The pollution was so bad on Voryle that even beyond the industrialised city the sky was darkened by smoke and the waters poisoned by over a century of unethical waste disposal.

Isla noticed that Bibi seemed nervous during their journey over, while LaLenna focused on preparing her for the social dos and don'ts of such events. She dismissed what she sensed from Bibi as pre-party jitters; she was socially awkward, so it came as no surprise that she was a little tense.

LaLenna led the group, being intimately familiar with the politics, and introduced the pair as they went around, describing Isla as an entrepreneur and Bibi as a distant relative of hers on her deceased Husband's side. Before long, however, the group passed through to the garden where the party was focused, meeting the man in charge of the secretly pro-Imperial governing council; Prime Minister Namos D'callo, an orange-skinned Twi'lek in his late fifties.

Stood alongside him were two women, one with piercing orange eyes that stared at Isla- her presence glowing with the same hatred that was on her expression- and the second, to Isla's great sadness, was Sam.

LaLenna introduced them, as expected, and despite her shock Isla managed to hide her shock for the most part, realising now that Bibi and LaLenna knew Sam would be at the party already. Namos introduced himself to Isla, claiming to have heard a lot about her before introducing Lord Sera Artofen, rhetorically- and maliciously- asking to confirm that she already knew Samantha D'callo- the Prime Minister's daughter. Isla, feeling understandably betrayed, hesitated briefly, looking at Sam, but confirmed that they'd met before.

The two groups then moved on to continue mingling, Isla quietly- but angrily- scolding Bibi and LaLenna for keeping it from her. Bibi tried to justify herself and apologise, but LaLenna told them the issue was for later, as bickering could be seen, not just heard.

Isla largely ignored them both for the remainder of the evening, departing at the earliest opportunity. Before she left, though, Lord Artofen caught up to her, telling her she knew she was the one who killed Artem Phond, revealing he was a close friend who'd been with her since leaving Korriban. She then promised Isla that her 'Jedi friend' would learn the true horrors of Sith alchemy before Sera finally allowed her to die, letting her know that she was in her private lab in the Magenta Sparrow Innovations corporate embassy, safely outside the territory of her 'silly playgroup'.

Once she'd returned home, she began reviewing the territory situation in the city, planning her attack on Sera's headquarters to rescue Zhavi, stealth be damned. Bibi caught up with her once she'd returned from the party, apologising for not telling her about Sam, revealing LaLenna had told her not to but wouldn't tell her why, exactly. Isla accepted her apology, telling her it was LaLenna- and more importantly Sam- who she was angry about, not liking being deceived.

Bibi didn't believe that Sam had been deceiving her- she couldn't choose her father, after all- but Isla was convinced she hadn't mentioned it so she could get close to her and gain more information about their plans. She even wondered if she was the reason Zhavi had been captured. Whatever the case, she felt tricked, and intended to break things off with Sam before she set off to rescue Zhavi. Bibi questioned if she was sure there wasn't a way to work things out with the Twi'lek, but Isla was set on her choice.

Socially inept even with her friends, Bibi decided it was a good time to finally act on her crush and ambush Isla with a speedy and messy kiss, all but lunging at her and telling her it was a 'for luck' in such a way that Isla wondered if she thought the expression was literally true. Isla, caring for Bibi but still unable to completely shake the anti-alien mindset she'd lived around for so long, brushed off her advance with humour, joking that if they tried that again, Bibi should slow down a little to help improve her aim. Embarrassed, Bibi reiterated her well-wishes, telling Isla that if she decided she wanted help, she knew where they all were. She rushed out of the Chiss' carriage immediately after.

Amused (and admittedly feeling better than she had after the party), Isla turned in for the night once she'd finished looking over the city blueprints. She knew she would need all the rest she could get for the eventful day that lay ahead of her.

Massacre

Isla! It's a trap! A diversion! The Sith's plannin' t' attack the base!
—Zhavi, to Isla, on her arrival in Artofen's laboratory.

Before setting off for Magenta Sparrow Innovations' embassy, Isla met with Sam in the park where they'd had their date, determined to make her thoughts known. On seeing Sam, Isla's rage got the better of her; she slapped Sam, beginning a blistering tirade of abuse, barely giving the Twi'lek the chance to explain herself before storming off.

Appropriately fired up, Isla proceeded to the embassy just after sunset, approaching the front door and tapping on the glass to attract the night guard's attention. When he came closer to speak through the glass, Isla used her limited skill with the Phase ability to pass through into the building, surprising the guard and cutting him down before he could respond.

Evidently she was expected, however, as the far more heavily armed local police officers emerged from the stairwell and elevator to stop her, opening fire as soon as they spotted her. Even with their arms and armour, Isla had little trouble dispatching the inexperienced fighters, electrocuting them en masse to push her way up to the higher levels.

By the time she finally found Zhavi in Lord Artofen's lab, she was badly hurt, tortured but- it seemed- not subjected to Sith alchemy as Artofen had claimed. That said, Artofen had left a Sithspawn- a small one that appeared to have started life as a Gorg- behind to slowly chew on Zhavi's flesh, causing her pain and constantly dosing her with a mild venom but no debilitating, serious damage.

Zhavi warned Isla that she was there as bait, luring the Chiss away while Artofen eliminated the Cobbled Terentateks leadership, plunging the gang into chaos and punishing Isla for the murder of Artem Phond. Isla assured Zhavi that they would deal with it as she freed her from the interrogation rack, but Zhavi insisted that she head back to help as soon as they left the embassy- begrudgingly, Isla listened.

By the time she made it back to Yonmouth South, the borough was under siege.

Erupting from beneath the city, using the tunnels they'd discovered at the zoo, a colossal beast was laying waste to the area, intercepting the Cobbled Terentateks' train by hoisting it from the track. Isla rushed to assist, though the creature was so massive Isla had no idea how to hurt it, let alone kill it. She had to try, regardless, at the very least to draw the creature away from her allies.

Getting closer, Isla spotted the police, deployed in full force with hovertank support. Worryingly, the hovertanks were incapable of piercing the creature's hide, as was Isla's Force lightning, which she attempted once she was closer to the imposing monster.

Instead, she attempted to try something that ran contrary to everything she'd trained to be; instead of staying hidden and unnoticed, she used the Force to compel the creature to turn its attention entirely on her, dropping the train and her friends trapped within to turn and move towards Isla. Exhausted by her use of the new ability, the situation looked bad for Isla until Sam suddenly showed up, rushing in from behind to grab her arm and drag her over to one of the unoccupied tanks being used to tow the explosive ammunition that the other vehicles were firing.

Helping the Chiss clamber into the tank, Sam perched on top, using one of the police rifles to fire on the beast as it chased after them, tearing through the buildings without slowing whatsoever. Isla managed to target the creature and launch the tank's missiles all in one go, yet even that did nothing to hinder the abomination's progress. Before long, their mighty foe had caught up with them, chomping down on the ammunition crates trailing behind the tank.

Realising they'd been caught and Sam was in danger, Isla jammed the controls and clambered out of the tank, cutting the crates loose with her lightsaber before gathering all her strength to leap up towards the creature. All it took was a single spark of lightning from Isla to detonate one of the missiles, which detonated all the others almost immediately, blowing the entire police munitions supply- much of it into the creature's open mouth.

Although its hide was thick and impenetrable, its insides were as soft and vulnerable as any other creature. So when the explosives went off- the shock wave throwing Isla through the sky- the shrapnel that was projected from the crate the creature had gripped between its teeth speared up into its skull, causing it to fall down dead, finally concluding the massacre at Yonmouth South.

Isla awoke later, buried beneath the rubble of the ruined borough, only to be dug out a few minutes later by Sam, desperately peeling away the debris to find the Chiss and pull her out.

Though injured and exhausted, when Sam told Isla that the governing council had entered an emergency session to discuss a conditional offer of support from the Sith Empire, she insisted on joining her. The condition of their assistance in destroying the beast rampaging across the city was that Voryle formally join the Empire, becoming an Imperial world. A significant advantage that would have far-reaching implications for the wider war.

There was to be a vote, and the chamber had gone into lockdown, all communication with the outside being cut to avoid disruption. Sam believed her father intended to eliminate the Countess and anyone else who didn't vote in favour of joining the Empire, as the law was clear that any change to the planet's precious independence required a unanimous vote in favour. The Twi'lek, seeing Isla was hurt, apologised that she couldn't take her to the hospital but said that she had to stop the vote and Isla had to see to her injuries.

Isla refused.

Impeachment of Namos D'callo

Councillors! Listen to me! My father has lied to you! The monster destroying the city was created and commanded by the Sith, part of my father's plot to scare you into signing over our independence!"
"Councillors, please ignore my daughter's paranoia. Unfortunately the rebellious streak that began in her teenage years has yet to come to an end. Much to my consistent disappointment."
"The beast is dead, dad, Isla killed it. Game's over. Republic agents are beneath the debating chamber right now, disabling the machine you planned to poison your opposition with."
"Lies. Lies and fantasies.
—Sam and Namos D'callo.

Together, the pair- somewhat reconciled in the face of such wanton devastation- sped across the city, commandeering a carriage to expedite their journey to the Capital Debate Chamber, where the discussion about the now-resolved crisis was taking place.

On the way, Sam explained that she'd done some snooping after the party at her father's residence, overhearing some of his conversation with Lord Artofen. Piecing together clues from that discussion with the attack on the city and the emergency discussion that was called almost in perfect unison with the appearance of the Sithspawn, Sam had come to the conclusion that her father was going to push for Imperial support, something which he couldn't do without complete support from the council.

Bibi was protecting the Countess and they had both made it into the chamber, so she knew the attack had to come from inside the chamber itself. Her father wasn't capable of killing them personally (even if he started shooting, everyone would panic and flee, costing him the support of the moderates in addition to the opposition members who escaped his attempt) which had to mean he had a system in place already. Sam had consulted the city plans and believed he would try to poison the councillors using the tunnels beneath the debating chamber, which were connected to the chamber itself via vents.

There was no other way that he could execute his opponents in a controlled fashion; he needed to retain authority and control to push the vote through. Fear was vital, panic was a detriment.

While Isla got past the police officers guarding the entrance to the underground section of the debating chamber, Sam forced her way into the emergency meeting using her looted rifle, catching the officers by surprise. While she revealed her father's plan to the rest of the council and moved to arrest him- going up against his personal bodyguard, HK-60, a one off HK-series assassin droid and an earlier gift from representatives of the Sith Empire in their attempts to woo the Prime Minister- Isla entered the tunnels, discovering another of Artofen's alchemical creations.

This time it was some form of horribly mutated parasitic spider that had fixed itself to the roof and made the tunnels its nest, surrounded by eggs and with unsightly tubes stretching from its body, linking it to the ventilation systems. Knowing little about biology, never mind the biology of Sithspawn mutated from unfamiliar creatures, Isla made the assumption that the creature could release poison at Namos' command.

Not daring to get close enough to try and physically remove the monstrosity- it being awake and watching her with an unblinking gaze- Isla chose to tap into the Dark Side again, using lightning to incinerate the eggs of the Sithspawn before targeting the beast itself, causing it to disintegrate and fall from where it was attached, dissolving into a foul gooey mess. The Chiss didn't linger, satisfied that the threat was over and keen to check on Sam's progress, catching up to her in the debating chamber.

Unfortunately, Namos used his HK unit to stall Sam during his escape. She managed to defeat it, but her father disappeared in the meantime, and both women agreed he would run to Lord Artofen. They also agreed they couldn't hope to take her on right away, given what they'd already been through. Rest would have to come first, then after that they could focus on tackling the Sith and her pawn.

Before anything else, however, Isla and Sam were keen to check on their friends and allies in the wake of the monster attack, hoping, desperately, that the casualties were not as severe as they feared. LaLenna assured the duo that the events of the day would spur the Commissioner to find and arrest Namos, promising that she would make sure the word was spread quickly around the city, turning public opinion against the Prime Minister, the Empire and the council itself.

Voryle's independence was safe from the greedy hands of the Sith Empire.

Tragedy on Voryle

So... what'll it be then? Help your friend... or avenge her death?"
"You get to live... this time. But I'll find you. Whatever it takes... I'll find you."
"Mm, I'll be looking forward to it.
—Sera Artofen and Isla, on reaching a stalemate.

Confirming the survival of the Cobbled Terentateks' officers, Isla learned the police were looking for both her and Sam from Yagogg, who told her she should lay low until things had blown over and that he could take care of coordinating the rescue efforts in her absence. Isla, angry that the police were trying to arrest the two people who'd saved the city from what could've been a cataclysmic attack, agreed, happy to shrug off helping others for the rest of the day.

With her own home currently coiled up around the rest of the debris Sam invited Isla back to hers for the night, hoping it would give them a chance to talk properly. After Isla jokingly said that Sam had told another lie- regarding her earlier comments that Isla's home was nicer than hers- the two sat down and discussed the revelation from the party, with Sam explaining that as soon as they met, she could tell Isla had trouble trusting people, but she'd wanted to get to know her and, thus, had not given her surname, hiding her connection to Isla's primary opponent on the planet.

She always intended to tell her, but her father's invitation was unexpected, as was his betrayal of his people. The Cobbled Terentateks hadn't even secured half the city, making his bold and aggressive tactics a shock even to Sam, who thought she knew him better. Much as she still loved her father, Sam told Isla she had no reservations about bringing him in, dead or alive, and she was committed to her cause.

Convinced- and silently relieved to have been wrong about Sam- Isla accepted, cleaning herself up and tending to her injuries with Sam's help. They spent the night together, but woke early to plan their attack on the Magenta Sparrow Innovations embassy, gathering up the other officers and the available gang members. With the officers leading the gang against the Rabid Akks who'd been brought in to defend the MSI building, Isla was able to sneak past the defences and ascend the tower, unaware that Zhavi was influencing them all using her limited understanding of battle meditation.

On her way to confront Lord Artofen, Isla found the Prime Minister, who attempted to kill her with a blaster pistol in his panicked state and failed miserably. Isla blocked his shots with ease, then crippled him with a burst of electrical energy that slammed him against an ornamental stone pillar and left the Chiss free to continue after Artofen.

When she reached the top of the tower, she hid herself both visibly and in the Force, hoping to catch the Sith Lord off-guard. Unfortunately, having watched her approach on the security cameras, she was able to correctly estimate how long it would take Isla to reach her position from the location of the last camera; as Isla crept behind her, she turned, guessing that Isla was trying to assassinate her, and unleashed a flood of lightning.

Fortunately, Isla was mentally prepared and responded quickly, raising her sabre to block and breaking into a run. She charged Artofen, forcing her to drop her Force attack and activate her lightsaber to engage the Chiss in a duel, an area where Isla was clearly the more talented individual.

Driving her back up a curving stairwell and onto a balcony, Isla manoeuvred herself in such a way that Artofen had her back to the balcony. Before she could safely retreat down to the level below, the Chiss disarmed her by cutting her blade in two, only to be disarmed herself when Artofen used the Force to shove her hand, sending her blade spinning and changing their duel into a battle of Force powers. With more combat experience than the alchemist, Isla's response was faster; she lunged at the Sith, grabbed her and pulled her up into a leap.

While in the air, Isla spun, building up momentum to throw Artofen towards the ground level, back where they'd started. As Artofen moved to cushion her natural fall, Isla followed up by pushing her with the Force, accelerating the descent beyond what she was expecting to slam her into the floor with a painful jolt.

Artofen was quick to get back up though, and both combatants had their weapons (in Artofen's case, half) in hand again by the time Isla landed and attacked.

Sadly, Isla's advantage was soon lost. As their duel progressed back up the stairwell, this time leaving the balcony and heading to the corridor beyond, Bibi arrived, the gang have broken through the Rabid Akks' line and pushed into the building. Bibi, fearing for Isla's safety, had taken Rissessk's phrik-made sword and rushed up the tower, under the illusion that she could help.

In reality, she was a liability and, despite Isla's best efforts, Artofen cut a clean, fatal line through Bibi's abdomen. A silver lining to the tragedy was that Isla's rage was bolstered by the loss, intensifying her attack until- in dramatic fashion- both Sith swept their sabers into identical positions, right by the other's neck, ending their duel with a stalemate.

Artofen mocked Isla, pointing out that they could continue or she could attend to her friend. Racked with guilt for letting Bibi, the woman who'd adored her almost immediately after meeting her, die, Isla knew she had to let Artofen flee so she could go the Cathar, but promised the Sith she'd find her and kill her for what she'd done. In unison, both women removed their weapons and Artofen ran for her ship, docked on a private landing pad on the roof of the tower.

Unable to help Bibi, Isla cradled her as she died, apologising for failing her. Bibi told Isla she loved her, prompting the Chiss to lie and tell her she felt the same, promising they would go on a date somewhere nice once she was out of the hospital. Isla then employed two mind-altering techniques in combination with one another, projecting complex illusions into her dying mind, using her vulnerable mental state to implant the illusions into Bibi's mind as artificial 'memories' of a false future in which the Sith Empire was defeated, peace was restored and the pair settled down to start a life together.

Normally impossible without incredible power due to the invasive nature of the trick, Isla's desperation and Bibi's near-death state- along with the trust she felt for the Chiss- made the process far more accessible, any damage to the Cathar's mind being irrelevant as she slipped away. Though Isla had to live with the guilt, she was comforted by the fact that Bibi died believing she'd made it out of the embassy alive.

By the time the other officers had caught up, Bibi had passed away, leaving Isla cradling her body, descending steadily into a state of seething fury. Storming out before anyone could say any clichéd lines that she didn't want to hear, Isla came across Namos, in the same place she'd thrown him, still trying but unable to move.

In place of Lord Artofen, Isla decided Namos would suffer instead, unleashing her rage- and lightning- on him, electrocuting the deposed Prime Minister even after his heart gave out. She only stopped when Sam, who'd followed her, placed a hand on her shoulder, silently telling her that that was enough.

Isla left the embassy to find police officers waiting for her. Sam believed they should go with them, suspecting LaLenna would ensure no charges would be brought against them, and that the police were merely looking for answers regarding the events that had led up to the recent disturbances. Isla was still furious, however, and wanted to kill the officers, quizzing Sam on why she shouldn't just 'burn them all' for their lack of gratitude, claiming she should have let the Empire shackle the planet and bring the 'savages' up to a modern standard.

Sympathetic, Sam agreed with her about the shortcomings of Voryle. Regardless, she told Isla it was her home, and reminded her of all the civilians she'd helped by pushing the Rabid Akks out of just a single borough. If that wasn't enough, she asked Isla to stop fighting for her, because she was asking. Isla relented, letting go of her rage and leaving her with only her sadness; she broke down, tearfully hugging Sam and expressing her regrets, blaming herself for Bibi's death.

Sam pointed out that Bibi died trying to protect someone she cared for, and whether or not she helped, she'd believed she had. The two were taken away in police speeders, escorted to police headquarters where Countess LaLenna and Police Commissioner Sanders were waiting.

The pair were asked to report on the events of the past few days, filling in what the police didn't know. Despite being in possession of illegal weapons, assaulting officers of the law, breaking and entering and committing brazen murder, Commissioner Sanders was willing to omit their names from the official reports, but suggested they treat his leniency as a second chance rather than a free pass.

Both women agreed it was best if they laid low for a bit, if only to give the gang and city time to heal and rebuild. In the meantime, they returned to Sam's home for a few days, processing the chaos and losses they'd suffered. Yagogg, Bon-Yi, Rissessk and Tabassa worked on rebuilding the damage Artofen's beast had caused, repairing the train and ensuring the families of the fallen gangsters were provided with aid, emotional and monetary, to ease their losses.

A few days after the attack on the embassy, Isla and Sam were called to LaLenna's estate for an unknown reason. When they arrived, Zhavi was already there- along with her aunt and brother. Her aunt, Jedi Master and healer Sofia Sofora, explained that she had been delayed at the start of the year, preventing her from arriving on Voryle at the request of the SIS until a few days earlier.

Much to her surprise, Master Sofora found that the Countess had already welcomed the Jedi sent by the Republic months earlier, which she remarked was strange, since she had only just arrived on the planet. Zhavi pointed out that LaLenna had assumed the SIS sent herself and Isla, they'd never actually claimed to represent anyone. LaLenna, clearly finding the mix-up amusing, said there was no harm, and that she didn't blame her for playing along, given the state Isla had arrived in.

Master Sofora admitted she was surprised to see Zhavi taking responsibility, though commented that she was less surprised to discover that she was doing so via criminal activity. Regardless, she was pleased to learn she was helping the Republic, commending her on driving the Empire from Voryle. Zhavi was quick to point out that Isla had been the driving force behind their success, and Master Sofora remarked that she didn't believe they'd ever met, alluding to her uncertainty regarding the Chiss.

Zhavi was quick to defend her, however, truthfully detailing her past as a Jedi, but lying about the cause of her long absence from the Republic, stating she'd been marooned in the Outer Rim, which Master Sofora seemed to accept. The Jedi then explained that Zhavi and Isla had been asked to report in for debriefing on Coruscant, assuring them that she and Carth would handle the recovery period on Voryle in their absence.

Though they agreed, both of the 'Jedi' wanted to remain on-world for a few more days before they had to move on.

During that time, LaLenna pushed for Samantha to take her father's place as an interim Prime Minister, with his co-conspirators being arrested and the rest of the council under police investigation- at the Countess' request. Due to her consistent opposition to Namos and his allies and the political vindication she was enjoying in the aftermath of his death, LaLenna political clout had never been greater.

Strong-arming the remaining councillors, Samantha was voted in to hold the position temporarily due to her neutrality in the inter-council politics. All the councillors knew her, and all were confident that she had no interest in their business. Thus, Samantha had no trouble securing the position- in spite of her objections to the nomination.

A few days of legal procedures to swear her in and the deed was done, casting doubt on Sam's relationship with Isla, the Chiss being sent off-world while the Twi'lek was now leader of the planetary government. Irrespective of her new position, Sam wasn't going to resign herself to being constantly professional; she invited Isla to her father's- now her- estate, spending a final day together before the Chiss was shipped out. At the end of the day, she revealed that her first act as Prime Minister was to grant Isla a Lordship, officially granting her the title of Lady Isla Ahnkett of the Independent Nation of Voryle and the associated political perks.

Usually there would be a ceremony, though Sam had rightly assumed Isla probably wouldn't care much for the formalities and the associated attention. Aside from the element of pride, the title itself was little more than a class marker, useless outside Voryle. Despite that, however, Isla- having been denied a promotion to Lord during her time in the Sith Empire- was thrilled, gratefully accepting the gesture.

Along with Yagogg, Rissessk, Tabassa, Bon-Yi and LaLenna, Sam was present to wave the two Jedi off the following morning, not knowing when or if they'd see them again.

Republic Operative

The Veiled Light Project

In short, we're gathering up the more practical Jedi who either fell out of sync with the Order or left outright. People with all the practical skills of a Jedi, but who know that wars aren't won through meditation or religious snobbery."
"Sounds like y' talkin' 'bout recruitin' fallen Jedi..."
"Oh, that's because I am. Jedi call anyone who doesn't tow the line 'fallen'. And I'm not just talking about the so called fallen Jedi either. Anyone who wants to fight for the Republic, uses the Force and can handle taking orders is welcome in my book. Bet that sounds like something you would like, right 'Isla Ahnkett'?.
"I think... that I am going to enjoy working with you.
—Frank Ped, Zhavi and Isla discussing the Veiled Light Project.

By the time Isla and Zhavi reached the senate building, a new year had rolled in, and though neither of them expected to be starting 25 ATC in an SIS office, that was where they found themselves in the early hours of the morning after touching down on Coruscant.

They were escorted to the office of an aged Human man who introduced himself as Frank Ped, a Special Operations Coordinator who was in the process of setting up a new team. That team would be comprised entirely of Force users- and not just Jedi, but Dark Jedi and Force users from any and all backgrounds. Anyone willing to fight for the Republic against the evils of the Empire, and beyond.

Frank also suggested that he knew who Isla had been, although he didn't state it outright. The team itself- under the project name 'Veiled Light'- would be a versatile group of individuals sent into various situations in small groups to extract or eliminate targets both opposing and allied, gather intelligence, retrieve objects of value, sabotage enemy installations and anything else that they might be well-placed to achieve. Such as their successful campaign on Voryle.

In fact it was that very success that had convinced the Frank's superior to give his scheme the green light, awarding Frank a token budget and a temporary office in the senate tower. He thanked Isla and Zhavi, informing them that it was because of what they'd managed on Voryle that he'd finally been promoted to a position where he could be more proactive.

He went on to detail his background, revealing that three of his four children had been Jedi, all of them dying over the course of the war and prompting him to want to help those who fell through the cracks, either due to the disbandment during Zakuul's reign or because they lost faith and left the Jedi Order behind. Frank's own children had struggled with the Order's rules and restrictions before their unfortunate ends, each of them fighting and dying alone and without support, two against Zakuul during the occupation while the third fell fighting gangsters to protect civilians on Nar Shaddaa.

Because of these losses, Frank had been trying to identify and locate lost or failed Jedi whenever he had time to spare. His success had been limited so far, but after recruiting his first volunteer the project had started to pick up traction, with an independent Force user being rescued from the vengeance of the Black Sun gang and another being located living on Corulag. Now, with Isla and Zhavi on board and Frank given the go-ahead, they had the makings of a team.

Before he agreed to take them on, however, he needed to test them. Zhavi complained that they'd already spent a year running a gang on an unfamiliar world to prove their worth, but Frank wanted to see how they did under official direction, answering to a superior rather than themselves.

To that end, he offered them a conditional place on the team, which they accepted. After that, Frank escorted them to his real office, introducing them to their prospective Commander, an individual whom Isla had already worked alongside in the past; Benjamin Lambert. Accompanying Benjamin was a Sith Pureblood woman, surprising both Zhavi and Isla initially. Strangely, though, she was introduced as Jedi Master Avexiss Odé and, even more interestingly than that, a member of the mysterious Jedi Shadows sub-group, specialised hunters of the artefacts and practitioners of the Dark Side.

Such a revelation made Isla and Zhavi understandably tense, both women concerned Isla was the target of some sort of trap. Lambert was quick to notice, assuring them Avexiss was only present as a personal favour to him due to her expertise in unusual Force-related activity. Despite her status as a Shadow, Avexiss had no interest in Dark Jedi, only Sith who presented a credible threat to the Republic.

Furthermore, she wouldn't be participating in the project long-term. She was there to serve the same purpose as Isla and Zhavi, a purpose which would serve as their initial assignment for suitability for the project. Intelligence gathering on Kashyyyk.

According to information Rissessk had provided on the mutated creatures, the first beast Isla had encountered was a Kkorrwrot which could only be found on the Wookiee homeworld. Odé had a contact on Kashyyyk, a former Jedi named Batauww, who would meet them near his home in the city of Rwookrrorro and- with any luck- help lead them to whoever was supplying the Sith with their animal specimens.

While they were busy on Kashyyyk, Odé would be headed for the fiery wastelands of Mustafar, the source of the strange raptors and the enormous titan that wrecked South Yonmouth. Given the incredibly volatile state of Mustafar, it was deemed too dangerous for their first assignment, though Fred warned them that that didn't mean Kashyyyk would be a walk in the park. Lambert agreed, warning them that, as safe as they'd be high up the Wroshyr trees, venturing outside the city or down to the forest floor would be very dangerous, remarking that even the natives were caught by surprise from time to time.

Zhavi, of course, took the information in stride, causing Isla to speak up and assure Frank that they would take the assignment as seriously as was warranted. They had nothing to go on, sadly, but the Wookiees knew Kashyyyk incredibly well; Lambert was certain they would be able to lead the two of them to whoever was exporting the native fauna.

Mission to the Shadowlands

Welcome to Kashyyyk!
—Batauww, to Isla and Zhavi.

Limited when it came to funding, Frank was willing to fuel up their ship but couldn't provide any additional support. Isla and Zhavi were confident, regardless, and departed that same day and arriving a few days later. During their trip, Isla used her sculpting skills to create charms for a necklace, for Zhavi, fashioning a small replica of the helmet worn by Lord Jhang during their confrontation on Dxun. She didn't reveal it to Zhavi, choosing instead to wait until after they'd arrived.

When they arrived on Kashyyyk, their welcome was less than warm.

Thanks to the enslavement of the Wookiees at the hands of Czerka Corporation three centuries earlier, outsiders were met with suspicion at the best of times, though facilities were available for ships to dock, indicating a degree of tolerance. So it was good fortune that they had an ally waiting for them when they arrived.

Batauww approached them shortly after they disembarked, welcoming them to Kashyyyk and quickly explaining that he'd asked around, telling the scouts to keep an eye on anything suspicious. One of their hunters ended up being the one to find something, in the depths of the Shadowlands of all places. Normally, the Wookiees didn't let just anyone descend to the forest floor, but Batauww had helped the chieftain's nephew when he was lost down in the Shadowlands a few years earlier.

So the chieftain had agreed that- if Batauww vouched for the outsiders- he would allow them to take the lift, under the condition that Batauww be their guide. Obviously, they were happy to accept the extra help; neither of them were particularly at home in the wilds.

It didn't take the trio long to reach the lift, giving them plenty of time to discuss the precise details of what had brought them there. Zhavi showed Batauww images taken on Voryle and he expressed concern over the crystal growths, something he'd not seen in Sithspawn before. By the time they reached the Shadowlands, Zhavi had befriended one of the local critters, a Tach, who seemed content to sit on Zhavi's shoulder even after they left the lift.

Strangely, they didn't encounter any hostile creatures for some time, the first indication of trouble being a noise none of them had expected; blaster fire.

Chasing the sound, they charged headlong into the survivors of a Trandoshan hunting party fending off a group of Wyyyschokk, who appeared to have ambushed them from above. The four survivors were finishing off the last of the spiders when they spotted the trio, who were forced to take a defensive stance to protect Batauww, no longer in position of the Force of a lightsaber.

Fortunately, he was a decent shot with a Bowcaster and took two of them out, reducing the incoming fire and allowing Isla and Zhavi to rush the remaining two. As they moved, a Katarn rushed out of the undergrowth to try and steal a kill in all the commotion. However, moving and attacking with perfect synchronicity, Zhavi swung Isla by the hand, allowing her to both rise above the attacking Katarn and kick the blaster cannon of her nearest opponent, causing him to fire down into the dirt.

At the same time, with her weapon hand, Zhavi severed the barrel of the other Trandoshan's rifle, forcing him to draw his knife in his free hand, though she was quick enough to sever that arm and cut him down before he could land a blow. Isla, likewise, dispatched her foe without much difficulty, the unwieldy cannon proving too sluggish to reposition before she could land and strike.

With the Trandoshans defeated, the Katarn- circling back around to rush Isla again, inexplicably taking a liking to the Chiss- was the only foe remaining. As both woman came together and raised their sabres in anticipation, they were beaten to the kill by an exceptional shot from Batauww, who'd taken up a new position and managed to hit the creature in the side of the head just as it pounced, killing it instantly and knocking it off-course.

After searching the hunters and discovering they were poachers who'd managed to sneak their way onto the planet, the group continued through the Shadowlands, eventually encountering a wounded Wookiee scout who told them that poachers had a compound a few miles further, beyond the area the Wookiees usually patrolled. They'd apparently destroyed several Wroshyr trees to clear a space for their activities. Unfortunately, the scout couldn't get close enough to determine what those activities were.

Nonetheless, the trio were confident they could put a stop to whatever they were doing.

When they finally arrived at the compound, they discovered that the poaching operation was considerably better funded than they'd have guessed. The towering Wroshyr trees had been destroyed piece by piece, the wood stacked to create walls for the makeshift fortress. Durasteel transport containers littered the area, the metallic banging from within making it clear the contents were creatures intended for exportation off-world.

A gargantuan lift had been built, not dissimilar to the ones used by the Wookiees, though much larger and suspended by massive chains to support the unfathomable weight of the cargo it was built to lift up to the treetops. The ground underfoot had been dug out to accommodate an excessive. Trandoshans guarded the area, so Batauww took up a position in the bushes while Zhavi and Isla calmly entered the compound.

To nobody's surprise, the aliens opened fire immediately, trying to overwhelm them with blaster fire. Thanks to their connection, the pair's effectiveness was bolstered considerably, allowing them to survive a direct onslaught that would kill most. Unfortunately, they were facing difficulty when it came to returning fire, more or less immobilised by the volume of attacks.

That suddenly changed when the Trandoshans began falling, picked off from the back of the crowd one by one by an unseen shooter, hiding somewhere out of sight beyond the treeline. The pair didn't waste time pushing forwards as the blaster fire began to decrease, gradually defeating the bulk of the forces. Some tried to run, and those met an even grislier end.

Stepping out from an overgrown hut, a dark-skinned Trandoshan with a cybernetic arm used the Force to choke one of the runaways, punching another using his metal arm with such Force that his feet left the ground. The third and fourth were felled when the Trandoshan activated and threw a blue-bladed lightsaber to cut them apart. At first, Zhavi and Isla were unsure if he was in league with the mystery snipers who'd assisted them, but when they turned their senses on him they soon felt his rage and the aggressive intentions he had for them.

He approached them, threatening them for interrupting his operation, revealing that Darth Aivela had trained him and gifted him a lightsaber so that he could dominate his peers, providing her with worthy beasts in return for more powers in the future.

His actual strength in the Force was limited, though, and while Isla and Batauww worked on releasing the creatures from their cages Zhavi engaged the Trandoshan, trying to goad him into revealing more information- learning only that he didn't care about Jagannath points- before she decapitated him.

Once they'd released the creatures they took the lift up, expecting a secondary base to be present in the treetops.

In reality, what awaited them was the burning wreckage of a makeshift spaceport, a funeral pyre of dead Trandoshans and a squad of soldiers from the Chiss Expansionary Defense Force, lead by Isla's brother, Mitth'endar'inrokini, known outside Chiss space by his core name Hendar.

Isla's last encounter with her brother had been on Dromund Kaas, when he'd contacted her and arranged a meeting, during which he'd tried to convince her to return home and speak with her biological mother. She'd ultimately ignored his invitation, and his presence on Kashyyyk was perplexing to say the least.

Anticipating her confusion, Hendar explained that he had been searching for a Dark Jedi Trandoshan by the name of Tsosska, tracking his underlings to Kashyyyk. He'd identified the landing site, and alongside his fellows had descended to attack it, landing and disembarking to execute the survivors of the aerial assault. They'd been searching the area when the lift activated, yet despite expectations a Chiss, a Human and a Wookiee ascended, not Trandoshans, a mystery he confessed he had little explanation for.

Batauww spoke up, only to be cut off by Hendar, who apologised and explained he did not Shyriiwook, forcing Isla to explain the situation, including the fact that she was no longer working for the Empire, who believed her to be dead. He assured her the Chiss did not care and, thus, would not reveal her secret, but did ask for a favour in return; the head of Tsosska, which Zhavi had brought with her to impress the chieftain of Rwookrrorro, in case they ever needed to visit Kashyyyk again.

Given that that was unlikely, however, Zhavi agreed to hand it over to the Ascendancy agents, with Batauww telling her he would be sure to tell the chieftain of their efforts to expel the Trandoshans with or without the head as proof.

Hendar concluded their conversation with the same topic he and Isla had discussed when they'd last met- he reminded her that their mother wished to speak with her, stating it was important and that she would greatly appreciate her time. Hendar also handed her his personal information; spotting that the imperfections on the skin of her arms were different and deducing from that that she'd had them replaced with cybernetics, he suspected her inability to answer her comm was on account of her losing it in the same confrontation that took her arm, rather than due to poor manners.

Bidding them farewell, the Chiss departed, and Zhavi complained that her brother would have had the common decency to offer them a ride back to Rwookrrorro. Batauww, amused, asked her if she hadn't enjoyed her relaxing walk through the Shadowlands, at which point Isla commented that Zhavi wasn't much of a 'country girl'.

The group returned to Rwookrrorro a few hours later, reporting the destruction of the trees and the justice visited on the ones who'd destroyed them. The chieftain thanked them for protecting Kashyyyk from the Wookiees' 'hated enemy' and wished them well on their travels, warning Zhavi to keep an eye on her new pet, as Tach were often troublemakers around people.

Investigation in Curamelle

This is Kassie Kaadara. Cocky son of a Hutt, doesn't pay her debts, drinks like a Selkath... but she's got a mean right hook, offers mates rates, and I'd trust her with my life. Say hello to your new buddies, Kas.
—Frank, regarding Kassie Kaadara.

Upon their return from Kashyyyk, Isla and Zhavi were debriefed and congratulated on their success. Isla noticed some tension between the group's commander, Benjamin Lambert, and a woman they'd not met before, another member of the team who spoke in broken Basic named Aaellu. Whatever the issue was, it wasn't voiced, and after being informed they'd be investigating an archaeological site on Yavin IV, Isla and Zhavi were introduced to their next mission.

A Human woman entered the office, introduced by Frank as Kassie Kaadara, a former Jedi Knight who'd settled down on Corulag in the capital city of Curamelle, where she owned a reasonably successful bar. She greeted the group with some enthusiasm, saying she expected they were all going to have fun working together before explaining that a deserter from Sith Intelligence was in hiding on Corulag after slicing Imperial systems to download a list containing the names of over two dozen undercover agents operating in Republic space.

Given the value of the data and the SIS's belief that there were already several Imperial agents on Corulag hunting down the rogue agent, Kassie had requested additional support from Frank to allow them to match the suspected Imperial presence. Their job was simple; find the defector and acquire his data, with a secondary objective of keeping him alive so he could be placed into protective custody.

Once the trio arrived on Corulag, Zhavi and Kassie were happy to spend the rest of the day settling in, unlike Isla, who wanted to jump straight into her work. To that end, she began asking around at a number of likely locations, trying to gleam any hints as to when or where the deserter last surfaced.

It was while questioning patrons at a local club that Isla attracted the attention of Damascus Lambert, a towering Chistori Force user who approached her outside, claiming he was looking for the same individual as the Chiss. Isla was cautious at first, sensing Damascus' alignment with the Dark Side and believing him a Sith, though after teasing out information regarding his surname- commenting that it was an unusual one for an alien- Damascus revealed that he was the adoptive brother of Benjamin, him being the man who found and trained him.

Damascus had been asked to look into the missing agent, and when Isla asked why his name hadn't been mentioned at the SIS briefing he admitted to being wary of the Republic and their spies, concerned that it was some sort of clever Jedi plot to identify and capture non-Jedi who didn't conform to their religious beliefs.

Isla lowered her guard, allowing Damascus to sense her own usage of the Dark Side, and assured him that the man in charge seemed to be a pragmatic, realistic man more concerned with actions rather than pointless ideology, although Damascus remained sceptical. Nonetheless, he all but demanded that they work together, to which she agreed, handing the brutish alien a replacement lightsaber (taken from the Trandoshan on Kashyyyk) to replace his own weapon, lost some time ago. Isla then took Damascus with her when she reported to Kassie's bar, the group finishing off the evening with a few drinks before turning in for the night.

The following morning the group split into pairs, Isla claimed Damascus as her partner for the day. Together, they followed up on local chatter, eventually crossing paths with an agent of Sith Intelligence, who Isla managed to throw in front of a passing speeder. But not, fortunately, before stealing his datapad, learning from the notes within that he'd found a lead.

Heading to Crullov City to investigate, Isla and Damascus soon located their target while he was in the process of selling his data to a criminal group. Using Damascus' smoke grenades, Isla blinded and ambushed the participants of the meeting, rushing in to snatch the data from the deserter and sparking a fire-fight.

Luckily, Isla was in and out in a matter of seconds, fleeing the smoke and making a break for it by the time the shooting started.

Unluckily, however, she wasn't the only one looking to steal the data; as she fled the scene, explosive charges detonated in an abandoned shopfront, throwing Isla off her feet, disorienting her and sending the briefcase containing the data skittering along the street, where it was easily taken by a Togruta woman.

Isla pursued her, but as she ran for her ship the woman surprised the Chiss by using the Force to throw debris in her path to stall her, ensuring she could escape with the data, foiling the Republic's efforts and infuriating Damascus and Isla. Sadly, there was little they could do. Isla and Damascus reported back to Kassie's bar, informing their peers about the incident. Kassie convinced Zhavi to remain on Corulag, while Isla convinced Damascus to join her when she reported back to Coruscant.

Felucian Errand

No reason to suspect Aivela's got a hand in this either, but even the SIS has its political elements. It'll help our little project if we start making friends we might need later, now.
—Frank, regarding the operation on Felucia.

After a disappointing debriefing directed solely at Isla, Frank moved on to greeting Damascus, saying he'd hoped to have him join their team sooner rather later. He added that their next assignment would probably be more to the Chistori's liking.

An Imperial force had stopped on the jungle world of Felucia after an engagement with Republic vessels. The Imperials had won the day, but not without cost, and were on Felucia while the major damage was repaired. Republic forces couldn't be reassigned to eliminate the Imperials before their repairs would come to an end, prompting Frank's friends in the military to informally request the aid of his new team.

All they needed to do was travel to Felucia and attack the Empire's forces there, personnel and equipment both. To aid them, Benjamin had recruited an old friend and student of his, Khruukunu, a Jungle Felucian who- while hailing from a group who were captured and ultimately released on another world- was familiar with the native species and could more easily navigate the dense jungle terrain.

Still, when they arrived on Felucia, things started with an unwelcome reception from the natives, the Felucians immediately swarming them and forcing them to respond with lethal force. During this attack, Isla- who was more at home duelling with a single opponent or lunging from the shadows to ambush a target- was injured by the native's projectile attacks, only for her new ally Damascus to step in and protect her.

Much to her irritation- before arriving, the pair had made a bet with one another to determine who was the better fighter based on how many kills each of them made in the space of a single month. Isla was off to a bad start.

Khruukunu was able to heal the worst of Isla's injury after the confrontation and volunteered to scout ahead to seek out a path to the Imperial encampment that would avoid the Felucians' territory. Unsurprisingly, their chosen route wasn't entirely without danger, however, and Isla and Damascus were caught out by two patrolling Felucians mounted upon ferocious rancors.

Forced to engage, the pair divided off, taking a rancor and its rider each, eventually dispatching all four of their foes after a short but intense battle, Isla utilising lightning while Damascus managed to plunge his lightsaber into the monster's skull. Not long after, the pair caught up with Khruukunu on the edge of the Imperial camp near an enormous Sarlacc and proceeded to launch their assault, steadily battling their way through the Imperials on the surface.

Their toughest obstacle, an Imperial walker, was the final, last-ditch attempt by the Empire to win the day, but by working together the trio were able to bring the armoured vehicle down- the soldier who emerged was little threat without his toy.

To damage the ships in orbit, the trio packed any and all explosive material into two troop transports. Isla flew alongside Khruukunu to one vessel, landing in the hangar and setting the timer on the explosives before escaping aboard Isla's ship, repeating the process with the ship Damascus' had landed in. Though the vessels survived the blasts, several ships and crew within the hangars were caught in the blast, delaying their departure and wasting additional resources.

On their return, their victory was soured when news reached them that Lord Dratine Rhonjenvyn, a Sith sorceress working with Darth Aivela, had murdered the pilot who had taken Benjamin and Aaellu to Hoth, an old friend named Cerys Odé. Cerys was also a good friend of Damascus, and his death had left him understandably shaken and upset.

With no further assignments pending, Frank gave the team some time off to process Cerys' death. Isla spent their time off comforting Damascus, providing a supportive shoulder as best she could until the funeral arrangements had been made. She accompanied the hulking alien to the ceremony on Ryloth, where Cerys' loved ones bid her a final, tearful farewell.

Romantic Distraction

You lose little Chiss. Ha!
—Damascus, to Isla, after winning their bet.

After the funeral, Isla requested some hit-and-run work from Frank to help keep Damascus distracted from his loss. Frank managed to pull intelligence from other departments for them to follow up on. Their assignments consisted of eliminating hidden Imperial safe houses in Republic space that the SIS had yet to deal with.

By the time of their final assignment- an attack on a Sith assassin training facility- the pair were neck and neck, the attack being the last chance for the pair to rack up the kills needed to win their bet.

To Isla's annoyance, Damascus pipped her to the post as she defended against the last attacker's strike, killing him while he was distracted by the Chiss and making her defeat all the more galling. Damascus was a poor winner, unsurprisingly, and was quick to begin gloating about stealing a victory out from under her nose. As the winner, Damascus' prize was a date with Isla, a prize that had inspired him to propose the bet in the first place.

They returned to Corulag, with Damascus booking them at a table at a restaurant less than a week later. Isla arrived at the restaurant with low expectations despite Damascus' assurance that the date would end with the consummation of their 'relationship', though admitted, once seated, that she was surprised at Damascus' good taste, the restaurant not being an inexpensive choice of venue.

Although Damascus was brutish and crude more often than not, apparently lacking any kind of tact, he behaved admirably during their date, whipping out all the charm and gentlemanly etiquette of an Alderaanian nobleman. The pair chatted over the course of their meal, sharing stories of how they left the Empire, both outed by their loyalty to someone else, and how neither of them really had any plans for the future, both being strangers to the Republic and unsure about how they could fit in.

As the evening came to an end, Damascus insisted on walking Isla back to Kassie's bar where she was staying. En route, however, Isla was finally wooed by the aliens' charm- much to her own surprise- and kissed him, leading into a more heated interaction in one of Curamelle's side-street. They were moved along by local police as they cleared out the drunks roaming the streets, forcing them to continue their journey back to the bar.

By the time they reached the park between the restaurant and Kassie's bar, it was late and the streets were abandoned. Riled up by their brief moment in the street, Isla paused, and when Damascus asked what was wrong (concerned she sensed something) Isla told him that she would rather go home with him, jokingly claiming it would be wrong of her to let him walk back to his hotel all the way from Kassie's bar on her own.

Gradually, after a passionate pit stop midway through the park, the pair made their way to the hotel where Damascus was staying, spending a long night together, falling asleep a little before dawn and waking up in the late afternoon, at which point Damascus gleefully reminded Isla that he had told her how the date would end. She playfully assured Damascus that she'd only stayed overnight out of pity, and the pair decided to get dressed and head to Kassie's bar.

A few days after their successful date, Damascus and Isla received an invitation to join Benjamin, his children and Aaellu (with whom Damascus had mentioned he was having an affair) on a short beach holiday for the last week of their time off. As did Zhavi and Kassie, but unlike Isla and Damascus, the two Human women turned the offer down to remain on Corulag.

After a week sunbathing on an uninhabited world, the group were ready to get back to work on whatever new initiative Frank had found for them.

Desert Iron

Put away your swords, dar'jetii. We're not your enemies.
—Ramira Al-Zaidi.

Tatooine was to be their next destination, a near-lifeless desert world in the Outer Rim that- usually- held little of interest beyond petty criminal operations and moisture farms. An old friend of Frank's had requested his aid with a personal problem on the world, however, and a small detail about the situation he needed help with had made the request more than a simple personal favour.

Frank's friend, a former Colonel in the Republic military named Vanrick Taetriss, had a son named Erin Taetriss. Like his father, Erin had joined the Republic military, only to find that he wasn't quite as obedient as his father and, it seemed, wasn't cut out for life as a soldier. He'd been court martialed and ultimately dishonourably discharged for repeatedly disobeying the orders of his commanding officer, and since leaving the military had thrown his lot in with a group of Mandalorians.

The Mandalorians didn't follow the call of Mandalore the Avenger and join the Eternal Alliance, and were considered dar'manda as a result, Mandalorians no longer. Still, they'd continued to live the lives of Mandalorians, seeking out challenging contracts and taking on new converts, such as Erin.

One of the Mandalorians was a Chiss woman named Ramira Al-Zaidi, a Mandalorian since birth. Most importantly, Al-Zaidi was engaged to a Sith, Tharah Odé. Tharah herself was a follower of Darth Madré, one of her most trusted apprentices, so much so that Madré had adopted her and allowed the former slave to carry her family name as her own. Frank believed- hoped- that they could use Al-Zaidi to get to Tharah, and Tharah to learn more about what Darth Aivela was up to.

Al-Zaidi's crew of Mandalorian outcasts were on Tatooine to hunt the fabled sand demon, an elusive and lethal predator that was said to be able to 'glide' beneath the sand. When Isla and Damascus arrived at Anchorhead, they met with Rowan Delk, a local who knew the planet well and had helped the Jedi in the past, proudly claiming that he'd assisted the famed Barsen'thor. Delk had asked around before their arrival, learning that the Mandalorians had been spotted on a moisture farm belonging to the brother of one of his local friends.

Accompanying them, Delk led the pair out to the edge of the Dune Sea, where they met the owner of the farm. The farmer explained that the Mandalorians had come to the planet looking for a sand demon, but needed credits in the meantime, which he'd offered in exchange for assistance, being more familiar with work that needed doing than the location of a creature he had no desire to find.

His problem was far more grounded; Exchange thugs had set up in a cave a few miles away. They'd been watching the moisture farm, yet so far hadn't done anything against any of the local settlements. The farmer wanted to make sure they didn't get the chance. Hiring the Mandalorians to take them out, the farmer had started worrying when the armoured warriors hadn't returned, fearing that they'd failed and would prod the Exchange forces into finally making a move.

Grateful for the lead, Isla promised that she and Damascus would kill any Exchange thugs they encountered in their search for the Mandalorians, taking the weight from the farmer's mind. They parted ways with Delk and headed out.

By the time they arrived at the cave the Exchange had been using as a base, the location was littered with corpses, not only Exchange members but Sand People, the primitive locals who attacked on sight. They checked the cave, though the trail of bodies leading away from the cave made it clear the Mandalorians had fought their way out, so they weren't surprised when they found the cave to be devoid of living beings.

The duo followed the bodies- some being Mandalorian- until they inevitably ran out, carrying on their search by following the tracks left in the sand. Eventually, they heard the distant sound of blaster fire and rushed to find the source, locating a cave half-buried in the sand that was under siege. The Sand People were firing into the cave, with some blaster fire being returned, yet they had significant numbers with which to press the trapped Mandalorians no matter the casualties they suffered.

Fortunately for Isla and Damascus, the Sand People were so focused on killing the Mandalorians that they noticed the two Dark Jedi a little too late to prepare a decent defence. The pair brutally massacred the Sand People, their skill, powers and training proving an impossible challenge for the locals at such close range. Although the immediate threat was over, the duo were wary of entering the cave, keeping their lightsaber active and raised, ready to defend against the warriors taking shelter within.

They need not have worried, as it turned out. Inside the cave, the two surviving Mandalorian warriors- Ramira Al-Zaidi and Erin Taetriss- were calmly awaiting their arrival. Al-Zaidi told the pair to lower their weapons, referring to them as dar'jetii, which Isla knew enough about Mando'a to recognise as the word for fallen Jedi, or Sith, prompting her to question her choice of word. Al-Zaidi pointed out that real Jedi didn't fight so ruthlessly, nor massacre their enemies without hesitation.

Regardless, she thanked them for the assistance, asking what it would cost the two survivors. Isla told her that they knew of her relationship with the Sith Tharah Odé and wanted her help gathering information on Darth Aivela via that relationship, assuring her they wouldn't compromise or harm Tharah herself. Al-Zaidi was loyal, however, and told them as much, declining their offer.

She also told them that if anyone owed them for the assistance, it was Erin- she'd surmised that Erin had contacted his father to ask for help, otherwise they couldn't have found them, at which point Erin confessed that he'd sent his father a message once the situation became serious. Isla considered pressing the issue by force, but decided against it, suspecting that Al-Zaidi probably had a strong will.

Instead, the group parted ways amicably, just without any agreement from Al-Zaidi. Isla, initially frustrated, soon considered the possibility that Tharah- being a Sith- might not be as loyal as her fiancée, and decided it was time she took the initiative.

Re-appropriated Blackmail

It is hard not to appreciate the beauty of irony at a moment like this...
—Isla, after discovering a blackmail file on Tharah.

Contacting Frank once they were back in Anchorhead, Isla and Damascus learned that Tharah Odé had been living out of a rented room on Nar Shaddaa while she was working on an unknown assignment in Hutt space. Like most Imperials and Sith visiting the world, SIS agents kept tabs on their comings and goings, giving the couple an address to investigate once they arrived.

While Damascus created a distraction, hitting an Imperial warehouse to prompt them to call for assistance from allied forces available in the immediate area, Isla broke into Tharah's room and sliced her personal datapad. At first, she found nothing, quickly losing hope of finding anything incriminating that would convince Ramira Al-Zaidi to turn against her lover.

Until, in a message Tharah had received earlier in the year, she found a link that connected her with a secure data storage server containing a video file. The video clearly showed Tharah engaged in sexual activity with Lord Artofen, timestamped to prove that it was recent. Accompanying the link was a message from Lord Artofen herself, stating that the footage had been recorded to ensure her loyalty in the years ahead and would remain secure as long as she remembered who her allies were.

Isla was pleased; the video was more than she'd hoped for. It went beyond simply sowing doubt in Al-Zaidi's mind and provided concrete evidence of Tharah's affair. The Chiss, wanting to guarantee the intelligence worked as they needed it to, downloaded a copy of the video to her own datapad before deleting the original message and the link therein.

With the data in hand, all that remained was to return to Tatooine, seek out the Mandalorians and show Ramira the footage. When they did, Isla's fellow Chiss launched her glass across the room and stormed out without a word, leaving the pair alone with Erin, who explained that she had a temper, but if she was left alone a little while she'd be fine.

Correctly anticipating her actions, Ramira returned a few hours later having vented her frustration on the local reek population. Begrudgingly, she thanked Isla for finding out what her wife-to-be had been up to behind her back, making it clear she understood she owed them. Then, still furious, she asked what Isla's plan was, prompting Damascus and Isla to explain that all they needed from her was an eye in the enemy camp. If Ramira could play along as if she knew nothing about Tharah's affair, she could pass along information on what Darth Aivela was up to and inform them if she was planning to travel somewhere that would leave her exposed.

Ramira agreed with their request, confident she could continue to act as though she was in a loving relationship, though warned them that she wouldn't wait forever to get Tharah back for cheating on her. Isla promised she would get her chance sooner rather than later.

Fall of Darth Aivela

War of the Four Bound Spirits

With Master Oteg's fleet keeping the enemy's naval forces occupied, the rest of you will be joining our ground forces in assaulting the castle's front gate. While all eyes are on the battle, Mr Lambert will make their way through the surrounding forest to infiltrate the lower levels and make their way up to Darth Aivela herself."
"If she thinks the battle is turning against her she'll try to make a run for it. Knowing my darling wife, she's left herself an escape route."
"You make it sound like she's expecting us?
"Mm, an old castle well outside Imperial space where she could be attacked by Republic forces? She wants us here. We found her stronghold because she allowed it.
—Frank, Benjamin and Isla, discussing the attack on Darth Aivela's castle.

After a successful mission involving Benjamin and Aaellu that resulted in the recovery of the last missing piece in the collection of artefacts Isla had helped gather on Dronim Major, the Chiss received an update from her unlikely Mandalorian ally, surprising her slightly, especially given that it had only been a matter of weeks since she'd agreed to help.

Nonetheless, Ramira provided a name and location for where Darth Aivela was supposedly sending her forces, an uninteresting neutral world that nobody had claimed due to both its remoteness and lack of valuable resources. It was uninhabited, although once upon a time a low-tech civilisation had existed, leaving a grand- and ruined- castle behind them.

The location struck Isla as strange. It was isolated, yet it was also exposed, outside the protection of Imperial space. Irrespective of that, Frank had agents near the area confirm there was an Imperial presence on the planet, protected by a Harrower-class dreadnought no less, hinting that whatever was happening on the surface was important.

With the information provided to Frank, it wasn't long after that that Benjamin called everyone back to Coruscant to discuss a plan for dealing with Darth Aivela and retrieving the artefacts she'd gathered before she could use their power for further dark deeds.

Frank, pulling in every favour he could scramble together, managed to secure the assistance of Fleet Admiral Oteg, the Jedi Master who had helped secure the release of the fabled Republic hero known as Revan from a hidden prison. In addition, troops had been redirected temporarily to support a ground attack on Aivela's castle. Isla and her peers would join that group, creating a suitably large distraction for the Dark Lord's forces to focus on while Benjamin infiltrated the castle via an underground entrance, which they'd discovered thanks to old archaeological surveys performed on the planet before the Sith returned to the galaxy.

Benjamin believed Aivela would have an escape plan in the event the battle turned against her, and though he believed she'd be expecting him to sneak up on her, he knew she would also believe she'd stacked the deck against him sufficiently enough that she was safe.

Hearing his theory prompted Aaellu to insist she accompany him, a proposal Isla was going to make herself rather than join the others on a battlefield, a place she was ill-suited to. She remained silent however, waiting until the group were en route to Aivela's stronghold to confide in Damascus that she intended to use her talent for stealth to bypass the enemy lines and rendezvous with Benjamin and Aaellu once they infiltrated the castle.

Initially, everything went as planned once they launched their attack; Oteg's ships engaged the Harrower overhead while the SIS team and the Republic troops deployed on the ground. Master Avexiss Odé joined them, and amongst the troops were Yuri and Nomi Waverunner, Zhavi's parents. Working together, the two groups gradually pushed back the Imperial defensive line, crossing the bridge to the castle and getting through the main gate.

When the opportunity presented itself, Isla disappeared from sight, cloaking herself with the Force so she could sneak past the Sith and Imperials to reach the throne room at the top of the castle, just behind Benjamin and Aaellu.

Darth Aivela was guarded by Lord Sera Artofen, convincing Isla she'd made the right call- she would finally get the chance to avenge Bibi's murder. Not that it would be that simple, of course, namely due to the ominous figure looming over both Artofen and her master.

One of Aivela's creations, a colossal, mutated winged beast from the barren world of Lok, stood ready to kill for its master.

Aaellu had the most to fear; as Benjamin's new lover, his estranged wife seemed to have commanded the beast to pursue her above all others, though Isla was quietly pleased about that, as when she leapt out of hiding to intercept Sera she was able to focus solely on her revenge rather than Aivela's seemingly unstoppable dragon. Isla and Sera were fairly evenly matched, ensuring their duel stretched out for a considerable length of time with neither gaining the upper hand.

It was only when Benjamin and Aivela- the pair's own duel having led them out of the window- returned to the throne room that Sera took a blow. But not from Isla.

Darth Aivela, losing her duel against her husband, stabbed Sera in the back, death being the only way to release the artefact she'd absorbed on Yavin IV. Aivela claimed the orb and absorbed it into her own body, using the rejuvenation it provided to wrench the small hypergate portal from where it was situated in the throne room and throw it out of the ruined throne room, down to the chasm below.

Aivela leapt after the portal to disappear through it before it struck the ground and shattered, preventing her from being followed. Yet Benjamin leapt after her just seconds later, encouraging Isla to take a gamble and do the same, taking a literal leap of faith from the top of the castle to the falling gateway that may or may not have continued to function by the time she reached it.

Descending into the darkness of the cavern, Isla veiled herself in the Force once again, closed her eyes and hoped that- when she opened them again- she would be see the same plane of existence she'd started the day in.

Divinity

I saw... I saw everything. Just for a moment.
—Isla, describing the experience of holding all of the Four Bound Spirits.

The hypergate led the three combatants to Darth Aivela's company flagship, a salvaged Gage-class transport retrofitted to serve as a long-term exploration vessel. This vessel- the Outreaching Hope- was the heart of Aivela's operations, orbiting above her company headquarters down on the surface of Lok.

Arriving just moments after Benjamin, Isla was alarmed to see the Darth had gained the upper hand, catching him by surprise by virtue of knowing where the portal let out. Disarmed and beaten down, Benjamin's chances looked bleak. As he crawled along the floor Isla, hiding behind one of the artefacts in Aivela's office, unveiled her hand, extending it to Benjamin so that only he could see.

Taking the chance, Benjamin voluntarily relinquished possession of the two artefacts he carried, discreetly handing them over to the Chiss. As Aivela closed in to kill her husband, believing she was victorious, Isla absorbed the orbs and ambushed Aivela, stabbing her through the chest to mortally wound her. As Aivela died in Benjamin's arms, she apologised, warning him about something that had influenced her, though she died before she could tell him what that something was.

Distracted by his grief, Isla saw the opportunity to take the artefacts before Benjamin could, claiming all four and successfully harnessing their power, albeit temporarily. Holding all four of the artefacts at once required a strength in the Force Isla simply did not possess, however, and even as her mind was overwhelmed by her now augmented senses and the fleeting glimpses of visions of the past, present and future she saw Isla felt her body struggling to retain its form against the immeasurable power within.

The cybernetics installed to replace the limbs she'd lost to Lord Jhang's lightsaber were shredded by the infusion of Force energy, ejecting them and replacing them with new, organic limbs.

Such incredible power also gave Isla access to abilities far beyond her mortal capabilities, and all she had to do was think about where she wanted to go to vanish into thin air, moving from the Outer Rim back to the industrial world of Farrow in a heartbeat.

Isla knew she had only minutes before the power of the orbs would disintegrate her. So, using what little time she had available, the Chiss transported herself to the cemetery where Bibi Jotto was buried, teleported her coffin out of the ground and broke it open. Then, using the divine power granted to her by the orbs, Isla reversed the flow of time surrounding Bibi's remains, regenerating her dead cells, kick-starting her reconstructed heart and tearing her essence from the Netherworld of the Force, creating a weak Force Nexus in the cemetery.

Relocating to the park before Bibi woke up, Isla relinquished the orbs, setting them down on the grass beside her. After that, she simply waited, knowing that- with the orbs augmenting her bond with Zhavi- her allies would know where to find her and arrive in force before long. When they did, Isla reclaimed the orbs to use them one last time.

Zhavi, having briefly been a death stick addict, had suffered genetic damage that had left her infertile. With a single touch to her abdomen, Isla was able to repair that damage in an instant, an act of kindness that would- though she didn't know at the time- significantly affect her own future.

With her personal use of the orbs out of the way, she handed control of the Four Bound Spirits to Benjamin, who had the raw Force potential and appropriate control training to safely harness the energy that threatened to undo Isla from the inside out. Though he warned he couldn't hold onto the orbs indefinitely, they were safe for the time being, and the group could breathe a collective sigh of relief- Aivela was defeated, the orbs were safe from the Sith and Isla's 'betrayal' had turned out to be far less dramatic than the others had feared.

Personality and Traits

Are all Chiss so... tedious?"
"One can hope.
—Zhavi and Isla.

From an early age, Isla was a serious, pragmatic individual who dedicated herself to her duties and training, often at the expense of her free time. She was driven to prove herself, and took any failure to excel as a serious issue that needed to be resolved promptly. This created friction between Isla and the rest of the Jedi Order, who preached patience and staggered learning, which infuriated the young Chiss.

To aggravate her further, Chiss biology was relatively unknown to the Republic and their Jedi defenders; Isla learned faster than her fellow initiates, but wasn't able to advance, which made her very resentful towards her peers. Isla was never one to openly display her feelings though, learning early on that the Jedi would lecture her if she displayed negative emotions like anger. It was the threat of such scoldings that encouraged Isla to subconsciously develop her ability to shrink her presence in the Force.

Isla displayed a lack of empathy with most people she encountered, her resentment towards the Jedi leading her to become distrustful of others until they proved themselves a friend, such as when Zhavi saved her from execution at the hands of the Knights of Zakuul. Once she established a friendship, however, Isla was loyal and willing to lend aid when required, although she was willing to withhold assistance if she believed it would be to the benefit of the friend in question.

After joining the Sith, Isla's apathy towards strangers was exacerbated with the removal of the moral code of her old order to restraint her. She was willing to kill on command and had little regard for the lives she took. Despite her coldness, she maintained a strict personal code of pragmatism, just as she had as a Jedi, and often spared the lives of enemy forces when their deaths offered no strategic advantage.

Unlike many of her newfound peers in the Sith Empire, Isla did not view her connection to the Force as a mark of superiority over Imperial personnel. While it was true she took a dim view of her less able peers during her time as a Jedi, she was much more tolerant of less talented and gifted individuals than herself when their weaknesses did not hold her back, and was often mocked for the respect she showed to those who were not themselves Sith.

In fact, Isla favoured the company of non-Sith. She enjoyed competition- and strove to be the best she could be in all she did- but believed the Sith tendency to betray and murder one another was a significant cultural failing, one which was both impractical and chipped away at the so-called 'freedom' they all believed the Dark Side offered them. Over time, this belief developed into a similar breed of resentment she'd felt towards the Jedi; instead of being personally held back, she was aligned with a group who were collectively holding the entire Empire back.

After breaking up with Zhavi on Makeb, Isla displayed a certain ambitiousness and naivety when she focused on her career, channelling all her sadness and anger into pushing herself to new limits, showcasing her determination in a way that she felt sure would result in her promotion to Lord before long.

As time went by and the closest she got to Lord was a reassignment to internal security as a Sith Inquisitor, Isla became increasingly disenfranchised and bitter, not only about being passed over for Lordship but also due to being removed from field work in favour of a role that was primarily focused on coordinating other operatives, a task she hated. She became increasingly aggressive in her methods, torturing more than one suspect to death after they'd already revealed what she wanted to know.

The Chiss remained loyal to those she cared for, however. When Zhavi's family were captured, Isla attempted to rescue them the moment she knew of their location, willing to sacrifice both her career and life at the hands of Lord Jhang simply to prove her sincerity to Zhavi posthumously.

Isla's personality shifted slightly after her near-death experience on Dxun. Over the year that followed she became less confident in her abilities and more fearful of injury, experiencing a form of psychosis relating to her newfound reliance on cybernetic appendages that caused her to experience vivid hallucinations that came to her without warning. This psychological disturbance pushed her into a state of quiet depressing, and she isolated herself more than ever as a result.

She eventually recovered thanks to the persistence of her friends on Voryle. Bibi Jotto's kindness helped soothe her loneliness, while the assistance of her allies and her relationship with Samantha D'callo gradually helped ease her back into trusting people again, helping her recover from the trauma she'd experienced on Dxun.

In spite of her being closed-off, Isla clearly felt a strong sense of justice, as exemplified by her temporary theft of the Four Bound Spirits to- at great personal risk- restore Bibi Jotto to life.

Isla eventually became more trusting of everyone during her time in the SIS. Initially she was suspicious of her Replublic 'allies', but after being rescued from an Imperial prison on Dromund Tyne found comfort in the fact she could rely on others when she failed. This increasing appreciation for her friends and loved ones was strengthened when she began training the Nautolan twins recruited on Voryle, the role of mentor to the youngsters making Isla more hopeful about her own future.

By the time Zhavi proposed to Isla, she felt at home for the first time in her life. She had friends, a fiancée and a good work-life balance that she enjoyed. This manifested as a more merciful approach in her work, the Chiss often striking to maim instead of kill during her confrontations, though she was oblivious to the change in inclination herself.

She also became less formal in her mannerisms, and though she remained articulate and well-spoken her tone softened to a more conversational one, a change that Zhavi remarked made her seem less uptight. Even after reconnecting with her biological family on Copero, Isla retained her individuality, finding her own mannerisms uncomfortably similar to those of her people, whom she found to be arrogant and condescending.

Isla could also become self-destructively angry at times, such as when her birth mother tried to strong-arm her into breaking off her relationship with Zhavi to marry a suitor of her choosing, insulting Waverunner in the process. Isla activated her lightsaber and threatened to throw her mother out of her office window, despite being in the heart of Chiss territory and surrounded by members of the Ascendancy.

In her later years, after becoming a mother, Isla became less concerned about the galaxy she lived in, her concerns focused primarily on her children and loved ones, for whom- in the case of the former- she felt endless worry. She never lost her instincts from her Sith Intelligence career, though, and thoroughly investigated everyone her children interacted with regularly, building up a collection of intelligence files to use against anyone who acted against her family.

By the time she reached old age, Isla had adopted Zhavi's laid-back approach to life and took most things in her stride, preferring to ignore galactic news and remain largely disconnected from the wider galaxy, her only interests being enjoying her retirement and spending time with those she cared about.

Physical Appearance

Sith are getting smaller these days. You're all skin and bones! There's nothing to grab a hold of."
"A problem that will never concern you, you have my word.
—Damascus and Isla.

Like most Chiss, Isla had striking red eyes devoid of visible pupils, cobalt blue skin and jet black hair, making her immediately recognisable as a member of the enigmatic species. She sported a number of freckles around the top of her nose and had a strong jawline. Due to her species' active metabolism Isla had difficulty putting on weight and was naturally skinny too, giving her a thin, borderline skeletal appearance that was accentuated by her general lack of muscle and often led her enemies to underestimate the threat she posed.

Isla was also slightly shorter than the average for her species, standing at 1.6 meters in height. The Chiss also sported several tattoos at Zhavi's insistence, the former Jedi having adorned her own body with several comical and suggestive tattoos. The first was innocent enough; a small love heart with Zhavi's name written in Aurebesh inside, matching the one Zhavi had with her name. Isla's second tattoo was on the inside of her right thigh and depicted a bright red lipstick print ringed with the words 'Zhavi was here', a choice made by Zhavi herself as the price of Isla losing one of their bets.

Likewise, her last tattoo was another consequence of wagering against the seasoned gambler, Aurebesh letters on her backside with the words 'restricted' and 'no entry' on opposing sides. It was this tattoo that prompted Isla to rule out further bets with Zhavi for a long time, only agreeing to resume their friendly competitions on the condition they didn't require her to suffer another of Zhavi's lewd tattoo ideas if she lost.

Isla also had a large number of freckles around her shoulders and upper arms, though many of these were lost when her arms were severed by Lord Jhang and replaced with synthskin covered cybernetics, creating a slightly visible divide between her organic flesh and the synthetic replacement. This mark of machinery ceased to be a problem when the Four Bound Spirits restored her organic limbs, however.

After giving birth to her first child, Isla's general body shape changed slightly, the Chiss putting on a little weight and her hips remaining slightly wider than they'd been pre-pregnancy, which led her to feel self-conscious for a time until she was reassured by Zhavi. Isla frequently changed her hairstyle, generally preferring longer styles yet periodically sporting shorter cuts. She never dyed her hair, however, despite Zhavi's repeated attempts to convince her.

Relationships

Lord Kim

Understood."
"Understood...?"
"Understood master.
—Lord Kim and Isla.

Lord Kim was Isla's first long-term master. After killing her Jedi Master and offering her a way to live by joining the Sith, Lord Kim trained Isla to be his personal assassin, teaching her most of the core abilities she would eventually come to master over the course of her life. Isla quickly came to hate Lord Kim due to his brutal methods, her training being relentless and unforgiving, with the young Chiss being struck every time she failed and forced to repeat whatever she was learning until she got it right.

Obviously, being hit after each failure did little to increase her odds, often leading to Isla collapsing from exhaustion, furthering her resentment. Irrespective of her feelings towards the man, Isla's mastery of obscure Force powers such as the Phase and Cloak techniques would serve her well for the rest of her life, both protecting her and allowing her to surprise her enemies and overcome them in situations where she might otherwise have met her end.

When Lord Kim was killed during the fight against the invading forces of Zakuul, however, Isla was more than happy to be rid of him. During her time on Voryle, while suffering from hallucinations brought on by her psychosis, Lord Kim was one of the phantoms she encountered, though she dismissed his presence, believing him beneath her concern by that time.

Lord Scarlet Jhang

Either she joins us or she dies here... your choice, apprentice. Everything, or nothing.
—Scarlet Jhang, threatening Isla.

During her time in Sith Intelligence both before and after her stint in the Eternal Alliance, Isla reported to the Sith Lord Scarlet Jhang, a respected veteran who had risen to power after eliminating her own family without leaving any evidence of her actions, prompting her invitation to the organisation, where she quickly rose to a prominent position.

Seeing Isla's unique skill set and obvious potential as an apprentice, Lord Jhang began monitoring her performance with a view to take her on a student if she proved herself capable enough for her liking. She offered Isla advice from time to time, and Isla respected her intellect and cunning, although she was wary of her intentions, seeing Jhang as the type of woman who couldn't stop scheming even when off-duty. After her return from the Alliance, Jhang openly expressed her interest in taking on Isla as her pupil, a guaranteed career-building move that Isla was looking forward to.

Sadly, Jhang was aware of the relationship she'd developed with Zhavi Waverunner during her time in the Alliance and wanted to ensure Isla's loyalty wasn't divided. Isla believed she could deceive Lord Jhang, but the accomplished manipulator wasn't fooled, and after repeatedly fabricating false intelligence 'acquired' during her time in Waverunner's company, Jhang tortured her and demanded real information, forcing Isla to reveal the location of the Jedi colony on Ossus, a secret entrusted to her by her Jedi lover- but one that Sith Intelligence already knew and were preparing to act on.

After the invasion of Ossus, Isla met with Zhavi to try and smooth things over only for the Jedi to attack and defeat her. Unbeknownst to both of them, Jhang was cloaked behind Zhavi, preparing to step in and execute her if she tried to deal a killing blow, yet when Zhavi couldn't she formulated a new plan to corrupt the former Jedi using Isla and claim both of them as her disciples, believing the strength of their Force bond would massively improve her own prospects.

Jhang moved to work on an off-world operation after the event, keeping her distance from Isla to leave her isolated. Having lost the woman she loved to the Sith Lord's machinations, Isla's respect for Lord Jhang turned to resentment, then anger, and finally hatred. Once she learned that Zhavi's parents and brother had been captured in neutral space, she immediately suspected Jhang, and after several months she finally confronted her on Dxun. Despite being bested, Isla broke free of her force cage to help Zhavi when she arrived and lost a portion of all four of her limbs in the process.

The wounds dealt by Jhang were so severe Isla almost died from them, and even though she survived it took her the best part of a year to recover from the trauma of having all her limbs replaced with cybernetics. While suffering from cyber-psychosis, Isla experienced a hallucination of Lord Jhang which caused her significant distress, highlighting just how affected the young Chiss was by the actions of her old mentor.

Zhavi Waverunner

I love you, Zhavi. For reasons I couldn't even begin to describe, and others that make no sense even to me.
—Isla, to Zhavi.

Isla first met Zhavi when the Eternal Empire attacked the known galaxy. She attempted to steal a ship to escape a world under siege, unaware that it belonged to Zhavi, only to be bested by a trio of Knights of Zakuul who would have killed her, if not for Waverunner's timely intervention. Zhavi didn't realise at the time that she was initiating a chain of events that would irrevocably change the direction of both of their lives.

They met again shortly before joining the Eternal Alliance and began working together, since Isla trusted Zhavi after she'd saved her life. The two became close, eventually developing a strong Force bond and beginning a romantic relationship that continued in secret after the pair left the Alliance's employ, only ending after the invasion of Ossus, when Zhavi believed Isla had betrayed her trust.

However the rift between them was largely healed when Isla put her life at risk to rescue Zhavi's family from Lord Jhang, an act of loyalty that cost her her limbs and traumatised her. Though Zhavi forgave her, the trauma from her injuries led to Isla distancing herself from everyone, which Zhavi mistook as disinterest in resuming their relationship. They began to see other people, though remained friends. Even when both women were dating others, Isla cared enough about her former lover to risk her own health by using the Four Bound Spirits to heal Zhavi's infertility.

When the pair were both single again at the same time, they were captured raiding an Imperial vessel, lured into a trap that saw them imprisoned on Dromund Tyne and left to starve to death in their cell. During this time Isla confided in Zhavi that she had miscarried, a revelation that proved to be a significant, as Zhavi felt that it was her fault- if she'd not given up on Isla, it would never have happened.

Once they'd been rescued and had time to recover, Zhavi and Isla's relationship was given a kick-start during an uncover mission to a high society charity ball on Coruscant, a setting conducive to romance. The duo spent the evening together, followed by the rest of the night. In the morning, Isla handed over a pair of reading glasses she'd ordered, being the only one who'd noticed Zhavi's eyesight was failing.

The pair would remain together from that night onwards, their relationship going from strength to strength until they eventually married, settled down and had three children of their own, defying the expectations of both the Jedi Order and Chiss Ascendancy.

Bibi Jotto

Good morning Isla! You're looking very beautiful today. Well, I mean, um, not beautiful, just nice, pretty- not that I'm saying you're not beautiful, you are, of course, but, um...
—Bibi, to Isla.

Isla first met Bibi Jotto after leaving the hospital on Voryle, the Cathar being sent by the Republic as an adviser on military matters. Bibi was instantly taken with Isla, greeting her with the same bubbly optimism she showed everyone and though, initially, Isla was distrustful of everyone- including Bibi- her constant warmth and admiration slowly wore down Isla's scepticism.

In spite of her shyness, Bibi eventually confessed her attraction to Isla. Unfortunately, despite her fondness for the Cathar, Isla was fresh from years of living in the Empire, leaving her unable to entertain the idea of becoming romantically involved with a Cathar, an alien species she'd only ever really seen as slaves. She cared enough about Bibi not to mention her lingering xenophobia, however, and brushed off the topic without directly rejecting the young woman.

Bibi continued to support Isla regardless, even going as far as to give Samantha D'callo the benefit of the doubt when Isla believed the Twi'lek had lied to her about her identity. When Isla committed to ending her relationship with the Twi'lek, though, Bibi kissed her, telling her it was for good luck in her upcoming mission. Sadly, any potential between the two was lost when Bibi was killed by Sera Artofen.

Such was Isla's guilt surrounding her death that she sapped Force energy from the people around her to fuel the fabrication of memories she wanted to implant in Bibi's dying mind, risking her own life by pushing herself beyond her physical limitations, all to make sure that Bibi died believing she'd led a full, happy life. This did not alleviate Isla's guilt, as significant a gesture as it was, and when Isla saw the opportunity to save Bibi using the Four Bound Spirits almost a year later, she didn't hesitate for a moment before stealing them from under the nose of her allies.

Even after abusing the power of the orbs for personal use, Isla could not bring herself to face the resurrected Bibi Jotto, leaving her as she woke up next to her own headstone and only daring to visit over a month later, by which point Bibi had resumed her old life and become close with Samantha, now the ruler of Voryle. Seeing Bibi alive and having moved on with her life- and after receiving such a heartfelt reception on her return- Isla was finally able to release her guilt and move on herself, remaining a good friend of Bibi's well into her twilight years.

Samantha D'callo

You need t' start trusting the people who're trying t' help you.
—Samantha, to Isla.

First meeting as opponents in the Voryle fight club arena, Isla and Samantha struck up an unlikely friendship following their bout, with the striking Twi'lek drawing the Chiss' eye. Samantha was one of the few people to discern that Isla was the leader of the Cobbled Terentateks and diagnose her cyber-psychosis despite having no formal medical training.

Aware of her condition, Samantha made extra effort to support Isla as she and her gang steadily rose to prominence on Voryle, often guiding her to potential allies and sources of income using her extensive local knowledge. Isla owed a significant portion of her success to Samantha's help, in fact, and even once the gang was well established Samantha continued to be a trusted friend and confidant, forcing Isla to accept her aid on more than one occasion rather than allow her to run operations solo.

Samantha also held a romantic interest in Isla, just as the Chiss herself did. She eventually tricked Isla into showing up for a date, which ultimately initiated a more intimate relationship, albeit not for very long, as Isla received an invitation to the Prime Minister's dinner party, where she learned that Samantha had withheld her relationship with the tyrannical opponent of Isla and her gang, the Twi'lek being his only daughter. Though this revelation created a rift, leaving Isla hurt, Samantha was sympathetic, intending to give her space to process the new information.

This window would be short-lived, it turned out, as the following day Isla was forced to face off against an enormous Sithspawn unleashed by the Empire against the city and her subordinates. Samantha didn't hesitate to join her in the battle, assisting her in bringing down the behemoth before the pair rushed off to foil the Prime Minister's plot to assassinate his uncooperative peers. This reconciliation between the couple was to be bittersweet, as not long after their reunion Bibi Jotto was killed, traumatising Isla, and Samantha was selected to serve as an interim Prime Minister until a proper replacement was elected.

The pair had one final day together before Isla and Zhavi were recalled to Coruscant, providing an unavoidable, unspoken end to any hopes the pair had of a long-term relationship. However, Isla and Samantha remained good friends well into the future, attending one another's weddings and Isla even saving Samantha from a coup intended to remove her from government.

Damascus Lambert

Most kills wins?
—Damascus, to Isla.

Damascus became a trusted friend of Isla's not long after their first encounter on Corulag, the pair's similar backgrounds serving as a solid foundation of trust between the two. Isla quickly earned Damascus' respect by gifting him the spare lightsaber she'd taken from the Trandoshan poachers' leader to replace his lost weapon. Damascus also flirted aggressively with Isla from their first meeting onwards, making no effort to conceal his attraction.

This overt pursuit of her affections hastened the development of their friendship, as Isla found his directness and easygoing nature similar to that of the soldiers whose company she preferred during her time in the Empire. Damascus tried to convince Isla to join him on a date several times while they worked on Corulag, though Isla brushed off his advances initially, still ever so slightly held back by her xenophobia; while she'd grown accustomed to near-Humans, Damascus was a Chistori, a far more alien species.

Nonetheless, believing her own skills superior, Isla accepted Damascus' proposal that she accept his invitation on the condition she kill more enemies than him, promising her that if he lost he would never again chase her affection. Before the bet was concluded, Isla comforted Damascus after an old friend of his- Cerys Odé- was murdered by a Sith, support that strengthened their friendship. In the time afterwards, the bet time limit was up and Damascus snatched a narrow lead, compelling Isla to accompany the Chistori on a date, expecting a pleasant evening but little else.

She was pleasantly surprised, however, by Damascus' courteous and charming demeanour, and by the end of the evening the duo's relationship changed from friendly to romantic. Isla came to care deeply for Damascus, though secretly she knew she could never love him, the species barrier being a little too much for her to ever fully overcome. Regardless of that fact, Isla was willing to risk her life for Damascus, returning to Imperial space when he was captured.

Damascus was rescued by his estranged wife, Corrith Lambert, just minutes before Isla arrived, and after a discussion with his wife decided his marriage was salvageable, to his- somewhat conflicted- surprise. The hulking alien explained his conflicted state of mind to Isla and, though she was sad to lose his company, she encouraged him to explore the possibility of reconciliation with his wife, wanting him to be happy and knowing their relationship could never have lasted forever. Shortly after parting ways, Isla miscarried in the early weeks of her pregnancy, a fact she concealed from everyone but Zhavi, believing that sharing the knowledge with Damascus would only cause him pain and possibly repercussions in his marriage.

Despite their separation and some awkwardness in the time after, Isla and Damascus went on to be firm friends, the Chistori among the first individuals Isla called on when she required help or support and ultimately the man who would become godfather to her children.

Benjamin Lambert

If you're willing to listen, I'm willing to talk. But only when you're ready. The Sith chase after knowledge in a mad dash for power and the Jedi guard their teachings jealously, denying them to those they disapprove of. My approach is different. I'll teach you whatever you want to learn, then I'll teach you why you never needed to learn it at all.
—Benjamin Lambert, regarding training Isla on an informal basis.

First encountering Benjamin Lambert on Dronim Major while posing as a mercenary, Isla initially viewed the man as a threat, though came to respect him slightly when he revealed that he knew she was a Sith but didn't unveil her identity to her employer or the authorities. That respect only went so far- Isla offered up her encounter with the former Darth Enigmus to Lord Jhang when she tortured her for information on the whereabouts of surviving Jedi, readily betraying his location to spare herself further suffering.

Their relationship would change in time, however, as after rejoining the Republic under a new name she crossed paths with Benjamin once again, being recruited into the Veiled Light Project, in which he served as the commander. Once again, Lambert kept Isla's secrets to himself, although Frank Ped- the man in overall charge of the project- had worked out who she was by piecing together intelligence reports. At first, Isla had little involvement with Lambert outside of mission briefings, and though she assisted him in his battle against Darth Aivela by engaging Sera Artofen the pair were work colleagues at best.

This changed after Isla and Zhavi were captured and detained in Imperial space. Benjamin and his partner Aaellu led the rescue personally, in spite of the considerable risk required to launch a prison break in the Dromund System. Isla had already respected him as a superior and admired his strengths and skills but only after nearly dying of starvation did she truly appreciate him as an individual, his quiet kindness and willingness to put himself in the line of fire for others fostering a sense of obligation in the Chiss.

This shift in her opinion pushed Isla to train harder, her strong work ethic becoming less about self respect and more about proving herself worthy of her superior's respect. After her rescue, she also realised that for all her experience she had ceased training after rejoining the Republic. To rectify her lax in routine she asked Benjamin if he could provide training for both herself and Zhavi, a request he agreed to, albeit after cautioning her that his training methods differed from both the Sith and Jedi.

A truth Isla soon learned was not inaccurate; Benjamin always seemed to know the right time to use positive or negative methods, provoking her defiance when she succumbed to self-pity or hopelessness and calming her when she grew frustrated and disenfranchised, mixing the kindly techniques of the Jedi with the aggressive do-or-die methods of the Sith. Isla came to see Benjamin as something of a father figure, always seeking his advice on difficult issues, questions about the nature of the Force or ruminations on the wider galaxy.

By the time Benjamin established the Arbiters of Farrow City- an elite Force sensitive police force- Isla was one of the first individuals to pass the incredibly difficult trials that determined the psychological readiness of a Force user to serve as an Arbiter, a spiritual test that required a deep understanding and acceptance of oneself and one's life to pass. Zhavi, in contrast, failed, despite being stronger both physically and in the Force, which Isla quietly cited as a testament to Lambert's training.

Isla kept in regular contact with Benjamin during his time as Governor of Farrow, being one of many to pay tribute when he was trapped in a Force rift that held him in suspended animation, imprisoning him for a length of time that would extend far beyond the lifespan of the Chiss. Though she never saw him again, she often thought of him when she visited Farrow, even building a statue to commemorate his life.

Powers and abilities

Lightsaber Training

Unlike you, my beloved partner in crime, I've always favoured class and elegance over repeatedly smashing at my opponent like an infuriated Wookiee.
—Isla comparing her Makashi with Zhavi's Djem So.

Isla Ahnkett was primarily trained to wield a lightsaber by the sly and deceptive Sith Lord, Lord Kim. As her master favoured stealth and subterfuge over direct confrontation, he favoured a form more fitting for one on one engagements and, as Isla's existence was kept hidden from the rest of the Empire for some time, this preference was forced on Isla through necessity, the young Chiss training to become proficient in Form II, Makashi.

Although she became skilled in one-on-one engagements, Isla never had any natural inclination towards lightsaber combat, suffering a particular weakness when faced with blaster fire. This prompted her to research and practise the Shien variant of Form V after Lord Kim's demise to ensure she could defend herself when her stealthy tactics fell short, a decision prompted partially by the sudden emergence of the Eternal Alliance and its endless legions of Skytroopers.

After befriending Zhavi Isla improved her use of Form II, learning to better compensate for its weaknesses against Zhavi's use of Form V's Djem So during their spars. She also picked up a number of signature, power-heavy movements from Zhavi, movements she sporadically injected into her own style in an attempt to diversify her form and make it more her own. Regrettably, Isla lacked the physical strength to truly exploit Djem So's powerful blows, relegating the techniques she learned from Zhavi to little more than diversionary moves.

Once Isla left the Empire she was pushed to alter her fighting style to accommodate the required use of her new sabercane, incorporating the bladed shaft of the cane in combination with her standard Makashi style. She developed her own makeshift form that combined Makashi with elements of Jar'Kai, albeit in a somewhat rough manner. By the time she departed Voryle Isla had grown accustomed to fighting with her cane, the utility it provided and the unfamiliarity it forced her foes to deal with outweighing the drawbacks and helping to compensate for Isla's generally limited potential.

When she began training under Benjamin Lambert, Isla suddenly had access to a teacher who had mastered the art of lightsaber combat, allowing her to learn the basics of every lightsaber form for academic purposes, while also studying Form III, Soresu, more intensely, a form that Lambert himself favoured and recommended to her on account of her slight frame and lack of physical power. Within a decade, Isla had become proficient in the practical use of Soresu, using it almost as often as she did her favoured form, Makashi.

Force Powers

What is it they say? 'Out of sight, out of mind'?
—Isla remarking on her stealth abilities.

As a prospective Sith assassin, Isla's training focused heavily on mastering obscure Force powers that would allow her to conceal herself from her targets and strike from the shadows, which was no easy task given her lack of raw Force potential. Initially, Lord Kim's training was almost exclusively focused on perfecting the essentials of the Force Cloak ability, though once she was able to consistently replicate her application of the ability her training moved on to understanding the core methods that would allow her to disguise and hide her presence in the Force.

Once she'd grown competent with both abilities, Lord Kim began training her to use the more complex Phase ability, although it would be many years before she became proficient with the ability to a degree that it was a reliable tool in her arsenal. Isla researched the method of performing Force lightning during the reign of the Eternal Empire, teaching herself the basics of the power but struggling to use it effectively due to her shallow immersion in the Dark Side and her general lack of powerful, driving passion.

After experiencing love and loss due to her involvement with Zhavi, Isla's ability to use lightning improved, strengthening her connection to the Dark Side. She was also capable of using the Force instinctively when desperate, granting her access to techniques she could not replicate normally. Though rare, a prominent example of her usage of this more raw approach to the Force was her sapping residual Force energy from those around her when she needed additional power to fill Bibi Jotto's mind with a complicated combination of the Memory Rub and Mind Trick techniques.

In her twilight years Isla's Force powers became more fluid and accessible, but she remained relatively limited in her strength in the Force for her entire life.

Other Abilities

Y' ever thought 'bout sellin' them models'a yours?
—Zhavi, referring to Isla's sculptures.

Alongside her martial training, Isla also possessed other skills that helped her accomplish her goals. As an assassin, Isla had a decent knowledge of a variety of poisons that she could deploy discreetly or more overtly during combat, allowing her to make up for her combative shortcomings.

She also had a good grasp of modern blaster weaponry- though she rarely resorted to using such weapons- and various forms of technological devices, in particular surveillance and slicing equipment, equipment that allowed her to properly utilise her skill in slicing secure computer systems. Isla was also a talented sculptor, the only hobby she dedicated time and effort to, developing her talent to be able to work with a variety of differing materials, beginning with clay and moving on to metal and woodwork using the Force in place of her hands.

Isla was also required to develop the ability to lie convincingly, training with Sith Intelligence to mimic mannerisms she observed and copy accents that would allow her to deceive non-Imperials during her work outside of Imperial space. This ability came in useful when she returned to Republic space, giving her the ability to move amongst the Jedi without drawing suspicion.

Equipment and Weapons

Lightsabers

The hilt is curved to improve precision and flexibility. It also looks rather elegant, as you can see.
—Isla discussing the design of her lightsaber.

Like all Sith and Jedi, Isla wielded a lightsaber. Her first lightsaber was a simple, black, slightly bulky design featuring three 'talons' near the emitter. It sported a slight curve to lend itself better to Isla's use of Form II, but was slightly too large for the Chiss' slender hands. Isla's first lightsaber sported a purple synthetic crystal.

Her second lightsaber was built to replace her first after Isla was defeated in a duel by Zhavi, who confiscated the weapon out of spite. Isla spent considerable time forging a replacement synthetic crystal, channelling her sadness and despair into the formation of a purple crystal. Unlike her first lightsaber, the second was devoid of aesthetic elements and considerably thinner. It was crafted using a black metal and lacked any casing, leaving the internal wiring exposed in several places, although this didn't affect the function of the weapon in combat. Like her first

When Isla confronted Lord Scarlet Jhang on Dxun and fell in battle against her, her second lightsaber was destroyed, leading to her reacquiring her first lightsaber from Zhavi before that too was destroyed by Jhang. After her recovery on Voryle, she was given access to more expensive resources to build a new weapon, but due to the severe weapon restrictions on Voryle was forced to create a sabercane rather than a standard blade. The shaft of this sabercane was decorated with a pink/red gemstone with aurodium accents, and featured a small, retractable blade that could only be utilised using the Force.

The hilt itself was fashioned from aurodium as well, featuring the distinctive curve that had become standard for Isla's designs and completed with an electrum finish. The design of the blade resembled a Terentatek's head at the end, making it appear more convincing as the handle of an expensive- but not threatening- cane, while also allowing Isla to maintain a small, symbolic link to the life she'd been forced to give up.

Equipment

Going for the overt-as-covert approach I see...
—Frank Ped's sarcastic take on Isla's fashion choices.

As an assassin, Isla carried a small pouch of potent poisons that she occasionally used when direct action was too risky or too overt. She often carried a small virboknife for covert attacks, as well as a holdout pistol on assignments that took her into the criminal underworld. Isla was also equipped with a stealth field generator, for use in situations where cloaking herself with the Force was unsustainable over a longer period. When viable, Isla sometimes carried dioxis grenades and security spike tunnelers. While on Voryle, Isla carried an ornate pocket watch.

Isla favoured light clothing as standard, only occasionally sporting armoured robes and even then her use of armour was always minimal. She dressed in a neat, crisp Imperial style, believing that a smart and professional appearance was important in convincing others she was a woman to be taken seriously. Isla's clothing was usually tailored to her exact measurements, accentuating her slim figure, and more often than not she favoured sensible, dark colours.

Even after defecting to the Republic, Isla continued to dress in the dark, sleek style commonly associated with members of the Empire, often going as far as to wear her old Sith garments, such as her Inquisitor's uniform, enjoying the fear it sowed in the minds of passersby. Through Zhavi's influence, Isla gradually started to wear more common civilian clothing the longer she was in the Republic, although she still favoured the Imperial style she'd become so familiar with.

Later in her life, Isla donned Jedi robes sewn for her by Zhavi primarily as a show of support for her partner. She found these robes physically comfortably, but unflattering and somewhat disturbing to a woman who had long since left the Jedi behind her. One thing that did not change over Isla's life was her preference for clothing that kept her well covered, in stark contrast with Zhavi, who often wore clothing that left little to the imagination.

Behind the Scenes

Isla Ahnkett was initially created as a roleplay character on the Darth Malgus EU server of Star Wars: The Old Republic before being expanded into a fully-fledged fan-fiction character developed through stories outside of a roleplay environment. Much of the character's aesthetic is inspired by the behaviour and movements of the protagonists in the Assassin's Creed franchise, with a heavy emphasis on stealth and quiet lethality.

The Chiss' outfit while on Voryle and the sabercane she builds there- along with the planet Voryle itself- are an overt homage to Assassin's Creed Syndicate.

Isla's small and slender appearance is modelled on the Stranger Things actress Natalia Dyer.

@@ Line 1,187: / Line 1,187: @@
-== Personality and traits ==
+== Personality and Traits ==
 {{Quote|Are all Chiss so... tedious?''"<br />"''One can hope.|'''Zhavi and Isla.'''}}
 From an early age, Isla was a serious, pragmatic individual who dedicated herself to her duties and training, often at the expense of her free time. She was driven to prove herself, and took any failure to excel as a serious issue that needed to be resolved promptly. This created friction between Isla and the rest of the Jedi Order, who preached patience and staggered learning, which infuriated the young Chiss.
@@ Line 1,224: / Line 1,224: @@
 By the time she reached old age, Isla had adopted Zhavi's laid-back approach to life and took most things in her stride, preferring to ignore galactic news and remain largely disconnected from the wider galaxy, her only interests being enjoying her retirement and spending time with those she cared about.
+== Physical Appearance ==
+{{Quote|Sith are getting smaller these days. You're all skin and bones! There's nothing to grab a hold of.''"<br />"''A problem that will ''never'' concern you, you have my word.|'''Damascus and Isla.'''}}
+Like most Chiss, Isla had striking red eyes devoid of visible pupils, cobalt blue skin and jet black hair, making her immediately recognisable as a member of the enigmatic species. She sported a number of freckles around the top of her nose and had a strong jawline. Due to her species' active metabolism Isla had difficulty putting on weight and was naturally skinny too, giving her a thin, borderline skeletal appearance that was accentuated by her general lack of muscle and often led her enemies to underestimate the threat she posed.
+Isla was also slightly shorter than the average for her species, standing at 1.6 meters in height. The Chiss also sported several tattoos at Zhavi's insistence, the former Jedi having adorned her own body with several comical and suggestive tattoos. The first was innocent enough; a small love heart with Zhavi's name written in Aurebesh inside, matching the one Zhavi had with her name. Isla's second tattoo was on the inside of her right thigh and depicted a bright red lipstick print ringed with the words 'Zhavi was here', a choice made by Zhavi herself as the price of Isla losing one of their bets.
+Likewise, her last tattoo was another consequence of wagering against the seasoned gambler, Aurebesh letters on her backside with the words 'restricted' and 'no entry' on opposing sides. It was this tattoo that prompted Isla to rule out further bets with Zhavi for a long time, only agreeing to resume their friendly competitions on the condition they didn't require her to suffer another of Zhavi's lewd tattoo ideas if she lost.
+Isla also had a large number of freckles around her shoulders and upper arms, though many of these were lost when her arms were severed by Lord Jhang and replaced with synthskin covered cybernetics, creating a slightly visible divide between her organic flesh and the synthetic replacement. This mark of machinery ceased to be a problem when the Four Bound Spirits restored her organic limbs, however.
+After giving birth to her first child, Isla's general body shape changed slightly, the Chiss putting on a little weight and her hips remaining slightly wider than they'd been pre-pregnancy, which led her to feel self-conscious for a time until she was reassured by Zhavi. Isla frequently changed her hairstyle, generally preferring longer styles yet periodically sporting shorter cuts. She never dyed her hair, however, despite Zhavi's repeated attempts to convince her.
 == Relationships ==