"I'm not really one of the Sith anymore...sir."

"Oh hush now. You don't need to call me sir. I'm going to talk to you about Juhani."

Jolee took a quick look over at Juhani and then lowered his voice. "I want you to look out for Juhani. She may seem invincible but shes not. Like you, she has had her own encounters with the darkside and I'm worried about her. I'm worried that she might go after my murderer and end up like me. Promise me you'll keep an eye on her for me since I can't anymore."

Dominic had warning bells going off in his head by now, and he knew that this would be the time to take his leave. He had seen enough interrogations - and been trained well enough to carry them out - to know when the interrogator had hooked on to something. Somehow, Arai had found something in his demeanor that had tipped her off...exactly how or what, he had no idea. But he knew he needed to get out of here.

He had been drinking his Juma intermittently, and know he dumped what was left down the back of his throat. He was unsettled and hurried, which meant that he had little mind for whether or not he was making a scene. Setting his glass back down, he gave Arai a quick smile.

"I'm afraid that I don't have time." he said, and though he hadn't looked at any clocks, he said, "And speaking of time, I've run out of it. Here," he slid her a contact card. "Find me again when you've got the opportunity. I'll see you soon." And without waiting for a further farewell, he turned and left. He needed to get back to base; his gut just didn't feel right.

Perdante bowed her head before the Force Ghost of Jolee Bindo. "Before I do," she said, "please tell me: Why should Juhani not take vengeance upon Seeker Adeline? Not only did she murder you, but she is also responsible for the death of another Jedi Knight, Anna Organ. The gloves that the Seeker was wearing had knuckles made out of a metal called ostanovium, which absorbs and negates the Force. There was no way that Anna could have healed herself."

She gritted her teeth. "Why should I hold Juhani back from what she wants?"

"We have to be better than that. Otherwise, we're just as bad as them, and better people will eventually come after us."

Juhani turned to him and shook her head.

"I doubt that you would stand much of a chance against her. She was able to kill a jedi knight and a very experienced one at that. I think it would be better if a Lightsaber was used against her rather then a blaster."




"Why should I hold Juhani back from what she wants?"

"Because, due to her cathar temple she's more vulnerable to the darkside then any of you. She resists it...but when I was still alive I was constantly worried about her. And as for Anna Organ...I think that Grand Master Brianna should handle that. Anna Organ was one of her students and the Grand Master is an expert at combat, she stands a better chance then any of us. I don't want to see Juhani fall. Promise an old man that you'll watch over her for me."

"I doubt that you would stand much of a chance against her. She was able to kill a jedi knight and a very experienced one at that. I think it would be better if a Lightsaber was used against her rather then a blaster."

Psycho shook his head at this statement in obviously disagreement.

"Both the lightsaber and blaster will work but I say we go with the blaster. This Adeline person can't use the force so she can't block blaster fire, but in my opinion we should just blow her up with a rocket before she can do any real damage," he said showing his love for carnage just a bit.

Jedi Temple, Coruscant

"I promise," Perdante replied, with the full strength of her heart and soul poured into those two words. "Juhani saved my life, literally and figuratively. I would have kept on being a Sith and killing innocents if it weren't for her, and so it's more than fair that I keep watch over her in one of her darkest hours." Licking her lips, she found it hard to continue because her throat was so dry. "Thank you for speaking to me," she said. "I'll try to make you proud."

Gathering Place of the Found, Baptismal Room, Coruscant

Seeker Adeline was preparing the Throne of Gain for its first willing occupant. It was made out of ostanovium, but in only a sedating concentration of the metal. Exposure to the pure form of it was painful, as her Pilgrims tried not to show in front of her. It caused joint pain and lightheadedness in low-concentration doses, but at the level necessary for Gain through Loss, anaphylactic shock was often experienced. Or, so Khristof had warned.

"They are Jedi," the Seeker said. "They are strong. They can endure it."

Or, so she thought. Or, so she hoped. The lost must ALL be found...

"I'll try to make you proud."

Jolee nodded his head once and smiled at Perdante. "Thats a good lass. Now...I think it's time I said my goodbyes to you and Juhani.

He motioned Juhani over to him who waved at him once before Jolee managed to get a few words in. "Juhani...make sure you tell her all those stories I told you. See if she learns anything from them, she seems to be a bright lass I'm sure she will."

"I will." Juhani said quietly as his form began to flicker and he turned to Perdante. "Remember, you once followed the path of the darkside, you can talk to Juhani if you ever feel you are begining to fall."

His form flickered again and he smiled at the two of them. "Goodbye youngsters. Stay safe."

Jolee's form then vanished.

((NOTE TO ALL: Are you ready to begin the attack/attack sequence?))

((I'm ready))

Gathering Place of the Found, Baptismal Room, Coruscant

Zen watched Adeline prepare the Throne of Gain. He knew he was ready physically but he needed to be prepared mentally. He was a Sangheili warrior and by his family's honor he would not fail.

Dominic pulled his hood back up as he stepped outside and into the rain that was now falling. He was suddenly very glad that he had worn his cloak.

Once he was covered, he dug his hands deep into his pockets and bent his head against the wind, starting off down the boardwalk. He hoped that the walk and the rain would give him something else to think about, something that would work this feeling out of his gut...but the weight stayed settled, and didn't release. The only thing he could liken it to was a premonition in the Force, even though he'd disconnected himself from the Force a long, long time ago. Whatever it was, it quickened his pace.

Maybe it was just the same bad feeling that had told him to leave his conversation with Arai. He didn't like the way she pressed the topic of the job with him...and it might have seemed silly to others - paranoid, even - but he got the sense that she was only pressing it in order to get him to divulge what he would be doing otherwise. Hadn't he made it clear that that wasn't an open subject of conversation when he didn't offer any details??

But no...as unsettling as that was, that wasn't what set him off. It was something worse, so much worse, and when he arrived at the compound, he realized that he wasn't the only one to feel this way. The compound was gearing up for complete battle mode, and Seeker Adeline had everyone moving. He frowned at the all the activity, and immediately began to feel the effects of ostanovium in the air. That shouldn't have been possible...unless there was a huge amount of it in the place.

Not wanting to approach Adeline directly, he instead sought out Zen and went to him once he found him. "What's going on here?"

((Tysy? Melany's sarcasm and fighting skills is ready to kick some Found's honey buns! :D ))

Melany smiled at her friends. "Hey guys. I gotta go. Duty calls. But I'll be sure to come back. If my master don't find out about this." She grinned mischieviously at the last sentence. "See yaz!" After her friends wished her luck, the young Jedi apprentice jumped into her Jedi starfighter and flew off to the Jedi Temple.

(Moments later, at the Jedi Temple)

Melany landed in the Hanger, got out and ran to find Juhani. After searching, she finally found the Cathar. "Master Juhani! Yo! Master Juhani!" After she came to her, she panted, trying to catch her breath. "Um... sorry to interrupt, but... my master, Yakhta Gara, told me I was to be one of the lookouts for this Found's Gathering Place gate. And signal you guys when to attack." Melany glanced at Psycho and Perdante. "Uh... pardon my Huttese, but... who the heck are you guys?"

OOC: Ready

(I'm ready)

"He's right. They don't have the Force to help them, and if there are any other dangerous side effects of that metal, they'd be hit harder by it than us." Garren explained. "For all we know, it could slowly be killing them."

((I'm ready.))

Master Juhani! Yo! Master Juhani!"

Juhani looked from where Jolee's force ghost had vanished to see one of the younger apprentices running toward her.

Ah. Melany. I wonder where she's been at. Probably out with friends instead of training.

"My master, Yakhta Gara, told me I was to be one of the lookouts for this Found's Gathering Place gate. And signal you guys when to attack."

"I wasn't informed of this." Juhani said in confusion. "Well...if you are to be one of the lookouts then I would assume your also part of the team that is going to be attacking the gathering place of the found."

"I wasn't informed of this." Juhani said in confusion. "Well...if you are to be one of the lookouts then I would assume your also part of the team that is going to be attacking the gathering place of the found."

Melany smiled. "Thanks, master. I won't let you down." She looked at Perdante and Psycho. Then she bowed to them. "Sorry for the low intro. The name's Melany Garzo." She grinned.

After introductions, hasty greetings and even hastier partings, the denizens of the Jedi Temple, the Gathering Place of the Found, and the streets of Coruscant lay down to rest. It was definitely going to be a long night...

ATTACK BRIEFING: Jedi Temple, Coruscant

Perdante, freshly scrubbed and dressed in her most comfortable clothing for battle, finished sharpening her two vibroblades and inserted them into the hilts on her belt. "Good morning, all!" she said brightly, and then turned to Meta. "Let's go over the Plan one more time," she suggested. "I go in first, surrendering to Seeker Adeline. I'm the sacrifice and distraction so that the rest of you can sneak into this complex nest of buildings that the Found are all holed up in, like dirty rakghouls." She sighed. "I'm going to let the Seeker do whatever she wants to me for ten minutes. Ten minutes, tops. I might die, but hopefully that'll buy you guys enough time to kill or incapacitate everyone else you can find. Go for the Seeker last. She's all yours."

ATTACK BRIEFING: Gathering Place of the Found, Coruscant

"Pilgrims!" Seeker Adeline cried to her congregation in the sanctuary of the Gathering Place. "Today is our finest hour, our hour of victory! The Jedi are coming to attack this holy place, and we must give our lives to defend it if necessary. Do you hear me? We must give our lives, or all is lost!"

"All is lost!" shouted the Pilgrims in response. "We will give our lives!"

"Excellent. That is what Khristof teaches--that self-sacrifice and altruism are the highest good, the only good. Anything less than that is evildoing. Fight with pride and honor, but more importantly, fight with strength. Weaklings die. The ostanovium in your bloodstream will keep you safe from any and all Force attacks that the Jedi might use. If you cannot subdue them, then kill them. Every one of them must be found, even through death."

The Pilgrims saluted. "They must be found!"

Seeker Adeline smiled. "Pilgrim Zen? Pilgrim Dominic? I have a special task for you two, and you two alone, to accomplish. Come with me to the Throne of Gain. You are the only ones strong and dedicated enough to guard it while the Jedi are undergoing Gain through Loss--that is, those who choose to. The others shall die, or be incapacitated until they have their turn on the Throne of Gain. That is what all the rest of you shall do: kill or subdue."

"Kill or subdue!" repeated the Pilgrims, saluting again.

"Victory is ours. It must be ours. Truth always reigns. We cannot lose."

((I would REALLY like to join in on this RP with my character, can you tell me how? Suggestions please, Tysy :) . ))

Edit: ((Also, try to remember, he's a Republic Officer, meaning he can help in the attack with Republic forces, if that's what you so desire, Tysy.))

((You can "show up late" to the briefing as a Republic Officer in the Jedi Temple. :)))

Gathering Place of the Found, Baptismal Room, Coruscant

Zen heard a familiar voice and turned to face where it had come from. He looked over at Dominic and stood up to speak to him.

"The jedi are planning to attack us tomorrow, and we are readying ourselves now," he replied.

ATTACK BRIEFING: Jedi Temple, Coruscant

Psycho walked into the room where Meta and Perdante were with a huge grin on his face. To an ex criminal, getting weapons to use was like a birthday. He had found a few things he needed for the upcoming fight including a missile launcher, two blaster rifles, a couple thermal detonators, and a mine or two. Not to mention his two tonfas as well as the built in flamethrowers.

"Greetings all, are we ready to get this thing started or what?"

ATTACK BRIEFING: Gathering Place of the Found, Coruscant

Zen listened to Adeline's speech and was inspired by it. He joined in the group's chanting when they did so and even let out a roar causing all of his mandibles to open up. He bowed before the speaker when he was given his task, though he would have preferred to stay and fight. He would not fail his new family, he couldn't.

“If you don't mind me mentioning, I also did manage to find a tester for my weapon, which makes sure the plasma bolts, or plasma grenades that I can equip, will track anyone carrying the Found's mineral. The test was a success, though he did have to go to the medbay. I owe him an android. Anyway, it also doubles as a sensor so that when we start getting close to them, we'll know they're there.” Meta stated, walking around the main table in the briefing room. He tapped one of the consoles and brought up the schematics of the Found complex.

“Thanks to our Rep-man, we not only know where the Found are held up, but also which points are available for insertion. Perdy here will be walking through the front door, which probably makes her job the easiest. On the other hand, we can't walk in with her, making our jobs harder. The Found are probably expecting an assault from Jedi, with seeking vengeance as their motive. Hence, they're not expecting a collective of non-Force using operatives to sneak in the back doors and start pouring out the cracks. Therefore, we will infiltrate using the sewer lines that connect to all parts of the complex. The troops that the Republic will provide will be making an aerial insertion and work their way from the top of the complex, while we come up from the bottom in a vertical Polish ambush. There will be soldiers stationed outside the complex to intercept anyone attempting to escape, though there won't be that many. The less likelihood of escape that the Found members have, the harder they fight. We just want to break their back here, not create a slaughter.”

Meta added the last sentence because that wasn't what he thought, but what the Republic brass told him to say at this briefing. They were very picky about image.

Dominic hadn't had time to retrieve his battle armor - he'd hardly even had time to compute what was going on. Just as he managed to get to Zen, Adeline had stood and begun to address all that were gathered. The Jedi...were attacking? Here? How in hell's name had they found them so quickly??

The Pilgrim cast his eyes around quickly. He smelled a rat.

But there would be no time for that, either. He dropped his cloak on his way up to the altar, drawing his blaster simultaneously, and outfitting it with a field scope. It wouldn't be much, but...the Jedi only had one way into this room, and that was through the main doors. If he was going to be standing in the back, he was sure as hell going to make use of the altar's high vantage point and get in whatever shots he could. The Jedi would find their abilities hampered by the ostanovium in the air, so the chances of them sensing a blaster bolt coming from a hundred yards away...

When he reached the altar, he knelt quickly before Adeline. He didn't wait for permission to stand again. "Your Holiness," he said quickly, "We're fighting here? In this room?" The Gathering Room was large, yes, but it was just large enough to fit their gathering. To think of a battle with a Jedi here...well, the Jedi weren't really the ones he was worried about. Lightsabers would score the walls, but what little space there was left in the room would cramp them and their advance. The main doors, too, would help to bottleneck their forces, allowing only a few through at a time. This would be a perfect place to meet a Jedi contingent in battle...but he was worried that it wouldn't only be Jedi in the attacking force. Republic blasters would be a little more difficult to handle.

Garren stepped up to the front after Meta told them to avoid slaughter. "Now, Jedi, I want you to keep your distance as much as possible. The Force is their real enemy, so naturally, it's what they're most prepared for. I recommend using the Force to manipulate the environment against them, and not attacking them directly unless you're absolutely sure you have the advantage." He added.

ATTACK BRIEFING: Jedi Temple, Coruscant

"Makes sense," replied Perdante with a nod. "Also, this may seem odd for a Sith to say, or at least a former Sith, but I don't want too many people getting killed here. All these 'Found' members sound like they've been brainwashed by their leader, the ostanovium, or maybe both. Unless they attack us directly, it might be better if they were captured and 'deprogrammed' than 'terminated'."

ATTACK BRIEFING: Gathering Place of the Found, Coruscant

Seeker Adeline raised a querulous eyebrow at the young man before her.

"We will not only fight the Jedi here in this room, Pilgrim Dominic," she said slowly. "The Jedi, if I know their tactics, will be crawling all over the building like dirty, disease-spreading gizka that you just can't get rid of except by poison. I want a certain contingent of Pilgrims to remain here, and all the rest to go about the building, even in the ventilation ducts, and hunt the Jedi down. Set your blasters to 'stun'. We want to save as many Jedi as possible from the error of their Force-manipulating ways. If you must kill, kill with your bare hands. All of you have been trained in the basics of melee combat."

She smiled. "Plus, it's far more satisfying to hear someone's neck break."

And that was the only thing that stopped him from getting any closer to Seeker Adeline than he already was. Dominic was not one for romantic attachments, but he saw nothing wrong with being platonic friends with members of the opposite sex - and even then, he would not suppose himself to be equal with the Seeker. But friendliness would not be a crime or a sin...except that he couldn't bring himself to do it because of moments like these, when she showed the true bloodthirsty woman that hid behind her mask of perfection. He respected her as a leader and knew that, in her heart, her every action was dedicated to the preservation and spread of the Truth...but her gruesome nature often set him ill at ease.

He nodded with relief, glad that she saw the wisdom in spreading out. Should worse come to worse, they could use the Gathering Room - but only as a last resort, the location of their last stand, as a primitive army would use a castle's keep. This would be the place where the Found came to die...and take as many Force users with them as they possibly could. The Pilgrim switched his blaster to stun, and bowed quickly. "Then I will protect the Throne with my life."

ATTACK BRIEFING: Jedi Temple, Coruscant

"Like any other cult, the Found depend on their leader, in this case, Seeker Adeline, for direction. That's why she is our primary target. Without her, the Found will become lost and confused. Don't expect confronting her to end peacefully, quietly, or quickly. Her zeal is too great for her to be willing to surrender under any circumstances." The newly arrived Niera Secura pointed out.

"Unless they attack us directly, it might be better if they were captured and 'deprogrammed' than 'terminated'."

Juhani growled under her breath. She would have prefered to go in with her lightsaber blazing but she had promised Jolee.

I'm starting to regret that promise. She thought darkly

"Like any other cult, the Found depend on their leader, in this case, Seeker Adeline, for direction. That's why she is our primary target. Without her, the Found will become lost and confused. Don't expect confronting her to end peacefully, quietly, or quickly. Her zeal is too great for her to be willing to surrender under any circumstances."

"If you need someone to stand toe to toe with Seeker Adeline then you may wish to include me in this battle." Grand master Brianna said as she walked into the room. "I hope you didin't think that I would miss this."

Juhani nodded in agreement. "I agree. I believe that the Grand Master should be included in this battle. Her combat skills surpass even mine and she would be an invaluable asset in this battle to come."

((Do you guys want Melany to be by the Found's Gathering gate now?))

FINAL ATTACK BRIEFING: Jedi Temple, Coruscant

"I concur," said Perdante. "We need all the help we can get. I've never met Grand Master Brianna, but hopefully she won't get too angry that a former Sith is on her side. Hopefully, she's never heard of me or of my former Master. If she has, I'm in trouble, but if not, everything will still be all right." She paused and took a deep breath. "Count on me. I am willing to lose everything to win." She meant it, even though she was scared stiff.

Jedi Knight Melany Garzo's comlink flickered to life. "Knight Garzo? Master Gara here. Please hail a speeder and head straight to the front gates of the former Czerka Corporation Logistics Complex, now known as the Gathering Place of the Found. Take anyone with you that's going to be a part of the frontal assault." Melany knew that this meant Perdante, the distraction.

"May the Force be with you," Yakhta Gara said proudly before signing off.

FINAL ATTACK BRIEFING: Gathering Place of the Found, Coruscant

"Very good." Seeker Adeline ruffled Dominic's hair, as a mother would do to her beloved child. "The Jedi will need guarding, or else they will attempt to escape. That will not do. No one must come out of here without undergoing Gain through Loss or Life through Death--that is, if they are not with us. Anyone not with us is against us. Pilgrim Dominic and Pilgrim Zen, you both know that. The rest of you? Take your positions throughout our Gathering Place. Move out!" She raised her arm imperiously, and the crowd dispersed.

"I concur," said Perdante. "We need all the help we can get. I've never met Grand Master Brianna, but hopefully she won't get too angry that a former Sith is on her side. Hopefully, she's never heard of me or of my former Master. If she has, I'm in trouble, but if not, everything will still be all right." She breathed deeply. "Count on me. I am willing to lose everything to win."

"I'm sure you'll do fine, former Sith," Melany said with a smile. Suddenly, her comlink came on.

"Knight Garzo? Master Gara here. Please hail a speeder and head straight to the front gates of the former Czerka Corporation Logistics Complex, now known as the Gathering Place of the Found. Take anyone with you that's going to be a part of the frontal assault."

She nodded. "Sure thing, master."

"May the Force be with you," Yakhta Gara said proudly before signing off.

"Thanks," the young goth Jedi said. She then looked at Perdante. "All right, former Sith, let's go." She headed to the speeder hanger.

FINAL ATTACK BRIEFING: Jedi Temple, Coruscant

Psycho was beginning to get impatient. He had his weapons, it was the next day, and he was ready to go. He wanted to blow up as many things as possible if he wouldn't be allowed to kill anyone right away. His head perked up when he saw another jedi say something to Perdante and then walk away. It looked like it was finally fighting time.

FINAL ATTACK BRIEFING: Gathering Place of the Found, Coruscant

Zen was ready for whatever would come his way. Even though he would not be on the frontline with his brothers and sisters he knew they could handle themselves. Adeline wanted him to alive as he and Dominic were above the others and he knew this. He had his energy sword at his side and knew he would not let Adeline down.

ATTACK!: PERDANTE'S SACRIFICE

"Right behind you, Garzo," Perdante said crisply as she followed the Jedi Knight into the speeder. She wasn't quite sure whether to call her Melany or not, so for the moment the former Sith Initiate decided to stick to protocol. The two women rocketed toward the former Czerka Corporation Logistics Complex, now known as the Gathering Place of the Found, in a speeder that was driven by a Rodian jumped up on juma juice. All for the better, because the sooner they got to the scene of their impending attack, the greater chance they had of taking Seeker Adeline and the Found by surprise.

When they arrived, Perdante held up a hand. "Wait here," she said. "Try and sense me through the Force as I go inside and surrender to the Seeker. If my Force signature disappears, or begins to disappear, signal for the attack." She clasped Melany's hand in a gesture of goodwill and camaraderie. "May the Force be with both of us. This is one battle we can't afford to lose..."

************************

Perdante closed her eyes. At last! She had gone through with her own part in the Plan, yielded to Seeker Adeline, and now found herself shackled to the Throne of Gain. Her wrists and ankles were chained securely to the arms and legs of the monstrous chair, and a globe of transpariglass filled with a shimmering silver-black metal was placed on one of the arms. The Seeker had accepted her surrender, and Perdante, saying that she was willing to undergo Gain through Loss instead of Life through Death, was about to fulfill her word.

"You're an enigma," the Seeker said. "I treasure strange creatures such as yourself. You're a former Sith, and a penitent one. Thus, I won't kill you. You have turned yourself in, and so you've earned your right to live. Of course, it will be without your Force powers, but that's for the good of the galaxy."

She gestured to the globe with the ostanovium inside. "See this globe, little one?" she asked. "See how round and smooth and full it is? When I flip the switch, the Throne to which you're shackled will activate. Lights will go on, and the metal in the globe will irradiate. It will weaken you, and in ten minutes flat, you will have lost all connection to your Force powers. This process is irreversible. Are you sure you are willing to repent all the way?"

"Yes," answered Perdante. "My greatest gains always come through loss."

"So be it." Seeker Adeline flipped the switch, leaving Pilgrim Dominic and Pilgrim Zen to guard the Throne of Gain upon which her primary victim sat. "Congratulations. You are truly the first to find new life in this way."

Seeker Adeline left, but not without removing her double-bladed vibroblade.

"It's time," she said. "Time to defend our lives, and fight for the Truth!"

ATTACK!: INFILTRATION

Meta had fought in many battles over his lifetime. He'd fought in so many, in fact, that sometimes he would be at one point in the battle and then the next it was over, hours later. He knew the motions, the tactics, the way people fought and their weaknesses. He knew when to retreat, when to press forward, and when to sacrifice. War was a science to him, where the proper application of force and tract at the right times made all the difference. This applied to the overall idea of war to Meta, but also to the disposal of individual combatants that got in his way. Individual combatants such as the Found member he was standing behind, who was oblivious to Meta's presence. She was armed with a vibroblade and a blaster, though she didn't have them drawn. Apparently the Found leader had been expecting people to come through the sewer and had stationed people there. The only problem was that people were expecting Jedi; not Meta and the team he was leading through the sewers.

Grabbing the member by her jaw and, before she could react, Meta twisted her head with an immense application of force. A snap followed and she dropped dead in the water., and Meta dragged the corpse to the side wall. He motioned for the rest of his team, composed of a few non-Force users and a Jedi, to follow him. After disposing of two more guards in a similar manner, they finally reached one of the many sewer entrances that lead into the Found complex. Well, more specifically, sewer pothole.
Looking up through the pothole, which was removed, he noted two people standing over it with their backs exposed. They were talking.

“Hey, Griff?”

“Yeah Simon?”

“You ever wonder why we're here?”

“It's one of life's greatest mystery's, isn't it? Why are we here? I mean, are we some product of some cosmic coincidence, or is there really a Creator, watching everything? You know, with a plan for us and stuff? I don't know man, but it keeps me up at night.”

“...I mean why are we right here, by this pothole, when we should be fighting in main gathering hall?”

“Oh, right.”

“And what was all that stuff about cosmic coincidence?”

“”Nothing.”

“...Want to talk about it?”

“No.”

It was at that moment that Meta had enough time to climb out of the pothole, at which point he grabbed both of the Found members and did a nerve pinch on them. They both collapsed, unconscious, because their conversation had convinced Meta that they could probably be deprogrammed and/or were harmless anyway. Once he was certain that those two were the only guards in the room, which was actually a large storage closet, Meta helped other members of his team through the hole. After the last member out out of the sewer, Meta activated his weapon and it's scanner showed multiple, highly-concentrated source of the mineral nearby.

“Stay sharp.” Meta ordered as he pulled the closet door open and peeked into the hallway. Spotting two pairs of guards, each at the ends of the hallway, Meta pulled his head back in and switched his weapon to grenade mode. He peeked out with his weapon this time and locked onto one of the guards, and fired his grenade. It soared through the air and stuck the guard in the side of the head.

“Ow, what is this- Oh my creator is it a spider-” the guard managed to get out before the grenade exploded and took out all four guards at that end of the hallway. The guards at the other end of the hallway became alert however, and Meta quickly switched back to plasma bolts and laid down fire on them, causing them a panic as his projectiles turned to track them when they attempted to dodge. Two went down, followed by the other two as Meta used his grenades again.

FINAL ATTACK BRIEFING, SHORTLY BEFORE ASSAULT: Jedi Temple, Coruscant

“Thanks to our Rep-man, we not only know where the Found are held up, but also which points are available for insertion. Perdy here will be walking through the front door, which probably makes her job the easiest. On the other hand, we can't walk in with her, making our jobs harder. The Found are probably expecting an assault from Jedi, with seeking vengeance as their motive. Hence, they're not expecting a collective of non-Force using operatives to sneak in the back doors and start pouring out the cracks. Therefore, we will infiltrate using the sewer lines that connect to all parts of the complex. The troops that the Republic will provide will be making an aerial insertion and work their way from the top of the complex, while we come up from the bottom in a vertical Polish ambush. There will be soldiers stationed outside the complex to intercept anyone attempting to escape, though there won't be that many. The less likelihood of escape that the Found members have, the harder they fight. We just want to break their back here, not create a slaughter.”

Meta finished, Tu'un who'd been waiting in the back of the meeting room moving up, heading towards the metallic being. He'd met Meta before, since he'd been corresponding with the Republic Brass, and he being a Republic Officer of high esteem, was given over to Meta as one of the Officers providing troops for the assault on the Found complex. So in short, Tu'un knew Meta, even respected him, and Meta knew Tu'un, though Tu'un was less sure of Meta's respect for him, since he couldn't use Telepathy on the metallic being, and he was too respectful to use Kenokinesis to read Meta's intents, so for now, Tu'un assumed Meta viewed him in an acquainting manner, and treated it as so.

When he got to Meta he tapped his shoulder and leaned over, nodding at him, he stood up and turned towards Brianna, dividing his attention between the primary leading figures of the assault to come: Meta, Brianna, and Garren, though Tu'un felt there were others who might be leading the assault, he believed these were the most important (in his mind), and addressed them as such, and in turn; waiting for everyone to finish speaking.

"Republic forces are already preparing and heading towards the complex," he paused and scanned the crowd, his face giving off a stern, yet emotionless look. "My own troops await in transports for any Jedi, or I should say, anyone who does not have there own transportation. I'm not in charge, but as an experienced Officer I suggest we board ships now and begin to head towards the complex, we need to minimize time between the signal to attack, and our time to get there and begin the assault. Transports will drop off the assorted squads in there designated areas, those in the sewers, or the 'back door', and others at other insertion points. Once that's complete transports will move into position to await orders to bring in forces for the dropline assault, anyone willing to come with us, can. Those with transportation are welcome to use their tranportation accordingly."

With that the Mal turned back towards Meta and nodded, a slight bow in his pose, and then with military precision turned on his heels and headed out of the room towards the awaiting transport, and his troops.

((Not the best post, not the worst. Tell me if I should edit anything. :D ))

Zen had not gotten a look at the face of the prisoner who had chosen Gain through Loss. However the back of the back of the prisoner's head looked familiar to him. Seeing that this person would be one of them within the hour, Zen saw no reason to give the prisoner the cold shoulder. He began approaching her and started to speak without even coming into contact yet.

"Jedi Knight Anna Organ, you truly are a noble fighter to have come here once again...," Zen stopped when he saw the face was not Anna's but the face of someone else. "You are not Anna Organ, please tell me your name so that I may welcome you properly."

ATTACK!: INFILTRATION

Psycho hated stealth, but he knew when he had to use it. After Meta had disposed of the first guard he pulled out one of his tonfas to deal with another one. He brought his left hand around the guard's mouth and quickly slit his throat. Psycho hid the guard's body and proceeded to follow Meta. Once Meta began to fire his weapon, Psycho knew stealth time was over. He spotted three guards running towards the group. He tossed a thermal detonator into the air and hit it with a blaster rifle hitting all three guards. Finally it was fun time for Psycho.

Juhani and Brianna both watched as Psycho swiftly took care of one of the guards and then the alarms began to go off.

"The time for stealth is over. Now is the time to fight."

The cathar next to her nodded her head in agreement and rubbed her hands together in anticipation. Jolee would be proud of how she handled herself today. She would make sure of it.

"Remember Juhani, only strike to kill if you are attacked. Do not kill in anger."

Both Juhani and Brianna both jumped from where they were to where Pysho was and then rushed past him as they ran toward the main gates as they ignited their lightsabers.

Dominic, who had escorted the woman to the dais once she had made her surrender, now stood by the first step down, simply looking at her in surprise and amazement. This had been the girl he'd found at the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine, he was certain of it. That Sith girl, the one who had given everything to protect the Jedi that had done her in...the girl that, by all rights, should have been dead. And yet here she was, both very healthy and very much alive. He had to admire her pluck.

But she was still an enemy, as the explosion that shook the ground reminded him. His green eyes flashed up to the great double doors that led into the Gathering Place, barred tight to stem the flow of enemies outside. He gripped his blaster tightly. He knew that it would be too easy if this girl was the only non-Pilgrim they would find tonight. The sound of Zen's voice as he spoke to the woman faded to the back of the Pilgrim's mind...because he was quickly realizing what was happening.

"She was a diversion." he muttered, taking hold of his blaster with both hands to steady the sight. His mouth went dry because he knew, somehow instinctively knew that a whole lot of trouble would be blasting through those doors at any minute.

After Melany said farewell to Perdante, she remembered what her new fellow Jedi said. "Perdante. I will always remember your name. If we get outta this... I hope we can be friends. Or maybe sisters. Always wanted a sister. May the Force be with us both us..." she thought sadly. She then cleared her throat, acting tough again.

(Moments later)

All of a sudden, she couldn't sense Perdante's Force signature. "Dude. I have a bad feeling about this..." Melany took out her comlink. "Master Juhani! It's time for the attack on the Found's Gathering! Hurry! I'm at the front gate. Plus, I think something terrible happened to Perdy! Please, you must hurry!"

((Let me know If I need to edit this.))

"Master Juhani! It's time for the attack on the Found's Gathering! Hurry! I'm at the front gate. Plus, I think something terrible happened to Perdy! Please, you must hurry!"

"Acknowledged." Juhani said as she deflected a few blaster bolts that were aimed at her direction. It looked like they were stun bolts which was making them harder to deflect then the usual blaster shots that were set to kill.

Brianna continued to deflect blaster bolts with her twin lightsabers and then force jumped to the main door of the found's building and began cutting through the doorway.

"Knight Juhani. Cover me while I cut through the door." She spoke calmly as she continued cutting through the door.

Zen heard the words come out of Dominic's mouth but it took him a few seconds to let it soak in. She had lied about choosing to join them and therefore had rejected the ways of the Found. Technically this meant she could be executed on site. However as Zen's hand went for his energy sword he found himself hesitating to do so. This woman was willing to give her life in order to help her comrades out; a truly noble thing to do in Sangheili culture. Zen respected any warrior who showed honor and nobility on the battlefield and that alone would be enough for him to let her live...but there was something more to it. The Seeker had said this woman was former Sith and she was willing to fight alongside the Jedi. The two sides were against one another, to even think of peace between them was a joke. Yet here stood this former sith willing to give her life for the Jedi. He thought Sith were just mindless killers and Jedi were emotionless figures yet this woman had proved him wrong. She had showed that her kind were not all that bloodthirsty and that the Jedi were willing to forgive anyone. Zen shook his head at these thoughts, the Jedi and Sith were responsible for his family's death. He would do anything to get them back, even if it meant sacrificing himself...just as this woman was doing now. His face usually showed determination yet now it showed confusion. Zen turned to the former Sith and took a good look at her.

"Former Sith, you were willing to give your life for your comrades. For that I shall not kill you for refusing to accept the ways of the Found. However something confuses me about you. You were Sith and yet now you are willing to sacrifice yourself for the Jedi, you're supposed enemy. Why would you do such a thing when the Sith are just mindless killers and the Jedi are emotionless figures?" Zen asked becoming intrigued yet showing his distaste for the Jedi and Sith.

ATTACK!: Dais of the Throne of Gain, Coruscant

Perdante smiled, trying to fight off the feelings of light-headedness and fatigue that were starting to creep up upon her due to the ostanovium. "The Jedi and the Sith have many critical differences," she began, "but in the end, if the Jedi are not too removed from the finite world and the Sith have not utterly lost their consciousness to the Dark Side, they are mortal and humanoid, if not human altogether." Yes. This was what she believed...

After a pause, she continued, "The reason I was willing to sacrifice myself to help the Jedi is that Juhani, the one who fought and rescued me, thought to spare my life, as you did. She could have executed me because I intended to duel her to the death, but she did not. She chose to offer me a chance to surrender, and I took it. I lost, but what's more than that, I accepted and learned from it instead of becoming bitter. The Jedi gave me a second chance, and I won't live in a world where there are no second chances."

ATTACK!: The Vanguard's Penthouse, Coruscant

Seeker Adeline waited. Those fool Jedi and Republic officers were down below, congregating and swarming into the building like ants. She smiled, like a bad parent would smile at his or her child before delivering punishment for an infraction. "They don't know whom they're facing," the Seeker said. "I have Khristoff's Truth behind me, plus several hundred congregants. Plus, my cinched little grenade belt. I hope this gives them a BIG wake-up call..."

She retrieved a grenade from her belt, pulled the pin, and dropped it into the crowd below. A massive explosion rained fire and bodies everywhere.

"Maybe now they'll think twice about their little plan," she mused, utterly forgetting that she was supposed to subdue the Jedi and not kill them. For the sake of the Truth, sometimes things and people had to be sacrificed...

Zen listened to the woman's words, almost being moved by them. Her logic made perfect sense but how could he believe it. The Sith had attacked his village and the pompous Jedi were too busy to help him out. How could he believe either the Jedi or Sith were truly "human" as the woman put it? Once again he found himself confused by this woman but far more respecting of her. So much so that he would be willing to continue to let her speak and see what her words would do with him.

"A truly noble statement," Zen began. "Perhaps you and I are not so different. We both joined another cause based on something that happened to us and each of us is willing to give their lives for it. This currently makes us equals and for that I will share something with you. Years ago I was neither Jedi nor Sith, nor even a Found Operative. I was a Sangheili warrior, and a proud one at that. We had a small village on Dantooine and knew of the Jedi/Sith skirmishes. At the time neither group had done nothing to us so it would not be fair to take a side. One day the Sith decided to raid our village. We are a proud warrior race and my people were able to hold their ground long enough for me to escape to get help from the Jedi. When I did arrive I was blown off, the Jedi claimed they didn't have the time. I returned to find my village gone, and my people were all dead. I lost everything that day, including my wife. Months passed and eventually I was found. They took my in and accepted me, they gave me a second chance to fight. Tell me, how can I believe in such a thing as a change of heart when I lost so much?"

Garren and Niera recognised their strength to not be on the front lines, and once they saw their chance, made for the vents, in search of Adeline.

"I assume there's a method to this madness" Garren commented. "I've got a bug on me, set up to wirelessly transmit anything it hears to the facility's PA system. It's currently inactive, but I'll activate it the moment we reach the Seeker." Niera explained.

"Adeline won't know what hit her." Garren replied.

ATTACK!: Dais of the Throne of Gain, Coruscant

"I've often wondered that myself," Perdante replied. "Especially since I was a little girl, from the age of seven, I was trained as a Sith warrior. My Masters taught me that strength, obedience, and loyalty to a cause were far more important than such 'weak' virtues as kindness and compassion. How did I change my mind so quickly, and join my side, when Juhani demanded my surrender? I guess the answer is that I was ready to change my mind and my heart. I knew that for every person I defeated in battle and killed, I was that much closer to my own death if I happened to lose the fight. My former Master does not allow failures to live. He's probably hunting me now."

She shook her head sadly. "It would not shock me, and I would not judge or blame you, if you still seek revenge upon those who murdered your family. I would, too, except that I've gone down that path before. It didn't bring me peace. I hunted and stalked one who beat me in a simple game of dejarik--a game upon which my standing as a Sith Initiate stood. After killing him, I wept, and if my Master had heard me, he would have killed me on sight."

The glowing globe of ostanovium continued to irradiate Perdante, and the young woman sank back upon the Throne. "Zen?" she asked. "I...I don't believe that my connection to the Force is the only thing I'm going to lose after about five more minutes..." She could feel her blood pressure drop. "I'm going to go into anaphylactic shock--the true form, not just the symptoms."

ATTACK!: The Vanguard's Penthouse, Coruscant

What is that maddening sound?! Seeker Adeline, in the midst of the noise of the battle below, could hear an insistent thump-thump-thump in the air--as if someone were lurking behind the walls, trying to crawl through them. Aha! If it's those snivelling Jedi, I know what to do...

In her penthouse quarters--the Seeker's private room--there was a glowing blue console. "I'm going to gas the vents," she murmured to herself, "with a special ostanovium-laced compound that will be nearly-fatal to Force Sensitives if they don't retreat from the polluted area immediately." Pushing a few buttons, the nearly-silent hisss of the toxin could be heard.

"Good thing I have this mask," she said, slipping a respiratory breather on.

"Time to get out!" Garren shout, and holding his breath, shot enough holes in the vent for him and Niera to get out. They immediately took out their own rebreathers and put them on, before Garren noticed that they had made it to The Vanguard's Penthouse. Niera immediately activated the bug once she saw Seeker Adeline, carefully so she wouldn't notice until it was too late.

"Hello, how's your knee?" Garren smugly asked.

"Attack either of us, and the other will gun you down like the nutjob you are." Niera pointed out.

"Now that we have your attention, let's talk. You've been using a compound called ostanovium to cut Jedi and Sith off from the Force, but are you actually aware of how it works?" Garren asked.

ATTACK!: Vanguard's Penthouse, Coruscant

Seeker Adeline literally could not believe her own eyes. HOW in SPACE had these idiots infiltrated her Penthouse so quickly, and with the gas streaming through the vents besides?! They must have punched holes in the vents, she mused, and gotten out--and in here--through them. Blast it!

"My knee is fine," she growled in Garren Shain's direction, "or at least as 'fine' as it can be, considering the circumstances." She shoulded her vibroblade like a warrior preparing to go into battle. "What you say is true, you foolish Republic spy, but as to how ostanovium works, I do not know. Only the Prophet has such knowledge. He did not find me worthy enough to share it." She shook her head. "My only failure besides this one."

A leer spread over her face. "If you're so smart, then YOU enlighten me."

ATTACK!: Dais of the Throne of Gain, Coruscant

PERDANTE WAS DYING, and she knew it. Nevertheless, she would not scream or call out for help. As long as the two guards were distracted enough NOT to attack the Jedi and Republic officers who were still fighting after the explosion ouside the building, then all was well. It had to be.

"Anaphylactic shock..." she whispered. "It's happening. Tell...whomever sent you...!"

"Now that's easy. A simple analysis shows that it actually causes midi-chlorians to separate from the bloodstream, and get flushed out with the waste. So it does exactly what you'd expect it to. The problem is, it doesn't know when to stop, and everyone, Force-sensitive or otherwise, has midichlorians in their blood, and without them, they'd die. And you lot, you've been living in the stuff for the Force only knows how long. You've been poisoning yourselves all along, and you'll succumb to it a lot quicker than your enemies." Garren explained. "You call me foolish, yet you blindly take the orders to poison yourself from someone who you know nothing about. Frankly, that's just bone-dead stupid."

There was a sickening crunch as Meta grabbed the head of the Found member nearest to him with one hand and simply squeezed. It was not a pretty scene, and some of the Found who just watched a Meta crush a man's skull with his bare hand lost their nerve and fled. The others rushed at him with vibroblades drawn and Meta would have gunned them down, though they were instead blown up by a random grenade. The blast also killed a few of his allies and injured many more, though Meta did not, could not, help them until the battle was over. Meta pressed forward, mowing down a full line of enemy combatants with one sweep of his plasma repeater. A few attempted to injured Meta from afar using blasters, though he shrugged them off easily. Energy weapons were not the best thing to use against a Versewalker. He was being precise, mainly because he wanted to be thorough. If a Found wasn't dead, they'd better be injured or they would be.

Meta saw that the Grand Master was attempting to cut through the door with a lightsaber of all things, when an explosive would be far more effective. So that's what he used. He walked up to the Grandmaster, politely told her amidst the sounds of dying and gunfire that he had a quicker way, and when she agreed to let him, he set a line of plasma grenades along the crack of the door along with a trigger. When that was done, Meta had everyone who wasn't fighting stand back and he activated the trigger. A flash of blue and white light accompanied the explosion, and when the bits of superheated plasma and dust cleared, a hole in the door was open.

“Into the breach!” Meta shouted and was the first through into the main room of the building, which was teeming with Found members and held his distraction: Perdante. Upon seeing that, she was in trouble, Meta began to slaughter his way through the crowd. He launched grenades, smashed heads, and beat them to death with their own skulls.

ATTACK!: Dais of the Throne of Gain, Coruscant

Her lust for revenge was not as great as his but she had been in his place before. If killing someone over a simple game was enough to make her weep what would all of this accomplish for him. Zen had been so blinded by rage that he would have accepted any cult that would eliminate both the Jedi and the Sith. Now that reason had been brought into Zen's mind it made him think back to the choices he had made. Would his clan have approved of such mindless slaughter? This Gain through Loss, it was a very dishonorable thing to do. He only now realized the Found stood against everything the Sangheili culture represented. He looked down at Perdante who was being severely effected by the throne. No warrior deserved this fate, especially one who was so willing to sacrifice herself for others. With a mighty roar Zen walked forward and pulled the two restraints off of the chair with his bare hands. He activated his energy sword and was greeted with the familiar hiss. He sliced the two leg restraints and pulled Perdante out of the chair with his left hand. Zen stood in front of her so that Dominic could not shoot her until he went through him

"Are you strong enough to stand?" Zen asked before turning to Dominic. "Her words have truth in them Dominic. The Found tells us we must eliminate force users because they abuse the force. Who are we to decide that, we are no better than anyone else. I am going to get Perdante back to her comrades and stop this mindless bloodshed over nothing. I won't hold it against you to try to stop me but I will not fail in my goal."

ATTACK!: INFILTRATION

Psycho followed Meta as soon as the door had been breached. He pulled out both his blaster rifles and began firing like a mad men. He laughed as he began shooting the Found members left and right.

"Oh man, I haven't let loose like this in a long time!"

ATTACK!: Dais of the Throne of Gain, Coruscant

"I can stand," Perdante replied weakly, quivering all over from the effects of the irradiation, "but I don't think I can fight. Fighting requires muscular and hand-eye coordination which"--she coughed--"I don't think I have right now. I need treatment...does anyone have a medpac?" she rasped. "By the way, Zen...thank you. Please don't let that one over there shoot me. Please."

She was referring to Dominic. Would he make a checkmating move on her?

ATTACK!: The Vanguard's Penthouse, Coruscant

Seeker Adeline's bowels turned to water. "That cannot be..." she mewled, even though she knew in her distressed gut that Garren was telling the truth. "It simply cannot be. Khristoff said the mineral was safe, that the ostanovium was the means to destroy the users of the Force, and to save ourselves...It can't be..." She had been fooled, and utterly. Tricked. The only visible instrument of the Truth was in all actuality, poisonous. Fatally so.

How could Khristoff have deceived her like this--unless HE was IMMUNE?

And here, all this time, she had thought that SHE was his successor...

With a shriek of rage that made Garren and Niera cover their ears, Seeker Adeline bolted for the Penthouse windows and thrust her head straight into them. Since they were made of decorative glass instead of safety glass, they shattered instantly, taking the Seeker's head along with the shards. In a matter of seconds, Adeline was dead, her face shattered and lacerated beyond all recognition. The ugliness of her true nature had been revealed.

Seeker Adeline, the quasi-Founder of the Found, was lost for all time.

Juhani and the Grand Master both ran in through the breach created by Meta and began deflecting the blaster bolts that were being fired at them. Brianna ignited her second lightsaber to keep up with the blaster bolts that were being fired.

Juhani couldn't help but be slightly frightend by how many found that there were.

"Master Brianna! I believe that we are in danger of being overrun!"

"Have faith Juhani." Brianna said calmly as she continued deflecting blaster bolts. "The only thing we need to do is disable them and I believe I have a way to do so."

The Grand master gathered the force around her and then let loose with a massive wave of force energy that sent many of the pilgrims flying backward despite the force dampening effect of the mineral they had been taking.

Brianna dropped to her knees and began to gasp for air. That had taken alot more out of her then she had expected.

"Juhani! Cover me while I try to regain my strength."

"Acknowledged." juhani replied as she saw Psycho and motioned him over to her to help protect the Grand master