Play Testers Wanted Pt. 10

"She's playing," Aoki laughed.

"I wouldn't be so sure." I said. "I've traced the signal. She's transmitting from Malastare." I continued as I narrowed down her signal. "She's transmitting right below our feet. The silly shit found the Sith Lord and her minions."

"No don't..." Belle struggled as a collar and restraints were placed on her neck and extremities. "Why are you doing this?"

"Like you," one of them growled. "For the views. Except if those watching want to see us fuck you, they'll have to pay for it."

"Hey now... I don't fuck on camera you idiots!" Belle screamed as her clothes were cut from her.

The image was replaced with a pay per view screen. They were going to rape her live online. Why the hell wasn't Numenor shutting this shit down? My HUD went nuts and I pulled down the messages. Sith battle fleet just exited hyperspace! The Republic fleet is moving to intercept! Anyone on or near Malastare stop the Sith Lord and her minions!

"Whoa, look at that reward! Time to break out the real skills. Hold onto your hat Aoki!" I smiled. "We have a ditsy princess to save."

"I wonder if I can get her autograph." Aoki pondered as I closed my eyes and reached out with Farsight. "What are you doing?"

"Got you," I said. "Gather round. There are twelve of them getting her ready for filming. I am going to teleport us down there. Get ready to fight vampires. Aim for the heart or the head. Is everyone ready?" I asked as they circled me and faced outwards. "Here we go."

A moment later we appeared in the same chamber as the girl and her captors. Whisper and Kyanna ignited their lightsabers and struck. Aoki and I drew blasters and covered them from a distance. Belle screamed, bitched, and threatened to sue and get the police involved. She had long broken character.

"...no one is fucking me on camera! I'll bite your fucking balls off!" She screamed.

Kyanna was a savage whirlwind cutting off limbs, heads, and groping hands. Whisper on the other hand took on a more patient stabbing and clinical approach to her attacks. Aoki was all gunslinger personified. Each shot hit its mark and she was as devastating as the others. I took the time to use telekinesis to free Belle and offer her fresh clothing.

"Sorry, all I have is slutty garb," I apologized but she didn't seem to mind.

"Eh, I've worn less. Who the fuck are you... oh no... not you! You are the reason I got myself in this mess! This is all your fault!" Belle bitched.

"I can lock your ass up again and let them rape you on live holonet." I fired back. "You ungrateful little gutter slut...!"

"Katria... she is just scared," Aoki said soothing my nerves. "There are more coming!"

My first instinct was to flood the tunnel with Force lightning, but I was trying to stick with what this persona could do. I focused instead on Shatterpoint and went on the offensive.

"Headshots for everyone!" I snarled. I attacked those out of the range of the lightsabers first and caused a bit of a panic.

"Shit! It is her! It is Katria! Run for it!" The vampires hissed and fled.

The last of the melee opponents fell and we formed up keeping Belle in the middle as we moved forward. If this little nest was to be eliminated no one was going to leave here alive. I led them down the tunnel and just like the one used by the Darkholders there were small side rooms and in one a familiar stack of crates. The crates held blaster rifles stamped with the insignia of the Sith Empire instead of those from Latveria. This was a duplicate of that facility. That gave me a working knowledge of it.

"I feel them," a familiar voice called out. "Come on out!"

We travelled down the tunnel to the main chamber. What had been an amphitheater in one place was the main crypt for the Sith Lord and her vampire children. The Dark Side was strong with this place and it stank of blood and sex. The homeless of Malastare had been brought into the fold and swelled the ranks of the undead. Only a few of them were Force sensitive and trained Sith. They still outnumbered us six to one. We slipped to one corner and waited for the inevitable speech.

"Who the hell are you?" Darth Zanna asked. "One of you is a child of Nocturnal. Who is it?"

"A vampire you mean," Whisper stated and Zanna smiled revealing her fangs. "It's not me."

"Nor me," Kyanna declared.

"I'm not a blood sucker," Belle said, and I coughed. "Fuck you Katria!"

"You! It is you!" Zanna snapped as she locked eyes with me. I felt her trying to control my thoughts but since I was her elder it failed. "No...! How can you possibly?"

"Let's put an end to this General," A new voice said as Republic soldiers led by two Jedi Masters appeared from one direction.

"Not before we do," A deep male voice replied as Exar Kun and his apprentice strode in from the opposite direction. They were joined by Sith troopers in their gleaming metal armor.

Zanna was caught off guard and launched her forces in three different directions. The bulk of her minions were NPC's and low level at that. They divided themselves up and attacked. Twelve were players and teleported into combat. That shook things up and young Jedi and Sith alike fell to their fangs and crimson lightsabers. Four of those twelve flanked our group on two sides with practiced efficiency. I swapped out my blasters for my matching silver whips. I got their attention as the others fought off the fifteen or so low-level vampires.

"If we take her out, we'll get enough notoriety to make the list." One of them said smiling.

"Besides, there are four of us and only one of her," another chuckled. "We'll take her out like we did that other gal."

"Good times," the one that was trying to sneak up behind me laughed.

"You missed my first video," I purred as I got the whips moving. "There were twenty of them."

"Holy shit," the last one exclaimed. "She's 'that' Katria!"

"Slow and steady," the first suggested as I targeted him for my first strike as the three invisible drones charged up their weapons to throw the others into confusion. My right whip slashed my foes hand cutting deep. So deep, that he dropped his weapon. My left whip wrapped around his neck and I touched the button which caused the whip to constrict and decapitate him. He turned to mist and left the combat.

"Fire!" I ordered and three crimson bolts flew out and hit the remaining three. The bolts weren't strong enough to kill them outright, but it shook them up which was the plan.

"Got you!" The fourth vampire hollered as he slashed me from behind. His blade struck the Cortosis weave and his weapon sputtered and died. "What the fuck?!"

He retreated to Zanna's side and now the odds were two to one. Like the Queen on the chessboard Zanna teleported into the chaos and engaged the one figure she feared more than any, Exar Kun. The two Sith crossed swords and I was forced to focus on the two in front of me. I tried to see if my title as Master Vampire had any privileges.

"Kneel!" I ordered to the two closest. They fought it but failed. Their knees struck the floor despite their best efforts. "Prostrate!" I continued and their foreheads followed suit. "Excellent! Now, all of you who carry my blood in your veins will kneel. Now!" The fighting stopped as the vampires both NPC and PC withdrew to the middle of the chamber. Zanna looked around and then she made the undeniable connection. "Silence!" I ordered her. "Prostrate yourselves." I directed as the Jedi and Sith watched in surprise and amusement.

"So, you don't just sing well." Exar Kun chuckled. "What do you think apprentice?"

"She is a threat and should be eliminated." Ulrich Quel Droma replied.

"What do you think General Hoth?" The woman with the yellow double-bladed lightsaber asked her companion.

"I hate to say it. I agree with Ulrich. She is a danger with those things!" The older Jedi Battlemaster remarked. "You?"

"If she is such a threat, why are they kneeling in the middle of the room?" Nomi Sunrider replied. "She has plans for them. Let's see what they are."

"She is right." I said and glared at Zanna. "I gave you a great gift and you squandered it. What I give I can take away." I bluffed but my HUD dropped down and an option presented itself.

'Remove vampirism? Y/N.' I never hesitated. Yes! They dropped like felled trees. The temperature in the room rose as they recovered.

"Mortal once more," I said. My HUD displayed how many had been cured and it was staggering. "Well... you have been busy. Over a million and with not a hint of remorse."

"I didn't," Zanna snapped angrily. "I only turned sixty-six. The others must have passed it along."

"Oh hey, I have points to spend." One of the PC's remarked. "I got back those I spent on my vampire abilities."

"So, what now?" Zanna bitched.

"This," I replied as stun bolts shot out from the hidden drones. "I still have a bounty to collect. I'll let you guys fight it out... oh right... there is still me to contend with."

"The Force is strong with her," Exar Kun commented. "A double threat."

"I concur," Nomi agreed.

"Darth Nocturnal," Ulrich hissed. "She must be his heir. Think of the secrets we could milk from her."

"Before we get to that," I offered. "Civilians should be allowed to leave the field of combat."

"I concur," Nomi laughed. "I don't sense the Dark Side about her."

"I do not feel the Light either." Exar said equally perplexed. "Where did you train?"

"Tython." I said. "At the Je'Daii academy."

"Impossible!" General Hoth hissed. "The Je'Daii ended over twenty thousand years ago!"

"Twenty thousand," Belle gasped. "How in the hell did you...?"

"Hush!" I whispered using Kaia Jutsu to silence her. "Civilians may leave now... it is getting cold again. Hurry!"

They fled in panic as the floor began to shake. What the fuck now? I thought as a light mist formed obscuring the floor. We all looked at the far wall as it split open and two hidden doors opened. The temperature plummeted as whatever the hell it was prepared to make an appearance. The audible whine of machinery could be heard as the six figures emerged from a wall of fog. They were eight feet tall, blocky in shape, and roughly humanoid. The six autocannons spoke and in a single fanning motion killed most of those in the chamber.

"Holy shit!" I screamed as I lashed with my whips. My left whip struck out and encountered the personal forcefield protecting my foe. "Hell!" I cursed as I dodged the second volley of automatic blaster fire. I switched to Death Kiss and fell back to my best skills. I tried to use Force steal and rob it of its lifeforce and that was second big shock so far. "Droids! They are battle droids!" I howled as more of the defenders fell to them.

"Unnatural! Destroy!" The leader of the battle droids declared in is cold metallic voice.

Exar Kun sent a torrent of Force lighting into the squad, but their shields defended them. The energy shields had a limit but recharged quickly. They attacked efficiently as two of them fired off a volley and then moved to the middle as two others took their place. Always moving it was difficult to keep track of them.

"Anybody injured?" I asked and all three of them were hurt. The war droids were prepping for another strike. "Well... fuck!" I thrust my hand in the direction of the trio and instead of Force lightning lashing out a bright red-gold light bathed them and healed them. "What was that?" I gasped as I somersaulted forward giving my team a chance to coordinate an attack of some kind. I landed on one of the squad's forcefield. "Up here!" I yelled but when they raised their weapons, they reached a maximum angle they could fire at. My position was above that. "Ha! Superior my ass!" I hopped from droid to droid as the others focused on one of them at a time and took them out.

Ker-chunk! The grenade was launched directly upwards. I created my own shield as I crouched atop one of the three remaining droids.

"Fragmentation grenade ineffectual." One of them declared. "Firing high explosive."

Ker-chunk! The second grenade shot upward but this time Exar was ready for it and blasted it with Force lightning. The concussive force slammed me against the forcefield below me and I threatened to slide between the three of them.

"Repeat." One of them announced as two of them fired at the Sith scattering them. I cried out as the pressure wave slammed into me cracking three ribs. "Quasi effective. Launch Vortex Grenade."

"Fuck that noise!" I hollered as I turned to smoke and slithered away.

Ker-chun... the grenade struck a barrier and landed behind the three battle droids. The grenade ignited and a spatial whirlpool manifested sucking up all three of them. The vortex collapsed after a few seconds and I resumed a corporeal form. I looted one of the droids and found components for making my own war droids or improving the M3 series. When no one else approached the other droids, I searched them and received a single battle schematic that would up the M3's from lightly armored to moderately without losing speed or maneuverability. Sweet!

"Anything good?" Kyanna asked and I nodded. I explained how I could improve my drones.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Fine," Aoki replied. "How did you do that?"

"Yes," Nomi Sunrider asked as she approached with empty hands. "I've never seen or heard of anyone performing a mass heal before."

'Incoming message.' My HUD declared. I stepped off and told them I had a private message. 'Will you accept the message? Y/N' Yes. 'All done, the kingdom is safe. I owe you one.' I didn't know what the hell was going on but if things settled down then I'd be happy.

"Belle? You okay?" I asked and she blinked a few times. "Why are you playing this game? Is this just for views and shit?"

"My channel began to tank once this game came out. The damn algorithm changed, and cute anime girl didn't mean shit. My audience jumped ship for players and play testers. I might have to get a real job!" She paused and then the realization hit her. "Were those guys really going to do that on live stream?"

"There is no live stream. They must edit it and submit it so that story lines can be kept secret. I'm pretty damn sure Zanna and her team won't let me release this video for public consumption." I paused when I caught something at the edge of my hearing. "Aw hell no!" I snapped as I heard something else crawling its way up from the open secret passage. "Fuck this shit!" I raged as I cupped my hands together. The space between them darkened as I charged up Force burst until I could barely hold it any longer. Something appeared in the doorway. I pulled my hands back a bit and then thrust them forward releasing the blast of raw energy. The three remaining war droids were plucked off the floor like game pieces and swirling in the eddy of the blast were flung against the unknown terror. It shrieked in pain as it was flung backwards and the double doors slammed shut, knocked off their hinges, and fused to the living rock.

"Damn girl," Kyanna gasped. "What the fuck... was... that?" She asked not having seen me perform Force burst during our time training together. She had only heard the aftermath.

"Yes," Nomi asked looking equally baffled.

"My Lord," a voice came over Exar Kun's communicator. "A ship has just dropped out of hyperspace. It is huge! It dwarfs anything we have. It could be a new Republic weapon!"

"Battlemaster! A new Sith ship has just appeared!" Hoth's radio relayed. "What are your orders?"

"I am on my way!" Hoth said and Nomi smiled. "We are on our way!"

A few seconds later it was just the five of us left in the chamber.

"Let's loot what we can and get the hell out of Dodge," I suggested. "What?"

"Can I come with you?" Belle asked. "I need a lift off world."

"Do I look like a fucking taxi service?" I asked as I placed cuffs on Zanna.

"Katria! Look! Indigo Vorpalite! May I use it for my lightsaber?" Aoki asked.

"Your weapon your choice," I replied as she tossed me a fist sized chunk of it. It was worth a small fortune but what to do with it. Kyanna and I helped Aoki collect the Vorpalite. Whisper stood guard and watched Zanna. I noticed that Kyanna received a private message and I suspected good news from the Jedi Grandmaster Nomi Sunrider. Once most of the rubble was gone through, I went down the hall to where, in another game, I had retrieved the Darkhold and the Book of the Vishanti. I went straight to the hidden safe. They really had reused all the elements from the other base. I used my slicing skills and bypassed the safe's security and opened it. The base began to shake, and I cursed. Had I just triggered something?

"Damn!" I cursed as I emptied out the safe. I did a quick cursory scan with the Force to see if I missed anything but sensed nothing. "Time to go!"

"I got most of the Vorpalite!" Aoki called out.

"I got you two more schematics," Whisper shouted.

"I've looted the shit out of the corpses!" Kyanna laughed.

"Can I go please!" Belle wailed.

"Fine, form up around me," I ordered and had to yank Belle into position. "First stop. Hutt central."

I teleported us to the private box of the Hutts but it was currently unused. Aoki attacked their communication system to check on the space battle above us. I glanced at Belle and she was fidgeting nervously. I tried to ignore her but that seemed against her very nature. Her arms slipped around my waist and she purred in my ear.

"I like girls too." Belle whispered as two rather large Gamorian guards appeared.

"I have a delivery for Jannah," I informed the guards. They nodded and one remained to guard Zanna while the other left to inform his boss. "Why do you do that?" I asked Belle.

"Why do I do what?" She asked.

"That silly face, you know where you stick out your tongue and roll your eyes up into your head." I said and she informed me that is the face that Japanese anime girls make when they climax. "Do you make that face when you climax?" I asked.

"Only one way to find out." She moaned.

"Fine. I'll give you a lift as far as Coruscant. I think I can find out how many faces you make by then." I said and she agreed.

"The most august Jannah the Hutt accepts your gift of the Sith Lord Zanna. Since she is still breathing the bounty of twenty thousand credits will be paid." The protocol droid informed us and decided it wasn't wise to argue the simple math that twenty isn't the double of fifteen. It might even ingratiate us into her good graces. I glanced at Kyanna since it was technically her fetch quest. She nodded and smiled.

"We accept her generous payment. Tata Zanna." I whispered in the Sith Lord's ear. "I'm sure you'll look great in carbonite."

"Bastard!" She snarled.

"Wrong gender you idiot," Belle fired off as Zanna opened her mouth to contradict her.

"You're the idiot, that's really..." Zanna began until the droid hit her with a stun bolt from a built-in blaster.

"Talkative isn't she." I said. "Time to go everyone. We have a detour to make and I have a guest to break in. Don't I?"

"Absolutely!" Belle giggled as her cheeks flushed with color.

We reached the space port and boarded the Ivory Wraith. Kyanna piloted us towards the upper atmosphere while I gave Belle a brief tour of the ship. She seemed disinterested until I showed her the captain's cabin. She saw the bed and licked her lips. I offered her a glass of wine, but she was eager to earn her passage. The ship suddenly jumped forward with a lurch and we raced to the cockpit and Kyanna informed us that we would exit hyperspace in just a few minutes. We had reached Coruscant, two days early.

"What the hell?" I complained. "Aw man, well maybe next time."

"All players will exit the game for a mandatory twenty-four-hour reprieve and a new DLC installation. Sorry for any inconvenience."