Star Wars CLOSED 10 ABY: Fringe Elements and the Perseverance of the First Order

Unknown

Standing on a rooftop, the Unknown watched the barricade separating Vas Nihollia from the sudden refugees. That’s all they seemed to be and all they acted like in his opinion, but he well understood the caution being expressed. Anything could happen at any time, from anyone. Best to be safe whenever possible.

Through his helmet’s enhanced vision, he watched quietly for a few moments, noting that Dice guy was there. Up to what? Who knew. The refugees were merely repeating their message every so often while the townsfolk continually debated on what to do. In his personal opinion, they’d have to make up their own minds. The Hangar Corporation would take too long, no matter what they themselves chose to do about it.

Switching off the zoom function on his helmet after a time and turning to leave from his vantage point, he made his slow way to where the one person he had any interest here, was. Carefully watching her movements, he had made it a habit the last few days to always know where Dathisi was. Too many references to her and the possibility she may heal hi after this was resolved kept her location and safety too improtant to ignore.

Maybe he should just talk to her now, before things got crazy? Something to consider. Which he did, fiddling absently with one of the two lightsaber hilts on his belt as he approached her casaully.

He was cautious and his typical quiet self as he arrived due to the woman usually appearing pre-occupied with personal matters lately. Unknown would wait to see what and how she was doing before saying anything. If she was busy, he would simply nod his head in greeting and linger silently nearby until she was free. He wondered too if the renowned healer was going to be accepting of these recent arrivals.

Tag: @Jedi_padawan_leigh @The Jedi in the Pumas

 

Mara Jade kept a low profile as the refugees arrived. Mara didn't believe in coincidences, so the whole strange thing where she and K'ir Tor and others had been "transported" to some other when/where more than likely bore some connection. The fact that a message via the Force to some extent was broadcast from the refugees clinched it that something was about to happen.

 

IC: K’ir Tor
Trande Settlement, Vas Nihollia

~ Aboard the Tenasas ~

He had been in meditation for hours, delving in imparted wisdom, searching his own motives, visualizing countless scenarios, seeing ramifications. In the end, everything that was good depended on their actions now.

K’ir Tor rose from lotus position and opened his eyes once he was standing.

His expression was relaxed, yet contemplative as he moved towards the front of the ship.

It was true that he’d known what it was not to have a home planet, to feel aimless and without direction, then finally find ‘Hope’. K’ir could not only hear, but also ‘feel’ what Jinos and his people were feeling. How could anyone be callous to the plight of those in need?

Still, the situation was not so simple or easy to solve, not by a long shot. There were many other things to consider. Like the Syndicate and the Chiss.

That’s why he had come to a decision.

In a few moments, he’d gathered everyone. Myra, Mai’ hun, Mara, Lady Dathisi and Unknown.

“I’ve come to a decision.” he announced, his voice calm, but firm.

“I’m going to the Huzonian Camp. To ignore them is wrong. Since no one else is willing to meet with them, I shall do it.”

K’ir Tor knew that Myra would speak an objection, so he interjected before she could.

“My mind is made up.” he said, smiling softly and apologetically at her.

"If anyone else wishes to come with me, you’re welcome to do so. Otherwise, keep an eye on things here…the locals are uneasy, understandably so.”

Almost without realizing it, he looked over his shoulder, then back at the group.

“There’s something else….” a slight pause.

“The Tall Man is out there, by the barricades, and there’s someone else with him. A powerful Force user.”

K’ir let out a small sigh and checked his lightsaber by reflex.

“All I can tell so far, is that the other’s presence is complex and undefined.” That was all he could say about the enigmatic presence he felt. The fact that it was with the Tall Man was a concern, as what the timing. First the Huzonian Refugee Fleet, now this. None of it was a coincidence.

K’ir Tor offered a reassuring smile as he began to turn.

“Don’t worry, the Force is with us.”

He didn't know about the others, but that was consolation enough for him.

With that, K’ir Tor began to make his way towards the exit ramp. He had a refugee leader to meet.


Tag: @The Jedi in the Pumas, @Jedi_padawan_leigh, @Jedi_Ascension, @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

 

IC: Alpo Leineri Cummbo II
It was the best of times, it was the worst.

The first order had been housing and hangers, followed by water and food. This, as he opened his eyes to press against the glass housing over his cot chamber, was supposed to hard but simple. Of course none of that had remained true. The first thing when all the droids and colonists had set about their tasks was a good news situation. They had been able to dig in and the rocks although mineral rich had given way to their tools without being too soft, so best world possible. They were ahead of schedule.

Rubbing his eyes he saw his daughter floating there in the corner, watching him. "I thought I told you not to do that anymore. We have room now, you could join your brothers in the colony proper, or take a room. We have room now that most equipment and colonists have moved out."

"But Daa-ad. It's just so-ugh! Unnatural! We should be with you always, and whoever taught you to even think about privacy should be tazzed! In fact I volunteer for the job." she replied with a defiant air as she lift up taller, her dangling limbs going straight.

Great, she was feeling defiant. "Fine, fine." Alpo chuckled to himself. "Be obstinate." Who would of thought he would raise a traditionalist?!? His parents, fine his entire town had thought he was a radical off-shoot that would burn out or burn them out. Alpo had to swallow hard at that memory.

"Dad? Are you okay? Your preservation pod is working right? Any issues?" great, now she was worried. And that meant, yup, her antennae were raising as she interfaced with his sleep pod or 'preservation chamber'.



"I'm fine, hate having to use such a thing every week. What about you, not too much grit in the servos?" he asked giving her a once over as she switched which array of eyes was looking at him. Good, she was using one of the large ones, better mood than before. Why were those antennae still up then?

"No, not the sand. Although thank you so much for starting a colony with two-thirds of the members being droids on a dessert world. Not to mention your own children being so afflicted." She stated as she crossed two of her dangling manipulators, most of his children were survey models, his daughter most aptly was a custom rebuilt Imperial Probe Droid for her housing. His rebuilding and re-coding that one that they had found in a busted capsule in the side of an asteroid was why she was his daughter - why daughter instead of son like the rest of his kids was all her own choosing.

"I know, oil baths are the top priority alongside manufacture capabilities. Should be getting oil production done right after the food processing plants are working. That is unless we can make both of those a single process. Dad is looking forward to not eating ships rations." he stated with a chuckle, "So, what aren't you telling me little lady?"

"You just woke up, you need your caloric intake and treated mineral water first." He simply tilted his head and glared at her after looking at the head of his bed to see she had set them out for him. "Alright! Alright! Such a dictator, I still don't know why that's effective and I'm the one it's working on!" She decried with a static filled sigh. "When you entered your treatment cycle we were going to be ahead of schedule, only. . ."

"Only?" he said with a waving motion of his hands.

"Well, you know how we didn't see any fauna? Well, we do now. Wookiee sized insects that keep tapping our ships and drinking our ships energy." she said in a rush.

"And." he simply stated as her head spun away - or rather kept spinning. She was avoiding something.

"Well, I thought we had it handled, they weren't attacking droids so it was just something about our ships energy systems, but well - ships launched to save what fuel we had and tried orbit shifts further afield and thought of building a tower landing zone as a temporary measure, but whenever we come back they come out of nowhere. And we have to go back despite the tower nor the enclosed hangers being done because the wells suddenly went dry. Well low anyway, we still have marginal drinking water. Apparently the weather droids are stating from the ship data that a drought is spreading right now from up stream down to us enveloping our area. . .so water is scarce and the plants are dying or going into hibernation or something. So we have to go gather food and bring it back for all the colonists that need it, and we have to gather water to suppliment. . .on a desert world. . .populated with wookiee bugs that eat ships energy systems."

"And?"

"No and. That's all." she stated with a bobbing lower so her manipulators tapped the floor, looking at him finally with a fixed triad of eyes studying his grey complexion.

"Alright, I'm going to commune with the elders and see what the plans are other than building enclosed hangers and docking towers." At a buzzing and pointing motion he sighed as he waved his own submittal now to his daughter. Time to eat and drink, quickly, before he got back into the loop.

Later once he did he discovered the protocol droids and a few of the surveyor models were in full on anthropology mode studying the creatures and no-one wanted to kill the things unless they were 100% they weren't sentient. Which meant that was likely a few years down the line unless a half dozen fell dead where they could find them - all of natural causes that didn't affect the neural tissue - so the egg-heads could study them. So finding and neutralizing the hives were not an option. Likely they might be going after ships energy due to their natural source being diminished or gone due to the drought - so once the rains or whatever came again they should be less insistent on their vessels. Already the fact that the hangers would have to be completely armored so make it so burrowing wouldn't negate doors meant that solution was a bit of a ways off for a fledgling colony.

With building ahead of schedule they were trying various sonic and pheromone approaches to keep the bugs away. Luckily sonic monitoring beacons could easily be reworked into an attempt at a sonic fence and equipping then with a pheromone cocktail was - well that was someone else's area of expertise. They had worked so hard to keep coil worms and mynocks off their ships and now this, wookiee sized bugs that did the same thing. With the fence idea a long ring was made with each beacon doing a different tone so that they could see where the bugs would attack the next vessel from, and then abandon that frequency and rotate the nodes for the next vessel - each of them only landing one at a time. Unfortunately the pheromone trick was going to take longer and more observations. To kick start the armored hanger and tower landing ideas the hive basis for the colony was temporarily adopted, so that forges and smelters could be fast tracked with short heat vents further afield. Although most droids were already stating their preference for the latter colony model now with full modern buildings incorporated due to the difficulties traveling uneven narrow floors of twisting halls. Apparently falling in a rough narrow hall made it harder on some droids and was damaging a lot of plating.

The last idea, sadly the less feasible given their early status, was how to plate or armor where the bugs were latching onto the ships, but that idea had the same problem as the armored hangers. They weren't ready to manufacture at that level yet, they were working on it with the smelter and the forge, but those ideas had to wait for them to be finished first.

TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas , Anyone who cares.

 

Borek Tek
Into the depths of darkness, On the Rupert's Run, Csilla

Zeek beeped softly and very slowly backed away when he noted as Tek's hand had grabbed the covering and slowly began to squeeze it. There was a soft rumble in the room as the visions filtered in his minds eye.

...

No.
His Deya.

NO.
Abbadon.

That unnatural curse of a being had hurt his Deya. Tek's breathing dropped dangerously low, as his anger grew. His light. That which kept him from having the darkness consume him. Had been stolen. Chiss. Was this the Vanger Matriarch people? The tall being. Was that one of those beings he had heard of before? He didnt know the name. But he knew their reputation. What had they done to her? The other Chiss stated that they used bounty hunters. Were they cloning them, and then selling them off as bodyguards?

Deya.

They had hurt his Deya. Violated her. Damaged her mind. His light. They had made her feel pain. He felt anger at the Guild. How could they NOT have investigated that monster, he fought in the area? It was not like they could not have known. And Abbadon had put his hands on HIS Deya.

Hurt her.

Sold her.

Made copies of her?

And where in this abomination had the lightside come from? How had she been exposed to the light, during all of this?

Dead. He wanted them all dead.

Tek slowly withdrew from Deya's mind, being very careful not to do any damage. His teeth were clenched tightly when he gently laid her back down. "Zeek!"

Zeek gave a soft acknowledgment beep from a distance.

Tek didn't look at Zeek. "I want you to see if you can find any of that substance she coughed up earlier. Analyze it if you can. And you keep your eyes on her. Any change, you contact me."

Tek stood up, and walked away, letting Deya rest. Tek moved out, into another room, as he allowed his anger to cool. He was not some mindless sith. He was not driven by anger. But revenge, yes revenge could work for him.

Tek slowly moved towards a desk and pulled out his datapad. He began writing on it. He had just finished, when the knock he knew would come, came. It was time for him to tell them his choice.

Tek's face was a statue as he strolled over, and went to the door looking at whatever had come to the door.

"Yes."

Tek held up a datapad. "I will need these items. And I need to contact some people."

Tek tossed the datapad, shutting the door not waiting on a reply. Then he headed down to his private room. He had some planning to do. As he passed by Sera if he was still sitting there, without looking at him, he spoke. "Feel free to leave."


TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas

 

Dathisi Niroon
The Tenasas, Trande Settlement.

Dathisi stood by the ramp of the Tenasas, her eyes were closed, and her breath was soft as she reached out into the force, allowing herself, after so many years, to open herself up to it fully and completely once more. Her secret was no longer secret, and after the trauma of being Manipulated by Dice and the Dark Side, she needed the reassurance of that power within her, now more than ever. It was a bit disorientating at first, like a wall of noise or static, but though the act of calming her mind, that noise started to become easier to sift through. There was so many different emotions and feelings rolling off the populace of Trande Settlement in response to the ancient ships. She could sense it all. The confusion, the intrigue, the awe, the uncertainty, the fear. The town leaders were at a loss of how to handle things. Members of the church had extended an Olive branch of sorts to the visitors, but there was still apprehension. Uncertainty of the unknown.

Suddenly, a voice entered her mind through the force, as clear as if the speaker had been stood right beside her

"I am...Jinos. My people...We have traveled a long journey. For centuries and millennia. We only seek a home. We require help, food, and resources as we have been bound to our starships for millenia. Please, we only bring peace and seek help. We only seek-"

She opened her eyes, The voice ended abruptly, but it was clear that Both Mara and K'ir heard it too. A message broadcast out through the force. She regarded the ships with her feline eyes. She could not sense malice or ill intent from them. They felt lost...displaced. As if they were looking for some sort of respite from the harsh galaxy. Just like she had found solace on this world all those years ago, were these beings also trying to do the same?

She was pulled from her thoughts as K'ir Summoned them, the young warrior no longer deep within his meditations. He had consulted the force for guidance, but what it had revealed to him, She did not know. Those aboard the Tenasas had been preparing in their own ways. The unknown gunslinger had been observing the situation from a nearby roof, and Mara was prepping in her own way. The group gathered in front of K'ir. The Cathar regarded Unknown for a few short moments as he arrived back on the Tenasas. The mismatched armor, the various insignia, and especially the lightsabers, coupled with his unique situation had piqued a curiosity within her since their first meeting. She could sense something within him too. A need for help, support, maybe? She made a mental note to talk to him once they had addressed the issue of the Ancient Fleet.

“I’ve come to a decision.” he announced “I’m going to the Huzonian Camp. To ignore them is wrong. Since no one else is willing to meet with them, I shall do it.” Myra went to interject but K'ir intercepted her first. “My mind is made up.” he said, smiling softly and apologetically at her. "If anyone else wishes to come with me, you’re welcome to do so. Otherwise, keep an eye on things here…the locals are uneasy, understandably so.” Almost without realizing it, he looked over his shoulder, then back at the group. “There’s something else….” a slight pause. “The Tall Man is out there, by the barricades, and there’s someone else with him. A powerful Force user...All I tell so far, is that the other’s presence is complex and undefined.”

Dathisi bristled at the mention of the Tall man. Dice. And her brow furrowed at the mention of Dice and another force sensitive newcomer. The force was bringing together force users together on this planet, but why? What was Dices end goal here? She let out a sigh of Frustration. The dark side could cloud and obscure, but all this did not feel like a coincidence. If all aboard the Tenasas had heard Jino's message, then there was no doubt Dice and others had heard it too. She stepped forward.

"I will come with you. Their journey could have been long, dangerous. There may be sick or injured among them. I need to assess the situation, to see how I can help them, And if need be...defend them" She paused for a moment, her hand unconsciously brushing the tarnished hilt of her lightsaber "Dice, and this new "complex and undefined" development... it doesn't sit well with me" She confided. She turned to her other companions. Those who had already been so selfless in helping Trande and its people

"Mara? Unknown? What will you do?"

TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas @greyjedi125 @Jedi_Ascension @Sinrebirth @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

 

Mara had heard the message from Jinos & admired the resolve and swift decisive choice of both K'ir and Dathisi. Not one to hesitate but one to face a challenge head-on, she nodded at Dathisi. "I will come also. You are right in thinking the refugees may be ill-equipped to handle a threat of any consequence especially from the Sith-spawned Dice."

 

Unknown

The cathar woman, Lady Dathisi, had gazed at him for a few moments. There was some kind of consideration going on there, but Unknown was glad of it. But something else was garnering their focus for the time being. His royal guard helm turning to face where K’ir came from his ship that they were all gathering in front of. Even Mara had returned, given what was going on. Soon they were back onboard for a semblance of privacy, where K’ir began talking in idealistic fashion again.

Still, he was making a decision and ready to fall through with it and that in itself, was admirable and worthy of respect. Unknown allowed himself to think about the Huzonian Camp and the uneasy situation the settlement found itself in. Further complication was being heaped onto it with the continued presence of the man known as Dice, whom he had confirmed at the barricades himself.

If K’ir was to head there, they would not know what to do with their potential enemy, so it would likely be best if he remained behind to keep eyes on all potential movements. Dathisi’s opinion of joining him caused him to look at her quizzically. They were quick to assume they truly were just in trouble and in need of aid. His self interest of remaining close to her was now in conflict with his first opinion. What to do?

Mara added in her choice of joining the other two and now he was forced to consider that being the lone person of their apparent quartet to remain behind might not be the wisest course of action. Should ‘the tall man’ do anything on his end, given what had transpired before, was there anything he could do against him?

Not alone. That was certain. Granted there were the other two who were with K’ir, but something told him he was meant to stay closer to the others. He couldn’t place a finger on why, but the feeling was there all the same.

“Fine,” was all he said, “but you two—“ his helmed head now took in Myra and Mai’hun, “— need to keep your eyes trained on the tall man and his new contact’s movements while we are away. No idea what they are going to do now, but preferably do so from the safety of this ship as long as possible.”

Unknown folded his arms as he waited for them to now get moving, mentally remarking how he really didn’t like the sensation of being dragged along in the current of events here.

Tag: @Jedi_padawan_leigh @greyjedi125 @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

 

IC: Alpo Leineri Cummbo II
It was the best of times, it was the worst. Again.

They were finally making progress, the sonic fences were working and they had shored up over a weeks supply of food before he entered his 'treatment pod'. Oh the joys of having had terrible radiation exposure! Still, as he woke and stared at that frosted glass he took the time to simply breath. They were working the problems, the bugs were no longer a problem, they were solving the food issue, and weather droids were predicting that the draught should be over in a few weeks. Add a couple more for the vegetation to recover and then they might just be mounting an expedition to see what those wookiee sized mynock bugs naturally ate. Who knows, they could have a new organic power supply to energize their ships with instead of the normal backup generators or even replace the colony reactors.

Pressing the lid open with a weary smile on his face he turned his head to see her floating there. Again. Looking up and down he saw the mineral water and protein ration pack he was supposed to eat after a session laid out for him. Again. "What is it this time?"

"Can't a daughter just do something nice for her dad?" she asked in an offended tone.

"That would be nice, but I doubt you started that habit since I entered the pod." he simply stated, "Good news is it wasn't bad enough to interrupt my treatment. So. . .what is it?" He asked. Pausing to note she was pointing with a clawed manipulator at the meal. Reaching down he picked up the items, taking a swig before tearing open and taking a bite of the ration bar. "Is this the new stuff? Tastes exactly like the old." he frowned as he chewed and took another swig of the drink.

"None for you!" she stated in an all too loud and quick tone. "Sorry." she sheepishly stated at his wide eyes at her. "You are right, the food production and mineral water production as well as oil production have gotten underway. Now the Labs have become a priority as well as proper medical facilities - so the hangers have been cleared of ships and the perimeter fence expanded."

"Sweetie, you know the expression burying the lead? Good, you're doing that now." he stated with a round wave of the ration bar to get her to get to the point. It was good to know measures were being taken as he was unavailable, but he didn't understand yet why. They were just nearly finished with the armored and secure hangers when he went down.

"Well, they were the easiest to convert. . .into a hospital. And build a sterile mobile lab tent that would be secure in. An unknown disease is running through the population - rough estimate at 10% infection rate." He knew she wasn't going into the micro decimal range of accuracy for his sake. At least she could take sympathy on her old man that much. "And a strange man has been seen by the perimeter fences, but runs at the sight of any coming to question him."

"Great, so we have some disease - doing what?" he said he became distracted, it felt like his left face was oozing off. Taking the last bite of the ration bar he reached up to rub up and around slightly - like trying to manually put it back where it should be and hook it back on. Was it just a feeling? He would ask his daughter but he honestly wasn't sure if he wanted the answer.

"All affected enter a catatonic state. The droids and colonists both are working tirelessly to try to and find a cause as well as the affected points to make some kind of treatment. Until it is found all leaders, medical and lab workers, as well as ships crews are restricted to non-planetary rations. Unfortunately the Captain of the survey sphere was one of those afflicted before the new implementations. Full quarantine is also in affect." she stated in a flat delivery tone. Not good, that meant she was scared, some went hysterical like his second boy - not his daughter. Put her in a jam and she went cold and clinical. That always let him know to be afraid.

"Understood. We'll leave a gift package where that stranger shows up at. Ship rations and purified water, and a spare tablet with the generic neighbor greeting. Start a remote viewing and see how he responds. As for us, I guess we need to go see if there are any wrecks in the area or battles we can scavenge some more supplies from. We'll just have to pray they have medical and technical salvage." he stated as he got up and walked the three steps to his ships console. "I'll hail the council and get approval before we leave."

"Right, I'll go make sure the crew is ready." she stated with a hum as she moved to the back door to go tell BX-31 'Boxy', R3-G8 'Regret', and Timmy the B2 Rocket Battle Droid chasis what the plan was.

"Abigail, be careful. Timmy was going to test out his new boosters." he said in idle concern as he put a hand on the console and closed his eyes. Awaiting the connection and savoring the last view out the viewport of the progressing colony.

"Da-ad! I can watch after myself, and I'm more up to date on Timmy's mods then you are right now." she said in adolescent rebuttal.

"I know dear. I know. It's a fathers right to worry." he stated with a small grin as the door shut on her leaving.

TAG: None

 

OOC: Break time is over. Let's push forward! Thank you all, AGAIN, for your patience!!

The Trande Settlement, Vas Nihollia

There was a timely breeze that blew over Dice and Wapoe as they eyed one another. There was no facades or masks or lies between them, though they were complete strangers. Wapoe... was different. A man lost to time, to different timelines, a manipulator and a survivor of atrocities, time and time again. He was a mystery, origins unknown and intentions even less apparent. But Dice could sense it...The technology of the Outrider at work inside Wapoe. The Mystery Manipulator was bound to this world and the Outrider was dead. This would be bad news to the ears of the First Prince, so for now, Dice would not make mention of it to her. A frown cemented on his face as his eyes grew dark behind his shades.

Without speaking, Wapoe knew what Dice was even more clearer. He was no extra-dimensional terror...no being lost to time...no great sith lord. Dice was The Scourge: A plague to those that inhabited Wild Space. He had been for centuries. Corruption, disease, bouts of madness, and infection of ill intentions spread wherever he stepped his feet down. His level of Force prowess was unnatural. He was immensely powerful, durable...If one was want to compare his threat to the galaxy, it would be on the level of a galactic extermination event. Whereas beings like Darth Sidious and Marka Ragnos sought to dominate the galaxy, here was Dice, a being of comparable power, acting as the first mate to a criminal organization to a Queen with dreams of domination herself. One had to wonder what was his true intention. His true purpose.

And Dice knew this. Understood this. And Wapoe, by the virtue of no lies existing between the two strangers as they stood at the barricade of Trande, would understand this as well.

"It is...a coincidence believe it or not. I was sent here by the First Prince of the Syndicate Supreme, after a woman called Mara Jade. But I have...fallen in love now. I will make this place my home for now. You're in a bind here. There is some nasty technology at work inside of you. You're going to need to find a good healer..."

----


Jinos felt her presence. So warm...She was guiding him. She had guided him here.

Inside his small, ancient drabby tent, Jinos raised his hands to the sky, opening himself to the Force.

"I do not know why you have guided me here. But I know this to the be the Will of the Force, that the ancient Jedi who fathered my people spoke of. Protect us and let us live here in peace."

Beyond Jinos' reach, in the World between Worlds, Etu felt the lost man's words.

"This threat, the Syndicate Supreme, they continued to expand. The First Prince moves through the Unknown Regions. She is unstoppable and without equal. If it was not the Sith, the Jedi would have had to escape the universe to avoid destruction by her."

The translucent being that hovered near her seemed to agree, though possessed no face to nod to the affirmative.

"It seems that in our past incarnations, we were misguided. We thought it necessary to continue the battle between the Sith and Jedi to ensure stability. We could not have been convinced otherwise."

Etu does not respond and instead turns her view to the Protector, K'ir Tor, and his group. They will soon approach the Huzonian Campsite.
----
Jinos stands at the "entrance" to the camp; He is the first thing that K'ir Tor, Mara Jade, Dathisi, and Unknown see as they come to a stop, having arrived.

In the distance behind them, Muul on an old speeder bike approaches as well. Irritated that everything was happening so fast.

Jinos bows low.

"Thank you for coming to me without arms. We are the Huzonian people." Jinos then explained the extravagant tale of the Huzonian people in an abridged version: Descendants of an ancient Jedi expedition into what was now Grysk Territory of the Unknown Regions, the expedition's ships had become stuck in orbit around a "machine" world, called Crisis - The fault of a Trickster named Sera. For thousands of years, generations of Huzonians were born, lived, and died in the orbit. Jinos explained that though they were descendants of Jedi, they were not Jedi themselves, only having studied books and listened to tales passed down by the spoken word. It wasn't until Sera returned with a being called Wapoe - Who Jinos identified to the K'ir Tor, Mara Jade, and Dathisi as being the strange presence that they sensed as the barricade - that the gravitational hold on the fleet had been released.

The Huzonians were a people out of place and a people out of time. Their resources low and Dathisi would know that since they were isolated for so long, their immune systems were grossly underdeveloped for the outside galaxy. It would be hazardous for the Trande Settlement and the Huzonians for their groups to meld; it would take great organization and careful planning.

As Jinos finished telling his story, Constable Muul pulled up on his speeder bike. He stepped of and removed his "cowboy" hat, the brim wet with sweat. He placed his hands on his hips and wandered over to the group.

"Don't you all know that the barricade is supposed...aw bloomdogs, curse the council for now. Dathisi, what..." Muul looked over to Mara Jade and Unknown and stopped mid-sentence. "Didn't you two sign up to fight off the raiders?" He stopped again and looked at K'ir Tor. "And...your ship still hasn't been authorized... Aw kriff..." The Trande Constable and temporary Council member was overwhelmed with the happenings over the past few days and could not get things together in his mind. He rubbed his temples in earnest confusion. "Dathisi, what....what do you make of all this?..." He did not like his next words, but Muul was out of his depths. "What...should we do? Should we let them stay?"

Tag: @Sinrebirth @Jedi_Ascension @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha @greyjedi125 @Jedi_padawan_leigh
------
Aboard the Nemesis

Sloane set with a cup of caf in her hand on the holographic display in front of Sabel. The Admiral's team had returned to the Nemesis without incident and they were not followed by the Dark Tower, though Sabel no doubt expected that eventually he would have a bridge to cross with them. There was no mention, anywhere in the entire record of the galaxy of an organization called the Dark Tower, yet Alpha's appearance was the second time that Sabel would have heard mention of them. In front of him, now, however, was the display of a ragged Grand Admiral Slone; her hair frazzled and out of place, her uniform still wet with perspiration and dirty from her hazardous ordeal. She was hunched over in the seat, exhausted, a sight she would never let any under her command see.

The Syndicate was being more aggressive. They were destroying Imperial Remnant forces and turning the precious few planets that were under Imperial control into battlegrounds. This attempt on the Grand Admiral herself showed how close victory was in the hands of the First Prince. Sloane needed to know what Sabel's plans were. His position in her mind had changed...Not just in her mind, but in reality, the Sith Lord was the Imperial Remnant's last hope. But before they could speak, Sabel's comlink buzzed. It was Sten. She overrode his answering system and her voice buzzed, though Sloane could not hear the exchange as the transmission had not begun from Sabel's end.

"Sir, we appear to have something on the Syndicate. Our search team, the authentic one, was destroyed. There was one survivor, however. Ordinarily, I would suspect this to be a trap laid out by the First Prince. Except, it seems to be an actual lead. The survivor tailed the chemtrails of the attacking squadron back to their capital ship, the Hell Hazard. We have a visual of a Grysk Space planet where the First Prince and Third Prince are meeting with representatives of the Grysk Hegemony. Only I, the pilot, and you know about this so far, sir. How would you like to proceed?"

Tag: @darthbernael

------
Rupert's Run, Csilla

Everything.

Literally everything that Tek asked for was delivered in a matter of hours.



Gentleman Sera, after hours of silence, had reappeared and stood at a towering height over Borek. Deya would remain behind as the journey to the Capital of Csilla would be hazardous for her health. Tek would likely want Zeek to remain behind to continue to monitor her status and Sera took this as an opportunity to speak up.

"So...kidnapping a Chiss Royal family member and the Matriarch of the most advanced technological corporations in the Ascendancy... I like it. Mind if I tag along?"

In truth, there was nothing that Tek could say to keep Sera from coming.

Sera's Force presence grew massive and jolly. He was eager to begin.

Data from Chord about the job was transmitted to Tek's datapad.



The Vanger Corporation Capital Building was a small industrial city atop a spire. Policed by a private security force, It has its own mini-spaceport that only granted access to employee transports or the Vanger family ships. Chord supplied Tek with a Vanger family identification code for the Rupert's Run so that it could land, but any visual inspection of the ship would immediately make it stand out and questions would be ask. Tek could risk that way or use a made up identity, once again supplied by Chord, as a Vanger Corp employee and board a transport shuttle in the Csilla capital city, though this alternative would limit the weapons that Tek could carry with him and would require the bounty hunter to improvise a way off the spire if and when he captured the Vanger Matriarch.

There was a board meeting which the Matriarch would be attending in-person. She typically is accompanied by six highly trained guards. According to her private schedule, She will land, go directly to the meeting, have a post-meeting brunch with her son, and then leave. Her ship lands directly on the roof of the building where the meeting will be held.

With that intel, Tek was more than capable of planning his own assault.

Sera hummed, a hollow, empty sound that still brimmed with whimsical life.

"Love...I understand the concept. I suppose you could say I have loved before, but never to the point where I would put myself in danger for another...Settling down...Living in peace... These words have never entered into any of my plans throughout my whole existence. This..haha...this is why its worth it to spend some time in each galaxy. What do you need from me?"

Tag: @Ktala (Combo post if you wish!)

 

IC: Alpo Leineri Cummbo II
Crying over spilt milk.

Alpo banged his fist on the console once more as they investigated a new sensor reading to find out it was nothing but another dry hole. No wreckage nor abandoned facility with any equipment or even rusted plates let alone medical equipment for the colony. It was then that the door opened and Boxy came in tittering a little ditty. "Sir, you need to calm down. Extreme agitation is not good for your systems!"

"Boxy, you try remaining calm when your child is on the front lines of a pandemic! Not to mention I haven't found anything, I left to search for aid and I all I have done is wasted time away from everyone. We're headed back now." Alpo stated with a sigh of resignation as he punched back in the colonies co-ordinates. Calling off their search to go back and check, perhaps he was worrying for nothing?

"Perhaps you worry for nothing." Boxy stated, echoing his thoughts. "This new condition merely seems to traps the mind in an immobile body based on initial tests. A terrifying fate for most of the galaxy, but for us these are not things to fear. Are they not?"

"When you're right, you're right. I just don't like feeling helpless." It was then he finally got a secure signal relay back to the colony. "Wait. . .wait. . ." he muttered in frustration as the data signal finally came through.

"Has the situation resolved? Are we no longer needed to pursue aid?" Boxy asked in a hopeful tone.

With a shaky hand Alpo reached forward and pulled back the lever, slowing the ship down. His silence poignant as Boxy lumbered up by his side to blink his ancient photoreceptors at the data screen. A metal hand reaching up to pat his shoulder.

The message was dire, the unknown disease had doubled the affected population. But some seemed to be recovering, yet without knowing what had caused the situation in the first place meant no one safe. The Food was safe, the Water was safe. Everything checked so far was fine, the only option left now that an elder had been affected as well was to perform a direct mental exposure scan. Open up the affected and insert a probe directly to the brain, the source of all thought, the source of all commands for the body. To search for anything anomalous there. Both in the recovered and the still affected.

"That can't be good." Alpo whispered.

"It can be, if it finds what is wrong. I would add they should look for external waves or radiation causes." Boxy stated as he reached forward with his free hand and started typing out a reply into the system.

"Why?"

"All research is done in the most armored and secure locations in the colony. Same goes for all ship board crew members. If this is a local effect it could be merely affecting those in the exposure area. I am sure they are already correlating everyone's movements to make sure there is no common denominator for location or food, although in a new colony that might be harder than not. The fact that first affected are starting to wake with no realization that time has passed is concerning. It is like they were powered off droids with no internal chronometer being powered on randomly in a strange new location." Boxy stated in a long diagnosis voice, the same he used when describing why he had to shut down the ships systems for maintenance or his daughter for a proper workup and tuneup. In a way Boxy was odd, but all too common in their colony. Almost all doctors were both experts on the biological as well as the mechanical. It was just a needed facet with them. "Good news is food stores are growing faster than consumption."

"Yeah, and the Stranger accepted the gift basket but killed the observer." Reaching up he rubbed his eyes. "I guess we will continue to leave gift baskets at the same place and see if he ever attempts to contact us. Although killing him is now on the table, aggression with limited provocation is a bad precedent." Sighing Alpo typed out his recommendations for the council. He was pretty sure along with Boxy's medical recommendations they would be taken under advisement and implemented. After all in a crisis everything had to be checked.

"Speaking of Captain." Boxy stated and then stopped. Hopefully not a glitch in the chief medical officer and crew mechanic on his ship.

"If you have something to say, say it." Alpo finally stated.

"I would like to perform the same test on you, if you are willing. You are nearly due for another physical anyway, this would merely move it up a bit and be. . .a touch more in depth." Boxy stated as he took a step back playing with his fingers. "We can even combine it with your treatment cycle."

Staring at Boxy with pure disdain he knew if had those vaunted Force powers Boxy would be a melted puddle for his suggestion. Instead he merely felt a wave of ichor like sensation rise at the back of his throat. Turning away to look back out at the stars he sighed. "If it weren't for my kids Boxy. If it weren't for my kids. Let me get Abigail up to speed so she can continue the survey."

"Excellent sir, you shouldn't feel a thing!" the droid practically chirped in excitement. Whether at the prospect of getting that hated medical exams done or performing diagnostics that might help the colony Alpo wasn't sure, but at a time like this he wasn't sure he wanted to really know.

TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas

 

​

The RoamWorld, Grysk Hegemony Space



"Halt, put your hands up and prepare to be searched." The Marquis' security knew who they had their guns pointed at. They had no fear of Abaddon. Like most of the Unknown Regions and Outer Rim, the rumors of a "human" indestructible gladiator had been told and told again. His resilience and durability was noted and his aggression within the confines of gladiatorial combat was a trait they were highly aware of. Their weapons remained trained on him; all 30 of the security team prepared to fire at him if he even moved an inch in a way they found threatening. As if he was the only individual that had descended from the Hell Hazard's transport craft, even though the First Prince stood at his side, monitoring her datapad without a worry as to the weapons trained on her fellow Prince.

The reasoning of why they weapons were only aimed at Abaddon were simple: The Grysk recognized Colussia Hazard as one of their own. She was raised in their culture, adopted into their military and citizenry, and surpassed all that had come before her in the art of their warfare. She was the best specimen of Grysk military tactical leadership that the Grysk had ever produced and was well respected even after she disengaged from the Grysk Hegemony in pursuit of building the Syndicate Supreme's formidable and terrifying fleet. War with her, the Grysk said, was as advisable as attempting a skyjump with no parachute.

Abaddon did not mind the attention. He grinned and checked the bands wrapped around his wrist, only raising an eyebrow of annoyance at the security team.

"Yea, we ain't gonna do that boys. But y'all are more than welcome to give it your best shot." Clapping his hands, he begin to take steps forward before Colussia's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Grande Marquis Fir'a No'Ostu Fir'a is expecting us, brothers. You know this. The Third Prince will not be submitting to a search. I vouch for his life and behavior."

"Vouch for-" Abaddon began to ask, confused, before stopping as all of the security team simultaneously lowered their weapons and turned to march towards the encampment's entryway.

"Sure got a way with the Grysk boys, First."

They walked in silence until they entered the encampment. The Roamworld looked to be a barren, barely inhabited desert planet with small encampments of primitive Grysk littered sparsely throughout. Colussia knew from her time here before, though, that it was all a complex illusion designed to catch enemies off guard. Soon, a large tent appeared in front of them and the security team lined the path, rifles at the low ready, waiting for the Princes to enter.

"I do not think it prudent for you to speak again while we are here." Colussia stated as they entered the tent to begin the negotiations. She would offer the Grysk the one thing they had wanted for centuries: The Chiss Ascendancy. Fir'a No'Ostu Fir'a was the Commander of the Grysk Hegemony War Party. He was unforgiving, cruel, and brilliant, but no Grysk heart contained a greater hatred for the Chiss Ascendancy than his.


Grande Marquis Fir'a No'Ostu Fir'a

The Grande Marquis maintained his back to the Colussia and Abaddon as they entered. The beginnings of the conversation had been rehearsed in both he and Colussia's head long before the agreement to meet was certified. They would waste no time.

"Not...Not..." The Grysk voice was raspy and scratchy beyond understanding. The cracks in his dialogue were not due to his hardships over the basic language; It was, as Colussia knew, his own unique way of speaking. "Nothing less---Less than---Than The Chiss."

"I will give you the Ascendancy. They have long been the Grysk's natural enemy and main opposition to the Hegemony's expansion. In return, I want the entire Hegemonic War Party to join me against my own natural enemy."

"Who---Who---Is your enemy?" The Marquis asked.

Colussia did not pause in scrolling up her datapad as she answered.

"The rest of the galaxy and all who inhabit it. I will conquer them all."

Tag: All, though specifically to note @darthbernael

 

Unknown

They approached the archaic ship and its people, not knowing what they would be faced with and the very first thing out of the main ambassador's mouth was to thank them for coming without arms.

Unknown’s hand twitched. He had very much wanted to come with arms prepared, just out of caution, but he had decided to follow the others’ lead. And look where it got him.

At the beginning of a lecture. Something about ancient Jedi, a place known as the Grysk Territory, some kind of crisis world, a woman named Sera (he presumed it was a woman) and a long, long period of meaninglessness if he was any judge. The interesting thing he learned though was that these Jedi did not consider themselves Jedi. Odd. And as for the second thing, the person known as Wapoe, he could only wonder. Gravity had stopped just because of him?

That was a hard one to wrap one’s mind around. As he was attempting to do so, Muul arrived and looked just as confused as he felt. Unknown merely nodded once to him as a form of greeting.

The man then went to protest their presence because of the barricade that had been erected, which was a futile gesture he should know realize, but then paused in his own words to look questioningly at him and Mara.

“Things happen,” he stated simply while pointing at Jinos.

From there the constable seemed to have further trouble keeping up with everything going on and then completely deferred to Dathisi’s opinion. That was curious. The cathar woman was far more influential in the community than he originally thought.

He turned his helmeted head to watch her response carefully.

Tag: @The Jedi in the Pumas @Jedi_padawan_leigh @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha @greyjedi125

 

Trande Settlement Barricade, Vas Nihollia

"Alright, I'll humour you," his voice was dark, and he held out a gloved hand to him. "I'd love to meet her, Dice, sincerely, I would. Does she know? About you?" He was suddenly piqued. "About me, even?"

"She knows, sadly, too much about me. Dathisi, my Dathisi, she must think me some kind of evil. As for you, Wapoe...I'm sure your presence here has not gone unnoticed. After all, you are Wapoe. At least for now." Dice stuffed his hands in his pocket and stared out across the desert landscape at the Huzonian Camp, the sun reflecting brightly off his red tinted glasses. "The Outrider's technology comes from a different time. Far, far in the future. This is a secret between you and I. Be careful with that. Not even the Syndicate knows about his true origins. If he is to be believed, he is from a future where this galaxy loses the knowledge of the Force and the ability to wield it. What is at work in you is something like a contingency plan. It is not great empires nor great wars that tempt and manipulate fate; it is the mad men. Mad men like you. Mad men like the First Prince. Men that cannot simply find the wonders of life enough and must push the greatest limits of what is impossible for most to fathom."

He pivoted on his heel away from the barricade and began walking in the direction of the constabulary. His associate was still being held there and Dice thought it rude to leave an underling to suffer, even if it was of her own making.

"You should talk to Dathisi Niroon or the Head Priest at the Church. You'll need either extensive surgery or intensive divine intervention."

Maybe Wapoe would even need both. If he focused he could feel himself becoming more and more, each second, attached...no, incorporated into Vas Nihollia itself. That would explain the vegetation that continued to grow through and out of his body.

Tag: @Sinrebirth

 

(OOC: A combo post between @Kurisan @The Jedi in the Pumas and myself.)

Thallass Falkirk, Tiona
Fen'Jali Temple, Nobu Genesi

Thallass shifted a little trying to find a comfortable way to carry Tiona, well, a less painful way. It wasn't the worst but it wasn't the best either. Step by step he followed the ageded droid, taking in the temple around him. It was old, older than he first suspected. Though there were things that were a little out of place, bits of walls that seemed new, shards of metal. Taking a moment he looked into these things careful not to trigger anything in case they were traps.
________

Once they reached the central chamber a column of blue light that was quickly dispersed by the darkness. Thallass pulled out a glowrod shining it into the space trying to get a better view. But his weak light couldn't penetrate the black. Again his brow furrowed as the dorid laid out the job...Go into the crypts and get some items from out of them. Seemed simple enough though he could feel something was up.

Then the droid started generating diamonds, rubys, gold, silver, in amounts that would make coming out here worth it for him if he just took them and ran. Though he was suspicious, you don't offer this right from the outset, unless what you're asking is dangerous, or you're desperate. The droid didn't seem desperate nor did he seem malicious but, Thallass couldn't help feeling like there was something more going on here. Something this valuable didn't come without risk, and this was feeling like a serious risk.

But he couldn't deny that it was swayed by the wealth on offer…

"What's your game here? You're not even haggling, and you're offering payment up front. You're not being deceitful but, there's something up here."

Mirialan Minute’s smirk grew bigger and he turned to Tiona.

“Very cautious, this hunter.”

——-
Minute ceased his creating and closed his palm, returning it to his side.

“We do not need to haggle. You have come here as a treasure seeker. We have come here to retrieve something as well. Our interests align. The galaxy has made you wary... if it suits you better, I can withhold my offering until you have retrieved the contents of the crypt.”

——-

Tiona would sense that... this would be a mistake. The Force told her... there was something they’d need from Minute before they could continue on.

Tiona riled against this taking of her soul from her body, of this helplessness caused by the separation of dimensions. She could see the Duros carrying her limp form, carrying it into danger - for them both.

She turned to the Mirialan Minute.

"You have such power - yet you wait here for eternity, for what? What do you want of us? What must I do for you to let me warn my friend of the peril?"

Mirialan Minute waved his hand at Tiona, dismissing her questions.

“If you trust this man with your body, then it is not I who is keeping you from communicating with him, it is yourself. And what danger are should referring to?”

Only Tiona could feel the danger and death that awaited if Thallass approached the crypt without a Force sensitive body.
——-
The random pieces that seemed out of place to Thallass... upon closer inspection he had noticed that they were indeed from different time spans, yet were part of the temple. It was if the temple itself was under constant construction... from different spans of time! Of course, the Duros knew that that couldn’t be possible. A more reasonable explanation perhaps.

But with a a Force sensitive droid that could create from nothing... reasonable explanations may be scarce.

Lastly, the pieces of the temple he had quickly inspected could, with some struggle be removed.

Tiona blinked at the man before her. She was not sure she trusted anyone with her body, but that choice had not been given.

"Don't you see it? The red light? This place is cursed by the Dark Side. I am no Jedi... please help me... I don't know how I can speak to Thallass."

Mirialan Minute turned to Tiona. She was seeing something that he could not. This was troubling.

He turned to the droid Minute.

——-
The Droid Minute turned to Thallass.

“Your friend is worried about you. She has a warning.”

——-
Mirialan Minute asked:

“What is the Force telling you, young one? What is the danger to which we are not privy?”

Thallass stood there narrowing his eyes. "It isn't about getting paid up front. It's about how much you're paying me without even being asked. Sure I'm here to turn a profit but as my grandfather told me. The more you're paid up front, the more danger you face later." His mind thought back to the bits of wall, the things that didn't seem to fit. It was possible that they were made by this being, more than a droid but not quiet a humanoid.

He gave a look to Tiona still across his shoulders.

"What does she have to say?"

Tiona was not sure how much she could trust this man - droid - apparition before her. He had come to her as one of her own people. Their successes so far had come from trust; in the beings of the glade, in the Mother Forest.

"The Force tells me anyone who enters the crypts without a Force-sensitive body, will be turned to stone."

She wondered about that insight. Was that really what the Force was telling her? Was it to be a sacrifice? Was... her body the key to success here?

Mirialan Minute raises a hand towards the crypt as one would to try to probe someone in the Force.

“It appears you are right. That puts us at somewhat a disadvantage. That is unless we sacrifice your own body.”

The Droid Minute cocks it’s head to the side:

“It would appear that she believes we need a Force sensitive body to approach the crypt. That would mean using Tiona’s body. Is this okay with you?” The droid Minute said to Thallass.

Thallass shook his head, his muscles staining.

"There has to be another way." He wouldn't do it, not even if you gave him all the jewels of all the worlds. Tiona didn't deserve being taken by this crypt. "Some way to get around it..." A thought came to him. "Those walls you repaired, what's on the other side? Maybe this is a gate, a gate that can be circumvented." He shifted a little more.

Tiona sighed with relief when she saw the Duros protesting against this use of her body. She had been chilled by the declaration of the Mirialan man. The well of trapped souls below the crypt horrified her.

She turned to the man. "Is there no other way?"

She knew from her feelings in the Force that there was not. She had a feeling Prince Luce had known this all along... that was why he needed others to retrieve the treasure for him. It was all one huge trap.

An idea came to her.

"The spirit that guards this place, is it a Sith or a Jedi?"

As she asked the question, she looked at the Mirialan in a new way.

"Are you a Jedi or a Sith?"

Mirialan Minute now fully turned to Tiona, a look of intrigue written on his face.

“I was a Jedi...” it was the first time in centuries that he had individually referred to himself. “I was a Jedi before I saw through the galactic facade. Now we are Minute. We merely serve to preserve the Jedi and keep them from being wiped out and forgotten. There must always be Jedi. Your help in this temple goes a great way to serving that end. Mutually beneficial, as you will receive the treasure that has long been held secret on this world.”

Droid Minute grew silent. This Duros was quite insightful.

“The gate... We did not believe it likely for an individual to decipher the true nation of this temple. The entire temple is a gate, the world is a proxy for the existence of this place. Long has it been protected from Force sensitives and adventurers because it requires a level of cooperation...of care... of trust that simply does not exist among humanoids. We are here to close this gate, which starts by sealing off those crypts. You can keep whatever you find inside them.”

"Well that's great." Thallass said feeling the strain in his shoulders. "I'm really glad I could figure that out for you. But that isn't what I was asking about. I am curious if there is a way to get into the crypt without sacrificing Tiona. Some other vessel than her form...like yours. Though you keep talking about cooperation and trust. But right now I'm just carrying her around and staring down the possibility of sacrificing her." He looked down the halls they came in, looked for other halls that might run alongside the crypt possibly break through there. Though it seemed that was an impossibility. "You know what will happen if I walk in there? With her, or am I supposed to figure that out myself."

Tiona considered these words. He was a Jedi. She bowed her head in reverence.

"I am sorry, Master; I am not a Jedi. But I am also devoted to serving the traditions of the Order. Will you restore me to my body so that I help my partner? Or let me speak directly?"

Droid Minute's receptacles clasped closed. How had it not occurred to them before? The Duros was right. Droid Minute turned away from Thallass and raised both mech palms outward. The same process with which the jewels had been created earlier with a mastery of the Force that seemed like magic a Tiona doppelganger unraveled out of thin air from Droid Minute. A clone? Or rather a true artificial doppelganger. Except that Tiona would sense that doppelganger did not merely replicate her appearance, but was a sentient entity in and of itself.

And it was clear from the Mirialan Minute's nod what their plans were for the second Tiona.

The Droid Minute turned back to Thallass as the Second Tiona began to stir, like a newborn faun struggling to find its bearings.

"We can use this one instead. You have no attachments to this being. We can find out how the crypts respond without harming either of you."

Thallass felt sick, physically sick and repulsed by what he was seeing, watching a body created out of thin air, and with a consciousness. This was still a living breathing being she was stirring, waking. A thousand different curses came to his lips how did he end up here, was he really going to do what he thought. Sure it wasn't the woman he met the day before, that had traveled with him. But it was still a being with a mind wasn't it? Could he really so callously sacrifice this clone just because it wasn't the woman he'd come to know?

Was this really a solution?

How much did he really want to find this treasure? How far did his morals go? He was staring down the payday of a lifetime, and he was given a way not to harm his partner in this. He'd be silly not to take it, right.

Right?

His stomach turned as he set the true Tiona on the ground leaning in close to her ear.

"I hope you can forgive me..." Taking a breath he quickly threw the clone over his shoulder and marched toward the crypt...hoping that this worked, and that the clone wasn't truly alive. Though if it failed...he hoped his death would be swift, he wasn't sure he wanted this death on his conscious.

TAG: @Kurisan @The Jedi in the Pumas

 

IC: Alpo Leineri Cummbo II & The Jedi In The Pumas as The Stranger
Learning to say hello.

A knock knock knock came at Alpo’s ship before the physical was completely finished.

The Stranger was outside.

The droid he’d destroyed floating nearby. The outside cameras picked up the man mumbling to himself... seemingly rehearsing his introduction.



“Hello... welcome to my planet.

No. Not my planet. The planet. Oh, how imprecise.

Surely the planet has a name. What was it?

Well does it matter, Fuun-Jo. From the beginning.

Hello... welcome to this planet. I am Fuun-Jo.

I am sorry about your droid. It startled me.

Yes. That Is what I’ll say!”

Laying there on the examination table, or torture rack depending on your point of view, there was not much to do but be left to your own thoughts. Boxy was having a good time, he hadn't heard the droid humm so much in a long time. Which was nice, but when someone is happily examining probe wands and needles and things that look very barbaric . . .well it gets disconcerting when you know they are deciding what to use on you.

After picking up a ball tipped scanning wand and causing a spike to shoot out the end a couple times to make sure it was in working order, Boxy came over to Alpo and patted his shoulder, "Now, it is very important you hold perfectly still for this next step. I will be inserting this up your left nostril and have applied a thin lubricant to aid in insertion." the droid stated as he dipped the ball tip into the start of his nose.

Perhaps it was the angle of perspective but that thing looked wholly too large to fit! Then a tone echoed through the ship, they had landed to perform the procedure to make sure no tremors or motions disturbed the operation. "Hold! I need to get that!" Alpo shouted with a hand lifting up slightly.

Boxy paused, eyes blinking as it spoke in an annoyed voice. "The others can handle it, you need to hold - "

"Dad! Strangers at the door!" came the sweet blessed tones of his Abigail's voice!

Pulling the probe back Boxy sighed. "We will finish your exam after. No excuses." the droid punctuated with a waved wand.

"Fine. Fine. Sure thing. . .and Boxy? More lubricant please. Be wasteful just this once." Alpo stated with pleading eyes before heading to the door where Timmy the B2 rocket droid chasis was waiting for him.

"Captain, he has been talking whilst waiting. Transcript on console." Timmy stated before backing away from the door to wait at the corridor junction. Close enough to be able to come in blasting but far enough away he shouldn't be threatening.

"Thanks Timmy." Alpo stated with serious squint as he read the text and wiped his nose. Interesting. Resting his hand on his blaster he reached out and palmed the door controls. The door slowly sliding with a bit of noise to the side, the thing really needed maintenance, but one stability crisis at a time before ship refurbishment could become a priority.

Looking at the man standing on his proverbial doorstep he eyed the droid remains before refocusing on this odd fellow. "Hello." He warily stated.

“Hello!!” The towering figure of Fuun-Jo yelled in greeting. He had not meant to sound off so loudly, accompanied by a nervous tick which manifested in him raising his hands in a theatrical sense. Fuun-Jo was dressed in ceremonial Sith robes and stood at a height of approximately seven feet tall. His species was... hard to place. Human mixed with... something. His robes were ancient by design, but either through meticulous care or Fuun-Jo creating new robes, they looked fresh.

“Welcome to the planet. I am Fuun-Jo. I am sorry about your droid. It startled me. It has been a long time, I fear, sense I have had a visitor.”

Fuun-Jo glided across the rocky surface at an alarming speed and came to an abrupt halt directly in front of Alpo. The Man reached a long, bony hand with long nails out to shake Alpo’s hand.

Alpo was taken aback at the sudden outburst, literally - he took a half step back. Noting in the reflective screen of the door panel that Timmy had practically dove for cover as if a rockblast was incoming. Timmy, the B2 Rocket battle droid. . .he felt safer already.

"Fuun-Jo. A pleasure." he stated with a stiff smile, "I'm Alpo Leineri Cummbo the Second. I hope it is alright with you we were hoping to be neighbors instead of visitors?" He stated as he stuck out his hand after a moment of thought to shake the others. It was an odd gesture when you normally have engrained that such an action is normally met with hard droid limbs or pincers. Still he remembered the basics, match your grip strength to the others, grin or grimace a friendly demeanor.

“Neighbors?” Fuun-Jo was honestly surprised. Though not too surprised. Maybe it was the way Alpo had said the words. Words that Fuun-Jo had not heard in decades. His hand caressed Alpo’s hand with a gentleness that betrayed its ghoulish appearance. Fuun-Jo shook Alpo’s hand up and down a ludicrous number of times before he realized that the moment between the two had surpassed the appropriate level of awkwardness.

He let go and smiled a smile that displayed his sharp, dagger-like teeth. He nodded his head and then his face turned confused.

“Oh... neighbors. Like... hmm... OH! You want to live here?! Permanently! Oh boy.” Fuun-Jo scratched the top of his head with his needle nails. “In that case, you should know that this season the Southern star’s radiation will cause you some trouble. Long sleeps... um... that’s what I call them. Like the star,” Fuun-Jo made a fist with his left hand and with his right pretended to cast rays out from it. “The southern star’s radiation over powers the northern star’s radiation... I think. Um... they mix.” He collapsed his hands together into a ball.

“From what I’ve seen, it makes me sleep for months! I mean, like WHOA! Where has the time gone?”

Once he thankfully had his hand back, Alpo rubbed it roughly on his pants. It had felt like his skin was trying to ooze again, yet another reason Boxy would want him back on the torture table sooner rather than later. Sometimes, sometimes he really didn't like that droid. But what Fuun-Jo did his little dance Alpo's eyes went open, wide open. Looking at the droid remains though he contained himself with a raised finger, "Just a second. That answer's a problem we have been having, upside we know the exact chemical composition and contaminants in the water and plants. Downside we were just beginning to think that way, I need to relay that."

Reaching over to the panel he tapped it twice, the voice of Abigail came out of the panel quickly. "Way ahead of you dad, relaying the message and your incomplete physical now. Sabel and Citrine are going to love this!"

"Thanks dear." Reaching forward he tapped the panel once, he should of known his daughter would be eavesdropping and know what to do with the information. "Fuun-Jo we should be able to do something about those long sleeps then. Once the radiation savvy members sink their digits into the issue. If you want after we finish figuring out a way to protect our home we could try and insulate yours as well. As a thank you for accepting us as neighbors and letting us establish our colony here."

Fuun-Jo raised his hands and his voice, accidentally again, in surprise.

“Whoa! That’s fantastic! The sleeps aren’t all bad but they are inconvenient. Sometimes I’ll be in the middle of a project and then everything is covered in cobwebs! I prefer the sleeps to the other season though! The Flood season is the worst! But if you can help fortify my home against the Southern Star’s radiation, I’d be most appreciative!”

Fuun-Jo nodded vigorously and the broken droid he’d brought to return to Alpo levitated in unison. The man was clearly happy to have someone to talk to. It appeared that it had been a while.

Boxy, through preliminary scans of Fuun-Jo notices something odd. It must be an error so he makes no mention of it.

“Would you like to see my home? Your droid followed me home. It seems you’re interested And I could I use some help using this,l” Fuun-Jo pulled out the datapad that Alpo had sent to him. “And I haven’t had any company in... I’m not sure. It has been a while. And I make clothes! Do you need clothes? Maybe I could sell you clothes?”

Doing his best to grin and bear it, he nodding lightly he waited for this odd man to be done. "I'm sure as the colony grows we will definitely have a need for clothes. It's probably one of our less prepared aspects of our colony at the moment. First we need to see about figuring out how to fortify our home and yours, and I'm probably going to have to undergo a very thorough medical exam now that we have had contact. We are a small colony and without our medical or repair facilities fully built yet we cannot be too careful as we cannot afford to loose anyone yet. Once we have it figured out I will come by and bring a team to fortify your home, and then we can have a nice long visit and work on the tablet as well as talk about what the rest of the seasons on this world will be like. Being neighbors we will have a lot of time." he smiled waving Timmy to come forward. "If you don't mind we will take Articus' remains. Before we come we will hover near you place and send a signal that should make that pad beep and blink several times. If you're asleep we will do our best to work externally if able so as not to startle or disturb you. If that is alright?"

Fuun-Jon exclaimed loudly: “That sounds like a GREAT plan! I will get right on making some clothes!” The tall figure turned and walked off, mumbling to himself and shouting, occasionally flailing his arms until he was out of sight.

TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas

 

IC: K’ir Tor
Trande Settlement, Vas Nihollia

There was one thing and one thing alone he knew for certain. K’ir Tor trusted in the Force. He trusted in the Light and the balance it brought, the freedom from darkness and oppression.

Without a shadow of a doubt, he trusted his companions.

Lady Dathisi: She was a source of good will. He knew it and could feel it, as well as he knew himself, even better. K’ir Tor understood his role. He was living on borrowed time. His light would recede at the appointed hour, and Lady Dathisi’s would increase. She was the beacon of hope he could never be, but knew the galaxy needed. Until that time, he would support her every effort for as long as he was able.

Mara: She was the perfect partner. She brought exactly what was needed to succeed. There was no extraneous baggage with her, as she remained focused and on mission. She was a Master in her own right and knew how to double the chances with anyone she paired herself with. She was never second, because she was a perfect ‘equal’.

Unkown: A man who was a mystery. K’ir Tor had a sense of a neutrality beyond anything he had known previously. He sensed no darkness from him, no deception or ill-intention. He knew not why he followed Lady Dathisi, but that was less important than the fact that he followed someone who was good. That was enough for him. That and the fact Unknown did not care for Dice: The Tall Man. That made sense for one who was a follower of Lady Dathisi. K’ir Tor would count him as an ally.

Mai’hun: Without a doubt, one of the most gifted pilots he had ever and likely will ever know. The chiss woman was a loyal ally, who risked herself for the greater good. K’ir Tor was grateful to her for more than he could ever express and secretly vowed to avenge the trauma the Syndicate had visited upon her.

Mai’hun was like a sister to a man who had never known the preciousness of having a family and never thought he would, until now.

Myra: How does one describe the reason for breathing, for hoping, for existing. Myra was the secret joy of K’ir Tor’s life. A stabilizing Force, a gift. The one thing he could not live without, and yet, he knew in time he would. He would never reveal how transient his new existence had become, but instead would fill every waking moment with joy and wonder. In truth, sometimes he lost himself to the mission, but she was always there when he returned.

She was the part of himself that really mattered. Making her smile and seeing her happy was the greatest treasure anyone could ever have. He was thankful to the Lightside of the Force for this, unmerited boon.

***

And so, with these thoughts in mind, K’ir Tor approached the encampment, relegating himself to a support role. As such, he could be far more vigilant than before.

It was no secret that he did not trust Dice at all. He was the worst kind of darksider there ever was. A deceiver of deceivers, passing himself as ‘good’, perverting truth for the sake of his wicked ends. K’ir Tor would keep an eye on this one, for he clearly was here to despoil Lady Dathisi, and that he would not allow, not as long as he drew breath.

The other cloaked stranger, was another mystery. But unlike Unknown, this one seemed amiable to Dice, which was not a good sign. His signature in the force seemed undetermined for the moment, but his actions - or lack of certain ones, already revealed his leanings.

This one too would need to be watched.

On the other hand, Jinos would need to negotiate his petition with the governing bodies of Trande Settlement. K’ir Tor had no doubt that Lady Dathisi would work towards the best possible result. As for himself, K’ir was here to even the playing field against the powers of darkness. He could not know what, but certainly felt that something sinister was afoot.

Why else would Dice still be on planet. As long as he was present, it meant that the Syndicate was also present. The Syndicate who represented everything that was wrong and evil in the galaxy.

This is why he was here.

To put an end to their darkness.

….or them to snuff out his light.


Tag: @The Jedi in the Pumas ( @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @Jedi_padawan_leigh, @Jedi_Ascension, @Sinrebirth )

 

IC: Dathisi Niroon
Trande Settlement, Vas Nihollia

Dathisi approached the campsite with her companions, Her feline eyes falling onto ancient tents, and a hooded man standing at the entrance to the hastily assembled camp. The man's eyes were hidden, But Dathisi could sense that the cloth was not a barrier to his sight. The man bowed low as they approached and came to a stop before him. Dathisi returned the gesture with a small respectful bow of her head.

"Thank you for coming to me without arms. We are the Huzonian people."

Dathisi listened in fascination at the Story that Jinos started to tell. They were descendants of Jedi! They had been Trapped in the orbit of a "Machine" world for thousands of years by a "Trickster" called Sera. Generation after Generation of the Huzonian people confined to those ancient ships...They were born, lived and Died on these ships. Dathisi couldn't imagine what it would have been like. To miss out on all the experiences and sensations that others take for granted every day. The sights, the smells, the sounds and everything in between.

Jinos explained that though they were descendants of Jedi, they were not Jedi themselves, only having studied books and listened to tales passed down by the spoken word. It wasn't until Sera returned with a being called Wapoe - Who Jinos identified to the K'ir Tor, Mara Jade, and Dathisi as being the strange presence that they sensed as the barricade - that the gravitational hold on the fleet had been released.

Dathisi was grateful for the intel on the force-sensitive newcomer, but the revelation about this being "Wapoe" was concerning. Wapoe's interaction with the Huzonians had freed the fleet from Crisis...but what was his purpose here on Vas Nihollia, and what was his relationship with Dice? How much of a threat was he? Again, more questions....

As Jinos finished telling his story, The sound of an approaching speeder bike caused Dathisi's ears to twitch, and she turned around. Constable Muul pulled up on his speeder bike. He stepped of and removed his "cowboy" hat, the brim wet with sweat. He placed his hands on his hips and wandered over to the group.

"Don't you all know that the barricade is supposed...aw bloomdogs, curse the council for now. Dathisi, what..." Muul looked over to Mara Jade and Unknown and stopped mid-sentence. "Didn't you two sign up to fight off the raiders?" He stopped again and looked at K'ir Tor. "And...your ship still hasn't been authorized... Aw kriff..." The Trande Constable and temporary Council member was overwhelmed with the happenings over the past few days and could not get things together in his mind. He rubbed his temples in earnest confusion. "Dathisi, what....what do you make of all this?..." He did not like his next words, but Muul was out of his depths. "What...should we do? Should we let them stay?"

Dathisi looked at the confused Constable, her expression softening a bit. The dedicated constable was trying to deal with a situation so much higher than his pay-grade, it was no surprise he would be feeling overwhelmed, as well as questioning of their unconventional group. She walked closer to him.

"It's not a question of should we let them stay...i have this feeling, as if they were meant to get here. Something in the force is saying they are here for a reason" She crossed her arms across her front, glancing at Jinos's tattered Tent before looking the constable-come-Councillor in the face once more. She didn't expect Muul to understand, but with everything that had transpired here recently.... Another teaching from her past ghosted across the forefront. of her mind

"Nothing happens by accident..."

"Still..." She continued "...Logistically this is going to be even harder then the refugee integration from the mines "A frown crossed her brown unbidden for the slightest of moments. Those that were present in the camp, most did look in ill health "...We need to assess any risks to health, both to the Huzonians and the settlement. All that time in Space, confined to their ships.. They are most likely immunocompromised, so we can't risk them mixing with the townspeople straight out of the gate. Conversely, we can't expose the townspeople to any potential illnesses potentially brought with with them." She glanced at the fleet of ancient ships, then back at Muul. She had to fight the urge to shrug her shoulders as she tried to come up with an anyway workable solution.

"The only thing I can suggest is they land the ships somewhere ways-a-way from Trande, Establish a "Colony" using the ships if you will. They may have to stay aboard the ships for now, but I don't see another way, until we know exactly what we are dealing with...We can provide what supplies we can, and I'll liaise with Jinos regarding health assessments" She paused for a few beats, as she looked at the landscape around her. They would need a hell of a lot of space to accommodate the ancient ships. "Hows your knowledge of Vas Nihollia Geography?"

TAG: @The Jedi in the Pumas @greyjedi125 @Jedi_Ascension @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha @Sinrebirth

 

Mara favored the flustered constable with a subtly amused look as his nonstop questions poured forth. She had frankly forgotten about the raiders until he mentioned them. She focused on Dathisi's reply. Sensible strategy, isolate the new arrivals until the safety of all could be assured. Finding a place that could accommodate so many would be problematic. Thankfully it wasn't up to her to arrange such things. She didn't believe in coincidences and this Wapoe character was a mystery. She just hoped he wasn't going to prove to be trouble...