Altair Sirraf
The Galactic Alliance
Posts: 344
Affiliation: Unknown
Traffic Light: Blue
|
Post by Altair Sirraf on Dec 26, 2017 14:36:56 GMT -8
~~~Acclamator Crash Site~~~
It had taken several hours to coordinate but finally the rescue crews had begun to arrive at the crash site of the downed Acclamator. Medical crews saw to the wounded, technicians had already begun cutting into the bulkheads where members of the crew were still trapped and a compliment of 30 troopers in Forest Tactical gear had begun making a perimeter - they wouldn't finish by night and this place had to be secured, Felucia was not a planet you wished to be out in the open on at night. Those that were fit were allowed to stay and help with the evacuation of the ship - salvaging anything they could - but seeing first that everyone made it off safely and was looked after. Already many trips had been made to ferry the survivors of the ship back towards the Jedi Base where they would be fed and looked after in the staging grounds until the Jedi Master would allow them access to the grounds itself - in the mean time many shelters would be erected for them and the base technicians were working on getting them set up with portable power generators - before night fall the combined work of the base techs and the soldiers would have a working Mobile Base set up to accompany the entire force and then some.
~~~ Deeper in the Fungus Forest ~~~
Cane led the pair of Jedi deeper into the forest, their Airspeeders flying above the orange green and blue mushroom caps and various other colorful plants that shot up untamed from the planets deadly surface. They were nearing the coordinates Lucian had briefed them on, Felix was going down over the wild horizon, its light would linger for a few hours more, but by nightfall the world below would change, becoming much more deadly. Finally reaching the site Cane circled once, then again searching for a landing zone before finally setting down in a clearing and quickly powering down. What made V-wings useful here was the fact that the take off they did at the base was natural, but in difficult or tight situations the Airspeeders could take off and land vertically - a trait that came in quite handy in the more densely populated part of the Jungles surrounding the Base. Cane slipped out of the cockpit and awaited the Jedi... wondering how the pilot would fair with the vertical landing.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2017 18:46:11 GMT -8
*The rescue and recovery operations were already in full swing by the time the rescue crews arrived. Most of the ships troopers had already made it out, along with a handful of AT-TEs and AT-TEs. Several patrols had set up a small perimeter, acumpanied by the heavy armor and scout walkers. Three more LAAT/Is had been recovered and ran supplies from one end of the ship to the other. The rescue crews were a welcome sight for the tired troopers. As the night slowly progressed, the majority of the troopers moved from the crash site to the staging grounds outside the Jedi base. Even with a well performed emergency landing, there was still a long road of work ahead of them.*
|
|
Ellie Ordo
Member
Posts: 704
Affiliation: Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Ellie Ordo on Dec 27, 2017 14:25:37 GMT -8
*Ellie watched the mushroom forest below her. The multicolored fungus trees seemed to glow in the fading light. When the forest wasn't trying to kill you, it was actually quite pleasant to look at. She watched as Cane made several passes over a spot before finally landing. Reducing her speed, Ellie carefully brought the craft in for a vertical landing. The fit was tight, but she managed to land safely without hitting anything. With the ship powered down, Ellie climbed out of the cockpit and joined Cane.*
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2018 22:13:29 GMT -8
Opening her eyes and releasing the breath she had not been aware she had begun holding as they began their landing, Kaiya sighs in relief after, having removed her helmet and left it in her seat, she has finally set her feet back on the ground.
The heat of the fungal forest makes her feel as though she has entered a sauna, and Kaiya reaches up to secure her wavy blonde hair in a ponytail after removing her headscarf and tucking into her utility belt in an effort to relieve some of the heat that she knows from previous experience will soon become oppressive. Following her twin at a leisurely pace, Kaiya allows her awareness of the Force and Its currents to extend outwards, attending at the moment more to what can be learned by the eternal ebb and flow she mentally submerges herself in than to what Cane and her twin might say when they have all gathered together after landing at their destination.
|
|
|
Post by LE-01 on Feb 8, 2018 10:39:47 GMT -8
Far above the jungled terrain of Felucia, an object could be seen glowing brightly. Rather quickly, it grew into the shape of a light freighter in what could only be described as an attempt at a controlled descent. Its engines were inactive, and heat from reentry was causing the hull to emit the aforementioned glow. The AI at its helm was doing what she could with the repulsorlifts, but there was only so much she could do wi-..
The freighter hit its first treetop and began spinning, crashing through the foliage around it. It tumbled end over end, starship steel winning the battle against tree bark and fungus for the most part while momentum was on its side, leaving a visible scar through the vegetation. Finally, the ship came to rest with its right half submerged in a small murky lake, the other side sticking out at an angle. There were large gashes into the ship all around, and indeed the starboard side interior was beginning to fill with water. The viewport of the cockpit wasn't just broken: it was, for the most part, gone.. as was the droid chassis which had been at the ship's helm.
The interior was an absolute mess. Platings had been knocked loose, electronics were exposed everywhere, and sparks were flying. A single soft voice spoke from within, its source impossible to determine over the damage to the ship and speakers alike.
"..Eli?"
LE-01 didn't know if her passenger had survived. She couldn't see in that compartment anymore, nor could she establish a connection with her borrowed chassis.. she was, for most intents and purposes, helpless in this moment.
It wasn't a feeling she liked. It was, unfortunately, one she had become accustomed to in recent years.
This is a Jedi world, by her telling. Someone will notice.
...I don't want to be trapped again.
|
|
Morgan Calmcacil
Member
Posts: 931
Affiliation: The Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Yellow
|
Post by Morgan Calmcacil on Feb 8, 2018 14:52:17 GMT -8
*Today was an especially exciting day for Morgan, for her parents had finally agreed to let her take her little sister Lucy out into the jungle under her own supervision. They had been present to see them off, if only to ensure Lucy's encounter with Rush and especially Terror didn't end in disaster; much as Morgan had the rathtar under her control, it was understandable there'd be some reservations about letting a three-year-old child near it without adults around.
Morgan didn't know what the big deal was, he'd been around for years and, due to her command and Rush's watchful eye, he'd never attacked anyone.
Their parents, however, dictated that they stay close to the base. Also understandable; Morgan wasn't about to take her out on some grand quest across the wilderness. She was also requested to return within a couple of hours, so it wasn't like she could if she wanted to. So they only went as far as the smaller lake closer to the base. Lucy was rather eager to play in the water, after an exhilarating ride on the back of the akk dog. Clearly she was enjoying herself...
... but the distant sounds of a failing freighter drew Morgan's attention. She looked to the sky with a frown and managed to spot the smoking ship trailing towards the surface. She winced, feeling every blow to the planet's surface as it boomed in the distance. And then... silence.*
"Morgie what's dat?" *asked a concerned Lucy, standing in the shallows and looking at her older sister with furrowed brows.*
"A ship crashed," *Morgan answered, debating what to do.
Lucy gasped.* "Is they alright?!"
"I don't know." *She wanted to go investigate herself but knew her orders with Lucy. Glancing around, she saw her bag and ran towards it, digging out her datapad. She hailed the base, and soon got an answer.*
"Miss Calmcacil, how may I be of service?" *came the voice.*
"Ship crashed! Out here in the jungle somewhere!"
"We've picked it up on our sensors, but thank you for your report regardless. We're sending someone to investigate."
*Morgan, relieved, signed off and looked towards the sky again. She still wanted to investigate herself... but she wasn't going to disobey her father, not with Lucy under her care. While she was still at unease, she forced a smile and encouraged Lucy to go back to playing, and that the Jedi would handle it..*
|
|
Eliel
Member
Life is hard. Suck it up.
Posts: 57
|
Post by Eliel on Apr 21, 2018 19:31:27 GMT -8
Far above the jungled terrain of Felucia, an object could be seen glowing brightly. Rather quickly, it grew into the shape of a light freighter in what could only be described as an attempt at a controlled descent. Its engines were inactive, and heat from reentry was causing the hull to emit the aforementioned glow. The AI at its helm was doing what she could with the repulsorlifts, but there was only so much she could do wi-..
The freighter hit its first treetop and began spinning, crashing through the foliage around it. It tumbled end over end, starship steel winning the battle against tree bark and fungus for the most part while momentum was on its side, leaving a visible scar through the vegetation. Finally, the ship came to rest with its right half submerged in a small murky lake, the other side sticking out at an angle. There were large gashes into the ship all around, and indeed the starboard side interior was beginning to fill with water. The viewport of the cockpit wasn't just broken: it was, for the most part, gone.. as was the droid chassis which had been at the ship's helm.
The interior was an absolute mess. Platings had been knocked loose, electronics were exposed everywhere, and sparks were flying. A single soft voice spoke from within, its source impossible to determine over the damage to the ship and speakers alike."..Eli?" LE-01 didn't know if her passenger had survived. She couldn't see in that compartment anymore, nor could she establish a connection with her borrowed chassis.. she was, for most intents and purposes, helpless in this moment.
It wasn't a feeling she liked. It was, unfortunately, one she had become accustomed to in recent years.This is a Jedi world, by her telling. Someone will notice.
...I don't want to be trapped again. "Eli?"Artificial voice modulation. Stutter in vocoder protocol at beginning of word. Easy fix. Reverberation. Hollow space between vocoder and ears. Design flaw overlooked? Easy fix. Pain. Sharp pain. Where? Everywhere. Lungs. The air hurts. Can't fix. Head throb. Can't fix. Numbness in left arm. Movement possible? Pain. Sharp, screaming pain. Not possible. Pressure on shins. Movement not possible. Open eyes, look around! Smoke, blue sparks, darkness. A trickle. Blue reflections of sparks, ripples. Water. Rising. Sinking. Fear. Drowning probable. Movement impossible.
Can't fix."One!" Eli could hardly croak out the word, over her panic, the smoke. "One! Please! I can't move!"
|
|
|
Post by LE-01 on Apr 21, 2018 23:17:18 GMT -8
01's calculations ground to an abrupt and unwelcome halt at Eli's utterances.
Oh dear.
So the young woman hadn't made it to the crash webbing after all. Things had gotten out of control too quickly, and their chances of survival were rapidly declining.
"You're going to be okay."
She hoped that statement didn't turn out to be a lie. 01 began siphoning what little power there was left into the chassis's receiver, boosting its signal in a final attempt to make contact. When that failed, she sighed internally and switched it to all frequencies to broadcast an emergency signal. She knew the receiver's range was severely limited, but at this point there was nothing she could do to save her own rescuer from, at the very least, grievous injury. So she was going to keep up th-..
There was a returning signal. From within the ship.
In an instant, she was focused on it, establishing a connection. It was fairly obvious after a few cycles of inspection that it wasn't her chassis, but still.. it had stronger networking capabilities than the receiver and was relatively -- and remarkably -- undamaged.
"You're going to be okay," she repeated, injecting a note of genuine hope into her voice.
There.
Through this device, a signal had been found. The connection wasn't perfect, but...
Far outside the ship, the holodroid body twitched, sending a few sparks into the air from one damaged area. Then it slowly, shakily, began reorienting itself, pushing itself up and easily identifying the direction of the crashed ship.
"Help is coming, alright?"
|
|
Eliel
Member
Life is hard. Suck it up.
Posts: 57
|
Post by Eliel on Apr 28, 2018 21:55:40 GMT -8
Help, what help? If they crashed on Felucia then help might as well be non-existent with how rough the terrain was. The ship groaned as it slowly sank into the water, listing on its starboard side, if she remembered her location correctly. Towards the engine bay at the stern, a little right of center. Math and schooling were never her strong suits but she could guess she had a few minutes before the water was up to her face. Eli tried to pull her arm, move it, anything. Pain lanced up her arm and into her shoulder. She cried out and stopped struggling. Broken, probably. Dislocated more than likely. She shivered as the water level reached her knees and continued to climb. Rescue was impossible. Not only were her legs trapped under something but her arm was wedged as well. She'd need the Force or something to move it and she couldn't begin to figure out where to put her focus. Eli wiggled her legs. Whatever was pinning her shins moved just a smidgen. If she could free her arm, she could free her legs. But her arm might as well be in a vice.
She'd seen what carelessness or exhaustion around heavy machinery could do. One of the other mechanics where she worked on Naboo had gotten his arm stuck in a large, inexorable machine. Power got cut but it was too late and he was elbow deep in gears and pain. Emergency services had to cut the arm off then and there to save his life. He couldn't afford a prosthetic and lost his job because of it.
Eli shuddered and looked around. A lot of shrapnel lay within arm's reach, some with wicked points and shining edges. Eli breathed deep and swallowed hard. If she had to do it to live, she would.
The water touched her thighs now. She'd have to decide soon.
"One, please tell me that help's almost here," she called out, her voice wavering. "Please. I don't want to die."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2018 4:30:52 GMT -8
*The two MAAT gunships skimmed the tree line as they raced across Felucias surface. Their destination was the last known position of a downed vessel. Dutch turned to face the six other troopers in the gunship.* "Alright, boys. This should be a simple job for us. A straightforward search and rescue. We find the ship, secure the survivors and evac the wounded immediately back to the temple. Got it?"
*A chorus of 'Yes sir' sounded out before Dutch turned around and put his helmet back on. He carefully leaned out the open side door of the ship, glancing towards their destination. He could see a small thin streak of smoke rising from the forest. Not nearly the about he thought there should be, judging from the size of the ship the sensors picked up.*
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2018 4:53:57 GMT -8
Rawkill eased back upon the throttle of the airspeeder as they flew across the forest terrain of Felucia. He turned towards Kent as she sat in the passenger seat next to himAre we nearing our destination? Or do we need to head more in another direction?
|
|
Jair Crawford
Databank Operations
Posts: 358
Affiliation: Jedi
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Jair Crawford on Aug 19, 2018 21:19:34 GMT -8
An A-wing zipped across the Felucian terrains and mighty fungal forests; an odd sight, but flying with no navigation systems can certainly make for some interesting situations.
|
|
|
Post by Roma Calmcacil on Aug 24, 2018 17:38:02 GMT -8
"Roma, be careful!"
*The woman's warning only barely registered in the mind of the little girl as she weaved between the fungal stalks that her quarry attempted to lose her in. She held her bow low, an arrow already notched, awaiting a clear shot. Her long, dark brown hair flapped behind her in a ponytail as she ran, batting against the quiver and skullblade hanging from her back, both of which rattling with each step.
She caught glimpses of the flightless fowl between the stalks; luckily, it seemed they were thinning. Grinning, she ran faster, wanting to ensure the best range once she had a clear shot. Finally her feet found open ground and they immediately scampered to a halt, planting as she lifted her bow and took aim at the fowl, now cornered at the edge of a cliff, a large red hill framing the pitiful poultry. Releasing her arrow, the fowl fell with a final squawk.*
"I got dinner!" *Roma exclaimed, grinning as she ran forward and knelt down by the fallen bird. For a brief moment, a pang of guilt brought a frown to her face.*
"Atta girl," *came the woman's voice again as she jogged from the canopy towards her. She was equipped much like the child, with a bow and quiver slung across her shoulder. Across the other shoulder was a whip that glowed with a purple hue, emanating a faint mist. A metal cylinder hung from a crude belt across her waist. Her hair was the same brown shade as the child's, but left to flow freely. As she knelt down, she asked,* "Still not used to it yet?"
*Roma's gray eyes looked up into the woman's green, seeing the look of concern. Nodding, the girl answered,* "It was easier when you were killing them, Mama..."
*Mama nodded and reached out to stroke her daughter's hair.* "It's difficult, I know, but it's how we eat. Unless you want roots all the time." *A familiar croak preceded the arrival of a black-and-red tailring, who fluttered and came to a stop on the woman's shoulders, looking down at the fallen meal eagerly. Giggling, the woman added,* "Besides, it's all they'll eat."
*She glanced back at the canopy line, where an akk dog and rathtar awaited them. Roma also managed a giggle before frowning again.* "I know, it's just—" *Her voice trailed off as she looked back over the cliff and at the red hill beyond.*
"What's wrong—"
*Roma barely noticed Mama's similarly-trailing words as she realized the hill she had been looking at was no ordinary hill at all. She got to her feet and stepped closer to the hill to get a better view.*
"Roma, wait!"
*She stopped at the edge of the cliff, revealing a ravine below from which the "red hill" emerged. Within lied the most bizarre object she had ever seen. A very, very large object which she had no idea how to describe. The "hill" turned out to be one of three round shapes, all connected by a thinner bridge of sorts between them. This was attached to a long... "body," though it appeared torn open in several points; the "head" had been torn off and rested several meters away, the broken piece facing the rest of the "creature" at an angle.
Roma hesitated only a moment. Sensing no danger, she looked down the side of the cliff. Not too far away was a slope, which she made for. Mama called out again, but her curiosity had taken hold. She made it to the bottom safely and carefully approached the base of the "hill." Its "tail" perhaps? It was so bizarre, so foreign... and yet even from this distance, it seemed similar to the materials in Mama's lightsaber.*
"Roma..."
*Only now did the child look back at her mother, who stood at the base of the slope, her voice sounding as nervous as she looked. Roma immediately looked back at the creature and backed away; if something made Mama nervous, then the last thing Roma wanted to do was mess with it.* "What is it, Mama?"
"A skybeast..."
*Roma's eyes widened in shock and then awe.* "Like the ones that roar in the sky?" *Mama nodded, causing Roma to hop back from the corpse and ask,* "I-it's dead, right?" *When Mama nodded again, Roma approached the skybeast once more. This time Mama didn't try to stop her. Once she stood right next to its tail, she scrutinized the surface, almost putting her nose up to it. Then she cautiously lifted a hand... only to slam it onto its "hide." Yes, this was much like Mama's lightsaber, only rougher, older...
She glanced back at Mama, who only continued to watch her with a strange apprehension on her face she was failing to mask. While Roma was concerned, she was far more curious about the ship, so, taking Mama's inaction as permission, continued to investigate. Larger chunks of the ship were littered on the ground beside it; these she crouched down by to investigate. Some possessed strange tendrils, flexible, but tougher than any sinew she'd witnessed before.
Continuing onward, she reached the split neck. Glancing back and forth between the, she hesitated before picking the head to explore first. Just like the few pieces on the ground, tendrils sprouted from jagged edges, but it was the interior shape that intrigued her. Like the outside, everything seemed made from metal in such a deliberate fashion. Straight walls, intersected by perpendicular lines of metal... Were these its bones?
Tossing her bow back over her shoulder, she climbed up into its interior, being careful to avoid the sharp edges. The floor was uneven, leaning slightly to the right side, but she was able to easily keep her balance.
A gasp escaped her throat when she saw the actual bones. Long since cleaned, so old they no longer formed a complete skeleton, but there they were, several piles of bones in the crease in the walls before her, tattered remnants of some kind of wrapping surrounding them.
The skybeast's last meal, perhaps? She had no idea what these bones belonged to, but they were oddly humanoid...
She carefully stepped over them, more concerned about falling than disturbing them, and made her way further into the head. The throat opened up into a larger space, with what must have been its eyes. At least, she assumed they were, for she could see right out into the jungle through flat pieces of some transparent material, albeit most of it cracked or completely broken. Some of the pieces littered the floor, as well as a strange fixture full of odd knobs and buttons. Several objects sprouted from the floor, looking as though one could sit in them; in fact, there were more skeletons sitting in them, seemingly held in place by some sort of belt. A trap perhaps? That was her first thought, but something about it seemed too perfect...
Exiting the throat, she found Mama waiting for her outside with the same concerned expression. She hopped out, landing in a crouch and looking up at her.* "What's wrong, Mama?"
*Mama hesitated only a moment before saying,* "Roma, I have to tell you... a lot of things..."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2018 17:48:55 GMT -8
It had been weeks since the woman set up camp on this fetid planet. For weeks, she had lived, foraging off of what edible flora she could find, hunting the weaker beasts, and most importantly avoiding the larger ones. For weeks, she lied in wait for a chance to fulfill her mission. Her instinct had brought her here yet again, like all those years before.
Close enough to the Jedi Base, she kept an eye on it all this time, yet she remained far enough away that no one would sense her, not unless they were truly looking for her. She was sure, however, that all within the Base wouldn't remember her; she was simply a bad nightmare, come and gone. How easy it could've been to just walk through those doors again, though. How convenient it would've been to find what she sought and leave. She was no longer that fool of a girl, and it was far better to come and go unnoticed.
It was torture to remain on this humid planet, and she would take any opportunity that arose and find a way to use it to her advantage. However, she knew a perfect opportunity when she saw on.
Without warning, clouds gathered and swallowed the sun and the skies. Before the woman could pull up the hood of her robes, these clouds unleashed their torrential downpour. Lightning crackling with an impending warning, and the winds unleashed a hellish howling. Even a young apprentice could sense the sheer amount of dread that radiated from this storm. This was not just one of Felucia's ordinary storms. The Force's chaotic nature was laced within every raindrop that hit the earth.
Mariah shifted her jaw, crimson eyes looking up over the Base, while flickers and flashes broke through the sky and careened towards it in some suicidal dance. "An ambush," she whispered as if stating nothing more than a fact. Her nonchalant tone carried neither fear nor glee, but her eyes were alight with fiery determination as she looked back down to the Jedi Base and the smoke that now rose from its walls.
A diversion was made. The Base would be on high alert for all intruders but would be focused on those who openly raided. A ghost wandering their halls would be of no concern, if they would even notice her in their exigent circumstances. Her mission now moved forward.
With her hood pulled over to hide her face, the woman approached the burning remnants of the Jedi Base, her black robe whipping behind her from the howling winds.
One step closer. Two steps.
Her presence vanished with the third.
|
|
|
Post by Roma Calmcacil on Aug 27, 2018 23:16:27 GMT -8
*Mama's tales enraptured Roma, as they sat by the fire over which they had roasted the girl's catch. Frankly, Mama's stories would've been unbelievable were it not for what Roma had learned exploring the belly of the skybeast. Or "ship," as it was apparently actually called. It was hard enough to fathom that it had been built by intelligent beings, mostly because it could fly! But that wasn't all, they could go to other worlds entirely, and Mama had traveled this way herself in the past! But that particular ship had been grounded for a very long time, during something called the "Clone Wars"; something Mama said she'd tell her more about later.
That was okay, because Mama had so many other things to tell her about. So much, in fact, that Roma was having trouble keeping track of it all. She learned of the Jedi Knights, guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, whom Mama trained under, and where she got her lightsaber from. She also learned of the enemies of the Jedi, the Sith and the Knights of Ren, practitioners of the dark side, and whom the Jedi clashed with; throughout history, in the case of the Sith. She was given a vague idea of what "government" was, as well as the two major governments in the galaxy: The Galactic Alliance and the First Order.
Mama then went on to talk of how there were many different kinds of sentient races, not just humans, that took many shapes and appearances. She spoke of how people lived, explaining a place called the "Jedi Base" where she once called home. Roma absorbed every detail in awe, trying and failing to produce a proper mental image of it all. When it seemed Mama was done telling her stories, Roma shot to her feet, declaring,* "I wanna go see!"
*Mama nodded, a strange mixture of hesitance and eagerness wrestling for control of her expression.* "We will."
*Roma beamed.* "Right now?!"
*Laughing, Mama shook her head.* "It's way too late tonight."
*Roma frowned and glanced around, only now noticing the faint glow that was Felucia at night. So enthralled was she by Mama's stories she hadn't at all noticed how much time had passed. Pouting, she looked at Mama and said,* "Okay, but tomorrow?"
*Mama nodded.* "Yes, tomorrow. But it's a very long way away and will take us several days to get there."
"Don't care!" *Roma began bouncing excitedly in place.* "Wanna go see it!"
"We will! But... there's somewhere I want to stop along the way."
*Roma ceased her bouncing and stamped her foot with a pout.* "Mama!"
*With a smile, Mama said,* "Trust me, you'll love this place too."
*Roma was skeptical but agreed with a sigh, before helping extinguish the fire and respectfully bury the bones of their meal. Once that was taken care of, they found a comfortable place to curl up on the ground together, their animal companions joining them. Roma had trouble falling asleep, mind alight with all the new information Mama had told her. The thought of so many other people around on the planet, let alone in the stars was mind-blowing, and she desired to see it all. Going into the stars... nothing sounded more exciting. Hopefully whatever detour Mama wanted to take wouldn't take too much time...*
|
|
|
Post by Roma Calmcacil on Sept 5, 2018 23:25:02 GMT -8
*Mama didn't lie when she said the journey would take several days. And they were traveling on the back of an akk!* "Can't you run any faster, Rush?!" *Roma had whined.*
"He can," *Mama had replied,* "but then Terror wouldn't be able to keep up!"
*Roma had glanced backwards at the tumbling tentacle mass, initially disappointed, but then feeling guilty for being upset at her animal friend. Still, she'd never felt so eager yet so bored in her life; riding Rush had always been fun, but doing so multiple days in a row with little else in-between got old rather quickly. Mama tried to keep her entertained with other stories but this only did so much to mitigate her utter boredom.*
"Are you sure this is gonna be worth it?" *she questioned, standing in ankle-deep water at one of their stops.*
"I know the trip is boring, but I know you'll love it," *Mama assured her, looking oddly happy as she observed their current location.
Roma frowned skeptically and looked back towards the lake she stood in. It was far from the first lake she had seen, but she had to admit something seemed unique about this one. The shape of it, for instance, seemed almost perfectly like an eye. She looked back at Mama, who had sat down within one of the many faerie rings on the shore, and asked,* "Why does this place make you happy?"
*Mama sighed wistfully.* "I used to play in this very lake when I was younger. In fact, I first discovered it when I was your age! Mom— Mother Felucia actually showed it to me in a dream before I found it..."
*Roma's gray eyes widened in awe as she looked back out over the lake with new appreciation. She stood there only a moment longer, then, with a smile, she ran out deeper into the water, eagerly splashing and diving and swimming about in its cool refreshment. Before she knew it, Mama had joined her, and the two played about happily and with laughter. They even engaged in a brief water war, the both of them manipulating the water as weapons. Roma was sorely outmatched by her skilled mother, but she refused to go down without a fight!
After playtime had ceased and night had fallen, the two curled up and slept within one of the many faerie rings dotting the shore, the animals resting nearby. When morning came, they gathered some breakfast before resuming their journey; Roma made her impatient feelings known immediately. However, barely any travel time had passed at all when Mama called Rush to come to a stop.* "We're here," *she announced.*
"We are?!" *The little girl wasted no time in sliding down from the akk's back and running forward. Mama didn't even try to stop her. Roma continued until the many fungal fixtures thinned out, revealing a valley below. Within said valley, through which a river flowed, were many odd structures, all round with a slightly pointed tip. Milling about these structures were creatures she had never seen before, all of various colors but predominantly purple.*
"I know it's been a while, Terror, but you gotta stay here!" *she heard Mama say as she approached.* "Stay here with Rush! What do you think, Roma?"
*The girl looked up to see her mother crouching beside her, smiling at her. Looking back at the valley below, she asked,* "What are they?!"
"These are Felucians, and this is their village."
"'Felucians'?" *she asked with a scowl before looking back at her mother.* "I thought Felucian was the whole world!"
*Mama laughed.* "Felucia is the world. Felucians live on the world. The original people, before humans and other races came to live here."
*Roma's eyes and mouth widened with awe as she immediately ran towards the village. Many of the Felucians noticed the newcomer, looking up curiously before most resumed their previous activities. Those that continued to watch were predominantly children, seeming equally in awe of the unexpected visitor.
Suddenly she was plucked off her feet, Mama's arms wrapping around her torso and holding her in place.* "Slow down, Roma!" *she said, as the child squirmed in her arms. Turning around, Mama knelt down, setting the child on the ground and turning her to face her, looking somewhat amused.* "You don't even know where you're going! I know the people here, so I'll show you around!" *Her expression fell slightly before she admitted,* "I don't know if they'll even recognize me though..."
*Roma frowned and tilted her head.* "Why wouldn't they?"
"Because it's been so long! I was small like you once, rememb—"
*Mama's sentence was cut off with a yelp as she nearly fell forward, one of the Felucians latched onto her from behind and made excited noises. Roma gasped and took several steps back, instinctively reaching for her bow. Her hand stalled when she saw her mother's own excited expression as she looked into the... face? of her "assailant." The only word Roma understood was,* "Ch'lonna!" *before launching into a string of noises similar to the Felucian's as she turned to embrace them.
Roma scowled as she watched them trade noises. Finally, she asked,* "What are you doing?"
*Both of them looked down at Roma before Mama grimaced.* "Right..." *Kneeling down in front of her daughter, she explained,* "I'm speaking Felucian. They have their own language, different from how we speak. Guess I forgot to tell you about that when I told you about all the different races..."
*The idea that different people spoke different ways as first fascinating before becoming immediately frustrating.* "So how do you know what they're saying?!"
"Because I learned how to speak it, silly!"
*Suddenly fascinated again, Roma bounced on her heels.* "Teach me!"
*Mama laughed.* "I will soon! But later, okay? I gotta talk to my friend!"
*She then stood and resumed the foreign conversation with the Felucian, leaving Roma left out and once more frustrated. Yet she couldn't help but notice: Mama seemed incredibly happy. Not that she was usually unhappy, but there was often a sense of melancholy about her that was now completely absent.
Suddenly both of them looked at Roma while they continued speaking; she got the feeling the conversation was about her now. She tried to look back with a neutral expression but it became more of a grimace. She noticed movement behind the Felucian, which belonged to a much younger one approaching curiously, with four more children behind them; all five walking on their arms and feet as opposed to their bipedal mother. The lead child was purple, while the others ranged from purple, blue, and red. The lead child became the new focus of the two adults; whatever Mama trilled at the Felucian, she sounded excited.
Roma was starting to feel bored again.
A few sentences later, however, and the lead child approached Roma, standing up on just their feet so that they were of almost even height. It examined Roma curiously, just as Roma did the same to them. While humanoid in shape, they possessed vastly different skin and features, most notably in the face area. Their hands ended in large, suction-like appendages, with additional, smaller arms protruding from the elbows. Additional, darker purple markings ran throughout their entire body in no discernible pattern.
Then they spoke. Roma stared blankly, causing the young Felucian to tilt their head in confusion. They were briefly distracted by Roma's mother, who said something to them, before they nodded and looked back at Roma. They spoke again, but this time accompanied by a spiritual touch. Almost as though clear as day, the meaning of the otherwise-indecipherable words entered her mind:* "Want to play, sister?"
*Roma gasped, recognizing the touch of the Force. The word "sister" also surprised her; clearly, Roma wasn't actually their sister, yet it gave her a sense of belonging. Beyond that, of course she wanted to play! With a grin, she nodded, returning the touch and putting her intent behind her words.* "Yes! What are we going to play?"
*They beckoned her onward, Mama taking her weapons from her so she could play freely. She quickly learned one of their favorite games: Forming "teams" that would clamor for possession of an orb they called a "ball," with the goal to claim it and keep it away from the other team. She found she was way better at "hunting" than she was keeping the ball, mostly due to her throwing inaccuracy, but it meant she was able to make up for her mistakes quite easily. The Felucians proved to be quite elusive however, far more so than any animal she had hunted. Just as well, they were a lot harder to evade than any creature of the jungle. Clever, cunning creatures... much like herself and Mama.
Eventually the ball was forgotten about and instead the children resorted to wrestling. Roma found herself overpowered by the Felucian children, but she made up for it with her agility. Finally, when she and all the other children seemed wore out from the play, they called a truce.*
"You look like you had a good time," *said Mama, approaching her as she held out her weapons.
Roma took these with a grin, nodding as she slipped them back over her shoulder.* "Yeah! It's very fun! I've never done anything like that before!"
*Mama smiled and patted Roma's head.* "I used to play the same games with Ch'lonna and other children when I was younger too. It's good exercise and even makes a better hunter out of you."
*There was that "Ch'lonna" word again, but Roma realized it must be the name of the older Felucian Mama had been talking to. Said Felucian was standing nearby watching with... Roma thought it was amusement. These Felucians were hard to read.*
"Bet you're hungry, though," *Mama added with a smirk.
She was right. Fortunately, dinner was already prepared, and it was very similar to the kinds of foods Roma had eaten all of her life. Perhaps with a bit more flavor, something Mama explained was due to the "spices" they usually didn't have when they had cooked.
Evening fell, and Mama spent the rest of the night showing Roma around the village, greeting other Felucians and telling Roma more about their way of life. The girl was very fascinated by it all, if not annoyed by her lack of ability to understand their native speech. Soon she met who Mama referred to as the most important figure in the village, the head shaman, a masked, red-skinned Felucian by the name of "Kygrek." Just like the children, he was able to communicate to her through the Force, with even more clarity. He welcomed her to the village, saying he was glad to meet her. After inviting them into his hut, they took seats around what was called a "table" and conversed for a little while. Fortunately for Roma, Mama spoke Basic for her understanding; Kygrek, it seemed, understood the language without needing the Force to translate. They spoke of many things, starting with how Mama had been since they had last met, and why she had been gone so long.
Mama opted to answer in Felucian for this and only this topic, before they spoke of other things, mostly regarding Roma's upbringing. The girl was curious what Mama had said but was also happy to be the center of attention. As it turned out, most of Mama's teachings about the world came from these Felucians, as Kygrek spoke in very familiar terms about the planet and life upon it. For instance, they too looked upon the world as a mother figure.
As night fell and Roma grew more tired, Kygrek offered them a place to sleep in his hut, upon a bed made from natural materials that was actually quite comfy compared to most of the places they had slept upon during her life.*
"Told you it'd be worth it," *said Mama, as they settled in for sleep.
Not wanting to admit she was wrong, Roma only groaned.
They spent the next two days in the village, Roma not yet having her fill of the unique and fascinating new experience. Eventually, upon being reminded of their true goal, she agreed it was time to go... but the next morning. Agreeing to this, they set off first thing the next day after bidding farewell to Mama's old friends and Roma's new friends.*
"I hope it doesn't take as long as it did to get here," *Roma whimpered as they set off.*
"It won't," *said Mama with a smile.* "Trust me."
|
|
|
Post by Huginn & Muninn on Oct 10, 2018 19:52:43 GMT -8
High in the sky, above and around the clouds, flew what appeared to be two birds. All but the very keenest of eyes could see them. Those attuned to the force might be able to sense their absence.
The brothers flew over the surface of the planet, unsure of what or who they were searching for. Something was afoot, and they were curious to bring back the news with them.
Here is a familiar sight, brother.
Aye, and creatures we have encountered before, no?
Aye brother indeed. Though I do believe they would be less than enthusiastic by our appearance.
Indeed. Perhaps we give them wide berth.
For now.
Aye, for now.
They continued eastward as day turned to night. Their wings carried them beyond the horizon and back again as they circled in their search.
Here is one.
Where?
Over there. She appears both now and then.
Oh, yes indeed I see now. What do you think?
The brothers circled overhead.
Ah, yes. I think we can get a good tale to tell the old man when he wakes once more.
Aye.
As they continued to circle overhead, they gathered the scent trail and began to follow it off into the distance.
|
|
Luxeria
Member
“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
Posts: 1,898
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Luxeria on Jun 7, 2019 6:45:22 GMT -8
As Luxeria's ship made its way down into the planet's atmosphere, she deactivated the cloaking device and redirected power back to the jammers. For the moment, she wasn't overly concerned about being picked up on scanners. Ships came and went all the time to the other locations and cities on the planet. So normally, a single ship wouldn't draw much attention, especially if not flying around the Jedi's home. Plus, she wouldn't be able to load any coordinates and really on sensor data while cloaked. With the jammers, she'd be able still to make her way across the terrain without really being noticed. If she was, it'd be hard to gain a definite lock on her. It would be enough until she got her bearings and was heading the right direction.
She worked to go through the info available for the planet while reaching out in the Force to determine a location. It didn't take long, either way, a surprise coming to her face a bit when a Jedi Temple came up. So the Jedi did rebuild itself. It wasn't what she was expecting. She had entirely believed their attack at the very heart of the Jedi in such a show of force would have discouraged the Jedi and made the run to a new location to lick their wounds and try to rebuild in hopes the Sith wouldn't find their new home. But it seems that this wasn't the case. It made her scowl in disgust as she thought it possible. With a direction set, she diverted power back to her cloaking device and activated it, pushing forward towards the new Jedi Temple.
The trip was nearly thirty minutes from her current location, for which she was grateful. It wasn't long before the temple appeared before her, causing her to bring her ship to a stop. It seemed so much bigger and grander than the base, which infuriated her. To see this made her feel as if their attack meant nothing in the long run. If they could come back that easily better than before, then the message the Sith tried to send was lost. Her fists tightened on the controls as she took the ship down, landing the ship among the large flora of the planet. As she powered down the systems aside from cloak, she sat there just looking out the viewport of the cockpit for a good few minutes in silence contemplating what she was witnessing.
|
|
Luxeria
Member
“Even the strongest mind can be manipulated. It’s simply a matter of finding its weakness.”
Posts: 1,898
Affiliation: Blackguard Reborn
Traffic Light: Green
|
Post by Luxeria on Jun 7, 2019 8:39:28 GMT -8
Finally getting over the reality of the Jedi’s continued existence on Felucia, at least to the point she could carry on with her self appointed mission, she departed the Dark Illumination with Umbra in tow. She made sure to keep her presence hidden, drawing on the power of Dishu that resides on her wrist. The stygium crystal imbedded worked to further enhance her stealth abilities. From there, she simply moved along at a slow, cautionary pace towards the temple, her mind alert for anyone approaching.
A few minutes passed and in front of her was a clear view of the temple, standing, by what she believed, larger than the base they assaulted. Anger started to rise again, though she caught it and took a deep breath to calm herself. She couldn’t risk letting her emotions disrupt her control and alert the Jedi to her presence. Looking around, she saw no one close by, inspiring her to move a little closer.
Moving into a bit of brush still remaining before a clear shot to the temple, Luxeria stopped. She could sense movement, the path of light movie away from the temple. She focused upon it, honed in on the presence before realizing it was heading directly towards her. She let a growl escape her lips as she silently motioned for Umbra to take cover. How could anyone have figured out she was here? She was certain her control over her presence was absolute. So why was this Jedi coming this way? Perhaps it was just coincidence. It had to be. Moving to take cover across from the droid, she hid herself behind some of the flora, waiting for the one approaching to pass.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2019 10:22:39 GMT -8
Kahn kicked up the speed as the departed the hangar, following his instincts and letting them guide his path. He took deep, steady breaths as he managed to drive and somewhat meditate at the same time. The darkness was growing stronger as he directed the speeder where he felt it best. In no time, the darkness began to swell around him as if it was coming towards him. As it grew, he brought the craft to a stop, standing on the seat as he began to look around. He was certain it was nearly at its strongest here among the flora. In places like this, it could remain hidden from sight. But he was certain now that something was out here stalking around the temple. Yet, all he had still was a feeling. Until he had proof of something, he couldn't head back.
Jumping out of the speeder, he closed his eyes, trying to gain some clarity on the source, moving off the main path and into the plant-life surrounding him. Despite how close they seemed to the temple, they were still a little distance away, at least a five to ten-minute walk. He had to be careful for if he got caught up in trouble, it could be a little bit before anyone arrived and it only took a few minutes for a fight to come and go.
|
|